01.133
Core:Pandavas depart to Varanavrata.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
pāṇḍavās tu rathāny uktvā sadaśvair anilopamaiḥ । ārohamāṇā bhīṣmasya pādau jagṛhur ārtavat ॥1॥
The Pāṇḍavas, having yoked their chariots with excellent horses like the wind, ascended and reverently touched Bhīṣma’s feet.
rājñaś ca dhṛtarāṣṭrasya droṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ । anyeṣāṁ caiva vṛddhānāṁ vidurasya kṛpasya ca ॥2॥
They also honored the great-souled Droṇa, King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and the other elders, including Vidura and Kṛpa.
evaṁ sarvān kurūn vṛddhān abhivādya yatavratāḥ । samāliṅgya samānāṁś ca bālaiś cāpy abhivāditāḥ ॥3॥
Thus, the self-restrained ones bowed to all the Kuru elders, embraced their equals, and were greeted by the young.
sarvā mātṛs tathāpṛṣṭvā kṛtvā caiva pradakṣiṇam । sarvāḥ prakṛtayaś caiva prayayur vāraṇāvatam ॥4॥
Having respectfully asked all the mothers and circumambulated them, all the citizens too departed for Vāraṇāvata.
viduraś ca mahāprājñas tathānye kurupuṅgavāḥ । paurāś ca puruṣavyāghrān anvayuḥ śokakarśitāḥ ॥5॥
Vidura, the wise one, other Kuru chiefs, and the citizens, followed the tiger-like men, tormented with grief.
tatra kecid bruvanti sma brāhmaṇā nirbhayās tadā । śocamānāḥ pāṇḍuputrān atīva bharatarṣabha ॥6॥
At that time, some fearless Brāhmaṇas there, deeply lamenting the sons of Pāṇḍu, spoke thus, O bull among the Bharatas.
viṣamaṁ paśyate rājā sarvathā tamasāvṛtaḥ । dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ sudurbuddhir na ca dharmaṁ prapaśyati ॥7॥
Blinded by darkness, the king sees only injustice; Dhṛtarāṣṭra, of very poor judgment, does not perceive righteousness.
na hi pāpam apāpātmā rocayiṣyati pāṇḍavaḥ । bhīmo vā balināṁ śreṣṭhaḥ kaunteyo vā dhanañjayaḥ ॥ kuta eva mahāprājñau mādrīputrau kariṣyataḥ ॥8॥
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?
tad rājyaṁ pitṛtaḥ prāptaṁ dhṛtarāṣṭro na mṛṣyate । adharmaṁ akhilaṁ kiṁ nu bhīṣmo'yam anumanyate ॥ vivāsyamānān asthāne kaunteyān bharatarṣabhān ॥9॥
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?
piteva hi nṛpo'smākam abhūc chāntanavaḥ purā । vicitravīryo rājarṣiḥ pāṇḍuś ca kurunandanaḥ ॥10॥
The son of Śāntanu was like a father to us in former times—Vicitravīrya, the royal sage, and Pāṇḍu, delight of the Kurus.
sa tasmin puruṣavyāghre diṣṭabhāvaṁ gate sati । rājamputrān imān bālān dhṛtarāṣṭro na mṛṣyate ॥11॥
Though that tiger among men has met his destined end, Dhṛtarāṣṭra cannot tolerate these royal boys.
vayam etad amṛṣyantaḥ sarva eva purottamāt । gṛhān vihāya gacchāmo yatra yāti yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥12॥
We, unable to tolerate this, will all leave our homes in this great city and go wherever Yudhiṣṭhira goes.
tāṁs tathāvādinaḥ paurān duḥkhitān duḥkhakarśitaḥ । uvāca paramaprīto dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥13॥
Yudhiṣṭhira, the righteous king, greatly moved, spoke to those sorrowful citizens who were grieved and speaking thus.
pitā mānyo guruḥ śreṣṭho yad āha pṛthivīpatiḥ । aśaṅkamānais tat kāryam asmābhir iti no vratam ॥14॥
Whatever the honorable and supreme teacher, the lord of the earth, has said must be done by us without suspicion—that is our vow.
bhavantaḥ suhṛdo'smākam asmān kṛtvā pradakṣiṇam । āśīrbhir abhinandyāsmān nivartadhvaṁ yathāgṛham ॥15॥
You, our friends, having circumambulated us and blessed us, may return to your homes.
yadā tu kāryam asmākaṁ bhavadbhiḥ upapatsyate । tadā kariṣyatha mama priyāṇi ca hitāni ca ॥16॥
When the time comes for you to act on our behalf, then you shall do what is pleasing and beneficial for me.
te tatheti pratijñāya kṛtvā caitān pradakṣiṇam । āśīrbhir abhinandya enāñ jagmur nagaram eva hi ॥17॥
They promised thus, circumambulated them, saluted them with blessings, and returned to the city indeed.
paureṣu tu nivṛtteṣu viduraḥ sarvadharmavit । bodhayan pāṇḍavaśreṣṭham idaṁ vacanam abravīt ॥ prājñaḥ prājñaṁ pralāpajñaḥ samyag dharmārthadarśivān ॥18॥
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.
vijñāyedam tathā kuryād āpadaṁ nistared yathā । alohaṁ niśitaṁ śastraṁ śarīraparikartanam ॥ yo vetti na tam āghnanti pratighātavidaṁ dviṣaḥ ॥19॥
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.
kakṣaghnaḥ śiśiraghnaś ca mahākakṣe bilaukasaḥ । na dahed iti cātmānaṁ yo rakṣati sa jīvati ॥20॥
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.
nācakṣur vetti panthānaṁ nācakṣur vindate diśaḥ । nādhṛtir bhūtim āpnoti budhyasvaivaṁ prabodhitaḥ ॥21॥
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.
anāptair dattam ādattē naraḥ śastram alohajam । śvāviccharaṇam āsādya pramucyeta hutāśanāt ॥22॥
A man takes a non-metal weapon given by strangers; by seeking the refuge of a jackal, he may escape from the fire.
caran mārgān vijānāti nakṣatrair vindate diśaḥ । ātmanā cātmanaḥ pañca pīḍayann ānupīḍyate ॥23॥
While moving, one discerns the path and finds directions by the stars; suppressing one’s five senses, one is not afflicted.
anuśiṣṭvā anugatvā ca kṛtvā cainān pradakṣiṇam । pāṇḍavān abhyanujñāya viduraḥ prayayau gṛhān ॥24॥
Having instructed and followed them, and having circumambulated the Pāṇḍavas, Vidura gave his permission and returned home.
nivṛtte vidure caiva bhīṣme paurajane tathā । ajātaśatrum āmantrya kuntī vacanam abravīt ॥25॥
When Vidura, Bhīṣma, and the citizens had departed, Kuntī spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira, addressing him as Ajātaśatru.
kṣattā yad abravīd vākyaṁ janamadhye'bruvann iva । tvayā ca tat tathety ukto jānīmo na ca tad vayam ॥26॥
What the minister said among the people was as if not plainly spoken, and though you agreed, we do not understand it.
yadi tac chakyam asmābhiḥ śrotuṁ na ca sadoṣavat । śrotum icchāmi tat sarvaṁ saṁvādaṁ tava tasya ca ॥27॥
If it is possible for us to hear and not inappropriate, I wish to hear all that conversation between you and him.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
viṣād agneś ca boddhavyam iti māṁ viduro'bravīt । panthāś ca vo nāviditaḥ kaścit syād iti cābravīt ॥28॥
Vidura told me, "Be aware of poison and fire" and said, "No path shall be unknown to you."
jitendriyaś ca vasudhāṁ prāpsyasīti ca mābravīt । vijñātam iti tat sarvam ity ukto viduro mayā ॥29॥
He told me, "You who have conquered your senses will obtain the earth." I said to Vidura, "All this is understood."
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
aṣṭame'hani rohiṇyāṁ prayātāḥ phalgunasya te । vāraṇāvatam āsādya dadṛśur nāgaraṁ janam ॥30॥
On the eighth day under the Rohiṇī constellation of the month Phālguna, they departed and, reaching Vāraṇāvata, saw the city’s people.
