Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच एवमेतत्करिष्यामि यथात्थ पृथिवीपते भूयश्चैवानुशास्योऽहं भवता पार्थिवर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said O king, I shall do as you order me. O foremost of kings, I should be be further instructed by you.
भीष्मे स्वर्गमनुप्राप्ते गते च मधुसूदने विदुरे संजये चैव कोऽन्यो मां वक्तुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma has ascended to Heaven. The destroyer of Madhu, has departed (for Dwraka). Vidura and Sanjaya, also (will accompany you to the forest). Who else, therefore, save you, will teach me.
यत्तु मामनुशास्तीह भवानद्य हिते स्थितः कर्तास्म्येतन्महीपाल निर्वृतो भव भारत
M. N. Dutt: I shall, certainly, follow those instructions which you have today given, desirous of doing good to me. O lord of Earth. Be you assured of this, O king.
वैशंपायन उवाच एवमुक्तः स राजर्षिर्धर्मराजेन धीमता कौन्तेयं समनुज्ञातुमियेष भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Thus addressed by the highly intelligent and just king Yudhishthira, the royal sage, Dhritarashtra, O chief of the Bharatas, wished to obtain the king's permission.
पुत्र विश्रम्यतां तावन्ममापि बलवाञ्श्रमः इत्युक्त्वा प्राविशद्राजा गान्धार्या भवनं तदा
M. N. Dutt: And he said, 'Cease, O son. I have been। tired greatly.' Having said these words, the old king entered the apartments of Gandhari.
तमासनगतं देवी गान्धारी धर्मचारिणी उवाच काले कालज्ञा प्रजापतिसमं पतिम्
AI Translation: The virtuous Gandhari, who knew the right time, spoke to her husband, who was like Prajapati, when he was seated on his throne.
अनुज्ञातः स्वयं तेन व्यासेनापि महर्षिणा युधिष्ठिरस्यानुमते कदारण्यं गमिष्यसि
AI Translation: Having been permitted by him, the great sage Vyasa himself, With the consent of Yudhishthira, when will you go to the forest?
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच गान्धार्यहमनुज्ञातः स्वयं पित्रा महात्मना युधिष्ठिरस्यानुमते गन्तास्मि नचिराद्वनम्
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said O Gandhari, I have received the permission of my great sire. With the permission of Yudhishthira (next obtained), I shall soon retire into the forest.
अहं हि नाम सर्वेषां तेषां दुर्द्यूतदेविनाम् पुत्राणां दातुमिच्छामि प्रेत्यभावानुगं वसु सर्वप्रकृतिसांनिध्यं कारयित्वा स्ववेश्मनि
M. N. Dutt: I wish, however, to give away some riches capable of following the status of Preta, for all those sons of mine who were addicted to calamitous dice. Indeed, I wish to make those gifts, inviting all the people to my palace.
Supplementary Passages:
15.13.9 After 9, K1.2 ins.: *28 धृतराष्ट्रः स तान्सर्वान्प्रेतकार्यार्थमब्रवीत् while, K3-5 ins. after 9: *29 आपृष्ट्वा गन्तुमिच्छामि वनं सुबलनन्दिनि
वैशंपायन उवाच इत्युक्त्वा धर्मराजाय प्रेषयामास पार्थिवः स च तद्वचनात्सर्वं समानिन्ये महीपतिः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Having said so (to Gandhari), Dhritarashtra sent for Yudhishthira. The latter, ordered by his uncle, brought all the articles necessary.
ततो निष्क्रम्य नृपतिस्तस्मादन्तःपुरात्तदा सर्वं सुहृज्जनं चैव सर्वाश्च प्रकृतीस्तथा समवेतांश्च तान्सर्वान्पौरजानपदानथ
AI Translation: Then the king, having come out of his inner apartments, all his friends and all the people, and all the citizens and countrymen who were assembled,
Supplementary Passages:
15.13.11 B3 Dn D1-3.7 ins. after 11: B1.2.4.5 D9 after 11cd: *30 तानागतानभिप्रेक्ष्य समस्तं च सुहृज्जनम्
ब्राह्मणांश्च महीपालान्नानादेशसमागतान् ततः प्राह महातेजा धृतराष्ट्रो महीपतिः
AI Translation: Brahmins and kings from various countries had assembled. Then the immensely radiant King Dhritarashtra spoke:
शृण्वन्त्येकाग्रमनसो ब्राह्मणाः कुरुजाङ्गलाः क्षत्रियाश्चैव वैश्याश्च शूद्राश्चैव समागताः
M. N. Dutt: Many Brahmanas living in Kurujangala, many Kshatriyas, many Vaishyas, and many Shudras also, came to Dhritarashtra' place, with gratified hearts.
भवन्तः कुरवश्चैव बहुकालं सहोषिताः परस्परस्य सुहृदः परस्परहिते रताः
AI Translation: You and the Kurus have lived together for a long time, being friends with each other and devoted to each other's welfare.
यदिदानीमहं ब्रूयामस्मिन्काल उपस्थिते तथा भवद्भिः कर्तव्यमविचार्य वचो मम
M. N. Dutt: What I shall now say in view of the opportunity that has come, should be done by you all even as disciples accomplish the orders of their preceptors.
अरण्यगमने बुद्धिर्गान्धारीसहितस्य मे व्यासस्यानुमते राज्ञस्तथा कुन्तीसुतस्य च भवन्तोऽप्यनुजानन्तु मा वोऽन्या भूद्विचारणा
M. N. Dutt: I have set my heart upon retiring into the forest, along with Gandhari as my companion. Vyasa has approved of this, also the son of Kunti.
अस्माकं भवतां चैव येयं प्रीतिर्हि शाश्वती न चान्येष्वस्ति देशेषु राज्ञामिति मतिर्मम
AI Translation: This friendship between you and us is eternal. I think that there is no other country where there are kings.
श्रान्तोऽस्मि वयसानेन तथा पुत्रविनाकृतः उपवासकृशश्चास्मि गान्धारीसहितोऽनघाः
AI Translation: I am tired by this age, and by the loss of my sons. I am emaciated by fasting, O sinless ones, together with Gandhari.
युधिष्ठिरगते राज्ये प्राप्तश्चास्मि सुखं महत् मन्ये दुर्योधनैश्वर्याद्विशिष्टमिति सत्तमाः
AI Translation: When Yudhishthira came to the kingdom, I attained great happiness. I think it is superior to the sovereignty of Duryodhana, O best of men.
मम त्वन्धस्य वृद्धस्य हतपुत्रस्य का गतिः ऋते वनं महाभागास्तन्मानुज्ञातुमर्हथ
M. N. Dutt: You foremost of men, I think that happiness has been greater than what I could expect from Duryodhana's sovereignty. What other refuge can I have, old as a I am and destitute of children, except the forest? You highly blessed ones, you should grant me the perinission 1 seek.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वे ते कुरुजाङ्गलाः बाष्पसंदिग्धया वाचा रुरुदुर्भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Hearing those words of his, all the residents of Kurujangala bewailed aloud, O best of the Bharatas, with voices choked by tears.
तानविब्रुवतः किंचिद्दुःखशोकपरायणान् पुनरेव महातेजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीदिदम्
M. N. Dutt: Desirous of telling those grief stricken people something more, the highly energetic Dhritarashtra once more addressed them and said as follows.