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 ||
വ്യാസൻ പറഞ്ഞു—രാജാവ് പുരാതന രാജർഷിമാരുടെ കാലപരമ്പരാഗത ഗതി പിന്തുടരട്ടെ. കാരണം എല്ലാ രാജർഷിമാർക്കും ജീവിതാന്ത്യത്തിൽ ആശ്രയം വനമേയാണ്.
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.