Shloka 5
Bhīmasya paruṣa-vākyaṃ
Bhīma’s Harsh Speech Heard by Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Gāndhārī
राजर्षीणां पुराणानामनुयातु गति नृपः । राजर्षीणां हि सर्वेषामन्ते वनमुपाश्रय:
rājarṣīṇāṃ purāṇānām anuyātu gatiṃ nṛpaḥ | rājarṣīṇāṃ hi sarveṣām ante vanam upāśrayaḥ ||
毗耶娑说道：“愿国王遵循古代诸王仙的久远轨辙。因为确实，对一切王仙而言，生命终末的最后归依便是林野。”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A righteous king should follow the established dharmic precedent of the ancient royal sages: after fulfilling worldly duties, one should withdraw from power and take refuge in the forest—embracing restraint, simplicity, and preparation for life’s final stage.
Vyāsa counsels the king to adopt the traditional course followed by exemplary kings of the past, indicating that the proper culmination of a royal life is retirement to the forest (vānaprastha), rather than continued attachment to rule and comfort.