Summary of Nizhalkkuttu Pattu:
Bhima saves his mother and brothers from the fire at the house and takes them to the forest. Bhima locates a Kuratti known to him. She provides good roots to Panadavas as food. When Kuratti returns to her home her spouse, Kuravan, asks her about good roots. She answers that good roots are not available. Not believing her, Kuravan goes to the forest and discovers Pandavas there. He informs Turiyothanan (Duryodhana) that Pandavas are alive and they are in the forest! Duryodhana does not believe Kuravan and tries to kill him. Then Narada appears and certifies that what Kuravan says is true. Duryodhana orders Kuravan to perform Nizhalkkuttu (piercing the shadow) on Pandavas. Kuravan demands things such as sword of thunder, eggs of elephant and horse, shoots of moonlight, powder of darkness, ropes of sand etc., which are impossible to get! This enrages Duryodhana. He asks Kuravan to arrange these things himself. Kuravan is unable to do so. Duryodhana threatens to kill Kuravan. Kuravan agrees to perform the abhicara using available things such as coconuts (instead of elephant and horse egg), shoots of jackfruit tree, rice powder, coir rope etc. He performs the abhicara and Pandavas are made unconscious.
Duryodhana gives gifts to the Kuravan. When he returns home, Kuratti questions him about the things he arranged. Kuravan refuses to answer, asking her right to question her master. Kuratti prepares to go to the forest. Her son stops her. She kills her son, throws away the body and proceeds to the forest. She discovers Pandavas and their mother lying unconscious on the ground.
Kuratti makes the necessary preparations and recites mantras to remove the effect of shadow piercing. She frees the Pandavas from the abhicara and revives them by singing paratam (Bharata, the epic?).