निवर्ततागता दूरं ममागमनकाङ्क्षिणः। स्वजने न्यासभूते मे कार्या स्नेहान्विता मतिः
You who have come from afar, longing for my return, should now turn back; my mind, filled with affection, must be set on my own people, who are entrusted to me.
एतद्धि मम कार्याणां परमं हृदि संस्थितम्। कृता तेन तु तुष्टिर्मे सत्कारश्च भविष्यति
This, indeed, is the highest of my concerns, firmly established in my heart; by this, I shall be satisfied and honored.
तथानुमन्त्रितास्तेन धर्मराजेन ताः प्रजाः। चक्रुरार्तस्वरं घोरं हा राजन्निति दुःखिताः
Thus, having been addressed by the righteous king, those subjects, afflicted with sorrow, raised a terrible cry of distress, lamenting, 'Alas, O King!'
गुणान्पार्थस्य संस्मृत्य दुःखार्ताः परमातुराः। अकामाः संन्यवर्तन्त समागम्याथ पाण्डवान्
Remembering the virtues of Partha, they, overwhelmed by suffering and deeply distressed, unwillingly turned back after meeting the Pandavas.
निवृत्तेषु तुं पौरेषु रथानास्थाय पाण्डवाः। आजग्मुर्जाह्नवीतीरे प्रमाणाख्यं महावटम्
When the citizens had withdrawn, the Pandavas mounted their chariots and came to the great banyan tree called Pramāṇa on the bank of the Jahnavi.
ते तं दिषसशेषेण वटं गत्वा तु पाण्डवाः। ऊषुस्तां रजनीं वीराः संस्पृश्य सलिलं शुचि
There, the Pandavas, having reached that banyan tree at the edge of the region, spent the night, those heroes having touched the pure water.
उदकेनैव तां रात्रिमृषुस्ते दुःखकर्शिताः। अनुजग्मुश्च तत्रैतान्स्नेहात्केचिद्द्विजातयः
Afflicted by sorrow, they spent that night with only water; and some twice-born, out of affection, followed them there.
साग्रयोऽनग्नयश्चैव सशिष्यगणबान्धवाः। स तैः परिवृतो राजा शुशुभे ब्रह्मवादिभिः
With sacrificial fires extinguished, without fire, accompanied by groups of disciples and relatives, the king, surrounded by those brahmins, shone among the speakers of sacred lore.
तेषां प्रादुष्कृताग्नीनां मुहूर्ते रम्यदारुणे। ब्रह्मघोषपुरस्कारः संजल्पः समजायत
When their fires had been kindled at the beautiful and auspicious hour, a conversation arose, led by the chanting of the Vedas.
राजानं तु कुरुश्रेष्ठं ते हंसमधुरस्वराः। आश्वासयन्तो विप्राग्र्याः क्षयां सर्वां व्यनोदयत्
The foremost brahmins, with voices sweet as swans, consoled the best of the Kurus, the king, dispelling all his sorrow.
राजा तु भ्रातृभिः सार्धं तथा सर्वैः सुहृद्गणैः। अशेत तां निशांराजन्दुःखशोकसमाहितः
But the king, together with his brothers and all his friends, spent that night, O king, absorbed in grief and sorrow.
प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां तेषामक्लिष्टकर्मणाम्। वनं यियासतां विप्रास्तस्थुर्भिक्षाभुजोऽग्रतः। तानुवाच ततो राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः
When the night had passed and morning came, as those blameless ones prepared to enter the forest, the brahmins who lived by alms stood at the front; then the son of Kunti, Yudhishthira, spoke to them.
वयं हि हृतसर्वस्वा हृतराज्या हृतश्रियः। फलमूलामिषाहारा वनं यास्याम दुःखिताः
We, deprived of all possessions, kingdom, and glory, will go to the forest, living on fruits, roots, and meat, afflicted by sorrow.
वनं च दोषबहुलं बहुव्यालसरीसृपम्। परिक्लेशश्चवो मन्ये ध्रुवं तत्र भविष्यति
The forest is full of dangers, with many wild beasts and serpents; I think there will certainly be much hardship there.
ब्राह्मणानां परिक्लेशो दैवतान्यपि सादयेत्। किंपुनर्मामितो विप्रा निवर्तध्वं यथेष्टतः
The suffering of brahmins can even bring down the gods; how much more so for me—therefore, O brahmins, turn back as you wish.
गतिर्या भवतां राजंस्तां वयं गन्तुमुद्यताः। नार्हथास्मान्परित्यक्तुं भक्तान्सद्धर्मदर्शिन
O king, wherever you go, we are ready to go; you should not abandon us, your devoted followers who see true dharma.
स्नेहकर्माणि भक्तेषु दैवतान्यपि कुर्वते। विशेषतो ब्राह्मणेषु सदाचारावलम्बिषु
Even the gods perform acts of affection for their devoted ones, especially for brahmins who uphold good conduct.
ममापि परमा भक्तिर्ब्राह्मणेषु सदा द्विजाः। सहायविपरिभ्रंशस्त्वयं सादयतीव माम्
O twice-born, I too always have the highest devotion for brahmins; the loss of such companions seems to destroy me.
आहरेयुर्हि ये सर्वे फलमूलमृगांस्तथा। त इमे शोकजैर्दुःखैर्भ्रातरो मे विमोहिताः
Those who gather fruits, roots, and deer—all these, my brothers, are bewildered by sorrows born of grief.
द्रौपद्या विप्रकर्षेण राज्यापहरणेन च। दुःखार्दितानिमान्क्लेशैर्नाहं योक्तुमिहोत्सहे
Because of Draupadi's separation and the loss of the kingdom, afflicted by these sorrows, I am unable to endure here.
अस्मत्पोषणजा चिन्ता मा भूत्ते हृदि पार्थिव। स्वयमाहृत्य वन्यानि त्वानुयास्यामहे वयम्
Let not the worry for our sustenance trouble your heart, O King; we ourselves will gather wild foods and follow you.
अनुध्यानेन जप्येन विधास्यामः शिव तव। कथाभिश्चानुकूलाभिः सह रंस्यामहे वने
Through meditation and recitation, we will ensure your welfare; and with agreeable stories, we shall enjoy ourselves together in the forest.
एवमेतन्न संदेहो रमेयं ब्राह्मणैः सह। न्यूनभावात्तु पश्यामि प्रत्यादेशमिवात्मनः
Thus it is, there is no doubt; I would delight in the company of the Brahmins, yet due to my diminished state, I perceive a command to withdraw within myself.
कथं द्रक्ष्यामि वः सर्वान्स्वयमाहृत्य भोजिनः। मद्भक्त्या क्लिश्यतोऽनर्हान्धिक्पापान्धृतराष्ट्रजान्
How shall I see you all, gathering food yourselves, suffering undeservedly out of devotion to me, while those sinful sons of Dhritarashtra feast?
इत्युक्त्वा नृपतिः शोचन्निषसाद महीतले
Having spoken thus, the grieving king sat down upon the earth.
तमध्यात्मरतो विद्वाञ्शौनको नाम वै द्विजः। योगे साङ्ख्ये च कुशलो राजानमिदमब्रवीत्
A certain wise Brahmin named Shaunaka, devoted to spiritual pursuits and skilled in Yoga and Sankhya, addressed the king thus:
शोकस्थानसहस्राणि हर्षस्थानशतानि च। दिवसेदिवसे मूढमाविशन्ति न पण्डितम्
Thousands of occasions for sorrow and hundreds for joy enter the mind of the foolish day by day, but not that of the wise.
न हि ज्ञानविरुद्धेषु बहुदोषेषु कर्मसु। श्रेयोघातिषु सज्जन्ते बुद्धिमन्तो भवद्विधाः
Indeed, those like you, possessing wisdom, do not become attached to actions opposed to knowledge, full of faults, and destructive of welfare.
अष्टाङ्गां बुद्धिमाहुर्यां सर्वाश्रेयोभिघातिनीम्। श्रुतिस्मृतिसमायुक्तां राजन्सा त्वय्यवस्थिता
They call intelligence eightfold, which obstructs all welfare, endowed with scripture and tradition; O King, that intelligence abides in you.
शुश्रूषा श्रवणं चैव ग्रहणं धारणं तथा। ऊहापोहोऽर्थविज्ञानं तत्वज्ञानं च धीगुणाः
Service, listening, grasping, retention, inference, refutation, understanding of meaning, and knowledge of truth—these are the qualities of intellect.