वैशम्पायन उवाच धृतराष्ट्र ततः सर्वे ददृशुर्जनमेजय। पृष्ट्वा सुखमथो राज्ञः पृष्टा राज्ञा च भारत॥
Vaishampayana said : O Janamejaya, O descendant of Bharata, then they all saw Dhritarashtra and asked his welfare; they were also asked their welfare in reiurn,
ततस्तैर्विहितः पूर्वं समङ्गो नाम बल्लवः। समीपस्थास्तदा गावो धृतराष्ट्र न्यवेदयत्॥
Then a cowherd named Samanga who had been instructed before-hand come to the king Dhritarashtra and spoke about the cattle.
अनन्तरं च राधेयः शकुनिश्च विशाम्पते। आहतुः पार्थिवश्रेष्ठं धृतराष्ट्र जनाधिपम्॥
O king, the son of Radha (Karna) and Shakuni thus spoke to that foremost of kings, the ruler of earth, Dhritarashtra,
रमणीयेषु देशेषु घोषाः सम्प्रति कौरव। स्मारणे समयः प्राप्तो वत्पानामपि चाङ्कनम्॥
"O descendant of Kuru, our cattle are now stationed in a charming place. The time for marking the calves has also come.
मृगया चोचिता राजन्नस्मिन् काले सुतस्य ते। दुर्योधनस्य गमनं समनुज्ञातुमर्हसि॥
O king, this is also an excellent season for your son Duryodhana to go to a hunting expedition. Therefore you should grant him permission to go there.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच मृगया शोभना तात गवां हि समवेक्षणम्। विश्रम्भस्तु न गन्तव्यो वल्लवानामिति स्मरे॥
Dhritarashtra said: O child, hunting and seeing the cattle are both very proper acts. I think the herdsman should not be (completely) trusted.
ते तु तत्र नरव्याघ्राः समीप इति नः श्रुतम्। अतो नाभ्यनुजानामि गमनं तत्र वः स्वयम्॥
But I have heard that those foremost of men (the Pandavas) are living some where near that place; therefore I think you should not yourselves go there.
छद्मना निर्जितास्ते तु कर्शिताश्च महावने। तपोनित्याश्च राधेय समर्थाश्च महारथाः॥
Defeated by deceitful means, they are now living in the deep forest in great misery. O son of Radha, those greatly powerful car-warriors are now engaged in asceticism.
धर्मराजो न संक्रुद्ध्येद् भीमसेनस्त्वमर्षणः। यज्ञसेनस्य दुहिता तेज एव तु केवलम्॥
Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) will never be angry, but Bhimasena is naturally wrathful; the daughter of Yajnasena (Draupadi) also is effulgence herself.
यूयं चाप्यपराध्येयुर्दर्पमोहसमन्विताः। ततो विनिर्दहेयुस्ते तपसा हि समन्विताः॥
Full of pride and folly as you are you are certain to give her offence. Endued with ascetic merit as she is (now), she will certainly consume you.
अथवा सायुधा वीरा मन्युनाभिपरिप्लुताः। सहिता बद्धनिस्त्रिंशा दहेयुः शस्त्रतेजसा॥ वै
Or perhaps, those heroes, armed with swords and other weapons and filled with wrath, may consume you with the fire of their weapons.
अथ यूयं बहुत्वात् तानभियात कथंचन। अनार्यं परमं तत् स्यादशक्यं तच्च मतम्॥
Or if from the force of numbers you seek to injure them in any way, even that will be a highly improper act, though I know you will never succeed.
उषितो हि महाबाहुरिन्द्रलोके धनंजयः। दिव्यान्यस्त्राण्यवाप्याथ ततः प्रत्यागतो वनम्॥
The mighty armed Dhananjaya (Arjuna) had lived in the abode of Indra. Having obtained the celestials weapons, he has returned to the forest.
अकृतास्त्रेण पृथिवी जिता बीभत्सुना पुरा। किं पुनः स कृतास्त्रोऽद्य न हन्याद् वो महारथः॥
While unaccomplished in arms, Bibhatsu (Arjuna) conquered the whole earth. He is now a great car-warrior and highly accomplished in arms, why will he not be able (now) to kill you all?
अथवा मद्वचः श्रुत्वा तत्र यत्ता भविष्यथा उद्विग्नवासो विश्रम्भाद् दुःखं तत्र भविष्यति॥
Or if you in obedience to my words on going there, behave carefully you will then never be able to live happily, as you will always be in a state of trustlessness.
अथवा सैनिकाः केचिदपकुर्युर्युधिष्ठिरम्। तदबुद्धिकृतं कर्म दोषमुत्पादयेच्च वः॥ तस्माद् गच्छन्तु पुरुषाः स्मारणायाप्तकारिणः। न स्वयं तत्र गमनं रोचये तव भारत॥
Or some soldiers of yours may do some injury to Yudhishthira and that unpremeditated act may be ascribed to you. O descendant of Bharata, therefore let some faithful men go there to count the cattle and mark the calves. I do not think it is proper for your to go in person.
शकुनिरुवाच धर्मज्ञः पाण्डवो ज्येष्ठः प्रतिज्ञातं च संसदि। तेन द्वादश वर्षाणि वस्तव्यानीति भारत।॥
Shakuni said: O descendant of Bharata, the eldest Pandava is virtuous; he has taken the pledge in the assembly that he will live twelve years in the forest.
अनुवृत्ताश्च ते सर्वे पाण्डवा धर्मचारिणः। युधिष्ठिरस्तु कौन्तेयो न नः कोपं करिष्यति॥
The other Pandavas are virtuous and obedient to him. The son of Kunti, Yudhishthira will never be angry with us.
मृगयां चैव नो गन्तुमिच्छा संवर्तते भृशम्। स्मारणं तु चिकीर्षामो न तु पाण्डवदर्शनम्॥
We desire very much to go to a hunting expedition; we shall also take that opportunity to count the cattle. We have no wish to see the Pandavas.
न चानार्यसमाचारः कश्चित् तत्र भविष्यति। न च तत्र गमिष्यामो यत्र तेषां प्रतिश्रयः॥
We shall not go to that place where the Pandavas are living. Therefore no misconduct on our part can possibly arise.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तः शकुनिना धृतराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः। दुर्योधनं महामात्यमनुजज्ञे न कामतः॥
Vaishampayana said : Having been thus addressed by Shakuni, the ruler of earth, Dhritarashtra, unwillingly gave permission to Duryodhana and his counsellors togo.
अनुज्ञातस्तु गान्धारिः कर्णेन सहितस्तदा। निर्ययौ भरतश्रेष्ठो बलेन महता वृतः॥
Having received permission, the son of Gandhari, that foremost of the Bharata race (Duryodhana) with Karna and with a large host started.
दुःशासनेन च तथा सौबलेन च धीमता। संवृतो भ्रातृभिश्चान्यैः स्त्रीभिश्चापि सहस्रशः॥
He has accompanied by Dushasana the intclligent son of Subala (Shakuni) and by many others of his brothers and also thousands of women.
तं निर्यान्तं महाबाहुं द्रष्टुं द्वैतवनं सरः। पौराश्चानुययुः सर्वे सहदारा वनं च तत्॥
When he started to see that lake in the Dvaitavana, the citizens also with their wives proceeded towards that forest.
अष्टौ रथसहस्राणि त्रीणि नागायुतानि च। पत्तयो बहुसाहस्रा हयाश्च नवतिः शताः॥
Eight thousand cars, thirty thousand elephants, nine thousand horses and many thousands of foot soldiers,
शकटापणवेशाश्च वणिजो वन्दिनस्तथा। नराश्च मृगयाशीलाः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥
Carriages, shops, pavilions, traders, bards and men, trained in hunting, by hundred and thousands, followed the king.
ततः प्रयाणे नृपतेः सुमहानभवत् स्वनः। प्रावृषीव महावायोरुद्धतस्य विशाम्पते॥
O monarch, as the king started, followed by many thousands of men, the uproar caused by the march resembled the deep roar of winds in the rains.
गव्यूतिमात्रे न्यवसद् राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। प्रयातो वाहनैः सर्वैस्ततो द्वैतवनं सरः॥
Arriving at the lake of Dvaitavana with his followers and conveyances, king Duryodhana encamped at the distance of four miles from the lake.