Reading Notes: The Mahabharata, Section C
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| Photo Information, Bhima answers the Yaksha. Source |
The Pandava brothers are nearing the end of their 13 year
exile with 1 year left. The brothers, spying a lake and wanting to quench their
thirst each make their way to a lake one at a time. A Yaksha claims ownership
over the lake and warns each brother as they approach the water’s edge. The
Yaksha states that, before they can drink, they must answer a series of
questions. Yudhistira, Sahadev,a, Arjuna, and Nakula and all taste the water
first and fall seemly dead. Bhima finally approaches and answers the questions.
Because Bhima answers them in a humble and knowledgeable way, the Yaksha revives
all the brothers and gifts them with the ability to not be recognized for who
they are.
Since they can no longer be recognized, the brothers and Draupadi
(Sairandhari) decide to spend their last year of exile in Pancala, in the
kingdom of Virata. There the brothers remain well disquised, however, Draupadi
goes noticed by a brother of the queen. Because of his infatuation with her, he
tries to violate her and is subsequently killed by Bhima.
Duryodhana, being aware of the remaining time left with the
Padavan exile, begins to search for them in an effort to keep them away.
Searching through the forest, his spies cannot find the group of six. Knowing how
the Padava group can bless the place that they live, Duryodhana’s spies start
to look for evidence of great fortune in neighboring kingdoms and find it in Virata.
Arguing that an invasion will be a positive yield whether they find the Pandava
brothers there or not, they decide to move on the kingdom.
Arjuna assist’s a prince of Virata in defeating the
Duryodhana force. The battle between the two was a graceful, experienced battle.
Bibliography:
R.K. Narayan, The Mahabharata p85-131
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