The Pāṇḍavas were staying in the house of a Brāhmin in Ekachakra Nagari, It was the turn of the Brāhmin's family to send two buffalloes, food and one family member as food for Bakāsura. Kunti offered to send Bhīma who could kill Bakāsura. The wife of the Brāhmin did not agree and even thought that Kunti does not ike her sons and wants them killed. To convince her, Kunti claimed that Bhīma will kill Bakāsura using his Mantra Śakti but he cannot reveal it.

Yudhiṣṭhira was apprehensive that Bhīma may get killed. He was worried that they would lose not just Bhīma, but without Bhīma's protection, the Pāṇḍavas will also become vulnerable. Kunti convinces Yudhiṣṭhira that Bhīma has the strength to kill Bakāsura and that she has been very aware of his prowess since his birth.

Kunti tells Yudhiṣṭhira that we are living in the house of these Brāhmana. We have to repay that debt. We should not be focussed on what we are losing. We should always return more than what we consume. We should return the favours we received multi-fold. She also expressed her confidence that Bhīma will overcome Bakāsura. She also mentioned that the puṇya that they will gather is what will be with them in times of need and no amount of wealth will support them in such situations.

Bhīma carried a cartful of food along with buffalloes. Once he reached the forest of Bakāsura, he started eating the food and called out Bakāsura. A ferocious looking Bakāsura came out in a fit of rage and saw Bhīma eating the food. This enraged him further but Bhīma was not perturbed. He completed eating and nonchalantly started fighting with Bakāsura.

The subjects and relatives of Bakāsura were shocked to see the death of Bakāsura. Bhīma consoled them but also warned them them to shun cannibalism henceforth. He warned that they would face the same death as Bakāsura if they resort to eating human flesh. He then dragged the dead body of Bakāsura and left it at the entrance of Ekachakra Nagari.

Yājar agreed to conduct the Yajna but alongwith Upayājar. At the end of the Yajna when Yājar was offering ghee to Agni, Drupada called out his wife saying that you are about to beget a son and a daughter. His wife said she was amidst chewing saffron and fragrant substances, not yet ready to accept the ghee and asked for a little time. Yājar told her that they have already offered the ghee to Agni and that the child will come whether she comes to the Yajna or not. Immediately thereafter both Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Draupadi were born out of the fire.

Drupada wanted to avenge the insult that Droṇa had heaped on him. He wanted to obtain progeny who can do so. He went to to the Ashrams of one Brāhmana after the other, hoping to come across one who can help him conduct an appropriate Yajna.

He came across two Brāhmanas and he approached the younger Brāhmana, Upayājar. He requested the Brāhmana to conduct a Yajna that will yield progency who will kill Droṇa. He promised one thousand cows as an offering and also promised anything else that the Brāhmana may seek.

Upayājar mentioned that he cannot conduct such a Yajna and that Drupada should approach his elder brother Yājar instead. Upayājar said his elder brother even used to eat food leftover by humans and therefore he may be interested in material gains that Drupada was willing to offer.

Drupada requested Yājar to conduct an offering that wil yield a progeny who can kill Drona. Drupada told Yājar that Drona is very powerful and that his bow is six cubits long. He said that Drona is capable of slaying the entire Kshatriya race like Paraśurāma. Drona has both Brahma balam and Kshatriya balam whereas Drupada has only Kshatriya balam. He promised Yājar one crore cows as an offering for conducting the Yajna.

When Draupadi was born, an Aśarīri made several prophecies. It said Draupadi would lead to the destruction of Kshatriyas, would be the foremost among women and would make the Kurus scared.

Vyāsa narrates the story of a girl who grew up in a Rishi's ashram. Because of incidents in her prior birth, she remained unmarried though eligible. She prayed to Lord Shiva and asked for a great husband, but mistakenly she asked five times. Shiva gave her the boon but since she had asked five times, he said she would be married to the five Pāṇḍavas in her next birth.

A gandharva was playing with his wife on the shores of Ganga when the Pāṇḍavas were going towards Panchala. He warned the Pāṇḍavas that the evening time belongs to them and he will kill any humans who approach him at that time. He also warned that the garden has been built for his pleasures. Arjuna reproached him that Ganga belongs to everyone. In the ensuing fight, Arjuna shot the Agni Astra. The wife of the Gandharva begged for mercy and Arjuna let him go. The Gandharva taught Arjuna several astras in gratitude.