Arjuna and Dhoumya

After a happy stay in Khandavaprastha, Krishna decides to return to Dvaraka to see his father. He takes formal and affectionate leave from each of the Pandavas, Kunti, and Draupadi, performing all the proper rituals before his departure. The Pandavas escort him out, their hearts unsatisfied, watching until his chariot disappears from sight.

Yudhishthira, restless after hearing tales of legendary kings and their sacrifices, becomes consumed by the desire to perform the rajasuya. He consults his advisers and brothers, who unanimously declare him worthy of the imperial rite. He accepts their encouragement in his heart, but his prudence leads him to seek one final, impartial counsel.

Krishna, Bhima, and Arjuna return to Indraprastha and report their victory to Yudhishthira. After honoring the freed kings and giving them leave, Krishna takes his departure from the Pandava family, his mission accomplished.

Krishna arrives in Indraprastha with an army and a fortune, lighting up the city. Yudhishthira meets him with honor and makes a formal, public request: for Krishna's permission and his presence as the central figure of the impending sacrifice.

As the Pandavas prepare to walk into the forest, Vidura intervenes. He offers sanctuary to their aged mother, Kunti, then delivers a fierce, poetic exhortation: reminding the brothers of their unique strengths, their divine teachers, and the elemental virtues they must embody to survive and return victorious.

Dhritarashtra, blind and anxious, asks Vidura to describe how the Pandavas are leaving for the forest. Vidura details each brother's and Draupadi's symbolic gesture, translating their silent actions into a forecast of future war and vengeance.

Having received the Sun's boon, Yudhishthira arises from the water and returns to his family. He cooks the forest fare himself — and it multiplies, becoming inexhaustible. He feeds the brahmanas first, then his brothers, then eats the remainder with Draupadi. Blessed and provisioned, the Pandavas set out for Kamyaka forest.

Vidura recounts how the exiled Pandavas entered the Kamyaka forest at midnight, when rakshasas roam. They are confronted by Kirmira, brother of Baka and friend of Hidimba, who vows to avenge them both. Bhima fights him with a tree, then with his bare hands, and kills the rakshasa, freeing the forest of his terror.

While living in exile along the Sarasvati, the Pandavas receive a visit from the ancient rishi Markandeya. When Yudhishthira notices the sage smiling, he asks why — and receives a discourse on dharma that spans the ages, from Rama to the elephants of the forest.

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.

Lomasha arrives with a message from Indra himself — the king of the gods remembers Yudhishthira and invites him to visit the sacred tirthas. Overcome with delight, Yudhishthira declares that his mind was already made up: he will go.

While the Pandavas are thinking of Arjuna, Indra's chariot driven by Matali suddenly appears in the sky, carrying Arjuna. He descends, pays respects to Dhoumya, Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Draupadi, is worshipped by Nakula and Sahadeva, and the Pandavas honor Matali before he departs. Arjuna presents the gifts from Indra, recounts his acquisition of weapons from Indra, Vayu, and Shiva, and his entry into heaven, then happily goes to sleep with his brothers.

The Pandavas, having established themselves on Mount Gandhamadana, are waiting for Arjuna to return from obtaining divine weapons from Indra. They live on the mountain, performing austerities, rituals, and yoga, while constantly thinking of Arjuna and counting every day and night as a year in his absence. A month passes in melancholy; the Pandavas remain in grief-stricken waiting, their happiness absent since Arjuna left Kamyaka forest.

Yudhishthira sees terrible omens — a blazing sky, a howling she-jackal, a deformed quail vomiting blood — and his own body trembles with foreboding. When he asks where Bhima is, Draupadi tells him his brother has been gone a long time. He follows the trail of broken trees to a mountainous cavern, where he finds Bhima immobile in a serpent's grasp.

The Pandavas have settled in the Kamyaka forest, surrounded by sages, when a brahmana announces that Krishna and the ancient sage Markandeya are coming to see them. Krishna arrives on his chariot with Satyabhama, embraces Arjuna repeatedly, and hears the full account of their forest exile.

The Pandavas follow the fresh trail of Jayadratha's army, seeing the dust raised by the hooves of his horses. Dhoumya urges Bhima to attack. When they see Draupadi standing on Jayadratha's chariot, their rage flares — and they call out to the king of Sindhu to stop.

Seeing his army destroyed, Jayadratha frees Draupadi and flees into the forest. Yudhishthira orders Nakula to pick her up, and Bhima wants to slaughter the remaining soldiers — but Arjuna stops him. Bhima vows to kill Jayadratha even if he escapes to the nether regions. Yudhishthira objects, citing Duhshala and Gandhari. But Draupadi, angry and unashamed, demands the wretch's death.