Shloka 3
अध्याय १५ (Āśramavāsika-parva): धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनवासानुज्ञायाचनम् — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s renewed plea for consent to forest-dwelling
स वर्द्धमानद्वारेण निर्ययौ गजसाह्दयात् । विसर्जयामास च तं जनौघं स मुहुर्मुहु:,राजा धुृतराष्ट्र वर्धभान नामक द्वारसे होते हुए हस्तिनापुरसे बाहर निकले। वहाँ पहुँचकर उन्होंने बारंबार आग्रह करके अपने साथ आये हुए जनसमूहको विदा किया
sa varddhamāna-dvāreṇa niryayau gaja-sāhvayāt | visarjayāmāsa ca taṃ janaughaṃ sa muhur muhuḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: O rei Dhṛtarāṣṭra saiu de Hastināpura—também chamada Gaja-sāhvaya—pelo portão chamado Vardhamāna. Ao chegar ao exterior, repetidas vezes e com insistência dispensou a grande multidão que o acompanhara, mandando-a voltar uma e outra vez.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights vairāgya (detachment): a ruler preparing for the forest-life deliberately reduces public dependence and ceremonial accompaniment, signaling an ethical shift from worldly authority to self-restraint and inner discipline.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra exits Hastināpura through the Vardhamāna Gate and repeatedly sends back the large crowd that follows him, indicating his resolve to depart quietly and proceed toward an ascetic stage of life.