Dhritraashtra Advises Yudhishthir

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Having received Yudhishthir's permission, Dhritraashtra went to his palace, completed his morning rites and took some food. Then all others ate. After taking the food, all sat down again. Dhritraashtra said to Yudhishthir - "You should always rule the kingdom of eight limbs in which the Righteousness should be the first of all. I tell you how to protect the kingdom with righteousness. You must always respect, obey those people who are older to you in learning and do whatever they say. When you will approach them with the desire of learning, they will tell you what to do. They will be beneficial to you, don't waste them like wealth. You should employ your ministers who are always honest to you. You should not allow many people while you are in consultation. You should hold your consultation in a place which is well protected, it may be in forest also. You should have good judges to maintain law. Punishment should be according to time and place with fines or death. As you get up in the morning, first you should see around yourself, then toilet, then to your food. Then you should supervise your forces, they should always be pleased.

You should always set Mandal related to yourself, your foes and your neutrals (Udaaseen), and to those who are indifferent. When one's own side is strong and other's side is weak, then only you should think of war against the enemy. While the enemy is strong, and oneself is weak, one should strive for making peace with the enemy. One should set a person in the office for which he is fit without any consideration. If one is obliged to gave any portion to one's enemy, he should give the land which does not produce enough crops; he should give such men who are not mighty; and while taking things from the enemy one should take the best. A powerful king should never seek to exterminate weak kings, because they praise the good and punish the wicked."

Dhritraashtra further said - "War and peace, each is of two kinds (war with a strong foe and weak foe, and peace with a strong foe and weak foe). The king should have five kinds of strengths - (1) Power of wealth, (2) Power of allies, (3) Power of forests, (4) Power of paid soldiery, and (5) Power of mechanical and trading classes. Among these strengths power of allies and power of wealth are superior to the rest. One should proceed for war only after ascertaining the strengths and weaknesses of one's own and the enemy's. You have been taught duties by Bheeshm, Vidur and Krishn. I also gave this instruction to you out of affection. You must follow all of them duly."

Yudhishthir said - "I will surely follow them. I need these in future also. Bheeshm has gone, Krishn has left for Dwaarakaa, Vidur and Sanjaya will accompany you to forest. Who else will teach me? Whatever you have instructed me today I shall certainly follow them."

Vaishampaayan Jee further said - "After this Dhritraashtra asked king's permission [to go to forest]. And he entered his chambers, and said - "Wait my son, I am in turmoil." Gaandhaaree said - "You have already taken permission from Rishi Vyaas, when will you go to forest with the permission of Yudhishthir?" Dhritraashtra said - "I have taken permission from Vyaas Jee, and from Yudhishthir also. We shall soon go to forest. I wish to give some wealth to Pret in respect of all my sons inviting all the people to my palace." So he called Yudhishthir. Yudhishthir immediately came with all the things necessary for the gifts. All kinds of people came to Dhritraashtra's palace.

He said to them - "We have been good to each other for a very long time. Now I have decided to go to forest along with Gaandhaaree. Vyaas and Yudhishthir have given me permission to go, now I want your permission. Do not hesitate in this. I am worn out of this load of years on my head. I don't have children, Gaandhaaree and I are observing fasts. Kingdom has been passed on to Yudhishthir. There is no other refuge except forest for a childless. Please grant me the permission." All people gathered there started weeping. Then Dhritraashtra further said.

Dhritraashtra said - "Shaantanu ruled Prithvi duly, Vichitraveerya also ruled it with the help of Bheeshm. Paandu was very dear to me as also to you. Whether I ruled in the same way or not, I don't know, if any of those services have fallen short in my kingdom, please forgive me. Duryodhan also enjoyed this kingdom, however foolish he was, he didn't do any wrong to you. Because of him a great loss has occurred in royal family.  I ask you to forget everything from his side. I am old, I am childless, I am afflicted with grief, he was our king, so please forgive me. We both are old so please give us permission to go to forest. God bless you. We seek your protection. This king, Yudhishthir, should be looked after by you in all conditions. I bow to you all. Gaandhaaree and I ask your forgive ness for anything done to you by my sons." All people filled with tears didn't say a word, just looked at each other."

Vaishampaayan further Jee said - "Seeing people standing quiet, Dhritraashtra again said - "I have already taken permission from Vyaas Jee and Yudhishthr, please you also permit me to go to forest." When the grieved people got a bit relieved, they assigned a Braahman to take to Dhritraashtra. He said - "Whatever you said, it is true. It is certain that as we enjoyed under your ancestor's rule, we will enjoy under Yudhishthir's rule also. In fact the destruction was not brought by Duryodhan or Shakuni or Karn, but by you. And it was brought by destiny. This is true that the destiny cannot be changed by exertion. Eighteen Akshauhinee army was brought together and was destroyed in 18 days. This could not happen without destiny. You follow your duties indicated in Ved and Paandav don't need yours or our supervision. They themselves are capable enough to rule even the Heaven. Dispel all anxiety and proceed on your duties."

King went back to his palace along with Gaandhaaree. Now listen to what happened after the night passed. The next day Dhritraashtra sent Vidur to Yudhishthir. Vidur said to him - "King will go to forest next Poornimaa of Kaartik month. He needs some wealth to perform Shraddhaa for Bheeshm, Drone, Somdatt, Baahleek, all his sons and his well wishers." Yudhishthir and Arjun got very happy to hear this but not Bheem. Arjun understood, he said to Bheem lowering his eyes - "Our great uncle is going to forest, he wishes to make gifts for his dead kinsmen. He wishes to spend some wealth of yours for Bheeshm etc, you should grant the permission. It is our good luck that Dhritraashtra is begging wealth from us, previously we used to beg for it. The Time has reversed the situation. His all people have died, he is going to forest, you should not think otherwise. Grant him the permission. You should learn duty from our eldest brother - to give, instead of refusing."

But Bheem said angrily - "O Arjun, It is we who will make gifts to them. Our mother Kuntee will make gifts for Karn. Let not Dhritraashtra perform Shraddhaa for them. Let not our enemies be happy. That wretched man caused the whole earth to be exterminated. How can you forget our strained relationship with Draupadee for 12 long years? Where were Dhritrashtra, Bheeshm, Drone etc at that time? Where was his parental affection then? He was asking repeatedly "What was won? What was won?"." Hearing thus far, Yudhishthir rebuked him and asked to be silent.

Arjun said - "O Bheem, You are my elder brother, that is why I do not want to say anything more than this what I have already said. Dhritraashtra has to be respected by all of us. Good people remember not the wrongs done to them, but only the benefits they have received." Yudhishthir said to Vidur - "Tell Dhritraashtra, that I will give him as much money as he needs for this Shraddhaa. Let not Dhritraashtra be angry with Bheem. Bheem was inflicted by heat, cold, rain and hundreds of other pains when he was in forest, which is not unknown to you. Tell him that whatever we have, he is the Lord of all. Even my body is his."

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Vidur Jee went from there and said that to Dhritraashtra - "I gave your message to Yudhishthir, he and Arjun agreed saying that "What I have all is of Dhritraashtra" but Bheem had difficulty in agreeing for this, recollecting all the difficulties of forest. Yudhishthir has requested you not to pay any attention towards Bheem's behavior as he was greatly afflicted by the difficulties of forest. You are the master and we live in your kingdom. Whatever you wish to do, you may do, construct pavilions, make gifts to poor and sightless, make water reservoirs etc etc." Now you think what you have to do." Dhritraashtra made plans to make gifts on Kaartik Poornimaa.

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Then Dhritraashtra called hundreds of Braahmans, and collected lots of clothes, gems, slaves (male and female), food, drink, elephants, horses etc etc to make gifts. Scribers were ready to note and give gifts to the people whatever Dhritraashtra commanded to give them. Whoever was to be given hundred, thousand were given, and whoever was to receive thousand, ten thousand were given (each gift was commanded by Dhritraashtra and was multiplied by Yudhishthir). At last he became tired of giving gifts and the ceremony came to an end. He did this for ten days and got cleared from the debt of dead.

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