Mahabharata

After Indra invites Arjuna to visit the celestial realm, Matali, Indra’s charioteer, arrives with a magnificent celestial chariot to escort him.

In heaven, Arjuna marvels at its splendors and meets various divine beings, including gandharvas, apsaras, and other devas (gods). Indra warmly welcomes Arjuna, seats him beside himself, and encourages him to learn music and dance from Chitrasena, a gandharva king. Though Arjuna masters these arts, he remains mindful of his brothers and the injustice they have faced.

One day, noticing Arjuna admiring Urvasi, the foremost among apsaras, Indra decides to arrange a union between them. Urvasi approaches Arjuna, expressing her desire. Respectfully, Arjuna declines, viewing her as a maternal figure because she was once married to an ancestor of his lineage. Feeling spurned, Urvasi curses him to lose his manhood and live as a eunuch.

Distressed, Arjuna informs Indra, who consoles him by explaining that the curse will serve as a boon during the Pandavas’ 13th year of exile, when they must remain incognito. Living as a eunuch will help Arjuna stay unrecognized.

Meanwhile, the sage Lomasa visits Indra’s court. Indra requests Lomasa to inform Yudhishthira of Arjuna’s successes and advise him to undertake pilgrimages to sacred sites. Lomasa departs to meet the Pandavas and guide them.

Back on Earth, the blind King Dhritarashtra hears of Arjuna’s celestial achievements. He grows anxious, fearing that Arjuna’s enhanced prowess and divine weapons will lead to the downfall of his own sons.

Although Karna does not know this, he is actually the eldest son of Kunti and the sun god Surya. As the 13th year of the Pandavas’ exile commences, Indra devises a plan to weaken Karna by acquiring his divine earrings and armor, which render him invincible.

Surya warns Karna in a dream of Indra’s impending visit, advising him to refuse the request to safeguard his life. However, Karna, steadfast in his vow of unyielding generosity, insists that he cannot deny a brahmana anything, valuing eternal fame over his own survival. Surya suggests that if Karna must give away his protective gear, he should at least request Indra’s potent dart, a weapon capable of killing any adversary, in exchange.

When Indra approaches disguised as a brahmana, Karna recognizes him but honors his promise, offering his armor and earrings. In return, Indra grants him the dart, stipulating that it can be used only once and only when Karna’s life is in imminent danger.

The chapter then delves into Karna’s birth story: As a young maiden, Kunti receives a boon to summon any god to bear a child. Out of curiosity, she invokes Surya and gives birth to Karna, who arrives adorned with natural armor and earrings. Fearful of societal repercussions, Kunti places the infant in a basket and sets him afloat on a river. He is found and adopted by Adhiratha, a charioteer, and his wife, Radha; Karna thus grows up unaware of his true heritage, becomes a formidable warrior, trains under Drona, and forms a close friendship with Duryodhana.

The chapter concludes with Indra obtaining Karna’s divine armor and earrings, leaving him vulnerable but armed with the powerful dart.

The Pandavas enter the 13th year of their exile, during which they must remain incognito to reclaim their kingdom from the Kauravas. Yudhishthira suggests that they spend this critical year in the kingdom of King Virata, a just and noble ruler who might offer them shelter.

To conceal their true identities, each Pandava adopts a disguise and a humble role within Virata’s court. Yudhishthira becomes Kanka, a brahmana skilled in dice, serving as a courtier and advisor to the king. Bhima takes on the role of Vallava, a cook and wrestler in the royal kitchen. Arjuna utilizes the curse that temporarily renders him a eunuch to become Brihannala, a dance and music teacher to Princess Uttara. Nakula, the fourth brother adept with horses, becomes Granthika, the keeper of the royal stables. Sahadeva, the youngest brother skilled with cattle, assumes the role of Tantripal, the king’s cowherd. Draupadi disguises herself as Sairandhri, a maidservant and hairdresser to Queen Sudeshna.

Before entering the city, they hide their divine weapons in a tree near a cemetery to avoid recognition. Once in Matsya, the kingdom ruled by Virata, they integrate seamlessly into their new roles. Yudhishthira gains the king’s trust through his wisdom, Bhima showcases his prowess by defeating the formidable wrestler Jimuta during a festival, and Arjuna imparts the arts of dance and music to the royal women. All successfully maintain their disguises.

Throughout their stay, they adhere strictly to the advice of their priest Dhaumya on court etiquette to avoid arousing suspicion. Yudhishthira also prays to Durga, the supreme goddess symbolizing strength and protection, who blesses them and ensures that they remain undiscovered.

Kichaka, the powerful commander of Virata’s forces and brother to Queen Sudeshna, becomes infatuated with Draupadi’s celestial beauty upon seeing her. Consumed by desire, he attempts to seduce her, but she rejects him, warning that her five gandharva (celestial beings) husbands will punish any transgression.

Undeterred, Kichaka conspires with his sister Sudeshna to get Draupadi alone by sending her to his quarters under the pretext of fetching wine. When he tries to assault her, Draupadi escapes and seeks justice in King Virata’s court, where her disguised husbands, including Yudhishthira and Bhima, are present. Despite witnessing her humiliation, they restrain themselves to maintain their anonymity.

Later, Draupadi appeals privately to Bhima for vengeance. Bhima devises a plan: Draupadi agrees to a secret rendezvous with Kichaka in the dancing hall. When Kichaka arrives, Bhima confronts him, and a fierce battle ensues. Bhima kills Kichaka, crushing him to death, thereby avenging Draupadi’s dishonor.

Enraged by Kichaka’s death, his relatives decide to cremate Draupadi alongside him. They bind her and take her to the funeral pyre, but she calls out to her gandharva husbands for help. Bhima arrives just in time, rescues her, and slays all of Kichaka’s relatives.

News of these events reaches the Kauravas, whose spies report that powerful gandharvas have slain Kichaka, leading them to suspect that the Pandavas may be hiding in Virata’s kingdom.

One day, a deer carries away a brahmana’s sacred fire sticks, essential for his rituals. The Pandavas set out to retrieve them.

As they pursue the elusive deer, they become exhausted and thirsty. Yudhishthira sends Nakula to find water. Nakula discovers a pristine lake, but as he approaches, a disembodied voice warns him not to drink before answering its questions. Ignoring the warning due to his thirst, Nakula drinks and falls dead. Concerned by the delay, Sahadeva goes to find Nakula, but he, too, disregards the mysterious voice and dies after drinking. Arjuna and then Bhima are sent, with each meeting the same fate after ignoring the voice.

Finally, Yudhishthira himself goes to the lake and is confronted by a yaksha, a nature spirit guarding the water. The yaksha poses a series of philosophical questions about duty, virtue, and the nature of existence. Yudhishthira answers each question wisely, demonstrating his understanding of dharma. Pleased with his responses, the yaksha offers to revive one of his brothers. Yudhishthira chooses Nakula, explaining that since he himself is a son of Kunti, he wishes to honor his father’s second wife, Madri, by reviving her son, thus ensuring that both mothers have surviving heirs.

Impressed by Yudhishthira’s fairness and adherence to dharma, the yaksha reveals himself to be Yama, the god of death and justice and Yudhishthira’s divine father. Yama restores all the brothers to life and grants them boons, including protection during their remaining exile.

Duryodhana becomes anxious about locating the Pandavas before their 13th year of exile concludes, which would force them into another 12 years of banishment if discovered. He consults his advisors, including Karna, Dussasana (his brother), Drona, and Bhishma. While Duryodhana plots to uncover the Pandavas’ whereabouts, Bhishma cautions that Yudhishthira would be hard to find due to his virtuous influence on any kingdom he resides in.

Meanwhile, Susarman, the king of a hostile neighboring kingdom, suggests attacking Virata’s kingdom, exploiting the recent death of Kichaka, who was a powerful general. The Kauravas support this plan, so Susarman leads an assault on Virata’s realm, seizing cattle and causing turmoil. In response, King Virata mobilizes his army; the Pandavas join the battle in their disguised roles, showcasing exceptional prowess.

During the fierce combat, Virata is captured by Susarman. Bhima intervenes to rescue the king, though Yudhishthira advises him not to reveal his true identity. Bhima defeats Susarman but spares his life at Yudhishthira’s behest, exemplifying their adherence to dharma. Grateful, Virata offers the Pandavas wealth and rule over his kingdom, but they humbly decline.

When the Kauravas, led by Duryodhana, seize Virata’s cattle to lure out the Pandavas, Prince Uttara (Virata’s son) boasts that he can defeat them but needs a skilled charioteer. Draupadi suggests Vrihannala (Arjuna in disguise).

As they approach the Kaurava army, Uttara becomes fearful. Arjuna reveals his true identity and retrieves his divine weapons from their hiding place in a tree. Arjuna explains the significance of his 10 names, showcasing his heroic identity. Arjuna, as charioteer, then leads Uttara into battle against the Kauravas, including formidable warriors like Bhishma, Drona, Karna (Arjuna’s arch-rival), and Ashwatthama (Drona’s son).

Employing his unmatched archery skills and celestial weapons, Arjuna single-handedly defeats the Kaurava forces and recovers the stolen cattle. After the victory, the Pandavas reveal their true identities to King Virata. In gratitude, Virata offers his daughter, Princess Uttara (she and her brother have the same name), in marriage to Arjuna. Arjuna respectfully declines, explaining that he views her as a daughter due to his role as her dance teacher during their disguised stay. Instead, Arjuna proposes that she marry his son, Abhimanyu (a valiant warrior and Krishna’s nephew). The chapter concludes with the celebratory wedding between Uttara and Abhimanyu, which strengthens the alliance between the Pandavas and King Virata.