As dawn broke over Varanavata, the people gathered in sorrow around the smoldering ruins of the house of lac. They lamented through the night, grieving what they believed was the tragic fate of the Pandavas. Among their cries was a bitter reflection: by fate, the sinful Purocana, who had plotted to burn the noble sons of Pandu, had himself been consumed by the very fire he set. The townsfolk mourned his trust and innocence, for he had perished alongside those he sought to destroy. Unbeknownst to the crowd, the Pandavas and their mother Kunti had escaped the inferno. Through the secret tunnel, they slipped away into the darkness, unseen and swift, hearts pounding with fear and exhaustion. Their distress slowed them, making it difficult to move quickly with their mother. But Bhimasena, mighty and resolute, gathered his family. With remarkable strength, he lifted Kunti onto his shoulder, carried Yudhishthira and Arjuna on his hips, and grasped Nakula and Sahadeva in his hands. Crushing trees and tearing up the earth as he sped through the forest, Bhima, radiant and powerful, moved like the wind, carrying his loved ones to safety. Meanwhile, Vidura, wise and ever watchful, had anticipated these events. As planned, he sent a trustworthy and pure man into the forest—a person known and trusted by both himself and the Pandavas. This man bore a token of recognition and was tasked to help them cross the Ganga. Upon finding the Pandavas in the forest, he led them and their mother to the bank of the sacred Jahnavi river. Vidura, with vast intelligence, had discerned the evil intentions of those who plotted against the Pandavas, and through his spies, understood the unfolding danger. At that moment, he dispatched a learned man into exile, who showed the sons of Pritha a path swift as the wind, guiding them onward. Vidura had arranged for a boat—sturdy, equipped with machinery, and bearing a flag—to be built by trustworthy men on the banks of the Bhagirathi. Before the Pandavas boarded, Vidura’s messenger spoke as instructed: “Yudhishthira, listen to this word of the sage, meant as a sign. He who avoids the destroyer of the thicket and the destroyer of the cold, and the great burrowers in their vast holes, and who does not kill—such a one preserves himself and lives.” This was Vidura’s wisdom, meant for their guidance. The messenger continued, “I was sent by Vidura with this sign of trust, and again, Vidura instructed me to rebuke the sons of Dhritarashtra and their brothers, for he knows all matters. You will surely conquer Karna, Duryodhana and his brothers, and Shakuni in battle, O son of Kunti; there is no doubt.” As they reached the excellent bank of the Ganga, the Pandavas encountered the king of the Nishadas, Dashaa, a heroic and supremely righteous boatman. He searched for them with lamps, eager to fulfill his duty. Speaking in a foreign tongue, as Vidura had instructed, so as not to be recognized, the Nishada informed them, “Vidura has instructed me, after giving much wealth, to be stationed on the bank of the Ganga and to ferry the Pandavas across. Today, on the fourteenth, I have searched this forest, filled with herds of deer. Now, O prosperous ones, ascend the boat and depart; it is equipped with oars and a flag, without any defect, resembling a mansion. This boat will carry you comfortably across the waters and deliver you all from this place, without doubt.” Seeing the noble Pandavas, distressed and with their mother, the boatman placed them aboard and, as they set out, spoke again. Vidura, embracing and blessing them, urged, “Go safely and without anxiety along your path.” Thus, the boatman ferried the Pandavas and Kunti across the Ganga, and after seeing them safely on the far shore, offered them blessings for victory before departing as he had come. The Pandavas, concealed and unnoticed, sent word to the sage and swiftly crossed the mighty Ganga. Having crossed its towering waves, they set out toward the southern direction, moving from forest to forest, guided by the stars through the dense wilderness. Weary, tormented by thirst and hunger, and fearful, the Pandavas spoke to Bhima: “What could be more difficult than this? We are in this dense forest, not knowing the directions, nor able to proceed further. And we do not know whether that wicked Purocana has been burned or not. How can we escape from this danger, unnoticed and quickly? Take us up and go on in the same way, O Bharata. For you alone are strong among us, like the wind-god himself.” Thus addressed, Bhimasena, son of the wind, once again took up Kunti and his brothers and carried them onward with swift strength. As the night passed, the townspeople of Varanavata hurried to the site, eager to see the sons of Pandu. They saw the fire had been extinguished, the house of lac consumed, and the minister Purocana dead. “Surely this was done by Duryodhana, that evildoer, to destroy the Pandavas,” they cried. It was known to Dhritarashtra; there was no doubt that his son had burned the heirs of Pandu, for he did not prevent this. The people lamented that even Shantanu’s son, nor Drona, nor Vidura, nor Kripa, nor the other Kauravas, had upheld righteousness in this matter. Thus, the Pandavas, guided by wisdom and protected by strength and the care of Vidura, escaped the deadly plot and set forth into the unknown, their path illuminated by hope and the blessings of those who truly loved them.