Mahabharata – 206
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                     Aadivamsavatarana Parva

Satyvati left for the woods on the advice of Vyasa. Seeing the mournful atmosphere and the broken – hearted citizens of Hastinapura the great Vyasa, said to his nearly senseless mother Satyavati out of deep grief --- Mother, our days of happiness have gone by and days of misfortune are come. Sin begins to increase day by day. The world has lost her charm of youth. The kingdom of the Kauravas will no longer continue on the path of righteousness because of the wrong-doing and oppression. By going to the woods, devote yourself to meditation and Yoga. Henceforth the society will be filled with dishonesty and wrong. Good work will cease. Do not witness in this old age the end of your race. Let it be so said Satyavati and, entered the inner apartments. She addressed  her daughter-in-law and said ---Oh Ambika ! I heard that in consequence of the deeds of your grandsons Duryodhana and others, this Bharata dynasty and its subjects will perish. If it suits you, let us go to the forest along with this mournful Ambalika who has lost her son. Ambika replied --- Let it be so. Then the well behaved queen Satyavati taking Bhishma in confidence, proceeded to the forest along with her daughter in laws Ambika and Ambalika.On reaching the woods with her two daughters-in-law, she became engaged in profound meditation, and in course of time leaving their mortal bodies ascended to the heaven.