15.036
Section concerning the seeing of the son
Janamejaya said.
O brāhmaṇa, when Dhṛtarāṣṭra the king went into exile in the forest with his wife, and was accompanied by queen Kuntī—O tiger among kings—(this happened). (15-36-1)
After Vidura attained perfection, and Dharma-rāja (Yudhishthira) had been entrusted there, while all the sons of Pandu dwelt in the group of hermitages. (15-36-2)
He said, "That which is the wonder, indeed I shall do thus." Vyāsa, the most resplendent great sage, please tell that to me. (15-36-3)
O twice-born, O steadfast one, how long did Yudhishthira, the king, descendant of Kuru, dwell with his people in the forest? (15-36-4)
What foods did they consume, and how did those great souls reside there with their armies and consorts? Tell me that, O sinless one. (15-36-5)
Vaiśampāyana said.
O king, having been permitted by the King of the Kurus, the Pāṇḍavas, after resting, enjoy various kinds of food and drink. (15-36-6)
They spent one month in the forest together with their army and the inner attendants. Then, O sinless one, Vyāsa arrived there just as I have told you. (15-36-7)
Thus, O king, while all of them remained with Vyāsa, in the presence of the king with various stories, other sages arrived. (15-36-8)
Nārada, Parvata, Devala, the great ascetics, Viśvāvasu, Tumburu, and Citrasena, O Bhārata. (15-36-9)
Having been permitted by Dhritarashtra, the great-minded Kuru king Yudhishthira honored even them according to propriety. (15-36-10)
Thereafter, all of them, having received honor from Yudhishthira, sat down on auspicious, excellent seats made of sacred grass. (15-36-11)
There, among those who were seated, the great-minded king, surrounded by the sons of Paṇḍu, the glory of the Kurus, sat down. (15-36-12)
Gāndhārī, Kuntī, Draupadī, and Sātvati, along with other women, also sat down there together. (15-36-13)
O king, there were among them divine and highly righteous narratives, and stories of sages and the ancient ones, mingled with gods and asuras. (15-36-14)
Then, at the end of the discourse, Vyāsa—the foremost among speakers, the best of all knowers of the Vedas, of great brilliance—being pleased, again addressed that lord possessed of the eye of wisdom with these words. (15-36-15)
O king, I know what you wished to say in your heart, as you are indeed being consumed by grief for your son. (15-36-16)
O king, the sorrow that remains in the heart of Gandhari, and also that which is in the heart of Kunti and Draupadi, O great king. (15-36-17)
And the intense suffering, arising from the loss of her son, which Subhadrā, the sister of Kṛṣṇa, endures—that too is known to me. (15-36-18)
O king, having truly heard of this assembly of all, I have arrived, O delight of the Kauravas, for the removal of doubt. (15-36-19)
Let all these devas and gandharvas, as well as all the great sages, witness today the energy of my long-accumulated austerity. (15-36-20)
O mighty-armed, let that wish be spoken which you want—I am ready to grant you a boon. See the power of my austerity. (15-36-21)
Thus addressed by Vyāsa of limitless intelligence, the king, after reflecting for a moment, began to speak. (15-36-22)
I am blessed, I am favored, and my life is fulfilled because today I have met you here, together with other virtuous ones. (15-36-23)
Today, I also understand the desired path here for the self, which I have attained by joining with you, O ascetics equal to Brahmā. (15-36-24)
Truly, by just seeing you I have been purified; there is no doubt about this. Nor do I have any fear of the afterlife, O sinless ones. (15-36-25)
However, my mind is exceedingly afflicted always as I remember that very dull, ill-intentioned one and his greed for sons. (15-36-26)
By whom the blameless Pāṇḍavas were deceitfully wronged with a wicked mind, and this earth, along with men and elephants, was suddenly destroyed. (15-36-27)
Kings, great-souled men, the lords of various lands—all came for my son's sake, and all have succumbed to death. (15-36-28)
Those heroes who, abandoning sons, wives, their lives, and all that was dear to their minds, have departed to the abode of the king of the dead (Yama). (15-36-29)
O brāhman, what indeed is the fate of those who were slain in battle for the sake of a friend? Likewise, what is the fate of my sons and grandsons who were killed in battle? (15-36-30)
My mind is constantly distressed, having caused the death of the mighty and aged Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, and Droṇa, the foremost among brāhmaṇas. (15-36-31)
My son, deluded, sinful, a hater of friends, desiring the kingdom of the earth, has brought our illustrious family to ruin. (15-36-32)
Remembering all this, I am continually consumed day and night and, afflicted by pain and grief, do not find peace. Thus, O father, for me who is pondering, there is no comfort. (15-36-33)
