15.024
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
kuntyāstu vacanaṁ śrutvā pāṇḍavā rajasattama। vrīḍitāḥ samnyavartanta pāñcālyā sahitānaghāḥ ॥15-24-1॥
But, O best of kings, hearing the words of Kuntī, the sinless Pāṇḍavas, together with Draupadī, withdrew in shame. (15-24-1)
tataḥ śabdo mahān āsīt sarveṣām eva bhārata। antaḥpurāṇāṃ rudatāṃ dṛṣṭvā kuntīṃ tathāgatām ॥15-24-2॥
Then, O Bhārata, a great clamor arose among all, when the women of the inner chambers who were weeping saw Kuntī, who had just arrived. (15-24-2)
pradakṣiṇam athāvṛtya rājānaṃ pāṇḍavās tadā। abhivādya nyavartanta pṛthāṃ tām anivartya vai॥15-24-3॥
At that time, the Pāṇḍavas circumambulated the king to the right and, after saluting him, withdrew, not making Pṛthā (Kuntī) turn back, indeed. (15-24-3)
tato'bravīn mahārājo dhṛtarāṣṭro'mbikāsutaḥ. gāndhārīṃ viduraṃ caiva samābhāṣya nigṛhya ca ॥15-24-4॥
Then the great king Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, spoke to Gandhari and Vidura, after addressing and restraining them. (15-24-4)
yudhiṣṭhirasya jananī devī sādhu nivartyatām। yathā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ prāha tatsarvaṃ satyameva hi ॥15-24-5॥
Let the mother of Yudhiṣṭhira, the lady, be respectfully called back. All that Yudhiṣṭhira said is indeed true. (15-24-5)
putraiśvaryaṃ mahadidam apāsya ca mahāphalam। kā nu gacched vanaṃ durgaṃ putrān utsṛjya mūḍhavat ॥15-24-6॥
Having given up sons and great sovereignty, and abandoning great benefit, which woman indeed would go into the difficult forest, abandoning her sons like one bewildered? (15-24-6)
rājyasthayā tapastaptaṃ dānaṃ dattaṃ vrataṃ kṛtam। anayā śakyam adya iha śrūyatāṃ ca vaco mama ॥15-24-7॥
She who has remained in the kingdom has performed austerities, given charity, and undertaken vows. By her, it is possible today; now let my word also be heard. (15-24-7)
gāndhāri parituṣṭo'smi vadhvāḥ śuśrūṣaṇena vai. tasmāttvam enāṃ dharmajñe samanujñātum arhasi ॥15-24-8॥
O Gāndhārī, I am indeed fully satisfied with the daughter-in-law's service. Therefore, O knower of dharma, you ought to grant her full permission. (15-24-8)
ityuktā saubaleyī tu rājñā kuntīm uvāca ha। tatsarvaṁ rājavacanaṁ svaṁ ca vākyaṁ viśeṣavat ॥15-24-9॥
Thus addressed by the king, Saubali's daughter (Gāndhārī) spoke to Kuntī. She especially expressed all the king's words and her own speech. (15-24-9)
na ca sā vanavāsāya devīṃ kṛtamatim tadā। śaknotyupāvartayituṃ kuntīṃ dharmaparāṃ satīm ॥15-24-10॥
And at that time, she is not able to turn back Kuntī, the noble lady who had made up her mind for the forest, who was devoted to dharma and virtuous. (15-24-10)
tasyāstu taṃ sthiraṃ jñātvā vyavasāyaṃ kurustriyaḥ। nivṛttāṃś ca kuruśreṣṭhān dṛṣṭvā prarurudus tadā ॥15-24-11॥
However, when the Kuru women saw her firm resolve and the noble Kurus who had withdrawn, they broke into loud weeping. (15-24-11)
upāvṛtteṣu pārtheṣu sarveṣv antaḥpureṣu ca। yayau rājā mahāprājño dhṛtarāṣṭro vanaṃ tadā॥15-24-12॥
At that time, when all the Pāṇḍavas had withdrawn and all the inner apartments likewise, the greatly wise king Dhṛtarāṣṭra went to the forest. (15-24-12)
pāṇḍavā api dīnāste duḥkhaśokaparāyaṇāḥ। yānaiḥ strīsahitāḥ sarve puraṃ praviviśustadā॥15-24-13॥
The Pāṇḍavas, too, dejected and wholly given over to sorrow and grief, all entered the city along with the women in vehicles at that time. (15-24-13)
tad ahṛṣṭam ivākūjaṃ gatotsavam ivābhavat। nagaraṃ hāstinapuraṃ sa-strī-vṛddha-kumārakam ॥15-24-14॥
That city of Hastinapura, with its women, elders, and children, became joyless, seemingly silent, as if all festivity had departed. (15-24-14)
sarve cāsannirutsāhāḥ pāṇḍavā jātamanyavaḥ। kuntyā hīnāḥ suduḥkhārtā vatsā iva vinākṛtāḥ॥15-24-15॥
All the Pāṇḍavas, utterly dispirited, filled with anger, bereft of Kuntī, and deeply afflicted with grief, were like calves left without their mother. (15-24-15)
dhṛtarāṣṭras tu tenāhnā gatvā sumahad antaram। tato bhāgīrathī-tīre nivāsam akarot prabhuḥ ॥15-24-16॥
But Dhritarashtra, on that day, having traveled a very great distance, then made his residence on the bank of the Bhagirathi river. (15-24-16)
prāduṣkṛtā yathā-nyāyam agnayo veda-pāragaiḥ। vyarājanta dvija-śreṣṭhaiḥ tatra tatra tapa-dhanaiḥ॥ prāduṣkṛtāgnir abhavat sa ca vṛddho narādhipaḥ॥15-24-17॥
The fires were duly kindled by Vedic scholars; throughout the place, the best Brahmins and ascetics caused them to shine. The king, now aged, also kindled the sacred fire. (15-24-17)
sa rājāgnīn paryupāsya hutvā ca vidhivat tadā। sandhyāgataṃ sahasrāṃśum upātiṣṭhata bhārata ॥15-24-18॥
He, the king, after duly worshipping the fires and performing the sacrifice as prescribed, then approached the Sun who had appeared at twilight, O Bhārata. (15-24-18)
viduraḥ sañjayaś caiva rājñaḥ śayyāṁ kuśais tataḥ। cakratuḥ kuru-vīrasya gāndhāryāś ca avidūrataḥ॥15-24-19॥
Vidura and Sañjaya, then, prepared the king's bed of kuśa grass not far from Gāndhārī and the heroic Kuru. (15-24-19)
gāndhāryāḥ saṁnikarṣe tu niṣasāda kuśeṣvatha। yudhiṣṭhirasya jananī kuntī sādhuvrate sthitā ॥15-24-20॥
Kunti, the mother of Yudhisthira, who was devoted to righteous vows, sat down on the kuśa grass near Gandhari. (15-24-20)
teṣāṃ saṃśravaṇe cāpi niṣedur vidurādayaḥ। yājakāś ca yathoddeśaṃ dvijā ye cānuyāyinaḥ॥15-24-21॥
At that hearing, Vidura and others also took their seats. The sacrificers, the twice-born, and their followers sat down according to their position. (15-24-21)
prādhītadvijamukhyā sā samprajvālitapāvakā। babhūva teṣāṃ rajanī brāhmīva prītivardhanī ॥15-24-22॥
She, surrounded by the chief learned brāhmaṇas and blazing fire, became for them a night like that sacred to Brahmā, increasing their joy. (15-24-22)
tato rātryāṃ vyatītāyāṃ kṛtapūrvāhṇikakriyāḥ। hutvāgniṃ vidhivatsarve prayayuste yathākramam ॥ udaṅmukhā nirīkṣanta upavāsaparāyaṇāḥ ॥15-24-23॥
Then, when the night had passed and the morning rites were performed, all of them offered oblations to the fire in due order and set out; facing north, they looked on, dedicated to fasting. (15-24-23)
sa teṣām atiduḥkho'bhūn nivāsaḥ prathame 'hani. śocatāṃ śocyamānānāṃ paurajanapadair janaiḥ ॥15-24-24॥
Their residence was extremely sorrowful on the first day, with grieving and lamenting people among the townsmen and country folk. (15-24-24)
