The New Abode

The Pandavas lived happily with Kunti and Draupadi for a few days in Hastinapura. One day Dhritarashtra called them to his side. He said that they lived peacefully along with the Kauravas so far. It would be better for them to move out before any friction developed between the two. He suggested a place called Khandava Prastha where they could build a capital city. Yudhishthira should begin ruling the half kingdom he received from there.
The Pandavas respected the words of their uncle and marched to Khandava Prastha along with the ladies and their benefactor, Krishna. A Prastha is a flat piece of land. The place was called Khandava because of a vast nearby forest with that name. Vedavyasa also joined them in their new place of residence.

They got a beautiful capital city built in Khandava Prastha . Deep moats were dug and high walls were built to surround the city. Beautiful palaces for the royals and houses for the ordinary people were built within them. Sentries were posted at the four entrance gates. Broad roads with tall avenue trees were laid out within the city. Beautiful parks and lakes were made in the surrounding forests. The city came to be known as Indra Prastha later on, as it surpassed even the palace of Indra in its beauty.

Artisans and merchants of various trades heard about its fame and came to live in Indraprastha. So did many Brahmins who started performing various rituals.
Krishna spent a few weeks with them in the city and then took his leave.

One day sage Narada paid them a visit in Indraprastha. Narada was famous for his wandering nature. He hardly ever stayed at one place for long. Because of his wide travels he was the source for up to date news for kings and even gods. He was also widely respected for his wisdom.

Narada’s mission was to make sure that the Pandavas lived happily in their new place of capital city. The five Pandavas and Draupadi paid their respect to the great sage and received his blessings.

After Draupadi left Narada spoke to the Pandavas in privacy. He said that when five of them lived with one wife there was always a chance for misunderstanding and quarrel. It was absolutely essential that they avoided any such misfortune. Narada, then, narrated the story of the demons, Sunda and Upasunda, to illustrate his point.
(Refer to www.kunjunny.blogspot.com for the story)

The sage, himself, suggested a rule for them to follow to prevent such a possibility.
He said that each Pandava should take turns and live with Draupadi for one year. During that period others should avoid intrusion into their privacy at any cost. There should also be a strict penalty for violating that rule even by chance. He who committed it should live in exile for twelve years. All agreed quite happily to the conditions placed by the wise Narada.
Then, the sage bid farewell to them and traveled heavenward which was his next destination.
The sage left after telling the story. With this ends the chapter called “ The arrival of Vidura as Envoy and the restoration of kingdom (Viduraagamana Raajya laabha Parvam)”