I have lived under your roof for many years. You and all your people
haveserved me with unstinted devotion. You must permit me now to fulfil my wish and let me
go."
Having thus spoken to Yudhishthira, who stood with clasped hands and
trembling with agitation, Dhritarashtra turned to Vidura and Kripacharya, "I beg of
you to comfort the king and make him grant my prayer. My mind is fixed on the forest.
I am unable to speak any more. I am feel- ing dry in my throat.
Perhaps, it is due to age. I have talked too much. I am tired." Saying this, he
leaned helplessly on Gandhari and swooned.
Yudhishthira was unable to bear this dis- tress of the grand old man,
who bad possessed the sinews of an elephant and had had strength enough to crush the metal
figure of Bhima into powder.
How lean he had become now and emacia ted, with his bones showing
through his skin, piteously leaning senseless on Gandhari like one destitute?