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Rh bound forthwith to spend twelve years of absence in the forest.

No long time went by, when Arjuna himself fell under the ban of this rule. It was, indeed, through no fault on his part; rather, it was through his kindness of heart; for, in order to succour certain Brahmans whose goods were being carried off by robbers, he had to go into the room where he knew Yudhishthira to be seated with Draupadi, in order to get his arms. Knowing the chivalrous purpose which had led Arjuna into the breach of their agreement, the brethren besought him to hold himself free from the ban; but the knightly spirit of Arjuna would not yield to their kindly persuasion, and he set forth from Indraprastha for twelve years of travel and adventure.

Among other places, he visited the city of Dwaraka, the home of Krishna, where the god, in his human nature, ruled over a great people, the Yadavas, who were, indeed, Krishna's sons. The family in which Krishna was born was descended from the same ancestor as was Kuru himself, so that Krishna ever showed himself greatly interested in both Kauravas and Pandavas.

On the occasion of this visit, Arjuna married Subhadra, Krishna's sister, bearing her off, victorious, from others who contended for her hand. When he returned from his exile, Draupadi was at first disposed to be jealous of the newcomer; but Subhadra humbly said to her, "I am thy slave," and Draupadi was appeased.

Not long after, the Khandava forest near Indraprastha was consumed by Agni, the god of Fire,