Shloka 7
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनप्रस्थानानुज्ञा | Permission for Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Forest-Retirement
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत आश्रमवासिकपवके अन्तर्गत आश्रमवासपर्वमें धृतराष््रका उपसंवादविषयक सातवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,अनुज्ञात: स्वयं तेन व्यासेन त्वं महर्षिणा । युधिष्ठिरस्यानुमते कदारण्यं गमिष्यसि “महाराज! स्वयं महर्षि व्यासने आपको वनमें जानेकी आज्ञा दे दी है और युधिष्ठिरकी भी अनुमति मिल ही गयी है। अब आप कब वनको चलेंगे?” वृद्धोडयं हतपुत्रो5यं दु:खितो5यं नराधिप:
anujñātaḥ svayaṃ tena vyāsena tvaṃ maharṣiṇā | yudhiṣṭhirasya anumate kadā araṇyaṃ gamiṣyasi || vṛddho 'yaṃ hataputro 'yaṃ duḥkhito 'yaṃ narādhipa ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Wahai Raja, Maharsi Vyāsa sendiri telah mengizinkan tuanku, dan persetujuan Yudhiṣṭhira juga telah diperoleh. Maka bilakah tuanku akan berangkat ke rimba? Aku sudah tua; anak-anakku telah gugur; aku ditenggelami dukacita, wahai penghulu manusia.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames vānaprastha/retirement as a dharmic transition: once rightful permissions are secured, an aged ruler burdened by grief should move toward renunciation and inner discipline rather than cling to power or courtly life.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra speaks about leaving for the forest. He notes that Vyāsa has authorized the move and that Yudhiṣṭhira has consented, then asks when the departure will occur, emphasizing his old age, the death of his sons, and his sorrow.