15.008
vyāsavākyam
Statement of Vyāsa;
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
yudhiṣṭhira mahābāho yadāha kurunandanaḥ। dhṛtarāṣṭro mahātmā tvāṃ tat kuruṣvāvicārayan ॥15-8-1॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, mighty-armed, when Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the great-souled Kuru, said something to you, do that without hesitation. (15-8-1)
ayaṁ hi vṛddho nṛpatirhataputro viśeṣataḥ। nedaṁ kṛcchraṁ cirataraṁ sahediti matirmama॥15-8-2॥
This aged king, who has lost his son, especially, could not bear this affliction for long—this is my thought. (15-8-2)
gāndhārī ca mahābhāgā prājñā karuṇavedinī. putraśokaṃ mahārāja dhairyeṇodvahate bhṛśam ॥15-8-3॥
O great king, Gandhari, who is most fortunate, wise, and compassionate, endures the grief for her sons with great courage. (15-8-3)
aham apy etad eva tvāṁ bravīmi kuru me vacaḥ। anujñāṁ labhatāṁ rājā mā vṛtheha mariṣyati॥15-8-4॥
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)
rājarṣīṇāṃ purāṇānām-anuyātu gatiṃ nṛpaḥ। rājarṣīṇāṃ hi sarveṣām-ante vanam-upāśrayaḥ॥15-8-5॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ity-uktaḥ sa tadā rājā vyāsenādbhutakarmaṇā। pratyuvāca mahātejā dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥15-8-6॥
Thus addressed by Vyāsa, who performed wondrous deeds, the king, the highly radiant Dharma-rāja Yudhiṣṭhira, then replied. (15-8-6)
bhagavāneva no mānyo bhagavāneva no guruḥ। bhagavānasya rājyasya kulasya ca parāyaṇam॥15-8-7॥
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)
ahaṃ tu putro bhagavān pitā rājā guruś ca me। nideśavartī ca pituḥ putro bhavati dharmataḥ ॥15-8-8॥
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)
ity-uktaḥ sa tu taṃ prāha vyāso dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ। yudhiṣṭhiraṃ mahātejāḥ punar-eva viśāṃ pate ॥15-8-9॥
Thus addressed, Vyāsa, the best among upholders of righteousness, again spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira, the highly radiant lord of men. (15-8-9)
evam etan mahābāho yathā vadasi bhārata। rājā ayaṁ vṛddhatāṁ prāptaḥ pramāṇe parame sthitaḥ ॥15-8-10॥
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)
so'yaṁ mayābhyanujñātas tvayā ca pṛthivīpate. karotu svam abhiprāyaṁ māsya vighnakaro bhava ॥15-8-11॥
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)
eṣa eva paro dharmo rājarṣīṇāṃ yudhiṣṭhira। samare vā bhavenmṛtyurvane vā vidhipūrvakam ॥15-8-12॥
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)
pitrā tu tava rājendra pāṇḍunā pṛthivīkṣitā। śiṣyabhūtena rājāyaṃ guruvat paryupāsitaḥ ॥15-8-13॥
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)
kratubhir dakṣiṇāvadbhir annaparvataśobhitaiḥ। mahadbhir iṣṭaṃ bhogāś ca bhuktāḥ putrāś ca pālitāḥ ॥15-8-14॥
Sacrifices were performed, generously endowed and adorned with heaps of food; great enjoyments were experienced and sons were protected. (15-8-14)
putrasaṁsthaṁ ca vipulaṁ rājyaṁ viproṣite tvayi। trayodaśasamā bhuktaṁ dattaṁ ca vividhaṁ vasu ॥15-8-15॥
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)
tvayā cāyaṁ naravyāghra guruśuśrūṣayā nṛpaḥ। ārādhitaḥ sabhṛtyena gāndhārī ca yaśasvinī ॥15-8-16॥
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)
anujānīhi pitaraṃ samayo'sya tapovidhau। na manyurvidyate cāsya susūkṣmo'pi yudhiṣṭhira ॥15-8-17॥
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)
etāvad uktvā vacanam anujñāpya ca pārthivam। tathā astu iti ca tena uktaḥ kaunteyena yayau vanam॥15-8-18॥
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)
gate bhagavati vyāse rājā pāṇḍusutastataḥ। provāca pitaraṃ vṛddhaṃ mandaṃ mandamivānataḥ ॥15-8-19॥
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)
yadāha bhagavān vyāso yac cāpi bhavato matam | yad āha ca maheṣvāsaḥ kṛpo vidura eva ca ॥15-8-20॥
Whatever the venerable Vyāsa has said, and whatever is your opinion, and what the mighty-armed Kṛpa and Vidura have said—(15-8-20)
yuyutsuḥ sañjayaś caiva tatkartāsmya hamañjasā। sarve hy ete'numānyā me kulasyāsya hitaiṣiṇaḥ ॥15-8-21॥
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)
idaṃ tu yāce nṛpate tvām ahaṃ śirasā nataḥ। kriyatāṃ tāvad āhāras tato gacchāśramaṃ prati॥15-8-22॥
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)
