PAANDAVAAS PREPARED TO INDRAPRASTHAA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 72 - PAANDAVAAS PREPARED TO INDRAPRASTHAA

“Yudhishthira said, ‘O king (Dhritarashtra), you are our master (Eeshwara in Sanskrit). Command us as to what we shall do. O Bharata, we desire to remain always in obedience to you.’

“Dhritarashtra replied ‘O Ajaatashatru (Yudhishthira), blessed be you. You go in peace and safety. Commanded by me, go, rule your own kingdom with your wealth. O child, take to heart this command of an old man, this wholesome advice that I give, and which is a nutritive diet (Pathyam in Sanskrit). O Yudhishthira, O child, you know the subtle (Sookshmaa in Sanskrit) path of Dharma. Possessed of great wisdom, you are also humble, and you wait also upon the elders. Where there is intelligence, there is tolerance. Therefore, O Bharata, you follow counsels of peace. The axe falls upon wood, not upon stone (meaning You are open to advice, not Duryodhana). They are the best of men that remember not the acts of hostility of their enemies; that look only the merits, not the faults, of their enemies; and that never enter into hostilities themselves. They that are good remember only the good deeds of their enemies and not the hostile acts their enemies might have done to them. The good, besides, do good to others without expectation of any good, in return. O Yudhishthira, it is only the worst of men that utter harsh words in quarrelling; while they (good people) that are indifferent reply to such when spoken by others. But they that are good and wise never think of or repeat such harsh words, little caring whether these may or may not have been uttered by their enemies. They that are good, having regard to the state of their own feelings, can understand the feelings of others, and therefore remember only the good deeds and not the acts of hostility of their enemies. You have acted as good men of magnetic face do, who cross not the limits of Dharma, Arthaa, Kaamaa and Moksha. O child (Yudhishthira), remember not the harsh words of Duryodhana. Look at your mother Gaandhaari and myself also, if you desire to remember only what is good. O Bharata, look at me, who am your father to you and am old and blind, and still alive. It was for seeing our friends and also examining the strength and weakness of my children, that I had, from motives of policy, allowed this match at dice to proceed. O king those among the Kurus that have you for their ruler, and the intelligent Vidura knowledgeable with every Shaastraa for their counsellor, have, indeed, nothing to grieve for. In you is Dharma, in Arjuna is Veera, in Bhimasena is prowess (Paraakrama in Sanskrit), and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), those foremost of men, is pure reverence for Gurus. Blessed be you, O Ajaatashatru (Yudhishthira). Return to Khaandavaprasthaa and let there be brotherly love between you and your cousins. Let your heart be ever fixed on Dharma.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘That foremost of the Bharatas – Dharmaraja Yudhishthira – then, thus addressed by his uncle, having gone through every ceremony of politeness (Krutavaaryasamayam in Sanskrit), set out with his brothers for Khaandavaprasthaa. Accompanied by Draupadi and ascending their chariots which were all of the colour of the clouds, with cheerful hearts they all set out for that best of cities called Indraprasthaa.’”