15.013
धृतराष्ट्रवाक्यम्
The speech of Dhritarashtra.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
एवमेतत्करिष्यामि यथात्थ पृथिवीपते। भूयश्चैवानुशास्योऽहं भवता पार्थिवर्षभ ॥१५-१३-१॥
I will do this exactly as you have said, O lord of the earth. And again, I am to be instructed by you, O best of kings. (15-13-1)
भीष्मे स्वर्गमनुप्राप्ते गते च मधुसूदने। विदुरे सञ्जये चैव कोऽन्यो मां वक्तुमर्हति ॥१५-१३-२॥
With Bhīṣma having ascended to heaven, Madhusūdana departed, and Vidura and Sañjaya too—who else is worthy to address me? (15-13-2)
यत्तु मामनुशास्तीह भवानद्य हिते स्थितः। कर्तास्म्येतन्महीपाल निर्वृतो भव भारत ॥१५-१३-३॥
O Bhārata, O king, be satisfied, for I will do that which you here today instruct me as beneficial. (15-13-3)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एवमुक्तः स राजर्षिर्धर्मराजेन धीमता। कौन्तेयं समनुज्ञातुमियेष भरतर्षभ ॥१५-१३-४॥
O best of the Bharatas, thus addressed by the wise Dharmarāja, the royal sage wished to obtain Kunteya's permission. (15-13-4)
पुत्र विश्रम्यतां तावन्ममापि बलवाञ्श्रमः। इत्युक्त्वा प्राविशद्राजा गान्धार्या भवनं तदा ॥१५-१३-५॥
“Son, you should rest for a while; I too am quite weary.” Thus having spoken, the king then entered Gāndhārī's palace. (15-13-5)
तमासनगतं देवी गान्धारी धर्मचारिणी। उवाच काले कालज्ञा प्रजापतिसमं पतिम् ॥१५-१३-६॥
The righteous lady Gāndhārī, knowing the proper time, spoke to her husband—who was seated and equal to Prajāpati—at the appropriate moment. (15-13-6)
अनुज्ञातः स्वयं तेन व्यासेनापि महर्षिणा। युधिष्ठिरस्यानुमते कदारण्यं गमिष्यसि ॥१५-१३-७॥
Having been permitted yourself by him, by Vyāsa who is also a great sage, and with the approval of Yudhiṣṭhira, when will you go to the forest? (15-13-7)
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra said.
गान्धार्यहमनुज्ञातः स्वयं पित्रा महात्मना। युधिष्ठिरस्यानुमते गन्तास्मि नचिराद्वनम् ॥१५-१३-८॥
I have been permitted by Gāndhārī and myself by my great-souled father; with Yudhiṣṭhira's approval, I will soon go to the forest. (15-13-8)
अहं हि नाम सर्वेषां तेषां दुर्द्यूतदेविनाम्। पुत्राणां दातुमिच्छामि प्रेत्यभावानुगं वसु ॥ सर्वप्रकृतिसांनिध्यं कारयित्वा स्ववेश्मनि ॥१५-१३-९॥
I indeed truly desire to give, after my death, the wealth belonging to all those men skilled in evil dice to their sons, having caused it to be done in my own house in the presence of all officials. (15-13-9)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
इत्युक्त्वा धर्मराजाय प्रेषयामास पार्थिवः। स च तद्वचनात्सर्वं समानिन्ये महीपतिः ॥१५-१३-१०॥
Having said this, the king sent it to Dharmarāja; and, by that command, the ruler of the earth brought everything. (15-13-10)
ततो निष्क्रम्य नृपतिस्तस्मादन्तःपुरात्तदा। सर्वं सुहृज्जनं चैव सर्वाश्च प्रकृतीस्तथा ॥ समवेतांश्च तान्सर्वान्पौरजानपदानथ ॥१५-१३-११॥
Then the king, having come out from the inner palace at that time, summoned all his friends, officials, as well as all the assembled citizens and country people. (15-13-11)
ब्राह्मणांश्च महीपालान्नानादेशसमागतान्। ततः प्राह महातेजा धृतराष्ट्रो महीपतिः ॥१५-१३-१२॥
Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the king of great splendor, then spoke to the brāhmaṇas and kings who had assembled from various regions. (15-13-12)
शृण्वन्त्येकाग्रमनसो ब्राह्मणाः कुरुजाङ्गलाः। क्षत्रियाश्चैव वैश्याश्च शूद्राश्चैव समागताः ॥१५-१३-१३॥
The Brāhmaṇas of Kurujāṅgala, with concentrated minds, listen; and the Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras too, all assembled. (15-13-13)
भवन्तः कुरवश्चैव बहुकालं सहोषिताः। परस्परस्य सुहृदः परस्परहिते रताः ॥१५-१३-१४॥
You and the Kurus have long lived together as friends, devoted to each other's welfare. (15-13-14)
यदिदानीमहं ब्रूयामस्मिन्काल उपस्थिते। तथा भवद्भिः कर्तव्यमविचार्य वचो मम ॥१५-१३-१५॥
Whatever I now say at this present time, that should be done by you all, without questioning my word. (15-13-15)
अरण्यगमने बुद्धिर्गान्धारीसहितस्य मे। व्यासस्यानुमते राज्ञस्तथा कुन्तीसुतस्य च ॥ भवन्तोऽप्यनुजानन्तु मा वोऽन्या भूद्विचारणा ॥१५-१३-१६॥
My decision to go to the forest along with Gāndhārī is made with the approval of Vyāsa, the king, and Kuntī's son. You also should permit it, and let there be no other deliberation among you. (15-13-16)
अस्माकं भवतां चैव येयं प्रीतिर्हि शाश्वती। न चान्येष्वस्ति देशेषु राज्ञामिति मतिर्मम ॥१५-१३-१७॥
The affection that exists between us and you is truly eternal; I believe such affection among kings is not found in other lands. (15-13-17)
श्रान्तोऽस्मि वयसानेन तथा पुत्रविनाकृतः। उपवासकृशश्चास्मि गान्धारीसहितोऽनघाः ॥१५-१३-१८॥
I am exhausted by old age and also have become bereft of my son; I am emaciated by fasting, together with Gandhari, O sinless ones. (15-13-18)
युधिष्ठिरगते राज्ये प्राप्तश्चास्मि सुखं महत्। मन्ये दुर्योधनैश्वर्याद्विशिष्टमिति सत्तमाः ॥१५-१३-१९॥
Now that Yudhishthira has gained the kingdom, I have found great happiness. I consider this to be superior to the sovereignty of Duryodhana, O best of men. (15-13-19)
मम त्वन्धस्य वृद्धस्य हतपुत्रस्य का गतिः। ऋते वनं महाभागास्तन्मानुज्ञातुमर्हथ ॥१५-१३-२०॥
But for me—being blind, old, and bereft of my son—what other path is there? Except the forest; O highly fortunate ones, you ought to permit me that. (15-13-20)
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वे ते कुरुजाङ्गलाः। बाष्पसंदिग्धया वाचा रुरुदुर्भरतर्षभ ॥१५-१३-२१॥
O bull of the Bharatas, all those Kurujāṅgalas, having heard his words, wept with voices choked by tears. (15-13-21)
तानविब्रुवतः किञ्चिद्दुःखशोकपरायणान्। पुनरेव महातेजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥१५-१३-२२॥
Seeing them silent and somewhat absorbed in sorrow and grief, the mighty Dhritarashtra again spoke as follows. (15-13-22)
