Story of the palace of wax is found in the Adi Parva of the
Mahabharata. It is an important turning point in the relationship between the
Pandavas and Kauravas in the Mahabharata.
Both Kaurava and Pandava princes lived in Hastinapura.
Pandavas was liked by the citizens due to their conduct and exemplary
character. This evoked jealousy in Duryodhana and the other Kaurava brothers.
They saw the five Pandava brothers as a threat to their ambitions.
Kauravas decided to kill the Pandavas through deceit. With
the consent of Dhritarashtra, they built a place at Varanavata. Dhritarashtra
asked Kunti and the Pandavas to attend a festival dedicated to Shiva at
Varanavata and stay in the newly built palace.
Purochana, minister of Duryodhana, went along with the
Pandavas.
Vidura, uncle of Pandavas, came to know that the palace was
built of wax and the aim of the Kauravas was to burn the palace and kill the
Pandavas and their mother.
Pandavas pretended they had no knowledge of what was
happening. The five brothers built a tunnel from the palace to the forest.
One day evening, a women and her five children came to the
palace in a drunken state and stayed in the palace.
Bhima, the second of the Pandavas, attacked Purochana and
killed him.
Bhima then set the palace on fire on that night and he Pandavas
escaped through the tunnel.
The huntswoman and her children were killed in the
fire. The charred bodies of them were mistaken to be that of the Pandavas.