03.006
Pancharatra: Vidura comes to Pandavas and gives his advice.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
पाण्डवास्तु वने वासमुद्दिश्य भरतर्षभाः। प्रययुर्जाह्नवीकूलात्कुरुक्षेत्रं सहानुगाः ॥३-६-१॥
But the sons of Pāṇḍu, the best among the Bharatas, having set their residence in the forest as their aim, departed from the bank of the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā) to Kurukṣetra along with their followers. (3-6-1)
सरस्वतीदृषद्वत्यौ यमुनां च निषेव्य ते। ययुर्वनेनैव वनं सततं पश्चिमां दिशम् ॥३-६-२॥
Having visited the Sarasvatī, Dṛṣadvatī, and Yamunā rivers, they continually journeyed through the forest towards the west. (3-6-2)
ततः सरस्वतीकूले समेषु मरुधन्वसु। काम्यकं नाम ददृशुर्वनं मुनिजनप्रियम् ॥३-६-३॥
Then, on the banks of the Sarasvatī, in the level sandy deserts, they saw the Kāmyaka forest, beloved of the sages. (3-6-3)
तत्र ते न्यवसन्वीरा वने बहुमृगद्विजे। अन्वास्यमाना मुनिभिः सान्त्व्यमानाश्च भारत ॥३-६-४॥
There, O Bhārata, the heroes dwelt in the forest abounding in many animals and birds, accompanied and consoled by sages. (3-6-4)
विदुरस्त्वपि पाण्डूनां तदा दर्शनलालसः। जगामैकरथेनैव काम्यकं वनमृद्धिमत् ॥३-६-५॥
However, Vidura, also longing to see the Pāṇḍavas, then went by a single chariot to the prosperous Kāmyaka forest. (3-6-5)
ततो यात्वा विदुरः काननं त; च्छीघ्रैरश्वैर्वाहिना स्यन्दनेन। ददर्शासीनं धर्मराजं विविक्ते; सार्धं द्रौपद्या भ्रातृभिर्ब्राह्मणैश्च ॥३-६-६॥
Then Vidura, having traveled to the forest quickly by chariot drawn by swift horses, saw Dharmarāja sitting in a secluded place together with Draupadī, his brothers, and Brāhmaṇas. (3-6-6)
ततोऽपश्यद्विदुरं तूर्णमारा; दभ्यायान्तं सत्यसन्धः स राजा। अथाब्रवीद्भ्रातरं भीमसेनं; किं नु क्षत्ता वक्ष्यति नः समेत्य ॥३-६-७॥
Then the truthful king saw Vidura quickly approaching from afar. He said to his brother Bhīmasena, "What do you think the minister will say to us when he arrives?" (3-6-7)
कच्चिन्नायं वचनात्सौबलस्य; समाह्वाता देवनायोपयाति। कच्चित्क्षुद्रः शकुनिर्नायुधानि; जेष्यत्यस्मान्पुनरेवाक्षवत्याम् ॥३-६-८॥
Is it not so that, at the word of Saubala, he comes when summoned for the game? Will the mean Shakuni again defeat us, not with weapons, but in the dice-game? (3-6-8)
समाहूतः केनचिदाद्रवेति; नाहं शक्तो भीमसेनापयातुम्। गाण्डीवे वा संशयिते कथं चि; द्राज्यप्राप्तिः संशयिता भवेन्नः ॥३-६-९॥
If someone summoned me to flee, I am not able to escape from Bhīmasena. If there is any doubt about Gāṇḍīva, then our attainment of the kingdom may be in doubt. (3-6-9)
तत उत्थाय विदुरं पाण्डवेयाः; प्रत्यगृह्णन्नृपते सर्व एव। तैः सत्कृतः स च तानाजमीढो; यथोचितं पाण्डुपुत्रान्समेयात् ॥३-६-१०॥
Then, the sons of Pandu all rose and received Vidura, O king. Honored by them, the descendant of Ajamīḍha (Vidura) met the sons of Pandu in the proper manner. (3-6-10)
समाश्वस्तं विदुरं ते नरर्षभा; स्ततोऽपृच्छन्नागमनाय हेतुम्। स चापि तेभ्यो विस्तरतः शशंस; यथावृत्तो धृतराष्ट्रोऽऽम्बिकेयः ॥३-६-११॥
After Vidura was completely reassured, those foremost among men asked him the reason for his arrival. He then explained to them in detail all that had happened concerning Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika. (3-6-11)
विदुर उवाच॥
Vidura said.
अवोचन्मां धृतराष्ट्रोऽनुगुप्त; मजातशत्रो परिगृह्याभिपूज्य। एवं गते समतामभ्युपेत्य; पथ्यं तेषां मम चैव ब्रवीहि ॥३-६-१२॥
Dhritarashtra, having protected me, O you whose enemies are born with you, embraced and honored me and spoke to me. Thus, when this had happened and equanimity was attained, tell what is beneficial for both them and me. (3-6-12)
मयाप्युक्तं यत्क्षमं कौरवाणां; हितं पथ्यं धृतराष्ट्रस्य चैव। तद्वै पथ्यं तन्मनो नाभ्युपैति; ततश्चाहं क्षममन्यन्न मन्ये ॥३-६-१३॥
Even what I have spoken, which is proper for the Kauravas, beneficial and wholesome for Dhritarashtra, that wholesome advice his mind does not accept; therefore, I do not consider anything else as proper. (3-6-13)
परं श्रेयः पाण्डवेया मयोक्तं; न मे तच्च श्रुतवानाम्बिकेयः। यथातुरस्येव हि पथ्यमन्नं; न रोचते स्मास्य तदुच्यमानम् ॥३-६-१४॥
I spoke of the highest good to the sons of Pāṇḍu, but Ambikeya, though he heard it, did not accept it. Just as wholesome food does not appeal to a sick man, so too, what was being said did not please him. (3-6-14)
न श्रेयसे नीयतेऽजातशत्रो; स्त्री श्रोत्रियस्येव गृहे प्रदुष्टा। ब्रुवन्न रुच्यै भरतर्षभस्य; पतिः कुमार्या इव षष्टिवर्षः ॥३-६-१५॥
O Ajātaśatru, this does not lead to good; just as a woman corrupted in the house of a learned Brāhmaṇa, or a husband sixty years old for a young maiden, is not pleasing, so too is one who speaks without care, O bull among the Bharatas. (3-6-15)
ध्रुवं विनाशो नृप कौरवाणां; न वै श्रेयो धृतराष्ट्रः परैति। यथा पर्णे पुष्करस्येव सिक्तं; जलं न तिष्ठेत्पथ्यमुक्तं तथास्मिन् ॥३-६-१६॥
O king, the destruction of the Kauravas is certain; Dhritarashtra will not attain any good. Just as water does not stay on a lotus leaf, so too does wholesome advice not remain here. (3-6-16)
ततः क्रुद्धो धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीन्मां; यत्र श्रद्धा भारत तत्र याहि। नाहं भूयः कामये त्वां सहायं; महीमिमां पालयितुं पुरं वा ॥३-६-१७॥
Then, in anger, Dhritarashtra said to me: "Go where there is faith, O Bhārata. I no longer wish for your help in protecting this earth or the city." (3-6-17)
सोऽहं त्यक्तो धृतराष्ट्रेण राजं; स्त्वां शासितुमुपयातस्त्वरावान्। तद्वै सर्वं यन्मयोक्तं सभायां; तद्धार्यतां यत्प्रवक्ष्यामि भूयः ॥३-६-१८॥
O king, I, who have been abandoned by Dhṛtarāṣṭra, have come to you in haste to instruct you. Therefore, whatever I have spoken in the assembly, let that be borne in mind, for I shall declare it again. (3-6-18)
क्लेशैस्तीव्रैर्युज्यमानः सपत्नैः; क्षमां कुर्वन्कालमुपासते यः। सं वर्धयन्स्तोकमिवाग्निमात्मवा; न्स वै भुङ्क्ते पृथिवीमेक एव ॥३-६-१९॥
He who, though beset by severe hardships from rivals, practices forbearance and waits for the right time, gradually increasing his strength like a small fire, being self-controlled—he alone truly enjoys the earth. (3-6-19)
यस्याविभक्तं वसु राजन्सहायै; स्तस्य दुःखेऽप्यंशभाजः सहायाः। सहायानामेष सङ्ग्रहणेऽभ्युपायः; सहायाप्तौ पृथिवीप्राप्तिमाहुः ॥३-६-२०॥
O king, whose wealth is undivided with his companions, his companions share even in his distress. This is the means of gathering companions; the acquisition of companions is said to be the acquisition of the earth. (3-6-20)
सत्यं श्रेष्ठं पाण्डव निष्प्रलापं; तुल्यं चान्नं सह भोज्यं सहायैः। आत्मा चैषामग्रतो नातिवर्ते; देवंवृत्तिर्वर्धते भूमिपालः ॥३-६-२१॥
O Pāṇḍava, truthfulness, excellence, and absence of idle talk; equal food shared together with companions. The leader does not place himself ahead of them; the king's conduct becomes divine. (3-6-21)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
एवं करिष्यामि यथा ब्रवीषि; परां बुद्धिमुपगम्याप्रमत्तः। यच्चाप्यन्यद्देशकालोपपन्नं; तद्वै वाच्यं तत्करिष्यामि कृत्स्नम् ॥३-६-२२॥
I will act exactly as you instruct; with utmost care and after consulting the highest wisdom. Whatever else is appropriate to the place and time, that too I will say and do in full. (3-6-22)
