Yudhishthira Sets Out to See the Elders

Verse 1 (15.24.1)

एवं ते पुरुषव्याघ्राः पाण्डवा मातृनन्दनाः । स्मरन्तो मातरं वीरा बभूवुर्भृशदुःखिताः ॥

evaṃ te puruṣavyāghrāḥ pāṇḍavā mātṛnandanāḥ | smaranto mātaraṃ vīrā babhūvurbhṛśaduḥkhitāḥ

So those tigers among men, the Pandavas, their mother's delight, those heroes, remembering their mother, were deeply distressed.

Note on the text: Removed the editor's summary line that slipped into the verse (also printed on the page as the table's first row): युधिष्ठिरेण वनस्थकुन्तीधृतराष्ट्रादिदिदृक्ष्या द्रौपद्यादिभिः पौरैर्भ्रातृभिश्च सह वनंप्रति प्रस्थानम् ।. Corrected भश → भृश (misprint in Wikisource; the sense is "greatly" (भृश), as the critical edition reads (bhṛśaduḥkhitāḥ)). The alignment found no match because of the stray line; the verse is CE 15.29.1 (listed among the unmatched critical-edition verses).

Verse 2 (15.24.2)

ये राजकार्येषु पुरा व्यासक्ता नित्यशोऽभवन् । ते राजकार्याणि तदा नाकार्षुः सर्वतः पुरे ॥

ye rājakāryeṣu purā vyāsaktā nityaśo'bhavan | te rājakāryāṇi tadā nākārṣuḥ sarvataḥ pure

Those who had always been engrossed in the affairs of the kingdom before did not, at that time, attend to any royal business anywhere in the city.

Verse 3 (15.24.3)

प्रविष्टा इव शोकेन नाभ्यनन्दन्त किञ्चन । सम्भाष्यमाणा अपि ते न किञ्चित्प्रत्यपूजयन् ॥

praviṣṭā iva śokena nābhyanandanta kiñcana | sambhāṣyamāṇā api te na kiñcitpratyapūjayan

As though possessed by grief, they took pleasure in nothing, and even when spoken to they returned no courtesy at all.

Verse 4 (15.24.4)

ते स्म वीरा दुराधर्षा गांभीर्ये सागरोपमाः । शोकोपहतविज्ञाना नष्टसंज्ञा इवाभवन् ॥

te sma vīrā durādharṣā gāṃbhīrye sāgaropamāḥ | śokopahatavijñānā naṣṭasaṃjñā ivābhavan

Those heroes, hard to assail, deep as the ocean, had their understanding struck down by grief and became as though bereft of consciousness.

Verse 5 (15.24.5)

अचिन्तयंश्च जननीं ततस्ते पाण्डुनन्दनाः । कथं नु वृद्धमिथुनं वहत्यतिकृशा पृथा ॥

acintayaṃśca jananīṃ tataste pāṇḍunandanāḥ | kathaṃ nu vṛddhamithunaṃ vahatyatikṛśā pṛthā

Then those sons of Pandu kept thinking of their mother: "How does Pritha, grown so thin, bear the burden of the aged pair?

Note on the text: Reported talk and thoughts of the Pandavas, not introduced by a speaking verb for these lines and printed without a heading; kept with the narrator. Line 2 differs from CE 15.29.5 (anusmaranto … vahaty adya pṛthā kṛśā); recension variant, kept.

Verse 6 (15.24.6)

कथं च स महीपालो हतपुत्रो निराश्रयः । पत्न्या सह वसत्येको वने श्वापदसेविते ॥

kathaṃ ca sa mahīpālo hataputro nirāśrayaḥ | patnyā saha vasatyeko vane śvāpadasevite

And how does that king, who has lost his sons and has no support, live alone with his wife in a forest haunted by beasts of prey?

Note on the text: Reported talk and thoughts of the Pandavas, not introduced by a speaking verb for these lines and printed without a heading; kept with the narrator.

Verse 7 (15.24.7)

सा च देवी महाभागा गान्धारी हतबान्धवा । पतिमन्धं कथं वृद्धमन्वेति विजने वने ॥

sā ca devī mahābhāgā gāndhārī hatabāndhavā | patimandhaṃ kathaṃ vṛddhamanveti vijane vane

And how does that illustrious lady Gandhari, whose kinsmen are slain, follow her aged blind husband in the lonely forest?"

Note on the text: Reported talk and thoughts of the Pandavas, not introduced by a speaking verb for these lines and printed without a heading; kept with the narrator.

Verse 8 (15.24.8)

एवं तेषां कथयतामौत्सुक्यमभवत्तदा । गमने चाभवद्बुद्धिर्धृतराष्ट्रदिदृक्षया ॥

evaṃ teṣāṃ kathayatāmautsukyamabhavattadā | gamane cābhavadbuddhirdhṛtarāṣṭradidṛkṣayā

As they talked in this way, a longing arose in them then, and their minds turned to going, from the wish to see Dhritarashtra.

Verse 9 (15.24.9)

सहदेवस्तु राजानं प्रणिपत्येदमब्रवीत् । अहो मे भवतो दृष्टं हृदयं गमनं प्रति ॥

sahadevastu rājānaṃ praṇipatyedamabravīt | aho me bhavato dṛṣṭaṃ hṛdayaṃ gamanaṃ prati

Then Sahadeva bowed to the king and said this: "Ah, I have seen that your heart is set on going.

Note on the text: The verse opens with narration (line 1) and Sahadeva's speech begins in line 2; the verse is kept whole under the narrator.

Verse 10 (15.24.10)

न हि त्वां गौरवेणाहमशकं वक्तुमञ्जसा । गमनं प्रति राजेन्द्र तदिदं समुपस्थितम् ॥

na hi tvāṃ gauraveṇāhamaśakaṃ vaktumañjasā | gamanaṃ prati rājendra tadidaṃ samupasthitam

Out of respect I could not readily speak to you about going, O king of kings, and now this very matter has come up.

Note on the text: Speaker: Sahadeva (no heading is printed; whole-verse speech to the king, introduced in verse 9, so given to him; the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 11 (15.24.11)

दिष्ट्या द्रक्ष्यामि तां कुन्तीं वर्तयन्तीं तपस्विनीम् । जटिलां तापसीं वृद्धां कुशकाशपरिक्षताम् ॥

diṣṭyā drakṣyāmi tāṃ kuntīṃ vartayantīṃ tapasvinīm | jaṭilāṃ tāpasīṃ vṛddhāṃ kuśakāśaparikṣatām

By good fortune I shall see Kunti, living as an ascetic, matted-haired, an aged woman of the hermitage, scratched by kusha and kasha grass.

Note on the text: Speaker: Sahadeva (no heading is printed; whole-verse speech to the king, introduced in verse 9, so given to him; the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 12 (15.24.12)

प्रासादहर्म्यसंवृद्धामत्यन्तसुखभागिनीम् । कदानुजननीं श्रान्तां द्रक्ष्यामि भृशदुःखिताम् ॥

prāsādaharmyasaṃvṛddhāmatyantasukhabhāginīm | kadānujananīṃ śrāntāṃ drakṣyāmi bhṛśaduḥkhitām

Brought up in palaces and mansions, accustomed to every comfort, when shall I see my mother, weary and deeply afflicted?

Note on the text: Speaker: Sahadeva (no heading is printed; whole-verse speech to the king, introduced in verse 9, so given to him; the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 13 (15.24.13)

अनित्याः खलु मर्त्यानां गतयो भरतर्षभ । कुन्ती राजसुता यत्र वसत्यसुखिता वने ॥

anityāḥ khalu martyānāṃ gatayo bharatarṣabha | kuntī rājasutā yatra vasatyasukhitā vane

Uncertain indeed are the fortunes of mortals, O best of the Bharatas, when the king's daughter Kunti lives in the forest without comfort."

Note on the text: Speaker: Sahadeva (no heading is printed; whole-verse speech to the king, introduced in verse 9, so given to him; the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 14 (15.24.14)

सहदेववचः श्रुत्वा द्रौपदी योषितां वरा । उवाच देवी राजानमभिपूज्याभिनन्द्य च ॥

sahadevavacaḥ śrutvā draupadī yoṣitāṃ varā | uvāca devī rājānamabhipūjyābhinandya ca

Hearing Sahadeva's words, Draupadi, best of women, the queen, honoured the king, welcomed his purpose, and spoke.

Verse 15 (15.24.15)

कदा द्रक्ष्यामि तां देवीं यदि जीवति सा पृथा । जीवन्त्या ह्यद्य मे प्रीतिर्भविष्यति जनाधिप ॥

kadā drakṣyāmi tāṃ devīṃ yadi jīvati sā pṛthā | jīvantyā hyadya me prītirbhaviṣyati janādhipa

"When shall I see that lady Pritha, if she is still alive? If she lives, O lord of men, I shall have joy today.

Note on the text: Speaker: Draupadi (no heading is printed; whole-verse speech introduced in verse 14, so given to her; the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 16 (15.24.16)

एषा तेऽस्तु मतिर्नित्यं धर्मे ते रमतां मनः । योऽद्य त्वमस्मान्राजेन्द्र श्रेयसा योजयिष्यसि ॥

eṣā te'stu matirnityaṃ dharme te ramatāṃ manaḥ | yo'dya tvamasmānrājendra śreyasā yojayiṣyasi

May this resolve of yours be lasting, and may your mind delight in dharma, since today, O king of kings, you will bring us to what is good.

Note on the text: Speaker: Draupadi (no heading is printed; whole-verse speech introduced in verse 14, so given to her; the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 17 (15.24.17)

अग्रपादस्थितं चेमं विद्धि राजन्वधूजनम् । काङ्क्षन्तं दर्शनं कुन्त्या गान्धार्याः श्वसुरस्य च ॥

agrapādasthitaṃ cemaṃ viddhi rājanvadhūjanam | kāṅkṣantaṃ darśanaṃ kuntyā gāndhāryāḥ śvasurasya ca

And know, O king, that this company of your daughters-in-law stands poised on its forward foot, longing to see Kunti, Gandhari and their father-in-law."

Note on the text: Corrected श्वसुरस्च → श्वसुरस्य (misprint in Wikisource; स्च is not a possible conjunct here; the genitive श्वसुरस्य, as the critical edition reads (śvaśurasya)). Speaker: Draupadi (no heading is printed; whole-verse speech introduced in verse 14, so given to her; the input carried Vaishampayana over). A gloss printed after the colophon (15-24-17 अप्रपादस्थितं …) is not part of the text and is not added.

Verse 18 (15.24.18)

इत्युक्तः स नृपो देव्या द्रौपद्या भरतर्षभ । सेनाध्यक्षान्समानाय्य सर्वानिदमुवाच ह ॥

ityuktaḥ sa nṛpo devyā draupadyā bharatarṣabha | senādhyakṣānsamānāyya sarvānidamuvāca ha

Thus addressed by Queen Draupadi, O best of the Bharatas, the king summoned all the commanders of the army and said this.

Verse 19 (15.24.19)

निर्यातयत मे सेनां प्रभूतरथकुञ्जराम् । द्रक्ष्यामि वनसंस्थं च धृतराष्ट्रं महीपतिम् ॥

niryātayata me senāṃ prabhūtarathakuñjarām | drakṣyāmi vanasaṃsthaṃ ca dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ mahīpatim

"Send my army forth, rich in chariots and elephants. I shall see King Dhritarashtra, who dwells in the forest."

Note on the text: Corrected धृताष्ट्रं → धृतराष्ट्रं (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped र; the name is Dhritarashtra, as the critical edition reads (dhṛtarāṣṭram)). Speaker: Yudhishthira (no heading is printed; whole-verse speech of the king's orders, introduced in verse 18, so given to him; the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 20 (15.24.20)

स्त्र्यध्यक्षांश्चाब्रवीद्राजा यानानि विविधानि मे । सज्जीक्रियन्तां सर्वाणि शिबिकाश्च सहस्रशः ॥

stryadhyakṣāṃścābravīdrājā yānāni vividhāni me | sajjīkriyantāṃ sarvāṇi śibikāśca sahasraśaḥ

The king said to the superintendents of the women's quarters: "Let all my vehicles of many kinds be made ready, and palanquins by the thousand.

Note on the text: The verse opens with narration (line 1) and the king's order begins in line 2; the verse is kept whole under the narrator.

Verse 21 (15.24.21)

शकटापणवेशाश्च कोशः शिल्पिन एव च । निर्यान्तु कोशपालाश्च कुरुक्षेत्राश्रमं प्रति ॥

śakaṭāpaṇaveśāśca kośaḥ śilpina eva ca | niryāntu kośapālāśca kurukṣetrāśramaṃ prati

Carts, shops and tents, the treasury and the artisans, and the keepers of the treasury, are to go forth to the hermitage at Kurukshetra.

Note on the text: Speaker: Yudhishthira (no heading is printed; whole-verse speech of the king's orders, introduced in verse 18, so given to him; the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 22 (15.24.22)

यश्च पौरजनः कश्चिद्द्रष्टुमिच्छति पार्थिवम् । अनावृतः सुविहितः स च यातु सुरक्षितः ॥

yaśca paurajanaḥ kaściddraṣṭumicchati pārthivam | anāvṛtaḥ suvihitaḥ sa ca yātu surakṣitaḥ

And any townsman who wishes to see the king may go, unhindered, well provided and well guarded.

Note on the text: Speaker: Yudhishthira (no heading is printed; whole-verse speech of the king's orders, introduced in verse 18, so given to him; the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 23 (15.24.23)

सूदाः पौरोगवाश्चैव सर्वं चैव महानसम् । विविधं भक्ष्यभोज्यं च शकटैरुह्यतां मम ॥

sūdāḥ paurogavāścaiva sarvaṃ caiva mahānasam | vividhaṃ bhakṣyabhojyaṃ ca śakaṭairuhyatāṃ mama

Let the cooks and the superintendents of the kitchen, and the whole kitchen, with food of many kinds, hard and soft, be carried for me on carts.

Note on the text: Speaker: Yudhishthira (no heading is printed; whole-verse speech of the king's orders, introduced in verse 18, so given to him; the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 24 (15.24.24)

प्रयाणं घुष्यतां चैव श्वोभूत इति माचिरम् । क्रियतां पथि चाप्यद्य वेश्मानि विविधानि च ॥

prayāṇaṃ ghuṣyatāṃ caiva śvobhūta iti māciram | kriyatāṃ pathi cāpyadya veśmāni vividhāni ca

Let the march be proclaimed, "Tomorrow, without delay," and let lodgings of many kinds be made today along the road."

Note on the text: Speaker: Yudhishthira (no heading is printed; whole-verse speech of the king's orders, introduced in verse 18, so given to him; the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 25 (15.24.25)

एवमाज्ञाप्य राजा स भ्रातृभिः सह पाण्डवः । श्वोभूते निर्ययौ राजन्सस्त्रीवृद्धपुरःसरः ॥

evamājñāpya rājā sa bhrātṛbhiḥ saha pāṇḍavaḥ | śvobhūte niryayau rājansastrīvṛddhapuraḥsaraḥ

Having given these orders, the Pandava king set out the next day with his brothers, O king, with the women and the aged going before him.

Verse 26 (15.24.26)

स बहिर्दिवसानेव जनौघं परिपालयन् । न्यवसन्नृपतिः पञ्च ततोऽगच्छद्वनं प्रति ॥

sa bahirdivasāneva janaughaṃ paripālayan | nyavasannṛpatiḥ pañca tato'gacchadvanaṃ prati

He stayed five days outside the city, looking after the host of people, and then went on towards the forest.