15.044
yudhiṣṭhiranivartanam
The return of Yudhishthira.
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
dṛṣṭvā putrāṃs tathā pautrān sānubandhāñ janādhipaḥ। dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ kim akarod rājā caiva yudhiṣṭhiraḥ॥15-44-1॥
Having seen his sons, grandsons, and their associates, what did the lord of people, Dhritarashtra, do? And what did King Yudhishthira do? (15-44-1)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tad dṛṣṭvā mahad-āścaryaṃ putrāṇāṃ darśanaṃ punaḥ। vītaśokaḥ sa rājarṣiḥ punar āśramam āgamat ॥15-44-2॥
Having seen that great wonder—the sight of his sons again—the royal sage, free from sorrow, once more returned to the hermitage. (15-44-2)
itarastu janaḥ sarvaste caiva paramarṣayaḥ। pratijagmur yathākāmaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrābhyanujñayā ॥15-44-3॥
But the other people, all of them, along with the supreme sages, departed as they wished, with the permission of Dhritarashtra. (15-44-3)
pāṇḍavās tu mahātmāno laghubhūyiṣṭhasaianikāḥ। anujagmur mahātmānaṃ sadāraṃ taṃ mahīpatim ॥15-44-4॥
But the noble Pāṇḍavas, whose army was mostly small, followed that great-souled king along with his wife. (15-44-4)
tam āśrama-gataṃ dhīmān brahmarṣir loka-pūjitaḥ। muniḥ satyavatī-putro dhṛtarāṣṭram abhāṣata ॥15-44-5॥
The wise brahmaṛṣi, son of Satyavatī, honored by all, having come to the hermitage, addressed Dhṛtarāṣṭra. (15-44-5)
dhṛtarāṣṭra mahābāho śṛṇu kauravanandana। śrutaṃ te jñānavṛddhānām ṛṣīṇāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām ॥15-44-6॥
O Dhṛtarāṣṭra, mighty-armed, listen, O delight of the Kauravas. What you have heard comes from the sages advanced in knowledge and meritorious deeds. (15-44-6)
ṛddhābhijanavṛddhānāṃ vedavedaṅgavedinām। dharmajñānāṃ purāṇānāṃ vadatāṃ vividhāḥ kathāḥ॥15-44-7॥
There are various stories told by the prosperous, noble, and aged; by knowers of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas; by those who know dharma; by the ancient ones; and by speakers. (15-44-7)
mā sma śoke manaḥ kārṣīr diṣṭena vyathate budhaḥ। śrutaṃ devarahasyaṃ te nāradād devadarśanāt॥15-44-8॥
Do not let your mind be overcome with grief; the wise are not troubled by destiny. You have heard the secret of the gods from Nārada during the audience with the gods. (15-44-8)
gatās te kṣatradharmeṇa śastrapūtāṁ gatiṁ śubhām। yathā dṛṣṭās tvayā putrā yathākāmavihāriṇaḥ ॥15-44-9॥
Your sons, by fulfilling the kṣatriya duty, have attained an auspicious state purified by weapons—just as you saw them, enjoying themselves as they wished. (15-44-9)
yudhiṣṭhiras tv ayaṁ dhīmān bhavantam anurudhyate। sahito bhrātṛbhiḥ sarvaiḥ sadāraḥ sasuhr̥j-janaḥ ॥15-44-10॥
Yudhishthira, this wise man, follows you, accompanied by all his brothers, with his wife and his friends. (15-44-10)
visarjayainaṃ yātveṣa svarājyamanuśāsatām। māsaḥ samadhiko hyeṣāmatīto vasatāṃ vane ॥15-44-11॥
Dismiss him; let him return to the kingdom of the rulers. Indeed, more than a month has already passed while they have been residing in the forest. (15-44-11)
etad dhi nityaṃ yatnena padaṃ rakṣyaṃ parantapa। bahupratyarthikaṃ hy etad rājyaṃ nāma narādhipa ॥15-44-12॥
O scorcher of foes, this position must always be protected with effort; this kingdom is indeed called with many rivals, O ruler of men. (15-44-12)
ity uktaḥ kauravo rājā vyāsena amitabuddhinā। yudhiṣṭhiram atha āhūya vāgmī vacanam abravīt॥15-44-13॥
Thus, having been addressed by Vyāsa of immeasurable intellect, the Kaurava king, after calling Yudhiṣṭhira, the eloquent one, spoke these words. (15-44-13)
ajātaśatro bhadraṃ te śṛṇu me bhrātṛbhiḥ saha। tvatprasādān mahīpāla śoko nāsmān prabādhate॥15-44-14॥
O Ajātaśatru, blessings to you; listen to me along with my brothers. O king, it is by your grace that grief does not trouble us. (15-44-14)
rame cāhaṁ tvayā putra pureva gajasāhvaye। nāthenānugato vidvanpriyeṣu parivartinā ॥15-44-15॥
O son, once before in Gajasāhvaya, I delighted with you, being accompanied by my lord—O wise one—among dear ones, by one whose affections change. (15-44-15)
prāptaṃ putraphalaṃ tvattaḥ prītirme vipulā tvayi। na me manyur mahābāho gamyatāṃ putra mā ciram ॥15-44-16॥
I have obtained the fruit of having a son from you; my affection for you is abundant. I have no anger, O long-armed one; go, O son, do not delay long. (15-44-16)
bhavantaṃ ceha samprekṣya tapo me parihīyate. tapoyuktaṃ śarīraṃ ca tvāṃ dṛṣṭvā dhāritaṃ punaḥ ॥15-44-17॥
When I see you here, my penance diminishes. Yet, upon seeing you, with your body sustained by asceticism, it is supported again. (15-44-17)
mātarau te tathaiva ime śīrṇaparṇakṛtāśane. mama tulyavrate putra naciraṃ vartayiṣyataḥ ॥15-44-18॥
Your two mothers, O son, who are sustaining themselves on dried leaves in the same way and are practicing a vow equal to mine, will not survive for long. (15-44-18)
duryodhanaprabhṛtayo dṛṣṭā lokāntaraṃ gatāḥ। vyāsasya tapaso vīryādbhavataśca samāgamāt॥15-44-19॥
Duryodhana and his companions, who had departed to another world, were seen due to the power of Vyāsa's penance and your presence together. (15-44-19)
prayojanaṁ ciraṁ vṛttaṁ jīvitasya ca me-'nagha। ugraṁ tapaḥ samāsthāsye tvam-anujñātum-arhasi ॥15-44-20॥
O faultless one, my purpose and the life have long been fulfilled. I shall undertake severe austerity; you ought to permit me. (15-44-20)
tvayyadya piṇḍaḥ kīrtiś ca kulaṃ cedaṃ pratiṣṭhitam। śvo vā adya vā mahābāho gamyatāṃ putra mā ciram॥15-44-21॥
Today, in you, offspring, fame, and this family are established. O mighty-armed son, let it be accomplished either today or tomorrow—do not delay. (15-44-21)
rājanītiḥ subahuśaḥ śrutā te bharatarṣabha। sandeṣṭavyaṁ na paśyāmi kṛtam etāvatā vibho ॥15-44-22॥
O best of the Bharatas, you have heard political science many times, O master, but I do not see that what ought to be commanded has been accomplished by this alone. (15-44-22)
ity-ukta-vacanaṃ tāta nṛpo rājānam abravīt। na mām arhasi dharma-jña parityaktum anāgasam ॥15-44-23॥
Thus, having said these words, the king spoke to the king: "O knower of dharma, you ought not to abandon me who am blameless." (15-44-23)
kāmaṃ gacchantu me sarve bhrātaro'nucarāstathā। bhavantamahamanviṣye mātarau ca yatavrate ॥15-44-24॥
Let all my brothers and attendants go as they wish. As for you, O resolute in vow, I will seek you and the two mothers. (15-44-24)
tam uvāca atha gāndhārī ma evaṃ putra śṛṇuṣva me। tvayy adhīnaṃ kurukulaṃ piṇḍaś ca śvaśurasya me॥15-44-25॥
Then Gāndhārī said to him: "Do not speak thus, my son, listen to me; the Kuru family and the ancestral offerings of my father-in-law depend upon you." (15-44-25)
gamyatāṃ putra paryāptametāvatpūjitā vayam। rājā yadāha tatkāryaṃ tvayā putra piturvacaḥ ॥15-44-26॥
Go now, son; this much is sufficient, we have been respected enough. What the king has said, that you must do, son—that is your father's command. (15-44-26)
ity-uktaḥ sa tu gāndhāryā kuntīm idam uvāca ha। sneha-bāṣpa-akule netre pramṛjya rudatīṃ vacaḥ ॥15-44-27॥
Having thus been addressed by Gāndhārī, he spoke these words to Kuntī, having wiped his eyes filled with loving tears, to the weeping (woman). (15-44-27)
visarjayati māṃ rājā gāndhārī ca yaśasvinī। bhavatyāṃ baddhacittas tu kathaṃ yāsyāmi duḥkhitaḥ॥15-44-28॥
The king and the illustrious Gāndhārī have released me; but with my mind bound to you, how can I, suffering, depart? (15-44-28)
na cot-sahe tapo-vighnaṃ kartuṃ te dharma-cāriṇi। tapaso hi paraṃ nāsti tapasā vindate mahat॥15-44-29॥
O follower of dharma, I am not able to cause any hindrance to your austerity; for nothing is higher than austerity—by austerity, one attains greatness. (15-44-29)
mamāpi na tathā rājñi rājye buddhiryathā purā। tapasyēvānuraktaṁ me manaḥ sarvātmana tathā॥15-44-30॥
O queen, my mind is no longer set on the kingdom as before; rather, my whole soul is entirely attached to penance. (15-44-30)
śūnyeyaṃ ca mahī sarvā na me prītikarī śubhe। bāndhavā naḥ parikṣīṇā balaṃ no na yathā purā ॥15-44-31॥
This whole earth feels empty and does not give me delight, O auspicious one. Our relatives are diminished and our strength is not as it was before. (15-44-31)
pāñcālāḥ subhṛśaṃ kṣīṇāḥ kanyāmātrāvaśeṣitāḥ। na teṣāṃ kulakartāraṃ kañcit paśyāmy ahaṃ śubhe ॥15-44-32॥
O auspicious one, I see that the Pāñcālas are greatly diminished, with only a girl remaining; I do not see any maker of lineage among them. (15-44-32)
sarve hi bhasmasān nītā droṇenaikena saṃyuge। avaśeṣās tu nihatā droṇaputreṇa vai niśi ॥15-44-33॥
All were indeed reduced to ashes in battle by Droṇa alone; but those who remained were certainly slain at night by Droṇa's son. (15-44-33)
cedayaś caiva matsyāś ca dṛṣṭapūrvās tathaiva naḥ। kevalaṃ vṛṣṇicakraṃ tu vāsudevaparigrahāt॥ yaṃ dṛṣṭvā sthātum icchāmi dharmārthaṃ nānyahetukam॥15-44-34॥
Both the Chedis and the Matsyas are already familiar to us; only the Vṛṣṇi clan, through their alliance with Vāsudeva, is different—seeing whom, I wish to stand (fight) for the sake of dharma, and for no other reason. (15-44-34)
śivena paśya naḥ sarvān-durlabhaṃ darśanaṃ tava। bhaviṣyaty amba rājā hi tīvram ārapsyate tapaḥ॥15-44-35॥
By auspiciousness, see for all of us your difficult-to-obtain sight. O mother, the king indeed will undertake intense austerity. (15-44-35)
etat śrutvā mahābāhuḥ sahadevo yudhāṃ patiḥ। yudhiṣṭhiram uvācedaṃ bāṣpa-vyākula-locanaḥ ॥15-44-36॥
Having heard this, the mighty-armed Sahadeva, lord of battles, with eyes full of tears, said this to Yudhishthira. (15-44-36)
notsahe'haṁ parityaktuṁ mātaraṁ pārthivarṣabha. pratiyātu bhavānkṣipraṁ tapastapsyāmyahaṁ vane ||15-44-37||
O best of kings, I am not able to abandon my mother. Please return quickly; I shall perform austerities in the forest. (15-44-37)
ihaiva śoṣayiṣyāmi tapasā haṁ kalevaram। pādaśuśrūṣaṇe yukto rājño mātror tathānayoḥ ॥15-44-38॥
Here itself, I shall dry up my body with austerity, engaged in serving the feet of the king and both mothers. (15-44-38)
tam uvāca tataḥ kuntī pariṣvajya mahābhujam। gamyatāṃ putra maiva tvaṃ vocaḥ kuru vaco mama ॥15-44-39॥
Then Kunti, embracing the mighty-armed, said to him: "Go, son. But do not speak; do my bidding." (15-44-39)
āgamā vaḥ śivāḥ santu svasthā bhavata putrakāḥ। uparodho bhaved evam asmākaṃ tapasaḥ kṛte॥15-44-40॥
May your arrivals be auspicious, and may you, children, remain well. Otherwise, our penance may thus be hindered. (15-44-40)
tvatsneha-pāśa-baddhā ca hīyeyam tapasaḥ parāt। tasmāt putraka gaccha tvaṃ śiṣṭam alpaṃ hi naḥ prabho ॥15-44-41॥
This person, bound by the tie of your affection, is losing the excellence of austerity; therefore, O child, go and complete the little that remains for us, O master. (15-44-41)
evaṃ saṃstambhitaṃ vākyaiḥ kuntyā bahuvidhair manaḥ। sahadevasya rājendra rājñaścaiva viśeṣataḥ ॥15-44-42॥
O king, thus by many kinds of statements of Kuntī, the mind of Sahadeva and especially of the king were restrained. (15-44-42)
te mātrā samanujñātā rājñā ca kurupuṅgavāḥ। abhivādya kuruśreṣṭham āmantrayitum ārabhan ॥15-44-43॥
Those best of the Kurus, having obtained permission from both the mother and the king, respectfully bowed to the foremost of the Kurus and began to speak to him. (15-44-43)
rājan pratigamiṣyāmaḥ śivena pratinanditāḥ. anujñātās tvayā rājan gamiṣyāmo vikalmaṣāḥ ॥15-44-44॥
O King, having been greeted by Śiva, we will return; and, permitted by you, O King, we shall proceed free from sin. (15-44-44)
evam uktaḥ sa rājarṣir dharmarājñā mahātmanā। anujajñe jayāśīrbhir abhinandya yudhiṣṭhiram ॥15-44-45॥
Having thus been addressed by Dharmarāja, the great-souled royal sage consented, blessing Yudhishthira for victory after congratulating him. (15-44-45)
bhīmaṁ ca balināṁ śreṣṭhaṁ sāntvayāmāsa pārthivaḥ। sa cāsya samyaṅmedhāvī pratyapadyata vīryavān ॥15-44-46॥
The king consoled Bhīma, the foremost among the powerful. And the mighty, intelligent one properly accepted what he said. (15-44-46)
arjunaṁ ca samāśliṣya yamau ca puruṣarṣabhau। anujajñe sa kauravyaḥ pariṣvajyābhinandya ca ॥15-44-47॥
The Kaurava, having warmly embraced Arjuna and also the two sons of Yama, the illustrious bulls among men, after embracing and congratulating them, gave his permission. (15-44-47)
gāndhāryā cābhyanujñātāḥ kṛtapādābhivandanāḥ। jananyā samupāghrātāḥ pariṣvaktāś ca te nṛpam॥ cakruḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ sarve vatsā iva nivāraṇe॥15-44-48॥
Permitted by Gāndhārī, having bowed to her feet, and after their mother had blessed and embraced them, they all circumambulated the king, like calves do at the time of weaning. (15-44-48)
punaḥ punar-nirīkṣantaḥ prajagmuste pradakṣiṇam। tathaiva draupadī sādhvī sarvāḥ kauravayoṣitaḥ ॥15-44-49॥
They kept looking back repeatedly as they went around in circumambulation. Likewise, virtuous Draupadī and all the Kaurava women did the same. (15-44-49)
nyāyataḥ śvaśure vṛttiṃ prayujya prayayus tataḥ । śvaśrūbhyāṃ samanugñātāḥ pariṣvajyābhinanditāḥ ॥ sandiṣṭāś ceti kartavyaṃ prayayuḥ bhartṛbhiḥ saha ॥15-44-50॥
Having rightly served their father-in-law, they then departed; granted permission, embraced, and blessed by the two mothers-in-law, and instructed about the duty to return, they went together with their husbands. (15-44-50)
tataḥ prajajñe ninadaḥ sūtānāṃ yujyatāmiti। uṣṭrāṇāṃ krośatāṃ caiva hayānāṃ heṣatām api ॥15-44-51॥
Then the sound arose from the charioteers, crying, "Let (the chariots) be yoked," together with the camels' neighing and the neighing of horses as well. (15-44-51)
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā sadāraḥ sahasainikaḥ। nagaraṃ hāstinapuraṃ punarāyātsabāndhavaḥ ॥15-44-52॥
Then King Yudhishthira, with his wife, together with his army and relatives, returned again to the city of Hastinapura. (15-44-52)
