“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Meanwhile the Pandavas got into
their chariots, attaching to that some fine horses endued with the speed of
wind. While they were on the point of entering their chariots, they touched, in
great sorrow, the feet of Bhishma, of king Dhritarashtra, of the respected
Drona, of Kripa, of Vidura and of the other elders of the Kuru race. Then
saluting with respect all the older men, and embracing their equals, receiving
the farewell of the children, taking leave of all the venerable ladies in their
household and walking round them respectfully, and bidding farewell to all the
citizens, the Pandavas, ever mindful of their vows (Vrata
in Sanskrit), set out for Varanavata.
Vidura of great wisdom and the other bulls among the Kurus and the citizens
also, from great pain, followed those tigers among men to some distance. Some
among the citizens and the country people, who followed the Pandavas, pained
beyond measure at seeing the Pandavas in such distress, began to say aloud, ‘King
Dhritarashtra of wicked soul sees no things with the same eye. The Kuru monarch
(Dhritarashtra) puts not his eye on Dharma.
Neither the sinless Yudhishthira, nor Bhima the foremost of mighty men, nor
Dhananjaya the (youngest) son of Kunti,
will ever be guilty (of the sin of waging a rebellious war). When these will remain quiet, how shall
the illustrious sons of Maadri do anything? Having inherited the kingdom from
their father, Dhritarashtra could not bear them. How is that Bhishma who
suffers the exile of the Pandavas to that wretched place (Vaaranaavata), approves this act of great injustice?
Vichitravirya, the son of Shantanu, and the Rajarishi Pandu of Kuru's race both
cherished us in old times with fatherly care. But now that Pandu that tiger
among men, has ascended to heaven, Dhritarashtra cannot bear with these princes
his children. We who do not sanction this exile shall all go, leaving this
excellent town (Hastinapura) and our
own homes, where Yudhishthira will go.’
“To those distressed citizens talking in this way, the
Dharmic Yudhishthira, himself pained with sorrow, thinking for a few moments
said, ‘The king is our father, worthy of regard, our spiritual guide, and our
superior. To carry out with unsuspicious hearts whatever he commands, is
indeed, our duty. You are our friends. Walking round us and making us happy by
your blessings, you return to your home. When the time comes for anything to be
done for us by you, then indeed, accomplish all that is agreeable and beneficial
to us.’ Thus addressed, the citizens walked round the Pandavas and blessed them
with their blessings and returned to their respective home.
“After the citizens had stoped following the Pandavas,
Vidura, knowledgeable with all the rules of Dharma, desirous of awakening the
eldest of the Pandavas (to a sense of his dangers), addressed him in these words. The learned
Vidura, knowledgeable with the language (of the Mlechchhas tribe), addressed the learned Yudhishthira who
also was familiar with the same language, in the words of the Mlechchha tongue,
so as to be impossible to understand to all except Yudhishthira.
“He (Vidura) said, ‘He that knows the schemes his enemies
manage in accordance with the dictates of political science, should, (by) knowing them (the schemes), act in such a way as to avoid all danger.
He that knows that there are sharp weapons capable of cutting the body though
not made of steel, and understands also the means of removing them off, can
never be injured by enemies. He lives who protects himself by the knowledge
that neither the consumer of straw and wood nor the drier of the dew burns the
inmates of a hole in the deep forest. The blind man sees not his way; the blind
man has no knowledge of direction. He that has no firmness never acquires
prosperity. Remembering this, be upon your guard. The man who takes a weapon
not made of steel (i.e., an inflammable palace) given him by his enemies, can escape from fire by making his abode
like to that of a jackal (having many outlets). By wandering a man may acquire the knowledge of ways, and by the
stars he can ascertain the direction, and he that keeps his five (senses) under control can never be oppressed by his
enemies.’
“Thus addressed, the Pandava Yudhishthira replied to
Vidura, that foremost of all learned men, saying, ‘I have understood you.’ Then
Vidura, having instructed the Pandavas and followed them (thus far), walked around
them and bidding them farewell returned to his own abode. When the citizens,
Bhishma and Vidura had all ceased following, Kunti approached Yudhishthira and
said, ‘The words that Kshattri (Vidura)
said to you in the middle of many people so unclearly understandable as if he
did not say anything, and your reply also to him in similar words and voice, we
have not understood. If it is not improper; for us to know them I should then
like to hear everything that had passed between him and you.’
“Yudhishthira replied, ‘The Dharmic Vidura said to me
that we should know that the mansion (for our
accommodation at Varanavata) has been
built of inflammable materials. He said to me, ‘The path of escape too shall
not be unknown (i.e. shall be known)
to you (meaning Vidura indicates that soon he will make some arrangements
for Pandavas to escape from the inflammable palace which would be made known to
them soon)’--and further,--‘Those that
can control their senses can acquire the sovereignty of the whole world.’--The
reply that I gave to Vidura was, ‘I have understood you.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘The Pandavas set out on the eighth day of the month of Phalguna when the star Rohini was in the ascendant, and arriving at Vaaranaavata they saw the town and the people.’”
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