Story-tellers and fabulists relate that, in the latter half of the Dwápar Yúg, there was a Khatrí Rájá at Hastinápúr, in Hindústán, who sat upon the throne of justice, and protected the rights of his people. His name was Rájá Bharat. He was followed by seven descendants in direct succession, who carried on the government, and departed to the other world. The eighth successor of his race was Rájá Kúr. Kúr-khet (or) Thánesar, which is a large city, still bears his name. His descendants were called Kuruvas. After six generations a son was born, who became famous under the name of Chaturburj. He was a great king, and had two sons, one called Dhritaráshtra, the other Pand. Dhritaráshtra was the elder, but he was blind; and so the government and sovereignty devolved upon his younger brother Pand. His power so increased that his sons were called Pándavas, after his name. His sons were five, Judishtar, Bhím-sen, and Arjun, whose mother was named Kuntí; and Nakul and Sahadeo, whose mother was called Mádrí. Dhritaráshtra had one hundred sons by Gandhárí, who was daughter of the Rájá of Kandahár.* The eldest son was Duryodhan. He had another son by a daughter of a corn-merchant, who was named Yúyúchha. These sons were known by the name of Kuruva.

When Pand died, Dhritaráshtra took the kingdom by right of relationship, and his sons shared the honours of royalty with him. Duryodhan, his eldest son, being impressed with the duty and ex­pediency of defending the State against enemies, became suspicious of the Pándavas, and resolved to overthrow them. Dhritaráshtra also, being informed of the hostility of the Pándavas, ordered them to build a residence farther away from the city, and to go and live there; so that a stop might be put to the ill-feeling. Duryodhan directed the architects and workmen to build the roof and walls of that house with lac and pitch, so that a spark might set fire to it, and that no vestige of the Pándavas might be left. The Pándavas got information of this; so, to secure themselves, they one night set their house on fire, and went off along with their mother to the desert. A woman named Bhíl, with her five sons, who had been commissioned by Duryodhan to set the house on fire, was there watching for an opportunity; and on that night she and all her sons were burnt. The spies of Duryodhan, thinking that this woman and her sons were the Pándavas with their mother, and that the Pándavas were all burnt, conveyed the glad intelligence to the Kuruvas, who were greatly rejoiced.

After this catastrophe, the Pándavas, as the translation of the Mahá-bhárat testifies, changed their names and appearances, left their desolated home, and went to the town of Kampilá. There by artifice they married Draupadí, the daughter of the Rájá of Kampilá, and all five brothers had her as their common wife. It was settled that each was to have her for seventy days; and upon this under­standing, they lived in peace and unity. Some Hindús maintain that this was unlawful, and explain the fact away: God knows the truth! But the nobility of their character was evident, and the fame of them spread abroad until it reached Duryodhan, who, having made inquiries, ascertained the facts, and that the report of the burn­ing of the Pándavas was untrue. With friendly professions, but selfish designs, he brought them to Hastinápúr. After courteously entertaining them, he divided the hereditary dominions as between brothers. So Indarpat, which is near Old Dehlí, with half the territories, fell to the lot of the Pándavas; and Hastinápúr, with the other half of the territories, remained in the possession of the Kuruvas.

In course of time many of the chief nobles, observing the intelli­gence and excellent qualities of the Pándavas, entered into their service: outwardly they were loyal to the Kuruvas, but in their hearts they were hostile to them. At this time it came into the mind of Judishtar that he would perform the sacrifice called Rájasúya, that being the name given to a large fire which is kindled, into which all kinds of odoriferous things, fruits, grain, etc., are thrown, to be consumed in fire, the mother of the elements; that performing this sacrifice with due ceremony and all the proper observances, he would thus seek for a nearer approach to the deity. One of the requirements of the Rájasúya sacrifice is, that the princes of the whole world should assemble and pay homage at the time of its performance. Judishtar accordingly sent out his four brothers in four different directions to effect the conquest of the remainder of the world. Under the favour of the Almighty, this object was in a short time accomplished. The enterprising brothers, under Divine guidance, marched through the world, and brought the reigning monarchs of every country, from Khatai, Rúm, Abyssinia, Arabia, Persia, Turkistán, Máwaráu-n nahr, and all the other regions of the world, with vast treasures, to Indarpat; and having performed the Rájasúya sacrifice, accomplished the object of their wishes.

At the sight of all this greatness and glory and power, Duryodhan was unable to contain himself. The fire of envy which was smoulder­ing in his bosom burst forth, and he took counsel with the crafty men of the time. Gambling was then very prevalent. It was resolved to play at ka'batain (two dice), which, like back-gammon (nard), is a kind of gambling game. It was agreed that Duryodhan should play with Judishtar and his brothers. Accordingly the Pándavas were invited with great ceremony from their capital Indar-pat to Hastinápúr. They were entertained sumptuously; and when they became engrossed in play, the ka'batain above mentioned were brought forward. The Pándavas, in the honesty of their hearts, never thought that they were playing against cheats; and having no knowledge of the game of ka'batain, they lost wealth, kingdom, and everything. Duryodhan was desirous of ruining them, and kept his mind intent upon the game. The final stake was made. If the Pándavas won, they were to get back all that they had lost; but if they failed, they were to leave their home for twelve years, and, putting on mendicants' attire, were to go out into the wilds, and dwell with the birds and beasts. After the completion of that time, they were to go to some city, and pass one year in seeking for a livelihood, but so that no one should know them. If this condition was not fulfilled, they were to go out once more into the wilds for the same period of time, and undergo all the same hardships. They played again, the dice were against them, and they lost. So, in fulfilment of the wager, the five brothers expatriated themselves, and dwelt for twelve years in the wilderness. In the thirteenth year they proceeded to the country of Wáín,* which is one of the districts of the Dakhin. There they passed a year in such a way that, although Duryodhan made active search and inquiry, they were not discovered.

At the termination of the prescribed period, they sent Kishan, son of Básdeo, as an ambassador to demand the restoration of their country. Duryodhan complained about the condition not having been fulfilled; and as he had no honesty of character, he failed to carry out the agreement. The affairs of the Pándavas became known to the nobles of the country, and war was resolved upon. The Pándavas assembled their forces, and the rival armies met in the field of Kúr-khet, which is situated near Thánesar, in the early years of the Kalí Yúg. The opposing armies were drawn out in array according to the rules of warfare, and a battle began, which lasted for eighteen days, when the victors could not be distinguished from the vanquished. But the career of the wicked ends in shame, so at length Duryodhan and his allies were overpowered, and fell upon the field of battle. According to the belief of the Hindús, there were in this battle eleven kushúns on the side of the Kuruvas, and seven kushúns on the part of the Pándavas. Kushún* is a word used by the Hindús for twenty-one thousand six hundred and seventy (21,670) elephant-riders, an equal number of chariot riders, sixty-five thousand six hundred (65,600) horsemen, and one lac nine thousand six hundred and fifty (109,650) infantry. It is said that not more than twelve men of both sides were left alive. Four persons survived of the army of Duryodhan: first, Kripa Áchárj Bráhman, the preceptor of both parties, who was both a man of the sword and a man of the pen; second, Ashwatthámán, son of the sage Dron, who also had been a preceptor of both parties; third, Kiratu Varmán, of the race of the Yádavas; fourth, Sanji, who was distinguished at the Court of Dhritaráshtra for his wisdom. Of the Pándavas, eight men survived: Judhishtar and the rest of the five brothers; the sixth was Sának, of the tribe of the Yádavas, who was renowned for his bravery; seventh, Jujutash,* the half-brother of Duryodhan; eighth, Kishan, the blazon of whose fame is beyond description, but some little will be written about him.