Duhshasana Sends Invitation to Pandavas in Exile
Duhshasana sends a messenger to Dvaitavana to invite the exiled Pandavas to Duryodhana's sacrifice. Yudhishthira politely declines, citing their oath of thirteen years. But Bhima's answer is different: they will come, he says, only when Duryodhana himself is offered as an oblation in the fire of war.
Duhshasana spoke to a messenger who was about to start.
"Go swiftly to Dvaitavana and invite the Pandavas, evil men, in accordance with what is prescribed, and also the brahmanas who are in that great forest."
The messenger went to where the Pandavas resided. Bowing down to them, he said, "O great king! Duryodhana, supreme among kings, is observing a sacrifice. He is supreme among the Kurus and has acquired a lot of riches through his own valour. The kings and brahmanas are going there from all directions. O king! I have been sent here by the great-souled Kourava, with an invitation from the king who is Dhritarashtra's son and is the lord of men. O king! He loves that sacrifice and you should come and witness it."
On hearing the messenger's message, King Yudhishthira, tiger among kings, replied.
"It is fortunate that King Suyodhana is performing the foremost of sacrifices. He will extend the deeds of his ancestors. We will go there, but we cannot do that now. We will have to abide by our oath until thirteen years have passed."
Hearing Dharmaraja's words, Bhima said, "Dharmaraja Yudhishthira will go when that king has been hurled into a flaming fire lit with weapons and missiles. When thirteen years have passed, the king who is Dhritarashtra's son will be offered as oblation into the fire of war by the angry Pandavas. We will then come. Say this to Suyodhana."
The other Pandavas did not speak any unpleasant words.
The messenger reported everything to Dhritarashtra's son. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 539