How This Story Began

1. Long ago, a large royal family lived in ancient India. Their story became part of the great Mahabharata.
2. Cousins grew up together in the palace. The five sons of King Pandu were called the Pandavas, and the sons of King Dhritarashtra were called the Kauravas.
3. The Pandavas’ father passed away when they were young. Mother Kunti brought her sons to their uncle’s palace, and all the children grew up together.
4. The brothers studied, played, and practiced together. Their teachers taught them to be brave, attentive, and ready to protect anyone who needed help.
5. Arjuna worked especially hard at archery. He knew how to focus and listened carefully to his teacher.
6. But Duryodhana compared himself with the Pandavas more and more. Envy whispered to him, “Everything should belong only to me.”
7. The Pandavas had a dear friend and relative—Krishna. He knew their hearts, helped them, and always wished true good for everyone.
8. When the Pandavas grew up, Princess Draupadi, their wife, stood beside them. Together they cared for the kingdom and served the people.
9. Duryodhana saw their flourishing kingdom and felt unhappy about someone else’s joy. The thorny shoot of envy in his heart grew large.
10. He invited the eldest Pandava, Yudhishthira, to play a game of dice. But the game had been planned dishonestly.
11. Again and again, the dice fell against the Pandavas. Through deceit, they lost their wealth, their palace, and their kingdom.
12. Draupadi was treated cruelly in the palace. When no one could protect her, she called to Krishna with all her heart—and He came to help her.
13. The Pandavas and Draupadi had to leave their home. Instead of a palace, simple clothes, forest paths, and long years of exile awaited them.
14. Life in the forest was not easy. But they supported one another, welcomed wise guests, and never forgot Krishna.
15. The seasons followed one another. The Pandavas kept their promise and waited for the day when they could return.
16. When they returned, the Pandavas asked for their kingdom to be given back fairly. But Duryodhana refused.
17. To preserve peace, the Pandavas asked for very little—just five villages, one for each brother.
18. But Duryodhana would not give up even a piece of land as small as the tip of a needle. Envy had made his heart hard.
19. Then Krishna Himself went to the Kauravas as a messenger of peace. He wanted to stop the disaster while hope still remained.
20. Krishna spoke wisely and asked them to act fairly. But Duryodhana would not listen to Him.
21. When peace could not be made, rulers from many lands began choosing sides. Two enormous armies came to the plain.
22. Krishna offered a choice: one side could have His mighty army; the other could have Krishna Himself, but without weapons.
23. Duryodhana quickly chose the army. Arjuna was glad: Krishna, his best friend and guide, would stay beside him.
24. That is how Krishna became Arjuna’s charioteer. Soon their chariot would stop between two armies, and the conversation called the Bhagavad-gita would begin.

Authoritative sources

• Bhaktivedanta Vedabase