02.071
Pancharatra: Vidura’s description of Pandavas departure.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said.
kathaṁ gacchati kaunteyo dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। bhīmasenaḥ savyasācī mādrīputrau ca tāvubhau ॥2-71-1॥
How does Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti and king of dharma, proceed? And what of Bhimasena, Arjuna the ambidextrous, and the two sons of Madri, those two as well? (2-71-1)
dhaumyaś caiva kathaṃ kṣattar draupadī vā tapasvinī। śrotum icchāmy ahaṃ sarvaṃ teṣām aṅgaviceṣṭitam ॥2-71-2॥
I wish to hear everything about the bodily actions of Dhaumya, the steward, and Draupadī the ascetic lady—how each of them acted. (2-71-2)
vidura uvāca॥
Vidura said.
vastreṇa saṁvṛtya mukhaṁ kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। bāhū viśālau kṛtvā tu bhīmo gacchati pāṇḍavaḥ ॥2-71-3॥
Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, covered his face with a cloth, while Bhima, the Pandava, walked with his large arms outstretched. (2-71-3)
sikatā vapansavyasācī rājānamanugacchati। mādrīputraḥ sahadevo mukham ālipya gacchati ॥2-71-4॥
Savyasācī (Arjuna) follows the king carrying sand and shaving tools. Sahadeva, the son of Mādrī, proceeds with his face smeared. (2-71-4)
pāṃsūpaliptasarvāṅgo nakulaścittavihvalaḥ। darśanīyatamo loke rājānamanugacchati ॥2-71-5॥
Nakula, his entire body covered in dust and his mind distraught, the most handsome man in the world, follows the king. (2-71-5)
kṛṣṇā keśaiḥ praticchādya mukham āyata-locanā। darśanīyā prarudatī rājānam anugacchati ॥2-71-6॥
The dark-complexioned, wide-eyed and beautiful woman, covering her face with her hair and weeping intensely, follows the king. (2-71-6)
dhaumyo yāmyāni sāmāni raudrāṇi ca viśāṃ pate। gāyaṅgacchati mārgeṣu kuśānādāya pāṇinā ॥2-71-7॥
Dhaumya, singing the southern Sāma and Rudra chants, proceeds along the paths, holding sacred grasses in his hand, O lord of the people. (2-71-7)
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said:
vividhāni iha rūpāṇi kṛtvā gacchanti pāṇḍavāḥ। tan mama ācakṣva vidura kasmāt evaṃ vrajanti te ॥2-71-8॥
The Pāṇḍavas assume various forms and go forth. Tell me, O Vidura, why do they proceed in this way? (2-71-8)
vidura uvāca॥
Vidura said.
nikṛtasyāpi te putrair hṛte rājye dhaneṣu ca। na dharmāc calate buddhir dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ ॥2-71-9॥
Even though your sons have deceitfully taken away his kingdom and wealth, the wise Dharmarāja's mind does not stray from righteousness. (2-71-9)
yo'sau rājā ghṛṇī nityaṃ dhārtarāṣṭreṣu bhārata। nikṛtyā krodhasantapto nonmīlayati locane ॥2-71-10॥
O Bhārata, that king, who is always compassionate towards the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, does not open his eyes due to deceit and being consumed by anger. (2-71-10)
nāhaṃ janaṃ nirdahēyaṃ dṛṣṭvā ghōrēṇa cakṣuṣā। sa pidhāya mukhaṃ rājā tasmādgacchati pāṇḍavaḥ ॥2-71-11॥
I would not burn a person by looking at him with a terrible eye; therefore, the king, having covered his face, goes away, O Pāṇḍava. (2-71-11)
yathā ca bhīmo vrajati tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu। bāhvorbale nāsti samo mameti bharatarṣabha ॥2-71-12॥
Listen as I tell you how Bhīma proceeds. In the strength of arms, there is none equal to me, O best of the Bharatas. (2-71-12)
bāhū viśālau kṛtvā tu tena bhīmo'pi gacchati। bāhū darśayamāno hi bāhudraviṇadarpiṭaḥ ॥ cikīrṣan karma śatrubhyo bāhudravyānurūpataḥ ॥2-71-13॥
Bhima, having made his arms wide, also proceeds by him. Displaying his arms, indeed, proud of the wealth of his arms, wishing to act against the enemies according to the strength of his arms. (2-71-13)
pradiśañ śarasampātān kuntīputro 'rjunastadā। sikatā vapan savyasācī rājānam anugacchati ॥2-71-14॥
Then Arjuna, the son of Kuntī, known as Savyasācī, pointed out the showers of arrows and, casting sand, followed the king. (2-71-14)
asaktāḥ sikatās tasya yathā samprati bhārata। asaktaṃ śaravarṣāṇi tathā mokṣyati śatruṣu ॥2-71-15॥
O Bhārata, just as his sand grains are now unattached, so too will he release showers of arrows unattached upon the enemies. (2-71-15)
na me kaścid vijānīyān mukham adya iti bhārata। mukham ālipya tena asau sahadevaḥ api gacchati ॥2-71-16॥
O Bhārata, let no one recognize my face today. Having smeared his face with that, Sahadeva also goes. (2-71-16)
nāhaṃ manāṃsyādadeyaṃ mārge strīṇāmiti prabho. pāṃsūpacitasarvāṅgo nakulastena gacchati ॥2-71-17॥
O lord, I should not take the minds of women on the path, thus. Therefore, Nakula goes with all his limbs covered in heaped-up dust. (2-71-17)
ekavastrā tu rudatī muktakeśī rajasvalā। śoṇitāktārdravasanā draupadī vākyam abravīt ॥2-71-18॥
Draupadī, wearing a single garment, weeping, her hair loose, menstruating, her clothes wet and stained with blood, spoke these words.
yatkṛte'ham imāṃ prāptā teṣāṃ varṣe caturdaśe। hatapatyo hatasutā hatabandhujanapriyāḥ ॥2-71-19॥
For whose sake I have come to this, in the fourteenth year, their husbands, sons, and dear kinsmen have been slain. (2-71-19)
bandhuśoṇitadigdhāṅgyo muktakeśyo rajasvalāḥ। evaṃ kṛtodakā nāryaḥ pravekṣyanti gajāhvayam ॥2-71-20॥
The women, their limbs smeared with the blood of their relatives, their hair loosened, and menstruating, having thus performed the water-rite, will enter Gajahvaya. (2-71-20)
kṛtvā tu nairṛtāndarbhāndhīro dhaumyaḥ purohitaḥ। sāmāni gāyanyāmyāni purato yāti bhārata॥2-71-21॥
O Bhārata, Dhaumya, the wise priest, having performed the Nairṛta darbha rites, proceeds in front, singing the auspicious Sāman hymns. (2-71-21)
hateṣu bhārateṣvājau kurūṇāṃ guravas tadā। evaṃ sāmāni gāsyantīty uktvā dhaumyo'pi gacchati ॥2-71-22॥
When the Bhāratas were slain in battle, the elders of the Kurus, having said, "the Sāman hymns will be sung," Dhaumya also departed. (2-71-22)
hā hā gacchanti no nāthāḥ samavekṣadhvam īdṛśam। iti paurāḥ suduḥkhārtāḥ krośanti sma samantataḥ ॥2-71-23॥
"Alas, alas, our protectors are leaving; look at this!" Thus, the citizens, greatly distressed, cried out everywhere. (2-71-23)
evam-ākāra-liṅgais te vyavasāyaṃ manogatam। kathayantaḥ sma kaunteyā vanaṃ jagmur manasvinaḥ ॥2-71-24॥
Thus, perceiving the signs and indications, the high-minded sons of Kunti, having resolved in their minds, spoke among themselves and proceeded to the forest. (2-71-24)
evaṃ teṣu narāgryeṣu niryatsu gajasāhvayāt। anabhre vidyutaś cāsan bhūmiś ca samakampata ॥2-71-25॥
Thus, as those foremost men were departing from Gajasāhvaya, lightning flashed in a cloudless sky and the earth trembled. (2-71-25)
rāhur agrasat ādityam aparvaṇi viśāṃ pate। ulkā ca api apasavyaṃ tu puraṃ kṛtvā vyaśīryata ॥2-71-26॥
O lord of the people, Rāhu devoured the sun on an inauspicious day. A meteor, too, moved to the left and shattered the city. (2-71-26)
pravyāharanti kravyādā gṛdhra-gomāyu-vāyasāḥ। devāyatana-caityeṣu prākāra-aṭṭālakeṣu ca ॥2-71-27॥
Flesh-eating creatures such as vultures, jackals, and crows make cries in temples, shrines, enclosures, and on turrets and similar places. (2-71-27)
evamete mahotpātā vanaṃ gacchati pāṇḍave. bhāratānāmabhāvāya rājandurmantrite tava ॥2-71-28॥
O king, thus these great omens are going to the forest with the Pāṇḍava, for the destruction of the Bhāratas, as a result of your misguided counsel. (2-71-28)
nāradaś ca sabhāmadhye kurūṇām agrataḥ sthitaḥ। maharṣibhiḥ parivṛto raudraṃ vākyam uvāca ha ॥2-71-29॥
Nārada, standing in the midst of the assembly before the Kurus, surrounded by the great sages, spoke a fierce speech. (2-71-29)
itaś caturdaśe varṣe vinaṅkṣyantīha kauravāḥ। duryodhanāparādhena bhīmārjunabalena ca ॥2-71-30॥
From this point, in the fourteenth year, the Kauravas will be destroyed here due to Duryodhana's offence and by the strength of Bhima and Arjuna. (2-71-30)
ity uktvā divam ākrāmya kṣipram antaradhīyata. brāhmīṃ śriyaṃ suvipulāṃ bibhrad devarṣi-sattamaḥ ॥2-71-31॥
Having said this, he quickly ascended to heaven and disappeared, bearing the great splendour of Brahmā, the best among the divine sages. (2-71-31)
tato duryodhanaḥ karṇaḥ śakuniś cāpi saubalaḥ। droṇaṃ dvīpam amanyanta rājyaṃ cāsmai nyavedayan ॥2-71-32॥
Then Duryodhana, Karṇa, and Śakuni, the son of Subala, regarded Droṇa as their sole refuge and entrusted the kingdom to him. (2-71-32)
athābravīttato droṇo duryodhanamamarṣaṇam। duḥśāsanaṃ ca karṇaṃ ca sarvāneva ca bhāratān ॥2-71-33॥
Then Droṇa addressed Duryodhana, who was impatient, as well as Duḥśāsana, Karṇa, and all the sons of Bharata. (2-71-33)
avadhyān pāṇḍavān āhur deva-putrān dvijātayaḥ। ahaṃ tu śaraṇaṃ prāptān vartamāno yathā-balam ॥2-71-34॥
The twice-born declare that the Pāṇḍavas, sons of gods, are inviolable; but I, for my part, will protect those who have sought my refuge, to the best of my ability. (2-71-34)
gatānsarvātmana bhaktyā dhārtarāṣṭrānsarājakān। notsahe samabhityaktuṃ daivamūlamataḥ param ॥2-71-35॥
I am not able to completely forsake the departed sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and their kings, with all my soul and devotion, for this is rooted in destiny and beyond (my power). (2-71-35)
dharmataḥ pāṇḍuputrā vai vanaṃ gacchanti nirjitāḥ। te ca dvādaśa varṣāṇi vane vatsyanti kauravāḥ ॥2-71-36॥
According to dharma, the sons of Pāṇḍu, having been defeated, are indeed going to the forest. They, along with the Kauravas, will live in the forest for twelve years. (2-71-36)
caritabrahmacaryāś ca krodhāmarṣavaśānugāḥ। vairaṃ pratyānayiṣyanti mama duḥkhāya pāṇḍavāḥ ॥2-71-37॥
The Pāṇḍavas, who have practiced celibacy and are now driven by anger and impatience, will bring enmity against me, causing me sorrow. (2-71-37)
mayā tu bhraṁśito rājyād drupadaḥ sakhivigrahe। putrārtham ayajat krodhād vadhāya mama bhārata ॥2-71-38॥
But it was I who deprived Drupada of his kingdom due to our enmity as friends; seeking a son, he performed a sacrifice out of anger for my destruction, O Bhārata. (2-71-38)
yājopayājatapasā putraṃ lebhe sa pāvakāt| dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ draupadīṃ ca vedīmadhyātsumadhyamām ॥2-71-39॥
Through the austerities of Yāja and Upayāja, he obtained a son from the fire—Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Draupadī, the slender-waisted one, emerged from the center of the altar. (2-71-39)
jvālāvarṇo devadatto dhanuṣmān kavacī śarī। martyadharmatayā tasmād iti māṃ bhayam āviśat ॥2-71-40॥
Seeing Devadatta, who had the color of flame, bore a bow, was armored and equipped with arrows, and knowing the condition of mortality, therefore, fear entered me. (2-71-40)
gato hi pakṣatāṃ teṣāṃ pārṣataḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ। sṛṣṭaprāṇo bhṛśataraṃ tasmādyotsye tavāribhiḥ ॥2-71-41॥
The son of Pṛṣata, Sātyaki, that bull among men, has indeed gone over to their side, having given up his life; therefore, I will fight your enemies even more fiercely. (2-71-41)
madvadhāya śruto hyeṣa loke cāpyativiśrutaḥ। nūnaṃ so'ymanuprāptastvatkṛte kālaparyayaḥ ॥2-71-42॥
It is well known in the world, and indeed very famous, that my death was destined; certainly, this destined time has now arrived for your sake. (2-71-42)
tvaritāḥ kuruta śreyo naitadetāvatā kṛtam। muhūrtaṃ sukhamevaitattālacchāyeva haimanī ॥2-71-43॥
Act swiftly for what is truly good; this much is not sufficient. Momentary happiness is fleeting, like the shade of a palm tree in winter. (2-71-43)
yajadhvaṃ ca mahāyajñair bhogān aśnīta datta ca। itaś caturdaśe varṣe mahat prāpsyatha vaiśasam ॥2-71-44॥
Perform sacrifices and enjoy pleasures with great sacrifices, and give (charity). From now, in the fourteenth year, you will encounter a great calamity. (2-71-44)
duryodhana niśamyaitat pratipadya yathecchasi। sāma vā pāṇḍaveyeṣu prayuṅkṣva yadi manyase ॥2-71-45॥
Duryodhana, after hearing and understanding this, do as you wish; if you think it appropriate, apply conciliation towards the Pāṇḍavas. (2-71-45)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
droṇasya vacanaṃ śrutvā dhṛtarāṣṭro'bravīdidam। samyagāha guruḥ kṣattarupāvartaya pāṇḍavān ॥2-71-46॥
After hearing Droṇa's words, Dhṛtarāṣṭra said, "The teacher has spoken rightly. Vidura, bring the Pāṇḍavas back." (2-71-46)
yadi vā na nivartante satkṛtā yāntu pāṇḍavāḥ। saśastrarathapādātā bhogavantaś ca putrakāḥ ॥2-71-47॥
If, however, they do not return, let the honored Pāṇḍavas go; let the sons, armed, with chariots and infantry, and possessing enjoyments, depart. (2-71-47)
