01.132
Core:Dhuryadhana sends Purochana to build a lac palace.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
evamukteṣu rājñā tu pāṇḍaveṣu mahātmasu । duryodhanaḥ paraṁ harṣam ājagāma durātmavān ॥1॥
When the king thus spoke of the great-souled Pāṇḍavas, Duryodhana, wicked-souled, felt great joy.
sa purocanam ekāntam ānīya bharatarṣabha । gṛhītvā dakṣiṇe pāṇau sacivaṁ vākyam abravīt ॥2॥
He took Purocana by the right hand in private, O bull of the Bharatas, and spoke these words to his minister.
mameyaṁ vasusampūrṇā purocana vasundharā । yatheyaṁ mama tadvattesa tāṁ rakṣitum arhasi ॥3॥
This earth, filled with wealth, O Purocana, is mine and, just as she is mine, she is yours too; therefore, you must protect her.
na hi me kaścid anyo'sti vaiśvāsikataras tvayā । sahāyo yena sandhāya mantrayeyam yathā tvayā ॥4॥
There is truly no one more trustworthy to me than you, with whom I might confer in counsel as I do with you.
saṁrakṣa tāta mantraṁ ca sapatnāṁś ca mamoddhara । nipuṇenābhyupāyena yad bravīmi tathā kuru ॥5॥
Protect the secret, dear one, and destroy my enemies by skillful means; do just as I say.
pāṇḍavā dhṛtarāṣṭreṇa preṣitā vāraṇāvatam । utsave vihariṣyanti dhṛtarāṣṭrasya śāsanāt ॥6॥
The Pāṇḍavas have been sent by Dhṛtarāṣṭra to Vāraṇāvata; they will enjoy the festival there by his order.
sa tvaṁ rāsabhayuktena syandanenāśugāminā । vāraṇāvatam adyaiva yathā yāsi tathā kuru ॥7॥
So you go today itself to Vāraṇāvata in a fast-moving chariot yoked with donkeys, and act accordingly.
tatra gatvā catuḥśālaṁ gṛhaṁ paramasaṁvṛtam । āyudhāgāram āśritya kārayethā mahādhanam ॥8॥
There, having gone, build a large and well-concealed four-halled house adjoining an armory.
śaṇasarjarasādīni yāni dravyāṇi kānicit । āgneyāny uta santīha tāni sarvāṇi dāpaya ॥9॥
Procure all inflammable substances such as flax, sarja resin, and others that are available here.
sarpiṣā ca satailena lākṣayā cāpy analpayā । mṛttikāṁ miśrayitvā tvaṁ lepaṁ kuḍyeṣu dāpayeḥ ॥10॥
Mix clay with ghee, oil, and a large quantity of lac, and have this plaster applied to the walls.
śaṇānvaṁśaṁ ghṛtaṁ dāru yantrāṇi vividhāni ca । tasmin veśmani sarvāṇi nikṣipethāḥ samantataḥ ॥11॥
You shall place flax, bamboo, ghee, wood, and various devices all around that house.
yathā ca tvāṁ na śaṅkeran parīkṣanto'pi pāṇḍavāḥ । āgneyam iti tat kāryam iti cānye ca mānavāḥ ॥12॥
So that even if they examine, the Pāṇḍavas and others may not suspect you, thinking it is merely for fire-related purposes.
veśmany evaṁ kṛte tatra kṛtvā tān paramārcitān । vāsayeḥ pāṇḍaveyāṁś ca kuntīṁ ca sa-suhṛjjanām ॥13॥
When the house is thus prepared, lodge there the greatly honored Pāṇḍavas and Kuntī with their friends.
tatrāsanāni mukhyāni yānāni śayanāni ca । vidhātavyāni pāṇḍūnāṁ yathā tuṣyeta me pitā ॥14॥
Arrange the best seats, vehicles, and beds for the Pāṇḍavas there, so that my father may be pleased.
yathā rameran viśrabdhā nagare vāraṇāvate । tathā sarvaṁ vidhātavyaṁ yāvat kālasya paryayaḥ ॥15॥
Arrange everything in such a way that they may freely enjoy themselves in the city of Vāraṇāvata until the time passes.
jñātvā tu tān suviśvastāñ śayānān akutobhayān । agnis tataḥ tvayā deyo dvāratas tasya veśmanaḥ ॥16॥
Then, when they are completely unsuspecting, asleep, and fearless, you shall set fire from the entrance of that house.
dagdhān evaṁ svake gehe dagdhā iti tato janāḥ । jñātayo vā vadiṣyanti pāṇḍavārthāya karhicit ॥17॥
Thus, when they are burned in their own house, people or their relatives will say at some point it was for the sake of the Pāṇḍavas.
tat tatheti pratijñāya kauravāya purocanaḥ । prāyād rāsabhayuktena nagaraṁ vāraṇāvatam ॥18॥
Having promised thus to the Kaurava, Purocana departed to the city of Vāraṇāvata in a donkey-cart.
sa gatvā tvarito rājan duryodhanamate sthitaḥ । yathoktaṁ rājaputreṇa sarvaṁ cakre purocanaḥ ॥19॥
Having quickly gone, O king, Purocana, acting under Duryodhana’s plan, did all as the prince had instructed.
