Scene 1
Kunti and the five Pandavas start on their journey to Varanavata. They seek the blessings of elders like Bhishma and Dhritarashtra. Finally, they bow before Vidura. Vidura tells Yudhishtra obliquely of the dangers ahead and asks him to be vigilant.
Vidura
: May God be with you. A warrior who understands and anticipates the moves of his adversaries can always protect himself. One need not be killed by sharp weapons alone. Even items not made of steel can cut the body. That which destroys the forests and protects one from cold does not hurt the mountain rat. A wild porcupine can dig tunnel and escape raging fire. By keeping in control the five senses we can conquer all the enemies. One can know the direction by watching the stars. Do you understand, Yudhishtra?
Yudhishtra nods his understanding.
Scene 2
Drupada totters his way in tattered clothes and disheveled hair. He reaches Yugabodha's ashrama where the sage is in deep meditation. When the sage opens his eyes, the king introduces himself and narrates the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Drona. He declares that the only ambition in his life is to kill Drona.
The sage dissuades the king and says Drona Is invincible because of his being the disciple of Sage Agnivesha and being the recipient of strategic weapons from Sage Parasurama.
Scene 3
Vidura is brooding over Pandu's words spoken to him before leaving for the forest. He had said it was Vidura's duty to take care of their elder brother Dhritarashtra and guide him in the interests of their country, since Dhritarashtra was rash, short tempered, short-sighted and selfish. He decides he would tell him the truth even if it was harsh.
At the same time, Dhritarashtra is dining with his family. Shakuni says the respect of the citizens of Hastinapur for their king has steeped to a high because of his selfless act of making Yudhishtra, his nephew, the king. Duryodhana concurs, saying everybody is singing paeans of his glory, and Dhritarashtra is pleased, but is also a little incredulous. He then asks his security guard to bring Vidura, because only he will tell him the unadulterated truth.
Vidura arrives and says the citizens are indeed appreciative of the king's righteous and impartial conduct. As Shakuni, Duryodhana and others leave the dining chamber, Dhritarashtra once again asks Vidura for his true opinion. Vidura says the people are suspicious of the motive behind the king's sending away the Pandavas to Varanavata and are apprehensive about their safety. Dhritarashtra is furious, but Vidura nevertheless warns the king that if anything untoward happens to the Pandavas, the people will hold him responsible for it.
Dhritarashtra is worried by Vidura's pronouncements. He comes barging in to where Duryodhana and Dushasana are laughing uproariously and gloating that their plans have worked very well. Dhritarashtra wants to know if they planned to kill Pandavas, but Shakuni and Duryodhana are able to appease Dhritarashtra with false assurances.
Scene 4
Sage Yugabodha tells Drupada that it was not possible to defeat Drona in a combat, yet he wasn't immortal. That makes Drupada delirious with joy. He then tells the sage he wanted to obtain a son capable of killing Drona. The sage tells the king to engage the services of two sage brothers called Yaja and Upayaja who are well versed in the conduct of Yagnas.Scene 5
Yudhishtra is standing alone and is lost in thoughts even as his brothers and mother are chatting. When asked, Yudhishtra replies that he is trying to interpret Vidura's words. He guesses that Vidura referred to poison when he spoke of weapons not made of steel that was capable of piercing the body. He further guesses that the five brothers cooperating and acting in unison can overpower the enemy is the message that Vidura has conveyed to them.http:/ /www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01148.htm
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