Shloka 5
Vyāsa’s Counsel to the Concealed Pāṇḍavas; Śaṃkara’s Boon and the Predestination of Draupadī
Chapter 157
(दर्शनीया द्विजा: शुद्धा देवगर्भोपमा: शुभा: | भैक्षानहश्वि राज्याह: सुकुमारास्तपस्विन: ।। सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्ना भैक्ष॑ ना्हन्ति नित्यश: । कार्यार्थिनश्चरन्तीति तर्कयन्त इति ब्रुवन् ।। बन्धूनामागमान्नित्यमुपचिन्त्य तु नागरा: । भाजनानि च पूर्णानि भक्ष्यभोज्यैरकारयन् ।। मौनव्रतेन संयुक्ता भैक्ष॑ गृह्लन्ति पाण्डवा: | माता चिरगतान् दृष्टवा शोचन्तीति च पाण्डवा: | त्वरमाणा निवर्तन्ते मातृगौरवयन्त्रिता: ।।) उन्हें देखकर नगरनिवासी आपसमें तर्क-वितर्क करते हुए इस प्रकारकी बातें करते थे --'ये ब्राह्मणलोग तो देखने ही योग्य हैं। इनके आचार-विचार शुद्ध एवं सुन्दर हैं। इनकी आकृति देवकुमारोंके समान जान पड़ती है। ये भीख माँगनेयोग्य नहीं, राज्य करनेके योग्य हैं। सुकुमार होते हुए भी तपस्यामें लगे हैं। इनमें सब प्रकारके शुभ लक्षण शोभा पाते हैं। ये कदापि भिक्षा ग्रहण करनेयोग्य नहीं हैं। शायद किसी कार्यवश भिक्षुकोंके वेशमें विचर रहे हैं।' वे नागरिक पाण्डवोंके आगमनको अपने बन्धुजनोंका ही आगमन मानकर उनके लिये भक्ष्य-भोज्य पदार्थोंसे भरे हुए पात्र तैयार रखते थे और मौनव्रतका पालन करनेवाले पाण्डव उनसे वह भिक्षा ग्रहण करते थे। हमें आये हुए बहुत देर हो गयी, इसलिये माताजी चिन्तामें पड़ी होंगी--यह सोचकर माताके गौरव-पाशमें बँधे हुए पाण्डव बड़ी उतावलीके साथ उनके पास लौट आते थे। निवेदयन्ति सम तदा कुन्त्या भैक्षं सदा निशि । तया विभक्तान् भागांस्ते भुज्जते सम पृथक् पृथक्,प्रतिदिन रात्रिके आरम्भमें भिक्षा लाकर वे माता कुन्तीको सौंप देते और वे बाँटकर जिसके लिये जितना हिस्सा देतीं, उतना ही पृथक्-पृथक् लेकर पाण्डवलोग भोजन करते थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
darśanīyā dvijāḥ śuddhā devagarbhopamāḥ śubhāḥ | bhaikṣānahāś ca rājārhāḥ sukumārās tapasvinaḥ ||
sarvalakṣaṇasampannā bhaikṣaṃ nāhanti nityaśaḥ | kāryārthinaś carantīti tarkayanta iti bruvan ||
bandhūnām āgamān nityam upacintya tu nāgarāḥ | bhājanāni ca pūrṇāni bhakṣyabhojyair akārayann ||
maunavratena saṃyuktā bhaikṣaṃ gṛhṇanti pāṇḍavāḥ | mātā ciragatān dṛṣṭvā śocantīti ca pāṇḍavāḥ | tvaramāṇā nivartante mātṛgauravayantritāḥ ||
nivedayanti sma tadā kuntyā bhaikṣaṃ sadā niśi | tayā vibhaktān bhāgāṃs te bhuñjate sma pṛthak pṛthak ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “The townspeople, seeing them, reasoned among themselves: ‘These brahmins are truly worth beholding—pure in conduct and pleasing in appearance, like divine youths. They are not fit to beg; they are fit to rule. Though delicate, they are devoted to austerity. Endowed with every auspicious mark, they never seem meant for a beggar’s life; surely they wander in a mendicant guise for some purpose.’ Thinking of the Pāṇḍavas’ arrival as the arrival of their own kinsmen, the citizens had vessels prepared, filled with foods and delicacies. The Pāṇḍavas, observing a vow of silence, accepted that alms. Yet, reflecting, ‘We have been away long; Mother will be anxious,’ they would quickly return—held, as it were, by the bond of reverence for their mother. Then, at the beginning of each night, they would present the collected alms to Kuntī; and after she apportioned the shares, each of them ate separately the portion assigned to him.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in hardship, the Pāṇḍavas uphold discipline and dharma: humility in accepting alms, restraint through silence, and filial responsibility by prioritizing their mother’s well-being. The passage also highlights ethical household order—resources are first entrusted to the elder (Kuntī) and then fairly apportioned.
The townspeople observe the Pāṇḍavas living as silent mendicants and suspect they are noble men in disguise, worthy of kingship. Citizens prepare food for them, which the Pāṇḍavas accept as alms. They hurry back to Kuntī, present the alms to her at night, and eat only the portions she distributes.