Pandavas Decide to Dwell at Dvaitavana Lake

When the last of the farewells had been spoken and the city of Hastinapura had faded behind them, Yudhishthira turned to his brothers. He was always wedded to the truth and had dharma in his soul. He told them plainly: they would have to live in this deserted forest for twelve years. "Look for a place," he said, "that has many deer and birds, with many flowers and fruit. Beautiful and pure. Frequent by virtuous men. We will happily spend these many autumns there." Arjuna replied first. He honoured Yudhishthira like a preceptor before speaking — offering the homage due to a teacher. "You have worshipped the ancient maharshis (great sages). There is nothing in the world of men that is not known to you. You have always worshipped brahmanas like Dvaipayana and the immensely ascetic Narada — who roams at the gates of all the worlds, from the world of the gods to the world of Brahma, and that of gandharvas and apsaras. Without a doubt, you know the ways of all brahmanas. You yourself know what will bring us the best welfare. We will fix our abode wherever you desire." Then he made his proposal. "There is a lake here known as Dvaitavana. It is frequented by virtuous people. It is beautiful and has many flowers and fruit. It is frequented by many types of birds. If it so pleases you, I think we can spend our twelve years here." Yudhishthira agreed. "Let us go to the great, pure and famous lake of Dvaitavana." And so the Pandavas — who always walked along the path of dharma — set out for the sacred lake. They were accompanied by many brahmanas: those who observed the agnihotra (the daily fire sacrifice), those who did not maintain the fire, those who begged for food, and those who lived in the forest. There were many hundreds of ascetics, devoted to the truth and rigid in their vows. They arrived at the end of the hot season. Yudhishthira saw the great forest covered with shala trees, palm trees, mango trees, madhukas, nipa trees, kadambas, sarjas, arjunas, and karnikas. Peacocks sat on the tops of the large trees, uttering sweet notes. There were datyuha birds and chakora birds, and wild cuckoos calling through the forest. He saw the leaders of large herds of elephants, flowing with rut and standing like mountains, accompanied by herds of she-elephants. He also saw those who lived in the forest with dharma in their hearts — self-controlled, attired in skins, with matted hair. He saw many emancipated rishis. The king, foremost among those who uphold dharma, got down from his vehicle and entered the forest with his brothers and companions, like the infinitely energetic Shakra (Indra) in heaven. Masses of charanas (celestial bards), siddhas (perfected beings), and dwellers of the forest approached him and surrounded the intelligent one. He worshipped all the siddhas and was shown homage in return, like a king or a god. With his hands joined in salutation, the supreme one among those who uphold dharma entered the forest together with all the foremost brahmanas. The great-souled one, pure in his conduct, was worshipped like a father by the ascetics who had dharma in their hearts. Having returned the homage, the king sat down at the foot of a large tree that was laden with flowers. Dhananjaya (Arjuna), Krishna (Draupadi), Bhima, the twins Nakula and Sahadeva — foremost among the Bharata lineage — and all their followers dismounted from their vehicles and joined him. That large tree was bent with the weight of creepers. When the five great-souled Pandavas, all terrible archers, sat down beneath it, the tree looked like a giant mountain with herds of elephants around it.