King Dhritarashtra ordered a beautiful palace built for the Pandavas in Varanavata, and he put his son Duryodhana in charge.

Duryodhana, meanwhile, turned the palace into a deadly trap, arranging for the building materials to be soaked in oil and resin so he could burn the Pandavas alive in their home.

But Vidura, Dhritarashtra's low-born brother, warned his nephews to beware. "The wise jackal's den has more than one exit," he told Yudhishthira.

"I understand," said Yudhishthira, smiling.

The Pandavas pretended to be delighted with their new palace, but they secretly built a tunnel that would provide a safe escape.

The royal administrator in Varanavata, Purochana, was Duryodhana's agent. The Pandavas knew he planned to kill them in a fire.

"We'll beat him to it," said Yudhishthira, and he ordered Bhima to set the palace on fire.

The Pandavas escaped through their tunnel, while Purochana died in the flames.

A mother and her five sons also died in the fire. They had come to the palace seeking food and drink, and there they fell asleep, intoxicated.

The next day, when their charred remains were discovered, Duryodhana was delighted, thinking the Pandavas and their mother Kunti had died in the fire.

When the Pandavas and Kunti emerged at the other end of the tunnel, they met a boatman who was waiting for them as Vidura had arranged, and they gave the watchword: "The wise jackal's den has more than one exit."

This boatman took them across the river, and they then fled deep into the forest. Their plan was to hide in the forest, disguised as brahmins, keeping as far from Duryodhana and his spies as they could.

Meanwhile, back in Hastinapura, King Dhritarashtra mourned his nephews in public, but privately he rejoiced with his son Duryodhana.

Vidura, meanwhile, kept silent.

As they wandered the forest, Bhima would stand watch over his mother and brothers while they slept.

One night, a rakshasa named Hidimba approached them. "I smell humans!" he said to his sister, Hidimbi. "Lure that big one in my direction. I'll kill him, and we will enjoy a feast!!"

But when Hidimbi saw Bhima, she fell in love. While Bhima and her brother fought, she used supernatural powers to protect Bhima, and he killed her brother.

Bhima then married Hidimbi, and she bore their son: Ghatotkacha.

"If you ever need me," Ghatotkacha told Bhima, "call, and I will come."

In their wanderings, the Pandavas met their grandfather Vyasa. "Go to the village of Ekachakra," he advised them.

The villagers there told the Pandavas that a deadly rakshasa named Baka demanded a cartload of food daily. He ate the food, and the driver too!

Bhima agreed to drive the cart, being eager to eat the food himself.

As Bhima sat on the cart eating, Baka attacked. "That's my food!" he shrieked.

Bhima just laughed.

They wrestled, and Bhima finally killed Baka.

The villagers wanted to honor their saviors, but the Pandavas decided to move on before their identity was discovered.

One day in the forest, a gandharva named Angaraparna attacked the Pandavas, but Arjuna incinerated Angaraparna's chariot with a fire-arrow and captured him.

Angaraparna's wife begged for mercy, and the Pandavas freed him. Angaraparna then rewarded the Pandavas with great hospitality, telling them many stories, and also giving them advice. "Find a priest, get a wife, and make yourselves the kings you were born to be."

So the Pandavas found a priest, and the priest told them to seek a wife at the swayamvara of King Drupada.

Because they were still hiding from the Kauravas, they went disguised as brahmins.

Kings and princes thronged the stadium, eager to compete for Draupadi, King Drupada's fire-born daughter. Drupada had put a revolving fish-shaped target high on a pole, and the archer had to shoot by looking at the target reflected in a pan of oil below.

Many princes tried and failed.

Then it was Karna's turn. He nocked an arrow confidently, but before he could shoot, Draupadi exclaimed, "I recognize this so-called king! He's just a charioteer. Send him away!"

"He is King of Anga," Duryodhana protested. "Let him compete!"

"No, my friend," Karna said to Duryodhana. "I do not want her."

The Pandavas attended Draupadi's swayamvara disguised as brahmins.

One of the princes in the audience was Krishna, who recognized the Pandavas despite their disguises. "Look, Balarama," Krishna said to his brother, pointing at the brahmins. "Those are the Pandavas!"

"Then they did not die in the fire after all!" Balarama exclaimed.

"Now we will see something momentous," Krishna murmured. "Arjuna will surely be able to pass Drupada's test. And then things will get... interesting. Very interesting."

Just as Krishna foretold, Arjuna stood up and approached the target, while the crowd murmured in surprise that a brahmin had entered the competition.

When Arjuna approached the target, the kings and princes shouted, "Brahmins aren't allowed!"

But Draupadi was intrigued and did not object, nor did King Drupada.

Arjuna nodded his thanks to Drupada and smiled at Draupadi. He then seized his bow, taking aim as he looked at the target reflected in the oil.

Arjuna shot not just one arrow, but five, hitting the target every time.

Draupadi draped the victor's garland on the mysterious brahmin.

The kings and princes grew even more angry, but Bhima fought them off, and the five Pandavas fled with Draupadi, taking her to their humble home.

Each day, the Pandavas would bring home the alms they had begged and give them to their mother, Kunti. So, after Arjuna won the wedding contest for Draupadi, Bhima decided to play a little joke. "Mother, come see what alms we have brought home today!" he shouted to her inside the house.

"Of course you must share the alms equally!" Kunti shouted back.

Then she came outside and saw Draupadi, who gave Kunti a shy and confused smile.

"I cannot take back my words, dear," she said to her new daughter-in-law. "All five of my sons will be your husbands."