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.
स तु संचिन्तयामास प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना। प्राप्तकालमिदं मन्ये पाण्डवानां विनाशने
He began to consider, with an elated heart: 'I think the time has come for the destruction of the Pandavas.'
तमस्यान्तर्गतं भावं विज्ञाय कुरुपुङ्गवः। चिन्तयामास मतिमान्धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः
Perceiving that hidden intent within him, the wise Kurus' leader, Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, began to ponder.
पुरोचने तथा हृष्टे कौन्तेयोऽथ युधिष्ठिरः। भीमसेनार्जुनौ चोभौ यमौ प्रोवाच धर्मवित्
When Purocana was thus delighted, Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, knowledgeable in righteousness, spoke to Bhimasena, Arjuna, and both the twins.
अस्मानयं सुविश्वस्तान्वेत्ति पापः पुरोचनः। वञ्चितोऽयं नृशंसात्मा कालं मन्ये पलायने
'This wicked Purocana thinks us completely unsuspecting; he is deceived, cruel-hearted. I believe it is time for our escape.'
आयुधागारमादीप्य दग्ध्वा चैव पुरोचनम्। षट्प्राणिनो निधायेह द्रवामोऽनभिलक्षिताः
'After setting fire to the arsenal and burning Purocana, leaving six living beings here, let us flee unnoticed.'
अथ दानापदेशेन कुन्ती ब्राह्मणभोजनम्। चक्रे निशि महाराज आजग्मुस्तत्र योषितः
Then, under the pretext of charity, Kunti arranged a meal for Brahmanas at night, O King, and women came there.
ता विहृत्य यथाकामं भुक्त्वा पीत्वा च भारत। जग्मुर्निशिं गृहानेव समनुज्ञाप्य माधवीम्
They enjoyed as they wished, eating and drinking, O Bharata; then, after taking leave of Madhavi, they returned to their homes that night.
पुरोचनप्रणिहिता पृथां या सेवते सदा। निषादी दुष्टहृदया नित्यमन्तरचारिणी
A Nishadi woman, appointed by Purocana, always served Pritha, her heart malicious, constantly moving about inside.
निषादी पञ्चपुत्रा सा तस्मिन्भोज्ये यदृच्छया। पुराभ्यासकृतस्नेहा सखी कुन्त्याः सुतैः सह
That Nishadi, with her five sons, happened to be at that meal; from previous acquaintance, she was a friend of Kunti, along with her sons.
आनीय मधुमूलानि फलानि विविधानि च। अन्नार्थिनी समभ्यागात्सपुत्रा कालचोदिता। सुपापा पञ्चपुत्रा च सा पृथायाः सखी मता
Bringing honey, roots, and various fruits, seeking food, she arrived with her sons, prompted by fate; though wicked, with five sons, she was considered a friend of Pritha.