We all hear many fascinating stories from the Mahabharata since childhood. These tales contain important lessons concerning humanity, religion, relationships, and life. However, many wonder why the war in the Mahabharata occurred and what events turned the growing conflict between the Kauravas and the Pandavas into a devastating war.
Below is the complete story of the war in the Mahabharata. It recounts how Duryodhana's jealousy of Indraprastha's splendor, how a game of dice led the Pandavas into exile, and how ultimately Duryodhana's stubbornness pushed all of Kuruvandha toward war.
Duryodhana's Envy of Indraprastha's Splendor
The story unfolds during the time when the Pandavas organized the Rajasuya sacrifice in Indraprastha and invited many to it, including Duryodhana from Hastinapura. Duryodhana arrived in Indraprastha and was struck by its luxury and grandeur. The royal palace of Indraprastha was incredible; its construction was such that in some places where water was visible, there was actually a transparent floor, and where the floor was visible, there was a pond with water.
It is said that while walking through the palace, Duryodhana reached a place where he saw a floor resembling water. He tried to walk through it, mistaking it for a floor, and moved forward. Then a real body of water appeared on the path, but Duryodhana again mistook it for a floor and fell into the water as soon as he stepped forward.
Seeing this, Draupadi and some other people present laughed. This situation caused Duryodhana intense feelings of humiliation. His existing envy towards the Pandavas intensified. Seeing the prosperity of Indraprastha and the growing fame of the Pandavas, the thought solidified in Duryodhana's mind that the Pandavas had surpassed him. He could not accept this situation.
Duryodhana's Plan for Revenge Against the Pandavas
Returning from Indraprastha to Hastinapura, Duryodhana began to devise a plan for revenge against the Pandavas. Duryodhana understood that defeating the Pandavas in open warfare would be difficult. Therefore, he enlisted the help of his uncle Shakuni.
Shakuni devised a plan to gather the Pandavas for a game of dice. At that time, an invitation to a game of dice among kings and Kshatriyas was considered a common tradition. Furthermore, Yudhisthira was particularly drawn to the game of dice, while Shakuni was considered very skilled at it. The goal of Duryodhana and Shakuni was to dispossess the Pandavas of their kingdom and property through the game of dice.
Yudhisthira Loses at the Game of Dice
The Pandavas arrived in Hastinapura at Duryodhana's invitation. After this, a game of dice began between Yudhisthira and Shakuni. During the game, Yudhisthira successively lost his possessions, money, and jewelry. Then he bet his kingdom and lost it. Shakuni and Duryodhana constantly pushed him to increase the stakes. Yudhisthira then bet his brothers, and they also lost one by one. Then he bet himself and lost that too.
But the game of dice did not end there. Then it was proposed to bet Draupadi. Yudhisthira bet Draupadi and lost her. After this, the Kauravas declared that the Pandavas and Draupadi were now their slaves.
Draupadi's Humiliation in the Assembly
Duryodhana ordered Draupadi to be brought to the assembly. A messenger delivered the message to Draupadi, informing her that Yudhisthira had lost her in the game. Hearing this, Draupadi asked: by what right could they bet Draupadi if Yudhisthira had already bet himself? Draupadi refused to come to the assembly.
After this, the Kaurava brothers, Dushasana, forcibly brought Draupadi to the assembly. In the assembly, Draupadi spoke out against the injustice done to her and demanded an answer from all the elders and kings present based on Dharma. A serious debate arose in the assembly regarding this matter. The situation of Draupadi's humiliation became even more terrible when attempts were made to strip her.
Feeling helpless, Draupadi remembered Lord Krishna. According to religious narrative, after this, when Dushasana pulled Draupadi's sari, the sari continued to grow. He could not finish dressing Draupadi and eventually tired and sat down. After this incident in the assembly, a strong tension arose.
Exile of the Pandavas
Finally, Dhritarashtra restored the situation, returning the rights to the Pandavas and Draupadi. But then a game of dice took place again. This time, the condition was that the losing side must spend 12 years in exile, followed by one year in obscurity. If their location was revealed during the period of obscurity, they would have to spend another 12 years in exile.
Yudhisthira lost in this game as well. After this, the Pandavas had to go into 12 years of exile and one year of obscurity. The Pandavas served the prescribed time.