Week 7 Story: Life in Exile

The Pandavas were wondering the depths of the forest in literal exile. Not a single brother or even their wife, Draupadi, were ready for this drastic change in lifestyle. In the beginning of their exile they were in despair; therefore, they called on and prayed for the sun god to help them in their new adversary. The sun god answered their prayer and gave the Pandavas a copper pot, which was filled to the brim with delicious food. At this blessing, the Pandava brothers, Draupadi, and Dhaumya began their life in the forest. They took the good days with the bad, but it was Draupadi who suffered the most. She wept most of the time because she could not come to terms with the life she now lives. 


As the Pandavas were living their lives in exile, Krishna came to pay them a visit. As soon as he arrived, it was Draupadi who approached him first saying, "Duryodhana tried to make me his wife as my husbands stood their in silence, not moving a muscle. Is it not the duty of a husband to protect their wife? If so, why did they not even attempt to save me from the evil Duryodhana?"Krishna attempted to console Draupadi as she cried her eyes out. He told her, "Do not cry anymore as I am here to help your husband's family so you can once again be a queen."

Krishna then went to Yudhishthira and said, "I am deeply sorry I could not help you in your battle at Hastinapura. However, I am here now, what can I do to help?" After talking to Yudhishthira, Krishna made his way back to his kingdom. As soon as Krishna left, Draupadi made a dash to Yudhishthira to complain saying, "How did our lives end up like this? We used to enjoy the luxury of soft and silky beds, chairs of ivory, and beautiful robes. And now, what do we have? We are beggars now sleeping on stiff grass mats and wearing rags as clothes. I ask of you, Yudhishthira, that we go into battle and seek and take back what is ours."

Yudhishthira being the wise man he is responded to Draupadi by saying, "Being angry and thoughts of destruction is bad and sinful. Do not think and talk this way. We have to love and forgive others." Draupadi said in return, "You might have a point, but how can I praise lords who have done us wrong? Those who have done evil are now happy, and we who are good people are now sad and in grief. I cannot give praise to the lords who have desired this inequality for us."

Yudhishthira said to Draupadi, "The gods are mysterious, but do not doubt your religion or the power of the gods."

Draupadi could not take it anymore. After her conversation with Yudhishthira, she escaped to her room. She did not leave her room for the rest of the night. It was that night that Draupadi decided to leave the forest in search for help to get her old life back. Twas the middle of the night when all the men were asleep that Draupadi escaped and made her efforts to try to find Krishna in the hopes that he could help her. 

Bibliography: Indian Myth and Legend by Donald Mackenzie (link)

Author's Note: The Pandava family are sent into exile along with their wife, Draupadi. The exile takes place in the depths of the forest for many years to come. As soon as they were sent to exile, the Pandavas prayed to the sun god asking for help to which he gave the family a copper pot filled with food. After this blessing, the exile journey begins and it is Draupadi who suffers the most. Next thing we see is that Krishna pays the family a visit and it is Draupadi who asks him to save her from her terrible and awful current lifestyle. Krishna tells her that he will try to help and then talks to Yudhishthira next. As soon as Krishna leaves, Draupadi talks to Yudhishthira and ask him if they could go into battle to get back their kingdom and what is rightfully theirs. Yudhishthira goes against this pleading; however, in the original story Draupadi does not leave. In my version, I wanted to see Draupadi more independent and leave the readers hanging as she begins her escape from the Pandavas and treacherous exile. 

The Exile of the Pandavas. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Mahabharata, Part D

Ashwatthaman, Kripa, and Kritavarman visited a dying Duryodhana amidst the battlefield. Ashwatthaman asked Duryodhana's blessing if he could attack the Pandavas for doing this to Duryodhana. Ashwatthaman got his blessing and went to attack the Pandavas in the middle of the dark night. As Ashwatthaman, Kripa, and Kritavarman were at the outskirts of the Pandavas campsite, the great and mighty Shiva paid them a visit. Ashwatthaman tried to battle the god until he realized it was Shiva in which he then drew back and did him homage. Ashwatthaman started a fire on an altar and casted himself into the flames as a sacrifice to the mighty Shiva. When Shiva saw the humble sacrifice Ashwatthaman was making to him, he accepted the sacrifice and entered Ashwatthaman's body to fight for him against the Pandavas. At this, Ashwatthaman, with the spirit of Shiva, rushing into the Pandavas camp and battled the enemy.

When Yudhishthira found out about the raid, he grieved for his lost but was more worried about Draupadi and her reaction for it was her sons and brother that died in the battle. When Draupadi heard what happened, she wept before her husbands exclaiming, "We have lived in exile for 13 years so that your children could prosper. However, now that they are dead, can you all desire to have that powerful kingdom if you all cannot pass it down to anyone?" Krishna answered Draupadi in reply, "Why are grieving like you lost a husband on the bloody battlefield? You have no better reason or cause to cry than others."At this, Draupadi turned to Bhima and asked him to bring head of Ashwatthaman. Bhima told her that he could not because Ashwatthaman was a brahmin. Therefore, instead of the Ashwatthaman's head, Draupadi asked that her husbands steal Ashwatthaman's most precious jewel that is near and dear to his heart. Arjuna did as Draupadi asked and gave Ashwatthaman's special jewel to Draupadi.


Bibliography: "Public Domain Edition: Mahabharata" by Laura Gibbs (link - sections 69 and 70)

The Raid on the Pandavas. Source

Reading Notes: Mahabharata, Part C

As the Pandavas were living in exile in the forest, Krishna came to pay them a visit. As soon as he arrived, it was Draupadi who approached him first saying, "Duryodhana tried to make me his wife as my husbands stood their in silence, not moving a muscle. Is it not the duty of a husband to protect their wife? If so, why did they not even attempt to save me from the evil Duryodhana?"Krishna attempted to console Draupadi as she cried her eyes out. He told her, "Do not cry anymore as I am here to help your husband's family so you can once again be a queen."

Krishna then went to Yudhishthira and said, "I am deeply sorry I could not help you in your battle at Hastinapura. However, I am here now, what can I do to help?" After talking to Yudhishthira, Krishna makes his way back to his kingdom. Draupadi is still crying and upset at how her life is turning out. She does not like her current lifestyle and misses her old life. Therefore she goes to Yudhishthira to complain saying, "How did our lives end up like this? We used to enjoy the luxury of soft and silky beds, chairs of ivory, and beautiful robes. And now, what do we have? We are beggars now sleeping on stiff grass mats and wearing rags as clothes. I ask of you, Yudhishthira, that we go into battle and seek and take back what is ours."

Yudhishthira responded to Draupadi by saying, "Being angry and thoughts of destruction is bad and sinful. Do not think and talk this way. We have to love and forgive others." Draupadi said in return, "You might have a point, but how can I praise lords who have done us wrong? Those who have done evil are now happy, and we who are good people are now sad and in grief. I cannot give praise to the lords who have desired this inequality for us."

Yudhishthira said to Draupadi, "The gods are mysterious, but do not doubt your religion or the power of the gods."

Bhima then came up to Yudhishthira and Draupadi and said, "I agree with Draupadi. We must take down our enemies and take back what is rightfully ours."

Yudhishthira said in reply, "Even though we are suffering, I do want to fight for what is ours. However, I have given my word that we remain in exile. Therefore, my word is my word and we cannot escape."


Bibliography: "Public Domain Editions" Mahabharata by Laura Gibbs (link)

Krishna visits Draupadi. Source: Wikimedia Commons.