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?
आशीविषैर्महाघोरैः सर्पैस्तैः किं न दंशितः। प्रमाणकोट्यां संगृह्य निद्रापरवशे मयि
Why have I not been bitten by those terrible, venomous serpents, gathered in countless numbers, while I was helpless in sleep?
सर्पैर्दृष्टिविषैर्गोरैर्गङ्गायां शूलसन्ततौ। किं तैर्न पातितो भूप तदा किं मृतवानहम्
Why was I not cast into the Ganges among the multitude of spears, by those serpents with deadly, fiery poison? Why did I not die then, O king?
आपत्सु तासु घोरासु दुष्प्रयुक्तासु पापिभिः। अस्मानरक्षद्यो देवो जगद्यस्य वशे स्थितम्
In those dreadful calamities, wickedly inflicted by sinners, the god who holds the world in his power protected us.
चराचरात्मकं सोऽद्य यातः कुत्र नृपोत्तम। यावत्सोढव्यमस्माभिस्तावत्सोढास्मि यत्नतः
Where has he, whose essence is all that moves and does not move, gone today, O best of kings? As long as we can endure, we shall endure with effort.
यदा न शक्ष्यतेऽस्माभिस्तदा पश्याम नो हितम्। किं द्रष्टव्यमिहास्माभिर्विगृह्य तरसा बलात्
When we are no longer able, then we shall consider what is best for us. What should we see here by engaging in conflict with force and violence?
सान्त्ववादेन दानेन भेदेनापि यतामहे। अर्धराज्यस्य संप्राप्त्यै ततो दण्डः प्रशस्यते
With conciliatory words, with gifts, even with division, we shall strive for the attainment of half the kingdom; only then is force to be employed.
तस्मात्सहैव वस्तव्यं तन्मनोर्पितशल्यवत्। दर्शयित्वा पृथक् क्वापि न गन्तव्यं सुभीतवत्
Therefore, we must remain together, bearing the pain in our hearts; having shown ourselves, we should not go separately anywhere, out of fear.
इह यत्तैर्निराकारैर्वस्तव्यमिति रोचये। अप्रमत्तैर्विचिन्वद्भिर्गतिमिष्टां ध्रुवामितः
Here, I agree that we should live as they, with their ambiguous intentions, desire; being vigilant, searching for a sure and desired path from here.
यदि विन्देत चाकारमस्माकं स पुरोचनः। क्षिप्रकारी ततो भूत्वा प्रसह्यापि दहेत्ततः
If Purocana discovers our plan, then acting swiftly, he may forcibly burn us.
नायं बिभेत्युपक्रोशादधर्माद्वा पुरोचनः। तथा हि वर्तते मन्दः सुयोधनवशे स्थितः
This Purocana does not fear reproach or unrighteousness; for, being foolish, he acts under Suyodhana's command.