15.008
व्यासवाक्यम्
Statement of Vyāsa;
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said.
युधिष्ठिर महाबाहो यदाह कुरुनन्दनः। धृतराष्ट्रो महात्मा त्वां तत्कुरुष्वाविचारयन् ॥१५-८-१॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, mighty-armed, when Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the great-souled Kuru, said something to you, do that without hesitation. (15-8-1)
अयं हि वृद्धो नृपतिर्हतपुत्रो विशेषतः। नेदं कृच्छ्रं चिरतरं सहेदिति मतिर्मम ॥१५-८-२॥
This aged king, who has lost his son, especially, could not bear this affliction for long—this is my thought. (15-8-2)
गान्धारी च महाभागा प्राज्ञा करुणवेदिनी। पुत्रशोकं महाराज धैर्येणोद्वहते भृशम् ॥१५-८-३॥
O great king, Gandhari, who is most fortunate, wise, and compassionate, endures the grief for her sons with great courage. (15-8-3)
अहमप्येतदेव त्वां ब्रवीमि कुरु मे वचः। अनुज्ञां लभतां राजा मा वृथेह मरिष्यति ॥१५-८-४॥
I also say this to you: do as I ask. Let the king receive permission, so that he does not die here in vain. (15-8-4)
राजर्षीणां पुराणानामनुयातु गतिं नृपः। राजर्षीणां हि सर्वेषामन्ते वनमुपाश्रयः ॥१५-८-५॥
The king should follow the path of the former royal sages: for all royal sages, the forest is their refuge at the end. (15-8-5)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
इत्युक्तः स तदा राजा व्यासेनाद्भुतकर्मणा। प्रत्युवाच महातेजा धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥१५-८-६॥
Thus addressed by Vyāsa, who performed wondrous deeds, the king, the highly radiant Dharma-rāja Yudhiṣṭhira, then replied. (15-8-6)
भगवानेव नो मान्यो भगवानेव नो गुरुः। भगवानस्य राज्यस्य कुलस्य च परायणम् ॥१५-८-७॥
The blessed Lord alone is to be honored by us; the blessed Lord alone is our teacher; of the blessed Lord are the kingdom, the family, and the supreme refuge. (15-8-7)
अहं तु पुत्रो भगवान्पिता राजा गुरुश्च मे। निदेशवर्ती च पितुः पुत्रो भवति धर्मतः ॥१५-८-८॥
But I am a son; my father is venerable, king, and teacher to me. By dharma, the son should obey the command of the father. (15-8-8)
इत्युक्तः स तु तं प्राह व्यासो धर्मभृतां वरः। युधिष्ठिरं महातेजाः पुनरेव विशां पते ॥१५-८-९॥
Thus addressed, Vyāsa, the best among upholders of righteousness, again spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira, the highly radiant lord of men. (15-8-9)
एवमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि भारत। राजायं वृद्धतां प्राप्तः प्रमाणे परमे स्थितः ॥१५-८-१०॥
O mighty-armed Bhārata, it is indeed as you say. This king has attained old age and is situated in supreme authority. (15-8-10)
सोऽयं मयाभ्यनुज्ञातस्त्वया च पृथिवीपते। करोतु स्वमभिप्रायं मास्य विघ्नकरो भव ॥१५-८-११॥
He, having been permitted by me and by you, O king, let him carry out his intention; do not create obstacles for him. (15-8-11)
एष एव परो धर्मो राजर्षीणां युधिष्ठिर। समरे वा भवेन्मृत्युर्वने वा विधिपूर्वकम् ॥१५-८-१२॥
This is truly the highest duty of royal sages, O Yudhisthira: to either meet death in battle, or to reside in the forest according to prescribed rules. (15-8-12)
पित्रा तु तव राजेन्द्र पाण्डुना पृथिवीक्षिता। शिष्यभूतेन राजायं गुरुवत्पर्युपासितः ॥१५-८-१३॥
But by your father Pāṇḍu, O best of kings, the earth was ruled; this king, having become as a disciple, served him as a teacher. (15-8-13)
क्रतुभिर्दक्षिणावद्भिरन्नपर्वतशोभितैः। महद्भिरिष्टं भोगाश्च भुक्ताः पुत्राश्च पालिताः ॥१५-८-१४॥
Sacrifices were performed, generously endowed and adorned with heaps of food; great enjoyments were experienced and sons were protected. (15-8-14)
पुत्रसंस्थं च विपुलं राज्यं विप्रोषिते त्वयि। त्रयोदशसमा भुक्तं दत्तं च विविधं वसु ॥१५-८-१५॥
The extensive kingdom, established in the son, was enjoyed for thirteen years during your absence, and various kinds of wealth were given. (15-8-15)
त्वया चायं नरव्याघ्र गुरुशुश्रूषया नृपः। आराधितः सभृत्येन गान्धारी च यशस्विनी ॥१५-८-१६॥
By you, this king—tiger among men—has been pleased through service to the elders, along with his attendants; and Gandhari, the illustrious woman, too. (15-8-16)
अनुजानीहि पितरं समयोऽस्य तपोविधौ। न मन्युर्विद्यते चास्य सुसूक्ष्मोऽपि युधिष्ठिर ॥१५-८-१७॥
Allow the father, for this is his proper time for ascetic observance; in him, O Yudhiṣṭhira, not even the subtlest anger exists. (15-8-17)
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनमनुज्ञाप्य च पार्थिवम्। तथास्त्विति च तेनोक्तः कौन्तेयेन ययौ वनम् ॥१५-८-१८॥
Having said this much and permitting the king, and receiving the words 'So be it' from the son of Kunti, he departed to the forest. (15-8-18)
गते भगवति व्यासे राजा पाण्डुसुतस्ततः। प्रोवाच पितरं वृद्धं मन्दं मन्दमिवानतः ॥१५-८-१९॥
After the venerable Vyāsa had gone, the king, son of Pāṇḍu, bowed and gradually spoke in a gentle manner to his aged father. (15-8-19)
यदाह भगवान्व्यासो यच्चापि भवतो मतम्। यदाह च महेष्वासः कृपो विदुर एव च ॥१५-८-२०॥
Whatever the venerable Vyāsa has said, and whatever is your opinion, and what the mighty-armed Kṛpa and Vidura have said—(15-8-20)
युयुत्सुः सञ्जयश्चैव तत्कर्तास्म्यहमञ्जसा। सर्वे ह्येतेऽनुमान्या मे कुलस्यास्य हितैषिणः ॥१५-८-२१॥
Yuyutsu, Sañjaya, and indeed I myself am the direct doer. All these, indeed, are to be honored by me as well-wishers of this family. (15-8-21)
इदं तु याचे नृपते त्वामहं शिरसा नतः। क्रियतां तावदाहारस्ततो गच्छाश्रमं प्रति ॥१५-८-२२॥
But this I request of you, O king, with my head bowed: let food be prepared for now; after that, go to the hermitage. (15-8-22)
