Vaishampayana Summarizes the Pandavas' Early Trials and Rise
Envious of their cousins' power, Duryodhana and his allies try to kill the Pandavas through poison, drowning, and a burning house. The brothers survive, win a bride, conquer the world, and are then deceived into exile. Their return triggers a war that leaves them victorious over a depopulated kingdom.
The envy of the Kurus turned to oppression. The evil-minded Duryodhana, with Karna and Shakuni, the son of Subala, tried to banish the Pandavas and oppressed them in various ways.
He gave poison to Bhima with his food. The warrior Vrikodara digested it. On another day, Duryodhana tied the sleeping Bhima on the banks of the Ganga and threw him into the water before returning to the city. When the son of Kunti woke up, he tore the ropes with his strong arms and his pains disappeared. While he slept, he was bitten everywhere by black snakes with virulent poison, but that destroyer of enemies did not die.
Through all this, the great-souled Vidura was always on guard, neutralizing the evil plans to save them. As Shakra ensures happiness in heaven, Vidura ensured happiness for the Pandavas.
When the Pandavas survived these open and hidden means, protected by fate, Duryodhana consulted his advisers: Karna, Duhshasana, and the others. With Dhritarashtra's consent, he had a house of lac built. The Pandavas, of unlimited energy, were forced to live there. It was burnt down by fire when they least suspected it. Because of Vidura's warning, a trench had been dug. That gave them a means of escape, and they were freed from danger.
Later, in a large and terrible forest, Bhima killed a rakshasa named Hidimba. Then, in complete agreement, the powerful warriors went to the town of Ekachakra. They lived there, with their mother, disguised as Brahmanas. Having won Draupadi, they lived there for a year. Once recognized, those destroyers of foes returned to Hastinapura.
King Dhritarashtra and Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, then told them, "Sons, so that conflict doesn't ensue between you and your brothers, we have decided that Khandavaprastha will be your abode. Therefore, give up your resentment and go and live in Khandavaprastha." Hearing this, they went there, taking many jewels with them.
The sons of Pritha lived there for many years. Through the force of their weapons, they brought many kings under their vassalage. They gradually increased in power, setting store by virtue and truth, calm and subjugating those who wished them harm. The immensely powerful Bhimasena subjugated the east. The brave Arjuna subjugated the north. Nakula subjugated the west. Sahadeva, the conqueror of brave enemies, subjugated the south. Having conquered everything, their kingdom extended over the whole world. With five such sun-like ones, the earth seemed to have six suns.
Then, for some reason, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira sent his brother Arjuna to the forest. He lived there for one year and one month. He once went to Krishna in Dvaravati and there obtained as his wife Subhadra, Vasudeva's younger sister, with eyes like the blue lotus and sweet of speech. As Shachi is with Indra and Shri is with Krishna, Subhadra was delighted to be united with Arjuna.
Arjuna and Krishna then satisfied Agni by giving him the Khandava forest to burn. Aided by Krishna, this task wasn't difficult for Arjuna. Agni gave Arjuna the supreme bow Gandiva, an inexhaustible quiver of arrows, and a chariot with a monkey on the standard. On that occasion, Arjuna freed the great demon Maya, who built a divine assembly hall adorned with all kinds of jewels. Seeing this, the evil-minded and deluded Duryodhana was driven by avarice.
Thereupon he deceived Yudhishthira in a game of dice, played by Shakuni, and banished him to the forest for twelve years, with an additional year to be spent in disguise. When in the fourteenth year they returned and claimed their property, they didn't get it. Then war was declared.
After destroying all the Kshatriya lineages and killing King Duryodhana, the Pandavas obtained their kingdom back, mostly unpopulated.