वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो दुर्योधनो राजा सर्वाः प्रकृतयः शनैः। अर्थमानप्रदानाभ्यां संजहार सहानुजः॥ धृतराष्ट्रप्रयुक्तास्ते केचित् कुशलमन्त्रिणः। कथयांचक्रिरे रम्यं नगरं वारणावतम्॥ अयं समाजः सुमहान् रमणीयतमो भुवि। उपस्थितः पशुपतेनगरे वारणावते॥
Vaishampayana said : Thereupon King Duryodhana with his brothers began slowly to win over the people to his side by bestowing on them wealth and honours. One day in the (royal) Court, some clever ministers, as instructed by Dhritarashtra, described the city of Varanavata as a (most) charming place. (They said), "The festival of Pashupati (Siva) has begun in the city of Varanavata and the concourse of people there is now great.
सर्वरत्नसमाकीर्णे पुंसां देशे मनोरमे। इत्येवं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वचनाच्चक्रिरे कथाः॥
The procession is the most grand in the world; and all gems and jewels (now) there delight the heart." Thus did they (counsellors) under instruction from Dhritarashtra, speak (of the city). O sons,
कथ्यमाने तथा रम्ये नगरे वारणावते। गमने पाण्डुपुत्राणां जज्ञे तत्र मतिर्नुप॥
O king, while they were speaking of the charming city of Varanavata, the Pandavas desired in their mind to go there.
यदा त्वमन्यत नृपो जातकौतूहला इति। उवाचैतानेत्य तदा पाण्डवानम्बिकासुतः॥
When the king Dhritarashtra knew that their (Pandavas) curiosity had been awakened, then the son of Ambika, (Dhritarashtra) spoke thus to the Pandavas.
ममैते पुरुषा नित्यं कथयन्ति पुनः पुनः। रमणीयतमं लोके नगरं वारणावतम्॥
Dhritarashtra said: My men tell me daily again and again that the city of Varanavata is the most charming in the world.
ते ताता यदि मन्यध्वमुत्सवं वारणावते। सगणाः सान्वयाश्चैव विहरध्वं यथामराः॥
if you desire to see the festival of Varanavata, go (there) with your friends and followers and enjoy yourselves like the celestial.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च रत्नानि गायकेभ्यश्च सर्वशः। प्रयच्छध्वं यथाकामं देवा इव सुवर्चसः॥ कंचित् कालं विहृत्यैवमनुभूय परां मुदम्। इदं वै हास्तिनपुरं सुखिनः पुनरेष्यत॥
Bestow gems and jewels on all the Brahmanas and the musicians (there), sport there as the effulgent celestial. Enjoy there for sometime as much happiness as you like at pleasure and then return to Hastinapur.
वैशम्पायन उवाच धृतराष्ट्रस्य तं काममनुबुध्य युधिष्ठिरः। आत्मनश्चासहायत्वं तथेति प्रत्युवाच तम्॥
Vaishampayana said : Yudhisthira, understanding the motives of Dhritarashtra and knowing himself weak and friendless, said, “Be it so."
ततो भीष्मं शान्तनवं विदुरं च महामतिम्। द्रोणं च बाह्निकं चैव सोमदत्तं च कौरवम्॥ कृपमाचार्यपुत्रं च भूरिश्रवसमेव च। मान्यानन्यानमात्यांश्च ब्राह्मणांश्च तपोधनान्॥ पुरोहितांश्च पौरांश्च गान्धारी च यशस्विनीम्। युधिष्ठिरः शनैर्दीन उवाचेदं वचस्तदा॥
Then addressing the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, the wise Vidura, Drona, Valhika, the Kaurava Somadatta, Kripa, Ashvathama, Bhurisrava and other respected counsellors, Brahmanas, ascetics, priests, citizens and the illustrious Gandhari, Yudhisthira slowly and humbly spoke thus-
रमणीये जनाकीर्णे नगरे वारणावते। सगणास्तत्र यास्यामो धृतराष्ट्रस्य शासनात्॥
Yudhisthira said : We go with our friends and followers to the charming and populous city of Varanavata at the command of Dhritarashtra.
प्रसन्नमनसः सर्वे पुण्या वाचो विमुञ्चत। आशीभिबृंहितानस्मान् न पापं प्रसहिष्यते॥
Give us cheerfully your benedictions, so that acquiring prosperity with it, we may not be touched by sin.
एवमुक्तास्तु ते सर्वे पाण्डुपुत्रेण कौरवाः। प्रसन्नवदना भूत्वा तेऽन्ववर्तन्त पाण्डवान्॥ स्वस्त्यस्तु वः पथि सदा भूतेभ्यश्चैव सर्वशः। मा च वोऽस्त्वशुभं किंचित् सर्वशः पाण्डुनन्दनाः।१८।
Vaishampayana said : Having been thus addressed by the son of Pandu, all the Kauravas cheerfully pronounced blessings on them, saying, "O sons of Pandu, let all the elements bless you on your way and let not the slightest evil befall you."
ततः कृतस्वस्त्ययना राज्यलम्भाय पार्थिवाः। कृत्वा सर्वाणि कार्याणि प्रययुर्वारणावतम्॥
Having performed propitiatory rites for obtaining the kingdom and making all other preparations, the princes (the Pandavas) started for Varanavata.