ते प्रविश्य पुरं वीरास् तूर्णं जग्मुर् अथो गृहान् ॥
ब्राह्मणानां महीपाल रतानां स्वेषु कर्मसु ॥
नगराधिकृतानां च गृहाणि रथिनां तथा ॥
उपतस्थुर् नरश्रेष्ठा वैश्यशूद्रगृहान् अपि ॥
अर्चिताश् च नरैः पौरैः पाण्डवा भरतर्षभाः ॥
जग्मुर् आवसथं पश्चात् पुरोचनपुरस्कृताः ॥
तेभ्यो भक्ष्यान्नपानानि शयनानि शुभानि च ॥
आसनानि च मुख्यानि प्रददौ स पुरोचनः ॥
तत्र ते सत्कृतास् तेन सुमहार्हपरिच्छदाः ॥
उपास्यमानाः पुरुषैर् ऊषुः पुरनिवासिभिः ॥
te praviśya puraṃ vīrās tūrṇaṃ jagmur atho gṛhān ||
brāhmaṇānāṃ mahīpāla ratānāṃ sveṣu karmasu ||
nagarādhikṛtānāṃ ca gṛhāṇi rathināṃ tathā ||
upatasthur naraśreṣṭhā vaiśyaśūdragṛhān api ||
arcitāś ca naraiḥ pauraiḥ pāṇḍavā bharatarṣabhāḥ ||
jagmur āvasathaṃ paścāt purocanapuraskṛtāḥ ||
tebhyo bhakṣyānnapānāni śayanāni śubhāni ca ||
āsanāni ca mukhyāni pradadau sa purocanaḥ ||
tatra te satkṛtās tena sumahārhaparicchadāḥ ||
upāsyamānāḥ puruṣair ūṣuḥ puranivāsibhiḥ ||
"Having entered the city, the heroes at once went to the houses of the brahmins devoted to their own duties, O lord of the earth, and to the houses of the city officials and the chariot-warriors; the best of men visited also the houses of the vaishyas and shudras. Honored by the citizens, the Pandavas, bulls of the Bharata race, then went to the dwelling, led by Purochana; and he provided them with food, victuals and drink, fine couches, and excellent seats. There they, honored by him, amid very precious furnishings, attended by servants, dwelt surrounded by the citizens."
ccaf601c00f6 · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:03:09 PM UTC
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Here the Pandavas show goodwill toward every class of people, while Purochana shows only feigned care. It is significant that the brothers visit the houses not only of brahmins and nobles, but also of vaishyas and shudras: the righteous scorn no one, and their manner is equally gracious to high and low. Here is the breadth of heart of the righteous, who honor the person rather than the rank. Significant too is the contrast: the genuine warmth of the Pandavas set against the counterfeit hospitality of Purochana, who feasts those he means to burn alive. Thus the scripture places sincere kindness side by side with hypocritical courtesy, preparing the moment when the true purpose of this "hospitable" house will be revealed.