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103.DHRITARASHTRA
Then Vyasa entered. When he was
acquainted with what had happened, he
said to Yudhishthira:
"Do what Dhritarashtra, eldest of the
Kurus, desires. Let him go to the forest.
He is old. All his sons have gone before
him. It is not possible for him much
longer to bear his grief. Gandhari, whom
God has blessed with enlightenment, has
borne her sorrows with courage. Do not
stand in the way of their wishes. Let not
Dhritarashtra pine away and die here. Let
him go and live among the honeyladen
flowers of the forest and breathe their
fragrance, leaving the cares of the world
behind. The dharma of kings is to die in
battle or to spend their last days in
retirement in the forest. Dhritarashtra has
ruled the kingdom and performed yajnas.
When you were in the wilderness for
thirteen years, he enjoyed the wide earth
through his son and gave bounteous gifts.
You left him nothing to desire. The time
has come for him to do penance. Let him
go with your hearty consent, and without
anger in his heart."
Dharmaraja said: "So be it!"
Then Vyasa returned to his hermitage.
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