03.024
Pancharatra: Pandavas depart to forest.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
तस्मिन्दशार्हाधिपतौ प्रयाते; युधिष्ठिरो भीमसेनार्जुनौ च। यमौ च कृष्णा च पुरोहितश्च; रथान्महार्हान्परमाश्वयुक्तान् ॥३-२४-१॥
When the lord of the Daśārhas had departed, Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīmasena and Arjuna, the twins, Kṛṣṇā, and the priest all mounted very costly chariots yoked with excellent horses. (3-24-1)
आस्थाय वीराः सहिता वनाय; प्रतस्थिरे भूतपतिप्रकाशाः। हिरण्यनिष्कान्वसनानि गाश्च; प्रदाय शिक्षाक्षरमन्त्रविद्भ्यः ॥३-२४-२॥
The heroes, united, having resolved, set out for the forest, shining with the lord of beings. They gave gold coins, garments, and cows to those who knew the śikṣā, akṣara, and mantra sciences. (3-24-2)
प्रेष्याः पुरो विंशतिरात्तशस्त्रा; धनूंषि वर्माणि शरांश्च पीतान्। मौर्वीश्च यन्त्राणि च सायकांश्च; सर्वे समादाय जघन्यमीयुः ॥३-२४-३॥
Twenty servants in front, having taken up weapons—bows, armors, yellow arrows, bowstrings, mechanisms, and arrows—all of them, having gathered these, went to the rear. (3-24-3)
ततस्तु वासांसि च राजपुत्र्या; धात्र्यश्च दास्यश्च विभूषणं च। तदिन्द्रसेनस्त्वरितं प्रगृह्य; जघन्यमेवोपययौ रथेन ॥३-२४-४॥
Then, the garments by the princess, as well as the nursemaids, female servants, and ornaments, were quickly taken by Indrasena, who approached the hindmost by chariot. (3-24-4)
ततः कुरुश्रेष्ठमुपेत्य पौराः; प्रदक्षिणं चक्रुरदीनसत्त्वाः। तं ब्राह्मणाश्चाभ्यवदन्प्रसन्ना; मुख्याश्च सर्वे कुरुजाङ्गलानाम् ॥३-२४-५॥
Then, the citizens, with undepressed spirits, approached the best of the Kurus and circumambulated him. The brāhmaṇas, pleased, addressed him, and all the chiefs of the Kurujāṅgala region did likewise. (3-24-5)
स चापि तानभ्यवदत्प्रसन्नः; सहैव तैर्भ्रातृभिर्धर्मराजः। तस्थौ च तत्राधिपतिर्महात्मा; दृष्ट्वा जनौघं कुरुजाङ्गलानाम् ॥३-२४-६॥
He, being pleased, addressed them; Dharmaraja, together with his brothers, stood there as the great-souled lord, having seen the multitude of people from the Kurujāṅgala region. (3-24-6)
पितेव पुत्रेषु स तेषु भावं; चक्रे कुरूणामृषभो महात्मा। ते चापि तस्मिन्भरतप्रबर्हे; तदा बभूवुः पितरीव पुत्राः ॥३-२४-७॥
He, the great-souled bull among the Kurus, felt towards them as a father towards his sons. And they too, O foremost of the Bharatas, then became like sons to a father. (3-24-7)
ततः समासाद्य महाजनौघाः; कुरुप्रवीरं परिवार्य तस्थुः। हा नाथ हा धर्म इति ब्रुवन्तो; ह्रिया च सर्वेऽश्रुमुखा बभूवुः ॥३-२४-८॥
Then, the great multitude of people approached and surrounded the Kuru hero and stood there. Crying out, "Alas, lord! Alas, Dharma!" they all, with modesty, became tear-faced. (3-24-8)
वरः कुरूणामधिपः प्रजानां; पितेव पुत्रानपहाय चास्मान्। पौरानिमाञ्जानपदांश्च सर्वा; न्हित्वा प्रयातः क्व नु धर्मराजः ॥३-२४-९॥
The best lord of the Kurus, ruler of the people, like a father to his sons, has abandoned us and all these citizens and countrymen and departed; where indeed has Dharmaraja gone? (3-24-9)
धिग्धार्तराष्ट्रं सुनृशंसबुद्धिं; ससौबलं पापमतिं च कर्णम्। अनर्थमिच्छन्ति नरेन्द्र पापा; ये धर्मनित्यस्य सतस्तवोग्राः ॥३-२४-१०॥
Condemnation to Duryodhana, who has a very cruel mind, along with Shakuni, the evil-minded, and Karna. O king, it is the wicked who desire evil, those fierce ones who oppose your ever-righteous and virtuous people. (3-24-10)
स्वयं निवेश्याप्रतिमं महात्मा; पुरं महद्देवपुरप्रकाशम्। शतक्रतुप्रस्थममोघकर्मा; हित्वा प्रयातः क्व नु धर्मराजः ॥३-२४-११॥
Having himself established the unrivaled, great city, shining like the city of the gods, the seat of Indra, the great-souled one whose actions are unfailing has departed after abandoning it; where indeed has the king of dharma gone? (3-24-11)
चकार यामप्रतिमां महात्मा; सभां मयो देवसभाप्रकाशाम्। तां देवगुप्तामिव देवमायां; हित्वा प्रयातः क्व नु धर्मराजः ॥३-२४-१२॥
The great-souled one had an assembly hall constructed, equal to Yama's, by Maya, shining like the assembly of the gods. That hall, protected by the gods and resembling a divine illusion, has been abandoned; where indeed has Dharmaraja gone? (3-24-12)
तान्धर्मकामार्थविदुत्तमौजा; बीभत्सुरुच्चैः सहितानुवाच। आदास्यते वासमिमं निरुष्य; वनेषु राजा द्विषतां यशांसि ॥३-२४-१३॥
Bībhatsu (Arjuna), knowing them to be excellent in righteousness, desire, and wealth, and strength, said in a loud voice to those assembled. The king, having dwelt in these forests, will take this dwelling and the fame of the enemies. (3-24-13)
द्विजातिमुख्याः सहिताः पृथक्च; भवद्भिरासाद्य तपस्विनश्च। प्रसाद्य धर्मार्थविदश्च वाच्या; यथार्थसिद्धिः परमा भवेन्नः ॥३-२४-१४॥
You should approach the foremost among the twice-born, both together and separately, as well as ascetics, and respectfully address those who know dharma and artha; thus, the supreme attainment of the true purpose may be ours. (3-24-14)
इत्येवमुक्ते वचनेऽर्जुनेन; ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्ववर्णाश्च राजन्। मुदाभ्यनन्दन्सहिताश्च चक्रुः; प्रदक्षिणं धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठम् ॥३-२४-१५॥
When Arjuna had thus spoken these words, O king, the Brāhmaṇas and people of all castes, rejoicing together with happiness, circumambulated the foremost among the upholders of dharma. (3-24-15)
आमन्त्र्य पार्थं च वृकोदरं च; धनञ्जयं याज्ञसेनीं यमौ च। प्रतस्थिरे राष्ट्रमपेतहर्षा; युधिष्ठिरेणानुमता यथास्वम् ॥३-२४-१६॥
After addressing Pārtha, Vṛkodara, Dhanañjaya, Yājñasenī, and the twin sons of Yama, and with Yudhiṣṭhira's permission, they, bereft of joy, set out for their respective kingdoms. (3-24-16)
