The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 143

Section CLXIII. ( *Jatu-griha Parva.* ) Vaisampayana said, "Then the son of Suvala (Sakuni), king Duryodhana, Dush-shasana, and Karna, in consultation with each other, formed an evil conspiracy. With the sanction of Dhrita-rashtra the king of the Kurus, they resolved to burn to death Kunti and her (five) sons. But the wise Vidura, capable of reading the heart by external signs, ascertained the intention of those wicked wights by observing their countenances alone. Then the sinless Vidura, of soul enlightened by true knowledge, and devoted to the good of the Pandavas, came to the conclusion that Kunti with her children should fly away from her foes. And providing for that purpose a boat furnished with engined and flags and strong enough to withstand both winds and waves, he addressed Kunti and said, 'This Dhrita-rashtra hath been born for destroying the fame and offspring of the (Kuru) race. Of wicked soul, he is about to cast off eternal virtue! O blessed one, I have kept ready on the stream a boat capable of withstanding both winds and waves. By it escape thou with thy children from the net that Death hath spread around ye!' Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words, the illustrious Kunti was deeply grieved, and with her children, O thou bull of the Bharata race, stepped into the boat and went over the Ganges. Then leaving the boat according to the advice of Vidura, the Pandavas took with them the wealth that had been given to them (while at Varanavata) by their enemies and safely entered the deep woods. In the house of lac, however, that had been prepared for the destruction of the Pandavas, an innocent Nishāda woman who had come there for some purpose, was, with her children, burnt to death. And that worst of *Mlechchas*—the wretched Purochana—(who was the architect employed in building the house of lac) was also burnt in the conflagration. And thus were the sons of Dhrita-rashtra with their counsellors deceived in their expectations. And thus also were the illustrious Pandavas, by the advice of Vidura, saved with their mother. But the people (of Varanavata) knew not of their safety. And the citizens of Varanavata, seeing the house of lac consumed (and believing the Pandavas to have been burnt to death) became exceedingly sorry. And they sent messengers unto king Dhrita-rashtra to represent everything that had happened. And they told the monarch, 'Thy great end hath been achieved! Thou hast at last burnt the Pandavas to death! Thy desire fulfilled, enjoy with thy children, O king of the Kurus, the kingdom!' Hearing this, Dhrita-rashtra with his children, made a show of grief, and along with his relatives, including Khatta (Vidura) and Bhisma the foremost of the Kurus, performed the last rites of the Pandavas." Janemejaya said, 'O best of Brahmanas, I desire to hear in full this history of the burning of the house of lac and the escape of the Pandavas therefrom. That was a cruel act of theirs (the Kurus) acting under the counsels of the wicked (Kanika). Recite thou the history to me of all that happened. I am burning with curiosity to hear it!" Vaisampayana said, "O thou chastiser of all foes, listen to me, O monarch, as I recite the (history of the) burning of the house of lac and the escape of the Pandavas. The wicked Duryodhana, beholding Bhima-sena surpass (every-" body) in strength and Arjuna highly accomplished in arms, became pensive and sad. Then Karna the offspring of the Sun and Sakuni the son of Suvala endeavoured by various means to compass the death of the Pandavas. The Pandavas too counteracted all those contrivance one after another, and in obedience to the counsels of Vidura, never spoke of them afterwards. Then the citizens, beholding the sons of Pandu possessed of all accomplishments, began, O Bharata, to speak of them in all places of public resort. And assembled in courtyards and other places of gathering, they talked of the eldest son of Pandu (Yudhish-thira) as possessed of the qualification for ruling the kingdom. And they said, 'Dhrita-rashtra, though possessed of the eye of knowledge, being (born) blind, obtained not the kingdom before. How can he (therefore) become King now? Then Bhisma, the son of Shantanu, of rigid vows and devoted to truth, having formerly relinquished the sovereignty, would never accept it now. We shall, therefore, now install (on the throne) with proper ceremonies the eldest of the Pandavas endued with youth, accomplished in war, versed in the Vedas, and truthful and kind. Worshipping Bhisma the son of Shantanu and Dhrita-rashtra conversant with the rules of virtue, he will certainly maintain both the former and the latter with his children in every kind of enjoyment.' "The wretched Duryodhana, hearing these words of the prating partisans of Yudhish-thira, became very much distressed. And afflicted deeply, the wicked prince could not put up with those speeches. Inflamed with jealously he went unto Dhrita-rashtra, and finding him alone he saluted him with reverence, and distressed at (the sight of) the partiality of the citizens for Yudhish-thira, he addressed the monarch and said, 'O father, I have heard the prating citizens utter words of ill omen. Passing thee by, and Bhisma too, they desire the son of Pandu to be their king! Bhisma will sanction this, for he will not rule the kingdom! It seems, therefore, that the citizens are endeavouring to inflict a great injury on us! Pandu obtained of old the ancestral kingdom by virtue of his own accomplishments. Thou, from blindness, obtainedst not thy kingdom though fully qualified to have it. If Pandu's son now obtaineth the kingdom as his inheritance from Pandu, then his son will obtain it after him and that son's son also, and so on will it descend in Pandu's line. In that case, O king of the world, ourselves with our children, excluded from the royal line, shall certainly be disregarded of all men! Therefore, O monarch, adopt thou such counsels that we may not suffer perpetual distress becoming dependents of others for our food. O king, if thou hadst obtained the sovereignty before, we would certainly have succeeded to it, however much the people might be unfavourable to us!'" Thus ends the hundred and forty-third Section in the Jatu-griha of the Adi Parva.