SB 1.13.30 (1965)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 30
Patim prayantam subalasya putri Pativrata cha anujagama sadhvi Himalayam nastyadanda praharsam Manaswinam iva satsampraharah.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Patim—her husband, Prayantam—while leaving home, Subalasya—of king Suvala, Putri—worthy daughter, Pativrata—devoted to her husband, Cha—also, Anujagama—followed, Sadhvi—the chaste, Himalayam—towards the Himalayan mountain, Nastyadanda—one who has accepted the rod of renounced order, Praharsam—object of delight, Manaswinam—of the great fighters, Iva—legitimate, Satsampraharah—good lashing.
TRANSLATION
Gandhari who was the daughter of King Subala of Kandahar (or Gandhar) seeing that her husband was going to Himalayan mountains the delight of those who have accepted the rod of renounced order like a great fighter who accepts legitimate good lashing from the enemy, the gentle chaste lady followed him.
PURPORT
Soubaline or Gandhari daughter of King Subala and wife of King Dhritarastra was an ideal lady as a devoted wife to her husband. The Vedic civilization specially prepares chaste and devoted wives of whom Gandhari is one amongst many such ladies mentioned in the history. Laxmiji Sitadevi was also a daughter of great King but she followed her husband Lord Ramachandra in the forest. Similarly as a woman she could remain at home or at her father's house but as a chaste and gentle lady she followed her husband without any consideration. Instruction of renounced order of life was imparted to Dhritarastra by Vidura and Gandhari was by the side of her husband. But she did not make any decision herself but followed the decison of her husband. Her husband also did not ask her to follow him because King Dhritarastra was at that time fully determined like a great warrior who faces all kinds of dangers in the battlefield. He had no more any attraction for so called wife or relatives and he decided to start alone but as a chaste lady Gandhari decided to follow her husband till the last moment. Maharaj Dhritarastra accepted the order of vanaprastha life and at this stage the wife is allowed to remain as Voluntary servitor: but in the Sannyas stage no wife can stay with her former husband. A Sannyasi is considered to be civil-dead man and therefore the wife becomes a civil-widow without any connection with her former husband. Maharaj Dhritarastra did not deny his faithful wife and she followed her husband at her own risk.
The Sannyasins accept a rod as the sign of renounced order of life. There are two types of Sannysins. Those who follow the Mayavad Philosophy headed by Sripad Shankaracharya accept only one rod (Ekadanda) but those who follow the Vaishnavite Philosophy accept three combined rods (Tridanda). The Mayavadi Sanyasins are known as Ekadandi Swami whereas the Vaishanava Sannyasins are known as Triandi Swami or more distinctly Tridandi Goswamins in order to keep distinction from the Malavad philosoply. The Ekadandi Swamis are mostly fond of Himalayas but the Vaisnava Sannyasins are fond of Vrindaban and Puri. The Vaishnava Sannyasins are Narottamas whereas the Mayavadi Sannysins are Dheeras. Maharaj Dhritarastra was advised to follow the Dheeras because at that stage it was difficult for him to become a Narottama.