01.136
Core:Pandavas escape, leaving behind a family of drunk hunters.
Vaiśampāyana said:
Seeing them well-settled and having lived there for a full year, Purocana, perceiving them as trusting, rejoiced.
When Purocana thus rejoiced, Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Kuntī and knower of dharma, spoke to Bhīmasena, Arjuna, and the twins.
This wicked Purocana believes us to be fully trusting; I consider that we have deceived this cruel-souled one and that the time has come to escape.
Let us set the armory on fire and burn Purocana too; placing six living beings here, let us flee unnoticed.
Then, under the pretext of a charitable feast, Kuntī arranged a great night meal for Brāhmaṇas; many women came there, O king.
O Bhārata, after enjoying as they pleased, eating and drinking, those women returned home at night after taking leave of Madhavī.
By chance, a Nishada woman with five sons, seeking food and prompted by fate, came to that feast.
Having drunk wine, the Nishada woman became intoxicated and overcome with drink, and along with all her sons, slept unconscious like the dead in that very house, O king.
Then, at night, when all were asleep and the wind roared fiercely, Bhīma ignited the place where Purocana lay, O lord.
Then a great blaze and loud noise arose from the fire, and by that, the people became aware.
The citizens said:
The house which was built and burned by that wicked fool, instigated by Duryodhana, was intended for his own destruction.
Alas, shame on Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s judgment, which was improper, for he caused the pure and young Pāṇḍavas to be burned by his minister.
Fortunately, this very evil-minded sinner is now burned, who burned the innocent and fully trusting best of men.
Vaiśampāyana said:
Thus the people of Vāraṇāvata lamented, and stood all around that house during the night.
And those Pāṇḍavas, O king, very distressed along with their mother, exited through the tunnel and departed secretly, unnoticed.
Due to interrupted sleep and fear, the Pāṇḍavas, scorcher of foes, could not suddenly proceed along with their mother.
Then Bhīmasena, O king, of immense speed and valor, took along all his brothers and mother and departed.
Placing his mother on his shoulder, the mighty one took the twins on his hip, and holding the other two strong brothers by hand, he carried them.
With force, Bhīma broke through trees and tore the earth with his feet; the radiant Vṛkodara advanced swiftly like the wind.
