23. PAANDAVAAS GAVE FAREWELL TO PEOPLE

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > AARANYA PARVA > ARJUNAABHIGAMANA PARVA > CHAPTER 23 - PAANDAVAAS GAVE FAREWELL TO PEOPLE

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘After the chief of the Dashaarhas (Sri Krishna) had departed, the heroic Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), each looking like to (Lord) Shiva, Krishna (Draupadi), and their Purohita (Dhaumya), ascending costly chariots to which were attached excellent horses, together went into the forest. At time of going they distributed Nishkas of gold, clothes and cows to Brahmanas versed in Shiksha, Akshara and Mantras. Twenty attendants followed them equipped with bows, bowstrings, blazing weapons, shafts, arrows and engines of destruction. Taking the princess’ clothes, ornaments, nurses and the maid-servants, Indrasena speedily followed the princes on a chariot. Then approaching the best of Kurus, the high-minded citizens walked round him. The principal Brahmanas of Kurujaangala cheerfully saluted him (Yudhishthira).

“Together with his brothers, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, on his part saluted them cheerfully. The Mahatma king (Yudhishthira) stopped there a little, seeing the assembly of the inhabitants of Kurujaangala. The illustrious bull among the Kurus felt for them as a father feels for his sons, and they (citizens) too felt for the Kuru chief as sons feel for their father! That mighty assembly, approaching the Kuru hero (Yudhishthira), stood around him. O king (Janamejaya), affected, with reluctance, and with tears in their eyes, they all exclaimed, ‘Alas, O lord! O Dharma!’

“They said, ‘You are the chief of the Kurus, and the king of us, your subjects! Where do you go, O Dharmaraja, leaving all these citizens and the inhabitants of the country, like a father leaving his sons? Shame on the cruel-hearted son of Dhritarashtra! Shame on the evil-minded (Paapamati in Sanskrit) Saubala (Shakuni)! Shame on Karna! For, O foremost of monarchs (Yudhishthira), those wretches (Paapaa in Sanskrit) ever wish bad to you who are firm in Dharma! Having yourself established the unrivalled city of Indraprastha of the splendour of Kailaasa itself, where do you go, leaving it, O Mahatma and Dharmaraja, O achiever of extraordinary deeds! O Mahatma, leaving that matchless sabha built by Maya, which possesses the brilliance of Devasabha themselves, and is like to a Deva Maayaa, ever guarded by Devas, where do you go, O son of Dharma?’

“Bibhatsu (Arjuna) knowing the ways of Dharma, Kaamaa, and Arthaa said to them in a loud voice, ‘Living in the forest, the king (Yudhishthira) intends to take away the good name of his enemies! O, you with Dwijas at your head, versed in Dharma and Arthaa, do approach the ascetics (Tapaswi in Sanskrit) separately and inclining them to grace, represent to them what may be for our supreme good!’

“Upon hearing these words of Arjuna, the Brahmanas and the other varnas, O king (Janamejaya), saluting him cheerfully walked round the foremost of men of Dharma! Bidding farewell to Paarthaa (Yudhishthira), Vrikodara (Bhimasena), Dhananjaya (Arjuna), Yaagnaseni (Draupadi), and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), and commanded by Yudhishthira, they returned to their respective abodes in the kingdom with heavy hearts.’”