Nakula 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.

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.

As the Pandavas and their companions enter Mount Gandhamadana, a violent storm descends — dust, wind, and rain blind and scatter them. They grope through darkness, each finding separate shelter under trees and mountainsides, until the storm passes and they reassemble to continue their journey.

Draupadi collapses on the forest floor, emaciated and unconscious. Yudhishthira takes her on his lap and begins to lament — blaming himself, his addiction to dice, his stupidity. The brahmanas chant mantras, the twins massage her feet, and slowly, she regains consciousness.

Yudhishthira and his brothers, wandering in exile on Gandhamadana mountain, come before an ascetic sage who already knows them. The sage questions Yudhishthira’s adherence to dharma, describes the wonders and dangers of the mountain, and warns him not to venture beyond a certain point — or the rakshasas will kill him.

The Pandavas hear noises from the mountain caves and do not see Bhimasena. Concerned, they leave Draupadi in Arshtishena's care and ascend the mountain armed with weapons. They find Bhima surrounded by slain rakshasas, radiant as Indra after slaying danavas. Yudhishthira rebukes him for acting against the king's wishes and offending the gods — then falls into reflection.

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.

Seated among the Pandavas, Krishna praises Yudhishthira's dharma and endurance of the assembly hall humiliation, reports that Draupadi's sons are safe and training under Abhimanyu in the Vrishni city, offers the Dasharha army led by Halayudha, and advises Yudhishthira to complete his exile before returning to Nagapura.

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.

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.