Shloka 5
Bhīmasya paruṣa-vākyaṃ
Bhīma’s Harsh Speech Heard by Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Gāndhārī
राजर्षीणां पुराणानामनुयातु गति नृपः । राजर्षीणां हि सर्वेषामन्ते वनमुपाश्रय:
rājarṣīṇāṃ purāṇānām anuyātu gatiṃ nṛpaḥ | rājarṣīṇāṃ hi sarveṣām ante vanam upāśrayaḥ ||
Vyāsa dijo: «Que el rey siga el camino consagrado por los antiguos reyes sabios. Pues, en verdad, para todos los reyes sabios, el último refugio al final de la vida es el bosque».
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A righteous king should follow the established dharmic precedent of the ancient royal sages: after fulfilling worldly duties, one should withdraw from power and take refuge in the forest—embracing restraint, simplicity, and preparation for life’s final stage.
Vyāsa counsels the king to adopt the traditional course followed by exemplary kings of the past, indicating that the proper culmination of a royal life is retirement to the forest (vānaprastha), rather than continued attachment to rule and comfort.