Then comes the third parva called Aranyaka (relating to the forest) This
parva treats of the wending of the Pandavas to the forest and the citizens,
following the wise Yudhishthira, Yudhishthira's adoration of the god of
day; according to the injunctions of Dhaumya, to be gifted with the power
of maintaining the dependent Brahmanas with food and drink: the creation
of food through the grace of the Sun: the expulsion by Dhritarashtra of
Vidura who always spoke for his master's good; Vidura's coming to the
Pandavas and his return to Dhritarashtra at the solicitation of the latter;
the wicked Duryodhana's plottings to destroy the forest-ranging Pandavas,
being incited thereto by Karna; the appearance of Vyasa and his dissuasion
of Duryodhana bent on going to the forest; the history of Surabhi; the
arrival of Maitreya; his laying down to Dhritarashtra the course of action;
and his curse on Duryodhana; Bhima's slaying of Kirmira in battle; the
coming of the Panchalas and the princes of the Vrishni race to
Yudhishthira on hearing of his defeat at the unfair gambling by Sakuni;
Dhananjaya's allaying the wrath of Krishna; Draupadi's lamentations before
Madhava; Krishna's cheering her; the fall of Sauva also has been here
described by the Rishi; also Krishna's bringing Subhadra with her son to
Dwaraka; and Dhrishtadyumna's bringing the son of Draupadi to Panchala;
the entrance of the sons of Pandu into the romantic Dwaita wood;
conversation of Bhima, Yudhishthira, and Draupadi; the coming of Vyasa to
the Pandavas and his endowing Yudhishthira with the power of Pratismriti;
then, after the departure of Vyasa, the removal of the Pandavas to the
forest of Kamyaka; the wanderings of Arjuna of immeasurable prowess in
search of weapons; his battle with Mahadeva in the guise of a hunter; his
meeting with the lokapalas and receipt of weapons from them; his journey
to the regions of Indra for arms and the consequent anxiety of
Dhritarashtra; the wailings and lamentations of Yudhishthira on the
occasion of his meeting with the worshipful great sage Brihadaswa. Here