Yudhishthira played dice with Kauravas. He was defeated in the game. As per the terms of the game, Pandavas lost the kingdom and they had to pass 12 years of exile in the forest and one year thereafter in incognito.
During those years of incognito, all the five Pandavas along with Draupadi preferred to stay with King Virata. Yudhishthira disguised himself as Kanka, an advisor to the King. Bhima became Ballabha, head waiter. Arjuna assumed the form of Brihannala, a dance teacher. Nakul played the role of an expert horse-breeder while Sahadev acted as an expert in the art of cow-upkeep.
On a certain day, Kauravas attacked the army of King Virata with an intention to rob away their cow-wealth. Prince Uttar tried his best to repel the attack. However, the Prince could not overpower the Kauravas and he was about to face a shameful defeat.
The news reached the palace quarters. Brihannala viz. Arjuna heard the news. A renowned warrior as he was, he could not sit silent. The surge of virility made him forget his feminine role. He made a lightning move and he waged a terrible foray on the enemies? army. As a result of Arjuna'sglory Kauravas had no other alternative but to flee away.
The King Virata was busy playing chess with Kanka viz. Yudhishthira. A palace servant conveyed the news that the attack from Kauravas was repelled and the Prince Uttar had emerged victorious.
Kanka realised the cause underlying the sudden change in the battle scenario. He exclaimed, ?No doubt it must all be the making of Brihannala. He must have rushed to the spot.?
The utterance of Brihannala'sname came as an insult to the valour of Prince Uttar. The King Virata was hardly likely to swallow the remarks from Kanka. In an expression of anger and resentment King Virata threw the pawn from the chess-board at Kanka. The pawn struck on the forehead of Kanka causing injury.
A drop of blood was about to trickle and fall down from the injury sustained by Kanka viz. Yudhishthira. The Queen'smaidservant Sairandhri viz. Draupadi noticed this. She quickly brought a pan and held it under the chin of Kanka with a view to catch the drop of blood aloft.
The King Virata was surprised over Sairandhri'saction. The King asked Sairandhri, ?Oh, maidservant, what is it that you are doing??
Sairandhri replied, ?I am thwarting the drop of blood from falling down on the earth.?
?Why do you want to thwart it??, asked Virata.
Sairandhri replied, ?Kanka is an innocent person. If a drop of blood from the body of an innocent person falls on the earth, the ?Mother Earth? curses the King to whom the land belongs. I don'twant you to become the object of curse. That is why I caught the drop of blood at the height itself.?
The King Virata was both surprised and satisfied over the truth uttered by the maidservant Sairandhri.
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