Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.812

c5.812

5) *Till Bhārata-battle.* At this juncture Pāṇḍu incurred a curse from a hermit that he would die if his wife touched him. With that Pāṇḍu retired to forest with his wives. Dhṛtarāṣṭra was grieved at the separation of his brother. Pāṇḍu died in the forest and Mādrī jumped into fire and died with her husband. Dhṛtarāṣṭra asked Vidura to perform their cremation rites. After that Yudhiṣṭhira became King. The Pāṇḍavas became more and more prosperous. This made the heart of Dhṛtarāṣṭra cloudy. He gave sanction to Duryodhana to transfer the Pāṇḍavas to the lac house in Vāraṇāvata. The lac house caught fire and it was rumoured that the Pāṇḍavas died in the lac house, and Dhṛtarāṣṭra shed crocodile tears, and ordered for the mourning and oblation to be performed. After the marriage of Pāñcālī, it came to be known that the Pāṇḍavas were alive and that they were living with Drupada. Dhṛtarāṣṭra recalled them and gave them half of the country. The Pāṇḍavas made Indraprastha their capital and began to rule the kingdom. Yudhiṣṭhira performed the sacrifice of Rājasūya (royal consecration). Dhṛtarāṣṭra also took part in the sacrifice.