Duryodhana envied Bhima’s strength, Arjuna’s skill and the love of the people for Yudhishthira and the other Pandavas. Dhritarashtra, blind and weak-willed, favoured Duryodhana even though he knew that what he said or did was wrong.
One day, Duryodhana’s maternal uncle Shakuni and Karna gave Duryodhana a piece of evil and bad advice. Duryodhana sent a minister, Purochana, and discussed with him the evil plan. Purochana at once, reached Varanavata and built a beautiful palace ‘Lakshagriha’. The palace was made of substances, like wax, ghee, oil, etc. So, it could catch fire very easily. Duryodhana was busy poisoning Dhritrashtra’s ears against the Pandavas. One day, Yudhishthira sought the king’s permission to visit some landscape. The king’s eyes shone. He at once guided Yudhishthira to go to Varanavata and see the beauty of the place.
Yudhishthira along with Kunti and his brothers got ready to proceed to Varanavata. Vidura warned Yudhishthira in time.
Soon the Pandavas reached Varanavata. Purochana had already made arrangements for their stay in the palace. Seeing the palace carefully Yudhishthira told his brothers that the palace could catch fire easily. As per Vidura’s instructions, they got busy in making tunnels. Purochana was waiting for the opportune time.
They spent the daytime hunting in the forest, but actually they were coming to know the routes in the forest very well. They kept watch at night.
One night, Kunti gave a feast to the people residing there. After the people had departed, a widow with her five sons reached there. Kunti served them food with great devotion.
Thereafter, they all went to sleep in the palace. Bhima set fire to the palace at midnight and, as the fire started, the Pandavas escaped through the hidden passage. Purochana died in the fire, along with the widow and her five sons. People gathered and thinking the Pandavas were dead, they mourned.
The news reached Hastinapur where a great show of sorrow was displayed by Dhritrashtra and his sons and the funeral rites of the Pandavas were carried out. The Pandavas along with Kunti moved through the darkness.
