Sage Parasurama is resting under a tree with his head on Karna's lap. Karna is gloating over his learning the Brahmastra with which he can vanquish Arjuna. Indra hatches a scheme which would expose the lie that Karna has told his guru. He assumes the form of a bee and stings Karna's thighs. 
Karna experiences excruciating pain, but simply bears it, because he doesn't want to wake up his master. The blood oozing from the bite soon touches the guru and he wakes up. Karna tells the sage he has borne the pain caused by the bee digging into his flesh because he didn't want to disturb the sage's sleep. The sage concludes that since only kshatriyas can bear pain, Karna must be a Kshatriya, and knowing that the sage was hostile towards Kshatriyas, he had lied that he is a Brahmana. Karna's blatant lie infuriates Parasurama and he curses that Karna would forget the Brahmastra mantra when he needed it most. Karna falls at the sage's feet and begs for his pardon. The guru has a soft corner for Karna for being his best disciple. As a token of his love, he gifts Karna his chariot and Bhargava Astra (weapon).
Shikhandi comes to Yaksha's abode as promised and thanks him for solving his problem at least temporarily. The Yaksha tells Shikhandi that his problem has been solved permanently, because Kubera had cursed the Yaksha that she would remain a woman as long as Shikhandi lived. This meant that unless Shikhandi dies, the yaksha Sthulakarna had remain a woman. Shikhandi tries to kill herself but remembers Lord Shiva's words that one should experience the consequences of one's karma, and this should not be cut short by taking one's own life. Sthulakarna, being a devotee of Lord Shiva, concurs and consoles herself that probably Lord Shiva decided to help Shikhandi through her and this was perhaps because of her Karma. She then wishes Shikhandi that she achieves her goals soon. Shikhandi then returns back to Panchala and shares this news with Drupada.
Indra asks why Urvashi is so hard on Arjuna. He explains to her that Arjuna, being used to human values and laws, would find it difficult to understand celestial rules and lifestyle, just as she finds human rules and values to be meaningless. He requests her to understand Arjuna's point of view and pardon her. Urvashi is pacified and she grants that the curse would be valid for only one year and this could be chosen at will by Arjuna.
Yudhishtra, Draupadi and other brothers are tormented by Arjuna's long absence and they go on a long pilgrimmage. One day, Bheema and Draupadi walk along Gandhamadana mountain when Draupadi finds a fragrant flower called Saugandhika pushpa. She asks Bhima to get it for her. Bhima goes in search of the flower and finds a old monkey sitting under the tree with its tail spread across Bhima's path. Bhima asks the monkey to move out of his way since it is not considered proper to jump over a beast. The monkey replies that since he is old, Bhima should move his tail and carry on in his way. Bhima tries hard but is unable to move it. He then asks the monkey who he is, and is delighted to find him to be his own brother and the son of Vayu - Lord hanuman. Bhima falls at Hanuman's feet and asks to show the huge form he had taken while searching for Sita at Lanka. Hanuman obliges happily. He promises to come to Bhima's aid whenever he thought of him. In the battle field, whenever Bhima raised the battle cry, his own sonorous roar would join in. Besides, he will reside on the flag staff atop the chariot given to Arjuna by Agni, the fire god at the Khandava forest. Then he also informs Bhima that the Sugandihika or Mandara flower that he came in search of is to be found at Alagapuri, the abode of Kubera, which is well guarded and is accessible only to righteous persons following dharma.
Sage Vyasa, who dictates Mahabharata to Lord Ganesha, tells the story of how Arjuna defeated the Nivata Kavachas at Indra's bidding. He also narrates how Bhima goes to Kubera's palace and slays Jatasura.
Duryodhana is dejected despite having all the wealth, because Pandavas are not there to see or envy them. Shakuni suggests that Duryodhana, along with his wife and children, should visit the Pandavas in the forest. This would make Draupadi feel envious of the luxurious life that Duryodhana's wife Bhanumati is leading. Shakuni then plans how they should approach King Dritarashtra and secure his approval.
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