Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part B

21. The House of Fire by C. A. Kincaid

• Duryodhana had conspired with his father to burn the Pandavas and Queen Kunti alive because he hated them. Fortunately, Prince Vidura foresaw his plot and prepared them for such an attempt. He ordered a skillful miner to Varanavata to dig a secret passageway that leads underneath the palace and out to the safety of the woods outside. So, when the time came and Duryodhana ordered the palace burned with the Pandavas and Queen Kunti inside, the Pandavas and Queen Kunti managed to escape through the passageway, out of harm's way. Prince Bhima, though, desired revenge for the attempt, so he returned and set the guard-house on fire with Purochana, the captain who actually lit the palace on fire, perished inside. Unfortunately, (or fortunately?) five low-caste members were in the palace at the time, so they burned in the fire. But, Duryodhana mistook their burned bodies for the bodies of the Pandavas and Queen Kunti, thus they were presumed dead.

22. Bhima and Hidimba by Donald A. Mackenzie

• After escaping the burning palace, they found a safe space and rested. However, a Rakshasa and his sister lurked in the same forest. Sensing their presence, the Rakshasa sent his sister to find them and bring them to him so that they may feast that night. His sister, however, upon finding Bhima, fell in love with him immediately. So, she tried to convince them to come with her and leave the forest. Bhima refused. The Rakshasa was tired of waiting, so he came to find them himself. He found them and his sister in human form. Realizing she betrayed him, he threatened and attacked Bhima first.

23. Bhima and Hidimbi by Donald A. Mackenzie

• The battle was ferocious. The sound of it woke the other Pandavas and Queen Kunti, who stayed on the sidelines and watched it unfurl. Arjuna warned Bhima that the Rakshasa would become too strong for him when the coming dawn arrives, so Bhima fought harder. Bhima succeeded and slew the chief Rakshasa. His sister then begged to be Bhima's bride, but he refused. Then Kunti demanded he do so, and he relented. Thus, they became husband and wife. They retired shortly to a sacred place. There, they had a son who grew within an hour. They then returned to the Pandavas and Kunti in the forest, whereupon Bhima's bride bade them farewell and took her son, Ghatotkacha, with her.

29. Indraprastha by Donald A. Mackenzie

• Duryodhana discovered that the Pandava brothers were still alive.  It was deeply discussed in a war council what to do with the information, but they eventually agreed that the Pandava princes should be invited to return. They returned with Queen Kunti and the brothers' wife, Draupadi. When they returned, King Dhritarashtra divided the Raj between his own sons and the Pandava brothers, giving them the south-western portion of the Khandavaprastha, a great forest. The forest was eventually cleared and the Pandava brothers built a great city, Indraprastha. Yudhishthira ruled Indraprastha and its kingdom, and he was known for his wisdom and piety.

Bhima fights the chief Rakshasa, Hidimba, and slays him. Source: Wikimedia