Mahabharata Condensed in the Poet's Own Words /80

64
 
THE MAHABHARATA
 
in the interior of a big forest cannot burn

the creatures living in holes." Having advised

( them ) thus and accompanied them ( to some

distance), Vidura went ( back ) to his dwelling.

 
सत्कृताश्चैव पौररैस्ते पौरान्सत्कृत्य च [अनघ] ।

अलङ्कृतं जनाकीर्णणं विविशुर्वारणावतम् ॥
 

Welcomed by the citizens with honour

and honouring the citizens ( in turn), the

Pandavas entered the decorated Varanavata,

crowded with people.
 

 
तेभ्यो भक्ष्याणि पानानि शयनीयानि शुभानि च ।

आसनानि च मुख्यानि प्रददौ स पुरोचनः ।

निवेदयामास गृहं शिवाख्यमशिवं तदा ॥
 

That Purochana gave them food, drinks,

beautiful beds and excellent seats, and

offered (them) an inauspicious house named

(however) Siva ( the auspicious one).
 

 
विददुरस्य सुहृत्कश्चित् खनकः कुशलः क्वचित् ।

चक्रे च वेश्मनस्तस्य मध्ये नातिमहद्विलम् ॥
 

A friend of Vidura, an expert digger,

dug somewhere in the middle of that house

a fairly big subway.