Dhritarashtra prepares to leave

Dhritrarashtra stayed for five more years. He was constantly thinking of how to convince Yudhistira and leave the palace. He went to Gandhari and said - I am feeling imprisoned here. Every time I am here, I feel I could have done things differently and situations would have been different. What is the way in which I can be relieved?
Gandhari said A life away from family ties is what is needed. I want to retire to the forest and spend my life in meditation. This is a life that I want to lead and Yudhistira should not stop me.

The next day morning, Dhritarashtra sent for Vidura. He said he had decided to leave the palace and would not listen to Yudhistira anymore. Vidura said he would come along also.

Dhritarashtra and Vidura took off the royal robes and dressed in plain clothes. Gandhari did the same too. Sanjaya heard this and said he wanted to go with them too.

When Kunti heard this, she went to Dhritarashtra. She said she wanted to accompany them. Dhritarashtra accepted her. 

Last rites performed

At the words of Krishna, Dhritarashtra called Yudhistira and said - Many people have fallen in the battle. You need to arrange for their last rites. Yuyutsu, Dhaumya, Sanjaya and Vidura will be with you.
Arrangements were made and the pyres were lit. The Pandavas then went to towards the river to immerse the ashes. Kunti then came there. She said Karna, whom you have known as a charioteer's son is my son, born to me before I married Pandu. He was born off the sun and I put him in a basket and floated him away in the river.
Hearing all from Kunti, Yudhistira broke down. He said You have told me know that Karna was my brother, I have plotted to kill my brother. If you had told me earlier, I would not have killed Karna or Duryodhana. Karna would have become the king of Hastinapura and Duryodhana would have happy also. I have killed my elder brother. I am angry and said. I curse you O mother. From today, women will not be able to keep secrets.
Saying this, the last rites were concluded. Krishna consoled Yudhistira and the Pandavas.
All were crying for their departed dead.
For three days and nights no one ate anything. After three days, fruits were got for all.
Krishna went about consoling all.

Kunti sees her sons

Gandhari then asked the Pandavas to greet their mother, Kunti. Kunti was overjoyed to see her sons, Krishna and Satyaki. She hugged her sons, her eyes full of tears.
Krishna said Why are your eyes wet? Yudhistira will now become the king.

Draupadi came and bowed down to all.

Gandhari then decided to go into the field to see the dead bodies of her sons. All the ladies, Krishna and the Pandavas went behind her.

Kunti meets Karna

Janmajeya asked the sage - Please tell me what was Kunti's reaction when she learnt that Karna was with Kaurava army?
The sage said -
Kunti heard that Karna was with Duryodhana. She decided to go and meet Karna. Kunti knew that Karna went for the banks of Yamuna. He went there alone and never took anyone with him. Kunti went there early morning.
Karna, when he came out of the river after praying to the Sun saw Kunti.
Kunti said Know that you are my son, born off the Sun when I was unmarried. I had a boon from Durvasa and when you were born, I had put you in the waters of Yamuna. You are not the son of Radha. Pandavas are your brothers. Join them.
Karna said I know what you told me, Duryodhana gave an identity and I cannot leave him  for that. My fight will be with Arjuna and either Arjuna will die in my hands or I will die in Arjuna's hands. I can promise you that you will have five sons after the war. I cannot give you anything else, Mother.

Kunti left after this. She went and told Vidura this.

Kunti talks to Krishna

Krishna went to Vidura's house and called out to him. Vidura was not there. Kunti heard him and came running. Krishna, seeing his aunt, bowed down and touched her feet.
Kunti said I am not sure I know anyone more unfortunate than me. My husband left leaving small children. I brought them up and am unable to bear their hardships. Duryodhana is a sinner who has troubled my sons many times. With the help of Vidura, we were able to escape from the house of lac. My sons begged for food till we went to Panchala. For some days we had peace when Draupadi was won and Drupada accepted us. We got Indraprastha and that too went. Now I am not sure what will happen when the war starts.

Krishna said Do not grieve. In time, your sons will rule again soon. I have come as a messenger to talk to the Kururs. I will see what I can do. If they do not listen, it will be victory for your sons. Do not worry.

This consoled Kunti.

Drupada learns who had won Draupadi

Learning the identity of the men, Drupada was excited. He somehow managed to spend the night. The next day he got up early and asked a priest to go to the house of the brahmanas and find out who they really were.
The priest went to the house of the Pandavas. He met Yudhistira who greeted. The priest said he would be asking a few questions and would need the truth as the answer. He said Drupada had given his daughter to them, while he had wanted to give away his daughter to a son of Pandu. With the death of the sons of Pandu, Drupada had been compelled to hold the swayamvara. Vyasa had said that only Arjuna had the skill to shoot the target.
Yudhistira then said there was no need to give their identity. He told the priest to tell the king that only a person of regal bearing had won his daughter.
When the priest said what he had heard, to the king, Dhristadyumna got six chariots ready. He went where the Pandavas were. He asked them to accompany him to the palace. The five brothers climbed on to the five chariots, while Draupadi and Kunti climbed onto the remaining chariot.

The king himself greeted all of them when they arrived. Kunti and Draupadi went into the inner quarters. The king asked the five brothers to accompany him.

The king sat down and asked the brothers to sit. He asked them to disclose their identity.

Yudhistira then told the king who they really were. The king was very glad and hugged the brothers. He then wanted to know what had happened to them since the burning of the house in Varnavrata. Yudhistira told the king everything.

He then told the king that as per his mother's orders, all five brothers would be getting married to Draupadi.

Drupada then said he would discuss with his priests and let the Pandavas know.

Draupadi goes with the Pandavas

Krishna and Balarama bowed down to Kunti, their father's sister. Kunti was very glad to see them and wanted to know how things were. For twelve years since she had been out of Hastinapura, she had no news of anyone.
Krishna said when Vasudeva had heard of his sister perishing in the fire along with her sons, he went into a deep shock. He went into a deep shock. He wanted to know what had happened.
Krishna said when he had met Vidura, he had learnt what had actually happened. He said the day of hardships were nearly over. He then went and bowed down to Yudhistira who was elder to him. Yudhistira hugged him. They all sat together and spoke about the house of lac and the hardships that the Pandavas had been through.
Krishna said In love for his sons, Dhritarashtra had turned evil. His sons were evil and soon they would get what they deserved.
Yudhistira asked Krishna how he knew they were in this hut. Krishna said what had happened in the court and arena was possible by only two people, Bhima and Arjuna. Yudhistira said he was afraid Duryodhana would discover where they were hiding. Krishna told him not to worry.

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In Panchala, Drupada was worried for his daughter. He had no idea to whom he had given away his daughter. He was brooding when Dhristadyumna arrived. Drupada wanted to know how his daughter was. Who was the brahmana who had taken his daughter? He said Vyasa had said only Arjuna would be able to shoot the target and now a brahmana had taken away his daughter.

Dhristadyumna said there was no cause for worry. Draupadi was in good hands. Dhristadyumna said how was it possible for a brahmana to single handed fight the great kings. Vyasa's words were not futile. In the fight there was an archer and a strong man. Draupadi had left them. They were later joined by three others.  They all went to a brahmana's house. There was a lady there, who was extremely beautiful. She was the mother of the men.
Keeping Draupadi with their mother, the men had gone out to beg. The food they got was given to Draupadi who quickly cooked that. The mother then asked Draupadi to divide the food into two parts. One part was given to the strong man. The other part was divided into five parts. Four of the brothers were given a part each. The fifth part was divided into two, of which one part was for Draupadi and the other for the mother.
One of the men, who was hungry and ate Draupadi's portion too.
After food, they went to sleep. The youngest one got the bedding ready.
The mother slept on the top.
The five men then slept below her feet and Draupadi slept below their feet.
Then they started talking and that is when Dhristadyumna said he discovered who they really were. 

Bhima returns home

Back in the land, When the princes were ready to go back home, Yudhishtira was surprised not see Bhima amongst them. They started looking around for Bhima.

He went told his mother that he could not  find Bhima. Along with his mother, he then informed Vidura about this.

Kunti was crying away, and Vidura consoled her saying Bhima was destined to be great and no harm would have come to him.

Kunti and the four brother get looking around frantically for Bhima.

In the Nagaloka, Bhima kept sleeping and slept for eight days and nights. The nagas told Bhima to go back home as his mother and brothers were searching for him.

Bhima bid goodbye to the Nagas and went straight home. He bowed down to his mother and Yudhistira and hugged the other three brothers.

He then told them all what had happened. Yudhistira then told Bhima to keep this to himself and not let anyone else know that they knew that Bhima had been poisoned  by Duryodhana. 

Pandu requests Kunti to have children

Pandu called Kunti and said as he would not be able to give her any children, so he asked her to beget sons through brahmans as it was deemed fit as per scriptures. If a wife, with the permission of her husband, co lived with another person and had child, the child would be considered her husband's child.
Kunti said she did not want to hear words like this as could not being with anyone other than her husband. She started telling Pandu about Vyusitashwa. He was a great king who had a beautiful wife called Bhadra. The king did many sacrifices but he did not have any children. One day, affected by tuberculosis, he passed away.
Bhadra was grief stricken and was thinking of ending her life when the dead body of her husband got up and said he would give her children. She had seven sons.
Ending her story Kunti said, Bhadra's husband had found a way for her, so if Pandu wanted children then he would have to think of a way to achieve this.
Pandu said it was not possible for him to give her children. The dead king had the power which he did not have.
Pandu started telling about olden times. In the forest lived the learned sage, Uddalaka with his son Shvetketu. One day when Shvetketu was young, a sage came to their hut and aroused by seeing Uddalaka's wife wanted to live with her. He carried her away forcibly.
Shvetketu asked his father who was this sage who was carrying off his mother. Uddalaka said his mother was not bound by rules and she had the right to go with whoever she chose.
Angry Shvetketu said he would meditate and then make a rule that would create social bonds. If someone forcibly broke the bond, they would be sinners. Women who would not listen to their husband would be considered sinners.
Saying this Pandu said, Listen Kunti while I tell you about Soudasa.
There was a king called Soudasa in the solar dynasty who had a beautiful wife called Madyanti. He let his wife live the hermitage of sage Vashistha where his wife gave birth to many sons.

Pandu said it was perfectly fine for Kunti to have children through someone else.

Kunti then told Pandu about her life before her marriage. She told him about Durvasa and the mantra he had given her. She then asked Pandu which God should she invoke, to get a child,
Pandu said for years one would perform sacrifices but would not get a glimpse of the Gods but a mantra from Kunti would get the God to come and live there. Dharma or Yama was the greatest of the Gods, one who never deviate the path. This was the God that would have to be invoked.

Marriage of the Kuru Princes and birth of Karna

When the three boys grew up they were sent for their education. Along with the scriptures they learnt the art of warfare. When they were of age, it was time to get them married.
In the clan of Yadavas there was a king called Subala who had a daughter called Gandhari. She had a boon that she would give birth to hundred sons of great strength.
Bhishma sent a proposal to Subala for the marriage of Gandhari with Dhritarashtra.
The king thought over the proposal. The only hitch was that Dhritarshatra was blind. Apart from that, the Kurus were a strong clan.
Agreeing to the proposal, Subala agreed to give Gandhari to Dhritarashtra. Along with Gandhari, many maids and a lot of wealth was sent. Gandhari's brother, Shakuni also came along with his sister.
When Gandhari heard that her husband was blind, she decided to follow her husband, Taking a clean white cloth, she tied it over her eyes thereby she also became blind.
Handing over his sister to Dhritarashtra, Shakuni returned back to his kingdom.

After the wedding of the elder prince, Bhishma started thinking of a bride for Pandu.
Shura was a Yadava king, the grandfather of Shri Krishna. Seeing that the king Kuntibhoja, his cousin,  was childless, he gave his daughter Pritha to her, for bringing her up as his own.He named her Kunti.

One day the sage Durvasa came visiting the land where Kuntibhoja lived. Seeing Durvasa, Kunti washed his feet with her own hands and welcomed him. She looked after the sage and was there to serve him, with folded hands.
Pleased with her devotion, Durvasa gave her a mantra. He told her whenever she uttered the mantra with any God in mind, that God would appear before her. Saying this and blessing her, the sage left.

Kunti wanted to try out the mantra. She uttered the mantra thinking of Surya.
Surya appeared and Kunti bowing down, said she was just testing the mantra. She said she had called him without any reason and she begged forgiveness.

Surya said the mantra is powerful and will not go futile. Surya said Kunti needed to sleep with with him.
Kunti said she was a virgin and all would be ashamed if she performed a act like that. Surya said, with his boon, her virginity would remain intact. A son was born of Kunti and Surya and Surya left.
The child was born with an armor on his body and earrings on his ears.

Kunti was not sure what to do and what people would say to her. Taking a large copper vessel, she placed the child in that. She carefully placed the vessel in the waters of Yamuna and watched it float away.

A Suta (charioteer) was bathing in the waters of Yamuna when he saw the floating vessel. Curious to know what was inside, he got the vessel to the shore. Seeing a beautiful boy inside, he called out to his wife Radha.

The couple was childless and they adopted the boy. They named the boy Vasusena. The boy grew up learning all he could. He would always give alms away to any brahmana who came his way. All that was asked off him, he gave. Such was the case that when later Indra asked for his armor and earrings, he cut them off his body and gave it away. As he had cut off his body to give away what was asked for, he was also known as Karna. In lieu of the armor, Indra had a given to Karna a ferocious weapon called Ekagni, which would mean sure death of the one on whom this was hurled.

Going back, Kunti's swayamvar was organized. All kings came there and among then was Pandu, looking regal like Indra himself. Kunti chose Pandu as her husband. Pandu came back to his land along with Kunti.

None of the princes had any children. Bhishma thought of marriage again.

Shalya, the king of Madra had a beautiful sister called Madri. Bhishma asked for Madri's hand for his brother's son. Shalya said in their land they had a custom of receiving dowry from the groom, to which Bhishma agreed. Bhishma came back with Madri and got her married to Pandu.

Pandu wanted to expand the kingdom and he went on an expedition towards the West. Pandu defeated many kings and made them his subordinates.

Pandu was greeted by Bhisma when he arrived. Pandu gave all the wealth that he had got, to Dhritarashtra.

There was a king called Sudeva who had a beautiful daughter called Parashari, who was known for her beauty. Bhishma got this princess married to Vidura.