Dwaitavana

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Mahabharata Vanaparva Arjunaabhigamanaparva XXIII & XXIV

SriKrishna leaves for Dvaraka. After he leaves, Pandavas along with Draupadi leave for the forest on chariots. They are greeted by the illustrious Brahmanas of Kurujangala. Yudhistira the just, feels for them with fatherly affection and they also feel like sons who are bidding farewell to their father. They cry out, "Alas, O King, where are you going leaving us as orphans. You are leaving the magnificent palace and the kingdom to stand on your word. You are Dharma personified. You are true to your word. Fie on the Kauravas, Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana and Karna who are bent upon doing evil towards you." . Vibhatsu, Arjuna, consoles them saying "Yudhistira is leaving to stay in the forest for 14 years true to his words, by doing so he will be robbing the good name of the evil doers Kauravas, He is intending to uphold Dharma and show the Adharma in true light. Please return to the kingdom and approach the Sadhus and ascetics and  appraise them of our situation and let them show us the true way". On hearing this, they return to the kingdom with a heavy heart.

Yudhistira who is truthful and unwavering in his word, said to his brothers "Find a suitable place in this forest for us to stay". Arjuna replies to him "Brother, you are a virtuous man and you stand on your word. You have always attended upon rishis, ascetics, sadhus, and you have attended upon Narada, Badarayana (vyasa) and other high souled rishis. You know what is right and wrong. If you think it is right path to leave kingdom and stay in forest, we will follow you unhesitatingly. You are the guide, and mentor for us. You decided that forest is the place for us. So be it. We will gladly follow you. There is a lake inside this forest called Dwaitavana. We will stay near that place if you wish so". Yudhistira agrees to that proposal. The Pandavas along with  Draupadi enter the forest and reach Dwaitavana and rest under a tree. The place is beautiful with many trees, plants, fresh water, birds, elephants, wild animals. The siddhas in the forest, who are wearing tree barks and with matted locks, who do severe penance come there to see the King who stood for his word, and salute him. Yudhistir on his part salute them in return. Few brahmanas accompany Pandavas and settle there too. Few were well versed in Vedas. Few were doing severe penances. That place looks like Kailas upon Pandavas arrival. Yudhistir along with his brothers and Draupadi stay in the forest  just like his father Pandu.

Hari OM