Book Three:  The Forest

As the whole city mourns, the Pandavas along with Draupadi leave for 
the forest.  Krishna visits them while they are in the forest, and he 
tries his best to get them to fight.  Draupadi and Bhim support him, 
but Judhishthir decides that he will keep his promise and not fight.  
While all of this is happening, Arjun goes on a quest for divine 
weapons, because he knows there will be a war in the future.  He spends 
five years with Indra (his father) in heaven attaining and learning how 
to use his weapons.  Back on Earth, the other brothers and Draupadi 
spend their time in the forests, listening to tales and receiving 
advice from holy men.  

They have many adventures while the spend their days in the forest.  
One day, Duryodhan decides to go to the forest where the Pandavas are 
to taunt them.  He takes all his fineries with him and tries to 
humiliate the Pandavas who no longer have any of that.  But, Duryodhan 
gets captured by Gandharvas and Judhishthir sends Bhim to save them.  
Duryodhan, feeling humiliated, leaves the forest with his whole 
entourage.  Another time, Jayadrath, the King of the Sindhus, kidnaps 
Draupadi.  The Pandavas rescue her, but she is even more upset after 
this.

Meanwhile, Karna becomes more powerful as he conquers more for 
Duryodhan.  Indra, up in heaven anguishes over the hatred between Arjun 
and Karna.  He knows that Karna has divine armor that he was born with. 
Indra goes to him dressed as a brahmin right as Karna finishes his 
morning prayer to Surya, the Sun God.  Indra asks for his armor and 
Karna cuts them off his body and gives them to him.  In return, Indra 
gives him a spear that will kill what ever it is thrown at, but it can 
only be used once.  Karna awaits the war when he can use this against 
Arjun.

Back in the forest, Judhishthir is tested by his father Dharma.  He 
takes the form of a demon , kills of the other four brothers and asks 
Judhishthir a vast amount of difficult questions.  Judhishthir answers 
them all correctly, so Dharma brings his brothers back to life and 
shows his true self to Judhishthir.  

The Pandavas spend their 12 years in the forest and start contemplating 
on where to live for the next 12 months.


****Please press the back button to return to the previous page****