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| The Shellac Palace |
For the whole year that the Pandavas lived in Varanavata, Duryodhana waited and watched. He was in no hurry to carry out his wicked plan, because this time he did not want to fail. Moreover, he wished to be above all suspicion and make it appear to the world as if he had nothing to do with their ghastly deaths.
One day Vidur's messengers warned the Pandavas about the happenings in the court, and gave them his message: "Your must flee." Thereupon they set to work to complete their own plans for escape. That night Kunti prepared a great feast, and invited all the inmates of the palace to share it. After the feast, the guards and the servants fell into a heavy stupor. They did not stir as the Pandavas crept softly down the narrow steps of the underground passage. At a safe distance from the palace, the princes signalled to their friends, who instantly set fire to it. As the great structure went up in flames, the citizens hurried about trying to put out the fire. But the flames only rose higher, and within a few hours the palace was reduced to a heap of ashes.
When word reached Hastinapura of the fire and Duryodhana heard that charred bodies had been found, his wicked heart rejoiced, though outwardly he made a great show of grief.
Meanwhile, groping their way through the tunnel, the Pandavas and their mother reached the forest under cover of darkness. They marched on for many days heading south and rarely stopping for food or rest. As they journeyed they had many adventures. One day, Bhima went in search of water for his family and came upon a young woman beside a pool. This woman was really the demon queen Hidimbi who lived with her brother Hidimba in the forest.
Unnoticed by him, Hidimbi followed Bhima for she had fallen in love with him. She confessed her love and begged him to take her as his wife. Bhima was greatly pleased. But before he could marry her, he had to fight her brother, who was very angry that his sister had chosen a human as her husband. There was a deadly duel between the two, in which Bhima killed Hidimbi's brother. | |
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