GHOSHA YATRA PARVA: Chapter 256

Duryodhana's sacrifice

वैशम्पायन उवाच ततस्तु शिल्पिनः सर्वे अमात्यप्रवराश्च ये। विदुरश्च महाप्राज्ञो धार्तराष्ट्र न्यवेदयन्॥
Vaishampayana said : Thereupon all the artizans, the principal counsellors and the highly wise Vidura thus spoke to Dhritarashtra's son.

सज्ज क्रतुवरं राजन् प्राप्तकालं च भारत। सौवर्णं च कृतं सर्वं लागलं च महाधनम्॥
“O king, all the preparations for the excellent sacrifice have been made. O descendant of Bharata, the (proper) time (to perform it) has also come. The greatly valuable golden plough has also been made."

एतच्छ्रुत्वा नृपश्रेष्ठो धार्तराष्ट्रो विशाम्पते। आज्ञापयामास नृपः क्रतुराजप्रवर्तनम्॥ ततः प्रववृते यज्ञः प्रभूतार्थः सुसंस्कृतः। दीक्षितश्चापि गान्धारिर्यथाशास्त्रं यथाक्रमम्॥
O king, having heard this, that foremost of kings, Dhritarashtra's son commanded that foremost of sacrifices to be commenced. Then commenced that sacrifice sanctified by mantras and abounding in food. The son of Gandhari was duly installed according to the ordinance.

प्रहृष्टो धृतराष्ट्रश्च विदुरश्च महायशाः। भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपः कर्णो गान्धारी च यशस्विनी॥
Dhritarashtra, the high-souled Vidura, Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and Karna and the illustrious Gandhari all were filled with great delight.

निमन्त्रणार्थं दूतांश्च प्रेषयामास शीघ्रगान्। पार्थिवानां च राजेन्द्र ब्राह्मणानां तथैव च॥
O king of kings, swift messengers were sent to invite the kings and the Brahmanas.

ते प्रयाता यथोद्दिष्टा दूतास्त्वरितवाहनाः। तत्र कंचित् प्रयातं तु दूतं दुःशासनोऽब्रवीत्॥
Ascending swift cars, they went to the directions assigned to them. Then to one messenger at the point of starting thus spoke Dushashana.

गच्छ द्वैतवनं शीघ्रं पाण्डवान् पापपूरुषान्। निमन्त्रय यथान्यायं विप्रांस्तस्मिन् वने तदा॥
"Go soon to the forest of Dvaitavana and in that forest duly invite the Brahmanas and those wicked men, the Pandavas.

स गत्वा पाण्डवान् सर्वानुवाचाभिप्रणम्य च। दुर्योधनो महाराज यजते नृपसत्तमः॥ स्ववीयर्जितमर्थौघमवाप्य कुरुसत्तमः। तत्र गच्छन्ति राजानो ब्राह्मणाश्च ततस्ततः॥
Thereupon he went there and bowing down his head to all the Pandavas said "O great king, the foremost of kings that Veda of the Kurus, Duryodhana is performing a sacrifice after having acquired immense wealth by his own prowess. Brahmanas from all quarters are going to it.

अहं तु प्रेषितो राजन् कौरवेण महात्मना। आमन्त्रयति वो राजा धार्तराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः॥ मनोऽभिलषितं राज्ञस्तं क्रतुं द्रष्टुमर्हथ।
"O king, I have been sent here by that illustrious Kuru king, the lord of men Dhritarashtra's son to invite you. You should therefore see that charming sacrifice of that king."

ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा तच्छ्रुत्वा दूतभाषितम्॥ अब्रवीनृपशार्दूलो दिष्ट्या राजा सुयोधनः। यजते क्रतुमुख्येन पूर्वेषां कीर्तिवर्धनः॥
Having heard the words of the messenger that foremost of monarchs king Yudhishthira, thus spoke to him, “By good fortune, king Duryodhana, that enhancer of his forefather's glory, is performing this foremost of sacrifices.

वयमप्युपयास्यामो न त्विदानी कथंचन। समयः परिपाल्यो नो यावद् वर्षं त्रयोदशम्॥
We shall certainly go there, but we cannot do now. We shall have to live in the forest for thirteen years according to our pledge.”

श्रुत्वैतद् धर्मराजस्य भीमो वचनमब्रवीत्। तदा तु नृपतिर्गन्ता धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः॥ अस्त्रशस्त्रप्रदीप्तेऽग्नौ यदा तं पातयिष्यति। वर्षात् त्रयोदशादूर्ध्वं रणसत्रे नराधिपः॥ यदा क्रोधहविर्मोक्ता धार्तराष्ट्रेषु पाण्डवः। आगन्ताहं तदास्मीति वाच्यस्ते स सुयोधनः॥
Hearing the words of Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) Bhima thus spoke, "the king Dharmaraja Yudhishthira will then go when he will put him (Duryodhana) into the fire kindled by weapon. Speaks these words to Duryodhana “when at the end of the thirteenth year that lord of men, the Pandavas, will in the sacrifice of battle pour upon the sons of Dhritarashtra, the Ghee of his anger, then will I come.”

शेषास्तु पाण्डवा राजन् नैवोचुः किंचिदप्रियम्। दूतश्चापि यथावृत्तं धार्तराष्ट्र न्यवेदयत्॥
O king, the other Pandavas did not say anything unpleasant. The messenger on his return told everything to Dhritarashtra's son.

अथाजग्मुर्नरश्रेष्ठा नानाजनपदेश्वराः। ब्राह्मणाश्च महाभाग धार्तराष्ट्रपुरं प्रति॥
Then there came to the city of Dhritarashtra many foremost of men, the rulers of various countries and also many highly virtuous Brahmanas.

ते त्वर्चिता यथाशास्त्रं यथाविधि यथाक्रमम्। मुदा परमया युक्ताः प्रीताश्चापि नरेश्वराः॥
Duly received in accordance the ordinance, these lords of men felt much delight and they were all well-pleased. to

धृतराष्ट्रोऽपि राजेन्द्र संवृतः सर्वकौरवैः। हर्षेण महता युक्तो विदुरं प्रत्यभाषत॥
O king of kings that foremost of kings, Dhritarashtra, surrounded by all the Kurus felt the greatest joy and he thus spoke to Vidura.,

यथा सुखी जनः सर्व: क्षत्तः स्यादन्नसंयुतः। तुष्येत् तु यज्ञसदने तथा क्षिप्रं विधीयताम्॥
"O Khatva, soon act thus that all men present in this sacrifice may with food served to them be refreshed and satisfied.

विदुरस्तु तदाज्ञाय सर्ववर्णानरिंदम। यथा प्रमाणतो विद्वान् पूजयामास धर्मवित्॥ भक्ष्यपेयान्नपानेन माल्यैश्चापि सुगन्धिभिः। वासोभिर्विविधैश्चैव योजयामास हृष्टवत्॥
Then the learned and the virtuous Vidura cheerfully entertained all the orders of men with foods and drinks and also with fragrant garland and various kinds of dresses.

कृत्वा ह्यावसथान् वीरो यथाशास्त्रं यथाक्रमम्। सान्त्वयित्वा च राजेन्द्रो दत्त्वा च विविधं वसु।॥ विसर्जयामास नृपान् ब्राह्मणांश्च सहस्रशः। विसृज्य च नृपान् सर्वान् भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः॥ विवेश हास्तिनपुरं सहितः कर्णसौबलैः॥
Having built many pavilions that hero and the foremost of kings, duly entertained the monarchs and the Brahmanas by thousands. He bestowed upon them wealth of various kinds and then bade them farewell. having dismissed all the kings, surrounded by his brothers. He (Duryodhana) entered Hastinapur in company with Karna and Subala's son (Shakuni).