SECTION CXLIII
(Jatugriha
Parva)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then the son of Suvala
(Sakuni), king Duryodhana, Duhsasana and Kama, in consultation with one
another, formed an evil conspiracy. With the sanction of Dhritarashtra, the
king of the Kurus, they resolved to burn to death Kunti and her (five) sons.
But that wise Vidura, capable of reading the heart by external signs,
ascertained the intention of these wicked persons 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 strong enough to withstand both wind and wave, he addressed
Kunti and said, 'This Dhritarashtra 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 wind and wave. Escape by it with thy children from the net
that death hath spread around you.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these
words, the illustrious Kunti was deeply grieved, and with her children, O bull
of Bharata's 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 Nishada woman who had
come there for some purpose, was, with her children burnt to death. And that worst
of Mlechchhas, 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 Dhirtarashtra 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 Dhritarashtra to represent everything
that had happened. And they said to 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,
Dhritarashtra with his children, made a show of grief, and along with his
relatives, including Kshattri (Vidura) and Bhishma the foremost of the Kurus,
performed the last honours of the Pandavas.'
"Janamejaya 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 there from. That was a cruel act of theirs (the Kurus),
acting under the counsels of the wicked (Kanika). Recite the history to me of
all that happened. I am burning with curiosity to hear it.'
"Vaisampayana said, 'O 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
Bhimasena surpass (everybody) 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 contrivances one after another, and in
obedience to the counsels of Vidura, never spoke of them afterwards. Then the
citizens, beholding the son of Pandu possessed of 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 (Yudhishthira) as possessed of the qualifications for ruling the kingdom.
And they said, 'Dhritarashtra, though possessed of the eye of knowledge, having
been (born) blind, had not obtained the kingdom before. How can he (therefore)
become king now? Then Bhishma, the son of Santanu, 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 battle, versed in the
Vedas, and truthful and kind. Worshipping Bhishma, the son of Santanu and Dhritarashtra
conversant with the rules of morality, he will certainly maintain the former
and the latter with his children in every kind of enjoyment.
"The wretched Duryodhana, hearing these
words of the parting partisans of Yudhishthira, became very much distressed.
Deeply afflicted, the wicked prince could not put up with those speeches.
Inflamed with jealousy, he went unto Dhritarashtra, and finding him alone he
saluted him with reverence and distressed at (the sight of) the partiality of
the citizens for Yudhishthira, he addressed the monarch and said, 'O father, I
have heard the parting citizens utter words of ill omen. Passing thee by, and
Bhishma too, they desire the son of Pandu to be their king. Bhishma 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, but thou, from
blindness, didst not obtain the kingdom, though fully qualified to have it. If
Pandu's son now obtaineth the kingdom as his inheritance from Pandu, 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 by all men.
Therefore, O monarch, adopt such counsels that we may not suffer perpetual
distress, becoming dependent on 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.'"
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