When the Pandus, by their marriage with Draupadi, had allied themselves with the King of Panchala, they threw off their disguise, and their uncle Dhritarashtra divided the kingdom: to his sons he gave Hastinapur; to the Pandus a district near the Yamuna (Jumna), called Khandavaprastha. Here they built Indraprastha (Delhi), and, under Yudhishthira, their kingdom grew.

Arjuna wandered in the forest alone for twelve years, in fulfilment of a vow, and there met Krishna, who invited him to Dwaraka, where he married Subhadra. Krishna was invited to a great festival in honour of the inauguration of Yudhishthira as sovereign. Acting on Narada's advice, Bhishma proposed that an oblation should be made to the best and strongest person present, and selected Krishna. Sisupala objected, and, as he openly reviled Krishna, the deity struck off his head with his discus.

After this, a festival was held at Hastinapur, to which the Pandus were invited. Yudhishthira was induced to

play; and having staked his kingdom, his possessions, and, last of all, Draupadi, he lost everything. A compromise was effected. Duryodhana was made ruler over the whole kingdom for twelve years; whilst the Pandus with Draupadi were to live in the forest for the same period, and to pass the thirteenth year under assumed names, in various disguises. Whilst enjoying this forest life, Arjuna went to the Himalayas to perform severe penance in order to obtain celestial arms. "After some time, Siva, to reward him and prove his bravery, approached as a Kirata, [**] or wild mountaineer, at the moment that a demon named Muka, in the form of a boar, attacked him. Siva and Arjuna shot together at the boar, which fell dead, and both claimed to have hit him first. This served as a pretext for Siva to have a battle with him. Arjuna fought long with the Kirata but could not conquer him. At last he recognized the god, and threw himself at his feet, when Siva, pleased with his bravery, gave him the celebrated weapon Pasupata, to enable him to conquer Karna and the Kuru princes in war."

In the thirteenth year of exile the Pandus journeyed to the court of King Virata, and entered his service in disguise. Yudhishthira called himself a Brahman, and took the name of Kanka. Arjuna called himself Vrihanala, and, pretending to be a eunuch, adopted a sort of woman's dress, and taught music and dancing. One day when Virata and four of the Pandus were absent, Duryodhana and his brother attacked Virata's capital, and carried off some cattle. Uttara, the king's son, followed them, having Arjuna as his charioteer. When