Mahabharata

King Dhritarashtra, the blind ruler of Hastinapura and father of the Kauravas, appoints Yudhishthira—the eldest of the Pandavas—as his heir due to his virtues like honesty, patience, and benevolence. However, Yudhishthira’s growing popularity and the exceptional skills of his brothers, especially Bhima and Arjuna, cause Dhritarashtra to feel anxious about his own sons’ prospects.

Bhima, trained by Sankarshana (an avatar of Balarama, Krishna’s elder brother), becomes formidable in wielding the sword and mace. Arjuna distinguishes himself even more in archery, mastering various divine arrows and missiles with unique capabilities.

Worried about the Pandavas overshadowing his sons, Dhritarashtra seeks counsel from his minister Kanika, an expert in political strategy. Kanika advises the king on the realities of governance and power. He contends that a ruler must sometimes employ cunning, deception, and even ruthless tactics to eliminate threats and secure the kingdom.

To illustrate his point, Kanika narrates the parable of a clever jackal who manipulates his more powerful companions—a tiger, a mouse, a wolf, and a mongoose—to eliminate one another, ultimately claiming a deer for himself. This story demonstrates how intelligence and manipulation can overcome stronger adversaries.

Kanika urges Dhritarashtra to adopt similar strategies against the Pandavas, suggesting that open conflict is unwise due to their strength and popularity. He recommends instead undermining them subtly through tactics like sowing discord, exploiting weaknesses, and feigning friendship to achieve their downfall.

The rivalry between the Pandavas and the Kauravas intensifies. Duryodhana, the eldest Kaurava prince and son of King Dhritarashtra, continues his previous envy of and enmity toward the Pandavas, especially Bhima and Arjuna, due to their exceptional strength and archery skills. Alarmed by the citizens’ support for Yudhishthira as the rightful heir to the throne, Duryodhana conspires with his brother Duhsasana and close ally Karna to eliminate the Pandavas.

They persuade Dhritarashtra to send the Pandavas to a grand festival honoring Pasupati (an epithet of the god Shiva) in the town of Varanavata. Secretly, Duryodhana has instructed his trusted minister Purochana to build a lavish palace in Varanavata, constructed of highly flammable materials like lac, hemp, and clarified butter (ghee). The plan is to burn the Pandavas alive.

The counselor Vidura (whose name means “wise”), uncle to the Pandavas and Kauravas, suspects the Kauravas’ malicious intent. He warns Yudhishthira in coded language, advising caution. Upon arriving in Varanavata, the Pandavas investigate the palace and confirm its dangerous design. They secretly engage a miner sent by Vidura to dig an underground tunnel as an escape route.

After months of pretending ignorance and attending public events to avoid raising suspicion, the Pandavas decide to act. One night, they host a feast. When a Nishada woman (a member of a forest-dwelling tribal community) and her five sons inadvertently fall asleep in the palace, Bhima sets fire to it, and the Pandavas escape through the tunnel with their own mother Kunti. Tragically, Purochana and the Nishada family perish in the blaze, leading everyone to believe that all the Pandavas have died.

The citizens of Varanavata and Kuru elders mourn the supposed loss of the Pandavas. King Dhritarashtra feigns sorrow, while Vidura, aware of the truth, remains composed. The Pandavas cross the Ganges River with the help of a boat arranged by Vidura and decide to stay hidden to protect themselves from future threats.

Exhausted and thirsty after escaping the burning palace at Varanavata, the Pandavas, along with their mother Kunti, reach a dense forest and rest under a banyan tree. Bhima finds water and then stands guard while his family sleeps.

Nearby resides a rakshasa named Hidimva, a malevolent, flesh-eating demon with a terrifying, monstrous appearance. Hidimva senses the presence of humans and commands his shape-changing sister, also named Hidimva, to kill the Pandavas for their flesh. Upon seeing Bhima’s strength and noble bearing, the female Hidimva falls in love with him and defies her brother’s orders.

Enraged by his sister’s betrayal, the male Hidimva confronts Bhima, leading to a battle. Despite the rakshasa’s formidable powers, Bhima overpowers and kills him. The commotion awakens the other Pandavas, who witness Bhima’s victory.

After the battle, the female Hidimva expresses her desire to marry Bhima. Initially hesitant due to distrust, Bhima is persuaded by Yudhishthira, who values compassion and understands her genuine love. The brothers consent to the marriage on the condition that Bhima return to his family each evening. The female Hidimva and Bhima spend time together, and she soon gives birth to their son, Ghatotkacha. Due to his rakshasa heritage, Ghatotkacha grows to adulthood immediately and inherits great strength and magical abilities.

Ghatotkacha becomes a devoted ally to the Pandavas. Hidimva bids them farewell, and both she and Ghatotkacha depart, with the latter vowing to assist his father and uncles in the future.

The Pandavas continue their exile by wandering through various regions, including the lands of the Matsyas, Trigartas, Panchalas, and Kichakas. Disguised as ascetics, they study the Vedas (sacred scriptures) and Vedangas (auxiliary studies to preserve the Vedas), honing their knowledge and skills.

During their journey, they encounter their grandfather Vyasa, who comforts them and guides them to the town of Ekachakra, advising them to live there discreetly. Taken in by a kindly brahmana (a member of the priestly class), the Pandavas lead a humble life, begging for alms and sharing their earnings with their host.

One day, Kunti and Bhima overhear the brahmana and his family lamenting. Upon inquiring, they learn about a fearsome rakshasa named Vaka who terrorizes Ekachakra. Vaka demands that each household deliver to him a cartload of food—rice, two buffaloes, and a human being—which he then consumes. The brahmana’s family is next in line, and they are distraught at the prospect of sacrificing a family member.

Moved by compassion, Kunti offers Bhima’s assistance, assuring the brahmana that her son possesses extraordinary strength and can handle the rakshasa. Despite initial reluctance due to the ethics of endangering a guest, the brahmana eventually agrees. Bhima sets out with the rest of the food, consuming it himself to provoke Vaka. When the enraged demon confronts him, a battle ensues. Bhima kills Vaka by breaking his back, freeing the town from the rakshasa’s terror.

The townspeople discover Vaka’s lifeless body and are astonished by the mysterious savior. The brahmana, keeping the Pandavas’ identity concealed, attributes the deed to a powerful brahmana skilled in mantras.

The Pandavas continue living incognito in the town of Ekachakra, devoting themselves to the study of the Vedas. A visiting brahmana shares stories about King Drupada of Panchala, his desire for vengeance against Drona (the Pandavas’ former teacher), and the miraculous births of Drupada’s children: his son, Dhrishtadyumna, and his daughter, Draupadi.

Intrigued by these tales, the Pandavas decide to travel to Panchala. Before they depart, Vyasa visits them. He reveals that Draupadi is destined to become their shared wife due to a boon granted by Lord Shiva, who granted a maiden’s wish in a previous life to have a husband five times.

On their journey, the Pandavas reach the Ganges River. Arjuna leads them with a torch to guard against wild animals. They encounter a gandharva (celestial musician) named Angaraparna, who is bathing with his wives. Offended by their intrusion during twilight—a time reserved for celestial beings—Angaraparna challenges them. Arjuna defeats him using divine weapons.

Impressed, Angaraparna gifts Arjuna the knowledge of the Chakshushi Vidya (a mantra containing the true knowledge of visions and illusions) and advises them on the importance of having a brahmana priest as a guide. Angaraparna narrates the story of Tapati, daughter of the sun god Surya, who married King Samvarana, an ancestor of the Pandavas. He intends for the tale to underscore the significance of priestly counsel; in the story, the sage Vasishtha facilitates the union.

Angaraparna narrates more stories about Vasishtha, a rishi (enlightened person) revered for his immense wisdom and asceticism.

The first tale begins with King Kalmashapada of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who, while hunting, encounters Saktri, the eldest son of Vasishtha. A dispute over the right of way leads the enraged king to disrespect Saktri. In retaliation, Saktri curses the king to become a rakshasa. Under the influence of this curse and manipulated by rival sage Viswamitra, Kalmashapada becomes a cannibalistic demon, causing destruction and even killing Saktri and his brothers.

Grieving the loss of his sons, Vasishtha attempts to die by suicide but fails due to his divine nature. Meanwhile, Saktri’s widow gives birth to Parasara, who grows up under Vasishtha’s care. Learning of his father’s fate, Parasara vows to annihilate all rakshasas. Vasishtha intervenes, advising him against mass slaughter. Parasara heeds his grandfather’s counsel; he performs a sacrifice to eliminate many but not all rakshasas, channeling his anger into a controlled act.

Another story is about the rivalry between Vasishtha and King Viswamitra. Viswamitra desires Vasishtha’s divine cow, Nandini, who is capable of granting any wish. When Vasishtha refuses, Viswamitra attempts to seize the cow by force. Nandini summons supernatural allies to defeat Viswamitra’s army, showcasing the superior spiritual power of Vasishtha over Viswamitra’s martial prowess. Humbled, Viswamitra renounces his kingship to become a sage, seeking spiritual strength through penance.

The Pandavas seek a worthy brahmana to guide them. Angaraparna recommends Dhaumya, who accepts the role by bestowing the Pandavas with celestial horses and affirming their sovereignty.

The Pandavas journey to Panchala, ruled by King Drupada. There, Draupadi, Drupada’s exceptionally beautiful and intelligent daughter, is about to participate in the swayamvara (a ceremony where a princess selects her husband). The swayamvara features an extraordinary challenge: stringing a massive bow and shooting an arrow to hit a designated target.

Numerous kshatriya (warrior class) princes fail to string the bow. Karna, a renowned warrior allied with the Kauravas (the Pandavas’ rivals), succeeds, but Draupadi rejects him, stating that as a suta (charioteer caste), Karna is too lowly for her. Arjuna, disguised as a brahmana, then effortlessly strings the bow and successfully hits the target, winning Draupadi’s hand.

Upon Arjuna’s victory, Yudhishthira, influenced by their mother Kunti’s inadvertent command, declares Draupadi as the shared wife of all five Pandavas, fulfilling a divine destiny. This polyandrous marriage angers the Kauravas, particularly Duryodhana and Karna, who vow to undermine the Pandavas.

Vyasa explains the divine origins of Draupadi and the Pandavas, emphasizing their celestial heritage and the righteousness of their union. The chapter concludes with rising tensions as the Kauravas, feeling threatened, again plot against the Pandavas.