Jayadratha Flees and Draupadi Is Freed
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.
On seeing that his brave warriors had been killed, Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu, was terrified. He freed Draupadi and got ready to run away. His soldiers were in disarray. He lowered Draupadi from his chariot. Then that worst of men ran toward the forest to save his life.
On seeing Draupadi, with Dhoumya at the forefront, Yudhishthira asked Nakula to pick her up on his chariot.
After Jayadratha had run away, Bhima began slaying the remaining soldiers with iron arrows. Arjuna restrained him. "I do not see Jayadratha on the field of battle," Arjuna said. "It is because of that evil one that we confronted this calamity. Let us search for him. Why are you killing these soldiers? This is a pointless task."
Bhima looked at Yudhishthira and spoke: "The foremost warriors of the enemy have been killed. Others have fled in different directions. Take Draupadi with you and return to the hermitage with the twins and Dhoumya. Comfort her. I will not allow the stupid king of Sindhu to escape alive — even if he escapes to the nether regions or has Indra himself as his charioteer."
Yudhishthira replied, "Though he is evil in his soul, the king of Sindhu does not deserve to be killed. We must think of Duhshala and the illustrious Gandhari."
On hearing these words, Draupadi was agitated. Though bashful, she spoke angrily to Bhima and Arjuna: "If you wish to do something that brings me pleasure, kill that wretch of a man. He is wicked, evil in his intelligence, and brings ill fame to his lineage. An enemy who carries away one's wife, though there is no cause for enmity, or steals the kingdom, should not be allowed to live — even if he craves pardon in battle."
Having been thus addressed, the two tigers among men went to search for Jayadratha. The king returned with Draupadi, together with the priest. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 552