01.133
Core:Pandavas depart to Varanavrata.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
पाण्डवास्तु रथान्युक्त्वा सदश्वैरनिलोपमैः । आरोहमाणा भीष्मस्य पादौ जगृहुरार्तवत् ॥१-१३३-१॥
The Pāṇḍavas, having yoked their chariots with excellent horses like the wind, ascended and reverently touched Bhīṣma’s feet.
राज्ञश्च धृतराष्ट्रस्य द्रोणस्य च महात्मनः । अन्येषां चैव वृद्धानां विदुरस्य कृपस्य च ॥१-१३३-२॥
They also honored the great-souled Droṇa, King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and the other elders, including Vidura and Kṛpa.
एवं सर्वान्कुरून्वृद्धानभिवाद्य यतव्रताः । समालिङ्ग्य समानांश्च बालैश्चाप्यभिवादिताः ॥१-१३३-३॥
Thus, the self-restrained ones bowed to all the Kuru elders, embraced their equals, and were greeted by the young.
सर्वा मातृस्तथापृष्ट्वा कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणम् । सर्वाः प्रकृतयश्चैव प्रययुर्वारणावतम् ॥१-१३३-४॥
Having respectfully asked all the mothers and circumambulated them, all the citizens too departed for Vāraṇāvata.
विदुरश्च महाप्राज्ञस्तथान्ये कुरुपुङ्गवाः । पौराश्च पुरुषव्याघ्रानन्वयुः शोककर्शिताः ॥१-१३३-५॥
Vidura, the wise one, other Kuru chiefs, and the citizens, followed the tiger-like men, tormented with grief.
तत्र केच्चिद्ब्रुवन्ति स्म ब्राह्मणा निर्भयास्तदा । शोचमानाः पाण्डुपुत्रानतीव भरतर्षभ ॥१-१३३-६॥
At that time, some fearless Brāhmaṇas there, deeply lamenting the sons of Pāṇḍu, spoke thus, O bull among the Bharatas.
विषमं पश्यते राजा सर्वथा तमसावृतः । धृतराष्ट्रः सुदुर्बुद्धिर्न च धर्मं प्रपश्यति ॥१-१३३-७॥
Blinded by darkness, the king sees only injustice; Dhṛtarāṣṭra, of very poor judgment, does not perceive righteousness.
न हि पापमपापात्मा रोचयिष्यति पाण्डवः । भीमो वा बलिनां श्रेष्ठः कौन्तेयो वा धनञ्जयः ॥ कुत एव महाप्राज्ञौ माद्रीपुत्रौ करिष्यतः ॥१-१३३-८॥
The sinless Pāṇḍava would not choose evil, nor Bhīma, the best among the strong, nor Arjuna, the son of Kuntī. How then would the wise sons of Mādrī do so?
तद्राज्यं पितृतः प्राप्तं धृतराष्ट्रो न मृष्यते । अधर्ममखिलं किं नु भीष्मोऽयमनुमन्यते ॥ विवास्यमानानस्थाने कौन्तेयान्भरतर्षभान् ॥१-१३३-९॥
Dhṛtarāṣṭra cannot tolerate that kingdom, rightfully inherited. Why then does Bhīṣma approve of this complete unrighteousness—the unjust exile of the sons of Kuntī, the bulls of the Bharatas?
पितेव हि नृपोऽस्माकमभूच्छान्तनवः पुरा । विचित्रवीर्यो राजर्षिः पाण्डुश्च कुरुनन्दनः ॥१-१३३-१०॥
The son of Śāntanu was like a father to us in former times—Vicitravīrya, the royal sage, and Pāṇḍu, delight of the Kurus.
स तस्मिन्पुरुषव्याघ्रे दिष्टभावं गते सति । राजपुत्रानिमान्बालान्धृतराष्ट्रो न मृष्यते ॥१-१३३-११॥
Though that tiger among men has met his destined end, Dhṛtarāṣṭra cannot tolerate these royal boys.
वयमेतदमृष्यन्तः सर्व एव पुरोत्तमात् । गृहान्विहाय गच्छामो यत्र याति युधिष्ठिरः ॥१-१३३-१२॥
We, unable to tolerate this, will all leave our homes in this great city and go wherever Yudhiṣṭhira goes.
तांस्तथावादिनः पौरान्दुःखितान्दुःखकर्शितः । उवाच परमप्रीतो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥१-१३३-१३॥
Yudhiṣṭhira, the righteous king, greatly moved, spoke to those sorrowful citizens who were grieved and speaking thus.
पिता मान्यो गुरुः श्रेष्ठो यदाह पृथिवीपतिः । अशङ्कमानैस्तत्कार्यमस्माभिरिति नो व्रतम् ॥१-१३३-१४॥
Whatever the honorable and supreme teacher, the lord of the earth, has said must be done by us without suspicion—that is our vow.
भवन्तः सुहृदोऽस्माकमस्मान्कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम् । आशीर्भिरभिनन्द्यास्मान्निवर्तध्वं यथागृहम् ॥१-१३३-१५॥
You, our friends, having circumambulated us and blessed us, may return to your homes.
यदा तु कार्यमस्माकं भवद्भिरुपपत्स्यते । तदा करिष्यथ मम प्रियाणि च हितानि च ॥१-१३३-१६॥
When the time comes for you to act on our behalf, then you shall do what is pleasing and beneficial for me.
ते तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय कृत्वा चैतान्प्रदक्षिणम् । आशीर्भिरभिनन्द्यैनाञ्जग्मुर्नगरमेव हि ॥१-१३३-१७॥
They promised thus, circumambulated them, saluted them with blessings, and returned to the city indeed.
पौरेषु तु निवृत्तेषु विदुरः सर्वधर्मवित् । बोधयन्पाण्डवश्रेष्ठमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ प्राज्ञः प्राज्ञं प्रलापज्ञः सम्यग्धर्मार्थदर्शिवान् ॥१-१३३-१८॥
When the citizens had withdrawn, Vidura, knower of all dharma, spoke these words to the best of the Pāṇḍavas, a wise man to a wise man, knowing hints, and a seer of true dharma and wealth.
विज्ञायेदं तथा कुर्यादापदं निस्तरेद्यथा । अलोहं निशितं शस्त्रं शरीरपरिकर्तनम् ॥ यो वेत्ति न तमाघ्नन्ति प्रतिघातविदं द्विषः ॥१-१३३-१९॥
One should act with understanding and escape danger, as one avoids a sharp weapon made of non-metal that cuts the body. He who knows how to counter is not struck by enemies.
कक्षघ्नः शिशिरघ्नश्च महाकक्षे बिलौकसः । न दहेदिति चात्मानं यो रक्षति स जीवति ॥१-१३३-२०॥
Fire that destroys trees and cold cannot burn one who dwells in a deep hole during a great blaze; he who protects himself in that way survives.
नाचक्षुर्वेत्ति पन्थानं नाचक्षुर्विन्दते दिशः । नाधृतिर्भूतिमाप्नोति बुध्यस्वैवं प्रबोधितः ॥१-१३३-२१॥
The eye does not know the path; the eye does not find the directions. One without firmness does not attain success. Understand this as you are instructed.
अनाप्तैर्दत्तमादत्ते नरः शस्त्रमलोहजम् । श्वाविच्छरणमासाद्य प्रमुच्येत हुताशनात् ॥१-१३३-२२॥
A man takes a non-metal weapon given by strangers; by seeking the refuge of a jackal, he may escape from the fire.
चरन्मार्गान्विजानाति नक्षत्रैर्विन्दते दिशः । आत्मना चात्मनः पञ्च पीडयन्नानुपीड्यते ॥१-१३३-२३॥
While moving, one discerns the path and finds directions by the stars; suppressing one’s five senses, one is not afflicted.
अनुशिष्ट्वानुगत्वा च कृत्वा चैनान्प्रदक्षिणम् । पाण्डवानभ्यनुज्ञाय विदुरः प्रययौ गृहान् ॥१-१३३-२४॥
Having instructed and followed them, and having circumambulated the Pāṇḍavas, Vidura gave his permission and returned home.
निवृत्ते विदुरे चैव भीष्मे पौरजने तथा । अजातशत्रुमामन्त्र्य कुन्ती वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१-१३३-२५॥
When Vidura, Bhīṣma, and the citizens had departed, Kuntī spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira, addressing him as Ajātaśatru.
क्षत्ता यदब्रवीद्वाक्यं जनमध्येऽब्रुवन्निव । त्वया च तत्तथेत्युक्तो जानीमो न च तद्वयम् ॥१-१३३-२६॥
What the minister said among the people was as if not plainly spoken, and though you agreed, we do not understand it.
यदि तच्छक्यमस्माभिः श्रोतुं न च सदोषवत् । श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्सर्वं संवादं तव तस्य च ॥१-१३३-२७॥
If it is possible for us to hear and not inappropriate, I wish to hear all that conversation between you and him.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
विषादग्नेश्च बोद्धव्यमिति मां विदुरोऽब्रवीत् । पन्थाश्च वो नाविदितः कश्चित्स्यादिति चाब्रवीत् ॥१-१३३-२८॥
Vidura told me, "Be aware of poison and fire" and said, "No path shall be unknown to you."
जितेन्द्रियश्च वसुधां प्राप्स्यसीति च माब्रवीत् । विज्ञातमिति तत्सर्वमित्युक्तो विदुरो मया ॥१-१३३-२९॥
He told me, "You who have conquered your senses will obtain the earth." I said to Vidura, "All this is understood."
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
अष्टमेऽहनि रोहिण्यां प्रयाताः फल्गुनस्य ते । वारणावतमासाद्य ददृशुर्नागरं जनम् ॥१-१३३-३०॥
On the eighth day under the Rohiṇī constellation of the month Phālguna, they departed and, reaching Vāraṇāvata, saw the city’s people.
