वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं श्रुत्वा तु पुत्रस्य प्रज्ञाचक्षुर्नराधिपः। कणिकस्य च वाक्यानि तानि श्रुत्वा स सर्वशः॥ धृतराष्ट्रो द्विधाचित्तः शोकार्तः समपद्यत। दुर्योधनश्च कर्णश्च शकुनिः सौबलस्तथा॥ दुःशासनचतुर्थास्ते मन्त्रयामासुरेकतः। ततो दुर्योधनो राजा धृतराष्ट्रमभाषत॥
Vaishampayana said: Having heard these words of his son and also all that Kanika had said, the king possessed of the eye of knowledge. Dhritarashtra, became afflicted with sorrow and his mind was full of misgivings. Then Duryodhana, Karna, the son of Subala Sakuni. Dushasana, these four held a consultation together. Then Duryodhana spoke thus to the king Dhritarashtra.
पाण्डवेभ्यो भयं न स्यात् तान् विवासयतां भवान्। निपुणेनाभ्युपायेन नगरं वारणावतम्॥
"Send the Pandavas by some contrivance to the city of Varanavata. Then we will have no fear of them."
धृतराष्ट्रस्तु पुत्रेण श्रुत्वा वचनमीरितम्। मुहूर्तमिव संचिन्त्य दुर्योधनमथाब्रवीत्॥
Dhritarashtra having heard these words of his son, reflected for a moment and then spoke to Duryodhana thus-
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच धर्मनित्यः सदा पाण्डुस्तथा धर्मपरायणः। सर्वेषु ज्ञातिषु तथा मयि त्वासीद् विशेषतः॥
Dhritarashtra said : "Pandu was ever devoted to virtue; he always behaved dutifully towards all his relatives but particularly towards me.
नासौ किंचिद् विजानाति भोजानादि चिकीर्षितम्। निवेदयति नित्यं हि मम राज्यं धृतव्रतः॥
He cared not for food or dress or the enjoyments of the world, he was devoted to me and gave me everything even the kingdom.
तस्य पुत्रो यथा पाण्डुस्तथा धाईपरायणः। गुणवाँल्लोकविख्यातः पौरवाणां सुसम्मतः॥
His son (Yudhisthira) is as much devoted to virtue as he was; he is possessed of every accomplishment; he is illustrious; he is the favourite of the people. sons
ते स कथं शक्यतेऽस्माभिरपाकर्तुं बलादितः। पितृपैतामहाद् राज्यात् ससहायो विशेषतः॥
How can we exile him by force from the kingdom of his fore-fathers, specially as he possesses allies?
भृता हि पाण्डुनामात्या बलं च सततं भृतम्। भृताः पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च तेषामपि विशेषतः॥
The counsellors and the soldiers and their and grandsons, all were specially cherished and maintained by Pandu.
पुरा सत्कृतास्तात पाण्डुना नागरा जनाः। कथं युधिष्ठिरस्यार्थे न नो हन्युः सबान्धवान्॥
They being thus formerly benefited by Pandu, O son, why should not the people of the city kill us all with our relatives and friends for the sake of Yudhisthira?
दुर्योधन उवाच एवमेतन्मया तात भावितं दोषमात्मनि। दृष्ट्वा प्रकृतयः सर्वा अर्थमानेन पूजिताः॥
Duryodhana said : O father, what you say is perfectly true. (But) on account of the evil that is likely in store for us in the future, we think we must conciliate the people by bestowing wealth and honours.
ध्रुवमस्मत्सहायास्ते भविष्यन्ति प्रधानतः। अर्थवर्गः सहामात्यो मत्संस्थोऽद्य महीपते॥
Thus they would surely side with us for this proof of our power. O king, the ministers and the treasury are now under our control.
स भवान् पाण्डवानाशु विवासयितुमर्हति। मृदुनैवाभ्युपायेन नगरं वारणावतम्॥
Therefore, you should banish the Pandavas to the city of Varanavata by some gentle means.
यदा प्रतिष्ठितं राज्यं मयि राजन् भविष्यति। तदा कुन्ती सहापत्या पुनरेष्यति भारत॥
O king, when I shall be instalied as king, then, O descendant of Bharata, Kunti with her son may again come back.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच दुर्योधन ममाप्येतद्धदि सम्परिवर्तते। अभिप्रायस्य पापत्वान्नैवं तु विवृणोम्यहम्॥
Dhritarashtra said : O Duryodhana, this is the very thought that exists in my mind, but from its sinfulness, I could not give it out.
न च भीष्मो न च द्रोणो न च क्षत्ता न गौतमः। विवास्यमानान् कौन्तेयाननुमंस्यन्ति कर्हिचित्॥
Neither Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Kshatta (Vidura), nor Gautama, (Kripa) will ever sanction the banishment of the sons of Kunti.
समा हि कौरवेयाणां वयं ते चैव पुत्रक। नैते विषममिच्छेयुर्धर्मयुक्ता मनस्विनः॥
O son, in their eyes we (Kurus) and the Pandavas are equal. Those wise and virtuous men will make no difference between us,
ते वयं कौरवेयाणामेतेषां च महात्मनाम्। कथं न बध्यतां तात गच्छाम जगतस्तथा॥
O son, (if we do this), why should we not deserve death at the hands of the Kurus and of those illustrious men (Bhishma and others), nay of the whole world?
दुर्योधन उवाच मध्यस्थः सततं भीष्मो द्रोणपुत्रो मयि स्थितः। यतः पुत्रस्ततो द्रोणो भविता नात्र संशयः॥
Duryodhana said : Bhishma is always neutral; the son of Droua (Ashvathama) is in my side. There is no doubt Drona will also be in that side in which his son will be.
कृपः शारद्वतश्चैव यत एतौ ततो भवेत्। द्रोणं च भागिनेयं च न स त्यक्ष्यति कर्हिचित्॥
The son of Sharadvan, Kripa, will surely be on the side in which these two will be. He will never abandon Drona and his nephew (sister's son, Ashvathama).
क्षत्तार्थबद्धस्त्वस्माकं प्रच्छन्नं संयतः परैः। न चैकः स समर्थोऽस्मान् पाण्डवार्थेऽधिबाधितुम्।२२॥
Kshatta (Vidura) is dependent on us for his livelihood, although he is covertly on the side of the enemy (the Pandavas). He alone can do us no harm, (even) if he sides the Pandavas.
स विस्रब्धः पाण्डुपुत्रान् सह मात्रा प्रवासय। वारणावतमद्यैव यथा यान्ति तथा कुरु॥
(Therefore) without any fear, exile the sons of Pandu with their mother to Varanavata. Take such steps as they may go there this very day.
विनिद्रकरणं घोरं हृदि शल्यमिवार्पितम्। शोकपावकमुद्भूतं कर्मणैतेन नाशय॥
Extinguish by this act the grief that consumes me like a fire, that robs me of my sleep and that princes my heart like a terrible dart.