“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘A friend of Vidura,
well-skilled in mining, coming to the Pandavas, addressed them in secret,
saying, ‘I have been sent by Vidura and am a skilful miner. I am to serve the
Pandavas. Tell me what I am to do for you. From the trust, he invests in me
Vidura has said to me, ‘You go to the Pandavas and you accomplish their good.
What shall I do for you? Purochana will set fire to the door of your house on
the fourteenth night of this dark fortnight (Krishna
Paksha in Sanskrit). To burn to death
those tigers among men, the Pandavas, with their mother, is the design of that
wicked wretch, the son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana). O Pandava (Yudhishthira),
Vidura also told you something in the Mlechchha language to which you also did
reply in same language. I state these particulars as my credentials.’
“Hearing these words, Yudhishthira, the truthful son
of Kunti replied, ‘O friendly one, I now know you as a dear and trusted friend
of Vidura, true and ever devoted to him. There is nothing that the learned
Vidura does not know. As his, so ours are you. Make no difference between him
and us. We are as much yours as his. O, protect us as the learned Vidura ever
protects us. I know that this house, so inflammable, has been created for me by
Purochana at the command of Dhritarashtra's son (Duryodhana). That wicked wretch (Duryodhana) commanding wealth and allies follows us
without intermission. O, save us with a little effort from the upcoming fire.
If we are burnt to death here, Duryodhana's most cherished desire will be
satisfied. Here is that wretch's well-furnished weaponry. This large mansion
has been built next to the high walls of the arsenal without any outlet. But
this unholy scheme of Duryodhana was known to Vidura from the first, and he it
was who enlightened us in advance. The danger of which Kshattri (Vidura) had previous knowledge is now at our door.
Save us from it without Purochana's knowledge of that.’
“On
hearing these words, the miner said, ‘So be it,’ and carefully beginning his
work of excavation, made a large underground passage. The mouth of that passage
was in the centre of that house, and it was on a level with the floor and
closed up with (wooden) planks. The mouth was so covered from fear
of Purochana, that wicked wretch (Purochana) who kept a constant watch at the door of the house. The Pandavas used
to sleep within their chambers with weapons ready for use, while, during the
day, they went on hunting from forest to forest. Thus, O king (Janamejaya), they lived (in that mansion) very guardedly, cheating Purochana by a
show of trustfulness and satisfaction while in reality they were trustless and
discontented. Nor did the citizens of Vaaranaavata know anything about these
plans of the Pandavas. In fact, none else knew of them except Vidura's friend,
that good miner.’”
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