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.
ध्रुवमस्मत्सहायास्ते भविष्यन्ति प्रधानतः। अर्थवर्गः सहामात्यो मत्संस्थोऽद्य महीपते
Surely, they will become his allies, especially the chief ones; the group of wealthy men with their ministers are now established with him, O king.
स भवान्पाण्डवानाशु विवासयितुमर्हति। मृदुनैवाभ्युपायेन नगरं वारणावतम्
Therefore, you ought to send the Pandavas away quickly, by gentle means, to the city of Varanavata.
यदा प्रतिष्ठितं राज्यं मयि राजन्भविष्यति। तदा कुन्ती सहापत्या पुनरेष्यति भारत
When the kingdom is firmly established in me, O king, then Kunti with her sons will return, O Bharata.
दुर्योधन ममाप्येतद्धृदि संपरिवर्तते। अभिप्रायस्य पापत्वान्नैवं तु विवृणोम्यहम्
Duryodhana, this too turns in my heart; but because of the wickedness of the intention, I do not openly declare it.
न च भीष्मो न च द्रोणो न च क्षत्ता न गौतमः। विवास्यमानान्कौन्तेयाननुमंस्यन्ति कर्हिचित्
Neither Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Vidura, nor Kripa will ever approve of the Pandavas being sent away.
समा हि कौरवेयाणां वयं ते चैव पुत्रक। नैते विषममिच्छेयुर्धर्मयुक्ता मनस्विनः
We and they, O son, are equal among the Kurus; these high-minded ones, righteous in conduct, would not wish for injustice.
ते वयं कौरवेयाणामेतेषां च महात्मनाम्। कथं न वध्यतां तात गच्छाम जगतस्तथा
We are the Kurus, and so are they, these great souls; how can we, O dear one, not be destroyed in the world by such an act?
मध्यस्थः सततं भीष्मो द्रोणपुत्रो मयि स्थितः। यतः पुत्रस्ततो द्रोणो भविता नात्र संशयः
Bhishma is always neutral, and Drona's son stands with me; but Drona will side with whomever his son supports—of this there is no doubt.
कृपः शारद्वतश्चैव यत एतौ ततो भवेत्। द्रोणं च भागिनेयं च न स त्यक्ष्यति कर्हिचित्
Kripa, son of Sharadvat, will go wherever these two go; and Drona will never abandon his nephew.
क्षत्ताऽर्थबद्धस्त्वस्माकं प्रच्छन्नं संयतः परैः। न चैकः स समर्थोऽस्मान्पाम्डवार्थेऽधिबाधितुम्
Vidura, bound to us by interest, is secretly restrained by others; but he alone is not capable of overpowering us for the sake of the Pandavas.