|
Mahābhārata The History of the Great India
<< 38 Arrival In Varanavata >>
 |  | On the eighth day of the month of Phalguna, under the star Rohini, the Pandavas and their mother departed. Upon arriving in Varanavata, they gazed upon the town and its people.
| | | Hearing that the sons of Pandu had arrived, all the citizens came out of the city of Varanavata with joy and vigor. Riding on thousands of vehicles and carrying auspicious gifts as enjoined in the scriptures, they went toward the Pandavas, the greatest of men.
| | | The city residents, known as the Varanavatakas, reached the sons of Kunti and offered blessings for their success. Then the people surrounded the Pandavas, eager to serve them in any way. Encircled by the citizens, Yudhisthira, a tiger of a man, shone forth like the king of the gods, thunderbolt in hand, surrounded by the immortals. Honored by the citizens, the faultless Pandavas honored them in turn and entered the beautifully decorated and bustling city of Varanavata.
| | | Upon entering the city, O king, the heroic princes went at once to the homes of the brahmanas, who were busily and happily engaged in their religious duties. The brothers similarly visited the homes of the city governors and the noble chariot warriors. They next paid respectful visits to the homes of the merchants and workers, and in every house the Pandavas, leaders of the Bharata dynasty, were honored by the cityfolk. Finally they went to their own temporary lodging, where Purocana [Duryodhana's adviser], there to receive and welcome them, offered them valuable seats, fine food and drink, and clean, shining beds.
| | | Worshiped by the local townfolk, the Pandavas dwelled there with their royal entourage, honored by Purocana and enjoying the most luxurious furniture and household accessories. After the Pandavas had stayed there for ten nights, Purocana brought them to that inauspicious house called Siva-grha, "the auspicious house." At Purocana's bidding, those tigerlike men entered the house with their royal entourage, just as the mystic Guhyakas enter fabled Mount Kailasa.
| | | Yudhisthira could expertly analyze the properties and qualities of things. Carefully observing the house and smelling the subtle aroma of fat mixed with butter and lac, he said to Bhimasena, "This residence is clearly made to go up in flames. Hemp and resins were used to build it, and the straw, rope, bamboo and other materials have all been sprinkled with clarified butter, O mighty one. It was well constructed by expert craftsmen who are trusted servants of evil Purocana. He now wants to burn me alive when my guard is down. Vidura is very intelligent, Partha, and having seen this danger he has already alerted me to it. Now that he has apprised us, we have recognized this to be an 'inauspicious house,' well built by our respectable teachers who seem to be secret followers of Duryodhana".
| | | Bhimasena said, "If you think this house was built to go up in flames, then we had all better go back to our previous residence".
| | | Sri Yudhisthira said, "No, I feel we should live here for now, acting very innocent and casual. Our enemies will think we are already lost, and that will give us time to think of a sure way to escape. If Purocana discovers any clue to our real plan, if he sees fear or anxiety in our faces, then he will act at once. By the most violent and unpredictable means, he will burn us to death. Purocana does not fear public censure or the reactions to sin. He is a fool who cares only about the desire of Duryodhana, and he functions precisely on that basis.
| | | If we were to burn alive, perhaps our grandfather Bhisma would be enraged and not merely lament, and perhaps he would then rouse the Kauravas to anger for the atrocity. If he should be moved to fury, understanding that the sacred law demands it, then perhaps the other Kuru leaders would react in a similar fashion.
| | | If, on the other hand, we now flee in fear of being burned, certainly Duryodhana, out of his greed for the kingdom, will have us murdered by his spies. We have no position now; rather, he occupies the capital. We are without allies, but he is surrounded by them. We are bereft of a royal treasury, but his treasury is vast. Therefore it is certain that by various means he will have us murdered.
| | | We must cheat this wicked Purocana and his wicked master Duryodhana. We shall stay here for now, but we shall move here and there, concealing our whereabouts. We shall show a keen interest in hunting, and travel all over the country. By this means we shall acquire a good knowledge of all the roads and paths, and that will be necessary when the time comes to flee.
| | | Let us begin at once to build a very well hidden hole in the earth. If we conceal our endeavor, the consuming fire will not burn us. We must be very careful and dwell here in such a way that neither Purocana nor any of the local people discovers us.
|
|
| |
|---|
English
Español
Pусский
Português