Dharmaraj Yudhishthir was born from the part of Dharma (Yama). He was indeed a direct incarnation of Dharma, hence he was also known as Dharmaraj. Virtues like patience, stability, humbleness, tolerance, kindness and love were his strengths. Because of his courteous nature and good conduct, Yudhishthir was extremely popular in his childhood. He had lost his father Pandu early in life and hence regarded Dhritarashtra, his uncle who fostered him as his father. But the crafty Kauravas always conspired to kill him and his brothers. With an excuse of attending a fair, he and his brothers along with their mother Kunti were sent to Barnawata where it was conspired to kill them in Lakshagriha (house made of Lac). But Yudhishthir sincerely obeyed this order and went to Barnawata along with his mother Kunti and brothers and saved his life with the advice of his uncle Vidur. But in Hastinapur, Dhritarashtra's eldest son Duryodhana assumed them to be dead and took over the throne as Yuvaraj.

The mystery of Pandavas' escape from Lakshagriha unfolded at Draupadi's Swayamvara and the Pandavas, thereafter were proposed to stay in Khandavprastha. Yudhishthir accepted this proposal and established a beautiful capital Indraprastha with the help of Mayasura. At Indraprastha, Yudhishthir organized Rajasuya Yagya. Many kings accepted his dominance, but then he became a bone of contention for the Kauravas. In a bid to humiliate him, the Kauravas invited Yudhishthir on a game of dice where they cleverly defeated Yudhishthir and snatched everything from him including his wife Draupadi. Draupadi, in particular had to face severe humiliation as 'Chiraharana' before her elders and husbands who, bound by the condition remained silent. In a compromising bid, Dhritarashtra returned the Pandavas their kingdom. But the Kauravas again invited Yudhishthir on a game of dice and again took his kingdom and given an exile for twelve years and one year of disguised living along with his brothers and wife. To fully observe the duty of the host during exile, Draupadi worshipped the Sun and got Akshaya Patra- the inexhaustible utensil that always gave ample things to eat.

Yudhishthir is also known as Ajatashatru that means having no enemies. He always had good feelings in his heart even for his enemies. Its direct example is the deed to get Duryodhana freed from the Gandharvas who had taken him hostage along with his queens. Once, the beauty of Draupadi lured Duryodhana's brother-in-law, Jayadrath, so he tried to abduct her on his chariot but Bheema, the younger brother of Yudhishthir chased and captured him. But respecting his kinship, Yudhishthir released Jayadratha. It was an example of the forgiving and kind nature of Yudhishthir.

Yudhishthir was not only learned and wise but his hospitality and commitment for Brahmins were equally worth praising. Because of Duryodhana's craftiness, sage Durvasa got angry with the Pandavas and poured down curses on them. Lord Krishna saved them from the curse. Answering the questions put forth by the Yaksha correctly, Yudhishthir gave his brothers a new lease of life and then recovered the Arani- a wooden implement used to make fire, thus doing away with the obstacle that had arisen in Brahmin's Agnihotra.

The generosity of Yudhishthir was very great. When, at the end of the Pandavas exile, the Kauravas refused to return their kingdom. Yudhishthir was ready to be content with five villages only. But the Kauravas were not ready to give them even as much land as the size of a needle's point without war.

SUCHEAGRE NE DAAS YAAMI BINAA YUDDHEN KESHVAH |

Hence, the Pandavas were forced to fight a war. There is another instance of Yudhishthir's generosity. When, after the Mahabharat war, Duryodhana lost all of his brothers and armies and was rendered alone and helpless and was hiding in the stalk of the lotus, Yudhishthir showed mercy and offered him to choose any of the Pandavas for a duel. He also said that if Duryodhana defeated his opponent, the whole kingdom would be given to him. Apart from being courteous and humble, Yudhishthir was very tactful. Even in the most adverse conditions, he never forgot courtesy. At the beginning of the Mahabharat war when both the armies finally came face to face, Yudhishthir first of all saluted his elders and teachers and took their blessings for victory. Yudhishthir was also famous for his truthfulness. But for his sin of telling a lie during the war that:

ASHWATTHAMA HATAH NARO VA KUNJARO VA||

though he had to go through an illusionary hell temporarily.

After the war, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari came to stay with Yudhishthir. He served them well. When Dhritarashtra organized Shraadha for his relatives, Yudhishthir contributed in it open heartedly. At last when Dhritarashtra and Gandhari decided to leave for Vanaprastha, Yudhishthir was the gloomiest person and he got ready to accompany them on Vanaprastha. He dropped his insistence with difficulty only when convinced by Vyasa.

When the news of Shri Krishna's salvation reached to Yudhishthir, he at once declared the coronation of Abhimanyu's son Parikshit and began his grand and last departure for heaven along with his brothers and wife Draupadi. On the way to the journey across the Himalayas, Draupadi and all his brothers fell one by one. But he did not care for this obstacle and continued on his journey. But he plainly refused to accept the comforts of heaven without his brothers and his wife. Only when Indra convinced him that his brothers and Draupadi had already reached heaven, did Yudhishthir agree to board his chariot with a condition that the dog, which had followed them from the very beginning, would also accompany him. The dog was in fact Dharma himself who was testing Yudhishthir's concern for his brothers and wife. The dog soon transformed itself into its original form and praised Yudhishthir.

At last when Yudhishthir saw his brothers and Draupadi in the divine abode, he annihilated in the body of his father Dharma.