15.029
पाण्डवानां धृतराष्ट्राश्रमाभिगमनम्
The Pāṇḍavas' approach to Dhṛtarāṣṭra's hermitage.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said;
एवं ते पुरुषव्याघ्राः पाण्डवा मातृनन्दनाः। स्मरन्तो मातरं वीरा बभूवुर्भृशदुःखिताः ॥१५-२९-१॥
Thus the Pāṇḍavas, tigers among men and loved by their mother, remembering their mother, became deeply distressed. (15-29-1)
ये राजकार्येषु पुरा व्यासक्ता नित्यशोऽभवन्। ते राजकार्याणि तदा नाकार्षुः सर्वतः पुरे ॥१५-२९-२॥
Those who were previously always absorbed in royal duties did not perform royal duties at all in the city at that time. (15-29-2)
आविष्टा इव शोकेन नाभ्यनन्दन्त किञ्चन। सम्भाष्यमाणा अपि ते न किञ्चित्प्रत्यपूजयन् ॥१५-२९-३॥
As if overcome by grief, they did not rejoice at all; even when spoken to, they gave no reply. (15-29-3)
ते स्म वीरा दुराधर्षा गाम्भीर्ये सागरोपमाः। शोकोपहतविज्ञाना नष्टसञ्ज्ञा इवाभवन् ॥१५-२९-४॥
Those heroes, who were difficult to overcome and deep like the ocean, indeed became as if their intelligence was afflicted by grief and their consciousness lost. (15-29-4)
अनुस्मरन्तो जननीं ततस्ते कुरुनन्दनाः। कथं नु वृद्धमिथुनं वहत्यद्य पृथा कृशा ॥१५-२९-५॥
Then, as they remembered their mother, the descendants of Kuru wondered: 'How does the emaciated Pṛthā carry the aged couple today?' (15-29-5)
कथं च स महीपालो हतपुत्रो निराश्रयः। पत्न्या सह वसत्येको वने श्वापदसेविते ॥१५-२९-६॥
How does that king, whose son was slain and who is without support, live alone with his wife in a forest inhabited by wild beasts? (15-29-6)
सा च देवी महाभागा गान्धारी हतबान्धवा। पतिमन्धं कथं वृद्धमन्वेति विजने वने ॥१५-२९-७॥
That noble and greatly fortunate lady Gandhari, whose relatives are slain, how does she follow her aged and blind husband in the solitude of the forest? (15-29-7)
एवं तेषां कथयतामौत्सुक्यमभवत्तदा। गमने चाभवद्बुद्धिर्धृतराष्ट्रदिदृक्षया ॥१५-२९-८॥
Thus, as they were speaking, eagerness arose among them at that time. The intention to depart also arose, out of a desire to see Dhritarashtra. (15-29-8)
सहदेवस्तु राजानं प्रणिपत्येदमब्रवीत्। अहो मे भवतो दृष्टं हृदयं गमनं प्रति ॥१५-२९-९॥
But Sahadeva bowed to the king and said: "Indeed, I see your heart is set on departing." (15-29-9)
न हि त्वा गौरवेणाहमशकं वक्तुमात्मना। गमनं प्रति राजेन्द्र तदिदं समुपस्थितम् ॥१५-२९-१०॥
O king, indeed, it was out of respect for you that I was not able to personally speak about the departure; now this has arrived. (15-29-10)
दिष्ट्या द्रक्ष्यामि तां कुन्तीं वर्तयन्तीं तपस्विनीम्। जटिलां तापसीं वृद्धां कुशकाशपरिक्षताम् ॥१५-२९-११॥
By good fortune, I shall see that Kuntī, persevering as an ascetic woman, with matted hair, aged, a female ascetic worn by kusa and kāśa grasses. (15-29-11)
प्रासादहर्म्यसंवृद्धामत्यन्तसुखभागिनीम्। कदा नु जननीं श्रान्तां द्रक्ष्यामि भृशदुःखिताम् ॥१५-२९-१२॥
When shall I see my mother, who grew up in palaces, who was always happy, now tired and greatly distressed? (15-29-12)
अनित्याः खलु मर्त्यानां गतयो भरतर्षभ। कुन्ती राजसुता यत्र वसत्यसुखिनी वने ॥१५-२९-१३॥
The ways of mortals are indeed impermanent, O best of the Bharatas; Kuntī, the royal princess, is living unhappily in the forest. (15-29-13)
सहदेववचः श्रुत्वा द्रौपदी योषितां वरा। उवाच देवी राजानमभिपूज्याभिनन्द्य च ॥१५-२९-१४॥
Hearing Sahadeva's words, Draupadī, the foremost among women, respectfully honored and greeted the king, and then the lady spoke. (15-29-14)
कदा द्रक्ष्यामि तां देवीं यदि जीवति सा पृथा। जीवन्त्या ह्यद्य नः प्रीतिर्भविष्यति नराधिप ॥१५-२९-१५॥
When shall I see that divine lady? If she, Pṛthā, is alive, our joy will indeed be today through her, O ruler of men. (15-29-15)
एषा तेऽस्तु मतिर्नित्यं धर्मे ते रमतां मनः। योऽद्य त्वमस्मान्राजेन्द्र श्रेयसा योजयिष्यसि ॥१५-२९-१६॥
Let this be your constant resolve—may your mind always delight in dharma. Today, O king, you will unite us with what is auspicious. (15-29-16)
अग्रपादस्थितं चेमं विद्धि राजन्वधूजनम्। काङ्क्षन्तं दर्शनं कुन्त्या गान्धार्याः श्वशुरस्य च ॥१५-२९-१७॥
O king, know these women standing at the front as the family’s women, desiring to see Kuntī, Gāndhārī, and their father-in-law. (15-29-17)
इत्युक्तः स नृपो देव्या पाञ्चाल्या भरतर्षभ। सेनाध्यक्षान्समानाय्य सर्वानिदमथाब्रवीत् ॥१५-२९-१८॥
O bull among the Bharatas, thus addressed by the queen Pāñcālī, the king then summoned all the generals and spoke as follows. (15-29-18)
निर्यातयत मे सेनां प्रभूतरथकुञ्जराम्। द्रक्ष्यामि वनसंस्थं च धृतराष्ट्रं महीपतिम् ॥१५-२९-१९॥
Send forth my army, which is rich in chariots and elephants. I will also see King Dhritarashtra residing in the forest. (15-29-19)
स्त्र्यध्यक्षांश्चाब्रवीद्राजा यानानि विविधानि मे। सज्जीक्रियन्तां सर्वाणि शिबिकाश्च सहस्रशः ॥१५-२९-२०॥
The king said to the women-superintendents, "Let all my various vehicles be prepared, and palanquins by the thousands as well." (15-29-20)
शकटापणवेशाश्च कोशशिल्पिन एव च। निर्यान्तु कोशपालाश्च कुरुक्षेत्राश्रमं प्रति ॥१५-२९-२१॥
Let those who appear as cart-drivers, shopkeepers, and booth-holders, as well as the treasury artificers and also the treasury guards, proceed to the hermitage of Kurukṣetra. (15-29-21)
यश्च पौरजनः कश्चिद्द्रष्टुमिच्छति पार्थिवम्। अनावृतः सुविहितः स च यातु सुरक्षितः ॥१५-२९-२२॥
Any townsman who wishes to see the king, if he is properly dressed and uncovered, may also go, provided he is protected. (15-29-22)
सूदाः पौरोगवाश्चैव सर्वं चैव महानसम्। विविधं भक्ष्यभोज्यं च शकटैरुह्यतां मम ॥१५-२९-२३॥
Let the cooks, the ceremonial priests, and all the kitchen equipment, along with various foods to be eaten and enjoyed, be transported by carts for me. (15-29-23)
प्रयाणं घुष्यतां चैव श्वोभूत इति मा चिरम्। क्रियन्तां पथि चाप्यद्य वेश्मानि विविधानि च ॥१५-२९-२४॥
Let the departure be proclaimed—"the journey is tomorrow"—do not delay. Let various dwellings also be constructed along the route today. (15-29-24)
एवमाज्ञाप्य राजा स भ्रातृभिः सह पाण्डवः। श्वोभूते निर्ययौ राजा सस्त्रीबालपुरस्कृतः ॥१५-२९-२५॥
Thus, having given the orders, that king, the Pāṇḍava, together with his brothers, when the next day arrived, set out with women and children at the forefront. (15-29-25)
स बहिर्दिवसानेवं जनौघं परिपालयन्। न्यवसन्नृपतिः पञ्च ततोऽगच्छद्वनं प्रति ॥१५-२९-२६॥
Thus, the king dwelled outside, protecting the multitude of people for five days; then he went towards the forest. (15-29-26)
