Yudhishthira Pleads with Dhritarashtra

Verse 1 (15.4.1)

न मां प्रीणयते राज्यं त्वय्येवं दुःखिते नृप । दिङ्मामस्तु सुदुर्बुद्धिं राज्यसक्तं प्रमादिनम् ॥

na māṃ prīṇayate rājyaṃ tvayyevaṃ duḥkhite nṛpa | diṅmāmastu sudurbuddhiṃ rājyasaktaṃ pramādinam

This kingdom gives me no joy, O king, while you are in such sorrow. Shame on me, ill-minded as I am, clinging to the kingdom and heedless.

Verse 2 (15.4.2)

गृहे वसन्तं दुःखार्तमुपवासकृशं भृशम् । यताहारं क्षितिशयं नाविदं भ्रातृभिः सह ॥

gṛhe vasantaṃ duḥkhārtamupavāsakṛśaṃ bhṛśam | yatāhāraṃ kṣitiśayaṃ nāvidaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ saha

You lived at home in anguish, wasted by fasting, eating only measured fare and lying on the ground, and I and my brothers did not know it.

Verse 3 (15.4.3)

अहोस्मि वञ्चितो मूढो भवता गूढबुद्धिना । विस्वासयित्वा पूर्वं मां यदिदं दुःखमश्नुथा ॥

ahosmi vañcito mūḍho bhavatā gūḍhabuddhinā | visvāsayitvā pūrvaṃ māṃ yadidaṃ duḥkhamaśnuthā

Alas, I have been deceived, fool that I am, by you whose mind is hidden; for after first winning my trust you have gone on bearing this suffering.

Verse 4 (15.4.4)

किं मे राज्येन भोगैर्वा किं यज्ञैः किं सुखेन वा । यस्य मे त्वं महीपाल दुखान्येतान्यवाप्तवान् ॥

kiṃ me rājyena bhogairvā kiṃ yajñaiḥ kiṃ sukhena vā | yasya me tvaṃ mahīpāla dukhānyetānyavāptavān

What use to me are kingdom or pleasures, sacrifices or happiness, when it is for me, O protector of the earth, that you have met with these sorrows?

Verse 5 (15.4.5)

पीडितं चापि जानामि राज्यमात्मानमेव च । अनेन वचसा तेऽद्य दुःखितस्य जनेश्वरः ॥

pīḍitaṃ cāpi jānāmi rājyamātmānameva ca | anena vacasā te'dya duḥkhitasya janeśvaraḥ

By these words of yours today, spoken in your grief, O lord of men, I know that both the kingdom and I myself are afflicted.

Verse 6 (15.4.6)

भवान्पिता भवान्माता भवान्नः परमो गुरुः । भवता विप्रहीणा वै क्वनु तिष्ठामहे वयम् ॥

bhavānpitā bhavānmātā bhavānnaḥ paramo guruḥ | bhavatā viprahīṇā vai kvanu tiṣṭhāmahe vayam

You are our father, you are our mother, you are our supreme teacher. Deprived of you, where shall we stand?

Verse 7 (15.4.7)

औरसो भवतः पुत्रो युयुत्सुर्नृपसत्तम । अस्तु राजा महाराज यमन्यं मन्यते भवान् ॥

auraso bhavataḥ putro yuyutsurnṛpasattama | astu rājā mahārāja yamanyaṃ manyate bhavān

Yuyutsu is your own son, best of kings. Let him be king, great king, or whomever else you think fit.

Verse 8 (15.4.8)

अहं वनं गमिष्यामि भवान्राजा प्रशास्त्विदम् । नमामयशसा दग्धं भूयस्त्वं दग्धुमर्हसि ॥

ahaṃ vanaṃ gamiṣyāmi bhavānrājā praśāstvidam | namāmayaśasā dagdhaṃ bhūyastvaṃ dagdhumarhasi

I shall go to the forest; you rule this realm. You should not burn me again, already scorched by disgrace.

Verse 9 (15.4.9)

नाहं राजा भवान्राजा भवता परवानहम् । कथं गुरुं त्वां धर्मज्ञमनुज्ञातुमिहोत्सहे ॥

nāhaṃ rājā bhavānrājā bhavatā paravānaham | kathaṃ guruṃ tvāṃ dharmajñamanujñātumihotsahe

I am not the king; you are the king, and I am dependent on you. How could I presume to give leave to you, my teacher, who know dharma?

Verse 10 (15.4.10)

न मन्युर्हृदि नः कश्चित्सुयोधनकृतेऽनघ । भवितव्यं तथा तद्धि वयं चान्ये च मोहिताः ॥

na manyurhṛdi naḥ kaścitsuyodhanakṛte'nagha | bhavitavyaṃ tathā taddhi vayaṃ cānye ca mohitāḥ

No anger lies in our hearts, blameless one, over what Suyodhana did. It had to be so, for we and others were deluded.

Verse 11 (15.4.11)

वयं पुत्रा हि भवतो यथा दुर्योधनादयः । गान्धारी चैव कुन्ती च निर्विशेषे मते मम ॥

vayaṃ putrā hi bhavato yathā duryodhanādayaḥ | gāndhārī caiva kuntī ca nirviśeṣe mate mama

We are your sons, just as Duryodhana and the others were. In my view Gandhari and Kunti are no different.

Note on the text: Corrected भवोत → भवतो (misprint in Wikisource; CE reads 'bhavato'; the vowel and consonant are swapped).

Verse 12 (15.4.12)

स मां त्वं यदि राजेन्द्र परित्यज्य गमिष्यसि । पृष्ठतस्त्वनुयास्यामि सत्यमात्मानमालभे ॥

sa māṃ tvaṃ yadi rājendra parityajya gamiṣyasi | pṛṣṭhatastvanuyāsyāmi satyamātmānamālabhe

So, O king of kings, if you abandon me and go, I shall follow behind you; I swear it by truth.

Verse 13 (15.4.13)

इयं हि वसुसंपूर्णा मही सागरमेखला । भवता विप्रहीणस्य न मे प्रीतिकरी भवेत् ॥

iyaṃ hi vasusaṃpūrṇā mahī sāgaramekhalā | bhavatā viprahīṇasya na me prītikarī bhavet

This earth, full of wealth and girdled by the ocean, would give me no joy if I were left without you.

Verse 14 (15.4.14)

भवदीयमिदं सर्वं शिरसा त्वां प्रसादये । त्वदधीनाः स्म राजेन्द्र व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः ॥

bhavadīyamidaṃ sarvaṃ śirasā tvāṃ prasādaye | tvadadhīnāḥ sma rājendra vyetu te mānaso jvaraḥ

All this is yours; with bowed head I entreat you. We are dependent on you, king of kings; let the fever of your mind pass.

Verse 15 (15.4.15)

भवितव्यमनुप्राप्तो मन्ये त्वं वसुधाधिप । दिष्ट्या शुश्रूषमाणस्त्वां मोक्षिष्ये मनसो ज्वरं ॥

bhavitavyamanuprāpto manye tvaṃ vasudhādhipa | diṣṭyā śuśrūṣamāṇastvāṃ mokṣiṣye manaso jvaraṃ

I think, O lord of the earth, that you have come to what was bound to happen. Happily, by serving you, I shall free you from the fever of your mind.

Verse 16 (15.4.16)

तापस्ये मे मनस्तात वर्तते कुरुनन्दन । उचितं च कुलेऽस्माकमरण्यगमनं प्रभो ॥

tāpasye me manastāta vartate kurunandana | ucitaṃ ca kule'smākamaraṇyagamanaṃ prabho

My mind is set on austerity, dear son, delight of the Kurus; and it befits our family, lord, to go to the forest.

Verse 17 (15.4.17)

चिरमध्युषितः पुत्र चिरं शुश्रूषितस्त्वया । वृद्धं मामप्यनुज्ञातुमर्हसि त्वं नराधिप ॥

ciramadhyuṣitaḥ putra ciraṃ śuśrūṣitastvayā | vṛddhaṃ māmapyanujñātumarhasi tvaṃ narādhipa

I have lived here long, my son, and long have I been served by you. You should give leave even to me, an old man, O lord of men.

Verse 18 (15.4.18)

इत्युक्त्वा धर्मराजानं वेपमानं कृताञ्जलिम् । उवाच विदुरं राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः ॥

ityuktvā dharmarājānaṃ vepamānaṃ kṛtāñjalim | uvāca viduraṃ rājā dhṛtarāṣṭro'mbikāsutaḥ

Having spoken thus to Dharmaraja, who stood trembling with joined palms, King Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, said to Vidura:

Note on the text: Corrected धृतराष्ट्रोंऽबिकासुतः → धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः (misprint in Wikisource; anusvara and avagraha misplaced; the evident reading is dhṛtarāṣṭro 'mbikāsutaḥ).

Verse 19 (15.4.19)

संजयं च महात्मानं कृपं चापि महारथम् । अनुनेतुमिहेच्छामि भवद्भिर्वसुधाधिपम् ॥

saṃjayaṃ ca mahātmānaṃ kṛpaṃ cāpi mahāratham | anunetumihecchāmi bhavadbhirvasudhādhipam

"I wish to win over the king through you, through the noble Sanjaya, and through the great warrior Kripa.

Verse 20 (15.4.20)

म्लायते मे मनो हीदं मुखं च परिशुष्यति । वयसा च प्रकृष्टेन वाग्व्यायामेन चैव ह ॥

mlāyate me mano hīdaṃ mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati | vayasā ca prakṛṣṭena vāgvyāyāmena caiva ha

My mind is failing and my mouth is drying up, from great age and from the strain of speaking."

Verse 21 (15.4.21)

इत्युक्त्वा स तु धर्मात्मा वृद्धो राजा कुरूद्वहः । गान्धारीं शिश्रिये धीमान्सहसैव गतासुवत् ॥

ityuktvā sa tu dharmātmā vṛddho rājā kurūdvahaḥ | gāndhārīṃ śiśriye dhīmānsahasaiva gatāsuvat

Having said this, that wise and righteous old king, the foremost of the Kurus, suddenly leaned against Gandhari like one who had lost his life.

Verse 22 (15.4.22)

तं तु दृष्ट्वा समासीनं विसंज्ञमिव कौरवम् । आर्तिं राजाऽगमत्तीव्रां कौन्तेयः परवीरहा ॥

taṃ tu dṛṣṭvā samāsīnaṃ visaṃjñamiva kauravam | ārtiṃ rājā'gamattīvrāṃ kaunteyaḥ paravīrahā

Seeing the Kuru king seated so, as if senseless, the son of Kunti, slayer of enemy heroes, was seized with sharp distress.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 15,006.022 (the automatic alignment found no match because the wording of both lines differs from the critical edition's 'taṃ tu dṛṣṭvā tathāsīnaṃ niśceṣṭaṃ kurupārthivam / ārtiṃ rājā yayau tūrṇaṃ …'); Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 23 (15.4.23)

यस्य नागसहस्रेण शतसङ्ख्येन वै बलम् । सोयं नारीं व्यपाश्रित्य शेते राजा गतासुवत् ॥

yasya nāgasahasreṇa śatasaṅkhyena vai balam | soyaṃ nārīṃ vyapāśritya śete rājā gatāsuvat

He whose strength is that of a thousand elephants, a hundredfold over, now leans on a woman and lies like one without life.

Verse 24 (15.4.24)

आयसी प्रतिमा येन भीमसेनस्य सा पुरा । चूर्णीकृता बलवता सोबलामाश्रितः स्त्रियम् ॥

āyasī pratimā yena bhīmasenasya sā purā | cūrṇīkṛtā balavatā sobalāmāśritaḥ striyam

He who once crushed to powder the iron image of Bhimasena, mighty as he is, has now taken refuge in a weak woman.

Verse 25 (15.4.25)

धिगस्तु मामधर्मज्ञं धिग्बुद्धिं धिक्च मे श्रुतम् । यत्कृते पृथिवीपालः शेतेऽयमतथोचितः ॥

dhigastu māmadharmajñaṃ dhigbuddhiṃ dhikca me śrutam | yatkṛte pṛthivīpālaḥ śete'yamatathocitaḥ

Shame on me, ignorant of dharma; shame on my understanding and on my learning, for it is because of me that this lord of the earth lies thus, unfit for such a state.

Verse 26 (15.4.26)

अहमप्युपवत्स्यामि यथैवायं गुरुर्मम । यदि राजा न भुङ्क्तेऽयं गान्धारी च यशस्विनी ॥

ahamapyupavatsyāmi yathaivāyaṃ gururmama | yadi rājā na bhuṅkte'yaṃ gāndhārī ca yaśasvinī

I too shall fast, as this elder of mine does, if the king and the glorious Gandhari will not eat.

Verse 27 (15.4.27)

ततोस्य पाणिना राजञ्जलशीतेन पाण्डवः । उरो मुखं च शनकैः पर्यमार्जत धर्मवित् ॥

tatosya pāṇinā rājañjalaśītena pāṇḍavaḥ | uro mukhaṃ ca śanakaiḥ paryamārjata dharmavit

Then the Pandava, knower of dharma, gently wiped the king's chest and face with his hand, cooled with water.

Verse 28 (15.4.28)

तेन रत्नौषधिमता पुण्येन च सुगन्धिना । पाणिस्पर्शेन राज्ञः स राजा संज्ञामवाप ह ॥

tena ratnauṣadhimatā puṇyena ca sugandhinā | pāṇisparśena rājñaḥ sa rājā saṃjñāmavāpa ha

At the touch of that hand — holy, fragrant, bearing the virtue of gems and herbs — the king regained consciousness.

Verse 29 (15.4.29)

स्पृशन्तं पाणिना भूयः परिष्यज्य च पाण्डवम् । उवाच राजा धर्मज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रः शुभं वचः ॥

spṛśantaṃ pāṇinā bhūyaḥ pariṣyajya ca pāṇḍavam | uvāca rājā dharmajño dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ śubhaṃ vacaḥ

Embracing again the Pandava, who was touching him, the righteous king Dhritarashtra spoke these good words:

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick and the closing quote mark with doubled danda (`…।।') printed around the second line. First line = CE 15,007.001a ('spṛśa māṃ pāṇinā bhūyaḥ pariṣvaja ca pāṇḍava', here recast as narration); second line = CE star line 15,007.001b*0022_01 ('uvāca rājadharmajño dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ śubhaṃ vacaḥ').

Verse 30 (15.4.30)

जीवामीवातिसंस्पर्शात्तव राजीवलोचन । मूर्धानं च तवाघ्रातुमिच्छामि मनुजाधिप । पाणिभ्यां हि परिस्प्रष्टुं प्राणानां हितमात्मनि ॥

jīvāmīvātisaṃsparśāttava rājīvalocana | mūrdhānaṃ ca tavāghrātumicchāmi manujādhipa | pāṇibhyāṃ hi parispraṣṭuṃ prāṇānāṃ hitamātmani

"I seem to live again from your touch, lotus-eyed one. I long to smell your head, ruler of men, and to touch you with both my hands; it is good for the life within me.

Note on the text: Three-line verse as printed on the page (15-4-30a,b,c). Line 1 = CE 15,007.001c; lines 2-3 = CE 15,007.002a and 002c. Spoken by Dhritarashtra (no heading on the page, whose last printed heading is Vaishampayana).

Verse 31 (15.4.31)

अष्टमो ह्यद्य कालोऽयमाहारस्य कृतस्य मे । येनाहं कुरुशार्दूल शक्नोमि न विचेष्टितुम् ॥

aṣṭamo hyadya kālo'yamāhārasya kṛtasya me | yenāhaṃ kuruśārdūla śaknomi na viceṣṭitum

This is now the eighth mealtime since I last ate, tiger of the Kurus, and so I have no strength to move.

Verse 32 (15.4.32)

व्यायामश्चायमत्यर्थं कृतस्त्वामभियाचता । ततो ग्लानमनास्तात नष्टसंज्ञ इवाभवम् ॥

vyāyāmaścāyamatyarthaṃ kṛtastvāmabhiyācatā | tato glānamanāstāta naṣṭasaṃjña ivābhavam

While pleading with you I strained myself greatly, and then, sick at heart, dear son, I fell as though senseless.

Note on the text: Corrected ग्लानमनास्तान → ग्लानमनास्तात (misprint in Wikisource; CE reads 'tāta'; final akshara dropped).

Verse 33 (15.4.33)

तवामृतसुखस्पर्शं हस्तस्पर्शमिमं प्रभो । लब्ध्वा संजीवितोस्मीति मन्ये कुरुकुलोद्वह ॥

tavāmṛtasukhasparśaṃ hastasparśamimaṃ prabho | labdhvā saṃjīvitosmīti manye kurukulodvaha

Having received the touch of your hand, which gives the delight of nectar, O lord, descendant of the Kurus, I feel that I am revived."

Verse 34 (15.4.34)

एवमुक्तस्तु कौन्तेयः पित्रा ज्येष्ठेन भारत । पस्पर्श सर्वगात्रेषु स्नेहार्द्रस्तं शनैस्तदा ॥

evamuktastu kaunteyaḥ pitrā jyeṣṭhena bhārata | pasparśa sarvagātreṣu snehārdrastaṃ śanaistadā

Addressed thus by his elder father, O Bharata, the son of Kunti, full of affection, gently stroked him over all his limbs.

Verse 35 (15.4.35)

उपलभ्य ततः प्राणान्धृतराष्ट्रो महीपतिः । बाहुभ्यां सम्परिष्वज्य मूर्ध्न्याजिघ्रत पाण्डवम् ॥

upalabhya tataḥ prāṇāndhṛtarāṣṭro mahīpatiḥ | bāhubhyāṃ sampariṣvajya mūrdhnyājighrata pāṇḍavam

Regaining his breath, King Dhritarashtra took the Pandava in his arms and smelled his head.

Verse 36 (15.4.36)

विदुरादयश्च ते सर्वे रुरुदुर्दुःखिता भृशम् । अतिदुःखात्तु राजानं नोचुः किञ्चन पाण्डवम् ॥

vidurādayaśca te sarve rurudurduḥkhitā bhṛśam | atiduḥkhāttu rājānaṃ nocuḥ kiñcana pāṇḍavam

Vidura and all the others wept bitterly in their grief; in their great sorrow they said nothing to the king or to the Pandava.

Verse 37 (15.4.37)

गान्धारी त्वेव धर्मज्ञा मनसोद्वहती भृशम् । दुःखान्यधारयद्राजन्मैवमित्येव चाब्रवीत् ॥

gāndhārī tveva dharmajñā manasodvahatī bhṛśam | duḥkhānyadhārayadrājanmaivamityeva cābravīt

Gandhari alone, wise in dharma, bore her great grief within her and held back her sorrows, O king, saying only, "Not so."

Verse 38 (15.4.38)

इतरास्तु स्त्रियः सर्वाः कुन्त्या सह सुदुःखिताः । नेत्रैरागतविक्लेदैः परिवार्य स्थिताऽभवन् ॥

itarāstu striyaḥ sarvāḥ kuntyā saha suduḥkhitāḥ | netrairāgatavikledaiḥ parivārya sthitā'bhavan

All the other women, in deep grief together with Kunti, stood around them with eyes filled with tears.

Note on the text: Corrected सुदःखिताः → सुदुःखिताः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign; CE reads 'suduḥkhitāḥ').

Verse 39 (15.4.39)

अथाब्रवीत्पुनर्वाक्यं धृतराष्ट्रो युधिष्ठिरम् । अनुजानीहि मां राजंस्तापस्ये भरतर्षभ ॥

athābravītpunarvākyaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭro yudhiṣṭhiram | anujānīhi māṃ rājaṃstāpasye bharatarṣabha

Then Dhritarashtra spoke again to Yudhishthira: "Give me leave, O king, best of the Bharatas, to take up the life of austerity.

Verse 40 (15.4.40)

ग्लायते मे मनस्तात भूयोभूयः प्रजल्पतः । न मामतः परं पुत्र परिक्लेष्टुमिहार्हसि ॥

glāyate me manastāta bhūyobhūyaḥ prajalpataḥ | na māmataḥ paraṃ putra parikleṣṭumihārhasi

My mind tires, dear son, from speaking again and again. You should not distress me further than this."

Verse 41 (15.4.41)

तस्मिंस्तु कौरवेन्द्रे तं तथा ब्रुवति पाण्डवम् । सर्वेषामवरोधानामार्तनादो महानभूत् ॥

tasmiṃstu kauravendre taṃ tathā bruvati pāṇḍavam | sarveṣāmavarodhānāmārtanādo mahānabhūt

As that lord of the Kauravas thus spoke to the Pandava, a great cry of anguish rose from all the women of the inner quarters.

Verse 42 (15.4.42)

दृष्ट्वा कृशं विवर्णं च राजानमतथोचितम् । उपवासपरिश्रान्तं त्वगस्थिपरिवारितम् ॥

dṛṣṭvā kṛśaṃ vivarṇaṃ ca rājānamatathocitam | upavāsapariśrāntaṃ tvagasthiparivāritam

They saw the king thin and pale, unfit for such a state, worn out by fasting, his bones covered only with skin.

Verse 43 (15.4.43)

धर्मपुत्रः स्वपितरं परिष्वज्य महाप्रभुम् । शोकजं बाष्पमुत्सृज्य पुनर्वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

dharmaputraḥ svapitaraṃ pariṣvajya mahāprabhum | śokajaṃ bāṣpamutsṛjya punarvacanamabravīt

The son of Dharma embraced his great father, shed tears born of grief, and spoke once more.

Note on the text: Corrected मुत्सृज्यि → मुत्सृज्य (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; CE reads 'utsṛjya').

Verse 44 (15.4.44)

न कामये नरश्रेष्ठ जीवितं पृथिवीं तथा । यथा तव प्रियं राजंश्चिकीर्षामि परंतप ॥

na kāmaye naraśreṣṭha jīvitaṃ pṛthivīṃ tathā | yathā tava priyaṃ rājaṃścikīrṣāmi paraṃtapa

"Best of men, I do not desire life or the earth so much as I wish, O king, scorcher of foes, to do whatever pleases you.

Verse 45 (15.4.45)

यदि चाहमनुग्राह्यो भवतो दयितोऽपि वा । क्रियतां तावदाहारस्ततो वेत्स्याम्यहं परम् ॥

yadi cāhamanugrāhyo bhavato dayito'pi vā | kriyatāṃ tāvadāhārastato vetsyāmyahaṃ param

If I am to be favoured by you, or am dear to you, then first take food; after that I shall know what is to follow."

Verse 46 (15.4.46)

ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजा धृतराष्ट्रो युधिष्ठिरम् । अनुज्ञातस्त्वया पुत्र भुञ्जीयामिति कामये ॥

tato'bravīnmahātejā dhṛtarāṣṭro yudhiṣṭhiram | anujñātastvayā putra bhuñjīyāmiti kāmaye

Then the greatly radiant Dhritarashtra said to Yudhishthira: "With your leave, my son, I would eat; that is my wish."

Verse 47 (15.4.47)

इति ब्रुवति राजेन्द्रे धृतराष्ट्रे युधिष्ठिरम् । ऋषिः सत्यवतीपुत्रो व्यासोऽभ्येत्य वचोऽब्रवीत् ॥

iti bruvati rājendre dhṛtarāṣṭre yudhiṣṭhiram | ṛṣiḥ satyavatīputro vyāso'bhyetya vaco'bravīt

While King Dhritarashtra was speaking thus to Yudhishthira, the sage Vyasa, son of Satyavati, came up to them and spoke.

Note on the text: Corrected ऽभ्योत्य → ऽभ्येत्य (misprint in Wikisource; CE reads 'abhyetya'; wrong vowel sign).