Shloka 26
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनप्रस्थानम् — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Departure for Forest Life
स बहिर्दिवसानेव जनौघं परिपालयन् । न्यवसन्नूपति: पठच ततो5गच्छद् वन॑ प्रति,बाहर जाकर पुरवासी मनुष्योंकी प्रतीक्षा करते हुए वे पाँच दिनोंतक एक ही स्थानपर टिके रहे। फिर सबको साथ लेकर वनमें गये
sa bahir divasāneva janaughaṃ paripālayan | nyavasann ūpatiḥ pañca tato ’gacchad vanaṃ prati ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having gone outside, the king waited for the gathered townspeople, watching over the crowd. He remained in one place for five days; then, taking everyone along, he proceeded toward the forest—signaling a deliberate, duty-bound withdrawal rather than a hasty abandonment of those dependent on him.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when turning toward renunciation, a ruler must not abandon dependents abruptly; dharma requires orderly transition, protection of the community, and accountability before withdrawal.
The king goes outside and waits while overseeing the assembled citizens, stays there for five days, and then proceeds toward the forest together with the people—marking the formal move into forest-dwelling life.