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.
सुविस्रब्धः पाण्डुपुत्रान्सह मात्रा प्रवासय। वारणावतमद्यैव यथा यान्ति यथा कुरु
With full confidence, send the sons of Pandu along with their mother into exile; let them go to Varanavata today, just as you wish, O Kuru.
विनिद्रकरणं घोरं हृदि शल्यमिवार्पितम्। शोकपावकमुद्भूतं कर्मणैतेन नाशय
By this act, destroy the terrible, sleepless torment that has arisen like a thorn lodged in your heart, the fire of grief that has flared up.
वैशंपायन उवाच
Vaishampayana said:
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा सर्वास्तु प्रकृतीः शनैः। अर्थमानप्रदानाभ्यां संजहार सहानुजः। `युयुत्सुमपनीयैकं धार्तराष्ट्रं सहोदरम्
Then King Duryodhana, together with his brothers, gradually won over all the people by giving wealth and honor, and separated Yuyutsu, his own brother, from the sons of Dhritarashtra.
धृतराष्ट्रप्रयुक्तास्तु केचित्कुशलमन्त्रिणः। कथयाञ्चक्रिरे रम्यं नगरं वारणावतम्
Some clever counselors, acting on Dhritarashtra's orders, began to praise the beautiful city of Varanavata.
अयं समाजः सुमहान्रमणीयतमो भुवि। उपस्थितः पशुपतेर्नगरे वारणावते
This assembly is vast and most delightful on earth, gathered in the city of the Lord of Beasts, Varanavata.
सर्वरत्नसमाकीर्णे पुण्यदेशे मनोरमे। इत्येवं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वचनाच्चक्रिरे कथाः
They spoke thus, repeating Dhritarashtra's words, describing Varanavata as a sacred and charming place, filled with all precious gems.
कथ्यमाने तथा रम्ये नगरे वारणावते। गमने पाण्डुपुत्राणां जज्ञे तत्र मतिर्नृप
As they continued to speak of the beautiful city of Varanavata, the thought arose there in the king's mind about sending the sons of Pandu.
यदा त्वमन्यत नृपो जातकौतूहला इति। उवाचैतानेत्य तदा पाण्डवानम्बिकासुतः
When the king noticed their growing curiosity, the son of Ambika then called the Pandavas and spoke to them as follows.
अधीतानि च शास्त्राणि युष्माभिरिह कृत्स्नशः। अस्त्राणि च तथा द्रोणाद्गौतमाच्च शरद्वतः
You have thoroughly studied all the scriptures here, and have learned the use of weapons from Drona and from Gautama's son, Sharadvata.
कृतकृत्या भवन्तस्तु सर्वविद्याविशारदाः। सोऽहमेवं गते ताताश्चिन्तयामि समन्ततः। रक्षणे व्यवहारे च राज्यस्य सततं हिते
You have accomplished your duties and mastered every branch of knowledge; so now, my sons, I am always thinking in every way about your protection, conduct, and the constant welfare of the kingdom.
ममैते पुरुषा नित्यं कथयन्ति पुनःपुनः। रमणीयतमं लोके नगरं वारणावतम्
My people are always telling me, again and again, that the city of Varanavata is the most delightful place in the world.
ते ताता यदि मन्यध्वमुत्सवं वारणावते। सगणाः सान्वयाश्चैव विहरध्वं यथाऽमराः
So, my sons, if you wish, go to the festival at Varanavata with your followers and relatives, and enjoy yourselves there like the gods.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च रत्नानि गायनेभ्यश्च सर्वशः। प्रयच्छध्वं यथाकामं देवा इव सुवर्चसः
Give gifts of gems to the Brahmanas and to all the singers as you desire, just as the radiant gods do.
कंचित्कालं विहृत्यैवमनुभूय परां मुदम्। इदं वै हास्तिनपुरं सुखिनः पुनरेष्यथ
After spending some time there and experiencing the highest joy, you will return happily to this Hastinapura.
निवसध्वं च तत्रैव संरक्षणपरायणाः। वैलक्षण्यं न वै तत्र भविष्यति परंतपाः
Stay there, devoted to your own protection; O subduers of foes, there will be no disadvantage for you there.
धृतराष्ट्रस्य तं काममनुबुध्य युधिष्ठिरः। आत्मनश्चासहायत्वं तथेति प्रत्युवाच तम्
Understanding Dhritarashtra's intention and his own helplessness, Yudhishthira replied to him, 'So be it.'
ततो भीष्मं शान्तनवं विदुरं च महामतिम्। द्रोणं च बाह्लिकं चैव सोमदत्तं च कौरवम्
Then he approached Bhishma, son of Shantanu, Vidura the wise, Drona, Bahlika, and Somadatta of the Kaurava line.
कृपमाचार्यपुत्रं च भूरिश्रवसमेव च। मान्यानन्यानमात्यांश्च ब्राह्मणांश्च तपोधनान्
He honored Kripa, the son of the teacher, and Bhurishravas as well, and other respected ministers, and the Brahmins rich in austerity.
पुरोहितांश्च पौत्रांश्च गान्धारीं च यशस्विनीम्। `सर्वा मातॄरुपस्पृष्ट्वा विदुरस्य च योषितः।' युधिष्ठिरः शनैर्दीन उवाचेदं वचस्तदा
He also honored the family priests, grandsons, and the illustrious Gandhari; after touching the feet of all the mothers and Vidura’s wives, Yudhishthira, sorrowful, slowly spoke these words.