In the Mahabharata, the Pandavas are often depicted as paragons of virtue. Yet, some lesser-known stories reveal the complexities and moral ambiguities of their actions. One such story is the Varnavarta incident, where a tribal woman and her five children tragically lost their lives.
The Pandavas were sent to Varnavarta by Dhritarashtra, where Duryodhana plotted to kill them by setting their house, made of flammable materials, on fire. Aware of this conspiracy, the Pandavas devised an escape plan. They dug a secret tunnel to flee when the house was set ablaze. To mislead their enemies, they planned to leave behind bodies that would be mistaken for theirs.
On one fateful night, a tribal woman and her five children, had taken shelter in the house. This is the moment the Pandavas were waiting for. They set their escape plan in motion. When the house was set on fire, these innocents perished in the flames, their bodies used to deceive the Kauravas. And Pandavas escaped safely.
In many later retellings of the Mahabharata, this incident was downplayed or omitted, in order to keep the narrative of the Pandavas as flawless heroes. However, this story reminds us that even revered figures are not without their moral complexities.
The Varnavarta incident challenges us to reconsider the nature of heroism. It suggests that even heroes can have shadows, and their actions can lead to unavoidable consequences. Acknowledging these stories adds depth to our understanding of the characters and highlights the importance of recognizing the full spectrum of their humanity.