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.
अर्थकृच्छ्रेषु दुर्गेषु व्यापत्सु स्वजनेष्वपि। शारीरमानसैर्दुःखैर्न सीदन्ति भवद्विधाः
Even in financial hardship, danger, calamity among relatives, or bodily and mental suffering, those like you do not falter.
श्रूयतां चाभिधास्यामि जनकेन यथा पुरा। आत्मव्यवस्थानकरागीताः श्लोका महात्मना
Hear now as I recount the verses once sung by the great-souled Janaka, which establish the self.
मनोदेहसमुत्थाभ्यां दुःखाभ्यामर्दितं जगत्। तयोर्व्याससमासाभ्यांशमोपायमिमं शृणु
The world is afflicted by sufferings arising from mind and body; hear the means for their partial and complete remedy.
व्याधेरनिष्टसंस्पर्शाच्छ्रमादिष्टविवर्जनात्। दुःखं चतुर्भिः शारीरं कारणैः संप्रवर्तते
Bodily suffering arises from four causes: contact with disease and unpleasant things, fatigue, and deprivation.
तदा तत्प्रतिकाराच्च सततं चाविचिन्तनात्। आधिव्याधिप्रशमनं क्रियायोगबलेन तु
Through counteraction, constant reflection, and the strength of practice and discipline, ailments and afflictions are subdued.
मतिमन्तो व्यथोपेताः शमं प्रागेव कुर्वते। मानसस्य प्रियाख्यानैः संभोगोपनयैर्नृणाम्
Those of intelligence, even when afflicted, attain calm beforehand, through pleasant narratives and means of enjoyment among people.
मानसेन हि दुःखेन शरीरमुपतप्यते। अयःपिण्डेन तप्तेन कुम्भसंस्थमिवोदकम्
For mental suffering torments the body, as water in a pot is heated by a hot iron lump.
मानसं शमयेत्तस्माज्ज्ञानेनाग्निमिवाम्बुना। प्रशन्ते मानसे दुःखे शारीरमुपशाम्यति
Therefore, one should pacify the mind with knowledge, as fire with water; when the mind's suffering is calmed, bodily pain subsides.
मनसो दुःखमूलं तु स्नेह इत्युपलभ्यते। स्नेहात्तु सज्जते जन्तुर्दुःखयोगमुपैति च
It is observed that affection is the root of sorrow in the mind; from affection, a creature becomes attached and enters into union with suffering.
स्नेहमूलानि दुःखानि स्नेहजानि भयानि च। शोकहर्षौ तथायासः सर्वं स्नेहात्प्रवर्तते
Sorrows have their origin in affection, and fears arise from affection as well; grief and joy, as well as fatigue, all proceed from affection.