The Pandavas Take Leave and Return to Hastinapura

Verse 1 (15.38.1)

दृष्ट्वा पुत्रांस्तथा पौत्रान्सानुबन्धाञ्जनाधिपः । धृतराष्ट्रः किमकरोद्राजा चैव युधिष्ठिरः ॥

dṛṣṭvā putrāṃstathā pautrānsānubandhāñjanādhipaḥ | dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ kimakarodrājā caiva yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Having seen his sons and grandsons with their kin, what did Dhritarashtra, lord of the people, do, and what did King Yudhishthira do?

Verse 2 (15.38.2)

तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं पुत्राणां दर्शनं पुनः । वीतशोकः स राजर्षिः पुनराश्रममागमत् ॥

taddṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryaṃ putrāṇāṃ darśanaṃ punaḥ | vītaśokaḥ sa rājarṣiḥ punarāśramamāgamat

Having seen that great wonder, the sight of his sons once more, the royal sage, freed from grief, went back to his hermitage.

Verse 3 (15.38.3)

इतरस्तु जनः सर्वस्ते चैव परमर्षयः । प्रतिजग्मुर्यथाकामं धृतराष्ट्राभ्यनुज्ञया ॥

itarastu janaḥ sarvaste caiva paramarṣayaḥ | pratijagmuryathākāmaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrābhyanujñayā

All the rest of the people, and the great sages as well, went back as they wished, with Dhritarashtra's leave.

Note on the text: Corrected धृताराष्ट्राभ्यनुज्ञया → धृतराष्ट्राभ्यनुज्ञया (misprint in Wikisource; stray ā; CE 'dhṛtarāṣṭrābhyanujñayā').

Verse 4 (15.38.4)

पाण्डवास्तु महात्मानो लघुभूयिष्ठसैनिकाः । अनुजग्मुर्महात्मानं सदारास्तं महीपतिम् ॥

pāṇḍavāstu mahātmāno laghubhūyiṣṭhasainikāḥ | anujagmurmahātmānaṃ sadārāstaṃ mahīpatim

The great-souled Pandavas, with only a small body of troops and with their wives, followed the great-souled king.

Verse 5 (15.38.5)

तमाश्रमगतं धीमान्ब्रह्मर्षिर्लोकपूजितः । द्वैपायनोऽभ्युपागम्य राजानमिदमब्रवीत् ॥

tamāśramagataṃ dhīmānbrahmarṣirlokapūjitaḥ | dvaipāyano'bhyupāgamya rājānamidamabravīt

As he stayed in the hermitage, Dvaipayana, the wise Brahmin sage honoured by the world, approached the king and said this:

Note on the text: Corrected इदम्नब्रवीत् → इदमब्रवीत् (misprint in Wikisource; stray न्; CE star line 15,044.005d*0086_01 reads 'idam abravīt'). First line = CE 15.44.5a; second line = CE star line 15,044.005d*0086_01 ('dvaipāyana upāgamya rājānam idam abravīt'), which the critical edition has as an alternative to 5c.

Verse 6 (15.38.6)

धृतराष्ट्र महाबाहो शृणु कौरवनन्दन । श्रुतास्ते ज्ञानवृद्धानामृषीणां पुण्यकर्मणाम् ॥

dhṛtarāṣṭra mahābāho śṛṇu kauravanandana | śrutāste jñānavṛddhānāmṛṣīṇāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām

Dhritarashtra, mighty-armed delight of the Kurus, listen. You have heard from the sages, ripe in knowledge and of holy deeds,

Note on the text: Corrected धृताष्ट्र → धृतराष्ट्र (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara; CE 'dhṛtarāṣṭra'). Speaker: verses 6–12 are Vyasa's speech to Dhritarashtra, introduced by verse 5; the page prints no heading, so the carried-over Vaishampayana is replaced by Vyasa.

Verse 7 (15.38.7)

ऋद्धाभिजनवृद्धानां वेदवेदाङ्गवेदिनाम् । धर्मज्ञानां पुराणानां वदतां विविधाः कथाः ॥

ṛddhābhijanavṛddhānāṃ vedavedāṅgavedinām | dharmajñānāṃ purāṇānāṃ vadatāṃ vividhāḥ kathāḥ

who are of rich and noble birth and advanced in years, learned in the Vedas and Vedangas, knowers of dharma and of the ancient lore, the many different tales they tell.

Note on the text: Corrected अद्धाभिजनवृद्धानां → ऋद्धाभिजनवृद्धानां (misprint in Wikisource; अ for ऋ; CE 'ṛddhābhijanavṛddhānāṃ').

Verse 8 (15.38.8)

मा स्म शोके मनः कार्षीर्दिष्टे न व्यथते बुधः । श्रुतं देवरहस्यं ते नारदाद्देवदर्शनात् ॥

mā sma śoke manaḥ kārṣīrdiṣṭe na vyathate budhaḥ | śrutaṃ devarahasyaṃ te nāradāddevadarśanāt

Do not set your mind on grief; the wise are not distressed by what fate decrees. You have heard the secret of the gods from Narada, who has seen the gods.

Verse 9 (15.38.9)

गतास्ते क्षत्रधर्मेण शस्त्रपूतां गतिं शुभाम् । यथा दृष्टास्त्वया पुत्रास्तथा कामविहारिणः ॥

gatāste kṣatradharmeṇa śastrapūtāṃ gatiṃ śubhām | yathā dṛṣṭāstvayā putrāstathā kāmavihāriṇaḥ

They went, by the dharma of kshatriyas, to the blessed state purified by weapons; and as you have seen your sons, so they roam at will.

Verse 10 (15.38.10)

युधिष्ठिरः स्वयं धीमान्भवन्तमनुरुध्यते । सहितो भ्रातृभिः सर्वैः सदारः ससुहृज्जनः ॥

yudhiṣṭhiraḥ svayaṃ dhīmānbhavantamanurudhyate | sahito bhrātṛbhiḥ sarvaiḥ sadāraḥ sasuhṛjjanaḥ

The wise Yudhishthira himself, with all his brothers, his wife and his companions, remains here out of regard for you.

Note on the text: Corrected सर्वैःइ → सर्वैः (misprint in Wikisource; stray इ; CE 'sarvaiḥ').

Verse 11 (15.38.11)

विसर्जयैनं यात्वेष स्वराज्यमनुशासताम् । मासः समधिकस्तेषामतीतो वसतां वने ॥

visarjayainaṃ yātveṣa svarājyamanuśāsatām | māsaḥ samadhikasteṣāmatīto vasatāṃ vane

Send him off; let him go and rule his own kingdom. More than a month has already passed for them dwelling in the forest.

Verse 12 (15.38.12)

एतद्धि नित्यं यत्नेन पदं रक्ष्यं नराधिप । बहुप्रत्यर्थिकं ह्येतद्राज्यं नाम कुरूद्वह ॥

etaddhi nityaṃ yatnena padaṃ rakṣyaṃ narādhipa | bahupratyarthikaṃ hyetadrājyaṃ nāma kurūdvaha

This position must always be guarded with effort, O lord of men; kingship, as it is called, has many rivals, O scion of the Kurus.

Note on the text: Recension variant ('नराधिप … कुरूद्वह' for CE 'paraṃtapa … narādhipa'); kept.

Verse 13 (15.38.13)

इत्युक्तः कौरवो राजा व्यासेनामितबुद्धिना । युधिष्ठिरमथाहूय वाग्मी वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

ityuktaḥ kauravo rājā vyāsenāmitabuddhinā | yudhiṣṭhiramathāhūya vāgmī vacanamabravīt

Thus addressed by Vyasa, of boundless wisdom, the Kuru king called Yudhishthira to him and, being eloquent, spoke.

Verse 14 (15.38.14)

अजातशत्रो भद्रं ते शृणु मे भ्रातृभिः सह । त्वत्प्रसादान्महीपाल शोको नास्मान्प्रबाधते ॥

ajātaśatro bhadraṃ te śṛṇu me bhrātṛbhiḥ saha | tvatprasādānmahīpāla śoko nāsmānprabādhate

O Ajatashatru, blessings on you. Listen, with your brothers. By your grace, O lord of the earth, grief does not trouble us.

Note on the text: Speaker: verses 14–22 are Dhritarashtra's speech to Yudhishthira, introduced by verse 13; the page prints no heading, so the carried-over Vaishampayana is replaced by Dhritarashtra.

Verse 15 (15.38.15)

रमे चाहं त्वया पुत्र पुरेव गजसाहये । नाथेनानुगतो विद्वन्प्रियेषु परिवर्तिना ॥

rame cāhaṃ tvayā putra pureva gajasāhaye | nāthenānugato vidvanpriyeṣu parivartinā

My son, I am as happy with you as I was before in Hastinapura, wise one, with you as my protector, always acting for what is dear to me.

Verse 16 (15.38.16)

प्राप्तं पुत्रफलं त्वत्तः प्रीतिर्मे परमा त्वयि । न मे मन्युर्महाबाहो गम्यतां मा चिरं कृथाः ॥

prāptaṃ putraphalaṃ tvattaḥ prītirme paramā tvayi | na me manyurmahābāho gamyatāṃ mā ciraṃ kṛthāḥ

I have had from you the fruit of having a son; my affection for you is the greatest. I bear no anger, mighty-armed one; go, do not delay.

Note on the text: Recension variant ('परमा' for CE 'vipulā'); kept.

Verse 17 (15.38.17)

भवन्तं चेह संप्रेक्ष्य तपो मे परिहीयते । उपयुक्तं शरीरं च त्वां दृष्ट्वा धारितं पुनः ॥

bhavantaṃ ceha saṃprekṣya tapo me parihīyate | upayuktaṃ śarīraṃ ca tvāṃ dṛṣṭvā dhāritaṃ punaḥ

Seeing you here, my austerity is diminished; and this worn body of mine has been sustained again by the sight of you.

Note on the text: Recension variant ('उपयुक्तं' for CE 'tapoyuktaṃ'); kept.

Verse 18 (15.38.18)

मातरौ ते तथैवेमे शीर्णपर्णकृताशने । मम तुल्यव्रते पुत्र न चिरं वर्तयिष्यतः ॥

mātarau te tathaiveme śīrṇaparṇakṛtāśane | mama tulyavrate putra na ciraṃ vartayiṣyataḥ

And these two mothers of yours, who live on withered leaves and keep a vow like mine, will not live long.

Verse 19 (15.38.19)

दुर्योधनप्रभृतयो दृष्टा लोकान्तरं गताः । व्यासस्य तपसो वीर्याद्भवतश्च समागमात् ॥

duryodhanaprabhṛtayo dṛṣṭā lokāntaraṃ gatāḥ | vyāsasya tapaso vīryādbhavataśca samāgamāt

Duryodhana and the others, whom we have seen, have gone to the other world, by the power of Vyasa's austerity and through your coming.

Verse 20 (15.38.20)

प्रयोजनं चिरं वृत्तं जीवितस्य ममानघ । उग्रं तपः समास्थास्येत्वमनुज्ञातुमर्हसि ॥

prayojanaṃ ciraṃ vṛttaṃ jīvitasya mamānagha | ugraṃ tapaḥ samāsthāsyetvamanujñātumarhasi

The purpose of my life was fulfilled long ago, sinless one. I shall undertake fierce austerity; you should give me leave.

Verse 21 (15.38.21)

त्वय्यद्य पिण्डः कीर्तिश्च कुलं चेदं प्रतिष्ठितम् । श्वोवाऽद्य वा महाबाहो गम्यतां माचिरं कृथाः ॥

tvayyadya piṇḍaḥ kīrtiśca kulaṃ cedaṃ pratiṣṭhitam | śvovā'dya vā mahābāho gamyatāṃ māciraṃ kṛthāḥ

In you today the funeral offering, the fame and this family are established. Today or tomorrow, mighty-armed one, go; do not delay.

Note on the text: Recension variant (second line 'श्वोवाऽद्य वा महाबाहो गम्यतां माचिरं कृथाः' for CE '… gamyatāṃ putra mā ciram'); kept.

Verse 22 (15.38.22)

राजनीतिः सुबहुशः श्रुता ते भरतर्षभ । संदेष्टव्यं न पश्यामि कृतमेतावता विभो ॥

rājanītiḥ subahuśaḥ śrutā te bharatarṣabha | saṃdeṣṭavyaṃ na paśyāmi kṛtametāvatā vibho

You have heard a great deal about the policy of kings, O best of the Bharatas; I see nothing more to instruct you in. This much is enough, O lord.

Verse 23 (15.38.23)

इत्युक्तवचनं तं तु नृपो राजानमब्रवीत् । न मामर्हसि धर्मज्ञ परित्यक्तुमनागसम् ॥

ityuktavacanaṃ taṃ tu nṛpo rājānamabravīt | na māmarhasi dharmajña parityaktumanāgasam

To him who had spoken thus, the king said: "You ought not to forsake me, who am blameless, O knower of dharma.

Note on the text: First line is Vaishampayana's narration (the page heads it 'वैशम्पायन उवाच'); the second line is Yudhishthira's speech.

Verse 24 (15.38.24)

कामं गच्छन्तु मे सर्वे भ्रातरोऽनुचरास्तथा । भवन्तमहमन्विष्ये मातरौ च यतव्रतः ॥

kāmaṃ gacchantu me sarve bhrātaro'nucarāstathā | bhavantamahamanviṣye mātarau ca yatavrataḥ

Let all my brothers and the attendants go if they wish; I shall wait upon you and my two mothers, keeping strict vows."

Note on the text: Speaker: the whole verse is Yudhishthira's speech, continuing from the previous verse; the page carries over Vaishampayana, so Yudhishthira is given as speaker.

Verse 25 (15.38.25)

तमुवाचाथ गान्धारी मैवं पुत्र शृणुष्व च । त्वय्यधीनं कुरुकुलं पिण्डश्च श्वशुरस्य मे ॥

tamuvācātha gāndhārī maivaṃ putra śṛṇuṣva ca | tvayyadhīnaṃ kurukulaṃ piṇḍaśca śvaśurasya me

Then Gandhari said to him: "Not so, my son; listen. The Kuru house depends on you, and so does the funeral offering for my father-in-law.

Note on the text: First line is Vaishampayana's narration; the second line is Gandhari's speech.

Verse 26 (15.38.26)

गम्यतां पुत्र पर्याप्तमेतावत्पूजिता वयम् । राजा यदाह तत्कार्यं त्वया पुत्र पितुर्वचः ॥

gamyatāṃ putra paryāptametāvatpūjitā vayam | rājā yadāha tatkāryaṃ tvayā putra piturvacaḥ

Go, my son; this much is enough; we have been honoured. What the king says must be done by you, my son; it is your father's word."

Note on the text: Speaker: the whole verse is Gandhari's speech, continuing from the previous verse; the page carries over Vaishampayana, so Gandhari is given as speaker.

Verse 27 (15.38.27)

इत्युक्तः स तु गान्धार्या कुन्तीमिदमभाषत । स्नेहबाष्पाकुले नेत्रे परिमृज्य विनीतवत् ॥

ityuktaḥ sa tu gāndhāryā kuntīmidamabhāṣata | snehabāṣpākule netre parimṛjya vinītavat

Thus addressed by Gandhari, he said this to Kunti, wiping his eyes, which were brimming with tears of affection, with humility.

Note on the text: Recension variant (second line 'परिमृज्य विनीतवत्' for CE 'pramṛjya rudatīṃ vacaḥ'); kept.

Verse 28 (15.38.28)

विसर्जयति मां राजा गान्धारी च यशस्विनी । भवत्यां बद्धचित्तस्तु कथं यास्यामि दुःखितः ॥

visarjayati māṃ rājā gāndhārī ca yaśasvinī | bhavatyāṃ baddhacittastu kathaṃ yāsyāmi duḥkhitaḥ

"The king and the glorious Gandhari send me away, but my heart is bound to you; how shall I go, grieving?

Note on the text: Speaker: verses 28–35 are Yudhishthira's speech to Kunti, introduced by verse 27; the page carries over Vaishampayana, so Yudhishthira is given as speaker. (The critical edition inserts a star passage with Kunti speaking after 28a; it is not on this page.)

Verse 29 (15.38.29)

न चोत्सहे तपोविघ्नं कर्तुं ते धर्मचारिणि । तपसो हि परं नास्ति तपसा विन्दते महत् ॥

na cotsahe tapovighnaṃ kartuṃ te dharmacāriṇi | tapaso hi paraṃ nāsti tapasā vindate mahat

I cannot bring myself to obstruct your austerity, O devoted lady. There is nothing higher than austerity; by austerity one gains what is great.

Verse 30 (15.38.30)

ममापि न तथा राज्ञि राज्ये बुद्धिर्यथा पुरा । तपस्येवानुरक्तं मे मनः सर्वात्मना तथा ॥

mamāpi na tathā rājñi rājye buddhiryathā purā | tapasyevānuraktaṃ me manaḥ sarvātmanā tathā

Nor, O queen, is my mind set on the kingdom as it once was; my heart is wholly given to austerity.

Verse 31 (15.38.31)

शून्येयं च मही कृत्स्ना न मे प्रीतिकरी शुभे । बान्धवा नः परिक्षीणा बलं नो न यथा पुरा ॥

śūnyeyaṃ ca mahī kṛtsnā na me prītikarī śubhe | bāndhavā naḥ parikṣīṇā balaṃ no na yathā purā

This whole earth is empty and gives me no joy, good lady. Our kinsmen are wasted away, and our strength is not what it was.

Verse 32 (15.38.32)

पाञ्चालाः सुभृशं क्षीणाः कन्यामात्रावशेषिताः । न तेषां कुलकर्तारं कञ्चित्पश्याम्यहं शुभे ॥

pāñcālāḥ subhṛśaṃ kṣīṇāḥ kanyāmātrāvaśeṣitāḥ | na teṣāṃ kulakartāraṃ kañcitpaśyāmyahaṃ śubhe

The Panchalas are greatly diminished, only their girls remaining; I see no one who can carry on their family, good lady.

Verse 33 (15.38.33)

सर्वे हि भस्मसान्नीतास्ते द्रोणेन रणाजिरे । अवशिष्टाश्च निहता द्रोणपुत्रेण वै निशि । चेदयश्चैव मत्स्याश्च दृष्टपूर्वास्तथैव नः ॥

sarve hi bhasmasānnītāste droṇena raṇājire | avaśiṣṭāśca nihatā droṇaputreṇa vai niśi | cedayaścaiva matsyāśca dṛṣṭapūrvāstathaiva naḥ

All were reduced to ashes in battle by Drona, and the survivors were killed at night by Drona's son. The Chedis and the Matsyas too we have seen only in the past.

Note on the text: Corrected भस्मासान्नीतास्ते → भस्मसान्नीतास्ते (misprint in Wikisource; stray ā; CE 'bhasmasān nītāḥ'). Three lines = CE 15.44.33a, 33c, 34a (the page labels them 33a, 33b, 34c). Recension variant ('ते द्रोणेन रणाजिरे' for CE 'droṇenaikena saṃyuge'); kept.

Verse 34 (15.38.34)

केवलं वृष्णिचक्रं च वासुदेवपरिग्रहात् । यद्दृष्ट्वा स्थातुमिच्छामि धर्मार्थं नार्थहेतुतः ॥

kevalaṃ vṛṣṇicakraṃ ca vāsudevaparigrahāt | yaddṛṣṭvā sthātumicchāmi dharmārthaṃ nārthahetutaḥ

Only the circle of the Vrishnis remains, because Vasudeva upholds it; seeing it, I wish to stay on, for the sake of dharma, not for gain.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width non-joiner after यद् (Wikisource encoding artefact). Lines = CE 15.44.34c and 34e; the critical edition's intervening star line 15,044.034d*0090_01 is not on this page. CE reads 'yaṃ dṛṣṭvā' for 'यद्दृष्ट्वा'; kept.

Verse 35 (15.38.35)

शिवेन पश्य नः सर्वान्दुर्लभं तव दर्शनम् । भविष्यत्यंब राजा हि तीव्रं चारप्स्यते तपः ॥

śivena paśya naḥ sarvāndurlabhaṃ tava darśanam | bhaviṣyatyaṃba rājā hi tīvraṃ cārapsyate tapaḥ

Look on us all with kindness; your sight will be hard to come by. For, mother, the king will undertake severe austerity."

Note on the text: Recension variant ('तीव्रं चारप्स्यते' / 'शिवेन पश्य नः सर्वान्'); kept.

Verse 36 (15.38.36)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा महाबाहुः सहदेवो युधांपतिः । युधिष्ठिरमुवाचेदं बाष्पव्याकुललोचनः ॥

etacchrutvā mahābāhuḥ sahadevo yudhāṃpatiḥ | yudhiṣṭhiramuvācedaṃ bāṣpavyākulalocanaḥ

Hearing this, the mighty-armed Sahadeva, lord of warriors, his eyes brimming with tears, said this to Yudhishthira:

Verse 37 (15.38.37)

नोत्सहेऽहं परित्यक्तुं मातरं भरतर्षभ । प्रतियातु भवान्क्षिप्रं तपस्तप्स्याम्यहं वने ॥

notsahe'haṃ parityaktuṃ mātaraṃ bharatarṣabha | pratiyātu bhavānkṣipraṃ tapastapsyāmyahaṃ vane

"I cannot bring myself to abandon my mother, O best of the Bharatas. Let your majesty go back quickly; I shall practise austerity in the forest.

Note on the text: Speaker: verses 37–38 are Sahadeva's speech, introduced by verse 36; the page carries over Vaishampayana, so Sahadeva is given as speaker.

Verse 38 (15.38.38)

इहैव शोषयिष्यामि तपसेदं कलेवरम् । पादशुश्रूषणेरक्तो राज्ञो मात्रोस्तथाऽनयोः ॥

ihaiva śoṣayiṣyāmi tapasedaṃ kalevaram | pādaśuśrūṣaṇerakto rājño mātrostathā'nayoḥ

Right here I shall dry up this body with austerity, devoted to serving the feet of the king and of these two mothers."

Verse 39 (15.38.39)

तमुवाच ततः कुन्ती परिष्वज्य महाभुजम् । गम्यतां पुत्र मैवं त्वं वोचः कुरु वचो मम ॥

tamuvāca tataḥ kuntī pariṣvajya mahābhujam | gamyatāṃ putra maivaṃ tvaṃ vocaḥ kuru vaco mama

Then Kunti embraced the mighty-armed one and said to him: "Go, my son; do not speak so; do as I say.

Note on the text: First line is Vaishampayana's narration; the second line is Kunti's speech.

Verse 40 (15.38.40)

आगमा वः शिवाः सन्तु स्वस्था भवत पुत्रकाः । उपरोधो भवेदेवमस्माकं तपसः कृते ॥

āgamā vaḥ śivāḥ santu svasthā bhavata putrakāḥ | uparodho bhavedevamasmākaṃ tapasaḥ kṛte

May your comings and goings be auspicious; be well, my sons. Otherwise there will be an obstacle to our austerity.

Note on the text: Speaker: verses 40–41 are Kunti's speech, continuing from verse 39; the page carries over Vaishampayana, so Kunti is given as speaker.

Verse 41 (15.38.41)

त्वत्स्नेहपाशबद्धा च हीयेयं तपसः परात् । तस्मात्पुत्रक गच्छ त्वं शिष्टमल्पं च नः प्रभो ॥

tvatsnehapāśabaddhā ca hīyeyaṃ tapasaḥ parāt | tasmātputraka gaccha tvaṃ śiṣṭamalpaṃ ca naḥ prabho

Bound by the snare of affection for you, I should fall away from the highest austerity. Therefore go, my son; what remains of our life is short, O lord."

Note on the text: Recension variant ('तपसः परात्' / 'शिष्टमल्पं च नः प्रभो' for CE '… śiṣṭam alpaṃ hi naḥ prabho'); kept.

Verse 42 (15.38.42)

एवं संस्तंभितं वाक्यैः कुन्त्या बहुविधैर्मनः । सहदेवस्य राजेन्द्र राज्ञश्चैव विशेषतः ॥

evaṃ saṃstaṃbhitaṃ vākyaiḥ kuntyā bahuvidhairmanaḥ | sahadevasya rājendra rājñaścaiva viśeṣataḥ

In this way, by Kunti's many words, the mind of Sahadeva, and especially of the king, was steadied, O king of kings.

Verse 43 (15.38.43)

ते मात्रा समनुज्ञाता राज्ञा च कुरुपुङ्गवाः । अभिवाद्य कुरुश्रेष्ठमामन्त्रयितुमारभन् ॥

te mātrā samanujñātā rājñā ca kurupuṅgavāḥ | abhivādya kuruśreṣṭhamāmantrayitumārabhan

With their mother's leave and the king's, those bulls of the Kurus bowed to the eldest of the Kurus and began to take leave of him.

Verse 44 (15.38.44)

राज्यं प्रति गमिष्यामः शिवेन प्रतिनन्दितः । अनुज्ञातास्त्वया राजन्गमिष्यामो विकल्मषाः ॥

rājyaṃ prati gamiṣyāmaḥ śivena pratinanditaḥ | anujñātāstvayā rājangamiṣyāmo vikalmaṣāḥ

"We shall return to our kingdom, welcomed by your blessing; with your leave, O king, we shall go, free of stain."

Note on the text: Speaker: Yudhishthira, as headed on the page (CE gives no heading; the lines are his reply).

Verse 45 (15.38.45)

एवमुक्तः स राजर्षिर्धर्मराज्ञा महात्मना । अनुजज्ञे जयाशीर्भिः पूजयित्वा युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

evamuktaḥ sa rājarṣirdharmarājñā mahātmanā | anujajñe jayāśīrbhiḥ pūjayitvā yudhiṣṭhiram

Thus addressed by the great-souled King Dharma (Yudhishthira), that royal sage gave him leave, honouring Yudhishthira with blessings of victory.

Note on the text: Corrected अनुयज्ञे → अनुजज्ञे (misprint in Wikisource; 'अनुयज्ञे' makes no sense here; CE 'anujajñe', 'gave leave'). Speaker: the narration resumes here; the page prints no heading after Yudhishthira's verse 44, so the carried-over Yudhishthira is replaced by Vaishampayana (verses 45–53). Recension variant ('पूजयित्वा' for CE 'abhinandya'); kept.

Verse 46 (15.38.46)

भीमं च बलिनां श्रेष्ठं सान्त्वयामास पार्थिवः । स चास्य सम्यङ्मेधावी प्रत्यपद्यत वीर्यवान् ॥

bhīmaṃ ca balināṃ śreṣṭhaṃ sāntvayāmāsa pārthivaḥ | sa cāsya samyaṅmedhāvī pratyapadyata vīryavān

The king comforted Bhima too, foremost of the strong, and he, wise and mighty, duly took it to heart.

Verse 47 (15.38.47)

अर्जुनं च समाश्लिष्य यंमौ च भरतर्षभौ । अनुजज्ञे स कौरव्यः परिष्वज्याभिनन्द्य च ॥

arjunaṃ ca samāśliṣya yaṃmau ca bharatarṣabhau | anujajñe sa kauravyaḥ pariṣvajyābhinandya ca

Embracing Arjuna and the twins, those two bulls of the Bharatas, and welcoming them, the Kuru king gave them leave.

Note on the text: Corrected अनुयज्ञे → अनुजज्ञे (misprint in Wikisource; as in verse 45; CE 'anujajñe').

Verse 48 (15.38.48)

गान्धार्या चाभ्यनुज्ञाताः कृतपादाभिवादनाः । जनन्या समुपाघ्राताः परिष्वक्ताश्च ते नृपम् ॥

gāndhāryā cābhyanujñātāḥ kṛtapādābhivādanāḥ | jananyā samupāghrātāḥ pariṣvaktāśca te nṛpam

Given leave by Gandhari, having bowed at her feet, kissed on the head and embraced by their mother, they then came before the king.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 15.44.48a and 48c.

Verse 49 (15.38.49)

चक्रुः प्रदक्षिणं सर्वे वत्सा इव निवारणे । पुनः पुनर्निरीक्षन्तः प्रचक्रुस्ते प्रदक्षिणम् ॥

cakruḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ sarve vatsā iva nivāraṇe | punaḥ punarnirīkṣantaḥ pracakruste pradakṣiṇam

All of them circled him with reverence, like calves being held back from the udder; looking back again and again, they made their circumambulation once more.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 15.44.48e and 49a (CE 49a reads 'prajagmus te pradakṣiṇam' for 'प्रचक्रुस्ते प्रदक्षिणम्'; kept).

Verse 50 (15.38.50)

द्रौपदीप्रमुखाश्चैव सर्वाः कौरवयोषितः । न्यायतः श्वशुरे वृत्तिं प्रयुज्य प्रययुस्ततः ॥

draupadīpramukhāścaiva sarvāḥ kauravayoṣitaḥ | nyāyataḥ śvaśure vṛttiṃ prayujya prayayustataḥ

Draupadi at their head, all the women of the Kuru house, having paid due respect to their father-in-law, then set out.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 15.44.49c (a recension variant: CE reads 'tathaiva draupadī sādhvī sarvāḥ kauravayoṣitaḥ') and 50a.

Verse 51 (15.38.51)

श्वश्रूभ्यां समनुज्ञाताः परिष्वज्याभिनन्दिताः । संदिष्टाश्चेतिकर्तव्यं प्रययुर्भर्तृभिः सह ॥

śvaśrūbhyāṃ samanujñātāḥ pariṣvajyābhinanditāḥ | saṃdiṣṭāścetikartavyaṃ prayayurbhartṛbhiḥ saha

Given leave by the two mothers-in-law, embraced and blessed by them, and instructed in what was to be done, they set out with their husbands.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 15.44.50c and 50e.

Verse 52 (15.38.52)

ततः प्रजज्ञे निनदः सूतानां युज्यतामिति । उष्ट्राणां क्रोशतां चापि हयानां हेषतामपि ॥

tataḥ prajajñe ninadaḥ sūtānāṃ yujyatāmiti | uṣṭrāṇāṃ krośatāṃ cāpi hayānāṃ heṣatāmapi

Then rose the cry of the charioteers, "Yoke up!", with the roaring of the camels and the neighing of the horses.

Verse 53 (15.38.53)

ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा सदारः सहसैनिकः । नगरं हास्तिनपुरं पुनरायात्सबान्धवः ॥

tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā sadāraḥ sahasainikaḥ | nagaraṃ hāstinapuraṃ punarāyātsabāndhavaḥ

Then King Yudhishthira, with his wife, his troops and his kinsmen, returned to the city of Hastinapura.