संरक्ष तात मन्त्रं च सपत्नांश्च ममोद्धर। निपुणेनाभ्युपायेन यद्ब्रवीमि तथा कुरु
Protect, my friend, both this secret and me from my rivals; by a skillful means, do as I instruct you.
पाण्डवा धृतराष्ट्रेण प्रेषिता वारणावतम्। उत्सवे विहरिष्यन्ति धृतराष्ट्रस्य शासनात्
The Pandavas, sent by Dhritarashtra, will go to Varanavata and enjoy the festival, by the order of Dhritarashtra.
स त्वं रासभयुक्तेन स्यन्दनेनाशुगामिना। वारणावतमद्यैव यथा यासि तया कुरु
So you, with a chariot drawn by donkeys, swift in movement, must go to Varanavata today itself—do as I say.
तत्र गत्वा चतुःशालं गृहं परमसंवृतम्। नगरोपान्तमाश्रित्य कारयेथा महाधनम्
There, having arrived, build a great and well-concealed house with four halls, situated at the edge of the city, and make it rich in treasure.
शणसर्जरसादीनि यानि द्रव्याणि कानिचित्। आग्नेयान्युत सन्तीह तानि तत्र प्रदापय
All the materials here that are flammable—such as hemp, resin, and others—bring those there and store them.
बल्वजेन च संमिश्रं मधूच्छिष्टेन चैव हि।' सर्पिस्तैलवसाभिश्च लाक्षया चाप्यनल्पया। मृत्तिकां मिश्रयित्वा त्वं लेपं कुड्येषु दापय
Mix together balvaja, honey residue, clarified butter, oil, animal fat, and a great quantity of lac; blend them with clay and apply this mixture as plaster to the walls.
शणं तैलं घृतं चैव जतु दारूणि चैव हि। तस्मिन्वेश्मनि सर्वाणि निक्षिपेथाः समन्ततः
Place flax, oil, ghee, resin, and wood throughout that house in every direction.
लाक्षाशममधूच्छिष्टवेष्टितानि मृदापि च। लेपयित्वा गुरूण्याशु दारुयन्त्राणि दापय
Cover the heavy wooden mechanisms swiftly with lac, hemp, honey residue, and clay.
यथा च तन्न पश्येरन्परीक्षन्तोऽपि पाण्डवाः। आग्नेयमिति तत्कार्यमपि चान्येऽपि मानवाः
Arrange it so that even the Pandavas, examining it, do not perceive its fiery nature, nor do other people.
वेश्मन्येवं कृते तत्र कृत्वा तान्परमार्चितान्। वासयेथाः पाण्डवेयान्कुन्तीं च ससुहृज्जनाम्
After preparing the house in this way and honoring them greatly, you should lodge the Pandavas, Kunti, and their companions there.
आसनानि च दिव्यानि यानानि शयनानि न। निघातव्यानि पाण्डूनां यथा तुष्येच्च मे पिता
Provide them with splendid seats, vehicles, and beds, but ensure these are destructive for the Pandavas, so that my father will be pleased.
यथा च तन्न जानन्ति नगरे वारणावते। `यथा रमेरन्विस्रब्धा नगरे वारणावते।' तथा सर्वं विधातव्यं यावत्कालस्य पर्ययः
Arrange everything so that neither the people of Varanavata nor the Pandavas themselves know, and so they live carefree in the city until the appointed time.
ज्ञात्वा च तान्सुविश्वस्ताञ्शयानानकुतोभयान्। अग्निस्त्वया ततो देयो द्वारतस्तस्य वेश्मनः
Once you see them fully trusting, sleeping without fear, then you must set fire to the house from the door.
दग्धानेवं स्वके गेहे दाहिताः पाण्डवा इति। न गर्हयेयुरस्मान्वै पाण्डवार्थाय कर्हिचित्
When the Pandavas are burned in their own home in this way, people will say they were burned, and no one will ever blame us for the sake of the Pandavas.
स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय कौरवाय पुरोचनः। प्रायाद्रासभयुक्तेन स्यन्दनेनाशुगामिना
Purocana, having agreed to this, departed for the Kaurava with a swift-moving chariot drawn by mules.
स गत्वा त्वरितं राजन्दुर्योधनमते स्थितः। यथोक्तं राजपुत्रेण सर्वं चक्रे पुरोचनः
Arriving quickly, Purocana carried out everything as instructed by the prince Duryodhana.
तेषां तु पाण्डवेयानां गृहं रौद्रमकल्पयत्
He prepared a dreadful house for the Pandavas.
पाण्डवास्तु रथान्युक्तान्सदश्वैरनिलोपमैः। आरोहमाणा भीष्मस्य पादौ जगृहुरार्तवत्
The Pandavas, mounting chariots yoked with steeds swift as the wind, reverently touched Bhishma's feet.
राज्ञश्च धृतराष्ट्रस्य द्रोणस्य च महात्मनः। अन्येषां चैव वृद्धानां कृपस्य विदुरस्य च
They also paid respects to King Dhritarashtra, the great-souled Drona, and to the elders, Kripa and Vidura.
एवं सर्वान्कुरून्वृद्धानभिवाद्य यतव्रताः। समालिङ्ग्य समानान्वै बालैश्चाप्यभिवादिताः
Thus, having greeted all the elders of the Kurus with discipline, they embraced their equals and were greeted by the children.
सर्वा मातॄस्तथाऽऽपृच्छ्य कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणम्। प्रकृतीरपि सर्वाश्च प्रययुर्वारणावतम्
They took leave of all their mothers, circumambulated them, and departed for Varanavata along with all their people.
विदुरश्च महाप्राज्ञस्तथाऽन्ये कुरुपुङ्गवाः। पौराश्च पुरुषव्याघ्रानन्वीयुः शोककर्शिताः
Vidura, the wise one, and other eminent Kurus, as well as the citizens, followed the tiger-like men, afflicted by sorrow.
तत्र केचिद्ब्रुवन्ति स्म ब्राह्मणा निर्भयास्तदा। दीनान्दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुसुतानतीव भृशदुःखिताः
There, some fearless Brahmins spoke, seeing the Pandava sons so distressed and deeply afflicted.
विषमं पश्यते राजा सर्वथा स सुमन्दधीः। कौरव्यो धृतराष्ट्रस्तु न च धर्मं प्रपश्यति
The king, with very poor judgment, acts unjustly in every way; Kaurava Dhritarashtra does not see righteousness.
न हि पापमपापात्मा रोचयिष्यति पाण्डवः। भीमो वा बलिनां श्रेष्ठः कौन्तेयो वा धनञ्जयः
For the pure-hearted Pandava will never choose evil, nor Bhima, the foremost of the strong, nor Arjuna, son of Kunti.
कुत एव महात्मानौ माद्रीपुत्रौ करिष्यतः। तान्राज्यं पितृतः प्राप्तान्धृतराष्ट्रो न मृष्यति
How much less, then, would the noble sons of Madri act so? Dhritarashtra cannot tolerate that they have inherited the kingdom from their father.
अधर्म्यमिदमत्यन्तं कथं भीष्मोऽनुमन्यते। विवास्यमानानस्थाने नगरे योऽभिमन्यते
How is it that Bhishma approves this utterly unrighteous act—he who supports the expulsion of those who have rightful place in the city?
पितेव हि नृपोऽस्माकमभूच्छान्तनवः पुरा। विचित्रवीर्यो राजर्षिः पाण्डुश्च कुरुनन्दनः
For Shantanu, the king, was once like a father to us, as was the royal sage Vichitravirya and Pandu, O joy of the Kurus.
स तस्मिन्पुरुषव्याघ्रे देवभावं गते सति। राजपुत्रानिमान्बालान्धृतराष्ट्रो न मृष्यति
Now that that tiger among men has attained a divine state, Dhritarashtra cannot bear these young princes, his nephews.
वयमेतदनिच्छन्तः सर्व एव पुरोत्तमात्। गृहान्विहाय गच्छामो यत्र गन्ता युधिष्ठिरः
All of us, unwilling, shall leave our homes and follow wherever Yudhishthira goes, O best of the city-dwellers.