Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.734

c9.734

Dhṛtarāṣṭra asked Vidura why the Pāṇḍavas assumed these different poses and attitudes and Vidura answered him thus: Yudhiṣṭhira covered his face to show that he would not retaliate in anger though he had lost the kingdom due to cheating. Bhīma stretched out his hands to show that he was unrivalled in manual power. Arjuna threw out sand to say that he would shoot his arrows into the enemy camp like particles of sand. Sahadeva rubbed earth on his face as he did not want anybody to distinguish his face. Nakula, the most handsome of men, smeared his face with dust so that, on the way, women should not desire him.