The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 147

Section CXLVII. ( *Jatu-griha Parva continued.* ) Vaisampayana said, "Meanwhile the Pandavas ascended their chariots yoking thereto some fine horses endued with the speed of the wind. And while they were on the point of riding on their cars, they touched, in great distress, the feet of Bhisma, of king Dhrita-rashtra, of the illustrious Drona, of Kripa, of Vidura, and of the other elders of the Kuru race. Thus saluting reverentially all the older men, and embracing their equals, and receiving the farewell of even the children, and taking leave of all the venerable ladies of their household and walking round them respectfully, and bidding farewell unto all the citizens, the Pandavs, ever mindful of their vows, set out for Varanavata. And Vidura of great wisdom and the other bulls among the Kurus and the citizens also, in great affliction followed those tigers among men for some distance. And some amongst the citizens and the country-people who followed the Pandavas, afflicted beyond measure at beholding the sons of Pandu in such distress, began to say aloud, 'King Dhrita-rashtra of wicked soul seeth not thing with an equal eye! The Kuru monarch casteth not his eye on virtue! Neither the sinless Yudhish-thira, nor Bhima the foremost of mighty men, nor Dhananjaya the (youngest) son of Kunti, will ever be guilty of (the sin of waging a rebellious war). And when these will remain quiet, how shall the illustrious sons of Madri do anything? Having inherited the kingdom from their father, Dhrita-rashtra could not bear them. How is it that Bhisma, who suffers the exile of the Pandavas to that wretched place, sanctions this act of great injustice? Vichitra-virya the son of Shantanu and the royal sage Pandu of the Kuru race both cherished us of old with fatherly care. But now that Pandu—that tiger among men—hath ascended to heaven, Dhrita-rashtra cannot bear these princes—his children. We who do not sanction this exile shall all go, leaving this excellent town and our own home, to where Yudhish-thira will go.' "Unto those distressed citizens talking in this way, the virtuous Yudhish-thira, himself afflicted with sorrow, reflecting for a few moments said, 'The king is our father, worthy of regard, our spiritual guide, and our superior! To do with unsuspicious hearts whatever he biddeth is, indeed, our duty. Ye are our friends! Walking round us and making us happy by your blessings, return ye to your abodes! When the time cometh for anything to be done for us by ye, then, indeed, accomplish all that is agreeable and beneficial to us!' Thus addressed, the citizens walked round the Pandavas and blest them with their blessings and returned to their respective abodes. "And after the citizens ceased following the Pandavas, Vidura, conversant with all the dictates of mortality, desirous of awakening the eldest of the Pandavas (to a sense of his dangers) addressed him in these words. The learned Vidura, conversant with the jargon (of the *Mlechchas*), addressed the learned Yudhish-thira also conversant with the jargon (of the *Mlechchas*) in words of the *Mlechcha* tongue so as to be unintelligible to all except Yudhish-thira. And he said, 'He that knoweth the schemes his foes contrive in accordance with the dictates of political science, should, knowing them, act in such a way as to keep himself off from all danger. He that knoweth that there are sharp weapons capable of cutting the body though not made of steel, and understandeth also the means of warding them off, can never be injured by his foes. He liveth who protecteth himself by the knowledge that neither the consumer of straw and wood nor the drier of the dew burneth the inmates of a hole in the deep woods. The blind see no way nor have any knowledge of direction. They who have no patience never acquire prosperity. Remembering this, keep thyself alert. The person who accepteth an inflammable abode assigned to him by his foes can escape from fire by making his abode like unto that of a jackal (having many outlets). By wandering a man can acquire the knowledge of ways, and by the stars he can ascertain the directions, and he who keepeth his five (senses) under control can never be oppressed by his enemies.' "Thus addressed, Pandu's son Yudhish-thira the just replied unto Vidura the foremost of all learned men, saying, 'I have understood thee.' Then Vidura, having instructed the Pandavas and followed them (thus far), walked around them and bidding them farewell returned to his own abode. And when the citizens and Bhisma and Vidura had all ceased following, Kunti approached Yudhish-thira and said, 'The words that Khatta said unto thee in the midst of many people, so indistinctly as if he said not anything, and thy reply also to him in similar words and voice, we have not understood. If it is not improper for us to know them I should then like to hear everything that passed between him and thee!' "Yudhish-thira replied, 'The virtuous Vidura said unto me that we should know the mansion (for our accommodation at Varanavata) hath been built of inflammable materials. He also said unto me,—the path of escape too shall not be unknown to thee,—and, further, that—those that can control their senses can acquire the sovereignty of the whole world.—The reply that I gave unto Vidura was,—I have understood thee.—'" Vaisampayana continued, "The Pandavas set out on the eighth day of the month of Falgoona when the star Rohiny was ascendant, and arriving at Varanavata they beheld the town and the people." Thus ends the hundred and forty-seventh Section in the Jatu-griha of the Adi Parva.