The Exile Begins

The Pandavas were still on the road when Duryodhana stirred up his father again: 'The Pandavas will surely take revenge.' Dhritarashtra called Yudhishthira back to play once more. This time the stake was: whoever lost would live twelve years in the forest and spend the thirteenth year in agyatvas. If discovered that year, twelve more years of exile would follow.

Everyone tried to stop Yudhishthira, but he sat down to play again, and lost again. The Pandavas took off their royal clothes and put on valkal. Dushasana mocked them. The elderly Kunti stayed in Vidura's home, as she was not fit to bear the hardships of the forest. At the parting, every eye was wet.

As they left, each brother repeated his vow. Bhima said he would break Duryodhana's thigh. Arjuna said he would kill Karna in battle. Sahadeva vowed to kill Shakuni, and Nakula his companions. Draupadi did not tie up her loosened hair; she said she would tie it only when the insult had been avenged.

The people of Hastinapur followed them, weeping, and many brahmins came along too. Yudhishthira worried about how he would feed so many people in the forest. On the advice of the family priest Dhaumya, he worshipped the Sun god. Surya was pleased and gave him a copper vessel of plenty, the Akshaya Patra: until Draupadi had eaten, its food would never run out.

In the Kamyaka forest Krishna came to meet the Pandavas. Weeping, Draupadi told him of every insult in the hall. Krishna said, 'I was not in Dwarka at the time, or I would never have let this game happen. But Krishnaa, I promise you: the women of those who made you weep will one day weep too. The earth may split, but my word will not fail.' And so the long twelve-year exile began.