The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Adi Parva
Religion
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Adi Parva
Epic literature, Sanskrit
"'When Duryodhana, with various means, both secret and open, found himself
incapable of destroying the Pandavas who were protected by the fates and
kept alive for grave future purposes (such as the extermination of the
Kuru race), then called together his counsellors consisting of Vrisha
(Karna), Duhsasana and others, and with the knowledge of Dhritarashtra
caused a house of lac to be constructed. And king Dhritarashtra, from
affection for his children, and prompted by the desire of sovereignty,
sent the Pandavas tactfully into Varanavata. And the Pandavas then went
away with their mother from Hastinapura. And when they were leaving the
city, Vidura gave them some idea of impending danger and how they could
come out of it.
"'The sons of Kunti reached the town of Varanavata and lived there with
their mother. And, agreeably to the command of Dhritarashtra, those
illustrious slayers of all enemies lived in the palace of lac, while in
that town. And they lived in that place for one year, protecting
themselves from Purochana very wakefully. And causing a subterranean
passage to be constructed, acting according to the directions of Vidura,
they set fire to that house of lac and burnt Purochana (their enemy and
the spy of Duryodhana) to death. Those slayers of all enemies, anxious
with fear, then fled with their mother. In the woods beside a fountain
they saw a Rakshasa. But, alarmed at the risk they ran of exposure by such
an act the Pandavas fled in the darkness, out of fear from the sons of
Dhritarashtra. It was here that Bhima gained Hidimva (the sister of the
Rakshasa he slew) for a wife, and it was of her that Ghatotkacha was born.
Then the Pandavas, of rigid vows, and conversant with the Vedas wended to
a town of the name of Ekachakra and dwelt there in the guise of
Brahmacharins. And those bulls among men dwelt in that town in the house
of a Brahmana for some time, with temperance and abstinence. And it was
here that Bhima of mighty arms came upon a hungry and mighty and man-
eating Rakshasa of the name of Vaka. And Bhima, the son of Pandu, that
tiger among men, slew him speedily with the strength of his arms and made
the citizens safe and free from fear. Then they heard of Krishna (the
princess of Panchala) having become disposed to select a husband from
among the assembled princes. And, hearing of it, they went to Panchala,
and there they obtained the maiden. And having obtained Draupadi (as their
common wife) they then dwelt there for a year. And after they became known,
those chastisers of all enemies went back to Hastinapura. And they were
then told by king Dhritarashtra and the son of Santanu (Bhishma) as
follows: 'In order, O dear ones, dissensions may not take place between
you and your cousins, we have settled that Khandavaprastha should be your
abode. Therefore, go ye, casting off all jealousy, to Khandavaprastha
which contains many towns served by many broad roads, for dwelling there.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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