Kunti stayed with Vidura. Sage Dhaumya, who was priest to the Pandavas, accompanied them in their exile. They built a hut and lived there. Yudhishthira was worried because he was not able to feed the large number of people who had come into the forest with him. He sought Dhaumya’s advice. Dhaumya told him to worship the Sun-god, Surya, as he was the one who gifted food to everyone. So, Yudhishthira began to worship Surya. Pleased with his deep devotion the Sun-god appeared before him and told him to ask for a boon. Yudhishthira requested his help to feed everyone. Surya gave him the inexhaustible vessel, Akshayapatra. It would give all the food required at every meal and become empty only after Draupadi had eaten her food at each meal. The Akshayapatra helped the Pandavas throughout their exile, feeding them and their innumerable guests.
Surya’s Akshayapatra
