15.021
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s departure to the forest
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then, at dawn, King Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, summoned the heroic Pāṇḍavas, who were preparing for exile. (15-21-1)
The wise one, together with Gandhari, having honored the Brahmanas according to rule, had a sacrifice performed in the month of Karttika by those well-versed in the Vedas. (15-21-2)
Having placed the Agnihotra ritual in front, the king, clad in bark and deerskin and surrounded by his bride, then departed from the house. (15-21-3)
Then, when King Vicitravīrya had departed, the women of the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas, along with other women of the Kaurava royal lineage, their wail arose at that time. (15-21-4)
Then, the king honored that house with offerings of parched grains, auspicious flowers, and various articles. Having gathered and dismissed all the servants after distributing duties, the king departed. (15-21-5)
Then King Yudhisthira, trembling with folded hands and a voice choked with tears, cried out loudly, "Alas, O great king, O noble one, where will you go?"—speaking thus, O dear father, he fell to the ground. (15-21-6)
Thus Arjuna, overwhelmed by intense pain, sighed again and again; having said to Yudhiṣṭhira, "Do not [do] thus," restraining himself, he then bore up, though fainting. (15-21-7)
Vṛkodara (Bhīma), Phālguna (Arjuna), both heroes, the sons of Mādrī (Nakula and Sahadeva), Vidura, Sañjaya, the son of a Vaiśyā (Yuyutsu) along with Gautama (Kṛpa), Dhaumya, and the Brāhmaṇas followed, their voices choked with tears. (15-21-8)
Kuntī, as Gāndhārī, her eyes bound, went on—her hand attached to the shoulder, now guided her. The king Dhṛtarāṣṭra, having placed Gāndhārī's hand on his shoulder, went forth with confidence. (15-21-9)
Thus, Kṛṣṇā, Draupadī, Yādavī, and also Uttarā with her child, Kauravī, Citrāṅgadā, and certain other women set out together with the king along with the brides. (15-21-10)
The sound of those weeping women was like the loud cries of kurarī birds in grief. Then, from all around, the women of Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras came out. (15-21-11)
O king, at their departure, the citizens of Hastināpura became extremely distressed, just as they had earlier when the Pāṇḍavas departed after the dice game in the Kauravas’ assembly. (15-21-12)
The queens, who had never seen either the moon or the sun, when that king of the Kurus departed for the great forest, afflicted by grief, reached the royal road. (15-21-13)
