Shloka 25
पाण्डोः श्राद्धं, सत्यवत्याः वनगमनम्, बाल्यस्पर्धा च
Pāṇḍu’s Śrāddha, Satyavatī’s Withdrawal, and Childhood Rivalry
ब्राह्मणाश्व महात्मान: सोमपा: संशितव्रता: । पौरवृद्धाश्न ये तत्र निवसन्त्यस्मदाश्रया: । प्रसाद्य सर्वे वक्तव्या: पाण्डु: प्रत्रजितो वनम्,((देवियो! तुम दोनों हस्तिनापुरको लौट जाओ और) माता अम्बिका, अम्बालिका, भाई विदुर, संजय, बन्धुओंसहित राजा धुृतराष्ट्र,, दादी सत्यवती, चाचा भीष्मजी, राजपुरोहितगण, कठोरब्रतका पालन तथा सोमपान करनेवाले महात्मा ब्राह्मण तथा वृद्ध पुरवासीजन आदि जो लोग वहाँ हमलोगोंके आश्रित होकर निवास करते हैं, उन सबको प्रसन्न करके कहना, “राजा पाण्डु संन््यासी होकर वनमें चले गये”
brāhmaṇāś ca mahātmānaḥ somapāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ | pauravṛddhāś ca ye tatra nivasanty asmadāśrayāḥ | prasādya sarve vaktavyāḥ pāṇḍuḥ pravrajito vanam ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “E os brâmanes de grande alma que ali estão—bebedores de Soma, firmes em seus votos—junto com os anciãos cidadãos da cidade que ali vivem sob nossa proteção: depois de agradar a todos, deveis transmitir esta mensagem: ‘O rei Pāṇḍu renunciou ao mundo e partiu para a floresta.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Major transitions affecting the realm should be communicated with restraint and respect: first conciliate and honor religious authorities and senior citizens, then deliver the truth. The verse highlights dharma in public communication—maintaining social cohesion while acknowledging renunciation as a legitimate royal choice.
A message is to be delivered to the Brahmins and elder townsmen: after winning their goodwill, they are to be informed that King Pāṇḍu has taken renunciation (pravrajyā) and gone to live in the forest.