Shloka 28
अध्याय १५ (Āśramavāsika-parva): धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनवासानुज्ञायाचनम् — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s renewed plea for consent to forest-dwelling
प्रसीद मातर्मा गास्त्वं वनमद्य यशस्विनि । श्रियं यौधिष्ठिरी मातर्भुड्क्ष्य तावद् बलार्जिताम्,“मेरी यशस्विनी मा! आप प्रसन्न हों। आप हमें छोड़कर वनमें न जायेँ। बलपूर्वक प्राप्त की हुई राजा युधिष्ठिरकी उस राजलक्ष्मीका उपभोग करें!
prasīda mātarmā gāstvaṁ vanam adya yaśasvini | śriyaṁ yaudhiṣṭhirī mātār bhuṅkṣva tāvad balārjitām ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Be gracious, Mother; do not go to the forest today, O renowned lady. Mother, for the present enjoy that royal fortune belonging to Yudhiṣṭhira—won by force and effort.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a tension central to dharma: the pull between renunciation (going to the forest) and responsibility within the household and kingdom. It urges restraint and patience—asking the mother to remain and accept the present order—while also acknowledging the morally complex nature of sovereignty described as “won by force.”
In the Āśramavāsika context, an elder woman addressed as “Mother” is inclined to depart for the forest (a step toward ascetic life). The speaker, as narrated by Vaiśampāyana, pleads with her to be calm and not leave immediately, and to continue, for now, to partake in Yudhiṣṭhira’s royal prosperity.