The Pandavas were so called as they were the sons of legendary King Pandu. After his death, his Blind brother was appointed
regent to rule until the five Pandava Princes came of age. The conflict between the Pandavas and their cousins (the Kurus) came about because the Kurus, the willful sons of the Blind Regent, were jealous – and wanted to use force to usurp the throne that rightfully belonged to the Just Prince
Yudhisthir.
Further, when Prince Yudhisthir was proclaimed heir apparent, the Kurus were enraged and decided to kill the Prince Yudhisthir along with his brothers. Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kurus, planned to kill the Pandavas at night during some festivities. By burning down the dwelling in which they were staying. However, the plan failed as the Pandavas escaped into the jungle by means of an underground passage.
After wandering in the forest for some time (in the guise of Brahmins), the Pandava Princes learned that a Swayamvara ceremony for the lovely Princess Draupadi was being held in the Province of Panchala. There were three conditions set for winning the hand of Princess Draupadi: the suitors had to be of noble lineage, pleasing to her heart, and win the archery contest. The defeated suitors assumed that they had been tricked (and humiliated) because Prince Arjuna – who won the archery contest – was clad in beggars clothes.
This selection (from the epic
Mahabharata) describes only a few incidents from that voluminous work.
The epic Mahabharata was composed – and recorded for posterity – over a period spanning some thousand years, from 500 B.C. to 500 A.D. However, the events that are related in the Mahabharata date from a much earlier period in time. The Mahabharata epic is the repository of Indian (Hindu) culture; the events described in it are both of a secular and sacred nature.
The epic describes the struggles of the Pandava princes to regain the kingdom that they had lost. There are rapid changes in the fortunes of the major characters (the Pandavas) – from triumph to defeat to triumph again - during the course of the epic. However, throughout these events, the nobility (of character) of the Pandava Princes comes through in no uncertain terms. Yudhisthir, the eldest, is known for his generosity and justice – virtues that make him fit to be King. Bhima was known for his strength & courage, and Arjuna for his skill in waging war. These were heroes, the likes of which are seldom seen nowadays. Perhaps, it is these qualities that make them so attractive to the millions of people who read the Mahabharata.