Bhīma mocked Karṇa during Kuru Princes' Pradarśanam (प्रदर्शनम्). Bhīma laughed at Karṇa and told him that he is unfit even to be killed by Arjuna. This enraged Duryodhana who had already proclaimed Karṇa as the king of Anga desam. He then started glorifying Karṇa. He said there are people born as Kshatriyas and become learned like a Brāhmaṇa. However Duryodhana ignored the fact that Viśvāmitra became learned through Tapas and conduct whereas Karna did not have these qualities.

Guru Droṇācārya asked his disciples to catch Pañcāla king Drupada alive. This was to avenge the insult that Drupada had heaped on the Guru earlier. The princes marched for the battle. At the outskirts of Pañcāla, Arjuna told the Guru that the Kauravas can fight first. After that Pāṇdavas will join the fight.

When the Kauravas attacked King Drupada, he counter-attacked from all sides and created terror in their minds. The Kauravas were defeated thoroughly by Drupada and they fled the battle scene.

Arjuna defeated Drupada and captured him alive. Be brought him before his Guru. Droṇācārya reminded Drupada of his past behaviour. Drupada had insulted Droṇācārya and had said that they can't be friends as Drupada was a King and that they were not equals. Droṇācārya remarked that since Drupada had lost his kingdom they are now equals.

However, he took only half the kingdom of Drupada (the northern side of Pañcāla) and returned the other half to Drupada.

Sage Agniveśa was the sishya (disciple) of Sage Agastya. Droṇācārya received the Brahmaśiras from Sage Agniveśa.

Guru Droṇācārya told Arjuna that there will be a time in the future when they will have to fight each other. When that time comes Arjuna should fight Droṇācārya. Arjuna was probably not aware of the gravity of this promise and agreed.

Kaṇika was the minister for Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Jealous of Pāṇdavas' fame and victories and expanding conquests, Dhṛtarāṣṭra consulted with Kaṇika. He asked Kanika whether to maintain peace with them or wage a war against them. Kanika did not give him an advice based on Dharma. He gave a long advice which was adharmic. He asked Dhṛtarāṣṭra not to get angry with his advice. He asked him to focus on punishing his enemies, watch out for the weaknesses of the enemies and root out the enemy. He gave advice about how to trick, mislead and destroy the enemies.

Later on in Udyoga Parva, Kaṇika's advice is contrasted with the dharmic advice of Vidhura.

The jackal advised the animals how to kill the deer. The mouse will bite the leg of the deer and the tiger will then kill the deer. Once the deer was dead, the jackal pitted each against the other. The jackal claimed that the mouse belittled the effort of the tiger. The tiger went away stating that it would eat only what it killed with its own efforts. The jackal then told the mouse that the mongoose claims the deer has been poisoned with tiger's claws. The wolf also ran away when the jackal claimed that the tiger is planning to kill the wolf. The jackal then challenged the lone mongoose which also ran away in fright. Thus the jackal managed to corner the deer for itself.

Jatugṛha means a house made from combustible substance. Lacquer is a combustible substance. Since this Parva deals with the escape of Pāṇdavas from the lacquer house, it is named Jatugṛha parva.

All four of them conspired to burn the Pāṇḍavas to death.

Vidura gave cryptic clues. Only Yudhiṣṭhira could understand these clues. Later on Yudhiṣṭhira explained these clues to the curious Kunti. The messages were 1) there is danger and you should understand the danger and be prepared, 2) the house itself is the danger, 3) a tunnel will save you from the danger, 4) be aware of the geography and directions before you dig the tunnel, 5) the tunnel should be from the house and will help you escape and 6) if you stay united you will be safe.

Duryodhana instructed Purochana to rush to Varaṇāvata and build a Chatushala Grha. It means rooms on all sides with only one entrance and exit. It should be made of combustible substance like rope, wax of a tree (sarjarasam), sand, ghee, fat and oil. It should use lacquer primarily. It should be furnished lavishly. When the Pāṇḍavas were asleep, Purocana should set fire to the house.