Pandavas great escape from fire

Mahabharata Adiparva Jatugrihaparva section 148-151

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Purochana recieves Pandavas in Varanavata with royal honours , and takes them to their quarters in the house of lac. Yudhistir calls his brother Bhima and tells him, "This wretch Purochana doesnt know sin. He has indeed constructed this house with inflammable materials and he wants us to be burned to death, on the orders of Duryodhana. We need to be vigilant and be on our alert".

Vidura sends a skillful miner to Pandavas. He approaches Pandavas and introduces him as trusted aide of Vidura, and says "Vidura has spoken to you in mlechcha tongue and you also replied to him in the same language. Vidura asked me to dig a tunnel out of this house in secret. I await your command".

Yudishtir gives him permission to dig a secret tunnel without the knowledge of Purochana. Pandavas go out in day time to hunt, and at night they were vigilant without sleep. They lived like that for an year in that dangerous house without invoking suspicion of Purochana.

One fateful day, Kunti invited some guests and Brahmanas for a feast. During that feast there was a Nishada woman with her five sons, who got intoxicated with wine and lost consciousness. Then Yudhistir orders Bhima to set fire to the house, arsenal, and all exit points of the house and also near where Purochana is sleeping. Bhima does the order of his brother and sets fire to the house of lac. The house immediately catches fire. Pandavas with their mother Kunti, escape out of the secret tunnel while Purohana was burnt to death along with the Nishada woman and her five sons.

The citizens of Varanavata lament the death of Pandavas and started speaking ill of King Dhritarastra.

Sons of Pandu, meanwhile come out of the tunnel and press forward in the jungle. Their progress is hampered due to their fatigue.

Bhima, the son of wind god, possessor of immeasurable strength and speed, then carries his mother on his shoulder, nakula and sahadeva hanging on both sides, and Yudhistir and Arjuna on both his arms, advances speedily through the jungle with the speed of wind, breaking the trees with his chest like twigs.

Hari OM