Shloka 12
एकचक्रानिवासप्रस्तावः | Ekacakrā Sojourn—Vyāsa’s Consolation and Directive
यथा च तन्न पश्येरन् परीक्षन्तोडपि पाण्डवा: । आग्नेयमिति तत् कार्यमपि चान्येडपि मानवा:,“उस घरके चारों ओर सन, तेल, घी, लाह और लकड़ी आदि सब वस्तुएँ संग्रह करके रखना। अच्छी तरह देखभाल करनेपर भी पाण्डवों तथा दूसरे लोगोंको भी इस बातकी शंका न हो कि यह घर आग भड़कानेवाले पदार्थोंसे बना है, इस तरह पूरी सावधानीके साथ उस राजभवनका निर्माण कराना चाहिये। इस प्रकार महल बन जानेपर जब पाण्डव वहाँ जाये, तब उन्हें तथा सुहृदोंसहित कुन्तीदेवीको भी बड़े आदर-सत्कारके साथ उसीमें रखना
yathā ca tan na paśyeran parīkṣantop(i) pāṇḍavāḥ | āgneyam iti tat kāryam api cāny(e) ’pi mānavāḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Arrange matters so that, even if the Pāṇḍavas examine it carefully, they will not perceive it as ‘made for fire’—nor should other people suspect it either. The palace must be constructed with such complete caution.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical collapse that accompanies political ambition: a harmful act is planned with meticulous secrecy so that even careful scrutiny will not reveal it. It implicitly contrasts dharma (transparent, righteous conduct) with adharma (concealed, deceptive violence).
In the context of the lac-house episode, instructions are being given to build a royal residence in such a way that it appears normal, while being secretly designed to be easily set on fire—so that the Pāṇḍavas and even other observers will not suspect its inflammable nature.