Chapter 11: Pāṇḍu renounces worldly life after Kindama’s curse and withdraws with Kuntī and Mādrī to Śataśṛṅga.

Pāṇḍu blames uncontrolled desire for his family’s misfortunes and his own downfall.

Vaiśampāyana said:

[PV-KDV:01_017_1] (Jaya)

After passing the dead man, the king, together with his wife, anguished and tormented by grief, lamented for him as though he were his own kinsman. (BORI: 1-110-1)

[PV-KDV:01_017_2] (Jaya)

Pandu said:

[PV-KDV:01_017_3] (Jaya)

Alas, even those born into noble families meet with a wretched fate through their deeds when, lacking self-mastery, they are deluded by the snares of desire. (BORI: 1-110-2)

[PV-KDV:01_017_4] (Jaya)

Though born to a man who was ever righteous, my father, still only a boy and wholly given to sensual pleasure, reached the end of his life—or so we have heard. (BORI: 1-110-3)

[PV-KDV:01_017_5] (Jaya)

The venerable sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana himself, restrained in speech, begot me upon the wife of that lustful king. (BORI: 1-110-4)

[PV-KDV:01_017_6] (Jaya)

Today this base inclination toward his vice has arisen in me; wicked as I am, I have been abandoned by the gods because of my misconduct while hunting. (BORI: 1-110-5)

[PV-KDV:01_017_7] (Jaya)

Pāṇḍu speaks of adopting a life of renunciation, non-violence, mendicancy and detachment.

I resolve upon liberation alone, for bondage is a great affliction. I shall follow my father’s imperishable, virtuous way of life and devote myself to the severest austerities—of this there is no doubt. (BORI: 1-110-6)

[PV-KDV:01_017_8] (Jaya)

Therefore, alone, spending just one day at each tree, I shall wander this earth as a shaven-headed sage, begging for alms. (BORI: 1-110-7)

[PV-KDV:01_017_9] (Jaya)

covered with dust, sheltering in empty houses or dwelling at the foot of trees, having given up all likes and dislikes; (BORI: 1-110-8)

[PV-KDV:01_017_10] (Jaya)

neither grieving nor rejoicing, regarding blame and self-praise alike, free from expectations, offering no salutations, beyond all opposites, and possessing nothing; (BORI: 1-110-9)

[PV-KDV:01_017_11] (Jaya)

never ridiculing anyone or ever frowning, always serene in countenance and devoted to the welfare of all beings; (BORI: 1-110-10)

[PV-KDV:01_017_12] (Jaya)

harming none of the four kinds of moving and unmoving creatures, and always impartial toward all living beings, as toward his own subjects; (BORI: 1-110-11)

[PV-KDV:01_017_13] (Jaya)

Seeking alms only once a day from two or five households, and also fasting when alms were unobtainable. (BORI: 1-110-12)

[PV-KDV:01_017_14] (Jaya)

taking a little at a time, only as much as he can eat, never going farther once he has received alms, and, if he receives none, completing a round of seven households… (BORI: 1-110-13)

[PV-KDV:01_017_15] (Jaya)

thinking neither ill nor well of either of the two—one who cuts off one of his arms with an adze and one who anoints the other with sandalwood (BORI: 1-110-14)

[PV-KDV:01_017_16] (Jaya)

Acting neither like one who wished to live nor like one who wished to die, neither rejoicing in nor hating death or life. (BORI: 1-110-15)

[PV-KDV:01_017_17] (Jaya)

Having gone beyond all the acts conducive to prosperity that a living person is capable of performing, he remained in such activities as blinking and the like. (BORI: 1-110-16)

[PV-KDV:01_017_18] (Jaya)

in all those states, having abandoned every activity of the senses, wholly relinquished dharma, and thoroughly cleansed the impurity of his self… (BORI: 1-110-17)

[PV-KDV:01_017_19] (Jaya)

freed from all sins, beyond every snare, subject to no one, and sharing the nature of the wind... (BORI: 1-110-18)

[PV-KDV:01_017_20] (Jaya)

Constantly living in this way, I shall sustain my body while following a path free from fear. (BORI: 1-110-19)

[PV-KDV:01_017_21] (Jaya)

I would not, devoid of valor, delight in a path trodden by dogs, suited to the weak and wretched and always removed from one’s own duty. (BORI: 1-110-20)

[PV-KDV:01_017_22] (Jaya)

Whether honored or dishonored, a man ruled by desire who cringingly resorts to another way of life follows the path of dogs. (BORI: 1-110-21)

[PV-KDV:01_017_23] (Jaya)

Pāṇḍu asks Kuntī and Mādrī to leave and announce his forest renunciation.

Vaiśampāyana said:

[PV-KDV:01_017_24] (Jaya)

Having spoken thus, the king, tormented by deep sorrow and sighing heavily, looked at Kunti and Madri and addressed them: (BORI: 1-110-22)

[PV-KDV:01_017_25] (Jaya)

Kausalya; Vidura, the chamberlain; the king with his kinsmen; the noble Satyavati; Bhishma; and those royal priests… (BORI: 1-110-23)

[PV-KDV:01_017_26] (Jaya)

and the high-minded Brahmins who drink Soma and keep strict vows, as well as the elderly citizens living there under our protection—all should be conciliated and told, “Pandu has departed for the forest.” (BORI: 1-110-24)

[PV-KDV:01_017_27] (Jaya)

Kuntī and Mādrī vow to share Pāṇḍu’s austerities and die rather than leave him.

Hearing their husband's words, resolute as he was in dwelling in the forest, Kunti and Madri replied to him in like terms. (BORI: 1-110-25)

[PV-KDV:01_017_28] (Jaya)

There are other modes of ascetic life, O bull of Bharata, that you can pursue together with us, your two lawful wives. After performing great austerities, you will surely attain even heaven; there is no doubt of it. (BORI: 1-110-26)

[PV-KDV:01_017_29] (Jaya)

Restraining all our senses, devoted to our husband’s world, and renouncing sensual pleasures, we shall undertake great austerities. (BORI: 1-110-27)

[PV-KDV:01_017_30] (Jaya)

If you abandon us, O most wise lord of the people, we shall give up our lives this very day—of this there is no doubt. (BORI: 1-110-28)

[PV-KDV:01_017_31] (Jaya)

Pāṇḍu accepts and adopts a forest discipline of ritual, austerity, seclusion and worship until death.

Pandu said:

[PV-KDV:01_017_32] (Jaya)

If this resolve of yours is indeed settled and in accordance with dharma, I shall follow that enduring way of life of my father. (BORI: 1-110-29)

[PV-KDV:01_017_33] (Jaya)

Renouncing worldly pleasures and ways, I will dwell in the great forest, clad in bark, living on fruits and roots, and practicing severe austerities. (BORI: 1-110-30)

[PV-KDV:01_017_34] (Jaya)

offering oblations into the fire morning and evening, performing ablutions morning and evening, lean from a restricted diet, and wearing bark cloth, animal skin, and matted hair… (BORI: 1-110-31)

[PV-KDV:01_017_35] (Jaya)

enduring cold, wind, and heat, afflicted by hunger, thirst, and weariness, and wasting away his body through arduous austerity... (BORI: 1-110-32)

[PV-KDV:01_017_36] (Jaya)

living in solitude and reflection, subsisting on ripe and unripe forest produce, and satisfying the ancestors and gods with wild food, prayers, and water… (BORI: 1-110-33)

[PV-KDV:01_017_37] (Jaya)

following the way of forest dwellers and never doing anything displeasing to members of my household, much less to villagers… (BORI: 1-110-34)

[PV-KDV:01_017_38] (Jaya)

Thus, aspiring to an ever more rigorous discipline prescribed by the forest codes, I shall remain until this body comes to an end. (BORI: 1-110-35)

[PV-KDV:01_017_39] (Jaya)

Vaiśampāyana said:

[PV-KDV:01_017_40] (Jaya)

Having said this to his two wives, the king, a descendant of Kuru, then his crest jewel, gold necklace, armlets, earrings, costly garments, and the women’s ornaments… (BORI: 1-110-36)

[PV-KDV:01_017_41] (Jaya)

After giving all this to the Brahmins, Pandu spoke again: “Go to Nagapura and announce that Pandu has retired to the forest.” (BORI: 1-110-37)

[PV-KDV:01_017_42] (Jaya)

The foremost of the Kurus set out with his wives, abandoning wealth, desire, happiness, and even the highest sensual pleasure. (BORI: 1-110-38)

[PV-KDV:01_017_43] (Jaya)

Attendants return to Hastināpura with his message, and Dhṛtarāṣṭra grieves.

Then his retinue and attendants, hearing the Bharata lion’s many sorrowful words, raised a terrible cry of anguish and wailed, “Alas! Alas!” (BORI: 1-110-39)

[PV-KDV:01_017_44] (Jaya)

Shedding hot tears, they left the king and hastened to Nagapura, taking his entire message with them. (BORI: 1-110-40)

[PV-KDV:01_017_45] (Jaya)

Hearing from them everything that had happened in the great forest, Dhritarashtra, the best of men, mourned for Pandu. (BORI: 1-110-41)

[PV-KDV:01_017_46] (Jaya)

Pāṇḍu journeys through the Himalayas with his wives and settles as an ascetic at Śataśṛṅga.

But the Kaurava prince Pandu, living on roots and fruits, then went with his two wives to Mount Nagasabha. (BORI: 1-110-42)

[PV-KDV:01_017_47] (Jaya)

He reached Chaitraratha, crossed Varishena, passed beyond the Himalaya, and journeyed on to Gandhamadana. (BORI: 1-110-43)

[PV-KDV:01_017_48] (Jaya)

Protected by mighty beings, Siddhas, and great seers, the king then dwelt on level ground and in rugged terrain alike. (BORI: 1-110-44)

[PV-KDV:01_017_49] (Jaya)

After reaching Lake Indradyumna and crossing Hamsakuta, the ascetic arrived at Shatashringa, O great king. (BORI: 1-110-45)

[PV-KDV:01_017_50] (Jaya)