1. CITIZENS FOLLOWED PAANDAVAAS

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > AARANYA PARVA > AARANYAKA PARVA > CHAPTER 1 - CITIZENS FOLLOWED PAANDAVAAS

Om! Having bowed down to Naaraayana and Nara the foremost of male beings, and Devi Saraswati also, must the word Jaya be uttered.

“Janamejaya said, ‘O you foremost of Dwijas (Vaishampaayana), deceitfully defeated at dice by the sons of Dhritarashtra and their advisers, angered by those wicked ones that thus brought about a terrible hatred, and addressed in language that was so cruel, what did the Kuru princes, my ancestor – Paarthaas – (then) do? How also did Paarthaas, equal to Shakra (Lord Indra) in prowess, deprived of affluence and suddenly overwhelmed with misery, pass their days in the forest? Who followed the steps of those princes plunged in excess of pain? How did those Mahatmas (Paandavaas) bear themselves and derive their livelihood, and where did they put up? O illustrious Tapaswi and foremost of Brahmanas, how did those twelve years (of exile) of those warriors who were slayers of enemies, pass away in the forest? Undeserving of pain, how did that princess (Draupadi), the best of her gender, devoted to her husbands, eminently Dharmic, and always speaking the truth, endure that painful exile in the forest? O you of Tapas wealth tell me all this in detail, for, O Brahmana, I desire to hear you narrate the history of those heroes (Paandavaas) possessed of abundant prowess and lustre (Dravina and Tejas in Sanskrit). Truly my curiosity is great.’

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Thus defeated at dice and angered by the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra and their counsellors, Paarthaas (Paandavaas) set out from Haastinapura. Issuing through Vardhamaana gate of the city, the Paandavaas bearing their weapons and accompanied by Draupadi set out in a northernly direction. (Charioteer) Indrasena and others, with servants numbering altogether fourteen, with their wives, followed them (Paandavaas) on swift chariots. The citizens learning of their departure became overwhelmed with sorrow and began to criticize Bhishma, Vidura, Drona and Gautama (Kripa). Having met together they thus addressed one another fearlessly.

‘Alas, our families, we ourselves, and our homes are all gone, when the wicked Duryodhana, backed by Saubala (Shakuni), by Karna and Duhshaasana, aspires to this kingdom. Oh, our families (kula in Sanskrit), our (ancestral) usages (Aachaara in Sanskrit), our Dharma and Arthaa, are all doomed where this sinful wretch supported by wretches as sinful aspires to the kingdom! Oh, how can happiness be there where these are not! Duryodhana bears malice (Dwesham in Sanskrit) towards all Gurus, has taken leave of good conduct, and quarrels with those that are near to him in blood. Greed, egoistic and mean, he is cruel by nature. The whole earth is doomed when Duryodhana becomes its ruler. Therefore, let us proceed towards that place where the merciful and high-minded Paandavaas with passions under control and victorious over enemies, possessed of modesty and fame, and devoted to Dharmic practices, travel!’

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Saying this, the citizens went after the Paandavaas, and having met them (Paandavaas), they (Citizens) all, with joined hands, thus addressed the sons of Kunti and Maadri.

‘Blessed be you! Where will you go, leaving us in grief? We will follow you wheresoever you will go! Surely have we been distressed upon learning that ye have been deceitfully vanquished by relentless enemies! It is your duty not to abandon us that are your loving subjects and devoted friends always seeking your welfare and employed in doing what is agreeable to you! We desire not to be overwhelmed in certain destruction living in the dominions of the Kuru king. O bulls among men (Paandavaas), listen as we indicate the merits and demerits springing respectively from association with what is good and bad! As cloth, water, the ground, and sesame seeds (Tilaa in Sanskrit) are perfumed by association with flowers, so are qualities ever the product of association. Certainly, association with fools (Mooda in Sanskrit) produces an illusion (Mohajaalam in Sanskrit) that entangles the mind, as daily association with the good and the wise leads to the practice of Dharma. Therefore, they that desire liberation should associate with those that are wise, old, honest and pure in conduct and possessed of Tapas merit. They should be waited upon whose triple possessions – knowledge (of the Vedas), origin and acts, are all pure, and association with them is superior to (the study of the) Shaastraas. Devoid of Punya as we are, we shall yet reap Punya by association with the righteous (Saadhu in Sanskrit), as we should come by sin by waiting upon the sinful (Paapam in Sanskrit). The very sight and touch of the dishonest, conversation and association with them cause decline of Dharma, and men (that are doomed to these), never attain purity of mind. Association with the base impairs the understanding, as, indeed, with the indifferent makes it indifferent, while association with the good ever glorifies it. All those attributes (Guna in Sanskrit) which are spoken of in the world as the sources of Dharma, of Kaamaa and of Arthaa, which are regarded by the people, praised in the Vedas, and approved by the well-behaved, exist in you, separately and jointly! Therefore, desirous of our own welfare, we wish to live among you who possess those attributes!’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Blessed are we, since the people with the Brahmanas at their head, moved by affection and compassion credit us with merits we do not have. I, however, with my brothers, would ask all of you to do one thing. You should not, through affection and pity for us, act otherwise! Our Pitamaha Bhishma, the king (Dhritarashtra), Vidura, my mother and most of my well-wishers, are all in the city of Haastinapura. Therefore, if you are minded to seek our welfare, you cherish them with care, uniting together as they are overwhelmed with sorrow and pain. Grieved at our departure, you have come far! You go back and let your hearts be directed with tenderness towards the relatives I entrust to you as pledges! This, of all others, is the one act upon which my heart is set, and by doing this you would give me great satisfaction and pay me your best regards!’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Thus encouraged by Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, the people in a body set up a loud wail exclaiming, ‘Alas, O king!’ Pained and overwhelmed with sorrow on remembering the virtues (Guna in Sanskrit) of Paarthaa, they unwillingly retraced their steps asking leave of the Paandavaas.

“The citizens having stopped to follow, the Paandavaas ascended their chariots, and setting out reached (the site of) the mighty banian tree called Pramaana on the banks of the Ganga. Reaching the site of the banian tree about the close of the day, the heroic Paandavaas purified themselves by touching the sacred water, and passed the night there. Pained with sadness they spent that night taking water alone as their sole livelihood. Certain Dwijas belonging to both classes - those that maintained Agni and those that maintained it not, who had, with their disciples and relatives, out of affection followed the Paandavaas there also passed the night with them. Surrounded by those utterers of Brahma, the king (Yudhishthira) shined magnificient in their middle. That evening, at once beautiful and terrible, those Brahmanas having lighted their Agni, began to chant Vedas and hold mutual conversation. Those foremost of Brahmanas, with swan-sweet voices spent the night, comforting that best of Kurus – the king (Yudhishthira).’”