(Jatugriha Parva)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then the son of Suvala (Sakuni), king Duryodhana,
Duhsasana and Karna, 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 sons 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."'"