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.
तांस्तथा वादिनः पौरान्दुःकितान्दुःखकर्शितः। उवाच मनसा ध्यात्वा धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः
To those citizens, speaking thus in sorrow and worn by grief, King Yudhishthira, pondering in his mind, spoke these words.
पिता मान्यो गुरुः श्रेष्ठो यदाह पृथिवीपतिः। अशङ्कमानैस्तत्कार्यमस्माभिरिति नो व्रतम्
The king, our father, is to be honored, the highest teacher; whatever he commands, we must do without hesitation—such is our vow.
भवन्तः सुहृदोऽस्माकं यात कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्। प्रतिनन्द्य तथाऽऽशीर्भिर्निवर्तध्वं यथागृहम्
You are our friends; after circling us in respect and blessing us, return to your homes.
यदा तु कार्यमस्माकं भवद्भिरुपपत्स्यते। तदा करिष्यथास्माकं प्रियाणि च हितानि च
When the time comes that we need your help, then you shall do for us what is dear and beneficial.
एवमुक्तास्तदा पौराः कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम्। आशीर्भिश्चाभिनन्द्यैताञ्जग्मुर्नगरमेव हि
Thus addressed, the citizens circumambulated them, blessed them, and then returned to the city.
पौरेषु विनिवृत्तेषु विदुरः सर्वधर्मवित्। बोधयन्पाण्डवश्रेष्ठमिदंवचनमब्रवीत्
When the citizens had departed, Vidura, knower of all dharma, spoke these words to the foremost Pandava, to instruct him.
प्राज्ञः प्राज्ञं प्रलापज्ञः प्रलापज्ञमिदं वचः। यो जानाति परप्रज्ञां नीतिशास्त्रानुसारिणीम्। विज्ञायेह तथा कुर्यादापदं निस्तरेद्यथा
The wise man speaks to the wise, the eloquent to the eloquent; one who knows another’s mind, following the science of polity, should act accordingly, so as to overcome adversity.
अलोहं निशितं शस्त्रं शरीपरिकर्तनम्। यो वेत्ति न तु तं घ्नन्ति प्रतिघातविदं द्विषः
One who knows of a sharp, iron weapon meant to cut the body, but also knows how to counter it, is not slain by his enemies.
कक्षघ्नः शिशिरघ्नश्च महाकक्षे बिलौकसः। न दहेदिति चात्मानं यो रक्षति स जीवति
He who lives in a great hollow, escaping the destroyer of hollows and the destroyer of cold, and protects himself so as not to be burned, survives.
नाचक्षुर्वेत्ति पन्थानं नाचक्षुर्विन्दते दिशः। नाधृतिर्भूतिमाप्नोति बुध्यस्वैवं प्रबोधितः
The eye does not know the path, nor does it find the directions; without resolve, one does not attain prosperity—understand this, having been instructed.