Karna suggested to Duryodhana that they should go on a picnic to Dvaitavana with all their servants' queens' etc. to show off their wealth and splendour to the Pandavas and also to watch them living like ascetics, wearing tree barks and deerskins. Also they may utilise the ocassion to taunt them. Thus the pride of Draupadi too could be brought down a bit. Duryodhana asked Dhritarastra permission to go to Gaushala (Cow-sheds) to inspect them. Permission was granted to him. On the pretext of going to Gaushalas for inspections, the Kauravas, Karna, their soldiers, Servants and queens went to Dvaitavana on a picnic, in their full regalia. Their intention was to flaunt their wealth to their cousins. They reached the forest and camped near a pleasant lake.

One Gandharva with his wives was also there to take bath in the lake. Duryodhana was informed about it. Arrogantly he told his soldiers to inform the Gandharva who he was. Also the gandharva should clear out of the place immediately. The Gandharva was very angry at this insolence by a mere mortal/ He told the soldiers of Duryodhana to run away if they value their lives. The soldiers came and told Duryodhana about the rudeness of the gandharva. Karna went to see the gandharva.A fight started between them. The Kauravas side had some fear at the beginning of the fight but seeing Karna with them to lead they fought spiritedly.

All the soldiers of Kauravas were beaten and Karna ran away. Now Duryodhana and Dussashana came to join the fight. They were soon vanquished and bound with ropes taken to the gandharva. The gandharva army also caught all the queens of the Kauravas and made them prisoners. A loud lamentation was made by the captive woman to save them. Some soldiers of the Kauravas ran to the cottage of the Pandavas. The informed about the plight of the Kauravas and their women who were made prisoners.

Yudhisthira asked his brother to help the Kauravas. Bhima was taken aback. He said the Kauravas deserved this punishment. For all the sins they committed long ago they deserved to die. It is just proper that gandharvas took them prisoners. He would have rather fought on the side of gandharvas. Yudhisthira said, "We may be five against hundred Kauravas but when outside attacks, we are one hundred and five brothers." If women of our family were dishonoured, it would be shameful for us all. Even then Bhima was reluctant. Then Yudhisthira said, "he will go alone to fight with the gandharvas to rescue the Kauravas and their women". Then Arjuna and Bhima alongwith Nakula and Sahdeva went to help the Kauravas.

On the way they saw the Kauravas being taken, bound hand and foot, to the gandharva. They challenged the gandharvas and rescued the Kauravas and their women. The gandharvas went to their leader who came to see who were rescuing his prisoners. The gandharva turned out to be the old friend of Arjuna, Chitrasena. He met Arjuna and Bhima very cordially. Chitrasena said that he was sent by Indra to teach the Kauravas a lesson. Indra knew about their scheme of coming to Dvaitavana, on the pretext of seeing the cows. Their intentions to humiliate the Pandavas by flaunting their riches were known to Indra. He deputed Chitrasena to teach the Kauravas a lesson. At the request of Arjuna, Chitrasena refused to release the Kauravas. He said that he was sent to help Yudhisthira. Only at the command of Yudhisthira he could release the Kauravas and their women. They all came to Yudhisthira. Yudhisthira asked the Gandharva to release his cousins and their women.

The Kauravas and their women were released. Yudhisthira told Duryodhana to go away in peace. He did not bear any ill will against them. The Kauravas left the place shame faced and with their heads bowed. They met Karna, who told that he had been glad to see the Kauravas. Duryodhana became extremely ashamed. He wanted to die by fasting. He sat the whole night with out eating a morsel. He called Dussashana to go to Hastinapura and to become the king. After such humiliation of being rescued by the Pandavas, he would not live. It took a lot of time for Karna and Dussasana to somehow dissuade Duryodhana from such a morbid course of action. Next day Duryodhana was somewhat composed and he returned back to his capital along with the soldiers, brothers, Karna and the Kauravas women.

In the court Bhishma, who had already been told about all there happenings tried once again to persuade Duryodhana. He said, "Now you know the strength of Karna, Whom you are relying upon to make you victorious against the Pandavas, in war". Better you see the reason while still there is time. Otherwise it will too late. Make peace with the Pandavas and return all their wealth and kingdom taken by you deceitfully in the game of dice. But Duryodhana did not give any reply to his grandfather. He went away from the court. Shakuni, Karna and Dussashan supported him even now.

Duryodhana remained depressed for some time. To cheer him up his advisors, Shakuni etc suggested that like the Pandavas he too should do a Rajasuya Yagya. Karna said that he would vanquish all the kings who would refuse to accept his invitation. This idea cheered him up greatly. He got busy in consulting all and sundry about his proposed Rajasuya Yagya. Everyone was quite enthusiastic and happy about the idea. However some Pundits said, that since Yudhisthira and Dhritarastra, his elders were alive it did not augur well to embark upon Rajasuya Yagya. But Duryodhana set aside such objections. The preparation for the Yagya started.

Invitations were send to all the kings on the earth. Karna went on a victory trail vanquishing those kings who refused to accept the superiority of Duryodhana. Special envoys were sent to invite the Pandavas. Yudhisthira expressed happiness about Duryodhana's Yagya but refused to attend it. He said that the period of exile was not yet over. As such it was not possible for him to enter any city. On the whole, the Rajasuya yagya of Duryodhana was a big success. People were thrilled at it. Some tried to belittle it success by comparing it with the Yagya of the Pandavas, but undeniably, the Yagya of Duryodhana was also a grand success with kings of all the countries coming to attend it. After the yagya was over Duryodhana honoured all the elders and the kings and sages who had come to attend it. Immensely, pleased he came to his palace. He was very much grateful to his friend Karna who was the chief architect of its success.