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.
रमणीये जनाकीर्णे नगरे वारणावते। सगणास्तत्र यास्यामो धृतराष्ट्रस्य शासनात्
In the beautiful, populous city of Varanavata, with our companions, we shall go there by the command of Dhritarashtra.
प्रसन्नमनसः सर्वे पुण्या वाचो विमुञ्चत। आशीर्भिर्बृहितानस्मान्न पापं प्रसहिष्यते
Let all of you, with cheerful hearts, utter auspicious words; with your blessings bestowed upon us, no evil will overpower us.
एवमुक्तास्तु ते सर्वे पाण्डुपुत्रेण कौरवाः। प्रसन्नवदना भूत्वा तेऽन्ववर्तन्त पाण्डवान्
Thus addressed by the son of Pandu, all the Kauravas, their faces bright with joy, followed after the Pandavas.
स्वस्त्यस्तु वः पथि सदा भूतेभ्यश्चैव सर्वशः। मा च वोस्त्वशुभं किंचित्सर्वशः पाण्डुनन्दनाः
May there always be well-being for you on your journey, from all beings everywhere; let no misfortune at all befall you, O sons of Pandu.
ततः कृतस्वस्त्ययना राज्यलाभाय पार्थिवाः। कृत्वा सर्वाणि कार्याणि प्रययुर्वारणावतम्
Then, after performing the rites for auspiciousness and for the attainment of sovereignty, the kings, having completed all their tasks, set out for Varanavata.
धृतराष्ट्रप्रयुक्तेषु पाण्डुपुत्रेषु भारत। दुर्योधनः परं हर्षमगच्छत्स दुरात्मवान्
When the sons of Pandu, sent by Dhritarashtra, departed, Duryodhana, wicked of heart, felt great joy.
ततः सुबलपुत्रश्च कर्णदुर्योधनावपि। दहने सह पुत्रायाः कुन्त्या मतिमकुर्वत। मन्त्रयित्वा स तैः सार्धं दुरात्मा धृतराष्ट्रजः
Then the son of Subala, as well as Karna and Duryodhana, together plotted the burning of Kunti and her sons; after conferring with them, the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra—
स पुरोचनमेकान्तमानीय भरतर्षभ। गृहीत्वा दक्षिणे पाणौ सचिवं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
He summoned Purochana in private, O best of the Bharatas, and, taking him by the right hand, spoke these words to his confidant:
ममेयं वसुसंपूर्णा पुरोचन वसुन्धरा। यथैव भविता तात तथा त्वं द्रष्टुमर्हसि
This land, O Purochana, is filled with wealth and belongs to me; as I desire it to be, so you must see to it.
न हि मे कश्चिदन्योऽस्ति विश्वासिकतरस्त्वया। सहायो येन सन्धाय मन्त्रयेयं यथा त्वया
For there is no one else in whom I have greater trust than you; you alone are my ally, with whom I can consult as I do with you.