Text 44] The Pandavas Retire Timely 825
affairs. He had no dependence on his brothers who had all along been
helping him. This stage of complete independence from everything is also
called the purified stage of fearlessness.
TEXT 44
Sarat aT MAT TATA AeA: |
ee me oe STAT AA Ta: NVI
udicim pravivesasarm
gata-purvam mahatmabhih
hrdi brahma param dhyayan
navarteta yato gatah

udicim—the northern side; pravivesasam—those who wanted to enter
there; gata-piirvam—the path accepted by his forefathers; maha-atmabhih—
by the broad-minded; hrdi—within the heart; brahma—the Supreme; param
—Godhead; dhyayan— constantly thinking of; na avarteta— passed his days;
yatah—wherever; gatah—went.

TRANSLATION
He then started towards the North, treading the path which was
accepted by his forefathers and great men, to devote himself completely
to the thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And he lived in
that way wherever he went.
PURPORT

It is understood from this verse that Maharaja Yudhisthira followed in
the footsteps of his forefathers and the great devotees of the Lord. We
have discussed many times before that the system of varnasrama-dharma,
as it was strictly followed by the inhabitants of the world, specifically by
those who inhabited the Aryavarta province of the world, emphasizes the
importance of leaving all household connections at a certain stage of life.
The training and education was so imparted, and thus a respectable person
like Maharaja Yudhisthira must leave all family connection for self-
realization and going back to Godhead. No king or respectable gentleman
would continue family life till the end because that was considered suicidal
