विदितं तन्महाबुद्धेर्विदुरस्य महात्मनः। ततस्त्रस्यापि चारेण चेष्टितं पापचेतसः
The great-minded Vidura, of vast intelligence, knew of this; therefore, even though terrified, he discerned the evil-minded one's actions through his spies.
ततः प्रवासितो विद्वान्विदुरेण नरस्तदा। पार्थानां दर्शयामास मनोमारुतगामिनीम्
Then, at that time, the wise Vidura sent a learned man into exile, who showed the sons of Pritha the path swift as the wind of the mind.
सर्ववातसहां नावं यन्त्रयुक्तां पताकिनीम्। शिवे भागीरथीतीरे नरैर्विस्रम्भिभिः कृताम्
He revealed a boat, able to withstand all winds, equipped with machinery and bearing a flag, built by trustworthy men on the sacred bank of the Bhagirathi.
ततः पुनरथोवाच ज्ञापकं पूर्वचोदितम्। युधिष्ठिर निबोधेयं संज्ञार्थं वचनं कवेः
Then again he spoke to the messenger, as previously instructed, saying, 'Yudhishthira, listen to this word of the sage, meant as a sign.'
कक्षघ्नः शिशिरघ्नश्च महाकक्षे बिलौकसः। न हन्तीत्येवमात्मानं यो रक्षति स जीवति। `बोद्धव्यमिति यत्प्राह विदुरस्तदिदं तथा
'He who avoids the destroyer of the thicket and the destroyer of the cold, and the great burrowers in their vast holes, and who does not kill—such a one preserves himself and lives.' This is what Vidura said, and it should be understood thus.
तेन मां प्रेषितं विदिधि विश्वस्तं संज्ञयाऽनया। भूयश्चैवाह मां क्षत्ता विदुरः सर्वतोऽर्थवित्। `अधिक्षिपन्धार्तराष्ट्रं सभ्रातृकमुदारधीः
By him I was sent, with this sign of trust; and again Vidura, the wise Kshatta, said to me, 'Rebuke the sons of Dhritarashtra and their brothers,' for he understood all matters.
कर्णं दुर्योधनं चैव भ्रातृभिः सहितं रणे। शकुनिं चैव कौन्तेय विजेताऽसि न संशयः
'You will surely conquer Karna, Duryodhana with his brothers, and Shakuni in battle, O son of Kunti; there is no doubt.'
पाण्डवाश्चापि गत्वाथ गङ्गायास्तीरमुत्तमम्। निषादाधिपतिं वीरं दाशं परमधार्मिकम्
Then the Pandavas, having gone to the excellent bank of the Ganga, saw the heroic and supremely righteous king of the Nishadas, Dashaa.
दीपिकाभिः कृतालोकं मार्गमाणं च पाण्डवान्। ददृशुः पाण्डवेयास्ते नाविकं त्वरयाऽन्वितम्
The sons of Pandu saw the boatman, swift and eager, searching for them with lamps lighting the way.
निषादस्तत्र कौन्तेयानभिज्ञानं न्यवेदयत्। विदुरस्य महाबुद्धेर्म्लेच्छभाषादि यत्तदा
There the Nishada informed the sons of Kunti, in the foreign tongue as instructed by the wise Vidura, so that they would not be recognized.
विदुरेणास्मि सन्दिष्टो दत्त्वा बहु धनं महत्। गङ्गातीरे निविष्टस्त्वं पाण्डवांस्तारयेति ह
'I have been instructed by Vidura, after receiving much great wealth, to be stationed on the bank of the Ganga and to ferry the Pandavas across.'
सोऽहं चतुर्दशीमद्य गङ्गाया अविदूरतः। चारेरन्वेषयाम्यस्मिन्वने मृगगणान्विते
'Today, on the fourteenth, not far from the Ganga, I have been searching in this forest, filled with herds of deer.'
प्रभवन्तोऽथ भद्रं वो नावमारुह्य गम्यताम्। युक्तारित्रपताकां च निश्छिद्रां मन्दिरोपमाम्
'Now, O prosperous ones, ascend the boat and depart; it is equipped with oars and a flag, without any defect, resembling a mansion.'
इयं वारिपथे युक्ता नौरप्सु सुखगामिनी। मोचयिष्यति वः सर्वानस्माद्देशान्न संशयः
'This boat, well-suited for the waterway, will carry you comfortably across the waters; it will deliver you all from this place, without doubt.'
अथ तान्व्यथितान्दृष्ट्वा सह मात्रा नरोत्तमान्। नावमारोप्य गङ्गायां प्रस्थितानब्रवीत्पुनः
Then, seeing those noble men, distressed and with their mother, he placed them on the boat on the Ganga, and as they set out, he spoke again.
विदुरो मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय परिष्वज्य वचो मुहुः। अरिष्टं गच्छताव्यग्राः पन्थानमिति चाब्रवीत्
Vidura, after smelling their heads and embracing them, repeatedly spoke words: 'Go safely and without anxiety along your path.'
इत्युक्त्वा स तु तान्वीरान्पुमान्विदुरचोदितः। तारयामास राजेन्द्र गङ्गां नावा नरर्षभान्
Having said this, that man, instructed by Vidura, ferried those bull-like men, O king, across the Ganga in the boat.
तारयित्वा ततो गङ्गां पारं प्राप्तांश्च सर्वशः। जयाशिषः प्रयुज्याथ यथागतमगाद्धि सः
After ferrying them all across the Ganga and seeing them reach the far shore, he offered blessings for victory and then departed as he had come.
पाण्डवाश्च महात्मानः प्रतिसन्दिश्य वै कवेः। गङ्गामुत्तीर्य वेगेन जग्मुर्गूढमलक्षिताः
And the great-souled Pandavas, after sending word to the sage, swiftly crossed the Ganga, concealed and unnoticed.
ततस्ते तत्र तीर्त्वा तु गङ्गामुत्तुङ्गवीचिकाम्। जवेन प्रययुर्वीरा दक्षिणां दिशमास्थिताः
Then, having crossed the Ganga with its towering waves, those heroes quickly set out, heading toward the southern direction.
विज्ञाय निशि पन्थानं नक्षत्रैर्दक्षिणामुखाः। वनाद्वनान्तरं राजन्गहनं प्रतिपेदिरे
Knowing the path at night by the stars, facing south, O King, they moved from forest to forest, entering the dense wilderness.
श्रान्तास्ततः पिपासार्ताः क्षुधिता भयकातराः। पुनरूचुर्महावीर्यं भीमसेनमिदं वचः
Then, weary, tormented by thirst, hungry, and fearful, they again spoke these words to mighty Bhimasena.
इतः कष्टतरं किं नु यद्वयं गहने वने। दिशश्च न प्रजानीमो गन्तुं चैतेन शक्नुमः। तं च पापं न जानीमो दग्धो वाथ पुरोचनः
"What could be more difficult than this, that we are in this dense forest, not knowing the directions, nor able to proceed further? And we do not know whether that wicked Purocana has been burned or not."
कथं नु विप्रमुच्येम भयादस्मादलक्षिताः। शीघ्रमस्मानुपादाय तथैव व्रज भारत
"How can we escape from this danger, unnoticed and quickly? Take us up and go on in the same way, O Bharata."
त्वं हि नो बलवानेको यथा सततगस्तथा। इत्युक्तो धर्मराजेन भीमसेनो महाबलः। आदाय कुन्तीं भ्रातॄंश्च जगामाशु स पावनिः
For you alone are strong among us, like the wind-god himself. Thus addressed by Yudhishthira, the mighty Bhimasena, son of the wind, swiftly took up Kunti and his brothers and went on.
अथ रात्र्यां व्यतीतायामशेषो नागरो जनः। तत्राजगाम त्वरितो दिदृक्षुः पाण्डुनन्दनान्
Then, when the night had passed, all the townspeople hurried there, eager to see the sons of Pandu.
निर्वापयन्तो ज्वलनं ते जना ददृशुस्ततः। जातुषं तद्गृहं दग्धममात्यं च पुरोचनम्
Those people saw the burning being extinguished, the house of lac consumed by fire, and the minister Purocana as well.
नूनं दुर्योधनेनेदं विहितं पापकर्मणा। पाण्डवानां विनाशायेत्येवं ते चुक्रुशुर्जनाः
"Surely this was done by Duryodhana, that evildoer, to destroy the Pandavas," thus the people cried out.
विदिते धृतराष्ट्रस्य धार्तराष्ट्रो न संशयः। दग्धवान्पाण्डुदायादान्न ह्येतत्प्रतिषिद्धवान्
It is known to Dhritarashtra; there is no doubt that his son has burned the heirs of Pandu, for he did not prevent this.
नूनं शान्तनवोऽपीह न धर्मनुवर्तते। द्रोणश्च विदुरश्चैव कृपश्चान्ये च कौरवाः
Surely even Shantanu's son does not follow righteousness here, nor Drona, nor Vidura, nor Kripa, nor the other Kauravas.