15.029
pāṇḍavānāṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrāśramābhigamanam
The Pāṇḍavas' approach to Dhṛtarāṣṭra's hermitage.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said;
evaṃ te puruṣavyāghrāḥ pāṇḍavā mātṛ-nandanāḥ। smaranto mātaraṃ vīrā babhūvur bhṛśa-duḥkhitāḥ॥15-29-1॥
Thus the Pāṇḍavas, tigers among men and loved by their mother, remembering their mother, became deeply distressed. (15-29-1)
ye rājakāryeṣu purā vyāsaktā nityaśo'bhavan। te rājakāryāṇi tadā nākārṣuḥ sarvataḥ pure ॥15-29-2॥
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)
āviṣṭā iva śokena nābhyanandanta kiñcana। sambhāṣyamāṇā api te na kiñcit pratyapūjayan॥15-29-3॥
As if overcome by grief, they did not rejoice at all; even when spoken to, they gave no reply. (15-29-3)
te sma vīrā durādharṣā gāmbhīrye sāgaropamāḥ। śokopahatavijñānā naṣṭasaṃjñā ivābhavan ॥15-29-4॥
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)
anusmaranto jananīṁ tataste kurunandanāḥ। kathaṁ nu vṛddhamithunaṁ vahatyadya pṛthā kṛśā ॥15-29-5॥
Then, as they remembered their mother, the descendants of Kuru wondered: 'How does the emaciated Pṛthā carry the aged couple today?' (15-29-5)
kathaṁ ca sa mahīpālo hataputro nirāśrayaḥ। patnyā saha vasatyeko vane śvāpadasevite ॥15-29-6॥
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)
sā ca devī mahābhāgā gāndhārī hatabāndhavā। patim andhaṃ kathaṃ vṛddham anveti vijane vane ॥15-29-7॥
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)
evaṁ teṣāṁ kathayatām autsukyam abhavat tadā। gamane ca abhavat buddhiḥ dhṛtarāṣṭra-didṛkṣayā॥15-29-8॥
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)
sahadevastu rājānaṃ praṇipatyedamabravīt। aho me bhavato dṛṣṭaṃ hṛdayaṃ gamanaṃ prati॥15-29-9॥
But Sahadeva bowed to the king and said: "Indeed, I see your heart is set on departing." (15-29-9)
na hi tvā gauraveṇa aham aśakaṃ vaktum ātmanā। gamanam prati rājendra tat idaṃ samupasthitam ॥15-29-10॥
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)
diṣṭyā drakṣyāmi tāṃ kuntīṃ vartayantīṃ tapasvinīm। jaṭilāṃ tāpasīṃ vṛddhāṃ kuśakāśa-parikṣatām॥15-29-11॥
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)
prāsādaharmyasaṁvṛddhām atyantasukhabhāginīm। kadā nu jananīṁ śrāntāṁ drakṣyāmi bhṛśaduḥkhitām॥15-29-12॥
When shall I see my mother, who grew up in palaces, who was always happy, now tired and greatly distressed? (15-29-12)
anityāḥ khalu martyānāṃ gatayo bharatarṣabha। kuntī rājasutā yatra vasatyasukhinī vane ॥15-29-13॥
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)
sahadevavacaḥ śrutvā draupadī yoṣitāṃ varā। uvāca devī rājānam abhipūjyābhinandya ca ॥15-29-14॥
Hearing Sahadeva's words, Draupadī, the foremost among women, respectfully honored and greeted the king, and then the lady spoke. (15-29-14)
kadā drakṣyāmi tāṃ devīṃ yadi jīvati sā pṛthā। jīvantyā hyadya naḥ prītirbhaviṣyati narādhipa ॥15-29-15॥
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)
eṣā te'stu matir nityaṃ dharme te ramatāṃ manaḥ। yo'dya tvam asmān rājendra śreyasā yojayiṣyasi॥15-29-16॥
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)
agrapādasthitaṃ cemaṃ viddhi rājanvadhūjanam। kāṅkṣantaṃ darśanaṃ kuntyā gāndhāryāḥ śvaśurasya ca ॥15-29-17॥
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)
ityuktaḥ sa nṛpo devyā pāñcālyā bharatarṣabha। senādhyakṣān samānāyya sarvān idam athābravīt ॥15-29-18॥
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)
niryātayata me senāṃ prabhūtarathakuñjarām। drakṣyāmi vanasaṃsthaṃ ca dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ mahīpatim ॥15-29-19॥
Send forth my army, which is rich in chariots and elephants. I will also see King Dhritarashtra residing in the forest. (15-29-19)
stryadhyakṣāṁścābravīdrājā yānāni vividhāni me। sajjīkriyantāṁ sarvāṇi śibikāśca sahasraśaḥ ॥15-29-20॥
The king said to the women-superintendents, "Let all my various vehicles be prepared, and palanquins by the thousands as well." (15-29-20)
śaṭakāpaṇaveśāś ca kośaśilpina eva ca। niryāntu kośapālāś ca kurukṣetrāśramaṃ prati॥15-29-21॥
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)
yaś ca paurajanaḥ kaścid draṣṭum icchati pārthivam। anāvṛtaḥ suvihitaḥ sa ca yātu surakṣitaḥ॥15-29-22॥
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)
sūdāḥ paurogavāś caiva sarvaṃ caiva mahānasam। vividhaṃ bhakṣyabhojyaṃ ca śakaṭair uhyatāṃ mama ॥15-29-23॥
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)
prayāṇaṃ ghuṣyatāṃ caiva śvobhūta iti mā ciram। kriyantāṃ pathi cāpyadya veśmāni vividhāni ca ॥15-29-24॥
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)
evam-ājñāpya rājā sa bhrātṛbhiḥ saha pāṇḍavaḥ। śvobhūte niryayau rājā sa-strī-bāla-puraskṛtaḥ ॥15-29-25॥
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)
sa bahirdivasānevaṁ janaughaṁ paripālayan। nyavasan nṛpatiḥ pañca tato'gacchad vanaṁ prati॥15-29-26॥
Thus, the king dwelled outside, protecting the multitude of people for five days; then he went towards the forest. (15-29-26)
