Mahabharata – 72

By

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                                            AadivamsavataranaParva

When Duryodhana found that he was incapable of destroying Pandavas who are protected by fate,Duryodhana in consultation with Karna & Dushsasana & other ministers hit up a plan.He took King Dhritharastra in confidence. He built a house made of lac at Varanavata.Dhritharastra asked the Pandavas to go & live in that house of lac specially built for the Pandavas.So the Pandavas left Hastinapur for the new residence earmarked for them.While they were leaving the city Vidura warned them as to the impending danger,He also told them how to get rid of danger.The Pandavas reached Varanavata & lived in the palace made of lac with their mother.They secretly dug a passage from the palace that would lead them out of the palace secretly.They lived there for one year,then on the advice of Vidura they set fire to the house of lac & fled into the forest.In the forest they saw an ogre .Bhima killed the ogre.He married the sister of the ogre. Her name was Hidimba.Ghatotkacha was born to her by Bhima.

True that the marriage of Hidimba & Bhima took place due to sheer accident on the surface.But with us through this marriage Pandavas became aligned to different forces of nature.May be Hidimba represents the fierce tribal people who live beyond the sphere of so called civilised society.Marrige with the tribals  strengthen the Pandavas.And no wonder that the people of the civilised society who befriend those who are out of the pale of civilisation are destined to consolidate  the masses & become their rulers in times to come.