Duryodhana’s Jealousy, The Poisoning of Bhima and the House of Lac
The rivalry between the Pandavas and Kauravas had now become much more serious.
The princes had grown into powerful young warriors. The Pandavas were respected by the people of Hastinapura, while Duryodhana increasingly feared that the Pandavas would eventually become more powerful than him.
Among all the Pandavas, Bhima was especially disliked by Duryodhana because of his extraordinary strength.
Duryodhana’s jealousy slowly turned into hatred, and he began making dangerous plans against his cousins.
1. Duryodhana’s Growing Jealousy
As the Pandavas and Kauravas grew older, people began noticing the qualities of the Pandavas.
Yudhishthira was respected for his honesty and sense of dharma.
Bhima was known for his tremendous physical strength.
Arjuna had become an extraordinary archer.
Nakula and Sahadeva were also talented and disciplined princes.
Duryodhana began to worry about the future.
He feared that Yudhishthira might eventually become king of Hastinapura.
Instead of accepting the Pandavas as his brothers and allies, Duryodhana allowed jealousy to grow inside him.
2. Bhima Becomes Duryodhana’s Main Target
Bhima was particularly strong.
During their childhood, the princes often played and trained together.
Bhima’s strength frequently gave the Pandavas an advantage.
Duryodhana could not tolerate this.
He began looking for a way to remove Bhima from his path.
His hatred eventually led him to make a dangerous plan.
Duryodhana decided to poison Bhima.
3. Duryodhana Poisons Bhima
One day, Duryodhana invited the Pandavas to spend time near the river.
Food was prepared for the princes.
Duryodhana secretly mixed poison into Bhima’s food.
Bhima ate the food without suspecting anything.
Soon, the poison affected him.
Duryodhana then had Bhima carried to the river and thrown into the water.
He believed that Bhima would die.
But Bhima’s destiny was different.
4. Bhima Reaches the Realm of the Nagas
Instead of dying, Bhima was carried by the river to the realm of the Nagas.
There, the Nagas discovered him.
According to the traditional story, the poison already inside Bhima’s body was neutralized by their actions.
Bhima was then given powerful nourishment.
This made his already extraordinary strength even greater.
After recovering, Bhima eventually returned to Hastinapura.
His survival shocked Duryodhana.
The attempt to destroy Bhima had failed.
5. The Pandavas Continue Their Lives
Bhima returned to his brothers and mother.
The Pandavas did not immediately understand everything that had happened.
But the rivalry between the two groups continued to grow.
The elders of Hastinapura were concerned about the increasing tension.
Bhishma, Vidura and other members of the royal family wanted peace within the Kuru dynasty.
But Duryodhana’s jealousy continued.
He was supported by his uncle Shakuni, who was clever, ambitious and strongly opposed to the Pandavas.
6. Yudhishthira Becomes the Heir
As the princes grew older, the question of who would eventually rule Hastinapura became increasingly important.
Yudhishthira was the eldest of the Pandavas.
He was respected for his character, wisdom and commitment to dharma.
Many people believed that he was suitable to become the future ruler.
This made Duryodhana even more worried.
He feared losing his opportunity to become king.
Duryodhana and his supporters therefore began thinking about a much more dangerous plan.
7. The Plan to Send the Pandavas Away
Duryodhana’s supporters came up with a plan to send the Pandavas away from Hastinapura.
The Pandavas were invited to travel to a place called Varanavata.
A special palace had been prepared there for them.
The palace appeared beautiful and luxurious.
But there was a hidden danger.
It was constructed using highly flammable materials, including lac.
The plan was to set the palace on fire while the Pandavas were inside.
This became known as the story of the House of Lac.
8. Vidura Warns the Pandavas
Vidura was one of the wisest people in Hastinapura.
He understood that the invitation to Varanavata was dangerous.
But he could not openly accuse Duryodhana and his supporters.
Instead, Vidura gave Yudhishthira a warning using words that carried a hidden meaning.
Yudhishthira understood what Vidura was trying to tell him.
He realized that the beautiful palace could actually be a trap.
The Pandavas therefore remained alert.
9. The Pandavas Reach Varanavata
The Pandavas travelled to Varanavata along with Kunti.
They entered the magnificent palace and appeared to be unaware of the danger.
But they had understood Vidura’s warning.
They secretly prepared a way to escape.
A tunnel was constructed beneath the palace so that they could leave safely if the building was set on fire.
The Pandavas waited for the right opportunity.
10. The House of Lac Is Set on Fire
Eventually, the palace was set on fire.
The flames spread rapidly because the building was made from highly flammable materials.
The people who had planned the attack believed that the Pandavas and Kunti were trapped inside.
But the Pandavas had already prepared their escape.
They used the secret tunnel and managed to leave the burning palace.
The world believed that the Pandavas had died.
But they were alive.
Their survival would soon lead them into a completely new phase of their lives.
The Pandavas Disappear
After escaping the House of Lac, the Pandavas and Kunti decided to remain hidden.
They travelled through forests and unfamiliar places.
They could no longer safely return to Hastinapura because their enemies believed them to be dead.
During this period, they would face many new challenges.
They would meet new people, encounter dangerous enemies and eventually arrive at a kingdom where a great swayamvara was being prepared.
That event would change the lives of the five brothers forever.
The story continues in Maha Bharatham Part 8.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Duryodhana hate Bhima?
Bhima was extremely strong and often defeated or overpowered Duryodhana during their childhood rivalry. This increased Duryodhana’s jealousy.
What happened when Bhima was poisoned?
Duryodhana attempted to poison Bhima and throw him into the river. Bhima survived and, according to the traditional story, gained even greater strength after reaching the realm of the Nagas.
Who was Shakuni?
Shakuni was Duryodhana’s maternal uncle and one of his strongest supporters.
What was the House of Lac?
The House of Lac, also called Lakshagriha, was a palace at Varanavata built with highly flammable materials as part of a plot against the Pandavas.
Who warned the Pandavas?
Vidura understood the danger and secretly warned Yudhishthira.
Did the Pandavas die in the fire?
No. The Pandavas and Kunti escaped through a secret tunnel and survived.