sidhellman/clean_data.txt · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 0 182
"Vaisampayana continued.. "Hearing these sweet words of the celestial Rishi, all the persons there assembled, as also king
Dhritarashtra, became greatly cheered and highly pleased. Having cheered Dhritarashtra of great wisdom with such talk, they
left the spot, wending away by the path that belongs to those who are crowned with success."'

SECTION XXI

" Vaisampayana said, 'Upon the retirement of the chief of the Kurus into the forest, the Pandavas, O king, afflicted besides by
grief on account of their mother, became very cheerless. The citizens also of Hastinapura were possessed by deep sorrow. The
Brahmanas always talked of the old king. 'How, indeed, will the king, who has become old, live in the solitary woods? How
will the highly blessed Gandhari, and Pritha, the daughter of Kuntibhoja, live there? The royal sage has always lived in the
enjoyment of every comfort. He will certainly be very miserable. Arrived in deep woods, what is now the condition of that
personage of royal descent, who is, again, bereft of vision? Difficult is the feat that Kunti has achieved by separating herself
from her sons. Alas casting off kingly prosperity, she chose a life in the woods. What, again, is the condition of Vidura who is
always devoted to the service of his elder brother? How also is the intelligent son of Gavalgani who is so faithful to the food
given him by his master? Verily, the citizens, including those of even nonage meeting together, asked one another these
questions. The Pandavas also, exceedingly afflicted with grief, sorrowed for their old mother, and could not live in their city
long, Thinking also of their old sire, the king, who had lost all his children, and the highly blessed Gandhari, and Vidura of
great intelligence, they failed to enjoy peace of mind. They had no pleasure in sovereignty, nor in women, nor in the study of
the Vedas. Despair penetrated their souls as they thought of the old king and as they repeatedly reflected on that terrible
slaughter of kinsmen. Indeed, thinking of the slaughter of the youthful Abhimanyu on the field of battle, of the mighty-armed
Karna who never retreated from the fray, of the sons of Draupadi, and of other friends of theirs, those heroes became
exceedingly cheerless. They failed to obtain peace or mind upon repeatedly reflecting that the Earth had become divested of
both her heroes and her wealth. Draupadi had lost all her children, and the beautiful Subhadra also had become childless. They
too were of cheerless hearts and grieved exceedingly. Beholding, however, the son of Virata's daughter, viz., thy sire Parikshit,
thy grandsires somehow held their life-breaths.'

SECTION XXII

"Vaisampayana said, 'Those foremost of men, the heroic Pandavas,--those delighters of their mother--became exceedingly
afflicted with grief. They who had formerly been always engaged in kingly offices, did not at that time attend to those acts at
all in their capital. Afflicted with deep grief, they failed to derive pleasure from anything. If any body accosted them, they
never honoured him with an answer. Although those irresistible heroes were in gravity like the ocean, yet they were now
deprived of their knowledge and their very senses by the grief they felt. Thinking of their mother, the sons of Pandu were filled
with anxiety as to how their emaciated mother was serving the old couple. 'How, indeed, is that king, whose sons have all been
slain and who is without refuge, living alone, with only his wife, in the woods that are the haunt of beasts of prey? Alas, how
does that highly blessed queen, Gandhari, whose dear ones have all been slain, follow her blind lord in the solitary woods?'--
Even such was the anxiety manifested by the Pandavas when they talked with one another. They then set their hearts upon
seeing the king in his forest retreat. Then Sahadeva, bowing down to the king, said, 'I see thy heart to be set upon seeing our
sire. From my respect for thee, however, I could not speedily open my mouth on the subject of our journey to the woods. The
time for that sojourn is now come. By good luck I shall see Kunti living in the observance of penances, with matted locks on
her head, practising severe austerities, and emaciated with sleeping on blades of Kusa and Kasa. She was brought up in palaces
and mansions, and nursed in every comfort and luxury. Alas, when shall I see my mother who is now toil-worn and plunged
into exceeding misery? Without doubt, O chief of Bharata's race, the ends of mortals are exceedingly uncertain, since Kunti,
who is a princess by birth, is now living in misery in the woods.' Hearing these words of Sahadeva, queen Draupadi, that
foremost of all women duly honouring the king said, with proper salutations,--Alas, when shall I see queen Pritha, if, indeed,
she be yet alive. I shall consider my life as not passed in vain if I succeed in beholding her once more, O king. Let this sort of
understanding be ever stable in thee. Let thy mind always take a pleasure in such righteousness as is involved, O king of kings,
in thy desire of bestowing such a high boon on us. Know, O king, that all these ladies of thy house are staying with their feet
raised for the journey, from desire of beholding Kunti, and Gandhari, and my father-in-law. Thus addressed by queen
Draupadi, the king, O chief of Bharata's race, summoned all the leaders of his forces to his presence and told them,--'Cause my
army, teeming with cars and elephants, to march out. I shall behold king Dhritarashtra who is now living in the woods.' Unto
those that supervised the concerns of the ladies, the king gave the order, 'Let diverse kinds of conveyances be properly equipt,
and all my closed litters that count by thousands. Let carriages and granaries, and wardrobes, and treasuries, be equipt and
ordered out, and let mechanics have the command to march out. Let men in charge of treasuries go out on the way leading to
the ascetic retreats on Kurukshetra. Whoever amongst the citizens wishes to see the king is allowed to do so without any
restriction. Let him proceed, properly protected. Let cooks and superintendents of kitchens, and the whole culinary
establishment, and diverse kinds of edibles and viands, be ordered to be borne out on carts and conveyances. Let it be
proclaimed that we march out tomorrow. Indeed, let no delay occur (in carrying out the arrangements). Let pavilions and
resting houses of diverse kinds be erected on the way.' Even these were the commands which the eldest son of Pandu gave,
with his brothers. When morning came, O monarch, the king set out, with a large train of women and old men. Going out of his
city, king Yudhishthira waited five days for such citizens as might accompany him, and then proceeded towards the forest."'

SECTION XXIII

"Vaisampayana said. 'That foremost one of Bharata's race, then ordered his troops, which were protected by heroes that were
headed by Arjuna and that resembled the very guardians of the universe, to march out. Instantly, a loud clamour arose
consisting of the words--Equip, Equip!--of horse-men, O Bharata, engaged in equipping and their steeds. Some proceeded on
carriages and vehicles, some on horses of great speed, and some on cars made of gold endued with the splendour of blazing
fires. Some proceeded on mighty elephants, and some on camels, O king. Some proceeded on foot, that belonged to that class
of combatants which is armed with tiger-like claws.[38] The citizens and inhabitants of the provinces, desirous of seeing
Dhritarashtra, followed the king on diverse kinds of conveyances. The preceptor Kripa also, of Gotama's race, that great leader
of forces, taking all the forces with him, proceeded, at the command of the king, towards the old monarch's retreat. The Kuru
king Yudhishthira, that perpetuator of Kuru's race, surrounded by a large number of Brahmanas, his praises sung by a large
band of Sutas and Magadhas and bards, and with a white umbrella held over his head and encompassed around by a large
number of cars, set out on his journey. Vrikodara, the son of the Wind-god, proceeded on an elephant as gigantic as a hill,
equipt with strung bow and machines and weapons of attack and defence. The twin sons of Madri proceeded on two fleet
steeds, well cased in mail, well protected, and equipt with banners. Arjuna of mighty energy, with senses under control,
proceeded on an excellent car endued with solar effulgence and unto which were equipt excellent steeds of white hue. The
ladies of the royal household, headed by Draupadi, proceeded in closed litters protected by the superintendents of women.
They scattered copious showers of wealth as they proceeded. Teeming with cars and elephants and steeds, and echoing with the
blare of trumpets and the music of Vinas, the Pandava host, O monarch, blazed with great beauty. Those chiefs of Kuru's race
proceeded slowly, resting by delightful banks of rivers and lakes, O monarch. Yuyutsu of mighty energy, and Dhaumya, the
priest at the command of Yudhishthira, were engaged in protecting the city. By slow marches, king Yudhishthira reached
Kurukshetra, and then, crossing the Yamuna, that highly sacred river, he beheld from a distance the retreat, O thou of Kuru's
race, of the royal sage of great wisdom and of Dhritarashtra. Then all the men became filled with joy and quickly entered the
forest, filling it with loud sounds of glee, O chief of Bharata's race."'

SECTION XXIV

"Vaisampayana said, 'The Pandavas alighted, at a distance, from their cars and proceeded on foot to the retreat of the king,
bending themselves in humility. All the combatants also, and all the denizens of the kingdom, and the spouses of the Kuru
chiefs, followed them on foot. The Pandavas then reached the sacred retreat of Dhritarashtra which abounded with herds of
deer and which was adorned with plantain plants. Many ascetics of rigid vows, filled with curiosity, came there for beholding
the Pandavas who had arrived at the retreat. The king, with tears in his eyes, asked them, saying,--'Where has my eldest sire,
the perpetuator of Kuru's race, gone?' They answered, O monarch, telling him that he had gone to the Yamuna for his ablutions,
as also for fetching flowers and waters. Proceeding quickly on foot along the path pointed out by them, the Pandavas beheld all
of them from a distance. Desirous of meeting with their sire they walked with a rapid pace. Then Sahadeva ran with speed
towards the spot where Pritha was. Touching the feet of his mother, he began to weep aloud. With tears gushing down her
cheeks, she saw her darling child. Raising her son up and embracing him with her arms, she informed Gandhari of Sahadeva's
arrival. Then seeing the king and Bhimasena and Arjuna, and Nakula, Pritha endeavoured to advance quickly towards them.

"Vaisampayana continued.. "Hearing these sweet words of the celestial Rishi, all the persons there assembled, as also king

Dhritarashtra, became greatly cheered and highly pleased. Having cheered Dhritarashtra of great wisdom with such talk, they

left the spot, wending away by the path that belongs to those who are crowned with success."'

SECTION XXI

" Vaisampayana said, 'Upon the retirement of the chief of the Kurus into the forest, the Pandavas, O king, afflicted besides by

grief on account of their mother, became very cheerless. The citizens also of Hastinapura were possessed by deep sorrow. The

Brahmanas always talked of the old king. 'How, indeed, will the king, who has become old, live in the solitary woods? How

will the highly blessed Gandhari, and Pritha, the daughter of Kuntibhoja, live there? The royal sage has always lived in the

enjoyment of every comfort. He will certainly be very miserable. Arrived in deep woods, what is now the condition of that

personage of royal descent, who is, again, bereft of vision? Difficult is the feat that Kunti has achieved by separating herself

from her sons. Alas casting off kingly prosperity, she chose a life in the woods. What, again, is the condition of Vidura who is

always devoted to the service of his elder brother? How also is the intelligent son of Gavalgani who is so faithful to the food

given him by his master? Verily, the citizens, including those of even nonage meeting together, asked one another these

questions. The Pandavas also, exceedingly afflicted with grief, sorrowed for their old mother, and could not live in their city

long, Thinking also of their old sire, the king, who had lost all his children, and the highly blessed Gandhari, and Vidura of

great intelligence, they failed to enjoy peace of mind. They had no pleasure in sovereignty, nor in women, nor in the study of

the Vedas. Despair penetrated their souls as they thought of the old king and as they repeatedly reflected on that terrible

slaughter of kinsmen. Indeed, thinking of the slaughter of the youthful Abhimanyu on the field of battle, of the mighty-armed

Karna who never retreated from the fray, of the sons of Draupadi, and of other friends of theirs, those heroes became

exceedingly cheerless. They failed to obtain peace or mind upon repeatedly reflecting that the Earth had become divested of

both her heroes and her wealth. Draupadi had lost all her children, and the beautiful Subhadra also had become childless. They

too were of cheerless hearts and grieved exceedingly. Beholding, however, the son of Virata's daughter, viz., thy sire Parikshit,

thy grandsires somehow held their life-breaths.'

SECTION XXII

"Vaisampayana said, 'Those foremost of men, the heroic Pandavas,--those delighters of their mother--became exceedingly

afflicted with grief. They who had formerly been always engaged in kingly offices, did not at that time attend to those acts at

all in their capital. Afflicted with deep grief, they failed to derive pleasure from anything. If any body accosted them, they

never honoured him with an answer. Although those irresistible heroes were in gravity like the ocean, yet they were now

deprived of their knowledge and their very senses by the grief they felt. Thinking of their mother, the sons of Pandu were filled

with anxiety as to how their emaciated mother was serving the old couple. 'How, indeed, is that king, whose sons have all been

slain and who is without refuge, living alone, with only his wife, in the woods that are the haunt of beasts of prey? Alas, how

does that highly blessed queen, Gandhari, whose dear ones have all been slain, follow her blind lord in the solitary woods?'--

Even such was the anxiety manifested by the Pandavas when they talked with one another. They then set their hearts upon

seeing the king in his forest retreat. Then Sahadeva, bowing down to the king, said, 'I see thy heart to be set upon seeing our

sire. From my respect for thee, however, I could not speedily open my mouth on the subject of our journey to the woods. The

time for that sojourn is now come. By good luck I shall see Kunti living in the observance of penances, with matted locks on

her head, practising severe austerities, and emaciated with sleeping on blades of Kusa and Kasa. She was brought up in palaces

and mansions, and nursed in every comfort and luxury. Alas, when shall I see my mother who is now toil-worn and plunged

into exceeding misery? Without doubt, O chief of Bharata's race, the ends of mortals are exceedingly uncertain, since Kunti,

who is a princess by birth, is now living in misery in the woods.' Hearing these words of Sahadeva, queen Draupadi, that

foremost of all women duly honouring the king said, with proper salutations,--Alas, when shall I see queen Pritha, if, indeed,

she be yet alive. I shall consider my life as not passed in vain if I succeed in beholding her once more, O king. Let this sort of

understanding be ever stable in thee. Let thy mind always take a pleasure in such righteousness as is involved, O king of kings,

in thy desire of bestowing such a high boon on us. Know, O king, that all these ladies of thy house are staying with their feet

raised for the journey, from desire of beholding Kunti, and Gandhari, and my father-in-law. Thus addressed by queen

Draupadi, the king, O chief of Bharata's race, summoned all the leaders of his forces to his presence and told them,--'Cause my

army, teeming with cars and elephants, to march out. I shall behold king Dhritarashtra who is now living in the woods.' Unto

those that supervised the concerns of the ladies, the king gave the order, 'Let diverse kinds of conveyances be properly equipt,

and all my closed litters that count by thousands. Let carriages and granaries, and wardrobes, and treasuries, be equipt and

ordered out, and let mechanics have the command to march out. Let men in charge of treasuries go out on the way leading to

the ascetic retreats on Kurukshetra. Whoever amongst the citizens wishes to see the king is allowed to do so without any

restriction. Let him proceed, properly protected. Let cooks and superintendents of kitchens, and the whole culinary

establishment, and diverse kinds of edibles and viands, be ordered to be borne out on carts and conveyances. Let it be

proclaimed that we march out tomorrow. Indeed, let no delay occur (in carrying out the arrangements). Let pavilions and

resting houses of diverse kinds be erected on the way.' Even these were the commands which the eldest son of Pandu gave,

with his brothers. When morning came, O monarch, the king set out, with a large train of women and old men. Going out of his

city, king Yudhishthira waited five days for such citizens as might accompany him, and then proceeded towards the forest."'

SECTION XXIII

"Vaisampayana said. 'That foremost one of Bharata's race, then ordered his troops, which were protected by heroes that were

headed by Arjuna and that resembled the very guardians of the universe, to march out. Instantly, a loud clamour arose

consisting of the words--Equip, Equip!--of horse-men, O Bharata, engaged in equipping and their steeds. Some proceeded on

carriages and vehicles, some on horses of great speed, and some on cars made of gold endued with the splendour of blazing

fires. Some proceeded on mighty elephants, and some on camels, O king. Some proceeded on foot, that belonged to that class

of combatants which is armed with tiger-like claws.[38] The citizens and inhabitants of the provinces, desirous of seeing

Dhritarashtra, followed the king on diverse kinds of conveyances. The preceptor Kripa also, of Gotama's race, that great leader

of forces, taking all the forces with him, proceeded, at the command of the king, towards the old monarch's retreat. The Kuru

king Yudhishthira, that perpetuator of Kuru's race, surrounded by a large number of Brahmanas, his praises sung by a large

band of Sutas and Magadhas and bards, and with a white umbrella held over his head and encompassed around by a large

number of cars, set out on his journey. Vrikodara, the son of the Wind-god, proceeded on an elephant as gigantic as a hill,

equipt with strung bow and machines and weapons of attack and defence. The twin sons of Madri proceeded on two fleet

steeds, well cased in mail, well protected, and equipt with banners. Arjuna of mighty energy, with senses under control,

proceeded on an excellent car endued with solar effulgence and unto which were equipt excellent steeds of white hue. The

ladies of the royal household, headed by Draupadi, proceeded in closed litters protected by the superintendents of women.

They scattered copious showers of wealth as they proceeded. Teeming with cars and elephants and steeds, and echoing with the

blare of trumpets and the music of Vinas, the Pandava host, O monarch, blazed with great beauty. Those chiefs of Kuru's race

proceeded slowly, resting by delightful banks of rivers and lakes, O monarch. Yuyutsu of mighty energy, and Dhaumya, the

priest at the command of Yudhishthira, were engaged in protecting the city. By slow marches, king Yudhishthira reached

Kurukshetra, and then, crossing the Yamuna, that highly sacred river, he beheld from a distance the retreat, O thou of Kuru's

race, of the royal sage of great wisdom and of Dhritarashtra. Then all the men became filled with joy and quickly entered the

forest, filling it with loud sounds of glee, O chief of Bharata's race."'

SECTION XXIV

"Vaisampayana said, 'The Pandavas alighted, at a distance, from their cars and proceeded on foot to the retreat of the king,

bending themselves in humility. All the combatants also, and all the denizens of the kingdom, and the spouses of the Kuru

chiefs, followed them on foot. The Pandavas then reached the sacred retreat of Dhritarashtra which abounded with herds of

deer and which was adorned with plantain plants. Many ascetics of rigid vows, filled with curiosity, came there for beholding

the Pandavas who had arrived at the retreat. The king, with tears in his eyes, asked them, saying,--'Where has my eldest sire,

the perpetuator of Kuru's race, gone?' They answered, O monarch, telling him that he had gone to the Yamuna for his ablutions,

as also for fetching flowers and waters. Proceeding quickly on foot along the path pointed out by them, the Pandavas beheld all

of them from a distance. Desirous of meeting with their sire they walked with a rapid pace. Then Sahadeva ran with speed

towards the spot where Pritha was. Touching the feet of his mother, he began to weep aloud. With tears gushing down her

cheeks, she saw her darling child. Raising her son up and embracing him with her arms, she informed Gandhari of Sahadeva's

arrival. Then seeing the king and Bhimasena and Arjuna, and Nakula, Pritha endeavoured to advance quickly towards them.