The Envy of Duryodhana 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
Recognizing the superior strength of Bhémasena and the masterful skill of Arjuna, evil-minded Duryodhana was consumed with envy. And so Sun-born Karëa and Çakuni, son of Subala, schemed in many ways with Duryodhana to assassinate the Päëòavas. The Päëòavas learned everything of these plots, but on the advice of Vidura those tamers of enemies did not make an uprising or even reveal their knowledge. 
The residents of the capital city, seeing that the sons of Päëòu were blessed with so many good qualities, spoke of them wherever they met–in the town squares and in public assemblies. «Dhåtaräñöra has the eye of wisdom,» they said, «but he is physically blind, and thus formerly that lord of the people did not receive the royal throne. How then has he now become the king? Similarly Bhéñma, son of Çantanu, is a most honest man of great vows, but formerly he declined the kingdom and he will not accept the throne now or ever. Well and good! We ourselves should immediately install on the royal throne the eldest Päëòava, Yudhiñöhira, for though he is young in years, he shows the behavior of a wise elder. He is always truthful, and he is a truly compassionate man. Once he is king, Yudhiñöhira will be most kind to Bhéñma, son of Çantanu, and to Dhåtaräñöra and his sons. He will honor them and bestow upon them all kinds of gifts and facilities.» 
When Duryodhana heard the people speak these words, that evil man was consumed with envy. Burning with jealousy, he could not stand the people's words, and in sheer torment he went to Dhåtaräñöra. Meeting alone with his father and duly honoring him, he spoke in anguish about the people's love for the Päëòavas: 
«Dear father, I have heard the people gossiping, and they are speaking inauspicious words. Disrespecting you and Bhéñma, they want Yudhiñöhira as their lord. Bhéñma gives the same report, and [clearly he has no motive, since] he does not desire the kingdom. The people of this city want to inflict on us the greatest pain. Formerly Päëòu got the kingdom from his father by his own qualifications. [Although you were the eldest son of the king,] you did not have the necessary qualifications, so you did not attain the royal throne. Now if that man Yudhiñöhira is able to inherit Päëòu's throne and all that goes with it, then certainly his son will also get the throne, and his son, and so on. And what shall we do? Deprived of royal lineage, we and our children shall be despised by the world. O lord of the world, hell shall ever be our lot as we feed off the charity of our rivals! O king, we must arrange immediately to stop it! If you had been firm in your kingdom, then surely we would have inherited that kingdom, and the people would have been powerless.» 
Çré Vaiçampäyana continued: 
Hearing his son, Dhåtaräñöra reflected for a moment and then said to Duryodhana, «Päëòu always followed religious principles, and he always acted for my happiness and well-being. He was kind to all our relatives, but he was especially good to me. There is nothing at all that I did not know about that man, even what foods he liked to eat and the things he liked to do. Firm in his vows, he always offered me all that he had in his kingdom. And Päëòu's son is every bit as good and religious as his father. Why, the whole world knows how qualified the boy is, and he has the full backing of the citizens. How can we possibly drag him down by force from the kingdom of his father and forefathers, especially when he stands with so many faithful friends and allies? 
«Päëòu always took personal care of the government ministers and the army, and he gave special attention to their sons and grandsons. When they and all the citizens were so loved and honored by Päëòu, how would they not kill us and all our men for Yudhiñöhira's sake?» 
Duryodhana said: 
I have already meditated on that very problem, dear father. I have also seen that all the citizens are moved by money and position. Surely most of them will become our faithful friends and supporters. And I might add that the royal treasury and its ministers are now firmly on my side, O king. 
You, sir, must quickly banish the Päëòavas and send them to live in the city of Väraëävata. Tell them that it's for some other purpose, something that appears kind and reasonable. Then, O Bhärata, as soon as the kingdom is securely in my hands, Kunté and her children may return. 
King Dhåtaräñöra said: 
Duryodhana, this very idea has been turning around in my own heart, but it's such a sinful thought, I did not reveal it to anyone. Neither Bhéñma nor Droëa nor Vidura nor Kåpa will ever approve a plan to banish the Päëòavas. My son, the Kuru leaders are all intelligent, religious men. They regard us on an equal level with the Päëòavas, and they will not tolerate discrimination. If we enact such a plan, then these senior men of the Kuru dynasty, and indeed the whole world, will certainly consider us guilty of capital crimes and fit to be executed. 
Duryodhana said: 
Bhéñma is always neutral. Droëa's son stands with me. Wherever his son stands, there stands Droëa; there's no doubt in this matter. Kåpa, son of Çaradvän, will always remain united with those two, for he will never renounce Droëa or Droëa's son, who is his own nephew. Vidura's fortunes are bound to our own. though he secretly sides with the Päëòavas; and he alone has no power to harm us for their sake. Be confident and banish Päëòu's sons and their mother to Väraëävata on this very day. There will be no difficulty in this plan. By this action, father, destroy the horrible dart that has sunk in my heart and set such a fire of grief that I cannot sleep at night. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana continued: 
Then King Duryodhana and his younger brothers steadily captured all the government ministers with gifts of wealth and position. And expert counselors, engaged by Dhåtaräñöra, began to speak about a charming city called Väraëävata: «In the town of Väraëävata,» they said, «there is going to be a very big convention, the most enjoyable in the world, in honor of Lord Çiva. That region is full of all kinds of jewels. It's a most charming area!» Thus by the order of Dhåtaräñtra, they continued to eulogize the region of Väraëävata. 
As the Päëòavas heard more and more about the charming city of Väraëävata, a desire rose among the sons of Päëòu to go there. When Dhåtaräñöra, son of Ambikä, felt that a strong curiosity had been aroused in them, he said to the Päëòavas, «These men of mine are always talking, again and again, about Väraëävata. They say it's the most charming city in the world. My dear Yudhiñöhira, if you boys would like to see the festivities in Väraëävata, then go there with your friends and followers and enjoy yourselves like the immortal gods. You may offer as many jewels as you like to the brähmaëas and to all who sing the sacred songs, and thus you will shine in that city like the gods in heaven. After enjoying for some time there and experiencing the highest pleasure, you happy boys will come again to Hästinapura.» 
Agreeing to Dhåtaräñöra's desire and realizing that Duryodhana had successfully won over the important men in the government, Yudhiñöhira replied to his uncle, «So be it.» Then Yudhiñöhira quietly spoke these pathetic words to the very wise Bhéñma, the great-minded Vidura, Droëa, Bähléka, the Kuru Somadatta, and to Kåpa, Açvatthämä, and the highly revered Gändhäré: «Dear relatives, by the order of Dhåtaräñöra, we shall dwell for some time with our people in the beautiful and bustling city of Väraëävata. May all of you be pleased with this plan and bless us with your auspicious words so that, fortified with your blessings, we shall never be overcome by evil.» 
When all the Kauravas heard Yudhiñöhira's words, their faces became peaceful, and they came forward and blessed the Päëòavas, saying, «May you always be healthy and happy on your journey with whomever you meet, and in every respect! O beloved sons of Päëòu, may you not have even a trace of misfortune!» Thus the Päëòavas were blessed to obtain good fortune in their new kingdom, and having performed all the necessary duties, they deparated for Väraëävata. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana continued: 
When the king had thus spoken to the great-souled Päëòavas, Duryodhana, whose soul was corrupted by evil, felt the greatest pleasure. He took his adviser Purocana aside, O noble Bharata, and, clasping his right hand, said to him, «Purocana, this abundant earth, full of riches, is now mine! And because it is mine, it is also yours, and you must help me protect it. There is no one else I trust more than you, no other associate with whom I can make alliance and consult as I can with you. Keep our meeting completely confidential, dear friend, for you must destroy my enemies and save me from their wiles by a most clever means. I shall explain it to you, and you must carry it out precisely as I say. 
«Dhåtaräñöra has ordered the Päëòavas to Väraëävata, and by Dhåtaräñöra's order they will stay there for some time and enjoy the local festivities. You must go in a swiftly moving chariot drawn by strong mules. Do what you must so that you reach Väraëävata on this very day. There you must see to the construction of a very luxurious house with four stately halls. The house should be extremely well guarded and must adjoin the armory. You must find hemp, tree resin, and whatever other flammable materials are available locally and provide all of them to the builders. The walls should be built of clay mixed with clarified butter, oil, and large quantities of lac. See that the walls are covered with plaster. 
«Place hemp, bamboo, butter, and all types of wood implements throughout the house. Do everything in such a way that the Päëòavas, even if they investigate, will not suspect you, and so that neither they nor other men will notice that this house has been built to go up in flames. 
«When the mansion has been built in this way, you should offer the Päëòavas the greatest of honor and see that they live there with Kunté and her affectionate maidservants. Exquisite seats, vehicles, and beds must be arranged for the Päëòavas so that my father may be pleased. With as much time as we have, everything should be arranged so that they live happily, with full confidence, in the city of Väraëävata. However, when you know that they are sleeping soundly, without fear or suspicion, then you are to set fire by the door of the house. When the Päëòavas have burned to death, all that the citizens and our relatives will ever say about the Päëdavas is that `They burned to death in their own house.'» 
«And so it shall be!» promised Purocana to the wicked Kaurava, and he departed in a mule-drawn chariot for the city of Väraëävata. He left swiftly, O king, resolved to carry out the will of Duryodhana, and he arranged everything exactly as ordered by King Dhåtaräñöra's son. 
The Päëòavas Reside at Väraëävata 
Çré Vaiçampäyana continued: 
The Päëòavas yoked their chariots with purebred horses that ran like the wind. As they were about to mount for the journey, they felt sad to leave their family and friends, and they respectfully embraced the lotus feet of Bhéñma, King Dhåtaräñöra, the great soul Droëa, and of other venerable elders like Vidura and Kåpäcärya. Thus they offered their heartfelt respect to all the senior Kurus, embraced their peers, and accepted respectful greetings from the younger generation. Having begged permission to leave from all the elder ladies, whom they regarded as their mothers, and having circumambulated the venerable ones, they and all their ministers departed for Väraëävata. The very wise Vidura and other Kuru leaders and citizens, their hearts pulled by the sorrow of separation, followed those tigers of men as they departed. 
Then, O noble Bharata, some brähmaëas there began to speak out fearlessly, grieving terribly for the sons of Päëòu: «King Dhåtaräñöra is completely covered by darkness, and he sees with unfair partiality. So bad is his intelligence that he cannot see the laws of God. The eldest Päëòava is a sinless man who will never approve a sinful act, nor will Bhéma, best of the strong, nor the son of Kunté, Arjuna. And the two sons of Mädré are mature and great in wisdom and would never do evil. These men rightfully received the kingdom from their father, and Dhåtaräñöra cannot tolerate that. But why does Bhéñma allow all this injustice, that the best of the Bharatas, the sons of Kunté, be improperly driven from their home? In the old days, the saintly king Vicitravérya, son of Çantanu, was just like a father to us, and so was Päëòu, the beloved of the Kurus. But now that King Päëòu, a saintly tiger of a man, has gone to his blessed fate, Dhåtaräñöra will not tolerate the king's own sons, who are still like children. But we shall not tolerate this crime. Every one of us shall give up our homes and leave this fine city to go with Yudhiñöhira.» 
When the grief-stricken and shrewd citizens had spoken thus, Yudhiñöhira, the king of virtue, was extremely pleased and said to them, «We have accepted the king as our father, as our best teacher; therefore we have sworn to do whatever he tells us without hesitation. All of you are our well-wishing friends, so kindly circumambulate us, engladden us with your heartfelt blessings, and then please return to your homes. When the time comes that we need your help, then you will surely act for our happiness and welfare.» 
«So be it,» said all the people, swearing their loyalty to Yudhiñöhira. Then after circumambulating the princes and engladdening them with their heartfelt blessings, they went back to the city. 
When the citizens had retired, Vidura, who was learned in all the principles of justice and religion, alerted the leader of the Päëòavas to the imminent danger. Vidura clearly saw the best means to protect both body and soul, and that wise man, who was also learned in the art of riddles, spoke to his wise nephew, who was trained to understand them. 
«One must act to escape disaster by understanding a sharp weapon not made of iron that cuts the body to pieces. This weapon does not strike the one who knows it and turns it against his enemy; it slays the underwood and strikes down the cold. But it does not burn the inhabitants of holes in the great hiding place. One who guards himself lives. 
«The eyeless know not the path; the eyeless find not the direction; the irresolute attain not the weal; awaken, thus alerted. A man who accepts the gift, a weapon not of iron given by those who are not close, can be saved from the devouring fire by going to the refuge of the porcupine. Wandering about, he knows the ways by the stars and finds his direction. Subduing the five with his mind, he will not be subdued.» 
Having accompanied the Päëòavas for a short stretch and given these instructions, Vidura then circumambulated them and, granting them permission to begin their journey, returned to his home. 
When Vidura, Bhéñma, and all the townspeople had gone back to their homes, Kunté called her son Yudhiñöhira, who hated no one, and said to him, «When Vidura spoke to you in the middle of the crowd, it seemed like he was not saying anything coherent, and yet you agreed to his words. We don't understand it. If we are able to hear about it, and there is nothing indecent, then I would like to hear all about the conversation you had with him.» 
King Yudhiñöhira said: 
Vidura told me that we must beware of poison and fire, and he also said that no path should be unknown to us. And he said to me, «You will gain the abundant earth if you conquer your five senses.» I then said to Vidura, «It is all understood.» 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
On the eighth day of the month of Phalguna, under the star of Rohiné, they departed. Upon arriving in Väraëävata, they gazed upon the town and its people. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana continued: 
Hearing that the sons of Päëòu had arrived, all the citizens came out of the city of Väraëävata with joy and vigor. Riding on thousands of vehicles of all kinds and carrying auspicious gifts as enjoined in the scriptures, they went toward the Päëòavas, the greatest of men. 
The city residents, known as the Väraëävatakas, reached the sons of Kuntéöand offered their blessings for the success of Päëòu's sons. Then they all surrounded the Päëòavas, eager to serve them in any way. Circled by the citizens, Yudhiñöhira, a tiger of a man, shone forth like the king of the gods, thunderbolt in hand, surrounded by the immortals. Honored by the citizens, the faultless Päëòavas honored them in turn, and they entered the beautifully decorated and bustling city of Väraëävata. 
Upon entering the city, O king, the heroic princes immediately went to the homes of the brähmaëas who were busily and happily engaged in their religious duties. The brothers similarly visited the homes of the city governors and the noble chariot warriors. They next paid respectful visits to the homes of the merchants and workers, and in every house the Päëòavas, leaders of the Bharata dynasty, were honored by the cityfolk. Finally they went to their own temporary lodging, and Purocana was there to receive and welcome them. Purocana offered them fine food and drink, clean, shining beds, and valuable seats. 
Worshiped by the local townsfolk, the Päëòavas dwelled there with their royal entourage, honored by Purocana and enjoying the most luxurious furniture and household accessories. After staying there for ten nights, Purocana brought them to that inauspicious house, which was called Çiva-gåha, «the auspicious house.» At Purocana's bidding, those tigerlike men entered the house with their royal entourage, just as the mystic Guhyakas enter fabled Mount Kailäsa. Yudhiñöhira could expertly analyze the properties and qualities of things, and carefully observing the house and smelling the subtle aroma of fat mixed with butter and lac, he said to Bhémasena, «This residence is clearly made to go up in flames. Hemp and resins were used to build this house, and the straw, rope, bamboo, and other materials have all been sprinkled with clarified butter, O mighty one. It was well constructed by expert craftsmen who are trusted servants of evil Purocana, who now wants to burn me alive when my guard is down. Vidura is very intelligent, Pärtha, and having seen this danger, he has already alerted me to it. Now that he has apprised us, we have recognized this to be an `inauspicious house,' well built by our respectable teachers, who seem to be secret followers of Duryodhana.» 
Bhémasena said: 
If you think this house was built to go up in flames, then we had all better go back to our previous residence. 
Çré Yudhiñöhira said: 
No, I feel we should live here for now, acting very innocent and casual. Our enemies will think we are already lost, and that will give us time to think of a sure way to escape. If Purocana discovers any clue to our real plan, if he sees anxiety or fear in our faces, then he will act at once, and by the most violent and unpredictable means he will burn us to death. Purocana does not fear public censure or the reactions to sin. He is a fool who cares only about the desire of Duryodhana, and he functions precisely on that basis. 
If we were burned alive, perhaps our grandfather Bhéñma would be enraged and not merely lament, and perhaps he would then rouse the Kauravas to anger for the atrocity. If he should be moved to fury, understanding that the sacred law demands it, then perhaps the other Kuru leaders would react in a similar fashion. If, on the other hand, we now flee in fear of being burned, certainly Duryodhana, out of his greed for the kingdom, will have us murdered by his spies. We have no position now; rather, he occupies the capital. We are without allies, but he is surrounded by them. We are bereft of a royal treasury, but his treasury is vast. Therefore it is certain that by various means he will have us murdered. 
We must cheat this wicked Purocana and his wicked master, Duryodhana. We will stay here for now, but we will move here and there, concealing our whereabouts. We will show a keen interest in hunting, and travel all over the country. By this means we will acquire a good knowledge of all the roads and paths, and that will be necessary when the time comes to flee. Let us begin at once to dig a very well hidden hole in the earth, and by concealing our endeavor, we will not be burned by the consuming fire. We must be very careful and dwell here in such a way that neither Purocana nor any of the local people suspect us. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana continued: 
There was a dear friend of Vidura, O king, who was a professional excavator, and one day he met the Päëòavas in a secluded place and said, «Vidura has sent me. I am expert at digging, and Vidura told me, `The Päëòavas need help.' Please tell me, what can I do for you? Vidura told me in private, `Have full faith in the Päëòavas and try your best to help them.' So tell me, what can I do for you? 
«On the fourteenth evening of the dark fortnight, Purocana will put fire in the door of your house. `The Päëòavas are leaders of the people, and they are to be burned to death with their mother.' This, Pärtha, is the determined plan of Dhåtaräñöra's son, as I have heard it. When you were leaving the city, Päëòava, Vidura spoke a few words to you in the dialect of the Mlecchas, and you replied to him, `So be it.' I say this to gain your trust.» 
Dedicated to truth, Yudhiñöhira, son of Kunté, then replied, «I know, kind sir, that you are truly a well-wishing friend of Vidura, and that you are innocent, trustworthy, and always trying to please us. Your firm devotion to our cause is obvious, and there is no need for a password from the learned Vidura for us to recognize you. As Vidura is to us, so are you to us. We see no difference in you; we shall be true to you as we are to him. Now, please save us as the learned Vidura would. 
«I am aware that Purocana built this so-called home on Duryodhana's order to burn us to death. The sinful son of Dhåtaräñöra has a great treasury and allies, and being a wicked, evil-minded man, he constantly harasses us. When we are burned alive, Duryodhana's desire will be fulfilled, but you, sir, must work to save us from that fire. 
«Next door to us here is the fully equipped armory of wicked Purocana. Its ramparts come flush against our big house, with nothing in between. Vidura certainly knew previously of Purocana's wicked plan, and therefore he took care to warn us. The crisis he had foreseen is now upon us. You must save us without exposing our plan to Purocana.» 
The excavator vowed to do it and set about his task with zeal. After digging out a trench, he dug a large hole in the middle of the house, but with a deceptively small mouth so that it could be easily covered and the floor kept smooth and even. Fearing evil-minded Purocana, who practically lived in the doorway of the house, the excavator disguised the hole so well that it could not be detected. 
All the Päëòavas spent their nights in the house, keeping their weapons near at hand, but during the day, on the pretext of a fondness for hunting, they wandered from one forest to another. Feigning confidence though having none, and always in anxiety though feigning satisfaction, the Päëòavas lived in the greatest distress, but they successfully deceived Purocana. Nor did the residents of the city know their secret, except for one man, a most skillful excavator, who was a trusted adviser to Vidura. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana continued: 
Seeing the Päëòavas happily dwelling there for one full year, and observing them to be fully confident and at ease, Purocana rejoiced. Yudhiñöhira was wise in the ways of men, and seeing Purocana so joyful, he said to his brothers Bhéma, Arjuna, and the twins, «Wicked Purocana is convinced that we fully trust him, but that cruel man is deceived. I think it is time to escape. We shall ignite the armory and burn up Purocana, along with this house of lac, leaving six bodies here so we will escape unnoticed.» 
That night, O king, on the pretext of giving charity, Kunté arranged a huge reception to feed the saintly brähmaëas, and they arrived there with their wives. After eating, drinking, and enjoying as they desired, they begged their leave from Kunté and returned late at night to their homes. 
The hand of destiny brought to that celebration a low-class Niñäda woman, the mother of five sons, who came to that affair to beg for food. She and her sons became drunk and wild from drinking liquor, until they collapsed in the house of lac and slept without a trace of consciousness, as if they were dead. 
A noisy wind blew that night, and all the city slept, O mighty king, when Bhéma arose and ignited a blazing fire on the very spot where Purocana lay asleep. A roaring fire arose, consuming the armory and the house of lac. So ferociously did it roar and burn that all the city awoke. 
The citizens said: 
Sinful and stupid Purocana, engaged by Duryodhana, had this house built and burned down and thus destroyed his own soul. Damn the foolish mind of Dhåtaräñöra, who worked through his counselor to burn the pure and innocent Päëòavas! Thank heaven that wicked Purocana has burned to death. His brain was so evil that he burned up the very best of men, the faultless Päëòavas, who had such faith in him. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana said: 
Thus the Väraëätaka people spoke to one another, and surrounding the devastated house of lac, they kept vigil throughout the night. Meanwhile, escaping unnoticed through the tunnel under the house, the Päëòavas fled with their mother. 
The mighty Päëòavas and their mother were very disturbed and unhappy, having passed the night without sleep in extreme anxiety, and they could not find the energy to run. Bhémasena, however, bristled with power and courage, and taking his brothers and his mother, he pushed forward, O king. Placing his mother on his shoulder, the twins on his hips, and his two powerful brothers Yudhiñöhira and Arjuna in his arms, mighty Bhéma moved swiftly along under cover of night, breaking down trees, tearing apart the earth with his two feet, and blazing ahead with the power of the wind. 
Çré Vaiçampäyana continued: 
When the night was over, every man and woman in the city rushed about the ruins looking for the beloved sons of Päëòu. When they finally extinguished the blaze, the people saw from the remains of the house that it had been intentionally built with lac and that the minister Purocana had burned up in the blaze. 
«Surely that evil-doer Duryodhana arranged this to destroy the Päëòavas,» the people wailed. «Without doubt, it was with Dhåtaräñöra's knowledge that his son has burned to death the heirs to Päëòu's empire, and Dhåtaräñöra did not forbid this murder. It is now clear that Bhéñma, son of Çantanu, does not really follow the religious principles, nor does Droëa, nor even Vidura or Kåpa, nor all the rest of the Kauravas. We ourselves will send a message to the wicked Dhåtaräñöra: `Your greatest desire is now fulfilled. You have burned to death the sons of your own brother Päëòu.'» 
Searching for the Päëòavas, they removed the remains of the blaze and saw the Niñäda woman with her five innocent sons, burned to death. While helping to clean and purify the area, the very same excavator who had built the tunnel covered the hole with debris so that it was unnoticed by the other men. 
The people of the town then sent word to Dhåtaräñtra that the Päëòavas had burned to death in a fire along with the minister Purocana. However, upon hearing this most shocking news of the destruction of the sons of Päëòu, Dhåtaräñöra lamented in great agony. 
«Today my beloved brother King Päëòu has died and there will be no other like him, for his heroic sons have burned to death along with their poor mother! Men must go immediately to the city of Väraëävata and offer the highest and final honors to those heroes and to the precious daughter of King Kuntibhoja. Arrange at once for large, magnificent urns for their remains and let all those who loved them, who were their friends, pay homage to them in this tragic moment. In these trying circumstances, anything I can do to help the departed souls of the Päëòavas and Kunté must be done, and we shall spend for it!» 
Having thus spoken, and surrounded by all his relatives, Dhåtaräñöra, the son of Ambikä, offered the holy water on behalf of the sons of Päëòu. All the Kauravas cried and shrieked in the depths of anguish, but Vidura lamented only briefly, for he knew the truth. 
In the meantime, the Päëòavas, having escaped the city of Väraëävata, sought safety to the south, and with great speed they made their way. Heading steadily south, they easily found their way by the stars, and with much endeavor, O king, they reached the deep jungle under cover of night. Thereupon the dear sons of Päëòu, their energy spent, pained by thirst and blinded by sleep, spoke again to the great champion Bhémasena. 
«What could be more miserable than for us to be here in this deep jungle? We have no idea where we are, and we don't have the strength to go any farther. We don't even know if Purocana has actually died in the fire. What can we possibly do to save ourselves from this danger without anyone seeing us or knowing that we're alive? Carry us again, just as you did before, and keep going, Bhärata. You are the only one of us who has any strength left, for only you can go on forever like the wind.» 
Thus addressed by Yudhiñöhira, who spoke for all the brothers, the mighty Bhéma picked up his mother Kunté and his brothers, and that mighty one raced forward.