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.
शृणु विस्तरशो राजन्वदतो मे परन्तप। दाहं जतुगृहस्यैतत्पाण्डवानां च मोक्षणम्
Hear in detail, O king, as I speak: the burning of the house of lac and the escape of the Pandavas.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा धृतराष्ट्रमभाषत। पाण्डवेभ्यो भयं नः स्यात्तान्विवासयतां भवान्। निपुणेनाभ्युपायेन नगरं वारणावतम्
Then King Duryodhana spoke to Dhritarashtra: ‘Let there be no fear for us from the Pandavas; let them be exiled by you, by some skillful means, from the city of Varanavata.’
धृतराष्ट्रस्तु पुत्रेण श्रुत्वा वचनमीरितम्। मुहूर्तमिव संचिन्त्य दुर्योधनमथाब्रवीत्
But Dhritarashtra, having heard the words spoken by his son, reflected for a moment and then addressed Duryodhana.
धर्मनित्यः सदा पाण्डुस्तथा धर्मपरायणः। सर्वेषु ज्ञातिषु तथा मयि त्वासीद्विशेषतः
Pandu was always devoted to righteousness, and so was he dedicated to the path of virtue; among all our kinsmen, and especially towards me, he was thus inclined.
नासौ किंचिद्विजानाति भोजनादिचिकीर्षितम्। निवेदयति नित्यं हि मम राज्यं धृतव्रतः
He never undertook anything, even matters like meals, without informing me; steadfast in his vows, he always reported to me about the kingdom.
तस्य पुत्रो यथा पाण्डुस्तथा धर्मपरायणः। गुणवान्लोकविख्यातः पौरवाणां सुसंमतः
His son, just like Pandu, is devoted to righteousness, possessed of virtues, renowned among people, and highly esteemed among the Kurus.
स कथं शक्यतेऽस्माभिरपाकर्तुं बलादितः। पितृपैतामाहाद्राज्यात्ससहायो विशेषतः
How can we possibly remove him from the ancestral kingdom by force, especially when he has strong allies?
भृता हि पाण्डुनाऽमात्या बलं च सततं भृतम्। भृताः पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च तेषामपि विशेषतः
For the ministers were maintained by Pandu, and the army was always kept by him; and especially, their sons and grandsons too were supported.
ते पुरा सत्कृतास्तात पाण्डुना नागरा जनाः। कथं युधिष्ठिरस्यार्थे न नो हन्युः सबान्धवान्
Those citizens and townspeople, O dear one, were formerly honored by Pandu; how would they not slay us along with our kin for the sake of Yudhishthira?
एवमेतन्मया तात भावितं दोषमात्मनि। दृष्ट्वा प्रकृतयः सर्वा अर्थमानेन पूजिताः
Thus, O dear one, I have considered this fault as my own; seeing that all the people, honored with wealth, are devoted to him.