Hearing this - Dandakam (Itham sravichu)
Dandakam**: (Itham sravichu)
Hearing this and upholding the truth
they decided to give up their riches,
informed their mother Kunti,
joined with their wife and
holding in their hearts
the image of Krishna,
they left for Kamyaka forest.
Received Akshayapatra (vessel with endless supply of food) from Sun
after Pandavas did penance;
their hardships were gone,
they killed cruel characters;
heard from Sage Mudita stories of Nala and Rama
which lightened their burden of sorrow
At the end of their forest life
went and stayed in Matsya kingdom,
spent a year there living incognito;
Bheema killed the evil Keechaka
their enemies who tried to find them too were killed
Then Krishna arrived to help them,
sent an emissary to their enemies,
conveyed the news,
told them the facts,
learnt from Sanjaya about King Dhritharashtra’s assent
and lived there with resolute minds.
** (Dandakam is a verse set to a particular metre. It is a theatrical device in Kathakali to link events separated by time, or to narrate the sequence events that have taken place between two scenes.)
Stage Features:
Pandavas leavses and go to the forest.