Shloka 9
अध्याय १५ (Āśramavāsika-parva): धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनवासानुज्ञायाचनम् — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s renewed plea for consent to forest-dwelling
उस समय उन्होंने वनकी ओर जाती हुई अपनी माता कुन्तीसे कहा--'रानी मा! आप अपनी पुत्र-वधुओंके साथ लौटिये, नगरको जाइये। मैं राजाके पीछे-पीछे जाऊँगा; क्योंकि ये धर्मात्मा नरेश तपस्याके लिये निश्चय करके वनमें जा रहे हैं, अतः इन्हें जाने दीजिये” ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tadā sa vanābhimukhīṃ svamātaraṃ kuntīm uvāca— “rājñi mā! tvaṃ svaputravadhūbhiḥ saha nivartasva, nagaraṃ gaccha. ahaṃ tu rājñaḥ pṛṣṭhato gamiṣyāmi; yato ’yaṃ dharmātmā nṛpaḥ tapasyeva niścitya vanaṃ gacchati, tasmād enaṃ gantum anujānīhi.” || ity uktā dharmarājena bāṣpavyākulalocanā | jagāmaiva tadā kuntī gāndhārīṃ parigṛhya ha ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: Khi ấy, chàng ngỏ lời với mẹ mình là Kuntī, người đang ngoảnh về phía rừng: “Ôi Hoàng thái hậu, xin mẹ cùng các nàng dâu trở lại và về thành. Con sẽ theo sau nhà vua; bởi vị quân vương chính trực này đã quyết vào rừng để tu khổ hạnh (tapas), vậy hãy để người đi.” Nghe Dharma-rāja Yudhiṣṭhira nói thế, mắt Kuntī ngấn lệ; nhưng bà vẫn bước tiếp, nắm lấy tay Gāndhārī.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharma expressed as disciplined renunciation and appropriate roles: the elder king’s resolve for tapas in the forest is to be respected, while Yudhiṣṭhira balances reverence for that vow with protective concern for Kuntī and the royal women, urging them to return to the city.
As the elders set out toward the forest, Yudhiṣṭhira speaks to his mother Kuntī, asking her to go back to the city with the daughters-in-law while he follows the king. Though tearful, Kuntī continues onward holding Gāndhārī’s hand, showing shared sorrow and steadfastness.