THE PANDAVAS GOING TO THE EKACHAKRA CITY. The Vyasa came to them and said to them that the trying times that they are passing is only for their good. 'Though the Kauravas and you Pandavas are equal to me, men are partial towards those who suffer. Hence I have come here to see you'. He directed them towards a city called the Ekachakra and also showed them the house of a Bramana there and asked the Pandavas to live there till he came back to them. The Pandavas also went to the house of the Bramana and lived there. The Bramana gave them shelter and whatever little food that he can give them. The Pandavas would everyday go out to beg in the city of Ekachakra and in the evening retire to their dwelling place and put before their Mother Kunti the food that they had collected as alms for the day. She would divide that into two halves and give one half to the Bhima, because Bhima is known for his appetite for food. Because of this he is also called Vrigodhara, or one who has the appetite like that of a wolf. The other half she will give to the other four son's and she also partook that. For Bhima that food was also not adequate and therefore he befriended a potter and had made for him a very big begging bowl. The dwellers of the Ekachakra were curious when they saw the very big begging bowl of Bhima. Thus passed their time there. One day Kunti heard a loud wailing noise from the house of Bramana. She over heard the conversation going on in the house to know what calamity had befallen the Bramana family. Kunti felt sorry for the family of the Bramana but did not know yet what was the problem for them. She said to Bhima 'Bhima we have been living in this place of Bramana, for quite some time without the fear of the sons' of Dhritarashtra. I have always wanted to do some thing in return for him for his giving us shelter. A true man is whom, who never forgets others help for him and always pays him back more than what he got from him'. To this the Bhima said to his Mother Kunti 'Mother, what you say is right. Find out what is the thing that is worrying the Bramana and his family. I will accomplish it however difficult it may be'. After hearing this the Kunti went inside the house of the Bramana. The Bramana was wailing and saying the following words 'The soul is one. But it has to follow the Dharma (Virtue), Artha (wealth) and Kama (desire) here at the same time. Because of it there occurs frequently disagreements. Acquiring wealth is misery. Going after wealth is also a misery. More misery awaits one after he has attained the wealth. If you lose wealth also you feel misery. So the pursuit of the wealth is filled with misery. Some say salvation is the highest object in life. I don't think salvation is attainable. Oh! my dear wife I have been telling you for a long time that we will move away from this place to some other place. You never listened to that. You told that you were born in this place and grew old in this place and hence you will not move out of your place. All your parents and brothers are dead long back but for the love of your relatives you will not move from this place. And because of this we are in this state of affairs. Because of this you are now to see the death of one family member or the death of mine. How can I afford to lose you, who has served me so well and devoted to me all these years. I have taken a vow to protect you before the fire God at the time of marriage. How can I now afford to leave you. I have a daughter who is given to me by the God's to be given to a good groom. She has to go to another's house and bless that house. She has to beget children there. Only then I will enjoy the happiness meant for one who has daughters and son's like my fore fathers. My son is very young. He is born to give ablutions to the departed forefathers. How can I afford to leave him. If I die then all you three will die without my protection. What would I do. We will see the continuation in the next part. This portion shows how important it is to have a good King. These people are afflicted by a Rakshasa called Baka because they did not have a good King to protect them. We will see further in the coming days.