O my sons, I do not desire the fruits of that sovereignty which has been won by my children.  O thou of great puissance, I wish to attain, by my penances, to those regions of felicity which have been acquired by my husband.  By rendering obedient service to my father-in-law and mother-in-law both of whom wish to take up their abode in the woods, and by penances, I desire, O Yudhishthira, to waste my body.  Do thou cease to follow me, O foremost one of Kuru’s race, along with Bhima and others.  Let thy understanding be always devoted to righteousness.  Let thy mind be always great.’”

SECTION XVIII

“Vaisampayana said, ’Hearing these words of Kunti, the sinless Pandavas, O best of kings, became ashamed.  They, therefore, desisted, along with the princess of-Panchala, from following her.[36] Beholding Kunti resolved to go into the woods, the ladies of the Pandava household uttered loud lamentations.  The Pandavas then circumambulated the king and saluted him duly.  They ceased to follow further, having failed to persuade Pritha to return.  Then Amvika’s son of great energy, viz., Dhritarashtra, addressing Gandhari and Vidura and supporting himself on them, said, ’Let the royal mother of Yudhishthira cease to go with us.  What Yudhishthira has said is all very true.  Abandoning this high prosperity of her sons, abandoning those high fruits that may be hers, why should she go into the inaccessible woods, leaving her children like a person of little intelligence?  Living in the enjoyment of sovereignty, she is capable of practising penances and observing the high vow of gifts.  Let her, therefore, listen to my words.  O Gandhari, I have been much gratified with the services rendered to me by this daughter-in-law of mine.  Conversant as thou art with all duties, it behoveth thee to command her return.’  Thus addressed by her lord, the daughter of Suvala repeated unto Kunti all those words of the old king and added her own words of grave import.  She, however, failed to cause Kunti to desist inasmuch as that chaste lady, devoted to righteousness, had firmly set her heart upon residing in the woods.  The Kuru ladies, understanding how firm her resolution was regarding her retirement into the woods, and seeing that those foremost ones of Kuru’s race (viz., their own lords), had ceased to follow her, set up a loud wail of lamentation.  After all the sons of Pritha and all the ladies had retraced their steps, king Yudhishthira of great wisdom continued his journey to the woods.  The Pandavas, exceedingly cheerless and afflicted with grief and sorrow accompanied by their wives, returned to the city, on their cars.  At that time the city of Hastinapura, with its entire population of men, both old and young, and women, became cheerless and plunged into sorrow.  No festivals of rejoicing were observed.  Afflicted with grief, the Pandavas were without any energy.  Deserted by Kunti, they were deeply afflicted