01.130
Core:Conversation between Dhritarastra and Duryodhana to banish Pandavas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
धृतराष्ट्रस्तु पुत्रस्य श्रुत्वा वचनमीदृशम् । मुहूर्तमिव सञ्चिन्त्य दुर्योधनमथाब्रवीत् ॥१-१३०-१॥
Then Dhṛtarāṣṭra, having heard such words from his son, reflected for a moment and then said to Duryodhana.
धर्मनित्यः सदा पाण्डुर्ममासीत्प्रियकृद्धितः । सर्वेषु ज्ञातिषु तथा मयि त्वासीद्विशेषतः ॥१-१३०-२॥
Pāṇḍu was always devoted to righteousness, and was dear and honored by me—especially more than all our relatives.
नास्य किञ्चिन्न जानामि भोजनादि चिकीर्षितम् । निवेदयति नित्यं हि मम राज्यं धृतव्रतः ॥१-१३०-३॥
I never knew any of his intentions—even regarding food; for he always dutifully informed me even about the kingdom.
तस्य पुत्रो यथा पाण्डुस्तथा धर्मपरायणः । गुणवाँल्लोकविख्यातः पौराणां च सुसंमतः ॥१-१३०-४॥
Just as Pāṇḍu was devoted to righteousness, so is his son—virtuous, world-renowned, and highly esteemed by the citizens.
स कथं शक्यमस्माभिरपक्रष्टुं बलादितः । पितृपैतामहाद्राज्यात्ससहायो विशेषतः ॥१-१३०-५॥
How can we forcibly remove him—especially when he has allies—from the kingdom that is his paternal and ancestral right?
भृता हि पाण्डुनामात्या बलं च सततं भृतम् । भृताः पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च तेषामपि विशेषतः ॥१-१३०-६॥
Pāṇḍu’s ministers and army were indeed constantly supported by him, and even their sons and grandsons were especially provided for.
ते पुरा सत्कृतास्तात पाण्डुना पौरवा जनाः । कथं युधिष्ठिरस्यार्थे न नो हन्युः सबान्धवान् ॥१-१३०-७॥
The Paurava people, who were formerly honored by Pāṇḍu, how would they not slay us and our kinsmen for the sake of Yudhiṣṭhira?
दुर्योधन उवाच॥
Duryodhana said:
एवमेतन्मया तात भावितं दोषमात्मनि । दृष्ट्वा प्रकृतयः सर्वा अर्थमानेन योजिताः ॥१-१३०-८॥
Thus, father, I have considered this fault in myself, and seeing it, I have gained the allegiance of all ministers by means of wealth.
ध्रुवमस्मत्सहायास्ते भविष्यन्ति प्रधानतः । अर्थवर्गः सहामात्यो मत्संस्थोऽद्य महीपते ॥१-१३०-९॥
Surely they will be our chief allies. The treasury along with the ministers is now under my control, O king.
स भवान्पाण्डवानाशु विवासयितुमर्हति । मृदुनैवाभ्युपायेन नगरं वारणावतम् ॥१-१३०-१०॥
Your honor should quickly exile the Pāṇḍavas to the city of Vāraṇāvata, using a gentle means.
यदा प्रतिष्ठितं राज्यं मयि राजन्भविष्यति । तदा कुन्ती सहापत्या पुनरेष्यति भारत ॥१-१३०-११॥
When the kingdom is firmly established in me, O king, then Kuntī along with her sons will return, O Bhārata.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said:
दुर्योधन ममाप्येतद्धृदि सम्परिवर्तते । अभिप्रायस्य पापत्वान्नैतत्तु विवृणोम्यहम् ॥१-१३०-१२॥
O Duryodhana, even in my heart this idea keeps turning; but due to the wickedness of the intent, I do not openly express it.
न च भीष्मो न च द्रोणो न क्षत्ता न च गौतमः । विवास्यमानान्कौन्तेयाननुमंस्यन्ति कर्हिचित् ॥१-१३०-१३॥
Neither Bhīṣma, nor Droṇa, nor Vidura, nor Kṛpa will ever approve the exile of the sons of Kuntī.
समा हि कौरवेयाणां वयमेते च पुत्रक । नैते विषममिच्छेयुर्धर्मयुक्ता मनस्विनः ॥१-१३०-१४॥
We and they are equal among the Kauravas, O son; these noble-minded ones, joined with dharma, would never desire injustice.
ते वयं कौरवेयाणामेतेषां च महात्मनाम् । कथं न वध्यतां तात गच्छेम जगतस्तथा ॥१-१३०-१५॥
If we, who are of the Kauravas and among these great souls, should act unjustly, O dear one, how can we then be worthy in the eyes of the world?
दुर्योधन उवाच॥
Duryodhana said:
मध्यस्थः सततं भीष्मो द्रोणपुत्रो मयि स्थितः । यतः पुत्रस्ततो द्रोणो भविता नात्र सांशयः ॥१-१३०-१६॥
Bhīṣma is always neutral, and Droṇa’s son is on my side; because of his son, Droṇa too will be with me—of this there is no doubt.
कृपः शारद्वतश्चैव यत एते त्रयस्ततः । द्रोणं च भागिनेयं च न स त्यक्ष्यति कर्हिचित् ॥१-१३०-१७॥
Kṛpa, the son of Śaradvat, and these three—since they are aligned—Droṇa will never abandon his nephew or them.
क्षत्तार्थबद्धस्त्वस्माकं प्रच्छन्नं तु यतः परे । न चैकः स समर्थोऽस्मान्पाण्डवार्थे प्रबाधितुम् ॥१-१३०-१८॥
Though Vidura may be secretly attached to the Pāṇḍavas, he is bound to our interests; and alone he is not capable of opposing us for their sake.
स विश्रब्धः पाण्डुपुत्रान्सह मात्रा विवासय । वारणावतमद्यैव नात्र दोषो भविष्यति ॥१-१३०-१९॥
Therefore, confidently exile the sons of Pāṇḍu along with their mother to Vāraṇāvata today itself. There will be no fault in this.
विनिद्रकरणं घोरं हृदि शल्यमिवार्पितम् । शोकपावकमुद्भूतं कर्मणैतेन नाशय ॥१-१३०-२०॥
Destroy by this act the dreadful sleepless thorn implanted in my heart—the fire of grief that has arisen.
