Yudhishthir was the eldest son of Kuntee and Paandu. He was the son of Dharm Raaj that is why he was the staunch follower of Dharm and never did anything which was not according to Dharm. He was very quiet in nature, simple and knower of just and unjust. He always used to speak truth. It is said that because of his this quality his chariot used to run 4-fingers up the ground. But since he told the lie to Drone "Ashwatthaamaa died" his chariot use to run touching the ground. He was good at spear in weapons. He was also the student of Drone.

Yudhishthir was married to Draupadee and had a son from her named Prativindhya; but he had married to Devikaa also who was the daughter of Govaasan of Shaibya tribe and had son from her too - named Yaudheya.

Yudhishthir's childhood was mostly uneventful. When he grew up and the time came to declare the Crown Prince of Hastinaapur, he won the test set by Vidur Jee and was declared the Crown Prince. This made Duryodhan very jealous with him and he started thinking in the line to kill him, but he could not. 

There used to be an annual fair at Baaranaavat in which the Crown Prince used to go, but since for some time there was no Crown Prince of Hastinaapur so Dhritraashtra was going there, but now Hastinaapur had its own Crown Prince so on Vidur's advise Yudhishthir was sent there. Yudhishthir's other brothers and Kuntee also went there for fun. This was a good opportunity for Duryodhan to implement his scheme. He called Purochan and asked him to build a house of all inflammable things (Lac, Ghee, wax, straw etc) and when he gets ready to set fire, he should set the fire in the house to burn them all. This will look like an accident and nobody will doubt on Dhritraashtra and Duryodhan.

But unfortunately his scheme failed because of Vidur's vigilance and Yudhishthir's alertness. They set the fire one day before and escaped leaving behind the proof of their death in that fire unknowingly. Duryodhan was so happy that he forgot the logic as who set the fire one day before the set day.

Later he was given the area of Khaandav Van and he inhabited there Indraprasth as his kingdom's capital.

He was a very good king. He had all the qualities to become a king. He could not have done anything unjustified. He was always ready to learn a king's duties. When Bheeshm was lying on the bed of arrows he went to him to learn politics, diplomacy etc. He always respected his elders even though they were wrong. Because of this nature he and his brothers had to suffer a lot.

Even though Dhritraashtra and Duryodhan tried to insult, harm and kill Paandav several times whenever they could get the opportunity, but he was always respectful, obedient and polite to Dhritraashtra. He never disrespected or even felt bad about both Dhritraashtra and his son Duryodhan. 

In the last days, after the Mahaabhaarat war,  Dhritraashtra and Gaandhaaree lived with him happily. But as they left for forest on the advice of Vidur Jee, Yudhishthir also left the world after some time.

His first appearance as an active actor occurs when after the Baaranaavat episode and after passing some time in Van in hiding, they were recognized by marrying Draupadee. Duryodhan, Dushaasan and Shakuni got very disturbed hearing this news that they were still alive. But Bheeshm got very happy to hear this, rather he was angry at Vidur Jee as why didn't he tell him that he had saved them from the fire and hid them in Van.

Well, Bheeshm suggested Dhritraashtra that he should welcome his daughter-in-law in the palace. So Dhritraashtra did. But Duryodhan could not live together with them and since he considered that palace as his, so he always instigated his father to move them from there. Bheeshm Jee was pressing Dhritraashtra to give Paandav's kingdom to them. But because of Duryodhan he was not able to do that. So he decided to divide the kingdom and gave Khaandav Van area to Paandav.

Everybody said as "What are you doing this? They have their right to rule Hastinaapur." but Dhritraashtra was not able to do anything about it, because he was under the control of Duryodhan and Duryodhan was guided by Shakuni. Yudhishthir's brothers said that why they should lose their right on their own kingdom, but Yudhishthir ignored it saying that "Whatever our great father is saying we should obey it."

The second active episode is his going to Hastinaapur, after his Raajsooya Yagya, to play dice game on invitation of Dhritraashtra. His brothers and even Vidur Jee advised him (indirectly) not to accept it but still he said - "Since our great father has sent the invitation, we cannot refuse it. We should honor it. Besides, being Kshatriya also we cannot refuse it. So we have to go."

In the course of time Yudhishthir lost everything - his treasure, brothers, himself, even his wife. Now Duryodhan was free to use them in his own way which he did. [read "Duryodhan's Plans - Dice Game"]  When Duryodhan called Draupadee in the game court, she said "first let me know that Yudhishthir lost me after he lost himself or before?" Somehow Draupadee brought everything back to them and they got ready to return to Indraprasth. But how could Duryodhan tolerate all this? He was already angry at his father that he had spoiled all his plan by giving everything back to them. So he had to think something else.

He asked his father to stop them from going back and play one more game. Although Dhritraashtra didn't want it, but was helpless, so he had to stop Paandav from going back to Indraprasth. Now Yudhishthir's brothers tried their best to explain their brother that "Didn't you understand their trick yet? Why do you want to ruin yourself?" But again, as usual, Yudhishthir stayed back there saying that "this is my great father's order, I can't disobey it."

And the game started. Again Duryodhan started the game, his Maamaa Shakuni threw the dice, and again he won the game and Paandav had to go to Van for 13 years, the 13th year as Agyaatvaas year (in which they should not be recognized by anybody living in the society).