Vaishampayana said: -
1. O king, a friend of Vidura, a person well- skilled in mining, came and spoke thus to the Pandavas in private.
2. “I have been sent by Vidura; I am well- skilled in mining. Tell me what favourite works of the Pandavas I shall perform.
3. He trusts me and has said to me in private, “Go to Pandavas and accomplish their good, what can I do for you?
4. Purochana will set fire to the door of your house on the night of the fourteenth day of the black fortnight.
5. The desire of the wicked-minded Dhritarastra’s son (Duryodhana) is to bum the best of men, the Pandavas, with their mother.
6. O Pandavas, something was told to you by Vidura in the Mlecha language and you too replied in that language. I tell you this as a credential.” Yudhisthira, the truthful son of Kunti, thus spoke to him.
Yudhisthira said: -
7-8. O amiable one, I now know you as a dear and trusted friend of Vidura, true and ever devoted to him. There is no necessity (of ours) which that learned man (Vidura) does not know.
9. As you are his, so you ours. Do not make any difference between him and us. We are as much yours as his. Protects us as that learned man (Vidura) protects us.
10. I know this inflammable house was built for me by Purochana at the command of the son of Dhritarastra (Duryodhana).
11. That sinful, vicious and wicked-minded man, commanding wealth and allies, pursues us always (with his persecutions).
12. Save us with exertion from the impending conflagration. If we are burnt to death, the desire of Duryodhana will be fulfilled.
13. Here is that wicked man’s well stocked arsenal. This large house has been built abutting the high walls of the arsenal, without having any outlet.
14. This most curse device which was made (for our destruction) was known to Vidura and I was told of it by him.
15. The danger that Khattwa (Vidura) saw beforehand is now at our door. Save us from this without the knowledge of Purochana.
Vaishampayana said: -
16. The miner promised to do it by saying “Be it so”; and he began with care the work of excavation and he (soon) made a subterranean passage.
17. He made that subterranean passage in the centre of the house. O descendant of Bharata, it was in a level with the floor and closed up by doors (planks).
18. For the fear of Purochana, its mouth was thus covered. He (Purochana) kept a constant watch at the gate of the house.
19. O king, they the (Pandavas) lived in the night in it with arms ready for use; and in the day they hunted from forests to forests.
20. Thus lived they very guardedly deceiving Purochana with a show of trustfulness and contentment while in reality they were trustless and discontented.
21. The people of the city also did not know anything of these plans (of the Pandavas). Except the friend of Vidura, that good miner, none else knew anything.
Thus ends the hundred and forty-ninth chapter, living in the lac-house, in the Jatugriha of the Adi Parva.