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Yudhishthira, a MythSource painting
Indian

Yudhishthira

01Identity

Yudhishthira in Indian tradition

Yudhishthira returns to Hastinapura after Dhritarashtra restores the Pandavas' wealth. Duryodhana persuades Dhritarashtra to call the brothers back, and a messenger brings an invitation to another dice game. Yudhishthira knows that the game threatens the kingdom, yet accepts his uncle's summons and sits opposite Shakuni. He says that he follows his dharma and cannot refuse when challenged. Shakuni sets aside cattle, horses, treasure and slaves and names exile as the single stake. The wager sends the losers into the forest for twelve years, followed by a thirteenth year in disguise, with discovery bringing another exile. Shakuni declares that he has won. Yudhishthira and the Pandavas dress in bark and deer skin while the Kauravas taunt them, and they prepare for the forest.

SourceThe Puffin Mahabharata: The Story of the Mahabharata· Mahabharata: The Greatest Spiritual Epic of All Time: Chapter Twenty-one.  The Pandavas Exiled· Mahabharata Vol. 2 (Penguin Translated Texts): Section Twenty-Eight· Mahabharata: Part Of The Way With The Pandavas And Bade Them Farewell.

Top questions

The quick answers

02Family

Yudhishthira’s family, at a glance

PāṇḍuKuntī
YudhishthiraArjunaBhīmaKarṇaNakulaSahadeva

with Devika, Draupadī

03The myths

The myths of Yudhishthira

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Yudhishthira Accepts the Second Dice Game

In The Puffin Mahabharata, Dhritarashtra had restored the Pandavas' wealth, but Duryodhana soon persuaded him to call them back. The new wager was severe. The loser would surrender the kingdom and go into the forest for twelve years. The thirteenth year would be spent in disguise, and discovery would bring another twelve years in the forest. A messenger carried the invitation to Hastinapura. Yudhishthira already knew that the game was dangerous, yet he said that he had to honour his uncle's wish and agreed to play again. He entered the hall and sat opposite Shakuni, who held the dice for Duryodhana.

Yudhishthira said he followed his dharma and could not refuse when challenged. Shakuni set aside the cattle, horses, treasure and slaves and named exile as the single stake. The dice rolled, and Shakuni declared that he had won. Yudhishthira and his brothers then prepared for exile. They dressed in bark and deer skin while the Kauravas taunted them. Bhima grew furious as the Kauravas taunted them. The kingdom passed out of their hands for the years named in the wager.

Yudhishthira Accepts the Second Dice Game, a MythSource painting of the scene

6 sources· checked 2026-09-23

  1. 1The Puffin MahabharataT1
  2. 2Mahabharata: The Greatest Spiritual Epic of All TimeT1
  3. 3Mahabharata Vol. 2 (Penguin Translated Texts)T1
  4. 4MahabharataT1
  5. 5The Great Golden Sacrifice of the MahabharataT1
  6. 6The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering (2 Vols.)T1

Also mentioned in

Stories elsewhere on MythSource that mention Yudhishthira, each on that figure’s page.