MAHABHARATA FOR

CHILDREN

text by Gilbert Mane

PART FOUR

EXILE OF THE PANDAWAS

I bow to Narayana and to Nara

I bow to Saraswati, Goddess of learning

I bow to the holy man, Wyasa

CHAPTER ONE - NARADA'S WARNING

The Pandawas were very happy in Indraprastha. Draupadi served all her
five husbands equally. She loved all in the same way. There was no
jealousy between the five brothers. They remembered that the innermost
Self is one. When one of them was happy all were happy.

All the Pandawas shared everything. But they all had their own houses.

One day a heavenly sage Narada visited the Pandawas at Indraprastha.

The Pandawas arose and bowed to him.

"O Narada, you are welcome," they said.

Draupadi served him.

Narada was pleased. He told them a story:

Once there were two brothers, Sunda and Upasunda. They loved
each other. They were kings. They ruled together. They ate
together. They laughed together. One day a beautiful dancer came
to their palace. They both fell in love with her. They both wanted to
marry her. They became jealous of each other. They began to
quarrel. Sunda and Upasunda fought and killed each other.

Narada told the story to warn the Pandawas.

The Pandawas did not want to be jealous of each other. They decided
that Draupadi should live in one of the Pandawa's houses for a year.
When the year was over she would go to the next one's house.

All the Pandawas and Draupadi could see each other outside the house.
No one was allowed to go inside the house of another brother when he
was living with Draupadi.

If anyone broke the rule they had to go into exile for thirteen years.
CHAPTER TWO - ARJUNA'S EXILE

One day Draupadi was living with Yudhishthira. A priest came to Arjuna.

"O Great Warrior! Please help me," cried the priest.

"Of course," said Arjuna, "A warrior must always protect people. What
can I do?"

"Thieves are stealing my cattle. Please stop them," said the priest.

Arjuna's weapons were in Yudhishthira's house. Arjuna had given his word
to the priest. He went into Yudhishthira's house to get his weapons.

Arjuna chased the thieves. Dust was thrown up by his chariot wheels.
There was a short fight. Arrows filled the air. The thieves ran away.
Arjuna took the cows back to the priest.

When Arjuna returned he went to Yudhishthira. "Now I must go into exile

for thirteen years," he said. Yudhishthira was sad that Arjuna had to go
away.

"We need weapons," said Arjuna, "Duryodhana still hates us. One day
we will have to fight. I will use my exile to get weapons."

Arjuna visited many holy places. He learned from many holy men. He
gathered many weapons. One day he came to five lovely lakes. No one
lived there. Arjuna went in for a swim, when suddenly a crocodile took
hold of his leg. Arjuna fought the crocodile and, finally, pulled it to the
shore.

Arjuna was astonished when the crocodile turned into a beautiful

Goddess.

"My four sisters and I were cursed by a holy man because we made fun of
him," she said, "He turned us into crocodiles. He said one day we would
be freed by a great warrior."

Arjuna freed the other Goddesses and continued on his journey.

CHAPTER THREE - ARJUNA MARRIES SUBHADRA

The Lord Shri Krishna lived in a city called Dwaraka. The people of
Dwaraka were called Yadawas. Krishna and Arjuna were cousins. They
were also great friends. They loved each other.

Krishna was really the great Lord Wishnu, preserver of the Universe. He
took a man's body to protect the righteous and destroy the wicked. He
looked after the Pandawas. He kept an eye on them and helped them
when they were in danger.

Arjuna went to Dwaraka to visit Krishna. Krishna welcomed him.

"We will have a great party to welcome you," said Krishna.

At the party there was a beautiful girl. Arjuna thought she was very
pretty. He blushed. Seeing this, Krishna smiled and said, "Do you blush
to see my sister Subhadra?"

"I should like to marry her," said Arjuna eagerly.

"A warrior is allowed to carry a girl away by force," said Krishna.

Arjuna took Krishna's hint and he borrowed Krishna's chariot. The next
day Subhadra was walking in the garden with her friends. Arjuna rode up
and picked her up gently and rode away.

Krishna's brother Balarama and all the other Yadawas were angry. They
wanted to chase Arjuna and fight him.

"Krishna is silent," said Balarama, "He is the great Lord Wishnu disguised
as a man. No advice is better than his. O Krishna, what should we do?"

Krishna smiled, "Arjuna is a great warrior. It would be an honour to the

Yadawas if he married Subhadra."

Balarama and the Yadawas were happy. They called Arjuna back and had
a great wedding for Arjuna and Subhadra. Arjuna and Subhadra had a son
called Abhimanyu. He became a great warrior.
CHAPTER FOUR - THE BURNING OF THE KHANDAWA FOREST

Arjuna had been away from Indraprastha for thirteen years. Then Arjuna
and Subhadra and Abhimanyu returned to Indraprastha. They were
welcomed by the Pandawas and Draupadi. Draupadi and Subhadra loved
each other like sisters.

One day when Krishna was visiting, he and Arjuna went for a walk. A tall
holy man with golden skin came to them. His beard was gold with green
streaks. Krishna and Arjuna bowed to him.

"I cannot get enough food," said the holy man, "Please help me to find
food."

"Certainly," said Krishna and Arjuna.

"I am Agni, God of Fire," said the holy man, "The food I want is the
Khandawa forest. Every time I try to burn it Indra, King of the Gods sends
rain. His friend, Takshaka King of the Snakes lives there."

"You must give me the proper weapons so I can help you," said Arjuna.
Agni gave Arjuna the Gandhiwa bow. He gave him a chariot. The chariot
had a flag showing Hanuman, the Monkey God.

Krishna and Arjuna stood on the edge of the forest. Agni began to burn it.
As the flames licked up higher and higher into the sky, Indra sent rain. It
poured and poured. There was a great battle between the fire and the
water. Finally the fire went out. It seemed as if Indra had defeated Agni.

Krishna and Arjuna were furious. They shot thousands of arrows at Indra.
Indra ran away for help.

Agni started to burn the forest again. The Gods came to help Indra but
Krishna and Arjuna kept them away. Their arrows made a roof over the
forest so the rain could not get through.

Agni was able to burn the Khandawa forest. He was pleased and he gave
Arjuna many powerful weapons.
CHAPTER FIVE - DEFEAT OF JARASANDHA

Krishna advised Yudhishthira to become emperor. To be emperor all other

kings had to submit to Yudhishthira or be defeated in battle. After some
time all kings submitted to Yudhishthira except a king named Jarasandha.

Jarasandha was a powerful king. He was cruel. He fought against many

other kings and when he won he put them in prison. Jarasandha was
going to kill all these kings.

Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima went to Jarasandha. He said, "Welcome. You

are here as my guests. How can I help you?"

"Submit to Yudhishthira or fight one of us", said Krishna.

Jarasandha grew angry. He agreed to a wrestling match with Bhima.

Although Bhima and Jarasandha fought and fought for days and days
neither could win. But Krishna knew a secret about Jarasandha.

Many years before, Jarasandha's father had two wives but no son. He
had prayed for a son. A holy man gave Jarasandha's father a mango, but
he couldn't decide which of his beloved queens to give it to. So he gave
half the mango to each queen. Soon both were going to have a baby.

But, Oh horror! Each queen gave birth to a half-baby. Each baby had one
arm, one leg, half a face and half a stomach. The queens cried out in
disgust. The half-babies were thrown into the garbage. A demon woman
named Jara saw the half-babies and picked them up. When she put the
two halves together a whole healthy and strong baby was created.

The whole-baby was named Jarasandha and he was given back to the
king. Jarasandha grew up to be a strong but cruel king.

While Jarasandha and Bhima wrestled Krishna picked up a leaf and tore it
in two. Bhima understood Krishna's message. Bhima took hold of
Jarasandha's legs and pulled them apart. He split Jarasandha's body into
two halves. Jarasandha died. Then all the imprisoned kings were set
free.
CHAPTER SIX - SHISHUPALA'S BIRTH

One day in heaven one of the servants of Lord Wishnu was cursed. He
had to be born as a man. He was born as the son of a king and queen.
But he was born with an extra eye in his forehead and an extra pair of
arms.

Everyone was horrified and they wanted to kill the baby. A holy man told
the king and queen not to kill the baby.

"You must place him on the lap of every man who visits you," said the
sage, "When he sits on the lap of the man who is destined to kill him, the
extra eye and arms will disappear."

The baby was named Shishupala. He was placed in many men's laps but
he did not lose his extra eye and arms. One day Krishna came to visit.
Shishupala was placed in his lap and immediately his extra eye and arms
disappeared.

Shishupala's mother was happy to see her baby look normal. Then she
remembered what the holy man had said. She begged Krishna to forgive
Shishupala if ever he should do any harm or insult to Krishna.

Lord Shri Krishna is kind and compassionate. He always gives to his

devotees the thing they ask for.

"I promise to forgive Shishupala one hundred times," said Lord Shri
Krishna.

Shishupala's mother was happy. "Surely no one would insult the Lord Shri
Krishna, the Lord of Love, one hundred times," she thought.

Shishupala grew up and became king. He was violent and cruel. He hated
Krishna and fought against him many times. The Lord Shri Krishna
forgave him again and again. But Krishna was counting.
CHAPTER SEVEN - THE RAJASUYA SACRIFICE

Jarasandha had been killed and all the captive kings had been released.
Yudhishthira then held a great sacrifice to celebrate becoming emperor. It
was called the Rajasuya Sacrifice.

Many great kings were invited to the Rajasuya Sacrifice including

Shishupala. The Rajasuya Sacrifice went on for many days. Holy men
sang prayers. Yudhishthira gave away money, cows and other valuable
presents.

When the time came for special honour to be given to Yudhishthira's

guests Sahadewa stood and said, "We must honour Lord Shri Krishna
first. He is Wishnu. He is God. He is our own Self. He is our teacher and
our guide."

Everyone agreed except Shishupala. He hated Krishna and began to

insult him again and again. Lord Shri Krishna sat very still and smiled. He
was still counting.

"I see the noose of Death around your neck," said Bhishma to Shishupala,
"Stop now or your fate is sealed. You are like a dog barking at lions."

Shishupala ignored this advice and, instead, began to insult Bhishma.

Everyone became very angry with Shishupala. They were astonished at
his rudeness and his stupidity. But the Lord Shri Krishna forgave
Shishupala each time. If Shishupala had stopped insulting him Krishna
would have treated him as if he had never spoken.

Finally the Lord Shri Krishna stood and said, "Shishupala I have forgiven
you ninety-nine times as I promised your mother. If you insult me and this
assembly once more you will die."

Everyone gasped as Shishupala said, "You are a fake and a coward." As

he turned to walk away a flaming disc appeared at the end of Krishna's
finger. It began spinning and flew at Shishupala. It cut off his head which
fell to the floor.
A ray of light went from Shishupala's body and entered Krishna. After all,
Shishupala was really one of Wishnu's servants. He returned to Wishnu.
CHAPTER EIGHT - DURYODHANA'S HUMILIATION

When the Khandawa forest was burning, Maya a demon had asked Arjuna to
spare his life. Arjuna agreed. Maya was grateful. Maya knew how to use magic
to build palaces. He agreed to build a palace for Yudhishthira.

This palace was beautiful. It had pools which were so smooth they looked like
glass. It had glass floors that looked like water. Walls of crystal were like thin
air. The whole palace was made of precious stones and marble and other
wonderful things.

Duryodhana stayed in the palace after the Rajasuya Sacrifice. He was amazed
by the beauty of the palace.

When he came to a crystal floor he thought it was a pool and lifted up his clothes
so they wouldn't get wet. He felt ashamed when he saw it was crystal. But
when he came to a real pool we walked straight in and was soaked. Bhima and
Draupadi laughed.

Duryodhana walked into a glass wall thinking it was thin air. Bhima and
Draupadi laughed again. Bhima said, "The blind man's son is also blind."

Duryodhana was very angry. He returned to Hastinapura and spoke to his uncle
Sakuni and to Karna and to Duh-shasana.

"The Pandawas are rich, successful and all the people love them. Yudhishthira
rules with justice. His brothers support him. Draupadi serves and loves all the
Pandawas. I want to kill myself," said Duryodhana.

"I have a plan," said Sakuni, "Yudhishthira loves gambling. Let us invite him to
a game of dice. I have magic dice which cannot lose. That way he will lose his
kingdom."

King Dhritarashtra did not want to allow the dice game. But Duryodhana said he
would kill himself so Dhritarashtra allowed it to go ahead.

Widura tried to talk Dhritarashtra out of it but Dhritarashtra said, "What is the
harm in a friendly game? Bhishma and Drona and you will be here to make sure
things are all right." But Dhritarashtra was wrong. Things went very, very badly.
CHAPTER NINE - THE DICE GAME

Widura was sent to Indraprastha to invite Yudhishthira to the dice game.

Yudhishthira welcomed Widura happily.

"O Uncle, gambling is evil," said Yudhishthira to Widura, "It will surely end in
bitterness and argument. Do you advise me to play?"

"I tried to talk Dhritarashtra out of it but he wouldn't agree," said Widura.

"This game is evil," said Yudhishthira, "Duryodhana and Sakuni will cheat. But I
agree to go to the dice game for three reasons. Firstly because my uncle King
Dhritarashtra has asked me. Secondly because as a warrior I must meet all
challenges. Thirdly to give Duryodhana and Sakuni a chance to change their
minds from evil to good."

The Pandawas and Draupadi went to Hastinapura. The people greeted them
joyfully. So did their uncles and cousins except for Duryodhana and his friends.

They came to play dice. Because of this game many millions of people would
die. Because of this game many women would become widows. Because of this
game many children would become fatherless. Because of this game the Age of
Kali, of Death, would come bringing misery and ignorance.

Yudhishthira played against Sakuni. He bet huge amounts of gold and jewels
again and again. He lost each time because of the magic dice. His reason
became clouded. He knew he was being cheated but he continued to play.
Finally he had lost all his wealth and his kingdom.

A gasp of horror was heard in the room when he said, "I bet my brother Nakula,"
.... he lost! Duryodhana, Karna and Duh-shasana laughed with delight as he bet
Sahadewa, .... he lost! He bet Bhima .... he lost! He bet Arjuna .... he lost! He
bet himself .... he lost!

Those watching were so horrified they could not speak or move. They were like
living stones. They thought nothing worse could happen. But they were wrong.

For Yudhishthira finally bet his beloved wife Draupadi.

He lost!
CHAPTER TEN - DRAUPADI LOST

When Yudhishthira bet Draupadi and lost, a groan went up from the spectators.
But Duryodhana laughed and laughed.

"The Pandawas have been crushed," he said gleefully, "Duh-shasana, go to

Draupadi's room and bring her here. She shall sweep my floors."

Duh-shasana ran to Draupadi's room. He entered in without knocking. Draupadi

was shocked. "How can you come into a lady's room without knocking?" she
asked angrily.

"I see no lady," said Duh-shasana, "Your husband has lost his brothers, himself
and you in the dice game. From now on you are a servant to Duryodhana."

Draupadi refused to move so Duh-shasana grabbed her hair and dragged her
into the hall. The people wailed and cried with sorrow. But no one spoke up for
Draupadi.

She looked angrily around the assembly. "If Yudhishthira lost himself first did he
have the right to lose me?" Everyone remained silent. The Pandawas hung their
heads in shame.

"Enough!" shouted Duryodhana, "Strip them of their royal clothes!"

The Pandawas began to take off their jewels and fine clothes. Draupadi stood
still. "You too!" shouted Duryodhana. But Draupadi couldn't move. Duh-
shasana got up and began to pull off Draupadi's dress in front of everybody. No
one could remember a more shameful thing. But still no one spoke up for
Draupadi.

She looked around. No one would help her. As Duh-shasana pulled at her
clothes she closed her eyes. She thought only of the Lord Shri Krishna. She
spoke in a clear, firm voice, "O Lord Krishna, I seek refuge in you alone. The
Kaurawas seek to shame me in public and no one will help me. O Gowinda, save
me!"

And then a miracle happened. As Duh-shasana pulled off Draupadi's clothes

more cloth appeared. He pulled and pulled until he collapsed exhausted but
Draupadi remained fully clothed.

The Lord Shri Krishna always helps those who ask him.
CHAPTER ELEVEN - THE LAST THROW

Finally Bhima spoke. He turned to Duh-shasana. In a quiet voice he made

a terrible vow.

"O Duh-shasana," said Bhima, "I see a fearful battle coming. The
Pandawas and the Kaurawas will fight to the death. Duh-shasana, during
this battle I will find you. For what you have done to Draupadi I will break
open your chest and I will drink your blood."

Duh-shasana turned pale. He was very frightened. But Duryodhana

laughed. "How can you, a servant, harm us?" he said, "Come here
Draupadi. Your husbands cannot help you. Come and sit on my lap." And
he slapped his thigh.

"I will break that thigh," roared Bhima furiously, "And I will kill you too!"

Dhritarashthra was now frightened. He didn't want his sons to be hurt.

He gave everything back to Yudhishthira that he had lost in the dice
game. He gave back all the jewels and servants and horses. He gave
back Nakula, Sahadewa, Bhima and Arjuna. He gave back Draupadi. And
he gave Yudhishthira back himself.

The Pandawas and Draupadi left the palace and began to return home.
Duryodhana was furious.

"The Pandawas will never forgive us," he said to his father,

Dhritarashthra, "If you let them go we will all die!"

Dhritarashthra called the Pandawas back for one last throw of the dice.
The losers were to go to the forest for thirteen years. In the last year the
losers had to live in disguise. If they were discovered they had to live for
another thirteen years in the forest.

Yudhishthira and Sakuni threw the dice. Yudhishthira lost.

The Pandawas left for their exile. Holy men saw signs showing that the
Kaurawas would be destroyed when the Pandawas returned.