Chapter 20: The Pāṇḍavas secretly escape after burning the lac house and are believed dead. Dhṛtarāṣṭra publicly mourns while Vidura conceals the truth.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
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विदुरस्य सुहृत्कश्चित्खनकः कुशलः क्वचित् । विविक्ते पाण्डवान्राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥BORI: १-१३५-१॥
O king, at one point a certain friend of Vidura’s, a skilled miner, spoke these words to the Pandavas in private: (BORI: 1-135-1)
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प्रहितो विदुरेणास्मि खनकः कुशलो भृशम् । पाण्डवानां प्रियं कार्यमिति किं करवाणि वः ॥BORI: १-१३५-२॥
Vidura has sent me. I am a highly skilled miner, charged with serving the Pāṇḍavas’ interests. What can I do for you? (BORI: 1-135-2)
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कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां रात्रावस्य पुरोचनः । भवनस्य तव द्वारि प्रदास्यति हुताशनम् ॥BORI: १-१३५-४॥
On the night of the fourteenth day of the waning moon, Purocana will set fire to the door of your house. (BORI: 1-135-4)
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मात्रा सह प्रदग्धव्याः पाण्डवाः पुरुषर्षभाः । इति व्यवसितं पार्थ धार्तराष्ट्रस्य मे श्रुतम् ॥BORI: १-१३५-५॥
“The Pāṇḍavas, those bulls among men, are to be burned to death with their mother.” This, Pārtha, is the plan of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son, as I have heard. (BORI: 1-135-5)
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किञ्चिच्च विदुरेणोक्तो म्लेच्छवाचासि पाण्डव । त्वया च तत्तथेत्युक्तमेतद्विश्वासकारणम् ॥BORI: १-१३५-६॥
Vidura said something to you in the language of the Mlecchas, O Pandava, and you replied, “So be it.” This is the basis for your trusting me. (BORI: 1-135-6)
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उवाच तं सत्यधृतिः कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । अभिजानामि सौम्य त्वां सुहृदं विदुरस्य वै ॥BORI: १-१३५-७॥
Yudhishthira, Kunti’s son, steadfast in truth, said to him, “Good sir, I recognize you as a true friend of Vidura.” (BORI: 1-135-7)
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शुचिमाप्तं प्रियं चैव सदा च दृढभक्तिकम् । न विद्यते कवेः किञ्चिदभिज्ञानप्रयोजनम् ॥BORI: १-१३५-८॥
—pure, trustworthy, dear, and always steadfastly devoted. No token of identification from the wise man is needed. (BORI: 1-135-8)
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यथा नः स तथा नस्त्वं निर्विशेषा वयं त्वयि । भवतः स्म यथा तस्य पालयास्मान्यथा कविः ॥BORI: १-१३५-९॥
As he is to us, so are you; we regard you no differently. We are yours just as we are his. Protect us as that wise man would. (BORI: 1-135-9)
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इदं शरणमाग्नेयं मदर्थमिति मे मतिः । पुरोचनेन विहितं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य शासनात् ॥BORI: १-१३५-१०॥
I believe that this inflammable shelter was built for my sake by Purocana at the command of Dhritarashtra’s son. (BORI: 1-135-10)
[PV-KDV:01_026_11] (Jaya)
स पापः कोशवांश्चैव ससहायश्च दुर्मतिः । अस्मानपि च दुष्टात्मा नित्यकालं प्रबाधते ॥BORI: १-१३५-११॥
He is wicked, wealthy, supported by allies, and malevolent; that evil-hearted man is forever persecuting us as well. (BORI: 1-135-11)
[PV-KDV:01_026_12] (Jaya)
स भवान्मोक्षयत्वस्मान्यत्नेनास्माद्धुताशनात् । अस्मास्विह हि दग्धेषु सकामः स्यात्सुयोधनः ॥BORI: १-१३५-१२॥
Therefore, you must make every effort to rescue us from this fire, for if we are burned to death here, Suyodhana will have his wish. (BORI: 1-135-12)
[PV-KDV:01_026_13] (Jaya)
समृद्धमायुधागारमिदं तस्य दुरात्मनः । वप्रान्ते निष्प्रतीकारमाश्लिष्येदं कृतं महत् ॥BORI: १-१३५-१३॥
This great, well-stocked arsenal of that wicked man was built against the edge of the rampart, with no means of escape. (BORI: 1-135-13)
[PV-KDV:01_026_14] (Jaya)
इदं तदशुभं नूनं तस्य कर्म चिकीर्षितम् । प्रागेव विदुरो वेद तेनास्मानन्वबोधयत् ॥BORI: १-१३५-१४॥
This surely is the evil deed he intended to commit. Vidura knew of it beforehand and therefore warned us. (BORI: 1-135-14)
[PV-KDV:01_026_15] (Jaya)
सेयमापदनुप्राप्ता क्षत्ता यां दृष्टवान्पुरा । पुरोचनस्याविदितानस्मांस्त्वं विप्रमोचय ॥BORI: १-१३५-१५॥
This is the very danger that Kshatta foresaw long ago. Rescue us without Purocana’s knowledge. (BORI: 1-135-15)
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स तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य खनको यत्नमास्थितः । परिखामुत्किरन्नाम चकार सुमहद्बिलम् ॥BORI: १-१३५-१६॥
The miner agreed, saying, “So be it,” and diligently set to work. On the pretext of digging a moat, he made a very large tunnel. (BORI: 1-135-16)
[PV-KDV:01_026_17] (Jaya)
चक्रे च वेश्मनस्तस्य मध्ये नातिमहन्मुखम् । कपाटयुक्तमज्ञातं समं भूम्या च भारत ॥BORI: १-१३५-१७॥
In the middle of that house he made an inconspicuous opening, not very large, fitted with a door and level with the ground, O Bharata. (BORI: 1-135-17)
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पुरोचनभयाच्चैव व्यदधात्संवृतं मुखम् । स तत्र च गृहद्वारि वसत्यशुभधीः सदा ॥BORI: १-१३५-१८॥
For fear of Purocana, he kept the opening concealed. That evil-minded man always stayed there at the doorway of the house. (BORI: 1-135-18)
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तत्र ते सायुधाः सर्वे वसन्ति स्म क्षपां नृप । दिवा चरन्ति मृगयां पाण्डवेया वनाद्वनम् ॥BORI: १-१३५-१९॥
There, O king, they all spent the nights armed, while by day the sons of Pandu roamed from forest to forest, hunting. (BORI: 1-135-19)
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विश्वस्तवदविश्वस्ता वञ्चयन्तः पुरोचनम् । अतुष्टास्तुष्टवद्राजन्नूषुः परमदुःखिताः ॥BORI: १-१३५-२०॥
Feigning trust while remaining wary, they deceived Purocana. Though discontented, they appeared content, O king, and lived there in profound misery. (BORI: 1-135-20)
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न चैनानन्वबुध्यन्त नरा नगरवासिनः । अन्यत्र विदुरामात्यात्तस्मात्खनकसत्तमात् ॥BORI: १-१३५-२१॥
Nor did the inhabitants of the city see through them, except for Vidura’s minister, that master miner. (BORI: 1-135-21)
[PV-KDV:01_026_22] (Jaya)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
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तांस्तु दृष्ट्वा सुमनसः परिसंवत्सरोषितान् । विश्वस्तानिव संलक्ष्य हर्षं चक्रे पुरोचनः ॥BORI: १-१३६-१॥
Seeing that they were cheerful after living there for a full year, and judging them to be unsuspecting, Purochana rejoiced. (BORI: 1-136-1)
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पुरोचने तथा हृष्टे कौन्तेयोऽथ युधिष्ठिरः । भीमसेनार्जुनौ चैव यमौ चोवाच धर्मवित् ॥BORI: १-१३६-२॥
When Purocana was thus delighted, Kunti’s son Yudhishthira, who knew dharma, addressed Bhimasena, Arjuna, and the twins: (BORI: 1-136-2)
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अस्मानयं सुविश्वस्तान्वेत्ति पापः पुरोचनः । वञ्चितोऽयं नृशंसात्मा कालं मन्ये पलायने ॥BORI: १-१३६-३॥
The wicked Purocana believes us completely unsuspecting. This cruel-hearted man has been deceived; I think it is time for us to escape. (BORI: 1-136-3)
[PV-KDV:01_026_26] (Jaya)
आयुधागारमादीप्य दग्ध्वा चैव पुरोचनम् । षट्प्राणिनो निधायेह द्रवामोऽनभिलक्षिताः ॥BORI: १-१३६-४॥
Let us set fire to the arsenal and burn Purocana, leave six people here, and escape unnoticed. (BORI: 1-136-4)
[PV-KDV:01_026_27] (Jaya)
अथ दानापदेशेन कुन्ती ब्राह्मणभोजनम् । चक्रे निशि महद्राजन्नाजग्मुस्तत्र योषितः ॥BORI: १-१३६-५॥
Then, under the pretext of giving alms, Kunti held a great feast for Brahmins at night, O king, and women came there. (BORI: 1-136-5)
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ता विहृत्य यथाकामं भुक्त्वा पीत्वा च भारत । जग्मुर्निशि गृहानेव समनुज्ञाप्य माधवीम् ॥BORI: १-१३६-६॥
After enjoying themselves as they pleased, and eating and drinking, O Bharata, the women took their leave of Kunti and returned home that very night. (BORI: 1-136-6)
[PV-KDV:01_026_29] (Jaya)
निषादी पञ्चपुत्रा तु तस्मिन्भोज्ये यदृच्छया । अन्नार्थिनी समभ्यागात्सपुत्रा कालचोदिता ॥BORI: १-१३६-७॥
But by chance, a Nishada woman with five sons came with her children to that feast in search of food, driven there by fate. (BORI: 1-136-7)
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सा पीत्वा मदिरां मत्ता सपुत्रा मदविह्वला । सह सर्वैः सुतै राजंस्तस्मिन्नेव निवेशने । सुष्वाप विगतज्ञाना मृतकल्पा नराधिप ॥BORI: १-१३६-८॥
After drinking liquor, she became intoxicated and, overcome by drunkenness, fell asleep there in that very dwelling with all her sons, O king, unconscious and as if dead. (BORI: 1-136-8)
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अथ प्रवाते तुमुले निशि सुप्ते जने विभो । तदुपादीपयद्भीमः शेते यत्र पुरोचनः ॥BORI: १-१३६-९॥
Then, O lord, on a night when a fierce wind was blowing and the people were asleep, Bhima set fire to the place where Purocana lay. (BORI: 1-136-9)
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ततः प्रतापः सुमहाञ्शब्दश्चैव विभावसोः । प्रादुरासीत्तदा तेन बुबुधे स जनव्रजः ॥BORI: १-१३६-१०॥
Then the fire gave off tremendous heat and a great roar; at that, the crowd of people awoke. (BORI: 1-136-10)
[PV-KDV:01_026_33] (Jaya)
पौरा ऊचुः॥
The townspeople said:
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दुर्योधनप्रयुक्तेन पापेनाकृतबुद्धिना । गृहमात्मविनाशाय कारितं दाहितं च यत् ॥BORI: १-१३६-११॥
The house that the wicked fool acting at Duryodhana’s behest had built and set on fire to destroy them… (BORI: 1-136-11)
[PV-KDV:01_026_35] (Jaya)
अहो धिग्धृतराष्ट्रस्य बुद्धिर्नातिसमञ्जसी । यः शुचीन्पाण्डवान्बालान्दाहयामास मन्त्रिणा ॥BORI: १-१३६-१२॥
Alas, shame on Dhritarashtra! His judgment is far from sound, for through his minister he had the innocent young Pandavas burned. (BORI: 1-136-12)
[PV-KDV:01_026_36] (Jaya)
दिष्ट्या त्विदानीं पापात्मा दग्धोऽयमतिदुर्मतिः । अनागसः सुविश्वस्तान्यो ददाह नरोत्तमान् ॥BORI: १-१३६-१३॥
But fortunately, this wicked and utterly foolish man has now been burned—the man who burned those innocent, unsuspecting noblest of men. (BORI: 1-136-13)
[PV-KDV:01_026_37] (Jaya)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
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एवं ते विलपन्ति स्म वारणावतका जनाः । परिवार्य गृहं तच्च तस्थू रात्रौ समन्ततः ॥BORI: १-१३६-१४॥
Thus the people of Varanavata lamented, and that night they stood all around the house, surrounding it on every side. (BORI: 1-136-14)
[PV-KDV:01_026_39] (Jaya)
पाण्डवाश्चापि ते राजन्मात्रा सह सुदुःखिताः । बिलेन तेन निर्गत्य जग्मुर्गूढमलक्षिताः ॥BORI: १-१३६-१५॥
Meanwhile, O king, the deeply distressed Pandavas escaped with their mother through the tunnel and departed secretly, unobserved. (BORI: 1-136-15)
[PV-KDV:01_026_40] (Jaya)
तेन निद्रोपरोधेन साध्वसेन च पाण्डवाः । न शेकुः सहसा गन्तुं सह मात्रा परन्तपाः ॥BORI: १-१३६-१६॥
Because they had been deprived of sleep and were frightened, the Pāṇḍavas, those scorches of foes, could not travel swiftly with their mother. (BORI: 1-136-16)
[PV-KDV:01_026_41] (Jaya)
भीमसेनस्तु राजेन्द्र भीमवेगपराक्रमः । जगाम भ्रातृनादाय सर्वान्मातरमेव च ॥BORI: १-१३६-१७॥
But Bhimasena, O king, whose speed and prowess were formidable, set out carrying all his brothers and his mother as well. (BORI: 1-136-17)
[PV-KDV:01_026_42] (Jaya)
स्कन्धमारोप्य जननीं यमावङ्केन वीर्यवान् । पार्थौ गृहीत्वा पाणिभ्यां भ्रातरौ सुमहाबलौ ॥BORI: १-१३६-१८॥
The valiant one placed his mother on his shoulder and the twins against his side, and grasped in his hands his two immensely powerful brothers, the sons of Pritha... (BORI: 1-136-18)
[PV-KDV:01_026_43] (Jaya)
तरसा पादपान्भञ्जन्महीं पद्भ्यां विदारयन् । स जगामाशु तेजस्वी वातरंहा वृकोदरः ॥BORI: १-१३६-१९॥
Breaking trees by sheer force and tearing up the earth with his feet, the radiant Vṛkodara sped swiftly on, as fleet as the wind. (BORI: 1-136-19)
[PV-KDV:01_026_44] (Jaya)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
[PV-KDV:01_026_59] (Jaya)
अथ रात्र्यां व्यतीतायामशेषो नागरो जनः । तत्राजगाम त्वरितो दिदृक्षुः पाण्डुनन्दनान् ॥BORI: १-१३७-१॥
Then, when the night had passed, all the townspeople hurried there, eager to see the sons of Pandu. (BORI: 1-137-1)
[PV-KDV:01_026_60] (Jaya)
निर्वापयन्तो ज्वलनं ते जना ददृशुस्ततः । जातुषं तद्गृहं दग्धममात्यं च पुरोचनम् ॥BORI: १-१३७-२॥
As they extinguished the flames, the people saw that the house of lac had burned down, along with the minister Purocana. (BORI: 1-137-2)
[PV-KDV:01_026_61] (Jaya)
नूनं दुर्योधनेनेदं विहितं पापकर्मणा । पाण्डवानां विनाशाय इत्येवं चुक्रुषुर्जनाः ॥BORI: १-१३७-३॥
“Surely this was contrived by the wicked Duryodhana to destroy the Pandavas!” the people cried out. (BORI: 1-137-3)
[PV-KDV:01_026_62] (Jaya)
विदिते धृतराष्ट्रस्य धार्तराष्ट्रो न संशयः । दग्धवान्पाण्डुदायादान्न ह्येनं प्रतिषिद्धवान् ॥BORI: १-१३७-४॥
With Dhritarashtra’s knowledge, his son undoubtedly burned Pandu’s heirs, for Dhritarashtra did not restrain him. (BORI: 1-137-4)
[PV-KDV:01_026_63] (Jaya)
नूनं शान्तनवो भीष्मो न धर्ममनुवर्तते । द्रोणश्च विदुरश्चैव कृपश्चान्ये च कौरवाः ॥BORI: १-१३७-५॥
Surely Bhishma, son of Shantanu, does not follow dharma; nor do Drona, Vidura, Kripa, and the other Kauravas. (BORI: 1-137-5)
[PV-KDV:01_026_64] (Jaya)
ते वयं धृतराष्ट्रस्य प्रेषयामो दुरात्मनः । संवृत्तस्ते परः कामः पाण्डवान्दग्धवानसि ॥BORI: १-१३७-६॥
We shall send word to that evil-minded Dhritarashtra: “Your greatest wish has been fulfilled—you have burned the Pandavas.” (BORI: 1-137-6)
[PV-KDV:01_026_65] (Jaya)
ततो व्यपोहमानास्ते पाण्डवार्थे हुताशनम् । निषादीं ददृशुर्दग्धां पञ्चपुत्रामनागसम् ॥BORI: १-१३७-७॥
Then, as they cleared away the fire’s debris in search of the Pandavas, they saw an innocent Nishada woman burned to death with her five sons. (BORI: 1-137-7)
[PV-KDV:01_026_66] (Jaya)
खनकेन तु तेनैव वेश्म शोधयता बिलम् । पांसुभिः प्रत्यपिहितं पुरुषैस्तैरलक्षितम् ॥BORI: १-१३७-८॥
The tunnel had been covered over with earth by that same miner as he cleared the house, and it went unnoticed by those men. (BORI: 1-137-8)
[PV-KDV:01_026_67] (Jaya)
ततस्ते प्रेषयामासुर्धृतराष्ट्रस्य नागराः । पाण्डवानग्निना दग्धानमात्यं च पुरोचनम् ॥BORI: १-१३७-९॥
Then the townspeople sent word to Dhritarashtra that the Pandavas and his minister Purocana had been burned to death in the fire. (BORI: 1-137-9)
[PV-KDV:01_026_68] (Jaya)
श्रुत्वा तु धृतराष्ट्रस्तद्राजा सुमहदप्रियम् । विनाशं पाण्डुपुत्राणां विललाप सुदुःखितः ॥BORI: १-१३७-१०॥
When King Dhritarashtra heard the deeply distressing news of the sons of Pandu’s destruction, he lamented in profound grief. (BORI: 1-137-10)
[PV-KDV:01_026_69] (Jaya)
अद्य पाण्डुर्मृतो राजा भ्राता मम सुदुर्लभः । तेषु वीरेषु दग्धेषु मात्रा सह विशेषतः ॥BORI: १-१३७-११॥
Today King Pandu, my irreplaceable brother, has died anew, now that those heroes have been burned, especially together with their mother. (BORI: 1-137-11)
[PV-KDV:01_026_70] (Jaya)
गच्छन्तु पुरुषाः शीघ्रं नगरं वारणावतम् । सत्कारयन्तु तान्वीरान्कुन्तिराजसुतां च ताम् ॥BORI: १-१३७-१२॥
Let men go swiftly to the city of Varanavata and pay due honor to those heroes and to that daughter of the king of Kunti. (BORI: 1-137-12)
[PV-KDV:01_026_71] (Jaya)
कारयन्तु च कुल्यानि शुभ्राणि च महान्ति च । ये च तत्र मृतास्तेषां सुहृदोऽर्चन्तु तानपि ॥BORI: १-१३७-१३॥
Let them have large, gleaming funerary monuments built, and let them also honor the friends of those who died there. (BORI: 1-137-13)
[PV-KDV:01_026_72] (Jaya)
एवङ्गते मया शक्यं यद्यत्कारयितुं हितम् । पाण्डवानां च कुन्त्याश्च तत्सर्वं क्रियतां धनैः ॥BORI: १-१३७-१४॥
Now that matters have come to this, let everything beneficial that I can have done for the Pandavas and Kunti be carried out with my wealth. (BORI: 1-137-14)
[PV-KDV:01_026_73] (Jaya)
एवमुक्त्वा ततश्चक्रे ज्ञातिभिः परिवारितः । उदकं पाण्डुपुत्राणां धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः ॥BORI: १-१३७-१५॥
Having said this, Dhritarashtra, Ambika’s son, surrounded by his kinsmen, then offered water for the sons of Pandu. (BORI: 1-137-15)
[PV-KDV:01_026_74] (Jaya)
चुक्रुशुः कौरवाः सर्वे भृशं शोकपरायणाः । विदुरस्त्वल्पशश्चक्रे शोकं वेद परं हि सः ॥BORI: १-१३७-१६॥
All the Kauravas wailed, utterly overcome with grief. Vidura, however, grieved only a little, for he knew the truth. (BORI: 1-137-16)
[PV-KDV:01_026_75] (Jaya)
पाण्डवाश्चापि निर्गत्य नगराद्वारणावतात् । जवेन प्रययू राजन्दक्षिणां दिशमाश्रिताः ॥BORI: १-१३७-१७॥
The Pandavas too left the city of Varanavata and, heading south, traveled swiftly, O king. (BORI: 1-137-17)
[PV-KDV:01_026_76] (Jaya)