ततः सर्वाः प्रकृतयो नगराद्वारणावतात्। सर्वमङ्गलसंयुक्ता यथाशास्त्रमतन्द्रिताः
Then all the officials from the city of Varanavata, adorned with every auspicious sign, attended diligently according to the scriptures.
श्रुत्वाऽगतान्पाण्डुपुत्रान्नानायानैः सहस्रशः। अभिजग्मुर्नरश्रेष्ठाञ्श्रुत्वैव परया मुदा
Having heard that the sons of Pandu had arrived, thousands came in various vehicles, and upon hearing, the best of men approached with great joy.
ते समासाद्य कौन्तेयान्वारणावतका जनाः। कृत्वा जयाशिषः सर्वे परिवार्योपतस्थिरे
Those people of Varanavata, having met the sons of Kunti, all offered blessings for victory and surrounded them, standing nearby.
तैर्वृतः पुरुषव्याघ्रो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। विबभौ देवसङ्काशो वज्रपाणिरिवामरैः
Surrounded by those people, King Yudhishthira, tiger among men, shone like a god among the immortals, like Vajrapani.
सत्कृताश्चैव पौरैस्ते पौरान्सत्कृत्य चानघ। अलङ्कृतं जनाकीर्णं विविशुर्वारणावतम्
Honored by the townspeople, and honoring them in return, O sinless one, they entered Varanavata, adorned and filled with crowds.
ते प्रविश्य पुरीं वीरास्तूर्णं जग्मुरथो गृहान्। ब्राह्मणानां महीपाल रतानां स्वेषु कर्मसु
Having entered the city, the heroes quickly went to their homes, as did the Brahmanas, kings, and those devoted to their own duties.
नगराधिकृतानां च गृहाणि रथिनां वराः। उपतस्थुर्नरश्रेष्ठा वैश्यशूद्रगृहाण्यपि
The best of charioteers visited the homes of the city officials, and also the houses of the Vaishyas and Shudras.
अर्चिताश्च नरैः पौरैः पाण्डवा भरतर्षभ। जग्मुरावसथं पश्चात्पुरोचनपुरःसराः
Honored by the people and townsfolk, O bull among Bharatas, the Pandavas proceeded to their residence, led by Purochana.
तेभ्यो भक्ष्याणि पानानि शयनानि शुभानि च। आसनानि च मुख्यानि प्रददौ स पुरोचनः
To them, Purochana provided food, drink, fine beds, and excellent seats.
तत्र ते सत्कृतास्तेन सुमहार्हपरिच्छदाः। उपास्यमानाः पुरुषैरूषुः पुरनिवासिभिः
There, honored by him with very costly furnishings, they were served by the residents of the city and remained there.
दशरात्रोषितानां तु तत्र तेषां पुरोचनः। निवेदयामास गृहं शिवाख्यमशिवं तदा
After they had spent ten nights there, Purocana presented to them the house called 'Shiva,' which at that time was anything but auspicious.
तत्र ते पुरुषव्याघ्रा विविशुः सपरिच्छदाः। पुरोचनस्य वचनात्कैलासमिव गुह्यकाः
There, those tigers among men entered with all their attendants, at Purocana's word, like the Yakshas entering Kailasa.
तच्चागारमभिप्रेक्ष्य सर्वधर्मभृतां वरः। उवाचाग्नेयमित्येवं भीमसेनं युधिष्ठिरः
Surveying that house, the best among upholders of righteousness, Yudhishthira, said to Bhimasena, 'This is truly a house of fire.'
जिघ्राणोऽस्य वसागन्धं सर्पिर्जतुविमिश्रितम्। कृतं हि व्यक्तमाग्नेयमिदं वेश्म परन्तप
Smelling the scent of fat, mixed with ghee and lac, he said, 'This house is clearly made to burn, scorcher of foes.'
शणसर्जरसं व्यक्तमानीय गृहकर्मणि। मुञ्जबल्वजवंशादिद्रव्यं सर्वं घृतोक्षितम्
Obvious are the shana and sarja resins brought in for the construction, and all the materials—munja grass, balvaja, bamboo, and the rest—are soaked in ghee.
तृणबल्वजकार्पासवंशदारुकटान्यपि। आग्नेयान्यत्र क्षिप्तानि परितो वेश्मनस्तथा
Grass, balvaja, cotton, bamboo, wood, and even logs—all combustible—have been placed throughout the house.
शिल्पिभिः सुकृतं ह्याप्तैर्विनीतैर्वेश्मकर्मणि। विश्वस्तं मामयं पापो दग्धुकामः पुरोचनः
This house, skillfully built by trusted and disciplined artisans, is meant to deceive me; this wicked Purocana wishes to burn me.
तथा हि वर्तते मन्दः सुयोधनवशे स्थितः। इमां तु तां महाबुद्धिर्विदुरो दृष्टवांस्तथा
Indeed, this foolish man acts thus, under Suyodhana's control; but the wise Vidura has seen through all this.
आपदं तेन मां पार्थ स संबोधितवान्पुरा। ते वयं बोधितास्तेन नित्यमस्मद्धितैषिणा
In the past, Vidura warned me of this danger, Partha; he, always wishing for our welfare, has kept us informed.
पित्रा कनीयसा स्नेहाद्बुद्धिमन्तो शिवं गृहम्। अनार्यैः सुकृतं गूढैर्दुर्योधनवशानुगैः
Out of affection, our wise uncle, the younger brother of our father, arranged a safe house for us, though it was built by ignoble men loyal to Duryodhana and concealed in purpose.
यदीदं गृहामाग्नेयं विहितं मन्यते भवान्। तत्रैव साधु गच्छामो यत्र पूर्वोषिता वयम्
If you believe this house is truly meant to burn, then let us go back to where we stayed before.
दर्शयित्वा पृथग्गन्तुं न कार्यं प्रतिभाति मे। अशुभं वा शुभं वा स्यात्तैर्वसाम सहैव तु
It does not seem right to me to leave separately after showing ourselves; whether good or bad may come, let us stay together with them.
अद्यप्रभृति चास्मासु गतेषु भयविह्वलः। रूढमूलो भवेद्राज्ये धार्तराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः
From today, if we leave, the Dhartarashtra, fearful, will become firmly rooted in the kingdom, O lord of men.
तदीयं तु भवेद्राज्यं तदीयाश्च जना इमे। तस्मात्सहैव वत्स्यामो गलन्यस्तपदा वयम्
Then the kingdom will belong to them, and so will the people; therefore, let us remain together, our feet set firmly.
अस्माकं कालमासाद्य राज्यमाच्छिद्य शत्रुतः। अर्थं पैतृकमस्माकं सुखं भोक्ष्याम शाश्वतम्
When our time comes, having seized the kingdom from the enemy, we shall enjoy our ancestral wealth and lasting happiness.
धृतराष्ट्रवचोऽस्माभिः किमर्थमनुपाल्यते। तेभ्यो भित्त्वाऽन्यथागन्तुं दौर्बल्यं ते कुतो नृप
Why should we heed Dhritarashtra's words? What weakness is there in you, king, that you would think of leaving in another way, breaking from them?
आपत्सु रक्षिताऽस्माकं विदुरोऽस्ति महामतिः। मध्यस्थ एव गाङ्गेयो राज्यभोगपराङ्मुखः
In adversity, we have Vidura, the wise, to protect us; and Bhishma, ever impartial, who turns away from enjoyment of the kingdom.
बाह्लीकप्रमुखा वृद्धा मध्यस्था एव सर्वदा। अस्मदीयो भवेद्द्रोणः फल्गुनप्रेमसंयुतः
The elders, led by Bahlika, are always impartial; and Drona is ours, bound by affection for Arjuna.
तस्मात्सहैव वस्तव्यं न गन्तव्यं कथं नृप। अथवास्मासु ते कुर्युः किमशक्ताः पराक्रमैः
Therefore, we must remain together and not depart, O king; or else, what could they do to us, being powerless in their efforts?
क्षुद्राः कपटिनो धूर्ता जाग्रत्सु मनुजेश्वर। किं न कुर्युः पुरा मह्यं किं न दत्तं महाविषम्
These petty, deceitful, wicked men, O lord of men, what would they not do while we are awake? Why have they not already given me deadly poison?