01.137
Core:Last rites of Kunti and Pandavas.
Vaiśampāyana said:
Then, when the night had passed, all the people of the city hurried there, desiring to see the sons of Pāṇḍu.
While extinguishing the fire, the people then saw the lac house burnt down and the minister Purocana as well.
Surely, this was arranged by the wicked Duryodhana for the destruction of the Pāṇḍavas — thus cried out the people.
When Dhṛtarāṣṭra knew it, there is no doubt — his son had burned the heirs of Pāṇḍu, and he had not restrained him.
Surely Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, does not follow righteousness, nor do Droṇa, Vidura, Kṛpa, and the other Kauravas.
We are agents of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the evil-minded one. Your supreme desire is fulfilled — you have burnt the Pāṇḍavas.
Then, while clearing the fire for the sake of the Pāṇḍavas, they saw the Niṣāda woman, burnt, with her five innocent sons.
While cleansing the house, the same digger had covered the tunnel with earth, and it remained unnoticed by those men.
Then the townspeople sent word to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍavas had been burnt by fire, along with the minister Purocana.
Having heard that very grievous news, King Dhṛtarāṣṭra greatly lamented the destruction of the sons of Pāṇḍu in deep sorrow.
Today King Pāṇḍu, my rare brother, is dead — especially with those heroes burned along with their mother.
Let men go quickly to the city of Vāraṇāvata and honor those heroes and her, the daughter of Kuntirāja.
Let pure and great funeral rites be performed, and let the friends of those who died there also be honored.
In this situation, let whatever beneficial acts are possible for me to do for the Pāṇḍavas and for Kuntī — let all that be done with wealth.
Thus having spoken, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, son of Ambikā, surrounded by his relatives, performed water-libation for the sons of Pāṇḍu.
All the Kauravas wailed intensely, absorbed in grief, but Vidura expressed only slight sorrow — for he indeed knew the supreme truth.
The Pāṇḍavas, having departed from the city of Vāraṇāvata, went swiftly, O King, taking refuge in the southern direction.
Facing south and discerning the path by stars at night, they strove and entered a dense forest, O King.
Then the sons of Pāṇḍu, exhausted, thirsty, and drowsy, again spoke these words to mighty Bhīmasena.
What is more difficult than this — that we are in a dense forest, we do not know the directions, and we are unable to go on?
And we do not know whether that sinner Purocana is burned. How shall we escape unnoticed from this fear?
Carry us again and go forth just as before, O Bhārata. You alone are strong for us and tireless in movement.
Thus addressed by Dharmarāja, mighty Bhīmasena took Kuntī and his brothers and swiftly went forth, the mighty one.
