Krishna

Yudhishthira remembers the sage's words and privately tells Arjuna that Duryodhana controls the earth and all the great warriors. Arjuna is their last refuge. He must go to Indra and obtain all divine weapons. Arjuna arms himself with Gandiva, receives blessings, and departs northward.

The speaker declares that the twins, Bhimasena, Krishna, and all of them will go together — lean and extremely ascetic — to the sacred stream of Indra, where Dhata, Vidhata, and Varuna ascended. The group is committed to journeying to Mount Archika and the Yamuna, where many sacrifices have been performed and which banishes fear of sin.

Janamejaya asks where the Pandavas lived during their exile and what they did when the twelve years passed. Vaishampayana recounts how, after defeating Saindhava, recovering Krishna, and hearing the ancient accounts from Markandeya, the Pandavas left Kamyaka with all their retinue and moved to the sacred Dvaitavana — completing one phase of their forest stay and beginning another.

After Dhoumya's counsel, Bhimasena speaks to Yudhishthira. He reminds the king that Arjuna has not acted foolishly, that Nakula and Sahadeva are restrained only by his own command, and that all four brothers stand ready to carry out whatever task Yudhishthira assigns — and to vanquish any enemy who stands in their way.