Days of Dhritarashtra in the forest

After persuading the Pandavas and their subjects to return, Dhritarashtra and his group reached the shores of Ganga in the forest before the night fell. The blind king walked with support on the shoulders of his queen. Kunti held the hand of her sister-in-law and lead her forward. This way the three found their way in the dense forest.

In the evening all took a holy dip in the refreshing waters of Ganga. The Brahmins lit fires here and there for the evening prayers. Dhritarashtra offered his worship (agni upaasana) to the fire and to the setting sun (sandhyopaasana). Then, all made preparations for sleep. The Darbha grass was spread on the floor as bed for all. Dhritarashtra lay down in one and the venerable Gandhari, next to him. Kunti chose a place close by to the aged Kaurava pair. Vidura and Sanjaya remained at a distance, but, close enough at the beck and call of their king. The others spread themselves around the banks of Ganga. The separation from their close ones and the tearful scene of bidding farewell weighed heavy in their hearts.

In the hermitage of Satayupa

All woke up early next morning and performed the morning rituals at the shores of Ganga. Later, hearing the news of the arrival of the august Kaurava king several people came there to meet him. Dhritarashtra received them cordially and entertained them for a while with various stories. Then, hearing of sage Satayupa (Satayoopa) meditating in Kurukshetra, Dhritarashtra went to his hermitage in the company of his people.

Satayupa was the king of Kekaya. He had anointed his son as the king and had retired to the forest long ago. Then, with intense meditation he had reached the status of a ‘royal sage (raajarshi)’ like the famous Viswamitra.

The two erstwhile kings spent their time in each other’s company for a while. They, then, went to meet Vedavyasa in his hermitage. It was sage Vyasa who suggested to Dhritarashtra to spend his time in the forest in the hermitage of Satayupa. The sage requested the latter to instruct the aged Kaurava on the disciplines to be followed in life in the forest.

Thus, Dhritarashtra, Gandhari and Kunti started living in the hermitage of Satayupa and receiving his valuable teachings on life in forests (vaanaprastha). Following the advice of the royal sage they started meditating, with supreme control of their mind, words and actions, and on all their sense organs. Gradually, attired in animal skin and tree barks and with matted hair, the aged king and the queens were reduced to bare bones and skin. Vidura and Sanjaya remained by the side of the king engaged in his services.

Visit by Narada

Sage Narada accompanied by his disciples and Vedavyasa paid a visit to the Kaurava king while he remained in the hermitage of Satayupa. The celestial sage narrated the stories of the grandfather of Satayupa, by name sahasracitya, who had reached the abode of Indra after accumulating enough merits through years of penance. He also gave the example of the grandfather of the brave Bhagadatta and of the son of Mandhata (one of the sixteen kings narrated earlier) and of a few other kings who all had attained great heights in meditation before they left this world. At the end Narada said. “Your (step) brother, Pandu, who lives happily in the world (heaven) of Indra thinks of you every day.”

When Narada finished his talk, sage Satayupa asked him. “You are blessed with the knowledge of the past, present and future (trikaalajna) and you told us about king Pandu having reached the heaven governed by Indra. I am curious to know about the future in store for this Kaurava king.”

In reply, sage Narada continued. “When I was with Indra recently this topic came up for discussion there. There was good appreciation for the austerities performed by Dhritarashtra and the Kaurava queens. Then, Indra told me that three more years were left in the life of Dhritarashtra on earth. Then, he would reach the abode of Kubera, the god of riches.” All were thrilled to hear the auspicious news.

Then, sage Narada and his disciples took leave of his hosts in the hermitage.