Shloka 3
धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्षमायाचनं तथा युधिष्ठिरे न्यासदानम् / Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Request for Forgiveness and the Entrustment to Yudhiṣṭhira
अगन्निहोत्रं पुरस्कृत्य वल्कलाजिनसंवृत: । वधूजनवृतो राजा निर्ययौ भवनात् ततः,उस दिन कार्तिककी पूर्णिमा थी। उसमें उन्होंने वेदके पारंगत विद्वान् ब्राह्मणोंसे यात्राकालोचित इष्टि करवाकर वल्कल और मृगचर्म धारण किये और अग्निहोत्रको आगे करके पुत्र-वधुओंसे घिरे हुए राजा धृतराष्ट्र राजभवनसे बाहर निकले
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
agannihotraṃ puraskṛtya valkalājinasaṃvṛtaḥ |
vadhūjanavṛto rājā niryayau bhavanāt tataḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Dengan agnihotra didahulukan, raja—berselubung pakaian kulit kayu dan kulit rusa—berangkat meninggalkan istana. Dikelilingi para menantu perempuan, baginda melangkah pergi, menandai peralihan yang disengajakan daripada kesenangan diraja kepada kehidupan pertapaan yang berdisiplin dan penuh kewajipan.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma through orderly renunciation: even when leaving worldly life, one keeps sacred obligations (Agnihotra) foremost, showing that detachment is not neglect but a disciplined reorientation of life around duty and spiritual aims.
The king departs from the palace for an ascetic/forest-oriented life. He adopts ascetic attire (bark and deer-skin), places the Agnihotra fire in front as a ritual and symbolic guide, and leaves accompanied by his daughters-in-law.