15.025
धृतराष्ट्रादीनां व्यासाश्रमगमनम्
The journey of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and others to Vyāsa's hermitage
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said;
ततो भागीरथीतीरे मेध्ये पुण्यजनोचिते। निवासमकरोद्राजा विदुरस्य मते स्थितः ॥१५-२५-१॥
Then, on the bank of the Bhagirathi river, in a sacred place fitting for the virtuous, the king built a dwelling in accordance with Vidura's advice. (15-25-1)
तत्रैनं पर्युपातिष्ठन्ब्राह्मणा राष्ट्रवासिनः। क्षत्रविट्शूद्रसङ्घाश्च बहवो भरतर्षभ ॥१५-२५-२॥
There, Brāhmaṇas, inhabitants of the kingdom, and many groups of Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras gathered around him from all sides, O foremost of the Bharatas. (15-25-2)
स तैः परिवृतो राजा कथाभिरभिनन्द्य तान्। अनुजज्ञे सशिष्यान्वै विधिवत्प्रतिपूज्य च ॥१५-२५-३॥
He, the king, surrounded by them, having greeted them with stories and duly honored them according to custom, permitted them along with their disciples. (15-25-3)
सायाह्ने स महीपालस्ततो गङ्गामुपेत्य ह। चकार विधिवच्छौचं गान्धारी च यशस्विनी ॥१५-२५-४॥
In the evening, the king then went to the Gaṅgā and performed purification according to the rules; the illustrious Gāndhārī also did so. (15-25-4)
तथैवान्ये पृथक्सर्वे तीर्थेष्वाप्लुत्य भारत। चक्रुः सर्वाः क्रियास्तत्र पुरुषा विदुरादयः ॥१५-२५-५॥
Similarly, O Bhārata, the other men, Vidura and the rest, all separately performed every rite there after bathing in the sacred fords. (15-25-5)
कृतशौचं ततो वृद्धं श्वशुरं कुन्तिभोजजा। गान्धारीं च पृथा राजन्गङ्गातीरमुपानयत् ॥१५-२५-६॥
O king, Kunti, the daughter of Kuntibhoja, having performed purification, led her aged father-in-law and Gandhari to the bank of the Ganga. (15-25-6)
राज्ञस्तु याजकैस्तत्र कृतो वेदीपरिस्तरः। जुहाव तत्र वह्निं स नृपतिः सत्यसङ्गरः ॥१५-२५-७॥
But the priests prepared the altar covering for the king there; and there, the king firm in truth offered oblations into the fire. (15-25-7)
ततो भागीरथीतीरात्कुरुक्षेत्रं जगाम सः। सानुगो नृपतिर्विद्वान्नियतः संयतेन्द्रियः ॥१५-२५-८॥
Then, departing from the bank of the Bhāgīrathī, the wise and self-controlled king, whose senses were restrained, together with his retinue, went to Kurukṣetra. (15-25-8)
तत्राश्रमपदं धीमानभिगम्य स पार्थिवः। आससादाथ राजर्षिः शतयूपं मनीषिणम् ॥१५-२५-९॥
There, the wise king, having approached the hermitage site, then encountered the royal-sage Śatayūpa, the wise.
स हि राजा महानासीत्केकयेषु परन्तपः। स पुत्रं मनुजैश्वर्ये निवेश्य वनमाविशत् ॥१५-२५-१०॥
He was indeed a great king among the Kekayas, a scorcher of foes. Having installed his son in human sovereignty, he entered the forest. (15-25-10)
तेनासौ सहितो राजा ययौ व्यासाश्रमं तदा। तत्रैनं विधिवद्राजन्प्रत्यगृह्णात्कुरूद्वहम् ॥१५-२५-११॥
Accompanied by him, the king then went to Vyāsa's hermitage. There, O king, the chief of the Kurus welcomed him according to the proper rites. (15-25-11)
स दीक्षां तत्र सम्प्राप्य राजा कौरवनन्दनः। शतयूपाश्रमे तस्मिन्निवासमकरोत्तदा ॥१५-२५-१२॥
He, the king, delight of the Kauravas, having received initiation there, then took up residence in the hermitage of Śatayūpa. (15-25-12)
तस्मै सर्वं विधिं राजन्राजाचख्यौ महामतिः। आरण्यकं महाराज व्यासस्यानुमते तदा ॥१५-२५-१३॥
O king, the great-minded king then declared all the procedure of the Aranyaka with the consent of Vyāsa, O great king. (15-25-13)
एवं स तपसा राजा धृतराष्ट्रो महामनाः। योजयामास चात्मानं तांश्चाप्यनुचरांस्तदा ॥१५-२५-१४॥
Thus, the great-minded king Dhritarashtra, by penance, then engaged himself and also those attendants. (15-25-14)
तथैव देवी गान्धारी वल्कलाजिनवासिनी। कुन्त्या सह महाराज समानव्रतचारिणी ॥१५-२५-१५॥
Similarly, lady Gāndhārī, wearing bark and deerskin, faithfully practiced the same vows as Kuntī, O great king. (15-25-15)
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा चक्षुषा चापि ते नृप। संनियम्येन्द्रियग्राममास्थिताः परमं तपः ॥१५-२५-१६॥
By action, mind, speech, and eye, and also having restrained the group of senses, they, O king, practice supreme austerity. (15-25-16)
त्वगस्थिभूतः परिशुष्कमांसो; जटाजिनी वल्कलसंवृताङ्गः। स पार्थिवस्तत्र तपश्चचार; महर्षिवत्तीव्रमपेतदोषः ॥१५-२५-१७॥
Having become only skin and bones, with dried-up flesh, wearing matted hair and a deerskin and bark garments covering his body, that king there practiced austerity like a great sage—intensely and free from faults. (15-25-17)
क्षत्ता च धर्मार्थविदग्र्यबुद्धिः; ससञ्जयस्तं नृपतिं सदारम्। उपाचरद्घोरतपो जितात्मा; तदा कृशो वल्कलचीरवासाः ॥१५-२५-१८॥
The charioteer,, wise in dharma and artha and possessing distinguished intellect, together with Sañjaya, attended the king and his wife, practicing severe austerity, self-controlled, emaciated, and clad in bark and rags. (15-25-18)
