Editing Pandava (section)

===Upbringing and rivalry with the Kauravas===
A few years later after the birth of the Pandavas, Pandu died after trying to have a union with Madri and the latter immolated herself out of remorse. Kunti brought the Pandavas back to [[Hastinapura]], the capital of Kuru, and they were raised together with their cousins, the [[Kauravas]], who were the hundred sons of Dhritrashtra. The Pandavas were guided and taught by [[Bheeshma]], [[Vidura]] and [[Kripa]].<ref name="VM" />

[[Duryodhana]], the eldest of the Kauravas, refused to accept the Pandavas as his cousins. This usually led to much tension between the cousins. Insecure and jealous, Duryodhana harbored an intense hatred for the five brothers throughout his childhood and youth and following the advice of his maternal uncle [[Shakuni]], often plotted to get rid of them to clear his path to the lordship of the [[Kuru Dynasty]].<ref name="VM" />

[[File: Pandavs Journeying With Their Mother.jpg|thumb|250px|Pandavas journeying with their mother]]
This plotting took a grave turn when Dhritarashtra had to relent to the will of the masses and rightfully appointed his nephew Yudhishthira as crown prince. This went against the personal ambitions of both father and son (Dhritarashtra and Duryodhana) and drove Duryodhana into such a rage that he enthusiastically agreed to an evil ploy by Shakuni to murder Yudhishthira. Shakuni commissioned the construction of a palace in Varnavart, secretly built by incorporating flammable materials like oil, ghee etc. into the structure, most notably the lacquer known as [[shellac|lac]]. This palace was known as [[Lakshagraha]]. Duryodhana then successfully lobbied Dhritarashtra to send Yudhishthira to represent the royal household in Varnavarta during the celebrations of Shiva Mahotsava. The plan was to set the palace on fire during the night while Yudhishthira would likely be asleep. Yudhishthira left for Varnavrata, accompanied by his four brothers and their mother Kunti. The plan was discovered by their paternal uncle [[Vidura]], who was very loyal to them and an extraordinarily wise man. In addition, Yudhishthira had been forewarned about this plot by a hermit who came to him and spoke of an imminent disaster. Vidura arranged for a tunnel to be secretly built for the Pandavas to safely escape the palace as it was set afire.<ref name="VM" />