When Vidura arrived at the palace of King Drupada, he conveyed the message from Dhritharashtra. Seeing the Pandavas, safe and honored in Drupada’s court, Vidura was deeply moved. Pulling himself together, he delivered Dhritharashtra’s message. The message expressed relief and joy that the Pandavas had survived the fire at the House of Lac and had cemented an alliance with the powerful Panchala kingdom by marrying Draupadi. Dhritharashtra offered half of the kingdom to Yudhishtra and requested that the Pandavas, along with the Panchalas, return to Hastinapura so Yudhishtra could be crowned king. The blessings of Bhishma, Drona, and Kripacharya were also sent with the message, eagerly awaiting the Pandavas’ return.
The Pandavas trusted Vidura implicitly. After consulting with Drupada and Krishna (who, along with Balarama, had also arrived), they agreed that half of the kingdom was a fair offer. The Pandavas, along with Draupadi and the Panchala family, returned to Hastinapura.
Emotional Reunion at Hastinapura
Upon their arrival, there was an emotional reunion. Bhishma, their grand-uncle, was overwhelmed with joy and relief at their safe return. Even Dhritharashtra, though harboring inner conflict, outwardly expressed happiness at doing the right thing by restoring the Pandavas’ rightful position. Draupadi sought the blessings of Gandhari and Dhritharashtra, though Gandhari briefly foresaw Draupadi as an agent of destruction for her sons, which caused her inner turmoil.
An auspicious day was chosen for Yudhishtra’s coronation. Dhritharashtra, knowing the tension between his sons and the Pandavas, suggested that Yudhishtra rule from Khandava-prastha (the ancient capital, now a jungle), instead of Hastinapura, to avoid friction. Yudhishtra accepted the command. Despite the condition of Khandava-prastha, the Pandavas made it their capital. With Krishna’s intervention, Vishwakarma, the divine architect, transformed it into Indraprastha, a city rivaling the grandeur of Amravati, the capital of Indra.
Life in Indraprastha and Narada’s Warning
Once settled in Indraprastha, the Pandavas attracted many followers, and Krishna stayed with them for a while before returning to Dwaraka. Sometime later, the divine sage Narada visited Indraprastha. Yudhishtra sought Narada’s counsel on ruling a kingdom, and Narada offered invaluable advice on administration and governance.
During the visit, Narada shared the cautionary tale of Sundha and Upasundha, two inseparable Asura brothers who fell in love with Tilottama, a divine creation meant to sow discord between them. Their once unbreakable bond turned into fatal rivalry, and they ended up killing each other. Narada’s story warned the Pandavas of the dangers of rivalry over Draupadi. As a result, the Pandavas agreed to the arrangement where Draupadi would spend one year with each brother in turn. Anyone violating the arrangement would have to undertake a year-long exile.
Arjuna’s Exile and His Adventures
The arrangement worked well for a time, but a problem arose when a Brahmana came to the palace, pleading for help in recovering his stolen cows. Arjuna, bound by his duty to his subjects, needed his weapons, which were in the room where Yudhishtra and Draupadi were. Knowing the consequences, Arjuna nevertheless retrieved his weapons, defeated the thieves, and returned the cows. As per the agreement, Arjuna voluntarily went into exile for a year, despite Yudhishtra trying to dissuade him, arguing that Arjuna’s act was out of duty.
During his exile, Arjuna had many significant adventures. One of the most notable was his encounter with Ulupi, a Naga princess, who pulled him into her underwater realm in the Ganga. Ulupi expressed her love for Arjuna and eventually convinced him that his vow of celibacy only applied to Draupadi, not to others. Arjuna accepted her reasoning, and they spent time together, resulting in the birth of Iravan, their son.
Continuing his journey, Arjuna visited various sacred sites and eventually reached Manipur, where he met Chitrangada, the daughter of King Chitravahana. Arjuna fell in love with her, and the king agreed to their marriage on the condition that any son born to them would remain in Manipur as the heir. Arjuna and Chitrangada’s union produced a son named Babruvahana, who would later play a significant role in Arjuna’s life.
The Pandavas’ Growing Influence
After these adventures, Arjuna traveled to Dwaraka, where his destiny awaited with Subhadra, Krishna’s sister. Arjuna’s exile and the adventures he experienced during this period enriched his character and expanded the Pandavas’ network of alliances. His marriage to Subhadra, which followed soon after, strengthened the Pandavas’ ties to Krishna and the Yadavas, further enhancing their power base.
Arjuna’s exile, though a punishment of sorts, became a journey of growth and alliance-building, leaving the Pandavas more powerful and prepared for the future challenges they would face.
This episode not only connects Arjuna’s story to significant mythological figures and places but also illustrates how fate, duty, and relationships in the epic Mahabharata are deeply intertwined with the divine and cosmic order, influencing the course of history and mythology.