प्रजारक्षणदक्षश्च शत्रुग्रहणशक्तिमान्। विजितारिर्महायुद्धे प्रचण्डो मानतत्परः ।। 30
He was skilled in protecting the people, capable of capturing enemies, conqueror of foes in great battles, fierce, and devoted to honor.
नरनारीमनोह्लादी धीरो वाग्मी रणप्रियः। पुण्यकर्माऽर्थकामानां भाजनं मनुजोत्तमः ।। 31
He delighted men and women, was steadfast, eloquent, fond of battle, performer of virtuous deeds, and a worthy recipient of wealth and desires, best among men.
स हतो निशि गन्धैर्वः स्त्रीनिमित्तं नराधिप। अमृष्यमाणो दुष्टात्मा निशीथे सह सोदरैः । सुहृदश्चास्य निहता योधाश्च प्रहरैर्हताः ।। 32
That wicked-hearted one, unable to endure, was slain at night by the Gandharvas for the sake of a woman, along with his brothers; his friends and warriors were also killed in the attack.
गन्धर्वाणां च महिषी काचिदस्ति नितम्बिनी। सैरन्ध्री नाम तां दृप्तो दुष्टात्माऽकामयद्बली ।। 33
There is a certain queen among the Gandharvas, shapely-hipped, named Sairandhri; that arrogant, wicked-hearted, and powerful man desired her.
इत्येवं श्रुतमस्माभिर्गन्धर्वैर्निहतो निशि ।। 34
Thus we have heard that he was slain at night by the Gandharvas.
बान्धवैर्बहुभिः सार्धं कीचको निहतो यतः। अद्यप्रभृति राजेन्द्र पाण्डवान्वेषणं प्रति। चारांश्च सर्वतश्चर्तुं प्रेषयेति मतिर्हि नः ।। 35
Since Kichaka was slain along with many relatives, O king, from today onward, regarding the search for the Pandavas, our opinion is to send spies everywhere.
निहतो निशि गन्धर्वैर्दुष्टात्मा भ्रातृभिः सह । एतावच्छ्रुतमस्माभिर्भद्रं तेऽस्तु नराधिप ।। 36
That wicked-hearted one was slain at night by the Gandharvas along with his brothers; this much we have heard. May good fortune be yours, O king.
प्रियमेतदुपश्रुत्य शत्रूणां च पराभवम् । कृतकृत्यश्च कौरव्य विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम् ।। 37
Having heard this pleasing news and the defeat of the enemies, O Kaurava, consider your task accomplished and decide what is to be done next.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा श्रुत्वा तेषां वचस्तदा। चिरमन्तर्मना भूत्वा इदमाह सभासदः ।। 1
Then King Duryodhana, having heard their words, became thoughtful for a long time and spoke this to the assembly.
अशक्यं खलु कार्यस्य गतिं ज्ञातुं हि तत्वतः । तस्मात्सर्वे परीक्षध्वं क्वनु स्युः पाण्डवा गताः ।। 2
Indeed, it is impossible to truly know the course of this matter; therefore, all of you should investigate where the Pandavas might have gone.
अल्पावशिष्टः कालस्तु गतो भूयिष्ठ एव च। तेषामज्ञातचर्यायामस्मिन्वर्षे त्रयोदशे ।। 3
Only a little time remains, and most of the thirteenth year has passed in their unknown exile.
अपि वर्षस्य शेषं ते ह्यतीयुरिह पाण्डवाः। निवृत्तसमयास्ते हि सत्यव्रतपरायणाः ।। 4
The Pandavas have surely completed the remainder of the year here; their period is over, for they are devoted to truth and vows.
क्षरन्त इव नागेन्द्राः सर्वे ह्याशीविषोपमाः । दुःखाद्भवेयुः संरब्धाः कौरवान्प्रति ते ध्रुवम् ।। 5
Like great serpents, all of them, fierce as venomous snakes, will certainly become enraged against the Kauravas out of suffering.
विज्ञातव्या मनुष्येन्द्रास्तर्कया सुप्रणीतया। निपुणैश्चारपुरुषैः प्राज्ञैर्दक्षैः सुसंवृतैः ।। 6
These kings must be discovered by careful reasoning and by skilled, wise, and discreet spies.
अज्ञातसमये ज्ञाताः कृच्छ्ररूपसमाश्रिताः। प्रविशेयुर्जितक्रोधास्तावदेव पुनर्वनम् ।। 7
If they are found during their time of concealment, having endured hardship, they will return to the forest, their anger subdued.
तस्मात्क्षिप्रं विचिन्वध्वं यथा चात्यन्तमव्ययम्। राज्यं निर्द्वन्द्वमव्यग्रं निःसपत्नं चिरं भवेत् ।। 8
Therefore, search quickly so that the kingdom may remain forever undivided, untroubled, and free from enemies.
दुर्योधनेनैवमुक्ते वचनेऽतीव दुःखिना। ततः कर्णोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं सत्यधर्मार्थसंयुतम् ।। 9
When Duryodhana spoke these words in great distress, Karna then spoke a statement filled with truth, righteousness, and purpose.
एते पुनर्न गच्छन्तु अन्ये गच्छन्तु भारत । शीघ्रवृत्ता नरा योग्या निपुणाश्छन्नचारिणः ।। 10
Let these men not go again, but let others depart, O Bharata; let swift, capable, and skilled spies, adept at moving in disguise, go.
चरन्तु देशान्विविधान्स्फीताञ्जनपदाकुलान् । तत्र गोष्ठीषु रम्यासु सिद्धा ब्राह्मणरूपिणः ।। 11
Let them roam various regions, prosperous and crowded with people; among delightful gatherings, disguised as accomplished Brahmins.
परिवाहेषु तीर्थेषु विविधेष्वाकरेषु च। अन्वेष्टव्या मनुष्येन्द्र पाण्डवाश्छन्नचारिणः ।। 12
In crossings, at sacred places, and in various mines, O king, the Pandavas moving in disguise must be sought.
नदीकुञ्जेषु तीर्थेषु ग्रामेषु नगरेषु च। आश्रमेषु च रम्येषु पर्वतेषु गुहासु च ।। 13
In river groves, at sacred sites, in villages and cities, in pleasant hermitages, on mountains and in caves.
विज्ञातव्या मनुष्येन्द्र तर्कया सुविनूतया । विविधैस्तत्परैः सम्यङ्विपुणैस्तज्ज्ञसंमतैः ।। 14
They must be discovered, O king, by well-guided reasoning, by various experts, skilled and approved by those knowledgeable.
अथाग्रजानन्तरजो भ्रातुः प्रियहिते रतः। ज्येष्ठं दुःशासनस्तत्र भ्राता भ्रातरमब्रवीत् ।। 15
Then Duhshasana, devoted to his elder brother's welfare, spoke to his elder brother there.
येषु नः प्रत्ययो राजंश्चारेषु मनुजाधिप। ते यान्तु दत्तदेया वै भूयस्तान्परिमार्गितुम् ।। 16
Those in whom we have confidence, O king, among the spies, should be sent, giving them rewards, to search further.
यदाह कर्णो राजेन्द्र सर्वमेतदवेक्ष्यताम् । यथोद्दिष्टं चराः सर्वे मृगयन्तु यतस्ततः ।। 17
As Karna has said, O king, let all this be observed; let all the spies search as directed, wherever possible.
घ्राणैः पश्यन्ति पशवो वेदैरेव द्विजोत्तमाः। चारैः पश्यन्ति राजानश्चक्षुर्भ्यामितरे जनाः ।। 18
Animals see with their noses, Brahmins with the Vedas, kings with spies, and others with their eyes.
यथोक्ताश्चारपुरुषा मृगयन्तु पुनःपुनः । एते चान्ये च बहवो देशांश्च नगराणि च ।। 19
Let the appointed spies search again and again, both these and many others, through the regions and the cities.
न हि तेषां गतिर्वासः प्रवृत्तिर्वोपलभ्यते। अत्यन्तं वा निगूढास्ते पारं वोर्मिमतो गताः ।। 20
For neither their movements, nor their dwelling, nor any information about them can be found; they are completely concealed, as if they have crossed to the far shore of the ocean.
व्यालैर्वाऽपि महारण्ये भक्षिताः शूरमानिनः। द्वीपं वा परमं प्राप्ता गिरिदुर्गवनेष्वपि ।। 21
Perhaps, boasting of their valor, they have been devoured by wild beasts in the great forest, or have reached some distant island, or are in mountain fortresses and woods.
हीनदर्पा निराशास्ते भक्षिता वाऽपि राक्षसैः । अथवा विषमं प्राप्य विनष्टाः शाश्वतीः समाः ।। 22
Stripped of pride and hope, they may have been eaten by demons, or, having reached some perilous place, perished for countless years.