Mahabharata: Chapter 3. The Forest Summary & Analysis

THE FOREST. Vaiśampayana continues his story of the Pandavas, who head into the forest to begin their exile. Vidura continues to advise Dhritarashtra to end the exile of the Pandavas, so Dhritarashtra eventually dismisses him, and Vidura goes off to join the five brothers. But he soon regrets his actions and invites Vidura back, and so Vidura returns.

THE KILLING OF KIRMIRA. Dhritarashtra hears a story about how Bhima killed a Rakshasa called Kirmira. He asks Vidura to tell him the story. Kirmira wanted to kill Bhima for killing his brother Baka, but Bhima defeated him and killed him in a wrestling match.

THE MAN OF THE MOUNTAINS. The Pandavas’ allies, including Krishna, come to visit them in the forest. THE KILLING OF THE LORD SAUBHA. Krishna has been away for a while. When Yudhishthira asks why, Krishna explains he had to go destroy the city of Saubha. The city was ruled by a demonic lord, but after a long battle, Krishna managed to defeat him.

The Pandavas keep traveling. Draupadi scolds Yudhishthira for letting the Pandavas fall into such a miserable state while the Kauravas are back celebrating. Bhima joins Draupadi’s side in the argument, but Yudhishthira keeps insisting that it’s best to be patient and avoid anger.

One day, Arjuna travels to the summit of Himalaya, where he performs ascetic rituals and meets Śiva. Śiva stakes the form of a mountain man and starts a bow-and-arrow battle with Arjuna. After a tough battle, Śiva wins, but he praises Arjuna’s efforts and offers him a celestial weapon: the Paśupata. Śiva warns Arjuna that if he’s irresponsible with the weapon, he could destroy the entire world.

THE JOURNEY TO INDRA’S WORLD. One day, Indra’s charioteer comes to Arjuna and takes him to Indra’s city. Indra gifts Arjuna a thunderbolt, and Arjuna stays in his city for five years. Meanwhile, the other Pandavas live peacefully in the forest, while Dhritarashtra hears of Arjuna’s trip to Indra and fears he’s becoming invincible. Yudhishthira feels that he’s the unluckiest man in the world, but a seer begins to tell him of a man who was even more unlucky.

NALA. The seer begins his story to Yudhishthira. Nala is a distinguished king. He wants to marry a young woman named Damayanti, but Damayanti’s father instead holds a svayamvara ceremony to choose Damayanti’s husband. At the svayamvara, Nala manages to win over Damayanti. This angers the god Kali, who possesses Nala and forces him to lose in gambling against his brother. Ruined, Nala decides to leave Damayanti in the night. When Damayanti wakes up to find Nala gone, she wanders around, trying to find him again.

Nala travels widely until finally one day he manages to get Kali out of him. From afar, Damayanti hears news that Nala is finally free. Nala comes back and challenges his brother to another gambling match, but this time he wins on the first throw. He forgives his brother and returns to living happily with Damayanti. After finishing the story, the seer tells Yudhishthira that just hearing about Nala gives the listener good luck.

THE PILGRIMAGE. Narada comes to the Pandavas in the forest and tells Yudhishthira of the benefits of going on a pilgrimage. Yudhishthira also hears about Arjuna’s recent acquisition of a celestial weapon.

AGASTYA. Beginning their pilgrimage, the Pandavas travel to the hermitage of Agastya. There, they hear a story about how Agastya killed a demon. The story includes the origin of demons and how, in an earlier age, they were once powerful enough to harass even the gods. The gods asked Agastya for help, and so he drank the ocean dry so that the gods could kill the demons that were hiding there. After hearing this story, Yudhishthira and the others travel onward, arriving at a new holy site near a river.

RIŚYASRINGA. Near the river, Yudhishthira hears the story of Riśyasringa, a great ascetic and the son of an apsara cursed to take the form of a doe. In doe form, she got pregnant after drinking from a river where a (human) man ejaculated. As a result, Riśyasringa has a single deer horn on his head. Meanwhile, a kingdom suffers from lack of rain, so its king decides that perhaps he can make it rain by luring Riśyasringa to his kingdom. He sends women to try to tempt Riśyasringa. One woman in particular succeeds in driving Riśyasringa mad.

Riśyasringa tells his father about the beautiful woman he saw. His father explains that the woman was probably a Rakshasa. But Riśyasringa doesn’t heed his father, and when the woman returns, she tricks him onto a boat. She takes him back to her king’s kingdom, and it finally starts to rain. In exchange, the king offers one of his daughters to Riśyasringa in marriage, and she serves him faithfully. With the story concluded, Yudhishthira and the other Pandavas travel on to an altar in a forest.

KARTAVIRYA. Yudhishthira learns that Rama Jamadagnya is coming by soon. He hears a story about how Rama Jamadagnya accidentally decapitated his mother but how a boon from his father allowed him to revive her. Later, King Kartavirya attacked Rama Jamadagnya’s hermitage, wiping it out, and this led Rama Jamadagnya to declare war on all Kshatriya, leading him to wipe out their whole population on 21 separate occasions. After hearing this story, Yudhishthira and the Pandavas travel to a new holy location to continue their pilgrimage.

SUKANYA. Yudhishthira hears a new story about a man from the Bhrigu line named Cyavana who leads such an ascetic lifestyle that he turns into an anthill. One day, he sees a beautiful woman named Sukanya, but she sees only eyes in an anthill, so she pokes him with a thorn. The ascetic responds by causing trouble for the king, and so the king decrees Sukanya must marry Cyavana. Cyavana regains human form and also his youth, becoming so powerful that he keeps even Indra at bay with a demon called Intoxication. After besting Indra, Cyavana splits Intoxication up into several parts: “liquor, women, dicing, and hunting.”

MANDHATR. Yudhishthira hears the story of Mandhatri, a child who stays in the womb for 100 years and then suckles from Indra’s pointer finger. JANTU. Yudhishthira hears the story of a man who has 100 wives but just one son, who is named Jantu. The man sacrifices Jantu, and suddenly all his wives become pregnant at the same time.

THE HAWK AND THE DOVE. Yudhishthira hears the story of a man who has to cut off part of his own flesh equal to the weight of a dove. He keeps cutting, but it is never enough, so at last he puts his whole body on the scale, finally pleasing Indra. ASHTAVAKRA. Yudhishthira hears the story of Ashtavakra, a clever man who excels at riddles.

YAVAKRITA. Yudhishthira arrives at the hermitage where Yavakrita died and hears his story. Yavakrita is too proud and gets chased by a Rakshasa. He tries to hide in water, but everything is dry, and so he is caught and killed. After hearing the end of that story, the Pandavas continue their journey, traveling through dangerous, stormy lands where supernatural creatures live. Draupadi begins to tire from so much traveling. Bhima goes to fetch her flowers to cheer her up, but he finds the flowers guarded by Rakshasas.

THE KILLING OF JATASURA. While Bhima is away, a Rakshasa named Jatasura kidnaps the Pandavas one day. Bhima finally makes it back and kills Jatasura, freeing his brothers.

THE BATTLE AGAINST THE YAKSHAS. The Pandavas return to a hermitage they’ve been to before and settle down there. In the fifth year of Arjuna’s absence while they’re staying at the hermitage, Bhima provokes a war with the Yakshas (a type of celestial being), but when their leader sees how well the Pandavas fight, he gives up the battle and congratulates them. Arjuna finally returns, and he tells his story. In Arjuna’s retelling, Indra gives Arjuna a task—to kill many demons with his new weapons. Arjuna succeeds in wiping out a whole army of demons, pleasing Indra. Indra then gives Arjuna invincible armor and a conch, allowing him to stay in his city for five years.

THE CONSTRICTOR. With all the Pandavas back together, they spend four more years in the forest, making it a total of 10 years in exile. At one point, Bhima gets captured by a snake, but Yudhishthira saves him by asking the snake questions about the nature of consciousness, which the snake answers correctly, freeing itself from a curse and letting Bhima go.

THE MEETING WITH MARKANDEYA. The Pandavas travel through the rainy season, and Yudhishthira meets an ascetic named Markandeya. Yudhishthira asks about what happens after death, and Markandeya explains reincarnation. He tells other parables to Yudhishthira to show the power of asceticism.

THE FISH. Markandeya then tells Yudhishthira the story of an ascetic named Manu who suddenly hears a little fish talking to him. The fish asks to be put into increasingly large bodies of water. Finally, the fish reveals that it is Brahma, and he gives Manu instructions for how to create all creatures. Having finished this story, Markandeya explains the different ages and the creation and destruction of worlds.

THE FROG. Markandeya tells Yudhishthira another story, this one about a king who meets and takes home a beautiful young woman. One day, she disappears into a pool of water. The king drains the pool and finds only a frog. He threatens to kill all frogs, but the frog king comes and reveals that the frog in the water is actually his lover. The king takes her back, and she resumes human form, but the frog king warns them that all her children will be hostile to Brahmins.

INDRADYUMNA. Markandeya tells of Indradyumna, an old man who falls from heaven after his fame runs out but who is able to go back to heaven after an old turtle on earth recognizes him.

DHUNDHUMARA. Markandeya tells Yudhishthira the story of Dhundhumara (“killer of Dhundu”), a king who finds a trick to kill a demon named Dhundu that seemed to be invulnerable to even the gods. THE FAITHFUL WIFE. Yudhishthira and Markandeya discuss how women can achieve dharma by being faithful wives.

THE BRAHMIN’S CONVERSATION WITH THE HUNTER. Markandeya tells the story of Kauśika, a Brahmin who meets a hunter who used to be a Brahmin in his previous life but who accidentally shot an ascetic with an arrow and so was cursed to be reborn as a hunter. The ascetic showed mercy and allowed the hunter to at least be a virtuous hunter.

ANGIRAS. Yudhishthira asks Markandeya to tell him about the origin of fire, which involves the sage Angiras and the fire god Agni. During a time when Agni is absent, Angiras takes on his role, and from then on, all future fires descend from Angiras.

DRAUPADI’S CONVERSATIONS WITH SATYABHAMA. Draupadi gives advice to Krishna’s chief queen, Satyabhama, saying she should please her husband not with potions or tricks but with faithful attention.

THE TOUR OF THE CATTLE-STATIONS. Duryodhana contemplates what to do while his enemies, the Pandavas, are still away. He decides to throw a party, then goes out to inspect his cattle as an excuse to get away from Dhritarashtra. But while he’s out, he gets attacked by a rival army. The Pandavas, led by Yudhishthira, have to come save him. Duryodhana goes home more determined than ever to kill the Pandavas.

THE DREAM DEER. Yudhishthira has a mysterious dream about a crying deer. THE BUSHEL OF RICE. Vyasa visits the Pandavas and sees them suffering, so he encourages them not to lose hope by telling a story of a man who lived off nothing but scavenged grains of rice.

THE ABDUCTION OF DRAUPADI. One day, King Jayadratha passes by the Pandava camp, becomes infatuated with Draupadi, and tries to convince her to join him. Jayadratha tries to abduct her, but the Pandavas chase him down, kill his followers, and shave his head, leaving behind just five tufts of hair. They let Jayadratha go. He prays to Śiva to be able to defeat the Pandavas, but Śiva says this wish is impossible to grant.

RAMA. Yudhishthira asks Markandeya if anyone else ever suffered such bad luck as him. Markandeya replies that Rama did. Rama is married to Sita. Rama is a brave warrior, but he suffers many setbacks, including the abduction of his wife, Sita, by the demon-king Ravana. After struggling heroically, including a battle where his only allies are monkeys, he finally defeats Ravana and brings Sita back.

SAVITRI. Yudhishthira asks Markandeya if there’s ever been a woman as noble as Draupadi. He replies that yes, there was a goddess named Savitri. A king showed great loyalty to her, so she rewarded him with a boon. He asks for offspring with the highest dharma. She agrees, and when the king gives birth to a daughter, his priests name the daughter Savitri.

Eventually, Savitri (the daughter) is old enough for a husband. The king thinks he finds a suitable match, a prince named Satyavat, but the seer Narada advises him against it—because her potential future husband will die within a year. Savitri remains committed to her choice. The wedding plans go ahead. Savitri marries Satyavat and lives happily with her husband in a hermitage but can’t forget the prophecy of Narada.

The day before Satyavat’s predicted death, Savitri decides to fast until evening and doesn’t leave her husband’s side. She follows him out into the woods while he splits logs, until all of a sudden, the god of death—Yama—comes and ends Satyavat’s life. Savitri tries to follow him, but Yama urges her to stay away and remain among the living.

Moved by Savitri’s words, Yama offers her several boons, with the stipulation that she can’t ask for the resurrection of Satyavat. She asks for help for her father-in-law and father to expand where they rule and to help them act according to dharma. Yama keeps offering boons, so she asks for a hundred heroic sons. Finally, on his fifth boon, Yama doesn’t add the stipulation about resurrecting Satyavat. Savitri asks for Satyavat to be revived. Yama brings him back and promises he’ll live with Savitri for 400 years.

Satyavat awakens with a headache—Savitri promises to explain everything to him later. It’s getting late, and Satyavat wants to go back to see his parents. He goes back to the hermitage, and all the Brahmins are shocked to see him still alive. When Savitri gets back, she explains to everyone how she revived Satyavat with one of Yama’s boons. Savitri and Satyavat live together happily and eventually have their 100 sons, all because of what Savitri did—and Markandeya says that Draupadi is like Savitri.

THE TAKING OF THE EARRINGS. Janamejaya asks to hear more about Karna, so Vaiśampayana tells more about him. It’s been 13 years of exile for the Pandavas. Indra wants to get Karna’s earrings (which protect him) on behalf of the Pandavas. The Sun, however, disguises himself as a handsome Brahmin and goes to Karna to warn him that Indra is coming for his earrings and that if he gives away the earrings, he’ll die.

Karna tells the Sun that he will hand over his earrings and armor to Indra anyway—because it will bring him fame, and fame is more important to him than life itself. The Sun pleads with Karna, saying he’ll never beat Arjuna in battle without his earrings. Karna remains stubborn, so the Sun says that if he’s going to hand over the earrings, he should at least try to get a celestial weapon: a special Spear that will kill all his enemies.

Indra takes the form of a Brahmin and approaches Karna. He asks for Karna’s earrings and armor, but Karna refuses, telling Indra he knows his identity and has heard all about him from the Sun. Indra seems to have expected this, and he says he’ll give Karna a boon in exchange for the earrings. He offers Karna a celestial weapon: a Spear that can kill hundreds of enemies and then return to his hand in a single throw. Karna only wants to kill one hero (Arjuna), but he accepts the Spear.

Indra warns Karna that he must only use his Spear in times of need, or else it will attack Karna himself. Karna cuts off his armor and earrings, and this is where he earns his title of “Karna the Cutter.” News of Karna’s loss of his earring brings joy to the Pandavas but sadness to the Kauravas.

THE FIRESTICKS. A Brahmin whose firesticks have been stolen by a deer, tangled in its antlers, comes up to Yudhishthira. All the Pandavas try to find the deer with no luck. Yudhishthira then sends Nakula out to look for water. Nakula finds a pool, but a voice warns him to answer some questions before drinking. Nakula just drinks right away, and he falls down dead. One by one, the other Pandavas do the same, until only Yudhishthira is left alive.

When Yudhishthira gets to the pond, he agrees to listen to the voice and answer questions. The speaker ends up being a Yaksha (type of nature spirit). The Yaksha revives the other four Pandavas and then reveals that it is Dharma, Yudhishthira’s biological father. Dharma gives Yudhishthira three boons: he gets the firesticks back for the Brahmin, the Pandavas will remain unrecognizable in their 13th year of exile, and finally Yudhishthira wishes for a more virtuous character for himself.