Vyasa compared Pandavas and Kauravas to a huge tree. He mentions that Duryodhana is a giant tree filled with jealousy. The root of the tree is Dritharashtra who is an ignoble person. He is not giving the right advice to his children. The trunk of the tree is Karna who is supporting all these immoral activities. The fruits and flowers of the tree are Dushasana.

The tree of the Pandavas is filled with Dharma. It is held by the trunk of Bhima and Arjuna and the root is Sri Krishna himself. The fruits of the tree are the children of Madri.

Bakaasura was constantly troubling the people of Ekacharanagara. He had come up with a rule that everyday one house should send a bullock-cart full of food alongwith one person from the family. Bakaasura would eat the food, the bulls and the person coming with the food. Everyday one person has to be sacrificed for the Asura.

The Pandavas came to this village in disguise and stayed in the village in a Brahmana’s family. They would go around the village everyday begging for food. One day Kunti heard the host family crying. It was their turn to supply food. Each member of the family was volunteering to go. Kunti offered to send her child to Bakaasura.

Bhima goes with the bullock cart and food to the top of the hill where Bakaasura is staying. Bakssasura is craving for food, smelling human flesh and is becoming impatient. But Bheema starts eating the food in front of Bakaasura. This annoys Bakaasura even more. Bakaasura punches Bheema which actually helps Bheema digest the food. They start fighting and Bheema kills Bakaasura. He carries the dead body of Bakaasura and quietly leaves the body outside the village. This is because he did not want to reveal the identity.

The Pandavas come to the outskirts of the city called Panchalanagara. It was ruled by Yajnasena who was also called Drupada. He was a childhood friend of Vyasa when they were studying under the same Guru. Drupada had two children, Dhrishtadumna and Draupadi who was also called Panchaali.

The King had arranged a Swayamwara for Panchaali. As a challenge a fish had to be shot by looking at its reflection in a bowl. There was also a rotating wheel below the fish which made the task more difficult. All the greatest princes of Hastinapura could not even lift the bow. Arjuna, in the disguise of a Brahmana, shoots the fist. Pandavas fought the other losing Kings and retuned victorious with Draupadi.

Kunti is the sister of Vasudeva who is the father of Krishna. Krishna had also come to Panchalanagara since Kunti was his aunt. He wanted to help her and Pandavas who were his cousins. Krishna and Balarama come to the hut where the Pandavas are staying. He bows down to Kunti, Yudhishtira and Bhima. Krishna hugs Arjuna. Nakula and Sahadeva do pranams to Krishna as they are younger. Krishna promises the Pandavas that he will be there to help them whenever needed.

When Pandavas returned home after winning Swayamwara, they announced that they had won the Bhiksha for the day. Mistakenly, Kunti, thinking they have brought food, carelessly said that all five Pandavas should share the Bhiksha. By then all Pandavas had fallen in love with Draupadi and Draupadi had also fallen in love with all the Pandavas. Therefore all the Pandavas ended up marring Draupadi. This also kept the already united brothers even more united.

In her previous life, Draupadi had done Tapasya for a husband. When Shiva had come to bless her, in excitement, she hurriedly said, I need a husband five times. Shiva had also said “so be it “ five times in response. This is probably the reason Draupadi obtained five husbands in Mahabharata.

Dhrishtadyumna spied on the Pandavas when they were discussing arms and kingdom. He realizes that these people are Kshatriyas and tells Drupada. A happy Drupada arranges a grand wedding for Draupadi. Now they have the support of a huge kingdom of Panchala through marriage and also Krishna.

After they got married to Draupadi, Pandavas had the support of a powerful kingdom of Panchala. Moreover, Krishna had also visited them and offered support. Therefore Pandavas got the confidence that they can now take on Kauravas.