Shloka 13
एकचक्रानिवासप्रस्तावः | Ekacakrā Sojourn—Vyāsa’s Consolation and Directive
वेश्मन्येवं कृते तत्र गत्वा तान् परमार्चितान् | वासयेथा: पाण्डवेयान् कुन्तीं च ससुहृज्जनाम्,“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
veśmany evaṁ kṛte tatra gatvā tān paramārcitān | vāsayethāḥ pāṇḍaveyān kuntīṁ ca sasuhṛjjanām ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “When that residence has been constructed in this manner, go there and, after honoring them with the highest respect, lodge the sons of Pāṇḍu there—along with Kuntī and their circle of well-wishing friends.” In context, the instruction is ethically perverse: the outward show of hospitality and reverence is meant to conceal a lethal design, turning ‘honor’ into a tool of deception.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ethical language and social virtues (honor, hospitality) can be weaponized to mask wrongdoing. It warns that outward respect is not proof of righteous intent; discernment is required when power and envy drive hidden agendas.
After a specially prepared residence has been built, the instruction is to go and receive the Pāṇḍavas with great honor and then lodge them there along with Kuntī and their companions—an act that, in the surrounding episode, serves a covert plan to harm them under the guise of royal hospitality.