sidhellman/clean_data.txt · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 0 182
and myself also as afflicted. Plunged though I am in sorrow, what, however, is the use of these words that I am addressing
thee? Thou art our father, thou art our mother; thou art our foremost of superiors. Deprived of thy presence, how shall we live?
O best of king, let Yuyutsu, the son of thy loins, be made king, or, indeed, anybody else whom thou mayst wish. I shall go into
the woods. Do thou rule the kingdom. It behoveth thee not to burn me that am already burned by infamy. I am not the king.
Thou art the king. I am dependent on thy will. How can I dare grant permission to thee that art my preceptor? O sinless one, I
harbour no resentment in my heart on account of the wrongs done to us by Suyodhana. It was ordained that it should be so.
Both ourselves and others were stupefied (by fate). We are thy children as Duryodhana and others were. My conviction is that
Gandhari is as much my mother as Kunti. If thou, O king of kings, goest to the woods leaving me, I shall the, follow thee. I
swear by my soul. This Earth, with her belt of seas, go full of wealth, will not be a source of joy to me when I am deprived of
thy presence. All this belongs to thee. I gratify thee, bending my head. We are all dependent on thee, O king of kings. Let the
fever of thy heart be dispelled. I think, O lord of Earth, that all this that has come upon thee is due to destiny. By good luck, I
had thought, that waiting upon thee and executing thy commands obediently, I would rescue thee from the fever of thy heart.'

"Dhritarashtra said, 'O delighter of the Kurus, my mind is fixed, O son, on penances. O puissant one, it is meet for our race that
I should retire into the woods. I have lived long under thy protection, O son, I have for many years been served by thee with
reverence. I am now old. It behoveth thee, O king, to grant me permission (to take up my abode in the woods).'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having said these words unto king Yudhishthira, the just, king Dhritarashtra, the son of Amvika,
trembling the while and with hands joined together, further said unto the high-souled Sanjaya and the great car-warrior Kripa,
these words, 'I wish to solicit the king through you. My mind has become cheerless, my mouth has become dry, through the
weakness of age and the exertion of speaking.' Having said so, that perpetuator of Kuru's race, viz., the, righteous-souled old
king, blessed with prosperity, leaned on Gandhari and suddenly looked like one deprived of life. Beholding him thus seated
like one deprived of consciousness, that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the royal son of Kunti, became penetrated by a poignant
grief.


"Yudhishthira said, 'Alas, he whose strength was equal to that of a hundred thousand elephants, alas, that king sitteth today,
leaning on a woman. Alas! he by whom the iron image of Bhima on a former occasion wag reduced to fragments, leaneth today
on a weak woman. Fie on me that am exceedingly unrighteous! Fie on my understanding! Fie on my knowledge of the
scripture! Fie on me for whom this lord of Earth lieth today in a manner that is not becoming of him! I also shall fast even as
my preceptor. Verily, I shall fast if this king and Gandhari of great fame abstain from food.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'The Pandava king, conversant with every duty, using his own hand, then softly rubbed with cold
water the breast and the face of the old monarch. At the touch of the king's hand which was auspicious and fragrant, and on
which were jewels and medicinal herbs, Dhritarashtra regained his senses.[6]

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Do thou again touch me, O son of Pandu, with thy hand, and do thou embrace me. O thou of eyes like
lotus petals, I am restored to my senses through the auspicious touch of thy hand. O ruler of men, I desire to smell thy head.
The clasp of thy arms is highly gratifying to me. This is the eighth division of the day and, therefore, the hour of taking my
food. For not having taken my food, O child of Kuru's race, I am so weak as to be unable to move. In addressing my
solicitations to thee, great hag been my exertion. Rendered cheerless by it, O son, I had fainted. O perpetuator of Kuru's race, I
think that receiving the touch of thy hand, which resembles nectar in its vivifying effects I have been restored to my senses.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed, O Bharata, by the eldest brother of his father, the son of Kunti, from affection, gently
touched every part of his body. Regaining his life-breaths, king Dhritarashtra embraced the son of Pandu with his arms and
smelled his head. Vidura and others wept aloud in great grief. In consequence, however, of the poignancy of their sorrow, they
said nothing to either the old king or the son of Pandu. Gandhari, conversant with every duty, bore her sorrow with fortitude,
and loaded as her heart was, O king, said nothing. The other ladies, Kunti among them, became greatly afflicted. They wept,
shedding copious tears, and sat surrounding the old king. Then 'Dhritarashtra, once more addressing Yudhishthira, said these
words, Do thou, O king, grant me permission to practise penances. By speaking repeatedly, O son, my mind becomes
weakened. It behoveth thee not, O son, to afflict me after this.' When that foremost one of Kuru's race was saying go unto
Yudhishthira, a loud sound of wailing arose from all the warriors there present. Beholding his royal father of great splendour,
emaciated and pale, reduced to a state unbecoming of him, worn out with fasts, and looking like a skeleton covered with skin,
Dharma's son Yudhishthira shed tears of grief and once more said these words. 'O foremost of men, I do not desire life and the
Earth. O scorcher of foes, I shall employ myself in doing what is agreeable to thee. If I deserve thy favour, if I am dear to thee,
do thou eat something. I shall then know what to do.' Endued with great energy, Dhritarashtra then said to Yudhishthira,--'I
wish, O son, to take some food, with thy permission.' When Dhritarashtra said these words to Yudhishthira, Satyavati's son
Vyasa came there and said as follows.`

SECTION IV

"Vyasa said, 'O mighty-armed Yudhishthira, do without any scruple what Dhritarashtra of Kuru's race hag said. This king is
old. He has, again, been made sonless. I think he will not be able to bear his grief long. The highly blessed Gandhari, possessed
of great wisdom and endued with kindly speech, bears with fortitude her excessive grief owing to the logs of her song. I also
tell thee (what the old king says). Do thou obey my words. Let the old king have thy permission. Let him not die an inglorious
death at home. Let this king follow the path of all royal sages of old. Verily, for all royal sages, retirement into the woods
comes at last.'"

"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed at that time by Vyasa of wonderful deeds, king Yudhishthira the just, possessed of
mighty energy, said unto the great ascetic these words, 'Thy holy self is held by us in great reverence. Thou alone art our
preceptor. Thou alone art the refuge of this our kingdom as also of our race. I am thy son. Thou, O holy one, art my father.
Thou art our king, and thou art our preceptor. The son should, agreeably to every duty, be obedient to the commands of his
sire.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed by the king. Vyasa, that foremost of poets, foremost of all persons conversant with
the Vedas, endued with great energy once more said unto Yudhishthira these words, 'It is even so, O mighty-armed one. It is
even as thou sayest, O Bharata. This king has reached old age. He is now in the last stage of life. Permitted both by me and
thee, let this lord of Earth do what he proposes. Do not stand as an impediment in his way. Even this is the highest duty, O
Yudhishthira, of royal sages. They should die either in battle or in the woods agreeably to the scriptures. Thy royal sire, Pandu,
O king of kings, reverenced this old king as a disciple reverences his preceptor. (At that time) he adored the gods in many great
sacrifices with profuse gifts consisting of hills of wealth and jewels, and ruled the Earth and protected his subjects wisely and
well. Having obtained a large progeny and a swelling kingdom, he enjoyed great influence for thirteen years while you were in
exile, and gave away much wealth. Thyself also, O chief of men, with thy servants, O sinless one, hast adored this king and the
famous Gandhari with that ready obedience which. a disciple pays to his preceptor. Do thou grant permission to thy father. The
time has come for him to attend to the practice of penances. He does not harbour, O Yudhishthira, even the slightest anger
against any of you.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having said these words, Vyasa soothed the old king. Yudhishthira then answered him, saying, 'So
be it.' The great ascetic then left the palace for proceeding to the woods. After the holy Vyasa had gone away, the royal son of
Pandu softly said these words unto his old father, bending himself in humility,--What the holy Vyasa has said, what is thy own
purpose, what the great bowman Kripa has said, what Vidura has expressed, and what has been asked for by Yuyutsu and
Sanjaya, I shall accomplish with speed. All these are worthy of my respect, for all of them are well-wishers of our race. This,
however, O king, I beg of thee by bending my head. Do thou first eat and afterwards go to thy forest retreat.'"

SECTION V

"Vaisampayana said, 'Having received the king's permission, king Dhritarashtra of great energy then proceeded to his own
palace, followed by Gandhari. With weakened strength and slow motion, that king of great intelligence walked with difficulty,
like the leader, worn out with age, of an elephantine herd. He was followed by Vidura of great learning, and his charioteer
Sanjaya, as also that mighty bowman Kripa, the son of Saradwata. Entering his mansion, O king, he went through the morning

and myself also as afflicted. Plunged though I am in sorrow, what, however, is the use of these words that I am addressing

thee? Thou art our father, thou art our mother; thou art our foremost of superiors. Deprived of thy presence, how shall we live?

O best of king, let Yuyutsu, the son of thy loins, be made king, or, indeed, anybody else whom thou mayst wish. I shall go into

the woods. Do thou rule the kingdom. It behoveth thee not to burn me that am already burned by infamy. I am not the king.

Thou art the king. I am dependent on thy will. How can I dare grant permission to thee that art my preceptor? O sinless one, I

harbour no resentment in my heart on account of the wrongs done to us by Suyodhana. It was ordained that it should be so.

Both ourselves and others were stupefied (by fate). We are thy children as Duryodhana and others were. My conviction is that

Gandhari is as much my mother as Kunti. If thou, O king of kings, goest to the woods leaving me, I shall the, follow thee. I

swear by my soul. This Earth, with her belt of seas, go full of wealth, will not be a source of joy to me when I am deprived of

thy presence. All this belongs to thee. I gratify thee, bending my head. We are all dependent on thee, O king of kings. Let the

fever of thy heart be dispelled. I think, O lord of Earth, that all this that has come upon thee is due to destiny. By good luck, I

had thought, that waiting upon thee and executing thy commands obediently, I would rescue thee from the fever of thy heart.'

"Dhritarashtra said, 'O delighter of the Kurus, my mind is fixed, O son, on penances. O puissant one, it is meet for our race that

I should retire into the woods. I have lived long under thy protection, O son, I have for many years been served by thee with

reverence. I am now old. It behoveth thee, O king, to grant me permission (to take up my abode in the woods).'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having said these words unto king Yudhishthira, the just, king Dhritarashtra, the son of Amvika,

trembling the while and with hands joined together, further said unto the high-souled Sanjaya and the great car-warrior Kripa,

these words, 'I wish to solicit the king through you. My mind has become cheerless, my mouth has become dry, through the

weakness of age and the exertion of speaking.' Having said so, that perpetuator of Kuru's race, viz., the, righteous-souled old

king, blessed with prosperity, leaned on Gandhari and suddenly looked like one deprived of life. Beholding him thus seated

like one deprived of consciousness, that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the royal son of Kunti, became penetrated by a poignant

grief.

"Yudhishthira said, 'Alas, he whose strength was equal to that of a hundred thousand elephants, alas, that king sitteth today,

leaning on a woman. Alas! he by whom the iron image of Bhima on a former occasion wag reduced to fragments, leaneth today

on a weak woman. Fie on me that am exceedingly unrighteous! Fie on my understanding! Fie on my knowledge of the

scripture! Fie on me for whom this lord of Earth lieth today in a manner that is not becoming of him! I also shall fast even as

my preceptor. Verily, I shall fast if this king and Gandhari of great fame abstain from food.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'The Pandava king, conversant with every duty, using his own hand, then softly rubbed with cold

water the breast and the face of the old monarch. At the touch of the king's hand which was auspicious and fragrant, and on

which were jewels and medicinal herbs, Dhritarashtra regained his senses.[6]

"Dhritarashtra said, 'Do thou again touch me, O son of Pandu, with thy hand, and do thou embrace me. O thou of eyes like

lotus petals, I am restored to my senses through the auspicious touch of thy hand. O ruler of men, I desire to smell thy head.

The clasp of thy arms is highly gratifying to me. This is the eighth division of the day and, therefore, the hour of taking my

food. For not having taken my food, O child of Kuru's race, I am so weak as to be unable to move. In addressing my

solicitations to thee, great hag been my exertion. Rendered cheerless by it, O son, I had fainted. O perpetuator of Kuru's race, I

think that receiving the touch of thy hand, which resembles nectar in its vivifying effects I have been restored to my senses.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed, O Bharata, by the eldest brother of his father, the son of Kunti, from affection, gently

touched every part of his body. Regaining his life-breaths, king Dhritarashtra embraced the son of Pandu with his arms and

smelled his head. Vidura and others wept aloud in great grief. In consequence, however, of the poignancy of their sorrow, they

said nothing to either the old king or the son of Pandu. Gandhari, conversant with every duty, bore her sorrow with fortitude,

and loaded as her heart was, O king, said nothing. The other ladies, Kunti among them, became greatly afflicted. They wept,

shedding copious tears, and sat surrounding the old king. Then 'Dhritarashtra, once more addressing Yudhishthira, said these

words, Do thou, O king, grant me permission to practise penances. By speaking repeatedly, O son, my mind becomes

weakened. It behoveth thee not, O son, to afflict me after this.' When that foremost one of Kuru's race was saying go unto

Yudhishthira, a loud sound of wailing arose from all the warriors there present. Beholding his royal father of great splendour,

emaciated and pale, reduced to a state unbecoming of him, worn out with fasts, and looking like a skeleton covered with skin,

Dharma's son Yudhishthira shed tears of grief and once more said these words. 'O foremost of men, I do not desire life and the

Earth. O scorcher of foes, I shall employ myself in doing what is agreeable to thee. If I deserve thy favour, if I am dear to thee,

do thou eat something. I shall then know what to do.' Endued with great energy, Dhritarashtra then said to Yudhishthira,--'I

wish, O son, to take some food, with thy permission.' When Dhritarashtra said these words to Yudhishthira, Satyavati's son

Vyasa came there and said as follows.`

SECTION IV

"Vyasa said, 'O mighty-armed Yudhishthira, do without any scruple what Dhritarashtra of Kuru's race hag said. This king is

old. He has, again, been made sonless. I think he will not be able to bear his grief long. The highly blessed Gandhari, possessed

of great wisdom and endued with kindly speech, bears with fortitude her excessive grief owing to the logs of her song. I also

tell thee (what the old king says). Do thou obey my words. Let the old king have thy permission. Let him not die an inglorious

death at home. Let this king follow the path of all royal sages of old. Verily, for all royal sages, retirement into the woods

comes at last.'"

"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed at that time by Vyasa of wonderful deeds, king Yudhishthira the just, possessed of

mighty energy, said unto the great ascetic these words, 'Thy holy self is held by us in great reverence. Thou alone art our

preceptor. Thou alone art the refuge of this our kingdom as also of our race. I am thy son. Thou, O holy one, art my father.

Thou art our king, and thou art our preceptor. The son should, agreeably to every duty, be obedient to the commands of his

sire.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed by the king. Vyasa, that foremost of poets, foremost of all persons conversant with

the Vedas, endued with great energy once more said unto Yudhishthira these words, 'It is even so, O mighty-armed one. It is

even as thou sayest, O Bharata. This king has reached old age. He is now in the last stage of life. Permitted both by me and

thee, let this lord of Earth do what he proposes. Do not stand as an impediment in his way. Even this is the highest duty, O

Yudhishthira, of royal sages. They should die either in battle or in the woods agreeably to the scriptures. Thy royal sire, Pandu,

O king of kings, reverenced this old king as a disciple reverences his preceptor. (At that time) he adored the gods in many great

sacrifices with profuse gifts consisting of hills of wealth and jewels, and ruled the Earth and protected his subjects wisely and

well. Having obtained a large progeny and a swelling kingdom, he enjoyed great influence for thirteen years while you were in

exile, and gave away much wealth. Thyself also, O chief of men, with thy servants, O sinless one, hast adored this king and the

famous Gandhari with that ready obedience which. a disciple pays to his preceptor. Do thou grant permission to thy father. The

time has come for him to attend to the practice of penances. He does not harbour, O Yudhishthira, even the slightest anger

against any of you.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having said these words, Vyasa soothed the old king. Yudhishthira then answered him, saying, 'So

be it.' The great ascetic then left the palace for proceeding to the woods. After the holy Vyasa had gone away, the royal son of

Pandu softly said these words unto his old father, bending himself in humility,--What the holy Vyasa has said, what is thy own

purpose, what the great bowman Kripa has said, what Vidura has expressed, and what has been asked for by Yuyutsu and

Sanjaya, I shall accomplish with speed. All these are worthy of my respect, for all of them are well-wishers of our race. This,

however, O king, I beg of thee by bending my head. Do thou first eat and afterwards go to thy forest retreat.'"

SECTION V

"Vaisampayana said, 'Having received the king's permission, king Dhritarashtra of great energy then proceeded to his own

palace, followed by Gandhari. With weakened strength and slow motion, that king of great intelligence walked with difficulty,

like the leader, worn out with age, of an elephantine herd. He was followed by Vidura of great learning, and his charioteer

Sanjaya, as also that mighty bowman Kripa, the son of Saradwata. Entering his mansion, O king, he went through the morning