Janamejaya said : Having suffered such misery consequent upon Draupadi's being carried away what did those Pandavas, the foremost of men, do?

Vaishampayana said : Having thus released Krishna and vanquished Jayadratha, the pious king Yudhishthira took his seat by the side of the ascetics.

Amongst those great ascetics who were expressing their sorrow on hearing of the incident) the descendant of Pandu, addressing Markandeya, gave vent to the following.

Yudhishthira said : O venerable sir, amongst the ascetics and the celestials, you are reputed to have the fullest knowledge of both the past and future. I have a doubt in my mind, I shall ask you, (kindly) solve it.

This lady is the daughter of Drupada and has sprung from the sacrificial altar. She is not begotten of flesh; she is the mighty and illustrious daughter-in-law of the high-souled Pandu.

Me-thinks, Time and Destiny, instituted by the Deity, are inevitable io creatures and cannot be warded off.

How could (such a misfortune) overcome such a pious, chaste wife of ours, abiding by virtue, like a false accusation of theft against an honest man?

Draupadi has not committed any iniquity or heinous deed; she has always practised highest virtues towards the Brahmanas.

The foolish king Jayadratha took her away by force; on account of this violence on her that sinful man has got his hair shaved off and has met with defeat in battle along with his soldiers. True it is, that we have rescued her after slaying the army of Saindhava.

Forsooth this disgrace, of our wife, being carried away during a moment of carelessness, has sullied us. This forest life is full of miseries; we live on chase. Though we live in forest we (always) injure the dwellers thereof. This banishment of ours is owing to our deceitful relatives.

Is there any one indeed who is more unfortunate than I am. Have you heard or seen of any such man before.