In his exile, Arjuna came to a lake infested with deadly crocodiles. Unafraid, he jumped into the water. A crocodile seized him, but Arjuna wrestled with the crocodile and finally dragged it ashore.

Then, to Arjuna's surprise, the crocodile turned into a beautiful apsara!

She urged Arjuna to wrestle with the other crocodiles in the lake; they all turned into apsaras.

"A rishi cursed us to become crocodiles," they said, "but we knew a kshatriya would free us."

The apsaras returned to heaven, and the people of the land were able to safely bathe in the waters of the lake.

After a long day's walk, Arjuna reached a river. Eager to wash the dust off his body, he jumped into the water, but something grabbed him, pulling him down. Arjuna struggled, but he could not break free.

Then, to his surprise, he saw that it was a beautiful woman who had seized him. "Marry me, Arjuna!" she said. "I am Ulupi, princess of the nagas."

Arjuna made love to Ulupi, and she finally let him go.

Arjuna then continued his journey, forgetting all about her.

But many years later, he would meet their son, Iravan, at the battle of Kurukshetra.

Arjuna came to Dwaraka, the home of his good friend Krishna.

Krishna's sister Subhadra was deeply in love with Arjuna, but her brother Balarama had arranged for her to marry Duryodhana.

Krishna didn't hesitate: he urged Arjuna to elope with Subhadra. Arjuna entered the city disguised as a beggar. Even in this disguise, Subhadra recognized him immediately, and the two fled the city on his chariot. Subhadra drove the chariot while Arjuna shot arrows at their pursuers.

Krishna was able to soothe his brother Balarama's anger, but not so Duryodhana: the incident only added to his hatred for the Pandavas.

After Arjuna returned, the Pandavas organized a grand coronation ceremony for Yudhishthira and invited the royal families from neighboring kingdoms as their guests. Their cousin Duryodhana was one of those guests.

Seeing the splendid palace of Indraprastha, built by the magic of the divine Mayasura, Duryodhana raged with jealousy.

Mistaking a shimmering marble floor for a pool, he tucked up his garment to stay dry. The Pandavas laughed.

Next, Duryodhana got drenched falling into a pool that he thought was a floor, and the Pandavas laughed even louder. "He sees no better than his father," Draupadi joked.

Duryodhana vowed revenge.

From among the many illustrious guests at Yudhishthira's coronation, the Pandavas chose Krishna as guest-of-honor.

This enraged Shishupala, King of Chedi. "Krishna isn't even a king! He deserves only contempt, not honor!"

Shishupala went on insulting Krishna, who was his cousin, and Krishna bore his insults patiently, having promised Shishupala's mother long ago that he would accept one hundred insults from her son without complaint.

After the hundredth insult, Krishna said, "Be warned, Shishupala. One more insult, and you will die."

But Shishupala would not stop. "Peasant! Coward! Thief!" he shouted.

Krishna let loose his Sudarshana-Chakra and severed Shishupala's head.

Vyasa left his forest ashram to visit his grandsons. "I have seen alarming omens," he told the Pandavas. "The next thirteen years are filled with danger, and your actions will lead to terrible consequences. All the kshatriyas might perish. Your fate will be their doom, King Yudhishthira."

Yudhishthira then took a vow. "For the next thirteen years, I will speak no harsh word to anyone. Harsh words lead to conflict; with soft words, I will create no discord. By this vow I seek to avert my fate."

Meanwhile, Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura, where he plotted revenge with his uncle Shakuni.

King Dhritarashtra had a lavish new palace built for Duryodhana, hoping to calm his jealousy of Yudhishthira's palace, but to no avail. Duryodhana was still determined to get revenge.

Rebuffed by his father, Duryodhana plotted with Shakuni, his mother's brother. "I want the Pandavas to lose everything!" Duryodhana snarled. "What do you advise?"

"You cannot wage war against them," Shakuni replied, "but you could challenge Yudhishthira to a game of dice. Royal honor will require him to accept your invitation, but he has absolutely no skill at dice. I will compete for you against him, and I will surely win."

Duryodhana sent Vidura to Indraprastha as his messenger, and Yudhishthira received his uncle happily; Vidura had always been a friend to them.

"What news from Hastinapura?" Yudhishthira asked.

"King Dhritarashtra has built a new palace to rival your palace here," said Vidura. "And your cousin Duryodhana invites you there for a game of dice."

Before Yudhishthira could reply, Bhima shouted, "It's a trick."

Draupadi added, "I do not think we should go, husband."

"But Duryodhana knows I cannot refuse," Yudhishthira said, hesitantly. "You may tell our cousin that we accept his invitation."

Vidura then returned to Hastinapura, full of foreboding.

When the Pandavas arrived at Hastinapura, King Dhritarashtra greeted them warmly, ushering them into the new palace, while Draupadi went to the women's quarters to greet Queen Kunti and the other royal ladies.

"I cannot see the splendor myself," said Dhritarashtra, "but everyone tells me the palace is exceedingly beautiful. Tell me what you think, Yudhishthira!"

"It is indeed very beautiful," said Yudhishthira.

Then Yudhishthira saw Duryodhana, accompanied by his uncle Shakuni.

"Are you ready for our little gambling match?" Duryodhana asked, smiling. "Shakuni is going to play in my stead."

Hiding his surprise, Yudhishthira replied calmly, "I am ready."

Yudhishthira faced Shakuni, who played for his nephew, Duryodhana.

Then the game began.

First, they bet a few pearls. Shakuni won.

Then a golden chariot. "I have won!" said Shakuni.

Elephants and armies. "I have won!" said Shakuni.

Enormous herds of cattle. "I have won!" said Shakuni.

The wealth of entire kingdoms. "I have won!" said Shakuni.

Vidura begged King Dhritarashtra to stop the match, but the king did nothing.

Yudhishthira staked his brothers one by one. He lost.

Yudhishthira staked himself. He lost.

Yudhishthira staked his wife Draupadi. He lost.

Yudhishthira had nothing left. Shakuni had won it all.