Pandavas' 13 years incognito period ( Arjun in disguise in Vrihannala)

The Pandavas' Year of Incognito and the Story of Brihannala

Pandavas' 13 years incognito period ( Pandav's  13 saal ka Agyaatvasa)

The thirteenth year of the Pandavas' incognito period began, during which they disguised themselves in various forms under the cover of darkness. Yudhishthira adopted the guise of a learned Brahmin, calling himself Kanka and presenting himself as a minister well-versed in statecraft. Bhima became a cook, naming himself Ballava, claiming he would be the best cook in the world, like Nala who served King Rituparna. Arjuna disguised himself as a woman, presenting himself as Brihannala, a proficient dance teacher, stating he had learned the art of dance from the apsaras themselves. Nakula presented himself as a horse-keeper named Damagranthi, while Sahadeva posed as a cowherd named Tantipala. Draupadi disguised herself as a maid named Sairandhri. The six of them went to the kingdom of Matsya and sought employment with its king, Virata.

 

Their disguises were so effective that when Duryodhana's spies reached Dvaita forest, they found no trace of the Pandavas. Instead, they found sage Dhaumya and other sages performing rituals and praying for the Pandavas' welfare in the abandoned caves. Many loyal servants like Indrasena had followed the Pandavas into exile and served them in the forest as they did in the palace. These servants also disguised themselves to distract the spies while the Pandavas traveled to the kingdom of Matsya disguised as servants.

 

King Virata had no inkling that the man named Kanka who was aiding him in state affairs and playing dice with him was actually Yudhishthira. Nor did he suspect that the skilled cook Ballava in his kitchen was Bhima, the dance teacher Brihannala was Arjuna, the horse-keeper Damagranthi was Nakula, and the cowherd Tantipala was Sahadeva. His wife Sudeshna was equally unaware that the maid Sairandhri, who prepared fragrances and styled her hair, was actually Draupadi.

 

Despite their incognito status, the royal couple could not overlook the distinct qualities, unwavering self-assurance, and dignified behavior of their new servants. They never ate anyone's leftovers and discussed their terms clearly before accepting their roles. The six of them never conversed with each other, so neither Virata nor Sudeshna suspected their familial ties. Several months passed smoothly. However, Yudhishthira was troubled by the fact that his king was more engrossed in his desires than in fulfilling his royal duties. Bhima regretted that he never got to eat the delicious food he cooked. Arjuna longed to wield his bow but had to content himself with dancing bells. Nakula spent his days grooming, cleaning, and feeding the horses, while Sahadeva was similarly occupied with the cows.

 

A significant incident occurred during this time. Sudeshna's brother, Keechaka, was a burly and lecherous man. The elegance and beauty of Sairandhri easily captivated him, and his lustful gaze was always shamelessly fixed on her. When Sairandhri complained about Keechaka's behavior to Sudeshna, blinded by her affection for her brother, the queen scolded Sairandhri and dismissed her complaints. Keechaka's audacity increased, and he requested his sister, "Can you send that bold maid to my chamber?" Instead of refusing, Sudeshna promised to make an effort. She summoned Sairandhri during the day and ordered her to take a wine vessel to Keechaka's chamber. Sairandhri tried to avoid this trouble, but Sudeshna insisted. Angered by Sudeshna's favoritism, Sairandhri went straight to Kanka and pleaded, "Save me from this exploitation." Kanka replied, "I cannot save you.

 

Draupadi's Plight and Bhima's Wrath

 

"I am helpless. Try to understand. None of us can risk being recognized. We must endure this humiliation and do everything possible to keep our identities hidden for the remainder of the year," said Yudhishthira (Kanka). Tears streamed down Sairandhri's (Draupadi's) cheeks, and despite Kanka's reasoning, she couldn't forgive him for failing to protect her. Who could she confide in? Brihannala (Arjuna) and the twin brothers (Nakula and Sahadeva) always followed Kanka's advice and never defied his words. Only Ballava (Bhima) might react angrily and take action on her behalf. Draupadi went to the kitchen to meet Ballava and found him cooking for the royal family. She told him everything, and he boiled with rage. His eyes flared at the thought of that rogue touching his wife. Gritting his teeth, he vowed, "I will teach him a lesson he will never forget. This is my promise."

 

That evening, when Keechaka entered his chamber, all the lamps were out, and a woman wearing familiar anklets sat on the bed. It was Sairandhri. Keechaka was surprised by her apparent compliance, expecting her to be angry and resist. The woman on the bed welcomed Keechaka with open arms. He tumbled onto the bed and started touching her, but as he felt her limbs, he noticed they were unusually firm. He wondered how a woman's body could be so muscular. Before he could react, it felt as though a bear had him in its grip. Keechaka tried to flee, but intoxicated and consumed by lust, he was powerless. Within moments, Keechaka was crushed. His bones shattered, his skin tore, and his life ended.

 

The next morning, the entire palace was awakened by the queen's screams. She found her brother's bloodied corpse in his chamber, resembling a mangled heap of flesh with broken bones protruding. Sudeshna suspected Sairandhri's involvement in her brother's death. When she informed her other brothers, they decided to burn Sairandhri alive on Keechaka's funeral pyre. As they began dragging her towards the pyre, she screamed for help. All the Pandavas heard her cries, but only Bhima rushed to her rescue. He uprooted a nearby tree and swung it at Keechaka's brothers, crushing their skulls. Soon, the pyre was littered with the broken bodies of Sudeshna's brothers.

 

No one saw what happened, so Sairandhri declared, "I am the wife of a Gandharva. They appear out of nowhere to protect me from harm." Queen Sudeshna wept over her brothers' corpses, cursing her ill-fated maid. She angrily ordered Sairandhri to leave the Matsya kingdom. However, King Virata, fearing the wrath of the invisible Gandharvas who had protected Sairandhri, allowed her to stay in the palace as she wished.

 

News of Keechaka and his brothers' deaths reached Hastinapura. Duryodhana was convinced it was Bhima's doing. "Only the slayer of Baka, Hidimba, and Jatasura could have killed Keechaka," he mused, smiling. He realized he had discovered the Pandavas' location. The thought of capturing them before the thirteenth year ended, forcing them into another twelve years of exile, thrilled him.

 

At Duryodhana's behest, King Susharma of Trigarta attacked Matsya's southern border and stole Virata's cattle. Virata was terrified, as his army lacked capable warriors after Keechaka and his brothers' deaths. Seeing the king's distress, Kanka offered, "I will help you. I am skilled in spear combat."

 

 Bhima and the Pandavas' Resolve

 

Then Ballava (Bhima) spoke up, "I will also fight for you. I am an expert in mace warfare." Damagranthi (Nakula) and Tantipala (Sahadeva) added, "We are skilled in swordsmanship." Hearing this, Virata said, "But if we leave the city to search for the cows, who will protect the women here?"

 

The king's youngest son, Uttara, quickly replied, "I will protect them. I am well-versed in archery. I will defend my mother and sisters." Hearing this, Virata's face beamed with pride. He set out to find the cows, taking his four servants and other soldiers with him.

 

As they left the city, the Kaurava army attacked the northern border of Matsya. Terrified, Sudeshna cried out, "They will destroy everything and take the women as slaves!" Uttara reassured her with bold words, "Mother, do not worry. I will mount a horse and drive them away by myself." He donned his armor, put on his helmet, and took his bow and quiver, ready to head into battle. But then he realized he didn't have a charioteer. "What should I do now?" he wondered.

 

Brihannala (Arjuna), with a shy smile and curious fluttering eyelids, offered, "Shall I help? I was once a man and am skilled in driving chariots." Uttara arrogantly replied, "You must, because there is no one else." Soon, the Kauravas saw a single chariot approaching, driven by a eunuch and manned by a young warrior. They laughed and sounded their war conches, a sound that echoed fiercely.

 

Suddenly, Uttara saw an array of great warriors in chariots, on horseback, and on elephants, all wielding various weapons. He was paralyzed with fear, realizing the difference between boasting about bravery and actually being brave. He jumped from the chariot and tried to flee. Brihannala stopped the chariot, jumped to the ground, chased him, and brought him back. Fully terrified, Uttara, with tears in his eyes, said, "I can't fight them."

 

Brihannala reassured him and then turned the chariot towards the forest outside the battlefield. There, he stopped the chariot by a Shami tree. Above it, bundles wrapped in cloth were tied. Pointing to one of the bundles, Brihannala said to Uttara, "Climb the tree and bring it down." Frightened, Uttara hesitated, but Brihannala encouraged him, "Do not be afraid; the bundle will not harm you." Gathering his courage, Uttara climbed the tree and brought down the bundle. Brihannala unwrapped it to reveal not a corpse but weapons: a spear, bow, arrows, sword, and mace. Brihannala told Uttara, "These are the Pandavas' weapons." Astonished, Uttara asked, "How do you know?"

 

"Because I am Arjuna, the third Pandava, son of Kunti," Brihannala revealed. Hearing this, Uttara fell to his knees. Before him stood Arjuna, holding his Gandiva bow. Arjuna said, "Now we must fight and win this battle."

 

As their chariot entered the battlefield again, the charioteer was the young prince, and the warrior was a eunuch. The Kauravas laughed once more and continued blowing their conches until the eunuch (Arjuna) strung his bow and shot arrows that brought down the flags from the chariots of Duryodhana, Karna, Bhima, and Drona.

 

Karna shouted, "He is not a eunuch. Look at the flag fluttering on the chariot. It bears the emblem of a monkey. And look at the bow in his hands. It looks like Gandiva. So he must be Arjuna."

 

Upon this revelation, Duryodhana said with significance, "There, we have found them. The thirteenth year of their incognito exile isn't over yet, and they have been discovered. They will have to go into exile again."

 

Bhishma countered, "Don't be so sure. The Pandavas are not so foolish as to reveal themselves before the time is up. Think, Duryodhana, think. How will you calculate the year? By the movement of the sun through the zodiac, which takes a full solar year, by the lunar calendar, which spans twenty-seven lunar months, or by the astrologer's interpretation? All three differ. Our astrologers add two extra months every five years to align the human-made calendar with the natural solar and lunar cycles. By that reckoning, five months have already passed since the thirteenth year of their exile ended. Yudhishthira could have revealed their identity five months ago, but he wanted to avoid any technical disputes. So he and his brothers waited an additional five months before revealing themselves. Hence, you should understand that they have fully complied with the terms of the agreement." Drona nodded in agreement, "Bhishma is right."

 

Duryodhana, irritated, said, "You always side with the elders of the family. According to my calculation, the Pandavas have not yet completed their thirteen-year exile. Regardless of what they say, they must endure another exile." Duryodhana then turned to Karna and Dushasana and said, "Attack, kill Arjuna, and destroy Matsya."

 

But before they could take a step forward, Arjuna released three arrows. One fell at Bhishma's feet, another at Drona's as a mark of respect, and the third arrow put the entire Kaurava army to sleep.

 

Arjuna then instructed Uttara to retrieve the upper garments of Duryodhana, Karna, Drona, and Bhishma. "When they awaken, they will realize that I spared their lives. They will leave humiliated."

 

Uttara's Marriage

 

When Virata returned to Matsya, he was informed that his son had single-handedly defeated the Kauravas who had attacked the northern border. Earlier, with the help of his minister, cook, horse keeper, and cowherd, he had successfully reclaimed his cows from Trigarta. Virata was filled with pride upon learning of his son's victory. "This is incredible! Such a young boy achieving such a great feat!"

 

To this, Kanka (Yudhishthira) remarked, "With Brihannala (Arjuna) by his side, Uttara's success was certain." Virata ignored his comment, feeling that his son's achievements were being undermined. He decided to celebrate his victory by playing dice. During the game, he boasted again, "Just think, my young son defeated all those great Kuru warriors."

 

Kanka reiterated, "It was not impossible with Brihannala accompanying him." Hearing the eunuch's name again in this context, implying that the prince's success was due to Brihannala, further angered Virata. The third time it happened, Virata, in his agitation, threw a dice piece at Kanka with such force that it struck his nose, causing it to bleed.

 

Nearby, Sairandhri quickly grabbed a bowl and rushed to Kanka to prevent any of his blood from falling on the ground. "This man is honest," she explained. "If his blood touches the earth, it will bring a famine." The king paid little attention to her words because at that moment, the prince entered the court holding the upper garments of the Kuru chariot warriors. Brihannala stood shyly behind him. The women of the royal palace rushed to greet him, honoring him as a victorious hero. He tried to tell them the truth, but in their excitement, no one listened. No one noticed the modestly smiling Brihannala walking behind the prince. The celebration of Virata's 'success' continued all night.

 

The next day, when King Matsya entered his court, he was shocked to see Kanka seated on his throne. Kanka held a spear in his right hand, and Sairandhri was seated on his left thigh. Vallava, Brihannala, Damagranthi, and Tantipala stood behind him, holding their formidable weapons. "What does this mean? How dare you sit on the throne reserved for kings?"

 

Brihannala responded, "Because Kanka himself is a king. He is Yudhishthira, son of Pandu and grandson of Vichitravirya." The Pandavas then revealed their true identities to the king. Suddenly, everything became clear—Kanka's sense of justice, Vallava's strength, Brihannala's skills, Damagranthi's handsome appearance, Tantipala's sharp intellect, and Sairandhri's regal demeanor. Virata and Sudeshna apologized for treating them as servants. The Pandavas extended a hand of friendship and said, "We were your servants."

In response, Virata said, "To atone for the harshness we showed out of ignorance, I offer my daughter Uttara's hand in marriage to Arjuna."

Arjuna replied, "I have trained Uttara in dance all year; she is like a daughter to me. Therefore, I accept her as my daughter-in-law. She will marry my son, Abhimanyu."

 From Jai Mahabharat

Author : Mr. Devdutt Patnayak