The Kauravas sent the Pandavas into exile on the condition that in the 13th and the final year they would pass their life as non-entities, without revealing their true identity. So the Pandavas disguised themselves and began to work for the king of Virata. Each of them took up a different disguise-Yudhisthira became a Brahmin gamester, Bhima dressed as a cook, Arjuna as a eunuch, Nakula as a horse trainer and Sahadeva as a herdsman. Their wife, Draupadi, became an attendant to the queen who was called Sudeshna. When taking up the job, she told the king that she would do everything else except to wash anyone’s feet or eat the leftovers from the kitchen. The king agreed but his wife, Queen Sudeshna, somehow did not like it for she feared that the king had been unduly kind to Draupadi. Draupadi could sense that Queen Sudeshna was jealous of her and tried to set her mind at rest by saying, “I am married to the gandharvas who guard me all the time without anyone knowing about it. So, no man can even cast a dirty glance upon me.”
One day Queen Sudeshna’s brother, Kichaka, a wicked commander of the army, happened to visit his sister and his eyes fell on Draupadi. He was absolutely smitten by her and tried to make advances to her. Draupadi was deeply disturbed at this new development and rushed to Yudhisthira for help. Yudhisthira, however, reprimanded her for being silly when in fact he was disturbed. He feared to interfere at this stage when they were serving the period of their exile.
After a few days, Draupadi, in exasperation at Kichaka’s overtures, turned to Bhima who was in the kitchen, cooking delicacies for the king. As soon as she saw Bhima, Draupadi began to cry. Bhima was shocked to see this and asked her, “What is the matter Draupadi? Why do you cry?”
Draupadi told him the entire story about Queen Sudeshna’s brother. At this Bhima turned red with anger but tried to console her, “Don’t worry, I will set him right.” But he soon realised that he could not afford to reveal his identity, so he advised her, “Ask Kichaka to visit the dance-hall after midnight and tell him that you will meet him there.”
Draupadi retuned to her room and was about to go out again when she ran into Kichaka. She smiled tantalisingly at him, “Come tomorrow night to the dance-hall without telling anyone about it. If my gandharva husbands get to know of it, they will not leave you alive.”
Kichaka went away happily and the next day reached the dance-hall as instructed. He saw a figure standing in the dark with the head covered with a veil. He drew near and removed the veil but to his consternation, saw Bhima standing in front. Bhima caught Kichaka by the nape of his neck and squeezed him so tightly as to reduce him into a lump of pulp.
Next day when Queen Sudeshna got to hear of her bother’s death, she burst upon Draupadi, “I knew my brother was keen on you and you asked your husbands, the gandharvas, to kill him. I will get you burned in the funeral pyre of my brother, Kichaka.”
Draupadi was forcibly taken to the funeral pyre. The Pandavas watched the scene in silence but Bhima could not withstand it any longer. He uprooted a large tree and rushed with it towards the priests and the people gathered at the funeral site. Bhima quickly lifted Draupadi from the wooden logs placed on the pyre and went home; so did Draupadi, who reached home separately.
It was then that the queen realised that Draupadi was under the care of the gandharvas and left her alone from then onwards. Draupadi was happy at this development and waited patiently for the 13th year of exile to get over.
