01.130
Core:Conversation between Dhritarastra and Duryodhana to banish Pandavas.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
dhṛtarāṣṭrastu putrasya śrutvā vacanamīdṛśam। muhūrtamiva sañcintya duryodhanamathābravīt॥1॥
Then Dhṛtarāṣṭra, having heard such words from his son, reflected for a moment and then said to Duryodhana.
dharmanityaḥ sadā pāṇḍurmamāsītpriyakṛddhitaḥ। sarveṣu jñātiṣu tathā mayi tvāsīdviśeṣataḥ॥2॥
Pāṇḍu was always devoted to righteousness, and was dear and honored by me—especially more than all our relatives.
nāsya kiñcinna jānāmi bhojanādi cikīrṣitam। nivedayati nityaṁ hi mama rājyaṁ dhṛtavrataḥ॥3॥
I never knew any of his intentions—even regarding food; for he always dutifully informed me even about the kingdom.
tasya putro yathā pāṇḍustathā dharmaparāyaṇaḥ। guṇavāṁllokavikhyātaḥ paurāṇāṁ ca susaṁmataḥ॥4॥
Just as Pāṇḍu was devoted to righteousness, so is his son—virtuous, world-renowned, and highly esteemed by the citizens.
sa kathaṁ śakyamasmābhirapekraṣṭuṁ balāditaḥ। pitṛpaitāmahādrājyātsasahāyo viśeṣataḥ॥5॥
How can we forcibly remove him—especially when he has allies—from the kingdom that is his paternal and ancestral right?
bhṛtā hi pāṇḍunāmātyā balaṁ ca satataṁ bhṛtam। bhṛtāḥ putrāśca pautrāśca teṣāmapi viśeṣataḥ॥6॥
Pāṇḍu’s ministers and army were indeed constantly supported by him, and even their sons and grandsons were especially provided for.
te purā satkṛtāstāta pāṇḍunā pauravā janāḥ। kathaṁ yudhiṣṭhirasyārthe na no hanyuḥ sabāndhavān॥7॥
The Paurava people, who were formerly honored by Pāṇḍu, how would they not slay us and our kinsmen for the sake of Yudhiṣṭhira?
duryodhana uvāca॥
Duryodhana said:
evametanmaya tāta bhāvitaṁ doṣamātmani। dṛṣṭvā prakṛtayaḥ sarvā arthamānena yojitāḥ॥8॥
Thus, father, I have considered this fault in myself, and seeing it, I have gained the allegiance of all ministers by means of wealth.
dhruvamasmatsahāyāste bhaviṣyanti pradhānataḥ। arthavargaḥ sahāmātyo matsaṁstho'dya mahīpate॥9॥
Surely they will be our chief allies. The treasury along with the ministers is now under my control, O king.
sa bhavānpāṇḍavānāśu vivāsayitumarhati। mṛdunaivābhyupāyena nagaraṁ vāraṇāvatam॥10॥
Your honor should quickly exile the Pāṇḍavas to the city of Vāraṇāvata, using a gentle means.
yadā pratiṣṭhitaṁ rājyaṁ mayi rājanbhaviṣyati। tadā kuntī sahāpatyā punareṣyati bhārata॥11॥
When the kingdom is firmly established in me, O king, then Kuntī along with her sons will return, O Bhārata.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said:
duryodhana mamāpyetaddhṛdi samparivartate। abhiprāyasya pāpatvānnaitattu vivṛṇomyaham॥12॥
O Duryodhana, even in my heart this idea keeps turning; but due to the wickedness of the intent, I do not openly express it.
na ca bhīṣmo na ca droṇo na kṣattā na ca gautamaḥ। vivāsyamānānkaunteyānanumaṁsyanti karhi cit॥13॥
Neither Bhīṣma, nor Droṇa, nor Vidura, nor Kṛpa will ever approve the exile of the sons of Kuntī.
samā hi kauraveyāṇāṁ vayamete ca putraka। naite viṣamamiccheyurdharmayuktā manasvinaḥ॥14॥
We and they are equal among the Kauravas, O son; these noble-minded ones, joined with dharma, would never desire injustice.
te vayaṁ kauraveyāṇāmeteṣāṁ ca mahātmanām। kathaṁ na vadhyatāṁ tāta gacchema jagatastathā॥15॥
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?
duryodhana uvāca॥
Duryodhana said:
madhyasthaḥ satataṁ bhīṣmo droṇaputro mayi sthitaḥ। yataḥ putrastato droṇo bhavitā nātra sāṁśayaḥ॥16॥
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.
kṛpaḥ śāradvataścaiva yata ete trayastataḥ। droṇaṁ ca bhāgineyaṁ ca na sa tyakṣyati karhicit॥17॥
Kṛpa, the son of Śaradvat, and these three—since they are aligned—Droṇa will never abandon his nephew or them.
kṣattārthabaddhastvasmākaṁ pracchannaṁ tu yataḥ pare। na caikaḥ sa samartho'smānpāṇḍavārthe prabādhitum॥18॥
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.
sa viśrabdhaḥ pāṇḍuputrānsaha mātrā vivāsaya। vāraṇāvatamadhyaiva nātra doṣo bhaviṣyati॥19॥
Therefore, confidently exile the sons of Pāṇḍu along with their mother to Vāraṇāvata today itself. There will be no fault in this.
vinidrakaraṇaṁ ghoraṁ hṛdi śalyamivārpitam। śokapāvakamudbhūtaṁ karmaṇaitena nāśaya॥20॥
Destroy by this act the dreadful sleepless thorn implanted in my heart—the fire of grief that has arisen.
