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.
नावेक्षन्ते ह तं धर्मं धर्मात्मानोऽप्यहो विधेः। श्रुतवन्तोऽपि विद्वांसो धनवद्वशगा अहो
They do not uphold dharma, even those devoted to righteousness—alas for fate! Though learned and wise, they are under the sway of wealth.
साधूननाथान्धर्मिष्ठात्सत्यव्रतपरायणान्। नावेक्षन्ते महान्तोऽपि दैवं तेषां परायणम्
Even the great ones do not protect the virtuous, the righteous, those devoted to truth; for fate is their only refuge.
ते वयं धृतराष्ट्राय प्रेषयामो दुरात्मने। संवृत्तस्ते परः कामः पाण्डवान्दग्धवानसि
"Let us send word to Dhritarashtra, that evil-minded man: your desire is fulfilled, for the Pandavas have been burned."
ततो व्यपोहमानास्ते पाण्डवार्थे हुताशनम्। निषादीं ददृशुर्दग्धां पञ्चपुत्रामनागसम्
Then, while clearing away the fire for the sake of the Pandavas, they saw a Nishada woman burned, along with her five innocent sons.
इतः पश्यत कुन्तीयं दग्धा शेते तपस्विनी। पुत्रैः सहैव वार्ष्णेयी हन्तेत्याहुः स्म नागराः
"Look here, Kunti lies burned, the devoted one, together with her sons, the Vrishni lady—alas!" so spoke the townspeople.
खनकेन तु तेनैव वेश्म शोधयता बिलम्। पांसुभिः पिहितं तच्च पुरुषैस्तैर्न लक्षितम्
But the tunnel dug by that same digger, concealed with earth, was not noticed by those men as they searched the house.
ततस्ते प्रेषयामासुर्धृतराष्ट्राय नागराः। पाण्डवानग्निना दग्धानमात्यं च पुरोचनम्
Then the townspeople sent word to Dhritarashtra that the Pandavas had been burned in the fire, along with the minister Purochana.
श्रुत्वा तु धृतराष्ट्रस्तद्राजा सुमहदप्रियम्। विनाशं पाण्डुपुत्राणां विललाप सुदुःखितः
When King Dhritarashtra heard this terrible and grievous news of the destruction of the sons of Pandu, he lamented in deep sorrow.
अन्तर्हृष्टमनाश्चासौ बहिर्दुःखसमन्वितः। अन्तःशीतो बहिश्चोष्णो ग्रीष्मेऽगाधह्वदोयथा
Though his heart was secretly pleased, outwardly he was filled with grief; cold within, hot without, like a deep pond in summer.
अद्य पाण्डुर्मृतो राजा मम भ्राता महायशाः। तेषु वीरेषु दग्धेषु मात्रा सह विशेषतः
Today, Pandu is dead—my illustrious brother; and now these heroes have been burned, especially together with their mother.
गच्छन्तु पुरुषाः शीघ्रं नगरं वारणावतम्। सत्कारयन्तु तान्वीरान्कुन्तीं राजसुतां च ताम्
Let men go quickly to the city of Varanavata; let them honor those heroes and Kunti, the royal daughter.
ये च तत्र मृतास्तेषां सुहृदः सन्ति तानपि। कारयन्तु च कुल्यानि शुभ्राणि च बृहन्ति च
And for those who died there, if they have friends, let them also perform the proper and splendid funeral rites.
मम दग्धा महात्मानः कुलवंशविवर्धनाः
My great-souled kin, the enhancers of our lineage, have been burned.
एवं गते मया शक्यं यद्यत्कारयितुं हितम्। पाण्डवानां च कुन्त्याश्च तत्सर्वं क्रियतां धनैः
Now that this has happened, let whatever can be done for the good of the Pandavas and Kunti be done in every way, with wealth.
समेताश्च ततः सर्वे भीष्मेण सह कौरवाः। धृतराष्ट्रः सपुत्रश्च गङ्गामभिमुखा ययुः
Then all the Kauravas gathered together with Bhishma; Dhritarashtra and his sons went toward the Ganga.
एकवस्त्रा निरानन्दा निराभरणवेष्टनः। उदकं कर्तुकामा वै पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्
Clad in a single garment, joyless, without ornaments or adornment, they went to perform the water-rite for the great-souled Pandavas.
एवं गत्वा ततश्चक्रे ज्ञातिभिः परिवारितः। उदकं पाण्डुपुत्राणां धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः
Having gone there, surrounded by his kinsmen, Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, performed the water-rite for the sons of Pandu.
रुरुदुः सहिताः सर्वे भृशं शोकपरायणाः। हा युधिष्ठिर कौरव्य हा भीम इति चापरे
All together, overwhelmed by grief, they wept bitterly, some crying, 'Alas, Yudhishthira, son of Kuru! Alas, Bhima!'
हा फल्गुनेति चाप्यन्ये हा यमाविति चापरे। कुन्तीमार्ताश्च शोचन्त उदकं चक्रिरे जनाः
Others cried, 'Alas, Phalguna!' and still others, 'Alas, the twins!' The people, grieving for Kunti, performed the water-rite.
अन्ये पौरजनाश्चैवमन्वशोचन्त पाण्डवान्। विदुरस्त्वल्पशश्चक्रे शोकं वेद परं हि सः
Other townspeople also mourned the Pandavas in this way; but Vidura grieved only a little, for he knew the truth.