The Burning of the House of Lac

Verse 1 (1.160.1)

तांस्तु दृष्ट्वा सुमनसः परिसंवत्सरोषितान् । विश्वस्तानिव संलक्ष्य हर्षं चक्रे पुरोचनः ॥

tāṃstu dṛṣṭvā sumanasaḥ parisaṃvatsaroṣitān | viśvastāniva saṃlakṣya harṣaṃ cakre purocanaḥ

Seeing them in good spirits after they had lived there a full year, and taking them to trust him, Purochana was delighted.

Verse 2 (1.160.2)

स तु संचिन्तयामास प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना । प्राप्तकालमिदं मन्ये पाण्डवानां विनाशने ॥

sa tu saṃcintayāmāsa prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā | prāptakālamidaṃ manye pāṇḍavānāṃ vināśane

With a glad heart he thought to himself: "I believe the time has come to destroy the Pandavas."

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus *1473, after 1.136.1).

Verse 3 (1.160.3)

तमस्यान्तर्गतं भावं विज्ञाय कुरुपुङ्गवः । चिन्तयामास मतिमान्धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥

tamasyāntargataṃ bhāvaṃ vijñāya kurupuṅgavaḥ | cintayāmāsa matimāndharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Understanding what was in his mind, the wise Yudhishthira, son of Dharma and bull among the Kurus, took thought.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (quote mark and doubled danda). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus *1473, after 1.136.1).

Verse 4 (1.160.4)

पुरोचने तथा हृष्टे कौन्तेयोऽथ युधिष्ठिरः । भीमसेनार्जुनौ चोभौ यमौ प्रोवाच धर्मवित् ॥

purocane tathā hṛṣṭe kaunteyo'tha yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | bhīmasenārjunau cobhau yamau provāca dharmavit

With Purochana so pleased, Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, who knew dharma, spoke to Bhimasena and Arjuna both, and to the twins:

Verse 5 (1.160.5)

अस्मानयं सुविश्वस्तान्वेत्ति पापः पुरोचनः । वञ्चितोऽयं नृशंसात्मा कालं मन्ये पलायने ॥

asmānayaṃ suviśvastānvetti pāpaḥ purocanaḥ | vañcito'yaṃ nṛśaṃsātmā kālaṃ manye palāyane

"The wicked Purochana thinks we trust him completely. The cruel man has been fooled; I think the time has come to flee.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Yudhishthira (verse 4 introduces his words; the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 6 (1.160.6)

आयुधागारमादीप्य दग्ध्वा चैव पुरोचनम् । षट्प्राणिनो निधायेह द्रवामोऽनभिलक्षिताः ॥

āyudhāgāramādīpya dagdhvā caiva purocanam | ṣaṭprāṇino nidhāyeha dravāmo'nabhilakṣitāḥ

Let us set fire to the armoury, burn Purochana as well, leave six living beings here, and slip away unseen."

Note on the text: Speaker set to Yudhishthira (verse 4 introduces his words; the input carried Vaishampayana over).

Verse 7 (1.160.7)

अथ दानापदेशेन कुन्ती ब्राह्मणभोजनम् । चक्रे निशि महाराज आजग्मुस्तत्र योषितः ॥

atha dānāpadeśena kuntī brāhmaṇabhojanam | cakre niśi mahārāja ājagmustatra yoṣitaḥ

Then, on the pretext of almsgiving, Kunti gave a feast for brahmins at night, great king, and women came there too.

Verse 8 (1.160.8)

ता विहृत्य यथाकामं भुक्त्वा पीत्वा च भारत । जग्मुर्निशि गृहानेव समनुज्ञाप्य माधवीम् ॥

tā vihṛtya yathākāmaṃ bhuktvā pītvā ca bhārata | jagmurniśi gṛhāneva samanujñāpya mādhavīm

When they had enjoyed themselves as they pleased and had eaten and drunk, O Bharata, they took leave of Madhavi and went home that night.

Note on the text: Corrected निशिं → निशि (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara, critical edition niśi).

Verse 9 (1.160.9)

पुरोचनप्रणिहिता पृथां या सेवते सदा । निषादी दुष्टहृदया नित्यमन्तरचारिणी ॥

purocanapraṇihitā pṛthāṃ yā sevate sadā | niṣādī duṣṭahṛdayā nityamantaracāriṇī

A Nishada woman planted by Purochana, who was always waiting on Pritha, wicked at heart and forever moving about the inner rooms,

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus *1474, after 1.136.6).

Verse 10 (1.160.10)

निषादी पञ्चपुत्रा सा तस्मिन्भोज्ये यदृच्छया । पुराभ्यासकृतस्नेहा सखी कुन्त्याः सुतैः सह ॥

niṣādī pañcaputrā sā tasminbhojye yadṛcchayā | purābhyāsakṛtasnehā sakhī kuntyāḥ sutaiḥ saha

that Nishada woman, mother of five sons, came by chance to the feast; long acquaintance had made her Kunti's friend, and she came with her sons.

Note on the text: First line = CE 1.136.7ab; second line not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus *1475).

Verse 11 (1.160.11)

आनीय मधुमूलानि फलानि विविधानि च । अन्नार्थिनी समभ्यागात्सपुत्रा कालचोदिता । सुपापा पञ्चपुत्रा च सा पृथायाः सखी मता ॥

ānīya madhumūlāni phalāni vividhāni ca | annārthinī samabhyāgātsaputrā kālacoditā | supāpā pañcaputrā ca sā pṛthāyāḥ sakhī matā

Bringing honey, roots and fruits of many kinds, she came looking for food with her sons, driven by fate: a very wicked woman with five sons, who passed for Pritha's friend.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (quote mark and doubled danda). First line from CE apparatus *1475, second line = CE 1.136.7cd, third line from CE apparatus *1476; the first and third lines are not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 12 (1.160.12)

सा पीत्वा मदिरां मत्ता सपुत्रा मदविह्वला । सह सर्वैः सुतै राजंस्तस्मिन्नेव निवेशने ॥

sā pītvā madirāṃ mattā saputrā madavihvalā | saha sarvaiḥ sutai rājaṃstasminneva niveśane

She drank liquor and grew drunk, she and her sons, reeling with it; and there, O king, with all her sons, in that very house,

Note on the text: Aligned by hand with CE 1.136.8ab–cd.

Verse 13 (1.160.13)

सुष्वाप विगतज्ञाना मृतकल्पा नराधिप । अथ प्रवाते तुमुले निशि सुप्ते जने तदा ॥

suṣvāpa vigatajñānā mṛtakalpā narādhipa | atha pravāte tumule niśi supte jane tadā

she fell asleep, senseless and like one dead, O lord of men. Then, in the night, while a fierce wind was blowing and everyone was asleep,

Note on the text: Aligned by hand: first line = CE 1.136.8ef, second line = 1.136.9ab.

Verse 14 (1.160.14)

तदुपादीपयद्भीमः शेते यत्र पुरोचनः । ततो जतुगृहद्वारं दीपयामास पाण्डवः ॥

tadupādīpayadbhīmaḥ śete yatra purocanaḥ | tato jatugṛhadvāraṃ dīpayāmāsa pāṇḍavaḥ

Bhima set fire to the place where Purochana slept. Then the son of Pandu set the door of the house of lac alight.

Note on the text: First line = CE 1.136.9cd; second line not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus *1477).

Verse 15 (1.160.15)

समन्ततो ददौ पश्चादग्निं तत्र निवेशने । पूर्वमेव गृहं शोध्य भीमसेनो महामतिः ॥

samantato dadau paścādagniṃ tatra niveśane | pūrvameva gṛhaṃ śodhya bhīmaseno mahāmatiḥ

After that he set fire all around the dwelling. The wise Bhimasena had first made the house ready

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`) before the second line. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus *1477–*1478, after 1.136.9).

Verse 16 (1.160.16)

पाण्डवैः सहितां कुन्तीं प्रावेशयत तद्बिलम् । दत्त्वाग्निं सहसा भीमो गृहे तत्परितः सुधीः ॥

pāṇḍavaiḥ sahitāṃ kuntīṃ prāveśayata tadbilam | dattvāgniṃ sahasā bhīmo gṛhe tatparitaḥ sudhīḥ

and had sent Kunti down into the tunnel with the Pandavas. Then, quickly setting the house ablaze all around, the clever Bhima

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus *1478–*1479, after 1.136.9).

Verse 17 (1.160.17)

गृहस्थं द्रविणं गृह्य निर्जगाम बिलेन सः । ज्ञात्वा तु तद्गृहं सर्वमादीप्तं पाण्डुनन्दनाः ॥

gṛhasthaṃ draviṇaṃ gṛhya nirjagāma bilena saḥ | jñātvā tu tadgṛhaṃ sarvamādīptaṃ pāṇḍunandanāḥ

took the valuables that were in the house and went out through the tunnel. Knowing that the whole house was ablaze, the sons of Pandu,

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (') after the first line. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus *1477–*1479, after 1.136.9).

Verse 18 (1.160.18)

सुरङ्गां विविशुस्तूर्णं मात्रा सार्धमरिन्दमाः । ततः प्रतापः सुमहाञ्छब्दश्चैव विभावसोः ॥

suraṅgāṃ viviśustūrṇaṃ mātrā sārdhamarindamāḥ | tataḥ pratāpaḥ sumahāñchabdaścaiva vibhāvasoḥ

tamers of their foes, quickly entered the tunnel with their mother. Then a great heat and the roar of the fire

Note on the text: First line not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus *1477); second line = CE 1.136.10ab.

Verse 19 (1.160.19)

प्रादुरासीत्तदा तेन बुबुधे स जनव्रजः । तदवेक्ष्य गृहं दीप्तमाहुः पौराः कृशाननाः ॥

prādurāsīttadā tena bubudhe sa janavrajaḥ | tadavekṣya gṛhaṃ dīptamāhuḥ paurāḥ kṛśānanāḥ

rose up, and with it the crowds of people woke. Seeing the house ablaze, the townspeople, their faces drawn, said:

Note on the text: First line = CE 1.136.10cd; second line not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus *1480).

Verse 20 (1.160.20)

दुर्योधनप्रयुक्तेन पापेनाकृतबुद्धिना । गृहमात्मविनाशाय कारितं दाहितं च तत् ॥

duryodhanaprayuktena pāpenākṛtabuddhinā | gṛhamātmavināśāya kāritaṃ dāhitaṃ ca tat

"Set on by Duryodhana, that wicked fool had this house built for his own ruin, and has had it burned.

Note on the text: Speaker set to the citizens (verse 19 announces their words; the input carried Vaishampayana over, and the critical edition heads them paurā ūcuḥ).

Verse 21 (1.160.21)

अहो धिग्धृतराष्ट्रस्य बुद्धिर्नातिसमञ्जसा । यः शुचीन्पाण्डुदायादान्दाहयामास शत्रुवत् ॥

aho dhigdhṛtarāṣṭrasya buddhirnātisamañjasā | yaḥ śucīnpāṇḍudāyādāndāhayāmāsa śatruvat

Shame on Dhritarashtra! His judgement is far from just, for he has had the pure heirs of Pandu burned as if they were his enemies.

Note on the text: Speaker set to the citizens (verse 19 announces their words; the input carried Vaishampayana over, and the critical edition heads them paurā ūcuḥ).

Verse 22 (1.160.22)

दिष्ट्या त्विदानीं पापात्मा दग्ध्वा दग्धः पुरोचनः । अनागसः सुविश्वस्तान्यो ददाह नरोत्तमान् ॥

diṣṭyā tvidānīṃ pāpātmā dagdhvā dagdhaḥ purocanaḥ | anāgasaḥ suviśvastānyo dadāha narottamān

It is a mercy that the wicked Purochana, having burned them, has now been burned himself, he who burned these blameless, trusting best of men."

Note on the text: Speaker set to the citizens (verse 19 announces their words; the input carried Vaishampayana over, and the critical edition heads them paurā ūcuḥ). Separated पापात्मादग्ध्वा → पापात्मा दग्ध्वा (word space missing in Wikisource; run together it can be read as "without burning", against the sense).

Verse 23 (1.160.23)

एवं ते विलपन्ति स्म वारणावतका जनाः । परिवार्य गृहं तच्च तस्थू रात्रौ समन्ततः ॥

evaṃ te vilapanti sma vāraṇāvatakā janāḥ | parivārya gṛhaṃ tacca tasthū rātrau samantataḥ

So the people of Varanavata lamented, and they stood around that house all through the night.

Verse 24 (1.160.24)

पाण्डवाश्चापि ते सर्वे सह मात्रा सुदुःखिताः । बिलेन तेन निर्गत्य जग्मुर्द्रुतमलक्षिताः ॥

pāṇḍavāścāpi te sarve saha mātrā suduḥkhitāḥ | bilena tena nirgatya jagmurdrutamalakṣitāḥ

And the Pandavas, all of them, sorely distressed, came out with their mother through that tunnel and went swiftly away, unseen.

Verse 25 (1.160.25)

तेन निद्रोपरोधेन साध्वसेन च पाण्डवाः । न शेकुः सहसा गन्तुं सह मात्रा परन्तपाः ॥

tena nidroparodhena sādhvasena ca pāṇḍavāḥ | na śekuḥ sahasā gantuṃ saha mātrā parantapāḥ

But for want of sleep and for fear, the Pandavas, scorchers of foes, could not travel fast with their mother.

Verse 26 (1.160.26)

भीमसेनस्तु राजेन्द्र भीमवेगपराक्रमः । जगाम भ्रातॄनादाय सर्वान्मातरमेव च ॥

bhīmasenastu rājendra bhīmavegaparākramaḥ | jagāma bhrātṝnādāya sarvānmātarameva ca

Then Bhimasena, O king of kings, terrible in speed and valour, went on, carrying all his brothers and his mother.

Verse 27 (1.160.27)

स्कन्धमारोप्य जननीं यमावङ्केन वीर्यवान् । पार्थौ गृहीत्वा पाणिभ्यां भ्रातरौ सुमहाबलः ॥

skandhamāropya jananīṃ yamāvaṅkena vīryavān | pārthau gṛhītvā pāṇibhyāṃ bhrātarau sumahābalaḥ

Setting his mother on his shoulder and the twins on his hips, the mighty hero took his two brothers, the other sons of Pritha, by the hand,

Verse 28 (1.160.28)

उरसा पादपान्भञ्जन्महीं पद्भ्यां विदारयन् । स जगामाशु तेजस्वी वातरंहा वृकोदरः ॥

urasā pādapānbhañjanmahīṃ padbhyāṃ vidārayan | sa jagāmāśu tejasvī vātaraṃhā vṛkodaraḥ

and, breaking down trees with his chest and tearing up the earth with his feet, the splendid Vrikodara sped on, swift as the wind.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand with CE 1.136.19 (Wikisource reads उरसा for tarasā).