Divided into eighteen books, or parvas. It is the largest. Details of the story. Along with his brothers and their wife Draupadi, were exiled from the kingdom.
Draupada who was dreaming of getting Arjuna as his son- in- law was very much disappointed when he heard the news that Pandavas perished in the fire, when the wax palace was reduced to ashes. He was later comforted by a rumour about the escape of the Pandavas in secrecy.
But the whereabouts of the Pandavas were not known. Drupada, his sons Dhristadyumna and Sikhandi and his ministers joined together in a conference to chalk out their future program. There is no point in waiting indefinitely for the Pandavas to come out of their self- imposed disguise.
Draupadi has come up to the age of marriage. In fact the announcement of Draupadi's Svayamvara may be an opportunity for Arjuna to come out openly. Accordingly the Svayamvara of Draupadi was proclaimed. However the Panchala King took all the necessary precautions so that nobody other than Arjuna could secure the hand of Draupadi. A mechanical device of mobile fish called 'Matsyayantra' was arranged. A steel bow and fine steel arrows were provided. The candidate aspiring the hand of Draupadi must first string the bow and then shoot the revolving disc which contains the mechanical fish, looking at the reflection in the water pond constructed at the foot of the flag staff.
Of course the Matsyayantra was poised at the upper end of the flag staff. For successful hitting at the target obviously superhuman skill and strength were required. The news of Draupadi's svayamvara spread far and wide. Brahmans from all over Bharatavarsha were thronging to Pancahala as they were sure of being rewarded with the customary gifts.
Preparations for the function were taking place on a grand scale. Pandavas quite naturally wanted to go to the function. Kunti anticipated their feelings and said to them, 'We have overstayed in this city. 
You are young and must go in search of new horizons. Let us therefore go to Draupada's kingdom Panchala which is reputed for its prosperity and fair play.' On their way they met Veda Vyasa once again. He exhorted them to go to Panchala and said that good luck awaited them there. He said, 'I further advise you to select a suitable Brahman well versed in the Vedas and sacred scriptures as your family priest, who will be your life long well wisher. The Pandavas met Dhaumya at Utkacha and requested Dhaumya to be their family Purohit.
Dhaumya accepted their offer with pleasure. Pandavas felt very happy and told him, 'Your holiness, your acceptance to be our family Purohit is, we feel, our greatest asset and it is more valuable, we know, than the acquisition of a vast empire.' Dhaumya showered his blessings on the Pandavas who proceeded on their journey, taking his leave with all the reverence at their command. Elaborate arrangements were made by Draupada on an unprecedented scale for the svayamvara which was proclaimed as a festival of fourteen days, with all the royal pomp and pageantry. Public entertainments, puppet shows and musical concerts were daily arranged. A gigantic marriage hall was arranged and the Matsya yantra with the steel bow and the steel arrows together with the water pond at the foot was installed in the middle of the marriage hall.
Duryodhana and his brothers, Karna, Sisupala, Jarasandha, Salya and many other Princes arrived. On the auspicious day fixed for the marriage and at the appointed moment Dhristadyumna came as a pilot on horseback and Draupadi arrived seated on an elephant. Dressed in flowing silk, she was holding the bridal garland of vernal flowers in her hand. Dhristadyumna standing beside his sister read out the royal proclamation: 'Princes of noble birth, the steel bows and the five steel arrows are here.