Pandavas started their journey towards the forest. They only had their weapons with them. Along with Draupadi, they started moving towards North direction. Indrasena and other servants followed Pandavas in fourteen thousand chariots. Subhadra, Abhimanyu, and the five sons of Draupadi also accompanied them in the chariots.
As Pandavas started their journey leaving their kingdom, the people in Hastinapur cried their hearts out. " What is this injustice? Dhritarashtra and Duryodhana treacherously deceived the sons of Pandu Raju and made them play a Game of Dice full of Adharma. They drove them away towards the forest. They are heartless! Duryodhana is the one who conspired this act of sin. Bhishma, Drona, and Kripacharya did not even stop this Adharma from happening. They just kept quiet. The virtuous Vidura also did not utter a word to stop this injustice. Not sure what they had in their minds to let this act happen."
Duryodhana is very greedy. He is the King! Karna, Jayadratha, and Shakuni are his close ministers. What else can we say? How can we live in this kind of Kingdom? Pandavas are very righteous and Dharma abiding. Without them, how can the Dharma survive? Who will save the people of the Kingdom? Let us go to wherever Pandavas are going to settle down. Let us stay with them.
Saying this, the citizens of the Kingdom left their houses and farms. Men, Women, and everyone in the kingdom started marching along with Pandavas.
" Oh Meritorious and Virtuos Ones! Please do not leave us and go. Is this fair on your part? Who is going to look out for us? Duryodhana and his subjects are wicked. Sadhus will suffer when wicked people rule. Even if they do not do the wrong things, a man will become wicked if he is ruled and in the company of wicked people. Even if one touch, speaks, or in joins the company of wicked men, they go on to perdition."
"You are wise ones by birth. Your education and wisdom are superior. Your nature is very pure. Hence, we will stay with you. Only if we stay in the company of good people will we learn to be good ourselves. We will learn Dharma. We will become successful. If earth, Sesame seeds, water, clothes are placed with flowers, they will also smell like flowers. Duryodhana is a wicked person. We will not stay in his kingdom, we will come with you. Please accept our plea!" Saying this, the citizens of the kingdom started pleading Pandavas with folded hands.
Dharmaraja looked at the citizens kindly. " If you all want to come with us, then we will be most humbled. Your affection is on us, hence, you are praising us for the qualities we don't have. But, dwelling in the forests is very difficult. You will not be able to bear it. No, please listen to me, please stop, please go back to your homes." Saying this, Dharmaraja coaxed them in to turning back and going to their homes. The citizens were very saddened and held themselves up and returned to Hastinapur.
The next day morning, many brahmins came and met the Pandavas. They came along with their relatives, disciples, and Agnihotras. They are all equal to Lord Brahma. They have gotten rid of their sins by chanting the Vedas. They are in a stage to receive prayers from mankind. They all came to dwell in the forests with Pandavas. Dharmaraja offered obeisance to all the brahmins with great reverence. They all blessed him immensely. But, he did not like that they came to the forest for him.
"Because of the deceit of my cousins (who have behaved as enemies), we have lost everything. We now have to dwell in the forests. We will have to eat fruits, roots, and shoots and will have to be very austere. Why do you need to undergo this trouble with us? No, I pray you to please return to your homes. There are wild beasts, elephants, and tigers living in this forest. It is going to be very difficult for you to dwell here. You will not be able to bear this." Dharmaraja said.
The Brahmins were pained by the words of Dharmaraja. " We do not have anyone except you. Please do not forsake us." said the Brahmins not swerving an inch. " We do not have anywhere to go. Please do not leave us like this. This is not Dharma. No one leaves the side of refuges and devotees. You are Kings, you are the guardians of Dharma. We are Brahmins, it is not fair for you to ask us to leave. You must be thinking about how you can feed us. Do not worry about that. We will cater to our needs for food. We will do Japas, Homas, and continuous religious and spiritual activities and make you happy. Dhritarashtra's sons have sought to very wrong deeds, they have done a great deal of harm to you. Whatever happens, we will not live in their kingdom." said the Brahmins.
Dharmaraja was in a fix. How could he say no to so many people? He had to agree to what they said. But, he was worried about one thing. The brahmins eat sumptuous food three times a day. How can he bear the pain of letting them eat roots and shoots? He was very unhappy thinking about this and fell on the ground.
Shounaka (one of the brahmins) came and pacified Dharmaraja and asked him not to worry. He started to recite the slokas from Janaka Geetas about Aatma-Vyavasaya (Soul Agriculture) and started illustrating their meaning.