The Lac House in Brief; Duryodhana Presses Dhritarashtra

Verse 1 (1.154.1)

कणिकस्य मतं श्रुत्वा कार्त्स्न्येन भरतर्षभ । दुर्योधनश्च कर्णश्च शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः । दुःशासनचतुर्थास्ते मन्त्रयामासुरेकदा ॥

kaṇikasya mataṃ śrutvā kārtsnyena bharatarṣabha | duryodhanaśca karṇaśca śakuniścāpi saubalaḥ | duḥśāsanacaturthāste mantrayāmāsurekadā

O best of the Bharatas, after hearing Kanika's counsel in full, Duryodhana, Karna, Shakuni the son of Subala, and Duhshasana as the fourth, once sat down together to take counsel.

Note on the text: Corrected दुशासन → दुःशासन (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga in the name Duḥśāsana). Speaker supplied from the heading वैशंपायन उवाच printed above this verse. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; its second and third lines resemble CE apparatus 1.130.1*1444, lines 4–5).

Verse 2 (1.154.2)

ते कौरव्यमनुज्ञाप्य धृतराष्ट्रं नराधिपम् । दहने तु सपुत्रायाः कुन्त्या बुद्धिमकारयन् ॥

te kauravyamanujñāpya dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ narādhipam | dahane tu saputrāyāḥ kuntyā buddhimakārayan

Having gained the consent of the Kaurava Dhritarashtra, lord of men, they set their minds on burning Kunti together with her sons.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 3 (1.154.3)

तेषामिङ्गितभावज्ञो विदुरस्तत्त्वदर्शिवान् । आकारेण च तं मन्त्रं बुबुधे दुष्टचेतसाम् ॥

teṣāmiṅgitabhāvajño vidurastattvadarśivān | ākāreṇa ca taṃ mantraṃ bubudhe duṣṭacetasām

Vidura, who saw into the truth of things and could read gestures and hidden intent, understood that plot of the evil-minded from their looks alone.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 4 (1.154.4)

ततो विदितवेद्यात्मा पाण्डवानां हिते रतः । पलायने मतिं चक्रे कुन्त्याः पुत्रैः सहानघः ॥

tato viditavedyātmā pāṇḍavānāṃ hite rataḥ | palāyane matiṃ cakre kuntyāḥ putraiḥ sahānaghaḥ

Then the sinless Vidura, whose mind knew all that was to be known and who was devoted to the welfare of the Pandavas, resolved that Kunti should escape with her sons.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 5 (1.154.5)

ततो वातसहां नावं यन्त्रयुक्तां पताकिनीम् । ऊर्मिक्षमां दृढां कृत्वा कुन्तीमिदमुवाच ह ॥

tato vātasahāṃ nāvaṃ yantrayuktāṃ patākinīm | ūrmikṣamāṃ dṛḍhāṃ kṛtvā kuntīmidamuvāca ha

He had a strong boat made, able to withstand wind and waves, fitted with machinery and flying a flag, and then said this to Kunti:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 6 (1.154.6)

एष जातः कुलस्यास्य कीर्तिवंशप्रणाशनः । धृतराष्ट्रः परीतात्मा धर्मं त्यजति शाश्वतम् ॥

eṣa jātaḥ kulasyāsya kīrtivaṃśapraṇāśanaḥ | dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ parītātmā dharmaṃ tyajati śāśvatam

"This Dhritarashtra has been born to destroy the fame and the line of this house. His mind is overpowered, and he is forsaking the eternal dharma."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 7 (1.154.7)

इयं वारिपथे युक्ता तरङ्गपवनक्षमा । नौर्यया मृत्युपाशात्त्वं सपुत्रा मोक्ष्यसे शुभे ॥

iyaṃ vāripathe yuktā taraṅgapavanakṣamā | nauryayā mṛtyupāśāttvaṃ saputrā mokṣyase śubhe

"Here on the waterway is a boat made ready, able to bear waves and wind. With it, gentle lady, you and your sons will be freed from the noose of death."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 8 (1.154.8)

तच्छ्रुत्वा व्यथिता कुन्ती पुत्रैः सह यशस्विनी । नावमारुह्य गङ्गायां प्रययौ भरतर्षभ ॥

tacchrutvā vyathitā kuntī putraiḥ saha yaśasvinī | nāvamāruhya gaṅgāyāṃ prayayau bharatarṣabha

Hearing this, the illustrious Kunti, troubled at heart, boarded the boat with her sons and set off on the Ganga, O best of the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 9 (1.154.9)

ततो विदुरवाक्येन नावं विक्षिप्य पाण्डवाः । धनं चादाय तैर्दत्तमरिष्टं प्राविशन्वनम् ॥

tato viduravākyena nāvaṃ vikṣipya pāṇḍavāḥ | dhanaṃ cādāya tairdattamariṣṭaṃ prāviśanvanam

Then, as Vidura had told them, the Pandavas left the boat, took the wealth his men had given them, and entered the forest safely.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 10 (1.154.10)

निषादी पञ्चपुत्रा तु जातुषे तत्र वेश्मनि । कारणाभ्यागता दग्धा सह पुत्रैरनागसा ॥

niṣādī pañcaputrā tu jātuṣe tatra veśmani | kāraṇābhyāgatā dagdhā saha putrairanāgasā

In that house of lac, a Nishada woman with five sons, who had come there for some reason, was burned together with her sons, though she was innocent.

Note on the text: Corrected जातेषु → जातुषे (misprint in Wikisource; the locative must agree with वेश्मनि, "in the house of lac"). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 11 (1.154.11)

स च म्लेच्छाधमः पापो दग्धस्तत्र पुरोचनः । वञ्चिताश्च दुरात्मानो धार्तराष्ट्राः सहानुगाः ॥

sa ca mlecchādhamaḥ pāpo dagdhastatra purocanaḥ | vañcitāśca durātmāno dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ sahānugāḥ

Purochana too, that sinful wretch, lowest of barbarians, was burned there; and the evil-minded sons of Dhritarashtra and their followers were deceived.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 12 (1.154.12)

अविज्ञाता महात्मानो जनानामक्षतास्तथा । जनन्या सह कौन्तेया मुक्ता विदुरमन्त्रिताः ॥

avijñātā mahātmāno janānāmakṣatāstathā | jananyā saha kaunteyā muktā viduramantritāḥ

Unrecognised by the people and unharmed, the great-souled sons of Kunti, guided by Vidura's counsel, escaped together with their mother.

Note on the text: Corrected महात्मनो → महात्मानो (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign — nominative plural agreeing with कौन्तेयाः). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 13 (1.154.13)

ततस्तस्मिन्पुरे लोका नगरे वारणावते । दृष्ट्वा जतुगृहं दग्धमन्वशोचन्त दुःखिताः ॥

tatastasminpure lokā nagare vāraṇāvate | dṛṣṭvā jatugṛhaṃ dagdhamanvaśocanta duḥkhitāḥ

Then the people of that city, the town of Varanavata, seeing the house of lac burnt down, grieved and mourned.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 14 (1.154.14)

प्रेषयामासु राजानं यथावृत्तं निवेदितुम् । संवृत्तस्ते महान्कामः पाण्डवान्दग्धवानसि ॥

preṣayāmāsu rājānaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ niveditum | saṃvṛttaste mahānkāmaḥ pāṇḍavāndagdhavānasi

They sent word to the king to tell him what had happened: "Your great desire has come to pass; you have burned the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रेषयामासू → प्रेषयामासु (misprint in Wikisource; long ū in the perfect ending) and संवृतस्ते → संवृत्तस्ते (misprint in Wikisource; dropped conjunct — "has come to pass", not "covered"). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 15 (1.154.15)

सकामो भव कौरव्य भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं सपुत्रकः । तच्छ्रुत्वा धृतराष्ट्रस्तु सहपुत्रेण शोचयन् ॥

sakāmo bhava kauravya bhuṅkṣva rājyaṃ saputrakaḥ | tacchrutvā dhṛtarāṣṭrastu sahaputreṇa śocayan

Have your wish, Kaurava; enjoy the kingdom with your sons." Hearing this, Dhritarashtra, together with his son, made a show of mourning,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 16 (1.154.16)

प्रेतकार्याणि च तथा चकार सह बान्धवैः । पाण्डवानां तथा क्षत्ता भीष्मश्च कुरुसत्तमः ॥

pretakāryāṇi ca tathā cakāra saha bāndhavaiḥ | pāṇḍavānāṃ tathā kṣattā bhīṣmaśca kurusattamaḥ

and with his kinsmen performed the funeral rites for the Pandavas; and so did Vidura the steward and Bhishma, best of the Kurus.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 17 (1.154.17)

पुनर्विस्तरशः श्रोतुमिच्छामि द्विजसत्तम । दाहं जतुगृहस्यैव पाण्डवानां च मोक्षणम् ॥

punarvistaraśaḥ śrotumicchāmi dvijasattama | dāhaṃ jatugṛhasyaiva pāṇḍavānāṃ ca mokṣaṇam

O best of the twice-born, I wish to hear again, in full detail, of the burning of the house of lac and the escape of the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 18 (1.154.18)

सुनृशंसमिदं कर्म तेषां क्रूरोपसंहितम् । कीर्तयस्व यथावृत्तं परं कौतूहलं मम ॥

sunṛśaṃsamidaṃ karma teṣāṃ krūropasaṃhitam | kīrtayasva yathāvṛttaṃ paraṃ kautūhalaṃ mama

That deed of theirs was utterly cruel, carried out on a cruel man's advice. Tell it as it happened; my curiosity is great.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 19 (1.154.19)

शृणु विस्तरशो राजन्वदतो मे परन्तप । दाहं जतुगृहस्यैतत्पाण्डवानां च मोक्षणम् ॥

śṛṇu vistaraśo rājanvadato me parantapa | dāhaṃ jatugṛhasyaitatpāṇḍavānāṃ ca mokṣaṇam

Listen, O king, scorcher of foes, as I tell in detail this burning of the house of lac and the escape of the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 20 (1.154.20)

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा धृतराष्ट्रमभाषत । पाण्डवेभ्यो भयं नः स्यात्तान्विवासयतां भवान् । निपुणेनाभ्युपायेन नगरं वारणावतम् ॥

tato duryodhano rājā dhṛtarāṣṭramabhāṣata | pāṇḍavebhyo bhayaṃ naḥ syāttānvivāsayatāṃ bhavān | nipuṇenābhyupāyena nagaraṃ vāraṇāvatam

Then King Duryodhana said to Dhritarashtra: "We may come to fear the Pandavas. Have them sent away, by some skilful device, to the town of Varanavata."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; cf. CE apparatus 1.130.1*1444, lines 6–8).

Verse 21 (1.154.21)

धृतराष्ट्रस्तु पुत्रेण श्रुत्वा वचनमीरितम् । मुहूर्तमिव संचिन्त्य दुर्योधनमथाब्रवीत् ॥

dhṛtarāṣṭrastu putreṇa śrutvā vacanamīritam | muhūrtamiva saṃcintya duryodhanamathābravīt

When Dhritarashtra heard the words his son had spoken, he reflected for a moment and then said to Duryodhana:

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.130.1 (which reads putrasya … vacanam īdṛśam).

Verse 22 (1.154.22)

धर्मनित्यः सदा पाण्डुस्तथा धर्मपरायणः । सर्वेषु ज्ञातिषु तथा मयि त्वासीद्विशेषतः ॥

dharmanityaḥ sadā pāṇḍustathā dharmaparāyaṇaḥ | sarveṣu jñātiṣu tathā mayi tvāsīdviśeṣataḥ

"Pandu was always constant in dharma and devoted to it. So he behaved towards all his kinsmen, and towards me above all."

Verse 23 (1.154.23)

नासौ किंचिद्विजानाति भोजनादिचिकीर्षितम् । निवेदयति नित्यं हि मम राज्यं धृतव्रतः ॥

nāsau kiṃcidvijānāti bhojanādicikīrṣitam | nivedayati nityaṃ hi mama rājyaṃ dhṛtavrataḥ

"He gave no thought to his own wants, not even to food or anything else he might wish for; that man of firm vows always laid the kingdom before me."

Verse 24 (1.154.24)

तस्य पुत्रो यथा पाण्डुस्तथा धर्मपरायणः । गुणवान्लोकविख्यातः पौरवाणां सुसंमतः ॥

tasya putro yathā pāṇḍustathā dharmaparāyaṇaḥ | guṇavānlokavikhyātaḥ pauravāṇāṃ susaṃmataḥ

"His son is as devoted to dharma as Pandu was: virtuous, renowned in the world, and highly esteemed by the Pauravas."

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.130.4 (which reads paurāṇāṃ ca for पौरवाणां).

Verse 25 (1.154.25)

स कथं शक्यतेऽस्माभिरपाकर्तुं बलादितः । पितृपैतामहाद्राज्यात्ससहायो विशेषतः ॥

sa kathaṃ śakyate'smābhirapākartuṃ balāditaḥ | pitṛpaitāmahādrājyātsasahāyo viśeṣataḥ

"How can we drive him by force from here, from the kingdom of his father and grandfather — above all when he has allies?"

Note on the text: Corrected पितृपैतामाहाद् → पितृपैतामहाद् (misprint in Wikisource; stray long ā; the critical edition reads pitṛpaitāmahād).

Verse 26 (1.154.26)

भृता हि पाण्डुनाऽमात्या बलं च सततं भृतम् । भृताः पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च तेषामपि विशेषतः ॥

bhṛtā hi pāṇḍunā'mātyā balaṃ ca satataṃ bhṛtam | bhṛtāḥ putrāśca pautrāśca teṣāmapi viśeṣataḥ

"For Pandu maintained the ministers and constantly maintained the army; and he maintained their sons and grandsons too, with special care."

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.130.6.

Verse 27 (1.154.27)

ते पुरा सत्कृतास्तात पाण्डुना नागरा जनाः । कथं युधिष्ठिरस्यार्थे न नो हन्युः सबान्धवान् ॥

te purā satkṛtāstāta pāṇḍunā nāgarā janāḥ | kathaṃ yudhiṣṭhirasyārthe na no hanyuḥ sabāndhavān

"The townspeople were honoured by Pandu in the past, my son. Why would they not kill us and our kin for Yudhishthira's sake?"

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.130.7 (which reads pauravā for नागरा).

Verse 28 (1.154.28)

एवमेतन्मया तात भावितं दोषमात्मनि । दृष्ट्वा प्रकृतयः सर्वा अर्थमानेन पूजिताः ॥

evametanmayā tāta bhāvitaṃ doṣamātmani | dṛṣṭvā prakṛtayaḥ sarvā arthamānena pūjitāḥ

"Father, I too had foreseen this danger to myself. Seeing it, I have won over all the subjects with wealth and honours."

Verse 29 (1.154.29)

ध्रुवमस्मत्सहायास्ते भविष्यन्ति प्रधानतः । अर्थवर्गः सहामात्यो मत्संस्थोऽद्य महीपते ॥

dhruvamasmatsahāyāste bhaviṣyanti pradhānataḥ | arthavargaḥ sahāmātyo matsaṃstho'dya mahīpate

"They will surely be our allies, and their leading men above all. The treasury and the ministers, lord of the earth, are in my hands today."

Verse 30 (1.154.30)

स भवान्पाण्डवानाशु विवासयितुमर्हति । मृदुनैवाभ्युपायेन नगरं वारणावतम् ॥

sa bhavānpāṇḍavānāśu vivāsayitumarhati | mṛdunaivābhyupāyena nagaraṃ vāraṇāvatam

"So you should quickly send the Pandavas away to the town of Varanavata, by some gentle means."

Verse 31 (1.154.31)

यदा प्रतिष्ठितं राज्यं मयि राजन्भविष्यति । तदा कुन्ती सहापत्या पुनरेष्यति भारत ॥

yadā pratiṣṭhitaṃ rājyaṃ mayi rājanbhaviṣyati | tadā kuntī sahāpatyā punareṣyati bhārata

"When the kingdom is firmly settled on me, O king, then Kunti will come back with her children, O Bharata."

Verse 32 (1.154.32)

दुर्योधन ममाप्येतद्धृदि संपरिवर्तते । अभिप्रायस्य पापत्वान्नैवं तु विवृणोम्यहम् ॥

duryodhana mamāpyetaddhṛdi saṃparivartate | abhiprāyasya pāpatvānnaivaṃ tu vivṛṇomyaham

"Duryodhana, this same thought turns in my heart as well, but because the intention is sinful I do not reveal it."

Verse 33 (1.154.33)

न च भीष्मो न च द्रोणो न च क्षत्ता न गौतमः । विवास्यमानान्कौन्तेयाननुमंस्यन्ति कर्हिचित् ॥

na ca bhīṣmo na ca droṇo na ca kṣattā na gautamaḥ | vivāsyamānānkaunteyānanumaṃsyanti karhicit

"Neither Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Vidura the steward, nor Kripa Gautama will ever consent to the sons of Kunti being banished."

Verse 34 (1.154.34)

समा हि कौरवेयाणां वयं ते चैव पुत्रक । नैते विषममिच्छेयुर्धर्मयुक्ता मनस्विनः ॥

samā hi kauraveyāṇāṃ vayaṃ te caiva putraka | naite viṣamamiccheyurdharmayuktā manasvinaḥ

"To those Kurus, my son, we and they are equal. Righteous and high-minded as they are, they would not want any unfair dealing."

Verse 35 (1.154.35)

ते वयं कौरवेयाणामेतेषां च महात्मनाम् । कथं न वध्यतां तात गच्छाम जगतस्तथा ॥

te vayaṃ kauraveyāṇāmeteṣāṃ ca mahātmanām | kathaṃ na vadhyatāṃ tāta gacchāma jagatastathā

"How then, my son, should we not deserve death at the hands of these Kurus and these great-souled men, and of the whole world as well?"

Verse 36 (1.154.36)

मध्यस्थः सततं भीष्मो द्रोणपुत्रो मयि स्थितः । यतः पुत्रस्ततो द्रोणो भविता नात्र संशयः ॥

madhyasthaḥ satataṃ bhīṣmo droṇaputro mayi sthitaḥ | yataḥ putrastato droṇo bhavitā nātra saṃśayaḥ

"Bhishma is always neutral; Drona's son stands with me. Where the son is, there Drona will be — of that there is no doubt."

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.130.16.

Verse 37 (1.154.37)

कृपः शारद्वतश्चैव यत एतौ ततो भवेत् । द्रोणं च भागिनेयं च न स त्यक्ष्यति कर्हिचित् ॥

kṛpaḥ śāradvataścaiva yata etau tato bhavet | droṇaṃ ca bhāgineyaṃ ca na sa tyakṣyati karhicit

"And Kripa, son of Sharadvat, will be where those two are; he will never abandon Drona and his sister's son."

Verse 38 (1.154.38)

क्षत्ताऽर्थबद्धस्त्वस्माकं प्रच्छन्नं संयतः परैः । न चैकः स समर्थोऽस्मान्पाण्डवार्थेऽधिबाधितुम् ॥

kṣattā'rthabaddhastvasmākaṃ pracchannaṃ saṃyataḥ paraiḥ | na caikaḥ sa samartho'smānpāṇḍavārthe'dhibādhitum

"Vidura the steward is bound to us by wealth, though secretly he is tied to our enemies. And on his own he cannot harm us for the Pandavas' sake."

Note on the text: Corrected पाम्डवार्थे → पाण्डवार्थे (misprint in Wikisource; म् for ण्).

Verse 39 (1.154.39)

सुविस्रब्धः पाण्डुपुत्रान्सह मात्रा प्रवासय । वारणावतमद्यैव यथा यान्ति तथा कुरु ॥

suvisrabdhaḥ pāṇḍuputrānsaha mātrā pravāsaya | vāraṇāvatamadyaiva yathā yānti tathā kuru

"Set your mind at rest and send the sons of Pandu away with their mother to Varanavata this very day. See to it that they go."

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.130.19 (its second line differs: nātra doṣo bhaviṣyati). Corrected यथा कुरु → तथा कुरु (misprint in Wikisource; the correlative of यथा यान्ति).

Verse 40 (1.154.40)

विनिद्रकरणं घोरं हृदि शल्यमिवार्पितम् । शोकपावकमुद्भूतं कर्मणैतेन नाशय ॥

vinidrakaraṇaṃ ghoraṃ hṛdi śalyamivārpitam | śokapāvakamudbhūtaṃ karmaṇaitena nāśaya

"This dreadful thing robs me of sleep; it is lodged in my heart like a dart. By this deed, put out the fire of grief that has flared up in me."

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 1.130.20.