Shloka 30
Vidura’s Return; Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Departure; Nārada’s Instruction on Kāla and Detachment
पतिं प्रयान्तं सुबलस्य पुत्री पतिव्रता चानुजगाम साध्वी । हिमालयं न्यस्तदण्डप्रहर्षं मनस्विनामिव सत्सम्प्रहार: ॥ ३० ॥
patiṁ prayāntaṁ subalasya putrī pati-vratā cānujagāma sādhvī himālayaṁ nyasta-daṇḍa-praharṣaṁ manasvinām iva sat samprahāraḥ
Als sie sah, dass ihr Gemahl zum Himalaya aufbrach, folgte ihm die sanfte und keusche Gāndhārī, Tochter König Subalas, als treue Gattin. Der Himalaya ist eine Wonne für jene, die den Stab der Entsagung angenommen haben, wie für Hochgesinnte ein echter Hieb des Feindes, der den Mut stählt.
Saubalinī, or Gāndhārī, daughter of King Subala and wife of King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, was ideal as a wife devoted to her husband. The Vedic civilization especially prepares chaste and devoted wives, of whom Gāndhārī is one amongst many mentioned in history. Lakṣmījī Sītādevī was also a daughter of a great king, but she followed her husband, Lord Rāmacandra, into the forest. Similarly, as a woman Gāndhārī could have remained at home or at her father’s house, but as a chaste and gentle lady she followed her husband without consideration. Instructions for the renounced order of life were imparted to Dhṛtarāṣṭra by Vidura, and Gāndhārī was by the side of her husband. But he did not ask her to follow him because he was at that time fully determined, like a great warrior who faces all kinds of dangers in the battlefield. He was no longer attracted to so-called wife or relatives, and he decided to start alone, but as a chaste lady Gāndhārī decided to follow her husband till the last moment. Mahārāja Dhṛtarāṣṭra accepted the order of vānaprastha, and at this stage the wife is allowed to remain as a voluntary servitor, but in the sannyāsa stage no wife can stay with her former husband. A sannyāsī is considered to be a dead man civilly, and therefore the wife becomes a civil widow without connection with her former husband. Mahārāja Dhṛtarāṣṭra did not deny his faithful wife, and she followed her husband at her own risk.
FAQs
Because she was pativratā—steadfastly devoted to her husband—and chose to share his renounced path as he withdrew from worldly life.
It portrays renunciation as moving toward a life of self-control and non-violence, seeking holy places and saintly association that nourish inner discipline.
By supporting righteous spiritual decisions within family life, simplifying habits, reducing harm, and cultivating environments and company that strengthen self-control and devotion.