We’re amidst a crucial juncture wherein the Paandavas are trapped inside the “Laaksha Griha” at Vaaranaavatha Desha – Courtesy, a wicked plan by Duryodhana with the help of Purochana. We’ve witnessed earlier that Purochana was deputed by Duryodhana to build an attractive “Laaksha Griha” which was built with all types of inflammable items that would easily catch fire when burnt. The idea was to trap the Paandavas while they were fast asleep during the wee hours of the night and burn them alive! As per the mega plan, the “Laaksha Griha” was constructed within no time and Purochana sent a message of consent to Duryodhana. Accordingly the Paandavas move in, but not without some pieces of advices and “indirect” warnings from Vidura. In the entire Hastinapura family, if there was one person to be picked out who was genuinely worried about the Paandavas’ welfare, it was Vidura. This is the second instance wherein Vidura tried his best to protect the Paandavas from the wrath of Duryodhana and Co.
Accordingly, we’ve seen that as the Paandavas started their new life at the “Laaksha Griha”, Yudishtra came to know the real plan of Duryodhana. He discovered with the touch of one of the walls in the palace that the entire structure was built of wax and other inflammable items. Within a flash, Vidura’s advice lingered in Yudishtra’s mind. He understood the ploy and immediately called for a meeting amongst the five brothers. Kunthi Devi was shocked! Bheemasena was fuming with anger! He wanted to go and finish off Duryodhana then and there and put and end to all these nasty things that were happening. However, Yudishtra calmed all of them down. Especially for Bheemasena, Yudishtra had a piece of advice to make, which is very important here. Yudishtra explains to Bheemasena thus, “Oh Bheemasena! I understand your anger. It is genuine. Even I have the same anger within me too! But this is not the right time to express it in the open. Duryodhana’s intent is that all of us should be killed. At this time, if we try and do something against Duryodhana, Purochana would wake up and smell the situation. We should never let Purochana know our strategy, as he is even more wicked than Duryodhana!”
Yudishtra continues further with his advice to Bheemasena. He now recollects what Vidura had explained to him before they left for the Vaaranaavatha Desha. Yudishtra advices Bheemasena thus, “Oh Bheemasena! Moreover, remember Vidura’s words of wisdom! If Vidura wanted us to protect us then and there, he would have easily done so! But he did not do that. Vidura advised us only to “escape” from Duryodhana’s trap, and not to “fight” against Duryodhana at this time. Vidura is a senior person, isn’t it? Hence, he would definitely know when is the right time to take Duryodhana down. Since Vidura advised us to escape out, perhaps he wants us to live somewhere else without the knowledge of Duryodhana for sometime. This might perhaps give a chance for Duryodhana to mend his ways and be friendly with us again. Oh Bheemasena! Fights and wars should always be the last resort to take on someone. According to the “Raaja Dharma” we should always give a chance for the enemy to mend his ways and understand our real good intent towards him. Fighting doesn’t take a long time! All of us know your strengths and we know that you are no match to what Duryodhana is. But you need to wait. You should exhibit your strength only at times when it should be exhibited. For now, let us strategize our way forward! Our first agenda should be to somehow escape out of this “Laaksha Griha” as soon as possible before Purochana finds out!”
As the Paandavas were strategizing thus, a workman from Hastinapura arrived at the “Laaksha Griha” to meet the Paandavas. This workman was specifically sent by Vidura to help the Paandavas in building an underground tunnel. As the workman arrives, he talks to Yudishtra thus, “Oh Yudishtra! I’m Vidura’s apprentice, and I have come to help you to escape out of this place as quickly as possible. I know you wouldn’t be in a position to believe me directly. But here is proof that I’ve come from Vidura. Do you remember Vidura talking to you in a “Mlecha Bhaasha” before you left Hastinapura? If I tell the content of what Vidura had said, you would believe in me, isn’t it?” Saying thus, the workman narrates the entire advice given by Vidura in the “Mlecha Bhaasha”. I’m not going into it again, as we’ve already witnessed in our previous episode. This is exactly the same strategy that Hanuman adopted when he went to meet Mother Sita at Lanka. He too narrated some instances that were highly intimate between Mother Sita and Bhagawan Rama to earn her trust. We’ve witnessed this in our previous Ramayana project and readers can refer to it for more details.
Thus, Vidura’s workman too earns the trust of Yudishtra and Co. and the process of tunnel building begins! So for today, let us have it until this point and we shall witness in the next episode how the Paandavas escape out of the “Laaksha Griha”! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 