Arjuna’s quest for divine weapons

by Akshay Nagella and Akshay Shivakumar

In the latest class, we learned about Pandavas’ exile to the forest and Arjuna’s quest for divine weapons.

After Yudhishthira lost everything in a fixed game of dice to Duryodhana, the Pandavas went to the Kamyaka forest.  There Yudhishthira received the Akshaya Patra, a pot that would give them unlimited food, from the Sun god so that they could feed the many citizens of Hastinapura that followed them to the forest. Vexed by Vidura’s advice to make peace with the Pandavas, Dhritarashtra one day angrily told Vidura to go and live with the Pandavas if he thought so highly of the Pandavas. Soon after Vidura left, Dhritarashtra repented for his rash actions and sent Sanjaya to bring Vidura back to Hastinapura.

Krishna could not be in Hastinapura during the game of dice as he and the rest of the Yadavas were preoccupied in repelling the invasion of Dwaraka by King Salva. When he heard the news of the Pandavas’ exile, he along with Balarama and several other Yadava elders went to meet the Pandavas in the forest.  Krishna consoled Draupadi and vowed to be on the Pandavas’ side and promised that the side of dharma would surely win.

Sage Veda Vyasa also visited the Pandavas and told them that the war would be inevitable in which Arjuna would play a major role. He advised them to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.  As per the sage’s advice, Arjuna began his journey to the Himalayas seeking divine weapons. On his way, Arjuna came across Lord Indra who advised him to pray to Lord Shiva. One day Arjuna killed a charging boar and got into argument with a tribal who also claimed to have shot it first.  In the ensuing duel, Arjuna found that none of his arrows could inflict any damage to the tribal.  When he eventually resorted to a physical combat, he realized that the tribal was no ordinary person and prostrated before him. Then Lord Siva revealed himself and gave Arjuna a supremely special weapon, Pasupata, that could work like a drone.  Later on Lord Indra’s charioteer took Arjuna to the heavens where Gods such as Lords Agni, Varuna, and Kubera granted him several more weapons for use in the inevitable upcoming war against the Kauravas.

The Game of Dice

by Aakash Karan and Anish Durvasula

In the latest class, we learned about the “Game of Dice” that Yudisthira played with Shakuni, Duryodhana’s uncle.

At the conclusion of the the Rajasuya Yaga at Indraprastha, Sage Veda Vyasa visited the Pandavas to bless them. But he also warned them of their impending conflict with the Kauravas and troubles in the future. Yudhishthira, even though crowned as the emperor, started to worry about this.  He took a vow that he would be nice to his cousins, the Kauravas, to avoid conflict at any cost.

During the Rajasuya Yaga, Duryodhana became very jealous of the Pandavas after seeing their power and wealth. He was not only mesmerized by the beautiful and ornate palace in Indraprastha that was built by the architect Maya for the Pandavas, but also felt humiliated when he was tricked by the various illusions in the palace.  Upon returning to Hastinapura, Duryodhana, Duhsasana, Karna and Shakuni, a group called the Gang of Four, discussed various ways to take over the kingdom and the riches of the Pandavas.  Finally they agreed with Shakuni’s proposal of inviting Yudhishthira to a game of dice and winning everything through trickery. Vidura, the advisor to King Dhritarashtra, was sent to give the invitation to the Pandavas. Even though he warned the Pandavas of the evil plot of the Gang of Four, Yudhishthira agreed to play the game for 3 reasons:

            1) The Kshatriya code to never back down or refuse the challenge for a game or a duel
            2) His fondness for the game of dice
            3) His vow to be friendly towards the Kauravas
        
The Pandavas went to Hastinapura where the game was played in a gambling hall specially built for this event.  Shakuni, with his magical dice, won every bet by Yudhishthira who lost his gold, horses, elephants, palaces, army, and kingdom. Later he bet and lost his brothers one by one, then himself, and finally Draupadi. At Duryodhana’s command, Duhsasana dragged Draupadi by her hair from her chambers to the gambling hall. Much to the humiliation of the Pandavas, he started to undress Draupadi in front of all the Kuru elders and teachers. Hearing Draupadi’s cry for help, Lord Krishna protected Draupadi’s honor by supplying an endless sari. Duhsasana finally gave up with utter fatigue. With a feeling of guilt and remorse, Dhritarashtra sent the Pandavas back to Indraprastha with all their belongings. 

Duryodhana again persuaded his father to invite the Pandavas for a second game of dice. Yudhishthira came back to play for the same 3 reasons. However this time the game was played with the condition that the losers would have to live in the forest for 12 years and incognito for 1 year. During the incognito year, if someone found out their identity, they would have to repeat the 12 plus 1 years of exile. After losing again, the Pandavas along with Kunti and Draupadi began their journey to the forest.