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.
सा पीत्वा मदिरां मत्ता सपुत्रा मदविह्वला। सह सर्वैः सुतै राजंस्तस्मिन्नेव निवेशने
Having drunk liquor, intoxicated, she and her sons, overwhelmed by drunkenness, remained there in that dwelling, O King, along with all her sons.
सुष्वाप विगतज्ञाना मृतकल्पा नराधिप। अथ प्रवाते तुमुले निशि सुप्ते जने तदा
She slept, unconscious, like one dead, O ruler of men; then, as a fierce wind blew at night, while everyone slept.
तदुपादीपयद्भीमः शेते यत्र पुरोचनः। ततो जतुगृहद्वारं दीपयामास पाण्डवः
Then Bhima set fire where Purocana lay sleeping; after that, the Pandava kindled the entrance of the house of lac.
समन्ततो ददौ पश्चादग्निं तत्र निवेशने। `पूर्वमेव गृहं शोध्य भीमसेनो महामतिः
All around and at the back, he set fire to that dwelling, having first carefully inspected the house, Bhimasena of great intelligence.
पाण्डवैः सहितां कुन्तीं प्रावेशयत तद्बिलम्। दत्त्वाग्निं सहसा भीमो गृहे तत्परितः सुधीः
He led Kunti, together with the Pandavas, into that tunnel; then, with swift resolve, Bhima set fire all around the house.
गृहस्थं द्रविणं गृह्य निर्जगाम बिलेन सः।' ज्ञात्वा तु तद्गृहं सर्वमादीप्तं पाण्डुनन्दनाः
Taking the valuables from the house, he exited through the tunnel; and the sons of Pandu, realizing the whole house was ablaze—
सुरङ्गां विविशुस्तूर्णं मात्रा सार्धमरिन्दमाः। ततः प्रतापः सुमहाञ्छब्दश्चैव विभावसोः
—quickly entered the secret passage with their mother, those subduers of foes; then a great heat and a tremendous sound arose from the fire.
प्रादुरासीत्तदा तेन बुबुधे स जनव्रजः। तदवेक्ष्य गृहं दीप्तमाहुः पौराः कृशाननाः
At that moment, the people of the town became aware because of the great blaze and the noise; seeing the house aflame, the townsfolk, pale-faced, said—
दुर्योधनप्रयुक्तेन पापेनाकृतबुद्धिना। गृहमात्मविनाशाय कारितं दाहितं च तत्
—'By the wicked Duryodhana's command, whose mind is unrighteous, this house was built for their destruction and has now been burned.'
अहो धिग्धृतराष्ट्रस्य बुद्धिर्नातिसमञ्जसा। यः शुचीन्पाण्डुदायादान्दाहयामास शत्रुवत्
'Alas, shame on Dhritarashtra's judgment, which is far from just, for he has caused the burning of the pure heirs of Pandu as if they were enemies.'
दिष्ट्या त्विदानीं पापात्मादग्ध्वा दग्धः पुरोचनः। अनागसः सुविश्वस्तान्यो ददाह नरोत्तमान्
'By fate, now the sinful Purocana, after burning, has himself been burned; he, trusting and innocent, set fire to the best of men.'
एवं ते विलपन्ति स्म वारणावतका जनाः। परिवार्य गृहं तच्च तस्थू रात्रौ समन्ततः
Thus the people of Varanavata lamented, encircling the house and standing all around it through the night.
पाण्डवाश्चापि ते सर्वे सह मात्रा सुदुःखिताः। बिलेन तेन निर्गत्य जग्मुर्द्रुतमलक्षिताः
But all the Pandavas, together with their deeply distressed mother, exited through that tunnel and went swiftly, unnoticed.
तेन निद्रोपरोधेन साध्वसेन च पाण्डवाः। न शेकुः सहसा गन्तुं सह मात्रा परन्तपाः
Because of exhaustion and fear, the Pandavas, scorcher of foes, were unable to proceed quickly together with their mother.
भीमसेनस्तु राजेन्द्र भीमवेगपराक्रमः। जगाम भ्रातॄनादाय सर्वान्मातरमेव च
But Bhimasena, O king, of terrible speed and prowess, took up all his brothers and his mother as well.
स्कन्धमारोप्य जननीं यमावङ्केन वीर्यवान्। पार्थौ गृहीत्वा पाणिभ्यां भ्रातरौ सुमहाबलः
The mighty one lifted his mother onto his shoulder, took Yudhishthira and Arjuna on his hips, and grasped his two other brothers with his hands.
उरसा पादपान्भञ्जन्महीं पद्भ्यां विदारयन्। स जगामाशु तेजस्वी वातरंहा वृकोदरः
Crushing trees with his chest and tearing up the earth with his feet, the radiant Vrikodara sped swiftly, like the wind.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु यथासंप्रत्ययं कविः। विदुरः प्रेषयामास तद्वनं पुरुषं शुचिम्
At that very time, the wise Vidura, as he had planned, sent a trustworthy and pure man into that forest.
आत्मनः पाण्डवानां च विश्वास्यं ज्ञातपूर्वकम्। गङ्गासंतरणार्थाय ज्ञाताभिज्ञानवाचिकम्
One who was already known and trusted by both himself and the Pandavas, to help them cross the Ganga, bearing a token of recognition.
स गत्वा तु यथोद्देशं पाण्डवान्ददृशे वने। जनन्या सह कौरव्याननयज्जाह्नवीतटम्
He went as directed and found the Pandavas in the forest; then, together with their mother, he led the Kauravas' descendants to the bank of the Jahnavi.