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 ||
ヴィヤーサは言った。「王は、いにしえの王仙たちの古き道を歩むがよい。まことに、すべての王仙にとって、命の終わりにおける最後の帰依処は森である。」
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.