King Dhritarashtra was sorry for Draupadi's dishonour at the hands of Duryodhana. He set the Pandavas free and gave their kingdom back to them.

At this, Duryodhana was furious and said to his father, "Father, you have spoilt our victory. Now they will take revenge and kill us all. I will invite Yudhisthira again to a game of dice, and this time I will send them to exile. This time, the losing party, will have to go for a twelve-year exile, followed by one year of hiding. If the winning party discovers them in hiding, the exile would have to be repeated." With the help of his wicked uncle, Shakuni, and his charmed dice, Duryodhana won the game and sent the Pandavas into twelve years of exile. He was sure that in the thirteen year, he would discover them and send them back to another twelve years of exile.

Having lost the game of dice, the Pandavas went to live in the forests.