धृतराष्ट्र का वन-प्रस्थान

Vaishampayana said Having settled the hour of his departure for the forest, the royal son of Ambika, viz., Dhritarashtra, summoned those heroes, the Pandavas.

Endued with great intelligence, the old king, with Gandhari, duly accosted those princes. Having caused the minor rites to be performed, by Brahmanas knowing the Vedas, on that day which was the day of full moon in the month of Kartika, he caused the fire which he adored daily to be taken up. Casting off his proper dress he wore deer-skins and barks, and accompanied by his daughters-in-law, he left is palace.

When the royal son of Vichitravirya thus started, the Pandava and the Kaurava ladies as also other women belonging to the Kaurava race, began to bewail aloud.

The king adored the palace in which he had lived with fried paddy and excellent flowers of various kinds. He also honoured all his servants with gifts of wealth, and then leaving that house set out on his journey.

Then, O son, king Yudhishthira, trembling all over, with words choked by tears, said these words in aloud voice, viz., 'O righteous king, where do you go?' and fell down in a swoon.

Arjuna, burning with great grief, sighed repeatedly. That foremost of Bharata princes, telling Yudhishthira that he should not behave thus, stood cheerlessly and with heart plunged into distress.

Vrikodara, the heroic Phalguna, the two sons of Madri, Vidura, Sanjaya, Dhritarashtra's son by his Vaishya wife, and Kripa, and Dhaumya, and other Brahmanas, all followed the old king with voices choked in grief.

Kunti walked first, carrying on her shoulders the hand of Gandhari who walked with her bandaged eyes. King Dhritarashtra walked confidently behind Gandhari, placing his hand on her shoulder.

Drupada's daughter Krishna, she of the Salvata race, Uttara the daughter-in-law of the Kauravas, who had recently become a mother. . Chitrangada, and other ladies attached to the royal house, all followed the old king.

The wail they uttered at that time, O king, from sorrow, resembled the loud lainentations of a swarm of she-ospreys. Then the wives of the citizens-Brahmanas and Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas and Shudras-also came out into the streets from all sides.

At Dhritarashtra's departure, O king, all the citizens of Hastinapur became as distressed as they had been, O monarch, when they had seen the departure of the Pandavas in former days after their defeat at the match at dice.

Ladies who had never seen the sun or the moon, came out into the streets on that occasion, in grcat sorrow, when king Dhritarashtra proceeded towards the great forest.