Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata Part B

 My favorite story from Part B of the Public Domain Edition of the Mahabharata would be the House of Fire, and Bhima and Hidimba. 

The Pandavas along with Queen Kunti, their mother, arrived at Varanavata. They thought highly of the place because of the boujee and expensive things there like the furniture and tapestries. Although, Prince Yudhishthira realized that the entire place was covered in oil. Then, he also realized that the ceilings were made of wood, a material that catches fire easily. He told his mother that he thinks Prince Duryodhana wants to burn them alive. Prince Vidura came up with the idea of digging a passageway from the palace at Varanavata to the outside forest to escape from the burning house. Prince Vidura sent a miner, who distracted the guards to peacefully and calmly enter the palace. There he dug the passage from the palace to safe place outside in the forest. The miner would work overnight and he would hide his working site using wooden planks. The miner sent by Prince Vidura was able to finish the passageway before Purachano, surveilling the palace, was able to confidently strike the palace on fire. Once the Pandavas and Queen Kunti reached the outside forest, Prince Bhima decided to get back at Purochana. He set fire to the guard house and they all died within the house. Unfortunately, it was windy. So, the wind carried the fire all the way to the lac palace, also burning it down. Another unfortunate part of the story is that the lac palace was housing a poor woman and her five sons, which were given food and alcohol by the Pandavas. The family inside the lac palace was passed out drunk when the fire spread because of the wind. The family died inside the house because of their unawareness. The next day everyone saw the damage caused by the fire. They found the poor woman and family and believed it was the Pandavas and Queen Kunti. The antagonist, Prince Duryodhana, believed it as well and was happy because of the event. He believed the mission was executed according to the original plan. 

Bibliography: The Indian Heroes by C. A. Kincaid. 1921. 

Queen Kunti and all five of the Pandavas by RANT 73 on flickr.com

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