दैवेनोपहतं शत्रुमनुगृह्णाति यो नरः। स मृत्युमुपगृह्णाति गर्भमश्वतरी यथा
A man who supports an enemy struck down by fate embraces death, just as a she-mule that conceives brings forth her own end.
अनागतं हि बुध्येत यच्च कार्यं पुरः स्थितम्। न तु बुद्धिक्षयात्किंचिदतिक्रामेत्प्रयोजनम्
One should foresee what is yet to come and what task lies ahead; but one should not, through lack of discernment, let any purpose slip by.
उत्साहश्चापि यत्नेन कर्तव्यो भूतिमिच्छता। विभज्य देशकालौ च दैवं धर्मादयस्त्रयः। नैःश्रेयसौ तु तौ ज्ञेयौ देशकालाविति स्थितिः
Enthusiasm, too, must be exerted by one who seeks prosperity, carefully considering place and time, as well as fate and the three—duty, profit, and pleasure; but above all, place and time are to be known as the foundation of success.
तालवत्कुरुते मूलं बालः शत्रुरुपेक्षितः। गहनेऽग्निरिवोत्सृष्टः क्षिप्रं संजायते महान्
A neglected enemy, though weak, takes root like a palm tree; like a fire left in the forest, he quickly grows great.
अग्निस्तोकमिवात्मानं सन्धुक्षयति यो नरः। स वर्धमानो ग्रसते महान्तमपि संचयम्
A man who stirs himself like a small fire, even if he starts small, consumes a great accumulation as he grows.
आदावेव ददानीति प्रियं ब्रूयान्निरर्थकम्
At the very beginning, one should speak pleasant words, saying, 'I will give,' even if it is empty of substance.
आशां कालवतीं कुर्यात्कालं विघ्नेन योजयेत्। विघ्नं निमित्ततो ब्रूयान्निमित्तं वाऽपि हेतुतः
One should make hope dependent on time, and delay by means of obstacles; one should cite obstacles as reasons, or give reasons as causes.
क्षुरो भूत्वा हरेत्प्राणान्निशितः कालसाधनः। प्रतिच्छन्नो लोमहारी द्विषतां परिकर्तनः
Becoming like a razor, sharp and timely, one should take the lives of enemies; concealed, stripping away their strength, cutting down adversaries.
पाण्डवेषु यथान्यायमन्येषु च कुरूद्वह। वर्तमानो न मज्जेस्त्वं तथा कृत्यं समाचर
Just as you have conducted yourself rightly among the Pandavas and others, O best of the Kurus, so should you act in all matters, so that you do not sink.
सर्वकल्याणसंपन्नो विशिष्ट इति निश्चयः। तस्मात्त्वं पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यो रक्षात्मानं नराधिप
It is certain that one endowed with all virtues is superior; therefore, O king, protect yourself from the sons of Pandu.
भ्रातृव्या बलवन्तस्ते पाण्डुपुत्रा नराधिप। पश्चात्तापो यथा न स्यात्तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्
The sons of Pandu, O king, are your powerful rivals; let your policy be such that you do not suffer regret later.
एवमुक्त्वा संप्रतस्थे कणिकः स्वगृहं ततः। धृतराष्ट्रोऽपि कौरव्यः शोकार्तः समपद्यत
Having spoken thus, Kanika departed for his own house; and Dhritarashtra, the Kaurava, was overcome with sorrow.
कणिकस्य मतं श्रुत्वा कार्त्स्न्येन भरतर्षभ। दुर्योधनश्च कर्णश्च शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः। दुशासनचतुर्थास्ते मन्त्रयामासुरेकदा
Hearing Kanika's counsel in full, O bull among the Bharatas, Duryodhana, Karna, and Shakuni son of Subala, along with Duhshasana as the fourth, once held a council together.
ते कौरव्यमनुज्ञाप्य धृतराष्ट्रं नराधिपम्। दहने तु सपुत्रायाः कुन्त्या बुद्धिमकारयन्
Having obtained the approval of the Kaurava king Dhritarashtra, they devised a plan concerning the burning of Kunti and her sons.
तेषामिङ्गितभावज्ञो विदुरस्तत्त्वदर्शिवान्। आकारेण च तं मन्त्रं बुबुधे दुष्टचेतसाम्
Vidura, wise in discerning intentions and understanding truth, perceived by their expressions the scheme of those with evil minds.
ततो विदितवेद्यात्मा पाण्डवानां हिते रतः। पलायने मतिं चक्रे कुन्त्याः पुत्रैः सहानघः
Then, knowing what was to be known and devoted to the welfare of the Pandavas, he resolved upon escape together with Kunti’s sons, O sinless one.
ततो वातसहां नावं यन्त्रयुक्तां पताकिनीम्। ऊर्मिक्षमां दृढां कृत्वा कुन्तीमिदमुवाच ह
He then prepared a boat, sturdy, equipped with machinery, bearing a flag and able to withstand the wind, and spoke thus to Kunti.
एष जातः कुलस्यास्य कीर्तिवंशप्रणाशनः। धृतराष्ट्रः परीतात्मा धर्मं त्यजति शाश्वतम्
This Dhritarashtra, born in this lineage, has become the destroyer of its fame and line; overwhelmed in spirit, he abandons eternal righteousness.
इयं वारिपथे युक्ता तरङ्गपवनक्षमा। नौर्यया मृत्युपाशात्त्वं सपुत्रा मोक्ष्यसे शुभे
This boat, fit for the waterway and able to endure waves and wind, will free you, O auspicious one, together with your sons, from the noose of death.
तच्छ्रुत्वा व्यथिता कुन्ती पुत्रैः सह यशस्विनी। नावमारुह्य गङ्गायां प्रययौ भरतर्षभ
Hearing this, Kunti, renowned and distressed, together with her sons, boarded the boat and departed upon the Ganga, O bull among Bharatas.
ततो विदुरवाक्येन नावं विक्षिप्य पाण्डवाः। धनं चादाय तैर्दत्तमरिष्टं प्राविशन्वनम्
Then, following Vidura’s words, the Pandavas launched the boat, took the wealth given to them, and entered the forest unharmed.
निषादी पञ्चपुत्रा तु जातेषु तत्र वेश्मनि। कारणाभ्यागता दग्धा सह पुत्रैरनागसा
There, in that house, the Nishada woman and her five sons, who had come for a reason, were burned together, though innocent.
स च म्लेच्छाधमः पापो दग्धस्तत्र पुरोचनः। वञ्चिताश्च दुरात्मानो धार्तराष्ट्राः सहानुगाः
And there, the wicked Purochana, lowest among outcasts, was burned; and the evil-hearted Dhartarashtras, along with their followers, were deceived.
अविज्ञाता महात्मनो जनानामक्षतास्तथा। जनन्या सह कौन्तेया मुक्ता विदुरमन्त्रिताः
Unknown to the people, the great-souled Kaunteyas, unharmed, together with their mother, were freed by Vidura’s counsel.
ततस्तस्मिन्पुरे लोका नगरे वारणावते। दृष्ट्वा जतुगृहं दग्धमन्वशोचन्त दुःखिताः
Then, in that city of Varanavata, the people, seeing the burned house of lac, grieved in sorrow.
प्रेषयामासू राजानं यथावृत्तं निवेदितुम्। संवृतस्ते महान्कामः पाण्डवान्दग्धवानसि
They sent someone to inform the king of what had happened; the great desire was fulfilled, thinking the Pandavas had been burned.
सकामो भव कौरव्य भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं सपुत्रकः। तच्छ्रुत्वा धृतराष्ट्रस्तु सहपुत्रेण शोचयन्
‘Be satisfied, O Kaurava, enjoy the kingdom with your sons!’ Hearing this, Dhritarashtra grieved together with his son.
प्रेतकार्याणि च तथा चकार सह बान्धवैः। पाण्डवानां तथा क्षत्ता भीष्मश्च कुरुसत्तमः
He performed the funeral rites together with his relatives for the Pandavas, as did the charioteer and Bhishma, best of the Kurus.
पुनर्विस्तरशः श्रोतुमिच्छामि द्विजसत्तम। दाहं जतुगृहस्यैव पाण्डवानां च मोक्षणम्
Again, O best of twice-born, I wish to hear in detail the burning of the house of lac and the escape of the Pandavas.
सुनृशंसमिदं कर्म तेषां क्रूरोपसंहितम्। कीर्तयस्व यथावृत्तं परं कौतूहलं मम
This act, cruelly devised yet compassionate in outcome, tell me as it happened; my curiosity is very great.