अपि चायं प्रदग्धेषु भीष्मोऽस्मासु पितामहः। कोपं कुर्यात्किमर्थं वा कौरवान्कोपयीत सः
Even if we are burned, why would our grandfather Bhishma become angry with us? For what reason would he provoke the Kauravas?
अथवापीह दग्धेषु भीष्मोऽस्माकं पितामहः। धर्म इत्येव कुप्येरन्ये चान्ये कुरुपुङ्गवाः
Or, if we are burned here, our grandfather Bhishma and other eminent Kauravas would only be angry, saying it is a matter of righteousness.
उपपन्नं तु दग्धेषु कुलवंशानुकीर्तिताः। कुप्येरन्यदि धर्मज्ञास्तथान्ये कुरुपुङ्गवाः
Indeed, if we are burned, those who uphold the family lineage and know righteousness, and other eminent Kauravas, would be justly angered.
वयं तु यदि दाहस्य बिभ्यतः प्रद्रवेमहि। स्पशैर्नो घातयेत्सर्वान्राज्यलुब्धः सुयोधनः
But if, out of fear of burning, we flee, Suyodhana, greedy for the kingdom, would have us all killed as fugitives.
अपदस्थान्पदे तिष्ठन्नपक्षान्पक्षसंस्थितः। हीनकोशान्महाकोशः प्रयोगैर्घातयेद्ध्रुवम्
Standing in position, he would destroy those out of position; with allies, he would destroy those without; with great resources, he would certainly destroy the weak by his means.
तदस्माभिरिमं पापं तं च पापं सुयोधनम्। वञ्चयद्भिर्निवस्तव्यं छन्नं वीर क्वचित्क्वचित्
Therefore, O hero, we must remain here, deceiving this wicked Purocana and Suyodhana, hiding ourselves from time to time.
ते वयं मृगयाशीलाश्चराम वसुधामिमाम्। तथा नो विदिता मार्गा भविष्यन्ति पलायतां
We, who are accustomed to hunting, will roam this earth; in this way, the paths for our escape will become known to us.
भौमं च बिलमद्यैव करवाम सुसंवृतम्। गूढोद्गतान्न नस्तत्र हुताशः संप्रधक्ष्यति
Today itself, let us make a well-concealed underground tunnel; there, when we emerge in secret, the fire will not consume us.
द्रवतोऽत्र यथा चास्मान्न बुध्येत पुरोचनः। पौरो वापि जनः कश्चित्तथा कार्यमतन्द्रितैः
Let us act diligently so that, as we flee, neither Purocana nor any townsman here will notice us.
विदुरस्य सुहृत्कश्चित्खनकः कुशलः क्वचित्। विविक्ते पाण्डवान्राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत्
O King, at some secluded place, a certain skilled miner, a friend of Vidura, spoke these words to the Pandavas.
प्रहितो विदुरेणास्मि खनकः कुशलो ह्यहम्। पाण्डवानां प्रियं कार्यमिति किं करवाणि वः
I have been sent by Vidura; I am indeed a skilled miner. I am to do what is dear to the Pandavas—what shall I do for you?
प्रच्छन्नं विदुरेणोक्तं प्रियं यन्म्लेच्छभाषया। त्वया च तत्तथेत्युक्तमेतद्विश्वासकारणम्
What Vidura said in secret, in the language of the mlecchas, and what you affirmed as true—this is the reason for my trust.
कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां रात्रावस्यां पुरोचनः। भवनस्य तव द्वारि प्रदास्यति हुताशनम्
On the fourteenth night of the dark fortnight, Purocana will set fire at the door of your house.
मात्रा सह प्रदग्धव्याः पाण्डवाः पुरुषर्षभाः। इति व्यवसितं तस्य धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्मतेः
The Pandavas, together with their mother, are to be burned—so has the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra resolved.
उवाच तं सत्यधृतिः कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। अभिजानामि सौम्य त्वां सुहृदं विदुरस्य वै
Satyadhriti, Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, spoke to him: 'Gentle one, I recognize you as Vidura’s friend.'
शुचिमाप्तं प्रियं चैव सदा च दृढभक्तिकम्। न विद्यते कवेः किंचिदविज्ञातं प्रयोजनम्
You are pure, trustworthy, dear, and ever steadfast in devotion; nothing of the poet’s purpose is unknown to you.
यथा तस्य तथा नस्त्वं निर्विशेषा वयं त्वयि। भवतश्च यथा तस्य पालयास्मान्यथा कविः
As he is to you, so are we—without distinction; as he cares for you, so protect us as the poet does.
इदं शरणमाग्नेयं मदर्थमिति मे मतिः। पुरोचनेन विहितं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य शासनात्
It is my belief that this fire-trap has been set for me by Purocana, on the command of Dhritarashtra’s son.
स पापः कोशवांश्चैव ससहायश्च दुर्मतिः। अस्मानपि च पापात्मा नित्यकालं प्रबाधते
That wicked one, with wealth and accomplices, ever harasses us; that evil-hearted man torments us constantly.
स भवान्भोक्षयत्वस्मान्यत्नेनास्माद्धुताशनात्। अस्मास्विह हि दग्धेषु सकामः स्यात्सुयोधनः
Therefore, you must save us with effort from this fire; for if we are burned here, Suyodhana will have his desire.
समृद्धमायुधागारमिदं तस्य दुरात्मनः। वप्रान्तं निष्प्रतीकारमाश्रित्येदं कृतं महत्
This well-furnished arsenal belongs to that evil one; having taken refuge at the edge of the rampart, he has made this great plot, impossible to resist.
इदं तदशुभं नूनं तस्य कर्म चिकीर्षितम्। प्रागेव विदुरो वेद तेनास्मानन्वबोधयत्
This is indeed the wicked deed he intends; Vidura knew of it beforehand, and so he warned us.
सेयमापदनुप्राप्ता क्षत्ता यां दृष्टवान्पुरा। पुरोचनस्याविदितानस्मांस्त्वं प्रतिमोचय
This is the danger the wise Kshatta foresaw before; now, without Purocana’s knowledge, you must deliver us.
स तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य खनको यत्नमास्थितः। परिखामुत्किरन्नाम चकार च महाबिलम्
Having promised, 'So be it,' the miner undertook the task with care and dug a great tunnel.
चक्रे च वेश्मनस्तस्य मध्ये नातिमहद्बिलम्। कपाटयुक्तमज्ञातं समं भूम्याश्च भारत
And in the midst of that house, he made a not-too-large tunnel, equipped with a door, hidden and level with the ground, O Bharata.
पुरोचनभयादेव व्यदधात्संवृतं मुखम्। स तस्य तु गृहद्वारि वसत्यशुभधीः सदा। तत्र ते सायुधाः सर्वे वसन्ति स्म क्षपां नृप
Out of fear of Purocana, he sealed its entrance; and at the doorway of that house, he always stayed, his mind unwholesome. There, all of them, armed, would spend the night, O King.
दिवा चरन्ति मृगयां पाण्डवेया वनाद्वनम्। विश्वस्तवदविश्वस्ता वञ्चयन्तः पुरोचनम्
During the day, the Pandavas would roam from forest to forest hunting, seeming trusting yet distrustful, deceiving Purocana.
अतुष्टास्तुष्टवद्राजन्नूषुः परमविस्मिताः
Though dissatisfied, they acted as if content, O King, dwelling in utmost astonishment.
न चैनानन्वबुध्यन्त नरा नगरवासिनः। अन्यत्र विदुरामात्यात्तस्मात्खनकसत्तमात्
But the people of the city did not perceive them, except for Vidura's minister and the excellent digger.
तांस्तु दृष्ट्वा सुमनसः परिसंवत्सरोषितान्। विश्वस्तानिव संलक्ष्य हर्षं चक्रे पुरोचनः
Seeing them cheerful, residing for a year, and appearing as if trusting, Purocana felt joy.