(Jatugriha Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana continued, 'A friend of Vidura's, well-skilled in mining,
coming unto the Pandavas, addressed them in secret, saying, "I have been
sent by Vidura and am a skilful miner. I am to serve the Pandavas. Tell me
what I am to do for ye. From the trust he reposeth in me Vidura hath said
unto me, 'Go thou unto the Pandavas and accomplish thou their good.' What
shall I do for you? Purochana will set fire to the door of thy house on
the fourteenth night of this dark fortnight. To burn to death those tigers
among men, the Pandavas, with their mother, is the design of that wicked
wretch, the son of Dhritarashtra. O son of Pandu, Vidura also told thee
something in the Mlechchha tongue to which thou also didst reply in same
language. I state these particulars as my credentials." Hearing these
words, Yudhishthira, the truthful son of Kunti replied, "O amiable one, I
now know thee as a dear and trusted friend of Vidura, true and ever
devoted to him. There is nothing that the learned Vidura doth not know. As
his, so ours art thou. Make no difference between him and us. We are as
much thine as his. O, protect us as the learned Vidura ever protecteth us.
I know that this house, so inflammable, hath been contrived for me by
Purochana at the command of Dhritarashtra's son. That wicked wretch
commanding wealth and allies pursueth us without intermission. O, save us
with a little exertion from the impending conflagration. If we are burnt
to death here, Duryodhana's most cherished desire will be satisfied. Here
is that wretch's well-furnished arsenal. This large mansion hath been
built abutting the high ramparts of the arsenal without any outlet. But
this unholy contrivance of Duryodhana was known to Vidura from the first,
and he it was who enlightened us beforehand. The danger of which Kshattri
had foreknowledge is now at our door. Save us from it without Purochana's
knowledge thereof." On hearing these words, the miner said, "So be it,"
and carefully beginning his work of excavation, made a large subterranean
passage. And the mouth of that passage was in the centre of that house,
and it was on a level with the floor and closed up with planks. The mouth
was so covered from fear of Purochana, that wicked wretch who kept a
constant watch at the door of the house. The Pandavas used to sleep within
their chambers with arms ready for use, while, during the day, they went a-
hunting from forest to forest. Thus, O king, they lived (in that mansion)
very guardedly, deceiving Purochana by a show of trustfulness and
contentment while in reality they were trustless and discontented. Nor did
the citizens of Varanavata know anything about these plans of the Pandavas.
In fact, none else knew of them except Vidura's friend, that good miner.'"