Kunti Resolves to Follow Dhritarashtra into the Forest

Verse 1 (15.17.1)

ततः प्रासादहर्म्येषु वसुधायां च पार्थिव । नारीणां च नराणां च निःस्वनः सुमहानभूत् ॥

tataḥ prāsādaharmyeṣu vasudhāyāṃ ca pārthiva | nārīṇāṃ ca narāṇāṃ ca niḥsvanaḥ sumahānabhūt

Then from the palaces and rooftops and from the ground, O king, a great clamour rose from the women and the men.

Note on the text: Second line differs from the critical edition (strīṇāṃ ca puruṣāṇāṃ ca sumahān nisvano 'bhavat): Wikisource has नारीणां च नराणां च निःस्वनः सुमहानभूत् — a recension variant, kept.

Verse 2 (15.17.2)

स राजा राजमार्गेण नृनारीसंकुलेन च । कथञ्चिन्निर्ययौ धीमान्वेपमानः कृताञ्जलिः ॥

sa rājā rājamārgeṇa nṛnārīsaṃkulena ca | kathañcinniryayau dhīmānvepamānaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ

That wise king, trembling with folded hands, with difficulty made his way out along the royal road, crowded with men and women.

Verse 3 (15.17.3)

स वर्धमानद्वारेण निर्ययौ गजसाह्वयात् । विसर्जयामास च तं जनौघं स मुहुर्मुहुः ॥

sa vardhamānadvāreṇa niryayau gajasāhvayāt | visarjayāmāsa ca taṃ janaughaṃ sa muhurmuhuḥ

He went out of Gajasahvaya (Hastinapura) by the Vardhamana gate, and again and again he sent that throng of people back.

Note on the text: Corrected वर्धमानद्वारेणि → वर्धमानद्वारेण (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; CE vardhamānadvāreṇa).

Verse 4 (15.17.4)

वनं गन्तुं च विदुरो राज्ञा सह कृतक्षणः । संजयश्च महामात्रः सूतो गावल्गणिस्तथा ॥

vanaṃ gantuṃ ca viduro rājñā saha kṛtakṣaṇaḥ | saṃjayaśca mahāmātraḥ sūto gāvalgaṇistathā

Vidura, who had made his resolve to go to the forest with the king, and Sanjaya the great minister, the charioteer, son of Gavalgana, also —

Verse 5 (15.17.5)

कृपं निवर्तयामास युयुत्सुं च महारथम् । धृतराष्ट्रो महीपालः परिदाप्य युधिष्ठिरे ॥

kṛpaṃ nivartayāmāsa yuyutsuṃ ca mahāratham | dhṛtarāṣṭro mahīpālaḥ paridāpya yudhiṣṭhire

Dhritarashtra, protector of the earth, sent Kripa and the great chariot-warrior Yuyutsu back, entrusting them to Yudhishthira.

Note on the text: Corrected ककृपं → कृपं (misprint in Wikisource; doubled syllable; CE kṛpaṃ). Corrected धृताराष्ट्रो → धृतराष्ट्रो (misprint in Wikisource; stray long ā; CE dhṛtarāṣṭro).

Verse 6 (15.17.6)

निवृत्ते पौरवर्गे च राजा सान्तःपुरस्तदा । धृतराष्ट्राभ्यनुज्ञातो निवर्तितुमियेष ह ॥

nivṛtte pauravarge ca rājā sāntaḥpurastadā | dhṛtarāṣṭrābhyanujñāto nivartitumiyeṣa ha

When the body of citizens had turned back, King Yudhishthira with the women of his household, having Dhritarashtra's leave, wished to return.

Verse 7 (15.17.7)

सोऽब्रवीन्मातरं कुन्तीमुपेत्य भरतर्षभ । अहं राजानमन्विष्ये भवती विनिवर्तताम् ॥

so'bravīnmātaraṃ kuntīmupetya bharatarṣabha | ahaṃ rājānamanviṣye bhavatī vinivartatām

He approached his mother Kunti, O best of the Bharatas, and said: "I shall go after the king; please turn back.

Note on the text: Corrected सोब्रवीन् → सोऽब्रवीन् (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha; CE so 'bravīn). The first line is narration and the second Yudhishthira's words; the verse is kept whole under the narrator, as in the critical edition.

Verse 8 (15.17.8)

वधूपरिवृता राज्ञि नगरं गन्तुमर्हसि । राजा यात्वेष धर्मात्मा तपसे कृतनिश्चयः ॥

vadhūparivṛtā rājñi nagaraṃ gantumarhasi | rājā yātveṣa dharmātmā tapase kṛtaniścayaḥ

Surrounded by your daughters-in-law, O queen, you should go back to the city; let this righteous king go to his austerities, firm in his resolve."

Note on the text: Speaker: Yudhishthira's words to Kunti have no heading on the page (Wikisource's heading is Vaishampayana); verse 7 introduces him, so verse 8 is given to Yudhishthira.

Verse 9 (15.17.9)

इत्युक्ता धर्मराजेन बाष्पव्याकुललोचना । जगामैव तदा कुन्ती गान्धारीं परिगृह्य ह ॥

ityuktā dharmarājena bāṣpavyākulalocanā | jagāmaiva tadā kuntī gāndhārīṃ parigṛhya ha

Thus addressed by Dharmaraja, her eyes brimming with tears, Kunti went on all the same, holding Gandhari.

Note on the text: Corrected धर्मराजेनि → धर्मराजेन (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; CE dharmarājena). Wikisource reads जगामैव where the critical edition has जगादैवम् (jagādaivaṃ, 'spoke thus'); the printed reading is kept.

Verse 10 (15.17.10)

सहदेवे महाराज माऽप्रसादं कृथाः क्वचित् । एष मामनुरक्तो हि राजंस्त्वां चैव सर्वदा ॥

sahadeve mahārāja mā'prasādaṃ kṛthāḥ kvacit | eṣa māmanurakto hi rājaṃstvāṃ caiva sarvadā

Kunti said: "Great king, never withhold your favour from Sahadeva; he is devoted to me, and to you always, O king.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page heads this speech कुन्त्युवाच; it runs through verse 16. Wikisource reads माऽप्रसादम् where the critical edition has mā pramādam (recension variant, kept).

Verse 11 (15.17.11)

कर्णं स्मरेथाः सततं सङ्ग्रामेष्वपलायिनम् । अवकीर्णो हि स मया वीरो दुष्प्रज्ञया तदा ॥

karṇaṃ smarethāḥ satataṃ saṅgrāmeṣvapalāyinam | avakīrṇo hi sa mayā vīro duṣprajñayā tadā

Always remember Karna, who never fled in battle; I cast that hero away then, in my folly.

Verse 12 (15.17.12)

आयसं हृदयं नूनं मन्दाया मम पुत्रक । यत्सूर्यजमपश्यन्त्याः शतधा न विदीर्यते ॥

āyasaṃ hṛdayaṃ nūnaṃ mandāyā mama putraka | yatsūryajamapaśyantyāḥ śatadhā na vidīryate

My heart must surely be made of iron, my child, for it does not break into a hundred pieces though I see no more the son of the Sun.

Verse 13 (15.17.13)

एवं गते तु किं शक्यं मया कर्तुमरिंदम । मम दोषोऽयमत्यर्थं ख्यापितो यन्न सूर्यजः ॥

evaṃ gate tu kiṃ śakyaṃ mayā kartumariṃdama | mama doṣo'yamatyarthaṃ khyāpito yanna sūryajaḥ

What can be done, O subduer of foes, when things stand so? This fault of mine has been exposed to the utmost — that the Sun's son was never acknowledged.

Note on the text: Not matched by the automatic alignment; = CE 15.22.13a, 13c (the critical edition's unmatched 15.22.13).

Verse 14 (15.17.14)

तन्निमित्तं महाबाहो दानं दद्यास्त्वमुत्तमम् । सदैव भ्रातृभिः सार्धं सूर्यजस्यारिमर्दन ॥

tannimittaṃ mahābāho dānaṃ dadyāstvamuttamam | sadaiva bhrātṛbhiḥ sārdhaṃ sūryajasyārimardana

For his sake, O mighty-armed, always make a most excellent gift together with your brothers, in the name of the Sun's son, O crusher of foes.

Note on the text: Not matched by the automatic alignment; = CE 15.22.13e, 14a (Wikisource reads सूर्यजस्यारिमर्दन where the critical edition has agrajasyārimardana, 'for your elder brother'; variant, kept).

Verse 15 (15.17.15)

द्रौपद्याश्च प्रिये नित्यं स्थातव्यमरिकर्शन । भीमसेनोऽर्जुनश्चैव नकुलश्च कुरूद्वह ॥

draupadyāśca priye nityaṃ sthātavyamarikarśana | bhīmaseno'rjunaścaiva nakulaśca kurūdvaha

Always remain in Draupadi's good graces, O scourge of enemies; and Bhimasena, Arjuna and Nakula, O hero of the Kurus,

Note on the text: Not matched by the automatic alignment; = CE 15.22.14c, 15a.

Verse 16 (15.17.16)

समाधेयास्त्वया राजंस्त्वय्यद्य कुलधूर्गता । श्वश्रूश्वशुरयोः पादाञ्शुश्रूषन्ती वने त्वहम् । गान्धारीसहिता वत्स्ये तापसी मलपङ्किनी ॥

samādheyāstvayā rājaṃstvayyadya kuladhūrgatā | śvaśrūśvaśurayoḥ pādāñśuśrūṣantī vane tvaham | gāndhārīsahitā vatsye tāpasī malapaṅkinī

must be cared for by you, O king, now that the burden of the family has come to rest on you today. And I, serving the feet of my mother-in-law and father-in-law in the forest, will live with Gandhari as an ascetic woman, smeared with dust."

Note on the text: Not matched by the automatic alignment; three-line verse = CE 15.22.15c, 16a, 16c. Wikisource reads समाधेयास्त्वया राजन् where the critical edition has samādheyās tvayā vīra (recension variant, kept).

Verse 17 (15.17.17)

एवमुक्तः स धर्मात्मा भ्रातृभिः सहितो वशी । विषादमगमद्धीमान्न च किञ्चिदुवाच ह ॥

evamuktaḥ sa dharmātmā bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito vaśī | viṣādamagamaddhīmānna ca kiñciduvāca ha

Told thus, that righteous, self-controlled and wise one, with his brothers, fell into despondency and said nothing.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads विषादमगमद्धीमान् where the critical edition has viṣādam agamat tīvram (recension variant, kept).

Verse 18 (15.17.18)

मुहूर्तमिव तु ध्यात्वा धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः । उवाच मातरं दीनश्चिन्ताशोकपरायणः ॥

muhūrtamiva tu dhyātvā dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | uvāca mātaraṃ dīnaścintāśokaparāyaṇaḥ

After reflecting for a moment, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, wretched and sunk in worry and grief, said to his mother:

Note on the text: Corrected मतारं → मातरं (misprint in Wikisource; short vowel; CE mātaraṃ). Wikisource reads धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः where the critical edition has dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ (recension variant, kept).

Verse 19 (15.17.19)

किमिदं ते व्यवसितं नैवं त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि । न त्वामभ्यनुजानामि प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥

kimidaṃ te vyavasitaṃ naivaṃ tvaṃ vaktumarhasi | na tvāmabhyanujānāmi prasādaṃ kartumarhasi

Yudhishthira said: "What is this resolve of yours? You should not speak so. I do not give you leave; you ought to be gracious to us.

Note on the text: Speaker: Yudhishthira's speech (verses 19–23) has no heading on the page; verse 18 introduces him.

Verse 20 (15.17.20)

व्यचोदयः पुराऽस्माकमुत्साहं शुभदर्शने । विदुलाया वचोभिस्त्वं नास्मान्संत्यक्तुमर्हसि ॥

vyacodayaḥ purā'smākamutsāhaṃ śubhadarśane | vidulāyā vacobhistvaṃ nāsmānsaṃtyaktumarhasi

Long ago, O lady of fair sight, you roused our resolve with Vidula's words; you should not abandon us now.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads व्यचोदयः … उत्साहम् where the critical edition has vyarocayaḥ … hy asmān utsāhya (recension variant, kept).

Verse 21 (15.17.21)

निहत्य पृथिवीपालान्राज्यं प्राप्तमिदं मया । तव प्रज्ञामुपश्रुत्य वासुदेवान्नरर्षभात् ॥

nihatya pṛthivīpālānrājyaṃ prāptamidaṃ mayā | tava prajñāmupaśrutya vāsudevānnararṣabhāt

I slew the rulers of the earth and won this kingdom, having heeded your wisdom and what I heard from Vasudeva, best of men.

Verse 22 (15.17.22)

क्व सा बुद्धिरियं चाद्य भवत्या या श्रुता मया । क्षत्रधर्मे स्थितं त्यक्त्वा न प्रयातुमिहार्हसि ॥

kva sā buddhiriyaṃ cādya bhavatyā yā śrutā mayā | kṣatradharme sthitaṃ tyaktvā na prayātumihārhasi

Where is that resolve of yours, which I heard from you? Having left me, who stand in the duty of a warrior, you ought not to go away.

Note on the text: Second line differs from the critical edition (kṣatradharme sthitiṃ hy uktvā tasyāś calitum icchasi): Wikisource's क्षत्रधर्मे स्थितं त्यक्त्वा न प्रयातुमिहार्हसि is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 23 (15.17.23)

अस्मानुत्सृज्य राज्यं च स्नुषाहीना यशस्विनि । कथं वत्स्यसि दुर्गेषु वनेष्वद्य प्रसीद मे ॥

asmānutsṛjya rājyaṃ ca snuṣāhīnā yaśasvini | kathaṃ vatsyasi durgeṣu vaneṣvadya prasīda me

Leaving us and the kingdom, and without your daughters-in-law, O renowned lady, how will you live in the wild forests today? Be gracious to me."

Note on the text: Wikisource reads स्नुषाहीना … दुर्गेषु वनेषु where the critical edition has snuṣāṃ cemāṃ yaśasvinīm … śūnyeṣu vaneṣu (recension variant, kept).

Verse 24 (15.17.24)

इति बाष्पकला वाचः कुन्ती पुत्रस्य शृण्वती । जगामैवाश्रुपूर्णाक्षी भीमस्तामिदमब्रवीत् ॥

iti bāṣpakalā vācaḥ kuntī putrasya śṛṇvatī | jagāmaivāśrupūrṇākṣī bhīmastāmidamabravīt

Hearing her son's words, thick with tears, Kunti went on all the same, her eyes full of tears; and Bhima said this to her:

Verse 25 (15.17.25)

यदा राज्यमिदं कुन्ति भोक्तव्यं पुत्रनिर्जितम् । प्राप्तव्या राजधर्माश्च तदेयं ते कुतो मतिः ॥

yadā rājyamidaṃ kunti bhoktavyaṃ putranirjitam | prāptavyā rājadharmāśca tadeyaṃ te kuto matiḥ

Bhimasena said: "When this kingdom, won by your sons, is to be enjoyed and the duties of a king are to be performed, how has this resolve of yours come about now?

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhima's speech (verses 25–28) has no heading on the page; verse 24 introduces him.

Verse 26 (15.17.26)

किं वयं कारिताः पूर्वं भवत्या पृथिवीक्षयम् । कस्य हेतोः परित्यज्य वनं गन्तुमभीप्ससि ॥

kiṃ vayaṃ kāritāḥ pūrvaṃ bhavatyā pṛthivīkṣayam | kasya hetoḥ parityajya vanaṃ gantumabhīpsasi

Did you make us bring about the destruction of the earth in the beginning, only to abandon it and wish to go to the forest? For what reason?

Verse 27 (15.17.27)

वनाच्चापि किमानीता भवत्या बालका वयम् । दुःखशोकसमाविष्टौ माद्रीपुत्राविमौ तथा ॥

vanāccāpi kimānītā bhavatyā bālakā vayam | duḥkhaśokasamāviṣṭau mādrīputrāvimau tathā

And why did you bring us back from the forest when we were boys — and these two sons of Madri, now overwhelmed with grief and sorrow?

Verse 28 (15.17.28)

प्रसीद मातर्मा गास्त्वं वनमद्य यशस्विनि । श्रियं यौधिष्ठिरीं मातर्भुङ्क्ष्व पार्थबलार्जिताम् ॥

prasīda mātarmā gāstvaṃ vanamadya yaśasvini | śriyaṃ yaudhiṣṭhirīṃ mātarbhuṅkṣva pārthabalārjitām

Be gracious, mother; do not go to the forest today, O renowned lady. Enjoy, mother, the royal fortune of Yudhishthira, won by Partha's strength."

Verse 29 (15.17.29)

इति सा निश्चितैवाशु वनवासकृतक्षणा । लालप्यतां बहुविधं पुत्राणां नाकरोद्वचः ॥

iti sā niścitaivāśu vanavāsakṛtakṣaṇā | lālapyatāṃ bahuvidhaṃ putrāṇāṃ nākarodvacaḥ

But she, thus resolved, having quickly fixed her time for dwelling in the forest, did not heed her sons' words as they lamented in many ways.

Note on the text: Corrected कृततक्षणा → कृतक्षणा (misprint in Wikisource; doubled syllable; CE kṛtakṣaṇā). Wikisource reads निश्चितैवाशु where the critical edition has niścitaivātha (recension variant, kept).

Verse 30 (15.17.30)

द्रौपदी चान्वयाच्छ्वश्रूं विषण्णवदना तदा । वनवासाय गच्छन्तीं रुदती भद्रया सह ॥

draupadī cānvayācchvaśrūṃ viṣaṇṇavadanā tadā | vanavāsāya gacchantīṃ rudatī bhadrayā saha

And Draupadi, her face downcast, followed her mother-in-law as she went to dwell in the forest, weeping, together with Bhadra (Subhadra).

Note on the text: Corrected विषष्णवदना → विषण्णवदना (misprint in Wikisource; CE viṣaṇṇavadanā).

Verse 31 (15.17.31)

सा पुत्रान्रुदतः सर्वान्मुहुर्मुहुरवेक्षती । जगामैव महाप्राज्ञा वनाय कृतनिश्चया ॥

sā putrānrudataḥ sarvānmuhurmuhuravekṣatī | jagāmaiva mahāprājñā vanāya kṛtaniścayā

Looking again and again at all her weeping sons, she, the greatly wise, went on all the same, resolved on the forest.

Verse 32 (15.17.32)

अन्वयुः पाण्डवास्तां तु सभृत्यान्तःपुरास्तथा । ततः प्रमृज्य साऽश्रूणि पुत्रान्वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

anvayuḥ pāṇḍavāstāṃ tu sabhṛtyāntaḥpurāstathā | tataḥ pramṛjya sā'śrūṇi putrānvacanamabravīt

The Pandavas followed her with their servants and the women of the household. Then, wiping away her tears, she spoke to her sons:

Note on the text: Wikisource reads सभृत्यान्तःपुरास्तथा and साऽश्रूणि where the critical edition has sabhṛtyāntaḥpurās tadā and sāśrūṇi (spelling/recension variants, kept).