O my sons, I do not desire the fruits of that sovereignty
which has been won by my children. O thou of
great puissance, I wish to attain, by my penances,
to those regions of felicity which have been acquired
by my husband. By rendering obedient service
to my father-in-law and mother-in-law both of whom
wish to take up their abode in the woods, and by penances,
I desire, O Yudhishthira, to waste my body. Do
thou cease to follow me, O foremost one of Kuru’s
race, along with Bhima and others. Let thy understanding
be always devoted to righteousness. Let thy mind
be always great.’”
“Vaisampayana said, ’Hearing these words
of Kunti, the sinless Pandavas, O best of kings, became
ashamed. They, therefore, desisted, along with
the princess of-Panchala, from following her.[36] Beholding
Kunti resolved to go into the woods, the ladies of
the Pandava household uttered loud lamentations.
The Pandavas then circumambulated the king and saluted
him duly. They ceased to follow further, having
failed to persuade Pritha to return. Then Amvika’s
son of great energy, viz., Dhritarashtra, addressing
Gandhari and Vidura and supporting himself on them,
said, ’Let the royal mother of Yudhishthira cease
to go with us. What Yudhishthira has said is
all very true. Abandoning this high prosperity
of her sons, abandoning those high fruits that may
be hers, why should she go into the inaccessible woods,
leaving her children like a person of little intelligence?
Living in the enjoyment of sovereignty, she is capable
of practising penances and observing the high vow of
gifts. Let her, therefore, listen to my words.
O Gandhari, I have been much gratified with the services
rendered to me by this daughter-in-law of mine.
Conversant as thou art with all duties, it behoveth
thee to command her return.’ Thus addressed
by her lord, the daughter of Suvala repeated unto
Kunti all those words of the old king and added her
own words of grave import. She, however, failed
to cause Kunti to desist inasmuch as that chaste lady,
devoted to righteousness, had firmly set her heart
upon residing in the woods. The Kuru ladies, understanding
how firm her resolution was regarding her retirement
into the woods, and seeing that those foremost ones
of Kuru’s race (viz., their own lords), had
ceased to follow her, set up a loud wail of lamentation.
After all the sons of Pritha and all the ladies had
retraced their steps, king Yudhishthira of great wisdom
continued his journey to the woods. The Pandavas,
exceedingly cheerless and afflicted with grief and
sorrow accompanied by their wives, returned to the
city, on their cars. At that time the city of
Hastinapura, with its entire population of men, both
old and young, and women, became cheerless and plunged
into sorrow. No festivals of rejoicing were observed.
Afflicted with grief, the Pandavas were without any
energy. Deserted by Kunti, they were deeply afflicted
Print
Word
PDF
