The game of dice
There were once five brave brothers called the Pandavas. Their cousin Duryodhana was jealous of them.
He invited them to a game of dice. His uncle Shakuni played for him, and Shakuni cheated. The Pandavas lost everything, even their kingdom.
Then came a hard rule. They had to live in the forest for twelve years. In the thirteenth year they had to stay hidden. If anyone found them, they would have to start all over again!
The secret in the tree
For the last year, the brothers went to the kingdom of King Virata. They wore disguises and pretended to be ordinary palace workers.
But their famous weapons could give them away, especially Arjuna’s mighty bow, Gandiva.
So they climbed an old Shami tree outside the city. They wrapped the weapons tightly and tied them high in the branches. Then they told people it was an old body wrapped for a funeral. Everyone was scared, so nobody went near that tree!
Danger at the palace
The year was almost over. Suddenly, the Kaurava army attacked King Virata’s land and drove away all his cows!
The king was away fighting another battle. Only his young son, Prince Uttar, was home. He jumped into his chariot and said, “I will beat them all by myself!” Brihannala, the dance teacher, drove his chariot.
But when Uttar saw the army, his knees began to shake. There stood Bhishma, Drona, Karna and Duryodhana, the greatest warriors in the land. He jumped off the chariot and ran!
Brihannala caught him and said kindly, “Don’t be afraid. Just drive us to the old Shami tree.”
The bow comes down
At the tree, Brihannala said, “Climb up and bring down that bundle.”
“But that’s a dead body!” cried Uttar. “I’m a prince. I can’t touch it!”
Brihannala laughed. “It isn’t a body. Trust me, climb up.”
So Uttar climbed the tree and opened the bundle. Inside were the most famous weapons in the world. His eyes went wide.
Brihannala smiled. “I am Arjuna,” he said. “You hold the reins. I will fight.”
Arjuna lifted Gandiva and pulled its string. TWANG! The sound rolled across the field like thunder. Then he blew his great conch, Devadatta.
Far away, his old teacher Drona heard it and knew at once. “That is Arjuna!” he said.
Arjuna’s first arrows were not meant to hurt anyone. Two landed gently at Drona’s feet, to say, “I bow to you, my teacher.” Two more flew past Drona’s ears, to say hello. Then the battle began.
One archer, one whole army
One by one, the great warriors had to fall back. Karna ran away. Kripa, Ashwatthama and even Drona could not stop Arjuna. Mighty Bhishma had to leave the field, and Duryodhana turned his chariot around and fled!
Then they all came at him together. Arjuna used a special arrow, the Sammohana astra, and the whole army fell fast asleep! Only wise old Bhishma knew its secret and stayed awake.
The little princess had asked Brihannala to bring back pretty cloth for her dolls. So while the warriors slept, Uttar quietly collected their colourful scarves!
The cows were safe, and they came home. Duryodhana shouted that the Pandavas had been found too early. But Bhishma counted the days and said, “No. The thirteen years are already over.” The Pandavas had kept their promise.
The truth comes out
Arjuna put the weapons back in the Shami tree and became Brihannala again. He even let Uttar take all the praise!
Three days later, the five brothers told King Virata who they really were. The king was overjoyed. He wanted his daughter to marry Arjuna. But Arjuna had been her teacher, so he asked that she marry his son, Abhimanyu, instead.
People believe Arjuna took his bow back from the Shami tree on Vijayadashami, the day of Dussehra. So even today, many families pray at the Shami tree on Dussehra and share its leaves as a sign of victory and good luck.
Truth and patience may have to wait, but they always win in the end.
Source: Mahabharata, Virata Parva: the year in disguise and the cattle raid (Go-grahana).