Section 144
CXLIV
Jatugriha Parva continued
Vaisampayana continued,
King Dhritarashtra whose knowledge only was his eyes, on hearing these words of his son and recollecting everything that
Kanika had, said unto him, became afflicted with sorrow, and his mind also thereupon began to waver.
Then
Duryodhana and
Karna, and
Sakuni, the son of
Suvala, and
Duhsasana as their fourth, held a consultation together.
Prince Duryodhana said unto
Dhritarashtra, Send, O father, by some clever contrivance, the
Pandavas to the town of
Varanavata.
We shall then have no fear of them'
Dhritarashtra, on hearing these words uttered by his son, reflected for a moment and replied unto
Duryodhana, saying,
Pandu, ever devoted to virtue, always behaved dutifully towards all his relatives but particularly towards me.
He cared very little for the enjoyments of the world, but devotedly gave everything unto me, even the kingdom.
His son is as much devoted to virtue as he, and is possessed of every accomplishment.
Of world-wide fame, he is again the favourite of the people.
He is possessed of allies; how can we by force exile him from his ancestral kingdom?
The counsellors and soldiers of the state and their sons and grandsons have all been cherished and maintained by
Pandu.
Thus benefited of old by
Pandu, shall not, O child, the citizens slay us with all our friends and relatives now on account of
Yudhishthira Duryodhana replied, What thou sayest, O father, is perfectly true.
But in view of the evil that is looming on the future as regards thyself, if we conciliate the people with wealth and honours, they would assuredly side with us for these proofs of our power.
The treasury and the ministers of state, O king, are at this moment under our control.
Therefore, it behoveth thee now to banish, by some gentle means, the
Pandavas to the town of
Varanavata; O king, when the sovereignty shall have been vested in me, then, O
Bharata, may
Kunti with her children come back from that place'
Dhritarashtra replied, This, O
Duryodhana, is the very thought existing in my mind.
But from its sinfulness I have never given expression to it.
Neither
Bhishma, nor
Drona, nor
Kshattri, nor
Gautama Kripa will ever sanction the exile of the
Pandavas.
In their eyes, O dear son, amongst the
Kurus ourselves and the
Pandavas are equal.
Those wise and virtuous persons will make no difference between us.
If therefore, we behave so towards the
Pandavas, shall we not, O son, deserve death at the hands of the
Kurus, of these illustrious personages, and of the whole world'
Duryodhana answered,
Bhishma hath no excess of affection for either side, and will, therefore, be neutral in case of dispute.
The son of
Drona Aswatthaman is on my side.
There is no doubt that where the son is, there the father will be.
Kripa, the son of
Saradwat, must be on the side on which
Drona and
Aswatthaman are.
He will never abandon
Drona and his sister's son
Aswatthaman.
Kshattri Vidura is dependent on us for his means of life, though he is secretly with the foe.
It he sides the
Pandavas, he alone can do us no injury, Therefore, exile thou the
Pandavas to
Varanavata without any fear.
And take such steps that they may go thither this very day.
By this act, O father, extinguish the grief that consumeth me like a blazing fire, that robbeth me of sleep, and that pierces my heart even like a terrible dart
Section 145
CXLV
Jatugriha Parva continued
Vaisampayana said, Then prince
Duryodhana, along with his brothers began to gradually win over the people to his side by grants of wealth and honours.
Meanwhile, some clever councillors, instructed by
Dhritarashtra, one day began to describe in court the town of
Varanavata as a charming place.
And they said, The festival of
Pasupati Sivahath commenced in the town of
Varanavata.
The concourse of people is great and the procession is the most delightful of all ever witnessed on earth.
Decked with every ornament, it charmed the hearts of all spectators'
Thus did those councillors, instructed by
Dhritarashtra, speak of
Varanavata, and whilst they were so speaking, the
Pandavas, O king, felt the desire of going to that delightful town.
And when the king
Dhritarashtra ascertained that the curiosity of the
Pandavas had been awakened, the son of
Ambika addressed them, saying, These men of mine often speak of
Varanavata as the most delightful town in the world.
If therefore, ye children, ye desire to witness that festival, go to
Varanavata with your followers and friends and enjoy yourselves there like the celestials.
And give ye away pearls and gems unto the
Brahmanas and the musicians that may be assembled there.
And sporting there for some time as ye please like the resplendent celestials and enjoying as much pleasure as ye like, return ye to
Hastinapuraagain'
Vaisampayana continued,
Yudhishthira, fully understanding the motives of
Dhritarashtra and considering that he himself was weak and friendless, replied unto the king, saying, So be it'
Then addressing
Bhishma, the son of
Santanu, the wise
Vidura,
Drona,
Valhika, the
Kaurava,
Somadatta,
Kripa,
Aswatthaman,
Bhurisravas, and the other councillors, and
Brahmanas and ascetics, and the priests and the citizens, and the illustrious
Gandhari, he said slowly and humbly, With our friends and followers we go to the delightful and populous town of
Varanavata at the command of
Dhritarashtra.
Cheerfully give us your benedictions so that acquiring prosperity, therewith we may not be touched by sin'
Thus addressed by the eldest of
Pandu's sons, the
Kaurava chiefs all cheerfully pronounced blessings on them, saying, Ye sons of
Pandu, let all the elements bless you along your way and let not the slightest evil befall you'
The
Pandavas, having performed propitiatory rites for obtaining their share of the kingdom, and finishing their preparations, set out for
VaranavataSection 146
CXLVI
Jatugriha Parva continued
Vaisampayana said, The wicked
Duryodhana became very pleased when the king, O
Bharata, had said so unto
Pandavas.
And, O bull of
Bharata's race,
Duryodhana, then, summoning his counsellor,
Purochanain private, took hold of his right hand and said, O
Purochana, this world, so full of wealth, is mine.
But it is thine equally with me.
It behoveth thee, therefore, to protect it.
I have no more trustworthy counsellor than thee with whom to consult.
Therefore, O sire, keep my counsel and exterminate my foes by a clever device.
O, do as I bid thee.
The
Pandavas have, by
Dhritarashtra, been sent to
Varanavata, where they will, at
Dhritarashtra's command, enjoy themselves during the festivities.
Do that by which thou mayest this very day reach
Varanavata in a car drawn by swift mules.
Repairing thither, cause thou to be erected a quadrangular palace in the neighbourhood of the arsenal, rich in the materials and furniture, and guard thou the mansion well with prying eyes.
And use thou in erecting that house hemp and resin and all other inflammable materials that are procurable.
And mixing a little earth with clarified butter and oil and fat and a large quantity of lac, make thou a plaster for lining the walls, and scatter thou all around that house hemp and oil and clarified butter and lac and wood in such a way that the
Pandavas, or any others, may not, even with scrutiny behold them there or conclude the house to be an inflammable one.
And having erected such mansion, cause thou the
Pandavas, after worshipping them with great reverence, to dwell in it with
Kunti and all their friends.
And place thou there seats and conveyances and beds, all of the best workmanship, for the
Pandavas, so that
Dhritarashtra may have no reason to complain.
Thou must also so manage it all that none of
Varanavata may know anything till the end we have in view is accomplished.
And assuring thyself that the
Pandavas are sleeping within in confidence and without fear, thou must then set fire to that mansion beginning at the outer door.
The
Pandavas thereupon must be burnt to death, but the people will say that they have been burnt in an accidental conflagration of their house.
Saying, So be it' unto the
Kuruprince,
Purochana repaired to
Varanavata in a car drawn by fleet mules.
And going thither, O king, without loss of time, obedient to the instructions of
Duryodhana, did everything that the prince had bid him do
Section 147
CXLVII
Jatugriha Parva continued
Vaisampayana said, Meanwhile the
Pandavas got into their cars, yoking thereto some fine horses endued with the speed of wind.
While they were on the point of entering their cars, they touched, in great sorrow, the feet of
Bhishma, of king
Dhritarashtra, of the illustrious
Drona, of
Kripa, of
Vidura and of the other elders of the
Kuru race.
Then saluting with reverence all the older men, and embracing their equals, receiving the farewell of even the children, and taking leave of all the venerable ladies in their household, and walking round them respectfully, and bidding farewell unto all the citizens, the
Pandavas, ever mindful of their vows, set out for
Varanavata.
And
Vidura of great wisdom and the other bulls among the
Kurus and the citizens also, from great affliction, followed those tigers among men to some distance.
And some amongst the citizens and the country people, who followed the
Pandavas, afflicted beyond measure at beholding the sons of
Pandu in such distress, began to say aloud,
King Dhritarashtra of wicked soul seeth no things with the same eye.
The
Kuru monarch casteth not his eye on virtue.
Neither the sinless
Yudhishthira, nor
Bhima the foremost of mighty men, nor
Dhananjaya the youngest son of
Kunti, will ever be guilty of the sin of waging a rebellious war.
When these will remain quiet, how shall the illustrious son of
Madri do anything?
Having inherited the kingdom from their father,
Dhritarashtra could not bear them.
How is that
Bhishma who suffers the exile of the
Pandavas to that wretched place, sanctions this act of great injustice?
Vichitravirya, the son of
Santanu, and the royal sage
Pandu of
Kuru's race both cherished us of old with fatherly care.
But now that
Pandu that tiger among men, hath ascended to heaven,
Dhritarashtra cannot bear with these princes his children.
We who do not sanction this exile shall all go, leaving this excellent town and our own homes, where
Yudhishthirawill go'
Unto those distressed citizens talking in this way, the virtuous
Yudhishthira, himself afflicted with sorrow, reflecting for a few moments said, The king is our father, worthy of regard, our spiritual guide, and our superior.
To carry out with unsuspicious hearts whatever he biddeth, is indeed, our duty.
Ye are our friends.
Walking round us and making us happy by your blessings, return ye to your abodes.
When the time cometh for anything to be done for us by you, then, indeed, accomplish all that is agreeable and beneficial to us'
Thus addressed, the citizens walked round the
Pandavasand blessed them with their blessings and returned to their respective abodes.
And after the citizens had ceased following the
Pandavas,
Vidura, conversant with all the dictates of morality, desirous of awakening the eldest of the
Pandavas to a sense of his dangers, addressed him in these words.
The learned
Vidura, conversant with the jargon of the
Mlechchhas, addressed the learned
Yudhishthira who also was conversant with the same jargon, in the words of the
Mlechchha tongue, so as to be unintelligible to all except
Yudhishthira.
He said, He that knoweth the schemes his foes contrive in accordance with the dictates of political science, should, knowing them, act in such a way as to avoid all danger.
He that knoweth that there are sharp weapons capable of cutting the body though not made of steel, and understandeth also the means of warding them off, can never be injured by foes.
He liveth who protecteth himself by the knowledge that neither the consumer of straw and wood nor the drier of the dew burneth the inmates of a hole in the deep woods.
The blind man seeth not his way: the blind man hath no knowledge of direction.
He that hath no firmness never acquireth prosperity.
Remembering this, be upon your guard.
The man who taketh a weapon not made of steel ie, an inflammable abode given him by his foes, can escape from fire by making his abode like unto that of a jackal having many outlets.
By wandering a man may acquire the knowledge of ways, and by the stars he can ascertain the direction, and he that keepeth his five senses under control can never be oppressed y his enemies'
Thus addressed,
Pandu's son,
Yudhishthira the just replied unto
Vidura, that foremost of all learned men, saying, I have understood thee'
Then
Vidura, having instructed the
Pandavas and followed them thus far, walked around them and bidding them farewell returned to his own abode.
When the citizens and
Bhishma and
Vidura had all ceased following,
Kunti approached
Yudhishthira and said, The words that
Kshattrisaid unto thee in the midst of many people so indistinctly as if he did not say anything, and thy reply also to him in similar words and voice, we have not understood.
If it is not improper; for us to know them I should then like to hear everything that had passed between him and thee'
Yudhishthira replied, The virtuous
Vidura said unto me that we should know that the mansion for our accommodation at
Varanavata hath been built of inflammable materials.
He said unto me, The path of escape too shall not be unknown to thee, and further, Those that can control their senses can acquire the sovereignty of the whole world,
The reply that I gave unto
Vidura was, I have understood thee'
Vaisampayanacontinued, The
Pandavas set out on the eighth day of the month of
Phalguna when the star
Rohini was in the ascendant, and arriving at
Varanavata they beheld the town and the people
Section 148
CXLVIII
Jatugriha Parva continued
Vaisampayana said, Then all the citizens of
Varanavata on hearing that the son of
Panduhad come, were filled with joy at the tidings, speedily came out of
Varanavata, in vehicles of various kinds numbering by thousands, taking with them every auspicious article as directed by the
Sastras, for receiving those foremost of men.
And the people of
Varanavata, approaching the sons of
Kunti blessed them by uttering the
Jaya and stood surrounding them.
That tiger among men, viz, the virtuous
Yudhishthira thus surrounded by them looked resplendent like him having the thunderbolt in his hands viz,
Indra in the midst of the celestials.
And those sinless ones, welcomed by the citizens and welcoming the citizens in return, then entered the populous town of
Varanavata decked with every ornament.
Entering the town those heroes first went, O monarch, to the abodes of
Brahmanas engaged in their proper duties.
Those foremost of men then went to the abodes of the officials of the town, and then of the
Sutas and the
Vaisyas and then to those of even the
Sudras, O bull of
Bharata's race, thus adored by the citizens, the
Pandavas at last went with
Purochana going before them, to the palace that had been built for them,
Purochana then began to place before them food and drink and beds and carpets, all of the first and most agreeable order.
The
Pandavas attired in costly robes, continued to live there, adored by
Purochana and the people having their homes in
Varanavata.
After the
Pandavas had thus lived for ten nights,
Purochana spoke to them of the mansion he had built called The Blessed Home' but in reality the cursed house.
Then those tigers among men, attired in costly dress, entered that mansion at the instance of
Purochana like
Guhyakas entering the palace of
Siva on the
Kailasa mount.
The foremost of all virtuous men,
Yudhishthira, inspecting the house, said unto
Bhima that it was really built of inflammable materials.
Smelling the scent of fat mixed with clarified butter and preparations of lac, he said unto
Bhima, O chastiser of foes, this house is truly built of inflammable materials!
Indeed, it is apparent that such is the case!
The enemy, it is evident, by the aid of trusted artists well-skilled in the construction of houses, have finely built this mansion, after procuring hemp, resin, heath, straw, and bamboos, all soaked in clarified butter.
This wicked wretch,
Purochana, acting under the instruction of
Duryodhana, stayeth here with the object of burning me to death when he seeth me trustful.
But, O son of
Pritha,
Vidura of great intelligence, knew of this danger, and, therefore, hath warned me of it beforehand.
Knowing it all, that youngest uncle of ours, ever wishing our good from affection hath told us that this house, so full of danger, hath been constructed by the wretches under
Duryodhana acting in secrecy'
Hearing this,
Bhima replied, If, sir, you know this house to be so inflammable, it would then be well for us to return thither where we had taken up our quarters first'
Yudhishthira replied, It seems to me that we should rather continue to live here in seeming unsuspiciousness but all the while with caution and our senses wide awake and seeking for some certain means of escape.
If
Purochana findeth from our countenances that we have fathomed designs, acting with haste he may suddenly burn us to death.
Indeed,
Purochana careth little for obloquy or sin.
The wretch stayeth here acting under the instruction of
Duryodhana.
If we are burnt to death, will our grandfather
Bhishma be angry?
Why will he, by showing his wrath, make the
Kauravas angry with him?
Or, perhaps, our grandfather
Bhishma and the other bull of
Kuru's race, regarding indignation at such a sinful act to be virtuous, may become wrathful.
If however, from fear of being burnt, we fly from here,
Duryodhana, ambitious of sovereignty will certainly compass our death by means of spies.
While we have no rank and power,
Duryodhana hath both; while we have no friends and allies,
Duryodhana hath both; while we are without wealth,
Duryodhana hath at his command a full treasury.
Will he not, therefore, certainly destroy us by adopting adequate means?
Let us, therefore, by deceiving this wretch
Purochana and that other wretch
Duryodhana, pass our days, disguising ourselves at times.
Let us also lead a hunting life, wandering over the earth.
We shall then, if we have to escape our enemies, be familiar with all paths.
We shall also, this very day, cause a subterranean passage to be dug in our chamber in great secrecy.
If we act in this way, concealing what we do from all, fire shall never be able to consume us.
We shall live here, actively doing everything for our safety but with such privacy that neither
Purochana nor any of the citizens of
Varanavata may know what we are after
Section 149 (See Samskritam Chapter 135)
CXLIX
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
Kuntireplied, 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'smost 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
Vidurafrom 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
Section 150
Setting fire to the arsenal and burning
Purochana to death and letting his body lie here, let us, six persons, fly hence unobserved by all'
Vaisampayana continued, Then on the occasion of an almsgiving, O king,
Kunti fed on a certain night a large number of
Brahmanas.
There came also a number of ladies who while eating and drinking, enjoyed there as they pleased, and with
Kunti's leave returned to their respective homes.
Desirous of obtaining food, there came, as though impelled by fate, to that feast, in course of her wanderings, a
Nishada woman, the mother of five children, accompanied by all her sons.
O king, she, and her children, intoxicated with the wine they drank, became incapable.
Deprived of consciousness and more dead than alive, she with all her sons lay down in that mansion to sleep.
Then when all the inmates of the house lay down to sleep, there began to blow a violent wind in the night.
Bhima then set fire to the house just where
Purochana was sleeping.
Then the son of
Pandu set fire to the door of that house of lac.
Then he set fire to the mansion in several parts all around.
Then when the sons of
Pandu were satisfied that the house had caught fire in several parts those chastisers of foes with their mother, entered the subterranean passage without losing any time.
Then the heat and the roar of the fire became intense and awakened the townspeople.
Beholding the house in flames, the citizens with sorrowful faces began to say, The wretch
Purochana of wicked soul had under the instruction of
Duryodhana built his house for the destruction of his employer's relatives.
He indeed hath set fire to it.
O, fie on
Dhritarashtra's heart which is so partial.
He hath burnt to death, as if he were their foe, the sinless heirs of
Pandu!
O, the sinful and wicked-souled
Purochana who hath burnt those best of men, the innocent and unsuspicious princes, hath himself been burnt to death as fate would have it'
Vaisampayana continued, The citizens of
Varanavata thus bewailed the fate of the
Pandavas, and waited there for the whole night surrounding that house.
The
Pandavas, however, accompanied by their mother coming out of the subterranean passage, fled in haste unnoticed.
But those chastisers of foes, for sleepiness and fear, could not with their mother proceed in haste.
But, O monarch,
Bhimasena, endued with terrible prowess and swiftness of motion took upon his body all his brothers and mother and began to push through the darkness.
Placing his mother on his shoulder, the twins on his sides, and
Yudhishthiraand
Arjuna on both his arms,
Vrikodara of great energy and strength and endued with the speed of the wind, commenced his march, breaking the trees with his breast and pressing deep the earth with his stamp
Section 151
CLI
Jatugriha Parva continued
Vaisampayana said, About this time, the learned
Vidura had sent into those woods a man of pure character and much trusted by him.
This person going to where he had been directed, saw the
Pandavas with their mother in the forest employed in a certain place in measuring the depth of a river.
The design that the wicked
Duryodhanahad formed had been, through his spies, known to
Vidura of great intelligence, and, therefore, he had sent that prudent person unto the
Pandavas.
Sent by
Vidura unto them, he showed the
Pandavas on the sacred banks of the
Ganga a boat with engines and flags, constructed by trusted artificers and capable of withstanding wind and wave and endued with the speed of the tempest or of thought.
He then addressed the
Pandavas in these words to show that he had really been sent by
Vidura, O
Yudhishthira, he said, listen to these words the learned
Vidura had said unto thee as a proof of the fact that I come from him.
Neither the consumer of straw and the wood nor the drier of dew ever burneth the inmates of a hole in the forest.
He escapeth from death who protecteth himself knowing this, etc'
By these credentials know me to be the person who has been truly sent by
Vidura and to be also his trusted agent.
Vidura, conversant with everything, hath again said, O son of
Kunti, thou shalt surely defeat in battle
Karna, and
Duryodhanawith his brothers, and
Sakuni'
This boat is ready on the waters, and it will glide pleasantly thereon, and shall certainly bear you all from these regions'
Then beholding those foremost of men with their mother pensive and sad he caused them to go into the boat that was on the
Ganga, and accompanied them himself.
Addressing them again, he said,
Vidura having smelt your heads and embraced you mentally, hath said again that in commencing your auspicious journey and going alone you should never be careless'
Saying these words unto those heroic princes, the person sent by
Vidura took those bulls among men over to the other side of the
Ganga in his boat.
And having taken them over the water and seen them all safe on the opposite bank, he uttered the word
Jaya' victory to their success and then left them and returned to the place whence he had come.
The illustrious
Pandavas also sending through that person some message to
Vidura, began, after having crossed the
Ganga, to proceed with haste and in great secrecy
Section 152
CLII
Jatugriha Parva continued
Vaisampayana said, Then, when the night had passed away, a large concourse of the townspeople came there in haste to see the sons of
Pandu.
After extinguishing the fire, they saw that the house just burnt down had been built of lac in materials and that
Duryodhana's counsellor
Purochana had been burnt to death.
And the people began to bewail aloud saying, Indeed, this had been contrived by the sinful
Duryodhana for the destruction of the
Pandavas.
There is little doubt that
Duryodhana hath, with
Dhritarashtra's knowledge, burnt to death the heirs of
Pandu, else the prince would have been prevented by his father.
There is little doubt that even
Bhishma, the son of
Santanu, and
Drona and
Viduraand
Kripa and other
Kauravas have not, any of them, followed the dictates of duty.
Let us now send to
Dhritarashtra to say, Thy great desire hath been achieved!
Thou hast burnt to death the
Pandavas'
They then began to extinguish the members to obtain some trace of the
Pandavas, and they saw the innocent
Nishada woman with her five sons burnt to death.
Then the miner sent by
Vidura, while removing the ashes, covered the hole he had dug with those ashes in such a way that it remained unnoticed by all who had gone there.
The citizens then sent to
Dhritarashtra to inform him that the
Pandavas along with
Duryodhana's counsellor
Purochana had been burnt to death.
King Dhritarashtra, on hearing the evil news of the death of the
Pandavas, wept in great sorrow.
And he said,
King Pandu, my brother of great fame, hath, indeed, died today when those heroic sons of his together with their mother have been burnt to death.
Ye men, repair quickly to
Varanavata and cause the funeral rites to be performed of those heroes and of the daughter of
Kuntiraj!
Let also the bones of the deceased be sanctified with the usual rites, and let all the beneficial and great acts usual on such occasions be performed.
Let the friends and relatives of those that have been burnt to death repair thither.
Let also all other beneficial acts that ought, under the circumstances, to be performed by us for the
Pandavas and
Kunti be accomplished by wealth'
Having said this,
Dhritarashtra, the son of
Ambika, surrounded by his relatives, offered oblations of water to the sons of
Pandu.
And all of them, afflicted with excessive sorrow, bewailed aloud, exclaiming, O
Yudhishthira!
Oh prince of the
Kururace,
While others cried aloud, Oh,
Bhima,
O
Phalguna,
while some again, Oh, the twins,
Oh,
Kunti,
Thus did they sorrow for the
Pandavas and offer oblations of water unto them.
The citizens also wept for the
Pandavas but
Vidura did not weep much, because he knew the truth.
Meanwhile the
Pandavas endued with great strength with their mother forming a company of six going out of the town of
Varanavata arrived at the banks of the
Ganga.
They then speedily reached the opposite bank aided by the strength of the boatmen's arms, the rapidity of the river's current, and a favourable wind.
Leaving the boat, they proceeded in the southern direction finding their way in the dark by the light of the stars.
After much suffering they at last reached, O king, a dense forest.
They were then tired and thirsty; sleep was closing their eyes every moment.
Then
Yudhishthira, addressing
Bhima endued with great energy, said, What can be more painful than this?
We are now in the deep woods.
We know not which side is which, nor can we proceed much further.
We do not know whether that wretch
Purochana hath or hath not been burnt to death.
How shall we escape from these dangers unseen by others?
O
Bharata, taking us on thyself, proceed thou as before.
Thou alone amongst us art strong and swift as the wind'
Thus addressed by
Yudhishthira the just, the mighty
Bhimasena, taking up on his body
Kunti and his brothers, began to proceed with great celerity
Section 153
CLIII
Jatugriha Parva continued
Vaisampayana said As the mighty
Bhima proceeded, the whole forest with its trees and their branches seemed to tremble, in consequence of their clash with his breast.
The motion of his thighs raised a wind like unto that which blows during the months of
Jyaishtha and
Ashadha May and
June.
And the mighty
Bhima proceeded, making a path for himself, but treading down the trees and creepers before him.
In fact, he broke by the pressure of his body the large trees and plants, with their flowers and fruits, standing on his way.
Even so passeth through the woods breaking down mighty trees, the leader of a herd of elephants, of the age of sixty years, angry and endued with excess of energy, during the season of rut when the liquid juice trickle down the three parts of his body.
Indeed, so great was the force with which
Bhima endued with the speed of
Garuda or of
Marut the god of wind, proceeded that the
Pandavas seemed to faint in consequence.
Frequently swimming across streams difficult of being crossed, the
Pandavas disguised themselves on their way from fear of the sons of
Dhritarashtra.
And
Bhima carried on his shoulder his illustrious mother of delicate sensibilities along the uneven banks of rivers.
Towards the evening, O bull of
Bharata's race,
Bhima bearing his brothers and mother on his back reached a terrible forest where fruits and roots and water were scarce and which resounded with the terrible cries of birds and beasts.
The twilight deepened the cries of birds and beasts became fiercer, darkness shrouded everything from the view and untimely winds began to blow that broke and laid low many a tree large and small and many creepers with dry leaves and fruits.
The
Kaurava princes, afflicted with fatigue and thirst, and heavy with sleep, were unable to proceed further.
They then all sat down in that forest without food and drink.
Then
Kunti, smitten with thirst, said unto her sons, I am the mother of the five
Pandavas and am now in their midst.
Yet I am burning with thirst'
Kunti repeatedly said this unto her sons.
Hearing these words,
Bhima's heart, from affection for his mother, was warmed by compassion and he resolved to go along as before.
Then
Bhima, proceeding through that terrible and extensive forest without a living soul, saw a beautiful banian tree with widespreading branches.
Setting down there his brothers and mother, O bull of
Bharata's race; he said unto them, Rest you here, while I go in quest of water.
I hear the sweet cries of aquatic fowls.
I think there must be a large pool here'
Commanded, O
Bharata, by his elder brother who said unto him, Go,
Bhima proceeded in the direction whence the cries of those aquatic fowls were coming.
And, O bull of
Bharata's race, he soon came upon a lake and bathed and slaked his thirst.
And affectionate unto his brothers, he brought for them, O
Bharata, water by soaking his upper garments.
Hastily retracing his way over those four miles he came unto where his mother was and beholding her he was afflicted with sorrow and began to sigh like a snake.
Distressed with grief at seeing his mother and brothers asleep on the bare ground,
Vrikodara began to weep, Oh, wretch that I am, who behold my brothers asleep on the bare ground, what can befall me more painful than this?
Alas, they who formerly at
Varanavata could not sleep on the softest and costliest beds are now asleep on the bare ground!
Oh, what more painful sight shall I ever behold than that of
Kunti, the sister of
Vasudeva, that grinder of hostile hosts, the daughter of
Kuntiraja, herself decked with every auspicious mark, the daughter-in-law of
Vichitravirya, the wife of the illustrious
Pandu, the mother of us five brothers, resplendent as the filaments of the lotus and delicate and tender and fit to sleep on the costliest bed, thus asleep, as she should never be, on the bare ground!
Oh, she who hath brought forth these sons by
Dharma and
Indra and
Maruta, she who hath ever slept within palaces, now sleepeth, fatigued, on the bare ground!
What more painful sight shall ever be beheld by me than that of these tigers among men my brothers asleep on the ground!
Oh, the virtuous
Yudhishthira, who deserveth the sovereignty of the three worlds, sleepeth, fatigued, like an ordinary man, on the bare ground!
This
Arjuna of the darkish hue of blue clouds, and unequalled amongst men sleepeth on the ground like an ordinary person!
Oh, what can be more painful than this?
Oh the twins, who in beauty are like the twin
Aswins amongst the celestials, are asleep like ordinary mortals on the bare ground!
He who hath no jealous evil-minded relatives, liveth in happiness in this world like a single tree in a village.
The tree that standeth single in a village with its leaves and fruits, from absence of other of the same species, becometh sacred and is worshipped and venerated by all.
They again that have many relatives who, however, are all heroic and virtuous, live happily in the world without sorrow of any kind.
Themselves powerful and growing in prosperity and always gladdening their friends and relatives, they live, depending on each other, like tall trees growing in the same forest.
We, however, have been forced in exile by the wicked
Dhritarashtra and his sons having escaped with difficulty, from sheer good fortune, a fiery death.
Having escaped from that fire, we are now resting in the shade of this tree.
Having already suffered so much, where now are we to go?
Ye sons of
Dhritarashtra of little foresight, ye wicked fellows, enjoy your temporary success.
The gods are certainly auspicious to you.
But ye wicked wretches, ye are alive yet, only because
Yudhishthira doth not command me to take your lives.
Else this very day, filled with wrath, I would send thee, O
Duryodhana, to the regions of
Yama Pluto with thy children and friends and brothers, and
Karna, and
Sakuni the son of
Suvala!
But what can I do, for, ye sinful wretches, the virtuous king
Yudhishthira, the eldest of the
Pandavas, is not yet angry with you'
Having said this,
Bhima of mighty arms, fired with wrath, began to squeeze his palms, sighing deeply in affliction.
Excited again with wrath like an extinguished fire blazing up all on a sudden,
Vrikodara once more beheld his brothers sleeping on the ground like ordinary persons sleeping in trustfulness.
And
Bhima said unto himself, I think there is some town not far off from this forest.
These all are asleep, so I will sit awake.
And this will slake their thirst after they rise refreshed from sleep'
Saying this,
Bhima sat there awake, keeping watch over his sleeping mother and brothers
http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/src-mbh-01:section-153