The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (Translator)

K >> Kisari Mohan Ganguli (Translator) >> The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having delivered himself thus Kanika returned to
his abode, while the Kuru king Dhritarashtra became pensive and
melancholy."

SECTION CXLIII

(Jatugriha Parva)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then the son of Suvala (Sakuni), king Duryodhana,
Duhsasana and Karna, in consultation with one another, formed an evil
conspiracy. With the sanction of Dhritarashtra, the king of the Kurus,
they resolved to burn to death Kunti and her (five) sons. But that wise
Vidura, capable of reading the heart by external signs, ascertained the
intention of these wicked persons by observing their countenances alone.
Then the sinless Vidura, of soul enlightened by true knowledge, and
devoted to the good of the Pandavas, came to the conclusion that Kunti
with her children should fly away from her foes. And providing for that
purpose a boat strong enough to withstand both wind and wave, he addressed
Kunti and said, 'This Dhritarashtra hath been born for destroying the fame
and offspring of the (Kuru) race. Of wicked soul, he is about to cast off
eternal virtue. O blessed one, I have kept ready on the stream a boat
capable of withstanding both wind and wave. Escape by it with thy children
from the net that death hath spread around you.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words, the illustrious Kunti was
deeply grieved, and with her children, O bull of Bharata's race, stepped
into the boat and went over the Ganges. Then leaving the boat according to
the advice of Vidura, the Pandavas took with them the wealth that had been
given to them (while at Varanavata) by their enemies and safely entered
the deep woods. In the house of lac, however, that had been prepared for
the destruction of the Pandavas, an innocent Nishada woman who had come
there for some purpose, was, with her children burnt to death. And that
worst of Mlechchhas, the wretched Purochana (who was the architect
employed in building the house of lac) was also burnt in the conflagration.
And thus were the sons of Dhirtarashtra with their counsellors deceived in
their expectations. And thus also were the illustrious Pandavas, by the
advice of Vidura, saved with their mother. But the people (of Varanavata)
knew not of their safety. And the citizens of Varanavata, seeing the house
of lac consumed (and believing the Pandavas to have been burnt to death)
became exceedingly sorry. And they sent messengers unto king Dhritarashtra
to represent everything that had happened. And they said to the monarch,
'Thy great end hath been achieved! Thou hast at last burnt the Pandavas to
death! Thy desire fulfilled, enjoy with thy children. O king of the Kurus,
the kingdom.' Hearing this, Dhritarashtra with his children, made a show
of grief, and along with his relatives, including Kshattri (Vidura) and
Bhishma the foremost of the Kurus, performed the last honours of the
Pandavas.'

"Janamejaya said, 'O best of Brahmanas, I desire to hear in full this
history of the burning of the house of lac and the escape of the Pandavas
there from. That was a cruel act of theirs (the Kurus), acting under the
counsels of the wicked (Kanika). Recite the history to me of all that
happened. I am burning with curiosity to hear it.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'O chastiser of all foes, listen to me, O monarch, as
I recite the (history of the) burning of the house of lac and the escape
of the Pandavas. The wicked Duryodhana, beholding Bhimasena surpass
(everybody) in strength and Arjuna highly accomplished in arms became
pensive and sad. Then Karna, the offspring of the Sun, and Sakuni, the son
of Suvala, endeavoured by various means to compass the death of the
Pandavas. The Pandavas too counteracted all those contrivances one after
another, and in obedience to the counsels of Vidura, never spoke of them
afterwards. Then the citizens, beholding the son of Pandu possessed of
accomplishments, began, O Bharata, to speak of them in all places of
public resort. And assembled in courtyards and other places of gathering,
they talked of the eldest son of Pandu (Yudhishthira) as possessed of the
qualifications for ruling the kingdom. And they said, 'Dhritarashtra,
though possessed of the eye of knowledge, having been (born) blind, had
not obtained the kingdom before. How can he (therefore) become king now?
Then Bhishma, the son of Santanu, of rigid vows and devoted to truth,
having formerly relinquished the sovereignty would never accept it now. We
shall, therefore, now install (on the throne) with proper ceremonies the
eldest of the Pandavas endued with youth, accomplished in battle, versed
in the Vedas, and truthful and kind. Worshipping Bhishma, the son of
Santanu and Dhritarashtra conversant with the rules of morality, he will
certainly maintain the former and the latter with his children in every
kind of enjoyment.'

"The wretched Duryodhana, hearing these words of the parting partisans of
Yudhishthira, became very much distressed. Deeply afflicted, the wicked
prince could not put up with those speeches. Inflamed with jealousy, he
went unto Dhritarashtra, and finding him alone he saluted him with
reverence and distressed at (the sight of) the partiality of the citizens
for Yudhishthira, he addressed the monarch and said, 'O father, I have
heard the parting citizens utter words of ill omen. Passing thee by, and
Bhishma too, they desire the son of Pandu to be their king. Bhishma will
sanction this, for he will not rule the kingdom. It seems, therefore, that
the citizens are endeavouring to inflict a great injury on us. Pandu
obtained of old the ancestral kingdom by virtue of his own accomplishments,
but thou, from blindness, didst not obtain the kingdom, though fully
qualified to have it. If Pandu's son now obtaineth the kingdom as his
inheritance from Pandu, his son will obtain it after him and that son's
son also, and so on will it descend in Pandu's line. In that case, O king
of the world, ourselves with our children, excluded from the royal line,
shall certainly be disregarded by all men. Therefore, O monarch, adopt
such counsels that we may not suffer perpetual distress, becoming
dependent on others for our food. O king, if thou hadst obtained the
sovereignty before, we would certainly have succeeded to it, however much
the people might be unfavourable to us.'"

SECTION CXLIV

(Jatugriha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana continued, "King Dhritarashtra whose knowledge only was his
eyes, on hearing these words of his son and recollecting everything that
Kanika had, said unto him, became afflicted with sorrow, and his mind also
thereupon began to waver. Then Duryodhana and Karna, and Sakuni, the son
of Suvala, and Duhsasana as their fourth, held a consultation together.
Prince Duryodhana said unto Dhritarashtra, 'Send, O father, by some clever
contrivance, the Pandavas to the town of Varanavata. We shall then have no
fear of them.' Dhritarashtra, on hearing these words uttered by his son,
reflected for a moment and replied unto Duryodhana, saying, 'Pandu, ever
devoted to virtue, always behaved dutifully towards all his relatives but
particularly towards me. He cared very little for the enjoyments of the
world, but devotedly gave everything unto me, even the kingdom. His son is
as much devoted to virtue as he, and is possessed of every accomplishment.
Of world-wide fame, he is again the favourite of the people. He is
possessed of allies; how can we by force exile him from his ancestral
kingdom? The counsellors and soldiers (of the state) and their sons and
grandsons have all been cherished and maintained by Pandu. Thus benefited
of old by Pandu, shall not, O child, the citizens slay us with all our
friends and relatives now on account of Yudhishthira?'

"Duryodhana replied, 'What thou sayest, O father, is perfectly true. But
in view of the evil that is looming on the future as regards thyself, if
we conciliate the people with wealth and honours, they would assuredly
side with us for these proofs of our power. The treasury and the ministers
of state, O king, are at this moment under our control. Therefore, it
behoveth thee now to banish, by some gentle means, the Pandavas to the
town of Varanavata; O king, when the sovereignty shall have been vested in
me, then, O Bharata, may Kunti with her children come back from that
place.'

"Dhritarashtra replied, 'This, O Duryodhana, is the very thought existing
in my mind. But from its sinfulness I have never given expression to it.
Neither Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Kshattri, nor Gautama (Kripa) will ever
sanction the exile of the Pandavas. In their eyes, O dear son, amongst the
Kurus ourselves and the Pandavas are equal. Those wise and virtuous
persons will make no difference between us. If therefore, we behave so
towards the Pandavas, shall we not, O son, deserve death at the hands of
the Kurus, of these illustrious personages, and of the whole world?'

"Duryodhana answered, 'Bhishma hath no excess of affection for either side,
and will, therefore, be neutral (in case of dispute). The son of Drona
(Aswatthaman) is on my side. There is no doubt that where the son is,
there the father will be. Kripa, the son of Saradwat, must be on the side
on which Drona and Aswatthaman are. He will never abandon Drona and his
sister's son (Aswatthaman). Kshattri (Vidura) is dependent on us for his
means of life, though he is secretly with the foe. If he sides the
Pandavas, he alone can do us no injury, Therefore, exile thou the Pandavas
to Varanavata without any fear. And take such steps that they may go
thither this very day. By this act, O father, extinguish the grief that
consumeth me like a blazing fire, that robbeth me of sleep, and that
pierces my heart even like a terrible dart.'"

SECTION CXLV

(Jatugriha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then prince Duryodhana, along with his brothers
began to gradually win over the people to his side by grants of wealth
and honours. Meanwhile, some clever councillors, instructed by
Dhritarashtra, one day began to describe (in court) the town of
Varanavata as a charming place. And they said, The festival of Pasupati
(Siva) hath commenced in the town of Varanavata. The concourse of people
is great and the procession is the most delightful of all ever witnessed
on earth. Decked with every ornament, it charmed the hearts of all
spectators.' Thus did those councillors, instructed by Dhritarashtra,
speak of Varanavata, and whilst they were so speaking, the Pandavas, O
king, felt the desire of going to that delightful town. And when the
king (Dhritarashtra) ascertained that the curiosity of the Pandavas had
been awakened, the son of Ambika addressed them, saying, 'These men of
mine often speak of Varanavata as the most delightful town in the world.
If therefore, ye children, ye desire to witness that festival, go to
Varanavata with your followers and friends and enjoy yourselves there
like the celestials. And give ye away pearls and gems unto the Brahmanas
and the musicians (that may be assembled there). And sporting there for
some time as ye please like the resplendent celestials and enjoying as
much pleasure as ye like, return ye to Hastinapura again.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Yudhishthira, fully understanding the motives of
Dhritarashtra and considering that he himself was weak and friendless,
replied unto the king, saying, 'So be it.' Then addressing Bhishma, the
son of Santanu, the wise Vidura, Drona, Valhika, the Kaurava, Somadatta,
Kripa, Aswatthaman, Bhurisravas, and the other councillors, and Brahmanas
and ascetics, and the priests and the citizens, and the illustrious
Gandhari, he said slowly and humbly, 'With our friends and followers we go
to the delightful and populous town of Varanavata at the command of
Dhritarashtra. Cheerfully give us your benedictions so that acquiring
prosperity, therewith we may not be touched by sin.' Thus addressed by the
eldest of Pandu's sons, the Kaurava chiefs all cheerfully pronounced
blessings on them, saying, 'Ye sons of Pandu, let all the elements bless
you along your way and let not the slightest evil befall you.'

"The Pandavas, having performed propitiatory rites for obtaining (their
share of) the kingdom, and finishing their preparations, set out for
Varanavata.'"

SECTION CXLVI

(Jatugriha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'The wicked Duryodhana became very pleased when the
king, O Bharata, had said so unto Pandavas. And, O bull of Bharata's race,
Duryodhana, then, summoning his counsellor, Purochana in private, took
hold of his right hand and said, 'O Purochana, this world, so full of
wealth, is mine. But it is thine equally with me. It behoveth thee,
therefore, to protect it. I have no more trustworthy counsellor than thee
with whom to consult. Therefore, O sire, keep my counsel and exterminate
my foes by a clever device. O, do as I bid thee. The Pandavas have, by
Dhritarashtra, been sent to Varanavata, where they will, at
Dhritarashtra's command, enjoy themselves during the festivities. Do that
by which thou mayest this very day reach Varanavata in a car drawn by
swift mules. Repairing thither, cause thou to be erected a quadrangular
palace in the neighbourhood of the arsenal, rich in the materials and
furniture, and guard thou the mansion well (with prying eyes). And use
thou (in erecting that house) hemp and resin and all other inflammable
materials that are procurable. And mixing a little earth with clarified
butter and oil and fat and a large quantity of lac, make thou a plaster
for lining the walls, and scatter thou all around that house hemp and oil
and clarified butter and lac and wood in such a way that the Pandavas, or
any others, may not, even with scrutiny behold them there or conclude the
house to be an inflammable one. And having erected such mansion, cause
thou the Pandavas, after worshipping them with great reverence, to dwell
in it with Kunti and all their friends. And place thou there seats and
conveyances and beds, all of the best workmanship, for the Pandavas, so
that Dhritarashtra may have no reason to complain. Thou must also so
manage it all that none of Varanavata may know anything till the end we
have in view is accomplished. And assuring thyself that the Pandavas are
sleeping within in confidence and without fear, thou must then set fire to
that mansion beginning at the outer door. The Pandavas thereupon must be
burnt to death, but the people will say that they have been burnt in (an
accidental) conflagration of their house.'

"Saying, 'So be it' unto the Kuru prince, Purochana repaired to Varanavata
in a car drawn by fleet mules. And going thither, O king, without loss of
time, obedient to the instructions of Duryodhana, did everything that the
prince had bid him do."

SECTION CXLVII

(Jatugriha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Meanwhile the Pandavas got into their cars, yoking
thereto some fine horses endued with the speed of wind. While they were on
the point of entering their cars, they touched, in great sorrow, the feet
of Bhishma, of king Dhritarashtra, of the illustrious Drona, of Kripa, of
Vidura and of the other elders of the Kuru race. Then saluting with
reverence all the older men, and embracing their equals, receiving the
farewell of even the children, and taking leave of all the venerable
ladies in their household, and walking round them respectfully, and
bidding farewell unto all the citizens, the Pandavas, ever mindful of
their vows, set out for Varanavata. And Vidura of great wisdom and the
other bulls among the Kurus and the citizens also, from great affliction,
followed those tigers among men to some distance. And some amongst the
citizens and the country people, who followed the Pandavas, afflicted
beyond measure at beholding the sons of Pandu in such distress, began to
say aloud, 'King Dhritarashtra of wicked soul seeth no things with the
same eye. The Kuru monarch casteth not his eye on virtue. Neither the
sinless Yudhishthira, nor Bhima the foremost of mighty men, nor Dhananjaya
the (youngest) son of Kunti, will ever be guilty (of the sin of waging a
rebellious war). When these will remain quiet, how shall the illustrious
son of Madri do anything? Having inherited the kingdom from their father,
Dhritarashtra could not bear them. How is that Bhishma who suffers the
exile of the Pandavas to that wretched place, sanctions this act of great
injustice? Vichitravirya, the son of Santanu, and the royal sage Pandu of
Kuru's race both cherished us of old with fatherly care. But now that
Pandu that tiger among men, hath ascended to heaven, Dhritarashtra cannot
bear with these princes his children. We who do not sanction this exile
shall all go, leaving this excellent town and our own homes, where
Yudhishthira will go.'

"Unto those distressed citizens talking in this way, the virtuous
Yudhishthira, himself afflicted with sorrow, reflecting for a few moments
said, 'The king is our father, worthy of regard, our spiritual guide, and
our superior. To carry out with unsuspicious hearts whatever he biddeth,
is indeed, our duty. Ye are our friends. Walking round us and making us
happy by your blessings, return ye to your abodes. When the time cometh
for anything to be done for us by you, then, indeed, accomplish all that
is agreeable and beneficial to us.' Thus addressed, the citizens walked
round the Pandavas and blessed them with their blessings and returned to
their respective abodes.

"And after the citizens had ceased following the Pandavas, Vidura,
conversant with all the dictates of morality, desirous of awakening the
eldest of the Pandavas (to a sense of his dangers), addressed him in these
words. The learned Vidura, conversant with the jargon (of the Mlechchhas),
addressed the learned Yudhishthira who also was conversant with the same
jargon, in the words of the Mlechchha tongue, so as to be unintelligible
to all except Yudhishthira. He said, 'He that knoweth the schemes his foes
contrive in accordance with the dictates of political science, should,
knowing them, act in such a way as to avoid all danger. He that knoweth
that there are sharp weapons capable of cutting the body though not made
of steel, and understandeth also the means of warding them off, can never
be injured by foes. He liveth who protecteth himself by the knowledge that
neither the consumer of straw and wood nor the drier of the dew burneth
the inmates of a hole in the deep woods. The blind man seeth not his way:
the blind man hath no knowledge of direction. He that hath no firmness
never acquireth prosperity. Remembering this, be upon your guard. The man
who taketh a weapon not made of steel (i.e., an inflammable abode) given
him by his foes, can escape from fire by making his abode like unto that
of a jackal (having many outlets). By wandering a man may acquire the
knowledge of ways, and by the stars he can ascertain the direction, and he
that keepeth his five (senses) under control can never be oppressed by his
enemies.'

"Thus addressed, Pandu's son, Yudhishthira the just replied unto Vidura,
that foremost of all learned men, saying, 'I have understood thee.' Then
Vidura, having instructed the Pandavas and followed them (thus far),
walked around them and bidding them farewell returned to his own abode.
When the citizens and Bhishma and Vidura had all ceased following, Kunti
approached Yudhishthira and said, 'The words that Kshattri said unto thee
in the midst of many people so indistinctly as if he did not say anything,
and thy reply also to him in similar words and voice, we have not
understood. If it is not improper for us to know them I should then like
to hear everything that had passed between him and thee.'

"Yudhishthira replied, 'The virtuous Vidura said unto me that we should
know that the mansion (for our accommodation at Varanavata) hath been
built of inflammable materials. He said unto me, 'The path of escape too
shall not be unknown to thee,'--and further,--'Those that can control
their senses can acquire the sovereignty of the whole world.'--The reply
that I gave unto Vidura was, 'I have understood thee.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'The Pandavas set out on the eighth day of the
month of Phalguna when the star Rohini was in the ascendant, and arriving
at they beheld the town and the people.'"

SECTION CXLVIII

(Jatugriha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then all the citizens (of Varanavata) on hearing that
the son of Pandu had come, were filled with joy at the tidings, speedily
came out of Varanavata, in vehicles of various kinds numbering by
thousands, taking with them every auspicious article as directed by the
Sastras, for receiving those foremost of men. And the people of Varanavata,
approaching the sons of Kunti blessed them by uttering the Jaya and stood
surrounding them. That tiger among men, viz., the virtuous Yudhishthira
thus surrounded by them looked resplendent like him having the thunderbolt
in his hands (viz., Indra) in the midst of the celestials. And those
sinless ones, welcomed by the citizens and welcoming the citizens in
return, then entered the populous town of Varanavata decked with every
ornament. Entering the town those heroes first went, O monarch, to the
abodes of Brahmanas engaged in their proper duties. Those foremost of men
then went to the abodes of the officials of the town, and then of the
Sutas and the Vaisyas and then to those of even the Sudras, O bull of
Bharata's race, thus adored by the citizens, the Pandavas at last went
with Purochana going before them, to the palace that had been built for
them, Purochana then began to place before them food and drink and beds
and carpets, all of the first and most agreeable order. The Pandavas
attired in costly robes, continued to live there, adored by Purochana and
the people having their homes in Varanavata.

"After the Pandavas had thus lived for ten nights, Purochana spoke to them
of the mansion (he had built) called 'The Blessed Home,' but in reality
the cursed house. Then those tigers among men, attired in costly dress,
entered that mansion at the instance of Purochana like Guhyakas entering
the palace (of Siva) on the Kailasa mount. The foremost of all virtuous
men, Yudhishthira, inspecting the house, said unto Bhima that it was
really built of inflammable materials. Smelling the scent of fat mixed
with clarified butter and preparations of lac, he said unto Bhima, 'O
chastiser of foes, this house is truly built of inflammable materials!
Indeed, it is apparent that such is the case! The enemy, it is evident, by
the aid of trusted artists well-skilled in the construction of houses,
have finely built this mansion, after procuring hemp, resin, heath, straw,
and bamboos, all soaked in clarified butter. This wicked wretch, Purochana,
acting under the instruction of Duryodhana, stayeth here with the object
of burning me to death when he seeth me trustful. But, O son of Pritha,
Vidura of great intelligence, knew of this danger, and, therefore, hath
warned me of it beforehand. Knowing it all, that youngest uncle of ours,
ever wishing our good from affection hath told us that this house, so full
of danger, hath been constructed by the wretches under Duryodhana acting
in secrecy.'

"Hearing this, Bhima replied, 'If, sir, you know this house to be so
inflammable, it would then be well for us to return thither where we had
taken up our quarters first.' Yudhishthira replied, 'It seems to me that
we should rather continue to live here in seeming unsuspiciousness but all
the while with caution and our senses wide awake and seeking for some
certain means of escape. If Purochana findeth from our countenances that
we have fathomed designs, acting with haste he may suddenly burn us to
death. Indeed, Purochana careth little for obloquy or sin. The wretch
stayeth here acting under the instruction of Duryodhana. If we are burnt
to death, will our grandfather Bhishma be angry? Why will he, by showing
his wrath, make the Kauravas angry with him? Or, perhaps, our grandfather
Bhishma and the other bull of Kuru's race, regarding indignation at such a
sinful act to be virtuous, may become wrathful. If however, from fear of
being burnt, we fly from here, Duryodhana, ambitious of sovereignty will
certainly compass our death by means of spies. While we have no rank and
power, Duryodhana hath both; while we have no friends and allies,
Duryodhana hath both; while we are without wealth, Duryodhana hath at his
command a full treasury. Will he not, therefore, certainly destroy us by
adopting adequate means? Let us, therefore, by deceiving this wretch
(Purochana) and that other wretch Duryodhana, pass our days, disguising
ourselves at times. Let us also lead a hunting life, wandering over the
earth. We shall then, if we have to escape our enemies, be familiar with
all paths. We shall also, this very day, cause a subterranean passage to
be dug in our chamber in great secrecy. If we act in this way, concealing
what we do from all, fire shall never be able to consume us. We shall live
here, actively doing everything for our safety but with such privacy that
neither Purochana nor any of the citizens of Varanavata may know what we
are after.'"