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diff --git a/15474-0.txt b/15474-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1fc2c8b --- /dev/null +++ b/15474-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,58878 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana +Vyasa, Volume 1 + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 + Books 1, 2 and 3 + +Translator: Kisari Mohan Ganguli + +Release Date: March 26, 2005 [EBook #15474] +Last Updated: November 6, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAHABHARATA VOL 1 *** + + + + +Produced by John B. Hare. Please notify any corrections +to John B. Hare at www.sacred-texts.com + + + + + + + + + +The Mahabharata + +of + +Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa + +BOOK 1 + +ADI PARVA + +Translated into English Prose from the Original Sanskrit Text + +by + +Kisari Mohan Ganguli + +[1883-1896] + +Scanned at sacred-texts.com, 2003. Proofed at Distributed Proofing, +Juliet Sutherland, Project Manager. Additional proofing and formatting at +sacred-texts.com, by J. B. Hare. + + + +TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE + +The object of a translator should ever be to hold the mirror upto his +author. That being so, his chief duty is to represent so far as +practicable the manner in which his author’s ideas have been expressed, +retaining if possible at the sacrifice of idiom and taste all the +peculiarities of his author’s imagery and of language as well. In regard +to translations from the Sanskrit, nothing is easier than to dish up +Hindu ideas, so as to make them agreeable to English taste. But the +endeavour of the present translator has been to give in the following +pages as literal a rendering as possible of the great work of Vyasa. To +the purely English reader there is much in the following pages that will +strike as ridiculous. Those unacquainted with any language but their own +are generally very exclusive in matters of taste. Having no knowledge of +models other than what they meet with in their own tongue, the standard +they have formed of purity and taste in composition must necessarily be a +narrow one. The translator, however, would ill-discharge his duty, if for +the sake of avoiding ridicule, he sacrificed fidelity to the original. He +must represent his author as he is, not as he should be to please the +narrow taste of those entirely unacquainted with him. Mr. Pickford, in +the preface to his English translation of the Mahavira Charita, ably +defends a close adherence to the original even at the sacrifice of idiom +and taste against the claims of what has been called ‘Free Translation,’ +which means dressing the author in an outlandish garb to please those to +whom he is introduced. + +In the preface to his classical translation of Bhartrihari’s Niti Satakam +and Vairagya Satakam, Mr. C.H. Tawney says, “I am sensible that in the +present attempt I have retained much local colouring. For instance, the +ideas of worshipping the feet of a god of great men, though it frequently +occurs in Indian literature, will undoubtedly move the laughter of +Englishmen unacquainted with Sanskrit, especially if they happen to +belong to that class of readers who revel their attention on the +accidental and remain blind to the essential. But a certain measure of +fidelity to the original even at the risk of making oneself ridiculous, +is better than the studied dishonesty which characterises so many +translations of oriental poets.” + +We fully subscribe to the above although, it must be observed, the +censure conveyed to the class of translators last indicated is rather +undeserved, there being nothing like a ‘studied dishonesty’ in their +efforts which proceed only from a mistaken view of their duties and as +such betray only an error of the head but not of the heart. More than +twelve years ago when Babu Pratapa Chandra Roy, with Babu Durga Charan +Banerjee, went to my retreat at Seebpore, for engaging me to translate +the Mahabharata into English, I was amazed with the grandeur of the +scheme. My first question to him was,--whence was the money to come, +supposing my competence for the task. Pratapa then unfolded to me the +details of his plan, the hopes he could legitimately cherish of +assistance from different quarters. He was full of enthusiasm. He showed +me Dr. Rost’s letter, which, he said, had suggested to him the +undertaking. I had known Babu Durga Charan for many years and I had the +highest opinion of his scholarship and practical good sense. When he +warmly took Pratapa’s side for convincing me of the practicability of the +scheme, I listened to him patiently. The two were for completing all +arrangements with me the very day. To this I did not agree. I took a +week’s time to consider. I consulted some of my literary friends, +foremost among whom was the late lamented Dr. Sambhu C. Mookherjee. The +latter, I found, had been waited upon by Pratapa. Dr. Mookherjee spoke to +me of Pratapa as a man of indomitable energy and perseverance. The result +of my conference with Dr. Mookherjee was that I wrote to Pratapa asking +him to see me again. In this second interview estimates were drawn up, +and everything was arranged as far as my portion of the work was +concerned. My friend left with me a specimen of translation which he had +received from Professor Max Muller. This I began to study, carefully +comparing it sentence by sentence with the original. About its literal +character there could be no doubt, but it had no flow and, therefore, +could not be perused with pleasure by the general reader. The translation +had been executed thirty years ago by a young German friend of the great +Pundit. I had to touch up every sentence. This I did without at all +impairing faithfulness to the original. My first ‘copy’ was set up in +type and a dozen sheets were struck off. These were submitted to the +judgment of a number of eminent writers, European and native. All of +them, I was glad to see, approved of the specimen, and then the task of +translating the Mahabharata into English seriously began. + +Before, however, the first fasciculus could be issued, the question as to +whether the authorship of the translation should be publicly owned, +arose. Babu Pratapa Chandra Roy was against anonymity. I was for it. The +reasons I adduced were chiefly founded upon the impossibility of one +person translating the whole of the gigantic work. Notwithstanding my +resolve to discharge to the fullest extent the duty that I took up, I +might not live to carry it out. It would take many years before the end +could be reached. Other circumstances than death might arise in +consequence of which my connection with the work might cease. It could +not be desirable to issue successive fasciculus with the names of a +succession of translators appearing on the title pages. These and other +considerations convinced my friend that, after all, my view was correct. +It was, accordingly, resolved to withhold the name of the translator. As +a compromise, however, between the two views, it was resolved to issue +the first fasciculus with two prefaces, one over the signature of the +publisher and the other headed--‘Translator’s Preface.’ This, it was +supposed, would effectually guard against misconceptions of every kind. +No careful reader would then confound the publisher with the author. + +Although this plan was adopted, yet before a fourth of the task had been +accomplished, an influential Indian journal came down upon poor Pratapa +Chandra Roy and accused him openly of being a party to a great literary +imposture, viz., of posing before the world as the translator of Vyasa’s +work when, in fact, he was only the publisher. The charge came upon my +friend as a surprise, especially as he had never made a secret of the +authorship in his correspondence with Oriental scholars in every part of +the world. He promptly wrote to the journal in question, explaining the +reasons there were for anonymity, and pointing to the two prefaces with +which the first fasciculus had been given to the world. The editor +readily admitted his mistake and made a satisfactory apology. + +Now that the translation has been completed, there can no longer be any +reason for withholding the name of the translator. The entire translation +is practically the work of one hand. In portions of the Adi and the Sabha +Parvas, I was assisted by Babu Charu Charan Mookerjee. About four forms +of the Sabha Parva were done by Professor Krishna Kamal Bhattacharya, and +about half a fasciculus during my illness, was done by another hand. I +should however state that before passing to the printer the copy received +from these gentlemen I carefully compared every sentence with the +original, making such alterations as were needed for securing a +uniformity of style with the rest of the work. + +I should here observe that in rendering the Mahabharata into English I +have derived very little aid from the three Bengali versions that are +supposed to have been executed with care. Every one of these is full of +inaccuracies and blunders of every description. The Santi in particular +which is by far the most difficult of the eighteen Parvas, has been made +a mess of by the Pundits that attacked it. Hundreds of ridiculous +blunders can be pointed out in both the Rajadharma and the Mokshadharma +sections. Some of these I have pointed out in footnotes. + +I cannot lay claim to infallibility. There are verses in the Mahabharata +that are exceedingly difficult to construe. I have derived much aid from +the great commentator Nilakantha. I know that Nilakantha’s authority is +not incapable of being challenged. But when it is remembered that the +interpretations given by Nilakantha came down to him from preceptors of +olden days, one should think twice before rejecting Nilakantha as a guide. + +About the readings I have adopted, I should say that as regards the first +half of the work, I have generally adhered to the Bengal texts; as +regards the latter half, to the printed Bombay edition. Sometimes +individual sections, as occurring in the Bengal editions, differ widely, +in respect of the order of the verses, from the corresponding ones in the +Bombay edition. In such cases I have adhered to the Bengal texts, +convinced that the sequence of ideas has been better preserved in the +Bengal editions than the Bombay one. + +I should express my particular obligations to Pundit Ram Nath Tarkaratna, +the author of ‘Vasudeva Vijayam’ and other poems, Pundit Shyama Charan +Kaviratna, the learned editor of Kavyaprakasha with the commentary of +Professor Mahesh Chandra Nayaratna, and Babu Aghore Nath Banerjee, the +manager of the Bharata Karyalaya. All these scholars were my referees on +all points of difficulty. Pundit Ram Nath’s solid scholarship is known to +them that have come in contact with him. I never referred to him a +difficulty that he could not clear up. Unfortunately, he was not always +at hand to consult. Pundit Shyama Charan Kaviratna, during my residence +at Seebpore, assisted me in going over the Mokshadharma sections of the +Santi Parva. Unostentatious in the extreme, Kaviratna is truly the type +of a learned Brahman of ancient India. Babu Aghore Nath Banerjee also has +from time to time, rendered me valuable assistance in clearing my +difficulties. + +Gigantic as the work is, it would have been exceedingly difficult for me +to go on with it if I had not been encouraged by Sir Stuart Bayley, Sir +Auckland Colvin, Sir Alfred Croft, and among Oriental scholars, by the +late lamented Dr. Reinhold Rost, and Mons. A. Barth of Paris. All these +eminent men know from the beginning that the translation was proceeding +from my pen. Notwithstanding the enthusiasm, with which my poor friend, +Pratapa Chandra Roy, always endeavoured to fill me. I am sure my energies +would have flagged and patience exhausted but for the encouraging words +which I always received from these patrons and friends of the enterprise. + +Lastly, I should name my literary chief and friend, Dr. Sambhu C. +Mookherjee. The kind interest he took in my labours, the repeated +exhortations he addressed to me inculcating patience, the care with which +he read every fasciculus as it came out, marking all those passages which +threw light upon topics of antiquarian interest, and the words of praise +he uttered when any expression particularly happy met his eyes, served to +stimulate me more than anything else in going on with a task that +sometimes seemed to me endless. + +Kisari Mohan Ganguli + +Calcutta + + + +THE MAHABHARATA + +ADI PARVA + +SECTION I + +Om! Having bowed down to Narayana and Nara, the most exalted male being, +and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word Jaya be uttered. + +Ugrasrava, the son of Lomaharshana, surnamed Sauti, well-versed in the +Puranas, bending with humility, one day approached the great sages of +rigid vows, sitting at their ease, who had attended the twelve years’ +sacrifice of Saunaka, surnamed Kulapati, in the forest of Naimisha. Those +ascetics, wishing to hear his wonderful narrations, presently began to +address him who had thus arrived at that recluse abode of the inhabitants +of the forest of Naimisha. Having been entertained with due respect by +those holy men, he saluted those Munis (sages) with joined palms, even +all of them, and inquired about the progress of their asceticism. Then +all the ascetics being again seated, the son of Lomaharshana humbly +occupied the seat that was assigned to him. Seeing that he was +comfortably seated, and recovered from fatigue, one of the Rishis +beginning the conversation, asked him, ‘Whence comest thou, O lotus-eyed +Sauti, and where hast thou spent the time? Tell me, who ask thee, in +detail.’ + +Accomplished in speech, Sauti, thus questioned, gave in the midst of that +big assemblage of contemplative Munis a full and proper answer in words +consonant with their mode of life. + +“Sauti said, ‘Having heard the diverse sacred and wonderful stories which +were composed in his Mahabharata by Krishna-Dwaipayana, and which were +recited in full by Vaisampayana at the Snake-sacrifice of the high-souled +royal sage Janamejaya and in the presence also of that chief of Princes, +the son of Parikshit, and having wandered about, visiting many sacred +waters and holy shrines, I journeyed to the country venerated by the +Dwijas (twice-born) and called Samantapanchaka where formerly was fought +the battle between the children of Kuru and Pandu, and all the chiefs of +the land ranged on either side. Thence, anxious to see you, I am come +into your presence. Ye reverend sages, all of whom are to me as Brahma; +ye greatly blessed who shine in this place of sacrifice with the +splendour of the solar fire: ye who have concluded the silent meditations +and have fed the holy fire; and yet who are sitting--without care, what, +O ye Dwijas (twice-born), shall I repeat, shall I recount the sacred +stories collected in the Puranas containing precepts of religious duty +and of worldly profit, or the acts of illustrious saints and sovereigns +of mankind?” + +“The Rishi replied, ‘The Purana, first promulgated by the great Rishi +Dwaipayana, and which after having been heard both by the gods and the +Brahmarshis was highly esteemed, being the most eminent narrative that +exists, diversified both in diction and division, possessing subtile +meanings logically combined, and gleaned from the Vedas, is a sacred +work. Composed in elegant language, it includeth the subjects of other +books. It is elucidated by other Shastras, and comprehendeth the sense of +the four Vedas. We are desirous of hearing that history also called +Bharata, the holy composition of the wonderful Vyasa, which dispelleth +the fear of evil, just as it was cheerfully recited by the Rishi +Vaisampayana, under the direction of Dwaipayana himself, at the +snake-sacrifice of Raja Janamejaya?’ + +“Sauti then said, ‘Having bowed down to the primordial being Isana, to +whom multitudes make offerings, and who is adored by the multitude; who +is the true incorruptible one, Brahma, perceptible, imperceptible, +eternal; who is both a non-existing and an existing-non-existing being; +who is the universe and also distinct from the existing and non-existing +universe; who is the creator of high and low; the ancient, exalted, +inexhaustible one; who is Vishnu, beneficent and the beneficence itself, +worthy of all preference, pure and immaculate; who is Hari, the ruler of +the faculties, the guide of all things moveable and immoveable; I will +declare the sacred thoughts of the illustrious sage Vyasa, of marvellous +deeds and worshipped here by all. Some bards have already published this +history, some are now teaching it, and others, in like manner, will +hereafter promulgate it upon the earth. It is a great source of +knowledge, established throughout the three regions of the world. It is +possessed by the twice-born both in detailed and compendious forms. It is +the delight of the learned for being embellished with elegant +expressions, conversations human and divine, and a variety of poetical +measures. + +In this world, when it was destitute of brightness and light, and +enveloped all around in total darkness, there came into being, as the +primal cause of creation, a mighty egg, the one inexhaustible seed of all +created beings. It is called Mahadivya, and was formed at the beginning +of the Yuga, in which we are told, was the true light Brahma, the eternal +one, the wonderful and inconceivable being present alike in all places; +the invisible and subtile cause, whose nature partaketh of entity and +non-entity. From this egg came out the lord Pitamaha Brahma, the one only +Prajapati; with Suraguru and Sthanu. Then appeared the twenty-one +Prajapatis, viz., Manu, Vasishtha and Parameshthi; ten Prachetas, Daksha, +and the seven sons of Daksha. Then appeared the man of inconceivable +nature whom all the Rishis know and so the Viswe-devas, the Adityas, the +Vasus, and the twin Aswins; the Yakshas, the Sadhyas, the Pisachas, the +Guhyakas, and the Pitris. After these were produced the wise and most +holy Brahmarshis, and the numerous Rajarshis distinguished by every noble +quality. So the water, the heavens, the earth, the air, the sky, the +points of the heavens, the years, the seasons, the months, the +fortnights, called Pakshas, with day and night in due succession. And +thus were produced all things which are known to mankind. + +And what is seen in the universe, whether animate or inanimate, of +created things, will at the end of the world, and after the expiration of +the Yuga, be again confounded. And, at the commencement of other Yugas, +all things will be renovated, and, like the various fruits of the earth, +succeed each other in the due order of their seasons. Thus continueth +perpetually to revolve in the world, without beginning and without end, +this wheel which causeth the destruction of all things. + +The generation of Devas, in brief, was thirty-three thousand, +thirty-three hundred and thirty-three. The sons of Div were Brihadbhanu, +Chakshus, Atma Vibhavasu, Savita, Richika, Arka, Bhanu, Asavaha, and +Ravi. Of these Vivaswans of old, Mahya was the youngest whose son was +Deva-vrata. The latter had for his son, Su-vrata who, we learn, had three +sons,--Dasa-jyoti, Sata-jyoti, and Sahasra-jyoti, each of them producing +numerous offspring. The illustrious Dasa-jyoti had ten thousand, +Sata-jyoti ten times that number, and Sahasra-jyoti ten times the number +of Sata-jyoti’s offspring. From these are descended the family of the +Kurus, of the Yadus, and of Bharata; the family of Yayati and of +Ikshwaku; also of all the Rajarshis. Numerous also were the generations +produced, and very abundant were the creatures and their places of abode. +The mystery which is threefold--the Vedas, Yoga, and Vijnana Dharma, +Artha, and Kama--also various books upon the subject of Dharma, Artha, +and Kama; also rules for the conduct of mankind; also histories and +discourses with various srutis; all of which having been seen by the +Rishi Vyasa are here in due order mentioned as a specimen of the book. + +The Rishi Vyasa published this mass of knowledge in both a detailed and +an abridged form. It is the wish of the learned in the world to possess +the details and the abridgement. Some read the Bharata beginning with the +initial mantra (invocation), others with the story of Astika, others with +Uparichara, while some Brahmanas study the whole. Men of learning display +their various knowledge of the institutes in commenting on the +composition. Some are skilful in explaining it, while others, in +remembering its contents. + +The son of Satyavati having, by penance and meditation, analysed the +eternal Veda, afterwards composed this holy history, when that learned +Brahmarshi of strict vows, the noble Dwaipayana Vyasa, offspring of +Parasara, had finished this greatest of narrations, he began to consider +how he might teach it to his disciples. And the possessor of the six +attributes, Brahma, the world’s preceptor, knowing of the anxiety of the +Rishi Dwaipayana, came in person to the place where the latter was, for +gratifying the saint, and benefiting the people. And when Vyasa, +surrounded by all the tribes of Munis, saw him, he was surprised; and, +standing with joined palms, he bowed and ordered a seat to be brought. +And Vyasa having gone round him who is called Hiranyagarbha seated on +that distinguished seat stood near it; and being commanded by Brahma +Parameshthi, he sat down near the seat, full of affection and smiling in +joy. Then the greatly glorious Vyasa, addressing Brahma Parameshthi, +said, “O divine Brahma, by me a poem hath been composed which is greatly +respected. The mystery of the Veda, and what other subjects have been +explained by me; the various rituals of the Upanishads with the Angas; +the compilation of the Puranas and history formed by me and named after +the three divisions of time, past, present, and future; the determination +of the nature of decay, fear, disease, existence, and non-existence, a +description of creeds and of the various modes of life; rule for the four +castes, and the import of all the Puranas; an account of asceticism and +of the duties of a religious student; the dimensions of the sun and moon, +the planets, constellations, and stars, together with the duration of the +four ages; the Rik, Sama and Yajur Vedas; also the Adhyatma; the sciences +called Nyaya, Orthoephy and Treatment of diseases; charity and +Pasupatadharma; birth celestial and human, for particular purposes; also +a description of places of pilgrimage and other holy places of rivers, +mountains, forests, the ocean, of heavenly cities and the kalpas; the art +of war; the different kinds of nations and languages: the nature of the +manners of the people; and the all-pervading spirit;--all these have been +represented. But, after all, no writer of this work is to be found on +earth.’ + +“Brahma said. ‘I esteem thee for thy knowledge of divine mysteries, +before the whole body of celebrated Munis distinguished for the sanctity +of their lives. I know thou hast revealed the divine word, even from its +first utterance, in the language of truth. Thou hast called thy present +work a poem, wherefore it shall be a poem. There shall be no poets whose +works may equal the descriptions of this poem, even, as the three other +modes called Asrama are ever unequal in merit to the domestic Asrama. Let +Ganesa be thought of, O Muni, for the purpose of writing the poem.’ + +“Sauti said, ‘Brahma having thus spoken to Vyasa, retired to his own +abode. Then Vyasa began to call to mind Ganesa. And Ganesa, obviator of +obstacles, ready to fulfil the desires of his votaries, was no sooner +thought of, than he repaired to the place where Vyasa was seated. And +when he had been saluted, and was seated, Vyasa addressed him thus, ‘O +guide of the Ganas! be thou the writer of the Bharata which I have formed +in my imagination, and which I am about to repeat.” + +“Ganesa, upon hearing this address, thus answered, ‘I will become the +writer of thy work, provided my pen do not for a moment cease writing.” + And Vyasa said unto that divinity, ‘Wherever there be anything thou dost +not comprehend, cease to continue writing.’ Ganesa having signified his +assent, by repeating the word Om! proceeded to write; and Vyasa began; +and by way of diversion, he knit the knots of composition exceeding +close; by doing which, he dictated this work according to his engagement. + +I am (continued Sauti) acquainted with eight thousand and eight hundred +verses, and so is Suka, and perhaps Sanjaya. From the mysteriousness of +their meaning, O Muni, no one is able, to this day, to penetrate those +closely knit difficult slokas. Even the omniscient Ganesa took a moment +to consider; while Vyasa, however, continued to compose other verses in +great abundance. + +The wisdom of this work, like unto an instrument of applying collyrium, +hath opened the eyes of the inquisitive world blinded by the darkness of +ignorance. As the sun dispelleth the darkness, so doth the Bharata by its +discourses on religion, profit, pleasure and final release, dispel the +ignorance of men. As the full-moon by its mild light expandeth the buds +of the water-lily, so this Purana, by exposing the light of the Sruti +hath expanded the human intellect. By the lamp of history, which +destroyeth the darkness of ignorance, the whole mansion of nature is +properly and completely illuminated. + +This work is a tree, of which the chapter of contents is the seed; the +divisions called Pauloma and Astika are the root; the part called +Sambhava is the trunk; the books called Sabha and Aranya are the roosting +perches; the books called Arani is the knitting knots; the books called +Virata and Udyoga the pith; the book named Bhishma, the main branch; the +book called Drona, the leaves; the book called Karna, the fair flowers; +the book named Salya, their sweet smell; the books entitled Stri and +Aishika, the refreshing shade; the book called Santi, the mighty fruit; +the book called Aswamedha, the immortal sap; the denominated +Asramavasika, the spot where it groweth; and the book called Mausala, is +an epitome of the Vedas and held in great respect by the virtuous +Brahmanas. The tree of the Bharata, inexhaustible to mankind as the +clouds, shall be as a source of livelihood to all distinguished poets.” + +“Sauti continued, ‘I will now speak of the undying flowery and fruitful +productions of this tree, possessed of pure and pleasant taste, and not +to be destroyed even by the immortals. Formerly, the spirited and +virtuous Krishna-Dwaipayana, by the injunctions of Bhishma, the wise son +of Ganga and of his own mother, became the father of three boys who were +like the three fires by the two wives of Vichitra-virya; and having thus +raised up Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura, he returned to his recluse +abode to prosecute his religious exercise. + +It was not till after these were born, grown up, and departed on the +supreme journey, that the great Rishi Vyasa published the Bharata in this +region of mankind; when being solicited by Janamejaya and thousands of +Brahmanas, he instructed his disciple Vaisampayana, who was seated near +him; and he, sitting together with the Sadasyas, recited the Bharata, +during the intervals of the ceremonies of the sacrifice, being repeatedly +urged to proceed. + +Vyasa hath fully represented the greatness of the house of Kuru, the +virtuous principles of Gandhari, the wisdom of Vidura, and the constancy +of Kunti. The noble Rishi hath also described the divinity of Vasudeva, +the rectitude of the sons of Pandu, and the evil practices of the sons +and partisans of Dhritarashtra. + +Vyasa executed the compilation of the Bharata, exclusive of the episodes +originally in twenty-four thousand verses; and so much only is called by +the learned as the Bharata. Afterwards, he composed an epitome in one +hundred and fifty verses, consisting of the introduction with the chapter +of contents. This he first taught to his son Suka; and afterwards he gave +it to others of his disciples who were possessed of the same +qualifications. After that he executed another compilation, consisting of +six hundred thousand verses. Of those, thirty hundred thousand are known +in the world of the Devas; fifteen hundred thousand in the world of the +Pitris: fourteen hundred thousand among the Gandharvas, and one hundred +thousand in the regions of mankind. Narada recited them to the Devas, +Devala to the Pitris, and Suka published them to the Gandharvas, Yakshas, +and Rakshasas: and in this world they were recited by Vaisampayana, one +of the disciples of Vyasa, a man of just principles and the first among +all those acquainted with the Vedas. Know that I, Sauti, have also +repeated one hundred thousand verses. + +Yudhishthira is a vast tree, formed of religion and virtue; Arjuna is its +trunk; Bhimasena, its branches; the two sons of Madri are its full-grown +fruit and flowers; and its roots are Krishna, Brahma, and the Brahmanas. + +Pandu, after having subdued many countries by his wisdom and prowess, +took up his abode with the Munis in a certain forest as a sportsman, +where he brought upon himself a very severe misfortune for having killed +a stag coupling with its mate, which served as a warning for the conduct +of the princes of his house as long as they lived. Their mothers, in +order that the ordinances of the law might be fulfilled, admitted as +substitutes to their embraces the gods Dharma, Vayu, Sakra, and the +divinities the twin Aswins. And when their offspring grew up, under the +care of their two mothers, in the society of ascetics, in the midst of +sacred groves and holy recluse-abodes of religious men, they were +conducted by Rishis into the presence of Dhritarashtra and his sons, +following as students in the habit of Brahmacharis, having their hair +tied in knots on their heads. ‘These our pupils’, said they, ‘are as your +sons, your brothers, and your friends; they are Pandavas.’ Saying this, +the Munis disappeared. + +When the Kauravas saw them introduced as the sons of Pandu, the +distinguished class of citizens shouted exceedingly for joy. Some, +however, said, they were not the sons of Pandu; others said, they were; +while a few asked how they could be his offspring, seeing he had been so +long dead. Still on all sides voices were heard crying, ‘They are on all +accounts welcome! Through divine Providence we behold the family of +Pandu! Let their welcome be proclaimed!’ As these acclamations ceased, +the plaudits of invisible spirits, causing every point of the heavens to +resound, were tremendous. There were showers of sweet-scented flowers, +and the sound of shells and kettle-drums. Such were the wonders that +happened on the arrival of the young princes. The joyful noise of all the +citizens, in expression of their satisfaction on the occasion, was so +great that it reached the very heavens in magnifying plaudits. + +Having studied the whole of the Vedas and sundry other shastras, the +Pandavas resided there, respected by all and without apprehension from +any one. + +The principal men were pleased with the purity of Yudhishthira, the +courage of Arjuna, the submissive attention of Kunti to her superiors, +and the humility of the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva; and all the people +rejoiced in their heroic virtues. + +After a while, Arjuna obtained the virgin Krishna at the swayamvara, in +the midst of a concourse of Rajas, by performing a very difficult feat of +archery. And from this time he became very much respected in this world +among all bowmen; and in fields of battle also, like the sun, he was hard +to behold by foe-men. And having vanquished all the neighbouring princes +and every considerable tribe, he accomplished all that was necessary for +the Raja (his eldest brother) to perform the great sacrifice called +Rajasuya. + +Yudhishthira, after having, through the wise counsels of Vasudeva and by +the valour of Bhimasena and Arjuna, slain Jarasandha (the king of +Magadha) and the proud Chaidya, acquired the right to perform the grand +sacrifice of Rajasuya abounding in provisions and offering and fraught +with transcendent merits. And Duryodhana came to this sacrifice; and when +he beheld the vast wealth of the Pandavas scattered all around, the +offerings, the precious stones, gold and jewels; the wealth in cows, +elephants, and horses; the curious textures, garments, and mantles; the +precious shawls and furs and carpets made of the skin of the Ranku; he +was filled with envy and became exceedingly displeased. And when he +beheld the hall of assembly elegantly constructed by Maya (the Asura +architect) after the fashion of a celestial court, he was inflamed with +rage. And having started in confusion at certain architectural deceptions +within this building, he was derided by Bhimasena in the presence of +Vasudeva, like one of mean descent. + +And it was represented to Dhritarashtra that his son, while partaking of +various objects of enjoyment and diverse precious things, was becoming +meagre, wan, and pale. And Dhritarashtra, some time after, out of +affection for his son, gave his consent to their playing (with the +Pandavas) at dice. And Vasudeva coming to know of this, became +exceedingly wroth. And being dissatisfied, he did nothing to prevent the +disputes, but overlooked the gaming and sundry other horried +unjustifiable transactions arising therefrom: and in spite of Vidura, +Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa, the son of Saradwan, he made the Kshatriyas +kill each other in the terrific war that ensued.’ + +“And Dhritarashtra hearing the ill news of the success of the Pandavas +and recollecting the resolutions of Duryodhana, Kama, and Sakuni, +pondered for a while and addressed to Sanjaya the following speech:-- + +‘Attend, O Sanjaya, to all I am about to say, and it will not become thee +to treat me with contempt. Thou art well-versed in the shastras, +intelligent and endowed with wisdom. My inclination was never to war, not +did I delight in the destruction of my race. I made no distinction +between my own children and the children of Pandu. My own sons were prone +to wilfulness and despised me because I am old. Blind as I am, because of +my miserable plight and through paternal affection, I bore it all. I was +foolish alter the thoughtless Duryodhana ever growing in folly. Having +been a spectator of the riches of the mighty sons of Pandu, my son was +derided for his awkwardness while ascending the hall. Unable to bear it +all and unable himself to overcome the sons of Pandu in the field, and +though a soldier, unwilling yet to obtain good fortune by his own +exertion, with the help of the king of Gandhara he concerted an unfair +game at dice. + +‘Hear, O Sanjaya, all that happened thereupon and came to my knowledge. +And when thou hast heard all I say, recollecting everything as it fell +out, thou shall then know me for one with a prophetic eye. When I heard +that Arjuna, having bent the bow, had pierced the curious mark and +brought it down to the ground, and bore away in triumph the maiden +Krishna, in the sight of the assembled princes, then, O Sanjaya I had no +hope of success. When I heard that Subhadra of the race of Madhu had, +after forcible seizure been married by Arjuna in the city of Dwaraka, and +that the two heroes of the race of Vrishni (Krishna and Balarama the +brothers of Subhadra) without resenting it had entered Indraprastha as +friends, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that +Arjuna, by his celestial arrow preventing the downpour by Indra the king +of the gods, had gratified Agni by making over to him the forest of +Khandava, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that +the five Pandavas with their mother Kunti had escaped from the house of +lac, and that Vidura was engaged in the accomplishment of their designs, +then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Arjuna, +after having pierced the mark in the arena had won Draupadi, and that the +brave Panchalas had joined the Pandavas, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope +of success. When I heard that Jarasandha, the foremost of the royal line +of Magadha, and blazing in the midst of the Kshatriyas, had been slain by +Bhima with his bare arms alone, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of +success. When I heard that in their general campaign the sons of Pandu +had conquered the chiefs of the land and performed the grand sacrifice of +the Rajasuya, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard +that Draupadi, her voice choked with tears and heart full of agony, in +the season of impurity and with but one raiment on, had been dragged into +court and though she had protectors, she had been treated as if she had +none, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the +wicked wretch Duhsasana, was striving to strip her of that single +garment, had only drawn from her person a large heap of cloth without +being able to arrive at its end, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of +success. When I heard that Yudhishthira, beaten by Saubala at the game of +dice and deprived of his kingdom as a consequence thereof, had still been +attended upon by his brothers of incomparable prowess, then, O Sanjaya, I +had no hope of success. When I heard that the virtuous Pandavas weeping +with affliction had followed their elder brother to the wilderness and +exerted themselves variously for the mitigation of his discomforts, then, +O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. + +‘When I heard that Yudhishthira had been followed into the wilderness by +Snatakas and noble-minded Brahmanas who live upon alms, then, O Sanjaya, +I had no hope of success. When I heard that Arjuna, having, in combat, +pleased the god of gods, Tryambaka (the three-eyed) in the disguise of a +hunter, obtained the great weapon Pasupata, then O Sanjaya, I had no hope +of success. When I heard that the just and renowned Arjuna after having +been to the celestial regions, had there obtained celestial weapons from +Indra himself then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard +that afterwards Arjuna had vanquished the Kalakeyas and the Paulomas +proud with the boon they had obtained and which had rendered them +invulnerable even to the celestials, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of +success. When I heard that Arjuna, the chastiser of enemies, having gone +to the regions of Indra for the destruction of the Asuras, had returned +thence successful, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I +heard that Bhima and the other sons of Pritha (Kunti) accompanied by +Vaisravana had arrived at that country which is inaccessible to man then, +O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that my sons, guided by +the counsels of Karna, while on their journey of Ghoshayatra, had been +taken prisoners by the Gandharvas and were set free by Arjuna, then, O +Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Dharma (the god of +justice) having come under the form of a Yaksha had proposed certain +questions to Yudhishthira then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When +I heard that my sons had failed to discover the Pandavas under their +disguise while residing with Draupadi in the dominions of Virata, then, O +Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the principal men of +my side had all been vanquished by the noble Arjuna with a single chariot +while residing in the dominions of Virata, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope +of success. When I heard that Vasudeva of the race of Madhu, who covered +this whole earth by one foot, was heartily interested in the welfare of +the Pandavas, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard +that the king of Matsya, had offered his virtuous daughter Uttara to +Arjuna and that Arjuna had accepted her for his son, then, O Sanjaya, I +had no hope of success. When I heard that Yudhishthira, beaten at dice, +deprived of wealth, exiled and separated from his connections, had +assembled yet an army of seven Akshauhinis, then, O Sanjaya, I had no +hope of success. When I heard Narada, declare that Krishna and Arjuna +were Nara and Narayana and he (Narada) had seen them together in the +regions of Brahma, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I +heard that Krishna, anxious to bring about peace, for the welfare of +mankind had repaired to the Kurus, and went away without having been able +to effect his purpose, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I +heard that Kama and Duryodhana resolved upon imprisoning Krishna +displayed in himself the whole universe, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope +of success. Then I heard that at the time of his departure, Pritha +(Kunti) standing, full of sorrow, near his chariot received consolation +from Krishna, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard +that Vasudeva and Bhishma the son of Santanu were the counsellors of the +Pandavas and Drona the son of Bharadwaja pronounced blessings on them, +then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When Kama said unto Bhishma--I +will not fight when thou art fighting--and, quitting the army, went away, +then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Vasudeva and +Arjuna and the bow Gandiva of immeasurable prowess, these three of +dreadful energy had come together, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of +success. When I heard that upon Arjuna having been seized with +compunction on his chariot and ready to sink, Krishna showed him all the +worlds within his body, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I +heard that Bhishma, the desolator of foes, killing ten thousand +charioteers every day in the field of battle, had not slain any amongst +the Pandavas then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that +Bhishma, the righteous son of Ganga, had himself indicated the means of +his defeat in the field of battle and that the same were accomplished by +the Pandavas with joyfulness, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. +When I heard that Arjuna, having placed Sikhandin before himself in his +chariot, had wounded Bhishma of infinite courage and invincible in +battle, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the +aged hero Bhishma, having reduced the numbers of the race of shomaka to a +few, overcome with various wounds was lying on a bed of arrows, then, O +Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that upon Bhishma’s lying +on the ground with thirst for water, Arjuna, being requested, had pierced +the ground and allayed his thirst, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of +success. When Bayu together with Indra and Suryya united as allies for +the success of the sons of Kunti, and the beasts of prey (by their +inauspicious presence) were putting us in fear, then, O Sanjaya, I had no +hope of success. When the wonderful warrior Drona, displaying various +modes of fight in the field, did not slay any of the superior Pandavas, +then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the +Maharatha Sansaptakas of our army appointed for the overthrow of Arjuna +were all slain by Arjuna himself, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of +success. When I heard that our disposition of forces, impenetrable by +others, and defended by Bharadwaja himself well-armed, had been singly +forced and entered by the brave son of Subhadra, then, O Sanjaya, I had +no hope of success. When I heard that our Maharathas, unable to overcome +Arjuna, with jubilant faces after having jointly surrounded and slain the +boy Abhimanyu, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard +that the blind Kauravas were shouting for joy after having slain +Abhimanyu and that thereupon Arjuna in anger made his celebrated speech +referring to Saindhava, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I +heard that Arjuna had vowed the death of Saindhava and fulfilled his vow +in the presence of his enemies, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of +success. When I heard that upon the horses of Arjuna being fatigued, +Vasudeva releasing them made them drink water and bringing them back and +reharnessing them continued to guide them as before, then, O Sanjaya, I +had no hope of success. When I heard that while his horses were fatigued, +Arjuna staying in his chariot checked all his assailants, then, O +Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Yuyudhana of the +race of Vrishni, after having thrown into confusion the army of Drona +rendered unbearable in prowess owing to the presence of elephants, +retired to where Krishna and Arjuna were, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope +of success. When I heard that Karna even though he had got Bhima within +his power allowed him to escape after only addressing him in contemptuous +terms and dragging him with the end of his bow, then, O Sanjaya, I had no +hope of success. When I heard that Drona, Kritavarma, Kripa, Karna, the +son of Drona, and the valiant king of Madra (Salya) suffered Saindhava to +be slain, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that +the celestial Sakti given by Indra (to Karna) was by Madhava’s +machinations caused to be hurled upon Rakshasa Ghatotkacha of frightful +countenance, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that +in the encounter between Karna and Ghatotkacha, that Sakti was hurled +against Ghatotkacha by Karna, the same which was certainly to have slain +Arjuna in battle, then, O Sanjaya. I had no hope of success. When I heard +that Dhristadyumna, transgressing the laws of battle, slew Drona while +alone in his chariot and resolved on death, then, O Sanjaya, I had no +hope of success. When I heard that Nakula. the son of Madri, having in +the presence of the whole army engaged in single combat with the son of +Drona and showing himself equal to him drove his chariot in circles +around, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When upon the death of +Drona, his son misused the weapon called Narayana but failed to achieve +the destruction of the Pandavas, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of +success. When I heard that Bhimasena drank the blood of his brother +Duhsasana in the field of battle without anybody being able to prevent +him, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the +infinitely brave Karna, invincible in battle, was slain by Arjuna in that +war of brothers mysterious even to the gods, then, O Sanjaya, I had no +hope of success. When I heard that Yudhishthira, the Just, overcame the +heroic son of Drona, Duhsasana, and the fierce Kritavarman, then, O +Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the brave king of +Madra who ever dared Krishna in battle was slain by Yudhishthira, then, O +Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the wicked Suvala of +magic power, the root of the gaming and the feud, was slain in battle by +Sahadeva, the son of Pandu, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. +When I heard that Duryodhana, spent with fatigue, having gone to a lake +and made a refuge for himself within its waters, was lying there alone, +his strength gone and without a chariot, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope +of success. When I heard that the Pandavas having gone to that lake +accompanied by Vasudeva and standing on its beach began to address +contemptuously my son who was incapable of putting up with affronts, +then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that while, +displaying in circles a variety of curious modes (of attack and defence) +in an encounter with clubs, he was unfairly slain according to the +counsels of Krishna, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I +heard the son of Drona and others by slaying the Panchalas and the sons +of Draupadi in their sleep, perpetrated a horrible and infamous deed, +then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Aswatthaman +while being pursued by Bhimasena had discharged the first of weapons +called Aishika, by which the embryo in the womb (of Uttara) was wounded, +then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the weapon +Brahmashira (discharged by Aswatthaman) was repelled by Arjuna with +another weapon over which he had pronounced the word “Sasti” and that +Aswatthaman had to give up the jewel-like excrescence on his head, then, +O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that upon the embryo in +the womb of Virata’s daughter being wounded by Aswatthaman with a mighty +weapon, Dwaipayana and Krishna pronounced curses on him, then, O Sanjaya, +I had no hope of success. + +‘Alas! Gandhari, destitute of children, grand-children, parents, +brothers, and kindred, is to be pitied. Difficult is the task that hath +been performed by the Pandavas: by them hath a kingdom been recovered +without a rival. + +‘Alas! I have heard that the war hath left only ten alive: three of our +side, and the Pandavas, seven, in that dreadful conflict eighteen +Akshauhinis of Kshatriyas have been slain! All around me is utter +darkness, and a fit of swoon assaileth me: consciousness leaves me, O +Suta, and my mind is distracted.” + +“Sauti said, ‘Dhritarashtra, bewailing his fate in these words, was +overcome with extreme anguish and for a time deprived of sense; but being +revived, he addressed Sanjaya in the following words. + +“After what hath come to pass, O Sanjaya, I wish to put an end to my life +without delay; I do not find the least advantage in cherishing it any +longer.” + +“Sauti said, ‘The wise son of Gavalgana (Sanjaya) then addressed the +distressed lord of Earth while thus talking and bewailing, sighing like a +serpent and repeatedly tainting, in words of deep import. + +“Thou hast heard, O Raja, of the greatly powerful men of vast exertions, +spoken of by Vyasa and the wise Narada; men born of great royal families, +resplendent with worthy qualities, versed in the science of celestial +arms, and in glory emblems of Indra; men who having conquered the world +by justice and performed sacrifices with fit offerings (to the +Brahmanas), obtained renown in this world and at last succumbed to the +sway of time. Such were Saivya; the valiant Maharatha; Srinjaya, great +amongst conquerors. Suhotra; Rantideva, and Kakshivanta, great in glory; +Valhika, Damana, Saryati, Ajita, and Nala; Viswamitra the destroyer of +foes; Amvarisha, great in strength; Marutta, Manu, Ikshaku, Gaya, and +Bharata; Rama the son of Dasaratha; Sasavindu, and Bhagiratha; +Kritavirya, the greatly fortunate, and Janamejaya too; and Yayati of good +deeds who performed sacrifices, being assisted therein by the celestials +themselves, and by whose sacrificial altars and stakes this earth with +her habited and uninhabited regions hath been marked all over. These +twenty-four Rajas were formerly spoken of by the celestial Rishi Narada +unto Saivya when much afflicted for the loss of his children. Besides +these, other Rajas had gone before, still more powerful than they, mighty +charioteers noble in mind, and resplendent with every worthy quality. +These were Puru, Kuru, Yadu, Sura and Viswasrawa of great glory; Anuha, +Yuvanaswu, Kakutstha, Vikrami, and Raghu; Vijava, Virihorta, Anga, Bhava, +Sweta, and Vripadguru; Usinara, Sata-ratha, Kanka, Duliduha, and Druma; +Dambhodbhava, Para, Vena, Sagara, Sankriti, and Nimi; Ajeya, Parasu, +Pundra, Sambhu, and holy Deva-Vridha; Devahuya, Supratika, and +Vrihad-ratha; Mahatsaha, Vinitatma, Sukratu, and Nala, the king of the +Nishadas; Satyavrata, Santabhaya, Sumitra, and the chief Subala; +Janujangha, Anaranya, Arka, Priyabhritya, Chuchi-vrata, Balabandhu, +Nirmardda, Ketusringa, and Brhidbala; Dhrishtaketu, Brihatketu, +Driptaketu, and Niramaya; Abikshit, Chapala, Dhurta, Kritbandhu, and +Dridhe-shudhi; Mahapurana-sambhavya, Pratyanga, Paraha and Sruti. These, +O chief, and other Rajas, we hear enumerated by hundreds and by +thousands, and still others by millions, princes of great power and +wisdom, quitting very abundant enjoyments met death as thy sons have +done! Their heavenly deeds, valour, and generosity, their magnanimity, +faith, truth, purity, simplicity and mercy, are published to the world in +the records of former times by sacred bards of great learning. Though +endued with every noble virtue, these have yielded up their lives. Thy +sons were malevolent, inflamed with passion, avaricious, and of very +evil-disposition. Thou art versed in the Sastras, O Bharata, and art +intelligent and wise; they never sink under misfortunes whose +understandings are guided by the Sastras. Thou art acquainted, O prince, +with the lenity and severity of fate; this anxiety therefore for the +safety of thy children is unbecoming. Moreover, it behoveth thee not to +grieve for that which must happen: for who can avert, by his wisdom, the +decrees of fate? No one can leave the way marked out for him by +Providence. Existence and non-existence, pleasure and pain all have Time +for their root. Time createth all things and Time destroyeth all +creatures. It is Time that burneth creatures and it is Time that +extinguisheth the fire. All states, the good and the evil, in the three +worlds, are caused by Time. Time cutteth short all things and createth +them anew. Time alone is awake when all things are asleep: indeed, Time +is incapable of being overcome. Time passeth over all things without +being retarded. Knowing, as thou dost, that all things past and future +and all that exist at the present moment, are the offspring of Time, it +behoveth thee not to throw away thy reason.’ + +“Sauti said, ‘The son of Gavalgana having in this manner administered +comfort to the royal Dhritarashtra overwhelmed with grief for his sons, +then restored his mind to peace. Taking these facts for his subject, +Dwaipayana composed a holy Upanishad that has been published to the world +by learned and sacred bards in the Puranas composed by them. + +“The study of the Bharata is an act of piety. He that readeth even one +foot, with belief, hath his sins entirely purged away. Herein Devas, +Devarshis, and immaculate Brahmarshis of good deeds, have been spoken of; +and likewise Yakshas and great Uragas (Nagas). Herein also hath been +described the eternal Vasudeva possessing the six attributes. He is the +true and just, the pure and holy, the eternal Brahma, the supreme soul, +the true constant light, whose divine deeds wise and learned recount; +from whom hath proceeded the non-existent and existent-non-existent +universe with principles of generation and progression, and birth, death +and re-birth. That also hath been treated of which is called Adhyatma +(the superintending spirit of nature) that partaketh of the attributes of +the five elements. That also hath been described who is purusha being +above such epithets as ‘undisplayed’ and the like; also that which the +foremost yatis exempt from the common destiny and endued with the power +of meditation and Tapas behold dwelling in their hearts as a reflected +image in the mirror. + +“The man of faith, devoted to piety, and constant in the exercise of +virtue, on reading this section is freed from sin. The believer that +constantly heareth recited this section of the Bharata, called the +Introduction, from the beginning, falleth not into difficulties. The man +repeating any part of the introduction in the two twilights is during +such act freed from the sins contracted during the day or the night. This +section, the body of the Bharata, is truth and nectar. As butter is in +curd, Brahmana among bipeds, the Aranyaka among the Vedas, and nectar +among medicines; as the sea is eminent among receptacles of water, and +the cow among quadrupeds; as are these (among the things mentioned) so is +the Bharata said to be among histories. + +“He that causeth it, even a single foot thereof, to be recited to +Brahmanas during a Sradha, his offerings of food and drink to the manes +of his ancestors become inexhaustible. + +“By the aid of history and the Puranas, the Veda may be expounded; but +the Veda is afraid of one of little information lest he should it. The +learned man who recites to other this Veda of Vyasa reapeth advantage. It +may without doubt destroy even the sin of killing the embryo and the +like. He that readeth this holy chapter of the moon, readeth the whole of +the Bharata, I ween. The man who with reverence daily listeneth to this +sacred work acquireth long life and renown and ascendeth to heaven. + +“In former days, having placed the four Vedas on one side and the Bharata +on the other, these were weighed in the balance by the celestials +assembled for that purpose. And as the latter weighed heavier than the +four Vedas with their mysteries, from that period it hath been called in +the world Mahabharata (the great Bharata). Being esteemed superior both +in substance and gravity of import it is denominated Mahabharata on +account of such substance and gravity of import. He that knoweth its +meaning is saved from all his sins. + +‘Tapa is innocent, study is harmless, the ordinance of the Vedas +prescribed for all the tribes are harmless, the acquisition of wealth by +exertion is harmless; but when they are abused in their practices it is +then that they become sources of evil.’” + + + +SECTION II + +“The Rishis said, ‘O son of Suta, we wish to hear a full and +circumstantial account of the place mentioned by you as Samanta-panchaya.’ + +“Sauti said, ‘Listen, O ye Brahmanas, to the sacred descriptions I utter +O ye best of men, ye deserve to hear of the place known as +Samanta-panchaka. In the interval between the Treta and Dwapara Yugas, +Rama (the son of Jamadagni) great among all who have borne arms, urged by +impatience of wrongs, repeatedly smote the noble race of Kshatriyas. And +when that fiery meteor, by his own valour, annihilated the entire tribe +of the Kshatriyas, he formed at Samanta-panchaka five lakes of blood. We +are told that his reason being overpowered by anger he offered oblations +of blood to the manes of his ancestors, standing in the midst of the +sanguine waters of those lakes. It was then that his forefathers of whom +Richika was the first having arrived there addressed him thus, ‘O Rama, O +blessed Rama, O offspring of Bhrigu, we have been gratified with the +reverence thou hast shown for thy ancestors and with thy valour, O mighty +one! Blessings be upon thee. O thou illustrious one, ask the boon that +thou mayst desire.’ + +“Rama said, ‘If, O fathers, ye are favourably disposed towards me, the +boon I ask is that I may be absolved from the sins born of my having +annihilated the Kshatriyas in anger, and that the lakes I have formed may +become famous in the world as holy shrines.’ The Pitris then said, ‘So +shall it be. But be thou pacified.’ And Rama was pacified accordingly. +The region that lieth near unto those lakes of gory water, from that time +hath been celebrated as Samanta-panchaka the holy. The wise have declared +that every country should be distinguished by a name significant of some +circumstance which may have rendered it famous. In the interval between +the Dwapara and the Kali Yugas there happened at Samanta-panchaka the +encounter between the armies of the Kauravas and the Pandavas. In that +holy region, without ruggedness of any kind, were assembled eighteen +Akshauhinis of soldiers eager for battle. And, O Brahmanas, having come +thereto, they were all slain on the spot. Thus the name of that region, O +Brahmanas, hath been explained, and the country described to you as a +sacred and delightful one. I have mentioned the whole of what relateth to +it as the region is celebrated throughout the three worlds.’ + +“The Rishis said, ‘We have a desire to know, O son of Suta, what is +implied by the term Akshauhini that hath been used by thee. Tell us in +full what is the number of horse and foot, chariots and elephants, which +compose an Akshauhini for thou art fully informed.’ + +“Sauti said, ‘One chariot, one elephant, five foot-soldiers, and three +horses form one Patti; three pattis make one Sena-mukha; three +sena-mukhas are called a Gulma; three gulmas, a Gana; three ganas, a +Vahini; three vahinis together are called a Pritana; three pritanas form +a Chamu; three chamus, one Anikini; and an anikini taken ten times forms, +as it is styled by those who know, an Akshauhini. O ye best of Brahmanas, +arithmeticians have calculated that the number of chariots in an +Akshauhini is twenty-one thousand eight hundred and seventy. The measure +of elephants must be fixed at the same number. O ye pure, you must know +that the number of foot-soldiers is one hundred and nine thousand, three +hundred and fifty, the number of horse is sixty-five thousand, six +hundred and ten. These, O Brahmanas, as fully explained by me, are the +numbers of an Akshauhini as said by those acquainted with the principles +of numbers. O best of Brahmanas, according to this calculation were +composed the eighteen Akshauhinis of the Kaurava and the Pandava army. +Time, whose acts are wonderful assembled them on that spot and having +made the Kauravas the cause, destroyed them all. Bhishma acquainted with +choice of weapons, fought for ten days. Drona protected the Kaurava +Vahinis for five days. Kama the desolator of hostile armies fought for +two days; and Salya for half a day. After that lasted for half a day the +encounter with clubs between Duryodhana and Bhima. At the close of that +day, Aswatthaman and Kripa destroyed the army of Yudishthira in the night +while sleeping without suspicion of danger. + +‘O Saunaka, this best of narrations called Bharata which has begun to be +repeated at thy sacrifice, was formerly repeated at the sacrifice of +Janamejaya by an intelligent disciple of Vyasa. It is divided into +several sections; in the beginning are Paushya, Pauloma, and Astika +parvas, describing in full the valour and renown of kings. It is a work +whose description, diction, and sense are varied and wonderful. It +contains an account of various manners and rites. It is accepted by the +wise, as the state called Vairagya is by men desirous of final release. +As Self among things to be known, as life among things that are dear, so +is this history that furnisheth the means of arriving at the knowledge of +Brahma the first among all the sastras. There is not a story current in +this world but doth depend upon this history even as the body upon the +foot that it taketh. As masters of good lineage are ever attended upon by +servants desirous of preferment so is the Bharata cherished by all poets. +As the words constituting the several branches of knowledge appertaining +to the world and the Veda display only vowels and consonants, so this +excellent history displayeth only the highest wisdom. + +‘Listen, O ye ascetics, to the outlines of the several divisions (parvas) +of this history called Bharata, endued with great wisdom, of sections and +feet that are wonderful and various, of subtile meanings and logical +connections, and embellished with the substance of the Vedas. + +‘The first parva is called Anukramanika; the second, Sangraha; then +Paushya; then Pauloma; the Astika; then Adivansavatarana. Then comes the +Sambhava of wonderful and thrilling incidents. Then comes Jatugrihadaha +(setting fire to the house of lac) and then Hidimbabadha (the killing of +Hidimba) parvas; then comes Baka-badha (slaughter of Baka) and then +Chitraratha. The next is called Swayamvara (selection of husband by +Panchali), in which Arjuna by the exercise of Kshatriya virtues, won +Draupadi for wife. Then comes Vaivahika (marriage). Then comes +Viduragamana (advent of Vidura), Rajyalabha (acquirement of kingdom), +Arjuna-banavasa (exile of Arjuna) and Subhadra-harana (the carrying away +of Subhadra). After these come Harana-harika, Khandava-daha (the burning +of the Khandava forest) and Maya-darsana (meeting with Maya the Asura +architect). Then come Sabha, Mantra, Jarasandha, Digvijaya (general +campaign). After Digvijaya come Raja-suyaka, Arghyaviharana (the robbing +of the Arghya) and Sisupala-badha (the killing of Sisupala). After these, +Dyuta (gambling), Anudyuta (subsequent to gambling), Aranyaka, and +Krimira-badha (destruction of Krimira). The Arjuna-vigamana (the travels +of Arjuna), Kairati. In the last hath been described the battle between +Arjuna and Mahadeva in the guise of a hunter. After this +Indra-lokavigamana (the journey to the regions of Indra); then that mine +of religion and virtue, the highly pathetic Nalopakhyana (the story of +Nala). After this last, Tirtha-yatra or the pilgrimage of the wise prince +of the Kurus, the death of Jatasura, and the battle of the Yakshas. Then +the battle with the Nivata-kavachas, Ajagara, and Markandeya-Samasya +(meeting with Markandeya). Then the meeting of Draupadi and Satyabhama, +Ghoshayatra, Mirga-Swapna (dream of the deer). Then the story of +Brihadaranyaka and then Aindradrumna. Then Draupadi-harana (the abduction +of Draupadi), Jayadratha-bimoksana (the release of Jayadratha). Then the +story of ‘Savitri’ illustrating the great merit of connubial chastity. +After this last, the story of ‘Rama’. The parva that comes next is called +‘Kundala-harana’ (the theft of the ear-rings). That which comes next is +‘Aranya’ and then ‘Vairata’. Then the entry of the Pandavas and the +fulfilment of their promise (of living unknown for one year). Then the +destruction of the ‘Kichakas’, then the attempt to take the kine (of +Virata by the Kauravas). The next is called the marriage of Abhimanyu +with the daughter of Virata. The next you must know is the most wonderful +parva called Udyoga. The next must be known by the name of ‘Sanjaya-yana’ +(the arrival of Sanjaya). Then comes ‘Prajagara’ (the sleeplessness of +Dhritarashtra owing to his anxiety). Then Sanatsujata, in which are the +mysteries of spiritual philosophy. Then ‘Yanasaddhi’, and then the +arrival of Krishna. Then the story of ‘Matali’ and then of ‘Galava’. Then +the stories of ‘Savitri’, ‘Vamadeva’, and ‘Vainya’. Then the story of +‘Jamadagnya and Shodasarajika’. Then the arrival of Krishna at the court, +and then Bidulaputrasasana. Then the muster of troops and the story of +Sheta. Then, must you know, comes the quarrel of the high-souled Karna. +Then the march to the field of the troops of both sides. The next hath +been called numbering the Rathis and Atirathas. Then comes the arrival of +the messenger Uluka which kindled the wrath (of the Pandavas). The next +that comes, you must know, is the story of Amba. Then comes the thrilling +story of the installation of Bhishma as commander-in-chief. The next is +called the creation of the insular region Jambu; then Bhumi; then the +account about the formation of islands. Then comes the ‘Bhagavat-gita’; +and then the death of Bhishma. Then the installation of Drona; then the +destruction of the ‘Sansaptakas’. Then the death of Abhimanyu; and then +the vow of Arjuna (to slay Jayadratha). Then the death of Jayadratha, and +then of Ghatotkacha. Then, must you know, comes the story of the death of +Drona of surprising interest. The next that comes is called the discharge +of the weapon called Narayana. Then, you know, is Karna, and then Salya. +Then comes the immersion in the lake, and then the encounter (between +Bhima and Duryodhana) with clubs. Then comes Saraswata, and then the +descriptions of holy shrines, and then genealogies. Then comes Sauptika +describing incidents disgraceful (to the honour of the Kurus). Then comes +the ‘Aisika’ of harrowing incidents. Then comes ‘Jalapradana’ oblations +of water to the manes of the deceased, and then the wailings of the +women. The next must be known as ‘Sraddha’ describing the funeral rites +performed for the slain Kauravas. Then comes the destruction of the +Rakshasa Charvaka who had assumed the disguise of a Brahmana (for +deceiving Yudhishthira). Then the coronation of the wise Yudhishthira. +The next is called the ‘Grihapravibhaga’. Then comes ‘Santi’, then +‘Rajadharmanusasana’, then ‘Apaddharma’, then ‘Mokshadharma’. Those that +follow are called respectively ‘Suka-prasna-abhigamana’, +‘Brahma-prasnanusana’, the origin of ‘Durvasa’, the disputations with +Maya. The next is to be known as ‘Anusasanika’. Then the ascension of +Bhishma to heaven. Then the horse-sacrifice, which when read purgeth all +sins away. The next must be known as the ‘Anugita’ in which are words of +spiritual philosophy. Those that follow are called ‘Asramvasa’, +‘Puttradarshana’ (meeting with the spirits of the deceased sons), and the +arrival of Narada. The next is called ‘Mausala’ which abounds with +terrible and cruel incidents. Then comes ‘Mahaprasthanika’ and ascension +to heaven. Then comes the Purana which is called Khilvansa. In this last +are contained ‘Vishnuparva’, Vishnu’s frolics and feats as a child, the +destruction of ‘Kansa’, and lastly, the very wonderful ‘Bhavishyaparva’ +(in which there are prophecies regarding the future). + +The high-souled Vyasa composed these hundred parvas of which the above is +only an abridgement: having distributed them into eighteen, the son of +Suta recited them consecutively in the forest of Naimisha as follows: + +‘In the Adi parva are contained Paushya, Pauloma, Astika, Adivansavatara, +Samva, the burning of the house of lac, the slaying of Hidimba, the +destruction of the Asura Vaka, Chitraratha, the Swayamvara of Draupadi, +her marriage after the overthrow of rivals in war, the arrival of Vidura, +the restoration, Arjuna’s exile, the abduction of Subhadra, the gift and +receipt of the marriage dower, the burning of the Khandava forest, and +the meeting with (the Asura-architect) Maya. The Paushya parva treats of +the greatness of Utanka, and the Pauloma, of the sons of Bhrigu. The +Astika describes the birth of Garuda and of the Nagas (snakes), the +churning of the ocean, the incidents relating to the birth of the +celestial steed Uchchaihsrava, and finally, the dynasty of Bharata, as +described in the Snake-sacrifice of king Janamejaya. The Sambhava parva +narrates the birth of various kings and heroes, and that of the sage, +Krishna Dwaipayana: the partial incarnations of deities, the generation +of Danavas and Yakshas of great prowess, and serpents, Gandharvas, birds, +and of all creatures; and lastly, of the life and adventures of king +Bharata--the progenitor of the line that goes by his name--the son born +of Sakuntala in the hermitage of the ascetic Kanwa. This parva also +describes the greatness of Bhagirathi, and the births of the Vasus in the +house of Santanu and their ascension to heaven. In this parva is also +narrated the birth of Bhishma uniting in himself portions of the energies +of the other Vasus, his renunciation of royalty and adoption of the +Brahmacharya mode of life, his adherence to his vows, his protection of +Chitrangada, and after the death of Chitrangada, his protection of his +younger brother, Vichitravirya, and his placing the latter on the throne: +the birth of Dharma among men in consequence of the curse of Animondavya; +the births of Dhritarashtra and Pandu through the potency of Vyasa’s +blessings (?) and also the birth of the Pandavas; the plottings of +Duryodhana to send the sons of Pandu to Varanavata, and the other dark +counsels of the sons of Dhritarashtra in regard to the Pandavas; then the +advice administered to Yudhishthira on his way by that well-wisher of the +Pandavas--Vidura--in the mlechchha language--the digging of the hole, the +burning of Purochana and the sleeping woman of the fowler caste, with her +five sons, in the house of lac; the meeting of the Pandavas in the +dreadful forest with Hidimba, and the slaying of her brother Hidimba by +Bhima of great prowess. The birth of Ghatotkacha; the meeting of the +Pandavas with Vyasa and in accordance with his advice their stay in +disguise in the house of a Brahmana in the city of Ekachakra; the +destruction of the Asura Vaka, and the amazement of the populace at the +sight; the extra-ordinary births of Krishna and Dhrishtadyumna; the +departure of the Pandavas for Panchala in obedience to the injunction of +Vyasa, and moved equally by the desire of winning the hand of Draupadi on +learning the tidings of the Swayamvara from the lips of a Brahmana; +victory of Arjuna over a Gandharva, called Angaraparna, on the banks of +the Bhagirathi, his contraction of friendship with his adversary, and his +hearing from the Gandharva the history of Tapati, Vasishtha and Aurva. +This parva treats of the journey of the Pandavas towards Panchala, the +acquisition of Draupadi in the midst of all the Rajas, by Arjuna, after +having successfully pierced the mark; and in the ensuing fight, the +defeat of Salya, Kama, and all the other crowned heads at the hands of +Bhima and Arjuna of great prowess; the ascertainment by Balarama and +Krishna, at the sight of these matchless exploits, that the heroes were +the Pandavas, and the arrival of the brothers at the house of the potter +where the Pandavas were staying; the dejection of Drupada on learning +that Draupadi was to be wedded to five husbands; the wonderful story of +the five Indras related in consequence; the extraordinary and +divinely-ordained wedding of Draupadi; the sending of Vidura by the sons +of Dhritarashtra as envoy to the Pandavas; the arrival of Vidura and his +sight to Krishna; the abode of the Pandavas in Khandava-prastha, and then +their rule over one half of the kingdom; the fixing of turns by the sons +of Pandu, in obedience to the injunction of Narada, for connubial +companionship with Krishna. In like manner hath the history of Sunda and +Upasunda been recited in this. This parva then treats of the departure of +Arjuna for the forest according to the vow, he having seen Draupadi and +Yudhishthira sitting together as he entered the chamber to take out arms +for delivering the kine of a certain Brahmana. This parva then describes +Arjuna’s meeting on the way with Ulupi, the daughter of a Naga (serpent); +it then relates his visits to several sacred spots; the birth of +Vabhruvahana; the deliverance by Arjuna of the five celestial damsels who +had been turned into alligators by the imprecation of a Brahmana, the +meeting of Madhava and Arjuna on the holy spot called Prabhasa; the +carrying away of Subhadra by Arjuna, incited thereto by her brother +Krishna, in the wonderful car moving on land and water, and through +mid-air, according to the wish of the rider; the departure for +Indraprastha, with the dower; the conception in the womb of Subhadra of +that prodigy of prowess, Abhimanyu; Yajnaseni’s giving birth to children; +then follows the pleasure-trip of Krishna and Arjuna to the banks of the +Jamuna and the acquisition by them of the discus and the celebrated bow +Gandiva; the burning of the forest of Khandava; the rescue of Maya by +Arjuna, and the escape of the serpent,--and the begetting of a son by +that best of Rishis, Mandapala, in the womb of the bird Sarngi. This +parva is divided by Vyasa into two hundred and twenty-seven chapters. +These two hundred and twenty-seven chapters contain eight thousand eight +hundred and eighty-four slokas. + +The second is the extensive parva called Sabha or the assembly, full of +matter. The subjects of this parva are the establishment of the grand +hall by the Pandavas; their review of their retainers; the description of +the lokapalas by Narada well-acquainted with the celestial regions; the +preparations for the Rajasuya sacrifice; the destruction of Jarasandha; +the deliverance by Vasudeva of the princes confined in the mountain-pass; +the campaign of universal conquest by the Pandavas; the arrival of the +princes at the Rajasuya sacrifice with tribute; the destruction of +Sisupala on the occasion of the sacrifice, in connection with offering of +arghya; Bhimasena’s ridicule of Duryodhana in the assembly; Duryodhana’s +sorrow and envy at the sight of the magnificent scale on which the +arrangements had been made; the indignation of Duryodhana in consequence, +and the preparations for the game of dice; the defeat of Yudhishthira at +play by the wily Sakuni; the deliverance by Dhritarashtra of his +afflicted daughter-in-law Draupadi plunged in the sea of distress caused +by the gambling, as of a boat tossed about by the tempestuous waves. The +endeavours of Duryodhana to engage Yudhishthira again in the game; and +the exile of the defeated Yudhishthira with his brothers. These +constitute what has been called by the great Vyasa the Sabha Parva. This +parva is divided into seventh-eight sections, O best of Brahmanas, of two +thousand, five hundred and seven slokas. + +Then comes the third parva called Aranyaka (relating to the forest) This +parva treats of the wending of the Pandavas to the forest and the +citizens, following the wise Yudhishthira, Yudhishthira’s adoration of +the god of day; according to the injunctions of Dhaumya, to be gifted +with the power of maintaining the dependent Brahmanas with food and +drink: the creation of food through the grace of the Sun: the expulsion +by Dhritarashtra of Vidura who always spoke for his master’s good; +Vidura’s coming to the Pandavas and his return to Dhritarashtra at the +solicitation of the latter; the wicked Duryodhana’s plottings to destroy +the forest-ranging Pandavas, being incited thereto by Karna; the +appearance of Vyasa and his dissuasion of Duryodhana bent on going to the +forest; the history of Surabhi; the arrival of Maitreya; his laying down +to Dhritarashtra the course of action; and his curse on Duryodhana; +Bhima’s slaying of Kirmira in battle; the coming of the Panchalas and the +princes of the Vrishni race to Yudhishthira on hearing of his defeat at +the unfair gambling by Sakuni; Dhananjaya’s allaying the wrath of +Krishna; Draupadi’s lamentations before Madhava; Krishna’s cheering her; +the fall of Sauva also has been here described by the Rishi; also +Krishna’s bringing Subhadra with her son to Dwaraka; and Dhrishtadyumna’s +bringing the son of Draupadi to Panchala; the entrance of the sons of +Pandu into the romantic Dwaita wood; conversation of Bhima, Yudhishthira, +and Draupadi; the coming of Vyasa to the Pandavas and his endowing +Yudhishthira with the power of Pratismriti; then, after the departure of +Vyasa, the removal of the Pandavas to the forest of Kamyaka; the +wanderings of Arjuna of immeasurable prowess in search of weapons; his +battle with Mahadeva in the guise of a hunter; his meeting with the +lokapalas and receipt of weapons from them; his journey to the regions of +Indra for arms and the consequent anxiety of Dhritarashtra; the wailings +and lamentations of Yudhishthira on the occasion of his meeting with the +worshipful great sage Brihadaswa. Here occurs the holy and highly +pathetic story of Nala illustrating the patience of Damayanti and the +character of Nala. Then the acquirement by Yudhishthira of the mysteries +of dice from the same great sage; then the arrival of the Rishi Lomasa +from the heavens to where the Pandavas were, and the receipt by these +high-souled dwellers in the woods of the intelligence brought by the +Rishi of their brother Arjuna staving in the heavens; then the pilgrimage +of the Pandavas to various sacred spots in accordance with the message of +Arjuna, and their attainment of great merit and virtue consequent on such +pilgrimage; then the pilgrimage of the great sage Narada to the shrine +Putasta; also the pilgrimage of the high-souled Pandavas. Here is the +deprivation of Karna of his ear-rings by Indra. Here also is recited the +sacrificial magnificence of Gaya; then the story of Agastya in which the +Rishi ate up the Asura Vatapi, and his connubial connection with +Lopamudra from the desire of offspring. Then the story of Rishyasringa +who adopted Brahmacharya mode of life from his very boyhood; then the +history of Rama of great prowess, the son of Jamadagni, in which has been +narrated the death of Kartavirya and the Haihayas; then the meeting +between the Pandavas and the Vrishnis in the sacred spot called Prabhasa; +then the story of Su-kanya in which Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu, made the +twins, Aswinis, drink, at the sacrifice of king Saryati, the Soma juice +(from which they had been excluded by the other gods), and in which +besides is shown how Chyavana himself acquired perpetual youth (as a boon +from the grateful Aswinis). Then hath been described the history of king +Mandhata; then the history of prince Jantu; and how king Somaka by +offering up his only son (Jantu) in sacrifice obtained a hundred others; +then the excellent history of the hawk and the pigeon; then the +examination of king Sivi by Indra, Agni, and Dharma; then the story of +Ashtavakra, in which occurs the disputation, at the sacrifice of Janaka, +between that Rishi and the first of logicians, Vandi, the son of Varuna; +the defeat of Vandi by the great Ashtavakra, and the release by the Rishi +of his father from the depths of the ocean. Then the story of Yavakrita, +and then that of the great Raivya: then the departure (of the Pandavas) +for Gandhamadana and their abode in the asylum called Narayana; then +Bhimasena’s journey to Gandhamadana at the request of Draupadi (in search +of the sweet-scented flower). Bhima’s meeting on his way, in a grove of +bananas, with Hanuman, the son of Pavana of great prowess; Bhima’s bath +in the tank and the destruction of the flowers therein for obtaining the +sweet-scented flower (he was in search of); his consequent battle with +the mighty Rakshasas and the Yakshas of great prowess including Hanuman; +the destruction of the Asura Jata by Bhima; the meeting (of the Pandavas) +with the royal sage Vrishaparva; their departure for the asylum of +Arshtishena and abode therein: the incitement of Bhima (to acts of +vengeance) by Draupadi. Then is narrated the ascent on the hills of +Kailasa by Bhimasena, his terrific battle with the mighty Yakshas headed +by Hanuman; then the meeting of the Pandavas with Vaisravana (Kuvera), +and the meeting with Arjuna after he had obtained for the purpose of +Yudhishthira many celestial weapons; then Arjuna’s terrible encounter +with the Nivatakavachas dwelling in Hiranyaparva, and also with the +Paulomas, and the Kalakeyas; their destruction at the hands of Arjuna; +the commencement of the display of the celestial weapons by Arjuna before +Yudhishthira, the prevention of the same by Narada; the descent of the +Pandavas from Gandhamadana; the seizure of Bhima in the forest by a +mighty serpent huge as the mountain; his release from the coils of the +snake, upon Yudhishthira’s answering certain questions; the return of the +Pandavas to the Kamyaka woods. Here is described the reappearance of +Vasudeva to see the mighty sons of Pandu; the arrival of Markandeya, and +various recitals, the history of Prithu the son of Vena recited by the +great Rishi; the stories of Saraswati and the Rishi Tarkhya. After these, +is the story of Matsya; other old stories recited by Markandeya; the +stories of Indradyumna and Dhundhumara; then the history of the chaste +wife; the history of Angira, the meeting and conversation of Draupadi and +Satyabhama; the return of the Pandavas to the forest of Dwaita; then the +procession to see the calves and the captivity of Duryodhana; and when +the wretch was being carried off, his rescue by Arjuna; here is +Yudhishthira’s dream of the deer; then the re-entry of the Pandavas into +the Kamyaka forest, here also is the long story of Vrihidraunika. Here +also is recited the story of Durvasa; then the abduction by Jayadratha of +Draupadi from the asylum; the pursuit of the ravisher by Bhima swift as +the air and the ill-shaving of Jayadratha’s crown at Bhima’s hand. Here +is the long history of Rama in which is shown how Rama by his prowess +slew Ravana in battle. Here also is narrated the story of Savitri; then +Karna’s deprivation by Indra of his ear-rings; then the presentation to +Karna by the gratified Indra of a Sakti (missile weapon) which had the +virtue of killing only one person against whom it might be hurled; then +the story called Aranya in which Dharma (the god of justice) gave advice +to his son (Yudhishthira); in which, besides is recited how the Pandavas +after having obtained a boon went towards the west. These are all +included in the third Parva called Aranyaka, consisting of two hundred +and sixty-nine sections. The number of slokas is eleven thousand, six +hundred and sixty-four. + +“The extensive Parva that comes next is called Virata. The Pandavas +arriving at the dominions of Virata saw in a cemetery on the outskirts of +the city a large shami tree whereon they kept their weapons. Here hath +been recited their entry into the city and their stay there in disguise. +Then the slaying by Bhima of the wicked Kichaka who, senseless with lust, +had sought Draupadi; the appointment by prince Duryodhana of clever +spies; and their despatch to all sides for tracing the Pandavas; the +failure of these to discover the mighty sons of Pandu; the first seizure +of Virata’s kine by the Trigartas and the terrific battle that ensued; +the capture of Virata by the enemy and his rescue by Bhimasena; the +release also of the kine by the Pandava (Bhima); the seizure of Virata’s +kine again by the Kurus; the defeat in battle of all the Kurus by the +single-handed Arjuna; the release of the king’s kine; the bestowal by +Virata of his daughter Uttara for Arjuna’s acceptance on behalf of his +son by Subhadra--Abhimanyu--the destroyer of foes. These are the contents +of the extensive fourth Parva--the Virata. The great Rishi Vyasa has +composed in these sixty-seven sections. The number of slokas is two +thousand and fifty. + +“Listen then to (the contents of) the fifth Parva which must be known as +Udyoga. While the Pandavas, desirous of victory, were residing in the +place called Upaplavya, Duryodhana and Arjuna both went at the same time +to Vasudeva, and said, “You should render us assistance in this war.” The +high-souled Krishna, upon these words being uttered, replied, “O ye first +of men, a counsellor in myself who will not fight and one Akshauhini of +troops, which of these shall I give to which of you?” Blind to his own +interests, the foolish Duryodhana asked for the troops; while Arjuna +solicited Krishna as an unfighting counsellor. Then is described how, +when the king of Madra was coming for the assistance of the Pandavas, +Duryodhana, having deceived him on the way by presents and hospitality, +induced him to grant a boon and then solicited his assistance in battle; +how Salya, having passed his word to Duryodhana, went to the Pandavas and +consoled them by reciting the history of Indra’s victory (over Vritra). +Then comes the despatch by the Pandavas of their Purohita (priest) to the +Kauravas. Then is described how king Dhritarashtra of great prowess, +having heard the word of the purohita of the Pandavas and the story of +Indra’s victory decided upon sending his purohita and ultimately +despatched Sanjaya as envoy to the Pandavas from desire for peace. Here +hath been described the sleeplessness of Dhritarashtra from anxiety upon +hearing all about the Pandavas and their friends, Vasudeva and others. It +was on this occasion that Vidura addressed to the wise king Dhritarashtra +various counsels that were full of wisdom. It was here also that +Sanat-sujata recited to the anxious and sorrowing monarch the excellent +truths of spiritual philosophy. On the next morning Sanjaya spoke, in the +court of the King, of the identity of Vasudeva and Arjuna. It was then +that the illustrious Krishna, moved by kindness and a desire for peace, +went himself to the Kaurava capital, Hastinapura, for bringing about +peace. Then comes the rejection by prince Duryodhana of the embassy of +Krishna who had come to solicit peace for the benefit of both parties. +Here hath been recited the story of Damvodvava; then the story of the +high-souled Matuli’s search for a husband for his daughter: then the +history of the great sage Galava; then the story of the training and +discipline of the son of Bidula. Then the exhibition by Krishna, before +the assembled Rajas, of his Yoga powers upon learning the evil counsels +of Duryodhana and Karna; then Krishna’s taking Karna in his chariot and +his tendering to him of advice, and Karna’s rejection of the same from +pride. Then the return of Krishna, the chastiser of enemies from +Hastinapura to Upaplavya, and his narration to the Pandavas of all that +had happened. It was then that those oppressors of foes, the Pandavas, +having heard all and consulted properly with each other, made every +preparation for war. Then comes the march from Hastinapura, for battle, +of foot-soldiers, horses, charioteers and elephants. Then the tale of the +troops by both parties. Then the despatch by prince Duryodhana of Uluka +as envoy to the Pandavas on the day previous to the battle. Then the tale +of charioteers of different classes. Then the story of Amba. These all +have been described in the fifth Parva called Udyoga of the Bharata, +abounding with incidents appertaining to war and peace. O ye ascetics, +the great Vyasa hath composed one hundred and eighty-six sections in this +Parva. The number of slokas also composed in this by the great Rishi is +six thousand, six hundred and ninety-eight. + +“Then is recited the Bhishma Parva replete with wonderful incidents. In +this hath been narrated by Sanjaya the formation of the region known as +Jambu. Here hath been described the great depression of Yudhishthira’s +army, and also a fierce fight for ten successive days. In this the +high-souled Vasudeva by reasons based on the philosophy of final release +drove away Arjuna’s compunction springing from the latter’s regard for +his kindred (whom he was on the eve of slaying). In this the magnanimous +Krishna, attentive to the welfare of Yudhishthira, seeing the loss +inflicted (on the Pandava army), descended swiftly from his chariot +himself and ran, with dauntless breast, his driving whip in hand, to +effect the death of Bhishma. In this, Krishna also smote with piercing +words Arjuna, the bearer of the Gandiva and the foremost in battle among +all wielders of weapons. In this, the foremost of bowmen, Arjuna, placing +Shikandin before him and piercing Bhishma with his sharpest arrows felled +him from his chariot. In this, Bhishma lay stretched on his bed of +arrows. This extensive Parva is known as the sixth in the Bharata. In +this have been composed one hundred and seventeen sections. The number of +slokas is five thousand, eight hundred and eighty-four as told by Vyasa +conversant with the Vedas. + +“Then is recited the wonderful Parva called Drona full of incidents. +First comes the installation in the command of the army of the great +instructor in arms, Drona: then the vow made by that great master of +weapons of seizing the wise Yudhishthira in battle to please Duryodhana; +then the retreat of Arjuna from the field before the Sansaptakas, then +the overthrow of Bhagadatta like to a second Indra in the field, with the +elephant Supritika, by Arjuna; then the death of the hero Abhimanyu in +his teens, alone and unsupported, at the hands of many Maharathas +including Jayadratha; then after the death of Abhimanyu, the destruction +by Arjuna, in battle of seven Akshauhinis of troops and then of +Jayadratha; then the entry, by Bhima of mighty arms and by that foremost +of warriors-in-chariot, Satyaki, into the Kaurava ranks impenetrable even +to the gods, in search of Arjuna in obedience to the orders of +Yudhishthira, and the destruction of the remnant of the Sansaptakas. In +the Drona Parva, is the death of Alambusha, of Srutayus, of Jalasandha, +of Shomadatta, of Virata, of the great warrior-in-chariot Drupada, of +Ghatotkacha and others; in this Parva, Aswatthaman, excited beyond +measure at the fall of his father in battle, discharged the terrible +weapon Narayana. Then the glory of Rudra in connection with the burning +(of the three cities). Then the arrival of Vyasa and recital by him of +the glory of Krishna and Arjuna. This is the great seventh Parva of the +Bharata in which all the heroic chiefs and princes mentioned were sent to +their account. The number of sections in this is one hundred and seventy. +The number of slokas as composed in the Drona Parva by Rishi Vyasa, the +son of Parasara and the possessor of true knowledge after much +meditation, is eight thousand, nine hundred and nine. + +“Then comes the most wonderful Parva called Karna. In this is narrated +the appointment of the wise king of Madra as (Karna’s) charioteer. Then +the history of the fall of the Asura Tripura. Then the application to +each other by Karna and Salya of harsh words on their setting out for the +field, then the story of the swan and the crow recited in insulting +allusion: then the death of Pandya at the hands of the high-souled +Aswatthaman; then the death of Dandasena; then that of Darda; then +Yudhishthira’s imminent risk in single combat with Karna in the presence +of all the warriors; then the mutual wrath of Yudhishthira and Arjuna; +then Krishna’s pacification of Arjuna. In this Parva, Bhima, in +fulfilment of his vow, having ripped open Dussasana’s breast in battle +drank the blood of his heart. Then Arjuna slew the great Karna in single +combat. Readers of the Bharata call this the eighth Parva. The number of +sections in this is sixty-nine and the number of slokas is four thousand, +nine hundred and sixty-tour. + +“Then hath been recited the wonderful Parva called Salya. After all the +great warriors had been slain, the king of Madra became the leader of the +(Kaurava) army. The encounters one after another, of charioteers, have +been here described. Then comes the fall of the great Salya at the hands +of Yudhishthira, the Just. Here also is the death of Sakuni in battle at +the hands of Sahadeva. Upon only a small remnant of the troops remaining +alive after the immense slaughter, Duryodhana went to the lake and +creating for himself room within its waters lay stretched there for some +time. Then is narrated the receipt of this intelligence by Bhima from the +fowlers: then is narrated how, moved by the insulting speeches of the +intelligent Yudhishthira, Duryodhana ever unable to bear affronts, came +out of the waters. Then comes the encounter with clubs, between +Duryodhana and Bhima; then the arrival, at the time of such encounter, of +Balarama: then is described the sacredness of the Saraswati; then the +progress of the encounter with clubs; then the fracture of Duryodhana’s +thighs in battle by Bhima with (a terrific hurl of) his mace. These all +have been described in the wonderful ninth Parva. In this the number of +sections is fifty-nine and the number of slokas composed by the great +Vyasa--the spreader of the fame of the Kauravas--is three thousand, two +hundred and twenty. + +“Then shall I describe the Parva called Sauptika of frightful incidents. +On the Pandavas having gone away, the mighty charioteers, Kritavarman, +Kripa, and the son of Drona, came to the field of battle in the evening +and there saw king Duryodhana lying on the ground, his thighs broken, and +himself covered with blood. Then the great charioteer, the son of Drona, +of terrible wrath, vowed, ‘without killing all the Panchalas including +Drishtadyumna, and the Pandavas also with all their allies, I will not +take off armour.’ Having spoken those words, the three warriors leaving +Duryodhana’s side entered the great forest just as the sun was setting. +While sitting under a large banian tree in the night, they saw an owl +killing numerous crows one after another. At the sight of this, +Aswatthaman, his heart full of rage at the thought of his father’s fate, +resolved to slay the slumbering Panchalas. And wending to the gate of the +camp, he saw there a Rakshasa of frightful visage, his head reaching to +the very heavens, guarding the entrance. And seeing that Rakshasa +obstructing all his weapons, the son of Drona speedily pacified by +worship the three-eyed Rudra. And then accompanied by Kritavarman and +Kripa he slew all the sons of Draupadi, all the Panchalas with +Dhrishtadyumna and others, together with their relatives, slumbering +unsuspectingly in the night. All perished on that fatal night except the +five Pandavas and the great warrior Satyaki. Those escaped owing to +Krishna’s counsels, then the charioteer of Dhrishtadyumna brought to the +Pandavas intelligence of the slaughter of the slumbering Panchalas by the +son of Drona. Then Draupadi distressed at the death of her sons and +brothers and father sat before her lords resolved to kill herself by +fasting. Then Bhima of terrible prowess, moved by the words of Draupadi, +resolved, to please her; and speedily taking up his mace followed in +wrath the son of his preceptor in arms. The son of Drona from fear of +Bhimasena and impelled by the fates and moved also by anger discharged a +celestial weapon saying, ‘This is for the destruction of all the +Pandavas’; then Krishna saying. ‘This shall not be’, neutralised +Aswatthaman’s speech. Then Arjuna neutralised that weapon by one of his +own. Seeing the wicked Aswatthaman’s destructive intentions, Dwaipayana +and Krishna pronounced curses on him which the latter returned. Pandava +then deprived the mighty warrior-in-chariot Aswatthaman, of the jewel on +his head, and became exceedingly glad, and, boastful of their success, +made a present of it to the sorrowing Draupadi. Thus the tenth Parva, +called Sauptika, is recited. The great Vyasa hath composed this in +eighteen sections. The number of slokas also composed (in this) by the +great reciter of sacred truths is eight hundred and seventy. In this +Parva has been put together by the great Rishi the two Parvas called +Sauptika and Aishika. + +“After this hath been recited the highly pathetic Parva called Stri, +Dhritarashtra of prophetic eye, afflicted at the death of his children, +and moved by enmity towards Bhima, broke into pieces a statue of hard +iron deftly placed before him by Krishna (as substitute of Bhima). Then +Vidura, removing the distressed Dhritarashtra’s affection for worldly +things by reasons pointing to final release, consoled that wise monarch. +Then hath been described the wending of the distressed Dhritarashtra +accompanied by the ladies of his house to the field of battle of the +Kauravas. Here follow the pathetic wailings of the wives of the slain +heroes. Then the wrath of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra and their loss of +consciousness. Then the Kshatriya ladies saw those heroes,--their +unreturning sons, brothers, and fathers,--lying dead on the field. Then +the pacification by Krishna of the wrath of Gandhari distressed at the +death of her sons and grandsons. Then the cremation of the bodies of the +deceased Rajas with due rites by that monarch (Yudhishthira) of great +wisdom and the foremost also of all virtuous men. Then upon the +presentation of water of the manes of the deceased princes having +commenced, the story of Kunti’s acknowledgment of Karna as her son born +in secret. Those have all been described by the great Rishi Vyasa in the +highly pathetic eleventh Parva. Its perusal moveth every feeling heart +with sorrow and even draweth tears from the eyes. The number of sections +composed is twenty-seven. The number of slokas is seven hundred and +seventy-five. + +“Twelfth in number cometh the Santi Parva, which increaseth the +understanding and in which is related the despondency of Yudhishthira on +his having slain his fathers, brothers, sons, maternal uncles and +matrimonial relations. In this Parva is described how from his bed of +arrows Bhishma expounded various systems of duties worth the study of +kings desirous of knowledge; this Parva expounded the duties relative to +emergencies, with full indications of time and reasons. By understanding +these, a person attaineth to consummate knowledge. The mysteries also of +final emancipation have been expatiated upon. This is the twelfth Parva +the favourite of the wise. It consists of three hundred and thirty-nine +sections, and contains fourteen thousand, seven hundred and thirty-two +slokas. + +“Next in order is the excellent Anusasana Parva. In it is described how +Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus, was reconciled to himself on hearing +the exposition of duties by Bhishma, the son of Bhagirathi. This Parva +treats of rules in detail and of Dharma and Artha; then the rules of +charity and its merits; then the qualifications of donees, and the +supreme ride-regarding gifts. This Parva also describes the ceremonials +of individual duty, the rules of conduct and the matchless merit of +truth. This Parva showeth the great merit of Brahmanas and kine, and +unraveleth the mysteries of duties in relation to time and place. These +are embodied in the excellent Parva called Anusasana of varied incidents. +In this hath been described the ascension of Bhishma to Heaven. This is +the thirteenth Parva which hath laid down accurately the various duties +of men. The number of sections, in this is one hundred and forty-six. The +number of slokas is eight thousand. + +“Then comes the fourteenth Parva Aswamedhika. In this is the excellent +story of Samvarta and Marutta. Then is described the discovery (by the +Pandavas) of golden treasuries; and then the birth of Parikshit who was +revived by Krishna after having been burnt by the (celestial) weapon of +Aswatthaman. The battles of Arjuna the son of Pandu, while following the +sacrificial horse let loose, with various princes who in wrath seized it. +Then is shown the great risk of Arjuna in his encounter with Vabhruvahana +the son of Chitrangada (by Arjuna) the appointed daughter of the chief of +Manipura. Then the story of the mongoose during the performance of the +horse-sacrifice. This is the most wonderful Parva called Aswamedhika. The +number of sections is one hundred and three. The number of slokas +composed (in this) by Vyasa of true knowledge is three thousand, three +hundred and twenty. + +“Then comes the fifteenth Parva called Asramvasika. In this, +Dhritarashtra, abdicating the kingdom, and accompanied by Gandhari and +Vidura went to the woods. Seeing this, the virtuous Pritha also, ever +engaged in cherishing her superiors, leaving the court of her sons, +followed the old couple. In this is described the wonderful meeting +through the kindness of Vyasa of the king (Dhritarashtra) with the +spirits of his slain children, grand-children, and other princes, +returned from the other world. Then the monarch abandoning his sorrows +acquired with his wife the highest fruit of his meritorious actions. In +this Parva, Vidura after having leaned on virtue all his life attaineth +to the most meritorious state. + +“The learned son of Gavalgana, Sanjaya, also of passions under full +control, and the foremost of ministers, attained, in the Parva, to the +blessed state. In this, Yudhishthira the just met Narada and heard from +him about the extinction of the race of Vrishnis. This is the very +wonderful Parva called Asramvasika. The number of sections in this is +forty-two, and the number of slokas composed by Vyasa cognisant of truth +is one thousand five hundred and six. + +“After this, you know, comes the Maushala of painful incidents. In this, +those lion-hearted heroes (of the race of Vrishni) with the scars of many +a field on their bodies, oppressed with the curse of a Brahmana, while +deprived of reason from drink, impelled by the fates, slew each other on +the shores of the Salt Sea with the Eraka grass which (in their hands) +became (invested with the fatal attributes of the) thunder. In this, both +Balarama and Kesava (Krishna) after causing the extermination of their +race, their hour having come, themselves did not rise superior to the +sway of all-destroying Time. In this, Arjuna the foremost among men, +going to Dwaravati (Dwaraka) and seeing the city destitute of the +Vrishnis was much affected and became exceedingly sorry. Then after the +funeral of his maternal uncle Vasudeva the foremost among the Yadus +(Vrishnis), he saw the heroes of the Yadu race lying stretched in death +on the spot where they had been drinking. He then caused the cremation of +the bodies of the illustrious Krishna and Balarama and of the principal +members of the Vrishni race. Then as he was journeying from Dwaraka with +the women and children, the old and the decrepit--the remnants of the +Yadu race--he was met on the way by a heavy calamity. He witnessed also +the disgrace of his bow Gandiva and the unpropitiousness of his celestial +weapons. Seeing all this, Arjuna became despondent and, pursuant to +Vyasa’s advice, went to Yudhishthira and solicited permission to adopt +the Sannyasa mode of life. This is the sixteenth Parva called Maushala +The number of sections is eight and the number of slokas composed by +Vyasa cognisant of truth is three hundred and twenty. + +“The next is Mahaprasthanika, the seventeenth Parva. + +“In this, those foremost among men the Pandavas abdicating their kingdom +went with Draupadi on their great journey called Mahaprasthana. In this, +they came across Agni, having arrived on the shore of the sea of red +waters. In this, asked by Agni himself, Arjuna worshipped him duly, +returned to him the excellent celestial bow called Gandiva. In this, +leaving his brothers who dropped one after another and Draupadi also, +Yudhishthira went on his journey without once looking back on them. This +the seventeenth Parva is called Mahaprasthanika. The number of sections +in this is three. The number of slokas also composed by Vyasa cognisant +of truth is three hundred and twenty. + +“The Parva that comes after this, you must know, is the extraordinary one +called Svarga of celestial incidents. Then seeing the celestial car come +to take him, Yudhishthira moved by kindness towards the dog that +accompanied him, refused to ascend it without his companion. Observing +the illustrious Yudhishthira’s steady adherence to virtue, Dharma (the +god of justice) abandoning his canine form showed himself to the king. +Then Yudhishthira ascending to heaven felt much pain. The celestial +messenger showed him hell by an act of deception. Then Yudhishthira, the +soul of justice, heard the heart-rending lamentations of his brothers +abiding in that region under the discipline of Yama. Then Dharma and +Indra showed Yudhishthira the region appointed for sinners. Then +Yudhishthira, after leaving the human body by a plunge in the celestial +Ganges, attained to that region which his acts merited, and began to live +in joy respected by Indra and all other gods. This is the eighteenth +Parva as narrated by the illustrious Vyasa. The number of slokas +composed, O ascetics, by the great Rishi in this is two hundred and nine. + +“The above are the contents of the Eighteen Parvas. In the appendix +(Khita) are the Harivansa and the Vavishya. The number of slokas +contained in the Harivansa is twelve thousand.” + +These are the contents of the section called Parva-sangraha. Sauti +continued, “Eighteen Akshauhinis of troops came together for battle. The +encounter that ensued was terrible and lasted for eighteen days. He who +knows the four Vedas with all the Angas and Upanishads, but does not know +this history (Bharata), cannot be regarded as wise. Vyasa of immeasurable +intelligence, has spoken of the Mahabharata as a treatise on Artha, on +Dharma, and on Kama. Those who have listened to his history can never +bear to listen to others, as, indeed, they who have listened to the sweet +voice of the male Kokila can never hear the dissonance of the crow’s +cawing. As the formation of the three worlds proceedeth from the five +elements, so do the inspirations of all poets proceed from this excellent +composition. O ye Brahman, as the four kinds of creatures (viviparous, +oviparous, born of hot moisture and vegetables) are dependent on space +for their existence, so the Puranas depend upon this history. As all the +senses depend for their exercise upon the various modifications of the +mind, so do all acts (ceremonials) and moral qualities depend upon this +treatise. There is not a story current in the world but doth depend on +this history, even as body upon the food it taketh. All poets cherish the +Bharata even as servants desirous of preferment always attend upon +masters of good lineage. Even as the blessed domestic Asrama can never be +surpassed by the three other Asramas (modes of life) so no poets can +surpass this poem. + +“Ye ascetics, shake off all inaction. Let your hearts be fixed on virtue, +for virtue is the one only friend of him that has gone to the other +world. Even the most intelligent by cherishing wealth and wives can never +make these their own, nor are these possessions lasting. The Bharata +uttered by the lips of Dwaipayana is without a parallel; it is virtue +itself and sacred. It destroyeth sin and produceth good. He that +listeneth to it while it is being recited hath no need of a bath in the +sacred waters of Pushkara. A Brahmana, whatever sins he may commit during +the day through his senses, is freed from them all by reading the Bharata +in the evening. Whatever sins he may commit also in the night by deeds, +words, or mind, he is freed from them all by reading Bharata in the first +twilight (morning). He that giveth a hundred kine with horns mounted with +gold to a Brahmana well-posted up in the Vedas and all branches of +learning, and he that daily listeneth to the sacred narrations of the +Bharata, acquireth equal merit. As the wide ocean is easily passable by +men having ships, so is this extensive history of great excellence and +deep import with the help of this chapter called Parva sangraha.” + +Thus endeth the section called Parva-sangraha of the Adi Parva of the +blessed Mahabharata. + + + +SECTION III + +(Paushya Parva) + +Sauti said, “Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, was, with his brothers, +attending his long sacrifice on the plains of Kurukshetra. His brothers +were three, Srutasena, Ugrasena, and Bhimasena. And as they were sitting +at the sacrifice, there arrived at the spot an offspring of Sarama (the +celestial bitch). And belaboured by the brothers of Janamejaya, he ran +away to his mother, crying in pain. And his mother seeing him crying +exceedingly asked him, ‘Why criest thou so? Who hath beaten thee? And +being thus questioned, he said unto his mother, ‘I have been belaboured +by the brothers of Janamejaya.’ And his mother replied, ‘Thou hast +committed some fault for which hast thou been beaten!’ He answered, ‘I +have not committed any fault. I have not touched the sacrificial butter +with my tongue, nor have I even cast a look upon it.’ His mother Sarama +hearing this and much distressed at the affliction of her son went to the +place where Janamejaya with his brothers was at his long-extending +sacrifice. And she addressed Janamejaya in anger, saying, ‘This my son +hath committed no fault: he hath not looked upon your sacrificial butter, +nor hath he touched it with his tongue. Wherefore hath he been beaten?’ +They said not a word in reply; whereupon she said, ‘As ye have beaten my +son who hath committed no fault, therefore shall evil come upon ye, when +ye least expect it.’ + +“Janamejaya, thus addressed by the celestial bitch, Sarama, became +exceedingly alarmed and dejected. And after the sacrifice was concluded +returned to Hastinapura, and began to take great pains in searching for a +Purohita who could by procuring absolution for his sin, neutralise the +effect of the curse. + +“One day Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, while a-hunting, observed in a +particular part of his dominions a hermitage where dwelt a certain Rishi +of fame, Srutasrava. He had a son named Somasrava deeply engaged in +ascetic devotions. Being desirous of appointing that son of the Rishi as +his Purohita, Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, saluted the Rishi and +addressed him, saying, ‘O possessor of the six attributes, let this thy +son be my purohita.’ The Rishi thus addressed, answered Janamejaya, ‘O +Janamejaya, this my son, deep in ascetic devotions, accomplished in the +study of the Vedas, and endued with the full force of my asceticism, is +born of (the womb of) a she-snake that had drunk my vital fluid. He is +able to absolve thee from all offences save those committed against +Mahadeva. But he hath one particular habit, viz. he would grant to any +Brahmana whatever might be begged of him. If thou canst put up with it, +then thou take him.’ Janamejaya thus addressed replied to the Rishi, ‘It +shall be even so.’ And accepting him for his Purohita, he returned to his +capital; and he then addressed his brothers saying, ‘This is the person I +have chosen for my spiritual master; whatsoever he may say must be +complied with by you without examination.’ And his brothers did as they +were directed. And giving these directions to his brothers, the king +marched towards Takshyashila and brought that country under his authority. + +“About this time there was a Rishi, Ayoda-Dhaumya by name. And +Ayoda-Dhaumya had three disciples, Upamanyu, Aruni, and Veda. And the +Rishi bade one of these disciples, Aruni of Panchala, to go and stop up a +breach in the water-course of a certain field. And Aruni of Panchala, +thus ordered by his preceptor, repaired to the spot. And having gone +there he saw that he could not stop up the breach in the water-course by +ordinary means. And he was distressed because he could not do his +preceptor’s bidding. But at length he saw a way and said, ‘Well, I will +do it in this way.’ He then went down into the breach and lay down +himself there. And the water was thus confined. + +“And some time after, the preceptor Ayoda-Dhaumya asked his other +disciples where Aruni of Panchala was. And they answered, ‘Sir, he hath +been sent by yourself saying, ‘Go, stop up the breach in the water-course +of the field,’ Thus reminded, Dhaumya, addressing his pupils, said, ‘Then +let us all go to the place where he is.’ + +“And having arrived there, he shouted, ‘Ho Aruni of Panchala! Where art +thou? Come hither, my child.’ And Aruni hearing the voice of his +preceptor speedily came out of the water-course and stood before his +preceptor. And addressing the latter, Aruni said, ‘Here I am in the +breach of the water-course. Not having been able to devise any other +means, I entered myself for the purpose of preventing the water running +out. It is only upon hearing thy voice that, having left it and allowed +the waters to escape, I have stood before thee. I salute thee, Master; +tell me what I have to do.’ + +“The preceptor, thus addressed, replied, ‘Because in getting up from the +ditch thou hast opened the water-course, thenceforth shalt thou be called +Uddalaka as a mark of thy preceptor’s favour. And because my words have +been obeyed by thee, thou shalt obtain good fortune. And all the Vedas +shall shine in thee and all the Dharmasastras also.’ And Aruni, thus +addressed by his preceptor, went to the country after his heart. + +“The name of another of Ayoda-Dhaumya’s disciples was Upamanyu. And +Dhaumya appointed him saying, ‘Go, my child, Upamanyu, look after the +kine.’ And according to his preceptor’s orders, he went to tend the kine. +And having watched them all day, he returned in the evening to his +preceptor’s house and standing before him he saluted him respectfully. +And his preceptor seeing him in good condition of body asked him, +‘Upamanyu, my child, upon what dost thou support thyself? Thou art +exceedingly plump.’ And he answered, ‘Sir, I support myself by begging’. +And his preceptor said, ‘What is obtained in alms should not be used by +thee without offering it to me.’ And Upamanyu, thus told, went away. And +having obtained alms, he offered the same to his preceptor. And his +preceptor took from him even the whole. And Upamanyu, thus treated, went +to attend the cattle. And having watched them all day, he returned in the +evening to his preceptor’s abode. And he stood before his preceptor and +saluted him with respect. And his preceptor perceiving that he still +continued to be of good condition of body said unto him, ‘Upamanyu, my +child, I take from thee even the whole of what thou obtainest in alms, +without leaving anything for thee. How then dost thou, at present, +contrive to support thyself?’ And Upamanyu said unto his preceptor, ‘Sir, +having made over to you all that I obtain in alms, I go a-begging a +second time for supporting myself.’ And his preceptor then replied, ‘This +is not the way in which thou shouldst obey the preceptor. By this thou +art diminishing the support of others that live by begging. Truly having +supported thyself so, thou hast proved thyself covetous.’ And Upamanyu, +having signified his assent to all that his preceptor said, went away to +attend the cattle. And having watched them all day, he returned to his +preceptor’s house. And he stood before his preceptor and saluted him +respectfully. And his preceptor observing that he was still fat, said +again unto him, ‘Upamanyu, my child, I take from thee all thou obtainest +in alms and thou dost not go a-begging a second time, and yet art thou in +healthy condition. How dost thou support thyself?’ And Upamanyu, thus +questioned, answered, ‘Sir, I now live upon the milk of these cows.’ And +his preceptor thereupon told him, ‘It is not lawful for thee to +appropriate the milk without having first obtained my consent.’ And +Upamanyu having assented to the justice of these observations, went away +to tend the kine. And when he returned to his preceptor’s abode, he stood +before him and saluted him as usual. And his preceptor seeing that he was +still fat, said, ‘Upamanyu, my child, thou eatest no longer of alms, nor +dost thou go a-begging a second time, not even drinkest of the milk; yet +art thou fat. By what means dost thou contrive to live now? And Upamanyu +replied, ‘Sir, I now sip the froth that these calves throw out, while +sucking their mother’s teats.’ And the preceptor said, ‘These generous +calves, I suppose, out of compassion for thee, throw out large quantities +of froth. Wouldst thou stand in the way of their full meals by acting as +thou hast done? Know that it is unlawful for thee to drink the froth.’ +And Upamanyu, having signified his assent to this, went as before to tend +the cows. And restrained by his preceptor, he feedeth not on alms, nor +hath he anything else to eat; he drinketh not of the milk, nor tasteth he +of the froth! + +“And Upamanyu, one day, oppressed by hunger, when in a forest, ate of the +leaves of the Arka (Asclepias gigantea). And his eyes being affected by +the pungent, acrimonious, crude, and saline properties of the leaves +which he had eaten, he became blind. And as he was crawling about, he +fell into a pit. And upon his not returning that day when the sun was +sinking down behind the summit of the western mountains, the preceptor +observed to his disciples that Upamanyu was not yet come. And they told +him that he had gone out with the cattle. + +“The preceptor then said, ‘Upamanyu being restrained by me from the use +of everything, is, of course, and therefore, doth not come home until it +be late. Let us then go in search of him.’ And having said this, he went +with his disciples into the forest and began to shout, saying, ‘Ho +Upamanyu, where art thou?’ And Upamanyu hearing his preceptor’s voice +answered in a loud tone, ‘Here I am at the bottom of a well.’ And his +preceptor asked him how he happened to be there. And Upamanyu replied, +‘Having eaten of the leaves of the Arka plant I became blind, and so have +I fallen into this well.’ And his preceptor thereupon told him, ‘Glorify +the twin Aswins, the joint physicians of the gods, and they will restore +thee thy sight.’ And Upamanyu thus directed by his preceptor began to +glorify the twin Aswins, in the following words of the Rig Veda: + +‘Ye have existed before the creation! Ye first-born beings, ye are +displayed in this wondrous universe of five elements! I desire to obtain +you by the help of the knowledge derived from hearing, and of meditation, +for ye are Infinite! Ye are the course itself of Nature and intelligent +Soul that pervades that course! Ye are birds of beauteous feathers +perched on the body that is like to a tree! Ye are without the three +common attributes of every soul! Ye are incomparable! Ye, through your +spirit in every created thing, pervade the Universe! + +“Ye are golden Eagles! Ye are the essence into which all things +disappear! Ye are free from error and know no deterioration! Ye are of +beauteous beaks that would not unjustly strike and are victorious in +every encounter! Ye certainly prevail over time! Having created the sun, +ye weave the wondrous cloth of the year by means of the white thread of +the day and the black thread of the night! And with the cloth so woven, +ye have established two courses of action appertaining respectively to +the Devas and the Pitris. The bird of Life seized by Time which +represents the strength of the Infinite soul, ye set free for delivering +her unto great happiness! They that are in deep ignorance, as long as +they are under delusions of their senses, suppose you, who are +independent of the attributes of matter, to be gifted with form! Three +hundred and sixty cows represented by three hundred and sixty days +produce one calf between them which is the year. That calf is the creator +and destroyer of all. Seekers of truth following different routes, draw +the milk of true knowledge with its help. Ye Aswins, ye are the creators +of that calf! + +“The year is but the nave of a wheel to which is attached seven hundred +and twenty spokes representing as many days and nights. The circumference +of this wheel represented by twelve months is without end. This wheel is +full of delusions and knows no deterioration. It affects all creatures +whether to this or of the other worlds. Ye Aswins, this wheel of time is +set in motion by you! + +“The wheel of Time as represented by the year has a nave represented by +the six seasons. The number of spokes attached to that nave is twelve as +represented by the twelve signs of the Zodiac. This wheel of Time +manifests the fruits of the acts of all things. The presiding deities of +Time abide in that wheel. Subject as I am to its distressful influence, +ye Aswins, liberate me from that wheel of Time. Ye Aswins, ye are this +universe of five elements! Ye are the objects that are enjoyed in this +and in the other world! Make me independent of the five elements! And +though ye are the Supreme Brahma, yet ye move over the Earth in forms +enjoying the delights that the senses afford. + +“In the beginning, ye created the ten points of the universe! Then have +ye placed the Sun and the Sky above! The Rishis, according to the course +of the same Sun, perform their sacrifices, and the gods and men, +according to what hath been appointed for them, perform their sacrifices +also enjoying the fruits of those acts! + +“Mixing the three colours, ye have produced all the objects of sight! It +is from these objects that the Universe hath sprung whereon the gods and +men are engaged in their respective occupations, and, indeed, all +creatures endued with life! + +“Ye Aswins, I adore you! I also adore the Sky which is your handiwork! Ye +are the ordainers of the fruits of all acts from which even the gods are +not free! Ye are yourselves free from the fruits of your acts! + +“Ye are the parents of all! As males and females it is ye that swallow +the food which subsequently develops into the life creating fluid and +blood! The new-born infant sucks the teat of its mother. Indeed it is ye +that take the shape of the infant! Ye Aswins, grant me my sight to +protect my life!” + +The twin Aswins, thus invoked, appeared and said, ‘We are satisfied. Here +is a cake for thee. Take and eat it.’ And Upamanyu thus addressed, +replied, ‘Your words, O Aswins, have never proved untrue. But without +first offering this cake to my preceptor I dare not take it.’ And the +Aswins thereupon told him, ‘Formerly, thy preceptor had invoked us. We +thereupon gave him a cake like this; and he took it without offering it +to his master. Do thou do that which thy preceptor did.’ Thus addressed, +Upamanyu again said unto them, ‘O Aswins, I crave your pardon. Without +offering it to my preceptor I dare not apply this cake.’ The Aswins then +said, ‘O, we are pleased with this devotion of thine to thy preceptor. +Thy master’s teeth are of black iron. Thine shall be of gold. Thou shall +be restored to sight and shall have good fortune.’ + +“Thus spoken to by the Aswins he recovered his sight, and having gone to +his preceptor’s presence he saluted him and told him all. And his +preceptor was well-pleased with him and said unto him, ‘Thou shalt obtain +prosperity even as the Aswins have said. All the Vedas shall shine in +thee and all the Dharma-sastras.’ And this was the trial of Upamanyu. + +“Then Veda the other disciple of Ayoda-Dhaumya was called. His preceptor +once addressed him, saying, ‘Veda, my child, tarry some time in my house +and serve thy preceptor. It shall be to thy profit.’ And Veda having +signified his assent tarried long in the family of his preceptor mindful +of serving him. Like an ox under the burthens of his master, he bore heat +and cold, hunger and thirst, at all times without a murmur. And it was +not long before his preceptor was satisfied. And as a consequence of that +satisfaction, Veda obtained good fortune and universal knowledge. And +this was the trial of Veda. + +“And Veda, having received permission from his preceptor, and leaving the +latter’s residence after the completion of his studies, entered the +domestic mode of life. And while living in his own house, he got three +pupils. And he never told them to perform any work or to obey implicitly +his own behests; for having himself experienced much woe while abiding in +the family of his preceptor, he liked not to treat them with severity. + +“After a certain time, Janamejaya and Paushya, both of the order of +Kshatriyas, arriving at his residence appointed the Brahman. Veda, as +their spiritual guide (Upadhyaya). And one day while about to depart upon +some business related to a sacrifice, he employed one of his disciples, +Utanka, to take charge of his household. ‘Utanka’, said he, ‘whatsoever +should have to be done in my house, let it be done by thee without +neglect.’ And having given these orders to Utanka, he went on his journey. + +“So Utanka always mindful of the injunction of his preceptor took up his +abode in the latter’s house. And while Utanka was residing there, the +females of his preceptor’s house having assembled addressed him and said, +‘O Utanka, thy mistress is in that season when connubial connection might +be fruitful. The preceptor is absent; then stand thou in his place and do +the needful.’ And Utanka, thus addressed, said unto those women, ‘It is +not proper for me to do this at the bidding of women. I have not been +enjoined by my preceptor to do aught that is improper.’ + +“After a while, his preceptor returned from his journey. And his +preceptor having learnt all that had happened, became well-pleased and, +addressing Utanka, said, ‘Utanka, my child, what favour shall I bestow on +thee? I have been served by thee duly; therefore hath our friendship for +each other increased. I therefore grant thee leave to depart. Go thou, +and let thy wishes be accomplished!’ + +“Utanka, thus addressed, replied, saying, “Let me do something that you +wish, for it hath been said, ‘He who bestoweth instruction contrary to +usage and he who receiveth it contrary to usage, one of the two dieth, +and enmity springeth up between the two.--I, therefore, who have received +thy leave to depart, am desirous of bringing thee some honorarium due to +a preceptor. His master, upon hearing this, replied, ‘Utanka, my child, +wait a while.’ Sometime after, Utanka again addressed his preceptor, +saying, ‘Command me to bring that for honorarium, which you desire.’ And +his preceptor then said, ‘My dear Utanka, thou hast often told me of your +desire to bring something by way of acknowledgment for the instruction +thou hast received. Go then in and ask thy mistress what thou art to +bring. And bring thou that which she directs.’ And thus directed by his +preceptor Utanka addressed his preceptress, saying, ‘Madam, I have +obtained my master’s leave to go home, and I am desirous of bringing +something agreeable to thee as honorarium for the instruction I have +received, in order that I may not depart as his debtor. Therefore, please +command me what I am to bring.’ Thus addressed, his preceptress replied, +‘Go unto King Paushya and beg of him the pair of ear-rings worn by his +Queen, and bring them hither. The fourth day hence is a sacred day when I +wish to appear before the Brahmanas (who may dine at my house) decked +with these ear-rings. Then accomplish this, O Utanka! If thou shouldst +succeed, good fortune shall attend thee; if not, what good canst thou +expect?’ + +“Utanka thus commanded, took his departure. And as he was passing along +the road he saw a bull of extraordinary size and a man of uncommon +stature mounted thereon. And that man addressed Utanka and said, ‘Eat +thou of the dung of this bull.’ Utanka, however, was unwilling to comply. +The man said again, ‘O Utanka, eat of it without scrutiny. Thy master ate +of it before.’ And Utanka signified his assent and ate of the dung and +drank of the urine of that bull, and rose respectfully, and washing his +hands and mouth went to where King Paushya was. + +‘On arriving at the palace, Utanka saw Paushya seated (on his throne). +And approaching him Utanka saluted the monarch by pronouncing blessings +and said, ‘I am come as a petitioner to thee.’ And King Paushya, having +returned Utanka’s salutations, said, ‘Sir, what shall I do for thee?’ And +Utanka said, ‘I came to beg of thee a pair of ear-rings as a present to +my preceptor. It behoveth thee to give me the ear-rings worn by the +Queen.’ + +“King Paushya replied, ‘Go, Utanka, into the female apartments where the +Queen is and demand them of her.’ And Utanka went into the women’s +apartments. But as he could not discover the Queen, he again addressed +the king, saying, ‘It is not proper that I should be treated by thee with +deceit. Thy Queen is not in the private apartments, for I could not find +her.’ The king thus addressed, considered for a while and replied, +‘Recollect, Sir, with attention whether thou art not in a state of +defilement in consequence of contact with the impurities of a repast. My +Queen is a chaste wife and cannot be seen by any one who is impure owing +to contact with the leavings of a repast. Nor doth she herself appear in +sight of any one who is defiled.’ + +“Utanka, thus informed, reflected for a while and then said, ‘Yes, it +must be so. Having been in a hurry I performed my ablutions (after meal) +in a standing posture.’ King Paushya then said, ‘Here is a transgression, +purification is not properly effected by one in a standing posture, not +by one while he is going along.’ And Utanka having agreed to this, sat +down with his face towards the east, and washed his face, hands, and feet +thoroughly. And he then, without a noise, sipped thrice of water free +from scum and froth, and not warm, and just sufficient to reach his +stomach and wiped his face twice. And he then touched with water the +apertures of his organs (eyes, ears, etc.). And having done all this, he +once more entered the apartments of the women. And this time he saw the +Queen. And as the Queen perceived him, she saluted him respectfully and +said, ‘Welcome, Sir, command me what I have to do.’ And Utanka said unto +her, ‘It behoveth thee to give me those ear-rings of thine. I beg them as +a present for my preceptor.’ And the Queen having been highly pleased +with Utanka’s conduct and, considering that Utanka as an object of +charity could not be passed over, took off her ear-rings and gave them to +him. And she said, ‘These ear-rings are very much sought after by +Takshaka, the King of the serpents. Therefore shouldst thou carry them +with the greatest care.’ + +“And Utanka being told this, said unto the Queen, ‘Lady, be under no +apprehension. Takshaka, Chief of the serpents, is not able to overtake +me.’ And having said this, and taking leave of the Queen, he went back +into the presence of Paushya, and said, ‘Paushya, I am gratified.’ Then +Paushya said to Utanka, ‘A fit object of charity can only be had at long +intervals. Thou art a qualified guest, therefore do I desire to perform a +sraddha. Tarry thou a little. And Utanka replied, ‘Yes, I will tarry, and +beg that the clean provisions that are ready may be soon brought in.’ And +the king having signified his assent, entertained Utanka duly. And Utanka +seeing that the food placed before him had hair in it, and also that it +was cold, thought it unclean. And he said unto Paushya, ‘Thou givest me +food that is unclean, therefore shalt thou lose thy sight.’ And Paushya +in answer said, ‘And because dost thou impute uncleanliness to food that +is clean, therefore shalt thou be without issue.’ And Utanka thereupon +rejoined, ‘It behoveth thee not, after having offered me unclean food, to +curse me in return. Satisfy thyself by ocular proof.’ + +“And Paushya seeing the food alleged to be unclean satisfied himself of +its uncleanliness. And Paushya having ascertained that the food was truly +unclean, being cold and mixed with hair, prepared as it was by a woman +with unbraided hair, began to pacify the Rishi Utanka, saying, ‘Sir, the +food placed before thee is cold, and doth contain hair, having been +prepared without sufficient care. Therefore I pray thee pardon me. Let me +not become blind.’ And Utanka answered, ‘What I say must come to pass. +Having become blind, thou mayst, however, recover the sight before long. +Grant that thy curse also doth not take effect on me.’ And Paushya said +unto him, ‘I am unable to revoke my curse. For my wrath even now hath not +been appeased. But thou knowest not this. For a Brahmana’s heart is soft +as new-churned butter, even though his words bear a sharp-edged razor. It +is otherwise in respect of these with the Kshatriya. His words are soft +as new-churned butter, but his heart is like a sharp-edged tool, such +being the case, I am unable, because of the hardness of my heart, to +neutralise my curse. Then go thou thy own way.’ To this Utanka made +answer, “I showed thee the uncleanliness of the food offered to me, and I +was even now pacified by thee. Besides, saidst thou at first that because +I imputed uncleanliness to food that was clean I should be without issue. +But the food truly unclean, thy curse cannot affect me. Of this I am +sure.’ And Utanka having said this departed with the ear-rings. + +“On the road Utanka perceived coming towards him a naked idle beggar +sometimes coming in view and sometimes disappearing. And Utanka put the +ear-rings on the ground and went for water. In the meantime the beggar +came quickly to the spot and taking up the ear-rings ran away. And Utanka +having completed his ablutions in water and purified himself and having +also reverently bowed down to the gods and his spiritual masters pursued +the thief with the utmost speed. And having with great difficulty +overtaken him, he seized him by force. But at that instant the person +seized, quitting the form of a beggar and assuming his real form, viz., +that of Takshaka, speedily entered a large hole open in the ground. And +having got in, Takshaka proceeded to his own abode, the region of the +serpents. + +“Now, Utanka, recollecting the words of the Queen, pursued the Serpent, +and began to dig open the hole with a stick but was unable to make much +progress. And Indra beholding his distress sent his thunder-bolt (Vajra) +to his assistance. Then the thunder-bolt entering that stick enlarged +that hole. And Utanka began to enter the hole after the thunder-bolt. And +having entered it, he beheld the region of the serpents infinite in +extent, filled with hundreds of palaces and elegant mansions with turrets +and domes and gate-ways, abounding with wonderful places for various +games and entertainments. And Utanka then glorified the serpents by the +following slokas: + +“Ye Serpents, subjects of King Airavata, splendid in battle and showering +weapons in the field like lightning-charged clouds driven by the winds! +Handsome and of various forms and decked with many coloured ear-rings, ye +children of Airavata, ye shine like the Sun in the firmament! On the +northern banks of the Ganges are many habitations of serpents. There I +constantly adore the great serpents. Who except Airavata would desire to +move in the burning rays of the Sun? When Dhritarashtra (Airavata’s +brother) goes out, twenty-eight thousand and eight serpents follow him as +his attendants. Ye who move near him and ye who stay at a distance from +him, I adore all of you that have Airavata for your elder brother. + +“I adore thee also, to obtain the ear-rings, O Takshaka, who formerly +dwelt in Kurukshetra and the forest of Khandava! Takshaka and Aswasena, +ye are constant companions who dwell in Kurukshetra on the banks of the +Ikshumati! I also adore the illustrious Srutasena, the younger brother of +Takshaka, who resided at the holy place called Mahadyumna with a view to +obtaining the chiefship of the serpents. + +“The Brahmana Rishi Utanka having saluted the chief serpents in this +manner, obtained not, however, the ear-rings. And he thereupon became +very thoughtful. And when he saw that he obtained not the ear-rings even +though he had adored the serpents, he then looked about him and beheld +two women at a loom weaving a piece of cloth with a fine shuttle; and in +the loom were black and white threads. And he likewise saw a wheel, with +twelve spokes, turned by six boys. And he also saw a man with a handsome +horse. And he began to address them the following mantras: + +“This wheel whose circumference is marked by twenty-four divisions +representing as many lunar changes is furnished with three hundred +spokes! It is set in continual motion by six boys (the seasons)! These +damsels representing universal nature are weaving without intermission a +cloth with threads black and white, and thereby ushering into existence +the manifold worlds and the beings that inhabit them! Thou wielder of the +thunder, the protector of the universe, the slayer of Vritra and Namuchi, +thou illustrious one who wearest the black cloth and displayest truth and +untruth in the universe, thou who ownest for thy carrier the horse which +was received from the depths of the ocean, and which is but another form +of Agni (the god of fire), I bow to thee, thou supreme Lord, thou Lord of +the three worlds, O Purandara!’ + +“Then the man with the horse said unto Utanka, ‘I am gratified by this +thy adoration. What good shall I do to thee?’ And Utanka replied, ‘Even +let the serpents be brought under my control.’ Then the man rejoined, +‘Blow into this horse.’ And Utanka blew into that horse. And from the +horse thus blown into, there issued, from every aperture of his body, +flames of fire with smoke by which the region of the Nagas was about to +be consumed. And Takshaka, surprised beyond measure and terrified by the +heat of the fire, hastily came out of his abode taking the ear-rings with +him, and said unto Utanka, ‘Pray, Sir, take back the ear-rings.’ And +Utanka took them back. + +“But Utanka having recovered his ear-rings thought, ‘O, this is that +sacred day of my preceptress. I am at a distance. How can I, therefore, +show my regard for her? And when Utanka was anxious about this, the man +addressed him and said, ‘Ride this horse, Utanka, and he will in a moment +carry thee to thy master’s abode.’ And Utanka having signified his +assent, mounted the horse and presently reached his preceptor’s house. + +“And his preceptress that morning after having bathed was dressing her +hair sitting, thinking of uttering a curse on Utanka if he should not +return within time. But, in the meantime, Utanka entered his preceptor’s +abode and paid his respects to his preceptress and presented her the +ear-rings. ‘Utanka’, said she, ‘thou hast arrived at the proper time at +the proper place. Welcome, my child; thou art innocent and therefore I do +not curse thee! Good fortune is even before thee. Let thy wishes be +crowned with success!’ + +“Then Utanka waited on his preceptor. And his preceptor said, ‘Thou art +welcome! What hath occasioned thy long absence?’ And Utanka replied to +his preceptor, ‘Sir, in the execution of this my business obstruction was +offered by Takshaka, the King of serpents. Therefore I had to go to the +region of the Nagas. There I saw two damsels sitting at a loom, weaving a +fabric with black and white threads. Pray, what is that? There likewise I +beheld a wheel with twelve spokes ceaselessly turned by six boys. What +too doth that import? Who is also the man that I saw? And what the horse +of extraordinary size likewise beheld by me? And when I was on the road I +also saw a bull with a man mounted thereon, by whom I was endearingly +accosted thus, ‘Utanka, eat of the dung of this bull, which was also +eaten by thy master?’ So I ate of the dung of that bull according to his +words. Who also is he? Therefore, enlightened by thee, I desire to hear +all about them.’ + +“And his preceptor thus addressed said unto him, ‘The two damsels thou +hast seen are Dhata and Vidhata; the black and white threads denote night +and day; the wheel of twelve spokes turned by the six boys signified the +year comprising six seasons. The man is Parjanya, the deity of rain, and +the horse is Agni, the god of fire. The bull that thou hast seen on the +road is Airavata, the king of elephants; the man mounted thereon is +Indra; and the dung of the bull which was eaten by thee was Amrita. It +was certainly for this (last) that thou hast not met with death in the +region of the Nagas; and Indra who is my friend having been mercifully +inclined showed thee favour. It is for this that thou returnest safe, +with the ear-rings about thee. Then, O thou amiable one, I give thee +leave to depart. Thou shall obtain good fortune.’ + +“And Utanka, having obtained his master’s leave, moved by anger and +resolved to avenge himself on Takshaka, proceeded towards Hastinapura. +That excellent Brahmana soon reached Hastinapura. And Utanka then waited +upon King Janamejaya who had some time before returned victorious from +Takshashila. And Utanka saw the victorious monarch surrounded on all +sides by his ministers. And he pronounced benedictions on him in a proper +form. And Utanka addressed the monarch at the proper moment in speech of +correct accent and melodious sounds, saying, ‘O thou the best of +monarchs! How is it that thou spendest thy time like a child when there +is another matter that urgently demandeth thy attention?’” + +“Sauti said, ‘The monarch Janamejaya, thus addressed, saluting that +excellent Brahmana replied unto him, ‘In cherishing these my subjects I +do discharge the duties of my noble tribe. Say, what is that business to +be done by me and which hath brought thee hither.’ + +“The foremost of Brahmanas and distinguished beyond all for good deeds, +thus addressed by the excellent monarch of large heart, replied unto him, +‘O King! the business is thy own that demandeth thy attention; therefore +do it, please. O thou King of kings! Thy father was deprived of life by +Takshaka; therefore do thou avenge thy father’s death on that vile +serpent. The time hath come, I think, for the act of vengeance ordained +by the Fates. Go then avenge the death of thy magnanimous father who, +being bitten without cause by that vile serpent, was reduced to five +elements even like a tree stricken by thunder. The wicked Takshaka, +vilest of the serpent race, intoxicated with power committed an +unnecessary act when he bit the King, that god-like father, the protector +of the race of royal saints. Wicked in his deeds, he even caused Kasyapa +(the prince of physicians) to run back when he was coming for the relief +of thy father. It behoveth thee to burn the wicked wretch in the blazing +fire of a snake-sacrifice. O King! Give instant orders for the sacrifice. +It is thus thou canst avenge the death of thy father. And a very great +favour shall have also been shown to me. For by that malignant wretch, O +virtuous Prince, my business also was, on one occasion, obstructed, while +proceeding on account of my preceptor.” + +“Sauti continued, The monarch, having heard these words, was enraged with +Takshaka. By the speech of Utanka was inflamed the prince, even as the +sacrificial fire with clarified butter. Moved by grief also, in the +presence of Utanka, the prince asked his ministers the particulars of his +father’s journey to the regions of the blessed. And when he heard all +about the circumstances of his father’s death from the lips of Utanka, he +was overcome with pain and sorrow. + +And thus endeth the section called Paushya of the Adi Parva of the +blessed Mahabharata.” + + + +SECTION IV + +(Pauloma Parva) + +‘UGRASRAVA SAUTI, the son of Lomaharshana, versed in the Puranas, while +present in the forest of Naimisha, at the twelve years’ sacrifice of +Saunaka, surnamed Kulapati, stood before the Rishis in attendance. Having +studied Puranas with meticulous devotion and thus being thoroughly +acquainted with them, he addressed them with joined hands thus, ‘I have +graphically described to you the history of Utanka which is one of the +causes of King Janamejaya’s Snake-sacrifice. What, revered Sirs, do ye +wish to hear now? What shall I relate to you?’ The holy men replied, ‘O +son of Lomaharshana, we shall ask thee about what we are anxious to hear +and thou wilt recount the tales one by one. Saunaka, our revered master, +is at present attending the apartment of the holy fire. He is acquainted +with those divine stories which relate to the gods and asuras. He +adequately knoweth the histories of men, serpents, and Gandharvas. +Further, O Sauti, in this sacrifice that learned Brahmana is the chief. +He is able, faithful to his vows, wise, a master of the Sastras and the +Aranyaka, a speaker of truth, a lover of peace, a mortifier of the flesh, +and an observer of the penances according to the authoritative decrees. +He is respected by us all. It behoveth us therefore to wait for him. And +when he is seated on his highly respected seat, thou wilt answer what +that best of Dwijas shall ask of thee.’ + +“Sauti said, ‘Be it so. And when the high-souled master hath been seated +I shall narrate, questioned by him, sacred stories on a variety of +subjects.” After a while that excellent Brahmana (Saunaka) having duly +finished all his duties, and having propitiated the gods with prayers and +the manes with oblations of water, came back to the place of sacrifice, +where with Sauti seated before was the assembly of saints of rigid vows +sitting at ease. And when Saunaka was seated in the midst of the Ritwiks +and Sadhyas, who were also in their seats, he spake as followeth.” + + + +SECTION V + +(Pauloma Parva continued) + +“Saunaka said, ‘Child, thy father formerly read the whole of the Puranas, +O son of Lomaharshana, and the Bharata with Krishna-Dwaipayana. Hast thou +also made them thy study? In those ancient records are chronicled +interesting stories and the history of the first generations of the wise +men, all of which we heard being rehearsed by thy sire. In the first +place, I am desirous of hearing the history of the race of Bhrigu. +Recount thou that history, we shall attentively listen to thee.” + +“Sauti answered, ‘By me hath been acquired all that was formerly studied +by the high-souled Brahmanas including Vaisampayana and repeated by them; +by me hath been acquired all that had been studied by my father. O +descendant of the Bhrigu race, attend then to so much as relateth to the +exalted race of Bhrigu, revered by Indra and all the gods, by the tribes +of Rishis and Maruts (Winds). O great Muni, I shall first properly +recount the story of this family, as told in the Puranas. + +“The great and blessed saint Bhrigu, we are informed, was produced by the +self-existing Brahma from the fire at the sacrifice of Varuna. And Bhrigu +had a son, named Chyavana, whom he dearly loved. And to Chyavana was born +a virtuous son called Pramati. And Pramati had a son named Ruru by +Ghritachi (the celestial dancer). And to Ruru also by his wife +Pramadvara, was born a son, whose name was Sunaka. He was, O Saunaka, thy +great ancestor exceedingly virtuous in his ways. He was devoted to +asceticism, of great reputation, proficient in law, and eminent among +those having a knowledge of the Vedas. He was virtuous, truthful, and of +well-regulated fare.’ + +“Saunaka said, ‘O son of Suta, I ask thee why the illustrious son of +Bhrigu was named Chyavana. Do tell me all.’ + +“Sauti replied, ‘Bhrigu had a wife named Puloma whom he dearly loved. She +became big with child by Bhrigu. And one day while the virtuous continent +Puloma was in that condition, Bhrigu, great among those that are true to +their religion, leaving her at home went out to perform his ablutions. It +was then that the Rakshasa called Puloma came to Bhrigu’s abode. And +entering the Rishi’s abode, the Rakshasa saw the wife of Bhrigu, +irreproachable in everything. And seeing her he became filled with lust +and lost his senses. The beautiful Puloma entertained the Rakshasa thus +arrived, with roots and fruits of the forest. And the Rakshasa who burnt +with desire upon seeing her, became very much delighted and resolved, O +good sage, to carry her away who was so blameless in every respect. + +‘My design is accomplished,’ said the Rakshasa, and so seizing that +beautiful matron he carried her away. And, indeed, she of agreeable +smiles, had been betrothed by her father himself, to him, although the +former subsequently bestowed her, according to due rites, on Bhrigu. O +thou of the Bhrigu race, this wound rankled deep in the Rakshasa’s mind +and he thought the present moment very opportune for carrying the lady +away. + +“And the Rakshasa saw the apartment in which the sacrificial fire was +kept burning brightly. The Rakshasa then asked the flaming element ‘Tell +me, O Agni, whose wife this woman rightfully is. Thou art the mouth of +gods; therefore thou art bound to answer my question. This lady of +superior complexion had been first accepted by me as wife, but her father +subsequently bestowed her on the false Bhrigu. Tell me truly if this fair +one can be regarded as the wife of Bhrigu, for having found her alone, I +have resolved to take her away by force from the hermitage. My heart +burneth with rage when I reflect that Bhrigu hath got possession of this +woman of slender waist, first betrothed to me.’” + +“Sauti continued, ‘In this manner the Rakshasa asked the flaming god of +fire again and again whether the lady was Bhrigu’s wife. And the god was +afraid to return an answer. ‘Thou, O god of fire,’ said he, residest +constantly within every creature, as witness of her or his merits and +demerits. O thou respected one, then answer my question truly. Has not +Bhrigu appropriated her who was chosen by me as my wife? Thou shouldst +declare truly whether, therefore, she is my wife by first choice. After +thy answer as to whether she is the wife of Bhrigu, I will bear her away +from this hermitage even in sight of thee. Therefore answer thou truly.’” + +“Sauti continued, ‘The Seven flamed god having heard these words of the +Rakshasa became exceedingly distressed, being afraid of telling a +falsehood and equally afraid of Bhrigu’s curse. And the god at length +made answer in words that came out slowly. ‘This Puloma was, indeed, +first chosen by thee, O Rakshasa, but she was not taken by thee with holy +rites and invocations. But this far-famed lady was bestowed by her father +on Bhrigu as a gift from desire of blessing. She was not bestowed on thee +O Rakshasa, this lady was duly made by the Rishi Bhrigu his wife with +Vedic rites in my presence. This is she--I know her. I dare not speak a +falsehood. O thou best of the Rakshasas, falsehood is never respected in +this world.’” + + + +SECTION VI + +(Pauloma Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘O Brahmana, having heard these words from the god of fire, +the Rakshasa assumed the form of a boar, and seizing the lady carried her +away with the speed of the wind--even of thought. Then the child of +Bhrigu lying in her body enraged at such violence, dropped from his +mother’s womb, for which he obtained the name of Chyavana. And the +Rakshasa perceiving the infant drop from the mother’s womb, shining like +the sun, quitted his grasp of the woman, fell down and was instantly +converted into ashes. And the beautiful Pauloma, distracted with grief, O +Brahmana of the Bhrigu race, took up her offspring Chyavana, the son of +Bhrigu and walked away. And Brahma, the Grandfather of all, himself saw +her, the faultless wife of his son, weeping. And the Grandfather of all +comforted her who was attached to her son. And the drops of tears which +rolled down her eyes formed a great river. And that river began to follow +the foot-steps of the wife of the great ascetic Bhrigu. And the +Grandfather of the worlds seeing that river follow the path of his son’s +wife gave it a name himself, and he called it Vadhusara. And it passeth +by the hermitage of Chyavana. And in this manner was born Chyavana of +great ascetic power, the son of Bhrigu. + +“And Bhrigu saw his child Chyavana and its beautiful mother. And the +Rishi in a rage asked her, ‘By whom wast thou made known to that Rakshasa +who resolved to carry thee away? O thou of agreeable smiles, the Rakshasa +could not know thee as my wile. Therefore tell me who it was that told +the Rakshasa so, in order that I may curse him through anger.’ And +Pauloma replied, ‘O possessor of the six attributes! I was identified to +the Rakshasa by Agni (the god of fire). And he (the Rakshasa) bore me +away, who cried like the Kurari (female osprey). And it was only by the +ardent splendour of this thy son that I was rescued, for the Rakshasa +(seeing this infant) let me go and himself falling to the ground was +turned into ashes.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Bhrigu, upon hearing this account from Pauloma, became +exceedingly enraged. And in excess of passion the Rishi cursed Agni, +saying, ‘Thou shalt eat of all things.’” + +So ends the sixth section called “the curse on Agni” in the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION VII + +(Pauloma Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘the god of fire enraged at the curse of Bhrigu, thus +addressed the Rishi, ‘What meaneth this rashness, O Brahmana, that thou +hast displayed towards me? What transgression can be imputed to me who +was labouring to do justice and speak the truth impartially? Being asked +I gave the true answer. A witness who when interrogated about a fact of +which he hath knowledge, representeth otherwise than it is, ruineth his +ancestors and descendants both to the seventh generation. He, too, who, +being fully cognisant of all the particulars of an affair, doth not +disclose what he knoweth, when asked, is undoubtedly stained with guilt. +I can also curse thee, but Brahmanas are held by me in high respect. +Although these are known to thee, O Brahmana, I will yet speak of them, +so please attend! Having, by ascetic power, multiplied myself, I am +present in various forms, in places of the daily homa, at sacrifices +extending for years, in places where holy rites are performed (such as +marriage, etc.), and at other sacrifices. With the butter that is poured +upon my flame according to the injunctions prescribed in the Vedas, the +Devas and the Pitris are appeased. The Devas are the waters; the Pitris +are also the waters. The Devas have with the Pitris an equal right to the +sacrifices called Darshas and Purnamasas. The Devas therefore are the +Pitris and the Pitris, the Devas. They are identical beings, worshipped +together and also separately at the changes of the moon. The Devas and +the Pitris eat what is poured upon me. I am therefore called the mouth of +the Devas and the Pitris. At the new moon the Pitris, and at the full +moon the Devas, are fed through my mouth, eating of the clarified butter +that is poured on me. Being, as I am, their mouth, how am I to be an +eater of all things (clean and unclean)? + +“Then Agni, alter reflecting for a while, withdrew himself from all +places; from places of the daily homa of the Brahmanas, from all +long-extending sacrifices, from places of holy rites, and from other +ceremonies. Without their Oms and Vashats, and deprived of their Swadhas +and Swahas (sacrificial mantras during offerings), the whole body of +creatures became much distressed at the loss of their (sacrificial) fire. +The Rishis in great anxiety went to the gods and addressed them thus, ‘Ye +immaculate beings! The three regions of the universe are confounded at +the cessation of their sacrifices and ceremonies in consequence of the +loss of fire! Ordain what is to be done in tins matter, so that there may +be no loss of time.’ Then the Rishis and the gods went together to the +presence of Brahma. And they represented to him all about the curse on +Agni and the consequent interruption of all ceremonies. And they said, ‘O +thou greatly fortunate! Once Agni hath been cursed by Bhrigu for some +reason. Indeed, being the mouth of the gods and also the first who eateth +of what is offered in sacrifices, the eater also of the sacrificial +butter, how will Agni be reduced to the condition of one who eateth of +all things promiscuously?’ And the creator of the universe hearing these +words of theirs summoned Agni to his presence. And Brahma addressed Agni, +the creator of all and eternal as himself, in these gentle words, ‘Thou +art the creator of the worlds and thou art their destroyer! Thou +preserves! the three worlds and thou art the promoter of all sacrifices +and ceremonies! Therefore behave thyself so that ceremonies be not +interrupted. And, O thou eater of the sacrificial butter, why dost thou +act so foolishly, being, as thou art, the Lord of all? Thou alone art +always pure in the universe and thou art its stay! Thou shall not, with +all thy body, be reduced to the state of one who eateth of all things +promiscuously. O thou of flames, the flame that is in thy viler parts +shall alone eat of all things alike. The body of thine which eateth of +flesh (being in the stomach of all carnivorous animals) shall also eat of +all things promiscuously. And as every thing touched by the sun’s rays +becometh pure, so shall everything be pure that shall be burnt by thy +flames. Thou art, O fire, the supreme energy born of thy own power. Then, +O Lord, by that power of thine make the Rishi’s curse come true. Continue +to ‘receive thy own portion and that of the gods, offered at thy mouth.’ + +‘Sauti continued, ‘Then Agni replied to the Grandfather, ‘So be it.’ And +he then went away to obey the command of the supreme Lord. The gods and +the Rishis also returned in delight to the place whence they had come. +And the Rishis began to perform as before their ceremonies and +sacrifices. And the gods in heaven and all creatures of the world +rejoiced exceedingly. And Agni too rejoiced in that he was free from the +prospect of sin. + +“Thus, O possessor of the six attributes, had Agni been cursed in the +days of yore by Bhrigu. And such is the ancient history connected with +the destruction of the Rakshasa, Pauloma and the birth of Chyavana.’” + +Thus endeth the seventh section of the Pauloma Parva of the Adi Parva of +the blessed Mahabharata. + + + +SECTION VIII + +(Pauloma Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘O Brahmana, Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu, begot a son in the +womb of his wife Sukanya. And that son was the illustrious Pramati of +resplendent energy. And Pramati begot in the womb of Ghritachi a son +called Ruru. And Ruru begot on his wife Pramadvara a son called Sunaka. +And I shall relate to you in detail, O Brahmana, the entire history of +Ruru of abundant energy. O listen to it then in full! + +“Formerly there was a great Rishi called Sthulakesa possessed of ascetic +power and learning and kindly disposed towards all creatures. At that +time, O Brahmana sage, Viswavasu, the King of the Gandharvas, it is said, +had intimacy with Menaka, the celestial dancing-girl. And the Apsara, +Menaka, O thou of the Bhrigu race, when her time was come, brought forth +an infant near the hermitage of Sthulakesa. And dropping the newborn +infant on the banks of the river, O Brahmana, Menaka, the Apsara, being +destitute of pity and shame, went away. And the Rishi, Sthulakesa, of +great ascetic power, discovered the infant lying forsaken in a lonely +part of the river-side. And he perceived that it was a female child, +bright as the offspring of an Immortal and blazing, as it were, with +beauty: And the great Brahmana, Sthulakesa, the first of Munis, seeing +that female child, and filled with compassion, took it up and reared it. +And the lovely child grew up in his holy habitation, the noble-minded and +blessed Rishi Sthulakesa performing in due succession all the ceremonies +beginning with that at birth as ordained by the divine law. And because +she surpassed all of her sex in goodness, beauty, and every quality, the +great Rishi called her by the name of Pramadvara. And the pious Ruru +having seen Pramadvara in the hermitage of Sthulakesa became one whose +heart was pierced by the god of love. And Ruru by means of his companions +made his father Pramati, the son of Bhrigu, acquainted with his passion. +And Pramati demanded her of the far-famed Sthulakesa for his son. And her +foster-father betrothed the virgin Pramadvara to Ruru, fixing the +nuptials for the day when the star Varga-Daivata (Purva-phalguni) would +be ascendant. + +“Then within a few days of the time fixed for the nuptials, the beautiful +virgin while at play with companions of her own sex, her time having +come, impelled by fate, trod upon a serpent which she did not perceive as +it lay in coil. And the reptile, urged to execute the will of Fate, +violently darted its envenomed fangs into the body of the heedless +maiden. And stung by that serpent, she instantly dropped senseless on the +ground, her colour faded and all the graces of her person went off. And +with dishevelled hair she became a spectacle of woe to her companions and +friends. And she who was so agreeable to behold became on her death what +was too painful to look at. And the girl of slender waist lying on the +ground like one asleep--being overcome with the poison of the snake-once +more became more beautiful than in life. And her foster-father and the +other holy ascetics who were there, all saw her lying motionless upon the +ground with the splendour of a lotus. And then there came many noted +Brahmanas filled with compassion, and they sat around her. And +Swastyatreya, Mahajana, Kushika, Sankhamekhala, Uddalaka, Katha, and +Sweta of great renown, Bharadwaja, Kaunakutsya, Arshtishena, Gautama, +Pramati, and Pramati’s son Ruru, and other inhabitants of the forest, +came there. And when they saw that maiden lying dead on the ground +overcome with the poison of the reptile that had bitten her, they all +wept filled with compassion. But Ruru, mortified beyond measure, retired +from the scene.’” + +So ends the eighth section of the Pauloma Parva of the Adi Parva of the +blessed Mahabharata. + + + +SECTION IX + +(Pauloma Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘While those illustrious Brahmanas were sitting around the +dead body of Pramadvara, Ruru, sorely afflicted, retired into a deep wood +and wept aloud. And overwhelmed with grief he indulged in much piteous +lamentation. And, remembering his beloved Pramadvara, he gave vent to his +sorrow in the following words, ‘Alas! The delicate fair one that +increaseth my affliction lieth upon the bare ground. What can be more +deplorable to us, her friends? If I have been charitable, if I have +performed acts of penance, if I have ever revered my superiors, let the +merit of these arts restore to life my beloved one! If from my birth I +have been controlling my passions, adhered to my vows, let the fair +Pramadvara rise from the ground. + +“And while Ruru was indulging in these lamentations for the loss of his +bride, a messenger from heaven came to him in the forest and addressed +him thus, ‘The words thou utterest, O Ruru, in thy affliction are +certainly ineffectual. For, O pious man, one belonging to this world +whose days have run out can never come back to life. This poor child of a +Gandharva and Apsara has had her days run out! Therefore, O child, thou +shouldst not consign thy heart to sorrow. The great gods, however, have +provided beforehand a means of her restoration to life. And if thou +compliest with it, thou mayest receive back thy Pramadvara.’ + +“And Ruru replied, O messenger of heaven! What is that which the gods +have ordained. Tell me in full so that (on hearing) I may comply with it. +It behoveth thee to deliver me from grief!’ And the celestial messenger +said unto Ruru, ‘Resign half of thy own life to thy bride, and then, O +Ruru of the race of Bhrigu, thy Pramadvara shall rise from the ground.’ +‘O best of celestial messengers, I most willingly offer a moiety of my +own life in favour of my bride. Then let my beloved one rise up once more +in her dress and lovable form.’ + +“Sauti said, ‘Then the king of Gandharvas (the father of Pramadvara) and +the celestial messenger, both of excellent qualities, went to the god +Dharma (the Judge of the dead) and addressed him, saying, ‘If it be thy +will, O Dharmaraja, let the amiable Pramadvara, the betrothed wife of +Ruru, now lying dead, rise up with a moiety of Ruru’s life.’ And +Dharmaraja answered, ‘O messenger of the gods, if it be thy wish, let +Pramadvara, the betrothed wife of Ruru, rise up endued with a moiety of +Ruru’s life.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘And when Dharmaraja had said so, that maiden of +superior complexion, Pramadvara, endued with a moiety of Ruru’s life, +rose as from her slumber. This bestowal by Ruru of a moiety of his own +span of life to resuscitate his bride afterwards led, as it would be +seen, to a curtailment of Ruru’s life. + +“And on an auspicious day their fathers gladly married them with due +rites. And the couple passed their days, devoted to each other. And Ruru +having obtained such a wife, as is hard to be found, beautiful and bright +as the filaments of the lotus, made a vow for the destruction of the +serpent-race. And whenever he saw a serpent he became filled with great +wrath and always killed it with a weapon. + +“One day, O Brahmana, Ruru entered an extensive forest. And there he saw +an old serpent of the Dundubha species lying stretched on the ground. And +Ruru thereupon lifted up in anger his staff, even like to the staff of +Death, for the purpose of killing it. Then the Dundubha, addressing Ruru, +said, ‘I have done thee no harm, O Brahmana! Then wherefore wilt thou +slay me in anger?’” + +So ends the ninth section of the Pauloma Parva of the Adi Parva of the +blessed Mahabharata. + + + +SECTION X + +(Pauloma Parva continued) + +Sauti said, ‘And Ruru, on hearing those words, replied, ‘My wife, dear to +me as life, was bit by a snake; upon which, I took, O snake, a dreadful +vow, viz., that I would kill every snake that I might come across. +Therefore shall I smite thee and thou shalt be deprived of life.’ + +“And the Dundubha replied, ‘O Brahmana, the snakes that bite man are +quite different in type. It behoveth thee not to slay Dundubhas who are +serpents only in name. Subject like other serpents to the same calamities +but not sharing their good fortune, in woe the same but in joy different, +the Dundubhas should not be slain by thee under any misconception.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘And the Rishi Ruru hearing these words of the serpent, +and seeing that it was bewildered with fear, albeit a snake of the +Dundubha species, killed it not. And Ruru, the possessor of the six +attributes, comforting the snake addressed it, saying, ‘Tell me fully, O +snake, who art thou thus metamorphosed?’ And the Dundubha replied, ‘O +Ruru! I was formerly a Rishi by name Sahasrapat. And it is by the curse +of a Brahmana that I have been transformed into a snake. And Ruru asked, +‘O thou best of snakes, for what wast thou cursed by a Brahmana in wrath? +And how long also will thy form continue so?’” + +And so ends the tenth section of the Pauloma Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XI + +(Pauloma Parva continued) + +“Sauti continued ‘The Dundubha then said, ‘In former times, I had a +friend Khagama by name. He was impetuous in his speech and possessed of +spiritual power by virtue of his austerities. And one day when he was +engaged in the Agni-hotra (Fire-sacrifice), I made a mock snake of blades +of grass, and in a frolic attempted to frighten him with it. And anon he +fell into a swoon. On recovering his senses, that truth-telling and +vow-observing ascetic, burning with wrath, exclaimed, ‘Since thou hast +made a powerless mock snake to frighten me, thou shalt be turned even +into a venomless serpent thyself by my curse.’ O ascetic, I well knew the +power of his penances; therefore with an agitated heart, I addressed him +thus, bending low with joined hands, ‘Friend, I did this by way of a +joke, to excite thy laughter. It behoveth thee to forgive me and revoke +thy curse.’ And seeing me sorely troubled, the ascetic was moved, and he +replied, breathing hot and hard. ‘What I have said must come to pass. +Listen to what I say and lay it to thy heart. O pious one! when Ruru the +pure son of Pramati, will appear, thou shall be delivered from the curse +the moment thou seest him. Thou art the very Ruru and the son of Pramati. +On regaining my native form, I will tell thee something for thy good. + +“And that illustrious man and the best of Brahmanas then left his +snake-body, and attained his own form and original brightness. He then +addressed the following words to Ruru of incomparable power, ‘O thou +first of created beings, verily the highest virtue of man is sparing the +life of others. Therefore a Brahmana should never take the life of any +creature. A Brahmana should ever be mild. This is the most sacred +injunction of the Vedas. A Brahmana should be versed in the Vedas and +Vedangas, and should inspire all creatures with belief in God. He should +be benevolent to all creatures, truthful, and forgiving, even as it is +his paramount duty to retain the Vedas in his memory. The duties of the +Kshatriya are not thine. To be stern, to wield the sceptre and to rule +the subjects properly are the duties of the Kshatriya. Listen, O Ruru, to +the account of the destruction of snakes at the sacrifice of Janamejaya +in days of yore, and the deliverance of the terrified reptiles by that +best of Dwijas, Astika, profound in Vedic lore and might in spiritual +energy.’” + +And so ends the eleventh section of the Pauloma Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XII + +(Pauloma Parva continued) + +“Sauti continued, ‘Ruru then asked, ‘O best of Dwijas, why was king +Janamejaya bent upon destroying the serpents?--And why and how were they +saved by the wise Astika? I am anxious to hear all this in detail.’ + +“The Rishi replied, ‘O Ruru, the important history of Astika you will +learn from the lips of Brahmanas.’ Saying this, he vanished. + +“Sauti continued, ‘Ruru ran about in search of the missing Rishi, and +having failed to find him in all the woods, fell down on the ground, +fatigued. And revolving in his mind the words of the Rishi, he was +greatly confounded and seemed to be deprived of his senses. Regaining +consciousness, he came home and asked his father to relate the history in +question. Thus asked, his father related all about the story.’” + +So ends the twelfth section in the Pauloma Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XIII + +(Astika Parva) + +“Saunaka said, ‘For what reason did that tiger among kings, the royal +Janamejaya, determine to take the lives of the snakes by means of a +sacrifice? O Sauti, tell us in full the true story. Tell us also why +Astika, that best of regenerate ones, that foremost of ascetics, rescued +the snakes from the blazing fire. Whose son was that monarch who +celebrated the snake-sacrifice? And whose son also was that best of +regenerate ones?’ + +“Sauti said, ‘O best of speakers, this story of Astika is long. I will +duly relate it in full, O listen!’ + +“Saunaka said, ‘I am desirous of hearing at length the charming story of +that Rishi, that illustrious Brahmana named Astika.’ + +“Sauti said, ‘This history (first) recited by Krishna-Dwaipayana, is +called a Purana by the Brahmanas. It was formerly narrated by my wise +father, Lomaharshana, the disciple of Vyasa, before the dwellers of the +Naimisha forest, at their request. I was present at the recital, and, O +Saunaka, since thou askest me, I shall narrate the history of Astika +exactly as I heard it. O listen, as I recite in full that sin-destroying +story. + +“The father of Astika was powerful like Prajapati. He was a +Brahma-charin, always engaged in austere devotions. He ate sparingly, was +a great ascetic, and had his lust under complete control. And he was +known by the name of Jaratkaru. That foremost one among the Yayavaras, +virtuous and of rigid vows, highly blessed and endued with great ascetic +power, once undertook a journey over the world. He visited diverse +places, bathed in diverse sacred waters, and rested where night overtook +him. Endued with great energy, he practised religious austerities, hard +to be practised by men of unrestrained souls. The sage lived upon air +only, and renounced sleep for ever. Thus going about like a blazing fire, +one day he happened to see his ancestors, hanging heads down in a great +hole, their feet pointing upwards. On seeing them, Jaratkaru addressed +them, saying: + +‘Who are you thus hanging heads down in this hole by a rope of virana +fibres that is again secretly eaten into on all sides by a rat living +here?’ + +“The ancestors said, ‘We are Rishis of rigid vows, called Yayavaras. We +are sinking low into the earth for want of offspring. We have a son named +Jaratkaru. Woe to us! That wretch hath entered upon a life of austerities +only! The fool doth not think of raising offspring by marriage! It is for +that reason, viz., the fear of extinction of our race, that we are +suspended in this hole. Possessed of means, we fare like unfortunates +that have none! O excellent one, who art thou that thus sorrowest as a +friend on our account? We desire to learn, O Brahmana, who thou art that +standest by us, and why, O best of men, thou sorrowest for us that are so +unfortunate.’ + +“Jaratkaru said, ‘Ye are even my sires and grandsires I am that +Jaratkaru! O, tell me, how I may serve you.’ + +“The fathers then answered, ‘Try thy best, O child, to beget a son to +extend our line. Thou wilt then, O excellent one, have done a meritorious +art for both thyself and us. Not by the fruits of virtue, not by ascetic +penances well hoarded up, acquireth the merit which one doth by becoming +a father. Therefore, O child, by our command, set thy heart upon marriage +and offspring. Even this is our highest good.’ + +“Jaratkaru replied, ‘I shall not marry for my sake, nor shall I earn +wealth for enjoyment, but I shall do so for your welfare only. According +to this understanding, I shall, agreeably to the Sastric ordinance, take +a wife for attaining the end. I shall not act otherwise. If a bride may +be had of the same name with me, whose friends would, besides, willingly +give her to me as a gift in charity, I shall wed her duly. But who will +give his daughter to a poor man like me for wife. I shall, however, +accept any daughter given to me as alms. I shall endeavour, ye sires, +even thus to wed a girl! Having given my word, I will not act otherwise. +Upon her I will raise offspring for your redemption, so that, ye fathers, +ye may attain to eternal regions (of bliss) and may rejoice as ye like.’” + +So ends the thirteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XIV + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘That Brahmana of rigid vows then wandered over the earth +for a wife but a wife found he not. One day he went into the forest, and +recollecting the words of his ancestors, he thrice prayed in a faint +voice for a bride. Thereupon Vasuki rose and offered his sister for the +Rishi’s acceptance. But the Brahmana hesitated to accept her, thinking +her not to be of the same name with himself. The high-souled Jaratkaru +thought within himself, ‘I will take none for wife who is not of the same +name with myself.’ Then that Rishi of great wisdom and austere penances +asked him, saying, ‘Tell me truly what is the name of this thy sister, O +snake.’ + +“Vasuki replied, ‘O Jaratkaru, this my younger sister is called +Jaratkaru. Given away by me, accept this slender-waisted damsel for thy +spouse. O best of Brahmanas, for thee I reserved her. Therefore, take +her.’ Saying this, he offered his beautiful sister to Jaratkaru who then +espoused her with ordained rites.’” + +So ends the thirteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XV + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘O foremost of persons acquainted with Brahma, the mother of +the snakes had cursed them of old, saying, ‘He that hath the Wind for his +charioteer (viz., Agni) shall burn you all in Janamejaya’s sacrifice!’ It +was to neutralise that curse that the chief of the snakes married his +sister to that high-souled Rishi of excellent vows. The Rishi wedded her +according to the rites ordained (in the scriptures), and from them was +born a high-souled son called Astika. An illustrious ascetic; versed in +the Vedas and their branches, he regarded all with an even eye, and +removed the fears of both his parents. + +“Then, after a long space of time, a king descending from the Pandava +line celebrated a great sacrifice known as the Snake-sacrifice, After +that sacrifice had commenced for the destruction of the snakes, Astika +delivered the Nagas, viz., his brothers and maternal uncles and other +snakes (from a fiery death). And he delivered his fathers also by +begetting offspring. And by his austerities, O Brahmana, and various vows +and study of the Vedas, he freed himself from all his debts. By +sacrifices, at which various kinds of offerings were made, he propitiated +the gods. By practising the Brahmacharya mode of life he conciliated the +Rishis; and by begetting offspring he gratified his ancestors. + +“Thus Jaratkaru of rigid vows discharged the heavy debt he owed to his +sires who being thus relieved from bondage ascended to heaven. Thus +having acquired great religious merit, Jaratkaru, after a long course of +years, went to heaven, leaving Astika behind. There is the story of +Astika that I have related duly Now, tell me, O tiger of Bhrigu’s race, +what else I shall narrate.” + +So ends the fifteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XVI + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Saunaka said, ‘O Sauti, relate once more in detail this history of the +learned and virtuous Astika. Our curiosity for hearing it is great. O +amiable one, thou speakest sweetly, with proper accent and emphasis; and +we are well-pleased with thy speech. Thou speakest even as thy father. +Thy sire was ever ready to please us. Tell us now the story as thy father +had related it.’ + +“Sauti said, ‘O thou that art blest with longevity, I shall narrate the +history of Astika as I heard it from my father. O Brahmana, in the golden +age, Prajapati had two daughters. O sinless one, the sisters were endowed +with wonderful beauty. Named Kadru and Vinata, they became the wives of +Kasyapa. Kasyapa derived great pleasure from his two wedded wives and +being gratified he, resembling Prajapati himself, offered to give each of +them a boon. Hearing that their lord was willing to confer on them their +choice blessings, those excellent ladies felt transports of joy. Kadru +wished to have for sons a thousand snakes all of equal splendour. And +Vinata wished to bring forth two sons surpassing the thousand offsprings +of Kadru in strength, energy, size of body, and prowess. Unto Kadru her +lord gave that boon about a multitude of offspring. And unto Vinata also, +Kasyapa said, ‘Be it so!’ Then Vinata, having; obtained her prayer, +rejoiced greatly. Obtaining two sons of superior prowess, she regarded +her boon fulfilled. Kadru also obtained her thousand sons of equal +splendour. ‘Bear the embryos carefully,’ said Kasyapa, and then he went +into the forest, leaving his two wives pleased with his blessings.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘O best of regenerate ones, after a long time, Kadru +brought forth a thousand eggs, and Vinata two. Their maid-servants +deposited the eggs separately in warm vessels. Five hundred years passed +away, and the thousand eggs produced by Kadru burst and out came the +progeny. But the twins of Vinata did not appear. Vinata was jealous, and +therefore she broke one of the eggs and found in it an embryo with the +upper part developed but the lower one undeveloped. At this, the child in +the egg became angry and cursed his mother, saying. ‘Since thou hast +prematurely broken this egg, thou shall serve as a slave. Shouldst thou +wait five hundred years and not destroy, or render the other egg +half-developed, by breaking it through impatience, then the illustrious +child within it will deliver thee from slavery! And if thou wouldst have +the child strong, thou must take tender care of the egg for all this +time!’ Thus cursing his mother, the child rose to the sky. O Brahmana, +even he is the charioteer of Surya, always seen in the hour of morning! + +“Then at the expiration of the five hundred years, bursting open the +other egg, out came Garuda, the serpent-eater. O tiger of Bhrigu’s race, +immediately on seeing the light, that son of Vinata left his mother. And +the lord of birds, feeling hungry, took wing in quest of the food +assigned to him by the Great Ordainer of all.”. + +So ends the sixteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XVII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘O ascetic, about this time the two sisters saw approaching +near, that steed of complacent appearance named Uchchaihsravas who was +worshipped by the gods, that gem of steeds, who arose at the churning of +the Ocean for nectar. Divine, graceful, perpetually young, creation’s +master-piece, and of irresistible vigour, it was blest with every +auspicious mark.’ + +“Saunaka asked, ‘Why did the gods churn the Ocean for nectar, and under +what circumstances and when as you say, did that best of steeds so +powerful and resplendent spring?’ + +“Sauti said, ‘There is a mountain named Meru, of blazing appearance, and +looking like a heap of effulgence. The rays of the Sun falling on its +peaks of golden lustre are dispersed by them. Decked with gold and +exceedingly beautiful, that mountain is the haunt of the gods and the +Gandharvas. It is immeasurable and unapproachable by men of manifold +sins. Dreadful beasts of prey wander over its breasts, and it is +illuminated by many divine life-giving herbs. It stands kissing the +heavens by its height and is the first of mountains. Ordinary people +cannot even think of ascending it. It is graced with trees and streams, +and resounds with the charming melody of winged choirs. Once the +celestials sat on its begemmed peak--in conclave. They who had practised +penances and observed excellent vows for amrita now seemed to be eager +seekers alter amrita (celestial ambrosia). Seeing the celestial assembly +in anxious mood Nara-yana said to Brahman, ‘Do thou churn the Ocean with +the gods and the Asuras. By doing so, amrita will be obtained as also all +drugs and gems. O ye gods, chum the Ocean, ye will discover amrita.’” + +So ends the seventeenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XVIII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘There is a mountain called Mandara adorned with cloud-like +peaks. It is the best of mountains, and is covered all over with +intertwining herbs. There countless birds pour forth their melodies, and +beasts of prey roam about. The gods, the Apsaras and the Kinnaras visit +the place. Upwards it rises eleven thousand yojanas, and descends +downwards as much. The gods wanted to tear it up and use it as a churning +rod but failing to do so same to Vishnu and Brahman who were sitting +together, and said unto them, ‘Devise some efficient scheme, consider, ye +gods, how Mandara may be dislodged for our good.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘O son of Bhrigu! Vishnu with Brahman assented to it. +And the lotus-eyed one (Vishnu) laid the hard task on the mighty Ananta, +the prince of snakes. The powerful Ananta, directed thereto both by +Brahman and Narayana, O Brahmana, tore up the mountain with the woods +thereon and with the denizens of those woods. And the gods came to the +shore of the Ocean with Ananta and addressed the Ocean, saying, ‘O Ocean; +we have come to churn thy waters for obtaining nectar.’ And the Ocean +replied, ‘Be it so, as I shall not go without a share of it. I am able to +bear the prodigious agitation of my waters set up by the mountain.’ The +gods then went to the king of tortoises and said to him, ‘O +Tortoise-king, thou wilt have to hold the mountain on thy back!’ The +Tortoise-king agreed, and Indra contrived to place the mountain on the +former’s back. + +“And the gods and the Asuras made of Mandara a churning staff and Vasuki +the cord, and set about churning the deep for amrita. The Asuras held +Vasuki by the hood and the gods held him by the tail. And Ananta, who was +on the side of the gods, at intervals raised the snake’s hood and +suddenly lowered it. And in consequence of the stretch Vasuki received at +the hands of the gods and the Asuras, black vapours with flames issued +from his mouth. These, turned into clouds charged with lightning, poured +showers that refreshed the tired gods. And flowers that also fell on all +sides of the celestials from the trees on the whirling Mandara, refreshed +them. + +“Then, O Brahmana, out of the deep came a tremendous roar like unto the +roar of the clouds at the Universal Dissolution. Diverse aquatic animals +being crushed by the great mountain gave up the ghost in the salt waters. +And many denizens of the lower regions and the world of Varuna were +killed. Large trees with birds on the whirling Mandara were torn up by +the roots and fell into the water. The mutual friction of those trees +also produced fires that blazed up frequently. The mountain thus looked +like a mass of dark clouds charged with lightning. O Brahmana, the fire +spread, and consumed the lions, elephants and other creatures that were +on the mountain. Then Indra extinguished that fire by pouring down heavy +showers. + +“After the churning, O Brahmana, had gone on for some time, gummy +exudations of various trees and herbs vested with the properties of +amrita mingled with the waters of the Ocean. And the celestials attained +to immortality by drinking of the water mixed with those gums and with +the liquid extract of gold. By degrees, the milky water of the agitated +deep turned into clarified butter by virtue of those gums and juices. But +nectar did not appear even then. The gods came before the boon-granting +Brahman seated on his seat and said, ‘Sire, we are spent up, we have no +strength left to churn further. Nectar hath not yet arisen so that now we +have no resource save Narayana.’ + +“On hearing them, Brahman said to Narayana, ‘O Lord, condescend to grant +the gods strength to churn the deep afresh.’ + +“Then Narayana agreeing to grant their various prayers, said, ‘Ye wise +ones, I grant you sufficient strength. Go, put the mountain in position +again and churn the water.’ + +‘Re-established thus in strength, the gods recommenced churning. After a +while, the mild Moon of a thousand rays emerged from the Ocean. +Thereafter sprung forth Lakshmi dressed in white, then Soma, then the +White Steed, and then the celestial gem Kaustubha which graces the breast +of Narayana. Then Lakshmi, Soma and the Steed, fleet as the mind, all +came before the gods on high. Then arose the divine Dhanwantari himself +with the white vessel of nectar in his hand. And seeing him, the Asuras +set up a loud cry, saying, ‘It be ours.’ + +“And at length rose the great elephant, Airavata, of huge body and with +two pair of white tusks. And him took Indra the wielder of the +thunderbolt. But with the churning still going on, the poison Kalakuta +appeared at last. Engulfing the Earth it suddenly blazed up like a fire +attended with fumes. And by the scent of the fearful Kalakuta, the three +worlds were stupefied. And then Siva, being solicited by Brahman, +swallowed that poison for the safety of the creation. The divine +Maheswara held it in his throat, and it is said that from that time he is +called Nilakantha (blue-throated). Seeing all these wondrous things, the +Asuras were filled with despair, and got themselves prepared for entering +into hostilities with the gods for the possession of Lakshmi and Amrita. +Thereupon Narayana called his bewitching Maya (illusive power) to his +aid, and assuming the form of an enticing female, coquetted with the +Danavas. The Danavas and the Daityas charmed with her exquisite beauty +and grace lost their reason and unanimously placed the Amrita in the +hands of that fair damsel.’” + +So ends the eighteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XIX + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘Then the Daityas and the Danauas equipped with first-class +armours and various weapons attacked the gods. In the meantime the +valiant Lord Vishnu in the form of an enchantress accompanied by Nara +deceived the mighty Danavas and took away the Amrita from their hands. + +“And all the gods at that time of great fright drank the Amrita with +delight, receiving it from Vishnu. And while the gods were partaking of +it, after which they had so much hankered, a Danava named Rahu was also +drinking it among them in the guise of a god. And when the Amrita had +reached Rahu’s throat only, Surya and Soma (recognised him and) intimated +the fact to the gods. And Narayana instantly cut off with his discus the +well-adorned head of the Danava who was drinking the Amrita without +permission. And the huge head of the Danava, cut off by the discus and +resembling a mountain peak, then rose up to the sky and began to utter +dreadful cries. And the Danava’s headless trunk, falling upon the ground +and rolling thereon, made the Earth tremble with her mountains, forests +and islands. And from that time there is a long-standing quarrel between +Rahu’s head and Surya and Soma. And to this day it swalloweth Surya and +Soma (during solar and lunar eclipses). + +“Then Narayana quitting his enchanting female form and hurling many +terrible weapons at the Danavas, made them tremble. And thus on the +shores of the salt-water sea, commenced the dreadful battle of the gods +and the Asuras. And sharp-pointed javelins and lances and various weapons +by thousands began to be discharged on all sides. And mangled with the +discus and wounded with swords, darts and maces, the Asuras in large +numbers vomited blood and lay prostrate on the earth. Cut off from the +trunks with sharp double-edged swords, heads adorned with bright gold, +fell continually on the field of battle. Their bodies drenched in gore, +the great Asuras lay dead everywhere. It seemed as if red-dyed mountain +peaks lay scattered all around. And when the Sun rose in his splendour, +thousands of warriors struck one another with weapons. And cries of +distress were heard everywhere. The warriors fighting at a distance from +one another brought one another down by sharp iron missiles, and those +fighting at close quarters slew one another with blows of their fists. +And the air was filled with shrieks of distress. Everywhere were heard +the alarming sounds,--‘cut’, ‘pierce’, ‘at them’, ‘hurl down’, ‘advance’. + +‘And when the battle was raging fiercely, Nara and Narayana entered the +field. And Narayana seeing the celestial bow in the hand of Nara, called +to mind his own weapon, the Danava-destroying discus. And lo! the discus, +Sudarsana, destroyer of enemies, like to Agni in effulgence and dreadful +in battle, came from the sky as soon as thought of. And when it came, +Narayana of fierce energy, possessing arms like the trunk of an elephant, +hurled with great force that weapon of extraordinary lustre, effulgent as +blazing fire, dreadful and capable of destroying hostile towns. And that +discus blazing like the fire that consumeth all things at the end of +Yuga, hurled with force from the hands of Narayana, and falling +constantly everywhere, destroyed the Daityas and the Danavas by +thousands. Sometimes it blazed like fire and consumed them all; sometimes +it struck them down as it coursed through the sky; and sometimes, falling +on the earth, it drank their life-blood like a goblin. + +“On the other hand, the Danavas, white as the clouds from which the rain +hath dropped, possessing great strength and bold hearts, ascended the +sky, and by hurling down thousands of mountains, continually harassed the +gods. And those dreadful mountains, like masses of clouds, with their +trees and flat tops, falling from the sky, collided with one another and +produced a tremendous roar. And when thousands of warriors shouted +without intermission in the field of battle and mountains with the woods +thereon began to fall around, the earth with her forests trembled. Then +the divine Nara appeared at the scene of the dreadful conflict between +the Asuras and the Ganas (the followers of Rudra), and reducing to dust +those rocks by means of his gold-headed arrows, he covered the heavens +with dust. Thus discomfited by the gods, and seeing the furious discus +scouring the fields of heaven like a blazing flame, the mighty Danavas +entered the bowels of the earth, while others plunged into the sea of +salt-waters. + +“And having gained the victory, the gods offered due respect to Mandara +and placed him again on his own base. And the nectar-bearing gods made +the heavens resound with their shouts, and went to their own abodes. And +the gods, on returning to the heavens, rejoiced greatly, and Indra and +the other deities made over to Narayana the vessel of Amrita for careful +keeping.’” + +And so ends the nineteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XX + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘Thus have I recited to you the whole story of how Amrita +was churned out of the Ocean, and the occasion on which the horse +Uchchaihsravas of great beauty and incomparable prowess was obtained. It +was this horse about which Kadru asked Vinata, saying, ‘Tell me, amiable +sister, without taking much time, of what colour Uchchaishravas is.’ And +Vinata answered, ‘That prince of steeds is certainly white. What dost +thou think, sister? Say thou what is its colour. Let us lay a wager upon +it.’ Kadru replied, then, ‘O thou of sweet smiles. I think that horse is +black in its tail. Beauteous one, bet with me that she who loseth will +become the other’s slave.’ + +‘Sauti continued, ‘Thus wagering with each other about menial service as +a slave, the sisters went home, and resolved to satisfy themselves by +examining the horse next day. And Kadru, bent upon practising a +deception, ordered her thousand sons to transform themselves into black +hair and speedily cover the horse’s tail in order that she might not +become a slave. But her sons, the snakes, refusing to do her bidding, she +cursed them, saying, ‘During the snake-sacrifice of the wise king +Janamejaya of the Pandava race, Agni shall consume you all.’ And the +Grandsire (Brahman) himself heard this exceedingly cruel curse pronounced +by Kadru, impelled by the fates. And seeing that the snakes had +multiplied exceedingly, the Grandsire, moved by kind consideration for +his creatures, sanctioned with all the gods this curse of Kadru. Indeed, +as the snakes were of virulent poison, great prowess and excess of +strength, and ever bent on biting other creatures, their mother’s conduct +towards them--those persecutors of all creatures,--was very proper for +the good of all creatures. Fate always inflicts punishment of death on +those who seek the death of other creatures. The gods, having exchanged +such sentiments with one another, supported Kadru’s action (and went +away). And Brahman, calling Kasyapa to him, spake unto him these words, +‘O thou pure one who overcomest all enemies, these snakes begotten by +you, who are of virulent poison and huge bodies, and ever intent on +biting other creatures, have been cursed by their mother. O son, do not +grieve for it in the least. The destruction of the snakes in the +sacrifice hath, indeed, been ordained long ago’ Saying this, the divine +Creator of the Universe comforted Kasyapa and imparted to that +illustrious one the knowledge of neutralising poison.” + +And so ends the twentieth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XXI + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said. ‘Then when the night had passed away and the sun had risen +in the morning, O thou whose wealth is asceticism, the two sisters Kadru +and Vinata, having laid a wager about slavery, went with haste and +impatience to view the steed Uchchaishravas from a near point. On their +way they saw the Ocean, that receptacle of waters, vast and deep, rolling +and tremendously roaring, full of fishes large enough to swallow the +whale, and abounding with huge makaras and creatures of various forms by +thousands, and rendered inaccessible by the presence of other terrible, +monster-shaped, dark, and fierce aquatic animals, abounding with +tortoises and crocodiles, the mine of all kinds of gems, the home of +Varuna (the water-God), the excellent and beautiful residence of the +Nagas, the lord of all rivers, the abode of the subterranean fire, the +friend (or asylum) of the Asuras, the terror of all creatures, the grand +reservoir of water, and ever immutable. It is holy, beneficial to the +gods, and is the great source of nectar; without limits, inconceivable, +sacred, and highly wonderful. It is dark, terrible with the sound of +aquatic creatures, tremendously roaring, and full of deep whirl-pools. It +is an object of terror to all creatures. Moved by the winds blowing from +its shores and heaving high, agitated and disturbed, it seems to dance +everywhere with uplifted hands represented by its surges. Full of +swelling billows caused by the waxing and waning of the moon the parent +of Vasudeva’s great conch called Panchajanya, the great mine of gems, its +waters were formerly disturbed in consequence of the agitation caused +within them by the Lord Govinda of immeasurable prowess when he had +assumed the form of a wild boar for raising the (submerged) Earth. Its +bottom, lower than the nether regions, the vow observing regenerate Rishi +Atri could not fathom after (toiling for) a hundred years. It becomes the +bed of the lotus-naveled Vishnu when at the termination of every Yuga +that deity of immeasurable power enjoys yoga-nidra, the deep sleep under +the spell of spiritual meditation. It is the refuge of Mainaka fearful of +falling thunder, and the retreat of the Asuras overcome in fierce +encounters. It offers water as sacrificial butter to the blazing fire +issuing from the mouth of Varava (the Ocean-mare). It is fathomless and +without limits, vast and immeasurable, and the lord of rivers. + +“And they saw that unto it rushed mighty rivers by thousands with proud +gait, like amorous competitors, each eager for meeting it, forestalling +the others. And they saw that it was always full, and always dancing in +its waves. And they saw that it was deep and abounding with fierce whales +and makaras. And it resounded constantly with the terrible sounds of +aquatic creatures. And they saw that it was vast, and wide as the expanse +of space, unfathomable, and limitless, and the grand reservoir of water.’” + +And so ends the twenty-first section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XXII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘The Nagas after consultation arrived at the conclusion that +they should do their mother’s bidding, for if she failed in obtaining her +desire she might withdraw her affection and burn them all. If, on the +other hand, she were graciously inclined, she might free them from her +curse. They said, ‘We will certainly render the horse’s tail black.’ And +it is said that they then went and became hairs in the horse’s tail. + +“Now the two co-wives had laid the wager. And having laid the wager, O +best of Brahmanas, the two sisters Kadru and Vinata, the daughters of +Daksha, proceeded in great delight along the sky to see the other side of +the Ocean. And on their way they saw the Ocean, that receptacle of +waters, incapable of being easily disturbed, mightily agitated all of a +sudden by the wind, and roaring tremendously; abounding with fishes +capable of swallowing the whale and full of makaras; containing also +creatures of diverse forms counted by thousands; frightful from the +presence of horrible monsters, inaccessible, deep, and terrible, the mine +of all kinds of gems, the home of Varuna (the water-god), the wonderful +habitations of the Nagas, the lord of rivers, the abode of the +subterranean fire; the residence of the Asuras and of many dreadful +creatures; the reservoir of water, not subject to decay, aromatic, and +wonderful, the great source of the amrita of the celestials; immeasurable +and inconceivable, containing waters that are holy, filled to the brim by +many thousands of great rivers, dancing as it were in waves. Such was the +Ocean, full of rolling waves, vast as the expanse of the sky, deep, of +body lighted with the flames of subterranean fire, and roaring, which the +sisters quickly passed over.’” + +And so ends the twenty-second section in the Astika Parva of the Adi +Parva. + + + +SECTION XXIII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘Having crossed the Ocean, Kadru of swift speed, accompanied +by Vinata, soon alighted near the horse. They then both beheld that +foremost of steeds of great speed, with body white as the rays of the +moon but having black hairs (in the tail). And observing many black hairs +in the tail, Kadru put Vinata, who was deeply dejected, into slavery. And +thus Vinata having lost the wager, entered into a state of slavery and +became exceedingly sorry. + +“In the meantime, when his time came, burst forth from the egg without +(the help of his) mother, Garuda of great splendour, enkindling all the +points of the universe, that mighty being endued with strength, that bird +capable of assuming at will any form, of going at will everywhere, and of +calling to his aid at will any measure of energy. Effulgent like a heap +of fire, he shone terribly. Of lustre equal to that of the fire at the +end of the Yuga, his eyes were bright like the lightning-flash. And soon +after birth, that bird grew in size and increasing his body ascended the +skies. Fierce and vehemently roaring, he looked as terrible as second +Ocean-fire. And all the deities seeing him, sought the protection of +Vibhavasu (Agni). And they bowed down to that deity of manifold forms +seated on his seat and spake unto him these words, ‘O Agni, extend not +thy body! Wilt thou consume us? Lo, this huge heap of thy flames is +spreading wide!’ And Agni replied, ‘O, ye persecutors of the Asuras, it +is not as ye imagine. This is Garuda of great strength and equal to me in +splendour, endued with great energy, and born to promote the joy of +Vinata. Even the sight of this heap of effulgence hath caused this +delusion in you. He is the mighty son of Kasyapa, the destroyer of the +Nagas, engaged in the well-being of the gods, and the foe of the Daityas +and the Rakshasas. Be not afraid of it in the least. Come with me and +see.’ Thus addressed, the gods from a distance. + +“The gods said, ‘Thou art a Rishi (i.e., one cognisant of all mantras), +share of the largest portion in sacrifices, ever resplendent, the +controller along with the Rishi wended their way towards Garuda and +adored him of birds, the presiding spirit of the animate and the +inanimate universe. Thou art the destroyer of all, the creator of all; +thou art the very Hiranyagarbha; thou art the progenitor of creation in +the form of Daksha and the other Prajapatis; thou art Indra (the king of +the gods), thou art Hayagriva the steed necked incarnation of Vishnu; +thou art the arrow (Vishnu himself, as he became such in the hands of +Mahadeva at the burning of Tripura); thou art the lord of the universe; +thou art the mouth of Vishnu; thou art the four-faced Padmaja; thou art +the Brahmana (i.e., wise), thou art Agni, Pavana, etc. (i.e., the +presiding deity of every object in the universe). Thou art knowledge, +thou art the illusion to which we are all subject; thou art the +all-pervading spirit; thou art the lord of the gods; thou art the great +Truth; thou art fearless; thou art ever unchanged; thou art Brahma +without attributes; thou art the energy of the Sun; thou art the +intellectual functions; thou art our great protector; thou art the ocean +of holiness; thou art purity; thou art bereft of the attributes of +darkness; thou art the possessor of the six high attributes; thou art he +who cannot be withstood in contest. From thee have emanated all things; +thou art of excellent deeds; thou art all that hath not been and all that +hath been. Thou art pure knowledge; thou displayest to us, as Surya does +by his rays, this animate and inanimate universe; thou darkenest the +splendour of Surya at every moment, and thou art the destroyer of all; +thou art all that is perishable and all that is imperishable. O thou +resplendent as Agni, thou burnest all even as Surya in his anger burneth +all creatures. O terrible one, thou resistest even as the fire that +destroys everything at the time of the Universal Dissolution. O mighty +Garuda who movest in the skies, we seek thy protection. O lord of birds +thy energy is extraordinary, thy splendour is that of fire, thy +brightness is like that of the lightning that no darkness can approach. +Thou reachest the very clouds, and art both the cause and the effect; the +dispenser of boons and invincible in prowess. O Lord, this whole universe +is rendered hot by thy splendour, bright as the lustre of heated gold. +Protect these high-souled gods, who overcome by thee and terrified +withal, are flying along the heavens in different directions on their +celestial cars. O thou best of birds, thou Lord of all, thou art the son +of the merciful and high-souled Rishi Kasyapa; therefore, be not wroth +but have mercy on the universe. Thou art Supreme. O pacify thy anger and +preserve us. At thy voice, loud as the roar of the thunder, the ten +points, the skies, the heavens, the Earth and our hearts, O bird, thou +art continuously shaking. O, diminish this thy body resembling Agni. At +the sight of the splendour resembling that of Yama when in wrath, our +hearts lose all equanimity and quake. O thou lord of birds, be propitious +to us who solicit thy mercy! O illustrious one, bestow on us good fortune +and joy.’ + +And that bird of fair feathers, thus adored by the deities and diverse +sections of Rishis, reduced his own energy and splendour.’” + +And thus ends the twenty-third section in the Astika Parva of the Adi +Parva. + + + +SECTION XXIV + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘Then hearing of and beholding his own body, that bird of +beautiful feathers diminished its size.’ + +“And Garuda said, ‘Let no creature be afraid; as ye are in a fright at +the sight of my terrible form, I shall diminish my energy.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Then that bird capable of going everywhere at will, +that ranger of the skies capable of calling to his aid any measure of +energy, bearing Aruna on his back, wended from his father’s home and +arrived at his mother’s side on the other shore of the great ocean. And +he placed Aruna of great splendour in the eastern regions, just at a time +when Surya had resolved to burn the worlds with his fierce rays.’ + +“Saunaka said, ‘When did the revered Surya resolve at the time to burn +the worlds? What wrong was done to him by the gods that provoked his +ire?’ + +“Sauti said, ‘O sinless one, when Rahu was drinking nectar among the gods +at the time of the churning of the ocean he was pointed out to the gods +by Surya and Soma, and from that time he conceived an enmity towards +those deities. And upon this Rahu sought to devour his afflictor (Surya), +became wroth, and thought, ‘Oh, this enmity of Rahu towards me hath +sprung from my desire of benefiting the gods. And this dire consequence I +alone have to sustain. Indeed, at this pass help I obtain not. And before +the very eyes of the denizens of heaven I am going to be devoured and +they brook it quietly. Therefore, for the destruction of the worlds must +I strive.’ And with this resolution he went to the mountains of the west. + +“And from that place he began to radiate his heat around for the +destruction of the world. And then the great Rishis, approaching the +gods, spake unto them, ‘Lo, in the middle of the night springeth a great +heat striking terror into every heart, and destructive of the three +worlds.’ Then the gods, accompanied by the Rishis, wended to the +Grandsire, and said unto him, ‘O what is this great heat today that +causeth such panic? Surya hath not yet risen, still the destruction (of +the world) is obvious. O Lord, what will happen when he doth rise?” The +Grandsire replied, ‘Indeed, Surya is prepared to rise today for the +destruction of the world. As soon as he will appear he will burn +everything into a heap of ashes. By me, however, hath the remedy been +provided beforehand. The intelligent son of Kasyapa is known to all by +the name of Aruna. He is huge of body and of great splendour; he shall +stay in front of Surya, doing the duty of his charioteer and taking away +all the energy of the former. And this will ensure the welfare of the +worlds, of the Rishis, and of the dwellers in heaven.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Aruna, at the behest of the Grandsire, did all that he +was ordered to do. And Surya rose veiled by Aruna’s person. I have told +thee now why Surya was in wrath, and how Aruna, the brother of Garuda, +was appointed as his charioteer. Hear next of that other question asked +by thee a little while ago.’” + +And so ends the twenty-fourth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi +Parva. + + + +SECTION XXV + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘Then that bird of great strength and energy and capable of +going at will to every place repaired to his mother’s side on the other +shore of the great ocean. Thither lived Vinata in affliction, defeated in +wager and put into a state of slavery. Once Kadru calling Vinata who had +prostrated herself before the former, addressed her these words in the +presence of her son, ‘O gentle Vinata, there is in the midst of the +ocean, in a remote quarter, a delightful and fair region inhabited by the +Nagas. Bear me thither!’ At this that mother of the bird of fair feathers +bore (on her shoulders) the mother of the snakes. And Garuda also, +directed by his mother’s words, carried (on his back) the snakes. And +that ranger of the skies born of Vinata began to ascend towards the Sun. +And thereupon the snakes, scorched by the rays of the Sun, swooned away. +And Kadru seeing her sons in that state prayed to Indra, saying, ‘I bow +to thee, thou Lord of all the gods! I bow to thee, thou slayer of Vritra! +I bow to thee, thou slayer of Namuchi! O thou of a thousand eyes, consort +of Sachi! By thy showers, be thou the protector of the snakes scorched by +the Sun. O thou best of the deities, thou art our great protector. O +Purandara, thou art able to grant rain in torrents. Thou art Vayu (the +air), the clouds, fire, and the lightning of the skies. Thou art the +propeller of the clouds, and hast been called the great cloud (i.e., that +which will darken the universe at the end of Yuga). Thou art the fierce +and incomparable thunder, and the roaring clouds. Thou art the Creator of +the worlds and their Destroyer. Thou art unconquered. Thou art the light +of all creatures, Aditya, Vibhavasu, and the wonderful elements. Thou art +the ruler of all the gods. Thou art Vishnu. Thou hast a thousand eyes. +Thou art a god, and the final resource. Thou art, O deity, all amrita, +and the most adored Soma. Thou art the moment, the lunar day, the bala +(minute), thou art the kshana (4 minutes). Thou art the lighted +fortnight, and also the dark fortnight. Thou art kala, thou kashtha, and +thou Truti.[1] Thou art the year, the seasons, the months, the nights, +and the days. Thou art the fair Earth with her mountains and forests. +Thou art also the firmament, resplendent with the Sun. Thou art the great +Ocean with heaving billows and abounding with whales, swallowers of +whales, and makaras, and various fishes. Thou art of great renown, always +adored by the wise and by the great Rishis with minds rapt in +contemplation. Thou drinkest, for the good of all creatures, the Soma +juice in sacrifices and the clarified butter offered with sacred +invocation. Thou art always worshipped at sacrifices by Brahmanas moved +by desire of fruit. O thou of incomparable mass of strength, thou art +sung in the Vedas and Vedangas. It is for that reason that learned +Brahmanas bent upon performing sacrifices, study the Vedas with every +care.’” + +And so ends the twenty-fifth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XXVI + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘And then Indra, the king of gods, having the best of horses +for his bearer, thus adored by Kadru, covered the entire firmament with +masses of blue clouds. And he commanded the clouds, saying, Pour ye, your +vivifying and blessed drops!’ And those clouds, luminous with lightning, +and incessantly roaring against each other in the welkin, poured abundant +water. And the sky, in consequence of those wonderful and +terribly-roaring clouds that were incessantly begetting vast quantities +of water, looked as if the end of Yuga had come. And in consequence of +the myriads of waves caused in the falling torrents, the deep roar of the +clouds, the flashes of lightning, the violence of the wind, and the +general agitation, the sky looked as if dancing in madness. The sky +became overcast, and the rays of the Sun and the Moon totally disappeared +in consequence of that incessant downpour. + +“And upon Indra’s causing that downpour, the Nagas became exceedingly +delighted. And the Earth was filled with water all around. And the cool, +clear water reached even the nether regions. And there were countless +waves of water all over the Earth. And the snakes with their mother +reached (in safety) the island called Ramaniyaka.” + +And so ends the twenty-sixth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XXVII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘And then the Nagas drenched by that shower, became +exceedingly glad. And borne by that bird of fair feathers, they soon +arrived at the island. That island had been fixed by the Creator of the +Universe as the abode of the makaras. There they saw the terrible Lavana +Samudra (ocean of salt). On arriving there with Garuda, they saw there a +beautiful forest washed by the waters of the sea and resounding with the +music of winged choirs. And there were clusters of trees all around laden +with various fruits and flowers. And there were also fair mansions all +around; and many tanks full of lotuses. And it was also adorned with many +lakes of pure water. And it was refreshed with pure incense-breathing +breezes. And it was adorned with many a tree that grew only on the hills +of Malaya, and seemed by their tallness to reach the very heavens. And +there were also various other trees whose flowers were scattered all +around by the breeze. And that forest was charming and dear to the +Gandharvas and always gave them pleasure. And it was full of bees +maddened with the honey they sucked. And the sight of all this was +exceedingly delightful. And in consequence of many things there, capable +of charming everybody, that forest was fair, delightful, and holy. And, +echoing with the notes of various birds, it delighted greatly the sons of +Kadru. + +“And the snakes, after arriving at that forest, began to enjoy +themselves. And they commanded the lord of birds, viz., Garuda, of great +energy, saying, ‘Convey us to some other fair island with pure water. +Thou ranger of the skies, thou must have seen many fair regions while +coursing (through the air).’ Garuda, alter reflecting for a few moments, +asked his mother Vinata, saying, ‘Why, mother, have I to do the bidding +of the snakes?’ Vinata thus questioned by him spake unto that ranger of +the skies, her son, invested with every virtue, of great energy, and +great strength, as follows: “Vinata said, ‘O thou best of birds, I have +become, from misfortune, the slave of my co-wife. The snakes, by an act +of deception, caused me to lose my bet and have made me so.’ When his +mother had told him the reason, that ranger of the skies, dejected with +grief, addressed the snakes, saying, ‘Tell me, ye snakes, by bringing +what thing, gaining a knowledge of what thing, or doing what act of +prowess, we may be freed from this state of bondage to you.’” Sauti +continued, ‘The snakes, hearing him, said, ‘Bring thou amrita by force. +Then O bird, shall you be freed from bondage.’” And so ends the +twenty-seventh section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XXVIII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘Garuda, thus addressed by the snakes, then said unto his +mother, ‘I shall go to bring amrita, I desire to eat something in the +way. Direct me to it.’ Vinata replied, ‘In a remote region in the midst +of the ocean, the Nishadas have their fair home. Having eaten the +thousands of Nishadas that live there, bring thou amrita. But let not thy +heart be ever set on taking the life of a Brahmana. Of all creatures a +Brahmana must not be slain. He is, indeed, like fire. A Brahmana, when +angry, becomes like fire or the Sun, like poison or an edged weapon. A +Brahmana, it has been said, is the master of all creatures. For these and +other reasons, a Brahmana is the adored of the virtuous. O child, he is +never to be slain by thee even in anger. Hostility with Brahmanas, +therefore, would not be proper under any circumstances. O sinless one, +neither Agni nor Surya truly can consume so much as does a Brahmana of +rigid vows, when angry. By these various indications must thou know a +good Brahmana. Indeed, a brahmana is the first-born of all creatures, the +foremost of the four orders, the father and the master of all.’” Garuda +then asked, ‘O mother, of what form is a Brahmana, of what behaviour, and +of what prowess? Doth he shine like fire, or is he of tranquil mien? And, +O mother, it behoveth thee to tell my inquiring self, those auspicious +signs by which I may recognise a Brahmana.’” Vinata replied, saying, ‘O +child, him shouldst thou know as the best amongst Brahmanas who having +entered thy throat would torture thee as a fish-hook or burn thee as +blazing charcoal. A Brahmana must never be slain by thee even in anger.’ +And Vinata out of affection for her son, again told him these words, ‘Him +shouldst thou know as a good Brahmana who would not be digested in thy +stomach.’ Although she knew the incomparable strength of her son, yet she +blessed him heartily, for, deceived by the snakes, she was very much +afflicted by woe. And she said. ‘Let Marut (the god of the winds) protect +thy wings, and Surya and Soma thy vertebral regions; let Agni protect thy +head, and the Vasus thy whole body. I also, O child (engaged in +beneficial ceremonies), shall sit here for your welfare. Go then, O +child, in safety to accomplish thy purpose.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Then Garuda, having heard the words of his mother, +stretched his wings and ascended the skies. And endued with great +strength, he soon fell upon the Nishadas, hungry and like another Yama. +And bent upon slaying the Nishadas, he raised a great quantity of dust +that overspread the firmament, and sucking up water from amid the ocean, +shook the trees growing on the adjacent mountains. And then that lord of +birds obstructed the principal thoroughfares of the town of the Nishadas +by his mouth, increasing its orifice at will. And the Nishadas began to +fly in great haste in the direction of the open mouth of the great +serpent-eater. And as birds in great affliction ascend by thousand into +the skies when the trees in a forest are shaken by the winds, so those +Nishadas blinded by the dust raised by the storm entered the +wide-extending cleft of Garuda’s mouth open to receive them. And then the +hungry lord of all rangers of the skies, that oppressor of enemies, +endued with great strength, and moving with greatest celerity to achieve +his end, closed his mouth, killing innumerable Nishadas following the +occupation of fishermen.’” + +So ends the twenty-eighth section in the Astika Parva of Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XXIX + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti continued, ‘A certain Brahmana with his wife had entered the +throat of that ranger of the skies. The former began to burn the bird’s +throat like a piece of flaming charcoal. Him Garuda addressed, saying, ‘O +best of Brahmanas, come out soon from my mouth which I open for thee. A +Brahmana must never be slain by me, although he may be always engaged in +sinful practices.’ Unto Garuda who had thus addressed him that Brahmana +said, ‘O, let this woman of the Nishada caste, who is my wife, also come +out with me.’ And Garuda said, ‘Taking the woman also of the Nishada +caste with thee, come out soon. Save thyself without delay since thou +hast not yet been digested by the heat of my stomach.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘And then that Brahmana, accompanied by his wife of the +Nishada caste, came out, and praising Garuda wended whatever way he +liked. And when that Brahmana had come out with his wife, that lord of +birds, fleet as the mind, stretching his wings ascended the skies. He +then saw his father, and, hailed by him, Garuda, of incomparable prowess +made proper answers. And the great Rishi (Kasyapa) then asked him, ‘O +child, is it well with thee? Dost thou get sufficient food every day? Is +there food in plenty for thee in the world of men?’ + +“Garuda replied, ‘My mother is ever well. And so is my brother, and so am +I. But, father, I do not always obtain plenty of food, for which my peace +is incomplete. I am sent by the snakes to fetch the excellent amrita. +Indeed, I shall fetch it today for emancipating my mother from her +bondage. My mother command me, saying, ‘Eat thou the Nishadas.’ I have +eaten them by thousands, but my hunger is not appeased. Therefore, O +worshipful one, point out to me some other food, by eating which, O +master, I may be strong enough to bring away amrita by force. Thou +shouldst indicate some food wherewith I may appease my hunger and thirst.’ + +“Kasyapa replied, ‘This lake thou seest is sacred. It hath been heard, of +even in the heavens. There is an elephant, with face downwards, who +continually draggeth a tortoise, his elder brother. I shall speak to you +in detail of their hostility in former life. Just listen as I tell you +why they are here. + +“There was of old a great Rishi of the name of Vibhavasu. He was +exceedingly wrathful. He had a younger brother of the name of Supritika. +The latter was averse to keeping his wealth jointly with his brother’s. +And Supritika would always speak of partition. After some time his +brother Vibhavasu told Supritika, ‘It is from great foolishness that +persons blinded by love of wealth always desire to make a partition of +their patrimony. After effecting a partition they fight with each other, +deluded by wealth. Then again, enemies in the guise of friends cause +estrangements between ignorant and selfish men alter they become +separated in wealth, and pointing out faults confirm their quarrels, so +that the latter soon fall one by one. Absolute ruin very soon overtakes +the separated. For these reasons the wise never speak approvingly of +partition amongst brothers who, when divided, do not regard the most +authoritative Sastras and live always in fear of each other. But as thou, +Supritika, without regarding my advice impelled by desire of separation, +always wishest to make an arrangement about your property, thou shall +become an elephant.’ Supritika, thus cursed, then spake unto Vibhavasu, +‘Thou also shall become a tortoise moving in the midst of the waters.’ + +“And thus on account of wealth those two fools, Supritika and Vibhavasu, +from each other’s curse, have become an elephant and a tortoise +respectively. Owing to their wrath, they have both become inferior +animals. And they are engaged in hostilities with each other, proud of +their excessive strength and the weight of their bodies. And in this lake +those two beings of huge bodies are engaged in acts according to their +former hostility. Look here, one amongst them, the handsome elephant of +huge body, is even now approaching. Hearing his roar, the tortoise also +of huge body, living within the waters, cometh out, agitating the lake +violently. And seeing him the elephant, curling his trunk, rusheth into +the water. And endued with great energy, with motion of his tusks and +fore-part of his trunk and tail and feet, he agitates the water of the +lake abounding with fishes. And the tortoise also of great strength, with +upraised head, cometh forward for an encounter. And the elephant is six +yojanas in height and twice that measure in circumference. And the height +of the tortoise also is three yojanas and his circumference ten. Eat thou +up both of them that are madly engaged in the encounter and bent upon +slaying each other, and then accomplish the task that thou desirest. +Eating that fierce elephant which looketh like a huge mountain and +resembleth a mass of dark clouds, bring thou amrita.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Having said so unto Garuda, he (Kasyapa) blessed him, +saying, ‘Blest be thou when thou art in combat with the gods. Let water +pitchers filled to the brim, Brahmanas, kine, and other auspicious +objects, bless thee, thou oviparous one. And, O thou of great strength, +when thou art engaged with the gods in combat, let the Riks, the Yajus, +the Samas, the sacred sacrificial butter, all the mysteries (Upanishads), +constitute thy strength.’ + +“Garuda, thus addressed by his father, wended to the side of that lake. +He saw that expanse of clear water with birds of various kinds all +around. And remembering the words of his father, that ranger of the skies +possessed of great swiftness of motion, seized the elephant and the +tortoise, one in each claw. And that bird then soared high into the air. +And he came upon a sacred place called Alamva and saw many divine trees. +And struck by the wind raised by his wings, those trees began to shake +with fear. And those divine trees having golden boughs feared that they +would break. And the ranger of the skies seeing that those trees capable +of granting every wish were quaking with fear, went to other trees of +incomparable appearance. And those gigantic trees were adorned with +fruits of gold and silver and branches of precious gems. And they were +washed with the water of the sea. And there was a large banian among +them, which had grown into gigantic proportions, that spoke unto that +lord of bird coursing towards it with the fleetness of the mind, ‘Sit +thou on this large branch of mine extending a hundred yojanas and eat the +elephant and the tortoise.’ When that best of birds, of great swiftness +and of body resembling a mountain, quickly alighted upon a bough of that +banian tree, the resort of thousands of winged creatures-that bough also +full of leaves shook and broke down.’” + +So ends the twenty-ninth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XXX + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘At the very touch by Garuda of great might with his feet, +the branch of the tree broke as it was caught by Garuda. Casting his eyes +around in wonder he saw Valakhilya Rishis hanging therefrom with heads +downwards and engaged in ascetic penances. Reflecting that if that bough +fell down, the Rishis would be slain, the mighty one held the elephant +and the tortoise still more firmly with his claws. And from fear of +slaying the Rishis and desire of saving them, held that bough in his +beaks, and rose on his wings. The great Rishis were struck with wonder at +the sight of that act of his which was beyond even the power of the gods, +and gave that mighty bird a name. And they said, ‘As this ranger of the +skies rises on its wings bearing a heavy burden, let this foremost of +birds having snakes for his food be called Garuda (bearer of heavy +weight).’ + +“And shaking the mountains by his wings, Garuda leisurely coursed through +the skies. And as he soared with the elephant and the tortoise (in his +claws), he beheld various regions underneath. Desiring as he did to save +the Valakhilyas, he saw not a spot whereon to sit. At last he went to +that foremost of mountains called Gandhamadana. There he saw his father +Kasyapa engaged in ascetic devotions. Kasyapa also saw his son, that +ranger of the skies, of divine form, possessed of great splendour, and +energy and strength, and endued with the speed of the wind or the mind, +huge as a mountain peak, a ready smiter like the curse of a Brahmana, +inconceivable, indescribable, frightful to all creatures, possessed of +great prowess, terrible, of the splendour of Agni himself, and incapable +of being overcome by the deities, Danavas, and invincible Rakshasas, +capable of splitting mountain summits and sucking the ocean itself and +destroying the three worlds, fierce, and looking like Yama himself. The +illustrious Kasyapa, seeing him approach and knowing also his motive, +spoke unto him these words: + +“Kasyapa said, ‘O child, do not commit a rash act, for then thou wouldst +have to suffer pain. The Valakhilyas, supporting themselves by drinking +the rays of the sun, might, if angry, blast thee.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Kasyapa then propitiated, for the sake of his son, the +Valakhilyas of exceeding good fortune and whose sins had been destroyed +by ascetic penances.’ And Kasyapa said, ‘Ye whose wealth is asceticism, +the essay of Garuda is for the good of all creatures. The task is great +that he is striving to accomplish. It behoveth you to accord him your +permission.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Those ascetics thus addressed by the illustrious +Kasyapa, abandoned that bough and went to the sacred mountain of Himavat +for purposes of ascetic penances. After those Rishis had gone away, the +son of Vinata, with voice obstructed by the bough in his beaks, asked his +father Kasyapa saying, ‘O illustrious one, where shall I throw this arm +of the tree? O illustrious one, indicate to me some region without human +beings.’ Then Kasyapa spoke of a mountain without human beings with caves +and dales always covered with snow and incapable of approach by ordinary +creatures even in thought. And the great bird bearing that branch, that +elephant, and that tortoise, proceeded with great speed towards that +mountain. The great arm of the tree with which that bird of huge body +flew away could not be girt round with a cord made of a hundred (cow) +hides. Garuda, the lord of birds, then flew away for hundreds of thousand +of yojanas within--the shortest time. And going according to the +directions of his father to that mountain almost in a moment, that ranger +of the skies let fall the gigantic bough. And it fell with a great noise. +And that Prince of mountains shook, struck with the storm raised by +Garuda’s wings. And the trees thereon dropped showers of flowers. And the +peaks decked with gems and gold adorning that great mountain itself, were +loosened and tell down on all sides. And the falling bough struck down +numerous trees which, with golden flowers amid dark foliage, shone there +like clouds charged with lightning. And those trees, bright as gold, +falling down upon the ground and, dyed with mountain metals, shone as if +they were bathed in the rays of the sun. + +“Then that best of birds, Garuda, perching on the summit of that +mountain, ate both the elephant and the tortoise, rose on his wings with +great speed from the top of the mountain. + +“And various omens began to appear among the gods foreboding fear. +Indra’s favourite thunderbolt blazed up in a fright. Meteors with flames +and smoke, loosened from the welkin, shot down during the day. And the +weapons of the Vasus, the Rudras, the Adityas, the Sabhyas, the Maruts, +and other gods, began to spend their force against one another. Such a +thing had never happened even during the war between the gods and the +Asuras. And the winds blew accompanied with thunder, and meteors fell by +thousands. And the sky, though cloudless, roared tremendously. And even +he who was the god of gods shed showers of blood. And the flowery +garlands on the necks of the gods faded and their prowess suffered +diminution. And terrible masses of clouds dropped thick showers of blood. +And the dust raised by the winds darkened the splendour of the very +coronets of the gods. And He of a thousand sacrifices (Indra), with the +other gods, perplexed with fear at the sight of those dark forebodings +spoke unto Vrihaspati thus, ‘Why, O worshipful one, have these natural +disturbances suddenly arisen? No foe do I behold who would oppress us in +war.’ Vrihaspati answered, ‘O chief of the gods, O thou of a thousand +sacrifices, it is from thy fault and carelessness, and owing also to the +ascetic penance of the high-souled great Rishis, the Valakhilyas, that +the son of Kasyapa and Vinata, a ranger of the skies endued with great +strength and possessing the capacity of assuming at will any form, is +approaching to take away the Soma. And that bird, foremost among all +endued with great strength, is able to rob you of the Soma. Everything is +possible with him; the unachievable he can achieve.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Indra, having heard these words, then spoke unto those +that guarded the amrita, saying, ‘A bird endued with great strength and +energy has set his heart on taking away the amrita. I warn you beforehand +so that he may not succeed in taking it away by force. Vrihaspati has +told me that his strength is immeasurable.’ And the gods hearing of it +were amazed and took precautions. And they stood surrounding the amrita +and Indra also of great prowess, the wielder of the thunder, stood with +them. And the gods wore curious breastplates of gold, of great value, and +set with gems, and bright leathern armour of great toughness. And the +mighty deities wielded various sharp-edged weapons of terrible shapes, +countless in number, emitting, even all of them, sparks of fire with +smoke. And they were also armed with many a discus and iron mace +furnished with spikes, and trident, battle-axe, and various kinds of +sharp-pointed missiles and polished swords and maces of terrible form, +all befitting their respective bodies. And decked with celestial +ornaments and resplendent with those bright arms, the gods waited there, +their fears allayed. And the gods, of incomparable strength, energy, and +splendour, resolved to protect the amrita. Capable of splitting the towns +of the Asuras, all displayed themselves in forms resplendent as the fire. +And in consequence of the gods standing there, that (would be) +battle-field, owing to hundreds of thousands of maces furnished with iron +spikes, shone like another firmament illumined by the rays of the Sun.’” + +So ends the thirtieth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XXXI + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Saunaka said, ‘O son of Suta, what was Indra’s fault, what his act of +carelessness? How was Garuda born in consequence of the ascetic penances +of the Valakhilyas? Why also Kasyapa--a Brahman--had the king of birds +for a son? Why, too, was he invincible of all creatures and unslayable of +all? Why also was that ranger of the skies capable of going into every +place at will and of mustering at will any measure of energy? If these +are described in the Purana, I should like to hear them.’ + +“Sauti said, ‘What thou askest me is, indeed, the subject of the Purana. +O twice-born one, listen as I briefly recite it all. + +“Once upon a time, when the lord of creation, Kasyapa, was engaged in a +sacrifice from desire of offspring, the Rishis, the gods, and the +Gandharvas, all gave him help. And Indra was appointed by Kasyapa to +bring the sacrificial fuel; and with him those ascetics the Valakhilyas, +and all the other deities. And the lord Indra, taking up according to his +own strength, a weight that was mountain-like, brought it without any +fatigue. And he saw on the way some Rishis, of bodies of the measure of +the thumb, all together carrying one single stalk of a Palasa (Butea +frondosa) leaf. And those Rishis were, from want of food, very lean and +almost merged in their own bodies. And they were so weak that they were +much afflicted when sunk in the water that collected in an indentation on +the road produced by the hoof of a cow. And Purandara, proud of his +strength, beheld them with surprise, and laughing at them in derision +soon left them behind insulting them, besides, by passing over their +heads. And those Rishis being thus insulted were filled with rage and +sorrow. And they made preparations for a great sacrifice at which Indra +was terrified. Hear, O Saunaka, of the wish for accomplishment of which +those vow-observing wise, and excellent ascetics poured clarified butter +of the sacrificial fire with loudly uttered mantras, ‘There shall be +another Indra of all gods, capable of going everywhere at will, and of +mustering at will any measure of energy, and striking tear into the +(present) king of the gods. By the fruit of our ascetic penance, let one +arise, fleet as the mind, and fierce withal.’ And the lord of the +celestials of a hundred sacrifices, having come to know of this, became +very much alarmed and sought the protection of the vow-observing Kasyapa. +And the Prajapati Kasyapa, hearing everything from Indra, went to the +Valakhilyas and asked them if their sacrifice had been successful. And +those truth-speaking Rishis replied to him, saying, ‘Let it be as thou +sayest!’ And the Prajapati Kasyapa pacifying them, spake unto them as +follows, ‘By the word of Brahman, this one (Indra) hath been made the +Lord of the three worlds. Ye ascetics, ye also are striving to create +another Indra! Ye excellent ones, it behoveth you not to falsify the word +of Brahman. Let not also this purpose, for (accomplishing) which ye are +striving, be rendered futile. Let there spring an Indra (Lord) of winged +creatures, endued with excess of strength! Be gracious unto Indra who is +a suppliant before you.’ And the Valakhilyas, thus addressed by Kasyapa, +after offering reverence to that first of the Munis, viz., the Prajapati +Kasyapa, spake unto him: + +“The Valakhilyas said, ‘O Prajapati, this sacrifice of us all is for an +Indra! Indeed this hath also been meant for a son being born unto thee! +Let this task be now left to thee. And in this matter do whatsoever thou +seest to be good and proper.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Meanwhile, moved by the desire of offspring, the good +daughter of Daksha, the vow-observing, amiable, and fortunate Vinata, her +ascetic penances over, having purified herself with a bath in that season +when connubial companionship might prove fruitful, approached her lord. +And Kasyapa spake unto her, ‘Respected one, the sacrifice commenced by me +hath borne fruit. What hath been desired by thee shall come to pass. Two +heroic sons, shall be born unto thee, who shall be the lords of the three +worlds. By the penances of the Valakhilyas and by virtue of the desire +with which I commenced my sacrifice, those sons shall be of exceedingly +good fortune and worshipped in the three worlds!’ And the illustrious +Kasyapa spake unto her again, ‘Bear thou these auspicious seeds with +great care. These two will be the lords of all winged creatures. These +heroic rangers of the skies will be respected in all the worlds, and +capable of assuming any form at will. + +“And the Prajapati, gratified with all that took place, then addressed +Indra of a hundred sacrifices, saying, ‘Thou shalt have two brothers of +great energy and prowess, who shall be to thee even as the helpmates. +From them no injury shall result unto thee. Let thy sorrow cease; thou +shalt continue as the lord of all. Let not, however, the utterers of the +name of Brahma be ever again slighted by thee. Nor let the very wrathful +ones, whose words are even the thunderbolt, be ever again insulted by +thee. Indra, thus addressed, went to heaven, his fears dispelled. And +Vinata also, her purpose fulfilled, was exceedingly glad. And she gave +birth to two sons, Aruna and Garuda. And Aruna, of undeveloped body, +became the fore-runner of the Sun. And Garuda was vested with the +lordship over the birds. O thou of Bhrigu’s race, hearken now to the +mighty achievement of Garuda.’” + +“So ends the thirty-first section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XXXII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘O foremost of Brahmanas, the gods having prepared for +battle in that way, Garuda, the king of birds, soon came upon those wise +ones. And the gods beholding him of excessive strength began to quake +with fear, and strike one another with all their weapons. And amongst +those that guarded the Soma was Brahmana (the celestial architect), of +measureless might, effulgent as the electric fire and of great energy. +And after a terrific encounter lasting only a moment, managed by the lord +of birds with his talons, beak, and wings, he lay as dead on the fields. +And the ranger of the skies making the worlds dark with the dust raised +by the hurricane of his wings, overwhelmed the celestials with it. And +the latter, overwhelmed with that dust, swooned away. And the immortals +who guarded the amrita, blinded by that dust, could no longer see Garuda. +Even thus did Garuda agitate the region of the heavens. And even thus he +mangled the gods with the wounds inflicted by his wings and beak. + +“Then the god of a thousand eyes commanded Vayu (the god of wind), +saying, ‘Dispel thou this shower of dust soon. O Maruta, this is indeed, +thy task. Then the mighty Vayu soon drove away that dust. And when the +darkness had disappeared, the celestials attacked Garuda. And as he of +great might was attacked by the gods, he began to roar aloud, like the +great cloud that appeareth in the sky at the end of the Yuga, frightening +every creature. And that king of birds, of great energy, that slayer of +hostile heroes, then rose on his wings. All the wise ones (the +celestials) with Indra amongst them armed with double-edged broad swords, +iron maces furnished with sharp spikes, pointed lances, maces, bright +arrows, and many a discus of the form of the sun, saw him over head. And +the king of birds, attacked them on all sides with showers of various +weapons and fought exceedingly hard without wavering for a moment. And +the son of Vinata, of great prowess blazing in the sky, attacked the gods +on all sides with his wings and breast. And blood began to flow copiously +from the bodies of the gods mangled by the talons and the beak of Garuda. +Overcome by the lord of birds, the Sadhyas with the Gandharvas fled +eastwards, the Vasus with the Rudras towards the south, the Adityas +towards the west, and the twin Aswins towards the north. Gifted with +great energy, they retreated fighting, looking back every moment on their +enemy. + +“And Garuda had encounters with the Yakshas, Aswakranda of great courage, +Rainuka, the bold Krathanaka, Tapana, Uluka, Swasanaka, Nimesha, Praruja, +and Pulina. And the son of Vinata mangled them with his wings, talons, +and beak, like Siva himself, that chastiser of enemies, and the holder of +Pinaka in rage at the end of the Yuga. And those Yakshas of great might +and courage, mangled all over by that ranger of the skies, looked like +masses of black clouds dropping thick showers of blood. + +“And Garuda, depriving them of life, and then went to where the amrita +was. And he saw that it was surrounded on all sides by fire. And the +terrible flames of that fire covered the entire sky. And moved by violent +winds, they seemed bent on burning the Sun himself. The illustrious +Garuda then assumed ninety times ninety mouths and quickly drinking the +waters of many rivers with those mouths and returning with great speed, +that chastiser of enemies, having wings for his vehicle extinguished that +fire with that water. And extinguishing that fire, he assumed a very +small form, desirous of entering into (the place where the Soma was).’” + +So ends the thirty-second section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XXXIII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Santi said, ‘And that bird, assuming a golden body bright as the rays of +the Sun, entered with great force (the region where the Soma was), like a +torrent entering the ocean. And he saw, placed near the Soma, a wheel of +steel keen-edged, and sharp as the razor, revolving incessantly. And that +fierce instrument, of the splendour of the blazing sun and of terrible +form, had been devised by the gods for cutting in pieces all robbers of +the Soma. Garuda, seeing a passage through it, stopped there for a +moment. Diminishing his body, in an instant he passed through the spokes +of that wheel. Within the line of the wheel, he beheld, stationed there +for guarding the Soma two great snakes of the effulgence of blazing fire, +with tongues bright as the lightning-flash, of great energy, with mouth +emitting fire, with blazing eyes, containing poison, very terrible, +always in anger, and of great activity. Their eyes were ceaselessly +inflamed with rage and were also winkless. He who may be seen by even one +of the two would instantly be reduced to ashes. The bird of fair feathers +suddenly covered their eyes with dust. And unseen by them he attacked +them from all sides. And the son of Vinata, that ranger of the skies, +attacking their bodies, mangled them into pieces. He then approached the +Soma without loss of time. Then the mighty son of Vinata, taking up the +Amrita from the place where it was kept, rose on his wings with great +speed, breaking into pieces the machine that had surrounded it. And the +bird soon came out, taking the Amrita but without drinking it himself. +And he then wended on his way without the least fatigue, darkening the +splendour of the Sun. + +“And the son of Vinata then met Vishnu on his way along the sky. And +Narayana was gratified at that act of self-denial on the part of Garuda. +And that deity, knowing no deterioration, said unto the ranger of the +skies, ‘O, I am inclined to grant thee a boon.’ The ranger of the skies +thereupon said, ‘I shall stay above thee.’ And he again spake unto +Narayana these words, ‘I shall be immortal and free from disease without +(drinking) Amrita.’ Vishnu said unto the son of Vinata, ‘Be it so.’ +Garuda, receiving those two boons, told Vishnu, ‘I also shall grant thee +a boon; therefore, let the possessor of the six attributes ask of me.’ +Vishnu then asked the mighty Garuda to become his carrier. And he made +the bird sit on the flagstaff of his car, saying, ‘Even thus thou shalt +stay above me.’ And the ranger of the skies, of great speed, saying unto +Narayana, ‘Be it so,’ swiftly wended on his way, mocking the wind with +his fleetness. + +“And while that foremost of all rangers of the skies, that first of +winged creatures, Garuda, was coursing through the air after wresting the +Amrita, Indra hurled at him his thunderbolt. Then Garuda, the lord of +birds, struck with thunderbolt, spake laughingly unto Indra engaged in +the encounter, in sweet words, saying, ‘I shall respect the Rishi +(Dadhichi) of whose bone the Vajra hath been made. I shall also respect +the Vajra, and thee also of a thousand sacrifices. I cast this feather of +mine whose end thou shalt not attain. Struck with thy thunder I have not +felt the slightest pain.’ And having said this, the king of birds cast a +feather of his. And all creatures became exceedingly glad, beholding that +excellent feather of Garuda so cast off. And seeing that the feather was +very beautiful, they said, ‘Let this bird be called Suparna (having fair +feathers). And Purandara of a thousand eyes, witnessing this wonderful +incident, thought that bird to be some great being and addressed him +thus.’ + +“And Indra said, ‘O best of birds, I desire to know the limit of thy +great strength. I also desire eternal friendship with thee.’” + +So ends the thirty-third section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XXXIV + +(Astika Parva continued) + +‘Sauti continued, ‘Garuda then said, ‘O Purandara, let there be +friendship between thee and me as thou desirest. My strength, know thou, +is hard to bear. O thou of a thousand sacrifices, the good never approve +of speaking highly of their own strength, nor do they speak of their own +merits. But being made a friend, and asked by thee, O friend, I will +answer thee, although self-praise without reason is ever improper. I can +bear, on a single feather of mine, O Sakra, this Earth, with her +mountains and forests and with the waters of the ocean, and with thee +also stationed thereon. Know thou, my strength is such that I can bear +without fatigue even all the worlds put together, with their mobile and +immobile objects.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘O Saunaka, after Garuda of great courage had thus +spoken, Indra the chief of the gods, the wearer of the (celestial) crown, +ever bent upon the good of the worlds, replied, saying, ‘It is as thou +sayest. Everything is possible in thee. Accept now my sincere and hearty +friendship. And if thou hast no concern with the Soma, return it to me. +Those to whom thou wouldst give it would always oppose us.’ Garuda +answered, ‘There is a certain reason for which the Soma is being carried +by me. I shall not give the Soma to any one for drink. But, O thou of a +thousand eyes, after I have placed it down, thou, O lord of the heavens, +canst then, taking it up, instantly bring it away.’ Indra then said, ‘O +oviparous one, I am highly gratified with these words now spoken by thee. +O best of all rangers of the skies; accept from me any boon that thou +desirest.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Then Garuda, recollecting the sons of Kadru and +remembering also the bondage of his mother caused by an act of deception +owing to the well-known reason (viz., the curse of Aruna), said, +‘Although I have power over all creatures, yet I shall do your bidding. +Let, O Sakra, the mighty snakes become my food.’ The slayer of the +Danavas having said unto him, ‘Be it so,’ then went to Hari, the god of +gods, of great soul, and the lord of Yogins. And the latter sanctioned +everything that had been said by Garuda. And the illustrious lord of +heaven again said unto Garuda, ‘I shall bring away the Soma when thou +placest it down.’ And having said so, he bade farewell to Garuda. And the +bird of fair feathers then went to the presence of his mother with great +speed. + +“And Garuda in joy then spake unto all the snakes, ‘Here have I brought +the Amrita. Let me place it on some Kusa grass. O ye snakes, sitting +here, drink of it after ye have performed your ablutions and religious +rites. As said by you, let my mother become, from this day, free, for I +have accomplished your bidding.’ The snakes having said unto Garuda, ‘Be +it so,’ then went to perform their ablutions. Meanwhile, Sakra taking up +the Amrita, wended back to heaven. The snakes after performing their +ablutions, their daily devotions, and other sacred rites, returned in +joy, desirous of drinking the Amrita. They saw that the bed of kusa grass +whereon the Amrita had been placed was empty, the Amrita itself having +been taken away by a counter-act of deception. And they began to lick +with their tongues the kusa grass, as the Amrita had been placed thereon. +And the tongues of the snakes by that act became divided in twain. And +the kusa grass, too, from the contact with Amrita, became sacred +thenceforth. Thus did the illustrious Garuda bring Amrita (from the +heavens) for the snakes, and thus were the tongues of snakes divided by +what Garuda did. + +“Then the bird of fair feathers, very much delighted, enjoyed himself in +those woods accompanied by his mother. Of grand achievements, and deeply +reverenced by all rangers of the skies, he gratified his mother by +devouring the snakes. + +“That man who would listen to this story, or read it out to an assembly +of good Brahmanas, must surely go to heaven, acquiring great merit from +the recitation of (the feats of) Garuda.’” + +And so ends the thirty-fourth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi +Parva. + + + +SECTION XXXV + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Saunaka said, ‘O son of Suta, thou hast told us the reason why the +snakes were cursed by their mother, and why Vinata also was cursed by her +son. Thou hast also told us about the bestowal of boons, by their +husband, on Kadru and Vinata. Thou hast likewise told us the names of +Vinata’s sons. But thou hast not yet recited to us the names of the +snakes. We are anxious to hear the names of the principal ones.’ + +“Sauti said, O thou whose wealth is asceticism, from fear of being +lengthy, I shall not mention the names of all the snakes. But I will +recite the names of the chief ones. Listen to me! + +“Sesha was born first, and then Vasuki. (Then were born) Airavata, +Takshaka, Karkotaka, Dhananjaya, Kalakeya, the serpent Mani, Purana, +Pinjaraka, and Elapatra, Vamana, Nila, Anila, Kalmasha, Savala, Aryaka, +Ugra, Kalasapotaka, Suramukha, Dadhimukha, Vimalapindaka, Apta, Karotaka, +Samkha, Valisikha, Nisthanaka, Hemaguha, Nahusha, Pingala, Vahyakarna, +Hastipada, Mudgarapindaka, Kamvala Aswatara, Kaliyaka, Vritta, +Samvartaka, Padma, Mahapadma, Sankhamukha, Kushmandaka, Kshemaka, +Pindaraka, Karavira, Pushpadanshtraka, Vilwaka, Vilwapandara, Mushikada, +Sankhasiras, Purnabhadra, Haridraka, Aparajita, Jyotika, Srivaha, +Kauravya, Dhritarashtra, Sankhapinda, Virajas, Suvahu, Salipinda, +Prabhakara, Hastipinda, Pitharaka, Sumuksha, Kaunapashana, Kuthara, +Kunjara, Kumuda, Kumudaksha, Tittri, Halika, Kardama, Vahumulaka, +Karkara, Akarkara, Kundodara, and Mahodara. + +“Thus, O best of regenerate ones, have I said the names of the principal +serpents. From fear of being tedious I do not give names of the rest. O +thou whose wealth is asceticism, the sons of these snakes, with their +grandsons, are innumerable. Reflecting upon this, I shall not name them +to thee. O best ascetics, in this world the number of snakes baffles +calculation, there being many thousands and millions of them.’” + +So ends the thirty-fifth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XXXVI + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Saunaka said, ‘O child, thou hast named many of the serpents gifted with +great energy and incapable of being easily overcome. What did they do +after hearing of that curse?’ + +“Sauti said, ‘The illustrious Sesha amongst them, of great renown, +leaving his mother practised hard penances, living upon air and rigidly +observing his vows. He practised these ascetic devotions, repairing to +Gandhamadana, Vadri, Gokarna, the woods of Pushkara, and the foot of +Himavat. And he passed his days in those sacred regions, some of which +were sacred for their water and others for their soil in the rigid +observance of his vows, with singleness of aim, and his passions under +complete control. And the Grandsire of all, Brahma, saw that ascetic with +knotted hair, clad in rags, and his flesh, skin, and sinews dried up +owing to the hard penances he was practising. And the Grandsire +addressing him, that penance-practising one of great fortitude, said, +‘What is that thorn doest, O Sesha? Let the welfare of the creatures of +the worlds also engage thy thoughts. O sinless one, thou art afflicting +all creatures by thy hard penances. O Sesha, tell me the desire implanted +in thy breast.’ + +“And Sesha replied, ‘My uterine brothers are all of wicked hearts. I do +not desire to live amongst them. Let this be sanctioned by thee. Like +enemies they are always jealous of one another. I am, therefore, engaged +in ascetic devotions. I will not see them even. They never show any +kindness for Vinata and her son. Indeed, Vinata’s son capable of ranging +through the skies, is another brother of ours. They always envy him. And +he, too, is much stronger owing to the bestowal of that boon by our +father, the high-souled Kasyapa. For these, I engaged in ascetic +penances, and I will cast off this body of mine, so that I may avoid +companionship with them, even in another state of life.’ + +“Unto Sesha who had said so, the Grandsire said, ‘O Sesha, I know the +behaviour of all thy brothers and their great danger owing to their +offence against their mother. But O Snake, a remedy (for this) hath been +provided by me even beforehand. It behoveth thee not to grieve for thy +brothers. O Sesha, ask of me the boon thou desirest. I have been highly +gratified with thee and I will grant thee today a boon. O best of snakes, +it is fortunate that thy heart hath been set on virtue. Let thy heart be +more and more firmly set on virtue.’ + +“Then Sesha replied, ‘O divine Grandsire, this is the boon desired by me; +viz., may my heart always delight in virtue and in blessed ascetic +penances, O Lord of all!’ + +“Brahman said, ‘O Sesha, I am exceedingly gratified with this thy +self-denial and love of peace. But, at my command, let this act be done +by thee for the good of my creatures. Bear thou, O Sesha, properly and +well this Earth so unsteady with her mountains and forests, her seas and +towns and retreats, so that she may be steady.’ + +“Sesha said, ‘O divine Lord of all creatures, O bestower of boons, O lord +of the Earth, lord of every created thing, lord of the universe, I will, +even as thou sayest hold the Earth steady. Therefore, O lord of all +creatures, place her on my head.’ + +“Brahman said, ‘O best of snakes, go underneath the Earth. She will +herself give thee a crevice to pass through. And, O Sesha, by holding the +Earth, thou shalt certainly do what is prized by me very greatly.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Then the elder brother of the king of the snakes, +entering a hole, passed to the other side of the Earth, and holding her, +supported with his head that goddess with her belt of seas passing all +round.’ + +“Brahman said, ‘O Sesha, O best of snakes, thou art the god Dharma, +because alone, with thy huge body, thou supportest the Earth with +everything on her, even as I myself, or Valavit (Indra), can.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘The snake, Sesha, the lord Ananta, of great prowess, +lives underneath the Earth, alone supporting the world at the command of +Brahman. And the illustrious Grandsire, the best of the immortals, then +gave unto Ananta the bird of fair feathers, viz., the son of Vinata, for +Ananta’s help.’” + +So ends the thirty-sixth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XXXVII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘That best of snakes, viz., Vasuki, hearing the curse of his +mother, reflected how to render it abortive. He held a consultation with +all his brothers, Airavata and others, intent upon doing what they deemed +best for themselves.’ + +“And Vasuki said, ‘O ye sinless ones, the object of this curse is known +to you. It behoveth us to strive to neutralise it. Remedies certainly +exist for all curses, but no remedy can avail those cursed by their +mother. Hearing that this curse hath been uttered in the presence of the +Immutable, the Infinite, and the True one, my heart trembleth. Surely, +our annihilation hath come. Otherwise why should not the Immutable Lord +prevent our mother while uttering the curse? Therefore, let us consult +today how we may secure the safety of the snakes. Let us not waste time. +All of you are wise and discerning. We will consult together and find out +the means of deliverance as (did) the gods of yore to regain lost Agni +who had concealed himself within a cave, so that Janamejaya’s sacrifice +for the destruction of the snakes may not take place, and so that we may +not meet with destruction.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Thus addressed all the offspring of Kadru assembled +together, and, wise in counsels, submitted their opinions to one another. +One party of the serpents said, ‘We should assume the guise of superior +Brahmanas, and beseech Janamejaya, saying, ‘This (intended) sacrifice of +yours ought not to take place.’ Other snakes thinking themselves wise, +said, ‘We should all become his favourite counsellors. He will then +certainly ask for our advice in all projects. And we will then give him +such advice that the sacrifice may be obstructed. The king, the foremost +of wise men, thinking us of sterling worth will certainly ask us about +his sacrifice. We will say, ‘It must not be!’ And pointing to many +serious evils in this and the next worlds, we will take care that the +sacrifice may not take place. Or, let one of the snakes, approaching, +bite the person who, intending the monarch’s good, and well-acquainted +with the rites of the snake-sacrifice, may be appointed as the +sacrificial priest, so that he will die. The sacrificial priest dying, +the sacrifice will not be completed. We will also bite all those who, +acquainted with the rites of the snake-sacrifice, may be appointed +Ritwiks of the sacrifice, and by that means attain our object.’ Other +snakes, more virtuous and kind, said, ‘O, this counsel of yours is evil. +It is not meet to kill Brahmanas. In danger, that remedy is proper, which +is blessed on the practices of the righteous. Unrighteousness finally +destroyeth the world.’ Other serpents said, ‘We will extinguish the +blazing sacrificial fire by ourselves becoming clouds luminous with +lightning and pouring down showers.’ Other snakes, the best of their +kind, proposed, ‘Going, by night, let us steal away the vessel of Soma +juice. That will disturb the rite. Or, at that sacrifice, let the snakes, +by hundreds and thousands, bite the people, and spread terror around. Or, +let the serpents defile the pure food with their food-defiling urine and +dung.’ Others said, ‘Let us become the king’s Ritwiks, and obstruct his +sacrifice by saying at the outset, ‘Give us the sacrificial fee.’ He (the +king), being placed in our power, will do whatever we like.’ Others there +said, ‘When the king will sport in the waters, we will carry him to our +home and bind him, so that that sacrifice will not take place!’ Other +serpents who deemed themselves wise, said, ‘Approaching the king, let us +bite him, so that our object will be accomplished. By his death the root +of all evil will be torn up. This is the final deliberation of us all, O +thou who hearest with thy eyes! Then, do speedily what thou deemest +proper.’ Having said this, they looked intently at Vasuki, that best of +snakes. And Vasuki also, after reflecting, answered saying, ‘Ye snakes, +this final determination of you doth not seem worthy of adoption. The +advice of you all is not to my liking. What shall I say which would be +for your good? I think the grace of the illustrious Kasyapa (our father) +can alone do us good. Ye snakes, my heart doth not know which of all your +suggestions is to be adopted for the welfare of my race as also of me. +That must be done by me which would be to your weal. It is this that +makes me so anxious, for the credit or the discredit (of the measure) is +mine alone.’” + +So ends the thirty-seventh section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva. + + + +SECTION XXXVIII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘Hearing the respective speeches of all the snakes, and +hearing also the words of Vasuki, Elapatra began to address them, saying, +‘That sacrifice is not one that can be prevented. Nor is king Janamejaya +of the Pandava race from whom this fear proceedeth, such that he can be +hindered. The person, O king, who is afflicted by fate hath recourse to +fate alone; nothing else can be his refuge. Ye best of snakes, this fear +of ours hath fate for its root. Fate alone must be our refuge in this. +Listen to what I say. When that curse was uttered, ye best of snakes, in +fear I lay crouching on the lap of our mother. Ye best of snakes, and O +lord (Vasuki) of great splendour, from that place I heard the words the +sorrowing gods spake unto the Grandsire. The gods said, ‘O Grandsire, +thou god of gods who else than the cruel Kadru could thus, after getting +such dear children, curse them so, even in thy presence? And, O +Grandsire, by thee also hath been spoken, with reference to those words +of hers, ‘Be it so.’ We wish to know the reason why thou didst not +prevent her.’ Brahman replied, ‘The snakes have multiplied. They are +cruel, terrible in form and highly poisonous. From desire of the good of +my creatures, I did not prevent Kadru then. Those poisonous serpents and +others who are sinful, biting others for no faults, shall, indeed, be +destroyed, but not they who are harmless and virtuous. And hear also, +how, when the hour comes, the snakes may escape this dreadful calamity. +There shall be born in the race of the Yayavaras a great Rishi known by +the name of Jaratkaru, intelligent, with passions under complete control. +That Jaratkaru shall have a son of the name of Astika. He shall put a +stop to that sacrifice. And those snakes who shall be virtuous shall +escape therefrom. The gods said, ‘O thou truth-knowing one, on whom will +Jaratkaru, that foremost Muni, gifted with great energy and asceticism, +beget that illustrious son?’ Brahma answered, ‘Gifted with great energy, +that best Brahmana shall beget a son possessed of great energy on a wife +of the same name as his. Vasuki, the king of the snakes, hath a sister of +the name of Jaratkaru; the son, of whom I speak, shall be born of her, +and he shall liberate the snakes.’ + +“Elapatra continued, ‘The gods then said unto the Grandsire, ‘Be it so.’ +And the lord Brahman, having said so unto the gods, went to heaven. O +Vasuki, I see before me that sister of thine known by the name of +Jaratkaru. For relieving us from fear, give her as alms unto him (i.e., +the Rishi), Jaratkaru, of excellent vows, who shall roam abegging for a +bride. This means of release hath been heard of by me!’” + + + +SECTION XXXIX + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘O best of regenerate ones, hearing these words of Elapatra, +all the serpents, in great delight, exclaimed, ‘Well said, well said!’ +And from that time Vasuki set about carefully bringing up that maiden, +viz., his sister Jaratkaru. And he took great delight in rearing her. + +“And much time did not elapse from this, when the gods and the Asuras, +assembling together, churned the abode of Varuna. And Vasuki, the +foremost of all gifted with strength, became the churning-cord. And +directly the work was over, the king of the snakes presented himself +before the Grandsire. And the gods, accompanied by Vasuki, addressed the +Grandsire, saying, ‘O lord, Vasuki is suffering great affliction from +fear of (his mother’s curse). It behoveth thee to root out the sorrow, +begotten of the curse of his mother, that hath pierced the heart of +Vasuki desirous of the weal of his race. The king of the snakes is ever +our friend and benefactor. O Lord of the gods, be gracious unto him and +assuage his mind’s fever.’ + +“Brahman replied, ‘O ye immortals, I have thought, in my mind, of what ye +have said. Let the king of the snakes do that which hath been +communicated to him before by Elapatra. The time hath arrived. Those only +shall be destroyed that are wicked, not those that are virtuous. +Jaratkaru hath been born, and that Brahmana is engaged in hard ascetic +penances. Let Vasuki, at the proper time, bestow on him his sister. Ye +gods, what hath been spoken by the snake Elapatra for the weal of the +snakes is true and not otherwise.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Then the king of the snakes, Vasuki, afflicted with +the curse of his mother, hearing these words of the Grandsire, and +intending to bestow his sister of the Rishi Jaratkaru, commanded all the +serpents, a large numbers of whom were ever attentive to their duties, to +watch the Rishi Jaratkaru, saying, ‘When the lord Jaratkaru will ask for +a wife, come immediately and inform me of it. The weal of our race +depends upon it.’” + + + +SECTION XL + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Saunaka said, ‘O son of Suta, I desire to know the reason why the +illustrious Rishi whom thou hast named Jaratkaru came to be so called on +earth. It behoveth thee to tell us the etymology of the name Jaratkaru.’ + +“Sauti said, ‘Jara is said to mean waste, and Karu implies huge. This +Rishi’s body had been huge, and he gradually reduced it by severe ascetic +penances. For the same reason, O Brahmanas, the sister of Vasuki was +called Jaratkaru.’ + +The virtuous Saunaka, when he heard this, smiled and addressing +Ugrasravas said, ‘It is even so.’ + +Saunaka then said, ‘I have heard all that thou hast before recited. I +desire to know how Astika was born.’ + +Sauti, on hearing these words, began to relate according to what was +written in the Sastras. + +“Sauti said, ‘Vasuki, desirous of bestowing his sister upon the Rishi +Jaratkaru, gave the snakes (necessary) orders. But days went on, yet that +wise Muni of rigid vows, deeply engaged in ascetic devotions, did not +seek for a wife. That high-souled Rishi, engaged in studies and deeply +devoted to asceticism, his vital seed under full control, fearlessly +wandered over the whole earth and had no wish for a wife. + +“Afterwards, once upon a time, there was a king, O Brahmana, of the name +of Parikshit, born in the race of the Kauravas. And, like his +great-grandfather Pandu of old, he was of mighty arms, the first of all +bearers of bows in battle, and fond of hunting. And the monarch wandered +about, hunting deer, and wild boars, and wolves, and buffaloes and +various other kinds of wild animals. One day, having pierced a deer with +a sharp arrow and slung his bow on his back, he penetrated into the deep +forest, searching for the animal here and there, like the illustrious +Rudra himself of old pursuing in the heavens, bow in hand, the deer which +was Sacrifice, itself turned into that shape, after the piercing. No deer +that was pierced by Parikshit had ever escaped in the wood with life. +This deer, however wounded as before, fled with speed, as the (proximate) +cause of the king’s attainment to heaven. And the deer that +Parikshit--that king of men--had pierced was lost to his gaze and drew +the monarch far away into the forest. And fatigued and thirsty, he came +across a Muni, in the forest, seated in a cow-pen and drinking to his +fill the froth oozing out of the mouths of calves sucking the milk of +their dams. And approaching him hastily, the monarch, hungry and +fatigued, and raising his bow, asked that Muni of rigid vows, saying, ‘O +Brahmana, I am king Parikshit, the son of Abhimanyu. A deer pierced by me +hath been lost. Hast thou seen it?’ But that Muni observing then the vow +of silence, spoke not unto him a word. And the king in anger thereupon +placed upon his shoulder a dead snake, taking it up with the end of his +bow. The Muni suffered him to do it without protest. And he spoke not a +word, good or bad. And the king seeing him in that state, cast off his +anger and became sorry. And he returned to his capital but the Rishi +continued in the same state. The forgiving Muni, knowing that the monarch +who was a tiger amongst kings was true to the duties of his order, cursed +him not, though insulted. That tiger amongst monarchs, that foremost one +of Bharata’s race, also did not know that the person whom he had so +insulted was a virtuous Rishi. It was for this that he had so insulted +him. + +“That Rishi had a son by name Sringin, of tender years, gifted with great +energy, deep in ascetic penances, severe in his vows, very wrathful, and +difficult to be appeased. At times, he worshipped with great attention +and respect his preceptor seated with ease on his seat and ever engaged +in the good of creatures. + +“And commanded by his preceptor, he was coming home when, O best of +Brahmanas, a companion of his, a Rishi’s son named Krisa in a playful +mood laughingly spoke unto him. And Sringin, wrathful and like unto +poison itself, hearing these words in reference to his father, blazed up +in rage.’ + +“And Krisa said, ‘Be not proud, O Sringin, for ascetic as thou art and +possessed of energy, thy father bears on his shoulders a dead snake. +Henceforth speak not a word to sons of Rishis like ourselves who have +knowledge of the truth, are deep in ascetic penances, and have attained +success. Where is that manliness of thine, those high words of thine +begotten of pride, when thou must have to behold thy father bearing a +dead snake? O best of all the Munis, thy father too had done nothing to +deserve this treatment, and it is for this that I am particularly sorry +as if the punishment were mine.’” + + + +SECTION XLI + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘Being thus addressed, and hearing that his sire was bearing +a dead snake, the powerful Sringin burned with wrath. And looking at +Krisa, and speaking softly, he asked him, ‘Pray, why doth my father bear +today a dead snake?’ And Krisa replied, ‘Even as king Parikshit was +roving, for purpose of hunting, O dear one, he placed the dead snake on +the shoulder of thy sire.’ + +“And Sringin asked, ‘What wrong was done to that wicked monarch by my +father? O Krisa, tell me this, and witness the power of my asceticism.’ + +“And Krisa answered, ‘King Parikshit, the son of Abhimanyu, while +hunting, had wounded a fleet stag with an arrow and chased it alone. And +the king lost sight of the animal in that extensive wilderness. Seeing +then thy sire, he immediately accosted him. Thy sire was then observing +the vow of silence. Oppressed by hunger, thirst and labour, the prince +again and again asked thy sire sitting motionless, about the missing +deer. The sage, being under the vow of silence, returned no reply. The +king thereupon placed the snake on thy sire’s shoulder with the end of +his bow. O Sringin, thy sire engaged in devotion is in the same posture +still. And the king also hath gone to his capital which is named after +the elephant!’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Having heard of a dead snake placed upon his +(father’s) shoulders, the son of the Rishi, his eyes reddened with anger, +blazed up with rage. And possessed by anger, the puissant Rishi then +cursed the king, touching water and overcome with wrath.’ + +“And Sringin said, ‘That sinful wretch of a monarch who hath placed a +dead snake on the shoulders of my lean and old parent, that insulter of +Brahmanas and tarnisher of the fame of the Kurus, shall be taken within +seven nights hence to the regions of Yama (Death) by the snake Takshaka, +the powerful king of serpents, stimulated thereto by the strength of my +words!’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘And having thus cursed (the king) from anger, Sringin +went to his father, and saw the sage sitting in the cow-pen, bearing the +dead snake. And seeing his parent in that plight, he was again inflamed +with ire. And he shed tears of grief, and addressed his sire, saying, +‘Father, having been informed of this thy disgrace at the hands of that +wicked wretch, king Parikshit, I have from anger even cursed him; and +that worst of Kurus hath richly deserved my potent curse. Seven days +hence, Takshaka, the lord of snakes, shall take the sinful king to the +horrible abode of Death.’ And the father said to the enraged son, ‘Child, +I am not pleased with thee. Ascetics should not act thus. We live in the +domains of that great king. We are protected by him righteously. In all +he does, the reigning king should by the like of us forgiven. If thou +destroy Dharma, verily Dharma will destroy thee. If the king do not +properly protect us, we fare very ill; we cannot perform our religious +rites according to our desire. But protected by righteous sovereigns, we +attain immense merit, and they are entitled to a share thereof. +Therefore, reigning royalty is by all means to be forgiven. And Parikshit +like unto his great-grandsire, protecteth us as a king should protect his +subjects. That penance-practising monarch was fatigued and oppressed with +hunger. Ignorant of my vow (of silence) he did this. A kingless country +always suffereth from evils. The king punisheth offenders, and fear of +punishments conducteth to peace; and people do their duties and perform +their rites undisturbed. The king establisheth religion--establisheth the +kingdom of heaven. The king protecteth sacrifices from disturbance, and +sacrifices to please the gods. The gods cause rain, and rain produceth +grains and herbs, which are always useful to man. Manu sayeth, a ruler of +the destinies of men is equal (in dignity) to ten Veda-studying priests. +Fatigued and oppressed with hunger, that penance-practising prince hath +done this through ignorance of my vow. Why then hast thou rashly done +this unrighteous action through childishness? O son, in no way doth the +king deserve a curse from us.’” + + + +SECTION XLII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘And Sringin then replied to his father, saying, ‘Whether +this be an act of rashness, O father, or an improper act that I have +done, whether thou likest it or dislikest it, the words spoken by me +shall never be in vain. O father, I tell thee (a curse) can never be +otherwise. I have never spoken a lie even in jest.’ + +“And Samika said, ‘Dear child, I know that thou art of great prowess, and +truthful in speech. Thou hast never spoken falsehood before, so that thy +curse shall never be falsified. The son, even when he attaineth to age, +should yet be always counselled by the father, so that crowned with good +qualities he may acquire great renown. A child as thou art, how much more +dost thou stand in need of counsel? Thou art ever engaged in ascetic +penances. The wrath of even the illustrious ones possessing the six +attributes increaseth greatly. O thou foremost of ordinance-observing +persons, seeing that thou art my son and a minor too, and beholding also +thy rashness, I see that I must counsel thee. Live thou, O son, inclined +to peace and eating fruits and roots of the forest. Kill this thy anger +and destroy not the fruit of thy ascetic acts in this way. Wrath surely +decreaseth the virtue that ascetics acquire with great pains. And then +for those deprived of virtue, the blessed state existeth not. +Peacefulness ever giveth success to forgiving ascetics. Therefore, +becoming forgiving in thy temper and conquering thy passions, shouldst +thou always live. By forgiveness shalt thou obtain worlds that are beyond +the reach of Brahman himself. Having adopted peacefulness myself, and +with a desire also for doing good as much as lies in my power, I must do +something; even must I send to that king, telling him, ‘O monarch, thou +hast been cursed by my son of tender years and undeveloped intellect, in +wrath, at seeing thy act of disrespect towards myself.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘And that great ascetic, observer of vows, moved by +kindness, sent with proper instructions a disciple of his to king +Parikshit. And he sent his disciple Gaurmukha of good manners and engaged +also in ascetic penances, instructing him to first enquire about the +welfare of the king and then to communicate the real message. And that +disciple soon approached that monarch, the head of the Kuru race. And he +entered the king’s palace having first sent notice of his arrival through +the servant in attendance at the gate. + +“And the twice-born Gaurmukha was duly worshipped by the monarch. And +after resting for a while, he detailed fully to the king, in the presence +of his ministers, the words of Samika, of cruel import, exactly as he had +been instructed.’ + +“And Gaurmukha said, ‘O king of kings, there is a Rishi, Samika, by name, +of virtuous soul, his passions under control, peaceful, and given up to +hard ascetic devotions, living in thy dominions! By thee, O tiger among +men, was placed on the shoulders of that Rishi observing at present the +vow of silence, a dead snake, with the end of thy bow! He himself forgave +thee that act. But his son could not. And by the latter hast thou today +been cursed, O king of kings, without the knowledge of his father, to the +effect that within seven nights hence, shall (the snake) Takshaka cause +thy death. And Samika repeatedly asked his son to save thee, but there is +none to falsify his son’s curse. And because he hath been unable to +pacify his son possessed by anger, therefore have I been sent to thee, O +king, for thy good!’ + +“And that king of the Kuru race, himself engaged in ascetic practices, +having heard these cruel words and recollecting his own sinful act, +became exceedingly sorry. And the king, learning that foremost of Rishis +in the forest had been observing the vow of silence, was doubly afflicted +with sorrow and seeing the kindness of the Rishi Samika, and considering +his own sinful act towards him, the king became very repentant. And the +king looking like a very god, did not grieve so much for hearing of his +death as for having done that act to the Rishi.’ + +“And then the king sent away Gaurmukha, saying, ‘Let the worshipful one +(Samika) be gracious to me!’ And when Gaurmukha had gone away, the king, +in great anxiety, without loss of time, consulted his ministers. And +having consulted them, the king, himself wise in counsels, caused a +mansion to be erected upon one solitary column. It was well-guarded day +and night. And for its protection were placed there physicians and +medicines, and Brahmanas skilled in mantras all around. And the monarch, +protected on all sides, discharged his kingly duties from that place +surrounded by his virtuous ministers. And no one could approach that best +of kings there. The air even could not go there, being prevented from +entering. + +“And when the seventh day had arrived, that best of Brahmanas, the +learned Kasyapa was coming (towards the king’s residence), desirous of +treating the king (after the snake-bite). He had heard all that had taken +place, viz., that Takshaka, that first of snakes, would send that best of +monarchs to the presence of Yama (Death). And he thought, I would cure +the monarch after he is bit by that first of snakes. By that I may have +wealth and may acquire virtue also.’ But that prince of snakes, Takshaka, +in the form of an old Brahmana, saw Kasyapa approaching on his way, his +heart set upon curing the king. And the prince of snakes then spake unto +that bull among Munis, Kasyapa, saying, ‘Whither dost thou go with such +speed? What, besides, is the business upon which thou art intent?’ + +“And Kasyapa, thus addressed, replied, ‘Takshaka, by his poison, will +today burn king Parikshit of the Kuru race, that oppressor of all +enemies. I go with speed, O amiable one, to cure, without loss of time, +the king of immeasurable prowess, the sole representative of the Pandava +race, after he is bit by the same Takshaka like to Agni himself in +energy.’ And Takshaka answered, ‘I am that Takshaka, O Brahmana, who +shall burn that lord of the earth. Stop, for thou art unable to cure one +bit by me.’ And Kasyapa rejoined, ‘I am sure that, possessed (that I am) +of the power of learning, going thither I shall cure that monarch bit by +thee.’” + + + +SECTION XLIII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘And Takshaka, after this, answered, ‘If, indeed, thou art +able to cure any creature bitten by me, then, O Kasyapa, revive thou this +tree bit by me. O best of Brahmanas, I burn this banian in thy sight. Try +thy best and show me that skill in mantras of which thou hast spoken.’ + +“And Kasyapa said, If thou art so minded, bite thou then, O king of +snakes, this tree. O snake, I shall revive it, though bit by thee. + +“Sauti continued, ‘That king of snakes, thus addressed by the illustrious +Kasyapa, bit then that banian tree. And that tree, bit by the illustrious +snake, and penetrated by the poison of the serpent, blazed up all around. +And having burnt the banian so, the snake then spake again unto Kasyapa, +saying, ‘O first of Brahmanas, try thy best and revive this lord of the +forest.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘The tree was reduced to ashes by the poison of that +king of snakes. But taking up those ashes, Kasyapa spoke these words. ‘O +king of snakes, behold the power of my knowledge as applied to this lord +of the forest! O snake, under thy very nose I shall revive it.’ And then +that best of Brahmanas, the illustrious and learned Kasyapa, revived, by +his vidya, that tree which had been reduced to a heap of ashes. And first +he created the sprout, then he furnished it with two leaves, and then he +made the stem, and then the branches, and then the full-grown tree with +leaves and all. And Takshaka, seeing the tree revived by the illustrious +Kasyapa, said unto him, ‘It is not wonderful in thee that thou shouldst +destroy my poison or that of any one else like myself. O thou whose +wealth is asceticism, desirous of what wealth, goest thou thither? The +reward thou hopest to have from that best of monarchs, even I will give +thee, however difficult it may be to obtain it. Decked with fame as thou +art, thy success may be doubtful on that king affected by a Brahmana’s +curse and whose span of life itself hath been shortened. In that case, +this blazing fame of thine that hath overspread the three worlds will +disappear like the Sun when deprived of his splendour (on the occasion of +the eclipse).’ + +“Kasyapa said, ‘I go there for wealth, give it unto me, O snake, so that +taking thy gold. I may return.’ Takshaka replied, ‘O best of regenerate +ones, even I will give thee more than what thou expectest from that king. +Therefore do not go.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘That best of Brahmanas, Kasyapa, of great prowess and +intelligence, hearing those words of Takshaka, sat in yoga meditation +over the king. And that foremost of Munis, viz., Kasyapa, of great +prowess and gifted with spiritual knowledge, ascertaining that the period +of life of that king of the Pandava race had really run out, returned, +receiving from Takshaka as much wealth as he desired. + +“And upon the illustrious Kasyapa’s retracing his steps, Takshaka at the +proper time speedily entered the city of Hastinapura. And on his way he +heard that the king was living very cautiously, protected by means of +poison-neutralising mantras and medicines.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘The snake thereupon reflected thus, ‘The monarch must +be deceived by me with power of illusion. But what must be the means?’ +Then Takshaka sent to the king some snakes in the guise of ascetics +taking with them fruits, kusa grass, and water (as presents). And +Takshaka, addressing them, said, ‘Go ye all to the king, on the pretext +of pressing business, without any sign of impatience, as if to make the +monarch only accept the fruits and flowers and water (that ye shall carry +as presents unto him).’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Those snakes, thus commanded by Takshaka, acted +accordingly. And they took to the king, Kusa grass and water, and fruits. +And that foremost of kings, of great prowess, accepted those offerings. +And after their business was finished, he said upto them, ‘Retire.’ Then +after those snakes disguised as ascetics had gone away, the king +addressed his ministers and friends, saying, ‘Eat ye, with me, all these +fruits of excellent taste brought by the ascetics.’ Impelled by Fate and +the words of the Rishi, the king, with his ministers, felt the desire of +eating those fruits. The particular fruit, within which Takshaka had +entered, was taken by the king himself for eating. And when he was eating +it, there appeared, O Saunaka, an ugly insect out of it, of shape +scarcely discernible, of eyes black, and of coppery colour. And that +foremost of kings, taking that insect, addressed his councillors, saying, +‘The sun is setting; today I have no more tear from poison. Therefore, +let this insect become Takshaka and bite me, so that my sinful act may be +expiated and the words of the ascetic rendered true.’ And those +councillors also, impelled by Fate, approved of that speech. And then the +monarch smiled, losing his senses, his hour having come. And he quickly +placed that insect on his neck. And as the king was smiling, Takshaka, +who had (in the form of that insect) come out of the fruit that had been +offered to the king, coiled himself round the neck of the monarch. And +quickly coiling round the king’s neck and uttering a tremendous roar, +Takshaka, that lord of snakes, bit that protector of the earth.’” + + + +SECTION XLIV + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘Then the councillors beholding the king in the coils of +Takshaka, became pale with fear and wept in exceeding grief. And hearing +the roar of Takshaka, the ministers all fled. And as they were flying +away in great grief, they saw Takshaka, the king of snakes, that +wonderful serpent, coursing through the blue sky like a streak of the hue +of the lotus, and looking very much like the vermilion-coloured line on a +woman’s crown dividing the dark masses of her hair in the middle. + +“And the mansion in which the king was living blazed up with Takshaka’s +poison. And the king’s councillors, on beholding it, fled away in all +directions. And the king himself fell down, as if struck by lightning. + +“And when the king was laid low by Takshaka’s poison, his councillors +with the royal priest--a holy Brahmana--performed all his last rites. All +the citizens, assembling together, made the minor son of the deceased +monarch their king. And the people called their new king, that slayer of +all enemies, that hero of the Kuru race, by the name of Janamejaya. And +that best of monarchs, Janamejaya, though a child, was wise in mind. And +with his councillors and priest, the eldest son Parikshita, that bull +amongst the Kurus, ruled the kingdom like his heroic great-grand-father +(Yudhishthira). And the ministers of the youthful monarch, beholding that +he could now keep his enemies in check, went to Suvarnavarman, the king +of Kasi, and asked him his daughter Vapushtama for a bride. And the king +of Kasi, after due inquiries, bestowed with ordained rites, his daughter +Vapushtama on that mighty hero of Kuru race. And the latter, receiving +his bride, became exceedingly glad. And he gave not his heart at any time +to any other woman. And gifted with great energy, he wandered in pursuit +of pleasure, with a cheerful heart, on expanses of water and amid woods +and flowery fields. And that first of monarchs passed his time in +pleasure as Pururavas of old did, on receiving the celestial damsel +Urvasi. Herself fairest of the fair, the damsel Vapushtama too, devoted +to her lord and celebrated for her beauty having gained a desirable +husband, pleased him by the excess of her affection during the period he +spent in the pursuit of pleasure.’” + + + +SECTION XLV + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Meanwhile the great ascetic Jaratkaru wandered over the whole earth +making the place where evening fell his home for the night. And gifted +with ascetic power, he roamed, practising various vows difficult to be +practised by the immature, and bathing also in various sacred waters. And +the Muni had air alone for his food and was free from desire of worldly +enjoyment. And he became daily emaciated and grew lean-fleshed. And one +day he saw the spirits of his ancestors, heads down, in a hole, by a cord +of virana roots having only one thread entire. And that even single +thread was being gradually eaten away by a large rat dwelling in that +hole. And the Pitris in that hole were without food, emaciated, pitiable, +and eagerly desirous of salvation. And Jaratkaru, approaching the +pitiable one, himself in humble guise, asked them, ‘Who are ye hanging by +this cord of virana roots? The single weak root that is still left in +this cord of virana roots already eaten away by the rat, dwelling in this +hole, is itself being gradually eaten away by the same rat with his sharp +teeth. The little that remains of that single thread will soon be cut +away. It is clear ye shall then have to fall down into this pit with +faces downwards. Seeing you with faces downwards, and overtaken by this +great calamity, my pity hath been excited. What good can I do to you. +Tell me quickly whether this calamity can be averted by a fourth, a +third, or even by the sacrifice of a half of this my asceticism, O, +relieve yourselves even with the whole of my asceticism. I consent to all +this. Do ye as ye please.’ + +“The Pitris said, ‘Venerable Brahmacharin, thou desirest to relieve us. +But, O foremost of Brahmanas, thou canst not dispel our affliction by thy +asceticism. O child, O first of speakers, we too have the fruits of our +asceticism. But, O Brahmana, it is for the loss of children that we are +falling down into this unholy hell. The grandsire himself hath said that +a son is a great merit. As we are about to be cast in this hole, our +ideas are no longer clear. Therefore, O child, we know thee not, although +thy manhood is well-known on earth. Venerable thou art and of good +fortune, thou who thus from kindness grievest for us worthy of pity and +greatly afflicted. O Brahmana, listen, who we are. We are Rishis of the +Yayavara sect, of rigid vows. And, O Muni, from loss of children, we have +fallen down from a sacred region. Our severe penances have not been +destroyed; we have a thread yet. But we have only one thread now. It +matters little, however, whether he is or is not. Unfortunate as we are, +we have a thread in one, known as Jaratkaru. The unfortunate one has gone +through the Vedas and their branches and is practising asceticism alone. +He being one with soul under complete control, desires set high, +observant of vows, deeply engaged in ascetic penances, and free from +greed for the merits or asceticism, we have been reduced to this +deplorable state. He hath no wife, no son, no relatives. Therefore, do we +hang in this hole, our consciousness lost, like men having none to take +care of them. If thou meetest him, O, tell him, from thy kindness to +ourselves, Thy Pitris, in sorrow, are hanging with faces downwards in a +hole. Holy one, take a wife and beget children. O thou of ascetic wealth, +thou art, O amiable one, the only thread that remaineth in the line of +thy ancestors. O Brahmana, the cord of virana roots that thou seest we +are hanging by, is the cord representing our multiplied race. And, O +Brahmana, these threads of the cord of virana roots that thou seest as +eaten away, are ourselves who have been eaten up by Time. This root thou +seest hath been half-eaten and by which we are hanging in this hole is he +that hath adopted asceticism alone. The rat that thou beholdest is Time +of infinite strength. And he (Time) is gradually weakening the wretch +Jaratkaru engaged in ascetic penances tempted by the merits thereof, but +wanting in prudence and heart. O excellent one, his asceticism cannot +save us. Behold, our roots being torn, cast down from higher regions, +deprived of consciousness by Time, we are going downwards like sinful +wretches. And upon our going down into this hole with all our relatives, +eaten up by Time, even he shall sink with us into hell. O child, whether +it is asceticism, or sacrifice, or whatever else there be of very holy +acts, everything is inferior. These cannot count with a son. O child, +having seen all, speak unto that Jaratkaru of ascetic wealth. Thou +shouldst tell him in detail everything that thou hast beheld. And, O +Brahmana, from thy kindness towards us, thou shouldst tell him all that +would induce him to take a wife and beget children. Amongst his friends, +or of our own race, who art thou, O excellent one, that thus grievest for +us all like a friend? We wish to hear who thou art that stayest here.’” + + + +SECTION XLVI + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said. ‘Jaratkaru, hearing all this, became excessively dejected. +And from sorrow he spoke unto those Pitris in words obstructed by tears.’ +And Jaratkaru said, ‘Ye are even my fathers and grand-fathers gone +before. Therefore, tell me what I must do for your welfare. I am that +sinful son of yours, Jaratkaru! Punish me for my sinful deeds, a wretch +that I am.’ + +“The Pitris replied, saying, ‘O son, by good luck hast thou arrived at +this spot in course of thy rambles. O Brahmana, why hast thou not taken a +wife?’ + +“Jaratkaru said. ‘Ye Pitris, this desire hath always existed in my heart +that I would, with vital seed drawn up, carry this body to the other +world. My mind hath been possessed with the idea that I would not take a +wife. But ye grandsires, having seen you hanging like birds, I have +diverted my mind from the Brahmacharya mode of life. I will truly do what +you like. I will certainly marry, if ever I meet with a maiden of my own +name. I shall accept her who, bestowing herself of her own accord, will +be as aims unto me, and whom I shall not have to maintain. I shall marry +if I get such a one; otherwise, I shall not. This is the truth, ye +grandsires! And the offspring that will be begot upon her shall be your +salvation. And ye Pitris of mine, ye shall live for ever in blessedness +and without fear.’ + +‘Sauti continued, ‘The Muni, having said so unto the Pitris, wandered +over the earth again. And, O Saunaka, being old, he obtained no wife. And +he grieved much that he was not successful. But directed (as before) by +his ancestors, he continued the search. And going into the forest, he +wept loudly in great grief. And having gone into the forest, the wise +one, moved by the desire of doing good to his ancestors, said, ‘I will +ask for a bride,’ distinctly repeating these words thrice. And he said, +‘Whatever creatures are here, mobile and immobile, so whoever there be +that are invisible, O, hear my words! My ancestors, afflicted with grief, +have directed me that am engaged in the most severe penances, saying, +‘Marry thou for (the acquisition of) a son.’ ‘O ye, being directed by my +ancestors, I am roaming in poverty and sorrow, over the wide world for +wedding a maiden that I may obtain as alms. Let that creature, amongst +those I have addressed, who hath a daughter, bestow on me that am roaming +far and near. Such a bride as is of same name with me, to be bestowed on +me as alms, and whom, besides, I shall not maintain, O bestow on me!’ +Then those snakes that had been set upon Jaratkaru track, ascertaining +his inclination, gave information to Vasuki. And the king of the snakes, +hearing their words, took with him that maiden decked with ornaments, and +went into the forest unto that Rishi. And, O Brahmana, Vasuki, the king +of the snakes, having gone there, offered that maiden as alms unto that +high-souled Rishi. But the Rishi did not at once accept her. And the +Rishi, thinking her not to be of the same name with himself, and seeing +that the question of her maintenance also was unsettled, reflected for a +few moments, hesitating to accept her. And then, O son of Bhrigu, he +asked Vasuki the maiden’s name, and also said unto him, ‘I shall not +maintain her.’” + + + +SECTION XLVII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘Then Vasuki spake unto the Rishi Jaratkaru these words, ‘O +best of Brahmanas, this maiden is of the same name with thee. She is my +sister and hath ascetic merit. I will maintain thy wife; accept her. O +thou of ascetic wealth, I shall protect her with all my ability. And, O +foremost of the great Munis, she hath been reared by me for thee.’ And +the Rishi replied, ‘This is agreed between us that I shall not maintain +her; and she shall not do aught that I do not like. If she do, I leave +her!’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘When the snake had promised, saying, ‘I shall maintain +my sister,’ Jaratkaru then went to the snake’s house. Then that first of +mantra-knowing Brahmanas, observing rigid vows, that virtuous and veteran +ascetic, took her hand presented to him according to shastric rites. And +taking his bride with him, adored by the great Rishi, he entered the +delightful chamber set apart for him by the king of the snakes. And in +that chamber was a bed-stead covered with very valuable coverlets. And +Jaratkaru lived there with his wife. And the excellent Rishi made an +agreement with his wife, saying, ‘Nothing must ever be done or said by +thee that is against my liking. And in case of thy doing any such thing, +I will leave thee and no longer continue to stay in thy house. Bear in +mind these words that have been spoken by me.’ + +“And then the sister of the king of the snakes in great anxiety and +grieving exceedingly, spoke unto him, saying, ‘Be it so.’ And moved by +the desire of doing good to her relatives, that damsel, of unsullied +reputation, began to attend upon her lord with the wakefulness of a dog, +the timidity of a deer, and knowledge of signs possessed by the crow. And +one day, after the menstrual period, the sister of Vasuki, having +purified herself by a bath according to custom, approached her lord the +great Muni; And thereupon she conceived. And the embryo was like unto a +flame of fire, possessed of great energy, and resplendent as fire itself. +And it grew like the moon in the bright fortnight. + +“And one day, within a short time, Jaratkaru of great fame, placing his +head on the lap of his wife, slept, looking like one fatigued. And as he +was sleeping, the sun entered his chambers in the Western mountain and +was about to set. And, O Brahmana, as the day was fading, she, the +excellent sister of Vasuki, became thoughtful, fearing the loss of her +husband’s virtue. And she thought, ‘What should I now do? Shall I wake my +husband or not? He is exacting and punctilious in his religious duties. +How can I act as not to offend him? The alternatives are his anger and +the loss of virtue of a virtuous man. The loss of virtue, I ween, is the +greater of the two evils. Again, if I wake him, he will be angry. But if +twilight passeth away without his prayers being said, he shall certainly +sustain loss of virtue.’ + +‘And having resolved at last, the sweet-speeched Jaratkaru, the sister of +Vasuki, spake softly unto that Rishi resplendent with ascetic penances, +and lying prostrate like a flame of fire, ‘O thou of great good fortune, +awake, the sun is setting. O thou of rigid vows, O illustrious one, do +your evening prayer after purifying yourself with water and uttering the +name of Vishnu. The time for the evening sacrifice hath come. Twilight, O +lord, is even now gently covering the western side.’ + +“The illustrious Jaratkaru of great ascetic merit, thus addressed, spake +unto his wife these words, his upper lip quivering in anger, ‘O amiable +one of the Naga race, thou hast insulted me. I shall no longer abide with +thee, but shall go where I came from. O thou of beautiful thighs, I +believe in my heart that the sun hath no power to set in the usual time, +if I am asleep. An insulted person should never live where he hath met +with the insult, far less should I, a virtuous person, or those that are +like me.’ Jaratkaru, the sister of Vasuki, thus addressed by her lord, +began to quake with terror, and she spake unto him, saying, ‘O Brahmana, +I have not waked thee from desire of insult; but I have done it so that +thy virtue may not sustain any loss.’ + +“The Rishi Jaratkaru, great in ascetic merit, possessed with anger and +desirous of forsaking his spouse, thus addressed, spake unto his wife, +saying, O thou fair one, never have I spoken a falsehood. Therefore, go I +shall. This was also settled between ourselves. O amiable one, I have +passed the time happily with thee. And, O fair one, tell thy brother, +when I am gone, that I have left thee. And upon my going away, it +behoveth thee not to grieve for me.’ + +“Thus addressed Jaratkaru, the fair sister of Vasuki, of faultless +features, filled with anxiety and sorrow, having mustered sufficient +courage and patience, though her heart was still quaking, then spake unto +Rishi Jaratkaru. Her words were obstructed with tears and her face was +pale with fear. And the palms of her hands were joined together, and her +eyes were bathed in tears. And she said, ‘It behoveth thee not to leave +me without a fault. Thou treadest over the path of virtue. I too have +been in the same path, with heart fixed on the good of my relatives. O +best of Brahmanas, the object for which I was bestowed on thee hath not +been accomplished yet. Unfortunate that I am, what shall Vasuki say unto +me? O excellent one, the offspring desired of by my relatives afflicted +by a mother’s curse, do not yet appear! The welfare of my relatives +dependeth on the acquisition of offspring from thee. And in order that my +connection with thee may not be fruitless, O illustrious Brahmana, moved +by the desire of doing good to my race do I entreat thee. O excellent +one, high-souled thou art; so why shall thou leave me who am faultless? +This is what is not just clear to me.’ + +“Thus addressed, the Muni of great ascetic merit spake unto his wife +Jaratkaru these words that were proper and suitable to the occasion. And +he said, ‘O fortunate one, the being thou hast conceived, even like unto +Agni himself is a Rishi of soul highly virtuous, and a master of the +Vedas and their branches.’ + +“Having said so, the great Rishi, Jaratkaru of virtuous soul, went away, +his heart firmly fixed on practising again the severest penances.’” + + + +SECTION XLVIII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘O thou of ascetic wealth, soon after her lord had left her, +Jaratkaru went to her brother. And she told him everything that had +happened. And the prince of snakes, hearing the calamitous news, spake +unto his miserable sister, himself more miserable still.’ + +“And he said, ‘Thou knowest, ‘O amiable one, the purpose of thy bestowal, +the reason thereof. If, from that union, for the welfare of the snakes, a +son be born, then he, possessed of energy, will save us all from the +snake-sacrifice. The Grandsire had said so, of old, in the midst of the +gods. O fortunate one, hast thou conceived from thy union with that best +of Rishis? My heart’s desire is that my bestowal of thee on that wise one +may not be fruitless. Truly, it is not proper for me to ask thee about +this. But from the gravity of the interests I ask thee this. Knowing also +the obstinacy of thy lord, ever engaged in severe penances, I shall not +follow him, for he may curse me. Tell me in detail all that thy lord, O +amiable one, hath done, and extract that terribly afflicting dart that +lies implanted for a long time past in my heart.’ + +“Jaratkaru, thus addressed, consoling Vasuki, the king of the snakes, at +length replied, saying, ‘Asked by me about offspring, the high-souled and +mighty ascetic said, ‘There is,’--and then he went away. I do not +remember him to have ever before speak even in jest aught that is false. +Why should he, O king, speak a falsehood on such a serious occasion? He +said, ‘Thou shouldst not grieve, O daughter of the snake race, about the +intended result of our union. A son shall be born to thee, resplendent as +the blazing sun.’ O brother, having said this to me, my husband of +ascetic wealth went away--Therefore, let the deep sorrow cherished in thy +heart disappear.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Thus addressed, Vasuki, the king of the snakes, +accepted those words of his sister, and in great joy said, ‘Be it so!’ +And the chief of the snakes then adored his sister with his best regards, +gift of wealth, and fitting eulogies. Then, O best of Brahmanas, the +embryo endued with great splendour, began to develop, like the moon in +the heavens in the bright fortnight. + +And in due time, the sister of the snakes, O Brahmana, gave birth to a +son of the splendour of a celestial child, who became the reliever of the +fears of his ancestors and maternal relatives. The child grew up there in +the house of the king of the snakes. He studied the Vedas and their +branches with the ascetic Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu. And though but a +boy, his vows were rigid. And he was gifted with great intelligence, and +with the several attributes of virtue, knowledge, freedom from the +world’s indulgences, and saintliness. And the name by which he was known +to the world was Astika. And he was known by the name of Astika (whoever +is) because his father had gone to the woods, saying. ‘There is’, when he +was in the womb. Though but a boy, he had great gravity and intelligence. +And he was reared with great care in the palace of the snakes. And he was +like the illustrious lord of the celestials, Mahadeva of the golden form, +the wielder of the trident. And he grew up day by day, the delight of all +the snakes.’” + + + +SECTION XLIX + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Saunaka said, ‘Tell me again, in detail,--all that king Janamejaya had +asked his ministers about his father’s ascension to heaven.’ + +‘Sauti said, ‘O Brahmana, hear all that the king asked his ministers, and +all that they said about the death of Parikshit.’ + +“Janamejaya asked, ‘Know ye all that befell my father. How did that +famous king, in time, meet with his death? Hearing from you the incidents +of my father’s life in detail, I shall ordain something, if it be for the +benefit of the world. Otherwise, I shall do nothing.’ + +‘The minister replied, ‘Hear, O monarch, what thou hast asked, viz., an +account of thy illustrious father’s life, and how also that king of kings +left this world. Thy father was virtuous and high-souled, and always +protected his people. O, hear, how that high-souled one conducted himself +on earth. Like unto an impersonation of virtue and justice, the monarch, +cognisant of virtue, virtuously protected the four orders, each engaged +in the discharge of their specified duties. Of incomparable prowess, and +blessed with fortune, he protected the goddess Earth. There was none who +hated him and he himself hated none. Like unto Prajapati (Brahma) he was +equally disposed towards all creatures. O monarch, Brahmanas and +Kshatriyas and Vaisyas and Sudras, all engaged contentedly in the +practice of their respective duties, were impartially protected by that +king. Widows and orphans, the maimed and the poor, he maintained. Of +handsome features, he was unto all creatures like a second Soma. +Cherishing his subjects and keeping them contented, blessed with good +fortune, truth-telling, of immense prowess, he was the disciple of +Saradwat in the science of arms. And, O Janamejaya, thy father was dear +unto Govinda. Of great fame, he was loved by all men. And he was born in +the womb of Uttara when the Kuru race was almost extinct. And, therefore, +the mighty son of Abhimanyu came to be called Parikshit (born in an +extinct line). Well-versed in the interpretation of treatises on the +duties of kings, he was gifted with every virtue. With passions under +complete control, intelligent, possessing a retentive memory, the +practiser of all virtues, the conqueror of his six passions of powerful +mind, surpassing all, and fully acquainted with the science of morality +and political science, the father had ruled over these subjects for sixty +years. And he then died, mourned by all his subjects. And, after him, O +first of men, thou hast acquired this hereditary kingdom of the Kurus for +the last thousand years. Thou wast installed while a child, and art thus +protecting every creature.’ + +“Janamejaya said, ‘There hath not been born in our race a king who hath +not sought the good of his subjects or been loved by them. Behold +especially the conduct of my grandsires ever engaged in great +achievements. How did my father, blessed with many virtues, meet with his +death? Describe everything to me as it happened. I am desirous of hearing +it from you!’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Thus directed by the monarch, those councillors, ever +solicitous of the good of the king, told him everything exactly as it had +occurred.’ + +‘And the councillors said, ‘O king, that father of thine, that protector +of the whole earth, that foremost of all persons obedient to the +scriptures, became addicted to the sports of the field, even as Pandu of +mighty arms, that foremost of all bearers of the bow in battle. He made +over to us all the affairs of state from the most trivial to the most +important. One day, going into the forest, he pierced a deer with an +arrow. And having pierced it he followed it quickly on foot into the deep +woods, armed with sword and quiver. He could not, however, come upon the +lost deer. Sixty years of age and decrepit, he was soon fatigued and +became hungry. He then saw in the deep woods a high-souled Rishi. The +Rishi was then observing the vow of silence. The king asked him about the +deer, but, though asked, he made no reply. At last the king, already +tired with exertion and hunger, suddenly became angry with that Rishi +sitting motionless like a piece of wood in observance of his vow of +silence. Indeed, the king knew not that he was a Muni observing the vow +of silence. Swayed by anger, thy father insulted him. O excellent one of +the Bharata race, the king, thy father taking up from the ground with the +end of his bow a dead snake placed it on the shoulders of that Muni of +pure soul. But the Muni spake not a word good or bad and was without +anger. He continued in the same posture, bearing the dead snake.’” + + + +SECTION L + +(Astika Parva continued) + +‘Sauti continued, ‘The ministers said, ‘That king of kings then, spent +with hunger and exertion, and having placed the snake upon the shoulders +of that Muni, came back to his capital. The Muni had a son, born of a +cow, of the name of Sringin. He was widely known, possessed of great +prowess and energy, and very wrathful. Going (every day) to his preceptor +he was in the habit of worshipping him. Commanded by him, Sringin was +returning home, when he heard from a friend of his about the insult of +his father by thy parent. And, O tiger among kings, he heard that his +father, without having committed any fault, was bearing, motionless like +a statue, upon his shoulders a dead snake placed thereon. O king, the +Rishi insulted by thy father was severe in ascetic penances, the foremost +of Munis, the controller of passions, pure, and ever engaged in wonderful +acts. His soul was enlightened with ascetic penances, and his organs and +their functions were under complete control. His practices and his speech +were both very nice. He was contented and without avarice. He was without +meanness of any kind and without envy. He was old and used to observe the +vow of silence. And he was the refuge whom all creatures might seek in +distress. + +“Such was the Rishi insulted by thy father. The son, however, of that +Rishi, in wrath, cursed thy father. Though young in years, the powerful +one was old in ascetic splendour. Speedily touching water, he spake, +burning as it were with spiritual energy and rage, these words in +allusion to thy father, ‘Behold the power of my asceticism! Directed by +my words, the snake Takshaka of powerful energy and virulent poison, +shall, within seven nights hence, burn, with his poison the wretch that +hath placed the dead snake upon my un-offending father.’ And having said +this, he went to where his father was. And seeing his father he told him +of his curse. The tiger among Rishis thereupon sent to thy father a +disciple of his, named Gaurmukha, of amiable manners and possessed of +every virtue. And having rested a while (after arrival at court) he told +the king everything, saying in the words of his master, ‘Thou hast been +cursed, O king, by my son. Takshaka shall burn thee with his poison! +Therefore, O king, be careful.’ O Janamejaya, hearing those terrible +words, thy father took every precaution against the powerful snake +Takshaka. + +“And when the seventh day had arrived, a Brahmana Rishi, named Kasyapa, +desired to come to the monarch. But the snake Takshaka saw Kasyapa. And +the prince of snakes spake unto Kasyapa without loss of time, saying, +‘Where dost thou go so quickly, and what is the business on which thou +goest?’ Kasyapa replied, saying, ‘O Brahmana, I am going whither king +Parikshit, that best of the Kurus, is. He shall today be burnt by the +poison of the snake Takshaka. I go there quickly in order to cure him, in +fact, in order that, protected by me, the snake may not bite him to +death.’ Takshaka answered, saying, ‘Why dost thou seek to revive the king +to be bitten by me? I am that Takshaka. O Brahmana, behold the wonderful +power of my poison. Thou art incapable of reviving that monarch when bit +by me.’ So saying, Takshaka, then and there, bit a lord of the forest (a +banian tree). And the banian, as soon as it was bit by the snake, was +converted into ashes. But Kasyapa, O king, revived it. Takshaka thereupon +tempted him, saying, ‘Tell me thy desire.’ And Kasyapa, too, thus +addressed, spake again unto Takshaka, saying, ‘I go there from desire of +wealth.’ And Takshaka, thus addressed, then spake unto the high-souled +Kasyapa in these soft words, ‘O sinless one, take from me more wealth +than what thou expectest from that monarch, and go back!’ And Kasyapa, +that foremost of men, thus addressed by the snake, and receiving from him +as much wealth as he desired, wended his way back. + +“And Kasyapa going back, Takshaka, approaching in disguise, blasted, with +the fire of his poison, thy virtuous father, the first of kings, then +staying in his mansion with all precautions. And after that, thou wast, O +tiger among men, been installed (on the throne). And, O best of monarchs, +we have thus told thee all that we have seen and heard, cruel though the +account is. And hearing all about the discomfiture of thy royal father, +and of the insult to the Rishi Utanka, decide thou that which should +follow! + +‘Sauti continued, ‘King Janamejaya, that chastiser of enemies, then spake +upto all his ministers. And he said, ‘When did ye learn all that happened +upon that, banian reduced to ashes by Takshaka, and which, wonderful as +it is, was afterwards revived by Kasyapa? Assuredly, my father could not +have died, for the poison could have been neutralised by Kasyapa with his +mantras. That worst of snakes, of sinful soul, thought within his mind +that if Kasyapa resuscitated the king bit by him, he, Takshaka, would be +an object of ridicule in the world owing to the neutralisation of his +poison. Assuredly, having thought so, he pacified the Brahmana. I have +devised a way, however, of inflicting punishment upon him. I like to +know, however, what ye saw or heard, what happened in the deep solitude +of the forest,--viz., the words of Takshaka and the speeches of Kasyapa. +Having known it, I shall devise the means of exterminating the snake +race.’ + +“The ministers said, ‘Hear, O monarch of him who told us before of the +meeting between that foremost Brahmana and that prince of snakes in the +woods. A certain person, O monarch, had climbed up that tree containing +some dry branches with the object of breaking them for sacrificial fuel. +He was not perceived either by the snake or by the Brahmana. And, O king, +that man was reduced to ashes along with the tree itself. And, O king of +kings, he was revived with the tree by the power of the Brahmana. That +man, a Brahmana’s menial, having come to us, represented fully everything +as it happened between Takshaka and the Brahmana. Thus have we told thee, +O king, all that we have seen and heard. And having heard it, O tiger +among kings, ordain that which should follow.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘King Janamejaya, having listened to the words of his +ministers, was sorely afflicted with grief, and began to weep. And the +monarch began to squeeze his hands. And the lotus-eyed king began to +breathe a long and hot breath, shed tears, and shrieked aloud. And +possessed with grief and sorrow, and shedding copious tears, and touching +water according to the form, the monarch spake. And reflecting for a +moment, as if settling something in his mind, the angry monarch, +addressing all ministers, said these words. + +‘I have heard your account of my father’s ascension to heaven. Know ye +now what my fixed resolve is. I think no time must be lost in avenging +this injury upon the wretch Takshaka that killed my father. He burnt my +father making Sringin only a secondary cause. From malignity alone he +made Kasyapa return. If that Brahmana had arrived, my father assuredly +would have lived. What would he have lost if the king had revived by the +grace of Kasyapa and the precautionary measures of his ministers? From +ignorance of the effects of my wrath, he prevented Kasyapa--that +excellent of Brahmanas--whom he could not defeat, from coming to my +father with the desire of reviving him. The act of aggression is great on +the part of the wretch Takshaka who gave wealth unto that Brahmana in +order that he might not revive the king. I must now avenge myself on my +father’s enemy to please myself, the Rishi Utanka and you all.’” + + + +SECTION LI + +(Astika Parva continued) + +‘Sauti said, ‘King Janamejaya having said so, his ministers expressed +their approbation. And the monarch then expressed his determination to +perform a snake-sacrifice. And that lord of the Earth--that tiger of the +Bharata race--the son of Parikshit, then called his priest and Ritwiks. +And accomplished in speech, he spake unto them these words relating to +the accomplishment of his great task. ‘I must avenge myself on the wretch +Takshaka who killed my father. Tell me what I must do. Do you know any +act by which I may cast into the blazing fire the snake Takshaka with his +relatives? I desire to burn that wretch even as he burnt, of yore, by the +fire of his poison, my father.’ + +‘The chief priest answered, ‘There is, O king, a great sacrifice for thee +devised by the gods themselves. It is known as the snake-sacrifice, and +is read of in the Puranas. O king, thou alone canst accomplish it, and no +one else. Men versed in the Puranas have told us, there is such a +sacrifice.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Thus addressed, the king, O excellent one, thought +Takshaka to be already burnt and thrown into the blazing mouth of Agni, +the eater of the sacrificial butter. The king then said unto those +Brahmanas versed in mantras, ‘I shall make preparations for that +sacrifice. Tell me the things that are necessary.’ And the king’s +Ritwiks, O excellent Brahmana, versed in the Vedas and acquainted with +the rites of that sacrifice measured, according to the scriptures, the +land for the sacrificial platform. And the platform was decked with +valuable articles and with Brahmanas. And it was full of precious things +and paddy. And the Ritwika sat upon it at ease. And after the sacrificial +platform had been thus constructed according to rule and as desired, they +installed the king at the snake-sacrifice for the attainment of its +object. And before the commencement of the snake-Sacrifice that was to +come, there occurred this very important incident foreboding obstruction +to the sacrifice. For when the sacrificial platform was being +constructed, a professional builder of great intelligence and well-versed +in the knowledge of laying foundations, a Suta by caste, well-acquainted +with the Puranas, said, ‘The soil upon which and the time at which the +measurement for the sacrificial platform has been made, indicate that +this sacrifice will not be completed, a Brahmana becoming the reason +thereof.’ Hearing this, the king, before his installation, gave orders to +his gate-keepers not to admit anybody without his knowledge.” + + + +SECTION LII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘The snake-sacrifice then commenced according to due form. +And the sacrificial priests, competent in their respective duties +according to the ordinance, clad in black garments and their eyes red +from contact with smoke, poured clarified butter into the blazing fire, +uttering the appropriate mantras. And causing the hearts of all the +snakes to tremble with fear, they poured clarified butter into the mouth +of Agni uttering the names of the snakes. And the snakes thereupon began +to fall into the blazing fire, benumbed and piteously calling upon one +another. And swollen and breathing hard, and twining each other with +their heads and tails, they came in large numbers and fell into the fire. +The white, the black, the blue, the old and the young--all fell alike +into the fire, uttering various cries. Those measuring a krosa, and those +measuring a yojana, and those of the measure of a gokarna, fell +continuously with great violence into that first of all fires. And +hundreds and thousands and tens of thousands of snakes, deprived of all +control over their limbs, perished on that occasion. And amongst those +that perished, there were some that were like horses, other like trunks +of elephants, and others of huge bodies and strength like maddened +elephants Of various colours and virulent poison, terrible and looking +like maces furnished with iron-spikes, of great strength, ever inclined +to bite, the snakes, afflicted with their mother’s curse, fell into the +fire.’” + + + +SECTION LIII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Saunaka asked, ‘What great Rishis became the Ritwiks at the +snake-sacrifice of the wise king Janamejaya of the Pandava line? Who also +became the Sadasyas in that terrible snake-sacrifice, so frightful to the +snakes, and begetting such sorrow in them? It behoveth thee to describe +all these in detail, so that, O son of Suta, we may know who were +acquainted with the rituals of the snake-sacrifice.’ + +“Sauti replied, ‘I will recite the names of those wise ones who became +the monarch’s Ritwiks and Sadasyas. The Brahmana Chandabhargava became +the Hotri in that sacrifice. He was of great reputation, and was born in +the race of Chyavana and was the foremost of those acquainted with the +Vedas. The learned old Brahmana, Kautsa, became the Udgatri, the chanter +of the Vedic hymns. Jaimini became the Brahmana, and Sarngarva and +Pingala the Adhvaryus, Vyasa with his son and disciples, and Uddalaka, +Pramataka, Swetaketu, Pingala, Asita, Devala, Narada, Parvata, Atreya, +Kundajathara, the Brahmana Kalaghata, Vatsya, old Srutasravas ever +engaged in japa and the study of the Vedas. Kohala Devasarman, Maudgalya, +Samasaurava, and many other Brahmanas who had got through the Vedas +became the Sadasyas at that sacrifice of the son of Parikshit. + +“When the Ritwiks in that snake-sacrifice began to pour clarified butter +into the fire, terrible snakes, striking fear into every creature, began +to fall into it. And the fat and the marrow of the snakes thus falling +into the fire began to flow in rivers. And the atmosphere was filled with +an insufferable stench owing to the incessant burning of the snakes. And +incessant also were the cries of the snakes fallen into the fire and +those in the air about to fall into it. + +‘Meanwhile, Takshaka, that prince of snakes, as soon as he heard that +king Janamejaya was engaged in the sacrifice, went to the palace of +Purandara (Indra). And that best of snakes, having represented all that +had taken place, sought in terror the protection of Indra after having +acknowledged his fault. And Indra, gratified, told him, ‘O prince of +snakes, O Takshaka, here thou hast no fear from that snake-sacrifice. The +Grandsire was pacified by me for thy sake. Therefore, thou hast no fear. +Let this fear of thy heart be allayed.’ + +Sauti continued, ‘Thus encouraged by him, that best of snakes began to +dwell in Indra’s abode in joy and happiness. But Vasuki, seeing that the +snakes were incessantly falling into the fire and that his family was +reduced to only a few, became exceedingly sorry. And the king of the +snakes was afflicted with great grief, and his heart was about to break. +And summoning his sister, he spake unto her, saying, ‘O amiable one, my +limbs are burning and I no longer see the points of the heavens. I am +about to fall down from loss of consciousness. My mind is turning, my +sight is falling and my heart is breaking. Benumbed, I may fall today +into that blazing fire! This sacrifice of the son of Parikshit is for the +extermination of our race. It is evident I also shall have to go to the +abode of the king of the dead. The time is come, O my sister, on account +of which thou wert bestowed by me on Jaratkaru to protect us with our +relatives. O best of the women of the snake race, Astika will put an end +to the sacrifice that is going on. The Grandsire told me this of old. +Therefore, O child, solicit thy dear son who is fully conversant with the +Vedas and regarded even by the old, for the protection of myself and also +of those dependent on me.”’ + + + +SECTION LIV + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘Then the snake-dame Jaratkaru, calling her own son, told +him the following words according to the directions of Vasuki, the king +of the snakes. ‘O son, the time is come for the accomplishment of that +object for which I was bestowed on thy father by my brother. Therefore, +do thou that which should be done.’ + +“Astika asked, ‘Why wert thou, O mother, bestowed on my father by my +uncle? Tell me all truly so that on hearing it, I may do what is proper.’ + +“Then Jaratkaru, the sister of the king of the snakes, herself unmoved by +the general distress, and even desirous of the welfare of her relatives, +said unto him, ‘O son, it is said that the mother of all the snakes is +Kadru. Know thou why she cursed in anger her sons.’ Addressing the snakes +she said, ‘As ye have refused to falsely represent Uchchaihsravas, the +prince of horses, for bringing about Vinata’s bondage according to the +wager, therefore, shall he whose charioteer is Vayu burn you all in +Janamejaya’s sacrifice. And perishing in that sacrifice, ye shall go to +the region of the unredeemed spirits.’ The Grandsire of all the worlds +spake unto her while uttering this curse, ‘Be it so,’ and thus approved +of her speech. Vasuki, having heard that curse and then the words of the +Grandsire, sought the protection of the gods, O child, on the occasion +when the amrita was being churned for. And the gods, their object +fulfilled, for they had obtained the excellent amrita, with Vasuki ahead, +approached the Grandsire. And all the gods, with king Vasuki, sought to +incline Him who was born of the lotus to be propitious, so that the curse +might be made abortive.’ + +“And the gods said, ‘O Lord, Vasuki, the king of the snakes, is sorry on +account of his relatives. How may his mother’s curse prove abortive?’ + +“Brahman thereupon replied, saying, ‘Jaratkaru will take unto himself a +wife of the name of Jaratkaru; the Brahmana born of her will relieve the +snakes.’ + +“Vasuki, the best of snakes, hearing those words, bestowed me, O thou of +godlike looks, on thy high-souled father some time before the +commencement of the sacrifice. And from that marriage thou art born of +me. That time has come. It behoveth thee to protect us from this danger. +It behoveth thee to protect my brother and myself from the fire, so that +the object, viz., our relief, for which I was bestowed on thy wise +father, may not be unfulfilled. What dost thou think, O son?’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Thus addressed, Astika said unto his mother, ‘Yes, I +will.’ And he then addressed the afflicted Vasuki, and as if infusing +life into him, said, ‘O Vasuki, thou best of snakes, thou great being, +truly do I say, I shall relieve thee from that curse. Be easy, O snake! +There is no fear any longer. I shall strive earnestly so that good may +come! Nobody hath ever said that my speech, even in jest, hath proved +false. Hence on serious occasions like this, I need not say anything +more, O uncle, going thither today I shall gratify, with words mixed with +blessings, the monarch Janamejaya installed at the sacrifice, so that, O +excellent one, the sacrifice may stop. O highminded one, O king of the +snakes, believe all that I say. Believe me, my resolve can never be +unfulfilled.’ + +“And Vasuki then said, ‘O Astika, my head swims and my heart breaks. I +cannot discern the points of the earth, as I am afflicted with a mother’s +curse.’ + +“And Astika said, ‘Thou best of snakes, it behoveth thee not to grieve +any longer. I shall dispel this fear of thine from the blazing fire. This +terrible punishment, capable of burning like the fire at the end of the +Yuga, I shall extinguish. Nurse not thy fear any longer.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Then that best of Brahmanas, Astika, quelling the +terrible fear of the Vasuki’s heart, and taking it, as it were, on +himself, wended, for the relief of the king of the snakes, with speed to +Janamejaya’s sacrifice blessed with every merit. And Astika having gone +thither, beheld the excellent sacrificial compound with numerous Sadasyas +on it whose splendour was like unto that of the Sun or Agni. But that +best of Brahmanas was refused admittance by the door-keepers. And the +mighty ascetic gratified them, being desirous of entering the sacrificial +compound. And that best of Brahmanas, that foremost of all virtuous men, +having entered the excellent sacrificial compound, began to adore the +king of infinite achievements, Ritwiks, the Sadasyas, and also the sacred +fire.’” + + + +SECTION LV + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Astika said, ‘Soma and Varuna and Prajapati performed sacrifices of old +in Prayaga. But thy sacrifice, O foremost one of Bharata’s race, O son of +Parikshit, is not inferior to any of those. Let those dear unto us be +blessed! Sakra performed a hundred sacrifices. But this sacrifice of +thine, O foremost one of Bharata’s race, O son of Parikshit, is fully +equal to ten thousand sacrifices of Sakra. Let those dear unto us be +blessed! Like the sacrifice of Yama, of Harimedha, or of king Rantideva, +is the sacrifice of thine, O foremost one of Bharata’s race, O son of +Parikshit. Let those dear unto us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of Maya, +of king Sasavindu, or of king Vaisravana, is this sacrifice of thine, O +foremost one of Bharata’s race, O son of Satyavati, in which he himself +was the chief priest, is this sacrifice of Nriga, of Ajamida, of the son +of Dasaratha, is this sacrifice of thine, O foremost one of Bharata’s +race, O son of Parikshit. Let those dear unto us be blessed! Like the +sacrifice of king Yudhishthira, the son of a god and belonging to Ajamida +race, heard of (even) in the heavens, is this sacrifice of thine. O +foremost one of Bharata’s race, O son of Parikshit, let those dear unto +us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of Krishna (Dwaipayana), the son of +Satyavati, in which he himself was the chief priest, is this sacrifice of +thine, O foremost one of Bharata’s race, O son of Parikshit Let those +dear unto us be blessed! These (Ritwiks and Sadasyas) that are here +engaged in making thy sacrifice, like unto that of the slayer of Vritra, +are of splendour equal to that of the sun. There now remains nothing for +them to know, and gifts made to them become inexhaustible (in merit). It +is my conviction that there is no Ritwik in all the worlds who is equal +to thy Ritwik, Dwaipayana. His disciples, becoming Ritwiks, competent for +their duties, travel over the earth. The high-souled bearer of libation +(viz., Agni), called also Vibhavasu and Chitrabhanu, having gold for his +vital seed and having his path, marked by black smoke, blazing up with +flames inclined to the right, beareth these thy libations of clarified +butter to the gods. In this world of men there is no other monarch equal +to thee in the protection of subjects. I am ever well-pleased with thy +abstinence. Indeed, thou art either Varuna, or Yama, the god of Justice. +Like Sakra himself, thunderbolt in hand, thou art, in this world, the +protector of all creatures. In this earth there is no man so great as +thou and no monarch who is thy equal in sacrifice. Thou art like +Khatwanga, Nabhaga, and Dilipa. In prowess thou art like Yayati and +Mandhatri. In splendour equal to the sun, and of excellent vows, thou art +O monarch, like Bhishma! Like Valmiki thou art of energy concealed. Like +Vasishtha thou hast controlled thy wrath. Like Indra is thy lordship. Thy +splendour also shines like that of Narayana. Like Yama art thou +conversant with the dispensation of justice. Thou art like Krishna +adorned with every virtue. Thou art the home of the good fortune that +belongs to the Vasus. Thou art also the refuge of the sacrifices. In +strength thou art equal to Damvodbhava. Like Rama (the son of Jamadagni) +thou art conversant with the scriptures and arms. In energy thou art +equal to Aurva and Trita. Thou inspirest terror by thy looks like +Bhagiratha.’ + +“Sauti said, ‘Astika, having thus adored them, gratified them all, viz., +the king, the Sadasyas, the Ritwiks and the sacrificial fire. And king +Janamejaya beholding the signs and indications manifested all around, +addressed them as follows.’” + + + +SECTION LVI + +(Astika Parva continued) + +Janamejaya said, ‘Though this one is but a boy, he speaks yet like a wise +old man. He is not a boy but one wise and old. I think, I desire to +bestow on him a boon. Therefore, ye Brahmanas, give me the necessary +permission.’ + +“The Sadasyas said, ‘A Brahmana, though a boy, deserves the respect of +kings. The learned ones do more so. This boy deserves every desire of his +being fulfilled by thee, but not before Takshaka comes with speed.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘The king, being inclined to grant the Brahmana a boon, +said ‘Ask thou a boon.’ The Hotri, however, being rather displeased, +said, ‘Takshaka hath not come as yet into this sacrifice.’ + +“Janamejaya replied, ‘Exert ye to the best of your might, so that this +sacrifice of mine may attain completion, and Takshaka also may soon come +here. He is my enemy.’ + +“The Ritwiks replied, ‘As the scriptures declare unto us, and as the fire +also saith, O monarch, (it seems that) Takshaka is now staying in the +abode of Indra, afflicted with fear.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘The illustrious Suta named Lohitaksha also, conversant +with the Puranas, had said so before. + +“Asked by the king on the present occasion he again told the monarch, +‘Sire, it is even so as the Brahmanas have said--Knowing the Puranas, I +say, O monarch, that Indra hath granted him this boon, saying, ‘Dwell +with me in concealment, and Agni shall not burn thee.’ + +‘Sauti continued, ‘Hearing this, the king installed in the sacrifice +became very sorry and urged the Hotri to do his duty. And as the Hotri, +with mantras, began to pour clarified butter into the fire Indra himself +appeared on the scene. And the illustrious one came in his car, adorned +by all the gods standing around, followed by masses of clouds, celestial +singers, and the several bevies of celestial dancing girls. And Takshaka +anxious with fear, hid himself in the upper garment of Indra and was not +visible. Then the king in his anger again said unto his mantra-knowing +Brahmanas these words, bent upon the destruction of Takshaka, ‘If the +snake Takshaka be in the abode of Indra, cast him into the fire with +Indra himself.’ + +‘Sauti continued, ‘Urged thus by the king Janamejaya about Takshaka, the +Hotri poured libations, naming that snake then staying there. And even as +the libations were poured, Takshaka, with Purandara himself, anxious and +afflicted, became visible in a moment in the skies. Then Purandara, +seeing that sacrifice, became much alarmed, and quickly casting Takshaka +off, went back to his own abode. After Indra had gone away, Takshaka, the +prince of snakes, insensible with fear, was by virtue of the mantras, +brought near enough the flames of the sacrificial fire.’ + +“The Ritwiks then said, ‘O king of kings, the sacrifice of thine is being +performed duly. It behoveth thee, O Lord, to grant a boon now to this +first of Brahmanas.’ + +“Janamejaya then said, ‘Thou immeasurable one of such handsome and +child-like features, I desire to grant thee a worthy boon. Therefore, ask +thou that which thou desirest in thy heart. I promise thee, that I will +grant it even if it be ungrantable.’ + +‘The Ritwiks said, ‘O monarch, behold, Takshaka is soon coming under thy +control! His terrible cries, and loud roar is being heard. Assuredly, the +snake hath been forsaken by the wielder of thunder. His body being +disabled by your mantras, he is falling from heaven. Even now, rolling in +the skies, and deprived of consciousness, the prince of snakes cometh, +breathing loudly.’ + +‘Sauti continued, ‘While Takshaka, the prince of snakes was about to fall +into the sacrificial fire, during those few moments Astika spoke as +follows, ‘O Janamejaya, if thou wouldst grant me a boon, let this +sacrifice of thine come to an end and let no more snakes fall into the +fire.’ + +‘O Brahmana, the son of Parikshit, being thus addressed by Astika, became +exceedingly sorry and replied unto Astika thus, ‘O illustrious one, gold, +silver, kine, whatever other possessions thou desirest I shall give unto +thee. But let not my sacrifice come to an end.’ + +“Astika thereupon replied, ‘Gold, silver or kine, I do not ask of thee, O +monarch! But let thy sacrifice be ended so that my maternal relations be +relieved.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘The son of Parikshit, being thus addressed by Astika, +repeatedly said this unto that foremost of speakers, ‘Best of the +Brahmanas, ask some other boon. O, blessed be thou!’ But, O thou of +Bhrigu’s race, he did not beg any other boon. Then all the Sadasyas +conversant with the Vedas told the king in one voice, ‘Let the Brahmana +receive his boon!’” + + + +SECTION LVII + +(Astika Parva continued) + +“Saunaka said, ‘O son of a Suta, I desire to hear the names of all those +snakes that fell into the fire of this snake-sacrifice!’ + +“Sauti replied, ‘Many thousands and tens of thousands and billions of +snakes fell into the fire. O most excellent Brahmana, so great is the +number that I am unable to count them all. So far, however, as I +remember, hear the names I mention of the principal snakes cast into the +fire. Hear first the names of the principal ones of Vasuki’s race alone, +of colour blue, red and white of terrible form and huge body and deadly +poison. Helpless and miserable and afflicted with their mother’s curse, +they fell into the sacrificial fire like libations of butter. + +“Kotisa, Manasa, Purna, Cala, Pala Halmaka, Pichchala, Kaunapa, Cakra, +Kalavega, Prakalana, Hiranyavahu, Carana, Kakshaka, Kaladantaka--these +snakes born of Vasuki, fell into the fire. And, O Brahmana, numerous +other snakes well-born, and of terrible form and great strength, were +burnt in the blazing fire. I shall now mention those born in the race of +Takshaka. Hear thou their names. Puchchandaka, Mandalaka, Pindasektri, +Ravenaka; Uchochikha, Carava, Bhangas, Vilwatejas, Virohana; Sili, +Salakara, Muka, Sukumara, Pravepana, Mudgara and Sisuroman, Suroman and +Mahahanu. These snakes born of Takshaka fell into the fire. And Paravata, +Parijata, Pandara, Harina, Krisa, Vihanga, Sarabha, Meda, Pramoda, +Sauhatapana--these born in the race of Airavata fell into the fire. Now +hear, O best of Brahmanas, the names of the snakes I mention born in the +race of Kauravya: Eraka, Kundala Veni, Veniskandha, Kumaraka, Vahuka, +Sringavera, Dhurtaka, Pratara and Astaka. There born in the race of +Kauravya fell into the fire. Now hear the names I mention, in order, of +those snakes endued with the speed of the wind and with virulent poison, +born in the race of Dhritarashtra: Sankukarna, Pitharaka, Kuthara, +Sukhana, and Shechaka; Purnangada, Purnamukha, Prahasa, Sakuni, Dari, +Amahatha, Kumathaka, Sushena, Vyaya, Bhairava, Mundavedanga, Pisanga, +Udraparaka, Rishabha, Vegavat, Pindaraka; Raktanga, Sarvasaranga, +Samriddha, Patha and Vasaka; Varahaka, Viranaka, Suchitra, Chitravegika, +Parasara, Tarunaka, Maniskandha and Aruni. + +“O Brahmana, thus I have recited the names of the principal snakes known +widely for their achievements--I have not been able to name all, the +number being countless. The sons of these snakes, the sons of those sons, +that were burnt having fallen into the fire, I am unable to mention. They +are so many! Some of three heads, some of seven, others of ten, of poison +like unto the fire at the end of the yuga and terrible in form,--they +were burnt by thousands! + +“Many others, of huge bodies, of great speed, tall as mountain summits, +of the length of a yama, of a yojana, and of two yojanas, capable of +assuming at will any form and of mastering at will any degree of +strength, of poison like unto blazing fire, afflicted by the curse of a +mother, were burnt in that great ‘sacrifice.’” + + + +SECTION LVIII + +(Astika Parva, continued) + +“Sauti said, ‘Listen now to another very wonderful incident in connection +with Astika. When king Janamejaya was about to gratify Astika by granting +the boon, the snake (Takshaka), thrown off Indra’s hands, remained in mid +air without actually falling. King Janamejaya thereupon became curious, +for Takshaka, afflicted with fear, did not at once fall into the fire +although libations were poured in proper form into the blazing +sacrificial Agni in his name.’ + +“Saunaka said, ‘Was it, O Suta, that the mantras of those wise Brahmanas +were not potent; since Takshaka did not fall into the fire?’ + +“Sauti replied, ‘Unto the unconscious Takshaka, that best of snakes, +after he had been cast off Indra’s hands, Astika had thrice said, ‘Stay,’ +‘Stay,’ ‘Stay.’ And he succeeded in staying in the skies, with afflicted +heart, like a person somehow staying between the welkin and the earth. + +“The king then, on being repeatedly urged by his Sadasyas, said, ‘Let it +be done as Astika hath said. Let the sacrifice be ended, let the snakes +be safe, let this Astika also be gratified, O Suta, thy words also be +true.’ When the boon was granted to Astika, plaudits expressive of joy +rang through the air. Thus the sacrifice of the son of Parikshit--that +king of the Pandava race--came to an end. The king Janamejaya of the +Bharata race was himself pleased, and on the Ritwiks with the Sadasyas, +and on all who had come there, the king, bestowed money by hundreds and +thousands. And unto Suta Lohitaksha--conversant with the rules of +building and foundations--who had at the commencement said that a +Brahmana would be the cause of the interruption of the snake-sacrifice, +the king gave much wealth. The king, of uncommon kindness, also gave him +various things, with food and wearing apparel, according to his desire, +and became very much pleased. Then he concluded his sacrifice according +to the prescribed rites, and after treating him with every respect, the +king in joy sent home the wise Astika exceedingly gratified, for he had +attained his object. And the king said unto him, ‘Thou must come again to +become a Sadasya in my great Horse-sacrifice.’ And Astika said, ‘yes’ and +then returned home in great joy, having achieved his great end after +gratifying the monarch. And returning in joy to his uncle and mother and +touching their feet, he recounted to them everything as it had happened.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘Hearing all he had said, the snakes that had come +thither became very much delighted, and their fears were allayed. They +were much pleased with Astika and asked him to solicit a boon, saying, ‘O +learned one, what good shall we do unto thee? We have been very much +gratified, having been all saved by thee. What shall we accomplish for +thee, O child!’ + +“Astika said, ‘Let those Brahmanas, and other men, who shall, in the +morning or in the evening, cheerfully and with attention, read the sacred +account of this my act, have no fear from any of you.’ And the snakes in +joy thereupon said, ‘O nephew, in the nature of thy boon, let it be +exactly as thou sayest. That which thou askest we all shall cheerfully +do, O nephew! And those also that call to mind Astika, Artiman and +Sunitha, in the day or in the night, shall have no fear of snakes. He +again shall have no fear of snakes who will say, ‘I call to mind the +famous Astika born of Jaratkaru, that Astika who saved the snakes from +the snake-sacrifice. Therefore, ye snakes of great good fortune, it +behoveth you not to bite me. But go ye away, blessed be ye, or go away +thou snake of virulent poison, and remember the words of Astika after the +snake sacrifice of Janamejaya. That snake who does not cease from biting +after hearing such mention of Astika, shall have his hood divided a +hundredfold like the fruit of Sinsa tree.’ + +“Sauti continued, ‘That first of Brahmanas, thus addressed by the +foremost of the chief snakes assembled together, was very much gratified. +And the high-souled one then set his heart upon going away. + +“And that best of Brahmanas, having saved the snakes from the +snake-sacrifice, ascended to heaven when his time came, leaving sons and +grandsons behind him. + +‘Thus have I recited to thee this history of Astika exactly as it +happened. Indeed, the recitation of this history dispelleth all fear of +snakes’ + +‘Sauti continued, ‘O Brahmanas, O foremost one of Bhrigu’s race, as thy +ancestor Pramati had cheerfully narrated unto his inquiring son Ruru, and +as I had heard it, thus have I recited this blessed history, from the +beginning, of the learned Astika. And, O Brahmana, O oppressor of all +enemies, having heard this holy history of Astika that increaseth virtue, +and which thou hadst asked me about after hearing the story of the +Dundubha, let thy ardent curiosity be satisfied.’” + + + +SECTION LIX + +(Adivansavatarana Parva) + +“Saunaka said, ‘O son, thou hast narrated to me this extensive and great +history commencing from the progeny of Bhrigu. O son of Suta, I have been +much gratified with thee. I ask thee again, to recite to me, O son of a +Suta, the history composed by Vyasa. The varied and wonderful narrations +that were recited amongst those illustrious Sadasyas assembled at the +sacrifice, in the intervals of their duties of that long-extending +ceremony, and the objects also of those narrations, I desire to hear from +thee, O son of a Suta! Recite therefore, all those to me fully.’ + +‘Sauti said, ‘The Brahmanas, in the intervals of the duties, spoke of +many things founded upon the Vedas. But Vyasa recited the wonderful and +great history called the Bharata.’ + +“Saunaka said, ‘That sacred history called the Mahabharata, spreading the +fame of the Pandavas, which Krishna-Dwaipayana, asked by Janamejaya, +caused to be duly recited after the completion of the sacrifice. I desire +to hear duly. That history hath been born of the ocean-like mind of the +great Rishi of soul purified by yoga. Thou foremost of good men, recite +it unto me, for, O son of a Suta, my thirst hath not been appeased by all +thou hast said.’ + +‘Sauti said, ‘I shall recite to thee from the beginning of that great and +excellent history called the Mahabharata composed by Vyasa. O Brahmana, +listen to it in full, as I recite it. I myself feel a great pleasure in +reciting it.’” + + + +SECTION LX + +(Adivansavatarana Parva continued) + +‘Sauti said, ‘Hearing that Janamejaya was installed in the +snake-sacrifice, the learned Rishi Krishna-Dwaipayana went thither on the +occasion. And he, the grand-father of the Pandavas, was born in an island +of the Yamuna, of the virgin Kali by Sakti’s son, Parasara. And the +illustrious one developed by his will alone his body as soon as he was +born, and mastered the Vedas with their branches, and all the histories. +And he readily obtained that which no one could obtain by asceticism, by +the study of the Vedas, by vows, by fasts, by progeny, and by sacrifice. +And the first of Veda-knowing ones, he divided the Vedas into four parts. +And the Brahmana Rishi had knowledge of the supreme Brahma, knew the past +by intuition, was holy, and cherished truth. Of sacred deeds and great +fame, he begot Pandu and Dhritarashtra and Vidura in order to continue +the line of Santanu. + +“And the high-souled Rishi, with his disciples all conversant with the +Vedas and their branches, entered the sacrificial pavilion of the royal +sage, Janamejaya. And he saw that the king Janamejaya was seated in the +sacrificial region like the god Indra, surrounded by numerous Sadasyas, +by kings of various countries whose coronal locks had undergone the +sacred bath, and by competent Ritwiks like unto Brahman himself. And that +foremost one of Bharata’s race, the royal sage Janamejaya, beholding the +Rishi come, advanced quickly with his followers and relatives in great +joy. And the king with the approval of his Sadasyas, gave the Rishi a +golden seat as Indra did to Vrihaspati. And when the Rishi, capable of +granting boons and adored by the celestial Rishis themselves, had been +seated, the king of kings worshipped him according to the rites of the +scriptures. And the king then offered him--his grandfather Krishna--who +fully deserved them, water to wash his feet and mouth, and the Arghya, +and kine. And accepting those offerings from the Pandava Janamejaya and +ordering the kine also not to be slain, Vyasa became much gratified. And +the king, after those adorations bowed to his great-grandfather, and +sitting in joy asked him about his welfare. And the illustrious Rishi +also, casting his eyes upon him and asking him about his welfare, +worshipped the Sadasyas, having been before worshipped by them all. And +after all this, Janamejaya with all his Sadasyas, questioned that first +of Brahmanas, with joined palms as follows: + +‘O Brahmana, thou hast seen with thy own eyes the acts of the Kurus and +the Pandavas. I am desirous of hearing thee recite their history. What +was the cause of the disunion amongst them that was fruitful of such +extraordinary deeds? Why also did that great battle, which caused the +death of countless creatures occur between all my grandfathers--their +clear sense over-clouded by fate? O excellent Brahmana, tell me all this +in full as everything had happened.’ + +“Hearing those words of Janamejaya, Krishna-Dwaipayana directed his +disciple Vaisampayana seated by his side, saying, ‘The discord that +happened between the Kurus and the Pandavas of old, narrate all to the +king even as thou hast heard from me.’ + +“Then that blessed Brahmana, at the command of his preceptor recited the +whole of that history unto the king, the Sadasyas, and all the chieftains +there assembled. And he told them all about the hostility and the utter +extinction of the Kurus and the Pandavas.’” + + + +SECTION LXI + +(Adivansavatarana Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Bowing down in the first place to my preceptor with +the eight parts of my body touching the ground, with devotion and +reverence, and with all my heart, worshipping the whole assembly of +Brahmanas and other learned persons, I shall recite in full what I have +heard from the high-souled and great Rishi Vyasa, the first of +intelligent men in the three worlds. And having got it within thy reach, +O monarch, thou also art a fit person to hear the composition called +Bharata. Encouraged by the command of my preceptor my heart feeleth no +fear. + +“Hear, O monarch, why that disunion occurred between the Kurus and the +Pandavas, and why also that exile into the woods immediately proceeding +from the game at dice prompted by the desire (of the Kurus) for rule. I +shall relate all to thee who askest it thou best of the Bharata race! + +“On the death of their father those heroes (the Pandavas) came to their +own home. And within a short time they became well-versed in archery. And +the Kurus beholding the Pandavas gifted with physical strength, energy, +and power of mind, popular also with the citizens, and blessed with good +fortune, became very jealous. Then the crookedminded Duryodhana, and +Karna, with (the former’s uncle) the son of Suvala began to persecute +them and devise means for their exile. Then the wicked Duryodhana, guided +by the counsels of Sakuni (his maternal uncle), persecuted the Pandavas +in various ways for the acquirement of undisputed sovereignty. The wicked +son of Dhritarashtra gave poison to Bhima, but Bhima of the stomach of +the wolf digested the poison with the food. Then the wretch again tied +the sleeping Bhima on the margin of the Ganges and, casting him into the +water, went away. But when Bhimasena of strong arms, the son of Kunti +woke, he tore the strings with which he had been tied and came up, his +pains all gone. And while asleep and in the water black snakes of +virulent poison bit him in every part of his body. But that slayer of +foes did not still perish. And in all those persecutions of the Pandavas +by their cousins, the Kurus, the high-minded Vidura attentively engaged +himself neutralising those evil designs and rescuing the persecuted ones. +And as Sakra from the heavens keeps in happiness the world of men, so did +Vidura always keep the Pandavas from evil. + +“When Duryodhana, with various means, both secret and open, found himself +incapable of destroying the Pandavas who were protected by the fates and +kept alive for grave future purposes (such as the extermination of the +Kuru race), then called together his counsellors consisting of Vrisha +(Karna), Duhsasana and others, and with the knowledge of Dhritarashtra +caused a house of lac to be constructed. And king Dhritarashtra, from +affection for his children, and prompted by the desire of sovereignty, +sent the Pandavas tactfully into Varanavata. And the Pandavas then went +away with their mother from Hastinapura. And when they were leaving the +city, Vidura gave them some idea of impending danger and how they could +come out of it. + +‘The sons of Kunti reached the town of Varanavata and lived there with +their mother. And, agreeably to the command of Dhritarashtra, those +illustrious slayers of all enemies lived in the palace of lac, while in +that town. And they lived in that place for one year, protecting +themselves from Purochana very wakefully. And causing a subterranean +passage to be constructed, acting according to the directions of Vidura, +they set fire to that house of lac and burnt Purochana (their enemy and +the spy of Duryodhana) to death. Those slayers of all enemies, anxious +with fear, then fled with their mother. In the woods beside a fountain +they saw a Rakshasa. But, alarmed at the risk they ran of exposure by +such an act the Pandavas fled in the darkness, out of fear from the sons +of Dhritarashtra. It was here that Bhima gained Hidimva (the sister of +the Rakshasa he slew) for a wife, and it was of her that Ghatotkacha was +born. Then the Pandavas, of rigid vows, and conversant with the Vedas +wended to a town of the name of Ekachakra and dwelt there in the guise of +Brahmacharins. And those bulls among men dwelt in that town in the house +of a Brahmana for some time, with temperance and abstinence. And it was +here that Bhima of mighty arms came upon a hungry and mighty and +man-eating Rakshasa of the name of Vaka. And Bhima, the son of Pandu, +that tiger among men, slew him speedily with the strength of his arms and +made the citizens safe and free from fear. Then they heard of Krishna +(the princess of Panchala) having become disposed to select a husband +from among the assembled princes. And, hearing of it, they went to +Panchala, and there they obtained the maiden. And having obtained +Draupadi (as their common wife) they then dwelt there for a year. And +after they became known, those chastisers of all enemies went back to +Hastinapura. And they were then told by king Dhritarashtra and the son of +Santanu (Bhishma) as follows: ‘In order, O dear ones, dissensions may not +take place between you and your cousins, we have settled that +Khandavaprastha should be your abode. Therefore, go ye, casting off all +jealousy, to Khandavaprastha which contains many towns served by many +broad roads, for dwelling there.’ And accordingly the Pandavas went, with +all their friends and followers, to Khandavaprastha taking with them many +jewels and precious stones. And the sons of Pritha dwelt there for many +years. And they brought, by force of arms, many a prince under their +subjection. And thus, setting their hearts on virtue and firmly adhering +to truth, unruffled by affluence, calm in deportment, and putting down +numerous evils, the Pandavas gradually rose to power. And Bhima of great +reputation subjugated the East, the heroic Arjuna, the North, Nakula, the +West; Sahadeva that slayer of all hostile heroes, the South. And this +having been done, their domination was spread over the whole world. And +with the five Pandavas, each like unto the Sun, the Earth looked as if +she had six Suns. + +“Then, for some reason, Yudhishthira the just, gifted with great energy +and prowess, sent his brother Arjuna who was capable of drawing the bow +with the left hand, dearer unto him than life itself, into the woods. And +Arjuna, that tiger among men, of firm soul, and gifted with every virtue, +lived in the woods for eleven years and months. And during this period, +on a certain occasion, Arjuna went to Krishna in Dwaravati. And Vibhatsu +(Arjuna) there obtained for a wife the lotus-eyed and sweet-speeched +younger sister of Vasudeva, Subhadra by name. And she became united, in +gladness, with Arjuna, the son of Pandu, like Sachi with the great Indra, +or Sri with Krishna himself. And then, O best of monarchs, Arjuna, the +son of Kunti, with Vasudeva, gratified Agni; the carrier of the +sacrificial butter, in the forest of Khandava (by burning the medicinal +plants in that woods to cure Agni of his indigestion). And to Arjuna, +assisted as he was by Kesava, the task did not at all appear heavy even +as nothing is heavy to Vishnu with immense design and resources in the +matter of destroying his enemies. And Agni gave unto the son of Pritha +the excellent bow Gandiva and a quiver that was inexhaustible, and a +war-chariot bearing the figure of Garuda on its standard. And it was on +this occasion that Arjuna relieved the great Asura (Maya) from fear (of +being consumed in the fire). And Maya, in gratitude, built (for the +Pandavas) a celestial palace decked with every sort of jewels and +precious stones. And the wicked Duryodhana, beholding that building, was +tempted with the desire of possessing it. And deceiving Yudhishthira by +means of the dice played through the hands of the son of Suvala, +Duryodhana sent the Pandavas into the woods for twelve years and one +additional year to be passed in concealment, thus making the period full +thirteen. + +“And the fourteenth year, O monarch, when the Pandavas returned and +claimed their property, they did not obtain it. And thereupon war was +declared, and the Pandavas, after exterminating the whole race of +Kshatriyas and slaying king Duryodhana, obtained back their devastated +kingdom. + +“This is the history of the Pandavas who never acted under the influence +of evil passions; and this the account, O first of victorious monarchs of +the disunion that ended in the loss of their kingdom by the Kurus and the +victory of the Pandavas.’” + + + +SECTION LXII + +(Adivansavatarana Parva continued) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O excellent Brahmana, thou hast, indeed, told me, in +brief, the history, called Mahabharata, of the great acts of the Kurus. +But, O thou of ascetic wealth, recite now that wonderful narration fully. +I feel a great curiosity to hear it. It behoveth thee to recite it, +therefore, in full. I am not satisfied with hearing in a nutshell the +great history. That could never have been a trifling cause for which the +virtuous ones could slay those whom they should not have slain, and for +which they are yet applauded by men. Why also did those tigers among men, +innocent and capable of avenging themselves upon their enemies, calmly +suffer the persecution of the wicked Kurus? Why also, O best of +Brahmanas, did Bhima of mighty arms and of the strength of ten thousand +elephants, control his anger, though wronged? Why also did the chaste +Krishna, the daughter of Drupada, wronged by those wretches and able to +burn them, not burn the sons of Dhritarashtra with her wrathful eyes? Why +also did the two other sons of Pritha (Bhima and Arjuna) and the two sons +of Madri (Nakula and Sahadeva), themselves injured by the wretched Kurus, +follow Yudhishthira who was greatly addicted to the evil habit of +gambling? Why also did Yudhishthira, that foremost of all virtuous men, +the son of Dharma himself, fully acquainted with all duties, suffer that +excess of affliction? Why also did the Pandava Dhananjaya, having Krishna +for his charioteer, who by his arrows sent to the other world that +dauntless host of fighting men (suffer such persecution)? O thou of +ascetic wealth, speak to me of all these as they took place, and +everything that those mighty charioteers achieved.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O monarch, appoint thou a time for hearing it. This +history told by Krishna-Dwaipayana is very extensive. This is but the +beginning. I shall recite it. I shall repeat the whole of the composition +in full, of the illustrious and great Rishi Vyasa of immeasurable mental +power, and worshipped in all the worlds. This Bharata consists of a +hundred thousand sacred slokas composed by the son of Satyavati, of +immeasurable mental power. He that reads it to others, and they that hear +it read, attain to the world of Brahman and become equal to the very +gods. This Bharata is equal unto the Vedas, is holy and excellent; is the +worthiest of all to be listened to, and is a Purana worshipped by the +Rishis. It contains much useful instruction on Artha and Kama (profit and +pleasure). This sacred history maketh the heart desire for salvation. +Learned persons by reciting this Veda of Krishna-Dwaipayana to those that +are liberal, truthful and believing, earn much wealth. Sins, such as +killing the embryo in the womb, are destroyed assuredly by this. A +person, however cruel and sinful, by hearing this history, escapes from +all his sins like the Sun from Rahu (after the eclipse is over). This +history is called Jaya. It should be heard by those desirous of victory. +A king by hearing it may bring the whole world under subjection and +conquer all his foes. This history in itself is a mighty act of +propitiation, a mighty sacrifice productive of blessed fruit. It should +always be heard by a young monarch with his queen, for then they beget a +heroic son or a daughter to occupy a throne. This history is the high and +sacred science of Dharma, Artha, and also of Moksha; it hath been so said +by Vyasa himself of mind that is immeasurable. This history is recited in +the present age and will be recited in the future. They that hear it, +read, have sons and servants always obedient to them and doing their +behests. All sins that are committed by body, word, or mind, immediately +leave them that hear this history. They who hear, without the spirit of +fault finding, the story of the birth of the Bharata princes, can have no +fear of maladies, let alone the fear of the other world. + +“For extending the fame of the high-souled Pandavas and of other +Kshatriyas versed in all branches of knowledge, high spirited, and +already known in the world for their achievements, Krishna-Dwaipayana, +guided also by the desire of doing good to the world, hath composed this +work. It is excellent, productive of fame, grants length of life, is +sacred and heavenly. He who, from desire of acquiring religious merit, +causeth this history to be heard by sacred Brahmanas, acquireth great +merit and virtue that is inexhaustible. He that reciteth the famous +generation of the Kurus becometh immediately purified and acquireth a +large family himself, and becometh respected in the world. That Brahmana +who regularly studies this sacred Bharata for the four months of the +rainy season, is cleansed from all his sins. He that has read the Bharata +may be regarded as one acquainted with the Vedas. + +“This work presents an account of the gods and royal sages and sacred +regenerate Rishis, the sinless Kesava; the god of gods, Mahadeva and the +goddess Parvati; the birth of Kartikeya who sprang from union of Parvati +with Mahadeva and was reared by many mothers; the greatness of Brahmanas +and of kine. This Bharata is a collection of all the Srutis, and is fit +to be heard by every virtuous person. That learned man who reciteth it to +Brahmanas during the sacred lunations, becometh cleansed of all sins, +and, not caring for heaven as it were, attaineth to a union with Brahma. +He that causeth even a single foot of this poem to be heard by Brahmanas +during the performance of a Sraddha, maketh that Sraddha inexhaustible, +the Pitris becoming ever gratified with the articles once presented to +them. The sins that are committed daily by our senses or the mind, those +that are committed knowingly or unknowingly by any man, are all destroyed +by hearing the Mahabharata. The history of the exalted birth of the +Bharata princes is called the Mahabharata. He who knoweth this etymology +of the name is cleansed of all his sins. And as this history of the +Bharata race is so wonderful, that, when recited, it assuredly purifieth +mortals from all sins. The sage Krishna-Dwaipayana completed his work in +three years. Rising daily and purifying himself and performing his +ascetic devotions, he composed this Mahabharata. Therefore, this should +be heard by Brahmanas with the formality of a vow. He who reciteth this +holy narration composed by Krishna (Vyasa) for the hearing of others, and +they who hear it, in whatever state he or they may be, can never be +affected by the fruit of deeds, good or bad. The man desirous of +acquiring virtue should hear it all. This is equivalent to all histories, +and he that heareth it always attaineth to purity of heart. The +gratification that one deriveth from attaining to heaven is scarcely +equal to that which one deriveth from hearing this holy history. The +virtuous man who with reverence heareth it or causeth it to be heard, +obtaineth the fruit of the Rajasuya and the horse-sacrifice. The Bharata +is said to be as much a mine of gems as the vast Ocean or the great +mountain Meru. This history is sacred and excellent, and is equivalent to +the Vedas, worthy of being heard, pleasing to the ear, sin-cleansing, and +virtue-increasing. O monarch, he that giveth a copy of the Bharata to one +that asketh for it doth indeed make a present of the whole earth with her +belt of seas. O son of Parikshit, this pleasant narration that giveth +virtue and victory I am about to recite in its entirety: listen to it. +The sage Krishna-Dwaipayana regularly rising for three years, composed +this wonderful history called Mahabharata. O bull amongst the Bharata +monarchs, whatever is spoken about virtue, wealth, pleasure, and +salvation may be seen elsewhere; but whatever is not contained in this is +not to be found anywhere.’” + + + +SECTION LXIII + +(Adivansavatarana Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘There was a king of the name of Uparichara. That +monarch was devoted to virtue. He was very much addicted also to hunting. +That king of the Paurava race, called also Vasu, conquered the excellent +and delightful kingdom of Chedi under instructions from Indra. Some time +after, the king gave up the use of arms and, dwelling in a secluded +retreat, practised the most severe austerities. The gods with Indra at +their head once approached the monarch during this period, believing that +he sought the headship of the gods, by those severe austerities of his. +The celestials, becoming objects of his sight, by soft speeches succeeded +in winning him away from his ascetic austerities.’ + +“The gods said, ‘O lord of the earth, thou shouldst take care so that +virtue may not sustain a diminution on earth! Protected by thee, virtue +itself will in return protect the universe.’ And Indra said, ‘O king, +protect virtue on earth attentively and rigidly. Being virtuous, thou +shalt, for all time, behold (in after life) many sacred regions. And +though I am of Heaven, and thou art of earth, yet art thou my friend and +dear to me. And, O king of men, dwell thou in that region on earth which +is delightful, and aboundeth in animals, is sacred, full of wealth and +corn, is well-protected like heaven, which is of agreeable climate, +graced with every object of enjoyment, and blessed with fertility. And, O +monarch of Chedi, this thy dominion is full of riches, of gems and +precious stones, and containeth, besides, much mineral wealth. The cities +and towns of this region are all devoted to virtue; the people are honest +and contented; they never lie even in jest. Sons never divide their +wealth with their fathers and are ever mindful of the welfare of their +parents. Lean cattle are never yoked to the plough or the cart or engaged +in carrying merchandise; on the other hand, they are well-fed and +fattened. In Chedi the four orders are always engaged in their respective +vocations. Let nothing be unknown to thee that happens in the three +worlds. I shall give thee a crystal car such as the celestials alone are +capable of carrying the car through mid air. Thou alone, of all mortals +on earth, riding on that best of cars, shall course through mid-air like +a celestial endued with a physical frame. I shall also give thee a +triumphal garland of unfading lotuses, with which on, in battle, thou +shall not be wounded by weapons. And, O king, this blessed and +incomparable garland, widely known on earth as Indra’s garland, shall be +thy distinctive badge. + +“The slayer of Vritra (Indra) also gave the king, for his gratification, +a bamboo pole for protecting the honest and the peaceful. After the +expiry of a year, the king planted it in the ground for the purpose of +worshipping the giver thereof, viz., Sakra. From that time forth, O +monarch, all kings, following Vasu’s example, began to plant a pole for +the celebration of Indra’s worship. After erecting the pole they decked +it with golden cloth and scents and garlands and various ornaments. And +the god Vasava is worshipped in due form with such garlands and +ornaments. And the god, for the gratification of the illustrious Vasu, +assuming the form of a swan, came himself to accept the worship thus +offered. And the god, beholding the auspicious worship thus made by Vasu, +that first of monarchs, was delighted, and said unto him, ‘Those men, and +kings also, who will worship me and joyously observe this festival of +mine like the king of Chedi, shall have glory and victory for their +countries and kingdom. Their cities also shall expand and be ever in +joy.’ + +“King Vasu was thus blessed by the gratified Maghavat, the high-souled +chief of the gods. Indeed, those men who cause this festivity of Sakra to +be observed with gifts of land, of gems and precious stones, become the +respected of the world. And king Vasu, the lord of Chedis bestowing boons +and performing great sacrifices and observing the festivity of Sakra, was +much respected by Indra. And from Chedi he ruled the whole world +virtuously. And for the gratification of Indra, Vasu, the lord of the +Chedis, observed the festivity of Indra. + +“And Vasu had five sons of great energy and immeasurable prowess. And the +emperor installed his sons as governors of various provinces. + +“And his son Vrihadratha was installed in Magadha and was known by the +name of Maharatha. Another son of his was Pratyagraha; and another, +Kusamva, who was also called Manivahana. And the two others were Mavella, +and Yadu of great prowess and invincible in battle. + +“These, O monarch, were the sons of that royal sage of mighty energy. And +the five sons of Vasu planted kingdoms and towns after their own names +and founded separate dynasties that lasted for long ages. + +“And when king Vasu took his seat in that crystal car, with the gift of +Indra, and coursed through the sky, he was approached by Gandharvas and +Apsaras (the celestial singers and dancers). And as he coursed through +the upper regions, he was called Uparichara. And by his capital flowed a +river called Suktimati. And that river was once attacked by a life-endued +mountain called Kolahala maddened by lust. And Vasu, beholding the foul +attempt, struck the mountain with his foot. And by the indentation caused +by Vasu’s stamp, the river came out (of the embraces of Kolahala). But +the mountain begat on the river two children that were twins. And the +river, grateful to Vasu for his having set her free from Kolahala’s +embraces, gave them both to Vasu. And the son was made the generalissimo +to his forces by Vasu, that best of royal sages and giver of wealth and +punisher of enemies. And the daughter called Girika, was wedded by Vasu. + +‘And Girika, the wife of Vasu, after her menstrual course, purifying +herself by a bath, represented her state unto her lord. But that very day +the Pitris of Vasu came unto that best of monarchs and foremost of wise +men, and asked him to slay deer (for their Sraddha). And the king, +thinking that the command of the Pitris should not be disobeyed, went +a-hunting thinking of Girika alone who was gifted with great beauty and +like unto another Sri herself. And the season being the spring, the woods +within which the king was roaming, had become delightful like unto the +gardens of the king of the Gandharvas himself. There were Asokas and +Champakas and Chutas and Atimuktas in abundance: and there were Punnagas +and Karnikaras and Vakulas and Divya Patalas and Patalas and Narikelas +and Chandanas and Arjunas and similar other beautiful and sacred trees +resplendent with fragrant flowers and sweet fruits. And the whole forest +was maddened by the sweet notes of the kokila and echoed with the hum of +maddened bees. And the king became possessed with desire, and he saw not +his wife before him. Maddened by desire he was roaming hither and +thither, when he saw a beautiful Asoka decked with dense foliage, its +branches covered with flowers. And the king sat at his ease in the shade +of that tree. And excited by the fragrance of the season and the charming +odours of the flowers around, and excited also by the delicious breeze, +the king could not keep his mind away from the thought of the beautiful +Girika. And beholding that a swift hawk was resting very near to him, the +king, acquainted with the subtle truths of Dharma and Artha, went unto +him and said, ‘Amiable one, carry thou this seed (semen) for my wife +Girika and give it unto her. Her season hath arrived.’ + +“The hawk, swift of speed, took it from the king and rapidly coursed +through the air. While thus passing, the hawk was seen by another of his +species. Thinking that the first one was carrying meat, the second one +flew at him. The two fought with each other in the sky with their beaks. +While they were fighting, the seed fell into the waters of the Yamuna. +And in those waters dwelt an Apsara of the higher rank, known by the name +of Adrika, transformed by a Brahmana’s curse into a fish. As soon as +Vasu’s seed fell into the water from the claws of the hawk, Adrika +rapidly approached and swallowed it at once. That fish was, some time +after, caught by the fishermen. And it was the tenth month of the fish’s +having swallowed the seed. From the stomach of that fish came out a male +and a female child of human form. The fishermen wondered much, and +wending unto king Uparichara (for they were his subjects) told him all. +They said, ‘O king, these two beings of human shape have been found in +the body of a fish!’ The male child amongst the two was taken by +Uparichara. That child afterwards became the virtuous and truthful +monarch Matsya. + +“After the birth of the twins, the Apsara herself became freed from her +curse. For she had been told before by the illustrious one (who had +cursed her) that she would, while living in her piscatorial form, give +birth to two children of human shape and then would be freed from the +curse. Then, according to these words, having given birth to the two +children, and been killed by the fishermen, she left her fish-form and +assumed her own celestial shape. The Apsara then rose up on the path +trodden by the Siddhas, the Rishis and the Charanas. + +“The fish-smelling daughter of the Apsara in her piscatorial form was +then given by the king unto the fishermen, saying, ‘Let this one be thy +daughter.’ That girl was known by the name of Satyavati. And gifted with +great beauty and possessed of every virtue, she of agreeable smiles, +owing to contact with fishermen, was for some time of the fishy smell. +Wishing to serve her (foster) father she plied a boat on the waters of +the Yamuna. + +“While engaged in this vocation, Satyavati was seen one day by the great +Rishi Parasara, in course of his wanderings. As she was gifted with great +beauty, an object of desire even with an anchorite, and of graceful +smiles, the wise sage, as soon as he beheld her, desired to have her. And +that bull amongst Munis addressed the daughter of Vasu of celestial +beauty and tapering thighs, saying, ‘Accept my embraces, O blessed one!’ +Satyavati replied, ‘O holy one, behold the Rishis standing on either bank +of the river. Seen by them, how can I grant thy wish?’ + +“Thus addressed by her, the ascetic thereupon created a fog (which +existed not before and) which enveloped the whole region in darkness. And +the maiden, beholding the fog that was created by the great Rishi +wondered much. And the helpless one became suffused with the blushes of +bashfulness. And she said, ‘O holy one, note that I am a maiden under the +control of my father. O sinless one, by accepting your embraces my +virginity will be sullied. O best of Brahmanas, my virginity being +sullied, how shall I, O Rishi, be able to return home? Indeed, I shall +not then be able to bear life. Reflecting upon all this, O illustrious +one, do that which should be done.’ That best of Rishis, gratified with +all she said, replied, “Thou shall remain a virgin even if thou grantest +my wish. And, O timid one, O beauteous lady, solicit the boon that thou +desirest. O thou of fair smiles, my grace hath never before proved +fruitless.’ Thus addressed, the maiden asked for the boon that her body +might emit a sweet scent (instead of the fish-odour that it had). And the +illustrious Rishi thereupon granted that wish of her heart. + +“Having obtained her boon, she became highly pleased, and her season +immediately came. And she accepted the embraces of that Rishi of +wonderful deeds. And she thenceforth became known among men by the name +of Gandhavati (the sweet-scented one). And men could perceive her scent +from the distance of a yojana. And for this she was known by another name +which was Yojanagandha (one who scatters her scent for a yojana all +around). And the illustrious Parasara, after this, went to his own asylum. + +“And Satyavati gratified with having obtained the excellent boon in +consequence of which she became sweet-scented and her virginity remained +unsullied conceived through Parasara’s embraces. And she brought forth +the very day, on an island in the Yamuna, the child begot upon her by +Parasara and gifted with great energy. And the child, with the permission +of his mother, set his mind on asceticism. And he went away saying, ‘As +soon as thou rememberest me when occasion comes, I shall appear unto +thee.’ + +“And it was thus that Vyasa was born of Satyavati through Parasara. And +because he was born in an island, he was called Dwaipayana (Dwaipa or +islandborn). And the learned Dwaipayana, beholding that virtue is +destined to become lame by one leg each yuga (she having four legs in +all) and that the period of life and the strength of men followed the +yugas, and moved by the desire of obtaining the favour of Brahman and the +Brahmanas, arranged the Vedas. And for this he came to be called Vyasa +(the arranger or compiler). The boon-giving great one then taught +Sumanta, Jaimini, Paila, his son Suka, and Vaisampayana, the Vedas having +the Mahabharata for their fifth. And the compilation of the Bharata was +published by him through them separately. + +“Then Bhishma, of great energy and fame and of immeasurable splendour, +and sprung from the component parts of the Vasus, was born in the womb of +Ganga through king Santanu. And there was a Rishi of the name of +Animandavya of great fame. And he was conversant with the interpretations +of the Vedas, was illustrious, gifted with great energy, and of great +reputation. And, accused of theft, though innocent, the old Rishi was +impaled. He thereupon summoned Dharma and told him these words, ‘In my +childhood I had pierced a little fly on a blade of grass, O Dharma! I +recollect that one sin: but I cannot call to mind any other. I have, +however, since practised penances a thousandfold. Hath not that one sin +been conquered by this my asceticism? And because the killing of a +Brahmana is more heinous than that of any other living thing, therefore, +hast thou, O Dharma, been sinful. Thou shalt, therefore, be born on earth +in the Sudra order.’ And for that curse Dharma was born a Sudra in the +form of the learned Vidura of pure body who was perfectly sinless. And +the Suta was born of Kunti in her maidenhood through Surya. And he came +out of his mother’s womb with a natural coat of mail and face brightened +by ear-rings. And Vishnu himself, of world-wide fame, and worshipped of +all the worlds, was born of Devaki through Vasudeva, for the benefit of +the three worlds. He is without birth and death, of radiant splendour, +the Creator of the universe and the Lord of all! Indeed, he who is the +invisible cause of all, who knoweth no deterioration, who is the +all-pervading soul, the centre round which everything moveth, the +substance in which the three attributes of Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas +co-inhere, the universal soul, the immutable, the material out of which +hath been created this universe, the Creator himself, the controlling +lord, the invisible dweller in every object, progenitor of this universe +of five elements, who is united with the six high attributes, is the +Pranava or Om of the Vedas, is infinite, incapable of being moved by any +force save his own will, illustrious, the embodiment of the mode of life +called Sannyasa, who floated on the waters before the creation, who is +the source whence hath sprung this mighty frame, who is the great +combiner, the uncreate, the invisible essence of all, the great +immutable, bereft of those attributes that are knowable by the senses, +who is the universe itself, without beginning, birth, and decay,--is +possessed of infinite wealth, that Grandsire of all creatures, became +incarnate in the race of the Andhaka-Vrishnis for the increase of virtue. + +“And Satyaki and Kritavarma, conversant with (the use of) weapons +possessed of mighty energy, well-versed in all branches of knowledge, and +obedient to Narayana in everything and competent in the use of weapons, +had their births from Satyaka and Hridika. And the seed of the great +Rishi Bharadwaja of severe penances, kept in a pot, began to develop. And +from that seed came Drona (the pot-born). And from the seed of Gautama, +fallen upon a clump of reeds, were born two that were twins, the mother +of Aswatthaman (called Kripi), and Kripa of great strength. Then was born +Dhrishtadyumna, of the splendour of Agni himself, from the sacrificial +fire. And the mighty hero was born with bow in hand for the destruction +of Drona. And from the sacrificial altar was born Krishna (Draupadi) +resplendent and handsome, of bright features and excellent beauty. Then +was born the disciple of Prahlada, viz., Nagnajit, and also Suvala. And +from Suvala was born a son, Sakuni, who from the curse of the gods became +the slayer of creatures and the foe of virtue. And unto him was also born +a daughter (Gandhari), the mother of Duryodhana. And both were +well-versed in the arts of acquiring worldly profits. And from Krishna +was born, in the soil of Vichitravirya, Dhritarashtra, the lord of men, +and Pandu of great strength. And from Dwaipayana also born, in the Sudra +caste, the wise and intelligent Vidura, conversant with both religion and +profit, and free from all sins. And unto Pandu by his two wives were born +five sons like the celestials. The eldest of them was Yudhishthira. And +Yudhishthira was born (of the seed) of Dharma (Yama, the god of justice); +and Bhima of the wolf’s stomach was born of Marut (the god of wind), and +Dhananjaya, blessed with good fortune and the first of all wielders of +weapons, was born of Indra; and Nakula and Sahadeva, of handsome features +and ever engaged in the service of their superiors, were born of the twin +Aswins. And unto the wise Dhritarashtra were born a hundred sons, viz., +Duryodhana and others, and another, named Yuyutsu, who was born of a +vaisya woman. And amongst those hundred and one, eleven, viz., Duhsasana, +Duhsaha, Durmarshana, Vikarna, Chitrasena, Vivinsati, Jaya, Satyavrata, +Purumitra, and Yuyutsu by a Vaisya wife, were all Maharathas (great +car-warriors). And Abhimanyu was born of Subhadra, the sister of Vasudeva +through Arjuna, and was, therefore, the grandson of the illustrious +Pandu. And unto the five Pandavas were born five sons by (their common +wife) Panchali. And these princes were all very handsome and conversant +with all branches of knowledge. From Yudhishthira was born Pritivindhya; +from Vrikodara, Sutasoma; from Arjuna, Srutakirti; from Nakula, Satanika; +and from Sahadeva, Srutasena of great prowess; and Bhima, in the forest +begot on Hidimva a son named Ghatotkacha. And from Drupada was born a +daughter Sikhandin who was afterwards transformed into a male child. +Sikhandini was so transformed into a male by Yaksha named Sthuna from the +desire of doing her good. + +“In that great battle of the Kurus came hundreds of thousands of monarchs +for fighting against one another. The names of the innumerable host I am +unable to recount even in ten thousand years. I have named, however, the +principal ones who have been mentioned in this history.’” + + + + SECTION LXIV + +(Adivansavatarana Parva continued) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O Brahmana, those thou hast named and those thou hast +not named, I wish to hear of them in detail, as also of other kings by +thousands. And, O thou of great good fortune, it behoveth thee to tell me +in full the object for which those Maharathas, equal unto the celestials +themselves, were born on earth.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘It hath been heard by us, O monarch, that what thou +askest is a mystery even to the gods. I shall, however, speak of it unto +thee, after bowing down (to the self-born). The son of Jamadagni +(Parasurama), after twenty-one times making the earth bereft of +Kshatriyas wended to that best of mountains Mahendra and there began his +ascetic penances. And at that time when the earth was bereft of +Kshatriyas, the Kshatriya ladies, desirous of offspring, used to come, O +monarch, to the Brahmanas and Brahmanas of rigid vows had connection with +them during the womanly season alone, but never, O king, lustfully and +out of season. And Kshatriya ladies by thousands conceived from such +connection with Brahmanas. Then, O monarch, were born many Kshatriyas of +greater energy, boys and girls, so that the Kshatriya race, might thrive. +And thus sprang the Kshatriya race from Kshatriya ladies by Brahmanas of +ascetic penances. And the new generation, blessed with long life, began +to thrive in virtue. And thus were the four orders having Brahmanas at +their head re-established. And every man at that time went in unto his +wife during her season and never from lust and out of season. And, O bull +of the Bharata race, in the same way, other creatures also, even those +born in the race of birds went in unto their wives during the season +alone. And, O protector of the earth, hundreds of thousands of creatures +were born, and all were virtuous and began to multiply in virtue, all +being free from sorrow and disease. And, O thou of the elephant’s tread, +this wide earth having the ocean for her boundaries, with her mountains +and woods and towns, was once more governed by the Kshatriyas. And when +the earth began to be again governed virtuously by the Kshatriyas, the +other orders having Brahmanas for their first were filled with great joy. +And the kings giving up all vices born of lust and anger and justly +awarding punishments to those that deserved them protected the earth. And +he of a hundred sacrifices, possessed also of a thousand eyes, beholding +that the Kshatriya monarchs ruled so virtuously, poured down vivifying +showers at proper times and places and blessed all creatures. Then, O +king, no one of immature years died, and none knew a woman before +attaining to age. And thus, O bull of the Bharata race, the earth, to the +very coasts of the ocean, became filled with men that were all +long-lived. The Kshatriyas performed great sacrifices bestowing much +wealth. And the Brahmanas also all studied the Vedas with their branches +and the Upanishads. And, O king, no Brahmana in those days ever sold the +Vedas (i.e., taught for money) or ever read aloud the Vedas in the +presence of a Sudra. The Vaisyas, with the help of bullocks, caused the +earth to be tilled. And they never yoked the cattle themselves. And they +fed with care all cattle that were lean. And men never milked kine as +long as the calves drank only the milk of their dams (without having +taken to grass or any other food). And no merchant in those days ever +sold his articles by false scales. And, O tiger among men, all persons, +holding to the ways of virtue, did everything with eyes set upon virtue. +And, O monarch, all the orders were mindful of their own respective +duties. Thus, O tiger among men, virtue in those days never sustained any +diminution. And, O bull of the Bharata race, both kine and women gave +birth to their offspring at the proper time. And trees bore flowers and +fruit duly according to the seasons. And thus, O king, the krita age +having then duly set in, the whole earth was filled with numerous +creatures. + +“And, O bull of the Bharata race, when such was the blessed state of the +terrestrial world, the Asuras, O lord of men, began to be born in kingly +lines. And the sons of Diti (Daityas) being repeatedly defeated in war by +the sons of Aditi (celestials) and deprived also of sovereignty and +heaven, began to be incarnated on the earth. And, O king, the Asuras +being possessed of great powers, and desirous of sovereignty began to be +born on earth amongst various creatures, such as kine, horses, asses, +camels, buffaloes, among creatures such as Rakshasas and others, and +among elephants and deer. And, O protector of the earth, owing to those +already born and to those that were being born, the earth became +incapable of supporting herself. And amongst the sons of Diti and of +Danu, cast out of heaven, some were born on the earth as kings of great +pride and insolence. Possessed of great energy, they covered the earth in +various shapes. Capable of oppressing all foes, they filled the earth +having the ocean for its boundaries. And by their strength they began to +oppress Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas and Sudras and all other +creatures also. Terrifying and killing all creatures, they traversed the +earth, O king, in bands of hundreds and thousands. Devoid of truth and +virtue, proud of their strength, and intoxicated with (the wine of) +insolence, they even insulted the great Rishis in their hermitages. + +“And the earth, thus oppressed by the mighty Asuras endued with great +strength and energy and possessed of abundant means, began to think of +waiting on Brahman. The united strength of the creatures (such as Sesha, +the Tortoise, and the huge Elephant), and of many Seshas too, became +capable of supporting the earth with her mountains, burdened as she was +with the weight of the Danavas. And then, O king, the earth, oppressed +with weight and afflicted with fear, sought the protection of the +Grandsire of all creatures. And she beheld the divine Brahman--the +Creator of the worlds who knoweth no deterioration--surrounded by the +gods, Brahmanas, and great Rishis, of exceeding good fortune, and adored +by delighted Gandharvas and Apsaras always engaged in the service of the +celestials. And the Earth, desirous of protection, then represented +everything to him, in the presence, O Bharata, of all the Regents of the +worlds. But, O king, the Earth’s object had been known beforehand to the +Omniscient, Self-create, and Supreme Lord. And, O Bharata, Creator as he +is of the universe, why should he not know fully what is in the minds of +his creatures including the very gods and the Asuras? O king, the Lord of +the Earth, the Creator of all creatures, also called Isa, Sambhu, +Prajapati, then spake unto her. And Brahman said, ‘O holder of wealth, +for the accomplishment of the object for which thou hast approached me, I +shall appoint all the dwellers in the heavens.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having said so unto the Earth, O king, the +divine Brahman bade her farewell. And the Creator then commanded all the +gods saying, ‘To ease the Earth of her burden, go ye and have your births +in her according to your respective parts and seek ye strife (with the +Asuras already born there)’. And the Creator of all, summoning also all +the tribes of the Gandharvas and the Apsaras, spake unto them these words +of deep import, ‘Go ye and be born amongst men according to your +respective parts in forms that ye like.’ + +“And all the gods with Indra, on hearing these words of the Lord of the +celestials--words that were true, desirable under the circumstances, and +fraught with benefit,--accepted them. And they all having resolved to +come down on earth in their respected parts, then went to Narayana, the +slayer of all foes, at Vaikunth--the one who has the discus and the mace +in his hands, who is clad in purple, who is of great splendour, who hath +the lotus on his navel, who is the slayer of the foes of the gods, who is +of eyes looking down upon his wide chest (in yoga attitude), who is the +lord of the Prajapati himself, the sovereign of all the gods, of mighty +strength, who hath the mark of the auspicious whirl on his breast, who is +the mover of every one’s faculties and who is adored by all the gods. +Him, Indra the most exalted of persons, addressed, saying, “Be +incarnate.” And Hari replied,--‘Let it be.’” + + + +SECTION LXV + +(Sambhava Parva) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Indra had a consultation with Narayana about +the latter’s descent on the earth from heaven with all the gods according +to their respective parts. And, having commanded all the dwellers in +heaven, Indra returned from the abode of Narayana. And the dwellers in +heaven gradually became incarnate on earth for the destruction of the +Asuras and for the welfare of the three worlds. And then, O tiger among +kings, the celestials had their births, according as they pleased, in the +races of Brahmarshis and royal sages. And they slew the Danavas, +Rakshasas, Gandharvas and Snakes, other man-eaters, and many other +creatures. And, O bull in the Bharata race, the Danavas, Rakshasas and +Gandharvas and Snakes, could not slay the incarnate celestials even in +their infancy, so strong they were.’ + +“Janamejaya said, ‘I desire to hear from the beginning of the births of +the gods, the Danavas, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, men, Yakshas and +Rakshasas. Therefore, it behoveth thee to tell me about the births of all +creatures.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Indeed, I shall, having bowed down to the +Self-create, tell thee in detail the origin of the celestials and other +creatures. It is known that Brahman hath six spiritual sons, viz., +Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu. And Marichi’s son is +Kasyapa, and from Kasyapa have sprung these creatures. Unto Daksha (one +of the Prajapatis) were born thirteen daughters of great good fortune. +The daughters of Daksha are, O tiger among men and prince of the Bharata +race, Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kala, Danayu, Sinhika, Krodha, Pradha, Viswa, +Vinata, Kapila, Muni, and Kadru. The sons and grandsons of these, gifted +with great energy, are countless. From Aditi have sprung the twelve +Adityas who are the lords of the universe. And, O Bharata, as they are +according to their names, I shall recount them to thee. They are Dhatri, +Mitra, Aryaman, Sakra, Varuna, Ansa, Vaga, Vivaswat, Usha, Savitri, +Tvashtri, and Vishnu. The youngest, however, is superior to them all in +merit. Diti had one son called Hiranyakasipu. And the illustrious +Hiranyakasipu had five sons, all famous throughout the world. The eldest +of them all was Prahlada, the next was Sahradha; the third was Anuhrada; +and after him were Sivi and Vashkala. And, O Bharata, it is known +everywhere that Prahlada had three sons. They were Virochana, Kumbha, and +Nikumbha. And unto Virochana was born a son, Vali, of great prowess. And +the son of Vali is known to be the great Asura, Vana. And blessed with +good fortune, Vana was a follower of Rudra, and was known also by the +name of Mahakala. And Danu had forty sons, O Bharata! The eldest of them +all was Viprachitti of great fame Samvara, and Namuchi and Pauloman; +Asiloman, and Kesi and Durjaya; Ayahsiras, Aswasiras, and the powerful +Aswasanku; also Gaganamardhan, and Vegavat, and he called Ketumat; +Swarbhanu, Aswa, Aswapati, Vrishaparvan, and then Ajaka; and Aswagriva, +and Sukshama, and Tuhunda of great strength, Ekapada, and Ekachakra, +Virupaksha, Mahodara, and Nichandra, and Nikumbha, Kupata, and then +Kapata; Sarabha, and Sulabha, Surya, and then Chandramas; these in the +race of Danu are stated to be well-known. The Surya and Chandramas (the +Sun and the Moon) of the celestials are other persons, and not the sons +of Danu as mentioned above. The following ten, gifted with great strength +and vigour, were also, O king, born in the race of Danu;--Ekaksha, +Amritapa of heroic courage, Pralamva and Naraka, Vatrapi, Satrutapana, +and Satha, the great Asura; Gavishtha, and Vanayu, and the Danava called +Dirghajiva. And, O Bharata, the sons and the grandsons of these were +known to be countless. And Sinhika gave birth to Rahu, the persecutor of +the Sun and the Moon, and to three others, Suchandra, Chandrahantri, and +Chandrapramardana. And the countless progeny of Krura (krodha) were as +crooked and wicked as herself. And the tribe was wrathful, of crooked +deeds, and persecutors of their foes. And Danayu also had four sons who +were bulls among the Asuras. They were Vikshara, Vala, Vira, and Vritra +the great Asura. And the sons of Kala were all like Yama himself and +smiter of all foes. And they were of great energy, and oppressors of all +foes. And the sons of Kala were Vinasana and Krodha, and then +Krodhahantri, and Krodhasatru. And there were many others among the sons +of Kala. And Sukra, the son of a Rishi, was the chief priest of the +Asuras. And the celebrated Sukra had four sons who were priests of the +Asuras. And they were Tashtadhara and Atri, and two others of fierce +deeds. They were like the Sun himself in energy, and set their hearts on +acquiring the regions of Brahman. + +“Thus hath been recited by me, as heard in the Purana, of progeny of the +gods and the Asuras, both of great strength and energy. I am incapable, O +king, of counting the descendants of these, countless as they are, are +not much known to fame. + +“And the sons of Vinata were Tarkhya and Arishtanemi, and Garuda and +Aruna, and Aruni and Varuni. And Sesha or Ananta, Vasuki, Takshaka, +Kumara, and Kulika are known to be the sons of Kadru; and Bhimasena, +Ugrasena, Suparna, Varuna, Gopati, and Dhritarashtra, and Suryavarchas +the seventh, Satyavachas, Arkaparna, Prayuta, Bhima, and Chitraratha +known to fame, of great learning, and a controller of his passions, and +then Kalisiras, and, O king, Parjanya, the fourteenth in the list, Kali, +the fifteenth, and Narada, the sixteenth--these Devas and Gandharvas are +known to be the sons of Muni (Daksha’s daughter as mentioned before). I +shall recount many others, O Bharata! Anavadya Manu, Vansa, Asura, +Marganapria, Anupa, Subhaga, Vasi, were the daughters brought forth by +Pradha, Siddha, and Purna, and Varhin, and Purnayus of great fame, +Brahmacharin, Ratiguna, and Suparna who was the seventh; Viswavasu, +Bhanu, and Suchandra who was the tenth, were also the sons of Pradha. All +these were celestial Gandharvas. And it is also known that this Pradha of +great fortune, through the celestial Rishi (Kasyapa, her husband), +brought forth the sacred of the Apsaras, Alamvusha, Misrakesi, +Vidyutparna, Tilottama, Aruna, Rakshita, Rambha, Manorama, Kesini, +Suvahu, Surata, Suraja, and Supria were the daughters, and Ativahu and +the celebrated Haha and Huhu, and Tumvuru were the sons--the best of +Gandharvas--of Pradha and Amrita. The Brahmanas, kine, Gandharvas, and +Apsaras, were born of Kapila as stated in the Purana. + +“Thus hath been recited to thee by me the birth of all creatures duly--of +Gandharvas and Apsaras, of Snakes, Suparnas, Rudras, and Maruts; of kine +and of Brahmanas blessed with great good fortune, and of sacred deeds. +And this account (if read) extendeth the span of life, is sacred, worthy +of all praise, and giveth pleasure to the ear. It should be always heard +and recited to others, in a proper frame of mind. + +“He who duly readeth this account of the birth of all high-souled +creatures in the presence of the gods and Brahmanas, obtaineth large +progeny, good fortune, and fame, and attaineth also to excellent worlds +hereafter.’” + + + +SECTION LXVI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘It is known that the spiritual sons of Brahman were +the six great Rishis (already mentioned). There was another of the name +of Sthanu. And the sons of Sthanu, gifted with great energy, were, it is +known, eleven. They were Mrigavayadha, Sarpa, Niriti of great fame: +Ajaikapat, Ahivradhna, and Pinaki, the oppressor of foes; Dahana and +Iswara, and Kapali of great splendour; and Sthanu, and the illustrious +Bharga. These are called the eleven Rudras. It hath been already said, +that Marichi, Angiras. Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, and Kratu--these six great +Rishis of great energy--are the sons of Brahman. It is well-known in the +world that Angiras’s sons are three,--Vrihaspati, Utathya, and Samvarta, +all of rigid vows. And, O king, it is said that the sons of Atri are +numerous. And, being great Rishis, they are all conversant with the +Vedas, crowned with ascetic success, and of souls in perfect peace. And, +O tiger among kings, the sons of Pulastya of great wisdom are Rakshasas, +Monkeys, Kinnaras (half-men and half-horses), and Yakshas. And, O king, +the son of Pulaha were, it is said, the Salabhas (the winged insects), +the lions, the Kimpurushas (half-lions and half-men), the tigers, bears, +and wolves. And the sons of Kratu, sacred as sacrifices, are the +companions of Surya, (the Valikhilyas), known in three worlds and devoted +to truth and vows. And, O protector of the Earth, the illustrious Rishi +Daksha, of soul in complete peace, and of great asceticism, sprung from +the right toe of Brahman. And from the left toe of Brahman sprang the +wife of the high-souled Daksha. And the Muni begat upon her fifty +daughters; and all those daughters were of faultless features and limbs +and of eyes like lotus-petals. And the lord Daksha, not having any sons, +made those daughters his Putrikas (so that their sons might belong both +to himself and to their husbands). And Daksha bestowed, according to the +sacred ordinance, ten of his daughters on Dharma, twenty-seven on Chandra +(the Moon), and thirteen on Kasyapa. Listen as I recount the wives of +Dharma according to their names. They are ten in all--Kirti, Lakshmi, +Dhriti, Medha, Pushti, Sraddha, Kria, Buddhi, Lajja, and Mali. These are +the wives of Dharma as appointed by the Self-create. It is known also +throughout the world that the wives of Soma (Moon) are twenty-seven. And +the wives of Soma, all of sacred vows, are employed in indicating time; +and they are the Nakshatras and the Yoginis and they became so for +assisting the courses of the worlds. + +“And Brahman had another son named Manu. And Manu had a son of the name +of Prajapati. And the sons of Prajapati were eight and were called Vasus +whom I shall name in detail. They were Dhara, Dhruva, Soma, Aha, Anila, +Anala, Pratyusha, and Prabhasa. These eight are known as the Vasus. Of +these, Dhara and the truth-knowing Dhruva were born of Dhumra; Chandramas +(Soma) and Swasana (Anila) were born of the intelligent Swasa; Aha was +the son of Rata: and Hutasana (Anala) of Sandilya; and Pratyusha and +Prabhasa were the sons of Prabhata. And Dhara had two sons, Dravina and +Huta-havya-vaha. And the son of Dhruva is the illustrious Kala (Time), +the destroyer of the worlds. And Soma’s son is the resplendent Varchas. +And Varchas begot upon his wife Manohara three sons--Sisira, and Ramana. +And the son of Aha were Jyotih, Sama, Santa, and also Muni. And the son +of Agni is the handsome Kumara born in a forest of reeds. And, he is also +called Kartikeya because he was reared by Krittika and others. And, after +Kartikeya, there were born his three brothers Sakha, Visakha, Naigameya. +And the wife of Anila is Siva, and Siva’s son were Manojava and +Avijnataagati. These two were the sons of Anila. The son of Pratyusha, +you must know, is the Rishi named Devala; and Devala had two sons who +were both exceedingly forgiving and of great mental power. And the sister +of Vrihaspati, the first of women, uttering the sacred truth, engaged in +ascetic penances, roamed over the whole earth; and she became the wife of +Prabhasa, the eighth Vasu. And she brought forth the illustrious +Viswakarman, the founder of all arts. And he was the originator of a +thousand arts, the engineer of the immortals, the maker of all kinds of +ornaments, and the first of artists. And he it was who constructed the +celestial cars of the gods, and mankind are enabled to live in +consequence of the inventions of that illustrious one. And he is +worshipped, for that reason, by men. And he is eternal and immutable, +this Viswakarman. + +“And the illustrious Dharma, the dispenser of all happiness, assuming a +human countenance, came out through the right breast of Brahman. And +Ahasta (Dharma) hath three excellent sons capable of charming every +creature. And they are Sama, Kama, Harsha (Peace, Desire, and Joy). And +by their energy they are supporting the worlds. And the wife of Kama is +Rati, of Sama is Prapti; and the wife of Harsha is Nanda. And upon them, +indeed, are the worlds made to depend. + +“And the son of Marichi is Kasyapa. And Kasyapa’s offspring are the gods +and the Asuras. And, therefore, is Kasyapa, the Father of the worlds. And +Tvashtri, of the form of Vadava (a mare), became the wife of Savitri. And +she gave birth, in the skies, to two greatly fortunate twins, the Aswins. +And, O king, the sons of Aditi are twelve with Indra heading them all. +And the youngest of them all was Vishnu upon whom the worlds depend. + +“These are the thirty-three gods (the eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras, the +twelve Adityas, Prajapati, and Vashatkara). I shall now recount their +progeny according to their Pakshas, Kulas, and Ganas. The Rudras, the +Saddhyas, the Maruts, the Vasus, the Bhargavas, and the Viswedevas are +each reckoned as a Paksha. Garuda the son of Vinata and the mighty Aruna +also, and the illustrious Vrihaspati are reckoned among the Adityas. The +twin Aswins, all annual plants, and all inferior animals, are reckoned +among the Guhyakas. + +“These are the Ganas of the gods recited to thee, O king! This recitation +washes men of all sins. + +“The illustrious Bhrigu came out, ripping open the breast of Brahman. The +learned Sukra is Bhrigu’s son. And the learned Sukra becoming a planet +and engaged according to the command of the Self-existent in pouring and +withholding rain, and in dispensing and remitting calamities, traverses, +for sustaining the lives of all the creatures in the three worlds, +through the skies. And the learned Sukra, of great intelligence and +wisdom, of rigid vows, leading the life of a Brahmacharin, divided +himself in twain by power of asceticism, and became the spiritual guide +of both the Daityas and the gods. And after Sukra was thus employed by +Brahman in seeking the welfare (of the gods and the Asuras), Bhrigu begot +another excellent son. This was Chyavana who was like the blazing sun, of +virtuous soul, and of great fame. And he came out of his mother’s womb in +anger and became the cause of his mother’s release, O king (from the +hands of the Rakshasas). And Arushi, the daughter of Manu, became the +wife of the wise Chyavana. And, on her was begotten Aurva of great +reputation. And he came out, ripping open the thigh of Arushi. And Aurva +begot Richika. And Richika even in his boyhood became possessed of great +power and energy, and of every virtue. And Richika begot Jamadagni. And +the high-souled Jamadagni had four sons. And the youngest of them all was +Rama (Parasurama). And Rama was superior to all his brothers in the +possession of good qualities. And he was skilful in all weapons, and +became the slayer of the Kshatriyas. And he had his passions under +complete control. And Aurva had a hundred sons with Jamadagni the eldest. +And these hundred sons had offspring by thousands spread over this earth. + +“And Brahman had two other sons, viz., Dhatri and Vidhatri who stayed +with Manu. Their sister is the auspicious Lakshmi having her abode amid +lotuses. And the spiritual sons of Lakshmi are the sky-ranging horses. +And the daughter born of Sukra, named Divi, became the eldest wife of +Varuna. Of her were born a son named Vala and a daughter named Sura +(wine), to the joy of the gods. And Adharma (Sin) was born when creatures +(from want of food) began to devour one another. And Adharma always +destroys every creature. And Adharma hath Niriti for his wife, whence the +Rakshasas who are called Nairitas (offspring of Niriti). And she hath +also three other cruel sons always engaged in sinful deeds. They are +Bhaya (fear), Mahabhaya (terror), and Mrityu (Death) who is always +engaged in slaying every created thing. And, as he is all-destroying, he +hath no wife, and no son. And Tamra brought forth five daughters known +throughout the worlds. They are Kaki (crow), Syeni (hawk), Phasi (hen), +Dhritarashtri (goose), and Suki (parrot). And Kaki brought forth the +crows; Syeni, the hawks, the cocks and vultures, Dhritarashtri, all ducks +and swans; and she also brought forth all Chakravakas; and the fair Suki, +of amiable qualities, and possessing all auspicious signs brought forth +all the parrots. And Krodha gave birth to nine daughters, all of wrathful +disposition. And their names were Mrigi, Mrigamanda, Hari, Bhadramana, +Matangi, Sarduli, Sweta, Surabhi, and the agreeable Surasa blessed with +every virtue. And, O foremost of men, the offspring of Mrigi are all +animals of the deer species. And the offspring of Mrigamanda are all +animals of the bear species and those called Srimara (sweet-footed). And +Bhadramana begot the celestial elephants, Airavata. And the offspring of +Hari are all animals of the simian species endued with great activity, so +also all the horses. And those animals also, that are called Go-langula +(the cow-tailed), are said to be the offspring of Hari. And Sarduli begot +lions and tigers in numbers, and also leopards and all other strong +animals. And, O king, the offspring of Matangi are all the elephants. And +Sweta begat the large elephant known by the name of Sweta, endued with +great speed. And, O king, Surabhi gave birth to two daughters, the +amiable Rohini and the far-famed Gandharvi. And, O Bharata, she had also +two other daughters named Vimala and Anala. From Rohini have sprung all +kine, and from Gandharvi all animals of the horse species. And Anala +begat the seven kinds of trees yielding pulpy fruits. (They are the date, +the palm, the hintala, the tali, the little date, the nut, and the +cocoanut.) And she had also another daughter called Suki (the mother of +the parrot species). And Surasa bore a son called Kanka (a species of +long-feathered birds). And Syeni, the wife of Aruna, gave birth to two +sons of great energy and strength, named Sampati and the mighty Jatayu. +Surasa also bore the Nagas, and Kadru, the Punnagas (snakes). And Vinata +had two sons Garuda and Aruna, known far and wide. And, O king of men, O +foremost of intelligent persons, thus hath the genealogy of all the +principal creatures been fully described by me. By listening to this, a +man is fully cleansed of all his sins, and acquireth great knowledge, and +finally attaineth to the first of states in after-life!’” + + + +SECTION LXVII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O worshipful one, I wish to hear from thee in detail +about the birth, among men, of the gods, the Danavas, the Gandharvas, the +Rakshasas, the lions, the tigers, and the other animals, the snakes, the +birds, and in fact, of all creatures. I wish also to hear about the acts +and achievements of those, in due order, after they became incarnate in +human forms.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O king of men, I shall first tell thee all about +those celestials and Danavas that were born among men--The first of +Danavas, who was known by the name of Viprachitti, became that bull among +men, noted as Jarasandha. And, O king, that son of Diti, who was known as +Hiranyakasipu, was known in this world among men as the powerful +Sisupala. He who had been known as Samhlada, the younger brother of +Prahlada, became among men the famous Salya, that bull amongst Valhikas. +The spirited Anuhlada who had been the youngest became noted in the world +as Dhrishtaketu. And, O king, that son of Diti who had been known as Sivi +became on earth the famous monarch Druma. And he who was known as the +great Asura Vashkala became on earth the great Bhagadatta. The five great +Asuras gifted with great energy, Ayahsira, Aswasira, the spirited +Aysanku, Gaganamurdhan, and Vegavat, were all born in the royal line of +Kekaya and all became great monarchs. That other Asura of mighty energy +who was known by the name of Ketumat became on earth the monarch +Amitaujas of terrible deeds. That great Asura who was known as Swarbhanu +became on earth the monarch Ugrasena of fierce deeds. That great Asura +who was known as Aswa became on earth the monarch Asoka of exceeding +energy and invincible in battle. And, O king, the younger brother of Aswa +who was known as Aswapati, a son of Diti, became on earth the mighty +monarch Hardikya. The great and fortunate Asura who was known as +Vrishaparvan became noted on earth as king Dirghaprajna. And, O king, the +younger brother of Vrishaparvan who was known by the name of Ajaka became +noted on earth as king Salwa. The powerful and mighty Asura who was known +as Aswagriva became noted on earth as king Rochamana. And, O king, the +Asura who was known as Sukshma, endued with great intelligence and whose +achievements also were great, became on earth the famous king +Vrihadratha. And that first of Asuras who was known by the name of +Tuhunda, became noted on earth as the monarch, Senavindu. That Asura of +great strength who was known as Ishupa became the monarch Nagnajita of +famous prowess. The great Asura who was known as Ekachakra became noted +on earth as Pritivindhya. The great Asura Virupaksha capable of +displaying various modes of fight became noted on earth as king +Chitravarman. The first of Danavas, the heroic Hara, who humbled the +pride of all foes became on earth the famous and fortunate Suvahu. The +Asura Suhtra of great energy and the destroyer of foemen, became noted on +earth as the fortunate monarch, Munjakesa. That Asura of great +intelligence called Nikumbha, who was never vanquished in battle was born +on earth as king Devadhipa, the first among monarchs. That great Asura +known amongst the sons of Diti by the name of Sarabha became on earth the +royal sage called Paurava. And, O king, the great Asura of exceeding +energy, the fortunate Kupatha, was born on earth as the famous monarch +Suparswa. The great Asura, O king, who was called Kratha, was born on +earth as the royal sage Parvateya of form resplendent like a golden +mountain. He amongst the Asura who was known as Salabha the second, +became on earth the monarch Prahlada in the country of the Valhikas. The +foremost, among the sons of Diti known by the name of Chandra and +handsome as the lord of the stars himself, became on earth noted as +Chandravarman, the king of the Kamvojas. That bull amongst the Danavas +who was known by the name of Arka became on earth, O king, the royal sage +Rishika. That best of Asuras who was known as Mritapa became on earth, O +best of kings, the monarch, Pascimanupaka. That great Asura of surpassing +energy known as Garishtha became noted on earth as king Drumasena. The +great Asura who was known as Mayura became noted on earth as the monarch +Viswa. He who was the younger brother of Mayura and called Suparna became +noted on earth as the monarch, Kalakirti. The mighty Asura who was known +as Chandrahantri became on earth the royal sage Sunaka. The great Asura +who was called Chandravinasana became noted on earth as the monarch, +Janaki. That bull amongst the Danavas, O prince of the Kuru race, who was +called Dhirghajihva, became noted on earth as Kasiraja. The Graha who was +brought forth by Sinhika and who persecuted the Sun and the Moon became +noted on earth as the monarch Kratha. The eldest of the four sons of +Danayu, who was known by the name of Vikshara, became known on earth the +spirited monarch, Vasumitra. The second brother of Vikshara, the great +Asura, was born on earth as the king of the country, called Pandya. That +best of Asuras who was known by the name of Valina became on earth the +monarch Paundramatsyaka. And, O king, that great Asura who was known as +Vritra became on earth the royal sage known by the name of Manimat. That +Asura who was the younger brother of Vritra and known as Krodhahantri +became noted on earth as king Danda. That other Asura who was known by +the name Krodhavardhana became noted on earth as the monarch, Dandadhara. +The eight sons of the Kaleyas that were born on earth all became great +kings endued with the prowess of tigers. The eldest of them all became +king Jayatsena in Magadha. The second of them, in prowess, like Indra, +became noted on earth as Aparajita. The third of them, endued with great +energy and power of producing deception, was born on earth as the king of +the Nishadas gifted with great prowess. That other amongst them who was +known as the fourth was noted on earth as Srenimat, that best of royal +sages. That great Asura amongst them who was the fifth, became noted on +earth as king Mahanjas, the oppressor of enemies. That great Asura +possessing great intelligence who was the sixth of them became noted on +earth as Abhiru, that best of royal sages. The seventh of them became +known throughout earth, from the centre to the sea, as king Samudrasena +well acquainted with the truths of the scriptures. The eighth of the +Kaleyas known as Vrihat became on earth a virtuous king ever engaged in +the good of all creatures. The mighty Danava known by the name of Kukshi +became on earth as Parvatiya from his brightness as of a golden mountain. +The mighty Asura Krathana gifted with great energy became noted on earth +as the monarch Suryaksha. The great Asura of handsome features known by +the name of Surya, became on earth the monarch of the Valhikas by name +Darada, that foremost of all kings. And, O king, from the tribe of Asuras +called Krodhavasa, of whom I have already spoken to thee, were born many +heroic kings on earth. Madraka, and Karnaveshta, Siddhartha, and also +Kitaka; Suvira, and Suvahu, and Mahavira, and also Valhika, Kratha, +Vichitra, Suratha, and the handsome king Nila; and Chiravasa, and +Bhumipala; and Dantavakra, and he who was called Durjaya; that tiger +amongst kings named Rukmi; and king Janamejaya, Ashada, and Vayuvega, and +also Bhuritejas; Ekalavya, and Sumitra, Vatadhana, and also Gomukha; the +tribe of kings called the Karushakas, and also Khemadhurti; Srutayu, and +Udvaha, and also Vrihatsena; Kshema, Ugratirtha, the king of the +Kalingas; and Matimat, and he was known as king Iswara; these first of +kings were all born of the Asura class called Krodhavasa. + +“There was also born on earth a mighty Asura known amongst the Danavas by +the name of Kalanemi, endued with great strength, of grand achievements, +and blessed with a large share of prosperity. He became the mighty son of +Ugrasena and was known on earth by the name of Kansa. And he who was +known among the Asuras by the name of Devaka and was besides in splendour +like unto Indra himself, was born on earth as the foremost king of the +Gandharvas. And, O monarch, know thou that Drona, the son of Bharadwaja, +not born of any woman, sprung from a portion of the celestial Rishi +Vrihaspati of grand achievements. And he was the prince of all bowmen, +conversant with all weapons, of mighty achievements, of great energy. +Thou shouldst know he was also well-acquainted with the Vedas and the +science of arms. And he was of wonderful deeds and the pride of his race. +And, O king, his son the heroic Aswatthaman, of eyes like the +lotus-petals, gifted with surpassing energy, and the terror of all foes, +the great oppressor of all enemies, was born on earth, of the united +portions of Mahadeva, Yama, Kama, and Krodha. And from the curse of +Vasishtha and the command also of Indra, the eight Vasus were born of +Ganga by her husband Santanu. The youngest of them was Bhishma, the +dispeller of the fears of the Kurus, gifted with great intelligence, +conversant with the Vedas, the first speakers, and the thinner of the +enemy’s ranks. And possessed of mighty energy and the first of all +persons acquainted with weapons, he encountered the illustrious Rama +himself, the son of Jamadagni of the Bhrigu race. And, O king, that +Brahman sage who, on earth, was known by the name of Kripa and was the +embodiment of all manliness was born of the tribe of the Rudras. And the +mighty chariot-fighter and king who on earth was known by the name of +Sakuni, that crusher of foes, thou shouldst know, O king, was Dwapara +himself (the third yuga). And he who was Satyaki of sure aim, that +upholder of the pride of Vrishni race, that oppressor of foes, begotten +of the portion of gods called the Maruts. And that royal sage Drupada who +on earth was a monarch, the first among all persons bearing arms, was +also born of the same tribe of the celestials. And, O king, thou shouldst +also know that Kritavarman, that prince among men, of deeds unsurpassed +by any one, and the foremost of all bulls amongst Kshatriyas, was born of +the portion of the same celestials. And that royal sage also, Virata by +name, the scorcher of the kingdoms of others, and the great oppressor of +all foes, was born of the portion of the same gods. That son of Arishta +who was known by the name of Hansa, was born in the Kuru race and became +the monarch of the Gandharvas. He who was known as Dhritarashtra born of +the seed of Krishna-Dwaipayana, and gifted with long arms and great +energy, also a monarch, of the prophetic eye, became blind in consequence +of the fault of his mother and the wrath of the Rishi. His younger +brother who was possessed of great strength and was really a great being +known as Pandu, devoted to truth and virtue, was Purity’s self. And, O +king, thou shouldst know that he who was known on earth as Vidura, who +was the first of all virtuous men, who was the god of Justice himself, +was the excellent and greatly fortunate son of the Rishi Atri. The +evil-minded and wicked king Duryodhana, the destroyer of the fair fame of +the Kurus, was born of a portion of Kali on earth. He it was who caused +all creatures to be slain and the earth to be wasted; and he it was who +fanned the flame of hostility that ultimately consumed all. They who had +been the sons of Pulastya (the Rakshasas) were born on earth among men of +Duryodhana’s brothers, that century of wicked individuals commencing with +Duhasasana as their first. And, O bull among the Bharata princes, +Durmukha, Duhsaha, and others whose names I do not mention, who always +supported Duryodhana (in all his schemes), were, indeed, the sons of +Pulastya. And over and above these hundred, Dhritarashtra had one son +named Yuyutsu born of a Vaisya wife.’ + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O illustrious one, tell me the names of +Dhritarashtra’s sons according to the order of their birth beginning from +the eldest.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O king, they are as follows: Duryodhana, and +Yuyutsu, and also Duhsasana; Duhsaha and Duhshala, and then Durmukha; +Vivinsati, and Vikarna, Jalasandha, Sulochna, Vinda and Anuvinda, +Durdharsha, Suvahu, Dushpradharshana; Durmarshana, and Dushkarna, and +Karna; Chitra and Vipachitra, Chitraksha, Charuchitra, and Angada, +Durmada, and Dushpradharsha, Vivitsu, Vikata, Sama; Urananabha, and +Padmanabha, Nanda and Upanandaka; Sanapati, Sushena, Kundodara; Mahodara; +Chitravahu, and Chitravarman, Suvarman, Durvirochana; Ayovahu, Mahavahu, +Chitrachapa and Sukundala, Bhimavega, Bhimavala, Valaki, Bhimavikrama, +Ugrayudha, Bhimaeara, Kanakayu, Dridhayudha, Dridhavarman, Dridhakshatra +Somakirti, Anadara; Jarasandha, Dridhasandha, Satyasandha, Sahasravaeh; +Ugrasravas, Ugrasena, and Kshemamurti; Aprajita, Panditaka, Visalaksha, +Duradhara, Dridhahasta, and Suhasta, Vatavega, and Suvarchasa; +Adityaketu, Vahvasin, Nagadatta and Anuyaina; Nishangi, Kuvachi, Dandi, +Dandadhara, Dhanugraha; Ugra, Bhimaratha, Vira, Viravahu, Alolupa; +Abhaya, and Raudrakarman, also he who was Dridharatha; Anadhrishya, +Kundaveda, Viravi, Dhirghalochana; Dirghavahu; Mahavahu; Vyudhoru, +Kanakangana; Kundaja and Chitraka. There was also a daughter named +Duhsala who was over and above the hundred. And Yuyutsu who was +Dhritarashtra’s son by a Vaisya wife, was also over and above the +hundred. Thus, O king, have I recited the names of the hundred sons and +also that of the daughter (of Dhritarashtra). Thou hast now known their +names according to the order of their births. All of them were heroes and +great car-warriors, and skilled in the art of warfare. Besides, all of +them were versed in the Vedas, and, O king, all of them had got through +the scriptures. All of them were mighty in attack and defence, and all +were graced with learning. And, O monarch, all of them had wives suitable +to them in grace and accomplishments. And, O king, when the time came, +the Kaurava monarch bestowed his daughter Duhsala on Jayadratha, the king +of the Sindhus, agreeably to the counsels of Sakuni. + +“And, O monarch, learn that king Yudhishthira was a portion of Dharma; +that Bhimasena was of the deity of wind; that Arjuna was of Indra, the +chief of the celestials; and that Nakula and Sahadeva, the handsomest +beings among all creatures, and unrivalled for beauty on earth, were +similarly portions of the twin Aswins. And he who was known as the mighty +Varchas, the son of Soma, became Abhimanyu of wonderful deeds, the son of +Arjuna. And before his incarnation, O king, the god Soma had said these +words to the celestials, ‘I cannot give (part with) my son. He is dearer +to me than life itself. Let this be the compact and let it be not +transgressed. The destruction of the Asuras on earth is the work of the +celestials, and, therefore, it is our work as well. Let this Varchas, +therefore, go thither, but let him not stay there long. Nara, whose +companion is Narayana, will be born as Indra’s son and indeed, will be +known as Arjuna, the mighty son of Pandu. This boy of mine shall be his +son and become a mighty car-warrior in his boyhood. And let him, ye best +of immortals, stay on earth for sixteen years. And when he attaineth to +his sixteenth year, the battle shall take place in which all who are born +of your portions shall achieve the destruction of mighty warriors. But a +certain encounter shall take place without both Nara and Narayana (taking +any part in it). And, indeed, your portions, ye celestials, shall fight, +having made that disposition of the forces which is known by the name of +the Chakra-vyuha. And my son shall compel all foes to retreat before him. +The boy of mighty arms having penetrated the impenetrable array, shall +range within it fearlessly and send a fourth part of the hostile force, +in course of half a day, unto the regions of the king of the dead. Then +when numberless heroes and mighty car-warriors will return to the charge +towards the close of the day, my boy of mighty arms, shall reappear +before me. And he shall beget one heroic son in his line, who shall +continue the almost extinct Bharata race.’ Hearing these words of Soma, +the dwellers in heaven replied, ‘So be it.’ And then all together +applauded and worshipped (Soma) the king of stars. Thus, O king, have I +recited to thee the (particulars of the) birth of thy father’s father. + +“Know also, O monarch, that the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna was a +portion of Agni. And know also that Sikhandin, who was at first a female, +was (the incarnation of) a Rakshasa. And, O bull in Bharata’s race, they +who became the five sons of Draupadi, those bulls amongst the Bharata +princes, were the celestials known as the Viswas. Their names were +Pritivindhya, Sutasoma, Srutakirti, Satanika, Nakula, and Srutasena, +endued with mighty energy. + +“Sura, the foremost of the Yadus, was the father of Vasudeva. He had a +daughter called Pritha, who for her beauty, was unrivalled on earth. And +Sura, having promised in the presence of fire that he would give his +firstborn child to Kuntibhoja, the son of his paternal aunt, who was +without offspring, gave his daughter unto the monarch in expectation of +his favours. Kuntibhoja thereupon made her his daughter. And she became, +thenceforth, in the house of her (adoptive) father, engaged in attending +upon Brahmanas and guests. One day she had to wait upon the wrathful +ascetic of rigid vows, Durvasa by name, acquainted with truth and fully +conversant with the mysteries of religion. And Pritha with all possible +care gratified the wrathful Rishi with soul under complete control. The +holy one, gratified with the attentions bestowed on him by the maiden, +told her, ‘I am satisfied, O fortunate one, with thee! By this mantra +(that I am about to give thee), thou shall be able to summon (to thy +side) whatever celestials thou likest. And, by their grace, shall thou +also obtain children.’ Thus addressed, the girl (a little while after), +seized with curiosity, summoned, during the period of her maiden-hood, +the god Surya. And the lord of light thereupon made her conceive and +begot on her a son who became the first of all wielders of weapons. From +fear of relatives she brought forth in secrecy that child who had come +out with ear-rings and coat of mail. And he was gifted with the beauty of +a celestial infant, and in splendour was like unto the maker of day +himself. And every part of his body was symmetrical and well-adorned. And +Kunti cast the handsome child into the water. But the child thus thrown +into the water was taken up by the excellent husband of Radha and given +by him to his wife to be adopted by her as their son. And the couple gave +him the name of Vasusena, by which appellation the child soon became +known all over the land. And, as he grew up, he became very strong and +excelled in all weapons. The first of all successful persons, he soon +mastered the sciences. And when the intelligent one having truth for his +strength recited the Vedas, there was nothing he would not then give to +the Brahmanas. At that time Indra, the originator of all things, moved by +the desire of benefiting his own son Arjuna, assumed the guise of a +Brahmana, came to him, and begged of the hero his ear-rings and natural +armour. And the hero taking off his ear-rings and armour gave them unto +the Brahmana. And Sakra (accepting the gift) presented to the giver a +dart, surprised (at his open handedness), and addressed him in these +words, ‘O invincible one, amongst the celestials, Asuras, men, +Gandharvas, Nagas, and Rakshasas, he at whom thou hurlest (this weapon), +that one shall certainly be slain.’ And the son of Surya was at first +known in the world by the name of Vasusena. But, for his deeds, he +subsequently came to be called Karna. And because that hero of great fame +had taken off his natural armour, therefore was he--the first son of +Pritha--called Kama. And, O best of kings, the hero began to grow up in +the Suta caste. And, O king, know thou that Kama--the first of all +exalted men--the foremost of all wielders of weapons--the slayer of +foes--and the best portion of the maker of day--was the friend and +counsellor of Duryodhana. And he, called Vasudeva, endued with great +valour, was among men a portion of him called Narayana--the god of +gods--eternal. And Valadeva of exceeding strength was a portion of the +Naga, Sesha. And, O monarch, know that Pradyumna of great energy was +Sanatkumara. And in this way the portion of various other dwellers in +heaven became exalted men in the race of Vasudeva, increasing the glory +thereof. And, O king, the portions of the tribe of Apsaras which I have +mentioned already, also became incarnate on earth according to Indra’s +commands--And sixteen thousand portions of those goddesses became, O +king, in this world of men, the wives of Vasudeva. And a portion of Sri +herself became incarnate on earth, for the gratification of Narayana, in +the line of Bhishmaka. And she was by name the chaste Rukmini. And the +faultless Draupadi, slender-waisted like the wasp, was born of a portion +of Sachi (the queen of the celestials), in the line of Drupada. And she +was neither low nor tall in stature. And she was of the fragrance of the +blue lotus, of eyes large as lotus-petals, of thighs fair and round, of +dense masses of black curly hair. And endued with every auspicious +feature and of complexion like that of the emerald, she became the +charmer of the hearts of five foremost of men. And the two goddesses +Siddhi and Dhriti became the mothers of those five, and were called Kunti +and Madri. And she who was Mati became the daughter (Gandhari) of Suvala. + +“Thus, O king, have I recited to thee all about the incarnation, +according to their respective portions, of the gods, the Asuras, the +Gandharvas, the Apsaras, and of the Rakshasas. They who were born on +earth as monarchs invincible in battle, those high-souled ones who were +born in the wide extended line of the Yadus, they who were born as mighty +monarchs in other lines, they who were born as Brahmanas and Kshatriyas +and Vaisyas, have all been recited by me duly. And this account of the +incarnation (of superior beings according to their respective portions) +capable of bestowing wealth, fame, offspring, long life, and success, +should always be listened to in a proper frame of mind. And having +listened to this account of incarnation, according to their portions, of +gods, Gandharvas, and Rakshasas, the hearer becoming acquainted with the +creation, preservation, and destruction of the universe and acquiring +wisdom, is never cast down even under the most engrossing sorrows.’” + + + +SECTION LXVIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O Brahmana, I have, indeed, heard from thee this +account of the incarnation, according to their portions, of the gods, the +Danavas, the Rakshasas, and also of the Gandharvas and the Apsaras. I +however, again desire to hear of the dynasty of the Kurus from the very +beginning. Therefore, O Brahmana, speak of this in the presence of all +these regenerate Rishis.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O exalted one of Bharata’s race, the founder of the +Paurava line was Dushmanta gifted with great energy. And he was the +protector of the earth bounded by the four seas. And that king had full +sway over four quarters of this world. And he was the lord also of +various regions in the midst of the sea. And that great oppressor of all +foes had sway over the countries even of the Mlechchhas. + +“And during his rule there were no men of mixed castes, no tillers of the +soil (for the land, of itself, yielded produce), no workers of mines (for +the surface of the earth yielded in abundance), and no sinful men. All +were virtuous, and did everything from virtuous motives, O tiger among +men. There was no fear of thieves, O dear one, no fear of famine, no fear +off disease. And all four orders took pleasure in doing their respective +duties and never performed religious acts for obtaining fruition of +desires. And his subjects, depending upon him, never entertained any +fear. And Parjanya (Indra) poured showers at the proper time, and the +produce of the fields was always pulpy and juicy. And the earth was full +of all kinds of wealth and all kinds of animals. And the Brahmanas were +always engaged in their duties and they were always truthful. And the +youthful monarch was endued with wonderful prowess and a physical frame +hard as the thunderbolt, so that he could, taking up the mountain Mandara +with its forests and bushes, support it on his arms. And he was +well-skilled in four kinds of encounters with the mace (hurling it at +foes at a distance, striking at those that are near, whirling it in the +midst of many, and driving the foe before). And he was skilled also in +the use of all kinds of weapons and in riding elephants and horses. And +in strength he was like unto Vishnu, in splendour like unto the maker of +day, in gravity like unto the ocean, and in patience, like unto the +earth. And the monarch was loved by all his subjects, and he ruled his +contented people virtuously.’” + + + +SECTION LXIX + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘I desire to hear from thee about the birth and life of +the high-souled Bharata and of the origin of Sakuntala. And, O holy one, +I also desire to hear all about Dushmanta--that lion among men--and how +the hero obtained Sakuntala. It behoveth thee, O knower of truth and the +first of all intelligent men, to tell me everything.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Once on a time (king Dushmanta) of mighty arms, +accompanied by a large force, went into the forest. And he took with him +hundreds of horses and elephants. And the force that accompanied the +monarch was of four kinds (foot-soldiers, car-warriors, cavalry, and +elephants)--heroes armed with swords and darts and bearing in their hands +maces and stout clubs. And surrounded by hundreds of warriors with lances +and spears in their hands, the monarch set out on his journey. And with +the leonine roars of the warriors and the notes of conchs and sound of +drums, with the rattle of the car-wheels and shrieks of huge elephants, +all mingling with the neighing of horses and the clash of weapons of the +variously armed attendants in diverse dresses, there arose a deafening +tumult while the king was on his march. And ladies gifted with great +beauty beheld from the terraces of goodly mansions that heroic monarch, +the achiever of his own fame. And the ladies saw that he was like unto +Sakra, the slayer of his enemies, capable of repulsing the elephants of +foes--And they believed that he was the wielder of the thunderbolt +himself. And they said, ‘This is that tiger among men who in battle is +equal unto the Vasus in prowess, and in consequence of the might of whose +arms no foes are left.’ And saying this, the ladies from affection +gratified the monarch by showering flowers on his head. And followed by +foremost of Brahmanas uttering blessings all the way, the king in great +gladness of heart went towards the forest, eager for slaying the deer. +And many Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras, followed the monarch +who was like unto the king of the celestials seated on the back of a +proud elephant. The citizens and other classes followed the monarch for +some distance. And they at last refrained from going farther at the +command of the king. And the king, then, ascending his chariot of winged +speed, filled the whole earth and even the heavens, with the rattle of +his chariot wheels. And, as he went, he saw around him a forest like unto +Nandana itself (the celestial garden). And it was full of Vilwa, Arka, +Khadira (catechu), Kapittha (wood-apple) and Dhava trees. And he saw that +the soil was uneven and scattered over with blocks of stone loosened from +the neighbouring cliffs. And he saw that it was without water and without +human beings and lay extended for many Yojanas around. And it was full of +deer, and lions, and other terrible beasts of prey. + +“And king Dushmanta, that tiger among men, assisted by his followers and +the warriors in his train, agitated that forest, killing numerous +animals. And Dushmanta, piercing them with his arrows, felled numerous +tigers that were within shooting range. And the king wounded many that +were too distant, and killed many that were too near with his heavy +sword. And that foremost of all wielders of darts killed many by hurling +his darts at them. And well-conversant with the art of whirling the mace, +the king of immeasurable prowess fearlessly wandered over the forest. And +the king roamed about, killing the denizens of the wilderness sometimes +with his sword and sometimes by fast-descending blows of his mace and +heavy club. + +“And when the forest was so disturbed by the king possessed of wonderful +energy and by the warriors in his train delighting in warlike sports, the +lions began to desert it in numbers. And herds of animals deprived of +their leaders, from fear and anxiety began to utter loud cries as they +fled in all directions. And fatigued with running, they began to fall +down on all sides, unable to slake their thirst, having reached +river-beds that were perfectly dry. And many so falling were eaten up by +the hungry warriors. While others were eaten up after having been duly +quartered and roasted in fires lit up by them. And many strong elephants, +maddened with the wounds they received and alarmed beyond measure, fled +with trunks raised on high. And those wild elephants, betraying the usual +symptoms of alarm by urinating and ejecting the contents of their +stomachs and vomiting blood in large quantities, trampled, as they ran, +many warriors to death. And that forest which had been full of animals, +was by the king with his bands of followers and with sharp weapons soon +made bereft of lions and tigers and other monarchs of the wilderness.’” + + + +SECTION LXX + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then the king with his followers, having killed +thousands of animals, entered another forest with a view to hunting. And +attended by a single follower and fatigued with hunger and thirst, he +came upon a large desert on the frontiers of the forest. And having +crossed this herbless plain, the king came upon another forest full of +the retreats of ascetics, beautiful to look at, delightful to the heart +and of cool agreeable breezes. And it was full of trees covered with +blossoms, the soil overgrown with the softest and greenest grass, +extending for many miles around, and echoing with the sweet notes of +winged warblers. And it resounded with the notes of the male Kokila and +of the shrill cicala. And it was full of magnificent trees with +outstretched branches forming a shady canopy overhead. And the bees +hovered over flowery creepers all around. And there were beautiful bowers +in every place. And there was no tree without fruits, none that had +prickles on it, none that had no bees swarming around it. And the whole +forest resounded with the melody of winged choristers. And it was decked +with the flowers of every season. And there were refreshing shades of +blossoming trees. + +“Such was the delicious and excellent forest that the great bowman +entered. And trees with branches beautified with clusters began to wave +gently at the soft breeze and rain their flowers over the monarch’s head. +And the trees, clad in their flowery attires of all colours, with +sweet-throated warblers perched on them, stood there in rows with heads +touching the very heavens. And around their branches hanging down with +the weight of flowers the bees tempted by the honey hummed in sweet +chorus. And the king, endued with great energy, beholding innumerable +spots covered with bowers of creepers decked with clusters of flowers, +from excess of gladness, became very much charmed. And the forest was +exceedingly beautiful in consequence of those trees ranged around with +flowery branches twining with each other and looking like so many +rainbows for gaudiness and variety of colour. And it was the resort of +bands of Siddhas, of the Charanas, of tribes of Gandharvas, and Apsaras, +of monkeys and Kinnaras drunk with delight. Delicious cool, and fragrant +breezes, conveying the fragrance from fresh flowers, blew in all +directions as if they had come there to sport with the trees. And the +king saw that charming forest gifted with such beauties. And it was +situated in a delta of the river, and the cluster of high trees standing +together lent the place the look of a gaudy pole erected to Indra’s +honour. + +“And in that forest which was the resort of ever cheerful birds, the +monarch saw a delightful and charming retreat of ascetics. And there were +many trees around it. And the sacred fire was burning within it. And the +king worshipped that unrivalled retreat. And he saw seated in it numerous +Yotis, Valakhilyas and other Munis. And it was adorned with many chambers +containing sacrificial fire. And the flowers dropping from the trees had +formed a thick carpet spread over the ground. And the spot looked +exceedingly beautiful with those tall trees of large trunks. And by it +flowed, O king, the sacred and transparent Malini with every species of +water-fowl playing on its bosom. And that stream infused gladness into +the hearts of the ascetics who resorted to it for purposes of ablutions. +And the king beheld on its banks many innocent animals of the deer +species and was exceedingly delighted with all that he saw. + +“And the monarch, the course of whose chariot no foe could obstruct, then +entered that asylum which was like unto the region of the celestials, +being exceedingly beautiful all over. And the king saw that it stood on +the margin of the sacred stream which was like the mother of all the +living creatures residing in its vicinage. And on its bank sported the +Chakravaka, and waves of milkwhite foam. And there stood also the +habitations of Kinnaras. And monkeys and bears too disported themselves +in numbers. And there lived also holy ascetics engaged in studies and +meditation. And there could be seen also elephants and tigers and snakes. +And it was on the banks of that stream that the excellent asylum of the +illustrious Kasyapa stood, offering a home to numerous Rishis of great +ascetic merit. And beholding that river, and also the asylum washed by +that river which was studded with many islands and which possessed banks +of so much beauty,--an asylum like unto that of Nara and Narayana laved +by the water of the Ganga--the king resolved to enter into that sacred +abode. And that bull among men, desirous of beholding the great Rishi of +ascetic wealth, the illustrious Kanwa of the race of Kasyapa, one who +possessed every virtue and who, for his splendour, could be gazed at with +difficulty, approached that forest resounding with the notes of maddened +peacocks and like unto the gardens of the great Gandharva, Chitraratha, +himself. And halting his army consisting of flags, cavalry, infantry, and +elephants at the entrance of the forest, the monarch spoke as follows, ‘I +shall go to behold the mighty ascetic of Kasyapa’s race, one who is +without darkness. Stay ye here until my return!’ + +“And the king having entered that forest which was like unto Indra’s +garden, soon forgot his hunger and thirst. And he was pleased beyond +measure. And the monarch, laying aside all signs of royalty, entered that +excellent asylum with but his minister and his priest, desirous of +beholding that Rishi who was an indestructible mass of ascetic merit. And +the king saw that the asylum was like unto the region of Brahman. Here +were bees sweetly humming and there were winged warblers of various +species pouring forth their melodies. At particular places that tiger +among men heard the chanting of Rik hymns by first-rate Brahmanas +according to the just rules of intonation. Other places again were graced +with Brahmanas acquainted with ordinances of sacrifice, of the Angas and +of the hymns of the Yajurveda. Other places again were filled with the +harmonious strains of Saman hymns sung by vow-observing Rishis. At other +places the asylum was decked with Brahmanas learned in the Atharvan Veda. +At other places again Brahmanas learned in the Atharvan Veda and those +capable of chanting the sacrificial hymns of the Saman were reciting the +Samhitas according to the just rules of voice. And at other places again, +other Brahmanas well-acquainted with the science of orthoepy were +reciting mantras of other kinds. In fact, that sacred retreat resounding +with these holy notes was like unto a second region of Brahman himself. +And there were many Brahmanas skilled in the art of making sacrificial +platforms and in the rules of Krama in sacrifices, conversant with logic +and the mental sciences, and possessing a complete knowledge of the +Vedas. There were those also who were fully acquainted with the meanings +of all kinds of expressions; those that were conversant with all special +rites, those also that were followers of Moksha-Dharma; those again that +were well-skilled in establishing propositions; rejecting superfluous +causes, and drawing right conclusions. There were those having a +knowledge of the science of words (grammar), of prosody, of Nirukta; +those again that were conversant with astrology and learned in the +properties of matter and the fruits of sacrificial rites, possessing a +knowledge of causes and effects, capable of understanding the cries of +birds and monkeys, well-read in large treatises, and skilled in various +sciences. And the king, as he proceeded, heard their voices. And the +retreat resounded also with voice of men capable of charming human +hearts. And the slayer of hostile heroes also saw around him learned +Brahmanas of rigid vows engaged in Japa (the repeated muttering of the +names of gods) and Homa (burnt-offering). And the king wondered much on +beholding the beautiful carpets which those Brahmanas offered to him +respectfully. And that best of monarchs, at the sight of the rites with +which those Brahmanas worshipped the gods and the great Rishis, thought +within himself that he was in the region of Brahman. And the more the +king saw that auspicious and sacred asylum of Kasyapa protected by that +Rishi’s ascetic virtues and possessing all the requisites of a holy +retreat, the more he desired to see it. In fact, he was not satisfied +with his short survey. And the slayer of heroes at last, accompanied by +his minister and his priest, entered that charming and sacred retreat of +Kasyapa inhabited all around by Rishis of ascetic wealth and exalted +vows.’” + + + +SECTION LXXI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The monarch then, as he proceeded, left even his +reduced retinue at the entrance of the hermitage. And entering quite +alone he saw not the Rishi (Kanwa) of rigid vows. And not seeing the +Rishi and finding that the abode was empty, he called loudly, saying, +‘What ho, who is here?’ And the sound of his voice was echoed back. And +hearing the sound of his voice, there came out of the Rishi’s abode a +maiden beautiful as Sri herself but dressed as an ascetic’s daughter. And +the black-eyed fair one, as she saw king Dushmanta, bade him welcome and +received him duly. And, showing him due respect by the offer of a seat, +water to wash his feet, and Arghya, she enquired about the monarch’s +health and peace. And having worshipped the king and asked him about his +health and peace, the maiden reverentially asked, ‘What must be done, O +king! I await your commands.’ The king, duly worshipped by her, said unto +that maiden of faultless features and sweet speech, ‘I have come to +worship the highly-blessed Rishi Kanwa. Tell me, O amiable and beautiful +one, where has the illustrious Rishi gone?’ + +“Sakuntala then answered, ‘My illustrious father hath gone away from the +asylum to fetch fruit. Wait but a moment and thou wilt see him when he +arrives.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The king not seeing the Rishi and addressed +thus by her, beheld that the maiden was exceedingly beautiful and endued +with perfect symmetry of shape. And he saw that she was of sweet smiles. +And she stood decked with the beauty of her faultless features, her +ascetic penances, and her humility. And he saw that she was in the bloom +of youth. He therefore asked her, ‘Who art thou? And whose daughter, O +beautiful one? Why hast thou come into the woods also? O handsome one, +gifted with so much beauty and such virtues, whence hast thou come? O +charming one, at the very first glance hast thou stolen my heart! I +desire to learn all about thee; therefore tell me all.’ And thus +addressed by the monarch, the maiden smilingly replied in these sweet +words, ‘O Dushmanta, I am the daughter of the virtuous, wise, +high-souled, and illustrious ascetic Kanwa.’ + +“Dushmanta, hearing this, replied, ‘The universally-worshipped and +highly-blessed Rishi is one whose seed hath been drawn up. Even Dharma +himself might fall off from his course but an ascetic of rigid vows can +never fall off so. Therefore, O thou of the fairest complexion, how hast +thou been born as his daughter? This great doubt of mine it behoveth thee +to dispel.’ + +“Sakuntala then replied, ‘Hear, O king, what I have learnt regarding all +that befell me of old and how I became the daughter of the Muni. Once on +a time, a Rishi came here and asked about my birth. All that the +illustrious one (Kanwa) told him, hear now from me, O king! + +“My father Kanwa, in answer to that Rishi’s enquiries, said, ‘Viswamitra, +of old, having been engaged in the austerest penances alarmed Indra, the +chief of the celestials, who thought that the mighty ascetic of blazing +energy would, by his penances, hurl him down from his high seat in +heaven.’ Indra, thus alarmed, summoned Menaka and told her, ‘Thou, O +Menaka, art the first of celestial Apsaras. Therefore, O amiable one, do +me this service. Hear what I say. This great ascetic Viswamitra like unto +the Sun in splendour, is engaged in the most severe of penances. My heart +is trembling with fear. Indeed, O slender-waisted Menaka, this is thy +business. Thou must see that Viswamitra of soul rapt in contemplation and +engaged in the austerest penances, who might hurl me down from my seat. +Go and tempt him and frustrating his continued austerities accomplish my +good. Win him away from his penances, O beautiful one, by tempting him +with thy beauty, youth, agreeableness, arts, smiles and speech.’ Hearing +all this, Menaka replied, ‘The illustrious Viswamitra is endued with +great energy and is a mighty ascetic. He is very short-tempered too, as +is known to thee. The energy, penances, and wrath of the high-souled one +have made even thee anxious. Why should I not also be anxious? He it was +who made even the illustrious Vasishtha bear the pangs of witnessing the +premature death of his children. He it was who, though at first born as +Kshatriya, subsequently became a Brahmana by virtue of his ascetic +penances. He it was who, for purposes of his ablutions, created a deep +river that can with difficulty be forded, and which sacred stream is +known by the name of the Kausiki. It was Viswamitra whose wife, in a +season of distress, was maintained by the royal sage Matanga (Trisanku) +who was then living under a father’s curse as a hunter. It was Viswamitra +who, on returning after the famine was over, changed the name of the +stream having his asylum from Kausik into Para. It was Viswamitra who in +return for the services of Matanga, himself became the latter’s priest +for purposes of a sacrifice. The lord of the celestials himself went +through fear to drink the Soma juice. It was Viswamitra who in anger +created a second world and numerous stars beginning with Sravana. He it +was who granted protection to Trisanku smarting under a superior’s curse. +I am frightened to approach him of such deeds. Tell me, O Indra, the +means that should be adopted so that I may not be burnt by his wrath. He +can burn the three worlds by his splendour, can, by a stamp (of his +foot), cause the earth to quake. He can sever the great Meru from the +earth and hurl it to any distance. He can go round the ten points of the +earth in a moment. How can a woman like me even touch such a one full of +ascetic virtues, like unto a blazing fire, and having his passions under +complete control? His mouth is like unto a blazing fire; the pupils of +his eyes are like the Sun and the Moon; his tongue is like unto Yama +himself. How shall, O chief of the celestials, a woman like me even touch +him? At the thought of his prowess Yama, Soma, the great Rishis, the +Saddhyas, the Viswas, Valakhilyas, are terrified! How can a woman like me +gaze at him without alarm? Commanded, however, by thee, O king of the +celestials, I shall somehow approach that Rishi. But, O chief of the +gods, devise thou some plan whereby protected by thee, I may safely move +about that Rishi. I think that when I begin to play before the Rishi, +Marut (the god of wind) had better go there and rob me of my dress, and +Manmatha (the god of love) had also, at thy command, better help me then. +Let also Marut on that occasion bear thither fragrance from the woods to +tempt the Rishi.’ Saying this and seeing that all she had spoken about +had been duly provided, Menaka went to the retreat of the great Kausika.’” + + + +SECTION LXXII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +Kanwa continued, ‘And Sakra, thus addressed by her, then commanded him +who could approach every place (viz., the god of the wind) to be present +with Menaka at the time she would be before the Rishi. And the timid and +beautiful Menaka then entered the retreat and saw there Viswamitra who +had burnt, by his penances, all his sins, and was engaged still in +ascetic penances. And saluting the Rishi, she then began to sport before +him. And just at that time Marut robbed her of her garments that were +white as the Moon. And she thereupon ran, as if in great bashfulness, to +catch hold of her attire, and as if she was exceedingly annoyed with +Marut. And she did all this before the very eyes of Viswamitra who was +endued with energy like that of fire. And Viswamitra saw her in that +attitude. And beholding her divested of her robes, he saw that she was of +faultless feature. And that best of Munis saw that she was exceedingly +handsome, with no marks of age on her person. And beholding her beauty +and accomplishments that bull amongst Rishis was possessed with lust and +made a sign that he desired her companionship. And he invited her +accordingly, and she also of faultless features expressed her acceptance +of the invitation. And they then passed a long time there in each other’s +company. And sporting with each other, just as they pleased, for a long +time as if it were only a single day, the Rishi begat on Menaka a +daughter named Sakuntala. And Menaka (as her conception advanced) went to +the banks of the river Malini coursing along a valley of the charming +mountains of Himavat. And there she gave birth to that daughter. And she +left the new-born infant on the bank of that river and went away. And +beholding the new-born infant lying in that forest destitute of human +beings but abounding with lions and tigers, a number of vultures sat +around to protect it from harm. No Rakshasas or carnivorous animals took +its life. Those vultures protected the daughter of Menaka. I went there +to perform my ablution and beheld the infant lying in the solitude of the +wilderness surrounded by vultures. Bringing her hither I have made her my +daughter. Indeed, the maker of the body, the protector of life, the giver +of food, are all three, fathers in their order, according to the +scriptures. And because she was surrounded in the solitude of the +wilderness, by Sakuntas (birds), therefore, hath she been named by me +Sakuntala (bird-protected). O Brahman, learn that it is thus that +Sakuntala hath become my daughter. And the faultless Sakuntala also +regards me as her father.’ + +“This is what my father had said unto the Rishi, having been asked by +him. O king of men, it is thus that thou must know I am the daughter of +Kanwa. And not knowing my real father, I regard Kanwa as my father. Thus +have I told thee, O king, all that hath been heard by me regarding my +birth!’” + + + +SECTION LXXIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘King Dushmanta, hearing all this, said, +‘Well-spoken, O princess, this that thou hast said! Be my wife, O +beautiful one! What shall I do for thee? Golden garlands, robes, +ear-rings of gold, white and handsome pearls, from various countries, +golden coins, finest carpets, I shall present thee this very day. Let the +whole of my kingdom be thine today, O beautiful one! Come to me, O timid +one, wedding me, O beautiful one, according to the Gandharva form. O thou +of tapering thighs, of all forms of marriage, the Gandharva one is +regarded as the first.’ + +“Sakuntala, hearing this, said, ‘O king, my father hath gone away from +this asylum to bring fruit. Wait but a moment; he will bestow me on thee.’ + +“Dushmanta replied, ‘O beautiful and faultless one, I desire that thou +shouldst be my life’s companion. Know thou that I exist for thee, and my +heart is in thee. One is certainly one’s own friend, and one certainly +may depend upon one’s own self. Therefore, according to the ordinance, +thou canst certainly bestow thyself. There are, in all, eight kinds of +marriages. These are Brahma, Daiva, Arsha, Prajapatya, Asura, Gandharva, +Rakshasa, and Paisacha, the eighth. Manu, the son of the self-create, +hath spoken of the appropriateness of all these forms according to their +order. Know, O faultless one, that the first four of these are fit for +Brahmanas, and the first six for Kshatriyas. As regards kings, even the +Rakshasa form is permissible. The Asura form is permitted to Vaisyas and +Sudras. Of the first five the three are proper, the other two being +improper. The Paisacha and the Asura forms should never be practised. +These are the institutes of religion, and one should act according to +them. The Gandharva and the Rakshasa form are consistent with the +practices of Kshatriyas. Thou needst not entertain the least fear. There +is not the least doubt that either according to any one of these +last-mentioned forms, or according to a union of both of them, our +wedding may take place. O thou of the fairest complexion, full of desire +I am, thou also in a similar mood mayst become my wife according to the +Gandharva form.’ + +“Sakuntala, having listened to all this, answered, ‘If this be the course +sanctioned by religion, if, indeed, I am my own disposer, hear, O thou +foremost one of Puru’s race, what my terms are. Promise truly to give me +what I ask thee. The son that shall be begotten on me shall become thy +heir-apparent. This, O king, is my fixed resolve. O Dushmanta, if thou +grant this, then let our union take place.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The monarch, without taking time to consider at +once told her, ‘Let it be so. I will even take thee, O thou of agreeable +smiles, with me to my capital. I tell thee truly. O beautiful one, thou +deservest all this.’ And so saying, that first of kings wedded the +handsome Sakuntala of graceful gait, and knew her as a husband. And +assuring her duly, he went away, telling her repeatedly, ‘I shall send +thee, for thy escort, my troops of four classes. Indeed, it is even thus +that I shall take thee to my capital, O thou of sweet smiles!” + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘O Janamejaya, having promised so unto her, the +king went away. And as he retraced his way homewards, he began to think +of Kasyapa. And he asked himself, ‘What will the illustrious ascetic say, +after he has known all?’ Thinking of this, he entered his capital. + +“The moment the king had left, Kanwa arrived at his abode. But Sakuntala, +from a sense of shame, did not go out to receive her father. That great +ascetic, however, possessed of spiritual knowledge, knew all. Indeed +beholding everything with his spiritual eye, the illustrious one was +pleased, and addressing her, said, ‘Amiable one, what hath been done by +thee today in secret, without, having waited for me--viz., intercourse +with a man--hath not been destructive of thy virtue. Indeed, union +according to the Gandharva form, of a wishful woman with a man of sensual +desire, without mantras of any kind, it is said, is the best for +Kshatriyas. That best of men, Dushmanta, is also high-souled and +virtuous. Thou hast, O Sakuntala, accepted him for thy husband. The son +that shall be born of thee shall be mighty and illustrious in this world. +And he shall have sway over the sea. And the forces of that illustrious +king of kings, while he goeth out against his foes shall be irresistible.’ + +“Sakuntala then approached her fatigued father and washed his feet. And +taking down the load he had with him and placing the fruits in proper +order, she told him, ‘It behoveth thee to give thy grace to that +Dushmanta whom I have accepted for my husband, as well as his ministers!’ + +“Kanwa replied, ‘O thou of the fairest complexion, for thy sake I am +inclined to bless him. But receive from me, O blessed one, the boon that +thou desirest.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Sakuntala, thereupon, moved by desire of +benefiting Dushmanta, asked the boon that the Paurava monarchs might ever +be virtuous and never deprived of their thrones.’” + + + +SECTION LXXIV + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘After Dushmanta had left the asylum having made +those promises unto Sakuntala, the latter of tapering thighs brought +forth a boy of immeasurable energy. And when the child was three years +old, he became in splendour like the blazing fire. And, O Janamejaya, he +was possessed of beauty and magnanimity and every accomplishment. And +that first of virtuous men, Kanwa, caused all the rites of religion to be +performed in respect of that intelligent child thriving day by day. And +the boy gifted with pearly teeth and shining locks, capable of slaying +lions even then, with all auspicious signs on his palm, and broad +expansive forehead, grew up in beauty and strength. And like unto a +celestial child in splendour, he began to grow up rapidly. And when he +was only six years of age, endued with great strength he used to seize +and bind to the trees that stood around that asylum, lions and tigers and +bears and buffaloes and elephants. And he rode on some animals, and +pursued others in sportive mood. The dwellers at Kanwa’s asylum thereupon +bestowed on him a name. And they said, because he seizes and restrains an +animals however strong, let him, be called Sarvadamana (the subduer of +all). And it was thus that the boy came to be named Sarvadamana, endued +as he was with prowess, and energy and strength. And the Rishi seeing the +boy and marking also his extraordinary acts, told Sakuntala that the time +had come for his installation as the heir-apparent. And beholding the +strength of the boy, Kanwa commanded his disciples, saying, ‘Bear ye +without delay this Sakuntala with her son from this abode to that of her +husband, blessed with every auspicious sign. Women should not live long +in the houses of their paternal or maternal relations. Such residence is +destructive of their reputation, their good conduct, their virtue. +Therefore, delay not in bearing her hence.’ These disciples of the Rishi +thereupon, saying ‘So be it,’ went towards the city named after an +elephant (Hastinapura) with Sakuntala and her son ahead of them. And then +she of fair eye-brows, taking with her that boy of celestial beauty, +endued with eyes like lotus petals, left the woods where she had been +first known by Dushmanta. And having approached the king, she with her +boy resembling in splendour the rising sun was introduced to him. And the +disciples of the Rishi having introduced her, returned to the asylum. And +Sakuntala having worshipped the king according to proper form, told him, +‘This is thy son, O king! Let him be installed as thy heir-apparent. O +king, this child, like unto a celestial, hath been begotten by thee upon +me. Therefore, O best of men, fulfil now the promise thou gavest me. Call +to mind, O thou of great good fortune, the agreement thou hadst made on +the occasion of thy union with me in the asylum of Kanwa.’ + +“The king, hearing these her words, and remembering everything said, ‘I +do not remember anything. Who art thou, O wicked woman in ascetic guise? +I do not remember having any connection with thee in respect of Dharma, +Kama and Arthas. Go or stay or do as thou pleasest.’ Thus addressed by +him, the fair-coloured innocent one became abashed. Grief deprived her of +consciousness and she stood for a time like an wooden post. Soon, +however, her eyes became red like copper and her lips began to quiver. +And the glances she now and then cast upon the king seemed to burn the +latter. Her rising wrath however, and the fire of her asceticism, she +extinguished within herself by an extraordinary effort. Collecting her +thoughts in a moment, her heart possessed with sorrow and rage, she thus +addressed her lord in anger, looking at him, ‘Knowing everything, O +monarch, how canst thou, like an inferior person, thus say that thou +knowest it not? Thy heart is a witness to the truth or falsehood of this +matter. Therefore, speak truly without degrading thyself. He who being +one thing representeth himself as another thing to others, is like a +thief and a robber of his own self. Of what sin is he not capable? Thou +thinkest that thou alone hast knowledge of thy deed. But knowest thou not +that the Ancient, Omniscient one (Narayana) liveth in thy heart? He +knoweth all thy sins, and thou sinnest in His presence. He that sins +thinks that none observes him. But he is observed by the gods and by Him +also who is in every heart. The Sun, the Moon, the Air, the Fire, the +Earth, the Sky, Water, the heart, Yama, the day, the night, both +twilights, and Dharma, all witness the acts of man. Yama, the son of +Surya, takes no account of the sins of him with whom Narayana the witness +of all acts, is gratified. But he with whom Narayana is not gratified is +tortured for his sins by Yama. Him who degradeth himself by representing +his self falsely, the gods never bless. Even his own soul blesseth him +not. I am a wife devoted to my husband. I have come of my own accord, it +is true. But do not, on that account, treat me with disrespect. I am thy +wife and, therefore, deserve to be treated respectfully. Wilt thou not +treat me so, because I have come hither of my own accord? In the presence +of so many, why dost thou treat me like an ordinary woman? I am not +certainly crying in the wilderness. Dost thou not hear me? But if thou +refuse to do what I supplicate thee for, O Dushmanta, thy head this +moment shall burst into a hundred pieces! The husband entering the womb +of the wife cometh out himself in the form of the son. Therefore is the +wife called by those cognisant of the Vedas as Jaya (she of whom one is +born). And the son that is so born unto persons cognisant of the Vedic +Mantras rescueth the spirits of deceased ancestors. And because the son +rescueth ancestors from the hell call Put, therefore, hath he been called +by the Self-create himself as Puttra (the rescuer from Put). By a son one +conquereth the three worlds. By a son’s son, one enjoyeth eternity. And +by a grandson’s son great-grand-fathers enjoy everlasting happiness. She +is a true wife who is skilful in household affairs. She is a true wife +who hath borne a son. She is a true wife whose heart is devoted to her +lord. She is a true wife who knoweth none but her lord. The wife is a +man’s half. The wife is the first of friends. The wife is the root of +religion, profit, and desire. The wife is the root of salvation. They +that have wives can perform religious acts. They that have wives can lead +domestic lives. They that have wives have the means to be cheerful. They +that have wives can achieve good fortune. Sweet-speeched wives are +friends on occasions of joy. They are as fathers on occasions of +religious acts. They are mothers in sickness and woe. Even in the deep +woods to a traveller a wife is his refreshment and solace. He that hath a +wife is trusted by all. A wife, therefore, is one’s most valuable +possession. Even when the husband leaving this world goeth into the +region of Yama, it is the devoted wife that accompanies him thither. A +wife going before waits for the husband. But if the husband goeth before, +the chaste wife followeth close. For these reasons, O king, doth marriage +exist. The husband enjoyth the companionship of the wife both in this and +in the other worlds. It hath been said by learned persons that one is +himself born as one’s son. Therefore, a man whose wife hath borne a son +should look upon her as his mother. Beholding the face of the son one +hath begotten upon his wife, like his own face in a mirror, one feeleth +as happy as a virtuous man, on attaining to heaven. Men scorched by +mental grief, or suffering under bodily pain, feel as much refreshed in +the companionship of their wives as a perspiring person in a cool bath. +No man, even in anger, should ever do anything that is disagreeable to +his wife, seeing that happiness, joy, and virtue,--everything dependeth +on the wife. A wife is the sacred field in which the husband is born +himself. Even Rishis cannot create creatures without women. What +happiness is greater than what the father feeleth when the son running +towards him, even though his body be covered with dust, claspeth his +limbs? Why then dost thou treat with indifference such a son, who hath +approached thee himself and who casteth wistful glances towards thee for +climbing thy knees? Even ants support their own eggs without destroying +them; then why shouldst not thou, a virtuous man that thou art, support +thy own child? The touch of soft sandal paste, of women, of (cool) water +is not so agreeable as the touch of one’s own infant son locked in one’s +embrace. As a Brahmana is the foremost of all bipeds, a cow, the foremost +of all quadrupeds, a protector, the foremost of all superiors, so is the +son the foremost of all objects, agreeable to the touch. Let, therefore, +this handsome child touch thee in embrace. There is nothing in the world +more agreeable to the touch than the embrace of one’s son. O chastiser of +foes, I have brought forth this child, O monarch, capable of dispelling +all thy sorrows after bearing him in my womb for full three years. O +monarch of Puru’s race, ‘He shall perform a hundred +horse-sacrifices’--these were the words uttered from the sky when I was +in the lying-in room. Indeed, men going into places remote from their +homes take up there others’ children on their laps and smelling their +heads feel great happiness. Thou knowest that Brahmanas repeat these +Vedic mantras on the occasion of the consecrating rites of infancy.--Thou +art born, O son, of my body! Thou art sprung from my heart. Thou art +myself in the form of a son. Live thou to a hundred years! My life +dependeth on thee, and the continuation of my race also, on thee. +Therefore, O son, live thou in great happiness to a hundred years. He +hath sprung from thy body, this second being from thee! Behold thyself in +thy son, as thou beholdest thy image in the clear lake. As the +sacrificial fire is kindled from the domestic one, so hath this one +sprung from thee. Though one, thou hast divided thyself. In course of +hunting while engaged in pursuit of the deer, I was approached by thee, O +king, I who was then a virgin in the asylum of my father. Urvasi, +Purvachitti, Sahajanya, Menaka, Viswachi and Ghritachi, these are the six +foremost of Apsaras. Amongst them again, Menaka, born of Brahman, is the +first. Descending from heaven on Earth, after intercourse with +Viswamitra, she gave birth to me. That celebrated Apsara, Menaka, brought +me forth in a valley of Himavat. Bereft of all affection, she went away, +cast me there as if I were the child of somebody else. What sinful act +did I do, of old, in some other life that I was in infancy cast away by +my parents and at present am cast away by thee! Put away by thee, I am +ready to return to the refuge of my father. But it behoveth thee not to +cast off this child who is thy own.’ + +“Hearing all this, Dushmanta said, ‘O Sakuntala, I do not know having +begot upon thee this son. Women generally speak untruths. Who shall +believe in thy words? Destitute of all affection, the lewd Menaka is thy +mother, and she cast thee off on the surface of the Himavat as one throws +away, after the worship is over, the flowery offering made to his gods. +Thy father too of the Kshatriya race, the lustful Viswamitra, who was +tempted to become a Brahmana, is destitute of all affection. However, +Menaka is the first of Apsaras, and thy father also is the first of +Rishis. Being their daughter, why dost thou speak like a lewd woman? Thy +words deserve no credit. Art thou not ashamed to speak them, especially +before me? Go hence, O wicked woman in ascetic guise. Where is that +foremost of great Rishis, where also is that Apsara Menaka? And why art +thou, low as thou art, in the guise of an ascetic? Thy child too is grown +up. Thou sayest he is a boy, but he is very strong. How hath he soon +grown like a Sala sprout? Thy birth is low. Thou speakest like a lewd +woman. Lustfully hast thou been begotten by Menaka. O woman of ascetic +guise, all that thou sayest is quite unknown to me. I don’t know thee. Go +withersoever thou choosest.’ + +“Sakuntala replied, ‘Thou seest, O king, the fault of others, even though +they be as small as a mustard seed. But seeing, thou noticest not thy own +faults even though they be as large as the Vilwa fruit. Menaka is one of +the celestials. Indeed, Menaka is reckoned as the first of celestials. My +birth, therefore, O Dushmanta, is far higher than thine. Thou walkest +upon the Earth, O king, but I roam in the skies! Behold, the difference +between ourselves is as that between (the mountain) Meru and a mustard +seed! Behold my power, O king! I can repair to the abodes of Indra, +Kuvera, Yama, and Varuna! The saying is true which I shall refer to +before thee, O sinless one! I refer to it for example’s sake and not from +evil motives. Therefore, it behoveth thee to pardon me after thou hast +heard it. An ugly person considereth himself handsomer than others until +he sees his own face in the mirror. But when he sees his own ugly face in +the mirror, it is then that he perceiveth the difference between himself +and others. He that is really handsome never taunts anybody. And he that +always talketh evil becometh a reviler. And as the swine always look for +dirt and filth even when in the midst of a flower-garden, so the wicked +always choose the evil out of both evil and good that others speak. +Those, however, that are wise, on hearing the speeches of others that are +intermixed with both good and evil, accept only what is good, like geese +that always extract the milk only, though it be mixed with water. As the +honest are always pained at speaking ill of others, so do the wicked +always rejoice in doing the same thing. As the honest always feel +pleasure in showing regard for the old, so do the wicked always take +delight in aspersing the good. The honest are happy in not seeking for +faults. The wicked are happy in seeking for them. The wicked ever speak +ill of the honest. But the latter never injure the former, even if +injured by them. What can be more ridiculous in the world than that those +that are themselves wicked should represent the really honest as wicked? +When even atheists are annoyed with those that have fallen off from truth +and virtue and who are really like angry snakes of virulent poison, what +shall I say of myself who am nurtured in faith? He that having begotten a +son who is his own image, regardeth him not, never attaineth to the +worlds he coveteth, and verily the gods destroy his good fortune and +possessions. The Pitris have said that the son continueth the race and +the line and is, therefore, the best of all religious acts. Therefore, +none should abandon a son. Manu hath said that there are five kinds of +sons; those begotten by one’s self upon his own wife, those obtained (as +gift) from others, those purchased for a consideration, those reared with +affection and those begotten upon other women than upon wedded wives. +Sons support the religion and achievements of men, enhance their joys, +and rescue deceased ancestors from hell. It behoveth thee not, therefore, +O tiger among kings, to abandon a son who is such. Therefore, O lord of +Earth, cherish thy own self, truth, and virtue by cherishing thy son. O +lion among monarchs, it behoveth thee not to support this deceitfulness. +The dedication of a tank is more meritorious than that of a hundred +wells. A sacrifice again is more meritorious than the dedication of a +tank. A son is more meritorious than a sacrifice. Truth is more +meritorious than a hundred sons. A hundred horse-sacrifices had once been +weighed against Truth, and Truth was found heavier than a hundred +horse-sacrifices. O king, Truth, I ween, may be equal to the study of, +the entire Vedas and ablutions in all holy places. There is no virtue +equal to Truth: there is nothing superior to Truth. O king, Truth is God +himself; Truth is the highest vow. Therefore, violate not thy pledge, O +monarch! Let Truth and thee be even united. If thou placest no credit in +my words, I shall of my own accord go hence. Indeed, thy companionship +should be avoided. But thou, O Dushmanta, that when thou art gone, this +son of mine shall rule the whole Earth surrounded by the four seas and +adorned with the king of the mountains.” + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Sakuntala having spoken to the monarch in this +wise, left his presence. But as soon as she had left, a voice from the +skies, emanating from no visible shape, thus spoke unto Dushmanta as he +was sitting surrounded by his occasional and household priests, his +preceptors, and ministers. And the voice said, ‘The mother is but the +sheath of flesh; the son sprung from the father is the father himself. +Therefore, O Dushmanta, cherish thy son, and insult not Sakuntala. O best +of men, the son, who is but a form of one’s own seed, rescueth +(ancestors) from the region of Yama. Thou art the progenitor of this boy. +Sakuntala hath spoken the truth. The husband, dividing his body in twain, +is born of his wife in the form of son. Therefore, O Dushmanta, cherish, +O monarch, thy son born of Sakuntala. To live by forsaking one’s living +son is a great, misfortune. Therefore, O thou of Puru’s race, cherish thy +high-souled son born of Sakuntala--And because this child is to be +cherished by thee even at our word, therefore shall this thy son be known +by the name of Bharata (the cherished).’ Hearing these words uttered by +the dwellers in heaven, the monarch of Puru’s race became overjoyed and +spoke as follows unto his priests and ministers, ‘Hear ye these words +uttered by the celestial messenger? I myself know this one to be my son. +If I had taken him as my son on the strength of Sakuntala’s words alone, +my people would have been suspicious and my son also would not have been +regarded as pure.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The monarch, then, O thou of Bharata’s race, +seeing the purity of his son established by the celestial messenger, +became exceedingly glad. And he took unto him that son with joy. And the +king with a joyous heart then performed all those rites upon his son that +a father should perform. And the king smelt his child’s head and hugged +him with affection. And the Brahmanas began to utter blessings upon him +and the bards began to applaud him. And the monarch then experienced the +great delight that one feeleth at the touch of one’s son. And Dushmanta +also received mat wife of his with affection. And he told her these +words, pacifying her affectionately, ‘O goddess, my union with the? took +place privately Therefore, I was thinking of how best to establish thy +purity. My people might think that we were only lustfully united and not +as husband and wife, and therefore, this son that I would have installed +as my heir apparent would only have been regarded as one of impure birth. +And dearest, every hard word thou hast uttered in thy anger, have I, O +large-eyed one, forgiven thee. Thou art my dearest!’ And the royal sage +Dushmanta, having spoken thus unto his dear wife, O Bharata, received her +with offerings of perfume, food, and drink. And king Dushmanta, then, +bestowed the name of Bharata upon his child, and formally installed him +as the heir apparent. And the famous and bright wheels of Bharata’s car, +invincible and like unto the wheels of the cars owned by the gods, +traversed every region, filling the whole Earth with their rattle. And +the son of Dushmanta reduced to subjection all kings of the Earth. And he +ruled virtuously and earned great fame. And that monarch of great prowess +was known by the titles of Chakravarti and Sarvabhauma. And he performed +many sacrifices like Sakra, the lord of the Maruts. And Kanwa was the +chief priest at those sacrifices, in which the offerings to Brahmanas +were great. And the blessed monarch performed both the cow and the +horse-sacrifices. And Bharata gave unto Kanwa a thousand gold coins as +the sacerdotal fee. It is that Bharata from whom have emanated so many +mighty achievements. It is from him that the great race called after him +in his race are called after him. And in the Bharata race there have been +born many godlike monarchs gifted with great energy, and like unto +Brahman himself. Their number cannot be counted. But, O thou of Bharata’s +race, I shall name the principal ones that were blessed with great good +fortune, like unto the gods, and devoted to truth and honesty.’” + + + +SECTION LXXV + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hear now, as I recite the recorded genealogy, that +is sacred and subservient to religion, profit and pleasure, of these +royal sages--Daksha, the lord of creation, Manu, the son of Surya, +Bharata, Ruru, Puru, and Ajamidha. I shall also recite to thee, O sinless +one, the genealogies of the Yadavas and of the Kurus and of the king of +the Bharata line. These genealogies are sacred and their recitation is a +great act of propitiation. That recitation conferreth wealth, fame and +long life. And, O sinless one, all these I have named shone in their +splendour and were equal unto the great Rishis in energy. + +“Prachetas had ten sons who were all devoted to asceticism and possessed +of every virtue. They burnt, of old, by the fire emanating from their +mouths, several plants of poisonous and innumerable large trees that had +covered the Earth and became a source of great discomfort to man. After +these ten, was born another named Daksha. It is from Daksha that all +creatures have sprung. Therefore is he, O tiger among men, called the +Grandfather. Born of Prachetas the Muni Daksha, uniting himself with +Virini, begat a thousand sons of rigid vows, all like himself. And Narada +taught these thousand sons of Daksha the excellent philosophy of Sankhya +as a means of salvation. And, O Janamejaya, the lord of creation, Daksha, +then, from the desire of making creatures, begat fifty daughters. And he +made all of them his appointed daughters (so that their sons might be his +sons also for the performance of all religious acts). And he bestowed ten +of his daughters on Dharma, and thirteen on Kasyapa. And he gave +twenty-seven to Chandra, who are all engaged in indicating time. And +Kasyapa, the son of Marichi, begat on the eldest of his thirteen wives, +the Adityas, the celestials endued with great energy and having Indra as +their head and also Vivaswat (the Sun). And of Vivaswat was born the lord +Yama. And Martanda (Vivaswat) also begat another son after Yama, gifted +with great intelligence and named Manu. And Manu was endued with great +wisdom and devoted to virtue. And he became the progenitor of a line. And +in Manu’s race have been born all human beings, who have, therefore, been +called Manavas. And it is of Manu that all men including Brahmanas, +Kshatriyas, and others have been descended, and are, therefore, all +called Manavas. Subsequently, O monarch, the Brahmanas became united with +the Kshatriyas. And those sons of Manu that were Brahmanas devoted +themselves to the study of the Vedas. And Manu begat ten other children +named Vena, Dhrishnu, Narishyan, Nabhaga, Ikshvaku, Karusha, Saryati, the +eighth, a daughter named Ila, Prishadhru the ninth, and Nabhagarishta, +the tenth. They all betook themselves to the practices of Kshatriyas. +Besides these, Manu had fifty other sons on Earth. But we heard that they +all perished, quarrelling with one another. The learned Pururavas was +born of Ila. It hath been heard by us that Ila was both his mother and +father. And the great Pururavas had sway over thirteen islands of the +sea. And, though a human being, he was always surrounded by companions +that were superhuman. And Pururavas intoxicated with power quarrelled +with the Brahmanas and little caring for their anger robbed them of their +wealth. Beholding all this Sanatkumara came from the region of Brahman +and gave him good counsel, which was, however, rejected by Pururavas. +Then the wrath of the great Rishis was excited, and the avaricious +monarch, who intoxicated with power, had lost his reason, was immediately +destroyed by their curse. + +“It was Pururavas who first brought from the region of the Gandharvas the +three kinds of fire (for sacrificial purpose). And he brought thence, the +Apsara Urvasi also. And the son of Ila begat upon Urvasi six sons who +were called Ayus, Dhimat, Amavasu and Dhridhayus, and Vanayus, and +Satayus. And it is said that Ayus begat four sons named Nahusha, +Vriddhasarman, Rajingaya, and Anenas, on the daughter of Swarbhanu. And, +O monarch, Nahusha, of all the sons of Ayus, being gifted with great +intelligence and prowess ruled his extensive kingdom virtuously. And king +Nahusha supported evenly the Pitris, the celestials, the Rishis, the +Brahmanas, the Gandharvas, the Nagas, the Rakshasas, the Kshatriyas, and +the Vaisyas. And he suppressed all robber-gangs with a mighty hand. But +he made the Rishis pay tribute and carry him on their backs like bests of +burden. And, conquering the very gods by the beauty of his person, his +asceticism, prowess, and energy, he ruled as if he were Indra himself. +And Nahusha begat six sons, all of sweet speech, named Yati, Yayati, +Sanyati, Ayati, and Dhruva. Yati betaking himself to asceticism became a +Muni like unto Brahman himself. Yayati became a monarch of great prowess +and virtue. He ruled the whole Earth, performed numerous sacrifices, +worshipped the Pitris with great reverence, and always respected the +gods. And he brought the whole world under his sway and was never +vanquished by any foe. And the sons of Yayati were all great bowmen and +resplendent with every virtue. And, O king, they were begotten upon (his +two wives) Devayani and Sarmishtha. And of Devayani were born Yadu and +Turvasu, and of Sarmishtha were born Drahyu, Anu, and Puru. And, O king, +having virtuously ruled his subjects for a long time, Yayati was attacked +with a hideous decrepitude destroying his personal beauty. And attacked +by decrepitude, the monarch then spoke, O Bharata, unto his sons Yadu and +Puru and Turvasu and Drahyu and Anu these words, ‘Ye dear sons, I wish to +be a young man and to gratify my appetites in the company of young women. +Do you help me therein.’ To him his eldest son born of Devayani then +said, ‘What needest thou, O king? Dost thou want to have your youth?’ +Yayati then told him, ‘Accept thou my decrepitude, O son! With thy youth +I would enjoy myself. During the time of a great sacrifice I have been +cursed by the Muni Usanas (Sukra). O son, I would enjoy myself with your +youth. Take any of you this my decrepitude and with my body rule ye my +kingdom. I would enjoy myself with a renovated body. Therefore, ye my +sons, take ye my decrepitude.’ But none of his sons accepted his +decrepitude. Then his youngest son Puru said unto him, ‘O king, enjoy +thyself thou once again with a renovated body and returned youth! I shall +take thy decrepitude and at thy command rule thy kingdom.’ Thus +addressed, the royal sage, by virtue of his ascetic power then +transferred his own decrepitude unto that high-souled son of his and with +the youth of Puru became a youth; while with the monarch’s age Puru ruled +his kingdom. + +“Then, after a thousand years had passed away, Yayati, that tiger among +kings, remained as strong and powerful as a tiger. And he enjoyed for a +long time the companionship of his two wives. And in the gardens of +Chitraratha (the king of Gandharvas), the king also enjoyed the company +of the Apsara Viswachi. But even after all this, the great king found his +appetites unsatiated. The king, then recollected the following truths +contained in the Puranas, ‘Truly, one’s appetites are never satiated by +enjoyment. On the other hand, like sacrificial butter poured into the +fire, they flame up with indulgence. Even if one enjoyed the whole Earth +with its wealth, diamonds and gold, animals and women, one may not yet be +satiated. It is only when man doth not commit any sin in respect of any +living thing, in thought, deed, or speech, it is then that he attaineth +to purity as that of Brahman. When one feareth nothing, when one is not +feared by anything, when one wisheth for nothing, when one injureth +nothing, it is then that one attaineth to the purity of Brahman.’ The +wise monarch seeing this and satisfied that one’s appetites are never +satiated, set his mind at rest by meditation, and took back from his son +his own decrepitude. And giving him back his youth, though his own +appetites were unsatiated, and installing him on the throne, he spoke +unto Puru thus, ‘Thou art my true heir, thou art my true son by whom my +race is to be continued. In the world shall my race be known by thy name.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then that tiger among kings, having installed +his son Puru on the throne, went away to the mount of Bhrigu for devoting +himself to asceticism. And, having acquired great ascetic merit, after +long years, he succumbed to the inevitable influence of Time. He left his +human body by observing the vow of fasting, and ascended to heaven with +his wives.’” + + + +SECTION LXXVI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O thou of the wealth of asceticism, tell me how our +ancestor Yayati, who is the tenth from Prajapati, obtained for a wife the +unobtainable daughter of Sukra. I desire to hear of it in detail. Tell me +also, one after another, of those monarchs separately who were the +founders of dynasties.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The monarch Yayati was in splendour like unto Indra +himself. I will tell thee, in reply to thy question, O Janamejaya, how +both Sukra and Vrishaparvan bestowed upon him, with due rites, their +daughters, and how his union took place with Devayani in special. + +“Between the celestials and the Asuras, there happened, of yore, frequent +encounters for the sovereignty of the three worlds with everything in +them. The gods, then, from desire of victory, installed the son of +Angiras (Vrihaspati) as their priest to conduct their sacrifices; while +their opponents installed the learned Usanas as their priest for the same +purpose. And between those two Brahmanas there are always much boastful +rivalry. Those Danavas assembled for encounter that were slain by the +gods were all revived by the seer Sukra by the power of his knowledge. +And then starting again, into life,--these fought with the gods. The +Asuras also slew on the field of battle many of the celestials. But the +open-minded Vrihaspati could not revive them, because he knew not the +science called Sanjivani (re-vivification) which Kavya endued with great +energy knew so well. And the gods were, therefore, in great sorrow. And +the gods, in great anxiety of heart and entertaining a fear of the +learned Usanas, then went to Kacha, the eldest son of Vrihaspati, and +spoke unto him, saying, ‘We pay court to thee, be kind to us and do us a +service that we regard as very great. That knowledge which resides in +Sukra, that Brahmana of immeasurable prowess, make thy own as soon as +thou canst. Thou shalt find the Brahmana in the court of Vrishaparvan. He +always protects the Danavas but never us, their opponents. Thou art his +junior in age, and, therefore, capable of adoring him with reverence. +Thou canst also adore Devayani, the favourite daughter of that +high-souled Brahmana. Indeed, thou alone art capable of propitiating them +both by worship. There is none else that can do so. By gratifying +Devayani with thy conduct, liberality, sweetness, and general behaviour, +thou canst certainly obtain that knowledge.’ The son of Vrihaspati, thus +solicited by the gods, said ‘So be it, and went to where Vrishaparvan +was. Kacha, thus sent by the gods, soon went to the capital of the chief +of the Asuras, and beheld Sukra there. And beholding him, he thus spoke +unto him, ‘Accept me as thy disciple. I am the grandson of the Rishi +Angiras and son of Vrihaspati. By name I am known as Kacha. Thyself +becoming my preceptor, I shall practise the Brahmacharya mode of life for +a thousand years. Command me, then, O Brahmana!’ + +“Sukra (hearing this) said, ‘Welcome art thou, O Kacha! I accept thy +speech. I will treat thee with regard; for by so doing, it is Vrihaspati +who will be regarded.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Kacha commanded by Kavya or Usanas himself, +called also Sukra, then said, ‘So be it,’ and took the vow he had spoken +of. And, O Bharata, accepting the vow of which he had spoken, at the +proper time, Kacha began to conciliate regardfully both his preceptor and +(his daughter) Devayani. Indeed, he began to conciliate both. And as he +was young, by singing and dancing and playing on different kinds of +instruments, he soon gratified Devayani who was herself in her youth. +And, O Bharata, with his whole heart set upon it, he soon gratified the +maiden Devayani who was then a young lady, by presents of flowers and +fruits and services rendered with alacrity. And Devayani also with her +songs and sweetness of manners used, while they were alone, to attend +upon that youth carrying out his vow. And when five hundred years had +thus passed of Kacha’s vow, the Danavas came to learn his intention. And +having no compunctions about slaying a Brahmana, they became very angry +with him. And one day they saw Kacha in a solitary part of the woods +engaged in tending (his preceptor’s) kine. They then slew Kacha from +their hatred of Vrihaspati and also from their desire of protecting the +knowledge of reviving the dead from being conveyed by him. And having +slain him, they hacked his body into pieces and gave them to be devoured +by jackals and wolves. And (when twilight came) the kine returned to the +fold without him who tended them. And Devayani, seeing the kine returned +from the woods without Kacha, spoke, O Bharata, unto her father thus: + +‘Thy evening-fire hath been kindled. The Sun also hath set, O father! The +kine have returned without him who tendeth them. Kacha is, indeed, not to +be seen. It is plain that Kacha hath been lost, or is dead. Truly do I +say, O father, that without him I will not live.’ + +“Sukra hearing this said, I will revive him by saying, ‘Let this one +come.’ Then having recourse to the science of reviving the dead, Sukra +summoned Kacha. And summoned by his preceptor, Kacha appeared before him +in the gladness of heart tearing by virtue of his preceptor’s science the +bodies of the wolves (that had devoured him). And asked about the cause +of his delay, he thus spoke unto Bhargava’s daughter. Indeed, asked by +that Brahman’s daughter, he told her, ‘I was dead. O thou of pure +manners, burdened with sacrificial fuel, Kusa grass, and logs of wood, I +was coming towards our abode. I sat under a banian tree. The kine also, +having been brought together, were staying under the shade of that same +banian tree. The Asuras, beholding me, asked ‘Who art thou?’ They heard +me answer, ‘I am the son of Vrihaspati.’ As soon as I said this, the +Danavas slew me, and hacking my body into pieces gave my remains to +jackals and wolves. And they then went home in the gladness of heart. O +amiable one, summoned by the high-souled Bhargava, I after all come +before thee fully revived.’ + +“On another occasion, asked by Devayani, the Brahmana Kacha went into the +woods. And as he was roving about for gathering flowers, the Danavas +beheld him. They again slew him, and pounding him into a paste they mixed +it with the water of the ocean. Finding him long still (in coming), the +maiden again represented the matter unto her father. And summoned again +by the Brahmana with the aid of his science, Kacha appearing before his +preceptor and his daughter told everything as it had happened. Then +slaying him for the third time and burning him and reducing him to ashes, +the Asuras gave those ashes to the preceptor himself, mixing them with +his wine. And Devayani again spoke unto her father, saying, ‘O father, +Kacha was sent to gather flowers. But he is not to be seen. It is plain +he hath been lost, or has died. I tell thee truly, I would not live +without him.’ + +“Sukra hearing this said, ‘O daughter, the son of Vrihaspati hath gone to +the region of the dead. Though revived by my science, he is thus slain +frequently. What, indeed, am I to do? O Devayani, do not grieve, do not +cry. One like thee should not grieve for one that is mortal. Thou art +indeed, O daughter, in consequence of my prowess, worshipped thrice a day +during the ordained hours of prayer, by Brahmanas, the gods with Indra, +the Vasus, the Aswins, the Asuras, in fact, by the whole universe. It is +impossible to keep him alive, for revived by me he is often killed.’ To +all this Devayani replied, ‘Why shall I, O father, not grieve for him +whose grandfather is old Angiras himself, whose father is Vrihaspati who +is an ocean of ascetic merit, who is the grandson of a Rishi and the son +also of a Rishi? He himself too was a Brahmacharin and an ascetic; always +wakeful and skilled in everything. I will starve and follow the way Kacha +has gone. The handsome Kacha is, O father, dear unto me.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The great Rishi Kavya, then, afflicted by what +Devayani said, cried in anger, ‘Certainly, the Asuras seek to injure me, +for they slay my disciple that stayeth with me. These followers of Rudra +desire to divest me of my character as a Brahmana by making me +participate in their crime. Truly, this crime hath a terrible end. The +crime of slaying a Brahmana would even burn Indra himself.’ Having said +this, the Brahmana Sukra, urged by Devayani, began to summon Kacha who +had entered the jaws of Death. But Kacha, summoned with the aid of +science, and afraid of the consequence to his preceptor, feebly replied +from within the stomach of his preceptor, saying, ‘Be graceful unto me, O +lord! I am Kacha that worshippeth thee. Behave unto me as to thy own +dearly-loved son.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Sukra then said, ‘By what path, O Brahmana, +hast thou entered my stomach, where thou stayest now? Leaving the Asuras +this very moment, I shall go over to the gods.” Kacha replied, ‘By thy +grace, memory hath not failed me. Indeed, I do recollect everything as it +hath happened. My ascetic virtues have not been destroyed. It is, +therefore, that I am able to bear this almost insufferable pain. O Kavya, +slain by the Asuras and burnt and reduced to powder, I have been given to +thee with thy wine. When thou art present, O Brahmana, the art of the +Asuras will never be able to vanquish, the science of the Brahmana.’ + +“Hearing this, Sukra said, ‘O daughter, what good can I do to thee? It is +with my death that Kacha can get his life back. O Devayani, Kacha is even +within me. There is no other way of his coming out except by ripping open +my stomach.’ Devayani replied, ‘Both evils shall, like fire, burn me! The +death of Kacha and thy own death are to me the same! The death of Kacha +would deprive me of life. If thou also diest, I shall not be able to bear +my life.’ Then Sukra said, ‘O son of Vrihaspati, thou art, indeed, one +already crowned with success, because Devayani regards thee so well. +Accept the science that I will today impart to thee, if, indeed, thou be +not Indra in the form of Kacha. None can come out of my stomach with +life. A Brahmana, however, must not be slain, therefore, accept thou the +science I impart to thee. Start thou into life as my son. And possessed +of the knowledge received from me, and revived by me, take care that, on +coming out of my body, thou dost act gracefully.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Receiving the science imparted to him by his +preceptor the handsome Kacha, ripped open his stomach, came out like the +moon at evening on the fifteenth day of the bright fort-night. And +beholding the remains of his preceptor lying like a heap of penances, +Kacha revived him, aided by the science he had learned. Worshipping him +with regard, Kacha said unto his preceptor, ‘Him who poureth the nectar +of knowledge into one’s ears, even as thou hast done into those of myself +who was void of knowledge, him do I regard both as my father and mother. +And remembering the immense service done by him, who is there so +ungrateful as to injure him? They that, having acquired knowledge, injure +their preceptor who is always an object of worship, who is the giver of +knowledge, who is the most precious of all precious objects on Earth, +come to be hated on Earth and finally go to the regions of the sinful.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The learned Sukra, having been deceived while +under the influence of wine, and remembering the total loss of +consciousness that is one of the terrible consequences of drink, and +beholding too before him the handsome Kacha whom he had, in a state of +unconsciousness, drunk with his wine, then thought of effecting a reform +in the manners of Brahmanas. The high-souled Usanas rising up from the +ground in anger, then spoke as follows: “The wretched Brahmana who from +this day, unable to resist the temptation, will drink wine shall be +regarded as having lost his virtue, shall be reckoned to have committed +the sin of slaying a Brahmana, shall be hated both in this and the other +worlds. I set this limit to the conduct and dignity of Brahmanas +everywhere. Let the honest, let Brahmanas, let those with regard for +their superiors, let the gods, let the three worlds, listen!’ Having said +these words that high-souled one, that ascetic of ascetics, then +summoning the Danavas who had been deprived by fate of the good sense, +told them these words, Ye foolish Danavas, know ye that Kacha hath +obtained his wishes. He will henceforth dwell with me. Having obtained +the valuable knowledge of reviving the dead, that Brahmana hath, indeed, +become in prowess even as Brahman himself!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Bhargava having said so much cut short his +speech. The Danavas were surprised and went away to their homes. Kacha, +too, having stayed with his preceptor for a full thousand years, then +prepared to return to the abode of the celestials, after having obtained +his preceptor’s permission.’” + + + +SECTION LXXVII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘After the expiry of the period of his vow, Kacha, +having obtained his preceptor’s leave, was about to return to the abode +of the celestials, when Devayani, addressing him, said, ‘O grandson of +the Rishi Angiras, in conduct and birth, in learning, asceticism and +humility, thou shinest most brightly. As the celebrated Rishi Angiras is +honoured and regarded by my father, so is thy father regarded and +worshipped by me. O thou of ascetic wealth, knowing this, listen to what +I say. Recollect my conduct towards thee during the period of thy vow +(Brahmacharya). Thy vow hath now been over. It behoveth thee to fix thy +affections on me. O accept my hand duly with ordained mantras.’ + +“Kacha replied, ‘Thou art to me an object of regard and worship even as +thy father! O thou of faultless features, thou art, indeed, even an +object of greater reverence! Thou art dearer than life to the high-souled +Bhargava, O amiable one! As the daughter of my preceptor, thou art ever +worthy of my worship! As my preceptor Sukra, thy father, is ever +deserving of my regards, so art thou, O Devayani! Therefore, it behoveth +thee not to say so.’ Hearing this, Devayani replied, ‘Thou, too, art the +son of my father’s preceptor’s son. Therefore, O best of Brahmanas, thou +art deserving of my regards and worship. O Kacha, when thou wert slain so +many times by the Asuras, recollect today the affection I showed for +thee. Remembering my friendship and affection for thee, and, indeed, my +devoted regard also, O virtuous one, it behoveth thee not to abandon me +without any fault. I am truly devoted to thee.’ + +“Hearing all this, Kacha said, ‘O thou of virtuous vows, do not urge me +into such a sinful course. O thou of fair eye-brows, be gracious unto me. +Beautiful one, thou art to me an object of greater regard than my +preceptor. Full of virtuous resolves, O large-eyed one, of face as +handsome, as moon, the place where thou hadst resided, viz., the body of +Kavya, hath also been my abode. Thou art truly my sister. Amiable one, +happily have we passed the days that we have been together. There is +perfect good understanding between us. I ask thy leave to return to my +abode. Therefore, bless me so that my journey may be safe. I must be +remembered by thee, when thou recallest me in connection with topics of +conversation, as one that hath not transgressed virtue. Always attend +upon my preceptor with readiness and singleness of heart.’ To all this, +Devaniya answered, ‘Solicited, by me, if, indeed, thou truly refusest to +make me thy wife, then, O Kacha, this thy knowledge shall not bear fruit.’ + +“Hearing this, Kacha said, ‘I have refused thy request only because thou +art the daughter of my preceptor, and not because thou hast any fault. +Nor hath my preceptor in this respect issued any command. Curse me if it +please thee. I have told thee what the behaviour should be of a Rishi. I +do not deserve thy curse, O Devayani. But yet thou hast cursed me! Thou +hast acted under the influence of passion and not from a sense of duty. +Therefore, thy desire will not be fulfilled. No Rishi’s son shall ever +accept thy hand in marriage. Thou hast said that my knowledge shall not +bear fruit. Let it be so. But in respect of him it shall bear fruit to +whom I may impart it.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘That first of Brahmanas, Kacha, having said so +unto Devayani speedily wended his way unto the abode of the chief of the +celestials. Beholding him arrived, the celestials with Indra ahead, +having first worshipped him, spoke unto him as follows, ‘Thou hast +indeed, performed an act of great benefit for us. Wonderful hath been thy +achievement! Thy fame shall never die! Thou shall be a sharer with us in +sacrificial offerings.’” + + + +SECTION LXXVIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The dwellers in heaven became exceedingly glad in +welcoming Kacha who had mastered the wonderful science. And, O bull of +Bharata’s race, the celestials then learnt that science from Kacha and +considered their object already achieved. And assembling together, they +spoke unto him of a hundred sacrifices, saying, ‘The time hath come for +showing prowess. Slay thy foes, O Purandara!’ And thus addressed, +Maghavat, then accompanied by the celestials, set out, saying, ‘So be +it.’ But on his way he saw a number of damsels. These maidens were +sporting in a lake in the gardens of the Gandharva Chitraratha. Changing +himself into wind, he soon mixed up the garments of those maidens which +they had laid on the bank. A little while after, the maidens, getting up +from the water, approached their garments that had, indeed, got mixed up +with one another. And it so happened that from the intermingled heap, the +garments of Devayani were appropriated by Sarmishtha, the daughter of +Vrishaparvan, from ignorance that it was not hers. And, O king, +thereupon, between them, Devayani and Sarmishtha, then ensued a dispute. +And Devayani said, ‘O daughter of the Asura (chief), why dost thou take +my attire, being, as thou art, my disciple? As thou art destitute of good +behaviour, nothing good can happen to thee!’ Sarmishtha, however, quickly +replied, ‘Thy father occupying a lower seat, always adoreth with downcast +looks, like a hired chanter of praises, my father, whether he sitteth at +his ease or reclineth at full length! Thou art the daughter of one that +chanteth the praises of others, of one that accepteth alms. I am the +daughter of one who is adored, of one who bestoweth alms instead of ever +accepting them! Beggar-woman as thou art, thou art free to strike thy +breast, to use ill words, to vow enmity to me, to give way to thy wrath. +Acceptress of alms, thou weepest tears of anger in vain! If so minded, I +can harm thee, but thou canst not. Thou desirest to quarrel. But know +thou that I do not reckon thee as my equal!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words, Devayani became +exceedingly angry and began to pull at her clothes. Sarmishtha thereupon +threw her into a well and went home. Indeed, the wicked Sarmishtha +believing that Devayani was dead, bent her steps home-wards in a wrathful +mood. + +“After Sarmishtha had left, Yayati the son of Nahusha soon came to that +spot. The king had been out a-hunting. The couple of horses harnessed to +his car and the other single horse with him were all fatigued. And the +king himself was thirsty. And the son of Nahusha saw a well that was by. +And he saw that it was dry. But in looking down into it, he saw a maiden +who in splendour was like a blazing fire. And beholding her within it, +the blessed king addressed that girl of the complexion of the celestials, +soothing her with sweet words. And he said, ‘Who art thou, O fair one, of +nails bright as burnished copper, and with ear-rings decked with +celestial gems? Thou seemest to be greatly perturbed. Why dost thou weep +in affliction? How, indeed, hast thou fallen into this well covered with +creepers and long grass? And, O slender-waisted girl, answer me truly +whose daughter thou art. + +“Devayani then replied, ‘I am the daughter of Sukra who brings back into +life the Asuras slain by the gods. He doth not know what hath befallen +me. This is my right hand, O king, with nails bright as burnished copper. +Thou art well-born; I ask thee, to take and raise me up! I know thou art +of good behaviour, of great prowess, and of wide fame! It behoveth thee, +therefore, to raise me from this well.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘King Yayati, learning that she was a Brahmana’s +daughter, raised her from that well by catching hold of her right hand. +And the monarch promptly raising her from the pit and squinting to her +tapering thighs, sweetly and courteously returned to his capital. + +“When the son of Nahusha had gone away, Devayani of faultless features, +afflicted with grief, then spoke unto her maid, Ghurnika by name, who met +her then. And she said, ‘O Ghurnika, go thou quickly and speak to my +father without loss of time of everything as it hath happened. I shall +not now enter the city of Vrishaparvan.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Ghurnika, thus commanded, repaired quickly to +the mansion, of the Asura chief, where she saw Kavya and spoke unto him +with her perception dimmed by anger. And she said, ‘I tell thee, O great +Brahmana, that Devayani hath been ill-used, O fortunate one, in the +forest by Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan.’ And Kavya, hearing +that his daughter had been ill-used by Sarmishtha speedily went out with +a heavy heart, seeking her in the woods. And when he found her in the +woods, he clasped her with affection and spoke unto her with voice choked +with grief, ‘O daughter, the weal or woe that befalleth people is always +due to their own faults. Thou hast therefore some fault, I ween, which +hath been expiated thus.’ Hearing this Devayani replied, ‘Be it a penalty +or not, listen to me with attention. O, hear that all Sarmishtha, the +daughter of Vrishaparvan, hath said unto me. Really hath she said that +thou art only the hired chanter of the praises of the Asura king! Even +thus hath she--that Sarmishtha, Vrishaparvan’s daughter,--spoken to me, +with reddened eyes, these piercing and cruel words, ‘Thou art the +daughter of one that ever chanteth for hire the praises of others, of one +that asketh for charities, of one that accepteth alms; whereas I am the +daughter of one that receiveth adorations, of one that giveth, of one +that never accepteth anything as gift!’ These have been the words +repeatedly spoken unto me by the proud Sarmishtha, the daughter of +Vrishaparvan, with eyes red with anger. If, O father, I am really the +daughter of a hired chanter of praises, of one that accepteth gifts, I +must offer my adorations in the hope of obtaining her grace! Oh, of this +I have already told her!’ + +“Sukra replied, ‘Thou art, O Devayani, no daughter of a hired adorer, of +one that asketh for alms and accepteth gifts. Thou art the daughter of +one that adores none, but of one that is adored by all! Vrishaparvan +himself knoweth it, and Indra, and king Yayati too. That inconceivable +Brahma, that unopposable Godhead, is my strength! The self-create, +himself, gratified by me, hath said that I am for aye the lord of that +which is in all things on Earth or in Heaven! I tell thee truly that it +is I who pour rain for the good of creatures and who nourish the annual +plants that sustain all living things!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘It was by such sweet words of excellent import +that the father endeavoured to pacify his daughter afflicted with woe and +oppressed by anger.’” + + + +SECTION LXXIX + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Sukra continued, ‘Know, then, O Devayani, that he that mindeth not the +evil speeches of others, conquereth everything! The wise say that he is a +true charioteer who without slackening holdeth tightly the reins of his +horses. He, therefore, is the true man that subdueth, without indulging +in his rising wrath. Know thou, O Devayani, that by him is everything +conquered, who calmly subdueth his rising anger. He is regarded as a man +who by having recourse to forgiveness, shaketh off his rising anger like +a snake casting off its slough He that suppresseth his anger, he that +regardeth not the evil speeches of others, he that becometh not angry, +though there be cause, certainly acquireth the four objects for which we +live (viz., virtue, profit, desire, and salvation) Between him that +performeth without fatigue sacrifices every month for a hundred years, +and him that never feeleth angry at anything, he that feeleth not wrath +is certainly the higher. Boys and girls, unable to distinguish between +right and wrong, quarrel with each other. The wise never imitate them.’ +Devayani, on hearing this speech of her father, said, ‘O father, I know, +also what the difference is between anger and forgiveness as regards the +power of each. But when a disciple behaveth disrespectfully, he should +never be forgiven by the preceptor if the latter is really desirous of +benefiting the former. Therefore, I do not desire to live any longer in a +country where evil behaviour is at a premium. The wise man desirous of +good, should not dwell among those sinfully inclined men who always speak +ill of good behaviour and high birth. But there should one live,--indeed, +that hath been said to be the best of dwelling places,--where good +behaviour and purity of birth are known and respected. The cruel words +uttered by Vrishaparvan’s daughter burn my heart even as men, desirous of +kindling a fire, burn the dry fuel. I do not think anything more +miserable for a man in the three worlds than to adore one’s enemies +blessed with good fortune, himself possessing none. It hath been indeed +said by the learned that for such a man even death would be better.’” + + + +SECTION LXXX + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Kavya, the foremost of Bhrigu’s line, became +angry himself. And approaching Vrishaparvan where the latter was seated, +began to address him without weighing his words, ‘O king,’ he said, +‘sinful acts do not, like the Earth, bear fruit immediately! But +gradually and secretly do they extirpate their doers. Such fruit visiteth +either in one’s own self, one’s son, or one’s grandson. Sins must bear +their fruit. Like rich food they can never be digested. And because ye +slew the Brahmana Kacha, the grandson of Angiras, who was virtuous, +acquainted with the precepts of religion, and attentive to his duties, +while residing in my abode, even for this act of slaughter--and for the +mal-treatment of my daughter too, know, O Vrishaparvan, I shall leave +thee and thy relatives! Indeed, O king, for this, I can no longer stay +with thee! Dost thou, O Asura chief, think that I am a raving liar? Thou +makest light of thy offence without seeking to correct it!’. + +“Vrishaparvan then said, ‘O son of Bhrigu, never have I attributed want +of virtue, of falsehood, to thee. Indeed, virtue and truth ever dwell in +thee. Be kind to me! O Bhargava, if, leaving us, thou really goest hence, +we shall then go into the depths of the ocean. Indeed, there is nothing +else for us to do.’ + +“Sukra then replied, ‘Ye Asuras, whether ye go into the depths of the +ocean or fly away to all directions. I care little. I am unable to bear +my daughter’s grief. My daughter is ever dear to me. My life dependeth on +her. Seek ye to please her. As Vrihaspati ever seeketh the good of Indra, +so do I always seek thine by my ascetic merits.’ + +“Vrishaparvan then said, ‘O Bhargava, thou art the absolute master of +whatever is possessed by the Asura chiefs in this world-their elephants, +kine and horses, and even my humble self!’ + +“Sukra then answered, ‘If it is true, O great Asura, that I am the lord +of all the wealth of the Asuras, then go and gratify Devayani.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘when the great Kavya was so addressed by +Vrishaparvan, he then went to Devayani and told her all. Devayani, +however, quickly replied, ‘O Bhargava, if thou art truly the lord of the +Asura king himself and of all his wealth, then let the king himself come +to me and say so in my presence.’ Vrishaparvan then approached Devayani +and told her, ‘O Devayani of sweet smiles, whatever thou desirest I am +willing to give thee, however difficult it may be to grant the same.’ +Devayani answered, ‘I desire Sarmishtha with a thousand maids to wait on +me! She must also follow me to where my father may give me away.’ + +“Vrishaparvan then commanded a maid-servant in attendance on him, saying, +‘Go and quickly bring Sarmishtha hither. Let her also accomplish what +Devayani wisheth.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The maid-servant then repaired to Sarmishtha +and told her, ‘O amiable Sarmishtha, rise and follow me. Accomplish the +good of thy relatives. Urged by Devayani, the Brahmana (Sukra) is on the +point of leaving his disciples (the Asuras). O sinless one, thou must do +what Devayani wisheth.’ Sarmishtha replied, ‘I shall cheerfully do what +Devayani wisheth. Urged by Devayani Sukra is calling me. Both Sukra and +Devayani must not leave the Asuras through my fault.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Commanded by her father, then, Sarmishtha, +accompanied by a thousand maidens, soon came, in a palanquin, out of her +father’s excellent mansion. And approaching Devayani she said, ‘With my +thousand maids, I am thy waiting-maid! And I shall follow thee where thy +father may give thee away.’ Devayani replied, ‘I am the daughter of one +who chanteth the praises of thy father, and who beggeth and accepteth +alms; thou, on the other hand, art the daughter of one who is adored. How +canst thou be my waiting-maid?’ + +“Sarmishtha answered, ‘One must by all means contribute to the happiness +of one’s afflicted relatives. Therefore shall I follow thee wherever thy +father may give thee away.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘When Sarmishtha thus promised to be Devayani’s +waiting-maid the latter, O king, then spoke unto her father thus, ‘O best +of all excellent Brahmanas, I am gratified. I shall now enter the Asura +capital! I now know that thy science and power of knowledge are not +futile!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘That best of Brahmanas, of great reputation, +thus addressed by his daughter, then, entered the Asura capital in the +gladness of his heart. And the Danavas worshipped him with great +reverence.’” + + + +SECTION LXXXI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +Vaisampayana said, ‘After some length of time, O best of monarchs, +Devayani of the fairest complexion went into the same woods for purposes +of pleasure. And accompanied by Sarmishtha with her thousand maids she +reached the same spot and began to wander freely. And waited upon by all +those companions she felt supremely happy. And sporting with light +hearts, they began drinking the honey in flowers, eating various kinds of +fruit and biting some. And just at that time, king Yayati, the son of +Nahusha, again came there tired and thirsty, in course of his wanderings, +in search of deer. And the king saw Devayani and Sarmishtha, and those +other maidens also, all decked with celestial ornaments and full of +voluptuous languor in consequence of the flower-honey they drank. And +Devayani of sweet smiles, unrivalled for beauty and possessed of the +fairest complexion amongst them all, was reclining at her ease. And she +was waited upon by Sarmishtha who was gently kneading her feet. + +“And Yayati seeing all this, said, ‘O amiable ones, I would ask you both +your names and parentage. It seems that these two thousand maids wait on +you two.’ ‘Hearing the monarch, Devayani then answered, ‘Listen to me, O +best of men. Know that I am the daughter of Sukra, the spiritual guide of +the Asuras. This my companion is my waiting-maid. She attendeth on me +wherever I go. She is Sarmishtha, the daughter of the Asura king +Vrishaparvan.’ + +“Yayati then asked, ‘I am curious to know why is this thy companion of +fair eye-brows, this maiden of the fairest complexion, the daughter of +the Asura chief thy waiting-maid!’ Devayani replied, ‘O best of king, +everything resulteth from Fate. Knowing this also to be the result of +Fate, wonder not at it. Thy feature and attire are both like a king’s. +Thy speech also is fair and correct as that of the Vedas. Tell me thy +name, whence thou art and whose son also.’ + +“The monarch replied, ‘During my vow of Brahmacharya, the whole Vedas +entered my ears. I am known as Yayati, a king’s son and myself a king.’ +Devayani then enquired, ‘O king, what hast thou come here for? Is it to +gather lotuses or to angle or to hunt?’ Yayati said, ‘O amiable one, +thirsty from the pursuit of deer, I have come hither in search of water. +I am very much fatigued. I await but your commands to leave this spot.’ + +“Devayani answered, ‘With my two thousand damsels and my waiting-maid +Sarmishtha, I wait but your commands. Prosperity to thee. Be thou my +friend and lord.’ + +“Yayati, thereupon, replied, ‘Beautiful one, I do not deserve thee. Thou +art the daughter of Sukra far superior to me. Thy father cannot bestow +thee even on a great king.’ To this Devayani replied, ‘Brahmanas had +before this been united with the Kshatriyas, and Kshatriyas with +Brahmanas. Thou art the son of a Rishi and thyself a Rishi. Therefore, O +son of Nahusha, marry me.’ Yayati, however, replied, ‘O thou of the +handsomest features, the four orders have, indeed, sprung from one body. +But their duties and purity are not the same, the Brahmana being truly +superior to all.’ Devayani answered, ‘This hand of mine hath never been +touched before by any man save thee. Therefore, do I accept thee for my +lord. How, indeed, shall any other man touch my hand which had before +been touched by thyself who art a Rishi? Yayati then said, ‘The wise know +that a Brahmana is more to be avoided than an angry snake of virulent +poison, or a blazing fire of spreading flames.’ Devayani then told the +monarch, ‘O bull amongst men, why dost thou, indeed, say that Brahmana +should be more avoided than an angry snake of virulent poison or a +blazing fire of spreading flames?’ The monarch answered, ‘The snake +killeth only one. The sharpest weapon slayeth but a single person. The +Brahmana, when angry destroyeth whole cities and kingdoms! Therefore, O +timid one, do I deem a Brahmana as more to be avoided than either. I +cannot hence wed thee, O amiable one, unless thy father bestoweth thee on +me. Devayani then said, ‘Thou art, indeed, chosen by me. And, O king, it +is understood that thou wilt accept me if my father bestoweth me on thee. +Thou needst not fear to accept my poor self bestowed on thee. Thou dost +not, indeed, ask for me.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘After this, Devayani quickly sent a maidservant +to her father. The maid represented to Sukra everything as it had +happened. And as soon as he had heard all, Bhargava came and saw Yayati. +And beholding Bhargava come, Yayati worshipped and adored that Brahmana, +and stood with joined palms in expectation of his commands.’ + +“And Devayani then said, ‘This O father, is the son of Nahusha. He took +hold of my hand, when I was in distress. I bow to thee. Bestow me upon +him. I shall not wed any other person in the world.’ Sukra exclaimed, ‘O +thou of splendid courage, thou hast, indeed, been accepted as her lord by +this my dear daughter. I bestow her on thee. Therefore, O son of Nahusha, +accept her as thy wife.’ + +“Yayati then said, ‘I solicit the boon, O Brahmana, that by so doing, the +sin of begetting a half-breed might not touch me.’ Sukra, however, +assured him by saying, ‘I shall absolve thee from the sin. Ask thou the +boon that thou desirest. Fear not to wed her. I grant thee absolution. +Maintain virtuously thy wife--the slender-waisted Devayani. Transports of +happiness be thine in her company. This other maiden, Vrishaparvan’s +daughter, Sarmishtha should ever be regarded by thee. But thou shall not +summon her to thy bed.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by Sukra, Yayati then walked +round the Brahmana. And the king then went through the auspicious +ceremony of marriage according to the rites of the scriptures. And having +received from Sukra this rich treasure of the excellent Devayani with +Sarmishtha and those two thousand maidens, and duly honoured also by +Sukra himself and the Asuras, the best of monarchs, then, commanded by +the high-souled Bhargava, returned to his capital with a joyous heart.’” + + + +SECTION LXXXII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Yayati then, on returning to his capital which was +like unto the city of Indra, entered his inner apartments and established +there his bride Devayani. And the monarch, directed by Devayani, +established Vrishaparvan’s daughter Sarmishtha in a mansion especially +erected near the artificial woods of Asokas in his gardens. And the king +surrounded Vrishaparvan’s daughter Sarmishtha with a thousand maids and +honoured her by making every arrangement for her food and garments. But +it was with Devayani that the royal son of Nahusha sported like a +celestial for many years in joy and bliss. And when her season came, the +fair Devayani conceived. And she brought forth as her first child a fine +boy. And when a thousand years had passed away, Vrishaparvan’s daughter +Sarmishtha having attained to puberty saw that her season had come. She +became anxious and said to herself, ‘My season hath arrived. But I have +not yet chosen a husband. O, what hath happened, what should I do? How am +I to obtain the fruition of my wishes? Devayani hath become mother. My +youth is doomed to pass away in vain. Shall I choose him also for my +husband whom Devayani hath chosen? This is, indeed, my resolve: that +monarch should give me a son. Will not the virtuous one grant me a +private interview?’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘While Sarmishtha was thus busy with her +thoughts, the king wandering listlessly came to that very wood of Asokas, +and beholding Sarmishtha before him, stood there in silence. Then +Sarmishtha of sweet smiles seeing the monarch before her with nobody to +witness what might pass, approached him and said with joined palms, ‘O +son of Nahusha, no one can behold the ladies that dwell in the inner +apartments of Soma, of Indra, of Vishnu, of Yama, of Varuna, and of thee! +Thou knowest, O king, that I am both handsome and well-born. I solicit +thee, O king! My season hath arrived. See that it goeth not in vain.’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘Well do I know that honour of birth is thine, born as +thou art in the proud race of the Danavas. Thou art also gifted with +beauty. I do not, indeed, see even the speck of a fault in thy feature. +But Usanas commanded me, while I was united with Devayani, that never +should Vrishaparvan’s daughter he summoned to my bed.’ + +“Sarmishtha then said, ‘It hath been said, O king, that it is not sinful +to lie on the occasion of a joke, in respect of women sought to be +enjoyed, on occasions of marriage, in peril of immediate death and of the +loss of one’s whole fortune. Lying is excusable on these five occasions. +O king, it is not true that he is fallen who speaks not the truth when +asked. Both Devayani and myself have been called hither as companions to +serve the same purpose. When, therefore, thou hadst said that you wouldst +confine thyself to one only amongst as, that was a lie thou hadst +spoken.’ Yayati replied, ‘A king should ever be a model in the eyes of +his people. That monarch certainly meets with destruction who speaks an +untruth. As for myself, I dare not speak an untruth even if the greatest +loss threatens me!’ Sarmishtha answered, ‘O monarch, one may look upon +her friend’s husband as her own. One’s friend’s marriage is the same as +one’s own. Thou hast been chosen by my friend as her husband. Thou art as +much my husband, therefore.’ Yayati then said, ‘It is, indeed my vow +always to grant what one asketh. As thou askest me, tell me then what I +am to do.’ Sarmishtha then said, ‘Absolve me, O king, from sin. Protect +my virtue. Becoming a mother by thee, let me practise the highest virtue +in this world. It is said, O king, that a wife, a slave, and a son can +never earn wealth for themselves. What they earn always belongeth to him +who owneth them. I am, indeed, the slave of Devayani. Thou art Devayani’s +master and lord. Thou art, therefore, O king, my master and lord as much +as Devayani’s! I solicit thee! O, fulfil my wishes!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by Sarmishtha, the monarch was +persuaded into the truth of all she spoke. He therefore, honoured +Sarmishtha by protecting her virtue. And they passed some time together. +And taking affectionate farewell of each other, they then parted, each +returning to whence he or she had come. + +“And it came to pass that Sarmishtha of sweet smiles and fair eyebrows +conceived in consequence of that connection of hers with that best of +monarchs. And, O king, that lotus-eyed lady then in due course of time +brought forth a son of the splendour of a celestial child and of eyes +like-lotus-petals.’” + + + +SECTION LXXXIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘When Devayani of sweet smiles heard of the birth of +this child, she became jealous, and O Bharata, Sarmishtha became an +object of her unpleasant reflections. And Devayani, repairing to her, +addressed her thus, ‘O thou of fair eye-brows, what sin is this thou hast +committed by yielding to the influence of lust?’ Sarmishtha replied, ‘A +certain Rishi of virtuous soul and fully conversant with the Vedas came +to me. Capable of granting boons he was solicited by me to grant my +wishes that were based on considerations of virtue. O thou of sweet +smiles, I would not seek the sinful fulfilment of my desires. I tell thee +truly that this child of mine is by that Rishi!’ Devayani answered, ‘It +is all right if that be the case, O timid one! But if the lineage, name, +and family of that Brahmana be known to thee, I should like to hear +them.’ Sarmishtha replied, ‘O thou of sweet smiles, in asceticism and +energy, that Rishi is resplendent like the Sun himself. Beholding him, I +had not, any need to make these enquiries--’ Devayani then said, ‘If this +is true, if indeed, thou hast obtained thy child from such a superior +Brahmana, then, O Sarmishtha, I have no cause of anger.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having thus talked and laughed with each other, +they separated, Devayani returning to the palace with the knowledge +imparted to her by Sarmishtha. And, O king, Yayati also begot on Devayani +two sons called Yadu and Turvasu, who were like Indra and Vishnu. And +Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan, became through the royal sage +the mother of three sons in all, named Drahyu, Anu, and Puru. + +“And, O king, it so came to pass that one day Devayani of sweet smiles, +accompanied by Yayati, went into a solitary part of the woods, (in the +king’s extensive park). And there she saw three children of celestial +beauty playing with perfect trustfulness. And Devayani asked in surprise, +‘Whose children are they, O king, who are so handsome and so like unto +the children of the celestials? In splendour and beauty they are like +thee, I should think.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘And Devayani without waiting for a reply from +the king, asked the children themselves, ‘Ye children, what is your +lineage? Who is your father? Answer me truly. I desire to know all.’ +Those children then pointed at the king (with their forefingers) and +spoke of Sarmishtha as their mother. + +“And having so said, the children approached the king to clasp his knees. +But the king dared not caress them in the presence of Devayani. The boys +then left the place, and made towards their mother, weeping in grief. And +the king, at this conduct of the boys, became very much abashed. But +Devayani, marking the affection of the children for the king learnt the +secret and addressing Sarmishtha, said, ‘How hast thou dared to do me an +injury, being, as thou art, dependent on me? Dost thou not fear to have +recourse once more to that Asura custom of thine?’ + +“Sarmishtha said, ‘O thou of sweet smiles, all that I told thee of a +Rishi is perfectly true. I have acted rightly and according to the +precepts of virtue, and therefore, do I not fear thee. When thou hadst +chosen the king for thy husband, I, too, chose him as mine. O beautiful +one, a friend’s husband is, according to usage, one’s own husband as +well. Thou art the daughter of a Brahmana and, therefore, deservest my +worship and regard. But dost thou not know that this royal sage is held +by me in greater esteem still?’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Devayani then, hearing those words of hers, +exclaimed, O king, thus, ‘Thou hast wronged me, O monarch! I shall not +live here any longer.’ And saying this, she quickly rose, with tearful +eyes, to go to her father. And the king was grieved to see her thus, and +alarmed greatly, followed in her foot-steps, endeavouring to appease her +wrath. But Devayani, with eyes red with anger, would not desist. Speaking +not a word to the king, with eyes bathed in tears, she soon reached the +side of her father Usanas, the son of Kavi. And beholding her father, she +stood before him, after due salutations. And Yayati also, immediately +after, saluted and worshipped Bhargava.’ + +“And Devayani said, ‘O father, virtue hath been vanquished by vice. The +low have risen, and the high have fallen. I have been offended again by +Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan. Three sons have been begotten +upon her by this king Yayati. But, O father, being luckless I have got +only two sons! O son of Bhrigu, this king is renowned for his knowledge +of the precepts of religion. But, O Kavya, I tell thee that he hath +deviated from the path of rectitude.’ + +“Sukra, hearing all this, said, ‘O monarch, since thou hast made vice thy +beloved pursuit, though fully acquainted with the precepts of religion, +invincible decrepitude shall paralyse thee!’ Yayati answered, ‘Adorable +one, I was solicited by the daughter of the Danava king to fructify her +season. I did it from a sense of virtue and not from other motives. That +male person, who being solicited by a woman in her season doth not grant +her wishes, is called, O Brahmana, by those conversant with the Vedas, a +slayer of the embryo. He who, solicited in secret by a woman full of +desire and in season, goeth not in unto her, loseth virtue and is called +by the learned a killer of the embryo, O son of Bhrigu, for these +reasons, and anxious to avoid sin, I went into Sarmishtha.’ Sukra then +replied, ‘Thou art dependent on me. Thou shouldst have awaited my +command. Having acted falsely in the matter of thy duty, O son of +Nahusha, thou hast been guilty of the sin of theft.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Yayati, the son of Nahusha, thus cursed by the +angry Usanas, was then divested of his youth and immediately overcome by +decrepitude. And Yayati said, ‘O son of Bhrigu, I have not yet been +satiated with youth or with Devayani. Therefore, O Brahmana, be graceful +unto me so that decrepitude might not touch me.’ Sukra then answered, ‘I +never speak an untruth. Even now, O king, art thou attacked by +decrepitude. But if thou likest, thou art competent to transfer this thy +decrepitude to another.’ Yayati said, ‘O Brahmana, let it be commanded by +thee that that son of mine who giveth me his youth shall enjoy my +kingdom, and shall achieve both virtue and fame.’ Sukra replied, ‘O son +of Nahusha, thinking of me thou mayst transfer this thy decrepitude to +whomsoever thou likest. That son who shall give thee his youth shall +become thy successor to the throne. He shall also have long life, wide +fame, and numerous progeny!’” + + + +SECTION LXXXIV + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Yayati, then, overcome with decrepitude, returned to +his capital and summoning his eldest son Yadu who was also the most +accomplished, addressed him thus, ‘Dear child, from the curse of Kavya +called also Usanas, decrepitude and wrinkles and whiteness of hair have +come over me. But I have not been gratified yet with the enjoyment of +youth. Do thou, O Yadu, take this my weakness along with my decrepitude. +I shall enjoy with thy youth. And when a full thousand years will have +elapsed, returning to thee thy youth, I shall take back my weakness with +this decrepitude!’ + +“Yadu replied, ‘There are innumerable inconveniences in decrepitude, in +respect of drinking and eating. Therefore, O king, I shall not take thy +decrepitude. This is, indeed, my determination. White hair on the head, +cheerlessness and relaxation of the nerves, wrinkles all over the body, +deformities, weakness of the limbs, emaciation, incapacity to work, +defeat at the hands of friends and companions--these are the consequences +of decrepitude. Therefore, O king, I desire not to take it. O king, thou +hast many sons some of whom are dearer to thee. Thou art acquainted with +the precepts of virtue. Ask some other son of thine to take thy +decrepitude. + +“Yayati replied, ‘Thou art sprung from my heart, O son, but thou givest +me not thy youth. Therefore, thy children shall never be kings.’ And he +continued, addressing another son of his, ‘O Turvasu, take thou this +weakness of mine along with my decrepitude. With thy youth, O son, I like +to enjoy the pleasure of life. After the lapse of a full thousand years I +shall give back to thee thy youth, and take back from thee my weakness +and decrepitude.’ + +“Turvasu replied, ‘I do not like decrepitude, O father, it takes away all +appetites and enjoyments, strength and beauty of person, intellect, and +even life.’ Yayati said to him, ‘Thou art sprung from my heart, O son! +But thou givest me not thy youth! Therefore, O Turvasu, thy race shall be +extinct. Wretch, thou shall be the king of those whose practices and +precepts are impure, amongst whom men of inferior blood procreate +children upon women of blue blood, who live on meat, who are mean, who +hesitate not to appropriate the wives of their superiors, whose practices +are those of birds and beasts, who are sinful, and non-Aryan.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Yayati, having thus cursed his son Turvasu, then, +addressed Sarmishtha’s son Drahyu thus, ‘O Drahyu, take thou for a +thousand years my decrepitude destructive of complexion and personal +beauty and give me thy youth. When a thousand years have passed away, I +shall return thee thy youth and take back my own weakness, and +decrepitude.’ To this Drahyu replied, ‘O king, one that is decrepit can +never enjoy elephants and cars and horses and women. Even his voice +becometh hoarse. Therefore, I do not desire (to take) thy decrepitude.’ +Yayati said to him, ‘Thou art sprung from my heart, O son! But thou +refusest to give me thy youth. Therefore, thy most cherished desires +shall never be fulfilled. Thou shalt be king only in name, of that region +where there are no roads for (the passage of) horses and cars and +elephants, and good vehicles, and asses, and goats and bullocks, and +palanquins; where there is swimming only by rafts and floats.’ Yayati +next addressed Anu and said, ‘O Anu, take my weakness and decrepitude. I +shall with thy youth enjoy the pleasures of life for a thousand years.’ +To this Anu replied, ‘Those that are decrepit always eat like children +and are always impure. They cannot pour libations upon fire in proper +times. Therefore, I do not like to take thy decrepitude.’ Yayati said to +him, ‘Thou art sprung from my heart, thou givest not thy youth. Thou +findest so many faults in decrepitude. Therefore, decrepitude shall +overcome thee! And, O Anu, thy progeny also as soon as they attain to +youth, shall die. And thou shalt also not be able to perform sacrifices +before fire.’ + +“Yayati at last turned to his youngest child, Puru, and addressing him +said, ‘Thou art, O Puru, my youngest son! But thou shall be the first of +all! Decrepitude, wrinkles, and whiteness of hair have come over me in +consequence of the curse of Kavya called also Usanas. I have not yet +however, been satiated with my youth. O Puru, take thou this my weakness +and decrepitude! With thy youth I shall enjoy for some years the +pleasures of life. And when a thousand years have passed away, I shall +give back to thee thy youth and take back my own decrepitude.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by the king, Puru answered with +humility, ‘I shall do, O monarch, as thou bidest me. I shall take, O +king, thy weakness and decrepitude. Take thou my youth and enjoy as thou +listest the pleasures of life. Covered with thy decrepitude and becoming +old, I shall, as thou commandest, continue to live, giving thee my +youth.’ Yayati then said, ‘O Puru, I have been gratified with thee. And +being gratified, I tell thee that the people in thy kingdom shall have +all their desires fulfilled.’ + +“And having said this, the great ascetic Yayati, then thinking of Kavya, +transferred his decrepitude unto the body of the high-souled Puru.’” + + + +SECTION LXXXV + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The excellent monarch Yayati, the son of Nahusha, +having received Puru’s youth, became exceedingly gratified. And with it +he once more began to indulge in his favourite pursuits to the full +extent of his desires and to the limit of his powers, according to +seasons, so as to derive the greatest pleasure therefrom. And, O king, in +nothing that he did, he acted against the precepts of his religion as +behoved him well. He gratified the gods by his sacrifices; the pitris, by +Sraddhas; the poor, by his charities; all excellent Brahmanas, by +fulfilling their desires; all persons entitled to the rites of +hospitality, with food and drink; the Vaisyas, by protection; and the +Sudras, by kindness. And the king repressed all criminals by proper +punishments. And Yayati, gratifying all sections of his subjects, +protected them virtuously like another Indra. And the monarch possessed +of the prowess of a lion, with youth and every object of enjoyment under +control, enjoyed unlimited happiness without transgressing the precepts +of religion. And the king became very happy in thus being able to enjoy +all the excellent objects of his desires. And he was only sorry when he +thought that those thousand years would come to an end. And having +obtained youth for a thousand years, the king acquainted with the +mysteries of time, and watching proper Kalas and Kashthas sported with +(the celestial damsel) Viswachi, sometimes in the beautiful garden of +Indra, sometimes in Alaka (the city of Kuvera), and sometimes on the +summit of the mountain Meru on the north. And when the virtuous monarch +saw that the thousand years were full, he summoned his son, Puru, and +addressed him thus, ‘O oppressor of foes, with thy youth, O son, I have +enjoyed the pleasures of life, each according to its season to the full +extent of my desires, to the limit of my powers. Our desires, however, +are never gratified by indulgence. On the other hand, with indulgence, +they only flame up like fire with libations of sacrificial butter. If a +single person were owner of everything on Earth--all her yields of paddy +and barley, her silver, gold, and gems, her animals and women, he would +not still be content. Thirst of enjoyment, therefore, should be given up. +Indeed, true happiness belongeth to them that have cast off their thirst +for worldly objects--a thirst which is difficult to be thrown off by the +wicked and the sinful, which faileth not with the failing life, and which +is truly the fatal disease of man. My heart hath for a full thousand +years been fixed upon the objects of desires. My thirst for these, +however, increaseth day by day without abating. Therefore, I shall cast +it off, and fixing my mind on Brahma I shall pass the rest of my days +with the innocent deer in the forest peacefully and with no heart for any +worldly objects. And O Puru, I have been exceedingly gratified with thee! +Prosperity be thine! Receive back this thy youth! Receive thou also my +kingdom. Thou art, indeed, that son of mine who has done me the greatest +services.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Yayati, the son of Nahusha, received back +his decrepitude. And his son Puru received back his own youth. And Yayati +was desirous of installing Puru, his youngest son, on the throne. But the +four orders, with the Brahmanas at their head, then addressed the monarch +thus, ‘O king, how shall thou bestow thy kingdom on Puru, passing over +thy eldest son Yadu born of Devayani, and, therefore, the grandson of the +great Sukra? Indeed, Yadu is thy eldest son; after him hath been born +Turvasu; and of Sarmishtha’s sons, the first is Drahyu, then Anu and then +Puru. How doth the youngest deserve the throne, passing all his elder +brothers over? This we represent to thee! O, conform to virtuous +practice.’ + +“Yayati then said, ‘Ye four orders with Brahmanas at their head, hear my +words as to why my kingdom should not be given to my eldest son. My +commands have been disobeyed by my eldest son, Yadu. The wise say that he +is no son who disobeyeth his father. That son, however, who doth the +bidding of his parents, who seeketh their good, who is agreeable to them, +is indeed, the best of sons. I have been disregarded by Yadu and by +Turvasu, too. Much I have been disregarded by Drahyu and by Anu also. By +Puru alone hath my word been obeyed. By him have I been much regarded. +Therefore, the youngest shall be my heir. He took my decrepitude. Indeed, +Puru is my friend. He did what was so agreeable to me. It hath also been +commanded by Sukra himself, the son of Kavi, that, that son of mine who +should obey me will become king after me and bring the whole Earth under +his sway. I, therefore, beseech thee, let Puru be installed on the +throne.’ + +“The people then said, ‘True it is, O king, that, that son who is +accomplished and who seeketh the good of his parents, deserveth +prosperity even if he be the youngest. Therefore, doth Puru, who hath +done the good, deserve the crown. And as Sukra himself hath commanded it, +we have nothing to say to it.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued., ‘The son of Nahusha, thus addressed by the +contented people, then installed his son, Puru, on the throne. And having +bestowed his kingdom on Puru, the monarch performed the initiatory +ceremonies for retiring into the woods. And soon after he left his +capital, followed by Brahmanas and ascetics. + +“The sons of Yadu are known by the name of the Yadavas: while those of +Turvasu have come to be called the Yavanas. And the sons of Drahyu are +the Bhojas, while those of Anu, the Mlechchhas. The progeny of Puru, +however, are the Pauravas, amongst whom, O monarch, thou art born, in +order to rule for a thousand years with thy passions under complete +control.’” + + + +SECTION LXXXVI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘King Yayati, the son of Nahusha, having thus +installed his dear son on the throne, became exceedingly happy, and +entered into the woods to lead the life of a hermit. And having lived for +some time into forest in the company of Brahmanas, observing many rigid +vows, eating fruits and roots, patiently bearing privations of all sorts, +the monarch at last ascended to heaven. And having ascended to heaven he +lived there in bliss. But soon, however, he was hurled down by Indra. And +it hath been heard by me, O king, that, though hurled from heaven, +Yayati, without reaching the surface of the Earth, stayed in the +firmament. I have heard that some time after he again entered the region +of the celestials in company with Vasuman, Ashtaka, Pratarddana, and +Sivi.’ + +“Janamejaya said, ‘I desire to hear from thee in detail why Yayati, +having first obtained admission into heaven, was hurled therefrom, and +why also he gained re-admittance. Let all this, O Brahmana, be narrated +by thee in the presence of these regenerate sages. Yayati, lord of Earth, +was, indeed, like the chief of the celestials. The progenitor of the +extensive race of the Kurus, he was of the splendour of the Sun. I desire +to hear in full the story of his life both in heaven and on Earth, as he +was illustrious, and of world-wide celebrity and of wonderful +achievements.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Indeed, I shall recite to thee the excellent story +of Yayati’s adventures on Earth and in heaven. That story is sacred and +destroyeth the sins of those that hear it. + +“King Yayati, the son of Nahusha, having installed his youngest son, +Puru, on the throne after casting his sons with Yadu for their eldest +amongst the Mlechchhas, entered the forest to lead the life of a hermit. +And the king eating fruits and roots lived for some time in the forest. +Having his mind and passions under complete control, the king gratified +by sacrifices the Pitris and the gods. And he poured libations of +clarified butter upon the fire according to the rites prescribed for +those leading the Vanaprastha mode of life. And the illustrious one +entertained guests and strangers with the fruit of the forest and +clarified butter, while he himself supported life by gleaning scattered +corn seeds. And the king; led this sort of life for a full thousand +years. And observing the vow of silence and with mind under complete +control he passed one full year, living upon air alone and without sleep. +And he passed another year practising the severest austerities in the +midst of four fires around and the Sun overhead. And, living upon air +alone, he stood erect upon one leg for six months. And the king of sacred +deeds ascended to heaven, covering heaven as well as the Earth (with the +fame of his achievements).’” + + + +SECTION LXXXVII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘While that king of kings dwelt in heaven--the home +of the celestials, he was reverenced by the gods, the Sadhyas, the +Maruts, and the Vasus. Of sacred deeds, and mind under complete control, +the monarch used to repair now and then from the abode of the celestials +unto the region of Brahman. And it hath been heard by me that he dwelt +for a long time in heaven. + +“One day that best of kings, Yayati, went to Indra and there in course of +conversation the lord of Earth was asked by Indra as follows: + +‘What didst thou say, O king, when thy son Puru took thy decrepitude on +Earth and when thou gavest him thy kingdom?’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘I told him that the whole country between the rivers +Ganga and Yamuna was his. That is, indeed, the central region of the +Earth, while the out-lying regions are to be the dominions of thy +brothers. I also told him that those without anger were ever superior to +those under its sway, those disposed to forgive were ever superior to the +unforgiving. Man is superior to the lower animals. Among men again the +learned are superior to the un-learned. If wronged, thou shouldst not +wrong in return. One’s wrath, if disregarded, burneth one’s own self; but +he that regardeth it not taketh away all the virtues of him that +exhibiteh it. Never shouldst thou pain others by cruel speeches. Never +subdue thy foes by despicable means; and never utter such scorching and +sinful words as may torture others. He that pricketh as if with thorns +men by means of hard and cruel words, thou must know, ever carrieth in +his mouth the Rakshasas. Prosperity and luck fly away at his very sight. +Thou shouldst ever keep the virtuous before thee as thy models; thou +shouldst ever with retrospective eye compare thy acts with those of the +virtuous; thou shouldst ever disregard the hard words of the wicked. Thou +shouldst ever make the conduct of the wise the model upon which thou art +to act thyself. The man hurt by the arrows of cruel speech hurled from +one’s lips, weepeth day and night. Indeed, these strike at the core of +the body. Therefore the wise never fling these arrows at others. There is +nothing in the three worlds by which thou canst worship and adore the +deities better than by kindness, friendship, charity and sweet speeches +unto all. Therefore, shouldst thou always utter words that soothe, and +not those that scorch. And thou shouldst regard those that deserve, thy +regards, and shouldst always give but never beg!”’ + + + +SECTION LXXXVIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Alter this Indra again asked Yayati, ‘Thou didst +retire into the woods, O king, after accomplishing all thy duties. O +Yayati, son of Nahusha, I would ask thee to whom thou art equal in +ascetic austerities.’ Yayati answered, ‘O Vasava, I do not, in the matter +of ascetic austerities, behold my equal among men, the celestials, the +Gandharvas, and the great Rishis.’ Indra then said, ‘O monarch, because +thou disregardest those that are thy superiors, thy equals, and even thy +inferiors, without, in fact, knowing their real merits, thy virtues have +suffered diminution and thou must fall from heaven.’ Yayati then said, ‘O +Sakra, if, indeed, my virtues have really sustained diminution and I must +on that account fall down from heaven, I desire, O chief of the +celestials, that I may at least fall among the virtuous and the honest.’ +Indra replied, ‘O king, thou shall fall among those that are virtuous and +wise, and thou shall acquire also much renown. And after this experience +of thine, O Yayati, never again disregard those that are thy superiors or +even thy equals.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Upon this, Yayati fell from the region of the +celestials. And as he was falling, he was beheld by that foremost of +royal sages, viz., Ashtaka, the protector of his own religion. Ashtaka +beholding him, enquired, ‘Who art thou, O youth of a beauty equal to that +of Indra, in splendour blazing as the fire, thus falling from on high? +Art thou that foremost of sky-ranging bodies--the sun--emerging from, +dark masses of clouds? Beholding thee falling from the solar course, +possessed of immeasurable energy and the splendour of fire or the sun, +every one is curious as to what it is that is so falling, and is, +besides, deprived of consciousness! Beholding thee in the path of the +celestials, possessed of energy like that of Sakra, or Surya, or Vishnu, +we have approached thee to ascertain the truth. If thou hast first asked +us who we were, we would never have been guilty of the incivility of +asking thee first. We now ask thee who thou art and why thou approachest +hither. Let thy fears be dispelled; let thy woes and afflictions cease. +Thou art now in the presence of the virtuous and the wise. Even Sakra +himself--the slayer of Vala--cannot here do thee any injury. O thou of +the prowess of the chief of the celestials, the wise and the virtuous are +the support of their brethren in grief. Here there are none but the wise +and virtuous like thee assembled together. Therefore, stay thou here in +peace. Fire alone hath power to give heat. The Earth alone hath power to +infuse life into the seed. The sun alone hath power to illuminate +everything. So the guest alone hath power to command the virtuous and the +wise.’” + + + +SECTION LXXXIX + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Yayati said, ‘I am Yayati, the son of Nahusha and the father of Puru. +Cast off from the region of the celestials and of Siddhas and Rishis for +having disregarded every creature, I am falling down, my righteousness +having sustained diminution. In years I am older than you; therefore, I +have not saluted you first. Indeed, the Brahmanas always reverence him +who is older in years or superior in learning or in ascetic merit.’ + +“Ashtaka then replied, ‘Thou sayest, O monarch, that he who is older in +years is worthy of regard. But it is said that he is truly worthy of +worship who is superior in learning and ascetic merit.’ + +“Yayati replied to this, ‘It is said that sin destroyeth the merits of +four virtuous acts. Vanity containeth the element of that which leadeth +to hell. The virtuous never follow in the footsteps of the vicious. They +act in such a way that their religious merit always increaseth. I myself +had great religious merit, but all that, however, is gone. I will +scarcely be able to regain it even by my best exertions. Beholding my +fate, he that is bent upon (achieving) his own good, will certainly +suppress vanity. He who having acquired great wealth performeth +meritorious sacrifices, who having acquired all kinds of learning +remaineth humble, and who having studied the entire Vedas devoteth +himself to asceticism with a heart withdrawn from all mundane enjoyments, +goeth to heaven. None should exult in having acquired great wealth. None +should be vain of having studied the entire Vedas. In the world men are +of different dispositions. Destiny is supreme. Both power and exertion +are all fruitless. Knowing Destiny to be all-powerful, the wise, whatever +their portions may be, should neither exult nor grieve. When creatures +know that their weal and woe are dependent on Destiny and not on their +own exertion or power, they should neither grieve nor exult, remembering +that Destiny is all powerful. The wise should ever live contented, +neither grieving at woe nor exulting at weal. When Destiny is supreme, +both grief and exultation are unbecoming. O Ashtaka, I never suffer +myself to be overcome by fear, nor do I ever entertain grief, knowing for +certain that I shall be in the world what the great disposer of all hath +ordained. Insects and worms, all oviparous creatures, vegetable +existences, all crawling animals, vermin, the fish in the water, stones, +grass, wood--in fact, all created things, when they are freed from the +effects of their acts, are united with the Supreme Soul. Happiness and +misery are both transient. Therefore, O Ashtaka, why should I grieve? We +can never know how we are to act in order to avoid misery. Therefore, +none should grieve for misery.’ + +“Possessed of every virtue, king Yayati who was the maternal grandfather +of Ashtaka, while staying in the welkin, at the conclusion of his speech, +was again questioned by Ashtaka. The latter said, ‘O king of kings, tell +me, in detail, of all those regions that thou hast visited and enjoyed, +as well as the period for which thou hast enjoyed each. Thou speakest of +the precepts of religion even like the clever masters acquainted with the +acts and sayings of great beings!’ Yayati replied, ‘I was a great king on +Earth, owning the whole world for my dominion. Leaving it, I acquired by +dint of religious merit many high regions. There I dwelt for a full +thousand years, and then I attained to a very high region the abode of +Indra, of extraordinary beauty having a thousand gates, and extending +over a hundred yojanas all round. There too, I dwelt a full thousand +years and then attained to a higher region still. That is the region of +perfect beatitude, where decay never exists, the region, viz., that of +the Creator and the Lord of Earth, so difficult of attainment. There also +I dwelt for a full thousand years, and then attained to another very high +region viz., that of the god of gods (Vishnu) where, too, I had lived in +happiness. Indeed, I dwelt in various regions, adored by all the +celestials, and possessed of prowess and splendour equal unto those of +the celestials themselves. Capable of assuming any form at will, I lived +for a million years in the gardens of Nandana sporting with the Apsaras +and beholding numberless beautiful trees clad in flowery vesture and +sending forth delicious perfume all round. And after many, many years had +elapsed, while still residing there in enjoyment of perfect beatitude, +the celestial messenger of grim visage, one day, in a loud and deep +voice, thrice shouted to me--Ruined! Ruined! Ruined!--O lion among kings, +this much do I remember. I was then fallen from Nandana, my religious +merits gone! I heard in the skies, O king, the voices of the celestials +exclaiming in grief,--Alas! What a misfortune! Yayati, with his religious +merits destroyed, though virtuous and of sacred deeds, is falling!--And +as I was falling, I asked them loudly, ‘Where, ye celestials, are those +wise ones amongst whom I am to fall?’ They pointed out to me this sacred +sacrificial region belonging to you. Beholding the curls of smoke +blackening the atmosphere and smelling the perfume of clarified butter +poured incessantly upon fire, and guided thereby, I am approaching this +region of yours, glad at heart that I come amongst you.’” + + + +SECTION XC + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Ashtaka said, ‘Capable of assuming any form at will, thou hast lived for +a million years in the gardens of Nandana. For what cause, O foremost of +those that flourished in the Krita age, hast thou been compelled to leave +that region and come hither?’ Yayati answered, ‘As kinsmen, friends, and +relatives forsake, in this world, those whose wealth disappears so, in +the other world, the celestials with Indra as their chief, forsake him +who hath lost his righteousness.’ Ashtaka said, ‘I am extremely anxious +to know how in the other world men can lose virtue. Tell me also, O king, +what regions are attainable by what courses of action. Thou art +acquainted, I know, with the acts and sayings of great beings.” + +“Yayati answered, ‘O pious one, they that speak of their own merits are +doomed to suffer the hell called Bhauma. Though really emaciated and +lean, they appear to grow on Earth (in the shape of their sons and +grandsons) only to become food for vultures, dogs, and jackals. +Therefore, O king, this highly censurable and wicked vice should be +repressed. I have now, O king, told thee all. Tell me what more I shall +say.’ + +“Ashtaka said, ‘When life is destroyed with age, vultures, peacocks, +insects, and worms eat up the human body. Where doth man then reside? How +doth he also come back to life? I have never heard of any hell called +Bhauma on Earth!’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘After the dissolution of the body, man, according to +his acts, re-entereth the womb of his mother and stayeth there in an +indistinct form, and soon after assuming a distinct and visible shape +reappeareth in the world and walketh on its surface. This is that +Earth-hell (Bhauma) where he falleth, for he beholdeth not the +termination of his existence and acteth not towards his emancipation. +Some dwell for sixty thousand years, some, for eighty-thousand years in +heaven, and then they fall. And as they fall, they are attacked by +certain Rakshasas in the form of sons, grandsons, and other relatives, +that withdraw their hearts from acting for their own emancipation.’ + +“Ashtaka asked, ‘For what sin are beings, when they fall from heaven, +attacked by these fierce and sharp-toothed Rakshasas? Why are they not +reduced to annihilation? How do they again enter the womb, furnished with +senses?’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘After falling from heaven, the being becometh a +subtile substance living in water. This water becometh the semen whence +is the seed of vitality. Thence entering the mother’s womb in the womanly +season, it developeth into the embryo and next into visible life like the +fruit from the flower. Entering trees, plants, and other vegetable +substances, water, air, earth, and space, that same watery seed of life +assumeth the quadrupedal or bipedal form. This is the case with all +creatures that you see.’ + +“Ashtaka said, ‘O tell me, I ask thee because I have my doubts. Doth a +being that hath received a human form enter the womb in its own shape or +in some other? How doth it also acquire its distinct and visible shape, +eyes and ears and consciousness as well? Questioned by me, O, explain it +all! Thou art, O father, one acquainted with the acts and sayings of +great beings.’ Yayati answered, ‘According to the merits of one’s acts, +the being that in a subtile form co-inheres in the seed that is dropped +into the womb is attracted by the atmospheric force for purposes of +re-birth. It then developeth there in course of time; first it becomes +the embryo, and is next provided with the visible physical organism. +Coming out of the womb in due course of time, it becometh conscious of +its existence as man, and with his ears becometh sensible of sound; with +his eyes, of colour and form; with his nose, of scent; with his tongue, +of taste; by his whole body, of touch; and by his mind, of ideas. It is +thus, O Ashtaka, that the gross and visible body developeth from the +subtile essence.’ + +“Ashtaka asked, ‘After death, the body is burnt, or otherwise destroyed. +Reduced to nothing upon such dissolution, by what principle is one +revived?’ Yayati said, ‘O lion among kings, the person that dies assumes +a subtil form; and retaining consciousness of all his acts as in a dream, +he enters some other form with a speed quicker than that of air itself. +The virtuous attain to a superior, and the vicious to an inferior form of +existence. The vicious become worms and insects. I have nothing more to +say, O thou of great and pure soul! I have told thee how beings are born, +after development of embryonic forms, as four-footed, six-footed +creatures and others with more feet. What more wilt thou ask me?’ + +“Ashtaka said, ‘How, O father, do men attain to those superior regions +whence there is no return to earthly life? Is it by asceticism or by +knowledge? How also can one gradually attain to felicitous regions? Asked +by me, O answer it in full.’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘The wise say that for men there are seven gates +through which admission may be gained into Heaven. There are asceticism, +benevolence, tranquillity of mind, self-command, modesty, simplicity, and +kindness to all creatures. The wise also say that a person loseth all +these in consequence of vanity. That man who having acquired knowledge +regardeth himself as learned, and with his learning destroyed the +reputation of others, never attaineth to regions of indestructible +felicity. That knowledge also doth not make its possessor competent to +attain to Brahma. Study, taciturnity, worship before fire, and +sacrifices, these four remove all fear. When, however, these are mixed +with vanity, instead of removing it, they cause fear. The wise should +never exult at (receiving) honours nor should they grieve at insults. For +it is the wise alone that honour the wise; the wicked never act like the +virtuous. I have given away so much--I have performed so many +sacrifices,--I have studied so much,--I have observed these vows,--such +vanity is the root of fear. Therefore, thou must not indulge in such +feelings. Those learned men who accept as their support the unchangeable, +inconceivable Brahma alone that ever showereth blessings on persons +virtuous like thee, enjoy perfect peace here and hereafter.’” + + + +SECTION XCI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Ashtaka said, ‘Those cognisant of the Vedas differ in opinion as to how +the followers of each of the four modes of life, viz., Grihasthas, +Bhikshus, Brahmacharins, and Vanaprashthas, should conduct themselves in +order to acquire religious merit.” + +“Yayati answered, ‘These are what a Brahmacharin must do. While dwelling +in the abode of his preceptor, he must receive lessons only when his +preceptor summons him to do so; he must attend to the service of his +preceptor without waiting for the latter’s command; he must rise from his +bed before his preceptor riseth, and go to bed after his preceptor hath +gone to bed. He must be humble, must have his passions under complete +control, must be patient, vigilant, and devoted to studies. It is then +only that he can achieve success. It hath been said in the oldest +Upanishad that a grihastha, acquiring wealth by honest means, should +perform sacrifices; he should always give something in charity, should +perform the rites of hospitality unto all arriving at his abode, and +should never use anything without giving a portion thereof to others. A +Muni, without search for woods, depending on his own vigour, should +abstain from all vicious acts, should give away something in charity, +should never inflict pain on any creature. It is then only that he can +achieve success. He, indeed, is a true Bhikshu who doth not support +himself by any manual arts, who possesseth numerous accomplishments, who +hath his passions under complete control, who is unconnected with worldly +concerns, who sleepeth not under the shelter of a householder’s roof, who +is without wife, and who going a little way every day, travelleth over a +large extent of the country. A learned man should adopt the Vanaprastha +mode of life after performance of the necessary rites, when he hath been +able to control his appetites for enjoyment and desire of acquiring +valuable possessions. When one dieth in the woods while leading the +Vanaprastha mode of life, he maketh his ancestors and the successors, +numbering ten generations including himself, mix with the Divine essence.’ + +“Ashtaka asked, ‘How many kinds of Munis are there (observers of the vow +of the silence)?’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘He is, indeed, a Muni who, though dwelling in the +woods, hath an inhabited place near, or who, though dwelling in an +inhabited place, hath the woods near.’ + +“Ashtaka enquired what is meant by Muni.’ Yayati replied, ‘A Muni +withdrawing himself from all worldly objects liveth in the woods. And +though he might never seek to surround himself with those objects that +are procurable in an inhabited place, he might yet obtain them all by +virtue of his ascetic power. He may truly be said to dwell in the woods +having an inhabited place near to himself. Again a wise man withdrawn +from all earthly objects, might live in a hamlet leading the life of a +hermit. He may never exhibit the pride of family, birth or learning. Clad +in the scantiest robes, he may yet regard himself as attired in the +richest vestments. He may rest content with food just enough for the +support of life. Such a person, though dwelling in an inhabited place, +liveth yet in the woods. + +“The person again, who, with passions under complete control, adopteth +the vow of silence, refraining from action and entertaining no desire, +achieveth success. Why shouldst thou not, indeed, reverence the man who +liveth on clean food, who refraineth from ever injuring others, whose +heart is ever pure, who stands in the splendour of ascetic attributes, +who is free from the leaden weight of desire, who abstaineth from injury +even when sanctioned by religion? Emaciated by austerities and reduced in +flesh, marrow and blood, such a one conquereth not only this but the +highest world. And when the Muni sits in yoga meditation, becoming +indifferent to happiness and misery, honour and insult, he then leaveth +the world and enjoyeth communion with Brahma. When the Muni taketh food +like wine and other animals, i. e., without providing for it beforehand +and without any relish (like a sleeping infant feeding on the mother’s +lap), then like the all-pervading spirit he becometh identified with the +whole universe and attaineth to salvation.’” + + + +SECTION XCII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Ashtaka asked, ‘Who amongst these, O king, both exerting constantly like +the Sun and the Moon, first attaineth to communion with Brahma, the +ascetic or the man of knowledge?’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘The wise, with the help of the Vedas and of Knowledge, +having ascertained the visible universe to be illusory, instantly +realises the Supreme Spirit as the sole existent independent essence. +While they that devote themselves to Yoga meditation take time to acquire +the same knowledge, for it is by practice alone that these latter divest +themselves of the consciousness of quality. Hence the wise attain to +salvation first. Then again if the person devoted to Yoga find not +sufficient time in one life to attain success, being led astray by the +attractions of the world, in his next life he is benefited by the +progress already achieved, for he devoteth himself regretfully to the +pursuit of success. But the man of knowledge ever beholdeth the +indestructible unity, and, is, therefore, though steeped in worldly +enjoyments, never affected by them at heart. Therefore, there is nothing +to impede his salvation. He, however, who faileth to attain to knowledge, +should yet devote himself to piety as dependent on action (sacrifices +&c.). But he that devoteth himself to such piety, moved thereto by desire +of salvation, can never achieve success. His sacrifices bear no fruit and +partake of the nature of cruelty. Piety which is dependent on action that +proceedeth not from the desire of fruit, is, in case of such men Yoga +itself.’ + +“Ashtaka said, ‘O king, thou lookest like a young man; thou art handsome +and decked with a celestial garland. Thy splendour is great! Whence dost +thou come and where dost thou go? Whose messenger art thou? Art thou +going down into the Earth?’ + +“Yayati said, ‘Fallen from heaven upon the loss of all my religious +merits, I am doomed to enter the Earth-hell. Indeed, I shall go there +after I have finished my discourse with you. Even now the regents of the +points of the universe command me to hasten thither. And, O king, I have +obtained it as a boon from Indra that though fall I must upon the earth, +yet I should fall amidst the wise and the virtuous. Ye are all wise and +virtuous that are assembled here.’ + +“Ashtaka said, ‘Thou art acquainted with everything. I ask thee, O king, +are there any regions for myself to enjoy in heaven or in the firmament? +If there be, then, thou shalt not fall, though falling.’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘O king, there are as many regions for thee to enjoy in +heaven even as the number of kine and horses on Earth with the animals in +the wilderness and on the hills.’ + +“Ashtaka said, ‘If there are worlds for me to enjoy, as fruits of my +religious merits, in heaven, O king, I give them all unto thee. +Therefore, though falling, thou shalt not fall. O, take thou soon all +those, wherever they be, in heaven or in the firmament. Let thy sorrow +cease.’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘O best of kings, a Brahma-knowing Brahmana alone can +take in gift, but not one like ourselves. And, O monarch, I myself have +given away to Brahmanas as one should. Let no man who, is not a Brahmana +and let not the wife of a learned Brahmana ever live in infamy by +accepting gifts. While on earth, I ever desired to perform virtuous acts. +Having never done so before, how shall I now accept a gift?’ + +“Pratardana who was amongst them asked, ‘O thou of the handsomest form, I +am Pratardana by name. I ask thee if there are any worlds for me to enjoy +as fruits of my religious merits, in heaven or the firmament? Answer me, +thou art acquainted with everything.’ + +“Yayati said, ‘O king, numberless worlds, full of felicity, effulgent +like the solar disc, and where woe can never dwell, await thee. If thou +dwellest in each but for seven days, they would not yet be exhausted.’ + +“Pratardana said, ‘These then I give unto thee. Therefore, though +falling, thou must not fall. Let the worlds that are mine be thine, +whether they be in the firmament or heaven. O, soon take them. Let thy +woes cease.’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘O monarch, no king of equal energy should ever desire +to receive as gift the religious merits of another king acquired by Yoga +austerities. And no king who is afflicted with calamity through the fates +should, if wise, act in a censurable way. A king keeping his eye fixed +for ever on virtue should walk along the path of virtue like myself and, +knowing what his duties are, should not act so meanly as thou directest. +When others desirous of acquiring religious merits do not accept gifts, +how can I do what they themselves do not? On the conclusion of this +speech, that best of kings, Yayati, was then addressed by Vasumat in the +following words.’” + + + +SECTION XCIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vasumat said, ‘I am Vasumat, the son of Oshadaswa. I would ask thee, O +king, whether there are any worlds for me to enjoy as fruits of my +religious merits, in heaven or the firmament. Thou art, O high-souled +one, acquainted with all holy regions.’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘There are as many regions for thee to enjoy in heaven +as the number of places in the firmament, the Earth and the ten points of +the universe illumined by the Sun.’ + +“Vasumat then said, ‘I give them to thee. Let those regions that are for +me be thine. Therefore, though falling, thou shall not fall. If to accept +them as gift be improper for thee, then, O monarch, buy them for a straw?’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘I do not remember having ever bought and sold anything +unfairly. This has never been done by other kings. How shall I therefore +do it?’ + +“Vasumat said, ‘If buying them, O king, be regarded by thee as improper, +then take them as gilt from me. For myself I answer that I will never go +to those regions that are for me. Let them, therefore, be thine.’ + +“Sivi then addressed the king thus, I am, O king, Sivi by name, the son +of Usinara. O father, are there in the firmament or in heaven any worlds +for me to enjoy? Thou knowest every region that one may enjoy as the +fruit of his religious merit.’ + +“Yayati said, ‘Thou hast never, by speech or in mind, disregarded the +honest and the virtuous that applied to thee. There are infinite worlds +for thee to enjoy in heaven, all blazing like lightning.’ Sivi then said, +‘If thou regardest their purchase as improper, I give them to thee. Take +them all, O king! I shall never take them, viz., those regions where the +wise never feel the least disquiet.’ + +Yayati answered, ‘O Sivi, thou hast indeed, obtained for thyself, +possessed of the prowess of Indra, infinite worlds. But I do not desire +to enjoy regions given to me by others. Therefore, I accept not thy gift.’ + +“Ashtaka then said, ‘O king, each of us has expressed his desire to give +thee worlds that each of us has acquired by his religious merits. Thou +acceptest not them. But leaving them for thee, we shall descend into the +Earth-hell.’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘Ye all are truth-loving and wise. Give me that which I +deserve. I shall not be able to do what I have never done before.’ + +“Ashtaka then said, ‘Whose are those five golden cars that we see? Do men +that repair to these regions of everlasting bliss ride in them?’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘Those five golden cars displayed in glory, and blazing +as fire, would indeed, carry you to regions of bliss.’ + +“Ashtaka said, ‘O king, ride on those cars thyself and repair to heaven. +We can wait. We follow thee in time.’ + +“Yayati said, ‘We can now all go together. Indeed, all of us have +conquered heaven. Behold, the glorious path to heaven becomes visible.” + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then all those excellent monarchs riding in +those cars set out for heaven for gaining admittance into it, +illuminating the whole firmament by the glory of their virtues.’ + +“Then Ashtaka, breaking the silence asked, ‘I had always thought that +Indra was my especial friend, and that I, of all others, should first +obtain admittance into heaven. But how is it that Usinara’s son, Sivi +hath already left us behind?’ + +“Yayati answered, ‘This Usinara’s son had given all he possessed for +attaining to the region of Brahman. Therefore, is he the foremost among +us. Besides, Sivi’s liberality, asceticism, truth, virtue, modesty, +forgiveness, amiability, desire of performing good acts, have been so +great that none can measure them!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘After this, Ashtaka, impelled by curiosity, +again asked his maternal grandfather resembling Indra himself, saying, ‘O +king, I ask thee, tell me truly, whence thou art, who thou art, and whose +son? Is there any other Brahmana or Kshatriya who hath done what thou +didst on earth?’ Yayati answered, ‘I tell thee truly, I am Yayati, the +son of Nahusha and the father of Puru. I was lord of all the Earth. Ye +are my relatives; I tell thee truly, I am the maternal grandfather of you +all. Having conquered the whole earth, I gave clothes to Brahmanas and +also a hundred handsome horses fit for sacrificial offering. For such +acts of virtue, the gods became propitious to those that perform them. I +also gave to Brahmanas this whole earth with her horses and elephants and +kine and gold all kinds of wealth, along with a hundred Arbudas of +excellent milch cows. Both the earth and the firmament exist owing to my +truth and virtue; fire yet burneth in the world of men owing to my truth +and virtue. Never hath a word spoken by me been untrue. It is for this +that the wise adore Truth. O Ashtaka, all I have told thee, Pratardana, +and Vasumat, is Truth itself. I know it for certain that the gods and the +Rishis and all the mansions of the blessed are adorable only because of +Truth that characteriseth them all. He that will without malice duly read +unto good Brahmanas his account of our ascension to heaven shall himself +attain to the same worlds with us.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘It was thus that the illustrious king Yayati of +high achievements, rescued by his collateral descendants, ascended to +heaven, leaving the earth and covering the three worlds with the fame of +his deeds.’” + + + +SECTION XCIV + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O adorable one, I desire to hear the histories of +those kings who were descended from Puru. O tell me of each as he was +possessed of prowess and achievements. I have, indeed, heard that in +Puru’s line there was not a single one who was wanting in good behaviour +and prowess, or who was without sons. O thou of ascetic wealth, I desire +to hear the histories in detail of those famous monarchs endued with +learning and all accomplishments.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Asked by thee, I shall tell thee all about the +heroic-kings in Puru’s line, all equal unto Indra in prowess, possessing +great affluence and commanding the respect of all for their +accomplishments. + +“Puru had by his wife Paushti three sons, Pravira, Iswara, and Raudraswa, +all of whom were mighty car-warriors. Amongst them, Pravira was the +perpetuator of the dynasty. Pravira had by his wife Suraseni a son named +Manasyu. And the latter of eyes like lotus-petals had his sway over the +whole Earth bounded by the four seas. And Manasyu had for his wife +Sauviri. And he begat upon her three sons called Sakta, Sahana, and +Vagmi. And they were heroes in battle and mighty car-warriors. The +intelligent and virtuous Kaudraswa begat upon the Apsara Misrakesi ten +sons who were all great bowmen. And they all grew up into heroes, +performing numerous sacrifices in honour of the gods. And they all had +sons, were learned in all branches of knowledge and ever devoted to +virtue. They are Richeyu, and Kaksreyu and Vrikeyu of great prowess; +Sthandileyu, and Vaneyu, and Jaleyu of great fame; Tejeyu of great +strength and intelligence; and Satyeyu of the prowess of Indra; Dharmeyu, +and Sannateyu the tenth of the prowess of the celestials. Amongst them +all, Richeyu became the sole monarch of the whole earth and was known by +the name of Anadhrishti. And in prowess he was like unto Vasava amongst +the celestials. And Anadhristi had a son of the name of Matinara who +became a famous and virtuous king and performed the Rajasuya and the +horse-sacrifice. And Matinara had four sons of immeasurable prowess, +viz., Tansu, Mahan, Atiratha, and Druhyu of immeasurable glory. (Amongst +them, Tansu of great prowess became the perpetrator of Puru’s line). And +he subjugated the whole earth and acquired great fame and splendour. And +Tansu begat a son of great prowess named Ilina. And he became the +foremost of all conquerors and brought the whole world under his +subjection. And Ilina begat upon his wife Rathantara five sons with +Dushmanta at their head, all equal in might unto the five elements. They +were Dushmanta, Sura, Bhima, Pravasu, and Vasu. And, O Janamejaya, the +eldest of them, Dushmanta, became king. And Dushmanta had by his wife +Sakuntala an intelligent son named Bharata who became king. And Bharata +gave his name to the race of which he was the founder. And it is from him +that the fame of that dynasty hath spread so wide. And Bharata begat upon +his three wives nine sons in all. But none of them were like their father +and so Bharata was not at all pleased with them. Their mothers, +therefore, became angry and slew them all. The procreation of children by +Bharata, therefore, became vain. The monarch then performed a great +sacrifice and through the grace of Bharadwaja obtained a son named +Bhumanyu. And then Bharata, the great descendant of Puru, regarding +himself as really possessing a son, installed, O foremost one of +Bharata’s race, that son as his heir-apparent. And Bhumanyu begat upon +his wife, Pushkarini six sons named Suhotra, Suhotri, Suhavih, Sujeya, +Diviratha and Kichika. The eldest of them all, Suhotra, obtained the +throne and performed many Rajasuyas and horse-sacrifices. And Suhotra +brought under his sway the whole earth surrounded by her belt of seas and +full of elephants, kine and horses, and all her wealth of gems of gold. +And the earth afflicted with the weight of numberless human beings and +elephants, horses, and cats, was, as it were, about to sink. And during +the virtuous reign of Suhotra the surface of the whole earth was dotted +all over with hundreds and thousands, of sacrificial stakes. And the lord +of the earth, Suhotra, begat, upon his wife Aikshaki three sons, viz., +Ajamidha, Sumidha, and Purumidha. The eldest of them, Ajamidha, was the +perpetuator of the royal line. And he begat six sons,--Riksha was born of +the womb of Dhumini, Dushmanta and Parameshthin, of Nili, and Jahnu, Jala +and Rupina were born in that of Kesini. All the tribes of the Panchalas +are descended from Dushmanta and Parameshthin. And the Kushikas are the +sons of Jahnu of immeasurable prowess. And Riksha who was older than both +Jala and Rupina became king. And Riksha begat Samvarana, the perpetuator +of the royal line. And, O king, it hath been heard by us that while +Samvarana, the son of Riksha, was ruling the earth, there happened a +great loss of people from famine, pestilence, drought, and disease. And +the Bharata princes were beaten by the troops of enemies. And the +Panchalas setting out to invade the whole earth with their four kinds of +troops soon brought the whole earth under their sway. And with their ten +Akshauhinis the king of the Panchalas defeated the Bharata prince. +Samvarana then with his wife and ministers, sons and relatives, fled in +fear, and took shelter in the forest on the banks of the Sindhu extending +to the foot of the mountains. There the Bharatas lived for a full +thousand years, within their fort. And after they had lived there a +thousand years, one day the illustrious Rishi Vasishtha approached the +exiled Bharatas, who, on going out, saluted the Rishi and worshipped him +by the offer of Arghya. And entertaining him with reverence, they +represented everything unto that illustrious Rishi. And after he was +seated on his seat, the king himself approached the Rishi and addressed +him, saying, ‘Be thou our priest, O illustrious one! We will endeavour to +regain our kingdom.’ And Vasishtha answered the Bharatas by saying, ‘Om’ +(the sign of consent). It hath been heard by us that Vasishtha then +installed the Bharata prince in the sovereignty of all the Kshatriyas on +earth, making by virtue of his Mantras this descendant of Puru the +veritable horns of the wild bull or the tusks of the wild elephants. And +the king retook the capital that had been taken away from him and once +more made all monarchs pay tribute to him. The powerful Samvarana, thus +installed once more in the actual sovereignty of the whole earth, +performed many sacrifices at which the presents to the Brahmanas were +great. + +“Samvarana begat upon his wife, Tapati, the daughter of Surya, a son +named Kuru. This Kuru was exceedingly virtuous, and therefore, he was +installed on the throne by his people. It is after his name that the +field called Kuru-jangala has become so famous in the world. Devoted to +asceticism, he made that field (Kurukshetra) sacred by practising +asceticism there. And it has been heard by us that Kuru’s highly +intelligent wife, Vahini, brought forth five sons, viz., Avikshit, +Bhavishyanta, Chaitraratha, Muni and the celebrated Janamejaya. And +Avikshit begat Parikshit the powerful, Savalaswa, Adhiraja, Viraja, +Salmali of great physical strength, Uchaihsravas, Bhangakara and Jitari +the eighth. In the race of these were born, as the fruit of their pious +acts seven mighty car-warriors with Janamejaya at their head. And unto +Parikshit were born sons who were all acquainted with (the secrets of) +religion and profit. And they were named Kakshasena and Ugrasena, and +Chitrasena endued with great energy, and Indrasena and Sushena and +Bhimasena. And the sons of Janamejaya were all endued with great strength +and became celebrated all over the world. And they were Dhritarashtra who +was the eldest, and Pandu and Valhika, and Nishadha endued with great +energy, and then the mighty Jamvunada, and then Kundodara and Padati and +then Vasati the eighth. And they were all proficient in morality and +profit and were kind to all creatures. Among them Dhritarashtra became +king. And Dhritarashtra had eight sons, viz., Kundika, Hasti, Vitarka, +Kratha the fifth, Havihsravas, Indrabha, and Bhumanyu the invincible, and +Dhritarashtra had many grandsons, of whom three only were famous. They +were, O king, Pratipa, Dharmanetra, Sunetra. Among these three, Pratipa +became unrivalled on earth. And, O bull in Bharata’s race, Pratipa begat +three sons, viz., Devapi, Santanu, and the mighty car-warrior Valhika. +The eldest Devapi adopted the ascetic course of life, impelled thereto by +the desire of benefiting his brothers. And the kingdom was obtained by +Santanu and the mighty car-warrior Valhika. + +“O monarch, besides, there were born in the race of Bharata numberless +other excellent monarchs endued with great energy and like unto the +celestial Rishis themselves in virtue and ascetic power. And so also in +the race of Manu were born many mighty car-warriors like unto the +celestials themselves, who by their number swelled the Aila dynasty into +gigantic proportions.’” + + + +SECTION XCV + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O Brahmana, I have now heard from thee this great +history of my ancestors. I had also heard from thee about the great +monarchs that were born in this line. But I have not been gratified, this +charming account being so short. Therefore, be pleased, O Brahmana, to +recite the delightful narrative just in detail commencing from Manu, the +lord of creation. Who is there that will not be charmed with such an +account, as it is sacred? The fame of these monarchs increased by their +wisdom, virtue, accomplishments, and high character, hath so swelled as +to cover the three worlds. Having listened to the history, sweet as +nectar, of their liberality, prowess, physical strength, mental vigour, +energy, and perseverance, I have not been satiated!’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hear then, O monarch, as I recite in full the +auspicious account of thy own race just as I had heard it from Dwaipayana +before. + +“Daksha begat Aditi, and Aditi begat Vivaswat, and Vivaswat begat Manu, +and Manu begat Ha and Ha begat Pururavas. And Pururavas begat Ayus, and +Ayus begat Nahusha, and Nahusha begat Yayati. And Yayati had two wives, +viz., Devayani, the daughter of Usanas, and Sarmishtha the daughter of +Vrishaparvan. Here occurs a sloka regarding (Yayati’s) descendants, +‘Devayani gave birth to Yadu and Turvasu; and Vrishaparvan’s daughter, +Sarmishtha gave birth to Druhyu, Anu, and Puru., And the descendants of +Yadu are the Yadavas and of Puru are the Pauravas. And Puru had a wife of +the name of Kausalya, on whom he begat a son named Janamejaya who +performed three horse-sacrifices and a sacrifice called Viswajit. And +then he entered into the woods. And Janamejaya had married Ananta, the +daughter of Madhava, and begat upon her a son called Prachinwat. And the +prince was so called because he had conquered all the eastern countries +up to the very confines of the region where the Sun rises. And Prachinwat +married Asmaki, a daughter of the Yadavas and begat upon her a son named +Sanyati. And Sanyati married Varangi, the daughter of Drishadwata and +begat upon her a son named Ahayanti. And Ahayanti married Bhanumati, the +daughter of Kritavirya and begat upon her a son named Sarvabhauma. And +Sarvabhauma married Sunanda, the daughter of the Kekaya prince, having +obtained her by force. And he begat upon her a son named Jayatsena, who +married Susrava, the daughter of the Vidarbha king and begat upon her +Avachina, And Avachina also married another princess of Vidarbha, Maryada +by name. And he begat on her a son named Arihan. And Arihan married Angi +and begat on her Mahabhauma. And Mahabhauma married Suyajna, the daughter +of Prasenajit. And of her was born Ayutanayi. And he was so called +because he had performed a sacrifice at which the fat of an Ayuta (ten +thousands) of male beings was required. And Ayutanayi took for a wife +Kama, the daughter of Prithusravas. And by her was born a son named +Akrodhana, who took to wife Karambha, the daughter of the king of +Kalinga. And of her was born Devatithi, and Devatithi took for his wife +Maryada, the princess of Videha. And of her was born a son named Arihan. +And Arihan took to wife Sudeva, the princess of Anga, and upon her he +begat a son named Riksha. And Riksha married Jwala, the daughter of +Takshaka, and he begat upon her a son of the name of Matinara, who +performed on the bank of Saraswati the twelve years’ sacrifice said to be +so efficacious. On conclusion of the sacrifice, Saraswati appeared in +person before the king and chose him for husband. And he begat upon her a +son named Tansu. Here occurs a sloka descriptive of Tansu’s descendants. + +“Tansu was born of Saraswati by Matinara. And Tansu himself begat a son +named Ilina on his wife, the princess Kalingi. + +“Ilina begat on his wife Rathantari five sons, of whom Dushmanta was the +eldest. And Dushmanta took to wife Sakuntala, the daughter of Viswamitra. +And he begat on her a son named Bharata. Here occurs two slokas about +(Dushmanta’s) descendants. + +“The mother is but the sheath of flesh in which the father begets the +son. Indeed the father himself is the son. Therefore, O Dushmanta, +support thy son and insult not Sakuntala. O god among men, the father +himself becoming the son rescueth himself from hell. Sakuntala hath truly +said that thou art the author of this child’s being. + +“It is for this (i.e., because the king supported his child after hearing +the above speech of the celestial messenger) that Sakuntala’s son came to +be called Bharata (the supported). And Bharata married Sunanda, the +daughter of Sarvasena, the king of Kasi, and begat upon her the son named +Bhumanyu. And Bhumanyu married Vijaya, the daughter of Dasarha. And he +begat upon her a son Suhotra who married Suvarna, the daughter of +Ikshvaku. To her was born a son named Hasti who founded this city, which +has, therefore, been called Hastinapura. And Hasti married Yasodhara, the +princess of Trigarta. And of her was born a son named Vikunthana who took +for a wife Sudeva, the princess of Dasarha. And by her was born a son +named Ajamidha. And Ajamidha had four wives named Raikeyi, Gandhari, +Visala and Riksha. And he begat on them two thousand and four hundred +sons. But amongst them all, Samvarana became the perpetuator of the +dynasty. And Samvarana took for his wife Tapati, the daughter of +Vivaswat. And of her was born Kuru, who married Subhangi, the princess of +Dasarha. And he begat on her a son named Viduratha, who took to wife +Supriya, the daughter of the Madhavas. And he begat upon her a son named +Anaswan. And Anaswan married Amrita, the daughter of the Madhavas. And of +her was born a son named Parikshit, who took for his wife Suvasa, the +daughter of the Vahudas, and begat upon her a son named Bhimasena. And +Bhimasena married Kumari, the princess of Kekaya and begat upon her +Pratisravas whose son was Pratipa. And Pratipa married Sunanda, the +daughter of Sivi, and begat upon her three sons, viz., Devapi, Santanu +and Valhika. And Devapi, while still a boy, entered the woods as a +hermit. And Santanu became king. Here occurs a sloka in respect of +Santanu. + +“Those old men that were touched by this monarch not only felt an +indescribable sensation of pleasure but also became restored to youth. +Therefore, this monarch was called Santanu. + +“And Santanu married Ganga, who bore him a son Devavrata who was +afterwards called Bhishma. And Bhishma, moved by the desire of doing good +to his father, got him married to Satyavati who was also called +Gandhakali. And in her maidenhood she had a son by Parasara, named +Dwaipayana. And upon her Santanu begat two other sons named Chitrangada +and Vichitravirya. And before they attained to majority, Chitrangada had +been slain by the Gandharvas. But Vichitravirya became king, and married +the two daughters of the king of Kasi, named Amvika and Amvalika. But +Vichitravirya died childless. Then Satyavati began to think as to how the +dynasty of Dushmanta might be perpetuated. Then she recollected the Rishi +Dwaipayana. The latter coming before her, asked, ‘What are thy commands?’ +‘She said, ‘Thy brother Vichitravirya hath gone to heaven childless. +Beget virtuous children for him.’ Dwaipayana, consenting to this, begat +three children, viz., Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. King +Dhritarashtra had a hundred sons by his wife, Gandhari in consequence of +the boon granted by Dwaipayana. And amongst those hundred sons of +Dhritarashtra, four became celebrated. They are Duryodhana, Duhsasana, +Vikarna, and Chitrasena. And Pandu had two jewels of wives, viz., Kunti, +also called Pritha, and Madri. One day Pandu, while out a-hunting, saw a +deer covering its mate. That was really a Rishi in the form of a deer. +Seeing the deer in that attitude, he killed it with his arrows, before +its desire was gratified. Pierced with the king’s arrow, the deer quickly +changed its form and became a Rishi, and said unto Pandu, ‘O Pandu, thou +art virtuous and acquainted also with the pleasure derived from the +gratification of one’s desire. My desire unsatisfied, thou hast slain me! +Therefore, thou also, when so engaged and before thou art gratified, +shalt die!’ Pandu, hearing this curse, became pale, and from that time +would not go in unto his wives. And he told them these words, ‘Through my +own fault, I have been cursed! But I have heard that for the childless +there are no regions hereafter.’ Therefore, he solicited Kunti to have +offspring raised for him. And Kunti said, ‘Let it be’, So she raised up +offspring. By Dharma she had Yudhishthira; by Maruta, Bhima: and by +Sakra, Arjuna. And Pandu, well-pleased with her, said, ‘This thy co-wife +is also childless. Therefore, cause her also to bear children.’ Kunti +saying, ‘So be it,’ imparted unto Madri the mantra of invocation. And on +Madri were raised by the twin Aswins, the twins Nakula and Sahadeva. And +(one day) Pandu, beholding Madri decked with ornaments, had his desire +kindled. And, as soon as he touched her, he died. Madri ascended the +funeral pyre with her lord. And she said unto Kunti, ‘Let these twins of +mine be brought up by thee with affection.’ After some time those five +Pandavas were taken by the ascetics of the woods to Hastinapura and there +introduced to Bhishma and Vidura. And after introducing them, the +ascetics disappeared in the very sight of all. And after the conclusion +of the speech of those ascetics, flowers were showered down upon the +spot, and the celestial drums also were beaten in the skies. The Pandavas +were then taken (by Bhishma). They then represented the death of their +father and performed his last honours duly. And as they were brought up +there, Duryodhana became exceedingly jealous of them. And the sinful +Duryodhana acting like Rakshasa tried various means to drive them away. +But what must be can never be frustrated. So all Duryodhana’s efforts +proved futile. Then Dhritarashtra sent them, by an act of deception to +Varanavata, and they went there willingly. There an endeavour was made to +burn them to death; but it proved abortive owing to the warning counsels +of Vidura. After that the Pandavas slew Hidimva, and then they went to a +town called Ekachakra. There also they slew a Rakshasa of the name of +Vaka and then went to Panchala. And there obtaining Draupadi for a wife +they returned to Hastinapura. And there they dwelt for some time in peace +and begat children. And Yudhishthira begat Prativindhya; Bhima, Sutasoma; +Arjuna, Srutakriti; Nakula, Satanika; and Sahadeva, Srutakarman. Besides +these, Yudhishthira, having obtained for his wife Devika, the daughter of +Govasana of the Saivya tribe, in a self-choice ceremony, begat upon her a +son named Yaudheya. And Bhima also obtaining for a wife Valandhara, the +daughter of the king of Kasi, offered his own prowess as dower and begat +upon her a son named Sarvaga. And Arjuna also, repairing to Dwaravati, +brought away by force Subhadra. the sweet-speeched sister of Vasudeva, +and returned in happiness to Hastinapura. And he begat upon her a son +named Abhimanyu endued with all accomplishments and dear to Vasudeva +himself. And Nakula obtaining for his wife Karenumati, the princess of +Chedi, begat upon her a son named Niramitra. And Sahadeva also married +Vijaya, the daughter of Dyutimat, the king of Madra, obtaining her in a +self-choice ceremony and begat upon her a son named Suhotra. And +Bhimasena had some time before begat upon Hidimva a son named +Ghatotkacha. These are the eleven sons of the Pandavas. Amongst them all, +Abhimanyu was the perpetuator of the family. He married Uttara, the +daughter of Virata, who brought forth a dead child whom Kunti took up on +her lap at the command of Vasudeva who said, ‘I will revive this child of +six months.’ And though born before time, having been burnt by the fire +of (Aswatthaman’s weapon) and, therefore, deprived of strength and energy +he was revived by Vasudeva and endued with strength, energy and prowess. +And after reviving him, Vasudeva said, ‘Because this child hath been born +in an extinct race, therefore, he shall be called Parikshit’. And +Parikshit married Madravati, thy mother, O king, and thou art born to +her, O Janamejaya! Thou hast also begotten two sons on thy wife +Vapushtama, named Satanika and Sankukarna. And Satanika also hath +begotten one son named Aswamedhadatta upon the princess of Videha. + +“Thus have I, O king, recited the history of the descendants of Puru and +of the Pandavas. This excellent, virtue-increasing, and sacred history +should ever be listened to by vow-observing Brahmanas, by Kshatriyas +devoted to the practices of their order and ready to protect their +subjects; by Vaisyas with attention, and by Sudras with reverence, whose +chief occupation is to wait upon the three other orders. Brahmanas +conversant in the Vedas and other persons, who with attention and +reverence recite this sacred history or listen to it when recited, +conquer the heavens and attain to the abode of the blessed. They are also +always respected and adored by the gods, Brahamanas, and other men. This +holy history of Bharata hath been composed by the sacred and illustrious +Vyasa. Veda-knowing Brahmanas and other persons who with reverence and +without malice hear it recited, earn great religious merits and conquer +the heavens. Though sinning, they are not disregarded by any one. Here +occurs a sloka, ‘This (Bharata) is equal unto the Vedas: it is holy and +excellent. It bestoweth wealth, fame, and life. Therefore, it should be +listened to by men with rapt attention.’” + + + +SECTION XCVI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘There was a king known by the name of Mahabhisha +born in the race of Ikshvaku. He was the lord of all the earth, and was +truthful (in speech) and of true prowess. By a thousand horse-sacrifices +and a hundred Rajasuyas he had gratified the chief of the celestials and +ultimately attained to heaven. + +“One day the celestials had assembled together and were worshipping +Brahman. Many royal sages and king Mahabhisha also were present on the +spot. And Ganga, the queen of rivers, also came there to pay her +adorations to the Grandsire. And her garments white as the beams of the +moon was displaced by the action of the wind. And as her person became +exposed, the celestials bent down their heads. But the royal sage +Mahabhisha rudely stared at the queen of rivers. And Mahabhisha was for +this cursed by Brahman, who said, ‘Wretch, as thou hast forgotten thyself +at the sight of Ganga, thou shalt be re-born on earth. But thou shall +again and again attain to these regions. And she, too, shall be born in +the world of men and shall do thee injuries. But when thy wrath shall be +provoked, thou shalt then be freed from my curse.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘King Mahabhisha then recollecting all the +monarchs and ascetics on earth, wished to be born as son to Pratipa of +great prowess. And the queen of rivers, too, seeing king Mahabhisha lose +his firmness, went away, thinking of him wishfully. And on her way, she +saw those dwellers in heaven, the Vasus, also pursuing the same path. And +the queen of rivers beholding them in the predicament, asked them, ‘Why +look ye so dejected? Ye dwellers in heaven, is everything right with +you?’ Those celestials, the Vasus, answered her, saying, ‘O queen of +rivers, we have been cursed, for a venial fault, by the illustrious +Vasishtha in anger. The foremost of excellent Rishis, Vasishtha, had been +engaged in his twilight adorations and seated as he was, he could not be +seen by us. We crossed him in ignorance. Therefore, in wrath he hath +cursed us, saying, Be ye born among men!’ It is beyond our power to +frustrate what hath been said by that utterance of Brahma. Therefore, O +river, thyself becoming a human female make us the Vasus, thy children. O +amiable one, we are unwilling to enter the womb of any human female.’ +Thus addressed, the queen of rivers told them, ‘Be it so and asked them, +‘On earth, who is that foremost of men whom ye will make your father?’ + +“The Vasus replied, ‘On earth, unto Pratipa shall be born a son, Santanu, +who will be a king of world-wide fame.’ Ganga then said, ‘Ye celestials, +that is exactly my wish which ye sinless ones have expressed. I shall, +indeed, do good to that Santanu. That is also your desire as just +expressed.’ The Vasus then said, ‘It behoveth thee to throw thy children +after birth, into the water, so that, O thou of three courses (celestial, +terrestrial, and subterranean) we may be rescued soon without having to +live on earth for any length of time.’ Ganga then answered, ‘I shall do +what ye desire. But in order that his intercourse with me may not be +entirely fruitless, provide ye that one son at least may live.’ The Vasus +then replied, ‘We shall each contribute an eighth part of our respective +energies With the sum thereof, thou shall have one son according to thy +and his wishes. But this son shall not begat any children on earth. +Therefore, that son of thine endued with great energy, shall be +childless.’ + +“The Vasus, making this arrangement with Ganga, went away without Waiting +to the place they liked.’” + + + +SECTION XCVII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said. ‘There was a king of the name of Pratipa, who was +kind to all creatures. He spent many years in ascetic penances at the +source of the river Ganga. The accomplished and lovely Ganga, one day, +assuming the form of a beautiful female, and rising from the waters, made +up to the monarch. The celestial maiden, endued with ravishing beauty, +approached the royal sage engaged in ascetic austerities, and sat upon +his right thigh that was, for manly strength, a veritable Sala tree. When +the maiden of handsome face had so sat upon his lap, the monarch said +unto her, ‘O amiable one, what dost thou desire? What shall I do?’ The +damsel answered, ‘I desire thee, O king, for my husband! O foremost one +of the Kurus, be mine! To refuse a woman coming of her own accord is +never applauded by the wise.’ Pratipa answered, ‘O thou of the fairest +complexion, moved by lust, I never go in unto others’ wives or women that +are not of my order. This, indeed, is my virtuous vow.’ The maiden +rejoined, ‘I am not inauspicious or ugly. I am every way worthy of being +enjoyed. I am a celestial maiden of rare beauty; I desire thee for my +husband. Refuse me not, O king.’ To this Pratipa answered, ‘I am, ‘O +damsel, abstaining from that course to which thou wouldst incite me. If I +break my vow, sin will overwhelm and kill me. O thou of the fairest +complexion, thou hast embraced me, sitting on my right thigh. But, O +timid one, know that this is the seat for daughters and daughters-in-law. +The left lap is for the wife, but thou hast not accepted that. Therefore, +O best of women, I cannot enjoy thee as an object of desire. Be my +daughter-in-law. I accept thee for my son!’ + +“The damsel then said, ‘O virtuous one, let it be as thou sayest. Let me +be united with thy son. From my respect for thee, I shall be a wife of +the celebrated Bharata race. Ye (of the Bharata race) are the refuge of +all the monarchs on earth! I am incapable of numbering the virtues of +this race even within a hundred years. The greatness and goodness of many +celebrated monarchs of this race are limitless. O lord of all, let it be +understood now that when I become thy daughter-in-law, thy son shall not +be able to judge of the propriety of my acts. Living thus with thy son, I +shall do good to him and increase his happiness. And he shall finally +attain to heaven in consequence of the sons I shall bear him, and of his +virtues and good conduct.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘O king, having said so, the celestial damsel +disappeared then and there. And the king, too, waited for the birth of +his son in order to fulfil his promise.’ + +“About this time Pratipa, that light of the Kuru race, that bull amongst +Kshatriyas, was engaged, along with his wife, in austerities from desire +of offspring. And when they had grown old, a son was born unto them. This +was no other than Mahabhisha. And the child was called Santanu because he +was born when his father had controlled his passions by ascetic penances. +And the best of Kurus, Santanu, knowing that region of indestructible +bliss can be acquired by one’s deeds alone, became devoted to virtue. +When Santanu grew up into a youth, Pratipa addressed him and said, ‘Some +time ago, O Santanu, a celestial damsel came to me for thy good. If thou +meetest that fair-complexioned one in secret and if she solicit thee for +children, accept her as thy wife. And, O sinless one, judge not of the +propriety or impropriety of her action and ask not who she is, or whose +or whence, but accept her as thy wife at my command!’” Vaisampayana +continued, ‘Pratipa, having thus commanded his son Santanu and installed +him on his throne, retired into the woods. And king Santanu endued with +great intelligence and equal unto Indra himself in splendour, became +addicted to hunting and passed much of his time in the woods. And the +best of monarchs always slew deer and buffaloes. And one day, as he was +wandering along the bank of the Ganges, he came upon a region frequented +by Siddhas and Charanas. And there he saw a lovely maiden of blazing +beauty and like unto another Sri herself; of faultless and pearly teeth +and decked with celestial ornaments, and attired in garments of fine +texture that resembled in splendour the filaments of the lotus. And the +monarch, on beholding that damsel, became surprised, and his raptures +produced instant horripilation. With steadfast gaze he seemed to be +drinking her charms, but repeated draughts failed to quench his thirst. +The damsel also beholding the monarch of blazing splendour moving about +in great agitation, was moved herself and experienced an affection for +him. She gazed and gazed and longed to gaze on him evermore. The monarch +then in soft words addressed her and said, ‘O slender-waisted one, be +thou a goddess or the daughter of a Danava, be thou of the race of the +Gandharvas, or Apsaras, be thou of the Yakshas or the Nagas, or be thou +of human origin, O thou of celestial beauty, I solicit thee to be my +wife!’” + + + +SECTION XCVIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The maiden then, hearing those soft and sweet words +of the smiling monarch, and remembering her promise to the Vasus, +addressed the king in reply. Of faultless features, the damsel sending a +thrill of pleasure into the heart by every word she uttered, said, ‘O +king, I shall become thy wife and obey thy commands. But, O monarch, thou +must not interfere with me in anything I do, be it agreeable or +disagreeable. Nor shall thou ever address me unkindly. As long as thou +shalt behave kindly I promise to live with thee. But I shall certainly +leave thee the moment thou interferest with me or speakest to me an +unkind word.’ The king answered, ‘Be it so.’ And thereupon the damsel +obtaining that excellent monarch, that foremost one of the Bharata race +for her husband, became highly pleased. And king Santanu also, obtaining +her for his wife, enjoyed to the full the pleasure of her company. And +adhering to his promise, he refrained from asking her anything. And the +lord of earth, Santanu, became exceedingly gratified with her conduct, +beauty, magnanimity, and attention to his comforts. And the goddess Ganga +also, of three courses (celestial, terrestrial, and subterranean) +assuming a human form of superior complexion and endued with celestial +beauty, lived happily as the wife of Santanu, having as the fruit of her +virtuous acts, obtained for her husband, that tiger among kings equal +unto Indra himself in splendour. And she gratified the king by her +attractiveness and affection, by her wiles and love, by her music and +dance, and became herself gratified. And the monarch was so enraptured +with his beautiful wife that months, seasons, and years rolled on without +his being conscious of them. And the king, while thus enjoying himself +with his wife, had eight children born unto him who in beauty were like +the very celestials themselves. But, O Bharata, those children, one after +another, as soon as they were born, were thrown into the river by Ganga +who said, ‘This is for thy good.’ And the children sank to rise no more. +The king, however, could not be pleased with such conduct. But he spoke +not a word about it lest his wife should leave him. But when the eighth +child was born, and when his wife as before was about to throw it +smilingly into the river, the king with a sorrowful countenance and +desirous of saving it from destruction, addressed her and said, ‘Kill it +not! Who art thou and whose? Why dost thou kill thy own children? +Murderess of thy sons, the load of thy sins is great!’” His wife, thus +addressed, replied, ‘O thou desirous of offspring, thou hast already +become the first of those that have children. I shall not destroy this +child of thine. But according to our agreement, the period of my stay +with thee is at an end. I am Ganga, the daughter of Jahnu. I am ever +worshipped by the great sages; I have lived with thee so long for +accomplishing the purposes of the celestials. The eight illustrious Vasus +endued with great energy had, from Vasishtha’s curse, to assume human +forms. On earth, besides thee, there was none else to deserve the honour +of being their begetter. There is no woman also on earth except one like +me, a celestial of human form, to become their mother. I assumed a human +form to bring them forth. Thou also, having become the father of the +eight Vasus, hast acquired many regions of perennial bliss. It was also +agreed between myself and the Vasus that I should free them from their +human forms as soon as they would be born. I have thus freed them from +the curse of the Rishi Apava. Blest be thou; I leave thee, O king! But +rear thou this child of rigid vows. That I should live with thee so long +was the promise I gave to the Vasus. And let this child be called +Gangadatta.’” + + + +SECTION XCIX + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Santanu asked, ‘What was the fault of the Vasus and who was Apava, +through whose curse the Vasus had to be born among men? What also hath +this child of thine, Gangadatta, done for which he shall have to live +among men? Why also were the Vasus, the lords of the three worlds, +condemned to be born amongst men? O daughter of Jahnu, tell me all.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed, the celestial daughter of +Jahnu, Ganga, then replied unto the monarch, her husband, that bull +amongst men, saying, ‘O best of Bharata’s race, he who was obtained as +son by Varuna was called Vasishtha, the Muni who afterwards came to be +known as Apava. He had his asylum on the breast of the king of mountains +called Meru. The spot was sacred and abounded with birds and beasts. And +there bloomed at all times of the year flowers of every season. And, O +best of Bharata’s race, that foremost of virtuous men, the son of Varuna, +practised his ascetic penances in those woods abounding with sweet roots +and water. + +“Daksha had a daughter known by the name of Surabhi, who, O bull of +Bharata’s race, for benefiting the world, brought forth, by her +connection with Kasyapa, a daughter (Nandini) in the form of a cow. That +foremost of all kine, Nandini, was the cow of plenty (capable of granting +every desire). The virtuous son of Varuna obtained Nandini for his Homa +rites. And Nandini, dwelling in that hermitage which was adored by Munis, +roamed about fearlessly in those sacred and delightful woods. + +“One day, O bull of Bharata’s race, there came into those woods adored by +the gods and celestial Rishis, the Vasus with Prithu at their head. And +wandering there with their wives, they enjoyed themselves in those +delightful woods and mountains. And as they wandered there, the +slender-waisted wife of one of the Vasus, O thou of the prowess of Indra, +saw in those woods Nandini, the cow of plenty. And seeing that cow +possessing the wealth of all accomplishments, large eyes, full udders, +fine tail, beautiful hoofs, and every other auspicious sign, and yielding +much milk, she showed the animal to her husband Dyu. O thou of the +prowess of the first of elephants, when Dyu was shown that cow, he began +to admire her several qualities and addressing his wife, said, ‘O +black-eyed girl of fair thighs, this excellent cow belongeth to that +Rishi whose is this delightful asylum. O slender-waisted one, that mortal +who drinketh the sweet milk of this cow remaineth in unchanged youth for +ten thousand years.’ O best of monarchs, hearing this, the +slender-waisted goddess of faultless features then addressed her lord of +blazing splendour and said, ‘There is on earth a friend of mine, Jitavati +by name, possessed of great beauty and youth. She is the daughter of that +god among men, the royal sage Usinara, endued with intelligence and +devoted to truth. I desire to have this cow, O illustrious one, with her +calf for that friend of mine. Therefore, O best of celestials, bring that +cow so that my friend drinking of her milk may alone become on earth free +from disease and decrepitude. O illustrious and blameless one, it +behoveth thee to grant me this desire of mine. There is nothing that +would be more agreeable to me.’ On hearing these words of his wife, Dyu, +moved by the desire of humouring her, stole that cow, aided by his +brothers Prithu and the others. Indeed, Dyu, commanded by his lotus-eyed +wife, did her bidding, forgetting at the moment the high ascetic merits +of the Rishi who owned her. He did not think at the time that he was +going to fall by committing the sin of stealing the cow. + +“When the son of Varuna returned to his asylum in the evening with fruits +he had collected, he beheld not the cow with her calf there. He began to +search for them in the woods, but when the great ascetic of superior +intelligence found not his cow on search, he saw by his ascetic vision +that she had been stolen by the Vasus. His wrath was instantly kindled +and he cursed the Vasus, saying, ‘Because the Vasus have stolen my cow of +sweet milk and handsome tail, therefore, shall they certainly be born on +earth!’ + +“O thou bull of Bharata’s race, the illustrious Rishi Apava thus cursed +the Vasus in wrath. And having cursed them, the illustrious one set his +heart once more on ascetic meditation. And after that Brahmarshi of great +power and ascetic wealth had thus in wrath cursed the Vasus, the latter, +O king, coming to know of it, speedily came into his asylum. And +addressing the Rishi, O bull among kings, they endeavoured to pacify him. +But they failed, O tiger among men, to obtain grace from Apava--that +Rishi conversant, with all rules of virtue. The virtuous Apava, however, +said, ‘Ye Vasus, with Dhava and others, ye have been cursed by me. But ye +shall be freed from my curse within a year of your birth among men. But +he for whose deed ye have been cursed by me he, viz., Dyu, shall for his +sinful act, have to dwell on earth for a length of time. I shall not make +futile the words I have uttered in wrath. Dyu, though dwelling on Earth, +shall not beget children. He shall, however, be virtuous and conversant +with the scriptures. He shall be an obedient son to his father, but he +shall have to abstain from the pleasure of female companionship.’ + +“Thus addressing the Vasus, the great Rishi went away. The Vasus then +together came to me. And, O king, the begged of me the boon that as soon +as they would be born, I should throw them into the water. And, O best of +kings, I did as they desired, in order to free them from their earthly +life. And O best of kings, from the Rishi’s curse, this one only, viz., +Dyu, himself, is to live on earth for some time.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having said this, the goddess disappeared then +and there. And taking with her the child, she went away to the region she +chose. And that child of Santanu was named both Gangeya and Devavrata and +excelled his father in all accomplishments. + +“Santanu, after the disappearance of his wife, returned to his capital +with a sorrowful heart. I shall now recount to thee the many virtues and +the great good fortune of the illustrious king Santanu of the Bharata +race. Indeed, it is this splendid history that is called the +Mahabharata.’” + + + +SECTION C + +(Sambhava Parva continued ) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The monarch Santanu, the most adored of the gods and +royal sages, was known in all the worlds for his wisdom, virtues, and +truthfulness (of speech). The qualities of self-control, liberality, +forgiveness, intelligence, modesty, patience and superior energy ever +dwelt in that bull among men, viz., Santanu, that great being endued with +these accomplishments and conversant with both religion and profit, the +monarch was at once the protector of the Bharata race and all human +beings. His neck was marked with (three) lines, like a conch-shell; his +shoulders were broad, and he resembled in prowess an infuriated elephant. +It would seem that all the auspicious signs of royalty dwelt in his +person, considering that to be their fittest abode. Men, seeing the +behaviour of that monarch of great achievements came to know that virtue +was ever superior to pleasure and profit. These were the attributes that +dwelt in that great being--that bull among men--Santanu. And truly there +was never a king like Santanu. All the kings of the earth, beholding him +devoted to virtue, bestowed upon that foremost of virtuous men the title +of King of kings. And all the kings of the earth during the time of that +lord-protector of the Bharata race, were without woe and fear and anxiety +of any kind. And they all slept in peace, rising from bed every morning +after happy dreams. And owing to that monarch of splendid achievements +resembling Indra himself in energy, all the kings of the earth became +virtuous and devoted to liberality, religious acts and sacrifices. And +when the earth was ruled by Santanu and other monarchs like him, the +religious merits of every order increased very greatly. The Kshatriyas +served the Brahmanas; the Vaisyas waited upon the Kshatriyas, and the +Sudras adoring the Brahmanas and the Kshatriyas, waited upon the Vaisyas. +And Santanu residing in Hastinapura, the delightful capital of the Kurus, +ruled the whole earth bounded by seas. He was truthful and guileless, and +like the king of the celestials himself conversant with the dictates of +virtue. And from the combination in him of liberality, religion and +asceticism, he acquired a great good fortune. He was free from anger and +malice, and was handsome in person like Soma himself. In splendour he was +like the Sun and in impetuosity of valour like Vayu. In wrath he was like +Yama, and in patience like the Earth. And, O king, while Santanu ruled +the earth, no deer, boars, birds, or other animals were needlessly slain. +In his dominions the great virtue of kindness to all creatures prevailed, +and the king himself, with the soul of mercy, and void of desire and +wrath, extended equal protection unto all creatures. Then sacrifices in +honour of the gods, the Rishis, and Pitris commenced, and no creature was +deprived of life sinfully. And Santanu was the king and father of all--of +those that were miserable and those that had no protectors, of birds and +beasts, in fact, of every created thing. And during the rule of the best +of Kurus--of that king of kings--speech became united with truth, and the +minds of men were directed towards liberality and virtue. And Santanu, +having enjoyed domestic felicity for six and thirty years, retired into +the woods. + +“And Santanu’s son, the Vasu born of Ganga, named Devavrata resembled +Santanu himself in personal beauty, in habits and behaviour, and in +learning. And in all branches of knowledge worldly or spiritual his skill +was very great. His strength and energy were extraordinary. He became a +mighty car-warrior. In fact he was a great king. + +“One day, while pursuing along the banks of the Ganges a deer that he had +struck with his arrow, king Santanu observed that the river had become +shallow. On observing this, that bull among men, viz., Santanu, began to +reflect upon this strange phenomenon. He mentally asked why that first of +rivers ran out so quickly as before. And while seeking for a cause, the +illustrious monarch beheld that a youth of great comeliness, well-built +and amiable person, like Indra himself, had, by his keen celestial +weapon, checked the flow of the river. And the king, beholding this +extraordinary feat of the river Ganga having been checked in her course +near where that youth stood, became very much surprised. This youth was +no other than Santanu’s son himself. But as Santanu had seen his son only +once a few moments after his birth, he had not sufficient recollection to +identify that infant with the youth before his eyes. The youth, however, +seeing his father, knew him at once, but instead of disclosing himself, +he clouded the king’s perception by his celestial powers of illusion and +disappeared in his very sight. + +“King Santanu, wondering much at what he saw and imagining the youth to +be his own son then addressed Ganga and said, ‘Show me that child.’ Ganga +thus addressed, assuming a beautiful form, and holding the boy decked +with ornaments in her right arm, showed him to Santanu. And Santanu did +not recognise that beautiful female bedecked with ornaments and attired +in fine robes of white, although he had known her before. And Ganga said, +‘O tiger among men, that eighth son whom thou hadst some time before +begat upon me is this. Know that this excellent child is conversant with +all weapons, O monarch, take him now. I have reared him with care. And go +home, O tiger among men, taking him with thee. Endued with superior +intelligence, he has studied with Vasishtha the entire Vedas with their +branches. Skilled in all weapons and a mighty bowman, he is like Indra in +battle. And, O Bharata, both the gods and the Asuras look upon him with +favour. Whatever branches of knowledge are known to Usanas, this one +knoweth completely. And so is he the master of all those Sastras that the +son of Angiras (Vrihaspati) adored by the gods and the Asuras, knoweth. +And all the weapons known to the powerful and invincible Rama, the son of +Jamadagni are known to this thy illustrious son of mighty arms. O king of +superior courage, take this thy own heroic child given unto thee by me. +He is a mighty bowman and conversant with the interpretation of all +treatises on the duties of a king.’ Thus commanded by Ganga, Santanu took +his child resembling the Sun himself in glory and returned to his +capital. And having reached his city that was like unto the celestial +capital, that monarch of Puru’s line regarded himself greatly fortunate. +And having summoned all the Pauravas together, for the protection of his +kingdom he installed his son as his heir-apparent. And O bull of +Bharata’s race, the prince soon gratified by his behaviour his father and +the other members of the Paurava race: in fact, all the subjects of the +kingdom. And the king of incomparable prowess lived happily with that son +of his. + +“Four years had thus passed away, when the king one day went into the +woods on the bank of the Yamuna. And while the king was rambling there, +he perceived a sweet scent coming from an unknown direction. And the +monarch, impelled by the desire of ascertaining the cause, wandered +hither and thither. And in course of his ramble, he beheld a black-eyed +maiden of celestial beauty, the daughter of a fisherman. The king +addressing her, said, ‘Who art thou, and whose daughter? What dost thou +do here, O timid one?’ She answered, ‘Blest be thou! I am the daughter of +the chief of the fishermen. At his command, I am engaged for religious +merit, in rowing passengers across this river in my boat.’ And Santanu, +beholding that maiden of celestial form endued with beauty, amiableness, +and such fragrance, desired her for his wife. And repairing unto her +father, the king solicited his consent to the proposed match. But the +chief of the fishermen replied to the monarch, saying, ‘O king, as soon +as my daughter of superior complexion was born, it was of course, +understood that she should be bestowed upon a husband. But listen to the +desire I have cherished all along in my heart. O sinless one, thou art +truthful: if thou desirest to obtain this maiden as a gift from me, give, +me then this pledge. If, indeed, thou givest the pledge, I will of course +bestow my daughter upon thee for truly I can never obtain a husband for +her equal to thee.’ + +“Santanu, hearing this, replied, ‘When I have heard of the pledge thou +askest, I shall then say whether I would be able to grant it. If it is +capable of being granted, I shall certainly grant it. Otherwise how shall +I grant it.’ The fisherman said, ‘O king, what I ask of thee is this: the +son born of this maiden shall be installed by thee on thy throne and none +else shall thou make thy successor.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘O Bharata, when Santanu heard this, he felt no +inclination to grant such a boon, though the fire of desire sorely burnt +him within. The king with his heart afflicted by desire returned to +Hastinapura, thinking all the way of the fisherman’s daughter. And having +returned home, the monarch passed his time in sorrowful meditation. One +day, Devavrata approaching his afflicted father said, ‘All is prosperity +with thee; all chiefs obey thee; then how is it that thou grievest thus? +Absorbed in thy own thoughts, thou speakest not a word to me in reply. +Thou goest not out on horse-back now; thou lookest pale and emaciated, +having lost all animation. I wish to know the disease thou sufferest +from, so that I may endeavour to apply a remedy.’ Thus addressed by his +son, Santanu answered, ‘Thou sayest truly, O son, that I have become +melancholy. I will also tell thee why I am so. O thou of Bharata’s line, +thou art the only scion of this our large race. Thou art always engaged +in sports of arms and achievements of prowess. But, O son, I am always +thinking of the instability of human life. If any danger overtake thee, O +child of Ganga, the result is that we become sonless. Truly thou alone +art to me as a century of sons. I do not, therefore, desire to wed again. +I only desire and pray that prosperity may ever attend thee so that our +dynasty may be perpetuated. The wise say that he that hath one son hath +no son. Sacrifices before fire and the knowledge of the three Vedas +yield, it is true, everlasting religious merit, but all these, in point +of religious merit, do not, come up to a sixteenth part of the religious +merit attainable on the birth of a son. Indeed, in this respect, there is +hardly any difference between men and the lower animals. O wise one, I do +not entertain a shadow of doubt that one attains to heaven in consequence +of his having begotten a son. The Vedas which constitute the root of the +Puranas and are regarded as authoritative even by the gods, contain +numerous proof of this. O thou of Bharata’s race, thou art a hero of +excitable temper, who is always engaged in the exercise of arms. It is +very probable that thou wilt be slain on the field of battle. If it so +happen, what then will be the state of the Bharata dynasty, It is this +thought that hath made me so melancholy. I have now told thee fully the +causes of my sorrow.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Devavrata who was endued with great +intelligence, having ascertained all this from the king, reflected within +himself for a while. He then went to the old minister devoted to his +father’s welfare and asked him about the cause of the king’s grief. O +bull of Bharata’s race, when the prince questioned the minister, the +latter told him about the boon that was demanded by the chief of the +fishermen in respect of his daughter Gandhavati. Then Devavrata, +accompanied by many Kshatriya chiefs of venerable age, personally +repaired to the chief of the fishermen and begged of him his daughter on +behalf of the king. The chief of the fishermen received him with due +adorations, and, O thou of Bharata’s race, when the prince took his seat +in the court of the chief, the latter addressed him and said, ‘O bull +among the Bharatas, thou art the first of all wielders of weapons and the +only son of Santanu. Thy power is great. But I have something to tell +thee. If the bride’s father was Indra himself, even then he would have to +repent of rejecting such an exceedingly honourable and desirable proposal +of marriage. The great man of whose seed this celebrated maiden named +Satyavati was born, is, indeed, equal to you in virtue. He hath spoken to +me on many occasions of the virtues of thy father and told me that, the +king alone is worthy of (marrying) Satyavati. Let me tell you that I have +even rejected the solicitations of that best of Brahmarshis--the +celestial sage Asita--who, too, had often asked for Satyavati’s hand in +marriage. I have only one word to say on the part of this maiden. In the +matter of the proposed marriage there is one great objection founded on +the fact of a rival in the person of a co-wife’s son. O oppressor of all +foes, he hath no security, even if he be an Asura or a Gandharva, who +hath a rival in thee. There is this only objection to the proposed +marriage, and nothing else. Blest be thou! But this is all I have to say +in the matter of the bestowal or otherwise, of Satyavati.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘O thou of Bharata’s race, Devavrata, having +heard these words, and moved by the desire of benefiting his father thus +answered in the hearing of the assembled chiefs, ‘O foremost of truthful +men, listen to the vow I utter! The man has not been or will not be born, +who will have the courage to take such a vow! I shall accomplish all that +thou demandest! The son that may be born of this maiden shall be our +king.’ Thus addressed, the chief of the fishermen, impelled by desire of +sovereignty (for his daughter’s son), to achieve the almost impossible, +then said, ‘O thou of virtuous soul, thou art come hither as full agent +on behalf of thy father Santanu of immeasurable glory; be thou also the +sole manager on my behalf in the matter of the bestowal of this my +daughter. But, O amiable one, there is something else to be said, +something else to be reflected upon by thee. O suppressor of foes, those +that have daughters, from the very nature of their obligations, must say +what I say. O thou that art devoted to truth, the promise thou hast given +in the presence of these chiefs for the benefit of Satyavati, hath, +indeed, been worthy of thee. O thou of mighty arms, I have not the least +doubt of its ever being violated by thee. But I have my doubts in respect +of the children thou mayst beget.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘O king, the son of Ganga, devoted to truth, +having ascertained the scruples of the chief of the fishermen, then said, +moved thereto by the desire of benefiting his father, ‘Chief of +fishermen, thou best of men, listen to what I say in the presence of +these assembled kings. Ye kings, I have already relinquished my right to +the throne, I shall now settle the matter of my children. O fisherman, +from this day I adopt the vow of Brahmacharya (study and meditation in +celibacy). If I die sonless, I shall yet attain to regions of perennial +bliss in heaven!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Upon these words of the son of Ganga, the hair +on the fisherman’s body stood on end from glee, and he replied, ‘I bestow +my daughter!’ Immediately after, the Apsaras and the gods with diverse +tribes of Rishis began to rain down flowers from the firmament upon the +head of Devavrata and exclaimed, ‘This one is Bhishma (the terrible).’ +Bhishma then, to serve his father, addressed the illustrious damsel and +said, ‘O mother, ascend this chariot, and let us go unto our house.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having said this, Bhishma helped the beautiful +maiden into his chariot. On arriving with her at Hastinapura, he told +Santanu everything as it had happened. And the assembled kings, jointly +and individually, applauded his extraordinary act and said, ‘He is really +Bhishma (the terrible)!’ And Santanu also, hearing of the extraordinary +achievements of his son, became highly gratified and bestowed upon the +high-souled prince the boon of death at will, saying, ‘Death shall never +come to thee as long as thou desirest to live. Truly death shall approach +thee, O sinless one, having first obtained thy command.’” + + + +SECTION CI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O monarch, after the nuptials were over, king +Santanu established his beautiful bride in his household. Soon after was +born of Satyavati an intelligent and heroic son of Santanu named +Chitrangada. He was endued with great energy and became an eminent man. +The lord Santanu of great prowess also begat upon Satyavati another son +named Vichitravirya, who became a mighty bowman and who became king after +his father. And before that bull among men, viz., Vichitravirya, attained +to majority, the wise king Santanu realised the inevitable influence of +Time. And after Santanu had ascended to heaven. Bhishma, placing himself +under the command of Satyavati, installed that suppressor of foes, viz., +Chitrangada, on the throne, who, having soon vanquished by his prowess +all monarchs, considered not any man as his equal. And beholding that he +could vanquish men, Asuras, and the very gods, his namesake, the powerful +king of the Gandharvas, approached him for an encounter. Between that +Gandharva and that foremost one of the Kurus, who were both very +powerful, there occurred on the field of Kurukshetra a fierce combat +which lasted full three years on the banks of the Saraswati. In that +terrible encounter characterised by thick showers of weapons and in which +the combatants ground each other fiercely, the Gandharva, who had greater +prowess or strategic deception, slew the Kuru prince. Having slain +Chitrangada--that first of men and oppressor of foes--the Gandharva +ascended to heaven. When that tiger among men endued with great prowess +was slain, Bhishma, the son of Santanu, performed, O king, all his +obsequies. He then installed the boy Vichitravirya of mighty arms, still +in his minority, on the throne of the Kurus. And Vichitravirya, placing +himself under the command of Bhishma, ruled the ancestral kingdom. And he +adored Santanu’s son Bhishma who was conversant with all the rules of +religion and law; so, indeed, Bhishma also protected him that was so +obedient to the dictates of duty.’” + + + +SECTION CII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O thou of Kuru’s race, after Chitrangada was slain, +his successor Vichitravirya being a minor, Bhishma ruled the kingdom, +placing himself under the command of Satyavati. When he saw that his +brother, who was the foremost of intelligent men, attained to majority, +Bhishma set his heart upon marrying Vichitravirya. At this time he heard +that the three daughters of the king of Kasi, all equal in beauty to the +Apsaras themselves, would be married on the same occasion, selecting +their husbands at a self-choice ceremony. Then that foremost of +car-warriors, that vanquisher of all foes, at the command of his mother, +went to the city of Varanasi in a single chariot. There Bhishma, the son +of Santanu, saw that innumerable monarchs had come from all directions; +and there he also saw those three maidens that would select their own +husbands. And when the (assembled) kings were each being mentioned by +name, Bhishma chose those maidens (on behalf of his brother). And taking +them upon his chariot, Bhishma, that first of smiters in battle, +addressed the kings, O monarch, and said in a voice deep as the roar of +the clouds, ‘The wise have directed that when an accomplished person has +been invited, a maiden may be bestowed on him, decked with ornaments and +along with many valuable presents. Others again may bestow their +daughters by accepting a couple of kine. Some again bestow their +daughters by taking a fixed sum, and some take away maidens by force. +Some wed with the consent of the maidens, some by drugging them into +consent, and some by going unto the maidens’ parents and obtaining their +sanction. Some again obtain wives as presents for assisting at +sacrifices. Of these, the learned always applaud the eighth form of +marriage. Kings, however, speak highly of the Swyamvara (the fifth form +as above) and themselves wed according to it. But the sages have said +that, that wife is dearly to be prized who is taken away by force, after +the slaughter of opponents, from amidst the concourse of princes and +kings invited to a self-choice ceremony. Therefore, ye monarchs, I bear +away these maidens hence by force. Strive ye, to the best of your might, +to vanquish me or to be vanquished. Ye monarchs, I stand here resolved to +fight!’ Kuru prince, endued with great energy, thus addressing the +assembled monarchs and the king of Kasi, took upon his car those maidens. +And having taken them up, he sped his chariot away, challenging the +invited kings to a fight. + +“The challenged monarchs then all stood up, slapping their arms and +biting their nether lips in wrath. And loud was the din produced, as, in +a great hurry, they began to cast off their ornaments and put on their +armour. And the motion of their ornaments and armour, O Janamejaya, +brilliant as these were, resembled meteoric flashes in the sky. And with +brows contracted and eyes red with rage, the monarchs moved in +impatience, their armour and ornaments dazzling or waving with their +agitated steps. The charioteers soon brought handsome cars with fine +horses harnessed thereto. Those splendid warriors then, equipped with all +kinds of weapons, rode on those cars, and with uplifted weapons pursued +the retreating chief of the Kurus. Then, O Bharata, occurred the terrible +encounter between those innumerable monarchs on one side and the Kuru +warrior alone on the other. And the assembled monarchs threw at their foe +ten thousand arrows at the same time. Bhishma, however speedily checked +those numberless arrows before they could come at him by means of a +shower of his own arrows as innumerable as the down on the body. Then +those kings surrounded him from all sides and rained arrows on him like +masses of clouds showering on the mountain-breast. But Bhishma, arresting +with his shafts the course of that arrowy downpour, pierced each of the +monarchs with three shafts. The latter, in their turn pierced Bhishma, +each with five shafts. But, O king, Bhishma checked those by his prowess +and pierced each of the contending kings with two shafts. The combat +became so fierce with that dense shower of arrows and other missiles that +it looked very much like the encounter between the celestials and the +Asuras of old, and men of courage who took no part in it were struck with +fear even to look at the scene. Bhishma cut off, with his arrows, on the +field of battle, bows, and flagstaffs, and coats of mail, and human heads +by hundreds and thousands. And such was his terrible prowess and +extraordinary lightness of hand, and such the skill with which he +protected himself, that the contending car-warriors, though his enemies, +began to applaud him loudly. Then that foremost of all wielders of +weapons having vanquished in battle all those monarchs, pursued his way +towards the capital of the Bharatas, taking those maidens with him. + +“It was then, O king, that mighty car-warrior, king Salya of immeasurable +prowess, from behind summoned Bhishma, the son of Santanu, to an +encounter. And desirous of obtaining the maidens, he came upon Bhishma +like a mighty leader of a herd of elephants rushing upon another of his +kind, and tearing with his tusks the latter’s hips at the sight of a +female elephant in heat. And Salya of mighty arms, moved by wrath +addressed Bhishma and said, ‘Stay, Stay.’ Then Bhishma, that tiger among +men, that grinder of hostile armies, provoked by these words, flamed up +in wrath like a blazing fire. Bow in hand, and brow furrowed into +wrinkles, he stayed on his car, in obedience to Kshatriya usage having +checked its course in expectation of the enemy. All the monarchs seeing +him stop, stood there to become spectators of the coming encounter +between him and Salya. The two then began to exhibit their prowess (upon +each other) like roaring bulls of great strength at the sight of a cow in +rut. Then that foremost of men, king Salya covered Bhishma, the son of +Santanu with hundreds and thousands of swift-winged shafts. And those +monarchs seeing Salya thus covering Bhishma at the outset with +innumerable shafts, wondered much and uttered shouts of applause. +Beholding his lightness of hand in combat, the crowd of regal spectators +became very glad and applauded Salya greatly. That subjugator of hostile +towns, Bhishma, then, on hearing those shouts of the Kshatriyas, became +very angry and said, ‘Stay, Stay’. In wrath, he commanded his charioteer, +saying, ‘Lead thou my car to where Salya is, so that I may slay him +instantly as Garuda slays a serpent.’ Then the Kuru chief fixed the +Varuna weapon on his bow-string, and with it afflicted the four steeds of +king Salya. And, O tiger among kings, the Kuru chief, then, warding off +with his weapons those of his foe, slew Salya’s charioteer. Then that +first of men, Bhishma, the son of Santanu, fighting for the sake of those +damsels, slew with the Aindra weapon the noble steeds of his adversary. +He then vanquished that best of monarchs but left him with his life. O +bull of Bharata’s race, Salya, after his defeat, returned to his kingdom +and continued to rule it virtuously. And O conqueror of hostile towns, +the other kings also, who had come to witness, the self-choice ceremony +returned to their own kingdoms. + +“That foremost of smiters, viz., Bhishma, after defeating those monarchs, +set out with those damsels, for Hastinapura whence the virtuous Kuru +prince Vichitravirya ruled the earth like that best of monarchs, viz., +his father Santanu. And, O king, passing through many forests, rivers, +hills, and woods abounding with trees, he arrived (at the capital) in no +time. Of immeasurable prowess in battle, the son of the ocean-going +Ganga, having slain numberless foes in battle without a scratch on his +own person, brought the daughters of the king of Kasi unto the Kurus as +tenderly if they were his daughters-in-law, or younger sisters, or +daughters. And Bhishma of mighty arms, impelled by the desire of +benefiting his brother, having by his prowess brought them thus, then +offered those maidens possessing every accomplishment unto Vichitravirya. +Conversant with the dictates of virtue, the son of Santanu, having +achieved such an extraordinary feat according to (kingly) custom, then +began to make preparations for his brother’s wedding. And when everything +about the wedding had been settled by Bhishma in consultation with +Satyavati, the eldest daughter of the king of Kasi, with a soft smile, +told him these words, ‘At heart I had chosen the king of Saubha for my +husband. He had, in his heart, accepted me for his wife. This was also +approved by my father. At the self-choice ceremony also I would have +chosen him as my lord. Thou art conversant with all the dictates of +virtue, knowing all this, do as thou likest.’ Thus addressed by that +maiden in the presence of the Brahmanas, the heroic Bhishma began to +reflect as to what should be done. As he was conversant with the rules of +virtue, he consulted with the Brahmanas who had mastered the Vedas, and +permitted Amba, the eldest daughter of the ruler of Kasi to do as she +liked. But he bestowed with due rites the two other daughters, Ambika and +Ambalika on his younger brother Vichitravirya. And though Vichitravirya +was virtuous and abstemious, yet, proud of youth and beauty, he soon +became lustful after his marriage. And both Ambika and Ambalika were of +tall stature, and of the complexion of molten gold. And their heads were +covered with black curly hair, and their finger-nails were high and red; +their hips were fat and round, and their breasts full and deep. And +endued with every auspicious mark, the amiable young ladies considered +themselves to be wedded to a husband who was every way worthy of +themselves, and extremely loved and respected Vichitravirya. And +Vichitravirya also, endued with the prowess of the celestials and the +beauty of the twin Aswins, could steal the heart of any beautiful woman. +And the prince passed seven years uninterruptedly in the company of his +wives. He was attacked while yet in the prime of youth, with phthisis. +Friends and relatives in consultation with one another tried to effect a +cure. But in spite of all efforts, the Kuru prince died, setting like the +evening sun. The virtuous Bhishma then became plunged into anxiety and +grief, and in consultation with Satyavati caused the obsequial rites of +the deceased to be performed by learned priests and the several of the +Kuru race.’” + + + +SECTION CIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The unfortunate Satyavati then became plunged in +grief on account of her son. And after performing with her +daughters-in-law the funeral rites of the deceased, consoled, as best she +could, her weeping daughters-in-law and Bhishma, that foremost of all +wielders of weapons. And turning her eyes to religion, and to the +paternal and maternal lines (of the Kurus), she addressed Bhishma and +said ‘The funeral cake, the achievements, and the perpetuation of the +line of the virtuous and celebrated Santanu of Kuru’s race, all now +depend on thee. As the attainment of heaven is inseparable from good +deeds, as long life is inseparable from truth and faith, so is virtue +inseparable from thee. O virtuous one, thou art well-acquainted, in +detail and in the abstract, with the dictates of virtue, with various +Srutis, and with all the branches of the Vedas; know very well that thou +art equal unto Sukra and Angiras as regards firmness in virtue, knowledge +of the particular customs of families, and readiness of inventions under +difficulties. Therefore, O foremost of virtuous men, relying on thee +greatly, I shall appoint thee in a certain matter. Hearing me, it +behoveth thee to do my bidding. O bull among men, my son and thy brother, +endued with energy and dear unto thee, hath gone childless to heaven +while still a boy. These wives of thy brother, the amiable daughters of +the ruler of Kasi, possessing beauty and youth, have become desirous of +children. Therefore, O thou of mighty arms, at my command, raise +offspring on them for the perpetuation of our line. It behoveth thee to +guard virtue against loss. Install thyself on the throne and rule the +kingdom of the Bharatas. Wed thou duly a wife. Plunge not thy ancestors +into hell.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by his mother and friends and +relatives, that oppressor of foes, the virtuous Bhishma, gave this reply +conformable to the dictates of virtue, ‘O mother, what thou sayest is +certainly sanctioned by virtue. But thou knowest what my vow is in the +matter of begetting children. Thou knowest also all that transpired in +connection with thy dower. O Satyavati, I repeat the pledge I once gave, +viz., I would renounce three worlds, the empire of heaven, anything that +may be greater than that, but truth I would never renounce. The earth may +renounce its scent, water may renounce its moisture, light may renounce +its attribute of exhibiting forms, air may renounce its attribute of +touch, the sun may renounce his glory, fire, its heat, the moon, his +cooling rays, space, its capacity of generating sound, the slayer of +Vritra, his prowess, the god of justice, his impartiality; but I cannot +renounce truth.’ Thus addressed by her son endued with wealth of energy, +Satyavati said unto Bhishma, ‘O thou whose prowess is truth, I know of +thy firmness in truth. Thou canst, if so minded, create, by the help of +thy energy, three worlds other than those that exist. I know what thy vow +was on my account. But considering this emergency, bear thou the burden +of the duty that one oweth to his ancestors. O punisher of foes, act in +such a way that the lineal link may not be broken and our friends and +relatives may not grieve.’ Thus urged by the miserable and weeping +Satyavati speaking such words inconsistent with virtue from grief at the +loss of her son, Bhishma addressed her again and said, ‘O Queen, turn not +thy eyes away from virtue. O, destroy us not. Breach of truth by a +Kshatriya is never applauded in our treatises on religion. I shall soon +tell thee, O Queen, what the established Kshatriya usage is to which +recourse may be had to prevent Santanu’s line becoming extinct on earth. +Hearing me, reflect on what should be done in consultation with learned +priests and those that are acquainted with practices allowable in times +of emergency and distress, forgetting not at the same time what the +ordinary course of social conduct is.’” + + + +SECTION CIV + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Bhishma continued, ‘In olden days, Rama, the son of Jamadagni, in anger +at the death of his father, slew with his battle axe the king of the +Haihayas. And Rama, by cutting off the thousand arms of Arjuna (the +Haihaya king), achieved a most difficult feat in the world. Not content +with this, he set out on his chariot for the conquest of the world, and +taking up his bow he cast around his mighty weapons to exterminate the +Kshatriyas. And the illustrious scion of Bhrigu’s race, by means of his +swift arrows annihilated the Kshatriya tribe one and twenty times. + +“And when the earth was thus deprived of Kshatriyas by the great Rishi, +the Kshatriya ladies all over the land had offspring raised by Brahmanas +skilled in the Vedas. It has been said in the Vedas that the sons so +raised belongeth to him that had married the mother. And the Kshatriya +ladies went in unto the Brahamanas not lustfully but from motives of +virtue. Indeed, it was thus that the Kshatriya race was revived. + +“In this connection there is another old history that I will recite to +you. There was in olden days a wise Rishi of the name of Utathya. He had +a wife of the name Mamata whom he dearly loved. One day Utathya’s younger +brother Vrihaspati, the priest of the celestials, endued with great +energy, approached Mamata. The latter, however, told her husband’s +younger brother--that foremost of eloquent men--that she had conceived +from her connection with his elder brother and that, therefore, he should +not then seek for the consummation of his wishes. She continued, ‘O +illustrious Vrihaspati, the child that I have conceived hath studied in +his mother’s womb the Vedas with the six Angas, Semen tuum frustra perdi +non potest. How can then this womb of mine afford room for two children +at a time? Therefore, it behoveth thee not to seek for the consummation +of thy desire at such a time. Thus addressed by her, Vrihaspati, though +possessed of great wisdom, succeeded not in suppressing his desire. Quum +auten jam cum illa coiturus esset, the child in the womb then addressed +him and said, ‘O father, cease from thy attempt. There is no space here +for two. O illustrious one, the room is small. I have occupied it first. +Semen tuum perdi non potest. It behoveth thee not to afflict me.’ But +Vrihaspati without listening to what that child in the womb said, sought +the embraces of Mamata possessing the most beautiful pair of eyes. Ille +tamen Muni qui in venture erat punctum temporis quo humor vitalis jam +emissum iret providens, viam per quam semen intrare posset pedibus +obstruxit. Semen ita exhisum, excidit et in terram projectumest. And the +illustrious Vrihaspati, beholding this, became indignant, and reproached +Utathya’s child and cursed him, saying, ‘Because thou hast spoken to me +in the way thou hast at a time of pleasure that is sought after by all +creatures, perpetual darkness shall overtake thee.’ And from this curse +of the illustrious Vrishaspati Utathya’s child who was equal unto +Vrihaspati in energy, was born blind and came to be called Dirghatamas +(enveloped in perpetual darkness). And the wise Dirghatamas, possessed of +a knowledge of the Vedas, though born blind, succeeded yet by virtue of +his learning, in obtaining for a wife a young and handsome Brahmana +maiden of the name of Pradweshi. And having married her, the illustrious +Dirghatamas, for the expansion of Utathya’s race, begat upon her several +children with Gautama as their eldest. These children, however, were all +given to covetousness and folly. The virtuous and illustrious Dirghatamas +possessing complete mastery over the Vedas, soon after learnt from +Surabhi’s son the practices of their order and fearlessly betook himself +to those practices, regarding them with reverence. (For shame is the +creature of sin and can never be where there is purity of intention). +Then those best of Munis that dwelt in the same asylum, beholding him +transgress the limits of propriety became indignant, seeing sin where sin +was not. And they said, ‘O, this man, transgresseth the limit of +propriety. No longer doth he deserve a place amongst us. Therefore, shall +we all cast this sinful wretch off.’ And they said many other things +regarding the Muni Dirghatamas. And his wife, too, having obtained +children, became indignant with him. + +“The husband then addressing his wife Pradweshi, said, ‘Why is it that +thou also hast been dissatisfied with me?’ His wife answered, ‘The +husband is called the Bhartri because he supporteth the wife. He is +called Pati because he protecteth her. But thou art neither, to me! O +thou of great ascetic merit, on the other hand, thou hast been blind from +birth, it is I who have supported thee and thy children. I shall not do +so in future.’ + +“Hearing these words of his wife, the Rishi became indignant and said +unto her and her children, ‘Take me unto the Kshatriyas and thou shalt +then be rich.’ His wife replied (by saying), ‘I desire not wealth that +may be procured by thee, for that can never bring me happiness. O best of +Brahmanas, do as thou likest. I shall not be able to maintain thee as +before.’ At these words of his wife, Dirghatamas said, ‘I lay down from +this day as a rule that every woman shall have to adhere to one husband +for her life. Be the husband dead or alive, it shall not be lawful for a +woman to have connection with another. And she who may have such +connection shall certainly be regarded as fallen. A woman without husband +shall always be liable to be sinful. And even if she be wealthy she shall +not be able to enjoy that wealth truly. Calumny and evil report shall +ever dog her.’ Hearing these words of her husband Pradweshi became very +angry, and commanded her sons, saying, ‘Throw him into the waters of +Ganga!’ And at the command of their mother, the wicked Gautama and his +brothers, those slaves of covetousness and folly, exclaiming, ‘Indeed, +why should we support this old man?--‘tied the Muni to a raft and +committing him to the mercy of the stream returned home without +compunction. The blind old man drifting along the stream on that raft, +passed through the territories of many kings. One day a king named Vali +conversant with every duty went to the Ganges to perform his ablutions. +And as the monarch was thus engaged, the raft to which the Rishi was +tied, approached him. And as it came, the king took the old man. The +virtuous Vali, ever devoted to truth, then learning who the man was that +was thus saved by him, chose him for raising up offspring. And Vali said, +‘O illustrious one, it behoveth thee to raise upon my wife a few sons +that shall be virtuous and wise.’ Thus addressed, the Rishi endued with +great energy, expressed his willingness. Thereupon king Vali sent his +wife Sudeshna unto him. But the queen knowing that the latter was blind +and old went not unto him, she sent unto him her nurse. And upon that +Sudra woman the virtuous Rishi of passions under full control begat +eleven children of whom Kakshivat was the eldest. And beholding those +eleven sons with Kakshivat as the eldest, who had studied all the Vedas +and who like Rishis were utterers of Brahma and were possessed of great +power, king Vali one day asked the Rishi saying, ‘Are these children +mine?’ The Rishi replied, ‘No, they are mine. Kakshivat and others have +been begotten by me upon a Sudra woman. Thy unfortunate queen Sudeshna, +seeing me blind and old, insulted me by not coming herself but sending +unto me, instead, her nurse.’ The king then pacified that best of Rishis +and sent unto him his queen Sudeshna. The Rishi by merely touching her +person said to her, ‘Thou shalt have five children named Anga, Vanga, +Kalinga, Pundra and Suhma, who shall be like unto Surya (Sun) himself in +glory. And after their names as many countries shall be known on earth. +It is after their names that their dominions have come to be called Anga, +Vanga, Kalinga, Pundra and Suhma.’ + +“It was thus that the line of Vali was perpetuated, in days of old, by a +great Rishi. And it was thus also that many mighty bowmen and great +car-warriors wedded to virtue, sprung in the Kshatriya race from the seed +of Brahmanas. Hearing this, O mother, do as thou likest, as regards the +matter in hand.’” + + + +SECTION CV + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Bhishma, continued, ‘Listen, O mother, to me as I indicate the means by +which the Bharata line may be perpetuated. Let an accomplished Brahmana +be invited by an offer of wealth, and let him raise offspring upon the +wives of Vichitravirya.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Satyavati, then, smiling softly and in voice +broken in bashfulness, addressed Bhishma saying, ‘O Bharata of mighty +arms, what thou sayest is true. From my confidence in thee I shall now +indicate the means of perpetuating our line. Thou shall not be able to +reject it, being conversant, as thou art, with the practices permitted in +seasons of distress. In our race, thou art Virtue, and thou art Truth, +and thou art, too, our sole refuge. Therefore hearing what I say truly, +do what may be proper. + +“My father was a virtuous man. For virtue’s sake he had kept a (ferry) +boat. One day, in the prime of my youth, I went to ply that boat. It so +happened that the great and wise Rishi Parasara, that foremost of all +virtuous men, came, and betook himself to my boat for crossing the +Yamuna. As I was rowing him across the river, the Rishi became excited +with desire and began to address me in soft words. The fear of my father +was uppermost in my mind. But the terror of the Rishi’s curse at last +prevailed. And having obtained from him a precious boon, I could not +refuse his solicitations. The Rishi by his energy brought me under his +complete control, and gratified his desire then and there, having first +enveloped the region in a thick fog. Before this there was a revolting +fishy odour in my body; but the Rishi dispelled it and gave me my present +fragrance. The Rishi also told me that by bringing forth his child in an +island of the river, I would still continue (to be) a virgin. And the +child of Parasara so born of me in my maidenhood hath become a great +Rishi endued with large ascetic powers and known by the name of +Dwaipayana (the island-born). That illustrious Rishi having by his +ascetic power divided the Vedas into four parts hath come to be called on +earth by the name of Vyasa (the divider or arranger), and for his dark +colour, Krishna (the dark). Truthful in speech, free from passion, a +mighty ascetic who hath burnt all his sins, he went away with his father +immediately after his birth. Appointed by me and thee also, that Rishi of +incomparable splendour will certainly beget good children upon the wives +of thy brother. He told me when he went away, ‘Mother, think of me when +thou art in difficulty.’ I will now call him up, if thou, O Bhishma of +mighty arms so desirest. If thou art willing, O Bhishma, I am sure that +great ascetic will beget children upon Vichitravirya’s field.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Mention being made of the great Rishi, Bhishma +with joined palms said, ‘That man is truly intelligent who fixes his eyes +judiciously on virtue, profit, and pleasure, and who after reflecting +with patience, acteth in such a way that virtue may lead to future +virtue, profit to future profit and pleasure to future pleasure. +Therefore, that which hath been said by thee and which, besides being +beneficial to us, is consistent with virtue, is certainly the best advice +and hath my full approval.’ And when Bhishma had said this, O thou of +Kuru’s race, Kali (Satyavati) thought of the Muni Dwaipayana and +Dwaipayana who was then engaged in interpreting the Vedas, learning that +he was being called up by his mother, came instantly unto her without +anybody’s knowing it. Satayavati then duly greeted her son and embraced +him with arms, bathing him in her tears, for the daughter of the +fisherman wept bitterly at the sight of her son after so long a time. And +her first son, the great Vyasa, beholding her weeping, washed her with +cool water, and bowing unto her, said, ‘I have come, O mother, to fulfil +thy wishes. Therefore, O virtuous one, command me without delay. I shall +accomplish thy desire.’ The family priest of the Bharatas then worshipped +the great Rishi duly, and the latter accepted the offerings of worship, +uttering the usual mantras. And gratified with the worship he received, +he took his seat. Satyavati, beholding him seated at his ease, after the +usual inquiries, addressed him and said, ‘O learned one, sons derive +their birth both from the father and the mother. They are, therefore, the +common property of both parents. There cannot be the least doubt about it +that the mother, hath as much power over them as the father. As thou art, +indeed, my eldest son according to the ordinance, O Brahmarshi, so is +Vichitravirya my youngest son. And as Bhishma is Vichitravirya’s brother +on the father’s side, so art thou his brother on the same mother’s side. +I do not know what you may think, but this is what, O son, I think. This +Bhishma, the son of Santanu, devoted to truth, doth not, for the sake, of +truth, entertain the desire of either begetting children or ruling the +kingdom. Therefore, from affection for thy brother Vichitravirya, for the +perpetuation of our dynasty, for the sake of this Bhishma’s request and +my command, for kindness to all creatures, for the protection of the +people and from the liberality of thy heart, O sinless one, it behoveth +thee to do what I say. Thy younger brother hath left two widows like unto +the daughters of the celestials themselves, endued with youth and great +beauty. For the sake of virtue and religion, they have become desirous of +offspring. Thou art the fittest person to be appointed. Therefore beget +upon them children worthy of our race and for the continuance of our +line.’ + +“Vyasa, hearing this, said, ‘O Satyavati, thou knowest what virtue is +both in respect of this life and the other. O thou of great wisdom, thy +affections also are set on virtue. Therefore, at thy command, making +virtue my motive, I shall do what thou desirest. Indeed, this practice +that is conformable to the true and eternal religion is known to me, I +shall give unto my brother children that shall be like unto Mitra and +Varuna. Let the ladies then duly observe for one full year the vow I +indicate. They shall then be purified. No women shall ever approach me +without having observed a rigid vow.’ + +“Satyavati then said, ‘O sinless one, it must be as thou sayest. Take +such steps that the ladies may conceive immediately. In a kingdom where +there is no king, the people perish from want of protection; sacrifices +and other holy acts are suspended; the clouds send no showers; and the +gods disappear. How can a kingdom be protected that hath no king? +Therefore, see thou that the ladies conceive. Bhishma will watch over the +children as long as they are in their mother’s wombs. + +“Vyasa replied, ‘If I am to give unto my brother children so +unseasonably, then let the ladies bear my ugliness. That in itself shall, +in their case, be the austerest of penances. If the princess of Kosala +can bear my strong odour, my ugly and grim visage, my attire and body, +she shall then conceive an excellent child.’” + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having spoken thus unto Satyavati, Vyasa of +great energy addressed her and said, ‘Let the princess of Kosala clad in +clean attire and checked with ornaments wait for me in her bed-chamber.’ +Saying this, the Rishi disappeared, Satyavati then went to her +daughter-in-law and seeing her in private spoke to her these words of +beneficial and virtuous import, ‘O princess of Kosala, listen to what I +say. It is consistent with virtue. The dynasty of the Bharatas hath +become extinct from my misfortune. Beholding my affliction and the +extinction of his paternal line, the wise Bhishma, impelled also by the +desire of perpetuating our race, hath made me a suggestion, which +suggestion, however, for its accomplishment is dependent on thee. +Accomplish it, O daughter, and restore the lost line of the Bharatas. O +thou of fair hips, bring thou forth a child equal in splendour unto the +chief of the celestials. He shall bear the onerous burden of this our +hereditary kingdom.’ + +“Satyavati having succeeded with great difficulty in procuring the assent +of her virtuous daughter-in-law to her proposal which was not +inconsistent with virtue, then fed Brahmanas and Rishis and numberless +guests who arrived on die occasion.’” + + + +SECTION CVI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Soon after the monthly season of the princess of +Kosala had been over, Satyavati, purifying her daughter-in-law with a +bath, led her into the sleeping apartment. There seating her upon a +luxurious bed, she addressed her, saying, ‘O Princess of Kosala, thy +husband hath an elder brother who shall this day enter thy womb as thy +child. Wait for him tonight without dropping off to sleep.’ Hearing these +words of her mother-in-law, the amiable princess, as she lay on her bed, +began to think of Bhishma and the other elders of the Kuru race. Then the +Rishi of truthful speech, who had given his promise in respect of Amvika +(the eldest of the princesses) in the first instance, entered her chamber +while the lamp was burning. The princess, seeing his dark visage, his +matted locks of copper hue, blazing eyes, his grim beard, closed her eyes +in fear. The Rishi, from desire of accomplishing his mother’s wishes, +however knew her. But the latter, struck with fear, opened not her eyes +even once to look at him. And when Vyasa came out, he was met by his +mother, who asked him, ‘Shall the princess have an accomplished son?’ +Hearing her, he replied, ‘The son of the princess she will bring forth +shall be equal in might unto ten thousand elephants. He will be an +illustrious royal sage, possessed of great learning and intelligence and +energy. The high-souled one shall have in his time a century of sons. But +from the fault of his mother he shall be blind ‘At these words of her +son, Satyavati said, ‘O thou of ascetic wealth, how can one that is blind +become a monarch worthy of the Kurus? How can one that is blind become +the protector of his relatives and family, and the glory of his father’s +race? It behoveth thee to give another king unto the Kurus.’ Saying, ‘So +be it,’ Vyasa went away. And the first princess of Kosala in due time +brought forth a blind son. + +“Soon after Satyavati, O chastiser of foes, summoned Vyasa, after having +secured the assent of her daughter-in-law. Vyasa came according to his +promise, and approached, as before, the second wife of his brother. And +Ambalika beholding the Rishi, became pale with fear And, O Bharata, +beholding her so afflicted and pale with fear, Vyasa addressed her and +said, ‘Because thou hast been pale with fear at the sight of my grim +visage, therefore, thy child shall be pale in complexion. O thou of +handsome face, the name also thy child shall bear will be Pandu (the +pale).’ ‘Saying this, the illustrious and best of Rishis came out of her +chamber. And as he came out, he was met by his mother who asked him about +the would-be-child. The Rishi told her that the child would be of pale +complexion and known by the name of Pandu. Satyavati again begged of the +Rishi another child, and the Rishi told her in reply, ‘So be it.’ +Ambalika, then, when her time came, brought forth a son of pale +complexion. Blazing with beauty the child was endued with all auspicious +marks. Indeed, it was this child who afterwards became the father of +those mighty archers, the Pandavas. + +“Some time after, when the oldest of Vichitravirya’s widows again had her +monthly season, she was solicited by Satyavati to approach Vyasa once +again. Possessed of beauty like a daughter of a celestial, the princess +refused to do her mother-in-law’s bidding, remembering the grim visage +and strong odour of the Rishi. She, however, sent unto him, a maid of +hers, endued with the beauty of an Apsara and decked with her own +ornaments. And when the Vyasa arrived, the maid rose up and saluted him. +And she waited upon him respectfully and took her seat near him when +asked. And, O king, the great Rishi of rigid vows, was well-pleased with +her, and when he rose to go away, he addressed her and said, ‘Amiable +one, thou shalt no longer be a slave. Thy child also shall be greatly +fortunate and virtuous, and the foremost of all intelligent men on +earth!’ And, O king, the son thus begotten upon her by Krishna-Dwaipayana +was afterwards known by the name of Vidura. He was thus the brother of +Dhritarashtra and the illustrious Pandu. And Vidura was free from desire +and passion and was conversant with the rules of government, and was the +god of justice born on earth under the curse of the illustrious Rishi +Mandavya. And Krishna-Dwaipayana, when he met his mother as before, +informed her as to how he had been deceived by the seniormost of the +princesses and how he had begotten a son upon a Sudra woman. And having +spoken thus unto his mother the Rishi disappeared from her sight. + +“Thus were born, in the field of Vichitravirya, even of Dwaipayana those +sons of the splendour of celestial children, those propagators of the +Kuru race.’” + + + +SECTION CVII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘What did the god of justice do for which he was +cursed? And who was the Brahmana ascetic from whose curse the god had to +be born in the Sudra caste?’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘There was a Brahmana known by the name of Mandavya. +He was conversant with all duties and was devoted to religion, truth and +asceticism. The great ascetic used to sit at the entrance of his +hermitage at the foot of a tree, with his arms upraised in the observance +of the vow of silence. And as he sat there for years together, one day +there came into his asylum a number of robbers laden with spoil. And, O +bull in Bharata’s race, those robbers were then being pursued by a +superior body as guardians of the peace. The thieves, on entering that +asylum, hid their booty there, and in fear concealed themselves +thereabout before the guards came. But scarcely had they thus concealed +themselves when the constables in pursuit came to the spot. The latter, +observing the Rishi sitting under the tree, questioned him, O king, +saying, ‘O best of Brahmanas, which way have the thieves taken? Point it +out to us so that we may follow it without loss of time.’ Thus questioned +by the guardians of peace the ascetic, O king, said not a word, good or +otherwise, in reply. The officers of the king, however, on searching that +asylum soon discovered the thieves concealed thereabout together with the +plunder. Upon this, their suspicion fell upon the Muni, and accordingly +they seized him with the thieves and brought him before the king. The +king sentenced him to be executed along with his supposed associates. And +the officers, acting in ignorance, carried out the sentence by impaling +the celebrated Rishi. And having impaled him, they went to the king with +the booty they had recovered. But the virtuous Rishi, though impaled and +kept without food, remained in that state for a long time without dying. +And the Rishi by his ascetic power not only preserved his life but +summoned other Rishi to the scene. And they came there in the night in +the forms of birds, and beholding him engaged in ascetic meditation +though fixed on that stake, became plunged into grief. And telling that +best of Brahmanas who they were, they asked him saying, ‘O Brahmana, we +desire to know what hath been thy sin for which thou hast thus been made +to suffer the tortures of impalement!’” + + + +SECTION CVIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus asked, the tiger among Munis then answered +those Rishis of ascetic wealth, ‘Whom shall I blame for this? In fact, +none else (than my own self) hath offended against me!’ After this, O +monarch, the officers of justice, seeing him alive, informed the king of +it. The latter hearing what they said, consulted with his advisers, and +came to the place and began to pacify the Rishi. fixed on the stake. And +the king said, ‘O thou best of Rishis, I have offended against thee in +ignorance. I beseech thee to pardon me for the same. It behoveth thee not +to be angry with me.’ Thus addressed by the king, the Muni was pacified. +And beholding him free from wrath, the king took him up with the stake +and endeavoured to extract it from his body. But not succeeding therein, +he cut it off at the point just outside the body. The Muni, with a +portion of the stake within his body, walked about, and in that state +practised the austerest of penances and conquered numberless regions +unattainable by others. And for the circumstances of a part of the stake +being within his body, he came to be known in the three worlds by the +name of Ani-Mandavya (Mandavya with the stake within). And one day that +Brahamana acquainted with the highest truth of religion went unto the +abode of the god of justice. And beholding the god there seated on his +throne, the Rishi reproached him and said, ‘What, pray, is that sinful +act committed by me unconsciously, for which I am bearing this +punishment? O, tell me soon, and behold the power of my asceticism.’ + +“The god of justice, thus questioned, replied, ‘O thou of ascetic wealth, +a little insect was once pierced by thee on a blade of grass. Thou +bearest now the consequence of the act. O Rishi, as a gift, however +small, multiplieth in respect of its religious merits, so a sinful act +multiplieth in respect of the woe it bringeth in its train.’ On hearing +this, Ani-Mandavya asked, ‘O tell me truly when this act was committed by +me. Told in reply by the god of justice that he had committed it, when a +child, the Rishi said, ‘That shall not be a sin which may be done by a +child up to the twelfth year of his age from birth. The scriptures shall +not recognise it as sinful. The punishment thou hast inflicted on me for +such a venial offence hath been disproportionate in severity. The killing +of a Brahmana involves a sin that is heavier than the killing of any +other living being. Thou shall, therefore, O god of justice, have to be +born among men even in the Sudra order. And from this day I establish +this limit in respect of the consequence of acts that an act shall not be +sinful when committed by one below the age of fourteen. But when +committed by one above that age, it shall be regarded as sin.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Cursed for this fault by that illustrious +Rishi, the god of justice had his birth as Vidura in the Sudra order. And +Vidura was well-versed in the doctrines of morality and also politics and +worldly profit. And he was entirely free from covetousness and wrath. +Possessed of great foresight and undisturbed tranquillity of mind, Vidura +was ever devoted to the welfare of the Kurus.’” + + + +SECTION CIX + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Upon the birth of those three children, Kurujangala, +Kurukshetra, and the Kurus grew in prosperity. The earth began to yield +abundant harvest, and the crops also were of good flavour. And the clouds +began to pour rain in season and trees became full of fruits and flowers. +And the draught cattle were all happy and the birds and other animals +rejoiced exceedingly. And the flowers became fragrant and the fruits +became sweet; the cities and towns became filled with merchants, +artisans, traders and artists of every description. And the people became +brave, learned, honest and happy. And there were no robbers then, nor +anybody who was sinful. And it seemed that the golden age had come upon +every part of the kingdom. And the people devoted to virtuous acts, +sacrifices and truth, and regarding one another with love and affection +grew in prosperity. And free from pride, wrath and covetousness, they +rejoiced in perfectly innocent sports. And the capital of the Kurus, full +as the ocean, was a second Amaravati, teeming with hundreds of palaces +and mansions, and possessing gates and arches dark as the clouds. And men +in great cheerfulness sported constantly on rivers, lakes and tanks, and +in fine groves and charming woods. And the southern Kurus, in their +virtuous rivalry with their northern kinsmen, walked about in the company +of Siddhas and Charanas and Rishis. And all over that delightful country +whose prosperity was thus increased by the Kurus, there were no misers +and no widowed women. And the wells and lakes were ever full; the groves +abounded with trees, and the houses and abodes of Brahmanas were full of +wealth and the whole kingdom was full of festivities. And, O king, +virtuously ruled by Bhishma, the kingdom was adorned with hundreds of +sacrificial stakes. And the wheel of virtue having been set in motion by +Bhishma, and the country became so contented that the subjects of other +kingdoms, quitting their homes, came to dwell there and increase its +population. And the citizens and the people were filled with hope, upon +seeing the youthful acts of their illustrious princes. And, O king, in +the house of the Kuru chiefs as also of the principal citizens, ‘give’, +‘eat’ were the only words constantly heard. And Dhritarashtra and Pandu +and Vidura of great intelligence were from their birth brought up by +Bhishma, as if they were his own sons. And the children, having passed +through the usual rites of their order, devoted themselves to vows and +study. And they grew up into fine young men skilled in the Vedas and all +athletic sports. And they became well-skilled in the practice of bow, in +horsemanship, in encounters with mace, sword and shield, in the +management of elephants in battle, and in the science of morality. +Well-read in history and the Puranas and various branches of learning, +and acquainted with the truths of the Vedas and their branches they +acquired knowledge, which was versatile and deep. And Pandu, possessed of +great prowess, excelled all men in archery while Dhritarashtra excelled +all in personal strength, while in the three worlds there was no one +equal to Vidura in devotion to virtue and in the knowledge of the +dictates of morality. And beholding the restoration of the extinct line +of Santanu, the saying became current in all countries that among mothers +of heroes, the daughters of the king of Kasi were the first; that among +countries Kurujangala was the first; that among virtuous men, Vidura was +the first; that among cities Hastinapura was the first. Pandu became +king, for Dhritarashtra, owing to the blindness, and Vidura, for his +birth by a Sudra woman, did not obtain the kingdom. One day Bhishma, the +foremost of those acquainted with the duties of a statesman and dictates +of morality, properly addressing Vidura conversant with the truth of +religion and virtue, said as follows.” + + + +SECTION CX + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Bhishma said, ‘This our celebrated race, resplendent with every virtue +and accomplishment, hath all along sovereignty over all other monarchs on +earth. Its glory maintained and itself perpetuated by many virtuous and +illustrious monarchs of old, the illustrious Krishna (Dwaipayana) and +Satyavati and myself have raised you (three) up, in order that it may not +be extinct. It behoveth myself and thee also to take such steps that this +our dynasty may expand again as the sea. It hath been heard by me that +there are three maidens worthy of being allied to our race. One is the +daughter of (Surasena of) the Yadava race; the other is the daughter of +Suvala; and the third is the princess of Madra. O son, all these maidens +are of course of blue blood. Possessed of beauty and pure blood, they are +eminently fit for an alliance with our family. O thou foremost of +intelligent men, I think we should choose them for the growth of our +race. Tell me what thou thinkest.’ Thus addressed, Vidura replied, ‘Thou +art our father and thou art our mother, too. Thou art our respected +spiritual instructor. Therefore, do thou what may be best for us in thy +eyes.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Soon after Bhishma heard from the Brahmanas +that Gandhari, the amiable daughter of Suvala, having worshipped Hara +(Siva) had obtained from the deity the boon that she should have a +century of sons. Bhishma, the grandfather of the Kurus, having heard +this, sent messengers unto the king of Gandhara. King Suvala at first +hesitated on account of the blindness of the bridegroom, but taking into +consideration the blood of the Kurus, their fame and behaviour, he gave +his virtuous daughter unto Dhritarashtra and the chaste Gandhari hearing +that Dhritarashtra was blind and that her parents had consented to marry +her to him, from love and respect for her future husband, blindfolded her +own eyes. Sakuni, the son of Suvala, bringing unto the Kurus his sister +endued with youth and beauty, formally gave her away unto Dhritarashtra. +And Gandhari was received with great respect and the nuptials were +celebrated with great pomp under Bhishma’s directions. And the heroic +Sakuni, after having bestowed his sister along with many valuable robes, +and having received Bhishma’s adorations, returned to his own city. And, +O thou of Bharata’s race, the beautiful Gandhari gratified all the Kurus +by her behaviour and respectful attentions. And Gandhari, ever devoted to +her husband, gratified her superiors by her good conduct; and as she was +chaste, she never referred even by words to men other than her husband or +such superiors.’” + + + +SECTION CXI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘There was amongst the Yadavas a chief named +Sura. He was the father of Vasudeva. And he had a daughter called Pritha, +who was unrivalled for beauty on earth. And, O thou of Bharata’s race, +Sura, always truthful in speech, gave from friendship this his firstborn +daughter unto his childless cousin and friend, the illustrious +Kuntibhoja--the son of his paternal aunt--pursuant to a former promise. +And Pritha in the house of her adoptive father was engaged in looking +after the duties of hospitality to Brahmanas and other guests. Once she +gratified by her attentions the terrible Brahmana of rigid vows, who was +known by the name of Durvasa and was well-acquainted with the hidden +truths of morality. Gratified with her respectful attentions, the sage, +anticipating by his spiritual power the future (season of) distress +(consequent upon the curse to be pronounced upon Pandu for his +unrighteous act of slaying a deer while serving its mate) imparted to her +a formula of invocation for summoning any of the celestials she liked to +give her children. And the Rishi said, ‘Those celestials that thou shall +summon by this Mantra shall certainly approach thee and give thee +children.’ ‘Thus addressed by the Brahmana, the amiable Kunti (Pritha) +became curious, and in her maidenhood summoned the god Arka (Sun). And as +soon as he pronounced the Mantra, she beheld that effulgent deity--that +beholder of everything in the world--approaching her. And beholding that +extraordinary sight, the maiden of faultless features was overcome with +surprise. But the god Vivaswat (Sun) approaching her, said, ‘Here I am, O +black-eyed girl! Tell me what I am to do for thee.’ + +“Hearing this, Kunti said, ‘O slayer of foes, a certain Brahamana gave me +this formula of invocation as a boon, and, O lord, I have summoned thee +only to test its efficacy. For this offence I bow to thee. A woman, +whatever be her offence, always deserveth pardon.’ Surya (Sun) replied, +‘I know that Durvasa hath granted this boon. But cast off thy fears, +timid maiden, and grant me thy embraces. Amiable one, my approach cannot +be futile; it must bear fruit. Thou hast summoned me, and if it be for +nothing, it shall certainly be regarded as thy transgression.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Vivaswat thus spoke unto her many things with a +view to allay her fears, but, O Bharata, the amiable maiden, from modesty +and fear of her relatives, consented not to grant his request. And, O +bull of Bharata’s race, Arka addressed her again and said, ‘O princess, +for my sake, it shall not be sinful for thee to grant my wish.’ Thus +speaking unto the daughter of Kuntibhoja, the illustrious Tapana--the +illuminator of the universe--gratified his wish. And of this connection +there was immediately born a son known all over the world as Karna +accountred with natural armour and with face brightened by ear-rings. And +the heroic Karna was the first of all wielders of weapons, blessed with +good fortune, and endued with the beauty of a celestial child. And after +the birth of this child, the illustrious Tapana granted unto Pritha her +maidenhood and ascended to heaven. And the princess of the Vrishni race +beholding with sorrow that son born of her, reflected intently upon what +was then the best for her to do. And from fear of her relatives she +resolved to conceal that evidence of her folly. And she cast her +offspring endued with great physical strength into the water. Then the +well-known husband of Radha, of the Suta caste, took up the child thus +cast into the water, and he and his wife brought him up as their own son. +And Radha and her husband bestowed on him the name of Vasusena (born with +wealth) because he was born with a natural armour and ear-rings. And +endued as he was born with great strength, as he grew up, he became +skilled in all weapons. Possessed of great energy, he used to adore the +sun until his back was heated by his rays (i.e., from dawn to midday), +and during the hours of worship, there was nothing on earth that the +heroic and intelligent Vasusena would not give unto the Brahmanas. And +Indra desirous of benefiting his own son Phalguni (Arjuna), assuming the +form of a Brahmana, approached Vasusena on one occasion and begged of him +his natural armour. Thus asked Karna took off his natural armour, and +joining his hands in reverence gave it unto Indra in the guise of a +Brahmana. And the chief of the celestials accepted the gift and was +exceedingly gratified with Karna’s liberality. He therefore, gave unto +him a fine dart, saying, ‘That one (and one only) among the celestials, +the Asuras, men, the Gandharvas, the Nagas, and the Rakshasas, whom thou +desirest to conquer, shall be certainly slain with this dart.’ + +“The son of Surya was before this known by the name of Vasusena. But +since he cut off his natural armour, he came to be called Karna (the +cutter or peeler of his own cover).’” + + + +SECTION CXII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said. ‘The large-eyed daughter of Kuntibhoja, Pritha by +name, was endued with beauty and every accomplishment. Of rigid vows, she +was devoted to virtue and possessed of every good quality. But though +endued with beauty and youth and every womanly attribute, yet it so +happened that no king asked-for her hand. Her father Kuntibhoja seeing +this, invited, O best of monarchs, the princes and kings of other +countries and desired his daughter to select her husband from among her +guests. The intelligent Kunti, entering the amphitheatre, beheld +Pandu--the foremost of the Bharatas--that tiger among kings--in that +concourse of crowned heads. Proud as the lion, broad-chested, bull-eyed, +endued with great strength, and outshining all other monarchs in +splendour, he looked like another Indra in that royal assemblage. The +amiable daughter of Kuntibhoja, of faultless features, beholding +Pandu--that best of men--in that assembly, became very much agitated. And +advancing with modesty, all the while quivering with emotion, she placed +the nuptial garland about Pandu’s neck. The other monarchs, seeing Kunti +choose Pandu for her lord, returned to their respective kingdoms on +elephants, horses and cars, as they had come. Then, O king, the bride’s +father caused the nuptial rites to be performed duly. The Kuru prince +blessed with great good fortune and the daughter of Kuntibhoja formed a +couple like Maghavat and Paulomi (the king and queen of the celestials). +And, O best of Kuru monarchs, king Kuntibhoja, after the nuptials were +over, presented his son-in-law with much wealth and sent him back to his +capital. Then the Kuru prince Pandu, accompanied by a large force bearing +various kinds of banners and pennons, and eulogised by Brahmanas and +great Rishis pronouncing benedictions, reached his capital. And after +arriving at his own palace, he established his queen therein.’” + + + +SECTION CXIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Some time after, Bhishma the intelligent son of +Santanu set his heart upon getting Pandu married to a second wife. +Accompanied by an army composed of four kinds of force, and also by aged +councillors and Brahmanas and great Rishis, he went to the capital of the +king of Madra. And that bull of the Valhikas--the king of Madra--hearing +that Bhishma had arrived, went out to receive him. And having received +him with respect, he got him to enter his palace. Arriving there, the +king of Madra offered unto Bhishma a white carpet for a seat; water to +wash his feet with, and usual oblation of various ingredients indicative +of respect. And when he was seated at ease, the king asked him about the +reason of his visit. Then Bhishma--the supporter of the dignity of the +Kurus--addressed the king of Madra and said, ‘O oppressor of all foes, +know that I have come for the hand of a maiden. It hath been heard by us +that thou hast a sister named Madri celebrated for her beauty and endued +with every virtue; I would chose her for Pandu. Thou art, O king, in +every respect worthy of an alliance with us, and we also are worthy of +thee. Reflecting upon all this, O king of Madra, accept us duly.’ The +ruler of Madra, thus addressed by Bhishma, replied, ‘To my mind, there is +none else than one of thy family with whom I can enter into an alliance. +But there is a custom in our family observed by our ancestors, which, be +it good or bad, I am incapable of transgressing. It is well-known, and +therefore is known to thee as well, I doubt not. Therefore, it is not +proper for thee to say to me,--Bestow thy sister. The custom to which I +allude is our family custom. With us that is a virtue and worthy of +observance. It is for this only, O slayer of foes, I cannot give thee any +assurance in the matter of thy request.’ On hearing this, Bhishma +answered the king of Madra, saying, ‘O king, this, no doubt,’ is a +virtue. The self-create himself hath said it. Thy ancestors were +observant of custom. There is no fault to find with it. It is also +well-known, O Salya, that this custom in respect of family dignity hath +the approval of the wise and the good.’ Saying this Bhishma of great +energy, gave unto Salya much gold both coined and uncoined, and precious +stones of various colours by thousands, and elephants and horses and +cars, and much cloth and many ornaments, and gems and pearls and corals. +And Salya accepting with a cheerful heart those precious gifts then gave +away his sister decked in ornaments unto that bull of the Kuru race. Then +the wise Bhishma, the son of the oceangoing Ganga, rejoiced at the issue +of his mission, took Madri with him, and returned to the Kuru capital +named after the elephant. + +“Then selecting on auspicious day and moment as indicated by the wise for +the ceremony, King Pandu was duly united with Madri. And after the +nuptials were over, the Kuru king established his beautiful bride in +handsome apartments. And, O king of kings, that best of monarchs then +gave himself up to enjoyment in the company of his two wives as best he +liked and to the limit of his desires. And after thirty days had elapsed, +the Kuru king, O monarch, started from his capital for the conquest of +the world. And after reverentially saluting and bowing to Bhishma and the +other elders of the Kuru race, and with adieus to Dhritarashtra and +others of the family, and obtaining their leave, he set out on his grand +campaign, accompanied by a large force of elephants, horses, and cars, +and well-pleased with the blessings uttered by all around and the +auspicious rites performed by the citizens for his success. And Pandu, +accompanied by such a strong force marched against various foes. And that +tiger among men--that spreader of the fame of the Kurus--first subjugated +the robber tribes of asarna. He next turned his army composed of +innumerable elephants, cavalry, infantry, and charioteers, with standards +of various colours against Dhirga--the ruler of the kingdom of Maghadha +who was proud of his strength, and offended against numerous monarchs. +And attacking him in his capital, Pandu slew him there, and took +everything in his treasury and also vehicles and draught animals without +number. He then marched into Mithila and subjugated the Videhas. And +then, O bull among men, Pandu led his army against Kasi, Sumbha, and +Pundra, and by the strength and prowess of his arms spread the fame of +the Kurus. And Pandu, that oppressor of foes, like unto a mighty fire +whose far-reaching flames were represented by his arrows and splendour by +his weapons, began to consume all kings that came in contact with him. +These with their forces, vanquished by Pandu at the head of his army, +were made the vassals of the Kurus. And all kings of the world, thus +vanquished by him, regarded him as the one single hero on earth even as +the celestials regard Indra in heaven. And the kings of earth with joined +palms bowed to him and waited on him with presents of various kinds of +gems and wealth, precious stones and pearls and corals, and much gold and +silver, and first-class kine and handsome horses and fine cars and +elephants, and asses and camels and buffaloes, and goats and sheep, and +blankets and beautiful hides, and cloths woven out of furs. And the king +of Hastinapura accepting those offerings retraced his steps towards his +capital, to the great delight of his subjects. And the citizens and +others filled with joy, and kings and ministers, all began to say, ‘O, +the fame of the achievements of Santanu, that tiger among kings, and of +the wise Bharata, which were about to die, hath been revived by Pandu. +They who robbed before the Kurus of both territory and wealth have been +subjugated by Pandu--the tiger of Hastinapura--and made to pay tribute.’ +And all the citizens with Bhishma at their head went out to receive the +victorious king. They had not proceeded far when they saw the attendants +of the king laden with much wealth, and the train of various conveyances +laden with all kinds of wealth, and of elephants, horses, cars, kine, +camels and other animals, was so long that they saw not its end. Then +Pandu, beholding Bhishma, who was a father to him, worshipped his feet +and saluted the citizens and others as each deserved. And Bhishma, too, +embracing Pandu as his son who had returned victorious after grinding +many hostile kingdoms, wept tears of joy. And Pandu, instilling joy into +the hearts of his people with a flourish of trumpets and conchs and +kettle-drums, entered his capital.’” + + + +SECTION CXIV + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Pandu, then, at the command of Dhritarashtra, +offered the wealth he had acquired by the prowess of his arms to Bhishma, +their grand-mother Satyavati and their mothers. And he sent portion of +his wealth to Vidura also. And the virtuous Pandu gratified his other +relatives also with similar presents. Then Satyavati and Bhishma and the +Kosala princes were all gratified with the presents Pandu made out of the +acquisitions of his prowess. And Ambalika in particular, upon embracing +her son of incomparable prowess, became as glad as the queen of heaven +upon embracing Jayanta. And with the wealth acquired by that hero +Dhritarashtra performed five great sacrifices that were equal unto a +hundred great horse-sacrifices, at all of which the offerings to +Brahmanas were by hundreds and thousands. + +“A little while after, O bull of Bharata’s race, Pandu who had achieved a +victory over sloth and lethargy, accompanied by his two wives, Kunti and +Madri, retired into the woods. Leaving his excellent palace with its +luxurious beds, he became a permanent inhabitant of the woods, devoting +the whole of his time to the chase of the deer. And fixing his abode in a +delightful and hilly region overgrown with huge sala trees, on the +southern slope of the Himavat mountains, he roamed about in perfect +freedom. The handsome Pandu with his two wives wandered in those woods +like Airavata accompanied by two she-elephants. And the dwellers in those +woods, beholding the heroic Bharata prince in the company of his wives, +armed with sword, arrows, and bow, clad with his beautiful armour, and +skilled in all excellent weapons, regarded him as the very god wandering +amongst them. + +“And at the command of Dhritarashtra, people were busy in supplying Pandu +in his retirement with every object of pleasure and enjoyment. + +“Meanwhile the son of the ocean-going Ganga heard that king Devaka had a +daughter endued with youth and beauty and begotten upon a Sudra wife. +Bringing her from her father’s abode, Bhishma married her to Vidura of +great wisdom. And Vidura begot upon her many children like unto himself +in accomplishments.’” + + + +SECTION CXV + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Meanwhile, O Janamejaya, Dhritarashtra begat upon +Gandhari a hundred sons, and upon a Vaisya wife another besides those +hundred. And Pandu had, by his two wives Kunti and Madri, five sons who +were great charioteers and who were all begotten by the celestials for +the perpetuation of the Kuru line.’ + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O best of Brahmanas, how did Gandhari bring forth +those hundred sons and in how many years? What were also the periods of +life allotted to each? How did Dhritarashtra also beget another son in a +Vaisya wife? How did Dhritarashtra behave towards his loving obedient, +and virtuous wife Gandhari? How were also begotten the five sons of +Pandu, those mighty charioteers, even though Pandu himself laboured under +the curse of the great Rishi (he slew)? Tell me all this in detail, for +my thirst for hearing everything relating to my own ancestor hath not +been slaked.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘One day Gandhari entertained with respectful +attention the great Dwaipayana who came to her abode, exhausted with +hunger and fatigue. Gratified with Gandhari’s hospitality, the Rishi gave +her the boon she asked for, viz., that she should have a century of sons +each equal unto her lord in strength and accomplishments. Some time after +Gandhari conceived and she bore the burden in her womb for two long years +without being delivered. And she was greatly afflicted at this. It was +then that she heard that Kunti had brought forth a son whose splendour +was like unto the morning sun. Impatient of the period of gestation which +had prolonged so long, and deprived of reason by grief, she struck her +womb with great violence without the knowledge of her husband. And +thereupon came out of her womb, after two years’ growth, a hard mass of +flesh like unto an iron ball. When she was about to throw it away, +Dwaipayana, learning everything by his spiritual powers, promptly came +there, and that first of ascetics beholding that ball of flesh, addressed +the daughter of Suvala thus, ‘What hast thou done?’ Gandhari, without +endeavouring to disguise her feelings, addressed the Rishi and said, +‘Having heard that Kunti had brought forth a son like unto Surya in +splendour, I struck in grief at my womb. Thou hadst, O Rishi, granted me +the boon that I should have a hundred sons, but here is only a ball of +flesh for those hundred sons!’ Vyasa then said, ‘Daughter of Suvala, it +is even so. But my words can never be futile. I have not spoken an +untruth even in jest. I need not speak of other occasions. Let a hundred +pots full of clarified butter be brought instantly, and let them be +placed at a concealed spot. In the meantime, let cool water be sprinkled +over this ball of flesh.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘That ball of flesh then, sprinkled over with +water, became, in time, divided into a hundred and one parts, each about +the size of the thumb. These were then put into those pots full of +clarified butter that had been placed at a concealed spot and were +watched with care. The illustrious Vyasa then said unto the daughter of +Suvala that she should open the covers of the pots after full two years. +And having said this and made these arrangements, the wise Dwaipayana +went to the Himavat mountains for devoting himself to asceticism. + +“Then in time, king Duryodhana was born from among those pieces of the +ball of flesh that had been deposited in those pots. According to the +order of birth, king Yudhishthira was the oldest. The news of +Duryodhana’s birth was carried to Bhishma and the wise Vidura. The day +that the haughty Duryodhana was born was also the birth-day of Bhima of +mighty arms and great prowess. + +“As soon as Duryodhana was born, he began to cry and bray like an ass. +And hearing that sound, the asses, vultures, jackals and crows uttered +their respective cries responsively. Violent winds began to blow, and +there were fires in various directions. Then king Dhritarashtra in great +fear, summoning Bhishma and Vidura and other well-wishers and all the +Kurus, and numberless Brahmanas, addressed them and said, ‘The oldest of +those princes, Yudhishthira, is the perpetuator of our line. By virtue of +his birth he hath acquired the kingdom. We have nothing to say to this. +But shall this my son born after him become king? Tell me truly what is +lawful and right under these circumstances.’ As soon as these words were +spoken, O Bharata, jackals and other carnivorous animals began to howl +ominously And marking those frightful omens all around, the assembled +Brahmanas and the wise Vidura replied, ‘O king, O bull among men, when +these frightful omens are noticeable at the birth of thy eldest son, it +is evident that he shall be the exterminator of thy race. The prosperity +of all dependeth on his abandonment. Calamity there must be in keeping +him. O king, if thou abandonest him, there remain yet thy nine and ninety +sons. If thou desirest the good of thy race, abandon him, O Bharata! O +king, do good to the world and thy own race by casting off this one child +of thine. It hath been said that an individual should be cast off for the +sake of the family; that a family should be cast off for the sake of a +village; that a village may be abandoned for the sake of the whole +country; and that the earth itself may be abandoned for the sake of the +soul.’ When Vidura and those Brahmanas had stated so, king Dhritarashtra +out of affection for his son had not the heart to follow that advice. +Then, O king, within a month, were born a full hundred sons unto +Dhritarashtra and a daughter also in excess of this hundred. And during +the time when Gandhari was in a state of advanced pregnancy, there was a +maid servant of the Vaisya class who used to attend on Dhritarashtra. +During that year, O king, was begotten upon her by the illustrious +Dhritarashtra a son endued with great intelligence who was afterwards +named Yuvutsu. And because he was begotten by a Kshatriya upon a Vaisya +woman, he came to be called Karna. + +“Thus were born unto the wise Dhritarashtra a hundred sons who were all +heroes and mighty chariot-fighters, and a daughter over and above the +hundred, and another son Yuyutsu of great energy and prowess begotten +upon a Vaisya woman.’” + + + +SECTION CXVI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O sinless one, thou hast narrated to me from the +beginning all about the birth of Dhritarashtra’s hundred sons owing to +the boon granted by the Rishi. But thou hast not told me as yet any +particulars about the birth of the daughter. Thou hast merely said that +over and above the hundred sons, there was another son named Yuyutsu +begotten upon a Vaisya woman, and a daughter. The great Rishi Vyasa of +immeasurable energy said unto the daughter of the king of Gandhara that +she would become the mother of a hundred sons. Illustrious one, how is +that thou sayest Gandhari had a daughter over and above her hundred sons? +If the ball of flesh was distributed by the great Rishi only into a +hundred parts, and if Gandhari did not conceive on any other occasion, +how was then Duhsala born. Tell me this, O Rishi! my curiosity hath been +great.” + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O descendant of the Pandavas, thy question is just, +and I will tell thee how it happened. The illustrious and great Rishi +himself, by sprinkling water over that ball of flesh, began to divide it +into parts. And as it was being divided into parts, the nurse began to +take them up and put them one by one into those pots filled with +clarified butter. While this process was going on, the beautiful and +chaste Gandhari of rigid vows, realising the affection that one feeleth +for a daughter, began to think within herself, ‘There is no doubt that I +shall have a hundred sons, the Muni having said so. It can never be +otherwise. But I should be very happy if a daughter were born of me over +and above these hundred sons and junior to them all. My husband then may +attain to those worlds that the possession of a daughter’s sons +conferreth. Then again, the affection the women feel for their +sons-in-law is great. If, therefore, I obtain a daughter over and above +my hundred sons, then, surrounded by sons and daughter’s sons, I may feel +supremely blest. If I have ever practised ascetic austerities, if I have +ever given anything in charity, if I have ever performed the homa +(through Brahamanas), if I have ever gratified my superiors by respectful +attentions, then (as the fruit of those acts) let a daughter be born unto +me.’ All this while that illustrious and best of Rishis, +Krishna-Dwaipayana himself was dividing the ball of flesh; and counting a +full hundred of the parts, he said unto the daughter of Suvala, ‘Here are +thy hundred sons. I did not speak aught unto thee that was false. Here, +however, is one part in excess of the hundred, intended for giving thee a +daughter’s son. This part shall develop into an amiable and fortunate +daughter, as thou hast desired’ Then that great ascetic brought another +pot full of clarified butter, and put the part intended for a daughter +into it. + +“Thus have I, O Bharata, narrated unto thee all about the birth of +Duhsala. Tell me, O sinless one, what more I am now to narrate.’” + + + +SECTION CXVII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘Please recite the names of Dhritarashtra’s sons +according to the order of their birth.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Their names, O king, according to the order of +birth, are Duryodhana, Yuyutsu, Duhsasana, Duhsaha, Duhsala, Jalasandha, +Sama, Saha, Vinda and Anuvinda, Durdharsha, Suvahu, Dushpradharshana, +Durmarshana and Durmukha, Dushkarna, and Karna; Vivinsati and Vikarna, +Sala, Satwa, Sulochana, Chitra and Upachitra, Chitraksha, Charuchitra, +Sarasana, Durmada and Durvigaha, Vivitsu, Vikatanana; Urnanabha and +Sunabha, then Nandaka and Upanandaka; Chitravana, Chitravarman, Suvarman, +Durvimochana; Ayovahu, Mahavahu, Chitranga, Chitrakundala, Bhimavega, +Bhimavala, Balaki, Balavardhana, Ugrayudha; Bhima, Karna, Kanakaya, +Dridhayudha, Dridhavarman, Dridhakshatra, Somakitri, Anudara; +Dridhasandha, Jarasandha, Satyasandha, Sada, Suvak, Ugrasravas, Ugrasena, +Senani, Dushparajaya, Aparajita, Kundasayin, Visalaksha, Duradhara; +Dridhahasta, Suhasta, Vatavega, and Suvarchas; Adityaketu, Vahvashin, +Nagadatta, Agrayayin; Kavachin, Krathana, Kunda, Kundadhara, Dhanurdhara; +the heroes, Ugra and Bhimaratha, Viravahu, Alolupa; Abhaya, and +Raudrakarman, and Dridharatha; Anadhrishya, Kundabhedin, Viravi, +Dhirghalochana Pramatha, and Pramathi and the powerful Dhirgharoma; +Dirghavahu, Mahavahu, Vyudhoru, Kanakadhvaja; Kundasi and Virajas. +Besides these hundred sons, there was a daughter named Duhsala. All were +heroes and Atirathas, and were well-skilled in warfare. All were learned +in the Vedas, and all kinds of weapons. And, O, king, worthy wives were +in time selected for all of them by Dhritarashtra after proper +examination. And king Dhritarashtra, O monarch, also bestowed Duhsala, in +proper time and with proper rites, upon Jayadratha (the king of Sindhu).’ + + + +SECTION CXVIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O utterer of Brahma, thou hast recited (everything +about) the extraordinary birth among men, of the sons of Dhritarashtra in +consequence of the Rishi’s grace. Thou hast also said what their names +are, according to the order of their birth. O Brahmana, I have heard all +these from thee. But tell me now all about the Pandavas. While reciting +the incarnations on earth of the celestial, the Asuras, and the beings of +other classes, thou saidst that the Pandavas were all illustrious and +endued with the prowess of gods, and that they were incarnate portion of +the celestials themselves. I desire, therefore, to hear all about those +beings of extraordinary achievements beginning from the moment of their +birth. O Vaisampayana, recite thou their achievements.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O king, one day Pandu, while roaming about in the +woods (on the southern slopes of the Himavat) that teemed with deer and +wild animals of fierce disposition, saw a large deer, that seemed to be +the leader of a herd, serving his mate. Beholding the animals, the +monarch pierced them both with five of his sharp and swift arrows winged +with golden feathers. O monarch, that was no deer that Pandu struck at, +but a Rishi’s son of great ascetic merit who was enjoying his mate in the +form of a deer. Pierced by Pandu, while engaged in the act of +intercourse, he fell down to the ground, uttering cries that were of a +man and began to weep bitterly. + +“The deer then addressed Pandu and said, ‘O king, even men that are +slaves to lust and wrath, and void of reason, and ever sinful, never +commit such a cruel act as this. Individual judgment prevaileth not +against the ordinance, the ordinance prevaileth against individual +judgment. The wise never sanction anything discountenanced by the +ordinance. Thou art born, O Bharata, in a race that hath ever been +virtuous. How is it, therefore, that even thou, suffering thyself to be +overpowered by passion and wrath losest thy reason?’ Hearing this, Pandu +replied, ‘O deer, kings behave in the matter of slaying animals of thy +species exactly as they do in the matter of slaying foes. It behoveth +thee not, therefore, to reprove me thus from ignorance. Animals of thy +species are slain by open or covert means. This, indeed, is the practice +of kings. Then why dost thou reprove me? Formerly, the Rishi Agastya, +while engaged in the performance of a grand sacrifice, chased the deer, +and devoted every deer in the forest unto the gods in general. Thou hast +been slain, pursuant to the usage sanctioned by such precedent. Wherefore +reprovest us then? For his especial sacrifices Agastya performed the homa +with fat of the deer.’ + +“The deer then said, ‘O king, men do not let fly their arrows at their +enemies when the latter are unprepared. But there is a time for doing it +(viz., after declaration of hostilities). Slaughter at such a time is not +censurable.’ + +“Pandu replied, ‘It is well-known that men slay deer by various effective +means without regarding whether the animals are careful or careless. +Therefore, O deer, why dost thou reprove me?’ + +“The deer then said, ‘O, king, I did not blame thee for thy having killed +a deer, or for the injury thou hast done to me. But, instead of acting so +cruelly, thou shouldst have waited till the completion of my act of +intercourse. What man of wisdom and virtue is there that can kill a deer +while engaged in such an act? The time of sexual intercourse is agreeable +to every creature and productive of good to all. O king, with this my +mate I was engaged in the gratification of my sexual desire. But that +effort of mine hath been rendered futile by thee. O king of the Kurus, as +thou art born in the race of the Pauravas ever noted for white (virtuous) +deeds, such an act hath scarcely been worthy of thee. O Bharata, this act +must be regarded as extremely cruel, deserving of universal execration, +infamous, and sinful, and certainly leading to hell. Thou art acquainted +with the pleasures of sexual intercourse. Thou art acquainted also with +the teaching of morality and dictates of duty. Like unto a celestial as +thou art, it behoveth thee not to do such an act as leadeth to hell. O +best of kings, thy duty is to chastise all who act cruelly, who are +engaged in sinful practices and who have thrown to the winds religion, +profit, and pleasure as explained in the scriptures. What hast thou done, +O best of men, in killing me who have given thee no offence? I am, O +king, a Muni who liveth on fruits and roots, though disguised as a deer. +I was living in the woods in peace with all. Yet thou hast killed me, O +king, for which I will curse thee certainly. As thou hast been cruel unto +a couple of opposite sexes, death shall certainly overtake thee as soon +as thou feelest the influence of sexual desire. I am a Muni of the name +of Kindama, possessed of ascetic merit. I was engaged in sexual +intercourse with this deer, because my feelings of modesty did not permit +me to indulge in such an act in human society. In the form of a deer I +rove in the deep woods in the company of other deer. Thou hast slain me +without knowing that I am a Brahmana, the sin of having slain a Brahmana +shall not, therefore, be thine. But senseless man, as you have killed me, +disguised as a deer, at such a time, thy fate shall certainly be even +like mine. When, approaching thy wife lustfully, thou wilt unite with her +even as I had done with mine, in that very state shalt thou have to go to +the world of the spirits. And that wife of thine with whom thou mayst be +united in intercourse at the time of thy death shall also follow thee +with affection and reverence to the domains of the king of the dead. Thou +hast brought me grief when I was happy. So shall grief come to thee when +thou art in happiness.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Saying this, that deer, afflicted with grief +gave up the ghost; and Pandu also was plunged in woe at the sight.’” + + + +SECTION CXIX + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘After the death of that deer, king Pandu with his +wives was deeply afflicted and wept bitterly. And he exclaimed, ‘The +wicked, even if born in virtuous families, deluded by their own passions, +become overwhelmed with misery as the fruit of their own deeds. I have +heard that my father, though begotten by Santanu of virtuous soul, was +cut off while still a youth, only because he had become a slave to his +lust. In the soil of that lustful king, the illustrious Rishi +Krishna-Dwaipayana himself, of truthful speech, begot me. A son though I +am of such a being, with my wicked heart wedded to vice, I am yet leading +a wandering life in the woods in the chase of the deer. Oh, the very gods +have forsaken me! I shall seek salvation now. The great impediments to +salvation are the desire to beget children, and other concerns of the +world. I shall now adopt the Brahmacharya mode of life and follow in the +imperishable wake of my father. I shall certainly bring my passions under +complete control by severe ascetic penances. Forsaking my wives and other +relatives and shaving my head, alone shall I wander over the earth, +begging for my subsistence from each of these trees standing here. +Forsaking every object of affection and aversion, and covering my body +with dust, I shall make the shelter of trees or deserted houses my home. +I shall never yield to influence of sorrow or joy, and I shall regard +slander and eulogy in the same light. I shall not seek benedictions or +bows. I shall be at peace with all, and shall not accept gifts. I shall +not mock anybody, nor shall I knit my brows at any one, but shall be ever +cheerful and devoted to the good of all creatures. I shall not harm any +of the four orders of life gifted with power of locomotion or otherwise, +viz., oviparous and viviparous creatures and worms and vegetables. But on +the contrary, preserve an equality of behaviour towards all, as if they +were, my own children. Once a day shall I beg of five or ten families at +the most, and if I do not succeed in obtaining alms, I shall then go +without food. I shall rather stint myself than beg more than once of the +same person. If I do not obtain anything after completing my round of +seven or ten houses, moved by covetousness, I shall not enlarge my round. +Whether I obtain or fail to obtain alms. I shall be equally unmoved like +a great ascetic. One lopping off an arm of mine with a hatchet, and one +smearing another arm with sandal-paste, shall be regarded by me equally. +I shall not wish prosperity to the one or misery to the other. I shall +not be pleased with life or displeased with death. I shall neither desire +to live nor to die. Washing my heart of all sins, I shall certainly +transcend those sacred rites productive of happiness, that men perform in +auspicious moments, days, and periods. I shall also abstain from all acts +of religion and profit and also those that lead to the gratification of +the senses. Freed from all sins and snares of the world, I shall be like +the wind subject to none. Following the path of fearlessness and bearing +myself in this way I shall at last lay down my life. Destitute of the +power of begetting children, firmly adhering to the line of duty I shall +not certainly deviate therefrom in order to tread in the vile path of the +world that is so full of misery. Whether respected or disrespected in the +world that man who from covetousness casteth on others a begging look, +certainly behaveth like a dog. (Destitute as I am of the power of +procreation, I should not certainly, from desire of offspring, solicit +others to give me children).’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The king, having thus wept in sorrow, with a +sigh looked at his two wives Kunti and Madri, and addressing them said, +‘Let the princess of Kosala (my mother), Vidura, the king with our +friends, the venerable Satyavati, Bhishma, the priests of our family, +illustrious Soma-drinking Brahmanas of rigid vows and all elderly +citizens depending on us be informed, after being prepared for it, that +Pandu hath retired into the woods to lead a life of asceticism.’ Hearing +these words of their lord who had set his heart on a life of asceticism +in the woods, both Kunti and Madri addressed him in these proper words, +‘O bull of Bharata’s race, there are many other modes of life which thou +canst adopt and in which thou canst undergo the severest penances along +with us, thy wedded wives--in which for the salvation of thy body +(freedom from re-birth), thou mayest obtain heaven. We also, in the +company of our lord, and for his benefit, controlling our passions and +bidding adieu to all luxuries, shall subject ourselves to the severest +austerities. O king, O thou of great wisdom, if thou abandonest us, we +shall then this very day truly depart from this world.’ + +Pandu replied, ‘If, indeed, this your resolve springeth from virtue, then +with you both I shall follow the imperishable path of my fathers. +Abandoning the luxuries of cities and towns, clad in barks of trees, and +living on fruits and roots, I shall wander in deep woods, practising the +severest penances. Bathing morning and evening, I shall perform the homa. +I shall reduce my body by eating very sparingly and shall wear rags and +skins and knotted locks on my head. Exposing myself to heat and cold and +disregarding hunger and thirst, I shall reduce my body by severe ascetic +penances, I shall live in solitude and I shall give myself up to +contemplation; I shall eat fruit, ripe or green, that I may find. I shall +offer oblations to the Pitris (manes) and the gods with speech, water and +the fruits of the wilderness. I shall not see, far less harm, any of the +denizens of the woods, or any of my relatives, or any of the residents of +cities and towns. Until I lay down this body, I shall thus practise the +severe ordinances of the Vanaprastha scriptures, always searching for +severer ones that they may contain.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The Kuru king, having said this unto his wives, +gave away to Brahmanas the big jewel in his diadem, his necklace of +precious gold, his bracelets, his large ear-rings, his valuable robes and +all the ornaments of his wives. Then summoning his attendants, he +commended them, saying, ‘Return ye to Hastinapura and proclaim unto all +that Pandu with his wives hath gone into the woods, foregoing wealth, +desire, happiness, and even sexual appetite.’ Then those followers and +attendants, hearing these and other soft words of the king, set up a loud +wail, uttering, ‘Oh, we are undone!’ Then with hot tears trickling down +their cheeks they left the monarch and returned to Hastinapura with speed +carrying that wealth with them (that was to be distributed in charity). +Then Dhritarashtra, that first of men, hearing from them everything that +had happened in the woods, wept for his brother. He brooded over his +affliction continually, little relishing the comfort of beds and seats +and dishes. + +“Meanwhile, the Kuru prince Pandu (after sending away his attendants) +accompanied by his two wives and eating fruits and roots went to the +mountains of Nagasata. He next went to Chaitraratha, and then crossed the +Kalakuta, and finally, crossing the Himavat, he arrived at Gandhamadana. +Protected by Mahabhutas, Siddhas, and great Rishis, Pandu lived, O king, +sometimes on level ground and sometimes on mountain slopes. He then +journeyed on to the lake of Indradyumna, whence crossing the mountains of +Hansakuta, he went to the mountain of hundred peaks (Sata-sringa) and +there continued to practise ascetic austerities.’” + + + +SECTION CXX + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Pandu, possessed of great energy, then devoted +himself to asceticism. Within a short time he became the favourite of the +whole body of the Siddhas and Charanas residing there. And, O Bharata, +devoted to the service of his spiritual masters, free from vanity, with +mind under complete control and the passions fully subdued, the prince, +becoming competent to enter heaven by his own energy, attained to great +(ascetic) prowess. Some of the Rishis would call him brother, some +friend, while others cherished him as their son. And, O bull of Bharata’s +race, having acquired after a long time great ascetic merit coupled with +complete singleness, Pandu became even like a Brahmarshi (though he was a +Kshatriya by birth). + +“On a certain day of the new moon, the great Rishis of rigid vows +assembled together, and desirous of beholding Brahman were on the point +of starting on their expedition. Seeing them about to start, Pandu asked +those ascetics, saying, ‘Ye first of eloquent men, where shall we go?’ +The Rishis answered, ‘There will be a great gathering today, in the abode +of Brahman, of celestials, Rishis and Pitris. Desirous of beholding the +Self-create we shall go there today.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing this, Pandu rose up suddenly, desirous +of visiting heaven along with the great Rishis. Accompanied by his two +wives, when he was on the point of following the Rishis in the northerly +direction from the mountain of hundred peaks, those ascetics addressed +him saying, ‘In our northward march, while gradually ascending the king +of mountains, we have seen on its delightful breast many regions +inaccessible to ordinary mortals; retreats also of the gods, and +Gandharvas and Apsaras, with palatial mansions by hundreds clustering +thick around and resounding with the sweet notes of celestial music, the +gardens of Kuvera laid out on even and uneven grounds, banks of mighty +rivers, and deep caverns. There are many regions also on those heights +that are covered with perpetual snow and are utterly destitute of +vegetable and animal existence. In some places the downpour of rain is so +heavy that they are perfectly inaccessible and incapable of being +utilised for habitation. Not to speak of other animals, even winged +creatures cannot cross them. The only thing that can go there is air, and +the only beings, Siddhas and great Rishis. How shall these princesses +ascend those heights of the king of mountains? Unaccustomed to pain, +shall they not droop in affliction? Therefore, come not with us, O bull +of Bharata’s race!’ + +“Pandu replied, ‘Ye fortunate ones, it is said that for the sonless there +is no admittance into heaven. I am sonless! I In affliction I speak’ unto +you! I am afflicted because I have not been able to discharge the debt I +owe to my ancestors. It is certain that with the dissolution of this my +body my ancestors perish! Men are born on this earth with four debts, +viz. those due unto the (deceased) ancestors, the gods, the Rishis, and +other men. In justice these must be discharged. The wise have declared +that no regions of bliss exist for them that neglect to pay these debts +in due time. The gods are paid (gratified) by sacrifices, the Rishis, by +study, meditation, and asceticism, the (deceased) ancestors, by begetting +children and offering the funeral cake, and, lastly other men, by leading +a humane and inoffensive life. I have justly discharged my obligations to +the Rishis, the gods, and other men. But those others than these three +are sure to perish with the dissolution of my body! Ye ascetics, I am not +yet freed from the debt I owe to my (deceased) ancestors. The best of men +are born in this world to beget children for discharging that debt. I +would ask you, should children be begotten in my soil (upon my wives) as +I myself was begotten in the soil of my father by the eminent Rishi?’ + +“The Rishis said, ‘O king of virtuous soul, there is progeny in store for +thee, that is sinless and blest with good fortune and like unto the gods. +We behold it all with our prophetic eyes. Therefore, O tiger among men, +accomplish by your own acts that which destiny pointeth at. Men of +intelligence, acting with deliberation, always obtain good fruits; it +behoveth thee, therefore, O king, to exert thyself. The fruits thou +wouldst obtain are distinctly visible. Thou wouldst really obtain +accomplished and agreeable progeny.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of the ascetics, Pandu, +remembering the loss of his procreative powers owing to the curse of the +deer, began to reflect deeply. And calling his wedded wife the excellent +Kunti, unto him, he told her in private, ‘Strive thou to raise offspring +at this time of distress. The wise expounders of the eternal religion +declare that a son, O Kunti, is the cause of virtuous fame in the three +worlds. It is said that sacrifices, charitable gifts, ascetic penances, +and vows observed most carefully, do not confer religious merit on a +sonless man. O thou of sweet smiles, knowing all this, I am certain that +as I am sonless, I shall not obtain regions of true felicity. O timid +one, wretch that I was and addicted to cruel deeds, as a consequence of +the polluted life I led, my power of procreation hath been destroyed by +the curse of the deer. The religious institutes mention six kinds of sons +that are heirs and kinsmen, and six other kinds that are not heirs but +kinsmen. I shall speak of them presently. O Pritha, listen to me. They +are: 1st, the son begotten by one’s own self upon his wedded wife; 2nd, +the son begotten upon one’s wife by an accomplished person from motives +of kindness; 3rd, the son begotten upon one’s wife by a person for +pecuniary consideration; 4th, the son begotten upon the wife after the +husband’s death; 5th, the maiden-born son; 6th, the son born of an +unchaste wife; 7th, the son given; 8th, the son bought for a +consideration; 9th, the son self-given; 10th, the son received with a +pregnant bride; 11th, the brother’s son; and 12th, the son begotten upon +a wife of lower caste. On failure of offspring of a prior class, the +mother should desire to have offspring of the next class. In times of +distress, men solicit offspring from accomplished younger brothers. The +self-born Manu hath said that men failing to have legitimate offspring of +their own may have offspring begotten upon their wives by others, for +sons confer the highest religious merit. Therefore, O Kunti, being +destitute myself of the power of procreation, I command thee to raise +good offspring through some person who is either equal or superior to me. +O Kunti, listen to the history of the daughter of Saradandayana who was +appointed by her lord to raise offspring. That warrior-dame, when her +monthly season arrived, bathed duly and in the night went out and waited +on a spot where four roads met. She did not wait long when a Brahmana +crowned with ascetic success came there. The daughter of Saradandayana +solicited him for offspring. After pouring libations of clarified butter +on the fire (in the performance of the sacrifice known by the name of +Punsavana) she brought forth three sons that were mighty car-warriors and +of whom Durjaya was the eldest, begotten upon her by that Brahmana. O +thou of good fortune, do thou follow that warrior-dame’s example at my +command, and speedily raise offspring out of the seed of some Brahmana of +high ascetic merit.’” + + + +SECTION CXXI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed, Kunti replied unto her heroic lord, +king Pandu, that bull amongst the Kurus, saying, ‘O virtuous one, it +behoveth thee not to say so unto me. I am, O thou lotus-eyed one, thy +wedded wife, devoted to thee. O, Bharata of mighty arms, thyself shalt, +in righteousness, beget upon me children endued with great energy. Then I +shall ascend to heaven with thee; O prince of Kuru’s race, receive me in +thy embrace for begetting children. I shall not certainly, even in +imagination, accept any other man except thee in my embraces. What other +man is there in this world superior to thee? O virtuous one, listen to +this Pauranic narrative that hath been, O thou of large eyes, heard by +me, and that I shall presently narrate. + +“There was, in ancient times, a king in the race of Puru, known by the +name of Vyushitaswa. He was devoted to truth and virtue. Of virtuous soul +and mighty arms, on one occasion, while he was performing a sacrifice the +gods with Indra and the great Rishis came to him, and Indra was so +intoxicated with the Soma juice he drank and the Brahmanas with the large +presents they received, that both the gods and the great Rishis began +themselves to perform everything appertaining to that sacrifice of the +illustrious royal sage. And thereupon Vyushitaswa began to shine above +all men like the Sun appearing in double splendour after the season of +frost is over. And the powerful Vyushitaswa, who was endued with the +strength of ten elephants very soon performed the horse-sacrifice, +overthrowing, O best of monarchs, all the kings of the East, the North, +the West and the South, and exacted tributes from them all. There is an +anecdote, O best of the Kurus, that is sung by all reciters of the +Puranas, in connection with that first of all men, the illustrious +Vyushitaswa.--Having conquered the whole Earth up to the coast of the +sea, Vyushitaswa protected every class of his subjects as a father does +his own begotten sons.--Performing many great sacrifices he gave away +much wealth to the Brahmanas. After collecting unlimited jewels and +precious stones he made arrangements for performing still greater ones. +And he performed also the Agnishtoma, and other special Vedic sacrifices, +extracting great quantities of Soma juice. And, O king, Vyushitaswa had +for his dear wife, Bhadra, the daughter of Kakshivat, unrivalled for +beauty on earth. And it hath been heard by us that the couple loved each +other deeply. King Vyushitaswa was seldom separated from his wife. Sexual +excess, however, brought on an attack of phthisis and the king died +within a few days, sinking like the Sun in his glory. Then Bhadra, his +beautiful queen, was plunged into woe, and as she was sonless, O tiger +among men, she wept in great affliction. Listen to me, O king, as I +narrate to you all that Bhadra said with bitter tears trickling down her +cheeks. ‘O virtuous one’, she said, ‘Women serve no purpose when their +husbands are dead. She who liveth after her husband is dead, draggeth on +a miserable existence that can hardly be called life. O bull of the +Kshatriya order, death is a blessing to women without husbands. I wish to +follow the way thou hast gone. Be kind and take me with thee. In thy +absence, I am unable to bear life even for a moment. Be kind to me, O +king and take me hence pretty soon. O tiger among men, I shall follow +thee over the even and uneven ground. Thou hast gone away, O lord, never +to return. I shall follow thee, O king, as thy own shadow. O tiger among +men, I will obey thee (as thy slave) and will ever do what is agreeable +to thee and what is for thy good. O thou of eyes like lotus-petals, +without thee, from this day, mental agonies will overwhelm me and eat +into my heart. A wretch that I am, some loving couple had doubtless been +separated by me in a former life, for which, in this life, I am made to +suffer the pangs of separation from thee. O king, that wretched woman who +liveth even for a moment separated from her lord, liveth in woe and +suffereth the pangs of hell even here. Some loving couple had doubtless +been separated by me in a former life, for which sinful act I am +suffering this torture arising from my separation from thee. O king, from +this day I will lay myself down on a bed of Kusa grass and abstain from +every luxury, hoping to behold thee once more. O tiger among men, show +thyself to me. O king, O lord, command once more thy wretched and +bitterly weeping wife plunged in woe.’ + +“Kunti continued, ‘It was thus, O Pandu, that the beautiful Bhadra wept +over the death of her lord. And the weeping Bhadra clasped in her arms +the corpse in anguish of heart. Then she was addressed by an incorporeal +voice in these words, “Rise up, O Bhadra, and leave this place. O thou of +sweet smiles, I grant thee this boon. I will beget offspring upon thee. +Lie thou down with me on thy own bed, after the catamenial bath, on the +night of the eighth or the fourteenth day of the moon.’ Thus addressed by +the incorporeal voice, the chaste Bhadra did, as she was directed, for +obtaining offspring. And, O bull of the Bharatas, the corpse of her +husband begat upon her seven children viz., three Salwas and four Madras. +O bull of the Bharatas, do thou also beget offspring upon me, like the +illustrious Vyushitaswa, by the exercise of that ascetic power which thou +possessest.’” + + + +SECTION CXXII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by his loving wife, king Pandu, +well-acquainted with all rules of morality, replied in these words of +virtuous import, ‘O Kunti, what thou hast said is quite true. Vyushitaswa +of old did even as thou hast said. Indeed he was equal unto the +celestials themselves. But I shall now tell thee about the practices of +old indicated by illustrious Rishis, fully acquainted with every rule of +morality. O thou of handsome face and sweet smiles, women formerly were +not immured within houses and dependent on husbands and other relatives. +They used to go about freely, enjoying themselves as best as they liked. +O thou of excellent qualities, they did not then adhere to their husbands +faithfully, and yet, O handsome one, they were not regarded sinful, for +that was the sanctioned usage of the times. That very usage is followed +to this day by birds and beasts without any (exhibition of) jealousy. +That practice, sanctioned by precedent, is applauded by great Rishis. O +thou of taper thighs, the practice is yet regarded with respect amongst +the Northern Kurus. Indeed, that usage, so lenient to women, hath the +sanction of antiquity. The present practice, however (of women’s being +confined to one husband for life) hath been established but lately. I +shall tell thee in detail who established it and why. + +“It hath been heard by us that there was a great Rishi of the name of +Uddalaka, who had a son named Swetaketu who also was an ascetic of merit. +O thou of eyes like lotus-petals, the present virtuous practice hath been +established by that Swetaketu from anger. Hear thou the reason. One day, +in the presence of Swetaketu’s father a Brahmana came and catching +Swetaketu’s mother by the hand, told her, ‘Let us go.’ Beholding his +mother seized by the hand and taken away apparently by force, the son was +greatly moved by wrath. Seeing his son indignant, Uddalaka addressed him +and said, ‘Be not angry. O son! This is the practice sanctioned by +antiquity. The women of all orders in this world are free, O son; men in +this matter, as regards their respective orders, act as kine.’ The +Rishi’s son, Swetaketu, however, disapproved of the usage and established +in the world the present practice as regards men and women. It hath been +heard by us, O thou of great virtue, that the existing practice dates +from that period among human beings but not among beings of other +classes. Accordingly, since the establishment of the present usage, it is +sinful for women not to adhere to their husbands. Women transgressing the +limits assigned by the Rishi became guilty of slaying the embryo. And, +men, too, viol ting a chaste and loving wife who hath from her maidenhood +observed the vow of purity, became guilty of the same sin. The woman also +who, being commanded by her husband to raise offspring, refuses to do his +bidding, becometh equally sinful. + +“Thus, O timid one, was the existing usage established of old by +Swetaketu, the son of Uddalaka, in defiance of antiquity. O thou of taper +thighs, it hath also been heard by us that Madayanti, the wife of +Saudasa, commanded by her husband to raise offspring went unto Rishi +Vasishtha. And on going in unto him, the handsome Madayanti obtained a +son named Asmaka. She did this, moved by the desire of doing good to her +husband. O thou of lotus-eyes, thou knowest, O timid girl, how we +ourselves, for the perpetuation of the Kuru race, were begotten by +Krishna-Dwaipayana. O faultless one, beholding all these precedents it +behoveth thee to do my bidding, which is not inconsistent with virtue, O +princess, who is devoted to her husband, it hath also been said by those +acquainted with the rules of morality that a wife, when her monthly +season cometh, must ever seek her husband, though at other times she +deserveth liberty. The wise have declared this to be the ancient +practice. But, be the act sinful or sinless, those acquainted with the +Vedas have declared that it is the duty of wives to do what their +husbands bid them do. Especially, O thou of faultless features, I, who am +deprived of the power of procreation, having yet become desirous of +beholding offspring, deserve the more to be obeyed by thee. O amiable +one, joining my palms furnished with rosy fingers, and making of them a +cup as of lotus leaves, I place them on my head to propitiate thee. O +thou of lair looks, it behoveth thee to raise offspring, at my command, +through some Brahmana possessed of high ascetic merit. For then, owing to +thee, O thou of fair hips, I may go the way that is reserved for those +that are blessed with children.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by Pandu, that subjugator of +hostile cities, the handsome Kunti, ever attentive to what was agreeable +and beneficial to her lord, then replied unto him, saying, ‘In my +girlhood, O lord, I was in my father’s house engaged in attending upon +all guests. I used to wait respectfully upon Brahmanas of rigid vows and +great ascetic merit. One day I gratified with my attentions that Brahmana +whom people call Durvasa, of mind under full control and possessing +knowledge of all the mysteries of religion. Pleased with my services, +that Brahmana gave me a boon in the form of a mantra (formula of +invocation) for calling into my presence any one of the celestials I +liked. And the Rishi, addressing me, said, ‘Anyone among the celestials +whom thou callest by this shall, O girl, approach thee and be obedient to +thy will, whether he liketh it or not. And, O princess, thou shall also +have offspring through his grace.’ O Bharata, that Brahmana told me this +when I lived in my father’s house. The words uttered by the Brahmana can +never be false. The time also hath come when they may yield fruit. +Commanded by thee, O royal sage, I can by that mantra summon any of the +celestials, so that we may have good children. O foremost of all truthful +men, tell me which of the celestials I shall summon. Know that, as +regards this matter, I await your commands.’ + +“Hearing this, Pandu replied, ‘O handsome one, strive duly this very day +to gratify our wishes. Fortunate one, summon thou the god of justice. He +is the most virtuous of the celestials. The god of justice and virtue +will never be able to pollute us with sin. The world also, O beautiful +princess, will then think that what we do can never be unholy. The son +also that we shall obtain from him shall in virtue be certainly the +foremost among the Kurus. Begotten by the god of justice and morality, he +would never set his heart upon anything that is sinful or unholy. +Therefore, O thou of sweet smiles, steadily keeping virtue before thy +eyes, and duly observing holy vows, summon thou the god of justice and +virtue by the help of thy solicitations and incantations.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Kunti, that best of women, thus addressed +by her lord, said, ‘So be it.’ And bowing down to him and reverently +circumambulating his person, she resolved to do his bidding.’” + + + +SECTION CXXIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O Janamejaya, when Gandhari’s conception had been a +full year old, it was then that Kunti summoned the eternal god of justice +to obtain offspring from him. And she offered without loss of time, +sacrifices unto the god and began to duly repeat the formula that Durvasa +had imparted to her some time before. Then the god, overpowered by her +incantations, arrived at the spot where Kunti was seated in his car +resplendent as the Sun. Smiling, he asked, ‘O Kunti, what am I to give +thee?’ And Kunti too smiling in her turn, replied, ‘Thou must even give +me offspring.’ Then the handsome Kunti was united (in intercourse) with +the god of justice in his spiritual form and obtained from him a son +devoted to the good of all creatures. And she brought his excellent +child, who lived to acquire a great fame, at the eighth Muhurta called +Abhijit, of the hour of noon of that very auspicious day of the seventh +month (Kartika), viz., the fifth of the lighted fortnight, when the star +Jyeshtha in conjunction with the moon was ascendant. And as soon as the +child was born, an incorporeal voice (from the skies) said, ‘This child +shall be the best of men, the foremost of those that are virtuous. Endued +with great prowess and truthful in speech, he shall certainly be the +ruler of the earth. And this first child of Pandu shall be known by the +name of Yudhishthira. Possessed of prowess and honesty of disposition, he +shall be a famous king, known throughout the three worlds.’ + +“Pandu, having obtained that virtuous son, again addressed his wife and +said. ‘The wise have declared that a Kshatriya must be endued with +physical strength, otherwise he is no Kshatriya.’ Therefore, ask thou for +an offspring of superior strength. Thus commanded by her lord, Kunti then +invoked Vayu. And the mighty god of wind, thus invoked, came unto her, +riding upon a deer, and said, ‘What, O Kunti, am I to give thee? Tell me +what is in thy heart” Smiling in modesty, she said to him, ‘Give me, O +best of celestials, a child endued with great strength and largeness of +limbs and capable of humbling the pride of every body.’ The god of wind +thereupon begat upon her the child afterwards known as Bhima of mighty +arms and fierce prowess. And upon the birth of that child endued with +extraordinary strength, an incorporeal voice, O Bharata, as before, said, +‘This child shall be the foremost of all endued with strength.’ I must +tell you, O Bharata, of another wonderful event that occurred alter the +birth of Vrikodara (Bhima). While he fell from the lap of his mother upon +the mountain breast, the violence of the fall broke into fragments the +stone upon which he fell without his infant body being injured in the +least. And he fell from his mother’s lap because Kunti, frightened by a +tiger, had risen up suddenly, unconscious of the child that lay asleep on +her lap. And as she had risen, the infant, of body hard as the +thunderbolt, falling down upon the mountain breast, broke into a hundred +fragments the rocky mass upon which he fell. And beholding this, Pandu +wondered much. And it so happened that that very day on which Vrikodara +was born, was also, O best of Bharatas, the birthday of Duryodhana who +afterwards became the ruler of the whole earth.’ + +“After the birth of Vrikodara, Pandu again began to think, ‘How am I to +obtain a very superior son who shall achieve world-wide fame? Every, +thing in the world dependeth on destiny and exertion. But destiny can +never be successful except by timely exertion. We have heard it said that +Indra is the chief of the gods. Indeed, he is endued with immeasurable +might and energy and prowess and glory. Gratifying him with my +asceticism, I shall obtain from him a son of great strength. Indeed, the +son he giveth me must be superior to all and capable of vanquishing in +battle all men and creatures other than men. I shall, therefore, practise +the severest austerities, with heart, deed and speech.’ + +“After this, the Kuru king Pandu, taking counsel with the great Rishis +commanded Kunti to observe an auspicious vow for one full year, while he +himself commenced, O Bharata, to stand upon one leg from morning to +evening, and practise other severe austerities with mind rapt in +meditation, for gratifying the lord of the celestials. + +“It was after a long time that Indra (gratified with such devotion) +approached Pandu and, addressing him, said, ‘I shall give thee, O king, a +son who will be celebrated all over the three worlds and who will promote +the welfare of Brahmanas, kine and all honest men. The son I shall give +thee will be the smiter of the wicked and the delight of friends and +relatives. Foremost of all men, he will be an irresistible slayer of all +foes.’ Thus addressed by Vasava (the king of the celestials), the +virtuous king of the Kuru race, well-recollecting those words, said unto +Kunti, ‘O fortunate one, thy vow hath become successful. The lord of the +celestials hath been gratified, and is willing to give thee a son such as +thou desirest, of superhuman achievements and great fame. He will be the +oppressor of all enemies and possessed of great wisdom. Endued with a +great soul, in splendour equal unto the Sun, invincible in battles, and +of great achievements, he will also be extremely handsome. O thou of fair +hips and sweet smiles, the lord of the celestials hath become gracious to +thee. Invoking him, bring thou forth a child who will be the very home of +all Kshatriya virtues.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The celebrated Kunti, thus addressed by her +lord, invoked Sakra (the king of the gods) who thereupon came unto her +and begat him that was afterwards called Arjuna. And as soon as this +child was born, an incorporeal voice, loud and deep as that of the clouds +and filling the whole welkin, distinctly said, addressing Kunti in the +hearing of every creature dwelling in that asylum, ‘This child of thine, +O Kunti, will be equal unto Kartavirya in energy and Siva in prowess. +Invincible like Sakra himself he will spread thy fame far and wide. As +Vishnu (the youngest of Aditi’s sons) had enhanced Aditi’s joy, so shall +this child enhance thy joy. Subjugating the Madras, the Kurus along with +the Somakas, and the people of Chedi, Kasi and Karusha, he will maintain +the prosperity of the Kurus. (Surfeited with libations at the sacrifice +of king Swetaketu), Agni will derive great gratification from the fat of +all creatures dwelling in the Khandava woods (to be burnt down) by the +might of this one’s arms. This mighty hero, vanquishing all the +effeminate monarchs of the earth, will, with his brothers perform three +great sacrifices. In prowess, O Kunti, he will be even as Jamadagnya or +Vishnu. The foremost of all men endued with prowess, he will achieve +great fame. He will gratify in battle (by his heroism) Sankara, the god +of gods (Mahadeva), and will receive from him the great weapon named +Pasupata. This thy son of mighty arms will also slay, at the command of +Indra, those Daityas called the Nivatakavachas who are the enemies of the +gods. He will also acquire all kinds of celestial weapons, and this bull +among men will also retrieve the fortunes of his race.’ + +‘Kunti heard these extraordinary words, while lying in the room. And +hearing those words uttered so loudly, the ascetics dwelling on the +mountain of a hundred peaks, and the celestials with Indra sitting in +their cars, became exceedingly glad. The sounds of the (invisible) drum +filled the entire welkin. There were shouts of joy, and the whole region +was covered with flowers showered down by invisible agents. The various +tribes of celestials assembled together, began to offer their respectful +adorations to the son of Pritha. The sons of Kadru (Nagas), the son of +Vinata, the Gandharvas, the lords of the creation, and the seven great +Rishis, viz., Bharadwaja, Kasyapa, Gautama, Viswamitra, Jamadagni, +Vasishtha, and the illustrious Atri who illumined the world of old when +the Sun was lost, all came there. And Marichi, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, +Kratu, Daksha the lord of creation, the Gandharvas, and Apsaras, came +there also. The various tribes of Apsaras, decked with celestial garlands +and every ornament, and attired in fine robes, came there and danced in +joy, chanting the praises of Vibhatsu (Arjuna). All around, the great +Rishis began to utter propitiatory formulas. And Tumvuru accompanied by +the Gandharvas began to sing in charming notes. And Bhimasena and +Ugrasena, Urnayus and Anagha. Gopati and Dhritarashtra and Suryavarchas +the eighth, Yugapa and Trinapa, Karshni, Nandi, and Chitraratha, +Salisirah the thirteenth, Parjanya the fourteenth, Kali the fifteenth, +and Narada the sixteenth in this list, Vrihatta, Vrihaka, Karala of great +soul, Brahmacharin, Vahuguna, Suvarna of great fame, Viswavasu, Bhumanyu, +Suchandra, Sam and the celebrated tribes of Haha and Huhu gifted with +wonderful melody of voice,--these celestial Gandharvas, O king, all went +there. Many illustrious Apsaras also of large eyes, decked with every +ornament came there to dance and sing. And Anuchana and Anavadya, +Gunamukhya and Gunavara, Adrika and Soma, Misrakesi and Alambusha, +Marichi and Suchika, Vidyutparna and Tilottama and Ambika, Lakshmana, +Kshema Devi, Rambha, Manorama, Asita, Suvahu, Supriya, Suvapuh, +Pundarika, Sugandha, Surasa, Pramathini, Kamya and Saradwati, all danced +there together. And Menaka, Sahajanya, Karnika, Punjikasthala, +Ritusthala, Ghritachi, Viswachi, Purvachiti, the celebrated Umlocha, +Pramlocha the tenth and Urvasi the eleventh,--these large-eyed dancing +girls of heaven,--came there and sang in chorus. And Dharti and Aryaman +and Mitra and Varuna, Bhaga and Indra, Vivaswat, Pushan, Tvastri and +Parjanya or Vishnu, these twelve Adityas came there to glorify Pandu’s +son. And, O king, Mrigavyadha, Sarpa, the celebrated Niriti, Ajaikapada, +Ahivradhna, Pinakin, Dahana, Iswara, Kapalin, Sthanu and the illustrious +Bhaga--these eleven Rudras,--also came there. And the twin Aswins, the +eight Vasus, the mighty Maruts, the Viswedevas, and the Sadhyas, also +came there. And Karkotaka, Vasuki, Kachchhapa, Kunda and the great Naga +Takshaka,--these mighty and wrathful snakes possessed of high ascetic +merit also came there. And Tarkshya, Arishtanemi, Garuda, +Asitadvaja,--these and many other Nagas, came there, so also Aruna and +Aruni of Vinata’s race also came there. And only great Rishis crowned +with ascetic success and not others saw those celestials and other beings +seated in their cars or waiting on the mountain peaks. Those best of +Munis beholding that wonderful sight, became amazed, and their love and +affection for the children of Pandu was in consequence enhanced. + +“The celebrated Pandu, tempted by the desire of having more children +wished to speak again unto his wedded wife (for invoking some other god). +But Kunti addressed him, saying, ‘The wise do not sanction a fourth +delivery even in a season of distress. The woman having intercourse with +four different men is called a Swairini (heanton), while she having +intercourse with five becometh a harlot. Therefore, O learned one, as +thou art well-acquainted with the scripture on this subject, why dost +thou, beguiled by desire of offspring, tell me so in seeming +forgetfulness of the ordinance?’” + + + +SECTION CXXIV + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘After the birth of Kunti’s sons and also of the +hundred sons of Dhritarashtra the daughter of the king of the Madras +privately addressed Pandu, saying, ‘O slayer of foes, I have no complaint +even if thou beest unpropitious to me. I have, O sinless one, also no +complaint that though by birth I am superior to Kunti yet I am inferior +to her in station. I do not grieve, O thou of Kuru’s race, that Gandhari +hath obtained a hundred sons. This, however, is my great grief that while +Kunti and I are equal, I should be childless, while it should so chance +that thou shouldst have offspring by Kunti alone. If the daughter of +Kuntibhoja should so provide that I should have offspring, she would then +be really doing me a great favour and benefiting thee likewise. She being +my rival, I feel a delicacy in soliciting any favour of her. If thou +beest, O king, propitiously disposed to me, then ask her to grant my +desire.’ + +“Hearing her, Pandu replied, ‘O Madri, I do revolve this matter often in +my own mind, but I have hitherto hesitated to tell thee anything, not +knowing how thou wouldst receive it. Now that I know what your wishes +are, I shall certainly strive after that end. I think that, asked by me, +Kunti will not refuse.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘After this, Pandu addressed Kunti in private, +saying, ‘O Kunti, grant me some more offspring for the expansion of my +race and for the benefit of the world. O blessed one, provide thou that I +myself, my ancestors, and thine also, may always have the funeral cake +offered to us. O, do what is beneficial to me, and grant me and the world +what, indeed, is the best of benefits. O, do what, indeed, may be +difficult for thee, moved by the desire of achieving undying fame. +Behold, Indra, even though he hath obtained the sovereignty of the +celestials, doth yet, for fame alone, perform sacrifices. O handsome one, +Brahmanas, well-acquainted with the Vedas, and having achieved high +ascetic merit, do yet, for fame alone, approach their spiritual masters +with reverence. So also all royal sages and Brahmanas possessed of +ascetic wealth have achieved, for fame only, the most difficult of +ascetic feat. Therefore, O blameless one, rescue this Madri as by a raft +(by granting her the means of obtaining offspring), and achieve thou +imperishable fame by making her a mother of children.’ + +“Thus addressed by her lord, Kunti readily yielded, and said unto Madri, +‘Think thou, without loss of time, of some celestial, and thou shall +certainly obtain from him a child like unto him.’ Reflecting for a few +moments. Madri thought of the twin Aswins, who coming unto her with speed +begat upon her two sons that were twins named Nakula and Sahadeva, +unrivalled on earth for personal beauty. And as soon as they were born, +an incorporeal voice said, ‘In energy and beauty these twins shall +transcend even the twin Aswins themselves.’ Indeed possessed of great +energy and beauty, they illumined the whole region. + +“O king, after all the children were born the Rishis dwelling on the +mountain of a hundred peaks uttering blessings on them and affectionately +performing the first rites of birth, bestowed appellations on them. The +eldest of Kunti’s children was called Yudhishthira, the second Bhimasena, +and the third Arjuna, and of Madri’s sons, the first-born of the twins +was called Nakula and the next Sahadeva. And those foremost sons born at +an interval of one year after one another, looked like an embodied period +of five years. And king Pandu, beholding his children of celestial beauty +and of super-abundant energy, great strength and prowess, and of +largeness of soul, rejoiced exceedingly. And the children became great +favourites of the Rishis, as also of their wives, dwelling on the +mountain of a hundred peaks. + +“Some time after, Pandu again requested Kunti on behalf of Madri. +Addressed, O king, by her lord in private, Kunti replied, ‘Having given +her the formula of invocation only once, she hath, O king, managed to +obtain two sons. Have I not been thus deceived by her, I fear, O king, +that she will soon surpass me in the number of her children. This, +indeed, is the way of all wicked women. Fool that I was, I did not know +that by invoking the twin gods I could obtain at one birth twin children. +I beseech thee, O king, do not command me any further. Let this be the +boon granted (by thee) to me.’ + +“Thus, O king, were born unto Pandu five sons who were begotten by +celestials and were endued with great strength, and who all lived to +achieve great fame and expand the Kuru race. Each bearing every +auspicious mark on his person, handsome like Soma, proud as the lion, +well-skilled in the use of the bow, and of leonine tread, breast, heart, +eyes, neck and prowess, those foremost of men, resembling the celestials +themselves in might, began to grow up. And beholding them and their +virtues growing with years, the great Rishis dwelling on that snowcapped +sacred mountain were filled with wonder. And the five Pandavas and the +hundred sons of Dhritarashtra--that propagator of the Kuru race--grew up +rapidly like a cluster of lotuses in a lake.’” + + + +SECTION CXXV + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, “Beholding his five handsome sons growing up before +him in that great forest on the charming mountain slope, Pandu felt the +last might of his arms revive once more. One day in the season of spring +which maddens every creature the king accompanied by his wife (Madri), +began to rove in the woods where every tree had put forth new blossoms. +He beheld all around Palasas and Tilakas and Mangoes and Champakas and +Parihadrakas and Karnikaras, Asokas and Kesaras and Atimuktas and +Kuruvakas with swarms of maddened bees sweetly humming about. And there +were flowers of blossoming Parijatas with the Kokilas pouring forth their +melodies from under every twig echoing with the sweet hums of the black +bees. And he beheld also various other kinds of trees bent down with the +weight of their flowers and fruits. And there were also many fine pools +of water overgrown with hundreds of fragrant lotuses. Beholding all +these, Pandu felt the soft influence of desire. Roving like a celestial +with a light heart amidst such scenery, Pandu was alone with his wife +Madri in semi-transparent attire. And beholding the youthful Madri thus +attired, the king’s desire flamed up like a forest-fire. And ill-able to +suppress his desire thus kindled at the sight of his wife of eyes like +lotus-petals, he was completely overpowered. The king then seized her +against her will, but Madri trembling in fear resisted him to the best of +her might. Consumed by desire, he forgot everything about his misfortune. +And, O thou of Kuru’s race unrestrained by the fear of (the Rishi’s) +curse and impelled by fate, the monarch, overpowered by passion, forcibly +sought the embraces of Madri, as if he wished to put an end to his own +life. His reason, thus beguiled by the great Destroyer himself by +intoxicating his senses, was itself lost with his life. And the Kuru king +Pandu, of virtuous soul, thus succumbed to the inevitable influence of +Time, while united in intercourse with his wife. + +“Then Madri, clasping the body of her senseless lord, began to weep +aloud. And Kunti with her sons and the twins of Madri, hearing those +cries of grief, came to the spot where the king lay in that state. Then, +O king, Madri addressing Kunti in a piteous voice, said, ‘Come hither +alone, O Kunti, and let the children stay there.’ Hearing these words, +Kunti, bidding the children stay, ran with speed, exclaiming, ‘Woe to +me!’ And beholding both Pandu and Madri lying prostrate on the ground she +went in grief and affliction, saying, ‘Of passions under complete +control, this hero, O Madri, had all along been watched by me with care. +How did he then forgetting the Rishi’s curse, approach thee with +enkindled desire? O Madri, this foremost of men should have been +protected by thee. Why didst thou tempt him into solitude? Always +melancholy at the thought of the Rishi’s curse, how came he to be merry +with thee in solitude? O princess of Valhika, more fortunate than myself, +thou art really to be envied, for thou hast seen the face of our lord +suffused with gladness and joy.’ + +“Madri then replied, saying, ‘Revered sister, with tears in my eyes, I +resisted the king, but he could not control himself, bent on, as it were +making the Rishi’s curse true.’ + +“Kunti then said, ‘I am the older of his wedded wives; the chief +religious merit must be mine. Therefore, O Madri, prevent me not from +achieving that which must be achieved. I must follow our lord to the +region of the dead. Rise up, O Madri, and yield me his body. Rear thou +these children.’ Madri replied, saying, ‘I do clasp our lord yet, and +have not allowed him to depart; therefore, I shall follow him. My +appetite hath not been appeased. Thou art my older sister, O let me have +thy sanction. This foremost one of the Bharata princes had approached me, +desiring to have intercourse. His appetite unsatiated, shall I not follow +him in the region of Yama to gratify him? O revered one, if I survive +thee, it is certain I shall not be able to rear thy children as if they +were mine. Will not sin touch me on that account? But, thou, O Kunti, +shall be able to bring my sons up as if they were thine. The king, in +seeking me wishfully, hath gone to the region of spirits; therefore, my +body should be burnt with his. O revered sister, withhold not thy +sanction to this which is agreeable to me. Thou wilt certainly bring up +the children carefully. That indeed, would be very agreeable to me. I +have no other direction to give!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having said this, the daughter of the king of +Madras, the wedded wife of Pandu, ascended the funeral pyre of her lord, +that bull among men.’” + + + +SECTION CXXVI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The godlike Rishis, wise in counsels, beholding the +death of Pandu, consulted with one another, and said, ‘The virtuous and +renowned king Pandu, abandoning both sovereignty, and kingdom came hither +for practising ascetic austerities and resigned himself to the ascetics +dwelling on this mountain. He hath hence ascended to heaven, leaving his +wife and infant sons as a trust in our hands. Our duty now is to repair +to his kingdom with these his offspring, and his wife.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then those godlike Rishis of magnanimous +hearts, and crowned with ascetic success, summoning one another, resolved +to go to Hastinapura with Pandu’s children ahead, desiring to place them +in the hands of Bhishma and Dhritarashtra. The ascetics set out that very +moment, taking with them those children and Kunti and the two dead +bodies. And though unused to toil all her life, the affectionate Kunti +now regarded as very short the really long journey she had to perform. +Having arrived at Kurujangala within a short time, the illustrious Kunti +presented herself at the principal gate. The ascetics then charged the +porters to inform the king of their arrival. The men carried the message +in a trice to the court. And the citizens of Hastinapura, hearing of the +arrival of thousands of Charanas and Munis, were filled with wonder. And +it was soon after sunrise that they began to come out in numbers with +their wives and children to behold those ascetics. Seated in all kinds of +cars and conveyances by thousands, vast numbers of Kshatriyas with their +wives, and Brahmanas with theirs came out. And the concourse of Vaisyas +and Sudras too was as large on the occasion. The vast assemblage was very +peaceful, for every heart then was inclined to piety. And there also came +out Bhishma, the son of Santanu, and Somadatta or Valhika and the royal +sage (Dhritarashtra) endued with the vision of knowledge and Vidura +himself and the venerable Satyavati and the illustrious princess of +Kosala and Gandhari accompanied by the other ladies of the royal +household. And the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, decked with various +ornaments, also came out. + +“The Kauravas, then, accompanied by their priest, saluted the Rishis by +lowering their heads, and took their seats before them. The citizens also +saluting the ascetics and bowing down unto them with touching the ground, +took their seats there. Then Bhishma, setting that vast concourse +perfectly still, duly worshipped, O king, those ascetics by offering them +water to wash their feet with and the customary Arghya. And having done +this, he spoke unto them about the sovereignty and the kingdom. Then the +oldest of the ascetics with matted locks on head and loins covered with +animal skin, stood up, and with the concurrence of the other Rishis, +spoke as follows, ‘You all know that that possessor of the sovereignty of +the Kurus who was called king Pandu, had, after abandoning the pleasures +of the world, repaired hence to dwell on the mountain of a hundred peaks. +He adopted the Brahmacharya mode of life, but for some inscrutable +purpose the gods have in view, this his eldest son, Yudhishthira, was +born there, begotten by Dharma himself. Then that illustrious king +obtained from Vayu this other son--the foremost of all mighty men--called +Bhima. This other son, begotten upon Kunti by Indra, is Dhananjaya whose +achievements will humble all bowmen in the world. Look here again at +these tigers among men, mighty in the use of the bow, the twin children +begotten upon Madri by the twin Aswins. Leading in righteousness the life +of a Vanaprastha in the woods, illustrious Pandu hath thus revived the +almost extinct line of his grandfather. The birth, growth, and Vedic +studies of these children of Pandu, will, no doubt, give you great +pleasure. Steadily adhering to the path of the virtuous and the wise, and +leaving behind him these children, Pandu departed hence seventeen days +ago. His wife Madri, beholding him placed in the funeral pyre and about +to be consumed, herself ascended the same pyre, and sacrificing her life +thus, hath gone with her lord to the region reserved for chaste wives. +Accomplish now whatever rites should be performed for their benefit. +These are (the unburnt portions of) their bodies. Here also are their +children--these oppressors of foes--with their mother. Let these be now +received with due honours. After the completion of the first rites in +honour of the dead, let the virtuous Pandu, who had all along been the +supporter of the dignity of the Kurus, have the first annual Sraddha +(sapindakarana) performed with a view to installing him formally among +the Pitris.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The ascetics with Guhyakas, having said this +unto the Kurus, instantly disappeared in the very sight of the people. +And beholding the Rishis and the Siddhas thus vanish in their sight like +vapoury forms appearing and disappearing in the skies, the citizens +filled with wonder returned to their homes.’” + + + +SECTION CXXVII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Dhritarashtra then said, ‘O Vidura, celebrate +the funeral ceremonies of that lion among kings viz., Pandu, and of Madri +also, in right royal style. For the good of their souls, distribute +cattle, cloths, gems and diverse kinds of wealth, every one receiving as +much as he asketh for. Make arrangements also for Kunti’s performing the +last rites of Madri in such a style as pleaseth her. And let Madri’s body +be so carefully wrapped up that neither the Sun nor Vayu (god of wind) +may behold it. Lament not for the sinless Pandu. He was a worthy king and +hath left behind him five heroic sons equal unto the celestials +themselves.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Vidura, O Bharata, saying, ‘So be it,’ in +consultation with Bhishma, fixed upon a sacred spot for the funeral rites +of Pandu. The family priests went out of the city without loss of time, +carrying with them the blazing sacred fire fed with clarified butter and +rendered fragrant therewith. Then friends, relatives, and adherents, +wrapping it up in cloth, decked the body of the monarch with the flowers +of the season and sprinkled various excellent perfumes over it. And they +also decked the hearse itself with garlands and rich hangings. Then +placing the covered body of the king with that of his queen on that +excellent bier decked out so brightly, they caused it to be carried on +human shoulders. With the white umbrella (of state) held over the hearse +with waving yak-tails and sounds of various musical instruments, the +whole scene looked bright and grand. Hundreds of people began to +distribute gems among the crowd on the occasion of the funeral rites of +the king. At length some beautiful robes, and white umbrellas and larger +yak-tails, were brought for the great ceremony. The priests clad in white +walked in the van of the procession pouring libations of clarified butter +on the sacred fire blazing in an ornamental vessel. And Brahmanas, and +Kshatriyas, and Vaisyas, and Sudras by thousands followed the deceased +king, loudly wailing in these accents, ‘O prince, where dost thou go, +leaving us behind, and making us forlorn and wretched for ever?’ And +Bhishma, and Vidura, and the Pandavas, also all wept aloud. At last they +came to a romantic wood on the banks of the Ganga. There they laid down +the hearse on which the truthful and lion-hearted prince and his spouse +lay. Then they brought water in many golden vessels, washed the prince’s +body besmeared before with several kinds of fragrant paste, and again +smeared it over with sandal paste. They then dressed it in a white dress +made of indigenous fabrics. And with the new suit on, the king seemed as +if he was living and only sleeping on a costly bed. + +“When the other funeral ceremonies also were finished in consonance with +the directions of the priests, the Kauravas set fire to the dead bodies +of the king and the queen, bringing lotuses, sandal-paste, and other +fragrant substances to the pyre. + +“Then seeing the bodies aflame, Kausalya burst out, ‘O my son, my +son!’--and fell down senseless on the ground. And seeing her down the +citizens and the inhabitants of the provinces began to wail from grief +and affection for their king. And the birds of the air and the beasts of +the field were touched by the lamentations of Kunti. And Bhishma, the son +of Santanu, and the wise Vidura, and the others also that were there, +became disconsolate. + +“Thus weeping, Bhishma, Vidura, Dhritarashtra, the Pandavas and the Kuru +ladies, all performed the watery ceremony of the king. And when all this +was over, the people, themselves filled with sorrow, began to console the +bereaved sons of Pandu. And the Pandavas with their friends began to +sleep on the ground. Seeing this the Brahmanas and the other citizens +also renounced their beds. Young and old, all the citizens grieved on +account of the sons of king Pandu, and passed twelve days in mourning +with the weeping Pandavas.’” + + + +SECTION CXXVIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Bhishma and Kunti with their friends celebrated +the Sraddha of the deceased monarch, and offered the Pinda. And they +feasted the Kauravas and thousands of Brahmanas unto whom they also gave +gems and lands. Then the citizens returned to Hastinapura with the sons +of Pandu, now that they had been cleansed from the impurity incident to +the demise of their father. All then fell to weeping for the departed +king. It seemed as if they had lost one of their own kin. + +“When the Sraddha had been celebrated in the manner mentioned above, the +venerable Vyasa, seeing all the subjects sunk in grief, said one day to +his mother Satyavati, ‘Mother, our days of happiness have gone by and +days of calamity have succeeded. Sin beginneth to increase day by day. +The world hath got old. The empire of the Kauravas will no longer endure +because of wrong and oppression. Go thou then into the forest, and devote +thyself to contemplation through Yoga. Henceforth society will be filled +with deceit and wrong. Good work will cease. Do not witness the +annihilation of thy race, in thy old age.’ + +“Acquiescing in the words of Vyasa, Satyavati entered the inner +apartments and addressed her daughter-in-law, saying, ‘O Ambika, I hear +that in consequence of the deeds of your grandsons, this Bharata dynasty +and its subjects will perish. If thou permit, I would go to the forest +with Kausalya, so grieved at the loss of her son.’ O king, saying this +the queen, taking the permission of Bhishma also, went to the forest. And +arriving there with her two daughters-in-law, she became engaged in +profound contemplation, and in good time leaving her body ascended to +heaven.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then the sons of king Pandu, having gone +through all the purifying rites prescribed in the Vedas, began to grow up +in princely style in the home of their father. Whenever they were engaged +in play with the sons of Dhritarashtra, their superiority of strength +became marked. In speed, in striking the objects aimed at, in consuming +articles of food, and scattering dust, Bhimasena beat all the sons of +Dhritarashtra. The son of the Wind-god pulled them by the hair and made +them fight with one another, laughing all the while. And Vrikodara easily +defeated those hundred and one children of great energy as if they were +one instead of being a hundred and one. The second Pandava used to seize +them by the hair, and throwing them down, to drag them along the earth. +By this, some had their knees broken, some their heads, and some their +shoulders. That youth, sometimes holding ten of them, drowned them in +water, till they were nearly dead. When the sons of Dhritarashtra got up +to the boughs of a tree for plucking fruits, Bhima used to shake that +tree, by striking it with his foot, so that down came the fruits and the +fruitpluckers at the same time. In fact, those princes were no match for +Bhima in pugilistic encounters, in speed, or in skill. Bhima used to make +a display of his strength by thus tormenting them in childishness but not +from malice. + +“Seeing these wonderful exhibitions of the might of Bhima, the powerful +Duryodhana, the eldest son of Dhritarashtra, began to conceive hostility +towards him. And the wicked and unrighteous Duryodhana, through ignorance +and ambition, prepared himself for an act of sin. He thought, ‘There is +no other individual who can compare with Bhima, the second son of Pandu, +in point of prowess. I shall have to destroy him by artifice. Singly, +Bhima dares a century of us to the combat. Therefore, when he shall sleep +in the garden, I shall throw him into the current of the Ganga. +Afterwards, confining his eldest brother Yudhishthira and his younger +brother Arjuna, I shall reign sole king without molestation.’ Determined +thus, the wicked Duryodhana was ever on the watch to find out an +opportunity for injuring Bhima. And, O Bharata, at length at a beautiful +place called Pramanakoti on the banks of the Ganga, he built a palace +decorated with hangings of broad-cloth and other rich stuffs. And he +built this palace for sporting in the water there, and filled it with all +kinds of entertaining things and choice viands. Gay flags waved on the +top of this mansion. The name of the house was ‘the water-sport house.’ +Skilful cooks prepared various kinds of viands. When all was ready, the +officers gave intimation to Duryodhana. Then the evil-minded prince said +unto the Pandavas, ‘Let us all go to the banks of the Ganga graced with +trees and crowned with flowers and sport there in the water.’ And upon +Yudhishthira agreeing to this, the sons of Dhritarashtra, taking the +Pandavas with them, mounted country-born elephants of great size and cars +resembling towns, and left the metropolis. + +“On arriving at the place, the princes dismissed their attendants, and +surveying the beauty of the gardens and the groves, entered the palace, +like lions entering their mountain caves. On entering they saw that the +architects had handsomely plastered the walls and the ceilings and that +painters had painted them beautifully. The windows looked very graceful, +and the artificial fountains were splendid. Here and there were tanks of +pellucid water in which bloomed forests of lotuses. The banks were decked +with various flowers whose fragrance filled the atmosphere. The Kauravas +and the Pandavas sat down and began to enjoy the things provided for +them. They became engaged in play and began to exchange morsels of food +with one another. Meanwhile the wicked Duryodhana had mixed a powerful +poison with a quantity of food, with the object of making away with +Bhima. That wicked youth who had nectar in his tongue and a razor in his +heart, rose at length, and in a friendly way fed Bhima largely with that +poisoned food, and thinking himself lucky in having compassed his end, +was exceedingly glad at heart. Then the sons of Dhritarashtra and Pandu +together became cheerfully engaged in sporting in the water. Their sport +having been finished, they dressed themselves in white habiliments, and +decked themselves with various ornaments. Fatigued with play, they felt +inclined in the evening to rest in the pleasurehouse belonging to the +garden. Having made the other youths take exercise in the waters, the +powerful second Pandava was excessively fatigued. So that on rising from +the water, he lay down on the ground. He was weary and under the +influence of the poison. And the cool air served to spread the poison +over all his frame, so that he lost his senses at once. Seeing this +Duryodhana bound him with chords of shrubs, and threw him into the water. +The insensible son of Pandu sank down till he reached the Naga kingdom. +Nagas, furnished with fangs containing virulent venom, bit him by +thousands. The vegetable poison, mingled in the blood of the son of the +Wind god, was neutralised by the snake-poison. The serpents had bitten +all over his frame, except his chest, the skin of which was so tough that +their fangs could not penetrate it. + +“On regaining consciousness, the son of Kunti burst his bands and began +to press the snakes down under the ground. A remnant fled for life, and +going to their king Vasuki, represented, ‘O king of snakes, a man drowned +under the water, bound in chords of shrubs; probably he had drunk poison. +For when he fell amongst us, he was insensible. But when we began to bite +him, he regained his senses, and bursting his fetters, commenced laying +at us. May it please Your Majesty to enquire who is.’ + +“Then Vasuki, in accordance with the prayer of the inferior Nagas, went +to the place and saw Bhimasena. Of the serpents, there was one, named +Aryaka. He was the grandfather of the father of Kunti. The lord of +serpents saw his relative and embraced him. Then, Vasuki, learning all, +was pleased with Bhima, and said to Aryaka with satisfaction, ‘How are we +to please him? Let him have money and gems in profusion.” + +“On hearing the words of Vasuki, Aryaka said, ‘O king of serpents, when +Your Majesty is pleased with him, no need of wealth for him! Permit him +to drink of rasakunda (nectar-vessels) and thus acquire immeasurable +strength. There is the strength of a thousand elephants in each one of +those vessels. Let this prince drink as much as he can.’ + +“The king of serpents gave his consent. And the serpents thereupon began +auspicious rites. Then purifying himself carefully, Bhimasena facing the +east began to drink nectar. At one breath, he quaffed off the contents of +a whole vessel, and in this manner drained off eight successive jars, +till he was full. At length, the serpents prepared an excellent bed for +him, on which he lay down at ease.’” + + + +SECTION CXXIX + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Meanwhile the Kauravas and the Pandavas, after +having thus sported there, set out, without Bhima, for Hastinapura, some +on horses, some on elephants, while others preferred cars and other +conveyances. And on their way they said to one another, ‘Perhaps, Bhima +hath gone before us.’ And the wicked Duryodhana was glad at heart to miss +Bhima, and entered the city with his brothers in joy. + +“The virtuous Yudhishthira, himself unacquainted with vice and +wickedness, regarded others to be as honest as himself. The eldest son of +Pritha, filled with fraternal love, going unto his mother, said, after +making obeisance to her, ‘O mother, hath Bhima come? O good mother, I +don’t find him here. Where may he have gone? We long sought for him +everywhere in the gardens and the beautiful woods; but found him nowhere. +At length, we thought that the heroic Bhima preceded us all. O +illustrious dame, we came hither in great anxiety. Arrived here, where +hath he gone? Have you sent him anywhere? O tell me, I am full of doubts +respecting the mighty Bhima. He had been asleep and hath not come. I +conclude he is no more.’ + +“Hearing these words of the highly intelligent Yudhishthira, Kunti +shrieked, in alarm, and said, ‘Dear son, I have not seen Bhima. He did +not come to me. O, return in haste, and with your brothers search for +him.’ + +“Having said this in affliction to her eldest son, she summoned Vidura, +and said, ‘O illustrious Kshattri, Bhimasena is missing! Where has he +gone? The other brothers have all come back from the gardens, only Bhima +of mighty arms does not come home! Duryodhana likes him not. The Kaurava +is crooked and malicious and low-minded and imprudent. He coveteth the +throne openly. I am afraid he may have in a fit of anger slain my +darling. This afflicts me sorely, indeed, it burns my heart.’ + +“Vidura replied, ‘Blessed dame, say not so! Protect thy other sons with +care. If the wicked Duryodhana be accused, he may slay thy remaining +sons. The great sage hath said that all thy sons will be long-lived. +Therefore, Bhima will surely return and gladden thy heart.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The wise Vidura, having said this unto Kunti, +returned to his abode, while Kunti, in great anxiety, continued to stay +at home with her children. + +“Meanwhile, Bhimasena awoke from that slumber on the eighth day, and felt +strong beyond measure in consequence of the nectar he had taken having +been all digested. Seeing him awake, the Nagas began to console and cheer +him, saying, ‘O thou of mighty arms, the strength-giving liquor thou hast +drunk will give thee the might of ten thousand elephants! No one now will +be able to vanquish thee in fight. O bull of Kuru’s race, do thou bath in +this holy and auspicious water and return home. Thy brothers are +disconsolate because of thee.’ + +“Then Bhima purified himself with a bath in those waters, and decked in +white robes and flowery garlands of the same hue, ate of the paramanna +(rice and sugar pudding) offered to him by the Nagas. Then that oppressor +of all foes, decked in celestial ornaments, received the adorations and +blessings of the snakes, and saluting them in return, rose from the +nether region. Bearing up the lotus-eyed Pandava from under the waters, +the Nagas placed him in the selfsame gardens wherein he had been +sporting, and vanished in his very sight. + +“The mighty Bhimasena, arrived on the surface of the earth, ran with +speed to his mother. And bowing down unto her and his eldest brother, and +smelling the heads of his younger brothers, that oppressor of all foes +was himself embraced by his mother and every one of those bulls among +men. Affectionate unto one another, they all repeatedly exclaimed, ‘What +is our joy today, O what joy!’ + +‘Then Bhima, endued with great strength and prowess, related to his +brothers everything about the villainy of Duryodhana, and the lucky and +unlucky incidents that had befallen him in the world of the Serpents. +Thereupon Yudhishthira said, ‘Do thou observe silence on this. Do not +speak of this to any one. From this day, protect ye all one another with +care.’ Thus cautioned by the righteous Yudhishthira, they all, with +Yudhishthira himself, became very vigilant from that day. And lest +negligence might occur on the part of the sons of Kunti, Vidura +continually offered them sage advice. + +“Some time after, Duryodhana again mixed in the food of Bhima a poison +that was fresh, virulent, and very deadly. But Yuyutsu (Dhritarashtra’s +son by a Vaisya wife), moved by his friendship for the Pandavas, informed +them of this. Vrikodara, however, swallowed it without any hesitation, +and digested it completely. And, though virulent the poison produced no +effects on Bhima. + +“When that terrible poison intended for the destruction of Bhima failed +of its effect, Duryodhana. Karna and Sakuni, without giving up their +wicked design had recourse to numerous other contrivances for +accomplishing the death of the Pandavas. And though every one of these +contrivances was fully known to the Pandavas, yet in accordance with the +advice of Vidura they suppressed their indignation. + +“Meanwhile, the king (Dhritarashtra), beholding the Kuru princes passing +their time in idleness and growing naughty, appointed Gautama as their +preceptor and sent them unto him for instruction. Born among a clump of +heath, Gautama was well-skilled in the Vedas and it was under him (also +called Kripa) that the Kuru princes began to learn the use of arms.’” + + + +SECTION CXXX + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O Brahmana, it behoveth thee to relate to me +everything about the birth of Kripa. How did he spring from a clump of +heath? Whence also did he obtain his weapons?’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O king, the great sage Gautama had a son named +Saradwat. This Saradwat was born with arrows (in hand). O oppressor of +foes, the son of Gautama exhibited great aptitude for the study of the +science of weapons, but none for the other sciences. Saradwat acquired +all his weapons by those austerities by which Brahmanas in student life +acquire the knowledge of Vedas. Gautama (the son of Gotama) by his +aptitude for the science of weapons and by his austerities made Indra +himself greatly afraid of him. Then, O thou of Kuru’s race, the chief of +the gods summoned a celestial damsel named Janapadi and sent her unto +Gautama, saying, ‘Do thy best to disturb the austerities of Gautama.’ +Repairing unto the charming asylum of Saradwat, the damsel began to tempt +the ascetic equipped with bow and arrows. Beholding that Apsara, of +figure unrivalled on earth for beauty, alone in those woods and clad in a +single piece of cloth, Saradwat’s eyes expanded with delight. At the +sight of the damsel, his bow and arrows slipped from his hand and his +frame shook all over with emotion; but possessed of ascetic fortitude and +strength of soul, the sage mustered sufficient patience to bear up +against the temptation. The suddenness, however, of his mental agitation, +caused an unconscious emission of his vital fluid. Leaving his bow and +arrows and deer-skin behind, he went away, flying from the Apsara. His +vital fluid, however, having fallen upon a clump of heath, was divided +into two parts, whence sprang two children that were twins. + +“And it happened that a soldier in attendance upon king Santanu while the +monarch was out a-hunting in the woods, came upon the twins. And seeing +the bow and arrows and deer-skin on the ground, he thought they might be +the offspring of some Brahmana proficient in the science of arms. +Deciding thus, he took up the children along with the bow and arrows, and +showed what he had to the king. Beholding them the king was moved with +pity, and saying, ‘Let these become my children,’ brought them to his +palace. Then that first of men, Santanu, the son of Pratipa having +brought Gautama’s twins into his house, performed in respect of them the +usual rites of religion. And he began to bring them up and called them +Kripa and Kripi, in allusion to the fact that he brought them up from +motives of pity (Kripa). The son of Gotama having left his former asylum, +continued his study of the science of arms in right earnest. By his +spiritual insight he learnt that his son and daughter were in the palace +of Santanu. He thereupon went to the monarch and represented everything +about his lineage. He then taught Kripa the four branches of the science +of arms, and various other branches of knowledge, including all their +mysteries and recondite details. In a short time Kripa became an eminent +professor of the science (of arms). And the hundred sons of +Dhritarashtra, and the Pandavas along with the Yadavas, and the Vrishnis, +and many other princes from various lands, began to receive lessons from +him in that science.’” + + + +SECTION CXXXI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Desirous of giving his grandsons a superior +education, Bhishma was on the look-out for a teacher endued with energy +and well-skilled in the science of arms. Deciding, O chief of the +Bharatas, that none who was not possessed of great intelligence, none who +was not illustrious or a perfect master of the science of arms, none who +was not of godlike might, should be the instructor of the Kuru (princes), +the son of Ganga, O tiger among men, placed the Pandavas and the Kauravas +under the tuition of Bharadwaja’s son, the intelligent Drona skilled in +all the Vedas. Pleased with the reception given him by the great Bhishma, +that foremost of all men skilled in arms, viz., illustrious Drona of +world-wide fame, accepted the princes as his pupils. And Drona taught +them the science of arms in all its branches. And, O monarch, both the +Kauravas and the Pandavas endued with immeasurable strength, in a short +time became proficient in the use of all kinds of arms.’ + +“Janamejaya asked, ‘O Brahmana, how was Drona born? How and whence did he +acquire his arms? How and why came he unto the Kurus? Whose son also was +he endued with such energy? Again, how was his son Aswatthaman, the +foremost of all skilled in arms born? I wish to hear all this! Please +recite them in detail.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘There dwelt at the source of the Ganga, a great sage +named Bharadwaja, ceaselessly observing the most rigid vows. One day, of +old, intending to celebrate the Agnihotra sacrifice he went along with +many great Rishis to the Ganga to perform his ablutions. Arrived at the +bank of the stream, he saw Ghritachi herself, that Apsara endued with +youth and beauty, who had gone there a little before. With an expression +of pride in her countenance, mixed with a voluptuous languor of attitude, +the damsel rose from the water after her ablutions were over. And as she +was gently treading on the bank, her attire which was loose became +disordered. Seeing her attire disordered, the sage was smitten with +burning desire. The next moment his vital fluid came out, in consequence +of the violence of his emotion. The Rishi immediately held it in a vessel +called a drona. Then, O king, Drona sprang from the fluid thus preserved +in that vessel by the wise Bharadwaja. And the child thus born studied +all the Vedas and their branches. Before now Bharadwaja of great prowess +and the foremost of those possessing a knowledge of arms, had +communicated to the illustrious Agnivesa, a knowledge of the weapon +called Agneya. O foremost one of Bharata’s race, the Rishi (Agnivesa) +sprung from fire now communicated the knowledge of that great weapon to +Drona the son of his preceptor. + +“There was a king named Prishata who was a great friend of Bharadwaja. +About this time Prishata had a son born unto him, named Drupada. And that +bull among Kshatriyas, viz., Drupada, the son of Prishata, used every day +to come to the hermitage of Bharadwaja to play with Drona and study in +his company. O monarch, when Prishata was dead, this Drupada of mighty +arms became the king of the northern Panchalas. About this time the +illustrious Bharadwaja also ascended to heaven. Drona continuing to +reside in his father’s hermitage devoted himself to ascetic austerities. +Having become well-versed in the Vedas and their branches and having +burnt also all his sins by asceticism, the celebrated Drona, obedient to +the injunctions of his father and moved by the desire of offspring +married Kripi, the daughter of Saradwat. And this woman, ever engaged in +virtuous acts and the Agnihotra, and the austerest of penances, obtained +a son named Aswatthaman. And as soon as Aswatthaman was born, he neighed +like the (celestial) steed Ucchaihsravas. Hearing that cry, an invisible +being in the skies said, ‘The voice of this child hath, like the neighing +of a horse, been audible all around. The child shall, therefore, be known +by the name of Aswatthaman, (the horse-voiced). The son of Bharadwaja +(Drona) was exceedingly glad at having obtained that child. Continuing to +reside in that hermitage he devoted himself to the study of the science +of arms. + +“O king, it was about this time that Drona heard that the illustrious +Brahmana Jamadagnya, that slayer of foes, that foremost one among all +wielders of weapons, versed in all kinds of knowledge, had expressed a +desire of giving away all his wealth to Brahmanas. Having heard of Rama’s +knowledge of arms and of his celestial weapons also, Drona set his heart +upon them as also upon the knowledge of morality that Rama possessed. +Then Drona of mighty arms, endued with high ascetic virtues, accompanied +by disciples who were all devoted to vows ascetic austerities, set out +for the Mahendra mountains. Arrived at Mahendra, the son of Bharadwaja +possessed of high ascetic merit, beheld the son of Bhrigu, the +exterminator of all foes, endued with great patience and with mind under +complete control. Then, approaching with his disciples that scion of the +Bhrigu race Drona, giving him his name, told him of his birth in the line +of Angiras. And touching the ground with his head, he worshipped Rama’s +feet. And beholding the illustrious son of Jamadagni intent upon retiring +into the woods after having given away all his wealth, Drona said, ‘Know +me to have sprung from Bharadwaja, but not in any woman’s womb! I am a +Brahmana of high birth, Drona by name, come to thee with the desire of +obtaining thy wealth.’ + +“On hearing him, that illustrious grinder of the Kshatriya race replied, +Thou art welcome, O best of regenerate ones! Tell me what thou desirest. +Thus addressed by Rama, the son of Bharadwaja replied unto that foremost +of all smiters, desirous of giving away the whole of his wealth, ‘O thou +of multifarious vows, I am a candidate for thy eternal wealth,’ ‘O thou +of ascetic wealth, returned Rama, ‘My gold and whatever other wealth I +had, have all been given away unto Brahmanas! This earth also, to the +verge of the sea, decked with towns and cities, as with a garland of +flowers, I have given unto Kasyapa. I have now my body only and my +various valuable weapons left. I am prepared to give either my body or my +weapons. Say, which thou wouldst have! I would give it thee! Say quickly!’ + +“Drona answered, O son of Bhrigu, it behoveth thee to give me all thy +weapons together with the mysteries of hurling and recalling them.’ + +“Saying, ‘So be it,’ the son of Bhrigu gave all his weapons unto +Drona,--indeed, the whole science of arms with its rules and mysteries. +Accepting them all, and thinking himself amply rewarded that best of +Brahmanas then, glad at heart, set out, for (the city of) his friend +Drupada.’” + + + +SECTION CXXXII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then, O king, the mighty son of Bharadyaja presented +himself before Drupada, and addressing that monarch, said, ‘Know me for +thy friend.’ Thus addressed by his friend, the son of Bharadwaja, with a +joyous heart, the lord of the Panchalas was ill-able to bear that speech. +The king, intoxicated with the pride of wealth, contracted his brows in +wrath, and with reddened eyes spake these words unto Drona, ‘O Brahmana, +thy intelligence is scarcely of a high order, inasmuch as thou sayest +unto me, all on a sudden, that thou art my friend! O thou of dull +apprehension, great kings can never be friends with such luckless and +indigent wights as thou! It is true there had been friendship between +thee and me before, for we were then both equally circumstanced. But Time +that impaireth everything in its course, impaireth friendship also. In +this world, friendship never endureth for ever in any heart. Time weareth +it off and anger destroyeth it too. Do not stick, therefore, to that +worn-off friendship. Think not of it any longer. The friendship I had +with thee, O first of Brahmanas, was for a particular purpose. Friendship +can never subsist between a poor man and a rich man, between a man of +letters and an unlettered mind, between a hero and a coward. Why dost +thou desire the continuance of our former friendship? There may be +friendship or hostility between persons equally situated as to wealth or +might. The indigent and the affluent can neither be friends nor quarrel +with each other. One of impure birth can never be a friend to one of pure +birth; one who is not a car-warrior can never be a friend to one who is +so; and one who is not a king never have a king for his friend. +Therefore, why dost thou desire the continuance of our former friendship?’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by Drupada, the mighty son of +Bharadwaja became filled with wrath, and reflecting for a moment, made up +his mind as to his course of action. Seeing the insolence of the Panchala +king, he wished to check it effectually. Hastily leaving the Panchala +capital Drona bent his steps towards the capital of the Kurus, named +after the elephant.’” + + + +SECTION CXXXIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Arrived at Hastinapura, that best of Brahmanas, the +son of Bharadwaja, continued to live privately in the house of Gautama +(Kripa). His mighty son (Aswatthaman) at intervals of Kripa’s teaching, +used to give the sons of Kunti lessons in the use of arms. But as yet +none knew of Aswatthaman’s prowess. + +“Drona had thus lived privately for some time in the house of Kripa when +one day the heroic princes, all in a company, came out of Hastinapura. +And coming out of the city, they began to play with a ball and roam about +in gladness of heart. And it so happened that the ball with which they +had been playing fell into a well. And thereupon the princes strove their +best to recover it from the well. But all the efforts the princes made to +recover it proved futile. They then began to eye one another bashfully, +and not knowing how to recover it, their anxiety became great. Just at +this time they beheld a Brahmana near enough unto them, of darkish hue, +decrepit and lean, sanctified by the performance of the Agnihotra and who +had finished his daily rites of worship. And beholding that illustrious +Brahmana, the princes who had despaired of success surrounded him +immediately. Drona (for that Brahmana was no other), seeing the princes +unsuccessful, and conscious of his own skill, smiled a little, and +addressing them said, ‘Shame on your Kshatriya might, and shame also on +your skill in arms! You have been born in the race of Bharata! How is it +that ye cannot recover the ball (from the bottom of this well)? If ye +promise me a dinner today, I will, with these blades of grass, bring up +not only the ball ye have lost but this ring also that I now throw down!’ +Thus saying, Drona that oppressor of foes, taking off his ring, threw it +down into the dry well. Then Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, addressing +Drona, said, ‘O Brahmana (thou askest for a trifle)! Do thou, with +Kripa’s permission, obtain of us that which would last thee for life!’ +Thus addressed, Drona with smiles replied unto the Bharata princes, +saying, ‘This handful of long grass I would invest, by my mantras, with +the virtue of weapons. Behold these blades possess virtues that other +weapons, have not! I will, with one of these blades, pierce the ball, and +then pierce that blade with another, and that another with a third, and +thus shall I, by a chain, bring up the ball.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Drona did exactly what he had said. And +the princes were all amazed and their eyes expanded with delight. And +regarding what they had witnessed to be very extraordinary, they said, O +learned Brahmana, do thou bring up the ring also without loss of time.’ + +“Then the illustrious Drona, taking a bow with an arrow, pierced the ring +with that arrow and brought it up at once. And taking the ring thus +brought up from the well still pierced with his arrow, he coolly gave it +to the astonished princes. Then the latter, seeing the ring thus +recovered, said, ‘We bow to thee, O Brahmana! None else owneth such +skill. We long to know who thou art and whose son. What also can we do +for thee?’ + +“Thus addressed, Drona replied unto the princes, saying, ‘Do ye repair +unto Bhishma and describe to him my likeness and skill. The mighty one +will recognize me.’ The princes then saying, ‘So be it,’ repaired unto +Bhishma and telling him of the purport of that Brahmana’s speech, related +everything about his (extraordinary) feat. Hearing everything from the +princes, Bhishma at once understood that the Brahmana was none else than +Drona, and thinking that he would make the best preceptor for the +princes, went in person unto him and welcoming him respectfully, brought +him over to the place. Then Bhishma, that foremost of all wielders of +arms, adroitly asked him the cause of his arrival at Hastinapura. Asked +by him, Drona represented everything as it had happened, saying, ‘O sir, +in times past I went to the great Rishi Agnivesa for obtaining from him +his weapons, desirous also of learning the science of arms. Devoted to +the service of my preceptor, I lived with him for many years in the +humble guise of a Brahmacharin, with matted locks on my head. At that +time, actuated by the same motives, the prince of Panchala, the mighty +Yajnasena, also lived in the same asylum. He became my friend, always +seeking my welfare. I liked him much. Indeed, we lived together for many, +many years. O thou of Kuru’s race, from our earliest years we had studied +together and, indeed, he was my friend from boyhood, always speaking and +doing what was agreeable to me. For gratifying me, O Bhishma, he used to +tell me, ‘O Drona, I am the favourite child of my illustrious father. +When the king installeth me as monarch of the Panchalas, the kingdom +shall be thine. O friend, this, indeed, is my solemn promise. My +dominion, wealth and happiness, shall all be dependent on thee.’ At last +the time came for his departure. Having finished his studies, he bent his +steps towards his country. I offered him my regards at the time, and, +indeed, I remembered his words ever afterwards. + +“Some time after, in obedience to the injunctions of my father and +tempted also by the desire of offspring, I married Kripi of short hair, +who gifted with great intelligence, had observed many rigid vows, and was +ever engaged in the Agnihotra and other sacrifices and rigid austerities. +Gautami, in time, gave birth to a son named Aswatthaman of great prowess +and equal in splendour unto the Sun himself. Indeed, I was pleased on +having obtained Aswatthaman as much as my father had been on obtaining me. + +“And it so happened that one day the child Aswatthaman observing some +rich men’s sons drink milk, began to cry. At this I was so beside myself +that I lost all knowledge of the point of the compass. Instead of asking +him who had only a few kine (so that if he gave me one, he would no +longer be able to perform his sacrifices and thus sustain a loss of +virtue), I was desirous of obtaining a cow from one who had many, and for +that I wandered from country to country. But my wanderings proved +unsuccessful, for I failed to obtain a milch cow. After I had come back +unsuccessful, some of my son’s playmates gave him water mixed with +powdered rice. Drinking this, the poor boy, was deceived into the belief +that he had taken milk, and began to dance in joy, saying, ‘O, I have +taken milk. I have taken milk!’ Beholding him dance with joy amid these +playmates smiling at his simplicity, I was exceedingly touched. Hearing +also the derisive speeches of busy-bodies who said, ‘Fie upon the +indigent Drona, who strives not to earn wealth, whose son drinking water +mixed with powdered rice mistaketh it for milk and danceth with joy, +saying, ‘I have taken milk,--I have taken milk!’--I was quite beside +myself. Reproaching myself much, I at last resolved that even if I should +have to live cast off and censured by Brahmanas, I would not yet, from +desire of wealth, be anybody’s servant, which is ever hateful. Thus +resolved, O Bhishma, I went, for former friendship, unto the king of the +Somakas, taking with me my dear child and wife. Hearing that he had been +installed in the sovereignty (of the Somakas), I regarded myself as +blessed beyond compare. Joyfully I went unto that dear friend of mine +seated on the throne, remembering my former friendship with him and also +his own words to me. And, O illustrious one, approaching Drupada, I said, +‘O tiger among men, know me for thy friend!’--Saying this, I approached +him confidently as a friend should. But Drupada, laughing in derision +cast me off as if I were a vulgar fellow. Addressing me he said, ‘Thy +intelligence scarcely seemeth to be of a high order inasmuch as +approaching me suddenly, thou sayest thou art my friend! Time that +impaireth everything, impaireth friendship also. My former friendship +with thee was for a particular purpose. One of impure birth can never be +a friend of one who is of pure birth. One who is not a car-warrior can +never be a friend of one who is such. Friendship can only subsist between +persons that are of equal rank, but not between those that are unequally +situated. Friendship never subsisteth for ever in my heart. Time +impaireth friendships, as also anger destroyeth them. Do thou not stick, +therefore, to that worn-off friendship between us. Think not of it any +longer. The friendship I had with thee, O best of Brahmanas, was for a +special purpose. There cannot be friendship between a poor man and a rich +man, between an unlettered hind and a man of letters, between a coward +and a hero. Why dost thou, therefore, desire, the revival of our former +friendship? O thou of simple understanding, great kings can never have +friendship with such indigent and luckless wight as thou? One who is not +a king can never have a king for his friend. I do not remember ever +having promised thee my kingdom. But, O Brahmana, I can now give thee +food and shelter for one night.’--Thus addressed by him, I left his +presence quickly with my wife, vowing to do that which I will certainly +do soon enough. Thus insulted by Drupada, O Bhishma, I have been filled +with wrath, I have come to the Kurus, desirous of obtaining intelligent +and docile pupils. I come to Hastinapura to gratify thy wishes. O, tell +me what I am to do.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by the son of Bharadwaja, +Bhishma said unto him, ‘String thy bow, O Brahmana, and make the Kuru +princes accomplished in arms. Worshipped by the Kurus, enjoy with a glad +heart to thy fill every comfort in their abode. Thou art the absolute +lord, O Brahmana, of what ever wealth the Kurus have and of their +sovereignty and kingdom! The Kurus are thine (from this day). Think that +as already accomplished which may be in thy heart. Thou art, O Brahmana, +obtained by us as the fruit of our great good luck. Indeed, the favour +thou hast conferred upon me by thy arrival is great.’ + + + +SECTION CXXXIV + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus worshipped by Bhishma, Drona, that first of +men, endued with great energy, took up his quarters in the abode of the +Kurus and continued to live there, receiving their adorations. After he +had rested a while, Bhishma, taking with him his grandsons, the Kaurava +princes, gave them unto him as pupils, making at the same time many +valuable presents. And the mighty one (Bhishma) also joyfully gave unto +the son of Bharadwaja a house that was tidy and neat and well-filled with +paddy and every kind of wealth. And that first of archers, Drona, +thereupon joyfully, accepted the Kauravas, viz., the sons of Pandu and +Dhritarashtra, as his pupils. And having accepted them all as his pupils, +one day Drona called them apart and making them touch his feet, said to +them with a swelling heart, ‘I have in my heart a particular purpose. +Promise me truly, ye sinless ones, that when ye have become skilled in +arms, ye will accomplish it.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words, the Kuru princes remained +silent. But Arjuna, O king, vowed to accomplish it whatever it was. Drona +then cheerfully clasped Arjuna to his bosom and took the scent of his +head repeatedly, shedding tears of joy all the while. Then Drona endued +with great prowess taught the sons of Pandu (the use of) many weapons +both celestial and human. And, O bull of the Bharata race, many other +princes also flocked to that best of Brahmanas for instruction in arms. +The Vrishnis and the Andhakas, and princes from various lands, and the +(adopted) son of Radha of the Suta caste, (Karna), all became pupils of +Drona. But of them all, the Suta child Karna, from jealousy, frequently +defied Arjuna, and supported by Duryodhana, used to disregard the +Pandavas. Arjuna, however, from devotion to the science of arms, always +stayed by the side of his preceptor, and in skill, strength of arms, and +perseverance, excelled all (his class-fellows). Indeed, although the +instruction the preceptor gave, was the same in the case of all, yet in +lightness and skill Arjuna became the foremost of all his fellow-pupils. +And Drona was convinced that none of his pupils would (at any time) be +able to be equal to that son of Indra. + +“Thus Drona continued giving lessons to the princes in the science of +weapons. And while he gave unto every one of his pupils a narrow-mouthed +vessel (for fetching water) in order that much time may be spent in +filling them, he gave unto his own son Aswatthaman a broad-mouthed +vessel, so that, filling it quickly, he might return soon enough. And in +the intervals so gained, Drona used to instruct his own son in several +superior methods (of using weapons). Jishnu (Arjuna) came to know of +this, and thereupon filling his narrow-mouthed vessel with water by means +of the Varuna weapon he used to come unto his preceptor at the same time +with his preceptor’s son. And accordingly the intelligent son of Pritha, +that foremost of all men possessing a knowledge of weapons, had no +inferiority to his preceptor’s son in respect of excellence. Arjuna’s +devotion to the service of his preceptor as also to arms was very great +and he soon became the favourite of his preceptor. And Drona, beholding +his pupil’s devotion to arms, summoned the cook, and told him in secret, +‘Never give Arjuna his food in the dark, nor tell him that I have told +thee this.’ A few days after, however, when Arjuna was taking his food, a +wind arose, and thereupon the lamp that had been burning went out. But +Arjuna, endued with energy, continued eating in the dark, his hand, from +habit, going to his mouth. His attention being thus called to the force +of habit, the strong-armed son of Pandu set his heart upon practising +with his bow in the night. And, O Bharata, Drona, hearing the twang of +his bowstring in the night, came to him, and clasping him, said, ‘Truly +do I tell thee that I shall do that unto thee by which there shall not be +an archer equal to thee in this world.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thereafter Drona began to teach Arjuna the art +of fighting on horse-back, on the back of elephants, on car, and on the +ground. And the mighty Drona also instructed Arjuna in fighting with the +mace, the sword, the lance, the spear, and the dart. And he also +instructed him in using many weapons and fighting with many men at the +same time. And hearing reports of his skill, kings and princes, desirous +of learning the science of arms, flocked to Drona by thousands. Amongst +those that came there, O monarch, was a prince named Ekalavya, who was +the son of Hiranyadhanus, king of the Nishadas (the lowest of the mixed +orders). Drona, however, cognisant of all rules of morality, accepted not +the prince as his pupil in archery, seeing that he was a Nishada who +might (in time) excel all his high-born pupils. But, O oppressor of all +enemies, the Nishada prince, touching Drona’s feet with bent head, wended +his way into the forest, and there he made a clay-image of Drona, and +began to worship it respectfully, as if it was his real preceptor, and +practised weapons before it with the most rigid regularity. In +consequence of his exceptional reverence for his preceptor and his +devotion to his purpose, all the three processes of fixing arrows on the +bowstring, aiming, and letting off became very easy for him. + +“And one day, O grinder of foes, the Kuru and the Pandava princes, with +Drona’s leave, set out in their cars on a hunting excursion. A servant, O +king, followed the party at leisure, with the usual implements and a dog. +Having come to the woods, they wandered about, intent on the purpose they +had in view. Meanwhile, the dog also, in wandering alone in the woods, +came upon the Nishada prince (Ekalavya). And beholding the Nishada of +dark hue, of body besmeared with filth, dressed in black and bearing +matted locks on head, the dog began to bark aloud. + +“Thereupon the Nishada prince, desirous of exhibiting his lightness of +hand, sent seven arrows into its mouth (before it could shut it). The +dog, thus pierced with seven arrows, came back to the Pandavas. Those +heroes, who beheld that sight, were filled with wonder, and, ashamed of +their own skill, began to praise the lightness of hand and precision of +aim by auricular precision (exhibited by the unknown archer). And they +thereupon began to seek in those woods for the unknown dweller therein +that had shown such skill. And, O king, the Pandavas soon found out the +object of their search ceaselessly discharging arrows from the bow. And +beholding that man of grim visage, who was totally a stranger to them, +they asked, ‘Who art thou and whose son?’ Thus questioned, the man +replied, ‘Ye heroes, I am the son of Hiranyadhanus, king of the Nishadas. +Know me also for a pupil of Drona, labouring for the mastery of the art +of arms.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The Pandavas then, having made themselves +acquainted with everything connected with him, returned (to the city), +and going unto Drona, told him of that wonderful feat of archery which +they had witnessed in the woods. Arjuna, in particular, thinking all the +while, O king, Ekalavya, saw Drona in private and relying upon his +preceptor’s affection for him, said, ‘Thou hadst lovingly told me, +clasping me, to thy bosom, that no pupil of thine should be equal to me. +Why then is there a pupil of thine, the mighty son of the Nishada king, +superior to me?” + +‘Vaisampayana continued, ‘On hearing these words, Drona reflected for a +moment, and resolving upon the course of action he should follow, took +Arjuna with him and went unto the Nishada prince. And he beheld Ekalavya +with body besmeared with filth, matted locks (on head), clad in rags, +bearing a bow in hand and ceaselessly shooting arrows therefrom. And when +Ekalavya saw Drona approaching towards him, he went a few steps forward, +and touched his feet and prostrated himself on the ground. And the son of +the Nishada king worshipping Drona, duly represented himself as his +pupil, and clasping his hands in reverence stood before him (awaiting his +commands). Then Drona, O king, addressed Ekalavya, saying, ‘If, O hero, +thou art really my pupil, give me then my fees.’ On hearing these words, +Ekalavya was very much gratified, and said in reply, ‘O illustrious +preceptor, what shall I give? Command me; for there is nothing, O +foremost of all persons conversant with the Vedas, that I may not give +unto my preceptor.’ Drona answered, ‘O Ekalavya, if thou art really +intent on making me a gift, I should like then to have the thumb of thy +right hand.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these cruel words of Drona, who had +asked of him his thumb as tuition-fee, Ekalavya, ever devoted to truth +and desirous also of keeping his promise, with a cheerful face and an +unafflicted heart cut off without ado his thumb, and gave it unto Drona. +After this, when the Nishada prince began once more to shoot with the +help of his remaining fingers, he found, O king, that he had lost his +former lightness of hand. And at this Arjuna became happy, the fever (of +jealousy) having left him. + +“Two of Drona’s pupils became very much accomplished in the use of mace. +These were Druvodhana and Bhima, who were, however, always jealous of +each other. Aswatthaman excelled everyone (in the mysteries of the +science of arms). The twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) excelled everybody in +handling the sword. Yudhishthira surpassed everybody as a car-warrior; +but Arjuna, however, outdistanced everyone in every respect--in +intelligence, resourcefulness, strength and perseverance. Accomplished in +all weapons, Arjuna became the foremost of even the foremost of +car-warriors; and his fame spread all over the earth to the verge of the +sea. And although the instruction was the same, the mighty Arjuna +excelled all (the princes in lightness of hand). Indeed, in weapons as in +devotion to his preceptor, he became the foremost of them all. And +amongst all the princes, Arjuna alone became an Atiratha (a car-warrior +capable of fighting at one time with sixty thousand foes). And the wicked +sons of Dhritarashtra, beholding Bhimasena endued with great strength and +Arjuna accomplished in all arms, became very jealous of them. + +“O bull among men, one day Drona desirous of testing the comparative +excellence of all his pupils in the use of arms, collected them all +together after their education had been completed. And before assembling +them together, he had caused an artificial bird, as the would be aim, to +be placed on the top of a neighbouring tree. And when they were all +together, Drona said unto them, ‘Take up your bows quickly and stand here +aiming at that bird on the tree, with arrows fixed on your bowstrings; +shoot and cut off the bird’s head, as soon as I give the order. I shall +give each of you a turn, one by one, my children.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Drona, that foremost of all Angira’s sons +first addressed Yudhishthira saying, ‘O irrepressible one, aim with thy +arrow and shoot as soon as I give the order. Yudhishthira took up the bow +first, as desired, O king, by his preceptor, and stood aiming at the +bird. But, O bull of Bharata’s race, Drona in an instant, addressing the +Kuru prince standing with bow in hand, said, ‘Behold, O prince, that bird +on top of the tree.’ Yudhishthira replied unto his preceptor, saying, ‘I +do.’ But the next instant Drona again asked him, ‘What dost thou see now, +O prince? Seest thou the tree, myself or thy brothers?’ Yudhishthira +answered, ‘I see the tree, myself, my brothers, and the bird.’ Drona +repeated his question, but was answered as often in the same words. Drona +then, vexed with Yudhishthira, reproachingly said, ‘Stand thou apart. It +is not for thee to strike the aim.’ Then Drona repeated the experiment +with Duryodhana and the other sons of Dhritarashtra, one after another, +as also with his other pupils, Bhima and the rest, including the princes +that had come unto him from other lands. But the answer in every case was +the same as Yudhishthira’s viz., ‘We behold the tree, thyself, our +fellow-pupils, and the bird.’ And reproached by their preceptor, they +were all ordered, one after another, to stand apart.’” + + + +SECTION CXXXV + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘When everyone had failed, Drona smilingly called +Arjuna and said unto him, ‘By thee the aim must be shot; therefore, turn +thy eyes to it. Thou must let fly the arrow as soon as I give the order. +Therefore, O son, stand here with bow and arrow for an instant.’ Thus +addressed, Arjuna stood aiming at the bird as desired by his preceptor, +with his bow bent. An instant after Drona asked him as in the case of +others, ‘Seest thou, O Arjuna, the bird there, the tree, and myself?’ +Arjuna replied, ‘I see the bird only, but nor the tree, or thyself.’ Then +the irrepressible Drona, well-pleased with Arjuna, the instant after, +again said unto that mighty car-warrior amongst the Pandavas, ‘If thou +seest the vulture, then describe it to me.’ Arjuna said, I see only the +head of the vulture, not its body.’ At these words of Arjuna, the hair +(on Drona’s body) stood on end from delight. He then said to Partha, +‘Shoot.’ And the latter instantly let fly (his arrow) and with his sharp +shaft speedily struck off the head of the vulture on the tree and brought +it down to the ground. No sooner was the deed done than Drona clasped +Phalguna to his bosom and thought Drupada with his friends had already +been vanquished in fight. + +“Some time after, O bull of Bharata’s race, Drona, accompanied by all of +his pupils, went to the bank of the Ganga to bathe in that sacred stream. +And when Drona had plunged into the stream, a strong alligator, sent as +it were, by Death himself seized him by the thigh. And though himself +quite capable, Drona in a seeming hurry asked his pupil to rescue him. +And he said, ‘O, kill this monster and rescue me.’ Contemporaneously with +this speech, Vibhatsu (Arjuna) struck the monster within the water with +five sharp arrows irresistible in their course, while the other pupils +stood confounded, each at his place. Beholding Arjuna’s readiness, Drona +considered him to be the foremost of all his pupils, and became highly +pleased. The monster, in the meantime cut into pieces by the arrows of +Arjuna, released the thigh of illustrious Drona and gave up the ghost. +The son of Bharadwaja then addressed the illustrious and mighty +car-warrior Arjuna and said, ‘Accept, O thou of mighty arms, this very +superior and irresistible weapon called Brahmasira with the methods of +hurling and recalling it. Thou must not, however, ever use it against any +human foe, for if hurled at any foe endued with inferior energy, it might +burn the whole universe. It is said, O child, that this weapon hath not a +peer in the three worlds. Keep it, therefore, with great care, and listen +to what I say. If ever, O hero, any foe, not human, contendeth against +thee thou mayst then employ it against him for compassing his death in +battle.’ Pledging himself to do what he was bid, Vibhatsu then, with +joined hands, received that great weapon. + +The preceptor then, addressing him again, said, ‘None else in this world +will ever become a superior bowman to thee. Vanquished thou shall never +be by any foe, and thy achievements will be great.’” + + + +SECTION CXXXVI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O thou of Bharata’s race, beholding the sons of +Dhritarashtra and Pandu accomplished in arms, Drona, O monarch, addressed +king Dhritarashtra, in the presence of Kripa, Somadatta, Valhika, the +wise son of Ganga (Bhishma), Vyasa, and Vidura, and said, ‘O best of Kuru +kings, thy children have completed their education. With thy permission, +O king, let them now show their proficiency.’ Hearing him, the king said +with a gladdened heart, ‘O best of Brahmanas, thou hast, indeed, +accomplished a great deed. Command me thyself as to the place and the +time where and when and the manner also in which the trial may be held. +Grief arising from my own blindness maketh me envy those who, blessed +with sight, will behold my children’s prowess in arm. O Kshatri (Vidura), +do all that Drona sayeth. O thou devoted to virtue, I think there is +nothing that can be more agreeable to me.’ Then Vidura, giving the +necessary assurance to the king, went out to do what he was bid. And +Drona endued with great wisdom, then measured out a piece of land that +was void of trees and thickets and furnished with wells and springs. And +upon the spot of land so measured out, Drona, that first of eloquent men, +selecting a lunar day when the star ascendant was auspicious, offered up +sacrifice unto the gods in the presence of the citizens assembled by +proclamation to witness the same. And then, O bull among men, the +artificers of the king built thereon a large and elegant stage according +to the rules laid down in the scriptures, and it was furnished with all +kinds of weapons. They also built another elegant hall for the +lady-spectators. And the citizens constructed many platforms while the +wealthier of them pitched many spacious and high tents all around. + +“When the day fixed for the Tournament came, the king accompanied by his +ministers, with Bhishma and Kripa, the foremost of preceptors, walking +ahead, came unto that theatre of almost celestial beauty constructed of +pure gold, and decked with strings of pearls and stones of lapis lazuli. +And, O first of victorious men, Gandhari blessed with great good fortune +and Kunti, and the other ladies of the royal house-hold, in gorgeous +attire and accompanied by their waiting women, joyfully ascended the +platforms, like celestial ladies ascending the Sumeru mountain. And the +four orders including the Brahmanas and Kshatriyas, desirous of beholding +the princes’ skill in arms, left the city and came running to the spot. +And so impatient was every one to behold the spectacle, that the vast +crowd assembled there in almost an instant. And with the sounds of +trumpets and drums and the noise of many voices, that vast concourse +appeared like an agitated ocean. + +“At last, Drona accompanied by his son, dressed in white (attire), with a +white sacred thread, white locks, white beard, white garlands, and white +sandal-paste rubbed over his body, entered the lists. It seemed as if the +Moon himself accompanied by the planet Mars appeared in an unclouded sky. +On entering Bharadwaja performed timely worship and caused Brahmanas +versed in mantras to celebrate the auspicious rites. And after auspicious +and sweet-sounding musical instruments had been struck up as a +propitiatory ceremony, some persons entered, equipped with various arms. +And then having girded up their loins, those mighty warriors, those +foremost ones of Bharata’s race (the princes) entered, furnished with +finger-protectors (gauntlet), and bows, and quivers. And with +Yudhishthira at their head, the valiant princes entered in order of age +and began to show wonderful skill with their weapons. Some of the +spectators lowered their heads, apprehending fall of arrows while others +fearlessly gazed on with wonder. And riding swiftly on horses and +managing them ‘dexterously’ the princes began to hit marks with shafts +engraved with their respective names. And seeing the prowess of the +princes armed with bows and arrows, the spectators thought that they were +beholding the city of the Gandharvas, became filled with amazement. And, +O Bharata, all on a sudden, some hundreds and thousands, with eyes wide +open in wonder, exclaimed, ‘Well done! Well done!’ And having repeatedly +displayed their skill and dexterity in the use of bows and arrows and in +the management of cars, the mighty warriors took up their swords and +bucklers, and began to range the lists, playing their weapons. The +spectators saw (with wonder) their agility, the symmetry of their bodies, +their grace, their calmness, the firmness of their grasp and their +deftness in the use of sword and buckler. Then Vrikodara and Suyodhana, +internally delighted (at the prospect of fight), entered the arena, mace +in hand, like two single-peaked mountains. And those mighty-armed +warriors braced their loins, and summoning all their energy, roared like +two infuriate elephants contending for a cow-elephant; and like two +infuriated elephants those mighty heroes faultlessly (in consonance with +the dictates of the science of arm) careered right and left, circling the +lists. And Vidura described to Dhritarashtra and the mother of the +Pandavas (Kunti) and Gandhari, all the feats of the princes.’” + + + +SECTION CXXXVII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Upon the Kuru king and Bhima, the foremost of +all endued with strength, having entered the arena, the spectators were +divided into two parties in consequence of the partiality swaying their +affections. Some cried, ‘Behold the heroic king of the +Kurus!’--some--‘Behold Bhima!’--And on account of these cries, there was, +all on a sudden, a loud uproar. And seeing the place become like a +troubled ocean, the intelligent Bharadwaja said unto his dear son, +Aswatthaman, ‘Restrain both these mighty warriors so proficient in arms. +Let not the ire of the assembly be provoked by this combat of Bhima and +Duryodhana.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then the son of the preceptor of the princes +restrained those combatants with their maces uplifted and resembling two +swollen oceans agitated by the winds that blow at the universal +dissolution. And Drona himself entering the yard of the arena commanded +the musicians to stop, and with a voice deep as that of the clouds +addressed these words, ‘Behold ye now that Partha who is dearer to me +than my own son, the master of all arms, the son of Indra himself, and +like unto the younger brother of Indra, (Vishnu)! And having performed +the propitiatory rites, the youthful Phalguna, equipped with the finger +protector (gauntlet) and his quiver full of shafts and bow in hand, +donning his golden mail, appeared in the lists even like an evening cloud +reflecting the rays of the setting sun and illumined by the hues of the +rainbow and flashes of lightning. + +“On seeing Arjuna, the whole assembly were delighted and conchs began to +be blown all around with other musical instruments. And there arose a +great uproar in consequence of the spectators’ exclaiming,--‘This is the +graceful son of Kunti!’--‘This is the middle (third) Pandava!’--‘This is +the son of the mighty Indra!’--‘This is the protector of the +Kurus’--‘This is the foremost of those versed in arms!’--‘This is the +foremost of all cherishers of virtue!’--‘This is the foremost of the +persons of correct behaviour, the great repository of the knowledge of +manners!’ At those exclamations, the tears of Kunti, mixing with the milk +of her breast, wetted her bosom. And his ears being filled with that +uproar, that first of men, Dhritarashtra, asked Vidura in delight, ‘O +Kshatri, what is this great uproar for, like unto that of the troubled +ocean, arising all on a sudden and rending the very heavens?’ Vidura +replied, ‘O mighty monarch, the son of Pandu and Pritha, Phalguna, clad +in mail hath entered the lists. And hence this uproar!’ Dhritarashtra +said, ‘O thou of soul so great, by the three fires sprung from Pritha who +is even like the sacred fuel, I have, indeed, been blessed, favoured and +protected!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘When the spectators, excited with delight, had +somewhat regained their equanimity, Vibhatsu began to display his +lightness in the use of weapons. By the Agneya weapon, he created fire, +and by the Varuna weapon he created water, by the Vayavya weapon, he +created air, and by the Parjanya weapon he created clouds. And by the +Bhauma weapon, he created land, and by the Parvatya weapon, he brought +mountains into being. By the Antardhana weapon all these were made to +disappear. Now the beloved one of his preceptor (Arjuna) appeared tall +and now short; now he was seen on the yoke of his car, and now on the car +itself; and the next moment he was on the ground. And the hero favoured +by his practised dexterity, hit with his various butts--some tender, some +fine and some of thick composition. And like one shaft, he let fly at a +time into the mouth of a moving iron-boar five shafts together from his +bow-string. And that hero of mighty energy discharged one and twenty +arrows into the hollow of a cow’s horn hung up on a rope swaying to and +fro. In this manner, O sinless one, Arjuna showed his profound skill in +the use of sword, bow, and mace, walking over the lists in circles. + +“And, O Bharata, when the exhibition had well-nigh ended, the excitement +of the spectators had cooled, and the sounds of instruments had died out +there was heard proceeding from the gate, the slapping of arms, +betokening might and strength, and even like unto the roar of the +thunder. And, O king, as soon as this sound was heard, the assembled +multitude instantly thought, ‘Are the mountains splitting or is the earth +itself rending asunder, or is the welkin resounding with the roar of +gathering clouds? And then all the spectators turned their eyes towards +the gate. And Drona stood, surrounded by the five brothers, the sons of +Pritha, and looked like the moon in conjunction with the five-starred +constellation Hasta. And Duryodhana, that slayer of foes, stood up in +haste and was surrounded by his century of haughty brothers with +Aswatthaman amongst them. And that prince, mace in hand, thus surrounded +by his hundred brothers with uplifted weapons appeared like Purandara in +days of yore, encircled by the celestial host on the occasion of the +battle with the Danavas.’” + + + +SECTION CXXXVIII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘When the spectators, with eyes expanded with +wonder, made way for that subjugator of hostile cities, Karna, that hero +with his natural mail and face brightened with ear-rings, took up his bow +and girded on his sword, and then entered the spacious lists, like a +walking cliff. That far-famed destroyer of hostile hosts, the large-eyed +Karna, was born of Pritha in her maidenhood. He was a portion of the +hot-beamed Sun and his energy and prowess were like unto those of the +lion, or the bull, or the leader of a herd of elephants. In splendour he +resembled the Sun, in loveliness the Moon, and in energy the fire. +Begotten by the Sun himself, he was tall in stature like a golden palm +tree, and, endued with the vigour of youth, he was capable of slaying a +lion. Handsome in features, he was possessed of countless +accomplishments. The mighty-armed warrior, eyeing all around the arena, +bowed indifferently to Drona and Kripa. And the entire assembly, +motionless and with steadfast gaze, thought, ‘Who is he?’ And they became +agitated in their curiosity to know the warrior. And that foremost of +eloquent men, the offspring of the Sun, in a voice deep as that of the +clouds, addressed his unknown brother, the son of the subduer of the +Asura, Paka (Indra), saying, ‘O Partha, I shall perform feats before this +gazing multitude; excelling all thou hast performed! Beholding them, thou +shall be amazed.’ And, O thou best of those blest with speech, he had +hardly done when the spectators stood up all at once, uplifted by some +instrument, as it were. And, O tiger among men, Duryodhana was filled +with delight, while Vibhatsu was instantly all abashment and anger. Then +with the permission of Drona, the mighty Karna, delighting in battle, +there did all that Partha had done before. And, O Bharata, Duryodhana +with his brothers thereupon embraced Karna in joy and then addressed him +saying, ‘Welcome O mighty-armed warrior! I have obtained thee by good +fortune, O polite one! Live thou as thou pleasest, and command me, and +the kingdom of the Kurus.’ Kama replied, ‘When thou hast said it, I +regard it as already accomplished. I only long for thy friendship. And, O +lord, my wish is even for a single combat with Arjuna.’ Duryodhana said, +‘Do thou with me enjoy the good things of life! Be thou the benefactor of +thy friend, and, O represser of enemies, place thou thy feet on the heads +of all foes.” + +“Vaisampayanacontinued, ‘Arjuna, after this, deeming himself disgraced, +said unto Karna stationed amidst the brothers like unto a cliff, ‘That +path which the unwelcome intruder and the uninvited talker cometh to, +shall be thine, O Karna, for thou shall be slain by me.’ Karna replied, +‘This arena is meant for all, not for thee alone, O Phalguna! They are +kings who are superior in energy; and verily the Kshatriya regardeth +might and might alone. What need of altercation which is the exercise of +the weak? O Bharata, speak then in arrows until with arrows I strike off +thy head today before the preceptor himself!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hastily embraced by his brothers, Partha that +subduer of hostile cities, with the permission of Drona, advanced for the +combat. On the other side, Karna, having been embraced by Duryodhana with +his brothers, taking up his bow and arrows, stood ready for the fight. +Then the firmament became enveloped in clouds emitting flashes of +lightning, and the coloured bow of Indra appeared shedding its effulgent +rays. And the clouds seemed to laugh on account of the rows of white +cranes that were then on the wing. And seeing Indra thus viewing the +arena from affection (for his son), the sun too dispersed the clouds from +over his own offspring. And Phalguna remained deep hid under cover of the +clouds, while Karna remained visible, being surrounded by the rays of the +Sun. And the son of Dhritarashtra stood by Karna, and Bharadwaja and +Kripa and Bhishma remained with Partha. And the assembly was divided, as +also the female spectators. And knowing the state of things, Kunti the +daughter of Bhoja, swooned away. And by the help of female attendants, +Vidura, versed in the lore of all duties, revived the insensible Kunti by +sprinkling sandal-paste and water on her person. On being restored to +consciousness, Kunti, seeing her two sons clad in mail, was seized with +fear, but she could do nothing (to protect them). And beholding both the +warriors with bows strung in their hands the son of Saradwat, viz., +Kripa, knowing all duties and cognisant of the rules regulating duels, +addressed Karna, saying ‘This Pandava, who is the youngest son of Kunti, +belongeth to the Kaurava race: he will engage in combat with thee. But, O +mighty-armed one, thou too must tell us thy lineage and the names of thy +father and mother and the royal line of which thou art the ornament. +Learning all this, Partha will fight with thee or not (as he will think +fit). Sons of kings never fight with men of inglorious lineage.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘When he was thus addressed by Kripa, Karna’s +countenance became like unto a lotus pale and torn with the pelting +showers in the rainy season. Duryodhana said, ‘O preceptor, verily the +scriptures have it that three classes of persons can lay claim to +royalty, viz., persons of the blood royal, heroes, and lastly, those that +lead armies. If Phalguna is unwilling to fight with one who is not a +king, I will install Karna as king of Anga.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘At that very moment, seated on a golden seat, with +parched paddy and with flowers and water-pots and much gold, the mighty +warrior Karna was installed king by Brahmanas versed in mantras. And the +royal umbrella was held over his head, while Yak-tails waved around that +redoubtable hero of graceful mien. And the cheers, having ceased, king +(Karna) said unto the Kaurava Duryodhana, ‘O tiger among monarchs, what +shall I give unto thee that may compare with thy gift of a kingdom? O +king, I will do all thou biddest!’ And Suyodhana said unto him, ‘I +eagerly wish for thy friendship.’ Thus spoken to, Karna replied, ‘Be it +so.’ And they embraced each other in joy, and experienced great +happiness.’” + + + +SECTION CXXXIX + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘After this, with his sheet loosely hanging down, +Adhiratha entered the lists, perspiring and trembling, and supporting +himself on a staff. + +“Seeing him, Karna left his bow and impelled by filial regard bowed down +his head still wet with the water of inauguration. And them the +charioteer, hurriedly covering his feet with the end of his sheet, +addressed Karna crowned with success as his son. And the charioteer +embraced Karna and from excess of affection bedewed his head with tears, +that head still wet with the water sprinkled over it on account of the +coronation as king of Anga. Seeing the charioteer, the Pandava Bhimasena +took Karna for a charioteer’s son, and said by way of ridicule, ‘O son of +a charioteer, thou dost not deserve death in fight at the hands of +Partha. As befits thy race take thou anon the whip. And, O worst of +mortals, surely thou art not worthy to sway the kingdom of Anga, even as +a dog doth not deserve the butter placed before the sacrificial fire.’ +Karna, thus addressed, with slightly quivering lips fetched a deep sigh, +looked at the God of the day in the skies. And even as a mad elephant +riseth from an assemblage of lotuses, the mighty Duryodhana rose in wrath +from among his brothers, and addressed that performer of dreadful deeds, +Bhimasena, present there, ‘O Vrikodara, it behoveth thee not to speak +such words. Might is the cardinal virtue of a Kshatriya, and even a +Kshatriya of inferior birth deserveth to be fought with. The lineage of +heroes, like the sources of a lordly river, is ever unknown. The fire +that covereth the whole world riseth from the waters. The thunder that +slayeth the Danavas was made of a bone of (a mortal named) Dadhichi. The +illustrious deity Guha, who combines in his composition the portions of +all the other deities is of a lineage unknown. Some call him the +offspring of Agni; some, of Krittika, some, of Rudra, and some of Ganga. +It hath been heard by us that persons born in the Kashatriya order have +become Brahmanas. Viswamitra and others (born Kshatriyas) have obtained +the eternal Brahma. The foremost of all wielders of weapons, the +preceptor Drona hath been born in a waterpot and Kripa of the race of +Gotama hath sprung from a clump of heath. Your own births, ye Pandava +princes, are known to me. Can a she-deer bring forth a tiger (like +Karna), of the splendour of the Sun, and endued with every auspicious +mark, and born also with a natural mail and ear-rings? This prince among +men deserveth the sovereignty of the world, not of Anga only, in +consequence of the might of his arm and my swearing to obey him in +everything. If there be anybody here to whom all that I have done unto +Karna hath become intolerable, let him ascend his chariot and bend his +bow with the help of his feet.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then there arose a confused murmur amongst the +spectators approving of Duryodhana’s speech. The sun, however, went down, +but prince Duryodhana taking Karna’s hand led him out of the arena +lighted with countless lamps. And, O king, the Pandavas also, accompanied +by Drona and Kripa and Bhishma, returned to their abodes. And the people, +too, came away, some naming Arjuna, some Karna, and some Duryodhana (as +the victor of the day). And Kunti, recognising her son in Karna by the +various auspicious marks on his person and beholding him installed in the +sovereignty of Anga, was from motherly affection, very pleased. And +Duryodhana, O monarch, having obtained Karna (in this way), banished his +fears arising out of Arjuna’s proficiency in arms. And the heroic Karna, +accomplished in arms, began to gratify Duryodhana by sweet speeches, +while Yudhishthira was impressed with the belief that there was no +warrior on earth like unto Karna.’” + + + +SECTION CXL + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Beholding the Pandavas and the son of +Dhritarashtra accomplished in arms, Drona thought the time had come when +he could demand the preceptorial fee. And, O king, assembling his pupils +one day together, the preceptor Drona asked of them the fee, saying, +‘Seize Drupada, the king of Panchala in battle and bring him unto me. +That shall be the most acceptable fee.’ Those warriors then answering, +‘So be it’, speedily mounted up on their chariots, and for bestowing upon +their preceptor the fee he had demanded, marched out, accompanied by him. +Those bulls among men, smiting the Panchalas on their way, laid siege to +the capital of the great Drupada. And Duryodhana and Karna and the mighty +Yuyutsu, and Duhsasana and Vikarna and Jalasandha and Sulochana,--these +and many other foremost of Kshatriya princes of great prowess, vied with +one another in becoming the foremost in the attack. And the princes, +riding in first class chariots and following the cavalry, entered the +hostile capital, and proceeded along the streets. + +“Meanwhile, the king of Panchala, beholding that mighty force and hearing +its loud clamour, came out of his palace, accompanied by his brothers. +Though king Yajnasena was well-armed, the Kuru army assailed him with a +shower of arrows, uttering their war-cry. Yajnasena, however, not easy to +be subdued in battle, approaching the Kurus upon his white chariot, began +to rain his fierce arrows around. + +“Before the battle commenced, Arjuna, beholding the pride of prowess +displayed by the princes, addressed his preceptor, that best of +Brahmanas, Drona, and said, ‘We shall exert ourselves after these have +displayed their prowess. The king of Panchala can never be taken on the +field of the battle by any of these. Having said this, the sinless son of +Kunti surrounded by his brothers, waited outside the town at a distance +of a mile from it. Meanwhile Drupada beholding the Kuru host, rushed +forward and pouring a fierce shower of arrows around, terribly afflicted +the Kuru ranks. And such was his lightness of motion on the field of +battle that, though he was fighting unsupported on a single chariot, the +Kurus from panic supposed that there were many Drupadas opposed to them. +And the fierce arrows of that monarch fell fast on all sides, till conchs +and trumpets and drums by thousands began to be sounded by the Panchalas +from their houses (giving the alarm). Then there arose from the mighty +Panchala host a roar terrible as that of the lion, while the twang of +their bow-strings seemed to rend the very heavens. Then Duryodhana and +Vikarna, Suvahu and Dirghalochana and Duhsasana becoming furious, began +to shower their arrows upon the enemy. But the mighty bowman, Prishata’s +son, invincible in battle, though very much pierced with the arrows of +the enemy, instantly began, O Bharata, to afflict the hostile ranks with +greater vigour. And careering over the field of battle like a fiery +wheel, king Drupada with his arrows smote Duryodhana and Vikarna and even +the mighty Karna and many other heroic princes and numberless warriors, +and slaked their thirst for battle. Then all the citizens showered upon +the Kurus various missiles like clouds showering rain-drops upon the +earth. Young and old, they all rushed to battle, assailing the Kurus with +vigour. The Kauravas, then, O Bharata, beholding the battle become +frightful, broke and fled wailing towards the Pandavas. + +“The Pandavas, hearing the terrible wail of the beaten host, +reverentially saluted Drona and ascended their chariots. Then Arjuna +hastily bidding Yudhishthira not to engage in the fight, rushed forward, +appointing the sons of Madri (Nakula and Sahadeva) the protectors of his +chariot-wheels, while Bhimasena ever fighting in the van, mace in hand, +ran ahead. The sinless Arjuna, thus accompanied by his brothers, hearing +the shouts of the enemy, advanced towards them, filling the whole region +with the rattle of his chariot-wheels. And like a Makara entering the +sea, the mighty-armed Bhima, resembling a second Yama, mace in hand, +entered the Panchala ranks, fiercely roaring like the ocean in a tempest. +And Bhima, mace in hand, first rushed towards the array of elephants in +the hostile force, while Arjuna, proficient in battle, assailed that +force with the prowess of his arms. And Bhima, like the great Destroyer +himself, began to slay those elephants with his mace. Those huge animals, +like unto mountains, struck with Bhima’s mace, had their heads broken +into pieces. Covered with stream of blood, they began to fall upon the +ground like cliffs loosened by thunder. And the Pandavas prostrated on +the ground elephants and horses and cars by thousands and slew many +foot-soldiers and many car-warriors. Indeed, as a herdsman in the woods +driveth before him with his staff countless cattle with ease, so did +Vrikodara drive before him the chariots and elephants of the hostile +force. + +“Meanwhile, Phalguna, impelled by the desire of doing good unto +Bharadwaja’s son, assailed the son of Prishata with a shower of arrows +and felled him from the elephant on which he was seated. And, O monarch, +Arjuna, like unto the terrible fire that consumeth all things at the end +of the Yuga, began to prostrate on the ground horses and cars and +elephants by thousands. The Panchalas and the Srinjayas, on the other +hand, thus assailed by the Pandava, met him with a perfect shower of +weapons of various kinds. And they sent up a loud shout and fought +desperately with Arjuna. The battle became furious and terrible to +behold. Hearing the enemy’s shouts, the son of Indra was filled with +wrath and assailing the hostile host with a thick shower of arrows, +rushed towards it furiously afflicting it with renewed vigour. They who +observed the illustrious Arjuna at that time could not mark any interval +between his fixing the arrows on the bowstring and letting them off. Loud +were the shouts that rose there, mingled with cheers of approval. Then +the king of the Panchalas, accompanied by (the generalissimo of his +forces) Satyajit, rushed with speed at Arjuna like the Asura Samvara +rushing at the chief of the celestials (in days of yore). Then Arjuna +covered the king of Panchala with a shower of arrows. Then there arose a +frightful uproar among the Panchala host like unto the roar of a mighty +lion springing at the leader of a herd of elephants. And beholding Arjuna +rushing at the king of Panchala to seize him, Satyajit of great prowess +rushed at him. And the two warriors, like unto Indra and the Asura +Virochana’s son (Vali), approaching each other for combat, began to grind +each other’s ranks. Then Arjuna with great force pierced Satyajit with +ten keen shafts at which feat the spectators were all amazed. But +Satyajit, without losing any time, assailed Arjuna with a hundred shafts. +Then that mighty car-warrior, Arjuna, endued with remarkable lightness of +motion, thus covered by that shower of arrows, rubbed his bow-string to +increase the force and velocity of his shafts. Then cutting in twain his +antagonist’s bow, Arjuna rushed at the king of the Panchalas, but +Satyajit, quickly taking up a tougher bow, pierced with his arrows +Partha, his chariot, charioteer, and horses. Arjuna, thus assailed in +battle by the Panchala warrior, forgave not his foe. Eager to slay him at +once, he pierced with a number of arrows his antagonist’s horses, flags, +bow, clenched (left) fist, charioteer, and the attendant at his back. +Then Satyajit, finding his bows repeatedly cut in twain and his horses +slain, desisted from the fight. + +“The king of the Panchalas, beholding his general thus discomfited in the +encounter, himself began to shower his arrows upon the Pandava prince. +Then Arjuna, that foremost of warriors, crowned with success, began to +fight furiously, and quickly cutting his enemy’s bow in twain as also his +flagstaff which he caused to fall down, pierced his antagonist’s horses, +and charioteer also with five arrows. Then throwing aside his bow Arjuna +took his quiver, and taking out a scimitar and sending forth a loud +shout, leaped from his own chariot upon that of his foe. And standing +there with perfect fearlessness he seized Drupada as Garuda seizeth a +huge snake after agitating the waters of the ocean. At the sight of this, +the Panchala troops ran away in all directions. + +“Then Dhananjaya, having thus exhibited the might of his arm in the +presence of both hosts, sent forth a loud shout and came out of the +Panchala ranks. And beholding him returning (with his captive), the +princes began to lay waste Drupada’s capital. Addressing them Arjuna +said, ‘This best of monarchs, Drupada, is a relative of the Kuru heroes. +Therefore, O Bhima, slay not his soldiers. Let us only give unto our +preceptor his fee.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘O king, thus prevented by Arjuna, the mighty +Bhimasena, though unsatiated with the exercise of battle, refrained from +the act of slaughter. And, O bull of the Bharata race, the princes then, +taking Drupada with them after having seized him on the field of battle +along with his friends and counsellors, offered him unto Drona. And Drona +beholding Drupada thus brought under complete control--humiliated and +deprived of wealth--remembered that monarch’s former hostility and +addressing him said, ‘Thy kingdom and capital have been laid waste by me. +But fear not for thy life, though it dependeth now on the will of thy +foe. Dost thou now desire to revive thy friendship (with me)?’ Having +said this, he smiled a little and again said, ‘Fear not for thy life, +brave king! We, Brahmanas, are ever forgiving. And, O bull among +Kshatriyas, my affection and love for thee have grown with me in +consequence of our having sported together in childhood in the hermitage. +Therefore, O king, I ask for thy friendship again. And as a boon +(unasked), I give thee half the kingdom (that was thine). Thou toldest me +before that none who was not a king could be a king’s friend. Therefore +is it, O Yajnasena, that I retain half thy kingdom. Thou art the king of +all the territory lying on the southern side of the Bhagirathi, while I +become king of all the territory on the north of that river. And, O +Panchala, if it pleaseth thee, know me hence for thy friend.’ + +“On hearing these words, Drupada answered, ‘Thou art of noble soul and +great prowess. Therefore, O Brahmana, I am not surprised at what thou +doest. I am very much gratified with thee, and I desire thy eternal +friendship.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘After this, O Bharata, Drona released the king +of Panchala, and cheerfully performing the usual offices of regard, +bestowed upon him half the kingdom. Thenceforth Drupada began to reside +sorrowfully in (the city of) Kampilya within (the province of) Makandi on +the banks of the Ganga filled with many towns and cities. And after his +defeat by Drona, Drupada also ruled the southern Panchalas up to the bank +of the Charmanwati river. And Drupada from that day was well-convinced +that he could not, by Kshatriya might alone, defeat Drona, being very +much his inferior in Brahma (spiritual) power. And he, therefore, began +to wander over the whole earth to find out the means of obtaining a son +(who would subjugate his Brahmana foe). + +“Meanwhile Drona continued to reside in Ahicchatra. Thus, O king, was the +territory of Ahicchatra full of towns and cities, obtained by Arjuna, and +bestowed upon Drona.’ + + + +SECTION CXLI + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘After the expiration, O king, of a year from +this, Dhritarashtra, moved by kindness for the people, installed +Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, as the heir-apparent of the kingdom on +account of his firmness, fortitude, patience, benevolence, frankness and +unswerving honesty (of heart). And within a short time Yudhishthira, the +son of Kunti, by his good behaviour, manners and close application to +business, overshadowed the deeds of his father. And the second Pandava, +Vrikodara, began to receive continued lessons from Sankarshana (Valarama) +in encounters with the sword and the mace and on the chariot. And after +Bhima’s education was finished, he became in strength like unto +Dyumatsena himself and continuing to live in harmony with his brothers, +he began to exert his prowess. And Arjuna became celebrated for the +firmness of his grasp (of weapons), for his lightness of motion, +precision of aim, and his proficiency in the use of the Kshura, Naracha, +Vala and Vipatha weapons, indeed, of all weapons, whether straight or +crooked or heavy. And Drona certified that there was none in the world +who was equal to Arjuna in lightness of hand and general proficiency. + +“One day, Drona, addressing Arjuna before the assembled Kaurava princes, +said, ‘There was a disciple of Agastya in the science of arms called +Agnivesa. He was my preceptor and I, his disciple. By ascetic merit I +obtained from him a weapon called Brahmasira which could never be futile +and which was like unto thunder itself, capable of consuming the whole +earth. That weapon, O Bharata, from what I have done, may now pass from +disciple to disciple. While imparting it to me, my preceptor said, ‘O son +of Bharadwaja, never shouldst thou hurl this weapon at any human being, +especially at one who is of poor energy. Thou hast, O hero, obtained that +celestial weapon. None else deserveth it. But obey the command of the +Rishi (Agnivesa). And, look here, Arjuna, give me now the preceptorial +fee in the presence of these thy cousins and relatives.’ When Arjuna, on +hearing this, pledged his word that he would give what the preceptor +demanded, the latter said, ‘O sinless one, thou must fight with me when I +fight with thee.’ And that bull among the Kuru princes thereupon pledged +his word unto Drona and touching his feet, went away northward. Then +there arose a loud shout covering the whole earth bounded by her belt of +seas to the effect that there was no bowman in the whole world like unto +Arjuna. And, indeed, Dhananjaya, in encounters with the mace and the +sword and on the chariot as also with the bow, acquired wonderful +proficiency. Sahadeva obtained the whole science of morality and duties +from (Vrihaspati) the spiritual chief of celestials, and continued to +live under the control of his brothers. And Nakula, the favourite of his +brothers taught by Drona, became known as a skilful warrior and a great +car-warrior (Ati-ratha). Indeed, Arjuna and the other Pandava princes +became so powerful that they slew in battle the great Sauvira who had +performed a sacrifice extending over three years, undaunted by the raids +of the Gandharvas. And the king of the Yavanas himself whom the powerful +Pandu even had failed to bring under subjection was brought by Arjuna +under control. Then again Vipula, the king of the Sauviras, endued with +great prowess, who had always shown a disregard for the Kurus, was made +by the intelligent Arjuna to feel the edge of his power. And Arjuna also +repressed by means of his arrows (the pride of) king Sumitra of Sauvira, +also known by the name of Dattamitra who had resolutely sought an +encounter with him. The third of the Pandava princes, assisted by Bhima, +on only a single car subjugated all the kings of the East backed by ten +thousand cars. In the same way, having conquered on a single car the +whole of the south, Dhananjaya sent unto the kingdom of the Kurus a large +booty. + +“Thus did those foremost of men, the illustrious Pandavas, conquering the +territories of other kings, extend the limits of their own kingdom. But +beholding the great prowess and strength of those mighty bowmen, king +Dhritarashtra’s sentiments towards the Pandavas became suddenly poisoned, +and from that day the monarch became so anxious that he could hardly +sleep.’” + + + +SECTION CXLII + +(Sambhava Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘On hearing that the heroic sons of Pandu endued +with excess of energy had become so mighty, king Dhritarashtra became +very miserable with anxiety. Then summoning unto his side Kanika, that +foremost of minister, well-versed in the science of politics and an +expert in counsels the king said, ‘O best of Brahmanas, the Pandavas are +daily overshadowing the earth. I am exceedingly jealous of them. Should I +have peace or war with them? O Kanika, advise me truly, for I shall do as +thou biddest. + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘That best of Brahmanas, thus addressed by the +king, freely answered him in these pointed words well-agreeing with the +import of political science.” + +“Listen to me, O sinless king, as I answer thee. And, O best of Kuru +kings, it behoveth thee not to be angry with me after hearing all I say. +Kings should ever be ready with uplifted maces (to strike when +necessary), and they should ever increase their prowess. Carefully +avoiding all faults themselves they should ceaselessly watch over the +faults of their foes and take advantage of them. If the king is always +ready to strike, everybody feareth him. Therefore the king should ever +have recourse to chastisement in all he doeth. He should so conduct +himself that, his foe may not detect any weak side in him. But by means +of the weakness he detecteth in his foe he should pursue him (to +destruction). He should always conceal, like the tortoise concealing its +body, his means and ends, and he should always keep back his own weakness +from, the sight of others. And having begun a particular act, he should +ever accomplish it thoroughly. Behold, a thorn, if not extracted wholly, +produceth a festering sore. The slaughter of a foe who doeth thee evil is +always praiseworthy. If the foe be one of great prowess, one should +always watch for the hour of his disaster and then kill him without any +scruples. If he should happen to be a great warrior, his hour of disaster +also should be watched and he should then be induced to fly. O sire, an +enemy should never be scorned, however contemptible. A spark of fire is +capable of consuming an extensive forest if only it can spread from one +object to another in proximity. Kings should sometimes feign blindness +and deafness, for if impotent to chastise, they should pretend not to +notice the faults that call for chastisement. On occasions, such as +these, let them regard their bows as made of straw. But they should be +always on the alert like a herd of deer sleeping in the woods. When thy +foe is in thy power, destroy him by every means open or secret. Do not +show him any mercy, although he seeketh thy protection. A foe, or one +that hath once injured thee, should be destroyed by lavishing money, if +necessary, for by killing him thou mayest be at thy ease. The dead can +never inspire fear. Thou must destroy the three, five and seven +(resources) of thy foes. Thou must destroy thy foes root and branch. Then +shouldst thou destroy their allies and partisans. The allies and +partisans can never exist if the principal be destroyed. If the root of +the tree is torn up, the branches and twigs can never exist as before. +Carefully concealing thy own means and ends, thou shouldst always watch +thy foes, always seeking their flaws. Thou shouldst, O king, rule thy +kingdom, always anxiously watching thy foes. By maintaining the perpetual +fire by sacrifices, by brown cloths, by matted locks, and by hides of +animals for thy bedding, shouldst thou at first gain the confidence of +thy foes, and when thou has gained it thou shouldst then spring upon them +like a wolf. For it hath been said that in the acquisition of wealth even +the garb of holiness might be employed as a hooked staff to bend down a +branch in order to pluck the fruits that are ripe. The method followed in +the plucking of fruits should be the method in destroying foes, for thou +shouldst proceed on the principle of selection. Bear thy foe upon thy +shoulders till the time cometh when thou canst throw him down, breaking +him into pieces like an earthen pot thrown down with violence upon a +stony surface. The foe must never be let off even though he addresseth +thee most piteously. No pity shouldst thou show him but slay him at once. +By the arts of conciliation or the expenditure of money should the foe be +slain. By creating disunion amongst his allies, or by the employment of +force, indeed by every means in thy power shouldst thou destroy thy foe.’ + +“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Tell me truly how a foe can be destroyed by the +arts of conciliation or the expenditure of money, or by producing +disunion or by the employment of force.’ + +“Kanika replied, ‘Listen, O monarch, to the history of a jackal dwelling +in days of yore in the forest and fully acquainted with the science of +politics. There was a wise jackal, mindful of his own interests who lived +in the company of four friends, viz., a tiger, a mouse, a wolf, and a +mongoose. One day they saw in the woods a strong deer, the leader of a +herd, whom, however, they could not seize for his fleetness and strength. +They thereupon called a council for consultation. The jackal opening the +proceedings said, ‘O tiger, thou hast made many an effort to seize this +deer, but all in vain simply because this deer is young, fleet and very +intelligent. Let now the mouse go and eat into its feet when it lieth +asleep. And when this is done, let the tiger approach and seize it. Then +shall we all, with great pleasure feast on it.’ Hearing these words of +the jackal, they all set to work very cautiously as he directed. And the +mouse ate into the feet of the deer and the tiger killed it as +anticipated. And beholding the body of the deer lying motionless on the +ground, the jackal said unto his companions, ‘Blessed be ye! Go and +perform your ablutions. In the meantime I will look after the deer.’ +Hearing what the jackal said, they all went into a stream. And the jackal +waited there, deeply meditating upon what he should do. The tiger endued +with great strength, returned first of all to the spot after having +performed his ablutions. And he saw the jackal there plunged in +meditation. The tiger said, ‘Why art thou so sorrowful, O wise one! Thou +art the foremost of all intelligent beings. Let us enjoy ourselves today +by feasting on this carcass.’ The jackal said, ‘Hear, O mighty-armed one, +what the mouse hath said. He hath even said, O, fie on the strength of +the king of the beasts! This deer hath been slain by me. By might of my +arm he will today gratify his hunger.’ When he hath boasted in such a +language, I, for my part, do not wish to touch this food.’ The tiger +replied, ‘If, indeed, the mouse hath said so, my sense is now awakened. I +shall, from this day, slay with the might of my own arms, creatures +ranging the forest and then feast on their flesh.’ Having said this, the +tiger went away. + +“And after the tiger had left the spot, the mouse came. And seeing the +mouse come, the jackal addressed him and said, ‘Blest be thou, O mouse, +but listen to what the mongoose hath said. He hath even said, The carcass +of this deer is poison (the tiger having touched it with his claws). I +will not eat of it. On the other hand, if thou, O jackal, permittest it, +I will even slay the mouse and feast on him.’ Hearing this the mouse +became alarmed and quickly entered his hole. And after the mouse had +gone, the wolf, O king, came there having performed his ablutions. And +seeing the wolf come, the jackal said unto him, ‘The king of the beasts +hath been angry with thee. Evil is certain to overtake thee. He is +expected here with his wife. Do as thou pleasest.’ Thus was the wolf +also, fond of animal flesh, got rid of by the jackal. And the wolf fled, +contracting his body into the smallest dimensions. It was then that the +mongoose came. And, O king, the jackal, seeing him come, said, ‘By the +might of my arm have I defeated the others who have already fled. Fight +with me first and then eat of this flesh as you please.’ The mongoose +replied, ‘When, indeed, the tiger, the wolf, and the intelligent mouse +have all been defeated by thee, heroes as they are, thou seemest to be a +greater hero still. I do not desire to fight with thee.’ Saying this, the +mongoose also went away. + +“Kanika continued, ‘When they all had thus left the place, the jackal, +well-pleased with the success of his policy, alone ate up that flesh. If +kings always act in this way, they can be happy. Thus should the timid by +exciting their fears, the courageous by the arts of conciliation, the +covetous by gift of wealth, and equals and inferiors by exhibition of +prowess be brought under thy sway. Besides all this, O king, that I have +said, listen now to something else that I say.’ + +“Kanika continued, ‘If thy son, friend, brother, father, or even the +spiritual preceptor, anyone becometh thy foe, thou shouldst, if desirous +of prosperity, slay him without scruples. By curses and incantations, by +gift of wealth, by poison, or by deception, the foe should be slain. He +should never be neglected from disdain. If both the parties be equal and +success uncertain, then he that acteth with diligence groweth in +prosperity. If the spiritual preceptor himself be vain, ignorant of what +should be done and what left undone, and vicious in his ways, even he +should be chastised. If thou art angry, show thyself as if thou art not +so, speaking even then with a smile on thy lips. Never reprove any one +with indications of anger (in thy speech). And O Bharata, speak soft +words before thou smitest and even while thou art smiting! After the +smiting is over, pity the victim, and grieve for him, and even shed +tears. Comforting thy foe by conciliation, by gift of wealth, and smooth +behaviour, thou must smite him when he walketh not aright. Thou shouldst +equally smile the heinous offender who liveth by the practice of virtue, +for the garb of virtue simply covereth his offences like black clouds +covering the mountains. Thou shouldst burn the house of that person whom +thou punishest with death. And thou shouldst never permit beggars and +atheists and thieves to dwell in thy kingdom. By a sudden sally or +pitched battle by poison or by corrupting his allies, by gift of wealth, +by any means in thy power, thou shouldst destroy thy foe. Thou mayest act +with the greatest cruelty. Thou shouldst make thy teeth sharp to give a +fatal bite. And thou should ever smite so effectually that thy foe may +not again raise his head. Thou shouldst ever stand in fear of even one +from whom there is no fear, not to speak of him from whom there is such. +For if the first be ever powerful he may destroy thee to the root (for +thy unpreparedness). Thou shouldst never trust the faithless, nor trust +too much those that are faithful, for if those in whom thou confidest +prove thy foes, thou art certain to be annihilated. After testing their +faithfulness thou shouldst employ spies in thy own kingdom and in the +kingdoms of others. Thy spies in foreign kingdoms should be apt deceivers +and persons in the garb of ascetics. Thy spies should be placed in +gardens, places of amusement, temples and other holy places, drinking +halls, streets, and with the (eighteen) tirthas (viz., the minister, the +chief priest, the heir-presumptive, the commander-in-chief, the +gate-keepers of the court, persons in the inner apartments, the jailor, +the chief surveyor, the head of the treasury, the general executant of +orders, the chief of the town police, the chief architect, the chief +justice, the president of the council, the chief of the punitive +department, the commander of the fort, the chief of the arsenal, the +chief of the frontier guards, and the keeper of the forests), and in +places of sacrifice, near wells, on mountains and in rivers, in forests, +and in all places where people congregate. In speech thou shouldst ever +be humble, but let thy heart be ever sharp as razor. And when thou art +engaged in doing even a very cruel and terrible act, thou shouldst talk +with smiles on thy lips. If desirous of prosperity, thou shouldst adopt +all arts--humility, oath, conciliation. Worshipping the feet of others by +lowering thy head, inspiring hope, and the like. And, a person conversant +with the rules of policy is like a tree decked with flowers but bearing +no fruit; or, if bearing fruit, these must be at a great height not +easily attainable from the ground; and if any of these fruits seem to be +ripe care must be taken to make it appear raw. Conducting himself in such +a way, he shall never fade. Virtue, wealth and pleasure have both their +evil and good effects closely knit together. While extracting the effects +that are good, those that are evil should be avoided. Those that practise +virtue (incessantly) are made unhappy for want of wealth and the neglect +of pleasure. Those again in pursuit of wealth are made unhappy for the +neglect of two others. And so those who pursue pleasure suffer for their +inattention to virtue and wealth. Therefore, thou shouldst pursue virtue, +wealth and pleasure, in such a way that thou mayest not have to suffer +therefrom. With humiliation and attention, without jealousy and +solicitous of accomplishing thy purpose, shouldst thou, in all sincerity, +consult with the Brahmanas. When thou art fallen, thou shouldst raise +thyself by any means, gentle or violent; and after thou hast thus raised +thyself thou shouldst practise virtue. He that hath never been afflicted +with calamity can never have prosperity. This may be seen in the life of +one who surviveth his calamities. He that is afflicted with sorrow should +be consoled by the recitation of the history of persons of former times +(like those of Nala and Rama). He whose heart hath been unstrung by +sorrow should be consoled with hopes of future prosperity. He again who +is learned and wise should be consoled by pleasing offices presently +rendered unto him. He who, having concluded a treaty with an enemy, +reposeth at ease as if he hath nothing more to do, is very like a person +who awaketh, fallen down from the top of a tree whereon he had slept. A +king should ever keep to himself his counsels without fear of calumny, +and while beholding everything with the eyes of his spies, he should take +care to conceal his own emotions before the spies of his enemies. Like a +fisherman who becometh prosperous by catching and killing fish, a king +can never grow prosperous without tearing the vitals of his enemy and +without doing some violent deeds. The might of thy foe, as represented by +his armed force, should ever be completely destroyed, by ploughing it up +(like weeds) and mowing it down and otherwise afflicting it by disease, +starvation, and want of drink. A person in want never approacheth (from +love) one in affluence; and when one’s purpose hath been accomplished, +one hath no need to approach him whom he had hitherto looked to for its +accomplishment. Therefore, when thou doest anything never do it +completely, but ever leave something to be desired for by others (whose +services thou mayest need). One who is desirous of prosperity should with +diligence seek allies and means, and carefully conduct his wars. His +exertions in these respects should always be guided by prudence. A +prudent king should ever act in such a way that friends and foes may +never know his motive before the commencement of his acts. Let them know +all when the act hath been commenced or ended, and as long as danger doth +not come, so long only shall thou act as if thou art afraid. But when it +hath overtaken thee, thou must grapple with it courageously. He who +trusteth in a foe who hath been brought under subjection by force, +summoneth his own death as a crab by her act of conception. Thou shouldst +always reckon the future act as already arrived (and concert measures for +meeting it), else, from want of calmness caused by haste, thou mayest +overlook an important point in meeting it when it is before thee. A +person desirous of prosperity should always exert with prudence, adopting +his measures to time and place. He should also act with an eye to destiny +as capable of being regulated by mantras and sacrificial rites; and to +virtue, wealth, and pleasure. It is well-known that time and place (if +taken into consideration) always produce the greatest good. If the foe is +insignificant, he should not yet be despised, for he may soon grow like a +palmyra tree extending its roots or like a spark of fire in the deep +woods that may soon burst into an extensive conflagration. As a little +fire gradually fed with faggots soon becometh capable of consuming even +the biggest blocks, so the person who increaseth his power by making +alliances and friendships soon becometh capable of subjugating even the +most formidable foe. The hope thou givest unto thy foe should be long +deferred before it is fulfilled; and when the time cometh for its +fulfilment, invent some pretext for deferring it still. Let that pretext +be shown as founded upon some reason, and let that reason itself be made +to appear as founded on some other reason. Kings should, in the matter of +destroying their foes, ever resemble razors in every particular; +unpitying as these are sharp, hiding their intents as these are concealed +in their leathern cases, striking when the opportunity cometh as these +are used on proper occasions, sweeping off their foes with all their +allies and dependants as these shave the head or the chin without leaving +a single hair. O supporter of the dignity of the Kurus, bearing thyself +towards the Pandavas and others also as policy dictateth, act in such a +way that thou mayest not have to grieve in future. Well do I know that +thou art endued with every blessing, and possessed of every mark of good +fortune. Therefore, O king, protect thyself from the sons of Pandu! O +king, the sons of Pandu are stronger than their cousins (thy sons); +therefore, O chastiser of foes, I tell thee plainly what thou shouldst +do. Listen to it, O king, with thy children, and having listened to it, +exert yourselves (to do the needful). O king, act in such a way that +there may not be any fear for thee from the Pandavas. Indeed, adopt such +measures consonant with the science of policy that thou mayest not have +to grieve in the future.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having delivered himself thus Kanika returned +to his abode, while the Kuru king Dhritarashtra became pensive and +melancholy.’” + + + +SECTION CXLIII + +(Jatugriha Parva) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then the son of Suvala (Sakuni), king Duryodhana, +Duhsasana and Kama, in consultation with one another, formed an evil +conspiracy. With the sanction of Dhritarashtra, the king of the Kurus, +they resolved to burn to death Kunti and her (five) sons. But that wise +Vidura, capable of reading the heart by external signs, ascertained the +intention of these wicked persons by observing their countenances alone. +Then the sinless Vidura, of soul enlightened by true knowledge, and +devoted to the good of the Pandavas, came to the conclusion that Kunti +with her children should fly away from her foes. And providing for that +purpose a boat strong enough to withstand both wind and wave, he +addressed Kunti and said, ‘This Dhritarashtra hath been born for +destroying the fame and offspring of the (Kuru) race. Of wicked soul, he +is about to cast off eternal virtue. O blessed one, I have kept ready on +the stream a boat capable of withstanding both wind and wave. Escape by +it with thy children from the net that death hath spread around you.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words, the illustrious Kunti was +deeply grieved, and with her children, O bull of Bharata’s race, stepped +into the boat and went over the Ganges. Then leaving the boat according +to the advice of Vidura, the Pandavas took with them the wealth that had +been given to them (while at Varanavata) by their enemies and safely +entered the deep woods. In the house of lac, however, that had been +prepared for the destruction of the Pandavas, an innocent Nishada woman +who had come there for some purpose, was, with her children burnt to +death. And that worst of Mlechchhas, the wretched Purochana (who was the +architect employed in building the house of lac) was also burnt in the +conflagration. And thus were the sons of Dhirtarashtra with their +counsellors deceived in their expectations. And thus also were the +illustrious Pandavas, by the advice of Vidura, saved with their mother. +But the people (of Varanavata) knew not of their safety. And the citizens +of Varanavata, seeing the house of lac consumed (and believing the +Pandavas to have been burnt to death) became exceedingly sorry. And they +sent messengers unto king Dhritarashtra to represent everything that had +happened. And they said to the monarch, ‘Thy great end hath been +achieved! Thou hast at last burnt the Pandavas to death! Thy desire +fulfilled, enjoy with thy children. O king of the Kurus, the kingdom.’ +Hearing this, Dhritarashtra with his children, made a show of grief, and +along with his relatives, including Kshattri (Vidura) and Bhishma the +foremost of the Kurus, performed the last honours of the Pandavas.’ + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O best of Brahmanas, I desire to hear in full this +history of the burning of the house of lac and the escape of the Pandavas +there from. That was a cruel act of theirs (the Kurus), acting under the +counsels of the wicked (Kanika). Recite the history to me of all that +happened. I am burning with curiosity to hear it.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O chastiser of all foes, listen to me, O monarch, as +I recite the (history of the) burning of the house of lac and the escape +of the Pandavas. The wicked Duryodhana, beholding Bhimasena surpass +(everybody) in strength and Arjuna highly accomplished in arms became +pensive and sad. Then Karna, the offspring of the Sun, and Sakuni, the +son of Suvala, endeavoured by various means to compass the death of the +Pandavas. The Pandavas too counteracted all those contrivances one after +another, and in obedience to the counsels of Vidura, never spoke of them +afterwards. Then the citizens, beholding the son of Pandu possessed of +accomplishments, began, O Bharata, to speak of them in all places of +public resort. And assembled in courtyards and other places of gathering, +they talked of the eldest son of Pandu (Yudhishthira) as possessed of the +qualifications for ruling the kingdom. And they said, ‘Dhritarashtra, +though possessed of the eye of knowledge, having been (born) blind, had +not obtained the kingdom before. How can he (therefore) become king now? +Then Bhishma, the son of Santanu, of rigid vows and devoted to truth, +having formerly relinquished the sovereignty would never accept it now. +We shall, therefore, now install (on the throne) with proper ceremonies +the eldest of the Pandavas endued with youth, accomplished in battle, +versed in the Vedas, and truthful and kind. Worshipping Bhishma, the son +of Santanu and Dhritarashtra conversant with the rules of morality, he +will certainly maintain the former and the latter with his children in +every kind of enjoyment. + +“The wretched Duryodhana, hearing these words of the parting partisans of +Yudhishthira, became very much distressed. Deeply afflicted, the wicked +prince could not put up with those speeches. Inflamed with jealousy, he +went unto Dhritarashtra, and finding him alone he saluted him with +reverence and distressed at (the sight of) the partiality of the citizens +for Yudhishthira, he addressed the monarch and said, ‘O father, I have +heard the parting citizens utter words of ill omen. Passing thee by, and +Bhishma too, they desire the son of Pandu to be their king. Bhishma will +sanction this, for he will not rule the kingdom. It seems, therefore, +that the citizens are endeavouring to inflict a great injury on us. Pandu +obtained of old the ancestral kingdom by virtue of his own +accomplishments, but thou, from blindness, didst not obtain the kingdom, +though fully qualified to have it. If Pandu’s son now obtaineth the +kingdom as his inheritance from Pandu, his son will obtain it after him +and that son’s son also, and so on will it descend in Pandu’s line. In +that case, O king of the world, ourselves with our children, excluded +from the royal line, shall certainly be disregarded by all men. +Therefore, O monarch, adopt such counsels that we may not suffer +perpetual distress, becoming dependent on others for our food. O king, if +thou hadst obtained the sovereignty before, we would certainly have +succeeded to it, however much the people might be unfavourable to us.’” + + + +SECTION CXLIV + +(Jatugriha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, “King Dhritarashtra whose knowledge only was his +eyes, on hearing these words of his son and recollecting everything that +Kanika had, said unto him, became afflicted with sorrow, and his mind +also thereupon began to waver. Then Duryodhana and Karna, and Sakuni, the +son of Suvala, and Duhsasana as their fourth, held a consultation +together. Prince Duryodhana said unto Dhritarashtra, ‘Send, O father, by +some clever contrivance, the Pandavas to the town of Varanavata. We shall +then have no fear of them.’ Dhritarashtra, on hearing these words uttered +by his son, reflected for a moment and replied unto Duryodhana, saying, +‘Pandu, ever devoted to virtue, always behaved dutifully towards all his +relatives but particularly towards me. He cared very little for the +enjoyments of the world, but devotedly gave everything unto me, even the +kingdom. His son is as much devoted to virtue as he, and is possessed of +every accomplishment. Of world-wide fame, he is again the favourite of +the people. He is possessed of allies; how can we by force exile him from +his ancestral kingdom? The counsellors and soldiers (of the state) and +their sons and grandsons have all been cherished and maintained by Pandu. +Thus benefited of old by Pandu, shall not, O child, the citizens slay us +with all our friends and relatives now on account of Yudhishthira?” + +“Duryodhana replied, ‘What thou sayest, O father, is perfectly true. But +in view of the evil that is looming on the future as regards thyself, if +we conciliate the people with wealth and honours, they would assuredly +side with us for these proofs of our power. The treasury and the +ministers of state, O king, are at this moment under our control. +Therefore, it behoveth thee now to banish, by some gentle means, the +Pandavas to the town of Varanavata; O king, when the sovereignty shall +have been vested in me, then, O Bharata, may Kunti with her children come +back from that place.’ + +“Dhritarashtra replied, ‘This, O Duryodhana, is the very thought existing +in my mind. But from its sinfulness I have never given expression to it. +Neither Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Kshattri, nor Gautama (Kripa) will ever +sanction the exile of the Pandavas. In their eyes, O dear son, amongst +the Kurus ourselves and the Pandavas are equal. Those wise and virtuous +persons will make no difference between us. If therefore, we behave so +towards the Pandavas, shall we not, O son, deserve death at the hands of +the Kurus, of these illustrious personages, and of the whole world?’ + +“Duryodhana answered, ‘Bhishma hath no excess of affection for either +side, and will, therefore, be neutral (in case of dispute). The son of +Drona (Aswatthaman) is on my side. There is no doubt that where the son +is, there the father will be. Kripa, the son of Saradwat, must be on the +side on which Drona and Aswatthaman are. He will never abandon Drona and +his sister’s son (Aswatthaman). Kshattri (Vidura) is dependent on us for +his means of life, though he is secretly with the foe. It he sides the +Pandavas, he alone can do us no injury, Therefore, exile thou the +Pandavas to Varanavata without any fear. And take such steps that they +may go thither this very day. By this act, O father, extinguish the grief +that consumeth me like a blazing fire, that robbeth me of sleep, and that +pierces my heart even like a terrible dart.’” + + + +SECTION CXLV + +(Jatugriha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, Then prince Duryodhana, along with his brothers began +to gradually win over the people to his side by grants of wealth and +honours. Meanwhile, some clever councillors, instructed by Dhritarashtra, +one day began to describe (in court) the town of Varanavata as a charming +place. And they said, The festival of Pasupati (Siva) hath commenced in +the town of Varanavata. The concourse of people is great and the +procession is the most delightful of all ever witnessed on earth. Decked +with every ornament, it charmed the hearts of all spectators.’ Thus did +those councillors, instructed by Dhritarashtra, speak of Varanavata, and +whilst they were so speaking, the Pandavas, O king, felt the desire of +going to that delightful town. And when the king (Dhritarashtra) +ascertained that the curiosity of the Pandavas had been awakened, the son +of Ambika addressed them, saying, ‘These men of mine often speak of +Varanavata as the most delightful town in the world. If therefore, ye +children, ye desire to witness that festival, go to Varanavata with your +followers and friends and enjoy yourselves there like the celestials. And +give ye away pearls and gems unto the Brahmanas and the musicians (that +may be assembled there). And sporting there for some time as ye please +like the resplendent celestials and enjoying as much pleasure as ye like, +return ye to Hastinapura again.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Yudhishthira, fully understanding the motives +of Dhritarashtra and considering that he himself was weak and friendless, +replied unto the king, saying, ‘So be it.’ Then addressing Bhishma, the +son of Santanu, the wise Vidura, Drona, Valhika, the Kaurava, Somadatta, +Kripa, Aswatthaman, Bhurisravas, and the other councillors, and Brahmanas +and ascetics, and the priests and the citizens, and the illustrious +Gandhari, he said slowly and humbly, ‘With our friends and followers we +go to the delightful and populous town of Varanavata at the command of +Dhritarashtra. Cheerfully give us your benedictions so that acquiring +prosperity, therewith we may not be touched by sin.’ Thus addressed by +the eldest of Pandu’s sons, the Kaurava chiefs all cheerfully pronounced +blessings on them, saying, ‘Ye sons of Pandu, let all the elements bless +you along your way and let not the slightest evil befall you.’ + +“The Pandavas, having performed propitiatory rites for obtaining (their +share of) the kingdom, and finishing their preparations, set out for +Varanavata.’” + + + +SECTION CXLVI + +(Jatugriha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The wicked Duryodhana became very pleased when the +king, O Bharata, had said so unto Pandavas. And, O bull of Bharata’s +race, Duryodhana, then, summoning his counsellor, Purochana in private, +took hold of his right hand and said, ‘O Purochana, this world, so full +of wealth, is mine. But it is thine equally with me. It behoveth thee, +therefore, to protect it. I have no more trustworthy counsellor than thee +with whom to consult. Therefore, O sire, keep my counsel and exterminate +my foes by a clever device. O, do as I bid thee. The Pandavas have, by +Dhritarashtra, been sent to Varanavata, where they will, at +Dhritarashtra’s command, enjoy themselves during the festivities. Do that +by which thou mayest this very day reach Varanavata in a car drawn by +swift mules. Repairing thither, cause thou to be erected a quadrangular +palace in the neighbourhood of the arsenal, rich in the materials and +furniture, and guard thou the mansion well (with prying eyes). And use +thou (in erecting that house) hemp and resin and all other inflammable +materials that are procurable. And mixing a little earth with clarified +butter and oil and fat and a large quantity of lac, make thou a plaster +for lining the walls, and scatter thou all around that house hemp and oil +and clarified butter and lac and wood in such a way that the Pandavas, or +any others, may not, even with scrutiny behold them there or conclude the +house to be an inflammable one. And having erected such mansion, cause +thou the Pandavas, after worshipping them with great reverence, to dwell +in it with Kunti and all their friends. And place thou there seats and +conveyances and beds, all of the best workmanship, for the Pandavas, so +that Dhritarashtra may have no reason to complain. Thou must also so +manage it all that none of Varanavata may know anything till the end we +have in view is accomplished. And assuring thyself that the Pandavas are +sleeping within in confidence and without fear, thou must then set fire +to that mansion beginning at the outer door. The Pandavas thereupon must +be burnt to death, but the people will say that they have been burnt in +(an accidental) conflagration of their house. + +“Saying, ‘So be it’ unto the Kuru prince, Purochana repaired to +Varanavata in a car drawn by fleet mules. And going thither, O king, +without loss of time, obedient to the instructions of Duryodhana, did +everything that the prince had bid him do.” + + + +SECTION CXLVII + +(Jatugriha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Meanwhile the Pandavas got into their cars, yoking +thereto some fine horses endued with the speed of wind. While they were +on the point of entering their cars, they touched, in great sorrow, the +feet of Bhishma, of king Dhritarashtra, of the illustrious Drona, of +Kripa, of Vidura and of the other elders of the Kuru race. Then saluting +with reverence all the older men, and embracing their equals, receiving +the farewell of even the children, and taking leave of all the venerable +ladies in their household, and walking round them respectfully, and +bidding farewell unto all the citizens, the Pandavas, ever mindful of +their vows, set out for Varanavata. And Vidura of great wisdom and the +other bulls among the Kurus and the citizens also, from great affliction, +followed those tigers among men to some distance. And some amongst the +citizens and the country people, who followed the Pandavas, afflicted +beyond measure at beholding the sons of Pandu in such distress, began to +say aloud, ‘King Dhritarashtra of wicked soul seeth no things with the +same eye. The Kuru monarch casteth not his eye on virtue. Neither the +sinless Yudhishthira, nor Bhima the foremost of mighty men, nor +Dhananjaya the (youngest) son of Kunti, will ever be guilty (of the sin +of waging a rebellious war). When these will remain quiet, how shall the +illustrious son of Madri do anything? Having inherited the kingdom from +their father, Dhritarashtra could not bear them. How is that Bhishma who +suffers the exile of the Pandavas to that wretched place, sanctions this +act of great injustice? Vichitravirya, the son of Santanu, and the royal +sage Pandu of Kuru’s race both cherished us of old with fatherly care. +But now that Pandu that tiger among men, hath ascended to heaven, +Dhritarashtra cannot bear with these princes his children. We who do not +sanction this exile shall all go, leaving this excellent town and our own +homes, where Yudhishthira will go.’ + +“Unto those distressed citizens talking in this way, the virtuous +Yudhishthira, himself afflicted with sorrow, reflecting for a few moments +said, ‘The king is our father, worthy of regard, our spiritual guide, and +our superior. To carry out with unsuspicious hearts whatever he biddeth, +is indeed, our duty. Ye are our friends. Walking round us and making us +happy by your blessings, return ye to your abodes. When the time cometh +for anything to be done for us by you, then, indeed, accomplish all that +is agreeable and beneficial to us.’ Thus addressed, the citizens walked +round the Pandavas and blessed them with their blessings and returned to +their respective abodes. + +“And after the citizens had ceased following the Pandavas, Vidura, +conversant with all the dictates of morality, desirous of awakening the +eldest of the Pandavas (to a sense of his dangers), addressed him in +these words. The learned Vidura, conversant with the jargon (of the +Mlechchhas), addressed the learned Yudhishthira who also was conversant +with the same jargon, in the words of the Mlechchha tongue, so as to be +unintelligible to all except Yudhishthira. He said, ‘He that knoweth the +schemes his foes contrive in accordance with the dictates of political +science, should, knowing them, act in such a way as to avoid all danger. +He that knoweth that there are sharp weapons capable of cutting the body +though not made of steel, and understandeth also the means of warding +them off, can never be injured by foes. He liveth who protecteth himself +by the knowledge that neither the consumer of straw and wood nor the +drier of the dew burneth the inmates of a hole in the deep woods. The +blind man seeth not his way: the blind man hath no knowledge of +direction. He that hath no firmness never acquireth prosperity. +Remembering this, be upon your guard. The man who taketh a weapon not +made of steel (i.e., an inflammable abode) given him by his foes, can +escape from fire by making his abode like unto that of a jackal (having +many outlets). By wandering a man may acquire the knowledge of ways, and +by the stars he can ascertain the direction, and he that keepeth his five +(senses) under control can never be oppressed y his enemies.’ + +“Thus addressed, Pandu’s son, Yudhishthira the just replied unto Vidura, +that foremost of all learned men, saying, ‘I have understood thee.’ Then +Vidura, having instructed the Pandavas and followed them (thus far), +walked around them and bidding them farewell returned to his own abode. +When the citizens and Bhishma and Vidura had all ceased following, Kunti +approached Yudhishthira and said, ‘The words that Kshattri said unto thee +in the midst of many people so indistinctly as if he did not say +anything, and thy reply also to him in similar words and voice, we have +not understood. If it is not improper; for us to know them I should then +like to hear everything that had passed between him and thee.’ + +“Yudhishthira replied, ‘The virtuous Vidura said unto me that we should +know that the mansion (for our accommodation at Varanavata) hath been +built of inflammable materials. He said unto me, ‘The path of escape too +shall not be unknown to thee,’--and further,--‘Those that can control +their senses can acquire the sovereignty of the whole world.’--The reply +that I gave unto Vidura was, ‘I have understood thee.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The Pandavas set out on the eighth day of the +month of Phalguna when the star Rohini was in the ascendant, and arriving +at Varanavata they beheld the town and the people.’” + + + +SECTION CXLVIII + +(Jatugriha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then all the citizens (of Varanavata) on hearing +that the son of Pandu had come, were filled with joy at the tidings, +speedily came out of Varanavata, in vehicles of various kinds numbering +by thousands, taking with them every auspicious article as directed by +the Sastras, for receiving those foremost of men. And the people of +Varanavata, approaching the sons of Kunti blessed them by uttering the +Jaya and stood surrounding them. That tiger among men, viz., the virtuous +Yudhishthira thus surrounded by them looked resplendent like him having +the thunderbolt in his hands (viz., Indra) in the midst of the +celestials. And those sinless ones, welcomed by the citizens and +welcoming the citizens in return, then entered the populous town of +Varanavata decked with every ornament. Entering the town those heroes +first went, O monarch, to the abodes of Brahmanas engaged in their proper +duties. Those foremost of men then went to the abodes of the officials of +the town, and then of the Sutas and the Vaisyas and then to those of even +the Sudras, O bull of Bharata’s race, thus adored by the citizens, the +Pandavas at last went with Purochana going before them, to the palace +that had been built for them, Purochana then began to place before them +food and drink and beds and carpets, all of the first and most agreeable +order. The Pandavas attired in costly robes, continued to live there, +adored by Purochana and the people having their homes in Varanavata. + +“After the Pandavas had thus lived for ten nights, Purochana spoke to +them of the mansion (he had built) called ‘The Blessed Home,’ but in +reality the cursed house. Then those tigers among men, attired in costly +dress, entered that mansion at the instance of Purochana like Guhyakas +entering the palace (of Siva) on the Kailasa mount. The foremost of all +virtuous men, Yudhishthira, inspecting the house, said unto Bhima that it +was really built of inflammable materials. Smelling the scent of fat +mixed with clarified butter and preparations of lac, he said unto Bhima, +‘O chastiser of foes, this house is truly built of inflammable materials! +Indeed, it is apparent that such is the case! The enemy, it is evident, +by the aid of trusted artists well-skilled in the construction of houses, +have finely built this mansion, after procuring hemp, resin, heath, +straw, and bamboos, all soaked in clarified butter. This wicked wretch, +Purochana, acting under the instruction of Duryodhana, stayeth here with +the object of burning me to death when he seeth me trustful. But, O son +of Pritha, Vidura of great intelligence, knew of this danger, and, +therefore, hath warned me of it beforehand. Knowing it all, that youngest +uncle of ours, ever wishing our good from affection hath told us that +this house, so full of danger, hath been constructed by the wretches +under Duryodhana acting in secrecy.’ + +“Hearing this, Bhima replied, ‘If, sir, you know this house to be so +inflammable, it would then be well for us to return thither where we had +taken up our quarters first.’ Yudhishthira replied, ‘It seems to me that +we should rather continue to live here in seeming unsuspiciousness but +all the while with caution and our senses wide awake and seeking for some +certain means of escape. If Purochana findeth from our countenances that +we have fathomed designs, acting with haste he may suddenly burn us to +death. Indeed, Purochana careth little for obloquy or sin. The wretch +stayeth here acting under the instruction of Duryodhana. If we are burnt +to death, will our grandfather Bhishma be angry? Why will he, by showing +his wrath, make the Kauravas angry with him? Or, perhaps, our grandfather +Bhishma and the other bull of Kuru’s race, regarding indignation at such +a sinful act to be virtuous, may become wrathful. If however, from fear +of being burnt, we fly from here, Duryodhana, ambitious of sovereignty +will certainly compass our death by means of spies. While we have no rank +and power, Duryodhana hath both; while we have no friends and allies, +Duryodhana hath both; while we are without wealth, Duryodhana hath at his +command a full treasury. Will he not, therefore, certainly destroy us by +adopting adequate means? Let us, therefore, by deceiving this wretch +(Purochana) and that other wretch Duryodhana, pass our days, disguising +ourselves at times. Let us also lead a hunting life, wandering over the +earth. We shall then, if we have to escape our enemies, be familiar with +all paths. We shall also, this very day, cause a subterranean passage to +be dug in our chamber in great secrecy. If we act in this way, concealing +what we do from all, fire shall never be able to consume us. We shall +live here, actively doing everything for our safety but with such privacy +that neither Purochana nor any of the citizens of Varanavata may know +what we are after.’” + + + +SECTION CXLIX + +(Jatugriha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘A friend of Vidura’s, well-skilled in mining, +coming unto the Pandavas, addressed them in secret, saying, ‘I have been +sent by Vidura and am a skilful miner. I am to serve the Pandavas. Tell +me what I am to do for ye. From the trust he reposeth in me Vidura hath +said unto me, ‘Go thou unto the Pandavas and accomplish thou their good. +What shall I do for you? Purochana will set fire to the door of thy house +on the fourteenth night of this dark fortnight. To burn to death those +tigers among men, the Pandavas, with their mother, is the design of that +wicked wretch, the son of Dhritarashtra. O son of Pandu, Vidura also told +thee something in the Mlechchha tongue to which thou also didst reply in +same language. I state these particulars as my credentials.’ Hearing +these words, Yudhishthira, the truthful son of Kunti replied, ‘O amiable +one, I now know thee as a dear and trusted friend of Vidura, true and +ever devoted to him. There is nothing that the learned Vidura doth not +know. As his, so ours art thou. Make no difference between him and us. We +are as much thine as his. O, protect us as the learned Vidura ever +protecteth us. I know that this house, so inflammable, hath been +contrived for me by Purochana at the command of Dhritarashtra’s son. That +wicked wretch commanding wealth and allies pursueth us without +intermission. O, save us with a little exertion from the impending +conflagration. If we are burnt to death here, Duryodhana’s most cherished +desire will be satisfied. Here is that wretch’s well-furnished arsenal. +This large mansion hath been built abutting the high ramparts of the +arsenal without any outlet. But this unholy contrivance of Duryodhana was +known to Vidura from the first, and he it was who enlightened us +beforehand. The danger of which Kshattri had foreknowledge is now at our +door. Save us from it without Purochana’s knowledge thereof.’ On hearing +these words, the miner said, ‘So be it,’ and carefully beginning his work +of excavation, made a large subterranean passage. And the mouth of that +passage was in the centre of that house, and it was on a level with the +floor and closed up with planks. The mouth was so covered from fear of +Purochana, that wicked wretch who kept a constant watch at the door of +the house. The Pandavas used to sleep within their chambers with arms +ready for use, while, during the day, they went a-hunting from forest to +forest. Thus, O king, they lived (in that mansion) very guardedly, +deceiving Purochana by a show of trustfulness and contentment while in +reality they were trustless and discontented. Nor did the citizens of +Varanavata know anything about these plans of the Pandavas. In fact, none +else knew of them except Vidura’s friend, that good miner.’” + + + +SECTION CL + +(Jatugriha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Seeing the Pandavas living there cheerfully and +without suspicion for a full year, Purochana became exceedingly glad. And +beholding Purochana so very glad, Yudhishthira, the virtuous son of +Kunti, addressing Bhima and Arjuna and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) +said, ‘The cruel-hearted wretch hath been well-deceived. I think the time +is come for our escape. Setting fire to the arsenal and burning Purochana +to death and letting his body lie here, let us, six persons, fly hence +unobserved by all!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then on the occasion of an almsgiving, O king, +Kunti fed on a certain night a large number of Brahmanas. There came also +a number of ladies who while eating and drinking, enjoyed there as they +pleased, and with Kunti’s leave returned to their respective homes. +Desirous of obtaining food, there came, as though impelled by fate, to +that feast, in course of her wanderings, a Nishada woman, the mother of +five children, accompanied by all her sons. O king, she, and her +children, intoxicated with the wine they drank, became incapable. +Deprived of consciousness and more dead than alive, she with all her sons +lay down in that mansion to sleep. Then when all the inmates of the house +lay down to sleep, there began to blow a violent wind in the night. Bhima +then set fire to the house just where Purochana was sleeping. Then the +son of Pandu set fire to the door of that house of lac. Then he set fire +to the mansion in several parts all around. Then when the sons of Pandu +were satisfied that the house had caught fire in several parts those +chastisers of foes with their mother, entered the subterranean passage +without losing any time. Then the heat and the roar of the fire became +intense and awakened the townspeople. Beholding the house in flames, the +citizens with sorrowful faces began to say, ‘The wretch (Purochana) of +wicked soul had under the instruction of Duryodhana built his house for +the destruction of his employer’s relatives. He indeed hath set fire to +it. O, fie on Dhritarashtra’s heart which is so partial. He hath burnt to +death, as if he were their foe, the sinless heirs of Pandu! O, the sinful +and wicked-souled (Purochana) who hath burnt those best of men, the +innocent and unsuspicious princes, hath himself been burnt to death as +fate would have it.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The citizens of Varanavata thus bewailed (the +fate of the Pandavas), and waited there for the whole night surrounding +that house. The Pandavas, however, accompanied by their mother coming out +of the subterranean passage, fled in haste unnoticed. But those +chastisers of foes, for sleepiness and fear, could not with their mother +proceed in haste. But, O monarch, Bhimasena, endued with terrible prowess +and swiftness of motion took upon his body all his brothers and mother +and began to push through the darkness. Placing his mother on his +shoulder, the twins on his sides, and Yudhishthira and Arjuna on both his +arms, Vrikodara of great energy and strength and endued with the speed of +the wind, commenced his march, breaking the trees with his breast and +pressing deep the earth with his stamp.’” + + + +SECTION CLI + +(Jatugriha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘About this time, the learned Vidura had sent into +those woods a man of pure character and much trusted by him. This person +going to where he had been directed, saw the Pandavas with their mother +in the forest employed in a certain place in measuring the depth of a +river. The design that the wicked Duryodhana had formed had been, through +his spies, known to Vidura of great intelligence, and, therefore, he had +sent that prudent person unto the Pandavas. Sent by Vidura unto them, he +showed the Pandavas on the sacred banks of the Ganga a boat with engines +and flags, constructed by trusted artificers and capable of withstanding +wind and wave and endued with the speed of the tempest or of thought. He +then addressed the Pandavas in these words to show that he had really +been sent by Vidura, ‘O Yudhishthira, he said, “listen to these words the +learned Vidura had said (unto thee) as a proof of the fact that I come +from him. Neither the consumer of straw and the wood nor the drier of dew +ever burneth the inmates of a hole in the forest. He escapeth from death +who protecteth himself knowing this, etc.’ By these credentials know me +to be the person who has been truly sent by Vidura and to be also his +trusted agent. Vidura, conversant with everything, hath again said, ‘O +son of Kunti, thou shalt surely defeat in battle Karna, and Duryodhana +with his brothers, and Sakuni.’ This boat is ready on the waters, and it +will glide pleasantly thereon, and shall certainly bear you all from +these regions!’ + +“Then beholding those foremost of men with their mother pensive and sad +he caused them to go into the boat that was on the Ganga, and accompanied +them himself. Addressing them again, he said, ‘Vidura having smelt your +heads and embraced you (mentally), hath said again that in commencing +your auspicious journey and going alone you should never be careless.’ + +“Saying these words unto those heroic princes, the person sent by Vidura +took those bulls among men over to the other side of the Ganga in his +boat. And having taken them over the water and seen them all safe on the +opposite bank, he uttered the word ‘Jaya’ (victory) to their success and +then left them and returned to the place whence he had come. + +“The illustrious Pandavas also sending through that person some message +to Vidura, began, after having crossed the Ganga, to proceed with haste +and in great secrecy.’” + + + +SECTION CLII + +(Jatugriha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then, when the night had passed away, a large +concourse of the townspeople came there in haste to see the sons of +Pandu. After extinguishing the fire, they saw that the house just burnt +down had been built of lac in materials and that (Duryodhana’s) +counsellor Purochana had been burnt to death. And the people began to +bewail aloud saying, ‘Indeed, this had been contrived by the sinful +Duryodhana for the destruction of the Pandavas. There is little doubt +that Duryodhana hath, with Dhritarashtra’s knowledge, burnt to death the +heirs of Pandu, else the prince would have been prevented by his father. +There is little doubt that even Bhishma, the son of Santanu, and Drona +and Vidura and Kripa and other Kauravas have not, any of them, followed +the dictates of duty. Let us now send to Dhritarashtra to say, ‘Thy great +desire hath been achieved! Thou hast burnt to death the Pandavas!’ + +“They then began to extinguish the members to obtain some trace of the +Pandavas, and they saw the innocent Nishada woman with her five sons +burnt to death. Then the miner sent by Vidura, while removing the ashes, +covered the hole he had dug with those ashes in such a way that it +remained unnoticed by all who had gone there. + +“The citizens then sent to Dhritarashtra to inform him that the Pandavas +along with (Duryodhana’s) counsellor Purochana had been burnt to death. +King Dhritarashtra, on hearing the evil news of the death of the +Pandavas, wept in great sorrow. And he said, ‘King Pandu, my brother of +great fame, hath, indeed, died today when those heroic sons of his +together with their mother have been burnt to death. Ye men, repair +quickly to Varanavata and cause the funeral rites to be performed of +those heroes and of the daughter of Kuntiraj! Let also the bones of the +deceased be sanctified with the usual rites, and let all the beneficial +and great acts (usual on such occasions) be performed. Let the friends +and relatives of those that have been burnt to death repair thither. Let +also all other beneficial acts that ought, under the circumstances, to be +performed by us for the Pandavas and Kunti be accomplished by wealth.’ + +“Having said this, Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, surrounded by his +relatives, offered oblations of water to the sons of Pandu. And all of +them, afflicted with excessive sorrow, bewailed aloud, exclaiming, ‘O +Yudhishthira! Oh prince of the Kuru race!’--While others cried aloud, +‘Oh, Bhima!--O Phalguna!’--while some again,--‘Oh, the twins!--Oh, +Kunti!’--Thus did they sorrow for the Pandavas and offer oblations of +water unto them. The citizens also wept for the Pandavas but Vidura did +not weep much, because he knew the truth. + +“Meanwhile the Pandavas endued with great strength with their mother +forming a company of six going out of the town of Varanavata arrived at +the banks of the Ganga. They then speedily reached the opposite bank +aided by the strength of the boatmen’s arms, the rapidity of the river’s +current, and a favourable wind. Leaving the boat, they proceeded in the +southern direction finding their way in the dark by the light of the +stars. After much suffering they at last reached, O king, a dense forest. +They were then tired and thirsty; sleep was closing their eyes every +moment. Then Yudhishthira, addressing Bhima endued with great energy, +said, ‘What can be more painful than this? We are now in the deep woods. +We know not which side is which, nor can we proceed much further. We do +not know whether that wretch Purochana hath or hath not been burnt to +death. How shall we escape from these dangers unseen by others? O +Bharata, taking us on thyself, proceed thou as before. Thou alone amongst +us art strong and swift as the wind.’ + +“Thus addressed by Yudhishthira the just, the mighty Bhimasena, taking up +on his body Kunti and his brothers, began to proceed with great +celerity.’” + + + +SECTION CLIII + +(Jatugriha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said,” As the mighty Bhima proceeded, the whole forest with +its trees and their branches seemed to tremble, in consequence of their +clash with his breast. The motion of his thighs raised a wind like unto +that which blows during the months of Jyaishtha and Ashadha (May and +June). And the mighty Bhima proceeded, making a path for himself, but +treading down the trees and creepers before him. In fact, he broke (by +the pressure of his body) the large trees and plants, with their flowers +and fruits, standing on his way. Even so passeth through the woods +breaking down mighty trees, the leader of a herd of elephants, of the age +of sixty years, angry and endued with excess of energy, during the season +of rut when the liquid juice trickle down the three parts of his body. +Indeed, so great was the force with which Bhima endued with the speed of +Garuda or of Marut (the god of wind), proceeded that the Pandavas seemed +to faint in consequence. Frequently swimming across streams difficult of +being crossed, the Pandavas disguised themselves on their way from fear +of the sons of Dhritarashtra. And Bhima carried on his shoulder his +illustrious mother of delicate sensibilities along the uneven banks of +rivers. Towards the evening, O bull of Bharata’s race, Bhima (bearing his +brothers and mother on his back) reached a terrible forest where fruits +and roots and water were scarce and which resounded with the terrible +cries of birds and beasts. The twilight deepened the cries of birds and +beasts became fiercer, darkness shrouded everything from the view and +untimely winds began to blow that broke and laid low many a tree large +and small and many creepers with dry leaves and fruits. The Kaurava +princes, afflicted with fatigue and thirst, and heavy with sleep, were +unable to proceed further. They then all sat down in that forest without +food and drink. Then Kunti, smitten with thirst, said unto her sons, ‘I +am the mother of the five Pandavas and am now in their midst. Yet I am +burning with thirst!’ Kunti repeatedly said this unto her sons. Hearing +these words, Bhima’s heart, from affection for his mother, was warmed by +compassion and he resolved to go (along as before). Then Bhima, +proceeding through that terrible and extensive forest without a living +soul, saw a beautiful banian tree with widespreading branches. Setting +down there his brothers and mother, O bull of Bharata’s race; he said +unto them, ‘Rest you here, while I go in quest of water. I hear the sweet +cries of aquatic fowls. I think there must be a large pool here.’ +Commanded, O Bharata, by his elder brother who said unto him, ‘Go’, Bhima +proceeded in the direction whence the cries of those aquatic fowls were +coming. And, O bull of Bharata’s race, he soon came upon a lake and +bathed and slaked his thirst. And affectionate unto his brothers, he +brought for them, O Bharata, water by soaking his upper garments. Hastily +retracing his way over those four miles he came unto where his mother was +and beholding her he was afflicted with sorrow and began to sigh like a +snake. Distressed with grief at seeing his mother and brothers asleep on +the bare ground, Vrikodara began to weep, ‘Oh, wretch that I am, who +behold my brothers asleep on the bare ground, what can befall me more +painful than this? Alas, they who formerly at Varanavata could not sleep +on the softest and costliest beds are now asleep on the bare ground! Oh, +what more painful sight shall I ever behold than that of Kunti--the +sister of Vasudeva, that grinder of hostile hosts--the daughter of +Kuntiraja,--herself decked with every auspicious mark, the +daughter-in-law of Vichitravirya,--the wife of the illustrious +Pandu,--the mother of us (five brothers),--resplendent as the filaments +of the lotus and delicate and tender and fit to sleep on the costliest +bed--thus asleep, as she should never be, on the bare ground! Oh, she who +hath brought forth these sons by Dharma and Indra and Maruta--she who +hath ever slept within palaces--now sleepeth, fatigued, on the bare +ground! What more painful sight shall ever be beheld by me than that of +these tigers among men (my brothers) asleep on the ground! Oh, the +virtuous Yudhishthira, who deserveth the sovereignty of the three worlds, +sleepeth, fatigued, like an ordinary man, on the bare ground! This Arjuna +of the darkish hue of blue clouds, and unequalled amongst men sleepeth on +the ground like an ordinary person! Oh, what can be more painful than +this? Oh the twins, who in beauty are like the twin Aswins amongst the +celestials, are asleep like ordinary mortals on the bare ground! He who +hath no jealous evil-minded relatives, liveth in happiness in this world +like a single tree in a village. The tree that standeth single in a +village with its leaves and fruits, from absence of other of the same +species, becometh sacred and is worshipped and venerated by all. They +again that have many relatives who, however, are all heroic and virtuous, +live happily in the world without sorrow of any kind. Themselves powerful +and growing in prosperity and always gladdening their friends and +relatives, they live, depending on each other, like tall trees growing in +the same forest. We, however, have been forced in exile by the wicked +Dhritarashtra and his sons having escaped with difficulty, from sheer +good fortune, a fiery death. Having escaped from that fire, we are now +resting in the shade of this tree. Having already suffered so much, where +now are we to go? Ye sons of Dhritarashtra of little foresight, ye wicked +fellows, enjoy your temporary success. The gods are certainly auspicious +to you. But ye wicked wretches, ye are alive yet, only because +Yudhishthira doth not command me to take your lives. Else this very day, +filled with wrath, I would send thee, (O Duryodhana), to the regions of +Yama (Pluto) with thy children and friends and brothers, and Karna, and +(Sakuni) the son of Suvala! But what can I do, for, ye sinful wretches, +the virtuous king Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandavas, is not yet +angry with you?’ + +“Having said this, Bhima of mighty arms, fired with wrath, began to +squeeze his palms, sighing deeply in affliction. Excited again with wrath +like an extinguished fire blazing up all on a sudden, Vrikodara once more +beheld his brothers sleeping on the ground like ordinary persons sleeping +in trustfulness. And Bhima said unto himself, ‘I think there is some town +not far off from this forest. These all are asleep, so I will sit awake. +And this will slake their thirst after they rise refreshed from sleep.’ +Saying this, Bhima sat there awake, keeping watch over his sleeping +mother and brothers.’” + + + +SECTION CLIV + +(Hidimva-vadha Parva) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Not far from the place where the Pandavas were +asleep, a Rakshasa by name Hidimva dwelt on the Sala tree. Possessed of +great energy and prowess, he was a cruel cannibal of visage that was grim +in consequence of his sharp and long teeth. He was now hungry and longing +for human flesh. Of long shanks and a large belly, his locks and beard +were both red in hue. His shoulders were broad like the neck of a tree; +his ears were like unto arrows, and his features were frightful. Of red +eyes and grim visage, the monster beheld, while casting his glances +around, the sons of Pandu sleeping in those woods. He was then hungry and +longing for human flesh. Shaking his dry and grizzly locks and scratching +them with his fingers pointed upwards, the large-mouthed cannibal +repeatedly looked at the sleeping sons of Pandu yawning wistfully at +times. Of huge body and great strength, of complexion like the colour of +a mass of clouds, of teeth long and sharp-pointed and face emitting a +sort of lustre, he was ever pleased with human flesh. And scenting the +odour of man, he addressed his sister, saying, ‘O sister, it is after a +long time that such agreeable food hath approached me! My mouth waters at +the anticipated relish of such food. My eight teeth, so sharp-pointed and +incapable of being resisted by any substance, I shall, today, after a +long time, put into the most delicious flesh. Attacking the human throat +and even opening the veins, I shall (today) drink a plentiful quantity of +human blood, hot and fresh and frothy. Go and ascertain who these are, +lying asleep in these woods. The strong scent of man pleaseth my +nostrils. Slaughtering all these men, bring them unto me. They sleep +within my territory. Thou needest have no fear from them. Do my bidding +soon, for we shall then together eat their flesh, tearing off their +bodies at pleasure. And after feasting to our fill on human flesh we +shall then dance together to various measures!’ + +“Thus addressed by Hidimva in those woods, Hidimva, the female cannibal, +at the command of her brother, went, O bull of Bharata’s race, to the +spot where the Pandavas were. And on going there, she beheld the Pandavas +asleep with their mother and the invincible Bhimasena sitting awake. And +beholding Bhimasena unrivalled on earth for beauty and like unto a +vigorous Sala tree, the Rakshasa woman immediately fell in love with him, +and she said to herself, ‘This person of hue like heated gold and of +mighty arms, of broad shoulders as the lion, and so resplendent, of neck +marked with three lines like a conch-shell and eyes like lotus-petals, is +worthy of being my husband. I shall not obey the cruel mandate of my +brother. A woman’s love for her husband is stronger than her affection +for her brother. If I slay him, my brother’s gratification as well as +mine will only be momentary. But if I slay him not, I can enjoy, with him +for ever and ever.’ Thus saying, the Rakshasa woman, capable of assuming +form at will, assumed an excellent human form and began to advance with +slow steps towards Bhima of mighty arms. Decked with celestial ornaments +she advanced with smiles on her lips and a modest gait, and addressing +Bhima said, ‘O bull among men, whence hast thou come here and who art +thou? Who, besides, are these persons of celestial beauty sleeping here? +Who also, O sinless one, is this lady of transcendent beauty sleeping so +trustfully in these woods as if she were lying in her own chamber? Dost +thou not know that this forest is the abode of a Rakshasa. Truly do I +say, here liveth the wicked Rakshasa called Hidimva. Ye beings of +celestial beauty, I have been sent hither even by that Rakshasa--my +brother--with the cruel intent of killing you for his food. But I tell +thee truly that beholding thee resplendent as a celestial, I would have +none else for my husband save thee! Thou who art acquainted with all +duties, knowing this, do unto me what is proper. My heart as well as my +body hath been pierced by (the shafts of) Kama (Cupid). O, as I am +desirous of obtaining thee, make me thine. O thou of mighty arms, I will +rescue thee from the Rakshasa who eateth human flesh. O sinless one, be +thou my husband. We shall then live on the breasts of mountains +inaccessible to ordinary mortals. I can range the air and I do so at +pleasure. Thou mayest enjoy great felicity with me in those regions.’ + +“Hearing these words of hers, Bhima replied, ‘O Rakshasa woman, who can, +like a Muni having all his passions under control, abandon his sleeping +mother and elder and younger brothers? What man like me would go to +gratify his lust, leaving his sleeping mother and brothers as food for a +Rakshasa?’ + +“The Rakshasa woman replied, ‘O, awaken all these, I shall do unto you +all that is agreeable to thee! I shall certainly rescue you all from my +cannibal brother?’ + +“Bhima then said, ‘O Rakshasa woman, I will not, from fear of thy wicked +brother, awaken my brothers and mother sleeping comfortably in the woods. +O timid one, Rakshasas are never able to bear the prowess of my arms. +And, O thou of handsome eyes, neither men, nor Gandharvas, nor Yakshas +are able to bear my might. O amiable one, thou mayst stay or go as thou +likest, or mayst even send thy cannibal brother, O thou of delicate +shape. I care not.’” + + + +SECTION CLV + +(Hidimva-vadha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hidimva, the chief of the Rakshasas, seeing that his +sister returned not soon enough, alighted from the tree, proceeded +quickly to the spot where the Pandavas were. Of red eyes and strong arms +and the arms and the hair of his head standing erect, of large open mouth +and body like unto a mass of dark clouds, teeth long and sharp-pointed, +he was terrible to behold. And Hidimva, beholding her brother of +frightful visage alight from the tree, became very much alarmed, and +addressing Bhima said, ‘The wicked cannibal is coming hither in wrath. I +entreat thee, do with thy brothers, as I bid thee. O thou of great +courage, as I am endued with the powers of a Rakshasa, I am capable of +going whithersoever I like. Mount ye on my hips, I will carry you all +through the skies. And, O chastiser of foes, awaken these and thy mother +sleeping in comfort. Taking them all on my body, I will convey you +through the skies.’ + +“Bhima then said, ‘O thou of fair hips, fear not anything. I am sure that +as long as I am here, there is no Rakshasa capable of injuring any of +these, O thou of slender waist. I will slay this (cannibal) before thy +very eyes. This worst of Rakshasas, O timid one, is no worthy antagonist +of mine, nor can all the Rakshasas together bear the strength of my arms. +Behold these strong arms of mine, each like unto the trunk of an +elephant. Behold also these thighs of mine like unto iron maces, and this +broad and adamantine chest. O beautiful one, thou shall today behold my +prowess like unto that of Indra. O thou of fair hips, hate me not, +thinking that I am a man.’ + +“Hidimva replied saying, ‘O tiger among men, O thou of the beauty of a +celestial, I do not certainly hold thee in contempt. But I have seen the +prowess that Rakshasas exert upon men.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then, O Bharata, the wrathful Rakshasa eating +human flesh heard these words of Bhima who had been talking in that way. +And Hidimva beheld his sister disguised in human form, her head decked +with garlands of flowers and her face like the full moon and her eyebrows +and nose and eyes and ringlets all of the handsomest description, and her +nails and complexion of the most delicate hue, and herself wearing every +kind of ornament and attired in fine transparent robes. The cannibal, +beholding her in that charming human form, suspected that she was +desirous of carnal intercourse and became indignant. And, O best of the +Kurus, becoming angry with his sister, the Rakshasa dilated his eyes and +addressing her said, ‘What senseless creature wishes to throw obstacles +in my path now that I am so hungry? Hast thou become so senseless, O +Hidimva, that thou fearest not my wrath? Fie on thee, thou unchaste +woman! Thou art even now desirous of carnal intercourse and solicitous of +doing me an injury. Thou art ready to sacrifice the good name and honour +of all the Rakshasas, thy ancestors! Those with whose aid thou wouldst do +me this great injury, I will, even now, slay along with thee.’ Addressing +his sister thus, Hidimva, with eyes red with anger and teeth pressing +against teeth, ran at her to kill her then and there. But beholding him +rush at his sister, Bhima, that foremost of smiter, endued with great +energy, rebuked him and said, Stop--Stop!” + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘And Bhima, beholding the Rakshasa angry with +his sister, smiled (in derision), and said, addressing him, ‘O Hidimva, +what need is there for thee to awaken these persons sleeping so +comfortably? O wicked cannibal, approach me first without loss of time. +Smite me first,--it behoveth thee not to kill a woman, especially when +she hath been sinned against instead of sinning. This girl is scarcely +responsible for her act in desiring intercourse with me. She hath, in +this, been moved by the deity of desire that pervadeth every living form. +Thou wicked wretch and the most infamous of Rakshasas, thy sister came +here at thy command. Beholding my person, she desireth me. In that the +timid girl doth no injury to thee. It is the deity of desire that hath +offended. It behoveth thee not to injure her for this offence. O wicked +wretch, thou shalt not slay a woman when I am here. Come with me, O +cannibal, and fight with myself singly. Singly shall I send thee today to +the abode of Yama (Pluto). O Rakshasa, let thy head today, pressed by my +might, be pounded to pieces, as though pressed by the tread of a mighty +elephant. When thou art slain by me on the field of battle, let herons +and hawks and jackals tear in glee thy limbs today on the ground. In a +moment I shall today make this forest destitute of Rakshasas,--this +forest that had so long been ruled by thee, devourer of human beings! Thy +sister, O Rakshasa, shall today behold thyself, huge though thou art like +a mountain, like a huge elephant repeatedly dragged by a lion, O worst of +Rakshasas, thyself slain by me, men ranging these woods will henceforth +do so safely and without fear.’ + +“Hearing these words, Hidimva said, ‘What need is there, O man, for this +thy vaunt and this thy boast? Accomplish all this first, and then mayst +thou vaunt indeed. Therefore, delay thou not. Thou knowest thyself to be +strong and endued with prowess, so thou shalt rightly estimate thy +strength today in thy encounter with me. Until that, I will not slay +these (thy brothers). Let them sleep comfortably. But I will, as thou art +a fool and the utterer of evil speeches, slay thee first. After drinking +thy blood, I will slay these also, and then last of all, this (sister of +mine) that hath done me an injury.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Saying this, the cannibal, extending his arms +ran in wrath towards Bhimasena, that chastiser of foes. Then Bhima of +terrible prowess quickly seized, as though in sport, with great force, +the extended arms of the Rakshasa who had rushed at him. Then seizing the +struggling Rakshasa with violence, Bhima dragged him from that spot full +thirty-two cubits like a lion dragging a little animal. Then the +Rakshasa, thus made to feel the weight of Bhima’s strength, became very +angry and clasping the Pandava, sent forth a terrible yell. The mighty +Bhima then dragged with force the Rakshasa to a greater distance, lest +his yells should awaken his brothers sleeping in comfort. Clasping and +dragging each other with great force, both Hidimva and Bhimasena put +forth their prowess. Fighting like two full-grown elephants mad with +rage, they then began to break down the trees and tear the creepers that +grew around. And at those sounds, those tigers among men (the sleeping +Pandavas) woke up with their mother, and saw Hidimva sitting before +them.’” + + + +SECTION CLVI + +(Hidimva-vadha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Roused from sleep, those tigers among men, with +their mother, beholding the extraordinary beauty of Hidimva, were filled +with wonder. And Kunti, gazing at her with wonder at her beauty, +addressed her sweetly and gave her every assurance. She asked, ‘O thou of +the splendour of a daughter of the celestials, whose art thou and who art +thou? O thou of the fairest complexion, on what business hast thou come +hither and whence hast thou come? If thou art the deity of these woods or +an Apsara, tell me all regarding thyself and also why thou stayest here?’ +Thereupon Hidimva replied, ‘This extensive forest that thou seest, of the +hue of blue cloud, is the abode of a Rakshasa of the name of Hidimva. O +handsome lady, know me as the sister of that chief of the Rakshasa. +Revered dame, I had been sent by that brother of mine to kill thee with +all thy children. But on arriving here at the command of that cruel +brother of mine, I beheld thy mighty son. Then, O blessed lady, I was +brought under the control of thy son by the deity of love who pervadeth +the nature of every being, and I then (mentally) chose that mighty son of +thine as my husband. I tried my best to convey you hence, but I could not +(because of thy son’s opposition). Then the cannibal, seeing my delay, +came hither to kill all these thy children. But he hath been dragged +hence with force by that mighty and intelligent son of thine--my husband. +Behold now that couple--man and Rakshasa--both endued with great strength +and prowess, engaged in combat, grinding each other and filling the whole +region with their shouts.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing those words of hers, Yudhishthira +suddenly rose up and Arjuna also and Nakula and Sahadeva of great energy +and they beheld Bhima and the Rakshasa already engaged in fight, eager to +overcome each other and dragging each other with great force, like two +lions endued with great might. The dust raised by their feet in +consequence of that encounter looked like the smoke of a +forest-conflagration. Covered with that dust their huge bodies resembled +two tall cliffs enveloped in mist. Then Arjuna, beholding Bhima rather +oppressed in the fight by the Rakshasa, slowly, said with smiles on his +lips, ‘Fear not, O Bhima of mighty arms! We (had been asleep and +therefore) knew not that thou wast engaged with a terrible Rakshasa and +tired in fight. Here do I stand to help thee, let me slay the Rakshasa, +and let Nakula and Sahadeva protect our mother.’ Hearing him, Bhima said, +‘Look on this encounter, O brother, like a stranger. Fear not for the +result. Having come within the reach of my arms, he shall not escape with +life.’ Then Arjuna said, ‘What need, O Bhima, for keeping the Rakshasa +alive so long? O oppressor of enemies, we are to go hence, and cannot +stay here longer. The east is reddening, the morning twilight is about to +set in. The Rakshasa became stronger by break of day, therefore, hasten, +O Bhima! Play not (with thy victim), but slay the terrible Rakshasa soon. +During the two twilights Rakshasas always put forth their powers of +deception. Use all the strength of thy arms. + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘At this speech of Arjuna, Bhima blazing up with +anger, summoned the might that Vayu (his father) puts forth at the time +of the universal dissolution. And filled with rage, he quickly raised +high in the air the Rakshasa’s body, blue as the clouds of heaven, and +whirled it a hundred times. Then addressing the cannibal, Bhima said, ‘O +Rakshasa, thy intelligence was given thee in vain, and in vain hast thou +grown and thriven on unsanctified flesh. Thou deservest, therefore, an +unholy death and I shall reduce thee today to nothing. I shall make this +forest blessed today, like one without prickly plants. And, O Rakshasa, +thou shalt no longer slay human beings for thy food.’ Arjuna at this +juncture, said, ‘O Bhima, if thou thinkest it a hard task for thee to +overcome this Rakshasa in combat, let me render thee help, else, slay him +thyself without loss of time. Or, O Vrikodara, let me alone slay the +Rakshasa. Thou art tired, and hast almost finished the affair. Well dost +thou deserve rest.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of Arjuna, Bhima was fired +with rage and dashing the Rakshasa on the ground with all his might slew +him as if he were an animal. The Rakshasa, while dying, sent forth a +terrible yell that filled the whole forest, and was deep as the sound of +a wet drum. Then the mighty Bhima, holding the body with his hands, bent +it double, and breaking it in the middle, greatly gratified his brothers. +Beholding Hidimva slain, they became exceedingly glad and lost no time in +offering their congratulations to Bhima, that chastiser of all foes. Then +Arjuna worshipping the illustrious Bhima of terrible prowess, addressed +him again and said, ‘Revered senior, I think there is a town not far off +from this forest. Blest be thou, let us go hence soon, so that Duryodhana +may not trace us.’ + +“Then all those mighty car-warriors, those tigers among men, saying, ‘So +be it,’ proceeded along with their mother, followed by Hidimva, the +Rakshasa woman.’” + + + +SECTION CLVII + +(Hidimva-vadha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Bhima, beholding Hidimva following them, addressed +her, saying, ‘Rakshasas revenge themselves on their enemies by adopting +deceptions that are incapable of being penetrated. Therefore, O Hidimva, +go thou the way on which thy brother hath gone.’ Then Yudhishthira +beholding Bhima in rage, said, ‘O Bhima, O tiger among men, however +enraged, do not slay a woman. O Pandava, the observance of virtue is a +higher duty than the protection of life. Hidimva, who had come with the +object of slaying us, thou hast already slain. This woman is the sister +of that Rakshasa, what can she do to us even if she were angry?’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Hidimva reverentially saluting Kunti and +her son Yudhishthira also, said, with joined palms, ‘O revered lady, thou +knowest the pangs that women are made to feel at the hands of the deity +of love. Blessed dame, these pangs, of which Bhimasena hath been the +cause, are torturing me. I had hitherto borne these insufferable pangs, +waiting for the time (when thy son could assuage them). That time is now +come, when I expected I would be made happy. Casting off my friends and +relations and the usage of my race, I have, O blessed lady, chosen this +son of thine, this tiger among men, as my husband. I tell thee truly, O +illustrious lady, that if I am cast off by that hero or by thee either, I +will no longer bear this life of mine. Therefore, O thou of the fairest +complexion, it behoveth thee to show me mercy, thinking me either as very +silly or thy obedient slave. O illustrious dame, unite me with this thy +son, my husband. Endued as he is with the form of a celestial, let me go +taking him with me wherever I like. Trust me, O blessed lady, I will +again bring him back unto you all. When you think of me I will come to +you immediately and convey you whithersoever ye may command. I will +rescue you from all dangers and carry you across inaccessible and uneven +regions. I will carry you on my back whenever ye desire to proceed with +swiftness. O, be gracious unto me and make Bhima accept me. It hath been +said that in a season of distress one should protect one’s life by any +means. He, that seeketh to discharge that duty should not scruple about +the means. He, that in a season of distress keepeth his virtue, is the +foremost of virtuous men. Indeed, distress is the greatest danger to +virtue and virtuous men. It is virtue that protecteth life; therefore is +virtue called the giver of life. Hence the means by which virtue or the +observance of a duty is secured can never be censurable.’ + +“Hearing these words of Hidimva, Yudhishthira said. ‘It is even so, O +Hidimva, as thou sayest. There is no doubt of it. But, O thou of slender +waist, thou must act even as thou hast said. Bhima will, after he hath +washed himself and said his prayers and performed the usual propitiatory +rites, pay his attentions to thee till the sun sets. Sport thou with him +as thou likest during the day, O thou that art endued with the speed of +the mind! But thou must bring back Bhimasena hither every day at +nightfall.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Bhima, expressing his assent to all that +Yudhishthira said, addressed Hidimva, saying, ‘Listen to me, O Rakshasa +woman! Truly do I make this engagement with thee that I will stay with +thee, O thou of slender waist, until thou obtainest a son.’ Then Hidimva, +saying, ‘So be it,’ took Bhima upon her body and sped through the sides. +On mountain peaks of picturesque scenery and regions sacred to the gods, +abounding with dappled herds and echoing with the melodies of feathered +tribes, herself assuming the handsomest form decked with every ornament +and pouring forth at times mellifluous strains. Hidimva sported with the +Pandava and studied to make him happy. So also, in inaccessible regions +of forests, and on mountain-breasts overgrown with blossoming trees on +lakes resplendent with lotuses and lilies, islands of rivers and their +pebbly banks, on sylvan streams with beautiful banks and +mountain-currents, in picturesque woods with blossoming trees and +creepers in Himalayan bowers, and various caves, on crystal pools smiling +with lotuses, on sea-shores shining with gold and pearls, in beautiful +towns and fine gardens, in woods sacred to the gods and on hill-sides, in +the regions of Guhyakas and ascetics, on the banks of Manasarovara +abounding with fruits and flowers of every season Hidimva, assuming the +handsomest form, sported with Bhima and studied to make him happy. Endued +with the speed of the mind, she sported with Bhima in all these regions, +till in time, she conceived and brought forth a mighty son begotten upon +her by the Pandava. Of terrible eyes and large mouth and straight arrowy +ears, the child was terrible to behold. Of lips brown as copper and sharp +teeth and loud roar, of mighty arms and great strength and excessive +prowess, this child became a mighty bowman. Of long nose, broad chest, +frightfully swelling calves, celerity of motion and excessive strength, +he had nothing human in his countenance, though born of man. And he +excelled (in strength and prowess) all Pisachas and kindred tribes as +well as all Rakshasas. And, O monarch, though a little child, he grew up +a youth the very hour he was born. The mighty hero soon acquired high +proficiency in the use of all weapons. The Rakshasa women bring forth the +very day they conceive, and capable of assuming any forms at will, they +always change their forms. And the bald-headed child, that mighty bowman, +soon after his birth, bowing down to his mother, touched her feet and the +feet also of his father. His parents then bestowed upon him a name. His +mother having remarked that his head was (bald) like unto a Ghata +(water-pot), both his parents thereupon called him Ghatotkacha (the +pot-headed). And Ghatotkacha who was exceedingly devoted to the Pandavas, +became a great favourite with them, indeed almost one of them. + +“Then Hidimva, knowing that the period of her stay (with her husband) had +come to an end, saluted the Pandavas and making a new appointment with +them went away whithersoever she liked. And Ghatotkacha also--that +foremost of Rakshasas--promising unto his father that he would come when +wanted on business, saluted them and went away northward. Indeed, it was +the illustrious Indra who created (by lending a portion of himself) the +mighty car-warrior Ghatotkacha as a fit antagonist of Karna of unrivalled +energy, in consequence of the dart he had given unto Karna (and which was +sure to kill the person against whom it would be hurled).’” + + + +SECTION CLVIII + +(Hidimva-vadha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Those mighty car-warriors, the heroic Pandavas, then +went, O king, from forest to forest killing deer and many animals (for +their food). And in the course of their wanderings they saw the countries +of the Matsyas, the Trigartas, the Panchalas and then of the Kichakas, +and also many beautiful woods and lakes therein. And they all had matted +locks on their heads and were attired in barks of trees and the skins of +animals. Indeed, with Kunti in their company those illustrious heroes +were attired in the garbs of ascetics. And those mighty car-warriors +sometimes proceeded in haste, carrying their mother on their backs; and +sometimes they proceeded in disguise, and sometimes again with great +celerity. And they used to study the Rik and the other Vedas and also all +the Vedangas as well as the sciences of morals and politics. And the +Pandavas, conversant with the science of morals, met, in course of their +wanderings their grandfather (Vyasa). And saluting the illustrious +Krishna-Dwaipayana, those chastisers of enemies, with their mother, stood +before him with joined hands.’ + +“Vyasa then said, ‘Ye bulls of Bharata’s race, I knew beforehand of this +affliction of yours consisting in your deceitful exile by the son of +Dhritarashtra. Knowing this, I have come to you, desirous of doing you +some great good. Do not grieve for what hath befallen you. Know that all +this is for your happiness. Undoubtedly, the sons of Dhritarashtra and +you are all equal in my eye. But men are always partial to those who are +in misfortune or of tender years. It is therefore, that my affection for +you is greater now. And in consequence of that affection, I desire to do +you good. Listen to me! Not far off before you is a delightful town where +no danger can overtake you. Live ye there in disguise, waiting for my +return.’ + +‘Vaisampayana continued, ‘Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, thus comforting +the Pandavas, led them into the town of Ekachakra. And the master also +comforted Kunti, saying, ‘Live, O daughter! This son of thine, +Yudhishthira, ever devoted to truth, this illustrious bull among men, +having by his justice conquered the whole world, will rule over all the +other monarchs of the earth. There is little doubt that, having by means +of Bhima’s and Arjuna’s prowess conquered the whole earth with her belt +of seas, he will enjoy the sovereignty thereof. Thy sons as well as those +of Madri--mighty car-warriors all--will cheerfully sport as pleaseth them +in their dominions. These tigers among men will also perform various +sacrifices, such as the Rajasuya and the horse-sacrifice, in which the +presents unto the Brahmanas are very large. And these thy sons will rule +their ancestral kingdom, maintaining their friends and relatives in +luxury and affluence and happiness.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘With these words Vyasa introduced them into the +dwelling of a Brahmana. And the island-born Rishi, addressing the eldest +of the Pandavas, said, ‘Wait here for me! I will come back to you! By +adapting yourselves to the country and the occasion you will succeed in +becoming very happy.’ + +“Then, O king, the Pandavas with joined hands said unto the Rishi, ‘So be +it.’ And the illustrious master, the Rishi Vyasa, then went away to the +region whence he had come.’” + + + +SECTION CLIX + +(Vaka-vadha Parva) + +“Janamejaya asked, ‘O first of Brahmanas, what did the Pandavas, those +mighty car-warriors, the sons of Kunti, do after arriving at Ekachakra?’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Those mighty car-warriors, the sons of Kunti, on +arriving at Ekachakra, lived for a short time in the abode of a Brahmana. +Leading an eleemosynary life, they behold (in course of their wanderings) +various delightful forests and earthly regions, and many rivers and +lakes, and they became great favourites of the inhabitants of that town +in consequence of their own accomplishments. At nightfall they placed +before Kunti all they gathered in their mendicant tours, and Kunti used +to divide the whole amongst them, each taking what was allotted to him. +And those heroic chastisers of foes, with their mother, together took one +moiety of the whole, while the mighty Bhima alone took the other moiety. +In this way, O bull of Bharata’s race, the illustrious Pandavas lived +there for some time. + +“One day, while those bulls of the Bharata race were out on their tour of +mendicancy, it so happened that Bhima was (at home) with (his mother) +Pritha. That day, O Bharata, Kunti heard a loud and heart-rending wail of +sorrow coming from within the apartments of the Brahmana. Hearing the +inmates of the Brahmana’s house wailing and indulging in piteous +lamentations, Kunti, O king, from compassion and the goodness of her +heart, could not bear it with indifference. Afflicted with sorrow, the +amiable Pritha, addressing Bhima, said these words full of compassion. +‘Our woes assuaged, we are, O son, living happily in the house of this +Brahmana, respected by him and unknown to Dhritarashtra’s son. O son, I +always think of the good I should do to this Brahmana, like what they do +that live happily in others’ abodes! O child, he is a true man upon whom +favours are never lost. He payeth back to others more than what he +receiveth at their hands. There is no doubt, some affliction hath +overtaken this Brahmana. If we could be of any help to him, we should +then be requiting his services.’ + +“Hearing these words of his mother, Bhima said, ‘Ascertain, O mother the +nature of the Brahmana’s distress and whence also it hath arisen. +Learning all about it, relieve it I will however difficult may the task +prove.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued ‘While mother and son were thus talking with each +other, they heard again, O king, another wail of sorrow proceeding from +the Brahmana and his wife. Then Kunti quickly entered the inner +apartments of that illustrious Brahmana, like unto a cow running towards +her tethered calf. She beheld the Brahmana with his wife, son and +daughter, sitting with a woeful face, and she heard the Brahmana say, +‘Oh, fie on this earthly life which is hollow as the reed and so +fruitless after all which is based on sorrow and hath no freedom, and +which hath misery for its lot! Life is sorrow and disease; life is truly +a record of misery! The soul is one: but it hath to pursue virtue, wealth +and pleasure. And because these are pursued at one and the same time, +there frequently occurs a disagreement that is the source of much misery. +Some say that salvation is the highest object of our desire. But I +believe it can never be attained. The acquisition of wealth is hell; the +pursuit of wealth is attended with misery; there is more misery after one +has acquired it, for one loves one’s possessions, and if any mishap +befalls them, the possessor becomes afflicted with woe. I do not see by +what means I can escape from this danger, nor how I can fly hence, with +my wife to some region free from danger. Remember, O wife, that I +endeavoured to migrate to some other place where we would be happy, but +thou didst not then listen to me. Though frequently solicited by me, +thou, O simple woman, said to me, ‘I have been born here, and here have I +grown old; this is my ancestral homestead.’ Thy venerable father, O wife, +and thy mother also, have, a long time ago, ascended to heaven. Thy +relations also had all been dead. Oh why then didst thou yet like to live +here? Led by affection for thy relatives thou didst not then hear what I +said. But the time is now come when thou art to witness the death of a +relative. Oh, how sad is that spectacle for me! Or perhaps the time is +come for my own death, for I shall never be able to abandon cruelly one +of my own as long as I myself am alive. Thou art my helpmate in all good +deeds, self-denying and always affectionate unto me as a mother. The gods +have given thee to me as a true friend and thou art ever my prime stay. +Thou hast, by my parents, been made the participator in my domestic +concerns. Thou art of pure lineage and good disposition, the mother of +children, devoted to me, and so innocent; having chosen and wedded thee +with due rites, I cannot abandon thee, my wife, so constant in thy vows, +to save my life. How shall I myself be able to sacrifice my son a child +of tender years and yet without the hirsute appendages (of manhood)? How +shall I sacrifice my daughter whom I have begotten myself, who hath been +placed, as a pledge, in my hands by the Creator himself for bestowal on a +husband and through whom I hope to enjoy, along with my ancestors, the +regions attainable by those only that have daughters’ sons? Some people +think that the father’s affection for a son is greater; others, that his +affection for a daughter is greater, mine, however, is equal. How can I +be prepared to give up the innocent daughter upon whom rest the regions +of bliss obtainable by me in after life and my own lineage and perpetual +happiness? If, again, I sacrifice myself and go to the other world, I +should scarcely know any peace, for, indeed, it is evident that, left by +me these would not be able to support life. The sacrifice of any of these +would be cruel and censurable. On the other hand, if I sacrifice myself, +these, without me, will certainly perish. The distress into which I have +fallen is great; nor do I know the means of escape. Alas, what course +shall I take today with my near ones. It is well that I should die with +all these, for I can live no longer.’” + + + +SECTION CLX + +(Vaka-vadha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, “On hearing these words of the Brahmana, his wife +said, ‘Thou shouldst not, O Brahmana, grieve like an ordinary man. Nor is +this the time for mourning. Thou hast learning; thou knowest that all men +are sure to die; none should grieve for that which is inevitable. Wife, +son, and daughter, all these are sought for one’s own self. As thou art +possessed of a good understanding, kill thou thy sorrows. I will myself +go there. This indeed, is the highest and the eternal duty of a woman, +viz., that by sacrificing her life she should seek the good of her +husband. Such an act done by me will make thee happy, and bring me fame +in this world and eternal bliss hereafter. This, indeed, is the highest +virtue that I tell thee, and thou mayest, by this, acquire both virtue +and happiness. The object for which one desireth a wife hath already been +achieved by thee through me. I have borne thee a daughter and a son and +thus been freed from the debt I had owed thee. Thou art well able to +support and cherish the children, but I however, can never support and +cherish them like thee. Thou art my life, wealth, and lord; bereft of +thee, how shall these children of tender years--how also shall I myself, +exist? Widowed and masterless, with two children depending on me, how +shall I, without thee, keep alive the pair, myself leading an honest +life? If the daughter of thine is solicited (in marriage) by persons +dishonourable and vain and unworthy of contracting an alliance with thee, +how shall I be able to protect the girl? Indeed, as birds seek with +avidity for meat that hath been thrown away on the ground, so do men +solicit a woman that hath lost her husband. O best of Brahmanas, +solicited by wicked men, I may waver and may not be able to continue in +the path that is desired by all honest men. How shall I be able to place +this sole daughter of thy house--this innocent girl--in the way along +which her ancestors have always walked? How shall I then be able to +impart unto this child every desirable accomplishment to make him +virtuous as thyself, in that season of want when I shall become +masterless? Overpowering myself who shall be masterless, unworthy persons +will demand (the hand of) this daughter of thine, like Sudras desiring to +hear the Vedas. And if I bestow not upon them this girl possessing thy +blood and qualities, they may even take her away by force, like crows +carrying away the sacrificial butter. And beholding thy son become so +unlike to thee, and thy daughter placed under the control of some +unworthy persons, I shall be despised in the world by even persons that +are dishonourable, and I will certainly die. These children also, bereft +of me and thee, their father, will, I doubt not, perish like fish when +the water drieth up. There is no doubt that bereft of thee the three will +perish: therefore it behoveth thee to sacrifice me. O Brahmana, persons +conversant with morals have said that for women that have borne children, +to predecease their lords is an act of the highest merit. Ready am I to +abandon this son and this daughter, these my relations, and life itself, +for thee. For a woman to be ever employed in doing agreeable offices to +her lord is a higher duty than sacrifices, asceticism, vows, and +charities of every description. The act, therefore, which I intend to +perform is consonant with the highest virtue and is for thy good and that +of thy race. The wise have declared that children and relatives and wife +and all things held dear are cherished for the purpose of liberating +one’s self from danger and distress. One must guard one’s wealth for +freeing one’s self from danger, and it is by his wealth that he should +cherish and protect his wife. But he must protect his own self both by +(means of) his wife and his wealth. The learned have enunciated the truth +that one’s wife, son, wealth, and house, are acquired with the intention +of providing against accidents, foreseen or unforeseen. The wise have +also said that all one’s relations weighed against one’s own self would +not be equal unto one’s self. Therefore, revered sir, protect thy own +self by abandoning me. O, give me leave to sacrifice myself, and cherish +thou my children. Those that are conversant with the morals have, in +their treatises, said, that women should never be slaughtered and that +Rakshasas are not ignorant of the rules of morality. Therefore, while it +is certain that the Rakshasa will kill a man, it is doubtful whether he +will kill a woman. It behoveth thee, therefore, being conversant with the +rules of morality, to place me before the Rakshasa. I have enjoyed much +happiness, have obtained much that is agreeable to me, and have also +acquired great religious merit. I have also obtained from thee children +that are so dear to me. Therefore, it grieveth not me to die. I have +borne thee children and have also grown old; I am ever desirous of doing +good to thee; remembering all these I have come to this resolution. O +revered sir, abandoning me thou mayest obtain another wife. By her thou +mayest again acquire religious merit. There is no sin in this. For a man +polygamy is an act of merit, but for a woman it is very sinful to betake +herself to a second husband after the first. Considering all this, and +remembering too that sacrifice of thy own self is censurable, O, liberate +today without loss of time thy own self, thy race, and these thy children +(by abandoning me).’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by her, O Bharata, the Brahmana +embraced her, and they both began to weep in silence, afflicted with +grief.’” + + + +SECTION CLXI + +(Vaka-vadha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘On hearing these words of her afflicted parents, the +daughter was filled with grief, and she addressed them, saying, ‘Why are +you so afflicted and why do you so weep, as if you have none to look +after you? O, listen to me and do what may be proper. There is little +doubt that you are bound in duty to abandon me at a certain time. Sure to +abandon me once, O, abandon me now and save every thing at the expense of +me alone. Men desire to have children, thinking that children would save +them (in this world as well as in the region hereafter). O, cross the +stream of your difficulties by means of my poor self, as if I were a +raft. A child rescueth his parents in this and the other regions; +therefore is the child called by the learned Putra (rescuer). The +ancestors desire daughter’s sons from me (as a special means of +salvation). But (without waiting for my children) I myself will rescue +them by protecting the life of my father. This my brother is of tender +years, so there is little doubt that he will perish if thou diest now. If +thou, my father, diest and my brother followeth thee, the funeral cake of +the Pitris will be suspended and they will be greatly injured. Left +behind by my father and brother, and by my mother also (for she will not +survive her husband and son) I shall be plunged deeper and deeper in woe +and ultimately perish in great distress. There can be little doubt that +if thou escape from this danger as also my mother and infant brother, +then thy race and the (ancestral) cake will be perpetuated. The son is +one’s own self; the wife is one’s friend; the daughter, however, is the +source of trouble. Do thou save thyself, therefore, by removing that +source of trouble, and do thou thereby set me in the path of virtue. As I +am a girl, O father, destitute of thee, I shall be helpless and plunged +in woe, and shall have to go everywhere. It is therefore that I am +resolved to rescue my father’s race and share the merit of that act by +accomplishing this difficult task. If thou, O best of Brahmanas, goest +thither (unto the Rakshasa), leaving me here, then I shall be very much +pained. Therefore, O father, be kind to me. O thou best of men, for our +sake, for that of virtue and also thy race, save thyself, abandoning me, +whom at one time thou shall be constrained to part from. There need be no +delay, O father, in doing that which is inevitable. What can be more +painful than that, when thou hast ascended to heaven, we shall have to go +about begging our food, like dogs, from strangers. But if thou art +rescued with thy relations from these difficulties, I shall then live +happily in the region of the celestials. It hath been heard by us that if +after bestowing thy daughter in this way, thou offerest oblations to the +gods and the celestials, they will certainly be propitious.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The Brahmana and his wife, hearing these +various lamentations of their daughter, became sadder than before and the +three began to weep together. Their son, then, of tender years, beholding +them and their daughter thus weeping together, lisped these words in a +sweet tone, his eyes having dilated with delight, ‘Weep not, O father, +nor thou, O mother, nor thou O sister!’ And smilingly did the child +approach each of them, and at last taking up a blade of grass said in +glee, ‘With this will I slay the Rakshasa who eateth human beings!’ +Although all of them had been plunged in woe, yet hearing what the child +lisped so sweetly, joy appeared on their faces. Then Kunti thinking that +to be the proper opportunity, approached the group and said these words. +Indeed, her words revived them as nectar reviveth a person that is dead.’” + + + +SECTION CLXII + +(Vaka-vadha Parva continued) + +‘Kunti said, ‘I desire to learn from you the cause of this grief, for I +will remove it, if possible.’ + +“The Brahmana replied, ‘O thou of ascetic wealth, thy speech is, indeed +worthy of thee. But this grief is incapable of being removed by any human +being. Not far from this town, there liveth a Rakshasa of the name of +Vaka, which cannibal is the lord of this country and town. Thriving on +human flesh, that wretched Rakshasa endued with great strength ruleth +this country. He being the chief of the Asuras, this town and the country +in which it is situate are protected by his might. We have no fear from +the machinations of any enemy, or indeed from any living soul. The fee, +however, fixed for that cannibal is his food, which consists of a +cart-load of rice, two buffaloes, and a human being who conveyeth them +unto him. One after another, the house-holders have to send him this +food. The turn, however, cometh to a particular family at intervals of +many long years. If there are any that seek to avoid it, the Rakshasa +slayeth them with their children and wives and devoureth them all. There +is, in this country, a city called Vetrakiya, where liveth the king of +these territories. He is ignorant of the science of government, and +possessed of little intelligence, he adopts not with care any measure by +which these territories may be rendered safe for all time to come. But we +certainly deserve it all, inasmuch as we live within the dominion of that +wretched and weak monarch in perpetual anxiety. Brahmanas can never be +made to dwell permanently within the dominions of any one, for they are +dependent on nobody, they live rather like birds ranging all countries in +perfect freedom. It hath been said that one must secure a (good) king, +then a wife, and then wealth. It is by the acquisition of these three +that one can rescue his relatives and sons. But as regards the +acquisition of these three, the course of my actions hath been the +reverse. Hence, plunged into a sea of danger, am suffering sorely. That +turn, destructive of one’s family, hath now devolved upon me. I shall +have to give unto the Rakshasa as his fee the food of the aforesaid +description and one human being to boot. I have no wealth to buy a man +with. I cannot by any means consent to part with any one of my family, +nor do I see any way of escape from (the clutches of) that Rakshasa. I am +now sunk in an ocean of grief from which there is no escape. I shall go +to that Rakshasa today, attended by all my family in order that that +wretch might devour us all at once’” + + + +SECTION CLXIII + +(Vaka-vadha Parva continued) + +“Kunti said, Grieve not at all, O Brahmana, on account of this danger. I +see a way by which to rescue thee from that Rakshasa. Thou hast only one +son, who, besides, is of very tender years, also only one daughter, young +and helpless, so I do not like that any of these, or thy wife, or even +thyself should go unto the Rakshasa. I have five sons, O Brahmana, let +one of them go, carrying in thy behalf tribute of that Rakshasa.’ + +“Hearing this, the Brahmana replied, ‘To save my own life I shall never +suffer this to be done. I shall never sacrifice, to save myself, the life +of a Brahmana or of a guest. Indeed, even those that are of low origin +and of sinful practices refuse to do (what thou askest me to do). It is +said that one should sacrifice one’s self and one’s offspring for the +benefit of a Brahmana. I regard this advice excellent and I like to +follow it too. When I have to choose between the death of a Brahmana and +that of my own, I would prefer the latter. The killing of a Brahmana is +the highest sin, and there is no expiation for it. I think a reluctant +sacrifice of one’s own self is better than the reluctant sacrifice of a +Brahmana. O blessed lady, in sacrificing myself I do not become guilty of +self-destruction. No sin can attach to me when another will take my life. +But if I deliberately consent to the death of a Brahmana, it would be a +cruel and sinful act, from the consequence of which there is no escape. +The learned have said that the abandonment of one who hath come to thy +house or sought thy protection, as also the killing of one who seeketh +death at thy hands, is both cruel and sinful. The illustrious among those +conversant with practices allowable in seasons of distress, have before +now said that one should never perform an act that is cruel and +censurable. It is well for me that I should today perish myself with my +wife, but I would never sanction the death of a Brahmana.’ + +“Kunti said, ‘I too am firmly of opinion, O Brahmana, that Brahmanas +should ever be protected. As regards myself, no son of mine would be less +dear to me even if I had a hundred instead of the five I have. But this +Rakshasa will not be able to kill my son, for that son of mine is endued +with great prowess and energy, and skilled in mantras. He will faithfully +deliver to the Rakshasa his food, but will, I know to a certainty, rescue +himself. I have seen before many mighty Rakshasas of huge bodies engaged +in combat with my heroic son and killed too by him. But, O Brahmana, do +not disclose this fact to anybody, for if it be known, persons desirous +of obtaining this power, will, from curiosity, always trouble my sons. +The wise have said that if my son imparteth any knowledge, without the +assent of his preceptor, unto any person, my son himself will no longer +be able to profit by that knowledge.’ + +“Thus addressed by Pritha, the Brahmana with his wife became exceedingly +glad and assented to Kunti’s speech, which was unto them as nectar. Then +Kunti, accompanied by the Brahmana, went unto the son of Vayu (Bhima) and +asked him to accomplish (that difficult task). Bhima replied unto them, +saying, ‘So be it.’” + + + +SECTION CLXIV + +(Vaka-vadha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘After Bhima had pledged himself to accomplish the +task, saying, ‘I will do it,’ the Pandavas, O Bharata, returned home with +the alms they had obtained during the day. Then Yudhishthira, the son of +Pandu from Bhima’s countenance alone, suspected the nature of the task he +had undertaken to accomplish. Sitting by the side of his mother, +Yudhishthira asked her in private, ‘What is the task, O mother, that +Bhima of terrible prowess seeketh to accomplish? Doth he do so at thy +command or of his own accord?’ Kunti replied, ‘Bhima, that chastiser of +foes, will at my command, do this great deed for the good of the Brahmana +and the liberation of this town.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘What rash act hast thou done, O mother! It is +difficult of being performed and almost amounteth to suicide! The learned +never applaud the abandonment of one’s own child. Why dost thou, O +mother, wish to sacrifice thy own child for the sake of another’s? Thou +hast, O mother, by this abandonment of thy child, acted not only against +the course of human practices but also against the teachings of the +Vedas, That Bhima, relying on whose arms we sleep happily in the night +and hope to recover the kingdom of which we have been deprived by the +covetous son of Dhritarashtra, that hero of immeasurable energy, +remembering whose prowess Duryodhana and Sakuni do not sleep a wink +during the whole night and by whose prowess we were rescued from the +palace of lac and various other dangers, that Bhima who caused the death +of Purochana, and relying on whose might we regard ourselves as having +already slain the sons of Dhritarashtra and acquired the whole earth with +all her wealth, upon what considerations, O mother, hast thou resolved +upon abandoning him? Hast thou been deprived of thy reason? Hath thy +understanding been clouded by the calamities thou hast undergone?’ + +“On hearing these words of her son, Kunti said, ‘O Yudhishthira, thou +needst not be at all anxious on account of Vrikodara. I have not come to +this resolve owing to any weakness of understanding. Respected by him, +and with our sorrows assuaged, we have, O son, been living in the house +of this Brahmana, unknown to the sons of Dhritarashtra. For requiting, O +son, that Brahmana, I have resolved to do this. He, indeed, is a man upon +whom good offices are never lost. The measure of his requital becometh +greater than the measure of the services he receiveth. Beholding the +prowess of Bhima on the occasion of (our escape from) the house of lac, +and from the destruction also of Hidimva, my confidence in Vrikodara is +great. The might of Bhima’s arms is equal unto that of ten thousand +elephants. It was, therefore, that he succeeded in carrying you all, each +heavy as an elephant, from Varanavata. There is no one on earth equal +unto Bhima in might; he may even overcome that foremost of warriors, the +holder of the thunderbolt himself. Soon after his birth he fell from my +lap on the breast of the mountain. By the weight of his body the mass of +stone on which he fell down broke in pieces. From this also, O son of +Pandu, I have come to know Bhima’s might. For this reason have I resolved +to set him against the Brahmana’s foe. I have not acted in this from +foolishness or ignorance or from motive of gain. I have deliberately +resolved to do this virtuous deed. By this act, O Yudhishthira, two +objects will be accomplished; one is a requital of the services rendered +by the Brahmana and the other is the acquisition of high religious merit. +It is my conviction that the Kshatriya who rendereth help unto a Brahmana +in anything acquireth regions of bliss hereafter. So also a Kshatriya who +saveth the life of a Kshatriya achieveth that great fame in this world as +in the other. A Kshatriya rendering help unto a Vaisya also on this earth +certainly acquires world-wide popularity. One of the kingly tribe should +protect even the Sudra who cometh to him for protection. If he doeth so, +in his next life he receiveth his birth in a royal line, commanding +prosperity and the respect of other kings. O scion of Puru’s race, the +illustrious Vyasa of wisdom acquired by hard ascetic toil told me so in +bygone days. It is therefore, that I have resolved upon accomplishing +this.’” + + + +SECTION CLXV + +(Vaka-vadha Parva continued) + +“Having heard these words of his mother, Yudhishthira said, ‘What thou, O +mother, hast deliberately done, moved by compassion for the afflicted +Brahmana, is, indeed, excellent Bhima will certainly come back with life, +after having slain the cannibal, inasmuch as thou art, O mother, always +compassionate unto Brahmanas. But tell the Brahmana, O mother, that he +doth not do anything whereby the dwellers in this town may know all about +it, and make him promise to keep thy request.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then, when the night passed away, Bhimasena, +the son of Pandu, taking with him the Rakshasa’s food set out for the +place where the cannibal lived. The mighty son of Pandu, approaching the +forest where the Rakshasa dwelt, began to eat himself the food he +carried, calling loudly to the Rakshasa by name. The Rakshasa, inflamed +with anger at Bhima’s words, came out and approached the place where +Bhima was. + +“Of huge body and great strength, of red eyes, red beard, and red hair, +he was terrible to behold, and he came, pressing deep the earth with his +tread. The opening of his mouth, was from ear to ear and his ears +themselves were straight as arrows. Of grim visage, he had a forehead +furrowed into three lines. Beholding Bhima eating his food, the Rakshasa +advanced, biting his nether lip and expanding his eyes in wrath. And +addressing Bhima he said, ‘Who is this fool, who desiring to go to the +abode of Yama, eateth in my very sight the food intended for me?’ Hearing +these words, Bhima, O Bharata, smiled in derision and disregarding the +Rakshasa, continued eating with averted face. Beholding this, the +cannibal uttered a frightful yell and with both arms upraised ran at +Bhima desiring to kill him, there and then. Even then disregarding the +Rakshasa and casting only a single glance at him, Vrikodara, that slayer +of hostile heroes continued to eat the Rakshasa’s food. Filled with wrath +at this, the Rakshasa struck, from behind with both his arms a heavy blow +on the back of Vrikodara, the son of Kunti. But Bhima, though struck +heavily by the mighty Rakshasa, with both his hands, did not even look up +at the Rakshasa but continued to eat as before. Then the mighty Rakshasa, +inflamed with wrath, tore up a tree and ran at Bhima for striking him +again. Meanwhile the mighty Bhima, that bull among men had leisurely +eaten up the whole of that food and washing himself stood cheerfully for +fight. Then, O Bharata, possessed of great energy, Bhima, smiling in +derision, caught with his left hand the tree hurled at him by the +Rakshasa in wrath. Then that mighty Rakshasa, tearing up many more trees, +hurled them at Bhima, and the Pandava also hurled as many at the +Rakshasa. Then, O king, the combat with trees between that human being +and the Rakshasa, became so terrible that the region around soon became +destitute of trees. Then the Rakshasa, saying that he was none else than +Vaka, sprang upon the Pandava and seized the mighty Bhima with his arms. +That mighty hero also clasping with his own strong arms the strong-armed +Rakshasa, and exerting himself actively, began to drag him violently. +Dragged by Bhima and dragging Bhima also, the cannibal was overcome with +great fatigue. The earth began to tremble in consequence of the strength +they both exerted, and large trees that stood there broke in pieces. Then +Bhima, beholding the cannibal overcome with fatigue, pressed him down on +the earth with his knees and began to strike him with great force. Then +placing one knee on the middle of the Rakshasa’s back, Bhima seized his +neck with his right hand and the cloth on his waist with his left, and +bent him double with great force. The cannibal then roared frightfully. +And, O monarch, he also began to vomit blood while he was being thus +broken on Bhima’s knee.’” + + + +SECTION CLXVI + +(Vaka-vadha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said ‘Then Vaka, huge as a mountain, thus broken (on +Bhima’s knee), died, uttering frightful yells. Terrified by these sounds, +the relatives of that Rakshasa came out, O king, with their attendants. +Bhima, that foremost of smiters, seeing them so terrified and deprived of +reason, comforted them and made them promise (to give up cannibalism), +saying, ‘Do not ever again kill human beings. If ye kill men, ye will +have to die even as Vaka.’ Those Rakshasas hearing this speech of Bhima, +said, ‘So be it,’ and gave, O king, the desired promise. From that day, O +Bharata, the Rakshasas (of the region) were seen by the inhabitants of +that town to be very peaceful towards mankind. Then Bhima, dragging the +lifeless cannibal, placed him at one of the gates of the town and went +away unobserved by any one. The kinsmen of Vaka, beholding him slain by +the might of Bhima, became frightened and fled in different directions. + +“Meanwhile Bhima, having slain the Rakshasa, returned to the Brahmana’s +abode and related to Yudhishthira all that had happened, in detail. The +next morning the inhabitants of the town in coming out saw the Rakshasa +lying dead on the ground, his body covered with blood. Beholding that +terrible cannibal, huge as a mountain cliff, thus mangled and lying on +the ground, the hair of the spectators stood erect. Returning to +Ekachakra, they soon gave the intelligence. Then, O king, the citizens by +thousands accompanied by their wives, young and old, all began to come to +the spot for beholding the Vaka and they were all amazed at seeing that +superhuman feat. Instantly, O monarch, they began to pray to their gods. +Then they began to calculate whose turn it had been the day before to +carry food to the Rakshasa. And ascertaining this, they all came to that +Brahmana and asked him (to satisfy their curiosity). Thus asked by them +repeatedly, that bull among Brahmanas, desirous of concealing the +Pandavas, said these words unto all the citizens, ‘A certain high-souled +Brahmana, skilled in mantras, beheld me weeping with my relatives after I +had been ordered to supply the Rakshasa’s food. Asking me the cause and +ascertaining the distress of the town, that first of Brahmanas gave me +every assurance and with smiles said, ‘I shall carry the food for that +wretched Rakshasa today. Do not fear for me.’ Saying this he conveyed the +food towards the forest of Vaka. This deed, so beneficial unto us all, +hath very certainly been done by him.’ + +Then those Brahmanas and Kshatriyas (of the city), hearing this, wondered +much. And the Vaisyas and the Sudras also became exceedingly glad, and +they all established a festival in which the worship of Brahmanas was the +principal ceremony (in remembrance of this Brahmana who had relieved them +from their fears of Vaka). + + + +SECTION CLXVII + +(Chaitraratha Parva) + +After this citizens returned to their respective houses and the Pandavas +continued to dwell at Ekachakra as before. + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O Brahmana, what did those tigers among men, the +Pandavas, do after they had slain the Rakshasa Vaka?’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The Pandavas, O king, after slaying the Rakshasa +Vaka, continued to dwell in the abode of that Brahmana, employed in the +study of the Vedas. Within a few days there came a Brahmana of rigid vows +unto the abode of their host to take up his quarters there. Their host, +that bull among Brahmanas, ever hospitable unto all guests, worshipping +the newly-arrived Brahmana with due ceremonies, gave him quarters in his +own abode. Then those bulls among men, the Pandavas, with their mother +Kunti, solicited the new lodger to narrate to them his interesting +experiences. The Brahmana spake to them of various countries and shrines +and (holy) rivers, of kings and many wonderful provinces and cities. And +after this narration was over, that Brahmana, O Janamejaya, also spoke of +the wonderful self-choice of Yajnasena’s daughter, the princes of +Panchala, and of the births of Dhrishtadyumna and Sikhandi, and of the +birth, without the intervention of a woman, of Krishna (Draupadi) at the +great sacrifice of Drupada. + +“Then those bulls among men, the Pandavas, hearing of these extraordinary +facts regarding that illustrious monarch (Drupada), and desiring to know +the details thereof, asked the Brahmana, after his narration was +concluded, to satisfy their curiosity. The Pandavas said, ‘How, O +Brahmana, did the birth of Dhrishtadyumna the son of Drupada, take place +from the (sacrificial) fire? How also did the extraordinary birth of +Krishna take place from the centre of the sacrificial platform? How also +did Drupada’s son learn all weapons from the great bowman Drona? And, O +Brahmana, how and for whom and for what reason was the friendship between +Drona and Drupada broken off?’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus questioned, O monarch, by those bulls +among men, the Brahmana narrated all the particulars about the birth of +Draupadi.’” + + + +SECTION CLXVIII + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“The Brahmana said, ‘At that region where the Ganga entered the plains +there lived a great Rishi, devoted to the austerest of penances. Of rigid +vows and great wisdom, he bore the name Bharadwaja. One day, on coming to +the Ganga to perform his ablutions, the Rishi saw the Apsara Ghritachi, +who had come before, standing on the bank after her ablutions were over. +And it so happened that a wind arose and disrobed the Apsara standing +there. And the Rishi beholding her thus disrobed, felt the influence of +desire. Though practising the vow of continence from his very youth, as +soon as he felt the influence of desire, the Rishi’s vital fluid came +out. And as it came out, he held it in a pot (drana), and of that fluid +thus preserved in a pot was born a son who came to be called Drona (the +pot-born). And Drona studied all the Vedas and their several branches. +And Bharadwaja had a friend named Prishata who was the king of Panchalas. +And about the time that Drona was born, Prishata also obtained a son +named Drupada. And that bull amongst Kshatriyas, Prishata’s son, going +every day to that asylum of Bharadwaja, played and studied with Drona. +And after Prishata’s death, Drupada succeeded him on the throne. Drona +about this time heard that (the great Brahmana hero) Rama (on the eve of +his retiring into the weeds) was resolved to give away all his wealth. +Hearing this, the son of Bharadwaja repaired unto Rama who was about to +retire into the woods and addressing him, said, ‘O best of Brahmanas, +know me to be Drona who hath come to thee to obtain thy wealth.’ Rama +replied, saying, ‘I have given away everything. All that I now have is +this body of mine and my weapons. O Brahmana, thou mayest ask of me one +of these two, either my body or my weapons.’ Then Drona said, ‘It +behoveth thee, sir, to give me all thy weapons together with (the +mysteries of) their use and withdrawal.’ + +“The Brahmana continued, ‘Then Rama of Bhrigu’s race, saying, ‘So be it,’ +gave all his weapons unto Drona, who obtaining them regarded himself as +crowned with success. Drona obtaining from Rama the most exalted of all +weapons, called the Brahma weapon, became exceedingly glad and acquired a +decided superiority over all men. Then the son of Bharadwaja, endued with +great prowess went to king Drupada, and approaching that monarch, that +tiger among men, said, ‘Know me for thy friend.’ Hearing this Drupada +said, ‘One of low birth can never be the friend of one whose lineage is +pure, nor can one who is not a car-warrior have a car-warrior for his +friend. So also one who is not a king cannot have a king as his friend. +Why dost thou, therefore, desire (to revive our) former friendship?’ + +“The Brahmana continued, ‘Drona, gifted with great intelligence, was +extremely mortified at this, and settling in his mind some means of +humiliating the king of the Panchala he went to the capital of the Kurus, +called after the name of an elephant. Then Bhishma, taking with him his +grandsons, presented them unto the wise son of Bharadwaja as his pupils +for instruction, along with various kinds of wealth. Then Drona, desirous +of humiliating king Drupada, called together his disciples and addressed +them, ‘Ye sinless ones, it behoveth you, after you have been accomplished +in arms, to give me as preceptorial fee something that I cherish in my +heart.’ Then Arjuna and others said unto their preceptor, ‘So be +it.’--After a time when the Pandavas became skilled in arms and sure +aims, demanding of them his fee, he again told them these words, +‘Drupada, the son of Prishata, is the king of Chhatravati. Take away from +him his kingdom, and give it unto me.’ Then the Pandavas, defeating +Drupada in battle and taking him prisoner along with his ministers, +offered him unto Drona, who beholding the vanquished monarch, said, ‘O +king, I again solicit thy friendship; and because none who is not a king +deserveth to be the friend of a king, therefore, O Yajnasena, I am +resolved to divide thy kingdom amongst ourselves. While thou art the king +of the country to the south of Bhagirathi (Ganga), I will rule the +country to the north.’ + +“The Brahmana continued, ‘The king of the Panchalas, thus addressed by +the wise son of Bharadwaja, told that best of Brahmanas and foremost of +all persons conversant with weapons, these words, ‘O high-souled son of +Bharadwaja, blest be thou, let it be so, let there be eternal friendship +between us as thou desirest!’ Thus addressing each other and establishing +a permanent bond between themselves, Drona and the king of Panchala, both +of them chastisers of foes, went away to the places they came from. But +the thought of that humiliation did not leave the king’s mind for a +single moment. Sad at heart, the king began to waste away.’” + + + +SECTION CLXIX + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“The Brahmana continued, ‘King Drupada (after this), distressed at heart, +wandered among many asylums of Brahmanas in search of superior Brahmanas +well-skilled in sacrificial rites. Overwhelmed with grief and eagerly +yearning for children, the king always said, ‘Oh, I have no offspring +surpassing all in accomplishments.’ And the monarch, from great +despondency, always said ‘Oh, fie on those children that I have and on my +relatives!’ And ever thinking of revenging himself on Drona, the monarch +sighed incessantly. And that best of kings, O Bharata, even after much +deliberation, saw no way of overcoming, by his Kshatriya might, the +prowess and discipline and training and accomplishment of Drona. +Wandering along the banks of the Yamuna and the Ganga, the monarch once +came upon a sacred asylum of Brahmanas. There was in that asylum no +Brahmana who was not a Snataka, no one who was not of rigid vows, and +none who was not virtuous to a high degree. And the king saw there two +Brahmana sages named Yaja and Upayaja, both of rigid vows and souls under +complete control and belonging to the most superior order. They were both +devoted to the study of the ancient institutes and sprung from the race +of Kasyapa. And those best of Brahmanas were well-able to help the king +in the attainment of his object. The king then, with great assiduity and +singleness of purpose, began to court this pair of excellent Brahmanas. +Ascertaining the superior accomplishments of the younger of the two the +king courted in private Upayaja of rigid vows, by the offer of every +desirable acquisition. Employed in paying homage to the feet of Upayaja, +always addressing in sweet words and offering him every object of human +desire, Drupada, after worshipping that Brahmana, addressed him (one +day), saying, ‘O Upayaja, O Brahmana, if thou, performest those +sacrificial rites by (virtue of) which I may obtain a son who may slay +Drona, I promise thee ten thousand kine, or whatever else may be +agreeable to thee, O first of Brahmanas, truly am I ready to make gifts +to thee.’ Thus addressed by the king, the Rishi replied, saying, ‘I +cannot (perform such rites).’ But Drupada without accepting this reply as +final, once more began to serve and pay homage unto that Brahmana. Then, +after the expiration of a year, Upayaja, that first of Brahmanas, O +monarch, addressing Drupada in sweet tone, said, ‘My elder brother +(Yaja), one day, while wandering through the deep woods, took up a fruit +that had fallen upon a spot the purity of which he cared not to enquire +about. I was following him (at the time) and observed this unworthy act +of his. Indeed, he entertains no scruples in accepting things impure. In +accepting that (particular) fruit he saw not any impropriety of sinful +nature: Indeed, he who observeth not purity (in one instance) is not very +likely to observe it in the other instances. When he lived in the house +of his preceptor, employed in studying the institutes, he always used to +eat (impure) remnants of other people’s feasts. He always speaks +approvingly of food and entertains no dislike for anything. Arguing from +these, I believe that my brother covets earthy acquisitions. Therefore, O +king, go unto him; he will perform spiritual offices for thee.’ Hearing +these words of Upayaja, king Drupada, though entertaining a low opinion +of Yaja, nevertheless went to his abode. Worshipping Yaja who was (still) +worthy of homage, Drupada said unto him, ‘O master, perform thou +spiritual offices for me and I will give thee eighty thousand kine! +Enmity with Drona burneth my heart; it behoveth thee therefore to cool +that heart of mine. Foremost of those conversant with the Vedas, Drona is +also skilled in the Brahma weapon and for this, Drona hath overcome me in +a contest arising from (impaired) friendship. Gifted with great +intelligence, the son of Bharadwaja is (now) the chief preceptor of the +Kurus. There is no Kshatriya in this world superior to him. His bow is +full six cubits long and looks formidable, and his shafts are capable of +slaying every living being. That great bowman, the high-souled son of +Bharadwaja, habited as a Brahmana, is destroying the Kshatriya power all +over the earth. Indeed, he is like a second Jamadagnya intended for the +extermination of the Kshatriya race. There is no man on earth who can +overcome the terrible force of his weapons. Like a blazing fire fed with +clarified butter, Drona, possessed of Brahma might and uniting it with +Kshatriya might, consumeth every antagonist in battle. But (thy) Brahma +force is greater in itself than (Drona’s) Brahma force united with +Kshatriya might. Therefore, as I am inferior (to Drona) in consequence of +my possession of Kshatriya might alone, I solicit the aid of thy Brahma +force, having obtained thee so superior to Drona in knowledge of Brahma. +O Yaja, perform that sacrifice by means of which I may obtain a son +invincible in battle and capable of slaying Drona. Ready am I to give +thee ten thousand kine.’ Hearing these words of Drupada, Yaja said, ‘So +be it.’ Yaja then began to recollect the various ceremonies appertaining +to the particular sacrifice. And knowing the affair to be a very grave +one, he asked the assistance of Upayaja who coveted nothing. Then Yaja +promised to perform the sacrifice for the destruction of Drona. Then the +great ascetic Upayaja spoke unto king Drupada of everything required for +the grand sacrifice (by aid of fire) from which the king was to obtain +offspring. And he said, ‘O king, a child shall be born unto thee, endued, +as thou desirest, with great prowess, great energy, and great strength.’ + +“The Brahmana continued, ‘Then king Drupada, impelled by the desire of +obtaining a son who was to slay Drona, began, for the success of his +wish, to make the necessary preparations. (And when everything was +complete) Yaja, after having poured libations of clarified butter on the +sacrificial fire, commanded Drupada’s queen, saying, ‘Come hither, O +queen, O daughter-in-law of Prishata! A son and a daughter have arrived +for thee!’ Hearing this, the queen said, ‘O Brahmana, my mouth is yet +filled with saffron and other perfumed things. My body also beareth many +sweet scents; I am hardly fit for accepting (the sanctified butter which +is to give me offspring). Wait for me a little, O Yaja! Wait for that +happy consummation.’ Yaja, however, replied, ‘O lady, whether thou comest +or waitest, why should not the object of this sacrifice be accomplished +when the oblation hath already been prepared by me and sanctified by +Upayaja’s invocations?’ + +“The Brahmana continued, ‘Having said this, Yaja poured the sanctified +libation on the fire, whereupon arose from those flames a child +resembling a celestial who possessing the effulgence of fire, was +terrible to behold. With a crown on this head and his body encased in +excellent armour, sword in hand, and bearing a bow and arrows, he +frequently sent forth loud roars. And immediately after his birth, he +ascended an excellent chariot and went about in it for some time. Then +the Panchalas in great joy shouted, ‘Excellent, Excellent.’ The very +earth seemed at that time unable to bear the weight of the Panchalas mad +with joy. Then, marvellous to say, the voice of some invisible spirit in +the skies said, ‘This prince hath been born for the destruction of Drona. +He shall dispel all the fears of the Panchalas and spread their fame. He +shall also remove the sorrow of the king.’ And there arose, after this +from the centre of the sacrificial platform, a daughter also, called +Panchali, who, blest with great good fortune, was exceedingly handsome. +Her eyes were black, and large as lotus-petals, her complexion was dark, +and her locks were blue and curly. Her nails were beautifully convex, and +bright as burnished copper; her eye-brows were fair, and bosom was deep. +Indeed, she resembled the veritable daughter of a celestial born among +men. Her body gave out fragrance like that of a blue lotus, perceivable +from a distance of full two miles. Her beauty was such that she had no +equal on earth. Like a celestial herself, she could be desired (in +marriage) by a celestial, a Danava, or a: Yaksha. When this girl of fair +hips was born an incorporeal voice said, ‘This dark-complexioned girl +will be the first of all women, and she will be the cause of the +destruction of many Kshatriyas. This slender-waisted one will, in time, +accomplish the purpose of the gods, and along with her many a danger will +overtake the Kauravas.’ On hearing these words, the Panchalas uttered a +loud leonine roar, and the earth was unable to bear the weight of that +joyous concourse. Then beholding the boy and the girl, the +daughter-in-law of Prishata, desiring to have them, approached Yaja and +said, ‘Let not these know any one else except myself as their mother.’ +Yaja, desiring to do good unto the king said, ‘So be it!’ Then the +Brahmanas (present there), their expectations fully gratified, bestowed +names upon the new-born pair, ‘Let this son of king Drupada, they said, +be called Dhrishtadyumna, because of his excessive audacity and because +of his being born like Dyumna with a natural mail and weapon.’ And they +also said, ‘Because this daughter is so dark in complexion, she should be +called Krishna (the dark).’ + +“The Brahmana continued, ‘Thus were born those twins of the great +sacrifice of Drupada. And the great Drona, bringing the Panchala prince +into his own abode, taught him all weapons in requital of half the +kingdom he had formerly taken from Drupada. The high-souled son of +Bharadwaja, regarding destiny to be inevitable, did what would perpetuate +his own great deeds.’” + + + +SECTION CLXX + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words of the Brahmana, the sons of +Kunti seemed to be, as it were, pierced with darts. Indeed, all those +mighty heroes lost their peace of mind. Then the truthful Kunti, +beholding all her sons listless and inattentive, addressed Yudhishthira +and said, ‘We have now lived many nights in the abode of this Brahmana. +We have passed our time pleasantly in this town, living on the alms +obtained from many honest and illustrious persons. O oppressor of foes, +as we have now seen often and often all the agreeable woods and gardens +that are in this part of the country, seeing them again would no longer +give any pleasure. O heroic scion of Kuru’s race, alms also are not now +obtainable here as easily as before. If thou wishest it would be well for +us now to go to Panchala; we have not seen that country, it will, no +doubt, O hero, prove delightful to us. O crusher of foes, it hath been +heard by us that alms are obtainable in the country of the Panchala, and +that Yajnasena, the king thereof, is devoted to Brahmanas. I am of +opinion that it is not good to live long in one place. Therefore, O son, +if thou likest, it is good for us to go there.’ + +“Hearing these words, Yudhishthira said, ‘It is our duty to obey thy +command, which, besides, must be for our good, I do not, however, know +whether my younger brothers are willing to go.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXI + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Kunti spoke unto Bhimasena and Arjuna and +the twins regarding the journey to Panchala. They all said, ‘So be it.’ +Then, O king, Kunti with her sons saluted the Brahmana (in whose house +they had dwelt) and set out for the delightful town of the illustrious +Drupada.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘While the illustrious Pandavas were living disguised +in the abode of the Brahmana, Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, once went to +see them. Those chastisers of foes, beholding him coming rose up and +stepped onward to receive him. Saluting him reverentially and worshipping +him also the Pandavas stood in silence with joined hands. Thus worshipped +by them the sage became gratified. He asked them to be seated, and +cheerfully addressing them said, ‘Ye slayers of foes, are ye living in +the path of virtue and according to the scriptures? Do ye worship the +Brahmanas? Ye are not, I hope, backward in paying homage unto those that +deserve your homage?’ The illustrious Rishi, after this, spoke many words +of virtuous import, and after discoursing upon many topics of great +interest, he said, ‘An illustrious Rishi, living in a certain hermitage, +had a daughter of tender waist, fair lips, and fine eye-brows, and +possessing every accomplishment. As a consequence of her own acts (in a +past life) the fair maid became very unfortunate. Though chaste and +beautiful, the damsel obtained not a husband. With a sorrowful heart she +thereupon began to practise ascetic penances with the object of obtaining +a husband. She soon gratified by her severe asceticism the god Sankara +(Mahadeva), who became propitious unto her and said unto that illustrious +damsel, ‘Ask thou the boon thou desirest! Blest be thou! I am Sankara +prepared to give thee what thou wilt ask.’ Desirous of benefiting +herself, the maid repeatedly said unto the supreme lord, ‘O give me, a +husband endued with every accomplishment.’ Then Isana (Mahadeva), that +foremost of all speakers, replied unto her, saying, ‘O blessed one, thou +shall have five husbands from among the Bharata princes.’ Thus told, the +maiden said unto the god who had given her that boon, ‘O lord, I desire +to have only one husband through thy grace.’ The god then addressed her +again and said these excellent words, ‘Thou hast, O girl, said full five +times, ‘Give me (a) husband.’ Thou shalt, therefore, in another life have +five husbands!’ Ye princes of Bharata’s line, that damsel of celestial +beauty hath been born in the line of Drupada. The faultless Krishna of +Prishata’s line hath been appointed to be the wife of you all. Ye mighty +ones, go therefore, to the capital of the Panchalas and dwell ye there. +There is no doubt that having obtained her as wife ye shall be very +happy.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having said so unto the Pandavas, the +illustrious and blessed grandsire then bade them farewell. The great +ascetic then left them and went to the place whence he had come.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXII + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘After Vyasa had gone away, those bulls among men, +the Pandavas, saluted the Brahmana and bade him farewell, and proceeded +(towards Panchala) with joyous hearts and with their mother walking +before them. Those slayers of all foes, in order to reach their +destination, proceeded in a due northerly direction, walking day and +night till they reached a sacred shrine of Siva with the crescent mark on +his brow. Then those tigers among men, the sons of Pandu, arrived at the +banks of the Ganga. Dhananjaya, that mighty car-warrior, walking before +them, torch in hand, for showing the way and guarding them (against wild +animals). And it so happened that at that time the proud king of the +Gandharvas, with his wives, was sporting in that solitary region in the +delightful waters of the Ganga. The king of the Gandharvas heard the +tread of the Pandavas as they approached the river. On hearing the sounds +of their foot-steps, the mighty Gandharvas were inflamed with wrath, and +beholding those chastisers of foes, the Pandavas, approach towards him +with their mother, he drew his frightful bow to a circle and said, ‘It is +known that excepting the first forty seconds the grey twilight preceding +nightfall hath been appointed for the wandering of the Yakshas, the +Gandharvas and the Rakshasas, all of whom are capable of going everywhere +at will. The rest of the time hath been appointed for man to do his work. +If therefore, men, wandering during those moments from greed of gain, +come near us, both we and the Rakshasas slay those fools. Therefore, +persons acquainted with the Vedas never applaud those men--not even kings +at the head of their troops--who approach any pools of water at such a +time. Stay ye at a distance, and approach me not. Know ye not that I am +bathing in the waters of the Bhagirathi? Know that I am Angaraparna the +Gandharva, ever relying on my own strength! I am proud and haughty and am +the friend of Kuvera. This my forest on the banks of the Ganga, where I +sport to gratify all my senses, is called Angaraparna after my own name. +Here neither gods, nor Kapalikas, nor Gandharvas nor Yakshas, can come. +How dare ye approach me who am the brightest jewel on the diadem of +Kuvera?’ + +“Hearing these words of the Gandharva, Arjuna said, ‘Blockhead, whether +it be day, night, or twilight, who can bar others from the ocean, the +sides of the Himalayas, and this river? O ranger of the skies, whether +the stomach be empty or full, whether it is night or day, there is no +special time for anybody to come to the Ganga--that foremost of all +rivers. As regards ourselves endued with might, we care not when we +disturb thee. Wicked being, those who are weak in fighting worship thee. +This Ganga, issuing out of the golden peaks of Himavat, falleth into the +waters of the ocean, being distributed into seven streams. They who drink +the waters of these seven streams, viz., Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, +Vitashtha, Sarayu, Gomati, and Gandaki, are, cleansed of all their sins. +O Gandharva, this sacred Ganga again, flowing through the celestial +region is called there the Alakananda, It hath again in the region of the +Pitris become the Vaitarani, difficult of being crossed by sinners, and, +Krishna-Dwaipayana himself hath said so. The auspicious and celestial +river, capable of leading to heaven (them that touch its waters), is free +from all dangers. Why dost thou then desire to bar us from it? This act +of thine is not in consonance with eternal virtue. Disregarding thy +words, why shall we not touch the sacred waters of the Bhagirathi free +from all dangers and from which none can bar us?’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of Arjuna, Angaraparna +became inflamed with wrath and drawing his bow to a circle began to shoot +his arrows like venomous snakes at the Pandavas. Then Dhananjaya, the son +of Pandu, wielding a good shield and the torch he held in his hand, +warded off all those arrows and addressing the Gandharva again said, ‘O +Gandharva, seek not to terrify those that are skilled in weapons, for +weapons hurled at them vanish like froth. I think, O Gandharva, that ye +are superior (in prowess) to men; therefore shall I fight with thee, +using celestial weapons and not with any crooked means. This fiery weapon +(that I shall hurl at thee), Vrihaspati the revered preceptor of Indra, +gave unto Bharadwaja, from whom it was obtained by Agnivesya, and from +Agnivesya by my preceptor, that foremost of Brahmanas, Drona, who gave it +away to me.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Saying these words, the Pandava wrathfully +hurled at the Gandharva that blazing weapon made of fire which burnt the +Gandharva’s chariot in a trice. Deprived of consciousness by the force of +that weapon, the mighty Gandharva was falling, head downward, from his +chariot. Dhananjaya seized him by the hair of his head adorned with +garlands of flowers and thus dragged the unconscious Gandharva towards +his brothers. Beholding this, that Gandharva’s wife Kumbhinasi, desirous +of saving her husband, ran towards Yudhishthira and sought his +protection. The Gandharvi said, ‘O exalted one, extend to me thy +protection! O, set my husband free! O lord, I am Kumbhinasi by name, the +wife of this Gandharva, who seeketh thy protection!’ Beholding her (so +afflicted), the mighty Yudhishthira addressed Arjuna and said, ‘O slayer +of foes, O child, who would slay a foe who hath been vanquished in fight, +who hath been deprived of fame, who is protected by a woman, and who hath +no prowess?’ Arjuna replied, saying, ‘Keep thou thy life, O Gandharva! Go +hence, and grieve not I Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus, commandeth +me to show thee mercy.’ + +“The Gandharva replied, ‘I have been vanquished by thee, I shall, +therefore, abandon my former name Angaraparna (the blazing vehicle). In +name alone, O friend, I should not be boastful when my pride in my +strength hath been overcome: I have been fortunate in that I have +obtained thee; O Arjuna, that wielder of celestial weapons! I like to +impart to thee the power of (producing) illusions which Gandharvas alone +have. My excellent and variegated chariot hath been burnt by means of thy +fiery weapon. I who had formerly been called after my excellent chariot +should now be called after my burnt chariot. The science of producing +illusions that I have spoken of was formerly obtained by me by ascetic +penances. That science I will today impart to the giver of my life-thy +illustrious self! What good luck doth he not deserve who, after +overcoming a foe by his might, giveth him life when that foe asketh for +it? This science is called Chakshushi. It was communicated by Manu unto +Soma and by Soma unto Viswavasu, and lastly by Viswavasu unto me. +Communicated by my preceptor, that science, having come unto me who am +without energy, is gradually becoming fruitless. I have spoken to thee +about its origin and transmission. Listen now to its power! One may see +(by its aid) whatever one wisheth to see, and in whatever way he liketh +(generally or particularly). One can acquire this science only after +standing on one leg for six months. I shall however, communicate to thee +this science without thyself being obliged to observe any rigid vow. O +king, it is for this knowledge that we are superior to men. And as we are +capable of seeing everything by spiritual sight, we are equal to the +gods. O best of men, I intend to give thee and each of thy brothers a +hundred steeds born in the country of the Gandharvas. Of celestial colour +and endued with the speed of the mind, those horses are employed in +bearing the celestial, and the Gandharvas. They may be lean-fleshed but +they tire not, nor doth their speed suffer on that account. In days of +yore the thunderbolt was created for the chief of the celestials in order +that he might slay (the Asura) Vritra with it. But hurled at Vritra’s +head it broke in a thousand pieces. The celestials worship with reverence +those fragments of the thunderbolt. That which is known in the three +worlds as glory is but a portion of the thunderbolt. The hand of the +Brahmana with which he poureth libations on the sacrificial fire, the +chariot upon which the Kshatriya fighteth, the charity of the Vaisya, and +the service of the Sudra rendered unto the three other classes, are all +fragments of the thunderbolt. It hath been said that horses, forming as +they do a portion of the Kshatriya’s chariot, are, on that account, +unslayable. Again horses which form a portion of the Kshatriya’s chariot, +are the offspring of Vadava. Those amongst them that are born in the +region of the Gandharvas can go everywhere and assume any hue and speed +at the will of their owners. These horses of mine that I give thee will +always gratify thy wishes.” + +“On hearing these words of the Gandharva, Arjuna said, ‘O Gandharva, if +from satisfaction for having obtained thy life at my hands in a situation +of danger, thou givest me thy science, and these horses, I would not +accept thy gift.’ The Gandharva replied, saying, ‘A meeting with an +illustrious person is ever a source of gratification; besides thou hast +given me my life. Gratified with thee, I will give thee my science. That +the obligation, however, may not all be on one side, I will take from +thee, O Vibhatsu, O bull in Bharata’s race, thy excellent and eternal +weapon of fire!’ + +“Arjuna said, ‘I would accept thy horses in exchange for my weapon. Let +our friendship last for ever. O friend, tell us for what we human beings +have to stand in fear of the Gandharvas. Chastisers of foes that we are +and virtuous and conversant with the Vedas, tell us, O Gandharva, why in +travelling in the night-time we have been censured by thee.’ + +“The Gandharva said, ‘Ye are without wives (though ye have completed the +period of study). Ye are without a particular Asrama (mode of life). +Lastly, ye are out without a Brahmana walking before, therefore, ye sons +of Pandu, ye have been censured by me. The Yakshas, Rakshasas, +Gandharvas, Pisachas, Uragas and Danavas, are possessed of wisdom and +intelligence, and acquainted with the history of the Kuru race. O hero, I +have heard too from Narada and other celestial Rishis about the good +deeds of your wise ancestors. I myself, too, while roaming over the whole +earth bounded by her belt of seas, have witnessed the prowess of thy +great race. O Arjuna, I have personal knowledge of thy preceptor, the +illustrious son of Bharadwaja, celebrated throughout the three worlds for +his knowledge of the Vedas and the science of arms. O tiger in Kuru’s +race, O son of Pritha, I also know Dharma, Vayu, Sakra, the twin Aswins, +and Pandu,--these six perpetuators of Kuru race,--these excellent +celestials and human progenitors of you all. I also know that you five +brothers are learned and high-souled, that ye are foremost of all +wielders of weapons, that ye are brave and virtuous and observant of +vows. Knowing that your understanding and hearts are excellent and your +behaviour faultless, I have yet censured you. For, O thou of Kuru’s race, +it behoveth no man endued with might of arms to bear with patience any +ill usage in the sight of his wife. Especially as, O son of Kunti, our +might increaseth during the hours of darkness, accompanied by my wife I +was filled with wrath. O best of vow-observing men, I have, however, been +vanquished by thee in battle. Listen to me as I tell thee the reasons +that have led to my discomfiture. The Brahmacharya is a very superior +mode of life, and as thou art in that mode now, it is for this, O Partha, +that I have been defeated by thee in battle. O chastiser of foes, if any +married Kshatriya fight with us at night, he can never escape, with life. +But, O Partha, a married Kshatriya, who is sanctified with Brahma, and +who hath assigned the cares of his State to a priest, might vanquish! all +wanderers in the night. O child of Tapati, men should therefore, ever +employ learned priests possessing self-command for the acquisition of +every good luck they desire. That Brahmana is worthy of being the king’s +priest who is learned in the Vedas and the six branches thereof, who is +pure and truthful, who is of virtuous soul and possessed of self-command. +The monarch becometh ever victorious and finally earneth heaven who hath +for his priest a Brahmana conversant with the rules of morality, who is a +master of words, and is pure and of good behaviour. The king should +always select an accomplished priest in order to acquire what he hath not +and protect what he hath. He who desireth his own prosperity should ever +be guided by his priest, for he may then obtain ever the whole earth +surrounded by her belt of seas. O son of Tapati, a king, who is without a +Brahmana, can never acquire any land by his bravery or glory of birth +alone. Know, therefore, O perpetuator of Kuru’s race, that the kingdom +lasteth for ever in which Brahmanas have power.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXIII + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“Arjuna said, ‘Thou hast addressed me (more than once) as Tapatya. I +therefore wish to know what the precise significance of this word is, O +virtuous Gandharva, being sons of Kunti, we are, indeed, Kaunteyas. But +who is Tapati that we should be called Tapatyas?’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed, the Gandharva related to +Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, the (following) story well-known in the +three worlds.’ + +“The Gandharva said, ‘O son of Pritha, O foremost of all intelligent men, +I will duly recite to you in full this charming narrative. O, listen with +attention to what I say in explanation of why I have addressed thee as +Tapatya. That one in heaven who pervadeth by his light the whole +firmament had a daughter named Tapati equal unto himself. Tapati, the +daughter of the god Vivaswat, was the younger sister of Savitri, and she +was celebrated throughout the three worlds and devoted to ascetic +penances. There was no woman amongst the celestials, the Asuras, the +Yakshas, the Rakshasas, the Apsaras, and the Gandharvas, who was equal to +her in beauty. Of perfect, symmetrical and faultless features, of black +and large eyes, and in beautiful attire, the girl was chaste and of +perfect conduct. And, O Bharata, seeing her Savitri (the sun) thought +that there was none in the three worlds who, for his beauty, +accomplishments, behaviour, and learning, deserved to be her husband. +Beholding her attain the age of puberty and, therefore, worthy of being +bestowed on a husband, her father knew no peace of mind, always thinking +of the person he should select. At that time, O son of Kunti, Riksha’s +son, that bull amongst the Kurus, the mighty king Samvarana, was duly +worshipping Surya with offerings of Arghya and flower-garlands and +scents, and with vows and fasts and ascetic penances of various kinds. +Indeed, Samvarana was worshipping Surya constantly in all his glory, with +devotion and humility and piety. And beholding Samvarana conversant with +all rules of virtue and unequalled on earth for beauty, Surya regarded +him as the fit husband for his daughter, Tapati. And, O thou of Kuru’s +race, Vivaswat then resolved to bestow his daughter on that best of +kings, viz., Samvarana, the scion of a race of world-wide fame. As Surya +himself in the heavens filleth the firmament with his splendour, so did +king Samvarana on earth fill every region with the splendour of his good +achievements. And all men, O Partha, except Brahmanas, worshipped +Samvarana. Blest with good luck, king Samvarana excelled Soma in soothing +the hearts of friends and Surya in scorching the hearts of foes. And, O +Kaurava, Tapana (Surya) himself was resolved upon bestowing his daughter +Tapati upon king Samvarana, who was possessed of such virtues and +accomplishments. + +“Once on a time, O Partha, king Samvarana, endued with beauty (of person) +and immeasurable prowess, went on a hunting expedition to the under-woods +on the mountain-breast. While wandering in quest of deer, the excellent +steed the king rode, overcome, O Partha, with hunger, thirst and fatigue, +died on the mountains. Abandoning the steed, the king, O Arjuna, began to +wander about upon the mountain-breast on foot and in course of his +wandering the monarch saw a maiden of large eyes and unrivalled beauty, +That grinder of hostile host--that tiger among kings--himself without a +companion, beholding there that maiden without a companion, stood +motionless gazing at her steadfastly. For her beauty, the monarch for +some moment believed her to be (the goddess) Sri herself. Next he +regarded her to be the embodiment of the rays emanating from Surya. In +splendour of her person she resembled a flame of fire, though in +benignity and loveliness she resembled a spotless digit of the moon. And +standing on the mountain-breast, the black-eyed maiden appeared like a +bright statue of gold. The mountain itself with its creepers and plants, +because of the beauty and attire of that damsel, seemed to be converted +into gold. The sight of that maiden inspired the monarch with a contempt +for all women that he had seen before. By beholding her, the king +regarded his eye-sight truly blessed. Nothing the king had seen from the +day of his birth could equal, he thought, the beauty of that girl. The +king’s heart and eyes were captivated by that damsel, as if they were +bound with a cord and he remained rooted to that spot, deprived of his +senses. The monarch thought that the artificer of so much beauty had +created it only after churning the whole world of gods Asuras and human +beings. Entertaining these various thoughts, king Samvarana regarded that +maiden as unrivalled in the three worlds for wealth of beauty. + +“And the monarch of pure descent, beholding the beautiful maiden, was +pierced with Kama’s (Cupid’s) shafts and lost his peace of mind. Burnt +with the strong flame of desire the king asked that charming maiden, +still innocent, though in her full youth, saying, ‘Who art thou and +whose? Why also dost thou stay here? O thou of sweet smiles, why dost +thou wander alone in these solitary woods? Of every feature perfectly +faultless, and decked with every ornament, thou seemest to be the coveted +ornament of these ornaments themselves! Thou seemest not to be of +celestial or Asura or Yaksha or Rakshasa or Naga or Gandharva or human +origin. O excellent lady, the best of women that I have ever seen or +heard of would not compare with thee in beauty! O thou of handsome face, +at sight of thee lovelier than the moon and graced with eyes like +lotus-petals, the god of desire is grinding me.’ + +“King Samvarana thus addressed that damsel in the forest, who however, +spoke not a word unto the monarch burning with desire. Instead, like +lightning in the clouds, that large-eyed maiden quickly disappeared in +the very sight of the monarch. The king then wandered through the whole +forest, like one out of his senses, in search of that girl of eyes like +lotus-petals. Failing to find her, that best of monarchs indulged in +copious lamentations and for a time stood motionless with grief.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXIV + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘When that maiden disappeared, that feller of +hostile ranks deprived of his senses by Kama (concupiscence) himself fell +down on the earth. And as the monarch fell down, that maiden of sweet +smiles and prominent and round hips appeared again before him, and +smiling sweetly, said unto that perpetuator of Kuru’s race these honeyed +words, ‘Rise, rise, O chastiser of foes! Blest be thou; it behoveth thee +not, O tiger among kings, to lose thy reason, a celebrated man as thou +art in the world.’ Addressed in these honeyed words, the king opened his +eyes and saw before him that selfsame girl of swelling hips. The monarch +who was burning with the flame of desire then addressed that black-eyed +damsel in accents, weak with emotion, and said, ‘Blest be thou O +excellent woman of black eyes! As I am burning with desire and paying +thee court, O, accept me! My life is ebbing away. O thou of large eyes, +for thy sake it is, O thou of the splendour of the filaments of the +lotus, that Kama is incessantly piercing me with his keen shafts without +stopping for a moment! O amiable and cheerful girl, I have been bitten by +Kama who is even like a venomous viper. O thou of swelling and large +hips, have mercy on me! O thou of handsome and faultless features, O thou +of face like unto the lotus-petal or the moon, O thou of voice sweet as +that of singing Kinnaras, my life now depends on thee! Without thee, O +timid one, I am unable to live! O thou of eyes like lotus-petals, Kama is +piercing me incessantly! O large-eyed girl, be merciful unto me! It +becometh thee not, O black-eyed maid, to cast me off; O handsome girl, it +behoveth thee to relieve me from such affliction by giving me thy love! +At first sight thou hast attracted my heart. My mind wandereth! Beholding +thee I like not to cast my eyes on any other woman! Be merciful! I am thy +obedient slave--thy adorer! O, accept me! O beautiful lady, O large-eyed +girl at the sight of thee, the god of desire hath entered my heart, and +is piercing me with his shafts! O thou of lotus-eyes, the flame of desire +burneth within me! O, extinguish that flame with the water of thy love +poured on it! O beautiful lady, by becoming mine, pacify thou the +irrepressible god of desire that hath appeared here armed with his deadly +bow and arrows and that is piercing me incessantly with those keen shafts +of his! O thou of the fairest complexion, wed me according to the +Gandharva form, for, O thou of tapering hips, of all forms of marriage +the Gandharva hath been said to be the best.’ + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘Hearing those words of the monarch, Tapati +made answer, ‘O king, I am not the mistress of my own self! Be it known +that I am a maiden under the control of my father. If thou really +entertainest an affection for me, demand me of my father. Thou sayest, O +king, that thy heart hath been robbed by me. But thou also hast, at first +sight, robbed me of my heart; I am not the mistress of my body, and +therefore, O best of kings, I do not approach thee; women are never +independent. What girl is there in the three worlds that would not desire +thee for her husband, as thou art kind unto all thy dependents and as +thou art born in a pure race? Therefore, when the opportunity comes, ask +my father Aditya for my hand with worship, ascetic penances, and vows. If +my father bestoweth me upon thee, then, O king, I shall ever be thy +obedient wife. My name is Tapati and I am the younger sister of Savitri, +and the daughter, O bull amongst Kshatriyas of Savitri, of (Sun) the +illuminator of the universe.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXV + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘Saying this, Tapati of faultless features, +ascended the skies. The monarch thereupon again fell down on the earth. +His ministers and followers searching for him throughout the forest at +length came upon him lying on that solitary spot, and beholding that +excellent king, that mighty bowman, thus lying forsaken on the ground +like a rainbow dropped from the firmament, his minister-in-chief became +like one burnt by a flame of fire. Advancing hastily with affection and +respect, the minister raised that best of monarchs lying prostrate on the +ground and deprived of his senses by desire. Old in wisdom as in age, old +in achievements as in policy, the minister, after having raised the +prostrate monarch, became easy (in mind). Addressing the king in sweet +words that were also for his good, he said, ‘Blest be thou, O sinless +one! Fear not, O tiger among kings!’ The minister thought that the +monarch, that great feller of hostile ranks in battle, had been lying on +the ground overcome with hunger, thirst, and fatigue. The old man then +sprinkled over the crownless head of the monarch water that was cold and +rendered fragrant with lotus-petals. Slowly regaining his consciousness, +the mighty monarch sent away all his attendants with the exception of his +minister only. After those attendants had retired at his command, the +king sat upon the mountain-breast. Having purified himself duly, the king +sat upon that chief of mountains, and began, with joined palms and +upturned face, to worship Surya. King Samvarana, that smiter of all foes, +thought also of his chief priest Vasishtha, that best of Rishis. The king +continued to sit there day and night without intermission. The Brahmana +sage Vasishtha came there on the twelfth day: that great Rishi of soul +under perfect command knew at once by his ascetic power that the monarch +had lost his senses in consequence of Tapati. And that virtuous and best +of Munis, as soon as he knew this, desirous of benefiting the monarch who +was ever observant of vows, addressed him and gave him every assurance. +The illustrious Rishi, in the very sight of that monarch, ascended upward +to interview Surya, himself possessed of the splendour of that luminary. +The Brahmana then approached with joined hands the god of a thousand rays +and introduced himself cheerfully unto him, saying, ‘I am Vasishtha.’ +Then Vivaswat of great energy said unto that best of Rishis, ‘Welcome art +thou, O great Rishi! Tell me what is in thy mind. O thou of great good +fortune, whatever thou demandest of me, O foremost of eloquent men, I +will confer on thee, however difficult it may be for me!’ Thus addressed +by Surya, the Rishi of great ascetic merit, bowing unto the god of light, +replied, saying, ‘O Vibhavasu, this thy daughter, Tapati, the younger +sister of Savitri, I ask of thee for Samvarana! That monarch is of mighty +achievements, conversant with virtue, and of high soul. O +firmament-ranger, Samvarana will make a worthy husband for thy daughter.’ +Thus addressed by the Rishi Vibhakara, resolved upon bestowing his +daughter upon Samvarana, saluted the Rishi, and replied unto him, saying, +‘Oh, Samvarana is the best of monarchs, thou art the best of Rishis, +Tapati is the best of women. What should we do, therefore, but bestow her +on Samvarana?’ With these words, the god Tapana, made over his daughter, +Tapati, of every feature perfectly faultless, unto the illustrious +Vasishtha to bestow her upon Samvarana. And the great Rishi then accepted +the girl, Tapati, and taking leave of Surya, came back to the spot, where +that bull amongst the Kurus, of celestial achievements, was. King +Samvarana, possessed by love and with his heart fixed on Tapati, +beholding that celestial maiden of sweet smiles led by Vasishtha, became +exceedingly glad. And Tapati of fair eyebrows came down from the +firmament like lightning from the clouds, dazzling the ten points of the +heavens. And the illustrious Rishi Vasishtha of pure soul approached the +monarch after the latter’s twelve nights’ vow was over. It was thus that +king Samvarana obtained a wife after having worshipped with like the full +moon. And that mighty bowman, that foremost one in Kuru’s race having his +curiosity greatly excited by what he heard of Vasishtha’s ascetic power, +asked the Gandharva, saying, ‘I desire to hear of the Rishi whom thou +hast mentioned as Vasishtha. O, tell me in full about him! O chief of the +Gandharvas, tell me who this illustrious Rishi was that was the priest of +our forefathers.’ The Gandharva replied, ‘Vasishtha is Brahma’s spiritual +(lit, mind-born) son and Arundhati’s husband. Ever difficult of being +conquered by the very immortals, Desire and Wrath, conquered by +Vasishtha’s ascetic penances, used to shampoo his feet. Though his wrath +was excited by Viswamitra’s offence, that high-souled Rishi did not yet +exterminate Kusikas (the tribe whose king Viswamitra was). Afflicted at +the loss of his sons, he did not, as though powerless, though really +otherwise, do any dreadful act destructive of Viswamitra, Like the ocean +transgressing not its continents, Vasishtha transgressed not (the laws +of) Yama by bringing back his children from the domains of the king of +the dead. It was by obtaining that illustrious one who had conquered his +own self that Ikshvaku and other great monarchs acquired the whole earth. +And, O prince of Kuru’s race, it was by obtaining Vasishtha, that best of +Rishis as their priest, that those monarchs performed many grand +sacrifices. And, O best of the Pandavas, that regenerate Rishi assisted +these monarchs in the performance of their sacrifices like Vrihaspati +assisting the immortals. Therefore, look ye for some accomplished and +desirable Brahmana conversant with the Vedas and in whose heart virtue +prevails, to appoint as your priest. A Kshatriya of good lineage, +desirous of extending his dominions by conquering the earth, should, O +Partha, first appoint a priest. He who is desirous of conquering the +earth should have a Brahmana before him. Therefore, O Arjuna, let some +accomplished and learned Brahmana, who has his senses under complete +control and who is conversant with religion, profit and pleasure, be your +priest.’” + + + +Section CLXXVII + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing this, Arjuna said, ‘O Gandharva, whence +arose the hostility between Viswamitra and Vasishtha both of whom dwelt +in a celestial hermitage? O, tell us all about it.’ + +“The Gandharva replied, ‘O Partha, the story of Vasishtha is regarded as +a Purana (legend) in all the three worlds. Listen to me as I recite it +fully. There was, in Kanyakuvja, O bull of Bharata’s race, a great king +of worldwide fame named Gadhi, the son of Kusika. The virtuous Gadhi had +a son named Viswamitra, that grinder of foes, possessing a large army and +many animals and vehicles. And Viswamitra, accompanied by his ministers, +used to roam in quest of deer through the deep woods and over picturesque +marascetic penances the propitious lord Vivaswat, by the help of +Vasishtha’s (ascetic power). And Samvarana, that bull among men with due +rites took Tapati’s hand on that mountain-breast which was resorted to by +the celestials and the Gandharvas. The royal sage, with the permission of +Vasishtha, desired to sport with his wife on that mountain. And the king +caused Vasishtha, to be proclaimed his regent in his capital and kingdom, +in the woods and gardens. And bidding farewell unto the monarch, +Vasishtha left him and went away. Samvarana, who sported on that mountain +like a celestial, sported with his wife in the woods and the under-woods +on that mountain for twelve full years. And, O best of the Bharatas, the +god of a thousand eyes poured no rain for twelve years on the capital and +on the kingdom of that monarch. Then, O chastiser of enemies, when that +season of drought broke out, the people of that kingdom, as also the +trees and lower animals began to die fast. And during the continuance of +that dreadful drought, not even a drop of dew fell from the skies and no +corn grew. And the inhabitants in despair, and afflicted with the fear of +hunger, left their homes and fled away in all directions. And the +famished people of the capital and the country began to abandon their +wives and children and grew reckless of one another. The people being +afflicted with hunger, without a morsel of food and reduced to skeletons, +the capital looked very much like the city of the king of the dead, full +of only ghostly beings. On beholding the capital reduced to such a state, +the illustrious and virtuous and best of Rishis, Vasishtha was resolved +upon applying a remedy and brought back unto the city that tiger among +kings, Samvarana, along with his wife, after the latter had passed so +long a period in solitude and seclusion. After the king had entered his +capital, things became as before, for, when that tiger among kings came +back to his own, the god of a thousand eyes, the slayer of Asuras, poured +rain in abundance and caused corn to grow. Revivified by the foremost of +virtuous souls the capital and the country became animated with extreme +joy. The monarch, with his wife, Tapati, once more performed sacrifices +for twelve years, like the lord Indra (god of rain) performing sacrifices +with his wife, Sachi.’ + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘This, O Partha, is the history of Tapati of +old, the daughter of Vivaswat. It is for her that thou art (called) +Tapatya. King Samvarana begot upon Tapati a son named Kuru, who was the +foremost of ascetics. Born in the race of Kuru, thou art, O Arjuna, to be +called Tapatya.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXVI + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘That bull among the Bharatas, Arjuna, hearing these +words of the Gandharva, was inspired with feelings of devotion and stood +shes (???--JBH), killing deer and wild boars. Once on a time, while out +in quest of deer, the king became weak with exertion and thirst. The +monarch arrived in that state at the asylum of Vasishtha, and the blessed +and illustrious Rishi beholding him arrive, reverenced with his homage +that best of men, king Viswamitra. And O Bharata, the Rishi saluted the +monarch by offering him water to wash his face and feet with, and Arghya, +and wild fruits, and clarified butter. For the illustrious Rishi had a +cow yielding anything that was desired of her. When she was addressed, +saying, ‘O give’,--she always yielded the article that was sought. And +she yielded various fruits and corn, wild or grown in gardens and fields, +and milk, and many excellent nutritive viands full of six different kinds +of juice (taste?) and like unto nectar itself, and various other kinds of +enjoyable things, O Arjuna, of ambrosial taste for drinking and eating, +and for licking and sucking, and also many precious gems and robes of +various kinds. With these desirable objects in profusion the monarch was +worshipped. And the king with his minister and troops became highly +pleased. And the monarch wondered much, beholding that cow with six +elevated limbs and the beautiful flanks and hips, and five limbs that +were broad, and eyes prominent like those of the frog and beautiful in +size, and high udders, and faultless make, and straight and uplifted +ears, and handsome horns, and well-developed head and neck. + +“And, O prince, the son of Gadhi, gratified with everything and +applauding the cow named Nandini, addressed the Rishi, saying, ‘O +Brahmana, O great Muni, give me thy Naridini in exchange for ten thousand +kine, or my kingdom. Enjoy thou my kingdom (giving me thy cow).’ + +“Hearing these words of Viswamitra, Vasishtha said, ‘O sinless one, this +cow hath been kept by me for the sake of the gods, guests, and the +Pitris, as also for my sacrifices. I cannot give Nandini in exchange for +even thy kingdom.’ Viswamitra replied, ‘I am a Kshatriya, but thou art a +Brahmana devoted to asceticism and study. Is there any energy in +Brahmanas who are peaceful and who have their souls under perfect +command? When thou givest me not what I desire in exchange even for ten +thousand cows, I will not abandon the practice of my order; I will take +thy cow even by force!’ + +“Vasishtha said, ‘Thou art a Kshatriya endued with might of arms. Thou +art a powerful monarch. O, do in haste what thou desirest; and stop not +to consider its propriety.’ + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘Thus addressed by Vasishtha, Viswamitra, O +Partha, then forcibly seized Nandini, that cow (white) like the swan or +the moon, and attempted to take her away, afflicting her with stripes and +persecuting her otherwise. The innocent Nandini then began, O Partha, to +low piteously, and approaching the illustrious Vasishtha stood before him +with uplifted face. Though persecuted very cruelly, she refused to leave +the Rishi’s asylum.’ + +“Beholding her in that plight, Vasishtha said, ‘O amiable one, thou art +lowing repeatedly and I am hearing thy cries. But, O Nandini, even +Viswamitra is taking thee away by force, what can I do in this matter, as +I am a forgiving Brahmana?’ + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘Then, O bull in Bharata’s race, Nandini, +alarmed at the sight of Viswamitra’s troops and terrified by Viswamitra +himself, approached the Rishi still closer, and said, ‘O illustrious one, +why art thou so indifferent to my poor self afflicted with the stripes of +the cruel troops of Viswamitra and crying so piteously as if I were +masterless?’ Hearing these words of the crying and persecuted Nandini, +the great Rishi lost not his patience nor turned from his vow of +forgiveness. He replied, ‘The Kshatriya’s might lies in physical +strength, the Brahmana’s in forgiveness. Because I cannot give up +forgiveness, go thou, O Nandini, if thou choosest.’ Nandini answered, +‘Castest thou me away, O illustrious one, that thou sayest so? If thou +dost not cast me off, I cannot, O Brahmana, be taken away by force.’ +Vasishtha said, ‘O blessed one, I do not cast thee off! Stay if thou +canst! O, yonder is thy calf, tied with a stout cord, and even now being +weakened by it!’ + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘Then the cow of Vasishtha, hearing the word +stay, raised her head and neck upward, and became terrible to behold. +With eyes red with rage and lowing repeatedly, she then attacked +Viswamitra’s troops on all sides. Afflicted with their stripes and +running hither and thither with those red eyes of hers, her wrath +increased. Blazing with rage, she soon became terrible to behold like +unto the sun in his midday glory. And from her tail she began to rain +showers of burning coals all around. And some moments after, from her +tail she brought forth an army of Palhavas, and from her udders, an army +of Dravidas and Sakas; and from her womb, an army of Yavanas, and from +her dung, an army of Savaras; and from her urine, an army of Kanchis; and +from her sides, an army of Savaras. And from the froth of her mouth came +out hosts of Paundras and Kiratas, Yavanas and Sinhalas, and the +barbarous tribes of Khasas and Chivukas and Pulindas and Chinas and Hunas +with Keralas, and numerous other Mlechchhas. And that vast army of +Mlechchhas in various uniforms, and armed with various weapons, as soon +as it sprang into life, deploying in the very sight of Viswamitra, +attacked that monarch’s soldiers. And so numerous was that Mlechchha host +that each particular soldier of Viswamitra was attacked by a band of six +or seven of their enemies. Assailed with a mighty shower of weapons, +Viswamitra’s troops broke and fled, panic-stricken, in all directions, +before his very eyes. But, O bull in Bharata’s race, the troops of +Vasishtha, though excited with wrath, took not the life of any of +Viswamitra’s troops. Nandini simply caused the monarch’s army to be +routed and driven off. And driven (from the asylum) twenty-seven full +miles, panic-stricken, they shrieked aloud and beheld not anyone that +could protect them. Viswamitra, beholding this wonderful feat that +resulted from Brahmana prowess, became disgusted with Kshatriya prowess +and said, ‘O, fie on Kshatriya prowess! Brahmana prowess is true prowess! +In judging of strength and weakness, I see that asceticism is true +strength.’ Saying this, the monarch, abandoning his large domains and +regal splendour and turning his back upon all pleasures, set his mind on +asceticism. Crowned with success in asceticism and filling the three +worlds with the heat of his ascetic penances, he afflicted all creatures +and finally became a Brahmana. The son of Kusika at last drank Soma with +Indra himself (in Heaven).’” + + + +SECTION CLXXVIII + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘There was, O Partha, a king in this world, +named Kalmashapada, who was of the race of Ikshvaku and was unequalled on +earth for prowess. One day the king went from his capital into the woods +for purposes of hunting, and this grinder of foes pierced (with his +arrows) many deer and wild boars. And in those deep woods the king also +slew many rhinoceroses. Engaged in sport for some length of time, the +monarch became very much fatigued and at last he gave up the chase, +desiring to rest awhile. + +“The great Viswamitra, endued with energy, had, a little while ago, +desired to make that monarch his disciple. As the monarch, afflicted with +hunger and thirst, was proceeding through the woods, he came across that +best of Rishis, the illustrious son of Vasishtha, coming along the same +path. The king ever victorious in battle saw that Muni bearing the name +of Saktri, that illustrious propagator of Vasishtha’s race, the eldest of +the high-souled Vasishtha’s hundred sons, coming along from opposite +direction. The king, beholding him said, ‘Stand out of our way.’ The +Rishi, addressing the monarch in a conciliatory manner, said unto him +sweetly, ‘O king, this is my way. This is the eternal rule of morality +indicated in every treatise on duty and religion, viz., that a king +should ever make way for Brahmanas.’ Thus did they address each other +respecting their right of way. ‘Stand aside, stand aside’, were the words +they said unto each other. The Rishi, who was in the right, did not +yield, nor did the king yield to him from pride and anger. That best of +monarchs, enraged at the Rishi, refusing to yield him the way, acted like +a Rakshasa, striking him with his whip. Thus whipped by the monarch, that +best of Rishis, the son of Vasishtha, was deprived of his senses by +anger, and speedily cursed that first of monarchs, saying, ‘O worst of +kings, since thou persecutest like a Rakshasa an ascetic, thou shalt from +this day, became a Rakshasa subsisting on human flesh! Hence, thou worst +of kings! thou shalt wander over the earth, affecting human form!’ Thus +did the Rishi Sakti, endued with great prowess, speak unto king +Kalmashapada. At this time Viswamitra, between whom and Vasishtha there +was a dispute about the discipleship of Kalmashapada, approached the +place where that monarch and Vasishtha’s son were. And, O Partha, that +Rishi of severe ascetic penances, viz., Viswamitra of great energy, +approached the pair (knowing by his spiritual insight that they had been +thus quarrelling with each other). After the curse had been pronounced, +that best of monarchs knew that Rishi to be Vasishtha’s son and equal +unto Vasishtha himself in energy. And, O Bharata, Viswamitra, desirous of +benefiting himself, remained on that spot, concealed from the sight of +both by making himself invisible. Then that best of monarchs, thus cursed +by Saktri, desiring to propitiate the Rishi began to humbly beseech him. +And, O chief of the Kurus, Viswamitra, ascertaining the disposition of +the king (and fearing that the difference might be made up), ordered a +Rakshasa to enter the body of the king. And a Rakshasa of the name of +Kinkara then entered the monarch’s body in obedience to Saktri’s curse +and Viswamitra’s command. And knowing, O chastiser of foes, that the +Rakshasa had possessed himself of the monarch, that best of Rishis, +Viswamitra, then left the spot and went away. + +“Shortly after, O Partha, the monarch, possessed by the Rakshasa and +terribly afflicted by him, lost all his senses. At this time a Brahmana +beheld the king in the woods. Afflicted with hunger, that Brahmana begged +of the king some food with meat. The royal sage, Kalmashapada, that +cherisher of friends, answered the Brahmana, saying, ‘Stay thou here, O +Brahmana for a moment. On my return, I will give thee whatever food thou +desirest.’ Having said this, the monarch went away, but the Brahmana +stayed on there. The high-minded king having roved for some time at +pleasure and according to his will, at last entered his inner apartment. +Thus waking at midnight and remembering his promise, he summoned his cook +and told him of his promise unto the Brahmana staying in the forest. And +he commanded him, saying, ‘Hie thee to that forest. A Brahmana waiteth +for me in the hope of food. Go and entertain him with food and meat.’ + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘Thus commanded, the cook went out in search of +meat. Distressed at not having found any, he informed the king of his +failure. The monarch, however, possessed as he was by the Rakshasa, +repeatedly said, without scruple of any kind, ‘Feed him with human +flesh.’ The cook, saying, ‘So be it,’ went to the place where the +(king’s) executioners were, and thence taking human flesh and washing and +cooking it duly and covering it with boiled rice offered it unto that +hungry Brahmana devoted to ascetic penances. But that best of Brahmanas, +seeing with his spiritual sight that the food was unholy and, therefore, +unworthy of being eaten, said these words with eyes red with anger, +‘Because that worst of kings offereth me food that is unholy and unworthy +of being taken, therefore that wretch shall have himself a fondness for +such food. And becoming fond of human flesh as cursed by Saktri of old, +the wretch shall wander over the earth, alarming and otherwise troubling +all creatures.’ The curse, therefore, on that king, thus repeated a +second time, became very strong, and the king, possessed by a Rakshasa +disposition, soon lost all his senses. + +“A little while after, O Bharata, that best of monarchs, deprived of all +his senses by the Rakshasa within him, beholding Saktri who had cursed +him, said, ‘Because thou hast pronounced on me this extraordinary curse, +therefore, I shall begin my life of cannibalism by devouring thee.’ +Having said this, the king immediately slew Saktri and ate him up, like a +tiger eating the animal it was fond of. Beholding Saktri thus slain and +devoured, Viswamitra repeatedly urged that Rakshasa (who was within the +monarch) against the other sons of Vasishtha. Like a wrathful lion +devouring small animals, that Rakshasa soon devoured the other sons of +the illustrious Vasishtha that were junior to Saktri in age. But +Vasishtha, learning that all his sons had been caused to be slain by +Viswamitra, patiently bore his grief like the great mountain that bears +the earth. That best of Munis, that foremost of intelligent men, was +resolved rather to sacrifice his own life than exterminate (in anger) the +race of Kusikas. The illustrious Rishi threw himself down from the summit +of Meru, but he descended on the stony ground as though on a heap of +cotton. And, O son of Pandu, when the illustrious one found that death +did not result from that fall, he kindled a huge fire in the forest and +entered it with alacrity. But that fire, though burning brightly, +consumed him not. O slayer of foes, that blazing fire seemed to him cool. +Then the great Muni under the influence of grief, beholding the sea, tied +a stony weight to his neck and threw himself into its waters. But the +waves soon cast him ashore. At last when that Brahmana of rigid vows +succeeded not in killing himself by any means, he returned, in distress +of heart, to his asylum.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXIX + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘Beholding his asylum bereft of his children, +the Muni afflicted with great grief left it again. And in course of his +wandering he saw, O Partha, a river swollen with the waters of the rainy +season, sweeping away numberless trees and plants that had grown on its +margin. Beholding this, O thou of Kuru’s race, the distressed Muni +thinking that he would certainly be drowned if he fell into the waters of +that river, he tied himself strongly with several cords and flung +himself, under the influence of grief, into the current of that mighty +stream. But, O slayer of foes, that stream soon cut those cords and cast +the Rishi ashore. And the Rishi rose from the bank, freed from the cords +with which he had tied himself. And because his cords were thus broken +off by the violence of the current, the Rishi called the stream by the +name of Vipasa (the cord-breaker). For his grief the Muni could not, from +that time, stay in one place; he began to wander over mountains and along +rivers and lakes. And beholding once again a river named Haimavati +(flowing from Himavat) of terrible aspect and full of fierce crocodiles +and other (aquatic) monsters, the Rishi threw himself into it, but the +river mistaking the Brahmana for a mass of (unquenchable) fire, +immediately flew in a hundred different directions, and hath been known +ever since by the name of the Satadru (the river of a hundred courses). +Seeing himself on the dry land even there he exclaimed, ‘O, I cannot die +by my own hands!’ Saying this, the Rishi once more bent his steps towards +his asylum. Crossing numberless mountains and countries, as he was about +to re-enter his asylum, he was followed by his daughter-in-law named +Adrisyanti. As she neared him, he heard the sound from behind of a very +intelligent recitation of the Vedas with the six graces of elocution. +Hearing that sound, the Rishi asked, ‘Who is it that followeth me?’ His +daughter-in-law then answered, ‘I am Adrisyanti, the wife of Saktri. I am +helpless, though devoted to asceticism.’ Hearing her, Vasishtha said, ‘O +daughter, whose is this voice that I heard, repeating the Vedas along +with the Angas like unto the voice of Saktri reciting the Vedas with the +Angas?’ Adrisyanti answered, ‘I bear in my womb a child by thy son +Saktri. He hath been here full twelve years. The voice thou hearest is +that of the Muni, who is reciting the Vedas.’ + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘Thus addressed by her the illustrious +Vasishtha became exceedingly glad. And saying, ‘O, there is a child (of +my race)!’--he refrained, O Partha, from self-destruction. The sinless +one accompanied by his daughter-in-law, then returned to his asylum. And +the Rishi saw one day in the solitary woods (the Rakshasa) Kalmashapada. +The king, O Bharata, possessed by fierce Rakshasa, as he saw the Rishi, +became filled with wrath and rose up, desiring to devour him. And +Adrisyanti beholding before her that the Rakshasa of cruel deeds, +addressed Vasishtha in these words, full of anxiety and fear, ‘O +illustrious one, the cruel Rakshasa, like unto Death himself armed with +(his) fierce club, cometh towards us with a wooden club in hand! There is +none else on earth, except thee, O illustrious one, and, O foremost of +all that are conversant with the Vedas to restrain him today. Protect me, +O illustrious one, from this cruel wretch of terrible mien. Surely, the +Rakshasa cometh hither to devour us’ Vasishtha, hearing this, said, ‘Fear +not, O daughter, there is no need of any fear from any Rakshasa. This one +is no Rakshasa from whom thou apprehendest such imminent danger. This is +king Kalmashapada endued with great energy and celebrated on earth. That +terrible man dwelleth in these woods.’ + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘Beholding him advancing, the illustrious Rishi +Vasishtha, endued with great energy, restrained him, O Bharata, by +uttering the sound Hum. Sprinkling him again with water sanctified with +incantations the Rishi freed the monarch from that terrible curse. For +twelve years the monarch had been overwhelmed by the energy of +Vasishtha’s son like Surya seized by the planet (Rahu) during the season +of an eclipse. Freed from the Rakshasa the monarch illumined that large +forest by his splendour like the sun illumining the evening clouds. +Recovering his power of reason, the king saluted that best of Rishis with +joined palms and said, ‘O illustrious one, I am the son of Sudasa and thy +disciple, O best of Munis! O, tell me what is thy pleasure and what I am +to do.’ Vasishtha replied, saying, ‘My desire hath already been +accomplished. Return now to thy kingdom and rule thy subjects. And, O +chief of men, never insult Brahmanas any more.’ The monarch replied, ‘O +illustrious one, I shall never more insult superior Brahmanas. In +obedience to thy command I shall always worship Brahmanas. But, O best of +Brahmanas, I desire to obtain from thee that by which, O foremost of all +that are conversant with the Vedas, I may be freed from the debt I owe to +the race of Ikshvaku! O best of men, it behoveth thee to grant me, for +the perpetuation of Ikshvaku’s race, a desirable son possessing beauty +and accomplishments and good behaviour.’ + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘Thus addressed, Vasishtha, that best of +Brahmanas devoted to truth replied unto that mighty bowman of a monarch, +saying, ‘I will give you.’ After some time, O prince of men, Vasishtha, +accompanied by the monarch, went to the latter’s capital known all over +the earth by the name of Ayodhya. The citizens in great joy came out to +receive the sinless and illustrious one, like the dwellers in heaven +coming out to receive their chief. The monarch, accompanied by Vasishtha, +re-entered his auspicious capital after a long time. The citizens of +Ayodhya beheld their king accompanied by his priest, as if he were the +rising sun. The monarch who was superior to everyone in beauty filled by +his splendour the whole town of Ayodhya, like the autumnal moon filling +by his splendour the whole firmament. And the excellent city itself, in +consequence of its streets having been watered and swept, and of the rows +of banners and pendants beautifying it all around, gladdened the +monarch’s heart. And, O prince of Kuru’s race, the city filled as it was +with joyous and healthy souls, in consequence of his presence, looked gay +like Amaravati with the presence of the chief of the celestials. After +the royal sage had entered his capital, the queen, at the king’s command, +approached Vasishtha. The great Rishi, making a covenant with her, united +himself with her according to the high ordinance. And after a little +while, when the queen conceived, that best of Rishis, receiving the +reverential salutations of the king, went back to his asylum. The queen +bore the embryo in her womb for a long time. When she saw that she did +not bring forth anything, she tore open her womb by a piece of stone. It +was then that at the twelfth year (of the conception) was born Asmaka, +that bull amongst men, that royal sage who founded (the city of) +Paudanya.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXX + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘Then, O Partha, Adrisyanti, who had been +residing in Vasishtha’s asylum, brought forth (when the time came) a son +who was the perpetuator of Saktri’s race and who was a second Saktri in +everything. O foremost of Bharatas, that best of Munis, the illustrious +Vasishtha himself performed the usual after-birth ceremonies of his +grandson. And, because the Rishi Vasishtha had resolved on +self-destruction but had abstained therefrom as soon as he knew of the +existence of that child, that child, when born, was called Parasara (the +vivifier of the dead). The virtuous Parasara, from the day of his birth, +knew Vasishtha for his father and behaved towards the Muni as such. One +day, O son of Kunti, the child addressed Vasishtha, that first of +Brahmana sages, as father, in the presence of his mother Adrisyanti. +Adrisyanti, hearing the very intelligible sound father sweetly uttered by +her son, addressed him with tearful eyes and said, ‘O child, do not +address this thy grandfather as father? Thy father, O son, has been +devoured by a Rakshasa in a different forest. O innocent one, he is not +thy father whom thou regardest so. The revered one is the father of that +celebrated father of thine.’ Thus addressed by his mother that best of +Rishis of truthful speech, gave way to sorrow, but soon fired up and +resolved to destroy the whole creation. Then that illustrious and great +ascetic Vasishtha, that foremost of all persons conversant with Brahma, +that son of Mitravaruna, that Rishi acquainted with positive truth, +addressed his grandson who had set his heart upon the destruction of the +world. Hear, O Arjuna, the arguments by which Vasishtha succeeded in +driving out that resolution from his grandson’s mind.’ + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘Then Vasishtha said, ‘There was a celebrated +king of the name of Kritavirya. That bull among the kings of the earth +was the disciple of the Veda-knowing Bhrigus. That king, O child, after +performing the Soma sacrifice, gratified the Brahmanas with great +presents of rice and wealth. After that monarch had ascended to heaven, +an occasion came when his descendants were in want of wealth. And knowing +that the Bhrigus were rich, those princes went unto those best of +Brahmanas, in the guise of beggars. Some amongst the Bhrigus, to protect +their wealth, buried it under earth; and some from fear of the +Kshatriyas, began to give away their wealth unto (other) Brahmanas; while +some amongst them duly gave unto the Kshatriyas whatever they wanted. It +happened, however, that some Kshatriyas, in digging as they pleased at +the house of particular Bhargava, came upon a large treasure. And the +treasure was seen by all those bulls among Kshatriyas who had been there. +Enraged at what they regarded as the deceitful behaviour of the Bhrigus, +the Kshatriyas insulted the Brahmanas, though the latter asked for mercy. +And those mighty bowmen began to slaughter the Bhrigus with their sharp +arrows. And the Kshatriyas wandered over the earth, slaughtering even the +embryos that were in the wombs of the women of the Bhrigu race. And while +the Bhrigu race was thus being exterminated, the women of that tribe fled +from fear to the inaccessible mountains of Himavat. And one amongst these +women, of tapering thighs, desiring to perpetuate her husband’s race, +held in one of her thighs an embryo endued with great energy. A certain +Brahmana woman, however, who came to know this fact, went from fear unto +the Kshatriyas and reported the matter unto them. And the Kshatriyas then +went to destroy that embryo. Arrived at the place, they beheld the +would-be mother blazing with inborn energy, and the child that was in her +thigh came out tearing up the thigh and dazzling the eyes of those +Kshatriyas like the midday sun. Thus deprived of their eyes, the +Kshatriyas began to wander over those inaccessible mountains. And +distressed at the loss of sight, the princes were afflicted with woe, and +desirous of regaining the use of their eyes they resolved to seek the +protection of that faultless woman. Then those Kshatriyas, afflicted with +sorrow, and from loss of sight like unto a fire that hath gone out, +addressed with anxious hearts that illustrious lady, saying, ‘By thy +grace. O lady, we wish to be restored to sight. We shall then return to +our homes all together and abstain for ever from our sinful practice. O +handsome one, it behoveth thee with thy child to show us mercy. It +behoveth thee to favour these kings by granting them their eye-sight.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXXI + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“Vasishtha continued, ‘The Brahmana lady, thus addressed by them, said, +‘Ye children, I have not robbed you of your eye-sight, nor am I angry +with you. This child, however, of the Bhrigu race hath certainly been +angry with you. There is little doubt, ye children, that ye have been +robbed of your sight by that illustrious child whose wrath hath been +kindled at the remembrance of the slaughter of his race. Ye children, +while ye were destroying even the embryos of the Bhrigu race, this child +was held by me in my thigh for a hundred years! And in order that the +prosperity of Bhrigu’s race might be restored, the entire Vedas with +their branches came unto this one even while he was in the womb. It is +plain that this scion of the Bhrigu race, enraged at the slaughter of his +fathers, desireth to slay you! It is by his celestial energy that your +eyes have been scorched. Therefore, ye children, pray ye unto this my +excellent child born of my thigh. Propitiated by your homage he may +restore your eye-sight.’ + +“Vasishtha continued, ‘Hearing those words of the Brahmana lady, all +these princes addressed the thigh-born child, saying, ‘Be propitious!’ +And the child became propitious unto them. And that best of Brahmana +Rishis, in consequence of his having been born after tearing open his +mother’s thigh, came to be known throughout the three worlds by the name +of Aurva (thigh-born). And those princes regaining their eye-sight went +away. But the Muni Aurva of the Bhrigu race resolved upon overcoming the +whole world. And the high-souled Rishi set his heart, O child, upon the +destruction of every creature in the world. And that scion of the Bhrigu +race, for paying homage (as he regarded) unto his slaughtered ancestors, +devoted himself to the austerest of penances with the object of +destroying the whole world. And desirous of gratifying his ancestors, the +Rishi afflicted by his severe asceticism the three worlds with the +celestials, the Asuras and human beings. The Pitris, then, learning what +the child of their race was about, all came from their own region unto +the Rishi and addressing him said: + +‘Aurva, O son, fierce thou hast been in thy asceticism. Thy power hath +been witnessed by us. Be propitious unto the three worlds. O, control thy +wrath. O child, it was not from incapacity that the Bhrigus of souls +under complete control were, all of them, indifferent to their own +destruction at the hands of the murderous Kshatriyas. O child, when we +grew weary of the long periods of life alloted to us, it was then that we +desired our own destruction through the instrumentality of the +Kshatriyas. The wealth that the Bhrigus had placed in their house +underground had been placed only with the object of enraging the +Kshatriyas and picking a quarrel with them. O thou best of Brahmanas, as +we were desirous of heaven, of what use could wealth be to us? The +treasurer of heaven (Kuvera) had kept a large treasure for us. When we +found that death could not, by any means, overtake us all, it was then, O +child, that we regarded this as the best means (of compassing our +desire). They who commit suicide never attain to regions that are +blessed. Reflecting upon this, we abstained from self-destruction. That +which, therefore thou desirest to do is not agreeable to us. Restrain thy +mind, therefore, from the sinful act of destroying the whole world. O +child, destroy not the Kshatriyas nor the seven worlds. O, kill this +wrath of thine that staineth thy ascetic energy.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXXII + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“The Gandharva said, ‘Vasishtha after this, continued the narration +saying, ‘Hearing these words of the Pitris, Aurva, O child, replied unto +them to this effect: + +‘Ye Pitris, the vow I have made from anger for the destruction of all the +worlds, must not go in vain. I cannot consent to be one whose anger and +vows are futile. Like fire consuming dry woods, this rage of mine will +certainly consume me if I do not accomplish my vow. The man that +represseth his wrath that hath been excited by (adequate) cause, becometh +incapable of duly compassing the three ends of life (viz., religion, +profit and pleasure). The wrath that kings desirous of subjugating the +whole earth exhibit, is not without its uses. It serveth to restrain the +wicked and to protect the honest. While lying unborn within my mother’s +thigh, I heard the doleful cries of my mother and other women of the +Bhrigu race who were then being exterminated by the Kshatriyas. Ye +Pitris, when those wretches of Kshatriyas began to exterminate the +Bhrigus together with unborn children of their race, it was then that +wrath filled my soul. My mother and the other women of our race, each in +an advanced state of pregnancy, and my father, while terribly alarmed, +found not in all the worlds a single protector. Then when the Bhrigu +women found not a single protector, my mother held me in one of her +thighs. If there be a punisher of crimes in the worlds no one in all the +worlds would dare commit a crime; if he findeth not a punisher, the +number of sinners becometh large. The man who having the power to prevent +or punish sin doth not do so knowing that a sin hath been committed, is +himself defiled by that sin. When kings and others, capable of protecting +my fathers, protect them not, postponing that duty preferring the +pleasures of life, I have just cause to be enraged with them. I am the +lord of the creation, capable of punishing its iniquity. I am incapable +of obeying your command. Capable of punishing this crime, if I abstain +from so doing, men will once more have to undergo a similar persecution. +The fire of my wrath too that is ready to consume the worlds, if +repressed, will certainly consume by its own energy my own self. Ye +masters, I know that ye ever seek the good of the worlds: direct me, +therefore, as to what may benefit both myself and the worlds.’ + +“Vasishtha continued, ‘The Pitris replied saying, O, throw this fire that +is born of thy wrath and that desireth to consume the worlds, into the +waters. That will do thee good. The worlds, indeed, are all dependent on +water (as their elementary cause). Every juicy substance containeth +water, indeed the whole universe is made of water. Therefore, O thou best +of Brahmanas, cast thou this fire of thy wrath into the waters. If, +therefore, thou desirest it, O Brahmana, let this fire born of thy wrath +abide in the great ocean, consuming the waters thereof, for it hath been +said that the worlds are made of water. In this way, O thou sinless one, +thy word will be rendered true, and the worlds with the gods will not be +destroyed.’ + +“Vasishtha continued, ‘Then, O child, Aurva cast the fire of his wrath +into the abode of Varuna. And that fire which consumeth the waters of the +great ocean, became like unto a large horse’s head which persons +conversant with the Vedas call by the name of Vadavamukha. And emitting +itself from that mouth it consumeth the waters of the mighty ocean. Blest +be thou! It behoveth not thee, therefore, to destroy the worlds. O thou +Parasara, who art acquainted with the higher regions, thou foremost of +wise men!’” + + + +SECTION CLXXXIII + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘The Brahmana sage (Parasara) thus addressed by +the illustrious Vasishtha restrained his wrath from destroying the +worlds. But the Rishi Parasara endued with great energy--the son of +Saktri--the foremost of all persons acquainted with the Vedas--performed +a grand Rakshasa sacrifice. And remembering the slaughter of (his father) +Saktri, the great Muni began to consume the Rakshasas, young and old, in +the sacrifice he performed. And Vasishtha did not restrain him from this +slaughter of the Rakshasa, from the determination of not obstructing this +second vow (of his grandson). And in that sacrifice the great Muni +Parasara sat before three blazing fires, himself like unto a fourth fire. +And the son of Saktri, like the Sun just emerging from the clouds, +illuminated the whole firmament by that stainless sacrifice of his into +which large were the libations poured of clarified butter. Then Vasishtha +and the other Rishis regarded that Muni blazing with his own energy as if +he were the second Sun. Then the great Rishi Atri of liberal soul +desirous of ending that sacrifice, an achievement highly difficult for +others,--came to that place. And there also came, O thou slayer of all +foes, Pulastya and Pulaha, and Kratu the performer of many great +sacrifices, all influenced by the desire of saving the Rakshasas. And, O +thou bull of the Bharata race, Pulastya then, seeing that many Rakshasas +had already been slain, told these words unto Parasara that oppressor of +all enemies: + +‘There is no obstruction, I hope, to this sacrifice of thine, O child! +Takest thou any pleasure, O child, in this slaughter of even all those +innocent Rakshasas that know nothing of thy father’s death. It behoveth +thee not to destroy any creatures thus. This, O child, is not the +occupation of a Brahmana devoted to asceticism. Peace is the highest +virtue. Therefore, O Parasara, establish thou peace. How hast thou, O +Parasara, being so superior, engaged thyself in such a sinful practice? +It behoveth not thee to transgress against Saktri himself who was +well-acquainted with all rules of morality. It behoveth not thee to +extirpate any creatures. O descendant of Vasishtha’s race, that which +befell thy father was brought about by his own curse. It was for his own +fault that Saktri was taken hence unto heaven. O Muni, no Rakshasa was +capable of devouring Saktri; he himself provided for his own death. And, +O Parasara, Viswamitra was only a blind instrument in that matter. Both +Saktri and Kalmashapada, having ascended to heaven are enjoying great +happiness. And, the other sons also of the great Rishi Vasishtha who were +younger than Saktri, are even now enjoying themselves with the +celestials. And, O child, O offspring of Vasishtha’s son, thou hast also +been, in this sacrifice, only an instrument in the destruction of these +innocent Rakshasas. O, blest be thou! Abandon this sacrifice of thine. +Let it come to an end.’ + +“The Gandharva continued, ‘Thus addressed by Pulastya, as also by the +intelligent Vasishtha, that mighty Muni--the son of Saktri then brought +that sacrifice to an end. And the Rishi cast the fire that he had ignited +for the purpose of the Rakshasas’ sacrifice into the deep woods on the +north of the Himavat. And that fire may be seen to this day consuming +Rakshasas and trees and stones in all seasons.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXXIV + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“Arjuna asked, ‘What for, O Gandharva, did king Kalmashapada command his +queen to go unto that foremost of all persons conversant with the +Vedas--the master Vasishtha? Why also did that illustrious and great +Rishi Vasishtha himself who was acquainted with every rule of morality +know a woman he should not have known? O friend, was this an act of sin +on the part of Vasishtha? It behoveth thee to remove the doubts I +entertain and refer to thee for solution.’ + +“The Gandharva replied, saying, ‘O irrepressible Dhananjaya, listen to me +as I answer the question thou hast asked in respect of Vasishtha and king +Kalmashapada that cherisher of friends. O thou best of the Bharatas, I +have told thee all about the curse of king Kalmashapada by Saktri, the +illustrious son of Vasishtha. Brought under the influence of the curse, +that smiter of all foes--king Kalmashapada--with eyes whirling in anger +went out of his capital accompanied by his wife. And entering with his +wife the solitary woods the king began to wander about. And one day while +the king under the influence of the curse was wandering through that +forest abounding in several kinds of deer and various other animals and +overgrown with numerous large trees and shrubs and creepers and +resounding with terrible cries, he became exceedingly hungry. And the +monarch thereupon began to search for some food. Pinched with hunger, the +king at last saw, in a very solitary part of the woods, a Brahmana and +his wife enjoying each other. Alarmed at beholding the monarch the couple +ran away, their desire ungratified. Pursuing the retreating pair, the +king forcibly seized the Brahmana. Then the Brahmani, beholding her lord +seized, addressed the monarch, saying, ‘Listen to what I say, O monarch +of excellent vows! It is known all over the world that thou art born in +the solar race, and that thou art ever vigilant in the practice of +morality and devoted to the service of thy superiors. It behoveth thee +not to commit sin, O thou irrepressible one, deprived though thou hast +been of thy senses by (the Rishi’s) curse. My season hath come, and +wishful of my husband’s company I was connected with him. I have not been +gratified yet. Be propitious unto us, O thou best of kings! Liberate my +husband.’ The monarch, however, without listening to her cries cruelly +devoured her husband like a tiger devouring its desirable prey. Possessed +with wrath at this sight, the tears that that woman shed blazed up like +fire and consumed everything in that place. Afflicted with grief at the +calamity that overtook her lord, the Brahmani in anger cursed the royal +sage Kalmashapada, ‘Vile wretch, since thou hast today cruelly devoured +under my very nose my illustrious husband dear unto me, even before my +desires have been gratified, therefore shall thou, O wicked one afflicted +by my curse, meet with instant death when thou goest in for thy wife in +season. And thy wife, O wretch, shall bring forth a son uniting herself +with that Rishi Vasishtha whose children have been devoured by thee. And +that child, O worst of kings, shall be the perpetuator of thy race.’ And +cursing the monarch thus, that lady of Angira’s house bearing every +auspicious mark, entered the blazing fire in the very sight of the +monarch. And, O thou oppressor of all foes, the illustrious and exalted +Vasishtha by his ascetic power and spiritual insight immediately knew +all. And long after this, when the king became freed from his curse, he +approached his wife Madayanati when her season came. But Madayanati +softly sent him away. Under the influence of passion the monarch had no +recollection of that curse. Hearing, however, the words of his wife, the +best of kings became terribly alarmed. And recollecting the curse he +repented bitterly of what he had done. It was for this reason, O thou +best of men, that the monarch infected with the Brahmani’s curse, +appointed Vasishtha to beget a son upon his queen.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXXV + +(Chaitraratha Parva continued) + +“Arjuna asked, ‘O Gandharva, thou art acquainted with everything. Tell +us, therefore, which Veda-knowing Brahmana is worthy to be appointed as +our priest.’ + +“The Gandharva replied, ‘There is in these woods a shrine of the name of +Utkochaka. Dhaumya, the younger brother of Devala is engaged there in +ascetic penances. Appoint him, if ye desire, your priest.” + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Arjuna, highly pleased with everything that had +happened, gave unto that Gandharva, his weapon of fire with befitting +ceremonies. And addressing him, the Pandava also said, ‘O thou best of +Gandharvas, let the horses thou givest us remain with thee for a time. +When the occasion cometh, we will take them from thee. Blest be thou.’ +Then the Gandharva and the Pandavas, respectfully saluting each other, +left the delightful banks of the Bhagirathi and went wheresoever they +desired. Then, O Bharata, the Pandavas going to Utkochaka, the sacred +asylum of Dhaumya installed Dhaumya as their priest. And Dhaumya, the +foremost of all conversant with the Vedas, receiving them with presents +of wild fruits and (edible) roots, consented to become their priest. And +the Pandavas with their mother forming the sixth of the company, having +obtained that Brahmana as their priest regarded their sovereignty and +kingdom as already regained and the daughter of the Panchala king as +already obtained in the Swayamavara. And those bulls of the Bharata race, +having obtained the master Dhaumya as their priest, also regarded +themselves as placed under a powerful protector. And the high-souled +Dhaumya, acquainted with the true meaning of the Vedas and every rule of +morality, becoming the spiritual preceptor of the virtuous Pandavas, made +them his Yajamanas (spiritual disciples). And that Brahmana, beholding +those heroes endued with intelligence and strength and perseverance like +unto the celestials, regarded them as already restored, by virtue of +their own accomplishments to their sovereignty and kingdom. Then those +kings of men, having had benedictions uttered upon them by that Brahmana, +resolved to go, accompanied by him, to the Swayamvara of the Princess of +Panchala.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXXVI + +(Swayamvara Parva) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then those tigers among men--those brothers--the +five Pandavas, set out for Panchala to behold that country and Draupadi +and the festivities (in view of her marriage). And those tigers among +men--those oppressors of all enemies--in going along with their mother, +saw on the way numerous Brahmanas proceeding together. And those +Brahmanas who were all Brahmacharis beholding the Pandavas, O king, asked +them, ‘Where are ye going to? Whence also are ye come?’ And Yudhishthira +replied unto them, saying, ‘Ye bulls among Brahmanas, know ye that we are +uterine brothers proceeding together with our mother. We are coming even +from Ekachakra.’ The Brahmanas then said, ‘Go ye this very day to the +abode of Drupada in the country of the Panchalas. A great Swayamvara +takes place there, on which a large sum of money will be spent. We also +are proceeding thither. Let us all go together. Extraordinary festivities +will take place (in Drupada’s abode). The illustrious Yajnasena, +otherwise called Drupada, had a daughter risen from the centre of the +sacrificial altar. Of eyes like lotus-petals and of faultless features +endued with youth and intelligence, she is extremely beautiful. And the +slender-waisted Draupadi of every feature perfectly faultless, and whose +body emitteth a fragrance like unto that of the blue lotus for two full +miles around, is the sister of the strong-armed Dhrishtadyumna gifted +with great prowess--the (would-be) slayer of Drona--who was born with +natural mail and sword and bow and arrows from the blazing fire, himself +like unto the second Fire. And that daughter of Yajnasena will select a +husband from among the invited princes. And we are repairing thither to +behold her and the festivities on the occasion, like unto the festivities +of heaven. And to that Swayamvara will come from various lands kings and +princes who are performers of sacrifices in which the presents to the +Brahmanas are large: who are devoted to study, are holy, illustrious, and +of rigid vows; who are young and handsome; and who are mighty +car-warriors and accomplished in arms. Desirous of winning (the hand of) +the maiden those monarchs will all give away much wealth and kine and +food and other articles of enjoyment. And taking all they will give away +and witnessing the Swayamvara, and enjoying the festivities, we shall go +wheresoever we like. And there will also come unto that Swayamvara, from +various countries, actors, and bards singing the panegyrics of kings, and +dancers, and reciters of Puranas, and heralds, and powerful athletes. And +beholding all these sights and taking what will be given away to +illustrious ones, ye will return with us. Ye are all handsome and like +unto the celestials! Beholding you, Krishna may, by chance, choose some +one amongst you superior to the rest. This thy brother of mighty arms and +handsome and endued with beauty also, engaged in (athletic) encounters, +may, by chance, earn great wealth.’ + +“On hearing these words of the Brahmanas, Yudhishthira replied, ‘Ye +Brahmanas, we will all go with you to witness that maiden’s +Swayamvara--that excellent jubilee.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXXVII + +(Swayamvara Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by the Brahmanas, the Pandavas, O +Janamejaya, proceeded towards the country of the southern Panchalas ruled +over by the king Drupada. And on their way those heroes beheld the +illustrious Dwaipayana--that Muni of pure soul, and perfectly sinless. +And duly saluting the Rishi and saluted by him, after their conversation +was over, commanded by him they proceeded to Drupada’s abode. And those +mighty chariot-fighters proceeded by slow stages staying for some time +within those beautiful woods and by fine lakes that they beheld along +their way. Devoted to study, pure in their practices, amiable, and +sweet-speeched, the Pandavas at last entered the country of the +Panchalas. And beholding the capital, as also the fort, they took up +their quarters in the house of a potter, Adopting the Brahmanical +profession, they began to lead an eleemosynary life. And no men +recognised those heroes during their stay in Drupada’s capital. + +“Yajnasena always cherished the desire of bestowing his daughter on +Kiriti (Arjuna), the son of Pandu. But he never spoke of it to anybody. +And, O Janamejaya, the king of Panchala thinking of Arjuna caused a very +stiff bow to be made that was incapable of being bent by any except +Arjuna. Causing some machinery to be erected in the sky, the king set up +a mark attached to that machinery. And Drupada said, ‘He that will string +this bow and with these well-adorned arrows shoot the mark above the +machine shall obtain my daughter.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘With these words king Drupada proclaimed the +Swayamvara. On hearing of them, O Bharata, the kings of other lands came +to his capital. And there came also many illustrious Rishis desirous of +beholding the Swayamvara. And there came also, O king, Duryodhana and the +Kurus accompanied by Kama. There also came many superior Brahmanas from +every country. And the monarchs who came there were all received with +reverence by the illustrious Drupada. Desirous of beholding the +Swayamvara, the citizens, roaring like the sea, all took their seats on +the platforms that were erected around the amphitheatre. The monarch +entered the grand amphitheatre by the north-eastern gate. And the +amphitheatre which itself had been erected on an auspicious and level +plain to the north-east of Drupada’s capital, was surrounded by beautiful +mansions. And it was enclosed on all sides with high walls and a moat +with arched doorways here and there. The vast amphitheatre was also +shaded by a canopy of various colours. And resounding with the notes of +thousands of trumpets, it was scented with black aloes and sprinkled all +over with water mixed with sandal-paste and decorated with garlands of +flowers. It was surrounded with high mansions perfectly white and +resembling the cloud-kissing peaks of Kailasa. The windows of those +mansions were covered with net works of gold; the walls were set with +diamonds and precious costly carpets and cloths. All those mansions +adorned with wreaths and garlands of flowers and rendered fragrant with +excellent aloes, were all white and spotless, like unto the necks of +swans. And the fragrance therefrom could be perceived from the distance +of a Yojana (eight miles). And they were each furnished with a hundred +doors wide enough to admit a crowd of persons; they were adorned with +costly beds and carpets, and beautified with various metals; they +resembled the peaks of the Himavat. And in those seven-storied houses of +various sizes dwelt the monarchs invited by Drupada whose persons were +adorned with every ornament and who were possessed with the desire of +excelling one another. And the inhabitants of the city and the country +who had come to behold Krishna and taken their seats on the excellent +platforms erected around, beheld seated within those mansions those lions +among kings who were all endued with the energy of great souls. And those +exalted sovereigns were all adorned with the fragrant paste of the black +aloe. Of great liberality, they were all devoted to Brahma and they +protected their kingdoms against all foes. And for their own good deeds +they were loved by the whole world. + +“The Pandavas, too, entering that amphitheatre, sat with the Brahmanas +and beheld the unequalled affluence of the king of the Panchalas. And +that concourse of princes, Brahmanas, and others, looking gay at the +performances of actors and dancers (large presents of every kind of +wealth being constantly made), began to swell day by day. And it lasted, +O king, several days, till on the sixteenth day when it was at its full, +the daughter of Drupada, O thou bull of the Bharata race, having washed +herself clean entered the amphitheatre, richly attired and adorned with +every ornament and bearing in her hand a dish of gold (whereon were the +usual offerings of Arghya) and a garland of flowers. Then the priest of +the lunar race--a holy Brahmana conversant with all mantras--ignited the +sacrificial fire and poured on it with due rites libations of clarified +butter. And gratifying Agni by these libations and making the Brahmanas +utter the auspicious formula of benediction, stopped the musical +instruments that were playing all around. And when that vast +amphitheatre, O monarch, became perfectly still, Dhrishtadyumna possessed +of a voice deep as the sound of the kettledrum or the clouds, taking hold +of his sister’s arm, stood in the midst of that concourse, and said, with +a voice loud and deep as the roar of the clouds, these charming words of +excellent import, ‘Hear ye assembled kings, this is the bow, that is the +mark, and these are the arrows. Shoot the mark through the orifice of the +machine with these five sharpened arrows. Truly do I say that, possessed +of lineage, beauty of persons, and strength whoever achieveth this great +feat shall obtain today this my sister, Krishna for his wife.’ Having +thus spoken unto the assembled monarchs Drupada’s son then addressed his +sister, reciting unto her the names and lineages and achievements of +those assembled lords of the earth.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXXVIII + +(Swayamvara Parva continued) + +“Dhrishtadyumna said, ‘Duryodhana, Durvisaha, Durmukha and +Dushpradharshana, Vivinsati, Vikarna, Saha, and Duhsasana; Yuyutsu and +Vayuvega and Bhimavegarava; Ugrayudha, Valaki, Kanakayu, and Virochana, +Sukundala, Chitrasena, Suvarcha, and Kanakadhwaja; Nandaka, and Vahusali, +and Tuhunda, and Vikata; these, O sister, and many other mighty sons of +Dhritarashtra--all heroes--accompanied by Karna, have come for thy hand. +Innumerable other illustrious monarchs all bulls among Kshatriyas--have +also come for thee. Sakuni, Sauvala, Vrisaka, and Vrihadvala,--these sons +of the king Gandhara--have also come. Foremost of all wielders of +weapons--the illustrious Aswatthaman and Bhoja, adorned with every +ornament have also come for thee. Vrihanta, Manimana, Dandadhara, +Sahadeva, Jayatsena, Meghasandhi, Virata with his two sons Sankha and +Uttara, Vardhakshemi, Susarma, Senavindu, Suketu with his two sons Sunama +and Suvarcha, Suchitra, Sukumara, Vrika, Satyadhriti, Suryadhwaja, +Rochamana, Nila, Chitrayudha, Agsuman, Chekitana, the mighty Sreniman, +Chandrasena the mighty son of Samudrasena, Jarasandha, Vidanda, and +Danda--the father and son, Paundraka, Vasudeva, Bhagadatta endued with +great energy, Kalinga, Tamralipta, the king of Pattana, the mighty +car-warrior Salya, the king of Madra, with his son, the heroic +Rukmangada, Rukmaratha, Somadatta of the Kuru race with his three sons, +all mighty chariot-fighters and heroes, viz., Bhuri, Bhurisrava, and +Sala, Sudakshina, Kamvoja of the Puru race, Vrihadvala, Sushena, Sivi, +the son of Usinara, Patcharanihanta, the king of Karusha, Sankarshana +(Valadeva), Vasudeva (Krishna) the mighty son of Rukmini, Samva, +Charudeshna, the son of Pradyumna with Gada, Akrura, Satyaki, the +high-souled Uddhava, Kritavarman, the son of Hridika, Prithu, Viprithu, +Viduratha, Kanka, Sanku with Gaveshana, Asavaha, Aniruddha, Samika, +Sarimejaya, the heroic Vatapi Jhilli Pindaraka, the powerful Usinara, all +these of the Vrishni race, Bhagiratha, Vrihatkshatra, Jayadratha the son +of Sindhu, Vrihadratha, Valhika, the mighty charioteer Srutayu, Uluka, +Kaitava, Chitrangada and Suvangada, the highly intelligent Vatsaraja, the +king of Kosala, Sisupala and the powerful Jarasandha, these and many +other great kings--all Kshatriyas celebrated throughout the world--have +come, O blessed one, for thee. Endued with prowess, these will shoot the +mark. And thou shalt choose him for thy husband who amongst these will +shoot the mark.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXXIX + +(Swayamvara Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then those youthful princes adorned with ear-rings, +vying with one another and each regarding himself accomplished in arms +and gifted with might, stood up brandishing their weapons. And +intoxicated with pride of beauty, prowess, lineage, knowledge, wealth, +and youth, they were like Himalayan elephants in the season of rut with +crowns split from excess of temporal juice. And beholding each other with +jealousy and influenced by the god of desire, they suddenly rose up from +their royal seats, exclaiming ‘Krishna shall be mine.’ And the Kshatriyas +assembled in that amphitheatre, each desirous of winning the daughter of +Drupada, looked like the celestial (of old) standing round Uma, the +daughter of the King of mountains. Afflicted with the shafts of the god +of the flowery bow and with hearts utterly lost in the contemplation of +Krishna, those princes descended into the amphitheatre for winning the +Panchala maiden and began to regard even their best friends with +jealousy. And there came also the celestials on their cars, with the +Rudras and the Adityas, the Vasus and the twin Aswins, the Swadhas and +all the Marutas, and Kuvera with Yama walking ahead. And there came also +the Daityas and the Suparnas, the great Nagas and the celestial Rishis, +the Guhyakas and the Charanas and Viswavasu and Narada and Parvata, and +the principal Gandharvas with Apsaras. And Halayudha (Valadeva) and +Janardana (Krishna) and the chief of the Vrishni, Andhaka, and Yadava +tribes who obeyed the leadership of Krishna were also there, viewing the +scene. And beholding those elephants in rut--the five +(Pandavas)--attracted towards Draupadi like mighty elephants towards a +lake overgrown with lotuses, or like fire covered with ashes, Krishna the +foremost of Yadu heroes began to reflect. And he said unto Rama +(Valadeva), ‘That is Yudhishthira; that is Bhima with Jishnu (Arjuna); +and those are the twin heroes.’ And Rama surveying them slowly cast a +glance of satisfaction at Krishna. Biting their nether lips in wrath, the +other heroes there--sons and grandsons of kings--with their eyes and +hearts and thoughts set on Krishna, looked with expanded eyes on Draupadi +alone without noticing the Pandavas. And the sons of Pritha also, of +mighty arms, and the illustrious twin heroes, beholding Draupadi, were +all likewise struck by the shafts of Kama. And crowded with celestial +Rishis and Gandharvas and Suparnas and Nagas and Asuras and Siddhas, and +filled with celestial perfumes and scattered over with celestial flowers, +and resounding with the kettle-drum and the deep hum of infinite voices, +and echoing with the softer music of the flute, the Vina, and the tabor, +the cars of the celestials could scarcely find a passage through the +firmament. Then those princes--Karna, Duryodhana, Salwa, Salya, +Aswatthaman, Kratha, Sunitha, Vakra, the ruler of Kalinga and Banga, +Pandya, Paundra, the ruler of Videha, the chief of the Yavanas, and many +other sons and grandsons of kings,--sovereigns of territories with eyes +like lotus-petals,--one after another began to exhibit prowess for +(winning) that maiden of unrivalled beauty. Adorned with crowns, +garlands, bracelets, and other ornaments, endued with mighty arms, +possessed of prowess and vigour and bursting with strength and energy, +those princes could not, even in imagination, string that bow of +extraordinary stiffness. + +“And (some amongst) those kings in exerting with swelling lips each +according to his strength, education, skill, and energy,--to string that +bow, were tossed on the ground and lay perfectly motionless for some +time. Their strength spent and their crowns and garlands loosened from +their persons, they began to pant for breath and their ambition of +winning that fair maiden was cooled. Tossed by that tough bow, and their +garlands and bracelets and other ornaments disordered, they began to +utter exclamations of woe. And that assemblage of monarchs, their hope of +obtaining Krishna gone, looked sad and woeful. And beholding the plight +of those monarchs, Karna that foremost of all wielders of the bow went to +where the bow was, and quickly raising it strung it and placed the arrows +on the string. And beholding the son of Surya--Karna of the Suta +tribe--like unto fire, or Soma, or Surya himself, resolved to shoot the +mark, those foremost of bowmen--the sons of Pandu--regarded the mark as +already shot and brought down upon the ground. But seeing Karna, Draupadi +loudly said, ‘I will not select a Suta for my lord.’ Then Karna, laughing +in vexation and casting glance at the Sun, threw aside the bow already +drawn to a circle. + +Then when all those Kshatriyas gave up the task, the heroic king of the +Chedis--mighty as Yama (Pluto) himself--the illustrious and determined +Sisupala, the son of Damaghosa, in endeavouring to string the bow, +himself fell upon his knees on the ground. Then king Jarasandha endued +with great strength and powers, approaching the bow stood there for some +moment, fixed and motionless like a mountain. Tossed by the bow, he too +fell upon his knees on the ground, and rising up, the monarch left the +amphitheatre for (returning to) his kingdom. Then the great hero Salya, +the king of Madra, endued with great strength, in endeavouring to string +the bow fell upon his knees on the ground. At last when in that +assemblage consisting of highly respectable people, all the monarchs had +become subjects of derisive talk that foremost of heroes--Jishnu, the son +of Kunti--desired to string the bow and placed the arrows on the +bow-string.’” + + + +SECTION CLXL + +(Swayamvara Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘When all the monarchs had desisted from +stringing that bow, the high-souled Jishnu arose from among the crowd of +Brahmanas seated in that assembly. And beholding Partha possessing the +complexion of Indra’s banner, advancing towards the bow, the principal +Brahmanas shaking their deer-skins raised a loud clamour. And while some +were displeased, there were others that were well-pleased. And some there +were, possessed of intelligence and foresight, who addressing one another +said, ‘Ye Brahmanas, how can a Brahmana stripling unpractised in arms and +weak in strength, string that bow which such celebrated Kshatriyas as +Salya and others endued with might and accomplished in the science and +practice of arms could not? If he doth not achieve success in this +untried task which he hath undertaken from a spirit of boyish +unsteadiness, the entire body of Brahmanas here will be rendered +ridiculous in the eyes of the assembled monarchs. Therefore, forbid this +Brahmana that he may not go to string the bow which he is even now +desirous of doing from vanity, childish daring, or mere unsteadiness.’ +Others replied, ‘We shall not be made ridiculous, nor shall we incur the +disrespect of anybody or the displeasure of the sovereigns. Some +remarked, ‘This handsome youth is even like the trunk of a mighty +elephant, whose shoulders and arms and thighs are so well-built, who in +patience looks like the Himavat, whose gait is even like that of the +lion, and whose prowess seems to be like that of an elephant in rut, and +who is so resolute, that it is probable that he will accomplish this +feat. He has strength and resolution. If he had none, he would never go +of his own accord. Besides, there is nothing in the three worlds that +Brahmanas of all mortal men cannot accomplish. Abstaining from all food +or living upon air or eating of fruits, persevering in their vows, and +emaciated and weak, Brahmanas are ever strong in their own energy. One +should never disregard a Brahmana whether his acts be right or wrong, by +supposing him incapable of achieving any task that is great or little, or +that is fraught with bliss or woe. Rama the son of Jamadagni defeated in +battle, all the Kshatriyas. Agastya by his Brahma energy drank off the +fathomless ocean. Therefore, say ye, ‘Let this youth bend the bow and +string it with ease’ (and many said), ‘So be it.’ And the Brahmanas +continued speaking unto one another these and other words. Then Arjuna +approached the bow and stood there like a mountain. And walking round +that bow, and bending his head unto that giver of boons--the lord +Isana--and remembering Krishna also, he took it up. And that bow which +Rukma, Sunitha, Vakra, Radha’s son, Duryodhana, Salya, and many other +kings accomplished in the science and practice of arms, could not even +with great exertion, string, Arjuna, the son of Indra, that foremost of +all persons endued with energy and like unto the younger brother of Indra +(Vishnu) in might, strung in the twinkling of an eye. And taking up the +five arrows he shot the mark and caused it to fall down on the ground +through the hole in the machine above which it had been placed. Then +there arose a loud uproar in the firmament, and the amphitheatre also +resounded with a loud clamour. And the gods showered celestial flowers on +the head of Partha the slayer of foes. And thousands of Brahmanas began +to wave their upper garments in joy. And all around, the monarchs who had +been unsuccessful, uttered exclamations of grief and despair. And flowers +were rained from the skies all over the amphitheatre. And the musicians +struck up in concert. Bards and heralds began to chant in sweet tones the +praises (of the hero who accomplished the feat). And beholding Arjuna, +Drupada--that slayer of foes,--was filled with joy. And the monarch +desired to assist with his forces the hero if the occasion arose. And +when the uproar was at its height, Yudhishthira, the foremost of all +virtuous men, accompanied by those first of men the twins, hastily left +the amphitheatre for returning to his temporary home. And Krishna +beholding the mark shot and beholding Partha also like unto Indra +himself, who had shot the mark, was filled with joy, and approached the +son of Kunti with a white robe and a garland of flowers. And Arjuna the +accomplisher of inconceivable feats, having won Draupadi by his success +in the amphitheatre, was saluted with reverence by all the Brahmanas. And +he soon after left the lists followed close by her who thus became his +wife.’” + + + +SECTION CLXLI + +(Swayamvara Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘When the king (Drupada) expressed his desire of +bestowing his daughter on that Brahmana (who had shot the mark), all +those monarchs who had been invited to the Swayamvara, looking at one +another, were suddenly filled with wrath. And they said, ‘Passing us by +and treating the assembled monarchs as straw this Drupada desireth to +bestow his daughter--that first of women,--on a Brahmana! Having planted +the tree he cutteth it down when it is about to bear fruit. The wretch +regardeth us not: therefore let us slay him. He deserveth not our respect +nor the veneration due to age. Owing to such qualities of his, we shall, +therefore, slay this wretch that insulteth all kings, along with his son. +Inviting all the monarchs and entertaining them with excellent food, he +disregardeth us at last. In this assemblage of monarchs like unto a +conclave of the celestials, doth he not see a single monarch equal unto +himself? The Vedic declaration is well-known that the Swayamvara is for +the Kshatriyas. The Brahmanas have no claim in respect of a selection of +husband by a Kshatriya damsel. Or, ye kings, if this damsel desireth not +to select any one of us as her lord, let us cast her into the fire and +return to our kingdoms. As regards this Brahmana, although he hath, from +officiousness or avarice, done this injury to the monarchs, he should not +yet be slain; for our kingdoms, lives, treasures, sons, grandsons, and +whatever other wealth we have, all exist for Brahmanas. Something must be +done here (even unto him), so that from fear of disgrace and the desire +of maintaining what properly belongeth unto each order, other Swayamvaras +may not terminate in this way.’ + +“Having addressed one another thus, those tigers among monarchs endued +with arms like unto spiked iron maces, took up their weapons and rushed +at Drupada to slay him then and there. And Drupada beholding those +monarchs all at once rushing towards him in anger with bows and arrows, +sought, from fear, the protection of the Brahmanas. But those mighty +bowmen (Bhima and Arjuna) of the Pandavas, capable of chastising all +foes, advanced to oppose those monarchs rushing towards them impetuously +like elephants in the season of rut. Then the monarchs with gloved +fingers and upraised weapons rushed in anger at the Kuru princes, Bhima +and Arjuna, to slay them. Then the mighty Bhima of extraordinary +achievements, endued with the strength of thunder, tore up like an +elephant a large tree and divested it of its leaves. And with that tree, +the strong-armed Bhima, the son of Pritha, that grinder of foes, stood, +like unto the mace-bearing king of the dead (Yama) armed with his fierce +mace, near Arjuna that bull amongst men. And beholding that feat of his +brother, Jishnu of extraordinary intelligence, himself also of +inconceivable feats, wondered much. And equal unto Indra himself in +achievements, shaking off all fear he stood with his bow ready to receive +those assailants. And beholding those feats of both Jishnu and his +brother, Damodara (Krishna) of superhuman intelligence and inconceivable +feats, addressing his brother, Halayudha (Valadeva) of fierce energy, +said, ‘That hero there, of tread like that of a mighty lion, who draweth +the large bow in his hand four full cubits in length, is Arjuna! There is +no doubt, O Sankarshana, about this, if I am Vasudeva. That other hero +who having speedily torn up the tree hath suddenly become ready to drive +off the monarchs is Vrikodara! For no one in the world, except Vrikodara, +could today perform such a feat in the field of battle. And that other +youth of eyes like unto lotus-petals, of full four cubits height, of gait +like that of a mighty lion, and humble withal, of fair complexion and +prominent and shining nose, who had, a little before, left the +amphitheatre, is Dharma’s son (Yudhishthira). The two other youths, like +unto Kartikeya, are, I suspect, the sons of the twin Aswins. I heard that +the sons of Pandu along with their mother Pritha had all escaped from the +conflagration of the house of lac.’ Then Halayudha of complexion like +unto that of clouds uncharged with rain, addressing his younger brother +(Krishna), said with great satisfaction, ‘O, I am happy to hear, as I do +from sheer good fortune, that our father’s sister Pritha with the +foremost of the Kaurava princes have all escaped (from death)!’” + + + +SECTION CLXLII + +(Swayamvara Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then those bulls among Brahmanas shaking their +deer-skins and water-pots made of cocoanut-shells exclaimed, ‘Fear not, +we will fight the foe!’ Arjuna smilingly addressing those Brahmanas +exclaiming thus, said, ‘Stand ye aside as spectators (of the fray) +Showering hundreds of arrows furnished with straight points even I shall +check, like snakes with mantras, all those angry monarchs.’ Having said +this, the mighty Arjuna taking up the bow he had obtained as dower +accompanied by his brother Bhima stood immovable as a mountain. And +beholding those Kshatriyas who were ever furious in battle with Karna +ahead, the heroic brothers rushed fearlessly at them like two elephants +rushing against a hostile elephant. Then those monarchs eager for the +fight fiercely exclaimed, ‘The slaughter in battle of one desiring to +fight is permitted.’ And saying this, the monarchs suddenly rushed +against the Brahmanas. And Karna endued with great energy rushed against +Jishnu for fight. And Salya the mighty king of Madra rushed against Bhima +like an elephant rushing against another for the sake of a she-elephant +in heat; while Duryodhana and others engaged with the Brahmanas, +skirmished with them lightly and carelessly. Then the illustrious Arjuna +beholding Karna, the son of Vikartana (Surya), advancing towards him, +drew his tough bow and pieced him with his sharp arrows. And the impetus +of those whetted arrows furnished with fierce energy made Radheya (Karna) +faint. Recovering consciousness Karna attacked Arjuna with greater care +than before. Then Karna and Arjuna, both foremost of victorious warriors, +desirous of vanquishing each other, fought madly on. And such was the +lightness of hand they both displayed that (each enveloped by the other’s +shower of arrows) they both became invisible (unto the spectators of +their encounter). ‘Behold the strength of my arms.’--‘Mark, how I have +counteracted that feat,’--those were the words--intelligible to heroes +alone--in which they addressed each other. And incensed at finding the +strength and energy of Arjuna’s arms unequalled on the earth, Karna, the +son of Surya, fought with greater vigour. And parrying all those +impetuous arrows shot at him by Arjuna, Karna sent up a loud shout. And +this feat of his was applauded by all the warriors. Then addressing his +antagonist, Karna said, ‘O thou foremost of Brahmanas, I am gratified to +observe the energy of thy arms that knoweth no relaxation in battle and +thy weapons themselves fit for achieving victory. Art thou the embodiment +of the science of weapons, or art thou Rama that best of Brahmanas, or +Indra himself, or Indra’s younger brother Vishnu called also Achyuta, who +for disguising himself hath assumed the form of a Brahmana and mustering +such energy of arms fighteth with me? No other person except the husband +himself of Sachi or Kiriti, the son of Pandu, is capable of fighting with +me when I am angry on the field of battle.’ Then hearing those words of +his, Phalguna replied, saying, ‘O Karna, I am neither the science of arms +(personified), nor Rama endued with superhuman powers. I am only a +Brahmana who is the foremost of all warriors and all wielders of weapons. +By the grace of my preceptor I have become accomplished in the Brahma and +the Paurandara weapons. I am here to vanquish thee in battle. Therefore, +O hero, wait a little.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed (by Arjuna), Karna the adopted +son of Radha desisted from the fight, for that mighty chariot-fighter +thought that Brahma energy is ever invincible. Meanwhile on another part +of the field, the mighty heroes Salya and Vrikodara, well-skilled in +battle and possessed of great strength and proficiency, challenging each +other, engaged in fight like two elephants in rut. And they struck each +other with their clenched fists and knees. And sometimes pushing each +other forward and sometimes dragging each other near, sometimes throwing +each other down; face downward, and sometimes on the sides, they fought +on, striking, each other at times with their clenched fists. And +encountering each other with blows hard as the clash of two masses of +granite, the lists rang with the sounds of their combat. Fighting with +each other thus for a few seconds, Bhima the foremost of the Kuru heroes +taking up Salya on his arms hurled him to a distance. And Bhimasena, that +bull amongst men, surprised all (by the dexterity of his feat) for though +he threw Salya on the ground he did it without hurting him much. And when +Salya was thus thrown down and Karna was struck with fear, the other +monarchs were all alarmed. And they hastily surrounded Bhima and +exclaimed, ‘Surely these bulls amongst Brahmanas are excellent +(warriors)! Ascertain in what race they have been born and where they +abide. Who can encounter Karna, the son of Radha, in fight, except Rama +or Drona, or Kiriti, the son of Pandu? Who also can encounter Duryodhana +in battle except Krishna, the son of Devaki, and Kripa, the son of +Saradwan? Who also can overthrow in battle Salya, that first of mighty +warriors, except the hero Valadeva or Vrikodara, the son of Pandu, or the +heroic Duryodhana? Let us, therefore, desist from this fight with the +Brahmanas. Indeed, Brahmanas, however offending, should yet be ever +protected. And first let us ascertain who these are; for after we have +done that we may cheerfully fight with them.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘And Krishna, having beheld that feat of Bhima, +believed them both to be the son of Kunti. And gently addressing the +assembled monarchs, saying, ‘This maiden hath been justly acquired (by +the Brahmana),’ he induced them to abandon the fight. Accomplished in +battle, those monarchs then desisted from the fight. And those best of +monarchs then returned to their respective kingdoms, wondering much. And +those who had come there went away saying. ‘The festive scene hath +terminated in the victory of the Brahmanas. The princess of Panchala hath +become the bride of a Brahmana.’ And surrounded by Brahmanas dressed in +skins of deer and other wild animals, Bhima and Dhananjaya passed with +difficulty out of the throng. And those heroes among men, mangled by the +enemy and followed by Krishna, on coming at last out of that throng, +looked like the full moon and the sun emerging from the clouds. + +“Meanwhile Kunti seeing that her sons were late in returning from their +eleemosynary round, was filled with anxiety. She began to think of +various evils having overtaken her sons. At one time she thought that the +sons of Dhritarashtra having recognised her sons had slain them. Next she +feared that some cruel and strong Rakshasas endued with powers of +deception had slain them. And she asked herself, ‘Could the illustrious +Vyasa himself (who had directed my sons to come to Panchala) have been +guided by perverse intelligence?’ Thus reflected Pritha in consequence of +her affection for her offspring. Then in the stillness of the late +afternoon, Jishnu, accompanied by a body of Brahmanas, entered the abode +of the potter, like the cloud-covered sun appearing on a cloudy day.’” + + + +SECTION CLXLIII + +(Swayamvara Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then those illustrious sons of Pritha, on returning +to the potter’s abode, approached their mother. And those first of men +represented Yajnaseni unto their mother as the alms they had obtained +that day. And Kunti who was there within the room and saw not her sons, +replied, saying, ‘Enjoy ye all (what ye have obtained).’ The moment +after, she beheld Krishna and then she said, ‘Oh, what have I said?’ And +anxious from fear of sin, and reflecting how every one could be +extricated from the situation, she took the cheerful Yajnaseni by the +hand, and approaching Yudhishthira said, ‘The daughter of king Yajnasena +upon being represented to me by thy younger brothers as the alms they had +obtained, from ignorance, O king, I said what was proper, viz., ‘Enjoy ye +all what hath been obtained. O thou bull of the Kuru race, tell me how my +speech may not become untrue; how sin may not touch the daughter of the +king of Panchala, and how also she may not become uneasy.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by his mother that hero among +men, that foremost scion of the Kuru race, the intelligent king +(Yudhishthira), reflecting for a moment, consoled Kunti, and addressing +Dhananjaya, said, ‘By thee, O Phalguna, hath Yajnaseni been won. It is +proper, therefore, that thou shouldst wed her. O thou withstander of all +foes, igniting the sacred fire, take thou her hand with due rites.’ + +“Arjuna, hearing this, replied, ‘O king, do not make me a participator in +sin. Thy behest is not conformable to virtue. That is the path followed +by the sinful. Thou shouldst wed first, then the strong-armed Bhima of +inconceivable feats, then myself, then Nakula, and last of all, Sahadeva +endued with great activity. Both Vrikodara and myself, and the twins and +this maiden also, all await, O monarch, thy commands. When such is the +state of things, do that, after reflection, which would be proper, and +conformable virtue, and productive of fame, and beneficial unto the king +of Panchala. All of us are obedient to thee. O, command us as thou +likest.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of Jishnu, so full of +respect and affection, the Pandavas all cast their eyes upon the princess +of Panchala. And the princess of Panchala also looked at them all. And +casting their glances on the illustrious Krishna, those princes looked at +one another. And taking their seats, they began to think of Draupadi +alone. Indeed, after those princes of immeasurable energy had looked at +Draupadi, the God of Desire invaded their hearts and continued to crush +all their senses. As the lavishing beauty of Panchali who had been +modelled by the Creator himself, was superior to that of all other women +on earth, it could captivate the heart of every creature. And +Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, beholding his younger brothers, +understood what was passing in their minds. And that bull among men +immediately recollected the words of Krishna-Dwaipayana. And the king, +then, from fear of a division amongst the brothers, addressing all of +them, said, ‘The auspicious Draupadi shall be the common wife of us all.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The sons of Pandu, then, hearing those words of +their eldest brother, began to revolve them in their minds in great +cheerfulness. The hero of the Vrishni race (Krishna suspecting the five +persons he had seen at the Swayamvara to be none else than the heroes of +the Kuru race), came accompanied by the son of Rohini (Valadeva), to the +house of the potter where those foremost of men had taken up their +quarters. On arriving there, Krishna and Valadeva beheld seated in that +potter’s house Ajatasanu (Yudhishthira) of well developed and long arms, +and his younger brothers passing the splendour of fire sitting around +him. Then Vasudeva approaching that foremost of virtuous men--the son of +Kunti--and touching the feet of that prince of the Ajamida race, said, ‘I +am Krishna.’ And the son of Rohini (Valadeva) also approaching +Yudhishthira, did the same. And the Pandavas, beholding Krishna and +Valadeva, began to express great delight. And, O thou foremost of the +Bharata race, those heroes of the Yadu race thereafter touched also the +feet of Kunti, their father’s sister. And Ajatasatru, that foremost of +the Kuru race, beholding Krishna, enquired after his well-being and +asked, ‘How, O Vasudeva, hast thou been able to trace us, as we are +living in disguise?’ And Vasudeva, smilingly answered, ‘O king, fire, +even if it is covered, can be known. Who else among men than the Pandavas +could exhibit such might? Ye resisters of all foes, ye sons of Pandu, by +sheer good fortune have ye escaped from that fierce fire. And it is by +sheer good fortune alone that the wicked son of Dhritarashtra and his +counsellors have not succeeded in accomplishing their wishes. Blest be +ye! And grow ye in prosperity like a fire in a cave gradually growing and +spreading itself all around. And lest any of the monarchs recognise ye, +let us return to our tent.’ Then, obtaining Yudhishthira’s leave, Krishna +of prosperity knowing no decrease, accompanied by Valadeva, hastily went +away from the potter’s abode.’” + + + +SECTION CLXLIV + +(Swayamvara Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘When the Kuru princes (Bhima and Arjuna) were +wending towards the abode of the potter, Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchala +prince followed them. And sending away all his attendants, he concealed +himself in some part of the potter’s house, unknown to the Pandavas. Then +Bhima, that grinder of all foes, and Jishnu, and the illustrious twins, +on returning from their eleemosynary round in the evening, cheerfully +gave everything unto Yudhishthira. Then the kind-hearted Kunti addressing +the daughter of Drupada said, ‘O amiable one, take thou first a portion +from this and devote it to the gods and give it away to Brahmanas, and +feed those that desire to eat and give unto those who have become our +guests. Divide the rest into two halves. Give one of these unto Bhima, O +amiable one, for this strong youth of fair complexion--equal unto a king +of elephants--this hero always eateth much. And divide the other half +into six parts, four for these youths, one for myself, and one for thee.’ +Then the princess hearing those instructive words of her mother-in-law +cheerfully did all that she had been directed to do. And those heroes +then all ate of the food prepared by Krishna. Then Sahadeva, the son of +Madri, endued with great activity, spread on the ground a bed of kusa +grass. Then those heroes, each spreading thereon his deer-skin, laid +themselves down to sleep. And those foremost of the Kuru princes lay down +with heads towards the south. And Kunti laid herself down along the line +of their heads, and Krishna along that of their feet. And Krishna though +she lay with the sons of Pandu on that bed of kusa grass along the line +of their feet as if she were their nether pillow, grieved not in her +heart nor thought disrespectfully of those bulls amongst the Kurus. Then +those heroes began to converse with one another. And the conversations of +those princes, each worthy to lead an army, was exceedingly interesting +they being upon celestial cars and weapons and elephants, and swords and +arrows, and battle-axes. And the son of the Panchala king listened (from +his place of concealment) unto all they said. And all those who were with +him beheld Krishna in that state. + +“When morning came, the prince Dhristadyumna set out from his place of +concealment with great haste in order to report to Drupada in detail all +that had happened at the potter’s abode and all that he had heard those +heroes speak amongst themselves during the night. The king of Panchala +had been sad because he knew not the Pandavas as those who had taken away +his daughter. And the illustrious monarch asked Dhristadyumna on his +return, ‘Oh, where hath Krishna gone? Who hath taken her away? Hath any +Sudra or anybody of mean descent, or hath a tribute-paying Vaisya by +taking my daughter away, placed his dirty foot on my head? O son, hath +that wreath of flowers been thrown away on a grave-yard? Hath any +Kshatriya of high birth, or any one of the superior order (Brahmana) +obtained my daughter? Hath any one of mean descent, by having won +Krishna, placed his left foot on my head? I would not, O son, grieve but +feel greatly happy, if my daughter hath been united with Partha that +foremost of men! O thou exalted one, tell me truly who hath won my +daughter today? O, are the sons of that foremost of Kurus, +Vichitravirya’s son alive? Was it Partha (Arjuna) that took up the bow +and shot the mark?’” + + + +SECTION CLXLV + +(Vaivahika Parva) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed Dhrishtadyumna, that foremost of the +Lunar princes, cheerfully said unto his father all that had happened and +by whom Krishna had been won. And the prince said, ‘With large, red eyes, +attired in deer-skin, and resembling a celestial in beauty, the youth who +strung that foremost of bows and brought down to the ground the mark set +on high, was soon surrounded by the foremost of Brahmanas who also +offered him their homage for the feat he had achieved. Incapable of +bearing the sight of a foe and endued with great activity, he began to +exert his prowess. And surrounded by the Brahmanas he resembled the +thunder-wielding Indra standing in the midst of the celestials, and the +Rishis. And like a she-elephant following the leader of a herd, Krishna +cheerfully followed that youth catching hold of his deer-skin. Then when +the assembled monarchs incapable of bearing that sight lose up in wrath +and advanced for fight, there rose up another hero who tearing up a large +tree rushed at that concourse of kings, felling them right and left like +Yama himself smiting down creatures endued with life. Then, O monarch, +the assembled kings stood motionless and looked at that couple of heroes, +while they, resembling the Sun and the Moon, taking Krishna with them, +left the amphitheatre and went into the abode of a potter in the suburbs +of the town, and there at the potter’s abode sat a lady like unto a flame +of fire who, I think, is their mother. And around her also sat three +other foremost of men each of whom was like unto fire. And the couple of +heroes having approached her paid homage unto her feet, and they said +unto Krishna also to do the same. And keeping Krishna with her, those +foremost of men all went the round of eleemosynary visits. Some time +after when they returned, Krishna taking from them what they had obtained +as alms, devoted a portion thereof to the gods, and gave another portion +away (in gift) to Brahmanas. And of what remained after this, she gave a +portion to that venerable lady, and distributed the rest amongst those +five foremost of men. And she took a little for herself and ate it last +of all. Then, O monarch, they all laid themselves down for sleep, Krishna +lying along the line of their feet as their nether pillow. And the bed on +which they lay was made of kusa grass upon which was spread their +deer-skins. And before going to sleep they talked on diverse subjects in +voices deep as of black clouds. The talk of those heroes indicated them +to be neither Vaisyas nor Sudras, nor Brahmanas. Without doubt, O +monarch, they are bulls amongst Kshatriyas, their discourse having been +on military subjects. It seems, O father, that our hope hath been +fructified, for we have heard that the sons of Kunti all escaped from the +conflagration of the house of lac. From the way in which the mark was +shot down by that youth, and the strength with which the bow was strung +by him, and the manner in which I have heard them talk with one another +proves conclusively, O monarch, that they are the sons of Pritha +wandering in disguise.’ + +“Hearing these words of his son, king Drupada became exceedingly glad, +and he sent unto them his priest directing him to ascertain who they were +and whether they were the sons of the illustrious Pandu. Thus directed, +the king’s priest went unto them and applauding them all, delivered the +king’s message duly, saying, ‘Ye who are worthy of preference in +everything, the boon-giving king of the earth--Drupada--is desirous of +ascertaining who ye are. Beholding this one who hath shot down the mark, +his joy knoweth no bounds. Giving us all particulars of your family and +tribe, place ye your feet on the heads of your foes and gladden the +hearts of the king of Panchala mid his men and mine also. King Pandu was +the dear friend of Drupada and was regarded by him as his counterself. +And Drupada had all along cherished the desire of bestowing this daughter +of his upon Pandu as his daughter-in-law. Ye heroes of features perfectly +faultless, king Drupada hath all along cherished this desire in his heart +that Arjuna of strong and long arms might wed this daughter of his +according to the ordinance. If that hath become possible, nothing could +be better; nothing more beneficial; nothing more conducive to fame and +virtue, so far as Drupada is concerned.’ + +“Having said this, the priest remained silent and humbly waited for an +answer. Beholding him sitting thus, the king Yudhishthira commanded Bhima +who sat near, saying, ‘Let water to wash his feet with and the Arghya be +offered unto this Brahmana. He is king Drupada’s priest and, therefore, +worthy of great respect. We should worship him with more than ordinary +reverence.’ Then, O monarch, Bhima did as directed. Accepting the worship +thus offered unto him, the Brahmana with a joyous heart sat at his ease. +Then Yudhishthira addressed him and said, ‘The king of the Panchalas +hath, by fixing a special kind of dower, given away his daughter +according to the practice of his order and not freely. This hero hath, by +satisfying that demand, won the princess. King Drupada, therefore, hath +nothing now to say in regard to the race, tribe, family and disposition +of him who hath performed that feat. Indeed, all his queries have been +answered by the stringing of the bow and the shooting down of the mark. +It is by doing what he had directed that this illustrious hero hath +brought away Krishna from among the assembled monarchs. In these +circumstances, the king of the Lunar race should not indulge in any +regrets which can only make him unhappy without mending matters in the +least. The desire that king Drupada hath all along cherished will be +accomplished for his handsome princess who beareth, I think, every +auspicious mark. None that is weak in strength could string that bow, and +none of mean birth and unaccomplished in arms could have shot down the +mark. It behoveth not, therefore, the king of the Panchalas to grieve for +his daughter today. Nor can anybody in the world undo that act of +shooting down the mark. Therefore the king should not grieve for what +must take its course.’ + +“While Yudhishthira was saying all this, another messenger from the king +of the Panchalas, coming thither in haste, said, ‘The (nuptial), feast is +ready.’” + + + +SECTION CLXLVI + +(Vaivahika Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The messenger said, ‘King Drupada hath, in view +of his daughter’s nuptials prepared a good feast for the bride-groom’s +party. Come ye thither after finishing your daily rites. Krishna’s +wedding will take place there. Delay ye not. These cars adorned with +golden lotuses drawn by excellent horses are worthy of kings. Riding on +them, come ye into the abode of the king of the Panchalas.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then those bulls among the Kurus, dismissing +the priest and causing Kunti and Krishna to ride together on one of those +cars, themselves ascended those splendid vehicles and proceeded towards +Drupada’s place. Meanwhile, O Bharata, hearing from his priest the words +that Yudhishthira had said, king Drupada, in order to ascertain the order +to which those heroes belonged, kept ready a large collection of articles +(required by the ordinance for the wedding of each of the four orders). +And he kept ready fruits, sanctified garlands, and coats of mail, and +shields, and carpets, and kine, and seeds, and various other articles and +implements of agriculture. And the king also collected, O monarch, every +article appertaining to other arts, and various implements and apparatus +of every kind of sport. And he also collected excellent coats of mail and +shining shields, and swords and scimitars, of fine temper, and beautiful +chariots and horses, and first-class bows and well-adorned arrows, and +various kinds of missiles ornamented with gold. And he also kept ready +darts and rockets and battle-axes and various utensils of war. And there +were in that collection beds and carpets and various fine things, and +cloths of various sorts. When the party went to Drupada’s abode, Kunti +taking with her the virtuous Krishna entered the inner apartments of the +king. The ladies of the king’s household with joyous hearts worshipped +the queen of the Kurus. Beholding, O monarch, those foremost of men, each +possessing the sportive gait of the lion, with deer-skins for their upper +garments, eyes like unto those of mighty bulls, broad shoulders, and +long-hanging arms like unto the bodies of mighty snakes, the king, and +the king’s ministers, and the king’s son, and the king’s friends and +attendants, all became exceedingly glad. Those heroes sat on excellent +seats, furnished with footstools without any awkwardness and hesitation. +And those foremost of men sat with perfect fearlessness on those costly +seats one after another according to the order of their ages. After those +heroes were seated, well-dressed servants male and female, and skilful +cooks brought excellent and costly viands worthy of kings on gold and +silver plates. Then those foremost of men dined on those dishes and +became well-pleased. And after the dinner was over, those heroes among +men, passing over all other articles, began to observe with interest the +various utensils of war. Beholding this, Drupada’s son and Drupada +himself, along with all his chief ministers of state, understanding the +sons of Kunti to be all of royal blood became exceedingly glad.’” + + + +SECTION CLXLVII + +(Vaivahika Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then the illustrious king of Panchala, addressing +prince Yudhishthira in the form applicable to Brahmanas, cheerfully +enquired of that illustrious son of Kunti, saying, ‘Are we to know you as +Kshatriyas, or Brahamanas, or are we to know you as celestials who +disguising themselves as Brahmanas are ranging the earth and come hither +for the hand of Krishna? O tell us truly, for we have great doubts! Shall +we not be glad when our doubts have been removed? O chastiser of enemies, +have the fates been propitious unto us? Tell us the truth willingly! +Truth becometh monarchs better than sacrifices and dedications of tanks. +Therefore, tell us not what is untrue. O thou of the beauty of a +celestial, O chastiser of foes, hearing thy reply I shall make +arrangements for my daughter’s wedding according to the order to which ye +belong.’ + +“Hearing these words of Drupada, Yudhishthira answered, saying ‘Be not +cheerless, O king; let joy fill thy heart! The desire cherished by thee +hath certainly been accomplished. We are Kshatriyas, O king, and sons of +the illustrious Pandu. Know me to be the eldest of the sons of Kunti and +these to be Bhima and Arjuna. By these, O king, was thy daughter won amid +the concourse of monarchs. The twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) and Kunti wait +where Krishna is. O bull amongst men, let grief be driven from thy heart, +for we are Kshatriyas. Thy daughter, O monarch, hath like a lotus been +transferred only from one lake into another. O king, thou art our revered +superior and chief refuge. I have told thee the whole truth.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing those words, the king Drupada’s eyes +rolled in ecstasy. And. filled with delight the king could not, for some +moments answer Yudhishthira. Checking his emotion with great effort, that +chastiser of foes at last replied unto Yudhishthira in proper words. The +virtuous monarch enquired how the Pandavas had escaped from the town of +Varanavata. The son of Pandu told the monarch every particular in detail +of their escape from the burning palace of lac. Hearing everything that +the son of Kunti said, king Drupada censured Dhritarashtra, that ruler of +men. And the monarch gave every assurance unto Yudhishthira, the son of +Kunti. And that foremost of eloquent men then and there vowed to restore +Yudhishthira to his paternal throne. + +“Then Kunti and Krishna and Bhima and Arjuna and the twins, commanded by +the king, to reside there, treated by Yajnasena with due respect. Then +king Drupada with his sons, assured by all that had happened, approaching +Yudhishthira, said, ‘O thou of mighty arms, let the Kuru prince Arjuna +take with due rites, the hand of my daughter on this auspicious day, and +let him, therefore, perform the usual initiatory rites of marriage.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of Drupada, the virtuous +king Yudhishthira replied, saying, ‘O great king, I also shall have to +marry.’ Hearing him, Drupada said, ‘If it pleaseth thee, take thou the +hand of my daughter thyself with due rites. Or, give Krishna in marriage +unto whomsoever of thy brothers thou likest.’ Yudhishthira said, ‘Thy +daughter, O king, shall be the common wife of us all! Even thus it hath +been ordered, O monarch, by our mother. I am unmarried still, and Bhima +also is so amongst the sons of Pandu. This thy jewel of a daughter hath +been won by Arjuna. This, O king, is the rule with us; to ever enjoy +equally a jewel that we may obtain. O best of monarchs, that rule of +conduct we cannot now abandon. Krishna, therefore, shall become the +wedded wife of us all. Let her take our hands, one after another before +the fire.’ + +‘Drupada answered, ‘O scion of Kuru’s race, it hath been directed that +one man may have many wives. But it hath never been heard that one woman +may have many husbands! O son of Kunti, as thou art pure and acquainted +with the rules of morality, it behoveth thee not to commit an act that is +sinful and opposed both to usage and the Vedas. Why, O prince, hath thy +understanding become so?’ Yudhishthira said in reply, ‘O monarch, +morality is subtle. We do not know its course. Let us follow the way +trodden by the illustrious ones of former ages. My tongue never uttered +an untruth. My heart also never turneth to what is sinful. My mother +commandeth so; and my heart also approveth of it. Therefore, O king, that +is quite conformable to virtue. Act according to it, without any +scruples. Entertain no fear, O king, about this matter.’ + +“Drupada said, ‘O son of Kunti thy mother, and my son Dhrishtadyumna and +thyself, settle amongst yourselves as to what should be done. Tell me the +result of your deliberations and tomorrow I will do what is proper.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘After this, O Bharata, Yudhishthira, Kunti and +Dhrishtadyumna discoursed upon this matter. Just at that time, however, +the island-born (Vyasa), O monarch, came there in course of his +wanderings.’” + + + +SECTION CLXLVIII + +(Vaivahika Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then all the Pandavas and the illustrious king of +the Panchalas and all others there present stood up and saluted with +reverence the illustrious Rishi Krishna (Dwaipayana). The high-souled +Rishi, saluting them in return and enquiring after their welfare, sat +down on a carpet of gold. And commanded by Krishna (Dwaipayana) of +immeasurable energy, those foremost of men all sat down on costly seats. +A little after, O monarch, the son of Prishata in sweet accents asked the +illustrious Rishi about the wedding of his daughter. And he said, ‘How, O +illustrious one, can one woman become the wife of many men without being +defiled by sin? O, tell me truly all about this.’ Hearing these words +Vyasa replied, ‘This practice, O king, being opposed to usage and the +Vedas, hath become obsolete. I desire, however, to hear what the opinion +of each of you is upon this matter.’ + +“Hearing these words of the Rishi, Drupada spoke first, saying, ‘The +practice is sinful in my opinion, being opposed to both usage and the +Vedas. O best of Brahmanas, nowhere have I seen many men having one wife. +The illustrious ones also of former ages never had such a usage amongst +them. The wise should never commit a sin. I, therefore, can never make up +mind to act in this way. This practice always appeareth to me to be of +doubtful morality. + +“After Drupada had ceased, Dhrishtadyumna spoke, saying ‘O bull amongst +Brahmanas, O thou of ascetic wealth, how can, O Brahmana, the elder +brother, if he is of a good disposition, approach the wife of his younger +brother? The ways of morality are ever subtle, and, therefore, we know +them not. We cannot, therefore, say what is conformable to morality and +what not. We cannot do such a deed, therefore, with a safe conscience. +Indeed, O Brahmana, I cannot say, ‘Let Draupadi become the common wife of +five brothers.’ + +“Yudhishthira then spoke, saying, ‘My tongue never uttereth an untruth +and my heart never inclineth to what is sinful. When my heart approveth +of it, it can never be sinful. I have heard in the Purana that a lady of +name Jatila, the foremost of all virtuous women belonging to the race of +Gotama had married seven Rishis. So also an ascetic’s daughter, born of a +tree, had in former times united herself in marriage with ten brothers +all bearing the same name of Prachetas and who were all of souls exalted +by asceticism. O foremost of all that are acquainted with the rules of +morality, it is said that obedience to superior is ever meritorious. +Amongst all superiors, it is well-known that the mother is the foremost. +Even she hath commanded us to enjoy Draupadi as we do anything obtained +as alms. It is for this, O best of Brahmanas, that I regard the +(proposed) act as virtuous.’ + +“Kunti then said, ‘The act is even so as the virtuous Yudhishthira hath +said. I greatly fear, O Brahmana, lest my speech should become untrue. +How shall I be saved from untruth?’ + +“When they had all finished speaking, Vyasa said, ‘O amiable one, how +shall thou be saved from the consequence of untruth? Even this is eternal +virtue! I will not, O king of the Panchalas, discourse on this before you +all. But thou alone shalt listen to me when I disclose how this practice +hath been established and why it is to be regarded as old and eternal. +There is no doubt that what Yudhishthira hath said is quite conformable +to virtue.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then the illustrious Vyasa--the master +Dwaipayana--rose, and taking hold of Drupada’s hand led him to a private +apartment. The Pandavas and Kunti and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata’s race +sat there, waiting for the return of Vyasa and Drupada. Meanwhile, +Dwaipayana began his discourse with illustrious monarch for explaining +how the practice of polyandry could not be regarded as sinful.’” + + + +SECTION CLXLIX + +(Vaivahika Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Vyasa continued, ‘In days of yore, the celestials +had once commenced a grand sacrifice in the forest of Naimisha. At that +sacrifice, O king, Yama, the son of Vivaswat, became the slayer of the +devoted animals. Yama, thus employed in that sacrifice, did not (during +that period), O king, kill a single human being. Death being suspended in +the world, the number of human beings increased very greatly. Then Soma +and Sakra and Varuna and Kuvera, the Sadhyas, the Rudras, the Vasus, the +twin Aswins,--these and other celestials went unto Prajapati, the Creator +of the universe. Struck with fear for the increase of the human +population of the world they addressed the Master of creation and said, +‘Alarmed, O lord, at the increase of human beings on earth, we come to +thee for relief. Indeed, we crave thy protection.’ Hearing those words +the Grandsire said, ‘Ye have little cause to be frightened at this +increase of human beings. Ye all are immortal. It behoveth you not to +take fright at human beings.’ The celestials replied, ‘The mortals have +all become immortal. There is no distinction now between us and them. +Vexed at the disappearance of all distinction, we have come to thee in +order that thou mayest distinguish us from them.’ The Creator then said, +‘The son of Vivaswat is even now engaged in the grand sacrifice. It is +for this that men are not dying. But when Yama’s work in connection with +the sacrifice terminates, men will again begin to die as before. +Strengthened by your respective energies, Yama will, when that time +comes, sweep away by thousands the inhabitants on earth who will scarcely +have then any energy left in them.’ + +“Vyasa continued, ‘Hearing these words of the first-born deity, the +celestials returned to the spot where the grand sacrifice was being +performed. And the mighty one sitting by the side of the Bhagirathi saw a +(golden) lotus being carried along by the current. And beholding that +(golden) lotus, they wondered much. And amongst them, that foremost of +celestials, viz., Indra, desirous of ascertaining whence it came, +proceeded up along the course of the Bhagirathi. And reaching that spot +whence the goddess Ganga issues perennially, Indra beheld a woman +possessing the splendour of fire. The woman who had come there to take +water was washing herself in the stream, weeping all the while. The +tear-drops she shed, falling on the stream, were being transformed into +golden lotuses. The wielder of the thunderbolt, beholding that wonderful +sight, approached the woman and asked her, ‘Who art thou, amiable lady? +Why dost thou weep? I desire to know the truth. O, tell me everything.’ + +“Vyasa continued, ‘The woman thereupon answered, ‘O Sakra, thou mayest +know who I am and why, unfortunate that I am, I weep, if only, O chief of +the celestials, thou comest with me as I lead the way. Thou shall then +see what it is I weep for.” Hearing these words of the lady, Indra +followed her as she led the way. And soon he saw, not far off from where +he was, a handsome youth with a young lady seated on a throne placed on +one of the peaks of Himavat and playing at dice. Beholding that youth, +the thief of the celestials said, ‘Know, intelligent youth, that this +universe is under my sway.’ Seeing, however, that the person addressed +was so engrossed in dice that he took no notice of what he said, Indra +was possessed by anger and repeated, ‘I am the lord of the universe. The +youth who was none else than the god Mahadeva (the god of the gods), +seeing Indra filled with wrath, only smiled, having cast a glance at him. +At that glance, however, the chief of the celestials was at once +paralysed and stood there like a stake. When the game at dice was over, +Isana addressing the weeping woman said, ‘Bring Sakra hither, for I shall +soon so deal with him that pride may not again enter his heart.’ As soon +as Sakra was touched by that woman, the chief of the celestials with +limbs paralysed by that touch, fell down on the earth. The illustrious +Isana of fierce energy then said unto him, ‘Act not, O Sakra, ever again +in this way. Remove this huge stone, for thy strength and energy are +immeasurable, and enter the hole (it will disclose) where await some +others possessing the splendour of the sun and who are all like unto +thee.’ Indra, then, on removing that stone, beheld a cave in the breast +of that king of mountains, within which were four others resembling +himself. Beholding their plight, Sakra became seized with grief and +exclaimed, ‘Shall I be even like these?’ Then the god Girisha, looking +full at Indra with expanded eyes, said in anger, ‘O thou of a hundred +sacrifices, enter this cave without loss of time, for thou hast from +folly insulted me.’ Thus addressed by the lord Isana, the chief of the +celestials, in consequence of that terrible imprecation, was deeply +pained, and with limbs weakened by fear trembled like the wind-shaken +leaf of a Himalayan fig. And cursed unexpectedly by the god owning a bull +for his vehicle, Indra, with joined hands and shaking from head to foot, +addressed that fierce god of multi-form manifestations, saving, ‘Thou +art, O Bhava, the over-looker of the infinite Universe!’ Hearing these +words the god of fiery energy smiled and said, ‘Those that are of +disposition like thine never obtain my grace. These others (within the +cave) had at one time been like thee. Enter thou this cave, therefore, +and lie there for some time. The fate of you all shall certainly be the +same. All of you shall have to take your birth in the world of men, +where, having achieved many difficult feats and slaying a large number of +men, ye shall again by the merits of your respective deeds, regain the +valued region of Indra. Ye shall accomplish all I have said and much more +besides, of other kinds of work.’ Then those Indras, of their shorn glory +said, ‘We shall go from our celestial regions even unto the region of men +where salvation is ordained to be difficult of acquisition. But let the +gods Dharma, Vayu, Maghavat, and the twin Aswins beget us upon our +would-be mother. Fighting with men by means of both celestial and human +weapons, we shall again come back into the region of Indra.’ + +“Vyasa continued, ‘Hearing these words of the former Indras, the wielder +of the thunderbolt once more addressed that foremost of gods, saying, +‘Instead of going myself, I shall, with a portion of my energy, create +from myself a person for the accomplishment of the task (thou assignest) +to form the fifth among these!’ Vishwabhuk, Bhutadhaman, Sivi of great +energy, Santi the fourth, and Tejaswin, these it is said were the five +Indras of old. And the illustrious god of the formidable bow, from his +kindness, granted unto the five Indras the desire they cherished. And he +also appointed that woman of extraordinary beauty, who was none else than +celestial Sri (goddess of grace) herself, to be their common wife in the +world of men. Accompanied by all those Indras, the god Isana then went +unto Narayana of immeasurable energy, the Infinite, the Immaterial, the +Uncreate, the Old, the Eternal, and the Spirit of these universes without +limits. Narayana approved of everything. Those Indras then were born in +the world of men. And Hari (Narayana) took up two hairs from his body, +one of which hairs was black and the other white. And those two hairs +entered the wombs of two of the Yadu race, by name Devaki and Rohini. And +one of these hairs viz., that which was white, became Valadeva. And the +hair that was black was born as Kesava’s self, Krishna. And those Indras +of old who had been confined in the cave on the Himavat are none else +than the sons of Pandu, endued with great energy. And Arjuna amongst the +Pandavas, called also Savyasachin (using both hands with equal dexterity) +is a portion of Sakra.’ + +“Vyasa continued, ‘Thus, O king, they who have been born as the Pandavas +are none else than those Indras of old. And the celestial Sri herself who +had been appointed as their wife is this Draupadi of extraordinary +beauty. How could she whose effulgence is like that of the sun or the +moon, whose fragrance spreads for two miles around, take her birth in any +other than an extraordinary way, viz., from within the earth, by virtue +of the sacrificial rites? Unto thee, O king, I cheerfully grant this +other boon in the form of spiritual sight. Behold now the sons of Kunti +endued with their sacred and celestial bodies of old!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Saying this, that sacred Brahmana Vyasa of +generous deeds, by means of his ascetic power, granted celestial sight +unto the king. Thereupon the king beheld all the Pandavas endued with +their former bodies. And the king saw them possessed of celestial bodies, +with golden crowns and celestial garlands, and each resembling Indra +himself, with complexions radiant as fire or the sun, and decked with +every ornament, and handsome, and youthful, with broad chests and +statures measuring about five cubits. Endued with every accomplishment, +and decked with celestial robes of great beauty and fragrant garlands of +excellent making the king beheld them as so many three-eyed gods +(Mahadeva), or Vasus, or Rudras, or Adityas themselves. And observing the +Pandavas in the forms of those Indras of old, and Arjuna also in the form +of Indra sprung from Sakra himself, king Drupada was highly pleased. And +the monarch wondered much on beholding that manifestation of celestial +power under deep disguise. The king looking at his daughter, that +foremost of women endued with great beauty, like unto a celestial damsel +and possessed of the splendour of fire or the moon, regarded her as the +worthy wife of those celestial beings, for her beauty, splendour and +fame. And beholding that wonderful sight, the monarch touched the feet of +Satyavati’s son, exclaiming, ‘O great Rishi, nothing is miraculous in +thee!’ The Rishi then cheerfully continued, ‘In a certain hermitage there +was an illustrious Rishi’s daughter, who, though handsome and chaste, +obtained not a husband. The maiden gratified, by severe ascetic penances, +the god Sankara (Mahadeva). The lord Sankara, gratified at her penances, +told her himself. ‘Ask thou the boon thou desirest’ Thus addressed, the +maiden repeatedly said unto the boon-giving Supreme Lord, ‘I desire to +obtain a husband possessed of every accomplishment. Sankara, the chief of +the gods, gratified with her, gave her the boon she asked, saying, ‘Thou +shall have, amiable maiden, five husbands.’ The maiden, who had succeeded +in gratifying the god, said again, ‘O Sankara, I desire to have from thee +only one husband possessed of every virtue?’ The god of gods, +well-pleased with her, spake again, saying, ‘Thou hast, O maiden, +addressed me five full times, repeating, ‘Give me a husband.’ Therefore, +O amiable one, it shall even be as thou hast asked. Blessed be thou. All +this, however, will happen in a future life of thine!’ + +“Vyasa continued, ‘O Drupada, this thy daughter of celestial beauty is +that maiden. Indeed, the faultless Krishna sprung from Prishata’s race +hath been pre-ordained to become the common wife of five husbands. The +celestial Sri, having undergone severe ascetic penances, hath, for the +sake of the Pandavas, had her birth as thy daughter, in the course of thy +grand sacrifice. That handsome goddess, waited upon by all the +celestials, as a consequence of her own acts becomes the (common) wife of +five husbands. It is for this that the self-create had created her. +Having listened to all this, O king Drupada, do what thou desirest.’” + + + +SECTION CC + +(Vaivahika Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Drupada, on hearing this, observed, O great Rishi, +it was only when I had not heard this from thee that I had sought to act +in the way I told thee of. Now, however, that I know all, I cannot be +indifferent to what hath been ordained by the gods. Therefore do I +resolve to accomplish what thou hast said. The knot of destiny cannot be +untied. Nothing in this world is the result of our own acts. That which +had been appointed by us in view of securing one only bridegroom hath now +terminated in favour of many. As Krishna (in a former life) had +repeatedly said, ‘O, give me a husband!’ the great god himself even gave +her the boon she had asked. The god himself knows the right or wrong of +this. As regards myself, when Sankara hath ordained so, right or wrong, +no sin can attach to me. Let these with happy hearts take, as ordained, +the hand of Krishna with the rites.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then the illustrious Vyasa, addressing +Yudhishthira the just, said, ‘This day is an auspicious day, O son of +Pandu! This day the moon has entered the constellation called Pushya. +Take thou the hand of Krishna today, thyself first before thy brothers!’ +When Vyasa had said so, king Yajnasena and his son made preparations for +the wedding. And the monarch kept ready various costly articles as +marriage presents. Then he brought out his daughter Krishna, decked, +after a bath, with many jewels and pearls. Then there came to witness the +wedding all the friends and relatives of the king, ministers of state, +and many Brahmanas and citizens. And they all took their seats according +to their respective ranks. Adorned with that concourse of principal men, +with its yard decked with lotuses and lilies scattered thereupon, and +beautified with lines of troops, king Drupada’s palace, festooned around +with diamonds and precious stones, looked like the firmament studded with +brilliant stars. Then those princes of the Kuru line, endued with youth +and adorned with ear-rings, attired in costly robes and perfumed with +sandal-paste, bathed and performed the usual religious rites and +accompanied by their priest Dhaumya who was possessed of the splendour of +fire, entered the wedding hall one after another in due order, and with +glad hearts, like mighty bulls entering a cow-pen. Then Dhaumya, +well-conversant with the Vedas, igniting the sacred fire, poured with due +mantras libations of clarified butter into that blazing element. And +calling Yudhishthira there, Dhaumya, acquainted with mantras, united him +with Krishna. Walking round the fire the bridegroom and the bride took +each other’s hand. After their union was complete, the priest Dhaumya, +taking leave of Yudhishthira, that ornament of battles, went out of the +palace. Then those mighty car-warriors,--those perpetuators of the Kuru +line,--those princes attired in gorgeous dresses, took the hand of that +best of women, day by day in succession, aided by that priest. O king, +the celestial Rishi told me of a very wonderful and extraordinary thing +in connection with these marriages, viz., that the illustrious princess +of slender waist regained her virginity every day after a previous +marriage. After the weddings were over, king Drupada gave unto those +mighty car-warriors diverse kinds of excellent wealth. And the king gave +unto them one hundred cars with golden standards, each drawn by four +steeds with golden bridles. And he gave them one hundred elephants all +possessing auspicious marks on their temples and faces and like unto a +hundred mountains with golden peaks. He also gave them a hundred female +servants all in the prime of youth and clad in costly robes and ornaments +and floral wreaths. And the illustrious monarch of the Lunar race gave +unto each of those princes of celestial beauty, making the sacred fire a +witness of his gifts, much wealth and many costly robes and ornaments of +great splendour. The sons of Pandu endued with great strength, after +their wedding were over, and after they had obtained Krishna like unto a +second Sri along with great wealth, passed their days in joy and +happiness, like so many Indras, in the capital of the king of the +Panchalas,’” + + + +SECTION CCI + +(Vaivahika Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘King Drupada, after his alliance with the Pandavas, +had all his fears dispelled. Indeed, the monarch no longer stood in fear +even of the gods. The ladies of the illustrious Drupada’s household +approached Kunti and introduced themselves unto her, mentioning their +respective names, and worshipped her feet with heads touching the ground. +Krishna also, attired in red silk and her wrists still encircled with the +auspicious thread, saluting her mother-in-law with reverence, stood +contentedly before her with joined palms. Pritha, out of affection, +pronounced a blessing upon her daughter-in-law endued with great beauty +and every auspicious mark and possessed of a sweet disposition and good +character, saying, ‘Be thou unto thy husband as Sachi unto Indra, Swaha +unto Vibhavasu, Rohini unto Soma, Damayanti unto Nala, Bhadra unto +Vaisravana, Arundhati unto Vasishtha, Lakshmi unto Narayana! O amiable +one, be thou the mother of long-lived and heroic children, and possessed +of everything that can make thee happy! Let luck and prosperity ever wait +on thee! Wait thou ever on husbands engaged in the performance of grand +sacrifices. Be thou devoted to thy husbands. And let thy days be ever +passed in duly entertaining and reverencing guests and strangers arrived +at thy abode, and the pious and the old; children and superiors. Be thou +installed as the Queen of the kingdom and the capital of Kurujangala, +with thy husband Yudhishthira the just! O daughter, let the whole earth, +conquered by the prowess of thy husbands endued with great strength, be +given away by thee unto Brahmanas at horse-sacrifice! O accomplished one +whatever gems there are on earth possessed of superior virtues, obtain +them, O lucky one, and be thou happy for a full hundred years! And, O +daughter-in-law, as I rejoice today beholding thee attired in red silk, +so shall I rejoice again, when, O accomplished one, I behold thee become +the mother of a son!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘After the sons of Pandu had been married, Hari +(Krishna) sent unto them (as presents) various gold ornaments set with +pearls and black gems (lapis lazuli). And Madhava (Krishna) also sent +unto them costly robes manufactured in various countries, and many +beautiful and soft blankets and hides of great value, and many costly +beds and carpets and vehicles. He also sent them vessels by hundreds, set +with gems and diamonds. And Krishna also gave them female servants by +thousands, brought from various countries, and endued with beauty, youth +and accomplishments and decked with every ornament. He also gave them +many well-trained elephants brought from the country of Madra, and many +excellent horses in costly harness, cars drawn by horses of excellent +colours and large teeth. The slayer of Madhu, of immeasurable soul, also +sent them coins of pure gold by crores upon crores in separate heaps. And +Yudhishthira the just, desirous of gratifying Govinda, accepted all those +presents with great joy.’” + + + +SECTION CCII + +(Viduragamana Parva) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The news was carried unto all the monarchs (who had +come to the Self-choice of Draupadi) by their trusted spies that the +handsome Draupadi had been united in marriage with the sons of Pandu. And +they were also informed that the illustrious hero who had bent the bow +and shot the mark was none else than Arjuna, that foremost of victorious +warriors and first of all wielders of the bow and arrows. And it became +known that the mighty warrior who had dashed Salya, the king of Madra, on +the ground, and who in wrath had terrified the assembled monarchs by +means of the tree (he had uprooted), and who had taken his stand before +all foes in perfect fearlessness, was none else than Bhima, that feller +of hostile ranks, whose touch alone was sufficient to take the lives out +of all foes. The monarchs, upon being informed that the Pandavas had +assumed the guise of peaceful Brahmanas, wondered much. They even heard +that Kunti with all her sons had been burnt to death in the conflagration +of the house of lac. They, therefore, now regarded the Pandavas in the +light of persons who had come back from the region of the dead. And +recollecting the cruel scheme contrived by Purochana, they began to say, +‘O, fie on Bhishma, fie on Dhritarashtra of the Kuru race!’ + +“After the Self-choice was over, all the monarchs (who had come thither), +hearing that Draupadi had been united with the Pandavas, set out for +their own dominions. And Duryodhana, hearing that Draupadi had selected +the owner of white steeds (Arjuna) as her lord, became greatly depressed. +Accompanied by his brothers, Aswatthaman, his uncle (Sakuni), Karna and +Kripa the prince set out with a heavy heart for his capital. Then +Duhsasana, blushing with shame, addressed his brother softly and said, +‘If Arjuna had not disguised himself as a Brahmana, he could never have +succeeded in obtaining Draupadi. It was for this disguise, O king, that +no one could recognise him as Dhananjaya. Fate, I ween, is ever supreme. +Exertion is fruitless; fie on our exertions, O brother! The Pandavas are +still alive!’ Speaking unto one another thus and blaming Purochana (for +his carelessness), they then entered the city of Hastinapura, with +cheerless and sorrowful hearts. Beholding the mighty sons of Pritha, +escaped from the burning house of lac and allied with Drupada, and +thinking of Dhrishtadyumna and Sikhandin and the other sons of Drupada +all accomplished in fight, they were struck with fear and overcome with +despair. + +“Then Vidura, having learnt that Draupadi had been won by the Pandavas +and that the sons of Dhritarashtra had come back (to Hastinapura) in +shame, their pride humiliated, became filled with joy. And, O king, +approaching Dhritarashtra, Kshattri said, ‘The Kurus are prospering by +good luck!’ Hearing those words of Vidura, the son of Vichitravirya, +wondering, said in great glee, ‘What good luck, O Vidura! What good +luck!’ From ignorance, the blind monarch understood that his eldest son +Duryodhana had been chosen by Drupada’s daughter as her lord. And the +king immediately ordered various ornaments to be made for Draupadi. And +he commanded that both Draupadi and his son Duryodhana should be brought +with pomp to Hastinapura. It was then that Vidura told the monarch that +Draupadi had chosen the Pandavas for her lords, and that those heroes +were all alive and at peace, and that they had been received with great +respect by king Drupada. And he also informed Dhritarashtra that the +Pandavas had been united with the many relatives and friends of Drupada, +each owning large armies, and with many others who had come to that +self-choice. + +“Hearing these words of Vidura, Dhritarashtra said, ‘Those children are +to me as dear as they were to Pandu. Nay, more. O listen to me why my +affection for them now is even greater! The heroic sons of Pandu are well +and at ease. They have obtained many friends. Their relatives, and others +whom they have gained as allies, are all endued with great strength. Who +amongst monarchs in prosperity or adversity would not like to have +Drupada with his relatives as an ally?’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having heard these words of the monarch, Vidura +said, ‘O king, let thy understanding remain so without change for a +hundred years!’ Having said this Vidura returned to his own abode. Then, +O monarch, there came unto Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana and the son of +Radha, Karna. Addressing the monarch, they said, ‘We cannot, O king, +speak of any transgression in the presence of Vidura! We have now found +thee alone, and will, therefore, say all we like! What is this that thou +hast, O monarch, desired to do? Dost thou regard the prosperity of thy +foes as if it were thy own, that thou hast been applauding the Pandavas, +O foremost of men, in the presence of Vidura? O sinless one, thou actest +not, O king, in the way thou shouldst! O father, we should now act every +day in such a way as to weaken (the strength of) the Pandavas. The time +hath come, O father, for us to take counsel together, so that the +Pandavas may not swallow us all with our children and friends and +relatives.’” + + + +SECTION CCIII + +(Viduragamana Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Dhritarashtra replied saying, I desire to do exactly +what you would recommend. But I do not wish to inform Vidura of it even +by a change of muscle. It was, therefore, O son, that I was applauding +the Pandavas in Vidura’s presence, so that he might not know even by a +sign what is in my mind. Now that Vidura hath gone away, this is the +time, O Suyodhana (Duryodhana), for telling me what thou hast hit upon, +and what, O Radheya (Karna), thou too hast hit upon.’ + +“Duryodhana said. ‘Let us, O father, by means of trusted and skilful and +adroit Brahmanas, seek to produce dissensions between the sons of Kunti +and Madri. Or, let king Drupada and his sons, and all his ministers of +state, be plied with presents of large wealth, so that they may abandon +the cause of Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti. Or, let our spies induce the +Pandavas to settle in Drupada’s dominions, by describing to them, +separately, the inconvenience of residing in Hastinapura, so that, +separated from as, they may permanently settle in Panchala. Or, let some +clever spies, full of resources, sowing the seeds of dissension among the +Pandavas, make them jealous of one another. Or, let them incite Krishna +against her husbands. She has many lords and this will not present any +difficulty. Or, let some seek to make the Pandavas themselves +dissatisfied with Krishna, in which case Krishna also will be +dissatisfied with them. Or, let, O king, some clever spies, repairing +thither, secretly compass the death of Bhimasena. Bhima is the strongest +of them all. Relying upon Bhima alone, the Pandavas used to disregard us, +of old. Bhima is fierce and brave and the (sole) refuge of the Pandavas. +If he be slain, the others will be deprived of strength and energy. +Deprived of Bhima who is their sole refuge, they will no longer strive to +regain their kingdom. Arjuna, O king, is invincible in battle, if Bhima +protecteth him from behind. Without Bhima, Arjuna is not equal to even a +fourth part of Radheya. Indeed, O king, the Pandavas conscious of their +own feebleness without Bhima and of our strength would not really strive +to recover the kingdom. Or, if, O monarch, coming hither, they prove +docile and obedient to us, we would then seek to repress them according +to the dictates of political science (as explained by Kanika). Or, we may +tempt them by means of handsome girls, upon which the princess of +Panchala will get annoyed with them. Or, O Radheya, let messengers be +despatched to bring them hither, so that, when arrived, we may through +trusted agents, by some of the above methods, cause them to be slain. +Strive, O father, to employ any of these (various) methods that may +appear to thee faultless. Time passeth. Before their confidence in king +Drupada--that bull amongst kings--is established we may succeed, O +monarch, to encounter them. But after their confidence hath been +established in Drupada, we are sure to fail. These, O father, are my +views for the discomfiture of the Pandavas. Judge whether they be good or +bad. What, O Karna, dost thou think?’” + + + +SECTION CCIV + +(Viduragamana Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by Duryodhana, Karna said, ‘It doth +not seem to me, O Duryodhana, that thy reasoning is well-founded. O +perpetuator of the Kuru race, no method will succeed against the +Pandavas. O brave prince, thou hast before, by various subtle means, +striven to carry out thy wishes. But ever hast thou failed to slay thy +foes. They were then living near thee, O king! They were then unfledged +and of tender years, but thou couldst not injure them then. They are now +living at a distance, grown up, full-fledged. The sons of Kunti, O thou +of firm resolution, cannot now be injured by any subtle contrivances of +thine. This is my opinion. As they are aided by the very Fates, and as +they are desirous of regaining their ancestral kingdom, we can never +succeed in injuring them by any means in our power. It is impossible to +create disunion amongst them. They can never be disunited who have all +taken to a common wife. Nor can we succeed in estranging Krishna from the +Pandavas by any spies of ours. She chose them as her lords when they were +in adversity. Will she abandon them now that they are in prosperity? +Besides women always like to have many husbands, Krishna hath obtained +her wish. She can never be estranged from the Pandavas. The king of +Panchala is honest and virtuous; he is not avaricious. Even if we offer +him our whole kingdom he will not abandon the Pandavas. Drupada’s son +also possesseth every accomplishment, and is attached to the Pandavas. +Therefore, I do not think that the Pandavas can now be injured by any +subtle means in thy power. But, O bull amongst men, this is what is good +and advisable for us now, viz., to attack and smite them till they are +exterminated. Let this course recommend itself to thee. As long as our +party is strong and that of the king of the Panchalas is weak, so long +strike them without any scruple. O son of Gandhari, as long as their +innumerable vehicles and animals, friends, and friendly tribes are not +mustered together, continue, O king, to exhibit thy prowess. As long as +the king of the Panchalas together with his sons gifted with great +prowess, setteth not his heart upon fighting with us, so long, O king, +exhibit thy prowess. And, O king, exert thy prowess before he of the +Vrishni race (Krishna) cometh with the Yadava host into the city of +Drupada, carrying everything before him, to restore the Pandavas to their +paternal kingdom. Wealth, every article of enjoyment, kingdom, there is +nothing that Krishna may not sacrifice for the sake of the Pandavas. The +illustrious Bharata had acquired the whole earth by his prowess alone. +Indra hath acquired sovereignty of the three worlds by prowess alone. O +king, prowess is always applauded by the Kshatriyas. O bull amongst +Kshatriyas, prowess is the cardinal virtue of the brave. Let us, +therefore, O monarch, with our large army consisting of four kinds of +forces, grind Drupada without loss of time, and bring hither the +Pandavas. Indeed, the Pandavas are incapable of being discomfited by any +policy of conciliation, of gift, of wealth and bribery, or of disunion. +Vanquish them, therefore, by thy prowess. And vanquishing them by thy +prowess, rule thou this wide earth. O monarch, I see not any other means +by which we may accomplish our end.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of Radheya, Dhritarashtra, +endued with great strength, applauded him highly. The monarch then +addressed him and said, ‘Thou, O son of a Suta, art gifted with great +wisdom and accomplished in arms. This speech, therefore, favouring the +exhibition of prowess suiteth thee well. But let Bhishma, and Drona, and +Vidura, and you two, take counsel together and adopt that proposal which +may lead to our benefit.’ + +Vaisampayana continued, “‘Then king Dhritarashtra called unto him, all +those celebrated ministers and took counsel with them.’” + + + +SECTION CCV + +(Viduragamana Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Asked by Dhritarashtra to give his opinion, Bhishma +replied, ‘O Dhritarashtra, a quarrel with the Pandavas is what I can +never approve of. As thou art to me, so was Pandu without doubt. And the +sons of Gandhari are to me, as those of Kunti. I should protect them as +well as I should thy sons, O Dhritarashtra! And, O king, the Pandavas are +as much near to me as they are to prince Duryodhana or to all the other +Kurus. Under these circumstances a quarrel with them is what I never +like. Concluding a treaty with those heroes, let half the land be given +unto them. This is without doubt, the paternal kingdom of those foremost +ones of the Kuru race. And, O Duryodhana, like thee who lookest upon this +kingdom as thy paternal property, the Pandavas also look upon it as their +paternal possession. If the renowned sons of Pandu obtain not the +kingdom, how can it be thine, or that of any other descendant of the +Bharata race? If thou regardest thyself as one that hath lawfully come +into the possession of the kingdom, I think they also may be regarded to +have lawfully come into the possession of this kingdom before thee. Give +them half the kingdom quietly. This, O tiger among men, is beneficial to +all. If thou actest otherwise, evil will befall us all. Thou too shall be +covered with dishonour. O Duryodhana, strive to maintain thy good name. A +good name is, indeed, the source of one’s strength. It hath been said +that one liveth in vain whose reputation hath gone. A man, O Kaurava, +doth not die so long as his fame lasteth. One liveth as long as one’s +fame endureth, and dieth when one’s fame is gone. Follow thou, O son of +Gandhari, the practice that is worthy of the Kuru race. O thou of mighty +arms, imitate thy own ancestors. We are fortunate that the Pandavas have +not perished. We are fortunate that Kunti liveth. We are fortunate that +the wretch Purochana without being able to accomplish his purpose hath +himself perished. From that time when I heard that the sons of +Kuntibhoja’s daughter had been burnt to death, I was, O son of Gandhari, +ill able to meet any living creature. O tiger among men, hearing of the +fate that overtook Kunti, the world doth not regard Purochana so guilty +as it regardeth thee. O king, the escape, therefore, of the sons of Pandu +with life from that conflagration and their re-appearance, do away with +thy evil repute. Know, O thou of Kuru’s race, that as long as those +heroes live, the wielder of the thunder himself cannot deprive them of +their ancestral share in the kingdom. The Pandavas are virtuous and +united. They are being wrongly kept out of their equal share in the +kingdom. If thou shouldst act rightly, if thou shouldst do what is +agreeable to me, if thou shouldst seek the welfare of all, then give half +the kingdom unto them.’” + + + +SECTION CCVI + +(Viduragamana Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘After Bhishma had concluded, Drona spoke, saying, ‘O +king Dhritarashtra, it hath been heard by us that friends summoned for +consultation should always speak what is right, true, and conductive to +fame. O sire, I am of the same mind in this matter with the illustrious +Bhishma. Let a share of the kingdom be given unto the Pandavas. This is +eternal virtue. Send, O Bharata, unto Drupada without loss of time some +messenger of agreeable speech, carrying with him a large treasure for the +Pandavas. And let the man go unto Drupada carrying costly presents for +both the bridegrooms and the bride, and let him speak unto that monarch +of thy increase of power and dignity arising from this new alliance with +him. And, O monarch, let the man know also that both thyself and +Duryodhana have become exceedingly glad in consequence of what hath +happened. Let him say this repeatedly unto Drupada and Dhrishtadyumna. +And let him speak also about the alliance as having been exceedingly +proper, and agreeable unto thee, and of thyself being worthy of it. And +let the man repeatedly propitiate the sons of Kunti and those of Madri +(in proper words). And at thy command, O king, let plenty of ornaments of +pure gold be given unto Draupadi. And let, O bull of Bharata’s race, +proper presents be given unto all the sons of Drupada. Let the messenger +then propose the return of the Pandavas to Hastinapura. After the heroes +will have been permitted (by Drupada), to come hither, let Duhsasana and +Vikarna go out with a handsome train to receive them. And when they will +have arrived at Hastinapura, let those foremost of men be received with +affection by thee. And let them then be installed on their paternal +throne, agreeably to the wishes of the people of the realm. This, O +monarch of Bharata’s race, is what I think should be thy behaviour +towards the Pandavas who are to thee even as thy own sons.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘After Drona had ceased, Karna spake again, +‘Both Bhishma and Drona have been pampered with wealth that is thine and +favours conferred by thee! They are also always regarded by thee as thy +trusted friends! What can therefore be more amusing than that they both +should give thee advice which is not for thy good? How can the wise +approve that advice which is pronounced good by a person speaking with +wicked intent but taking care to conceal the wickedness of his heart? +Indeed, in a season of distress, friends can neither benefit nor injure. +Every one’s happiness or the reverse dependeth on destiny. He that is +wise and he that is foolish, he that is young (in years) and he that is +old, he that hath allies and he that hath none, all become, it is seen +everywhere, happy or unhappy at times. It hath been heard by us that +there was, of old, a king by name Amvuvicha. Having his capital at +Rajagriha, he was the king of all the Magadha chiefs. He never attended +to his affairs. All his exertion consisted in inhaling the air. All his +affairs were in the hands of his minister. And his minister, named +Mahakarni, became the supreme authority in the state. Regarding himself +all powerful, he began to disregard the king. And the wretch himself +appropriated everything belonging unto the king, his queens and treasures +and sovereignty. But the possession of all these, instead of satisfying +his avarice, only served to inflame him the more. Having appropriated +everything belonging to the king, he even coveted the throne. But it hath +been heard by us that with all his best endeavours he succeeded not in +acquiring the kingdom of the monarch, his master, even though the latter +was inattentive to business and content with only breathing the air. What +else can be said, O king, than that monarch’s sovereignty was dependent +on destiny? If, therefore, O king, this kingdom be established in thee by +destiny, it will certainly continue in thee, even if the whole world were +to become thy enemy! If, however, destiny hath ordained otherwise, +howsoever mayest thou strive, it will not last in thee! O learned one, +remembering all this, judge of the honesty or otherwise of thy advisers. +Ascertain also who amongst them are wicked and who have spoken wisely and +well.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of Karna, Drona replied, +‘As thou art wicked it is evident thou sayest so in consequence of the +wickedness of thy intent. It is for injuring the Pandavas that thou +findest fault with us. But know, O Karna, what I have said is for the +good of all and the prosperity of the Kuru race. If thou regardest all +this as productive of evil, declare thyself what is for our good. If the +good advice I have given be not followed, I think the Kurus will be +exterminated in no time.’” + + + +SECTION CCVII + +(Viduragamana Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘After Drona had ceased, Vidura spoke, saying, ‘O +monarch, thy friends without doubt, are saying unto thee what is for thy +good. But as thou art unwilling to listen to what they say, their words +scarcely find a place in thy ears. What that foremost one of Kuru’s race, +viz., Bhishma, the son of Santanu, hath said, is excellent and is for thy +good. But thou dost not listen to it. The preceptor Drona also hath said +much that is for thy good which however Karna, the son of Radha, doth not +regard to be such. But, O king, reflecting hard I do not find any one who +is better a friend to thee than either of these two lions among men +(viz., Bhishma and Drona), or any one who excels either of them in +wisdom. These two, old in years, in wisdom, and in learning, always +regard thee, O king, and the sons of Pandu with equal eyes. Without +doubt, O king of Bharata’s race, they are both, in virtue and +truthfulness, not inferior to Rama, the son of Dasaratha, and Gaya. Never +before did they give thee any evil advice. Thou also, O monarch, hast +never done them any injury. Why should, therefore, these tigers among +men, who are ever truthful, give thee wicked advice, especially when thou +hast never injured them? Endued with wisdom these foremost of men, O +king, will never give thee counsels that are crooked. O scion of Kuru’s +rate, this is my firm conviction that these two, acquainted with all +rules of morality, will never, tempted by wealth, utter anything +betraying a spirit of partisanship. What they have said, O Bharata, I +regard highly beneficial to thee. Without doubt, O monarch, the Pandavas +are thy sons as much as Duryodhana and others are. Those ministers, +therefore, that give thee any counsel fraught with evil unto the +Pandavas, do not really look to thy interests. If there is any partiality +in thy heart, O king, for thy own children, they who by their counsel +seek to bring it out, certainly do thee no good. Therefore, O king, these +illustrious persons endued with great splendour, have not I think, said +anything that leadeth to evil. Thou, however, dost not understand it. +What these bulls among men have said regarding the invincibility of the +Pandavas is perfectly true. Think not otherwise of it, O tiger among men. +Blest be thou! Can the handsome Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu, using the +right and the left hand with equal activity, be vanquished in battle even +by Maghavat himself? Can the great Bhimasena of strong arms possessing +the might of ten thousand elephants, be vanquished in battle by the +immortals themselves? Who also that desireth to live can overcome in +battle the twins (Nagula and Sahadeva) like unto the sons of Yama +himself, and well-skilled in fight? How too can the eldest one of the +Pandavas in whom patience, mercy, forgiveness, truth, and prowess always +live together, be vanquished? They who have Rama (Valadeva) as their +ally, and Janardana (Krishna) as their counsellor, and Satyaki as their +partisan, have already defeated everybody in war. They who have Drupada +for their father-in-law, and Drupada’s sons--the heroic brothers, viz., +Dhristadyumna and others of Prishata’s race for their brothers-in-law, +are certainly invincible. Remembering this, O monarch, and knowing that +their claim to the kingdom is even prior to thine, behave virtuously +towards them. The stain of calumny is on thee, O monarch, in consequence +of that act of Purochana. Wash thyself of it now, by a kindly behaviour +towards the Pandavas. This kindly behaviour of thine, O monarch, towards +the Pandavas will be an act of great benefit to us, protecting the lives +of us all that belong to Kuru’s race, and leading to the growth of the +whole Kshatriya order! We had formerly warred with king Drupada; if we +can now secure him as an ally, it will strengthen our party. The +Dasarhas, O king, are numerous and strong. Know where Krishna is, all of +them must be, and where Krishna is, there victory also must be! O king, +who, unless cursed by the gods, would seek, to effect that by means of +war which can be effected by conciliation? Hearing that the sons of +Pritha are alive, the citizens and other subjects of the realm have +become exceedingly glad and eager for beholding them. O monarch, act in a +way that is agreeable to them. Duryodhana and Karna and Sakuni, the son +of Suvala, are sinful, foolish and young; listen not to them. Possessed +of every virtue thou art I long ago told thee, O monarch that for +Duryodhana’s fault, the subjects of this kingdom would be exterminated.’” + + + +SECTION CCVIII + +(Viduragamana Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these various speeches, Dhritarashtra said, +The learned Bhishma, the son of Santanu, and the illustrious Rishi Drona, +and thyself also (O Vidura), have said the truth and what also is most +beneficial to me. Indeed, as those mighty car-warriors, the heroic sons +of Kunti. are the children of Pandu, so are they, without doubt, my +children according to the ordinance. And as my sons are entitled to this +kingdom, so are the sons of Pandu certainly entitled to it. Therefore, +hasten to bring hither the Pandavas along with their mother, treating +them with affectionate consideration. O thou of Bharata’s race, bring +also Krishna of celestial beauty along with them. From sheer good fortune +the sons of Pritha are alive; and from good fortune alone those mighty +car-warriors have obtained the daughter of Drupada. It is from good +fortune alone that our strength hath increased, and it is from good +fortune alone that Purochana hath perished. O thou of great splendour, it +is from good fortune that my great grief hath been killed!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Vidura, at the command of Dhritarashtra, +repaired, O Bharata, unto Yajnasena and the Pandavas. And he repaired +thither carrying with him numerous jewels and various kinds of wealth for +Draupadi and the Pandavas and Yajnasena also. Arrived at Drupada’s abode, +Vidura conversant with every rule of morality and deep in every science, +properly accosted the monarch and waited upon him. Drupada received +Vidura in proper form and they both enquired after each other’s welfare. +Vidura then saw there the Pandavas and Vasudeva. As soon as he saw them +he embraced them from affection and enquired after their well being. The +Pandavas also along with Vasudeva, in due order, worshipped Vidura of +immeasurable intelligence. But Vidura, O king, in the name of +Dhritarashtra repeatedly enquired with great affection after their +welfare. He then gave, O monarch, unto the Pandavas and Kunti and +Draupadi, and unto Drupada and Drupada’s sons, the gems and various kinds +of wealth that the Kauravas had sent through him. Possessed of +immeasurable intelligence, the modest Vidura then, in the presence of the +Pandavas and Keshava, addressed the well-behaved Drupada thus: + +“With thy ministers and sons, O monarch, listen to what I say. King +Dhritarashtra, with ministers, sons, and friends, hath with a joyous +heart, O king, repeatedly enquired after thy welfare. And, O monarch, he +hath been highly pleased with this alliance with thee. So also, O king, +Bhishma of great wisdom, the son of Santanu, with all the Kurus, enquired +after thy welfare in every respect. Drona also of great wisdom the son of +Bharadwaja and thy dear friend, embracing thee mentally, enquired of thy +happiness. And, O king of Panchalas, Dhritarashtra and all the Kurus, in +consequence of this alliance with thee regard themselves supremely blest. +O Yajnasena, the establishment of this alliance with thee hath made them +happier than if they had acquired a new kingdom. Knowing all this, O +monarch, permit the Pandavas to re-visit their ancestral kingdom. The +Kurus are exceedingly eager to behold the sons of Pandu. These bulls +among men have been long absent (from their kingdom). They as well as +Pritha must be very eager to behold their city. And all the Kuru ladies +and the citizens and our subjects are eagerly waiting to behold Krishna +the Panchala Princess. This, therefore, is my opinion, O monarch, that +thou shouldst, without delay, permit the Pandavas to go thither with +their wife. And after the illustrious Pandavas, O king, will have +received thy permission to go thither, I shall send information unto +Dhritarashtra by quick messengers. Then, O king, will the Pandavas set +out with Kunti and Krishna.’” + + + +SECTION CCIX + +(Viduragamana Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words of Vidura, Drupada said, ‘It is +even so as thou, O Vidura of great wisdom, hast said. Venerable one, I +too have been exceedingly happy in consequence of this alliance. It is +highly proper that these illustrious princes should return to their +ancestral kingdom. But it is not proper for me to say this myself. If the +brave son of Kunti viz., Yudhishthira, if Bhima and Arjuna, if these +bulls among men, viz., the twins, themselves desire to go and if Rama +(Valadeva) and Krishna, both acquainted with every rule of morality, be +of the same mind, then let the Pandavas go thither. For these tigers +among men (Rama and Krishna) are ever engaged in doing what is agreeable +and beneficial to the sons of Pandu.’ + +“Hearing this, Yudhishthira said, ‘We are now, O monarch, with all our +younger brothers, dependent on thee. We shall cheerfully do what thou art +pleased to command.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Vasudeva said, ‘I am of opinion that the +Pandavas should go. But we should all abide by the opinion of king +Drupada who is conversant with every rule of morality.’ + +“Drupada then spoke, ‘I certainly agree with what this foremost of men, +thinketh, having regard to the circumstances. For the illustrious sons of +Pandu now are to me as they are, without doubt, to Vasudeva. Kunti’s son +Yudhishthira himself doth not seek the welfare of the Pandavas so +earnestly as, Kesava, that tiger among men.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Commanded by the illustrious Drupada, the +Pandavas, then, O king, and Krishna and Vidura, taking with them Krishna, +the daughter of Drupada, and the renowned Kunti, journeyed towards the +city called after the elephant, stopping at various places along the way +for purposes of pleasure and enjoyment. King Dhritarashtra, hearing that +those heroes had neared the capital sent out the Kauravas to receive +them. They who were thus sent out were, O Bharata, Vikarna of the great +bow, and Chitrasena, and Drona that foremost of warriors, and Kripa of +Gautama’s line. Surrounded by these, those mighty heroes, their splendour +enhanced by that throng slowly entered the city of Hastinapura. The whole +city became radiant, as it were, with the gay throng of sight-seers +animated by curiosity. Those tigers among men gladdened the hearts of all +who beheld them. And the Pandavas, dear unto the hearts of the people, +heard, as they proceeded, various exclamations with the citizens, ever +desirous of obeying the wishes of those princes, loudly uttered. Some +exclaimed, ‘Here returns that tiger among men, conversant with all the +rules of morality and who always protects us as if we were his nearest +relatives.’ And elsewhere they said, ‘It seems that king Pandu--the +beloved of his people--returneth today from the forest, doubtless to do +what is agreeable to us.’ And there were some that said, ‘What good is +not done to us today when the heroic sons of Kunti come back to our town? +If we have ever given away in charity, if we have ever poured libations +of clarified butter on the fire, if we have any ascetic merit, let the +Pandavas, by virtue of all those acts stay in our town for a hundred +years.’ + +“At last the Pandavas, on arriving at the place, worshipped the feet of +Dhritarashtra, as also those of the illustrious Bhishma. They also +worshipped the feet of everybody else that deserved that honour. And they +enquired after the welfare of every citizen (there present). At last, at +the command of Dhritarashtra they entered the chambers that had been +assigned to them. + +“After they had rested there for some time, they were summoned (to the +court) by king Dhritarashtra and Bhishma, the son of Santanu. When they +came, king Dhritarashtra addressing Yudhishthira, said, ‘Listen, O son of +Kunti, with thy brothers, to what I say. Repair ye to Khandavaprastha so +that no difference may arise again (between you and your cousins). If you +take up your quarters there no one will be able to do you any injury. +Protected by Partha (Arjuna), like the celestials by the thunderbolt, +reside ye at Khandavaprastha, taking half of the kingdom.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Agreeing to what Dhritarashtra said, those +bulls among men worshipping the king set out from Hastinapura. And +content with half the kingdom, they removed to Khandavaprastha, which was +in unreclaimed desert. Then those heroes of unfading splendour, viz., the +Pandavas, with Krishna at their head, arriving there, beautified the +place and made it a second heaven. And those mighty car-warriors, +selecting with Dwaipayana’s assistance a sacred and auspicious region, +performed certain propitiatory ceremonies and measured out a piece of +land for their city. Then surrounded by a trench wide as the sea and by +walls reaching high up to the heavens and white as the fleecy clouds or +the rays of the moon, that foremost of cities looked resplendent like +Bhogavati (the capital of the nether kingdom) decked with the Nagas. And +it stood adorned with palatial mansions and numerous gates, each +furnished with a couple of panels resembling the out-stretched wings of +Garuda. And it was protected with gateways looking like the clouds and +high as the Mandara mountains. And well-furnished with numerous weapons +of attack the missiles of the foes could not make slightest impression on +them. And they were almost covered with darts and other missiles like +double-tongued snakes. The turrets along the walls were filled with armed +men in course of training; and the walls were lined with numerous +warriors along their whole length. And there were thousands of sharp +hooks and Sataghnis (machines slaying a century of warriors) and numerous +other machines on the battlements. There were also large iron wheels +planted on them. And with all these was that foremost of cities adorned. +The streets were all wide and laid out excellently; and there was no fear +in them of accident. And decked with innumerable mansions, the city +became like unto Amaravati and came to be called Indraprastha (like unto +Indra’s city). In a delightful and auspicious part of the city rose the +palace of the Pandavas filled with every kind of wealth and like unto the +mansion of the celestial treasurer (Kuvera) himself. And it looked like a +mass of clouds charged with lightning. + +“When the city was built, there came, O king, numerous Brahmanas +well-acquainted with all the Vedas and conversant with every language, +wishing to dwell there. And there came also unto that town numerous +merchants from every direction, in the hope of earning wealth. There also +came numerous persons well-skilled in all the arts, wishing to take up +their abode there. And around the city were laid out many delightful +gardens adorned with numerous trees bearing both fruits and flowers. +There were Amras (mango trees) and Amaratakas, and Kadamvas and Asokas, +and Champakas; and Punnagas and Nagas and Lakuchas and Panasas; and Salas +and Talas (palm trees) and Tamalas and Vakulas, and Ketakas with their +fragrant loads; beautiful and blossoming and grand Amalakas with branches +bent down with the weight of fruits and Lodhras and blossoming Ankolas; +and Jamvus (blackberry trees) and Patalas and Kunjakas and Atimuktas; and +Karaviras and Parijatas and numerous other kinds of trees always adorned +with flowers and fruits and alive with feathery creatures of various +species. And those verdant groves always resounded with the notes of +maddened peacocks and Kokilas (blackbirds). And there were various +pleasure-houses, bright as mirrors, and numerous bowers of creepers, and +charming and artificial hillocks, and many lakes full to the brim of +crystal water, and delightful tanks fragrant with lotuses and lilies and +adorned with swans and ducks and chakravakas (brahminy ducks). And there +were many delicious pools overgrown with fine aquatic plants. And there +were also diverse ponds of great beauty and large dimension. And, O king, +the joy of the Pandavas increased from day to day, in consequence of +their residence in that large kingdom that was peopled with pious men. + +“Thus in consequence of the virtuous behaviour of Bhishma and king +Dhritarashtra towards them, the Pandavas took up their abode in +Khandavaprastha. Adorned with those five mighty warriors, each equal unto +Indra himself, that foremost of cities looked like Bhogavati (the capital +of the nether kingdom) adorned with the Nagas. And, O monarch, having +settled the Pandavas there, the heroic Krishna, obtaining their leave, +came back with Rama to Dwaravati.’” + + + +SECTION CCX + +(Rajya-labha Parva) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O thou possessed of ascetic wealth, what did those +high-souled ones, my grandsires, the illustrious Pandavas, do, after +obtaining the kingdom of Indraprastha? How did their wife Draupadi obey +them all? How is it also that no dissensions arose amongst those +illustrious rulers of men, all attached to one wife, viz., Krishna? O +thou of the wealth of asceticism, I wish to hear everything in detail +regarding the behaviour towards one another of those rulers of men after +their union with Krishna.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Those scorchers of foes, the Pandavas, having +obtained their kingdom, at the command of Dhritarashtra, passed their +days in joy and happiness at Khandavaprastha with Krishna. And +Yudhishthira. endued with great energy and ever adhering to truth, having +obtained the sovereignty, virtuously ruled the land, assisted by his +brothers. And the sons of Pandu, endued with great wisdom and devoted to +truth and virtue, having vanquished all their foes, continued to live +there in great happiness. And those bulls among men, seated on royal +seats of great value, used to discharge all the duties of government. And +one day, while all those illustrious heroes were so seated, there came +unto them the celestial Rishi Narada, in course of his wanderings. +Beholding the Rishi, Yudhishthira offered him his own handsome seat. And +after the celestial Rishi had been seated, the wise Yudhishthira duly +offered him the Arghya with his own hands. And the king also informed the +Rishi of the state of his kingdom. The Rishi accepting the worship, +became well-pleased, and eulogising him with benedictions, commanded the +king to take his seat. Commanded by the Rishi, the king took his seat. +Then the king sent word unto Krishna (in the inner apartments) of the +arrival of the illustrious one. Hearing of the Rishi’s arrival Draupadi, +purifying herself properly, came with a respectful attitude to where +Narada was with the Pandavas. The virtuous princess of Panchala, +worshipping the celestial Rishi’s feet, stood with joined hands before +him, properly veiled, The illustrious Narada, pronouncing various +benedictions on her, commanded the princess to retire. After Krishna had +retired, the illustrious Rishi, addressing in private all the Pandavas +with Yudhishthira at their head, said, ‘The renowned princess of Panchala +is the wedded wife of you all. Establish a rule amongst yourselves so +that disunion may not arise amongst you. There were, in former days, +celebrated throughout the three worlds, two brothers named Sunda and +Upasunda living together and incapable of being slain by anybody unless +each slew the other. They ruled the same kingdom, lived in the same +house, slept on the same bed, sat on the same seat, and ate from the same +dish. And yet they killed each for the sake of Tilottama. Therefore, O +Yudhishthira, preserve your friendship for one another and do that which +may not produce disunion amongst you.’ + +“On hearing this, Yudhishthira asked, ‘O great Muni, whose sons were +Asuras called Sunda and Upasunda? Whence arose that dissension amongst +them, and why did they slay each other? Whose daughter also was this +Tilottama for whose love the maddened brothers killed each other? Was she +an Apsara (water nymph) or the daughter of any celestial? O thou whose +wealth is asceticism, we desire, O Brahmana, to hear in detail everything +as it happened. Indeed, our curiosity hath become great.’” + + + +SECTION CCXI + +(Rajya-labha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words of Yudhishthira, Narada replied, +‘O son of Pritha, listen with thy brothers to me as I recite this old +story, O Yudhishthira, exactly as everything happened. In olden days, a +mighty Daitya named Nikumbha, endued with great energy and strength was +born in the race of the great Asura, Hiranyakasipu. Unto this Nikumbha, +were born two sons called Sunda and Upasunda. Both of them were mighty +Asuras endued with great energy and terrible prowess. The brothers were +both fierce and possessed of wicked hearts. And those Daityas were both +of the same resolution, and ever engaged in achieving the same tasks and +ends. They were ever sharers with each other in happiness as well as in +woe. Each speaking and doing what was agreeable to the other, the +brothers never were unless they were together, and never went anywhere +unless together. Of exactly the same disposition and habits, they seemed +to be one individual divided into two parts. Endued with great energy and +ever of the same resolution in everything they undertook, the brothers +gradually grew up. Always entertaining the same purpose, desirous of +subjugating the three worlds, the brothers, after due initiation, went to +the mountains of Vindhya. And severe were the ascetic penances they +performed there. Exhausted with hunger and thirst, with matted locks on +their heads and attired in barks of trees, they acquired sufficient +ascetic merit at length. Besmearing themselves with dirt from head to +foot, living upon air alone, standing on their toes, they threw pieces of +the flesh of their bodies into the fire. Their arms upraised, and eye +fixed, long was the period for which they observed their vows. And during +the course of their ascetic penances, a wonderful incident occurred +there. For the mountains of Vindhya, heated for a long course of years by +the power of their ascetic austerities, began to emit vapour from every +part of their bodies. And beholding the severity of their austerities, +the celestials became alarmed. The gods began to cause numerous +obstructions to impede the progress of their asceticism. The celestials +repeatedly tempted the brothers by means of every precious possession and +the most beautiful girls. The brothers broke not their vows. Then the +celestials once more manifested, before the illustrious brothers, their +powers of illusion. For it seemed their sisters, mothers, wives, and +other relatives, with disordered hair and ornaments and robes, were +running towards them in terror, pursued and struck by a Rakshasa with a +lance in hand. And it seemed that the women implored the help of the +brothers crying, ‘O save us!’ But all this went for nothing, for firmly +wedded thereto, the brothers did not still break their vows. And when it +was found that all this produced not the slightest impression on any of +the two, both the women and the Rakshasa vanished from sight. At last the +Grandsire himself, the Supreme Lord ever seeking the welfare of all, came +unto those great Asuras and asked them to solicit the boon they desired. +Then the brothers Sunda and Upasunda, both of great prowess, beholding +the Grandsire, rose from their seats and waited with joined palms. And +the brothers both said unto the God, ‘O Grandsire, if thou hast been +pleased with these our ascetic austerities, and art, O lord, propitious +unto us, then let us have knowledge of all weapons and of all powers of +illusion. Let us be endued with great strength, and let us be able to +assume any form at will. And last of all, let us also be immortal.’ +Hearing these words of theirs, Brahman said, ‘Except the immortality you +ask for, you shall be given all that you desire. Solicit you some form of +death by which you may still be equal unto the immortals. And since you +have undergone these severe ascetic austerities from desire of +sovereignty alone I cannot confer on you the boon of immortality. You +have performed your ascetic penances even for the subjugation of the +three worlds. It is for this, O mighty Daityas, that I cannot grant you +what you desire.’ + +“Narada continued, ‘Hearing these words of Brahman, Sunda and Upasunda +said, ‘O Grandsire, let us have no fear then from any created thing, +mobile or immobile, in the three worlds, except only from each other!’ +The Grandsire then said, ‘I grant you what you have asked for, even this +your desire’. And granting them this boon, the Grandsire made them desist +from their asceticism, and returned to his own region. Then the brothers, +those mighty Daityas, having received those several boons became +incapable of being slain by anybody in the universe. They then returned +to their own abode. All their friends and relatives, beholding those +Daityas of great intelligence, crowned with success in the matter of the +boons they had obtained, became exceedingly glad. And Sunda and Upasunda +then cut off their matted locks and wore coronets on their heads. Attired +in costly robes and ornaments, they looked exceedingly handsome. They +caused the moon to rise over their city every night even out of his +season. And friends and relatives gave themselves up to joy and merriment +with happy hearts. Eat, feed, give, make merry, sing, drink--these were +the sounds heard everyday in every house. And here and there arose loud +uproars of hilarity mixed with clappings of hands which filled the whole +city of the Daityas, who being capable of assuming any form at will, were +engaged in every kind of amusement and sport and scarcely noticed the +flight of time, even regarding a whole year as a single day.’” + + + +SECTION CCXII + +(Rajya-labha Parva continued) + +‘Narada continued, ‘As soon as those festivities came to an end, the +brothers Sunda and Upasunda, desirous of the Sovereignty of the three +worlds, took counsel and commanded their forces to be arranged. Obtaining +the assent of their friends and relatives, of the elders of the Daitya +race and of their ministers of state, and performing the preliminary +rites of departure, they set out in the night when the constellation +Magha was in the ascendant. The brothers set out with a large Daitya +force clad in mail and armed with maces and axes and lances and clubs. +The Daitya heroes set out on their expedition with joyous hearts, the +charanas (bards) chanting auspicious panegyrics indicative of their +future triumphs. Furious in war, the Daitya brothers, capable of going +everywhere at will, ascended the skies and went to the region of the +celestials. The celestials knowing they were coming and acquainted also +with the boons granted unto them by the Supreme Deity left heaven and +sought refuge in the region of Brahman. Endued with fierce prowess, the +Daitya heroes soon subjugated the region of Indra, and vanquishing the +diverse tribes of Yakshas and Rakshasas and every creature ranging the +skies, came away. Those mighty car-warriors next subjugated the Nagas of +the nether region, and then the inmates of the ocean and then all the +tribes of the Mlechchhas. Desirous next of subjugating the whole earth, +those heroes of irresistible sway, summoning their soldiers, issued these +cruel commands, ‘Brahmanas and royal sages (on earth) with their +libations and other food offered at grand sacrifices, increase the energy +and strength of the gods, as also their prosperity. Engaged in such acts, +they are the enemies of the Asuras. All of us, therefore, mustering +together should completely slaughter them off the face of the earth!’ +Ordering their soldiers thus on the eastern shore of the great ocean, and +entertaining such a cruel resolution, the Asura brothers set out in all +directions. And those that were performing sacrifices and the Brahmanas +that were assisting at those sacrifices, the mighty brothers instantly +slew. And slaughtering them with violence they departed for some other +place. Whilst their soldiers threw into the water the sacrificial fires +that were in the asylums of Munis with souls under complete control, the +curses uttered by the illustrious Rishis in wrath, rendered abortive by +the boons granted (by Brahman), affected not the Asura brothers. When the +Brahmanas saw that their curses produced not the slightest effect like +shafts shot at stones they fled in all directions, forsaking their rites +and vows. Even those Rishis on earth that were crowned with ascetic +success, and had their passions under complete control and were wholly +engrossed in meditation of the Deity, from fear of the Asura brothers, +fled like snakes at the approach of Vinata’s son (Garuda the +snake-eater). The sacred asylums were all trodden down and broken. The +sacrificial jars and vessels being broken, their (sacred) contents were +scattered over the ground. The whole universe became empty, as if its +creatures had all been stricken down during the season of general +dissolution. And, O king, after the Rishis had all disappeared and made +themselves invisible both the great Asuras, resolved upon their +destruction, began to assume various forms. Assuming the forms of +maddened elephants with temples rent from excess of juice, the Asura +pair, searching out the Rishis who had sheltered themselves in caves, +sent them to the region of Yama. Sometimes becoming as lions and again as +tigers and disappearing the next moment, by these and other methods the +cruel couple, seeing the Rishis, slew them instantly. Sacrifice and study +ceased, and kings and Brahmanas were exterminated. The earth became +utterly destitute of sacrifices and festivals. And the terrified people +uttered cries of Oh and Alas and all buying and selling were stopped. All +religious rites ceased, and the earth became destitute of sacred +ceremonies and marriages. Agriculture was neglected and cattle were no +longer tended. Towns and asylums became desolate. And scattered over with +bones and skeletons, the earth assumed a frightful aspect. All ceremonies +in honour of the Pitris were suspended, and the sacred sound of Vashat +and the whole circle of auspicious rites ceased. The earth became +frightful to behold. The Sun and the Moon, the Planets and Stars, and +Constellations, and the other dwellers in the firmament, witnessing these +acts of Sunda and Upasunda, grieved deeply. Subjugating all the points of +heaven by means of such cruel acts, the Asura brothers took up their +abode in Kurukshetra, without a single rival.’” + + + +SECTION CCXIII + +(Rajya-labha Parva continued) + +“Narada continued, ‘Then the celestial Rishis, the Siddhas, and the +high-souled Rishis possessing the attributes of tranquillity and +self-restraint, beholding that act of universal slaughter, were afflicted +with great grief. With passions and senses and souls under complete +control, they then went to the abode of the Grandsire, moved by +compassion for the universe. Arrived there, they beheld the Grandsire +seated with gods, Siddhas, and Brahmarshis around him. There were present +that God of gods, viz., Mahadeva, and Agni, accompanied by Vayu, and Soma +and Surya and Sakra, and Rishis devoted to the contemplation of Brahma, +and the Vaikhanasas, the Valakhilyas, the Vanaprasthas, the Marichipas, +the Ajas, the Avimudas, and other ascetics of great energy. All those +Rishis were sitting with the Grandsire, when the celestial and other +Rishis, approaching Brahman with sorrowful hearts, represented unto him +all the acts of Sunda and Upasunda. And they told the Grandsire in detail +everything that the Asura brothers had done, and how they had done it, +and in what order. Then all the celestials and the great Rishis pressed +the matter before the Grandsire. The Grandsire, hearing everything they +said, reflected for a moment and settled in his mind what he should do. +Resolving to compass the destruction of the Asura brothers, he summoned +Viswakarman (the celestial architect). Seeing Viswakarman before him, the +Grandsire possessed of supreme ascetic merit commanded him, saying, +‘Create thou a damsel capable of captivating all hearts.’ Bowing down +unto the Grandsire and receiving his command with reverence, the great +artificer of the universe created a celestial maiden with careful +attention. Viswakrit first collected all handsome features upon the body +of the damsel he created. Indeed, the celestial maiden that he created +was almost a mass of gems. And created with great care by Viswakarman, +the damsel, in beauty, became unrivalled among the women of the three +worlds. There was not even a minute part of her body which by its wealth +of beauty could not attract the gaze of beholders. And like unto the +embodied Sri herself, that damsel of extraordinary beauty captivated the +eyes and hearts of every creature. And because she had been created with +portions of every gem taken in minute measures, the Grandsire bestowed +upon her the name of Tilottama. And as soon as he started it into life, +the damsel bowed to Brahman and with joined palms said, ‘Lord of every +created thing, what task am I to accomplish and what have I been created +for?’ The Grandsire answered, ‘Go, O Tilottama, unto the Asuras, Sunda +and Upasunda. O amiable one, tempt them with thy captivating beauty. And, +O damsel, conduct thyself there in such a way that the Asura brothers +may, in consequence of the wealth of thy beauty, quarrel with each other +as soon as they cast their eyes upon thee.’ + +“Narada continued, ‘Bowing unto the Grandsire and saying, ‘So be +it,’--the damsel walked round the celestial conclave. The illustrious +Brahman was then sitting with face turned eastwards, and Mahadeva with +face also towards the east, and all the celestials with faces northwards, +and the Rishis with faces towards all directions. While Tilottama walked +round the conclave of the celestials, Indra and the illustrious Sthanu +(Mahadeva) were the only ones that succeeded in preserving their +tranquillity of mind. But exceedingly desirous as Mahadeva was (of +beholding Tilottama) when the damsel (in her progress round the celestial +conclave) was at his side, another face like a full-blown lotus appeared +on the southern side of his body. And when she was behind him, another +face appeared on the west. And when the damsel was on the northern side +of the great god, a fourth face appeared on the northern side of his +body. Mahadeva (who was eager to behold the damsel) came also to have a +thousand eyes, each large and slightly reddish, before, behind and on his +flanks. And it was thus that Sthanu the great god came to have four +faces, and the slayer of Vala, a thousand eyes. And as regards the mass +of the celestials and the Rishis, they turned their faces towards all +directions as Tilottama walked round them. Except the divine Grandsire +himself, the glances of those illustrious personages, even of all of them +fell upon Tilottama’s body. And when Tilottama set out (for the city of +the Asuras) with the wealth of her beauty, all regarded the task as +already accomplished. After Tilottama had gone away, the great god who +was the First Cause of the Universe, dismissed all the celestials and the +Rishis.’” + + + +SECTION CCXIV + +(Rajya-labha Parva continued) + +“Narada continued, ‘Meanwhile the Asura brothers having subjugated the +earth were without a rival. The fatigue of exertion gone, they, having +brought the three worlds under equal sway, regarded themselves as persons +that had nothing more to do. Having brought all the treasures of the +gods, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Nagas, the Rakshasas, and the +kings of the earth, the brothers began to pass their days in great +happiness. When they saw they had no rivals (in the three worlds), they +gave up all exertion and devoted their time to pleasure and merriment, +like the celestials. They experienced great happiness by giving +themselves up to every kind of enjoyment, such as women, and perfumes and +floral wreaths and viands, and drinks and many other agreeable objects +all in profusion. In houses and woods and gardens, on hills and in +forests, wherever they liked they passed their time in pleasure and +amusement, like the immortals. And it so happened that one day they went +for purposes of pleasure to a tableland of the Vindhya range, perfectly +level and stony, and overgrown with blossoming trees. After every object +of desire, all of the most agreeable kind, had been brought, the brothers +sat on an excellent seat, with happy hearts and accompanied by handsome +women. And those damsels, desirous of pleasing the brothers, commenced a +dance in accompaniment to music, and sweetly chanted many a song in +praise of the mighty pair.’ + +“Meanwhile Tilottama attired in a single piece of red silk that exposed +all her charms, came along, plucking wild flowers on her way. She +advanced slowly to where those mighty Asuras were. The Asura brothers, +intoxicated with the large portions they had imbibed, were smitten upon +beholding that maiden of transcendent beauty. Leaving their seats they +went quickly to where the damsel was. Both of them being under the +influence of lust, each sought the maiden for himself. And Sunda seized +that maid of fair brows by her right hand. Intoxicated with the boons +they had obtained, with physical might, with the wealth and gems they had +gathered from every quarter, and with the wine they had drunk, maddened +with all these, and influenced by wishful desire, they addressed each +other, each contracting his bow in anger, ‘She is my wife, and therefore +your superior,’ said Sunda. ‘She is my wife, and therefore your +sister-in-law’, replied Upasunda. And they said unto each other, ‘She is +mine not yours.’ And soon they were under the influence of rage. Maddened +by the beauty of the damsel, they soon forgot their love and affection +for each other. Both of them, deprived of reason by passion, then took up +their fierce maces. Each repeating, I was the first, I was the first,’ +(in taking her hand) struck the other. And the fierce Asuras, struck by +each other with the mace, fell down upon the ground, their bodies bathed +in blood, like two suns dislodged from the firmament. And beholding this, +the women that had come there, and the other Asuras there present, all +fled away trembling in grief and fear, and took refuge in the nether +regions. The Grandsire himself of pure soul, then came there, accompanied +by the celestials, and the great Rishis. And the illustrious Grandsire +applauded Tilottama and expressed his wish of granting her a boon. The +Supreme Deity, before Tilottama spoke, desirous of granting her a boon, +cheerfully said, ‘O beautiful damsel, thou shalt roam in the region of +the Adityas. Thy splendour shall be so great that nobody will ever be +able to look at thee for any length of time!’ The Grandsire of all +creatures, granting this boon unto her, establishing the three worlds in +Indra as before, returned to his own region.’ + +“Narada continued, ‘It was thus that Asuras, ever united and inspired by +the same purpose slew each other in wrath for the sake of Tilottama. +Therefore, from affection I tell you, ye foremost ones of Bharata’s line, +that if you desire to do anything agreeable to me, make some such +arrangements that you may not quarrel with one another for the sake of +Draupadi.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘The illustrious Pandavas, thus addressed by the +great Rishi Narada, consulting with one another, established a rule +amongst themselves in the presence of the celestial Rishi himself endued +with immeasurable energy. And the rule they made was that when one of +them would be sitting with Draupadi, any of the other four who would see +that one thus must retire into the forest for twelve years, passing his +days as a Brahmacharin. After the virtuous Pandavas had established that +rule amongst themselves, the great Muni Narada, gratified with them, went +to the place he wished. Thus, O Janamejaya, did the Pandavas urged by +Narada, established a rule amongst themselves in regard to their common +wife. And it was for this, O Bharata, that no dispute ever arose between +them.’” + + + +SECTION CCXV + +(Arjuna-vanavasa Parva) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The Pandavas, having established such a rule, +continued to reside there. By the prowess of their arms they brought many +kings under their sway. And Krishna became obedient unto all the five +sons of Pritha, those lions among men, of immeasurable energy. Like the +river Saraswati decked with elephants, which again take pleasure in that +stream, Draupadi took great delight in her five heroic husbands and they +too took delight in her. And in consequence of the illustrious Pandavas +being exceedingly virtuous in their practice, the whole race of Kurus, +free from sin, and happy, grew in prosperity. + +“After some time, O king, it so happened that certain robbers lifted the +cattle of a Brahmana, and while they were carrying away the booty, the +Brahmana, deprived of his senses by anger, repaired to Khandavaprastha, +and began to reprove the Pandavas in accents of woe. The Brahmana said, +‘Ye Pandavas, from this your dominion, my kine are even now being taken +away by force by despicable and wicked wretches! Pursue ye the thieves. +Alas, the sacrificial butter of a peaceful Brahmana is being taken away +by crows! Alas, the wretched jackal invadeth the empty cave of a lion! A +king that taketh the sixth part of the produce of the land without +protecting the subject, hath been called by the wise to be the most +sinful person in the whole world. The wealth of a Brahmana is being taken +away by robbers! Virtue itself is sustaining a diminution! Take me up by +the hand, ye Pandavas for I am plunged in grief!” + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, heard those +accents of the Brahmana weeping in bitter grief. As soon as he heard +those accents, he loudly assured the Brahmana, saying, ‘No fear!’ But it +so happened that the chamber where the illustrious Pandavas had their +weapons was then occupied by Yudhishthira the just with Krishna. Arjuna, +therefore, was incapable of entering it or, going alone with the +Brahmana, though repeatedly urged (to do either) by the weeping accents +of the Brahmana. Summoned by the Brahmana, Arjuna reflected, with a +sorrowful heart, Alas, this innocent Brahmana’s wealth is being robbed! I +should certainly dry up his tears. He hath come to our gate, and is +weeping even now. If I do not protect him, the king will be touched with +sin in consequence of my indifference; our own irreligiousness will be +cited throughout the kingdom, and we shall incur a great sin. If, +disregarding the king, I enter the chamber, without doubt I shall be +behaving untruthfully towards the monarch without a foe. By entering the +chamber, again, I incur the penalty of an exile in the woods. But I must +overlook everything. I care not if I have to incur sin by disregarding +the king. I care not if I have to go to the woods and die there. Virtue +is superior to the body and lasteth after the body hath perished!’ +Dhananjaya, arriving at this resolution, entered the chamber and talked +with Yudhishthira. Coming out with the bow, he cheerfully told the +Brahmana, ‘Proceed, O Brahmana, with haste, so that those wretched +robbers may not go much ahead of us. I shall accompany thee and restore +unto thee thy wealth that hath fallen into the hands of the thieves.’ +Then Dhananjaya, capable of using both his arms with equal skill, armed +with the bow and cased in mail and riding in his war-chariot decked with +a standard, pursued the thieves, and piercing them with his arrows, +compelled them to give up the booty. Benefiting the Brahmana thus by +making over to him his kine, and winning great renown, the hero returned +to the capital. Bowing unto all the elders, and congratulated by +everybody, Partha at last approached Yudhishthira, and addressing him, +said, ‘Give me leave, O lord, to observe the vow I took. In beholding +thee sitting with Draupadi, I have violated the rule established by +ourselves. I shall therefore go into the woods, for this is even our +understanding.’ Then Yudhishthira, suddenly hearing those painful words, +became afflicted with grief, and said in an agitated voice, ‘Why!’ A +little while after, king Yudhishthira in grief said unto his brother +Dhananjaya of curly hair who never departed from his vows, these words, +‘O sinless one, if I am an authority worthy of regard, listen to what I +say. O hero, full well do I know the reason why thou hadst entered my +chamber and didst what thou regardest to be an act disagreeable to me. +But there is no displeasure in my mind. The younger brother may, without +fault, enter the chamber where the elder brother sitteth with his wife. +It is only the elder brother that acts against the rules of propriety by +entering the room where the younger brother sitteth with his wife. +Therefore, O thou of mighty arms, desist from thy purpose. Do what I say. +Thy virtue hath sustained no diminution. Thou hast not disregarded me.’ + +“Arjuna, hearing this, replied, ‘I have heard, even from thee, that +quibbling is not permitted in the discharge of duty. I cannot waver from +truth. Truth is my weapon.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Obtaining then the king’s permission, Arjuna +prepared himself for a forest-life; and he went to the forest to live +there for twelve years.’” + + + +SECTION CCXVI + +(Arjuna-vanavasa Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘When that spreader of the renown of Kuru’s race, the +strong-armed Arjuna, set out (for the forest), Brahmanas conversant with +the Vedas walked behind that illustrious hero to a certain distance. +Followed by Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas and their branches and +devoted to the contemplation of the Supreme Spirit, by persons skilled in +music, by ascetics devoted to the Deity, by reciters of Puranas, by +narrators of sacred stories by devotees leading celibate lives, by +Vanaprasthas, by Brahmanas sweetly reciting celestial histories, and by +various other classes of persons of sweet speeches, Arjuna journeyed like +Indra followed by the Maruts. And, O thou of Bharata’s race, that bull +among the Bharatas saw, as he journeyed, many delightful and picturesque +forests, lakes, rivers, seas, provinces, and waters. At length, on +arriving at the source of the Ganges the mighty hero thought of settling +there. + +“Listen now, O Janamejaya, to a wonderful feat which that foremost of the +sons of Pandu, of high soul, did, while living there. When that son of +Kunti, O Bharata, and the Brahmanas who had followed him, took up their +residence in that region, the latter performed innumerable Agnihotras +(sacrificial rites by igniting the sacred fire). And, O king, in +consequence of those learned vow-observing, and illustrious Brahmanas, +who never deviated from the right path, daily establishing and igniting +with mantras on the banks of that sacred stream, after the performance of +their ablutions, fires for their sacrifices, and pouring libations of +clarified butter into the same, and worshipping those fires with +offerings of flowers, that region itself where the Ganges entered the +plains became exceedingly beautiful. One day that bull amongst the +Pandavas, while residing in that region in the midst of those Brahmanas, +descended (as usual) into the Ganges to perform his ablutions. After his +ablutions had been over, and after he had offered oblations of water unto +his deceased ancestors, he was about to get up from the stream to perform +his sacrificial rites before the fire, when the mighty-armed hero, O +king, was dragged into the bottom of the water by Ulupi, the daughter of +the king of the Nagas, urged by the god of desire. And it so happened +that the son of Pandu was carried into the beautiful mansion of Kauravya, +the king of the Nagas. Arjuna saw there a sacrificial fire ignited for +himself. Beholding that fire, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti performed his +sacrificial rites with devotion. And Agni was much gratified with Arjuna +for the fearlessness with which that hero had poured libations into his +manifest form. After he had thus performed his rites before the fire, the +son of Kunti, beholding the daughter of the king of the Nagas, addressed +her smilingly and said, ‘O handsome girl, what an act of rashness hast +thou done. O timid one! Whose is this beautiful region, who art thou and +whose daughter?’ + +“Hearing these words of Arjuna, Ulupi answered, ‘There is a Naga of the +name of Kauravya, born in the line of Airavata. I am, O prince, the +daughter of that Kauravya, and my name is Ulupi. O tiger among men, +beholding thee descend into the stream to perform thy ablutions, I was +deprived of reason by the god of desire. O sinless one, I am still +unmarried. Afflicted as I am by the god of desire on account of thee, O +thou of Kuru’s race, gratify me today by giving thyself up to me.’ + +“Arjuna replied, ‘Commanded by king Yudhishthira, O amiable one, I am +undergoing the vow of Brahmacharin for twelve years. I am not free to act +in any way I like. But, O ranger of the waters, I am still willing to do +thy pleasure (if I can). I have never spoken an untruth in my life. Tell +me, therefore, O Naga maid, how I may act so that, while doing thy +pleasure, I may not be guilty of any untruth or breach of duty.’ + +“Ulupi answered, ‘I know, O son of Pandu, why thou wanderest over the +earth, and why thou hast been commanded to lead the life of a +Brahmacharin by the superior. Even this was the understanding to which +all of you had been pledged, viz., that amongst you all owning Drupada’s +daughter as your common wife, he who would from ignorance enter the room +where one of you would be sitting with her, should lead the life of a +Brahmacharin in the woods for twelve years. The exile of any one amongst +you, therefore, is only for the sake of Draupadi. Thou art but observing +the duty arising from that vow. Thy virtue cannot sustain any diminution +(by acceding to my solicitation). Then again, O thou of large eyes, it is +a duty to relieve the distressed. Thy virtue suffereth no diminution by +relieving me. Oh, if (by this act), O Arjuna, thy virtue doth suffer a +small diminution, thou wilt acquire great merit by saving my life. Know +me for thy worshipper, O Partha! Therefore, yield thyself up to me! Even +this, O lord, is the opinion of the wise (viz., that one should accept a +woman that wooeth). If thou do not act in this way, know that I will +destroy myself. O thou of mighty arms, earn great merit by saving my +life. I seek thy shelter, O best of men! Thou protectest always, O son of +Kunti, the afflicted and the masterless. I seek thy protection, weeping +in sorrow. I woo thee, being filled with desire. Therefore, do what is +agreeable to me. It behoveth thee to gratify my wish by yielding thy self +up to me.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by the daughter of the king of the +Nagas, the son of Kunti did everything she desired, making virtue his +motive. The mighty Arjuna, spending the night in the mansion of the Naga +rose with the sun in the morning. Accompanied by Ulupi he came back from +the palace of Kauravya to the region where the Ganges entereth the +plains. The chaste Ulupi, taking her leave there, returned to her own +abode. And, O Bharata, she granted unto Arjuna a boon making him +invincible in water, saying, ‘Every amphibious creature shall, without +doubt, be vanquishable by thee.’” + + + +SECTION CCXVII + +(Arjuna-vanavasa Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then the son of the wielder of the thunderbolt +narrated everything unto those Brahmanas (residing with him there), set +out for the breast of Himavat. Arriving at the spot called Agastyavata, +he next went to Vasishtha’s peak. Thence the son of Kunti proceeded to +the peak of Bhrigu. Purifying himself with ablutions and other rites +there, that foremost of the Kurus gave away unto Brahmanas many thousands +of cows and many houses. Thence that best of men proceeded to the sacred +asylum called Hiranyavindu. Performing his ablutions there, that foremost +of the sons of Pandu saw many holy regions. Descending from those heights +that chief of men, O Bharata, accompanied by the Brahmanas, journeyed +towards the east, desiring to behold the regions that lay in that +direction. That foremost one of Kuru’s race saw many regions of sacred +waters one after another. And beholding in the forest of Naimisha the +delightful river Utpalini (full of lotuses) and the Nanda and the Apara +Nanda, the far-famed Kausiki, and the mighty rivers Gaya and Ganga, and +all the regions of sacred water, he purified himself, O Bharata, (with +the usual rites), and gave away many cows unto Brahmanas. Whatever +regions of sacred waters and whatever other holy palaces there were in +Vanga and Kalinga, Arjuna visited all of them. Seeing them all and +performing proper ceremonies, he gave away much wealth. Then, O Bharata, +all those Brahmanas following the son of Pandu, bade him farewell at the +gate of the kingdom of Kalinga and desisted from proceeding with him any +further. The brave Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, obtaining their leave, +went towards the ocean, accompanied by only a few attendants. Crossing +the country of the Kalingas, the mighty one proceeded, seeing on his way +diverse countries and sacred spots and diverse delightful mansions and +houses. Beholding the Mahendra mountain adorned with the ascetics +(residing there), he went to Manipura, proceeding slowly along the +sea-shore. Beholding all the sacred waters and other holy places in that +province, the strong-armed son of Pandu at last went, O king, to the +virtuous Chitravahana, the ruler of Manipura. The king of Manipura had a +daughter of great beauty named Chitrangada. And it so happened that +Arjuna beheld her in her father’s palace roving at pleasure. Beholding +the handsome daughter of Chitravahana, Arjuna desired to possess her. +Going unto the king (her father), he represented unto him what he sought. +He said. ‘Give away unto me thy daughter, O king! I am an illustrious +Kshatriya’s son.’ Hearing this, the king asked him, ‘Whose son art thou?’ +Arjuna replied, ‘I am Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu and Kunti.’ The king, +hearing this, spoke unto him these words in sweet accents, ‘There was in +our race a king of the name of Prabhanjana, who was childless. To obtain +a child, he underwent severe ascetic penances. By his severe asceticism, +O Partha, he gratified that god of gods, Mahadeva, the husband of Uma, +that supreme Lord holding (the mighty bow called) Pinaka. The illustrious +Lord granted him the boon that each successive descendant of his race +should have one child only. In consequence of that boon only one child is +born unto every successive descendant of this race. All my ancestors (one +after another) had each a male child. I, however, have only a daughter to +perpetuate my race. But, O bull amongst men, I ever look upon this +daughter of mine as my son. O bull of Bharata’s race, I have duly made +her a Putrika. Therefore, one amongst the sons that may be begotten upon +her by thee, O Bharata, shall be the perpetuator of my race. That son is +the dower for which I may give away my daughter. O son of Pandu, if them +choosest, thou canst take her upon this understanding.’ Hearing these +words of the king, Arjuna accepted them all, saying, ‘So be it.’ Taking +Chitravahana’s daughter (as his wife), the son of Kunti resided in that +city for three years. When Chitrangada at last gave birth to a son, +Arjuna embraced that handsome princess affectionately. And taking leave +of the king (her father), he set out on his wanderings again.’” + + + +SECTION CCXVIII + +(Arjuna-vanavasa Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then that bull of Bharata’s race went to the sacred +waters on the banks of the southern ocean, all adorned with the ascetics +residing there. And there lay scattered five such regions where also +dwelt many ascetics. But those five waters themselves were shunned by all +of them. Those sacred waters were called Agastya, and Saubhadra and +Pauloma of great holiness, and Karandhama of great propitiousness +yielding the fruits of a horse-sacrifice unto those that bathed there, +and Bharadwaja, that great washer of sins. That foremost one among the +Kurus, beholding those five sacred waters, and finding them uninhabited, +and ascertaining also that they were shunned by the virtuous ascetics +dwelling around, asked those pious men with joined hands, saying, ‘Why O +ascetics, are these five sacred waters shunned by utterers of Brahma?’ +Hearing him, the ascetics replied, ‘There dwell in these waters five +large crocodiles which take away the ascetics that may happen to bathe in +them. It is for this, O son of Kuru’s race, that these waters are +shunned.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of the ascetics, that +foremost of men endued with mighty arms, though dissuaded by them went to +behold those waters. Arrived at the excellent sacred water called +Saubhadra after a great Rishi, the brave scorcher of all foes suddenly +plunged into it to have a bath. As soon as that tiger among men had +plunged into the water a great crocodile (that was in it) seized him by +the leg. But the strong-armed Dhananjaya the son of Kunti, that foremost +of all men endued with might, seized that struggling ranger of the water +and dragged it forcibly to the shore. But dragged by the renowned Arjuna +to the land, that crocodile became (transformed into) a beautiful damsel +bedecked with ornament. O king, that charming damsel of celestial form +seemed to shine for her beauty and complexion. Dhananjaya, the son of +Kunti, beholding that strange sight, asked that damsel with a pleased +heart, ‘Who art thou, O beautiful one? Why hast thou been a ranger of the +waters? Why also didst thou commit such a dreadful sin?’ The damsel +replied, saying, ‘I am, O mighty-armed one, an Apsara that sported in the +celestial woods. I am, O mighty one, Varga by name, and ever dear unto +the celestial treasurer (Kuvera). I have four other companions, all +handsome and capable of going everywhere at will. Accompanied by them I +was one day going to the abode of Kuvera. On the way we beheld a Brahmana +of rigid vows, and exceedingly handsome, studying the Vedas in solitude. +The whole forest (in which he was sitting) seemed to be covered with his +ascetic splendour. He seemed to have illuminated the whole region like +the Sun himself. Beholding his ascetic devotion of that nature and his +wonderful beauty, we alighted in that region, in order to disturb his +meditations. Myself and Saurabheyi and Samichi and Vudvuda and Lata, +approached that Brahmana, O Bharata, at the same time. We began to sing +and smile and otherwise tempt that Brahmana. But, O hero, that Brahmana +(youth) set not his heart even once upon us. His mind fixed on pure +meditation, that youth of great energy suffered not his heart to waver, O +bull among Kshatriyas, the glance he cast upon us was one of wrath. And +he said, staring at us, ‘Becoming crocodiles, range ye the waters for a +hundred years.’” + + + +SECTION CCXIX + +(Arjuna-vanavasa Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Varga continued, ‘We were then, O foremost one of +Bharata’s race, deeply distressed at this curse. We sought to propitiate +that Brahmana of ascetic wealth that departed not from his vow. +Addressing him, we said, ‘Inflated with a sense of our beauty and youth, +and urged by the god of desire, we have acted very improperly. It +behoveth thee, O Brahmana, to pardon us! Truly, O Brahmana, it was death +to us that we had at all come hither to tempt thee of rigid vows and +ascetic wealth. The virtuous, however, have said that women should never +be slain. Therefore grow thou in virtue. It behoveth thee not to slay us +so. O thou that art conversant with virtue, it hath been said that a +Brahmana is ever the friend of every creature. O thou of great +prosperity, let this speech of the wise become true. The eminent always +protect those that seek protection at their hands. We seek thy +protection. It behoveth thee to grant us pardon.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed, that Brahmana of virtuous soul +and good deeds and equal in splendour, O hero, unto the sun or the moon, +became propitious unto them. And the Brahmana said, ‘The words hundred +and hundred thousand are all indicative of eternity. The word hundred, +however, as employed by me is to be understood as a limited period and +not indicative of a period without end. Ye shall, therefore, becoming +crocodiles, seize and take away men (for only a hundred years as +explained by me). At the end of that period, an exalted individual will +drag you all from water to the land. Then ye will resume your real forms. +Never have I spoken an untruth even in jest. Therefore, all that I have +said must come to pass. And those sacred waters (within which I assign +you your places), will, after you will have been delivered by that +individual, become known all over the world by the name of Nari-tirthas +(or sacred waters connected with the sufferings and the deliverance of +females), and all of them shall become sacred and sin cleansing in the +eyes of the virtuous and the wise.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Varga then addressing Arjuna, finished her +discourse, saying, ‘Hearing these words of the Brahmana, we saluted him +with reverence and walked round him. Leaving that region we came away +with heavy hearts, thinking as we proceeded, ‘Where shall we all soon +meet with that man who will give us back our own shapes (after our +transformation)?’ As we were thinking of it, in almost a moment, O +Bharata, we beheld even the eminent celestial Rishi Narada. Beholding +that Rishi of immeasurable energy, our hearts were filled with joy. +Saluting him with reverence, O Partha, we stood before him, with blushing +faces. He asked of us the cause of our sorrow and we told him all. +Hearing what had happened the Rishi said, ‘In the low-lands bordering on +the southern ocean, there are five regions of sacred water. They are +delightful and eminently holy. Go ye thither without delay. That tiger +among men, Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu of pure soul, will soon deliver +you, without doubt, from this sad plight.’ O hero, hearing the Rishi’s +words, all of us came hither. O sinless one, true it is that I have today +been delivered by thee. But those four friends of mine are still within +the other waters here. O hero, do a good deed by delivering them also.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then, O monarch, that foremost of the Pandavas, +endued with great prowess, cheerfully delivered all of them from that +curse. Rising from the waters they all regained their own forms. Those +Apsaras then, O king, all looked as before. Freeing those sacred waters +(from the danger for which they had been notorious), and giving the +Apsaras leave to go where they chose, Arjuna became desirous of once more +beholding Chitrangada. He, therefore, proceeded towards the city of +Manipura. Arrived there, he beheld on the throne the son he had begotten +upon Chitrangada, and who was called by the name of Vabhruvahana. Seeing +Chitrangada once more, Arjuna proceeded, O monarch, towards the spot +called Gokarna.’” + + + +SECTION CCXX + +(Arjuna-vanavasa Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Arjuna of immeasurable prowess saw, one after +another, all the sacred waters and other holy places that were on the +shores of the western ocean. Vibhatsu reached the sacred spot called +Prabhasa. When the invisible Arjuna arrived at that sacred and delightful +region, the slayer of Madhu (Krishna) heard of it. Madhava soon went +there to see his friend, the son of Kunti. Krishna and Arjuna met +together and embracing each other enquired after each other’s welfare. +Those dear friends, who were none else than the Rishis Nara and Narayana +of old, sat down. Vasudeva asked Arjuna about his travels, saying, ‘Why, +O Pandava art thou wandering over the earth, beholding all the sacred +waters and other holy places?’ Then Arjuna told him everything that had +happened. Hearing everything, that mighty hero of Vrishni’s race said, +‘This is as it should be.’ And Krishna and Arjuna having sported as they +liked, for some time at Prabhasa, went to the Raivataka mountain to pass +some days there. Before they arrived at Raivataka, that mountain had, at +the command of Krishna been well-adorned by many artificers. Much food +also had, at Krishna’s command, been collected there. Enjoying everything +that had been collected there for him, Arjuna sat with Vasudeva to see +the performances of the actors and the dancers. Then the high-souled +Pandava, dismissing them all with proper respect, laid himself down on a +well-adorned and excellent bed. As the strong-armed one lay on that +excellent bed, he described unto Krishna everything about the sacred +waters, the lakes and the mountains, the rivers and the forests he had +seen. While he was speaking of these, stretched upon that celestial bed, +sleep, O Janamejaya, stole upon him. He rose in the morning, awakened, by +sweet songs and melodious notes of the Vina (guitar) and the panegyrics +and benedictions of the bards. After he had gone through the necessary +acts and ceremonies, he was affectionately accosted by him of the Vrishni +race. Riding upon a golden car, the hero then set out for Dwaraka, the +capital of the Yadavas. And, O Janamejaya, for honouring the son of +Kunti, the city of Dwaraka, was well-adorned, even all the gardens and +houses within it. The citizens of Dwaraka, desirous of beholding the son +of Kunti, began to pour eagerly into the public thoroughfares by hundreds +of thousands. In the public squares and thoroughfares, hundreds and +thousands of women, mixing with the men, swelled the great crowd of the +Bhojas, the Vrishnis, and the Andhakas, that had collected there. Arjuna +was welcomed with respect by all the sons of Bhojas, the Vrishnis, and +the Andhakas. And he, in his turn, worshipped those that deserved his +worship, receiving their blessings. The hero was welcomed with +affectionate reception by all the young men of the Yadava tribe. He +repeatedly embraced all that were equal to him in age. Wending then to +the delightful mansion of Krishna that was filled with gems and every +article of enjoyment, he took up his abode there with Krishna for many +days.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXI + +(Subhadra-harana Parva) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O best of monarchs, within a few days after this, +there commenced on the Raivataka mountain, a grand festival of the +Vrishnis and the Andhakas. At the mountain-festival of the Bhojas, the +Vrishnis and the Andhakas, the heroes of those tribes began to give away +much wealth unto Brahmanas by thousands. The region around that hill, O +king was adorned with many a mansion decked with gems and many an +artificial tree of gaudy hue. The musicians struck up in concert and the +dancers began to dance and the vocalists to sing. And the youth of the +Vrishni race, endued with great energy, adorned with every ornament, and +riding in their gold-decked cars, looked extremely handsome. The +citizens, some on foot and some in excellent cars, with their wives and +followers were there by hundreds and thousands. And there was the lord +Haladhara (Valarama), roving at will, hilarious with drink, accompanied +by (his wife) Revati, and followed by many musicians and vocalists. There +came Ugrasena also, the powerful king of he Vrishni race, accompanied by +his thousand wives and followed by sweet singers. And Raukmineya and +Shamva also, ever furious in battle, roved there, excited with drink and +adorned with floral wreaths of great beauty and with costly attires, and +disported themselves like a pair of celestials. And Akrura and Sarana and +Gada, and Vabhru, and Nisatha, and Charudeshna, and Prithu, Viprithu, and +Satyaka, and Satyaki, and Bhangakara, and Maharava, and Hardikya, and +Uddhava, and many others whose names are not given, accompanied by their +wives that followed by bands of singers, adorned that mountain-festival. +When that delightful festival of immense grandeur commenced, Vasudeva and +Partha went about, together, beholding everything around. While wandering +there, they saw the handsome daughter of Vasudeva, Bhadra by name, decked +with every ornament, in the midst of her maids. As soon as Arjuna beheld +her he was possessed by the god of desire. Then, O Bharata, that tiger +among men, Krishna, observing Partha contemplate her with absorbed +attention, said with a smile, ‘How is this? Can the heart of one that +rangeth the woods be agitated by the god of desire? This is my sister, O +Partha, and the uterine sister of Sarana. Blest be thou, her name is +Bhadra and she is the favourite daughter of my father. Tell me if thy +heart is fixed upon her, for I shall then speak to my father myself.’ + +“Arjuna answered, ‘She is Vasudeva’s daughter and Vasudeva’s (Krishna) +sister; endued with so much beauty, whom can she not fascinate? If this +thy sister, this maid of the Vrishni race, becometh my wife, truly may I +win prosperity in everything. Tell me, O Janardana, by what means I may +obtain her. To get her I will achieve anything that is achievable by man.’ + +“Vasudeva answered, ‘O bull amongst men, self-choice hath been ordained +for the marriage of Kshatriyas. But that is doubtful (in its +consequences), O Partha, as we do not know this girl’s temper and +disposition. In the case of Kshatriyas that are brave, a forcible +abduction for purposes of marriage is applauded, as the learned have +said. Therefore O Arjuna, carry away this my beautiful sister by force, +for who knows what she may do at a self-choice.’ Then Krishna and Arjuna, +having thus settled as to what should be done sent some speedy messengers +unto Yudhishthira at Indraprastha, informing him of everything. The +strong-armed Yudhishthira, as soon as he heard it, gave his assent to +it.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXII + +(Subhadra-harana Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Dhananjaya, informed of the assent of +Yudhishthira, and ascertaining, O Janamejaya, that the maiden had gone to +the Raivataka hill, obtained the assent of Vasudeva also, after having +settled in consultation with him all that required to be done. Then that +bull of Bharata’s race, that foremost of men, with Krishna’s assent, +riding in his well-built car of gold equipped with rows of small bells +and with every kind of weapon and the clatter of whose wheels resembled +the roar of the clouds and whose splendour was like unto that of a +blazing fire and which struck terror into the hearts of all foes and unto +which were yoked the steeds Saivya and Sugriva, himself accoutred in mail +and armed with sword and his fingers encased in leathern gloves, set out, +as it were, on a hunting expedition. Meanwhile Subhadra, having paid her +homage unto that prince of hills, Raivataka and having worshipped the +deities and made the Brahmanas utter benedictions upon her, and having +also walked round the hill, was coming towards Dwaravati. The son of +Kunti, afflicted with the shafts of the god of desire, suddenly rushed +towards that Yadava girl of faultless features and forcibly took her into +his car. Having seized that girl of sweet smiles, that tiger among men +proceeded in his car of gold towards his own city (Indraprastha). +Meanwhile, the armed attendants of Subhadra, beholding her thus seized +and taken away, all ran, crying towards the city of Dwaraka. Reaching all +together the Yadava court called by the name of Sudharma, they +represented everything about the prowess of Partha unto the chief officer +of the court. The chief officer of the court, having heard everything +from those messengers, blew his gold-decked trumpet of loud blare, +calling all to arms. Stirred up by that sound, the Bhojas, the Vrishnis, +and the Andhakas began to pour in from all sides. Those that were eating +left their food, and those that were drinking left their drink. Those +tigers among men, those great warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka +tribes, took their seats upon their thousand thrones of gold covered with +excellent carpets and variegated with gems and corals and possessed of +the lustre of blazing fire. Indeed they took their seats upon those +thrones, like blazing fires receiving faggots to increase their +splendour. And after they were seated in that court which was like unto a +conclave of the celestials themselves, the chief officer of the court, +assisted by those that stood at his back, spoke of the conduct of Jishnu. +The proud Vrishni heroes, of eyes red with wine, as soon as they heard of +it, rose up from their seats, unable to brook what Arjuna had done. Some +amongst them said, ‘Yoke our cars’, and some, ‘Bring our weapons’ and +some said, ‘Bring our costly bows and strong coats of mail; and some +loudly called upon their charioteers to harness their cars, and some, +from impatience, themselves yoked their horses decked with gold unto +their cars. And while their cars and armours and standards were being +brought, loud became the uproar of those heroes. Then Valadeva, white and +tall as the peak of Kailasa, decked with garlands of wild flowers and +attired in blue robes, and proud and intoxicated with drink, said these +words: + +‘Ye senseless men, what are ye doing, when Janardana sitteth silent? +Without knowing what is in his mind, vainly do we roar in wrath! Let the +high-souled Krishna give out what he proposeth. Accomplish promptly what +he desireth to do.’ Then all of them, hearing those words of Halayudha +that deserved to be accepted, exclaimed, ‘Excellent! Excellent!’ They +then all became silent. Silence having been restored by the words of the +intelligent Valadeva, they took their seats once more in that assembly. +Then Rama, that oppressor of foes, spoke unto Vasudeva, saying, ‘Why, O +Janardana, sittest thou, gazing silently? O Achyuta, it was for thy sake +that the son of Pritha had been welcomed and honoured by us. It seemeth, +however, that that vile wretch deserved not our homage. What man is there +born of a respectable family that would break the plate after having +dined from it! Even if one desireth to make such an alliance, yet +remembering all the services he hath received, who is there, desirous of +happiness, that acts so rashly? That Pandava disregarding us and thee too +hath today outraged Subhadra, desiring (to compass) his own death. He +hath placed his foot on the crown of my head. How shall I, O Govinda, +tamely bear it? Shall I not resent it, even like a snake that is trodden +upon? Alone shall I today make the earth destitute of Kauravas! Never +shall I put up with this transgression by Arjuna.’ Then all the Bhojas, +Vrishnis, and Andhakas, present there, approved of everything that +Valadeva had said, deeply roaring like unto a kettle-drum or the clouds.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXIII + +(Haranaharana Parva) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘When the heroes of the Vrishni race began to speak +repeatedly in this strain, Vasudeva uttered these words pregnant with +deep import and consistent with true morality. Gudakesa (the conqueror of +sleep or he of the curly hair), by what he hath done, hath not insulted +our family. He hath without doubt, rather enhanced our respect. Partha +knoweth that we of the Satwata race are never mercenary. The son of Pandu +also regardeth a self-choice as doubtful in its results. Who also would +approve of accepting a bride in gift as if she were an animal? What man +again is there on earth that would sell his offspring? I think Arjuna, +seeing these faults in all the other methods took the maiden away by +force, according to the ordinance. This alliance is very proper. Subhadra +is a renowned girl. Partha too possesseth renown. Perhaps, thinking of +all this, Arjuna hath taken her away by force. Who is there that would +not desire to have Arjuna for a friend, who is born in the race of +Bharata and the renowned Santanu, and the son also of the daughter of +Kuntibhoja? I do not see, in all the worlds with Indra and the Rudras, +the person that can by force vanquish Partha in battle, except the +three-eyed god Mahadeva. His car is well-known. Yoked thereunto are those +steeds of mine. Partha as a warrior is well-known; and his lightness of +hand is well-known. Who shall be equal to him? Even this is my opinion: +go ye cheerfully after Dhananjaya and by conciliation stop him and bring +him back. If Partha goes to his city after having vanquished us by force, +our fame will be gone. There is no disgrace, however, in conciliation.’ +Hearing, O monarch, those words of Vasudeva, they did as he directed. +Stopped by them, Arjuna returned to Dwaraka and was united in marriage +with Subhadra. Worshipped by the sons of Vrishni’s race, Arjuna, sporting +there as he pleased, passed a whole year in Dwaraka. The last year of his +exile the exalted one passed at the sacred region of Pushkara. After the +twelve years were complete he came back to Khandavaprastha. He approached +the king first and then worshipped the Brahmanas with respectful +attention. At last the hero went unto Draupadi. Draupadi, from jealousy, +spoke unto him, saying, ‘Why tarriest thou here, O son of Kunti? Go where +the daughter of the Satwata race is! A second tie always relaxeth the +first one upon a faggot!’ And Krishna lamented much in this strain. But +Dhananjaya pacified her repeatedly and asked for her forgiveness. And +returning soon unto where Subhadra, attired in red silk, was staying, +Arjuna, sent her into the inner apartments dressed not as a queen but in +the simple garb of a cowherd woman. But arrived at the palace, the +renowned Subhadra looked handsomer in that dress. The celebrated Bhadra +of large and slightly red eyes first worshipped Pritha. Kunti from excess +of affection smelt the head of that girl of perfectly faultless features, +and pronounced infinite blessing upon her. Then that girl of face like +the full moon hastily went unto Draupadi and worshipped her, saying, ‘I +am thy maid!’ Krishna rose hastily and embraced the sister of Madhava +from affection, and said, ‘Let thy husband be without a foe!’ Bhadra +then, with a delighted heart, said unto Draupadi, ‘So be it!’ From that +time, O Janamejaya, those great warriors, the Pandavas, began to live +happily, and Kunti also became very happy.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘When that scorcher of foes, viz., Kesava of +pure soul and eyes, like lotus-petals, heard that the foremost of the +Pandavas, viz., Arjuna, had reached his own excellent city of +Indraprastha, he came thither accompanied by Rama and the other heroes +and great warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka tribes, and by his +brothers and sons and many other brave warriors. And Saurin came +accompanied by a large army that protected him. And there came with +Saurin, that oppressor of foes, viz., the exceedingly liberal Akrura of +great intelligence and renown, the generalissimo of the brave Vrishni +host. And there also came Anadhrishti of great prowess, and Uddhava of +great renown, of great intelligence, of great soul, and a disciple of +Vrihaspati himself. And there also came Satyaka and Salyaka and +Kritavarman and Satwata; and Pradyumna and Samva and Nisatha and Sanku; +and Charudeshna, and Jhilli of great prowess, and Viprithu also and +Sarana of mighty arms and Gada, the foremost of learned men. These and +many other Vrishnis and Bhojas, and Andhakas came to Indraprastha, +bringing with them many nuptial presents. King Yudhishthira, hearing that +Madhava had arrived, sent the twins out to receive him. Received by them, +the Vrishni host of great prosperity entered Khandavaprastha well-adorned +with flags and ensigns. The streets were well-swept and watered and +decked with floral wreaths and bunches. These were, again, sprinkled over +with sandalwood water that was fragrant and cooling. Every part of the +town was filled with the sweet scent of burning aloes. And the city was +full of joyous and healthy people and adorned with merchants and traders. +That best of men, viz., Kesava of mighty arms, accompanied by Rama and +many of the Vrishnis, Andhakas and Bhojas, having entered the town, was +worshipped by the citizens and Brahmanas by thousands. At last Kesava +entered the palace of the king which was like unto the mansion of Indra +himself. Beholding Rama, Yudhishthira received him with due ceremonies. +The king smelt the head of Kesava and embraced him. Govinda, gratified +with the reception, humbly worshipped Yudhishthira. He also paid homage +unto Bhima, that tiger among men. Yudhishthira the son of Kunti then +received the other principal men of the Vrishni and the Andhaka tribes +with due ceremonies. Yudhishthira reverentially worshipped some as his +superiors, and welcomed others as equals. And some he received with +affection and by some he was worshipped with reverence. Then Hrishikesa +of great renown gave unto the party of the bridegroom much wealth. And +unto Subhadra he gave the nuptial presents that had been given to her by +her relatives. Krishna gave unto the Pandavas a thousand cars of gold +furnished with rows of bells, and unto each of which were put four steeds +driven by well-trained charioteers. He also gave unto them ten thousand +cows belonging to the country of Mathura, and yielding much milk and all +of excellent colour. Well-pleased, Janardana also gave them a thousand +mares with gold harnesses and of colour white as the beams of the moon. +He also gave them a thousand mules, all well-trained and possessing the +speed of the wind, of white colour with black manes. And he of eyes like +lotus-petals also gave unto them a thousand damsels well-skilled in +assisting at bathing and at drinking, young in years and virgins all +before their first-season, well-attired and of excellent complexion, each +wearing a hundred pieces of gold around her neck, of skins perfectly +polished, decked with every ornament, and well-skilled in every kind of +personal service. Janardana also gave unto them hundreds of thousands of +draft horses from the country of the Valhikas as Subhadra’s excellent +dower. That foremost one of Dasarha’s race also gave unto Subhadra as her +peculium ten carrier-loads of first class gold possessing the splendour +of fire, some purified and some in a state of ore. And Rama having the +plough for his weapon and always loving bravery gave unto Arjuna, as a +nuptial present, a thousand elephants with secretions flowing in three +streams from the three parts of their bodies (the temple, the ears, and +the anus) each large as a mountain summit, irresistible in battle, decked +with coverlets and bells, well-adorned with other golden ornaments, and +equipped with excellent thrones on their backs. And that large wave of +wealth and gems that the Yadavas presented, together with the cloths and +blankets that represented its foam, and the elephants its alligators and +sharks, and the flags its floating weeds swelling into large proportions, +mingled with the Pandu ocean and filled it to the brim, to the great +sorrow of all foes. Yudhishthira accepted all those presents and +worshipped all those great warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka races. +Those illustrious heroes of the Kuru, the Vrishni, and the Andhaka races +passed their days in pleasure and merriment there like virtuous men +(after death) in the celestial regions. The Kurus and the Vrishnis with +joyous hearts amused themselves there, setting up at times loud shouts +mingled with clappings of the hand. Spending many days in sports and +merriment there, and worshipped by the Kurus all the while, the Vrishni +heroes endued with great energy then returned to the city of Dwaravati. +And the great warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka races set out with +Rama in the van, carrying with them those gems of the purest rays that +had been given them by those foremost ones of Kuru’s race. And, O +Bharata, the high-souled Vasudeva remained there with Arjuna in the +delightful city of Indraprastha. And the illustrious one wandered over +the banks of the Yamuna in search of deer. And he sported with Arjuna +piercing with his shafts deer and wild boars. Then Subhadra, the +favourite sister of Kesava, gave birth to an illustrious son, like +Puloma’s daughter, (the queen of heaven) bringing forth Jayanta. And the +son that Subhadra brought forth was of long arms, broad chest, and eyes +as large as those of a bull. That hero and oppressor of foes came to be +called Abhimanyu. And the son of Arjuna, that grinder of foes and bull +among men, was called Abhimanyu because he was fearless and wrathful. And +that great warrior was begotten upon the daughter of the Satwata race by +Dhananjaya, like fire produced in a sacrifice from within the sami wood +by the process of rubbing. Upon the birth of this child, Yudhishthira, +the powerful son of Kunti, gave away unto Brahmanas ten thousand cows and +coins of gold. The child from his earliest years became the favourite of +Vasudeva and of his father and uncles, like the moon of all the people of +the world. Upon his birth, Krishna performed the usual rites of infancy. +The child began to grow up like the Moon of the bright fortnight. That +grinder of foes soon became conversant with the Vedas and acquired from +his father the science of weapon both celestial and human, consisting of +four branches and ten divisions. + +“Endued with great strength, the child also acquired the knowledge of +counteracting the weapons hurled at him by others, and great lightness of +hand and fleetness of motion forward and backward and transverse and +wheeling. Abhimanyu became like unto his father in knowledge of the +scriptures and rites of religion. And Dhananjaya, beholding his son, +became filled with joy. Like Maghavat beholding Arjuna, the latter beheld +his son Abhimanyu and became exceedingly happy. Abhimanyu possessed the +power of slaying every foe and bore on his person every auspicious mark. +He was invisible in battle and broad-shouldered as the bull. Possessing a +broad face as (the hood of) the snake, he was proud like the lion. +Wielding a large bow, his prowess was like that of an elephant in rut. +Possessed of a face handsome as the full-moon, and of a voice deep as the +sound of the drum or the clouds, he was equal unto Krishna in bravery and +energy, in beauty and in features. The auspicious Panchali also, from her +five husbands, obtained five sons all of whom were heroes of the foremost +rank and immovable in battle like the hills. Prativindhya by +Yudhishthira, Sutasoma by Vrikodara, Srutakarman by Arjuna, Satanika by +Nakula, and Srutasena by Sahadeva,--these were the five heroes and great +warriors that Panchali brought forth, like Aditi bringing forth the +Adityas. And the Brahmanas, from their foreknowledge, said unto +Yudhishthira that as the son of his would be capable of bearing like the +Vindhya mountains the weapons of the foe, he should be called +Prativindhya. And because the child that Draupadi bore to Bhimasena was +born after Bhima had performed a thousand Soma sacrifices, he came to be +called Sutasoma. And because Arjuna’s son was born upon his return from +exile during which he had achieved many celebrated feats, that child came +to be called Srutakarman. While Nakula named his son Satanika after a +royal sage of that name, in the illustrious race of Kuru. Again the son +that Draupadi bore to Sahadeva was born under the constellation called +Vahni-daivata (Krittika), therefore was he called after the generalissimo +of the celestial host, Srutasena (Kartikeya). The sons of Draupadi were +born, each at the interval of one year, and all of them became renowned +and much attached to one another. And, O monarch, all their rites of +infancy and childhood, such as Chudakarana and Upanayana (first shave of +the head and investiture with the sacred threads) were performed by +Dhaumya according to the ordinance. All of them, of excellent behaviour +and vows, after having studied the Vedas, acquired from Arjuna a +knowledge of all the weapons, celestial and human. And, O tiger among +kings, the Pandavas, having obtained sons all of whom were equal unto the +children of the celestials and endued with broad chests, and all of whom +became great warriors, were filled with joy.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXIV + +(Khandava-daha Parva) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The Pandavas, after they had taken up their abode at +Indraprastha at the command of Dhritarashtra and Bhishma began to bring +other kings under their sway. All the subjects (of the kingdom) lived +most happily depending upon Yudhishthira the just, like a soul living +happily depending upon a body blest with auspicious marks and pious +deeds. And, O bull in Bharata’s race, Yudhishthira paid homage unto +virtue, pleasure, and profit, in judicious proportion, as if each were a +friend dear unto him as his own self. It seemed as if the three +pursuits--virtue, pleasure, and profit--became personified on earth, and +amongst them the king shone as a fourth. The subjects having obtained +Yudhishthira as their king, obtained in their monarch one that was +devoted to the study of the Vedas, one that was performer of the great +sacrifices, and one that was protector of all good people. In consequence +of Yudhishthira’s influence, the good fortune of all the monarchs of the +earth became stationary, and their hearts became devoted to the +meditation of the Supreme Spirit, and virtue itself began to grow every +way all round. And in the midst of and assisted by his four brothers, the +king looked more resplendent (than he would have done if he were alone), +like a great sacrifice depending upon and assisted by the four Vedas. +Many learned Brahmanas with Dhananjaya at their head, each like unto +Vrihaspati, waited upon the monarch, like the celestials waiting upon the +Lord of the creation. From excess of affection, the eyes and hearts of +all the people equally took great delight in Yudhishthira who was even as +the full moon without a stain. The people took delight in him not only +because he was their king but also from sincere affection. The king +always did what was agreeable to them. The sweet-speeched Yudhishthira of +great intelligence never uttered anything that was improper or untrue or +unbearable or disagreeable. The best of monarchs of the Bharata race, +endued with great energy, passed his days happily for the welfare of all +as his own. His brothers also bringing by their energy other kings under +their sway, passed their days in happiness, without a foe to disturb +their peace. + +“After a few days, Vibhatsu, addressing Krishna, said, ‘The summer days +have set in, O Krishna! Therefore, let us go to the banks of the Yamuna. +O slayer of Madhu, sporting there in the company of friends, we will, O +Janardana, return in the evening’. Thereupon Vasudeva said, ‘O son of +Kunti, this is also my wish. Let us, O Partha, sport in the waters as we +please, in the company of friends.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then, O Bharata, having consulted thus with +each other, Partha and Govinda, with Yudhishthira’s leave, set out, +surrounded by friends. Reaching a fine spot (on the banks of the Yamuna) +suitable for purposes of pleasure, overgrown with numerous tall trees and +covered with several high mansions that made the place look like the +celestial city and within which had been collected for Krishna and Partha +numerous costly and well-flavoured viands and drinks and other articles +of enjoyment and floral wreaths and various perfumes, the party entered +without delay the inner apartments adorned with many precious gems of +pure rays. Entering those apartments, everybody, O Bharata, began to +sport, according to his pleasure. The women of the party, all of full +rotund hips and deep bosoms and handsome eyes, and gait unsteady with +wine began to sport there at the command of Krishna and Partha. Some +amongst the women sported as they liked in the woods, some in the waters, +and some within the mansions, as directed by Partha and Govinda. Draupadi +and Subhadra, exhilarated with wine, began to give away unto the women so +sporting, their costly robes and ornaments. And some amongst those women +began to dance in joy, and some began to sing; and some amongst them +began to laugh and jest, and some to drink excellent wines. Some began to +obstruct one another’s progress and some to fight with one another, and +to discourse with one another in private. Those mansions and the woods, +filled with the charming music of flutes and guitars and kettledrums, +became the scene of Prosperity personified. + +“When such was the state of things there, Arjuna and Vasudeva went to a +certain charming spot (in those woods) not far from the place where the +others were. O monarch, the high-souled Krishna, and that subjugators of +hostile cities, viz., Arjuna, going thither, sat down upon two very +costly seats. Vasudeva and Partha amused themselves there with +discoursing upon many past achievements of prowess and other topics. Unto +Vasudeva and Dhananjaya happily sitting there like the Aswins in heaven, +a certain Brahmana came. The Brahmana that came there looked like a tall +Sala tree. His complexion was like unto molten gold; his beard was bright +yellow tinged with green; and the height and the thickness of the body +were in just proportion. Of matted locks and dressed in rags, he +resembled the morning sun in splendour. Of eyes like lotus-petals and of +a tawny hue, he seemed to be blazing with effulgence. Beholding that +foremost of Brahmanas blazing with splendour approach towards them both +Arjuna and Vasudeva, hastily rising from their seats, stood, waiting (for +his commands).’” + + + +SECTION CCXXV + +(Khandava-daha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then that Brahmana addressed Arjuna and Vasudeva of +the Satwata race, saying, ‘Ye who are now staying so near unto Khandava +are the two foremost of heroes on earth. I am a voracious Brahmana that +always eateth much. O thou of the Vrishni race, and O Partha, I solicit +you to gratify me by giving me sufficient food.’ Thus addressed by the +Brahmana, Krishna and the son of Pandu answered him, saying, ‘O, tell us +what kind of food will gratify thee so that we may endeavour to give it +thee.’ The illustrious Brahmana, thus replied to, said unto those heroes +who were enquiring after the kind of food he sought, ‘I do not desire to +eat ordinary food. Know that I am Agni! Give me that food which suiteth +me. This forest of Khandava is always protected by Indra. And as it is +protected by the illustrious one, I always fail to consume it. In that +forest dwelleth, with his followers and family, a Naga, called Takshaka, +who is the friend of Indra. It is for him that the wielder of the +thunderbolt protecteth this forest. Many other creatures also are thus +protected here for the sake of Takshaka. Desiring to consume the forest I +succeed not in my attempts in consequence of Indra’s prowess. Beholding +me blazing forth, he always poureth upon me water from the clouds. +Therefore, I succeed not in consuming the forest of Khandava, although I +desire very much to do so. I have now come to you--you who are both +skilled in weapons! If you help me I will surely consume this forest: for +even this is the food that is desired by me! As ye are conversant with +excellent weapons, I pray you to prevent those showers from descending +and any of the creatures from escaping, when I begin to consume this +forest!’ + +“Janamejaya said, ‘Why did the illustrious Agni desire to consume the +forest of Khandava that was filled with various living creatures and +protected by the chief of the celestials? When Agni consumed in wrath the +forest of Khandava, it is evident there was a grave cause. I desire, O +Brahmana, to hear all this in detail from thee. Tell me, O sage, how the +Khandava forest was consumed in days of yore.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O chief of men, I will narrate to you the story of +the conflagration of Khandava as told by Rishis in the Purana. It hath +been heard, O king, in the Purana that there was a celebrated king of the +name of Swetaki who was endued with strength and prowess and who was +equal unto Indra himself. No one on earth has equalled him in sacrifices, +charity, and intelligence. Swetaki performed the five great sacrifices +and many others, at all of which the presents unto Brahmanas were large. +The heart of that monarch, O king, was always set upon sacrifices, +religious rites, and gifts of all kinds. And king Swetaki of great +intelligence, assisted by his Ritwiks performed sacrifices for many long +years, till those sacrificial priests with eyes afflicted by the +continued smoke and becoming very weak, left that monarch, wishing never +more to assist at his sacrifices. The king, however, repeatedly asked +those Ritwiks to come to him. But they came not to his sacrifice in +consequence of the painful state of their eyes. The king, therefore, +invited at the command of his own Ritwiks, others like unto them, and +completed the sacrifice that he had begun. After some days had elapsed, +king Swetaki desired to perform another sacrifice which should extend for +a hundred years. But the illustrious monarch obtained not any priest to +assist him in it. The celebrated king then, with his friends and +relatives, casting off all sloth, repeatedly courted his priests with +great persistence, by bowing down unto them, by conciliatory speeches, +and by gifts of wealth. All of them, however, refused to accomplish the +purpose which that king of immeasurable energy had in view. Then that +royal sage, getting angry, addressed those Brahmanas sitting in their +asylums, and said, ‘If, ye Brahmanas, I were a fallen person, or, if, I +were wanting in homage and service to you, I should then deserve to be +abandoned without scruple by you and by other Brahmanas at the same time. +But as I am neither degraded nor wanting in homage to you, it behoveth +you not to obstruct the performance by me of my sacrifice or to abandon +me thus, ye foremost of Brahmanas, without adequate reason. I seek, ye +Brahmanas, your protection! It behoveth you to be propitious unto me. +But, ye foremost of Brahmanas, if you abandon me from enmity alone or any +improper motive, I shall go unto other priests for their assistance in +this sacrifice of mine, and conciliating them by sweet words and gifts, I +shall represent unto them the business I have on hand, so that they may +accomplish it.’ Having said this, the monarch became silent. And, O +chastiser of foes, when those priests well knew that they could not +assist at the king’s sacrifice, they pretended to be angry, and +addressing that best of monarchs said, ‘O best of kings, thy sacrifices +are incessant! By assisting thee always, we have all been fatigued. And +as we have been wearied in consequence of these labours, it behoveth thee +to give us leave. O sinless one, from loss of judgment thou canst not +wait (but urgest us repeatedly). Go unto Rudra! He will assist at thy +sacrifice!’ Hearing those words of censure and wrath, king Swetaki became +angry. And the monarch wending to the mountains of Kailasa, devoted +himself to asceticism there. And, O king, the monarch began to worship +Mahadeva, with fixed attention, and by observing the most rigid vows. And +foregoing all food at times, he passed a long period. The monarch ate +only fruits and roots sometimes at the twelfth and sometimes at the +sixteenth hour of the whole day. King Swetaki stood for six months, rapt +in attention, with arms upraised and steadfast eyes, like the trunk of a +tree or a column rooted to the ground. And, O Bharata, Sankara at last +gratified with that tiger among kings, who was undergoing such hard +penances, showed himself unto him. And the god spake unto the monarch in +a calm and grave voice, saying, ‘O tiger among kings, O chastiser of +foes, I have been gratified with thee for thy asceticism! Blest be thou! +Ask now the boon that thou, O king, desirest.’ Hearing these words of +Rudra of immeasurable energy, the royal sage bowed unto that deity and +replied, saying, ‘O illustrious one, O thou that art worshipped by the +three worlds, if thou hast been gratified with me, then, O god of gods, +assist me thyself, O lord of the celestials, in my sacrifice!’ Hearing +these words spoken by the monarch, the illustrious god was gratified, and +smilingly said, ‘We do not ourselves assist at sacrifices: but as thou, O +king, hast undergone severe penances, desirous of obtaining a boon, I +will, O chastiser of foes, assist at thy sacrifice, upon, O king, this +condition.’ And Rudra continued, ‘If, O king of kings, thou canst, for +twelve years, pour without intermission libations of clarified butter +into the fire, thyself leading all the while the life of a Brahmacharin +with rapt attention, then thou shalt obtain from me what thou askest.’ +King Swetaki, thus addressed by Rudra, did all that he was directed to do +by the wielder of the trident. And after twelve years had elapsed, he +again came unto Maheswara. And Sankara, the Creator of the worlds upon +seeing Swetaki, that excellent monarch, immediately said, in great +gratification, ‘I have been gratified by thee, O best of kings, with this +thy own act! But, O chastiser of foes, the duty of assisting at +sacrifices properly belongeth to Brahmanas. Therefore, O oppressor of +foes, I will not myself assist at thy sacrifice today. There is on earth +an exalted Brahmana who is even a portion of my own self. He is known by +the name of Durvasa. Even that Brahmana endued with great energy will +assist you in thy sacrifice. Let, therefore, every preparation be made.’ +Hearing these words uttered by Rudra, the king, returning to his own +capital, began to collect all that was necessary. After everything had +been collected, the monarch again presented himself before Rudra and +said, ‘Every necessary article hath been collected, and all my +preparations are complete, through thy grace, O god of gods! Let me, +therefore, be installed at the sacrifice tomorrow.’ Having heard these +words of that illustrious king, Rudra summoned Durvasa before him and +said. ‘This, O Durvasa, is that best of monarchs called Swetaki. At my +command, O best of Brahmanas, assist even this king in his sacrifice.’ +And the Rishi Durvasa said unto Rudra, ‘So be it.’ Then the sacrifice for +which king Swetaki had made those preparations, took place. And the +illustrious monarch’s sacrifice was performed according to the ordinance +and in proper season. And the gifts, on that occasion, unto the Brahmanas +were large. And after that monarch’s sacrifice had come to an end, all +the other priests who had come to assist at it went away with Durvasa’s +leave. All other Sadasyas also of immeasurable energy, who had been +installed at that sacrifice, then went away. That exalted monarch then +entered his own palace, worshipped by exalted Brahmanas conversant with +the Vedas, eulogised by chanters of panegyrical hymns and congratulated +by the citizens. + +“Such was the history of that best of monarchs, the royal sage Swetaki, +who, when the time came, ascended to heaven, having won great renown on +earth, and accompanied by the Ritwiks and the Sadasyas that had helped +him in life.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘At that sacrifice of Swetaki, Agni had drunk +clarified butter for twelve years. Indeed, clarified butter had been +poured into Agni’s mouth in a continuous stream for that period. Having +drunk so much butter, Agni, satiated, desired not to drink butter again +from the hand of anybody else at any other sacrifice. Agni became pale, +having lost his colour, and he could not shine as before. He felt a loss +of appetite from surfeit, and his energy itself decreased and sickness +afflicted him. Then when the drinker of sacrificial libations perceived +that his energy was gradually diminishing, he went to the sacred abode of +Brahman that is worshipped by all. Approaching the great Deity seated on +his seat, Agni said, ‘O exalted one, Swetaki hath (by his sacrifice) +gratified me to excess. Even now I am suffering from surfeit which I +cannot dispel. O Lord of the universe, I am being reduced both in +splendour and strength. I desire to regain, through thy grace, my own +permanent nature.’ Hearing these words from Hutavaha, the illustrious +Creator of all things smilingly replied unto him, saying, ‘O exalted one, +thou hast eaten, for twelve years, a continuous stream of sacrificial +butter poured into thy mouth! It is for this that illness hath seized +thee. But, O Agni, grieve not for it. Thou shalt soon regain thy own +nature. I shall dispel this surfeit of thine and the time for it is even +come. The dreadful forest Khandava, that abode of the enemies of the +gods, which thou hadst of old once consumed to ashes at the request of +the gods, hath now become the home of numerous creatures. When thou will +have eaten the fat of those creatures, thou shalt regain thy own nature. +Proceed thither in haste to consume that forest with its living +population. Thou wilt then be cured of thy malady.’ Hearing the words +that fell from the lips of the Supreme Deity, Hutasana proceeded with +great speed and soon reached the forest of Khandava in great vigour. +Arrived there, he suddenly blazed forth in anger, assisted by Vayu. +Beholding Khandava on fire the dwellers (in the forest) that were there, +made great efforts to extinguish the conflagration. Elephants by hundreds +of thousands, speeding in anger, brought water in their trunks and +scattered it upon the fire. Thousands of many-hooded snakes, mad with +anger, hastily began to scatter upon fire much water from those many +hoods of theirs. And so, O bull of Bharata’s race, the other creatures +dwelling in that forest, by various appliances and efforts, soon +extinguished the fire. In this way, Agni blazed forth in Khandava +repeatedly, even for seven times. And it was in this way that the blazing +fire was extinguished there as often by the denizens of that forest.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXVI + +(Khandava-daha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Havyavahana (Agni) in anger and disappointment, +with his ailment uncured, went back to the Grandsire. And he represented +unto Brahman all that had happened: The illustrious deity, reflecting for +a moment, said unto him, ‘O sinless one. I see a way by which thou mayest +consume the forest of Khandava today in the very sight of Indra. Those +old deities, Nara and Narayana, have become incarnate in the world of men +to accomplish the business of the celestials. They are called on earth +Arjuna and Vasudeva. They are even now staying in the forest of Khandava. +Solicit them for aiding thee in consuming that forest. Thou shalt then +consume the forest even if it be protected by the celestials. They will +certainly prevent the population of Khandava from escaping, and thwart +Indra also (in aiding any one in the escape). I have no doubt of this!’ +Hearing these words, Agni came in haste unto Krishna and Partha. O king, +I have already told thee what he said, having approached the illustrious +pair. O tiger among kings, hearing those words of Agni who was desirous +of consuming the forest of Khandava against the will of Indra, Vibhatsu +said unto him these words well-suited to the occasion, I have numberless +excellent celestial weapons with which I can fight even many wielders of +the thunderbolt. But, O exalted one, I have no bow suited to the strength +of my arms, and capable of bearing the might I may put forth in battle. +In consequence of the lightness of my hands also I require arrows that +must never be exhausted. My car also is scarcely able to bear load of +arrows that I would desire to keep by me. I desire celestial steeds of +pure white, possessing the speed of the wind; and a car possessing the +splendour of the sun and the clatter of whose wheels should resemble the +roar of the clouds. Then, there is no weapon suited to Krishna’s energy +and with which Madhava can slay Nagas and Pisachas. O exalted one, it +behoveth thee to give us the means by which success may be achieved and +by which we may thwart Indra in pouring his showers upon that extensive +forest. O Pavaka, we are ready to do all that manliness and prowess can +do. But, O exalted one, it behoveth thee to give us the adequate means.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXVII + +(Khandava-daha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana, said, ‘Thus addressed by Arjuna, the smoke-bannered +Hutasana, desirous of an interview with Varuna, recollected that son of +Aditi,--that deity protecting one of the points of the heavens and having +his home in the water and ruling that element. Varuna, knowing that he +was thought of by Pavaka, immediately appeared before that deity. The +smoke-bannered celestial welcoming with reverence the ruler of the +waters, that fourth of the Lokapalas, said unto that eternal god of gods, +‘Give me without loss of time that bow and quiver, and that ape-bannered +car also, which were obtained from king Soma. Partha will achieve a great +task with Gandiva, and Vasudeva also with the discus! Give both, +therefore, unto me today.’ Hearing these words, Varuna replied unto +Pavaka, saying, ‘Well, I am giving them.’ He then gave that wonderful +jewel of a bow that was endued with great energy. That bow was the +enhancer of fame and achievements, and was incapable of being injured by +any weapon. It was the chief of all weapons, and the grinder of them all. +And it was the smiter of hostile armies and was alone equal to a hundred +thousand bows. It was the multiplier of kingdoms, and was variegated with +excellent colours. It was well-adorned, and beautiful to behold, and +without a mark of weakness or injury anywhere. And it was always +worshipped both by the celestials and the Gandharvas. Varuna also gave +two inexhaustible quivers, and he also gave a car furnished with +celestial weapons and whose banner bore a large ape. Yoked unto that car +were steeds white as silver of the fleecy clouds, and born in the region +of the Gandharvas, and decked with golden harness, and resembling in +fleetness the wind or the mind. And it was equipped with implement of +war, and was incapable of being vanquished by the celestials or the +Asuras. Its splendour was great and the sounds of its wheels was +tremendous. It delighted the heart of every creature that looked at it. +It had been made by Viswakarman, the architect of the universe and one of +the lords of creation, after severe ascetic meditation. Its splendour, +like that of the sun, was so great that no one could gaze at it. It was +the very car from which the lord Soma had vanquished the Danavas. +Resplendent with beauty, it looked like an evening cloud reflecting the +effulgence of the setting sun. It was furnished with an excellent +flag-staff of golden colour and great beauty. And there sat upon that +flag-staff a celestial ape of form fierce like that of a lion or a tiger. +Stationed on high, the ape seemed bent upon burning everything it beheld. +And upon the (other) flags were various creatures of large size, whose +roars and yells caused the enemy’s soldiers to faint. Then Arjuna, +accoutred in mail and armed with the sword, and his fingers cased in +leathern gloves, walking round that excellent car adorned with numerous +flags and bowing unto the gods, ascended it like a virtuous man riding in +the celestial car that bears him to heaven. And taking up that celestial +and first of bows created by Brahman of old and called Gandiva, Arjuna +was filled with joy. And bowing unto Hutasana, Partha endued with great +energy, took up the bow and strung it forcibly. Those who heard the noise +that was made while the mighty Pandava strung that bow, quaked with fear. +And having obtained that car and that bow, and the two inexhaustible +quivers, the son of Kunti became glad and thought himself competent to +assist at the task. And Pavaka then gave unto Krishna a discus with an +iron pole attached to a hole in the centre. And it was a fiery weapon and +became his favourite. Having obtained that weapon, Krishna also became +equal to the task. Pavaka then, addressing Krishna, said, ‘With this, O +slayer of Madhu, thou shalt be able without doubt to vanquish in battle +even foes that are not human. With this weapon, without doubt, thou shalt +be superior in battle to men and gods, and Rakshasas and Pisachas, and +Daityas and Nagas. And thou shalt certainly be able with this to smite +all. And, O Madhava, hurled by thee in battle at thy foes, this weapon +will irresistibly slay the enemy and again come back into thy hands.’ And +the lord Varuna, after this, gave unto Krishna a mace, of name Kaumodaki, +capable of slaying every Daitya and producing, when hurled, a roar like +that of the thunder. Then Arjuna and Achyuta, filled with joy said unto +Pavaka, ‘O exalted one, furnished with weapons and knowing their use, +possessed of cars with flags and flagstaffs, we are now able to fight +with even all the celestials and the Asuras (together), let alone the +wielder of the thunderbolt desirous of fighting for the sake of the Naga +(his friend Takshaka).’ Arjuna also said, ‘O Pavaka, while Hrishikesa, +endued with abundant energy, moves on the field of battle with this +discus in hand, there is nothing in the three worlds that he will not be +able to consume by hurling this weapon. Having obtained the bow Gandiva +and this couple of inexhaustible quivers I also am ready to conquer in +battle the three worlds. Therefore, O lord, blaze thou forth as thou +likest, surrounding this large forest on every side. We are quite able to +help thee.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed both by Dasarha and Arjuna, the +illustrious god then put forth his most energetic form, and prepared to +consume the forest. Surrounding it on all sides with his seven flames, he +began to consume the forest of Khandava, exhibiting his all-consuming +form like that at the end of the Yuga (cycle). And, O bull of Bharata’s +race, surrounding that forest and catching it from all sides with a roar +like that of the clouds, Agni made every creature within it tremble. And, +O Bharata, that burning forest then looked resplendent like the king of +mountains, Meru, blazing with the rays of the sun fallen thereupon.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXVIII + +(Khandava-daha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then those foremost of car-warriors (Krishna and +Arjuna), riding in their cars and placing themselves on opposite sides of +that forest, began a great slaughter, on all sides, of the creatures +dwelling in Khandava. At whatever point any of the creatures residing in +Khandava could be seen attempting to escape, thither rushed those mighty +heroes (to prevent its flight). Indeed those two excellent cars seemed to +be but one, and the two warriors also therein but one individual. And +while the forest was burning, hundreds and thousands of living creatures, +uttering frightful yells, began to run about in all directions. Some had +particular limbs burnt, some were scorched with excessive heat, and some +came out, and some ran about from fear. And some clasping their children +and some their parents and brothers, died calmly without, from excess of +affection, being able to abandon these that were dear to them. And many +there were who biting their nether lips rose upwards and soon fell +whirling into the blazing element below. And some were seen to roll on +the ground with wings, eyes, and feet scorched and burnt. These creatures +were all seen to perish there almost soon enough. The tanks and ponds +within that forest, heated by the fire around, began to boil; the fishes +and the tortoises in them were all seen to perish. During that great +slaughter of living creatures in that forest, the burning bodies of +various animals looked as if fire itself had assumed many forms. The +birds that took wings to escape from that conflagration were pierced by +Arjuna with his shafts, and cut into pieces, they fell down into the +burning element below. Pierced all over with Arjuna’s shafts, the birds +dropped down into the burning forest, uttering loud cries. The denizens +of the forest, struck with those shafts, began to roar and yell. The +clamour they raised was like unto the frightful uproar heard during the +churning of the ocean (in days of yore). The mighty flames of the blazing +fire reaching the firmament, caused great anxiety to the celestials +themselves. Then all the illustrious dwellers in heaven went in a body +unto him of a hundred sacrifices and thousand eyes, viz., their chief, +that grinder of Asuras. Approaching Indra, the celestial said, ‘Why, O +lord of immortals, doth Agni burn these creatures below? Hath the time +come for the destruction of the world?’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of the gods, and himself +beholding what Agni was doing, the slayer of Vritra set out for the +protection of the forest of Khandava. And Vasava, the chief of the +celestials soon covering the sky with masses of clouds of every kind +began to shower upon the burning forest. Those masses of clouds by +hundreds and thousands, commanded by Indra began to pour rain upon +Khandava in showers thick as the flag-staffs of battle-cars. But the +showers were all dried up in the sky itself by the heat of the fire and +could not, therefore, reach the fire at all! Then the slayer of Namuchi, +getting angry with Agni, collected huge masses of clouds and caused them +to yield a heavy downpour. Then with the flames contending with those +heavy showers, and with masses of clouds overhead, that forest, filled +with smoke and flashes of lightning, became terrible to behold.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXIX + +(Khandava-daha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Vibhatsu, the son of Pandu, invoking his +excellent weapons, prevented that shower of rain by Indra, by means of a +shower of his own weapons. And Arjuna of immeasurable soul soon covered +the forest of Khandava with innumerable arrows like the moon covering the +atmosphere with a thick fog. When the sky above that forest was thus +covered with the arrows of Arjuna no living creature could then escape +from below. And it so happened that while that forest was burning, +Takshaka, the chief of the Nagas, was not there, having gone at that time +to the field of Kurukshetra. But Aswasena, the mighty son of Takshaka, +was there. He made great efforts to escape from that fire; but confined +by Arjuna’s shafts he succeeded not in finding a way. It was then that +his mother, the daughter of a snake, determined to save him by swallowing +him first. His mother first swallowed his head and then was swallowing +his tail. And desirous of saving her son, the sea-snake rose (up from the +earth) while still employed in swallowing her son’s tail. But Arjuna as +soon as he beheld her escaping, severed her head from her body by means +of a sharp and keen-edged arrow. Indra saw all this, and desiring to save +his friend’s son, the wielder of the thunderbolt, by raising a violent +wind, deprived Arjuna of consciousness. During those few moments, +Aswasena succeeded in effecting his escape. Beholding that manifestation +of the power of illusion, and deceived by that snake, Arjuna was much +enraged. He forthwith cut every animal seeking to escape by the skies, +into two, three, or more pieces. And Vibhatsu in anger, and Agni, and +Vasudeva also, cursed the snake that had escaped so deceitfully, saying, +‘Never shalt thou be famous!’ And Jishnu remembering the deception +practised upon him, became angry, and covering the firmament with a cloud +of arrows, sought to fight with him of a thousand eyes. The chief of the +celestials also, seeing Arjuna in anger, sought to fight with him, and +hurled his own fierce weapons, covering the wide expanse of the +firmament. Then the winds, making a loud roar and agitating all the +oceans, brought together masses of clouds in the sky, charged with +torrents of rain. Those masses of clouds began to vomit thunder and +terrible flashes of lightning charged with the thunderclap. Then Arjuna +possessing a knowledge of means, hurled the excellent weapon called +Vayavya with proper mantras to dispel those clouds. With that weapon the +energy and force of Indra’s thunderbolt and of those clouds were +destroyed. And the torrents of rain with which those clouds were charged +were all dried up, and the lightning that played amongst them was also +destroyed. Within a moment the sky was cleared of dust and darkness, and +a delicious, cool breeze began to blow and the disc of the sun resumed +its normal state. Then the eater of clarified butter (Agni), glad because +none could baffle him, assumed various forms, and sprinkled over with the +fat exuded by the bodies of creatures, blazed forth with all his flames, +filling the universe with his roar. Then numerous birds of the Garuda +tribe bearing excellent feathers, beholding that the forest was protected +by Krishna and Arjuna, descended filled with pride, from the upper skies, +desirous of striking those heroes with their thunderlike wings, beaks and +claws. Innumerable Nagas also, with faces emitting fire descending from +high, approached Arjuna, vomiting the most virulent poison all the while. +Beholding them approach, Arjuna cut them into pieces by means of arrows +steeped in the fire of his own wrath. Then those birds and snakes, +deprived of life, fell into the burning element below. And there came +also, desirous of battle, innumerable Asuras with Gandharvas and Yakshas +and Rakshasas and Nagas sending forth terrific yells. Armed with machines +vomiting from their throats (mouths?) iron balls and bullets, and +catapults for propelling huge stones, and rockets, they approached to +strike Krishna and Partha, their energy and strength increased by wrath. +But though they rained a perfect shower of weapons, Vibhatsu, addressing +them reproachfully, struck off their heads with his own sharp arrows. +That slayer of foes, Krishna, also, endued with great energy, made a +great slaughter of the Daitya and the Danava with his discus. Many Asuras +of immeasurable might, pierced with Krishna’s arrows and smitten with the +force of his discus, became motionless like waifs and strays stranded on +the bank by the violence of the waves. Then Sakra the lord of the +celestials, riding on his white elephant, rushed at those heroes, and +taking up his thunderbolt which could never go in vain, hurled it with +great force. And the slayer of Asuras said unto the gods, ‘These two are +slain.’ Beholding the fierce thunderbolt about to be hurled by their +chief, the celestials all took up their respective weapons. Yama, O king, +took up the death-dealing mace, and Kuvera his spiked club, and Varuna +his noose and beautiful missile. And Skanda (Kartikeya) took up his long +lance and stood motionless like the mountain of Meru. The Aswins stood +there with resplendent plants in their hands. Dhatri stood, bow in hand, +and Jaya with a thick club. Tvashtri of great strength took up in wrath, +a huge mountain and Surya stood with a bright dart, and Mrityu with a +battle-axe. Aryaman stalked about with a terrible bludgeon furnished with +sharp spikes, and Mitra stood there with a discus sharp as a razor. And, +O monarch, Pusha and Bhaga and Savitri, in wrath, rushed at Krishna and +Partha with bows and scimitars in hand. And Rudras and the Vasus, the +mighty Maruts and the Viswedevas and the Sadhyas, all resplendent with +their own energy,--these and many other celestials, armed with various +weapons rushed against those exalted of men, Krishna and Partha, for +smiting them down. Then were seen in that great conflict wonderful +portents all around robbing every creature of his sense, and resembling +those that appeared at the time of the universal dissolution. But Arjuna +and Krishna, fearless and invincible in battle, beholding Sakra and the +other celestials prepared for fight, calmly waited, bows in hands. +Skilled in battle, those heroes in wrath assailed the advancing host of +celestials with their own thunderlike arrows. The celestials repeatedly +routed by Krishna and Arjuna, at last left the field of battle for fear +and sought the protection of Indra. The Munis who were witnessing the +battle from the skies, beholding the celestials defeated by Madhava and +Arjuna, were filled with wonder. Sakra also repeatedly witnessing their +prowess in battle, became exceedingly gratified, and once more rushed to +the assault. The chastiser of Paka then caused a heavy shower of stones, +desiring to ascertain the prowess of Arjuna who was able to draw the bow +even with his left hand. Arjuna, in great wrath, dispelled with his +arrows that thick shower. Then he of a hundred sacrifices beholding that +shower baffled, once more caused a thicker shower of stones. But the son +of the chastiser of Paka (viz., Arjuna) gratified his father by baffling +that shower also with his swift arrows. Then Sakra, desirous of smiting +down the son of Pandu, tore up with his hands a large peak from Mandara, +with tall trees on it, and hurled it against him. But Arjuna divided that +mountain-peak into a thousand pieces by his swift-going and fire-mouthed +arrows. The fragments of that mountain, in falling through the skies, +looked as if the sun and the moon and the planets, displaced from their +positions fell down on earth. That huge peak fell down upon that forest +and by its fall killed numerous living creatures that dwelt in Khandava.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXX + +(Khandava-daha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then the inhabitants of the forest of Khandava, the +Danavas and Rakshasas and Nagas and wolves and bears and other wild +animals, and elephants with rent temples, and tigers, and lions with +manes and deer and buffaloes by hundreds, and birds, and various other +creatures, frightened at the falling stones and extremely anxious, began +to fly in all directions. They saw the forest (burning all around) and +Krishna and Arjuna also ready with their weapons. Frightened at the +terrible sounds that were audible there those creatures lost their power +of movement. Beholding the forest burning in innumerable places and +Krishna also ready to smite them down with his weapons, they all set up a +frightful roar. With that terrible clamour as also with the roar of fire, +the whole welkin resounded, as it were, with the voice of portentous +clouds. Kesava of dark hue and mighty arms, in order to compass their +destruction, hurled at them his large and fierce discus resplendent with +its own energy. The forest-dwellers including the Danavas and the +Rakshasas, afflicted by that weapon, were cut in hundreds of pieces and +fell unto the mouth of Agni. Mangled by Krishna’s discus, the Asuras were +besmeared with blood and fat and looked like evening clouds. And, O +Bharata, he of the Vrishni race moved able like death itself, slaying +Pisachas and birds and Nagas and other creatures by thousands. The discus +itself, repeatedly hurled from the hands of Krishna, that slayer of all +foes, came back to his hands after slaughtering numberless creatures. The +face and form of Krishna that soul of every created thing--became fierce +to behold while he was thus employed in the slaughter of the Pisachas, +Nagas and Rakshasas. No one among the celestials, who had mustered there +could vanquish in battle Krishna and Arjuna. When the celestials saw that +they could not protect that forest from the might of Krishna and Arjuna +by extinguishing that conflagration, they retired from the scene. Then, O +monarch, he of a hundred sacrifices (Indra), beholding the immortals +retreat, became filled with joy and applauded Krishna and Arjuna. And +when the celestials gave up the fight, an incorporeal voice, deep and +loud, addressing him of a hundred sacrifices, said, ‘Thy friend Takshaka, +that chief of snakes, hath not been slain! Before the conflagration +commenced in Khandava he had journeyed to Kurukshetra. Know from my +words, O Vasava, that Vasudeva and Arjuna are incapable of being +vanquished in battle by any one! They are Nara and Narayana--those gods +of old heard of in heaven! Thou knowest what their energy is and what +their prowess. Invincible in battle, these best of old Rishis are +unconquerable by any one in all the worlds! They deserve the most +reverential worship of all the celestials and Asuras; of Yakshas and +Rakshasas and Gandharvas, of human beings and Kinnaras and Nagas. +Therefore, O Vasava, it behoveth thee to go hence with all the +celestials. The destruction of Khandava hath been ordained by Fate!’ Then +the chief of the immortals, ascertaining those words to be true abandoned +his wrath and jealousy, and went back to heaven. The dwellers in heaven, +O monarch, beholding the illustrious Indra abandon the fight, followed +him with all their soldiers. Then those heroes, Vasudeva and Arjuna, when +they saw the chief of the celestials retreat accompanied by all the gods, +set up a leonine roar. And, O monarch, Kesava and Arjuna, after Indra had +left the scene, became exceedingly glad. Those heroes then fearlessly +assisted at the conflagration of the forest. Arjuna scattered the +celestials like the wind scattering the clouds, and slew with showers of +his arrows, numberless creatures that dwelt in Khandava. Cut off by +Arjuna’s arrows, no one amongst the innumerable creatures could escape +from the burning forest. Far from fighting with him, none amongst even +the strongest creatures mustered there could look at Arjuna whose weapons +were never futile. Sometimes piercing hundred creatures with one shaft +and sometimes a single creature with hundred shafts, Arjuna moved about +in his car. The creatures themselves, deprived of life, began to fall +into the mouth of Agni (god of fire), struck down as it were by death +itself. On the banks of rivers or on uneven plains or on crematoriums, go +where they did, the creatures (dwelling in Khandava) found no ease, for +wherever they sought shelter there they were afflicted by the heat. And +hosts of creatures roared in pain, and elephants and deer and wolves set +up cries of affliction. At that sound the fishes of the Ganges and the +sea, and the various tribes of Vidyadharas dwelling in that forest all +became frightened. O thou of mighty arms, let alone battling with them, +no one, could even gaze at Arjuna and Janardana of dark hue. Hari slew +with his discus those Rakshasas and Danavas and Nagas that rushed at him +in bands. Of huge bodies, their heads and trunks were cut off by the +swift motion of the discus, and deprived of life they fell down into the +blazing fire. Gratified with large quantities of flesh, blood, and fat, +the flames rose up to a great height without a curling wreath of smoke. +Hutasana (fire-god) with blazing and coppery eyes, and flaming tongue and +large mouth, and the hair on the crown of his head all fiery, drinking, +with the help of Krishna and Arjuna, that nectar-like stream of animal +fat, became filled with joy. Gratified greatly, Agni derived much +happiness. + +“And it so happened that the slayer of Madhu suddenly beheld an Asura of +the name of Maya escaping from the abode of Takshaka. Agni having Vayu +for his car-driver, assuming a body with matted locks on head, and +roaring like the clouds, pursued the Asura, desirous of consuming him. +Beholding the Asura, Vasudeva stood with his weapon upraised, ready to +smite him down, seeing the discus uplifted and Agni pursuing from behind +to burn him, Maya said ‘Run to me, O Arjuna, and protect me!’ Hearing his +affrighted voice Arjuna said, ‘Fear not!’ That voice of Arjuna, O +Bharata, seemed to give Maya his life. As the merciful son of Pritha said +unto Maya that there was nothing to fear, he of the Dasarha race no +longer desired to slay Maya who was the brother of Namuchi, and Agni also +burned him not.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Protected from Indra by Krishna and Partha, +Agni gifted with great intelligence, burned that forest for five and ten +days. And while the forest burned Agni spared only six of its dwellers, +viz., Aswasena, Maya, and four birds called Sarngakas.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXXI + +(Khandava-daha Parva continued) + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O Brahmana, tell me why and when that forest burnt in +that way, Agni consumed not the birds called Sarngakas? Thou hast, O +Brahmana, recited (to us) the cause of Aswasena and the Danava Maya not +having been consumed. But thou hast not as yet said what the cause was of +the escape of the Sarngakas? The escape of those birds, O Brahmana, +appeareth to me to be wonderful. Tell us why they were not destroyed in +that dreadful conflagration.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O slayer of all foes, I shall tell thee all as to +why Agni did not burn up those birds during the conflagration. There was, +O king, a great Rishi known by the name of Mandapala, conversant with all +the shastras, of rigid vows, devoted to asceticism, and the foremost of +all virtuous persons. Following in the wake of Rishis that had drawn up +their virile fluid, that ascetic, O monarch, with every sense under +complete control, devoted himself to study and virtue. Having reached the +opposite shores of asceticism, O Bharata, he left his human form and went +to the region of the Pitris. But going thither he failed to obtain the +(expected) fruit of his acts. He asked the celestials that sat around the +king of the dead as to the cause of his treatment, saying, ‘Why have +these regions become unattainable by me,--regions that I had thought had +been acquired by me by my ascetic devotions? Have I not performed those +acts whose fruits are these regions? Ye inhabitants of heaven, tell me +why these regions are shut against me! I will do that which will give me +the fruit of my ascetic penances.’ + +“The celestials answered, ‘Hear, O Brahmana, of those acts and things on +account of which men are born debtors. Without doubt, it is for religious +rites, studies according to the ordinance, and progeny, that men are born +debtors. These debts are all discharged by sacrifices, asceticism, and +offspring. Thou art an ascetic and hast also performed sacrifices; but +thou hast no offspring. These regions are shut against thee only for want +of children. Beget children, therefore! Thou shalt then enjoy +multifarious regions of felicity. The Vedas declared that the son +rescueth the father from a hell called Put. Then, O best of Brahmanas, +strive to beget offspring.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Mandapala, having heard these words of the +dwellers in heaven, reflected how best he could obtain the largest number +of offspring within the shortest period of time. The Rishi, after +reflection, understood that of all creatures birds alone were blest with +fecundity. Assuming the form of a Sarngaka the Rishi had connection with +a female bird of the same species called by the name of Jarita. And he +begat upon her four sons who were all reciters of the Vedas. Leaving all +those sons of his with their mother in that forest, while they were still +within eggs, the ascetic went to (another wife called by the name of) +Lapita. And, O Bharata, when the exalted sage went away for the company +of Lapita, moved by affection for her offspring, Jarita became very +thoughtful. Though forsaken by their father in the forest of Khandava, +Jarita, anxious in her affection for them, could not forsake her +offspring, those infant Rishis encased in eggs. Moved by parental +affection, she brought up these children born of her, herself following +the pursuits proper to her own species. Some time after, the Rishi, in +wandering over that forest in the company of Lapita, saw Agni coming +towards Khandava to burn it down. Then the Brahmana Mandapala, knowing +the intention of Agni and remembering also that his children were all +young moved by fear, gratified the god, of the burning element, that +regent of the universe, endued with great energy. And he did this, +desiring to put in a word for his unfledged offspring. Addressing Agni, +the Rishi said, ‘Thou art, O Agni, the mouth of all the worlds! Thou art +the carrier of the sacrificial butter! O purifier (of all sins), thou +movest invisible with the frame of every creature! The learned have +spoken of thee as an One, and again as possessed of triple nature. The +wise perform their sacrifices before thee, taking thee as consisting of +eight (mouths). The great Rishis declare that this universe hath been +created by thee. O thou that feedest on sacrificial butter, without thee +this whole universe would be destroyed in a single day. Bowing to thee, +the Brahmanas, accompanied by their wives and children, go to eternal +regions won by them by help of their own deeds. O Agni, the learned +represent thee as the clouds in the heavens charged with lightning. O +Agni, the flames put forth by thee consume every creature. O thou of +great splendour, this universe hath been created by thee. The Vedas are +thy word. All creatures, mobile and immobile, depend upon thee. Water +primarily dependeth on thee, so also the whole of this universe. All +offerings of clarified butter and oblations of food to the pitris have +been established in thee. O god, thou art the consumer, and thou art the +creator and thou art Vrihaspati himself (in intelligence). Thou art the +twin Aswins; thou art Surya; thou art Soma; thou art Vayu. + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘O monarch, thus praised by Mandapala, Agni was +gratified with that Rishi of immeasurable energy; and the god, +well-pleased, replied, ‘What good can I do to thee?’ Then Mandapala with +joined palms said unto the carrier of clarified butter, ‘While thou +burnest the forest of Khandava, spare my children.’ The illustrious +bearer of clarified butter replied, ‘So be it.’ It was, therefore, O +monarch, that he blazed not forth, while consuming the forest of +Khandava, for the destruction of Mandapala’s children.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXXII + +(Khandava-daha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘When the fire blazed forth in the forest of +Khandava, the infant birds became very much distressed and afflicted. +Filled with anxiety, they saw not any means of escape. Their mother, the +helpless Jarita, knowing that they were too young to escape, was filled +with sorrow and wept aloud. And she said, ‘Oh, the terrible +conflagration, illuminating the whole universe and burning the forest +down, approacheth towards us, increasing my woe. These infants with +immature understanding, without feathers and feet, and the sole refuge of +our deceased ancestors, afflict me. Oh, this fire approacheth, spreading +fear all around, and licking with its tongue the tallest trees. But my +unfledged children are incapable of effecting their escape. I myself am +not capable of escaping, taking all these with me. Nor am I capable of +abandoning them, for my heart is distressed on their account. Whom +amongst my sons, shall I leave behind, and whom shall I carry with me? +What (act) should I do now that is consistent with duty? What also do +you, my infant sons, think? I do not, even by reflection, see any way of +escape for you. I shall even cover you with my wings and die with you. +Your cruel father left me some time before, saying, ‘Upon this Jaritari, +because he is the eldest of my sons, will my race depend. My second +Sarisrikka will beget progeny for the expansion of my ancestors’ race. My +third, Stamvamitra, will be devoted to asceticism, and my youngest, +Drona, will become the foremost of those acquainted with the Vedas.’ But +how hath this terrible calamity overtaken us! Whom shall I take with me? +As I am deprived of judgment what should I do that is consistent with +duty? I do not see, by the exercise of my own judgment, the escape of my +children from the fire!’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Unto their mother indulging in these lamentations, +the infant ones said. ‘O mother, relinquishing thy affection for us, go +thou to a place where there is no fire. If we are killed here, thou +mayest have other children born to thee. If thou, O mother be killed, we +can have no more children in our race. Reflecting upon both these +calamities, the time hath come for thee, O mother, to do that which is +beneficial to our race. Do not be influenced by affection for thy +offspring, which promises to destroy both us and thee. If thou savest +thyself, our father, who is even desirous of winning regions of felicity, +may have his wishes gratified.’ + +“Hearing what the infants said. Jarita replied, ‘There is a hole here in +the ground near to this tree, belonging to a mouse. Enter this hole +without loss of time. You shall have then no fear of fire. After ye have +entered it, I shall, ye children, cover its mouth with dust. This is the +only means of escape that I see from the blazing fire. Then when the fire +will be put out, I shall return hither to remove the dust. Follow my +advice if you are to escape from the conflagration.’ + +“The infant birds replied, ‘Without feathers we are but so many balls of +flesh. If we enter the hole, certain it is that the carnivorous mouse +will destroy us all. Beholding this danger before us, we cannot enter +this hole. Alas, we do not see any means by which we may escape from the +fire or from the mouse. We do not see how our father’s act of procreation +may be prevented from becoming futile, and how also our mother may be +saved. If we enter the hole, the mouse will destroy us; we remain where +we are and the sky-ranging fire will destroy us. Reflecting upon both the +calamities, a death by fire is preferable to a death by being eaten up. +If we are devoured by the mouse within the hole, that death is certainly +ignoble, whereas the destruction of the body in fire is approved by the +wise.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXXIII + +(Khandava-daha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing those words of her sons Jarita continued, +‘The little mouse that had come out of this hole was seized by a hawk +with his claws and carried away hence. Therefore, ye may fearlessly enter +this hole now.’ The young ones replied, ‘We are not by any means certain +of that mouse having been taken away by the hawk. There may be other mice +living here. From them we have every fear. Whereas it is doubtful whether +fire will at all approach us here. Already we see an adverse wind blowing +the flames away. If we enter the hole, death is certain at the hands of +the dwellers in the hole. But if we remain where we are, death is +uncertain. O mother, a position in which death is uncertain is better +than that in which it is certain. It is thy duty, therefore, to escape +thyself, for, if thou livest thou mayest obtain other children as good.’ + +“Their mother then said, ‘Ye children, I myself saw the mighty hawk, that +best of birds, swoop down and fly away with the mouse from the hole. And +while he was flying away swiftly, I followed him behind and pronounced +blessing on him for his having taken away the mouse from the hole. I said +unto him. ‘O king of hawks, because thou art flying away with our enemy, +the mouse, in thy claws, mayest thou, without a foe, live in heaven with +a golden body.’ Afterwards when that hawk devoured the mouse, I came +away, obtaining his leave. Therefore, ye children, enter this hole +trustfully. Ye have nothing to fear. The mouse that was its inmate was +seized and taken away by the hawk in my sight.’ The young ones again +said, ‘O mother, we do not by any means know that the mouse hath been +carried away by the hawk. We cannot enter this hole in the ground without +being certain of the fact.’ Their mother said, ‘I know to a certainty +that the mouse hath been carried away by the hawk. Therefore, ye +children, ye have nothing to fear; do what I say.’ The young ones again +said, ‘We do not, O mother, say that thou art dispelling our fears with a +false story. For whatever is done by a person when his reason hath been +disturbed can scarcely be said to be that person’s deliberate act. Thou +hast not been benefited by us, nor dost thou know who we are. Why dost +thou, therefore, strive to protect us at so much cost to thyself? Who are +we to thee? Thou art young and handsome, and capable of seeking out thy +husband. Go unto thy husband. Thou shalt obtain good children again. Let +us by entering the fire attain to regions of felicity. If, however, the +fire consume us not, thou mayest come back and obtain us again.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The parent bird then, thus addressed by her sons, +left them in Khandava and hastily went to the spot where there was no +fire and there was safety. Then Agni in haste and with fierce flames +approached the spot where the sons of Mandapala were. The young birds saw +the blazing fire come towards them. Then Jaritari, the eldest of the +four, in the hearing of Agni, began to speak.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXXIV + +(Khandava-daha Parva continued) + +“Jaritari said, ‘The person that is wise remaineth wakeful in view of +death. Accordingly, when the hour of death approacheth, he feeleth no +pangs. But the person of perplexed soul, who remaineth not awake, when +the hour of death comes, feeleth the pangs of death and never attaineth +salvation.’ + +“The second brother Sarisrikka, said, ‘Thou art patient and intelligent. +The time is come when our lives are threatened. Without doubt, one only +amongst many becometh wise and brave.’ + +“The third brother, Stamvamitra, said, ‘The eldest brother is called the +protector. It is the eldest brother that rescueth (the younger ones) from +danger. If the eldest himself faileth to rescue them, what can the +younger ones do?’ + +“The fourth and the youngest brother, Drona said, ‘The cruel god of fire, +with seven tongues and seven mouths quickly cometh towards our +habitation, blazing forth in splendour and licking up everything in his +path.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having addressed one another thus, the sons of +Mandapala then each devotedly addressed an eulogistic hymn to Agni. +Listen now, O monarch, to those hymns as I recite them.’ + +“Jaritari said, ‘Thou art, O fire, the soul of air! Thou art the body of +the Earth’s vegetation! O Sukra, water is thy parent as thou art the +parent of water! O thou of great energy, thy flames, like the rays of the +sun, extend themselves above, below, behind, and on each side.’ + +“Sarisrikka said, ‘O smoke-bannered god, our mother is not to be seen, +and we know not our father! Our feathers have not grown as yet. We have +none to protect us save thee. Therefore, O Agni, infants that we are +protect us! O Agni, as we are distressed, protect us with that auspicious +form thou hast and with those seven flames of thine! We seek protection +at thy hands. Thou alone, O Agni, art the giver of heat (in the +universe). O lord, there is none else (save thee) that giveth heat to the +rays of the sun. O, protect us who are young and who are Rishis. O +Havyavaha (carrier of sacrificial butter), be pleased to go hence by some +other route.’ + +“Stamvamitra said, ‘Thou alone, O Agni, art everything! This whole +universe is established in thee! Thou sustainest every creature, and thou +supportest the universe! Thou art the carrier of the sacrificial butter, +and thou art the excellent sacrificial butter itself! The wise know thee +to be one (as cause) and many (as effects)! Having created the three +worlds, thou, O Havyavaha, again destroyest them when the time cometh, +swelling thyself forth! Thou art the productive cause of the whole +universe, and thou also art the essence in which the universe dissolveth +itself!’ + +“Drona said, ‘O lord of the universe, growing in strength and remaining +within their bodies, thou causest the food that living creatures eat to +be digested. Everything therefore, is established in thee. O Sukra, O +thou from whose mouth the Vedas have sprung, it is thou who assumests the +form of the sun, and sucking up the waters of the earth and every liquid +juice that the earth yields, givest them back in time in the form of rain +and causest everything to grow! From thee, O Sukra, are these plants and +creepers with green foliage! From thee have sprung these tanks and pools, +and the great ocean also that is ever blessed! O thou of fierce rays, +this our (human) body dependeth on Varuna (the water-god)! We are unable +to bear thy heat. Be thou, therefore, our auspicious protector! O, +destroy us not! O thou of copper-hued eyes, O thou of red neck, O thou +whose path is marked by a black colour, save us by going along any remote +route, as indeed, the ocean saveth the house on its banks!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by Drona--that utterer of +Brahma--Agni, well-pleased at what he heard, and remembering also the +promise he had made to Mandapala, replied unto him, saying, ‘Thou art a +Rishi, O Drona! For what thou hast said is Brahma (Vedic truth). I shall +do your pleasure. Fear not! Indeed, Mandapala had spoken to me of you to +the effect that I should spare his sons, while consuming the forest. The +words he spoke and thy speech also are entitled to great weight to me. +Say what I am to do. O best of Brahmanas, I have been greatly pleased +with thy hymn. Blest be thou, O Brahmana!’ + +“Drona said, ‘O Sukra, these cats trouble us every day. O Hutasana; +consume them with their friends and relatives.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Agni did what the Sarngakas; asked him to +do, telling them of his intentions. And, O Janamejaya, growing in +strength, he began then to consume the forest of Khandava.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXXV + +(Khandava-daha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O thou of Kuru’s race, the Rishi Mandapala became +very anxious about his children, although he had spoken of them to the +god of fierce rays. Indeed, his mind was not in peace. Distressed on +account of his sons, he addressed Lapita (his second wife with whom he +then was), saying, ‘O Lapita, as my children are incapable of the power +of moving, how are they? When the fire will grow in strength and the wind +begin to blow violently, my children will scarcely be able to save +themselves. How will their mother be able to rescue them? That innocent +woman will be afflicted with great sorrow when she will find herself +unable to save her offspring. Oh, how will she compose herself, uttering +various lamentations on account of my children who are all incapable of +taking wing or rising up into the air. Oh, how is Jaritari, my son, and +how is Sarisrikka, and how is Stamvamitra, and how is Drona, and how also +is their helpless mother?’ + +“Unto the Rishi Mandapala thus weeping in the forest, Lapita, O Bharata, +thus replied, under the influence of jealousy, ‘Thou need not worry for +thy children who, as thou hast assured me, are all Rishis endued with +energy and prowess! They can have no fear from fire. Didst thou not speak +to Agni in my presence, in their behalf? Has not the illustrious deity +promised to save them? One of the regents of the universe as Agni is, he +will never falsify his speech. Thou hast no anxiety, nor is thy heart +inclined towards benefiting friends. It is only by thinking of her--my +rival (Jarita) that thou art so distracted! Certain it is that the love +thou bearest to me is not equal to what thou hadst for her at first. He +that hath two parties dividing his attention, can easily behold one of +those suffer all sorts of pangs; but he should not disregard the party +that is next to his heart. Then go thou to Jarita, for whom thy heart is +sorrowing! As for myself, I shall henceforth wander alone, as a fit +reward for my having attached myself to a wicked person.’ + +“Hearing these words, Mandapala replied, ‘I do not wander over the earth +with such intentions as thou conceivest. It is only for the sake of +progeny that I am here. And even those that I have are in danger. He who +casteth off what he hath for the sake of what he may acquire, is a wicked +person. The world disregardeth and insulteth him. (Therefore, go I must). +As for thyself thou art free to do what thou choosest. This blazing fire +that licketh up the trees causeth sorrow in my anxious heart and raiseth +therein evil presentiments.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Meanwhile, after the fire had left the spot +where the Sarngakas dwelt, Jarita, much attached to her children, hastily +came thither to see how they were. She found that all of them had escaped +from the fire and were perfectly well. Beholding their mother, they began +to weep, though safe and sound. She too shed tears upon beholding them +alive. And she embraced, one by one, all her weeping children. Just at +that time, O Bharata, the Rishi Mandapala arrived there. But none of his +sons expressed joy, upon beholding him. The Rishi, however, began to +speak to them one after another and unto Jarita also, repeatedly. But +neither his sons nor Jarita spoke anything well or ill unto him in +return.’ + +“Mandapala then said, ‘Who amongst these is thy first born, and who the +next after him? And who is the third, and who the youngest? I am speaking +unto thee woefully; why dost thou not reply to me? I left thee, it is +true, but I was not happy where I was.’ + +“Jarita then said, ‘What hast thou to do with the eldest of these, and +what with him that is next? And what with the third and what with the +youngest? Go now unto that Lapita of sweet smiles and endued with youth, +unto whom thou didst go of old, beholding me deficient in everything!’ +Mandapala replied, ‘As regards females, there is nothing so destructive +of their happiness whether in this or the other world as a co-wife and a +clandestine lover. There is nothing like these two that, inflames the +fire of hostility and causes such anxiety. Even the auspicious and +well-behaved Arundhati, celebrated amongst all creatures, had been +jealous of the illustrious Vasishtha of great purity of mind and always +devoted to the good of his wife. Arundhati insulted even the wise Muni +amongst the (celestial) seven. In consequence of such insulting thoughts +of hers, she has become a little star, like fire mixed with smoke, +sometimes visible and sometimes invisible, like an omen portending no +good (amongst a constellation of seven bright stars representing the +seven Rishis). I look to thee for the sake of children. I never wronged +thee, like Vasishtha who never wronged his wife. Thou hast, therefore, by +thy jealousy behaved towards me like Arundhati of old towards Vasishtha. +Men should never trust women even if they be wives. Women, when they have +become mothers, do not much mind serving their husbands.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘After this, all his children came forward to +worship him. And he also began to speak kindly towards them all, giving +them every assurance.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXXVI + +(Khandava-daha Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Mandapala then addressed his children, saying, ‘I +had spoken unto Agni for the safety of you all. The illustrious deity had +assured me that he would grant my wish. At those words of Agni, and +knowing the virtuous disposition of your mother, as also the great energy +that is in yourselves, I came not here earlier. Therefore, ye sons, do +not harbour in your hearts any resentment towards me. Ye are all Rishis +acquainted with the Vedas. Even Agni knoweth you well.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having given such assurances unto his sons, the +Brahmana Mandapala took with him his wife and sons, and leaving that +region, went away to some other country. + +“It was thus that the illustrious god of fierce rays, having grown in +strength consumed the forest of Khandava with the help of Krishna and +Arjuna, for the good of the world. And Agni having drunk several rivers +of fat and marrow, became highly gratified, and showed himself to Arjuna. +Then Purandara, surrounded by the Maruts, descended from the firmament +and addressing Partha and Kesava said, ‘Ye have achieved a feat that a +celestial even could not. Ask ye each a boon that is not obtainable by +any man. I have been gratified with you.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Partha asked from Indra all his weapons. +At this Sakra of great splendour, having fixed the time for giving them, +said, ‘When the illustrious Madhava becomes pleased with thee, then, O +son of Pandu, I will give thee all my weapons! O prince of Kuru’s race, I +shall know when the time cometh. Even for thy austere asceticism I will +give thee all my weapons of fire and all my Vayavya weapons, and thou +also wilt accept them all of me.’ Then Vasudeva asked that his friendship +with Arjuna might be eternal. The chief of the celestials granted unto +the intelligent Krishna the boon he desired. And having granted these +boons unto Krishna and Arjuna, the lord of the Maruts, accompanied by the +celestials, ascended to heaven, having also spoken to Hutasana (one whose +food is sacrificial butter). Agni also, having burnt that forest with its +animals and birds for five and ten days, became gratified and ceased to +burn. Having eaten flesh in abundance and drunk fat and blood, he became +highly gratified, and addressing Achyuta and Arjuna said, ‘I have been +gratified by you two tigers among men. At my command, ye heroes, ye shall +be competent to go wheresoever ye choose!’ Thus addressed by the +illustrious Agni, Arjuna and Vasudeva and the Danava Maya also--these +three,--having wandered a little at last sat themselves down on the +delightful banks of a river.’” + +END OF ADI PARVA + +FOOTNOTES + +1. These are divisions of time + + + + + + + + + +The Mahabharata + +of + +Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa + +BOOK 2 + +SABHA PARVA + +Translated into English Prose from the Original Sanskrit Text + +by + +Kisari Mohan Ganguli + +[1883-1896] + +Scanned at sacred-texts.com, 2003. Proofed at Distributed Proofing, +Juliet Sutherland, Project Manager. Additional proofing and formatting at +sacred-texts.com, by J. B. Hare. + + + +SECTION I + +(Sabhakriya Parva) + +Om! After having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara, the most exalted male +being, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word Jaya be uttered. + +“Vaisampayana said,--“Then, in the presence of Vasudeva, Maya Danava, +having worshipped Arjuna, repeatedly spoke unto him with joined hands and +in amiable words,--‘O son of Kunti, saved have I been by thee from this +Krishna in spate and from Pavaka (fire) desirous of consuming me. Tell me +what I have to do for thee. + +“Arjuna said,--‘O great Asura, everything hath already been done by thee +(even by this offer of thine). Blest be thou. Go whithersoever thou +likest. Be kind and well-disposed towards me, as we are even kind to and +well-pleased with thee!’ + +“Maya said,--‘O bull amongst men, what thou hast said is worthy of thee, +O exalted one. But O Bharata, I desire to do something for thee +cheerfully. I am a great artist, a Viswakarma among the Danavas. O son of +Pandu, being what I am, I desire to do something for thee.’ + +“Arjuna said,--‘O sinless one, thou regardest thyself as saved (by me) +from imminent death. Even if it hath been so, I cannot make thee do +anything for me. At the same time, O Danava, I do not wish to frustrate +thy intentions. Do thou something for Krishna. That will be a sufficient +requital for my services to thee.’ + +Vaisampayana said,--“Then, O bull of the Bharata race, urged by Maya, +Vasudeva reflected for a moment as to what he should ask Maya to +accomplish. Krishna, the Lord of the universe and the Creator of every +object, having reflected in his mind, thus commanded Maya,--‘Let a +palatial sabha (meeting hall) as thou choosest, be built (by thee), if +thou, O son of Diti, who art the foremost of all artists, desirest to do +good to Yudhishthira the just. Indeed, build thou such a palace that +persons belonging to the world of men may not be able to imitate it even +after examining it with care, while seated within. And, O Maya, build +thou a mansion in which we may behold a combination of godly, asuric and +human designs.’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Having heard those words, Maya became +exceedingly glad. And he forthwith built a magnificent palace for the son +of Pandu like unto the palace of the celestials themselves. Then Krishna +and Partha (Arjuna) after having narrated everything unto king +Yudhishthira the just, introduced Maya unto him. Yudhishthira received +Maya with respect, offering him the honour he deserved. And, O Bharata, +Maya accepted that honour thinking highly of it. O monarch of the Bharata +race, that great son of Diti then recited unto the sons of Pandu the +history of the Danava Vrisha-parva, and that foremost of artists then, +having rested awhile, set himself after much thoughtful planning to build +a palace for the illustrious sons of Pandu. Agreeably to the wishes of +both Krishna and the sons of Pritha, the illustrious Danava of great +prowess, having performed on an auspicious day the initial propitiatory +rites of foundation and having also gratified thousands of well-versed +Brahmanas with sweetened milk and rice and with rich presents of various +kinds, measured out a plot of land five thousand cubits square, which was +delightful and exceedingly handsome to behold and which was favourable +for construction of a building well-suited to the exigencies of every +season.” + + + +SECTION II + +“Vaisampayana said,--“Janardana deserving the worship of all, having +lived happily at Khandavaprastha for some time, and having been treated +all the while with respectful love and affection by the sons of Pritha, +became desirous one day of leaving Khandavaprastha to behold his father. +That possessor of large eyes, unto whom was due the obeisance of the +universe, then saluted both Yudhishthira and Pritha and made obeisance +with his head unto the feet of Kunti, his father’s sister. Thus revered +by Kesava, Pritha smelt his head and embraced him. The illustrious +Hrishikesa approached his own sister Subhadra affectionately, with his +eyes filled with tears, and spoke unto her words of excellent import and +truth, terse proper, unanswerable and fraught with good. The +sweet-speeched Subhadra also, saluting him in return and worshipping him +repeatedly with bent head, told him all that she wished to be conveyed to +her relatives on the paternal side. And bidding her farewell and uttering +benedictions on his handsome sister, he of the Vrishni race, next saw +Draupadi and Dhaumya. That best of men duly made obeisance unto Dhaumya, +and consoling Draupadi obtained leave from her. Then the learned and +mighty Krishna, accompanied by Partha, went to his cousins. And +surrounded by the five brothers, Krishna shone like Sakra in the midst of +the celestials. He whose banner bore the figure of Garuda, desirous of +performing the rites preparatory to the commencement of a journey, +purified himself by a bath and adorned his person with ornaments. The +bull of the Yadu race then worshipped the gods and Brahmanas with floral +wreaths, mantras, bows of the head, and excellent perfumes. Having +finished all these rites, that foremost of steady and virtuous persons +then thought of setting out. The chief of the Yadu race then came out of +the inner to the outer apartment, and issuing thence he made unto +Brahmanas, deserving of worship, offerings of vessel-fulls of curd and +fruits, and parched-grain and caused them to pronounce benedictions upon +him. And making unto them presents also of wealth, he went round them. +Then ascending his excellent car of gold endued with great speed and +adorned with banner bearing the figure of Tarkhya (Garuda) and furnished +also with mace, discus, sword, his bow Sharnga and other weapons, and +yoking thereunto his horses Saivya and Sugriva, he of eyes like lotuses +set out at an excellent moment of a lunar day of auspicious stellar +conjunction. And Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus, from affection, +ascended the chariot after Krishna, and causing that best charioteer +Daruka to stand aside, himself took the reins. And Arjuna also, of long +arms, riding on that car, walked round Krishna and fanned him with a +white chamara furnished with a handle of gold. And the mighty Bhimasena +accompanied by the twin brothers Nakula and Sahadeva and the priests and +citizens all followed Krishna from behind. And Kesava, that slayer of +hostile heroes, followed by all the brothers, shone like a preceptor +followed by his favourite pupils. Then Govinda spoke unto Arjuna and +clasped him firmly, and worshipping Yudhisthira and Bhima, embraced the +twins. And embraced in return by the three elder Pandavas, he was +reverentially saluted by the twins. After having gone about half a Yojana +(two miles), Krishna, that subjugator of hostile towns, respectfully +addressed Yudhishthira and requested him, O Bharata, to stop following +him further. And Govinda, conversant with every duty, then reverentially +saluted Yudhishthira and took hold of his feet. But Yudhishthira soon +raised Kesava and smelt his head. King Yudhishthira the just, the son of +Pandu, having raised Krishna endued with eyes like lotus-petals and the +foremost of the Yadava race, gave him leave, saying,--‘Good bye!’ Then +the slayer of Madhu, making an appointment with them (about his return) +in words that were proper, and preventing with difficulty the Pandavas +from following him further on foot, gladly proceeded towards his own +city, like Indra going towards Amravati. Out of the love and affection +they bore him, the Pandavas gazed on Krishna as long as he was within +sight, and their minds also followed him when he got out of sight. And +Kesava of agreeable person soon disappeared from their sight, unsatiated +though their minds were with looking at him. Those bulls among men, the +sons of Pritha, with minds fixed on Govinda, desisted (from following him +further) and unwillingly returned to their own city in haste. And Krishna +in his car soon reached Dwaraka followed by that hero Satyaki. Then +Sauri, the son of Devaki, accompanied by his charioteer Daruka reached +Dwaraka with the speed of Garuda.” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Meanwhile king Yudhishthira of unfading glory, +accompanied by his brothers and surrounded by friends, entered his +excellent capital. And that tiger among men, dismissing all his +relatives, brothers, and sons, sought to make himself happy in the +company of Draupadi. And Kesava also, worshipped by the principal Yadavas +including Ugrasena, entered with a happy heart his own excellent city. +And worshipping his old father and his illustrious mother, and saluting +(his brother) Valadeva, he of eyes like lotus-petals took his seat. +Embracing Pradyumna, Shamva, Nishatha, Charudeshna, Gada, Aniruddha and +Bhanu, and obtaining the leave of all the elderly men, Janardana entered +the apartments of Rukmini.” + + + +SECTION III + +“Vaisampayana said,--“Then Maya Danava addressed Arjuna, that foremost of +successful warriors, saying,--‘I now go with thy leave, but shall come +back soon. On the north of the Kailasa peak near the mountains of +Mainaka, while the Danavas were engaged in a sacrifice on the banks of +Vindu lake, I gathered a huge quantity of delightful and variegated vanda +(a kind of rough materials) composed of jewels and gems. This was placed +in the mansion of Vrishaparva ever devoted to truth. If it be yet +existing, I shall come back, O Bharata, with it. I shall then commence +the construction of the delightful palace of the Pandavas, which is to be +adorned with every kind of gems and celebrated all over the world. There +is also, I think, O thou of the Kuru race, a fierce club placed in the +lake Vindu by the King (of the Danavas) after slaughtering therewith all +his foes in battle. Besides being heavy and strong and variegated with +golden knobs, it is capable of bearing great weight, and of slaying all +foes, and is equal in strength unto an hundred thousand clubs. It is a +fit weapon for Bhima, even as the Gandiva is for thee. There is also (in +that lake) a large conch-shell called Devadatta of loud sound, that came +from Varuna. I shall no doubt give all these to thee. Having spoken thus +unto Partha, the Asura went away in a north-easterly direction. On the +north of Kailasa in the mountains of Mainaka, there is a huge peak of +gems and jewels called Hiranya-sringa. Near that peak is a delightful +lake of the name of Vindu. There, on its banks, previously dwelt king +Bhagiratha for many years, desiring to behold the goddess Ganga, since +called Bhagirathee after that king’s name. And there, on its banks, O +thou best of the Bharatas, Indra the illustrious lord of every created +thing, performed one hundred great sacrifices. There, for the sake of +beauty, though not according to the dictates of the ordinance, were +placed sacrificial stakes made of gems and altars of gold. There, after +performing those sacrifices, the thousand-eyed lord of Sachi became +crowned with success. There the fierce Mahadeva, the eternal lord of +every creature, has taken up his abode after having created all the +worlds and there he dwelleth, worshipped with reverence by thousands of +spirits. There Nara and Narayana, Brahma and Yama and Sthanu the fifth, +perform their sacrifices at the expiration of a thousand yugas. There, +for the establishment of virtue and religion, Vasudeva, with pious +devotion, performed his sacrifices extending for many, many long years. +There were placed by Keshava thousands and tens of thousands of +sacrificial stakes adorned with golden garlands and altars of great +splendour. Going thither, O Bharata, Maya brought back the club and the +conch-shell and the various crystalline articles that had belonged to +king Vrishaparva. And the great Asura, Maya, having gone thither, +possessed himself of the whole of the great wealth which was guarded by +Yakshas and Rakshasas. Bringing them, the Asura constructed therewith a +peerless palace, which was of great beauty and of celestial make, +composed entirely of gems and precious stones, and celebrated throughout +the three worlds. He gave unto Bhimasena that best of clubs, and unto +Arjuna the most excellent conch-shell at whose sound all creatures +trembled in awe. And the palace that Maya built consisted of columns of +gold, and occupied, O monarch, an area of five thousand cubits. The +palace, possessing an exceedingly beautiful form, like unto that of Agni +or Suryya, or Soma, shone in great splendour, and by its brilliance +seemed to darken even the bright rays of the sun. And with the effulgence +it exhibited, which was a mixture of both celestial and terrestrial +light, it looked as if it was on fire. Like unto a mass of new clouds +conspicuous in the sky, the palace rose up coming into view of all. +Indeed, the palace that the dexterous Maya built was so wide, delightful, +and refreshing, and composed of such excellent materials, and furnished +with such golden walls and archways, and adorned with so many varied +pictures, and was withal so rich and well-built, that in beauty it far +surpassed Sudharma of the Dasarha race, or the mansion of Brahma himself. +And eight thousand Rakshasas called Kinkaras, fierce, huge-bodied and +endued with great strength, of red coppery eyes and arrowy ears, +well-armed and capable of ranging through the air, used to guard and +protect that palace. Within that palace Maya placed a peerless tank, and +in that tank were lotuses with leaves of dark-coloured gems and stalks of +bright jewels, and other flowers also of golden leaves. And aquatic fowls +of various species sported on its bosom. Itself variegated with +full-blown lotuses and stocked with fishes and tortoises of golden hue, +its bottom was without mud and its water transparent. There was a flight +of crystal stairs leading from the banks to the edge of the water. The +gentle breezes that swept along its bosom softly shook the flowers that +studded it. The banks of that tank were overlaid with slabs of costly +marble set with pearls. And beholding that tank thus adorned all around +with jewels and precious stones, many kings that came there mistook it +for land and fell into it with eyes open. Many tall trees of various +kinds were planted all around the palace. Of green foliage and cool +shade, and ever blossoming, they were all very charming to behold. +Artificial woods were laid around, always emitting a delicious fragrance. +And there were many tanks also that were adorned with swans and +Karandavas and Chakravakas (Brahminy ducks) in the grounds lying about +the mansion. And the breeze bearing the fragrance of lotuses growing in +water and (of those growing on land) ministered unto the pleasure and +happiness of the Pandavas. And Maya having constructed such a palatial +hall within fourteen months, reported its completion unto Yudhishthira.” + + + +SECTION IV + +“Vaisampayana said,--“Then that chief of men, king Yudhishthira, entered +that palatial sabha having first fed ten thousand Brahmanas with +preparations of milk and rice mixed with clarified butter and honey with +fruits and roots, and with pork and venison. The king gratified those +superior Brahmanas, who had come from various countries with food +seasoned with seasamum and prepared with vegetables called jibanti, with +rice mixed with clarified butter, with different preparations of +meat--with indeed various kinds of other food, as also numberless viands +that are fit to be sucked and innumerable kinds of drinks, with new and +unused robes and clothes, and with excellent floral wreaths. The king +also gave unto each of those Brahmanas a thousand kine. And, O Bharata, +the voice of the gratified Brahmanas uttering,--‘What an auspicious day +is this! became so loud that it seemed to reach heaven itself. And when +the Kuru king entered the palatial sabha having also worshipped the gods +with various kinds of music and numerous species of excellent and costly +perfumes, the athletes and mimes and prize-fighters and bards and +encomiasts began to gratify that illustrious son of Dharma by exhibiting +their skill. And thus celebrating his entry into the palace, Yudhishthira +with his brothers sported within that palace like Sakra himself in +heaven. Upon the seats in that palace sat, along with the Pandavas, +Rishis and kings that came from various countries, viz., Asita and +Devala, Satya, Sarpamali and Mahasira; Arvavasu, Sumitra, Maitreya, +Sunaka and Vali; Vaka, Dalvya, Sthulasira, Krishna-Dwaipayana, and Suka +Sumanta, Jaimini, Paila, and the disciples of Vyasa, viz., ourselves; +Tittiri, Yajanavalkya, and Lomaharshana with his son; Apsuhomya, Dhaumya, +Animandavya; and Kausika; Damoshnisha and Traivali, Parnada, and +Varayanuka, Maunjayana, Vayubhaksha, Parasarya, and Sarika; Valivaka, +Silivaka, Satyapala, and Krita-srama; Jatukarna, and Sikhavat. Alamva and +Parijataka; the exalted Parvata, and the great Muni Markandeya; +Pavitrapani, Savarna, Bhaluki, and Galava. Janghabandhu, Raibhya, +Kopavega, and Bhrigu: Harivabhru, Kaundinya, Vabhrumali, and Sanatana, +Kakshivat, and Ashija, Nachiketa, and Aushija, Nachiketa, and Gautama; +Painga, Varaha, Sunaka, and Sandilya of great ascetic merit: Kukkura, +Venujangha, Kalapa and Katha;--these virtuous and learned Munis with +senses and souls under complete control, and many others as numerous, all +well-skilled in the Vedas and Vedangas and conversant with (rules of) +morality and pure and spotless in behaviour, waited on the illustrious +Yudhishthira, and gladdened him by their sacred discourses. And so also +numerous principal Kshatriyas, such as the illustrious and virtuous +Mujaketu, Vivarddhana, Sangramjit, Durmukha, the powerful Ugrasena; +Kakshasena, the lord of the Earth, Kshemaka the invincible; Kamatha, the +king of Kamvoja, and the mighty Kampana who alone made the Yavanas to +ever tremble at his name just as the god that wieldeth the thunder-bolt +maketh those Asuras, the Kalakeyas, tremble before him; Jatasura, and the +king of the Madrakas, Kunti, Pulinda the king of the Kiratas, and the +kings of Anga and Vanga, and Pandrya, and the king of Udhara, and +Andhaka; Sumitra, and Saivya that slayer of foes; Sumanas, the king of +the Kiratas, and Chanur the King of the Yavanas, Devarata, Bhoja, and the +so called Bhimaratha, Srutayudha--the king of Kalinga, Jayasena the king +of Magadha; and Sukarman, and Chekitana, and Puru that slayer of foes; +Ketumata, Vasudana, and Vaideha and Kritakshana: Sudharman, Aniruddha, +Srutayu endued with great strength; the invincible Anuparaja, the +handsome Karmajit; Sisupala with his son, the king of Karusha; and the +invincible youths of the Vrishni race, all equal in beauty unto the +celestials, viz., Ahuka, Viprithu, Sada, Sarana, Akrura, Kritavarman, and +Satyaka, the son of Sini; and Bhismaka, Ankriti, and the powerful +Dyumatsena, those chief of bowmen viz., the Kaikeyas and Yajnasena of the +Somaka race; these Kshatriyas endured with great might, all well-armed +and wealthy, and many others also regarded as the foremost, all waited +upon Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, in that Sabha, desirous of +ministering to his happiness. And those princes also, endued with great +strength, who dressing themselves in deer-skins learnt the science of +weapons under Arjuna, waited upon Yudhishthira. And O king, the princes +also of the Vrishni race, viz., Pradyumna (the son of Rukmini) and Samva, +and Yuyudhana the son of Satyaki and Sudharman and Aniruddha and Saivya +that foremost of men who had learnt the science of arms under Arjuna +these and many other kings, O lord of the Earth, used to wait on +Yudhishthira on that occasion. And that friend of Dhananjaya, Tumvuru, +and the Gandharva Chittasena with his ministers, any many other +Gandharvas and Apsaras, well-skilled in vocal and instrumental music and +in cadence and Kinnaras also well-versed in (musical) measures and +motions singing celestial tunes in proper and charming voices, waited +upon and gladdened the sons of Pandu and the Rishis who sat in that +Sabha. And seated in that Sabha, those bull among men, of rigid vows and +devoted to truth, all waited upon Yudhishthira like the celestials in +heaven waiting upon Brahma.” + + + +SECTION V + +(Lokapala Sabhakhayana Parva) + +“Vaisampayana said,--“While the illustrious Pandavas were seated in that +Sabha along with the principal Gandharvas, there came, O Bharata, unto +that assembly the celestial Rishi Narada, conversant with the Vedas and +Upanishadas, worshipped by the celestials acquainted with histories and +Puranas, well-versed in all that occurred in ancient kalpas (cycles), +conversant with Nyaya (logic) and the truth of moral science, possessing +a complete knowledge of the six Angas (viz., pronunciation, grammar, +prosody, explanation of basic terms, description of religious rites, and +astronomy). He was a perfect master in reconciling contradictory texts +and differentiating in applying general principles to particular cases, +as also in interpreting contraries by reference to differences in +situation, eloquent, resolute, intelligent, possessed of powerful memory. +He was acquainted with the science of morals and politics, learned, +proficient in distinguishing inferior things from superior ones, skilled +in drawing inference from evidence, competent to judge of the correctness +or incorrectness of syllogistic statements consisting of five +propositions. He was capable of answering successively Vrihaspati himself +while arguing, with definite conclusions properly framed about religion, +wealth, pleasure and salvation, of great soul and beholding this whole +universe, above, below, and around, as if it were present before his +eyes. He was master of both the Sankhya and Yoga systems of philosophy, +ever desirous of humbling the celestials and Asuras by fomenting quarrels +among them, conversant with the sciences of war and treaty, proficient in +drawing conclusions by judging of things not within direct ken, as also +in the six sciences of treaty, war, military campaigns, maintenance of +posts against the enemy and stratagems by ambuscades and reserves. He was +a thorough master of every branch of learning, fond of war and music, +incapable of being repulsed by any science or any course, of action, and +possessed of these and numberless other accomplishments. The Rishi, +having wandered over the different worlds, came into that Sabha. And the +celestial Rishi of immeasurable splendour, endued with great energy was +accompanied, O monarch, by Parijata and the intelligent Raivata and +Saumya and Sumukha. Possessing the speed of the mind, the Rishi came +thither and was filled with gladness upon beholding the Pandavas. The +Brahmana, on arriving there, paid homage unto Yudhishthira by uttering +blessings on him and wishing him victory. Beholding the learned Rishi +arrive, the eldest of the Pandavas, conversant with all rules of duty, +quickly stood up with his younger brothers. Bending low with humility, +the monarch cheerfully saluted the Rishi, and gave with due ceremonies a +befitting seat unto him. The king also gave him kine and the usual +offerings of the Arghya including honey and the other ingredients. +Conversant with every duty the monarch also worshipped the Rishi with +gems and jewels with a whole heart. Receiving that worship from +Yudhishthira in proper form, the Rishi became gratified. Thus worshipped +by the Pandavas and the great Rishis, Narada possessing a complete +mastery over the Vedas, said unto Yudhishthira the following words +bearing upon religion, wealth, pleasures and salvation. + +“Narada said--‘Is the wealth thou art earning being spent on proper +objects? Doth thy mind take pleasure in virtue? Art thou enjoying the +pleasures of life? Doth not thy mind sink under their weight? O chief of +men, continuest thou in the noble conduct consistent with religion and +wealth practised by thy ancestors towards the three classes of subjects, +(viz., good, indifferent, and bad)? Never injurest thou religion for the +sake of wealth, or both religion and wealth for the sake of pleasure that +easily seduces? O thou foremost of victorious men ever devoted to the +good of all, conversant as thou art with the timeliness of everything, +followest thou religion, wealth, pleasure and salvation dividing thy time +judiciously? O sinless one, with the six attributes of kings (viz., +cleverness of speech, readiness in providing means, intelligence in +dealing with the foe, memory, and acquaintance with morals and politics), +dost thou attend to the seven means (viz., sowing dissensions, +chastisement, conciliation, gifts, incantations, medicine and magic)? +Examinest thou also, after a survey of thy own strength and weakness, the +fourteen possessions of thy foes? These are the country, forts, cars, +elephants, cavalry, foot-soldiers, the principal officials of state, the +zenana, food supply, computations of the army and income, the religious +treatises in force, the accounts of state, the revenue, wine-shops and +other secret enemies. Attendest thou to the eight occupations (of +agriculture, trade, &c), having examined, O thou foremost of victorious +monarchs, thy own and thy enemy’s means, and having made peace with thy +enemies? O bull of the Bharata race, thy seven principal officers of +state (viz., the governor of the citadel, the commander of forces, the +chief judge, the general in interior command, the chief priest, the chief +physician, and the chief astrologer), have not, I hope, succumbed to the +influence of thy foes, nor have they, I hope, become idle in consequence +of the wealth they have earned? They are, I hope, all obedient to thee. +Thy counsels, I hope, are never divulged by thy trusted spies in +disguise, by thyself or by thy ministers? Thou ascertainest, I hope, what +thy friends, foes and strangers are about? Makest thou peace and makest +thou war at proper times? Observest thou neutrality towards strangers and +persons that are neutral towards thee? And, O hero, hast thou made +persons like thyself, persons that are old, continent in behaviour, +capable of understanding what should be done and what should not, pure as +regards birth and blood, and devoted to thee, thy ministers? O Bharata, +the victories of kings can be attributed to good counsels. O child, is +thy kingdom protected by ministers learned in Sastras, keeping their +counsels close? Are thy foes unable to injure it? Thou hast not become +the slave of sleep? Wakest thou at the proper time? Conversant with +pursuits yielding profit, thinkest thou, during the small hours of night, +as to what thou shouldst do and what thou shouldst not do the next day? +Thou settlest nothing alone, nor takest counsels with many? The counsels +thou hast resolved upon, do not become known all over thy kingdom? +Commencest thou soon to accomplish measures of great utility that are +easy of accomplishment? Such measures are never obstructed? Keepest thou +the agriculturists not out of thy sight? They do not fear to approach +thee? Achievest thou thy measures through persons that are trusted +incorruptible, and possessed of practical experience? And, O brave king. +I hope, people only know the measures already accomplished by thee and +those that have been partially accomplished and are awaiting completion, +but not those that are only in contemplation and uncommenced? Have +experienced teachers capable of explaining the causes of things and +learned in the science of morals and every branch of learning, been +appointed to instruct the princes and the chiefs of the army? Buyest thou +a single learned man by giving in exchange a thousand ignorant +individuals? The man that is learned conferreth the greatest benefit in +seasons of distress. Are thy forts always filled with treasure, food, +weapons, water, engines and instruments, as also with engineers and +bowmen? Even a single minister that is intelligent, brave, with his +passions under complete control, and possessed of wisdom and judgment, is +capable of conferring the highest prosperity on a king or a king’s son. I +ask thee, therefore, whether there is even one such minister with thee? +Seekest thou to know everything about the eighteen Tirthas of the foe and +fifteen of thy own by means of three and three spies all unacquainted +with one another? O slayer of all foes, watchest thou all thy enemies +with care and attention, and unknown to them? Is the priest thou +honourest, possessed of humility, and purity of blood, and renown, and +without jealousy and illiberality? Hath any well-behaved, intelligent, +and guileless Brahmana, well-up in the ordinance, been employed by thee +in the performance of thy daily rites before the sacred fire, and doth he +remind thee in proper time as to when thy homa should be performed? Is +the astrologer thou hast employed skilled in reading physiognomy, capable +of interpreting omens, and competent to neutralise the effect of the +disturbances of nature? Have respectable servants been employed by thee +in offices that are respectable, indifferent ones in indifferent offices, +and low ones in offices that are low? Hast thou appointed to high offices +ministers that are guileless and of well conduct for generations and +above the common run? Oppressest thou not thy people with cruel and +severe punishment? And, O bull of the Bharata race, do thy ministers rule +thy kingdom under thy orders? Do thy ministers ever slight thee like +sacrificial priests slighting men that are fallen (and incapable of +performing any more sacrifices) or like wives slighting husbands that are +proud and incontinent in their behaviour? Is the commander of thy forces +possessed of sufficient confidence, brave, intelligent, patient, +well-conducted, of good birth, devoted to thee, and competent? Treatest +thou with consideration and regard the chief officers of thy army that +are skilled in every kind of welfare, are forward, well-behaved, and +endued with prowess? Givest thou to thy troops their sanctioned rations +and pay in the appointed time? Thou dost not oppress them by withholding +these? Knowest thou that the misery caused by arrears of pay and +irregularity in the distribution of rations driveth the troops to mutiny, +and that is called by the learned to be one of the greatest of mischiefs? +Are all the principal high-born men devoted to thee, and ready with +cheerfulness to lay down their lives in battle for thy sake? I hope no +single individual of passions uncontrolled is ever permitted by thee to +rule as he likes a number of concerns at the same time appertaining to +the army? Is any servant of thine, who hath accomplished well a +particular business by the employment of special ability, disappointed in +obtaining from thee a little more regard, and an increase of food and +pay? I hope thou rewardest persons of learning and humility, and skill in +every kind of knowledge with gifts of wealth and honour proportionate to +their qualifications. Dost thou support, O bull in the Bharata race, the +wives and children of men that have given their lives for thee and have +been distressed on thy account? Cherishest thou, O son of Pritha, with +paternal affection the foe that hath been weakened, or him also that hath +sought thy shelter, having been vanquished in battle? O lord of Earth, +art thou equal unto all men, and can every one approach thee without +fear, as if thou wert their mother and father? And O bull of the Bharata +race, marchest thou, without loss of time, and reflecting well upon three +kinds of forces, against thy foe when thou hearest that he is in +distress? O subjugator of all foes beginnest thou thy march when the time +cometh, having taken into consideration all the omens you might see, the +resolutions thou hast made, and that the ultimate victory depends upon +the twelve mandalas (such as reserves, ambuscades, &c, and payment of pay +to the troops in advance)? And, O persecutor of all foes, givest thou +gems and jewels, unto the principal officers of enemy, as they deserve, +without thy enemy’s knowledge? O son of Pritha, seekest thou to conquer +thy incensed foes that are slaves to their passions, having first +conquered thy own soul and obtained the mastery over thy own senses? +Before thou marchest out against thy foes, dost thou properly employ the +four arts of reconciliation, gift (of wealth) producing disunion, and +application of force? O monarch, goest thou out against thy enemies, +having first strengthened thy own kingdom? And having gone out against +them, exertest thou to the utmost to obtain victory over them? And having +conquered them, seekest thou to protect them with care? Are thy army +consisting of four kinds of forces, viz., the regular troops, the allies, +the mercenaries, and the irregulars, each furnished with the eight +ingredients, viz., cars, elephants, horses, offices, infantry, +camp-followers, spies possessing a thorough knowledge of the country, and +ensigns led out against thy enemies after having been well trained by +superior officers? O oppressor of all foes, O great king, I hope thou +slayest thy foes without regarding their seasons of reaping and of +famine? O king, I hope thy servants and agents in thy own kingdom and in +the kingdoms of thy foes continue to look after their respective duties +and to protect one another. O monarch, I hope trusted servants have been +employed by thee to look after thy food, the robes thou wearest and the +perfumes thou usest. I hope, O king, thy treasury, barns, stables +arsenals, and women’s apartments, are all protected by servants devoted +to thee and ever seeking thy welfare. I hope, O monarch, thou protectest +first thyself from thy domestic and public servants, then from those +servants of thy relatives and from one another. Do thy servants, O king, +ever speak to thee in the forenoon regarding thy extravagant expenditure +in respect of thy drinks, sports, and women? Is thy expenditure always +covered by a fourth, a third or a half of thy income? Cherishest thou +always, with food and wealth, relatives, superiors, merchants, the aged, +and other proteges, and the distressed? Do the accountants and clerks +employed by thee in looking after thy income and expenditure, always +appraise thee every day in the forenoon of thy income and expenditure? +Dismissest thou without fault servants accomplished in business and +popular and devoted to thy welfare? O Bharata, dost thou employ superior, +indifferent, and low men, after examining them well in offices they +deserve? O monarch, employest thou in thy business persons that are +thievish or open to temptation, or hostile, or minors? Persecutest thou +thy kingdom by the help of thievish or covetous men, or minors, or women? +Are the agriculturists in thy kingdom contented. Are large tanks and +lakes constructed all over thy kingdom at proper distances, without +agriculture being in thy realm entirely dependent on the showers of +heaven? Are the agriculturists in thy kingdom wanting in either seed or +food? Grantest thou with kindness loans (of seed-grains) unto the +tillers, taking only a fourth in excess of every measure by the hundred? +O child, are the four professions of agriculture, trade, cattle-rearing, +and lending at interest, carried on by honest men? Upon these O monarch, +depends the happiness of thy people. O king, do the five brave and wise +men, employed in the five offices of protecting the city, the citadel, +the merchants, and the agriculturists, and punishing the criminals, +always benefit thy kingdom by working in union with one another? For the +protection of thy city, have the villages been made like towns, and the +hamlets and outskirts of villages like villages? Are all these entirely +under thy supervision and sway? Are thieves and robbers that sack thy +town pursued by thy police over the even and uneven parts of thy kingdom? +Consolest thou women and are they protected in thy realm? I hope thou +placest not any confidence in them, nor divulgest any secret before any +of them? O monarch, having heard of any danger and having reflected on it +also, liest thou in the inner apartments enjoying every agreeable object? +Having slept during the second and the third divisions of the night, +thinkest thou of religion and profit in the fourth division wakefully. O +son of Pandu, rising from bed at the proper time and dressing thyself +well, showest thou thyself to thy people, accompanied by ministers +conversant with the auspiciousness or otherwise of moments? O represser +of all foes, do men dressed in red and armed with swords and adorned with +ornaments stand by thy side to protect thy person? O monarch! behavest +thou like the god of justice himself unto those that deserve punishment +and those that deserve worship, unto those that are dear to thee and +those that thou likest not? O son of Pritha, seekest thou to cure bodily +diseases by medicines and fasts, and mental illness with the advice of +the aged? I hope that the physicians engaged in looking after thy health +are well conversant with the eight kinds of treatment and are all +attached and devoted to thee. Happeneth it ever, O monarch, that from +covetousness or folly or pride thou failest to decide between the +plaintiff and the defendant who have come to thee? Deprivest thou, +through covetousness or folly, of their pensions the proteges who have +sought thy shelter from trustfulness or love? Do the people that inhabit +thy realm, bought by thy foes, ever seek to raise disputes with thee, +uniting themselves with one another? Are those amongst thy foes that are +feeble always repressed by the help of troops that are strong, by the +help of both counsels and troops? Are all the principal chieftains (of +thy empire) all devoted to thee? Are they ready to lay down their lives +for thy sake, commanded by thee? Dost thou worship Brahmanas and wise men +according to their merits in respect of various branches of learning? I +tell thee, such worship is without doubt, highly beneficial to thee. Hast +thou faith in the religion based on the three Vedas and practised by men +who have gone before thee? Dost thou carefully follow the practices that +were followed by them? Are accomplished Brahmanas entertained in thy +house and in thy presence with nutritive and excellent food, and do they +also obtain pecuniary gifts at the conclusion of those feasts? Dost thou, +with passions under complete control and with singleness of mind, strive +to perform the sacrifices called Vajapeya and Pundarika with their full +complement of rites? Bowest thou unto thy relatives and superiors, the +aged, the gods, the ascetics, the Brahmanas, and the tall trees (banian) +in villages, that are of so much benefit to people? O sinless one, +causest thou ever grief or anger in any one? Do priests capable of +granting thee auspicious fruits ever stand by thy side? O sinless one, +are thy inclinations and practices such as I have described them, and as +always enhance the duration of life and spread one’s renown and as always +help the cause of religion, pleasure, and profit? He who conducteth +himself according to this way, never findeth his kingdom distressed or +afflicted; and that monarch, subjugating the whole earth, enjoyeth a high +degree of felicity. O monarch, I hope, no well-behaved, pure-souled, and +respected person is ever ruined and his life taken, on a false charge or +theft, by thy ministers ignorant of Sastras and acting from greed? And, O +bull among men, I hope thy ministers never from covetousness set free a +real thief, knowing him to be such and having apprehended him with the +booty about him? O Bharata, I hope, thy ministers are never won over by +bribes, nor do they wrongly decide the disputes that arise between the +rich and the poor. Dost thou keep thyself free from the fourteen vices of +kings, viz., atheism, untruthfulness, anger, incautiousness, +procrastination, non-visit to the wise, idleness, restlessness of mind, +taking counsels with only one man, consultation with persons unacquainted +with the science of profit, abandonment of a settled plan, divulgence of +counsels, non-accomplishment of beneficial projects, and undertaking +everything without reflection? By these, O king, even monarchs firmly +seated on their thrones are ruined. Hath thy study of the Vedas, thy +wealth and knowledge of the Sastras and marriage been fruitful? + +“Vaisampayana continued,--After the Rishi had finished, Yudhishthira +asked,--“How, O Rishi, do the Vedas, wealth, wife, and knowledge of the +Sastras bear fruit?” + +“The Rishi answered,--“The Vedas are said to bear fruit when he that hath +studied them performeth the Agnihotra and other sacrifices. Wealth is +said to bear fruit when he that hath it enjoyeth it himself and giveth it +away in charity. A wife is said to bear fruit when she is useful and when +she beareth children. Knowledge of the Sastras is said to bear fruit when +it resulteth in humility and good behaviour.” + +“Vaisampayana continued,--The great ascetic Narada, having answered +Yudhishthira thus, again asked that just ruler,-“Do the officers of thy +government, O king, that are paid from the taxes levied on the community, +take only their just dues from the merchants that come to thy territories +from distant lands impelled by the desire of gain? Are the merchants, O +king, treated with consideration in thy capital and kingdom, capable of +bringing their goods thither without being deceived by the false pretexts +of (both the buyers and the officers of government)? + +Listenest thou always, O monarch, to the words, fraught with instructions +in religion and wealth, of old men acquainted with economic doctrines? +Are gifts of honey and clarified butter made to the Brahmanas intended +for the increase of agricultural produce, of kine, of fruits and flowers, +and for the sake of virtue? Givest thou always, O king, regularly unto +all the artisans and artists employed by thee the materials of their +works and their wages for periods not more than four months? Examinest +thou the works executed by those that are employed by thee, and +applaudest thou them before good men, and rewardest thou them, having +shewn them proper respect? O bull of the Bharata race, followest thou the +aphorisms (of the sage) in respect of every concern particularly those +relating to elephants, horses, and cars? O bull of the Bharata race, are +the aphorisms relating to the science of arms, as also those that relate +to the practice of engines in warfare--so useful to towns and fortified +places, studied in thy court? O sinless one, art thou acquainted with all +mysterious incantations, and with the secrets of poisons destructive of +all foes? Protectest thou thy kingdom from the fear of fire, of snakes +and other animals destructive of life, of disease, and Rakshasas? As +acquainted thou art with every duty, cherishest thou like a father, the +blind, the dumb, the lame, the deformed, the friendless, and ascetics +that have no homes. Hast thou banished these six evils, O monarch, viz., +sleep, idleness, fear, anger, weakness of mind, and procrastination?’ + +“Vaisampayana continued,--The illustrious bull among the Kurus, having +heard these words of that best of Brahmanas, bowed down unto him and +worshipped his feet. And gratified with everything he heard, the monarch +said unto Narada of celestial form,--“I shall do all that thou hast +directed, for my knowledge hath expanded under thy advice!’ Having said +this the king acted conformably to that advice, and gained in time the +whole Earth bounded by her belt of seas. Narada again spoke, +saying,--“That king who is thus employed in the protection of four +orders, Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Sudras, passeth his days +here happily and attaineth hereafter to the region of Sakra (heaven).’” + + + +SECTION VI + +“Vaisampayana said,--At the conclusion of Narada’s words, king +Yudhishthira the just worshipped him duly; and commanded by him the +monarch began to reply succinctly to the questions the Rishi had asked. + +“Yudhishthira said--‘O holy one, the truths of religion and morality thou +hast indicated one after another, are just and proper. As regards myself, +I duly observe those ordinances to the best of my power. Indeed, the acts +that were properly performed by monarchs of yore are, without doubt, to +be regarded as bearing proper fruit, and undertaken from solid reasons +for the attainment of proper objects. O master, we desire to walk in the +virtuous path of those rulers that had, besides, their souls under +complete control.” + +“Vaisampayana continued,--“Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, possessed of +great glory, having received with reverence the words of Narada and +having also answered the Rishi thus, reflected for a moment. And +perceiving a proper opportunity, the monarch, seated beside the Rishi, +asked Narada sitting at his ease and capable of going into every world at +will, in the presence of that assembly of kings, saying,--‘Possessed of +the speed of mind, thou wanderest over various and many worlds created in +days of yore by Brahma, beholding everything. Tell me, I ask thee, if +thou hast, O Brahmana, ever beheld before anywhere an assembly room like +this of mine or superior to it!’ Hearing these words of Yudhishthira the +just, Narada smilingly answered the son of Pandu in these sweet accents,-- + +“Narada said,--‘O child, O king I did neither see nor hear of ever before +amongst men, any assembly room built of gems and precious stones like +this of thine, O Bharata. I shall, however, describe unto thee the rooms +of the king of the departed (Yama), of Varuna (Neptune) of great +intelligence, of Indra, the King of Gods and also of him who hath his +home in Kailasha (Kuvera). I shall also describe unto thee the celestial +Sabha of Brahma that dispelleth every kind of uneasiness. All these +assembly rooms exhibit in their structure both celestial and human +designs and present every kind of form that exists in the universe. And +they are ever worshipped by the gods and the Pitris, the Sadhyas, +(under-deities called Gana), by ascetics offering sacrifices, with souls +under complete command, by peaceful Munis engaged without intermission in +Vedic sacrifices with presents to Brahmanas. I shall describe all these +to you if, O bull of the Bharata race, thou hast any inclinations to +listen to me!’” + +“Vaisampayana continued,--“Thus addressed by Narada, the high-souled king +Yudhishthira the just, with his brothers and all those foremost of +Brahmanas (seated around him), joined his hands (in entreaty). And the +monarch then asked Narada, saying,--‘Describe unto us all those assembly +rooms. We desire to listen to thee. O Brahmana, what are the articles +with which each of the Sabhas are made of? What is the area of each, and +what is the length and breadth of each? Who wait upon the Grandsire in +that assembly room? And who also upon Vasava, the Lord of the celestials +and upon Yama, the son of Vivaswana? Who wait upon Varuna and upon Kuvera +in their respective assembly rooms. O Brahmana Rishi, tell us all about +these. We all together desire to hear thee describe them. Indeed, our +curiosity is great.’ Thus addressed by the son of Pandu, Narada replied, +saying,--‘O monarch, hear ye all about those celestial assembly rooms one +after another.” + + + +SECTION VII + +“Narada said,--the celestial assembly room of Sakra is full of lustre. He +hath obtained it as the fruit of his own acts. Possessed of the splendour +of the sun, it was built, O scion of the Kuru race, by Sakra himself. +Capable of going everywhere at will, this celestial assembly house is +full one hundred and fifty yojanas in length, and hundred yojanas in +breadth, and five yojanas in height. Dispelling weakness of age, grief, +fatigue, and fear, auspicious and bestowing good fortune, furnished with +rooms and seats and adorned with celestial trees, it is delightful in the +extreme. There sitteth in that assembly room, O son of Pritha, on an +excellent seat, the Lord of celestials, with his wife Sachi endowed with +beauty and affluence. Assuming a form incapable of description for its +vagueness, with a crown on his head and bright bracelets on the upper +arms, attired in robes of pure white and decked with floral wreaths of +many hues, there he sitteth with beauty, fame, and glory by his side. And +the illustrious deity of a hundred sacrifices is daily waited upon. O +monarch, in that assembly by the Marutas in a body, each leading the life +of a householder in the bosom of his family. And the Siddhyas, celestial +Rishis, the Sadhyas in all, the gods, and Marutas of brilliant complexion +and adorned with golden garlands,--all of them in celestial form and +decked in ornaments, always wait upon and worship the illustrious chief +of the immortals, that mighty represser of all foes. And O son of Pritha, +the celestial Rishis also, all of pure souls, with sins completely washed +off and resplendent as the fire, and possessed of energy, and without +sorrow of any kind, and freed from the fever of anxiety, and all +performers of the Soma sacrifice, also wait upon and worship Indra. And +Parasara and Parvata and Savarni and Galava; and Sankha, and the Muni, +Gaursiras, and Durvasa, and Krodhana and Swena and the Muni Dhirghatamas; +and Pavitrapani, Savarni, Yajnavalkya and Bhaluki; and Udyalaka, +Swetaketu, and Tandya, and also Bhandayani; and Havishmat, and Garishta, +and king Harischandra; and Hridya, Udarshandilya. Parasarya, Krishivala; +Vataskandha, Visakha, Vidhatas and Kala. Karaladanta, Tastri, and +Vishwakarman, and Tumuru; and other Rishis, some born of women and others +living upon air, and others again living upon fire, these all worship +Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, the lord of all the worlds. And +Sahadeva, and Sunitha, and Valmiki of great ascetic merit; and Samika of +truthful speech, and Prachetas ever fulfilling their promises, and +Medhatithi, and Vamadeva, and Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu; and Maruta and +Marichi, and Sthanu of great ascetic merit; and Kakshivat, and Gautama, +and Tarkhya, and also the Muni Vaishwanara; and the Muni Kalakavrikhiya +and Asravya, and also Hiranmaya, and Samvartta, and Dehavya, and +Viswaksena of great energy; and Kanwa, and Katyayana, O king, and Gargya, +and Kaushika;--all are present there along with the celestial waters and +plants; and faith, and intelligence, and the goddess of learning, and +wealth, religion, and pleasure; and lightning. O son of Pandu; and the +rain-charged clouds, and the winds, and all the loud-sounding forces of +heaven; the eastern point, the twenty seven fires conveying the +sacrificial butter, Agni and Soma, and the fire of Indra, and Mitra, and +Savitri, and Aryaman; Bhaga, Viswa the Sadhyas, the preceptor +(Vrihaspati), and also Sukra; and Vishwavasu and Chitrasena, and Sumanas, +and also Taruna; the Sacrifices, the gifts to Brahmanas, the planets, and +the stars, O Bharata, and the mantras that are uttered in sacrifices--all +these are present there. And, O King, many Apsaras and Gandharvas, by +various kinds of dances and music both instrumental and vocal, and by the +practice of auspicious rites, and by the exhibition of many feats of +skill, gratify the lord of the celestials--Satakratu--the illustrious +slayer of Vala and Vritra. Besides these, many other Brahmanas and royal +and celestial Rishis, all resplendent as the fire, decked in floral +wreaths and ornaments, frequently come to and leave that assembly, riding +on celestial cars of various kinds. And Vrihaspati and Sukra are present +there on all occasions. These and many other illustrious ascetics of +rigid wows, and Bhrigu and the seven Rishis who are equal, O king, unto +Brahma himself, come to and leave that assembly house, riding on cars +beautiful as the car of Soma, and themselves looking as bright therein as +Soma himself. This, O mighty armed monarch, is the assembly house, called +Pushkaramalini, of Indra of a hundred sacrifices that I have seen. Listen +now to the account of Yama’s assembly house.” + + + +SECTION VIII + +“Narada said,--‘O Yudhisthira, I shall now describe the assembly house of +Yama, the son of Vivaswat, which, O son of Pritha, was built by +Viswakarma. Listen now to me. Bright as burnished gold, that assembly +house, O monarch, covers an area of much more than a hundred yojanas. +Possessed of the splendour of the sun, it yieldeth everything that one +may desire. Neither very cool nor very hot, it delighteth the heart. In +that assembly house there is neither grief nor weakness of age, neither +hunger nor thirst. Nothing disagreeable findeth a place there, nor any +kind of evil feelings there. Every object of desire, celestial or human, +is to be found in that mansion. And all kinds of enjoyable articles, as +also of sweet, juicy, agreeable, and delicious edibles in profusion that +are licked, sucked, and drunk, are there, O chastiser of all enemies. The +floral wreaths in that mansion are of the most delicious fragrance, and +the trees that stand around it yield fruits that are desired of them. +There are both cold and hot waters and these are sweet and agreeable. In +that mansion many royal sages of great sanctity and Brahmana sages also +of great purity, cheerfully wait upon, O child, and worship Yama, the son +of Vivaswat. And Yayati, Nahusha, Puru, Mandhatri, Somaka, Nriga; the +royal sage Trasadasyu, Kritavirya, Sautasravas; Arishtanemi, Siddha, +Kritavega, Kriti, Nimi, Pratarddana, Sivi, Matsya, Prithulaksha, +Vrihadratha, Vartta, Marutta, Kusika, Sankasya, Sankriti, Dhruva, +Chaturaswa, Sadaswormi and king Kartavirya; Bharata and Suratha, Sunitha, +Nisatha, Nala, Divodasa, and Sumanas, Amvarisha, Bhagiratha; Vyaswa, +Vadhraswa, Prithuvega, Prithusravas, Prishadaswa, Vasumanas, Kshupa, and +Sumahavala, Vrishadgu, and Vrishasena, Purukutsa, Dhwajin and Rathin; +Arshtisena, Dwilipa, and the high-souled Ushinara; Ausinari, Pundarika, +Saryati, Sarava, and Suchi; Anga, Rishta, Vena, Dushmanta, Srinjaya and +Jaya; Bhangasuri, Sunitha, and Nishada, and Bahinara; Karandhama, +Valhika, Sudymna, and the mighty Madhu; Aila and the mighty king of earth +Maruta; Kapota, Trinaka, and Shadeva, and Arjuna also. Vysawa; Saswa and +Krishaswa, and king Sasavindu; Rama the son of Dasaratha, and Lakshmana, +and Pratarddana; Alarka, and Kakshasena, Gaya, and Gauraswa; Rama the son +of Jamadagnya, Nabhaga, and Sagara; Bhuridyumna and Mahaswa, Prithaswa, +and also Janaka; king Vainya, Varisena, Purujit, and Janamejaya; +Brahmadatta, and Trigarta, and king Uparichara also; Indradyumna, +Bhimajanu, Gauraprishta, Nala, Gaya; Padma and Machukunda, Bhuridyumna, +Prasenajit; Aristanemi, Sudymna, Prithulauswa, and Ashtaka also; a +hundred kings of the Matsya race and hundred of the Vipa and a hundred of +the Haya races; a hundred kings of the name of Dhritarashtra, eighty +kings of the name of Janamejaya; a hundred monarchs called Brahmadatta, +and a hundred kings of the name of Iri; more than two hundred Bhishmas, +and also a hundred Bhimas; a hundred Prativindhyas, a hundred Nagas, and +a hundred Palasas, and a hundred called Kasa and Kusa; that king of kings +Santanu, and thy father Pandu, Usangava, Sata-ratha, Devaraja, +Jayadratha; the intelligent royal sage Vrishadarva with his ministers; +and a thousand other kings known by the name of Sasa-vindu, and who have +died, having performed many grand horse-sacrifices with large presents to +the Brahmanas--these holy royal sages of grand achievements and great +knowledge of the Sastras, wait upon, O King, and worship the son of +Vivaswat in that assembly house. And Agastya and Matanga, and Kala, and +Mrityu (Death), performers of sacrifices, the Siddhas, and many Yogins; +the Prtris (belonging to the classes--called Agniswattas, Fenapa, +Ushampa, Swadhavat, and Verhishada), as also those others that have +forms; the wheel of time, and the illustrious conveyer himself of the +sacrificial butter; all sinners among human beings, as also those that +have died during the winter solstice; these officers of Yama who have +been appointed to count the allotted days of everybody and everything; +the Singsapa, Palasa, Kasa, and Kusa trees and plants, in their embodied +forms, these all, O king, wait upon and worship the god of justice in +that assembly house of his. These and many others are present at the +Sabha of the king of the Pitris (manes). So numerous are they that I am +incapable of describing them either by mentioning their names or deeds. O +son of Pritha, the delightful assembly house, moving everywhere at the +will of its owner, is of wide extent. It was built by Viswakarma after a +long course of ascetic penances. And, O Bharata, resplendent with his own +effulgence, it stands glorified in all its beauty. Sannyasis of severe +ascetic penance, of excellent vows, and of truthful speech, peaceful and +pure and sanctified by holy deeds, of shining bodies and attired in +spotless robes, decked with bracelets and floral garlands, with ear-rings +of burnished gold, and adorned with their own holy acts as with the marks +of their order (painted over their bodies), constantly visit that Sabha +(Assembly). Many illustrious Gandharvas, and many Apsaras fill every part +of that mansion with music; both instrumental and vocal and with sounds +of laughter and dance. And, O son of Pritha, excellent perfumes, and +sweet sounds and garlands of celestial flowers always contribute towards +making that mansion supremely blest. And hundreds of thousands of +virtuous persons, of celestial beauty and great wisdom, always wait upon +and worship the illustrious Yama, the lord of created beings in that +assembly house. Such, O monarch, is the Sabha, of the illustrious king of +the Pitris! I shall now describe unto the assembly house of Varuna also +called Pushkaramalini!” + + + +SECTION IX + +‘Narada said--O Yudhishthira, the celestial Sabha of Varuna is +unparalleled in splendour. In dimensions it is similar to that of Yama. +Its walls and arches are all of pure white. It hath been built by +Viswakarma (the celestial architect) within the waters. It is surrounded +on all sides by many celestial trees made of gems and jewels and yielding +excellent fruits and flowers. And many plants with their weight of +blossoms, blue and yellow, and black and darkish, and white and red, that +stand there, or excellent bowers around. Within those bowers hundreds and +thousands of birds of diverse species, beautiful and variegated, always +pour forth their melodies. The atmosphere of that mansion is extremely +delightful, neither cold nor hot. Owned by Varuna, that delightful +assembly house of pure white consists of many rooms and is furnished with +many seats. There sitteth Varuna attired in celestial robe, decked in +celestial ornaments and jewels, with his queen, adorned with celestial +scents and besmeared with paste of celestial fragrance. The Adityas wait +upon and worship the illustrious Varuna, the lord of the waters. And +Vasuki and Takshaka, and the Naga called Airavana; Krishna and Lohita; +Padma and Chitra endued with great energy; the Nagas called Kamvala and +Aswatara; and Dhritarashtra and Valahaka; Matimat and Kundadhara and +Karkotaka and Dhananjaya; Panimat and the mighty Kundaka, O lord of the +Earth; and Prahlada and Mushikada, and Janamejaya,--all having auspicious +marks and mandalas and extended hoods;--these and many other snakes. O +Yudhishthira, without anxiety of any kind, wait upon and worship the +illustrious Varuna. And, O king, Vali the son of Virochana, and Naraka +the subjugator of the whole Earth; Sanghraha and Viprachitti, and those +Danavas called Kalakanja; and Suhanu and Durmukha and Sankha and Sumanas +and also Sumati; and Ghatodara, and Mahaparswa, and Karthana and also +Pithara and Viswarupa, Swarupa and Virupa, Mahasiras; and Dasagriva, +Vali, and Meghavasas and Dasavara; Tittiva, and Vitabhuta, and Sanghrada, +and Indratapana--these Daityas and Danavas, all bedecked with ear-rings +and floral wreaths and crowns, and attired in the celestial robes, all +blessed with boons and possessed of great bravery, and enjoying +immortality, and all well of conduct and of excellent vows, wait upon and +worship in that mansion the illustrious Varuna, the deity bearing the +noose as his weapon. And, O king, there are also the four oceans, the +river Bhagirathee, the Kalindi, the Vidisa, the Venwa, the Narmada of +rapid current; the Vipasa, the Satadu, the Chandrabhaga, the Saraswati; +the Iravati, the Vitasta, the Sindhu, the Devanadi; the Godavari, the +Krishnavenwa and that queen of rivers the Kaveri; the Kimpuna, the +Visalya and the river Vaitarani also; the Tritiya, the Jeshthila, and the +great Sone (Soane); the Charmanwati and the great river Parnasa; the +Sarayu, the Varavatya, and that queen of rivers the Langali, the +Karatoya, the Atreyi, the red Mahanada, the Laghanti, the Gomati, the +Sandhya, and also the Trisrotasi--these and other rivers which are all +sacred and are world-renowned places of pilgrimage, as also other rivers +and sacred waters and lakes and wells and springs, and tanks, large or +small, in their personified form, O Bharata, wait upon and worship the +lord Varuna. The points of the heavens, the Earth, and all the Mountains, +as also every species of aquatic animals, all worship Varuna there. And +various tribes of Gandharvas and Apsaras, devoted to music, both vocal +and instrumental, wait upon Varuna, singing eulogistic hymns unto him. +And all those mountains that are noted for being both delightful and rich +in jewels, wait (in their personified forms) in that Sabha, enjoying +sweet converse with one another. And the chief minister of Varuna, +Sunabha by name, surrounded by his sons and grandsons, also attend upon +his master, along with (the personified form) of a sacred water called +go. These all, in their personified forms, worship the deity. O bull of +the Bharata race, such is the assembly room of Varuna seen by me before, +in the course of my wanderings. Listen now to the account I give of the +assembly room of Kuvera.’” + + + +SECTION X + +“Narada said,--‘Possessed of great splendour, the assembly house of +Vaisravana, O king, is a hundred yojanas in length and seventy yojanas in +breadth. It was built, O king, by Vaisravana himself using his ascetic +power. Possessing the splendour of the peaks of Kailasa, that mansion +eclipses by its own the brilliance of the Moon himself. Supported by +Guhyakas, that mansion seems to be attached to the firmament. Of +celestial make, it is rendered extremely handsome with high chambers of +gold. Extremely delightful and rendered fragrant with celestial perfumes, +it is variegated with numberless costly jewels. Resembling the peaks of a +mass of white clouds, it seems to be floating in the air. Painted with +colours of celestial gold, it seems to be decked with streaks of +lightning. Within that mansion sitteth on an excellent seat bright as the +sun and covered with celestial carpets and furnished with a handsome +footstool, king Vaisravana of agreeable person, attired in excellent +robes and adorned with costly ornaments and ear-rings of great +brilliance, surrounded by his thousand wives. Delicious and cooling +breezes murmuring through forests of tall Mandaras, and bearing fragrance +of extensive plantations of jasmine, as also of the lotuses on the bosom +of the river Alaka and of the Nandana-gardens, always minister to the +pleasure of the King of the Yakshas. There the deities with the +Gandharvas surrounded by various tribes of Apsaras, sing in chorus, O +king, notes of celestial sweetness. Misrakesi and Rambha, and Chitrasena, +and Suchismita; and Charunetra, and Gritachi and Menaka, and +Punjikasthala; and Viswachi Sahajanya, and Pramlocha and Urvasi and Ira, +and Varga and Sauraveyi, and Samichi, and Vududa, and Lata--these and a +thousand other Apsaras and Gandharvas, all well-skilled in music and +dance, attend upon Kuvera, the lord of treasures. And that mansion, +always filled with the notes of instrumental and vocal music, as also +with the sounds of dance of various tribes of Gandharvas, and Apsaras +hath become extremely charming and delicious. The Gandharvas called +Kinnaras, and others called Naras, and Manibhadra, and Dhanada, and +Swetabhadra and Guhyaka; Kaseraka, Gandakandu, and the mighty Pradyota; +Kustumvuru, Pisacha, Gajakarna, and Visalaka, Varaha-Karna, Tamraushtica, +Falkaksha, and Falodaka; Hansachuda, Sikhavarta, Vibhishana, Pushpanana, +Pingalaka, Sonitoda and Pravalaka; Vrikshavaspa-niketa, and +Chiravasas--these O Bharata, and many other Yakshas by hundred and +thousands always wait upon Kuvera. The goddess Lakshmi always stayeth +there, also Kuvera’s son Nalakuvera. Myself and many others like myself +often repair thither. Many Brahmana Rishis and celestial Rishis also +repair there often. Many Rakshasas, and many Gandharvas, besides those +that have been named, wait upon the worship, in that mansion, the +illustrious lord of all treasures. And, O tiger among kings, the +illustrious husband of Uma and lord of created things, the three-eyed +Mahadeva, the wielder of the trident and the slayer of the Asura called +Bhaga-netra, the mighty god of the fierce bow, surrounded by multitudes +of spirits in their hundreds and thousands, some of dwarfish stature, +some of fierce visage, some hunch-backed, some of blood-red eyes, some of +frightful yells, some feeding upon fat and flesh, and some terrible to +behold, but all armed with various weapons and endued with the speed of +wind, with the goddess (Parvati) ever cheerful and knowing no fatigue, +always waiteth here upon their friend Kuvera, the lord of treasures. And +hundreds of Gandharva chiefs, with cheerful hearts and attired in their +respective robes and Viswavasu, and Haha and Huhu; and Tumvuru and +Parvatta, and Sailusha; and Chitrasena skilled in music and also +Chitraratha,--these and innumerable Gandharvas worship the lord of +treasures. And Chakradhaman, the chief of the Vidyadharas, with his +followers, waiteth in that mansion upon the lord of treasures. And +Kinnaras by hundreds and innumerable kings with Bhagadatta as their +chief, and Druma, the chief of the Kimpurushas, and Mahendra, the chief +of the Rakshasas, and Gandhamadana accompanied by many Yakshas and +Gandharvas and many Rakshasas wait upon the lord of treasures. The +virtuous Vibhishana also worshippeth there his elder brother the lord +Kuvera (Croesus). The mountains of Himavat, Paripatra, Vindhya, Kailasa, +Mandara, Malaya, Durdura, Mahendra, Gandhamadana, Indrakila, Sunava, and +Eastern and the Western hills--these and many other mountains, in their +personified forms, with Meru standing before all, wait upon and worship +the illustrious lord of treasures. The illustrious Nandiswaras, and +Mahakala, and many spirits with arrowy ears and sharp-pointed mouths, +Kaksha, Kuthimukha, Danti, and Vijaya of great ascetic merit, and the +mighty white bull of Siva roaring deep, all wait in that mansion. Besides +these many other Rakshasas and Pisachas (devils) worship Kuvera in that +assembly house. The son of Pulastya (Kuvera) formerly used always to +worship in all the modes and sit, with permission obtained, beside the +god of gods, Siva, the creator of the three worlds, that supreme Deity +surrounded by his attendants. One day the exalted Bhava (Siva) made +friendship with Kuvera. From that time, O king, Mahadeva always sitteth +on the mansion of his friend, the lord of treasures. Those best of all +jewels, those princes of all gems in the three worlds, viz., Sankha and +Padma, in their personified forms, accompanied by all the jewels of the +earth (also in their personified forms) worship Kuvera.” + +“This delightful assembly house of Kuvera that I have seen, attached to +the firmament and capable of moving along it, is such, O king. Listen now +to the Sabha I describe unto thee, belonging to Brahma the Grandsire.” + + + +SECTION XI + +“Narada said,--Listen to me, O child, as I tell thee of the assembly +house of the Grandsire, that house which none can describe, saying it is +such. In the Krita (golden) age of old, O king, the exalted deity Aditya +(once) came down from heaven into the world of men. Having seen before +the assembly-house of Brahma the Self-created, Aditya was cheerfully +wandering over the Earth in human form, desirous of beholding what could +be seen here. It was on that occasion, O son of Pandu, that the god of +day spoke unto me, O bull of the Bharata race, of that celestial Sabha +(assembly) of the Grandsire, immeasurable and immaterial and +indescribable, as regards form and shape, and capable of delighting the +heart of every creature by its splendour. Hearing, O bull of the Bharata +race, of the merits of that Sabha, I became, O king, desirous of +beholding it. I then asked Aditya, saying,--O exalted one, I desire to +behold the sacred Sabha of the Grandsire. O lord of light, tell me, O +exalted one, by what ascetic penances, or by what acts, or by what charms +or by what rites, I may be enabled to behold that excellent sin-cleaning +Sabha.”--Hearing these words of mine, Aditya the god of day, the deity of +a thousand rays, answered me, O chief of the Bharata race, thus: Observe +thou, with mind rapt in meditation, the Brahma vow extending for a +thousand years. Repairing then to the breast of the Himavat, I commenced +that great vow, and after I had completed it the exalted and sinless +deity Surya endued with great energy, and knowing no fatigue, took me +with him to the Sabha of the Grandsire. O king, it is impossible to +describe that Sabha, saying--it is such, for within a moment it assumes a +different form that language fails to paint. O Bharata, it is impossible +to indicate its dimensions or shape. I never saw anything like it before. +Ever contributing to the happiness of those within it, its atmosphere is +neither cold nor warm. Hunger and thirst or any kind of uneasiness +disappear as soon as one goeth thither. It seems to be made up of +brilliant gems of many kinds. It doth not seem to be supported on +columns, it knoweth no deterioration, being eternal. That self effulgent +mansion, by its numerous blazing, celestial indications of unrivalled +splendour, seems to surpass the moon, the sun and the fire in splendour. +Stationed in heaven, it blazes forth, censuring as it were the maker of +the day. In that mansion O king, the Supreme Deity, the Grand-sire of all +created things, having himself created everything by virtue of his +creative illusion, stayeth ever. And Daksha, Prachetas, Pulaha, Marichi, +the master Kasyapa, Bhrigu, Atri, and Vasistha and Gautama, and also +Angiras, and Pulastya, Kraut, Prahlada, and Kardama, these Prajapatis, +and Angirasa of the Atharvan Veda, the Valikhilyas, the Marichipas; +Intelligence, Space, Knowledge, Air, Heat, Water, Earth, Sound, Touch, +Form, Taste, Scent; Nature, and the Modes (of Nature), and the elemental +and prime causes of the world,--all stay in that mansion beside the lord +Brahma. And Agastya of great energy, and Markandeya, of great ascetic +power, and Jamadagni and Bharadwaja, and Samvarta, and Chyavana, and +exalted Durvasa, and the virtuous Rishyasringa, the illustrious +Sanatkumara of great ascetic merit and the preceptor in all matters +affecting Yoga; Asita and Devala, and Jaigishavya acquainted with truth; +Rishava, Ajitasatru, and Mani of great energy; and the Science of healing +with its eight branches--all in their personified forms, O Bharata; the +moon with all the stars and the stellar conjunctions; Aditya with all his +rays; the winds; the Sacrifices, the Declarations of purpose (in +sacrifices), the Vital principles,--these illustrious and vow-observing +beings in their personified forms, and many others too numerous to +mention, attend all upon Brahma in that mansion. Wealth and Religion and +Desire, and Joy, and Aversion, and Asceticism and Tranquillity--all wait +together upon the Supreme Deity in that palace. The twenty tribes of the +Gandharvas and Apsaras, as also their seven other tribes, and all the +Lokapalas (chief protectors of several regions), and Sukra, and +Vrihaspati, and Vudha, and Angaraka (Mangala), Sani, Rahu, and the other +planets; the Mantras (of the Sama Veda), the special Mantras (of the same +Veda); (the rites of) Harimat and Vasumat, the Adityas with Indra, the +two Agnis mentioned by name (viz. Agnisoma and Indragni), the Marutas, +Viswakarman, and the Vasus, O Bharata; the Pitris, and all kinds of +sacrificial libations, the four Vedas. viz., Rig, Sama, Yajuh, and +Atharva; all Sciences and branches of learning; Histories and all minor +branches of learning; the several branches of the Vedas; the planets, the +Sacrifices, the Soma, all the deities; Savitri (Gayatri), the seven kinds +of rhyme; Understanding, Patience, Memory, Wisdom, Intelligence, Fame, +Forgiveness; the Hymns of the Sama Veda; the Science of hymns in general, +and various kinds of Verses and Songs; various Commentaries with +arguments;--all in their personified forms, O king, and various Dramas +and Poems and Stories and abridged Glosses--these also, and many others +wait upon the Supreme Deity in that Sabha, Kshanas, Lavas, Muhurtas, Day, +Night, Fortnights, Months, the six Seasons, O Bharata, Years, Yugas, the +four kinds of Days and Nights (viz., appearing to man, to the Pitris, to +the gods, and to Brahma) and that eternal, indestructible, +undeteriorating, excellent Wheel of Time and also the Wheel of +Virtue,--these always wait there. O Yudhishthira; and Aditi, Diti, Danu, +Surasa, Vinata, Ira, Kalika, Suravi, Devi, Sarama, Gautami and the +goddesses Pradha, and Kadru;--these mothers of the celestials, and +Rudrani, Sree, Lakshmi, Bhadra, Shashthi, the Earth, Ganga, Hri, Swaha, +Kriti, the goddess Sura, Sachi Pushti, Arundhati, Samvritti, Asa, Niyati, +Srishti, Rati,--these and many other goddesses wait upon the Creator of +all. The Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Marutas, Aswinas, the Viswadevas +Sadhyas, and the Pitris gifted with the speed of the mind; these all wait +there upon the Grandsire. And, O bull amongst men, know thou that there +are seven classes of Pitris, of which four classes have embodied forms +and the remaining three without embodied forms. It is well known that the +illustrious Vairajas and Agniswattas and Garhapattyas (three classes of +Pitris) range in heaven. And those amongst the Pitris that are called the +Somapas, the Ekasringras, the Chaturvedas, and the Kalas, are ever +worshipped amongst the four orders of men. Gratified with the Soma +(juice), first, these gratify Soma afterwards. All these tribes of Pitris +wait upon the Lord of the creation and cheerfully worship the Supreme +Deity of immeasurable energy. And Rakshasas, Pisachas, the Danavas and +Guhyakas; Nagas, Birds, and various animals; and all mobile and immobile +great beings;--all worship the Grandsire. And Purandara the chief of the +celestials, and Varuna and Kuvera and Yama, and Mahadeva accompanied by +Uma, always repair thither. And, O king of kings, Mahasena (Kartikeya) +also adoreth there the Grandsire. Narayana himself, and the celestial +Rishis, and those Rishis called Valakhillyas, and all beings born of +females and all those not born of females, and whatever else is seen in +the three worlds--both mobile and immobile, were all seen by me there, +know O king. And eighty thousand Rishis with vital seed drawn up, and O +Pandu, fifty thousand Rishis having sons, were all seen by me there. And +all the dwellers in heaven repairing thither behold the Supreme Deity +when they please, and worshipping him with a bow of their head return +whence they came. And, O king of men, the Grandsire of all created +beings, the Soul of the universe, the Self create Brahma of immeasurable +intelligence and glory, equally kind unto all creatures, honoureth as +they deserve, and gratifieth with sweet speech and gift of wealth and +other enjoyable articles, the gods, the Daityas, the Nagas, the +Brahmanas, the Yakshas, the Birds, the Kaleyas, the Gandharvas, the +Apsaras, and all other exalted beings that came to him as his guests. And +that delicious Sabha, O child, is always crowded with persons coming and +going. Filled with every kind of energy, and worshipped by Brahmarshis, +that celestial Sabha blazes forth with the graceful possessions of Brahma +and looks extremely handsome, O tiger among kings as this Sabha of yours +is unrivalled in the world of men, so is that Sabha of Brahma, seen by me +unrivalled in all the worlds. I have seen these Sabhas, O Bharata, in +regions of the celestials. This thy Sabha is unquestionably the foremost +in the world of men!” + + + +SECTION XII + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘O thou foremost of eloquent men, as thou hast +described the different Sabhas unto me, it appeareth that almost all the +monarchs of the earth are to be found in the Sabha of Yama. And, O +master, almost all the Nagas, and principal Daityas, and rivers, and +oceans, are to be found in the Sabha of Varuna. And so the Yakshas, the +Guhyakas, the Rakshasas, the Gandharvas and Apsaras and the Deity (Yama) +having the bull for his vehicle, are to be found in the Sabha of the lord +of treasures. Thou hast said that in the Sabha of the Grandsire are to be +seen all the great Rishis, all the gods, all the branches of learning. As +regards the Sabha of Sakra, however, thou hast named, O Muni, all the +gods, the Gandharvas, and various Rishis. But, O great Muni, thou hast +mentioned one and only one king, viz., the royal Rishi Harishchandra as +living in the Sabha of the illustrious chief of the gods. What act was +performed by that celebrated king, or what ascetic penances with steady +vows, in consequence of which he hath been equal to Indra himself? O +Brahmana, how didst thou also meet with my father, the exalted Pandu, now +a guest in the region of the Pitris? O exalted one of excellent vows hath +he told thee anything? O tell me all as I am exceedingly curious to hear +all this from thee.” + +“Narada said,--‘O king of kings, I shall tell thee all that thou askest +me about Harischandra, I shall presently tell thee of his high +excellence. He was a powerful king, in fact, an emperor over all the +kings of the earth. Indeed, all the kings of the earth obeyed his sway. O +monarch, mounted alone upon a victorious car adorned with gold, that king +by the prowess of his weapons brought the whole earth with her seven +islands under his sway. And, O monarch, having subjugated the whole earth +with her mountains, forests, and woods, he made preparations for the +great sacrifice called the Rajasuya. And all the kings of the earth +brought at his command wealth unto that sacrifice. All of them consented +to become distributors of food and gifts unto the Brahmanas that were fed +on the occasion. At that sacrifice king Harishchandra gave away unto all +who asked, wealth that was five times what each had solicited. At the +conclusion of the sacrifice, the king gratified the Brahmanas that came +from various countries with large presents of various kinds of wealth. +The Brahmanas gratified with various kinds of food and enjoyable +articles, given away unto them to the extent of their desires, and with +the heaps of jewels distributed amongst them, began to say,--King +Harischandra is superior to all kings in energy and renown.--And know, O +monarch, O bull of the Bharata race, it was for this reason that +Harischandra shone more brightly than thousands of other kings. The +powerful Harischandra having concluded his great sacrifice, became +installed, O king, in the sovereignty of the earth and looked resplendent +on his throne. O bull of the Bharata race, all those monarchs that +perform the sacrifice of Rajasuya, (attaining to the region of Indra) +pass their time in felicity in Indra’s company. And, O bull of the +Bharata race, those kings also that yield up their lives without turning +their backs on the field of battle attain to the mansion of Indra and +live in joy with him. Those again that yield up their bodies after severe +ascetic penances also attain to the same region and shine brightly there +for ages. O king of the Kuru race, O son of Kunti, thy father Pandu, +beholding the good fortune of Harischandra and wondering much thereat, +hath told thee something. Knowing that I was coming to the world of men, +he bowed unto me and said,--Thou shouldst tell Yudhishthira, O Rishi, +that he can subjugate the whole Earth inasmuch as his brothers are all +obedient to him. And having done this let him commence the grand +sacrifice called Rajasuya. He is my son; if he performeth that sacrifice, +I may, like Harischandra, soon attain to the region of Indra, and there +in his Sabha pass countless years in continuous joy. I told him in +reply,--O King, I shall tell thy son all this, if I go to the world of +man. I have now told thee what he said, O tiger among men. Accomplish +then, O son of Pandu, the desires of thy father. If thou performest that +sacrifice, thou shall then be able to go, along with thy deceased +ancestors, into the same region that is inhabited by the chief of the +immortals. It hath been said,--O king, that the performance of this great +sacrifice is attended with many obstacles. A class of Rakshasas called +Brahma Rakshasas, employed in obstructing all sacrifices, always search +for loop-holes when this great sacrifice is commenced. On the +commencement of such a sacrifice a war may take place destroying the +Kshatriyas and even furnishing occasion for the destruction of the whole +Earth. A slight obstacle may involve the whole Earth in ruin. Reflecting +upon all this, O king of kings do what is for thy good. Be thou watchful +and ready in protecting the four orders of thy subjects. Grow, thou in +prosperity, and enjoy thou felicity. Gratify thou the Brahmanas with +gifts of wealth. I have now answered in detail all that thou hast asked +me. With thy leave I will now go to the city (Dwaravati) of that +Dasarhas.” + +Vaisampayana said,--‘O Janamejaya, having said this unto the son of +Pritha, Narada went away, accompanied by those Rishis with whom he had +come. And after Narada had gone away, king Yudhishthira, O thou of the +Kuru race, began to think, along with his brothers, of that foremost of +sacrifices called Rajasuya.’ + + + +SECTION XIII + +Vaisampayana said,--“Yudhishthira, having heard these words of Narada, +began to sigh heavily. And, O Bharata, engaged in his thoughts about the +Rajasuya, the king had no peace of mind. Having heard of this glory of +the illustrious monarchs (of old) and being certain about the acquisition +of regions of felicity by performers of sacrifices in consequence of +their sacred deeds, and thinking especially of that royal sage +Harischandra who had performed the great sacrifice king Yudhishthira +desired to make preparations for the Rajasuya sacrifice. Then worshipping +his counsellors and others present at his Sabha, and worshipped by them +in return, he began to discuss with them about that sacrifice. Having +reflected much, that king of kings, that bull amongst the Kurus, inclined +his mind towards making preparations for the Rajasuya. That prince of +wonderful energy and prowess, however, reflecting upon virtue and +righteousness, again set his heart to find out what would be for the good +of all his people. For Yudhishthira, that foremost of all virtuous men, +always kind unto his subjects, worked for the good of all without making +any distinctions. Indeed, shaking off both anger and arrogance, +Yudhishthira always said,--Give unto each what is due to each,--and the +only sounds that he could hear were,--Blessed be Dharma! Blessed be +Dharma! Yudhishthira! conducting himself thus and giving paternal +assurance to everybody, there was none in the kingdom who entertained any +hostile feelings towards him. He therefore came to be called Ajatasatru +(one with no enemy at all). The king cherished every one as belonging to +his family, and Bhima ruled over all justly. Arjuna, used to employing +both his hands with equal skill, protected the people from (external) +enemies. And the wise Sahadeva administered justice impartially. And +Nakula behaved towards all with humility that was natural to him. Owing +to all this, the kingdom became free from disputes and fear of every +kind. And all the people became attentive to their respective +occupations. The rain became so abundant as to leave no room for desiring +more; and the kingdom grew in prosperity. And in consequence of the +virtues of the king, money-lenders, the articles required for sacrifices, +cattle-rearing, tillage, and traders, all and everything grew in +prosperity. Indeed, during the reign of Yudhishthira who was ever devoted +to truth, there was no extortion, no stringent realisation of arrears of +rent, no fear of disease, of fire, or of death by poisoning and +incantations, in the kingdom. It was never heard at that time that +thieves or cheats or royal favourites ever behaved wrongfully towards the +king or towards one another amongst themselves. Kings conquered on the +six occasions (of war, treaty, &c.) were wont to wait upon him in order +to do good unto the monarch and worship him ever, while the traders of +different classes came to pay him the taxes leviable on their respective +occupations. And accordingly during the reign of Yudhishthira who was +ever devoted to virtue, his dominion grew in prosperity. Indeed, the +prosperity of the kingdom was increased not by these alone but even by +persons wedded to voluptuousness and indulging in all luxuries to their +fill. And the king of kings, Yudhishthira, whose sway extended over all, +was possessed of every accomplishment and bore everything with patience. +And, O king, whatever countries the celebrated and illustrious monarch +conquered, the people everywhere, from Brahmanas to swains, were all more +attached to him than to their own fathers and mothers.’ + +Vaisampayana said,--“King Yudhishthira, then, that foremost of speakers, +summoning together his counsellors and brothers, asked them repeatedly +about the Rajasuya sacrifice. Those ministers in a body, thus asked by +the wise Yudhishthira desirous of performing the sacrifice, then told him +these words of grave import,--‘One already in possession of a kingdom +desireth all the attributes of an emperor by means of that sacrifice +which aideth a king in acquiring the attributes of Varuna. O prince of +Kuru race, thy friends think that as thou art worthy of the attributes of +an emperor, the time is even come for thee for the performance of the +Rajasuya sacrifice. The time for the performance of that sacrifice in +which Rishis of austere vows kindle six fires with mantras of the Sama +Veda, is come for thee in consequence of thy Kshatriya possessions. At +the conclusion of the Rajasuya sacrifice when the performer is installed +in the sovereignty of the empire, he is rewarded with the fruits of all +sacrifices including the Agnihotra. It is for this that he is called the +conqueror of all. Thou art quite able, O strong-armed one, to perform +this sacrifice. All of us are obedient to thee. Soon will you be able, O +great king, to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice. Therefore, O great king, +let thy resolution be taken to perform this sacrifice without further +discussion. Thus, spoke unto the king all his friends and counsellors +separately and jointly. And, O king, Yudhishthira that slayer of all +enemies, having heard these virtuous, bold, agreeable and weighty words +of theirs, accepted them mentally. And having heard those words of his +friends and counsellors, and knowing his own strength also, the king, O +Bharata, repeatedly thought over the matter. After this the intelligent +and virtuous Yudhishthira, wise in counsel, again consulted with his +brothers, with the illustrious Ritwijas about him, with his ministers and +with Dhaumya and Dwaipayana and others. + +‘Yudhishthira said,--“How may this wish that I entertain of performing +the excellent sacrifice of Rajasuya that is worthy of an emperor, bear +fruit, in consequence of my faith and speech alone.’” + +Vaisampayana said,--“O thou of eyes like lotus-petals, thus asked by the +king, they replied at that time unto Yudhishthira the just in these +words,--Being conversant with the dictates of morality, thou art, O king, +worthy to perform the grand sacrifice of Rajasuya. After the Ritwijas and +the Rishis had told these words unto the king, his ministers and +brothers highly approved of the speech. The king, however, possessed of +great wisdom, and with mind under complete control, actuated by the +desire of doing good unto the world, again resolved the matter in his +mind, thinking of his own strength and means, the circumstances of time +and place and his income and expenditure. For he knew that the wise never +come to grief owing to their always acting after full deliberation. +Thinking that the sacrifice should not be commenced, pursuant to his own +resolution only, Yudhishthira, carefully bearing upon his shoulder the +weight of affairs thought of Krishna that persecutor of all sinners as +the fittest person to decide the matter, in as much as he knew him to be +the foremost of all persons, possessed of immeasurable energy, +strong-armed, without birth but born amongst men from Will alone. +Reflecting upon his god-like feats the son of Pandu concluded that there +was nothing that was unknown to him, nothing that he could not achieve, +and nothing that he could not bear, and Yudhishthira, the son of Pritha, +having come to this settled resolution soon sent a messenger unto that +master of all beings, conveying through him blessings and speeches such +as one senior in age might send to one that is younger. And that +messenger riding in a swift car arrived amongst the Yadavas and +approached Krishna who was then residing in Dwaravati. And Achyuta +(Krishna) hearing that the son of Pritha had become desirous of seeing +him, desired to see his cousin. And quickly passing over many regions, +being drawn by his own swift horses, Krishna arrived at Indraprastha, +accompanied by Indrasena. And having arrived at Indraprastha, Janardana +approached Yudhisthira without loss of time. And Yudhisthira received +Krishna with paternal-affection, and Bhima also received him likewise. +And Janardana then went with a cheerful heart to his father’s sister +(Kunti). And worshipped then with reverence by the twins, he began to +converse cheerfully with his friend Arjuna who was overjoyed at seeing +him. And after he had rested awhile in a pleasant apartment and had been +fully refreshed, Yudhishthira approached him at his leisure and informed +him all about the Rajasuya sacrifice. + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘I have wished to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice. +That sacrifice, however, cannot be performed by one’s wishing alone to +perform it. Thou knowest, O Krishna, even thing about the means by which +it may be accomplished. He alone can achieve this sacrifice in whom +everything is possible, who is worshipped everywhere and who is the king +of kings. My friends and counsellors approaching me have said that I +should perform that sacrifice. But, O Krishna, in respect of that matter, +thy words shall be my guide. Of counsellers some from friendship do not +notice the difficulties; others from motives of self-interest say only +what is agreeable. Some again regard that which is beneficial to +themselves as worthy of adoption. Men are seen to counsel thus on matters +awaiting decision. But thou, O Krishna, art above such motives. Thou hast +conquered both desire and anger. It behoveth thee to tell me what is most +beneficial to the world.” + + + +SECTION XIV + +(Rajasuyarambha Parva) + +“Krishna said,--‘O great king, thou art a worthy possessor of all the +qualities essential for the performance of the Rajasuya sacrifice. Thou +knowest everything, O Bharata. I shall, however, still tell thee +something. Those persons in the world that now go by the name of +Kshatriyas are inferior (in everything) to those Kshatriyas that Rama, +the son of Jamadagnya, exterminated.’ O lord of the earth, O bull of the +Bharata race, thou knowest what form of rule these Kshatriyas, guided by +the instructions traditionally handed down from generation to generation, +have established amongst their own order, and how far they are competent +to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice. The numerous royal lines and other +ordinary Kshatriyas all represent themselves to be the descendants of +Aila and Ikshwaku. The descendants of Aila, O king, as, indeed, the kings +of Ikshwaku’s race, are, know O bull of the Bharata race, each divided +into a hundred separate dynasties. The descendants of Yayati and the +Bhojas are great, both in extent (number) and accomplishments. O king, +these last are to-day scattered all over the earth. And all the +Kshatriyas worship the prosperity of those monarchs. At present, however, +O monarch, king Jarasandha, overcoming that prosperity enjoyed by their +whole order, and overpowering them by his energy hath set himself over +the heads of all these kings. And Jarasandha, enjoying the sovereignty +over the middle portion of the earth (Mathura), resolved to create a +disunion amongst ourselves. O monarch, the king who is the lord paramount +of all kings, and in whom alone the dominion of the universe is centered, +properly deserves to be called an emperor. And, O monarch, king Sisupala +endued with great energy, hath placed himself under his protection and +hath become the generalissimo of his forces. And, O great king, the +mighty Vaka, the king of the Karushas, capable of fighting by putting +forth his powers of illusion, waiteth, upon Jarasandha, as his disciple. +There are two others, Hansa and Dimvaka, of great energy and great soul, +who have sought the shelter of the mighty Jarasandha. There are others +also viz., Dantavakra, Karusha, Karava, Meghavahana, that wait upon +Jarasandha. He also that beareth on his head that gem which is known as +the most wonderful on earth, that king of the Yavanas, who hath chastised +Muru and Naraka, whose power is unlimited, and who ruleth the west like +another Varuna, who is called Bhagadatta, and who is the old friend of +thy father, hath bowed his head before Jarasandha, by speech and +specially by act. In his heart, however, tied as he is by affection to +thee, he regardeth thee as a father regardeth his child. O king, that +lord of the earth who hath his dominions on the west and the south, who +is thy maternal uncle and who is called Purujit, that brave perpetuator +of the Kunti race, that slayer of all foes, is the single king that +regardeth thee from affection. He whom I did not formerly slay, that +wicked wretch amongst the Chedis, who represented himself in this world +as a divine personage and who hath become known also as such, and who +always beareth, from foolishness, the signs that distinguish me that king +of Vanga Pundra and the Kiratas, endowed with great strength, and who is +known on earth by the names of Paundraka and Vasudeva hath also espoused +the side of Jarasandha. And, O king of kings, Bhishmaka, the mighty king +of the Bhojas--the friend of Indra--the slayer of hostile heroes--who +governs a fourth part of the world, who by his learning conquered the +Pandyas and the Kratha-Kausikas, whose brother the brave Akriti was like +Rama, the son of Jamdagni, hath become a servitor to the king of Magadha. +We are his relatives and are, therefore, engaged everyday in doing what +is agreeable unto him. But although we regard him much, still he +regardeth us not and is engaged in doing us ill. And, O king, without +knowing his own strength and the dignity of the race to which he +belongeth, he hath placed himself under Jarasandha’s shelter at sight of +the latter’s blazing fame alone. And, O exalted one, the eighteen tribes +of the Bhojas, from fear of Jarasandha, have all fled towards the west; +so also have the Surasenas, the Bhadrakas, the Vodhas, the Salwas, the +Patachchavas, the Susthalas, the Mukuttas, and the Kulindas, along with +the Kuntis. And the king of the Salwayana tribe with their brethren and +followers; and the southern Panchalas and the eastern Kosalas have all +fled to the country of the Kuntis. So also the Matsyas and the +Sannyastapadas, overcome with fear, leaving their dominions in the north, +have fled into the southern country. And so all the Panchalas, alarmed at +the power of Jarasandha, have left their own kingdom and fled in all +directions. Some time before, the foolish Kansa, having persecuted the +Yadavas, married two of the daughters of Jarasandha. They are called Asti +and Prapti and are the sister of Sahadeva. Strengthened by such an +alliance, the fool persecuting his relatives gained an ascendency over +them all. But by this conduct he earned great obloquy. The wretch also +began to oppress the old kings of the Bhoja tribe, but they, to protect +themselves from the persecution of their relative, sought our help. +Having bestowed upon Akrura the handsome daughter of Ahuka, with +Sankarshana as my second I did a service to my relatives, for both Kansa +and Sunaman were slain by me assisted by Rama. But after the immediate +cause of fear was removed (by the death of Kansa), Jarasandha, his +father-in-law, took up arms. Ourselves consisting of the eighteen younger +branches of the Yadavas arrived at the conclusion that even if we struck +our enemies continually with excellent weapons capable of taking the +lives of the foes, we should still be unable to do anything unto him even +in three hundred years. He hath two friends that are like unto the +immortals, and in point of strength the foremost of all men endued with +might. They are called Hansa and Dimvaka who are both incapable of being +slain by weapons. The mighty Jarasandha, being united with them, becomes +incapable, I think, of being vanquished by even the three worlds. O thou +foremost of all intelligent men, this is not our opinion alone but all +other kings also are of the same mind. There lived, O monarch, a king of +the name of Hansa, who was slain by Rama (Valadeva) after a battle of +eighteen days. But, O Bharata, hearing people say that Hansa had been +killed, Dimvaka, O king, thought that he could not live without Hansa. He +accordingly jumped into the waters of the Yamuna and killed himself. +Afterwards when Hansa, the subjugator of hostile heroes, heard that +Dimvaka, had killed himself, he went to the Yamuna and jumped into its +waters. Then, O bull of the Bharata race, king Jarasandha, hearing that +both Hansa and Dimvaka had been killed, returned to his kingdom with an +empty heart. After Jarasandha had returned, O slayer of all foes, we were +filled with pleasure and continued to live at Mathura. Then the widow of +Hansa and the daughter of Jarasandha, that handsome woman with eyes like +lotus-petals, grieved at the death of her lord, went unto her father, and +repeatedly urged, O Monarch, the king of Magadha, saying,--O slayer of +all foes, kill thou the slayer of my husband.--Then, O great king, +remembering the conclusion to which we had come of old we became +exceedingly cheerless and fled from Mathura. Dividing our large wealth +into small portions so as to make each portion easily portable, we fled +from fear of Jarasandha, with our cousins and relatives. Reflecting upon +everything, we fled towards the west. There is a delightful town towards +the west called Kusasthali, adorned by the mountains of Raivata. In that +city, O monarch, we took up our abode. We rebuilt its fort and made it so +strong that it has become impregnable even to the Gods. And from within +it even the women might fight the foe, what to speak of the Yadava heroes +without fear of any kind? O slayer of all foes, we are now living in that +city. And, O tiger of the Kuru race, considering the inaccessibility of +that first of mountains and regarding themselves as having already +crossed the fear of Jarasandha, the descendants of Madhu have become +exceedingly glad. Thus, O king, though possessed of strength and energy, +yet from the oppressions of Jarasandha we have been obliged to repair to +the mountains of Gomanta, measuring three Yojanas in length. Within each +yojana have been established one and twenty posts of armed men. And at +intervals of each yojana are hundred gates with arches which are defended +by valourous heroes engaged in guarding them. And innumerable Kshatriyas +invincible in war, belonging to the eighteen younger branches of the +Yadavas, are employed in defending these works. In our race, O king, +there are full eighteen thousand brothers and cousins. Ahuka hath had a +hundred sons, each of whom is almost like a god (in prowess), Charudeshna +with his brother Chakradeva, Satyaki, myself, Valadeva the son of Rohini, +and my son Samva who is equal unto me in battle--these seven, O king are +Atirathas. Besides these, there are others, O king, whom I shall +presently name. They are Kritavarman, Anadhrishti, Samika, Samitinjaya, +Kanka, Sanku and Kunti. These seven are Maharathas. There are also two +sons of Andhakabhoja, and the old king himself. Endued with great energy +these are all heroes, each mighty as the thunderbolt. These Maharathas, +choosing the middle country, are now living amongst the Vrishnis. O thou +best of the Bharata line, thou alone art worthy of being an emperor. It +behoveth thee, O Bharata, to establish thy empire over all the +Kshatriyas. But this is my judgment, O king, that thou wilt not be able +to celebrate the Rajasuya sacrifice as long as the mighty Jarasandha +liveth. By him have been immured in his hillfort numerous monarchs, like +a lion that hath deposited the slain bodies of mighty elephants within a +cave of the king of mountains. O slayer of all enemies, king Jarasandha, +desirous of offering in sacrifice hundred monarchs, adored for his fierce +ascetic penances the illustrious god of gods, the lord of Uma. It is by +this means that the kings of the earth have been vanquished by +Jarasandha. And, O best of monarchs, he hath by that means been able to +fulfil the vow he had made relative to his sacrifice. By defeating the +kings with their troops and bringing all of them as captives into this +city, he had swelled its crowds enormously. We also, O king, from fear of +Jarasandha, at one time had to leave Mathura and fly to the city of +Dwaravati. If, O great king, thou desirest to perform this sacrifice, +strive to release the kings confined by Jarasandha, as also to compass +his death. O son of the Kuru race, otherwise this undertaking of thine +can never be completed. O thou foremost of intelligent men if the +Rajasuya is to be performed by thee, you must do this in this way and not +otherwise. This, O king, is my view (on the matter). Do, O sinless one, +as thou thinkest. Under these circumstances, O king, having reflected +upon everything, taking note of causes, tell us what thou thyself +thinkest proper.” + + + +SECTION XV + +“Yudhishthira said,--“Intelligent as thou art, thou hast said what none +else is capable of saying. There is none else on earth who is settler of +all doubts. Behold, there are kings in every province employed in +benefiting their respective selves. But no one amongst them hath been +able to achieve the imperial dignity. Indeed, the title emperor is +difficult of acquisition. He that knoweth the valour and strength of +others never applaudeth himself. He, indeed, is really worthy of applause +(worship) who, engaged in encounters with his enemies, beareth himself +commendably. O thou supporter of the dignity of the Vrishni race, man’s +desires and propensities, like the wide earth itself adorned with many +jewels, are varied and extensive. As experience can seldom be gained but +by travelling in regions remote from one’s home, so salvation can never +be attained except by acting according to principles that are very high, +compared with the ordinary level of our desire and propensities. I regard +peace of mind as the highest object here, for from that quality may +proceed my prosperity. In my judgment, if I undertake to celebrate this +sacrifice, I shall never win the highest reward. O Janardana, endued with +energy and intelligence, these that have been born in our race think that +some one amongst them will at one time become the foremost amongst all +Kshatriyas. But, O exalted one, we also were all frightened by the fear +of Jarasandha and, O sinless one, by the wickedness of that monarch. O +thou invincible in battle, the might of thy arm is my refuge. When, +therefore, thou taken fright at Jarasandha’s might, how should I regard +myself strong in comparison with him? Madhava, O thou of the Vrishni +race, I am repeatedly depressed by the thought whether Jarasandha is +capable or not of being slain by thee, by Rama, by Bhimasena, or by +Arjuna. But what shall I say, O Keshava? Thou art my highest authority on +everything.’ + +“On hearing these words, Bhima well-skilled in speech said,--‘That king +who is without exertion, or who being weak and without resources entereth +into hostility with one that is strong, perisheth like an ant-hill. It +may be generally seen, however, that even a king that is weak may +vanquish an enemy that is strong and obtain the fruition of all his +wishes, by wakefulness and by the application of policy. In Krishna is +policy, in myself strength, in Arjuna triumphs. So like the three +(sacrificial) fires that accomplish a sacrifice, we shall accomplish the +death of the king of Magadha.” + +“Krishna then said,--‘One that is immature in understanding seeketh the +fruition of his desire without an eye to what may happen to him in +future. It is seen that no one forgiveth for that reason a foe that is of +immature understanding and inclined to serve his own interests. It hath +been heard by us that in the krita age, having brought every one under +their subjection, Yauvanaswin by the abolition of all taxes, Bhagiratha +by his kind treatment to his subjects, Kartavirya by the energy of his +asceticism, the lord Bharata by his strength and valour, and Maruta by +his prosperity, all these five became emperors. But, O Yudhishthira, thou +who covetest the imperial dignity deserves it, not by one but by all +these qualities, viz., victory, protection afforded to thy people, +virtue, prosperity, and policy. Know, O bull of the Kuru race, that +Jarasandha, the son of Vrihadratha, is even such (i.e., a candidate for +the imperial dignity). A hundred dynasties of kings have become unable to +oppose Jarasandha. He, therefore, may be regarded to be an emperor for +his strength. Kings that are wearers of jewels worship Jarasandha (with +presents of jewels). But, wicked from his childhood, he is scarcely +satisfied with such worship. Having become the foremost among all, he +attacketh yet with violence kings with crowns on their heads. Nor is +there seen any king from whom he taketh not tribute. Thus hath he brought +under his sway nearly a hundred kings. How can, O son of Pritha, any weak +monarch approach him with hostile intentions? Confined in the temple of +Shiva and offered as sacrifice unto him like so many animals, do not +these monarchs dedicated unto that god feel the most poignant misery, O +bull of the Bharata race? A Kshatriya that dieth in battle is ever +regarded with respect. Why shall we not, therefore, meet together and +oppose Jarsandha in battle? He hath already brought eighty-six kings; +fourteen only are wanting to complete one hundred. As soon as he +obtaineth those fourteen, he will begin his cruel act. He that shall be +to obstruct that act will surely win blazing renown. And he that will +vanquish Jarasandha will surely become the emperor of all the +Kshatriyas.’” + + + +SECTION XVI + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘Desirous of the imperial dignity but acting from +selfish motives and relying upon courage alone, how, O Krishna, can I +despatch ye (unto Jarasandha)? Both Bhima and Arjuna, I regard as my +eyes, and thee, O Janardana as my mind. How shall I live, deprived of my +eyes and mind. Yama himself cannot vanquish in battle the mighty host of +Jarasandha that is endued, besides, with terrible valour. What valour can +ye exhibit against it. This affair that promises to terminate otherwise +may lead to great mischief. It is my opinion, therefore, that the +proposed task should not be undertaken. Listen, O Krishna, to what I for +one think. O Janardana, desisting from this act seemeth to me to be +beneficial. My heart to-day is afflicted. The Rajasuya appeareth to me +difficult of accomplishment.’” + +“Vaisampayana said,--“Arjuna who had obtained that excellent of bows and +that couple of inexhaustible quivers, and that car with that banner, as +also that assembly room, now addressed Yudhishthira and said,--‘I have +obtained, O king, a bow and weapons and arrows and energy and allies and +dominions and fame and strength. Those are always difficult of +acquisition, however much they may be desired. Learned men of repute +always praise in good society nobleness of descent. But nothing is equal +to might. Indeed, O monarch, there is nothing I like more than prowess. +Born in a race noted for its valour, one that is without valour is +scarcely worthy of regard. One, however, possessed of valour, that is +born in a race not noted for it, is much superior to the former. He, O +king, is a Kshatriya in every thing who increaseth his fame and +possessions by the subjugation of his enemies. And he that is possessed +of valour, though destitute of all (other) merits, will vanquish his +foes. One, however, that is destitute of valour, though possessed of +every (other) merit, can scarcely accomplish anything. Every merit exists +by the side of valour in an incipient state. Concentration of attention, +exertion and destiny exist as the three causes of victory. One, however, +that is possessed of valour doth not yet deserve success if he acts +carelessly. It is for this that an enemy endued with strength sometimes +suffers death at the hands of his foes. As meanness overtakes the weak, +so folly sometimes overtakes the strong. A king, therefore, that is +desirous of victory, should avoid both these causes of destruction. If, +for the purpose of our sacrifice, we endeavour to slay Jarasandha and +rescue the kings kept by him for a cruel purpose, there is no higher act +which we could employ ourselves in. If, however, we do not undertake the +task, the world will always think us incompetent. We have certainly the +competence, O king! Why should you, therefore, regard us as incompetent? +Those that have become Munis desirous of achieving tranquillity of souls, +obtain yellow robes with ease. So if we vanquish the foe, the imperial +dignity will easily be ours. We shall, therefore fight the foe.” + + + +SECTION XVII + +“Vasudeva said,--‘Arjuna hath indicated what the inclination should be of +one that is born in the Bharata race, especially of one who is the son of +Kunti. We know not when death will overtake us, in the night or in the +day. Nor have we ever heard that immortality hath been achieved by +desisting from fight. This, therefore, is the duty of men, viz., to +attack all enemies in accordance with the principles laid down in the +ordinance. This always gives satisfaction to the heart. Aided by good +policy, if not frustrated by Destiny, an undertaking becomes crowned with +success. If both parties aided by such means encounter each other, one +must obtain ascendency over the other, for both cannot win or lose. A +battle however, if directed by bad policy which again is destitute of the +well-known arts, ends in defeat or destruction. If, again, both parties +are equally circumstanced, the result becomes doubtful. Both, however, +cannot win. When such is the case, why should we not, aided by good +policy, directly approach the foe; and destroy him, like the current of +the river uprooting a tree? If, disguising our own faults, we attack the +enemy taking advantage of his loopholes, why should we not succeed? +Indeed, the policy of intelligent men, is that one should not fight +openly with foes that are exceedingly powerful and are at the head of +their well-arrayed forces. This too is my opinion. If, however, we +accomplish our purpose secretly entering the abode of our foe and +attacking his person, we shall never earn obloquy. That bull among +men--Jarasandha--alone enjoyeth unfaded glory, like unto him who is the +self in the heart of every created being. But I see his destruction +before me. Desirous of protecting our relatives we will either slay him +in battle or shall ascend to heaven being ourselves slain in the end by +him.’ + +Yudhishthira said--“O Krishna, who is this Jarasandha? What is his energy +and what is his prowess, that having touched thee he hath not been burnt +like an insect at the touch of fire?” + +Krishna said,--‘Hear, O monarch, who Jarasandha is; what his energy; and +what is his prowess; and why also he hath been spared by us, Even though +he hath repeatedly offended us. There was a mighty king of the name of +Vrihadratha, the lord of the Magadhas. Proud in battle, he had three +Akshauhinis of troops. Handsome and endued with energy, possessed of +affluence and prowess beyond measure, and always bearing on his person +marks indicating installation at sacrifices. He was like a second Indra. +In glory he was like unto Suryya, in forgiveness like unto the Earth, in +wrath like unto the destroyer Yama and in wealth like unto Vaisravana. +And O thou foremost of the Bharata race, the whole earth was covered by +his qualities that descended upon him from a long line of ancestors, like +the rays emerging from the sun. And, O bull of the Bharata race, endued +with great energy that monarch married two twin daughters of the king of +Kasi, both endued with the wealth of beauty. And that bull among men made +an engagement in secret with his wives that he would love them equally +and would never show a preference for either. And the lord of the earth +in the company of his two dearly loved wives, both of whom suited him +well, passed his days in joy like a mighty elephant in the company of two +cow-elephants, or like the ocean in his personified form between Ganga +and Yamuna (also in their personified forms). The monarch’s youth +however, passed away in the enjoyment of his possessions, without any son +being born unto him to perpetuate his line. The best of monarch failed to +obtain a son to perpetuate his race, even by means of various auspicious +rites, and homas, and sacrifices performed with the desire for having an +offspring. One day the king heard that the high-souled Chanda-kausika, +the son of Kakshivat of the illustrious Gautama race, having desisted +from ascetic penances had come in course of his wanderings to his capital +and had taken his seat under the shade of a mango tree. The king went +unto that Muni accompanied by his two wives, and worshipping him with +jewels and valuable presents gratified him highly. That best of Rishis +truthful in speech and firmly attached to truth, then told the king,--O +king of kings, I have been pleased with thee. O thou of excellent vows, +solicit thou a boon. King Vrihadratha then, with his wives, bending low +unto that Rishi, spoke these words choked with tears in consequence of +his despair of obtaining a child.--‘O holy one forsaking my kingdom I am +about to go into the woods to practise ascetic penances. I am very +unfortunate for I have no son. What shall I do, therefore, with my +kingdom or with a boon?’ + +Krishna continued,--“Hearing these words (of the king), the Muni +controlling his outer senses entered into meditation, sitting in the +shade of that very mango tree where he was. And there fell upon the lap +of the seated Muni a mango that was juicy and untouched by the beak of a +parrot or any other bird. That best of Munis, taking up the fruit and +mentally pronouncing certain mantras over it, gave it unto the king as +the means of his obtaining an incomparable offspring. And the great Muni, +possessed also of extraordinary wisdom, addressing the monarch, +said,--“Return, O king, thy wish is fulfilled. Desist, O king, from going +(into the woods)”.--Hearing these words of the Muni and worshipping his +feet, the monarch possessed of great wisdom, returned to his own abode. +And recollecting his former promise (unto them) the king gave, O bull of +the Bharata race, unto his two wives that one fruit. His beautiful +queens, dividing that single fruit into two parts, ate it up. In +consequence of the certainty of the realisation of the Muni’s words and +his truthfulness, both of them conceived, as an effect of their having +eaten that fruit. And the king beholding them in that state became filled +with great joy. Then, O wise monarch, some time after, when the time +came, each of the queens brought forth a fragmentary body. And each +fragment had one eye, one arm, one leg, half a stomach, half a face, and +half an anus. Beholding the fragmentary bodies, both the mothers trembled +much. The helpless sisters then anxiously consulted each other, and +sorrowfully abandoned those fragments endued with life. The two midwives +(that waited upon the queens) then carefully wrapping up the still-born +(?) fragments went out of the inner apartments (of the palace) by the +back door and throwing away the bodies, returned in haste. A little while +after, O tiger among men, a Rakshasa woman of the name of Jara living +upon flesh and blood, took up the fragments that lay on a crossing. And +impelled by force of fate, the female cannibal united the fragments for +facility of carrying them away. And, O bull among men, as soon as the +fragments were united they formed a sturdy child of one body (endued with +life). Then, O king, the female cannibal, with eyes expanded in wonder, +found herself unable to carry away that child having a body as hard and +strong as the thunder-bolt. That infant then closing his fists red as +copper and inserting them into its mouth, began to roar terribly as +rain-charged clouds. Alarmed at the sound, the inmates of the palace, O +tiger among men, suddenly came out with the king, O slayer of all foes. +The helpless and disappointed and sad queens also, with breasts full of +milk, also came out suddenly to recover their child. The female cannibal +beholding the queens in that condition and the king too so desirous of an +offspring, and the child was possessed of such strength thought within +herself--I live within dominions of the king who is so desirous of an +offspring. It behoveth not me, therefore, to kill the infant child of +such an illustrious and virtuous monarch. The Rakshasa woman then, +holding the child in her arms like the clouds enveloping the sun, and +assuming a human form, told the king these words,--O Vrihadratha, this is +thy child. Given to thee by me, O, take it. It hath been born of both thy +wives by virtue of the command of the great Brahmana. Cast away by the +midwives, it hath been protected by me! + +“Krishna continued,--O thou foremost of the Bharata race, the handsome +daughters of the king of Kasi, having obtained the child, soon drenched +it with their lacteal streams. The king ascertaining everything, was +filled with joy, and addressing that female cannibal disguised as a human +being possessing the complexion of gold, asked,--O thou of the complexion +of the filament of the lotus, who art thou that givest me this child? O +auspicious one, thou seemest to me as a goddess roaming at thy pleasure!” + + + +SECTION XVIII + +“Krishna continued,--‘hearing these words of the king, the Rakshasa woman +answered--Blessed be thou, O king of kings. Capable of assuming any form +at will. I am a Rakshasa woman called Jara. I am living, O king, happily +in thy house, worshipped by all. Every day I wander from house to house +of men. Indeed, I was created of old by the Self-create and was named +Grihadevi (the household goddess)’. Of celestial beauty I was placed (in +the world) for the destruction of the Danavas. He that with devotion +painteth on the walls (of his house) a likeness of myself endued with +youth and in the midst of children, must have prosperity in his abode; +otherwise a household must sustain decay and destruction. O lord, painted +on the walls of thy house is a likeness of myself surrounded by numerous +children. Stationed there I am daily worshipped with scents and flowers, +with incense and edibles and various objects of enjoyment. Thus +worshipped in thy house, I daily think of doing thee some good in return. +It chanced, O virtuous king, that I beheld the fragmentary bodies of thy +son. When these happened to be united by me, a living child was formed of +them. O great king, it hath been so owing to thy good fortune alone. I +have been only the instrument, I am capable of swallowing the mountain of +Meru itself, what shall I say of the child? I have, however, been +gratified with thee in consequence of the worship I receive in thy house. +It is, therefore, O king, that I have bestowed this child on thee. + +“Krishna continued,--Having spoken these words, O king, Jara disappeared +there and then. The king having obtained the child then entered the +palace. And the king then caused all the rites of infancy to be performed +on that child, and ordered a festival to be observed by his people in +Honour of that Rakshasa woman. And the monarch equal unto Brahma himself +then bestowed a name on his child. And he said that because the child had +been united by Jara, he should be called (Jarasandha i.e., united by +Jara). And the son of the king of Magadha endued with great energy, began +to grow up in bulk and strength like a fire into which hath been poured +libation of clarified butter. And increasing day by day like the moon in +the bright fortnight, the child began to enhance the joy of his parents.’” + + + +SECTION XIX + +“Krishna said,--some time after this, the great ascetic, the exalted +Chandakausika, again came into the country of the Magadhas. Filled with +joy at the advent of the Rishi, king Vrihadratha, accompanied by his +ministers and priest and wives and son, went out to receive him. And, O +Bharata, worshipping the Rishi with water to wash his feet and face, and +with the offerings of Arghya the king then offered his whole kingdom +along with his son for the acceptance of the Rishi. The adorable Rishi +accepting that worship offered by the king, addressing the ruler of +Magadha, O monarch, said with well-pleased heart,--O king, I knew all +this by spiritual insight. But hear, O king of kings, what this son of +thine will be in future, as also what his beauty, excellence, strength, +and valour will be. Without doubt this son of thine, growing in +prosperity and endued with prowess, will obtain all these. Like other +birds that can never imitate the speed of Vinata’s son (Garuda), the +other monarchs of the earth will not be able to equal in energy this thy +son, who will be endued with great valour. And all those that will stand +in his way will certainly be destroyed. Like the force of the current +that can never make the slightest impression upon the rocky breast of a +mountain, weapons hurled at him even by the celestials will fail to +produce the least pain in him. He will blaze forth above the heads of all +that wear crowns on their brows. Like the sun that dims the lustre of all +luminous bodies, this son of thine will rob all monarchs of their +splendour. Even kings that are powerful and own large armies and +numberless vehicles and animals, upon approaching this son of thine, will +all perish as insects upon fire. This child will seize the growing +prosperity of all kings like the ocean receiving the rivers swollen with +the water of the rainy season. Like the huge earth that bears all kinds +of produce, supporting things that are both good and evil, this child +endued with great strength will support all the four orders of men. And +all the kings of the earth will live in obedience to the commands of this +child just as every creature endued with body live in dependence upon +Vayu that is dear as self unto beings. This prince of Magadha--the +mightiest of all men in the world--will behold with his physical eyes the +god of gods called Rudra or Hara, the slayer of Tripura. O thou slayer of +all foes, saying this, the Rishi, thinking of his own business, dismissed +king Vrihadratha. The lord of the Magadhas then, re-entering his capital, +and calling together his friends and relations, installed Jarasandha, on +the throne. King Vrihadratha then came to feel a great distaste for +worldly pleasures. And after the installation of Jarasandha king +Vrihadratha followed by his two wives became an inmate of an ascetic +asylum in the woods. And, O king, after his father and mothers had +retired into the woods, Jarasandha by his valour brought numerous kings +under his sway.’” + +“Vaisampayana continued,--‘King Vrihadratha, having lived for some time +in the woods and practised ascetic penances, ascended to heaven at last +with his wives. King Jarasandha, also, as uttered by Kausika, having +received those numerous boons ruled his kingdom like a father. Some time +after when king Kansa was slain by Vasudeva, an enmity arose between him +and Krishna. Then, O Bharata, the mighty king of Magadha from his city of +Girivraja, whirling a mace ninety-nine times, hurled it towards Mathura. +At that time Krishna of wonderful deeds was residing at Mathura. The +handsome mace hurled by Jarasandha fell near Mathura at a distance of +ninety-nine yojanas from Gririvraja The citizens beholding the +circumstance well, went unto Krishna and informed him of the fall of the +mace. The place where the mace fell is adjacent to Mathura and is called +Gadavasan. Jarasandha had two supporters called Hansa and Dimvaka, both +of whom were incapable of being slain by weapons. Well-conversant with +the science of politics and morality, in counsel they were the foremost +of all intelligent men. I have already told thee everything about that +mighty pair. They two and Jarasandha, I believe, are more than a match +for three worlds. O brave king, it was for this reason that the powerful +Kukkura, Andhaka and Vrishni tribes, acting from motives of policy, did +not deem it proper to fight with him.’” + + + +SECTION XX + +(Jarasandhta-badha Parva) + +“Krishna said,--both Hansa and Dimvaka have fallen; Kansa also with all +his followers has been slain. The time hath, therefore come for the +destruction of Jarasandha. He is incapable of being vanquished in battle +even by all the celestials and the Asuras (fighting together). We think, +however, that he should be vanquished in a personal struggle with bare +arms. In me is policy, in Bhima is strength and in Arjuna is triumph; and +therefore, as prelude to performing the Rajasuya, we will certainly +achieve the destruction of the ruler of Magadha. When we three approach +that monarch in secret, and he will, without doubt, be engaged in an +encounter with one of us. From fear of disgrace, from covetousness, and +from pride of strength he will certainly summon Bhima to the encounter. +Like death himself that slays a person however swollen with pride, the +long-armed and mighty Bhimasena will effect the destruction of the king. +If thou knowest my heart, if thou hast any faith in me, then make over to +me, as a pledge, Bhima and Arjuna without loss of time!” + +“Vaisampayana continued,--Thus addressed by the exalted one, +Yudhishthira, beholding both Bhima and Arjuna standing with cheerful +faces, replied, saying--‘O Achyuta, O Achyuta, thou slayer of all +enemies, say not so. Thou art the lord of the Pandavas! We are dependent +on thee. What thou sayest, O Govinda, is consistent with wise counsels. +Thou never leadest those upon whom Prosperity hath turned her back. I who +stay under thy command regard that Jarasandha is already slain, that the +monarchs confined by him have already been set free, that the Rajasuya +hath already been accomplished by me. O lord of the universe, O thou best +of persons, watchfully act thou so that this task may be accomplished. +Without ye then I dare not live, like a sorrowful man afflicted with +disease, and bereft of the three attributes of morality, pleasure and +wealth. Partha cannot live without Sauri (Krishna), nor can Sauri live +without Partha. Nor is there anything in the world that is unconquerable +by these two, viz., Krishna and Arjuna. This handsome Bhima also is the +foremost of all persons endued with might. Of great renown, what can he +not achieve when with ye two? Troops, when properly led, always do +excellent service. A force without a leader hath been called inert by the +wise. Forces, therefore, should always be led by experienced commanders. +Into places that are low, the wise always conduct the water. Even +fishermen cause the water (of tank) to run out through holes. +(Experienced leaders always lead their forces noting the loopholes and +assailable points of the foe). We shall, therefore, strive to accomplish +our purpose following the leadership of Govinda conversant with the +science of politics, that personage whose fame hath spread all over the +world. For the successful accomplishment of one’s purposes one should +ever place Krishna in the van, that foremost of personages whose strength +consists in wisdom and policy and who possesseth a knowledge of both +method and means. For the accomplishment of one’s purpose let, therefore, +Arjuna, the son of Pritha, follow Krishna the foremost of the Yadavas and +let Bhima follow Arjuna. Policy and good fortune and might will (then) +bring about success in a matter requiring valour.’ Vaisampayana +said,--‘Thus addressed by Yudhishthira, the trio Krishna, Arjuna and +Bhima, all possessed of great energy, set out for Magadha attired in the +garb of Snataka Brahmanas of resplendent bodies, and blessed by the +agreeable speeches of friends and relatives. Possessed of superior energy +and of bodies already like the Sun, the Moon, and the Fire, inflamed with +wrath at the sad lot of their relative kings, those bodies of theirs +became much more blazing. And the people, beholding Krishna and Arjuna, +both of whom had never before been vanquished in battle, with Bhima in +the van, all ready to achieve the same task, regarded Jarasandha as +already slain. For the illustrious pair (Krishna and Arjuna) were masters +that directed every operation (in the universe), as also all acts +relating to the morality, wealth, and pleasure of every being. Having set +out from the country of the Kurus, they passed through Kuru-jangala and +arrived at the charming lake of lotuses. Passing over the hills of +Kalakuta, they then went on crossing the Gandaki, the Sadanira +(Karatoya), and the Sarkaravarta and the other rivers taking their rise +in the same mountains. They then crossed the delightful Sarayu and saw +the country of Eastern Kosala. Passing over that country they went to +Mithila and then crossing the Mala and Charamanwati, the three heroes +crossed the Ganges and the Sone and went on towards the east. At last +those heroes of unfaded glory arrived at Magadha in the heart of (the +country of) Kushamva. Reaching then the hills of Goratha, they saw the +city of Magadha that was always filled with kine and wealth and water and +rendered handsome with the innumerable trees standing there.’” + + + +SECTION XXI + +“Vasudeva said,--‘behold, O Partha, the great capital of Magadha, +standing in all its beauty. Filled with flocks and herds and its stock of +water never exhausted, and adorned also with fine mansions standing in +excellent array, it is free from every kind of calamity. The five large +hills of Vaihara, Varaha, Vrishava, Rishigiri, and the delightful +Chaitya, all of high peaks and overgrown with tall trees of cool shade +and connected with one another, seem to be jointly protecting the city of +Girivraja. The breasts of the hills are concealed by forests of +delightful and fragrant Lodhras having the ends of their branches covered +with flowers. It was here that the illustrious Gautama of rigid vows +begat on the Sudra woman Ausinari (the daughter of Usinara) Kakshivat and +other celebrated sons. That the race sprung from Gautama doth yet live +under the sway of an ordinary human race (of monarchs) is only evidence +of Gautama’s kindness to kings. And, O Arjuna, it was here that in olden +times the mighty monarchs of Anga, and Vanga and other countries, came to +the abode of Gautama, and passed their days in joy and happiness. Behold, +O Partha, those forests of delightful Pippalas and beautiful Lodhras +standing near the side of Gautama’s abode. There dwelt in old days those +Nagas, Arvuda and Sakravapin, those persecutors of all enemies, as also +the Naga Swastika and that other excellent Naga called Manu. Manu himself +had ordered the country of the Magadhas to be never afflicted with +drought, and Kaushika and Manimat also have favoured the country. Owning +such a delightful and impregnable city, Jarasandha is ever bent on +seeking the fruition of his purposes unlike other monarchs. We shall, +however, by slaying him to-day humble his pride.” + +Vaisampayana said,--Thus saying those brothers of abundant energy, viz., +he of the Vrishni race and the two Pandavas entered the city of Magadha. +They then approached towards the impregnable city of Girivraja that was +full of cheerful and well-fed inhabitants belonging to all the four +orders, and where festivities were perennial. On arriving then at the +gate of the city, the brothers (instead of passing through it) began to +pierce (with their shafts) the heart of the high Chaityaka peak that was +worshipped by the race of Vrihadratha, as also by the citizens and which +delighted the hearts of all the Magadhas. There Vrihadratha had slain a +cannibal called Rishava and having slain the monster made of his hide +three drums which he placed in his own city. And those drums were such +that once beaten their sound lasted one full month. And the brothers +broke down the Chaityaka peak that was delightful to all the Magadhas, at +that point where those drums covered with celestial flowers used to yield +their continuous sound. And desirous of slaying Jarasandha they seemed by +that act of theirs to place their feet upon the head of their foe. And +attacking with their mighty arms that immovable and huge and high and old +and celebrated peak always worshipped with perfumes and floral wreaths, +those heroes broke it down. And with joyful hearts they then entered the +city. And it so happened that the learned Brahmanas residing within the +city saw many evil omens which they reported to Jarasandha. And the +priest making the king mount an elephant whirled lighted brands about +him. And king Jarasandha also, possessed of great prowess, with a view to +warding of those evils, entered upon the celebration of a sacrifice, with +proper vows and fasts. Meanwhile, O Bharata, the brothers unarmed, or +rather with their bare arms as their only weapons, desirous of fighting +with Jarasandha, entered the capital in the guise of Brahmanas. They +beheld the extraordinary beauty of the shops full of various edibles and +floral wreaths, and supplied with articles of every variety of various +qualities that man can desire. Those best of men, Krishna, Bhima, and +Dhananjaya, beholding in those shops their affluence, passed along the +public road. And endued with great strength they snatched forcibly from +the flower-vendors the garlands they had exposed for sale. And attired in +robes of various colours and decked in garlands and ear-rings the heroes +entered the abode of Jarasandha possessed of great intelligence, like +Himalayan lions eyeing cattle-folds. And the arms of those warriors, O +king, besmeared with sandal paste, looked like the trunks of sala trees. +The people of Magadha, beholding those heroes looking like elephants, +with necks broad like those of trees and wide chests, began to wonder +much. Those bull among men, passing through three gates that were crowded +with men, proudly and cheerfully approached the king. And Jarasandha +rising up in haste received them with water to wash their feet with, and +honey and the other ingredients of the Arghya--with gifts of kine, and +with other forms of respect. The great king addressing them said,--‘Ye +are welcome’! And, O Janamejaya, both Partha and Bhima remained silent at +this. And addressing the monarch Krishna said,--‘O king of kings these +two are now in the observance of a vow. Therefore they will not speak. +Silent they will remain till midnight After that hour they will speak +with thee!’ The king then quartering his guests in the sacrificial +apartments retired into his private chambers. And when midnight arrived, +the monarch arrived at the place where his guests attired as Brahmanas +were. For, O King, that ever victorious monarch observed this vow which +was known throughout the Worlds that as soon as he should hear of the +arrival of Snataka Brahmanas at his place, should it be even at midnight, +he would immediately, O Bharata, come out and grant them an audience. +Beholding the strange attire of his guests that best of kings wondered +much. For all that, however, he waited on them respectfully. Those bulls +among men, those slayers of all foes, on the other hand, O thou best of +the Bharata race, beholding king Jarasandha, said,--‘Let salvation be +attained by thee, O king, without difficulty.’ And, O tiger among kings, +having said this unto the monarch, they stood looking at each other. And, +O king of kings, Jarasandha then said unto those sons of Pandu and him of +the Yadu race, all disguised as Brahmanas--‘Take your seats.’ And those +bulls among men sat themselves down, and like the three priests of a +great sacrifice blazed forth in their beauty. And king Jarasandha, O thou +of the Kuru race, firmly devoted to truth, censuring the disguised +guests, said unto them,--‘It is well known to me that in the whole world +Brahmanas in the observance of Snataka vow never deck their persons with +garlands and fragrant paste unseasonably. Who are ye, therefore, thus +decked with flowers, and with hands bearing the marks of the bow-string? +Attired in coloured robes and decked unseasonably with flowers and paste, +ye give me to understand that ye are Brahmanas, although ye bear +Kshatriya energy. Tell me truly who ye are. Truth decks even kings. +Breaking down the peak of the Chaityaka hill, why have ye, in disguise, +entered (the city) by an improper gate without fear of the royal wrath? +The energy of a Brahmana dwelleth in his speech, (not in act). This your +feat is not suited to the order to which ye profess to belong. Tell us +therefore, the end ye have in view. Arrived here by such an improper way, +why accept ye not the worship I offer? What is your motive for coming to +me? Thus addressed by the king, the high-souled Krishna, well-skilled in +speech, thus replied unto the monarch in a calm and grave voice. + +“Krishna said,--‘O king, know us for Snataka Brahmanas. Brahmanas and +Kshatriyas and Vaishyas are all, O monarch, competent to observe the vow +of Snataka. This vow, besides, hath (many) especial and general rules. A +Kshatriya observing this vow with especial rules always achieve +prosperity. Therefore, have we decked ourselves with flowers. Kshatriyas +again, O king, exhibit their energy by their arms and not in speech. It +is, therefore, O son of Vrihadratha, that the speeches uttered by a +Kshatriya are never audacious. O monarch, the creator hath planted his +own energy in the aim of the Kshatriya. If thou wishest to behold it, +thou shalt certainly behold it today. These are the rules of the +ordinance, viz., that an enemy’s abode should be entered through a wrong +gate and a friend’s abode through the right one. And know, O monarch, +that this also is our eternal vow that having entered the foe’s abode for +the accomplishment of our purpose, we accept not the worship offered to +us!” + + + +SECTION XXII + +“Jarasandha said,--‘I do not recollect if I ever acted injuriously +towards ye! Even upon a careful mental scrutiny I fail to see the injury +I did unto ye. When I have never done ye an injury, why, ye Brahmanas do +ye regard me, who am innocent, as your foe? O, answer me truly, for this, +indeed, is the rule followed by the honest. The mind is pained at the +injury to one’s pleasure and morality. That Kshatriya who injures an +innocent man’s (sources of) pleasure and morality even if he be otherwise +a great warrior and well-versed in all rules of morality, obtains, +without any doubt the fate of sinners (hereafter) and falls off from +prosperity. The practices of the Kshatriyas are the best of those that +are honest in the three worlds Indeed, those that are acquainted with +morality applaud the Kshatriya practices. Adhering to those practices of +my order with steady soul, I never injure those that are under me. In +bringing this charge, therefore, against me, it appears that ye speak +erroneously!’ + +“Krishna said,--‘O thou of mighty arms, there is a certain person of the +head of a (royal) line who upholdeth the dignity of his race At his +command have we come against thee. Thou hast brought, O king, many of the +Kshatriyas of the world as captives (to thy city.) Having perpetrated +that wicked wrong how dost thou regard thyself as innocent? O best of +monarchs, how can a king act wrongfully towards other virtuous kings? But +thou, O king, treating other kings with cruelty, seekest to offer them as +sacrifice unto the god Rudra! O son of Vrihadratha, this sin committed by +thee may touch even us, for as we are virtuous in our practices, we are +capable of protecting virtue. The slaughter of human being as sacrifice +unto the gods is never seen. Why dost thou, therefore, seek to perform a +sacrifice unto god Sankara by slaughtering human beings? Thou art +addressing persons belonging to thy own order as animals (fit for +sacrifice)! Fool as thou art, who else, O Jarasandha, is capable of +behaving in this way? One always obtaineth the fruits of whatever acts +one performeth under whatever circumstances. Therefore, desirous as we +are of helping all distressed people, we have, for the prosperity of our +race, come hither to slay thee, the slaughterer of our relatives. Thou +thinkest that there is no man among the Kshatriyas (equal to thee). This, +O king, is a great error of judgment on thy part. What Kshatriya is +there, O king, who endued with greatness of soul and recollecting the +dignity of his own parentage, would not ascend to eternal heaven that +hath not its like anywhere, falling in open fight? Know O bull among men, +that Kshatriyas engage themselves in battle, as persons installed in +sacrifices, with heaven in view, and vanquish the whole world! Study of +the Vedas, great fame, ascetic penances, and death in battle, are all +acts that lead to heaven. The attainment of heaven by the three other +acts may be uncertain, but death in battle hath that for its certain +consequence. Death in battle is the sure cause of triumph like Indra’s. +It is graced by numerous merits. It is for this reason that he of a +hundred sacrifices (Indra) hath become what he is, and by vanquishing the +Asuras he ruleth the universe. Hostility with whom else than thee is so +sure of leading to heaven, proud as thou art of the excessive strength of +thy vast Magadha host? Don’t disregard others, O king. Valour dwelleth in +every man. O king of men, there are many men whose valour may be equal or +superior to thine. As long as these are not known, so long only art thou +noted for thy valour. Thy prowess, O king, can be borne by us. It is, +therefore, that I say so. O king of Magadha, cast off thy superiority and +pride in the presence of those that are thy equals. Go not, O king, with +thy children and ministers and army, into the regions of Yama. +Damvodhava, Kartavirya, Uttara, and Vrihadratha, were kings that met with +destruction, along with all their forces, for having disregarded their +superiors. Desirous of liberating the captive monarchs from thee, know +that we are certainly not Brahmanas. I am Hrishesha otherwise called +Sauri, and these two heroes among men are the sons of Pandu. O king of +Magadha, we challenge thee. Fight standing before us. Either set free all +the monarchs, or go thou to the abode of Yama. + +“Jarasandha said,--‘I never make a captive of a king without first +vanquishing him. Who hath been kept here that hath not been defeated in +war? This, O Krishna, it hath been said, is the duty that should be +followed by the Kshatriyas, viz., to bring others under sway by the +exhibition of prowess and then to treat them as slaves. Having gathered +these monarchs with the intention of offering them as sacrifices unto the +god, how shall I, O Krishna, from fear liberate them to-day, when I +recollect also the duty I have recited of a Kshatriya? With troops +against troops arrayed in order of battle, or alone against one, or +against two, or against three, at the same time or separately, I am ready +to fight.’” + +Vaisampayana said,--“Having spoken thus, and desiring to fight with those +heroes of terrible achievements, king Jarasandha ordered (his son) +Sahadeva to be installed on the throne. Then, O bull of the Bharata race, +the king, on the eve of battle, thought of his two generals Kausika and +Chitrasena. These two, O king, were formerly called by everybody in the +world of men by the respectful appellations of Hansa and Dimvaka. And, O +monarch, that tiger among men, the lord Sauri ever devoted to truth, the +slayer of Madhu, the younger brother of Haladhara, the foremost of all +persons having their senses under complete control, keeping in view the +command of Brahma and remembering that the ruler of Magadha was destined +to be slain in battle by Bhima and not by the descendant of Madhu +(Yadavas), desired not to slay himself king Jarasandha, that foremost of +all men endued with strength, that hero possessed of the prowess of a +tiger, that warrior of terrible valour.” + + + +SECTION XXIII + +Vaisampayana said,--‘then that foremost of all speakers, Krishna of the +Yadava race, addressing king Jarasandha who was resolved upon fighting, +said,--‘O king, with whom amongst us three dost thou desire to fight? Who +amongst us shall prepare himself for battle (with thee)?’ Thus addressed, +the ruler of Magadha, king Jarasandha of great splendour, expressed his +desire for fighting with Bhima. The priest then, bringing with him the +yellow pigment obtained from the cow and garlands of flowers and other +auspicious articles, as also various excellent medicines for restoring +lost consciousness and alleviating pain, approached Jarasandha, panting +for battle. The king Jarasandha, on whose behalf propitiatory ceremonies +with benedictions were performed by a renowned Brahmana, remembering the +duty of a Kshatriya dressed himself for battle. Taking off his crown and +binding his hair properly, Jarasandha stood up like an ocean bursting its +continents. Then the monarch possessed of terrible prowess, addressing +Bhima. said, ‘I will fight with thee. It is better to be vanquished by a +superior person.’ And saying this, Jarasandha, that represser of all foes +endued, rushed with great energy at Bhimasena like the Asura Vala or old +who rushed at the chief of the celestials. And the mighty Bhimasena, on +whose behalf the gods had been invoked by Krishna, that cousin of his, +having consulted with advanced towards Jarasandha, impelled by the desire +of fight. Then those tigers among men, those heroes of great prowess, +with their bare arms as their only weapons, cheerfully engaged themselves +in the encounter, each desirous of vanquishing the other. And seizing +each other’s arms and twining each other’s legs, (at times) they slapped +their arm-pits, causing the enclosure to tremble at the sound. And +frequently seizing each other’s necks with their hands and dragging and +pushing it with violence, and each pressing every limb of his body +against every limb of the other, they continued, O exalted one, to slap +their arm-pits (at time). And sometimes stretching their arms and +sometimes drawing them close, and now raising them up and now dropping +them down, they began to seize each other. And striking neck against neck +and forehead against forehead, they caused fiery sparks to come out like +flashes of lightning. And grasping each other in various ways by means of +their arms, and kicking each other with such violence as to affect the +innermost nerves, they struck at each other’s breasts with clenched +fists. With bare arms as their only weapons roaring like clouds they +grasped and struck each other like two mad elephants encountering each +other with their trunks. Incensed at each other’s blow, they fought on +dragging and pushing each other and fiercely looking at each other like +two wrathful lions. And each striking every limb of the other with his +own and using his arms also against the other, and catching hold of each +other’s waist, they hurled each other to a distance. Accomplished in +wrestling, the two heroes clasping each other with their arms and each +dragging the other unto himself, began to press each other with great +violence. The heroes then performed those grandest of all feats in +wrestling called Prishtabhanga, which consisted in throwing each other +down with face towards the earth and maintaining the one knocked down in +that position as long as possible. And employing his arms, each also +performed the feats called Sampurna-murchcha and Purna-kumbha. At times +they twisted each other’s arms and other limbs as if these were vegetable +fibres that were to be twisted into chords. And with clenched fists they +struck each other at times, pretending to aim at particular limbs while +the blows descended upon other parts of the body. It was thus that those +heroes fought with each other. The citizens consisting of thousands, of +Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas and Sudras, and even women and the +aged, O tiger among men, came out and gathered there to behold the fight. +And the crowd became so great that it was one solid mass of humanity with +no space between body and body. The sound the wrestlers made by the +slapping of their arms, the seizing of each other’s necks for bringing +each other down, and the grasping of each other’s legs for dashing each +other to the ground, became so loud that it resembled the roar of thunder +or of falling cliffs. Both of them were foremost of mighty men, and both +took great delight in such encounter. Desirous of vanquishing the other, +each was on the alert for taking advantage of the slightest lapse of the +other. And, O monarch, the mighty Bhima and Jarasandha fought terribly on +in those lists, driving the crowd at times by the motions of their hands +like Vritra and Vasava of old. Thus two heroes, dragging each other +forward and pressing each other backward and with sudden jerks throwing +each other face downward and sideways, mangled each other dreadfully. And +at times they struck each other with their knee-joints. And addressing +each other loudly in stinging speeches, they struck each other with +clenched fists, the blows descending like a mass of stone upon each +other. With broad shoulders and long arms and both well-skilled in +wrestling encounters, they struck each other with those long arms of +theirs that were like maces of iron. That encounter of the heroes +commenced on the first (lunar) day of the month of Kartic (October) and +the illustrious heroes fought on without intermission and food, day and +night, till the thirteenth lunar day. It was on the night of the +fourteenth of the lunar fortnight that the monarch of Magadha desisted +from fatigue. And O king, Janardana beholding the monarch tired, +addressed Bhima of terrible deeds, and as if to stimulate him said,--‘O +son of Kunti, a foe that is fatigued cannot be pressed for if pressed at +such a time he may even die. Therefore, O son of Kunti, this king should +not be oppressed by thee. On the other hand, O bull of the Bharata race, +fight with him With thy arms, putting forth as much strength only as thy +antagonist hath now left!’ Then that slayer of hostile heroes, the son of +Pandu, thus addressed by Krishna, understood the plight of Jarasandha and +forthwith resolved upon taking his life. And that foremost of all men +endued with strength, that prince of the Kuru race, desirous of +vanquishing the hitherto unvanquished Jarasandha, mustered all his +strength and courage.” + + + +SECTION XXIV + +Vaisampayana said,--“thus addressed, Bhima firmly resolved upon slaying +Jarasandha, replied unto Krishna of the Yadu race, saying,--O tiger of +the Yadu race, O Krishna, this wretch that yet stayeth before me with +sufficient strength and bent upon fight, should not be forgiven by me. +Hearing these words of Vrikodara (Bhima), that tiger among men, Krishna, +desiring to encourage that hero to accomplish the death of Jarasandha +without any delay, answered,--‘O Bhima, exhibit today upon Jarasandha the +strength thou hast luckily derived, the might thou hast obtained from +(thy father), the god Maruta.’ Thus addressed by Krishna, Bhima, that +slayer of foes, holding up in the air the powerful Jarasandha, began to +whirl him on high. And, O bull of the Bharata race, having so whirled him +in the air full hundred times, Bhima pressed his knee against +Jarasandha’s backbone and broke his body in twain. And having killed him +thus, the mighty Vrikodara uttered a terrible roar. And the roar of the +Pandava mingling with that death knell of Jarasandha, while he was being +broken on Bhima’s knee, caused a loud uproar that struck fear into the +heart of every creature. And all the citizens of Magadha became dumb with +terror and many women were even prematurely delivered. And hearing those +roars, the people of Magadha thought that either the Himavat was tumbling +down or the earth itself was being rent asunder. And those oppressors of +all foes then, leaving the lifeless body of the king at the palace gate +where he lay as one asleep, went out of the town. And Krishna, causing +Jarasandha’s car furnished with an excellent flagstaff to be made ready +and making the brothers (Bhima and Arjuna) ride in it, went in and +released his (imprisoned) relatives. And those kings rescued from +terrible fate, rich in the possession of jewels, approaching Krishna made +presents unto him of jewels and gems. And having vanquished his foe, +Krishna furnished with weapons and unwounded and accompanied by the kings +(he had released), came out of Girivraja riding in that celestial car (of +Jarasandha). And he also who could wield the bow with both hands +(Arjuna), who was incapable of being vanquished by any of the monarchs on +earth, who was exceedingly handsome in person and well-skilled in the +destruction of the foe, accompanied by the possessor of great strength +(Bhima), came out of that tort with Krishna driving the car whereon he +rode. And that best of cars, incapable of being vanquished by any king, +ridden in by those warriors Bhima and Arjuna, and driven by Krishna, +looked exceedingly handsome. Indeed, it was upon that car that Indra and +Vishnu had fought of old in the battle (with the Asuras) in which Taraka +(the wife of Vrihaspati) had become the immediate cause of much +slaughter. And riding upon that car Krishna now came out of the +hill-fort. Possessed of the splendour of heated gold, and decked with +rows of jingling bells and furnished with wheels whose clatter was like +the roar of clouds, and ever victorious in battle, and always +slaughtering the foe against whom it was driven, it was that very car +riding upon which Indra had slain ninety-nine Asuras of old. And those +bulls among men (the three cousins) having obtained that car became +exceedingly glad. The people of Magadha, behold the long-armed Krishna +along with the two brothers, seated in that car (of Jarasandha) wondered +much. O Bharata, that car, whereunto were yoked celestial horses and +which possessed the speed of the wind, thus ridden upon by Krishna, +looked exceedingly beautiful. And upon that best of cars was a flag-staff +without being visibly attached thereto, and which was the product of +celestial skill. And the handsome flag-staff, possessed of the splendour +of the rainbow, could be seen from the distance of a yojana. And Krishna +while, coming out, thought of Garuda. And Garuda, thought of by his +master, came thither in no time, like a tree of vast proportions standing +in a village worshipped by all. Garuda of immense weight of body and +living upon snakes sat upon that excellent car along with the numberless +open-mouthed and frightfully-roaring creatures on its flag-staff. And +thereupon that best of cars became still more dazzling with its splendour +and was as incapable of being looked at by created being as the midday +sun surrounded by a thousand rays. And, O king, such was that best of +flag-staffs of celestial make that it never struck against any tree nor +could any weapon injure it at all even though visible to men’s eyes. And +Achyuta, that tiger among men, riding with the two sons of Pandu upon +that celestial car, the clatter of whose wheels was like the roar of the +clouds, came out of Girivraja. The car upon which Krishna rode had been +obtained by king Vasu from Vasava, and from Vasu by Vrihadratha, and from +the latter in due course by king Jarasandha. And he of long arms and eyes +like lotus-petals and possessed of illustrious reputation, coming out of +Girivraja, stopped (for some time) on a level plain outside the town. +And, O king, all the citizens then, with the Brahmanas at their head, +hastened thither to adore him with due religious rites. And the kings who +had been released from confinement worshipped the slayer of Madhu with +reverence, and addressing him with eulogies said,--O thou of long arms, +thou hast to-day rescued us, sunk in the deep mire of sorrow in the hand +of Jarasandha. Such an act of virtue by thee, O son of Devaki, assisted +by the might of Bhima and Arjuna, is most extraordinary. O Vishnu, +languishing as we all were in the terrible hill-fort of Jarasandha, it +was verily from sheer good fortune alone that thou hast rescued us, O son +of the Yadu race, and achieved thereby a remarkable reputation. O tiger +among men, we bow down to thee. O, command us what we shall do. However +difficult of accomplishment, thy command being made known to us, O lord +(Krishna), it will at once be accomplished by us. Thus addressed by the +monarchs, the high-souled Hrishikesa gave them every assurance and +said,--‘Yudhishthira is desirous of performing the sacrifice of Rajasuya. +That monarch, ever guided by virtue, is solicitous of acquiring the +imperial dignity. Having known this from me assist ye him in his +endeavours. Then, O king, all those monarchs with joyous hearts accepted +the words of Krishna, saying,--‘So be it! And saying this, those lords of +earth made presents of jewels unto him of the Dasarha race. And Govinda, +moved by kindness towards them, took a portion of those presents, + +“Then the son of Jarasandha, the high-souled Sahadeva, accompanied by his +relatives and the principal officers of state, and with his priest in +front came thither. And the prince, bending himself low and making large +presents of jewels and precious stones, worshipped Vasudeva, that god +among men. Then that best of men, Krishna, giving every assurance unto +the prince afflicted with fear, accepted those presents of his of great +value. And Krishna joyfully installed the prince there and then in the +sovereignty of Magadha. And the strong-armed and illustrious son of +Jarasandha, thus installed on the throne by those most exalted of men and +having obtained the friendship of Krishna and treated with respect and +kindness by the two sons of Pritha, re-entered the city of his father. +And that bull amongst men, Krishna, accompanied by the sons of Pritha and +graced with great good fortune, left the city of Magadha, laden with +numerous jewels. Accompanied by the two sons of Pandu, Achyuta (Krishna) +arrived at Indraprastha, and approaching Yudhishthira joyfully addressing +that monarch said,--‘O best of kings, from good fortune, the mighty +Jarasandha hath been slain by Bhima, and the kings confined (at +Girivraja) have been all set free. From good fortune also, these two, +Bhima and Dhananjaya, are well and arrived, O Bharata, it their own city +unwounded. Then Yudhishthira worshipped Krishna as he deserved and +embraced Bhima and Arjuna in joy. And the monarch who had no enemy, +having obtained victory through the agency of his brothers in consequence +of the death of Jarasandha, gave himself up to pleasure and merriment +with all his brothers. And the oldest son of Pandu (Yudhisthira) together +with his brothers approached the kings who had come to Indraprastha and +entertaining and worshipping them, each according to his age, dismissed +them all. Commanded by Yudhishthira those kings with joyful hearts, set +out for their respective countries without loss of time, riding upon +excellent vehicles. Thus, O king, did that tiger among men. Janardana of +great intelligence, caused his foe Jarasandha to be slain through the +instrumentality of the Pandavas. And, O Bharata, that chastiser of all +foes having thus caused Jarasandha to be slain, took leave of +Yudhishthira and Pritha, and Draupadi and Subhadra, and Bhimasena and +Arjuna and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva. After taking leave of +Dhananjaya also, he set out for his own city (of Dwarka), riding upon +that best of cars of celestial make, possessed of the speed of the mind +and given unto him by Yudhishthira, filling the ten points of the horizon +with the deep rattle of its wheels. And, O bull of the Bharata race, just +as Krishna was on the point of setting out, the Pandavas with +Yudhishthira at their head walked round that tiger among men who was +never fatigued with exertion.’ + +“And after the illustrious Krishna, the son of Devaki, had departed (from +Indraprastha) having acquired that great victory and having also +dispelled the fears of the kings, that feat, O Bharata, swelled the fame +of the Pandavas. And, O king, the Pandavas passed their days, continuing +to gladden the heart of Draupadi. And at that time, whatever was proper +and consistent with virtue, pleasure, and profit, continued to be +properly executed by king Yudhishthira in the exercise of his duties of +protecting his subjects.” + + + +SECTION XXV + +(Digvijaya Parva) + +Vaisampayana said,--Arjuna, having obtained that best of bows and that +couple of inexhaustible quivers and that car and flag-staff, as also that +assembly-house, addressing Yudhisthira said,--Bow, weapons, great energy, +allies, territory, fame, army-those, O king, difficult of acquisition +however desirable, have all been obtained by me. I think, therefore, that +what should now be done is for the swelling up of our treasury. I desire, +O best of monarchs, to make the kings (of the earth) pay tributes to us. +I desire to set out, in an auspicious moment of a holy day of the moon +under a favourable constellation for the conquest of the direction that +is presided over by the Lord of treasures (viz. the North).” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“King Yudhisthira the just, hearing these words +of Dhananjaya, replied unto him in a grave and collected tone, saying,--O +bull of the Bharata race, set thou out, having made holy Brahmanas utter +benedictions on thee, to plunge thy enemies in sorrow and to fill thy +friend with joy. Victory, O son of Pritha, will surely be thine, and thou +wilt surely obtain thy desires fulfilled. + +“Thus addressed, Arjuna, surrounded by a large host, set out in that +celestial car of wonderful achievements he had obtained from Agni. And +Bhimasena also, and those bull among men, the twins, dismissed with +affection by Yudhishthira the just set out, each at the head of a large +army. And Arjuna, the son of the chastiser of Paka then brought under +subjugation that direction (the North) which was presided over by the +Lord of treasures. And Bhimasena overcome by force the East and Sahadeva +the South, and Nakula, O king, acquainted with all the weapons, conquered +the West. Thus while his brothers were so employed, the exalted king +Yudishthira the just stayed within Khandavaprastha in the enjoyment of +great affluence in the midst of friends and relatives.” + +“Bhagadatta, hearing this, said,--‘O thou who hast Kunto for thy mother, +as thou art to me, so is Yudhishthira also. I shall do all this. Tell me, +what else I may do for thee.” + + + +SECTION XXVI + +Vaisampayana continued,--thus addressed, Dhananjaya replied unto +Bhagadatta, saying,--‘If thou wilt give thy promise to do this, thou hast +done all I desire. And having thus subjugated the king of Pragjyotisha, +Dhananjaya of long arms, the son of Kunti, then marched towards the +north--the direction presided over by the lord of treasures. That bull +amongst men, that son of Kunti, then conquered the mountainous tracts and +their outskirts, as also the hilly regions. And having conquered all the +mountains and the kings that reigned there, and bringing them under his +sway, he exacted tributes from all. And winning the affections of those +kings and uniting himself with them, he next marched, O king, against +Vrihanta, the king of Uluka, making this earth tremble with the sound of +his drums, the clatter of his chariot-wheels, and the roar of the +elephants in his train. Vrihanta, however, quickly coming out of his city +followed by his army consisting of four kinds of troops, gave battle to +Falguna (Arjuna). And the fight that took place between Vrihanta and +Dhananjaya was terrible. It so happened that Vrihanta was unable to bear +the prowess of the son of Pandu. Then that invincible king of the +mountainous region regarding the son of Kunti irresistible, approached +him with all his wealth. Arjuna snatched out the kingdom from Vrihanta, +but having made peace with him marched, accompanied by that king, against +Senavindu whom he soon expelled from his kingdom. After this he +subjugated Modapura, Vamadeva, Sudaman, Susankula, the Northern Ulukas, +and the kings of those countries and peoples. Hereafter at the command of +Yudhishthira, O monarch, Arjuna, did not move from the city of Senavindu +but sent his troops only and brought under his sway those five countries +and peoples. For Arjuna, having arrived at Devaprastha, the city of +Senavindu, took up his quarters there with his army consisting of four +kinds of forces. Thence, surrounded by the kings and the peoples he had +subjugated, the hero marched against king Viswagaswa--that bull of Puru’s +race. Having vanquished in battle the brave mountaineers, who were all +great warriors, the son of Pandu, O king, then occupied with the help of +his troops, the town protected by the Puru king. Having vanquished in +battle the Puru king, as also the robber tribes, of the mountains, the +son of Pandu brought under his sway the seven tribes called +Utsava-sanketa. That bull of the Kshatriya race then defeated the brave +Kshatriyas of Kashmira and also king Lohita along with ten minor chiefs. +Then the Trigartas, the Daravas, the Kokonadas, and various other +Kshatriyas, O king, advanced against the son of Pandu. That Prince of the +Kuru race then took the delightful town of Avisari, and then brought +under his sway Rochamana ruling in Uraga. Then the son of Indra (Arjuna), +putting forth his might, pressed the delightful town of Singhapura that +was well-protected with various weapons. Then Arjuna, that bull amongst +the son of Pandu, at the head of all his troops, fiercely attacked the +regions called Suhma and Sumala. Then the son of Indra, endued with great +prowess, after pressing them with great force, brought the Valhikas +always difficult of being vanquished, under his sway. Then Falguna, the +son of Pandu, taking with him a select force, defeated the Daradas along +with the Kambojas. Then the exalted son of Indra vanquished the robber +tribes that dwelt in the north-eastern frontier and those also that dwelt +in the woods. And, O great king, the son of Indra also subjugated the +allied tribes of the Lohas, the eastern Kambojas, and northern Rishikas. +And the battle with the Rishikas was fierce in the extreme. Indeed, the +fight that took place between them and the son of Pritha was equal to +that between the gods and the Asuras in which Taraka (the wife of +Vrihaspati) had become the cause of so much slaughter. And defeating, O +king, the Rishikas in the field of battle, Arjuna took from them as +tribute eight horses that were of the colour of the parrot’s breast, as +also other horses of the hues of the peacock, born in northern and other +climes and endued with high speed. At last having conquered all the +Himalayas and the Nishkuta mountains, that bull among men, arriving at +the White mountains, encamped on its breast.” + + + +SECTION XXVII + +Vaisampayana said,--“that heroic and foremost of the Pandavas endued with +great energy, crossing the White mountains, subjugated the country of the +Limpurushas ruled by Durmaputra, after a collision involving a great +slaughter of Kshatriyas, and brought the region under his complete sway. +Having reduced that country, the son of Indra (Arjuna) with a collected +mind marched at the head of his troops to the country called Harataka, +ruled by the Guhakas. Subjugating them by a policy of conciliation, the +Kuru prince beheld (in that region) that excellent of lakes called Manasa +and various other lakes and tanks sacred to the Rishis. And the exalted +prince having arrived at the lake Manasa conquered the regions ruled by +the Gandharvas that lay around the Harataka territories. Here the +conqueror took, as tribute from the country, numerous excellent horses +called Tittiri, Kalmasha, Manduka. At last the son of the slayer of Paka, +arriving in the country of North Harivarsha desired to conquer it. +Thereupon certain frontier-guards of huge bodies and endued with great +strength and energy, coming to him with gallant hearts, said, ‘O son of +Pritha, this country can be never conquered by thee. If thou seekest thy +good, return hence. He that entereth this region, if human, is sure to +perish. We have been gratified with thee; O hero, thy conquests have been +enough. Nor is anything to be seen here, O Arjuna, that may be conquered +by thee. The Northern Kurus live here. There cannot be war here. Even if +thou enterest it, thou will not be able to behold anything, for with +human eyes nothing can be seen here. If, however thou seekest anything +else, O Bharata tell us, O tiger among men, so that we may do thy +bidding. Thus addressed by them, Arjuna smilingly addressing them, +said,--‘I desire the acquisition of the imperial dignity by Yudhishthira +the just, of great intelligence. If your land is shut against human +beings, I shall not enter it. Let something be paid unto Yudhishthira by +ye as tribute. Hearing these words of Arjuna, they gave him as tribute +many cloths and ornaments of celestial make, silks of celestial texture +and skins of celestial origin. + +“It was thus that tiger among men subjugated the countries that lay to +the North, having fought numberless battles with both Kshatriya and +robber tribes. And having vanquished the chiefs and brought them under +his sway he exacted from them much wealth, various gems and jewels, the +horses of the species called Tittiri and Kalmasha, as also those of the +colour of the parrot’s wings and those that were like the peacocks in hue +and all endued with the speed of the wind. And surrounded, O king, by a +large army consisting of the four kinds of forces, the hero came back to +the excellent city of Sakraprastha. And Partha offered the whole of that +wealth, together with the animals he had brought, unto Yudhishthira the +just. And commanded by the monarch, the hero retired to a chamber of the +palace for rest.” + + + +SECTION XXVIII + +Vaisampayana said,--in the meantime, Bhimasena also endued with great +energy, having obtained the assent of Yudhishthira the just marched +towards the eastern direction. And the tiger among the Bharatas, +possessed of great valour and ever increasing the sorrows of his foes, +was accompanied by a mighty host with the full complement of elephants +and horses and cars, well-armed and capable of crushing all hostile +kingdoms. That tiger among men, the son of Pandu, going first into the +great country of the Panchalas, began by various means to conciliate that +tribe. Then that hero, that bull of the Bharata race, within a short +time, vanquished the Gandakas and the Videhas. That exalted one then +subjugated the Dasarnas. There in the country of the Dasarnas, the king +called Sudharman with his bare arms fought a fierce battle with +Bhimasena. And Bhimasena, beholding that feat of the illustrious king, +appointed the mighty Sudharman as the first in command of his forces. +Then Bhima of terrible prowess marched towards the east, causing the +earth itself to tremble with the tread of the mighty host that followed +him. Then that hero who in strength was the foremost of all strong men +defeated in battle Rochamana, the king of Aswamedha, at the head of all +his troops. And the son of Kunti, having vanquished that monarch by +performing feats that excelled in fierceness, subjugated the eastern +region. Then that prince of the Kuru race, endued with great prowess +going into the country of Pulinda in the south, brought Sukumara and the +king Sumitra under his sway. Then, O Janamejaya, that bull in the Bharata +race, at the command of Yudhishthira the just marched against Sisupala of +great energy. The king of Chedi, hearing of the intentions of the son of +Pandu, came out of his city. And that chastiser of all foes then received +the son of Pritha with respect. Then, O king, those bulls of the Chedi +and the Kuru lines, thus met together, enquired after each other’s +welfare. Then, O monarch, the king of Chedi offered his kingdom unto +Bhima and said smilingly,--‘O sinless one, upon what art thou bent?’ And +Bhima thereupon represented unto him the intentions of king Yudhishthira. +And Bhima dwelt there, O king, for thirty nights, duly entertained by +Sisupala. And after this he set out from Chedi with his troops and +vehicles.” + + + +SECTION XXIX + +Vaisampayana said,--that chastiser of all foes then vanquished king +Srenimat of the country of Kumara, and then Vrihadvala, the king of +Kosala. Then the foremost of the sons of Pandu, by performing feats +excelling in fierceness, defeated the virtuous and mighty king +Dirghayaghna of Ayodhya. And the exalted one then subjugated the country +of Gopalakaksha and the northern Kosalas and also the king of Mallas. And +the mighty one, arriving then in the moist region at the foot of the +Himalayas soon brought the whole country under his sway. And that bull of +Bharata race brought under control in this way diverse countries. And +endued with great energy and in strength the foremost of all strong men, +the son of Pandu next conquered the country of Bhallata, as also the +mountain of Suktimanta that was by the side of Bhallata. Then Bhima of +terrible prowess and long arms, vanquishing in battle the unretreating +Suvahu the king of Kasi, brought him under complete sway. Then that bull +among the sons of Pandu overcame in battle, by sheer force, the great +king Kratha reigning in the region lying about Suparsa. Then the hero of +great energy vanquished the Matsya and the powerful Maladas and the +country called Pasubhumi that was without fear or oppression of any kind. +And the long-armed hero then, coming from that land, conquered Madahara, +Mahidara, and the Somadheyas, and turned his steps towards the north. And +the mighty son of Kunti then subjugated, by sheer force, the country +called Vatsabhumi, and the king of the Bhargas, as also the ruler of the +Nishadas and Manimat and numerous other kings. Then Bhima, with scarcely +any degree of exertion and very soon, vanquished the southern Mallas and +the Bhagauanta mountains. And the hero next vanquished, by policy alone, +the Sarmakas and the Varmakas. And that tiger among men then defeated +with comparative ease that lord of earth, Janaka the king of the Videhas. +And the hero then subjugated strategically the Sakas and the barbarians +living in that part of the country. And the son of Pandu, sending forth +expeditions from Videha, conquered the seven kings of the Kiratas living +about the Indra mountain. The mighty hero then, endued with abundant +energy, vanquished in battle the Submas and the Prasuhmas. And winning +them over to his side, the son of Kunti, possessed of great strength, +marched against Magadha. On his way he subjugated the monarchs known by +the names of Danda and Dandadhara, And accompanied by those monarchs, the +son of Pandu marched against Girivraja. After bringing the son of +Jarasandha under his sway by conciliation and making him pay tribute, the +hero then accompanied by the monarchs he had vanquished, marched against +Kansa. And making the earth tremble by means of his troops consisting of +the four kinds of forces, the foremost of the Pandavas then encountered +Karna that slayer of foes. And, O Bharata, having subjugated Karna and +brought him under his sway, the mighty hero then vanquished the powerful +king of the mountainous regions. And the son of Pandu then slew in a +fierce encounter, by the strength of his arms, the mighty king who dwelt +in Madagiri. And the Pandava then, O king, subjugated in battle those +strong and brave heroes of fierce prowess, viz., the heroic and mighty +Vasudeva, the king of Pundra and king Mahaujah who reigned in +Kausika-kachchha, and then attacked the king of Vanga. And having +vanquished Samudrasena and king Chandrasena and Tamralipta, and also the +king of the Karvatas and the ruler of the Suhmas, as also the kings that +dwelt on the sea-shore, that bull among the Bharatas then conquered all +Mlechchha tribes. The mighty son of the wind-god having thus conquered +various countries, and exacting tributes from them all advanced towards +Lohity. And the son of Pandu then made all the Mlechchha kings dwelling +in the marshy regions on the sea-coast, pay tributes and various kinds of +wealth, and sandal wood and aloes, and clothes and gems, and pearls and +blankets and gold and silver and valuable corals. The Mlechchha kings +showered upon the illustrious son of Kunti a thick downpour of wealth +consisting of coins and gems counted by hundreds of millions. Then +returning to Indraprastha, Bhima of terrible prowess offered the whole of +that wealth unto king Yudhisthira the just.” + + + +SECTION XXX + +Vaisampayana said,--“thus also Sahadeva, dismissed with affection by king +Yudhisthira the just, marched towards the southern direction accompanied +by a mighty host. Strong in strength, that mighty prince of the Kuru +race, vanquishing completely at the outset the Surasenas, brought the +king of Matsya under his sway. And the hero then, defeating Dantavakra, +the mighty king of the Adhirajas and making him pay tribute, +re-established him on his throne. The prince then brought under his sway +Sukumara and then king Sumitra, and he next vanquished the other Matsyas +and then the Patacharas. Endued with great intelligence, the Kuru warrior +then conquered soon enough the country of the Nishadas and also the high +hill called Gosringa, and that lord of earth called Srenimat. And +subjugating next the country called Navarashtra, the hero marched against +Kuntibhoja, who with great willingness accepted the sway of the +conquering hero. And marching thence to the banks of the Charmanwati, the +Kuru warrior met the son of king Jamvaka, who had, on account of old +hostilities, been defeated before by Vasudeva. O Bharata, the son of +Jamvaka gave battle to Sahadeva. And Sahadeva defeating the prince +marched towards the south. The mighty warrior then vanquished the Sekas +and others, and exacted tributes from them and also various kinds of gems +and wealth. Allying himself with the vanquished tribes the prince then +marched towards the countries that lay on the banks of the Narmada. And +defeating there in battle the two heroic kings of Avanti, called Vinda +and Anuvinda, supported by a mighty host, the mighty son of the twin gods +exacted much wealth from them. After this the hero marched towards the +town of Bhojakata, and there, O king of unfading glory, a fierce +encounter took place between him and the king of that city for two whole +days. But the son of Madri, vanquishing the invincible Bhismaka, then +defeated in battle the king of Kosala and the ruler of the territories +lying on the banks of the Venwa, as also the Kantarakas and the kings of +the eastern Kosalas. The hero then defeating both the Natakeyas and the +Heramvaks in battle, and subjugating the country of Marudha, reduced +Munjagrama by sheer strength. And the son of Pandu then vanquished the +mighty monarchs of the Nachinas and the Arvukas and the various forest +king of that part of the country. Endued with great strength the hero +then reduced to subjection king Vatadhipa. And defeating in battle the +Pulindas, the hero then marched southward. And the younger brother of +Nakula then fought for one whole day with the king of Pandrya. The +long-armed hero having vanquished that monarch marched further to the +south. And then he beheld the celebrated caves of Kishkindhya and in that +region fought for seven days with the monkey-kings Mainda and Dwivida. +Those illustrious kings however, without being tired an the encounter, +were gratified with Sahadeva. And joyfully addressing the Kuru prince, +they said,--‘O tiger among the sons of Pandu, go hence, taking with the +tribute from us all. Let the mission of the king Yudhishthira the just +possessed of great intelligence, be accomplished without hindrance. And +taking jewels and gems from them all, the hero marched towards the city +of Mahishmati, and there that bull of men did battle with king Nila. The +battle that took place between king Nila and the mighty Sahadeva the son +of Pandu, that slayer of hostile heroes, was fierce and terrible. And the +encounter was an exceedingly bloody one, and the life of the hero himself +was exposed to great risk, for the god Agni himself assisted king Nila in +that fight. Then the cars, heroes, elephants, and the soldiers in their +coats of mail of Sahadeva’s army all appeared to be on fire. And +beholding this the prince of the Kuru race became exceedingly anxious. +And, O Janamejaya, at sight of this the hero could not resolve upon what +he should do. + +Janamejaya said,--O regenerate one, why was it that the god Agni become +hostile in battle unto Sahadeva, who was fighting simply for the +accomplishment of a sacrifice (and therefore, for the gratification of +Agni himself)? + +Vaisampayana said,--‘It is said, O Janamejaya, that the god Agni while +residing in Mahishmati, earned the reputation of a lover. King Nila had a +daughter who was exceedingly beautiful. She used always to stay near the +sacred fire of her father, causing it to blaze up with vigour. And it so +happened that king Nila’s fire, even if fanned, would not blaze up till +agitated by the gentle breath of that girl’s fair lips. And it was said +in King Nila’s palace and in the house of all his subjects that the god +Agni desired that beautiful girl for his bride. And it so happened that +he was accepted by the girl herself. One day the deity assuming the form +of a Brahmana, was happily enjoying the society of the fair one, when he +was discovered by the king. And the virtuous king thereupon ordered the +Brahmana to be punished according to law. At this the illustrious deity +flamed up in wrath. And beholding this, the king wondered much and bent +his head low on the ground. And after some time the king bowing low +bestowed the daughter of his upon the god Agni, disguised as a Brahmana. +And the god Vibhabasu (Agni) accepting that fair-browed daughter of king +Nila, became gracious unto that monarch. And Agni, the illustrious +gratifier of all desires also asked the monarch to beg a boon of him. And +the king begged that his troops might never be struck with panic while +engaged in battle. And from that time, O king, those monarchs who from +ignorance of this, desire to subjugate king Nila’s city, are consumed by +Hutasana (Agni). And from that time, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, the +girls of the city of Mahishmati became rather unacceptable to others (as +wives). And Agni by his boon granted them sexual liberty, so that the +women of that town always roam about at will, each unbound to a +particular husband. And, O bull of the Bharata race, from that time the +monarchs (of other countries) forsake this city for fear of Agni. And the +virtuous Sahadeva, beholding his troops afflicted with fear and +surrounded by flames of fire, himself stood there immovable as a +mountain. And purifying himself and touching water, the hero (Sahadeva) +then addressed Agni, the god that sanctifieth everything, in these +words,-- + +‘I bow unto thee, O thou whose track is always marked with smoke. These +my exertions are all for thee. O thou sanctifier of all, thou art the +mouth of the gods and thou art Sacrifice personified. Thou art called +Pavaka because thou sanctifiest everything, and thou art Havyavahana, +because thou carriest the clarified butter that is poured on thee. The +Veda have sprung for ministering unto thee, and, therefore, thou art +called Jataveda. Chief of the gods as thou art, thou art called +Chitrabhanu, Anala, Vibhavasu, Hutasana, Jvalana, Sikhi, Vaiswanara, +Pingesa, Plavanga, Bhuritejah. Thou art he from whom Kumara (Kartikeya) +had his origin; thou art holy; thou art called Rudragarva and +Hiranyakrit. Let thee, O Agni, grant me energy, let Vayu grant me life, +let Earth grant me nourishment and strength, and let Water grant me +prosperity. O Agni, thou who art the first cause of the waters, thou who +art of great purity, thou for ministering unto whom the Vedas have +sprung, thou who art the foremost of the deities, thou who art their +mouth, O purify me by thy truth. Rishis and Brahmanas, Deities and Asuras +pour clarified butter every day, according to the ordinance into thee +during sacrifices. Let the rays of truth emanating from thee, while thou +exhibitest thyself in those sacrifices, purify me. Smoke-bannered as thou +art and possessed of flames, thou great purifier from all sins born of +Vayu and ever present as thou art in all creatures, O purify me by the +rays of thy truth. Having cleansed myself thus cheerfully, O exalted one, +do I pray unto thee. O Agni, grant me now contentment and prosperity, and +knowledge and gladness. + +Vaisampayana continued.--‘He that will pour clarified butter into Agni +reciting these mantras, will ever be blessed with prosperity, and having +his soul under complete control will also be cleansed from all his sins. + +“Sahadeva, addressing Agni again, said,--‘O carrier of the sacrificial +libations, it behoveth thee not to obstruct a sacrifice!’ Having said +this, that tiger among men--the son of Madri--spreading some kusa grass +on earth sat down in expectation of the (approaching) fire and in front +of those terrified and anxious troops of his. And Agni, too, like the +ocean that never transgresseth its continents, did not pass over his +head. On the other hand approaching Sahadeva quietly and addressing that +prince of the Kuru race, Agni that god of men gave him every assurance +and said,--‘O thou of the Kuru race, rise up from this posture. O rise +up, I was only trying thee. I know all thy purpose, as also those of the +son of Dharma (Yudhisthira). But, O best of the Bharata race, as long as +there is a descendant of king Nila’s line, so long should this town be +protected by me. I will, however O son of Pandu, gratify the desires of +thy heart. And at these words of Agni, O bull of the Bharata race, the +son of Madri rose up with a cheerful heart, and joining his hands and +bending his head worshipped that god of fire, sanctifier of all beings. +And at last, after Agni had disappeared, king Nila came there, and at the +command of that deity, worshipped with due rites Sahadeva, that tiger +among men--that master of battle. And Sahadeva accepted that worship and +made him pay tribute. And having brought king Nila under his sway thus, +the victorious son of Madri then went further towards the south. The +long-armed hero then brought the king of Tripura of immeasurable energy +under his sway. And next turning his forces against the Paurava kingdom, +he vanquished and reduced to subjection the monarch thereof. And the +prince, after this, with great efforts brought Akriti, the king of +Saurashtra and preceptor of the Kausikas under his sway. The virtuous +prince, while staying in the kingdom of Saurashtra sent an ambassador +unto king Rukmin of Bhishmaka within the territories of Bhojakata, who, +rich in possessions and intelligence, was the friend of Indra himself. +And the monarch along with his son, remembering their relationship with +Krishna, cheerfully accepted, O king, the sway of the son of Pandu. And +the master of battle then, having exacted jewels and wealth from king +Rukmin, marched further to the south. And, endued with great energy and +great strength, the hero then, reduced to subjection, Surparaka and +Talakata, and the Dandakas also. The Kuru warrior then vanquished and +brought under his subjection numberless kings of the Mlechchha tribe +living on the sea coast, and the Nishadas and the cannibals and even the +Karnapravarnas, and those tribes also called the Kalamukhas who were a +cross between human beings and Rakshasas, and the whole of the Cole +mountains, and also Surabhipatna, and the island called the Copper +island, and the mountain called Ramaka. The high-souled warrior, having +brought under subjection king Timingila, conquered a wild tribe known by +the name of the Kerakas who were men with one leg. The son of Pandu also +conquered the town of Sanjayanti and the country of the Pashandas and the +Karahatakas by means of his messengers alone, and made all of them pay +tributes to him. The hero brought under his subjection and exacted +tributes from the Paundrayas and the Dravidas along with the Udrakeralas +and the Andhras and the Talavanas, the Kalingas and the Ushtrakarnikas, +and also the delightful city of Atavi and that of the Yavanas. And, O +king of kings, that slayer of all foes, the virtuous and intelligent son +of Madri having arrived at the sea-shore, then despatched with great +assurance messengers unto the illustrious Vibhishana, the grandson of +Pulastya. And the monarch willingly accepted the sway of the son of +Pandu, for that intelligent and exalted king regarded it all as the act +of Time. And he sent unto the son of Pandu diverse kinds of jewels and +gems, and sandal and also wood, and many celestial ornaments, and much +costly apparel, and many valuable pearls. And the intelligent Sahadeva, +accepting them all, returned to his own kingdom. + +“Thus it was, O king, that slayer of all foes, having vanquished by +conciliation and war numerous kings and having also made them pay +tribute, came back to his own city. The bull of the Bharata race, having +presented the whole of that wealth unto king Yudhisthira the just +regarded himself, O Janamejaya, as crowned with success and continued to +live happily.” + + + +SECTION XXXI + +Vaisampayana said,--“I shall now recite to you the deeds and triumphs of +Nakula, and how that exalted one conquered the direction that had once +been subjugated by Vasudeva. The intelligent Nakula, surrounded by a +large host, set out from Khandavaprastha for the west, making this earth +tremble with the shouts and the leonine roars of the warriors and the +deep rattle of chariot wheels. And the hero first assailed the +mountainous country called Rohitaka that was dear unto (the celestial +generalissimo) Kartikeya and which was delightful and prosperous and full +of kine and every kind of wealth and produce. And the encounter the son +of Pandu had with the Mattamyurakas of that country was fierce. And the +illustrious Nakula after this, subjugated the whole of the desert country +and the region known as Sairishaka full of plenty, as also that other one +called Mahetta. And the hero had a fierce encounter with the royal sage +Akrosa. And the son of Pandu left that part of the country having +subjugated the Dasarnas, the Sivis, the Trigartas, the Amvashtas, the +Malavas, the five tribes of the Karnatas, and those twice born classes +that were called the Madhyamakeyas and Vattadhanas. And making circuitous +journey that bull among men then conquered the (Mlechcha) tribes called +the Utsava-sanketas. And the illustrious hero soon brought under +subjection the mighty Gramaniya that dwelt on the shore of the sea, and +the Sudras and the Abhiras that dwelt on the banks of the Saraswati, and +all those tribes that lived upon fisheries, and those also that dwelt on +the mountains, and the whole of the country called after the five rivers, +and the mountains called Amara, and the country called Uttarayotisha and +the city of Divyakutta and the tribe called Dwarapala. And the son of +Pandu, by sheer force, reduced to subjection the Ramathas, the Harahunas, +and various kings of the west. And while staying there Nakula sent. O +Bharata, messengers unto Vasudeva. And Vasudeva with all the Yadavas +accepted his sway. And the mighty hero, proceeding thence to Sakala, the +city of the Madras, made his uncle Salya accept from affection the sway +of the Pandavas. And, O monarch, the illustrious prince deserving the +hospitality and entertainment at his uncle’s hands, was well entertained +by his uncle. And skilled in war, the prince, taking from Salya a large +quantity of jewels and gems, left his kingdom. And the son of Pandu then +reduced to subjection the fierce Mlechchas residing on the sea coast, as +also the wild tribes of the Palhavas, the Kiratas, the Yavanas, and the +Sakas. And having subjugated various monarchs, and making all of them pay +tributes, Nakula that foremost of the Kurus, full of resources, retraced +his way towards his own city. And, O king, so great was the treasure +which Nakula brought that ten thousand camels could carry it with +difficulty on their backs. And arriving at Indraprastha, the heroic and +fortunate son of Madri presented the whole of that wealth unto +Yudhishthira. + +“Thus, O king, did Nakula subjugate the countries that lay to the +west--the direction that is presided over by the god Varuna, and that had +once before been subjugated by Vasudeva himself!” + + + +SECTION XXXII + +(Rajasuyika Parva) + +Vaisampayana said,--“in consequence of the protection afforded by +Yudhisthira the just, and of the truth which he ever cherished in his +behaviour, as also of the check under which he kept all foes, the +subjects of that virtuous monarch were all engaged in their respective +avocations. And by reason of the equitable taxation and the virtuous rule +of the monarch, clouds in his kingdom poured as much rain as the people +desired, and the cities and the town became highly prosperous. Indeed as +a consequence of the monarch’s acts; every affair of the kingdom, +especially cattle bleeding, agriculture and trade prospered highly. O +king, during those days even robbers and cheats never spoke lies amongst +themselves, nor they that were the favourites of the monarch. There were +no droughts and floods and plagues and fires and premature deaths in +those days of Yudhishthira devoted to virtue. And it was only for doing +agreeable services, or for worshipping, or for offering tributes that +would not impoverish, that other kings used to approach Yudhisthira (and +not for hostility or battle.) The large treasure room of the king became +so much filled with hoards of wealth virtuously obtained that it could +not be emptied even in a hundred years. And the son of Kunti, +ascertaining the state of his treasury and the extent of his possessions, +fixed his heart upon the celebration of a sacrifice. His friends and +officers, each separately and all together, approaching him said,--‘The +time hath come, O exalted one, for thy sacrifice. Let arrangements, +therefore, be made without loss of time.’ While they were thus talking, +Hari (Krishna), that omniscient and ancient one, that soul of the Vedas, +that invincible one as described by those that have knowledge, that +foremost of all lasting existences in the universe, that origin of all +things, as also that in which all things come to be dissolved, that lord +of the past, the future, and the present Kesava--the slayer of Kesi, and +the bulwark of all Vrishnis and the dispeller of all fear in times of +distress and the smiter of all foes, having appointed Vasudeva to the +command of the (Yadava) army, and bringing with him for the king +Yudhishthira just a large mass of treasure; entered that excellent city +of cities. Khandava, himself surrounded by a mighty host and filling the +atmosphere with the rattle of his chariot-wheels. And Madhava, that tiger +among men enhancing that limitless mass of wealth the Pandavas had by +that inexhaustible ocean of gems he had brought, enhanced the sorrows of +the enemies of the Pandavas. The capital of the Bharata was gladdened by +Krishna’s presence just as a dark region is rendered joyful by the sun or +a region of still air by a gentle breeze. Approaching him joyfully and +receiving him with due respect, Yudhishthira enquired of his welfare. And +after Krishna had been seated at ease, that bull among men, the son of +Pandu, with Dhaumya and Dwaipayana and the other sacrificial priests and +with Bhima and Arjuna and the twins, addressed Krishna thus,-- + +‘O Krishna it is for thee that the whole earth is under my sway. And, O +thou of the Vrishni race, it is through thy grace that vast wealth had +been got by me. And, O son of Devaki, O Madhava, I desire to devote that +wealth according to the ordinance, unto superior Brahmanas and the +carrier of sacrificial libations. And, O thou of the Dasarha race, it +behoveth thee, O thou of mighty arms, to grant me permission to celebrate +a sacrifice along with thee and my younger brothers. Therefore, O +Govinda, O thou of long arms, install thyself at that sacrifice; for, O +thou of the Dasarha race, if thou performed the sacrifice, I shall be +cleansed of sin. Or, O exalted one, grant permission for myself being +installed at the sacrifice along with these my younger brothers, for +permitted by thee, O Krishna. I shall be able to enjoy the fruit of an +excellent sacrifice. + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Unto Yudhisthira after he had said this, +Krishna, extolling his virtues, said.--‘Thou, O tiger among kings, +deservest imperial dignity. Let, therefore, the great sacrifice be +performed by thee. And if thou performest that sacrifice an obtainest its +fruit we all shall regard ourselves as crowned with success. I am always +engaged in seeking good. Perform thou then the sacrifice thou desirest. +Employ me also in some office for that purpose, for I should obey all thy +commands. Yudhisthira replied--O Krishna, my resolve is already crowned +with fruit, and success also is surely mine, when thou, O Harishikesa, +hast arrived here agreeably to my wish!’ + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Commanded by Krishna, the son of Pandu along +with his brothers set himself upon collecting the materials for the +performance of the Rajasuya sacrifice. And that chastiser of all foes, +the son of Pandu, then commanded Sahadeva that foremost of all warriors +and all ministers also, saying,--Let persons be appointed to collect +without loss of time, all those articles which the Brahmanas have +directed as necessary for the performance of this sacrifice, and all +materials and auspicious necessaries that Dhaumya may order as required +for it, each of the kind needed and one after another in due order. Let +Indrasena and Visoka and Puru with Arjuna for his charioteer be engaged +to collect food if they are to please me. Let these foremost of the Kurus +also gather every article of agreeable taste and smell that may delight +and attract the hearts of the Brahmanas.’ + +“Simultaneously with these words of king Yudhisthira the just, Sahadeva +that foremost of warriors, having accomplished everything, represented +the matter to the king. And Dwaipayana, O king, then appointed as +sacrificial priests exalted Brahmanas that were like the Vedas themselves +in embodied forms. The son of Satyavati became himself the Brahma of that +sacrifice. And that bull of the Dhananjaya race, Susaman, became the +chanter of the Vedic (Sama) hymns. Yajnavalkya devoted to Brahma became +the Adhyaryu, and Paila--the son of Vasu and Dhaumya became the Hotris. +And O bull of the Bharata race, the disciples and the sons of these men, +all well-acquainted with the Vedas and the branches of the Vedas, became +Hotragts. And all of them, having uttered benedictions and recited the +object of the sacrifice, worshipped, according to the ordinance the large +sacrificial compound. Commanded by the Brahmanas, builders and artificers +erected numerous edifices there that were spacious and well-perfumed like +unto the temples of the gods. After these were finished, that best of +kings and that bull among men Yudhishthira. commanded his chief adviser +Sahadeva, saying,--‘Despatch thou, without loss of time, messengers +endued with speed to invite all to the sacrifice. And Sahadeva, hearing +these words of the king, despatched messengers telling them,--‘Invite ye +all the Brahmanas in the kingdom and all the owners of land (Kshatriyas) +and all the Vaisyas and also all the respectable Sudras, and bring them +hither!’ + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Endued with speed, these messengers then, thus +commanded, invited everybody according to the orders of the Pandava, +without losing any time, and brought with them many persons, both friends +and strangers. Then, O Bharata, the Brahmanas at the proper time +installed Yudhishthira the son of Kunti at the Rajasuya sacrifice. And +after the ceremony of installation was over, that foremost of men, the +virtuous king Yudhishthira the just like the god Dharma himself in human +frame, entered the sacrificial compound, surrounded by thousands of +Brahmanas and his brothers and the relatives and friends and counsellors, +and by a large number of Kshatriya kings who had come from various +countries, and by the officers of State. Numerous Brahmanas, well-skilled +in all branches of knowledge and versed in the Vedas and their several +branches, began to pour in from various countries. Thousands of +craftsmen, at the command of king Yudhishthira the just, erected for +those Brahmanas with their attendants separate habitations well-provided +with food and clothes and the fruits and flowers of every season. And, O +king, duly worshipped by the monarch the Brahmanas continued to reside +there passing their time in conversation on diverse topics and beholding +the performances of actors and dancers. And the clamour of high-souled +Brahmanas, cheerfully eating and talking, was heard there without +intermission. ‘Give,’ and ‘Eat’ were the words that were heard there +incessantly and every day. And, O Bharata, king Yudhishthira the just +gave unto each of those Brahmanas thousands of kine and beds and gold +coins and damsels. + +Thus commenced on earth the sacrifice of that unrivalled hero, the +illustrious son of Pandu, like the sacrifice in heaven of Sakra himself. +Then that bull among men, king Yudhishthira despatched Nakula the son of +Pandu unto Hastinapura to bring Bhishma and Drona, Dhritarashtra and +Vidura and Kripa and those amongst his cousins that were well-disposed +towards him.” + + + +SECTION XXXIII + +Vaisampayana said,--“the ever-victorious Nakula, the son of Pandu, having +reached Hastinapura, formally invited Bhishma and Dhritarashtra. The +elder of the Kuru race with the preceptor at their head, invited with due +ceremonies, came with joyous hearts to that sacrifice, with Brahmanas +walking before them. And, O hull of the Bharata race, having heard of +king Yudhishthira’s sacrifice, hundreds of other Kshatriyas acquainted +with the nature of the sacrifice, with joyous hearts came there from +various countries, desiring to behold king Yudhishthira the son of Pandu +and his sacrificial mansion, and brought with them many costly jewels of +various kinds. And Dhritarashtra and Bhishma and Vidura of high +intelligence; and all Kaurava brothers with Duryyodhana at their head; +and Suvala the king of Gandhara and Sakuni endued with great strength; +and Achala, and Vrishaka, and Karna that foremost of all charioteers; and +Salya endued with great might and the strong Valhika; and Somadatta, and +Bhuri of the Kuru race, and Bhurisravas and Sala; and Aswatthama, Kripa, +Drona, and Jayadratha, the ruler of Sindhu; and Yajnasena with his sons, +and Salya that lord of earth and that great car warrior king Bhagadatta +of Pragjyotisha accompanied by all Mlechcha tribes inhabiting the marshy +regions on the sea-shore; and many mountain kings, and king Vrihadvala; +and Vasudeva the king of the Paundrayas, and the kings of Vanga and +Kalinga; and Akastha and Kuntala and the kings of the Malavas and the +Andhrakas; and the Dravidas and the Singhalas and the king of Kashmira, +and king Kuntibhoja of great energy and king Gauravahana, and all the +other heroic kings of Valhika; and Virata with his two sons, and Mavella +endued with great might; and various kings and princes ruling in various +countries; and, O Bharata king Sisupala endued with great energy and +invincible in battle accompanied by his son--all of them came to the +sacrifice of the son of Pandu. And Rama and Aniruddha and Kanaka and +Sarana; and Gada, Pradyumna, Shamva, and Charudeshna of great energy; and +Ulmuka and Nishatha and the brave Angavaha; and innumerable other +Vrishnis--all mighty car-warriors--came there. + +“These and many other kings from the middle country came, O monarch, to +that great Rajasuya sacrifice of the son of Pandu. And, O king, at the +command of king Yudhishthira the just, mansions were assigned to all +those monarchs, that were full of various kinds of edibles and adorned +with tanks and tall trees. And the son of Dharma worshipped all those +illustrious monarchs as they deserved. Worshipped by the king they +retired to mansions that were assigned to them. Those mansions were +(white and high) like the cliffs of Kailasa, and delightful to behold, +and furnished with every kind of furniture. They were enclosed on all +sides with well-built and high white-washed walls; their windows were +covered with net-works of gold and their interiors were furnished with +rows of pearls, their flights of stairs were easy of ascent and the +floors were all laid over with costly carpets. They were all hung over +with garlands of flowers and perfumed with excellent aloes. White as snow +or the moon, they looked extremely handsome even from the distance of a +yojana. Their doors and entrances were set uniformly and were wide enough +to admit a crowd of persons. Adorned with various costly articles and +built with various metals, they looked like peaks of the Himavat. Having +rested a while in those mansions the monarchs beheld king Yudhishthira +the just surrounded by numerous Sadasyas (sacrificial priests) and ever +performing sacrifices distinguished by large gifts to Brahmanas. That +sacrificial mansion wherein were present the kings and Brahmanas and +great Rishis looked, O king, as handsome as heaven itself crowded with +the gods!” + +Thus ends the thirty-fourth section in the Rajasuyika Parva of the Sabha +Parva. + + + +SECTION XXXIV + +Vaisampayana said,--“then, O king, Yudhishthira, having approached and +worshipped his grandfather and his preceptor, addressed Bhishma and Drona +and Kripa and the son of Drona and Duryyodhana and Vivingsati, and +said,--‘Help me ye all in the mater of this sacrifice. This large +treasure that is here is yours. Consult ye with one another and guide me +as ye desire. + +“The eldest of the sons of Pandu, who had been installed at the +sacrifice, having said this unto all, appointed every one of them to +suitable offices. He appointed Dussasana to superintend the department of +food and other enjoyable articles. Aswatthama was asked to attend on the +Brahmanas. Sanjaya was appointed to offer return-worship unto the kings. +Bhishma and Drona, both endued with great intelligence, were appointed to +see what was done and what was left undone. And the king appointed Kripa +to look after the diamonds and gold and the pearls and gems, as also +after the distribution of gifts to Brahmanas. And so other tigers among +men were appointed to similar offices. Valhika and Dhritarashtra and +Somadatta and Jayadratha, brought thither by Nakula, went about, enjoying +themselves as lords of the sacrifice. Vidura otherwise called Kshatta, +conversant with every rule of morality, became the disburser. Duryyodhana +became the receiver of the tributes that were brought by the kings. +Krishna who was himself the centre of all worlds and round whom moved +every creature, desirous of acquiring excellent fruits, was engaged at +his own will in washing the feet of the Brahmanas. + +“And desirous of beholding that sacrificial mansion, as also king +Yudhishthira the just, none came there with tribute less than a thousand +(in number, weight or measure). Everyone honoured the king Yudhishthira +the just with large presents of jewels. And each of the kings made a +present of his wealth, flattering himself with the proud belief that the +jewels he gave would enable the Kuru king Yudhisthira to complete his +sacrifice. And, O monarch, the sacrificial compound of the illustrious +son of Kunti looked extremely handsome--with the multitude of palaces +built so as to last for ever and crowded with guards and warriors. These +were so high that their tops touched the cars of the gods that came to +behold that sacrifice; as also with the cars themselves of the +celestials, and with the dwelling of the Brahmanas and the mansions made +there for the kings resembling the cars of the celestials and adorned +with gems and filled with every kind of wealth, and lastly with crowds of +the kings that came there all endued with beauty and wealth. Yudhisthira, +as though vying with Varuna himself in wealth, commenced the sacrifice +(of Rajasuya) distinguished by six fires and large gifts to Brahmanas. +The King gratified everybody with presents of great value and indeed with +every kind of object that one could desire. With abundance of rice and of +every kind of food, as also with a mass of jewels brought as tribute, +that vast concourse consisted of persons every one of whom was fed to the +full. The gods also were gratified at the sacrifice by the Ida, clarified +butter, Homa and libations poured by the great Rishis versed in mantras +and pronunciation. Like the gods, the Brahmanas also were gratified with +the sacrificial gifts and food and great wealth. And all the other orders +of men also were gratified at that sacrifice and filled with joy.” + + + +SECTION XXXV + +(Arghyaharana Parva) + +“Vaisampayana said,--On the last day of the sacrifice when the king was +to be sprinkled over with the sacred water, the great Brahmana Rishis +ever deserving of respectful treatment, along with the invited kings, +entered together the inner enclosure of the sacrificial compound. And +those illustrious Rishis with Narada as their foremost, seated at their +ease with those royal sages within that enclosure, looked like the gods +seated in the mansion of Brahma in the company of the celestial Rishis. +Endued with immeasurable energy those Rishis, having obtained leisure, +started various topics of conversation. ‘This is so,’ ‘This is not so,’ +‘This is even so.’ ‘This cannot be otherwise,’--thus did many of them +engage in discussions with one another. Some amongst the disputants, by +well-chosen arguments made the weaker position appear the stronger and +the stronger the weaker. Some disputants endued with great intelligence +fell upon the position urged by others like hawks darting at meat thrown +up into the air, while some amongst them versed in the interpretations of +religious treatises and others of rigid vows, and well-acquainted with +every commentary and gloss engaged themselves in pleasant converse. And, +O king, that platform crowded with gods, Brahmanas and great Rishis +looked extremely handsome like the wide expanse of the firmament studded +with stars. O monarch, there was then no Sudra near that platform of +Yudhisthira’s mansion, nor anybody that was without vows. + +“And Narada, beholding the fortunate Yudhisthira’s prosperity that was +born of that sacrifice, became highly gratified. Beholding that vast +concourse all the Kshatriyas, the Muni Narada, O king of men, became +thoughtful. And, O bull amongst men, the Rishi began to recollect the +words he had heard of old in the mansion of Brahma regarding the +incarnation on earth of portions of every deity. And knowing, O son of +the Kuru race, that that was a concourse (of incarnate) gods, Narada +thought in his mind of Hari with eyes like lotus-petals. He knew that +that creator himself of every object one, that exalted of all +gods--Narayana--who had formerly commanded the celestials, saying,--‘Be +ye born on earth and slay one another and come back to heaven’--that +slayer of all the enemies of the gods, that subjugator of all hostile +towns, in order to fulfil his own promise, had been born in the Kshatriya +order. And Narada knew that the exalted and holy Narayana, also called +Sambhu the lord of the universe, having commanded all the celestials +thus, had taken his birth in the race of Yadus and that foremost of all +perpetuator of races, having sprung from the line of the Andhaka-Vrishnis +on earth was graced with great good fortune and was shining like the moon +herself among stars. Narada knew that Hari the grinder of foes, whose +strength of arm was ever praised by all the celestials with Indra among +them, was then living in the world in human form. Oh, the Self-Create +will himself take away (from the earth) this vast concourse of Kshatriyas +endued with so much strength. Such was the vision of Narada the +omniscient who knew Hari or Narayana to be that Supreme Lord whom +everybody worshipped with sacrifice. And Narada, gifted with great +intelligence and the foremost of all persons and conversant with +morality, thinking of all this, sat at that sacrifice of the wise king +Yudhisthira the just with feelings of awe. + +“Then Bhishma, O king, addressing king Yudhisthira the just, said, “O +Bharata, let Arghya (an article of respect) be offered unto the kings as +each of them deserveth. Listen, O Yudhishthira, the preceptor, the +sacrificial priest, the relative, the Snataka, the friend, and the king, +it hath been said are the six that deserve Arghya. The wise have said +that when any of these dwell with one for full one year he deserveth to +be worshipped with Arghya. These kings have been staying with us for some +time. Therefore, O king, let Arghyas be procured to be offered unto each +of them. And let an Arghya be presented first of all unto him among those +present who is the foremost. + +“Hearing these words of Bhishma, Yudhishthira said--‘O Grandsire, O thou +of the Kuru race, whom thou deemest the foremost amongst these and unto +whom the Arghya should be presented by us, O tell me.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued,--Then, O Bharata, Bhishma the son of Santanu, +judged it by his intelligence that on earth Krishna was the foremost of +all. And he said--‘As is the sun among all luminous objects, so is the +one (meaning Krishna) (who shines like the sun) among us all, in +consequence of his energy, strength and prowess. And this our sacrificial +mansion is illuminated and gladdened by him as a sunless region by the +sun, or a region of still air by a gust of breeze. Thus commanded by +Bhishma, Sahadeva endued with great prowess duly presented the first +Arghya of excellent ingredients unto Krishna of the Vrishni race. Krishna +also accepted it according to the forms of the ordinance. But Sisupala +could not bear to see that worship offered unto Vasudeva. And this mighty +king of Chedi, reproving in the midst of that assembly both Bhishma and. +Yudhishthira, censured Vasudeva thereafter.” + + + +SECTION XXXVI + +“Sisupala said--‘O thou of the Kuru race, this one of the Vrishni race +doth not deserve royal worship as if he were a king, in the midst of all +these illustrious monarchs. O son of Pandu, this conduct of thine in thus +willingly worshipping him with eyes like lotus-petals is not worthy of +the illustrious Pandavas. Ye sons of Pandu. Ye are children. Ye know not +what morality is, for that is very subtle. Bhishma, this son also of +Ganga is of little knowledge and hath transgressed the rules of morality +(by giving ye such counsel). And, O Bhishma, if one like thee, possessed +of virtue and morality acteth from motives of interest, he is deserving +of censure among the honest and the wise. How doth he of the Dasarha +race, who is not even a king, accept worship before these kings and how +is it that he hath been worshipped by ye? O bull of the Kuru race, if +thou regardest Krishna as the oldest in age, here is Vasudeva, and how +can his son be said so in his presence? Or, if thou regardest Vasudeva as +your well-wisher and supporter, here is Drupada; how then can Madhava +deserve the (first) worship? Or, O son of Kuru, regardest thou Krishna as +preceptor? When Drona is here, how hast thou worshipped him of the +Vrishni race? Or, O son of Kuru, regardest thou Krishna as the Ritwija? +When old Dwaipayana is here, how hath Krishna been worshipped by thee? +Again when old Bhishma, the son of Santanu, that foremost of men who is +not to die save at his own wish is here, why, O king, hath Krishna been +worshipped by thee? When the brave Aswatthaman, versed in every branch of +knowledge is here, why, O king, hath Krishna, O thou of the Kuru race, +been worshipped by thee? When that King of kings, Duryyodhana, that +foremost of men, is here, as also Kripa the preceptor of the Bharata +princes, why hath Krishna been worshipped by thee? How, O son of Pandu, +passing over Druma, the preceptor of the Kimpurusas, hast thou worshipped +Krishna? When the invincible Bhishmaka and king Pandya possessed of every +auspicious mark, and that foremost of kings--Rukmi and Ekalavya and +Salya, the king of the Madras, are here, how, O son of Pandu, hast thou +offered the first worship unto Krishna? Here also is Karna ever boasting +of his strength amongst all kings, and (really) endued with great might, +the favourite disciple of the Brahmana Jamadagnya, the hero who +vanquished in battle all monarchs by his own strength alone. How, O +Bharata, hast thou, passing him over, offered the first worship unto +Krishna? The slayer of Madhu is neither a sacrificial priest nor a +preceptor, nor a king. That thou hast notwithstanding all these +worshipped him, O chief of the Kurus, could only have been from motives +of gain. If, O Bharata, it was your wish to offer the first worship unto +the slayer of Madhu, why were these monarchs brought here to be insulted +thus? We have not paid tributes to the illustrious son of Kunti from +fear, from desire of gain, or from having been won over by conciliation. +On the other hand, we have paid him tribute simply because he hath been +desirous of the imperial dignity from motives of virtue. And yet he it is +that thus insulteth us. O king, from what else, save motives of insult, +could it have been that thou hast worshipped Krishna, who possesseth not +the insignia of royalty, with the Arghya in the midst of the assembled +monarchs? Indeed, the reputation for virtue that the son of Dharma hath +acquired, hath been acquired by him without cause, for who would offer +such undue worship unto one that hath fallen off from virtue. This wretch +born in the race of the Vrishnis unrighteously slew of old the +illustrious king Jarasandha. Righteousness hath today been abandoned by +Yudhishthira and meanness only hath been displayed by him in consequence +of his having offered the Arghya to Krishna. If the helpless sons of +Kunti were affrighted and disposed to meanness, thou, O Madhava, ought to +have enlightened them as to thy claims to the first worship? Why also, O +Janarddana, didst thou accept the worship of which thou art unworthy, +although it was offered unto thee by those mean-minded princes? Thou +thinkest much of the worship unworthily offered unto thee, like a dog +that lappeth in solitude a quantity of clarified butter that it hath +obtained. O Janarddana, this is really no insult offered unto the +monarchs; on the other hand it is thou whom the Kurus have insulted. +Indeed, O slayer of Madhu, as a wife is to one that is without virile +power, as a fine show is to one that is blind, so is this royal worship +to thee who art no king. What Yudhishthira is, hath been seen; what +Bhishma is, hath been seen; and what this Vasudeva is hath been seen. +Indeed, all these have been seen as they are!” + +“Having spoken these words, Sisupala rose from his excellent seat, and +accompanied by the kings, went out of that assembly.” + + + +SECTION XXXVII + +“Vaisampayana said,--Then the king Yudhishthira hastily ran after +Sisupala and spoke unto him sweetly and in a conciliating tone the +following words,--‘O lord of earth, what thou hast said is scarcely +proper for thee. O king, it is highly sinful and needlessly cruel. Insult +not Bhishma, O king, by saying that he doth not know what virtue is. +Behold, these many kings, older than thou art, all approve of the worship +offered unto Krishna. It behoveth thee to bear it patiently like them. O +ruler of Chedi, Bhishma knoweth Krishna truly. Thou knowest him not so +well as this one of the Kuru race.’” + +“Bhishma also, after this, said,--He that approveth not the worship +offered unto Krishna, the oldest one in the universe, deserveth neither +soft words nor conciliation. The chief of warriors of the Kshatriya rare +who having overcome a Kshatriya in battle and brought him under his +power, setteth him free, becometh the guru (preceptor or master) of the +vanquished one. I do not behold in this assembly of kings even one ruler +of men who hath not been vanquished in battle by the energy of this son +of the Satwata race. This one (meaning Krishna) here, of undefiled glory, +deserveth to be worshipped not by ourselves alone, but being of mighty +arms, he deserveth to be worshipped by the three worlds also. Innumerable +warriors among Kshatriyas have been vanquished in battle by Krishna. The +whole universe without limit is established in him of the Vrishni race. +Therefore do we worship Krishna amongst the best and the oldest, and not +others. It behoveth thee not to say so. Let thy understanding be never +so. I have, O king, waited upon many persons that are old in knowledge. I +have heard from all those wise men, while talking; of the numerous +much-regarded attributes of the accomplished Sauri. I have also heard +many times all the acts recited by people that Krishna of great +intelligence hath performed since his birth. And, O king of Chedi, we do +not from caprice, or keeping in view our relationship or the benefits he +may confer on us, worship Janarddana who is worshipped by the good on +earth and who is the source of the happiness of every creature. We have +offered unto him the first worship because of his fame, his heroism, his +success. There is none here of even tender years whom we have not taken +into consideration. Passing over many persons that are foremost for their +virtues, we have regarded Hari as deserving of the first worship. Amongst +the Brahmanas one that is superior in knowledge, amongst the Kshatriyas +one that is superior in strength, amongst the Vaisyas one that is +superior in possessions and wealth, and amongst the Sudras one that is +superior in years, deserveth to be worshipped. In the matter of the +worship offered unto Govinda, there are two reason, viz., knowledge of +the Vedas and their branches, and also excess of strength. Who else is +there in the world of men save Kesava that is so distinguished? Indeed, +liberality, cleverness, knowledge of the Vedas, bravery, modesty, +achievements, excellent intelligence, humility, beauty, firmness, +contentment and prosperity--all dwell for ever in Achyuta. Therefore, ye +kings; it behoveth ye to approve of the worship that hath been offered +unto Krishna who is of great accomplishments, who as the preceptor, the +father, the guru, is worthy of the Arghya and deserving of (everybody’s) +worship. Hrishikesa is the sacrificial priest, the guru, worthy of being +solicited to accept one’s daughter in marriage, the Snataka, the king, +the friend: therefore hath Achyuta been worshipped by us. Krishna is the +origin of the universe and that in which the universe is to dissolve. +Indeed, this universe of mobile and immobile creatures hath sprung into +existence from Krishna only. He is the unmanifest primal cause (Avyakta +Prakriti), the creator, the eternal, and beyond the ken of all creatures. +Therefore doth he of unfading glory deserve highest worship. The +intellect, the seat of sensibility, the five elements, air, heat, water, +ether, earth, and the four species of beings (oviparous, viviparous, born +of filthy damp and vegetal) are all established in Krishna. The sun, the +moon, the constellations, the planets, all the principal directions, the +intermediate directions, are all established in Krishna. As the Agnihotra +is the foremost among all Vedic sacrifices, as the Gayatri is the +foremost among metres, as the king is the foremost among men, as the +ocean is the foremost among all rivers, as the moon is the foremost among +all constellations, as the sun is the foremost among all luminous bodies, +as the Meru is the foremost among all mountains, as Garuda is the +foremost among all birds, so as long as the upward, downward, and sideway +course of the universe lasteth, Kesava is the foremost in all the worlds +including the regions of the celestials. This Sisupala is a mere boy and +hence he knoweth not Krishna, and ever and everywhere speaketh of Krishna +thus. This ruler of Chedi will never see virtue in that light in which +one that is desirous of acquiring high merit will see it. Who is there +among the old and the young or among these illustrious lords of earth +that doth not regard Krishna as deserving of worship or that doth not +worship Krishna? If Sisupala regardeth this worship as undeserved, it +behoveth him to do what is proper in this matter.’” + + + +SECTION XXXVIII + +“Vaisampayana said,--The mighty Bhishma ceased, having said this. +Sahadeva then answered (Sisupala) in words of grave import, saying,--‘If +amongst ye there be any king that cannot bear to see Kesava of dark hue, +the slayer of Kesi, the possessor of immeasurable energy, worshipped by +me, this my foot is placed on the heads of all mighty ones (like him). +When I say this, let that one give me an adequate reply. And let those +kings that possess intelligence approve the worship of Krishna who is the +preceptor, the father, the guru, and deserveth the Arghya and the worship +(already offered unto him).’ + +“When Sahadeva thus showed his foot, no one among those intelligent and +wise and proud and mighty monarchs said anything. And a shower of flowers +fell on Sahadeva’s head, and an incorporeal voice said--‘Excellent, +excellent.’ Then Narada clad in black deer-skin, speaking of both the +future and the past, that dispeller of all doubts, fully acquainted with +all the worlds, said in the midst of innumerable creatures, these words +of the clearest import,--‘Those men that will not worship the lotus-eyed +Krishna should be regarded as dead though moving, and should never be +talked to on any occasion.’” + +“Vaisampayana continued,--Then that god among men, Sahadeva cognisant of +the distinction between a Brahmana and a Kshatriya, having worshipped +those that deserved worship, completed that ceremony. But upon Krishna +having received the first worship, Sunitha (Sisupala) that mower of +foes--with eyes red as copper from anger, addressed those rulers of men +and said,--‘When I am here to head ye all, what are ye thinking of now? +Arrayed let us stand in battle against the assembled Vrishnis and the +Pandavas?’ And the bull of the Chedis, having thus stirred the kings up, +began to consult with them how to obstruct the completion of the +sacrifice. All the invited monarchs who had come to the sacrifice, with +Sunitha as their chief, looked angry and their faces became pale. They +all said, ‘We must so act that the final sacrificial rite performed by +Yudhishthira and the worship of Krishna may not be regarded as having +been acquiesced in by us. And impelled by a belief in their power and +great assurance, the kings, deprived of reason through anger, began to +say this. And being moved by self-confidence and smarting under the +insult offered unto them, the monarchs repeatedly exclaimed thus. Though +their friends sought to appease them, their faces glowed with anger like +those of roaring lions driven away from their preys. Krishna then +understood that the vast sea of monarchs with its countless waves of +troops was preparing for a terrific rush.” + + + +SECTION XXXIX + +(Sisupala-badha Parva) + +“Vaisampayana said,--Beholding that vast assembly of kings agitated with +wrath, even like the terrific sea agitated by the winds that blow at the +time of the universal dissolution, Yudhishthira addressing the aged +Bhishma, that chief of intelligent men and the grandsire of the Kurus, +even like Puruhita (Indra) that slayer of foes, of abundant energy +addressing Vrihaspati, said,--‘This vast ocean of kings, hath been +agitated by wrath. Tell me, O Grandsire, what I should do in view of +this. O Grandsire, now what I should do that my sacrifice may not be +obstructed and my subjects may not be injured.’ + +“When king Yudhishthira the just, conversant with morality, said this, +Bhishma the grandsire of the Kurus, spoke these words in reply,--‘Fear +not, O tiger of the Kurus. Can the dog slay the lion? I have before this +found out a way that is both beneficial and comfortable to practise. As +dogs in a pack approaching the lion that is asleep bark together, so are +all these lords of earth. Indeed, O child, like dogs before the lion, +these (monarchs) are barking in rage before the sleeping lion of the +Vrishni race. Achyuta now is like a lion that is asleep. Until he waketh +up, this chief of the Chedis--this lion among men--maketh these monarchs +look like lions. O child, O thou foremost of all monarchs, this Sisupala +possessed of little intelligence is desirous of taking along with him all +these kings, through the agency of him who is the soul of the universe, +to the regions of Yama. Assuredly, O Bharata Vishnu hath been desirous of +taking back unto himself the energy that existeth in this Sisupala. O +Chief of all intelligent men, O son of Kunti, the intelligence of this +wicked-minded king of the Chedis, as also of all these monarchs, hath +become perverse. Indeed, the intelligence of all those whom this tiger +among men desireth to take unto himself, becometh perverse even like that +of this king of the Chedis. O Yudhishthira, Madhava is the progenitor as +also the destroyer of all created beings of the four species, (oviparous, +etc.,) existing in the three worlds.’” + +“Vaisampayana continued--Then the ruler of Chedis, having heard these +words of Bhishma, addressed the latter, O Bharata, in words that were +stern and rough.” + + + +SECTION XL + +‘Sisupala said,--‘Old and infamous wretch of thy race, art thou not +ashamed of affrighting all these monarchs with these numerous false +terrors! Thou art the foremost of the Kurus, and living as thou dost in +the third state (celibacy) it is but fit for thee that thou shouldst give +such counsel that is so wide of morality. Like a boat tied to another +boat or the blind following the blind, are the Kurus who have thee for +their guide. Thou hast once more simply pained our hearts by reciting +particularly the deeds of this one (Krishna), such as the slaying of +Putana and others. Arrogant and ignorant as thou art, and desirous of +praising Kesava, why doth not this tongue of thine split up into a +hundred parts? How dost thou, superior as thou art in knowledge, desire +to praise that cow-boy in respect of whom even men of little intelligence +may address invectives? If Krishna in his infancy slew a vulture, what is +there remarkable in that, or in that other feat of his, O Bhishma, viz., +in his slaughter of Aswa and Vrishava, both of whom were unskilled in +battle? If this one threw drown by a kick an inanimate piece of wood, +viz., a car, what is there, O Bhishma, wonderful in that? O Bhishma, what +is there remarkable in this one’s having supported for a week the +Govardhan mount which is like an anthill? ‘While sporting on the top of a +mountain this one ate a large quantity of food,’--hearing these words of +thine many have wondered exceedingly. But, O thou who art conversant with +the rules of morality, is not this still more wrongful that that great +person, viz., Kansa, whose food this one ate, hath been slain by him? +Thou infamous one of the Kuru race, thou art ignorant of the rules of +morality. Hast thou not ever heard, from wise men speaking unto thee, +what I would now tell thee? The virtuous and the wise always instruct the +honest that weapons must never be made to descend upon women and kine and +Brahmanas and upon those whose food hath been taken, as also upon those +whose shelter hath been enjoyed. It seemeth, O Bhishma, that all these +teachings hath been thrown away by thee. O infamous one of the Kuru race, +desiring to praise Kesava, thou describest him before me as great and +superior in knowledge and in age, as if I knew nothing. If at thy word, O +Bhishma, one that hath slain women (meaning Putana) and kine be +worshipped, then what is to become of this great lesson? How can one who +is such, deserve praise, O Bhishma? ‘This one is the foremost of all wise +men,--‘This one is the lord of the universe’--hearing these words of +thine, Janarddana believeth that these are all true. But surely, they are +all false. The verses that a chanter sings, even if he sings them often, +produce no impression on him. And every creature acts according to his +disposition, even like the bird Bhulinga (that picks the particles of +flesh from between the lion’s teeth, though preaching against rashness). +Assuredly thy disposition is very mean. There is not the least doubt +about it. And so also, it seemeth, that the sons of Pandu who regard +Krishna as deserving of worship and who have thee for their guide, are +possessed of a sinful disposition. Possessing a knowledge of virtue, thou +hast fallen off from the path of the wise. Therefore thou art sinful. +Who, O Bhishma, knowing himself to be virtuous and superior in knowledge, +will so act as thou hast done from motives of virtue? If thou knowest the +ways of the morality, if thy mind is guided by wisdom, blessed be thou. +Why then, O Bhishma, was that virtuous girl Amva, who had set her heart +upon another, carried off by thee, so proud of wisdom and virtue? Thy +brother Vichitravirya conformably to the ways of the honest and the +virtuous, knowing that girl’s condition, did not marry her though brought +by thee. Boasting as thou dost of virtue, in thy very sight, upon the +widow of thy brother were sons begotten by another according to the ways +of the honest. Where is thy virtue, O Bhishma? This thy celebacy, which +thou leadest either from ignorance or from impotence, is fruitless. O +thou who art conversant with virtue, I do not behold thy well-being. Thou +who expoundest morality in this way dost not seem to have ever waited +upon the old. Worship, gift, study,--sacrifices distinguished by large +gifts to the Brahmanas,--these all equal not in merit even one-sixteenth +part of that which is obtainable by the possession of a son. The merit, O +Bhishma, that is acquired by numberless vows and fasts assuredly becomes +fruitless in the case of one that is childless. Thou art childless and +old and the expounder of false morality. Like the swan in the story, thou +shalt now die at the hands of thy relatives. Other men possessed of +knowledge have said this of old. I will presently recite it fully in thy +hearing. + +“There lived of yore an old swan on the sea-coast. Ever speaking of +morality, but otherwise in his conduct, he used to instruct the feathery +tribe. Practise ye virtue and forego sin,--these were the words that +other truthful birds, O Bhishma, constantly heard him utter And the other +oviparous creatures ranging the sea, it hath been heard by us, O Bhishma +use for virtue’s sake to bring him food. And, O Bhishma, all those other +birds, keeping their eggs, with him, ranged and dived in the waters of +the sea. And the sinful old swan, attentive to his own pursuits, used to +eat up the eggs of all those birds that foolishly trusted in him. After a +while when the eggs were decreasing in number, a bird of great wisdom had +his suspicions roused and he even witnessed (the affair) one day. And +having witnessed the sinful act of the old swan, that bird in great +sorrow spoke unto all the other birds. Then, O thou best of the Kurus, +all those birds witnessing with their own eyes the act of the old swan, +approached that wretch of false conduct and slew him. + +“Thy behaviour, O Bhishma, is even like that of the old swan. These lords +of earth might slay thee in anger like those creatures of the feathery +tribe slaying the old swan. Persons conversant with the Puranas recite a +proverb, O Bhishma, as regards this occurrence, I shall, O Bharata, +repeat it to thee fully. It is even this: O thou that supportest thyself +on thy wings, though thy heart is affected (by the passions), thou +preachest yet (of virtue); but this thy sinful act of eating up the eggs +transgresseth thy speech!” + + + +SECTION XLI + +“Sisupala said,--“That mighty king Jarasandha who desired not to fight +with Krishna, saying ‘He is a slave,’ was worthy of my greatest esteem. +Who will regard as praiseworthy the act which was done by Kesava, as also +by Bhima and Arjuna, in the matter of Jarasandha’s death? Entering by an +improper gate, disguised as a Brahmana, thus Krishna observed the +strength of king Jarasandha. And when that monarch offered at first unto +this wretch water to wash his feet, it was then that he denied his +Brahmanahood from seeming motives of virtue. And when Jarasandha, O thou +of the Kuru race, asked Krishna and Bhima and Dhananjaya to eat, it was +this Krishna that refused that monarch’s request. If this one is the lord +of the universe, as this fool representeth him to be, why doth he not +regard himself as a Brahmana? This, however, surpriseth me greatly that +though thou leadest the Pandavas away from the path of the wise, they yet +regard thee as honest. Or, perhaps, this is scarcely a matter of surprise +in respect of those that have thee, O Bharata, womanish in disposition +and bent down with age, for their counsellor in everything.” + +“Vaisampayana continued,--Hearing these words of Sisupala, harsh both in +import and sound, that foremost of mighty men, Bhimasena endued with +energy became angry. And his eyes, naturally large and expanding and like +unto lotus leaves became still more extended and red as copper under the +influence of that rage. And the assembled monarchs beheld on his forehead +three lines of wrinkles like the Ganga of treble currents on the +treble-peaked mountain. When Bhimasena began to grind his teeth in rage, +the monarchs beheld his face resembling that of Death himself, at the end +of the Yuga, prepared to swallow every creature. And as the hero endued +with great energy of mind was about to leap up impetuously, the +mighty-armed Bhishma caught him like Mahadeva seizing Mahasena (the +celestial generalissimo). And, O Bharata, Bhima’s wrath was soon appeased +by Bhishma, the grand-sire of the Kurus, with various kinds of counsel. +And Bhima, that chastiser of foes, could not disobey Bhishma’s words, +like the ocean that never transgresseth (even when swollen with the +waters of the rainy season) its continents. But, O king, even though +Bhima was angry, the brave Sisupala depending on his own manhood, did not +tremble in fear. And though Bhima was leaping up impetuously every +moment, Sisupala bestowed not a single thought on him, like a lion that +recks not a little animal in rage. The powerful king of Chedi, beholding +Bhima of terrible prowess in such rage, laughingly said,--‘Release him, O +Bhishma! Let all the monarchs behold him scorched by my prowess like an +insect in fire.’ Hearing these words of the ruler of the Chedis, Bhishma, +that foremost of the Kurus and chief of all intelligent men, spoke unto +Bhima these words.” + + + +SECTION XLII + +“Bhishma said,--This Sisupala was born in the line of the king of Chedi +with three eyes and four hands. As soon as he was born, he screamed and +brayed like an ass. On that account, his father and mother along with +their relatives, were struck with fear. And beholding these extraordinary +omens, his parents resolved to abandon him. But an incorporeal voice, +about this time, said unto the king and his wife with their ministers and +priest, all with hearts paralysed by anxiety, those words,--‘This thy +son, O king, that hath been born will become both fortunate and superior +in strength. Therefore thou hast no fear from him. Indeed cherish the +child without anxiety. He will not die (in childhood). His time is not +yet come. He that will slay him with weapons hath also been born.’ +Hearing these words, the mother, rendered anxious by affection for her +son, addressed the invisible Being and said,--I bow with joined hands +unto him that hath uttered these words respecting my son; whether he be +an exalted divinity or any other being, let him tell me another word, I +desire to hear who will be the slayer of this my son. The invisible Being +then said,--‘He upon whose lap this child being placed the superfluous +arms of his will fall down upon the ground like a pair of five-headed +snakes, and at the sight of whom his third eye on the forehead will +disappear, will be his slayer?’ Hearing of the child’s three eyes and +four arms as also of the words of the invisible Being, all the kings of +the earth went to Chedi to behold him. The king of Chedi worshipping, as +each deserved, the monarchs that came, gave his child upon their laps one +after another. And though the child was placed upon the laps of a +thousand kings, one after another, yet that which the incorporeal voice +had said came not to pass. And having heard of all this at Dwaravati, the +mighty Yadava heroes Sankarshana and Janarddana also went to the capital +of the Chedis, to see their father’s sister--that daughter of the Yadavas +(the queen of Chedi) And saluting everybody according to his rank and the +king and queen also, and enquiring after every body’s welfare, both Rama +and Kesava took their seats. And after those heroes had been worshipped, +the queen with great pleasure herself placed the child on the lap of +Damodara. As soon as the child was placed on his lap, those superfluous +arms of his fell down and the eye on his forehead also disappeared. And +beholding this, the queen in alarm and anxiety begged of Krishna a boon. +And she said,--‘O mighty-armed Krishna, I am afflicted with fear; grant +me a boon. Thou art the assurer of all afflicted ones and that the +dispeller of everybody’s fear. Thus addressed by her. Krishna, that son +of the Yadu race, said--‘Fear not, O respected one. Thou art acquainted +with morality. Thou needest have no fear from me. What boon shall I give +thee? What shall I do, O aunt? Whether able or not, I shall do thy +bidding.’--Thus spoken to by Krishna, the queen said, ‘O thou of great +strength, thou wilt have to pardon the offences of Sisupala for my sake. +O tiger of the Yadu race. Know O lord, even this is the boon that I ask.’ +Krishna then said, ‘O aunt, even when he will deserve to be slain, I will +pardon an hundred offences of his. Grieve thou not.’ + +“Bhishma continued,--‘Even thus, O Bhima, is this wretch of a +king--Sisupala of wicked heart, who, proud of the boon granted by +Govinda, summons thee to battle!’” + + + +SECTION XLIII + +“Bhishma said,--The will under which the ruler of Chedi summoneth thee to +fight though thou art of strength that knoweth no deterioration, is +scarcely his own intention. Assuredly, this is the purpose of Krishna +himself, the lord of the universe. O Bhima, what king is there on earth +that would dare abuse me thus, as this wretch of his race, already +possessed by Death, hath done to-day? This mighty-armed one is, without +doubt, a portion of Hari’s energy. And surely, the Lord desireth to take +back unto himself that energy of his own. In consequence of this, O tiger +of the Kuru race, this tiger-like king of Chedi, so wicked of heart, +roareth in such a way caring little for us all.” + +“Vaisampayana continued,--“Hearing these words of Bhishma, the king of +Chedi could bear no more, He then replied in rage unto Bhishma in these +words.-- + +‘Let our foes, O Bhishma, be endued with that prowess which this Kesava +hath, whom thou like a professional chanter of hymns praisest, rising +repeatedly from thy seat. If thy mind, O Bhishma, delighteth so in +praising others, then praise thou these kings, leaving off Krishna. +Praise thou this excellent of kings, Darada, the ruler of Valhika, who +rent this earth as soon as he was born. Praise thou, O Bhishma, this +Karna, the ruler of the territories of Anga and Vanga, who is equal in +strength unto him of a thousand eyes, who draweth a large bow, who endued +with mighty arms owneth celestial ear-rings of heavenly make with which +he was born and this coat of mail possessing the splendour of the rising +sun, who vanquished in a wrestling encounter the invincible Jarasandha +equal unto Vasava himself, and who tore and mangled that monarch. O +Bhishma, praise Drona and Aswatthaman, who both father and son, are +mighty warriors, worthy of praise, and the best of Brahmanas, and either +of whom, O Bhishma, if enraged could annihilate this earth with its +mobile and immobile creatures, as I believe. I do not behold, O Bhishma, +the king that is equal in battle unto Drona or Aswatthaman. Why wishest +thou not to praise them? Passing over Duryyodhana, that mighty-armed king +of kings, who is unequalled in whole earth girt with her seas and king +Jayadratha accomplished in weapons and endued with great prowess, and +Druma the preceptor of the Kimpurushas and celebrated over the world for +prowess, and Saradwata’s son, old Kripa, the preceptor of the Bharata +princes and endued with great energy, why dost thou praise Kesava? +Passing over that foremost of bowmen--that excellent of kings, Rukmin of +great energy, why praisest thou Kesava? Passing over Bhishmaka of +abundant energy, and king Dantavakra, and Bhagadatta known for his +innumerable sacrificial stakes, and Jayatsena the king of the Magadha, +and Virata and Drupada, and Sakuni and Vrihadvala, and Vinda and Anuvinda +of Avant Pandya, Sweta Uttama Sankhya of great prosperity, the proud +Vrishasena, the powerful Ekalavya, and the great charioteer Kalinga of +abundant energy, why dost thou praise Kesava? And, O Bhishma, if thy mind +is always inclined to sing the praises of others, why dost thou not +praise Salya and other rulers of the earth? O king, what can be done by +me when (it seemeth) thou hast not heard anything before from virtuous +old men giving lessons in morality? Hast thou never heard, O Bhishma, +that reproach and glorification, both of self and others, are not +practices of those that are respectable? There is no one that approveth +thy conduct, O Bhishma, in unceasingly praising with devotion, from +ignorance alone, Kesava so unworthy of praise. How dost thou, from thy +wish alone, establish the whole universe in the servitor and cowherd of +Bhoja (Kansa)? Perhaps, O Bharata, this thy inclination is not +conformable to thy true nature, like to what may be in the bird Bhulinga, +as hath already been said by me. There is a bird called Bhulinga living +on the other side of the Himavat. O Bhishma, that bird ever uttereth +words of adverse import. Never do anything rash,--this is what she always +sayeth, but never understandeth that she herself always acteth very +rashly. Possessed of little intelligence that bird picketh from the +lion’s mouth the pieces of flesh sticking between the teeth, and at a +time when the lion is employed in eating. Assuredly, O Bhishma, that bird +liveth at the pleasure of the lion. O sinful wretch, thou always speakest +like that bird. And assuredly, O Bhishma, thou art alive at the pleasure +only of these kings. Employed in acts contrary to the opinions of all, +there is none else like thee!” + +“Vaisampayana continued,--Hearing these harsh words of the ruler of +Chedi, Bhishma, O king, said in the hearing of the king of Chedi,--‘Truly +am I alive at the pleasure of these rulers of earth. But I do regard +these kings as not equal to even a straw.’ As soon as these words were +spoken by Bhishma, the kings became inflamed with wrath. And the down of +some amongst them stood erect and some began to reprove Bhishma. And +hearing those words of Bhishma, some amongst them, that were wielders of +large bows exclaimed, ‘This wretched Bhishma, though old, is exceedingly +boastful. He deserveth not our pardon. Therefore, ye kings, incensed with +rage as this Bhishma is, it is well that this wretch were slain like an +animal, or, mustering together, let us burn him in a fire of grass or +straw.’ Hearing these words of the monarchs, Bhishma the grand-sire of +the Kurus, endued with great intelligence, addressing those lords of +earth, said,--‘I do not see the end of our speeches, for words may be +answered with words. Therefore, ye lords of earth, listen ye all unto +what I say. Whether I be slain like an animal or burnt in a fire of grass +and straw, thus do I distinctly place my foot on the heads of ye all. +Here is Govinda, that knoweth no deterioration. Him have we worshipped. +Let him who wisheth for speedy death, summon to battle Madhava of dark +hue and the wielder of the discus and the mace; and falling enter into +and mingle with the body of this god!” + + + +SECTION XLIV + +“Vaisampayana said,--Hearing these words of Bhishma, the ruler of Chedi +endued with exceeding prowess, desirous of combating with Vasudeva +addressed him and said,--O Janarddana, I challenge thee. Come, fight with +me until I slay thee today with all the Pandavas. For, O Krishna, the +sons of Pandu also, who disregarding the claims of all these kings, have +worshipped thee who art no king, deserve to be slain by me along with +thee. Even this is my opinion, O Krishna, that they who from childishness +have worshipped thee, as if thou deservest it, although thou art unworthy +of worship, being only a slave and a wretch and no king, deserve to be +slain by me.’ Having said this, that tiger among kings stood there +roaring in anger. And after Sisupala had ceased, Krishna addressing all +the kings in the presence of the Pandavas, spoke these words in a soft +voice.--‘Ye kings, this wicked-minded one, who is the son of a daughter +of the Satwata race, is a great enemy of us of the Satwata race; and +though we never seek to injure him, he ever seeketh our evil. This wretch +of cruel deeds, ye kings, hearing that we had gone to the city of +Pragjyotisha, came and burnt Dwaraka, although he is the son of my +father’s sister. While king Bhoja was sporting on the Raivataka hill, +this one fell upon the attendants of that king and slew and led away many +of them in chains to his own city. Sinful in all his purpose, this +wretch, in order to obstruct the sacrifice of my father, stole the +sacrificial horse of the horse-sacrifice that had been let loose under +the guard of armed men. Prompted by sinful motives, this one ravished the +reluctant wife of the innocent Vabhru (Akrura) on her way from Dwaraka to +the country of the Sauviras. This injurer of his maternal uncle, +disguising himself in the attire of the king of Karusha, ravished also +the innocent Bhadra, the princess of Visala, the intended bride of king +Karusha. I have patiently borne all these sorrows for the sake of my +father’s sister. It is, however, very fortunate that all this hath +occurred today in the presence of all the kings. Behold ye all today the +hostility this one beareth towards me. And know ye also all that he hath +done me at my back. For the excess of that pride in which he hath +indulged in the presence of all these monarchs, he deserveth to be slain +by me. I am ill able to pardon today the injuries that he hath done me. +Desirous of speedy death, this fool had desired Rukmini. But the fool +obtained her not, like a Sudra failing to obtain the audition of the +Vedas.” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Hearing these words of Vasudeva, all the +assembled monarchs began to reprove the ruler of Chedi. But the powerful +Sisupala, having heard these words, laughed aloud and spoke thus,--‘O +Krishna, art thou not ashamed in saying in this assembly, especially +before all these kings that Rukmini (thy wife) had been coveted by me? O +slayer of Madhu, who else is there than thee, who regarding himself a man +would say in the midst of respectable men that his wife had been intended +for some body else? O Krishna, pardon me if thou pleasest, or pardon me +not. But angry or friendly, what canst thou do unto me?’ + +“And while Sisupala was speaking thus, the exalted slayer of Madhu +thought in his mind of the discus that humbleth the pride of the Asuras. +And as soon as the discus came into his hands, skilled in speech the +illustrious one loudly uttered these words,--‘Listen ye lords of earth, +why this one had hitherto been pardoned by me. As asked by his mother, a +hundred offences (of his) were to be pardoned by me. Even this was the +boon she had asked, and even this I granted her. That number, ye kings, +hath become full. I shall now slay him in your presence, ye monarchs.’ +Having said this, the chief of the Yadus, that slayer of all foes, in +anger, instantly cut off the head of the ruler of Chedi by means of his +discus. And the mighty-armed one fell down like a cliff struck with +thunder. And, O monarch, the assembled kings then beheld a fierce energy, +like unto the sun in the sky, issue out of the body of the king of Chedi, +and O king, that energy then adored Krishna, possessed of eyes like lotus +leaves and worshipped by all the worlds, and entered his body. And all +the kings beholding the energy which entered that mighty-armed chief of +men regarded it as wonderful. And when Krishna had slain the king of +Chedi, the sky, though cloudless, poured showers of rain, and blasting +thunders were hurled, and the earth itself began to tremble. There were +some among the kings who spoke not a word during those unspeakable +moments but merely sat gazing at Janarddana. And some there were that +rubbed in rage their palms with their forefingers. And there were others +who deprived of reason by rage bit their lips with their teeth. And some +amongst the kings applauded him of the Vrishni race in private. And some +there were that became excited with anger; while others became mediators. +The great Rishis with pleased hearts praised Kesava and went away. And +all the high-souled Brahmanas and the mighty kings that were there, +beholding Krishna’s prowess, became glad at heart and praised him. + +“Yudhishthira then commanded his brothers to perform without delay the +funeral rites of king Sisupala, the brave son of Damaghosha, with proper +respect. The sons of Pandu obeyed the behest of their brother. And +Yudhishthira then, with all the kings, installed the son of king Sisupala +in the sovereignty of the Chedis. + +“Then that sacrifice, O monarch, of the king of the Kurus possessed of +great energy, blessed with every kind of prosperity, became exceedingly +handsome and pleasing unto all young men. And commenced auspiciously, and +all impediments removed, and furnished with abundance of wealth and corn, +as also with plenty of rice and every kind of food, it was properly +watched by Kesava. And Yudhishthira in due time completed the great +sacrifice. And the mighty-armed Janarddana, the exalted Sauri, with his +bow called Saranga and his discus and mace, guarded that sacrifice till +its completion. And all the Kshatriya monarchs, having approached the +virtuous Yudhishthira who had bathed after the conclusion of the +sacrifice, said these words: ‘By good fortune thou hast come out +successful. O virtuous one, thou hast obtained the imperial dignity. O +thou of the Ajamida race, by thee hath been spread the fame of thy whole +race. And, O king of kings, by this act of thine, thou hast also acquired +great religious merit. We have been worshipped by thee to the full extent +of our desires. We now tell thee that we are desirous of returning to our +own kingdoms. It behoveth thee to grant us permission.’ + +“Hearing these words of the monarchs, king Yudhishthira the just, +worshipping each as he deserved, commanded his brothers, saying, ‘These +monarchs had all come to us at their own pleasure. These chastisers of +foes are now desirous of returning to their own kingdoms, bidding me +farewell. Blest be ye, follow ye these excellent kings to the confines of +our own dominions.’ Hearing these words of their brother, the virtuous +Pandava princes followed the kings, one after another as each deserved. +The powerful Dhrishtadyumna followed without loss of time king Virata: +and Dhananjaya followed the illustrious and mighty charioteer Yajnasena; +and the mighty Bhimasena followed Bhishma and Dhritarashtra: and +Sahadeva, that master of battle, followed the brave Drona and his son; +and Nakula, O king, followed Suvala with his son; and the sons of +Draupadi with the son of Subhadra followed those mighty warriors--the +kings of the mountainous countries. And other bulls among Kshatriyas +followed other Kshatriyas. And the Brahmanas by thousands also went away, +duly worshipped. + +“After all the Kings and the Brahmanas had gone away, the powerful +Vasudeva addressing Yudhishthira said,--‘O son of the Kuru race, with thy +leave, I also desire to go to Dwaraka. By great good fortune, thou hast +accomplished the foremost of sacrifices--Rajasuya!’ Thus addressed by +Janarddana, Yudhishthira replied, ‘Owing to thy grace, O Govinda. I have +accomplished the great sacrifice. And it is owing to thy grace that the +whole Kshatriya world having accepted my sway, had come hither with +valuable tribute. O hero, without thee, my heart never feeleth any +delight. How can I, therefore, O hero, give thee, O sinless one, leave to +go? But thou must have to go to the city of Dwaraka.’ The virtuous Hari +of worldwide fame, thus addressed by Yudhishthira, cheerfully went with +his cousin to Pritha and said,--‘O aunt, thy sons have now obtained the +imperial dignity. They have obtained vast wealth and been also crowned +with success. Be pleased with all this. Commanded by thee, O aunt, I +desire to go to Dwaraka.’ After this, Kesava bade farewell to Draupadi +and Subhadra. Coming out then of the inner apartments accompanied by +Yudhishthira, he performed his ablutions and went through the daily rites +of worship, and then made the Brahmanas utter benedictions. Then the +mighty armed Daruka came there with a car of excellent design and body +resembling the clouds. And beholding that Garuda-bannered car arrived +thither, the high-souled one, with eyes like lotus leaves, walked round +it respectfully and ascending on it set out for Dwaravati. And king +Yudhishthira the just, blessed with prosperity, accompanied by his +brothers, followed on foot the mighty Vasudeva. Then Hari with eyes like +lotus leaves, stopping that best of cars for a moment, addressing +Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, said,--‘O king of kings, cherishest thou +thy subjects with ceaseless vigilance and patience. And as the clouds are +unto all creatures, as the large tree of spreading bough is unto birds, +as he of a thousand eyes is unto the immortals, be thou the refuge and +support of thy relatives. And Krishna and Yudhishthira having thus talked +unto each other took each other’s leave and returned to their respective +homes. And, O king, after the chief of the Satwata race had gone to +Dwaravati, king Duryodhana alone, with king Suvala’s son, Sakuni,--these +bulls among men,--continued to live in that celestial assembly house. + + + +SECTION XLV + +(Dyuta Parva) + +Vaisampayana said,--“when that foremost of sacrifices, the Rajasuya so +difficult of accomplishment, was completed, Vyasa surrounded by his +disciples presented himself before Yudhishthira. And Yudhishthira, upon +beholding him quickly rose from his seat, surrounded by his brothers, and +worshipped the Rishi who was his grand-father, with water to wash his +feet and the offer of a seat. The illustrious one having taken his seat +on a costly carpet inlaid with gold, addressed king Yudhishthira the just +and said.--‘Take thy seat’. And after the king had taken his seat +surrounded by his brothers, the illustrious Vyasa, truthful in speech +said,--‘O son of Kunti, thou growest from good fortune. Thou hast +obtained imperial sway so difficult of acquisition. And O perpetuator of +the Kuru race, all the Kauravas have prospered in consequence of thee. O +Emperor, I have been duly worshipped. I desire now to go with thy leave! +King Yudhishthira the just, thus addressed by the Rishi of dark hue, +saluted (him) his grandfather and touching his feet said,--‘O chief of +men, a doubt difficult of being dispelled, hath risen within me. O bull +among regenerate ones, save thee there is none to remove it. The +illustrious Rishi Narada said that (as a consequence of the Rajasuya +sacrifice) three kinds of portents, viz., celestial, atmospherical and +terrestrial ones happen. O grandsire, have those portents been ended by +the fall of the kind of the Chedis?’’ + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Hearing these words of the king, the exalted +son of Parasara, the island-born Vyasa of dark hue, spoke these +words,--‘For thirteen years, O king, those portents will bear mighty +consequences ending in destruction, O king of kings, of all the +Kshatriyas. In course of time, O bull of the Bharata race, making thee +the sole cause, the assembled Kshatriyas of the world will be destroyed, +O Bharata, for the sins of Duryodhana and through the might of Bhima and +Arjuna. In thy dream, O king of kings thou wilt behold towards the end of +this might the blue throated Bhava, the slayer of Tripura, ever absorbed +in meditation, having the bull for his mark, drinking off the human +skull, and fierce and terrible, that lord of all creatures, that god of +gods, the husband of Uma, otherwise called Hara and Sarva, and Vrisha, +armed with the trident and the bow called Pinaka, and attired in tiger +skin. And thou wilt behold Siva, tall and white as the Kailasa cliff and +seated on his bull, gazing unceasingly towards the direction (south) +presided over by the king of the Pitris. Even this will be the dream thou +wilt dream today, O king of kings. Do not grieve for dreaming such a +dream. None can rise superior to the influence of Time. Blest be thou! I +will now proceed towards the Kailasa mountain. Rule thou the earth with +vigilance and steadiness, patiently bearing every privation!’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Having said this, the illustrious and +island-born Vyasa of dark hue, accompanied by his disciples ever +following the dictates of the Vedas, proceeded towards Kailasa. And after +the grand-father had thus gone away, the king afflicted with anxiety and +grief, began to think continuously upon what the Rishi hath said. And he +said to himself, ‘Indeed what the Rishi hath said must come to pass. We +will succeed in warding off the fates by exertion alone?’ Then +Yudhishthira endued with great energy addressing all his brothers, said, +‘Ye tigers among men, ye have heard what the island-born Rishi hath told +me. Having heard the words of the Rishi, I have arrived at this firm +resolution viz., that I should die, as I am ordained to be the cause of +the destruction of all Kshatriyas. Ye my dear ones, if Time hath intended +so what need is there for me to live?’ Hearing these words of the king, +Arjuna replied, ‘O king, yield not thyself to this terrible depression +that is destructive of reason. Mustering fortitude, O great king, do what +would be beneficial.’ Yudhishthira then, firm in truth, thinking all the +while of Dwaipayana’s words answered his brothers thus,--‘Blest be ye. +Listen to my vow from this day. For thirteen years, what ever purpose +have I to live for, I shall not speak a hard word to my brothers or to +any of the kings of the earth. Living under the command of my relatives, +I shall practise virtue, exemplifying my vow. If I live in this way, +making no distinction between my own children and others, there will be +no disagreement (between me and others). It is disagreement that is the +cause of war in the world. Keeping war at a distance, and ever doing what +is agreeable to others, evil reputation will not be mine in the world, ye +bulls among men. Hearing these words of their eldest brother, the +Pandavas, always engaged in doing what was agreeable to him, approved of +them. And Yudhishthira the just, having pledged so, along with his +brothers in the midst of that assembly, gratified his priests as also the +gods with due ceremonies. And, O bull of the Bharata race, after all the +monarchs had gone away, Yudhishthira along with his brothers, having +performed the usual auspicious rites, accompanied by his ministers +entered his own palace. And, O ruler of men, king Duryodhana and Sakuni, +the son of Suvala, continued to dwell in that delightful assembly house. + + + +SECTION XLVI + +Vaisampayana said,--“That bull among men, Duryodhana, continued to dwell +in that, assembly house (of the Pandavas). And with Sakuni, the Kuru +prince slowly examined the whole of that mansion, and the Kuru prince +beheld in it many celestial designs, which he had never seen before in +the city called after the elephant (Hastinapore). And one day king +Duryodhana in going round that mansion came upon a crystal surface. And +the king, from ignorance, mistaking it for a pool of water, drew up his +clothes. And afterwards finding out his mistake the king wandered about +the mansion in great sorrow. And sometime after, the king, mistaking a +lake of crystal water adorned with lotuses of crystal petals for land, +fell into it with all his clothes on. Beholding Duryodhana fallen into +the lake, the mighty Bhima laughed aloud as also the menials of the +palace. And the servants, at the command of the king, soon brought him +dry and handsome clothes. Beholding the plight of Duryodhana, the mighty +Bhima and Arjuna and both the twins--all laughed aloud. Being unused to +putting up with insults, Duryodhana could not bear that laugh of theirs. +Concealing his emotions he even did not cast his looks on them. And +beholding the monarch once more draw up his clothes to cross a piece of +dry land which he had mistaken for water, they all laughed again. And the +king sometime after mistook a closed door made of crystal as open. And as +he was about to pass through it his head struck against it, and he stood +with his brain reeling. And mistaking as closed another door made of +crystal that was really open, the king in attempting to open it with +stretched hands, tumbled down. And coming upon another door that was +really open, the king thinking it as closed, went away from it. And, O +monarch, king Duryodhana beholding that vast wealth in the Rajasuya +sacrifice and having become the victim of those numerous errors within +the assembly house at last returned, with the leave of the Pandavas, to +Hastinapore. + +And the heart of king Duryodhana, afflicted at sight of the prosperity of +the Pandavas, became inclined to sin, as he proceeded towards his city +reflecting on all he had seen and suffered. And beholding the Pandavas +happy and all the kings of the earth paying homage to them, as also +everybody, young and old, engaged in doing good unto them, and reflecting +also on the splendour and prosperity of the illustrious sons of Pandu, +Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, became pale. In proceeding (to his +city) with an efflicted heart, the prince thought of nothing else but +that assembly house and that unrivalled prosperity of the wise +Yudhishthira. And Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, was so taken up +with his thoughts then that he spoke not a word to Suvala’s son even +though the latter addressed him repeatedly. And Sakuni, beholding him +absent-minded, said,--‘O Duryodhana, why art thou proceeding thus’? + +“Duryodhana replied,--O uncle, beholding this whole earth owning the sway +of Yudhishthira in consequence of the might of the illustrious Arjuna’s +weapons and beholding also that sacrifice of the son of Pritha like unto +the sacrifice of Sakra himself of great glory among the celestials, I, +being filled with jealousy and burning day and night, am being dried up +like a shallow tank in the summer season. Behold, when Sisupala was slain +by the chief of the Satwatas, there was no man to take the side of +Sisupala. Consumed by the fire of the Pandava, they all forgave that +offence; otherwise who is there that could forgive it? That highly +improper act of grave consequence done by Vasudeva succeeded in +consequence of the power of the illustrious son of Pandu. And so many +monarchs also brought with them various kinds of wealth for king +Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, like tribute-paying Vaisyas! Beholding +Yudhishthira’s prosperity of such splendour, my heart burneth, efflicted +with jealously, although it behoveth me not to be jealous.’ + +“Having reflected in this way, Duryodhana, as if burnt by fire, addressed +the king of Gandhara again and said,--‘I shall throw myself upon a +flaming fire or swallow poison or drown myself in water. I cannot live. +What man is there in the world possessed of vigour who can bear to see +his foes in the enjoyment of prosperity and himself in destitution? +Therefore I who bear to see that accession of prosperity and fortune (in +my foes) am neither a woman nor one that is not a woman, neither also a +man nor one that is not a man. Beholding their sovereignty over the world +and vast affluence, as also that sacrifice, who is there like me that +would not smart under all that? Alone I am incapable of acquiring such +royal prosperity; nor do I behold allies that could help me in the +matter. It is for this that I am thinking of self-destruction. Beholding +that great and serene prosperity of the son of Kunti, I regard Fate as +supreme and exertions fruitless. O son of Suvala, formerly I strove to +compass his destruction. But baffling all my efforts he hath grown in +prosperity even like the lotus from within a pool of water. It is for +this that I regard Fate as supreme and exertions fruitless. Behold, the +sons of Dhritarashtra are decaying and the sons of Pritha are growing day +by day. Beholding that prosperity of the Pandavas, and that assembly +house of theirs, and those menials laughing at me, my heart burneth as if +it were on fire. Therefore, O uncle, know me now as deeply grieved and +filled with jealousy, and speak of it to Dhritarashtra. + + + +SECTION XLVII + +“Sakuni said.--‘O Duryodhana, thou shouldst not be jealous of +Yudhishthira. The sons of Pandu are enjoying what they deserve in +consequence of their own good fortune. O slayer of foes, O great king, +thou couldst not destroy them by repeatedly devising numberless plans, +many of which thou hadst even put to practice. Those tigers among men out +of sheer luck escaped all those machinations. They have obtained Draupadi +for wife and Drupada with his sons as also Vasudeva of great prowess as +allies, capable of helping them in subjugating the whole world. And O +king, having inherited the paternal share of the kingdom without being +deprived of it they have grown in consequence of their own energy. What +is there to make thee sorry for this? Having gratified Hustasana, +Dhananjaya hath obtained the bow Gandiva and the couple of inexhaustible +quivers and many celestial weapons. With that unique bow and by the +strength of his own arms also he hath brought all the kings of the world +under his sway. What is there to make thee sorry for this? Having saved +the Asura Maya from a conflagration, Arjuna, that slayer of foes, using +both his hands with equal skill, caused him to build that assembly house. +And it is for this also that commanded by Maya, those grim Rakshasas +called Kinkaras supported that assembly house. What is there in this to +make thee sorry? Thou hast said, O king, that thou art without allies. +This, O Bharata, is not true. These thy brothers are obedient to thee. +Drona of great prowess and wielding the large bow along with his son, +Radha’s son Karna, the great warrior Gautama (Kripa), myself with my +brothers and king Saumadatti--these are thy allies. Uniting thyself with +these, conquer thou the whole of the earth.’ + +“Duryodhana said,--‘O king, with thee, as also with these great warriors, +I shall subjugate the Pandavas, if it pleases thee. If I can now +subjugate them, the world will be mine and all the monarchs, and that +assembly house so full of wealth.’ + +“Sakuni replied,--‘Dhananjaya and Vasudeva, Bhimasena and Yudhishthira, +Nakula and Sahadeva and Drupada with his sons,--these cannot be +vanquished in battle by even the celestials, for they are all great +warriors wielding the largest bows, accomplished in weapons, and +delighting in battle. But, O king, I know the means by which Yudhishthira +himself may be vanquished. Listen to me and adopt it.’ + +“Duryodhana said,--‘without danger to our friends and other illustrious +men, O uncle, tell me if there is any way by which I may vanquish him.’ + +“Sakuni said,--‘The son of Kunti is very fond of dice-play although he +doth not know how to play. That king if asked to play, is ill able to +refuse. I am skillful at dice. There is none equal to me in this respect +on earth, no, not even in the three worlds, O son of Kuru. Therefore, ask +him to play at dice. Skilled at dice, I will win his kingdom, and that +splendid prosperity of his for thee, O bull among men. But, O Duryodhana, +represent all this unto the king (Dhritarashtra). Commanded by thy father +I will win without doubt the whole of Yudhishthira’s possessions.’ + +“Duryodhana said ‘O son of Suvala, thou thyself represent properly all +this to Dhritarashtra, the chief of the Kurus. I shall not be able to do +so. + + + +SECTION XLVIII + +Vaisampayana said--“O king, impressed with the great Rajasuya sacrifice +of king Yudhishthira, Sakuni, the son of Suvala, having learnt before the +intentions of Duryodhana, while accompanying him in the way from the +assembly house, and desirous of saying what was agreeable to him, +approached Dhritarashtra endued with great wisdom, and finding the +monarch deprived of his eye seated (in his throne), told him these +words,--‘Know, O great king, O bull of the Bharata race, that Duryodhana, +having lost colour, hath become pale and emaciated and depressed and a +prey to anxiety. Why dost thou not, after due enquiry, ascertain the +grief that is in the heart of thy eldest son, the grief that is caused by +the foe?’ + +“Dhritarashtra said,--‘Duryodhana, what is the reason of thy great +affliction. O son of the Kuru race? If it is fit for me to hear it, then +tell me the reason. This Sakuni here says that thou hast lost colour, +become pale and emaciated, and a prey to anxiety. I do not know what can +be the reason of the sorrow. This vast wealth of mine is at thy control. +Thy brothers and all our relations never do anything that is disagreeable +to thee. Thou wearest the best apparel and eatest the best food that is +prepared with meat. The best of horse carries thee. What it is, +therefore, that hath made thee pale and emaciated? Costly beds, beautiful +damsels, mansions decked with excellent furniture, and sport of the +delightful kind, without doubt these all wait but at thy command, as in +the case of the gods themselves Therefore, O proud one, why dost thou +grieve, O son, as if thou wert destitute.’ + +“Duryodhana said,--‘I eat and dress myself like a wretch and pass my time +all the while a prey to fierce jealousy. He indeed is a man, who +incapable of bearing the pride of the foe, liveth having vanquished that +foe with the desire of liberating his own subjects from the tyranny of +the foe. Contentment, as also pride, O Bharata, are destructive of +prosperity; and those other two qualities also, viz., compassion and +fear. One who acteth under the influence of these, never obtaineth +anything high. Having beheld Yudhishthira’s prosperity, whatever I enjoy +brings me no gratification. The prosperity of Kunti’s son that is +possessed of such splendour maketh me pale. Knowing the affluence of the +foe and my own destitution, even though that affluence is not before me, +I yet see it before me. Therefore, have I lost colour and become +melancholy, pale and emaciated. Yudhishthira supporteth eighty-eight +thousand Snataka Brahmanas leading domestic lives, giving unto each of +them thirty slave-girls. Beside this, thousand other Brahmanas daily eat +at his palace the best of food on golden plates. The king of Kambhoja +sent unto him (as tribute) innumerable skins, black, darkish, and red, of +the deer Kadali, as also numberless blankets of excellent textures. And +hundreds and thousands and thousands of she-elephants and thirty thousand +she-camels wander within the palace, for the kings of the earth brought +them all as tribute to the capital of the Pandavas. And, O lord of earth, +the kings also brought unto this foremost of sacrifices heaps upon heaps +of jewels and gems for the son of Kunti. Never before did I see or hear +of such enormous wealth as was brought unto the sacrifice of the +intelligent sons of Pandu. And, O king, beholding that enormous +collection of wealth belonging to the foe, I can not enjoy peace of mind. +Hundreds of Brahmanas supported by the grants that Yudhishthira hath +given them and possessing wealth of kine, waited at the palace gate with +three thousands of millions of tribute but were prevented by the keepers +from entering the mansion. Bringing with them clarified butter in +handsome Kamandalus made of gold, they did not obtain admission into the +palace, and Ocean himself brought unto him in vessels of white copper the +nectar that is generated within his waters and which is much superior to +that which flowers and annual plants produce for Sakra. And Vasudeva (at +the conclusion of the sacrifice) having brought an excellent conch bathed +the Sun of Pritha with sea water brought in thousand jars of gold, all +well adorned with numerous gems. Beholding all this I became feverish +with jealousy. Those jars had been taken to the Eastern and the Southern +oceans. And they had also been taken on the shoulders of men to the +Western ocean, O bull among men. And, O father, although none but birds +only can go to the Northern region Arjuna, having gone thither, exacted +as tribute a vast quantity of wealth. There is another wonderful incident +also which I will relate to thee. O listen to me. When a hundred thousand +Brahmanas were fed, it had been arranged that to notify this act every +day conches would be blown in a chorus. But, O Bharata, I continually +heard conches blown there almost repeatedly. And hearing those notes my +hair stood on end. And, O great king, that palatial compound, filled with +innumerable monarchs that came there as spectators, looked exceedingly +handsome like the cloudless firmament with stars. And, O king of men, the +monarchs came into that sacrifice of the wise son of Pandu bringing with +them every kind of wealth. And the kings that came there became like +Vaisyas the distributors of food unto the Brahmanas that were fed. And O +king, the prosperity that I beheld of Yudhishthira was such that neither +the chief himself of the celestials, nor Yama or Varuna, nor the lord of +the Guhyakas owneth the same. And beholding that great prosperity of the +son of Pandu, my heart burneth and I cannot enjoy peace. + +“Hearing these words of Duryodhana, Sakuni replied,--‘Hear how thou +mayest obtain this unrivalled prosperity that thou beholdest in the son +of Pandu, O thou that hast truth for thy prowess. O Bharata, I am an +adept at dice, superior to all in the world. I can ascertain the success +or otherwise of every throw, and when to stake and when not. I have +special knowledge of the game. The Son of Kunti also is fond of dice +playing though he possesseth little skill in it. Summoned to play or +battle, he is sure to come forward, and I will defeat him repeatedly at +every throw by practising deception. I promise to win all that wealth of +his, and thou, O Duryodhana, shalt then enjoy the same.’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“King Duryodhana, thus addressed by Sakuni, +without allowing a moment to elapse, said unto Dhritarashtra,--‘This, +Sakuni, an adept at dice, is ready to win at dice, O king, the wealth of +the sons of Pandu. It behoveth thee to grant him permission to do so.’ + +“Dhritarashtra replied,--‘I always follow the counsels of Kshatta, my +minister possessed of great wisdom. Having consulted with him, I will +inform thee what my judgment is in respect of this affair. Endued with +great foresight, he will, keeping morality before his eyes, tell us what +is good and what is proper for both parties, and what should be done in +this matter.’ + +“Duryodhana said,--‘If thou consultest with Kshatta he will make thee +desist. And if thou desist, O king, I will certainly kill myself. And +when I am dead, O king, thou wilt become happy with Vidura. Thou wilt +then enjoy the whole earth; what need hast thou with me?’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Dhritarashtra, hearing these words of +affliction uttered by Duryodhana from mixed feeling, himself ready to +what Duryodhana had dictated, commanded his servant, saying,--‘Let +artificers be employed to erect without delay a delightful and handsome +and spacious palace with an hundred doors and a thousand columns. And +having brought carpenters and joiners, set ye jewels and precious stones +all over the walls. And making it handsome and easy of access, report to +me when everything is complete. And, O monarch, king Dhritarashtra having +made this resolution for the pacification of Duryodhana, sent messengers +unto Vidura for summoning him. For without taking counsel with Vidura +never did the monarch form any resolution. But as regards the matter at +hand, the king although he knew the evils of gambling, was yet attracted +towards it. The intelligent Vidura, however, as soon as he heard of it, +knew that the arrival of Kali was at hand. And seeing that the way to +destruction was about to open, he quickly came to Dhritarashtra. And +Vidura approaching his illustrious eldest brother and bowing down unto +his feet, said these words: + +‘O exalted king, I do not approve of this resolution that thou hast +formed. It behave thee, O king, to act in such a way that no dispute may +arise between thy children on account of this gambling match.’ + +Dhritarashtra replied,--‘O Kshatta, if the gods be merciful unto us, +assuredly no dispute will ever arise amongst my sons. Therefore, +auspicious or otherwise, beneficial or otherwise, let this friendly +challenge at dice proceed. Even this without doubt is what fate hath +ordained for us. And, O son of the Bharata race, when I am near, and +Drona and Bhishma and thou too, nothing evil that even Fate might have +ordained is likely to happen. Therefore, go thou on a car yoking thereto +horses endued with the speed of the wind, so that thou mayest reach +Khandavaprastha even today and bring thou Yudhishthira with thee. And, O +Vidura, I tell that even this is my resolution. Tell me nothing. I regard +Fate as supreme which bringeth all this.’ Hearing these words of +Dhritarashtra and concluding that his race was doomed, Vidura in great +sorrow went unto Bhishma with great wisdom.” + + + +SECTION XLIX + +Janamejaya said,--“O thou foremost of all conversant with the Vedas, how +did that game at dice take place, fraught with such evil to the cousins +and through which my grand-sires, the son of Pandu, were plunged into +such sorrow? What kings also were present in that assembly, and who +amongst them approved of the gambling match and who amongst them forbade +it? O sinless one, O chief of regenerate ones, I desire thee to recite in +detail all about this, which, indeed, was the cause of the destruction of +the world.” + +Santi said,--“Thus addressed by the king, the disciple of Vyasa, endued +with great energy and conversant with the entire Vedas, narrated +everything that had happened.” + +Vaisampayana said,--“O best of the Bharatas, O great king, if thou +desirest to hear, then listen to me as I narrate to thee everything again +in detail. + +“Ascertaining the opinion of Vidura, Dhritarashtra the son of Amvika, +calling Duryodhana told him again in private--‘O son of Gandhari, have +nothing to do with dice. Vidura doth not speak well of it. Possessed of +great wisdom, he will never give me advice that is not for my good. I +also regard what Vidura sayeth as exceedingly beneficial for me. Do that, +O son, for I regard it all as for thy good also. Indeed, Vidura knoweth +with all its mysteries the science (of political morality) that the +illustrious and learned and wise Vrihaspati, the celestial Rishi who is +the spiritual guide of Vasava--had unfolded unto the wise chief of the +immortals. And O son, I always accept what Vidura adviseth. O king, as +the wise Uddhava is ever regarded amongst the Vrishnis, so is Vidura +possessed of great intelligence esteemed as the foremost of the Kurus. +Therefore, O son, have nothing to do with dice. It is evident that dice +soweth dissensions. And dissensions are the ruin of the kingdom. +Therefore, O son, abandon this idea of gambling. O son, thou hast +obtained from us what, it hath been ordained, a father and a mother +should give unto their son, viz., ancestral rank and possessions. Thou +art educated and clever in every branch of knowledge, and hast been +brought up with affection in thy paternal dwelling. Born the eldest among +all thy brothers, living within thy own kingdom, why regardest thou +thyself as unhappy? O thou of mighty arms, thou obtainest food and attire +of the very best kind and which is not obtainable by ordinary men. Why +dost thou grieve yet. O son, O mighty-armed one, ruling thy large +ancestral kingdom swelling with people and wealth, thou shinest as +splendidly as the chief of the celestials in heaven. Thou art possessed +of wisdom. It behoveth thee to tell me what can be the root of this grief +that hath made thee so melancholy. + +“Duryodhana replied,--‘I am a sinful wretch, O king, because I eat and +dress beholding (the prosperity of the foes). It hath been said that man +is a wretch who is not filled with jealousy at the sight of his enemy’s +prosperity. O exalted one, this kind of prosperity of mine doth not +gratify me. Beholding that blazing prosperity of the son of Kunti, I am +very much pained. I tell thee strong must be my vitality, in as much as I +am living even at the sight of the whole earth owning the sway of +Yudhishthira. The Nipas, the Chitrakas, the Kukkuras, the Karaskaras, and +the Lauha-janghas are living in the palace of Yudhishthira like bondsmen. +The Himavat, the ocean, the regions on the sea-shore, and the numberless +other regions that yield jewels and gems, have all acknowledged +superiority of the mansion of Yudhishthira in respect of wealth it +containeth. And, O Monarch, regarding me as the eldest and entitled to +respect, Yudhishthira having received me respectfully, appointed me in +receiving the jewels and gems (that were brought as tribute). O Bharata, +the limit and the like of the excellent and invaluable jewels that were +brought there have not been seen. And O king, my hands were fatigued in +receiving that wealth. And when I was tired, they that brought those +valuable articles from distant regions used to wait till I was able to +resume my labour. Bringing jewels from the lake Vindu, the Asura +architect Maya constructed (for the Pandavas) a lake-like surface made of +crystal. Beholding the (artificial) lotuses with which it was filled, I +mistook it, O king for water. And seeing me draw up my clothes (while +about to cross it), Vrikodara (Bhima) laughed at me, regarding me as +wanting in jewels and having lost my head at the sight of the affluence +of my enemy. If I had the ability, I would, O king, without the loss of a +moment, slay Vrikodara for that. But, O monarch, if we endeavour to slay +Bhima now, without doubt, ours will be the fate of Sisupala. O Bharata, +that insult by the foe burneth me. Once again, O king, beholding a +similar lake that is really full of water but which I mistook for a +crystal surface, I fell into it. At that, Bhima with Arjuna once more +laughed derisively, and Draupadi also accompanied by other females joined +in the laughter. That paineth my heart exceedingly. My apparel having +been wet, the menials at the command of the king gave me other clothes. +That also is my great sorrow. And O king, hear now of another mistake +that I speak of. In attempting to pass through what is exactly of the +shape of a door but through which there was really no passage, I struck +my forehead against stone and injured myself. The twins Nakula and +Sahadeva beholding from a distance that I was so hit at the head came and +supported me in their arms, expressing great concern for me. And Sahadeva +repeatedly told me, as if with a smile,--‘This O king, is the door. Go +this way!’ And Bhimasena, laughing aloud, addressed me and said,--‘O son +of Dhritarashtra, this is the door. And, O king I had not even heard of +the names of those gems that I saw in that mansion. And it is for these +reasons that my heart so acheth.” + + + +SECTION L + +Duryodhana said,--‘Listen now, O Bharata, about all the most costly +articles I saw, belonging unto the sons of Pandu, and brought one after +another by the kings of the earth. Beholding that wealth of the foe, I +lost my reason and scarcely knew myself. And, O Bharata, listen as I +describe that wealth consisting of both manufactures and the produce of +the land. The king of Kamboja gave innumerable skins of the best king, +and blankets made of wool, of the soft fur of rodents and other +burroughers, and of the hair of cats,--all inlaid with threads of gold. +And he also gave three hundred horses of the Titteti and the Kalmasha +species possessing noses like parrots. And he also gave three hundred +camels and an equal number of she-asses, all fattened with the olives and +the Pilusha. And innumerable Brahmanas engaged in rearing cattle and +occupied in low offices for the gratification of the illustrious king +Yudhishthira the just waited at the gate with three hundred millions of +tribute but they were denied admission into the palace. And hundred upon +hundreds of Brahmanas possessing wealth of kine and living upon the lands +that Yudhishthira had given them, came there with their handsome golden +Kamandalus filled with clarified butter. And though they had brought such +tribute, they were refused admission into the palace. And the Sudra kings +that dwelt in the regions on the seacoast, brought with them, O king, +hundred thousands of serving girls of the Karpasika country, all of +beautiful features and slender waist and luxuriant hair and decked in +golden ornaments; and also many skins of the Ranku deer worthy even of +Brahmanas as tribute unto king Yudhishthira. And the tribes Vairamas, +Paradas, Tungas, with the Kitavas who lived upon crops that depended on +water from the sky or of the river and also they who were born in regions +on the sea-shore, in woodlands, or countries on the other side of the +ocean waited at the gate, being refused permission to enter, with goats +and kine and asses and camels and vegetable, honey and blankets and +jewels and gems of various kinds. And that great warrior king Bhagadatta, +the brave ruler of Pragjyotisha and the mighty sovereign of the +mlechchas, at the head of a large number of Yavanas waited at the gate +unable to enter, with a considerable tribute comprising of horses of the +best breed and possessing the speed of the wind. And king Bhagadatta +(beholding the concourse) had to go away from the gate, making over a +number of swords with handles made of the purest ivory and well-adorned +with diamonds and every kind of gems. And many tribes coming from +different regions, of whom some possess two eyes, some three and some had +eyes on their foreheads, and those also called Aushmikas, and Nishadas, +and Romakas, some cannibals and many possessing only one leg. I say, O +king, standing at the gate, being refused permission to enter. And these +diverse rulers brought as tribute ten thousand asses of diverse hues and +black necks and huge bodies and great speed and much docility and +celebrated all over the world. And these asses were all of goodly size +and delightful colour. And they were all bred on the coast of Vankhu. And +there were many kings that gave unto Yudhishthira much gold and silver. +And having given much tribute they obtained admission into the palace of +Yudhishthira. The people that came there possessing only one leg gave +unto Yudhishthira many wild horses, some of which were as red as the +cochineal, and some white, and some possessing the hues of the rainbow +and some looking like evening clouds, and some that were of variegated +colour. And they were all endued with the speed of the mind. And they +also gave unto the king enough gold of superior quality. I also saw +numberless Chins and Sakas and Uddras and many barbarous tribes living in +the woods, and many Vrishnis and Harahunas, and dusky tribes of the +Himavat, and many Nipas and people residing in regions on the sea-coast, +waiting at the gate being refused permission to enter. And the people of +Valhika gave unto him as tribute ten thousand asses, of goodly size and +black necks and daily running two hundred miles, And those asses were of +many shapes. And they were well-trained and celebrated all over the +world. And possessed of symmetrical proportion and excellent colour, +their skins were pleasant to the touch. And the Valhikas also presented +numerous blankets of woollen texture manufactured in Chin and numerous +skins of the Ranku deer, and clothes manufactured from jute, and others +woven with the threads spun by insects. And they also gave thousands of +other clothes not made of cotton, possessing the colour of the lotus. And +these were all of smooth texture. And they also gave soft sheep-skins by +thousands. And they also gave many sharp and long swords and scimitars, +and hatchets and fine-edged battle-axes manufactured in the western +countries. And having presented perfumes and jewels and gems of various +kinds by thousands as tribute, they waited at the gate, being refused +admission into the palace. And the Sakas and Tukhatas and Tukharas and +Kankas and Romakas and men with horns bringing with them as tribute +numerous large elephants and ten thousand horses, and hundreds and +hundreds of millions of gold waited at the gate, being refused permission +to enter. And the kings of the eastern countries having presented +numerous valuable articles including many costly carpets and vehicles and +beds, and armours of diverse hues decked with jewels and gold and ivory, +and weapons of various kinds, and cars of various shapes and handsome +make and adorned with gold, with well-trained horses trimmed with tiger +skins, and rich and variegated blankets for caprisoning elephants, and +various kinds of jewels and gems, arrows long and short and various other +kinds of weapons, obtained permission to enter the sacrificial palace of +the illustrious Pandava!’” + + + +SECTION LI + +Duryodhana said,--‘O sinless one, listen to me as I describe that large +mass of wealth consisting of various kinds of tribute presented unto +Yudhishthira by the kings of the earth. They that dwell by the side of +the river Sailoda flowing between the mountains of Mer and Mandara and +enjoy the delicious shade of topes of the Kichaka bamboo, viz., the +Khashas, Ekasanas, the Arhas, the Pradaras, the Dirghavenus, the Paradas, +the Kulindas, the Tanganas, and the other Tanganas, brought as tribute +heaps of gold measured in dronas (jars) and raised from underneath the +earth by ants and therefore called after these creatures. The mountain +tribes endued with great strength having brought as tribute numerous +Chamaras (long brushes) soft and black and others white as moon-beam and +sweet honey extracted from the flowers growing on the Himavat as also +from the Mishali champaka and garlands of flowers brought from the region +of the northern Kurus, and diverse kinds of plants from the north even +from Kailasa, waited with their heads bent down at the gate of king +Yudhishthira, being refused permission to enter. I also beheld there +numberless chiefs of the Kiratas armed with cruel weapons and ever +engaged in cruel deeds, eating of fruits and roots and attired in skins +and living on the northern slopes of the Himavat and on the mountain from +behind which the sun rises and in the region of Karusha on the sea-coast +and on both sides of the Lohitya mountains. And, O king, having brought +with them as tribute loads upon loads of sandal and aloe as also black +aloe, and heaps upon heaps of valuable skins and gold and perfumes, and +ten thousand serving-girls of their own race, and many beautiful animals +and birds of remote countries, and much gold of great splendour procured +from mountains, the Kiratas waited at the gate, being refused permission +to enter. The Kairatas, the Daradas, the Darvas, the Suras, the +Vaiamakas, the Audumvaras, the Durvibhagas, the Kumaras, the Paradas +along with the Vahlikas, the Kashmiras, the Ghorakas, the Hansakayanas, +the Sivis, the Trigartas, the Yauddheyas, the ruler of Madras and the +Kaikeyas, the Amvashtas, the Kaukuras, the Tarkshyas, the Vastrapas along +with the Palhavas, the Vashatayas, the Mauleyas along with the +Kshudrakas, and the Malavas, the Paundrayas, the Kukkuras, the Sakas, the +Angas, the Vangas, the Punras, the Sanavatyas, and the Gayas--these good +and well-born Kshatriyas distributed into regular clans and trained to +the use of arms, brought tribute unto king Yudhishthira by hundreds and +thousands. And the Vangas, the Kalingas, the Magadhas, the Tamraliptas, +the Supundrakas, the Dauvalikas, the Sagarakas, the Patrornas, the +Saisavas, and innumerable Karnapravaranas, who presented themselves at +the gate, were told by the gate-keepers at the command of the king, that +if they could wait and bring good tribute they could obtain admission. +Then the kings of those nations each gave a thousand elephants furnished +with tusks like unto the shafts of ploughs and decked with girdles made +of gold, and covered with fine blankets and therefore, resembling the +lotus in hue. And they were all darkish as rocks and always musty, and +procured from the sides of the Kamyaka lake, and covered with defensive +armour. And they were also exceedingly patient and of the best breed. And +having made these presents, those kings were permitted to enter. O king, +these and many others, coming from various regions, and numberless other +illustrious kings, brought jewels and gems unto this sacrifice. And +Chitraratha, also the king of Gandharvas, the friend of Indra, gave four +hundred horses gifted with the speed of the wind. And the Gandharva +Tumvuru gladly gave a hundred horses of the colour of mango leaf and +decked in gold. And, O thou of the Kuru race, the celebrated king of the +Mlechcha tribe, called the Sukaras, gave many hundreds of excellent +elephants. And Virata, the king of Matsya, gave as tribute two thousand +elephants decked in gold. And king Vasudana from the kingdom of Pansu +presented unto the son of Pandu six and twenty elephants and two thousand +horses. O king, all decked in gold and endued with speed and strength and +in full vigour of youth, and diverse other kinds of wealth. And Yajnasena +presented unto the sons of Pandu for the sacrifice, fourteen thousand +serving-girls and ten thousand serving-men with their wives, many +hundreds of excellent elephants, six and twenty cars with elephants yoked +unto them, and also his whole kingdom. And Vasudeva of the Vrishni race, +in order to enhance the dignity of Arjuna, gave fourteen thousands of +excellent elephants. Indeed, Krishna is the soul of Arjuna and Arjuna is +the soul of Krishna, and whatever Arjuna may say Krishna is certain to +accomplish. And Krishna is capable of abandoning heaven itself for the +sake of Arjuna. and Arjuna also is capable of sacrificing his life for +the sake of Krishna. And the Kings of Chola and Pandya, though they +brought numberless jars of gold filled with fragrant sandal juice from +the hills of Malaya, and loads of sandal and aloe wood from the Dardduras +hills, and many gems of great brilliancy and fine cloths inlaid with +gold, did not obtain permission (to enter). And the king of the Singhalas +gave those best of sea-born gems called the lapis lazuli, and heaps of +pearls also, and hundreds of coverlets for elephants. And numberless +dark-coloured men with the ends of their, eyes red as copper, attired in +clothes decked with gems, waited at the gate with those presents. And +numberless Brahmanas and Kshatriyas who had been vanquished, and Vaisyas +and serving Sudras, from love of Yudhishthira, brought tribute unto the +son of Pandu. And even all the Mlechchas, from love and respect, came +unto Yudhishthira. And all orders of men, good, indifferent and low, +belonging to numberless races, coming from diverse lands made +Yudhishthira’s habitation the epitome of the world. + +“And beholding the kings of the earth to present unto the foes such +excellent and valuable presents, I wished for death out of grief. And O +king, I will now tell thee of the servants of the Pandavas, people for +whom Yudhishthira supplieth food, both cooked and uncooked. There are a +hundred thousand billions of mounted elephants and cavalry and a hundred +millions of cars and countless foot soldiers. At one place raw provisions +are being measured out; at another they are being cooked; and at another +place the foods are being distributed. And the notes of festivity are +being heard everywhere. And amongst men of all orders I beheld not a +single one in the mansion of Yudhishthira that had not food and drink and +ornaments. And eighty-eight thousands of Snataka Brahmanas leading +domestic lives, all supported by Yudhishthira, with thirty serving-girls +given unto each, gratified by the king, always pray with complacent +hearts for the destruction of his foes. And ten thousands of other +ascetics with vital seed drawn up, daily eat of golden plates in +Yudhishthira’s palace. And, O king, Yajnaseni, without having eaten +herself, daily seeth whether everybody, including even the deformed and +the dwarfs, hath eaten or not. And, O Bharata, only two do not pay +tribute unto the son of Kunti, viz., the Panchalas in consequence of +their relationship by marriage, and the Andhakas and Vrishnis in +consequence of their friendship. + + + +SECTION LII + +Duryodhana said,--“Those king that are revered over all the world, who +are devoted to truth and who are pledged to the observance of rigid vows, +who are possessed of great learning and eloquence, who are fully +conversant with the Vedas and their branches as also with sacrifices, who +have piety and modesty, whose souls are devoted to virtue, who possess +fame, and who have enjoyed the grand rites of coronation, all wait upon +and worship Yudhishthira. And, O king, I beheld there many thousands of +wild kine with as many vessels of white copper for milking them, brought +thither by the kings of the earth as sacrificial presents to be given +away by Yudhishthira unto the Brahmana. And, O Bharata, for bathing +Yudhishthira at the conclusion of the sacrifice, many kings with the +greatest alacrity, themselves brought there in a state of purity many +excellent jars (containing water). And king Vahlika brought there a car +decked with pure gold. And king Sudakshina himself yoked thereto four +white horses of Kamboja breed, and Sunitha of great might fitted the +lower pole and the ruler of Chedi with his own hands took up and fitted +the flag-staff. And the king of the Southern country stood ready with the +coat of mail; the ruler of Magadha, with garlands of flowers and the +head-gear; the great warrior Vasudana with a sixty years old elephant, +the king of Matsya, with the side-fittings of the car, all encased in +gold; king Ekalavya, with the shoes; the king of Avanti, with diverse +kinds of water for the final bath; king Chekitana, with the quiver; the +king of Kasi, with the bow; and Salya; with a sword whose hilt and straps +were adorned with gold. Then Dhaumya and Vyasa, of great ascetic merit, +with Narada and Asita’s son Devala, standing before performed the +ceremony of sprinkling the sacred water over the king. And the great +Rishis with cheerful hearts sat where the sprinkling ceremony was +performed. And other illustrious Rishis conversant with the Vedas, with +Jamadagni’s son among them, approached Yudhishthira, the giver of large +sacrificial presents, uttering mantras all the while, like the seven +Rishis, approaching the great India in heaven. And Satyaki of unbaffled +prowess held the umbrella (over the king’s head). And Dhananjaya and +Bhima were engaged in tanning the king; while the twins held a couple of +chamaras in their hands. And the Ocean himself brought in a sling that +big conch of Varuna which the celestial artificer Viswakarman had +constructed with a thousand Nishkas of gold, and which Prajapati had in a +former Kalpa, presented unto India. It was with that conch that Krishna +bathed Yudhishthira after the conclusion of the sacrifice, and beholding +it, I swooned away. People go to the Eastern or the Western seas and also +to the Southern one. But, O father, none except birds can ever go to the +Northern sea. But the Pandavas have spread their dominion even there, for +I heard hundreds of conches that had been brought thence blown (in the +sacrificial mansion) indicative of auspicious rejoicing. And while those +conches blew simultaneously, my hair stood on end. And those among the +kings, who were weak in strength fell down. And Dhrishtadyumna and +Satyaki and the sons of Pandu and Kesava,--those eight, endued with +strength and prowess and handsome in person, beholding the kings deprived +of consciousness and myself in that plight, laughed outright. Then +Vibhatsu (Arjuna) with a cheerful heart gave, O Bharata, unto the +principal Brahmanas five hundred bullocks with horns plated with gold. +And king Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, having completed the Rajasuya +sacrifice, obtained like the exalted Harishchandra such prosperity that +neither Rantideva nor Nabhaga, nor Jauvanaswa, nor Manu, nor king Prithu +the son of Vena, nor Bhagiratha, Yayati, nor Nahusha, had obtained its +like. And beholding, O exalted one, such prosperity, in the son of Pritha +which is even like that which Harishchandra had, I do not see the least +good in continuing to live, O Bharata! O ruler of men, a yoke that is +tied (to the bullock’s shoulders) by a blind man becomes loosened. Even +such is the case with us. The younger ones are growing while the elder +ones are decaying. And beholding all this, O chief of the Kurus, I cannot +enjoy peace even with the aid of reflection. And it is for this, O king, +that I am plunged into grief and becoming pale and emaciated.” + + + +SECTION LIII + +“Dhritrashtra said,--Thou art my eldest son and born also of my eldest +wife. Therefore, O son, be not jealous of the Pandavas. He that is +jealous is always unhappy and suffereth the pangs of death. O bull of the +Bharata race, Yudhishthira knoweth not deception, possesseth wealth equal +unto thine, hath thy friends for his, and is not jealous of thee. Why +shouldst thou, therefore, be jealous of him? O king, in respect of +friends and allies thou art equal unto Yudhishthira. Why shouldst thou, +therefore, covet, from folly, the property of thy brother? Be not so. +Cease to be jealous. Do not grieve. O bull of the Bharata race, it thou +covetest the dignity attaching to the performance of a sacrifice, let the +priests arrange for thee the great sacrifice, called the Saptatantu. The +kings of the earth will then, cheerfully and with great respect, bring +for thee also much wealth and gems and ornaments. O child, coveting +other’s possessions is exceedingly mean. He, on the other hand, enjoyeth +happiness, who is content with his own being engaged in the practices of +his own order. Never striving to obtain the wealth of others, persevering +in one’s own affairs, and protecting what hath been earned,--these are +the indications of true greatness. He that is unmoved in calamity, +skilled in his own business, ever exerting vigilant and humble, always +beholdeth prosperity. The sons of Pandu are as thy arms. Do not lop off +those arms of thine. Plunge not into internal dissensions for the sake of +that wealth of thy brothers. O king, be not jealous of the sons of Pandu. +Thy wealth is equal unto that of thy brothers in his entirety. There is +great sin in quarrelling with friends. They that are thy grandsires are +theirs also. Give away in charity on occasions of sacrifices, gratify +every dear object of thy desire, disport in the company of women freely, +and enjoy thou peace.’” + + + +SECTION LIV + +“Duryodhana said,--‘He that is devoid of intellect but hath merely heard +of many things, can scarcely understand the real import of the +scriptures, like the spoon that hath no perception of the taste of the +soup it toucheth. Thou knowest everything, but yet confoundest me. Like a +boat fastened to another, thou and I are tied to each other. Art thou +unmindful of thy own interests? Or, dost thou entertain hostile feeling +towards me? These thy sons and allies are doomed to destruction, inasmuch +as they have thee for their ruler, for thou describest as attainable in +the future what is to be done at the present moment. He often trippeth +whose guide acts under the instructions of others. How then can his +followers expect to come across a right path? O king, thou art of mature +wisdom; thou hast the opportunity to listen to the words of old, and thy +senses also are under thy control. It behoveth thee not to confound us +who are ready to seek our own interests. Vrihaspati hath said that the +usage of kings are different from those of common people. Therefore kings +should always attend to their own interests with vigilance. The +attainment of success is the sole criterion that should guide the conduct +of a Kshatriya. Whether, therefore, the means is virtuous or sinful, what +scruples can there be in the duties of one’s own order? He that is +desirous of snatching the blazing prosperity of his foe, should, O bull +of the Bharata race, bring every direction under his subjection like the +charioteer taming the steeds with his whip. Those used to handling +weapons say that, a weapon is not simply an instrument that cuts but is a +means, whether covert or overt, that can defeat a foe. Who is to be +reckoned a foe and who a friend, doth not depend on one’s figure or +dimensions. He that paineth another is, O king, to be regarded a foe by +him that is pained. Discontent is the root of prosperity. Therefore, O +king, I desire to be discontented. He that striveth after the acquisition +of prosperity is, O king, a truly politic person. Nobody should be +attached to wealth and affluence, for the wealth that hath been earned +and hoarded may be plundered. The usages of kings are even such. It was +during a period of peace that Sakra cut off the head of Namuchi after +having given a pledge to the contrary, and it was because he approved of +this eternal usage towards the enemy that he did so. Like a snake that +swalloweth up frogs and other creatures living in holes, the earth +swalloweth up a king that is peaceful and a Brahmana that stirreth not +out of home. O king, none can by nature be any person’s foe. He is one’s +foe, and not anybody else, who hath common pursuits with one. He that +from folly neglecteth a growing foe, hath his vitals cut off as by a +disease that he cherished without treatment. A foe, however +insignificant, if suffered to grow in prowess, swalloweth one like the +white ants at the root of a tree eating off the tree itself. O Bharata, O +Ajamida, let not the prosperity of the foe be acceptable to thee. This +policy (of neglecting the foe) should always be borne on their heads by +the wise even like a load. He that always wisheth for the increase of his +wealth, ever groweth in the midst of his relatives even like the body +naturally growing from the moment of birth. Prowess conferreth speedy +growth. Coveting as I do the prosperity of the Pandavas. I have not yet +made it my own. At present I am a prey to doubts in respect of my +ability. I am determined to resolve those doubts of mine. I will either +obtain that prosperity of theirs, or lie down having perished in battle. +O king when the state of my mind is such, what do I care now for life, +for the Pandavas are daily growing while our possessions know no +increase?’” + + + +SECTION LV + +“Sakuni said,--O thou foremost of victorious persons, I will snatch (for +thee) this prosperity of Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, at the sight of +which thou grievest so. Therefore, O king, let Yudhishthira the son of +Kunti be summoned. By throwing dice a skilful man, himself uninjured, may +vanquish one that hath no skill. Know, O Bharata, that betting is my bow, +the dice are my arrows, the marks on them my bow-string, and the +dice-board my car. + +“Duryodhana said,--‘This Sukuni skilled at dice, is ready, O king, to +snatch the prosperity of the son of Pandu by means of dice. It behoveth +thee to give him permission. + +“Dhritarashtra said,--‘I am obedient to the counsels of my brother, the +illustrious Vidura. Consulting with him, I shall tell what should be done +in this matter. + +“Duryodhana said,--‘Vidura is always engaged in doing good to the sons of +Pandu. O Kaurava, his feelings towards us are otherwise. He will, +therefore, without doubt, withdraw thy heart from the proposed act. No +man should set himself to any task depending upon the counsels of +another, for, O son of Kuru’s race, the minds of two persons seldom agree +in any particular act. The fool that liveth shunning all causes of fear +wasteth himself like an insect in the rainy season. Neither sickness nor +Yama waiteth till one is in prosperity. So long, therefore, as there is +life and health, one should (without waiting for prosperity) accomplish +his purpose.’ + +“Dhritarashtra said,--‘O son, hostility with those that are strong, is +what never recommendeth itself to me. Hostility bringeth about a change +of feelings, and that itself is a weapon though not made of steel. Thou +regardest, O Prince, as a great blessing what will bring in its train the +terrible consequences of war. What is really fraught with mischief. If +once it beginneth, it will create sharp swords and pointed arrows.’ + +“Duryodhana replied,--‘Men of the most ancient times invented the use of +dice. There is no destruction in it, nor is there any striking with, +weapons. Let the words of Sakuni, therefore, be acceptable to thee, and +let thy command be issued for the speedy construction of the assembly +house. The door of heaven, leading us to such happiness, will be opened +to us by gambling. Indeed, they that betake to gambling (with such aid) +deserve such good fortune. The Pandavas then will become thy equals +(instead of, as now, superiors); therefore, gamble thou with the Pandavas. + +“Dhritarashtra said.--‘The words uttered by thee do not recommend +themselves to me. Do what may be agreeable to thee, O ruler of men. But +thou shall have to repent for acting according to these words; for, words +that are fraught with such immorality can never bring prosperity in the +future. Even this was foreseen by the learned Vidura ever treading the +path of truth and wisdom. Even the great calamity, destructive of the +lives of the Kshatriyas, cometh as destined by fate.’” + +Vaisampayana continued--“Having said this, the weak-minded Dhritarashtra +regarded fate as supreme and unavoidable. And the king deprived of reason +by Fate, and obedient to the counsels of his son, commanded his men in +loud voice, saying--‘Carefully construct, without loss of time, an +assembly house of the most beautiful description, to be called the +crystal-arched palace with a thousand columns, decked with gold and lapis +lazuli, furnished with a hundred gates, and full two miles in length and +in breadth the same.’ Hearing those words of his, thousands of artificers +endued with intelligence and skill soon erected the palace with the +greatest alacrity, and having erected it brought thither every kind of +article. And soon after they cheerfully represented unto the king that +the palace had been finished, and that it as delightful and handsome and +furnished with every kind of gems and covered with many-coloured carpets +inlaid with gold. Then king Dhritarashtra, possessed of learning, +summoning Vidura the chief of his ministers, said:--‘Repairing, (to +Khandavaprastha), bring prince Yudhishthira here without loss of time. +Let him come hither with his brothers, and behold his handsome assembly +house of mine, furnished with countless jewels and gems, and costly beds +and carpets, and let a friendly match at dice commence here.’” + + + +SECTION LVI + +Vaisampayana said,--“King Dhritarashtra, ascertaining the inclinations of +his son and knowing that Fate is inevitable, did what I have said. +Vidura, however, that foremost of intelligent men, approved not his +brother’s words and spoke thus, ‘I approve not, O king, of this command +of thine. Do not act so. I fear, this will bring about the destruction of +our race. When thy sons lose their unity, dissension will certainly ensue +amongst them. This I apprehend, O king, from this match at dice.’ + +“Dhritarashtra said,--‘If Fate be not hostile, this quarrel will not +certainly grieve me. The whole universe moveth at the will of its +Creator, under the controlling influence of Fate. It is not free. +Therefore, O Vidura, going unto king Yudhishthira at my command, bring +thou soon that invincible son of Kunti.’” + + + +SECTION LVII + +Vaisampayana said,--“Vidura then, thus commanded against his will by king +Dhritarashtra, set out, with the help of horses of high mettle and endued +with great speed and strength, and quiet and patient, for the abode of +the wise sons of Pandu. Possessed of great intelligence, Vidura proceeded +by the way leading to the capital of the Pandavas. And having arrived at +the city of king Yudhishthira, he entered it and proceeded towards the +palace, worshipped by numberless Brahmanas. And coming to the palace +which was even like unto the mansion of Kuvera himself, the virtuous +Vidura approached Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma. Then the illustrious +Ajamida devoted to truth and having no enemy on earth, reverentially +saluted Vidura, and asked him about Dhritarashtra and his sons. And +Yudhishthira said, “O Kshatta, thy mind seemeth to be cheerless. Dost +thou come here in happiness and peace? The sons of Dhritarashtra, I hope, +are obedient to their old father. The people also, I hope, are obedient +to Dhritarashtra’s rule.’ + +“Vidura said,--‘The illustrious king, with his sons, is well and happy, +and surrounded by his relatives he reigneth even like Indra himself. The +king is happy with his sons who are all obedient to him and hath no +grief. The illustrious monarch is bent on his own aggrandisement. The +king of the Kurus hath commanded me to enquire after thy peace and +prosperity, and to ask thee to repair to Hastinapore with thy brothers +and to say, after beholding king Dhritarashtra’s newly erected palace, +whether that one is equal to thy own. Repairing thither, O son of Pritha, +with thy brothers, enjoy ye in that mansion and sit to a friendly match +at dice. We shall be glad if thou goest, as the Kurus have already +arrived there. And thou wilt see there those gamblers and cheats that the +illustrious king Dhritarashtra hath already brought thither. It is for +this, O king, that I have come hither. Let the king’s command be approved +by thee. + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘O Kshatta, if we sit to a match at dice, we may +quarrel. What man is there, who knowing all this, will consent to gamble? +What dost thou think fit for us? We all are obedient to thy counsels.’ + +“Vidura said,--‘I know that gambling is the root of misery, and I strove +to dissuade the king from it. The king, however, hath sent me to thee. +Having known all this, O learned one, do what is beneficial. + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘Besides the sons of Dhritarashtra what other +dishonest gamblers are there ready for play? Tell us, O Vidura, who they +are and with whom we shall have to play, staking hundreds upon hundreds +of our possessions.’ + +“Vidura said,--‘O monarch, Sakuni, the king of Gandhara, an adept at +dice, having great skill of hand and desperate in stakes, Vivingati, king +Chitrasena, Satyavrata, Purumitra and Jaya, these, O king, are there.’ + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘It would seem then that some of the most desperate +and terrible gamblers always depending upon deceit are there. This whole +universe, however, is at the will of its Maker, under the control of +fate. It is not free. O learned one, I do not desire, at the command of +king Dhritarashtra to engage myself in gambling. The father always +wisheth to benefit his son. Thou art our master, O Vidura. Tell me what +is proper for us. Unwilling as I am to gamble, I will not do so, if the +wicked Sakuni doth not summon me to it in the Sabha? If, however, he +challengeth me, I will never refuse. For that, as settled, is my eternal +vow.” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“King Yudhishthira the just having said this +unto Vidura, commanded that preparations for his journey might be made +without loss of time. And the next day, the king accompanied by his +relatives and attendants and taking with him also the women of the +household with Draupadi in their midst, set out for the capital of the +Kurus. ‘Like some brilliant body falling before the eyes, Fate depriveth +us of reason, and man, tied as it were with a cord, submitteth to the +sway of Providence,’ saying this, king Yudhishthira, that chastiser of +the foe, set out with Kshatta, without deliberating upon that summons +from Dhritarashtra. And that slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Pandu +and Pritha, riding upon the car that had been given him by the king of +Valhika, and attired also in royal robes, set out with his brothers. And +the king, blazing as it were with royal splendour, with Brahmanas walking +before him, set out from his city, summoned by Dhritarashtra and impelled +by what hath been ordained by Kala (Time). And arriving at Hastinapore he +went to the palace of Dhritarashtra. And going there, the son of Pandu +approached the king. And the exalted one then approached Bhishma and +Drona and Karna, and Kripa, and the son of Drona, and embraced and was +embraced by them all. And the mighty-armed one, endued with great +prowess, then approached Somadatta, and then Duryodhana and Salya, and +the son of Suvala, and those other kings also that had arrived there +before him. The king then went to the brave Dusshasana and then to all +his (other) brothers and then to Jayadratha and next to all the Kurus one +after another. And the mighty-armed one, then surrounded by all his +brothers, entered the apartment of the wise king Dhritarashtra. And then +Yudhishthira beheld the reverend Gandhari, ever obedient to her lord, and +surrounded by her daughters-in-law like Rohini by the stars. And saluting +Gandhari and blessed by her in return, the king then beheld his old +uncle, that illustrious monarch whose wisdom was his eye. King +Dhritarashtra then, O monarch, smelt his head as also the heads of those +four other princes of the Kuru race, viz., the sons of Pandu with +Bhimasena as their eldest. And, O king, beholding--the handsome Pandava +those tigers among men, all the Kurus became exceedingly glad. And +commanded by the king, the Pandavas then retired to the chambers allotted +to them and which were all furnished with jewels and gems. And when they +had retired into the chambers, the women of Dhritarashtra’s household +with Dussala taking the lead visited them. And the daughters-in-law of +Dhritarashtra beholding the blazing and splendid beauty and prosperity of +Yajnaseni, became cheerless and filled with jealousy. And those tigers +among men, having conversed with the ladies went through their daily +physical exercises and then performed the religious rites of the day. And +having finished their daily devotions, they decked their persons with +sandal paste of the most fragrant kind. And desiring to secure good luck +and prosperity they caused (by gifts) the Brahmanas to utter +benedictions. And then eating food that was of the best taste they +retired to their chambers for the night. And those bulls among the Kurus +then were put to sleep with music by handsome females. And obtaining from +them what came in due succession, those subjugators of hostile towns +passed with cheerful hearts that delightful night in pleasure and sport. +And waked by the bards with sweet music, they rose from their beds, and +having passed the night thus in happiness, they rose at dawn and having +gone through the usual rites, they entered into the assembly house and +were saluted by those that were ready there for gambling.” + + + +SECTION LVIII + +Vaisampayana said,--“The sons of Pritha with Yudhishthira at their head, +having entered that assembly house, approached all the kings that were +present there. And worshipping all those that deserved to be worshipped, +and saluting others as each deserved according to age, they seated +themselves on seats that were clean and furnished with costly carpets. +After they had taken their seats, as also all the kings, Sakuni the son +of Suvala addressed Yudhishthira and said, ‘O king, the assembly is full. +All had been waiting for thee. Let, therefore, the dice be cast and the +rules of play be fixed, O Yudhishthira.’ + +‘Yudhishthira replied, ‘Deceitful gambling is sinful. There is no +Kshatriya prowess in it. There is certainly no morality in it. Why, then, +O king, dost thou praise gambling so? The wise applaud not the pride that +gamesters feel in deceitful play. O Sakuni, vanquish us, not like a +wretch, by deceitful means.’ + +Sakuni said,--‘That high-souled player who knoweth the secrets of winning +and losing, who is skilled in baffling the deceitful arts of his +confrere, who is united in all the diverse operations of which gambling +consisteth, truly knoweth the play, and he suffereth all in course of it. +O son of Pritha, it is the staking at dice, which may be lost or won that +may injure us. And it is for that reason that gambling is regarded as a +fault. Let us, therefore, O king, begin the play. Fear not. Let the +stakes be fixed. Delay not!’ + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘That best of Munis, Devala, the son of Asita, who +always instructeth us about all those acts that may lead to heaven, hell, +or the other regions, hath said, that it is sinful to play deceitfully +with a gamester. To obtain victory in battle without cunning or stratagem +is the best sport. Gambling, however, as a sport, is not so. Those that +are respectable never use the language of the Mlechchas, nor do they +adopt deceitfulness in their behaviour. War carried on without +crookedness and cunning, this is the act of men that are honest. Do not, +O Sakuni, playing desperately, win of us that wealth with which according +to our abilities, we strive to learn how to benefit the Brahmanas. Even +enemies should not be vanquished by desperate stakes in deceitful play. I +do not desire either happiness or wealth by means of cunning. The conduct +of one that is a gamester, even if it be without deceitfulness, should +not be applauded.’ + +“Sakuni said,--‘O Yudhishthira, it is from a desire of winning, which is +not a very honest motive, that one high-born person approacheth another +(in a contest of race superiority). So also it is from a desire of +defeating, which is not a very honest motive, that one learned person +approacheth another (in a contest of learning). Such motives, however, +are scarcely regarded as really dishonest. So also, O Yudhishthira, a +person skilled at dice approacheth one that is not so skilled from a +desire of vanquishing him. One also who is conversant with the truths of +science approacheth another that is not from desire of victory, which is +scarcely an honest motive. But (as I have already said) such a motive is +not really dishonest. And, O Yudhishthira, so also one that is skilled in +weapons approacheth one that is not so skilled; the strong approacheth +the weak. This is the practice in every contest. The motive is victory, O +Yudhishthira. If, therefore, thou, in approaching me, regardest me to be +actuated by motives that are dishonest, if thou art under any fear, +desist then from play.’ + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘Summoned, I do not withdraw. This is my established +vow. And, O king, Fate is all powerful. We all are under the control of +Destiny. With whom in this assembly am I to play? Who is there that can +stake equally with me? Let the play begin.’ + +“Duryodhana said,--‘O monarch, I shall supply jewels and gems and every +kind of wealth. And it is for me that this Sakuni, my uncle, will play.’ + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘Gambling for one’s sake by the agency of another +seemeth to me to be contrary to rule. Thou also, O learned one, will +admit this. If, however, thou art still bent on it, let the play begin.’” + + + +SECTION LIX + +Vaisampayana said,--“When the play commenced, all those kings with +Dhritarashtra at their head took their seats in that assembly. And, O +Bharata, Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and the high-souled Vidura with +cheerless hearts sat behind. And those kings with leonine necks and +endued with great energy took their seats separately and in pairs upon +many elevated seats of beautiful make and colour. And, O king, that +mansion looked resplendent with those assembled kings like heaven itself +with a conclave of the celestials of great good fortune. And they were +all conversant with the Vedas and brave and of resplendent countenances. +And, O great king, the friendly match at dice then commenced. + +Yudhishthira said,--“O king, this excellent wealth of pearls of great +value, procured from the ocean by churning it (of old), so beautiful and +decked with pure gold, this, O king, is my stake. What is thy counter +stake, O great king,--the wealth with which thou wishest to play with me?” + +“Duryodhana said,--‘I have many jewels and much wealth. But I am not vain +of them. Win thou this stake.’ + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Then Sakuni, well-skilled at dice, took up the +dice and (casting them) said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo, I have won!’” + + + +SECTION LX + +Yudhishthira said,--“Thou hast won this stake of me by unfair means. But +be not so proud, O Sakuni. Let us play staking thousands upon thousands. +I have many beautiful jars each full of a thousand Nishkas in my +treasury, inexhaustible gold, and much silver and other minerals. This, O +king, is the wealth with which I will stake with thee!’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Thus addressed, Sakuni said unto the chief of +the perpetuators of the Kuru race, the eldest of the sons of Pandu, king +Yudhishthira, of glory incapable of sustaining any diminution. ‘Lo, I +have won!’” + +Yudhishthira said,--‘This my sacred and victorious and royal car which +gladdeneth the heart and hath carried us hither, which is equal unto a +thousand cars, which is of symmetrical proportions and covered with +tiger-skin, and furnished with excellent wheels and flag-staffs which is +handsome, and decked with strings of little bells, whose clatter is even +like the roar of the clouds or of the ocean, and which is drawn by eight +noble steeds known all over the kingdom and which are white as the +moon-beam and from whose hoofs no terrestrial creature can escape--this, +O king, is my wealth with which I will stake with thee!’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Hearing these words, Sakuni ready with the +dice, and adopting unfair means, said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo, I have won!’ + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘I have a hundred thousand serving-girls, all young, +and decked with golden bracelets on their wrists and upper arms, and with +nishkas round their necks and other ornaments, adorned with costly +garlands and attired in rich robes, daubed with the sandal paste, wearing +jewels and gold, and well-skilled in the four and sixty elegant arts, +especially versed in dancing and singing, and who wait upon and serve at +my command the celestials, the Snataka Brahmanas, and kings. With this +wealth, O king, I will stake with thee!’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--‘Hearing these words, Sakuni ready with the +dice, adopting unfair means, said unto Yudhishthira. ‘Lo, I have won!’ + +Yudhishthira said,--“I have thousands of serving-men, skilled in waiting +upon guests, always attired in silken robes, endued with wisdom and +intelligence, their senses under control though young, and decked with +ear-rings, and who serve all guests night and day with plates and dishes +in hand. With this wealth, O king, I will stake with thee!’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Hearing these words, Sakuni, ready with the +dice, adopting unfair means said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo, I have won!’ + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘I have, O son of Suvala, one thousand musty +elephants with golden girdles, decked with ornaments, with the mark of +the lotus on their temples and necks and other parts, adorned with golden +garlands, with fine white tusks long and thick as plough-shafts, worthy +of carrying kings on their backs, capable of bearing every kind of noise +on the field of battle, with huge bodies, capable of battering down the +walls of hostile towns, of the colour of new-formed clouds, and each +possessing eight she-elephants. With this wealth, O king, I will stake +with thee.’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Unto Yudhishthira who had said so, Sakuni, the +son of Suvala, laughingly said, ‘Lo, I have won it!’ + +Yudhishthira said,--‘I have as many cars as elephants, all furnished with +golden poles and flag-staffs and well-trained horses and warriors that +fight wonderfully and each of whom receiveth a thousand coins as his +monthly pay whether he fighteth or not. With this wealth, O king, I will +stake with thee!’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“When these words had been spoken, the wretch +Sakuni, pledged to enmity, said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo, I have won it.’ + +Yudhishthira said.--‘The steeds of the Tittiri, Kalmasha, and Gandharva +breeds, decked with ornaments, which Chitraratha having been vanquished +in battle and subdued cheerfully gave unto Arjuna, the wielder of the +Gandiva. With this wealth, O king, I will stake with thee.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing this, Sakuni, ready at dice, adopting +unfair means, said unto Yudhishthira: ‘Lo, I have won!’ + +Yudhishthira said,--‘I have ten thousand cars and vehicles unto which are +yoked draught animals of the foremost breed. And I have also sixty +thousand warriors picked from each order by thousands, who are all brave +and endued with prowess like heroes, who drink milk and eat good rice, +and all of whom have broad chests. With this wealth, O king, I will stake +with thee.’ + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Hearing this, Sakuni ready at dice, adopting +unfair means said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo, I have won!’ + +Yudhishthira said,--‘I have four hundred Nidis (jewels of great value) +encased in sheets of copper and iron. Each one of them is equal to five +draunikas of the costliest and purest leaf gold of the Jatarupa kind. +With this wealth, O king, I will stake with thee.’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Hearing this, Sakuni ready at dice, adopting +foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo, I have won it!’” + + + +SECTION LXI + +Vaisampayana said,--“During the course of this gambling, certain to bring +about utter ruin (on Yudhishthira), Vidura, that dispeller of all doubts, +(addressing Dhritarashtra) said, ‘O great king, O thou of the Bharata +race, attend to what I say, although my words may not be agreeable to +thee, like medicine to one that is ill and about to breathe his last. +When this Duryodhana of sinful mind had, immediately after his birth, +cried discordantly like a jackal, it was well known that he had been +ordained to bring about the destruction of the Bharata race. Know, O +king, that he will be the cause of death of ye all. A jackal is living in +thy house, O king, in the form of Duryodhana. Thou knowest it not in +consequence of thy folly. Listen now to the words of the Poet (Sukra) +which I will quote. They that collect honey (in mountains), having +received what they seek, do not notice that they are about to fall. +Ascending dangerous heights, abstracted in the pursuit of what they seek, +they fall down and meet with destruction. This Duryodhana also, maddened +with the play at dice, like the collector of honey, abstracted in what he +seeketh, marketh not the consequences. Making enemies of these great +warriors, he beholdeth not the fall that is before him. It is known to +thee, O thou of great wisdom, that amongst the Bhojas, they abandoned, +for the good of the citizens a son that was unworthy of their race. The +Andhakas, the Yadavas, and the Bhojas uniting together, abandoned Kansa. +And afterwards, when at the command of the whole tribe, the same Kansa +had been slain by Krishna that slayer of foes, all the men of the tribe +became exceedingly happy for a hundred years. So at thy command, let +Arjuna slay this Suyodhana. And in consequence of the slaying of this +wretch, let the Kurus be glad and pass their days in happiness. In +exchange of a crow, O great king, buy these peacocks--the Pandavas; and +in exchange of a jackal, buy these tigers. For the sake of a family a +member may be sacrificed; for the sake of a village a family may be +sacrificed, for the sake of a province a village may be sacrificed and +for the sake of one’s own soul the whole earth may be sacrificed. Even +this was what the omniscient Kavya himself, acquainted with the thoughts +of every creature, and a source of terror unto all foes, said unto the +great Asuras to induce them to abandon Jambha at the moment of his birth. +It is said that a certain king, having caused a number of wild birds that +vomited gold to take up their quarters in his own house, afterwards +killed them from temptation. O slayer of foes, blinded by temptation and +the desire of enjoyment, for the sake of gold, the king destroyed at the +same time both his present and future gains. Therefore, O king, prosecute +not the Pandavas from desire of profit, even like the king in story. For +then, blinded by folly thou wilt have to repent afterwards, even like the +person that killed the birds. Like a flower-seller that plucketh (many +flowers) in the garden from trees that he cherisheth with affection from +day to day, continue, O Bharata, to pluck flowers day by day from the +Pandavas. Do not scorch them to their roots like a fire-producing breeze +that reduceth everything to black charcoal. Go not, O king, unto the +region of Yama, with thy sons and troops, for who is there that is +capable of fighting with the sons of Pritha, together? Not to speak of +others, is the chief of the celestials at the head of the celestials +themselves, capable of doing so?” + + + +SECTION LXII + +“Vidura said,--“Gambling is the root of dissensions. It bringeth about +disunion. Its consequences are frightful. Yet having recourse to this, +Dhritarashtra’s son Duryodhana createth for himself fierce enmity. The +descendants of Pratipa and Santanu, with their fierce troops and their +allies the Vahlikas, will, for the sins of Duryodhana meet with +destruction. Duryodhana, in consequence of this intoxication, forcibly +driveth away luck and prosperity from his kingdom, even like an infuriate +bull breaking his own horns himself. That brave and learned person who +disregarding his own foresight, followeth, O king, (the bent of) another +man’s heart, sinketh in terrible affliction even like one that goeth into +the sea in a boat guided by a child. Duryodhana is gambling with the son +of Pandu, and thou art in raptures that he is winning. And it is such +success that begeteth war, which endeth in the destruction of men. This +fascination (of gambling) that thou has well-devised only leadeth to dire +results. Thus hast thou simply brought on by these counsels great +affliction to thy heart. And this thy quarrel with Yudhishthira, who is +so closely related to thee, even if thou hadst not foreseen it, is still +approved by thee. Listen, ye sons of Santanu, ye descendants of Pratipa, +who are now in this assembly of the Kauravas, to these words of wisdom. +Enter ye not into the terrible fire that hath blazed forth following the +wretch. When Ajatasatru, the son of Pandu, intoxicated with dice, giveth +way to his wrath, and Vrikodara and Arjuna and the twins (do the same), +who, in that hour of confusion, will prove your refuge? O great king, +thou art thyself a mine of wealth. Thou canst earn (by other means) as +much wealth as thou seekest to earn by gambling. What dost thou gain by +winning from the Pandavas their vast wealth? Win the Pandavas themselves, +who will be to thee more than all the wealth they have. We all know the +skill of Suvala in play. This hill-king knoweth many nefarious methods in +gambling. Let Sakuni return whence he came. War not, O Bharata, with the +sons of Pandu!’ + + + +SECTION LXIII + +Duryodhana said,--‘O Kshatta, thou art always boasting of the fame of our +enemies, deprecating the sons of Dhritarashtra. We know, O Vidura, of +whom thou art really fond. Thou always disregardest us as children, That +man standeth confest, who wisheth for success unto those that are near to +him and defeat unto those that are not his favourites. His praise and +blame are applied accordingly. Thy tongue and mind betray thy heart. But +the hostility thou showeth in speech is even greater than what is in thy +heart. Thou hast been cherished by us like a serpent on our lap. Like a +cat thou wishest evil unto him that cherisheth thee. The wise have said +that there is no sin graver than that of injuring one’s master. How is +it, O Kshatta, that thou dost not fear this sin? Having vanquished our +enemies we have obtained great advantages. Use not harsh words in respect +of us. Thou art always willing to make peace with the foes. And it is for +this reason that thou hatest us always. A man becometh a foe by speaking +words that are unpardonable. Then again in praising the enemy, the +secrets of one’s own party should not be divulged. (Thou however, +transgressest this rule). Therefore, O thou parasite, why dost thou +obstruct us so? Thou sayest whatever thou wishest. Insult us not. We know +thy mind. Go and learn sitting at the feet of the old. Keen up the +reputation that thou hast won. Meddle not with the affairs of other men. +Do not imagine that thou art our chief. Tell us not harsh words always, O +Vidura. We do not ask thee what is for our good. Cease, irritate not +those that have already borne too much at thy hands. There is only one +Controller, no second. He controlleth even the child that is in the +mother’s womb. I am controlled by Him. Like water that always floweth in +a downward course, I am acting precisely in the way in which He is +directing me. He that breaketh his head against a stone-wall, and he that +feedeth a serpent, are guided in those acts of theirs by their own +intellect. (Therefore, in this matter I am guided by my own +intelligence). He becometh a foe who seeketh to control others by force. +When advice, however, is offered in a friendly spirit, the learned bear +with it. He again that hath set fire to such a highly inflammable object +as camphor, beholdeth not its ashes. If he runneth immediately to +extinguish it. One should not give shelter to another who is the friend +of his foes, or to another who is ever jealous of his protector or to +another who is evil-minded. Therefore, O Vidura, go whither-so-ever thou +pleasest. A wife that is unchaste, however well-treated, forsaketh her +husband yet.’ + +“Vidura addressing Dhritarashtra, said, ‘O monarch, tell us (impartially) +like a witness what thou thinkest of the conduct of those who abandon +their serving-men thus for giving instruction to them. The hearts of +kings are, indeed, very fickle. Granting protection at first, they strike +with clubs at last. O prince (Duryodhana), thou regardest thyself as +mature in intellect, and, O thou of bad heart, thou regardest me as a +child. But consider that he is a child who having first accepted one for +a friend, subsequently findeth fault with him. An evil-hearted man can +never be brought to the path of rectitude, like an unchaste wife in the +house of a well-born person. Assuredly, instruction is not agreeable to +this bull of the Bharata race like a husband of sixty years to a damsel +that is young. After this, O king, if thou wishest to hear words that are +agreeable to thee, in respect of all acts good or bad, ask thou women and +idiots and cripples or persons of that description. A sinful man speaking +words that are agreeable may be had in this world. But a speaker of words +that are disagreeable though sound as regimen, or a hearer of the same, +is very rare. He indeed, is a king’s true ally who disregarding what is +agreeable or disagreeable to his master beareth himself virtuously and +uttereth what may be disagreeable but necessary as regimen. O great king, +drink thou that which the honest drink and the dishonest shun, even +humility, which is like a medicine that is bitter, pungent, burning, +unintoxicating, disagreeable, and revolting. And drinking it, O king, +regain thou thy sobriety. I always wish Dhritarashtra and his sons +affluence and fame. Happen what may unto thee, here I bow to thee (and +take my leave). Let the Brahmanas wish me well. O son of Kuru, this is +the lesson I carefully inculcate, that the wise should never enrage such +as adders as have venom in their very glances!” + + + +SECTION LXIV + +“Sakuni said,--‘Thou hast, O Yudhishthira, lost much wealth of the +Pandavas. If thou hast still anything that thou hast not yet lost to us, +O son of Kunti, tell us what it is!” + +“Yudhishthira said,--O son of Suvala, I know that I have untold wealth. +But why is it, O Sakuni, that thou askest me of my wealth? Let tens of +thousands and millions and millions and tens of millions and hundreds of +millions and tens of billions and hundreds of billions and trillions and +tens of trillions and hundreds of trillions and tens of quadrillions and +hundreds of quadrillions and even more wealth be staked by thee. I have +as much. With that wealth, O king, I will play with thee.” + +Vaisampayana said,--“Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting +unfair means, said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo, I have won!’ + +‘Yudhishthira said,--‘I have, O son of Suvala, immeasurable kine and +horses and milch cows with calves and goats and sheep in the country +extending from the Parnasa to the eastern bank of the Sindu. With this +wealth, O king, I will play with thee. + +Vaisampayana said,--“Hearing this Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting +unfair means, said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo, I have won!’ + +Yudhishthira said,--‘I have my city, the country, land, the wealth of all +dwelling therein except of the Brahmanas, and all those persons +themselves except Brahmanas still remaining to me. With this wealth, O +king, I will play with thee.’ + +Vaisampayana said,--“Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting +foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo! I have won.’ + +“Yudhishthira said,--These princes here, O king, who look resplendent in +their ornaments and their ear-rings and Nishkas and all the royal +ornaments on their persons are now my wealth. With this wealth, O king, I +play with thee. + +Vaisampayana said,--“Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with his dice, adopting +foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo! I have won them.’ + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘This Nakula here, of mighty arms and leonine neck, +of red eyes and endued with youth, is now my one stake. Know that he is +my wealth.’ + +Sakuni said,--‘O king Yudhishthira, prince Nakula is dear to thee. He is +already under our subjection. With whom (as stake) wilt thou now play?” + +Vaisampayana said,--“Saying this, Sakuni cast those dice, and said unto +Yudhishthira, ‘Lo! He hath been won by us.’ + +Yudhishthira said,--“This Sahadeva administereth justice. He hath also +acquired a reputation for learning in this world. However undeserving he +may be to be staked in play, with him as stake I will play, with such a +dear object as it, indeed, he were not so!” + +Vaisampayana said,--“Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting +foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo! I have won.’ + +“Sakuni continued,--‘O king, the sons of Madri, dear unto thee, have both +been won by me. It would seem, however, that Bhimasena and Dhananjaya are +regarded very much by thee.’ + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘Wretch! thou actest sinfully in thus seeking to +create disunion amongst us who are all of one heart, disregarding +morality.’ + +“Sakuni said,--‘One that is intoxicated falleth into a pit (hell) and +stayeth there deprived of the power of motion. Thou art, O king, senior +to us in age, and possessed of the highest accomplishments. O bull of the +Bharata race, I (beg my pardon and) bow to thee. Thou knowest, O +Yudhishthira, that gamesters, while excited with play, utter such ravings +that they never indulge in the like of them in their waking moments nor +even in dream.’ + +“Yudhishthira said,--He that taketh us like a boat to the other shore of +the sea of battle, he that is ever victorious over foes, the prince who +is endued with great activity, he who is the one hero in this world, (is +here). With that Falguna as stake, however, undeserving of being made so, +I will now play with thee.’” + +Vaisampayana said,--“Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting +foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo! I have won.’ + +“Sakuni continued,--‘This foremost of all wielders of the bow, this son +of Pandu capable of using both his hands with equal activity hath now +been won by me. O play now with the wealth that is still left unto thee, +even with Bhima thy dear brother, as thy stake, O son of Pandu. + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘O king, however, undeserving he may be of being +made a stake, I will now play with thee by staking Bhimasena, that prince +who is our leader, who is the foremost in fight,--even like the wielder +of the thunder-bolt--the one enemy of the Danavas,--the high-souled one +with leonine neck and arched eye-brows and eyes looking askance, who is +incapable of putting up with an insult, who hath no equal in might in the +world, who is the foremost of all wielders of the mace, and who grindeth +all foes,’” + +“Vaisampayana said,--“Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice adopting +foul means, said unto Yudhishthira. ‘Lo! I have won.’ + +Sakuni continued,--Thou hast, O son of Kunti, lost much wealth, horses +and elephants and thy brothers as well. Say, if thou hast anything which +thou hast not lost.’ + +Yudhishthira, said--‘I alone, the eldest of all my brothers and dear unto +them, am still unwon. Won by thee, I will do what he that is won will +have to do.’” + +Vaisampayana said,--“Hearing this Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting +foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, ‘Lo! I have won.’ + +‘Sakuni continued,--‘Thou hast permitted thyself to be won. This is very +sinful. There is wealth still left to thee, O king. Therefore, thy having +lost thyself is certainly sinful.’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Having said this, Sakuni, well-skilled at dice, +spoke unto all the brave kings present there of his having won, one after +another, all the Pandavas. The son of Suvala then, addressing +Yudhishthira said,--‘O king, there is still one stake dear to thee that +is still unwon. Stake thou Krishna, the princess of Panchala. By her, win +thyself back.’ + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘With Draupadi as stake, who is neither short nor +tall, neither spare nor corpulent, and who is possessed of blue curly +locks, I will now play with thee. Possessed of eyes like the leaves of +the autumn lotus, and fragrant also as the autumn lotus, equal in beauty +unto her (Lakshmi) who delighteth in autumn lotuses, and unto Sree +herself in symmetry and every grace she is such a woman as a man may +desire for wife in respect of softness of heart, and wealth of beauty and +of virtues. Possessed of every accomplishment and compassionate and +sweet-speeched, she is such a woman as a man may desire for wife in +respect of her fitness for the acquisition of virtue and pleasure and +wealth. Retiring to bed last and waking up first, she looketh after all +down to the cowherds and the shepherds. Her face too, when covered with +sweat, looketh as the lotus or the jasmine. Of slender waist like that of +the wasp, of long flowing locks, of red lips, and body without down, is +the princess of Panchala. O king, making the slender-waisted Draupadi, +who is even such as my stake, I will play with thee, O son of Suvala.’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--‘When the intelligent king Yudhishthira the just +has spoken thus,--‘Fie!’ ‘Fie!’ were the words that were uttered by all +the aged persons that were in the assembly. And the whole conclave was +agitated, and the kings who were present there all gave way to grief. And +Bhishma and Drona and Kripa were covered with perspiration. And Vidura +holding his head between his hands sat like one that had lost his reason. +He sat with face downwards giving way to his reflections and sighing like +a snake. But Dhritarashtra glad, at heart, asked repeatedly, ‘Hath the +stake been won?’ ‘Hath the stake been won?’ and could not conceal his +emotions. Karna with Dussassana and others laughed aloud, while tears +began to flow from the eyes of all other present in the assembly. And the +son of Suvala, proud of success and flurried with excitement and +repeating. Thou hast one stake, dear to thee, etc. said,--‘Lo! I have +won’ and took up the dice that had been cast.” + + + +SECTION LXV + +Duryodhana said,--‘Come, Kshatta, bring hither Draupadi the dear and +loved wife of the Pandavas. Let her sweep the chambers, force her +thereto, and let the unfortunate one stay where our serving-women are.’ + +“Vidura said,--‘Dost thou not know, O wretch, that by uttering such harsh +words thou art tying thyself with cords? Dost thou not understand that +thou art hanging on the edge of a precipice? Dost thou not know that +being a deer thou provokest so many tigers to rage? Snakes of deadly +venom, provoked to ire, are on thy head! Wretch, do not further provoke +them lest thou goest to the region of Yama. In my judgement, slavery does +not attach to Krishna, in as much as she was staked by the King after he +had lost himself and ceased to be his own master. Like the bamboo that +beareth fruit only when it is about to die, the son of Dhritarashtra +winneth this treasure at play. Intoxicated, he perceiveth nor in these +his last moments that dice bring about enmity and frightful terrors. No +man should utter harsh speeches and pierce the hearts of the others. No +man should subjugate his enemies by dice and such other foul means. No +one should utter such words as are disapproved by the Vedas and lead to +hell and annoy others. Some one uttereth from his lips words that are +harsh. Stung by them another burneth day and night. These words pierce +the very heart of another. The learned, therefore, should never utter +them, pointing them at others. A goat had once swallowed a hook, and when +it was pierced with it, the hunter placing the head of the animal on the +ground tore its throat frightfully in drawing it out. Therefore, O +Duryodhana, swallow not the wealth of the Pandavas. Make them not thy +enemies. The sons of Pritha never use words such as these. It is only low +men that are like dogs who use harsh words towards all classes of people, +viz., those that have retired to the woods, those leading domestic lives, +those employed in ascetic devotions and those that are of great learning. +Alas! the son of Dhritarashtra knoweth not that dishonesty is one of the +frightful doors of hell. Alas! many of the Kurus with Dussasana amongst +them have followed him in the path of dishonesty in the matter of this +play at dice. Even gourds may sink and stones may float, and boats also +may always sink in water, still this foolish king, the son of +Dhritarashtra, listeneth not to my words that are even as regimen unto +him. Without doubt, he will be the cause of the destruction of the Kurus. +When the words of wisdom spoken by friends and which are even as fit +regimen are not listened to, but on the other hand temptation is on the +increase, a frightful and universal destruction is sure to overtake all +the Kurus.” + + + +SECTION LXVI + +Vaisampayana said,--“Intoxicated with pride, the son of Dhritarashtra +spake,--‘Fie on Kshatta! and casting his eyes upon the Pratikamin in +attendance, commanded him, in the midst of all those reverend seniors, +saying,--‘Go Pratikamin, and bring thou Draupadi hither. Thou hast no +fear from the sons of Pandu. It is Vidura alone that raveth in fear. +Besides, he never wisheth our prosperity!’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Thus commanded, the Pratikamin, who was of the +Suta caste, hearing the words of the king, proceeded with haste, and +entering the abode of the Pandavas, like a dog in a lion’s den, +approached the queen of the sons of Pandu. And he said,--‘Yudhishthira +having been intoxicated with dice, Duryodhana, O Draupadi, hath won thee. +Come now, therefore, to the abode of Dhritarashtra. I will take thee, O +Yajnaseni, and put thee in some menial work.’ + +Draupadi said,--‘Why, O Pratikamin, dost thou say so? What prince is +there who playeth staking his wife? The king was certainly intoxicated +with dice. Else, could he not find any other object to stake?’ + +“The Pratikamin said,--‘When he had nothing else to stake, it was then +that Ajatasatru, the son of Pandu, staked thee. The king had first staked +his brothers, then himself, and then thee, O princess.’ + +“Draupadi said,--‘O son of the Suta race, go, and ask that gambler +present in the assembly, whom he hath lost first, himself, or me. +Ascertaining this, come hither, and then take me with thee, O son of the +Suta race.’ + +Vaisampayana continued,--“The messenger coming back to the assembly told +all present the words of Draupadi. And he spoke unto Yudhishthira sitting +in the midst of the kings, these words,--Draupadi hath asked thee, Whose +lord wert thou at the time thou lost me in play? Didst thou lose thyself +first or me? Yudhishthira, however sat there like one demented and +deprived of reason and gave no answer good or ill to the Suta. + +“Duryodhana then said,--‘Let the princess of Panchala come hither and put +her question. Let every one hear in this assembly the words that pass +between her and Yudhishthira.’ + +Vaisampayana continued,--“The messenger, obedient to the command of +Duryodhana, going once again to the palace, himself much distressed, said +unto Draupadi,--‘O princess, they that are in the assembly are summoning +thee. It seemeth that the end of the Kauravas is at hand. When +Duryodhana, O princess, is for taking thee before the assembly, this +weak-brained king will no longer be able to protect his prosperity.’ + +“Draupadi said,--‘The great ordainer of the world hath, indeed, ordained +so. Happiness and misery pay their court to both the wise and unwise. +Morality, however, it hath been said, is the one highest object in the +world. If cherished, that will certainly dispense blessings to us. Let +not that morality now abandon the Kauravas. Going back to those that are +present in that assembly, repeat these my words consonant with morality. +I am ready to do what those elderly and virtuous persons conversant with +morality will definitely tell me. + +Vaisampayana continued,--“The Suta, hearing these words of Yajnaseni, +came back to the assembly and repeated the words of Draupadi. But all sat +with faces downwards, uttering not a word, knowing the eagerness and +resolution of Dhritarashtra’s son. + +“Yudhishthira, however, O bull of the Bharata race, hearing of +Duryodhana’s intentions, sent a trusted messenger unto Draupadi, +directing that although she was attired in one piece of cloth with her +navel itself exposed, in consequence of her season having come, she +should come before her father-in-law weeping bitterly. And that +intelligent messenger, O king, having gone to Draupadi’s abode with +speed, informed her of the intentions of Yudhishthira. The illustrious +Pandavas, meanwhile, distressed and sorrowful, and bound by promise, +could not settle what they should do. And casting his eyes upon them, +king Duryodhana, glad at heart, addressed the Suta and said,--‘O +Pratikamin, bring her hither. Let the Kauravas answer her question before +her face. The Suta, then, obedient to his commands, but terrified at the +(possible) wrath of the daughter of Drupada, disregarding his reputation +for intelligence, once again said to those that were in the +assembly,--what shall I say unto Krishna?’ + +“Duryodhana, hearing this, said,--‘O Dussasana, this son of my Suta, of +little intelligence, feareth Vrikodara. Therefore, go thou thyself and +forcibly bring hither the daughter of Yajnasena, Our enemies at present +are dependent on our will. What can they do thee?’ Hearing the command of +his brother, prince Dussasana rose with blood-red eyes, and entering the +abode of those great warriors, spake these words unto the princess, +‘Come, come, O Krishna, princess of Panchala, thou hast been won by us. +And O thou of eyes large as lotus leaves, come now and accept the Kurus +for thy lords. Thou hast been won virtuously, come to the assembly.’ At +these words, Draupadi, rising up in great affliction, rubbed her pale +face with her hands, and distressed she ran to the place where the ladies +of Dhritarashtra’s household were. At this, Dussasana roaring in anger, +ran after her and seized the queen by her locks, so long and blue and +wavy. Alas! those locks that had been sprinkled with water sanctified +with mantras in the great Rajasuya sacrifice, were now forcibly seized by +the son of Dhritarashtra disregarding the prowess of the Pandavas. And +Dussasana dragging Krishna of long long locks unto the presence of the +assembly--as if she were helpless though having powerful protectors--and +pulling at her, made her tremble like the banana plant in a storm. And +dragged by him, with body bent, she faintly cried--‘Wretch! it ill +behoveth thee to take me before the assembly. My season hath come, and I +am now clad in one piece of attire. But Dussasana dragging Draupadi +forcibly by her black locks while she was praying piteously unto Krishna +and Vishnu who were Narayana and Nara (on earth), said unto her--‘Whether +thy season hath come or not, whether thou art attired in one piece of +cloth or entirely naked, when thou hast been won at dice and made our +slave, thou art to live amongst our serving-women as thou pleasest.” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“With hair dishevelled and half her attire +loosened, all the while dragged by Dussasana, the modest Krishna consumed +with anger, faintly said--“In this assembly are persons conversant with +all the branches of learning devoted to the performance of sacrifices and +other rites, and all equal unto Indra, persons some of whom are really my +superiors and others who deserve to be respected as such. I can not stay +before them in this state. O wretch! O thou of cruel deeds, drag me not +so. Uncover me not so. The princes (my lords) will not pardon thee, even +if thou hast the gods themselves with Indra as thy allies. The +illustrious son of Dharma is now bound by the obligations of morality. +Morality, however, is subtle. Those only that are possessed of great +clearness of vision can ascertain it. In speech even I am unwilling to +admit an atom of fault in my lord forgetting his virtues. Thou draggest +me who am in my season before these Kuru heroes. This is truly an +unworthy act. But no one here rebuketh thee. Assuredly, all these are of +the same mind with thee. O fie! Truly hath the virtue of the Bharata +gone! Truly also hath the usage of those acquainted with the Kshatriya +practice disappeared! Else these Kurus in this assembly would never have +looked silently on this act that transgresseth the limits of their +practices. Oh! both Drona and Bhishma have lost their energy, and so also +hath the high-souled Kshatta, and so also this king. Else, why do these +foremost of the Kuru elders look silently on this great crime?” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Thus did Krishna of slender waist cry in +distress in that assembly. And casting a glance upon her enraged +lords--the Pandavas--who were filled with terrible wrath, she inflamed +them further with that glance of hers. And they were not so distressed at +having been robbed of their kingdom, of their wealth, of their costliest +gems, as with that glance of Krishna moved by modesty and anger. And +Dussasana, beholding Krishna looking at her helpless lords, dragging her +still more forcibly, and addressed her, ‘Slave, Slave’ and laughed aloud. +And at those words Karna became very glad and approved of them by +laughing aloud. And Sakuni, the son of Suvala, the Gandhara king, +similarly applauded Dussasana. And amongst all those that were in the +assembly except these three and Duryodhana, every one was filled with +sorrow at beholding Krishna thus dragged in sight of that assembly. And +beholding it all, Bhishma said, ‘O blessed one, morality is subtle. I +therefore am unable to duly decide this point that thou hast put, +beholding that on the one hand one that hath no wealth cannot stake the +wealth belonging to others, while on the other hand wives are always +under the orders and at the disposal of their lords. Yudhishthira can +abandon the whole world full of wealth, but he will never sacrifice +morality. The son of Pandu hath said--‘I am won.’ Therefore, I am unable +to decide this matter. Sakuni hath not his equal among men at dice-play. +The son of Kunti still voluntarily staked with him. The illustrious +Yudhishthira doth not himself regard that Sakuni hath played with him +deceitfully. Therefore, I can not decide this point.” + +“Draupadi said,--“The king was summoned to this assembly and though +possessing no skill at dice, he was made to play with skilful, wicked, +deceitful and desperate gamblers. How can he be said then to have staked +voluntarily? The chief of the Pandavas was deprived of his senses by +wretches of deceitful conduct and unholy instincts, acting together, and +then vanquished. He could not understand their tricks, but he hath now +done so. Here, in this assembly, there are Kurus who are the lords of +both their sons and their daughters-in-law! Let all of them, reflecting +well upon my words, duly decide the point that I have put. + +Vaisampayana continued,--‘Unto Krishna who was thus weeping and crying +piteously, looking at times upon her helpless lord, Dussasana spake many +disagreeable and harsh words. And beholding her who was then in her +season thus dragged, and her upper garments loosened, beholding her in +that condition which she little deserved, Vrikodara afflicted beyond +endurance, his eyes fixed upon Yudhishthira, gave way to wrath.” + +“Bhima said,--‘O Yudhishthira, gamblers have in their houses many women +of loose character. They do not yet stake those women having kindness for +them even. Whatever wealth and other excellent articles the king of Kasi +gave, whatever, gems, animals, wealth, coats of mail and weapons that +other kings of the earth gave, our kingdom, thyself and ourselves, have +all been won by the foes. At all this my wrath was not excited for thou +art our lord. This, however, I regard as a highly improper act--this act +of staking Draupadi. This innocent girl deserveth not this treatment. +Having obtained the Pandavas as her lords, it is for thee alone that she +is being thus persecuted by the low, despicable, cruel, and mean-minded +Kauravas. It is for her sake, O king, that my anger falleth on thee. I +shall burn those hands of thine. Sahadeva, bring some fire.” + +‘Arjuna hearing this, said,--‘Thou hast never, O Bhimasena, before this +uttered such words as these. Assuredly thy high morality hath been +destroyed by these cruel foes. Thou shouldst not fulfil the wishes of the +enemy. Practise thou the highest morality. Whom doth it behave to +transgress his virtuous eldest brother? The king was summoned by the foe, +and remembering the usage of the Kshatriyas, he played at dice against +his will. That is certainly conducive to our great fame. + +‘Bhima said,--‘If I had not known, O Dhananjaya, that the king had acted +according to Kshatriya usage, then I would have, taking his hands +together by sheer force, burnt them in a blazing fire.” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Beholding the Pandavas thus distressed and the +princess of Panchala also thus afflicted, Vikarna the son of +Dhritarashtra said--‘Ye kings, answer ye the question that hath been +asked by Yajnaseni. If we do not judge a matter referred to us, all of us +will assuredly have to go to hell without delay. How is that Bhishma and +Dhritarashtra, both of whom are the oldest of the Kurus, as also the +high-souled Vidura, do not say anything! The son of Bharadwaja who is the +preceptor of us, as also Kripa, is here. Why do not these best of +regenerate ones answer the question? Let also those other kings assembled +here from all directions answer according to their judgment this +question, leaving aside all motives of gain and anger. Ye kings, answer +ye the question that hath been asked by this blessed daughter of king +Drupada, and declare after reflection on which side each of ye is.’ Thus +did Vikarna repeatedly appeal to those that were in that assembly. But +those kings answered him not one word, good or ill. And Vikarna having +repeatedly appealed to all the kings began to rub his hands and sigh like +a snake. And at last the prince said--‘Ye kings of the earth, ye +Kauravas, whether ye answer this question or not, I will say what I +regard as just and proper. Ye foremost of men, it hath been said that +hunting, drinking, gambling, and too much enjoyment of women, are the +four vices of kings. The man, that is addicted to these, liveth forsaking +virtue. And people do not regard the acts done by a person who is thus +improperly engaged, as of any authority. This son of Pandu, while deeply +engaged in one of these vicious acts, urged thereto by deceitful +gamblers, made Draupadi a stake. The innocent Draupadi is, besides, the +common wife of all the sons of Pandu. And the king, having first lost +himself offered her as a stake. And Suvala himself desirous of a stake, +indeed prevailed upon the king to stake this Krishna. Reflecting upon all +these circumstances, I regard Draupadi as not won.” + +“Hearing these words, a loud uproar rose from among those present in that +assembly. And they all applauded Vikarna and censured the son of Suvala. +And at that sound, the son of Radha, deprived of his senses by anger, +waving his well-shaped arms, said these words,--‘O Vikarna, many opposite +and inconsistent conditions are noticeable in this assembly. Like fire +produced from a faggot, consuming the faggot itself, this thy ire will +consume thee. These personages here, though urged by Krishna, have not +uttered a word. They all regard the daughter of Drupada to have been +properly won. Thou alone, O son of Dhritarashtra in consequence of thy +immature years, art bursting with wrath, for though but a boy thou +speakest in the assembly as if thou wert old. O younger brother of +Duryodhana, thou dost not know what morality truly is, for thou sayest +like a fool that this Krishna who hath been (justly) won as not won at +all. O son of Dhritarashtra, how dost thou regard Krishna as not won, +when the eldest of the Pandavas before this assembly staked all his +possessions? O bull of the Bharata race, Draupadi is included in all the +possessions (of Yudhishthira). Therefore, why regardest thou Krishna who +hath been justly won as not won? Draupadi had been mentioned (by Suvala) +and approved of as a stake by the Pandavas. For what reason then dost +thou yet regard her as not won? Or, if thou thinkest that bringing her +hither attired in a single piece of cloth, is an action of impropriety, +listen to certain excellent reasons I will give. O son of the Kuru race, +the gods have ordained only one husband for one woman. This Draupadi, +however, hath many husbands. Therefore, certain it is that she is an +unchaste woman. To bring her, therefore, into this assembly attired +though she be in one piece of cloth--even to uncover her is not at all an +act that may cause surprise. Whatever wealth the Pandavas had--she +herself and these Pandavas themselves,--have all been justly won by the +son of Suvala. O Dussasana, this Vikarna speaking words of (apparent) +wisdom is but a boy. Take off the robes of the Pandavas as also the +attire of Draupadi. Hearing these words the Pandavas, O Bharata, took of +their upper garments and throwing them down sat in that assembly. Then +Dussasana, O king, forcibly seizing Draupadi’s attire before the eyes of +all, began to drag it off her person.” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“When the attire of Draupadi was being thus +dragged, the thought of Hari, (And she herself cried aloud, saying), ‘O +Govinda, O thou who dwellest in Dwaraka, O Krishna, O thou who art fond +of cow-herdesses (of Vrindavana). O Kesava, seest thou not that the +Kauravas are humiliating me. O Lord, O husband of Lakshmi, O Lord of +Vraja (Vrindavana), O destroyer of all afflictions, O Janarddana, rescue +me who am sinking in the Kaurava Ocean. O Krishna, O Krishna, O thou +great yogin, thou soul of the universe, Thou creator of all things, O +Govinda, save me who am distressed,--who am losing my senses in the midst +of the Kurus.’ Thus did that afflicted lady resplendent still in her +beauty, O king covering her face cried aloud, thinking of Krishna, of +Hari, of the lord of the three worlds. Hearing the words of Draupadi, +Krishna was deeply moved. And leaving his seat, the benevolent one from +compassion, arrived there on foot. And while Yajnaseni was crying aloud +to Krishna, also called Vishnu and Hari and Nara for protection, the +illustrious Dharma, remaining unseen, covered her with excellent clothes +of many hues. And, O monarch as the attire of Draupadi was being dragged, +after one was taken off, another of the same kind, appeared covering her. +And thus did it continue till many clothes were seen. And, O exalted on, +owing to the protection of Dharma, hundreds upon hundreds of robes of +many hues came off Draupadi’s person. And there arose then a deep uproar +of many many voices. And the kings present in that assembly beholding +that most extraordinary of all sights in the world, began to applaud +Draupadi and censure the son of Dhritarashtra. And Bhima then, squeezing +his hands, with lips quivering in rage, swore in the midst of all those +kings a terrible oath in a loud voice. + +“And Bhima said,--Hear these words of mine, ye Kshatriyas of the world. +Words such as these were never before uttered by other men, nor will +anybody in the future ever utter them. Ye lords of earth, if having +spoken these words I do not accomplish them hereafter, let me not obtain +the region of my deceased ancestors. Tearing open in battle, by sheer +force, the breast of this wretch, this wicked-minded scoundrel of the +Bharata race, if I do not drink his life-blood, let me not obtain the +region of my ancestors.” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Hearing these terrible words of Bhima that made +the down of the auditors to stand on end, everybody present there +applauded him and censured the son of Dhritarashtra. And when a mass of +clothes had been gathered in that assembly, all dragged from the person +of Draupadi, Dussasana, tired and ashamed, sat down. And beholding the +sons of Kunti in that state, the persons--those gods among men--that were +in that assembly all uttered the word ‘Fie!’(on the son of +Dhritarashtra). And the united voices of all became so loud that they +made the down of anybody who heard them stand on end. And all the honest +men that were in that assembly began to say,--‘Alas! the Kauravas answer +not the question that hath been put to them by Draupadi. And all +censuring Dhritarashtra together, made a loud clamour. Then Vidura, that +master of the science of morality, waving his hands and silencing every +one, spake these words;--‘Ye that are in this assembly, Draupadi having +put her question is weeping helplessly. Ye are not answering her. Virtue +and morality are being persecuted by such conduct. An afflicted person +approacheth an assembly of good men, like one that is being consumed by +fire. They that are in the assembly quench that fire and cool him by +means of truth and morality. The afflicted person asketh the assembly +about his rights, as sanctioned by morality. They that are in the +assembly should, unmoved by interest and anger, answer the question. Ye +kings, Vikarna hath answered the question, according to his own knowledge +and judgment. Ye should also answer it as ye think proper. Knowing the +rules of morality, and having attended an assembly, he that doth not +answer a query that is put, incurreth half the demerit that attacheth to +a lie. He, on the other hand, who, knowing the rules of morality and +having joined an assembly answereth falsely, assuredly incurreth the sin +of a lie. The learned quote as an example in this connection the old +history of Prahlada and the son of Angirasa. + +“There was of old a chief of the Daityas of the name Prahlada. He had a +son named Virochana. And Virochana, for the sake of obtaining a bride, +quarrelled with Sudhanwan, the son of Angiras. It hath been heard by us +that they mutually wagered their lives, saying--I am superior,--I am +superior,--for the sake of obtaining a bride. And after they had thus +quarrelled with each other, they both made Prahlada the arbitrator to +decide between them. And they asked him, saying;--Who amongst us is +superior (to the other)? Answer this question. Speak not falsely. +Frightened at this quarrel, Prahlada cast his eyes upon Sudhanwan. And +Sudhanwan in rage, burning like unto the mace of Yama, told him,--If thou +answerest falsely, or dost not answer at all thy head will then be split +into a hundred pieces by the wielder of the thunderbolt with that bolt of +his.--Thus addressed by Sudhanwan, the Daitya, trembling like a leaf of +the fig tree, went to Kasyapa of great energy, for taking counsel with +him. And Prahlada said,--‘Thou art, O illustrious and exalted one, fully +conversant with the rules of morality that should guide both the gods and +the Asuras and the Brahmanas as well. Here, however, is a situation of +great difficulty in respect of duty. Tell me, I ask thee, what regions +are obtainable by them who upon being asked a question, answer it not, or +answer it falsely. Kasyapa thus asked answered.--‘He that knoweth, but +answereth not a question from temptation, anger or fear, casteth upon +himself a thousand nooses of Varuna. And the person who, cited as a +witness with respect to any matter of ocular or auricular knowledge, +speaketh carelessly, casteth a thousand nooses of Varuna upon his own +person. On the completion of one full year, one such noose is loosened. +Therefore, he that knoweth, should speak the truth without concealment. +If virtue, pierced by sin, repaireth to an assembly (for aid), it is the +duty of every body in the assembly to take off the dart, otherwise they +themselves would be pierced with it. In an assembly where a truly +censurable act is not rebuked, half the demerit of that act attacheth to +the head of that assembly, a fourth to the person acting censurably and a +fourth unto those others that are there. In that assembly, on the other +hand, when he that deserveth censure is rebuked, the head of the assembly +becometh freed from all sins, and the other members also incur none. It +is only the perpetrator himself of the act that becometh responsible for +it. O Prahlada, they who answer falsely those that ask them about +morality destroy the meritorious acts of their seven upper and seven +lower generations. The grief of one who hath lost all his wealth, of one +who hath lost a son, of one who is in debt, of one who is separated from +his companions, of a woman who hath lost her husband, of one that hath +lost his all in consequence of the king’s demand, of a woman who is +sterile, of one who hath been devoured by a tiger (during his last +struggles in the tiger’s claws), of one who is a co-wife, and of one who +hath been deprived of his property by false witnesses, have been said by +the gods to be uniform in degree. These different sorts of grief are his +who speaketh false. A person becometh a witness in consequence of his +having seen, heard, and understood a thing. Therefore, a witness should +always tell the truth. A truth-telling witness never loseth his religious +merits and earthly possessions also.’ Hearing these words of Kasyapa, +Prahlada told his son, “Sudhanwan is superior to thee, as indeed, (his +father) Angiras is superior to me. The mother also of Sudhanwan is +superior to thy mother. Therefore, O Virochana, this Sudhanwan is now the +lord of the life.” At these words of Prahlada, Sudhanwan said, “Since +unmoved by affection for thy child, thou hast adhered to virtue, I +command, let this son of thine live for a hundred years.” + +“Vidura continued,--Let all the persons, therefore, present in this +assembly hearing these high truths of morality, reflect upon what should +be the answer to the question asked by Draupadi”. + +Vaisampayana continued,--“The kings that were there hearing these words +of Vidura, answered not a word, yet Karna alone spoke unto Dussasana, +telling him. Take away this serving-woman Krishna into the inner +apartments. And thereupon Dussasana began to drag before all the +spectators the helpless and modest Draupadi, trembling and crying +piteously unto the Pandavas her lords.” + + + +SECTION LXVIII + +Draupadi said,--‘Wait a little, thou worst of men, thou wicked-minded +Dussasana. I have an act to perform--a high duty that hath not been +performed by me yet. Dragged forcibly by this wretch’s strong arms, I was +deprived of my senses. I salute these reverend seniors in this assembly +of the Kurus. That I could not do this before cannot be my fault.’” + +Vaisampayana said,--“Dragged with greater force than before, the +afflicted and helpless Draupadi, undeserving of such treatment, falling +down upon the ground, thus wept in that assembly of the Kurus,-- + +“‘Alas, only once before, on the occasion of the Swayamvara, I was beheld +by the assembled kings in the amphitheatre, and never even once beheld +afterwards. I am to-day brought before this assembly. She whom even the +winds and the sun had seen never before in her palace is to-day before +this assembly and exposed to the gaze of the crowd. Alas, she whom the +sons of Pandu could not, while in her palace, suffer to be touched even +by the wind, is to-day suffered by the Pandavas to be seized and dragged +by this wretch. Alas, these Kauravas also suffer their daughter-in-law, +so unworthy of such treatment, to be thus afflicted before them. It +seemeth that the times are out of joint. What can be more distressing to +me, than that though high-born and chaste, I should yet be compelled to +enter this public court? Where is that virtue for which these kings were +noted? It hath been heard that the kings of ancient days never brought +their wedded wives into the public court. Alas, that eternal usage hath +disappeared from among the Kauravas. Else, how is it that the chaste wife +of the Pandavas, the sister of Prishata’s son, the friend of Vasudeva, is +brought before this assembly? Ye Kauravas, I am the wedded wife of king +Yudhishthira the just, hailing from the same dynasty to which the King +belonged. Tell me now if I am a serving-maid or otherwise. I will +cheerfully accept your answer. This mean wretch, this destroyer of the +name of the Kurus, is afflicting me hard. Ye Kauravas, I cannot bear it +any longer. Ye kings, I desire ye to answer whether ye regard me as won +or unwon. I will accept your verdict whatever it be.’ + +“Hearing these words, Bhishma answered, I have already said, O blessed +one that the course of morality is subtle. Even the illustrious wise in +this world fail to understand it always. What in this world a strong man +calls morality is regarded as such by others, however otherwise it may +really be; but what a weak man calls morality is scarcely regarded as +such even if it be the highest morality. From the importance of the issue +involved, from its intricacy and subtlety, I am unable to answer with +certitude the question thou hast asked. However, it is certain that as +all the Kurus have become the slaves of covetousness and folly, the +destruction of this our race will happen on no distant date. O blessed +one, the family into which thou hast been admitted as a daughter-in-law, +is such that those who are born in it, however much they might be +afflicted by calamities, never deviate from the paths of virtue and +morality. O Princess of Panchala, this conduct of thine also, viz. that +though sunk in distress, thou still easiest thy eyes on virtue and +morality, is assuredly worthy of thee. These persons, Drona and others, +of mature years and conversant with morality, sit heads downwards like +men that are dead, with bodies from which life hath departed. It seemeth +to me, however, that Yudhishthira is an authority on this question. It +behoveth him to declare whether thou art won or not won.” + + + +SECTION LXIX + +Vaisampayana said,--“The kings present in that assembly, from tear of +Duryodhana, uttered not a word, good or ill, although they beheld +Draupadi crying piteously in affliction like a female osprey, and +repeatedly appealing to them. And the son of Dhritarashtra beholding +those kings and sons and grand sons of kings all remaining silent, smiled +a little, and addressing the daughter of the king of Panchala, said,--O +Yajnaseni, the question thou hast put dependeth on thy husbands--on Bhima +of mighty strength, on Arjuna, on Nakula, on Sahadeva. Let them answer +thy question. O Panchali, let them for thy sake declare in the midst of +these respectable men that Yudhishthira is not their lord, let them +thereby make king Yudhishthira the just a liar. Thou shalt then be freed +from the condition of slavery. Let the illustrious son of Dharma, always +adhering to virtue, who is even like Indra, himself declare whether he is +not thy lord. At his words, accept thou the Pandavas or ourselves without +delay. Indeed, all the Kauravas present in this assembly are floating in +the ocean of thy distress. Endued with magnanimity, they are unable to +answer thy question, looking at thy unfortunate husbands.’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Hearing these words of the Kuru king, all who +were present in the assembly loudly applauded them. And shouting +approvingly, they made signs unto one another by motions of their eyes +and lips. And amongst some that were there, sounds of distress such as +‘O! and ‘Alas!” were heard. And at these words of Duryodhana, so +delightful (to his partisans), the Kauravas present in that assembly +became exceedingly glad. And the kings, with faces turned sideways, +looked upon Yudhishthira conversant with the rules of morality, curious +to hear what he would say. And every one present in that assembly became +curious to hear what Arjuna, the son of Pandu never defeated in battle, +and what Bhimasena, and what the twins also would say. And when that busy +hum of many voices became still, Bhimasena, waving his strong and +well-formed arms smeared with sandalpaste spake these words,--‘If this +high-souled king Yudhishthira the just, who is our eldest brother, had +not been our lord, we would never have forgiven the Kuru race (for all +this). He is the lord of all our religious and ascetic merits, the lord +of even our lives. If he regardeth himself as won, we too have all been +won. If this were not so, who is there amongst creatures touching the +earth with their feet and mortal, that would escape from me with his life +after having touched those locks of the princess of Panchala? Behold +these mighty, well-formed arms of mine, even like maces of iron. Having +once come within them, even he of a hundred sacrifices is incapable of +effecting an escape. Bound by the ties of virtue and the reverence that +is due to our eldest brother, and repeatedly urged by Arjuna to remain +silent, I am not doing anything terrible. If however, I am once commanded +by king Yudhishthira the just, I would slay these wretched sons of +Dhritarashtra, making slaps do the work of swords, like a lion slaying a +number of little animals.” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Unto Bhima who had spoken these words Bhishma +and Drona and Vidura said, ‘Forbear, O Bhima. Everything is possible with +thee.’” + + + +SECTION LXX + +“Karna said,--‘Of all the persons in the assembly, three, viz., Bhishma, +Vidura, and the preceptor of the Kurus (Drona) appear to be independent; +for they always speak of their master as wicked, always censure him, and +never wish for his prosperity. O excellent one, the slave, the son, and +the wife are always dependent. They cannot earn wealth, for whatever they +earn belongeth to their master. Thou art the wife of a slave incapable of +possessing anything on his own account. Repair now to the inner +apartments of king Dhritarashtra and serve the king’s relatives. We +direct that that is now thy proper business. And, O princess, all the +sons of Dhritarashtra and not the sons of Pritha are now thy masters. O +handsome one, select thou another husband now,--one who will not make +thee a slave by gambling. It is well-known that women, especially that +are slaves, are not censurable if they proceed with freedom in electing +husbands. Therefore let it be done by thee. Nakula hath been won, as also +Bhimasena, and Yudhishthira also, and Sahadeva, and Arjuna. And, O +Yajnaseni, thou art now a slave. Thy husbands that are slaves cannot +continue to be thy lords any longer. Alas, doth not the son of Pritha +regards life, prowess and manhood as of no use that he offereth this +daughter of Drupada, the king of Panchala, in the presence of all this +assembly, as a stake at dice?’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Hearing these words, the wrathful Bhima +breathed hard, a very picture of woe. Obedient to the king and bound by +the tie of virtue and duty, burning everything with his eyes inflamed by +anger, he said,--‘O king, I cannot be angry at these words of this son of +a Suta, for we have truly entered the state of servitude. But O king, +could our enemies have said so unto me, it thou hadst not played staking +this princess?’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Hearing these words of Bhimasena king +Duryodhana addressed Yudhishthira who was silent and deprived of his +senses, saying,--‘O king, both Bhima and Arjuna, and the twins also, are +under thy sway. Answer thou the question (that hath been asked by +Draupadi). Say, whether thou regardest Krishna as unwon.’ And having +spoken thus unto the son of Kunti, Duryodhana. desirous of encouraging +the son of Radha and insulting Bhima, quickly uncovered his left thigh +that was like unto the stem of a plantain tree or the trunk of an +elephant and which was graced with every auspicious sign and endued with +the strength of thunder, and showed it to Draupadi in her very sight. And +beholding this, Bhimasena expanding his red eyes, said unto Duryodhana in +the midst of all those kings and as if piercing them (with his dart-like +words),--‘Let not Vrikodara attain to the regions, obtained by his +ancestors, if he doth not break that thigh of thine in the great +conflict. And sparkles of fire began to be emitted from every organ of +sense of Bhima filled with wrath, like those that come out of every crack +and orifice in the body of a blazing tree. + +Vidura then, addressing everybody, said,--‘Ye kings of Pratipa’s race, +behold the great danger that ariseth from Bhimasena. Know ye for certain +that this great calamity that threatens to overtake the Bharatas hath +been sent by Destiny itself. The sons of Dhritarashtra have, indeed, +gambled disregarding every proper consideration. They are even now +disputing in this assembly about a lady (of the royal household). The +prosperity of our kingdom is at an end. Alas, the Kauravas are even now +engaged in sinful consultations. Ye Kauravas, take to your heart this +high precept that I declare. If virtue is persecuted, the whole assembly +becometh polluted. If Yudhishthira had staked her before he was himself +won, he would certainly have been regarded as her master. If, however a +person staketh anything at a time when he himself is incapable of holding +any wealth, to win it is very like obtaining wealth in a dream. Listening +to the words of the king of Gandhara, fall ye not off from this undoubted +truth.’ + +“Duryodhana, hearing Vidura thus speak, said,--‘I am willing to abide by +the words of Bhima, of Arjuna and of the twins. Let them say that +Yudhishthira is not their master. Yajnaseni will then be freed from her +state of bondage.” + +“Arjuna at this, said,--“This illustrious son of Kunti, king Yudhishthira +the just, was certainly our master before he began to play. But having +lost himself, let all the Kauravas judge whose master he could be after +that.” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Just then, a jackal began to cry loudly in the +homa-chamber of king Dhritarashtra’s palace. And, O king, unto the jackal +that howled so, the asses began to bray responsively. And terrible birds +also, from all sides, began to answer with their cries. And Vidura +conversant with everything and the daughter of Suvala, both understood +the meaning of those terrible sounds. And Bhishma and Drona and the +learned Gautama loudly cried,--Swashti! Swashti![1] Then Gandhari and the +learned Vidura beholding that frightful omen, represented everything, in +great affliction, unto the king. And the king (Dhritarashtra) thereupon +said,-- + +‘Thou wicked-minded Duryodhana, thou wretch, destruction hath all ready +overtaken thee when thou insultest in language such as this the wife of +these bulls among the Kurus, especially their wedded wife Draupadi. And +having spoken those words, the wise Dhritarashtra endued with knowledge, +reflecting with the aid of his wisdom and desirous of saving his +relatives and friends from destruction, began to console Krishna, the +princess of Panchala, and addressing her, the monarch said,--‘Ask of me +any boon, O princess of Panchala, that thou desirest, Chaste and devoted +to virtue, thou art the first of all my daughters-in-law. + +“Draupadi said,--‘O bull of the Bharata race, if thou will grant me a +boon, I ask the handsome Yudhishthira, obedient to every duty, be freed +from slavery. Let not unthinking children call my child Prativindhya +endued with great energy of mind as the son of a slave. Having been a +prince, so superior to all men, and nurtured by kings it is not proper +that he should be called the child of a slave. + +“Dhritarashtra said unto her,--‘O auspicious one, let it be as thou +sayest. O excellent one, ask thou another boon, for I will give it. My +heart inclineth to give thee a second boon. Thou dost not deserve only +one boon. + +“Draupadi said,--‘I ask, O king, that Bhimasena and Dhananjaya and the +twins also, with their cars and bows, freed from bondage, regain their +liberty.’ + +‘Dhritarashtra said,--‘O blessed daughter, let it be as thou desirest. +Ask thou a third boon, for thou hast not been sufficiently honoured with +two boons. Virtuous in thy behaviour, thou art the foremost of all my +daughters-in-law. + +Draupadi said,--‘O best of kings, O illustrious one, covetousness always +bringeth about loss of virtue. I do not deserve a third boon. Therefore I +dare not ask any. O king of kings, it hath been said that a Vaisya may +ask one boon; a Kshatriya lady, two boons; a Kshatriya male, three, and a +Brahmana, a hundred. O king, these my husbands freed from the wretched +state of bondage, will be able to achieve prosperity by their own +virtuous acts!’” + + + +SECTION LXXI + +“Karna said,--‘We have never heard of such an act (as this one of +Draupadi), performed by any of the women noted in this world for their +beauty. When the sons of both Pandu and Dhritarashtra were excited with +wrath, this Draupadi became unto the sons of Pandu as their salvation. +Indeed the princess of Panchala, becoming as a boat unto the sons of +Pandu who were sinking in a boatless ocean of distress, hath brought them +in safety to the shore.’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Hearing these words of Karna in the midst of +the Kurus,--viz., that the sons of Pandu were saved by their wife,--the +angry Bhimasena in great affliction said (unto Arjuna),--‘O Dhananjaya, +it hath been said by Devala three lights reside in every person, viz., +offspring, acts and learning, for from these three hath sprung creation. +When life becometh extinct and the body becometh impure and is cast off +by relatives, these three become of service to every person. But the +light that is in us hath been dimmed by this act of insult to our wife. +How, O Arjuna, can a son born from this insulted wife of ours prove +serviceable to us? + +“Arjuna replied,--‘Superior persons, O Bharata, never prate about the +harsh words that may or may not be uttered by inferior men. Persons that +have earned respect for themselves, even if they are able to retaliate, +remember not the acts of hostility done by their enemies, but, on the +other hand, treasure up only their good deeds.’ + +‘Bhima said,--‘Shall I, O king, slay, without loss of time all these foes +assembled together, even here, or shall I destroy them, O Bharata, by the +roots, outside this palace? Or, what need is there of words or of +command? I shall slay all these even now, and rule thou the whole earth, +O king, without a rival. And saying this, Bhima with his younger +brothers, like a lion in the midst of a herd of inferior animals, +repeatedly cast his angry glances around. But Arjuna, however, of white +deeds, with appealing looks began to pacify his elder brother. And the +mighty-armed hero endued with great prowess began to burn with the fire +of his wrath. And, O king, this fire began to issue out of Vrikodara’s +ears and other senses with smoke and sparks and flames. And his face +became terrible to behold in consequence of his furrowed brows like those +of Yama himself at the time of the universal destruction. Then +Yudhishthira forbade the mighty hero, embracing him with his arms and +telling him ‘Be not so. Stay in silence and peace.’ And having pacified +the mighty-armed one with eyes red in wrath, the king approached his +uncle Dhritarashtra, with hands joined in entreaty.” + + + +SECTION LXXII + +“Yudhishthira said,--‘O king, thou art our master. Command us as to what +we shall do. O Bharata, we desire to remain always in obedience to thee. + +“Dhritarashtra replied.--‘O Ajatasatru, blest be thou. Go thou in peace +and safety. Commanded by me, go, rule thy own kingdom with thy wealth. +And, O child, take to heart this command of an old man, this wholesome +advice that I give, and which is even a nutritive regimen. O +Yudhishthira, O child, thou knowest the subtle path of morality. +Possessed of great wisdom, thou art also humble, and thou waitest also +upon the old. Where there is intelligence, there is forbearance. +Therefore, O Bharata, follow thou counsels of peace. The axe falleth upon +wood, not upon stone. (Thou art open to advice, not Duryodhana). They are +the best of men that remember not the acts of hostility of their foes; +that behold only the merits, not the faults, of their enemies; and that +never enter into hostilities themselves. They that are good remember only +the good deeds of their foes and not the hostile acts their foes might +have done unto them. The good, besides, do good unto others without +expectation of any good, in return. O Yudhishthira, it is only the worst +of men that utter harsh words in quarrelling; while they that are +indifferent reply to such when spoken by others. But they that are good +and wise never think of or recapitulate such harsh words, little caring +whether these may or may not have been uttered by their foes. They that +are good, having regard to the state of their own feelings, can +understand the feelings of others, and therefore remember only the good +deeds and not the acts of hostility of their foes. Thou hast acted even +as good men of prepossessing countenance do, who transgress not the +limits of virtue, wealth, pleasure and salvation. O child, remember not +the harsh words of Duryodhana. Look at thy mother Gandhari and myself +also, if thou desirest to remember only what is good. O Bharata, look at +me, who am thy father unto you and am old and blind, and still alive. It +was for seeing our friends and examining also the strength and weakness +of my children, that I had, from motives of policy, suffered this match +at dice to proceed. O king those amongst the Kurus that have thee for +their ruler, and the intelligent Vidura conversant with every branch of +learning for their counsellor, have, indeed, nothing to grieve for. In +thee is virtue, in Arjuna is patience, in Bhimasena is prowess, and the +twins, those foremost of men, is pure reverence for superiors. Blest be +thou, O Ajatasatru. Return to Khandavaprastha, and let there be brotherly +love between thee and thy cousins. Let thy heart also be ever fixed on +virtue.’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“That foremost of the Bharatas--king +Yudhishthira the just--then, thus addressed by his uncle, having gone +through every ceremony of politeness, set out with his brothers for +Khandavaprastha. And accompanied by Draupadi and ascending their cars +which were all of the hue of the clouds, with cheerful hearts they all +set out for that best of cities called Indraprastha.” + + + +SECTION LXXIII + +Janamejaya said,--“How did the sons of Dhritarashtra feel, when they came +to know that the Pandavas had, with Dhritarashtra’s leave, left +Hastinapore with all their wealth and jewels?” + +Vaisampayana said,--“O king, learning that the Pandavas had been +commanded by the wise Dhritarashtra to return to their capital, Dussasana +went without loss of time unto his brother. And, O bull of the Bharata +race, having arrived before Duryodhana with his counsellor, the prince, +afflicted with grief, began to say,--‘Ye mighty warriors, that which we +had won after so much trouble, the old man (our father) hath thrown away. +Know ye that he hath made over the whole of that wealth to the foes. At +these words, Duryodhana and Karna and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, all of +whom were guided by vanity, united together, and desirous of +counteracting the sons of Pandu, approaching in haste saw privately the +wise king Dhritarashtra--the son of Vichitravirya and spake unto him +these pleasing and artful words. Duryodhana said,-- + +‘Hast thou not heard, O king, what the learned Vrihaspati the preceptor +of the celestials, said in course of counselling Sakra about mortals and +politics? Even these, O slayer of foes, were the words of Vrihaspati, +‘Those enemies that always do wrong by stratagem or force, should be +slain by every means.’ If, therefore, with the wealth of the Pandavas, we +gratify the kings of the earth and then fight with the sons of Pandu, +what reverses can overtake us? When one hath placed on the neck and back +of venomous snakes full of wrath for encompassing his destruction, is it +possible for him to take them off? Equipped with weapon and seated on +their cars, the angry sons of Pandu like wrathful and venomous snakes +will assuredly annihilate us, O father. Even now Arjuna proceedeth, +encased in mail and furnished with his couple of quivers, frequently +taking up the Gandiva and breathing hard and casting angry glances +around. It hath (also) been heard by us that Vrikodara, hastily ordering +his car to be made ready and riding on it, is proceeding along, +frequently whirling his heavy mace. Nakula also is going along, with the +sword in his grasp and the semi-circular shield in his hand. And Sahadeva +and the king (Yudhishthira) have made signs clearly testifying to their +intentions. Having ascended their cars that are full of all kinds of +arms, they are whipping their horses (for going to Khandava soon) and +assembling their forces. Persecuted thus by us they are incapable of +forgiving us those injuries. Who is there among them that will forgive +that insult to Draupadi? Blest be thou. We will again gamble with the son +of Pandu for sending them to exile. O bull among men, we are competent to +bring them thus under our sway. Dressed in skins, either we or they +defeated at dice, shall repair to the woods for twelve years. The +thirteenth year shall have to be spent in some inhabited country +unrecognised; and, if recognised, an exile for another twelve years shall +be the consequence. Either we or they shall live so. Let the play begin, +casting the dice, let the sons of Pandu once more play. O bull of the +Bharata race, O king, even this is our highest duty. This Sakuni knoweth +well the whole science of dice. Even if they succeed in observing this +vow for thirteen years, we shall be in the meantime firmly rooted in the +kingdom and making alliances, assemble a vast invincible host and keep +them content, so that we shall, O king, defeat the sons of Pandu if they +reappear. Let this plan recommend itself to thee, O slayer of foes. + +“Dhritarashtra said,--Bring back the Pandavas then, indeed, even if they +have gone a great way. Let them come at once again to cast dice.” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Then Drona, Somadatta and Valhika, Gautama, +Vidura, the son of Drona, and the mighty son of Dhritarashtra by his +Vaisya wife, Bhurisravas, and Bhishma, and that mighty warrior +Vikarna,--all said, ‘Let not the play commence. Let there be peace. But +Dhritarashtra, partial to his sons, disregarding the counsels of all his +wise friends and relatives, summoned the sons of Pandu.” + + + +SECTION LXXIV + +Vaisampayana said,--‘O monarch, it was then that the virtuous Gandhari, +afflicted with grief on account of her affection for her sons, addressed +king Dhritarashtra and said, “When Duryodhana was born, Vidura of great +intelligence had said, ‘It is well to send this disgrace of the race to +the other world. He cried repeatedly and dissonantly like a jackal. It is +certain he will prove the destruction of our race. Take this to heart, O +king of the Kurus. O Bharata, sink not, for thy own fault, into an ocean +of calamity. O lord, accord not thy approbation to the counsels of the +wicked ones of immature years. Be not thou the cause of the terrible +destruction of this race. Who is there that will break an embankment +which hath been completed, or re-kindle a conflagration which hath been +extinguished? O bull of the Bharata race, who is there that will provoke +the peaceful sons of Pritha? Thou rememberest, O Ajamida, everything, but +still I will call thy attention to this. The scriptures can never control +the wicked-minded for good or evil. And, O king, a person of immature +understanding will never act as one of mature years. Let thy sons follow +thee as their leader. Let them not be separated from thee for ever (by +losing their lives). Therefore, at my word, O king, abandon this wretch +of our race. Thou couldst not, O king, from parental affection, do it +before. Know that the time hath come for the destruction of race through +him. Err not, O king. Let thy mind, guided by counsels of peace, virtue, +and true policy, be what it naturally is. That prosperity which is +acquired by the aid of wicked acts, is soon destroyed; while that which +is won by mild means taketh root and descendeth from generation to +generation.” + +“The king, thus addressed by Gandhari who pointed out to him in such +language the path of virtue, replied unto her, saying,--‘If the +destruction of our race is come, let it take place freely. I am ill able +to prevent it. Let it be as they (these my sons) desire. Let the Pandavas +return. And let my sons again gamble with the sons of Pandu.” + + + +SECTION LXXV + +Vaisampayana said,--‘The royal messenger, agreeably to the commands of +the intelligent king Dhritarashtra, coming upon Yudhishthira, the son of +Pritha who had by that time gone a great way, addressed the monarch and +said,--‘Even these are the words of thy father-like uncle, O Bharata, +spoken unto thee, ‘The assembly is ready. O son of Pandu, O king +Yudhisthira, come and cast the dice.’ + +Yudhishthira said,--‘Creatures obtain fruits good and ill according to +the dispensation of the Ordainer of the creation. Those fruits are +inevitable whether I play or not. This is a summons to dice; it is, +besides the command of the old king. Although I know that it will prove +destructive to me, yet I cannot refuse.’ + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Although (a living) animal made of gold was an +impossibility, yet Rama suffered himself to be tempted by a (golden) +deer. Indeed, the minds of men over whom calamities hang, became deranged +and out of order. Yudhishthira, therefore, having said these words, +retraced his steps along with his brothers. And knowing full well the +deception practised by Sakuni, the son of Pritha came back to sit at dice +with him again. These mighty warriors again entered that assembly, +afflicting the hearts of all their friends. And compelled by Fate they +once more sat down at ease for gambling for the destruction of +themselves.” + +“Sakuni then said,--‘The old king hath given ye back all your wealth. +That is well. But, O bull of the Bharata race, listen to me, there is a +stake of great value. Either defeated by ye at dice, dressed in deer +skins we shall enter the great forest and live there for twelve years +passing the whole of the thirteenth year in some inhabited region, +unrecognised, and if recognised return to an exile of another twelve +years; or vanquished by us, dressed in deer skins ye shall, with Krishna, +live for twelve years in the woods passing the whole of the thirteenth +year unrecognised, in some inhabited region. If recognised, an exile of +another twelve years is to be the consequence. On the expiry of the +thirteenth year, each is to have his kingdom surrendered by the other. O +Yudhishthira, with this resolution, play with us, O Bharata, casting the +dice.’ + +“At these words, they that were in that assembly, raising up their arms +said in great anxiety of mind, and from the strength of their feelings +these words,--‘Alas, fie on the friends of Duryodhana that they do not +apprise him of his great danger. Whether he, O bull among the Bharatas, +(Dhritarashtra) understandeth or not, of his own sense, it is thy duty to +tell him plainly.” + +“Vaisampayana continued,--King Yudhishthira, even hearing these various +remarks, from shame and a sense of virtue again sat at dice. And though +possessed of great intelligence and fully knowing the consequences, he +again began to play, as if knowing that the destruction of the Kurus was +at hand. + +“And Yudhishthira said,--‘How can, O Sakuni, a king like me, always +observant of the uses of his own order, refuse, when summoned to dice? +Therefore I play with thee.” + +“Sakuni answered,--‘We have many kine and horses, and milch cows, and an +infinite number of goats and sheep; and elephants and treasures and gold +and slaves both male and female. All these were staked by us before but +now let this be our one stake, viz., exile into the woods,--being +defeated either ye or we will dwell in the woods (for twelve years) and +the thirteenth year, unrecognised, in some inhabited place. Ye bulls +among men, with this determination, will we play.” + +“O Bharata, this proposal about a stay in the woods was uttered but once. +The son of Pritha, however, accepted it and Sakuni took up the dice. And +casting them he said unto Yudhishthira,--‘Lo, I have won.” + + + +SECTION LXXVI + +Vaisampayana said,--“Then the vanquished sons of Pritha prepared for +their exile into the woods. And they, one after another, in due order, +casting off their royal robes, attired themselves in deer-skins. And +Dussasana, beholding those chastisers of foes, dressed in deer-skins and +deprived of their kingdom and ready to go into exile, exclaimed ‘The +absolute sovereignty of the illustrious king Duryodhana hath commenced. +The sons of Pandu have been vanquished, and plunged into great +affliction. Now have we attained the goal either by broad or narrow +paths. For today becoming superior to our foes in point of prosperity as +also of duration of rule have we become praiseworthy of men. The sons of +Pritha have all been plunged by us into everlasting hell. They have been +deprived of happiness and kingdom for ever and ever. They who, proud of +their wealth, laughed in derision at the son of Dhritarashtra, will now +have to go into the woods, defeated and deprived by us of all their +wealth. Let them now put off their variegated coats of mail, their +resplendent robes of celestial make, and let them all attire themselves +in deer-skins according to the stake they had accepted of the son of +Suvala. They who always used to boast that they had no equals in all the +world, will now know and regard themselves in this their calamity as +grains of sesame without the kernel. Although in this dress of theirs the +Pandavas seem like unto wise and powerful persons installed in a +sacrifice, yet they look like persons not entitled to perform sacrifices, +wearing such a guise. The wise Yajnasena of the Somake race, having +bestowed his daughter--the princess of Panchala--on the sons of Pandu, +acted most unfortunately for the husbands of Yajnaseni--these sons of +Pritha are as eunuchs. And O Yajnaseni, what joy will be thine upon +beholding in the woods these thy husbands dressed in skins and +thread-bare rags, deprived of their wealth and possessions. Elect thou a +husband, whomsoever thou likest, from among all these present here. These +Kurus assembled here, are all forbearing and self-controlled, and +possessed of great wealth. Elect thou one amongst these as thy lord, so +that these great calamity may not drag thee to wretchedness. ‘The sons of +Pandu now are even like grains of sesame without the kernel, or like +show-animals encased in skins, or like grains of rice without the kernel. +Why shouldst thou then longer wait upon the fallen sons of Pandu? Vain is +the labour used upon pressing the sesame grain devoid of the kernel!’ + +“Thus did Dussasana, the son of Dhritarashtra, utter in the hearing of +the Pandavas, harsh words of the most cruel import. And hearing them, the +unforbearing Bhima, in wrath suddenly approaching that prince like a +Himalayan lion upon a jackal, loudly and chastisingly rebuked him in +these words,--Wicked-minded villain, ravest thou so in words that are +uttered alone by the sinful? Boastest thou thus in the midst of the +kings, advanced as thou art by the skill of the king of Gandhara. As thou +piercest our hearts hear with these thy arrowy words, so shall I pierce +thy heart in battle, recalling all this to thy mind. And they also who +from anger or covetousness are walking behind thee as thy +protectors,--them also shall I send to the abode of Yama with their +descendants and relatives.” + +Vaisampayana continued,--Unto Bhima dressed in deer-skins and uttering +these words of wrath without doing any thing, for he could not deviate +from the path of virtue, Dussasana abandoning all sense of shame, dancing +around the Kurus, loudly said, ‘O cow! O cow!’ + +Bhima at this once more said,--Wretch darest thou, O Dussasana, use harsh +words as these? Whom doth it behove to boast, thus having won wealth by +foul means? I tell thee that if Vrikodara, the son of Pritha, drinketh +not thy life-blood, piercing open thy breast in battle, let him not +attain to regions of blessedness, I tell thee truly that by slaying the +sons of Dhritarashtra in battle, before the very eyes of all the +warriors, I shall pacify this wrath of mine soon enough.’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“And as the Pandavas were going away from the +assembly, the wicked king Duryodhana from excess of joy mimiced by his +own steps the playful leonine trade of Bhima. Then Vrikodara, half +turning towards the king said, Think not ye fool that by this thou +gainest any ascendency over me slay thee shall I soon with all thy +followers, and answer thee, recalling all this to thy mind. And beholding +this insult offered to him, the mighty and proud Bhima, suppressing his +rising rage and following the steps of Yudhishthira, also spake these +words while going out of the Kaurava court, ‘I will slay Duryodhana, and +Dhananjaya will slay Karna, and Sahadeva will slay Sakuni that gambler +with dice. I also repeat in this assembly these proud words which the +gods will assuredly make good, if ever we engage in battle with the +Kurus, I will slay this wretched Duryodhana in battle with my mace, and +prostrating him on the ground I will place my foot on his head. And as +regards this (other) wicked person--Dussasana who is audacious in speech, +I will drink his blood like a lion. + +“And Arjuna said,--O Bhima, the resolutions of superior men are not known +in words only. On the fourteenth year from this day, they shall see what +happeneth. + +“And Bhima again said,--‘The earth shall drink the blood of Duryodhana, +and Karna, and the wicked Sakuni, and Dussasana that maketh the fourth.’ + +“And Arjuna said,--‘O Bhima, I will, as thou directest, slay in battle +this Karna so malicious and jealous and harsh-speeched and vain. For +doing what is agreeable to Bhima, Arjuna voweth that he will slay in +battle with his arrows this Karna with all his followers. And I will send +unto the regions of Yama also all those other kings that will from +foolishness fight against me. The mountains of Himavat might be removed +from where they are, the maker of the day lose his brightness, the moon +his coldness, but this vow of mine will ever be cherished. And all this +shall assuredly happen if on the fourteenth year from this, Duryodhana +doth not, with proper respect, return us our kingdom.’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“After Arjuna had said this, Sahadeva the +handsome son of Madri, endued with great energy, desirous of slaying +Sakuni, waving his mighty arms and sighing like snake, exclaimed, with +eyes red with anger--‘Thou disgrace of the Gandhara kings, those whom +thou thinkest as defeated are not really so. Those are even sharp-pointed +arrows from whose wounds thou hast run the risk in battle. I shall +certainly accomplish all which Bhima hath said adverting to thee with all +thy followers. If therefore thou hast anything to do, do it before that +day cometh. I shall assuredly slay thee in battle with all thy followers +soon enough, it thou, O son of Suvala, stayest in the light pursuant to +the Kshatriya usage.’ + +“‘Then, O monarch hearing these words of Sahadeva, Nakula the handsomest +of men spake these words,--‘I shall certainly send unto the abode of Yama +all those wicked sons of Dhritarashtra, who desirous of death and +impelled by Fate, and moved also by the wish of doing what is agreeable +to Duryodhana, have used harsh and insulting speeches towards this +daughter o Yajnasena at the gambling match. Soon enough shall I, at the +command of Yudhishthira and remembering the wrongs to Draupadi, make the +earth destitute of the sons of Dhritarashtra.’ + +Vaisampayana continued,--“And those tigers among men, all endued with +long arms, having thus pledged themselves to virtuous promises approached +king Dhritarashtra.” + + + +SECTION LXXVII + +Yudhishthira said,--‘I bid farewell unto all the Bharatas, unto my old +grand-sire (Bhishma), king Somadatta, the great king Vahlika, Drona, +Kripa, all the other kings, Aswathaman, Vidura, Dhritarashtra, all the +sons of Dhritarashtra, Yayutsu, Sanjaya, and all the courtiers, I bid +fare well, all of ye and returning again I shall see you.” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Overcome with shame none of those that were +present there, could tell Yudhishthira anything. Within their hearts, +however, they prayed for the welfare of that intelligent prince. + +Vidura then said,--The reverend Pritha is a princess by birth. It +behoveth her not to go into the woods. Delicate and old and ever known to +happiness the blessed one will live, respected by me, in my abode. Known +this, ye sons of Pandu. And let safety be always yours.’ + +Vaisampayana continued,--‘The Pandavas thereupon said,--O sinless one, +let it be as thou sayest. Thou art our uncle, and, therefore like as our +father. We also are all obedient to thee. Thou art, O learned one, our +most respected superior. We should always obey what thou choosest to +command. And, O high-souled one, order thou whatever else there is that +remaineth to be done. + +“Vidura replied,--‘O Yudhishthira, O bull of the Bharata race, know this +to be my opinion, that one that is vanquished by sinful means need not be +pained by such defeat. Thou knowest every rule of morality; Dhananjaya is +ever victorious in battle; Bhimasena is the slayer of foes; Nakula is the +gatherer of wealth; Sahadeva hath administrative talents, Dhaumya is the +foremost of all conversant with the vedas; and the well-behaved Draupadi +is conversant with virtue and economy. Ye are attached to one another and +feel delight at one another’s sight and enemies can not separate you from +one another, and ye are contented. Therefore, who is there that will not +envy ye? O Bharata, this patient abstraction from the possession of the +world will be of great benefit to thee. No foe, even if he were equal to +sakra himself, will be able to stand it. Formerly thou wert instructed on +the mountains of Himavat by Meru Savarni; in the town of Varanavata by +Krishna Dwaipayana; on the cliff of Bhrigu by Rama; and on the banks of +the Dhrishadwati by Sambhu himself. Thou hast also listened to the +instruction of the great Rishi Asita on the hills of Anjana; and thou +becamest a disciple of Bhrigu on the banks of the Kalmashi. Narada and +this thy priest Dhaumya will now become thy instructors. In the matter of +the next world, abandon not these excellent lessons thou hast obtained +from the Rishis. O son of Pandu. thou surpassest in intelligence even +Pururavas, the son of Ila; in strength, all other monarchs, and in +virtue, even the Rishis. Therefore, resolve thou earnestly to win +victory, which belongeth to Indra; to control thy wrath, which belongeth +to Yama; to give in charity, which belongeth to Kuvera; and to control +all passions, which belongeth to Varuna. And, O Bharata, obtain thou the +power of gladdening from the moon, the power of sustaining all from +water; forbearance from the earth; energy from the entire solar disc; +strength from the winds, and affluence from the other elements. Welfare +and immunity from ailment be thine; I hope to see thee return. And, O +Yudhishthira, act properly and duly in all seasons,--in those of +distress--in those of difficulty,--indeed, in respect of everything, O +son of Kunti, with our leave go hence. O Bharata, blessing be thine. No +one can say that ye have done anything sinful before. We hope to see +thee, therefore, return in safety and crowned with success.” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Thus addressed by Vidura, Yudhishthira the son +of Pandu, of prowess incapable of being baffled, saying, ‘So be it,’ +bowing low unto Bhishma and Drona, went away.” + + + +SECTION LXXVIII + +Vaisampayana said,--‘Then when Draupadi was about to set out she went +unto the illustrious Pritha and solicited her leave. And she also asked +leave of the other ladies of the household who had all been plunged into +grief. And saluting and embracing every one of them as each deserved, she +desired to go away. Then there arose within the inner apartments of the +Pandavas a loud wail of woe. And Kunti, terribly afflicted upon beholding +Draupadi on the eve of her journey, uttered these words in a voice choked +with grief,-- + +‘O child, grieve not that this great calamity hath overtaken thee. Thou +art well conversant with the duties of the female sex, and thy behaviour +and conduct also are as they should be. It behoveth me not, O thou of +sweet smiles, to instruct thee as to thy duties towards thy lords. Thou +art chaste and accomplished, and thy qualities have adorned the race of +thy birth as also the race into which thou hast been admitted by +marriage. Fortunate are the Kauravas that they have not been burnt by thy +wrath. O child, safely go thou blest by my prayers. Good women never +suffer their hearts to the unstung at what is inevitable. Protected by +virtue that is superior to everything, soon shalt thou obtain good +fortune. While living in the woods, keep thy eye on my child Sahadeva. +See that his heart sinketh not under this great calamity.’ + +“Saying ‘So be it!’ the princess Draupadi bathed in tears, and clad in +one piece of cloth, stained with blood, and with hair dishevelled left +her mother-in-law. And as she went away weeping and wailing Pritha +herself in grief followed her. She had not gone far when she saw her sons +shorn of their ornaments and robes, their bodies clad in deerskins, and +their heads down with shame. And she beheld them surrounded by rejoicing +foes’ and pitied by friends. Endued with excess of parental affection, +Kunti approached her sons in that state, and embracing them all, and in +accents choked by woe, She said these words,-- + +“Ye are virtuous and good-mannered, and adorned with all excellent +qualities and respectful behaviour. Ye are all high-minded, and engaged +in the service of your superiors. And ye are also devoted to the gods and +the performance of sacrifices. Why, then, hath this calamity overtaken +you. Whence is this reverse of fortune? I do not see by whose wickedness +this sin hath overtaken you. Alas I have brought you forth. All this must +be due to my ill fortune. It is for this that ye have been overtaken by +this calamity, though ye all are endued with excellent virtues. In energy +and prowess and strength and firmness and might, ye are not wanting. How +shall ye now, losing your wealth and possessions, live poor in the +pathless woods? If I had known before that ye were destined to live in +the woods, I would not have on Pandit’s death come from the mountains of +Satasringa to Hastinapore. Fortunate was your father, as I now regard, +for he truly reaped the fruit of his asceticism, and he was gifted with +foresight, as he entertained the wish of ascending heaven, without having +to feel any pain on account of his sons. Fortunate also was the virtuous +Madri, as I regard her today, who had, it seems, a fore-knowledge of what +would happen and who on that account, obtained the high path of +emancipation and every blessing therewith. All, Madri looked upon me as +her stay, and her mind and her affections were ever fixed on me. Oh, fie +on my desire of life, owing to which suffer all this woe. Ye children, ye +are all excellent and dear unto me. I have obtained you alter much +suffering. I cannot leave you. Even I will go with you. Alas, O Krishna, +(Draupadi), why dost thou leave me so? Everything endued with life is +sure to perish. Hath Dhata (Brahma) himself forgotten to ordain my death? +Perhaps, it is so, and, therefore, life doth not quit me. O Krishna, O +thou who dwellest in Dwaraka, O younger brother of Sankarshana, where art +thou? Why dost thou not deliver me and these best of men also from such +woe? They say that thou who art without beginning and without end +deliverest those that think of thee. Why doth this saying become untrue. +These my sons are ever attached to virtue and nobility and good fame and +prowess. They deserve not to suffer affliction. Oh, show them mercy. +Alas, when there are such elders amongst our race as Bhishma and Drona +and Kripa, all conversant with morality and the science of worldly +concerns, how could such calamity at all come? O Pandu, O king, where art +thou? Why sufferest thou quietly thy good children to be thus sent into +exile, defeated at dice? O Sahadeva, desist from going. Thou art my +dearest child, dearer, O son of Madri, than my body itself. Forsake me +not. It behoveth thee to have some kindness for me. Bound by the ties of +virtue, let these thy brothers go. But then, earn thou that virtue which +springeth from waiting upon me.’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“The Pandavas then consoled their weeping mother +and with hearts plunged in grief set out for the woods. And Vidura +himself also much afflicted, consoling the distressed Kunti with reasons, +and led her slowly to his house. And the ladies of Dhritarashtra’s house, +hearing everything as it happened, viz., the exile (of the Pandavas) and +the dragging of Krishna into the assembly where the princes had gambled, +loudly wept censuring the Kauravas. And the ladies of the royal household +also sat silent for a long time, covering their lotus-like faces with +their fair hands. And king Dhritarashtra also thinking of the dangers +that threatened his sons, became a prey to anxiety and could not enjoy +peace of mind. And anxiously meditating on everything, and with mind +deprived of its equanimity through grief, he sent a messenger unto +Vidura, saying, ‘Let Kshatta come to me without a moment’s delay.’ + +“At this summons, Vidura quickly came to Dhritarashtra’s palace. And as +soon as he came, the monarch asked him with great anxiety how the +Pandavas had left Hastinapore.” + + + +SECTION LXXIX + +Vaisampayana said,--“As soon as Vidura endued with great foresight came +unto him king Dhritarashtra, the son of Amvika, timidly asked his +brother,--‘How doth Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, proceed along? And +how Arjuna? And how the twin sons of Madri? And how, O Kshatta, doth +Dhaumya proceed along? And how the illustrious Draupadi? I desire to hear +everything, O Kshatta; describe to me all their acts.’ + +Vidura replied,--‘Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, hath gone away covering +his face with his cloth. And Bhima, O king, hath gone away looking at his +own mighty arms. And Jishnu (Arjuna) hath gone away, following the king +spreading sand-grains around. And Sahadeva, the son of Madri, hath gone +away besmearing his face, and Nakula, the handsomest of men, O king, hath +gone away, staining himself with dust and his heart in great affliction. +And the large-eyed and beautiful Krishna hath gone away, covering her +face with her dishevelled hair following in the wake of the king, weeping +and in tears. And O monarch, Dhaumya goeth along the road, with kusa +grass in hand, and uttering the aweful mantras of Sama Veda that relate +to Yama.’ + +Dhritarashtra asked,--“Tell me, O Vidura, why is it that the Pandavas are +leaving Hastinapore in such varied guise.” + +“Vidura replied,--‘Though persecuted by thy sons and robbed of his +kingdom and wealth the mind of the wise king Yudhishthira the just hath +not yet deviated from the path of virtue. King Yudhishthira is always +kind, O Bharata, to thy children. Though deprived (of his kingdom and +possessions) by foul means, filled with wrath as he is, he doth not open +eyes. ‘I should not burn the people by looking at them with angry +eyes,’--thinking so, the royal son of Pandu goeth covering his face. +Listen to me as I tell thee, O bull of the Bharata race, why Bhima goeth +so. ‘There is none equal to me in strength of arms,’ thinking so Bhima +goeth repeatedly stretching forth his mighty arms. And, O king, proud of +the strength of his arms, Vrikodara goeth, exhibiting them and desiring +to do unto his enemies deeds worthy of those arms. And Arjuna the son of +Kunti, capable of using both his arms (in wielding the Gandiva) followeth +the footsteps of Yudhishthira, scattering sand-grains emblematical of the +arrows he would shower in battle. O Bharata, he indicateth that as the +sand-grains are scattered by him with ease, so will he rain arrows with +perfect ease on the foe (in time of battle). And Sahadeva goeth +besmearing his lace, thinking ‘None may recognise me in this day of +trouble.’ And, O exalted one, Nakula goeth staining himself with dust +thinking, ‘Lest otherwise I steal the hearts of the ladies that may look +at me.’ And Draupadi goeth, attired in one piece of stained cloth, her +hair dishevelled, and weeping, signifying--‘The wives of those for whom I +have been reduced to such a plight, shall on the fourteenth year hence be +deprived of husbands, sons and relatives and dear ones and smeared all +over with blood, with hair dishevelled and all in their feminine seasons +enter Hastinapore having offered oblations of water (unto the manes of +those they will have lost). And O Bharata, the learned Dhaumya with +passions under full control, holding the kusa grass in his hand and +pointing the same towards the south-west, walketh before, singing the +mantras of the Sama Veda that relate to Yama. And, O monarch, that +learned Brahamana goeth, also signifying, ‘When the Bharatas shall be +slain in battle, the priests of the Kurus will thus sing the Soma mantras +(for the benefit of the deceased).’ And the citizens, afflicted with +great grief, are repeatedly crying out, ‘Alas, alas, behold our masters +are going away! O fie on the Kuru elders that have acted like foolish +children in thus banishing heirs of Pandu from covetousness alone. Alas, +separated from the son of Pandu we all shall become masterless. What love +can we bear to the wicked and avaricious Kurus? Thus O king, have the +sons of Kunti, endued with great energy of mind, gone away,--indicating, +by manner and signs, the resolutions that are in their hearts. And as +those foremost of men had gone away from Hastinapore, flashes of +lightning appeared in the sky though without clouds and the earth itself +began to tremble. And Rahu came to devour the Sun, although it was not +the day of conjunction And meteors began to fall, keeping the city to +their right. And jackals and vultures and ravens and other carnivorous +beasts and birds began to shriek and cry aloud from the temples of the +gods and the tops of sacred trees and walls and house-tops. And these +extraordinary calamitous portents, O king, were seen and heard, +indicating the destruction of the Bharatas as the consequence of thy evil +counsels.” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“And, O monarch, while king Dhritarashtra and +the wise Vidura were thus talking with each other, there appeared in that +assembly of the Kauravas and before the eyes of all, the best of the +celestial Rishis. And appealing before them all, he uttered these +terrible words, On the fourteenth year hence, the Kauravas, in +consequence of Duryodhana’s fault, will all be destroyed by the might of +Bhima and Arjuna’. And having said this, that best of celestial Rishis, +adorned with surpassing Vedic grace, passing through the skies, +disappeared from the scene. Then Duryodhana and Karna and Sakuni, the son +of Suvala regarding Drona as their sole refuge, offered the kingdom to +him. Drona then, addressing the envious and wrathful Duryodhana and +Dussasana and Karna and all the Bharata, said, ‘The Brahamanas have said +that the Pandavas being of celestial origin are incapable of being slain. +The sons of Dhritarashtra, however, having, with all the kings, heartily +and with reverence sought my protection, I shall look after them to the +best of my power. Destiny is supreme, I cannot abandon them. The sons of +Pandu, defeated at dice, are going into exile in pursuance of their +promise. They will live in the woods for twelve years. Practising the +Brahmacharyya mode of life for this period, they will return in anger and +to our great grief take the amplest vengeance on their foes. I had +formerly deprived Drupada of his kingdom in a friendly dispute. Robbed of +his kingdom by me, O Bharata, the king performed a sacrifice for +obtaining a son (that should slay me). Aided by the ascetic power of Yaja +and Upayaja, Drupada obtained from the (sacrificial) fire a son named +Dhrishtadyumna and a daughter, viz., the faultless Krishna, both risen +from the sacrificial platform. That Dhrishtadyumna is the brother-in-law +of the sons of Pandu by marriage, and dear unto them. It is for him, +therefore that I have much fear. Of celestial origin and resplendent as +the fire, he was born with bow, arrows, and encased in mail. I am a being +that is mortal. Therefore it is for him that I have great fear. That +slayer of all foes, the son of Parshatta, hath taken the side of the +Pandavas. I shall have to lose my life, if he and I ever encounter each +other in battle. What grief can be greater to me in this world than this, +ye Kauravas that Dhrishtadyumna is the destined slayer of Drona--this +belief is general. That he hath been born for slaying me hath been heard +by me and is widely known also in the world. For thy sake, O Duryodhana, +that terrible season of destruction is almost come. Do without loss of +time, what may be beneficial unto thee. Think not that everything hath +been accomplished by sending the Pandavas into exile. This thy happiness +will last for but a moment, even as in winter the shadow of the top of +the palm tree resteth (for a short time) at its base. Perform various +kinds of sacrifices, and enjoy, and give O Bharata, everything thou +likest. On the fourteenth year hence, a great calamity will overwhelm +thee.’” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Hearing these words of Drona, Dhritarashtra +said,--‘O Kshatta, the preceptor hath uttered what is true. Go thou and +bring back the Pandavas. If they do not come back, let them go treated +with respect and affection. Let those my sons go with weapons, and cars, +and infantry, and enjoying every other good thing.’” + + + +SECTION LXXX + +Vaisampayana said,--“defeated at dice, after the Pandavas had gone to the +woods, Dhritarashtra, O king, was overcome with anxiety. And while he was +seated restless with anxiety and sighing in grief, Sanjaya approaching +him said, ‘O lord of the earth having now obtained the whole earth with +all its wealth and sent away the sons of Pandu into exile, why is it, O +king, that thou grievest so?” + +Dhritarashtra said,--‘What have they not to grieve for who will have to +encounter in battle those bulls among warriors--the sons of +Pandu--fighting on great cars and aided by allies?’ + +“Sanjaya said,--“O king, all this great hostility is inevitable on +account of thy mistaken action, and this will assuredly bring about the +wholesale destruction of the whole world. Forbidden by Bhishma, by Drona, +and by Vidura, thy wicked-minded and shameless son Duryodhana sent his +Suta messenger commanding him to bring into court the beloved and +virtuous wife of the Pandavas. The gods first deprive that man of his +reason unto whom they send defeat and disgrace. It is for this that such +a person seeth things in a strange light. When destruction is at hand, +evil appeareth as good unto the understanding polluted by sin, and the +man adhereth to it firmly. That which is improper appeareth as proper, +and that which is proper appeareth as improper unto the man about to be +overwhelmed by destruction, and evil and impropriety are what he liketh. +The time that bringeth on destruction doth not come with upraised club +and smash one’s head. On the other hand the peculiarity of such a time is +that it maketh a man behold evil in good and good in evil. The wretches +have brought on themselves this terrible, wholesale, and horrible +destruction by dragging the helpless princess of Panchala into the court. +Who else than Duryodhana--that false player of dice could bring into the +assembly, with insults, the daughter of Drupada, endued with beauty and +intelligence, and conversant with every rule of morality and duty, and +sprung not from any woman’s womb but from the sacred fire? The handsome +Krishna, then in her season, attired in one piece of stained cloth when +brought into the court cast her eyes upon the Pandavas. She beheld them, +however, robbed of their wealth, of their kingdom, of even their attire, +of their beauty, of every enjoyment, and plunged into a state of bondage. +Bound by the tie of virtue, they were then unable to exert their prowess. +And before all the assembled kings Duryodhana and Karna spake cruel and +harsh words unto the distressed and enraged Krishna undeserving of such +treatment. O monarch, all this appeareth to me as foreboding fearful +consequences.’ + +Dhritarashtra said,--‘O Sanjaya, the glances of the distressed daughter +of Drupada might consume the whole earth. Can it be possible that even a +single son of mine will live? The wives of the Bharatas, uniting with +Gandhari upon beholding virtuous Krishna, the wedded wife of the +Pandavas, endued with beauty and youth, dragged into the court, set up +frightful wail. Even now, along with all my subjects, they weep every +day. Enraged at the ill treatment of Draupadi, the Brahmanas in a body +did not perform that evening their Agnihotra ceremony. The winds blew +mightily as they did at the time of the universal dissolution. There was +a terrible thunder-storm also. Meteors fell from the sky, and Rahu by +swallowing the Sun unseasonably alarmed the people terribly. Our +war-chariots were suddenly ablaze, and all their flagstaffs fell down +foreboding evil unto the Bharatas. Jackals began to cry frightfully from +within the sacred fire-chamber of Duryodhana, and asses from all +directions began to bray in response. Then Bhishma and Drona, and Kripa, +and Somadatta and the high-souled Vahlika, all left the assembly. It was +then that at the advice of Vidura I addressed Krishna and said, ‘I will +grant thee boons, O Krishna, indeed, whatever thou wouldst ask? The +princess of the Panchala there begged of me the liberation of the +Pandavas. Out of my own motion I then set free the Pandavas, commanding +them to return (to their capital) on their cars and with their bows and +arrows. It was then that Vidura told me, ‘Even this will prove the +destruction of the Bharata race, viz., this dragging of Krishna into the +court. This daughter of the King of Panchala is the faultless Sree +herself. Of celestial origin, she is the wedded wife of the Pandavas. The +wrathful sons of Pandu will never forgive this insult offered unto her. +Nor will the mighty bowmen of the Vrishni race, nor the mighty warriors +amongst the Panchalas suffer this in silence. Supported by Vasudeva of +unbaffled prowess, Arjuna will assuredly come back, surrounded by the +Panchala host. And that mighty warrior amongst them, Bhimasena endued +with surpassing strength, will also come back, whirling his mace like +Yama himself with his club. These kings will scarcely be able to bear the +force of Bhima’s mace. Therefore, O king, not hostility but peace for +ever with the sons of Pandu is what seemeth to me to be the best. The +sons of Pandu are always stronger than the Kurus. Thou knowest, O king, +that the illustrious and mighty king Jarasandha was slain in battle by +Bhima with his bare arms alone. Therefore, O bull of the Bharata race, it +behoveth thee to make peace with the sons of Pandu. Without scruples of +any kind, unite the two parties, O king. And it thou actest in this way, +thou art sure to obtain good luck, O king. It was thus, O son of +Gavalgani, that Vidura addressed me in words of both virtue and profit. +And I did not accept this counsel, moved by affection for my son.” + +The End of Sabha Parva + +FOOTNOTES + +1. A word of benediction, similar to ‘Amen.’ + + + + + + + + + +The Mahabharata + +of + +Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa + +BOOK 3 + +VANA PARVA + +Translated into English Prose from the Original Sanskrit Text + +by + +Kisari Mohan Ganguli + +[1883-1896] + +Scanned at sacred-texts.com, 2003. Proofed at Distributed Proofing, +Juliet Sutherland, Project Manager. Additional proofing and formatting at +sacred-texts.com, by J. B. Hare. + + + +SECTION I + +(Aranyaka Parva) + +Om! Having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara the foremost of male beings, +and the goddess Saraswati also, must the word Jaya be uttered. + +“Janamejaya said, ‘O thou foremost of regenerate ones, deceitfully +defeated at dice by the sons of Dhritarashtra and their counsellors, +incensed by those wicked ones that thus brought about a fierce animosity, +and addressed in language that was so cruel, what did the Kuru princes, +my ancestors--the sons of Pritha--(then) do? How also did the sons of +Pritha, equal unto Sakra in prowess, deprived of affluence and suddenly +over whelmed with misery, pass their days in the forest? Who followed the +steps of those princes plunged in excess of affliction? And how did those +high souled ones bear themselves and derive their sustenance, and where +did they put up? And, O illustrious ascetic and foremost of Brahmanas, +how did those twelve years (of exile) of those warriors who were slayers +of foes, pass away in the forest? And undeserving of pain, how did that +princess, the best of her sex, devoted to her husbands, eminently +virtuous, and always speaking the truth, endure that painful exile in the +forest? O thou of ascetic wealth tell me all this in detail, for, O +Brahmana, I desire to hear thee narrate the history of those heroes +possessed of abundant prowess and lustre. Truly my curiosity is great.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus defeated at dice and incensed by the wicked +sons of Dhritarashtra and their counsellors, the sons of Pritha set out +from Hastinapura. And issuing through Vardhamana gate of the city, the +Pandavas bearing their weapons and accompanied by Draupadi set out in a +northernly direction. Indrasena and others, with servants numbering +altogether fourteen, with their wives, followed them on swift cars. And +the citizens learning of their departure became overwhelmed with sorrow, +and began to censure Bhishma and Vidura and Drona and Gautama. And having +met together they thus addressed one another fearlessly. + +‘Alas, our families, we ourselves, and our homes are all gone, when the +wicked Duryodhana, backed by the son of Suvala, by Karna and Dussasana, +aspireth to this kingdom. And, Oh, our families, our (ancestral) usages, +our virtue and prosperity, are all doomed where this sinful wretch +supported by wretches as sinful aspireth to the kingdom! And, Oh, how can +happiness be there where these are not! Duryodhana beareth malice towards +all superiors, hath taken leave of good conduct, and quarreleth with +those that are near to him in blood. Covetous and vain and mean, he is +cruel by nature. The whole earth is doomed when Duryodhana becometh its +ruler. Thither, therefore, let us proceed whither the merciful and +high-minded sons of Pandu with passions under control and victorious over +foes, and possessed of modesty and renown, and devoted to pious +practices, repair!’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘And saying this, the citizens went after the +Pandavas, and having met them, they all, with joined hands, thus +addressed the sons of Kunti and Madri. + +‘Blest be ye! Where will ye go, leaving us in grief? We will follow you +whithersoever ye will go! Surely have we been distressed upon learning +that ye have been deceitfully vanquished by relentless enemies! It +behoveth you not to forsake us that are your loving subjects and devoted +friends always seeking your welfare and employed in doing what is +agreeable to you! We desire not to be overwhelmed in certain destruction +living in the dominions of the Kuru king. Ye bulls among men, listen as +we indicate the merits and demerits springing respectively from +association with what is good and bad! As cloth, water, the ground, and +sesame seeds are perfumed by association with flowers, even so are +qualities ever the product of association. Verily association with fools +produceth an illusion that entangleth the mind, as daily communion with +the good and the wise leadeth to the practice of virtue. Therefore, they +that desire emancipation should associate with those that are wise and +old and honest and pure in conduct and possessed of ascetic merit. They +should be waited upon whose triple possessions, viz., knowledge (of the +Vedas), origin and acts, are all pure, and association with them is even +superior to (the study of the) scriptures. Devoid of the religious acts +as we are, we shall yet reap religious merit by association with the +righteous, as we should come by sin by waiting upon the sinful. The very +sight and touch of the dishonest, and converse and association with them; +cause diminution of virtue, and men (that are doomed to these), never +attain purity of mind. Association with the base impaireth the +understanding, as, indeed, with the indifferent maketh it indifferent, +while communion with the good ever exalteth it. All those attributes +which are spoken of in the world as the sources of religious merit, of +worldly prosperity and sensual pleasures, which are regarded by the +people, extolled in the Vedas, and approved by the well-behaved, exist in +you, separately and jointly! Therefore, desirous of our own welfare, we +wish to live amongst you who possess those attributes! + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘Blessed are we since the people with the Brahmanas +at their head, moved by affection and compassion credit us with merits we +have not. I, however, with my brothers, would ask all of you to do one +thing. Ye should not, through affection and pity for us, act otherwise! +Our grandfather Bhishma, the king (Dhritarashtra), Vidura, my mother and +most of my well-wishers, are all in the city of Hastinapura. Therefore, +if ye are minded to seek our welfare, cherish ye them with care, uniting +together as they are overwhelmed with sorrow and afflictions. Grieved at +our departure, ye have come far! Go ye back, and let your hearts be +directed with tenderness towards the relatives I entrust to you as +pledges! This, of all others, is the one act upon which my heart is set, +and by doing this ye would give me great satisfaction and pay me your +best regards! + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus exhorted by Yudhishthira the just, the +people in a body set up a loud wail exclaiming,--Alas, O king! And +afflicted and overwhelmed with sorrow on remembering the virtues of +Pritha’s son, they unwillingly retraced their steps asking leave of the +Pandavas. + +‘The citizens having ceased to follow, the Pandavas ascended their cars, +and setting out reached (the site of) the mighty banian tree called +Pramana on the banks of the Ganges. And reaching the site of the banian +tree about the close of the day, the heroic sons of Pandu purified +themselves by touching the sacred water, and passed the night there. And +afflicted with woe they spent that night taking water alone as their sole +sustenance. Certain Brahmanas belonging to both classes, viz., those that +maintained the sacrificial fire and those that maintained it not, who +had, with their disciples and relatives, out of affection followed the +Pandavas thither also passed the night with them. And surrounded by those +utterers of Brahma, the king shone resplendent in their midst. And that +evening, at once beautiful and terrible, those Brahmanas having lighted +their (sacred) fires, began to chant the Vedas and hold mutual converse. +And those foremost of Brahmanas, with swan-sweet voices spent the night, +comforting that best of Kurus--the king.” + + + +SECTION II + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘When that night passed away and day broke in, those +Brahmamas who supported themselves by mendicancy, stood before the +Pandavas of exalted deeds, who were about to enter the forest. Then king +Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, addressed them, saying, “Robbed of our +prosperity and kingdom, robbed of everything, we are about to enter the +deep woods in sorrow, depending for our food on fruits and roots, and the +produce of the chase. The forest too is full of dangers, and abounds with +reptiles and beasts of prey. It appeareth to me that ye will certainly +have to suffer much privation and misery there. The sufferings of the +Brahmanas might overpower even the gods. That they would overwhelm me is +too certain. Therefore, O Brahmana, go ye back whithersoever ye list!’ + +“The Brahmanas replied, ‘O king, our path is even that on which ye are +for setting out! It behoveth thee not, therefore, to forsake us who are +thy devoted admirers practising the true religion! The very gods have +compassion upon their worshippers,--specially upon Brahmanas of regulated +lives!’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘We regenerate ones, I too am devoted to the +Brahmanas! But this destitution that hath overtaken me overwhelmed me +with confusion! These my brothers that are to procure fruits and roots +and the deer (of the forest) are stupefied with grief arising from their +afflictions and on account of the distress of Draupadi and the loss of +our kingdom! Alas, as they are distressed, I cannot employ them in +painful tasks!’ + +“The Brahmanas said, ‘Let no anxiety, O king, in respect of our +maintenance, find a place in thy heart! Ourselves providing our own food, +we shall follow thee, and by meditation and saying our prayers we shall +compass thy welfare while by pleasant converse we shall entertain thee +and be cheered ourselves.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘Without doubt, it must be as ye say, for I am ever +pleased with the company of the regenerate ones! But my fallen condition +maketh me behold in myself an object of reproach! How shall I behold you +all, that do not deserve to bear trouble, out of love for me painfully +subsisting upon food procured by your own toil? Oh, fie upon the wicked +sons of Dhritarashtra!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued. ‘Saying this, the weeping king sat himself down +upon the ground. Then a learned Brahmana, Saunaka by name versed in +self-knowledge and skilled in the Sankhya system of yoga, addressed the +king, saying, ‘Causes of grief by thousands, and causes of fear by +hundreds, day after day, overwhelm the ignorant but not the wise. Surely, +sensible men like thee never suffer themselves to be deluded by acts that +are opposed to true knowledge, fraught with every kind of evil, and +destructive of salvation. O king, in thee dwelleth that understanding +furnished with the eight attributes which is said to be capable of +providing against all evils and which resulteth from a study of the Sruti +(Vedas) and scriptures! And men like unto thee are never stupefied, on +the accession of poverty or an affliction overtaking their friends, +through bodily or mental uneasiness! Listen, I shall tell the slokas +which were chanted of old by the illustrious Janaka touching the subject +of controlling the self! This world is afflicted with both bodily and +mental suffering. Listen now to the means of allaying it as I indicate +them both briefly and in detail. Disease, contact with painful things, +toil and want of objects desired.--these are the four causes that induce +bodily suffering. And as regards disease, it may be allayed by the +application of medicine, while mental ailments are cured by seeking to +forget them yoga-meditation. For this reason, sensible physicians first +seek to allay the mental sufferings of their patients by agreeable +converse and the offer of desirable objects And as a hot iron bar thrust +into a jar maketh the water therein hot, even so doth mental grief bring +on bodily agony. And as water quencheth fire, so doth true knowledge +allay mental disquietude. And the mind attaining ease, the body findeth +ease also. It seemeth that affection is the root of all mental sorrow. It +is affection that maketh every creature miserable and bringeth on every +kind of woe. Verily affection is the root of all misery and of all fear, +of joy and grief of every kind of pain. From affection spring all +purposes, and it is from affection that spring the love of worldly goods! +Both of these (latter) are sources of evil, though the first (our +purposes) is worse than the second. And as (a small portion of) fire +thrust into the hollow of a tree consumeth the tree itself to its roots, +even so affection, ever so little, destroyeth both virtue and profit. He +cannot be regarded to have renounced the world who hath merely withdrawn +from worldly possessions. He, however, who though in actual contact with +the world regardeth its faults, may be said to have truly renounced the +world. Freed from every evil passion, soul dependent on nothing with such +a one hath truly renounced the world. Therefore, should no one seek to +place his affections on either friends or the wealth he hath earned. And +so should affection for one’s own person be extinguished by knowledge. +Like the lotus-leaf that is never drenched by water, the souls of men +capable of distinguishing between the ephemeral and the everlasting, of +men devoted to the pursuit of the eternal, conversant with the scriptures +and purified by knowledge, can never be moved by affection. The man that +is influenced by affection is tortured by desire; and from the desire +that springeth up in his heart his thirst for worldly possessions +increaseth. Verily, this thirst is sinful and is regarded as the source +of all anxieties. It is this terrible thirst, fraught with sin that +leaneth unto unrighteous acts. Those find happiness that can renounce +this thirst, which can never be renounced by the wicked, which decayeth +not with the decay of the body, and which is truly a fatal disease! It +hath neither beginning nor end. Dwelling within the heart, it destroyeth +creatures, like a fire of incorporeal origin. And as a faggot of wood is +consumed by the fire that is fed by itself, even so doth a person of +impure soul find destruction from the covetousness born of his heart. And +as creatures endued with life have ever a dread of death, so men of +wealth are in constant apprehension of the king and the thief, of water +and fire and even of their relatives. And as a morsel of meat, if in air, +may be devoured by birds; if on ground by beasts of prey; and if in water +by the fishes; even so is the man of wealth exposed to dangers wherever +he may be. To many the wealth they own is their bane, and he that +beholding happiness in wealth becometh wedded to it, knoweth not true +happiness. And hence accession of wealth is viewed as that which +increaseth covetousness and folly. Wealth alone is the root of +niggardliness and boastfulness, pride and fear and anxiety! These are the +miseries of men that the wise see in riches! Men undergo infinite +miseries in the acquisition and retention of wealth. Its expenditure also +is fraught with grief. Nay, sometimes, life itself is lost for the sake +of wealth! The abandonment of wealth produces misery, and even they that +are cherished by one’s wealth become enemies for the sake of that wealth! +When, therefore, the possession of wealth is fraught with such misery, +one should not mind its loss. It is the ignorant alone who are +discontented. The wise, however, are always content. The thirst of wealth +can never be assuaged. Contentment is the highest happiness; therefore, +it is, that the wise regard contentment as the highest object of pursuit. +The wise knowing the instability of youth and beauty, of life and +treasure-hoards, of prosperity and the company of the loved ones, never +covet them. Therefore, one should refrain from the acquisition of wealth, +bearing the pain incident to it. None that is rich free from trouble, and +it is for this that the virtuous applaud them that are free from the +desire of wealth. And as regards those that pursue wealth for purposes of +virtue, it is better for them to refrain altogether from such pursuit, +for, surely, it is better not to touch mire at all than to wash it off +after having been besmeared with it. And, O Yudhishthira, it behoveth +thee not to covet anything! And if thou wouldst have virtue, emancipate +thyself from desire of worldly possessions!’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O Brahmana, this my desire of wealth is not for +enjoying it when obtained. It is only for the support of the Brahmanas +that I desire it and not because I am actuated by avarice! For what +purpose, O Brahmana, doth one like us lead a domestic life, if he cannot +cherish and support those that follow him? All creatures are seen to +divide the food (they procure) amongst those that depend on them.[1] So +should a person leading a domestic life give a share of his food to Yatis +and Brahmacharins that have renounced cooking for themselves. The houses +of the good men can never be in want of grass (for seat), space (for +rest), water (to wash and assuage thirst), and fourthly, sweet words. To +the weary a bed,--to one fatigued with standing, a seat,--to the thirsty, +water,--and to the hungry, food should ever be given. To a guest are due +pleasant looks and a cheerful heart and sweet words. The host, rising up, +should advance towards the guest, offer him a seat, and duly worship him. +Even this is eternal morality. They that perform not the Agnihotra[2] not +wait upon bulls, nor cherish their kinsmen and guests and friends and +sons and wives and servants, are consumed with sin for such neglect. None +should cook his food for himself alone and none should slay an animal +without dedicating it to the gods, the pitris, and guests. Nor should one +eat of that food which hath not been duly dedicated to the gods and +pitris. By scattering food on the earth, morning and evening, for (the +behoof of) dogs and Chandalas and birds, should a person perform the +Viswedeva sacrifice.[3] He that eateth the Vighasa, is regarded as eating +ambrosia. What remaineth in a sacrifice after dedication to the gods and +the pitris is regarded as ambrosia; and what remaineth after feeding the +guest is called Vighasa and is equivalent to ambrosia itself. Feeding a +guest is equivalent to a sacrifice, and the pleasant looks the host +casteth upon the guest, the attention he devoteth to him, the sweet words +in which he addresseth him, the respect he payeth by following him, and +the food and drink with which he treateth him, are the five Dakshinas[4] +in that sacrifice. He who giveth without stint food to a fatigued +wayfarer never seen before, obtaineth merit that is great, and he who +leading a domestic life, followeth such practices, acquireth religious +merit that is said to be very great. O Brahmana, what is thy opinion on +this?” + +“Saunaka said, ‘Alas, this world is full of contradictions! That which +shameth the good, gratifieth the wicked! Alas, moved by ignorance and +passion and slaves of their own senses, even fools perform many acts of +(apparent merit) to gratify in after-life their appetites! With eyes open +are these men led astray by their seducing senses, even as a charioteer, +who hath lost his senses, by restive and wicked steeds! When any of the +six senses findeth its particular object, the desire springeth up in the +heart to enjoy that particular object. And thus when one’s heart +proceedeth to enjoy the objects of any particular sense a wish is +entertained which in its turn giveth birth to a resolve. And finally, +like unto an insect falling into a flame from love of light, the man +falleth into the fire of temptation, pierced by the shafts of the object +of enjoyment discharged by the desire constituting the seed of the +resolve! And thenceforth blinded by sensual pleasure which he seeketh +without stint, and steeped in dark ignorance and folly which he mistaketh +for a state of happiness, he knoweth not himself! And like unto a wheel +that is incessantly rolling, every creature, from ignorance and deed and +desire, falleth into various states in this world, wandering from one +birth to another, and rangeth the entire circle of existences from a +Brahma to the point of a blade of grass, now in water, now on land, and +now against in the air! + +‘This then is the career of those that are without knowledge. Listen now +to the course of the wise they that are intent on profitable virtue, and +are desirous of emancipation! The Vedas enjoin act but renounce (interest +in) action. Therefore, shouldst thou act, renouncing Abhimana,[5] +performance of sacrifices, study (of the Vedas), gifts, penance, truth +(in both speech and act), forgiveness, subduing the senses, and +renunciation of desire,--these have been declared to be the eight +(cardinal) duties constituting the true path. Of these, the four first +pave the way to the world of the pitris. And these should be practised +without Abhimana. The four last are always observed by the pious, to +attain the heaven of the gods. And the pure in spirit should ever follow +these eight paths. Those who wish to subdue the world for purpose of +salvation, should ever act fully renouncing motives, effectually subduing +their senses, rigidly observing particular vows, devotedly serving their +preceptors, austerely regulating their fare, diligently studying the +Vedas, renouncing action as mean and restraining their hearts. By +renouncing desire and aversion the gods have attained prosperity. It is +by virtue of their wealth of yoga[6] that the Rudras, and the Sadhyas, +and the Adityas and the Vasus, and the twin Aswins, rule the creatures. +Therefore, O son of Kunti, like unto them, do thou, O Bharata, entirely +refraining from action with motive, strive to attain success in yoga and +by ascetic austerities. Thou hast already achieved such success so far as +thy debts to thy ancestors, both male and female concerned, and that +success also which is derived from action (sacrifices). Do thou, for +serving the regenerate ones endeavour to attain success in penances. +Those that are crowned with ascetic success, can, by virtue of that +success, do whatever they list; do thou, therefore, practising asceticism +realise all thy wishes.” + + + +SECTION III + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, thus addressed by +Saunaka, approached his priest and in the midst of his brothers said, +‘The Brahmanas versed in the Vedas are following me who am departing for +the forest. Afflicted with many calamities I am unable to support them. I +cannot abandon them, nor have I the power to offer them sustenance: Tell +me, O holy one, what should be done by me in such a pass.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘After reflecting for a moment seeking to find out +the (proper) course by his yoga powers, Dhaumya, that foremost of all +virtuous men, addressed Yudhishthira, in these words, ‘In days of old, +all living beings that had been created were sorely afflicted with +hunger. And like a father (unto all of them), Savita (the sun) took +compassion upon them. And going first into the northern declension, the +sun drew up water by his rays, and coming back to the southern +declension, stayed over the earth, with his heat centered in himself. And +while the sun so stayed over the earth, the lord of the vegetable world +(the moon), converting the effects of the solar heat (vapours) into +clouds and pouring them down in the shape of water, caused plants to +spring up. Thus it is the sun himself, who, drenched by the lunar +influence, is transformed, upon the sprouting of seeds, into holy +vegetable furnished with the six tastes. And it is these which constitute +the food of all creatures upon the earth. Thus the food that supporteth +the lives of creatures is instinct with solar energy, and the sun is, +therefore, the father of all creatures. Do thou, hence, O Yudhishthira, +take refuge even in him. All illustrious monarchs of pure descent and +deeds are known to have delivered their people by practising high +asceticism. The great Karttavirya, and Vainya and Nahusha, had all, by +virtue of ascetic meditation preceded by vows, delivered their people +from heavy afflictions. Therefore, O virtuous one, as thou art purified +by the acts do thou likewise, entering upon a file of austerities. O +Bharata, virtuously support the regenerate ones.’ + +“Janamejaya said, ‘How did that bull among the Kurus, king Yudhishthira, +for the sake of the Brahmanas adore the sun of wonderful appearance?” + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Listen attentively, O king, purifying thyself and +withdrawing thy mind from every other thing. And, O king of kings, +appoint thou a time. I will tell thee everything in detail, And, O +illustrious one, listen to the one hundred and eight names (of the sun) +as they were disclosed of old by Dhaumya to the high-souled son of +Pritha. Dhaumya said, ‘Surya, Aryaman, Bhaga, Twastri, Pusha, Arka, +Savitri. Ravi, + +Gabhastimat, Aja, Kala, Mrityu, Dhatri, Prabhakara, Prithibi, Apa, Teja, +Kha, Vayu, the sole stay, Soma, Vrihaspati, Sukra, Budha, Angaraka, +Indra, Vivaswat, Diptanshu, Suchi, Sauri, Sanaichara, Brahma, Vishnu, +Rudra, Skanda, Vaisravana, Yama, Vaidyutagni, Jatharagni, Aindhna, +Tejasampati, Dharmadhwaja, Veda-karttri, Vedanga, Vedavahana, Krita, +Treta, Dwapara, Kali, full of every impurity, Kala, Kastha, Muhurtta, +Kshapa, Yama, and Kshana; Samvatsara-kara, Aswattha, Kalachakra, +Bibhavasu, Purusha, Saswata, Yogin, Vyaktavyakta, Sanatana, Kaladhyaksha, +Prajadhyaksha, Viswakarma, Tamounda, Varuna, Sagara, Ansu, Jimuta, +Jivana, Arihan, Bhutasraya, Bhutapati, Srastri, Samvartaka, Vanhi, +Sarvadi, Alolupa, Ananta, Kapila, Bhanu, Kamada, Sarvatomukha, Jaya, +Visala, Varada, Manas, Suparna, Bhutadi, Sighraga, Prandharana, +Dhanwantari, Dhumaketu, Adideva, Aditisuta, Dwadasatman, Aravindaksha, +Pitri, Matri, Pitamaha, Swarga-dwara, Prajadwara, Mokshadwara, +Tripistapa, Dehakarti, Prasantatman, Viswatman, Viswatomukha, +Characharatman, Sukhsmatman, the merciful Maitreya. These are the hundred +and eight names of Surya of immeasurable energy, as told by the +self-create (Brahma). For the acquisition of prosperity, I bow down to +thee, O Bhaskara, blazing like unto gold or fire, who is worshipped of +the gods and the Pitris and the Yakshas, and who is adored by Asuras, +Nisacharas, and Siddhas. He that with fixed attention reciteth this hymn +at sunrise, obtaineth wife and offspring and riches and the memory of his +former existence, and by reciting this hymn a person attaineth patience +and memory. Let a man concentrating his mind, recite this hymn. By doing +so, he shall be proof against grief and forest-fire and ocean and every +object of desire shall be his.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having heard from Dhaumya these words suitable +to the occasion, Yudhishthira the just, with heart concentrated within +itself and purifying it duly, became engaged in austere meditation, moved +by the desire of supporting the Brahmanas. And worshipping the maker of +day with offerings of flowers and other articles, the king performed his +ablutions. And standing in the stream, he turned his face towards the god +of day. And touching the water of the Ganges the virtuous Yudhishthira +with senses under complete control and depending upon air alone for his +sustenance, stood there with rapt soul engaged in pranayama.[7] And +having purified himself and restrained his speech, he began to sing the +hymn of praise (to the sun).’ + +‘Yudhishthira said, “Thou art, O sun, the eye of the universe. Thou art +the soul of all corporeal existences. Thou art the origin of all things. +Thou art the embodiment of the acts of all religious men. Thou art the +refuge of those versed in the Sankhya philosophy (the mysteries of the +soul), and thou art the support of the Yogins. Thou art a door unfastened +with bolts. Thou art the refuge of those wishing for emancipation. Thou +sustainest and discoverest the world, and sanctifiest and supportest it +from pure compassion. Brahmanas versed in the Vedas appearing before +thee, adore thee in due time, reciting the hymns from the respective +branches (of the Vedas) they refer. Thou art the adored of the Rishis. +The Siddhas, and the Charanas and the Gandharvas and the Yakshas, and the +Guhyakas, and the Nagas, desirous of obtaining boons follow thy car +coursing through the skies. The thirty-three gods[8] with Upendra +(Vishnu) and Mahendra, and the order of Vaimanikas[9] have attained +success by worshipping thee. By offering thee garlands of the celestial +Mandaras[10] the best of the Vidyadharas have obtained all their desires. +The Guhyas and the seven orders of the Pitris--both divine and +human--have attained superiority by adoring thee alone. The Vasus, the +Manilas, and the Rudras, the Sadhyas, the Marichipas, the Valikhilyas, +and the Siddhas, have attained pre-eminence by bowing down unto thee. +There is nothing that I know in the entire seven worlds, including that +of Brahma which is beyond thee. There are other beings both great and +endued with energy; but none of them hath thy lustre and energy. All +light is in thee, indeed, thou art the lord of all light. In thee are the +(five) elements and all intelligence, and knowledge and asceticism and +the ascetic properties.[11] The discus by which the wielder of the +Saranga[12] humbleth the pride of Asuras and which is furnished with a +beautiful nave, was forged by Viswakarman with thy energy. In summer thou +drawest, by thy rays, moisture from all corporeal existences and plants +and liquid substances, and pourest it down in the rainy season. Thy rays +warm and scorch, and becoming as clouds roar and flash with lightning and +pour down showers when the season cometh. Neither fire nor shelter, nor +woolen cloths give greater comfort to one suffering from chilling blasts +than thy rays. Thou illuminest by thy rays the whole Earth with her +thirteen islands. Thou alone are engaged in the welfare of the three +worlds. If thou dost not rise, the universe becometh blind and the +learned cannot employ themselves in the attainment of virtue, wealth and +profit. It is through thy grace that the (three) orders of Brahmanas, +Kshatriyas and Vaisyas are able to perform their various duties and +sacrifices.[13] Those versed in chronology say that thou art the +beginning and thou the end of a day of Brahma, which consisteth of a full +thousand Yugas. Thou art the lord of Manus and of the sons of the Manus, +of the universe and of man, of the Manwantaras, and their lords. When the +time of universal dissolution cometh, the fire Samvartaka born of thy +wrath consumeth the three worlds and existeth alone And clouds of various +hues begotten of thy rays, accompanied by the elephant Airavata and the +thunderbolt, bring about the appointed deluges. And dividing thyself into +twelve parts and becoming as many suns, thou drinkest up the ocean once +more with thy rays. Thou art called Indra, thou art Vishnu, thou art +Brahma, thou art Prajapati. Thou art fire and thou art the subtle mind. +And thou art lord and the eternal Brahma. Thou art Hansa, thou art +Savitri, thou art Bhanu, Ansumalin, and Vrishakapi. Thou art Vivaswan, +Mihira, Pusha, Mitra, and Dharma. Thou art thousand-rayed, thou art +Aditya, and Tapana, and the lord of rays. Thou art Martanda, and Arka, +and Ravi, and Surya and Saranya and maker of day, and Divakara and +Suptasaspti, and Dhumakeshin and Virochana. Thou art spoken of as swift +of speed and the destroyer of darkness, and the possessor of yellow +steeds. He that reverentially adoreth thee on the sixth or the seventh +lunar day with humility and tranquillity of mind, obtaineth the grace of +Lakshmi. They that with undivided attention adore and worship thee, are +delivered from all dangers, agonies, and afflictions. And they that hold +that thou art everywhere (being the soul of all things) living long, +freed from sin and enjoying an immunity from all diseases. O lord of all +food, it behoveth thee to grant food in abundance unto me who am desirous +of food even for entertaining all my guests with reverence. I bow also to +all those followers of thine that have taken refuge at thy feet--Mathara +and Aruna and Danda and others, including Asani and Kshuva and the +others. And I bow also to the celestial mothers of all creatures, viz., +Kshuva and Maitri and the others of the class. O, let them deliver me +their supplient.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus, O great king, was the sun that purifier of the +world, adored (by Yudhishthira). And pleased with the hymn, the maker of +day, self-luminous, and blazing like fire showed himself to the son of +Pandu. And Vivaswan said, ‘Thou shall obtain all that thou desirest. I +shall provide thee with food for five and seven years together. And, O +king, accept this copper-vessel which I give unto thee. And, O thou of +excellent vows, as long as Panchali will hold this vessel, without +partaking of its contents fruits and roots and meat and vegetables cooked +in thy kitchen, these four kinds of food shall from this day be +inexhaustible. And, on the fourteenth year from this, thou shall regain +thy kingdom.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having said this, the god vanished away. He +that, with the desire of obtaining a boon, reciteth this hymn +concentrating his mind with ascetic abstraction, obtaineth it from the +sun, however difficult of acquisition it may be that he asketh for. And +the person, male or female, that reciteth or heareth this hymn day after +day, if he or she desireth for a son, obtaineth one, and if riches, +obtaineth them, and if learning acquireth that too. And the person male +or female, that reciteth this hymn every day in the two twilights, if +overtaken by danger, is delivered from it, and if bound, is freed from +the bonds. Brahma himself had communicated this hymn to the illustrious +Sakra, and from Sakra was it obtained by Narada and from Narada, by +Dhaumya. And Yudhishthira, obtaining it from Dhaumya, attained all his +wishes. And it is by virtue of this hymn that one may always obtain +victory in war, and acquire immense wealth also. And it leadeth the +reciter from all sins, to the solar region.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having obtained the boon, the virtuous son of +Kunti, rising from the water, took hold of Dhaumya’s feet and then +embraced his brother’s. And, O exalted one, wending then with Draupadi to +the kitchen, and adored by her duly, the son of Pandu set himself to cook +(their day’s) food. And the clean food, however little, that was dressed, +furnished with the four tastes, increased and became inexhaustible. And +with it Yudhishthira began to feed the regenerate ones. And after the +Brahmanas had been fed, and his younger brothers also, Yudhishthira +himself ate of the food that remained, and which is called Vighasa. And +after Yudhishthira had eaten, the daughter of Prishata took what +remained. And after she had taken her meal, the day’s food became +exhausted. + +‘And having thus obtained the boon from the maker of day, the son of +Pandu, himself as resplendent as that celestial, began to entertain the +Brahmanas agreeably to their wishes. And obedient to their priest, the +sons of Pritha, on auspicious lunar days and constellations and +conjunctions, performed sacrifices according to the ordinance, the +scriptures, and the Mantras. After the sacrifices, the sons of Pandu, +blessed by the auspicious rites performed by Dhaumya and accompanied by +him, and surrounded also by the Brahmanas set out for the woods of +Kamyaka.’” + + + +SECTION IV + +“Vaisampayana said,--“After the Pandavas had gone to the forest, +Dhritarashtra the son of Amvika, whose knowledge was his eye,[14] became +exceedingly sorrowful. And seated at his ease the king addressed these +words to the virtuous Vidura of profound intelligence, ‘Thy understanding +is as clear as that of Bhargava.[15] Thou knowest also all the subtleties +or morality, and thou lookest on all the Kauravas with an equal eye. O, +tell me what is proper for me and them. O Vidura, things having thus +taken their course, what should we do now? How may I secure the goodwill +of the citizens so that they may not destroy us to the roots? O, tell us +all, since thou art conversant with every excellent expedient.’ + +“Vidura said, ‘The three-fold purposes, O king (viz., profit, pleasure, +and salvation), have their foundations in virtue, and the sages say that +a kingdom also standeth on virtue as its basis. Therefore, O monarch, +according to the best of thy power, cherish thou virtuously thy own sons +and those of Pandu. That virtue had been beguiled by wicked souls with +Suvala’s son at their head, when thy sons invited the righteous +Yudhishthira and defeated him in the match at dice. O king, of this deed +of utter iniquity I behold this expiation whereby, O chief of the Kurus, +thy son, freed from sin, may win back his position among good men. Let +the sons of Pandu, obtain that which was given unto them by thee. For, +verily, even this is the highest morality that a king should remain +content with his own, and never covet another’s possessions. Thy good +name then would not suffer nor would family dissensions ensue, nor +unrighteousness be thine. This then is thy prime duty now,--to gratify +the Pandavas and disgrace Sakuni. If thou wishest to restore to thy sons +the good fortune they have lost, then, O king, do thou speedily adopt +this line of conduct. If thou dost not act so, the Kurus will surely meet +with destruction, for neither Bhimasena nor Arjuna, if angry, will leave +any of their foes unslain. What is there in the world which is +unattainable to those who cannot among their warriors Savyasachin skilled +in arms; who have the Gandiva, the most powerful of all weapons in the +world, for their bow; and who have amongst them the mighty Bhima also as +a warrior? Formerly, as soon as thy son was born, I told thee,--Forsake +thou this inauspicious child of thine. Herein lieth the good of thy +race.--But thou didst not then act accordingly. Nor also, O king, have I +pointed out to thee the way of thy welfare. If thou doest as I have +counselled, thou shalt not have to repent afterwards. If thy son consent +to reign in peace jointly with the sons of Pandu, passing thy days in joy +thou shalt not have to repent. Should it be otherwise, abandon thou thy +child for thy own happiness. Putting Duryodhana aside, do thou install +the son of Pandu in the sovereignty, and let, O king, Ajatasatru, free +from passion, rule the earth virtuously. All the kings of the earth, +then, like Vaisyas, will, without delay, pay homage unto us. And, O king, +let Duryodhana and Sakuni and Karna with alacrity wait upon the Pandavas. +And let Dussasana, in open court, ask forgiveness of Bhimasena and of the +daughter of Drupada also. And do thou pacify Yudhishthira by placing him +on the throne with every mark of respect. Asked by thee, what else can I +counsel thee to do? By doing this, O monarch, thou wouldst do what was +proper.’ + +‘Dhritarashtra said, ‘These words, O Vidura, then thou hast spoken in +this assembly, with reference to the Pandavas and myself, are for their +good but not for ours. My mind doth not approve them. How hast thou +settled all this in thy mind now? When thou hast spoken all this on +behalf of the Pandavas, I perceive that thou art not friendly to me. How +can I abandon my son for the sake of the sons of Pandu? Doubtless they +are my sons, but Duryodhana is sprung from my body. Who then, speaking +with impartiality, will ever counsel me to renounce my own body for the +sake of others? O Vidura, all that thou sayest is crooked, although I +hold thee in high esteem. Stay or go as thou likest. However much may she +be humoured, an unchaste will forsaketh her husband.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, O king, saying this Dhritarashtra rose suddenly and +went into the inner apartments. And Vidura, saying ‘This race is doomed’ +went away to where the sons of Pritha were.’” + + + +SECTION V + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Desirous of living in the forest, those bulls of the +Bharata race, the Pandavas, with their followers, setting out from the +banks of the Ganges went to the field of Kurukshetra. And performing +their ablutions in the Saraswati, the Drisadwati and the Yamuna, they +went from one forest to another, travelling in an westernly direction. +And at length they saw before them the woods, Kamyaka, the favourite +haunt of Munis, situated by a level and wild plain on the banks of the +Saraswati. And in those woods, O Bharata, abounding in birds and deer, +those heroes began to dwell, entertained and comforted by the Munis. And +Vidura always longing to see the Pandavas, went in a single car to the +Kamyaka woods abounding in every good thing. And arriving at Kamyaka on a +car drawn by swift steeds, he saw Yudhishthira the just, sitting with +Draupadi at a retired spot, surrounded by his brothers and the Brahmanas. +And seeing Vidura approach from a distance with swift steps, the virtuous +king addressed brother, Bhimasena, saying, ‘With what message doth +Kshatta come to us? Doth he come hither, despatched by Sakuni, to invite +us again to a game of dice? Doth the little-minded Sakuni intend to win +again our weapons at dice? O Bhimasena, challenged by any one addressing +me,--Come, I am unable to stay. And if our possession of the Gandiva +becomes doubtful, will not the acquisition of our kingdom also be so.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O king, the Pandavas then rose up and welcomed +Vidura. And received by them, that descendant of the Ajamida line +(Vidura) sat in their midst and made the usual enquiries. And after +Vidura had rested awhile, those bulls among men asked him the reason of +his coming. And Vidura began to relate unto them in detail everything +connected with the bearing of Dhritarashtra the son of Amvika.’ + +“Vidura said, ‘O Ajatasatru, Dhritarashtra called me, his dependant, +before him and honouring me duly said, ‘Things have fared thus. Now, do +thou tell me what is good for the Pandavas as well as for me. I pointed +out what was beneficial to both the Kauravas and Dhritarashtra. But what +I said was not relished by him, nor could I hit upon any other course. +What I advised was, O Pandavas, highly beneficial, but the son of Amvika +heeded me not. Even as medicine recommendeth itself not to one that is +ill, so my words failed to please the king. And, O thou without a foe, as +all unchaste wile in the family of a man of pure descent cannot be +brought back to the path of virtue, so I failed to bring Dhritarashtra +back. Indeed, as a young damsel doth not like a husband of three score, +even so Dhritarashtra did not like my words. Surely, destruction will +overtake the Kuru race, surely Dhritarashtra will never acquire good +fortune. For, as water dropped on a lotus-leaf doth not remain there, my +counsels will fail to produce any effect to Dhritarashtra. The incensed +Dhritarashtra told me, O Bharata, go thou thither where thou likest Never +more shall I seek thy aid in ruling the earth or my capital,--O best of +monarchs, forsaken by king Dhritarashtra, I come to thee for tendering +good counsel. What I had said in the open court, I will now repeat unto +thee. Listen, and bear my words in mind,--that wise man who bearing all +the gross wrong heaped upon him by his enemies, patiently bideth his +time, and multiplieth his resources “even as men by degrees turn a small +fire: into a large one, ruleth alone this entire earth. He that (in +prosperity) enjoyeth his substance with his adherents findeth in them +sharers of his adversity,--this is the best means of securing adherents, +and it is said that he that hath adherents, winneth the sovereignty of +the world! And, O Pandava, divided thy prosperity with thy adherents, +behave truthfully towards them, and converse with them agreeably! Share +also your food with them! And never boast thyself in their presence! This +behaviour increaseth the prosperity of kings!’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘Having recourse to such high intelligence, +undisturbed by passion, I will do as thou counsellest! And whatever else +thou mayst counsel in respect of time and place, I will carefully follow +entirely.’” + + + +SECTION VI + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘O king, after Vidura had gone to the abode of the +Pandavas, Dhritarashtra, O Bharata, of profound wisdom, repented of his +action. And thinking of the great intelligence of Vidura in matters +connected with both war and peace, and also of the aggrandisement of the +Pandavas in the future, Dhritarashtra, pained at the recollection of +Vidura, having approached the door of the hall of state fell down +senseless in the presence of the monarchs (in waiting) And regaining +consciousness, the king rose from the ground and thus addressed Sanjaya +standing by, ‘My brother and friend is even like the god of justice +himself! Recollecting him today, my heart burneth in grief! Go, bring +unto me without delay my brother well-versed in morality!’ Saying this, +the monarch wept bitterly. And burning in repentance, and overwhelmed +with sorrow at the recollection of Vidura, the king, from brotherly +affection, again addressed Sanjaya saying, ‘O Sanjaya, go thou and +ascertain whether my brother, expelled by my wretched self through anger, +liveth still! That wise brother of mine of immeasurable intelligence hath +never been guilty of even the slightest transgression, but, on the other +hand, he it is who hath come by grievous wrong at my hands! Seek him, O +wise one, and bring him hither; else, O Sanjaya, I will lay down my life!” + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of the king, Sanjaya +expressed his approbation, and saying ‘So be it,’ went in the direction +of the Kamyaka woods. And arriving without loss of time at the forest +where the sons of Pandu dwelt, he beheld Yudhishthira clad in deer-skin, +seated with Vidura, in the midst of Brahmanas by thousands and guarded by +his brothers, even like Purandara in the midst of the celestials! And +approaching Yudhishthira, Sanjaya worshipped him duly and was received +with due respect by Bhima and Arjuna and the twins. And Yudhishthira made +the usual enquiries about his welfare and when he had been seated at his +ease, he disclosed the reason of his visit, in these words, ‘King +Dhritarashtra, the son of Amvika, hath, O Kshatta! remembered thee! +Returning unto him without loss of time, do thou revive the king! And, O +thou best of men, with the permission of these Kuru princes--these +foremost of men--it behoveth thee, at the command of that lion among +kings, to return unto him! + +Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by Sanjaya, the intelligent +Vidura, ever attached to his relatives, with the permission of +Yudhishthira returned to the city named after the elephant. And after he +had approached the king, Dhritarashtra of great energy, the son of +Amvika, addressed him, saying, ‘From my good luck alone, O Vidura, thou, +O sinless one, of conversant with morality, hast come here remembering +me! And, O thou bull of the Bharata race, in thy absence I was beholding +myself, sleepless through the day and the night, as one that hath been +lost on earth!’ And the king then took Vidura on his lap and smelt his +head, and said, ‘Forgive me, O sinless one, the words in which thou wert +addressed by me!’ And Vidura said, ‘O king, I have forgiven thee. Thou +art my superior, worthy of the highest reverence! Here am I, having come +back, eagerly wishing to behold thee! All virtuous men, O tiger among +men, are (instinctively) partial towards those that are distressed! This, +O king, is scarcely the result of deliberation! (My partiality to the +Pandavas proceedeth from this cause)! O Bharata, thy sons are as dear to +me as the sons of Pandu, but as the latter are now in distress, my heart +yearneth after them! + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘And addressing each other thus in apologetic +speeches, the two illustrious brothers, Vidura and Dhritarashtra, felt +themselves greatly happy!’” + + + +SECTION VII + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing that Vidura had returned, and that the king +had consoled him, the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra began to burn in +grief. His understanding clouded by ignorance, he summoned the son of +Suvala, and Karna and Dussasana, and addressed them saying, ‘The learned +Vidura, the minister of the wise Dhritarashtra, hath returned! The friend +of the sons of Pandu, he is ever engaged in doing what is beneficial to +them. So long as this Vidura doth not succeed in inducing the king to +bring them back, do ye all think of what may benefit me! If ever I behold +the sons of Pritha return to the city, I shall again be emaciated by +renouncing food and drink, even though there be no obstacle in my path! +And I shall either take poison or hang myself, either enter the pyre or +kill myself with my own weapons. But I shall never be able to behold the +sons of Pandu in prosperity! + +“Sakuni said, ‘O king, O lord of the earth, what folly hath taken +possession of thee! The Pandavas have gone to the forest, having given a +particular pledge, so that what thou apprehendest can never take place! O +bull of the Bharata race, the Pandavas ever abide by the truth. They will +never, therefore, accept the words of thy father! If however, accepting +the commands of the king, they come back to the capital, violating their +vow, even this would be our conduct, viz., assuming, an aspect of +neutrality, and in apparent obedience to the will of the monarch, we will +closely watch the Pandavas, keeping our counsels!’ + +“Dussasana said, ‘O uncle of great intelligence, it is even as thou +sayest! The words of wisdom thou utterest always recommend themselves to +me!’”Karna said, ‘O Duryodhana, all of us seek to accomplish thy will +and, O king, I see that unanimity at present prevaileth among us! The +sons of Pandu, with passions under complete control, will never return +without passing away the promised period. If, however, they do return +from failing sense, do thou defeat them again at dice.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by Karna, king Duryodhana with +cheerless heart, averted his face from his counsellors. Marking all this, +Karna expanding his beautiful eyes, and vehemently gesticulating in +anger, haughtily addressed Duryodhana and Dussasana and Suvala’s son +saying, ‘Ye princes, know ye my opinion! We are all servants of the king +(Duryodhana) waiting upon him with joined palms! We should, therefore, do +what is agreeable to him! But we are not always able to seek his welfare +with promptness and activity (owing to our dependence on Dhritarashtra)! +But let us now, encased in mail and armed with our weapons, mount our +cars and go in a body to slay the Pandavas now living in the forest! +After the Pandavas have been quieted and after they have gone on the +unknown journey, both ourselves and the sons of Dhritarashtra will find +peace! As long as they are in distress, as long as they are in sorrow, as +long as they are destitute of help, so long are we a match for them! This +is my mind!’ + +‘Hearing those words of the charioteer’s son, they repeatedly applauded +him, and at last exclaimed, ‘Very well!’ And saying this each of them +mounted his car, and sanguine of success, they rushed in a body to slay +the sons of Pandu. And knowing by his spiritual vision that they had gone +out, the master Krishna-Dwaipayana of pure soul came upon them, and +commanded them to desist. And sending them away, the holy one, worshipped +by all the worlds, quickly appeared before the king whose intelligence +served the purposes of eye-sight, and who was then seated (at his ease). +And the holy one addressed the monarch thus.’” + + + +SECTION VIII + +“Vyasa said, ‘O wise Dhritarashtra, hear what I say! I will tell thee +that which is for the great good of all the Kauravas! O thou of mighty +arms, it hath not pleased me that the Pandavas have gone to the forest +dishonestly defeated (at dice) by Duryodhana and others! O Bharata, on +the expiration of the thirteenth year, recollecting all their woes, they +may shower death-dealing weapons, even like virulent poison, upon the +Kauravas! Why doth thy sinful son of wicked heart, ever inflamed with +ire, seek to slay the sons of Pandu for the sake of their kingdom? Let +the fool be restrained; let thy son remain quiet! In attempting to slay +the Pandavas in exile, he will only lose his own life. Thou art as honest +as the wise Vidura, or Bhishma, or ourselves, or Kripa, or Drona, O thou +of great wisdom, dissension with one’s own kin are forbidden, sinful and +reprehensible! Therefore, O king, it behoveth thee to desist from such +acts! And, O Bharata, Duryodhana looketh with such jealousy towards the +Pandavas that great harm would be the consequence, if thou didst not +interfere. Or let this wicked son of thine, O monarch, along and +unaccompanied, himself go to the forest and live with the sons of Pandu. +For then, if the Pandavas, from association, feel an attachment for +Duryodhana, then, O king of men, good fortune may be thine. (This, +however, may not be)! For it hath been heard that one’s congenital nature +leaveth him not till death. But what do Bhishma and Drona and Vidura +think? What also dost thou think? That which is beneficial should be done +while there is time, else thy purposes will be unrealised.’” + + + +SECTION IX + +“Dhritarashtra said, ‘O holy one, I did not like this business of +gambling, but, O Muni, I think, I was made to consent to it drawn by +fate! Neither Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Vidura, nor Gandhari liked this +game at dice. No doubt, it was begot of folly. And, O thou who delightest +in the observance of vows, O illustrious one, knowing everything yet +influenced by paternal affection, I am unable to cast off my senseless +son, Duryodhana!’ + +“Vyasa said, ‘O king, O son of Vichitravirya, what thou sayest is true! +We know it well that a son is the best of all things and that there is +nothing that is so good as a son. Instructed by the tears of Suravi, +Indra came to know that the son surpasseth in worth other valuable +possessions. O monarch, I will, in this connection, relate to thee that +excellent and best of stories, the conversation between Indra and Suravi. +In days of yore, Suravi, the mother of cows was once weeping in the +celestial regions. O child, Indra took compassion upon her, and asked +her, saying, ‘O auspicious one! why dost thou weep? Is everything well +with the celestials? Hath any misfortune, ever so little, befallen the +world of men or serpents?’ Suravi replied, ‘No evil hath befallen thee +that I perceive. But I am aggrieved on account of my son, and it is +therefore, O Kausika, that I weep! See, O chief of the celestials, yonder +cruel husbandman is belabouring my weak son with the wooden stick, and +oppressing him with the (weight of the) plough, in consequence of which +my child agitated with agony is falling upon the ground and is at the +point of death. At sight of this, O lord of the celestials, I am filled +with compassion, and my mind is agitated! The one that is the stronger of +the pair is bearing his burthen of greater weight (with ease), but, O +Vasava, the other is lean, and weak and is a mass of veins and arteries! +He beareth his burthen with difficulty! And it is for him that I grieve. +See, O Vasava, sore inflicted with the whip, and harassed exceedingly, he +is unable to bear his burthen. And it is for him that, moved by grief, I +weep in heaviness of heart and these tears of compassion trickle down my +eyes!’ + +“Sakra said, ‘O fair one, when thousands of thy son are (daily) +oppressed, why dost thou grieve for one under infliction?’ Suravi +replied. ‘Although I have a thousand offspring, yet my affections flow +equally towards all! But, O Sakra, I feel greater compassion for one that +is weak and innocent!’ + +“Vyasa continued, ‘Then Indra having heard these words of Suravi, was +much surprised, and O thou of the Kuru race, he became convinced that a +son is dearer than one’s life! And the illustrious chastiser of Paka +thereupon suddenly poured there a thick shower and caused obstruction to +the husbandman’s work. And as Suravi said, thy affections, O king, +equally flow towards all thy sons. Let them be greater towards those that +are weak! And as my son Pandu is to me, so art thou, O son, and so also +Vidura of profound wisdom! It is out of affection that I tell you all +this! O Bharata, thou art possessed of a hundred and one sons, but Pandu +hath only five. And they are in a bad plight and passing their days in +sorrow. How may they save their lives, how may they thrive such thoughts +regarding the distressed sons of Pritha continually agitate my soul! O +king of the earth, if thou desirest all the Kauravas to live, let thy son +Duryodhana make peace with the Pandavas!’” + + + +SECTION X + +“Dhritarashtra said, ‘O Muni of profound wisdom, it is even as thou +sayest! I know it well as do all these kings! Indeed, what thou +considerest to be beneficial for the Kurus was pointed out to me, O Muni, +by Vidura and Bhishma and Drona. And, if I deserve thy favour, and if +thou hast kindness for the Kurus, do thou exhort my wicked son +Duryodhana!’ + +“Vyasa said, ‘O king, after having seen the Pandava brothers, here cometh +the holy Rishi Maitreya, with the desire of seeing us. That mighty Rishi, +O king, will admonish thy son for the welfare of this race. And, O +Kauravya, what he adviseth must be followed undoubtingly, for if what he +recommendeth is not done, the sage will curse thy son in anger.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Saying this, Vyasa departed, and Maitreya made +his appearance. And the king with his son respectfully received that +way-worn chief of Munis, with offerings of the Arghya and other rites. +And king Dhritarashtra, the son of Amvika, in words of respect thus +addressed the sage, ‘O holy one, hath journey from the Kuru-jangala been +a pleasant one? Are those heroes, the five Pandavas living happily? Do +those bulls of the Kuru race intend to stay out their time? Will the +brotherly affection of the Kauravas ever be impaired?’ + +“Maitreya said, ‘Setting out on a pilgrimage to the different shrines, I +arrived at Kuru-jangala, and there I unexpectedly saw Yudhishthira the +just in the woods of Kamyaka. And, O exalted one, many Munis had come +there to behold the high-souled Yudhishthira, dwelling in an ascetic +asylum, clad in deer-skin and wearing matted locks. It was there, O king +of kings, that I heard of the grave error committed by thy sons and the +calamity and terrible danger arisen from dice that had overtaken them. +Therefore, it is that I have come to thee, for the good of the Kauravas, +since, O exalted one, my affection is great for thee and I am delighted +with thee! O king, it is not fit that thy sons should on any account +quarrel with one another, thyself and Bhishma living. Thou art, O king, +the stake at which bulls are tied (in treading cord), and thou art +competent to punish and reward! Why dost thou overlook then this great +evil that is about to overtake all? And, O descendant of the Kurus, for +those wrongs that have been perpetrated in thy court, which are even like +the acts of wretched outcasts, thou art not well-thought amongst the +ascetics!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then turning to the wrathful prince Duryodhana, +the illustrious Rishi Maitreya addressed him in these soft words, ‘O +mighty-armed Duryodhana, O best of all eloquent men, O illustrious one, +give heed unto the words I utter for my good! O king, seek not to quarrel +with the Pandavas! And, O bull among men, compass thou thy own good as +also of the Pandavas, of the Kurus and of the world! All those tigers +among men are heroes of high prowess in war, gifted with the strength of +ten thousand elephants, with bodies hard as the thunderbolt, holding fast +by their promises, and proud of their manliness! they have slain the +enemies of the celestials--those Rakshasas capable of assuming any form +at will, such as were headed by Hidimva and Kirmira! When those +high-souled ones went from hence that Rakshasa of fierce soul obstructed +their nocturnal path even like an immoveable hill. And even as a tiger +slayeth a little deer, Bhima, that foremost of all endued with strength, +and ever delighted in fight, slew that monster. Consider also, O king, +how while out on his campaign of conquest, Bhima slew in battle that +mighty warrior, Jarasandha, possessing the strength of ten thousand +elephants. Related to Vasudeva and having the sons of king Drupada as +their brothers-in-law, who that is subject to decrepitude and death would +undertake to cope with them in battle? O bull of the Bharata race, let +there be peace between thee and Pandavas! Follow thou my counsels and +surrender not thyself to anger! + +‘O king, thus admonished by Maitreya, Duryodhana began to slap his thigh +resembling the trunk of the elephant, and smilingly began to scratch the +ground with his foot. And the wicked wretch spake not a word, but hung +down his head. And, O monarch, beholding Duryodhana thus offer him a +slight by scratching the earth silently, Maitreya became angry. And, as +if commissioned by fate, Maitreya, the best of Munis, overwhelmed by +wrath, set his mind upon cursing Duryodhana! And then, with eyes red in +anger, Maitreya, touching water, caused the evil-minded son of +Dhritarashtra, saying, ‘Since, slighting me thou declinest to act +according to my words, thou shalt speedily reap the fruit of this thy +insolence! In the great war which shall spring out of the wrongs +perpetrated by thee, the mighty Bhima shall smash that thigh of thine +with a stroke of his mace! + +‘When the Muni had spoken so, king Dhritarashtra began to pacify the +sage, in order that what he had said might not happen. But Maitreya said, +‘O king, if thy son concludeth peace with the Pandavas, this curse of +mine, O child, will not take effect, otherwise it must be as I have said!’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Desirous of ascertaining the might of Bhima, that +foremost of kings, the father of Duryodhana, then asked Maitreya, saying, +‘How was Kirmira slain by Bhima?’ + +“Maitreya said, ‘I shall not speak again unto thee, O king, for my words +are not regarded by thy son. After I have gone away, Vidura will relate +everything unto thee!’ And saying this, Maitreya went away to the place +whence he had come. And Duryodhana also went out perturbed at the tidings +of Kirmira’s death (at the hand of Bhima).’” + + + +SECTION XI + +(Kirmirabadha Parva) + +“Dhritarashtra said, ‘O Kshatta, I am desirous to hear of the destruction +of Kirmira! Do thou tell me how the encounter took place between the +Rakshasa and Bhimasena!’ + +“Vidura said, ‘Listen to the story of that feat of Bhimasena of super +human achievements! I have often heard of it in course of my conversation +with the Pandavas (while I was with them) + +‘O foremost of kings, defeated at dice the Pandavas departed from hence +and travelling for three days and nights they at length reached those +woods that go by the name of Kamyaka. O king, just after the dreadful +hour of midnight when all nature is asleep, when man-eating Rakshasas of +terrible deeds begin to wander, the ascetics and the cowherds and other +rangers of the forest used to shun the woods of Kamyaka and fly to a +distance from fear of cannibals. And, O Bharata, as the Pandavas were at +this hour entering those woods a fearful Rakshasa of flaming eyes +appeared before them with a lighted brand, obstructing their path. And +with outstretched arms and terrible face, he stood obstructing the way on +which those perpetuators of the Kuru race were proceeding. With eight +teeth standing out, with eyes of coppery hue, and with the hair of his +head blazing and standing erect, the fiend looked like a mass of clouds +reflecting the rays of the sun or mingled with lightning flashes and +graced with flocks of cranes underneath on their wings. And uttering +frightful yells and roaring like a mass of clouds charged with rain, the +fiend began to spread the illusion proper to his species. Hearing that +terrible roar, birds along with other creatures that live on land or in +water, began to drop down in all directions, uttering cries of fear. And +in consequence of the deer and the leopards and the buffaloes and the +bears flying about in all directions, it seemed as if the forest itself +was in motion. And swayed by the wind raised by the sighs of the +Rakshasa, creepers growing at a great distance seemed to embrace the +trees with their arms of coppery leaves. And at that moment, a violent +wind began to blow, and the sky became darkened with the dust that +covered it. And as grief is the greatest enemy of the object of the five +senses, even so appeared before the Pandavas that unknown foe of theirs. +And beholding the Pandavas from a distance clad in black deer-skins, the +Rakshasa obstructed their passage through the forest even like the +Mainaka mountain. And at the sight of him never seen before the +lotus-eyed Krishna, agitated with fear, closed her eyes. And she whose +braids had been dishevelled by the hand of Dussasana, stationed in the +midst of the five Pandavas, looked like a stream chafing amid five hills. +And seeing her overwhelmed with fear the five Pandavas supported her as +the five senses influenced by desire adhere to the pleasures relating to +their objects. And Dhaumya of great (ascetic) energy, in the presence of +the sons of Pandu, destroyed the fearful illusion that had been spread by +the Rakshasa, by applying various mantras, calculated to destroy the +Rakshasa. And beholding his illusion dispelled, the mighty Rakshasa of +crooked ways, capable of assuming any form at will, expanded his eyes in +wrath and seemed like death himself. Then king Yudhishthira, endued with +great wisdom, addressed him saying, ‘Who art thou, and whose (son)? Tell +us what we should do for thee.’ The Rakshasa thus addressed, answered +Yudhishthira the just, saying, ‘I am the brother of Vaka, the celebrated +Kirmira. I live at ease in these deserted woods of Kamyaka, daily +procuring my food by vanquishing men in fight. Who are ye that have come +near me in the shape of my food? Defeating ye all in fight, I will eat ye +with pleasure.’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘O Bharata, hearing these words of the wretch, +Yudhishthira announced his own name and lineage, saying, ‘I am king +Yudhishthira the just, the son of Pandu, of whom thou mayst have heard. +Deprived of my kingdom, I have with my brothers Bhimasena and Arjuna and +the others, in course of my wanderings, come into this terrible forest +which is thy dominion, desirous of passing my period of exile here!’ + +“Vidura continued, ‘Kirmira said unto Yudhishthira, ‘By good luck it is +that fate hath accomplished today my long-accomplished desire! With +weapons upraised have I been continually ranging the entire earth with +the object of slaying Bhima. But Bhima I had found not. By good luck it +is that slayer of my brother, whom I had been seeking so long, hath come +before me! It was he who in the disguise of a Brahmana slew my dear +brother Vaka in the Vetrakiya forest by virtue of his science. He hath +truly no strength of arms! It is also this one of wicked soul who +formerly slew my dear friend Hidimva, living in this forest and ravished +his sister! And that fool hath now come into this deep forest of mine, +when the night is half spent, even at the time when we wander about! +Today I will wreak my long-cherished vengeance upon him, and I will today +gratify (the manes of) Vaka with his blood in plenty! By slaying this +enemy of the Rakshasas, I shall today be freed from the debt I owe to my +friend and my brother, and thereby attain supreme happiness! If Bhimasena +was let free formerly by Vaka, today, I will devour him in thy sight, O +Yudhishthira! And even as Agastya ate up and digested the mighty Asura +(Vatapi) I will eat up and digest this Bhima!’ + +“Vidura continued, ‘Thus addressed by the Rakshasa, the virtuous +Yudhishthira, steadfast in his pledges, said, ‘It can never be so,--and +in anger rebuked the Rakshasa.’ The mighty-armed Bhima then tore up in +haste a tree of the length of ten Vyasas and stripped it of its leaves. +And in the space of a moment the ever-victorious Arjuna stringed his bow +Gandiva possessing the force of the thunderbolt. And, O Bharata, making +Jishnu desist, Bhima approached that Rakshasa still roaring like the +clouds and said unto him, ‘Stay! Stay!’ And thus addressing the cannibal, +and tightening the cloth around his waist, and rubbing his palms, and +biting his nether lip with his teeth, and armed with the tree, the +powerful Bhima rushed towards the foe. And like unto Maghavat hurling his +thunderbolt, Bhima made that tree, resembling the mace of Yama himself +descend with force on the head of the cannibal. The Rakshasa, however, +was seen to remain unmoved at that blow, and wavered not in the conflict. +On the other hand, he hurled his lighted brand, flaming like lightning, +at Bhima. But that foremost of warriors turned it off with his left foot +in such a way that it went back towards the Rakshasa. Then the fierce +Kirmira on his part, all on a sudden uprooting a tree darted to the +encounter like unto the mace bearing Yama himself. And that fight, so +destructive of the trees, looked like the encounter in days of yore +between the brothers Vali and Sugriva for the possession of the same +woman. And the trees struck at the heads of the combatants, were broken +into shivers, like lotus-stalks thrown on the temples of infuriate +elephants. And in that great forest, innumerable trees, crushed like unto +reeds, lay scattered as rags. That encounter with trees between that +foremost of Rakshasas and that best of men, O thou bull of the Bharata +race, lasted but for a moment. Then taking up a crag, the angry Rakshasa +hurled it at Bhima standing before him, but the latter wavered not. Then +like unto Rahu going to devour the sun dispersing his rays with extended +arms, the Rakshasa with out-stretched arms darted towards Bhima, who had +remained firm under the blow inflicted with the crag. And tugging at and +grappling with each other in diverse ways they appeared like two +infuriate bulls struggling with each other. Or like unto two mighty +tigers armed with teeth and claws, the encounter between them waxed +fierce and hard. And remembering their (late) disgrace at the hands of +Duryodhana, and proud of the strength of his arms, and conscious also of +Krishna looking at him, Vrikodara began to swell in vigour. And fried +with anger, Bhima seized the Rakshasa with his arms, as one elephant in +rut seizeth another. And the powerful Rakshasa also in his turn seized +his adversary, but Bhimasena that foremost of all men endued with +strength, threw the cannibal down with violence. The sounds that in +consequence of those mighty combatants pressing each other’s hands, were +frightful and resembled the sounds of splintering bamboos. And hurling +the Rakshasa down, seized him by the waist, and began to whirl him about, +even as fierce hurricane shaketh a tree. And thus seized by the mighty +Bhima, the fatigued Rakshasa, became faint, and trembling all over, he +still pressed the (Pandava) with all his strength. And finding him +fatigued, Vrikodara, twined his own arms round the foe, even as one +bindeth a beast with cord. And the monster thereupon began to roar +frightfully, as a trumpet out of order. And the mighty Vrikodara for a +long while whirled the Rakshasa till the latter appeared to be +insensible, and began to move convulsively. And finding the Rakshasa +exhausted, the son of Pandu without loss of time took him up in his arms, +and slew him like a beast. And placing his knee on the waist of that +wretch of Rakshasa, Vrikodara began to press the neck of the foe with his +hands. Then Bhima, dragging along the earth the bruised body of the +Rakshasa with the eye-lids about to close, said, ‘O sinful wretch, thou +wilt no more have to wipe away the tears of Hidimva or Vaka, for thou too +art about to go to the mansions of Yama!’ And saying this, that foremost +of men, his heart filled with wrath, beholding the Rakshasa destitute of +clothing and ornaments, and insensible, and undergoing convulsions, let +him dead. And after that Rakshasa of hue like the clouds had been slain, +the son of that best of kings (Pandu) praised Bhima for his many +qualities, and placing Krishna in their front, set out for the Dwaita +woods.” + +Vidura said, ‘It was thus, O lord of men, that Kirmira was slain in +combat by Bhima, in obedience, O Kaurava, to the commands of Yudhishthira +the just! And having rid the forest of its pest, the victorious +Yudhishthira the just, began to live in that dwelling of theirs, with +Draupadi. And those bulls of the Bharata race comforting Draupadi began +to cheerfully extol Bhima with glad hearts. And after the Rakshasa had +been slain, borne down by the might of Bhima’s arms, those heroes entered +into the peaceful forest freed from its annoyance. Passing through the +great forest I saw lying the body of the wicked and fearless Rakshasa +slain by Bhima’s might. And, O Bharata, there I heard of this achievement +of Bhima from those Brahmanas who have assembled round the Pandavas.’ + +Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing the account of the slaughter in combat +of Kirmira, that foremost of Rakshasas, the king sighed in sorrow and +became absorbed in thought.’” + + + +SECTION XII + +(Arjunabhigamana Parva) + +Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing that the Pandavas had been banished, the +Bhojas, the Vrishnis, and the Andhakas went to those heroes residing in +affliction in the great forest. And the consanguineous relatives of +Panchala, and Dhrishtaketu the king of Chedi, and those celebrated and +powerful brothers--the Kaikeyas, their hearts fired with wrath, went to +the forest to see the sons of Pritha. And reproaching the sons of +Dhritarashtra, they said, ‘What should we do?’ And those bulls of the +Kshatriya race, with Vasudeva at their head, sat themselves down round +Yudhishthira the just. And respectfully saluting that foremost of the +Kurus, Kesava mournfully said, ‘The earth shall drink the blood of +Duryodhana and Karna, of Dussasana and the wicked Sakuni! Slaying these +in battle and defeating their followers along with their royal allies, +will we all install Yudhishthira the just on the throne! The wicked +deserve to be slain! Verily, this is eternal morality.’ + +Vaisampayana continued, ‘And when on account of the wrongs of Pritha’s +sons, Janardana had thus got into a passion, and seemed bent upon +consuming all created things, Arjuna exerted himself to pacify him. And +beholding Kesava angry, Falguna began to recite the feats achieved in his +former lives by that soul of all things, himself immeasurable, the +eternal one, of infinite energy, the lord of Prajapati himself, the +supreme ruler of the worlds, Vishnu of profound wisdom!’ + +“Arjuna said, ‘In days of old, thou, O Krishna, hadst wandered on the +Gandhamadana mountains for ten thousand years as a Muni having his home +where evening fell! Living upon water alone, thou hadst, in days of old, +O Krishna, also dwelt for full eleven thousand years by the lake of +Pushkara! And, O slayer of Madhu, with arms upraised and standing on one +leg, thou hadst passed a hundred years on the high hills of Vadari,[16] +living all the while upon air! And leaving aside thy upper garment, with +body emaciated and looking like a bundle of veins, thou hadst lived on +the banks of the Saraswati, employed in thy sacrifice extending for +twelve years! And, O Krishna of mighty energy, in observance of thy vow +thou hadst stood on one leg for the length of a thousand years of the +celestials, on the plains of Prabhasa which it behoveth the virtuous to +visit! Vyasa hath told me that thou art the cause of the creation and its +course! And, O Kesava, the lord of Kshetra,[17] thou art the mover of all +minds, and the beginning and end of all things! All asceticism resteth in +thee, and thou too art the embodiment of all sacrifices, and the eternal +one! Slaying the Asura Naraka, offspring of the Earth-first begotten, +thou hadst obtained his ear-rings, and performed, O Krishna, the first +horse-sacrifice (offering up that Asura as the sacrificial horse)! And, O +bull of all the worlds, having performed that feat, thou hast become +victorious over all! Thou hadst slain all the Daityas and Danavas +mustered in battle, and giving the lord of Sachi (Indra) the sovereignty +of the universe, thou hast, O Kesava of mighty arms, taken thy birth +among men! O slayer of all foes, having floated on the primordial waters, +thou subsequently becamest Hari,[18] and Brahma and Surya and Dharma, and +Dhatri and Yama and Anala and Vasu, and Vaisravana, and Rudra, and Kala +and the firmament the earth, and the ten directions! Thyself increate, +thou art the lord of the mobile and the immobile universe, the Creator of +all, O thou foremost of all existences! And, O slayer of Madhu, O thou of +abundant energy, in the forest of Chitraratha thou didst, O Krishna, +gratify with thy sacrifice the chief of all the gods, the highest of the +high! O Janardana, at each sacrifice thou didst offer, according to +shares, gold by hundreds and thousands. And, O son of the Yadava race, +becoming the son of Aditi, O exalted one of the supreme attributes, thou +hast been known as the younger brother of Indra! And, O thou chastiser of +foes, even while a child thou didst, O Krishna, in consequence of thy +energy, fill by three steps only the heaven, the firmament, and the +earth! And, O thou soul of all covering the heaven and the firmament +(while thou wert thus transformed), thou didst dwell in the body of the +sun and afflict him with thy own splendour! And, O exalted one, in thy +incarnations on those thousand occasions, thou hadst slain, O Krishna, +sinful Asuras by hundreds! By destroying the Mauravas and the Pashas, and +slaying Nisunda and Naraka. Thou hast again rendered safe the road to +Pragjyotisha! Thou hast slain Ahvriti at Jaruthi, and Kratha and Sisupala +with his adherents, and Jarasandha and Saivya and Satadhanwan! And on thy +car roaring like unto clouds and effulgent like the sun, thou didst +obtain for thy queen the daughter of Bhoja, defeating Rukmi in battle! +Thou didst in fury slay Indradyumna and the Yavana called Kaseruman! And +slaying Salwa the lord of Saubha, thou didst destroy that city of Saubha +itself! These have all been slain in battle; listen to me as I speak of +others (also slain by thee)! At Iravati thou hast slain king Bhoja equal +unto Karttavirya in battle, and both Gopati and Talaketu also have been +slain by thee! And, O Janardana, thou hast also appropriate unto thyself +the sacred city of Dwarka, abounding in wealth and agreeable unto the +Rishi themselves, and thou wilt submerge it at the end within the ocean! +O slayer of Madhu, how can crookedness be in thee, devoid as thou art, O +thou of the Dasarha race, of anger and envy and untruth and cruelty? O +thou who knowest no deterioration, all the Rishis, coming unto thee +seated in thy glory on the sacrificial ground, seek protection of thee! +And, O slayer of Madhu, thou stayest at the end of the Yuga, contracting +all things and withdrawing this universe into thy own self, thou +repressor of all foes! O thou of the Vrishni race, at the beginning of +the Yuga, there sprang from thy lotus-like navel, Brahma himself, and +lord of all mobile and immobile things, and whose is this entire +universe! When the dreadful Danavas Madhu and Kaitava were bent on +slaying Brahma, beholding their impious endeavour thou wert angry, and +from thy forehead, O Hari, sprang Sambhu, the holder of the trident. Thus +these two foremost of the deities have sprung from thy body in order to +do thy work! Even Narada it was who hath told me this! O Narayana, thou +didst, in the forest of Chaitraratha, celebrate with plentiful gifts a +grand sacrifice consisting of a multitude of rites! O God, O thou of eyes +like lotus leaves, the deeds thou hast performed while still a boy, +having recourse to thy might and aided by Baladeva, have never been done +by others, nor are they capable of being achieved by others in the +future! Thou didst even dwell in Kailasa, accompanied by Brahmanas!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having addressed Krishna thus, the illustrious +Pandava, who was the soul of Krishna, became dumb, when Janardana (in +reply addressed that son of Pritha) saying, ‘Thou art mine and I am +thine, while all that is mine is thine also! He that hateth thee hateth +me as well, and he that followeth thee followeth me! O thou irrepressible +one, thou art Nara and I am Narayana or Hari! We are the Rishis Nara and +Narayana born in the world of men for a special purpose. O Partha, thou +art from me and I am from thee! O bull of the Bharata race, no one can +understand the difference that is between us!’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘When the illustrious Kesava had said so in the +midst of that assembly of brave kings, all excited with anger, Panchali +surrounded by Dhrishtadyumna and her other heroic brothers, approached +him of eyes like lotus leaves seated with his cousins, and, desirous of +protection, addressed in angry accents that refuge of all, saying, ‘Asita +and Devala have said that in the matter of the creation of all things, +thou hast been indicated (by the sages) as the only Prajapati and the +Creator of all the worlds! And, O irrepressible one, Jamadagnya sayeth +that thou art Vishnu, and, O slayer of Madhu, that thou art (embodiment +of) Sacrifice, Sacrificer and he for whom the sacrifice is performed! +And, O best of male beings, the Rishis indicate thee as Forgiveness and +Truth! Kasyapa hath said that thou art Sacrifice sprung from Truth! O +exalted one, Narada calleth thee the god of the Sadhyas, and of the +Sivas, as alone the Creator and the Lord of all things. And, O tiger +among men, thou repeatedly sportest with the gods including, Brahma and +Sankara and Sakra even as children sporting with their toys! And, O +exalted one, the firmament is covered by thy head, and the earth by thy +feet; these worlds are as thy womb and thou art the Eternal one! With +Rishis sanctified by Vedic lore and asceticism, and whose souls have been +purified by penance, and who are contented with soul-vision, thou art the +best of all objects! And, O chief of all male beings; thou art the refuge +of all royal sages devoted to virtuous acts, never turning their backs on +the field of the battle, and possessed of every accomplishment! Thou art +the Lord of all, thou art Omnipresent, thou art the Soul of all things, +and thou art the active power pervading everything! The rulers of the +several worlds, those worlds themselves, the stellar conjunctions, the +ten points of the horizon, the firmament, the moon, and the sun, are all +established in thee! And, O mighty-armed one, the morality of (earthly) +creatures, the immortality of the universe, are established in thee! Thou +art the Supreme lord of all creatures, celestial or human! Therefore it +is, O slayer of Madhu, that impelled by the affection thou bearest me +that I will relate to thee my griefs! O Krishna, how could one like me, +the wife of Pritha’s sons, the sister of Dhrishtadyumna, and the friend +of thee, be dragged to the assembly! Alas, during my season, stained with +blood, with but a single cloth on, trembling all over, and weeping, I was +dragged to the court of the Kurus! Beholding me, stained with blood in +the presence of those kings in the assembly, the wicked sons of +Dhritarashtra laughed at me! O slayer of Madhu, while the sons of Pandu +and the Panchalas and the Vrishnis lived, they dared express the desire +of using me as their slave! O Krishna, I am according to the ordinance, +the daughter in-law of both Dhritarashtra and Bhishma! Yet, O slayer of +Madhu, they wished to make of me a slave by force! I blame the Pandavas +who are mighty and foremost in battle, for they saw (without stirring) +their own wedded wife known over all the world, treated with such +cruelty! Oh, fie on the might of Bhimasena, fie on the Gandiva of Arjuna, +for they, O Janardana, both suffered me to be thus disgraced by little +men! This eternal course of morality is ever followed by the +virtuous--viz., that the husband, however weak, protecteth his wedded +wife! By protecting the wife one protecteth his offspring and by +protecting the offspring one protecteth his own self! One’s own self is +begotten on one’s wife, and therefore it is that the wife is called Jaya. +A wife also should protect her lord, remembering that he is to take his +birth in her womb! The Pandavas never forsake the person that soliciteth +their protection, and yet they abandoned me who solicited it! By my five +husbands five sons of exceeding energy have been born of me: Prativindhya +by Yudhishthira, Sutasoma by Vrikodara, Srutakirti by Arjuna, Satanika by +Nakula and Srutakarman by the youngest, all of them of energy that cannot +be baffled. For their sake, O Janardana, it was necessary to protect me! +Even as (thy son) Pradyumna, they are, O Krishna, mighty warriors all! +They are foremost of bowmen, and invincible in battle by any foe! Why do +they bear the wrongs inflicted (on me) by the sons of Dhritarashtra of +such contemptible strength? Deprived of their kingdom by deception, the +Pandavas were made bondsmen and I myself was dragged to the assembly +while in my season, and having only a single cloth on! Fie on that +Gandiva which none else can string save Arjuna and Bhima and thyself, O +slayer of Madhu! Fie on the strength of Bhima, and fie on the prowess of +Arjuna, since, O Krishna, Duryodhana (after what he had done) hath drawn +breath even for a moment! He it is, O slayer of Madhu, who formerly drove +the guileless Pandavas with their mother from the kingdom, while they +were children still engaged in study and the observance of their vows. It +is that sinful wretch, who, horrible to relate, mixed in Bhima’s food +fresh and virulent poison in full dose. But, O Janardana, Bhima digested +that poison with the food, without sustaining any injury, for, O best of +men and mighty-armed one, Bhima’s days had not been ended! O Krishna, it +is Duryodhana who at the house standing by the banyan called Pramana +bound Bhima sleeping unsuspectingly, and casting him into the Ganges +returned to the city. But the powerful Bhimasena the son of Kunti, +possessed of mighty arms, on waking from sleep, tore his bonds and rose +from the water. It is Duryodhana, who caused venomous black-cobras to +bite all over the body of Bhimasena, but that slayer of foes died not. +Awaking, the son of Kunti smashed all the serpents and with his left hand +killed (the agent, viz.) the favourite charioteer of Duryodhana. Again, +while the children were asleep at Varanavata with their mother, it is he +who set fire to the house intending to burn them to death. Who is there +capable of doing such an act? It was then that the illustrious Kunti, +overtaken by this calamity, and surrounded by the flames, began to cry +out in terror, speaking to the children, ‘Alas, I am undone! How shall we +escape from this fire today! Alas, I shall meet with destruction with my +little children!’ Then Bhima, possessed of mighty arms, and prowess like +unto the force of the wind, comforted his illustrious mother as also his +brothers, saying, ‘Like that king of birds, Garuda, the son of Vinata, I +will spring up into the air. We have no fear from this fire’. And then +taking his mother on his left flank, and the king in his right, and the +twins on each shoulder, and Vivatsu on his back, the mighty Vrikodara, +thus taking all of them, at one leap cleared the fire and delivered his +mother and brother from the conflagration. Setting out that night with +their renowned mother, they came near the forest of Hidimva. And while +fatigued and distressed, they were sleeping fast with her, a Rakshasa +woman called Hidimva approached them. Beholding the Pandavas with their +mother asleep on the ground, influenced by desire she sought to have +Bhimasena for her lord. The weak one then took up Bhima’s feet on her lap +to press them with her soft hands. The mighty Bhima of immeasurable +energy, of prowess that could not be baffled, then woke from sleep, and +asked her, saying, ‘O thou of faultless features, what dost thou wish +here?’ Thus asked by him, the Rakshasa lady of faultless features, +capable, besides, of assuming any form at will, replied unto the +high-souled Bhima, saying, ‘Do ye speedily fly from this place! My +brother gifted with strength will come to slay ye! Therefore speed and +tarry not!’ But Bhima haughtily said, ‘I do not fear him! If he cometh +here, I will slay him!’ Hearing their converse, that vilest of cannibals +came to the spot. Of frightful form and dreadful to behold, uttering loud +cries as he came, the Rakshasa said, ‘O Hidimva, with whom dost thou +converse? Bring him unto me, I will eat him up. It behoveth thee to tarry +not.’ But moved by compassion, the Rakshasa lady of faultless features +and pure heart said nothing out of pity. Then the man-eating monster, +uttering dreadful cries, rushed at Bhima with great force. And +approaching him furiously, the mighty cannibal, possessed with rage, +caught hold of Bhima’s hand with his own and clenching fast his other +hand and making it hard as the thunder-bolt of Indra, suddenly struck +Bhima a blow that descended with the force of lightning. His hand having +been seized by the Rakshasa, Vrikodara, without being able to brook it, +flew into a rage. Then a dreadful combat took place between Bhimasena and +Hidimva, both skilled in all weapons and which was like unto the +encounter of Vasava with Vritra. And, O sinless one, after sporting with +the Rakshasa for a long while the powerful Bhima of mighty energy slew +the cannibal when the latter had become weak with exertion. Then having +slain Hidimva, and taking (his sister) Hidimva at their head, of whom was +(subsequently) born Ghatotkacha, Bhima and his brothers went away. Then +all those repressors of their foes, accompanied by their mother and +surrounded by many Brahmanas proceeded towards Ekachakra. In the matter +of this their journey, Vyasa ever engaged in their welfare had become +their counsellor. Then arriving at Ekachakra, the Pandavas of rigid vows +there also slew a mighty cannibal, Vaka by name, terrible as Hidimva +himself. And having slain that fierce cannibal, Bhima that foremost of +smiters, went with all his brothers to the capital of Drupada. And, O +Krishna, as thou hadst acquired Rukmini, the daughter of Bhishmaka, even +so Savyasachin, while residing there, obtained me! O slayer of Madhu, +Arjuna won me in the Swayamvara, having performed a feat difficult of +achievement by others and having fought also with the assembled kings! + +‘Thus, O Krishna, afflicted with numerous griefs, and in great distress, +am I living, with Dhaumya at our head, but deprived of the company of the +adorable Kunti! Why do these that are gifted with strength and possessed +of the prowess of the lion, sit indifferently, beholding me thus +afflicted by enemies so despicable? Suffering such wrongs at the hands of +wicked and evil-doing foes of small strength, am I to burn in grief so +long? Born I was in a great race, coming into the world in an +extraordinary way! I am also the beloved wife of the Pandavas, and the +daughter-in-law of the illustrious Pandu! The foremost of women and +devoted to my husbands, even I, O Krishna, was seized by hair, O slayer +of Madhu, in the sight of the Pandavas, each of whom is like an Indra +himself! + +‘Saying this the mild-speeched Krishna hid her face with her soft hands +like the buds of lotus, and began to weep. And the tears of Panchali +begot of grief washed her deep, plump and graceful breasts crowned with +auspicious marks. And wiping her eyes and sighing frequently she said +these words angrily and in a choked voice, ‘Husbands, or sons, or +friends, or brothers, or father, have I none! Nor have I thee, O thou +slayer of Madhu, for ye all, beholding me treated so cruelly by inferior +foes, sit still unmoved! My grief at Karna’s ridicule is incapable of +being assuaged! On these grounds I deserve to be ever protected by thee, +O Kesava, viz., our relationship, thy respect (for me), our friendship, +and thy lordship (over me) + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘In that assembly of heroes Vasudeva then spake +unto the weeping Draupadi as follows, ‘O fair lady, the wives of those +with whom thou art angry, shall weep even like thee, beholding their +husbands dead on the ground, weltering in blood and their bodies covered +with the arrows of Vivatsu! Weep not, lady, for I will exert to the +utmost of my powers for the sons of Pandu! I promise thou shalt (once +more) be the queen of kings! The heavens might fall, or the Himavat might +split, the earth might be rent, or the waters of the ocean might dry up, +but my words shall never be futile!’ Hearing those words of Achyuta in +reply, Draupadi looked obliquely at her third husband (Arjuna). And, O +mighty king, Arjuna said unto Draupadi, ‘O thou of beautiful coppery +eyes, grieve not! O illustrious one, it shall be even as the slayer of +Madhu hath said! It can never be otherwise, O beautiful one!’ + +“Dhrishtadyumna said, ‘I will slay Drona, Sikhandin will slay the +grandfather. And Bhimasena will slay Duryodhana, and Dhananjaya will slay +Karna. And, O sister, assisted by Rama and Krishna, we are invincible in +battle by even the slayer himself of Vritra--what are the sons of +Dhritarashtra?’ + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘After these words had been spoken, all the +heroes there turned their faces towards Vasudeva, who then in their midst +began to speak as follows.’” + + + +SECTION XIII + +“Vasudeva said, O lord of earth, if I had been present at Dwaraka, then, +O king, this evil would not have befallen thee! And, O irrepressible one, +coming unto the gambling-match, even if uninvited by the son of Amvika +(Dhritarashtra), or Duryodhana, or by the other Kauravas, I would have +prevented the game from taking place, by showing its many evils, +summoning to my aid Bhishma and Drona and Kripa, and Vahlika! O exalted +one, for thy sake I would have told the son of Vichitravirya--O foremost +of monarchs, let thy sons have nothing to do with dice!--I would have +shown the many evils (of dice) through which thou hast fallen into such +distress and the son of Virasena was formerly deprived of his kingdom! O +king, unthought of evils, befall a man from dice! I would have described +how a man once engaged in the game continueth to play (from desire of +victory). Women, dice, hunting and drinking to which people become +addicted in consequence of temptation, have been regarded as the four +evils that deprive a man of prosperity. And those versed in the Sastras +are of opinion that evils attend upon all these. They also that are +addicted to dice know all its evils. O thou of mighty arms, appearing +before the son of Amvika, I would have pointed out that through dice men +in a day lose their possessions, and fall into distress, and are deprived +of their untasted wealth, and exchange harsh words! O perpetuator of the +Kuru race, I would have pointed out these and other attendant evils! If +he had accepted my words thus addressed, the welfare of the Kurus as also +virtue itself would both have been secured! And, O foremost of kings, if +he had rejected my gentle counsels offered as medicine, then, O best of +the Bharata race, I would have compelled him by force! And, if those who +wait at his court, professing to be his friends but in reality his foes, +had supported him, then I would have slain them all, along with those +gamblers, there present! O Kauravya, it is owing to my absence from the +Anartta country at that time that thou hast fallen into such distress +begot of dice! O thou best of Kurus, O son of Pandu, on arriving at +Dwarka I learnt from Yuyudhana all about thy calamity! And, O foremost of +kings, directly I heard it with a heart sore agitated by grief, have I +speedily come here wishing to see thee, O king! Alas! O bull of the +Bharata race, ye have all fallen into dire distress! I see thee with thy +brothers plunged in misfortune!” + + + +SECTION XIV + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O Krishna, why wert thou absent (from the Anartta +country)? And, O descendant of the Vrishni race, while thou wert away, +where didst thou dwell? And what didst thou do while out of thy kingdom?’ + +“Krishna said, ‘O bull of the Bharata race, I had gone for the purpose of +destroying the (arranging) city Salwa. And, O foremost of the Kauravas, +listen to the reasons I had for so doing! The heroic son of Damaghosha, +the well-known king Sisupala of mighty arms and great energy, was slain +by me, O best of Bharatas, at thy Rajasuya sacrifice, because that wicked +one could not from anger bear to see the first worship offered to me! +Hearing that he had been slain, Salwa, burning with fierce anger, came to +Dwaraka, while, O Bharata, it was empty, myself being away, residing with +you here. And having arrived there on a car made of precious metals and +hence called the Souva, he had an encounter with the youthful princes of +the Vrishni race--those bulls of that line--and fought With them +mercilessly. And slaughtering many youthful Vrishnis of heroic valour, +the wicked one devastated all the gardens of the city. And, O thou of +mighty arms, he said, ‘Where is that wretch of the Vrishni race, +Vasudeva, the evil-souled son of Vasudeva? I will humble in battle the +pride of that person so eager for fight! Tell me truly, O Anarttas! I +will go there where he is. And after killing that slayer of Kansa and +Kesi, will I return! By my weapon I swear that I will not return with out +slaying him!’ And exclaiming repeatedly--Where is he? Where is he? the +lord of Saubha rusheth to this place and that, desirous of encountering +me in battle? And Salwa also said, ‘Impelled by wrath for the destruction +of Sisupala I shall today send to the mansion of Yama that treacherous +miscreant of mean mind?’ And, O king, he further said, ‘That Janardana +shall I slay, who, wretch that he is, hath killed my brother who was but +a boy of tender years, and who was slain not on the field of battle, +unprepared as he was!’ Having, O great king, wailed thus, and having, O +son of the Kuru race, abused me thus, he rose into the sky on his car of +precious metals capable of going anywhere at will! On returning (to my +kingdom) I heard what, O Kaurava, the evil-minded and wicked king of +Maticka had said regarding myself! And, O descendant of the Kuru race, I +was agitated with wrath, and, O king, having reflected upon everything, I +set my heart upon slaying him! And, learning, O Kauravya, of his +oppression of the Anarttas, of his abuse of myself, and of his excessive +arrogance, I resolved upon the destruction of that wretch! And, O lord of +earth, I accordingly set out (from my city), for slaying the (lord of) +the Saubha. And searching him here and there, I found him in an island in +the midst of the ocean! Then, O king, blowing my conch called the +Panchajanya obtained from the sea, and challenging Salwa to combat, I +stood for the fight! At that instant, I had an encounter with numerous +Danavas, all of whom, however, I subdued and prostrated on the ground. O +mighty-armed one, it was owing to this affair that I could not then come +(unto thee)! As soon as I heard of the unfair game of dice at Hastinapur, +I have come here desirous of seeing ye who have been plunged in +distress.’” + + + +SECTION XV + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O illustrious Vasudeva of mighty arms, tell thou in +detail of the death of the lord of Saubha. My curiosity hath not been +appeased by the narration.’ + +“Vasudeva said, ‘O mighty-armed king, hearing that the son of Srutasravas +(Sisupala) had been slain by me, Salwa, O best of the Bharata race, came +to the city of Dwaravati! And, O son of Pandu, the wicked king, +stationing his forces in array, besieged that city around and above. And +stationing himself in the upper regions, the king began his fight with +the city. And that encounter commenced with a thick shower of weapons +from all sides. And, O bull of the Bharata race, the city at that time +was well-fortified on all sides, according to the science (of +fortification), with pennons, and arches, and combatants, and walls and +turrets, and engines, and miners, and streets barricaded with spiked +wood-works and towers and edifices with gate-ways well-filled with +provisions, and engines for hurling burning brands and fires, and +vessels, of deer-skins (for carrying water), and trumpets, tabors, and +drums, lances and forks, and Sataghnis, and plough-shares, rockets, balls +of stone and battle-axes and other weapons and shield embossed with iron, +and engines for hurling balls and bullets and hot liquids! And the city +was also well-defended by numerous cars, and, O tiger among Kurus, by +Gada and Shamva and Uddhava and others, and by warriors of prowess tried +in battle, all well-born and capable of encountering any foe! And these +all placing themselves on commanding posts, aided by cavalry and +standard-bearers, began to defend the town. And Ugrasena and Uddhava and +others, to prevent carelessness, Proclaimed throughout the city that +nobody should drink. And all the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, well-knowing +that they would be slain by Salwa if they behaved carelessly, remained +sober and watchful. And the police soon drove out of the city all mimes +and dancers and singers of the Anartta country. And all the bridges over +rivers were destroyed, and boats forbidden to ply, and the trenches +(around the city) were spiked with poles at the bottom. And the land +around the city for full two miles was rendered uneven, and holes and +pits were dug thereon, and combustibles were secreted below the surface. +Our fort, O sinless one, is naturally strong and always well-defended and +filled with all kinds of weapons! And in consequence of the preparations +made, our city was more prepared than ever to meet the foe. And, O chief +of the Bharatas, in consequence of all this, the city looked like that of +Indra himself. And, O king, at the time of Salwa’s approach, nobody could +either enter or leave the town of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas without +presenting the sign that had been agreed upon. And all the streets of the +town and the open spaces were filled with numerous elephants and horses! +And, O thou of mighty arms, the combatants were all specially gratified +with allowances and wages, and rations, and weapons, and dresses! And +amongst the combatants there was none who was not paid in gold, and none +who was not paid at all, and none who was not somehow obliged, and none +who was not of tried valour! And, O thou of eyes like lotus-leaves, it +was thus Dwaraka, abounding in well-ordered arrangements, was defended by +Ahuka (Ugrasena)!’” + + + +SECTION XVI + +“Vasudeva continued, ‘O king of kings, Salwa, the lord of Saubha, came +towards our city with an immense force consisting of infantry, cavalry +and elephants! And the army headed by king Salwa, consisting of four +kings of forces, occupied a level ground commanding a copious +water-supply. And forsaking cemeteries and temples dedicated to the gods, +and sacred trees, and grounds covered by ant-hills, that host occupied +every other place. And the roads (leading to the city) were blocked up by +the divisions of the army, and the secret entrances also were all blocked +up by the enemy’s camp. And, O Kauravya, like unto the lord of birds +(Garuda), the ruler of Saubha rushed towards Dwaraka, bringing with him, +O bull among men, his host equipped with all kinds of arms, skilled in +all weapons, consisting of a dense display of cars and elephants and +cavalry abounding in banners, and well-paid and well-fed foot-soldiers +possessed of great strength and bearing every mark of heroism and +furnished with wonderful chariots and bows. And beholding the army of +Salwa, the youthful princess of the Vrishni race resolved to encounter it +sallying out of the city. And, O king, Charudeshna, Samva, and the mighty +warrior Pradyumna, O descendant of the Kuru race, sailed out, ascending +on their chariots, and clad in mail, and decked with ornaments, with +colours flying, resolved to encounter the mighty and countless host of +Salwa! And Samva taking up his bows eagerly attacked on the field of +battle Kshemavriddhi, the commander of Salwa’s forces and his chief +counsellor also! And, O thou foremost of Bharatas, the son of Jambavati +then began to shower arrows in a continuous stream even as Indra +showereth down rain! And, O mighty king, then Kshemavriddhi, the +commander of Salwa’s forces, bore that shower of arrows, immovable as the +Himavat! And, O foremost of kings, Kshemavriddhi on his part, discharged +at Samva mightier volley of shafts, aided by his powers of illusion! And +dispersing by counter illusion that discharge inspired by illusion, Samva +showered on his (adversary’s) car a thousand arrows! Then pierced by the +shafts on Samva and overwhelmed there with Kshemavriddhi, the commander +of the hostile host, left the field by the help of his fleet-steed! And +when the wicked general of Salwa had left the field, a mighty Daitya +called Vegavat rushed at my son! And, O best of monarchs, thus attacked, +the heroic Samva, the perpetuator of the Vrishni race, bore that onset of +Vegavat, keeping his ground. And, O son of Kunti, the heroic Samva, of +prowess incapable of being baffled, whirling a quickly-going mace, hurled +it speedily at Vegavat! And, O king, struck with that mace, Vegavat fell +down on the ground, like a weather-beaten and faded lord of the forest of +decayed roots! And on that heroic Asura of mighty energy, being slain +with the mace, my son entered within that mighty host and began to fight +with all. And, O great king, a well-known Danava named Vivindhya, a +mighty warrior wielding a large and powerful bow, encountered +Charudeshna! And, O monarch, the encounter between Charudeshna and +Vivindhya was as fierce as that in days of yore between Vritra and +Vasava! And enraged with each other the combatants pierced each other +with their arrows, uttering loud roars like unto two powerful lions! Then +the son of Rukmini fixed on his bow-string a mighty weapon possessing the +splendour of fire or the sun, and capable of destroying all foes, having +first vivified it with incantations! Then, O monarch, that mighty warrior +my son, fired with wrath, challenged Vivindhya and discharged the weapon +at him. And the Danava struck with that weapon, fell down on the ground a +lifeless corpse! And beholding Vivindhya slain, and the whole host waver, +Salwa advanced again on his beautiful car capable of going everywhere. +And, O king of mighty arms, beholding Salwa on that beautiful car of his, +the combatants of Dwaraka wavered with fear! But, O thou of the Kuru +race, Pradyumna sailed out, and, O great king, bidding the Anarttas be of +good cheer, said, ‘Waver ye not, and staying behold me fight I Even I +shall, by force, repell that car with Salwa on it! Ye Yadavas, this day, +I shall, with my weapons like unto serpents discharged from my bow with +my hand, destroy this host of the lord of Saubha! Be of good cheer, ye +all! Fear not! The lord of Saubha will be slain today! Attached by me, +the wretch will meet with destruction together with his car!’ O son of +Pandu, upon Pradyumna speaking thus with cheerful heart, the Yadava host, +O hero, remained on the field, and began to fight cheerfully!’” + + + +SECTION XVII + +“Vasudeva continued, ‘O bull of the Bharata race, having spoken thus unto +the Yadavas, the son of Rukmini (Pradyumna) ascended his golden car. And +the car he rode was drawn by excellent steeds in mail. And over it stood +a standard bearing the figure of a Makara with gaping mouth and fierce as +Yama. And with his steeds, more flying than running on the ground, he +rushed against the foe And the hero equipped with quiver and sword, with +fingers cased in leather, twanged his bow possessed of the splendour of +the lightning, with great strength, and transferring it from hand to +hand, as if in contempt of the enemy, spread confusion among the Danavas +and other warriors of the city of Saubha. And as hot in contempt of the, +foe, and continuously slew the Danavas in battle, no one could mark the +slightest interval between his successive shafts. And the colour of his +face changed not, and his limbs trembled not. And people only heard his +loud leonine roars indicative of wonderful valour. And the aquatic +monster with mouth wide open, that devourer of all fishes, placed on +golden flag-staff of that best of cars, struck terror into the hearts of +Salwa’s warriors. And, O king, Pradyumna, the mower of foes rushed with +speed against Salwa himself so desirous of an encounter! And, O +perpetuator of the Kuru race, braved by the heroic Pradyumna in that +mighty battle, the angry Salwa could ill bear the challenge! And that +conqueror of hostile cities, Salwa, maddened by anger, descended from his +beautiful car of unchecked speed, resolved to encounter Pradyumna. And +the people beheld the fight between Salwa and the foremost of Vrishni +heroes, which was even like unto the encounter between Vasava with Vali. +And, O hero, mounting on his beautiful car decked with gold and furnished +with flags and flag-staffs and quivers, the illustrious and mighty Salwa +began to discharge his arrows at Pradyumna! Pradyumna also by the energy +of his arms, overwhelmed Salwa in the combat by a thick shower of arrows. +The king of Saubha, however, thus attacked in battle by Pradyumna, +endured him not, but discharged at my son arrows that were like blazing +fire. But the mighty Pradyumna parried off that arrowy shower. Beholding +this, Salwa rained on my son other weapons of blazing splendour. Then, O +foremost of monarchs, pierced by the shafts of Salwa, the son of Rukmini +discharged without loss of time an arrow that was capable of entering the +vitals of a foe in fight. And that winged shaft shot by my son, piercing +Salwa’s mail, entered his heart--whereupon he fell down, in a swoon. And +beholding the heroic king Salwa fallen down deprived of sense, the +foremost of the Danavas fled away rending the ground beneath their feet. +And, O lord of the earth, the army of Salwa sent up exclamations of Oh! +and Alas! seeing their king, the lord of Saubha, drop down bereft of +sense! And O son of the Kuru race, regaining his senses, the mighty Salwa +rose and all of a sudden discharged his arrows on Pradyumna. Then the +heroic and mighty armed Pradyumna, sorely pierced by his adversary about +his throat, was enfeebled on his car. And, O mighty king, wounding the +son of Rukmini, Salwa sent up a shout like unto the roar of a lion, and +filling the entire earth with it! And, O Bharata, when my son became +senseless, Salwa, without losing a moment, again discharged at him other +shafts difficult to bear. And pierced with numberless arrows and deprived +of his senses, Pradyumna, O chief of the Kuru race, became motionless on +the field of battle!’” + + + +SECTION XVIII + +“Vasudeva continued, ‘O king, afflicted with the arrows of Salwa, when +Pradyumna became senseless the Vrishnis who had come to the fight were +all disheartened and filled with grief! And the combatants of the Vrishni +and Andhaka races burst into exclamations of Oh! and Alas! while great +joy was felt by the enemy and beholding him thus deprived of sense, his +trained charioteer, the son of Daruka, soon carried him off the field by +the help of his steeds. The car had not gone far when that best of +warriors regained his senses, and taking up his bow addressed his +charioteer, saying, ‘O son of the Suta tribe, what hast thou done? Why +dost thou go leaving the field of battle? This is not the custom of the +Vrishni heroes in battle! O son of a Suta, hast thou been bewildered at +the sight of a Salwa in that fierce encounter? Or hast thou been +disheartened, beholding the fight? O! tell me truly thy mind!’ The +charioteer answered. ‘O son of Janardana, I have not been confounded, nor +hath fear taken possession of me. On the other hand, O son of Kesava, the +task, I ween, of vanquishing Salwa is difficult for thee! Therefore, O +hero, I am slowly retiring from the field. This wretch is stronger than +thou art! It behoveth a charioteer to protect the warrior on the car, +however, when he is deprived of his senses! O thou gifted with length of +days, thou shouldst always be protected by me, even as it behoveth thee +to protect me! Thinking that the warrior on the car should always be +protected (by his charioteer), I am carrying thee away! Further, O thou +of mighty arms, thou art alone, while the Danavas are many. Thinking, O +son of Rukmini, that thou art not equal to them in the encounter, I am +going away!’ + +“Vasudeva continued, ‘When the charioteer had spoken thus, he, O +Kauravya, who hath the makara for his mark replied unto him, saying, +‘Turn the car! O son of Daruka, never do so again; never, O Suta, turn +thou from the fight, while I am alive! He is no son of the Vrishni race +who forsaketh the field or slayeth the foe fallen at his feet and crying +I am thine! or killeth a woman, a boy, or an old man, or a warrior in +distress, deprived of his car or with his weapons broken! Thou art born +in the race of charioteers and trained to thy craft! And, O son of +Daruka, thou art acquainted with the customs of the Vrishnis in battle! +Versed as thou art with all the customs of the Vrishnis in battle, do +thou, O Suta, never again fly from the field as thou hast done! What will +the irrepressible Madhava, the elder brother of Gada, say to me when he +heareth that I have left the field of battle in bewilderment or that I +have been struck on the back--a run-away from the combat! What will the +elder brother of Kesava, the mighty-armed Baladeva, clad in blue and +inebriate with wine, say, when he returneth? What also, O Suta, will that +lion among men, the grand-son of Sini (Satyaki), that great warrior, say +on hearing that I have forsaken the fight? And, O charioteer, what will +the ever-victorious Shamva, the irrepressible Charudeshna. and Gada, and +Sarana, and Akrura also of mighty arms, say unto me! What also will the +wives of the Vrishni heroes when they meet together, say of me who had +hitherto been considered as brave and well-conducted, respectable and +possessed of manly pride? They will even say This Pradyumna is a coward +who cometh here, leaving the battle! Fie on him! They will never say, +Well done! Ridicule, with exclamation of Fie, is to me or a person like +me O Suta, more than death! Therefore, do thou never again leave the +field of battle! Reposing the charge on me, Hari the slayer of Madhu, +hath gone to the sacrifice of the Bharata lion (Yudhishthira)! Therefore, +I cannot bear to be quiet now! O Suta, when the brave Kritavarman was +sallying out to encounter Salwa, I prevented him, saying I will resist +Salwa. Do thou stay! For honouring me the son of Hridika desisted! Having +left the field of battle, what shall I say unto that mighty warrior when +I meet him? When that irrepressible one of mighty arms--the holder of the +conch, the discus, and the mace--returneth, what shall I say unto him of +eyes like lotus leaves? Satyaki, and Valadeva, and others of the Vrishni +and Andhaka races always boast of me! What shall I say unto them? O Suta, +having left the field of battle and with wounds of arrows on my back +while being carried away by thee, I shall, by no means, be able to live! +Therefore, O son of Daruka, turn that car speedily, and never do so again +even in times of greatest danger! I do not, O Suta, think life worth +much, having fled from the field like a coward, and my back pierced, with +the arrows (of the enemy)! Hast thou ever seen me. O son of Suta, fly in +fear from the field of battle like coward? O son of Daruka, it behoved +thee not to forsake the battle, while my desire of fight was not yet +gratified! Do thou, therefore, go back to the field.’” + + + +SECTION XIX + +Vasudeva continued, Thus addressed, the son of Suta race replied in haste +unto Pradyumna, that foremost of all endued with strength, in these sweet +words, ‘O son of Rukmini, I fear not to guide the horses on the field of +battle, and I am acquainted also with the customs of the Vrishnis in war! +It is not otherwise in the least! But, O thou blest with length of days, +those that guide the car are taught that the warrior on the car is, by +all means, to be protected by his charioteer! Thou wert also much +afflicted! Thou wert much wounded by the arrows shot by Salwa. Thou wert +also deprived of thy senses, O hero! Therefore is it that I retired from +the field.’ But, O chief of the Satwatas, now that thou hast regained thy +senses without much ado, do thou, O son of Kesava, witness my skill in +guiding the horses! I have been begotten by Daruka, and I have been duly +trained! I will now penetrate into the celebrated array of Salwa without +fear! + +“Vasudeva continued, ‘Saying this, O hero, the charioteer, pulling the +reins, began to lead the horses with speed towards the field of battle. +And, O king, struck with the whip and pulled by the reins those excellent +steeds seemed to be flying in the air, performing various beautiful +motion, now circular, now similar, now dissimilar, now to the right, now +to the left. And, O king, those steeds understanding as it were the +intention of Daruka’s son endued with such lightness of hand, burned with +energy, and seemed to go without touching the ground with their feet! +That bull among men wheeled round Salwa’s host so easily that they who +witnessed it wondered exceedingly. And the lord of Saubha, unable to bear +that manoeuvre of Pradyumna, instantly sent three shafts at the +charioteer of his antagonist! The charioteer, however, without taking any +note of the force of those arrows, continued to go along the right. Then +the lord of Saubha, O hero, again discharged at my son by Rukmini, a +shower of various kinds of weapons! But that slayer of hostile heroes, +the son of Rukmini, showing with a smile his lightness of hand, cut all +those weapons off as they reached him. Finding his arrows cut by +Pradyumna, the lord of Saubha, having recourse to the dreadful illusion +natural to Asuras began to pour a thick shower of arrows. But cutting +into pieces those powerful Daitya weapons shot at him in mid-career by +means of his Brahma weapon, Pradyumna discharged winged shafts of other +kings. And these delighting in blood, warding off the shafts of Daitya, +pierced his head, bosom and face. And at those wounds Salwa fell down +senseless. And on the mean-minded Salwa falling down, afflicted with +Pradyumna’s arrows, the son of Rukmini aimed another arrow at him, +capable of destroying every foe. And beholding that arrow worshipped by +all the Dasarhas, and flaming like fire and fatal as a venomous snake, +fixed on the bow-string, the firmament was filled with exclamations of +Oh! and Alas! Then all the celestials with Indra and the lord of +treasures (Kubera) at their head sent Narada and the god of wind endued +with the speed of the mind. And these two approaching the son of Rukmini +delivered unto him the message of the celestial, saying, O hero, king +Salwa is nor to be slain by thee! Do thou draw back the arrow. He is +unslayable by thee in fight! There breatheth not a person who cannot be +killed by that arrow! O thou of mighty arms, the Creator hath ordained +his death at the hands of Krishna, the son of Devaki! Let this be not +falsified!--Thereupon with a glad heart, Pradyumna withdrew that best of +arrows from his excellent bow and deposited it back in his quiver. And +then, O foremost of kings, the mighty Salwa, afflicted with the arrows of +Pradyumna, rose disheartened, and speedily went away. Then O king, the +wicked Salwa, thus afflicted by the Vrishnis, mounted on his car of +precious metals, and leaving Dwaraka scudded through the skies!’” + + + +SECTION XX + +“Vasudeva said, ‘When Salwa had left the city of the Anarttas, I returned +to it, O king, on the completion of thy great Rajasuya sacrifice! On my +arrival I found Dwaraka shorn of its splendour, and, O great monarch, +there were not sounds of Vedic recitation or sacrificial offering, And +the excellent damsels were all destitute of ornaments, and the gardens +were devoid of beauty. And alarmed by the aspect, I asked the son of +Hridika saying, ‘Why is it that the men and women of the city of the +Vrishnis are so woe-begone, O tiger among men?’ O thou best of kings thus +asked the son of Hridika (Kritavarman) relate to me in detail the +invasion of the city by Salwa, and his subsequent departure from it. And, +O thou foremost of Bharatas, hearing all, even then I made up my mind to +slay Salwa. And encouraging the citizens, O best of Bharatas, I +cheerfully addressed king Ahuka, and Anakdundhuvi, and the chief heroes +of the Vrishni race, saying, ‘Do ye, O bulls among the Yadavas, stay in +the city, taking every care, and know that I go to slay Salwa! I return +not to the city of Dwaravati without slaying him. I will again come to ye +having compassed the destruction of Salwa together with his car of +precious metals. Do ye strike up the sharp and middle and flat notes of +the Dundhuvi so dreadful to foes!’ And O thou bull of the Bharata race, +thus adequately encouraged by me, those heroes cheerfully said unto me, +‘Go and slay the enemies!’ And thus receiving the benedictions of those +warriors with glad hearts, and causing the Brahmanas to utter auspicious +words and bowing down to the best of the regenerate ones, and to Siva +also, I set out on my car unto which were yoked the horses Saivya, and +Sugriva, filling all sides with the clatter (of my wheels) and blowing +that best of conchs, the Panchajanya! And, O king, O tiger among men, +accompanied by my redoubted and victorious army consisting of the four +kinds of the forces so persevering in battle, I set out. And leaving many +countries, and mountains, crowned with trees, and pieces of water, and +streams, I at last arrived at the country of Matrikavarta. It is there, O +thou tiger among men, that I heard that Salwa was coursing on his car of +precious metals near the ocean, and I followed in his pursuit. And, O +thou slayer of thy foes, having reached the main, Salwa on his car of +costly metals was in the midst of the deep heaving with billows! And on +seeing me from a distance, O Yudhishthira, that one of wicked soul +himself challenged me repeatedly to the fight. And many arrows capable of +piercing to the quick, discharged from my bow reached not his car. And at +this I was wroth! And, O king, that essentially sinful wretch of a +Daitya’s son of irrepressible energy, on his part began to shoot thousand +upon thousands of arrows in torrents! And, O Bharata, he rained shafts +upon my soldiers and upon my charioteer and upon my steeds! But without +thinking of the shafts, we continued the conflict. Then the warriors +following Salwa poured on me straight arrows by thousands. And the Asuras +covered my horses and my car and Daruka with arrows capable of piercing +the very vitals. And, O hero, I could not at that time see either my +horses, or my car, or my charioteer Daruka! And I with my army was +covered with weapons. And, O son of Kunti, superhumanly skilled in +weapons, I also let fly from my bow arrows by tens of thousands, +inspiring them with mantras! But as that car of costly metals was in the +sky, full two miles off, it could not, O Bharata, be seen by my troops. +They could therefore only remaining on the field of battle look on like +spectators in a place of amusement, cheering me on by shouts loud as the +roar of the lion, and also by the sound of their clapping. And the tinted +arrows shot by the fore-part of hand penetrated into the bodies of the +Danavas like biting insects. And then arose cries in the car of precious +metals from those that were dying of wounds by those sharp arrows and +falling into the waters of the mighty ocean. And the Danavas deprived of +their arms, necks, and wearing the form of Kavandhas,--fell, sending up +tremendous roars. And as they fell they were devoured by animals living +in the waters of the ocean. And then I powerfully blew the Panchajanya +obtained from the waters and graceful as the lotus-stalk and white as +milk or the Kunda flower or the moon or silver. And seeing his soldiers +fall, Salwa the possessor of the car of precious metals, began to fight +with the help of illusion. And then he began to ceaselessly hurl at me +maces, and ploughshares, and winged darts and lances, and javelins, and +battle-axes, and swords and arrows blazing like javelins and +thunderbolts, and nooses, and broad swords, and bullets from barrels, and +shafts, and axes, and rockets. And permitting them to come towards me, I +soon destroyed them all by counter-illusion. And on this illusion being +rendered ineffectual, he began the contest with mountain peaks. And, O +Bharata, then there was darkness and light alternately, and the day was +now fair, and now gloomy, and now hot, and now cold. And there was a +perfect shower of coals, and ashes, and weapons. And creating such +illusion the enemy fought with me. And ascertaining it I destroyed his +illusion by counter-illusion. And in the due time I showered arrows all +round. And then, O mighty king, the dome of heaven blazed as with a +hundred suns, and, O son of Kunti with one hundred moons, and thousands +and ten thousands of stars! And then none could ascertain whether it was +day or night, or distinguish the points of the horizon. And, becoming +bewildered, I fixed on my bowstring the weapon called Pragnastra. And, O +son of Kunti, the weapon went like unto flakes of pure cotton blown away +by the winds! And a great fight took place, calculated to make the down +on one’s body stand on end. And O best of monarchs, having regained, +light, I again fought with the enemy!’” + + + +SECTION XXI + +“Vasudeva said, ‘O thou tiger among men, my great enemy king Salwa, thus +encountered by me in battle, again ascended the sky. And O mighty +monarch, inspired with the desire of victory, that wicked one hurled at +me Sataghnis, and mighty maces, and flaming lances, and stout clubs, and +as the weapons came along the sky, I speedily resisted them with my swift +arrows, and cut them in two or three pieces before they came at me. And +there was a great noise in the welkins. And Salwa covered Daruka, and my +steeds, and my car also with hundreds of straight shafts. Then, O hero, +Daruka, evidently about to faint, said unto me, ‘Afflicted with the +shafts of Salwa I stay in the field, because it is my duty to do so. But +I am incapable of doing so (any longer). My body hath become weak!’ +Hearing these piteous words of my charioteer, I looked at him, and found +the driver wounded with arrows. Nor was there a spot on his breasts or +the crown of his head, or body or his arms which was not, O thou foremost +of sons of Pandu, covered with shafts! And blood flowed profusely from +his wounds inflicted by arrows, and he looked like unto a mountain of red +chalk after a heavy shower. And, O thou of mighty arms, seeing the +charioteer with the reins in his hands thus pierced and enfeebled by the +shafts of Salwa in the field of battle, I cheered him up! + +“‘And, O Bharata, about this time, a certain person, having his home in +Dwaraka quickly coming to my car, addressed me like a friend, delivering +to me, O hero, a message from Ahuka! He seemed to be one of Ahuka’s +followers. And sadly and in a voice choked in sorrow, know, O +Yudhishthira, he said words’--O warrior, Ahuka, the lord of Dwaraka, hath +said these words unto thee! O Kesava, hear what thy father’s friend +sayeth: O son of the Vrishni race, O thou irrepressible one, in thy +absence today Salwa, coming to Dwaraka, hath by main force killed +Vasudeva! Therefore, no need of battle any more. Cease, O Janardana! Do +thou defend Dwaraka! This is thy principal duty!--Hearing these words of +his, my heart became heavy, and I could not ascertain what I should do +and what I should not. And, O hero, hearing of that great misfortune, I +mentally censured Satyaki, and Baladeva, and also that mighty pradyumna. +Having reposed on them the duty of protecting Dwaraka and Vasudeva, I had +gone, O son of the Kuru race, to effect the destruction of Salwa’s city. +And in a sorrowful heart, I asked myself,--Doth that destroyer of foes, +the mighty-armed Baladeva, live, and Satyaki, and the son of Rukmini and +Charudeshna possessed of prowess, and Shamva and others? For, O thou +tiger among men, these living, even the bearer himself of the thunderbolt +could by no means destroy Suta’s son (Vasudeva)! And thought, I, It is +plain that Vasudeva is dead and equally plain that the others with +Baladeva at their head have been deprived of life--This was my certain +conclusion. And, O mighty king, thinking of the destruction of those all, +I was overwhelmed with grief! And it was in this state of mind that I +encountered Salwa afresh. And now I saw, O great monarch, Vasudeva +himself falling from the car of precious metals! And, O warrior I swooned +away, and, O king of men, my sire seemed like unto Yayati after the loss +of his merit, falling towards the earth from heaven! And like unto a +luminary whose merit hath been lost saw my father falling, his head-gear +foul and flowing loosely, and his hair and dress disordered. And then the +bow Sharanga dropped from my hand, and, O son of Kunti I swooned away! I +sat down on the side of the car. And, O thou descendant of the Bharata +race, seeing me deprived of consciousness on the car, and as if dead, my +entire host exclaimed Oh! and Alas! And my prone father with +out-stretched arms and lower limbs, appeared like a dropping bird. And +him thus falling, O thou of mighty arms, O hero, the hostile warriors +bearing in their hands lances and axes struck grievously! And (beholding +this) my heart trembled! and soon regaining my consciousness, O warrior, +I could not see in that mighty contest either the car of costly metals, +or the enemy Salwa, or my old father! Then I concluded in my mind that it +was certainly illusion. And recovering my senses, I again began to +discharge arrows by hundreds.” + + + +SECTION XXII + +“Vasudeva continued, ‘Then O thou foremost of the Bharata race, taking up +my beautiful bow, I began to cut off with my arrows the heads of the +enemies of the celestials, from off that car of costly metals! And I +began to discharge from the Sharanga many well-looking arrows of the +forms of snakes, capable of going at a great height and possessing +intense energy. And, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, I could not then see +the car of costly metals, for it had vanished, through illusion! I was +then filled with wonder! That host of Danvas then, O Bharata, of +frightful visages and hair, set up a loud howl while I was waiting for +it. In that fierce battle. I then, with the object of destroying them, +fixed on my bow-string the weapon capable of piercing the foes if but his +sound was inaudible. Upon this, their shouts ceased. But those Danavas +that had sent up that shout were all slain by those shafts of mine +blazing as the Sun himself, and capable of striking at the perception of +sound alone. And after the shout had ceased at one place, O mighty king, +another yell proceeded from another quarter. Thitherto also I sent my +shafts. In this way, O Bharata, the Asuras began to send up yells in all +the ten quarters above and across. These were all slain by me, viz., +those that were in the skies and that were invisible, with arrows of +diverse forms, and celestial weapons inspired with mantras. Then, O hero, +that car of precious metals capable of going anywhere at will, +bewildering my eyes, reappeared at Pragjyotisha! And then the destroying +Danavas of fierce forms suddenly drowned me with a mighty shower of +rocks. And, O thou foremost of monarchs, torrents of rocks falling upon +me covered me up, and I began to grow like an ant-hill (with its summits +and peaks)! And covered along with my horses and charioteer and +flagstaffs, with crags on all sides, I disappeared from sight altogether. +Then those foremost of heroes of the Vrishni race who were of my army +were, struck with panic, and all on a sudden began to fly in all +directions. And beholding me in that plight, O king, the heaven, the +firmament, and the earth were filled with exclamation of Oh! and Alas! +And then, O monarch, my friends filled with sorrow and grief began to +weep and wail with heavy hearts! And delight filled the hearts of the +enemies. And O thou who never waverest, I heard of this after I had +defeated the foe! And then wielding the thunderbolt, that favourite +(weapon) of Indra, capable of riving stones, I destroyed that entire mass +of crags! But my steeds, afflicted with the weight of the stones and +almost on the point of death began to tremble. And beholding me, all my +friends rejoiced again even as men rejoice on seeing the sun rise in the +sky, dispersing the clouds. And seeing my horses almost in their last +gasp for breath, afflicted with that load of stones, my charioteer said +unto me in words suitable to the occasion, ‘O thou of the Vrishni race, +behold Salwa the owner of the car of precious metals sitting (yonder). Do +not disregard him! Do thou exert thyself! Do thou abandon thy mildness +and consideration for Salwa. Slay Salwa, O thou of mighty arms! O Kesava, +do not let him live! O hero, O thou destroyer of those that are not thy +friends (enemies), an enemy should be slain with every exertion! Even a +weak enemy who is under the feet of a man endued with strength, should +not be disregarded by the latter: that (shall I say) of one that dareth +us to the fight? Therefore, O thou tiger among men, putting forth every +exertion, slay him, O lord, O thou foremost of the Vrishni race! Do thou +not delay again! This one is not capable of being vanquished by milder +measures. And he cannot in my opinion be thy friend who is fighting thee +and who devastated Dwaraka!’ O Kaunteya, hearing such words of my +charioteer, and knowing that what he said was true, I directed my +attention to the fight (afresh), with the view of slaying Salwa and +destroying the car of costly metals! And, O hero, saying unto Daruka, +‘Stay a moment’ I fixed on my bow-string my favourite weapon of fire, +blazing and of celestial origin, of irresistible force, and incapable of +being baffled, bursting with energy, capable of penetrating into +everything, and of great splendour! And saying, ‘Destroy the car of +precious metals together with all those enemies that are in it.’ I +launched with the might of my arms and in wrath with mantras, the great +powerful discus Sudarsana which reduceth to ashes in battle Yakshas and +Rakshasas and Danavas and kings born in impure tribes, sharp-edged like +the razor, and without stain, like unto Yama the destroyer, and +incomparable, and which killeth enemies. And rising into the sky, it +seemed like a second sun of exceeding effulgence at the end of the Yuga. +And approaching the town of Saubha whose splendour had disappeared, the +discus went right through it, even as a saw divideth a tall tree. And cut +in twain by the energy of the Sudarsana it fell like the city of Tripura +shaken by the shafts of Maheswara. And after the town of Saubha had +fallen, the discus came back into my hands, And taking it up I once more +hurled it with force saying, ‘Go thou unto Salwa.’ The discus then cleft +Salwa in twain who in that fierce conflict was at the point of hurling a +heavy mace. And with its energy it set the foe ablaze. And after that +brave warrior was slain, the disheartened Danava women fled in all +directions, exclaiming Oh! and Alas! And taking my chariot in front of +the town of Saubha I cheerfully blew my conch and gladdened the hearts of +my friends. And beholding their town, high as the peak of the Meru, with +its palaces and gate-ways utterly destroyed, and all ablaze, the Danavas +fled in fear. And having thus destroyed the town of Saubha and slain +Salwa, I returned to the Anarttas and delighted my friends. And, O king, +it is for this reason that I could not come to the city named after the +elephant (Hastinapura), O destroyer of hostile heroes! O warrior, if I +had come, Suyodhana would not have been alive or the match at dice would +not have taken place. What can I do now? It is difficult to confine the +waters after the dam is broken!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having addressed the Kaurava thus, that foremost +of male persons, of mighty arms, the slayer of Madhu, possessed of every +grace, saluting the Pandavas, prepared for departure. And the +mighty-armed hero reverentially saluted Yudhishthira the just, and the +king in return and Bhima also smelt the crown of his head. And he was +embraced by Arjuna, and the twins saluted him with reverence. And he was +duly honoured by Dhaumya, and worshipped with tears by Draupadi. And +causing Subhadra and Abhimanyu to ascend his golden car, Krishna, mounted +it himself, worshipped by the Pandavas. And consoling Yudhishthira, +Krishna set out for Dwaraka on his car resplendent as the sun and unto +which were yoked the horses Saivya and Sugriva. And after he of the +Dasharha race had departed, Dhristadyumna, the son of Prishata, also set +out for his own city, taking with him the sons of Draupadi. And the king +of Chedi, Dhrishtaketu also, taking his sister with him set out for his +beautiful city of Suktimati, after bidding farewell to the Pandavas. And, +O Bharata, the Kaikeyas also, with the permission of Kunti’s son +possessed of immeasurable energy, having reverentially saluted all the +Pandavas, went away. But Brahmanas and the Vaisyas and the dwellers of +Yudhishthira’s kingdom though repeatedly requested to go, did not leave +the Pandavas. O foremost of king, O bull of the Bharata race, the +multitude that surrounded those high-souled ones in the forest of Kamyaka +looked extraordinary. And Yudhishthira, honouring those high-minded +Brahmanas, in due time ordered his men, saying ‘Make ready the car.’” + + + +SECTION XXIII + +Vaisampayana continued, “After the chief of the Dasharhas had departed, +the heroic Yudhishthira, and Bhima, and Arjuna, and the twins, each +looking like unto Shiva, and Krishna, and their priest, ascending costly +cars unto which were yoked excellent steeds, together went into the +forest. And at time of going they distributed Nishkas of gold and clothes +and kine unto Brahmanas versed in Siksha and Akshara and mantras. And +twenty attendants followed them equipped with bows, and bowstrings, and +blazing weapons, and shafts and arrows and engines of destruction. And +taking the princess’s clothes and the ornaments, and the nurses and the +maid-servants, Indrasena speedily followed the princes on a car. And then +approaching the best of Kurus, the high-minded citizens walked round him. +And the principal Brahmanas of Kurujangala cheerfully saluted him. And +together with his brothers, Yudhishthira the just, on his part saluted +them cheerfully. And the illustrious king stopped there a little, +beholding the concourse of the inhabitants of Kurujangala. And the +illustrious bull among the Kurus felt for them as a father feeleth for +his sons, and they too felt for the Kuru chief even as sons feel for +their father! And that mighty concourse, approaching the Kuru hero, stood +around him. And, O king, affected, with bashfulness, and with tears in +their eyes, they all exclaimed, ‘Alas, O lord! O Dharma!’ And they said, +‘Thou art the chief of the Kurus, and the king of us, thy subjects! Where +dost thou go, O just monarch, leaving all these citizens and the +inhabitants of the country, like a father leaving his sons? Fie on the +cruel-hearted son of Dhritarashtra! Fie on the evil-minded son of Suvala! +Fie on Karna! For, O foremost of monarchs, those wretches ever wish unto +thee who art firm in virtue! Having thyself established the unrivalled +city of Indraprastha of the splendour of Kailasa itself, where dost thou +go, leaving it, O illustrious and just king, O achiever of extraordinary +deeds! O illustrious one, leaving that peerless palace built by Maya, +which possesseth the splendour of the palace of the celestials +themselves, and is like unto a celestial illusion, ever guarded by the +gods, where dost thou go, O son of Dharma?’ And Vibhatsu knowing the ways +of virtue, pleasure, and profit said unto them in a loud voice, ‘Living +in the forest, the king intendeth to take away the good name of his +enemies! O we with the regenerate ones at your head, versed in virtue and +profit, do you approaching the ascetics separately and inclining them to +grace, represent unto them what may be for our supreme good!’ Upon +hearing these words of Arjuna, the Brahmanas and the other orders, O +king, saluting him cheerfully walked round the foremost of virtuous men! +And bidding farewell unto the son of Pritha, and Vrikodara, and +Dhananjaya and Yajnaseni, and the twins, and commanded by Yudhishthira, +they returned to their respective abodes in the kingdom with heavy +hearts.” + + + +SECTION XXIV + +Vaisampayana said, “After they had departed, Yudhishthira the virtuous +son of Kunti, unwavering in his promises, addressed all his brothers, +saying, ‘We shall have to dwell in the solitary forest for these twelve +years. Search ye, therefore, in this mighty forest for some spot +abounding in birds and deer and flowers and fruits, beautiful to behold, +and auspicious, and inhabited by virtuous persons and where we may dwell +pleasantly for all these years!’ Thus addressed by Yudhishthira, +Dhananjaya replied unto the son of Dharma, after reverencing the +illustrious king as if he were his spiritual preceptor. And Arjuna said, +‘Thou hast respectfully waited upon all the great and old Rishis. There +is nothing unknown to thee in the world of men. And O bull of the Bharata +race, thou hast always waited with reverence upon Brahmanas including +Dwaipayana and others, and Narada of great ascetic merit, who with senses +under control, ever goeth to the gates of all the world from the world of +the gods unto that of Brahma, including that of the Gandharvas and +Apsaras! And thou knowest, without doubt, the opinions of the Brahmanas, +and, O king, their prowess also! And O monarch, thou knowest what is +calculated to do us good! And O great king, we will live wherever thou +likest! Here is this lake, full of sacred water, called Dwaitavana, +abounding with flowers, and delightful to look at, and inhabited by many +species of birds. If, O king, it pleaseth thee, here should we like to +dwell these twelve years! Thinkest thou otherwise?’ Yudhishthira replied, +‘O Partha, what thou hast said recommendeth itself to me! Let us go that +sacred and celebrated and large lake called Dwaitavana!” + +“Vaisampayana continued, “Then the virtuous son of Pandu, accompanied by +numerous Brahmanas, all went to the sacred lake called Dwaitavana. And +Yudhishthira was surrounded by numerous Brahmanas some of whom sacrificed +with fire and some without it and some of whom, devoted to the study of +the Vedas, lived upon alms or were of the class called Vanaprasthas. And +the king was also surrounded by hundreds of Mahatmas crowned with ascetic +success and of rigid vows. And those bulls of the Bharata race, the sons +of Pandu setting out with those numerous Brahmanas, entered the sacred +and delightful woods of Dwaita. And the king saw that mighty forest +covered on the close of summer with Salas, and palms, and mangoes, and +Madhukas, and Nipas and Kadamvas and Sarjjas and Arjunas, and Karnikars, +many of them covered with flowers. And flocks of peacocks and Datyuhas +and Chakoras and Varhins and Kokilas, seated on the tops of the tallest +trees of that forest were pouring forth their mellifluous notes. And the +king also saw in that forest mighty herds of gigantic elephants huge as +the hills, with temporal juice trickling down in the season of rut, +accompanied by herds of she-elephants. And approaching the beautiful +Bhogavati (Saraswati), the king saw many ascetics crowned with success in +the habitations in that forest, and virtuous men of sanctified souls clad +in barks of trees and bearing matted locks on their heads. And descending +from their cars, the king that foremost of virtuous men with his brothers +and followers entered that forest like Indra of immeasurable energy +entering heaven. And crowds of Charanas and Siddhas, desirous of +beholding the monarch devoted to truth, came towards him. And the +dwellers of that forest stood surrounding that lion among king possessed +of great intelligence. And saluting all the Siddhas, and saluted by them +in return as a king or a god should be, that foremost of virtuous men +entered the forest with joined hands accompanied by all those foremost of +regenerate ones. And the illustrious and virtuous king, saluted in return +by those virtuous ascetics that had approached him, sat down in their +midst at the foot of a mighty tree decked with flowers, like his father +(Pandu) in days before. And those chiefs of the Bharata race viz., Bhima +and Dhananjaya and the twins and Krishna and their followers, all +fatigued, leaving their vehicles, sat themselves down around that best of +kings. And that mighty tree bent down with the weight of creepers, with +those five illustrious bowmen who had come there for rest sitting under +it, looked like a mountain with (five) huge elephants resting on its +side.” + + + +SECTION XXV + +Vaisampayana said, “Having fallen into distress, those princes thus +obtained at last a pleasant habitation in that forest. And there in those +woods abounding with Sala trees and washed by the Saraswati, they who +were like so many Indras, began to sport themselves. And the illustrious +king, that bull of the Kuru race, set himself to please all the Yatis and +Munis and the principal Brahmanas in that forest, by offerings of +excellent fruits and roots. And their priest, Dhaumya endued with great +energy, like unto a father to those princes, began to perform the +sacrificial rites of Ishti and Paitreya for the Pandavas residing in that +great forest. And there came, as a guest, unto the abode of the +accomplished Pandavas living in the wood after loss of their kingdom, the +old Rishi Markandeya, possessed of intense and abundant energy. And that +bull of the Kuru race, the high-souled Yudhishthira, possessed of +unrivalled strength and prowess, paid his homage unto that great Muni, +reverenced by celestials and Rishis of men, and possessed of the +splendour of blazing fire. And that illustrious and all-knowing Muni, of +unrivalled energy, beholding Draupadi and Yudhishthira and Bhima and +Arjuna, in the midst of the ascetics, smiled, recollecting Rama in his +mind. And Yudhishthira the just, apparently grieved at this, asked him, +saying, ‘All these ascetics are sorry for seeing me here. Why is it that +thou alone smilest, as if an glee, in the presence of these?’ Markandeya +replied, ‘O child’, I too am sorry and do not smile in glee! Nor doth +pride born of joy possess my heart! Beholding to-day the calamity, I +recollect Rama, the son of Dasaratha, devoted to truth! Even that Rama, +accompanied by Lakshman, dwelt in the woods at the command of his father. +O son of Pritha, I beheld him in days of old ranging with his bow on the +top of the Rishyamuka hills! The illustrious Rama was like unto Indra, +the lord of Yama himself, and the slayer of Namuchi! Yet that sinless one +had to dwell in the forest at the command of his father, accepting it as +his duty. The illustrious Rama was equal unto Sakra in prowess, and +invincible in battle. And yet he had to range the forest renouncing all +pleasures! Therefore should no one act unrighteously, saying,--I am +mighty! Kings Nabhaga and Bhagiratha and others, having subjugated by +truth this world bounded by the seas, (finally) obtained, O child, all +the region hereafter. Therefore, should no one act unrighteously, +saying,--I am mighty! And, O exalted of men, the virtuous and truthful +king of Kasi and Karusha was called a mad dog for having renounced his +territories and riches! Therefore, should no one act unrighteously, +saying,--I am mighty! O best of men, O son of Pritha, the seven righteous +Rishis, for having observed the ordinance prescribed by the Creator +himself in the Vedas, blaze in the firmament. Therefore, should no one +act unrighteously, saying,--I am mighty! Behold, O king, the mighty +elephants, huge as mountain cliffs and furnished with tusks, transgress +not, O exalted of men, the laws of the Creator! Therefore, should none +act unrighteously saying, Might is mine! And, O foremost of monarchs, +behold all the creatures acting according to their species, as ordained +by the Creator. Therefore, should none act unrighteously, saying, Might +is mine. O son of Pritha, in truth, and virtue, and proper behaviour, and +modesty, thou hast surpassed all creatures, and thy fame and energy are +as bright as fire or the Sun! Firm in thy promises, O illustrious one, +having passed in the woods thy painful exile, thou wilt again, O king, +snatch from the Kauravas thy blazing prosperity with the help of thy own +energy!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having spoken these words unto Yudhishthira +(seated) in the midst of the ascetics with friends, the great Rishi +having also saluted Dhaumya and all the Pandavas set out in a northerly +direction!” + + + +SECTION XXVI + +Vaisampayana said, “While the illustrious son of Pandu continued to dwell +in the Dwaita woods, that great forest became filled with Brahmanas. And +the lake within that forest, ever resounding with Vedic recitations, +became sacred like a second region of Brahma. And the sounds of the +Yajus, the Riks, the Samas, and other words uttered by the Brahmanas, +were exceedingly delightful to hear. And the Vedic recitations of the +Brahmanas mingling with the twang of bows of the sons of Pritha, produced +a union of the Brahmana and Kshatriya customs that was highly beautiful. +And one evening the Rishi Vaka of the Dalvya family addressed +Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti seated in the midst of the Rishis, saying, +‘Behold, O chief of the Kurus, O son of Pritha, the homa time is come of +these Brahmanas devoted to ascetic austerities, the time when the +(sacred) fires have all been lit up! These all, of rigid vows, protected +by thee, are performing the rites of religion in this sacred region! The +descendants of Bhrigu and Angiras, along with those of Vasishta and +Kasyapa, the illustrious sons of Agastya, the offspring of Atri all of +excellent vows, in fact, all the foremost Brahmanas of the whole, are now +united with thee! Listen, O son of the Kuru race born of Kunti, thyself +with thy brothers, to the words I speak to thee! As are aided by the wind +consumeth the forest, so Brahma energy mingling with Kshatriya energy, +and Kshatriya might mingling with Brahma power, might, when they gathered +force, consume all enemies! O child, he should never desire to be without +Brahmanas who wisheth to subdue this and the other world for length of +days! Indeed, a king slayeth his enemies having obtained a Brahmana +conversant, with religion and worldly affairs and freed from passion and +folly. King Vali cherishing his subjects practised those duties that lead +to salvation, and knew not of any other means in this world than +Brahmanas. It was for this that all the desires of Virochana’s son, the +Asura (Vali), were ever gratified, and his wealth was ever inexhaustible. +Having obtained the whole earth through the aid of the Brahmanas, he met +with destruction when he began to practise wrong on them! This earth with +her wealth never adoreth long as her lord a Kshatriya living without a +Brahmana! The earth, however, girt by the sea, boweth unto him who is +ruled by a Brahmana and taught his duties by him! Like an elephant in +battle without his driver, a Kshatriya destitute of Brahmanas decreaseth +in strength! The Brahmana’s sight is without compare, and the Kshatriya’s +might also is unparalleled. When these combine, the whole earth itself +cheerfully yieldeth to such a combination. As fire becoming mightier with +the wind consumeth straw and wood, so kings with Brahmanas consume all +foes! An intelligent Kshatriya, in order to gain what he hath not, and +increase what he hath, should take counsel of Brahmanas! Therefore, O son +of Kunti, for obtaining what thou hast not and increasing what thou hast, +and spending what thou hast on proper objects and persons, keep thou with +thee a Brahmana of reputation, of a knowledge of the Vedas, of wisdom and +experience! O Yudhishthira. Thou hast ever highly regarded the Brahmanas. +It is for this that thy fame is great and blazeth in the three worlds!” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Then all those Brahmanas who were with +Yudhishthira worshipped Vaka of the Dalvya race, and having heard him +praise Yudhishthira became highly pleased. And Dwaipayana and Narada and +Jamadagnya and Prithusravas; and Indradyumna and Bhalaki and Kritachetas +and Sahasrapat; and Karnasravas and Munja and Lavanaswa and Kasyapa; and +Harita and Sthulakarana and Agnivesya and Saunaka; and Kritavak and +Suvakana Vrihadaswa and Vibhavasu; and Urdharetas and Vrishamitra and +Suhotra and Hotravahana; these and many other Brahmanas of rigid vows +then adored Yudhishthira like Rishis adoring Purandara in heaven!” + + + +SECTION XXVII + +Vaisampayana said, “Exiled to the woods the sons of Pritha with Krishna +seated in the evening, conversed with one another afflicted with sorrow +and grief. And the handsome and well informed Krishna dear unto her lords +and devoted to them, thus spake unto Yudhishthira, Then sinful, cruel, +and wicked-minded son of Dhritarashtra certainly feeleth no sorrow for +us, when, O king, that evil-hearted wretch having sent thee with myself +into the woods dressed in deer-skin feeleth no regret! The heart of that +wretch of evil deeds must surely be made of steel when he could at that +time address thee, his virtuous eldest brother, in words so harsh! Having +brought thee who deservest to enjoy every happiness and never such woe, +into such distress, alas, that wicked-minded and sinful wretch joyeth +with his friends! O Bharata, when dressed in deer-skin thou hast set out +for the woods, only four persons, O monarch, viz., Duryodhana, Karna, the +evil-minded Sakuni, and Dussasana that bad and fierce brother of +Duryodhana, did not shed tears! With the exception of these, O thou best +of the Kurus, all other Kurus filled with sorrow shed tears from their +eyes! Beholding this thy bed and recollecting what thou hadst before, I +grieve, O king, for thee who deservest not woe and hast been brought up +in every luxury! Remembering that seat of ivory in thy court, decked with +jewels and beholding this seat of kusa grass, grief consumeth me, O king! +I saw thee, O king, surrounded in thy court by kings! What peace can my +heart know in not beholding thee such now? I beheld thy body, effulgent +as the sun, decked with sandal paste! Alas, grief depriveth me of my +senses in beholding thee now besmeared with mud and dirt! I saw thee +before, O king, dressed in silken clothes of pure white! But I now behold +thee dressed in rags? Formerly, O king, pure food of every kind was +carried from thy house on plates of gold for Brahmanas by thousands! And, +O king, food also of the best kind was formerly given by thee unto +ascetics both houseless and living in domesticity! Formerly, living in +dry mansion thou hadst ever filled with food of every kind plates by +thousands, and worshipped the Brahmanas gratifying every wish of theirs! +What peace, O king, can my heart know in not beholding all this now? And, +O great king, these thy brothers, endued with youth and decked with +ear-rings, were formerly fed by cook with food of the sweet flavour and +dressed with skill! Alas, O king, I now behold them all, so undeserving +of woe, living in the woods and upon what the wood may yield! My heart, O +King knoweth no peace! Thinking of this Bhimasena living in sorrow in the +woods, doth not thy anger blaze up, even though it is time? Why doth not +thy anger, O king, blaze up upon beholding the illustrious Bhimasena who +ever performeth everything unaided, so fallen into distress, though +deserving of every happiness? Why, O king, doth not thy anger blaze up on +beholding that Bhima living in the woods who was formerly surrounded with +numerous vehicles and dressed in costly apparel? This exalted personage +is ready to slay all the Kurus in battle. He beareth, however, all this +sorrow, only because he waiteth for the fufilment of thy promise! This +Arjuna, O king, though possessed of two hands, is equal, for the +lightness of his hand in discharging shafts, to (Kartavirya) Arjuna of a +thousand arms! He Is even (to foes), like unto Yama himself at the end of +the Yuga! It was by the prowess of his weapons that all the kings of the +earth were made to wait upon the Brahmanas at thy sacrifice? Beholding +that Arjuna that tiger among men worshipped by both the celestials and +the Danavas so anxious, why, O king, dost thou not feel indignant? I +grieve, O Bharata, that thy wrath doth not blaze up at sight of that son +of Pritha in exile, that prince who deserveth not such distress and who +hath been brought up in every luxury! Why doth not thy wrath blaze up at +sight of that Arjuna in exile, who, on a single car, hath vanquished +celestials and men and serpents? Why, O king, doth not thy wrath blaze up +at sight of that Arjuna in exile who, honoured with offerings of cars and +vehicles of various forms and horses and elephants, forcibly took from +the kings of the earth their treasures, who is the chastiser of all foes, +and who at one impetus can throw full five hundred arrows? Why, O king, +doth not thy wrath blaze up at sight of Nakula, in exile, who so fair and +able-bodied and young, is the foremost of all swordsmen? Why, O king, +dost thou pardon the foe. O Yudhishthira, at sight of Madri’s son, the +handsome and brave Sahadeva in exile? Why doth not thy anger blaze up, O +king, it sight of both Nakula and Sahadeva overwhelmed with grief, though +so undeserving of distress? Why also, O king, dost thou pardon the foe at +sight of myself in exile who, born in the race of Drupada and, therefore, +the sister of Dhrishtadyumna, am the daughter-in-law of the illustrious +Pandu and the devoted wife of heroes? Truly, O thou best of the Bharatas, +thou hast no anger, else why is it that thy mind is not moved at sight of +thy brothers and myself (in such distress)? It is said that there is no +Kshatriya in the world who is bereft of anger. I now behold in thee, +however, a refutation of the proverb! That Kshatriya, O son of Pritha, +who discovereth not his energy when the opportunity cometh, is ever +disregarded by all creatures! Therefore, O king, thou shouldst not extend +thy forgiveness to the foe. Indeed, with thy energy, without doubt, thou, +mayst slay them all! So also, O king, that Kshatriya who is not appeased +when the time for forgiveness cometh, becometh unpopular with every +creature and meeteth with destruction both in this and the other world!’” + + + +SECTION XXVIII + +“Draupadi continued, ‘On this subject, the ancient story of the +conversation between Prahlada and Vali, the son of Virochana, is quoted +as an example. One day Vali asked his grand-father Prahlada, the chief of +the Asuras and the Danavas, possessed of great wisdom and well-versed in +the mysteries of the science of duty, saying, ‘O sire, is forgiveness +meritorious or might and energy such? I am puzzled as regards this; O +sire, enlighten me who ask thee this! O thou conversant with all duties, +tell me truly which of these is meritorious? I will strictly obey +whatever thy command may be! Thus asked (by Vali), his wise grandfather, +conversant with every conclusion, replied upon the whole subject unto his +grand-son who had sought at his hands the resolution of his doubts. And +Prahlada said, ‘Know, O child, these two truths with certainty, viz., +that might is not always meritorious and forgiveness also is not always +meritorious! He that forgiveth always suffereth many evils. Servants and +strangers and enemies always disregard him. No creature ever bendeth down +unto him. Therefore it is, O child, that the learned applaud not a +constant habit of forgiveness! The servants of an ever-forgiving person +always disregard him, and contract numerous faults. These mean-minded men +also seek to deprive him of his wealth. Vile souled servants also +appropriate to themselves his vehicles and clothes and ornaments and +apparel and beds and seats and food and drink and other articles of use. +They do not also at the command of their master, give unto others the +things they are directed to give Nor do they even worship their master +with that respect which is their master’s due. Disregard in this world is +worse than death. O child, sons and servants and attendants and even +strangers speak harsh words unto the man who always forgiveth. Persons, +disregarding the man of an ever-forgiving temper, even desire his wife, +and his wife also, becometh ready to act as she willeth. And servants +also that are ever fond of pleasure, if they do not receive even slight +punishments from their master, contract all sorts of vices, and the +wicked ever injure such a master. These and many other demerits attach to +those that are ever-forgiving! + +“Listen now, O son of Virochana, to the demerits of those that are never +forgiving! The man of wrath who, surrounded by darkness, always +inflicteth, by help of his own energy, various kinds of punishment on +persons whether they deserve them or not, is necessarily separated from +his friends in consequence of that energy of his. Such a man is hated by +both relatives and strangers. Such a man, because he insulteth others, +suffereth loss of wealth and reapeth disregard and sorrow and hatred and +confusion and enemies. The man of wrath, in consequence of his ire, +inflicteth punishments on men and obtaineth (in return) harsh words. He +is divested of his prosperity soon and even of life, not to say, of +friends and relatives. He that putteth forth his might both upon his +benefactor and his foe, is an object of alarm to the world, like a snake +that hath taken shelter in a house, to the inmates thereof. What +prosperity can he have who is an object of alarm to the world? People +always do him an injury when they find a hole. Therefore, should men +never exhibit might in excess nor forgiveness on all occasions. One +should put forth his might and show his forgiveness on proper occasions. +He that becometh forgiving at the proper time and harsh and mighty also +at the proper time, obtaineth happiness both in this world and the other. + +“‘I shall now indicate the occasions in detail of forgiveness, as laid +down by the learned, and which should ever be observed by all. Hearken +unto me as I speak! He that hath done thee a service, even if he is +guilty of a grave wrong unto thee, recollecting his former service, +shouldst thou forgive that offender. Those also that have become +offenders from ignorance and folly should be forgiven for learning and +wisdom are not always easily attainable by man. They that having offended +thee knowingly, plead ignorance should be punished, even if their +offences be trivial. Such crooked men should never be pardoned. The first +offence of every creature should be forgiven. The second offence, +however, should be punished, even if it be trivial. If, however, a person +commiteth an offence unwillingly, it hath been said that examining his +plea well by a judicious enquiry, he should be pardoned. Humility may +vanquish might, humility may vanquish weakness. There is nothing that +humility may not accomplish. Therefore, humility is truly fiercer (than +it seemeth)! One should act with reference to place and time, taking note +of his own might or weakness. Nothing can succeed that hath been +undertaken without reference to place and time. Therefore, do thou ever +wait for place and time! Sometimes offenders should be forgiven from fear +of the people. These have been declared to be times of forgiveness. And +it hath been said that on occasions besides these, might should be put +forth against transgressors.’ + +“Draupadi continued, ‘I, therefore, regard, O king, that the time hath +come for thee to put forth thy might! Unto those Kurus the covetous sons +of Dhritarashtra who injure us always, the present is not the time for +forgiveness! It behoveth thee to put forth thy might. The humble and +forgiving person is disregarded; while those that are fierce persecute +others. He, indeed, is a king who hath recourse to both, each according +to its time!’” + + + +SECTION XXIX + +Yudhishthira said, ‘Anger is the slayer of men and is again their +prosperor. Know this, O thou possessed of great wisdom, that anger is the +root of all prosperity and all adversity. O thou beautiful one, he that +suppresseth his anger earneth prosperity. That man, again, who always +giveth way to anger, reapeth adversity from his fierce anger. It is seen +in this world that anger is the cause of destruction of every creature. +How then can one like me indulge his anger which is so destructive of the +world? The angry man commiteth sin. The angry man killeth even his +preceptors. The angry man insulteth even his superiors in harsh words. +The man that is angry faileth to distinguish between what should be said +and what should not. There is no act that an angry man may not do, no +word that an angry man may not utter. From anger a man may slay one that +deserveth not to be slain, and may worship one that deserveth to be +slain. The angry man may even send his own soul to the regions of Yama. +Beholding all these faults, the wise control their anger, desirous of +obtaining high prosperity both in this and the other world. It is for +this that they of tranquil souls have banished wrath. How can one like us +indulge in it then? O daughter of Drupada, reflecting upon all this, my +anger is not excited One that acteth not against a man whose wrath hath +been up, rescueth himself as also others from great fear. In fact, he may +be regarded to be the physician of the two (viz., himself and angry man). +If a weak man, persecuted by others, foolishly becometh angry towards men +that are mightier than he, he then becometh himself the cause of his own +destruction. And in respect of one who thus deliberately throweth away +his life, there are no regions hereafter to gain. Therefore, O daughter +of Drupada, it hath been said that a weak man should always suppress his +wrath. And the wise man also who though presecuted, suffereth not his +wrath to be roused, joyeth in the other world--having passed his +persecutor over in indifference. It is for this reason hath it been said +that a wise man, whether strong or weak, should ever forgive his +persecutor even when the latter is in the straits. It is for this, O +Krishna, that the virtuous applaud them that have conquered their wrath. +Indeed, it is the opinion of the virtuous that the honest and forgiving +man is ever victorious. Truth is more beneficial than untruth; and +gentleness than cruel behaviour. How can one like me, therefore, even for +the purpose of slaying Duryodhana, exhibit anger which hath so many +faults and which the virtuous banish from their souls? They that are +regarded by the learned of foresight, as possessed of (true) force of +character, are certainly those who are wrathful in outward show only. Men +of learning and of true insight call him to be possessed of force of +character who by his wisdom can suppress his risen wrath. O thou of fair +hips, the angry man seeth not things in their true light. The man that is +angry seeth not his way, nor respecteth persons. The angry man killeth +even those that deserve not to be killed. The man of wrath slayeth even +his preceptors. Therefore, the man possessing force of character should +ever banish wrath to a distance. The man that is overwhelmed with wrath +acquireth not with ease generosity, dignity, courage, skill, and other +attributes belonging to real force of character. A man by forsaking anger +can exhibit proper energy, whereas, O wise one, it is highly difficult +for the angry man to exhibit his energy at the proper time! The ignorant +always regard anger as equivalent to energy. Wrath, however hath been +given to man for the destruction of the world. The man, therefore, who +wisheth to behave properly, must ever forsake anger. Even one who hath +abandoned the excellent virtues of his own order, it is certain, +indulgeth in wrath (if behaveth properly). If fools, of mind without +light, transgress in every respect, how, O faultless one, can one like me +transgress (like them)? If amongst men there were not persons equal unto +the earth in forgiveness, there would be no peace among men but continued +strife caused by wrath. If the injured return their injuries, if one +chastised by his superior were to chastise his superior in return, the +consequence would be the destruction of every creature, and sin also +would prevail in the world. If the man who hath ill speeches from +another, returneth those speeches afterwards; if the injured man +returneth his injuries: if the chastised person chastiseth in return; if +fathers slay sons, and sons fathers and if husbands slay wives, and wives +husbands; then, O Krishna, how can birth take place in a world where +anger prevaileth so! For, O thou of handsome face, know that the birth of +creatures is due to peace! If the kings also, O Draupadi, giveth way to +wrath, his subjects soon meet with destruction. Wrath, therefore, hath +for its consequence the destruction and the distress of the people. And +because it is seen that there are in the world men who are forgiving like +the Earth, it is therefore that creatures derive their life and +prosperity. O beautiful one, one should forgive under every injury. It +hath been said that the continuation of species is due to man being +forgiving. He, indeed, is a wise and excellent person who hath conquered +his wrath and who showeth forgiveness even when insulted, oppressed, and +angered by a strong person. The man of power who controleth his wrath, +hath (for his enjoyment) numerous everlasting regions; while he that is +angry, is called foolish, and meeteth with destruction both in this and +the other world. O Krishna, the illustrious and forgiving Kashyapa hath, +in this respect, sung the following verses in honour of men that are ever +forgiving, ‘Forgiveness is virtue; forgiveness is sacrifice, forgiveness +is the Vedas, forgiveness is the Shruti. He that knoweth this is capable +of forgiving everything. Forgiveness is Brahma; forgiveness is truth; +forgiveness is stored ascetic merit; forgiveness protecteth the ascetic +merit of the future; forgiveness is asceticism; forgiveness is holiness; +and by forgiveness is it that the universe is held together. Persons that +are forgiving attain to the regions obtainable by those that have +preformed meritorious sacrifices, or those that are well-conversant with +the Vedas, or those that have high ascetic merit. Those that perform +Vedic sacrifices as also those that perform the meritorious rites of +religion obtain other regions. Men of forgiveness, however, obtain those +much-adored regions that are in the world of Brahma. Forgiveness is the +might of the mighty; forgiveness is sacrifice; forgiveness is quiet of +mind. How, O Krishna, can one like us abandon forgiveness, which is such, +and in which are established Brahma, and truth, and wisdom and the +worlds? The man of wisdom should ever forgive, for when he is capable of +forgiving everything, he attaineth to Brahma. The world belongeth to +those that are forgiving; the other world is also theirs. The forgiving +acquire honours here, and a state of blessedness hereafter. Those men +that ever conquer their wrath by forgiveness, obtain the higher regions. +Therefore hath it been said that forgiveness is the highest virtue.’ +Those are the verses sung by Kashyapa in respect of those that are +everforgiving. Having listened, O Draupadi, to these verses in respect of +forgiveness, content thyself! Give not way to thy wrath! Our grandsire, +the son of Santanu, will worship peace; Krishna, the son of Devaki, will +worship peace; the preceptor (Drona) and Vidura called Kshatri will both +speak of peace; Kripa and Sanjaya also will preach peace. And Somadatta +and Yuyutshu and Drona’s son and our grandsire Vyasa, every one of them +speaketh always of peace. Ever urged by these towards peace, the king +(Dhritarashtra) will, I think, return us our kingdom. If however, he +yieldeth to temptation, he will meet with destruction. O lady, a crisis +hath come in the history of Bharatas for plunging them into calamity! +This hath been my certain conclusion from some time before! Suyodhana +deserveth not the kingdom. Therefore hath he been unable to acquire +forgiveness. I, however, deserve the sovereignty and therefore is it that +forgiveness hath taken possession of me. Forgiveness and gentleness are +the qualities of the self-possessed. They represent eternal virtue. I +shall, therefore, truly adopt those qualities.” + + + +SECTION XXX + +“Draupadi said, ‘I bow down unto Dhatri and Vidhatri who have thus +clouded thy sense! Regarding the burden (thou art to bear) thou thinkest +differently from the ways of thy fathers and grand-fathers! Influenced by +acts men are placed in different situations of life. Acts, therefore, +produce consequences that are inevitable; emancipation is desired from +mere folly. It seemeth that man can never attain prosperity in this world +by virtue, gentleness, forgiveness, straight-forwardness and fear of +censure! If this were not so, O Bharata, this insufferable calamity would +never have overtaken thee who art so undeserving of it, and these thy +brothers of great energy! Neither in those days of prosperity nor in +these days of thy adversity, thou, O Bharata, hath ever known anything so +dear to thee as virtue, which thou hast even regarded as dearer to thee +than life? That thy kingdom is for virtue alone, that thy life also is +for virtue alone, is known to Brahmanas and thy superiors and even the +celestials! I think thou canst abandon Bhimasena and Arjuna and these +twin sons of Madri along with myself but thou canst not abandon virtue! I +have heard that the king protecteth virtue; and virtue, protected by him, +protecteth him (in return)! I see, however, that virtue protecteth thee +not! Like the shadow pursuing a man, thy heart, O tiger among men, with +singleness of purpose, ever seeketh virtue. Thou hast never disregarded +thy equals, and inferiors and superiors. Obtaining even the entire world, +thy pride never increased! O son of Pritha, thou ever worshippest +Brahmanas, and gods, and the Pitris, with Swadhas, and other forms of +worship! O son of Pritha, thou hast ever gratified the Brahmanas by +fulfilling every wish of theirs! Yatis and Sannyasins and mendicants of +domestic lives have always been fed in thy house from off plates of gold +where I have distributed (food) amongst them. Unto the Vanaprasthas thou +always givest gold and food. There is nothing in thy house thou mayest +not give unto the Brahmanas! In the Viswadeva sacrifice, that is, for thy +peace, performed in thy house, the things consecrated are first offered +unto guests and all creatures while thou livest thyself with what +remaineth (after distribution)! Ishtis Pashubandhas, sacrifices for +obtaining fruition of desire, the religions rites of (ordinary) +domesticity, Paka sacrifices, and sacrifices of other kinds, are ever +performed in thy house. Even in this great forest, so solitary and +haunted by robbers, living in exile, divested of thy kingdom, thy virtue +hath sustained no diminution! The Aswamedha, the Rajasuya, the Pundarika, +and Gosava, these grand sacrifices requiring large gifts have all been +performed by thee! O monarch, impelled by a perverse sense during that +dire hour of a losing match at dice, thou didst yet stake and loss thy +kingdom, thy wealth, thy weapons, thy brothers, and myself! Simple, +gentle, liberal, modest, truthful, how, O king could thy mind be +attracted to the vice of gambling? I am almost deprived of my sense, O +king, and my heart is overwhelmed with grief, beholding this thy +distress, and this thy calamity! An old history is cited as an +illustration for the truth that men are subjects to the will of God and +never to their own wishes! The Supreme Lord and Ordainer of all ordaineth +everything in respect of the weal and woe, the happiness and misery, of +all creatures, even prior to their births guided by the acts of each, +which are even like a seed (destined to sprout forth into the tree of +life). O hero amongst men, as a wooden doll is made to move its limbs by +the wire-puller, so are creatures made to work by the Lord of all. O +Bharata, like space that covereth every object, God, pervading every +creature, ordaineth its weal or woe. Like a bird tied with a string, +every creature is dependent on God. Every one is subject to God and none +else. No one can be his own ordainer. Like a pearl on its string, or a +bull held fast by the cord passing through its nose, or a tree fallen +from the bank into the middle of the stream, every creature followeth the +command of the Creator, because imbued with His Spirit and because +established in Him. And man himself, dependent on the Universal Soul, +cannot pass a moment independently. Enveloped in darkness, creatures are +not masters of their own weal or woe. They go to heaven or hell urged by +God Himself. Like light straws dependent on strong winds, all creatures, +O Bharatas, are dependent on God! And God himself, pervading all +creatures and engaged in acts right and wrong, moveth in the universe, +though none can say This is God! This body with its physical attributes +is only the means by which God--the Supreme Lord of all maketh (every +creature) to reap fruits that are good or bad. Behold the power of +illusion that hath been spread by God, who confounding with his illusion, +maketh creatures slay their fellows! Truth-knowing Munis behold those +differently. They appear to them in a different light, even like the rays +of the Sun (which to ordinary eyes are only a pencil of light, while to +eyes more penetrating seem fraught with the germs of food and drink). +Ordinary men behold the things of the earth otherwise. It is God who +maketh them all, adopting different processes in their creation and +destruction. And, O Yudhishthira, the Self-create Grandsire, Almighty +God, spreading illusion, slayeth his creatures by the instrumentality of +his creatures, as one may break a piece of inert and senseless wood with +wood, or stone with stone, or iron with iron. And the Supreme Lord, +according to his pleasure, sporteth with His creatures, creating and +destroying them, like a child with his toy (of soft earth). O king, it +doth seem to me that God behaveth towards his creatures like a father or +mother unto them. Like a vicious person, He seemeth to bear himself +towards them in anger! Beholding superior and well-behaved and modest +persons persecuted, while the sinful are happy, I am sorely troubled. +Beholding this thy distress and the prosperity of Suyodhana, I do not +speak highly of the Great Ordainer who suffereth such inequality! O sir, +what fruits doth the Great Ordainer reap by granting prosperity to +Dhritarashtra’s son who transgresseth the ordinances, who is crooked and +covetous, and who injureth virtue and religion! If the act done pursueth +the doer and none else, then certainly it is God himself who is stained +with the sin of every act. If however, the sin of an act done doth not +attach to the doer, then (individual) might (and not God) is the true +cause of acts, and I grieve for those that have no might!’” + + + +SECTION XXXI + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thy speech, O Yajnaseni, is delightful, smooth and +full of excellent phrases. We have listened to it (carefully). Thou +speakest, however, the language of atheism. O princess, I never act, +solicitous of the fruits of my actions. I give away, because it is my +duty to give; I sacrifice because it is my duty to sacrifice! O Krishna, +I accomplish to the best of my power whatever a person living in +domesticity should do, regardless of the fact whether those acts have +fruits or not. O thou of fair hips, I act virtuously, not from the desire +of reaping the fruits of virtue, but of not transgressing the ordinances +of the Veda, and beholding also the conduct of the good and wise! My +heart, O Krishna, is naturally attracted towards virtue. The man who +wisheth to reap the fruits of virtue is a trader in virtue. His nature is +mean and he should never be counted amongst the virtuous. Nor doth he +ever obtain the fruits of his virtues! Nor doth he of sinful heart, who +having accomplished a virtuous act doubteth in his mind, obtain the +fruits of his act, in consequence of that scepticism of his! I speak unto +thee, under the authority of the Vedas, which constitute the highest +proof in such matters, that never shouldst thou doubt virtue! The man +that doubteth virtue is destined to take his birth in the brute species. +The man of weak understanding who doubteth religion, virtue or the words +of the Rishis, is precluded from regions of immortality and bliss, like +Sudras from the Vedas! O intelligent one, if a child born of a good race +studieth the Vedas and beareth himself virtuously, royal sages of +virtuous behaviour regard him as an aged sage (not withstanding his +years)! The sinful wretch, however, who doubteth religion and +transgresseth the scriptures, is regarded as lower even than Sudras and +robbers! Thou hast seen with thy own eyes the great ascetic Markandeya of +immeasurable soul come to us! It is by virtue alone that he hath acquired +immortality in the flesh. Vyasa, and Vasistha and Maitreya, and Narada +and Lomasa, and Suka, and other Rishis have all, by virtue alone, become +of pure soul! Thou beholdest them with thy own eyes as furnished with +prowess of celestial asceticism, competent to curse or bless (with +effect), and superior to the very gods! O sinless one, these all, equal +to the celestials themselves, behold with their eyes what Is written in +the Vedas, and describe virtue as the foremost duty! It behoveth thee +not, therefore, O amiable Queen, to either doubt or censure God or act, +with a foolish heart. The fool that doubteth religion and disregardeth +virtue, proud of the proof derived from his own reasoning, regardeth not +other proofs and holdeth the Rishis, who are capable of knowing the +future as present as mad men. The fool regardeth only the external world +capable of gratifying his senses, and is blind to everything else. He +that doubteth religion hath no expiation for his offence. That miserable +wretch is full of anxiety and acquireth not regions of bliss hereafter. A +rejector of proofs, a slanderer of the interpretation of the Vedic +scriptures, a transgressor urged by lust and covetousness, that fool +goeth to hell. O amiable one, he on the other hand, who ever cherisheth +religion with faith, obtaineth eternal bliss in the other world. The fool +who cherisheth not religion, transgressing the proofs offered by the +Rishis, never obtaineth prosperity in any life, for such transgression of +the scriptures. It is certain, O handsome one, that with respect to him +who regardeth not the words of the Rishis or the conduct of the virtuous +as proof, neither this nor the other world existeth. Doubt not, O +Krishna, the ancient religion that is practised by the good and framed by +Rishis of universal knowledge and capable of seeing all things! O +daughter of Drupada, religion is the only raft for those desirous of +going to heaven, like a ship to merchants desirous of crossing the ocean. +O thou faultless one, if the virtues that are practised by the virtuous +had no fruits, this universe then would be enveloped in infamous +darkness. No one then would pursue salvation, no one would seek to +acquire knowledge not even wealth, but men would live like beasts. If +asceticism, the austerities of celibate life, sacrifices, study of the +Vedas, charity, honesty,--these all were fruitless, men would not have +practised virtue generation after generation. If acts were all fruitless, +a dire confusion would ensue. For what then do Rishis and gods and +Gandharvas and Rakshasas who are all independent of human conditions, +cherish virtue with such affection? Knowing it for certain that God is +the giver of fruits in respect of virtue, they practise virtue in this +world. This, O Krishna, is the eternal (source of) prosperity. When the +fruits of both knowledge and asceticism are seen, virtue and vice cannot +be fruitless. Call to thy mind, O Krishna, the circumstances of thy own +birth as thou that heard of them, and recall also the manner in which +Dhrishtadyumna of great prowess was born! These, O thou of sweet smiles, +are the best proofs (of the fruits of virtue)! They that have their minds +under control, reap the fruits of their acts and are content with little. +Ignorant fools are not content with even that much they get (here), +because they have no happiness born of virtue to acquire to in the world +hereafter. The fruitlessness of virtuous acts ordained in the Vedas, as +also of all transgressions, the origin and destruction of acts are, O +beautiful one, mysterious even to the gods. These are not known to any +body and everybody. Ordinary men are ignorant in respect of these. The +gods keep up the mystery, for the illusion covering the conduct of the +gods is unintelligible. Those regenerate ones that have destroyed all +aspirations, that have built all their hopes on vows and asceticism, that +have burnt all their sins and have acquired minds where quest and peace +and holiness dwell, understand all these. Therefore, though you mayst not +see the fruits of virtue, thou shouldst not yet doubt religion or gods. +Thou must perform sacrifices with a will, and practise charity without +insolence. Acts in this world have their fruits, and virtue also is +eternal. Brahma himself told this unto his (spiritual) sons, as testified +to by Kashyapa. Let thy doubt, therefore, O Krishna, be dispelled like +mist. Reflecting upon all this, let thy scepticism give way to faith. +Slander not God, who is the lord of all creatures. Learn how to know him. +Bow down unto him. Let not thy mind be such. And, O Krishna, never +disregard that Supreme Being through whose grace mortal man, by piety, +acquireth immortality!’” + + + +SECTION XXXII + +“Draupadi said, ‘I do not ever disregard or slander religion, O son of +Pritha! Why should I disregard God, the lord of all creatures? Afflicted +with woe, know me, O Bharata, to be only raving I will once more indulge +in lamentations; listen to me with attention O persecutor of all enemies, +every conscious creature should certainly act in this world. It is only +the immobile, and not other creatures, that may live without acting. The +calf, immediately after its birth, sucketh the mothers’ teat. Persons +feel pain in consequence of incantations performed with their statues. It +seemeth, therefore, O Yudhishthira, that creatures derive the character +of their lives from their acts of former lives. Amongst mobile creatures +man differeth in this respect that he aspireth, O bull of the Bharata +race, to affect his course of life in this and the other world by means +of his acts. Impelled by the inspiration of a former life, all creatures +visibly (reap) in this world the fruits of their acts. Indeed, all +creatures live according to the inspiration of a former life, even the +Creator and the Ordainer of the universe, like a crane that liveth on the +water (untaught by any one.) If a creature acteth not, its course of life +is impossible. In the case of a creature, therefore, there must be action +and not inaction. Thou also shouldest act, and not incur censure by +abandoning action. Cover thyself up, as with an armour, with action. +There may or may not be even one in a thousand who truly knoweth the +utility of acts or work. One must act for protecting as also increasing +his wealth; for if without seeking to earn, one continueth to only spend, +his wealth, even if it were a hoard huge as Himavat, would soon be +exhausted. All the creatures in the world would have been exterminated, +if there were no action. If also acts bore no fruits, creatures would +never have multiplied. It is even seen that creatures sometimes perform +acts that have no fruits, for without acts the course of life itself +would be impossible. Those persons in the world who believe in destiny, +and those again who believe in chance, are both the worst among men. +Those only that believe in the efficacy of acts are laudable. He that +lieth at ease, without activity, believing in destiny alone, is soon +destroyed like an unburnt earthen pot in water. So also he that believeth +in chance, i.e., sitteth inactive though capable of activity liveth not +long, for his life is one of weakness and helplessness. If any person +accidentally acquireth any wealth, it is said he deriveth it from chance, +for no one’s effort hath brought about the result. And, O son of Pritha, +whatever of good fortune a person obtaineth in consequence of religious +rites, that is called providential. The fruit, however that a person +obtaineth by acting himself, and which is the direct result of those acts +of his, is regarded as proof of personal ability. And, O best of men, +know that the wealth one obtaineth spontaneously and without cause is +said to be a spontaneous acquisition. Whatever is thus obtained by +chance, by providential dispensation, spontaneously, of as the result of +one’s acts is, however, the consequence of the acts of a former life. And +God, the Ordainer of the universe, judging according to the acts of +former lives, distributeth among men their portions in this world. +Whatever acts, good or bad, a person performeth, know that they are the +result of God’s, arrangements agreeably to the acts of a former life. +This body is only the instruments in the hands of God, for doing the acts +that are done. Itself, inert, it doth as God urgeth it to do. O son of +Kunti, it is the Supreme Lord of all who maketh all creatures do what +they do. The creatures themselves are inert. O hero, man, having first +settled some purpose in his mind, accomplisheth it, himself working with +the aid of his intelligence. We, therefore, say that man is himself the +cause (of what he doeth). O bull among men, it is impossible to number +the acts of men, for mansions and towns are the result of man’s acts. +Intelligent men know, by help of their intellect, that oil may be had +from sesame, curds from milk, and that food may be cooked by means of +igniting fuel. They know also the means for accomplishing all these. And +knowing them, they afterwards set themselves, with proper appliances, to +accomplish them. And creatures support their lives by the results +achieved in these directions by their own acts. If a work is executed by +a skilled workman, it is executed well. From differences (in +characteristics), another work may be said to be that of an unskilful +hand. If a person were not, in the matter of his acts, himself the cause +thereof, then sacrifices would not bear any fruits in his case nor would +any body be a disciple or a master. It is because a person is himself the +cause of his work that he is applauded when he achieved success. So the +doer is censured if he faileth. If a man were not himself the cause of +his acts, how would all this be justified? Some say that everything is +the result of Providential dispensation; others again, that this is not +so, but that everything which is supposed to be the result of destiny or +chance is the result of the good or the bad acts of former lives. It is +seen, possessions are obtained from chance, as also from destiny +Something being from destiny and something from chance, something is +obtained by exertion. In the acquisition of his objects, there is no +fourth cause in the case of man. Thus say those that are acquainted with +truth and skilled in knowledge. If, however, God himself were not the +giver of good and bad fruits, then amongst creatures there would not be +any that was miserable. If the effect of former acts be a myth, then all +purposes for which man would work should be successful. They, therefore, +that regard the three alone (mentioned above) as the doors of all success +and failure in the world, (without regarding the acts of former life), +are dull and inert like the body itself. For all this, however, a person +should act. This is the conclusion of Manu himself. The person that doth +not act, certainly succumbeth, O Yudhishthira. The man of action in this +world generally meeteth with success. The idle, however, never achieveth +success. If success, becometh impossible, then should one seek to remove +the difficulties that bar his way to success. And, O king, if a person +worketh (hard), his debt (to the gods) is cancelled (whether he achieveth +success or not). The person that is idle and lieth at his length, is +overcome by adversity; while he that is active and skillful is sure to +reap success and enjoy prosperity. Intelligent persons engaged in acts +with confidence in themselves regard all who are diffident as doubting +and unsuccessful. The confident and faithful, however, are regarded by +them as successful. And this moment misery hath overtaken us. If, +however, thou betakest to action, that misery will certainly be removed. +If thou meetest failure, then that will furnish a proof unto thee and +Vrikodara and Vivatsu and the twins (that ye are unable to snatch the +kingdom from the foe). The acts of others, it is seen, are crowned with +success. It is probable that ours also will be successful. How can one +know beforehand what the consequence will be? Having exerted thyself thou +wilt know what the fruit of thy exertion will be. The tiller tilleth with +the plough the soil and soweth the seeds thereon. He then sitteth silent, +for the clouds (after that) are the cause that would help the seeds to +grow into plants. If however, the clouds favour him not, the tiller is +absolved from all blame. He sayeth unto himself, ‘What others do, I have +done. If, notwithstanding this, I meet with failure, no blame can attach +to me.’ Thinking so, he containeth himself and never indulgeth in +self-reproach. O Bharata, no one should despair saying, ‘Oh, I am acting, +yet success is not mine! For there are two other causes, besides +exertion, towards success. Whether there be success or failure, there +should be no despair, for success in acts dependeth upon the union; of +many circumstances. If one important element is wanting, success doth not +become commensurate, or doth not come at all. If however, no exertion is +made, there can be no success. Nor is there anything to applaud in the +absence of all exertion. The intelligent, aided by their intelligence, +and according to their full might bring place, time, means, auspicious +rites, for the acquisition of prosperity. With carefulness and vigilance +should one set himself to work, his chief guide being his prowess. In the +union of qualities necessary for success in work, prowess seemeth to be +the chief. When the man of intelligence seeth his enemy superior to him +in many qualities, he should seek the accomplishment of his purposes by +means, of the arts of conciliation and proper appliances. He should also +wish evil unto his foe and his banishment. Without speaking of mortal +man, if his foe were even the ocean or the hills, he should be guided by +such motives. A person by his activity in searching for the holes of his +enemies, dischargeth his debt to himself as also to his friends. No man +should ever disparage himself for the man that disparageth himself never +earneth high prosperity. O Bharata, success in this world is attainable +on such conditions! In fact, success in the World is said to depend on +acting according to time and circumstances. My father formerly kept a +learned Brahmana with him. O bull of the Bharata race, he said all this +unto my father. Indeed, these instructions as to duty, uttered by +Vrihaspati himself, were first taught to my brothers. It was from them +that I heard these afterwards while in my father’s house. And, O +Yudhishthira, while at intervals of business, I went out (of the inner +apartments) and sat on the lap of my father, that learned Brahmana used +to recite unto me these truths, sweetly consoling me therewith!” + + + +SECTION XXXIII + +‘Vaisampayana said, “Hearing these words of Yajnaseni, Bhimasena, sighing +in wrath, approached the king and addressed him, saying, ‘Walk, O +monarch, in the customary path trodden by good men, (before thee) in +respect of kingdoms. What do we gain by living in the asylum of ascetics, +thus deprived of virtue, pleasure, and profit? It is not by virtue, nor +by honesty, nor by might, but by unfair dice, that our kingdom hath been +snatched by Duryodhana. Like a weak offal-eating jackal snatching the +prey from mighty lions, he hath snatched away our kingdom. Why, O +monarch, in obedience to the trite merit of sticking to a promise, dost +thou suffer such distress, abandoning that wealth which is the source of +both virtue and enjoyments? It was for thy carelessness, O king, that our +kingdom protected by the wielder of the Gandiva and therefore, incapable +of being wrested by Indra himself, was snatched from us in our very +sight. It was for thee, O monarch, that, ourselves living, our prosperity +was snatched away from us like a fruit from one unable to use his arms, +or like kine from one incapable of using his legs. Thou art faithful in +the acquisition of virtue. It was to please thee, O Bharata, that we have +suffered ourselves to be overwhelmed with such dire calamity. O bull of +the Bharata race, it was because we were subject to thy control that we +are thus tearing the hearts of our friends and gratifying our foes. That +we did not, in obedience to thee, even then slay the sons of +Dhritarashtra, is an act of folly on our part that grieveth me sorely. +This thy abode, O king, in the woods, like that of any wild animal, is +what a man of weakness alone would submit to. Surely, no man of might +would ever lead such a life. This thy course of life is approved neither +by Krishna, nor Vibhatsu, nor by Abhimanyu, nor by the Srinjayas, nor by +myself, nor by the sons of Madri. Afflicted with the vows, thy cry is +Religion! Religion! Hast thou from despair been deprived of thy +manliness? Cowards alone, unable to win back their prosperity, cherish +despair, which is fruitless and destructive of one’s purposes. Thou hast +ability and eyes. Thou seest that manliness dwelleth in us. It is because +thou hast adopted a life of peace that thou feelest not this distress. +These Dhritarashtras regard us who are forgiving, as really incompetent. +This, O king, grieveth me more than death in battle. If we all die in +fair fight without turning our backs on the foe, even that would be +better than this exile, for then we should obtain regions of bliss in the +other world. Or, if, O bull of the Bharata race, having slain them all, +we acquire the entire earth, that would be prosperity worth the trial. We +who ever adhere to the customs of our order, who ever desire grand +achievements, who wish to avenge our wrongs, have this for our bounden +duty. Our kingdom wrested from us, if we engage in battle, our deeds when +known to the world will procure for us fame and not slander. And that +virtue, O king, which tortureth one’s own self and friends, is really no +virtue. It is rather vice, producing calamities. Virtue is sometimes also +the weakness of men. And though such a man might ever be engaged in the +practice of virtue, yet both virtue and profit forsake him, like pleasure +and pain forsaking a person that is dead. He that practiseth virtue for +virtue’s sake always suffereth. He can scarcely be called a wise man, for +he knoweth not the purposes of virtue like a blind man incapable of +perceiving the solar light. He that regardeth his wealth to exist for +himself alone, scarcely understandeth the purposes of wealth. He is +really like a servant that tendeth kine in a forest. He again that +pursueth wealth too much without pursuing virtue and enjoyments, +deserveth to be censured and slain by all men. He also that ever pursueth +enjoyments without pursuing virtue and wealth, loseth his friends and +virtue and wealth also. Destitute of virtue and wealth such a man, +indulging in pleasure at will, at the expiration of his period of +indulgence, meeteth with certain death, like a fish when the water in +which it liveth hath been dried up. It is for these reasons that they +that are wise are ever careful of both virtue and wealth, for a union of +virtue and wealth is the essential requisite of pleasure, as fuel is the +essential requisite of fire. Pleasure hath always virtue for its root, +and virtue also is united with pleasure. Know, O monarch, that both are +dependent on each other like the ocean and the clouds, the ocean causing +the clouds and the clouds filling the ocean. The joy that one feeleth in +consequence of contact with objects of touch or of possession of wealth, +is what is called pleasure. It existeth in the mind, having no corporeal +existence that one can see. He that wisheth (to obtain) wealth, seeketh +for a large share of virtue to crown his wish with success. He that +wisheth for pleasure, seeketh wealth, (so that his wish may be realised). +Pleasure however, yieldeth nothing in its turn. One pleasure cannot lead +to another, being its own fruit, as ashes may be had from wood, but +nothing from those ashes in their turn. And, O king, as a fowler killeth +the birds we see, so doth sin slay the creatures of the world. He, +therefore, who misled by pleasure or covetousness, beholdeth not the +nature of virtue, deserveth to be slain by all, and becometh wretched +both here and here-after. It is evident, O king, that thou knowest that +pleasure may be derived from the possession of various objects of +enjoyment. Thou also well knowest their ordinary states, as well as the +great changes they undergo. At their loss or disappearance occasioned by +decrepitude or death, ariseth what is called distress. That distress, O +king, hath now overtaken us. The joy that ariseth from the five senses, +the intellect and the heart, being directed to the objects proper to +each, is called pleasure. That pleasure, O king, is, as I think, one of +the best fruits of our actions. + +“Thus, O monarch, one should regard virtue, wealth and pleasure one after +another. One should not devote one self to virtue alone, nor regard +wealth as the highest object of one’s wishes, nor pleasure, but should +ever pursue all three. The scriptures ordain that one should seek virtue +in the morning, wealth at noon, and pleasure in the evening. The +scriptures also ordain that one should seek pleasure in the first portion +of life, wealth in the second, and virtue in the last. And, O thou +foremost of speakers, they that are wise and fully conversant with proper +division of time, pursue all three, virtue, wealth, and pleasure, +dividing their time duly. O son of the Kuru race, whether independence of +these (three), or their possession is the better for those that desire +happiness, should be settled by thee after careful thought. And thou +shouldst then, O king, unhesitatingly act either for acquiring them, or +abandoning them all. For he who liveth wavering between the two +doubtingly, leadeth a wretched life. It is well known that thy behaviour +is ever regulated by virtue. Knowing this thy friends counsel thee to +act. Gift, sacrifice, respect for the wise, study of the Vedas, and +honesty, these, O king, constitute the highest virtue and are efficacious +both here and hereafter. These virtues, however, cannot be attained by +one that hath no wealth, even if, O tiger among men, he may have infinite +other accomplishments. The whole universe, O king, dependeth upon virtue. +There is nothing higher than virtue. And virtue, O king, is attainable by +one that hath plenty of wealth. Wealth cannot be earned by leading a +mendicant life, nor by a life of feebleness. Wealth, however, can be +earned by intelligence directed by virtue. In thy case, O king, begging, +which is successful with Brahmanas, hath been forbidden. Therefore, O +bull amongst men, strive for the acquisition of wealth by exerting thy +might and energy. Neither mendicancy, nor the life of a Sudra is what is +proper for thee. Might and energy constitute the virtue of the Kshatriya +in especial. Adopt thou, therefore, the virtue of thy order and slay the +enemies. Destroy the might of Dhritarashtra’s sons, O son of Pritha, with +my and Arjuna’s aid. They that are learned and wise say that sovereignty +is virtue. Acquire sovereignty, therefore, for it behoveth thee not to +live in a state of inferiority. Awake, O king, and understand the eternal +virtues (of the order). By birth thou belongest to an order whose deeds +are cruel and are a source of pain to man. Cherish thy subjects and reap +the fruit thereof. That can never be a reproach. Even this, O king, is +the virtue ordained by God himself for the order to which thou belongest! +If thou tallest away therefrom, thou wilt make thyself ridiculous. +Deviation from the virtues of one’s own order is never applauded. +Therefore, O thou of the Kuru race, making thy heart what it ought to be, +agreeably to the order to which thou belongest, and casting away this +course of feebleness, summon thy energy and bear thy weight like one that +beareth it manfully. No king, O monarch, could ever acquire the +sovereignty of the earth or prosperity or affluence by means of virtue +alone. Like a fowler earning his food in the shape of swarms of little +easily-tempted game, by offering them some attractive food, doth one that +is intelligent acquire a kingdom, by offering bribes unto low and +covetous enemies. Behold, O bull among kings, the Asuras, though elder +brothers in possession of power and affluence, were all vanquished by the +gods through stratagem. Thus, O king, everything belongeth to those that +are mighty. And, O mighty-armed one, slay thy foes, having recourse to +stratagem. There is none equal unto Arjuna in wielding the bow in battle. +Nor is there anybody that may be equal unto me in wielding the mace. +Strong men, O monarch, engage in battle depending on their might, and not +on the force of numbers nor on information of the enemy’s plans procured +through spies. Therefore, O son of Pandu exert thy might. Might is the +root of wealth. Whatever else is said to be its root is really not such. +As the shade of the tree in winter goeth for nothing, so without might +everything else becometh fruitless. Wealth should be spent by one who +wisheth to increase his wealth, after the manner, O son of Kunti, of +scattering seeds on the ground. Let there be no doubt then in thy mind. +Where, however, wealth that is more or even equal is not to be gained, +there should be no expenditure of wealth. For investment of wealth are +like the ass, scratching, pleasurable at first but painful afterwards. +Thus, O king of men, the person who throweth away like seeds a little of +his virtue in order to gain a larger measure of virtue, is regarded as +wise. Beyond doubt, it is as I say. They that are wise alienate the +friends of the foe that owneth such, and having weakened him by causing +those friends to abandon him thus, they then reduce him to subjection. +Even they that are strong, engage in battle depending on their courage. +One cannot by even continued efforts (uninspired by courage) or by the +arts of conciliation, always conquer a kingdom. Sometimes, O king, men +that are weak, uniting in large numbers, slay even a powerful foe, like +bees killing the despoiler of the honey by force of numbers alone. (As +regards thyself), O king, like the sun that sustaineth as well as slayeth +creatures by his rays, adopt thou the ways of the sun. To protect one’s +kingdom and cherish the people duly, as done by our ancestors, O king, +is, it hath been heard by us, a kind of asceticism mentioned even in the +Vedas. By ascetism, O king, a Kshatriya cannot acquire such regions of +blessedness as he can by fair fight whether ending in victory or defeat. +Beholding, O king, this thy distress, the world hath come to the +conclusion that light may forsake the Sun and grace the Moon. And, O +king, good men separately as well as assembling together, converse with +one another, applauding thee and blaming the other. There is this, +moreover, O monarch, viz., that both the Kurus and the Brahmanas, +assembling together, gladly speak of thy firm adherence to truth, in that +thou hast never, from ignorance, from meanness, from covetousness, or +from fear, uttered an untruth. Whatever sin, O monarch, a king committeth +in acquiring dominion, he consumeth it all afterwards by means of +sacrifices distinguished by large gifts. Like the Moon emerging from the +clouds, the king is purified from all sins by bestowing villages on +Brahmanas and kine by thousands. Almost all the citizens as well as the +inhabitants of the country, young or old, O son of the Kuru race, praise +thee, O Yudhishthira! This also, O Bharata, the people are saying amongst +themselves, viz., that as milk in a bag of dog’s hide, as the Vedas in a +Sudra, as truth in a robber, as strength in a woman, so is sovereignty in +Duryodhana. Even women and children are repeating this, as if it were a +lesson they seek to commit to memory. O represser of foes, thou hast +fallen into this state along with ourselves. Alas, we also are lost with +thee for this calamity of thine. Therefore, ascending in thy car +furnished with every implement, and making the superior Brahmanas utter +benedictions on thee, march thou with speed, even this very day, upon +Hastinapura, in order that thou mayst be able to give unto Brahmanas the +spoils of victory. Surrounded by thy brothers, who are firm wielders of +the bow, and by heroes skilled in weapons and like unto snakes of +virulent poison, set thou out even like the slayer Vritra surounded by +the Marutas. And, O son of Kunti, as thou art powerful, grind thou with +thy might thy weak enemies, like Indra grinding the Asuras; and snatch +thou from Dhritarashtra’s son the prosperity he enjoyeth. There is no +mortal that can bear the touch of the shafts furnished with the feathers +of the vulture and resembling snakes of virulent poison, that would be +shot from the Gandiva. And, O Bharata, there is not a warrior, nor an +elephant, nor a horse, that is able to bear the impetus of my mace when I +am angry in battle. Why, O son of Kunti, should we not wrest our kingdom +from the foe, fighting with the aid of the Srinjayas and Kaikeyas, and +the bull of the Vrishni race? Why, O king, should we not succeed in +wresting the (sovereignty of the) earth that is now in the hands of the +foe, if, aided by a large force, we do but strive?” + + + +SECTION XXXIV + +Vaisampayana said, “Thus addressed by Bhimasena, the high-souled king +Ajatasatru firmly devoted to truth, mustering his patience, after a few +moments said these words, ‘No doubt, O Bharata, all this is true. I +cannot reproach thee for thy torturing me thus by piercing me with thy +arrowy words. From my folly alone hath this calamity come against you. I +sought to cast the dice desiring to snatch from Dhritarashtra’s son his +kingdom with the sovereignty. It was therefore that, that cunning +gambler--Suvala’s son--played against me on behalf of Suyodhana. Sakuni, +a native of the hilly country, is exceedingly artful. Casting the dice in +the presence of the assembly, unacquainted as I am with artifices of any +kind, he vanquished me artfully. It is, therefore, O Bhimasena, that we +have been overwhelmed with this calamity. Beholding the dice favourable +to the wishes of Sakuni in odds and evens, I could have controlled my +mind. Anger, however, driveth off a person’s patience. O child, the mind +cannot be kept under control when it is influenced by hauteur, vanity, or +pride. I do not reproach thee, O Bhimasena, for the words thou usest. I +only regard that what hath befallen us was pre-ordained. When king +Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, coveting our kingdom, plunged us +into misery and even slavery, then, O Bhima, it was Draupadi that rescued +us. When summoned again to the assembly for playing once more, thou +knowest as well as Arjuna what Dhritarashtra’s son told me, in the +presence of all the Bharatas, regarding the stake for which we were to +play. His words were, O prince Ajatsatru, (if vanquished), thou shalt +have with all thy brothers, to dwell, to the knowledge of all men, for +twelve years in the forest of thy choice, passing the thirteenth year in +secrecy. If during the latter period, the spies of the Bharatas, hearing +of thee, succeed in discovering thee, thou shalt have again to live in +the forest for the same period, passing once more the last year in +secrecy. Reflecting upon this, pledge thyself to it. As regards myself, I +promise truly in this assembly of the Kurus, that if thou canst pass this +time confounding my spies and undiscovered by them, then, O Bharata, this +kingdom of the five rivers is once more thine. We also, O Bharata, if +vanquished by thee, shall, all of us, abandoning all our wealth, pass the +same period, according to the same rules. Thus addressed by the prince, I +replied unto him in the midst of all the Kurus, ‘So be it!’ The wretched +game then commenced. We were vanquished and have been exiled. It is for +this that we are wandering miserably over different woody regions +abounding with discomfort. Suyodhana, however, still dissatisfied, gave +himself up to anger, and urged the Kurus as also all those under his sway +to express their joy at our calamity. Having entered into such an +agreement in the presence of all good men, who dareth break it for the +sake of a kingdom on earth? For a respectable person, I think, even death +itself is lighter than the acquisition of sovereignty by an act of +transgression. At the time of the play, thou hadst desired to burn my +hands. Thou wert prevented by Arjuna, and accordingly didst only squeeze +thy own hands. If thou couldst do what thou hadst desired, could this +calamity befall us? Conscious of thy prowess, why didst thou not, O +Bhima, say so before we entered into such an agreement? Overwhelmed with +the consequence of our pledge, and the time itself having passed, what is +the use of thy addressing me these harsh words? O Bhima, this is my great +grief that we could not do anything even beholding Draupadi persecuted in +that way. My heart burneth as if I have drunk some poisonous liquid. +Having, however, given that pledge in the midst of the Kuru heroes, I am +unable to violate it now. Wait, O Bhima, for the return of our better +days, like the scatterer of seeds waiting for the harvest. When one that +hath been first injured, succeedeth in revenging himself upon his foe at +a time when the latter’s enmity hath borne fruit and flowers, he is +regarded to have accomplished a great thing by his prowess. Such a brave +person earneth undying fame. Such a man obtaineth great prosperity. His +enemies bow down unto him, and his friends gather round him, like the +celestials clustering round Indra for protection. But know, O Bhima, my +promise can never be untrue. I regard virtue as superior to life itself +and a blessed state of celestial existence. Kingdom, sons, fame, +wealth,--all these do not come up to even a sixteenth part of truth.’ + + + +SECTION XXXV + +Bhima said, ‘O king, unsubstantial as thou art like froth, unstable like +a fruit (falling when ripe), dependent on time, and mortal, having +entered into an agreement in respect of time, which is infinite and +immeasurable, quick like a shaft or flowing like a stream, and carrying +everything before it like death itself, how canst regard it as available +by thee? How can he, O son of Kunti, wait whose life is shortened every +moment, even like a quantity of collyrium that is lessened each time a +grain is taken up by the needle? He only whose life is unlimited or who +knoweth with certitude what the period of his life is, and who knoweth +the future as if it were before his eyes, can indeed wait for the arrival +of (an expected) time. If we wait, O king, for thirteen years, that +period, shortening our lives, will bring us nearer to death. Death is +sure to overtake every creature having a corporeal existence. Therefore, +we should strive for the possession of our kingdom before we die. He that +faileth to achieve fame, by failing to chastise his foes, is like an +unclean thing. He is a useless burden on the earth like an incapacitated +bull and perisheth ingloriously. The man who, destitute of strength, and +courage, chastiseth not his foes, liveth in vain, I regard such a one as +low-born. Thy hand can rain gold; thy fame spreadeth over the whole +earth; slaying thy foes, therefore, in battle, enjoy thou the wealth +acquired by the might of thy arms. O repressor of all foes, O king, if a +man slaying his injurer, goeth the very day into hell, that hell becometh +heaven to him. O king, the pain one feeleth in having to suppress one’s +wrath is more burning than fire itself. Even now I burn with it and +cannot sleep in the day or the night. This son of Pritha, called +Vibhatsu, is foremost in drawing the bow-string. He certainly burneth +with grief, though he liveth here like a lion in his den. This one that +desireth to slay without aid all wielders of the bow on earth, represseth +the wrath that riseth in his breast, like a mighty elephant. Nakula, +Sahadeva, and old Kunti--that mother of heroes, are all dumb, desiring to +please thee. And all our friends along with the Srinjayas equally desire +to please thee. I alone, and Prativindhya’s mother speak unto thee +burning with grief. Whatever I speak unto thee is agreeable to all of +them, for all of them plunged in distress, eagerly wish for battle. Then, +O monarch, what more wretched a calamity can overtake us that our kingdom +should be wrested from us by weak and contemptible foes and enjoyed by +them? O king, from the weakness of thy disposition thou feelest shame in +violating thy pledge. But, O slayer of foes, no one applaudeth thee for +thus suffering such pain in consequence of the kindliness of thy +disposition. Thy intellect, O king, seeth not the truth, like that of a +foolish and ignorant person of high birth who hath committed the words of +the Vedas to memory without understanding their sense. Thou art kind like +a Brahmana. How hast thou been born in the Kshatriya order? They that are +born in the Kshatriya order are generally of crooked hearts. Thou hast +heard (recited) the duties of kings, as promulgated by Manu, fraught with +crookedness and unfairness and precepts opposed to tranquillity and +virtue. Why dost thou then, O king, forgive the wicked sons of +Dhritarashtra? Thou hast intelligence, prowess, learning and high birth. +Why dost thou then, O tiger among men, act in respect of thy duties, like +a huge snake that is destitute of motion? O son of Kunti, he that +desireth to conceal us, only wisheth to conceal the mountains of Himavat +by means of a handful of grass. O son of Pritha, known as thou art over +whole earth, thou wilt not be able to live unknown, like the sun that can +never course through the sky unknown to men. Like a large tree in a +well-watered region with spreading branches and flowers and leaves, or +like Indra’s elephant, how will Jishnu live unknown? How also will these +children, the brothers, Nakula and Sahadeva, equal unto a couple of young +lions, both live in secret? How, O son of Pritha, will Krishna--the +daughter of Drupada--a princess and mother of heroes, of virtuous deeds +and known over all the world, live unknown? Me also, everybody knoweth +from my boyhood. I do not see how I can live unknown. As well mighty +mountains of Meru be sought to be concealed. Then, again, many kings had +been expelled by us from their kingdom. These kings and princes will all +follow the bad son of Dhritarashtra, for robbed and exiled by us, they +have not still become friendly. Desiring to do good unto Dhritarashtra, +they will certainly seek to injure us. They will certainly set against us +numerous spies in disguise. If these discover us and report their +discovery, a great danger will overtake us. We have already lived in the +woods full thirteen months. Regard them, O king, for their length as +thirteen years. The wise have said that a month is a substitute for a +year, like the pot-herb that is regarded as a substitute for the Soma. +Or, (if thou breakest thy pledge), O king, thou mayst free thyself from +this sin by offering good savoury food to a quiet bull carrying sacred +burdens. Therefore, O king resolve thou to slay thy enemies. There is no +virtue higher than fighting, for every Kshatriya!” + + + +SECTION XXXVI + +Vaisampayana said, “Hearing those words of Bhima, Yudhishthira. the son +of Kunti--tiger among men and slayer of all foes--began to sigh heavily, +and reflect in silence. And he thought within himself, ‘I have heard +recited the duties of kings, also all truths about the duties of the +different orders. He is said to observe those duties truly who keepeth +them before his eyes, so as to regulate his conduct both in the present +and the future. Knowing as I do the true course of virtue, which, however +is so very difficult of being known, how can I forcibly grind virtue down +like grinding the mountains of Meru? Having reflected so for a moment, +and settled what he should do, he replied unto Bhima as follows without +allowing him another word: + +“O thou of mighty arms, it is even so as thou hast said. But, O thou +foremost of speakers, listen now to another word I say. Whatever sinful +deeds, O Bhima, one seeketh to achieve, depending on his courage alone, +become always a source of pain. But, O thou of mighty arms, whatever is +begun with deliberation, with well-directed prowess, with all appliances, +and much previous thought, is seen to succeed. The gods themselves favour +such designs. Hear from me something about what, proud of thy might, O +Bhima, and led away by thy restlessness, thou thinkest should be +immediately begun. Bhurisravas, Sala, the mighty Jarasandha, Bhishma, +Drona, Karna, the mighty son of Drona, Dhritarashtra’s sons--Duryodhana +and others--so difficult of being vanquished, are all accomplished in +arms and ever ready for battle with us. Those kings and chiefs of the +earth also who have been injured by us, have all adopted the side of the +Kauravas, and are bound by ties of affection to them. O Bharata, they are +engaged in seeking the good of Duryodhana and not of us. With full +treasures and aided by large forces, they will certainly strive their +best in battle. All the officers also of the Kuru army together with +their sons and relatives, have been honoured by Duryodhana with wealth +and luxuries. Those heroes are also much regarded by Duryodhana. This is +my certain conclusion that they will sacrifice their lives for Duryodhana +in battle. Although the behaviour of Bhishma, Drona, and the illustrious +Kripa, is the same towards us as towards them, yet, O thou of mighty +arms, this is my certain conclusion that in order to pay off the royal +favours they enjoy, they will throw their very lives, than which there is +nothing dearer, in battle. All of them are masters of celestial weapons, +and devoted to the practice of virtue. I think they are incapable of +being vanquished even by gods led by Vasava himself. There is again +amongst them that mighty warrior--Karna--impetuous, and ever wrathful, +master of all weapons, and invincible, and encased in impenetrable mail. +Without first vanquishing in battle all those foremost of men, unaided as +thou art, how canst thou slay Duryodhana? O Vrikodara, I cannot sleep +thinking of the lightness of hand of that Suta’s son, who, I regard, is +the foremost of all wielders of the bow!” + +“Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these words of Yudhishthira, the +impetuous Bhima became alarmed, and forbore from speaking anything. And +while the sons of Pandu were thus conversing with each other, there came +to that spot the great ascetic Vyasa, the son of Satyavati. And as he +came, the sons of Pandu worshipped him duly. Then that foremost of all +speakers, addressing Yudhishthira, said, O, Yudhishthira, O thou of +mighty arms, knowing by spiritual insight what is passing in thy heart, I +have come to thee, O thou bull among men! The fear that is in thy heart, +arising from Bhishma, and Drona, and Kripa, and Karna, and Drona’s son, +and prince Duryodhana, and Dussasana, I will dispell, O slayer of all +foes, by means of an act enjoined by the ordinance. Hearing it from me, +accomplish it thou with patience, and having accomplished it, O king, +quell this fever of thine soon.’” + +That foremost of speakers then, the son of Parasara, taking Yudhishthira +to a corner, began to address him in words of deep import, saying, ‘O +best of the Bharatas, the time is come for thy prosperity, when, indeed +Dhananjaya--that son of Pritha--will slay all thy foes in battle. Uttered +by me and like unto success personified, accept from me this knowledge +called Pratismriti that I impart to thee, knowing thou art capable of +receiving it. Receiving it (from thee), Arjuna will be able to accomplish +his desire. And let Arjuna, O son of Pandu, go unto Mahendra and Rudra, +and Varuna, and Kuvera, and Yama, for receiving weapon from them. He is +competent to behold the gods for his asceticism and prowess. He is even a +Rishi of great energy, the friend of Narayana; ancient, eternal a god +himself, invincible, ever successful, and knowing no deterioration. Of +mighty arms, he will achieve mighty deeds, having obtained weapons from +Indra, and Rudra, and the Lokapalas, O son of Kunti, think also of going +from this to some other forest that may, O king, be fit for thy abode. To +reside in one place for any length of time is scarcely pleasant. In thy +case, it might also be productive of anxiety to the ascetics. And as thou +maintainest numerous Brahmanas versed in the Vedas and the several +branches thereof, continued residence here might exhaust the deer of this +forest, and be destructive of the creepers and plants.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having addressed him thus, that illustrious and +exalted ascetic Vyasa, of great wisdom, acquired with the mysteries of +the world, then imparted unto the willing Yudhishthira the just, who had +meanwhile purified himself, that foremost of sciences. And bidding +farewell unto the son of Kunti, Vyasa disappeared then and there. The +virtuous and intelligent Yudhishthira, however, having obtained that +knowledge carefully retained it in his mind and always recited it on +proper occasions. Glad of the advice given him by Vyasa, the son of Kunti +then, leaving the wood Dwaitavana went to the forest of Kamyaka on the +banks of the Saraswati. And, O king, numerous Brahmanas of ascetic merit +and versed in the science of orthoepy and orthography, followed him like +the Rishis following the chief of the celestials. Arrived at Kamyaka, +those illustrious bulls amongst the Bharata took up their residence there +along with their friends and attendants. And possessed of energy, those +heroes, O king, lived there for some time, devoted to the exercise of the +bow and hearing all the while the chanting of the Vedas. And they went +about those woods every day in search of deer, armed with pure arrows. +And they duly performed all the rites in honour of the Pitris, the +celestials and the Brahmanas.” + + + +SECTION XXXVII + +Vaisampayana said, “After some time, Yudhishthira the just, remembering +the command of the Muni (Vyasa) and calling unto himself that bull among +men--Arjuna--possessed of great wisdom, addressed him in private. Taking +hold of Arjuna’s hands, with a smiling face and in gentle accents, that +chastiser of foes--the virtuous Yudhishthira--apparently after reflecting +for a moment, spake these words in private unto Dhananjaya, ‘O Bharata, +the whole science of arms dwelleth in Bhishma, and Drona, and Kripa, and +Karna, and Drona’s son. They fully know all sorts of Brahma and celestial +and human and Vayavya weapons, together with the modes of using and +warding them off. All of them are conciliated and honoured and gratified +by Dhritarashtra’s son who behaveth unto them as one should behave unto +his preceptor. Towards all his warriors Dhritarashtra’s son behaveth with +great affection; and all the chiefs honoured and gratified by him, seek +his good in return. Thus honoured by him, they will not fail to put forth +their might. The whole earth, besides, is now under Duryodhana’s sway, +with all the villages and towns, O son of Pritha, and all the seas and +woods and mines! Thou alone art our sole refuge. On thee resteth a great +burden. I shall, therefore, O chastiser of all foes, tell thee what thou +art to do now. I have obtained a science from Krishna Dwaipayana. Used by +thee, that science will expose the whole universe to thee. O child, +attentively receive thou that science from me, and in due time (by its +aid) attain thou the grace of the celestials. And, O bull of the Bharata +race, devote thyself to fierce asceticism. Armed with the bow and sword, +and cased in mail, betake thyself to austerities and good vows, and go +thou northwards, O child, without giving way to anybody. O Dhananjaya, +all celestial weapons are with Indra. The celestials, from fear of +Vritra, imparted at the time all their might to Sakra. Gathered together +in one place, thou wilt obtain all weapons. Go thou unto Sakra, he will +give thee all his weapons. Taking the bow set thou out this very day in +order to behold Purandara.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having said this, the exalted Yudhishthira the +just, imparted that science unto Arjuna. And the elder brother having +communicated with due rites the knowledge unto his heroic brother, with +speech and body and mind under perfect control, commanded him to depart. +And at the command of Yudhishthira, the strong-armed Arjuna, taking up +the Gandiva as also his inexhaustible quivers, and accoutred in mail and +gauntlets and finger-protectors made of the skin of the guana, and having +poured oblations into the fire and made the Brahmanas to utter +benedictions after gifts, set out (from Kamyaka) with the objects of +beholding Indra. And armed with the bow, the hero, at the time of setting +out heaved a sigh and cast a look upwards for achieving the death of +Dhritarashtra’s sons. And beholding Kunti’s son thus armed and about to +set out, the Brahmanas and Siddhas and invisible spirits addressed him, +saying, ‘O son of Kunti, obtain thou soon what thou wishest.’ And the +Brahmanas, also uttering benedictions said, ‘Achieve thou the object thou +hast in view. Let victory be truly thine.’ And beholding the heroic +Arjuna, of thighs stout as the trunks of the Sala, about to set out +taking away with him the hearts of all, Krishna addressed him saying, ‘O +thou strong-armed one, let all that Kunti had desired at thy birth, and +let all that thou desirest, be accomplished, O Dhananjaya! Let no one +amongst us be ever again born in the order of Kshatriyas. I always bow +down unto the Brahmanas whose mode of living is mendicancy. This is my +great grief that the wretch Duryodhana beholding me in the assembly of +princes mockingly called me a cow! Besides this he told me in the midst +of that assembly many other hard things. But the grief I experience at +parting with thee is far greater than any I felt at those insults. +Certainly, in thy absence, thy brothers will while away their waking +hours in repeatedly talking of thy heroic deeds! If, however, O son of +Pritha, thou stayest away for any length of time, we shall derive no +pleasure from our enjoyments or from wealth. Nay, life itself will be +distasteful to us. O son of Pritha, our weal, and woe, life and death, +our kingdom and prosperity, are all dependent on thee. O Bharata, I bless +thee, let success be thine. O sinless one, thy (present) task thou wilt +be able to achieve even against powerful enemies. O thou of great +strength, go thou to win success with speed. Let dangers be not thine. I +bow to Dhatri and Vidhatri! I bless thee. Let prosperity be thine. And, O +Dhananjaya, let Hri, Sree, Kirti, Dhriti, Pushti, Uma, Lakshmi, +Saraswati, all protect thee on thy way, for thou ever worshippest thy +elder brother and ever obeyest his commands. And, O bull of the Bharata +race, I bow to the Vasus, the Rudras and Adityas, the Manilas, the +Viswadevas, and the Sadhyas, for procuring thy welfare. And, O Bharata, +be thou safe from all spirits of mischief belonging to the sky, the +earth, and the heaven, and from such other spirits generally.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Krishna, the daughter of Yajnasena, having +uttered these benedictions, ceased. The strong-armed son of Pandu then, +having walked round his brothers and round Dhaumya also, and taking up +his handsome bow, set out. And all creatures began to leave the way that +Arjuna of great energy and prowess, urged by the desire of beholding +Indra, took. And that slayer of foes passed over many mountains inhabited +by ascetics, and then reached the sacred Himavat, the resort of the +celestials. And the high-souled one reached the sacred mountain in one +day, for like the winds he was gifted with the speed of the mind, in +consequence of his ascetic austerities. And having crossed the Himavat, +as also the Gandhamadana, he passed over many uneven and dangerous spots, +walking night and day without fatigue. And having reached Indrakila, +Dhananjaya stopped for a moment. And then he heard a voice in the skies, +saying, ‘Stop!’ And hearing that voice, the son of Pandu cast his glances +all around. And Arjuna, capable of using his left hand with skill equal +to that of his right hand, then beheld before him an ascetic under the +shade of a tree, blazing with Brahma brilliancy, of a tawny colour, with +matted locks, and thin. And the mighty ascetic, beholding Arjuna stop at +t at place, addressed him, saying, ‘Who art thou, O child, arrived hither +with bow and arrows, and cased in mail and accoutred in scabbard and +gauntlet, and (evidently) wedded to the customs of the Kshatriya? There +is no need of weapons here. This is the abode of peaceful Brahmanas +devoted to ascetic austerities without anger or joy. There is no use for +the bow here, for there is no dispute in this place of any kind. +Therefore throw away, O child, this bow of thine. Thou hast obtained a +pure state of life by coming here. O hero, there is no man who is like +thee in energy and prowess.’ That Brahmana thus addressed Arjuna, with a +smiling face, repeatedly. But he succeeded not in moving Arjuna, firmly +devoted to his purpose. The regenerate one, glad at heart, smilingly +addressed Arjuna once more, saying, ‘O slayer of foes, blest be thou! I +am Sakra: ask thou the boon thou desirest.’ Thus addressed, that +perpetuator of the Kuru race, the heroic Dhananjaya bending his head and +joining his hands, replied unto him of a thousand eyes, saying, ‘Even +this is the object of my wishes; grant me this boon, O illustrious one. I +desire to learn from thee all the weapons.’ The chief of the celestials +then, smiling, replied unto him cheerfully, saying, ‘O Dhananjaya, when +thou hast reached this region, what need is there of weapons? Thou hast +already obtained a pure state of life. Ask thou for the regions of bliss +that thou desirest.’ Thus addressed, Dhananjaya replied unto him o a +thousand eyes, saying, ‘I desire not regions of bliss, nor objects of +enjoyment, nor the state of a celestial; what is this talk about +happiness? O chief of the celestials, I do not desire the prosperity of +all the gods. Having left my brothers behind me in the forest, and +without avenging myself on the foe, shall I incur the opprobrium for all +ages of all the world.” Thus addressed, the slayer of Vritra, worshipped +of the worlds, consoling him with gentle words, spare unto the son of +Pandu, saying, ‘When thou art able to behold the three-eyed +trident-bearing Siva, the lord of all creatures, it is then, O child, +that I will give thee all the celestial weapons. Therefore, strive thou +to obtain the sight of the highest of the gods; for it is only after thou +hast seen him. O son of Kunti, that thou will obtain all thy wishes.’ +Having spoken thus unto Phalguna, Sakra disappeared then and there, and +Arjuna, devoting himself to asceticism, remained at that spot.” + + + +SECTION XXXVIII + +(Kairata Parva) + +Janemejaya said, “O illustrious one, I desire to hear in detail the +history of the acquisition of weapons by Arjuna of spotless deeds. O tell +me how that tiger among men, Dhananjaya, of mighty arms and possessed of +great energy, entered that solitary forest without fear. And, O thou +foremost of those acquainted with the Veda, what also did Arjuna do while +dwelling there? How also were the illustrious Sthanu and the chief of the +celestials gratified by him? O thou best of regenerate ones, I desire to +hear all this under thy favour. Thou art omniscient; thou knowest all +about the gods and all about men. O Brahmana, the battle that took place +of old between Arjuna--that foremost of smiters never defeated in +battle--and Bhava was highly extraordinary and without parallel. It +maketh one’s hair stand on end to hear of it. Even the hearts of those +lions among men--the brave sons of Pritha--trembled in consequence of +wonder and joy and a sense of their own inferiority. O tell me in full +what else Arjuna, did I do not see even the most trivial thing to Jishnu +that is censurable. Therefore, recite to me in full the history of that +hero.” + +Vaisampayana said, “O tiger among Kurus, I shall recite to thee that +narration, excellent and extensive and unrivalled, in connection with the +illustrious hero. O sinless one, hear in detail the particulars about +Arjuna’s meeting with the three-eyed god of gods, and his contact with +the illustrious god’s person! + +“At Yudhishthira’s command, Dhananjaya of immeasurable prowess set out +(from Kamyaka) to obtain a sight of Sakra, the chief of the celestials +and of Sankara, the god of gods. And the strong-armed Arjuna of great +might set out armed with his celestial bow and a sword with golden hilt, +for the success of the object he had in view, northwards, towards the +summit of the Himavat. And, O king, that first of all warriors in the +three worlds, the son of Indra, with a calm mind, and firmly adhering to +his purpose, then devoted himself, without the loss of any time, to +ascetic austerities. And he entered, all alone, that terrible forest +abounding with thorny plants and trees and flowers and fruits of various +kinds, and inhabited by winged creatures of various species, and swarming +with animals of diverse kinds, and resorted to by Siddhas and Charanas. +And when the son of Kunti entered that forest destitute of human beings, +sounds of conchs and drums began to be heard in the heavens. And a thick +shower of flowers fell upon the earth, and the clouds spreading over the +firmament caused a thick shade. Passing over those difficult and woody +regions at the foot of the great mountains, Arjuna soon reached the +breast of the Himavat; and staying there for sometime began to shine in +his brilliancy. And he beheld there numerous trees with expanding +verdure, resounding with the melodious notes of winged warblers. And he +saw there rivers with currents of the lapis lazuli, broken by the fierce +eddies here and there, and echoing with the notes of swans and ducks and +cranes. And the banks of those rivers resounded with the mellifluous +strains of the male Kokilas and the notes of peacocks and cranes. And the +mighty warrior, beholding those rivers of sacred and pure and delicious +water and their charming banks, became highly delighted. And the +delighted Arjuna of fierce energy and high soul then devoted himself to +rigid austerities in that delightful and woody region. Clad in rags made +of grass and furnished with a black deerskin and a stick, he commenced to +eat withered leaves fallen upon the ground. And he passed the first +month, by eating fruits at the interval of three nights; and the second +by eating at the interval of the six nights; and the third by eating at +the interval of a fortnight. When the fourth month came, that best of the +Bharatas--the strong-armed son of Pandu--began to subsist on air alone. +With arms upraised and leaning upon nothing and standing on the tips of +his toes, he continued his austerities. And the illustrious hero’s locks, +in consequence of frequent bathing took the hue of lightning or the +lotus. Then all the great Rishis went together unto the god of the Pinaka +for representing unto him about the fierce asceticism of Pritha’s son. +And bowing unto that god of gods, they informed him of Arjuna’s +austerities saying, ‘This son of pritha possessed of great energy is +engaged in the most difficult of ascetic austerities on the breast of the +Himavat. Heated with his asceticism, the earth is smoking all round, O +god of gods. We do not know what his object is for which he is engaged in +these austerities. He, however, is causing us pain. It behoveth thee to +prevent him!’ Hearing these words of those munis with souls under perfect +control, the lord of all creatures--the husband of Uma said, ‘It behoveth +you not to indulge in any grief on account of Phalguna! Return ye all +cheerfully and with alacrity to the places whence ye have come. I know +the desire that is in Arjuna’s heart. His wish is not for heaven, nor for +prosperity, nor for long life. And I will accomplish, even, this day, all +that is desired by him.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “The truth-speaking Rishis, having heard these +words of Mahadeva, became delighted, and returned to their respective +abodes.” + + + +SECTION XXXIX + +Vaisampayana said, “After all those illustrious ascetics had gone away, +that wielder of the Pinaka and cleanser of all sins--the illustrious +Hara--assuming the form of a Kirata resplendent as a golden tree, and +with a huge and stalwart form like a second Meru, and taking up a hand +some bow and a number of arrows resembling snakes of virulent poison, and +looking like an embodiment of fire, came quickly down on the breast of +Himavat. And the handsome god of gods was accompanied by Uma in the guise +of a Kirata woman, and also by a swarm of merry spirits of various forms +and attire, and by thousands of women in the form and attire of Kiratas. +And, O king, that region suddenly blazed up in beauty, in consequence of +the arrival of the god of gods in such company. And soon enough a solemn +stillness pervaded the place. The sounds of springs, and water-courses, +and of birds suddenly ceased. And as the god of gods approached Pritha’s +son of blameless deeds, he beheld a wonderful sight, even that of a +Danava named Muka, seeking, in the form of a boar, to slay Arjuna. +Phalguna, at the sight of the enemy seeking to slay him, took up the +Gandiva and a number of arrows resembling snakes of virulent poison. And +stringing his bow and filling the air with its twang, he addressed the +boar and said, ‘I have come here but done thee no injury. As thou seekest +to slay me, I shall certainly send thee to the abode of Yama.’ And +beholding that firm wielder of the bow--Phalguna--about to slay the boar, +Sankara in the guise of a Kirata suddenly bade him stop saying, ‘The boar +like the mountain of Indrakila in hue hath been aimed at by me first’; +Phalguna, however, disregarding these words, struck the boar. The Kirata +also blazing splendour, let fly an arrow like flaming fire and resembling +the thunderbolt at the same object. And the arrows thus shot by both fell +at the same instant of time upon the wide body of Muka, hard as adamant. +And the two shafts fell upon the boar with a loud sound, even like that +of Indra’s thunderbolt and the thunder of the clouds falling together +upon the breast of a mountain. And Muka, thus struck by two shafts which +produced numerous arrows resembling snakes of blazing mouths, yielded up +his life, assuming once more his terrible Rakshasa form. Jishnu--that +slayer of foes--then beheld before him that person, of form blazing as +god, and attired in the dress of a Kirata and accompanied by many women. +And beholding him, the son of Kunti with a joyous heart addressed him +smilingly and said, ‘Who art thou that thus wanderest in these solitary +woods, surrounded by women? thou of the splendour of gold, art thou not +afraid of this terrible forest? Why, again, didst thou shoot the boar +that was first aimed at by me? This Rakshasa that came hither, listlessly +or with the object, of slaying me, had been first aimed at by me. Thou +shalt not, therefore, escape from me with life. Thy behaviour towards me +is not consistent with the customs of the chase. Therefore, O +mountaineer, I will take thy life.’ Thus addressed by the son of Pandu, +the Kirata, smiling replied unto his capable of wielding the bow with his +left hand, in soft words, saying, ‘O hero, thou needst not be anxious on +my account. This forest land is proper abode for us who always dwell in +the woods. Respecting thyself, however, I may inquire, why thou hast +selected thy abode here amid such difficulties. We, O ascetic, have our +habitation in these woods abounding in animals of all kinds. Why dost +thou, so delicate and brought up in luxury and possessed of the splendour +of fire, dwell alone in such a solitary region?’ Arjuna said, ‘Depending +on the Gandiva and arrows blazing like fire, I live in this great forest, +like a second Pavaki. Thou hast seen how this monster--this terrible +Rakshasa--that came hither in the form of an animal, hath been slain by +me.’ The Kirata replied, ‘This Rakshasa, first struck with the shot from +my bow, was killed and sent to the regions of Yama by me. He was first +aimed at by me. And it is with my shot that he has been deprived of life. +Proud of thy strength, it behoveth thee not to impute thy own fault to +others. Thou art thyself in fault, O wretch, and, therefore, shalt not +escape from me with life. Stay thou: I will shoot at thee shafts like +thunderbolts. Strive thou also and shoot, to the best of thy power, thy +arrows at me.’ Hearing these words of the Kirata, Arjuna became angry, +and attacked him with arrows. The Kirata, however, with a glad heart +received all those shafts upon himself, repeatedly saying, ‘Wretch, +wretch, shoot thou best arrows capable of piercing into the very vitals.’ +Thus addressed, Arjuna, began to shower his arrows on him. Both of them +then became angry and, engaging in fierce conflict, began to shoot at +each other showers of arrows, each resembling a snake of virulent poison. +And Arjuna rained a perfect shower of arrows on the Kirata, Sankara, +however, bore that downpour on him with a cheerful heart. But the wielder +of the Pinaka, having borne that shower of arrows for a moment, stood +unwounded, immovable like a hill. Dhananjaya, beholding his arrowy shower +become futile, wondered exceedingly, repeatedly saying, ‘Excellent! +Excellent! Alas, this mountaineer of delicate limbs, dwelling on the +heights of the Himavat, beareth, without wavering, the shafts shot from +the Gandiva! Who is he? Is he Rudra himself, or some other god, or a +Yaksha, or an Asura? The gods sometimes do descend on the heights of the +Himavat. Except the god who wieldeth the Pinaka, there is none rise that +can bear the impetuosity of the thousands of arrows shot by me from the +Gandiva. Whether he is a god or a Yaksha, in fact, anybody except Rudra, +I shall soon send him, with my shafts, to the regions of Yama.’ Thus +thinking, Arjuna, with a cheerful heart, began, O king, to shoot arrows +by hundreds, resembling in splendour the rays of the sun. That downpour +of shafts, however, the illustrious Creator of the worlds--the wielder of +the trident--bore with a glad heart, like a mountain bearing a shower of +rocks. Soon, however, the arrows of Phalguna were exhausted. And noticing +this fact, Arjuna became greatly alarmed. And the son of Pandu then began +to think of the illustrious god Agni who had before, during the burning +of the Khandava, given him a couple of inexhaustible quivers. And he +began to think, ‘Alas, my arrows are all exhausted. What shall I shoot +now from my bow? Who is this person that swalloweth my arrows? Slaying +him with the end of my bow, as elephants are killed with lances, I shall +send him to the domains of the mace-bearing Yama.’ The illustrious Arjuna +then, taking up his bow and dragging the Kirata with his bow-string, +struck him some fierce blows that descended like thunderbolts. When, +however, that slayer of hostile heroes--the son of Kunti--commenced the +conflict with the end of the bow, the mountaineer snatched from his hands +that celestial bow. And beholding his bow snatched from him, Arjuna took +up his sword, and wishing to end the conflict, rushed at his foe. And +then the Kuru prince, with the whole might of his arms, struck that sharp +weapon upon the head of the Kirata, a weapon that was incapable of being +resisted even by solid rocks. But that first of swords, at touch of the +Kirata’s crown, broke into pieces. Phalguna then commenced the conflict +with trees and stones. The illustrious god in the form of the huge-bodied +Kirata, however, bore that shower of trees and rocks with patience. The +mighty son of Pritha then, his mouth smoking with wrath, struck the +invincible god in the form of a Kirata, with hi clenched fists, blows +that descended like thunderbolts. The god in the Kirata form returned +Phalguna’s blows with fierce blows resembling the thunderbolts of Indra. +And in consequence of that conflict of blows between the son of Pandu and +the Kirata, there arose in that place loud and frightful sounds. That +terrible conflict of blows, resembling the conflict of yore between +Vritra and Vasava, lasted but for a moment. The mighty Jishnu clasping +the Kirata began to press him with his breast, but the Kirata, possessed +of great strength pressed the insensible son of Pandu with force. And in +consequence of the pressure of their arms and of their breasts, their +bodies began to emit smoke like charcoal in fire. The great god then, +smiting the already smitten son of Pandu, and attacking him in anger with +his full might, deprived him of his senses. Then, O Bharata, Phalguna, +thus pressed by the god of the gods, with limbs, besides, bruised and +mangled, became incapable of motion and was almost reduced to a ball of +flesh. And struck by the illustrious god, he became breathless and, +falling down on earth without power of moving, looked like one that was +dead. Soon, however, he regained consciousness, and, rising from his +prostrate position, with body covered with blood, became filled with +grief. Mentally prostrating himself before the gracious god of gods, and +making a clay image of that deity, he worshipped it, with offerings of +floral garlands. Beholding, however, the garland that he had offered to +the clay image of Bhava, decking the crown of the Kirata, that best of +Pandu’s sons became filled with joy and regained his ease. And he +prostrated himself thereupon at the feet of Bhava, and the god also was +pleased with him. And Hara, beholding the wonder of Arjuna and seeing +that his body had been emaciated with ascetic austerities, spake unto him +in a voice deep as the roaring of the clouds, saying, ‘O Phalguna, I have +been pleased with thee for thy act is without a parallel. There is no +Kshatriya who is equal to thee in courage, and patience. And, O sinless +one, thy strength and prowess are almost equal to mine. O mighty-armed +one, I have been pleased with thee. Behold me, O bull of the Bharata +race! O large-eyed one! I will grant thee eyes (to see me in my true +form). Thou wert a Rishi before. Thou wilt vanquish all thy foes, even +the dwellers of heaven; I will as I have been pleased with thee, grant +thee an irresistible weapon. Soon shall thou be able to wield that weapon +of mine.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Phalguna then beheld him--Mahadeva--that god of +blazing splendour-that wielder of the Pinaka-that one who had his abode +on the mountains (of Kailasa)--accompanied by Uma. Bending down on his +knee and bowing with his head, that conqueror of hostile cities-the son +of Pritha-worshipped Hara and inclined him to grace. And Arjuna said, ‘O +Kapardin, O chief of all gods, O destroyer of the eyes of Bhaga, O god of +gods, O Mahadeva, O thou of blue throat, O thou of matted locks, I know +thee as the Cause of all causes. O thou of three eyes, O lord of all! +Thou art the refuge of all the gods! This universe hath sprung from thee. +Thou art incapable of being vanquished by the three worlds of the +celestials, the Asuras, and men. Thou art Siva in the form of Vishnu, and +Vishnu in the form of Siva. Thou destroyedest of old the great sacrifice +of Daksha. O Hari, O Rudra, I bow to thee. Thou hast an eye on thy +forehead. O Sarva, O thou that rainest objects of desire, O bearer of the +trident, O wielder of the Pinaka, O Surya, O thou of pure body, O Creator +of all, I bow to thee. O lord of all created things, I worship thee to +obtain thy grace. Thou art the lord of the Ganas, the source of universal +blessing, the Cause of the causes of the universe. Thou art beyond the +foremost of male beings, thou art the highest, thou art the subtlest, O +Hara! O illustrious Sankara, it behoveth thee to pardon my fault. It was +even to obtain a sight of thyself that I came to this great mountain, +which is dear to thee and which is the excellent abode of ascetics. Thou +art worshipped of all worlds. O lord, I worship thee to obtain thy grace. +Let not this rashness of mine be regarded as a fault--this combat in +which I was engaged with thee from ignorance. O Sankara, I seek thy +protection. Pardon me all I have done.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Endued with great might, the god whose sign was +the bull, taking into his the handsome hands of Arjuna, smilingly replied +unto him, saying, ‘I have pardoned thee. And the illustrious Hara, +cheerfully clasping Arjuna with his arms, once more consoling Arjuna said +as follows.” + + + +SECTION XL + +“Mahadeva said, ‘Thou wert in thy former life Nara, the friend of +Narayana. In Vadari wert thou engaged in fierce ascetic austerities for +several thousands of years. In thee as well as in Vishnu--that first of +male beings--dwelleth great might. Ye both, by your might, hold the +universe; O lord, taking up that fierce bow whose twang resembled the +deep roar of the clouds, thou, as well as Krishna, chastisedest the +Danavas during the coronation of Indra. Even this Gandiva is that bow, O +son of Pritha, fit for thy hands. O foremost of male beings, I snatched +it from thee, helped by my powers of illusion. This couple of quivers, +fit for thee, will again be inexhaustible, O son of Pritha! And, O son of +the Kuru race, thy body will be free from pain and disease. Thy prowess +is incapable of being baffled. I have been pleased with thee. And, O +first of male beings, ask thou of me the boon that thou desirest. O +chastiser of all foes, O giver of proper respect, (to those deserving it) +not even in heaven is there any male being who is equal to thee, nor any +Kshatriya who is thy superior.’ + +“Arjuna said, ‘O illustrious god having the bull for thy sign, if thou +wilt grant me my desire, I ask of thee, O lord that fierce celestial +weapon wielded by thee and called Brahmasira--that weapon of terrific +prowess which destroyeth, at the end of the Yuga the entire +universe--that weapon by the help of which, O god of gods, I may under +thy grace, obtain victory in the terrible conflict which shall take place +between myself (on one side), and Karna and Bhishma and Kripa and Drona +(on the other)--that weapon by which I may consume in battle Danavas and +Rakshasas and evil spirits and Pisachas and Gandharvas and Nagas--that +weapon which when hurled with Mantras produceth darts by thousands and +fierce-looking maces and arrows like snakes of virulent poison, and by +means of which I may fight with Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and Karna of +ever abusive tongue, O illustrious destroyer of the eyes of Bhaga, even +this is my foremost desire, viz., that I may be able to fight with them +and obtain success.’ + +Bhava replied, ‘O powerful one. I will give to thee that favourite weapon +of mine called the Pasuputa. O son of Pandu, thou art capable of holding, +hurling, and withdrawing it. Neither the chief himself of the gods, nor +Yama, nor the king of the Yakshas, nor Varuna, nor Vayu, knoweth it. How +could men know anything of it? But, O son of Pritha, this weapon should +not be hurled without adequate cause; for if hurled at any foe of little +might it may destroy the whole universe. In the three worlds with all +their mobile and immobile creatures, there is none who is incapable of +being slain by this weapon. And it may be hurled by the mind, by the eye, +by words, and by the bow.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these words, the son of Pritha purified +himself. And approaching the lord of the universe with rapt attention, he +said, ‘Instruct me!’ Mahadeva then imparted unto that best of Pandu’s son +the knowledge of that weapon looking like the embodiment of Yama, +together with all the mysteries about hurling and withdrawing it. And +that weapon thence began to wait upon Arjuna as it did upon Sankara, the +lord of Uma. And Arjuna also gladly accepted it. And at the moment the +whole earth, with its mountains and woods and trees and seas and forests +and villages and towns and mines, trembled. And the sounds of conchs and +drums and trumpets by thousands began to be heard. And at that moment +hurricanes and whirlwinds began to blow. And the gods and the Danavas +beheld that terrible weapon in its embodied form stay by the side of +Arjuna of immeasurable energy. And whatever of evil there had been in the +body of Phalguna of immeasurable energy was all dispelled by the touch of +the three-eyed deity. And the three eyed god then commanded Arjuna, +saying, ‘Go thou into heaven.’ Arjuna then, O king, worshipping the god +with bent head, gazed at him, with joined hands. Then the lord of all the +dwellers of heaven, the deity of blazing splendour having his abode on +mountain-breasts, the husband of Uma, the god of passions under complete +control, the source of all blessings, Bhava gave unto Arjuna, that +foremost of men, the great bow called Gandiva, destructive of Danavas and +Pisachas. And the god of gods, then leaving that blessed mountain with +snowy plateaus and vales and caves, favourite resort of sky-ranging great +Rishis, went up, accompanied by Uma into the skies, in the sight of that +foremost of men.” + + + +SECTION XLI + +Vaisampayana said, “The wielder of the Pinaka, having the bull for his +sign, thus disappeared in the very sight of the gazing son of Pandu, like +the sun setting in the sight of the world. Arjuna, that slayer of hostile +heroes, wondered much at this, saying, ‘O, I have seen the great god of +gods. ‘Fortunate, indeed I am, and much favoured, for I have both beheld +and touched with my hand the three-eyed Hara the wielder of the Pinaka, +in his boon-giving form. I shall win success. I am already great. My +enemies have already been vanquished by me. My purposes have been already +achieved.’ And while the son of Pritha, endued with immeasurable energy, +was thinking thus, there came to that place Varuna the god of waters, +handsome and of the splendour of the lapis lazuli accompanied by all +kinds of aquatic creatures, and filling all the points of the horizon +with a blazing effulgence. And accompanied by Rivers both male and +female, and Nagas, and Daityas and Sadhyas and inferior deities, Varuna, +the controller and lord of all aquatic creatures, arrived at that spot. +There came also the lord Kuvera of body resembling pure gold, seated on +his car of great splendour, and accompanied by numerous Yakshas. And the +lord of treasures, possessed of great beauty, came there to see Arjuna, +illuminating the firmament with his effulgence. And there came also Yama +himself, of great beauty, the powerful destroyer of all the worlds, +accompanied by those lords of the creation--the Pitris--both embodied and +disembodied. And the god of justice, of inconceivable soul, the son of +Surya, the destroyer of all creatures, with the mace in hand, came there +on his car, illuminating the three worlds with regions of the Guhyakas, +the Gandharvas and the Nagas, like a second Surya as he riseth at the end +of the Yuga. Having arrived there, they beheld, from the effulgent and +variegated summits of the great mountain, Arjuna engaged in ascetic +austerities. And there came in a moment the illustrious Sakra also, +accompanied by his queen, seated on the back of (the celestial elephant) +Airavata, and surrounded also by all the deities. And in consequence of +the white umbrella being held over his head, he looked like the moon amid +fleecy clouds. And eulogised by Gandharvas, and Rishis endued with wealth +of asceticism, the chief of the celestials alighted on a particular +summit of the mountain, like a second sun. Then Yama possessed of great +intelligence, and fully conversant with virtue, who had occupied a summit +on the south, in a voice deep as that of the clouds, said these +auspicious words, ‘Arjuna, behold us, the protectors of the worlds, +arrive here! We will grant thee (spiritual) vision, for thou deservest to +behold us. Thou wert in thy former life a Rishi of immeasurable soul, +known as Nara of great might At the command, O child, of Brahma, thou +hast been born among men! O sinless one, by thee shall be vanquished in +battle the highly virtuous grandsire of the Kurus--Bhishma of great +energy--who is born of the Vasus. Thou shalt also defeat all the +Kshatriyas of fiery energy commanded by the son of Bharadwaja in battle. +Thou shalt also defeat those Danavas of fierce prowess that have been +born amongst men, and those Danavas also that are called Nivatakavachas. +And, O son of the Kuru race, O Dhananjaya, thou shalt also slay Karna of +fierce prowess, who is even a portion of my father Surya, of energy +celebrated throughout the worlds. And, O son of Kunti, smiter of all +foes, thou shalt also slay all the portions of celestials and Danavas and +the Rakshasas that have been incarnate on earth. And slain by thee, these +shall attain to the regions earned by them according to their acts. And, +O Phalguna, the fame of thy achievements will last for ever in the world: +thou hast gratified Mahadeva himself in conflict. Thou shalt, with Vishnu +himself, lighten the burden of the earth. O accept this weapon of +mine--the mace I wield incapable of being baffled by any body. With this +weapon thou wilt achieve great deeds.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “O Janamejaya, the son of Pritha then received +from Yama that weapon duly, along with the Mantras and rite, and the +mysteries of hurling and withdrawing it. Then Varuna, the lord of all +aquatic creatures, blue as the clouds, from a summit he had occupied on +the west, uttered these words, ‘O son of Pritha, thou art the foremost of +Kshatriyas, and engaged in Kshatriya practices. O thou of large coppery +eyes, behold me! I am Varuna, the lord of waters. Hurled by me, my nooses +are incapable of being resisted. O son of Kunti, accept of me these +Varuna weapons along with the mysteries of hurling and withdrawing them. +With these, O hero, in the battle that ensued of your on account of +Taraka (the wife of Vrihaspati), thousands of mighty Daityas were seized +and tied. Accept them of me. Even if Yama himself by thy foe, with these +in thy hands, he will not be able to escape from thee. When thou wilt +armed with these, range over the field of battle, the land, beyond doubt, +will be destitute of Kshatriyas.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “After both Varuna and Yama had given away their +celestial weapons, the lord of treasures having his home on the heights +of Kailasa, then spake, ‘O son of Pandu, O thou of great might and +wisdom, I too have been pleased with thee. And this meeting with thee +giveth me as much pleasure as a meeting with Krishna. O wielder of the +bow with the left hand, O thou of mighty arms, thou wert a god before, +eternal (as other gods). In ancient Kalpas, thou hadst every day gone +through ascetic austerities along with us. O best of men, I grant thee +celestial vision. O thou of mighty arms, thou wilt defeat even invincible +Daityas and Danavas. Accept of me also without loss of time, an excellent +weapon. With this thou wilt be able to consume the ranks of +Dhritarashtra. Take then this favourite weapon of mine called +Antarddhana. Endued with energy and prowess and splendour, it is capable +of sending the foe to sleep. When the illustrious Sankara slew Tripura, +even this was the weapon which he shot and by which many mighty Asuras +were consumed. O thou of invincible prowess I take it up for giving it to +thee. Endued with the dignity of the Meru, thou art competent to hold +this weapon.’” + +“After these words had been spoken, the Kuru prince Arjuna endued with +great strength, duly received from Kuvera that celestial weapon. Then the +chief of the celestials addressing Pritha’s son of ceaseless deeds in +sweet words, said, in a voice deep as that the clouds or the kettle-drum, +‘O thou mighty-armed son of Kunti, thou art an ancient god. Thou hast +already achieved the highest success, and acquired the statue of a god. +But, O represser of foes, thou hast yet to accomplish the purposes of the +gods. Thou must ascend to heaven. Therefore prepare thou O hero of great +splendour! My own car with Matali as charioteer, will soon descend on the +earth. Taking thee, O Kaurava, to heaven, I will grant thee there all my +celestial weapons.’” + +“Beholding those protectors of the worlds assembled together on the +heights of Himavat, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, wondered much, Endued +with great energy, he then duly worshipped the assembled Lokapalas, with +words, water, and fruits. The celestials then returning that worship, +went away. And the gods capable of going everywhere at will, and endued +with the speed of the mind, returned to the places whence they had come.” + +“That bull among men--Arjuna--having obtained weapons thus, was filled +with pleasure. And he regarded himself as one whose desires had been +fulfilled and who was crowned with success.” + + + +SECTION XLII + +(Indralokagamana Parva) + +Vaisampayana said, “After the Lokapalas had gone away, Arjuna--that +slayer of all foes--began to think, O monarch, of the car of Indra! And +as Gudakesa gifted with great intelligence was thinking of it, the car +endued with great effulgence and guided by Matali, came dividing the +clouds and illuminating the firmament and filling the entire welkin with +its rattle deep as the roar of mighty masses of clouds. Swords, and +missiles of terrible forms and maces of frightful description, and winged +darts of celestials splendour and lightnings of the brightest effulgence, +and thunderbolts, and propellors furnished with wheels and worked with +atmosphere expansion and producing sounds loud as the roar of great +masses of clouds, were on that car. And there were also on that car +fierce and huge-bodied Nagas with fiery mouths, and heaps of stones white +as the fleecy clouds. And the car was drawn by ten thousands of horses of +golden hue, endued with the speed of the wind. And furnished with prowess +of illusion, the car was drawn with such speed that the eye could hardly +mark its progress. And Arjuna saw on that car the flag-staff called +Vaijayanta, of blazing effulgence, resembling in hue the emerald or the +dark-blue lotus, and decked with golden ornaments and straight as the +bamboo. And beholding a charioteer decked in gold seated on that car, the +mighty-armed son of Pritha regarded it as belonging to the celestials. +And while Arjuna was occupied with his thoughts regarding the car, the +charioteer Matali, bending himself after descending from the car, +addressed him, saying, ‘O lucky son of Sakra! Sakra himself wisheth to +see thee. Ascend thou without loss of time this car that hath been sent +by Indra. The chief of the immortals, thy father--that god of a hundred +sacrifices--hath commanded me, saying, ‘Bring the son of Kunti hither. +Let the gods behold him.’ And Sankara himself, surrounded by the +celestials and Rishis and Gandharvas and Apsaras, waiteth to behold thee. +At the command of the chastiser of Paka, therefore, ascend thou with me +from this to the region of the celestials. Thou wilt return after +obtaining weapons.’” + +“Arjuna replied, ‘O Matali, mount thou without loss of time this +excellent car, a car that cannot be attained even by hundreds of Rajasuya +and horse sacrifices. Even kings of great prosperity who have performed +great sacrifices distinguished by large gifts (to Brahmanas), even gods +and Danavas are not competent to ride this car. He that hath not ascetic +merit is not competent to even see or touch this car, far less to ride on +it. O blessed one, after thou hast ascended, it, and after the horses +have become still, I will ascend it, like a virtuous man stepping into +the high-road of honesty.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Matali, the charioteer of Sakra, hearing these +words of Arjuna, soon mounted the car and controlled the horses. Arjuna +then, with a cheerful heart, purified himself by a bath in the Ganges. +And the son of Kunti then duly repeated (inaudibly) his customary +prayers. He then, duly and according to the ordinance, gratified the +Pitris with oblations of water. And, lastly, he commenced to invoke the +Mandara--that king of mountains--saying, ‘O mountain, thou art ever the +refuge of holy, heaven-seeking Munis of virtuous conduct and behaviour. +It is through thy grace, O mountain, that Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and +Vaisyas attain heaven, and their anxieties gone, sport with the +celestials. O king of mountains, O mountain, thou art the asylum of +Munis, and thou holdest on thy breast numerous sacred shrines. Happily +have I dwelt on thy heights. I leave thee now, bidding thee farewell. Oft +have I seen thy tablelands and bowers, thy springs and brooks, and the +sacred shrines on thy breast. I have also eaten the savoury fruits +growing on thee, and have slated my thirst with draughts of perfumed +water oozing from the body. I have also drunk the water of thy springs, +sweet as amrita itself. O mountain, as a child sleepeth happily on the +lap of his father, so have I, O king of mountains, O excellent one, +sported on thy breast, echoing with the notes of Apsaras and the chanting +of the Vedas. O mountain, every day have I lived happily on thy +tablelands.’ Thus having bidden farewell to the mountain, that slayer of +hostile heroes--Arjuna--blazing like the Sun himself, ascended the +celestial car. And the Kuru prince gifted with great intelligence, with a +glad heart, coursed through the firmament on that celestial car effulgent +as the sun and of extra-ordinary achievements. And after he had become +invisible to the mortals of the earth, he beheld thousands of cars of +extra-ordinary beauty. And in that region there was no sun or moon or +fire to give light, but it blazed in light of its own, generated by +virtue of ascetic merit. And those brilliant regions that are seen from +the earth in the form of stars, like lamps (in the sky)--so small in +consequence of their distance, though very large--were beheld by the son +of Pandu, stationed in their respective places, full of beauty and +effulgence and blazing with splendour all their own. And there he beheld +royal sages crowned with ascetic success, and heroes who had yielded up +their lives in battle, and those that had acquired heaven by their +ascetic austerities, by hundreds upon hundreds. And there were also +Gandharvas, of bodies blazing like the sun, by thousands upon thousands, +as also Guhyakas and Rishis and numerous tribes of Apsaras. And beholding +those self-effulgent regions, Phalguna became filled with wonder, and +made enquiries of Matali. And Matali also gladly replied unto him, +saying, ‘These, O son of Pritha, are virtuous persons stationed in their +respective places. It is these whom thou hast seen, O exalted one, as +stars, from the earth.’ Then Arjuna saw standing at the gates (Indra’s +region) the handsome and ever victorious elephant--Airavata--furnished +with four tusks, and resembling the mountain of Kailasa with its summits. +And coursing along that path of the Siddhas, that foremost of the Kurus +and the son of Pandu, sat in beauty like Mandhata--that best of kings. +Endued with eyes like lotus leaves, he passed through the region set +apart for virtuous kings. And the celebrated Arjuna having thus passed +through successive regions of heaven at last beheld Amaravati, the city +of Indra.” + + + +SECTION XLIII + +Vaisampayana said, “And the city of Indra which Arjuna saw was delightful +and was the resort of Siddhas and Charanas. And it was adorned with the +flowers of every season, and with sacred trees of all kinds. And he +beheld also celestial gardens called Nandana--the favourite resort of +Apsaras. And fanned by the fragrant breezes charged with the farina of +sweet-scented flowers, the trees with their lord of celestial blossoms +seemed to welcome him amongst them. And the region was such that none +could behold it who had not gone through ascetic austerities, or who had +not poured libations on fire. It was a region for the virtuous alone, and +not for those who had turned their back on the field of battle. And none +were competent to see it who had not performed sacrifices or observed +rigid vows, or who were without a knowledge of the Vedas, or who had not +bathed in sacred waters, or who were not distinguished for sacrifices and +gifts. And none were competent to see it who were disturbers of +sacrifices, or who were low, or who drank intoxicating liquors, or who +were violators of their preceptors’ bed, or who were eaters of +(unsanctified) meat, or who were wicked. And having beheld those +celestial gardens resounding with celestial music, the strong-armed son +of Pandu entered the favourite city of Indra. And he beheld there +celestial cars by thousands, capable of going everywhere at will, +stationed in proper places. And he saw tens of thousands of such cars +moving in every direction. And fanned by pleasant breezes charged with +the perfumes of flowers, the son of Pandu was praised by Apsaras and +Gandharvas. And the celestials then, accompanied by the Gandharvas and +Siddhas and great Rishis, cheerfully reverenced Pritha’s son of white +deeds. Benedictions were poured upon him, accompanied by the sounds of +celestial music. The strong-armed son of Pritha then heard around him the +music of conchs and drums. And praised all around, the son of Pritha then +went, at the command of Indra, to that large and extensive starry way +called by the name of Suravithi. There he met with the Sadhyas, the +Viswas, the Marutas, the twin Aswins, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, +the Brahmarshis of the great splendour, and numerous royal sages with +Dilipa at their head, and Tumvura and Narada, and that couple of +Gandharvas known by the names of Haha and Huhu. And the Kuru prince--that +chastiser of foes--having met and duly saluted them, last of all beheld +the chief of the celestials--the god of a hundred sacrifices. Then the +strong-armed son of Pritha, alighting from the car approached the lord +himself of the gods--his father--that chastiser of Paka. And a beautiful +white umbrella furnished with a golden staff was held over the chief of +the celestials. And he was fanned with a Chamara perfumed with celestial +scents. And he was eulogised by many Gandharvas headed by Viswavasu and +others, by bards and singers, and by foremost Brahmanas chanting Rik and +Yajus hymns. And the mighty son of Kunti, approaching Indra, saluted him +by bending his head to the ground. And Indra thereupon embraced him with +his round and plump arms. And taking his hand, Sakra made him sit by him +on a portion of his own seat, that sacred seat which was worshipped by +gods and Rishis. And the lord of the celestials-that slayer of hostile +heroes--smelt the head of Arjuna bending in humility, and even took him +upon his lap. Seated on Sakra’s seat at the command of that god of a +thousand eyes, Pritha’s son of immeasurable energy began to blaze in +splendour like a second Indra. And moved by affection, the slayer of +Vritra, consoling Arjuna, touched his beautiful face with his own +perfumed hands. And the wielder of the thunderbolt, patting and rubbing +gently again and again with his own hands which bore the marks of the +thunderbolt the handsome and huge arms of Arjuna which resembled a couple +of golden columns and which were hard in consequence of drawing the +bowstring and son enhanced the beauty of the assembly, like the sun and +moon god of a thousand eyes--eyeing his son of curly locks smilingly and +with eyes expanded with delight, seemed scarcely to be gratified. The +more he gazed, the more he liked to gaze on. And seated on one seat, the +father and son enhanced the beauty of the assembly, like the sun and moon +beautifying the firmament together on the fourteenth day of the dark +fortnight. And a band of Gandharvas headed by Tumvuru skilled in music +sacred and profane, sang many verses in melodious notes. And Ghritachi +and Menaka and Rambha and Purvachitti and Swayamprabha and Urvasi and +Misrakesi and Dandagauri and Varuthini and Gopali and Sahajanya and +Kumbhayoni and Prajagara and Chitrasena and Chitralekha and Saha and +Madhuraswana, these and others by thousands, possessed of eyes like lotus +leaves, who were employed in enticing the hearts of persons practising +rigid austerities, danced there. And possessing slim waists and fair +large hips, they began to perform various evolutions, shaking their deep +bosoms, and casting their glances around, and exhibiting other attractive +attitude capable of stealing the hearts and resolutions and minds of the +spectators.” + + + +SECTION XLIV + +Vaisampayana said, “The gods and the Gandharvas then, understanding the +wishes of India, procured an excellent Arghya and reverenced the son of +Pritha in a hurry. And giving water to wash both his feet and face, they +caused the prince to enter the palace of Indra. And thus worshipped, +Jishnu continued to live in the abode of his father. And the son of Pandu +continued all the while to acquire celestial weapons, together with the +means of withdrawing them. And he received from the hands of Sakra his +favourite weapon of irresistible force, viz., the thunder-bolt and those +other weapons also, of tremendous roar, viz., the lightnings of heaven, +whose flashes are inferable from the appearance of clouds and (the +dancing of) peacocks. And the son of Pandu, after he had obtained those +weapons, recollected his brothers. And at the command of Indra, however, +he lived for full five years in heaven, surrounded by every comfort and +luxury. + +“After some time, when Arjuna had obtained all the weapons. Indra +addressed him in due time, saying, ‘O son of Kunti, learn thou music and +dancing from Chitrasena. Learn the instrumental music that is current +among the celestials and which existeth not in the world of men, for, O +son of Kunti, it will be to thy benefit. And Purandara gave Chitrasena as +a friend unto Arjuna. And the son of Pritha lived happily in peace with +Chitrasena. And Chitrasena instructed Arjuna all the while in music; +vocal and instrumental and in dancing. But the active Arjuna obtained no +peace of mind, remembering the unfair play at dice of Sakuni, the son of +Suvala, and thinking with rage of Dussasana and his death. When however, +his friendship with Chitrasena had ripened fully, he at times learned the +unrivalled dance and music practised among the Gandharvas. And at last +having learnt various kinds of dance and diverse species of music, both +vocal and instrumental, that slayer of hostile heroes obtained no peace +of mind remembering his brothers and mother Kunti.” + + + +SECTION XLV + +Vaisampayana said, “One day, knowing that Arjuna’s glances were cast upon +Urvasi, Vasava, calling Chitrasena to himself, addressed him in private +saying, ‘O king of Gandharvas, I am pleased; go thou as my messenger to +that foremost of Apsaras, Urvasi, and let her wait upon that tiger among +men, Phalguna. Tell her, saying these words of mine, ‘As through my +instrumentality Arjuna hath learnt all the weapons and other arts, +worshipped by all, so shouldst thou make him conversant with the arts of +acquitting one’s self in female company.’ Thus addressed by Indra, the +chief of the Gandharvas in obedience to that command of Vasava, soon went +to Urvasi that foremost of Apsaras. And as he saw her, she recognised him +and delighted him by the welcome she offered and the salutation she gave. +And seated at ease he then smilingly addressed Urvasi, who also was +seated at ease, saying, ‘Let it be known, O thou of fair hips, that I +come hither despatched by the one sole lord of heaven who asketh of thee +a favour. He who is known amongst gods and men for his many inborn +virtues, for his grace, behaviour, beauty of person, vows and +self-control; who is noted for might and prowess, and respected by the +virtuous, and ready-witted; who is endued with genius and splendid +energy, is of a forgiving temper and without malice of any kind; who hath +studied the four Vedas with their branches, and the Upanishads, and the +Puranas also; who is endued with devotion to his preceptors and with +intellect possessed of the eight attributes, who by his abstinence, +ability, origin and age, is alone capable of protecting the celestial +regions like Mahavat himself; who is never boastful; who showeth proper +respect to all; who beholdeth the minutest things as clearly as if those +were gross and large; who is sweet-speeched; who showereth diverse kinds +of food and drink on his friends and dependents; who is truthful, +worshipped of all, eloquent, handsome, and without pride; who is kind to +those devoted to him, and universally pleasing and dear to all; who is +firm in promise; who is equal to even Mahendra and Varuna in respect of +every desirable attribute, viz., Arjuna, is known to thee. O Urvasi, know +thou that hero is to be made to taste the joys of heaven. Commanded by +Indra, let him today obtain thy feet. Do this, O amiable one, for +Dhananjaya is inclined to thee.’ + +“Thus addressed, Urvasi of faultless features assumed a smiling face, and +receiving the words of the Gandharva with high respect, answered with a +glad heart, saying, ‘Hearing of the virtues that should adorn men, as +unfolded by thee, I would bestow my favours upon any one who happened to +possess them. Why should I not then, choose Arjuna for a lover? At the +command of Indra, and for my friendship for thee, and moved also by the +numerous virtues of Phalguna, I am already under the influence of the god +of love. Go thou, therefore, to the place thou desirest. I shall gladly +go to Arjuna.’” + + + +SECTION XLVI + +Vaisampayana said, ‘Having thus sent away the Gandharva successful in his +mission, Urvasi of luminous smiles, moved by the desire of possessing +Phalguna, took a bath. And having performed her ablutions, she decked +herself in charming ornaments and splendid garlands of celestial odour. +And inflamed by the god of love, and her heart pierced through and +through by the shafts shot by Manmatha keeping in view the beauty of +Arjuna, and her imagination wholly taken up by the thoughts of Arjuna, +she mentally sported with him on a wide and excellent bed laid over with +celestial sheets. And when the twilight had deepened and the moon was up, +that Apsara of high hips sent out for the mansions of Arjuna. And in that +mood and with her crisp, soft and long braids decked with bunches of +flowers, she looked extremely beautiful. With her beauty and grace, and +the charm of the motions of her eye-brows and of her soft accents, and +her own moon like face, she seemed to tread, challenging the moon +himself. And as she proceeded, her deep, finely tapering bosoms, decked +with a chain of gold and adorned with celestial unguents and smeared with +fragrant sandal paste, began to tremble. And in consequence of the weight +of her bosoms, she was forced to slightly stoop forward at every step, +bending her waist exceedingly beautiful with three folds. And her loins +of faultless shape, the elegant abode of the god of love, furnished with +fair and high and round hips and wide at their lower part as a hill, and +decked with chains of gold, and capable of shaking the saintship of +anchorites, being decked with thin attire, appeared highly graceful. And +her feet with fair suppressed ankles, and possessing flat soles and +straight toes of the colour of burnished copper and dorsum high and +curved like tortoise back and marked by the wearing of ornaments +furnished with rows of little bells, looked exceedingly handsome. And +exhilarated with a little liquor which she had taken, and excited by +desire, and moving in diverse attitudes and expressing a sensation of +delight, she looked more handsome than usual. And though heaven abounded +with many wonderful objects, yet when Urvasi proceeded in this manner, +the Siddhas and Charanas and Gandharvas regarded her to be the handsomest +object they had cast their eyes upon. And the upper half of her body clad +in an attire of fine texture and cloudy hues, she looked resplendent like +a digit of the moon in the firmament shrouded by fleecy clouds. And +endued with the speed of the winds or the mind, she of luminous smiles +soon reached the mansion of Phalguna, the son of Pandu. And, O best of +men, Urvasi of beautiful eyes, having arrived at the gate of Arjuna’s +abode, sent word through the keeper in attendance. And (on receiving +permission), she soon entered that brilliant and charming palace. But, O +monarch, upon beholding her at night in his mansion, Arjuna, with a +fearstricken heart, stepped up to receive her with respect and as soon as +he saw her, the son of Pritha, from modesty, closed his eyes. And +saluting her, he offered the Apsara such worship as is offered unto a +superior. And Arjuna said, ‘O thou foremost of the Apsaras, I reverence +thee by bending my head down. O lady, let me know thy commands. I wait +upon thee as thy servant.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of Phalguna, Urvasi became +deprived of her senses. And she soon represented unto Arjuna all that had +passed between her and the Gandharva, Chitrasena. And she said, ‘O best +of men, I shall tell thee all that hath passed between me and Chitrasena, +and why I have come hither. On account of thy coming here, O Arjuna, +Mahendra had convened a large and charming assembly, in which celestial +festivities were held. Unto that assembly came, O best of men, the Rudras +and the Adityas and the Aswins and the Vasus. And there came also numbers +of great Rishis and royal sages and Siddhas and Charanas and Yakshas and +great Nagas. And, O thou of expansive eyes, the members of the assembly +resplendent as fire or the sun or the moon, having taken their seats +according to rank, honour, and prowess, O son of Sakra, the Gandharvas +began to strike the Vinas and sing charming songs of celestial melody. +And, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, the principal Apsaras also commenced +to dance. Then, O son of Pritha, thou hadst looked on me only with a +steadfast gaze. When that assembly of the celestials broke, commanded by +thy father, the gods went away to their respective places. And the +principal Apsaras also went away to their abodes, and others also, O +slayer of foes, commanded by thy father and obtaining his leave. It was +then that Chitrasena sent to me by Sakra, and arriving at my abode. O +thou of eyes like lotus leaves, he addressed me, saying, ‘O thou of the +fairest complexion, I have been sent unto thee by the chief of the +celestials. Do thou something that would be agreeable to Mahendra and +myself and to thyself also. O thou of fair hips, seek thou to please +Arjuna, who is brave in battle even like Sakra himself, and who is always +possessed of magnanimity.’ Even these, O son of Pritha, were his words. +Thus, O sinless one, commanded by him and thy father also, I come to thee +in order to wait upon thee, O slayer of foes. My heart hath been +attracted by thy virtues, and am already under the influence of the god +of love. And, O hero, even this is my wish, and I have cherished it for +ever!” + +Vaisampayana continued, “While in heaven, hearing her speak in this +strain, Arjuna was overcome with bashfulness. And shutting his ears with +his hands, he said, ‘O blessed lady, fie on my sense of hearing, when +thou speakest thus to me. For, O thou of beautiful face, thou art +certainly equal in my estimation unto the wife of a superior. Even as +Kunti here even this is my wish, and I have cherished it for ever!” + +[Some text is obviously missing here--JBH] of high fortune or Sachi the +queen of Indra, art thou to me, O auspicious one, of this there is no +doubt! That I had gazed particularly at thee, O blessed one, is true. +There was a reason for it. I shall truly tell it to thee, O thou of +luminous smiles! In the assembly I gazed at thee with eyes expanded in +delight, thinking, ‘Even this blooming lady is the mother of the Kaurava +race.’ O blessed Apsara, it behoveth thee not to entertain other feelings +towards me, for thou art superior to my superiors, being the parent of my +race.’” + +“Hearing these words of Arjuna, Urvasi answered, saying, ‘O son of The +chief of the celestials, we Apsaras are free and unconfined in our +choice. It behoveth thee not, therefore, to esteem me as thy superior. +The sons and grandsons of Puru’s race, that have come hither in +consequence of ascetic merit do all sport with us, without incurring any +sin. Relent, therefore, O hero, it behoveth thee not to send me away. I +am burning with desire. I am devoted to thee. Accept me, O thou giver of +proper respect.’” + +“Arjuna replied, ‘O beautiful lady of features perfectly faultless, +listen. I truly tell thee. Let the four directions and the transverse +directions, let also the gods listen. O sinless one, as Kunti, or Madri, +or Sachi, is to me, so art thou, the parent of my race, an object of +reverence to me. Return, O thou of the fairest complexion: I bend my head +unto thee, and prostrate myself at thy feet. Thou deservest my worship as +my own mother; and it behoveth thee to protect me as a son.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed by Partha, Urvasi was deprived of +her senses by wrath. Trembling with rage, and contracting her brows, she +cursed Arjuna, saying, ‘Since thou disregardest a woman come to thy +mansion at the command of thy father and of her own motion--a woman, +besides, who is pierced by the shafts of Kama, therefore, O Partha, thou +shalt have to pass thy time among females unregarded, and as a dancer, +and destitute of manhood and scorned as a eunuch.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having cursed Arjuna thus, Urvasi’s lips still +quivered in anger, herself breathing heavily all the while. And she soon +returned to her own abode. And that slayer of foes, Arjuna also sought +Chitrasena without loss of time. And having found him, he told him all +that had passed between him and Urvasi in the night. And he told +Chitrasena everything as it had happened, repeatedly referring to the +curse pronounced upon him. And Chitrasena also represented everything +unto Sakra. And Harivahana, calling his son unto himself in private, and +consoling him in sweet words, smilingly said, ‘O thou best of beings, +having obtained thee, O child, Pritha hath to-day become a truly blessed +mother. O mighty-armed one, thou hast now vanquished even Rishis by the +patience and self-control. But, O giver of proper respect, the curse that +Urvasi hath denounced on thee will be to thy benefit, + +O child, and stand thee in good stead. O sinless one, ye will have on +earth to pass the thirteenth year (of your exile), unknown to all. It is +then that thou shalt suffer the curse of Urvasi. And having passed one +year as a dancer without manhood, thou shalt regain thy power on the +expiration of the term.’” + +“Thus addressed by Sakra, that slayer of hostile heroes, Phalguna, +experienced great delight and ceased to think of the curse. And +Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu, sported in regions of heaven with the +Gandharva Chitrasena of great celebrity.” + +“The desires of the man that listeneth to this history of the son of +Pandu never run after lustful ends. The foremost of men, by listening to +this account of the awfully pure conduct of Phalguna, the son of the lord +of the celestials, become void of pride and arrogance and wrath and other +faults, and ascending to heaven, sport there in bliss.” + + + +SECTION XLVII + +Vaisampayana said, “One day, the great Rishi Lomasa in course of his +wanderings, went to the abode of Indra, desirous of beholding the lord of +the celestials. And the great Muni, having approached the chief of the +gods, bowed to him respectfully. And he beheld the son of Pandu occupying +half of the seat of Vasava. And worshipped by the great Rishis, that +foremost of Brahmanas sat on an excellent seat at the desire of Sakra. +And beholding Arjuna seated on Indra’s seat, the Rishi began to think as +to how Arjuna who was a Kshatriya had attained to the seat of Sakra +himself. What acts of merit had been performed by him and what regions, +had been conquered by him (by ascetic merit), that he had obtained a seat +that was worshipped by the gods themselves? And as the Rishi was employed +with these thoughts, Sakra, the slayer of Vritra, came to know of them. +And having known them, the lord of Sachi addressed Lomasa with a smile +and said, ‘Listen, O Brahmarshi, about what is now passing in thy mind. +This one is no mortal though he hath taken his birth among men. O great +Rishi, the mighty-armed hero is even my son born of Kunti. He hath come +hither, in order to acquire weapons for some purpose. Alas! dost thou not +recognise him as an ancient Rishi of the highest merit? Listen to me, O +Brahamana, as I tell thee who is and why he hath come to me. Those +ancient and excellent Rishis who were known by the names of Nara and +Narayana are, know, O Brahmana, none else than Hrishikesa and Dhananjaya. +And those Rishis, celebrated throughout the three worlds, and known by +the names of Nara and Narayana have, for the accomplishment of a certain +purpose, been born on earth--for the acquisition of virtue. That sacred +asylum which even gods and illustrious Rishis are not competent to +behold, and which is known throughout the world by the name of Vadari, +and situate by the source of the Ganga, which is worshipped by the +Siddhas and the Charanas, was the abode, O Brahmana, of Vishnu and +Jishnu. Those Rishis of blazing splendour have, O Brahmarshi, at my +desire, been born on earth, and endued with mighty energy, will lighten +the burden thereof. Besides this, there are certain Asuras known as +Nivatakavachas, who, proud of the boon they have acquired, are employed +in doing us injuries. Boastful of their strength, they are even now +planning the destruction of the gods, for, having received a boon, they +no longer regard the gods. Those fierce and mighty Danavas live in the +nether regions. Even all the celestials together are incapable of +fighting with them. The blessed Vishnu--the slayer of Madhu--he, indeed +who is known on earth as Kapila, and whose glance alone, O exalted one, +destroyed the illustrious sons of Sagara, when they approached him with +loud sounds in the bowels of the earth,--that illustrious and invincible +Hari is capable, O Brahmana of doing us a great service. Either he or +Partha or both may do us that great service, without doubt. Verily as the +illustrious Hari had slain the Nagas in the great lake, he, by sight +alone, is capable of slaying those Asuras called the Nivatakavachas, +along with their followers. But the slayer of Madhu should not be urged +when the task is insignificant. A mighty mass of energy that he is. It +swelleth to increasing proportions, it may consume the whole universe. +This Arjuna also is competent to encounter them all, and the hero having +slain them in battle, will go back to the world of men. Go thou at my +request to earth. Thou wilt behold the brave Yudhishthira living in the +woods of Kamyaka. And for me tell thou the virtuous Yudhishthira of +unbaffled prowess in battle, that he should not be anxious on account of +Phalguna, for that hero will return to earth a thorough master of +weapons, for without sanctified prowess of arms, and without skill in +weapons, he would not be able to encounter Bhishma and Drona and others +in battle. Thou wilt also represent unto Yudhishthira that the +illustrious and mighty-armed Gudakesa, having obtained weapons, hath also +mastered the science of celestial dancing and music both instrumental and +vocal. And thou wilt also tell him, O king of men, O slayer of foes, +thyself also, accompanied by all thy brothers, should see the various +sacred shrines. For having bathed in different sacred waters, thou wilt +be cleansed from thy sins, and the fever of thy heart will abate. And +then thou wilt be able to enjoy thy kingdom, happy in the thought that +thy sins have been washed off. And, O foremost of Brahmanas, endued with +ascetic power, it behoveth thee also to protect Yudhishthira during his +wandering over the earth. Fierce Rakshasas ever live in mountain +fastnesses and rugged steppes. Protect thou the king from those +cannibals.’ + +“After Mahendra had spoken thus unto Lomasa, Vibhatsu also reverently +addressed that Rishi, saying, ‘Protect thou ever the son of Pandu. O best +of men, let the king, O great Rishi, protected by thee, visit the various +places of pilgrimage and give away unto Brahmanas in charity.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “The mighty ascetic Lomasa, having answered both +saying, ‘So be it,’ set out for the earth, desirous of arriving at +Kamvaka. And having arrived at those woods, he beheld the slayer of foes +and son of Kunti, king Yudhishthira the just, surrounded by ascetics and +his younger brothers.” + + + +SECTION XLVIII + +Janamejaya said, “These feats of Pritha’s son endued with immeasurable +energy, were certainly marvellous. O Brahmana, what did Dhritarashtra of +great wisdom say, when he heard of them?” + +Vaisampayana said, “Amvika’s son, king Dhritarashtra, having heard of +Arjuna’s arrival and stay at Indra’s abode, from Dwaipayana, that +foremost of Rishis, spake unto Sanjaya, saying, ‘O charioteer, dost thou +know in detail the acts of the intelligent Arjuna, of which I have heard +from beginning to end? O charioteer, my wretched and sinful son is even +now engaged in a policy of the most vulgar kind. Of wicked soul, he will +certainly depopulate the earth. The illustrious person whose words even +in jest are true, and who hath Dhananjaya to fight for him, is sure to +win the three worlds. Who that is even beyond the influence of Death and +Decay will be able to stay before Arjuna, when he will scatter his barbed +and sharp-pointed arrows whetted on stone? My wretched sons, who have to +fight with the invincible Pandavas are indeed, all doomed. Reflecting day +and night, I see not the warrior amongst us that is able to stay in +battle before the wielder of the Gandiva. If Drona, or Karna, or even +Bhishma advance against him in battle, a great calamity is likely to +befall the earth. But even in that case, I see not the way to our success +Karna is kind and forgetful. The preceptor Drona is old, and the teacher +(of Arjuna) Arjuna, however, is wrathful, and strong, and proud, and of +firm and steady prowess. As all these warriors are invincible, a terrible +fight will take place between them. All of them are heroes skilled in +weapons and of great reputation. They would not wish for the sovereignty +of the world, if it was to be purchased by defeat. Indeed, peace will be +restored only on the death of these or of Phalguna. The slayer of Arjuna, +however, existeth not, nor doth one that can vanquish him. Oh, how shall +that wrath of his which hath myself for its object be pacified. Equal +unto the chief of the celestials, that hero gratified Agni at Khandava +and vanquished all the monarchs of the earth on the occasion of the great +Rajasuya. O Sanjaya, the thunder-bolt falling on the mountain top, +leaveth a portion unconsumed; but the shafts, O child, that are shot by +Kiriti leave not a rack behind. As the rays of the sun heat this mobile +and immobile universe, so will the shafts shot by Arjuna’s hands scorch +my sons. It seemeth to me that the Chamus of the Bharatas, terrified at +the clatter of Arjuna’s chariot-wheels, are already broken through in all +directions. Vidhatri hath created Arjuna as an all-consuming Destroyer. +He stayeth in battle as a foe, vomitting and scattering swarms of arrows. +Who is there that will defeat him?” + + + +SECTION XLIX + +“Sanjaya said, ‘That which hath been uttered by thee, O king, with +respect to Duryodhana is all true. Nothing that thou hast said, O lord of +the earth, is untrue. The Pandavas of immeasurable energy have been +filled with rage at the sight of Krishna their wedded wife of pure +fame--brought in the midst of the assembly. Hearing also those cruel +words of Dussasana and Karna, they have been so incensed, O king, that +they will not, I ween, forgive (the Kurus) on my account. I have heard, O +king, how Arjuna hath gratified in battle by means of his bow the god of +gods--Sthanu of eleven forms. The illustrious lord of all the +gods--Kapardin himself--desirous of testing Phalguna, fought with him, +having assumed the guise of a Kirata. And there it was that the Lokapala, +in order to give away their weapons unto that bull of the Kuru race, +showed themselves unto him of undeteriorating prowess. What other man on +earth, except Phalguna, would strive to have a sight of these gods in +their own forms? And, O king, who is there that will weaken in battle +Arjuna, who could not be weakened by Maheswara himself possessed of eight +forms? Thy sons, having dragged Draupadi, and thereby incensed the sons +of Pandu, have brought this frightful and horrifying calamity upon +themselves. Beholding Duryodhana showing both his thighs unto Draupadi, +Bhima said with quivering lips, ‘wretch! those thighs of thine will I +smash with my fierce descending mace, on the expiration of thirteen +years.’ All the sons of Pandu are the foremost of smiters; all of them +are of immeasurable energy; all of them are well-versed in every kind of +weapons. For these, they are incapable of being vanquished even by the +gods. Incensed at the insult offered to their wedded wife, Pritha’s sons, +urged by wrath, will, I ween, slay all thy sons in battle.’ + +“Dhritarashtra said, ‘O charioteer, what mischief hath been done by Karna +uttering those cruel words, to the sons of Pandu! Was not the enmity +sufficient that was provoked by bringing Krishna into the assembly? How +can my wicked sons live, whose eldest brother and preceptor walketh not +in the path of righteousness? Seeing me void of eye-sight, and incapable +of exerting myself actively, my wretched son, O charioteer, believeth me +to be a fool, and listeneth not to my words. Those wretches also that are +his counsellors, viz., Karna and Suvala, and others, always pander to his +vices, as he is incapable of understanding things rightly. The shafts +that Arjuna of immeasurable prowess may lightly shoot, are capable of +consuming all my sons, leave alone those shafts that he will shoot, +impelled by anger. The arrows urged by the might of Arjuna’s arms and +shot from his large bow, and inspired with mantras capable of converting +them into celestial weapons can chastise the celestials themselves. He +who hath for his counsellor and protector and friend that smiter of +sinful men--the lord of the three worlds--Hari himself--encountereth +nothing that he cannot conquer. This, O Sanjaya, is most marvellous in +Arjuna that, as we have heard, he hath been clasped by Mahadeva in his +arms. That also which Phalguna, assisted by Damodara did of old towards +helping Agni in the conflagration of Khandava, hath been witnessed by all +the world. When, therefore, Bhima and Partha and Vasudeva of the Satwata +race become enraged, surely my sons along with their friends and the +Suvalas are all unequal to fight with them.’” + + + +SECTION L + +Janamejaya said, “Having sent the heroic sons of Pandu into exile, these +lamentations, O Muni, of Dhritarashtra were perfectly futile. Why did the +king permit his foolish son Duryodhana to thus incense those mighty +warriors, the sons of Pandu? Tell us now, O Brahmana, what was the food +of the sons of Pandu, while they lived in the woods? Was it of the +wilderness, or was it the produce of cultivation?” + +Vaisampayana said, “Those bulls among men, collecting the produce of the +wilderness and killing the deer with pure arrows, first dedicated a +portion of the food to the Brahmanas, and themselves are the rest. For, O +king, while those heroes wielding large bows lived in the woods, they +were followed by Brahmanas of both classes, viz., those worshipping with +fire and those worshipping without it. And there were ten thousand +illustrious Snataka Brahmanas, all conversant with the means of +salvation, whom Yudhishthira supported in the woods. And killing with +arrows Rurus and the black deer and other kinds of clean animals of the +wilderness, he gave them unto those Brahmanas. And no one that lived with +Yudhishthira looked pale or ill, or was lean or weak, or was melancholy +or terrified. And the chief of the Kurus--the virtuous king +Yudhishthira--maintained his brothers as if they were his sons, and his +relatives as if they were his uterine brothers. And Draupadi of pure fame +fed her husbands and the Brahmanas, as if she was their mother; and last +of all took her food herself. And the king himself wending towards the +east, and Bhima, towards the south, and the twins, towards the west and +the north, daily killed with bow in hand the deer of the forest, for the +sake of meat. And it was that the Pandavas lived for five years in the +woods of Kamyaka, in anxiety at the absence of Arjuna, and engaged all +the while in study and prayers and sacrifices.” + + + +SECTION LI + +Vaisampayana said, “That bull among men--Dhritarashtra--the son of +Amvika, having heard of this wonderful way of life--so above that of +men--of the sons of Pandu, was filled with anxiety and grief. And +overwhelmed with melancholy and sighing heavily and hot, that monarch, +addressing his charioteer Sanjaya, said, ‘O charioteer, a moment’s peace +I have not, either during the day or the night, thinking of the terrible +misbehaviour of my sons arising out of their past gambling, and thinking +also of the heroism, the patience, the high intelligence, the unbearable +prowess, and the extraordinary love unto one another of the sons of +Pandu. Amongst the Pandavas, the illustrious Nakula and Sahadeva, of +celestial origin and equal unto the chief himself of the celestials in +splendour, are invincible in battle. They are firm in the wielding of +weapons, capable of shooting at a long distance, resolute in battle, of +remarkable lightness of hand, of wrath that is not easily quelled, +possessed of great steadiness, and endued with activity. Possessed of the +prowess of lions and unbearable as the Aswins themselves, when they will +come to the field of battle with Bhima and Arjuna in front, I see, O +Sanjaya, that my soldiers will all be slain without a remnant. Those +mighty warriors of celestial origin, unrivalled in battle by anybody, +filled with rage at the remembrance of that insult to Draupadi, will show +no forgiveness. The mighty warriors of the Vrishnis also, and the +Panchalas of great energy, and the sons of Pritha themselves, led by +Vasudeva of unbaffled prowess, will blast my legions. O charioteer, all +the warriors on my side assembled together, are not competent to bear the +impetus of the Vrishnis alone when commanded by Rama and Krishna. And +amongst them will move that great warrior Bhima of terrible prowess, +armed with his iron mace held on high and capable of slaying every hero. +And high above the din will be heard the twang of the Gandiva loud as the +thunder of heaven. The impetus of Bhima’s mace and the loud twang of the +Gandiva are incapable of being stood against by any of the kings on my +side. It is then, O Sanjaya, that obedient as I have been to the voice of +Duryodhana, I shall have to call back the rejected counsels of my +friends--counsels that I should have attended to in time.’” + +Sanjaya said, “This hath been thy great fault, O king, viz., that though +capable, thou didst not, from affection prevent thy son from doing what +he hath done. The slayer of Madhu, that hero of unfading glory, hearing +that the Pandavas had been defeated at dice, soon went to the woods of +Kamyaka and consoled them there. And Draupadi’s sons also headed by +Dhrishtadyumna, and Virata, and Dhrishtaketu, and those mighty warriors, +the Kekayas, all went there. All that was said by these warriors at the +sight of Pandu’s son defeated at dice, was learnt by me through our +spies. I have also told thee all, O king. When the slayer of Madhu met +the Pandavas, they requested him to become the charioteer of Phalguna in +battle. Hari himself, thus requested, answered them, saying, ‘so be it.’ +And even Krishna himself beholding the sons of Pritha dressed in deer +skins, became filled with rage, and addressing Yudhishthira, said, ‘That +prosperity which the sons of Pritha had acquired at Indraprastha, and +which, unobtainable by other kings, was beheld by me at the Rajasuya +sacrifice, at which, besides, I saw all kings, even those of the Vangas +and Angas and Paundras and Odras and Cholas and Dravidas and Andhakas, +and the chiefs of many islands and countries on the sea-board as also of +frontier states, including the rulers of the Sinhalas, the barbarous +mlecchas, the natives of Lanka, and all the kings of the West by +hundreds, and all the chiefs of the sea-coast, and the kings of the +Pahlavas and the Daradas and the various tribes of the Kiratas and +Yavanas and Sakras and the Harahunas and Chinas and Tukharas and the +Sindhavas and the Jagudas and the Ramathas and the Mundas and the +inhabitants of the kingdom of women and the Tanganas and the Kekayas and +the Malavas and the inhabitants of Kasmira, afraid of the prowess of your +weapons, present in obedience to your invitation, performing various +offices,--that prosperity, O king, so unstable and waiting at present on +the foe, I shall restore to thee, depriving thy foe of his very life. I +shall, O chief of the Kurus, assisted by Rama and Bhima and Arjuna and +the twins and Akrura and Gada and Shamva and Pradyumna and Ahuka and the +heroic Dhrishtadyumna and the son of Sisupala, slay in battle in course +of a day Duryodhana and Karna and Dussasana and Suvala’s son and all +others who may fight against us. And thou shalt, O Bharata, living at +Hastinapura along with thy brothers, and snatching from Dhritarashtra’s +party the prosperity they are enjoying, rule this earth.’ Even these, O +king, were Krishna’s words unto Yudhishthira, who, on the conclusion of +Krishna’s speech, addressed him in that meeting of heroes and in the +hearing of all those brave warriors headed by Dhrishtadyumna, saying, ‘O +Janardana, I accept these words of thine as truth. O thou of mighty arms, +do thou, however, slay my enemies along with all their followers on the +expiry of thirteen years. O Kesava, promise this truly unto me. I +promised in the presence of the king to live in the forest as I am now +living.’ Consenting to these words of king Yudhishthira the just, his +counsellors headed by Dhrishtadyumna soon pacified the incensed Kesava +with sweet words and expressions suitable to the occasion. And they also +said unto Draupadi of pure deeds in the hearing of Vasudeva himself, +these words, ‘O lady, in consequence of thy anger, Duryodhana shall lay +down his life. We promise it, O thou of the fairest complexion. +Therefore, grieve no more. O Krishna, those that mocked thee, beholding +thee won at dice, shall reap the fruit of their act. Beasts of prey and +birds shall eat their flesh, and mock them thus. Jackals and vultures +will drink their blood. And, O Krishna, thou shalt behold the bodies of +those wretches that dragged thee by the hair prostrate on the earth, +dragged and eaten by carnivorous animals. They also that gave thee pain +and disregarded thee shall lie on the earth destitute of their heads, and +the earth herself shall drink their blood.’ These and other speeches of +various kinds were uttered there, O king, by those bulls of the Bharata +race. All of them are endued with energy and bravery, and marked with the +marks of battle. On the expiration of the thirteenth year, those mighty +warriors, chosen by Yudhishthira and headed by Vasudeva, will come (to +the field of battle). Rama and Krishna and Dhananjaya and Pradyumna and +Shamva and Yuyudhana and Bhima and the sons of Madri and the Kekaya +princes and the Panchala princes, accompanied by the king of Matsya, +these all, illustrious and celebrated and invincible heroes, with their +followers and troops, will come. Who is there that, desiring to live, +will encounter these in battle, resembling angry lions of erect manes?’ + +“Dhritarashtra said, “What Vidura told me at the time of the game at +dice, ‘If thou seekest, O king, to vanquish the Pandavas (at dice), then +certainly a terrible blood-shed ending in the destruction of all the +Kurus will be the result,’ I think it is about to be realised. As Vidura +told me of old, without doubt a terrible battle will take place, as soon +as the pledged period of the Pandavas expireth.’” + + + +SECTION LII + +(Nalopakhyana Parva) + +Janamejaya said, “When the high-souled Partha went to Indra’s region for +obtaining weapons, what did Yudhishthira and the other sons of Pandu do?” + +Vaisampayana said, “When the high-souled Partha went to Indra’s region +for obtaining weapons, those bulls of the Bharata race continued to dwell +with Krishna in (the woods of) Kamyaka. One day, those foremost of the +Bharatas, afflicted with grief, were seated with Krishna on a clean and +solitary sward. Grieving for Dhananjaya, overwhelmed with sorrow, their +voices were choked with weeping. Tortured by Dhananjaya’s absence, grief +afflicted them equally. And filled with sorrow at their separation from +Arjuna and at the loss of their kingdom, the mighty-armed Bhima among +them addressed Yudhishthira, saying, “That Bull of the Bharata race, +Arjuna, O great king, on whom depend the lives of Pandu’s sons, and on +whose death the Panchalas as also ourselves with our sons and Satyaki and +Vasudeva are sure to die, hath gone away at thy behest. What can be +sadder than this that the virtuous Vibhatsu hath gone away at thy +command, thinking of his many griefs? Depending upon the might of that +illustrious hero’s arms, regard our foes as already vanquished in battle, +and the whole earth itself as already acquired by us. It was for the sake +of that mighty warrior that I refrained from sending to the other world +all the Dhartarashtras along with the Suvalas, in the midst of the +assembly. Gifted with might of arms, and supported by Vasudeva, we have +to suppress the wrath that hath been roused in us, because thou art the +root of that wrath. Indeed, with Krishna’s help, slaying our foes headed +by Karna, we are able to rule the entire earth (thus) conquered by our +own arms. Endued with manliness, we are yet overwhelmed with calamities, +in consequence of thy gambling vice, while the foolish null of +Dhritarashtra are growing stronger with the tributes (gathered from +dependent kings). O mighty monarch, it behoveth thee to keep in view the +duties of the Kshatriya. O great king, it is not the duty of a Khsatriya +to live in the woods. The wise are of the opinion that to rule is the +foremost duty of a Kshatriya. O king, thou art conversant with Kshatriya +morality. Do not, therefore, deviate from the path of duty. Turning away +from the woods, let us, summoning Partha and Janardana, slay, O king, the +sons of Dhritarashtra, even before the twelve years are complete. O +illustrious monarch O king of kings, even if these Dhartarashtras be +surrounded by soldiers in array of battle, I shall send them to the other +world by dint of might alone. I shall slay all the sons of Dhritarashtra +along with the Sauvalas, indeed, Duryodhana, Karna, and any one else that +will fight with me. And after I shall have slain all our foes, thou mayst +come back unto the woods. By acting thus, O king, no fault will be thine. +(Or if any sin be thine), O represser of foes, O mighty monarch, washing +it off, O sire, by various sacrifices, we may ascend to a superior +heaven. Such a consummation may come to pass, if our king proveth not +unwise or procrastinating. Thou art, however, virtuous. Verily the +deceitful should be destroyed by deceit. To slay the deceitful by deceit, +is not regarded as sinful. O Bharata, it is, also said by those versed in +morality that one day and night is, O great prince, equal unto a full +year. The Veda text also, exalted one, is often heard, signifying that a +year is equivalent to a day when passed in the observance of certain +difficult vows. O thou of unfading glory, if the Vedas are an authority +with thee, regard thou the period of a day and something more as the +equivalent of thirteen years. O represser of foes, this is the time to +slay Duryodhana with his adherents. Else, O king, he will beforehand +bring the whole earth obedient to his will. O foremost of monarchs, all +this is the result of thy addiction to gambling. We are on the verge of +destruction already, in consequence of thy promise of living one year +undiscovered. I do not find the country where, if we live, the +wicked-minded Suyodhana may not be able to trace us by his spies. And +finding us out, that wretch will again deceitfully send us into such +exile in the woods. Or if that sinful one beholdeth us emerge, after the +expiry of the pledged period of non-discovery, he will again invite thee, +O great king, to dice, and the play will once more begin. Summoned once +more, thou wilt again efface thyself at dice. Thou art not skilled at +dice, and when summoned at play, thou wilt be deprived of thy senses. +Therefore, O mighty monarch thou wilt have to lead a life in the woods +again. If, O mighty king, it behoveth thee not to make us wretched for +life, observe thou fully the ordinance of the Vedas, (which inculcateth +that) verily the deceitful ought to be slain by deceit. If I but have thy +command I would go (to Hastinapura) and, even as fire falling upon a heap +of grass consumeth it, would slay Duryodhana, putting forth my utmost +might. It behoveth thee, therefore, to grant me the permission.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed by Bhima, king Yudhishthira the +just, smelt the crown of that son of Pandu, and pacifying him said, ‘O +mighty-armed one, without doubt, thou wilt, assisted by the wielder of +the Gandiva, slay Suyodhana at the expiry of the thirteenth year. But, O +son of Pritha, as for thy assertion, ‘O Lord, the time is complete’, I +cannot dare tell an untruth, for untruth is not in me. O son of Kunti, +without the help of fraud, wilt thou kill the wicked and irrepressible +Duryodhana, with his allies.’ + +“While Yudhishthira the just, was speaking unto Bhima thus, there came +the great and illustrious Rishi Vrihadaswa before them. And beholding +that virtuous ascetic before him, the righteous king worshipped him +according to the ordinance, with the offering of Madhuparka. And when the +ascetic was seated and refreshed, the mighty-armed Yudhishthira sat by +him, and looking up at the former, addressed him thus in exceedingly +piteous accents: + +‘O holy one, summoned by cunning gamblers skilled at dice, I have been +deprived of wealth and kingdom through gambling. I am not an adept at +dice, and am unacquainted with deceit. Sinful men, by unfair means, +vanquished me at play. They even brought into the public assembly my wife +dearer unto me than life itself. And defeating me a second time, they +have sent me to distressful exile in this great forest, clad in deer +skins. At present I am leading a distressful life in the woods in grief +of heart. Those harsh and cruel speeches they addressed me on the +occasion of that gambling match, and the words of my afflicted friends +relating to the match at dice and other subjects, are all stored up in my +remembrance. Recollecting them I pass the whole night in (sleepless) +anxiety. Deprived also (of the company) of the illustrious wielder of the +Gandiva, on whom depend the lives of us all, I am almost deprived of +life. Oh, when shall I see the sweet-speeched and large-hearted Vibhatsu +so full of kindness and activity, return to us, having obtained all +weapons? Is there a king on this earth who is more unfortunate than +myself? Hast thou ever seen or heard of any such before? To my thinking, +there is no man more wretched than I am.’ + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘O great king, O son of Pandu, thou sayest, ‘There is +no person more miserable than I am’ O sinless monarch, if thou wilt +listen, I will relate unto thee the history of a king more wretched than +thyself? + +Vaisampayana continued, “And thereupon the king said unto the ascetic, ‘O +illustrious one, tell me, I desire to hear the history of the king who +had fallen into such a condition.’ + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘O king, O thou that never fallest off, listen +attentively with thy brothers, I will narrate the history of a prince +more miserable than thyself. There was a celebrated king among the +Nishadhas, named Virasena. He had a son named Nala, versed in (the +knowledge of) virtue and wealth. It hath been heard by us that, that king +was deceitfully defeated by Pushkara, and afflicted with calamity, he +dwelt in the woods with his spouse. And, O king, while he was living in +the forest, he had neither slaves nor cars, neither brother nor friends +with him. But thou art surrounded by thy heroic brothers like unto the +celestials, and also by foremost regenerate ones like unto Brahma +himself. Therefore, it behoveth thee not to grieve.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘I am anxious to hear in detail, O thou foremost of +eloquent men, the history of the illustrious Nala. It behoveth thee +therefore to relate it unto me.’ + + + +SECTION LIII + +Vrihadaswa said, “There was a king named Nala, the son of Virasena. And +he was strong, and handsome, and well-versed in (the knowledge of) +horses, and possessed of every desirable accomplishment. And he was at +the head of all the kings, even like the lord of the celestials. And +exalted over all, he resembled the sun in glory. And he was the king of +the Nishadhas, intent on the welfare of the Brahmanas, versed in the +Vedas, and possessed of heroism. And he was truth-telling, fond of dice, +and the master of a mighty army. And he was the beloved of men and women, +and of great soul and subdued passions. And he was the protector (of +all), and the foremost of bowmen, and like unto Manu himself. And like +him, there was among the Vidarbhas (a king named) Bhima, of terrible +prowess, heroic and well-disposed towards his subjects and possessed of +every virtue. (But withal) he was childless. And with a fixed mind, he +tried his utmost for obtaining issue. And. O Bharata there came unto him +(once) a Brahmarshi named Damana. And, O king of kings, desirous of +having offspring, Bhima, versed in morality, with his queen gratified +that illustrious Rishi by a respectful reception. And Damana, +well-pleased, granted unto the king and his consort a boon in the form of +a jewel of a daughter, and three sons possessed of lofty souls and great +fame. (And they were called respectively) Damayanti, and Dama and Danta, +and illustrious Damana. And the three sons were possessed of every +accomplishment and terrible mien and fierce prowess. And the +slender-waisted Damayanti, in beauty and brightness, in good name and +grace and luck, became celebrated all over the world. And on her +attaining to age, hundreds of hand-maids, and female slaves, decked in +ornaments, waited upon her like Sachi herself. And Bhima’s daughter of +faultless features, decked in every ornament, shone in the midst of her +hand-maids, like the luminous lightning of the clouds. And the large-eyed +damsel was possessed of great beauty like that of Sree herself. And +neither among celestials, nor among Yakshas, nor among men was anybody +possessed of such beauty, seen or heard of before. And the beautiful +maiden filled with gladness the hearts of even the gods. And that tiger +among men, Nala also had not his peer in the (three) worlds: for in +beauty he was like Kandarpa himself in his embodied form. And moved by +admiration, the heralds again and again celebrated the praises of Nala +before Damayanti and those of Damayanti before the ruler of the +Nishadhas. And repeatedly hearing of each other’s virtues they conceived +an attachment towards each other not begot of sight, and that attachment, +O son of Kunti began to grow in strength. And then Nala was unable to +control the love that was in his bosom. And he began to pass much of his +time in solitude in the gardens adjoining the inner apartment (of his +palace). And there he saw a number of swans furnished with golden wings, +wandering in those woods. And from among them he caught one with his +hands. And thereupon the sky-ranging one said unto Nala. ‘Deserve I not +to be slain by thee. O king. I will do something that is agreeable to +thee. O king of the Nishadhas. I will speak of thee before Damayanti in +such a way that she will not ever desire to have any other person (for +her lord).’ Thus addressed, the king liberated that swan. And those swans +then rose on their wings and went to the country of the Vidarbhas. And on +arriving at the city of the Vidarbhas the birds alighted before +Damayanti, who beheld them all. And Damayanti in the midst of her maids, +beholding those birds of extraordinary appearance was filled with +delight, and strove without loss of time to catch those coursers of the +skies. And the swans at this, before that bevy of beauties, fled in all +directions. And those maidens there pursued the birds, each (running) +after one. And the swan after which Damayanti ran, having led her to a +secluded spot, addressed her in human speech, saying, O Damayanti, there +is a king amongst the Nishadhas named Nala. He is equal unto the Aswins +in beauty, not having his peer among men. Indeed, in comeliness, he is +like Kandarpa himself in his embodied form. O fair-complexioned one, O +thou of slender waist, if thou becomest his wife, thy existence and this +thy beauty may be of purpose. We have, indeed, beheld celestials and +Gandharvas, and Nagas, and Rakshasas, and men, but never saw we before +any one like Nala. Thou also art a jewel among thy sex, as Nala is the +prime among men. The union of the best with the best is happy.’ Thus +addressed by the swan. Damayanti, O monarch, replied unto him there, +saying, ‘Do thou speak thus unto Nala also, ‘Saying So be it, to the +daughter of Vidarbha, the oviparous one, O king, returned to the country +of the Nishadhas, and related everything unto Nala.” + + + +SECTION LIV + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘O Bharata, hearing those words of the swan, Damayanti +thenceforth lost all peace of mind on account of Nala. And heaving +frequent sighs she was filled with anxiety, and became melancholy and +pale-faced and lean. And with her heart possessed by the god of love, she +soon lost colour, and with her upturned gaze and modes of abstraction, +looked like one demented. And she lost all inclination for beds and seats +and object of enjoyment. And she ceased to lie down by day or night, +always weeping with exclamation of Oh! and Alas! And beholding her uneasy +and fallen into that condition, her hand-maids represented, O king, the +matter of her illness unto the ruler of Vidarbha by indirect hints. And +king Bhima, hearing of this from the handmaids of Damayanti, regarded the +affair of his daughter to be serious. And he asked himself, ‘Why is it +that my daughter seemeth to be so ill now?’ And the king, reflecting by +himself that his daughter had attained to puberty, concluded that +Damayanti’s Swayamvara should take place. And the monarch, O exalted one, +(invited) all the rulers of the earth, saying, Ye heroes, know that +Damayanti’s Swayamvara is at hand, And all the kings, hearing of +Damayanti’s Swayamvara, came unto Bhima, agreeable to his message, +filling the earth with the clatter of their cars, the roar of their +elephants, and the neighing of their horses, and accompanied with their +fine-looking battalions decked in ornaments and graceful garlands. And +the mighty-armed Bhima paid due reverence unto those illustrious +monarchs. And duly honoured by him they took up their quarters there.’ + +“And at the juncture, those foremost of celestial Rishis possessed of +great splendour, of great wisdom and great vows--namely, Narada and +Parvata--having arrived in course of their wandering at the regions of +Indra entered the mansion of the lord of the immortals, receiving proper +worship. And Maghavat having worshipped them reverentially, inquired +after their undisturbed peace and welfare as regards all respects. And +Narada said, ‘O lord, O divine one, peace attendeth us in every respect. +And, O Maghavat, peace attendeth also O exalted one, the kings of the +whole world.’ + +“Vrihadaswa continued. ‘Hearing the words of Narada the slaver of Vala +and Vritra said, ‘Those righteous rulers of the earth who fight +renouncing all desire of life, and who meet death when their time is come +by means of weapons, without flying from the field,--theirs is this +region, everlasting unto them and granting all desires, even as it is to +me. Where be those Kshatriya heroes? I do not see those kings approach +(now) Where are my favourite guests?’ Thus addressed by Sakra, Narada +replied, ‘Listen, O Mahavat, why seest not thou the kings (now)? The +ruler of the Vidarbhas hath a daughter--the celebrated Damayanti. In +beauty she transcendeth all the women of the earth. Her Swayamvara, O +Sakra, will take place shortly. Thither are going all the kings and +Princes from all directions. And all the lords of the earth desire to +have that pearl of the earth,--desire to have her eagerly, O slaver of +Vala and Vritra.’ And while they were talking thus, those foremost of the +immortals, the Lokapalas with Agni among them, appeared before the lord +of the celestials. And all of them heard the words of Narada fraught with +grave import. And as soon as they heard them, they exclaimed in rapture, +We also will go there. And, O mighty monarch, accompanied by their +attendants and mounted on their (respective) vehicles, they set out for +the country of Vidarbhas, whither (had gone) all the kings. And, O son of +Kunti, the high-souled king Nala also hearing of that concourse of kings, +set out with a cheerful heart, full of Damayanti’s love. And (it came to +pass) that the gods saw Nala on the way treading on the earth. And his +form owing to its beauty was like that of the god of love himself. And +beholding him resplendent as the sun, the Lokapalas were filled with +astonishment at his wealth of beauty, and abandoned their intention. And, +O king, leaving their cars in the sky the dwellers of heaven alighted +from the welkin and spake unto the ruler of the Nishadhas, saying, ‘O +foremost of monarchs ruling the Nishadhas, O Nala, thou art devoted to +truth. Do thou help us. O best of men, be thou our messenger.’” + + + +SECTION LV + +“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘O Bharata, Nala pledged his word to the +celestials saying, ‘I will do it.’ And then approaching these, he asked +with folded hands. ‘Who are ye? And who also is he that desireth me to be +his messenger? And what, further, shall I have to do for you? O tell me +truly!’--When the king of the Nishadhas spoke thus, Maghavat replied, +saying, ‘Know us as the immortals come hither for Damayanti’s sake. I am +Indra, this one is Agni, this the lord of waters, and this, O king, is +even Yama the destroyer of the bodies of men. Do thou inform Damayanti of +our arrival, saying, ‘The guardians of the world, (consisting of) the +great Indra and the others, are coming to the assembly, desirous of +beholding (the Swayamvara). The gods, Sakra and Agni and Varuna and Yama, +desire to obtain thee. Do thou, therefore, choose one of them for thy +lord.’ Thus addressed by Sakra, Nala said with joined hands, ‘I have come +here with the self same object. It behoveth thee not to send me (on this +errand). How can a person who is himself under the influence of love +bring himself to speak thus unto a lady on behalf of others? Therefore, +spare me, ye gods’ The gods, however, said, ‘O ruler of the Nishadhas, +having promised first, saying, ‘I will! why wilt thou not act accordingly +now? O ruler of the Nishadhas, tell us this without delay.’ + +“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘Thus addressed by those celestials, the ruler of +Nishadhas spake again, saying, ‘Those mansions are well-guarded. How can +I hope to enter them?’ Indra replied, ‘Thou shalt be able to enter.’ And, +saying, So be it.’ Nala thereupon went to the palace of Damayanti. And +having arrived there, he beheld the daughter of the king of Vidarbha +surrounded by her hand-maids, blazing in beauty and excelling in symmetry +of form, of limbs exceedingly delicate, of slender waist and fair eyes. +And she seemed to rebuke the light of the moon by her own splendour. And +as he gazed on that lady of sweet smiles. Nala’s love increased, but +desirous of keeping his truth, he suppressed his passion. And at the +sight of Naishadha, overpowered by his effulgence, those first of women +sprang up from their seats in amazement. And filled with wonder (at his +sight), they praised Nala in gladness of heart. And without saying +anything, they mentally paid him homage, ‘Oh, what comeliness! Oh, what +gentleness belongeth to this high-souled one! Who is he? Is he some god +or Yaksha or Gandharva?’ And those foremost of women, confounded by +Nala’s splendour and bashfulness would not accost him at all in speech. +And Damayanti although herself struck with amazement, smilingly addressed +the warlike Nala who also gently smiled at her, saying, ‘What art thou, O +thou of faultless features, that hast come here awakening my love? O +sinless one, O hero of celestial form, I am anxious to know who thou art +that hast come hither. And why hast thou come hither? And how is it that +thou hast not been discovered by any one, considering that my apartments +are well-guarded and the king’s mandates are stern.’ Thus addressed by +the daughter of the king of the Vidarbhas, Nala replied, ‘O beauteous +lady, know that my name is Nala. I come here as the messenger of the +gods. The celestials, Sakra, Agni, Varuna and Yama, desire to have thee. +O beautiful lady, do thou choose one of them for thy lord. It is through +their power that I have entered here unperceived, and it is for this +reason that none saw me on my way or obstructed my entrance. O gentle +one, I have been sent by the foremost of the celestials even for this +object. Hearing this, O fortunate one, do what thou pleasest.’” + + + +SECTION LVI + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘Damayanti, having bowed down unto the gods, thus +addressed Nala with a smile, ‘O king, love me with proper regard, and +command me what I shall do for thee. Myself and what else of wealth is +mine are thine. Grant me, O exalted one, thy love in full trust. O king, +the language of the swans in burning me. It is for thy sake, O hero, that +I have caused the kings to meet. O giver of proper honour, if thou +forsake me who adore thee, for thy sake will I resort to poison, or fire, +or water or the rope.’ Thus addressed by the daughter of the king of the +Vidarbhas, Nala answered her saying, ‘With the Lokapalas present, +choosest thou a man? Do thou turn thy heart to those high-souled lords, +the creators of the worlds, unto the dust of whose feet I am not equal. +Displeasing the gods, a mortal cometh by death. Save me, O thou of +faultless limbs! Choose thou the all-excelling celestials. By accepting +the gods, do thou enjoy spotless robes, and celestial garlands of +variegated hues, and excellent ornaments. What woman would not choose as +her lord Hutasana--the chief of the celestials, who compassing the earth +swalloweth it? What woman would not choose him as her lord the dread of +whose mace induceth all creatures to tread the path of virtue? And what +woman would not choose as her lord the virtuous and high-souled Mahendra, +the lord of the celestials, the chastiser of Daityas and Danavas? Or, if +thou couldst choose in thy heart Varuna amongst the Lokapalas, do so +unhesitatingly. O accept this friendly advice.’ Thus addressed by +Naishadha, Damayanti, with eyes bathed in tears of grief spake thus unto +Nala, ‘O lord of the earth, bowing to all the gods, I choose thee for my +lord. Truly do I tell thee this.’ The king, who had come as the messenger +of the gods, replied unto the trembling Damayanti standing with folded +hands, ‘O amiable one, do as thou pleasest. Having given my pledge, O +blessed one, unto the gods in especial, how can I, having come on other’s +mission, dare seek my own interest? If seeking my own interest consists +with virtue, I will seek it, and do thou also, O beauteous one, act +accordingly.’ Then Damayanti of luminous smiles slowly spake unto king +Nala, in words choked with tears, ‘O lord of men I see a blameless way, +by which no sin whatever will attach unto thee. O king, do thou, O +foremost of men, come to the Swayamvara in company with all the gods +headed by Indra. There, O Monarch, in the presence of the Lokapalas I +will, O tiger among men, choose thee--at which no blame will be thine.’ +Thus addressed, O monarch, by the daughter of Vidarbha, king Nala +returned to where the gods were staying together. And beholding him +approach those great gods, the Lokapalas, eagerly asked him about all +that had happened saying, ‘Hast thou, O king, seen Damayanti of sweet +smiles? What hath she said unto us all? O sinless monarch, tell us +everything.’ Nala answered, ‘Commanded by you I entered Damayanti’s +palace furnished with lofty portals guarded by veteran warders bearing +wands. And as I entered, no one perceived me, by virtue of your power, +except the princess. And I saw her hand-maids, and they also saw me. And, +O exalted celestials, seeing me, they were filled with wonder. And as I +spake unto her of you, the fair-faced maiden, her will fixed on me, O ye +best of the gods, chose me (for her spouse).’ And the maiden said, ‘Let +the gods, O tiger among men, come with thee to the Swayamvara, I will in +their presence, choose thee. At this, O thou of mighty arms, no blame +will attach to thee.’ ‘This is all, ye gods, that took place, as I have +said. Finally, everything rests with you, ye foremost of celestials.’” + + + +SECTION LVII + +“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘Then at the sacred hour of the holy lunar day of +the auspicious season, king Bhima summoned the kings to the Swayamvara. +And hearing of it, all the lords of earth smit with love speedily came +thither, desirous of (possessing) Damayanti. And the monarchs entered the +amphitheatre decorated with golden pillars and a lofty portal arch, like +mighty lions entering the mountain wilds. And those lords of earth decked +with fragrant garlands and polished ear-rings hung with jewels seated +themselves on their several seats. And that sacred assembly of Kings, +graced by those tigers among men, resembled the Bhogavati swarming with +the Nagas, or a mountain cavern with tigers. And their arms were robust, +and resembling iron maces, and well-shaped, and graceful, and looking +like five-headed snakes. And graced with beautiful locks and fine noses +and eyes and brows, the countenance of the kings shone like stars in the +firmament. And (when the time came), Damayanti of beauteous face, +stealing the eyes and hearts of the princes by her dazzling light, +entered the hall. And the glances of those illustrious kings were +rivetted to those parts of her person where they had chanced to fall +first, without moving at all. And when, O Bharata, the names of the +monarchs were proclaimed, the daughter of Bhima saw five persons all +alike in appearance. And beholding them seated there, without difference +of any kind in form, doubt filled her mind, and she could not ascertain +which of them was king Nala. And at whomsoever (among them) she looked, +she regarded him to be the king of the Nishadhas. And filled with +anxiety, the beauteous one thought within herself, ‘Oh, how shall I +distinguish the celestials, and how discern the royal Nala?’ And thinking +thus, the daughter of Vidarbha became filled with grief. And, O Bharata, +recollecting the marks belonging to the celestials, of which she had +heard, she thought, ‘Those attributes of the celestials, of which I have +heard from the aged, do not pertain to any of these deities present here +upon the earth.’ And revolving the matter long in her mind, and +reflecting upon it repeatedly, she decided upon seeking the protection of +the gods themselves. And bowing down unto them with mind and speech, with +folded hands, she addressed them trembling, ‘Since I heard the speech of +the swans, I chose the king of the Nishadhas as my lord. For the sake of +truth, O, let the gods reveal him to me. And as in thought or word I have +never swerved from him, O, let the gods, for the sake of that truth, +reveal him to me. And as the gods themselves have destined the ruler of +the Nishadhas to be my lord, O, let them, for the sake of that truth, +reveal him to me. And as it is for paying homage unto Nala that I have +adopted this vow, for the sake of that truth, O, let the gods reveal him +unto me, O, let the exalted guardians of the worlds assume their own +proper forms, so that I may know the righteous king.’ Hearing these +piteous words of Damayanti, and ascertaining her fixed resolve, and +fervent love for the king of Nishadhas, the purity of her heart and her +inclination and regard and affection for Nala, the gods did as they had +been adjured, and assumed their respective attributes as best they could. +And thereupon she beheld the celestials unmoistened with perspiration, +with winkless eyes, and unfading garlands, unstained with dust, and +staying without touching the ground. And Naishadha stood revealed to his +shadow, his fading garlands, himself stained with dust and sweat, resting +on the ground with winking eyes. And, O Bharata, discerning the gods and +the virtuous Nala the daughter of Bhima chose Naishadha according to her +truth. And the large-eyed damsel then bashfully caught the hem of his +garment and placed round his neck a floral wreath of exceeding grace. And +when that fair-complexioned maiden had thus chosen Nala for her husband, +the kings suddenly broke out into exclamations of Oh! and Alas! And, O +Bharata, the gods and the great Rishis in wonder cried Excellent! +Excellent!, applauding the king the while. And, O Kauravya, the royal son +of Virasena, with heart filled with gladness, comforted the beauteous +Damayanti, saying, ‘Since thou, O blessed one, hast chosen a mortal in +the presence of the celestials, know me for a husband even obedient to +thy command. And, O thou of sweet smiles, truly do I tell thee this that +as long as life continueth in this body of mine, I will remain thine and +thine alone. Damayanti also, with folded hands paid homage unto Nala in +words of like import. And the happy pair beholding Agni and the other +gods mentally sought their protection. And after the daughter of Bhima +had chosen Naishadha as her husband, the Lokapalas of exceeding +effulgence with pleased hearts, bestowed on Nala eight boons. And Sakra, +the lord of Sachi, bestowed on Nala the boon that he should be able to +behold his godship in sacrifices and that he should attain to blessed +legions thereafter, and Hutasana bestowed on him the boon of his own +presence whenever Naishadha wished, and regions also bright as himself. +And Yama granted him subtle taste in food as well as pre-eminence in +virtue. And the lord of waters granted Nala his own presence whenever he +desired, and also garlands of celestial fragrance. And thus each of them +bestowed upon him a couple of boons. And having bestowed these the gods +went to heaven. And the kings also, having witnessed with wonder +Damayanti’s selection of Nala, returned delighted whence they had come. +And on the departure of those mighty monarchs, the high-souled Bhima, +well pleased, celebrated the wedding of Nala and Damayanti. And having +stayed there for a time according to his desire, Naishadha, the best of +men, returned to his own city with the permission of Bhima. And having +attained that pearl of a woman, the virtuous king, O monarch, began to +pass his days in joy, like the slayer of Vala and Vritra in the company +of Sachi. And resembling the sun in glory, the king, full of gladness, +began to rule his subjects righteously, and give them great satisfaction. +And like unto Yayati, the son of Nahusha, that intelligent monarch +celebrated the horse sacrifice and many other sacrifices with abundant +gifts to Brahmanas. And like unto a very god, Nala sported with Damayanti +in romantic woods and groves. And the high-minded king begat upon +Damayanti a son named Indrasena, and a daughter named Indrasena. And +celebrating sacrifice, and sporting (with Damayanti) thus, the king ruled +the earth abounding in wealth.’” + + + +SECTION LVIII + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘When the blazing guardians of the worlds were +returning after the daughter of Bhima had chosen Naishadha, on their way +they met Dwapara with Kali approaching towards them. And seeing Kali, +Sakra the slayer of Vala and Vritra, said, ‘O Kali, say whither thou art +going with Dwapara.’ And thereupon Kali replied unto Sakra, ‘Going to +Damayanti’s Swayamvara, will I obtain her (for my wife), as my heart is +fixed upon that damsel.’ Hearing this, Indra said with a smile, ‘That +Swayamvara is already ended. In our sight she hath chosen Nala for her +husband.’ Thus answered by Sakra, Kali, that vilest of the celestials, +filled with wrath, addressing all those gods spake, ‘Since in the +presence of the celestials she hath chosen a mortal for her lord, it is +meet that she should undergo a heavy doom.’ Upon hearing these words of +Kali, the celestials answered, ‘It is with our sanction that Damayanti +hath chosen Nala. What damsel is there that would not choose king Nala +endued with every virtue? Well-versed in all duties, always conducting +himself with rectitude, he hath studied the four Vedas together with the +Puranas that are regarded as the fifth. Leading a life of harmlessness +unto all creatures, he is truth-telling and firm in his vows, and in his +house the gods are ever gratified by sacrifices held according to the +ordinance. In that tiger among men--that king resembling a Lokapala, is +truth, and forbearance, and knowledge, and asceticism, and purity and +self-control, and perfect tranquillity of soul. O Kali, the fool that +wisheth to curse Nala bearing such a character, curseth himself, and +destroyeth himself by his own act. And, O Kali, he that seeketh to curse +Nala crowned with such virtues, sinketh into the wide bottomless pit of +hell rife with torments.’ Having said this to Kali and Dwapara, the gods +went to heaven. And when the gods had gone away, Kali said unto Dwapara, +‘I am ill able, O Dwapara, to suppress my anger. I shall possess Nala, +deprive him of his kingdom, and he shall no more sport with Bhima’s +daughter. Entering the dice, it behoveth thee to help me.’” + + + +SECTION LIX + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘Having made this compact with Dwapara, Kali came to +the place where the king of the Nishadhas was. And always watching for a +hole, he continued to dwell in the country of the Nishadhas for a long +time. And it was in the twelfth year that Kali saw a hole. For one day +after answering the call of nature, Naishadha touching water said his +twilight prayers, without having previously washed his feet. And it was +through this (omission) that Kali entered his person. And having +possessed Nala, he appeared before Pushkara, and addressed him, saying, +‘Come and play at dice with Nala. Through my assistance thou wilt surely +win at the play. And defeating king Nala and acquiring his kingdom, do +thou rule the Nishadhas.’ Thus exhorted by Kali, Pushkara went to Nala. +And Dwapara also approached Pushkara, becoming the principal die called +Vrisha. And appearing before the warlike Nala, that slayer of hostile +heroes, Pushkara, repeatedly said, ‘Let us play together with dice.’ Thus +challenged in the presence of Damayanti, the lofty-minded king could not +long decline it. And he accordingly fixed the time for the play. And +possessed by Kali, Nala began to lose, in the game, his stakes in gold, +and silver, and cars with the teams thereof, and robes. And maddened at +dice, no one amongst his friends could succeed in dissuading that +represser of foes from the play that went on. And thereupon, O Bharata, +the citizens in a body, with the chief councillors, came thither to +behold the distressed monarch and make him desist. And the charioteer +coming to Damayanti spake to her of this, saying, ‘O lady, the citizens +and officers of the state wait at the gate. Do thou inform the king of +the Nishadhas that the citizens have come here, unable to bear the +calamity that hath befallen their king conversant with virtue and +wealth.’ Thereupon Bhima’s daughter, overwhelmed with grief and almost +deprived of reason by it, spake unto Nala in choked accents, ‘O king, the +citizens with the councillors of state, urged by loyalty, stay at the +gate desirous of beholding thee. It behoveth thee to grant them an +interview.’ But the king, possessed by Kali, uttered not a word in reply +unto his queen of graceful glances, uttering thus her lamentations. And +at this, those councillors of state as also the citizens, afflicted with +grief and shame, returned to their homes, saying, ‘He liveth not.’ And, O +Yudhishthira, it was thus that Nala and Pushkara gambled together for +many months, the virtuous Nala being always worsted.’” + + + +SECTION LX + +Vrihadaswa said. “Bhima’s daughter, the cool-headed Damayanti, seeing the +righteous king maddened and deprived of his senses at dice, was filled, O +king, with alarm and grief. And she thought the affair to be a serious +one with the king. And apprehensive of the calamity that threatened Nala, +yet seeking his welfare and at last understanding that her lord had lost +everything, she said unto her nurse and maid-servant Vrihatsena of high +fame, intent upon her good, dexterous in all duties, faithful and +sweet-speeched, these words, ‘O Vrihatsena, go thou and summon the +councillors in the name of Nala, and tell them also what of wealth and +other things hath been lost and what remaineth.’ The councillors then, +hearing of Nala’s summons, said, ‘This is fortunate for us’ and +approached the king. And when the subjects in a body had (thus) come a +second time, the daughter of Bhima informed Nala of it. But the king +regarded her not. Finding her husband disregarding her words, Damayanti, +filled with shame, returned to her apartments. And hearing that the dice +were uniformly unfavourable to the virtuous Nala, and that he had lost +everything, she again spake unto her nurse, saying, ‘O Vrihatsena, go +thou again in Nala’s name to bring hither, O blessed one, the charioteer, +Varshneya. The matter at hand is very serious.’ And Vrihatsena, hearing +those words of Damayanti caused Varshneya to be summoned by trusty +servants. And the blameless daughter of Bhima, acquainted with conduct +suitable to time and place, addressing soft words said according to the +occasion, ‘Thou knowest how the king hath always behaved towards thee. He +is now in difficulty, and it behoveth thee to assist him. The more the +king loseth to Pushkara, the greater becometh his ardour for the play. +And as the dice fall obedient to Pushkara, it is seen that they are +adverse to Nala in the matter of the play. And absorbed in the play, he +heedeth not the words of his friends and relatives, nor even those of +mine. I do not think, however, that in this the high-souled Naishadha is +to blame, in as much as the king regarded not my words, being absorbed in +play. O Charioteer, I seek thy protection. Do my behest. My mind +misgiveth me. The king may come to grief. Yoking Nala’s favourite horses +endued with the fleetness of the mind, do thou take these twins (my son +and daughter) on the car and hie thou to Kundina. Leaving the children +there with my kindred as also the car and the horses, either stay thou +there, or go to any other place as it listeth thee.’ Varshneya, the +charioteer of Nala, then reported in detail these words of Damayanti unto +the chief officers of the king. And having settled (the matter) in +consultation with them, and obtaining their assent, O mighty monarch, the +charioteer started for Vidarbha, taking the children on that car. And +leaving there the boy Indrasena and the girl Indrasena, as also that best +of cars and those steeds, the charioteer, with a sad heart grieving for +Nala, bade farewell unto Bhima. And wandering for some time, he arrived +at the city of Ayodhya. And there he appeared with a sorrowful heart +before king Rituparna, and entered the service of that monarch as +charioteer.” + + + +SECTION LXI + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘After Varshneya had gone away, Pushkara won from the +righteous Nala that latter’s kingdom and what else of wealth he had. And +unto Nala, O king, who had lost his kingdom, Pushkara laughingly said, +‘Let the play go on. But what stake hast thou now? Damayanti only +remaineth; all else of thine hath been won by me. Well, if thou likest, +that Damayanti be our stake now.’ Hearing these words of Pushkara the +virtuous king felt as if his heart would burst in rage, but he spake not +a word. And gazing at Pushkara in anguish, king Nala of great fame took +all the ornaments off every part of his body. And attired in a single +piece of cloth, his body uncovered, renouncing all his wealth, and +enhancing the grief of friends, the king set out. And Damayanti, clad in +one piece of cloth, followed him behind as he was leaving the city. And +coming to the outskirts of the city, Nala stayed there for three nights +with his wife. But Pushkara, O king, proclaimed through the city that he +that should show any attention to Nala, would be doomed to death. And on +account of these words of Pushkara and knowing his malice towards Nala, +the citizens, O Yudhishthira, no longer showed him hospitable regards. +And unregarded though deserving of hospitable regards, Nala passed three +nights in the outskirts of the city, living on water alone. And afflicted +with hunger, the king went away in search of fruit and roots, Damayanti +following him behind. And in agony of famine, after many days, Nala saw +some birds with plumage of golden hue. And thereupon the mighty lord of +the Nishadhas thought within himself, ‘These will be my banquet today and +also my wealth.’ And then he covered them with the cloth he had on--when +bearing up that garment of his, the birds rose up to the sky. And +beholding Nala nude and melancholy, and standing with face turned towards +the ground, those rangers of the sky addressed him, saying, ‘O thou of +small sense, we are even those dice. We had come hither wishing to take +away thy cloth, for it pleased us not that thou shouldst depart even with +thy cloth on.’ And finding himself deprived of his attire, and knowing +also that the dice were departing (with it), the virtuous Nala, O king, +thus spake unto Damayanti, ‘O faultless one, they through whose anger I +have been despoiled of my kingdom, they through whose influence +distressed and afflicted with hunger, I am unable to procure sustenance, +they for whom the Nishadhas offered me not any hospitality, they, O timid +one, are carrying off my cloth, assuming the form of birds. Fallen into +this dire disaster, I am afflicted with grief and deprived of my senses, +I am thy lord, do thou, therefore, listen to the words I speak for thy +good. These many roads lead to the southern country, passing by (the city +of) Avanti and the Rikshavat mountains. This is that mighty mountain +called Vindhya; yon, the river Payasvini running sea-wards, and yonder +are the asylums of the ascetics, furnished with various fruit and roots. +This road leadeth to the country of the Vidarbhas--and that, to the +country of the Kosalas. Beyond these roads to the south is the southern +country.’ Addressing Bhima’s daughter, O Bharata, he distressed king Nala +spake those words unto Damayanti over and over again. Thereupon afflicted +with grief, in a voice choked with tears, Damayanti spake unto Naishadha +these piteous words, ‘O king, thinking of thy purpose, my heart +trembleth, and all my limbs become faint. How can I go, leaving thee in +the lone woods despoiled of thy kingdom and deprived of thy wealth, +thyself without a garment on, and worn with hunger and toil? When in the +deep woods, fatigued and afflicted with hunger, thou thinkest of thy +former bliss, I will, O great monarch, soothe thy weariness. In every +sorrow there is no physic equal unto the wife, say the physicians. It is +the truth, O Nala, that I speak unto thee.’ Hearing those words of his +queen, Nala replied, ‘O slender-waisted Damayanti, it is even as thou +hast said. To a man in distress, there is no friend or medicine that is +equal unto a wife. But I do not seek to renounce thee, wherefore, O timid +one, dost thou dread this? O faultless one, I can forsake myself but thee +I cannot forsake.’ Damayanti then said, ‘If thou dost not, O mighty king, +intend to forsake me, why then dost thou point out to me the way to the +country of the Vidarbhas? I know, O king, that thou wouldst not desert +me. But, O lord of the earth, considering that thy mind is distracted, +thou mayst desert me. O best of men, thou repeatedly pointest out to me +the way and it is by this, O god-like one, that thou enhancest my grief. +If it is thy intention that I should go to my relatives, then if it +pleaseth thee, both of us will wend to the country of the Vidarbhas. O +giver of honours, there the king of the Vidarbhas will receive thee with +respect. And honoured by him, O king, thou shall live happily in our +home.’” + + + +SECTION LXII + +“Nala said, ‘Surely, thy father’s kingdom is as my own. But thither I +will not, by any means, repair in this extremity. Once I appeared there +in glory, increasing thy joy. How can I go there now in misery, +augmenting thy grief?’ + +“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘Saying this again and again unto Damayanti, king +Nala, wrapped in half a garment, comforted his blessed wife. And both +attired in one cloth and wearied with hunger and thirst, in course of +their wanderings, at last they came to a sheltered shed for travellers. +And arrived at this place, the king of the Nishadhas sat down on the bare +earth with the princes of Vidarbha. And wearing the same piece of cloth +(with Damayanti), and dirty, and haggard, and stained with dust, he fell +asleep with Damayanti on the ground in weariness. And suddenly plunged in +distress, the innocent and delicate Damayanti with every mark of good +fortune, fell into a profound slumber. And, O monarch, while she slept, +Nala, with heart and mind distraught, could not slumber calmly as before. +And reflecting on the loss of his kingdom, the desertion of his friends, +and his distress in the woods, he thought with himself, ‘What availeth my +acting thus? And what if I act not thus? Is death the better for me now? +Or should I desert my wife? She is truly devoted to me and suffereth this +distress for my sake. Separated from me, she may perchance wander to her +relatives. Devoted as she is to me, if she stayeth with me, distress will +surely be hers; while it is doubtful, if I desert her. On the other hand, +it is not unlikely that she may even have happiness some time.’ +Reflecting upon this repeatedly, and thinking of it again and again, he +concluded, O monarch, that the desertion of Damayanti was the best course +for him. And he also thought, ‘Of high fame and auspicious fortune, and +devoted to me, her husband, she is incapable of being injured by any one +on the way on account of her energy.’ Thus his mind that was influenced +by the wicked Kali, dwelling upon Damayanti, was made up for deserting +her. And then thinking of his own want of clothing, and of her being clad +in a single garment, he intended to cut off for himself one half of +Damayanti’s attire. And he thought, ‘How shall I divide this garment, so +that my beloved one may not perceive?’ And thinking of this, the royal +Nala began to walk up and down that shed. And, O Bharata, pacing thus to +and fro, he found a handsome sword lying near the shed, unsheathed. And +that repressor of foes, having, with that sword cut off one half of the +cloth, and throwing the instrument away, left the daughter of Vidharbha +insensible in her sleep and went away. But his heart failing him, the +king of the Nishadhas returned to the shed, and seeing Damayanti (again), +burst into tears. And he said, ‘Alas! that beloved one of mine whom +neither the god of wind nor the sun had seen before, even she sleepeth +to-day on the bare earth, like one forlorn. Clad in this severed piece of +cloth, and lying like one distracted, how will the beauteous one of +luminous smiles behave when she awaketh? How will the beautiful daughter +of Bhima, devoted to her lord, all alone and separated from me, wander +through these deep woods inhabited by beasts and serpents? O blessed one, +may the Adityas and the Vasus, and the twin Aswins together with the +Marutas protect thee, thy virtue being thy best guard.’ And addressing +thus his dear wife peerless on earth in beauty, Nala strove to go, reft +of reason by Kali. Departing and still departing, king Nala returned +again and again to that shed, dragged away by Kali but drawn back by +love. And it seemed as though the heart of the wretched king was rent in +twain, and like a swing, he kept going out from cabin and coming back +into it. At length after lamenting long and piteously, Nala stupefied and +bereft of sense by Kali went away, forsaking that sleeping wife of his. +Reft of reason through Kali’s touch, and thinking of his conduct, the +king departed in sorrow, leaving his, wife alone in that solitary +forest.’” + + + +SECTION LXIII + +Vrihadaswa said, “O king, after Nala had gone away, the beauteous +Damayanti, now refreshed, timorously awoke in that lonely forest. And O +mighty monarch, not finding her lord Naishadha, afflicted with grief and +pain, she shrieked aloud in fright, saying, ‘O lord? O mighty monarch! O +husband, dost thou desert me? Oh, I am lost and undone, frightened in +this desolate place. O illustrious prince, thou art truthful in speech, +and conversant with morality. How hast thou then, having pledged thy +word, deserted me asleep in the woods? Oh, why hast thou deserted thy +accomplished wife, even devoted to thee, particularly one that hath not +wronged thee, though wronged thou hast been by others? O king of men, it +behoveth thee to act faithfull, according to those words thou hadst +spoken unto me before in the presence of the guardians of the worlds. O +bull among men, that thy wife liveth even a moment after thy desertion of +her, is only because mortals are decreed to die at the appointed time. O +bull among men, enough of this joke! O irrepressible one, I am terribly +frightened. O lord, show thyself. I see thee! I see thee, o king! Thou +art seen, O Naishadha, Hiding thyself behind those shrubs, why dost thou +not reply unto me? It is cruel of thee, O great king, that seeing me in +this plight and so lamenting, thou dost not, O king, approach and comfort +me. I grieve not for myself, nor for anything else. I only grieve to +think how thou wilt pass thy days alone, O king. In the evening oppressed +with hunger and thirst and fatigue, underneath the trees, how wilt it +take with thee when thou seest me not?’ And then Damayanti, afflicted +with anguish and burning with grief, began to rush hither and thither, +weeping in woe. And now the helpless princess sprang up, and now she sank +down in stupor; and now she shrank in terror, and now she wept and wailed +aloud. And Bhima’s daughter devoted to her husband, burning in anguish +and sighing ever more, and faint and weeping exclaimed, ‘That being +through whose imprecation the afflicted Naishadha suffereth this woe, +shall bear grief that is greater than ours. May that wicked being who +hath brought Nala of sinless heart this, lead a more miserable life +bearing greater ills.’ + +“Thus lamenting, the crowned consort of the illustrious (king) began to +seek her lord in those woods, inhabited by beasts of prey. And the +daughter of Bhima, wailing bitterly, wandered hither and thither like a +maniac, exclaiming, ‘Alas! Alas! Oh king!’ And as she was wailing loudly +like a female osprey, and grieving and indulging in piteous lamentations +unceasingly, she came near a gigantic serpent. And that huge and hungry +serpent thereupon suddenly seized Bhima’s daughter, who had come near and +was moving about within its range. And folded within serpent’s coils and +filled with grief, she still wept, not for herself but for Naishadha. And +she said ‘O lord, why dost thou not rush towards me, now that I am +seized, without anybody to protect me, by this serpent in these desert +wilds? And, O Naishadha, how will it fare with thee when thou rememberest +me? O lord, why hast thou gone away, deserting me today in the forest? +Free from thy course, when thou wilt have regained thy mind and senses +and wealth, how will it be with thee when thou thinkest of me? O +Naishadha, O sinless one, who will soothe thee when thou art weary, and +hungry, and fainting, O tiger among kings?’ And while she was wailing +thus, a certain huntsman ranging the deep woods, hearing her +lamentations, swiftly came to the spot. And beholding the large-eyed one +in the coils of the serpent, he rushed towards it and cut off its head +with his sharp weapon. And having struck the reptile dead, the huntsman +set Damayanti free. And having sprinkled her body with water and fed and +comforted her. O Bharata, he addressed her saying, ‘O thou with eyes like +those of a young gazelle, who art thou? And why also hast thou come into +the woods? And, O beauteous one, how hast thou fallen into this extreme +misery’ And thus accosted, O monarch, by that man, Damayanti, O Bharata, +related unto him all that had happened. And beholding that beautiful +woman clad in half a garment, with deep bosom and round hips, and limbs +delicate and faultless, and face resembling the full moon, and eyes +graced with curved eye-lashes, and speech sweet as honey, the hunter +became inflamed with desire. And afflicted by the god of love, the +huntsman began to soothe her in winning voice and soft words. And as soon +as the chaste and beauteous Damayanti, beholding him understood his +intentions, she was filled with fierce wrath and seemed to blaze up in +anger. But the wicked-minded wretch, burning with desire became wroth, +attempted to employ force upon her, who was unconquerable as a flame of +blazing fire. And Damayanti already distressed upon being deprived of +husband and kingdom, in that hour of grief beyond utterance, cursed him +in anger, saying, ‘I have never even thought of any other person than +Naishadha, therefore let this mean-minded wrath subsisting on chase, fall +down lifeless.’ And as soon as she said this, the hunter fell down +lifeless upon the ground, like a tree consumed by fire.” 131 + + + +SECTION LXIV + +“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘Having destroyed that hunter Damayanti of eyes +like lotus leaves, went onwards through that fearful and solitary forest +ringing with the chirp of crickets. And it abounded with lions, and +leopards, and Rurus and tigers, and buffaloes, and bears and deer. And it +swarmed with birds of various species, and was infested by thieves and +mlechchha tribes. And it contained Salas, and bamboos and Dhavas, and +Aswatthas, and Tindukas and Ingudas, and Kinsukas, and Arjunas, and +Nimvas, and Tinisas and Salmalas, and Jamvus, and mango trees, and +Lodhras, and the catechu, and the cane, and Padmakas, and Amalahas, and +Plakshas, and Kadamvas, and Udumvaras and Vadaris, and Vilwas, and +banians, and Piyalas, and palms, and date-trees, and Haritakas and +Vibhitakas. And the princess of Vidarbha saw many mountains containing +ores of various kinds, and groves resounding with the notes of winged +choirs, and many glens of wondrous sight, and many rivers and lakes and +tanks and various kinds of birds and beasts. And she saw numberless +snakes and goblins and Rakshasas of grim visage, and pools and tanks and +hillocks, and brooks and fountains of wonderful appearance. And the +princess of Vidarbha saw there herds of buffaloes. And boars, and bears +as well as serpents of the wilderness. And safe in virtue and glory and +good fortune and patience, Damayanti wandered through those woods alone, +in search of Nala. And the royal daughter of Bhima, distressed only at +her separation from her lord, was not terrified at aught in that fearful +forest. And, O king, seating herself down upon a stone and filled with +grief, and every limb of hers trembling with sorrow on account of her +husband, she began to lament thus: ‘O king of the Nishadhas, O thou of +broad chest and mighty arms, whither hast thou gone, O king, leaving me +in this lone forest? O hero, having performed the Aswamedha and other +sacrifices, with gifts in profusion (unto the Brahmanas), why hast thou, +O tiger among men, played false with me alone? O best of men, O thou of +great splendour, it behoveth thee. O auspicious one, to remember what +thou didst declare before me, O bull among kings! And, O monarch, it +behoveth thee also to call to mind what the sky-ranging swans spake in +thy presence and in mine. O tiger among men, the four Vedas in all their +extent, with the Angas and the Upangas, well-studied, on one side, and +one single truth on the other, (are equal). Therefore, O slayer of foes, +it behoveth thee, O lord of men, to make good what thou didst formerly +declare before me. Alas, O hero! warrior! O Nala! O sinless one being +thine, I am about to perish in this dreadful forest. Oh! wherefore dost +thou not answer me? This terrible lord of the forest, of grim visage and +gaping jaws, and famishing with hunger, filleth me with fright. Doth it +not behove thee to deliver me? Thou wert wont to say always, ‘Save thee +there existeth not one dear unto me.’ O blessed one, O king, do thou now +make good thy words so spoken before. And, O king, why dost thou not +return an answer to thy beloved wife bewailing and bereft of sense, +although thou lovest her, being loved in return? O king of the earth, O +respected one, O represser of foes, O thou of large eyes, why dost thou +not regard me, emaciated, and distressed and pale, and discoloured, and +clad in a half piece of cloth, and alone, and weeping, and lamenting like +one forlorn, and like unto a solitary doe separated from the herd? O +illustrious sovereign, it is, I, Damayanti, devoted to thee, who, alone +in this great forest, address thee. Wherefore, then, dost thou not reply +unto me? Oh, I do not behold thee today on this mountain, O chief of men, +O thou of noble birth and character with every limb possesed of grace! In +this terrible forest, haunted by lions and tigers, O king of the +Nishadhas, O foremost of men, O enhancer of my sorrows, (Wishing to know) +whether thou art lying down, or sitting, or standing, or gone, whom shall +I ask, distressed and woe-stricken on thy account, saying, ‘Hast thou +seen in this woods the royal Nala?’ Of whom shall I in this forest +enquire alter the departed Nala, handsome and of high soul, and the +destroyer of hostile arrays? From whom shall I today hear the sweet +words, viz., ‘That royal Nala, of eyes like lotus-leaves, whom thou +seekest, is even here?’ Yonder cometh the forest-king, that tiger of +graceful mien, furnished with four teeth and prominent cheeks. Even him +will I accost fearlessly: Thou art the lord of all animals, and of this +forest the king. Know me for Damayanti, the daughter of the king of the +Vidarbhas, and the wife of Nala, destroyer of foes, and the king of the +Nishadhas. Distressed and woe-stricken, I am seeking my husband alone in +these woods. Do thou, O king of beasts, comfort me (with news of Nala) if +thou hast seen him. Or, O lord of the forest, if thou cannot speak of +Nala, do thou, then, O best of beasts, devour me, and free me from this +misery. Alas! hearing my plaintive appeal in the wilderness, this king of +mountains, this high and sacred hill, crested with innumerable [...?-JBH] +rolleth towards the sea. Let me, then, for tidings of the king, ask this +king of mountains, this high and sacred hill, crested with innumerable +heaven-kissing and many-hued and beauteous peaks, and abounding in +various ores, and decked with gems of diverse kings, and rising like a +banner over this broad forest, and ranged by lions and tigers and +elephants and boars and bears and stags, and echoing all around with (the +notes of) winged creatures of various species, and adorned with kinsukas +and Asokas and Vakulas and Punnagas, with blossoming Karnikaras, and +Dhavas and Plakshas, and with streams haunted by waterfowls of every +kind, and abounding in crested summits, O sacred one! O best of +mountains! O thou of wondrous sight! O celebrated hill! O refuge (of the +distressed)! O highly auspicious one! I bow to thee, O pillar of the +earth! Approaching, I bow to thee. Know me for a king’s daughter, and a +king’s daughter-in-law, and king’s consort, Damayanti by name that lord +of earth who ruleth the Vidarbhas, that mighty warrior-king Bhima by +name, who protecteth the four orders, is my sire. That best of kings +celebrated the Rajasuya and Aswamedha sacrifices, with profuse gifts to +the Brahmanas. Possessed of beautiful and large eyes, distinguished for +devotion to the Vedas, of unblemished character, truth-telling, devoid of +guile, gentle, endued with prowess, lord of immense wealth, versed in +morality, and pure, he having vanquished all his foes, effectually +protecteth the inhabitants of Vidarbha. Know me, O holy one, for his +daughter, thus come to thee. That best of men--the celebrated ruler of +the Nishadha--known by the name of Virasena of high fame, was my +father-in-law. The son of that king, heroic and handsome and possessed of +energy incapable of being baffled, who ruleth well the kingdom which hath +descended to him from his father, is named Nala. Know, O mountain, that +of that slayer of foes, called also Punyasloka, possessed of the +complexion of gold, and devoted to the Brahmanas, and versed in the +Vedas, and gifted with eloquence,--of that righteous and Soma-quaffing +and fire-adoring king, who celebrateth sacrifices and is liberal and +warlike and who adequately chastiseth (criminals), I am the innocent +spouse--the chief of his queens--standing before thee. Despoiled of +prosperity and deprived of (the company of my) husband without a +protector, and afflicted with calamity, hither have I come, O best of +mountains, seeking my husband. Hast thou, O foremost of mountains, with +thy hundreds of peaks towering (into the sky) seen king Nala in this +frightful forest? Hast thou seen my husband, that ruler of the Nishadhas, +the illustrious Nala, with the tread of a mighty elephant, endued with +intelligence, long-armed, and of fiery energy, possessed of prowess and +patience and courage and high fame? Seeing me bewailing alone, +overwhelmed with sorrow, wherefore, O best of mountains, dost thou not +today soothe me with thy voice, as thy own daughter in distress? O hero, +O warrior of prowess, O thou versed in every duty, O thou adhering to +truth--O lord of the earth, if thou art in this forest, then, O king, +reveal thyself unto me. Oh, when shall I again hear the voice of Nala, +gentle and deep as that of the clouds, that voice, sweet as Amrita, of +the illustrious king, calling me Vidharva’s daughter, with accents +distinct, and holy, and musical as the chanting of the Vedas and rich, +and soothing all my sorrows. O king, I am frightened. Do thou, O virtuous +one, comfort me.’ + +“Having addressed that foremost of mountain thus, Damayanti then went in +a northerly direction. And having proceeded three days and nights, that +best of women came to an incomparable penance grove of ascetics, +resembling in beauty a celestial grove. And the charming asylum she +beheld was inhabited and adorned by ascetics like Vasishtha and Bhrigu +and Atri, self-denying and strict in diet, with minds under control, +endued with holiness, some living on water, some on air, and some on +(fallen) leaves, with passions in check, eminently blessed, seeking the +way to heaven, clad in barks of trees and deer-skins, and with senses +subdued. And beholding that hermitage inhabited by ascetics, and +abounding in herds of deer and monkeys, Damayanti was cheered. And that +best of women, the innocent and blessed Damayanti, with graceful +eye-brows, and long tresses, with lovely hips and deep bosom, and face +graced with fine teeth and with fine black and large eyes, in her +brightness and glory entered that asylum. And saluting those ascetics +grown old in practising austerities, she stood in an attitude of +humility. And the ascetics living in that forest, said, ‘Welcome!’ And +those men of ascetic wealth, paying her due homage, said, ‘Sit ye down, +and tell us what we may do for thee.’ That best of women replied unto +them, saying, ‘Ye sinless and eminently blessed ascetics, is it well with +your austerities, and sacrificial fire, and religious observances, and +the duties of your own order? And is it well with the beasts and birds of +this asylum? And they answered, ‘O beauteous and illustrious lady, +prosperity attendeth us in every respect. But, O thou of faultless limbs, +tell us who thou art, and what thou seekest. Beholding thy beauteous form +and thy bright splendour, we have been amazed. Cheer up and mourn not. +Tell us, O blameless and blessed one, art thou the presiding deity of +this forest, or of this mountain, or of this river?’ Damayanti replied +unto those ascetics, saying, ‘O Brahmanas, I am not the goddess of this +forest, or of this mountain, or of this stream. O Rishis of ascetic +wealth, know that I am a human being. I will relate my history in detail. +Do ye listen to me. There is a king--the mighty ruler of the +Vidarbhas--Bhima by name. O foremost of regenerate ones, know me to be +his daughter. The wise ruler of the Nishadhas, Nala by name, of great +celebrity, heroic, and ever victorious in battle, and learned, is my +husband. Engaged in the worship of the gods, devoted to the twice-born +ones, the guardian of the line of the Nishadhas, of mighty energy, +possessed of great strength, truthful, conversant with all duties, wise, +unwavering in promise, the crusher of foes, devout, serving the gods, +graceful, the conqueror of hostile towns, that foremost of kings, Nala by +name, equal in splendour unto the lord of celestials, the slayer of foes, +possessed of large eyes, and a hue resembling the full moon, is my +husband. The celebrator of great sacrifices, versed in the Vedas and +their branches, the destroyer of enemies in battle, and like unto the sun +and the moon in splendour, is he. That king devoted to truth and religion +was summoned to dice by certain deceitful persons of mean mind and +uncultured soul and of crooked ways, and skilful in gambling, and was +deprived of wealth and kingdom. Know that I am the wife of that bull +among kings, known to all by the name of Damayanti, anxious to find out +my (missing) lord. In sadness of heart am I wandering among woods, and +mountains, and lakes, and rivers, and tanks and forests, in search of +that husband of mine--Nala, skilled in battle, high-souled, and +well-versed in the use of weapons, O hath king Nala, the lord of the +Nishadhas, come to this delightful asylum of your holy selves? It is for +him, O Brahmanas, that I have come to this dreary forest full of terrors +and haunted by tigers and other beasts. If I do not see king Nala within +a few days and nights, I shall seek my good by renouncing this body. Of +what use is my life without that bull among men? How shall I live +afflicted with grief on account of my husband?’ + +Unto Bhima’s daughter, Damayanti, lamenting forlorn in that forest, the +truth-telling ascetics replied, saying, ‘O blessed and beauteous one, we +see by ascetic power that the future will bring happiness to thee, and +that thou wilt soon behold Naishadha. O daughter of Bhima, thou wilt +behold Nala, the lord of the Nishadhas, the slayer of foes, and the +foremost of the virtuous freed from distress. And O blessed lady, thou +wilt behold the king--thy lord--freed from all sins and decked with all +kinds of gems, and ruling the selfsame city, and chasting his enemies, +and striking terror into the hearts of foes, and gladdening the hearts of +friends, and crowned with every blessing.’ + +“‘Having spoken unto that princess--the beloved queen of Nala--the +ascetics with their sacred fires and asylum vanished from sight. And +beholding that mighty wonder, the daughter-in-law of king Virasena, +Damayanti of faultless limbs, was struck with amazement. And she asked +herself, ‘Was it a dream that I saw? What an occurrence hath taken place! +Where are all those ascetics? And where is that asylum? Where, further, +is that delightful river of sacred waters--the resort of diverse kinds of +fowls? And where, again, are those charming trees decked with fruits and +flowers?’ And after thinking so for some time, Bhima’s daughter, +Damayanti of sweet smiles melancholy and afflicted with grief on account +of her lord, lost the colour of her face (again). And going to another +part of the wood, she saw an Asoka tree. And approaching that first of +trees in the forest, so charming with blossoms and its load of foliage, +and resounding with the notes of birds, Damayanti, with tears in her eyes +and accents choked in grief, began to lament, saying, ‘Oh, this graceful +tree in the heart of the forest, decked in flowers, looketh beautiful, +like a charming king of hills. O beauteous Asoka, do thou speedily free +me from grief. Hast thou seen king Nala, the slayer of foes and the +beloved husband of Damayanti,--freed from fear and grief and obstacles? +Hast thou seen my beloved husband, the ruler of the Nishadhas, clad in +half a piece of cloth, with delicate skin, that hero afflicted with woe +and who hath come into this wilderness? O Asoka tree, do thou free me +from grief! O Asoka, vindicate thy name, for Asoka meaneth destroyer of +grief. And going round that tree thrice, with an afflicted heart, that +best of women, Bhima’s daughter, entered a more terrible part of the +forest. And wandering in quest of her lord, Bhima’s daughter beheld many +trees and streams and delightful mountains, and many beasts and birds, +and caves, and precipices, and many rivers of wonderful appearance. And +as she proceeded she came upon a broad way where she saw with wonder a +body of merchants, with their horses and elephants, landing on the banks +of a river, full of clear and cool water, and lovely and charming to +behold, and broad, and covered with bushes of canes, and echoing with the +cries of cranes and ospreys and Chakravakas, and abounding in tortoises +and alligators and fishes, and studded with innumerable islets. And as +soon as as she saw that caravan, the beauteous and celebrated wife of +Nala, wild like a maniac, oppressed with grief, clad in half a garment, +lean and pale and smutted, and with hair covered with dust, drew near and +entered into its midst. And beholding her, some fled in fear, and some +became extremely anxious, and some cried aloud, and some laughed at her, +and some hated her. And some, O Bharata, felt pity for, and even +addressed, her, saying, ‘O blessed one, who art thou, and whose? What +seekest thou in woods? Seeing thee here we have been terrified. Art thou +human? Tell us truly, O blessed one if thou art the goddess of this wood +or of this mountain or of the points of the heaven. We seek thy +protection. Art thou a female Yaksha, or a female Rakshasa, or a +celestial damsel? O thou of faultless features, do thou bless us wholly +and protect us. And, O blessed one, do thou so act that his caravan may +soon go hence in prosperity and that the welfare of all of us may be +secured.’ Thus addressed by that caravan, the princess Damayanti, devoted +to her husband and oppressed by the calamity that had befallen her, +answered, saying, ‘O leader of the caravan, ye merchants, ye youths, old +men, and children, and ye that compose this caravan, know me for a human +being. I am the daughter of a king, and the daughter in-law of a king, +and the consort also of a king, eager for the sight of my lord. The ruler +of the Vidarbhas is my father, and my husband is the lord of the +Nishadhas, named Nala. Even now I am seeking that unvanquished and +blessed one. If ye have chanced to see my beloved one, king Nala, that +tiger among men, that destroyer of hostile hosts, O tell me quick.’ +Thereupon the leader of that great caravan, named Suchi, replied unto +Damayanti of faultless limbs, saying, ‘O blessed one, listen to my words. +O thou of sweet smiles, I am a merchant and the leader of this caravan. O +illustrious lady, I have not seen any man of the name of Nala. In this +extensive forest uninhabited by men, there are only elephants and +leopards and buffaloes, and tigers and bears and other animals. Except +thee, I have not met with any man or woman here, so help us now +Manibhadra, the king of Yakshas!’ Thus addressed by them she asked those +merchants as well as the leader of the host saying, ‘It behoveth you to +tell me whither this caravan is bound.’ The leader of the band said, ‘O +daughter of a great king, for the purpose of profit this caravan is bound +direct for the city of Suvahu, the truth-telling ruler of the Chedis.’” + + + +SECTION LXV + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘Having heard the words of the leader of that caravan, +Damayanti of faultless limbs proceeded with that caravan itself anxious +to behold her lord. And after having proceeded for many days the +merchants saw a large lake fragrant with lotuses in the midst of that +dense and terrible forest. And it was beautiful all over, and exceedingly +delightful, (with banks) abounding in grass and fuel and fruits and +flowers. And it was inhabited by various kinds of fowls and birds, and +fall of water that was pure and sweet. And it was cool and capable of +captivating the heart. And the caravan, worn out with toil, resolved to +halt there. And with the permission of their leader, they spread +themselves around those beautiful woods. And that mighty caravan finding +it was evening halted at that place. And (it came to pass that) at the +hour of midnight when everything was hushed and still and the tired +caravan had fallen asleep, a herd of elephants in going towards a +mountain stream to drink of its water befouled by their temporal juice, +saw that caravan as also the numerous elephants belonging to it. And +seeing their domesticated fellows the wild elephants infuriated and with +the temporal juice trickling down rushed impetuously on the former, with +the intention of killing them. And the force of the rush of those +elephants was hard to bear, like the impetuosity of peaks lessened from +mountain summits rolling towards the plain. The rushing elephants found +the forest paths to be all blocked up, for the goodly caravan was +sleeping obstructing the paths around that lake of lotuses. And the +elephants all of a sudden, began to crush the men lying insensible on the +ground. And uttering cries of ‘Oh!’ and ‘Alas!’ the merchants, blinded by +sleep, fled, in order to escape that danger, to copses and woods for +refuge. And some were slain by the tusks, and some by the trunks, and +some by the legs of those elephants. And innumerable camels and horses +were killed, and crowds of men on foot, running in fright, killed one +another. And uttering loud cries some fell down on the ground, and some +in fear climbed on trees, and some dropped down on uneven ground. And, O +king, thus accidentally attacked by that large herd of elephants, that +goodly caravan suffered a great loss. And there arose a tremendous uproar +calculated to frighten the three worlds, ‘Lo! a great fire hath broken +out. Rescue us. + +Do ye speedily fly away. Why do ye fly? Take the heaps of jewels +scattered around. All this wealth is a trifle. I do not speak falsely, ‘I +tell you again, (exclaimed some one) think on my words, O ye distracted +one!’ With such exclamation they ran about in fright. And Damayanti awoke +in fear and anxiety, while that terrible slaughter was raging there. And +beholding slaughter capable of awaking the fear of all the worlds, and +which was so unforeseen, the damsel of eyes like lotus leaves rose up, +wild with fright, and almost out of breath. And those of the caravan that +had escaped unhurt, met together, and asked one another, ‘Of what deed of +ours is this the consequence? Surely, we have failed to worship the +illustrious Manibhadras, and likewise the exalted and graceful +Vaisravana, the king of the Yaksha. Perhaps, we have not worshipped the +deities that cause calamities, or perhaps, we have not paid them the +first homage. Or, perhaps, this evil is the certain consequence of the +birds (we saw). Our stars are not unpropitious. From what other cause, +then hath this disaster come?’ Others, distressed and bereft of wealth +and relatives, said, ‘That maniac-like woman who came amongst this mighty +caravan in guise that was strange and scarcely human, alas, it is by her +that this dreadful illusion had been pre-arranged. Of a certainty, she is +a terrible Rakshasa or a Yaksha or a Pisacha woman. All this evil is her +work, what need of doubts? If we again see that wicked destroyer of +merchants, that giver of innumerable woes, we shall certainly slay that +injurer of ours, with stones, and dust, and grass, and wood, and cuffs.’ +And hearing these dreadful words of the merchants, Damayanti, in terror +and shame and anxiety, fled into the woods apprehensive of evil. And +reproaching herself she said, ‘Alas! fierce and great is the wrath of God +on me. Peace followeth not in my track. Of what misdeed is this the +consequence? I do not remember that I did ever so little a wrong to any +one in thought, word, or deed. Of what deed, then, is this the +consequence? Certainly, it is on account of the great sins I had +committed in a former life that such calamity hath befallen me, viz., the +loss of my husband’s kingdom, his defeat at the hands of his own kinsmen, +this separation from my lord and my son and daughter, this my unprotected +state, and my presence in this forest abounding in innumerable beasts of +prey!’” + +“The next day, O king, the remnant of that caravan left the place +bewailing the destruction that had overtaken them and lamenting for their +dead brothers and fathers and sons and friends. And the princess of +Vidarbha began to lament, saying, ‘Alas! What misdeed have I perpetrated! +The crowd of men that I obtained in this lone forest, hath been destroyed +by a herd of elephants, surely as a consequence of my ill luck. Without +doubt, I shall have to suffer misery for a long time. I have heard from +old men that no person dieth ere his time; it is for this that my +miserable self hath not been trodden to death by that herd of elephants. +Nothing that befalleth men is due to anything else than Destiny, for even +in my childhood I did not commit any such sin in thought, word, or deed, +whence might come this calamity. Methinks, I suffer this severance from +my husband through the potency of those celestial Lokapalas, who had come +to the Swayamvara but whom I disregarded for the sake of Nala.’ Bewailing +thus, O tiger among kings, that excellent lady, Damayanti, devoted to her +husband, went, oppressed with grief and (pale) as the autumnal moon, with +those Brahmanas versed in the Vedas that had survived the slaughter of +the caravan. And departing speedily, towards evening, the damsel came to +the mighty city of the truth-telling Suvahu, the king of the Chedis. And +she entered that excellent city clad in half a garment. And the citizens +saw her as she went, overcome with fear, and lean, melancholy, her hair +dishevelled and soiled with dust, and maniac-like. And beholding her +enter the city of the king of the Chedis, the boys of the city, from +curiosity, began to follow her. And surrounded by them, she came before +the palace of the king. And from the terrace the queen-mother saw her +surrounded by the crowd. And she said to her nurse, ‘Go and bring that +woman before me. She is forlorn and is being vexed by the crowd. She hath +fallen into distress and standeth in need of succour. I find her beauty +to be such that it illumineth my house. The fair one, though looking like +a maniac, seemeth a very Sree with her large eyes.’ Thus commanded, the +nurse went out and dispersing the crowd brought Damayanti to that +graceful terrace. And struck with wonder, O king, she asked Damayanti, +saying, ‘Afflicted though thou art with such distress, thou ownest a +beautiful form. Thou shinest like lightning in the midst of the clouds. +Tell me who thou art, and whose. O thou possessed of celestial splendour, +surely, thy beauty is not human, bereft though thou art of ornaments. And +although thou art helpless, yet thou art unmoved under the outrage of +these men.’ Hearing these words of the nurse, the daughter of Bhima said, +Know that I am a female belonging to the human species and devoted to my +husband. I am a serving woman of good lineage. I live wherever I like, +subsisting on fruit and roots, and whom a companion, and stay where +evening overtaketh me. My husband is the owner of countless virtues and +was ever devoted to me. And I also, on my part, was deeply attached to +him, following him like his shadow. It chanced that once he became +desperately engaged at dice. Defeated at dice, he came along into the +forest. I accompanied my husband into the woods, comforting the hero clad +in a single piece of cloth and maniac-like and overwhelmed with calamity. +Once on a time for some cause, that hero, afflicted with hunger and +thirst and grief, was forced to abandon that sole piece of covering in +the forest. Destitute of garment and maniac-like and deprived of his +senses as he was, I followed him, myself in a single garment. Following +him, I did not sleep for nights together. Thus passed many days, until at +last while I was sleeping, he cut off half of my cloth, and forsook me +who had done him no wrong. I am seeking my husband but unable to find him +who is of hue like the filaments of the lotus, without being able to cast +my eyes on that delight of my heart, that dear lord who owneth my heart +and resembleth the celestials in mien, day and night do I burn in grief.” + +“Unto Bhima’s daughter thus lamenting with tearful eyes, and afflicted +and speaking in accents choked in grief, the queen-mother herself said, +‘O blessed damsel, do thou stay with me. I am well pleased with thee. O +fair lady, my men shall search for thy husband. Or, perhaps he may come +here of his own accord in course of his wanderings. And, O beautiful +lady, residing here thou wilt regain thy (lost) lord.’ Hearing these +words of the queen mother, Damayanti replied, ‘O mother of heroes, I may +stay with thee on certain conditions. I shall not eat the leavings on any +dish, nor shall I wash anybody’s feet, nor shall I have to speak with +other men. And if anybody shall seek me (as a wife or mistress) he should +be liable to punishment at thy hands. And, further, should he solicit me +over and over again, that wicked one should be punished with death. This +is the vow I have made. I intend to have an interview with those +Brahmanas that will set out to search for my husband. If thou canst do +all this, I shall certainly live with thee. If it is otherwise, I cannot +find it in my heart to reside with thee.’ The queen-mother answered her +with a glad heart, saying, ‘I will do all this. Thou hast done well in +adopting such a vow!’” + +“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘O king, having spoken so unto the daughter of +Bhima, the queen-mother, O Bharata, said to her daughter named Sunanda, +‘O Sunanda, accept this lady like a goddess as thy Sairindhri! Let her be +thy companion, as she is of the same age with thee. Do thou, with heart +free from care, always sport with her in joy.’ And Sunanda cheerfully +accepted Damayanti and led her to her own apartment accompanied by her +associates. And treated with respect, Damayanti was satisfied, and she +continued to reside there without anxiety of any kind, for all her wishes +were duly gratified.’” + + + +SECTION LXVI + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘O monarch, having deserted Damayanti, king Nala saw a +mighty conflagration that was raging in that dense forest. And in the +midst of that conflagration, he heard the voice of some creature, +repeatedly crying aloud, ‘O righteous Nala, come hither.’ And answering, +‘Fear not,’ he entered into the midst of the fire and beheld a mighty +Naga lying in coils. And the Naga with joined hands, and trembling, spake +unto Nala, saying, ‘O king, that I am a snake, Karkotaka by name. I had +deceived the great Rishi Narada of high ascetic merit, and by him have I +been cursed in wrath, O king of men, even in words such as these: ‘Stay +thou here like an immobile thing, until one Nala taketh thee hence. And, +indeed, on the spot to which he will carry thee, there shalt thou he +freed from my curse. It is for that curse of his that I am unable to stir +one step. I will instruct thee in respect of thy welfare. It behoveth +thee to deliver me. I will be thy friend. There is no snake equal to me. +I will be light in thy hands. Taking me up, do thou speedily go hence.’ +Having said this, that prince of snakes became as small as the thumb. And +taking him up, Nala went to a spot free from fire. Having reached an open +spot where there was no fire, Nala intended to drop the serpent, upon +which Karkotaka again addressed him, saying, ‘O king of the Nishadhas, +proceed thou yet, counting a few steps of thine; meanwhile, O +mighty-armed one, I will do thee great good.’ And as Nala began to count +his steps, the snake bit him at the tenth step. And, lo! As he was bit, +his form speedily underwent a change. And beholding his change of form, +Nala was amazed. And the king saw the snake also assume his own form. And +the snake Karkotaka, comforting Nala, spake unto him, ‘I have deprived +thee of thy beauty, so that people may not recognise thee. And, O Nala, +he by whom thou hast been deceived and cast into distress, shall dwell in +thee tortured by my venom. And, O monarch, as long as he doth not leave +thee, he will have to dwell in pain in thy body with thee every limb +filled with my venom. And, O ruler of men I have saved from the hands of +him who from anger and hate deceived thee, perfectly innocent though thou +art and undeserving of wrong. And, O tiger among men, through my grace, +thou shalt have (no longer) any fear from animals with fangs from +enemies, and from Brahmanas also versed in the Vedas, O king! Nor shalt +thou, O monarch, feel pain on account of my poison. And, O foremost of +kings, thou shalt be ever victorious in battle. This very day, O prince, +O lord of Nishadhas, go to the delightful city of Ayodhya, and present +thyself before Rituparna skilled in gambling, saying, ‘I am a charioteer, +Vahuka by name.’ And that king will give thee his skill in dice for thy +knowledge of horses. Sprung from the line of Ikswaku, and possessed of +prosperity, he will be thy friend. When thou wilt be an adept at dice, +thou shalt then have prosperity. Thou wilt also meet with thy wife and +thy children, and regain thy kingdom. I tell thee this truly. Therefore, +let not thy mind be occupied by sorrow. And, O lord of men, when thou +shouldst desire to behold thy proper form, thou shouldst remember me, and +wear this garment. Upon wearing this, thou shalt get back thy own form.’ +And saying this, that Naga then gave unto Nala two pieces of celestial +cloth. And, O son of the Kuru race, having thus instructed Nala, and +presented him with the attire, the king of snakes, O monarch, made +himself invisible there and then!’” + + + +SECTION LXVII + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘After the snake had vanquished, Nala, the ruler of the +Nishadhas, proceeded, and on the tenth day entered the city of Rituparna. +And he approached the king, saying, ‘My name is Vahuka. There is no one +in this world equal to me in managing steeds. My counsel also should be +sought in matters of difficulty and in all affairs of skill. I also +surpass others in the art of cooking. In all those arts that exists in +this world, and also in every thing difficult of accomplishment, I will +strive to attain success, O Rituparna, do thou maintain me.’ And +Rituparna replied, ‘O Vahuka, stay with me! May good happen to thee. Thou +wilt even perform all this. I have always particularly desired to be +driven fast. Do thou concert such measures that my steeds may become +fleet. I appoint thee the superintendent of my stables. Thy pay shall be +ten thousand (coins). Both Varshneya and Jivala shall always be under thy +direction. Thou wilt live pleasantly in their company. Therefore, O +Vahuka, stay thou with me.’” + +“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘Thus addressed by the king, Nala began to dwell +in the city of Rituparna, treated with respect and with Varshneya and +Jivala as his companions. And residing there, the king (Nala), +remembering the princess of Vidarbha, recited every evening the following +sloka: ‘Where lieth that helpless one afflicted with hunger and thirst +and worn with toil, thinking of that wretch? And upon whom also doth she +now wait?’ And once as the king was reciting this in the night, Jivala +asked him saying, ‘O Vahuka, whom dost thou lament thus daily? I am +curious to hear it. O thou blest with length of days, whose spouse is she +whom thus lamentest?’ Thus questioned, king Nala answered him, saying, ‘A +certain person devoid of sense had a wife well-known to many. That wretch +was false in his promises. For some reason that wicked person was +separated from her. Separated from her, that wretch wandered about +oppressed with woe, and burning with grief he resteth not by day or +night. And at night, remembering her, he singeth this sloka. Having +wandered over the entire world, he hath at last found a refuge, and +undeserving of the distress that hath befallen him, passeth his days, +thus remembering his wife. When calamity had overtaken this man, his wife +followed him into the woods. Deserted by that man of little virtue, her +life itself is in danger. Alone, without knowledge of ways, ill able to +bear distress, and fainting with hunger and thirst, the girl can hardly +protect her life. And, O friend, she hath been deserted by that man of +small fortune and having little sense, with the wide and terrible forest, +ever abounding in beasts of prey’-- + +“Thus remembering Damayanti, the king of the Nishadhas continued to live +unknown in the abode of that monarch!” + + + +SECTION LXVIII + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘After Nala, despoiled of his kingdom, had, with his +wife, become a bondsman, Bhima with the desire of seeing Nala sent out +Brahmanas to search for him. And giving them profuse wealth, Bhima +enjoined on them, saying, ‘Do ye search for Nala, and also for my +daughter Damayanti. He who achieveth this task, viz., ascertaining where +the ruler of the Nishadhas is, bringeth him and my daughter hither, will +obtain from me a thousand kine, and fields, and a village resembling a +town. Even if failing to bring Damayanti and Nala here, he that succeeds +learning their whereabouts, will get from me the wealth represented by a +thousand kine.’ Thus addressed, the Brahmanas cheerfully went out in all +directions seeking Nala and his wife in cities and provinces. But Nala or +his spouse they found not anywhere. Until at length searching in the +beautiful city of the Chedis, a Brahmana named Sudeva, during the time of +the king’s prayers, saw the princess of Vidarbha in the palace of the +king, seated with Sunanda. And her incomparable beauty was slightly +perceptible, like the brightness of a fire enveloped in curls of smoke. +And beholding that lady of large eyes, soiled and emaciated he decided +her to be Damayanti, coming to that conclusion from various reasons. And +Sudeva said, ‘As I saw her before, this damsel is even so at present. O, +I am blest, by casting my eyes on this fair one, like Sree herself +delighting the worlds! Resembling the full moon, of unchanging youth, of +well-rounded breasts, illumining all sides by her splendour, possessed of +large eyes like beautiful lotuses, like unto Kama’s Rati herself the +delight of all the worlds like the rays of the full moon, O, she looketh +like a lotus-stalk transplanted by adverse fortune from the Vidarbha lake +and covered with mire in the process. And oppressed with grief on account +of her husband, and melancholy, she looketh like the night of the full +moon when Rahu hath swallowed that luminary, or like a stream whose +current hath dried up. Her plight is very much like that of a ravaged +lake with the leaves of its lotuses crushed by the trunks of elephants, +and with its birds and fowls affrighted by the invasion. Indeed, this +girl, of a delicate frame and of lovely limbs, and deserving to dwell in +a mansion decked with gems, is (now) like an uprooted lotus-stalk +scorched by the sun. Endued with beauty and generosity of nature, and +destitute of ornaments, though deserving of them, she looketh like the +moon ‘new bent in haven’ but covered with black clouds. Destitute of +comforts and luxuries, separated from loved ones and friends, she liveth +in distress, supported by the hope of beholding her lord. Verily, the +husband is the best ornament of a woman, however destitute of ornaments. +Without her husband beside her, this lady, though beautiful, shineth not. +It is a hard feat achieved by Nala in that he liveth without succumbing +to grief, though separated from such a wife. Beholding this damsel +possessed of black hair and of eyes like lotus-leaves, in woe though +deserving of bliss, even my heart is pained. Alas! when shall this girl +graced with auspicious marks and devoted to her husband, crossing this +ocean of woe, regain the company of her lord, like Rohini regaining the +Moon’s? Surely, the king of the Nishadhas will experience in regaining +her the delight that a king deprived of his kingdom experienceth in +regaining his kingdom. Equal to her in nature and age and extraction, +Nala deserveth the daughter of Vidarbha, and this damsel of black eyes +also deserveth him. It behoveth me to comfort the queen of that hero of +immeasurable prowess and endued with energy and might, (since) she is so +eager to meet her husband. I will console this afflicted girl of face +like the full moon, and suffering distress that she had never before +endured, and ever meditating on her lord.’ + +“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘Having thus reflected on these various +circumstances and signs, the Brahmana, Sudeva, approached Damayanti, and +addressed her, saying, ‘O princess of Vidarbha, I am Sudeva, the dear +friend of thy brother. I have come here, seeking thee, at the desire of +king Bhima. Thy father is well, and also thy mother, and thy brothers. +And thy son and daughter, blessed with length of days, are living in +peace. Thy relatives, though alive, are almost dead on thy account, and +hundreds of Brahmanas are ranging the world in search of thee.” + +“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘O Yudhishthira, Damayanti recognising Sudeva, +asked him respecting all her relatives and kinsmen one after another. +And, O monarch, oppressed with grief, the princess of Vidarbha began to +weep bitterly, at the unexpected sight of Sudeva, that foremost of +Brahmanas and the friend of her brother. And, O Bharata, beholding +Damayanti weeping, and conversing in private with Sudeva, Sunanda was +distressed, and going to her mother informed her, saying, ‘Sairindhri is +weeping bitterly in the presence of a Brahmana. If thou likest, satisfy +thyself.’ And thereupon the mother of the king of the Chedis, issuing +from the inner apartments of the palace, came to the place where the girl +(Damayanti) was with that Brahmana. Then calling Sudeva, O king, the +queen-mother asked him, ‘Whose wife is this fair one, and whose daughter? +How hath this lady of beautiful eyes been deprived of the company of her +relatives and of her husband as well? And how also hast thou come to know +this lady fallen into such a plight? I wish to hear all this in detail +from thee. Do truly relate unto me who am asking thee about this damsel +of celestial beauty.’ Then, O king, thus addressed by the queen-mother, +Sudeva, that best of Brahmanas, sat at his ease, and began to relate the +true history of Damayanti.’” + + + +SECTION LXIX + +“Sudeva said, ‘There is a virtuous and illustrious ruler of the +Vidarbhas, Bhima by name. This blessed lady is his daughter, and widely +known by the name of Damayanti. And there is a king ruling the Nishadhas, +named Nala, the son of Virasena. This blessed lady is the wife of that +wise and righteous monarch. Defeated at dice by his brother, and +despoiled of his kingdom, that king, accompanied by Damayanti, went away +without the knowledge of any one. We have been wandering over the whole +earth in search of Damayanti. And that girl is at last found in the house +of thy son. No woman existeth that is her rival in beauty. Between the +eye-brows of this ever-youthful damsel, there is an excellent mole from +birth, resembling a lotus. Noticed by us (before) it seems to have +disappeared, covered, (as her forehead is) with (a coat of) dust even +like the moon hid in clouds. Placed there by the Creator himself as an +indication of prosperity and wealth, that mole is visible faintly, like +the cloud-covered lunar crescent of the first day of the lighted +fortnight. And covered as her body is with dust, her beauty hath not +disappeared. Though careless of her person, it is still manifest, and +shineth like gold. And this girl--goddess-like--capable of being +identified by this form of hers and that mole, hath been discovered by me +as one discovereth a fire that is covered, by its heat!’ + +“O king, hearing these words of Sudeva, Sunanda washed the dust that +covered the mole between Damayanti’s eye-brows. And thereupon it became +visible like the moon in the sky, just emerged from the clouds. And +seeing that mole, O Bharata, Sunanda and the queen-mother began to weep, +and embracing Damayanti stood silent for a while. And the queen-mother, +shedding tears as she spoke, said in gentle accents, ‘By this thy mole, I +find that thou art the daughter of my sister. O beauteous girl, thy +mother and I are both daughters of the high-souled Sudaman, the ruler of +the Dasarnas. She was bestowed upon king Bhima, and I on Viravahu. I +witnessed thy birth at our father’s palace in the country of the +Dasarnas. O beautiful one, my house is to thee even as thy father’s. And +this wealth, O Damayanti, is thine as much as mine.’ As this, O king, +Damayanti bowing down to her mother’s sister with a glad heart, spake +unto her these words, ‘Unrecognised, I have still lived happily with +thee, every want of mine satisfied and myself cared for by thee. And +happy as my stay hath been, it would, without doubt, be happier still. +But, mother, I have long been an exile. It behoveth thee, therefore, to +grant me permission (to depart). My son and daughter, sent to my father’s +palace, are living there. Deprived of their father, and of their mother +also, how are they passing their days stricken with sorrow. If thou +wishest to do what is agreeable to me, do thou without loss of time, +order a vehicle, for I wish to go to the Vidarbhas.’ At this, O king, the +sister to (Damayanti’s) mother, with a glad heart, said, ‘So be it’. And +the queen-mother with her son’s permission, O chief of the Bharatas, sent +Damayanti in handsome litter carried by men, protected by a large escort +and provided with food and drink and garments of the first quality. And +soon enough she reached the country of the Vidarbhas. And all her +relatives, rejoicing (in her arrival) received her with respect. And +seeing her relatives, her children, both her parents, and all her maids, +to be well, the illustrious Damayanti, O king, worshipped the gods and +Brahmanas according to the superior method. And the king rejoiced at +beholding his daughter gave unto Sudeva a thousand kine and much wealth +and a village. And, O king, having spent that night at her father’s +mansion and recovered from fatigue, Damayanti addressed her mother, +saying, ‘O mother, if thou wishest me to live, I tell thee truly, do thou +endeavour to bring Nala, that hero among men.’ Thus addressed by +Damayanti, the venerable queen became filled with sorrow. And bathed in +tears, she was unable to give any answer. And beholding her in that +plight, all the inmates of the inner apartments broke out into +exclamation of ‘Oh!’ And ‘Alas’! and began to cry bitterly. And then the +queen addressed the mighty monarch Bhima, saying, ‘Thy daughter Damayanti +mourneth on account of her husband. Nay, banishing away all bashfulness, +she hath herself, O king, declared her mind to me. Let thy men strive to +find out (Nala) the righteous.’ Thus informed by her the king sent the +Brahmanas under him in all directions, saying, ‘Exert ye to discover +Nala.’ And those Brahmanas, commanded by the ruler of the Vidarbhas (to +seek Nala) appeared before Damayanti and told her of the journey they +were about to undertake. And Bhima’s daughter spake unto them saying, ‘Do +ye cry in every realm and in every assembly, ‘O beloved gambler, where +hast thou gone cutting off half of my garment, and deserting the dear and +devoted wife asleep in the forest? And that girl, as commanded by thee +stayeth expecting thee, clad in half a piece of cloth and burning with +grief! O king, O hero, relent towards, and answer, her who incessantly +weepeth for that grief. This and more ye will say, so that he may be +inclined to pity me. Assisted by the wind, fire consumeth the forest. +(Further, ye will say that) the wife is always to be protected and +maintained by the husband. Why then, good as thou art and acquainted with +every duty, hast thou neglected both the duties? Possessed of fame and +wisdom, and lineage, and kindness, why hast thou be unkind? I fear, this +is owing to the loss of my good luck! Therefore, O tiger among men, have +pity on me. O bull among men! I have heard it from thee that kindness is +the highest virtue. Speaking so, if anybody answereth you, that person +should by all means, be known, and ye should learn who he is, and where +he dwelleth. And ye foremost of regenerate ones, do ye bring me the words +of him who hearing this your speech will chance to answer. Ye should also +act with such care that no one may know the words ye utter to be at my +command, nor that ye will come back to me. And ye should also learn +whether that answers is wealthy, or poor, or destitute of power, in fact +all about him.’ + +“Thus instructed by Damayanti, O king, the Brahmanas set out in all +directions in search of Nala overtaken with such disaster. And the +Brahmanas, O king, searched for him in cities and kingdoms and villages, +and retreats of ascetics, and places inhabited by cow-herds. And, O +monarch, wherever they went they recited the speeches that Damayanti had +directed them to do.” + + + +SECTION LXX + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘After a long time had passed away, a Brahmana named +Parnada returned to the city (of the Vidarbhas), and said unto the +daughter of Bhima, ‘O Damayanti, seeking Nala, the king of Nishadhas, I +came to the city of Ayodhya, and appeared before the son of Bhangasura. +And, O best of women, I repeated those words of thine in the presence of +the blessed Rituparna. But hearing them neither that ruler of men, nor +his courtiers, answered anything, although I uttered them repeatedly. +Then, after I had been dismissed by the monarch, I was accosted by a +person in the service of Rituparna, named Vahuka. And Vahuka is the +charioteer of that king, of unsightly appearance and possessed of short +arms. And he is skillful in driving with speed, and well acquainted with +the culinary art. And sighing frequently, and weeping again and again, he +inquired about my welfare and afterwards said these words, ‘Chaste women, +although fallen into distress, yet protect themselves and thus certainly +secure heaven. Although they may be deserted by their lords, they do not +yet become angry on that account, for women that are chaste lead their +lives, encased in the armour of virtuous behaviour. It behoveth her not +to be angry, since he that deserted her was overwhelmed with calamity, +and deprived of every bliss. A beauteous and virtuous woman should not be +angry with one that was deprived by birds of his garment while striving +to procure sustenance and who is being consumed with grief. Whether +treated well or ill, such a wife should never indulge in ire, beholding +her husband in that plight, despoiled of kingdom and destitute of +prosperity, oppressed with hunger and overwhelmed with calamity.’ Hearing +these words of his, I have speedily come here. Thou hast now heard all. +Do what thou thinkest proper, and inform the king of it.’ + +“O king, having heard these words of Parnada, Damayanti with tearful eyes +came to her mother, and spake unto her in private, ‘O mother, king Bhima +should not, by any means, be made acquainted with my purpose. In thy +presence will I employ that best of Brahmanas, Sudeva! If thou desirest +my welfare, act in such a way that king Bhima may not know my purpose. +Let Sudeva without delay go hence to the city of Ayodhya, for the purpose +of bringing Nala, O mother, having performed the same auspicious rites by +virtue of which he had speedily brought me into the midst of friends.’ +With these words, after Parnada had recovered from fatigue, the princess +of Vidarbha worshipped him with profuse wealth and also said, ‘When Nala +will come here, O Brahmana, I will bestow on thee wealth in abundance +again. Thou hast done me the immense service which none else, indeed, can +do me, for, (owing to that service of thine), O thou best of the +regenerate ones, I shall speedily regain my (lost) lord.’ And thus +addressed by Damayanti, that high-minded Brahmana comforted her, uttering +benedictory words of auspicious import, and then went home, regarding his +mission to have been successful. And after he had gone away, Damayanti +oppressed with grief and distress, calling Sudeva, addressed him, O +Yudhishthira, in the presence of her mother, saying, ‘O Sudeva, go thou +to the city of Ayodhya, straight as a bird, and tell king Rituparna +living there, these words: ‘Bhima’s daughter, Damayanti will hold another +Swayamvara. All the kings and princes are going thither. Calculating the +time, I find that the ceremony will take place tomorrow. O represser of +foes, if it is possible for thee, go thither without delay. Tomorrow, +after the sun hath risen, she will choose a second husband, as she doth +not know whether the heroic Nala liveth or not. And addressed by her, O +monarch thus, Sudeva set out. And he said unto Rituparna, all that he had +been directed to say.’” + + + +SECTION LXXI + +“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘Having heard the words of Sudeva king Rituparna, +soothing Vahuka with gentle words, said, ‘O Vahuka, thou art well-skilled +in training and guiding horses. If it pleases thee, I intend to go to +Damayanti’s Swayamvara in course of a single day.’ Thus addressed, O son +of Kunti, by that king, Nala felt his heart to be bursting in grief. And +the high-souled king seemed to burn in sorrow. And he thought within +himself, ‘Perhaps Damayanti in doing this is blinded by sorrow. Or, +perhaps, she hath conceived this magnificent scheme for my sake. Alas, +cruel is the deed that the innocent princess of Vidarbha intends to do, +having been deceived by my sinful and low self of little sense. It is +seen in the world that the nature of woman is inconstant. My offence also +hath been great; perhaps she is acting so, because she hath no longer any +love for me owing to my separation from her. Indeed, that girl of slender +waist, afflicted with grief on my account and with despair, will not +certainly do anything of the kind, when especially, she is the mother of +offspring (by me). However whether this is true or false, I shall +ascertain with certitude by going thither. I will, therefore, accomplish +Rituparna’s and my own purpose also.’ Having resolved thus in his mind, +Vahuka, with his heart in sorrow, spake unto king Rituparna, with joined +hands, saying, ‘O monarch, I bow to thy behest, and, O tiger among men, I +will go to the city of the Vidarbhas in a single day. O king!’ Then, O +monarch, at the command of the royal son of Bhangasura, Vahuka went to +the stables and began to examine the horses. And repeatedly urged by +Rituparna to make haste, Vahuka after much scrutiny and careful +deliberation, selected some steeds that were lean-fleshed, yet strong and +capable of a long journey and endued with energy and strength of high +breed and docility, free from inauspicious marks, with wide nostrils and +swelling cheeks, free from faults as regards the ten hairy curls, born in +(the country of) Sindhu, and fleet as the winds. And seeing those horses, +the king said somewhat angrily, ‘What is this, that thou wishest to do? +Thou shouldst not jest with us. How can these horses of mine, weak in +strength and breath, carry us? And how shall we be able to go this long +way by help of these?’ Vahuka replied, ‘Each of these horses bears one +curl on his forehead, two on his temples, four on his sides, four on his +chest, and one on his back. Without doubt, these steeds will be able to +go to the country of the Vidarbhas. If, O king, thou thinkest of choosing +others, point them out and I shall yoke them for thee.’ Rituparna +rejoined, ‘O Vahuka, thou art versed in the science of horses and art +also skillful (in guiding them). Do thou speedily yoke those that thou +thinkest to be able.’ Thereupon the skillful Nala yoked upon the car four +excellent steeds of good breed that were, besides, docile and fleet. And +after the steeds had been yoked, the king without loss of time mounted +upon the car, when those best of horses fell down upon the ground on +their knees. Then, O king, that foremost of men, the blessed king Nala +began to soothe horses endued with energy and strength. And raising them +up with the reins and making the charioteer Varshneya sit on the car, he +prepared to set out with great speed. And those best of steeds, duly +urged by Vahuka, rose to the sky, confounding the occupant of the +vehicle. And beholding those steeds gifted with the speed of the wind +thus drawing the car, the blessed king of Ayodhaya was exceedingly +amazed. And noticing the rattle of the car and also the management of the +steeds, Varshneya reflected upon Vahuka’s skill in guiding horses. And he +thought, ‘Is he Matali, the charioteer of the king of the celestials? I +find the same magnificent indications in the heroic Vahuka. Or, hath +Salihotra versed in the science of horses taken this human shape so +beautiful? Or, is it king Nala the reducer of hostile towns that hath +come here? Or, it may be that this Vahuka knoweth the science that Nala +knoweth, for I perceive that the knowledge of Vahuka is equal to that of +Nala. Further, Vahuka and Nala are of the same age. This one, again, may +not be Nala of high prowess, but somebody of equal knowledge. Illustrious +persons, however, walk this earth in disguise in consequence of +misfortune, or agreeably to the ordinance of the scriptures. That this +person is of unsightly appearance need not change my opinion; for Nala, I +think, may even be despoiled of his personal features. In respect of age +this one equals Nala. There is difference, however, in personal +appearance. Vahuka, again is endued with every accomplishment. I think, +therefore, he is Nala.’ Having thus reasoned long in his mind, O mighty +monarch, Varshneya, the (former) charioteer of the righteous Nala, became +absorbed in thought. And that foremost of kings Rituparna, also, +beholding the skill of Vahuka in equestrian science experienced great +delight, along with his charioteer Varshneya. And thinking of Vahuka’s +application and ardour and the manner of his holding the reins, the king +felt exceedingly glad.’” + + + +SECTION LXXII + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘Like a bird coursing through the sky, Nala soon +crossed rivers and mountains, and woods and lakes. And while the car was +coursing thus, that conqueror of hostile cities, the royal son of +Bhangasura, saw his upper garment drop down on the ground. And at soon as +his garment had dropped down the high-minded monarch, without loss of +time, told Nala, ‘I intend to recover it. O thou of profound +intelligence, retain these steeds endued with exceeding swiftness until +Varshneya bringeth back my garment.’ Thereupon Nala replied unto him, +‘The sheet is dropped down far away. We have travelled one yojana thence. +Therefore, it is incapable of being recovered.’ After Nala had addressed +him thus, O king, the royal son of Bhangasura came upon a Vibhitaka tree +with fruits in a forest. And seeing that tree, the king hastily said to +Vahuka, ‘O charioteer, do thou also behold my high proficiency in +calculation. All men do not know everything. There is no one that is +versed in every science of art. Knowledge in its entirety is not found in +any one person, O Vahuka, the leaves and fruits of this tree that are +lying on the ground respectively exceed those that are on it by one +hundred and one. The two branches of the tree have fifty millions of +leaves, and two thousand and ninety five fruits. Do thou examine these +two branches and all their boughs.’ Thereupon staying the car Vahuka +addressed the king, saying, ‘O crusher of foes, thou takest credit to +thyself in a matter which is beyond my perception. But, O monarch, I will +ascertain it by the direct evidence of my senses, by cutting down the +Vibhitaka. O king, when I actually count, it will no longer be matter of +speculation. Therefore, in thy presence, O monarch, I will hew down this +Vibhitaka. I do not know whether it be not (as thou hast said). In thy +presence, O ruler of men, I will count the fruits and leaves. Let +Varshneya hold the reins of the horses for a while.’ Unto the charioteer +the king replied, ‘There is no time to lose.’ But Vahuka answered with +humility, ‘Stay thou a short space, or, if thou art in a hurry, go then, +making Varshneya thy charioteer. The road lies direct and even.’ And at +this, O son of the Kuru race, soothing Vahuka, Rituparna said, ‘O Vahuka, +thou art the only charioteer, there is none other in this world. And, O +thou versed in horse lore, it is through thy help that I expect to go to +the Vidarbhas. I place myself in thy hands. It behoveth thee not to cause +any obstacle. And, O Vahuka, whatever thy wish. I will grant it if taking +me to the country of the Vidarbhas to-day, thou makest me see the sun +rise.’ At this, Vahuka answered him, saying, ‘After having counted (the +leaves and fruits of the) Vibhitaka, I shall proceed to Vidarbha, do thou +agree to my words. Then the king reluctantly told him, ‘Count. And on +counting the leaves and fruits of a portion of this branch, thou wilt be +satisfied of the truth of my assertion.’ And thereupon Vahuka speedily +alighted from the car, and felled that tree. And struck with amazement +upon finding the fruits, after calculation, to be what the king had said, +he addressed the king, saying, ‘O monarch, this thy power is wonderful. I +desire, O prince, to know the art by which thou hast ascertained all +this.’ And at this king, intent upon proceeding speedily, said unto +Vahuka. ‘Know that I am proficient at dice besides being versed in +numbers. And Vahuka said unto him, ‘Impart unto me this knowledge and, O +bull among men, take from me my knowledge of horses.’ And king Rituparna, +having regard to the importance of the act that depended upon Vahuka’s +good-will, and tempted also by the horse-lore (that his charioteer +possessed), said, ‘So be it.’ As solicited by thee, receive this science +of dice from me, and, O Vahuka, let my equine science remain with thee in +trust.’ And saying this, Rituparna imparted unto Nala the science (he +desired). And Nala upon becoming acquainted with the science of dice, +Kali came out of his body, incessantly vomiting from his mouth the +virulent poison of Karkotaka. + +And when Kali, afflicted (by Damayanti’s curse) came out (of Nala’s +body), the fire of that curse also left Kali. Indeed, long had been the +time for which the king had been afflicted by Kali, as if he were of +unregenerate soul. And Kala the ruler of the Nishadhas, in wrath, was +bent upon cursing Kali, when the latter, frightened, and trembling, said +with joined hands, ‘Control thy wrath, O king! I will render thee +illustrious. Indrasena’s mother had formerly cursed me in anger when she +had been deserted by thee. Ever since that time undergoing sore +affliction I resided in thee, O mighty monarch, O unconquered one, +miserably and burning night and day with the venom of the prince of +snakes. I seek thy protection. If thou dost not curse me who am +affrighted and seek thy protection, then those men that will attentively +recite thy history, shall be even free from fear on my account.’ And thus +addressed by Kali, king Nala controlled his wrath. And thereupon the +frightened Kali speedily entered into the Vibhitaka tree. And while the +Kali was conversing with Naishadha, he was invisible to others. And +delivered from his afflictions, and having counted the fruits of that +tree, the king, filled with great joy and of high energy, mounted on the +car and proceeded with energy, urging those fleet horses. And from the +touch of Kali the Vibhitaka tree from that hour fell into disrepute. And +Nala, with a glad heart, began to urge those foremost of steeds which +sprang into the air once and again like creatures endued with wings. And +the illustrious monarch drove (the car) in the direction of the +Vidarbhas. And after Nala had gone far away, Kali also returned to his +abode. And abandoned by Kali, O king, that lord of earth, the royal Nala, +became freed from calamity though he did not assume his native form.’” + + + +SECTION LXXIII + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘After Rituparna of prowess incapable of being baffled +had, in the evening, arrived at the city of the Vidarbhas, the people +brought unto king Bhima the tidings (of his arrival). And at the +invitation of Bhima, the king (of Ayodhya) entered the city of Kundina, +filling with the rattle of his car all the ten points, direct and +transverse, of the horizon. And the steeds of Nala that were in that city +heard that sound, and hearing it they became delighted as they used to be +in the presence of Nala himself. And Damayanti also heard the sound of +that car driven by Nala, like the deep roar of the clouds in the rainy +season. And Bhima and the steeds (of Nala) regarded the clatter of that +car to be like that which they used to hear in days of yore when king +Nala himself urged his own steeds. And the peacocks on the terraces, and +the elephants in the stables, and the horses also, all heard the rattle +of Rituparna’s car. And hearing the sound, so like the roar of the +clouds, the elephants and the peacocks, O king, began to utter their +cries, facing that direction, and filled with delight such as they +experience when they hear the actual roar of the clouds. And Damayanti +said, ‘Because the rattle of his car filling the whole earth, gladdens my +heart, it must be King Nala (that has come). If I do not see Nala, of +face bright as the moon, that hero with countless virtues, I shall +certainly die. If I am not clasped today in that hero’s thrilling +embrace, I shall certainly cease to be. If Naishadha with voice deep as +that of the clouds doth not come to me today, I shall enter into a pyre +of golden brilliance. If that foremost of kings, powerful as a lion and +gifted with the strength of an infuriated elephant, doth not present +himself before me, I shall certainly cease to live. I do not remember a +single untruth in him, or a single wrong done by him to others. Never +hath he spoken an untruth even in jest. Oh, my Nala is exalted and +forgiving and heroic and magnificent and superior to all other kings, and +faithful to his marriage vow and like unto a eunuch in respect of other +females. Night and day dwelling upon his perceptions, my heart, in +absence of that dear one, is about to burst in grief.’ + +“Thus bewailing as if devoid of sense, Damayanti, O Bharata, ascended the +terrace (of her mansion) with the desire of seeing the righteous Nala. +And in the yard of the central mansion she beheld king Rituparna on the +car with Varshneya and Vahuka. And Varshneya and Vahuka, descending for +that excellent vehicle, unyoked the steeds, and kept the vehicle itself +in a proper place. And king Rituparna also, descending from the car, +presented himself before king Bhima possessed of terrible prowess. And +Bhima received him with great respect, for in the absence of a proper +occasion, a great person cannot be had (as a guest). And honoured by +Bhima, king Rituparna looked about him again and again, but saw no traces +of the Swayamvara. And the ruler of the Vidarbhas, O Bharata, approaching +Rituparna, said, ‘Welcome! What is the occasion of this thy visit?’ And +king Bhima asked this without knowing that Rituparna had come to obtain +the hand of his daughter. And king Rituparna, of unbaffled prowess and +gifted with intelligence, saw that there were no other kings or princes. +Nor did he hear any talk relating to the Swayamvara, nor saw any +concourse of Brahmanas. And at this, the king of Kosala reflected a while +and at length said, ‘I have come here to pay my respects to thee.’ And +the king Bhima was struck with astonishment, and reflected upon the +(probable) cause of Rituparna’s coming, having passed over a hundred +yojanas. And he reflected, ‘That passing by other sovereigns, and leaving +behind him innumerable countries, he should come simply to pay his +respect to me is scarcely the reason of his arrival. What he assigneth to +be the cause of his coming appeareth to be a trifle. However, I shall +learn the true reason in the future.’ And although king Bhima thought so, +he did not dismiss Rituparna summarily, but said unto him again and +again, ‘Rest, thou art weary.’ And honoured thus by the pleased Bhima, +king Rituparna was satisfied, and with a delighted heart, he went to his +appointed quarters followed by the servants of the royal household.” + +“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘And, O king, after Rituparna had gone away with +Varshneya, Vahuka took the car to the stables. And there freeing the +steeds, and tending them according to rule, and soothing them himself, +sat down on a side of the car. Meanwhile, the princess of Vidharva, +Damayanti, afflicted with grief, having beheld the royal son of +Bhangasura, and Varshneya of the Suta race, and also Vahuka in that +guise, asked herself, ‘Whose is this car-rattle? It was loud as that of +Nala, but I do not see the ruler of the Nishadhas. Certainly, Varshneya +hath learnt the art from Nala, and it is for this the rattle of the car +driven by him hath been even like that of Nala. Or, is Rituparna equally +skilled with Nala so that the rattle of his car seemeth to be like that +of Nala?’ And reflecting thus, O monarch, the blessed and beauteous girl +sent a female messenger in search of Nishada.” + + + +SECTION LXXIV + +“Damayanti said, ‘O Kesini, go thou and learn who that charioteer is that +sitteth by the car, unsightly and possessed of short arms. O blessed one, +O faultless one, approaching him, cautiously and with suit words, make +thou the usual inquiries of courtesy and learn all particulars truly. +Having regard to the feeling of satisfaction my mind experienceth, and +the delight my heart feeleth, I am greatly afraid this one is king Nala +himself. And, O faultless one, having inquired after his welfare, thou +shalt speak unto him the words of Parnada. And, O beauteous one, +understand the reply he may make thereto.’ Thus instructed, that female +messenger, going cautiously, while the blessed Damayanti watched from the +terrace, addressed Vahuka in these words, ‘O foremost of men, thou art +welcome. I wish thee happiness. O bull among men, hear now the words of +Damayanti. When did ye all set out, and with what object have ye come +hither. Tell us truly, for the princess of Vidarbha wisheth to hear it.’ +Thus addressed, Vahuka answered, the illustrious king of Kosala had heard +from a Brahmana that a second Swayamvara of Damayanti would take place. +And hearing it, he hath come here, by the help of excellent steeds fleet +as the wind and capable of going a hundred yojanas. I am his charioteer. +Kesini then asked, ‘Whence doth the third among you come, and whose (son) +is he? And whose son art thou, and how hast thou come to do this work?’ +Thus questioned, Vahuka replied, ‘He (of whom thou inquirest) was the +charioteer of the virtuous Nala, and known to all by the name of +Varshneya. After Nala had, O beauteous one, left his kingdom, he came to +the son of Bhangasura. I am skilled in horse-lore, and have, therefore, +been appointed as charioteer. Indeed, king Rituparna hath himself chosen +me as his charioteer and cook.’ At this Kesini rejoined, ‘Perhaps +Varshneya knoweth where king Nala hath gone, and O Vahuka, he may also +have spoken to thee (about his master).’ Vahuka then said, ‘Having +brought hither the children of Nala of excellent deeds, Varshneya went +away whither he listed: He doth not know where Naishadha is. Nor, O +illustrious one, doth anybody else know of Nala’s whereabouts; for the +king (in calamity) wandereth over the world in disguise and despoiled of +(his native) beauty. Nala’s self only knoweth Nala. Nala never +discovereth his marks of identity anywhere.’ Thus addressed, Kesini +returned, ‘The Brahmana that had before this gone to Ayodhya, had +repeatedly said these words suitable to female lips, ‘O beloved gambler, +where hast thou gone cutting off half my piece of cloth, and deserting +me, his dear and devoted wife asleep in the woods? And she herself, as +commanded by him, waiteth expecting him clad in half a garment and +burning day and night in grief. O king, O hero, do thou relent towards +her that weepeth ceaselessly for that calamity and do thou give her an +answer. O illustrious one, do thou speak the words agreeable to her for +the blameless one panteth to hear them. Hearing these words of the +Brahmana thou didst formerly give a reply! The princess of Vidarbha again +wisheth to hear the words thou didst then say.’” + +“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘O son of the Kuru race, hearing these words of +Kesini, Nala’s heart was pained, and his eyes filled with tears. And +repressing his sorrow, the king who was burning in grief, said again +these words, in accents choked with tears: ‘Chaste women, though +overtaken by calamity, yet protect themselves, and thereby secure heaven. +Women that are chaste, deserted by their lords, never become angry, but +continue to live, cased in virtue’s mail. Deserted by one fallen into +calamity, bereft of sense, and despoiled of bliss, it behoveth her not to +be angry. A virtuous lady should not be angry with one that was deprived +by birds of his garment while striving to procure sustenance and who is +burning in misery. Whether treated well or ill she would never be angry, +seeing her husband in that plight, despoiled of his kingdom, bereft of +prosperity, oppressed with hunger, and overwhelmed with calamity.’ And, O +Bharata, while speaking thus, Nala oppressed with grief, could not +restrain his tears, but began to weep. And thereupon Kesini went back to +Damayanti, and acquainted her with everything about that conversation as +well as that outburst of grief.” + + + +SECTION LXXV + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘Hearing everything, Damayanti became oppressed with +grief, and suspecting the person to be Nala, said unto Kesini, ‘O Kesini, +go thou again, and examine Vahuka, and staying in silence at his side +mark thou his conduct. And, O beauteous one, whenever he happens to do +anything skilful, do thou observe well his act while accomplishing it. +And, O Kesini, whenever he may ask water or fire, with the view of +offering him obstruction, thou shalt be in no hurry to give it. And +marking everything about his behaviour, come thou and tell me. And +whatever human or super-human thou seest in Vahuka, together with +anything else, should all be reported unto me.’ And thus addressed by +Damayanti, Kesini went away, and having marked the conduct of that person +versed in horse-lore, she came back. And she related unto Damayanti all +that had happened, indeed, everything of human and superhuman that she +had witnessed in Vahuka. And Kesini said, ‘O Damayanti, a person of such +control over the elements I have never before seen or heard of. Whenever +he cometh to low passage, he never stoopeth down, but seeing him, the +passage itself groweth in height so that he may pass through it easily. +And at his approach, impassable narrow holes open wide. King Bhima had +sent various kinds of meat--of diverse animals, for Rituparna’s food. And +many vessels had been placed there for washing the meat. And as he looked +upon them, those vessels became filled (with water). And having washed +the meat, as he set himself to cook, he took up a handful of grass and +held it in the sun, when fire blazed up all on a sudden. Beholding this +marvel, I have come hither amazed. Further, I have witnessed in him +another great wonder. O beauteous one, he touched fire and was not burnt. +And at his will, water falling floweth in a stream. And, I have witnessed +another greater wonder still. He took up some flowers, began to press +them slowly with his hands. And pressed by his hand, the flowers did not +lose their original forms, but, on the contrary, became gayer and more +odorous than before. Having beheld wonderful things I have come hither +with speed.’” + +“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘Hearing of these acts of the virtuous Nala, and +discovering him from his behaviour, Damayanti considered him as already +recovered. And from these indications suspecting that Vahuka was her +husband, Damayanti once more weepingly addressed Kesini in soft words, +saying, ‘O beauteous one, go thou once more, and bring from the kitchen +without Vahuka’s knowledge some meat that hath been boiled and dressed +(by him).’ Thus commanded, Kesini, ever bent on doing what was agreeable +to Damayanti, went to Vahuka, and taking some hot meat came back without +loss of time. And Kesini gave that meat, O son of the Kuru race, unto +Damayanti. And Damayanti who had formerly often partaken of meat dressed +by Nala, tasted the meat that was brought by her hand-maid. And she +thereupon decided Vahuka to be Nala and wept aloud in grief of heart. +And, O Bharata, overwhelmed with grief, and washing her face, she sent +her two children with Kesini. And Vahuka, who was the king in disguise, +recognising Indrasena with her brother, advanced hastily, and embracing +them, took them up on his lap. And taking up his children like unto the +children of the celestials, he began to weep aloud in sonorous accents, +his heart oppressed with great sorrow. And after having repeatedly +betrayed his agitation, Naishadha suddenly left children, and addressed +Kesini, saying, ‘O fair damsel, these twins are very like my own +children. Beholding them unexpectedly, I shed tears. If thou comest to me +frequently people may think evil, for we are guests from another land. +Therefore. O blessed one, go at thy ease.’” + + + +SECTION LXXVI + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘Beholding the agitation of the virtuous and wise Nala, +Kesini returned unto Damayanti and related everything unto her. And +thereupon Damayanti with a sorrowful heart and eager to behold Nala, +again despatched Kesini to her mother, asking her to say on her behalf: +Suspecting Vahuka to be Nala, I have tried him in various ways. My doubt +now only relates to his appearance. I intend to examine him myself. O +mother, either let him enter the palace, or give me permission to go to +him. And arrange this with the knowledge of my father or without it. And +thus addressed to Damayanti, that lady communicated unto Bhima the +intention of his daughter, and upon learning it the king gave his +consent. And, O bull of the Bharata race, having obtained the consent +both of her father and mother, Damayanti caused Nala to be brought to her +apartments. And as soon as he saw Damayanti unexpectedly, king Nala was +overwhelmed with grief and sorrow, and bathed in tears. And that best of +women, Damayanti, also, upon beholding king Nala in that condition, was +sorely afflicted with grief. And, O monarch, herself clad in a piece of +red cloth, and wearing matted locks, and covered with dirt and dust, +Damayanti then addressed Vahuka, saying, ‘O Vahuka, hast thou ever seen +any person acquainted with duty, who hath gone away, deserting his +sleeping wife in the forest? Who, except the virtuous Nala, could go +away, deserting in the woods, his dear and unoffending wife overcome with +fatigue? Of what offence was I guilty in the eyes of that monarch since +my early youth that he should go away deserting me in the woods while +asleep overcome with fatigue? Why should he whom I formerly chose in +preference to the gods themselves abandon his ever-devoted and loving +wife who had become the mother also of his children? Before the fire, and +in presence also of the celestials, he had taken my hand, vowing, ‘Verily +I will be thine.’ Oh, where was that vow when he deserted me. O represser +of foes.’ While Damayanti was saying all this, tears of sorrow began to +flow plentifully from her eyes. And beholding her thus afflicted with +grief, Nala also, shedding tears, black of those of the gazelle with +extremities of reddish hue, said, ‘O timid one, neither the loss of my +kingdom nor my desertion of thee was my act. Both were due to Kali. And, +O foremost of virtuous women, lamenting for me day and night, and +overcome with sorrow, thou hadst in the woods cursed Kali, and so he +began to dwell in my body, burning in consequence of thy curse. Indeed +burning with thy curse, he lived within me like fire within fire. O +blessed girl, that our sorrows might terminate, that wretch have I +overcome by my observances and austerities. The sinful wretch hath +already left me, and it is for this that I have come hither. My presence +here, O fair lady, is for thy sake. I have no other object. But, O timid +one, can any other woman, forsaking her loving and devoted husband, ever +choose a second lord like thee? At the command of the king, messengers +are ranging this entire earth, saying, ‘Bhima’s daughter will, of her own +accord, choose a second husband worthy of her.’ Immediately on hearing +this, the son of Bhangasura hath arrived here.’ Hearing these +lamentations of Nala, Damayanti, frightened and trembling, said with +joined hand, ‘It behoveth thee not, O blessed one, to suspect any fault +in me. O ruler of the Nishadhas, passing over the celestials themselves, +I choose thee as my lord. It was to bring thee hither that the Brahmanas +had gone out in all directions, even to all the sides of the horizon, +singing my words, in the form of ballads. At last, O king, a learned +Brahmana named Parnada had found thee in Kosala in the palace of +Rituparna. When thou hadst returned a fit answer to those words of his, +it was then, O Naishadha, that I devised this scheme to recover thee. +Except thee, O lord of earth, there is no one in this world, who in one +day can clear, O King, a hundred yojanas with horses. O monarch, touching +thy feet I can swear truly that I have not, even in thought, committed +any sin. May the all-witnessing Air that courseth through this world, +take my life, if I have committed any sin. May the Sun that ever courseth +through the sky take my life, if I have committed any sin. May the Moon, +that dwelleth within every creature as a witness, take my life, if I have +committed any sin. Let the three gods that sustain the triple worlds in +their entirety, declare truly, or let them forsake me today.’ And thus +addressed by her, the Wind-god said from the sky, ‘O Nala, I tell thee +truly that she hath done no wrong. O king, Damayanti, well guarding the +honour of thy family, hath enhanced it. Of this we are the witnesses, as +we have been her protectors for these three years. It is for thy sky that +she hath devised this unrivalled scheme, for, except thee, none on earth +is capable of travelling in a single day a hundred yojanas. O monarch, +thou hast obtained Bhima’s daughter, and she hath also obtained thee. +Thou needst not entertain any suspicion but be united with thy partner.’ +And after the Wind-god had said this, a floral shower fell there and the +celestial kettle-drum began to play, and auspicious breezes began to +blow. And beholding those wonders, O Bharata, king Nala, the represser of +foes, cast away all his doubts in respect of Damayanti. And then that +lord of earth, remembering the king of serpents, wore that pure garment +and regained his native form. And beholding her righteous lord in his own +form, Bhima’s daughter of faultless limbs embraced him, and began to weep +aloud. And king Nala also embraced Bhima’s daughter devoted to him, as +before, and also his children, and experienced great delight. And burying +her face in his bosom, the beauteous Damayanti of large eyes began to +sigh heavily, remembering her griefs. And overwhelmed with sorrow, that +tiger among men stood for some time, clasping the dust-covered Damayanti +of sweet smiles. And, O king, the queen-mother then, with a glad heart, +told Bhima all that had passed between Nala and Damayanti. And the mighty +monarch answered, ‘Let Nala pass this day in peace, to-morrow I shall see +him after his bath and prayers, with Damayanti by his side.’ And, O king, +they passed that night pleasantly, in relating to each other the past +incidents of their life in the forest. And with hearts filled with joy, +the princess of Vidarbha and Nala began to pass their days in the palace +of king Bhima, intent upon making each other happy. And it was in the +fourth year (after the loss of his kingdom) that Nala was re-united with +his wife, and all his desires gratified, once more experienced the +highest bliss. And Damayanti rejoiced exceedingly in having recovered her +lord even as fields of tender plants on receiving a shower. And Bhima’s +daughter, thus recovering her lord, obtained her wish, and blazed forth +in beauty, her weariness gone, her anxieties dispelled and herself +swelling with joy, ever like a night that is lit by the bright disc of +the moon!” + + + +SECTION LXXVII + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘Having passed that night, king Nala decked in +ornaments and with Damayanti by his side, presented himself in due time +before the king. And Nala saluted his father-in-law with becoming +humility and after him the fair Damayanti paid her respects to her +father. And the exalted Bhima, with great joy, received him as a son, and +honouring him duly along with his devoted wife, comforted them in proper +words. And duly accepting the homage rendered unto him, king Nala offered +his father-in-law his services as became him. And seeing Nala arrived, +the citizens were in great joy. And there arose in the city a loud uproar +of delight. And the citizens decorated the city with flags and standards +and garlands of flowers. And the streets were watered and decked in +floral wreaths and other ornaments. And at their gates citizens piled +flowers, and their temples and shrines were all adorned with flowers. And +Rituparna heard that Vahuka had already been united with Damayanti. And +the king was glad to hear of all this. And calling unto him king Nala, he +asked his forgiveness. And the intelligent Nala also asked Rituparna’s +forgiveness, showing diverse reasons. And that foremost of speakers +versed in the truth, king Rituparna, after being thus honoured by Nala, +said, with a countenance expressive of wonder, these words unto the ruler +of the Nishadhas. ‘By good fortune it is that regaining the company of +thy own wife, thou hast obtained happiness. O Naishadha, while dwelling +in disguise at my house, I hope I did not wrong thee in any way, O lord +of the earth! If knowingly I have done thee any wrong, it behoveth thee +to forgive me.’ Hearing this, Nala replied, ‘Thou hast not, O monarch, +done me ever so little an injury. And if thou hast, it hath not awakened +my ire, for surely thou shouldst be forgiven by me. Thou wert formerly my +friend, and, O ruler of men, thou art also related to me. Henceforth I +shall find greater delight in thee. O king, with all my desires +gratified, I lived happily in thy abode, in fact more happily there than +in my own house. This thy horse-lore is in my keeping. If thou wishest, O +king, I will make it over to thee.’ Saying this, Naishadha gave unto +Rituparna that science and the latter took it with the ordained rites. +And, O monarch, the royal son of Bhangasura, having obtained the +mysteries of equestrian science and having given unto the ruler of the +Naishadhas the mysteries of dice, went to his own city, employing another +person for his charioteer. And, O king, after Rituparna had gone, king +Nala did not stay long in the city of Kundina!’” + + + +SECTION LXXVIII + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘O son of Kunti, the ruler of the Nishadhas having +dwelt there for a month, set out from that city with Bhima’s permission +and accompanied by only a few (followers) for the country of the +Nishadhas. With a single car white in hue, sixteen elephants, fifty +horses, and six hundred infantry, that illustrious king, causing the +earth itself to tremble, entered (the country of the Nishadhas) without +loss of a moment and swelling with rage. And the mighty son of Virasena, +approaching his brothers Pushkara said unto him, ‘We will play again, for +I have earned vast wealth. Let Damayanti and all else that I have be my +stake, let, O Pushkara, thy kingdom be thy stake. Let the play begin +again. This is my certain determination. Blessed be thou, let us stake +all we have along with our lives. Having won over and acquired another’s +wealth or kingdom, it is a high duty, says the ordinance, to stake it +when the owner demands. Or, if thou dost not relish play with dice, let +the play with weapons begin. O king, let me or thyself have peace by a +single combat. That this ancestral kingdom should, under all +circumstances and by any means, be recovered, there is the authority of +sages for holding. And, O Pushkara, choose thou one of these two +things--gambling with dice or bending the bow in battle!’ Thus addressed +by Nishadha, Pushkara, sure of his own success, laughingly answered that +monarch, saying, ‘O Naishadha, it is by good fortune that thou hast +earned wealth again to stake. It is by good fortune also that Damayanti’s +ill-luck hath at last come to an end. And O king, it is by good fortune +that thou art still alive with thy wife, O thou of mighty arms! It is +evident that Damayanti, adorned with this wealth of thine that I will +win, will wait upon me like an Apsara in heaven upon Indra. O Naishadha, +I daily recollect thee and am even waiting for thee, since I derive no +pleasure from gambling with those that are not connected with me by +blood. Winning over to-day the beauteous Damayanti of faultless features, +I shall regard myself fortunate, indeed, since she it is that hath ever +dwelt in my heart.’ Hearing these words of that incoherent braggart, Nala +in anger desired to cut off his head with a scimitar. With a smile, +however, though his eyes were red in anger, king Nala said, ‘Let us play. +Why do you speak so now? Having vanquished me, you can say anything you +like.’ Then the play commenced between Pushkara and Nala. And blessed be +Nala who at a single throw won his wealth and treasures back along with +the life of his brother that also had been staked. And the king, having +won, smilingly said unto Pushkara, ‘This whole kingdom without a thorn in +its side is now undisturbedly mine. And, O worst of kings, thou canst not +now even look at the princess of Vidarbha. With all thy family, thou art +now, O fool, reduced to the position of her slave. But my former defeat +at thy hands was not due to any act of thine. Thou knowest it not, O +fool, that it was Kali who did it all. I shall not, therefore, impute to +thee the faults of others. Live happily as thou choosest, I grant thee +thy life. I also grant thee thy portion (in the paternal kingdom) along +with all necessaries. And, O hero, without doubt, my affection towards +thee is now the same as before. My fraternal love also for thee will +never know any diminution. O Pushkara, thou art my brother, live thou for +a hundred years!’” + +“And Nala of unbaffled prowess, having comforted his brother thus gave +him permission to go to his own town, having embraced him repeatedly. And +Pushkara himself, thus comforted by the ruler of the Nishadhas saluted +that righteous king, and addressed him, O monarch, saying these words +with joined hands, ‘Let thy fame be immortal and live thou happily for +ten thousand years, thou who grantest me, O king, both life and refuge. +And entertained by the king, Pushkara dwelt there for a month and then +went to his own town accompanied by large force and many obedient +servants and his own kindred, his heart filled with joy. And that bull +among men all the while blazed forth in beauty of person like a second +Sun. And the blessed ruler of the Nishadhas, having established Pushkara +and made him wealthy and freed him from troubles, entered his richly +decorated palace. And the ruler of the Nishadhas, having entered his +palace, comforted the citizens. And all the citizens and the subjects +from the country horripilated in joy. And the people headed by the +officers of state said with joined hands, ‘O king, we are truly glad +to-day throughout the city and the country. We have obtained to-day our +ruler, like the gods their chief of a hundred sacrifice!’” + + + +SECTION LXXIX + +“Vrihadaswa said, ‘After the festivities had commenced in the city that +was full of joy and without anxiety of any kind, the king with a large +force brought Damayanti (from her father’s home). And her father, too, +that slayer of hostile heroes, Bhima of terrible prowess and immeasurable +soul, sent his daughter, having honoured her duly. And upon the arrival +of the princess of Vidarbha accompanied by her son and daughter, king +Nala began to pass his days in joy like the chief of the celestials in +the gardens of Nandana. And the king of undying fame, having regained his +kingdom and becoming illustrious among monarchs of the island of Jamvu, +began once more to rule it. And he duly performed numerous sacrifices +with abundant gifts to Brahmanas. O great king, thou also wilt with thy +kindred and relatives, so blaze forth in effulgence soon. For, O foremost +of men, it was thus that subjugator of hostile cities, king Nala, had +fallen into distress along with his wife, in consequence, O bull of +Bharata race of dice. And, O lord of the earth, Nala suffered such dire +woe all alone and recovered his prosperity, whereas thou, O son of Pandu, +with heart fixed on virtue, art sporting in joy in this great forest, +accompanied by thy brothers and Krishna. When thou art also, O monarch, +mixing daily with blessed Brahmanas versed in the Vedas and their +branches, thou hast little cause for sorrow. This history, besides, of +the Naga Karkotaka, of Damayanti, of Nala and of that royal sage +Rituparna, is destructive of evil. And, O thou of unfading glory, this +history, destructive of the influence of Kali, is capable, O king, of +comforting persons like thee when they listen to it. And reflecting upon +the uncertainty (of success) of human exertion, it behoveth thee not to +joy or grieve at prosperity or adversity. Having listened to this +history, be comforted, O king, and yield not to grief. It behoveth thee +not, O great king, to pine under calamity. Indeed, men of +self-possession, reflecting upon the caprice of destiny and the +fruitlessness of exertion, never suffer themselves to be depressed. They +that will repeatedly recite this noble history of Nala, and that will +hear it recited, will never be touched by adversity. He that listeneth to +this old and excellent history hath all his purposes crowned with success +and, without doubt, obtaineth fame, besides sons and grandsons and +animals, a high position among men, and health, and joy. And, O king, the +fear also that thou entertainest, viz., (Some one skilled in dice will +summon me), I will for once dispel. O thou of invincible prowess, I know +the science of dice in its entirety. I am gratified with thee; take this +lore, O son of Kunti, I will tell unto thee.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “King Yudhishthira then, with a glad heart, said +unto Vrihadaswa, ‘O illustrious one, I desire to learn the science of +dice from thee.’ The Rishi then gave his dice-lore unto the high-souled +son of Pandu, and having given it unto him, that great ascetic went to +the sacred waters of Hayasirsha for a bath. + +“And after Vrihadaswa had gone away, Yudhishthira of firm vows heard from +Brahmanas and ascetics that came to him from various directions and from +places of pilgrimage and mountains and forests that Arjuna of high +intelligence and capable of drawing the bow with his left hand, was still +engaged in the austerest of ascetic penances, living upon air alone. And +he heard that the mighty-armed Partha was engaged in such fierce +asceticism that none else before him had ever been engaged in such +penances. And Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, engaged in ascetic +austerities with regulated vows and fixed mind and observing the vow of +perfect silence, was, he heard, like the blazing god of justice himself +in his embodied form. And, O king, (Yudhishthira) the son of Pandu +hearing that his dear brother Jaya, the son of Kunti, was engaged in such +asceticism in the great forest, began to grieve for him. And with a heart +burning in grief, the eldest son of Pandu, seeking consolation in that +mighty forest held converse with the Brahmanas possessed of various +knowledge who were living with him there.” + + + +SECTION LXXX + +(Tirtha-yatra Parva) + +Janamejaya said, “O holy one, after my great-grandfather Partha had gone +away from the woods of Kamyaka, what did the sons of Pandu do in the +absence of that hero capable of drawing the bow with his left hand? It +seemeth to me that mighty bowman and vanquisher of armies was their +refuge, as Vishnu of the celestials. How did my heroic grandsires pass +their time in the forest, deprived of the company of that hero, who +resembled Indra himself in prowess and never turned his back in battle?” + +Vaisampayana said, “After Arjuna of unbaffled prowess had gone away from +Kamyaka, the sons of Pandu, O son, were filled with sorrow and grief. And +the Pandavas with cheerless hearts very much resembled pearls unstrung +from a wreath, or birds shorn of their wings. And without that hero of +white steeds that forest looked like the Chaitraratha woods when deprived +of the presence of Kuvera. And, O Janamejaya, those tigers among men--the +sons of Pandu--deprived of the company of Arjuna, continued to live in +Kamyaka in perfect cheerlessness. And, O chief of the Bharata race, those +mighty warriors endowed with great prowess slew with pure arrows various +kinds of sacrificial animals for the Brahmanas. And those tigers among +men and repressors of foes, daily slaying those wild animals and +sanctifying them properly, offered them unto the Brahmanas. And it was +thus, O king, that those bulls among men afflicted with sorrow lived +there with cheerless hearts after Dhananjaya’s departure. The princess of +Panchala in particular, remembering her third lord, addressed the anxious +Yudhishthira and said, ‘That Arjuna who with two hands rivals the +thousand-armed Arjuna (of old), alas, without that foremost of the sons +of Pandu, this forest doth not seem at all beautiful in my eyes. Without +him, whenever I cast my eyes, this earth seems to be forlorn. Even this +forest with its blossoming trees and so full of wonders, without Arjuna +seems not so delightful as before. Without him who is like a mass of blue +clouds (in hue), who hath the prowess of an infuriated elephant, and +whose eyes are like the leaves of the lotus, this Kamyaka forest doth not +seem beautiful to me. Remembering that hero capable of drawing the bow +with his left hand, and the twang of whose bow sounds like the roar of +thunder, I cannot feel any happiness, O king!’ And, O monarch, hearing +her lament in this strain, that slayer of hostile heroes, Bhimasena, +addressed Draupadi in these words, ‘O blessed lady of slender waist, the +agreeable words thou utterest delight my heart like the quaffing of +nectar. Without him whose arms are long and symmetrical, and stout and +like unto a couple of iron maces and round and marked by the scars of the +bow-strings and graced with the bow and sword and other weapons and +encircled with golden bracelets and like unto a couple of five-headed +snakes, without that tiger among men the sky itself seemeth to be without +the sun. Without that mighty-armed one relying upon whom the Panchalas +and the Kauravas fear not the sternly-exerting ranks of the celestials +themselves, without that illustrious hero relying upon whose arms we all +regard our foes as already vanquished and the earth itself as already +conquered, without that Phalguna I cannot obtain any peace in the woods +of Kamyaka. The different directions also, wherever I cast my eyes, +appear to be empty!’ + +“After Bhima had concluded, Nakula the son of Pandu, with voice choked +with tears, said, ‘Without him whose extraordinary deeds on the field of +battle constitute the talk of even the gods, without that foremost of +warriors, what pleasure can we have in the woods? Without him who having +gone towards the north had vanquished mighty Gandharva chiefs by +hundreds, and who having obtained numberless handsome horses of the +Tittiri and Kalmasha species all endowed with the speed of the wind, +presented them from affection unto his brother the king, on the occasion +of the great Rajasuya sacrifice, without that dear and illustrious one, +without that terrible warrior born after Bhima, without that hero equal +unto a god I do not desire to live in the Kamyaka woods any longer.’ + +“After Nakula’s lamentations, Sahadeva said, ‘He who having vanquished +mighty warriors in battle won wealth and virgins and brought them unto +the king on the occasion of the great Rajasuya sacrifice, that hero of +immeasurable splendour who having vanquished single-handed the assembled +Yadavas in battle, ravished Subhadra with the consent of Vasudeva, he, +who having invaded the dominion of the illustrious Drupada gave, O +Bharata, unto the preceptor Drona his tuition fee--beholding, O king, +that Jishnu’s bed of grass empty in our asylum, my heart refuses +consolation. A migration from this forest is what, O represser of foes, I +would prefer for without that hero this forest cannot be delightful.” + + + +SECTION LXXXI + +Vaisampayana said, “Hearing these words of his brothers as also of +Krishna, all of whom were anxious on account of Dhananjaya, king +Yudhishthira, the just, became melancholy. And at that time he saw +(before him) the celestial Rishi Narada blazing with Brahmi beauty and +like unto a fire flaming up in consequence of sacrificial libation. And +beholding him come, king Yudhishthira with his brothers stood up and duly +worshipped the illustrious one. And endued with blazing energy, the +handsome chief of the Kuru race, surrounded by his brothers, shone like +the god of a hundred sacrifices encircled by the celestials. And +Yajnaseni in obedience to the dictates of morality adhered to her lords, +the sons of Pritha, like Savitri to the Vedas or the rays of the Sun to +the peak of Meru. And the illustrious Rishi Narada, accepting that +worship, comforted the son of Dharma in proper terms. And, O sinless one, +addressing the high-souled king Yudhishthira, the just, the Rishi said, +‘Tell me, O foremost of virtuous men, what it is that thou seekest and +what I can do for thee. At this, the royal son of Dharma bowing with his +brothers unto Narada, who was the revered of the celestials, told him +with joined hands, ‘O thou that art highly blessed and worshipped by all +the worlds when thou art gratified with me, I regard all my wishes in +consequence of thy grace, as already fulfilled, O thou of excellent vows! +If, O sinless one, I with my brothers deserve thy favour, it behoveth +thee, O best of Munis, to dispel the doubt that is in my mind. It +behoveth thee to tell me in detail what merit is his that goeth round the +worlds, desirous of beholding the sacred waters and shrines that are on +it.’” + +“Narada said, ‘Listen, O king, with attention, to what the intelligent +Bhishma had heard before from Pulastya! Once, O blessed one, that +foremost of virtuous men, Bhishma, while in the observance of the Pitrya +vow, lived, O king, in the company of Munis in a delightful and sacred +region, near the source of the Ganga, that is resorted to by the +celestial Rishis and Gandharvas and the celestials themselves. And while +living there, the resplendent one gratified with his oblations the +Pitris, the gods and the Rishis, according to the rites inculcated in the +scriptures. And once on a time while the illustrious one was engaged in +his silent recitations, he beheld Pulastya--that best of Rishis, of +wonderful appearance. And beholding that austere ascetic blazing with +beauty, he was filled with great delight and exceeding wonder. And, O +Bharata, that foremost of virtuous men, Bhishma, then worshipped that +blessed Rishi according to the rites of the ordinance. And purifying +himself and with rapt attention, he approached that best of Brahmarshis, +with the Arghya on his head. And uttering aloud his name, he said, ‘O +thou of excellent vow, blessed be thou, I am Bhishma, thy slave. At sight +of thee, I am freed from all my sins.’ And saying this, that foremost of +virtuous men, Bhishma, restraining speeches stood, O Yudhishthira, in +silence and with joined hands. And beholding Bhishma that foremost of the +Kurus, reduced and emaciated by the observance of vows and the study of +the Vedas, the Muni became filled with joy.” + + + +SECTION LXXXII + +“Pulastya said, ‘O thou of excellent vows, I have been much gratified +with thy humility, thy self-control, and thy truth, thou blessed one +versed in morality! O sinless one, it is for this virtue of thine which +thou hast acquired from regard to thy ancestors, that I have been +gratified with thee and thou hast, O son, obtained a sight of my person. +O Bhishma. my eyes can penetrate into everything. Tell me what I may do +for thee. O sinless one, O thou foremost of the Kuru race, I will grant +thee whatever thou mayst ask me.’ + +“Bhishma said, ‘O highly blessed one, when thou who art worshipped by the +three worlds hast been gratified with me and when I have obtained a sight +of thy exalted self, I regard myself as already crowned with success. +But, O thou foremost of virtuous persons, if I have deserved thy favour, +I will tell thee my doubts and it behoveth thee to dispel them, O holy +one, I have some religious doubts in respect of tirthas. Speak of those +to me in detail, I desire to hear thee. O thou that resemblest a +celestial himself, what is his merit, O regenerate Rishi, who goeth round +the whole earth (visiting shrines). O tell me this with certainty.” + +“Pulastya said, ‘O son, listen with attention. I will tell thee of the +merit which attacheth to tirthas and which constituth the refuge of the +Rishis. He whose hands and feet and mind and knowledge and asceticism and +acts are under wholesome control, enjoyeth the fruits of tirthas. He who +has ceased to accept gifts, he that is contented, he that is free from +pride enjoys the fruits of tirthas. He that is without sin, he that acts +without purpose, he that eats light, he that has his senses under +control, he that is free from every sin, enjoys the fruits of tirthas. O +king, he that is free from anger, he that adhereth to truth, he that is +firm in vows, he that regardeth all creatures as his own self, enjoyeth +the fruits of tirthas. In the Vedas the Rishis have declared in due order +the sacrifices and also their fruits here and hereafter truly. O lord of +earth, those sacrifices cannot be accomplished by him that is poor, for +those sacrifices require various materials and diverse things in large +measures. These, therefore can be performed by kings or sometimes by +other men of prosperity and wealth. O lord of men, that rite, however, +which men without wealth, without allies, singly, without wife and +children, and destitute of means, are capable of accomplishing and the +merit of which is equal unto the sacred fruits of sacrifices, I will now +declare unto thee, thou best of warriors! O thou best of the Bharata +race, sojourns in tirthas which are meritorious and which constitute one +of the high mysteries of the Rishis, are even superior to sacrifices. He +is a poor man who having gone to a tirtha hath not fasted for three +nights, who hath not given away gold, and who hath not distributed kine. +Indeed, one acquireth not, by the performance of the Agnishtoma and other +sacrifices distinguished by large gifts, that merit which one requireth +by a sojourn to a tirtha. In the world of men, there is that tirtha of +the God of gods, celebrated over the three worlds by the name of +Pushkara. One that sojourneth there becometh equal unto that deity. O +high-souled son of the Kuru race, during the two twilights and mid-day +there is the presence of hundred thousand millions of tirthas in +Pushkara. The Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the Sadhyas, the Maruts, +the Gandharvas, and the Apsaras are ever present, O exalted one, in +Pushkara. It was there, O king, that the gods, the Daityas and +Brahmarshis, having performed ascetic devotions there, obtained great +merit and finally attained to god-hood.’” + +“Men of self-control, by even thinking mentally of Pushkara, are cleansed +from their sins, and regarded in heaven. O king, the illustrious +grand-sire having the lotus for his seat, had dwelt with great pleasure +in this tirtha. O blessed one, it was in Pushkara that the gods with the +Rishis having acquired of old great merit, finally obtained the highest +success. The person who, devoted to the worship of the gods and the +Pitris, batheth in this tirtha, obtaineth, it hath been said by the wise, +merit that is equal to ten times that of the horse-sacrifice. Having gone +to the Pushkara woods, he that feedeth even one Brahmana, becometh happy +here and hereafter, O Bhishma, for that act. He that supporteth himself +on vegetables and roots and fruits, may with pious regard and without +disrespect, give even such fare to a Brahmana. And, O best of kings, the +man of wisdom, even by such a gift, will acquire the merit of a +horse-sacrifice. Those illustrious persons among Brahmanas or Kshatriyas +or Vaisyas or Sudras that bathe in Pushkara are freed from the obligation +of rebirth. That man in special who visits Pushkara on the full moon of +the month of Karttika, acquireth ever-lasting regions in the abode of +Brahma. He that thinketh with joined hands morning and evening, of the +Pushkara, practically batheth, O Bharata, in every tirtha. Whether a male +or a female, whatever sins one may commit since birth, are all destroyed +as soon as one batheth in Pushkara. As the slayer of Madhu is the +foremost of all the celestials, so is Pushkara, O king, the foremost of +all tirthas. A man by residing with purity and regulated vows for twelve +years in Pushkara, acquireth the merit of all the sacrifices, and goeth +to the abode of Brahma. The merit of one who performeth the Agni-hotra +for full one hundred years, is equal to that of him who resideth for the +single month of Karttika in Pushkara. There are three white hillocks and +three springs known from the remotest times, we do not know why, by the +name of the Pushkara. It is difficult to go to Pushkara; it is difficult +to undergo ascetic austerities at Pushkara; it is difficult to give away +at Pushkara; and it is difficult to live at Pushkara.” + +“Having dwelt for twelve nights at Pushkara with regulated diet and vows, +and having walked round (the place), one must go to Jamvu-marga. One that +goeth to Jamvu-marga which is resorted to by the celestials, the Rishis, +and the Pitris, acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and the +fruition of all his wishes. The man that resideth there for five nights, +hath his soul cleansed from all sins. He never sinketh into hell, but +acquireth high success. Leaving Jamvu-marga one must go to +Tandulikasrama. He that goeth there never sinketh into hell but ascendeth +to the abode of Brahma. He that goeth to the lake of Agastya and +occupieth himself with the worship of the Pitris and celestials, fasting +for three nights, acquireth, O king, the fruit of the Agnishtoma. Going +thither, he that liveth on vegetables or fruits acquireth the status +called Kaumara. One should next proceed to the beautiful asylum of Kanwa, +which is worshipped by the whole world. That sacred wood characterised by +holiness, existeth, O bull of the Bharata race, from very remote times. +As soon as one entereth it, he is freed from all his sins. He who with +regulated diet and vows worshippeth the Pitris and the gods there, +obtaineth the fruit of a sacrifice that is capable of bestowing the +fruition of all one’s desires. Having walked round this asylum one must +then go to the spot where Yayati fell (from heaven). He that goeth +thither, acquireth the merit of a horse-sacrifice. One must then go to +Mahakala with regulated diet and senses subdued. And having bathed in the +tirtha called Koti, one obtaineth the merit of a horse-sacrifice. A +virtuous man should next proceed to the tirtha of Sthanu, the husband of +Uma, known over the three worlds by the name of Bhadravata. That best of +men who goeth to Bhadravata, beholdeth Isana and obtaineth the fruit of a +gift of a thousand kine. And through the grace of Mahadeva, he acquireth +the status of Ganapatya blessed with prosperity and peace and high grace. +Having arrived then at the Narmada, that river celebrated over the three +worlds, and given oblations of water to the Pitris and the gods, one +acquireth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. He that goeth into the +Southern ocean, practising the Brahmacharya mode of life, and with senses +subdued, acquireth the fruit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice and ascendeth to +heaven. Having arrived at Charmanwati, with regulated diet and senses +subdued, one acquireth, at the command of Rantideva, the merit of the +Agnishtoma sacrifice. One must then go, O virtuous chief of warriors, to +Arvuda, the son of Himavat, where there was a hole through the earth in +days of yore. There is the asylum of Vasistha, celebrated over the three +worlds. Having resided for one night, one obtaineth the merit of the gift +of a thousand kine. He that, leading a Brahmacharya mode of life batheth +in the tirtha called Pinga, obtaineth, O tiger among kings, the merit of +the gift of a hundred Kapila kine. One must next go, O king, to that +excellent tirtha called Prabhasa. There Hutasana is always present in his +own person. He, the friend of Pavana, O hero, is the mouth of all the +gods. The man that with subdued and sanctified soul batheth in that +tirtha, obtaineth merit greater than that of the Agnishtoma or Atiratra +sacrifices. Proceeding next to the spot where the Saraswati mingleth with +the sea, one obtaineth the fruit of the gift of a thousand kine and +heaven also besides, O bull of the Bharata race, blazing forth for all +time like Agni himself. He that with subdued soul batheth in the tirtha +of the king of waters, and giveth oblations of water unto the Pitris and +the gods, living there for three nights, blazeth forth like the Moon, and +obtaineth also the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. One should next proceed, +O best of the Bharata, unto the tirtha known by the name of Varadana, +where (the Rishi) Durvasa had given a boon unto Vishnu. A man by bathing +in Varadana obtaineth the fruit of the gift of a thousand kine. One +should next proceed with subdued senses and regulated diet to Dwaravati, +where by bathing in Pindaraka, one obtaineth the fruit of the gift of +gold in abundance. O blessed one, it is wonderful to relate that in that +tirtha, to this day, coins with the mark of the lotus and lotuses also +with the mark of the trident, are seen. O represser of heroes! And O bull +among men, the presence of Mahadeva is there. Arriving then, O Bharata, +at the spot where the Sindhu mingleth with the sea, one should with +subdued soul bathe in that tirtha of Varuna. And bathing there and giving +oblations of water to the Pitris, the Rishis, and the gods one acquireth, +O bull of the Bharata race, the region of Varuna, and blazeth forth in +effulgence of his own. Men of wisdom say that, by worshipping the god +known by the name of Shankukarneswara, one acquireth ten times the merit +of the horse-sacrifice. O bull of the Bharata race, having walked round +that tirtha, one should, O thou foremost of the Kurus, go to that tirtha +celebrated over the three worlds and known by the name of Drimi. That +tirtha cleanseth from every sin, and it is there that the gods including +Brahma worship Maheswara. Having bathed there and worshipped Rudra +surrounded by the other gods, one is freed from all sins since birth. It +was there, O best of men, that Drimi was adored by all the gods. Bathing +there, O best of men, one obtaineth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. O +thou of great intelligence, Vishnu the creator of the universe, after +slaying the Daityas and Danavas, went thither to purify himself. O +virtuous one, one should next proceed to Vasudhara adored by all. The +moment one arrives at that tirtha, one acquireth the fruit of the +horse-sacrifice. And, O thou best of the Kurus, by bathing there with +subdued soul and rapt attention, and giving oblations of water unto the +gods and the Pitris one ascendeth unto the region of Vishnu and is adored +there. In that tirtha, O bull of the Bharata race, there is a sacred lake +of the Vasus. By bathing there and drinking of its water, one becometh +regarded of the Vasus. There is a celebrated tirtha of the name of +Sindhuttama, which destroyeth every sin. O best of men, by bathing there, +one acquireth the fruit of the gift of gold in abundance. By arriving at +Bhadratunga with sanctified soul and purity of conduct, one acquireth the +region of Brahma and a high state of blessedness. There is then the +tirtha of the Kumarikas of Indra, that is much resorted to by the +Siddhas. O best of men, by bathing there, one obtaineth the region of +Indra. In Kumarika there is another tirtha called Renuka, which is also +resorted to by the Siddhas. A Brahmana by bathing there would become as +bright as the Moon. Proceeding next to the tirtha called the Panchananda, +with subdued sense and regulated diet, one obtaineth the fruit of the +five sacrifices that have been mentioned one after another in the +scriptures. Then, O king, one should go to the excellent region of Bhima. +O best of the Bharatas by bathing in the tirtha there, that is called +Yoni, a man (in his next birth) becometh, O king, the son of a goddess, +bearing ear-rings decked with pearls, and obtaineth also the merit of the +gift of a hundred thousand kine. Proceeding next to Srikunda, celebrated +over the three worlds and worshipping the grandsire, one obtaineth the +fruit of the gift of a thousand kine. O virtuous one, one should then go +to the excellent tirtha called Vimala, where to this day may be seen +fishes of golden and silver hues. By bathing there, one soon acquireth +the region of Vasava, and his soul being cleansed from every sin, he +attaineth to a high state of blessedness. Proceeding next to Vitasta and +giving oblations of water unto the Pitris and the gods, a man, O Bharata, +obtaineth the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. That sin-destroying tirtha +known by the name of Vitasta, is situate in the country of the Kasmiras +and is the abode of the Naga Takshaka. Bathing there, a man certainly +obtaineth the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice, and his soul cleansed from +every sin, he attaineth to a high state of blessedness. One should next +proceed to Vadava celebrated over the three worlds. Bathing there with +due rites in the evening, one should offer rice boiled in butter and +milk, according to the best of his might, unto the deity of seven flames. +Men of wisdom say that a gift made here in honour of the Pitris, becometh +inexhaustible. The Rishis, the Pitris, the gods, the Gandharvas, several +tribes of Apsaras, the Guhyakas, the Kinnaras, the Yakshas, the Siddhas, +the Vidhyadharas, the Rakshasas, Daityas, Rudras, and Brahma himself, O +king, having with subdued senses, accepted a course of austerities for a +thousand years in order to move Vishnu to grace, cooked rice in milk and +butter and gratified Kesava with oblations, each offered with seven Riks. +And, O king, the gratified Kesava thereupon conferred on them the +eight-fold attributes called Aiswarya and other objects that they +desired. And having bestowed upon them these, that god disappeared in +their sight like lightning in the clouds. And it is for this, O Bharata, +that that tirtha became known by the name of Saptacharu, and if one +offereth Charu there to the seven flamed deity, he obtaineth merit +superior to that of the gift of a hundred thousand kine, to that of a +hundred Rajasuya sacrifices, as also of a hundred horse-sacrifices. +Leaving Vadava, O king, one should then proceed to Raudrapada, and +beholding Mahadeva there one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. +Proceeding then, with subdued soul and leading a Brahmacharya mode of +life, to Manimat, and residing there for one night, one acquireth, O +king, the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. One should then go, O king, +to Devika celebrated over the whole world. It was there, O bull of +Bharata race, that, as heard by us, the Brahmanas first sprang into +existence. There also is the region of the holder of the trident--a +region that is celebrated over the world. Having bathed in Devika and +worshipped Maheswara by offering him, to the best of one’s might, rice +boiled in milk and butter, a man obtaineth, O bull of the Bharata race, +the merit of a sacrifice that is capable of filling every desire. There +also is another tirtha of Rudra called Kamakhya, which is much resorted +to by the gods. Bathing there, a man speedily obtaineth success. By +touching also the water of Yajana. Brahmavaluka, and Pushpamva, one +becometh free from sorrow in after life. The learned have said that the +sacred tirtha of Devika, the resort of the gods and the Rishis, is five +Yojanas in length and half a Yojana in breadth. One should then, in due +order, proceed, O king, to Dirghasatra. There the gods with Brahma at +their head, the Siddhas, and the greatest Rishis, with regulated vows and +the recitation and acceptance of the preliminary pledge, perform the +long-extending sacrifice. O king, by going only to Dirghasatra, O +represser of foes, one obtaineth merit that is superior, O Bharata, to +that of the Rajasuya or the horse-sacrifice. One should next proceed with +subdued senses and regulated diet to Vinasana, where Saraswati +disappearing on the breast of Meru, re-appeareth at Chamasa, Shivodbheda +and Nagadbheda. Bathing in Chamasadbheda, one obtaineth the merit of the +Agnishtoma sacrifice. Bathing in Shivodbheda, one acquireth the merit of +the gift of a thousand kine. And bathing in Nagodbheda, one obtaineth the +region of the Nagas. One should proceed, next, to the inaccessible tirtha +of Shasayana, where the cranes, O Bharata, disappearing in the form of +sasas, re-appear every year in the month of Karttika, and bathe, O +blessed chief of the Bharata race, in the Sarsawati. Bathing there, O +tiger among men, one blazeth forth like the Moon, and obtaineth, O bull +of the Bharata race, the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. One should +next proceed, O thou of the Kuru race, to Kumarakoti, with subdued +senses, and bathing there, worship the gods and the Puris. By doing this, +one obtaineth the merit of the gift of ten thousand kine, and raiseth all +his ancestors to higher regions. One should next, O virtuous one, proceed +with subdued soul to Rudrakoti, where in olden days, O king, ten millions +of Munis had assembled. And, O king, filled with great joy at the +prospect of beholding Mahadeva, the Rishis assembled there, each saying, +‘I will first behold the god! I will first behold the god!’ And, O king, +in order to prevent disputes amongst those Rishis of subdued souls, the +Lord of Yoga, by the help of his Yoga power, multiplied himself into ten +million forms, and stood before every one of them. And every one of these +Rishis said, ‘I have seen him first!’ And gratified, O king, with the +deep devotion of those Munis of subdued souls, Mahadeva granted them a +boon, saying, ‘From this day your righteousness shall grow!’ And, O tiger +among men, one that bathes, with a pure mind, in Rudrakoti obtaineth the +merit of the horse-sacrifice and delivereth his ancestors. One should +next proceed, O king, to that highly sacred and celebrated region where +the Saraswati mingles with the sea. Thither, O king, the gods with Brahma +at their head and Rishis with wealth of asceticism repair for adoring +Kesava on the fourteenth day of the lighted fortnight of the month of +Chaitra. Bathing there, O tiger among men, one obtaineth the merit of +giving away gold in abundance, and his soul being cleansed from every +sin, he ascendeth to the region of Brahma. It is there, O king, that the +Rishis have completed many a sacrifice. By a trip to that spot one +obtaineth the merit of the gifts of a thousand kine.’” + + + +SECTION LXXXIII + +“Pulastya said, ‘One should next proceed, O king, to the adored +Kurukshetra at sight of which all creatures are freed from their sins. He +is freed from all sins who constantly sayeth, ‘I will live in +Kurukshetra.’ The very dust of Kurukshetra, conveyed by the wind, leadeth +a sinful man to a blessed course (in after-life). They that dwell in +Kurukshetra which lieth to the south of the Saraswati and the north of +the Drishadwati, are said to dwell in heaven. O hero, one should reside +there, O thou foremost of warriors, for a month. There, O lord of earth, +the gods with Brahma at their head, the Rishis, the Siddhas, the +Charanas, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, the Yakshas and the Nagas, often +repair, O Bharata, to the highly sacred Brahmakshetra. O foremost of +warriors, the sins of one that desireth to repair to Kurukshetra even +mentally are all destroyed, and he finally goeth into the region of +Brahma. O son of the Kuru race, by repairing to Kurukshetra in a pious +frame of mind, one obtaineth the fruit of the Rajasuya and horse +sacrifices. By saluting next the Yaksha called Mankanaka, that mighty +gate-keeper (of Kuvera), cue obtaineth the fruit of giving away a +thousand kine. O virtuous king, one should next repair to the excellent +region of Vishnu, where Hari is always present. Bathing there and bowing +down unto Hari, the Creator of the three worlds, one obtaineth the fruit +of the horse-sacrifice and repaireth to the abode of Vishnu. One should +next repair to Pariplava, that tirtha celebrated over the three worlds, +and (bathing there), O Bharata, one obtaineth merit that is greater than +that of the Agnishtoma and the Atiratra sacrifices. Repairing next to the +tirtha called Prithivi, one obtaineth the fruit of the gift of a thousand +kine. The pilgrim should next, O king, proceed to Shalukini and bathing +there in the Dasaswamedha one obtaineth the merit of ten +horse-sacrifices. Proceeding next to Sarpadevi, that excellent tirtha of +the Nagas, one obtaineth the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice and +attaineth to the region of the Nagas. O virtuous one, one should next +proceed to Tarantuka, the gatekeeper, and residing there for one night +one obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Proceeding next +with subdued senses and regulated diet to Panchananda and bathing in the +tirtha there, called Koti, one obtaineth the fruit of the +horse-sacrifice. Proceeding then to the tirtha of the twin Aswins one +obtaineth personal beauty. O virtuous one, one should next proceed to the +excellent tirtha called Varaha, where Vishnu formerly stood in the form +of a boar. Bathing there one obtaineth, O foremost of men, the merit of +the horse-sacrifice. One should next, O king, repair to the tirtha called +Sama in Jayanti. Bathing there one obtaineth the merit of Rajasuya +sacrifice. By bathing in Ekahansa, a man obtaineth the merit of giving +away a thousand kine. O king, a pilgrim repairing to Kritasaucha +obtaineth the lotus-eyed deity (Vishnu) and perfect purity of soul. One +should next proceed to Munjavata, that spot sacred to the illustrious +Sthanu. Residing there without food for one night, one obtaineth the +status called Ganapatya. There, O king, is the celebrated tirtha called +Yakshini. O king, repairing to that tirtha and bathing there, one +obtaineth fruition of all his desires. O bull of the Bharata race, that +tirtha is regarded as the gate of Kurukshetra. The pilgrim should with +concentrated soul, walk round it. Equal unto the Pushkaras, it was +created by the high-souled Rama, the son of Jamadagni. Bathing there and +worshipping the Pitris and the gods, one obtaineth, O king, the merit of +the horse-sacrifice and becometh successful in everything. The pilgrim +should next repair with concentrated soul to the Rama-hrada. There, O +king, the heroic Rama of resplendent energy, exterminating the Kshatriyas +by his might, dug five lakes and filled them, O tiger among men, with the +blood of his victims, as heard by us. And having filled those lakes with +Kshatriya blood, Rama offered oblations of blood to his sires and +grandsires. Gratified (with the oblations) those Rishis then addressed +Rama and said, ‘O Rama, O Rama, O thou of great good fortune, we have +been gratified with thee, O thou of the Bhrigu race, for this thy regard +for the Pitris, and thy prowess, O exalted one! Blessed be thou and ask +thou the boon thou choosest. What is that thou desirest, O thou of great +splendour!’ Thus addressed (by them), Rama, that foremost of smiters, +said with joined hands these words unto the Pitris, stationed in the +firmament, ‘If ye have been gratified with me, if I have deserved your +favour, I desire this favour of the Pitris, viz., that I may have +pleasure again in ascetic austerities. Let me also, through your power, +be freed from the sin I have committed by exterminating, from wrath, the +Kshatriya race. Let also my lakes become tirthas celebrated over the +world. The Pitris, hearing these blessed words of Rama, were highly +gratified, and filled with joy they answered him saying, ‘Let thy +asceticism increase in consequence of thy regard for the Pitris. Thou +hast exterminated the Kshatriyas from wrath. Freed art thou already from +that sin, for they have perished as a consequence of their own misdeeds. +Without doubt, these lakes of thine will become tirthas. And if one, +bathing in these lakes, offereth oblations of the water thereof to the +Pitris, the latter gratified with him will grant him desire, difficult of +fulfilment in the world as also eternal heaven.’ O king, having granted +him these boons, the Pitris joyfully saluted Rama of the Bhrigu race and +disappeared there and then. It was thus that the lakes of the illustrious +Rama of the Bhrigu race became sacred. Leading a Brahmacharya mode of +life and observing sacred vows, one should bathe in the lakes of Rama. +Bathing therein and worshipping Rama, one obtaineth, O king, the merit of +gift of gold in abundance. Proceeding next, O son of the Kuru race, to +Vansamulaka, a pilgrim by bathing there, raiseth, O king, his own race. O +best of the Bharatas, arriving next at the tirtha called Kayasodhana, and +bathing there, one purifieth, without doubt, his body, and proceeded with +purified body to the blessed region of unrivalled excellence. One should +next repair, O virtuous one, to that tirtha, celebrated over the three +worlds, called Lokoddara, where formerly Vishnu of great prowess had +created the worlds. Arriving at that tirtha which is adored by the three +worlds one earneth, O king, by bathing there, numerous worlds for +himself. Repairing next with subdued soul to the tirtha called Sree, one +acquires, by bathing there and worshipping the Pitris and the gods, high +prosperity. Leading a Brahmacharya mode of life and with concentrated +soul, one should proceed next to the tirtha called Kapila. Bathing there +and worshipping one’s own Pitris and the gods, a man earneth the fruit of +the gift of a thousand Kapila kine. Repairing next to the tirtha called +Surya and bathing there with subdued soul and worshipping the Pitris and +the gods, fasting all the while, one obtaineth the fruit of the +Agnishtoma sacrifice and goeth (finally) to the region of the Sun. The +pilgrim by proceeding next to Gobhavana and bathing there obtaineth the +merit of the gift of a thousand kine. O son of the Kuru race, a pilgrim +by repairing then to the tirtha called Shankhini and bathing in the +Devi-tirtha that is there, obtaineth high prowess. O king, one should +then proceed to the tirtha called Tarandaka situated in the Saraswati and +belonging to the illustrious chief of the Yakshas who is one of the +gate-keepers (of Kuvera). O king, bathing there one obtaineth the fruit +of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. O virtuous king, one should next repair to +the tirtha called Brahmavarta. Bathing in Brahmavarta, one ascendeth to +the abode of Brahma. O king, one should then repair to the excellent +tirtha called Sutirtha. There the Pitris are ever present along with the +gods. One should bathe there and worship the Pitris and the gods. By so +doing, one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and goeth (finally) +into the region of the Pitris. It is for this, O virtuous one, that +Sutirtha situate in Amvumati is regarded as so excellent. And, O thou +best of the Bharata race, having bathed in the tirtha of Kasiswara, one +becometh freed from all diseases and is adored in the abode of Brahma. +There, in that tirtha, is another called Matri. One that bathes in Matri +tirtha hath a large progeny and obtaineth, O king, great prosperity. One +should next proceed with subdued sense and regulated diet to the tirtha +called Shitavana. And, O great king, it hath been seen that one merit of +that tirtha which rarely belongs to any other, is that one only going +thither obtaineth holiness. By casting off his hair in that tirtha one +acquireth, O Bharata, great sanctity. There, in that tirtha, is another +called Shwavillomapaha, where, O tiger among men, and chief of the +Bharata race, learned Brahmanas that go to tirthas obtain great +satisfaction by a dip into its waters. Good Brahmanas, O king, by casting +off their hair in that tirtha acquire holiness by Pranayama and finally +attain to a high state. There, O king, in that tirtha is also another +called Dasaswamedhika. Bathing there, O tiger among men, one attains to a +high state. One should next proceed, O king, to the celebrated tirtha +called Manusha where, O king, a number of black antelopes afflicted by +the hunter’s arrows, plunging into its waters, were transformed into +human beings. Bathing in that tirtha, leading a Brahmacharya mode of life +and with concentrated soul, a man becomes freed from all his sins and is +adored in heaven. Distant by a krosa, O king, to the east of Manusha +there is a river celebrated by the name of Apaga that is restored to by +the Siddhas. The man that offereth there the syamaka grain in honour of +the gods and the Pitris acquireth great religious merit. And if one +Brahmana is fed there, it becomes equivalent to feeding ten millions of +Brahmanas. Having bathed in that tirtha and worshipped the gods and the +Pitris and resided there for one night, a man obtaineth the merit of the +Agnishtoma sacrifice. One should then repair, O king, to that excellent +region of Brahma which, O Bharata, is known on earth by the name of +Brahmodumvara. Bathing in the tank of the seven Rishis that is there, O +bull among men, with pure mind and subdued soul, as also in the tirtha +called Kedara of the high-souled Kapila, and beholding Brahma who is +there, one’s soul being purified from all sins, one goeth to the abode of +Brahma. Proceeding next to the inaccessible tirtha called Kedara of +Kapila, and burning one’s sins there by ascetic penances, one acquireth +the power of disappearance at will. One should next proceed, O king, to +the celebrated tirtha called Saraka, and beholding Mahadeva there on the +fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, one obtaineth all his wishes and +goeth also into heaven. O son of the Kuru race, in Saraka and Rudrakoti +as also in the well and the lakes that are there, thirty millions of +tirthas are present. There in that tirtha, O chief of the Bharatas, is +another called Ilaspada. Bathing there and worshipping the gods and the +Pitris, one never sinketh into hell but obtaineth the fruit of the +Vajapeya sacrifice. Repairing next to Kindana and Kinjapya, one +acquireth, O Bharata, the merit of giving away in measureless abundance +and the infinite recitation of prayers. Repairing next to the tirtha +called Kalasi and bathing there devoutly and with the senses under +control, a man obtaineth the fruit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. To the +east of Saraka, O chief of the Kurus, there is an auspicious tirtha known +by the name of Anajanma, of the high-souled Narada. He that bathes there, +O Bharata, obtaineth, after death, at the command of Narada various +unrivalled regions. One should next proceed, on the tenth day of the +lighted fortnight, to the tirtha called Pundarika. Bathing there, O king, +one obtaineth the merit of the Pundarika sacrifice. One should next +proceed to the tirtha called Tripishtapa that is known over the three +worlds. There in that tirtha is the sacred and sin-destroying river +called Vaitarani. Bathing there and adoring the god known by the mark of +the bull and holding the trident in his hand, one’s soul being purified +from every sin one attaineth to the highest state. One should next +proceed, O king, to the excellent tirtha called Phalakivana. There in +that tirtha the gods, O monarch, having been present, performed their +ascetic austerities extending for many thousand years. One should then +proceed to the Dhrishadwati. Bathing there and worshipping the gods, one +obtaineth, O Bharata, merit that is superior to that of both the +Agnishtoma and the Atiratra sacrifices. O chief of the Bharatas, bathing +in that tirtha called Sarvadeva, a man obtaineth, O king, the merit of +giving away a thousand kine. Bathing next in the tirtha called Panikhata +and worshipping all the gods, a man obtaineth merit that is superior to +that of both the Agnishtoma and the Atiratra sacrifices, besides +acquiring that of the Rajasuya sacrifice and finally going into the +region of the Rishis. One should next proceed, O virtuous one, to that +excellent tirtha called Misraka. There, O tiger among kings, it hath been +heard by us that the high-souled Vyasa, for the sake of the Brahmanas, +hath mixed all the tirthas. He, therefore, that bathes in Misraka really +bathes in all the tirtha. One should next proceed with subdued senses and +regulated diet, to the tirtha called Vyasavana. Bathing in the tirtha +called Manojava that is there, one obtaineth the merit of the gift of a +thousand kine. Proceeding next to the Devi tirtha that is in Madhuvati, +one that bathes there and worships the gods and the Pitris obtains at the +command of the Goddess the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. +Proceeding with regulated diet, he that bathes in the confluence of the +Kausiki and the Drishadwati, becometh free from all his sins. One should +next proceed to Vyasasthali where Vyasa of great intelligence, burning +with grief for his son had resolved to cast off his body but was cheered +again by the gods. Proceeding to that spot of Vyasa, one obtaineth the +merit of a thousand kine. O son of the Kuru race, proceeding next to the +well called Kindatta, he that throweth into it a measure of sesame, is +freed from all his debts and obtaineth his success. Bathing in the tirtha +called Vedi, one obtaineth the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. +There are two other celebrated tirthas called Ahas and Sudina. Bathing +there, O tiger among men, one goeth to the region of the Sun. One should +next proceed to the tirtha called Mrigadhuma that is celebrated +throughout the three worlds. One should bathe there, O king, in Ganga. +Bathing there and worshipping Mahadeva, one obtaineth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice. Bathing next in the Devi tirtha one obtaineth the merit +of the gift of a thousand kine. One should then proceed to Vamanaka +celebrated over the three worlds. Bathing there in Vishnupada and +worshipping Vamana one’s soul being purified from every sin, one goeth to +the abode of Vishnu. Bathing next in Kulampuna, one sanctifieth his own +race. Proceeding then to the Pavana-hrada, that excellent tirtha of the +Marutas, and bathing there, O king and tiger among men, one becometh +adored in the region of the Wind-god. Bathing in the Amara-hrada and +worshipping with devotion the chief of the celestials, one becometh +adored in heaven and courseth, seated on an excellent car, in the company +of the immortals. O best of great men, bathing next with due rites in the +tirtha called Sali surya, of Salihotra, one obtaineth the merit of the +gift of a thousand kine. O best of the Bharatas, there is a tirtha called +Sreekunja in the Saraswati. Bathing there, O best of men, one obtaineth +the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. O son of the Kuru race, one should +next repair to Naimishakunja. O king, the Rishis engaged in ascetic +austerities in the woods of Naimisha had, in days of old, taking the vow +of pilgrimage, gone to Kurukshetra. There, on the banks of the Saraswati, +O chief of the Bharatas, a grove was made, which might serve for a +resting spot for themselves, and which was highly gratifying to them. +Bathing in the Saraswati there, one obtaineth the merit of the Agnishtoma +sacrifice. One should next proceed, O virtuous one, to the excellent +tirtha called Kanya. Bathing there one obtaineth the merit of the gift of +a thousand kine. One should next proceed to the excellent tirtha of +Brahma. Bathing there, a person, of the (three) inferior orders, +obtaineth the status of a Brahmana, and if one be a Brahmana, his soul +being purified from every sin, he attaineth to the highest state. One +should then, O best of men, proceed to the excellent tirtha called Soma. +Bathing there, O king, one obtaineth the region of Soma. One should next +proceed, O king, to the tirtha called Saptasaraswata, where the +celebrated Rishi, Mankanaka, had obtained ascetic success. O king, it +hath been heard by us that in days of old Mankanaka having cut his hand +with the pointed blade of the Kusa grass, there flowed from his wound +vegetable juice (instead of blood). And beholding vegetable juice flow +from his wound, the Rishi began to dance with wonder-expanded eyes. And +as the Rishi danced, all the mobile and immobile creatures also, +overwhelmed with his prowess, began to dance with him. Then, O king, the +gods with Brahma at their head and Rishis endued with the wealth of +asceticism moved by the act of Mankanaka, represented the matter to +Mahadeva, saying, ‘It behoveth thee, O god, to act in such a way that +this Rishi may not dance.’ Thus addressed, Mahadeva, with heart filled +with joy, approached the dancing Rishi, and moved by the desire of doing +good to the gods, said, ‘O great Rishi, O virtuous one, why dost thou +dance? O bull among Munis, what can be the reason of this thy present +joy?’ The Rishi answered, ‘O best of Brahmanas, I am an ascetic that +tread the path of virtue. Dost thou not behold, O Brahmana, that +vegetable juice floweth from the wound in my hand? Filled with great joy +at sight of this, I am dancing.’ Addressing the Rishi blinded by emotion, +the god laughingly said, ‘O Brahmana, I do not wonder at this. Behold +me.’ Having said this, O best of men, Mahadeva, O sinless king, pressed +his thumb by the tip of his own finger. And, lo, from the wound thus +inflicted, there came out ashes white as snow. And beholding this, O +king, that Muni became ashamed and fell at the feet of the god. And +believing that there was nothing better and greater than the god Rudra, +he began to adore him in these words: + +“O holder of the trident, thou art the refuge of the celestials and the +Asuras, of, indeed, the universe. By thee have been created the three +worlds with their mobile and immobile beings. It is thou again that +swallowest everything at the end of the Yuga. Thou art incapable of being +known by the gods themselves, far less by me. O sinless one, the gods +with Brahma at their heads are all displayed in thee. Thou art all, the +Creator himself and the Ordainer of the worlds. It is by thy grace that +all the gods sport without anxiety or fear. And adoring Mahadeva thus the +Rishi also said, ‘O god of gods, grant me thy grace, so that my +asceticism may not diminish.’ Then that god of cheerful soul answered the +regenerate Rishi,--saying, ‘Let thy asceticism, O Brahmana, increase a +thousandfold through my grace. And, O great Muni, I shall dwell with thee +in this thy asylum. Bathing in Saptasaraswata, they that will worship me, +shall be able to attain everything here and hereafter. And, without +doubt, they shall all attain to the Saraswata region in the end.’ Having +said this, Mahadeva disappeared then and there. + +“After visiting Saraswata, one should proceed to Ausanasa celebrated over +the three worlds. There, O Bharata, the gods with Brahma at their head, +and Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, and the illustrious +Kartikeya, were ever present during two twilights and the mid-day, +impelled by the desire of doing good to Bhargava. There in that tirtha is +another called Kapalamochana, which cleanseth from every sin. O tiger +among men, bathing there one is cleansed from every sin. One should then +proceed to the tirtha called Agni. Bathing there, O bull among men, one +obtaineth the regions of agni and raiseth his own race (from lower +regions). There in that tirtha is another, O chief of the Bharatas, that +belongeth to Viswamitra. Bathing there, O best of men, one obtaineth the +status of a Brahmana. Proceeding next to Brahmayoni in purity of body and +with subdued soul, one obtaineth, O tiger among men, by bathing there, +the abode of Brahma, and sanctifieth, without doubt, his own race to the +seventh generation up and down. One should next proceed, O king, to the +tirtha celebrated over the three worlds, which is called Prithudaka, +belonging to Kartikeya. One should bathe there and occupy oneself in the +worship of the Pitris and the gods. Whatever evil hath been committed, +knowingly or unknowingly, by man or woman, impelled by human motives, is +all destroyed, O Bharata, by a bath in that tirtha. Bathing there one +obtaineth, too, the merit of the horse-sacrifice and heaven also. The +learned have said that Kurukshetra is holy; that holier than Kurukshetra +is the Saraswati; that holier than the Saraswati are all the tirthas +together, and that holier than all the tirthas together is Prithudaka. He +that engaged in the recitation of prayers casteth off his body at +Prithudaka, which is the best of all tirthas, becometh an immortal. It +hath been sung by Sanatkumara and by the high-souled Vyasa, and it is in +the Vedas also, that one should, O king, go to Prithudaka, with subdued +soul. O son of Kuru race, there is no tirtha which is superior to +Prithudaka. Without doubt, that tirtha is purifying, holy and +sin-destroying. O best of men, it hath been said by learned persons that +men, however sinful, by bathing in Prithudaka, go to heaven. O best of +the Bharatas, there in that tirtha is another called Madhusrava. Bathing +there, O king, one obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. +One should then proceed, O king, to that celebrated and sacred tirtha +where the Saraswati uniteth with the Aruna. One that batheth there, +having fasted for three nights, is cleansed of even the sin of slaying a +Brahmana, and obtaineth also merit that is superior to that of either the +Agnishtoma or Atiratra sacrifice, and rescueth his race to the seventh +generation up and down. There in that tirtha is another, O perpetuator of +the Kuru race, that is called Ardhakila. From compassion for the +Brahmanas, that tirtha was made by Darbhi in days of old. Without doubt, +by vows, by investiture of the sacred, by fasts, by rites and by Mantras, +one becometh a Brahmana. O bull among men, it hath been seen, however, by +learned persons of old that even one destitute of rites and Mantras, by +only bathing in that tirtha becometh learned and endued with the merit of +vows. Darbhi had also brought hither the four oceans. O best of men, one +that batheth here, never meeteth with distress hereafter and obtaineth +also the merit of giving away four thousand kine. One should next repair, +O virtuous one, to the tirtha called Satasahasraka. Near to this is +another called Sahasraka. Both are celebrated, and one that batheth in +them, obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Fasts and gifts +there multiply a thousandfold. One should next proceed, O king, to the +excellent tirtha called Renuka. One should bathe there and worship the +Pitris and the gods. By this, cleansed from every sin, he obtaineth the +merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. Bathing next in the tirtha called +Vimochana with passions and senses under control, one is cleansed from +all the sins generated by the acceptance of gifts. With senses under +control and practising the Brahmacharya mode of life, one should next +repair to the woods of Panchavati. By a sojourn thither, one earneth much +virtue and becometh adored in the regions of the virtuous. One should +next go to the tirtha of Varuna called Taijasa, blazing in effulgence of +its own. There in that tirtha is the lord of Yoga, Sthanu himself, having +for his vehicle the bull. He that sojourneth there, obtaineth success by +worshipping the god of gods. It was there that the gods with Brahma at +their head and Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, installed Guha as +the generalissimo of the celestials. To the east of that tirtha is +another, O perpetuator of Kuru race, that is called Kuru tirtha. With +senses under control and leading a Brahmacharya mode of life, he that +bathes in Kuru-tirtha, becometh cleansed of all his sins and obtaineth +the region of Brahma. With subdued senses and regulated diet one should +next proceed to Svargadwara. Sojourning thither, one obtaineth the merit +of the Agnishtoma sacrifice and goeth to the abode of Brahma. The pilgrim +should then, O king, proceed to the tirtha called Anaraka. Bathing there, +O king, one never meeteth with distress hereafter. There, O king, Brahma +himself with the other gods having Narayana at their head, is ever +present, O tiger among men! And, O royal son of the Kuru race, the wife +also of Rudra is present there. Beholding the goddess, one never meeteth +with distress hereafter. There in that tirtha O king, is also (an image +of) Visweswara, the lord of Uma. Beholding the god of gods there, one is +cleansed of all his sins. Beholding also (the image of) Narayana from +whose navel had sprung the lotus, one blazeth forth, O royal represser of +all foes, and goeth to the abode of Vishnu. O bull among men, he that +batheth in the tirthas of all the gods, is exempted from every sorrow and +blazeth forth like the Moon. The pilgrim should next proceed, O king, to +Swastipura. By walking around that place, one obtaineth the merit of +giving away a thousand kine. Arriving next at the tirtha called Pavana, +one should offer oblations to the Pitris and the gods. By this, he +obtaineth, O Bharata, the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. Near to that +is Ganga-hrada, and another, O Bharata, called Kupa. Thirty millions of +tirthas, O king, are present in that Kupa. Bathing there, O king, a +person obtaineth heaven. Bathing also in the Ganga-hrada and adoring +Maheswara, one obtaineth the status of Ganapatya and rescueth his own +race. One should next proceed to Sthanuvata, celebrated over the three +worlds. Bathing there, O king, one obtaineth heaven. One should then +proceed to Vadaripachana, the asylum of Vasishtha. Having tasted there +for three nights, one should eat jujubes. He that liveth on jujubes for +twelve years, and he that fasteth at the tirtha for three nights, +acquireth merit that is eternal. Arriving then at Indramarga, O king, and +fasting there for a day and night the pilgrim becometh adored in the +abode of Indra. Arriving next at the tirtha called Ekaratra, a person +that stayeth there for one night, with regulated vows and refraining from +untruth, becometh adored in the abode of Brahma. One should next go, O +king, to the asylum of Aditya--that illustrious god who is a mass of +effulgence. Bathing in that tirtha celebrated over three worlds, and +worshipping the god of light, one goeth to the region of Aditya and +rescueth his own race. The pilgrim then, O king, bathing in the tirtha of +Soma, obtaineth, without doubt, the region of Soma. One should next +proceed, O virtuous one, to the most sacred tirtha of the illustrious +Dadhicha, that sanctifying tirtha which is celebrated over the whole +world. It was here that Angiras, that ocean of ascetic austerities +belonging to the Saraswata race, was born, Bathing in that tirtha, one +obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice, and without doubt, gaineth +also residence in the legion of Saraswati. With subdued senses and +leading a Brahmacharya mode of life, one should next proceed to +Kanyasrama. Residing there for three nights, O king, with subdued senses +and regulated diet, one obtaineth a hundred celestial damsels and goeth +also to the abode of Brahma. One should next, O virtuous one, proceed to +the tirtha called Sannihati. Sojourning thither the gods with Brahma at +their head and Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism earn much virtue. +Bathing in the Saraswati during a solar eclipse, one obtaineth the merit +of a hundred horse-sacrifices, and any sacrifice that one may perform +there produceth merit that is eternal. Whatever tirthas exist on earth or +in the firmament, all the rivers, lakes, smaller lakes, springs, tanks, +large and small, and spots sacred to particular gods, without doubt, all +come, O tiger among men, month after month, and mingle with Sannihati, O +king of men! And it is because that all other tirthas are united together +here, that this tirtha is so called. Bathing there and drinking of its +water, one becometh adored in heaven. Listen now, O king, to the merit +acquired by that mortal who performeth a Sraddha on the day of the new +moon during a solar eclipse. The person that performeth a Sraddha there, +after having bathed in that tirtha, obtaineth the merit that one earneth +by properly celebrating a thousand horse-sacrifices. Whatever sins a man +or woman committeth, are, without doubt, all destroyed as soon as one +batheth in that tirtha. Bathing there one also ascendeth to the abode of +Brahma on the lotus-coloured tar. Bathing next in Koti-tirtha, after +having worshipped the Yaksha doorkeeper, Machakruka, one obtaineth the +merit of giving away gold in abundance. Near to this, O best of the +Bharatas, is a tirtha called Gangahrada. One should bathe there, O +virtuous one, with subdued soul and leading a Brahmacharya mode of life. +By this, one obtaineth merit that is greater than that of a Rajasuya and +horse-sacrifices. The tirtha called Naimisha is productive of good on +earth. Pushkara is productive of good in the regions of the firmament; +Kurukshetra, however, is productive of good in respect of all the three +worlds. Even the dust of Kurukshetra, carried by the wind, leadeth sinful +men to a highly blessed state. They that reside in Kurukshetra, which +lieth to the north of the Drishadwati and the south of the Saraswati, +really reside in heaven. ‘I will go to Kurukshetra,’ ‘I will dwell in +Kurukshetra,’ he that uttereth those words even once, becometh cleansed +of all sins. The sacred Kurukshetra which is worshipped by Brahmarshis, +is regarded as the sacrificial altar of the celestials. Those mortals +that dwell there, have nothing to grieve for at any time. That which +lieth between Tarantuka and Arantuka and the lakes of Rama and Machakruka +is Kurukshetra. It is also called Samantapanchaka and is said to be the +northern sacrificial altar of the Grandsire.’ + + + +SECTION LXXXIV + +“Pulastya said, ‘Then, O great king, one should proceed to the excellent +tirtha of Dharma, where the illustrious god of justice had practised +highly meritorious austerities. And it is for this that he made the spot +a sacred tirtha and rendered it celebrated by his own name. Bathing +there, O king, a virtuous man with concentrated soul certainly +sanctifieth his family to the seventh generation. One should then repair, +O king, to the excellent Jnanapavana. Sojourning thither, one obtaineth +the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice, and goeth to the region of the +Munis. Then, O monarch, a man should repair to the Saugandhika-vana. +There dwell the celestials with Brahma at their head, Rishis endued with +wealth of asceticism, the Siddhas, the Charanas, the Gandharvas, the +Kinnaras and the serpents. As soon as one entereth these woods, he is +cleansed of all his sins. Then, O king, should one repair to the sacred +goddess Saraswati, known there as the goddess Plaksha, that best of +streams and foremost of rivers. There should one bathe in the water +issuing from an ant-hill. (Bathing there and) worshipping the Pitris and +the gods, one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. There existeth +a rare tirtha called Isanadhyushita, lying from the ant-hill at the +distance of six throws of a heavy stick. As seen in the Puranas, O tiger +among men, bathing there a man obtaineth the merit of giving away a +thousand Kapila kine and of the horse-sacrifice. Journeying next, O +foremost of men, to Sugandha, and Satakumbha and Panchayaksha, a man +becometh adored in heaven. Repairing to another tirtha there called +Trisulakhata, one should bathe and set himself to worship the Pitris and +the gods. Doing so, without doubt, one obtaineth, after death, the status +of Ganapatya. One should next proceed, O king, to the excellent spot of +the Goddess celebrated over the three worlds by the name of Sakamvari. +There, for the space of a thousand celestial years, she of excellent +vows, month after month, had subsisted upon herbs, O king of men! And +attracted by their reverence for the Goddess, many Rishis with wealth of +asceticism, came thither, O Bharata. and were entertained by her with +herbs. And it is for this that they bestowed on her the name of +Sakamvari. O Bharata, the man who arriveth at Sakamvari, with rapt +attention and leading a Brahmacharya mode of life and passeth three +nights there in purity and subsisting on herbs alone, obtaineth, at the +will of the goddess, the merit of him that liveth upon herbs for twelve +years. Then should one proceed to the tirtha called Suvarna, famed +through the three worlds. There in days of old, Vishnu had paid his +adorations to Rudra, for his grace, and obtaineth also many boons +difficult of acquisition even by the gods. And, O Bharata, the gratified +destroyer of Tripura said, ‘O Krishna, thou shalt, without doubt, be much +beloved in the world, and the foremost of everything in the universe.’ +Repairing thither, O king, and worshipping the deity having the bull for +his mark, one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice as also the +status of Ganapatya. One should next proceed to the tirtha of Dhumavati. +Fasting there for three nights, one obtaineth, without doubt, all the +wishes cherished by him. To the southern half of this spot of the +Goddess, there is, O king, a tirtha called Rathavarta. One should, O +virtuous one, go up to that place, with devout heart, and having his +senses under control. By this, through the grace of Mahadeva, one +attaineth to an exalted state. After walking round the place, one should, +O bull of the Bharata race, proceed to the tirtha named Dhara, which, O +thou of great wisdom, washeth off all sins. Bathing there, O tiger among +men, a man is freed from every sorrow. One should then repair, O virtuous +one, after bowing to the great mountain (Himavat), to the source of the +Ganges, which is, without doubt, like the gate of heaven. There should +one, with concentrated soul, bathe in the tirtha called Koti. By this, +one obtaineth the merit of the Pundarika sacrifice, and delivereth his +race. Residing one night there, one acquireth the merit of giving away a +thousand kine. By offering oblations of water duly to the gods and the +Pitris, at Saptaganga, Triganga and Sakravarta, (which are all there), +becometh adored in the regions of the virtuous. Bathing next at +Kanakhala, and fasting there for three nights, a person reapeth the merit +of the horse-sacrifice and goeth to heaven. Then O lord of men, the +pilgrim should repair to Kapilavata. Fasting for one night there, he +obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. O king, there is a +tirtha of the illustrious Kapila, king of the Nagas, that is celebrated, +O thou best of Kurus, over all the worlds. Bathing there at the +Nagatirtha one obtaineth, O king, the merit of giving away a thousand +Kapila kine. One should next repair to the excellent tirtha of Santanu, +called Lalitika. Bathing there, O king, one never sinketh into distress +(hereafter). The man that bathes at the confluence of the Ganga and the +Yamuna, obtains the merit of ten horse-sacrifices, and also rescues his +race. One should next, O king, go to Sugandha, celebrated over the world. +By this, cleansed of every sin, he becometh adored in the abode of +Brahma. Then, O lord of men, the pilgrim should repair to Rudravarta. +Bathing there, one ascendeth to heaven. Bathing at the confluence of the +Ganga and the Saraswati, a person obtaineth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice and also ascendeth to heaven. Proceeding next to +Bhadrakarneswara and worshipping the gods duly, one, without sinking into +distress, becometh adored in heaven. Then, O lord of men, the pilgrim +should proceed to the tirtha called Kuvjamraka. By this he obtaineth the +merit of giving away a thousand kine, and heaven also. Then, O king, the +pilgrim should go to the Arundhativata. Proceeding thither with +concentrated soul and practising the Brahmacharya vows, one that batheth +in Samudraka and fasteth for three nights, obtaineth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice and of giving away a thousand kine, and also rescueth his +race. One should next proceed to Brahmavarta, with concentrated soul and +practising the Brahmacharya vows. By this, one obtaineth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice, and goeth to the region of Soma. The man that proceedeth +to the Yamuna-prabhava, (the source of the Yamuna) and batheth there, +obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and is worshipped in heaven. +Arriving at Darvisankramana, that tirtha which is worshipped of the three +worlds, a person obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and goeth to +heaven. Repairing next to Sindhu-prabhava (the source of the Indus) which +is worshipped by Siddhas and Gandharvas, and staying there for five +nights, one obtaineth the merit of giving away gold in abundance. +Proceeding next to the inaccessible tirtha called Vedi, one obtaineth the +merit of the horse-sacrifice and ascendeth to heaven. Then, O Bharata, +should one proceed to Rishikulya and Vasishtha. By visiting the latter, +all orders attain to Brahmanhood. Repairing to Rishikulya and bathing +there, and living a month upon herbs, and worshipping the gods and +Pitris, one is cleansed of all his sins, and obtaineth the region of the +Rishis. Proceeding next to Bhrigutunga a person acquireth the merit of +the horse-sacrifice. Repairing then to Vipramoksha, one is freed from +every sin. Proceeding then to the tirtha of Krittika and Magha, one, O +Bharata, obtaineth the merit superior to that of the Agnishtoma and +Atiratha sacrifices. The man who, repairing to the excellent tirtha +called Vidya, batheth there in the evening, obtaineth proficiency in +every kind of knowledge. One should next reside for one night at +Mahasrama capable of destroying every sin, taking a single meal. By this, +one obtains many auspicious regions, and delivers ten preceding and ten +succeeding generations of his race. Dwelling next for a month of +Mahalaya, and fasting there for three nights, one’s soul is cleansed of +all sins and one acquires the merit of giving away gold in abundance. +Proceeding next to Vetasika worshipped by the Grandsire, one obtaineth +the merit of the horse-sacrifice and the state of Usanas. Going next to +the tirtha called Sundarika, worshipped by the Siddhas, one obtaineth +personal beauty as witnessed by the ancients. Proceeding next to Brahmani +with subdued senses and observing the Brahmacharya vow, a person +ascendeth to the region of Brahma on a lotus-hued car. One should repair +next to the sacred Naimisha, worshipped by the Siddhas. There dwelleth +for aye Brahma with the gods. By only purposing to go to Naimisha, half +one’s sins are destroyed; by entering it, one is cleansed of all his +sins. The pilgrim of subdued senses should stay at Naimisha for a month; +for, O Bharata, all the tirthas of the earth are at Naimisha. Bathing +there, with restrained senses and regulated fare, one obtains, O Bharata, +the merit of the cow-sacrifice, and also sanctifies, O best of the +Bharatas, his race for seven generations both upwards and downwards. He +who renounceth his life at Naimisha by fasting, enjoyeth happiness in the +heavenly regions. Even this is the opinion of the wise. O foremost of +kings, Naimisha is ever sacred and holy. Proceeding next to Gangodbheda +and fasting there for three nights, a man obtaineth the merit of the +Vajapeya sacrifice, and becometh like unto Brahma himself. Journeying to +the Saraswati, one should offer oblations unto the gods and the Pitris. +By this, one certainly enjoyeth bliss in the regions called Saraswata. +Then should one wend to Vahuda, with subdued soul and observing the +Brahmacharya vow. Residing there for one night, one becometh adored in +heaven, and obtaineth also, O Kaurava, the merit of the Devasatra +sacrifice. Then should one repair to the holy Kshiravati, frequented by +holier men. By worshipping the gods and the Pitris there, one obtains the +merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. Proceeding next to Vimalasoka, with +subdued soul and observing the Brahmacharya vow, and residing there for +one night, one is adored in heaven. One should next proceed to the +excellent Gopratra in the Sarayu, whence Rama, O king, with all his +attendants and animals, renouncing his body, ascended to heaven in +consequence of the efficacy of the tirtha alone. Bathing in that tirtha, +O Bharata, one’s soul, through Rama’s grace, and by virtue of his own +deeds, being cleansed of all sins, one becometh adored in heaven. O +Bharata! Proceeding next, O son of the Kuru race, to the Rama-tirtha on +the Gomati, and bathing there, one obtaineth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice, and sanctifieth also his own race. There, O bull of the +Bharata race, is another tirtha called Satasahasrika. Bathing there, with +restrained senses and regulated diet, a person reapeth, O bull of Bharata +race, the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Then should one, O king, +go to the unrivalled tirtha called Bhartristhana. By this, a person +obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. Bathing next in the tirtha +called Koti, and worshipping Kartikeya, a man reapeth, O king, the merit +of giving away a thousand kine, and acquireth great energy. Proceeding +next to Varanasi, and worshipping the god having the bull for his mark, +after a bath in the Kapilahrada, one obtaineth the merit of the Rajasuya +sacrifice. Repairing then, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, to the tirtha +called Avimukta, and beholding there the god of gods, the pilgrim, from +such sight alone, is immediately cleansed of even the sin of slaying a +Brahmana. By renouncing one’s life there, one obtaineth deliverance. +Arriving next, O king, at the rare tirtha called Markandeya celebrated +over the world and situated at the confluence of the Ganges, a person +obtaineth the merit of Agnishtoma sacrifice, and delivereth his race. +Sojourning next to Gaya, with subdued senses and observing the +Brahmacharya vow, one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and also +rescueth his race. There in that tirtha is the Akshaya-vata, celebrated +over the three worlds. Whatever is offered there to the Pitris is said to +become inexhaustible. Bathing there at the Mahanadi, and offering +oblations to the gods and the Pitris, a man acquireth eternal regions, +and also rescueth his race. Proceeding then to Brahma-sara that is +adorned by the woods of Dharma, and passing one night there, a man +attaineth to the region of Brahma. In that lake, Brahma had raised a +sacrificial pillar. By walking round this pillar, a person acquireth the +merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. One should next, O mighty monarch, go to +Denuka celebrated over the world. Staying there for one night and giving +away sesame and kine, one’s soul being cleansed from every sin, one +ascendeth, without doubt to the region of Soma. There, O king, on the +mountains, the cow called Kapila used to range with her calf. There is +little doubt, of this, O Bharata, the hoof-marks, of that cow and her +calf are seen there to this day. By bathing in those hoof-prints, O +foremost of monarchs, whatever sin a man may have incurred is, O Bharata, +washed away. Then should one go to Gridhravata, the spot consecrated to +the trident-bearing god. Approaching the deity having the bull for his +mark one should rub himself with ashes. If a Brahmana, he obtains the +merit of observing the twelve year’s vow and if belonging to any of the +other orders, he is freed from all his sins. One should next proceed to +the Udyanta mountains, resounding with melodious notes. There, O bull of +the Bharata race, is still seen the foot-print of Savitri. The Brahmana +of rigid vows, who sayeth his morning, noon and evening prayers there, +obtaineth the merit of performing that service for twelve years. There, O +bull of the Bharata race, is the famous Yonidwara. Repairing thither, a +person becometh exempted from the pain of rebirth. The person that +stayeth at Gaya during both the dark and lighted fortnights, certainly +sanctifieth, O king, his own race up and down to the seventh generation. +One should wish for many sons so that even one may go to Gaya, or +celebrate the horse-sacrifice, or offer a nila bull. Then, O king, the +pilgrim should proceed to Phalgu. By this, he obtains the merit of +horse-sacrifice, and acquires great success. O king, one should repair +then, with subdued soul, to Dharmaprishta. There, O foremost of warriors, +dwelleth Dharma for aye. Drinking of the water of a well which is there, +and purifying one’s self by a bath, he that offereth oblations to the +gods and the Pitris is cleansed of all his sins and ascendeth to heaven. +There in that tirtha is the hermitage of the great Rishi Matanga of soul +under complete control. By entering that beautiful asylum capable of +soothing fatigue and sorrow, one earneth the merit of the Gavayana +sacrifice, and by touching (the image of) Dharma which is there, one +obtaineth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. One should next go, O king, +to the excellent tirtha called Brahmasthana. Approaching Brahma, that +bull among male beings, who is there, one acquireth, O mighty monarch, +the merit of the Rajasuya and horse-sacrifices. The pilgrim should then +repair to Rajasuya, O king of men! Bathing there, one liveth (in heaven) +as happily as (the Rishi) Kakshiyan. After purifying himself, one should +partake there of the offerings daily made unto the Yakshini. By this, one +is freed from the sin of even slaying a Brahmana, through the Yakshini’s +grace. Proceeding next to Maninaga, one obtains the merit of giving away +a thousand kine. O Bharata, he that eateth anything relating to the +tirtha of Maninaga, if bitten by a venomous snake, doth not succumb to +its poison. Residing there for one night, one is cleansed of one’s sins. +Then should one proceed to the favourite wood of the Brahmarshi Gautama. +There bathing in the lake of Ahalya, one attaineth to an exalted state. +Beholding next the image of Sree, one acquireth great prosperity. There +in that tirtha is a well celebrated over the three worlds. Bathing in it, +one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. There also existeth a +well sacred to the royal Rishi Janaka, which is worshipped by the gods. +Bathing in the well, one ascendeth to the region of Vishnu. Then should +one repair to Vinasana that destroys every sin. By a sojourn thither, one +obtaineth the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice, and goeth also to the +region of Soma. Proceeding next to Gandaki which is produced by the +waters of every tirtha, a person acquireth the merit of the Vajapeya +sacrifice, and ascendeth also to the solar region. Proceeding next to the +Visala, that river celebrated over the three worlds, one obtaineth the +merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice and ascendeth also to heaven. Repairing +then, O virtuous one, to the woody seat of ascetics that is called +Adhivanga, one obtains, without doubt, great happiness amongst the +Guhyakas. Proceeding next to the river Kampana, visited by the Siddhas, +one obtaineth the merit of the Pundarika sacrifice, and ascendeth also to +heaven. Arriving then, O lord of earth, at the stream called Maheswari, +one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice and also rescueth his own +race. Repairing next to the tank of the celestials, one earneth immunity +from misfortune, and also the merit of the horse-sacrifice. One should +next go to Somapada, with subdued soul and leading a Brahmacharya mode of +life. Bathing in Maheswarapada that is there, one reapeth the merit of +the horse-sacrifice. There in that tirtha, O bull of the Bharata race, it +is well known that ten millions of tirthas exist together. A wicked Asura +in the shape of a tortoise had, O foremost of monarchs, been carrying it +away when the powerful Vishnu recovered it from him. There in that tirtha +should one perform his ablutions, for by this he acquireth the merit of +the Pundarika sacrifice and ascendeth also to the region of Vishnu. Then, +O best of kings, should one proceed to the place of Narayana, where, O +Bharata, Narayana is ever present and dwelleth for aye. There the gods +with Brahma at their head, Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, the +Adityas, the Vasus, and the Rudras, all adore Janardana, in that tirtha, +and Vishnu of wonderful deeds hath become known as Salagrama. Approaching +the eternal Vishnu, that lord of the three worlds, that giver of boons, +one obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice, and goeth to the region +of Vishnu. There in that place, O virtuous one, is a well, capable of +destroying every sin. The four seas are ever present in that well. He +that bathes in it, O king, will have immunity from misfortune. Beholding +(the image of) the boon-giving, eternal, and fierce Mahadeva who is +there, one shineth, O king, like the moon emerged from the cloud. Bathing +then in Jatismara, with pure mind and subdued senses, one acquireth, +without doubt, the recollections of his former life. Proceeding then to +Maheswarapura, and worshipping the god having the bull for his mark, +fasting the while, one obtaineth, without doubt, the fruition of all his +desires. Repairing then to Vamana that destroys every sin, and beholding +the god Hari, one acquireth exemption from every misfortune. One should +next go to the asylum of Kusika that is capable of removing every sin. +Repairing then to the river Kausika that cleanseth from even great sins, +one should bathe in it. By this one obtaineth the merit of Rajasuya +sacrifice. One should next, O foremost of kings, proceed to the excellent +woods of Champaka. By spending there one night, one acquireth the merit +of giving away a thousand kine. Arriving next at Jyeshthila, that tirtha +of rare worth, and passing one night there, one reapeth the fruit of the +gift of a thousand kine. Beholding there (the image of) Visweswara of +great splendour, with his consort the goddess, a person obtaineth, O bull +among men, the region of Mitra-Varuna. By fasting there for three nights, +a man acquireth the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. By visiting +Kanya-samvedya, with senses restrained and regulated fare, one acquireth, +O bull among men, the region of Manu, the lord of creation. Rishis of +rigid vows have said that he that giveth away rice or maketh any gift at +the tirtha called Kanya, rendereth such gift eternal. Arriving next at +Nischira celebrated over the three worlds, one obtaineth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice and goeth to the legion of Vishnu. O king, those that +give away at the confluence of the Nischira, ascend to the blessed region +of Brahma. There in that tirtha is the asylum of Vasishtha that is known +over the three worlds. Bathing there, one obtaineth the merit of the +Vajapeya sacrifice. Proceeding next to Devakuta that is resorted to by +celestial Rishis, one acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice, and +also delivereth his race. Then should one, O king, go to the lake of the +Muni Kausika, where Kusika’s son, Viswamitra, obtained high success. +Bathing there, a person acquireth the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. +There, O hero, at Kausika, should one reside for a month, O bull of the +Bharata race! By a month’s residence there, one reapeth the merit of the +horse-sacrifice. He that resideth at the best of tirthas called +Maha-hrada, enjoys immunity from misfortune, and also obtains the merit +of giving away gold in abundance. Beholding next Kartikeya who dwelleth +at Virasrama, a man certainly reapeth the fruit of the horse-sacrifice. +Proceeding then to Agnidhara celebrated over the three worlds, and +beholding there after a bath the eternal and boon-giving Vishnu, that god +of gods, one obtaineth the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. Proceeding +next to the Grandsire’s tank near the snowcapped of mountains, and +bathing in it, a man obtains the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. +Falling from the Grandsire’s tank, is that world-sanctifying (stream), +celebrated over the three worlds, called Kumara-Dhara. Bathing there, one +regardeth himself as having all his purposes fulfilled. Fasting in that +tirtha for three days, one is even cleansed from the sin of slaying a +Brahmana. The pilgrim should next, O virtuous one, proceed to the peak of +the great goddess Gauri, famed over the three worlds. Ascending it, O +best of men, one should approach Stana-Kunda. By touching the waters of +Stana-Kunda, a person obtaineth the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. +Bathing in that tirtha and worshipping the gods and Pitris, one acquireth +the merit of the horse-sacrifice and also ascendeth to the region of +Indra. Arriving next at the well of Tamraruna, that is frequented by the +gods, one acquireth, O lord of men, the merit that attaches to human +sacrifice. Bathing next at the confluence of the Kirtika with the Kausiki +and the Aruna, and fasting there for three nights a man of learning is +cleansed of all his sins. Proceeding next to the tirtha called Urvasi, +and then to Somasrama, a wise man by bathing next at Kumbhakarnasrama +becometh adored in the world. The ancients knew that by touching the +waters of Kokamukha, with steady vows and leading Brahmacharya mode of +life, the memory of one’s former life is revived. Arriving next with +speed to the river called Nanda a regenerate one becometh freed from all +his sins and ascendeth with soul under control to Indra’s region. +Proceeding next to the island called Rishabha, that is destructive of +cranes, and bathing in the Saraswati, an individual blazeth forth in +heaven. Proceeding next to the tirtha called Auddalaka frequented by +Munis, and bathing there one is cleansed of all his sins. Repairing next +to the sacred tirtha called Dharma that is visited by Brahmarshis, one +acquireth the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice and becometh respected in +heaven. Proceeding next to Champa and bathing in the Bhagirathi he that +sojourneth to Dandaparna, acquireth the merit of giving away a thousand +kine. Then should one proceed to the sacred Lalitika that is graced by +the presence of the virtuous. By this one acquireth the merit of the +Rajasuya sacrifice and is regarded in heaven.” + + + +SECTION LXXXV + +“Pulastya said, ‘Arriving next at the excellent tirtha called Samvedya in +the evening, and touching its waters, one surely obtaineth knowledge. +Created a tirtha in days of yore by Rama’s energy, he that proceedeth to +Lauhitya obtaineth the merit of giving away gold in abundance. Proceeding +next to the river Karatoya, and fasting there for three nights, a man +acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. Even this is the injunction +of the Creator himself. It hath been said by the wise, O king, that if a +person goeth to the spot where the Ganga mingleth with the sea, he +reapeth merit which is ten times that of the horse-sacrifice. Crossing +over to the opposite bank of the Ganga, he that batheth there having +resided for three nights is, O king, cleansed from all his sins. One +should next proceed to the Vaitarani capable of destroying every sin. +Arriving next at the tirtha named Viraja one shineth like the moon, and +sanctifying his race rescueth it and is himself cleansed of all his sins. +He that bathes in Viraja further reapeth the merit of giving away a +thousand kine besides sanctifying his line. Residing with purity at the +confluence of the Sona and the Jyotirathi, and offering oblations of +water to the gods and the Pitris, a man reapeth the merit of the +Agnishtoma sacrifice. Touching next the waters of the Vansagulma +constituting the sources of both the Sona and the Narmada, one obtaineth +the merit of the horse-sacrifice. Sojourning next to the tirtha called +Rishabha in Kosala, O lord of men, and fasting there for three nights one +earneth the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice, and of the gift of a +thousand kine, and also delivereth his race. Arriving at Kosala, a man +should bathe in the tirtha named Kala. By this one surely obtaineth the +merit of giving away one and ten bulls. By bathing in Pushpavati and +fasting there, O king, for three nights one sanctifieth his own race, +besides earning the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. Then, O +foremost of the Bharata race, by bathing in the tirtha called Vadarika, +one obtaineth long life, and also goeth to heaven. Arriving next at +Champa, and bathing in the Bhagirathi, and seeing Danda one earneth the +merit of giving away a thousand kine. Then should one go to the sacred +Lapetika, graced by the presence of the pious. By so doing one reapeth +the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice and also becometh regarded by the +gods. Proceeding next to the mountain called Mahendra, inhabited (of +yore) by Jamadagnya, and bathing in Rama’s tirtha, a person acquireth the +merit of the horse-sacrifice. Here is Matanga’s tirtha called Kedara, O +son of the Kuru race! Bathing in it, O foremost of the Kurus, a man +obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Going to the mountain +Sree, one who toucheth the waters of the stream that is there by +worshipping there the god having the bull for his mark obtaineth the +merit of the horse-sacrifice. On the mountain Sree dwelleth happily, the +effulgent Mahadeva with the goddess, as also Brahma with the other gods. +By bathing in the lake of Deva, with purity and restrained mind, one +obtaineth the merit of the-horse-sacrifice, and also attaineth to the +highest success.”’ + +Proceeding next to the mountain Rishabha in Pandya, worshipped by the +gods, one obtains the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice and rejoices in +heaven. One should next proceed to the river Kaveri, frequented by +Apsaras. Bathing there, O monarch, one obtaineth, the merit of giving +away a thousand kine. Touching next the waters of the tirtha called Kanya +on the shores of the sea one is cleansed from every sin. Proceeding next +to Gokarna celebrated over the three worlds, and which is situate, O best +of kings, in the midst of the deep, and is reverenced by all the worlds, +and where the gods headed by Brahma, and Rishis endued with wealth of +asceticism, and spirits and Yakshas and Pisachas, and Kinnaras and the +great Nagas, and Siddhas and Charanas and Gandharvas, and men and +Pannagas, and rivers, Seas and Mountains, worship the lord of Uma, one +should worship Isana, fasting there for three nights. By this, one +acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice, and the status of Ganapatya. +By staying there for twelve nights, one’s soul is cleansed of all sins. +One should next proceed to the tirtha known as Gayatri celebrated over +the three worlds. Staying there for three nights, one acquireth the merit +of giving away a thousand kine. A strange phenomenon is seen to occur +there in respect to Brahmanas, O Lord of men! If a Brahmana, whether born +of a Brahmani or any other woman, reciteth the Gayatri there, the +recitation becomes rhythmic and musical, while, O king, a person who is +not a Brahmana cannot adequately hymn it at all. Proceeding next to the +inaccessible tank of the Brahmana Rishi Samvarta, one acquireth personal +beauty and prosperity. Repairing next to Vena, he that offers oblations +of water to the gods and the Pitris, obtains a car drawn by peacocks and +cranes. Going next to the Godavari, ever frequented by the Siddhas, one +earneth the merit of the cow-sacrifice, and goeth to the excellent region +of Vasuki. Bathing next at the confluence of the Venna, one obtains the +merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. By a dip next at the confluence of +Varada, one acquireth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Arriving +next at Brahmasthuna, one that stayeth there for three nights acquireth +the merit of giving away a thousand kine, and also ascendeth to heaven. +Coming next to Kusaplavana, with subdued soul and leading a Brahmacharya +mode of life, and staying there for three nights he that bathes in it +obtains the merit of the horse-sacrifice. Bathing next at the romantic +Deva-hrada that is supplied by the waters of the Krishna-Venna, and also +in the Jatismara-hrada, one acquireth the memory of one’s former life. It +was there that the chief of the celestials celebrated a hundred +sacrifices and ascended to heaven. By a visit only to that spot, one +acquireth the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. Bathing next in the +Sarvadeva-hrada, a person obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand +kine. Proceeding next to the highly sacred tank called Payoshni, that +best of waters, he that offers oblations of water to the gods and the +Pitris acquires the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. Arriving next +at the sacred forest of Dandaka, a person should bathe (in the waters) +there. By this, O king, one at once obtains, O Bharata, the merit of +giving away a thousand kine. Proceeding next to the asylum of Sarabhanga +and that of the illustrious Suka, one acquireth immunity from misfortune, +besides sanctifying his race. Then should one proceed to Surparaka, where +Jamadagni’s son had formerly dwelt. Bathing in that tirtha of Rama, one +acquireth the merit of giving away gold in abundance. Bathing next in the +Saptagadavara, with the subdued sense and regulated diet, one earneth +great merit, and goeth also to the region of the celestials. Proceeding +next to Deva-hrada, with subdued sense and regulated diet, a man +obtaineth the merit of the Devasatra sacrifice. One should proceed next +to the forest of Tungaka, with subdued senses and leading a Brahmacharya +mode of life It was here that in olden days Muni Saraswata taught the +Vedas to the ascetics. When the Vedas had been lost (in consequence of +the Munis having forgotten them), Angirasa’s son, seated at ease on the +upper garments of the Munis (duly spread out), pronounced distinctly and +with emphasis the syllable Om. And at this, the ascetics again +recollected all that they had learnt before. It was there that the Rishis +and the gods Varuna, Agni, Prajapati, Narayana also called Hari, Mahadeva +and the illustrious Grandsire of great splendour, appointed the +resplendent Bhrigu to officiate at a sacrifice. Gratifying Agni by +libations of clarified butter poured according to the ordinance, the +illustrious Bhrigu once performed the Agnyadhana sacrifice for all those +Rishis, after which both they and the gods went away to their respective +homes one after another. One who enters the forest of Tungaka, is, O best +of kings, male or female, cleansed of every sin. There in that tirtha, O +hero, one should reside for a month, with subdued senses and regulated +diet. By this, O king, one ascendeth to the region of Brahma, and +delivereth also his race. Arriving next at Medhavika, one should offer +oblations of water to the gods and the Pitris. By this, one acquires the +merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice, and also memory and intellect. There +in that tirtha is the mountain known over the whole world and called +Kalanjara. Bathing in the celestial lake that is there, one acquires the +merit of giving away a thousand kine. He that, O king, after a bath, +offereth oblations (to the gods and the Pitris) on the Kalanjara +mountain, is, without doubt, regarded in heaven. Proceeding next, O +monarch, to the river Mandakini capable of destroying all sins and which +is on that best of mountains called Chitrakuta, he that bathes there and +worships the gods and the Pitris, obtains the merit of the +horse-sacrifice and attains to an exalted state. One should next, O +virtuous one, proceed to the excellent tirtha called Bhartristhana, +where, O king, ever dwells the celestial generalissimo Kartikeya. By a +journey only to that spot, a person, O foremost of kings, attaineth to +success. Bathing next at the tirtha called Koti, one earneth the merit of +giving away a thousand kine. Having walked round Koti, one should proceed +next to Jyeshthasthana. Beholding Mahadeva who is there, one shineth like +the moon. There, O mighty monarch, is a celebrated well. O bull of the +Bharata race! There in that well, O foremost of warriors, are the four +seas. He that bathes there, O foremost of kings, and with subdued soul +worships the gods and the Pitris, is cleansed of all his sins and +attaineth to an exalted state. Then, O mighty king, should one proceed to +the great Sringaverapura, where, O foremost of kings, formerly Rama, +Dasharatha’s son, had crossed (the Ganga). Bathing in that tirtha, one, O +mighty-armed one, is cleansed of all his sins. Bathing with subdued +senses and leading a Brahmacharya mode of life, in the Ganga, one is +cleansed of every sin, and obtains also the merit of the Vajapeya +sacrifice. One should next proceed to the place called Mayuravata, +consecrated to Mahadeva of high intelligence. Beholding there the god, +bowing down to him and walking round the spot, one acquireth, O Bharata, +the Ganapatya status. Bathing in Ganga at that tirtha, one is cleansed of +all his sins. Then, O king, should one proceed to Prayaga, whose praises +have been sung by Rishis and where dwell the gods with Brahma at their +head, the Directions with their presiding deities, the Lokapalas, the +Siddhas, the Pitris adored by the worlds, the great Rishis-Sanatkumara +and others, stainless Brahmarshis--Angiras and others,--the Nagas, the +Suparnas, the Siddhas, the Snakes, the Rivers, the Seas, the Gandharvas, +the Apsaras, and the Lord Hari with Prajapati. There in that tirtha are +three fiery caverns between which the Ganga, that foremost of tirthas, +rolleth rapidly. There in that region also the world-purifying daughter +of the sun, Yamuna, celebrated over the three worlds, uniteth with the +Ganga. The country between the Ganga and the Yamuna is regarded as the +mons veneris of the world, and Prayaga as the foremost point of that +region. The tirthas Prayaga, Pratisthana, Kamvala, Aswatara and Bhogavati +are the sacrificial platforms of the Creator. There in those places, O +foremost of warriors, the Vedas and the Sacrifices, in embodied forms, +and the Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, adore Brahma, and there +the gods and rulers of territories also celebrate their sacrifices. The +learned, however, say that of all these tirthas, O exalted one, Prayaga +is the most sacred, in fact, the foremost of all tirthas in the three +worlds. By going to that tirtha, by singing its praises, or by taking a +little earth from it, one is cleansed from every sin. He that bathes in +that confluence celebrated over the world, acquires all the merits of the +Rajasuya and the horse-sacrifices. This sacrificial place is worshipped +by the gods themselves. If a man giveth there ever so little, it +increaseth, O Bharata, a thousandfold. O child, let not the texts of the +Veda, nor the opinions of men dissuade thy mind from the desire of dying +at Prayaga. O son of the Kuru race, the wise say that six hundred million +and ten thousand tirthas exist at Prayaga. Bathing in the confluence of +Ganga and Yamuna, one obtains the merit that attaches to the four kinds +of knowledge and the merits also of those that are truthful. There at +Prayaga is the excellent tirtha of Vasuki called Bhogavati. He that +batheth in it, obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. There also in +the Ganga is the tirtha famed over the three worlds, called +Ramaprapatana, which conferreth the merit of ten horse-sacrifices. O son +of the Kuru race! Wherever may a person bathe in the Ganga, he earneth +merit equal to that of a trip to Kurukshetra. An exception, however, is +made in favour of Kanakhala, while the merit attaching to Prayaga is the +greatest. Having committed a hundred sins, he that bathes in the Ganga, +hath all his sins washed off by the waters thereof, even as fuel is +consumed by fire. It hath been said that in the Satyayuga all the tirthas +were sacred; in the Treta, Pushkara alone was such; in Dwapara, +Kurukshetra; and in the Kali-yuga, the Ganga alone is sacred. In +Pushkara, one should practise austerities; in Mahalaya, one should give +away; in the Malaya mountains, one should ascend the funeral pyre; and in +Bhrigutunga, one should renounce one’s body by forgoing food. Bathing in +Pushkara, in Kurukshetra, in the Ganga and in the confluence (of the +Ganga and the Yamuna), one sanctifieth seven generations of one’s race up +and down. He that reciteth the name of the Ganga is purified; while he +that beholdeth her, receiveth prosperity; while he that bathes in her and +drinks of her waters sanctifieth seven generations of his race up and +down. As long, O king, as one’s bones lie in contact with the waters of +the Ganga, so long doth he live regarded in heaven, even as one liveth in +heaven in consequence of the merit he earneth by pious pilgrimages to +sacred tirthas and holy spots. There is no tirtha that is like unto the +Ganga, there is no god like unto Kesava, and there is none superior to +Brahmanas,--this hath been said even by the Grandsire. O great king, the +region through which the Ganga flows should be regarded as a sacred +asylum, and a spot of land that is on the Ganga’s banks, should be +regarded as one favourable to the attainment of ascetic success. + +This truthful description (of the tirthas) one should recite only unto +the regenerate ones, unto those that are pious, unto one’s son and +friends and disciples and dependents. This narrative, without a rival, is +blessed and holy and leadeth to heaven. Holy and entertaining and +sanctifying, it is productive of merit and high worth. Destructive of +every sin, it is a mystery that the great Rishis cherish with care. By +reciting it in the midst of Brahmanas, one is cleansed of every sin, and +ascends to heaven. This description of tirthas is auspicious and +heaven-giving and sacred; ever blessed as it is, it destroys one’s +enemies; foremost of all accounts, it sharpens the intellect. By reading +this narrative the sonless obtains sons, the destitute obtains riches, a +person of the royal order conquereth the whole earth, the Vaisya cometh +by wealth, the Sudra obtaineth all his desires, and the Brahmana crosseth +the ocean (of the world). Purifying himself, he that listens daily to the +merits of the different tirthas, recollects the incidents of many +previous births and rejoices in heaven. Of the tirthas that have been +recited here, some are easily accessible, while others are difficult of +access. But he that is inspired with the desire of beholding all tirthas, +should visit them even in imagination. Desirous of obtaining merit, the +Vasus, and the Sadhyas, the Adityas, the Maruts, the Aswins, and the +Rishis equal unto celestials, all bathed in these tirthas. Do thou also, +O thou of the Kuru race, observing the ordinance as explained by me, +visit, with subdued senses, these tirthas, increasing thy merit, O thou +of excellent vows. Men of piety and learning are able to visit these +tirthas, by reason of their purified senses, their belief in Godhead, and +their acquaintance with the Vedas. He that doth not observe vows, he that +hath not his soul under control, he that is impure, he that is a thief, +and he that is of crooked mind, doth not, O Kauravya, bathe in tirthas. +Thou art ever observant of virtue, and art of pure character. By thy +virtue, O virtuous one, thou hast always gratified thy father and thy +grand-father, and great-grand-fathers, and the gods with Brahma at their +head, and the Rishis also, O thou versed in virtue! Thou who resemblest +Vasava, thou wilt, O Bhishma, attain to the region of the Vasus, and also +eternal fame on earth!’ + +“Narada continued, ‘Having cheerfully spoken thus, the illustrious Rishi +Pulastya, well-pleased, bidding Bhishma farewell, disappeared there and +then. And Bhishma also, O tiger among men, well understanding the true +import of the Shastras, wandered over the world at the command of +Pulastya. Thus, O thou blessed one, did Bhishma end at Prayaga his highly +meritorious journey to the tirthas capable of destroying all sins. The +man that ranges the earth in accordance with these injunctions, obtains +the highest fruit of a hundred horse-sacrifices and earns salvation +hereafter. Thou wilt, O son of Pritha, obtain merit consisting of the +eight attributes, even like that which Bhishma, the foremost of the +Kurus, had obtained of yore. And as thou wilt lead these ascetics to +those tirthas, thy merit will be much greater. Those tirthas are infested +by Rakshasas, and no one, save thyself, O son of Kuru race, can go there. +Rising early he that reciteth this narrative by the celestial Rishis on +the subject of the tirthas, becometh free from all sins. Those foremost +of Rishis, Valmiki, and Kasyapa, and Atreya, and Kundajathara, and +Viswamitra, and Gautama, and Asita, and Devala, and Markandeya, and +Galava, and Bharadwaja, and Vasishtha, and the Muni Uddalaka, and Saunaka +with his son, and Vyasa, that best of ascetics, and Durvasas, that +foremost of Munis, and Javali of great austerities--all these illustrious +Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, are staying in expectation of +thee. With these, O mighty king, do thou meet by visiting these tirthas. +And, O illustrious monarch, a great Rishi of immeasurable energy, Lomasa +by name, will come to thee. Do thou follow him, and me, and by turns +visit these tirthas, O thou virtuous one! By this, thou wilt acquire +great fame, like king Mahabhisha! O tiger among kings, even as the +virtuous Yayati and king Pururavas, dost thou blaze forth with thy own +virtue. Like king Bhagiratha and the illustrious Rama, dost thou shine +among kings even as the Sun himself. And thou art, O great king, +celebrated (in the world) even as Muni or Ikshwaku, or the highly famous +Puru or Vainya! And as in days of yore the slayer of Vritra, after +burning all his foes, ruled the three worlds, his mind freed from +anxiety, so wilt thou rule thy subjects, after slaying all thy enemies. +And, O thou of eyes like lotus leaves, having conquered the earth +according to the customs of thy order, thou wilt obtain renown by thy +virtue, even like Kartaviryaryuna.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “O great king, having comforted the monarch thus, +the illustrious Rishi Narada, bidding farewell to the king, disappeared +there and then. And the virtuous Yudhishthira, reflecting upon the +subject, began to recite unto the ascetics the merit attaching to +tirthas!” + + + +SECTION LXXXVI + +“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having ascertained the opinion of his brothers, +and of the intelligent Narada, king Yudhishthira, addressing Dhaumya, who +was like unto the Grandsire himself, said, ‘I have for the acquisition of +arms, sent away that tiger among men, Jishnu, whose prowess is incapable +of being baffled, and who is possessed of long arms and immeasurable +intelligence. O thou of ascetic wealth, that hero is devoted to me, +endued with ability, and well-skilled in weapons, and like unto the +exalted Vasudeva himself. I know them both, Krishna and Arjuna, those +destroyers of enemies, O Brahmana, endued with prowess, even as the +puissant Vyasa knoweth them. I know Vasudeva and Dhananjaya to be none +else than Vishnu himself, possessed of the six attributes. And this is +also what Narada knoweth, for he hath always spoken so unto me. I also +know them to be Rishis, Nara and Narayana. Knowing him to possess the +ability, I have sent him (on the mission). Not inferior unto Indra and +fully competent (for the task), I have sent that son of a god to see the +lord of the celestials and obtain weapons from him. Bhishma and Drona are +Atirathas. Kripa and the son of Drona are invincible; these mighty +warriors have been installed by Dhritarashtra’s son in the command of his +army. All these are versed in the Vedas, are heroic, and possessed of the +knowledge of every weapon. Endued with great strength, these always +desire to encounter Arjuna in fight. And Karna also of the Suta caste is +a mighty warrior versed in celestial weapons. In respect of the impetus +of his weapons, he is endued with the strength of the Wind-god. Himself +like a flame of fire, the arrows (proceeding from him) constitute its +tongues. The slaps of his left hand cased in leathern fence constitute +the crackling of that flame. The dust of the battle-field is its smoke. +Urged by the sons of Dhritarashtra even as the wind urgeth the fire, +Karna like unto the all-consuming fire at the end of the Yuga that is +sent by Death himself, will, without doubt, consume my troops like unto a +heap of straw. Only that mighty mass of clouds called Arjuna, aided by +Krishna like unto a powerful wind, with celestial weapon representing its +fierce lightning, the white steeds, the rows of white cranes coursing +underneath and the unbearable Gandiva, the rainbow ahead, is capable of +extinguishing the blazing flame represented by Karna by means of its +arrowy showers let off with unflagging steadiness. That conqueror of +hostile cities, Vibhatsu, will, without doubt, succeed in obtaining from +Indra himself all the celestial weapons with their fullness and life. +Alone he is equal, I think, unto them all. Otherwise it is impossible +(for us) to vanquish in fight all those foes, who have attained to +eminent success in all their purposes. We shall behold Arjuna, that +repressor of foes, fully equipped with celestial weapons, for Vibhatsu +having once undertaken a task, never, droopeth under its weight. Without +that hero, however, that best of men, ourselves, with Krishna, cannot be +at rest in Kamyaka. Therefore, do thou mention some other wood that is +sacred and delightful, and abounds in food and fruits, and that is +inhabited by men of pious practices:--where we may pass some time, +expecting the warlike Arjuna of unbaffled prowess, like the Chataka in +expectation of gathering clouds. Do thou tell us of some asylums open to +the regenerate ones, and lakes and streams and beautiful mountains. O +Brahmana, deprived of Arjuna, I do not like to stay in this wood of +Kamyaka. We wish to go somewhere else.’” + + + +SECTION LXXXVII + +Vaisampayana said, “Beholding the Pandavas afflicted with anxiety and +depressed in spirits, Dhaumya, who resembled Vrihaspati, spake thus, +comforting them, ‘O bull of the Bharata race, O sinless one, listen to me +as I mention certain sacred asylums and regions and tirthas and mountains +that are approved of by Brahmanas. O king, listen to me as I speak, +thyself with the daughter of Drupada and thy brothers, wilt, O lord of +men, be relieved from grief. And, O son of Pandu, by hearing only of +these places, thou wilt acquire merit. And by visiting them thou wilt +obtain merit a hundred times greater, O best of men! First, O king, I +will, so far as I recollect, speak of the beautiful eastern country, much +regarded, O Yudhishthira, by royal Rishis. In that direction, O Bharata +is a place called Naimisha which is regarded by the celestials. There in +that region are several sacred tirthas belonging to the gods. There also +is the sacred and beautiful Gomati which is adored by celestial Rishis +and there also in [possibly ‘is’?--JBH] the sacrificial region of the +gods and the sacrificial stake of Surya. In that quarter also is that +best of hills called Gaya, which is sacred and much regarded by royal +ascetics. There on that hill, is the auspicious lake called Brahmasara +which is adored by celestial Rishis. It is for this that the ancients say +that one should wish for many sons, so that even one among them may visit +Gaya, celebrate the horse-sacrifice or give away a nila bull, and thereby +deliver ten generations of his race up and down. There, O monarch, is a +great river, and spot called Gayasira. In Gayasira is a banian, which is +called by the Brahmanas the Eternal banian, for the food that is offered +there to the Pitris becometh eternal, O exalted one! The great river that +floweth by the place is known by the name of Phalgu, and its waters are +all sacred. And, O bull among the Bharatas, there also, in that place, is +the Kausiki, whose basin abounds in various fruit and roots, and where +Viswamitra endued with wealth of asceticism acquired Brahmanahood. +Towards that direction also is the sacred Ganga, on whose banks +Bhagiratha celebrated many sacrifices with profuse gifts (to Brahmanas). +They say that in the country of Panchala, there is a wood called Utpala, +where Viswamitra of Kusika’s race had performed sacrifices with his son, +and where beholding the relics of Viswamitra’s superhuman power, Rama, +the son of Jamadagni, recited the praises of his ancestry. At Kamyaka, +Kusika’s son had quaffed the Soma juice with Indra. Then abandoning the +Kshatriya order, he began to say, I am a Brahmana.’ In that quarter, O +hero is the sacred confluence of Ganga and Yamuna which is celebrated +over the world. Holy and sin-destroying, that tirtha is much regarded by +the Rishis. It is there that the soul of all things, the Grandsire, had, +in olden days, performed his sacrifice, and it is for this, O chief of +the Bharata race, that the place hath come to be called Prayaga. In this +direction, O foremost of kings, lieth the excellent asylum of Agastya, O +monarch, and the forest called Tapasa, decked by many ascetics. And there +also is the great tirtha called Hiranyavinda on the Kalanjara hills, and +that best of mountains called Agastya, which is beautiful, sacred and +auspicious. In that quarter, O descendant of the Kuru race, is the +mountain called Mahendra, sacred to the illustrious Rama of the Bhrigu +race. There, O son of Kunti, the Grandsire performed sacrifices of yore. +There, O Yudhishthira, the sacred Bhagiratha entereth a lake and there +also, O king, is that sacred river known by the name of the +merit-bestowing Brahmasara, whose banks are inhabited by persons whose +sins have been washed away, and whose sight alone produceth merit. In +that direction also lieth the high-souled Matanga’s excellent asylum, +called Kedara which is sacred and auspicious and celebrated over the +world. And there also is the mountain called Kundoda, which is so +delightful and abounding in fruits and roots and waters, and where the +king of the Nishadhas (Nala) had slaked his thirst and rested for a +while. In that quarter also is the delightful Deva-vana which is graced +by ascetics. There also are the rivers Vahuda and Nanda on the mountain’s +crest. O mighty king, I have described unto thee all the tirthas and +sacred spots in the Eastern quarter. Do thou now hear of the sacred +tirthas, and rivers and mountains and holy spots in the other three +quarters!’” + + + +SECTION LXXXVIII + +“Dhaumya continued, ‘Listen, O Bharata, I shall now narrate to thee in +detail according to my knowledge, the sacred tirthas of the south. In +that quarter lieth the sacred and auspicious river Godavari, full of +water abounding in groves and frequented by ascetics. In that direction +also are the rivers Venna and Bhimarathi, both capable of destroying sin +and fear, and abounding in birds and deer, and graced with abodes of +ascetics. In that region also, O bull of the Bharata race, is the tirtha +of the royal ascetic, Nriga viz., the river Payoshni, which is delightful +and full of waters and visited by Brahmanas. There the illustrious +Markandeya, of high ascetic merit sang the praises in verse of king +Nriga’s line! We have heard respecting the sacrificing king Nriga that +which really took place while he was performing a sacrifice in the +excellent tirtha called Varaha on the Payoshni. In that sacrifice Indra +became intoxicated with quaffing the Soma, and the Brahmanas, with the +gifts they received. The water of the Payoshni, taken up (in vessel), or +flowing along the ground, or conveyed by the wind, can cleanse a person +from whatever sins he may commit till the day of his death. Higher than +heaven itself, and pure, and created and bestowed by the trident-bearing +god, there in that tirtha is an image of Mahadeva beholding which a +mortal goeth to the region of Siva. Placing on one scale Ganga and the +other rivers with their waters, and on the other, the Payoshni, the +latter, in my opinion would be superior to all the tirthas, together, in +point of merit! Then, O foremost of the Bharata race, on the mountain +called Varunasrotasa is the sacred and auspicious wood of Mathara +abounding in fruits and roots, and containing a sacrificial stake. Then, +O king, it is said that in the region on the north of the Praveni, and +about the sacred asylum of Kanwa, are many woody retreats of ascetics. +And, O child, in the tirtha called Surparaka are two sacrificial +platforms of the illustrious Jamadagni, called Pashana and Punaschandra, +O Bharata! And, O son of Kunti, in that spot is the tirtha called Asoka +abounding in woody retreats of ascetics. And, O Yudhishthira, in the +country of the Pandyas are the tirthas named Agastya and Varuna! And, O +bull among men, there, amongst the Pandavas, is the tirtha called the +Kumaris. Listen, O son of Kunti, I shall now describe Tamraparni. In that +asylum the gods had undergone penances impelled by the desire of +obtaining salvation. In that region also is the lake of Gokarna which is +celebrated over the three worlds, hath an abundance of cool waters, and +is sacred, auspicious, and capable, O child, of producing great merit. +That lake is extremely difficult of access to men of unpurified souls. +Near to that tirtha is the sacred asylum of Agastya’s disciple, the +mountain Devasabha, which abounds in trees and grass, and fruits and +roots. And there also is the Vaiduryya mountain, which is delightful +abounding in gems and capable of bestowing great merit. There on that +mountain is the asylum of Agastya abounding in fruits and roots and +water.’” + +“I shall now, O lord of men, describe the sacred spots, and asylums, and +rivers and lakes belonging to the Surashtra country! O Yudhishthira, the +Brahmanas say that on the sea-coast is the Chamasodbheda, and also +Prabhasa, that tirtha which is much regarded by the gods. There also is +the tirtha called Pindaraka, frequented by ascetics and capable of +producing great merit. In that region is a mighty hill named Ujjayanta +which conduceth to speedy success. Regarding it the celestial Rishi +Narada of great intelligence hath recited an ancient sloka. Do thou +listen to it, O Yudhishthira! By performing austerities on the sacred +hill of Ujjayanta in Surashtra, that abounds in birds and animals, a +person becometh regarded in heaven. There also is Dwaravati, producing +great merit, where dwelleth the slayer of Madhu, who is the Ancient one +in embodied form, and eternal virtue. Brahmanas versed in the Vedas, and +persons acquainted with the philosophy of the soul say that the +illustrious Krishna is eternal Virtue. Govinda is said to be the purest +of all pure things, the righteous of the righteous and the auspicious of +the auspicious. In all the three worlds, He of eyes like lotus-leaves is +the God of gods, and is eternal. He is the pure soul and the active +principle of life, is the Supreme Brahma and is the lord of all. That +slayer of Madhu, Hari of inconceivable soul, dwelleth there!” + + + +SECTION LXXXIX + +“Dhaumya continued, ‘I shall describe to thee those sacred spots capable +of producing merit that lie on the west, in the country of the Anarttas, +O Bharata, there, flows in a westward course the sacred river Narmada, +graced by Priyangu and mango trees, and engarlanded with thickest of +canes. All the tirthas and sacred spots, and rivers and woods and +foremost of mountains that are in the three worlds, all the gods with the +Grandsire, along with the Siddhas, the Rishis and the Charanas, O best of +the Kurus, always come, O Bharata, to bathe in the sacred waters of the +Narmada. And it hath been heard by us that the sacred asylum of the Muni +Visravas, had stood there, and that there was born the lord of treasures, +Kuvera, having men for his vehicles. There also is that foremost of +hills, the sacred and auspicious Vaidurya peak abounding with trees that +are green and which are always graced with fruit and flowers. O lord of +the earth, on the top of that mountain is a sacred tank decked with +full-blown lotus and resorted to by the gods and the Gandharvas. Many are +the wonders, O mighty monarch, that may be seen on that sacred mountain +which is like unto heaven itself and which is visited by celestial +Rishis. There, O subjugator of hostile cities, is the sacred river called +Viswamitra belonging to the royal sage of that name and which abounds, O +king, in many sacred tirthas. It was on the banks of this river, that +Yayati, the son of Nahusha, (fell from heaven) among the virtuous, and +obtained once more the eternal regions of the righteous. Here also are +the well-known lake called Punya, the mountain called Mainaka, and that +other mountain called Asita abounding in fruits and roots. And here also +is the sacred asylum of Kakshasena, and O Yudhishthira, the asylum of +Chyavana also, which is famed over every country, O son of Pandu! In that +spot, O exalted one, men attain to (ascetic) success without severe +austerities. Here also, O mighty king, is the region called Jamvumarga, +inhabited by birds and deer, and which constitutes the retreat of +ascetics with souls under control, O thou foremost of those that have +subdued their senses! Next lie the exceedingly sacred Ketumala, and +Medhya ever graced with ascetics, and, O lord of earth, Gangadwara, and +the well-known woods of Saindhava which are sacred and inhabited by the +regenerate ones. There also is the celebrated tank of the Grandsire, +called Pushkara, the favourite abode of the Vaikanasas, and Siddhas and +Rishis. Moved by the desire of obtaining its protection, the Creator sang +this verse at Pushkara, O chief of the Kurus and foremost of virtuous +men! If a person of pure soul purposes a pilgrimage to the Pushkaras in +imagination even, he becometh purged from all his sins and rejoiceth in +heaven!’” + + + +SECTION XC + +“Dhaumya continued, ‘O tiger among kings, I shall now describe those +tirthas and sacred spots that lie to the north. Do thou, O exalted one, +listen to me attentively. By hearing this narration, O hero, one +acquireth a reverential frame of mind, which conduceth to much good. In +that region is the highly sacred Saraswati abounding in tirthas and with +banks easy of descent. There also, O son of Pandu, is the ocean-going and +impetuous Yamuna, and the tirtha called Plakshavatarana, productive of +high merit and prosperity. It was there that the regenerate ones having +performed the Saraswata sacrifice, bathed on the completion there of. O +sinless one, is the well-known celestial tirtha called Agnisiras, which +is productive of great merit. There king Sahadeva had celebrated a +sacrifice measuring out the ground by a throw of the Samya. It is for +this reason, O Yudhishthira, that Indra sang the praises of Sahadeva in +verse. Those verses are still current in this world, being recited by the +regenerate ones, e. g., on the Yamuna Sahadeva worshipped the sacrificial +fire, with gifts in a hundred thousands to Brahmanas. There the +illustrious king, the imperial Bharata, performed five and thirty +horse-sacrifices. O child, we have heard that Sarabhanga of yore used to +fully gratify the desires of the regenerate ones. There in this region is +his celebrated asylum productive of great merit. In that region also, O +son of Pritha, is the river Saraswati, which is ever worshipped by the +god, where, in days of yore, the Valikhilyas, O great king, performed +sacrifices. In that region also, O Yudhishthira, is the well-known river +Drisadwati, which is productive of great merit. Then, O chief of men, are +Nyagrodhakhya, and Panchalya, and Punyaka and Dalbhyaghosha, and Dalbhya, +which are, O son of Kunti, the sacred asylum in the world of illustrious +Anandayasas of excellent vows and great energy, and which are celebrated +over the three worlds. Here also, O lord of men, the illustrious Etavarna +and Avavarana versed in the Vedas, learned in Vedic lore, and proficient +in the knowledge of Vedic rites, performed meritorious sacrifices, O +chief of the Bharata race! There also is Visakhayupa to which, in days of +yore, came the gods with Varuna and Indra, and practised ascetic +austerities. And therefore is that spot so eminently sacred. Here also is +Palasaka, where the great and illustrious and highly blessed Rishi +Jamadagni performed sacrifices. There all the principal rivers in their +embodied forms taking their respective waters stood surrounding that best +of sages. And there also, O monarch, Vibhavasu (fire) himself, beholding +that high-souled one’s initiation, sang the following sloka: ‘The river +coming to the illustrious Jamadagni while sacrificing unto the gods +gratified the Brahmanas with offerings of honey.’ O Yudhishthira, the +spot where Ganga rusheth past, cleaving the foremost of mountains which +is frequented by Gandharvas and Yakshas and Rakshasas and Apsaras, and +inhabited by hunters, and Kinnaras, is called Gangadwara. O king, +Sanatkumara regardeth that spot visited by Brahmarshis, as also the +tirtha Kanakhala (that is near to it), as sacred. There also is the +mountain named Puru which is resorted to by great Rishis and where +Pururavas was born, and Bhrigu practised ascetic austerities. For this it +is, O king, that asylum hath become known as the great peak of +Bhrigutunga. Near that peak is the sacred and extensive Vadari, that +highly meritorious asylum, famed over the three worlds, of him, O bull of +the Bharata race, who is the Present, the Past and the Future, who is +called Narayana and the lord Vishnu, who is eternal and the best of male +beings, and who is pre-eminently illustrious. Near Vadari, the cool +current of Ganga was formerly warm, and the banks there were overspread +with golden sands. There the gods and Rishis of high fortune and +exceeding effulgence, approaching the divine lord Narayana, always +worship him. The entire universe with all its tirthas and holy spots is +there where dwelleth the divine and eternal Narayana, the Supreme soul, +for he is Merit, he is the Supreme Brahma, he is tirtha, he is the +ascetic retreat, he is the First, he is the foremost of gods, and he is +the great Lord of all creatures. He is eternal, he is the great Creator, +and he is the highest state of blessedness. Learned persons versed in the +scriptures attain to great happiness by knowing him. In that spot are the +celestial Rishis, the Siddhas, and, indeed, all the Rishis,--where +dwelleth the slayer of Madhu, that primeval Deity and mighty Yogin! Let +no doubt enter thy heart that that spot is the foremost of all holy +spots. These, O lord of earth, are the tirthas and sacred spots on earth, +that I have recited, O best of men! These all are visited by the Vasus, +the Sadhyas, the Adityas, the Marutas, the Aswins and the illustrious +Rishis resembling the celestials themselves. By journeying, O son of +Kunti, to those places, with the Brahmanas and ascetics that are with +thee and with thy blessed brothers, thou wilt be freed from anxiety!” + + + +SECTION XCI + +Vaisampayana continued, “O son of the Kuru race, while Dhaumya was +speaking thus, there arrived at the spot the Rishi Lomasa of great +energy. And the king, who was the eldest of Pandu’s sons, with his +followers and those Brahmanas sat round the highly righteous one, like +celestials in heaven sitting round Sakra. And having received him duly, +Yudhishthira the just enquired after the reason of his arrival, and the +object also of his wanderings. Thus asked by Pandu’s son, the illustrious +ascetic, well-pleased, replied in sweet words delighting the Pandavas, +‘Travelling at will, O Kaunteya, over all the regions, I came to Sakra’s +abode, and saw there the lord of the celestials. There, I saw thy heroic +brother capable of wielding the bow with his left hand, seated on the +same seat with Sakra. And beholding Partha on that seat I was greatly +astonished, O tiger among men! And the lord of the celestials then said +unto me, ‘Go thou unto the sons of Pandu.’ At the request, therefore, of +Indra as also of the high-souled son of Pritha have I come hither with +speed, desiring to see thee with thy younger brothers. O child, I will +relate what will please thee highly, O son of Pandu! Do thou listen to +it, O king, with Krishna and the Rishis that are with thee. O bull of the +Bharata race, Partha hath obtained from Rudra that incomparable weapon +for the acquisition of which thou hadst sent him to heaven. That fierce +weapon, known by the name of Brahma-sira which arose after Amrita, and +which Rudra had obtained by means of ascetic austerities, hath been +acquired by Arjuna together with the Mantras for hurling and withdrawing +it, and the rites of expiation and revival. And, O Yudhishthira, Arjuna +of immeasurable prowess hath also acquired Vajras and Dandas and other +celestial weapons from Yama and Kuvera and Varuna and Indra, O son of the +Kuru race! And he hath also thoroughly learnt music, both vocal and +instrumental, and dancing and proper recitation of the Saman (Veda) from +Vishwavasu’s son. And having thus acquired weapons and mastered the +Gandharva Veda, thy third brother Vibhatsu liveth happily (in heaven). +Listen to me, O Yudhishthira, for I shall now deliver to thee the message +of that foremost of celestials. He hath commanded me saying, “Thou wilt, +no doubt, go to the world of men. O best of Brahmanas, tell thou +Yudhishthira these words of mine. Soon will thy brother Arjuna come to +thee, having acquired arms and accomplished a great deed for the +celestials that is incapable of being accomplished by themselves. Do thou +meanwhile devote thyself to ascetic austerities, with thy brothers. There +is nothing superior to asceticism, and it is by asceticism that a person +achieveth great results. And, O bull of the Bharata race, well do I know +that Karna is endued with great ardour and energy and strength and +prowess that is incapable of being baffled. Well do I know that, skilled +in fierce conflict, he hath not his rival in battle; that he is a mighty +bowman, a hero deft in the use of fierce weapons and cased in the best of +mail. Well do I know that that exalted son of Aditya resembleth the son +of Maheswara himself. Well do I also know the high natural prowess of the +broad-shouldered Arjuna. In battle Karna is not equal unto even a +sixteenth part of Pritha’s son. And as for the fear of Karna which is in +thy heart, O repressor of foes, I shall dispel when Savyasachin will have +left heaven. And as regards thy purpose, O hero, to set out on a +pilgrimage to tirthas, the great Rishi Lomasa will, without doubt, speak +unto thee. And whatever that regenerate Rishi will relate unto thee +touching the merits of asceticism and tirthas, thou shouldst receive with +respect and not otherwise!’” + + + +SECTION XCII + +“Lomasa continued, ‘Listen now, O Yudhishthira, to what Dhananjaya hath +said: ‘Cause my brother Yudhishthira to attend to the practice of virtue +which leadeth to prosperity. Endued with wealth of asceticism, thou art +conversant with the highest morality, with ascetic austerities of every +kind, with the eternal duties of kings blessed with prosperity, and the +high and sanctifying merit that men obtain from tirthas. Persuade thou +the sons of Pandu to acquire the merit attaching to tirthas. Do thou with +thy whole soul persuade the king to visit the tirthas and give away +kine.’ This is what Arjuna said unto me. Indeed he also said, ‘Let him +visit all the tirthas protected by thee. Thou wilt also protect him from +Rakshasas, and watch over him in inaccessible regions and rugged mountain +breasts. And as Dadhichi had protected Indra, and Angiras had protected +the Sun, so do thou, O best of regenerate ones, protect the sons of Kunti +from Rakshasas. Along the way are many Rakshasas, huge as +mountain-cliffs. But protected by thee these will not be able to approach +the sons of Kunti. Obedient to the words of Indra and at the request of +Arjuna also protecting thee from dangers, I shall wander with thee. +Before this, O son of the Kuru race, I have twice visited the tirthas. +With thee I shall repair to them for the third time. O Yudhishthira, Manu +and other royal Rishis of meritorious deeds had undertaken journeys to +tirthas. Indeed, a trip to them is capable of dispelling all fear, O +king! They that are crooked-minded, they that have not their souls under +control, they that are illiterate and perverse, do not, O Kauravya, bathe +in tirthas. But thou art ever of a virtuous disposition and conversant +with morality and firm in thy promises. Thou wilt surely be able to free +thyself from the world. For, O son of Pandu, thou art even as king +Bhagiratha, or Gaya, or Yayati, or any one, O son of Kunti, that is like +them.’ + +“Yudhishthira answered, ‘I am so overwhelmed with delight, O Brahmana, +that I cannot find words to answer thee. Who can be more fortunate than +he who is remembered even by the lord of the celestials? Who can be more +fortunate than he who hath been favoured with thy company, who hath +Dhananjaya for a brother, and who is thought of by Vasava himself? As to +thy words, O illustrious one, in respect of a trip to the tirthas, my +mind had already been made up at the words of Dhaumya. O Brahmana, I +shall start, at whatever hour thou mayst be pleased to appoint, on the +proposed journey to tirthas. Even this is my firm resolve!’ + +Vaisampayana continued, “Lomasa then said unto Yudhishthira, who had made +up his mind to start on the proposed journey, ‘O mighty king, be thou +light as regards thy retinue, for by this thou wilt be able to go more +easily!’ + +“Yudhishthira then said, ‘Let those mendicants and Brahmanas and Yogis +that are incapable of bearing hunger and thirst, the fatigues of travel +and toil, and the severity of winter, desist. Let those Brahmanas also +desist that live on sweetmeats, and they also that desire cooked viands +and food that is sucked or drunk as well as meat. And let those also +remain behind that are dependent on cooks. Let those citizens that have +followed me from motives of loyalty, and whom I have hitherto kept on +proper stipends, repair to king Dhritarashtra. He will give them their +allowances in due time. If, however, that king refuses to grant them +proper allowances, the king of the Panchalas will, for our satisfaction +and welfare, give them these.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “And thereupon oppressed with grief, the citizens +and the principal Brahmanas and Yatis set out for Hastinapura. And out of +affection for Yudhishthira the just, the royal son of Amvika received +them properly, and gratified them with proper allowances. And the royal +son of Kunti, with only a small number of Brahmanas, abode for three +nights at Kamyaka, cheered by Lomasa.” + + + +SECTION XCIII + +Vaisampayana said, “Those Brahmanas then, that had been dwelling (with +him) in the woods, beholding the son of Kunti about to set out (on the +pious pilgrimage), approached him, O king, and said, ‘Thou art about to +set out, O king, on thy journey to the sacred tirthas, along with thy +brothers and accompanied by the illustrious Rishi Lomasa. O king, it +behoveth thee, O son of Pandu, to take us with thee. Without thee, we +shall not be able, O son of the Kuru race, to visit them at any time. +Surrounded by dangers and difficult of access, they are infested by +beasts of prey. Those tirthas, O lord of men, are inaccessible to persons +in small parties. Foremost of all wielders of the bow, thy brothers are +ever brave. Protected by your heroic selves, we also would proceed to +them. Permit us to acquire, O lord of earth, through thy grace the +blessed fruit of tirthas. Protected by thy energy, let us, O king, be +cleansed of all our sins by visiting those tirthas and purified by baths +therein. Bathing in those tirthas, thou also, O Bharata, wilt acquire +without doubt the regions difficult of acquisition that Kartavirya and +Ashtaka, the royal sage Lomapada and the imperial and heroic Bharata only +had earned. In thy company, O king, we desire to behold Prabhasa and +other tirthas, Mahendra and other hills, Ganga and other rivers, and +Plaksha and other gigantic trees. If, O lord of men, thou hast any regard +for the Brahmanas, do thou our bidding. Thou wilt surely have prosperity +from this. O thou of mighty arms, the tirthas are infested by Rakshasas +that ever obstruct ascetic penances. It behoveth thee to protect us from +them. Protected by Lomasa and taking us with thee, go thou to all the +tirthas spoken of by Dhaumya and the intelligent Narada, as also all +those that have been spoken of by the celestial Rishi Lomasa, endued with +great ascetic wealth, and be thou, by this, cleansed of all thy sins.” + +“Thus addressed respectfully by them, the king--that bull amongst the +sons of Pandu--surrounded by his heroic brothers headed by Bhima, with +tears of joy in his eyes, said unto all those ascetics, ‘Let it be so.’ +With the permission then of Lomasa, as also of his priest Dhaumya, that +foremost of Pandu’s sons with soul under complete control, resolved, +along with his brothers and Drupada’s daughter of faultless features, to +set out. Just at this time, the blessed Vyasa, as also Parvata and +Narada, all endued with high intelligence, came to Kamyaka for seeing the +son of Pandu. Beholding them, king Yudhishthira worshipped them with due +rites. And worshipped by the monarch thus, those blessed ones, addressing +Yudhishthira, said, ‘O Yudhishthira, O Bhima, and ye twins, banish all +evil thoughts from your minds. Purify your hearts and then set out for +the tirthas. The Brahmanas have said that the observance of regulations +in respect of the body are called earthly vows, while efforts to purify +the heart, so that it may be free from evil thoughts, are called +spiritual vows. O king, the mind that is free from all evil thoughts is +highly pure. Purifying yourselves, therefore, harbouring only friendly +feelings for all, behold ye the tirthas. Observing earthly vows in +respect of your bodies and purifying your minds by spiritual vows, obtain +ye the fruits as recited, of pilgrimages.” + +“Saying, ‘So be it,’ the Pandavas with Krishna, caused those celestial +and human Rishis to perform the usual propitiatory ceremonies. And those +heroes, having worshipped the feet of Lomasa and Dwaipayana and Narada +and the celestial Rishi Parvata, O king, and accompanied by Dhaumya as +also the ascetics that had been residing with them in the woods, set out +on the day following the full moon of Agrahayana in which the +constellation Pushya was ascendant. Dressed in barks and hides, and with +matted lock on head, they were all cased in impenetrable mail and armed +with swords. And O Janamejaya, the heroic sons of Pandu with quivers and +arrows and scimitars and other weapons, and accompanied by Indrasena and +other attendants with fourteen and one cars, a number of cooks and +servants of other classes, set out with faces turned towards the east!” + + + +SECTION XCIV + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O best of celestial Rishis, I do not think that I am +without merits. Yet am I afflicted with so much sorrow that there never +was a king like me. I think, however, that my enemies are destitute of +good qualities and even destitute of morality. Yet why, O Lomasa, do they +prosper in this world?” + +“Lomasa said, ‘Grieve not ever, O king, O son of Pritha, that sinful men +should often prosper in consequence of the sins they commit. A man may be +seen to prosper by his sins, obtain good therefrom and vanquish his foes. +Destruction, however, overtakes him to the roots. O king, I have seen +many Daityas and Danavas prosper by sin but I have also seen destruction +overtake them. O exalted one, I have seen all this in the righteous age +of yore. The gods practised virtue, while the Asuras abandoned it. The +gods visited the tirthas, while the Asuras did not visit them. And at +first the sinful Asuras were possessed with pride. And pride begat vanity +and vanity begat wrath. And from wrath arose every kind of evil +propensities, and from these latter sprang shamelessness. And in +consequence of shamelessness, good behaviour disappeared from among them. +And because they had become shameless and destitute of virtuous +propensities and good conduct and virtuous vows, forgiveness and +prosperity and morality forsook them in no time. And prosperity then, O +king, sought the gods, while adversity sought the Asuras. And when the +Daityas and the Danavas, deprived of sense by pride, were possessed by +adversity. Kali also sought to possess them. And, O son of Kunti, +overwhelmed with pride, and destitute of rites and sacrifices, and devoid +of reason and feeling, and their hearts full of vanity, destruction +overtook them soon. And covered with infamy, the Daityas were soon +exterminated. The gods, however, who were virtuous in their practices, +going to the seas, the rivers, the lakes and the holy spots, cleansed +themselves of all sins, O son of Pandu, by means of ascetic penances and +sacrifices and gifts and blessings, and obtained prosperity and the +consequence. And because the gods always performed sacrifices and holy +deeds abandoning every practice that was evil, and visited the tirthas, +as the consequence thereof they acquired great good fortune. Guided by +this, O king, do thou also, with thy brothers, bathe in tirthas, for then +thou wilt obtain prosperity once more. Even this is the eternal road. +And, O monarch, as king Nriga and Shivi and Ausinara and Bhagiratha and +Vasumanas and Gaya and Puru and Pururavas, by practising ascetic penances +and visiting tirthas and touching sacred waters and beholding illustrious +ascetics, obtained fame and sanctity and merit and wealth, so wilt thou +also obtain prosperity that is great. And as Ikshwaku with his sons, +friends and followers, as Muchukunda and Mandhatri and king Marutta, as +the gods through power of asceticism and the celestial Rishis also, had +all obtained fame, so wilt thou also obtain great celebrity. The sons of +Dhritarashtra, on the other hand, enslaved by sinfulness and ignorance, +will, without doubt, be soon exterminated like the Daityas.’” + + + +SECTION XCV + +Vaisampayana said, “The heroic sons of Pandu, accompanied by their +followers, proceeding from place to place, at last arrived at Naimisha. O +king, reaching the Gomati, the Pandavas bathed in the sacred tirtha of +that stream, and having performed their ablutions there, they gave away, +O Bharata, both kine and wealth! And repeatedly offering oblations of +water, O Bharata, to the gods, the pitris, and the Brahmanas, in the +tirthas called Kanya, Aswa, and Go and staying (as directed) in Kalakoti +and the Vishaprastha hills, the Kauravas then, O king, reached Vahuda and +performed their ablution in that stream. Proceeding next, O lord of +earth, to the sacrificial region of the gods known by the name Prayaga, +they bathed in the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna and residing there +practised ascetic penances of great merit. And the Pandavas, of truthful +promises, bathing in the tirtha, cleansed themselves of every sin. The +sons of Pandu then, O king of the Bharata race, accompanied by those +Brahmanas, proceeded to the tirtha called Vedi, sacred to the Creator and +adored by the ascetics. Residing there for some time and gratifying the +Brahmanas with the fruit and roots of the wilderness and clarified +butter, those heroes began to practise ascetic penances of great merit. +They then proceeded to Mahidhara consecrated by that virtuous royal sage +Gaya of unrivalled splendour. In that region is the hill called Gayasira, +as well as the delightful river called Mahanadi, with fine banks graced +by bushes of canes. On that celestial hill of holy peaks is a sacred +tirtha called Brahmasara which is much adored by ascetics. There on the +banks of that lake had dwelt of yore the eternal god himself of justice, +and it was thither that the illustrious Rishi Agastya had repaired to +behold that deity. It is from that lake that all the rivers take their +rise and there in that tirtha, Mahadeva the wielder of the Pinaka, is +present for aye. Arriving at that spot, the heroic sons of Pandu +practised the vow that is known by the name of the Chaturmasya according +to all the rites and ordinances of the great sacrifice called Rishiyajna. +It is there that that mighty tree called the Eternal banian stands. Any +sacrifice performed there produces merit that is eternal. In that +sacrificial platform of the gods producing eternal merit, the Pandavas +began to fast with concentrated souls. And there came unto them Brahmanas +by hundreds endued with wealth of asceticism. And those Brahmanas also +all performed the Chaturmasya sacrifice according to the rites inculcated +by the Rishis. And there in that tirtha, those Brahmanas old in knowledge +and ascetic merit and fully versed in the Vedas, that constituted the +court of the illustrious sons of Pandu, talked in their presence upon +various subject of sacred import. And it was in that place that the +learned vow-observing, and sacred Shamatha, leading, besides, a life of +celibacy, spake unto them, O king, of Gaya, the son of Amurttaraya. And +Shamatha said, ‘Gaya, the son of Amurttaraya, was one of the foremost of +royal sages. Listen to me, O Bharata, as I recite his meritorious deeds. +It was here, O king, that Gaya had performed many sacrifices +distinguished by the enormous quantities of food (that were distributed) +and the profuse gifts that were given away (unto Brahmanas). Those +sacrifices, O king, were distinguished by mountains in hundreds and +thousands of cooked rice, lakes of clarified butter and rivers of curds +in many hundreds, and streams of richly-dressed curries in thousands. Day +after day were these got ready and distributed amongst all comers, while, +over and above this, Brahmanas and others, O king, received food that was +clean and pure. During the conclusion also (of every sacrifice) when +gifts were dedicated to the Brahmanas, the chanting of the Vedas reached +the heavens. And so loud, indeed, was the sound of the Vedic Mantras that +nothing else, O Bharata, could be heard there. Thus sacred sounds, O +king, filled the earth, the points of the horizon, the sky and heaven +itself. Even these were the wonders that persons noticed on those +occasions. And gratified with the excellent viands and drinks that the +illustrious Gaya provided, men, O bull of the Bharata race, went about +singing these verses. In Gaya’s great sacrifice, who is there today, +amongst creatures, that still desireth to eat? There are yet twenty-five +mountains of food there after all have been fed! What the royal sage Gaya +of immense splendour hath achieved in his sacrifice was never achieved by +men before, nor will be by any in future. The gods have been so surfeited +by Gaya with clarified butter that they are not able to take anything +that anybody else may offer. As sand grains on earth, as stars in the +firmament, as drops showered by rain-charged clouds, cannot ever be +counted by anybody, so can none count the gifts in Gaya’s sacrifice!” + +“O son of the Kuru race, many times did king Gaya perform sacrifices of +this description, here, by the side of this Brahmasara!” + + + +SECTION XCVI + +Vaisampayana said, “After this the royal son of Kunti who was ever +distinguished for his profuse gifts unto Brahmanas, proceeded to the +asylum of Agastya and took up his abode in Durjaya. It was here that that +foremost of speakers, king Yudhishthira asked Lomasa as to why Agastya +had slain Vatapi there. And the king also enquired after the extent of +that man-destroying Daitya’s prowess, and the reason also of the +illustrious Agastya’s wrath being excited against that Asura. + +“Thus questioned, Lomasa said, ‘O son of Kuru race, there was in the city +called Manimati, in days of yore, a Daitya named Ilwala, whose younger +brother was Vatapi. One day that son of Diti addressed the Brahmana +endued with ascetic merit, saying, ‘O holy one, grant me a son equal unto +Indra.’ The Brahmana, however, did not grant the Asura a son like Indra. +And at this, the Asura was inflamed with wrath against the Brahmana. And +from that day, O king, the Asura Ilwala became a destroyer of Brahmanas. +And endued with power of illusion the angry Asura transformed his brother +into a ram. And Vatapi also capable of assuming any form at will, would +immediately assume the shape of a ram. And the flesh of that ram, after +being properly dressed, was offered to Brahmanas as food. And after they +had eaten of it, they were slain. For whomsoever Ilwala summoned with his +voice, he would come back to Ilwala even if he had gone to the abode of +Yama, in re-embodied form endued with life, and show himself to Ilwala. +And so having transformed the Asura Vatapi into a ram and properly cooked +his flesh and feeding Brahmanas therewith, he would summon Vatapi. And +the mighty Asura Vatapi, that foe of Brahmanas, endued with great +strength and power of illusion, hearing, O king, those sounds uttered +with a loud voice by Ilwala, and ripping open the flanks of the Brahmana +would come laughingly out, O lord of earth! And it was thus, O monarch, +that the wicked-hearted Daitya Ilwala, having fed Brahmanas, frequently +took away their lives. + +“Meanwhile, the illustrious Agastya beheld his deceased ancestors hanging +in a pit with heads downwards. And he asked those personages thus +suspended in that hole, saying, ‘What is the matter with you? Thus +questioned those utterers of Brahma replied, ‘It is even for offspring.’ +And they also told him, ‘We are your ancestors. It is even for offspring +that we stay suspended in this pit. If O Agastya, thou canst beget us a +good son, we may then be saved from this hell and thou also wilt obtain +thy blessed state of those having offspring.’ Endued with great energy +and observant of truth and morality Agastya replied, saying, ‘Ye Pitris, +I will accomplish your desire. Let this anxiety of yours be dispelled.’ +And the illustrious Rishi then began to think of perpetuating his race. +But he saw not a wife worthy of him on whom he himself could take his +birth in the form of a son. The Rishi accordingly, taking those parts +that were regarded as highly beautiful, from creatures possessing them, +created therewith an excellent woman. And the Muni, endued with great +ascetic merit, thereupon gave that girl created for himself to the king +of the Vidharbhas who was then undergoing ascetic penances for obtaining +offspring. And that blessed girl of sweet face (thus disposed of) then +took her birth (in Vidarbha’s royal line) and, beautiful as the effulgent +lightning, her limbs began to grow day by day. And as soon as that lord +of earth--the ruler of the Vidarbhas--saw her ushered into life, he +joyfully communicated the intelligence, O Bharata, unto the Brahmanas. +And the Brahmanas thereupon, O lord of earth, blessed the girl and they +bestowed upon her the name Lopamudra. And possessed of great beauty, she +began, O monarch, to grow quickly like unto a lotus in the midst of water +or the effulgent flame of a fire. And when the girl grew and attained to +puberty, a hundred virgins decked in ornaments and a hundred maids waited +in obedience upon her blessed self. And surrounded by those hundred maids +and virgins, she shone in their midst, endued as she was with bright +effulgence, like Rohini in the firmament amid an inferior multitude of +stars. And possessed as she was of good behaviour and excellent manners, +none dared ask for her hand even when she attained to puberty, through +fear of her father, the king of the Vidharbhas. And Lopamudra, devoted to +truth, surpassing the Apsaras even in beauty, gratified her father and +relatives by means of her conduct. And her father, beholding his +daughter-the princess of Vidharbha-attain to puberty, began to reflect in +his mind, saying, ‘To whom should I give this daughter of mine?’” + + + +SECTION XCVII + +“Lomasa continued, ‘When Agastya thought that girl to be competent for +the duties of domesticity, he approached that lord of earth-the ruler of +Vidharbhas-and addressing him, said, ‘I solicit thee, O king, to bestow +thy daughter Lopamudra on me.’ Thus addressed by the Muni, the king of +the Vidharbhas swooned away. And though unwilling to give the Muni his +daughter, he dared not refuse. And that lord of earth then, approaching +his queen, said, ‘This Rishi is endued with great energy. If angry, he +may consume me with the fire of his curse. O thou of sweet face, tell me +what is thy wish.” Hearing these words of the king, she uttered not a +word. And beholding the king along with the queen afflicted with sorrow, +Lopamudra approached them in due time and said, O monarch, it behoveth +thee not to grieve on my account. Bestow me on Agastya, and, O father, +save thyself, by giving me away.’ And at these words of his daughter, O +monarch, the king gave away Lopamudra unto the illustrious Agastya with +due rites. And obtaining her as wife, Agastya addressed Lopamudra, +saying, ‘Cast thou away these costly robes and ornaments.’ And at these +words of her lord, that large-eyed damsel of thighs tapering as the stem +of the plantain tree cast away her handsome and costly robes of fine +texture. And casting them away she dressed herself in rags and barks and +deerskins, and became her husband’s equal in vows and acts. And +proceeding then to Gangadwara that illustrious and best of Rishis began +to practise the severest penances along with his helpful wife. And +Lopamudra herself, well pleased, began to serve her lord from the deep +respect that she bore him. And the exalted Agastya also began to manifest +great love for his wife. + +“After a considerable time, O king, the illustrious Rishi one day beheld +Lopamudra, blazing in ascetic splendour come up after the bath in her +season. And pleased with the girl, for her services, her purity, and self +control, as also with her grace and beauty, he summoned her for marital +intercourse. The girl, however, joining her hands, bashfully but lovingly +addressed the Rishi, saying, ‘The husband, without doubt, weddeth the +wife for offspring. But it behoveth thee, O Rishi, to show that love to +me which I have for thee. And it behoveth thee, O regenerate one, to +approach me on a bed like to that which I had in the palace of my father. +I also desire that thou shouldst be decked in garlands of flowers and +other ornaments, and that I should approach thee adorned in those +celestial ornaments that I like. Otherwise, I cannot approach thee, +dressed in these rags dyed in red. Nor, O regenerate Rishi, it is sinful +to wear ornaments (on such an occasion).’ Hearing these words of his +wife, Agastya replied, ‘O blessed girl, O thou of slender waist, I have +not wealth like what thy father hath, O Lopamudra!’ She answered saying, +‘Thou who art endued with wealth of asceticism, art certainly able to +bring hither within a moment, by ascetic power, everything that exists in +the world of men.’ Agastya said, ‘It is even so as thou hast said. That, +however, would waste my ascetic merit. O bid me do that which may not +loosen my ascetic merit.’ Lopamudra then said, ‘O thou endued with wealth +of asceticism, my season will not last long, I do not desire, however, to +approach thee otherwise. Nor do I desire to diminish thy (ascetic) merit +in any way. It behoveth thee, however, to do as I desire, without +injuring thy virtue.’ + +“‘Agastya then said, ‘O blessed girl, if this be the resolve that thou +hast settled in thy heart, I will go out in quest of wealth. Meanwhile, +stay thou here as it pleaseth thee.’” + + + +SECTION XCVIII + +“Lomasa continued, ‘Agastya then, O son of the Kuru race, went to king +Srutarvan who was regarded as richer than other kings, to beg for wealth. +And that monarch, learning of the arrival of the pot-born Rishi on the +frontiers of his kingdoms, went out with his ministers and received the +holy man with respect. And the king duly offering the Arghya in the first +instance, submissively and with joined hands enquired then after the +reason of the Rishi’s arrival. And Agastya answered saying, O lord of the +earth, know that I have come to thee, desirous of wealth. Give me a +portion according to thy ability and without doing injury to others.’ + +“Lomasa continued, ‘The king, then, representing unto the Rishi the +equality of his expenditure and income, said, ‘O learned one, take thou +from my possessions the wealth thou pleasest.’ Beholding, however, the +equality of that monarch’s expenditure with income, the Rishi who always +saw both sides with equal eyes, thought that if he took anything under +the circumstances, his act would result in injury to creatures. Taking, +therefore, Srutarvan with him, the Rishi went to Vradhnaswa. The latter, +hearing of their arrival on his frontiers, received them duly. And +Vradhnaswa also offered them the Arghyas and water to wash their feet. +And the monarch, with their permission, then enquired after the reason of +their coming. And Agastya said, ‘O lord of earth, know that we have come +to thee desirous of wealth. Give us what thou canst, without doing injury +to others.’” + +“Lomasa continued, ‘That monarch then represented unto them the equality +of his expenditure and income, and said, ‘Knowing this, take ye what ye +desire.’ The Rishi, however, who saw both sides with equal eyes, +beholding the equality of that monarch’s income with expenditure, thought +that if he took anything under the circumstances, his act would result in +injury to all creatures. Agastya and Srutarvan, with king Vradhnaswa then +went to Purokutsa’s son, Trasadasyu, of enormous wealth. The high-souled +Trasadasyu, learning of their arrival on the confines of his kingdom went +out, O king, and received them well. And that best of monarchs in +Ikshvaku’s line, having worshipped all of them duly, enquired after the +reason of their arrival. And Agastya answered, ‘O lord of earth, know +that we have all come to thee, desirous of wealth. Give us what you can, +without injuring others.’” + +“Lomasa continued, ‘That monarch then, represented unto them the equality +of his income with expenditure, and said, ‘Knowing this, take ye what ye +desire.’ Beholding, however, the equality of that monarch’s expenditure +with income, the Rishi who saw both sides with equal eyes, thought that +if he took anything under the circumstances, his act would result in +injury to all creatures. Then, O monarch, all those kings looking at one +another, together spoke unto the Rishis saying, ‘O Brahmana, there is a +Danava of the name Ilwala who of all persons on earth, is possessed of +enormous wealth. Let us all approach him to-day and beg wealth of him.’” + +“Lomasa continued, ‘This suggestion, O king, of begging wealth of Ilwala +appeared to them to be proper. And, O monarch, all of them went together +to Ilwala after this!’” + + + +SECTION XCIX + +“Lomasa said, ‘When Ilwala learnt that those kings along with the great +Rishi had arrived on the confines of his domain, he went out with his +ministers and worshipped them duly. And that prince of Asuras received +them hospitably, entertaining them, O son of the Kuru race, with well +dressed meat supplied by his brother Vatapi (transformed into a ram). +Then all those royal sages, beholding the mighty Asura Vatapi, who had +been transformed into a ram thus cooked for them, became sad and +cheerless and were nearly deprived of themselves. But that best of +Rishis--Agastya--addressing those royal sages, said, ‘Yield ye not to +grief, I will eat up the great Asura.’ And the mighty Rishi then sat +himself down on an excellent seat, and the prince of Asuras, Ilwala, +began to distribute the food smilingly. And Agastya ate up the whole of +the meat supplied by Vatapi (transformed into a ram). And after the +dinner was over, Ilwala began to summon his brother. But thereupon a +quantity of air alone came out of the illustrious Rishi’s stomach, with a +sound that was as loud, O child, as the roar of the clouds. And Ilwala +repeatedly said, ‘Come out, O Vatapi!’ Then that best of +Munis--Agastya--bursting out in laughter, said, ‘How can he come out? I +have already digested that great Asura.’ And beholding his brother +already digested, Ilwala became sad and cheerless and joining his hands, +along with his ministers, addressing the Rishi (and his companions), +said, ‘What for have ye come hither, and what can I do for you?’ And +Agastya smilingly answered Ilwala, saying, ‘We know thee, O Asura, to be +possessed of great power and also enormous wealth. These kings are not +very wealthy while my need also of wealth is great. Give us what thou +canst, without injuring others.’ Thus addressed Ilwala saluted the Rishi +and said, ‘If thou say what it is that I mean to give, then will I give +you wealth.’ Hearing this Agastya said, ‘O great Asura, thou hast even +purposed to give unto each of these kings ten thousand kine and as many +gold coins. And unto me thou hast purposed to give twice as much, as also +a car of gold and a couple of horses fleet as thought. If thou enquirest +now, thou wilt soon learn that your car is made of gold.’ Thereupon, O +son of Kunti, Ilwala made enquiries and learnt that the car he had +intended to give away was really a golden one. And the Daitya then with a +sad heart, gave away much wealth and that car, unto which were yoked two +steeds called Virava and Surava. And those steeds, O Bharata, took those +kings and Agastya and all that wealth to the asylum of Agastya within the +twinkling of an eye. And those royal sages then obtaining Agastya’s +permission, went away to their respective cities. And Agastya also (with +that wealth) did all that his wife Lopamudra had desired. And Lopamudra +then said, ‘O illustrious one, thou hast now accomplished all my wishes. +Beget thou a child on me that shall be possessed of great energy.’ And +Agastya replied unto her, saying, ‘O blessed and beauteous one, I have +been much gratified with thy conduct. Listen thou unto me as regards the +proposal I make in respect of thy offspring. Wouldst thou have a thousand +sons, or a century of sons each equal to ten, or ten sons equal each to +an hundred, or only one son who may vanquish a thousand?’ Lopamudra +answered, ‘Let me have one son equal unto a thousand, O thou endued with +wealth of asceticism! One good and learned son is preferable to many evil +ones.’” + +“Lomasa continued, ‘Saying, ‘So be it,’ that pious Muni thereupon knew +his devout wife of equal behaviour. And after she had conceived, he +retired into the forest. And after the Muni had gone away, the foetus +began to grow for seven years. And after the seventh year had expired, +there came out of the womb, the highly learned Dridhasyu, blazing, O +Bharata, in his own splendour. And the great Brahmana and illustrious +ascetic, endued with mighty energy, took his birth as the Rishi’s son, +coming out of the womb, as if repeating the Vedas with the Upanishads and +the Angas. Endued with great energy while yet a child, he used to carry +loads of sacrificial fuel into the asylum of his father, and was thence +called Idhmavaha (carrier of sacrificial wood). And the Muni, beholding +his son possessed of such virtues, became highly glad. + +“And it was thus, O Bharata, that Agastya begat an excellent son in +consequence of which his ancestors, O king, obtained the regions they +desired. And it is from that time that this spot hath become known on the +earth as the asylum of Agastya. Indeed, O king, this is the asylum graced +with numerous beauties, of that Agastya who had slain Vatapi of +Prahrada’s race. The sacred Bhagirathi, adored by gods and Gandharvas +gently runneth by, like a breeze-shaken pennon in the welkin. Yonder also +she floweth over craggy crests descending lower and lower, and looketh +like an affrighted she-snake lying along the hilly slopes. Issuing out of +the matted locks of Mahadeva, she passeth along, flooding the southern +country and benefiting it like a mother, and ultimately mingleth with the +ocean as if she were his favourite bride. Bathe ye as ye like in this +sacred river, ye son of Pandu! And behold there, O Yudhisthira, the +tirtha of Bhrigu that is celebrated over the three worlds and adored, O +king, by great Rishis. Bathing here, Rama (of Bhrigu’s race) regained his +might, which had been taken away from him (by Dasaratha’s son). Bathing +here, O son of Pandu, with thy brothers and Krishna, thou wilt certainly +regain that energy of thine that hath been taken away by Duryodhana, even +as Rama regained his that had been taken away by Dasaratha’s son in +hostile encounter.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “At these words of Lomasa, Yudhishthira bathed +there with his brothers and Krishna, and offered oblations of water, O +Bharata, to the gods and the Pitris. And, O bull among men, after +Yudhishthira had bathed in that tirtha, his body blazed forth in brighter +effulgence, and he became invisible in respect of all foes. The son of +Pandu then, O king, asked Lomasa, saying, ‘O illustrious one, why had +Rama’s energy and might been taken away? And how also did he regain it? O +exalted one, I ask thee, tell me everything.’” + +“Lomasa said, ‘Listen, O king, to the history of Rama (the son of +Dasaratha) and Rama of Bhrigu’s line gifted with intelligence. For the +destruction of Ravana, O king, Vishnu, in his own body, took his birth as +the son of illustrious Dasaratha. We saw in Ayodhya that son of Dasaratha +after he had been born. It was then that Rama of Bhrigu’s line, the son +of Richika by Renuka, hearing of Rama the son of Dasaratha--of spotless +deeds--went to Ayodhya, impelled by curiosity, and taking with him that +celestial bow so fatal to the Kshatriyas, for ascertaining the prowess of +Dasaratha’s son. And Dasaratha, hearing that Rama of Bhrigu’s race had +arrived on the confines of his domains, set his own son Rama to receive +the hero with respect. And beholding Dasaratha’s son approach and stand +before him with ready weapons, Rama of Bhrigu’s line smilingly addressed +him, O son of Kunti, saying, ‘O king, O exalted one, string, if thou +canst, with all thy mighty, this bow which in my hands was made the +instrument of destroying the Kshatriya race.’ Thus addressed, Dasaratha’s +son answered, ‘O illustrious one, it behoveth thee not to insult me thus. +Nor am I, amongst the regenerate classes, deficient in the virtues of the +Kshatriya order. The descendants of Ikshwaku in special never boast of +the prowess of their arms.’ Then unto Dasaratha’s son who said so, Rama +of Bhrigu’s line replied, ‘A truce to all crafty speech, O king! Take +this bow.’ At this, Rama the son of Dasaratha, took in anger from the +hands of Rama of Bhrigu’s line that celestial bow that had dealt death to +the foremost of Kshatriyas. And, O Bharata, the mighty hero smilingly +strung that bow without the least exertion, and with its twang loud as +the thunder-rattle, affrighted all creatures. And Rama, the son of +Dasaratha, then, addressing Rama of Bhrigu’s said, ‘Here, I have strung +this bow. What else, O Brahmana, shall I do for thee?’ Then Rama, the son +of Jamadagni, gave unto the illustrious son of Dasaratha a celestial +arrow and said, ‘Placing this on the bow-string, draw to thy ear, O +hero!’ “Lomasa continued, ‘Hearing this, Dasaratha’s son blazed up in +wrath and said, ‘I have heard what thou hast said, and even pardoned +thee. O son of Bhrigu’s race, thou art full of vanity. Through the +Grandsire’s grace thou hast obtained energy that is superior to that of +the Kshatriyas. And it is for this that thou insultest me. Behold me now +in my native form: I give thee sight.’ Then Rama of Bhrigu’s race beheld +in the body of Dasaratha’s son the Adityas with the Vasus, the Rudras, +the Sadhyas with the Marutas, the Pitris, Hutasana, the stellar +constellations and the planets, the Gandharvas, the Rakshasas, the +Yakshas, the Rivers, the tirthas, those eternal Rishis identified with +Brahma and called the Valkhilyas, the celestial Rishis, the Seas and +Mountains, the Vedas with the Upanishads and Vashats and the sacrifices, +the Samans in their living form, the Science of weapons, O Bharata, and +the Clouds with rain and lightning, O Yudhishthira! And the illustrious +Vishnu then shot that shaft. And at this the earth was filled with sounds +of thunder, and burning meteors. O Bharata, began to flash through the +welkin. And showers of dust and rain fell upon the surface of the earth. +And whirlwinds and frightful sounds convulsed everything, and the earth +herself began to quake. And shot by the hand of Rama, that shalt, +confounding by its energy the other Rama, came back blazing into Rama’s +hands. And Bhargava, who had thus been deprived of his senses, regaining +consciousness and life, bowed unto Rama--that manifestation of Vishnu’s +power. And commanded by Vishnu, he proceeded to the mountains of +Mahendra. And thenceforth that great ascetic began to dwell there, in +terror and shame. And after the expiration of a year, the Pitris, +beholding Rama dwelling there deprived of energy, his pride quelled, and +himself sunk in affliction, said unto him, ‘O son, having approached +Vishnu, thy behaviour towards him was not proper. He deserveth for aye +worship and respect in the three worlds. Go, O son, to that sacred river +which goeth by name of Vadhusara! Bathing in all the tirthas of that +stream, thou wilt regain thy energy! There in that river is the tirthas +called Diptoda where thy grandsire Bhrigu, O Rama, in the celestial age +had practised ascetic penances of great merit.’ Thus addressed by them, +Rama, O son of Kunti, did what the Pitris bade him, and obtained back at +this tirtha, O son of Pandu, the energy he had lost. Even this O child, +was what befell Rama of spotless deeds in days in of yore, after he had, +O king, met Vishnu (in the form of Dasaratha’s son)!’” + + + +SECTION C + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O best of regenerate ones, I desire again to hear of +the achievements in detail of Agastya--that illustrious Rishi endued with +great intelligence.’” + +“Lomasa said, ‘Listen now, O king, to the excellent and wonderful and +extraordinary history of Agastya, as also, O monarch, about the prowess +of that Rishi of immeasurable energy. There were in the Krita age certain +tribes of fierce Danavas that were invincible in battle. And they were +known by the name of Kalakeyas and were endued with terrible prowess. +Placing themselves under Vritra and arming themselves with diverse +weapons they pursued the celestials with Indra at their head in all +directions. The gods then all resolved upon the destruction of Vritra, +and went with Indra at their head to Brahma. And beholding them standing +before him with joined hands, Parameshthi addressed them all and said, +“Everything is known to me, ye gods, about what ye seek. I shall indicate +now the means by which ye may slay Vritra. There is a high-souled and +great Rishi known by the name of Dadhicha. Go ye all together unto him +and solicit of him a boon. With well-pleased heart, that Rishi of +virtuous soul will even grant you the boon. Desirous as ye are of +victory, go ye all together unto him and tell him, ‘For the good of the +three worlds, give us thy bones.’ Renouncing his body, he will give you +his bones. With these bones of his, make ye a fierce and powerful weapon +to be called Vajra, endued with six sides and terrible roar and capable +of destroying even the most powerful enemies. With that weapon will he of +a hundred sacrifices slay Vritia. I have now told you all. See that all +this is done speedily.’ Thus addressed by him, the gods with the +Grandsire’s leave (came away), and with Narayana at their head proceeded +to the asylum of Dadhicha. That asylum was on the other bank of the river +Saraswati and covered with diverse trees and creepers. And it resounded +with the hum of bees as if they were reciting Samans. And it also echoed +with the melodious notes of the male Kokila and the Chakora. And +buffaloes and boars and deer and Chamaras wandered there at pleasure +freed from the fear of tigers. And elephants with the juice trickling +down from rent temples, plunging in the stream, sported with the +she-elephants and made the entire region resound with their roars. And +the place also echoed with the loud roars of lions and tigers, while at +intervals might be seen those grisly monarchs of the forest lying +stretched in caves and glens and beautifying them with their presence And +such was the asylum, like unto heaven itself, of Dadhicha, that the gods +entered. And there they beheld Dadhicha looking like the sun himself in +splendour and blazing in grace of person like the Grandsire himself. And +the celestials saluted the feet of the Rishi and bowed unto him and +begged of him the boon that the Grandsire had bade them do. Then +Dadhicha, well pleased, addressing those foremost of celestials, said, +‘Ye celestials, I will do what is for your benefit. I will even renounce +this body of mine myself.’ And that foremost of men with soul under +control, having said this, suddenly renounced his life. The gods then +took the bones of the deceased Rishi as directed. And the celestials, +glad at heart, went to Twashtri (the celestial Artificer) and spake to +him of the means of victory. And Twashtri, hearing those words of theirs, +became filled with joy, and constructed (out of those bones) with great +attention and care the fierce weapons called Vajra. And having +manufactured it, he joyfully addressed Indra, saying, ‘With this foremost +of weapons, O exalted one, reduce that fierce foe of the gods to ashes. +And having slain the foe, rule thou happily the entire domain of heaven, +O chief of the celestials, with those that follow thee.’ And thus +addressed by Twashtri, Purandara took the Vajra from his hand, joyfully +and with proper respect.” + + + +SECTION CI + +“Lomasa said, ‘Armed with the Vajra then, and supported by celestials +endued with great might, Indra then approached Vritra, who was then +occupying the entire earth and the heaven. And he was guarded on all +sides by huge-bodied Kalakeyas with upraised weapons resembling gigantic +mountains with towering peaks. And the encounter that took place between +the gods and the Danavas lasted for a short while and was, O chief of the +Bharatas, terrific in the extreme, appalling as it did the three worlds. +And loud was the clash of swords and scimitars upraised and warded off by +heroic hands in course of those fierce encounters. And heads (severed +from trunks) began to roll from the firmament to the earth like fruits of +the palmyra palm falling upon the ground, loosened from their stalks. And +the Kalakeyas armed with iron-mounted bludgeons and cased in golden mail +ran against the gods, like moving mountains on conflagration. And the +gods, unable to stand the shock of that impetuous and proudly advancing +host, broke and fled from fear. Purandara of a thousand eyes, beholding +the gods flying in fear and Vritra growing in boldness, became deeply +dejected. And the foremost of gods Purandara, himself, agitated with the +fear of the Kalakeyas, without losing a moment, sought the exalted +Narayana’s refuge. And the eternal Vishnu beholding Indra so depressed +enhanced his might by imparting unto him a portion of his own energy. And +when the celestials beheld that Sakra was thus protected by Vishnu, each +of them imparted unto him his own energy. And the spotless Brahmarshis +also imparted their energies unto the chief of the celestials. And +favoured thus by Vishnu and all the gods and by the high-blessed Rishis +also, Sakra became mightier than before. And when Vritra learnt that the +chief of the celestials had been filled with might of others, he sent +forth some terrific roars. And at these roars of his, the earth, the +directions, the firmament, heaven, and the mountains all began to +tremble. And the chief of the celestials, deeply agitated on hearing that +fierce and loud roar, was filled with fear, and desiring to slay the +Asura soon, hurled, O king, the mighty Vajra. And struck with Indra’s +Vajra the great Asura decked in gold and garlands fell head-long, like +the great mountain Mandara hurled of yore from Vishnu’s hands; and +although the prince of Daityas was slain, yet Sakra in panic ran from the +field, desiring to take shelter in a lake, thinking that the Vajra itself +had not been hurled from his hands and regarding that Vritra himself was +still alive. The celestials, however, and the great Rishis became filled +with joy, and all of them began to cheerfully chant the praise of Indra. +And mustering together, the celestials began to slay the Danavas, who +were dejected at the death of their leader. And struck with panic at +sight of the assembled celestial host, the afflicted Danavas fled to the +depths of the sea. And having entered the fathomless deep, teeming with +fishes and crocodiles, the Danavas assembled together and began to +proudly conspire for the destruction of the three worlds. And some +amongst them that were wise in inferences suggested courses of action, +each according to his judgment. In course of time, however, the dreadful +resolution arrived at those conspiring sons of Diti, was that they +should, first of all, compass the destruction of all persons possessed of +knowledge and ascetic virtue. The worlds are all supported by asceticism. +Therefore, they said, ‘Lose no time for the destruction of asceticism. +Compass ye without delay the destruction of those on earth that are +possessed of ascetic virtues, that are conversant with duties and the +ways of morality, and that have a knowledge of Brahma; for when these are +destroyed, the universe itself will be destroyed.’ And all the Danavas, +having arrived at this resolution for the destruction of the universe, +became highly glad. And thenceforth they made the ocean--that abode of +Varuna--with billows high as hills, their fort, from which to make their +sallies.” + + + +SECTION CII + +“Lomasa said, ‘The Kalakeyas then having recourse to that receptacle of +waters, which is the abode of Varuna, began their operations for the +destruction of the universe. And during the darkness of the night those +angry Daityas began to devour the Munis they found in woody retreats and +sacred spots. And those wicked wretches devoured in the asylum of +Vasishtha, Brahmanas to the number of a hundred and eighty, besides nine +other ascetics. And, proceeding to the asylum of Chyavana that was +inhabited by many Brahmacharis, they devoured a century of Brahmanas that +lived upon fruit and roots alone. And they began to do all this during +the darkness of the night, while they entered the depths of the sea by +day. And they slew a full score of Brahmanas of subdued souls and leading +a Brahmacharya mode of life and living upon air and water alone, in the +retreat of Bharadwaja. And it was thus that those Danavas the Kalakeyas, +intoxicated with prowess of arms and their lives nearly run out, +gradually invaded all the asylums of the Rishis during the darkness of +the night, slaughtering numerous Brahmanas. And, O best of men, although +the Danavas behaved in this way towards the ascetics in woody retreats, +yet men failed to discover anything of them. And every morning people saw +the dead bodies of Munis emaciated with frugal diet, lying on the ground. +And many of those bodies were without flesh and without blood, without +marrow, without entrails, and with limbs separated from one another. And +here and there lay on the ground heaps of bones like masses of conch +shells. And the earth was scattered over with the (sacrificial) contents +of broken jars and shattered ladles for pouring libations of clarified +butter and with the sacred fires kept with care by the ascetics. And the +universe afflicted with the terror of the Kalakeyas, being destitute of +Vedic studies and vashats and sacrificial festivals and religious rites, +became entirely cheerless. And, O king, when men began to perish in this +way, the survivors, afflicted with fear, fled for their lives in all +directions. And some fled to caverns and some behind mountain-streams and +springs and some through fear of death, died without much ado. And some +who were brave and mighty bowmen cheerfully went out and took great +trouble in tracking the Danavas. Unable, however, to find them out, for +the Asuras had sought refuge in the depths of the sea, these brave men +came back to their homes gratified with the search. And, O lord of men, +when the universe was being thus destroyed, and when sacrificial +festivals and religious rites had been suspended, the gods became deeply +afflicted. And gathering together with Indra in their midst they began, +from fear, to take counsel of one another. And repairing unto the exalted +and uncreate Narayana--that unvanquished god of Vaikuntha--the celestials +sought his protection. And bowing unto the slayer of Madhu, the gods +addressed him, saying, ‘O lord, thou art the creator, the protector, and +the slayer of ourselves as well as of the universe. It is thou who has +created this universe with its mobile and immobile creatures. O thou of +eyes like lotus leaves, it was thou who in days of yore hadst for the +benefit of all creatures raised from the sea the sunken earth, assuming +also the form of a boar. And, O best of male beings, assuming also the +form of half-man and half-lion, thou hadst slain in days of yore that +ancient Daitya of mighty prowess known by the name of Hiranyakasipu. And +that other great Asura also, Vali by name, was incapable of being slain +by any one. Assuming the form of a dwarf, thou exiledest him from the +three worlds. O lord, it was by thee that that wicked Asura, Jambha by +name, who was a mighty bowman and who always obstructed sacrifices, was +slain. Achievements like these, which cannot be counted, are thine. O +slayer of Madhu, we who have been afflicted with fear, have thee for our +refuge. It is for this, O god of gods, that we inform thee of our present +troubles. Protect the worlds, the gods, and Sakra also, from a terrible +fear.’” + + + +SECTION CIII + +“The celestials said, ‘Through thy favour it is that all born beings of +the four kinds increase. And they being created, propitiate the dwellers +of heaven by offerings made to the gods and the names of departed +forefathers. Thus it is that people, protected by thee and free from +trouble live depending on one another, and (so) increase. Now this peril +hath befallen the people. We do not know by whom are Brahmanas being +killed during the night. If the Brahmanas are destroyed, the earth itself +will meet with destruction, and if the earth cometh to an end, heaven +also will cease to exist. O mighty-armed one, O lord of the universe! we +beseech thee (to act so) that all the worlds, protected by thee, may not +come to an end, so it may please thee.’ + +“Vishnu said, ‘Ye gods! To me is known the reason of the destruction of +the born beings, I shall speak of it to you; listen with minds free from +tribulation. There exists an exceedingly fierce host, known by the name +of Kalakeyas. They, under the lead of Vritra, were devastating the whole +universe. And when they saw that Vritra was slain by the sagacious Indra +endued with a thousand eyes, they, to preserve their lives, entered into +the ocean, that abode of Varuna. And having entered the ocean, abounding +with sharks and crocodiles, they at night killed the saints at this spot +with the view of exterminating the people. But they cannot be slain, as +they have taken shelter within the sea. Ye should, therefore, think of +some expedient to dry up the ocean. Who save Agastya is capable of drying +up the sea. And without drying up the ocean, these (demons) cannot be +assailed by any other means.’ Hearing these words of Vishnu, the gods +took the permission of Brahma, who lives at the best of all regions, and +went to the hermitage of Agastya. Then they beheld the high-souled +Agastya, the son of Varuna, of resplendent mien, and waited upon by +saints, even as Brahma is waited upon by celestials. And approaching him, +they addressed the son of Mitra and Varuna at the hermitage, magnanimous +and unswerving, and looking like an embodiment of pious works piled +together, and glorified him by reciting his deeds. The deities said, +‘Thou wert formerly the refuge of the gods when they were oppressed by +Nahusha. Thorn of the world that he was, he was thrown down from his +throne of heaven--from the celestial regions. Vindhya, the foremost of +all mountains, suddenly began to increase his height, from a wrathful +competition with the sun (i. e., to rival him in altitude). But he hath +ceased to increase, as he was unable to disobey thy command. And when +darkness hath covered the world, the born beings were harassed by death, +but having obtained thee for a protector, they attained the utmost +security. Whenever we are beset by perils, thy reverence is always our +refuge; for this reason it is that we solicit a boon from thee; as thou +ever grantest the boon solicited (of thee).’” + + + +SECTION CIV + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O great saint! I am desirous of hearing in detail +why it was that Vindhya, made senseless with wrath, suddenly began to +increase his bulk.’” + +“Lomasa said, ‘The sun between his rising and setting used to revolve +round that monarch of mountains--the great Meru of golden lustre. And +seeing this the mountain Vindhya spake to Surya saying, ‘As thou every +day goest round Meru and honourest him by thy circumambulations, do thou +even the same by me, O maker of light!’ Thus addressed, the sun replied +to the great mountain, saying, ‘I do not of my own will honour this +mountain by my circumambulations. By those who have built this universe +hath that path been assigned to me.’ Thus addressed the mountain suddenly +began to increase from wrath, desirous, O chastiser of foes, of +obstructing the path of the Sun and the Moon. And all the assembled gods +came to Vindhya, the mighty king of mountains, and tried to dissuade him +from his course. But he heeded not what they said. And then all the +assembled gods went to the saint, living in the hermitage, engaged in the +practice of austerities, and the very best of persons devoted to virtue; +and stated all that happened to Agastya, possessed of exceeding +marvellous power. + +“The gods said, ‘This king of hills, Vindhya, giving way to wrath, is +stopping the path of the Sun and the Moon, and also the course of the +stars. O foremost of Brahmanas! O thou great in gifts! excepting thyself, +there is none who can prevent him; therefore do thou make him desist.’ +Hearing these words of the gods the Brahmana came to the mountain. And he +with his wife, having arrived there, came near Vindhya and spake to him, +saying, ‘O thou best of mountains! I wish to have a path given to me by +thee, as, for some purpose, I shall have to go to the southern region. +Until my return, do thou wait for me. And when I have returned, O king of +mountains, thou mayst increase in bulk as much as thou pleasest.’ And, O +slayer of foes! having made this compact with Vindhya up to the present +day Varuna’s son doth not return from the southern region. Thus have I, +asked by thee, narrated to thee why Vindhya doth not increase in bulk, by +reason of the power of Agastya. Now, O king! hear how the Kalakeyas were +killed by the gods, after they had obtained their prayer from Agastya. + +“Having heard the words of the gods, Agastya, the son of Mitra, and +Varuna, said, ‘Wherefore are ye come? What boon do ye solicit from me?’ +Thus addressed by him, the deities then spake to the saint, saying, ‘This +deed we ask thee to achieve, viz., to drink up the great ocean. O +magnanimous (saint)! Then we shall be able to slay those enemies of the +gods, known by the name of Kalakeyas, together with all their adherents.’ +Having heard the words of the gods, the saint said, ‘Let it be so--I +shall do even what ye desire, and that which will conduce to the great +happiness of men.’ Having said this, he then proceeded to the ocean--the +lord of rivers,--accompanied by sages, ripe in the practice of penances, +and also by the deities, O thou who leadest an excellent life! And men +and snakes, celestial choristers, Yakshas and Kinnaras followed the +magnanimous saints,--desirous of witnessing that wonderful event. Then +they came up all together near to the sea, of awful roar, dancing, as it +were, with its billows, bounding with the breeze, and laughing with +masses of froth, and stumbling at the caves, and thronged with diverse +kinds of sharks, and frequented by flocks of various birds. And the +deities accompanied by Agastya and celestial choristers and huge snakes +and highly-gifted saints, approached the immense watery waste.” + + + +SECTION CV + +“Lomasa said, ‘That blessed saint, the son of Varuna, having reached the +sea spake unto the assembled gods, and the saints gathered together, +saying ‘I surely am going to drink up the ocean--that abode of the god of +waters. Be ye quickly ready with those preparations which it devolves +upon you to make.’ Having spoken these few words, the unswerving +offspring of Mitra and Varuna, full of wrath, began to drink up the sea, +while all the worlds stood observing (the deed). Then the gods, together +with Indra, seeing how the sea was being drunk up, were struck with +mighty amazement, and glorified him with laudatory words, saying, ‘Thou +art our protector, and the Providence itself for men,--and also the +creator of the worlds. By thy favour the universe with its gods may +possibly be saved from havoc.’ And the magnanimous one, glorified by the +gods--while the musical instruments of celestial choristers were playing +all round, and while celestial blossoms were showered upon him--rendered +waterless the wide ocean. And seeing the wide ocean rendered devoid of +water, the host of gods was exceedingly glad; and taking up choice +weapons of celestial forge, fell to slaying the demons with courageous +hearts,--And they, assailed by the magnanimous gods, of great strength, +and swift of speed, and roaring loudly, were unable to withstand the +onset of their fleet and valorous (foes)--those residents of the heavenly +regions, O descendant of Bharata! And those demons, attacked by the gods, +bellowing loudly, for a moment carried on terrible conflict. They had +been in the first instance burnt by the force of penances performed by +the saints, who had matured their selves; therefore, the demons, though +they tried to the utmost, were at last slaughtered by the gods. And +decked with brooches of gold, and bearing on their persons ear-rings and +armlets, the demons, when slain, looked beautiful indeed, like palasa +trees when full of blossoms. Then, O best of men! a few--the remnant of +those that were killed of the Kalakeya race, having rent asunder the +goddess Earth, took refuge at the bottom of the nether regions. And the +gods, when they saw that the demons were slain, with diverse speeches, +glorified the mighty saint, and spake the following words. ‘O thou of +mighty arms, by thy favour men have attained a mighty blessing, and the +Kalakeyas, of ruthless strength have been killed by thy power, O creator +of beings! Fill the sea (now), O mighty-armed one; give up again the +water drunk up by thee.’ Thus addressed, the blessed and mighty saint +replied, ‘That water in sooth hath been digested by me. Some other +expedient, therefore, must be thought of by you, if ye desire to make +endeavour to fill the ocean.’ Hearing this speech of that saint of +matured soul, the assembled gods were struck with both wonder and +sadness, O great king! And thereupon, having bidden adieu to each other, +and bowed to the mighty saint all the born beings went their way. And the +gods with Vishnu, came to Brahma. And having held consultation again, +with the view of filling up the sea, they, with joined hands, spake about +replenishing it.” + + + +SECTION CVI + +“Lomasa said, ‘Then gathered together, Brahma, the grandfather of men +(thus) addressed, ‘Go ye, O gods! whither your pleasure may lead you, or +your desire conduct you. It will take a long course of time for the ocean +to resume its wonted state; the occasion will be furnished by the agnates +of the great king Bhagiratha.’ Hearing the words of the (universal) +grandfather (Brahma), all the foremost gods went their way biding the day +(when the ocean was to be filled again).’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘What was that occasion, O Saint? And how did the +agnates of (Bhagiratha furnish the same)? And how was the ocean refilled +by the interference of Bhagiratha? O Saint, who deemest thy religious +practices as thy only treasure. O thou of the priestly class! I wish to +hear the account of the achievements of the king, narrated in detail by +thyself.’” + +“Vaisampayana said, “Thus addressed by the magnanimous and virtuous king, +he, the chief of men of the priestly class, narrated the achievements of +the high-souled (king) Sagara.” + +“Lomasa said, ‘There was born in the family of the Ikshaku tribe, a ruler +of the earth named Sagara, endued with beauty, and strength. And that +same (king) of a dreaded name was sonless, O descendant of Bharata! And +he carried havoc through the tribes of the Haihayas and the Talajanghas; +brought under subjection the whole of the military caste; (and so) ruled +over his own kingdom. And, O most praiseworthy of the descendants of +Bharata! O chief of the Bharata race! he had two wives proud of their +beauty and of their youth,--one a princess of the Vidarbha race, and the +other of the royal line of Sivi. And, O chief of kings, that same ruler +of men, betook himself to the mountain Kailasa, accompanied by both his +wives, and with the desire of having a son became engaged in the practice +of exceeding austere penances. And being engaged in the practice of rigid +austerities, and (also) employed in the contemplation known by the name +of Yoga, he obtained the sight of the magnanimous god with three +eyes--the slayer of the demon called Tripura; the worker of blessings +(for all beings); the (eternally) existent one; the ruling Being, the +holder of the Pinaka bow; carrying in his hand his (well-known +weapon)--the trident; the god of three eyes; the repository of (eternal) +peace; the ruler of all those that are fierce; capable of assuming very +many forms; and the lord of the goddess Uma. And that same ruler of men, +of mighty arms, as soon as he beheld the god--that giver of boons--fell +down at his feet, with both his queens, and proffered a prayer to have a +son. And the god Siva, well pleased with him, spake (thus) to that most +righteous of the rulers of men, attended by his two wives, saying, ‘O +lord of men! considering the (astrological) moment at which thou hast +proffered thy prayer to me, sixty thousand sons, O foremost of choice men +valorous and characterised by exceeding pride, will be born in one off +thy two wives (here). But they all, O ruler of the earth, shall perish +together. In the other wife, (however), will be born a single valiant +son, who will perpetuate thy race.’ Having said this to him, the god +Rudra (Siva) vanished from sight at that very spot, and that same king +Sagara now came (back) to his own abode accompanied by his two wives, +exceedingly delighted at heart (for what had happened) then. And, O most +praiseworthy of the sons of Manu! (i.e., men), there the two lotus-eyed +wives of him--the princess of Vidarbha and the princess of Sivi--came +(erelong) to be with child. And afterwards, on the due day, the princess +of Vidarbha brought forth (something) of the shape of a gourd and the +princess of Sivi gave birth to a boy as beautiful as a god. Then the +ruler of the earth made up his mind to throw away the gourd,--when he +heard (proceeding) from the sky a speech (uttered) in a grave and solemn +voice, ‘O king! do thou not be guilty of this hasty act; thou shouldst +not abandon thy sons. Take out the seeds from the gourd and let them be +preserved with care in steaming vessels partly filled with clarified +butter. Then thou wilt get, O scion of Bharata’s race! sixty thousand +sons. O ruler of men! the great god (Siva) hath spoken that thy sons are +to be born in this manner. Let not therefore thy mind be turned away +therefrom.’” + + + +SECTION CVII + +“Lomasa said, ‘O most righteous of kings! When he heard these words +(proceeding) from the sky, he had faith therein, and did all that he was +directed to do, O chief of the men of Bharata’s race! Then the ruler of +men took separately each of the seeds and then placed these divisions (of +the gourd) in vessels filled with clarified butter. And intent on the +preservation of his sons, he provided a nurse for every (receptacle). +Then after a long time there arose sixty thousand exceedingly powerful +sons of that same king--gifted with unmeasured strength, they were born, +O ruler of earth! to that saint-like king, by Rudra’s favour. And they +were terrible; and their acts were ruthless. And they were able to ascend +and roam about in the sky; and being numerous themselves, despised +everybody, including the gods. And they would chase even the gods, the +Gandharvas, and the Rakshasas and all the born beings, being themselves +valiant and addicted to fighting. Then all people, harassed by the +dull-headed sons of Sagara, united with all the gods, went to Brahma as +their refuge. And then addressed the blessed grandfather of all beings +(Brahma), ‘Go ye your way, ye gods, together with all these men. In a not +very long space of time, there will come about, O gods! a great and +exceedingly terrible destruction of Sagara’s sons, caused by the deed +perpetrated by them.’ Thus addressed, those same gods, and men, O lord of +the sons of Manu! bade adieu to the grandfather, and went back to whence +they had come. Then, O chief of Bharata’s race! after the expiry of very +many days, the mighty king Sagara accepted the consecration for +performing the rites of a horse-sacrifice. And his horse began to roam +over the world, protected by his sons. And when the horse reached the +sea, waterless and frightful to behold--although the horse was guarded +with very great care--it (suddenly) vanished at the very spot (it stood +upon). Then, O respected sir! those same sons of Sagara imagined the same +fine horse to have been stolen; and returning to their father, narrated +how it had been stolen out of sight. And thereupon he addressed them, +saying, ‘Go ye and search for the horse in all the cardinal points.’ +Then, O great king! by this command of their father, they began to search +for the horse in the cardinal points and throughout the whole surface of +the earth. But all those sons of Sagara, all mutually united, could not +find the horse, nor the person who had stolen it. And coming back then, +they with joined palms (thus addressed) their father, (standing) before +them, ‘O Protector of men! O ruler of the earth! O king! by thy command, +the whole of this world with its hills and its forest tracts, with its +seas, and its woods, and its islands, with its rivulets and rivers and +caves, hath been searched through by us. But we cannot find either the +horse, or the thief who had stolen the same.’ And hearing the words, the +same king became senseless with wrath, and then told them all, carried +away by Destiny, ‘Go ye all, may ye never return! Search ye again for the +horse. Without that sacrificial horse, ye must never return, my boys!’” + +“And those same sons of Sagara, accepted this command of their father, +and once more began to search through the entire world. Now these heroes +saw a rift on the surface of the earth. And having reached this pit, the +sons of Sagara began to excavate it. And with spades and pickaxes they +went on digging the sea, making the utmost efforts. And that same abode +of Varuna (namely the ocean), being thus, excavated by the united sons of +Sagara and rent and cut on all sides round, was placed in a condition of +the utmost distress. And the demons and snakes and Rakshasas and various +(other) animated beings began to utter distressful cries, while being +killed by Sagara’s sons. And hundreds and thousands of animated beings +were beheld with severed heads and separated trunks and with their skins +and bones and joints rent asunder and broken. Thus they went on digging +the ocean, which was the abode of Varuna and an exceedingly long space of +time expired in this work, but still the horse was not found. Then, O +lord of earth! towards the north-eastern region of the sea, the incensed +sons of Sagara dug down as far as the lower world, and there they beheld +the horse, roaming about on the surface of the ground. And they saw the +magnanimous Kapila, who looked like a perfect mass of splendour. And +having beheld him shining with his brightness, just as the fire shineth +with its flames, they, O king! seeing the horse, were flushed with +delight. And they being incensed, sent forward by their fate, paid no +heed to the presence of the magnanimous Kapila, and ran forward with a +view to seizing the horse. Then, O great king! Kapila, the most righteous +of saints,--he whom the great sages name as Kapila Vasudeva--assumed a +fiery look, and the mighty saint shot flames towards them, and thereby +burnt down the dull-headed sons of Sagara. And Narada, whose practice of +austerities was very great, when he beheld them reduced to ashes, came to +Sagara’s side, and gave the information to him. And when the king learnt +this terrible news which proceeded from the mouth of the saint, for +nearly an hour he remained sad, and then he bethought himself of what +Siva had said. Then sending for Ansuman, the son of Asamanjas, and his +own grandson, he, O chief of Bharata’s race! spake the following words, +‘Those same sixty thousand sons of unmeasured strength having encountered +Kapila’s wrath, have met their death on my account. And, O my boy of +stainless character! thy father also hath been forsaken by me, in order +to discharge my duty (as a king), and being desirous of doing good to my +subjects.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O saint, whose sole wealth consists in religious +practices! Tell me for what reason, Sagara, the foremost of kings, +abandoned his own begotten son, endued with valour--an act so difficult +(for all other men).” + +“Lomasa said, ‘A son was born to Sagara, known by the name of Asamanjas, +he who was given birth to by the princess of Sivi. And he used to seize +by throat the feeble children of the townsmen, and threw them while +screaming into the river. And thereupon the townsmen, overwhelmed with +terror and grief, met together, and all standing with joined palms, +besought Sagara in the following way, ‘O great king! Thou art our +protector from the dreaded peril of attack from a hostile force. +Therefore it is proper for thee to deliver us from the frightful danger, +proceeding from Asamanjas.’ And the most righteous of the rulers of men, +having heard this frightful news from his subjects, for nearly an hour +remained sad and then spake to his ministers, saying, ‘This day from the +city let my son Asamanjas be driven forth. If ye wish to do what will be +acceptable to me, let this be quickly done. ‘And, O protector of men! +those same ministers, thus addressed by the king, performed in a hurry +exactly what the king had commanded them to do. Thus have I narrated to +thee how the magnanimous Sagara banished his son, with a view to the +welfare of the residents of the town. I shall now fully narrate to thee +what Ansuman of the powerful bow was told by Sagara. Listen to me! + +“Sagara said, ‘O my boy! sore am I at heart for having abandoned thy +father, on account of the death of my sons, and also on being +unsuccessful in getting back the horse. Therefore, O grandson! harassed +with grief and confounded with the obstruction to my religious rites as I +am, thou must bring back the horse and deliver me from hell.’ Thus +addressed by the magnanimous Sagara, Ansuman went with sorrow to that +spot where the earth had been excavated. And by that very passage he +entered into the sea, and beheld that illustrious Kapila and that same +horse. And having beheld that ancient saint, most righteous of his order, +looking like a mass of light, he bowed with his head to the ground, and +informed him of the reason of his visit. Then, O great king, Kapila was +pleased with Ansuman, and that saint of a virtuous soul told him to ask +for a favour from him. And he in the first place prayed for the horse, +for the purpose of using it in the sacrifice; in the second place he +prayed for the purification of his fathers. Then the mighty chief of +saints, Kapila spake to him, saying, ‘I shall grant thee everything that +thou desirest, O stainless (prince). May good luck be thine! In thee are +fixed (the virtues of) forbearance, and truth, and righteousness. By thee +hath Sagara had all his desires fulfilled. Thou are (really) a son to thy +father. And by thy ability the sons of Sagara will go to heaven (i.e., +will be delivered from the consequences of their unhallowed death). And +the son of thy son, with a view to purifying the sons of Sagara, will +obtain the favour of the great god Siva, (by means of practising great +austerities), and will (thus) bring (to this world) the river that +floweth in three (separate) streams, Ganga, O chief of men! May good luck +be thine! Take thou with thee the sacrificial horse. Finish, my lad! the +sacrificial rites of the magnanimous Sagara.’ Thus addressed by the +illustrious Kapila, Ansuman took the horse with him, and came back to the +sacrificial yard of the mighty-minded Sagara. Then he fell prostrate at +the feet of the high-souled Sagara, who smelt him on the head and +narrated all the events to him, all that had been seen and heard by him, +and likewise the destruction of Sagara’s sons. He also announced that the +horse had been brought back to the sacrificial yard. And when king Sagara +heard of this, he no more grieved on account of his sons. And he praised +and honoured Ansuman, and finished those same sacrificial rites. His +sacrifice finished, Sagara was greeted honourably by all the gods; and he +converted the sea, Varuna’s dwelling place, into a son of himself. And +the lotus-eyed (King Sagara) having ruled his kingdom for a period of +exceeding length, placed his grandson on the throne, (full of) +responsibilities and then ascended to heaven. And Ansuman likewise, O +great king! virtuous in soul, ruled over the world as far as the edge of +the sea, following the foot-prints of his father’s father. His son was +named Dilipa, versed in virtue. Upon him placing the duties of his +sovereign post, Ansuman like-wise departed this life. And then when +Dilipa heard what an awful fate had overtaken his forefathers, he was +sorely grieved and thought of the means of raising them. And the ruler of +men made every great effort towards the descent of Ganga (to the mortal +world). But although trying to the utmost of his power, he could not +bring about what he so much wished. And a son was born to him, known by +the name of Bhagiratha beauteous, and devoted to a virtuous life, and +truthful, and free from feelings of malice. And Dilipa appointed him as +king, and betook himself to the forest life. And, O best of all the +scions of Bharata’s race! that same king (Dilipa), devoted himself to a +successful course of austerities, and at the end of (sufficient) period, +from the forest departed to heaven.” + + + +SECTION CVIII + +“Lomasa said, ‘That same king, of a powerful bow, standing at the head of +the surrounding, (i.e., the occupant of an imperial throne) of a powerful +car, (i.e., possessing every great fighting power) became the delight of +the eyes and the soul of all the world. And he of the powerful arm came +to learn how his forefathers had met an awful end from Kapila of mighty +soul, and how they had been unable to attain the region of gods. And he +with a sorrowful heart made over his kingly duties to his minister, and, +O lord of men! for practising austerities, went to the side of the snowy +Mountain (the Himalayas). And, O most praiseworthy of men, desirous of +extinguishing his sins by leading an austere life, and (thereby) +obtaining the favour of the (goddess) Ganga, he visited that foremost of +mountains--Himalaya. And he beheld it adorned with peaks of diverse forms +full of mineral earth; besprinkled on all sides with drops from clouds +which were resting themselves upon the breeze; beautiful with rivers and +groves and rocky spurs, looking like (so many) palaces (in a city); +attended upon by lions and tigers that had concealed themselves in its +caves and pits; and also inhabited by birds of checkered forms, which +were uttering diverse sounds, such as the Bhringarajas, and ganders, and +Datyuhas, and water-cocks, and peacocks and birds with a hundred +feathers, and Jivanjivakas, and black birds, and Chakoras of eyes +furnished with black corners, and the birds that love their young. And he +saw the mountain abounding in lotus plants growing in delightful +reservoirs of water. And the cranes rendered it charming with their +sounds; and the Kinnaras and the celestial nymphs were seated on its +stony slabs. And the elephants occupying the cardinal points had +everywhere robbed its trees with the end of their tusks; and the +demi-gods of the Vidyadhara class frequented the hill. And it was full of +various gems, and was also infested by snakes bearing terrible poison and +of glowing tongues. And the mountain at places looked like (massive) +gold, and elsewhere it resembled a silvery (pile), and at some places it +was like a (sable) heap of collyrium. Such was the snowy hill where the +king now found himself. And that most praiseworthy of men at that spot +betook himself to an awful austere course of life. And for one thousand +years his subsistence was nothing but water, fruit and roots. When, +however, a thousand years according to the calculation of gods had +elapsed, then the great river Ganga having assumed a material form, +manifested to him her (divine) self.’ + +“Ganga said. ‘O great king! what dost thou desire of me? And what must I +bestow on thee? Tell me the same, O most praiseworthy of men! I shall do +as thou mayst ask me.’ Thus addressed, the king then made his reply to +Ganga, the daughter of the snowy Hill, saying, ‘O grantress of boons! O +great river! my father’s fathers, while searching for the horse, were +sent by Kapila to the abode of the god of death. And those same sixty +thousand sons of Sagara of mighty soul, having met with the majestic +Kapila, perished, (to a soul) in an instant of time. Having thus +perished, there hath been no place for them in the region of heaven. O +great river! So long as thou dost not besprinkle those same bodies with +thy water, there is no salvation for these same Sagara’s sons. O blessed +goddess! carry thou my forefathers, Sagara’s sons, to the region of +heaven. O great river! on their account am I beseeching thee forsooth.” + +“Lomasa said, ‘Ganga, the goddess saluted by the world, having heard +these words of the king, was well pleased, and spake to Bhagiratha the +following words: ‘O great king! I am prepared to do what thou dost ask +me; there is no doubt therein. But when I shall descend from the sky to +the earth, the force of my fall will be difficult to sustain. O protector +of men! In the three worlds there exists none who is able to sustain the +same, excepting Siva, the most praiseworthy of gods, the great Lord with +the throat of sable blue. O (prince) of a powerful arm! Obtain the +favour, by practising austerities, of that same Siva-giver of boons. That +same god will sustain my descent upon his head. Thy desire he will +fulfill, the desire, namely, to be of service to thy fathers, O king!’ +Then the great king Bhagiratha having heard the same, went to the Kailasa +hill, and betaking himself to a severe course of penances, at the +expiration of a certain length of time obtained the favour of that worker +of blessings (Siva). And, O protector of men! that same best of men, in +order that his forefathers might have a place in heaven secured to them, +received from that very Siva the fulfilment of his wish, namely the wish +that the descending Ganga might be sustained.’” + + + +SECTION CIX + +“Lomasa said, ‘The blessed God having heard what Bhagiratha had said, and +with a view to doing what was agreeable to the residents of heaven, +replied to the king, saying, ‘So let it be. O most righteous of the +protectors of men, O (prince) of a powerful arm! For thy sake I shall +sustain the river of the gods, when she will take her descent from the +sky, she who is pure and blessed and divine, O (king) of a mighty arm!’ +Saying this, he came to the snowy mountain, surrounded by his attendants, +of awful mien, and with uplifted weapons of diverse forms. And standing +there, he said to Bhagiratha, the most praiseworthy of men, ‘O (prince) +of a powerful arm! do thou pray to the river, the daughter of the king of +mountains. I shall sustain that most praiseworthy of rivers when she +falls down from the third region of the world (heaven).’ Having heard +these words uttered by Siva, the king became devout (in heart), made +obesiance and directed his thoughts towards Ganga. Then the delightful +(river), of pure water in being so thought of by the king, and seeing +that the great lord (Siva) was standing (to receive her fall), came down +all of a sudden from the sky. And seeing that she had taken her leap from +the sky, the gods, together with the mighty saints, the Gandharvas, the +snakes, and the Yakshas, assembled there as spectators. Then came down +from the sky Ganga, the daughter of the snowy mountain. And her +whirlpools were raging, and she was teeming with fishes and sharks. O +king! she directing her course towards the sea, separated herself, into +three streams; and her water was bestrewn with piles of froth, which +looked like so many rows of (white) ganders. And crooked and tortuous in +the movement of her body, at places; and at others stumbling at it were; +and covered with foam as with a robe: she went forward like a woman +drunk. And elsewhere, by virtue of the roar of her waters, she uttered +loud sounds. Thus assuming very many different aspects, when she fell +from the sky, and reached the surface of the earth, she said to +Bhagiratha, ‘O great king! show me the path that I shall have to take. O +lord of the earth! for thy sake have I descended to the earth.’ Having +heard these words, king Bhagiratha directed his course towards the spot +where lay those bodies of mighty Sagara’s sons, in order that, O most +praiseworthy of men, the holy water might flood (the same). Having +achieved the task of sustaining Ganga, Siva, saluted by men, went to +Kailasa the most praiseworthy of mountains, accompanied by the +celestials. And the protector of men (Bhagiratha) accompanied by Ganga +reached the sea; and the sea, the abode of Varuna, was quickly filled. +And the king adopted Ganga as a daughter of himself, and at that spot +offered libations of water to the names of his forefathers; thus was his +heart’s wish fulfilled. Thus asked by thee, I have narrated the whole +story how Ganga running in three streams, was brought down to the earth +for filling the sea; how the mighty saint had drunk up the sea for a +particular reason, and how, O lord! Vatapi, the slayer of Brahmanas, was +destroyed by Agastya.’” + + + +SECTION CX + +Vaisampayana said, “O chief of the Bharata race! then the son of Kunti +went at a slow pace to the two rivers Nanda and Aparananda, which had the +virtue of destroying the dread of sin. And the protector of men having +reached the healthy hill Hemakuta, beheld there very many strange and +inconceivable sights. There the very utterance of words caused the +gathering of clouds, and a thousand volleys of stones. And people at its +sight, were struck sad, and were unable to ascend the hill. There the +winds blew for aye, and the heavens always poured down rains; and +likewise the sounds of the recitation of the sacred writ were heard, yet +nobody was seen. In the evening and in the morning would be seen the +blessed fire that carries offerings to the gods and there flies would +bite and interrupt the practice of austerities. And there a sadness would +overtake the soul, and people would become sick. The son of Pandu, having +observed very many strange circumstances of this character again +addressed his questions to Lomasa with reference to these wonderful +things. + +“Lomasa said, ‘O slayer of foes! O king! I am going to tell thee as we +heard it before; do thou attend to the same with intent mind. In this +peak of Rishava, there was once a saint known by that name. And his life +had lasted for many hundred years. And he was devoted to penances and was +greatly wrathful. And he, forsooth, for having been spoken to by others, +from wrath addressed the hill thus, ‘Whoever should utter any words here, +thou must throw stones at him, and thou must call up the winds to prevent +him from making any noise.’ This was what the saint said. And so at this +place, as soon as a man utters any words, he is forbidden by a roaring +cloud. O king! thus these deeds were performed by that great saint, and +from wrath he also forbade other acts. O king! tradition says that when +the gods of yore had come to the Nanda, suddenly came over (there) a +number of men to look at the celestials. Those same gods at whose head +stood Indra did not, however, like to be seen; and so they rendered this +spot inaccessible, by raising obstructions in the form of hills. And from +that day forward, O Kunti’s son! men could not cast their eyes at any +time on what looked like a hill, far less could they ascend the same. +This big mountain is incapable of being seen by one who hath not led an +austere life, nor can such a one ascend it. Therefore, O son of Kunti! +keep thou thy tongue under control. Here at that time all those gods +performed the best sacrificial rites. O Bharata’s son! Even up to this +day these marks thereof may be seen. This grass here hath the form of the +sacred kusa grass: the ground here seemeth to be overspread with the +sacred grass; and. O lord of men! many of these trees here look like the +spots for tying the sacrificial beasts. O Bharata’s son! still the Gods +and saints have residence here; and their sacred fire is observed in the +morning and in the evening. Here if one bathes, his sin is forthwith +destroyed, O Kunti’s son! O most praiseworthy of the race of Kuru! do +thou, therefore, perform thy ablutions, together with thy younger +brothers. Then after having washed thyself in the Nanda, thou wilt repair +to the river Kausiki, the spot where the most excellent and severest form +of penances was practised by Viswamitra. Then the king with his +attendants, having washed his body there, proceeded to the river Kausiki, +which was pure and delightful and pleasant with cool water.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘This is the pure divine river by name Kausiki. O chief of +Bharata’s race! and this is the delightful hermitage of Viswamitra, +conspicuous here. And this is a hermitage, with a holy name, belonging to +Kasyapa of mighty soul; whose son was Rishyasringa, devoted to penances, +and of passions under control. He by force of his penances caused Indra +to rain; and that god, the slayer of the demons Vala and Vritra, dreading +him, poured down rain during a drought. That powerful and mighty son of +Kasyapa was born of a hind. He worked a great marvel in the territory of +Lomapada. And when the crops had been restored, king Lomapada gave his +daughter Santa in marriage to him, as the sun gave in marriage his +daughter Savitri.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘How was the son of Kasyapa, Rishyasringa, born of a +hind? And how was he endowed with holiness, being the issue of a +reprehensible sexual connexion? And for what reason was Indra, the slayer +of the demons Vala and Vritra, afraid of that same sagacious boy, and +poured down rain during a period of drought? And how beautiful was that +princess Santa, pure in life, she who allured the heart of him when he +had turned himself into a stag? And since the royal saint Lomapada is +said to have been of a virtuous disposition, why was it that in his +territory, Indra, the chastiser of the demon Paka, had withheld rain? O +holy saint! all this in detail, exactly as it happened, thou wilt be +pleased to narrate to me, for I am desirous of hearing the deeds of +Rishyasringa’s life.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘Hear how Rishyasringa, of dreaded name, was born as a son +to Vibhandaka, who was a saint of the Brahmana caste, who had cultured +his soul by means of religious austerities, whose seed never failed in +causing generation, and who was learned and bright like the Lord of +beings. And the father was highly honoured, and the son was possessed of +a mighty spirit, and, though a boy, was respected by aged man. And that +son of Kasyapa, Vibhandaka, having proceeded to a big lake, devoted +himself to the practice of penances. And that same saint, comparable to a +god, laboured for a long period. And once while he was washing his mouth +in the waters, he beheld the celestial nymph Urvasi--whereupon came out +his seminal fluid. And, O king! a hind at that time lapped it up along +with the water that she was drinking, being athirst; and from this cause +she became with child. That same hind had really been a daughter of the +gods, and had been told of yore by the holy Brahma, the creator of the +worlds, ‘Thou shall be a hind; and when in that form, thou shall give +birth to a saint; thou shalt then be freed.’ As Destiny would have it, +and as the word of the creator would not be untrue, in that same hind was +born his (Vibhandaka’s) son a mighty saint. And Rishyasringa, devoted to +penances, always passed his days in the forest. O king! there was a horn +on the head of that magnanimous saint and for this reason did he come to +be known at the time by the name of Rishyasringa. And barring his father, +not a man had ever before been seen by him; therefore his mind, O +protector of men! was entirely devoted to the duties of a continent life. +At this very period there was a ruler of the land of Anga known by the +name of Lomapada who was a friend of Dasaratha. We have heard that he +from love of pleasure had been guilty of a falsehood towards a Brahmana. +And that same ruler of the world had at that time been shunned by all +persons of the priestly class. And he was without a ministering priest +(to assist him in his religious rites). And the god of a thousand eyes +(Indra) suddenly abstained from giving rain in his territory; so that his +people began to suffer and O lord of the earth! he questioned a number of +Brahmanas, devoted to penances, of cultivated minds, and possessed of +capabilities with reference to the matter of rain being granted by the +lord of gods, saying, ‘How may the heavens grant us the rain? Think of an +expedient (for this purpose).’ And those same cultured men, being thus +questioned, gave expression to their respective views. And one among +them--the best of saints--spake to that same king, saying, ‘O lord of +kings! the Brahmanas are angry with thee. Do some act (therefore) for +appeasing them. O ruler of the earth! send for Rishyasringa, the son of a +saint, resident of the forest knowing nothing of the female sex, and +always taking delight in simplicity. O king! if he, great in the practice +of penances, should show himself in thy territory, forthwith rain would +be granted by the heavens, herein I have no doubt at all.’ And, O king! +having heard these words Lomapada made atonement for his sins. And he +went away; and when the Brahmanas had been appeased, he returned again, +and seeing the king returned, the people were again glad at heart. Then +the king of Anga convened a meeting of his ministers, proficient in +giving counsel. And he took great pains in order to settle some plan for +securing a visit from Rishyasringa. And, O unswerving (prince)! with +those ministers, who were versed in all branches of knowledge, and +exceedingly proficient in worldly matters, and had a thorough training in +practical affairs, he at last settled a plan (for gaining his object). +And then he sent for a number of courtesans, women of the town, clever in +everything. And when they came, that same ruler of the earth spake to +them, saying, ‘Ye lovely women! Ye must find some means to allure, and +obtain the confidence of the son of the saint--Rishyasringa, whom ye must +bring over to my territory.’ And those same women, on the one hand afraid +of the anger of the king and on the other, dreading a curse from the +saint, became sad and confounded, and declared the business to be beyond +their power. One, however, among them--a hoary woman, thus spake to the +king, ‘O great king! him whose wealth solely consists in penances, I +shall try to bring over here. Thou wilt, however, have to procure for me +certain things, in connection with the plan. In that case, I may be able +to bring over the son of the saint--Rishyasringa.’ Thereupon the king +gave an order that all that she might ask for should be procured. And he +also gave a good deal of wealth and jewels of various kinds. And then, O +Lord of the earth, she took with herself a number of women endowed with +beauty and youth, and went to the forest without delay.” + + + +SECTION CXI + +“Lomasa said, ‘O descendant of Bharata! she in order to compass the +object of the king, prepared a floating hermitage, both because the king +had ordered so, and also because it exactly accorded with her plan. And +the floating hermitage, containing artificial trees adorned with various +flowers and fruits, and surrounded by diverse shrubs and creeping plants +and capable of furnishing choice and delicious fruits, was exceedingly +delightful, and nice, and pleasing, and looked as if it had been created +by magic. Then she moored the vessel at no great distance from the +hermitage of Kasyapa’s son, and sent emissaries to survey the place where +that same saint habitually went about. And then she saw an opportunity; +and having conceived a plan in her mind, sent forward her daughter a +courtesan by trade and of smart sense. And that clever woman went to the +vicinity of the religious man and arriving at the hermitage beheld the +son of the saint.’” + +“The courtesan said, ‘I hope, O saint! that is all well with the +religious devotees. And I hope that thou hast a plentiful store of fruits +and roots and that thou takest delight in this hermitage. Verily I come +here now to pay thee a visit. I hope the practice of austerities among +the saints is on the increase. I hope that thy father’s spirit hath not +slackened and that he is well pleased with thee. O Rishyasringa of the +priestly caste! I hope thou prosecutest the studies proper for thee.’” + +Rishyasringa said, ‘Thou art shining with lustre, as if thou wert a +(mass) of light. And I deem thee worthy of obeisance. Verily I shall give +thee water for washing thy feet and such fruits and roots also as may be +liked by thee, for this is what my religion hath prescribed to me. Be +thou pleased to take at thy pleasure thy seat on a mat made of the sacred +grass, covered over with a black deer-skin and made pleasant and +comfortable to sit upon. And where is thy hermitage? O Brahmana! thou +resemblest a god in thy mien. What is the name of this particular +religious vow, which thou seemest to be observing now?’ + +“The courtesan said, O son of Kasyapa! on the other side of yonder hill, +which covers the space of three Yojanas, is my hermitage--a delightful +place. There, not to receive obeisance is the rule of my faith nor do I +touch water for washing my feet. I am not worthy of obeisance from +persons like thee; but I must make obeisance to thee. O Brahmana! This is +the religious observance to be practised by me, namely, that thou must be +clasped in my arms.’” + +“Rishyasringa said, ‘Let me give thee ripe fruits, such as gallnuts, +myrobalans, Karushas, Ingudas from sandy tracts and Indian fig. May it +please thee to take a delight in them!’” + +Lomasa said, “She, however, threw aside all those edible things and then +gave him unsuitable things for food. And these were exceedingly nice and +beautiful to see and were very much acceptable to Rishyasringa. And she +gave him garlands of an exceedingly fragrant scent and beautiful and +shining garments to wear and first-rate drinks; and then played and +laughed and enjoyed herself. And she at his sight played with a ball and +while thus employed, looked like a creeping plant broken in two. And she +touched his body with her own and repeatedly clasped Rishyasringa in her +arms. Then she bent and break the flowery twigs from trees, such as the +Sala, the Asoka and the Tilaka. And overpowered with intoxication, +assuming a bashful look, she went on tempting the great saint’s son. And +when she saw that the heart of Rishyasringa had been touched, she +repeatedly pressed his body with her own and casting glances, slowly went +away under the pretext that she was going to make offerings on the fire. +On her departure, Rishyasringa became over-powered with love and lost his +sense. His mind turned constantly to her and felt itself vacant. And he +began to sigh and seemed to be in great distress. At that moment appeared +Vibhandaka, Kasyapa’s son, he whose eyes were tawny like those of a lion, +whose body was covered with hair down to the tip of the nails, who was +devoted to studies proper for his caste, and whose life was pure and was +passed in religious meditation. He came up and saw that his son was +seated alone, pensive and sad, his mind upset and sighing again and again +with upturned eyes. And Vibhandaka spake to his distressed son, saying, +‘My boy! why is it that thou art not hewing the logs for fuel. I hope +thou hast performed the ceremony of burnt offering today. I hope thou +hast polished the sacrificial ladles and spoons and brought the calf to +the milch cow whose milk furnisheth materials for making offerings on the +fire. Verily thou art not in thy wonted state, O son! Thou seemest to be +pensive, and to have lost thy sense. Why art thou so sad today? Let me +ask thee, who hath been to this place today?’” + + + +SECTION CXII + +‘Rishyasringa said, ‘Here came to-day a religious student with a mass of +hair on his head. And he was neither short nor tall. And he was of a +spirited look and a golden complexion, and endued with eye large as +lotuses; and he was shining and graceful as a god. And rich was his +beauty blazing like the Sun; and he was exceedingly fair with eyes +graceful and black. And his twisted hair was blue-black and neat and long +and of a fragrant scent and tied up with strings of gold. A beautiful +ornament was shining on his neck which looked like lightning in the sky. +And under the throat he had two balls of flesh without a single hair upon +them and of an exceedingly beautiful form. And his waist was slender to a +degree and his navel neat; and smooth also was the region about his ribs. +Then again there shone a golden string from under his cloth, just like +this waist-string of mine. And there was something on his feet of a +wonderful shape which give forth a jingling sound. Upon his wrists +likewise was tied a pair of ornaments that made a similar sound and +looked just like this rosary here. And when he walked, his ornaments +uttered a jingling sound like those uttered by delighted ganders upon a +sheet of water. And he had on his person garments of a wonderful make; +these clothes of mine are by no means beautiful like those. And his face +was wonderful to behold; and his voice was calculated to gladden the +heart; and his speech was pleasant like the song of the male blackbird. +And while listening to the same I felt touched to my inmost soul. And as +a forest in the midst of the vernal season, assumes a grace only when it +is swept over by the breeze, so, O father! he of an excellent and pure +smell looks beautiful when fanned by the air. And his mass of hair is +neatly tied up and remains adhering to the head and forehead evenly +sundered in two. And his two eyes seemed to be covered with wonderful +Chakravaka birds of an exceedingly beautiful form. And he carried upon +his right palm a wonderful globur fruit, which reaches the ground and +again and again leaps up to the sky in a strange way. And he beats it and +turns himself round and whirls like a tree moved by the breeze. And when +I looked at him, O father! he seemed to be a son of the celestials, and +my joy was extreme, and my pleasure unbounded. And he clasped my body, +took hold of my matted hair, and bent down my mouth, and, mingling his +mouth with my own, uttered a sound that was exceedingly pleasant. And he +doth not care for water for washing his feet, nor for those fruits +offered by me; and he told me that such was the religious observance +practised by him. And he gave unto me a number of fruits. Those fruits +were tasteful unto me: these here are not equal to them in taste. They +have not got any rind nor any stone within them, like these. And he of a +noble form gave me to drink water of an exceedingly fine flavour; and +having drunk it, I experienced great pleasu e; and the ground seemed to +be moving under my feet. And these are the garlands beautiful and +fragrant and twined with silken threads that belong to him. And he, +bright with fervent piety, having scattered these garlands here, went +back to his own hermitage. His departure hath saddened my heart; and my +frame seems to be in a burning sensation! And my desire is to go to him +as soon as I can, and to have him every day walk about here. O father, +let me this very moment go to him. Pray, what is that religious +observance which is being practised by him. As he of a noble piety is +practising penances, so I am desirous to live the same life with him. My +heart is yearning after similar observances My soul will be in torment if +I see him not,’” + + + +SECTION CXIII + +“Vibhandaka said, ‘Those are, O son! Rakshasas. They walk about in that +wonderfully beautiful form. Their strength is unrivalled and their beauty +great And they always meditate obstruction to the practice of penances. +And, O my boy, they assume lovely forms and try to allure by diverse +means. And those fierce beings hurled the saints, the dwellers of the +woods, from blessed regions (won by their pious deeds) And the saint who +hath control over his soul, and who is desirous of obtaining the regions +where go the righteous, ought to have nothing to do with them. And their +acts are vile and their delight is in causing obstruction to those who +practise penance; (therefore) a pious man should never look at them. And, +O son! those were drinks unworthy to be drunk, being as they were +spirituous liquors consumed by unrighteous men. And these garlands, also, +bright and fragrant and of various hues, are not intended for saints.’ +Having thus forbidden his son by saying that those were wicked demons, +Vibhandaka went in quest of her. And when by three day’s search he was +unable to trace where she was he then came back to his own hermitage. In +the meanwhile, when the son of Kasyapa had gone out to gather fruits, +then that very courtesan came again to tempt Rishyasringa in the manner +described above. And as soon as Rishyasringa had her in sight, he was +glad and hurriedly rushing towards him said, ‘Let us go to thy hermitage +before the return of my father.’ Then, O king! those same courtesans by +contrivances made the only son of Kasyapa enter their bark, and unmoored +the vessel. And by various means they went on delighting him and at +length came to the side of Anga’s king. And leaving then that floating +vessel of an exceedingly white tint upon the water, and having placed it +within sight of the hermitage, he similarly prepared a beautiful forest +known by the name of the Floating Hermitage. The king, however, kept that +only son of Vibhandaka within that part of the palace destined for the +females when of a sudden he beheld that rain was poured by the heavens +and that the world began to be flooded with water. And Lomapada, the +desire of his heart fulfilled, bestowed his daughter Santa on +Rishyasringa in marriage. And with a view to appease the wrath of his +father, he ordered kine to be placed, and fields to be ploughed, by the +road that Vibhandaka was to take, in order to come to his son. And the +king also placed plentiful cattle and stout cowherds, and gave the latter +the following order: + +“When the great saint Vibhandaka should enquire of you about his son, ye +must join your palms and say to him that these cattle, and these ploughed +fields belong to his son and that ye are his slaves, and that ye are +ready to obey him in all that he might bid.’ Now the saint, whose wrath +was fierce, came to his hermitage, having gathered fruits and roots and +searched for his son. But not finding him he became exceedingly wroth. +And he was tortured with anger and suspected it to be the doing of the +king. And therefore, he directed his course towards the city of Champa +having made up his mind to burn the king, his city, and his whole +territory. And on the way he was fatigued and hungry, when he reached +those same settlements of cowherds, rich with cattle. And he was honoured +in a suitable way by those cowherds and then spent the night in a manner +befitting a king. And having received very great hospitality from them, +he asked them, saying, ‘To whom, O cowherds, do ye belong?’ Then they all +came up to him and said, ‘All this wealth hath been provided for thy +son.’ At different places he was thus honoured by that best of men, and +saw his son who looked like the god Indra in heaven. And he also beheld +there his daughter-in-law, Santa, looking like lightning issuing from a +(cloud). And having seen the hamlets and the cowpens provided for his son +and having also beheld Santa, his great resentment was appeased. And O +king of men! Vibhandaka expressed great satisfaction with the very ruler +of the earth. And the great saint, whose power rivalled that of the sun +and the god of fire, placed there his son, and thus spake, ‘As soon as a +son is born to thee, and having performed all that is agreeable to the +king, to the forest must thou come without fail.’ And Rishyasringa did +exactly as his father said, and went back to the place where his father +was. And, O king of men! Santa obediently waited upon him as in the +firmament the star Rohini waits upon the Moon, or as the fortunate +Arundhati waits upon Vasishtha, or as Lopamudra waits upon Agastya. And +as Damayanti was an obedient wife to Nala, or as Sachi is to the god who +holdeth the thunderbolt in his hand or as Indrasena, Narayana’s daughter, +was always obedient to Mudgala, so did Santa wait affectionately upon +Rishyasringa, when he lived in the wood. This is the holy hermitage which +belonged to him. Beautifying the great lake here, it bears holy fame. +Here perform thy ablutions and have thy desire fulfilled. And having +purified thyself, direct thy course towards other holy spots,’” + + + +SECTION CXIV + +(Tirtha-yatra Parva continued) + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then, O Janamejaya, the son of Pandu started from +the river Kausiki and repaired in succession to all the sacred shrines. +And, O protector of men, he came to the sea where the river Ganga falls +into it; and there in the centre of five hundred rivers, he performed the +holy ceremony of a plunge. Then, O ruler of the earth, accompanied by his +brothers, the valiant prince proceeded by the shore of the sea towards +the land where the Kalinga tribes dwell.” + +“Lomasa said, ‘There is the land, O Kunti’s son, where the Kalinga tribes +dwell. Through it passeth the river Vaitarani, on the banks whereof even +the god of virtue performed religious river, having first placed himself +under the protection of the celestials. Verily, this is the northern +bank, inhabited by saints, suitable for the performance of religious +rites beautified by a hill, and frequented by persons of the regenerate +caste. This spot (in holiness) rivals the path whereby a virtuous man, +fit for going to heaven, repairs to the region inhabited by gods. And +verily at this spot in former times, other saints likewise worshipped the +immortals by the performance of religious rites. And at the very spot it +was that the god Rudra, O king of kings, seized the sacrificial beast and +exclaimed, ‘This is my share!’ O chief of the descendants of Bharata, +then when the beast was carried away by Siva, the gods spake to him +saying, ‘Cast not a covetous glance at the property of others, +disregarding all the righteous rules.’ Then they addressed words of +glorification of a pleasing kind to the god Rudra. And they satisfied him +by offering a sacrifice, and paid him suitable honours. Thereupon he gave +up the beast, and went by the path trodden by the gods. Thereupon what +happened to Rudra, learn from me, O Yudhishthira! Influenced by the dread +of Rudra, the gods set apart for evermore, the best allotment out of all +shares, such as was fresh and not stale (to be appropriated by the god). +Whosoever performs his ablutions at this spot, while reciting this +ancient story, beholds with his mortal eyes the path that leads to the +region of the gods.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then all the sons of Pandu and likewise the daughter +of Drupada--all of whom were the favoured of Fate--descended to the river +Vaitarani, and made libations to the names of their fathers.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O Lomasa, how great must be the force of a pious +deed! Having taken my bath at this spot in a proper form, I seem to touch +no more the region inhabited by mortal men! O saint of a virtuous life, I +am beholding all the regions. And this is the noise of the magnanimous +dwellers of the wood, who are reciting their audible prayers.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘O Yudhishthira, the place whence this noise comes and +reaches thy ears is at the distance of three hundred thousand yojanas, to +be sure. O lord of men, rest thou quiet and utter no word. O king, this +is the divine forest of the Self-existent One, which hath now come to our +view. There, O king, Viswakarma of a dreaded name performed religious +rites. On the mighty occasion of that sacrifice, the Self-existent One +made a gift of this entire earth with all its hilly and forest tracts, to +Kasyapa, by way of gratuity, for ministering as a priest. And then, O +Kuru’s son, as soon as that goddess Earth was giving away, she became sad +at heart, and wrathfully spake the following words to that great lord, +the ruler of the worlds, ‘O mighty god, it is unworthy of thee to give me +away to an ordinary mortal. And this act of gift on thy part will come to +nothing; (for) here am I going to descend into the bottom of the nether +world.’ Then when the blessed saint Kasyapa beheld the goddess Earth, +despondent and sad, he, O protector of men, performed a propitiatory act +calculated to appease her wrath. And then, O Pandu’s son, the Earth was +pleased with his pious deed. And she uprose again from within the waters, +and showed herself in the form of a sacred altar. This, O king, is the +spot which distinctly manifests the form of an altar. O great monarch, +ascend over it, and thou wilt gain valour and strength. And, O king, this +is the very altar which reaches as far as the sea, and rests itself upon +its bosom. May good luck be thine, do thou mount hereupon, and of thyself +cross the sea. And while thou this day mountest upon it, I shall +administer the ceremony for averting all evil from thee; for this altar +here, as soon as it gets a mortal’s touch, at once enters into the sea. +Salutation to the god who protects the universe! Salutation to thee that +art beyond the universe! O Lord of gods, vouchsafe thy presence in this +sea. O Pandu’s son, thou must recite the following words of truth, and +while so reciting, thou must quickly ascend this altar, ‘The god of fire, +and the sun, and the organ of generation, and water, and goddess and the +seed of Vishnu, and the navel of nectar. The god of fire is the organ +that generated the (ocean); the earth is thy body; Vishnu deposited the +seed that caused thy being and thou art the navel of nectar.’ Thus, O +Pandu’s son, the words of truth must be audibly recited, and while so +reciting, one must plunge into the lord of rivers. O most praiseworthy of +Kunti’s son, otherwise this lord of waters of divine birth, this best +storehouse of the waters (of the earth), should not be touched, O son of +Kunti, even with the end of a sacred grass.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then when the ceremony for averting evil had been +completed in his behalf, the magnanimous Yudhishthira went into the sea, +and having performed all that the saint had bid, repaired to the skirts +of the Mahendra hill, and spent the night at that spot.’” + + + +SECTION CXV + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The protector of the earth spent there a single +night, and with his brothers, paid the highest honours to the religious +men. And Lomasa made him acquainted with the names of all of them, such +as the Bhrigus, the Angiras, the Vasishthas, and the Kasyapas. And the +royal saint paid visit to them all and made obeisance to them with joined +palms. And then he asked the valiant Akritavrana, who was a follower of +Parasurama, when will the revered Parasurama show himself to the +religious men here? It is desired on that occasion to obtain a sight of +the descendant of Bhrigu.’ + +“Akritavrana said, ‘Thy journey to this spot is already known to Rama, +whose soul spontaneously knows everything. And he is in every way +well-pleased with thee, and he will show himself readily to thee. And the +saints who practise penances here, are permitted to see him on the +fourteenth and the eighth day of the lunar course. On the morrow at the +end of this very night there will set in the fourteenth day of the lunar +course. On that occasion thou wilt have a sight of him, clad in a sable +deerskin, and wearing his hair in the form of a matted mass.” + +“Yudhishthira said, Thou hast been a follower of the mighty Rama, +Jamadagni’s son; thou must, therefore, have been the eye-witness of all +the deeds achieved by him in former days. I, therefore, request thee to +narrate to me how the members of the military caste were vanquished by +Rama on the field of battle, and what the original cause of those +conflicts was.’ + +“Akritavrana said, ‘With pleasure shall I recite to thee that excellent +story, O Bharata’s son, O chief of kings, the story of the godlike deeds +of Rama, the son of Jamadagni, who traced his origin to Bhrigu’s race. I +shall also relate the achievements of the great ruler of the Haihaya +tribe. That king, Arjuna by name, the mighty lord of the Haihaya tribe +was killed by Rama. He, O Pandu’s son, was endued with a thousand arms; +and by the favour of Dattatreya he likewise had a celestial car made of +gold. And, O protector of the earth, his rule extended over the entire +animated world, wheresoever located on this earth. And the car of that +mighty monarch could proceed everywhere in an unobstructed course. And +grown resistless by the virtue of a granted boon, he ever mounted on that +car, trampled upon gods and Yakshas and saints on all sides round. And +all the born beings wheresoever placed, were harassed by him. Then the +celestials and the saints of a rigidly virtuous life, met together, and +thus spake to Vishnu, the god of gods, the slayer of demons, and +possessed of prowess that never failed, saying. ‘O blessed and revered +lord, for the purpose of preserving all the born beings, it is necessary +that Arjuna should be killed by thee.’ And the mighty ruler of the +Haihaya tribe placing himself on his celestial car, affronted Indra, +while that deity was enjoying himself with Sachi, his queen. Then, O +Bharata’s son, the blessed and the revered god (Vishhnu) held a +consultation with Indra, with a view to destroying Kartavirya’s son. And +on that occasion, all that was for the good of the world of beings, was +communicated by the lord of gods; and the blessed god worshipped by the +world, to do all that was necessary, went to the delightful Vadari wood +which was his own chosen retreat for practising penances. And at this +very time there lived on the earth a mighty monarch in the land of +Kanyakuvja, a sovereign whose military force was exceedingly great. And +his name of Gadhi was famous in the world. He, however, betook himself to +a forest-life. And while he was dwelling in the midst of the wood, there +was born to him a daughter beautiful as a nymph of heaven. And Richika, +the son of Bhrigu, asked for her to be united with himself in marriage. +And then Gadhi spake to that Brahmana, who led a rigidly austere life, +saying. There is a certain family custom in our race; it hath been +founded by my ancestors of a bygone age. And, O most excellent of the +sacerdotal caste, be it known to thee that the intending bridegroom must +offer a dowry consisting of a thousand fleet steeds, whose colour must be +brown and every one of whom must possess a single sable car. But, O +Bhrigu’s son, a reverend saint like thee cannot be asked to offer the +same. Nor can my daughter be refused to a magnanimous saint of thy +(exalted) rank.’ Thereupon Richika said, ‘I will give thee a thousand +fleet steeds, brown in hue and possessing a single sable car; let thy +daughter be given in marriage to me.’ + +“Akritavrana said. Thus having given his word, O king, he went and said +to Varuna, ‘Give me a thousand fleet steeds brown in colour, and each +with one black ear. I want the same as dowry for my marriage.’ To him +Varuna forthwith gave a thousand steeds. Those steeds had issued out of +the river Ganga; hence the spot hath been named: The horse’s landing +place. And in the city of Kanyakuvja, the daughter of Gadhi, Satyavati by +name, was given in marriage; and the gods themselves were of the party of +the bride. Richika, the most excellent of the sacerdotal caste, thus +procured a thousand steeds, and had a sight of the dwellers of heaven and +won a wife in the proper form. And he enjoyed himself with the girl of +slender waist, and thus gratified all the wishes and desire that he ever +had. And when the marriage had been celebrated, O king, his father Bhrigu +came on a visit to see him and his wife; and he was glad to see his +praiseworthy son. And the husband and wife together paid their best +respects to him, who was worshipped by all the gods. And when he had +seated himself, they both with joined palms, stood near him, in order +that they might to his bidding. And then the revered saint, Bhrigu, glad +at heart, thus spoke to his daughter-in-law, saying, ‘O lovely daughter, +as for a boon I am ready to grant thee any object of thy wish.’ And there +upon she asked for his favour in this, that a son might be born to both +herself and her mother. And he vouchsafed the favour thus asked for.’ + +“Bhrigu said, ‘During the days that your season lasts, thou and thy +mother must take a bath, with the ceremony for bringing forth a male +child. And ye two must then separately embrace two different trees--she a +peepal tree, and thou a fig tree. And, O dutiful girl, here are two pots +of rice and milk, prepared by me with the utmost care. I having ransacked +the whole universe to find the drugs, the essence whereof hath been +blended with this milk and rice. It must be taken as food with the +greatest care.’ And saying this, he vanished from sight. The two ladies, +however, made an interchange both in the matter of the pots of rice, and +likewise as regards the trees (to be embraced by each). Then after the +lapse of very many days, the revered saint, once more came. And he came +knowing (what had happened) by his attribute of divine knowledge. Then +Bhrigu possessed of mighty strength, spake to Satyavati, his +daughter-in-law, saying, ‘O dutiful girl! O my daughter of a lovely brow, +the wrong pot of rice thou tookest as food. And it was the wrong tree +which was embraced by thee. It was thy mother who deluded thee. A son +will be born of thee, who, though of the priestly caste, will be of a +character fit for the military order; while a mighty son will be born of +thy mother, who, though by birth a Kshatriya will assume a life suitable +to the sacerdotal order. And his power will be great, and he will walk on +the path trodden by righteous men.’ Then she entreated her father-in-law +again and again, saying, ‘Let not my son be of this character; but let my +grandson be such.’ And, O Pandu’s son, he replied, ‘So let it be!’ And +thus he was pleased to grant her prayer. Then she brought forth on the +expected day a son by name Jamadagni. And this son of Bhrigu was endowed +with both splendour and grace. And he grew in years and in strength, and +excelled he other saints in the proficiency of his Vaidik lore. O +chieftain of Bharata’s race, to him, rivalling in lustre the author of +light (the sun), came spontaneously and without instruction the knowledge +of the entire military art and of the fourfold missile arms.’” + + + +SECTION CXVI + +“Akritavrana said, ‘Jamadagni devoted himself to the study of the Veda +and the practice of sacred penances, and became famous for his great +austerities. Then he pursued a methodical course of study and obtained a +mastery over the entire Veda. And, O king, he paid a visit to Prasenajit +and solicited the hand of Renuka in marriage. And this prayer was granted +by the king. And the delight of Bhrigu’s race having thus obtained Renuka +for his wife, took his residence with her in a hermitage, and began to +practice penances, being assisted by her. And four boys were born of her, +with Rama for the fifth. And although the youngest, Rama was superior to +all in merit. Now once upon a time, when her sons had gone out for the +purpose of gathering fruits, Renuka who had a pure and austere life, went +out to bathe. And, O king, while returning home, she happened to cast her +glance towards the king of Martikavata, known by the name of Chitraratha. +The king was in the water with his wives, and wearing on his breast a +lotus wreath, was engaged in sport. And beholding his magnificent form, +Renuka was inspired with desire. And this unlawful desire she could not +control, but became polluted within the water, and came back to the +hermitage frightened at heart. Her husband readily perceived what state +she was in. And mighty and powerful and of a wrathful turn of mind, when +he beheld that she had been giddy and that the lustre of chastity had +abandoned her, he reproached her by crying out ‘Fie!’ At that very moment +came in the eldest of Jamadagni’s sons, Rumanvan; and then, Sushena, and +then, Vasu, and likewise, Viswavasu. And the mighty saint directed them +all one by one to put an end to the life of their mother. They, however, +were quite confounded and lost heart. And they could not utter a single +word. Then he in ire cursed them. And on being cursed they lost their +sense and suddenly became like inanimate objects, and comparable in +conduct to beasts and birds. And then Rama, the slayer of hostile heroes, +came to the hermitage, last of all. Him the mighty-armed Jamadagni, of +great austerities, addressed, saying, ‘Kill this wicked mother of thine, +without compunction, O my son.’ Thereupon Rama immediately took up an axe +and therewith severed his mother’s head. Then, O great king, the wrath of +Jamadagni of mighty soul, was at once appeased; and well-pleased, he +spake the following words, ‘Thou hast, my boy, performed at my bidding +this difficult task, being versed in virtue. Therefore, whatsoever wishes +there may be in thy heart, I am ready to grant them all. Do thou ask me.’ +Thereupon Rama solicited that his mother might be restored to life, and +that he might not be haunted by the remembrance of this cruel deed and +that he might not be affected by any sin, and that his brothers might +recover their former state, and that he might be unrivalled on the field +of battle, and that he might obtain long life. And, O Bharata’s son, +Jamadagni, whose penances were the most rigid, granted all those desires +of his son. Once, however, O lord, when his sons had gone out as before, +the valourous son of Kartavirya, the lord of the country near the shore +of the sea, came up to the hermitage. And when he arrived at that +hermitage, the wife of the saint received him hospitably. He, however, +intoxicated with a warrior’s pride, was not at all pleased with the +reception accorded to him, and by force and in defiance of all +resistance, seized and carried off from that hermitage the chief of the +cows whose milk supplied the sacred butter, not heeding the loud lowing +of the cow. And he wantonly pulled down the large trees of the wood. When +Rama came home, his father himself told him all that had happened. Then +when Rama saw how the cow was lowing for its calf, resentment arose in +his heart. And he rushed towards Kartavirya’s son, whose last moments had +drawn nigh. Then the descendant of Bhrigu, the exterminator of hostile +heroes, put forth his valour on the field of battle, and with sharpened +arrows with flattened tips, which were shot from a beautiful bow, cut +down Arjuna’s arms, which numbered a thousand, and were massive like +(wooden) bolts for barring the door. He, already touched by the hand of +death, was overpowered by Rama, his foe. Then the kinsmen of Arjuna, +their wrath excited against Rama, rushed at Jamadagni in his hermitage, +while Rama was away. And they slew him there; for although his strength +was great, yet being at the time engaged in penances, he would not fight. +And while thus attacked by his foes, he repeatedly shouted the name of +Rama in a helpless and piteous way. And, O Yudhishthira, the sons of +Kartavirya shot Jamadagni, with their arrows, and having thus chastised +their foe, went their way. And when they had gone away, and when +Jamadagni had breathed his last, Rama, the delight of Bhrigu’s race, +returned to the hermitage, bearing in his arms, fuel for religious rites. +And the hero beheld his father who had been put to death. And grieved +exceedingly he began to bewail the unworthy fate that had laid his father +low.” + + + +SECTION CXVII + +“Rama said, ‘The blame is mine, O father, that like a stag in the wood, +thou hast been shot dead with arrows, by those mean and stupid +wretches--the sons of Kartavirya. And O father, virtuous and unswerving +from the path of righteousness and inoffensive to all animated beings as +thou wert, how came it to be permitted by Fate that thou shouldst die in +this way? What an awful sin must have been committed by them, who have +killed thee with hundreds of sharpened shafts, although thou wert an aged +man, and engaged in penances at the time and absolutely averse to +fighting with them. With what face will those shameless persons speak of +this deed of theirs to their friends and servants, viz., that they have +slain an unassisted and unresisting virtuous man?--O protector of men, +thus he, great in penance, bewailed much in a piteous manner, and then +performed the obsequies of his departed sire. And Rama, the conqueror of +hostile cities, cremated his father on the funeral pyre, and vowed, O +scion of Bharata’s race, the slaughter of the entire military caste, and +of exceeding strength in the field of battle, and possessed of valour +suited to a heroic soul, and comparable to the god of death himself, he +took up his weapon in wrathful mood, and singlehanded put Kartavirya’s +sons to death. And, O chieftain of the military caste, Rama, the leader +of all capable of beating their foes, thrice smote down all the +Kashatriya followers of Kartavirya’s sons. And seven times did that +powerful lord exterminate the military tribes of the earth. In the tract +of land, called Samantapanchaka five lakes of blood were made by him. +There the mightiest scion of Bhrigu’s race offered libations to his +forefathers--the Bhrigus, and Richika appeared to him in a visible form, +and spake to him words of counsel. Then the son of Jamadagni of dreaded +name, performed a mighty sacrifice and gratified the lord of the +celestials, and bestowed the earth to the ministering priests. And, O +protector of human beings, he raised an altar made of gold, ten Vyamas in +breadth and nine in height, and made a gift of the same to the +magnanimous Kasyapa. Then at Kasyapa’s bidding the Brahamanas divided the +altar into a number of shares, and thus they became reputed as the +Khandavayamas (share takers). And the exterminator of the military race +possessed of immense strength, bestowed the earth upon the high-souled +Kasyapa, and then became engaged in penance of an exceedingly severe +form. He now dwells in this Mahendra, monarch of hills. Thus did +hostilities arise between him and the members of the military caste,--all +of them who dwell on this earth; and Rama, endowed with immense strength, +in this way subdued the entire world.’ + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then on the fourteenth day of the moon, the +mighty-souled Rama at the proper hour showed himself to those members of +the priestly caste and also to the virtuous king (Yudhishthira) and his +younger brothers. And, O king of kings, the lord together with his +brothers, worshipped Rama, and, O most righteous of the rulers of men, +the very highest honours were paid by him to all those members of the +twice-born class. And after worshipping Jamadagni’s son and having +received words of praise from him, at his direction he spent the night on +the Mahendra hill, and then started on his journey towards the southern +regions.’” + + + +SECTION CXVIII + +Vaisampayana said, “The magnanimous monarch pursued his journey, and at +different spots on the shore of the sea visited the various bathing +places, all sacred and pleasant and frequented by men of the sacerdotal +caste. And O son of Parikshit! He in proper form took his bath in them +together with his younger brothers and then went to an excellent river, +the holiest of all. There also the magnanimous king, took his plunge, and +offered libations to his forefathers and the gods, and distributed riches +to the leaders of the twice-born class. Then he went to the Godavari, a +river that falls directly into the sea. There he was freed from his sins. +And he reached the sea in the Dravida land, and visited the holy spot +passing under Agastya’s name, which was exceedingly sacred and +exceptionally pure. And the valiant king visited the feminine sacred +spots. Here he listened to the story of that well-known feat which was +achieved by Arjuna, chief of all wielders of the bow, and which was +beyond the power of human beings to perform. And here he was praised by +the highest members of the saintly class, and the son of Pandu +experienced the greatest delight. And, O protector of the earth! the +ruler of the world, accompanied by Krishna bathed in those holy spots, +and speaking of Arjuna’s valour in laudatory terms delightfully spent his +time in the place. Then he gave away thousands of cows at those holy +spots on the coast of the sea; and with his brothers narrated well +pleased how Arjuna had made a gift of kine. And he, O king! visited one +by one those holy places on the coast of the sea and many other sacred +spots, and thus fulfilled his heart’s desire, till he came to the holiest +of all known by the name of Suparaka. Then having crossed a certain tract +on the coast of the sea, he reached a forest celebrated on earth. There +the deities had practised asceticism in former days, and likewise +virtuous rulers of men had performed sacrificial rites. There he, +possessed of long and lusty arms, beheld the celebrated altar of +Richika’s son, who was the foremost of all wielders of the bow. And the +altar was girt round by hosts of ascetics, and was fit to be worshipped +by persons of a virtuous life. Then the king beheld the holy and +delightful shrines of all the gods and of the Vasus, and of the hosts of +wind and of the two celestial physicians and of Yama, son of the sun and +of the lord of riches, and of Indra, and of Vishnu, and of the lord +Creator and of Siva, and of the moon, and of the author of day, and of +the lord of waters, and of the host of Sadhyas, and of Brahma, and of the +forefathers, and of Rudra together with all his followers, and of the +goddess of learning, and of the host of Siddhas, and of many immortal +holy gods besides. And in those shrines the king observed various fasts, +and gave away large quantities of gems. He plunged his body in all the +holy spots, and then came again to Surparaka. And he by the same +landing-place of the sea again proceeded with his uterine brothers and +came over to the holy spot Prabhasa, whereof fame hath been spread by +mighty Brahmanas throughout the world. There he, possessed of a pair of +large red eyes, washed himself with all his younger brothers, and offered +libations to the forefathers and the celestial hosts; and so did Krishna +and all those Brahmanas together with Lomasa. For twelve days he +subsisted upon air and water. And he performed ablutions for days and +nights and surrounded himself with fires kindled on all sides. Thus that +greatest of all virtuous men engaged himself in asceticism. While he was +acting thus, information reached both Valarama and Krishna that the king +was practising penances of a most austere form and these two leaders of +the entire Vrishni tribe accompanied with troops came to Yudhishthira of +Ajamidha’s race. And when the Vrishnis beheld that the sons of Pandu lay +down on the ground, their bodies besmeared all over with dirt and when +they beheld the daughter of Drupada in a sad state, their grief was great +and they could not refrain from breaking out in loud lamentations. Then +the king, whose courage was such that misfortune never could cast him +down, cordially met Rama and Krishna and Samva, Krishna’s son, and the +grand-son of Sini and other Vrishnis, and paid honour to them in a +suitable form. And they also in return paid honour to all the sons of +Pritha, and were similarly honoured by Pandu’s sons. And they seated +themselves round about Yudhishthira, as round Indra, O king! are seated +the celestial hosts. And highly pleased, he recounted to them all the +machinations of his adversaries, and how also he had resided in the +forest, and how Arjuna had gone to Indra’s abode in order to learn the +science of arms--all this he related with a gladdened heart. And they +were happy to learn all this news from him; but when they saw the +Pandavas so exceedingly lean, the majestic and magnanimous Vrishnis could +not forbear shedding tears, which spontaneously gushed from their eyes on +account of the agony they felt.” + + + +SECTION CXIX + +Janamejaya said, “O thou of ascetic wealth! when the sons of Pandu and +the Vrishnis reached the holy spot Prabhasa, what did they do and what +conversation was held there by them, for all of them were of mighty +souls, proficient in all the branches of science and both the Vrishnis +and the sons of Pandu held one another in friendly estimation.” + +Vaisampayana said, “When the Vrishnis reached the holy spot Prabhasa, the +sacred landing-place on the coast of the sea, they surrounded the sons of +Pandu and waited upon them. Then Valarama, resembling in hue the milk of +the cow and the Kunda flower and the moon and the silver and the lotus +root and who wore a wreath made of wild flowers and who had the +ploughshare for his arms, spake to the lotuseyed one, saying, ‘O Krishna, +I do not see that the practice of virtue leads to any good or that +unrighteous practices can cause evil, since the magnanimous Yudhishthira +is in this miserable state, with matted hair, a resident of the wood, and +for his garment wearing the bark of trees. And Duryodhana is now ruling +the earth, and the ground doth not yet swallow him up. From this, a +person of limited sense would believe a vicious course of life is +preferable to a virtuous one. When Duryodhana is in a flourishing state +and Yudhishthira, robbed of his throne, is suffering thus, what should +people do in such a matter?--This is the doubt that is now perplexing all +men. Here is the lord of men sprung from the god of virtue, holding fast +to a righteous path, strictly truthful and of a liberal heart. This son +of Pritha would give up his kingdom and his pleasure but would not swerve +from the righteous path, in order to thrive. How is it that Bhishma and +Kripa and the Brahmana Drona and the aged king, the senior member of the +house, are living happily, after having banished the sons of Pritha? Fie +upon the vicious-minded leaders of Bharata’s race! What will that sinner, +the chieftain of the earth, say to the departed forefathers of his race, +when the wretch will meet them in the world to come? Having hurled from +the throne his in-offensive sons, will he be able to declare that he had +treated them in a blameless way? He doth not now see with his mind’s eye +how he hath become so sightless, and on account of what act he hath grown +blind among the kings of this entire earth. Is it not because he hath +banished Kunit’s son from his kingdom? I have no doubt that +Vichitravirya’s son, when he with his sons perpetrated this inhuman act, +beheld on the spot where dead bodies are burnt, flowering trees of a +golden hue. Verily he must have asked them, when those stood before him +with their shoulders projected forward towards him, and with their large +red eyes staring at him, and he must have listened to their evil advice, +since he fearlessly sent away Yudhishthira to the forest, who had all his +weapons of war with him and was borne company by his younger brothers. +This Bhima here, whose voracious appetite is like that of a wolf, is able +to destroy with the sole strength of his powerful arms, and without the +help of any weapons of war, a formidable array of hostile troops. The +forces in the field of battle were utterly unmanned on hearing his +war-cry. And now the strong one is suffering from hunger and thirst, and +is emaciated with toilsome journeys. But when he will take up in his hand +arrows and diverse other weapons of war, and meet his foes in the field +of battle, he will then remember the sufferings of his exceedingly +miserable forest-life, and kill his enemies to a man: of a certainty do I +anticipate this. There is not throughout the whole world a single soul +who can boast of strength and prowess equal to his. And his body, alas! +is emaciated with cold, and heat and winds. But when he will stand up for +fight, he will not leave a single man out of his foes. This powerful +hero, who is a very great warrior when mounted on a car--this Bhima, of +appetite rivalling a wolf’s conquered single-handed all the rulers of men +in the east, together with, those who followed them in battle; and he +returned from those wars safe and uninjured. And that same Bhima, +miserably dressed in the bark of trees, is now leading a wretched life in +the woods. This powerful Sahadeva vanquished all the kings in the south; +those lords of men who had gathered on the coast of the sea,--look at him +now in an anchorite’s dress. Valiant in battle Nakula vanquished +single-handed the kings who ruled the regions towards the west,--and he +now walks about the wood, subsisting on fruit and roots, with a matted +mass of hair on the head, and his body besmeared all over with dirt. This +daughter of a king, who is a great soldier when mounted on a car, took +her rise from beneath the altar, during the pomp of sacrificial rites. +She hath been always accustomed to a life of happiness; how is she now +enduring this exceedingly miserable life in this wood! And the son of the +god of virtue,--virtue which stands at the head of all the there pursuits +of life--and the son of the wind-god and also the son of the lord of +celestials, and those two sons of the celestial physicians,--being the +sons of all those gods and always accustomed to a life of happiness, how +are they living in this wood, deprived of all comforts? When the son of +Virtue met with defeat, and when his wife, his brothers, his followers, +and himself were all driven forth, and Duryodhana began to flourish, why +did not the earth subside with all its hills?” + + + +SECTION CXX + +Satyaki said, “O Rama! this is not the time of lamentation; let us do +that which is proper and suited to the present occasion, although +Yudhishthira doth not speak a single word. Those who have persons to look +after their welfare do not undertake anything of themselves; they have +others to do their work, as Saivya and others did for Yayati. Likewise, O +Rama! those who have appointed functionaries to undertake their work on +their own responsibility, as the leaders of men, they may be said to have +real patrons, and they meet with no difficulty, like helpless beings. How +is it that when the sons of Pritha have for their patrons these two men, +Rama and Krishna, and the two others, Pradyumna and Samva, together with +myself,--these patrons being able to protect all the three worlds,--how +is it that the son of Pritha is living in the wood with his brothers? It +is fit that this very day the army of the Dasarhas should march out, +variously armed and with checkered mails. Let Dhritarashtra’s sons be +overwhelmed with the forces of the Vrishinis and let them go with their +friends to the abode of the god of death. Let him alone who wields the +bow made of the horn (Krishna), thou alone, if roused, wouldst be able to +surround even the whole of this earth. I ask thee to kill Dhritarashtra’s +son with all his men, as the great Indra, the lord of the gods kill +Vritra. Arjuna, the son of Pritha, is my brother, and also my friend, and +also my preceptor, and is like the second self of Krishna. It is for this +that men desire for a worthy son, and that preceptor seeks a pupil who +would contradict him not. It is for this that the time is come for that +excellent work, which is the best of all tasks and difficult to perform. +I shall baffle Duryodhana’s volleys of arms by my own excellent weapons. +I shall overpower all in the field of battle. I shall in my wrath cut off +his head with my excellent shafts, little inferior to snakes and poison +and fire. And with the keen edge of my sword, I shall forcibly sever his +head from the trunk, in the field of battle; then I shall kill his +followers, and Duryodhana, and all of Kuru’s race. O son of Rohini! let +the followers of Bhima look at me with joy at their heart, when I shall +keep up the weapons of war in the field of battle, and when I shall go on +slaying all the best fighting men on the side of the Kurus, as at the end +of time fire will burn vast heaps of straw. Kripa and Drona and Vikarna +and Kama are not able to bear the keen arrows shot by Pradyumna. I know +the power of Arjuna’s son--he conducts himself like the son of Krishna in +the field of battle. Let Samva chastise by the force of his arms +Dussasana; let him destroy by force Dussasana and his charioteer and his +car. In the field of battle when the son of Jamvavati becomes +irresistible in fight, there is nothing which can withstand his force. +The army of the demon Samvara was speedily routed by him when only a boy. +By him was killed in fight Asvachakra, whose thighs were round, and whose +muscular arms were of exceeding length. Who is there that would be able +to go forward to the car of Samva, who is great in fight, when mounted on +a car? As a mortal coming under the clutches of death can never escape; +so who is there that once coming under his clutches in the field of +battle, is able to return with his life? The son of Vasudeva will burn +down by the volleys of his fiery shafts all the hostile troops, and those +two warriors, Bhishma and Drona,--who are great on a car, and Somadatta +surrounded by all his sons. What is there in all the world including the +gods, which Krishna cannot encounter on an equal footing, when he takes +up the weapons of war, wields in his hands excellent arrows, arms himself +with his dice, and thus becomes unrivalled in fight? Then let Aniruddha +also take up in his hand his buckler and sword, and let him cover the +surface of the earth with Dhritarashtra’s sons, their heads separated +from their trunks, their bodies devoid of all consciousness as in a +sacrificial rite the altar is overspread with sacred grass placed upon +the same. And Gada and Uluka, and Vahuka and Bhanu and Nitha and the +young Nishatha valiant in battle and Sarana, and Charudeshna, +irresistible in war, let them perform feats befitting their race. Let the +united army of the Satwatas and Suras, together with the best soldiers of +the Vrishnis, the Bhojas, and the Andhakas, kill those sons of +Dhritarashtra in the field of battle and let them swell their expanded +fame throughout the world. Then let Abhimanyu rule the world so long as +this most excellent of virtuous men, the magnanimous Yudhishthira, may be +engaged in fulfilling his vow,--the vow that was accepted and declared by +him, the most righteous of Kuru’s race, on the occasion of the famous +play at dice. Afterwards the virtuous king will protect the earth, all +his foes defeated in battle by shafts which will be discharged by us. +Then there will remain no sons of Dhritarashtra on earth,--nor the son of +the charioteer (Kama). This is the most important work for us to do, and +this will surely lead to fame.” + +“Krishna said, ‘O scion of the race of Madhu! no doubt what thou sayest +is true; we accept thy words, O thou of courage that is never weak! But +this bull of the Kuru race (Yudhishthira) would never accept the +sovereignty of the earth, unless it were won by the prowess of his own +arms. Neither for the sake of pleasure, nor from fear, nor from +covetousness, would Yudhishthira ever renounce the rules of the caste; +nor would these two heroes, who are mighty, when mounted on a car--Bhima +and Arjuna; nor the twin brothers, nor Krishna, the daughter of Drupada. +He possessing the appetite of a wolf (Bhima), and the winner of riches +(Arjuna), are both unrivalled in fight throughout the world. And why +should not this king rule over the entire world when he hath the two sons +of Madri to espouse his cause? The high-souled ruler of Panchala together +with the Kekaya king, and we also should put forth our united strength, +and then would the enemies of Yudhisthira be annihilated.’” + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘It is not strange that thou shouldst speak thus, O +scion of Madhu’s race! but to me truth seems to be the first +consideration, above that of my sovereign power itself. But it is Krishna +alone who precisely knoweth what I am; and it is I alone who precisely +know what Krishna (really) is. O thou endued with valour! O scion of +Madhu’s race! as soon as he will perceive that the time is come for feats +of bravery, then, O most valiant of Sini’s race, he also of beautiful +hair (Krishna) will defeat Suyodhana. Let the brave men of the Dasarha +race go back today. They are my patrons; and the foremost of human +beings, they have visited me here. O ye of immeasurable strength! never +fall off from the path of virtue. I shall see you again, when ye will be +happily gathered together.’ + +“Then after mutual greeting and obeisance to seniors, and having embraced +the youthful, those valiant men of the Yadu race and the sons of Pandu +separated. And the Yadus reunited to their home; and the Pandavas +continued their journey to the sacred spots. Then having parted with +Krishna, the virtuous king, accompanied by his brothers and servants, and +also by Lomasa, went to the sacred river Payosini. Its fine landing place +was constructed by the king of Vidarbha. And he began to dwell on the +banks of the Payosini, whose waters were mingled with the distilled Soma +juice. There the high-souled Yudhishthira was greeted with excellent +laudatory, terms by numerous leaders of the twice-born class, who were +delighted to see him there.” + + + +SECTION CXXI + +Lomasa said, “O king! when the Nriga performed a sacrifice here, he +gratified Indra, the demolisher of hostile cities, by offering the Soma +juice. And Indra was refreshed and was very much pleased. Here the gods +together with Indira, and the protectors of all born beings, celebrated +sacrifices of various kinds on a large scale, and paid abundant +gratuities to the ministering priests. Here king Amurtarayasa, the lord +of the world, satisfied Indra, the holder of the thunderbolt, by the +offer of the Soma juice, when seven horse-sacrifices were performed by +that king. The articles which in other sacrificial rites are uniformly +made of the timber, wood and of earth, were all made of gold in the seven +sacrifices performed by him. And it is said that in all those rites, +seven sets of stakes, rings for the sacrificial stakes, spots, ladles, +utensils, spoons were prepared by him. On each sacrificial stake, seven +rings were fastened at the top. And, O Yudhishthira! the celestials +together with Indira, themselves erected the sacrificial stakes of +shining gold which had been prepared for his sacred rites. In all those +magnificent sacrifices instituted by Gaya, the protector of the earth, +Indira, was delighted by drinking the Soma juice, and the ministering +priests were gratified with the gratuities paid to them. And the priests +obtained untold wealth counted out to them. And as the sand-grains of the +earth, or as the stars in the sky, or as the rain-drops when it raineth, +cannot be counted by anyone, so the wealth Gaya gave away was incapable +of being counted by figures. So untold was the wealth, O great king! that +was given to the ministering priests in all those seven sacrifices that +even the above-mentioned objects might be counted by figures, but the +gratuities bestowed by him whose largeness exceeded all that was known +before were not capable of being counted by figures. And images of the +goddess of speech were made of gold by the sculptor of the gods;--and the +king gratified the members of the sacerdotal caste, who had arrived from +all the cardinal points, by making presents to them of those images, of +gold. O protector of men! when the high-souled Gaya performed his +sacrificial rites, he erected sacrificial piles at so many different +spots that but little space was left on the surface of the earth. And, O +scion of Bharata’s race! he by that sacred act attained the regions of +Indra. Whoever should bathe in the river, Payosini, would go to the +regions attained by Gaya. Therefore, O lord of kings! O unswerving +prince! thou and thy brothers should bathe in this river; then, O +protector of the earth, thou wilt be freed from all these sins.” + +Vaisampayana said, “O most praiseworthy of men! Yudhishthira with his +brothers performed ablutions in the Payosini river. Then, O sinless +prince! the powerful monarch together with his brothers, journeyed to the +hill of sapphires and the great river Narmada. The blessed saint Lomasa +there named to him all the delightful holy spots and all the sacred +shrines of the celestials. Then he with his brothers visited those +places, according to his desire and convenience. And at various places +Brahmanas by thousands received gifts from him.” + +“Lomasa said, ‘O son of Kunti! one who visits the sapphire Hill and +plunges his body in the river Narmada attains the regions inhabited by +the celestials and kings. O most praiseworthy of men! this period is the +junction between the Treta and the Kali age, O Kunti’s son! This is the +period when a person gets rid of all his sins. O respected sir! this is +the spot where Saryati performed sacrificial rites, wherein Indra +appeared in a visible form and drank the Soma juice, with the two +celestial physicians. And Bhrigu’s son of severe austerities conceived +anger towards the great Indra; and the mighty Chyavana paralysed Indra, +and for his wife obtained the princess, Sukanya.’” + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘How was the chastiser of the demon Paka, the god +possessed of the six attributes, paralysed by Chyavana? And for what +reason did the mighty saint conceive wrath towards Indra? And how, O +Brahmana! did he raise the celestial physicians to the rank of the +drinkers of Soma? All this, precisely as it happened, thy venerable self +will be pleased to recount to me.’” + + + +SECTION CXXII + +“Lomasa said, ‘A son was born to the great saint Bhrigu, Chyavana by +name. And he, of an exceedingly resplendent form, began to practise +austerities by the side of yonder lake. And, O Pandu’s son! O protector +of men! he of mighty energy assumed the posture called Vira, quiet and +still like an inanimate post, and for a long period, remained at the same +spot of ground. And he was turned into an anthill covered over with +creepers. And after the lapse of a long period, swarms of ants enveloped +him. And covered all over with ants, the sagacious saint looked exactly +like a heap of earth. And he went on practising austerities, enveloped on +all sides with that ant-hill. Now after the lapse of a long space of +time, that ruler of earth, Saryati by name, for amusement visited this +pleasant and excellent lake. With him were four thousand females, +espoused by him, O son of Bharata’s race! there was also his only +daughter endued with beautiful brows, named Sukanya. She surrounded by +her maids, and decked out with jewels fit for the celestials, while +walking about, approached the anthill where Bhrigu’s son was seated. And +surrounded by her maids, she began to amuse herself there, viewing the +beautiful scenery, and looking at the lofty trees of the wood. And she +was handsome and in the prime of her youth; and she was amorous and bent +on frolicking. And she began to break the twigs of the forest trees +bearing blossoms. And Bhrigu’s son endued with intelligence beheld her +wandering like lightning, without her maids, and wearing a single piece +of cloth and decked with ornaments. And seeing her in the lone forest, +that ascetic of exceeding effulgence was inspired with desire. And that +regenerate Rishi possessing ascetic energy, who had a low voice, called +the auspicious one,--but she heard him not. Then seeing the eyes of +Bhrigu’s son from the ant-hill, Sukanya from curiosity and losing her +sense, said, ‘What is this?’--and with thorns pierced the eyes (of the +Rishi). And as his eyes being pierced by her, he felt exceeding pain and +became wroth. And (from anger) he obstructed the calls of nature of +Saryati’s forces. And on their calls of nature being obstructed, the men +were greatly afflicted. And seeing this state of things, the king asked. +‘Who is it that hath done wrong to the illustrious son of Bhrigu, old and +ever engaged in austerities and of wrathful temper? Tell me quick if ye +know it’. The soldiers (thereupon) answered him saying, ‘We do not know +whether any one hath done wrong to the Rishi. Do thou, as thou list, make +a searching enquiry into the matter. Thereupon that ruler of earth, using +(as he saw occasion) both menace and conciliation, asked his friends +(about the circumstance). But they too did not know anything. Seeing that +the army was distressed owing to the obstruction of the calls of nature, +and also finding her father aggrieved, Sukanya said, ‘Roving in the +forest, I lighted in the ant-hill here upon some brilliant substance. +Thereupon taking it for a glow-worm I neared it, and pierced it (with +thorns); Hearing this Saryati immediately came to the ant-hill, and there +saw Bhrigu’s son, old both in years and austerities. Then the lord of +earth with joined hands, besought (the ascetic) saying, ‘It behoveth thee +to forgive what my daughter through ignorance and greenness, hath done +unto thee.” Chyavana the son of Bhrigu, addressed the monarch saying, +‘Disregarding me, this one, filled with pride hath pierced my eyes. Even +her, O king, endued with beauty and who was bereft of her senses by +ignorance and temptation--even thy daughter would I have for my bride, I +tell thee truly, on this condition alone will I forgive thee.’ + +Lomasa said, “Hearing the words of the sage, Saryati, without pausing, +bestowed his daughter on the high-souled Chyavana. Having received the +hand of that girl, the holy one was pleased with the king. And having won +the Rishi’s grace, the king went to his city, accompanied by his troops. +And the faultless Sukanya also having obtained that ascetic for her +husband, began to tend him, practising penances, and observing the +ordinance. And that one of a graceful countenance, and void of guile +worshipped Chyavana, and also ministered unto guests, and the sacred +fire.” + + + +SECTION CXXIII + +“Lomasa said, ‘Once on a time, O king, those celestials, namely the twin +Aswins, happened to behold Sukanya, when she had (just) bathed, and when +her person was bare. And seeing that one of excellent limbs, and like +unto the daughter of the lord of celestials, the nose-born Aswins neared +her, and addressed her, saying, ‘O thou of shapely thighs, whose daughter +art thou? And what doest thou in this wood? O auspicious one, O thou of +excellent grace, we desire to know this, do thou therefore tell us.’ +Thereupon she replied bashfully unto those foremost of celestials. ‘Know +me as Sarayati’s daughter, and Chyavana’s wife.’ Thereat the Aswins again +spake unto her, smiling. ‘What for, O fortunate one, hath thy father +bestowed thee on a person who is verging on death? Surely, O timid girl, +thou shinest in this wood like lightning. Not in the regions of the +celestials themselves, O girl, have our eyes lighted on thy like. O +damsel, unadornedand without gay robes as thou art, thou beautifiest this +wood exceedingly. Still, O thou of faultless limbs, thou canst not look +so beautiful, when (as at present) thou art soiled with mud and dirt, as +thou couldst, if decked with every ornament and wearing gorgeous apparel. +Why, O excellent girl in such plight servest thou a decrepit old husband, +and one that hath become incapable of realising pleasure and also of +maintaining thee, O thou of luminous smiles? O divinely beautiful damsel, +do thou, forsaking Chyavana accept one of us for husband. It behoveth +thee not to spend thy youth fruitlessly.’” + +“Thus addressed Sukanya answered the celestials saying. ‘I am devoted to +my husband, Chyavana: do ye not entertain any doubts (regarding my +fidelity). Thereupon they again spake unto her, ‘We two are the celestial +physicians of note. We will make thy lord young and graceful. Do thou +then select one of us, viz., ourselves and thy husband,--for thy partner. +Promising this do thou, O auspicious one, bring hither thy husband.’ .. O +king, agreeably to their words she went to Bhrigu’s son and communicated +to him what the two celestials had said. Hearing her message, Chyavana +said unto his wife, ‘Do thou so.’ Having received the permission of her +lord, (she returned to the celestials) and said, ‘Do ye so.’ Then hearing +her words, viz., ‘Do ye so,’ they spoke unto the king’s daughter. ‘Let +thy husband enter into water.’ Thereat Chyavana desirous of obtaining +beauty, quickly entered into water. The twin Aswins also, O king, sank +into the sheet of water. And the next moment they all came out of the +tank in surpassingly beautiful forms, and young and wearing burnished +earrings. And all, possessed of the same appearance pleasing to behold, +addressed her saying, ‘O fortunate one, do thou choose one of us for +spouse. And O beauteous one, do thou select him for lord who may please +thy fancy.’ Finding, however, all of them of the same appearance she +deliberated; and at last ascertaining the identity of her husband, even +selected him. + +“Having obtained coveted beauty and also his wife, Chyavana, of exceeding +energy, well pleased, spake these words unto the nose-born celestials: +‘Since at your hands, an old man, I have obtained youth, and beauty, and +also this wife of mine, I will, well pleased, make you quaffers of the +Soma juice in the presence of the lord of celestials himself. This I tell +you truly.’ Hearing this, highly delighted, the twins ascendedto heaven; +and Chyavana and Sukanya too passed their days happily even like +celestials.” + + + +SECTION CXXIV + +“Lomasa said, ‘Now the news came to Saryati that Chyavana had been turned +into a youth. And well pleased he came, accompanied by his troops, to the +hermitage of the son of Bhrigu. And he saw Chyavana and Sukanya, like two +children sprung from celestials, and his joy and that of his wife were as +great as if the king had conquered the entire world. And the ruler of +earth together with his wife was received honourably by that saint. And +the king seated himself near the ascetic, and entered into a delightful +conversation of an auspicious kind. Then, O king, the son of Bhrigu spake +to the king these words of a soothing nature: ‘I shall, O king, officiate +at a religious ceremony to be performed by thee: let the requisite +articles, therefore, be procured.’ Thereat, that protector of earth +Saryati, experienced the very height of joy, and O great king, he +expressed his approbation of the proposal made by Chyavana. And on an +auspicious day, suitable for the commencement of a sacrificial ceremony, +Saryati ordered the erection of a sacrificial shrine of an excellent +description and splendidly furnished with all desirable things. There +Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu, officiated for the king as his priest. Now +listen to me relating the wonderful events which happened at that spot. +Chyavana took up a quantity of the Soma juice, in order that he might +offer the same to the Aswins, who were physicians to the celestials. And +while the saint was taking up the intended offering for those celestial +twins, Indra pronounced his interdiction, saying, These Aswins both of +them in my opinion have no right to receive an offering of the Soma +juice.’ They are the physicians of the celestials in heaven,--this +vocation of theirs hath disentitled them (in the matter of Soma). +Thereupon Chyavana said, ‘These two are of mighty enterprise, possessed +of mighty souls, and uncommonly endued with beauty and grace. And they, O +Indra, have converted me into an eternally youthful person, even like +unto a celestial. Why shouldst thou and the other celestials have a right +to the distilled Soma juice, and not they? O lord of the celestials, O +demolisher of hostile towns! be it known to thee that the Aswins also +rank as gods.’ At this, Indra spake saying, These two practise the +healing art,--so they are but servants. And assuming forms at their +pleasure they roam about in the world of mortal beings. How can they then +rightfully claim the juice of the Soma? + +“Lomasa said, ‘When these very identical words were spoken again and +again by the lord of celestials, the son of Bhrigu, setting Indra at +naught, took up the offering he had intended to make. And as he was about +to take up an excellent portion of the Soma juice with the object of +offering it to the two Aswins, the destroyer of the demon Vala (Indra) +observed his act, and thus spoke unto him, ‘If thou take up the Soma with +a view to offering it to those celestials, I shall hurl at thee my +thunderbolt of awful form, which is superior to all the weapons that +exist.’ Thus addressed by Indra, the son of Bhrigu, cast at Indra a +smiling glance, and took up in due form a goodly quantity of the Soma +juice, to make an offering to the Aswins. Then Sachi’s lord hurled at him +the thunderbolt of awful form. And as he was about to launch it, his arm +was paralysed by Bhrigu’s son. And having paralysed his arm, Chyavana +recited sacred hymns, and made offering on the fire. His object gained, +he now attempted to destroy that celestial. Then by the virtue of that +saint’s ascetic energy, an evil spirit came into being,--a huge demon, +Mada by name, of great strength and gigantic proportions. And his body +was incapable of being measured either by demons or by gods. And his +mouth was terrible and of huge size, and with teeth of sharpened edge. +And one of his jaws rested on the earth, and the other stretched to +heaven. And he had four fangs, each extending as far as one hundred +yojanas, and his other fangs were extended to the distance of ten +yojanas, and were of a form resembling towers on a palace, and which +might be likened to the ends of spears. And his two arms were like unto +hills, and extended ten thousand yojanas, and both were of equal bulk. +And his two eyes resembled the sun and the moon; and his face rivalled +the conflagration at the universal dissolution. And he was licking his +mouth with his tongue, which, like lightning, knew no rest. And his mouth +was open, and his glance was frightful, and seemed as if he would +forcibly swallow up the world. The demon rushed at the celestial by whom +a hundred sacrifices had been performed. And his intent was to devour +that deity. And the world resounded with the loud and frightful sounds +uttered by the Asura.” + + + +SECTION CXXV + +“Lomasa said, ‘When the god who had performed a hundred sacrifices +(Indra) beheld the demon Mada of a frightful mien, coming towards him +with open mouth, his intention being to devour him, and looking like the +god of death himself, while his own arms remained paralysed, he through +fear repeatedly licked the corners of his mouth. Then the lord of the +celestials, tortured with fright, spake to Chyavana saying, ‘O Bhrigu’s +son! O Brahmana! verily I tell thee as truth itself, that from this day +forward the two Aswins will be entitled to the Soma juice. Be merciful to +me! My undertaking can never come to naught. Let this be the rule. And I +know, O saint of the sacerdotal caste! that thy work can never come to +nothing. These two Aswins will have a right to drink the Soma juice, +since thou hast made them entitled to the same. And, O Bhrigu’s son, I +have done this but to spread the fame of thy powers, and my object was to +give thee an occasion for displaying thy powers. My other object was that +the fame of the father of this Sukanya here might spread everywhere. +Therefore be merciful to me: let it be as thou wishest.’ Being thus +addressed by Indra, the wrath of Chyavana of mighty soul was quickly +appeased, and he set free the demolisher of hostile cities (Indra). And +the powerful saint, O king! distributed Mada (literally intoxication), +and put it piece-meal in drinks, in women, in gambling, and in field +sports, even this same Mada who had been created repeatedly before. +Having thus cast down the demon Mada and gratified Indra with a Soma +draught and assisted king Saryati in worshipping all the gods together +with the two Aswins and also spread his fame for power over all the +worlds, the best of those endued with speech passed his days happily in +the wood, in the company of Sukanya, his loving wife. This is his lake, +shining, O king! and resounding with the voice of birds. Here must thou, +together with thy uterine brothers, offer libations of water to thy +forefathers and the gods. And, O ruler of earth! O scion of Bharata’s +race! having visited it and Sikataksha also, thou shalt repair to the +Saindhava wood, and behold a number of small artificial rivers. And O +great king, O scion of Bharata’s race! thou shalt touch the waters of all +the holy lakes and reciting the hymns of the god Sthanu (Siva), meet with +success in every undertaking. For this is the junction, O most +praiseworthy of men, of the two ages of the world, viz., Dwapara and +Treta. It is a time, O Kunti’s son! capable of destroying all the sins of +a person. Here do thou perform ablutions, for the spot is able to remove +all the sins of an individual. Yonder is the Archika hill, a dwelling +place for men of cultured minds. Fruits of all the seasons grow here at +all times and the streams run for ever. It is an excellent place fit for +the celestials. And there are the holy cairns of diverse forms, set up by +the celestials. O Yudhishthira! this is the bathing spot belonging to the +Moon. And the saints are in attendance here on all sides round--they are +the dwellers of the wood and the Valakhilyas, and the Pavakas, who +subsist on air only. These are three peaks and three springs. Thou mayst +walk round them all, one by one: then thou mayst wash thyself at +pleasure. Santanu, O king! and Sunaka the sovereign of men, and both Nara +and Narayana have attained everlasting regions from this place. Here did +the gods constantly lie down, as also the forefathers, together with the +mighty saints. In this Archika hill, they all carried on austerities. +Sacrifice to them, O Yudhishthira! Here did they, also the saints, eat +rice cooked in milk, O protector of men! And here is the Yamuna of an +exhaustless spring. Krishna here engaged himself in a life of penances, O +Pandu’s son. O thou that draggest the dead bodies of thy foes! the twin +brothers, and Bhimasena and Krishna and all of us will accompany thee to +this spot. O lord of men, this is the holy spring that belongeth to +Indra. Here the creative and the dispensing deity, and Varuna also rose +upwards, and here too they dwelt, O king! observing forbearance, and +possessed of the highest faith. This excellent and propitious hill is fit +for persons of a kindly and candid disposition. This is that celebrated +Yamuna, O king! frequented by hosts of mighty saints, the scene of +diverse religious rites, holy, and destructive of the dread of sin. Here +did Mandhata himself, of a mighty bow, perform sacrificial rites for the +gods; and so did Somaka, O Kunti’s son! who was the son of Sahadeva, and +a most excellent maker of gifts. + + + +SECTION CXXVI + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O great Brahmana, how was that tiger among kings, +Mandhata, Yuvanaswa’s son, born,--even he who was the best of monarchs, +and celebrated over the three worlds? And how did he of unmeasured lustre +attain the very height of real power, since all the three worlds were as +much under his subjection, as they are under that of Vishnu of mighty +soul? I am desirous of hearing all this in connection with the life and +achievements of that sagacious monarch. I should also like to hear how +his name of Mandhata originated, belonging as it did to him who rivalled +in lustre Indra himself: and also how he of unrivalled strength was born, +for thou art skilled in the art of narrating events.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘Hear with attention, O king! how the name of Mandhata +belonging to that monarch of mighty soul hath come to be celebrated +throughout all the worlds. Yuvanaswa, the ruler of the earth, was sprung +from Ikshvaku’s race. That protector of the earth performed many +sacrificial rites noted for magnificent gifts. And the most excellent of +all virtuous men performed a thousand times the ceremony of sacrificing a +horse. And he also performed other sacrifices of the highest order, +wherein he made abundant gifts. But that saintly king had no son. And he +of mighty soul and rigid vows made over to his ministers the duties of +the state, and became a constant resident of the woods. And he of +cultured soul devoted himself to the pursuits enjoined in the sacred +writ. And once upon a time, that protector of men, O king! had observed a +fast. And he was suffering from the pangs of hunger and his inner soul +seemed parched with thirst. And (in this state) he entered the hermitage +of Bhrigu. On that very night, O king of kings! the great saint who was +the delight of Bhrigu’s race, had officiated in a religious ceremony, +with the object that a son might be born to Saudyumni. O king of kings! +at the spot stood a large jar filled with water, consecrated with the +recitation of sacred hymns, and which had been previously deposited +there. And the water was endued with the virtue that the wife of +Saudyumni would by drinking the same, bring forth a god-like son. Those +mighty saints had deposited the jar on the altar and had gone to sleep, +having been fatigued by keeping up the night. And as Saudyumni passed +them by, his palate was dry, and he was suffering greatly from thirst. +And the king was very much in need of water to drink. And he entered that +hermitage and asked for drink. And becoming fatigued, he cried in feeble +voice, proceeding from a parched throat, which resembled the weak +inarticulate utterance of a bird. And his voice reached nobody’s ears. +Then the king beheld the jar filled with water. And he quickly ran +towards it, and having drunk the water, put the jar down. And as the +water was cool, and as the king had been suffering greatly from thirst, +the draught of water relieved the sagacious monarch and appeased his +thirst. Then those saints together with him of ascetic wealth, awoke from +sleep; and all of them observed that the water of the jar had gone. +Thereupon they met together and began to enquire as to who might have +done it. Then Yuvanaswa truthfully admitted that it was his act. Then the +revered son of Bhrigu spoke unto him, saying. ‘It was not proper. This +water had an occult virtue infused into it, and had been placed there +with the object that a son might be born to thee. Having performed severe +austerities, I infused the virtue of my religious acts in this water, +that a son might be born to thee. O saintly king of mighty valour and +physical strength! a son would have been born to thee of exceeding +strength and valour, and strengthened by austerities, and who would have +sent by his bravery even Indra to the abode of the god of death. It was +in this manner, O king! that this water had been prepared by me. By +drinking this water, O king, thou hast done what was not at all right. +But it is impossible now for us to turn back the accident which hath +happened. Surely what thou hast done must have been the fiat of Fate. +Since thou, O great king, being a thirst hast drunk water prepared with +sacred hymns, and filled with the virtue of my religious labours, thou +must bring forth out of thy own body a son of the character described +above. To that end we shall perform a sacrifice for thee, of wonderful +effect so that, valorous as thou art, thou wilt bring forth a son equal +to Indra. Nor with thou experience any trouble on account of the labour +pains.’ Then when one hundred years had passed away, a son shining as the +sun pierced the left side of the king endowed with a mighty soul, and +came forth. And the son was possessed of mighty strength. Nor did +Yuvanaswa die--which itself was strange. Then Indra of mighty strength +came to pay him a visit. And the deities enquired of the great Indra, +‘What is to be sucked by this boy?’ Then Indra introduced his own +forefinger into his mouth. And when the wielder of the thunderbolt said, +‘He will suck me,’ the dwellers of heaven together with Indra christened +the boy Mandhata, (literally, Me he shall suck). Then the boy having +tasted the forefinger extended by Indra, became possessed of mighty +strength, and he grew thirteen cubits, O king. And O great king! the +whole of sacred learning together with the holy science of arms, was +acquired by that masterful boy, who gained all that knowledge by the +simple and unassisted power of his thought. And all at once, the bow +celebrated under the name of Ajagava and a number of shafts made of horn, +together with an impenetrable coat of mail, came to his possession on the +very same day, O scion of Bharata’s race! And he was placed on the throne +by Indra himself and he conquered the three worlds in a righteous way, as +Vishnu did by his three strides. And the wheel of the car of that mighty +king as irresistible in its course (throughout the world). And the gems, +of their own accord, came into the possession of that saintly king. This +is the tract of land, O lord of earth, which belonged to him. It abounds +in wealth. He performed a number of sacrificial rites of various kinds, +in which abundant gratuities were paid to the priests. O king! he of +mighty force and unmeasured lustre, erected sacred piles, and performed +splendid pious deeds, and attained the position of sitting at Indra’s +side. That sagacious king of unswerving piety sent forth his fiat, and +simply by its virtue conquered the earth, together with the sea--that +source of gems--and all the cities (or [of?--JBH] the earth), O great +king! The sacrificial grounds prepared by him were to be found all over +the earth on all sides round--not a single spot, but was marked with the +same. O great king! the mighty monarch is said to have given to the +Brahmanas ten thousand padmas of kine. When there was a drought, which +continued for twelve consecutive years, the mighty king caused rain to +come down for the growth of crops, paying no heed to Indra, the wielder +of the thunder-bolt, who remained staring (at him). The mighty ruler of +the Gandhara land, born in the lunar dynasty of kings, who was terrible +like a a roaring cloud, was slain by him, who wounded him sorely with his +shafts. O king! he of cultured soul protected the four orders of people, +and by him of mighty force the worlds were kept from harm, by virtue of +his austere and righteous life. This is the spot where he, lustrous like +the sun, sacrificed to the god. Look at it! here it is, in the midst of +the field of the Kurus, situated in a tract, the holiest of all. O +preceptor of earth! requested by thee, I have thus narrated to thee the +great life of Mandhata, and also the way in which he was born, which was +a birth of an extraordinary kind.’” + +Vaisampayana said, “O scion of Bharata’s race! Kunti’s son, thus +addressed by the mighty saint, Lomasa, immediately put fresh questions to +him, with regard to Somaka.” + + + +SECTION CXXVII + +Yudhishthira said, ‘O best of speakers! what was the extent of power and +strength possessed by king Somaka? I am desirous of hearing an exact +account of his deeds and of his power.” + +“Lomasa said, ‘O Yudhishthira! there was a virtuous king Somaka by name. +He had one hundred wives, O king, all suitably matched to their husband. +He took great care, but could not succeed in getting a single son from +any one of them, and a long time elapsed during which he continued a +sonless man. Once upon a time, when he had become old, and was trying +every means to have a son, a son was born to him, Jantu by name, out of +that century of women. And, O ruler of men! All the mothers used to sit +surrounding their son and every one giving him such objects as might +conduce to his enjoyment and pleasure. And it came to pass that one day +an ant stung the boy at his hip. And the boy screamed loudly on account +of the pain caused by the sting. And forthwith the mothers were +exceedingly distressed to see how the child had been stung by the ant. +And they stood around him and set up cries. Thus there arose a tumultuous +noise. And that scream of pain suddenly reached (the ears of) the +sovereign of the earth, when he was seated in the midst of his ministers, +with the family priest at his side. Then the king sent for information as +to what it was about. And the royal usher explained to him precisely what +the matter was with reference to his son. And Somaka got up together with +his ministers and hastened towards the female apartments. And on coming +there, O subjugator of foes! he soothed his son. And having done so and +coming out from the female apartments, the king sat with his family +priest and ministers.’ + +“Somaka then spoke thus, ‘Fie on having only a single son! I had rather +be a sonless man. Considering how constantly liable to disease are all +organized beings, to have an only son is but a trouble. O Brahmana! O my +lord! With the view that I might have many sons born to me, this century +of wives hath been wedded by me, after inspection, and after I had +satisfied myself that they would prove suitable to me. But issue they +have none. Having tried every means, and put forth great efforts, they +have borne this single son, Jantu. What grief can be greater than this? O +most excellent of the twice-born caste! I am grown old in years and so +are my wives too. And yet this only son is like the breath of their +nostrils, and so he is to me also. But is there any ceremony, by +celebrating which one may get a hundred sons? (And if there is one such), +tell me whether it is great or small, and easy or difficult to perform.’ + +“The family priest said, ‘There is a ceremony by virtue of which a man +may get a century of sons. If thou art able to perform it, O Somaka, then +I shall explain it to thee.’ + +“Somaka said, ‘Whether it be a good or an evil deed, the ceremony by +which a hundred sons may be born, may be taken by thee as already +performed. Let thy blessed self explain it to me.’ + +“The family priest thereupon said, ‘O king! Let me set on foot a +sacrifice and thou must sacrifice thy son, Jantu in it. Then on no +distant date, a century of handsome sons will be born to thee. When +Jantu’s fat will be put into the fire as an offering to the gods, the +mothers will take a smell of that smoke, and bring forth a number of +sons, valourous and strong. And Jantu also will once more be born as a +self-begotten son of thine in that very (mother); and on his back there +will appear a mark of gold.’” + + + +SECTION CXXVIII + +“Somaka said, ‘O Brahmana! whatever is to be performed--do precisely as +it may be necessary. As I am desirous of having a number of sons, I shall +do all that may be prescribed by thee.” + +“Lomasa said, “Then the priest officiated in the sacrifice in which Jantu +was offered as the victim. But the mothers is in pity forcibly snatched +the son and took him away. And they cried, ‘We are undone!’ And they were +smitten with torturing grief and they caught hold of Jantu by his right +hand, and wept in a piteous way. But the officiating priest held the boy +by the right hand and pulled him. And like female ospreys they screamed +in agony! but the priest dragged the son killed him and made a burnt +offering of his fat in the proper form. And, O delight of the race of +Kuru! While the fat was being made an offering of the agonised mothers +smelt its smell, and of a sudden fell to the ground (and swooned away.) +And then all those lovely women became with child, and O lord of men! O +scion of Bharata’s race! When ten months had passed a full century of +sons was born to Somaka begotten on all those women. And, O monarch of +the earth! Jantu became the eldest and was born of his former mother and +he became the most beloved to the women,--not so were their own sons. And +on his back there was that mark of gold and of that century of sons, he +was also superior in merit. Then that family priest of Somaka departed +this life as also Somaka after a certain time. Now he beheld that the +priest was being grilled in a terrible hell. And thereupon he questioned +him, ‘Why art thou, O Brahmana! being grilled in this hell?” Then the +family priest exceedingly scorched with fire, spake to him saying, ‘This +is the outcome of my having officiated in that sacrifice of thine.’ O +king, hearing this, the saintly king thus spake to the god who meteth out +punishments to departed souls, ‘I shall enter here. Set free my +officiating priest; this reversed man is being grilled by hell-fire on my +account only.’ + +“Dharmaraja thereat answered thus, ‘One cannot enjoy or suffer for +another person’s acts. O best of speakers! these are the fruits of thy +acts; see it here.’ + +“Somaka said, ‘Without this Brahmana here, I desire not go to the blessed +regions. My desire is to dwell in company with this very man, either in +the abode of the gods, or in hell, for, O Dharmaraja! my deed is +identical with what hath been done by him and the fruit of our virtuous +or evil deed must be the same for both of us.’ + +“Dharmaraja said, ‘O king! If this is thy wish, then taste with him the +fruit of that act, for the same period that he must do. After that thou +shall go to the blessed regions.’ + +“Lomasa said, The lotus-eyed king did all that exactly in the way +prescribed to him. And when his sins were worked off, he was set free +together with the priest. O king! Fond of the priest as he was, he won +all those blessings to which he had entitled himself by his meritorious +acts and shared everything with the family priest. This is his hermitage +which looketh lovely before our eyes. Any one would attain the blessed +regions, if he should spend six nights here controlling his passions. O +king of kings! O leader of the tribe of Kurus! Here, free from excitement +and self-controlled, we must spend six nights. Be thou ready therefor.’” + + + +SECTION CXXIX + +“Lomasa said, ‘Here, O king! The lord of born beings himself performed a +sacrifice in former times,--the ceremony called Ishtikrita, which +occupied one thousand years. And Amvarisha, son of Nabhaga, sacrificed +near the Yamuna river. And having sacrificed there, he gave away ten +Padmas (of gold coins) to the attendant priests, and he obtained the +highest success by his sacrifices and austerities. And, O Kunti’s son! +This is the spot where that sovereign of the entire earth, Nahusha’s son, +Yayati, of unmeasured force, and who led a holy life, performed his +sacrificial rites. He competed with Indra and performed his sacrifice +here. Behold how the ground is studded with places for the sacrificial +fires of various forms, and how the earth seems to be subsiding here +under the pressure of Yayati’s pious works. This is the Sami tree, which +hath got but a single leaf, and this is a most excellent lake. Behold +these lakes of Parasurama, and the hermitage of Narayana. O protector of +earth! This is the path which was followed by Richika’s son, of +unmeasured energy, who roamed over the earth, practising the Yoga rites +in the river Raupya. And, O delight of the tribe of Kurus! Hear what a +Pisacha woman (she-goblin), who was decked with pestles for her +ornaments, said (to a Brahmana woman), as I was reciting here the table +of genealogy. (She said), “Having eaten curd in Yugandhara, and lived in +Achutasthala, and also bathed in Bhutilaya, thou shouldst live with thy +sons. Having passed a single night here, if thou wilt spend the second, +the events of the night will be different from those that have happened +to thee in the day-time, O most righteous of Bharata’s race! Today we +shall spend the night at this very spot. O scion of Bharata’s race! this +is the threshold of the field of the Kurus. O king! At this very spot, +the monarch Yayati, son of Nahusha, performed sacrificial rites, and made +gifts of an abundance of gems. And Indra was pleased with those sacred +rites. This is an excellent holy bathing-place on the river Yamuna, known +as Plakshavatarana (descent of the banian tree). Men of cultured minds +call it the entrance to the region of heaven. O respected sir! here, +after having performed sacrificial rites of the Saraswata king, and +making use of the sacrificial stake for their pestle, the highest order +of saints performed the holy plunge prescribed at the end of a sacred +ceremony. O monarch! King Bharata here performed sacrificial rites. To +celebrate the horse-sacrifice, he here set free the horse who was the +intended victim. That monarch had won the sovereignty of the earth by +righteousness. The horse? he let go more than once were of a colour +checkered with black. O tiger among men! it was here that Marutta +sheltered by Samvartta, leader of saints, succeeded in performing +excellent sacrifices. O sovereign of kings! Having taken his bath at this +spot, one can behold all the worlds, and is purified from his evil deeds. +Do thou, therefore, bathe at this spot.’” + +Vaisampayana said, “Then that most praiseworthy of Pandu’s sons, there +bathed with his brothers, while the mighty saints were uttering laudatory +words to him. And he addressed the following words to Lomasa, ‘O thou +whose strength lieth in truthfulness! By virtue of this pious act, I +behold all the worlds. And from this place, I behold that most +praiseworthy of Pandu’s sons Arjuna, the rider of white steed.” + +‘Lomasa said, ‘It is even so, O thou of powerful arms! The saints of the +highest order thus behold all the regions. Behold this holy Saraswati +here, thronged by persons who look upon her as their sole refuge. O most +praise worthy of men! having bathed here, thou wilt be free from all thy +sins. O Kunti’s son! here the celestial saints performed sacrificial +rites of Saraswata king: and so did the saints and the royal saints. This +is the altar of the lord of beings, five yojanas in extent on all sides +round. And this is the field of the magnanimous Kurus, whose habit it was +to perform sacrifices.’” + + + +SECTION CXXX + +“Lomasa said, ‘O son of Bharata’s race! If mortals breathe their last at +this spot, they go to heaven. O king! Thousands upon thousands of men +come to this place to die. A blessing was pronounced on this spot by +Daksha, when he was engaged in sacrifice here, (in these words), ‘Those +men that shall die at this spot shall win a place in heaven.’ Here is the +beautiful and sacred river, Saraswati, full of water: and here, O lord of +men, is the spot known as Vinasana, or the place where the Saraswati +disappeared. Here is the gate of the kingdom of the Nishadas and it is +from hatred for them that the Saraswati entered into the earth in order +that the Nishadas might not see her. Here too is the sacred region of +Chamashodbheda where the Saraswati once more became visible to them. And +here she is joined by other sacred rivers running seawards. O conqueror +of foes, here is that sacred spot known by the name of Sindhu--where +Lopamudra accepted the great sage Agastya as her lord and, O thou whose +effulgence is like unto that of the sun, here is the sacred tirtha called +Prabhasa, the favoured spot of Indra and which removeth all sins. Yonder +is visible the region of Vishnupada. And here is the delightful and +sacred river, Vipasa. From grief for the death of his sons the great sage +Vasistha had thrown himself into this stream, after binding his limbs. +And when he rose from the water, lo! he was unfettered. Look, O king with +thy brothers at the sacred region of Kasmeera, frequented by holy sages. +Here, O scion of Bharata’s race, is the spot, where a conference took +place between Agni and the sage Kasyapa, and also between Nahusha’s son +and the sages of the north. And, O great prince, Yonder is the gate of +the Manasasarovara. In the midst of this mountain, a gap hath been opened +by Rama. And here. O prince of prowess incapable of being baffled, is the +well-known region of Vatikhanda, which, although adjacent to the gate of +Videha, lieth on the north of it. And O bull among men, there is another +very remarkable thing connected with this place,--namely, that on the +waning of every yuga, the god Siva, having the power to assume any shape +at will, may be seen with Uma and his followers. In Yonder lake also +people desirous of securing welfare to the family, propitiate with +sacrifices the holder of the great bow Pinaka, in the month of Chaitra. +And persons of devotion having passions under control, performing their +ablutions in this lake, become free from sins and, without doubt, attain +to the holy regions. Here is the sacred tirtha called Ujjanaka, where the +holy sage Vasistha with his wife Arundhati and also the sage Yavakri +obtained tranquillity. Yonder is the lake Kausava, where grown the +lotuses called Kausesaya, and here also is the sacred hermitage of +Rukmini, where she attained peace, after conquering that evil passion, +anger. I think, O prince, that thou hast heard something about that man +of meditations, Bhrigutunga. There, O king, before thee is that lofty +peak. And, O foremost of kings, yonder is Vitasta, the sacred stream that +absolveth men from all sins. The water of this stream is extremely cool +and limpid, and it is largely used by the great sages. O prince, behold +the holy rivers Jala and Upajala, on either side of the Yamuna. By +performing a sacrifice here, king Usinara surpassed in greatness Indra +himself. And, O descendant of Bharata, desirous of testing Usinara’s +merit and also of bestowing boons on him, Indra and Agni presented +themselves at his sacrificial ground. And Indra assuming the shape of a +hawk, and Agni that of a pigeon, came up to that king. And the pigeon in +fear of the hawk, fell upon the king’s thigh, seeking his protection.’” + + + +SECTION CXXXI + +“The hawk said, ‘All the kings of the earth represent thee as a pious +ruler. Wherefore, O prince, has thou then stopped to perpetrate a deed +not sanctioned by the ordinance? I have been sore afflicted with hunger. +Do thou not withhold from me that which hath been appointed by the Deity +for my food,--under the impression that thereby thou servest the +interests of virtue, whereas in reality, thou wilt forsake it, (by +committing thyself to this act). Thereupon, the king said, ‘O best of the +feathered race, afflicted with fear of thee, and desirous of escaping +from thy hands, this bird, all in a hurry, hath come up to me asking for +life. When this pigeon hath in such a manner sought my protection, why +dost thou not see that the highest merit is even in my not surrendering +it unto thee? And it is trembling with fear, and is agitated, and is +seeking its life from me. It is therefore certainly blameworthy to +forsake it. He that slayeth a Brahmana, he that slaughtered a cow--the +common mother of all the worlds--and he that forsaketh one seeking for +protection are equally sinful.’ Thereat the hawk replied, ‘O lord of +earth, it is from food that all beings derive their life, and it is food +also that nourisheth and sustaineth them. A man can live long even after +forsaking what is dearest to him, but he cannot do so, after abstaining +from food. Being deprived of food, my life, O ruler of men, will surely +leave this body, and will attain to regions unknown to such troubles. But +at my death, O pious king, my wife and children will surely perish, and +by protecting this single pigeon. O prince, thou dost not protect many +lives. The virtue that standeth in the way of another virtue, is +certainly no virtue at all, but in reality is unrighteousness. But O +king, whose prowess consisteth in truth, that virtue is worthy of the +name, which is not conflicting. After instituting a comparison between +opposing virtues, and weighing their comparative merits, one, O great +prince, ought to espouse that which is not opposing. Do thou, therefore, +O king, striking a balance between virtues, adopt that which +preponderates.’ At this the king said, ‘O best of birds, as thou speakest +words fraught with much good, I suspect thee to be Suparna, the monarch +of birds. I have not the least hesitation to declare that thou art fully +conversant with the ways of virtue. As thou speakest wonders about +virtue, I think that there is nothing connected with it, that is unknown +to thee. How canst thou then consider the forsaking of one, seeking for +help, as virtuous? Thy efforts in this matter, O ranger of the skies, +have been in quest of food. Thou canst, however, appease thy hunger with +some other sort of food, even more copious. I am perfectly willing to +procure for thee any sort of food that to thee may seem most tasteful, +even if it be an ox, or a boar, or a deer, or a buffalo.’ Thereupon the +hawk said, ‘O great king, I am not desirous of eating (the flesh of) a +boar or an ox or the various species of beasts. What have I to do with +any other sort of food? Therefore, O bull among the Kshatriyas, leave to +me this pigeon, whom Heaven hath today ordained for my food, O ruler of +earth, that hawks eat pigeons is the eternal provision. O prince, do not +for support embrace a plantain tree, not knowing its want of strength.’ +The king said, ‘Ranger of the skies, I am willing to bestow on thee this +rich province of my race, or any other thing that to thee may seem +desirable. With the sole exception of this pigeon, which hath approached +me craving my protection, I shall be glad to give unto thee anything that +thou mayst like. Let me know what I shall have to do for the deliverance +of this bird. But this I shall not return to thee on any condition +whatever.’” + +“The hawk said, ‘O great ruler of men, if thou hast conceived an +affection for this pigeon, then cut off a portion of thine own flesh, and +weigh it in a balance, against this pigeon. And when thou hast found it +equal (in weight) to the pigeon, then do thou give it unto me, and that +will be to my satisfaction.’ Then the king replied, This request of +thine, O hawk, I consider as a favour unto me, and, therefore, I will +give unto thee even my own flesh, after weighing it in a balance.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘Saying this, O mighty son of Kunti, the highly virtuous +king cut off a portion of his own flesh, and placed it in a balance, +against the pigeon. But when he found that pigeon exceeded his flesh in +weight, he once more cut off another portion of his flesh, and added it +to the former. When portion after portion had been repeatedly added to +weigh against the pigeon, and no more flesh was left on his body, he +mounted the scale himself, utterly devoid of flesh. + +“The hawk then said, ‘I am Indra, O virtuous king, and this pigeon is +Agni, the carrier of the sacrificial clarified butter. We had come unto +thy sacrificial ground, desirous of testing thy merit. Since thou hast +cut off thy own flesh from thy body, thy glory shall be resplendent, and +shall surpass that of all others in the world. As long as men, O king, +shall speak of thee, so long shall thy glory endure, and thou shalt +inhabit the holy regions.’ Saying this to the king, Indra ascended to +heaven. And the virtuous king Usinara, after having filled heaven and +earth with the merit of his pious deeds, ascended to heaven in a radiant +shape. Behold, O king, the residence of that noble-hearted monarch. Here, +O king, are seen holy sages and gods, together with virtuous and +highsouled Brahmanas.” + + + +SECTION CXXXII + +“Lomasa said, ‘See here, O lord of men, the sacred hermitage of +Swetaketu, son of Uddalaka, whose fame as an expert in the sacred mantras +is so widely spread on earth. This hermitage is graced with cocoanut +trees. Here Swetaketu beheld the goddess Saraswati in her human shape, +and spake unto her, saying, ‘May I be endowed with the gift of speech!” + In that yuga, Swetaketu, the son of Uddalaka, and Ashtavakra, the son of +Kahoda, who stood to each other in the relation of uncle and nephew, were +the best of those conversant with the sacred lore. Those two Brahmanas, +of matchless energy, who bore unto each other the relationship of uncle +and nephew, went into the sacrificial ground of king Janaka and there +defeated Vandin in a controversy. Worship, O son of Kunti, with thy +brothers, the sacred hermitage of him who had for his grandson +Ashtavakra, who, even when a mere child, had caused Vandin to be drowned +in a river, after having defeated him in a (literary) contest.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, Tell me, O Lomasa, all about the power of this man, +who had in that way defeated Vandin. Why was he born as Ashtavakra +(crooked in eight parts in his body)?” + +“Lomasa said, The sage Uddalaka had a disciple named Kahoda of subdued +passions, and entirely devoted to the service of his preceptor and who +had continued his studies long. The Brahmana had served his tutor long, +and his preceptor, recognising his service, gave him his own daughter, +Sujata, in marriage, as well as a mastery over the Shastras. And she +became with child, radiant as fire. And the embryo addressed his father +while employed in reading, ‘O father, thou hast been reading the whole +night, but (of all that) thy reading doth not seem to me correct. Even in +my fetal state I have, by thy favour, become versed in the Shastras and +the Vedas with their several branches. I say, O father, that what +proceeds from thy mouth, is not correct.’ Thus insulted in the presence +of his disciples, the great sage in anger cursed his child in the womb, +saying, ‘Because thou speakest thus even while in the womb, therefore +thou shalt be crooked in eight parts of the body.’ The child was +accordingly born crooked, and the great sage was ever after known by the +name of Ashtavakra. Now, he had an uncle named Swetaketu who was the same +age with himself. Afflicted by the growth of the child in the womb, +Sujata, desirous of riches, conciliating her husband who had no wealth +told him in private: ‘How shall I manage, O great sage, the tenth month +of my pregnancy having come? Thou hast no substance whereby I may +extricate myself from the exigencies, after I have been delivered.” Thus +addressed by his wife, Kahoda went unto king Janaka for riches. He was +there defeated in a controversy by Vandin, well versed in the science of +arguments, and (in consequence) was immersed into water. And hearing that +his son-in-law had been defeated in a controversy by Vandin and caused to +be drowned by him, Uddalaka spake unto his daughter Sujata, saying, ‘Thou +shall keep it a secret from Ashtavakra.’ She accordingly kept her +counsel--so that Ashtavakra, when born, had heard nothing about the +matter. And he regarded Uddalaka as his father and Swetaketu as his +brother. And when Ashtavakra was in his twelfth year, Swetaketu one day +saw the former seated on his father’s lap. And thereat he pulled him by +the hand, and on Ashtavakra’s beginning to cry, he told him, ‘It is not +the lap of thy father.’ This cruel communication went direct into +Ashtavakra’s heart and it pained him sorely. And he went home and asked +his mother saying, ‘Where is my father?’ Thereupon Sujata who was greatly +afflicted (by his question), and apprehending a curse told him all that +had happened. And having heard all, the Brahmana at night said unto his +uncle Swetaketu, ‘Let us go unto the sacrifice of king Janaka, wherein +many wonderful things are to be seen. There we shall listen to the +controversy between the Brahmanas and shall partake of excellent food. +Our knowledge also will increase. The recitation of the sacred Vedas is +sweet to hear and is fraught with blessings.’ Then they both--uncle and +nephew--went unto the splendid sacrifice of king Janaka. And on being +driven from the entrance, Ashtavakra met the king and addressed him in +the following words.” + + + +SECTION CXXXIII + +“Ashtavakra said, ‘When no Brahmana is met with on the way, the way +belongeth to the blind, the deaf, the women, carriers of burden, and the +king respectively. But when a Brahmana is met with on the way, it +belongeth to him alone.’ Thereupon the king said, ‘I give the privilege +to enter. Do thou, therefore, go in by whatever way thou likest. No fire +ever so small is to be slighted. Even Indra himself boweth unto the +Brahmanas.’ At this Ashtavakra said, ‘We have come, O ruler of men, to +witness thy sacrificial ceremony and our curiosity, O king, is very +great. And we have come here as guests. We want the permission of thy +order (to enter). And, O son of Indradyumna, we have come, desirous of +seeing the sacrifice, and to meet king Janaka and speak to him. But thy +warder obstructs us and for this our anger burneth us like fever.’ The +warder said, ‘We carry out the orders of Vandin. Listen to what I have to +say. Lads are not permitted to enter here and it is only the learned old +Brahmanas that are allowed to enter.’ Ashtavakra said. ‘If this be the +condition, O warder, that the door is open to those only that are old, +then we have a right to enter. We are old and we have observed sacred +vows and are in possession of energy proceeding from the Vedic lore. And +we have served our superiors and subdued our passions--and have also won +proficiency in knowledge. It is said that even boys are not to be +slighted,--for a fire, small though it be, burneth on being touched.’ The +warder replied, ‘O young Brahmana, I consider you a boy, and therefore +recite, if you know, the verse demonstrating the existence of the Supreme +Being, and adored by the divine sages, and which, although composed of +one letter, is yet multifarious. Make no vain boast. Learned men are +really very rare.’ Ashtavakra said, ‘True growth cannot be inferred from +the mere development of the body, as the growth of the knots of the +Salmali tree cannot signify its age. That tree is called full-grown which +although slender and short, beareth fruits. But that which doth not bear +fruits, is not considered as grown.’ The warder said, ‘Boys receive +instruction from the old and they also in time grow old. Knowledge +certainly is not attainable in a short time. “Wherefore then being a +child, dost thou talk like an old man?’ Then Ashtavakra said, ‘One is not +old because his head is gray. But the gods regard him as old who, +although a child in years, is yet possessed of knowledge. The sages have +not laid down that a man’s merit consists in years, or gray hair, or +wealth, or friends. To us he is great who is versed in the Vedas. I have +come here, O porter, desirous of seeing Vandin in the court. Go and +inform king Janaka, who hath a garland of lotuses on his neck, that I am +here. Thou shalt to-day see me enter into a dispute with the learned men, +and defeat Vandin in a controversy. And when others have been silenced, +the Brahmanas of matured learning and the king also with his principal +priests, bear witness to the superior or the inferior quality of my +attainments.’ The warder said, ‘How canst thou, who art but in thy tenth +year, hope to enter into this sacrifice, into which learned and educated +men only are admitted? I shall, however, try some means for thy +admittance. Do thou also try thyself’. Ashtavakra then addressing the +king said, ‘O king, O foremost of Janaka’s race, thou art the paramount +sovereign and all power reposeth in thee. In times of old, king Yayati +was the celebrator of sacrifices. And in the present age, thou it is that +art performer thereof. We have heard that the learned Vandin, after +defeating (in controversy) men expert in discussion, causeth them to be +drowned by faithful servants employed by thee. Hearing this, I have come +before these Brahmanas, to expound the doctrine of the unity of the +Supreme Being. Where is now Vandin? Tell me so that I may approach him, +and destroy him, even as the sun destroyeth the stars. Thereupon the king +said, ‘Thou hopest, O Brahmana, to defeat Vandin, not knowing his power +of speech. Can those who are familiar with his power, speak as thou dost? +He hath been sounded by Brahmanas versed in the Vedas. Thou hopest to +defeat Vandin, only because thou knowest not his powers (of speech). Many +a Brahmana hath waned before him, even as the stars before the sun. +Desirous of defeating him, people proud of their learning, have lost +their glory on appearing before him, and have retired from his presence, +without even venturing to speak with the members of the assembly.’ +Ashtavakra said, ‘Vandin hath never entered into disputation with a man +like myself, and it is for this only that he looketh upon himself as a +lion, and goeth about roaring like one. But to-day meeting me he will lie +down dead, even like a cart on the highway, of which the wheels have been +deranged.’ The king said, ‘He alone is a truly learned man who +understandeth the significance of the thing that hath thirty divisions, +twelve parts twentyfour joints, and three hundred and sixty spokes.’ +Ashtavakra said, ‘May that ever-moving wheel that hath twentyfour joints, +six naves, twelve peripheries, and sixty spokes protect thee![19]’ The +king said, ‘Who amongst the gods beareth those two which go together like +two mares (yoked to a car), and sweep like a hawk, and to what also do +they give birth?’ Ashtavakra said, ‘May God, O king, forfend the presence +of these two[20] in thy house; aye, even in the house of thine enemies. +He who appeareth, having for his charioteer the wind,[21] begetteth them, +and they also produce him.’ Thereupon the king said, ‘What is that doth +not close its eyes even while sleeping; what is it that doth not move, +even when born; what is it that hath no heart; and what doth increase +even in its own speed?’ Ashtavakra said, ‘It is a fish[22] that doth not +close its eye-lids, while sleeping; and it is an a egg[23] that doth not +move when produced; it is stone[24] that hath no heart; and it is a +river[25] that increase in its own speed.’ + +“The king said, ‘It seemeth, O possessor of divine energy, that thou art +no human being. I consider thee not a boy, but a matured man; there is no +other man who can compare with thee in the art of speech. I therefore +give thee admittance. There is Vandin.’” + + + +SECTION CXXXIV + +“Ashtavakra said, ‘O king, O leader of fierce legions, in this assembly +of monarchs of unrivalled power who have met together, I am unable to +find out Vandin, chief of the controversialists. But I am searching for +him, even as one doth for a swan on a vast expanse of water. O Vandin, +thou regardest thyself as the foremost of controversialists. When though +wilt engage with me in staking, thou wilt not be able to flow like the +current of a river. I am like a full-flaming fire. Be silent before me, O +Vandin! Do not awaken a sleeping tiger. Know that thou shalt not escape +unstung, after trampling on the head of a venomous snake, licking the +corners of its mouth with its tongue, and who hath been hurt by thy foot. +That weak man who, in pride of strength, attempts to strike a blow at a +mountain, only gets his hands and nails hurt, but no wound is left on the +mountain itself. As the other mountains are inferior to the Mainaka, and +as calves are inferior to the ox, so are all other kings of the earth +inferior to the lord of Mithila. And as Indra is the foremost of +celestials, and as the Ganga is the best of rivers, so thou alone art, O +king, the greatest of monarchs. O king, cause Vandin to be brought to my +presence.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘Saying this, O Yudhishthira, wroth with Vandin, Ashtavakra +thus thundered in the assembly, and addressed him in these words, ‘Do +thou answer my questions, and I shall answer thine.’ Thereat Vandin said, +‘One only fire blazeth forth in various shapes; one only sun illumineth +this whole world; one only hero, Indra, the lord of celestials, +destroyeth enemies; and one only Yama is the sole lord of the Pitris.[26] +Ashtavakra said, ‘The two friends, Indra and Agni, ever move together; +the two celestial sages are Narada and Parvata; twins are the +Aswinikumaras; two is the number of the wheels of a car; and it is as a +couple that husband and wife live together, as ordained by the +deity.’[27] Vandin said, ‘Three kinds of born beings are produced by +acts; the three Vedas together perform the sacrifice, Vajapeya; at three +different times, the Adhwaryus commence sacrificial rites; three is the +number of words: and three also are the divine lights.’[28] Ashtavakra +said, ‘Four are the Asramas of the Brahmanas; the four orders perform +sacrifices; four are the cardinal points; four is the number of letters; +and four also, as is ever known, are the legs of a cow.’[29] Vandin said, +‘Five is the number of fires; five are the feet of the metre called +Punki; five are the sacrifices; five locks, it is said in the Vedas, are +on the heads of the Apsaras; and five sacred rivers are known in the +world.’[30] Ashtavakra said. ‘Six cows, it is asserted by some, and paid +as a gratuity on the occasion of establishing the sacred fire; six are +the seasons belonging to the wheel of time; six is the number of the +senses; six stars constitute the constellation Kirtika; and six, it is +found in all the Vedas, is the number of the Sadyaska sacrifice.’[31] +Vandin said, ‘Seven is the number of the domesticated animals; seven are +the wild animals; seven metres are used in completing a sacrifice; seven +are the Rishis, seven forms of paying homage are extant (in the world); +and seven, it is known, are the strings of the Vina.’[32] Ashtavakra +said, ‘Eight are the bags containing a hundred fold; eight is the number +of the legs of the Sarabha, which preyeth upon lions; eight Vasus, as we +hear, are amongst the celestials; and eight are the angles of yupa +(stake), in all sacrificial rites.’[33] Vandin said, ‘Nine is the number +of the mantras used in kindling the fire in sacrifices to the Pitris; +nine are the appointed functions in the processes of creation; nine +letters compose the foot of the metre, Vrihati; and nine also is ever the +number of the figures (in calculation).’[34] Ashtavakra said, ‘Ten is +said to be the number of cardinal points, entering into the cognition of +men in this world; ten times hundred make up a thousand; ten is the +number of months, during which women bear; and ten are the teachers of +true knowledge, and ten, the haters thereof, and ten again are those +capable of learning it.’[35] Vandin said, ‘Eleven are the objects +enjoyable by beings; eleven is the number of the yupas; eleven are the +changes of the natural state pertaining to those having life; and eleven +are the Rudras among the gods in heaven.’[36] Ashtavakra said, Twelve +months compose the year; twelve letters go to the composition of a foot +of the metre called Jagati; twelve are the minor sacrifices; and twelve, +according to the learned, is the number of the Adityas.’[37] Vandin said, +‘The thirteenth lunar day is considered the most auspicious; thirteen +islands exist on earth.[38] + +Lomasa said, ‘Having proceeded thus far, Vandin stopped. Thereupon +Ashtavakra supplied the latter half of the sloka. Ashtavakra said, +‘Thirteen sacrifices are presided over by Kesi; and thirteen are devoured +by Atichhandas, (the longer metres) of the Veda.[39] And seeing +Ashtavakra speaking and the Suta’s son silent, and pensive, and with head +downcast, the assembly broke into a long uproar. And when the tumult thus +arose in the splendid sacrifice performed by king Janaka, the Brahmanas +well pleased, and with joined hands, approached Ashtavakra, and began to +pay him homage.’ + +“Thereupon Ashtavakra said, ‘Before this, this man, defeating the +Brahmanas in controversy, used to cast them into water. Let Vandin today +meet with the same fate. Seize him and drown him in water.’ Vandin said. +‘O Janaka, I am the son of king Varuna. Simultaneously with thy +sacrifice, there also hath commenced a sacrifice extending over twelve +years. It is for this that I have despatched the principal Brahmanas +thither. They have gone to witness Varuna’s sacrifice. Lo! there they are +returning. I pay homage to the worshipful Ashtavakra, by whose grace +to-day I shall join him who hath begot me.’ + +“Ashtavakra said, ‘Defeating the Brahmanas either by words or subtlety. +Vandin had cast them into the waters of the sea. (That Vedic truth which +he had suppressed by false arguments), have I to-day rescued by dint of +my intellect. Now let candid men judge. As Agni, who knoweth the +character of both the good and the bad, leaveth unscorched by his heat +the bodies of those whose designs are honest, and is thus partial to +them, so good men judge the assertions of boys, although lacking the +power of speech, and are favourably disposed towards them. O Janaka, thou +hearest my words as if thou hast been stupefied in consequence of having +eaten the fruit of the Sleshmataki tree. Or flattery hath robbed thee of +thy sense, and for this it is that although pierced by my words as an +elephant (by the hook), thou hearest them not.’ + +“Janaka said, ‘Listening to thy words, I take them to be excellent and +superhuman. Thy form also standeth manifest as superhuman. As thou hast +to-day defeated Vandin in discussion, I place even him at thy disposal.’ +Ashtavakra said, ‘O king, Vandin remaining alive, will not serve any +purpose of mine. If his father be really Varuna, let him be drowned in +the sea.’ + +Vandin said, ‘I am King Varuna’s son. I have no fear (therefore) in being +drowned. Even at this moment. Ashtavakra shall see his long-lost sire, +Kahoda.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘Then rose before Janaka all the Brahmanas, after having +been duly worshipped by the magnanimous Varuna. Kahoda said, ‘It is for +this, O Janaka, that men pray for sons, by performing meritorious acts. +That in which I had failed hath been achieved by my son. Weak persons may +have sons endued with strength; dunces may have intelligent sons; and the +illiterate may have sons possessed of learning.’ Vandin said, ‘It is with +thy sharpened axe, O monarch, that even Yama severeth the heads of foes. +May prosperity attend thee! In this sacrifice of king Janaka, the +principal hymns relating to the Uktha rites are being chanted, and the +Soma juice also is being adequately quaffed. And the gods themselves, in +person, and with cheerful hearts, are accepting their sacred shares.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘When in enhanced splendour, the Brahmanas had risen up, +Vandin, taking king Janaka’s permission, entered into the waters of the +sea. And then Ashtavakra worshipped his father, and he himself also was +worshipped by the Brahmanas. And having thus defeated the Suta’s son.[40] +Ashtavakra returned to his own excellent hermitage, in company with his +uncle. Then in the presence of his mother, his father addressed him, +saying, ‘(O son), thou speedily enter into this river, Samanga.’ And +accordingly, he entered (into the water). (And as he plunged beneath the +water), all his (crooked) limbs were immediately made straight. And from +that day that river came to be called Samanga and she became invested +with the virtues of purifying (sins). He that shall bathe in her, will be +freed from his sins. Therefore, O Yudhishthira, do thou with thy brothers +and wife descend to the river, and perform thy ablutions. O Kunti’s son, +O scion of the Ajamidha race, living happily and cheerfully at this place +together with thy brothers and the Brahmanas, thou wilt perform with me +other acts of merit, being intent upon good deeds.’” + + + +SECTION CXXXV + +“Lomasa said, ‘Here, O king, is visible the river Samanga, whose former +name was Madhuvila, and yonder is the spot named Kardamila, the bathing +place of Bharata. The lord of Sachi, when fallen into misery in +consequence of having slain Vritra, became freed from his sin, by +performing his ablutions in this Samanga. Here, O bull among men, is the +spot where the Mainaka mountain hath sunk into the interior of the earth; +and it is hence called Vinasana. For obtaining sons, here Aditi in days +of yore had cooked that celebrated food, (presided over by the Supreme +Being). O ye bulls among men, ascended this lofty mountain and put an end +to your inglorious misery unworthy to be uttered. Here, O king, before +thee is the Kanakhala range, the favourite resort of sages. ‘And yonder +is the mighty river Ganga. Here, in ancient times, the holy sage +Sanatkumara attained ascetic success. O scion of the Ajamidha race, by +performing thy ablutions here in this river, thou wilt be freed from all +thy sins. O son of Kunti, do thou together with thy ministers, touch (the +waters) of this lake called Punya, and this mountain Bhrigutunga and also +(the water of) these two rivers, called Tushniganga. Here, O Kunti’s son, +appeareth the hermitage of the sage Sthulasiras. Resign here thy anger +and sense of self-importance. There, O son of Pandu, is seen the +beautiful hermitage of Raivya, where perished Bharadwaja’s son, Yavakari, +profound in Vedic lore.’” + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘How did the mighty sage, Yavakri, son of the ascetic +Bharadwaja, acquire profundity in the Vedas? And how also did he perish? +I am anxious to hear all this, just as it happened. I take delight in +listening to the narration of the deeds of god-like men.’” + +“Lomasa said, ‘Bharadwaja and Raivya were two friends. And they dwelt +here, ever taking the greatest pleasure in each other’s company. Now, +Raivya had two sons, named Arvavasu and Paravasu. And, Bharadwaja, O +Bharata’s son, had an only son, named Yavakri. Raivya and his two sons +were versed in the Vedas, while Bharadwaja practised asceticism. But, O +son of Bharata, from their boyhood, the friendship subsisting between +those two was unequalled. O sinless one, the highspirited Yavakri finding +that his father, who practised asceticism, was slighted by the Brahmanas, +while Raivya with his sons was greatly respected by them, was overwhelmed +with sorrow, and became sore aggrieved. Thereupon, O son of Pandu, he +entered upon severe austerities, for (obtaining) a knowledge of the +Vedas. And he exposed his body to a flaming fire. By thus practising the +most rigid austerities, he caused anxiety in the mind of Indra. Then +Indra, O Yudhishthira, went to him and addressed him saying, ‘Wherefore, +O sage, hast thou become engaged in practising such rigid austerities?’ +Yavakri said, ‘O thou adored of celestial hosts, I am practising severe +penances, because I wish that such a knowledge of the Vedas as hath never +been acquired by any Brahmana whatever, may be manifest unto me. O +conqueror of Paka, these endeavours of mine have been for Vedic lore. O +Kausika, by the force of my asceticism. I purpose to obtain all sorts of +knowledge. O lord, a knowledge of the Vedas as learnt through teachers, +is acquired in a long time. Therefore, (with the view of attaining in +short time a proficiency in the Vedas), I have put forth these high +endeavours.’ Indra said, ‘O Brahmana sage, the way that thou hast adopted +is not the proper way. What for, O Brahamana, wilt thou destroy thyself? +Go and learn from the lips of a preceptor.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘O son of Bharata, having said this, Sakra went away, and +Yavakri of immeasurable energy, once more directed his attention to +asceticism. O king, we have heard that carrying on severe austerities he +again greatly agitated Indra. And the god Indra, slayer of Vala, again +came unto that great sage, who was engaged in austere penances; and +forbade him, saying, Thou art striving with the object that Vedic lore +may be manifest unto thee as well as unto thy father; but thy exertions +can never be successful, nor is this act of thine well-advised.’ Yavakri +said, ‘O lord of the celestials, if thou wilt not do for me what I want, +I shall, observing stricter vows, practise still severer penances. O lord +of celestials! know that if thou do not fulfil all my desires, I shall +then cut off my limbs and offer them as a sacrifice into a blazing fire.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘Knowing the determination of that high-souled sage, the +sagacious Indra reflected and hit upon some expedient to dissuade him. +Then Indra assumed the guise of an ascetic Brahmana, hundreds of years +old, and infirm, and suffering from consumption. And he fell to throwing +up a dam with sands, at that spot of the Bhagirathi to which Yavakri used +to descend for performing ablutions. Because Yavakri, chief of the +Brahmanas, paid no heed to Indra’s words, the latter began to fill the +Ganga with sands. And without cessation, he threw handfuls of sand into +the Bhagirathi, and began to construct the dam attracting the notice of +the sage. And when that bull among the sages, Yavakri, saw Indra thus +earnestly engaged in constructing the dam, he broke into laughter, and +said the following words, ‘What art thou engaged in, O Brahmana, and what +is thy object? Why dost thou, for nothing, make this mighty endeavour?’ +Indra said, ‘I am trying, O my son, to dam the Ganga so that there may be +a commodious passage. People experience considerable difficulty in +crossing and recrossing (the river) by boat.’ Yavakri said, ‘O thou of +ascetic wealth, thou canst not dam up this mighty current. O Brahmana, +desist from, what is impracticable, and take up something that is +practicable.’ Indra said, ‘O sage, I have imposed on myself this heavy +task, even as, for obtaining a knowledge of the Vedas, thou hast begun +these penances, which can never be fruitful.’ Yavakri said, ‘If, O chief +of the celestials, those efforts of mine be fruitless, even as those of +thy own, then, O lord of heavenly hosts, be thou pleased to do for me +what is practicable. Vouchsafe unto me boons whereby I may excel other +men.’ + +“Lomasa said ‘Then Indra granted boons, as was prayed for by the mighty +ascetic, Indra said, ‘As thou desirest, the Vedas will be manifest unto +thee, yea--even unto thy father. And all thy other desires will also be +fulfilled. Return home, O Yavakri.’ + +“Having thus obtained the object of his desire, Yavakri came unto his +father and said, The Vedas, O father, will be manifest unto thee as well +as unto myself and I have obtained boons whereby we shall excel all men.’ +Thereat Bharadwaja said, ‘O my son, as thou hast obtained the objects of +thy desire, thou wilt be proud. And when thou art puffed up with pride +and hast also become uncharitable, destruction will soon overtake thee. O +my son, there is a current anecdote narrated by the gods. In ancient +times, O son, there lived a sage named Valadhi, possessed of great +energy. And in grief for the death of a child, he practised the severest +penances to have a child that should be immortal. And he obtained a son +even as he desired. But the gods, though very favourably disposed +(towards him), did not yet make his son immortal like unto the gods. They +said, ‘On condition can a mortal being be made immortal. Thy son’s life, +however, shall depend on some instrumental cause.’ Thereupon, Valadhi +said, ‘O chiefs of the celestials, these mountains have been existing +eternally, and indestructible, let them be the instrumental cause of my +son’s life. Afterwards a son was born to the sage, named Medhavi. And he +was of a very irritable temper. And hearing of (the incident of his +birth), he grew haughty, and began to insult the sages. And he ranged +over the earth, doing mischief to the munis. And one day, meeting with +the learned sage Dhannushaksha endued with energy. Medhavi maltreated +him. Thereupon, the former cursed him, saying, ‘Be thou reduced to +ashes.’ Medhavi, however, was not reduced to ashes. Then Dhannushaksha +caused the mountain which was the instrumental cause of Medhavi’s life, +to be shattered by buffaloes. And the boy perished, with the destruction +of the instrumental cause of his life. And embracing his dead son, +Medhavi’s father began to bewail his fate. Now hear from me, O my son, +what was chanted by the sages conversant with the Vedas, when they found +the sage mourning. A mortal on no condition whatever can overcome what +hath been ordained by Fate, Lo! Dhannushaksha succeeded in shattering +even the mountain by buffaloes. Thus young ascetics, puffed up with pride +for having obtained boons, perish in a short time. Be thou not one of +them. This Raivya, O my son, is possessed of great energy, and his two +sons are like him. Therefore, be thou vigilant--so as never to approach +him. O my son, Raivya is a great ascetic of an irritable temper. When +angry, he can do thee harm. Yavakri said, ‘I shall do as thou biddest me. +Of father, do thou not by any means entertain anxiety for that. Raivya +deserveth my regard even as thou, my father.’ Having replied unto his +father in these sweet words, Yavakri, fearing nothing and nobody, began +to delight in wantonly offending other munis.” + + + +SECTION CXXXVI + +“Lomasa said, ‘One day in the month of Chaitra, while fearlessly +wandering at large, Yavakri approached the hermitage of Raivya. And O son +of Bharata, in that beautiful hermitage, adorned with trees bearing +blossoms, he happened to behold the daughter-in-law of Raivya, sauntering +about like a Kinnara woman. And having lost his senses through passion, +Yavakri shamelessly spake unto the bashful maiden, saying, ‘Be thou +attached unto me.’ Thereupon, knowing his nature, and afraid of a curse, +as well as thinking of Raivya’s power, she went unto him saying, ‘I +agree.’ Then, O son of Bharata, taking him in private, she kept him +chained. O conqueror of foes, returning to his hermitage, Raivya found +his daughter-in-law, Paravasu’s wife, in tears. O Yudhishthira, thereat +consoling her with soft words, he enquired of her as to the cause of her +grief. Thereupon, the beautiful damsel told him all that Yavakri had said +unto her, and what she also had cleverly said unto him. Hearing of this +gross misbehaviour of Yavakri, the mind of the sage flamed up, and he +waxed exceedingly wroth. And being thus seized with passion, the great +sage of a highly irascible temper, tore off a matted lock of his hair, +and with holy mantras, offered it as a sacrifice on the sacred fire. At +this, there sprang out of it a female exactly resembling his +daughter-in-law. And then he plucked another matted lock of his hair, and +again offered it as a sacrifice into the fire. Thereupon sprang out of it +a demon, terrible to behold, and having fierce eyes. Then those, two +spake unto Raivya, saying, ‘What shall we do?’ Thereat, the angry sage +said unto them, ‘Go and kill Yavakri.’ Then saying, ‘We shall do (as thou +biddest)’--they two went away with the intention of slaying Yavakri. And +with her charms, the female whom the large-hearted sage had created, +robbed Yavakri of his sacred water-pot. Then with his uplifted spear the +demon flew at Yavakri, when he had been deprived of his water-pot and +rendered unclean. And seeing the demon approach with uplifted spear for +the purpose of slaying him, Yavakri rose up all on a sudden and fled +towards a tank. But finding it devoid of water, he hurried towards all +the rivers. But they too were all dried up. And being obstructed again +and again by the fierce demon, holding the spear, Yavakri in fright +attempted to enter into the Agnihotra room of his father. But there, O +king, he was repulsed by a blind Sudra warder, and he remained at the +door, grasped by the man. And, finding Yavakri thus grasped by the Sudra, +the demon hurled his spear at him, and thereupon he fell down dead, +pierced in the heart. After slaying Yavakri, the demon went back to +Raivya, and with the permission of that sage, began to live with the +female.” + + + +SECTION CXXXVII + +“Lomasa said, ‘O son of Kunti, Bharadwaja returned to his hermitage after +performing the ritual duties of the day, and having collected the +sacrificial fuel. And because his son had been slain, the sacrificial +fires which used to welcome him everyday, did not on that day come +forward to welcome him. And marking this change in the Agnihotra, the +great sage asked the blind Sudra warder seated there, saying, ‘Why is it. +O Sudra, that the fires rejoice not at sight of me? Thou too dost not +rejoice as is thy wont. Is it all well with my hermitage? I hope that my +son of little sense had not gone to the sage Raivya. Answer speedily, O +Sudra, all these questions of mine. My mind misgiveth me.’ The Sudra +said, ‘Thy son of little sense had gone to the sage Raivya, and therefore +it is that lie lieth prostrate (on the ground), having been slain by a +powerful demon. Being attacked by the Rakshasa, holding a spear, he +attempted to force his way into this room, and I therefore barred his way +with my arms. Then desirous of having water in an unclean state, as he +stood hopeless, he was slain by the vehement Rakshasa, carrying a spear +in his hand.’ On hearing from the Sudra of this great calamity, +Bharadwaja, sorely afflicted with grief, began to lament, embracing his +dead son. And he said, ‘O my son, it is for the good of the Brahmanas +that thou didst practise penances, with the intention that the Vedas +unstudied by any Brahmana whatever might be manifest unto thee. Thy +behaviour towards the Brahmanas had always been for their good, and thou +hadst also been innocent in regard to all creatures. But, alas! (at last) +thou didst lapse into rudeness. I had prohibited thee, O my son, from +visiting the residence of Raivya; but alas! to that very hermitage, +(destructive to thee) as the god of death himself, Yama, didst thou +repair. Evil-minded is that man, who, (knowing that I am an old man), and +also that (Yavakri) was my only son, had given way to wrath. It is +through the agency of Raivya that I have sustained the loss of my child. +Without thee, O my son, I shall give up my life, the most precious thing +in the world. In grief for the death of my son, I renounce my life; but +this I say that Raivya’s eldest son shall in a short time kill him +although he be innocent. Blessed are those to whom children have never +been born, for they lead a happy life, without having to experience the +grief (incident to the death of a child). Who in this world can be more +wicked than those who from affliction, and deprived of their sense by +sorrow consequent upon the death of a child, curse even their dearest +friend! I found my son dead, and, therefore, have cursed my dearest +friend. Ah! what second man can there be in this world, destined to +suffer so grievous a misfortune!’ Having lamented long Bharadwaja +cremated his son and then himself entered into a full-blazing fire.’” + + + +SECTION CXXXVIII + +“Lomasa said, ‘At that very time, the mighty king, Vrihadyumna, of high +fortune, who was the Yajamana of Raivya, commenced a sacrifice. And the +two sons of Raivya, Arvavasu and Paravasu, were engaged by that +intelligent monarch, to assist him in the performance of the ceremony. +And, O son of Kunti, taking the permission of their father, they two went +to the sacrifice, while Raivya with Paravasu’s wife remained in the +hermitage. And it came to pass that one day, desirous of seeing his wife. +Paravasu returned home alone. And he met his father in the wood, wrapped +in the skin of a black antelope. And the night was far advanced and dark; +and Paravasu, blinded by drowsiness in that deep wood, mistook his father +for a straggling deer. And mistaking him for a deer, Paravasu, for the +sake of personal safety, unintentionally killed his father. Then, O son +of Bharata, after performing the funeral rites (of his father), he +returned to the sacrifice and there addressed his brother saying, ‘Thou +wilt never be able to perform this task unassisted. I again, have killed +our father, mistaking him for a deer. O brother, for me do thou observe a +vow, prescribed in the case of killing a Brahmana. O Muni, I shall be +able to perform this work (sacrifice), without any assistant.’ Arvavasu +said, ‘Do thou then thyself officiate at this sacrifice of the gifted +Vrihadyumna; and for thee will I, bringing my senses under perfect +control, observe the vow prescribed in the case of slaying a Brahmana.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘Having observed the vow relative to the killing of a +Brahmana, the sage Arvavasu came back to the sacrifice. Seeing his +brother arrive, Paravasu, in accents choked with malice, addressed +Vrihadyumna, saying, ‘O king, see that this slayer of a Brahmana enter +not into thy sacrifice, nor look at it. Even by a glance, the killer of a +Brahmana can, without doubt, do thee harm.’ O lord of men, immediately on +hearing this, the king ordered his attendants (to turn out Arvavasu). O +king, on being driven out by the king’s attendants, and repeatedly +addressed by them--‘O slayer of a Brahmana--Arvavasu more than once +cried, ‘It is not I that have killed a Brahmana. Not did he own that he +had observed the vow for his own sake. He said that his brother had +committed the sin, and that he had freed him therefrom.’ Having said this +in anger, and being reprimanded by the attendants, the Brahmana sage of +austere penances, retired in silence into the woods. There betaking +himself to the severest penances, the great Brahmana sought the +protection of the Sun. Thereupon, the revelation teaching the mantra +relative to the worship of the Sun, became manifest unto him and that +eternal deity who obtaineth his share (of the sacrificial butter) first, +appeared before him in an embodied form.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘The celestials, O king, were well pleased with Arvavasu +for his acts. And they made him engaged as the chief priest in the +sacrifice (of Vrihadyumna), and Paravasu to be dismissed from it. Then +Agni and the other celestials (of their own accord) bestowed boons on +Arvavasu. And they also prayed that his father might be restored to life. +He further prayed that his brother might be absolved from his sin; that +his father might have no recollection of his having been slain; that +Bharadwaja and Yavakri might both be restored to life; and that the solar +revelation might attain celebrity (on earth). Then the god said, ‘So be +it,’ and conferred on him other boons also. Thereat, O Yudhishthira, all +of these persons regained their life. Yavakri now addressed Agni and the +other deities, saying, ‘I had obtained a knowledge of all the Vedas, and +also practised penances. How came it then, O chiefs of the immortals, +that Raivya succeeded in killing me in that way?’ Thereupon the gods +said, ‘O Yavakri, never act again as those have done. What thou askest +about is quite possible, for thou hast learnt the Vedas without exertion, +and without the help of a preceptor. But this man (Raivya) bearing +various troubles, had satisfied his preceptor by his conduct, and +obtained (from the latter) the excellent Vedas through great exertions +and in a long time.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘Having said this to Yavakri, and restored all those to +life, the celestials with Indra at their head, ascended to heaven. Here, +O Yudhishthira, is the sacred hermitage of that sage embellished with +trees bearing blossoms and fruits at all seasons. O tiger among kings, +dwelling at this spot, thou wilt be delivered from all thy sins.’” + + + +SECTION CXXXIX + +“Lomasa said, ‘O descendant of Bharata, O king, now hast thou left behind +the mountains Usiravija, Mainaka and Sweta, as well as the Kala hills, O +son of Kunti, O bull among the descendants of Bharata, here flow before +thee the seven Gangas. This spot is pure and holy. Here Agni blazeth +forth without intermission. No son of Manu is able to obtain a sight of +this wonder. Therefore, O son of Pandu, concentrate your mind in order +that he may intently behold these tirthas. Now wilt thou see the +play-ground of the gods, marked with their footprints, as we have passed +the mountain Kala. We shall now ascend that white rock--the mountain +Mandara, inhabited by the Yakshas, Manibhadra and Kuvera, king of the +Yakshas. O king, at this place eighty thousand fleet Gandharvas, and four +times as many Kimpurushas and Yakshas of various shapes and forms, +holding various weapons, attend upon Manibhadra, king of the Yakshas. In +these regions their power is very great. And in speed they are even as +the wind. They can, without doubt, displace even the lord of the +celestials from his seat. Protected by them, and also watched over by the +Rakshasas, these mountains have been rendered inaccessible. Therefore, O +son of Pritha, do thou concentrate thy thoughts. Besides these, O son of +Kunti, here are fierce ministers of Kuvera and his Rakshasa kindred. We +shall have to meet them, and, therefore, O Kunti’s son, gather up thy +energies. O king the mountain Kailasa is six yojanas in height. It +contains a gigantic jujube tree. And, O son of Kunti, numberless gods and +Yakshas and Rakshasas and Kinnaras and Nagas and Suparnas and Gandharvas +pass this way, in going towards Kuvera’s palace. O king, protected by me, +as well as by the might of Bhimasena, and also in virtue of thy own +asceticism and self-command, do thou to-day mix with them. May king +Varuna and Yama, conqueror of battles, and Ganga, and Yamuna, and this +mountain, and the Maruts and the twin Aswins, and all rivers and lakes, +vouchsafe thy safety. And, O effulgent one, mayst thou have safety from +all the celestials and the Asuras, and the Vasus. O Goddess Ganga, I hear +thy roar from this golden mountain, sacred to Indra. O Goddess of high +fortune, in these mountainous regions, protect the king, worshipped by +all of the Ajamidha race. O daughter of the mountain (Himalaya), this +king is about to enter into these mountainous regions. Do thou, +therefore, confer protection upon him.’ + +“Having thus addressed the river, Lomasa bade Yudhishthira, saying, ‘Be +thou careful.’” + +“Yudhishthira said, This confusion of Lomasa is unprecedented. Therefore, +protect ye Krishna, and be not careless. Lomasa knows this place to be +certainly difficult of access. Therefore, do ye practise here the utmost +cleanliness.” + +“Vaisampayana said, “He next addressed his brother Bhima of vast prowess, +saying, ‘O Bhimasena, do thou protect Krishna carefully. Whether Arjuna +be near or away, Krishna in times of danger ever seeketh protection from +thee alone.’” + +“Then the high-souled monarch approached the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva, +and after smelling their heads, and rubbing their persons, with tears +said unto them, ‘Do not fear. Proceed, however, with caution.”’ + + + +SECTION CXL + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O Vrikodara, there are mighty and powerful invisible +spirits at this place. We shall, however, pass it, through the merit of +our asceticism and Agnihotra sacrifices. O son of Kunti, do thou +therefore, restrain thy hunger and thirst by collecting thy energies, and +also, O Vrikodara have recourse to thy strength and cleverness. O Kunti’s +son, thou hast heard what the sage (Lomasa) had said regarding mount +Kailasa. Ascertain, therefore, after deliberation, how Krishna will pass +the spot. Or, O mighty Bhima of large eyes, do return from hence, taking +with thee Sahadeva, and all our charioteers, cooks, servants, cars, +horses, and Brahmanas worn out with travel, while I together with Nakula +and the sage Lomasa of severe austerities proceed, subsisting on the +lightest fare and observing vows. Do thou in expectation of my return, +cautiously wait at the source of the Ganga, protecting Draupadi till I +come back.’ + +“Bhima replied, ‘O descendant of Bharata, although this blessed princess +hath been sore afflicted by toil and distress, yet she easily proceedeth, +in the hope of beholding him of the white steeds (Arjuna). Thy dejection +also is already very great at not seeing the high-souled Arjuna, who +never retreateth from fight. O Bharata, it is superfluous then to say +that if thou seest neither myself nor Sahadeva nor Krishna, thy dejection +will certainly increase. The Brahmanas had better return with our +servants, charioteers cooks and whomsoever else thou mayst command. I +never shall leave thee in these rugged and inaccessible mountainous +regions, infested by Rakshasas. And, O tiger among men, also this +princess of high fortune, ever devoted to her lords, desireth not to +return without thee. Sahadeva is always devoted to thee; he too will +never retrace his steps. His disposition is known to me. O king, O mighty +monarch, we are all eager to behold Savyasachin, and therefore, will we +all go together. If we are unable to go over this mountain in our cars, +abounding as it doth in defiles, well, we would go on foot. Trouble +thyself not, O king, I shall carry Panchala’s daughter wherever she will +be incapable of walking. O king, I have decided upon this. Therefore let +not thy mind be distracted. I shall also carry over inaccessible tracts +those tender-bodied heroes, the twins, the delight of their mother, +wherever they will be incapable of proceeding.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘May thy strength increase, O Bhima, as thou speakest +thus, and as thou boldly undertakest to carry the illustrious Panchali +and these twins. Blessed be thou! Such courage dwelleth not in any other +individual. May thy strength, fame, merit, and reputation increase! O +long-armed one, as thou offerest to carry Krishna and our brothers the +twins, exhaustion and defeat never be thine!” + +Vaisampayana said, “Then the charming Krishna said with a smile, ‘O +descendant of Bharata, I shall be able to go, and, therefore, be thou not +anxious on my account.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘Access to the mountain, Gandhamadana, is only to be +obtained by dint of asceticism. Therefore, O son of Kunti, shall we all +practise austerities, O king, Nakula, Sahadeva, Bhimasena, thou and +myself shall then see him of the white steeds, O Kunti’s son.’” + +Vaisampayana said, “O king, thus conversing together, they saw with +delight the extensive domains of Suvahu, situated on the Himalayas +abounding in horses and elephants, densely inhabited by the Kiratas and +the Tanganas, crowded by hundreds of Pulindas, frequented by the +celestials, and rife with wonders. King Suvahu, the lord of the Pulindas, +cheerfully received them at the frontiers of his dominions, paying them +proper respect. Having been thus received with honour, and having dwelt +comfortably at this place, they started for the mountain Himalaya, when +the sun shone brightly in the firmament. And, O king, having entrusted to +the care of the lord of the Pulindas, all their servants--Indrasena and +the others,--and the cooks and the stewards, and Draupadi’s +accoutrements, and every thing else, those mighty charioteers, the son of +the Kurus, endued with great prowess, set out from that country, and +began to proceed cautiously with Krishna,--all of them cheerful in the +expectation of beholding Arjuna.” + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O Bhimasena, O Panchali, and ye twins, hearken unto +my words. The acts done (by a person) in a former birth do not perish, +(without producing their effects). Behold! Even we have become rangers of +the wilderness. Even to see Dhananjaya, exhausted and distressed as we +are, we have to bear each other, and pass through impassable places. This +burneth me even as fire doth a heap of cotton. O hero, I do not see +Dhananjaya at my side. I reside in the wood with my younger brothers, +anxious for beholding him. This thought, as also the memory of that grave +insult offered to Yajanaseni, consumes me. O Vrikodara, I do not see the +invincible Partha of strong bow and incomparable energy, and who is the +immediate elder to Nakula. For this, O Vrikodara, I am miserable. In +order to see that hero, Dhananjaya, firm in promise, for these five years +have I been wandering in various tirthas, and beautiful forests and lakes +and yet I do meet with him. For this, O Vrikodara, I am miserable. I do +not see the long-armed Gudakesa, of dark blue hue, and leonine gait. For +this, O Vrikodara, I am miserable. I do not see that foremost of Kurus, +accomplished in arms, skilful in fight, and matchless among bowmen. For +this, O Vrikodara, I am miserable. Distressed for I am I do not see that +son of Pritha, Dhananjaya, born under the influence of the star Phalguni; +ranging amidst foes even like Yama at the time of the universal +dissolution; possessed of the prowess of an elephant with the temporal +juice trickling down; endued with leonine shoulders; not inferior to +Sakra himself in prowess and energy; elder in years to the twins; of +white steeds; unrivalled in heroism; invincible; and wielding a strong +bow. For this, O Vrikodara, I am miserable. And he is always of a +forgiving temper,--even when insulted by the meanest individual. And he +conferreth benefit and protection to the righteous; but to that tortuous +person who by craft attempts to do him mischief, Dhananjaya is like unto +virulent poison, albeit that one were Sakra himself. And the mighty +Vibhatsu of immeasurable soul and possessing great strength, showeth +mercy and extendeth protection even to a foe when fallen. And he is the +refuge of us all and he crusheth his foes in fight. And he hath the power +to collect any treasure whatever, and he ministereth unto our happiness. +It was through his prowess that I had owned formerly measureless precious +jewels of various kinds which at present Syodhana hath usurped. It was by +his might, O hero, that I had possessed before that palatial amphitheatre +embellished with all manner of jewels, and celebrated throughout the +three worlds. O Pandu’s son, in prowess, Phalguni is like unto Vasudeva, +and in fight he is invincible and unrivalled, even like unto Kartavirya. +Alas! I see him not, O Bhima. In might, that conqueror of foes goeth in +the wake of the invincible and most powerful Sankarshana (Valarama) and +Vasudeva. In strength of arms, and spirit, he is like unto Purandara +himself. And in swiftness, he is even as the wind, and in grace, as the +moon, and in ire, he is the eternal Death himself. O mighty-armed one, +with the object of beholding that war-like tiger among men, shall we +repair to the Gandhamadana mountain, where lies the hermitage of Nara and +Narayana at the site of the celebrated jujube tree, and which is +inhabited by the Yakshas. We shall see that best of mountains. And, +practising severe austerities only on foot we shall go to Kuvera’s +beautiful lake guarded by Rakshasas. That place cannot be reached by +vehicles, O Vrikodara. Neither can cruel or avaricious, or irascible +people attain to that spot, O Bharata’s son. O Bhima, in order to see +Arjuna, thither shall we repair, in company, with Brahmanas of strict +vows, girding on our swords, and wielding our bows. Those only that are +impure, meet with flies gad-flies, mosquitoes, tigers, lions, and +reptiles, but the pure never come across them. Therefore, regulating our +fare, and restraining our senses, we shall go to the Gandhamadana, +desirous of seeing Dhananjaya.’” + + + +SECTION CXLI + +“Lomasa said, O sons of Pandu, ye have seen many a mountain, and river +and town and forest and beautiful tirtha; and have touched with your +hands the sacred waters. Now this way leads to the celestial mountain +Mandara; therefore be ye attentive and composed. Ye will now repair to +the residence of the celestials and the divine sages of meritorious +deeds. Here, O king, flows the mighty and beautiful river (Alakananda) of +holy water adored by hosts of celestials and sages, and tracing its +source to (the site of) the jujube tree. It is frequented and worshipped +by high-souled Vaihayasas, Valakhilyas and Gandharvas of mighty souls. +Accustomed to sing the Sama hymns, the sages, Marichi, Pulaha, Bhrigu and +Angiras, chanted them at this spot. Here the lord of celestials +performeth with the Maruts his daily prayers. And the Sadhyas and the +Aswins attend on him. The sun, the moon and all the luminaries with the +planets resort to this river, alternately by day and by night. O highly +fortunate monarch, that protector of the world; Mahadeva, having a bull +for his mark, received on his head the fall of the waters of this river, +at the source of the Ganga. O children, approach this goddess of the six +attributes and bow down before her with concentrated minds.’ + +“Hearing the words of the high-souled Lomasa, the son of Pandu +reverentially worshipped the river (Ganga), flowing through the +firmament. And after having adored her the pious sons of Pandu resumed +their journey accompanied by the sages. And it came to pass that those +best of men beheld at a distance some white object of vast proportions, +even like Meru and stretching on all sides. And knowing that Pandu’s sons +were intent upon asking (him), Lomasa versed in speech said, ‘Hear, O +sons of Pandu! O best of men, what ye see before you, of vast proportions +like unto a mountain and beautiful as the Kailasa cliff, is a collection +of the bones of the mighty Daitya Naraka, Being placed on a mountain, it +looketh like one. The Daitya was slain by that Supreme Soul, the eternal +God Vishnu, for the good of the lord of celestials. Aiming at the +possession of Indra’s place, by the force of austere and Vedic lore, that +mighty-minded (demon) had practised austere penances for ten thousand +years. And on account of his asceticism, as also of the force and might +of his arms he had grown invincible and always harassed (Indra). And O +sinless one, knowing his strength and austerities and observance of +religious vows, Indra became agitated and was overwhelmed with fear. And +mentally he thought of the eternal deity, Vishnu. And thereat the +graceful lord of the universe, who is present everywhere, appeared and +stood before him manifest. And the sages and celestials began to +propitiate Vishnu with prayers. And in his presence even Agni of the six +attributes and of blazing beauty being overpowered by his effulgence, +became shorn of radiance and seeing before him the God Vishnu, the chief +of the celestials who wields the thunder-bolt, bowing with head down +readily apprised Vishnu of the source of his fear. Thereupon Vishnu said, +‘I know, O Sakra, that thy fear proceedeth from Naraka, that lord of the +Daityas. By the merit of his successful ascetic acts he aimeth at Indra’s +position. Therefore, for pleasing thee, I shall certainly sever his soul +from his body, although he hath achieved success in asceticism. Do thou, +lord of celestials, wait for a moment.’ Then the exceedingly powerful +Vishnu deprived (Naraka) of his senses (by striking him) with his hand. +And he fell down on the earth even like the monarch of mountains struck +by (thunder). He was thus slain by a miracle and his bones lie gathered +at this spot. Here also is manifest another deed of Vishnu’s. Once the +whole earth having been lost and sunk into the nether regions she was +lifted up by him in the shape of a boar having a single tusk.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O worshipful one, relate in particular how Vishnu, +the lord of the celestials, raised up the earth sunk a hundred yojanas? +In what manner also was that support of all created things--the goddess +Earth of high fortune--who dispenseth blessings and bringeth forth all +sorts of corn rendered stable? Through whose power had she sunk an +hundred yojanas below, and under what circumstances was exhibited this +greatest exploit of the Supreme Being? O chief of the twice-born race, I +wish to hear all about it in detail as it happened. Certainly, it is +known to thee.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘O Yudhishthira, listen to all at length as I relate the +story, which thou hast asked me (to narrate). O child, in days of yore, +there was (once) a terrible time in the Krita Yuga when the eternal and +primeval Deity assumed the duties of Yama. And, O thou that never fallest +off, when the God of gods began to perform the functions of Yama, there +died not a creature while the births were as usual. Then there began to +multiply birds and beasts and kine, and sheep, and deer and all kinds of +carnivorous animals. O tiger among men and vanquisher of foes, then the +human race also increased by thousands even like unto a current of water. +And, O my son, when the increase of population had been so frightful, the +Earth oppressed with the excessive burden, sank down for a hundred +yojanas. And suffering pain in all her limbs, and being deprived of her +senses by excessive pressure, the earth in distress sought the protection +of Narayana, the foremost of the gods. The earth spake saying, ‘It is by +thy favour, O possessor of the six attributes, that I had been able to +remain so long in my position. But I have been overcome with burden and +now I cannot hold myself any longer. It behoveth thee, O adorable one, to +relieve this load of mine. I have sought thy protection. O lord; and do +thou, therefore, extend unto me thy favour.’ Hearing these words of hers, +the eternal lord, possessor of the six attributes, complaisantly said, in +words uttered in distinct letters. Vishnu said, ‘Thou need not fear, O +afflicted Earth, the bearer of all treasures. I shall act so that thou +mayst be made light.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘Having thus dismissed the Earth, who hath the mountains +for her ear-rings, he suddenly became turned into a boar with one tusk, +and of exceeding effulgence. Causing terror with his glowing red eyes and +emitting fumes from his blazing lustre, he began to swell in magnitude in +that region. O hero, then holding the earth with his single radiant tusk +that being who pervadeth the Vedas, raised her up a hundred yojanas. And +while she was being thus raised, there ensued a mighty agitation and all +the celestials, together with the sages of ascetic wealth became +agitated. And heaven, and the firmament, and also the Earth were filled +with exclamations of Oh! and Alas! and neither the celestials nor men +could rest in peace. Then countless celestials together with the sages +went to Brahma, who was seated burning as it were in his (own) lustre. +Then approaching Brahma, the lord of celestials, and the witness of the +acts of all beings, they with folded hands spake the following words, ‘O +lord of the celestials, all created beings have become agitated and the +mobile and immobile creatures are restless. O lord of the celestials, +even the oceans are found to be agitated and this whole earth hath gone +down a hundred yojanas. What is the matter? And by whose influence is it +that the whole universe is in ferment? May it please thee to explain it +unto us without delay, for we are all bewildered.’ Thereupon Brahma +replied, ‘Ye immortals! do ye not entertain fear for the Asuras, in any +matter or place. Hearken, ye celestials, to the reason to which all this +commotion is owing! This agitation in the heavens hath been produced by +the influence of the illustrious Being who is omnipresent, eternal and +the never-perishing Soul. That Supreme soul, Vishnu hath lifted up the +Earth, who had entirely sunk down hundred yojanas. This commotion hath +taken place in consequence of the earth being raised up. Know ye this and +dispel your doubts.’ The celestials said, ‘Where is that Being who with +pleasure raiseth up the Earth? O possessor of the six attributes, mention +unto us the place. Thither shall we repair.’ Brahma said ‘Go ye. May good +happen to you! Ye will find him resting in the Nandana (gardens). Yonder +is visible the glorious worshipful Suparna (Garuda). After having raised +the Earth, the Supreme Being from whom the world become manifest, flameth +even in the shape of a boar, like unto the all-consuming fire at the +universal dissolution. And on his beast is really to be seen the gem +Srivatsa. (Go) and behold that Being knowing no deterioration.’ + +“Lomasa said, ‘Then the celestials, placing the grandsire at their head, +came to that infinite Soul, and having listened to his praise, bade him +adieu and went back to whence they had come.’” + +Vaisampayana said, “O Janamejaya, having heard this story, all the +Pandavas without delay and with alacrity, began to proceed by the way +pointed out by Lomasa.” + + + +SECTION CXLII + +Vaisampayana said, “O king, then those foremost of bowmen, of +immeasurable prowess, holding bows stringed at full stretch and equipped +with quivers and arrows and wearing finger-caps made of the guana-skin, +and with their swords on, proceeded with Panchali towards the +Gandhamadana, taking with them the best of Brahmanas. And on their way +they saw various lakes, and rivers and mountains and forests, and trees +of wide-spreading shade on mountain summits and places abounding in trees +bearing flowers and fruit in all seasons and frequented by celestials and +sages. And restraining their senses within their inner self and +subsisting on fruits and roots, the heroes passed through rugged regions, +craggy and difficult of passage, beholding many and various kinds of +beasts. Thus those high-souled ones entered the mountain inhabited by the +sages, the Siddhas and the celestials, and frequented by the Kinnaras and +the Apsaras. And, O lord of men, as those mighty heroes were entering the +mountain Gandhamandana, there arose a violent wind, attended with a heavy +shower. And owing to this, mighty clouds of dust bearing lots of dry +leaves, rose, and all on a sudden covered earth, air and firmament. And +when the heavens had been covered with dust nothing could be perceived, +neither could they (the Pandavas) speak to one another. And with eyes +enveloped with darkness and pushed by the wind carrying particles of +rocks they could not see one another. And there began to arrive mighty +sounds proceeding from the tree, and also from those breaking down +incessantly under the force of the wind, and falling to the ground. And +distracted by gusts of the wind, they thought, ‘Are the heavens falling +down; or the earth and the mountains being rent?’ And afraid of the wind, +they felt about with their hands and took shelter under the way-side tree +and ant-hills and in caverns. Then holding his bow and supporting Krishna +the mighty Bhimasena stood under a tree. And Yudhishthira the just with +Dhaumya crept into the deep wood. And Sahedeva carrying the sacred fire +with him took shelter in a rock. And Nakula together with Lomasa and +other Brahmanas of great asceticism stood in fright, each under a tree. +Then when the wind had abated and the dust subsided, there came down a +shower in torrents. There also arose a loud rattling noise, like unto the +thunder hurled; and quick-flashing lightning began to play gracefully +upon the clouds. And being helped on by the swift wind, showers of rain +poured down without intermissions, filling all sides round. And, O lord +of men, all around there began to flow many rivers covered with foam and +turbid with mud; and these bearing volumes of water spread over the +frothy rafts rushed down with tremendous roar uprooting trees. And +afterwards when that sound had ceased and the air had arisen they (each +of them) cautiously came out of their coverts and met together, O +descendant of Bharata. And then the heroes started for the mountain +Gandhamadana.” + + + +SECTION CXLIII + +Vaisampayana said, “When the high-souled sons of Pandu had proceeded only +two miles, Draupadi unaccustomed to travel on foot, sank down. Weary and +afflicted as she was, the poor daughter of Panchala became faint, on +account of the hailstorm and also of her extreme delicacy. And trembling +with faintness, the black-eyed one supported herself on her thighs with +her plump arms, becoming (her graceful form). And thus resting for +support on her thighs resembling the trunk of an elephant, and which were +in contract with each other, she suddenly dropped upon the ground, +trembling like a plantain tree. And finding that the beautiful one was +falling down like a twisted creeper, Nakula ran forward and supported, +her. And he said, ‘O king, this black-eyed daughter of Panchala, being +weary, hath fallen down upon the ground. Do thou, therefore, tend her, O +son of Bharata. Undeserving as she is of misery, this lady of slow pace +hath been subject to great hardships, and she is also worn out with the +fatigues of the journey. O mighty king, do thou therefore, comfort her.’” + +Vaisampayana said, “Having heard these words of Nakula, the king as also +Bhima and Sahadeva, became sorely afflicted, and hastily ran towards her. +And finding her weak, and her countenance pale, the pious son of Kunti +began to lament in grief, taking her on his lap. Yudhishthira said. +‘Accustomed to ease, and deserving to sleep in wellprotected rooms, on +beds spread over with fine sheets, how doth this beautiful one sleep +prostrate on the ground! Alas! On my account (alone), the delicate feet +and the lotus-like face of this one deserving of all excellent things, +have contracted a dark-blue hue. O what have I done! Fool that I am, +having been addicted to dice, I have been wandering in the forest full of +wild beasts, taking Krishna in my company. This large-eyed one had been +bestowed by her father, the king of the Drupadas, in the hope that the +blessed girl would be happy, by obtaining the sons of Pandu for her +lords. It is on account of my wretched self, that without obtaining +anything hoped for, she sleepeth prostrate on the ground, tired with +hardships, sorrow and travel!” + +Vaisampayana said, “While king Yudhishthira the just was lamenting thus, +Dhaumya with all the other principal Brahmanas came to the spot. And they +began to console him and to honour him with blessings. And they recited +mantras capable of dispelling Rakshasas and (to that end) also performed +rites. And on the mantras being recited by the great ascetics, in order +to the restoration of (Panchali’s) health, Panchali frequently touched by +the Pandavas with their soothing palms and fanned by cool breezes +surcharged with particles of water, felt ease, and gradually regained her +senses. And finding that exhausted poor lady restored to her senses, the +sons of Pritha, placing her on deer-skin, caused her to take rest. And +taking her feet of red soles, bearing auspicious marks, the twins began +to press them gently with their hands, scarred by the bow-string. And +Yudhishthira the just, the foremost of the Kurus, also comforted her and +addressed Bhima in the following words: ‘O Bhima, there yet remain many +mountains (before us), rugged, and inaccessible because of snow. How, +long-armed one, will Krishna pass over them?’ Thereupon Bhima said, ‘O +king, I myself shall carry thee, together with this princess and these +bulls among men, the twins; therefore, O king of kings, resign not thy +mind unto despair. Or, at thy bidding, O sinless one, Hidimava’s son, the +mighty Ghatotkacha, who is capable of ranging the skies and who is like +unto me in strength, will carry us all.’” + +Vaisampayana said, “Then with Yudhishthira’s permission, Bhima thought of +his Rakshasa son. And no sooner was he thought of by his father, than the +pious Ghatotkacha made his appearance and, saluting the Pandavas and the +Brahmanas, stood with joined hands. And they also caressed him of mighty +arms. He then addressed his father, Bhimasena of dreadful prowess, +saying, ‘Having been thought of by thee I have come here with speed, in +order to serve thee. Do thou, O longarmed one, command me. I shall +certainly be able to perform whatever thou bidst.’ Hearing this, +Bhimasena hugged the Rakshasa to his breast.” + + + +SECTION CXLIV + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O Bhima, let this mighty and heroic Rakshasa chief, +thy legitimate son, devoted to us, and truthful, and conversant with +virtue carry (his) mother (Draupadi) without delay. And, O possessor of +dreadful prowess, depending on the strength of thy arms, I shall reach +the Gandhamadana, unhurt, together with Panchala’s daughter.’” + +Vaisampayana said, “Hearing the words of his brother, that tiger among +men, Bhimasena, commanded his son, Ghatotkacha, represser of foes, +saying, ‘O invincible son of Hidimva, this thy mother hath been sorely +tired. Thou art, again, strong and capable of going wherever thou likest. +Do thou therefore, O ranger of the skies, carry her. May prosperity +attend thee! Taking her on thy shoulders, thou shalt go in our company, +adopting a course not far overhead,--so that thou mayst not render her +uneasy.’ Thereat, Ghatotkacha said, ‘Even single-handed, I am able to +carry Yudhishthira the just, and Dhaumya, and Krishna, and the twins--and +what wonder then that I shall to-day carry them, when I have others to +assist me? And, O sinless one, hundreds of other heroic (Rakshasas), +capable of moving through the sky, and of assuming any shape at will, +will together carry you all with the Brahmanas.” + +Vaisampayana said, “Saying this, Ghatotkacha carried Krishna in the midst +of the Pandavas, and the other (Rakshasas) also began to carry the +Pandavas. And by virtue of his native energy, Lomasa of incomparable +effulgence moved along the path of the Siddhas, like unto a second sun. +And at the command of the lord of the Rakshasas, those Rakshasas of +terrific prowess began to proceed, bearing all the other Brahmanas, and +beholding many a romantic wood. And they proceeded towards the gigantic +jujube tree. And carried by the Rakshasas of great speed, proceeding at a +rapid pace, the heroes passed over longextending ways quickly, as if over +short ones. And on their way they saw various tracts crowded with +Mlechchha people, and containing mines of diverse gems. And they also saw +hillocks teeming with various minerals, thronged with Vidyadharas, +inhabited on all sides by monkeys and Kinnaras and Kimpurushas, and +Gandharvas, and filled with peacocks, and chamaras, and apes, and rurus, +and bears, and gavayas, and buffaloes, intersected with a network of +rivulets, and inhabited by various birds and beasts, and beautified by +elephants, and abounding in trees and enraptured birds. After having thus +passed many countries, and also the Uttarakurus, they saw that foremost +of mountains, the Kailasa, containing many wonders. And by the side of +it, they beheld the hermitage of Nara and Narayana, with celestial trees +bearing flowers and fruits in all seasons. And they also beheld that +beautiful jujube of round trunk. And it was fresh; and of deep shade; and +of excellent beauty; and of thick, soft and sleek foliage; and healthful; +and having gigantic boughs; and wide-spreading; and of incomparable +lustre; and bearing full-grown, tasteful, and holy fruits dropping honey. +And this celestial tree was frequented by hosts of mighty sages, and was +always inhabited by various birds maddened with animal spirits. And it +grew at a spot devoid of mosquitoes and gad-flies, and abounding in +fruits and roots and water, and covered with green grass, and inhabited +by the celestials and the Gandharvas, and of smooth surface, and +naturally healthful, and beauteous and cool and of delicate feel. Having +reached that (tree) together with those bulls among Brahmanas, the +high-souled ones gently alighted from the shoulders of the Rakshasas. +Then in company with those bulls among the twice-born ones, the Pandavas +beheld that romantic asylum presided over by Nara and Narayana; devoid of +gloom; and sacred; and untouched by the solar rays; and free from those +rubs, viz. hunger, and thirst, heat and cold, and removing (all) sorrow; +and crowded with hosts of mighty sages; and adorned with the grace +proceeding from the Vedas, Saman, Rich, and Yajus; and, O king, +inaccessible to men who have renounced religion; and beautified with +offerings, and homas; and sacred; and well-swept and daubed; and shining +all around with offerings of celestial blossoms; and spread over with +altars of sacrificial fire, and sacred ladles and pots; and graced with +large water-jars, and baskets and the refuge of all beings; and echoing +with the chanting of the Vedas; and heavenly: and worthy of being +inhabited; and removing fatigue; and attended with splendour and of +incomprehensible merit; and majestic with divine qualities. And the +hermitage was inhabited by hosts of great sages, subsisting on fruits and +roots; and having their senses under perfect control; and clad in black +deer-skins; and effulgent like unto the Sun and Agni; and of souls +magnified by asceticism and intent on emancipation; and leading the +Vanaprastha mode of life; and of subdued senses; and identified with the +Supreme Soul; and of high fortune; and reciting Vaidic hymns. Then having +purified himself and restrained his senses, that son of Dharma, the +intelligent Yudhishthira of exceeding energy, accompanied by his +brothers, approached those sages. And all the great sages endued with +supernatural knowledge, knowing Yudhishthira arrived, received him +joyfully. And those sages engaged in the recitation of the Vedas, and +like unto fire itself, after having conferred blessings on Yudhishthira, +cheerfully accorded him fitting reception. And they gave him clean water +and flowers and roots. And Yudhishthira the just received with regard the +things gladly offered for his reception by the great sages. And then, O +sinless one, Pandu’s son together with Krishna and his brothers, and +thousands of Brahmanas versed in the Vedas and the Vendangas, entered +into that holy hermitage, like unto the abode of Sukra and pleasing the +mind with heavenly odours and resembling heaven itself and attended with +beauty. There the pious (Yudhishthira) beheld the hermitage of Nara and +Narayana, beautified by the Bhagirathi and worshipped by the gods and the +celestial sages. And seeing that hermitage inhabited by the Brahmarshis +and containing fruits dropping honey, the Pandavas were filled with +delight. And having reached that place, the high-souled ones began to +dwell with the Brahmanas. There beholding the holy lake Vinda, and the +mountain Mainaka, of golden summits and inhabited by various species of +birds, the magnanimous ones lived happily with joy. The son of Pandu +together with Krishna took pleasure in ranging excellent and captivating +woods, shining with flowers of every season; beauteous on all sides with +trees bearing blown blossoms; and bending down with the weight of fruits +and attended by the numerous male kokilas and of glossy foliage; and +thick and having cool shade and lovely to behold. They took delight in +beholding diverse beautiful lakes of limpid water and shining all round +with lotuses and lilies. And there, O lord, the balmy breeze bearing pure +fragrance, blew gladdening all the Pandavas, together with Krishna. And +hard by the gigantic jujube, the mighty son of Kunti saw the Bhagirathi +of easy descent and cool and furnished with fresh lotuses and having +stairs made of rubies and corals and graced with trees and scattered over +with celestial flowers, and gladsome to the mind. And at that spot, +frequented by celestials and sages, and extremely inaccessible, they, +after having purified themselves offered oblations unto the pitris and +the gods and the rishis in the sacred waters of the Bhagirathi. Thus +those bulls among men the heroic perpetuators of the Kuru race, began to +reside there with the Brahmanas offering oblations and practising +meditation. And those tigers among men, the Pandavas of the god-like +appearance, felt delight in witnessing the various amusements of +Draupadi.” + + + +SECTION CXLV + +Vaisampayana said, “There observing cleanliness, those tigers among men +dwelt for six nights, in expectation of beholding Dhananjaya. And it came +to pass that all of a sudden there blew a wind from the north-east and +brought a celestial lotus of a thousand petals and effulgent as the sun. +And Panchali saw that pure and charming lotus of unearthly fragrance, +brought by the wind and left on the ground. And having obtained that +excellent and beautiful lotus, that blessed one became exceedingly +delighted, O king, and addressed Bhimasena in the following words, +‘Behold, O Bhima, this most beautiful unearthly flower having within it +the very source of fragrance. It gladdenth my heart, O represser of foes. +This one shall be presented to Yudhishthira the just. Do thou, therefore, +procure others for my satisfaction--in order that I may carry them to our +hermitage in the Kamyaka. If, O Pritha’s son, I have found grace with +thee, do thou then procure others of this species in large numbers. I +wish to carry them to our hermitage.’ Having said this, the blameless +lady of beautiful glances approached Yudhishthira the just, taking the +flower. And knowing the desire of his beloved queen that bull among men, +Bhima of great strength, also set out, in order to gratify her. And +intent upon fetching the flowers, he began to proceed at rapid space, +facing the wind, in the direction from which the flower had come. And +taking the bow inlaid with gold on the back as also arrows like unto +venomous snakes, he proceeded as a lion in anger or an elephant in rut. +And all beings gazed at him, holding a mighty bow and arrows. And neither +exhaustion, nor langour, neither fear nor confusion, ever possessed the +son of Pritha and the offspring of Vayu (wind). And desirous of pleasing +Draupadi the mighty one, free from fear or confusion, ascended the peak +depending on the strength of his arms. And that slayer of foes began to +range that beautiful peak covered with trees, creepers and of black rocky +base; and frequented by Kinnaras; and variegated with minerals, plants, +beasts, and birds of various hues; and appearing like an upraised arm of +the Earth adorned with an entire set of ornaments. And that one of +matchless prowess proceeded, fixing his look at the slopes of the +Gandhamadana,--beautiful with flowers of every season--and revolving +various thoughts in his mind and with his ears, eyes and mind rivetted to +the spots resounding with the notes of male kokilas and ringing with the +hum of black bees. And like an elephant in rut ranging mad in a forest +that one of mighty prowess smelt the rare odour proceeding from the +flowers of every season. And he was fanned by the fresh breeze of the +Gandhamadana bearing the perfumes of various blossoms and cooling like +unto a father’s touch. On his fatigue being removed the down on his body +stood on end. And in this state that represser of foes for the flowers +began to survey all the mountain, inhabited by Yakshas and Gandharvas and +celestials and Brahmarshis. And brushed by the leaves of Saptachchada +tree, besmeared with fresh red, black and white minerals, he looked as if +decorated with lines of holy unguents drawn by fingers. And with clouds +stretching at its sides, the mountain seemed dancing with outspread +wings. And on account of the trickling waters of springs, it appeared to +be decked with necklaces of pearls. And it contained romantic caverns and +groves and cascades and caves. And there were excellent peacocks dancing +to the jingling of the bangles of the Apsaras. And its rocky surface was +worn away by the end of tusks of the elephants presiding over the +cardinal points. And with the waters of rivers falling down, the mountain +looked as if its clothes were getting loosened. And that graceful son of +the wind-god playfully and cheerfully went on, pushing away by his force +countless intertwisted creepers. And stags in curiosity gazed at him, +with grass in their mouths. And not having experienced fear (ever +before), they were unalarmed, and did not flee away. And being engaged in +fulfilling the desire of his love, the youthful son of Pandu, stalwart +and of splendour like unto the hue of gold; and having a body strong as a +lion; and treading like a mad elephant; and possessing the force of a mad +elephant; and having coppery eyes like unto those of a mad elephant; and +capable of checking a mad elephant began to range the romantic sides of +the Gandhamadana with his beautiful eyes uplifted; and displaying as it +were a novel type of beauty. And the wives of Yakshas and Gandharvas +sitting invisible by the side of their husbands, stared at him, turning +their faces with various motions. Intent upon gratifying Draupadi exiled +unto the woods, as he was ranging the beautiful Gandhamadana, he +remembered the many and various woes caused by Duryodhana. And he +thought, ‘Now that Arjuna sojourn in heaven and that I too have come away +to procure the flowers, what will our brother Yudhishthira do at present? +Surely, from affection and doubting their prowess, that foremost of men, +Yudhishthira, will not let Nakula and Sahadeva come in search of us. How, +again, can I obtain the flowers soon?’ Thinking thus, that tiger among +men proceeded in amain like unto the king of birds, his mind and sight +fixed on the delightful side of the mountain. And having for his +provisions on the journey the words of Draupadi, the mighty son of Pandu, +Vrikodara Bhima, endued with strength and the swiftness of the wind, with +his mind and sight fixed on the blooming slopes of the mountain, +proceeded speedily, making the earth tremble with his tread, even as doth +a hurricane at the equinox; and frightening herds of elephants and +grinding lions and tigers and deer and uprooting and smashing large trees +and tearing away by force plants and creepers, like unto an elephant +ascending higher and higher the summit of a mountain; and roaring +fiercely even as a cloud attended with thunder. And awakened by that +mighty roaring of Bhima, tigers came out of their dens, while other +rangers of the forest hid themselves. And the coursers of the skies +sprang up (on their wing) in fright. And herds of deer hurriedly ran +away. And birds left the trees (and fled). And lions forsook their dens. +And the mighty lions were roused from their slumber. And the buffaloes +stared. And the elephants in fright, leaving that wood, ran to more +extensive forests company with their mates. And the boars and the deer +and the lions and the buffaloes and the tigers and the jackals and the +gavayas of the wood began to cry in herds. And the ruddy geese, and the +gallinules and the ducks and the karandavas and the plavas and the +parrots and the male kokilas and the herons in confusion flew in all +directions, while some proud elephants urged by their mates, as also some +lions and elephants in rage, flew at Bhimasena. And as they were +distracted at heart through fear, these fierce animals discharging urine +and dung, set up loud yells with gapping mouths. Thereupon the +illustrious and graceful son of the wind-god, the mighty Pandava, +depending upon the strength of his arms, began to slay one elephant with +another elephant and one lion with another lion while he despatched the +others with slaps. And on being struck by Bhima the lions and the tigers +and the leopards, in fright gave loud cries and discharged urine and +dung. And after having destroyed these the handsome son of Pandu, +possessed of mighty strength, entered into the forest, making all sides +resound with his shouts. And then the long-armed one saw on the slopes of +the Gandhamadana a beautiful plantain tree spreading over many a yojana. +And like unto a mad lion, that one of great strength proceeded amain +towards that tree breaking down various plants. And that foremost of +strong persons--Bhima--uprooting innumerable plantain trunks equal in +height to many palm-trees (placed one above another), cast them on all +sides with force. And that highly powerful one, haughty like a male lion, +sent up shouts. And then he encountered countless beasts of gigantic +size, and stags, and monkeys, and lions, and buffaloes, and aquatic +animals. And what with the cries of these, and what with the shouts of +Bhima, even the beasts and birds that were at distant parts of the wood, +became all frightened. And hearing those cries of beasts and birds, +myriads of aquatic fowls suddenly rose up on wetted wings. And seeing +these fowls of water, that bull among the Bharatas proceeded in that +direction; and saw a vast and romantic lake. And that fathomless lake +was, as it were, being fanned by the golden plantain trees on the coast, +shaken by the soft breezes. And immediately descending into the lake +abounding in lilies and lotuses, he began to sport lustily like unto a +mighty maddened elephant. Having thus sported there for a long while, he +of immeasurable effulgence ascended, in order to penetrate with speed +into that forest filled with trees. Then the Pandava winded with all his +might his loud-blowing shell. And striking his arms with his hands, the +mighty Bhima made all the points of heaven resound. And filled with the +sounds of the shell, and with the shouts of Bhimasena, and also with the +reports produced by the striking of his arms, the caves of the mountain +seemed as if they were roaring. And hearing those loud arm-strokes, like +unto the crashing of thunder, the lions that were slumbering in the +caves, uttered mighty howls. And being terrified by the yelling of the +lions, the elephants, O Bharata, sent forth tremendous roars, which +filled the mountain. And hearing those sounds emitted, and knowing also +Bhimasena to be his brother, the ape Hanuman, the chief of monkeys, with +the view of doing good to Bhima, obstructed the path leading to heaven. +And thinking that he (Bhima) should not pass that way,(Hanuman) lay +across the narrow path, beautified by plantain trees, obstructing it for +the sake of the safety of Bhima. With the object that Bhima might not +come by curse or defeat, by entering into the plantain wood, the ape +Hanuman of huge body lay down amidst the plantain trees, being overcome +with drowsiness. And he began to yawn, lashing his long tail, raised like +unto the pole consecrated to Indra, and sounding like thunder. And on all +sides round, the mountains by the mouths of caves emitted those sounds in +echo, like a cow lowing. And as it was being shaken by the reports +produced by the lashing of the tail, the mountain with its summits +tottering, began to crumble all around. And overcoming that roaring of +mad elephants, the sounds of his tail spread over the varied slopes of +the mountain. + +“On those sounds being heard the down of Bhima’s body stood on end; and +he began to range that plantain wood, in search of those sounds. And that +one of mighty arms saw the monkey-chief in the plantain wood, on an +elevated rocky base. And he was hard to be looked at even as the +lightning-flash; and of coppery hue like that of the lightning-flash: and +endued with the voice of the lightning-flash; and quick moving as the +lightning-flash; and having his short flesh neck supported on his +shoulders; and with his waist slender in consequence of the fullness of +his shoulders. And his tail covered with long hair, and a little bent at +the end, was raised like unto a banner. And (Bhima) saw Hanuman’s head +furnished with small lips, and coppery face and tongue, and red ears, and +brisk eyes, and bare white incisors sharpened at the edge.’ And his head +was like unto the shining moon; adorned with white teeth within the +mouth; and with mane scattered over, resembling a heap of asoka flowers. +And amidst the golden plantain trees, that one of exceeding effulgence +was lying like unto a blazing fire, with his radiant body. And that +slayer of foes as casting glances with his eyes reddened with +intoxication. And the intelligent Bhima saw that mighty chief of monkeys, +of huge body, lying like unto the Himalaya, obstructing the path of +heaven. And seeing him alone in that mighty forest, the undaunted +athletic Bhima, of long arms, approached him with rapid strides, and +uttered a loud shout like unto the thunder. And at that shout of Bhima, +beasts and birds became all alarmed. The powerful Hanuman, however, +opening his eyes partially looked at him (Bhima) with disregard, with +eyes reddened with intoxication. And then smilingly addressing him, +Hanuman said the following words, ‘Ill as I am, I was sleeping sweetly. +Why hast thou awakened me? Thou shouldst show kindness to all creatures, +as thou hast reason. Belonging to the animal species, we are ignorant of +virtue. But being endued with reason, men show kindness towards +creatures. Why do then reasonable persons like thee commit themselves to +acts contaminating alike body, speech, and heart, and destructive of +virtue? Thou knowest not what virtue is, neither hast thou taken council +of the wise. And therefore it is that from ignorance, and childishness +thou destroyest the lower animals. Say, who art thou, and what for hast +thou come to the forest devoid of humanity and human beings? And, O +foremost of men, tell thou also, whither thou wilt go to-day. Further it +is impossible to proceed. Yonder hills are inaccessible. O hero, save the +passage obtained by the practice of asceticism, there is no passage to +that place. This is the path of the celestials; it is ever impassable by +mortals. Out of kindness, O hero, do I dissuade thee. Do thou hearken +unto my words. Thou canst not proceed further from this place. Therefore, +O lord, do thou desist. O chief of men, to-day in very way thou art +welcome to this place. If thou think it proper to accept my words, do +thou then, O best of men, rest here, partaking of fruits and roots, sweet +as ambrosia, and do not have thyself destroyed for naught.” + + + +SECTION CXLVI + +Vaisampayana said, “O represser of foes, hearing these words of the +intelligent monkey-chief, the heroic Bhima answered, ‘Who art thou? And +why also hast thou assumed the shape of a monkey? It is a Kshatriya--one +of a race next to the Brahmanas--that asketh thee. And he belongeth to +the Kuru race and the lunar stock, and was borne by Kunti in her womb, +and is one of the sons of Pandu, and is the off spring of the wind-god, +and is known by the name of Bhimasena.’ Hearing these words of the Kuru +hero, Hanuman smiled, and that son of the wind-god (Hanuman) spake unto +that offspring of the wind-god (Bhimasena), saying, ‘I am a monkey, I +will not allow thee the passage thou desirest. Better desist and go back. +Do thou not meet with destruction.’ At this Bhimasena replied. +‘Destruction at anything else do I not ask thee about, O monkey. Do thou +give me passage. Arise! Do not come by grief at my hands.’ Hanuman said, +‘I have no strength to rise; I am suffering from illness. If go thou +must, do thou go by overleaping me.’ Bhima said, ‘The Supreme Soul void +of the properties pervadeth a body all over. Him knowable alone by +knowledge, I cannot disregard. And therefore, will I not overleap thee. +If I had not known Him from Whom become manifest all creatures, I would +have leapt over thee and also the mountain, even as Hanuman had bounded +over the ocean.’ Thereupon Hanuman said, ‘Who is that Hanuman, who had +bounded over the ocean? I ask thee, O best of men. Relate if thou canst.’ +Bhima replied, “He is even my brother, excellent with every perfection, +and endued with intelligence and strength both of mind and body. And he +is the illustrious chief of monkeys, renowned in the Ramayana. And for +Rama’s queen, that king of the monkeys even with one leap crossed the +ocean extending over a hundred yojanas. That mighty one is my brother. I +am equal unto him in energy, strength and prowess and also in fight. And +able am I to punish thee. So arise. Either give me passage or witness my +prowess to-day. If thou do not listen to my bidding, I shall send thee to +the abode of Yama.” + +Vaisampayana continued. “Then knowing him (Bhima) to be intoxicated with +strength, and proud of the might of his arms, Hanuman, slighting him at +heart, said the following words, ‘Relent thou, O sinless one. In +consequence of age, I have no strength to get up. From pity for me, do +thou go, moving aside my tail.’ Being thus addressed by Hanuman, Bhima +proud of the strength of his arms, took him for one wanting in energy and +prowess, and thought within himself, ‘Taking fast hold of the tail, will +I send this monkey destitute of energy and prowess, to the region of +Yama.’ Thereat, with a smile he slightingly took hold of the tail with +his left hand; but could not move that tail of the mighty monkey. Then +with both arms he pulled it, resembling the pole reared in honour of +Indra. Still the mighty Bhima could not raise the tail with both his +arms. And his eye-brows were contracted up, and his eyes rolled, and his +face was contracted into wrinkles and his body was covered with sweat; +and yet he could not raise it. And when after having striven, the +illustrious Bhima failed in raising the tail, he approached the side of +the monkey, and stood with a bashful countenance. And bowing down, +Kunti’s son, with joined hands, spake these words, ‘Relent thou, O +foremost of monkeys; and forgive me for my harsh words. Art thou a +Siddha, or a god, or a Gandharva, or a Guhyaka? I ask thee out of +curiosity. Tell me who thou art that hast assumed the shape of monkey, if +it be not a secret, O long-armed one, and if I can well hear it. I ask +thee as a disciple, and I, O sinless one, seek thy refuge.’ Thereupon +Hanuman said, ‘O represser of foes, even to the extent of thy curiosity +to know me, shall I relate all at length. Listen, O son of Pandu! O +lotus-eyed one, I was begotten by the wind-god that life of the +world--upon the wife of Kesari. I am a monkey, by name Hanuman. All the +mighty monkey-kings, and monkey-chiefs used to wait upon that son of the +sun, Sugriva, and that son of Sakra, Vali. And, O represser of foes, a +friendship subsisted between me and Sugriva, even as between the wind and +fire. And for some cause, Sugriva, driven out by his brother, for a long +time dwelt with me at the Hrisyamukh. And it came to pass that the mighty +son of Dasaratha the heroic Rama, who is Vishnu’s self in the shape of a +human being, took his birth in this world. And in company with his queen +and brother, taking his bow, that foremost of bowmen with the view of +compassing his father’s welfare, began to reside in the Dandaka forest. +And from Janasthana, that mighty Rakshasa monarch, the wicked Ravana, +carried away his (Rama’s) queen by stratagem and force, deceiving, O +sinless one, that foremost of men, through the agency of a Rakshasa, +Maricha, who assumed the form of a deer marked with gem-like and golden +spots.” + + + +SECTION CXLVII + +Hanuman said, ‘And after his wife was carried away, that descendant of +Raghu, while searching with his brother for his queen, met, on the summit +of that mountain, with Sugriva, chief of the monkeys. Then a friendship +was contracted between him and the high-souled Raghava. And the latter, +having slain Vali installed Sugriva in the kingdom. And having obtained +the kingdom, Sugriva sent forth monkeys by hundreds and by thousands in +search of Sita. And, O best of men, I too with innumerable monkeys set +out towards the south in quest of Sita, O mighty-armed one. Then a mighty +vulture Sampati by name, communicated the tidings that Sita was in the +abode of Ravana. Thereupon with the object of securing success unto Rama, +I all of a sudden bounded over the main, extending for a hundred yojanas. +And, O chief of the Bharatas, having by my own prowess crossed the ocean, +that abode of sharks and crocodiles, I saw in Ravana’s residence, the +daughter of king Janaka, Sita, like unto the daughter of a celestial. And +having interviewed that lady, Vaidehi, Rama’s beloved, and burnt the +whole of Lanka with its towers and ramparts and gates, and proclaimed my +name there, I returned. Hearing everything from me the lotus-eyed Rama at +once ascertained his course of action, and having for the passage of his +army constructed a bridge across the deep, crossed it followed by myriads +of monkeys. Then by prowess Rama slew those Rakshasas in battle, and also +Ravana, the oppressor of the worlds together with his Rakshasa followers. +And having slain the king of the Rakshasas, with his brother, and sons +and kindred, he installed in the kingdom in Lanka the Rakshasa chief, +Vibhishana, pious, and reverent, and kind to devoted dependants. Then +Rama recovered his wife even like the lost Vaidic revelation. Then +Raghu’s son, Rama, with his devoted wife, returned to his own city, +Ayodhya, inaccessible to enemies; and that lord of men began to dwell +there. Then that foremost of kings, Rama was established in the kingdom. +Thereafter, I asked a boon of the lotus-eyed Rama, saying, ‘O slayer of +foes, Rama, may I live as long as the history of thy deeds remaineth +extant on earth!” Thereupon he said, ‘So be it. O represser of foes, O +Bhima, through the grace of Sita also, here all excellent objects of +entertainment are supplied to me, whoever abide at this place. Rama +reigned for the thousand and ten hundred years. Then he ascended to his +own abode. Ever since, here Apsaras and Gandharvas delight me, singing +for aye the deeds of that hero, O sinless one. O son of the Kurus, this +path is impassable to mortals. For this, O Bharata, as also with the view +that none might defeat or curse thee, have I obstructed thy passage to +this path trod by the immortals. This is one of the paths to heaven, for +the celestials; mortals cannot pass this way. But the lake in search of +which thou hast come, lieth even in that direction.” + + + +SECTION CXLVIII + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed, the powerful Bhimasena of mighty +arms, affectionately, and with a cheerful heart, bowed unto his brother, +Hanuman, the monkey-chief, and said in mild words, ‘None is more +fortunate than I am; now have I seen my elder brother. It is a great +favour shown unto me; and I have been well pleased with thee. Now I wish +that thou mayst fulfil this desire of mine. I desire to behold. O hero, +that incomparable form of thine, which thou at that time hadst had, in +bounding over the main, that abode of sharks and crocodiles. Thereby I +shall be satisfied, and also believe in thy words.’ Thus addressed, that +mighty monkey said with a smile, ‘That form of mine neither thou, not any +one else can behold. At that age, the state of things was different, and +doth not exist at present. In the Krita age, the state of things was one; +and in the Treta, another; and in the Dwapara, still another. Diminution +is going on this age; and I have not that form now. The ground, rivers, +plants, and rocks, and siddhas, gods, and celestial sages conform to +Time, in harmony with the state of things in the different yugas. +Therefore, do not desire to see my former shape, O perpetuator of the +Kuru race. I am conforming to the tendency of the age. Verily, Time is +irresistible’ Bhimasena said, ‘Tell me of the duration of the different +yugas, and of the different manners and customs and of virtue, pleasure +and profit, and of acts, and energy, and of life and death in the +different yugas.’ Thereupon Hanuman said, ‘O child, that yuga is called +Krita when the one eternal religion was extant. And in that best of +yugas, every one had religious perfection, and, therefore, there was no +need of religious acts. And then virtue knew no deterioration; nor did +people decrease. It is for this that this age is called Krita (perfect). +But in time the yuga had come to be considered as an inferior one. And, O +child, in the Krita age, there were neither gods, nor demons, nor +Gandharvas, nor Yakshas, nor Rakshasas, nor Nagas. And there was no +buying and selling. And the Sama, the Rich, and the Yajus did not exist. +And there was no manual labour. And then the necessaries of life were +obtained only by being thought of. And the only merit was in renouncing +the world. And during that yuga, there was neither disease, nor decay of +the senses. And there was neither malice, nor pride, nor hypocrisy, nor +discord, nor ill-will, nor cunning, nor fear, nor misery, nor envy, nor +covetousness. And for this, that prime refuge of Yogis, even the Supreme +Brahma, was attainable to all. And Narayana wearing a white hue was the +soul of all creatures. And in the Krita Yuga, the distinctive +characteristics of Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras were +natural and these ever stuck to their respective duties. And then Brahma +was the sole refuge, and their manners and customs were naturally adapted +to the attainment of Brahma and the objects of their knowledge was the +sole Brahma, and all their acts also had reference to Brahma. In this way +all the orders attained merit. And one uniform Soul was the object of +their meditation; and there was only one mantra (the Om), and there was +one ordinance. And although of different characteristics, all of them +followed a single Veda; and they had one religion. And according to the +divisions of time, they led the four modes of life, without aiming at any +object, and so they attained emancipation. The religion consisting in the +identification of self with Brahma indicates the Krita Yuga. And in the +Krita Yuga, the virtue of the four orders is throughout entire in +four-fold measure. Such is the Krita Yuga devoid of the three qualities. +Do thou also hear from me of the character of the Treta Yuga. In this +age, sacrifices are introduced, and virtue decreaseth by a quarter. And +Narayana (who is the Soul of all creatures) assumeth a red colour. And +men practise truth, and devote themselves to religion and religious +rites. And thence sacrifices and various religious observances come into +existence. And in the Treta Yuga people begin to devise means for the +attainment of an object; and they attain it through acts and gifts. And +they never deviate from virtue. And they are devoted to asceticism and to +the bestowal of gifts. And the four orders adhere to their respective +duties; and perform rites. Such are the men of the Treta Yuga. In the +Dwapara Yuga, religion decreaseth by one half. And Narayana weareth a +yellow hue. And the Veda becometh divided into four parts. And then some +men retain (the knowledge of) the four Vedas, and some of three Vedas, +and some of one Veda, while others do not know even the Richs. And on the +Shastras becoming thus divided, acts become multiplied. And largely +influenced by passion, people engage in asceticism and gifts. And from +their incapacity to study the entire Veda, it becomes divided into +several parts. And in consequence of intellect having decreased, few are +established in truth. And when people fall off from truth, they become +subject to various diseases; and then lust, and natural calamities ensue. +And afflicted with these, people betake themselves to penances. And some +celebrate sacrifices, desiring to enjoy the good things of life, or +attain heaven. On the coming of the Dwapara Yuga, men become degenerate, +in consequence of impiety. O son of Kunti, in the Kali Yuga a quarter +only of virtue abideth. And in the beginning of this iron age, Narayana +weareth a black hue. And the Vedas and the institutes, and virtue, and +sacrifices, and religious observances, fall into disuse. And (then) reign +iti[41], and disease, and lassitude, and anger and other deformities, and +natural calamities, and anguish, and fear of scarcity. And as the yugas +wane, virtue dwindles. And as virtue dwindles away, creatures degenerate. +And as creatures degenerate, their natures undergo deterioration. And the +religious acts performed at the waning of the yugas, produce contrary +effects. And even those that live for several yugas, conform to these +changes. O represser of foes, as regards thy curiosity to know me, I say +this,--Why should a wise person be eager to know a superfluous matter? +(Thus), O long-armed one, have I narrated in full what thou hadst asked +me regarding the characteristics of the different yugas. Good happen to +thee! Do thou return.’” + + + +SECTION CXLIX + +“Bhimasena said, ‘Without beholding thy former shape, I will never go +away. If I have found favour with thee, do thou then show me thine own +shape.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Being thus addressed by Bhima, the monkey with a +smile showed him that form of his in which he had bounded over the main. +And wishing to gratify his brother, Hanuman assumed a gigantic body which +(both) in length and breadth increased exceedingly. And that monkey of +immeasurable effulgence stood there, covering the plantain grove +furnished with trees, and elevating himself to the height reached by the +Vindhya. And the monkey, having attained his lofty and gigantic body like +unto a mountain, furnished with coppery eyes, and sharp teeth, and a face +marked by frown, lay covering all sides and lashing his long tail. And +that son of the Kurus, Bhima, beholding that gigantic form of his +brother, wondered, and the hairs of his body repeatedly stood on end. And +beholding him like unto the sun in splendour, and unto a golden mountain, +and also unto the blazing firmament, Bhima closed his eyes. Thereupon +Hanuman addressed Bhima with a smile, saying, ‘O sinless one, thou art +capable of beholding my size up to this extent. I can, however, go on +swelling my size as long as I wish. And, O Bhima, amidst foes, my size +increaseth exceedingly by its own energy.’ + +Vaisampayana said, “Witnessing that dreadful and wonderful body of +Hanuman, like unto the Vindhya mountain, the son of the wind-god became +bewildered. Then with his down standing erect, the noble-minded Bhima, +joining his hands, replied unto Hanuman saying (there), ‘O lord, by me +have been beheld the vast dimensions of thy body. Do thou (now), O highly +powerful one, decrease thyself by thy own power. Surely I cannot look at +thee, like unto the sun risen, and of immeasurable (power), and +irrepressible, and resembling the mountain Mainaka. O hero, to-day this +wonder of my heart is very great, that thou remaining by his side, Rama +should have encountered Ravana personally. Depending on the strength of +thy arms, thou wert capable of instantly destroying Lanka, with its +warriors, and horses, elephants and chariots. Surely, O son of the +wind-god, there is nothing that is incapable of being achieved by thee; +and in fight, Ravana together with his followers was no match for thee +single-handed.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed by Bhima, Hanuman, the chief of +monkeys, answered in affectionate words uttered in solemn accents. “O +mighty-armed one, O Bharata, it is even as thou sayest. O Bhimasena, that +worst of Rakshasas was no match for me. But if I had slain Ravana--that +thorn of the worlds--the glory of Raghu’s son would have been +obscured;--and for this it is that I left him alone. By slaying that lord +of the Rakshasas together with his followers, and bringing back Sita unto +his own city, that hero hath established his fame among men. Now, O +highly wise one, being intent on the welfare of thy brothers, and +protected by the wind-god, do thou go along a fortunate and auspicious +way. O foremost of the Kurus, this way will lead thee to the Saugandhika +wood. (Proceeding in this direction), thou wilt behold the gardens of +Kuvera, guarded by Yakshas and Rakshasas. Do thou not pluck the flowers +(there) personally by thy own force; for the gods deserve regard +specially from mortals. O best of the Bharata race, the gods confer their +favour (upon men), (being propitiated) by offerings, and homas, and +reverential salutations, and recitation of mantras, and veneration, O +Bharata. Do thou not, therefore, act with rashness, O child; and do thou +not deviate from the duties of thy order. Sticking to the duties of thy +order, do thou understand and follow the highest morality. Without +knowing duties and serving the old, even persons like unto Vrihaspati +cannot understand profit and religion. One should ascertain with +discrimination those cases in which vice goeth under the name of virtue, +and virtue goeth under the name of vice,--(cases) in which people +destitute of intelligence become perplexed. From religious observances +proceedeth merit; and in merit are established the Vedas; and from the +Vedas sacrifices come into existence; and by sacrifices are established +the gods. The gods are maintained by the (celebration of) sacrifices +prescribed by the Vedas and the religious ordinances; while men maintain +themselves by (following) the ordinances of Vrihaspati and Usanas and +also by these avocations, by which the world is maintained,--serving for +wages, (receiving) taxes, merchandise, agriculture and tending kine and +sheep. The world subsisteth by profession. The (study of the) three Vedas +and agriculture and trade and government constitutes, it is ordained by +the wise, the professions of the twice born ones; and each order +maintaineth itself by following the profession prescribed for it. And +when these callings are properly pursued, the world is maintained with +ease. If, however, people do not righteously lead their lives, the world +becometh lawless, in consequence of the want of Vedic merit and +government. And if people do not resort to (their) prescribed vocations, +they perish, but by regularly following the three professions, they bring +about religion. The religion of the Brahmanas consisteth in the knowledge +of the soul and the hue of that order alone is universally the same. The +celebration of sacrifices, and study and bestowal of gifts are well-known +to be the three duties common (to all these orders). Officiating at +sacrifices, teaching and the acceptance of gifts are the duties of a +Brahmana. To rule (the subjects) is the duty of the Kshatriya; and to +tend (cattle), that of the Vaisya, while to serve the twice-born orders +is said to be the duty of the Sudra. The Sudras cannot beg alms, or +perform homas, or observe vows; and they must dwell in the habitation of +their masters. Thy vocation, O son of Kunti, is that of the Kshatriya, +which is to protect (the subjects). Do thou carry out thy own duties, in +an humble spirit, restraining thy senses. That king alone can govern, who +taketh counsel of experienced men, and is helped by honest, intelligent +and learned ministers; but a king who is addicted to vices, meeteth with +defeat. Then only is the order of the world secured, when the king duly +punisheth and conferreth favours. Therefore, it is necessary to ascertain +through spies the nature of the hostile country, its fortified places and +the allied force of the enemy and their prosperity and decay and the way +in which they retain the adhesion of the powers they have drawn to their +side. Spies are among the important auxiliaries of the king; and tact, +diplomacy, prowess, chastisement, favour and cleverness lead to success. +And success is to be attained through these, either in separation, or +combined--namely, conciliation, gift, sowing dissensions, chastisement, +and sight. And, O chief of the Bharatas, polity hath for its root +diplomacy; and diplomacy also is the main qualification of spies. And +polity, if well judged conferreth success. Therefore, in matters of +polity the counsels of Brahmanas should be resorted to. And in secret +affairs, these should not be consulted,--namely, a woman, a sot, a boy, a +covetous person a mean-minded individual, and he that betrayeth signs of +insanity. Wise men only should be consulted, and affairs are to be +despatched through officers that are able. And polity must be executed +through persons that are friendly; but dunces should in all affairs be +excluded. In matters religious, pious men; and in matters of gain, wise +men; and in guarding families, eunuchs; and in all crooked affairs, +crooked men, must be employed. And the propriety or impropriety of the +resolution of the enemy, as also their strength or weakness, must be +ascertained through one’s own as well as hostile spies. Favour should be +shown to honest persons that have prudently sought protection; but +lawless and disobedient individuals should be punished. And when the king +justly punisheth and showeth favour, the dignity of the law is well +maintained, O son of Pritha, thus have I expounded, unto thee the hard +duties of kings difficult to comprehend. Do thou with equanimity observe +these as prescribed for thy order. The Brahmanas attain heaven through +merit, mortification of the senses, and sacrifice. The Vaisyas attain +excellent state through gifts, hospitality, and religious acts. The +Kshatriyas attain the celestial regions by protecting and chastising the +subjects, uninfluenced by lust, malice, avarice and anger. If kings +justly punish (their subjects), they go to the place whither repair +meritorious persons.’ + + + +SECTION CL + +Vaisampayana said, “Then contracting that huge body of his, which he had +assumed at will, the monkey with his arms again embraced Bhimasena. And O +Bharata, on Bhima being embraced by his brother, his fatigue went off, +and all (the powers of body) as also his strength were restored. And +having gained great accession of strength, he thought that there was none +equal to him in physical power. And with tears in his eyes, the monkey +from affection again addressed Bhima in choked utterance, saying, ‘O +hero, repair to thy own abode. May I be incidentally remembered by thee +in thy talk! O best of Kurus, do not tell any one that I abide here. O +thou of great strength, the most excellent of the wives of the gods and +Gandharvas resort to this place, and the time of their arrival is nigh. +My eyes have been blessed (by seeing thee). And, O Bhima, having felt a +human being by coming in contact with thee, I have been put in mind of +that son of Raghu, who was Vishnu himself under the name of Rama, and who +delighted the heart of the world; and who was as the sun in regard to the +lotus face of Sita, and also to that darkness--Ravana. Therefore, O +heroic son of Kunti, let not thy meeting with me be fruitless. Do thou +with fraternal feeling ask of me a boon, O Bharata. If this be thy wish, +that going to Varanavata, I may destroy the insignificant sons of +Dhritarashtra--even this will I immediately do. Or if this be thy wish +that, that city may be ground by me with rocks, or that I may bind +Duryodhana and bring him before thee, even this will I do to-day, O thou +of mighty strength.’ + +Vaisampayana said, “Hearing those words of that high-souled one, +Bhimasena with a cheerful heart answered Hanuman, saying, ‘O foremost of +monkeys, I take all this as already performed by thee. Good happen to +thee. O mighty-armed one! I ask of thee this,--be thou well pleased with +me. O powerful one, on thy having become our protector, the Pandavas have +found help. Even by thy prowess shall we conquer all foes.” Thus +addressed, Hanuman said unto Bhimasena, ‘From fraternal feeling and +affection, I will do good unto thee, by diving into the army of thy foes +copiously furnished with arrows and javelins. And, O highly powerful one, +O hero, when thou shall give leonine roars, then shall I with my own, add +force to shouts. Remaining on the flagstaff of Arjuna’s car will I emit +fierce shouts that will damp the energy of thy foes. Thereby ye will slay +them easily.’ Having said this unto Pandu’s son, and also pointed him out +the way. Hanuman vanished at that spot.” + + + +SECTION CLI + +Vaisampayana said, “When that foremost of monkeys had gone away, Bhima, +the best of strong men, began to range the huge Gandhamadana along that +path. And he went on, thinking of Hanuman’s body and splendour unrivalled +on earth, and also of the greatness and dignity of Dasaratha’s son. And +proceeding in search of the place filled with lotuses of that kind, Bhima +beheld romantic woods, and groves, and rivers, and lakes graced with +trees bearing blossoms, and flowery woodlands variegated with various +flowers. And, O Bharata, he beheld herds of mad elephants besmeared with +mud, resembling masses of pouring clouds. And that graceful one went on +with speed, beholding by the wayside woods wherein there stood with their +mates deer of quick glances, holding the grass in their mouths. And +fearless from prowess, Bhimasena, as if invited by the breeze-shaken +trees of the forest ever fragrant with flowers, bearing delicate coppery +twigs, plunged into the mountainous regions inhabited by buffaloes, bears +and leopards. And on the way, he passed by lotus-lakes haunted by +maddened black-bees, having romantic descents and woods, and on account +of the presence of lotus-buds, appearing as if they had joined their +hands (before Bhima). And having for his provisions on the journey the +words of Draupadi, Bhima went on with speed, his mind and sight fixed on +the blooming slopes of the mountain. And when the sun passed the +meridian, he saw in the forest scattered over with deer, a mighty river +filled with fresh golden lotuses. And being crowded with swans and +Karandavas, and graced with Chakravakas, the river looked like a garland +of fresh lotuses put on by the mountain. And in that river that one of +great strength found the extensive assemblage of Saugandhika lotuses, +effulgent as the rising sun, and delightful to behold. And beholding it, +Pandu’s son thought within himself that his object had been gained, and +also mentally presented himself before his beloved worn out by exile.” + + + +SECTION CLII + +Vaisampayana said, “Having reached that spot, Bhimasena saw in the +vicinity of the Kailasa cliff, that beautiful lotus lake surrounded by +lovely woods, and guarded by the Rakshasas. And it sprang from the +cascades contiguous to the abode of Kuvera. And it was beautiful to +behold, and was furnished with a wide-spreading shade and abounded in +various trees and creepers and was covered with green lilies. And this +unearthly lake was filled with golden lotuses, and swarmed with diverse +species of birds. And its banks were beautiful and devoid of mud. And +situated on the rocky elevation this expanse of excellent water was +exceedingly fair. And it was the wonder of the world and healthful and of +romantic sight. In that lake the son of Kunti saw, the water of ambrosial +taste and cool and light and clear and fresh; and the Pandava drank of it +profusely. And that unearthly receptacle of waters was covered with +celestial Saugandhika lotuses, and was also spread over with beautiful +variegated golden lotuses of excellent fragrance having graceful stalks +of lapis lazulis. And swayed by swans and Karandavas, these lotuses were +scattering fresh farina. And this lake was the sporting region of the +high-souled Kuvera, the king of the Yakshas. And it was held in high +regard by the Gandharvas the Apsaras and the celestials. And it was +frequented by the celestial sages and the Yakshas and the Kimpurushas and +the Rakshasas and the Kinnaras; and it was well-protected by Kuvera. And +as soon as he beheld that river and that unearthly lake, Kunti’s son, +Bhimasena of mighty strength became exceedingly delighted. And agreeably +to the mandate of their king, hundreds and thousands of Rakshasas, named +Krodhavasas, were guarding that lake, wearing uniforms and armed with +various weapons. And as that repressor of foes, Kunti’s son, the heroic +Bhima of dreadful prowess, clad in deer-skins and wearing golden armlets +and equipped with weapons and girding his sword on, was fearlessly +proceeding, with the view of gathering the lotus, those (Rakshasas) saw +him and immediately began to address each other, shouting forth, ‘It +behoveth you to enquire for the errand on which this foremost of men, +clad in deer skins, and equipped with arms, hath come.’ Then they all +approached the effulgent Vrikodara of mighty arms and asked, ‘Who art +thou? Thou shouldst answer our questions. We see thee in the guise of an +ascetic and yet armed with weapons. O thou of mighty intelligence, do +thou unfold unto us the object with which thou hast come (hither).” + + + +SECTION CLIII + +“Bhima said, ‘I am the son of Pandu, and next by birth to Yudhishthira +the just, and my name is Bhimasena. O Rakshasas, I have come with my +brothers to the jujube named Visala. At that place, Panchali saw an +excellent Saugandhika lotus, which, of a certainty, was carried thither +by the wind from this region. She wisheth to have those flowers in +abundance. Know ye, ye Rakshasas, that I am engaged in fulfilling the +desire of my wedded wife of faultless features, and have come hither to +procure the flowers. Thereat the Rakshasas said, ‘O foremost of men, this +spot is dear unto Kuvera, and it is his sporting region. Men subject to +death cannot sport here. O Vrikodara. the celestial sages, and the gods +taking the permission of the chief of the Yakshas, drink of this lake, +and sport herein. And, O Pandava, the Gandharvas and the Apsaras also +divert themselves in this lake. That wicked person who, disregarding the +lord of treasures, unlawfully attempteth to sport here, without doubt, +meeteth with destruction. Disregarding him, thou seekest to take away the +lotuses from this place by main force. Why then dost thou say that thou +art the brother of Yudhishthira the just? First, taking the permission of +the lord of Yakshas, do thou drink of this lake and take away the +flowers. If thou dost not do this, thou shall not be able even to glance +at a single lotus Bhimasena said, ‘Ye Rakshasas, I do not see the lord of +wealth here And even if I did see that mighty king, I would not beseech +him Kshatriyas never beseech (any body). This is the eternal morality; +and I by no means wish to forsake the Kshatriya morality. And, further +this lotus-lake hath sprung from the cascades of the mountain; it hath +not been excavated in the mansion of Kuvera. Therefore it belongeth +equally to all creatures with Vaisravana. In regard to a thing of such a +nature, who goeth to beseech another?” + +Vaisampayana said, “Having said this unto the Rakshasas, the mighty-armed +and exceedingly unforbearing Bhimasena of great strength plunged into the +lotus-lake. Thereat that powerful one was forbidden by the Rakshasas, +saying, ‘Do not do this;’ and they from all sides began to abuse him in +anger. But slighting these Rakshasas, that mighty one of dreadful prowess +plunged (farther and farther). Now they all prepared for opposing him. +And with eyes rolling, they upraised their arms, and rushed in wrath at +Bhimasena, exclaiming, ‘Seize him!’ ‘Bind him! Hew him! We shall cook +Bhimasena, and eat him up!’ Thereupon that one of great force, taking his +ponderous and mighty mace inlaid with golden plates, like unto the mace +of Yama himself, turned towards those, and then said, ‘Stay!’ At this, +they darted at him with vehemence, brandishing lances, and axes, and +other weapons. And wishing to destroy Bhima, the dreadful and fierce +Krodhavasas surrounded Bhima on all sides. But that one, being endued +with strength, had been begotten by Vayu in the womb of Kunti; and he was +heroic and energetic, and the slayer of foes, and ever devoted to virtue +and truth, and incapable of being vanquished by enemies through prowess. +Accordingly this high-souled Bhima defeating all the manoeuveres of the +foes, and breaking their arms, killed on the banks of the lake more than +a hundred, commencing with the foremost. And then witnessing his prowess +and strength, and the force of his skill, and also the might of his arms; +and unable to bear (the onset), those prime heroes all of a sudden fled +on all sides in bands. + +“Beaten and pierced by Bhimasena, those Krodhavasas quitted the field of +battle, and in confusion quickly fled towards the Kailasa cliff, +supporting themselves in the sky. Having thus by the exercise of his +prowess defeated those hosts, even as Sakra had defeated the armies of +Daityas and Danavas, he (Bhima), now that he had conquered the enemy, +plunged into the lake and began to gather the lotuses, with the object of +gaining his purpose. And as he drank of the waters, like unto nectar, his +energy and strength were again fully restored; and he fell to plucking +and gathering Saugandhika lotuses of excellent fragrance. On the other +hand, the Krodhavasas, being driven by the might of Bhima and exceedingly +terrified, presented themselves before the lord of wealth, and gave an +exact account of Bhima’s prowess and strength in fight. Hearing their +words, the god (Kuvera) smiled and then said, ‘Let Bhima take for Krishna +as many lotuses as he likes. This is already known to me.’ Thereupon +taking the permission of the lord of wealth, those (Rakshasas) renouncing +anger, went to that foremost of the Kurus, and in that lotus-lake beheld +Bhima alone, disporting in delight.” + + + +SECTION CLIV + +Vaisampayana said, “Then, O best of the Bharatas, Bhima began to collect +those rare unearthly, variegated and fresh flowers in abundance. + +“And it came to pass that a high and violent wind, piercing to the touch, +and blowing about gravels, arose, portending battle. And frightful +meteors began to shoot, with thundering sounds. And being enveloped by +darkness, the sun became pale, his rays being obscured. And on Bhima +displaying his prowess, dreadful sounds of explosion rang through the +sky. And the earth began to tremble, and dust fell in showers. And the +points of the heavens became reddened. And beasts and birds began to cry +in shrill tones. And every thing became enveloped in darkness; and +nothing could be distinguished. And other evil omens besides these +appeared there. Witnessing these strange phenomena, Dharma’s son +Yudhishthira, the foremost of speakers, said, ‘Who is it that will +overcome us? Ye Pandavas who take delight in battle, good betide you! Do +ye equip yourselves. From what I see, I infer that the time for the +display of our prowess hath drawn nigh’. Having said this, the king +looked around. Then not finding Bhima, that represser of foes, Dharma’s +son, Yudhishthira, enquired of Krishna and the twins standing near +regarding his brother, Bhima, the doer of dreadful deeds in battle, +saying, ‘O Panchali, is Bhima intent upon performing some great feat, or +hath that one delighting in daring deeds already achieved some brave +deed? Portending some great danger, these omens have appeared all around, +indicating a fearful battle.’ When Yudhishthira said this, his beloved +queen, the high-minded Krishna of sweet smiles, answered him, in order to +remove his anxiety. ‘O king, that Saugandhika lotus which to-day had been +brought by the wind. I had out of love duly shown unto Bhimasena; and I +had also said unto that hero, If thou canst find many of this species, +procuring even all of them, do thou return speedily,--O Pandava, that +mighty armed one, with the view of gratifying my desire, may have gone +towards the north-east to bring them.’ Having heard these words of hers, +the king said unto twins, ‘Let us together follow the path taken by +Vrikodara. Let the Rakshasas carry those Brahmanas that are fatigued and +weak. O Ghatotkacha, O thou like unto a celestial, do thou carry Krishna. +I am convinced and it is plain that Bhima hath dived into the forest; for +it is long since he hath gone, and in speed he resembleth the wind, and +in clearing over the ground, he is swift like unto Vinata’s son, and he +will ever leap into the sky, and alight at his will. O Rakshasas, we +shall follow him through your prowess. He will not at first do any wrong +to the Siddhas versed in the Vedas. O best of the Bharatas, saying, ‘So +be it,’ Hidimava’s son and the other Rakshasas who knew the quarter where +the lotus lake of Kuvera was situated, started cheerfully with Lomasa, +bearing the Pandavas, and many of the Brahmanas. Having shortly reached +that spot, they saw that romantic lake covered with Saugandhika and other +lotuses and surrounded by beautiful woods. And on its shores they beheld +the high-souled and vehement Bhima, as also the slaughtered Yakshas of +large eyes, with their bodies, eyes, arms and thighs smashed, and their +heads crushed. And on seeing the high-souled Bhima, standing on the shore +of that lake in an angry mood, and with steadfast eyes, and biting his +lip, and stationed on the shore of the lake with his mace upraised by his +two hands, like unto Yama with his mace in his hand at the time of the +universal dissolution. Yudhishthira the just, embraced him again and +again, and said in sweet words, ‘O Kaunteya, what hast thou done? Good +betide thee! If thou wishest to do good unto me, thou shouldst never +again commit such a rash act, nor offend the gods.’ Having thus +instructed the son of Kunti, and taken the flowers those god-like ones +began to sport in that very lake. At this instant, the huge-bodied +warders of the gardens, equipped with rocks for weapons, presented +themselves at the spot. And seeing Yudhishthira the just and the great +sage Lomasa and Nakula and Sahadeva and also the other foremost of +Brahmanas, they all bowed themselves down in humility. And being pacified +by Yudhishthira the just, the Rakshasas became satisfied. And with the +knowledge of Kuvera, those foremost of Kurus for a short time dwelt +pleasantly at that spot on the slopes of the Gandhamadana, expecting +Arjuna.” + + + +SECTION CLV + +Vaisampayana said, “Once upon a time Yudhishthira, while living at that +place, addressed Krishna, his brother, and the Brahmanas, saying, ‘By us +have been attentively seen one after another sacred and auspicious +tirthas, and woods, delightful to beheld, which had ere this been visited +by the celestials and the high-souled sages, and which had been +worshipped by the Brahmanas. And in various sacred asylums we have +performed ablutions with Brahmanas, and have heard from them the lives +and acts of many sages, and also of many royal sages of yore, and other +pleasant stories. And with flowers and water have the gods been +worshipped by us. And with offerings of fruits and roots as available at +each place we have gratified the pitris. And with the high-souled ones +have we performed ablutions in all sacred and beautiful mountains and +lakes, and also in the highly sacred ocean. And with the Brahmanas we +have bathed in the Ila, and in the Saraswati, and in the Sindhu, and in +the Yamuna, and in the Narmada, and in various other romantic tirthas. +And having passed the source of the Ganga, we have seen many a lovely +hill and the Himalaya mountains, inhabited by various species of birds, +and also the jujube named Visala, where there is the hermitage of Nara +and Narayana. And (finally) we have beheld this unearthly lake, held in +veneration by the Siddhas, the gods and the sages. In fact, O foremost of +Brahmanas, we have one by one carefully seen all celebrated and sacred +spots in company with the high-souled Lomasa. Now, O Bhima, how shall we +repair to the sacred abode of Vaisravana, inhabited by the Siddhas? Do +thou think of the means of entering (the same).” + +Vaisampayana said, “When that king had said this, an aerial voice spake, +saying. ‘Thou will not be able to go to that inaccessible spot. By this +very way, do thou repair from this region of Kuvera to the place whence +thou hadst come even to the hermitage of Nara and Narayana, known by the +name of Vadari. Thence, O Kaunteya. thou wilt repair to the hermitage of +Vrishaparva, abounding in flowers and fruit, and inhabited by the Siddhas +and the Charanas. Having passed that, O Partha, thou wilt proceed to the +hermitage of Arshtisena, and from thence thou wilt behold the abode of +Kuvera.’ Just at that moment the breeze became fresh, and gladsome and +cool and redolent of unearthly fragrance; and it showered blossoms, And +on hearing the celestial voice from the sky, they all were amazed,--more +specially those earthly rishis and the Brahmanas. On hearing this mighty +marvel, the Brahmana Dhaumya, said, ‘This should not be gainsaid. O +Bharata, let this be so.’ Thereupon, king Yudhishthira obeyed him. And +having returned to the hermitage of Nara and Narayana, he began to dwell +pleasantly, surrounded by Bhimasena and his other brothers, Panchali the +Brahmanas.” + + + +SECTION CLVI + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus dwelling with the Brahmanas in that best of +mountains, in expectation of Arjuna’s return, when the Pandavas had grown +confident and when all those Rakshasas together with Bhima’s son had +departed, one day while Bhimasena was away, a Rakshasa all of a sudden +carried off Yudhishthira the just and the twins and Krishna. That +Rakshasa (in the guise of a Brahmana) had constantly remained in the +company of the Pandavas, alleging that he was a high-class Brahmana, +skilled in counsel, and versed in all the Sastras. His object was to +possess himself of the bows, the quivers and the other material +implements belonging to the Pandavas; and he had been watching for an +opportunity of ravishing Draupadi. And that wicked and sinful one was +named Jatasura. And, O king of kings, Pandu’s son (Yudhishthira) had been +supporting him, but knew not that wretch like unto a fire covered with +ashes. + +“And once on a day while that represser of foes, Bhimasena, was out a +hunting, he (the Rakshasa), seeing Ghatotkacha and his followers scatter +in different directions and seeing those vow-observing great rishis, of +ascetic wealth, viz.; Lomasa and the rest, away for bathing and +collecting flowers, assumed a different form, gigantic and monstrous and +frightful; and having secured all the arms (of the Pandavas) as also +Draupadi, that wicked one fled away taking the three Pandavas. Thereupon +that son of Pandu, Sahadeva, extricated himself with exertion, and by +force snatched the sword named Kausika from the grasp of the enemy and +began to call Bhimasena, taking the direction in which that mighty one +had gone. And on being carried off Yudhishthira the just, addressed him +(that Rakshasa), saying, ‘O stupid one, thy merit decreaseth (even by +this act of thine). Dost thou not pay heed unto the established order of +nature? Whether belonging to the human race, or to the lower orders, all +pay regard to virtue,--more specially the Rakshasas. In the first +instance, they knew virtue better than others. Having considered all +these, thou ought to adhere to virtue. O Rakshasa, the gods, the pitris, +the Siddhas, the rishis, the Gandharvas, the brutes and even the worms +and ants depend for their lives on men; and thou too liveth through that +agency. If prosperity attendeth the human race, thy race also prospereth; +and if calamities befall the former, even the celestials suffer grief. +Being gratified by offerings, do the gods thrive. O Rakshasa, we are the +guardians, governors and preceptors of kingdoms. If kingdoms become +unprotected, whence can proceed prosperity and happiness? Unless there be +offence, a Rakshasa should not violate a king. O man-eating one, we have +committed no wrong, ever so little. Living on vighasa, we serve the gods +and others to the best of our power. And we are never intent upon bowing +down to our superiors and Brahmanas. A friend, and one confiding, and he +whose food hath been partaken of, and he that hath afforded shelter, +should never be injured. Thou hast lived in our place happily, being duly +honoured. And, O evil-minded one, having partaken of our food, how canst +thou carry us off? And as thy acts are so improper and as thou hast grown +in age without deriving any benefit and as thy propensities are evil, so +thou deservest to die for nothing, and for nothing wilt thou die to-day. +And if thou beest really evil-disposed and devoid of all virtue, do thou +render us back our weapons and ravish Draupadi after fight. But if +through stupidity thou must do this deed, then in the world thou wilt +only reap demerit and infamy O Rakshasa, by doing violence to this female +of the human race, thou hast drunk poison, after having shaken the +vessel.’ Thereupon, Yudhishthira made himself ponderous to the Rakshasa. +And being oppressed with the weight, he could not proceed rapidly as +before. Then addressing Draupadi, Nakula and Sahadeva, Yudhishthira said, +‘Do ye not entertain any fear of this wretched Rakshasa, I have checked +his speed. The mighty-armed son of the Wind-god may not be far away; and +on Bhima coming up at the next moment, the Rakshasa will not live.’ O +king, staring at the Rakshasa bereft of sense, Sahadeva addressed +Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, saying, ‘What can be more meritorious for +a Kshatriya than to fall in fight, or defeat a foe? O repressor of foes, +we will fight and either this one will slay us, or we shall slay him, O +mighty-armed one. Verily this is the place and time. O king. And, O thou +of unfailing prowess, the time hath come for the display of our Kshatriya +virtue. It behoveth us to attain heaven either by gaining victory or +being slain. If the sun sets to-day, the Rakshasa living yet, O Bharata, +I will not any more say that I am a Kshatriya. Ho! Ho! Rakshasa. say! I +am Pandu’s son, Sahadeva. Either, after having killed me, carry off this +lady, or being slain, lie senseless here.’ + +“Madri’s son, Sahadeva, was speaking thus, when Bhimasena made his +appearance, with a mace in his hand, like unto Vasava himself wielding +the thunder-bolt. And here he saw his two brothers and the noble-minded +Draupadi (on the shoulders of the demon), and Sahadeva on the ground +rebuking the Rakshasa and also that stupid Rakshasa himself deprived of +sense by Fate, going round in different directions through bewilderment +caused by Destiny. And finding his brothers and Draupadi being carried +off, Bhima of mighty strength was fired with wrath, and addressed the +Rakshasa, saying, ‘I had ere this found thee out for a wicked wight from +thy scrutiny of our weapons; but as I had no apprehension of thee, so I +had not slain thee at that time. Thou wert in the disguise of a +Brahmana--nor didst thou say anything harsh unto us. And thou didst take +delight in pleasing us. And thou also didst not do us wrong. And, +furthermore, thou wert our guest. How could I, therefore, slay thee, who +wert thus innocent of offence, and who wert in the disguise of a +Brahmana? He that knowing such a one to be even a Rakshasa, slayeth him, +goes to hell. Further, thou canst not be killed before the time cometh. +Surely to-day thou hast reached the fullness of thy time in as much as +thy mind hath been thus turned by the wonder-performing Fate towards +carrying off Krishna. By committing thyself to this deed, thou hast +swallowed up the hook fastened to the line of Fate. So like unto a fish +in water, whose mouth hath been hooked, how canst thou live to-day? Thou +shall not have to go whither thou intendest to, or whither thou hadst +already gone mentally; but thou shall go whither have repaired Vaka and +Hidimva.’ + +“Thus addressed by Bhima, the Rakshasa in alarm put them down; and being +forced by Fate, approached for fight. And with his lips trembling in +anger he spake unto Bhima, saying, ‘Wretch! I have not been bewildered; I +had been delaying for thee. To day will I offer oblations of thy blood to +those Rakshasas who, I had heard, have been slain by thee in fight’ Thus +addressed, Bhima, as if bursting with wrath, like unto Yama himself at +the time of the universal dissolution, rushed towards the Rakshasa, +licking the corners of his mouth and staring at him as he struck his own +arms with the hands. And seeing Bhima waiting in expectation of fight, +the Rakshasa also darted towards him in anger, like unto Vali towards the +wielder of the thunderbolt, repeatedly gaping and licking the corners of +his mouth. And when a dreadful wrestling ensued between those two, both +the sons of Madri, waxing exceeding wroth rushed forward; but Kunti’s +son, Vrikodara, forbade them with a smile and said, ‘Witness ye! I am +more than a match for this Rakshasa. By my own self and by my brothers, +and by my merit, and by my good deeds, and by my sacrifices, do I swear +that I shall slay this Rakshasa.’ And after this was said, those two +heroes, the Rakshasa and Vrikodara challenging each other, caught each +other by the arms. And they not forgiving each other, then there ensued a +conflict between the infuriated Bhima and the Rakshasa, like unto that +between a god and a demon. And repeatedly uprooting trees, those two of +mighty strength struck each other, shouting and roaring like two masses +of clouds. And those foremost of athletes, each wishing to kill the +other, and rushing at the other with vehemence, broke down many a +gigantic tree by their thighs. Thus that encounter with trees, +destructive of plants, went on like unto that between the two brothers +Vali and Sugriva--desirous of the possession of a single woman. +Brandishing trees for a moment, they struck each other with them, +shouting incessantly. And when all the trees of the spot had been pulled +down and crushed into fibres by them endeavouring to kill each other, +then, O Bharata, those two of mighty strength, taking up rocks, began to +fight for a while, like unto a mountain and a mighty mass of clouds. And +not suffering each other, they fell to striking each other with hard and +large crags, resembling vehement thunder-bolts. Then from strength +defying each other, they again darted at each other, and grasping each +other by their arms, began to wrestle like unto two elephants. And next +they dealt each other fierce blows. And then those two mighty ones began +to make chattering sounds by gnashing their teeth. And at length, having +clenched his fist like a five-headed snake, Bhima with force dealt a blow +on the neck of the Rakshasa. And when struck by that fist of Bhima, the +Rakshasa became faint, Bhimasena stood, catching hold of that exhausted +one. And then the god-like mighty-armed Bhima lifted him with his two +arms, and dashing him with force on the ground, the son of Pandu smashed +all his limbs. And striking him with his elbow, he severed from his body +the head with bitten lips and rolling eyes, like unto a fruit from its +stem. And Jatasura’s head being severed by Bhimasena’s might, he fell +besmeared with gore, and having bitten lips. Having slain Jatasura, Bhima +presented himself before Yudhishthira, and the foremost Brahmanas began +to eulogise him (Bhima) even as the Marutas (eulogise) Vasava.” + + + +SECTION CLVII + +Vaisampayana continued, “On that Rakshasa having been slain, that lord, +the royal son of Kunti, returned to the hermitage of Narayana and began +to dwell there. And once on a time, remembering his brother Jaya +(Arjuna), Yudhishthira summoned all his brothers, together with Draupadi +and said these words, ‘We have passed these four years peacefully ranging +the woods. It hath been appointed by Vibhatsu that about the fifth year +he will come to that monarch of mountains, the excellent cliff Sweta, +ever graced with festivities held by blooming plants and maddened Kokilas +and black bees, and peacocks, and chatakas and inhabited by tigers, and +boars and buffaloes, and gavayas, and deer, and ferocious beasts; and +sacred; and lovely with blown lotuses of a hundred and a thousand petals, +and blooming lilies and blue lilies and frequented by the celestials and +the Asuras. And we also, eagerly anxious of meeting him on his arrival +have made up our minds to repair thither. Partha of unrivalled prowess +hath appointed with me, saying, ‘I shall remain abroad for five years, +with the object of learning military science.’ In the place like unto the +region of the gods, shall we behold the wielder of Gandiva, arrive after +having obtained the weapons.’ Having said this, the Pandava summoned the +Brahmanas, and the sons of Pritha having gone round the ascetics of rigid +austerities and thereby pleased them, informed them of the matter +mentioned above. Thereupon the Brahmanas gave their assent, saying, ‘This +shall be attended by prosperity and welfare. O foremost of the Bharatas, +these troubles shall result in happiness. O pious one, gaining the earth +by the Kshatriya virtue, thou shall govern it.’ Then in obedience to +these words of the ascetics, that represser of foes, Yudhishthira, set +out with his brothers and those Brahmanas, followed by the Rakshasa and +protected by Lomasa. And that one of mighty energy, and of staunch vows, +with his brothers, at places went on foot and at others were carried by +the Rakshasas. Then king Yudhishthira, apprehending many troubles, +proceeded towards the north abounding in lions and tigers and elephants. +And beholding on the way the mountain Mainaka and the base of the +Gandhamadana and that rocky mass Sweta and many a crystal rivulet higher +and higher up the mountain, he reached on the seventeenth day the sacred +slopes of the Himalayas. And, O king, not far from the Gandhamadana, +Pandu’s son beheld on the sacred slopes of the Himavan covered with +various trees and creepers the holy hermitage of Vrishaparva surrounded +by blossoming trees growing near the cascades. And when those repressers +of foes, the sons of Pandu, had recovered from fatigue, they went to the +royal sage, the pious Vrishaparva and greeted him. And that royal sage +received with affection those foremost of Bharatas, even as his own sons. +And those repressers of foes passed there seven nights, duly regarded. +And when the eighth day came, taking the permission of that sage +celebrated over the worlds, they prepared to start on their journey. And +having one by one introduced unto Vrishaparva those Brahmanas, who, duly +honoured, remained in his charge as friends; and having also entrusted +the highsouled Vrishaparva with their remaining robes, the sons of Pandu, +O king, left in the hermitage of Vrishaparva their sacrificial vessels +together with their ornaments and jewels. And wise and pious and versed +in every duty and having a knowledge of the past as well as the future, +that one gave instructions unto those best of the Bharatas, as unto his +own sons. Then taking his permission those high-souled ones set out +towards the north. And as they set out the magnanimous Vrishaparva +followed them to a certain distance. Then having entrusted the Pandavas +unto the care of the Brahmanas and instructed and blessed them and given +directions concerning their course, Vrishaparva of mighty energy retraced +his steps. + +“Then Kunti’s son, Yudhishthira of unfailing prowess, together with his +brothers, began to proceed on foot along the mountain path, inhabited by +various kinds of beasts. And having dwelt at the mountain slopes, densely +overgrown with trees, Pandu’s son on the fourth day reached the Sweta +mountain, like unto a mighty mass of clouds, abounding in streams and +consisting of a mass of gold and gems. And taking the way directed by +Vrishaparva, they reached one by one the intended places, beholding +various mountains. And over and over they passed with ease many +inaccessible rocks and exceedingly impassable caves of the mountain. And +Dhaumya and Krishna and the Parthas and the mighty sage Lomasa went on in +a body and none grew tired. And those highly fortunate ones arrived at +the sacred and mighty mountain resounding with the cries of birds and +beasts and covered with various trees and creepers and inhabited by +monkeys, and romantic and furnished with many lotus-lakes and having +marshes and extensive forests. And then with their down standing erect, +they saw the mountain Gandhamadana, the abode of Kimpurushas, frequented +by Siddhas and Charanas and ranged by Vidyadharis and Kinnaris and +inhabited by herds of elephants and thronged with lions and tigers and +resounding with the roars of Sarabhas and attended by various beasts. And +the war-like sons of Pandu gradually entered into the forest of the +Gandhamadana, like unto the Nandana gardens, delightful to the mind and +heart and worthy of being inhabited and having beautiful groves. And as +those heroes entered with Draupadi and the high-souled Brahmanas, they +heard notes uttered by the mouths of birds, exceedingly sweet and +graceful to the ear and causing delight and dulcet and broken by reason +of excess of animal spirits. And they saw various trees bending under the +weight of fruits in all seasons, and ever bright with flowers--such as +mangoes and hog-plums and bhavyas and pomegranates, citrons and jacks and +lakuchas and plantains and aquatic reeds and parvatas and champakas and +lovely kadamvas and vilwas, wood-apples and rose-apples and kasmaris and +jujbes and figs and glomerous figs and banians and aswatthas and khirikas +and bhall atakas and amalkas and bibhitakas and ingudas and karamardas +and tindukas of large fruits--these and many others on the slopes of the +Gandhamadana, clustered with sweet and nectarine fruits. And besides +these, they beheld champakas and asokas and ketakas and vakulas and +punnagas and saptaparnas and karnikaras, and patals, and beautiful +kutajas and mandaras, and lotuses, and parijatas, and kovidaras and +devadarus, and salas, and palmyra palms, and tamalas, and pippalas, and +salmalis and kinsukas, and singsapas, and saralas and these were +inhabited by Chakoras, and wood-peckers and chatakas, and various other +birds, singing in sweet tones pleasing to the ear. And they saw lakes +beautiful on all sides with aquatic birds, and covered all around with +kumudas, and pundarikas, and kokanadas, and utpalas, and kalharas, and +kamalas and thronged on all sides with drakes and ruddy geese, and +ospreys, and gulls and karandavas, and plavas, and swans, and cranes, and +shags, and other aquatic birds. And those foremost of men saw those +lotus-lakes beautified with assemblages of lotuses, and ringing with the +sweet hum of bees, glad, and drowsy on account of having drunk the +intoxicating honey of lotuses, and reddened with the farina falling from +the lotuscups. And in the groves they beheld with their hens peacocks +maddened with desire caused by the notes of cloud-trumpets; and those +woods-loving glad peacocks drowsy with desire, were dancing, spreading in +dalliance their gorgeous tails, and were crying in melodious notes. And +some of the peacocks were sporting with their mates on kutaja trees +covered with creepers. And some sat on the boughs of the kutajas, +spreading their gorgeous tails, and looking like crowns worn by the +trees. And in the glades they beheld the graceful sindhuvaras like unto +the darts of Cupid. And on the summits of the mountain, they saw blooming +karnikaras bearing blossoms of a golden hue, appearing like ear-rings of +excellent make. And in the forest they saw blossoming kuruvakas, like +unto the shafts of Cupid, which smiteth one with desire and maketh him +uneasy. And they saw tilakas appearing like unto beauty-spots painted on +the forehead of the forest. And they saw mango trees graced with blossoms +hummed over by black bees, and serving the purpose of Cupid’s shafts. And +on the slopes of the mountain there were diverse blossoming trees, +looking lovely, some bearing flowers of a golden hue, and some, of the +hue of the forest-conflagration, and some, red and some sable, and some +green like unto lapises. And besides these, there were ranges of salas +and tamalas and patalas and vakula trees, like unto garlands put on by +the summits of mountain. Thus gradually beholding on the slopes of the +mountain many lakes, looking transparent like crystal, and having swans +of white plumage and resounding with cries of cranes, and filled with +lotuses and lilies, and furnished with waters of delicious feel; and also +beholding fragrant flowers, and luscious fruits, and romantic lakes, and +captivating trees, the Pandavas penetrated into the forest with eyes +expanded with wonder. And (as they proceeded) they were fanned by the +breeze of balmy feel, and perfumed by kamalas and utpalas and kalharas +and pundarikas. Then Yudhishthira pleasantly spake unto Bhima saying, +‘Ah! O Bhima, beautiful is this forest of the Gandhamadana. In this +romantic forest there are various heavenly blossoming wild trees and +creepers, bedecked with foliage and fruit, nor are there any trees that +do not flower. On these slopes of the Gandhamadana, all the trees are of +sleek foliage and fruit. And behold how these lotus-lakes with fullblown +lotuses, and ringing with the hum of black bees, are being agitated by +elephants with their mates. Behold another lotus-lake girt with lines of +lotuses, like unto a second Sree in an embodied form wearing garlands. +And in this excellent forest there are beautiful ranges of woods, rich +with the aroma of various blossoms, and hummed over by the black bees. +And, O Bhima, behold on all sides the excellent sporting ground of the +celestials. By coming here, we have attained extra-human state, and been +blessed. O Partha, on these slopes of the Gandhamadana, yon beautiful +blossoming trees, being embraced by creepers with blossoms at their tops, +look lovely. And, O Bhima, hark unto the notes of the peacocks crying +with their hens on the mountain slopes. And birds such as chakoras, and +satapatras, and maddened kokilas, and parrots, are alighting on these +excellent flowering trees. And sitting on the twigs, myriads of +jivajivakas of scarlet, yellow and red hues, are looking at one another. +And the cranes are seen near the spots covered with green and reddish +grass, and also by the side of the cascades. And those birds, +bhringarajas, and upachakras, and herons are pouring forth their notes +charming to all creatures. And, lo! with their mates, these elephants +furnished with four tusks, and white as lotuses, are agitating that large +lake of the hue of lapises. And from many cascades, torrents high as +several palmyra palms (placed one upon another) are rushing down from the +cliffs. And many argent minerals splendid, and of the effulgence of the +sun, and like unto autumnal clouds, are beautifying this mighty mountain. +And in some places there are minerals of the hue of the collyrium, and in +some those like unto gold, in some, yellow orpiment and in some, +vermilion, and in some, caves of red arsenic like unto the evening clouds +and in some, red chalk of the hue of the rabit, and in some, minerals +like unto white and sable clouds; and in some, those effulgent as the +rising sun, these minerals of great lustre beautify the mountain. O +Partha, as was said by Vrishaparva, the Gandharvas and the Kimpurushas, +in company with their loves, are visible on the summits of the mountain. +And, O Bhima, there are heard various songs of appropriate measures, and +also Vedic hymns, charming to all creatures. Do thou behold the sacred +and graceful celestial river Mahaganga, with swans, resorted to by sages +and Kinnaras. And, O represser of foes, see this mountain having +minerals, rivulets, and beautiful woods and beasts, and snakes of diverse +shapes and a hundred heads and Kinnaras, Gandharvas and Apsaras.’” + +Vaisampayana said, “Having attained excellent state, those valiant and +warlike repressers of foes with Draupadi and the high-souled Brahmanas +were exceedingly delighted at heart, and they were not satiated by +beholding that monarch of mountains. Thereafter they saw the hermitage of +the royal sage Arshtishena, furnished with flowers and trees bearing +fruits. Then they went to Arshtishena versed in all duties of rigid +austerities, skeleton-like, and having muscles bare.” + + + +SECTION CLVIII + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having approached that one, whose sins had been +consumed by asceticism, Yudhishthira announced his name, and gladly +greeted him, bending his head. And then Krishna, and Bhima, and the +devout twins, having bowed down their heads unto the royal sage, stood +(there) surrounding him. And that priest of the Pandavas, the virtuous +Dhaumya, also duly approached that vow-observing sage. And by his +prophetic eye that virtuous Muni had already known (the identity of) +those foremost of the Kurus, the sons of Pandu. And he said unto them. +‘Be ye seated.’ And that one of rigid austerities, after having duly +received that chief of the Kurus, when the latter with his brothers had +seated himself enquired after his welfare saying, ‘Dost thou not turn thy +inclination upon untruth? And art thou intent upon virtue? And. O Partha, +hath not thy attention to thy father and thy mother diminished? Are all +thy superiors, and the aged, and those versed in the Vedas, honoured by +thee? And O Pritha’s son, dost thou not turn thy inclination unto sinful +acts? And dost thou, O best of the Kurus, properly know how to perform +meritorious acts, and to eschew wicked deeds? Dost thou not exalt +thyself? And are pious men gratified, being honoured by thee? And even +dwelling in the woods, dost thou follow virtue alone? And, O Partha, doth +not Dhaumya grieve at thy conduct? Dost thou follow the customs of thy +ancestors, by charity, and religious observances, and asceticism, and +purity, and candour, and forgiveness? And dost thou go along the way +taken by the royal sages? On the birth of a son in their (respective) +lines, the Pitris in their regions, both laugh and grieve, thinking--Will +the sinful acts of this son of ours harm us, or will meritorious deeds +conduce to our welfare? He conquereth both the worlds that payeth homage +unto his father, and mother, and preceptor, and Agni, and fifthly, the +soul.’ Yudhishthira said, ‘O worshipful one, those duties have been +mentioned by thee as excellent. To the best of my power I duly and +properly discharge them.’ + +Arshtishena said, ‘During the Parvas sages subsisting on air and water +come unto this best of the mountains ranging through the air. And on the +summits of the mountain are seen amorous Kimpurushas with their +paramours, mutually attached unto each other; as also, O Partha, many +Gandharvas and Apsaras clad in white silk vestments; and lovely-looking +Vidyadharas, wearing garlands; and mighty Nagas, and Suparnas, and +Uragas, and others. And on the summits of the mountain are heard, during +the Parvas, sounds of kettle-drums, and tabors, shells and mridangas. O +foremost of the Bharatas, even by staying here, ye shall hear those +sounds; do ye by no means feel inclined to repair thither. Further, O +best of the Bharata race, it is impossible, to proceed beyond this. That +place is the sporting-region of the celestials. There is no access +thither for mortals. O Bharata, at this place all creatures bear ill-will +to, and the Rakshasas chastise, that man who committeth aggression, be it +ever so little. Beyond the summit of this Kailasa cliff, is seen the path +of the celestial sages. If any one through impudence goeth beyond this, +the Rakshasas slay him with iron darts and other weapons. There, O child, +during the Parvas, he that goeth about on the shoulders of men, even +Vaisravana is seen in pomp and grandeur surrounded by the Apsaras. And +when that lord of all the Rakshasas is seated on the summit, all +creatures behold him like unto the sun arisen, O best of Bharatas, that +summit is the sporting-garden of the celestials, and the Danavas, and the +Siddhas, and Vaisravana. And during the Parvas, as Tumburu entertaineth +the Lord of treasures, the sweet notes of his song are heard all over the +Gandhamadana. O child, O Yudhishthira, here during the Parvas, all +creatures see and hear marvels like this. O Pandavas, till ye meet with +Arjuna, do ye stay here, partaking of luscious fruits, and the food of +the Munis. O child as thou hast come hither, do thou not betray any +impertinence. And, O child, after living here at thy will and diverting +thyself as thou listest, thou wilt at length rule the earth, having +conquered it by the force of thy arms.’” + + + +SECTION CLIX + +Janamejaya said, “How long did my great grandsires, the highsouled sons +of Pandu of matchless prowess, dwell in the Gandhamadana mountain? And +what did those exceedingly powerful ones, gifted with manliness, do? And +what was the food of those high-souled ones, when those heroes of the +worlds dwelt (there)? O excellent one, do thou relate all about this. Do +thou describe the prowess of Bhimasena, and what that mighty-armed one +did in the mountain Himalayan. Surely, O best of Brahmanas, he did not +fight again with the Yakshas. And did they meet with Vaisravana? Surely, +as Arshtishena said, the lord of wealth cometh thither. All this, O thou +of ascetic wealth, I desire to hear in detail. Surely, I have not yet +been fully satisfied by hearing about their acts.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having heard from that one of incomparable +energy, (Arshtishena), that advice conducive to their welfare, those +foremost of the Bharatas, began to behave always accordingly. Those best +of men, the Pandavas, dwelt upon the Himavan, partaking of the food eaten +by the Munis, and luscious fruit, and the flesh of deer killed with +unpoisoned shafts and various kinds of pure honey. Living thus, they +passed the fifth year, hearing to various stories told by Lomasa. O lord, +saying, ‘I shall be present when occasion ariseth,’ Ghatotkacha, together +with all the Rakshasas, had ere this already gone away. Those magnanimous +ones passed many months in the hermitage of Arshtishena, witnessing many +marvels. And as the Pandavas were sporting there pleasantly, there came +to see them some complacent vow-observing Munis and Charanas of high +fortune, and pure souls. And those foremost of the Bharata race conversed +with them on earthly topics. And it came to pass that when several days +has passed, Suparna all of a sudden carried off an exceedingly powerful +and mighty Naga, living in the large lake. And thereupon that mighty +mountain began to tremble, and the gigantic trees, break. And all the +creatures and the Pandavas witnessed the wonder. Then from the brow of +that excellent mountain, the wind brought before the Pandavas various +fragrant and fair blossoms. And the Pandavas, and the illustrious +Krishna, together with their friends, saw those unearthly blossoms of +five hues. And as the mighty-armed Bhimasena was seated at ease upon the +mountain, Krishna addressed him, saying, ‘O best of the Bharata race, in +the presence of all the creatures, these flowers of five hues, carried by +the force of the wind raised by Suparna, are falling in amain on the +river Aswaratha. In Khandava thy high-souled brother, firm in promise, +had baffled Gandharvas and Nagas and Vasava himself, and slain fierce +Rakshasas, and also obtained the bow Gandiva. Thou also art of exceeding +prowess and the might of thy arms is great, and irrepressible, and +unbearable like unto the might of Sakra. O Bhimasena, terrified with the +force of thy arms, let all the Rakshasas betake themselves to the ten +cardinal points, leaving the mountain. Then will thy friends be freed +from fear and affliction, and behold the auspicious summit of this +excellent mountain furnished with variegated flowers. O Bhima, I have for +long cherished this thought in my mind,--that protected by the might of +thy arms, I shall see that summit.’ + +“Thereupon, like a high-mettled bull that hath been struck, Bhimasena, +considering himself as censured by Draupadi, could not bear (that). And +that Pandava of the gait of a lion or a bull, and graceful, and generous, +and having the splendour of gold, and intelligent, and strong, and proud, +and sensitive, and heroic, and having red eyes, and broad shoulders, and +gifted with the strength of mad elephants, and having leonine teeth and a +broad neck, and tall like a young sala tree, and highsouled, and graceful +in every limb, and of neck having the whorls of a shell and mighty-armed, +took up his bow plaited at the back with gold, and also his sword. And +haughty like unto a lion, and resembling a maddened elephant, that strong +one rushed towards that cliff, free from fear or affliction. And all the +creatures saw him equipped with bows and arrows, approaching like a lion +or a maddened elephant. And free from fear or affliction, the Pandava +taking his mace, proceeded to that monarch of mountains causing the +delight of Draupadi. And neither exhaustion, nor fatigue, nor lassitude, +nor the malice (of others), affected that son of Pritha and the Wind-god. +And having arrived at a rugged path affording passage to one individual +only, that one of great strength ascended that terrible summit high as +several palmyra palms (placed one upon another). And having ascended that +summit, and thereby gladdened Kinnaras, and great Nagas, and Munis, and +Gandharvas, and Rakshasas, that foremost of the Bharata line, gifted with +exceeding strength described the abode of Vaisravana, adorned with golden +crystal palaces surrounded on all sides by golden walls having the +splendour of all gems, furnished with gardens all around, higher than a +mountain peak, beautiful with ramparts and towers, and adorned with +door-ways and gates and rows of pennons. And the abode was graced with +dallying damsels dancing around, and also with pennons waved by the +breeze. And with bent arms, supporting himself on the end of his bow, he +stood beholding with eagerness the city of the lord of treasures. And +gladdening all creatures, there was blowing a breeze, carrying all +perfumes, and of a balmy feel. And there were various beautiful and +wonderful trees of diverse hues resounding with diverse dulcet notes. And +at that place the foremost of the Bharatas surveyed the palace of the +Lord of the Rakshasas scattered with heaps of gems, and adorned with +variegated garlands. And renouncing all care of life the mighty-armed +Bhimasena stood motionless like a rock, with his mace and sword and bow +in his hands. Then he blew his shell making the down of his adversaries +stand erect; and twanging his bow-string, and striking his arms with the +hands he unnerved all the creatures. Thereat with their hairs standing +erect, the Yakshas and Rakshasas began to rush towards the Pandavas, in +the direction of those sounds. And taken by the arms of the Yakshas and +Rakshasas the flamed maces and clubs and swords and spears and javelins +and axes, and when, O Bharata, the fight ensued between the Rakshasas and +Bhima, the latter by arrows cut off the darts, javelins and axes of those +possessing great powers of illusion, and he of exceeding strength with +arrows pierced the bodies of the roaring Rakshasas, both of those that +were in the sky, and of those that remained on the earth. And Bhima of +exceeding strength was deluged with the mighty sanguine rain sprung from +the bodies of the Rakshasas with maces and clubs in their hands and +flowing on all sides from their persons. And the bodies and hands of the +Yakshas and Rakshasas were seen to be struck off by the weapon discharged +by the might of Bhima’s arms. And then all the creatures saw the graceful +Pandava densely surrounded by the Rakshasas, like unto the Sun enveloped +by clouds. And even as the Sun surrounds everything with his rays, that +mighty-armed and strong one of unfailing prowess, covered all with arrows +destroying foes. And although menacing and uttering yells, the Rakshasas +did not see Bhima embarrassed. Thereupon, with their bodies mangled, the +Yakshas afflicted by fear, Bhimasena began to utter frightful sounds of +distress, throwing their mighty weapons. And terrified at the wielder of +a strong bow, they fled towards the southern quarter, forsaking their +maces and spears and swords and clubs and axes. And then there stood, +holding in his hands darts and maces, the broad-chested and mighty-armed +friend of Vaisravana, the Rakshasa named Maniman. And that one of great +strength began to display his mastery and manliness. And seeing them +forsake the fight, he addressed them with a smile, ‘Going to Vaisravana’s +abode, how will ye say unto that lord of wealth, that numbers have been +defeated by a single mortal in battle?’ Having said this unto them that +Rakshasa, taking in his hands clubs and javelins and maces, set out and +rushed towards the Pandava. And he rushed in amain like a maddened +elephant. Bhimasena pierced his sides with three choice arrows. And the +mighty Maniman, on his part, in wrath taking and flourishing a tremendous +mace hurled it at Bhimasena. Thereupon Bhimasena beset with innumerable +shafts sharpened on stones, hurled that mighty mace in the sky, dreadful, +and like unto the lightning flash. But on reaching the mace those shafts +were baffled; and although discharged with force by that adept at hurling +the mace, still they could not stay its career. Then the mighty Bhima of +dreadful prowess, baffled his (the Rakshasa’s) discharge by resorting to +his skill in mace-fighting. In the meanwhile, the intelligent Rakshasa +had discharged a terrible iron club, furnished with a golden shaft. And +that club, belching forth flames and emitting tremendous roars, all of a +sudden pierced Bhima’s right arm and then fell to the ground. On being +severely wounded by that club, that bowman, Kunti’s son, of immeasurable +prowess, with eyes rolling in ire, took up his mace. And having taken +that iron mace, inlaid with golden plates, which caused the fear of foes +and brought on their defeat, he darted it with speed towards the mighty +Maniman, menacing (him) and uttering shouts. Then Maniman on his part, +taking his huge and blazing dart, with great force discharged it at +Bhima, uttering loud shouts. Thereat breaking the dart with the end of +his mace, that mighty-armed one skilled in mace-fighting, speedily rushed +to slay him, as Garuda (rushed) to slay a serpent. Then all of a sudden, +advancing ahead in the field, that mighty-armed one sprang into the sky +and brandishing his mace hurled it with shouts. And like unto the +thunder-bolt hurled by Indra, that mace like a pest, with the speed of +the wind destroyed the Rakshasa and then fell to the ground. Then all the +creatures saw that Rakshasa of terrible strength slaughtered by Bhima, +even like a bull slain by a lion. And the surviving Rakshasas seeing him +slain on the ground went towards the east, uttering frightful sounds of +distress.’” + + + +SECTION CLX + +Vaisampayana said, “Hearing various sounds resounding in the caves of the +mountain and not seeing Bhimasena, Kunti’s son, Ajatasatru and the twin +sons of Madri and Dhaumya and Krishna and all the Brahmanas and the +friends (of the Pandavas), were filled with anxiety. Thereupon, +entrusting Draupadi to the charge of Arshtishena and equipped in their +arms, those valiant and mighty charioteers together began to ascend the +summit of the mountain. And having reached the summit, as those +repressors of foes and mighty bowmen and powerful charioteers they were +looking about, saw Bhima and those huge Rakshasas of mighty strength and +courage weltering in a state of unconsciousness having been struck down +by Bhima. And holding his mace and sword and bow, that mighty-armed one +looked like Maghavan, after he had slain the danava hosts. Then on seeing +their brother, the Pandavas, who had attained excellent state, embraced +him and sat down there. And with those mighty bowmen, that summit looked +grand like heaven graced by those foremost of celestials, the highly +fortunate Lokapalas. And seeing the abode of Kuvera and the Rakshasas, +lying slain on the ground, the king addressed his brother who was seated, +saying, ‘Either it be through rashness, or through ignorance, thou hast, +O Bhima, committed a sinful act. O hero, as thou art leading the life of +an anchorite, this slaughter without cause is unlike thee. Acts, it is +asserted by those versed in duties, as are calculated to displease a +monarch, ought not to be committed. But thou hast, O Bhimasena, committed +a deed which will offend even the gods. He that disregarding profit and +duty, turneth his thoughts to sin must, O Partha, reap the fruit of his +sinful actions. However, if thou seekest my good, never again commit such +a deed.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having said this to his brother, Vrikodara the +virtuous, the highly energetic and firm-minded son of Kunti, Yudhishthira +versed in the particulars of (the science of) profit, ceased, and began +to reflect on that matter.” + +“On the other hand, the Rakshasas that had survived those slain by Bhima +fled in a body towards the abode of Kuvera. And they of exceeding +fleetness having speedily reached Vaisravana’s abode, began to utter loud +cries of distress, being afflicted with the fear of Bhima. And, O king +bereft of their weapons and exhausted and with their mail besmeared with +gore and with dishevelled hair they spake unto Kuvera, saying. ‘O lord, +all thy foremost Rakshasas fighting with maces and clubs and swords and +lances and barbed darts, have been slain. O lord of treasures, a mortal, +trespassing into the mountain, hath, singlehanded, slaughtered all thy +Krodhovasa Rakshasas assembled together. And, O lord of wealth, there lie +the foremost of the Yakshas and Rakshasas senseless and dead, having been +struck down; and we have been let off through his favour. And thy friend, +Maniman also hath been slain. All this hath been done by a mortal. Do +thou what is proper, after this.’ Having heard this, that lord of all the +Yaksha hosts waxing wroth, with eyes reddened in anger, exclaimed, +‘What!’ And hearing of Bhima’s second (act of) aggression, that lord of +treasures, the king of the Yakshas, was filled with wrath, and said. +‘Yoke’ (the horses). Thereat unto a car of the hue of dark clouds, and +high as a mountain summit, they yoked steeds having golden garments. And +on being yoked unto the car, those excellent horses of his, graced with +every noble quality and furnished with the ten auspicious curls of hair +and having energy and strength, and adorned with various gems and looking +splendid, as if desirous of speeding like the wind, began to neigh at +each other the neighing emitted at (the hour of) victory. And that divine +and effulgent king of the Yakshas set out, being eulogised by the +celestials and Gandharvas. And a thousand foremost Yakshas of reddened +eyes and golden lustre and having huge bodies, and gifted with great +strength, equipped with weapons and girding on their swords, followed +that high-souled lord of treasures. And coursing through the firmament +they (the steeds) arrived at the Gandhamadana, as if drawing forward the +sky with their fleetness. And with their down standing erect, the +Pandavas saw that large assemblage of horses maintained by the lord of +wealth and also the highsouled and graceful Kuvera himself surrounded by +the Yaksha hosts. And seeing those mighty charioteers the son of Pandu, +possessed of great strength, equipped with bows and swords, Kuvera also +was delighted; and he was pleased at heart, keeping in view the task of +the celestials. And like unto birds, they, (the Yakshas) gifted with +extreme celerity, alighted on the summit of the mountain and stood before +them (the Pandavas), with the lord of treasures at their head. Then, O +Bharata, seeing him pleased with the Pandavas, the Yakshas and the +Gandharvas stood there, free from agitation. Then thinking themselves as +having transgressed, those high-souled and mighty charioteers, the +Pandavas, having bowed down unto that lord, the giver of wealth stood +surrounding the lord of treasures with joined hands. And the lord of +treasures sat on that excellent seat, the elegant Pushpaka, constructed +by Viswakarma, painted with diverse colours. And thousands of Yakshas and +Rakshasas, some having huge frames and some ears resembling pegs, and +hundreds of Gandharvas and hosts of Apsaras sat in the presence of that +one seated, even as the celestials sit surrounding him of a hundred +sacrifices and wearing a beautiful golden garland on his head and holding +in his hands his noose and sword and bow, Bhima stood, gazing at the lord +of wealth. And Bhimasena did not feel depress either on having been +wounded by the Rakshasas, or even in that plight seeing Kuvera arrive. + +“And that one going about on the shoulders of men, on seeing Bhima stand +desirous of fighting with sharpened shafts, said unto Dharma’s son, ‘O +Partha, all the creatures know thee as engaged in their good. Do thou. +therefore, with thy brothers fearlessly dwell on this summit of the +mountain. And, O Pandava, be thou not angry with Bhima. These Yakshas and +Rakshasas had already been slain by Destiny: thy brother hath been the +instrument merely. And it is not necessary to feel shame for the act of +impudence that hath been committed. This destruction of the Rakshasas had +been foreseen by the gods. I entertain no anger towards Bhimasena. +Rather, O foremost of the Bharata a race, I am pleased with him; +nay,--even before coming here, I had been gratified with this deed of +Bhima.’” + +Vaisampayana said, “Having spoken thus unto the king, (Kuvera) said unto +Bhimasena, ‘O child, O best of the Kurus, I do not mind this, O Bhima, as +in order to please Krishna, thou hast, disregarding the gods and me also, +committed this rash act, namely, the destruction of the Yakshas and the +Rakshasas, depending on the strength of thy arms, I am well-pleased with +thee. O Vrikodara, to-day I have been freed from a terrible curse. For +some offence, that great Rishi, Agastya, had cursed me in anger. Thou +hast delivered me by this act (of thine). O Pandu’s son, my disgrace had +ere this been fated. No offence, therefore, in any way, attaches unto +thee, O Pandava.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O divine one, why wast thou cursed by the +high-souled Agastya? O god, I am curious to hear about the occasion of +that imprecation. I wonder that at that very moment, thou together with +thy forces and attendants wast not consumed by the ire of that +intelligent one.’ + +“Thereupon the lord of treasures said, ‘At Kusasthali, O king, once there +was held a conclave of the gods. And surrounded by grimvisaged Yakshas, +numbering three hundred maha-padmas, carrying various weapons, I was +going to that place. And on the way, I saw that foremost of sages, +Agastya, engaged in the practice of severe austerities on the bank of the +Yamuna, abounding in various birds and graced with blossoming trees. And, +O king, immediately on seeing that mass of energy, flaming and brilliant +as fire, seated with upraised arms, facing the sun, my friend, the +graceful lord of the Rakshasas, Maniman, from stupidity, foolishness, +hauteur and ignorance discharged his excrement on the crown of that +Maharshi. Thereupon, as if burning all the cardinal points by his wrath, +he said unto me, ‘Since, O lord of treasures, in thy very presence, +disregarding me, this thy friend hath thus affronted me, he, together +with thy forces, shall meet with destruction at the hands of a mortal. +And, O wicked-minded one, thou also, being distressed on account of thy +fallen soldiers, shalt be freed from thy sin, on beholding that mortal. +But if they follow thy behests, their (the soldier’s) powerful sons shall +not incur by this dreadful curse. This curse I received formerly from +that foremost of Rishis. Now, O mighty king, have I been delivered by thy +brother Bhima.’” + + + +SECTION CLXI + +“The lord of treasures said, ‘O Yudhishthira, patience, ability, +(appropriate) time and place and prowess--these five lead to success in +human affairs. O Bharata, in the Krita Yuga, men were patient and able in +their respective occupations and they knew how to display prowess. And, O +foremost of the Kshatriyas, a Kshatriya that is endued with patience and +understandeth the propriety regarding place and time and is versed in all +mortal regulations, can alone govern the world for a long time,--nay, in +all transactions. He that behaveth thus, acquireth, O hero, fame in this +world and excellent state in the next. And by having displayed his +prowess at the proper place and time, Sakra with the Vasus hath obtained +the dominion of heaven. He that from anger cannot see his fall and he +that being naturally wicked and evilminded followeth evil and he that +knoweth not the propriety relative to acts, meet with destruction both in +this world and the next. The exertions of that stupid person become +fruitless, who is not conversant with the expediency regarding time and +acts, and he meeteth with destruction both in this world and the next. +And the object of that wicked and deceitful persons is vicious, who, +aiming at mastery of every kind, committeth some rash act. O best of men, +Bhimasena is fearless, and ignorant of duties, and haughty, and of the +sense of a child, and unforbearing. Do thou, therefore, check him. +Repairing again to the hermitage of the pious sage Arshtisena, do thou +reside there during the dark fortnight, without fear or anxiety. O lord +of men, deputed by me, all the Gandharvas residing at Alaka, as also +those dwelling in this mountain, will, O mighty-armed one, protect thee, +and these best of the Brahmanas. And, O king, O chief among virtuous men, +knowing that Vrikodara hath come hither out of rashness, do thou check +him. Henceforth, O monarch, beings living in the forest will meet you, +wait upon you and always protect you all. And, ye foremost of men, my +servants will always procure for you various meats and drinks of +delicious flavour. And, O son, Yudhishthira, even as by reason of your +being the progeny of spiritual intercourse, Jishnu is entitled to the +protection of Mahendra, and Vrikodara, of the Wind-god, and thou, of +Dharma, and the twins possessed of strength, of the Aswins,--so ye all +are entitled to my protection. That one next by birth to Bhimasena, +Phalguna, versed in the science of profit and all mortal regulations, is +well in heaven. And, O child, those perfections that are recognised in +the world as leading to heaven, are established in Dhananjaya even from +his very birth. And self-restraint, and charity, and strength, and +intelligence, and modesty, and fortitude, and excellent energy--even all +these are established in that majestic one of magnificent soul. And, O +Pandava, Jishnu never committed any shameful act through poverty of +spirit. And in the world, none ever say that Partha hath uttered an +untruth. And, O Bharata, honoured by the gods, pitris, and the +Gandharvas, that enhancer of the glory of the Kurus is learning the +science of weapons in Sakra’s abode. And, O Partha, in heaven he that +with justice had brought under his subjection all the rulers of the +earth, even that exceedingly powerful and highly energetic monarch, the +grandsire of thy father, Santanu himself, is well-pleased with the +behaviour of that wielder of the Gandiva--the foremost of his race. And, +O king, abiding in Indra’s regions, he who on the banks of the Yamuna had +worshipped the gods, the pitris, and the Brahmanas, by celebrating seven +grand horse sacrifices, that great grandsire of thine, the emperor +Santanu of severe austerities, who hath attained heaven, hath enquired of +thy welfare.’” + +Vaisampayana said, “Having heard these words of the dispenser of wealth, +the Pandavas were well-pleased with them. Then lowering his club and mace +and sword and bow, that foremost of the Bharatas bowed down unto Kuvera. +And that giver of protection, the lord of treasures, seeing him +prostrate, said, ‘Be thou the destroyer of the pride of foes, and the +enhancer of the delight of friends. And ye oppressors of enemies, do ye +live in our romantic region. The Yakshas will not cross your desires. +Gudakesa, after having acquired mastery over weapons, will come back +soon. Bidden adieu by Maghavat himself, Dhananjaya will join you.’ + +“Having thus instructed Yudhishthira of excellent deeds, the lord of the +Guhyakas, vanished from that best of mountains. And thousands upon +thousands of Yakshas, and Rakshasas followed him in vehicles spread over +with checkered cushions, and decorated with various jewels. And as the +horses proceeded towards the abode of Kuvera, a noise arose as of birds +flying in the air. And the chargers of the lord of treasures speedily +coursed through the sky as if drawing forward the firmament, and +devouring the air. + +“Then at the command of the lord of wealth, the dead bodies of the +Rakshasas were removed from the summit of the mountain. As the +intelligent Agastya had fixed this period as the limit of (the duration +of) his curse, so being slain in conflict, the Rakshasas were freed from +the imprecation. And being honoured by the Rakshasas, the Pandavas for +several nights dwelt pleasantly in those habitations.” + + + +SECTION CLXII + +Vaisampayana continued, “Then, O represser of foes, at sunrise, having +finished his daily devotions, Dhaumya came unto the Pandavas, with +Arshtishena. And having bowed down unto the feet of Arshtishena and +Dhaumya, they with joined hands paid homage unto all the Brahmanas. Then +Dhaumya taking Yudhishthira’s right hand, said these words, looking at +the east, ‘O mighty monarch, this king of mountains, Mandara lieth vast, +covering the earth up to the ocean. O Pandava, Indra and Vaisravana +preside over this point graced with woods and forests and mountains. And, +O child, the intelligent sages versed in every duty, say, that this +(region) is the abode of Indra and king Vaisravana. And the twice-born +ones, and the sages versed in the duties, and the Sidhas, and the +Sadhyas, and the celestials pay their adorations unto the Sun as he +riseth from this point. And that lord of all living beings, king Yama, +conversant with duty, presideth over yonder southern region whither come +the spirits of the departed. And this is Sanyamana, the abode of the lord +of departed spirits, sacred, and wonderful to behold, and crowned with +prime prosperity. And the intelligent ones call that monarch of mountains +(by the name of) Asta. Having, O king, arrived at this, the Sun ever +abideth by the truth. And king Varuna protects all creatures, abiding in +this king of mountains, and also in the vast deep. And, O highly +fortunate one, there illumining the northern regions, lieth the puissant +Mahameru, auspicious and the refuge of those knowing Brahma, where is the +court of Brahma, and remaining where that soul of all creatures, +Prajapati, hath created all that is mobile and immobile. And the Mahameru +is the auspicious and healthy abode even of the seven mind-born sons of +Brahma, of whom Daksha was the seventh. And, O child, here it is that the +seven celestial rishis with Vasishtha at their head rise and set. Behold +that excellent and bright summit of the Meru, where sitteth the great +sire (Brahma) with the celestials happy in self-knowledge. And next to +the abode of Brahma is visible the region of him who is said to be the +really primal Cause or the origin of all creatures, even that prime lord, +god Narayana, having neither beginning nor end. And, O king, that +auspicious place composed of all energies even the celestials, cannot +behold. And the region of the high-souled Vishnu, by its native +splendour, exceeding in effulgence the sun or fire, cannot be beheld by +the gods, or the Danavas. And the region of Narayana lieth resplendent to +the east of the Meru, where, O child, that lord of all creatures, the +self-create primal Cause of the universe, having manifested all beings, +looketh splendid of his excellent grace. O child, not to speak of the +Maharshis--even Brahmarshis have no access to that place. And, O best of +the Kurus, it is the Yatis only who have access to it. And, O Pandu’s +son, (at that place) luminaries cannot shine by him; there that lord of +inconceivable soul alone shineth transcendental. There by reverence, and +severe austerities, Yatis inspired by virtue of pious practices, attain +Narayana Hari. And, O Bharata, repairing thither, and attaining that +universal Soul--the self-create and eternal God of gods, high-souled +ones, of Yoga success, and free from ignorance and pride have not to +return to this world. O highly fortunate Yudhishthira, this region is +without beginning, or deterioration, or end for it is the very essence of +that God. And, O son of the Kurus, the Sun and the Moon every day go +round this Meru, coursing in an opposite direction. And, O sinless one. O +mighty monarch, the other luminaries also go round this king of mountains +in the self-same way. Thus the worshipful Sun who dispelleth darkness, +goeth round this (mountain) obscuring other luminaries. Then having set, +and passed the evening, that Maker of day, the Sun, taketh a northerly +course. Then again nearing the Meru, the divine Sun (ever) intent on the +good of all beings, again courseth, facing the east. And in this way, the +divine Moon also together with the stars goeth round this mountain, +dividing the month unto several sections, by his arrival at the Parvas. +Having thus unerringly coursed round the mighty Meru, and, nourished all +creatures, the Moon again repaireth unto the Mandar. In the same way, +that destroyer of darkness--the divine Sun--also moveth on this +unobstructed path, animating the universe. When, desirous of causing dew, +he repaireth to the south, then there ensueth winter to all creatures. +Then the Sun, turning back from the south, by his rays draweth up the +energy from all creatures both mobile and immobile. Thereupon, men become +subject to perspiration, fatigue, drowsiness and lassitude; and living +beings always feel disposed to slumber. Thence, returning through unknown +regions, that divine effulgent one causeth shower, and thereby reviveth +beings. And having, by the comfort caused by the shower, wind, and +warmth, cherished the mobile and the immobile, the powerful Sun resumeth +his former course. O Partha, ranging thus, the Sun unerringly turneth on +the wheel of Time, influencing created things. His course is unceasing; +he never resteth, O Pandava. Withdrawing the energy of all beings, he +again rendereth it back. O Bharata, dividing time into day and night, and +Kala, and Kashtha, that lord, the Sun, dealeth life and motion to all +created things.’” + + + +SECTION CLXIII + +Vaisampayana continued, “Dwelling in that best of mountains those +high-souled ones observing excellent vows, felt themselves attracted (to +that place), and diverted themselves, eager to behold Arjuna. And +multitudes of Gandharvas and Maharshis gladly visited those energetic +ones, possessing prowess, of chaste desires and being the foremost of +those endued with truth and fortitude. And having arrived at that +excellent mountain furnished with trees bearing blossoms, those mighty +charioteers were exceedingly delighted, even as the Marutas, on arriving +at the celestial regions. And experiencing great exhilaration, they lived +(there), seeing the slopes and summits of that mighty mountain, filled +with flowers, and resonant with the cries of peacocks and cranes. And on +that beautiful mountain they beheld lakes filled with lotuses, and having +their shores covered with trees, and frequented by darkness, and +karandavas and swans. And the flourishing sporting-regions, graceful on +account of the various flowers, and abounding in gems, was capable of +captivating that king, the dispenser of wealth (Kuvera). And always +ranging (there), those foremost of ascetics (the Pandavas) were incapable +of conceiving (the significance of) that Summit, furnished with mighty +trees, and masses of wide-spreading clouds. And, O great hero, owing to +its native splendour, and also on account of the brilliance of the annual +plants, there was no difference there between night and day. And staying +in the mountain, remaining in which the Sun of unrivalled energy +cherisheth the mobile and immobile things, those heroes and foremost of +men beheld the rising and the setting of the Sun. And having seen the +rising and the setting points of the Sun and the rising and the setting +mountain, and all the cardinal points, as well as the intervening spaces +ever blazing with the rays of the Dispeller of darkness, those heroes, in +expectation of the arrival of that mighty charioteer firm in truth, +became engaged in reciting the Vedas, practising the daily rituals, +chiefly discharging the religious duties, exercising sacred vows, and +abiding by the truth. And saying, ‘Let us even here experience delight by +joining without delay Arjuna accomplished in arms,’ those highly blessed +Parthas became engaged in the practice of Yoga. And beholding romantic +woods on that mountain, as they always thought of Kiriti, every day and +night appeared unto them even as a year. From that very moment joy had +taken leave of them when, with Dhaumya’s permission, the high-souled +Jishnu, matting his hair, departed (for the woods). So, how could they, +absorbed in his contemplation, experience happiness there? They had +become overwhelmed with grief ever since the moment when at the command +of his brother, Yudhishthira, Jishnu of the tread of a mad elephant had +departed from the Kamyaka forest. O Bharata, in this way, on that +mountain those descendants of Bharata passed a month with difficulty, +thinking of him of the white steeds, who had gone to Vasava’s abode for +learning arms. And Arjuna, having dwelt for five years in the abode of +him of a thousand eyes, and having from that lord of celestials obtained +all the celestial weapons,--such as those of Agni, of Varuna, of Soma, of +Vayu, of Vishnu, of Indra, of Pasupati, of Brahma, of Parameshthi, of +Prajapati, of Yama, of Dhata, of Savita, of Tvashta, and of Vaisravana; +and having bowed down to and gone round him of a hundred sacrifices, and +taken his (Indra’s) permission, cheerfully came to the Gandhamadana.” + + + +SECTION CLXIV + +Vaisampayana continued, “And it came to pass that once a day as those +mighty charioteers were thinking of Arjuna, seeing Mahendra’s car, yoked +with horses of the effulgence of lightning, arrive all on a sudden, they +were delighted. And driven by Matali, that blazing car, suddenly +illuminating the sky, looked like smokeless flaming tongues of fire, or a +mighty meteor embosomed in clouds. And seated in that car appeared Kiriti +wearing garlands and new-made ornaments. Then Dhananjaya possessing the +prowess of the wielder of the thunder-bolt, alighted on that mountain, +blazing in beauty. And that intelligent one decked in a diadem and +garlands, having alighted on the mountain, first bowed down at the feet +of Dhaumya, and then at those of Ajatasatru. And he also paid homage unto +Vrikodara’s feet; and the twins also bowed down unto him. Then going to +Krishna, and having cheered her, he stood before his (elder) brother in +humble guise. And on meeting with that matchless one, they were +exceedingly delighted. And he also meeting with them rejoiced +exceedingly, and began to eulogise the king. And seeing before them that +car driving in which the slayer of Namuchi had annihilated seven +phalanxes of Diti’s offspring, the magnanimous Parthas went round it. And +being highly pleased, they offered excellent worship unto Matali, as unto +the lord of the celestials himself. And then the son of the Kuru king +duly enquired of him after the health of all the gods. And Matali also +greeted them. And having instructed the Parthas even as a father doth his +sons, he ascended that incomparable car, and returned to the lord of the +celestials. + +“And when Matali had gone away, that foremost of the royal race, Sakra’s +son, the high-souled destroyer of all foes made over unto his love, the +mother of Sutasoma, beautiful precious gems and ornaments having the +splendour of the sun, which had been presented to him by Sakra. Then, +sitting in the midst of those foremost of the Kurus, and those best of +the Brahmanas, effulgent like unto fire or the sun, he began to relate +all as it had happened, saying, “In this way, I have learnt weapons from +Sakra, Vayu, and the manifest Siva; and all the celestials with Indra +also have been pleased with me, on account of my good behaviour, and +concentration.’ + +“After having briefly narrated unto them his sojourn in heaven, Kiriti of +spotless deeds agreeably slept that night with the two sons of Madri.” + + + +SECTION CLXV + +Vaisampayana said, “Then when the night had been spent, Dhananjaya, +together with his brothers, paid homage unto Yudhishthira the just. And, +O Bharata, at this moment, proceeding from the celestials there arose +mighty and tremendous sounds of a musical instrument, and the rattling of +car-wheels, and the tolling of bells. And there at all the beasts and +beasts of prey and birds emitted separate cries. And from all sides in +cars resplendent as the sun, hosts of Gandharvas and Apsaras began to +follow that represser of foes, the lord of the celestials. And ascending +a car yoked with steeds, decorated with burnished gold, and roaring like +clouds, that king of the celestials, Purandara blazing in beauty came +unto the Parthas. And having arrived (at that place), he of a thousand +eyes descended from his car. And as soon as Yudhishthira the just saw +that high-souled one, he together with his brothers, approached that +graceful king of the immortals. And in accordance with the ordinance that +generous one duly worshipped him of immeasurable soul, in consequence +with his dignity. And then Dhananjaya possessed of prowess, having bowed +down unto Purandara, stood before the lord of the celestials in humble +guise, like unto a servant. And seeing the sinless Dhananjaya having +ascetic merit, bearing clotted hair, stand in humility before the lord of +celestials, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti; of great energy, smelt (the +crown) of his head. And beholding Phalguna (in that attitude), he was +exceedingly glad; and by worshipping the king of the celestials, he +experienced the highest bliss. Then unto that strongminded monarch, +swimming in felicity, the intelligent lord of the celestials, Purandara, +spake, saying, Thou shalt rule the earth, O Pandava, Blessed be thou! Do +thou, O Kunti’s son, again repair unto Kamyaka.’”That learned man who for +a year leading the Brahmacharya mode of life, subduing his senses and +observing vows, peruseth with rapt attention this meeting of Sakra with +the Pandavas, liveth a hundred years free from disturbances, and enjoying +happiness.”’ + + + +SECTION CLXVI + +Vaisampayana continued, “When Sakra had gone to his proper place, +Vibhatsu together with his brothers and Krishna, paid homage unto the son +of Dharma. Then smelling the crown of the head of that Pandava, who was +thus paying homage, (Yudhishthira) in accents faltering on account of +you, addressed Arjuna, saying ‘O Arjuna, how didst thou pass this period +in heaven? And how has thou obtained the weapons, and how also hast thou +gratified the lord of the celestials? And, O Pandava, has thou adequately +secured the weapons? Have the lord of the celestials and Rudra gladly +granted thee the weapons? And how hast thou beheld the divine Sakra, and +the wielder of Pinaka? And how has thou obtained the weapons? And in what +manner didst thou worship (them)? And what service hadst thou done unto +that repressor of foes, the worshipful one of a hundred sacrifices, that +he said unto thee, ‘By thee have I been gratified? All this, O highly +effulgent one, I wish to hear in detail. And, O sinless one, the manner +in which thou didst please Mahadeva and the king of the celestials and, O +repressor of foes, the service thou hadst done to the wielder of the +thunder-bolt,--do thou, O Dhananjaya, relate all this in detail.” + +“Arjuna said, ‘O mighty monarch, listen how I duly beheld him of a +hundred sacrifice and the divine Sankara also. O grinder of foes, O king, +having acquired that science which thou hadst directed me (to learn), I +at thy command went to the forest, for practising penances. From Kamyaka +repairing to the Bhrigutunga, I spent there one night, being engaged in +austerities And it came to pass that on the next I saw a certain +Brahmana. And he asked me, saying, ‘O son of Kunti, whither wilt thou +go?’ Thereupon, O descendant of the Kurus, I truly related unto him +everything. And, O best of kings, having heard the true account, the +Brahmana became well-pleased with me, and, O king, praised me. Then the +Brahmana, pleased with me, said, ‘O Bharata, be thou engaged in +austerities. By performing penances, thou wilt in a short time behold the +lord of the celestials.’ And according to his advice I ascended the +Himavan, and, O mighty king, began to practise penances, (the first) +month subsisting on fruit and roots. I spent the second month, subsisting +on water. And, O Pandava, in the third month I totally abstained from +food. And in the fourth month I remained with upraised arms. And a wonder +it is that I did not lose any strength. And it came to pass that when the +first day of the fifth month had been spent, there appeared before me a +being wearing the form of a boar, turning up the earth with his mouth, +stamping the ground with his feet, rubbing the earth with his breast, and +momentarily going about in a frightful manner. And him followed a great +being in the guise of a hunter furnished with the bow, arrows, and the +sword, and surrounded by females. Thereupon, taking my bow and the two +inexhaustible quivers, I pierced with shafts that terrible and frightful +creature. And simultaneously (with me) that hunter also drawing a strong +bow, more severely struck at (the animal), as if shaking my mind. And, O +king, he also said unto me, ‘Why hast thou, transgressing the rules of +hunting, hit the animal first hit at by me? With these sharpened shafts +will I destroy thy pride. Stay!’ Then that mighty-bodied one holding the +bow rushed at me. And with volleys of mighty shafts, he covered me +entirely, even as a cloud covereth a mountain with showers. Then, on my +part, I covered him with a mighty discharge of arrows. Thereupon, with +steady arrows having their points aflame, and inspired with mantras, I +pierced him even as (Indra) riveth a mountain with a thunderbolt. Then +his person began to be multiplied a hundredfold and a thousandfold. At +this, I pierced all this bodies with shafts. Then again all those forms +became one, O Bharata. Thereat I struck at it. Next, he now assumed a +small body with a huge head, and now a huge body with a small head. And, +O king, he then assumed his former person and approached me for fight. +And, O foremost of the Bharata race, when in the encounter I failed to +overwhelm him with arrows, I fixed the mighty weapon of the Wind-god. But +I failed to discharge it at him, and this was a wonder. And when that +weapon thus failed of effect, I was struck with amazement. However, O +king, exerting myself more vigorously, I again covered that being with a +mighty multitude of shafts. Then taking Sthunakarna, and Varuna and +Salava, and Asmavarsha weapons, I assailed him, profusely showering +shafts. But, O king, he instantly swallowed up even all these weapons of +mine. And when all those (weapons) had been swallowed up, I discharged +the weapon presided over by Brahma. And when the blazing arrows issuing +from that weapon were heaped upon him all around, and being thus heaped +over by that mighty weapon discharged by me, he increased (in bulk). Then +all the world became oppressed with the energy begotten of the weapon +hurled by me, and the firmament and all the points of the sky became +illumined. But that one of mighty energy instantly baffled even that +weapon. And, O monarch, when that weapon presided over by Brahma had been +baffled I was possessed with terrible fear. Thereupon immediately holding +even my bow and the two inexhaustible quivers, I shot at that being, but +he swallowed up all those weapons. And when all the weapons had been +baffled and swallowed up, there ensued a wrestling between him and +myself. And we encountered each other first with blows and then with +slaps. But incapable of overcoming that being, I fell down stupefied on +the ground. Thereupon, O mighty king, with a laugh, that wonderful being +at my sight vanished at that spot together with the woman. Having +accomplished this, O illustrious monarch, that divine one assumed another +and unearthly form (clad in) wonderful raiment. And renouncing the form +of a hunter, that divine lord of the gods, resumed his own unearthly +appearance and that mighty god stood (there). Then appeared before me +with Uma that manifest divine one, having the bull for his mark, wielding +the Pinaka, bearing serpents and cable of assuming many forms. And, O +repressor of foes, advancing towards me, standing even then in the field +ready for conflict, that wielder of the trident addressed me saying, I am +well-pleased with thee. Then that divine one held up my bows and the +couple of quivers furnished with inexhaustible shafts and returned them +unto me saying, ‘Do thou ask some boon, O Kunti’s son. I am well-pleased +with thee. Tell me, what I shall do for thee. And, O hero, express the +desire that dwelleth in thy heart. I will grant it. Except immortality +alone, tell me as to the desire that is in thy heart. Thereat with my +mind intent on the acquisition of arms, I only bowed down unto Siva and +said, ‘O divine one, if thou beest favourably disposed towards me, then I +wish to have this boon,--I wish to learn all the weapons that are with +thy god-head.’ Then the god Tryamvaka said unto me, ‘I will give. O +Pandava, my own weapon Raudra shall attend upon thee.’ Thereupon +Mahadeva, well-pleased, granted to me the mighty weapon, Pasupata. And, +having granted that eternal weapon, he also said unto me, This must never +be hurled at mortals. If discharged at any person of small energy, it +would consume the universe. Shouldst thou (at any time) be hard pressed, +thou mayst discharge it. And when all thy weapons have been completely +baffled, thou mayst hurl it.’ Then when he having the bull for his mark, +had been thus gratified, there stood manifest by my side that celestial +weapon, of resistless force capable of baffling all weapons and +destructive of foes and the hewer of hostile forces and unrivalled and +difficult to be borne even by the celestials, the demons and the +Rakshasas. Then at the command of that god, I sat me down there. And in +my very sight the god vanished from the spot.’” + + + +SECTION CLXVII + +“Arjuna said, ‘O Bharata, by the grace of that god of gods the Supreme +Soul, Tryamvaka, I passed the night at that place. And having passed the +night, when I had finished the morning rituals, I saw that foremost of +the Brahmanas whom I had seen before. And unto him I told all as it had +happened, O Bharata, namely, that I had met the divine Mahadeva. +Thereupon, O king of kings, well-pleased, he said unto me, ‘Since thou +hast beheld the great god, incapable of being beheld by any one else, +soon wilt thou mix with Vaivaswata and the other Lokapalas and the lord +of the celestials; and Indra too will grant thee weapons.’ O king, having +said this unto me and having embraced me again and again, that Bhrahmana +resembling the Sun, went away whither he listed. And, O slayer of foes, +it came to pass that on the evening of that day refreshing the whole +world, there began to blow a pure breeze. And in my vicinity on the base +of the Himalaya mountain fresh, fragrant and fair flowers began to bloom. +And on all sides there were heard charming symphony and captivating hymns +relating to Indra. And before the lord of the celestial hosts of Apsaras +and Gandharvas chanted various songs. And ascending celestial cars, there +approached the Marutas and the followers of Mahendra and the dwellers of +heaven. And afterwards, Marutvan together with Sachi and all the +celestials appeared on the scene in cars yoked with horses elegantly +adorned. And at this very moment, O king, he that goeth about on the +shoulders of men manifested himself unto me in excellent grace. And I saw +Yama seated on the south and Varuna and the lord of the celestials at +their respective regions. And, O foremost of men, O mighty monarch, they +after having cheered me said, ‘O Savyasachin, behold us--the +Lokapalas--seated. For the performance of the task of the gods thou hast +obtained the sight of Sankara. Do thou now receive weapons from us seated +around.’ Thereupon, O lord, having bowed down unto those foremost of the +celestials with regard, I duly accepted those mighty weapons. And then +they recognised me as one of their own. Afterwards the gods repaired to +the quarter from whence they had come. And that lord of the celestials, +the divine Maghavan too having ascended his glorious chariot, said, ‘O +Phalguna, thou shalt have to repair unto the celestial region. O +Dhananjaya, even before this thy arrival I knew that thou wouldst come +hither. Then I, have O best of the Bharatas, manifested myself unto thee. +As formerly thou hadst performed thy ablution in the various tirthas and +now hast performed severe austerities, so thou wilt be able to repair +unto the celestial regions, O Pandava. Thou wilt, however, again have to +practise extreme penance, for thou shouldst at any rate journey to +heaven. And at my command, Matali shall take thee to the celestial +regions. Thou hast already been recognised by the celestials and the +celestial sages of high soul.’ Thereupon I said unto Sakra, ‘O divine +one, be thou favourable unto me. With the view of learning arms do I +beseech thee that thou mayst ‘be my preceptor.’ At this Indra said, ‘O +child, having learnt weapons thou wouldst perform terrible deeds and with +this object thou desirest to obtain the weapons. However, obtain thou the +arms, as thou desirest.’ Then I said, ‘O slayer of foes, I never would +discharge these celestial weapons at mortals except when all my other +arms should have been baffled. Do thou, O lord of the celestials, grant +me the celestial weapons (so that) I may hereafter, obtain the regions +attainable by warriors.’ Indra said, ‘O Dhananjaya it is to try thee that +I have said such words unto thee. Having been begotten of me this speech +of thine well becometh thee. Do thou, O Bharata, repairing unto my abode +learn all the weapons of Vayu, of Agni, of the Vasus, of Varuna, of the +Marutas, of the Siddhas, of Brahma, of the Gandharvas of the Uragas, of +the Rakshasas, of Vishnu and of the Nairitas; and also all the weapons +that are with me, O perpetuator of the Kuru race.’ Having said this unto +me Sakra vanished at the very spot. Then, O king, I saw the wonderful and +sacred celestial car yoked with steeds arrive conducted by Matali. And +when the Lokapalas went away Matali said unto me. ‘O thou of mighty +splendour, the lord of the celestials is desirous of seeing thee. And O +mighty-armed one, do thou acquire competence and then perform thy task. +Come and behold the regions, attainable by merit and come unto heaven +even in this frame. O Bharata, the thousand-eyed lord of the celestials +wisheth to see thee.’ Thus addressed by Matali, I, taking leave of the +mountain Himalaya and having gone round it ascended that excellent car. +And then the exceedingly generous Matali, versed in equine lore, drove +the steeds, gifted with the speed of thought or the wind. And when the +chariot began to move that charioteer looking at my face as I was seated +steadily, wondered and said these words, ‘Today this appeareth unto me +strange and unprecedented that being seated in this celestial car, thou +hast not been jerked ever so little. O foremost of Bharata race, I have +ever remarked that at the first pull by the steeds even the lord of the +celestials himself getteth jerked. But all the while that the car had +moved, thou hast been sitting unshaken. This appeareth unto me as +transcending even the power of Sakra.’ + +“Having said this, O Bharata, Matali soared in the sky and showed me the +abodes of the celestials and their palaces. Then the chariot yoked with +steeds coursed upwards. And the celestials and the sages began to worship +(that car), O prime of men. And I saw the regions, moving anywhere at +will, and the splendour also of the highly energetic Gandharvas, Apsaras, +and the celestial sages. And Sakra’s charioteer, Matali, at once showed +me Nandana and other gardens and groves belonging to the celestials. Next +I beheld Indra’s abode, Amaravati, adorned with jewels and trees yielding +any sort of fruit that is desired. There the Sun doth not shed heat; nor +doth heat or cold or fatigue there affect (one), O king. And, O great +monarch, the celestials feel neither sorrow nor poverty of spirit, nor +weakness, nor lassitude, O grinder of foes. And, O ruler of men, the +celestials and the others have neither anger nor covetousness. And, O +king, in the abodes of the celestials, the beings are ever contented. And +there the trees ever bear verdant foliage, and fruits, and flowers; and +the various lakes are embalmed with the fragrance of lotuses. And there +the breeze is cool, and delicious, and fragrant, and pure, and inspiring. +And the ground is variegated with all kinds of gems, and adorned with +blossoms. And there were seen innumerable beautiful beasts and in the air +innumerable rangers of the sky. Then I saw the Vasus, and the Rudras, and +the Sadhyas with the Marutas, and the Adityas, and the two Aswins and +worshipped them. And they conferred their benison on me, granting me +strength and prowess, and energy, and celebrity, and (skill in) arms, and +victory in battle. Then, entering that romantic city adored by the +Gandharvas and the celestials, with joined hands, I stood before the +thousand-eyed lord of the celestials. Thereupon, that best of bestowers +gladly offered unto me half of his seat; and Vasava also with regard +touched my person. And, O Bharata, with the view of acquiring arms and +learning weapons, I began to dwell in heaven, together with the gods and +the Gandharvas of generous souls. And Viswavana’s son, Chitrasena became +my friend. And he, O king, imparted unto me the entire Gandharva +(science). And, O monarch, I happily lived in Sakra’s abode, well cared +for having all my desires gratified, learning weapons, listening to the +notes of songs, and the clear sounds of musical instruments, and +beholding the foremost of Apsaras dance. And without neglecting to study +the arts, which I learnt properly, my attention was specially fixed on +the acquisition of arms. And that lord of a thousand eyes was pleased +with that purpose of mine. Living thus in heaven, O king, I passed this +period. + +“And when I had acquired proficiency in weapons, and gained his +confidence that one having for his vehicle the horse (Uchchaisrava), +(Indra), patting me on the head with his hand, said these words, ‘Now +even the celestials themselves cannot conquer thee,--what shall I say of +imperfect mortals residing on earth? Thou hast become invulnerable in +strength, irrepressible, and incomparable in fight.’ Then with the hair +of his body standing on end, he again accosted me saying, ‘O hero, in +fighting with weapons none is equal unto thee. And, O perpetuator of the +Kuru race, thou art even watchful, and dexterous, and truthful, and of +subdued senses, and the protector of the Brahmanas and adept in weapons, +and warlike. And, O Partha, together with (a knowledge of) the five +modes, using (them), thou hast obtained five and ten weapons and, +therefore, there existeth none, who is thy peer. And thou hast perfectly +learnt the discharge (of those weapons) and (their) withdrawal, and +(their) re-discharge and re-withdrawal, and the Prayaschitta connected +(with them), and also their revival, in case of their being baffled. Now, +O represser of foes, the time hath arrived for thy paying the preceptor’s +fee. Do thou promise to pay the fee; then I shall unfold unto thee what +thou wilt have to perform.’ Thereat, O king, I said unto the ruler of the +celestials, ‘If it be in my power to do the work, do thou consider it as +already accomplished by me.’ O king, when I had said these words, Indra +with a smile said unto me ‘Nothing is there in the three worlds that is +not in thy power (to achieve) My enemies, those Danavas, named, +Nivata-Kavachas dwell in the womb of the ocean. And they number thirty +million and are notorious, and all of equal forms and strength and +splendour. Do thou slay them there, O Kunti’s son; and that will be thy +preceptor’s fee.’ + +“Saying this he gave unto me the highly resplendent celestial car, +conducted by Matali, furnished with hair resembling the down of peacocks. +And on my head he set this excellent diadem. And he gave me ornaments for +my body, like unto his own. And he granted unto me the impenetrable +mail--the best of its kind, and easy to the touch; and fastened unto the +Gandiva this durable string. Then I set out, ascending that splendid +chariot riding on which in days of yore, the lord of the celestials and +vanquished Vali--that son of Virochana. And, O ruler of men, startled by +the rattling of the car, all the celestials, approached (there), taking +me to be the king of the celestials. And seeing me, they asked, ‘O +Phalguna, what art thou going to do?’ And I told them as it had fallen +out,--and said, ‘I shall even do this in battle. Ye that are highly +fortunate, know that I have set out desirous of slaying the +Nivata-Kavachas. O sinless ones, do ye bless me.’ Thereupon, they began +to eulogise me even as they (eulogise) the god, Purandara. And they said, +‘Riding on this car, Maghavan conquered in battle Samvara, and Namuchi, +and Vala, and Vritra, and Prahrada, and Naraka. And mounted on this car +also Maghavan, had conquered in battle many thousands and millions and +hundreds of millions of Daityas. And, O Kaunteya, thou also, riding on +this car, by thy prowess shalt conquer the Nivatha-Kavachas in conflict, +even as did the self-possessed Maghavan in days of yore. And here is the +best of shells; by this also thou shalt defeat the Danavas And by this it +is that the high souled Sakra conquered the words.’ Saying this, the gods +offered (unto me) this shell, Devadatta, sprung in the deep; and I +accepted it for the sake of victory. And at this moment, the gods fell +extolling me. And in order to be engaged in action, I proceeded to the +dreadful abode of the Danavas, furnished with the shell, the mail, and +arrows, and taking my bow.” + + + +SECTION CLXVIII + +“Arjuna continued, ‘Then at places eulogised by the Maharshis, I +(proceeded, and at length) beheld the ocean--that inexhaustible lord of +waters. And like unto flowing cliffs were seen on it heaving billows, now +meeting together and now rolling away. And there (were seen) all around +barks by thousands filled with gems. And there were seen timingilas and +tortoises and makaras like unto rock submerged in water. And on all sides +round thousands of shells sunk in water appeared like star in the night +covered by light clouds. And thousands upon thousands of gem were +floating in heaps and a violent wind was blowing about in whirls--and +this was wonderful to behold. And having beheld that excellent lord of +all waters with powerful tides, I saw at a short distance the city of the +demons filled with the Danavas. And even there, eftsoons entering +underneath the earth, Matali skilled in guiding the car, sitting fast on +the chariot drove it with force; and he dashed on, frightening that city +with the rattling of his chariot. And hearing that rattling of the +chariot like unto the rumbling of the clouds in the sky, the Danavas, +thinking me to be the lord of the celestials, became agitated. And +thereupon they all, frightened at heart, stood holding in their hands +bows and arrows and swords and javelins and axes and maces and clubs. +Then having made arrangements for the defence of the city, the Danavas, +with minds alarmed, shut the gates, so that nothing could be discovered. +Thereupon taking my shell, Devadatta, of tremendous roars, I again and +again winded it with exceeding cheerfulness. And filling all the +firmament, those sounds produced echoes. Thereat mighty beings were +terrified and they hid (themselves). And then, O Bharata, all of them +adorned with ornaments, those offsprings of Diti--the +Nivata-Kavachas--made their appearance by thousands, donning diverse mail +and taking in their hands various weapons and equipped with mighty iron +javelins and maces and clubs and hatchets and sabres and discs and +sataghnis and bhusundis and variegated and ornamented swords. Then, after +deliberating much as to the course of the car, Matali began to guide the +steeds on a (piece of) level ground, O foremost of the Bharatas. And +owing to the swiftness of those fleet coursers conducted by him, I could +see nothing--and this was strange. Then the Danavas there began to sound +thousands of musical instruments, dissonant and of odd shapes. And at +those sounds, fishes by hundreds and by thousands, like unto hills, +having their senses bewildered by that noise, fled suddenly. And mighty +force flew at me, the demons discharging sharpened shafts by hundreds and +by thousands. And then, O Bharata, there ensued a dreadful conflict +between me and the demons, calculated to extinguish the Nivata-Kavachas. +And there came to the mighty battle the Devarshis and the Danavarshis and +the Brahmarshis and the Siddhas. And desirous of victory, the Munis +eulogised me with the same sweet-speeches that (they had eulogised) Indra +with, at the war, (which took place) for the sake of Tara.’” + + + +SECTION CLXIX + +“Arjuna continued, ‘Then, O Bharata, vehemently rushed at me in battle in +a body the Nivata-Kavachas, equipped with arms. And obstructing the +course of the car, and shouting loudly, those mighty charioteers, hemming +me in on all sides, covered me with showers of shafts. Then other demons +of mighty prowess, with darts and hatchets in their hands, began to throw +at me spears and axes. And that mighty discharge of darts, with numerous +maces and clubs incessantly hurled fell upon my car. And other dreadful +and grim-visaged smiters among the Nivata-Kavachas, furnished with bows +and sharpened weapons, ran at me in fight. And in the conflict, shooting +from the Gandiva sundry swift arrows coursing straight, I pierced each of +them with ten. And they were driven back by those stone-whetted shafts of +mine. Then on my steeds being swiftly driven by Matali, they began to +display various movements with the speed of the wind. And being skilfully +guided by Matali, they began to trample upon the sons of Diti. And +although the steeds yoked unto that mighty chariot numbered hundreds upon +hundreds, yet being deftly conducted by Matali, they began to move, as if +they were only a few. And by their tread, and by the rattling of the +chariot wheels and by the vollies of my shafts, the Danavas began to fall +by hundreds. And others accoutred in bows, being deprived of life, and +having their charioteers slain, were carried about by the horses. Then, +covering all sides and directions, all (the Danavas) skilled in striking +entered into the contest with various weapons, and thereat my mind became +afflicted. And I witnessed (this instance of) the marvellous prowess of +Matali, viz., that he guided those fiery steeds with ease. Then, O king, +in the conflict, with diverse fleet weapons I pierced by hundreds and by +thousands (demons) bearing arms. And, O slayer of foes, seeing me thus +range the field putting forth every exertion, the heroic charioteer of +Sakra was well-pleased. And oppressed by those steeds and that car, some +(of them) met with annihilation; and others desisted from fight; while +(other) Nivata-Kavachas, challenged by us in battle and being harassed +with shafts offered opposition unto me, by (discharging) mighty showers +of arrows. Thereupon, with hundreds and thousands of sundry fleet weapons +inspired with the mantras relating to Brahma’s weapons, I swiftly began +to burn them. And being sore pressed by me, those mighty asuras waxing +wroth afflicted me together, by pouring torrents of clubs and darts and +swords. Then, O Bharata, I took up that favourite weapon of the lord of +the celestials, Maghavan by name, prime and of fiery energy and by the +energy of that weapon I cut into a thousand pieces the Tomaras, together +with the swords and the tridents hurled by them. And having cut off their +arms I in ire pierced them each with ten shafts. And in the field arrows +were shot from the Gandiva like unto rows of black-bees; and this Matali +admired. And their shafts also showered upon me; but those powerful +(arrows) I cut off with my shafts. Then on being struck the +Nivata-Kavachas again covered me on all sides with a mighty shower of +arrows. And having neutralised the force of the arrows by excellent swift +and flaming weapons capable of baffling arms, I pierced them by +thousands. And blood began to flow from their torn frames, even as in the +rainy season waters run down from the summits of mountains. And on being +wounded by my fleet and straight-coursing shafts of the touch of Indra’s +thunder-bolt, they became greatly agitated. And their bodies were pierced +at hundreds of places; and the force of their arms diminished. Then the +Nivata-Kavachas fought me by (the help of) illusion.’” + + + +SECTION CLXX + +“Arjuna said, ‘Then with rocks of the proportions of trees, there +commenced a mighty shower of crags; and this exercised me exceedingly. +And in that high encounter, I crushed (those crags) by swift-speeding +showers of arrows, issuing from Mahendra’s weapon, like unto the +thunder-bolt itself. And when the rocks had been reduced to powder, there +was generated fire; and the rocky dust fell like unto masses of flames. +And when the showers of crags had been repelled, there happened near me a +mightier shower of water, having currents of the proportions of an axle. +And falling from the welkin, those thousands of powerful torrents covered +the entire firmament and the directions and the cardinal points. And on +account of the pouring of the shower, and of the blowing of the wind, and +of roaring of the Daityas, nothing could be perceived. And touching +heaven and the entire earth, and incessantly falling on the ground, the +showers bewildered me. Thereupon, I discharged that celestial weapon +which I had learnt from Indra--even the dreadful and flaming Visoshana: +and by that the water was dried up. And, O Bharata, when the rocky shower +had been destroyed, and the watery shower had been dried up, the Danavas +began to spread illusions of fire and wind. Then by aqueous appliances I +extinguished the flames; and by a mighty rock-issuing arm, resisted the +fury of the winds. And when these had been repelled, the Danavas, +irrepressible in battle, O foremost of the Bharata, simultaneously +created various illusions. And there happened a tremendous horrifying +shower of rocks and dreadful weapons of fire and wind. And that illusory +downpour afflicted me in fight. And then on all sides there appeared a +dense and thick darkness. And when the world had been enveloped in deep +and dense darkness, the steeds turned away, Matali fell off, and from his +hand the golden lash fell to the earth. And, O foremost of the Bharatas, +being frightened, he again and again cried, ‘Where art thou?’ And when he +had been stupefied, a terrible fear possessed me. And then in a hurry, he +spake unto me, saying, ‘O Partha, for the sake of nectar, there had taken +place a mighty conflict between the gods and the demons. I had seen that +(encounter), O sinless one. And on the occasion of the destruction of +Samvara, there had occurred a dreadful and mighty contest. Nevertheless I +had acted as charioteer to the lord of the celestials. In the same way, +on the occasion of the slaying of Vritra, the steeds had been conducted +by me. And I had also beheld the high and terrific encounter with +Virochana’s son, and, O Pandava, with Vala, and with Prahrada and with +others also. In these exceedingly dreadful battles, I was present; but, O +Pandu’s son, never (before) had I lost my senses. Surely the Great-father +hath ordained the destruction of all creatures; for this battle cannot be +for any other purpose than destruction of the universe.’ Having heard +these words of his, pacifying my perturbation by my own effort, I will +destroy the mighty energy of the illusion spread by the Danavas quoth I +unto the terrified Matali. Behold the might of my arms, and the power of +my weapons and of the bow, Gandiva. To-day even by (the help of) +illusion-creating arms, will I dispel this deep gloom and also this +horrible illusion of theirs. Do not fear, O charioteer. Pacify thyself.’ +Having said this, O lord of men, I created for the good of the +celestials, an illusion of arms capable of bewildering all beings. And +when (their) illusion had been dispelled, some of the foremost amongst +the Asuras, of unrivalled prowess, again spread diverse kinds of +illusion. Thereupon, now (the world) displayed itself, and now it was +devoured by darkness; and now the world disappeared from view and now it +was submerged under water. And when it had brightened up. Matali, sitting +in front of the car, with the wellconducted steeds, began to range that +hair-erecting field. Then the fierce Nivata-Kavachas assailed me. And +finding my opportunity. I began to send them to the mansion of Yama. +Thereupon, in that conflict then raging, calculated to annihilate the +Nivata-Kavachas on a sudden, I could not see the Danavas concealed by +illusion.” + + + +SECTION CLXXI + +“Arjuna continued, ‘Remaining invisible the Daityas began to fight with +the help of illusion. And I too fought with them, resorting to the energy +of visible weapons. And the shafts duly discharged from the Gandiva, +began to sever their heads at those different places where they were +respectively stationed. And thus assailed by me in the conflict, the +Nivata-Kavachas, all on a sudden withdrawing the illusion, entered into +their own city. And when the Daityas had fled, and when all had become +visible, I there discovered hundreds and thousands of the slain. And +there I saw by hundreds their shivered weapons, ornaments, limbs, and +mail. And the horses could not find room for moving from one place to +another; and on a sudden with a bound, they fell to coursing in the sky. +Then remaining invisible, the Nivata-Kavachas covered the entire welkin +with masses of crags. And, O Bharata, other dreadful Danavas, entering +into the entrails of the earth, took up horses’ legs and chariot-wheels. +And as I was fighting, they, hard besetting my horses with rocks, +attacked me together with (my) car. And with the crags that had fallen +and with others that were falling, the place where I was, seemed to be a +mountain cavern. And on myself being covered with crags and on the horses +being hard pressed, I became sore distressed and this was marked by +Matali. And on seeing me afraid, he said unto me, ‘O Arjuna, Arjuna! be +thou not afraid; send that weapon, the thunder-bolt, O lord of men.’ +Hearing those words of his, I then discharged the favourite weapon of the +king of the celestials--the dreadful thunderbolt. And inspiring the +Gandiva with mantras, I, aiming at the locality of the crags, shot +sharpened iron shafts of the touch of the thunder-bolt. And sent by the +thunder, those adamantine arrows entered into all those illusions and +into the midst of those Nivata-Kavachas. And slaughtered by the vehemence +of the thunder, those Danavas resembling cliffs, fell to the earth +together in masses. And entering amongst those Danavas that had carried +away the steeds of the car into the interior of the earth, the shafts +sent them into the mansion of Yama. And that quarter was completely +covered with the Nivata-Kavachas that had been killed or baffled, +comparable unto cliffs and lying scattered like crags. And then no injury +appeared to have been sustained either by the horses, or by the car, or +by Matali, or by me, and this seemed strange. Then, O king, Matali +addressed me smiling, ‘Not in the celestials themselves, O Arjuna, is +seen the prowess that is seen in thee. And when the Danava hosts had been +destroyed, all their females began to bewail in that city, like unto +cranes in autumn. Then with Matali I entered that city, terrifying with +the rattling of my car the wives of the Nivata-Kavachas. Thereupon, +seeing those ten thousand horses like unto peacocks (in hue), and also +that chariot resembling the sun, the women fled in swarms. And like unto +(the sounds of) rocks falling on a mountain, sounds arose of the +(falling) ornaments of the terrified dames. (At length), the +panic-stricken wives of the Daityas entered into their respective golden +places variegated with innumerable jewels. + +‘Beholding that excellent city, superior to the city of the celestials +themselves, I asked Matali, saying, ‘Why do not the celestials reside in +such (a place)? Surely, this appeareth superior to the city of +Purandara.’ Thereat, Matali said, ‘In days of yore, O Partha, even this +was the city of our lord of the celestials. Afterwards the celestials +were driven from hence by the Nivata-Kavachas. Having performed the most +rigid austerities, they had gratified the Grand-father and had asked (and +obtained) the boons--namely, that they might reside here, and that they +might be free from danger in wars with the gods.’ Then Sakra addressed +the self-create lord saying, ‘Do thou, O lord, desirous of our own +welfare do what is proper.’ Thereupon, O Bharata, in this matter the Lord +commanded (Indra), saying, ‘O slayer of foes, in another body, even thou +shalt be (the destroyer of the Danavas).’ Then, in order to slaughter +them, Sakra rendered unto thee those weapons. The gods had been unable to +slay these, who have been slain by thee. O Bharata, in the fullness of +time, hadst thou come hither, in order to destroy them and thou hast done +so. O foremost of men, with the object that the demons might be killed, +Mahendra had conferred on thee the excellent prime energy of these +weapons.’ + +“Arjuna continued, ‘After having destroyed the Danavas, and also subdued +that city, with Matali I again went to that abode of the celestials.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXII + +“Arjuna continued, ‘Then while returning, I happened to descry a mighty +unearthly city, moving at will, and having the effulgence of fire or the +sun. And that city contained various trees composed of gems, and +sweet-voiced feathered ones. And furnished with four gates, and +gate-ways, and towers, that impregnable (city) was inhabited by the +Paulamas and Kalakanjas. And it was made of all sorts of jewels and was +unearthly, and of wonderful appearance. And it was covered with trees of +all kinds of gems, bearing fruits and flowers. And it contained +exceedingly beautiful unearthly birds. And it always swarmed throughout +with cheerful Asuras, wearing garlands, and bearing in their hands darts, +two edged swords, maces, bows, and clubs. And, O king, on seeing this +wonderful city of the Daityas, I asked Matali saying, ‘What is this that +looketh so wonderful?’ Thereat, Matali replied, ‘Once on a time a +Daitya’s daughter, named Pulama and a mighty female of the Asura order, +Kalaka by name, practised severe austerities for a thousand celestial +years. And at the end of their austerities, the self-create conferred on +them boons. And, O king of kings, they received these boons,--that their +offspring might never suffer misfortune; that they might be incapable of +being destroyed even by the gods, the Rakshasas and the Pannagas; and +that they might obtain a highly effulgent and surpassingly fair aerial +city, furnished with all manner of gems and invincible even by the +celestials, the Maharshis, the Yakshas, the Gandharvas, the Pannagas, the +Asuras and the Rakshasas. O best of the Bharatas, this is that unearthly +aerial city devoid of the celestials, which is moving about, having been +created for the Kalakeyas, by Brahma himself. And this city is furnished +with all desirable objects, and is unknown of grief or disease. And, O +hero, celebrated under the name of Hiranyapura, this mighty city is +inhabited by the Paulamas and the Kalakanjas; and it is also guarded by +those mighty Asuras. And, O king, unslayed by any of the gods, there they +dwell cheerfully, free from anxiety and having all their desires +gratified, O foremost of kings. Formerly, Brahma had destined destruction +at the hands of mortals. Do thou, O Partha, in fight, compass with that +weapon--the thunder-bolt--the destruction of the mighty and irrepressible +Kalakanjas.’ + +“Arjuna continued, ‘O lord of men, learning that they were incapable of +being destroyed by the celestials and the Asuras, I cheerfully said unto +Matali, ‘Do thou speedily repair into yonder city. With weapons will I +compass the annihilation of the haters of the lord of the celestials. +Surely, there exist no wicked haters of the gods who ought not to be +slain by me.’ Thereupon Matali took me to the vicinity of Hiranyapura on +the celestial chariot yoked with steeds. And seeing me, those sons of +Diti, wearing various kinds of attire and ornament and accoutred in mail, +flew at me with a mighty rush. And those foremost of the Danavas, of +exceeding prowess, in wrath attacked me with arrows and bhallas and clubs +and two-edged swords, and tomaras. Thereat, O king, resorting to my +strength of lore, I resisted that great volley of weapons by a mighty +shower of shafts; and also confounded them in conflict by ranging around +in my car. And being bewildered, the Danavas began to push each other +down. And having been confounded, they rushed at one another. And with +flaming arrows, I severed their heads by hundreds. And hard pressed by +me, the offspring of Diti, taking shelter within (their) city, soared +with it to the firmament, resorting to the illusion proper to the +Danavas. Thereupon, O son of the Kurus, covering the way of the Daityas, +with a mighty discharge of shafts I obstructed their course. Then by +virtue of the bestowal of the boon, the Daityas supported themselves +easily on that sky-ranging unearthly aerial city, going anywhere at will +and like unto the sun. And now (the city) entered unto the earth and now +it rose upwards; and at one time it went in a crooked way and at another +time it submerged into water. At this, O represser of foes, I assailed +that mighty city, going anywhere at will, and resembling Amaravati. And, +O best of the Bharatas, I attacked the city containing those sons of +Diti, with multitudes of shafts, displaying celestial weapons. And +battered and broken by the straight-coursing iron shafts, shot by me, the +city of the Asuras, O king, fell to the earth. And they also, wounded by +my iron arrows having the speed of the thunder, began, O monarch, to go +about, being urged by destiny. Then ascending to the sky, Matali, as if +falling in front, swiftly descended to the earth, on that chariot of +solar resplendence. Then, O Bharata, environed me sixty thousand cars +belonging to those wrathful ones eager to battle with me. And with +sharpened shafts graced with feathers of the vulture, I destroyed those +(cars). At this, thinking, ‘These our hosts are incapable of being +vanquished by mortals, they became engaged in the conflict, like unto the +surges of the sea.’ Thereupon I gradually began to fix (on the string) +unearthly weapons. At this, thousands of weapons (shot) by those +wonderfully warring charioteers, by degrees opposed my unearthly arms and +in the field I saw hundreds and thousands of mighty (demons) ranging on +their cars, in various manoeuvres. And being furnished with variegated +mail and standards and diverse ornaments, they delighted my mind. And in +the conflict I could not afflict them by showers of shafts, but they did +not afflict me. And being afflicted by those innumerable ones, equipped +in weapons and skilled in fight, I was pained in that mighty encounter +and a terrible fear seized me. Thereupon collecting (my energies) in +fight, I (bowed down) unto that god of gods, Raudra, and saying, ‘May +welfare attend on all beings!’ I fixed that mighty weapon which, +celebrated under the name of Raudra, is the destroyer of all foes. Then I +beheld a male person having three heads, nine eyes, three faces, and six +arms. And his hair was flaming like fire or the sun. And, O slayer of +foes, for his dress, he had mighty serpents, putting out their tongues. +And saying, O best of the Bharatas, the dreadful and eternal Raudra, I +being free from fear, set it on the Gandiva; and, bowing unto the +three-eyed Sarva of immeasurable energy, let go (the weapon), with the +object of vanquishing those foremost of the Danavas, O Bharata. And, O +lord of men, as soon as it had been hurled, there appeared on the scene +by thousands, forms of deer, and of lions, and of tigers, and of bears +and of buffaloes, and of serpents, and of kine, and of sarabhas, and of +elephants, and of apes in multitudes, and of bulls, and of boars, and of +cats, and of dogs, and of spectres, and of all the Bhurundas, and of +vultures, and of Garudas, of chamaras, and of all the leopards, and of +mountains, and of seas, and of celestials, and of sages, and of all the +Gandharvas, and of ghosts with the Yakshas, and of the haters of the +gods, (Asuras), and of the Guhyakas in the field, and of the Nairitas and +of elephant-mouthed sharks, and of owls, and of beings having the forms +of fishes and horses, and of beings bearing swords and various other +weapons, and of Rakshasas wielding maces and clubs. And on that weapon +being hurled all the universe became filled with these as well as many +others wearing various shapes. And again and again wounded by beings of +various sights with (pieces of) flesh, fat, bones, and marrow on their +persons,--some having three heads, and some four tusks, and some four +mouths, and some four arms,--the Danavas met with destruction. And, then, +O Bharata, in a moment I slew all those Danavas, with other swarms of +arrows composed of the quintessence of stone, flaming like fire or the +sun, and possessed of the force of the thunder-bolt. And, seeing them +hewn by the Gandiva, and deprived of life, and thrown from the sky, I +again bowed unto that god--the Destroyer of Tripura. And, seeing those +adorned with unearthly ornaments, crushed by the weapon, the Raudra, the +charioteer of the celestials, experienced the greatest delight. And +having witnessed the accomplishment of that unbearable feat incapable of +being achieved even by the celestials themselves, Matali, the charioteer +of Sakra, paid homage unto me; and well-pleased, with joint hands said +these words. ‘The feat that hath been achieved by thee, is incapable of +being borne even by the gods, nay,--in battle, the lord of the celestials +himself cannot perform this deed. The sky-coursing mighty city incapable +of being destroyed by the gods and the Asuras hast thou, O hero, crushed +by thy own prowess and by the energy of asceticism. And when that aerial +city had been destroyed, and when the Danavas also had been slain, their +wives, uttering cries of distress, like unto Kurari birds, with hair +dishevelled came out of the city. And bewailing for their sons and +brothers and fathers, they fell on the ground and cried with distressful +accents. And on being deprived for their lords, they beat their breasts, +their garlands and ornaments fallen off. And that city of Danavas, in +appearance like unto the city of the Gandharvas filled with lamentations +and stricken with dole and distress, and bereft of grace even like unto a +lake deprived of (its) elephants, or like unto a forest deprived of trees +and (deprived of its) masters, looked no longer beautiful--but it +vanished, like a cloud-constructed city. And when I had accomplished the +task, eftsoons from the field Matali took me of delighted spirits, unto +the abode of the lord of the celestials. And having slain those mighty +Asuras, and destroyed Hiranyapura, and having also killed the +Nivata-Kavachas, I came unto Indra. And, O exceedingly resplendent one, +as it had fallen out, Matali related in detail unto Devendra that entire +achievement of mine. And with the Marutas, hearing of the destruction of +Hiranyapura, of the neutralisation of the illusion, and of the slaughter +of the highly powerful Nivatakavachas in fight, the prosperous +thousand-eyed divine Purandara was well pleased, and exclaimed, ‘Well +done; Well done!’ And the king of the celestials together with the +celestials, cheering me again and again, said these sweet words, ‘By thee +hath been achieved a feat incapable of being achieved by the gods and the +Asuras. And, O Partha, by slaying my mighty enemies, thou hast paid the +preceptor’s fee. And, O Dhananjaya, thus in battle shalt thou always +remain calm, and discharge the weapons unerringly, and there shall not +stand thee in fight celestials, and Danavas, and Rakshasas, and Yakshas, +and Asuras, and Gandharvas and birds and serpents. And, O Kaunteya, by +conquering it even by the might of thy arms, Kunti’s son Yudhishthira, +will rule the earth.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXIII + +“Arjuna continued, ‘Then firmly confident, the sovereign of the +celestials considering as his own, pertinently said these words unto me +wounded by cleaving shafts, ‘All the celestial weapons, O Bharata, are +with thee, so no man on earth will by any means be able to over-power +thee. And, O son, when thou art in the field, Bhishma and Drona and Kripa +and Karna and Sakuni together with other Kshatriyas shall not amount unto +one-sixteenth part of thee.’ And the lord Maghavan granted me this golden +garland and this shell, Devadatta, of mighty roars, and also his +celestial mail impenetrable and capable of protecting the body. And Indra +himself set on my (head) this diadem. And Sakra presented me with these +unearthly apparels and unearthly ornaments, elegant and rare. In this +manner, O king, (duly) honoured, I delightfully dwelt in Indra’s sacred +abode with the children of the Gandharvas. Then, well-pleased, Sakra, +together with the celestials, addressed me, saying, ‘O Arjuna, the time +hath come for thy departure; thy brothers have thought of thee.’ Thus, O +Bharata, remembering the dissensions arising from that gambling, did I, O +king, pass those five years in the abode of Indra. Then have I come and +seen thee surrounded by our brothers on the summit of this lower range of +the Gandhamadana.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O Dhananjaya, by fortune it is that the weapons have +been obtained by thee; by fortune it is that the master of the immortals +hath been adored by thee. O repressor of foes, by fortune it is that the +divine Sthanu together with the goddess had become manifest unto thee and +been gratified by thee in battle, O sinless one; by fortune it is that +thou hadst met with the Lokapalas, O best of the Bharatas. O Partha, by +fortune it is that we have prospered; and by fortune it is that thou hast +come back. To-day I consider as if the entire earth engarlanded with +cities hath already been conquered, and as if the sons of Dhritarashtra +have already been subdued. Now, O Bharata, I am curious to behold those +celestial weapons wherewith thou hadst slain the powerful +Nivata-Kavachas.’” + +“Thereat Arjuna said, ‘Tomorrow in the morning thou wilt see all the +celestial weapons with which I slew the fierce Nivata-Kavachas.’” + +Vaisampayana said, “Thus having related (the facts touching) the arrival, +Dhananjaya passed that night there, together with all his brothers.” + + + +SECTION CLXXIV + +Vaisampayana continued, “And when the night had passed, Yudhishthira the +just, arose and together with his brothers, performed the necessary +duties. He then spake unto Arjuna, that delight of his mother, saying, ‘O +Kaunteya, do thou show (me) those weapons with which thou vanquished the +Danavas.’ Thereat, O king, the exceedingly powerful Dhananjaya, the son +of Pandu, duly practising extreme purity, showed those weapons, O +Bharata, which had been given unto him by the celestials. Dhananjaya +seated on the earth, as his chariot, which had the mountain for its pole, +the base of the axle and the cluster of beautiful-looking bamboo trees +for its socket-pole, looked resplendent with that celestial armour of +great lustre, took his bow Gandiva and the conch-shell given to him by +the gods, commenced to exhibit those celestial weapons in order. And as +those celestial weapons had been set, the Earth being oppressed with the +feet (of Arjuna), began to tremble with (its) trees; and the rivers and +the mighty main became vexed; and the rocks were riven; and the air was +hushed. And the sun did not shine; and fire did not flame; and by no +means did the Vedas of the twice-born once shine. And, O Janamejaya, the +creatures peopling the interior of the earth, on being afflicted, rose +and surrounded the Pandava, trembling with joined hands and contorted +countenances. And being burnt by those weapons, they besought Dhananjaya +(for their lives). Then the Brahmarshis, and the Siddhas, and the +Maharshis and the mobile beings--all these appeared (on the scene). And +the foremost Devarshis, and the celestials and the Yakshas and the +Rakshasas and the Gandharvas and the feathered tribes and the (other) +sky-ranging beings--all these appeared (on the scene). And the Great-sire +and all the Lokapalas and the divine Mahadeva, came thither, together +with their followers. Then, O great king, bearing unearthly variegated +blossoms Vayu (the Wind-god) fell to strewing them around the Pandava. +And sent by the celestials, the Gandharvas chanted various ballads; and, +O monarch, hosts of the Apsaras danced (there). At such a moment, O king, +sent by the celestials, Narada arrived (there) and addressed Partha in +these sweet words, ‘O Arjuna, Arjuna, do thou not discharge the celestial +weapons. These should never be discharged when there is no object (fit). +And when there is an object (present), they should also by no means be +hurled, unless one is sore pressed; for, O son of the Kurus, to discharge +the weapons (without occasion), is fraught with great evil. And, O +Dhananjaya, being duly kept as thou hast been instructed to these +powerful weapons will doubtless conduce to thy strength and happiness. +But if they are not properly kept, they, O Pandava, will become the +instrument for the destruction of the three worlds. So thou shouldst not +act in this way again. O Ajatasatru, thou too wilt behold even these +weapons, when Partha will use them for grinding (thy) enemies in battle.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having prevented Partha the immortals with +others that had come there, went to each his place, O foremost of men. +And, O Kaurava, after they had all gone, the Pandavas began to dwell +pleasantly in the same forest, together with Krishna.” + + + +SECTION CLXXV + +Janamejaya said, “When that prime among heroes, having been accomplished +in arms, had returned from the abode of the slayer of Vritra, what did +Pritha’s sons do in company with the warlike Dhananjaya?” + +Vaisampayana said, “In company with that hero equal unto Indra, +Arjuna--that foremost of men, sported in the pleasure-gardens of the lord +of treasures (situated) in those woods on that romantic and excellent +mountain. And surveying those peerless and various pleasure-grounds +filled with diverse trees, that chief of men, Kiriti, ever intent upon +arms, ranged at large, bow in hand. And having through the grace of king +Vaisravana obtained a residence, those sons of a sovereign cared not for +the prosperity of men. And, O king, that period of their (lives) passed +peacefully. And having Partha in their company, they spent four years +there even like a single night. And as the Pandavas lived in the wood, +(these four years) and the former six, numbering ten, passed smoothly +with them. + +“Then having seated themselves before the king, the vehement son of the +Wind-god, with Jishnu and the heroic twins, like unto the lord of the +celestials, earnestly addressed the king in these beneficial and pleasant +words. ‘It is only to render thy promise effectual and to advance thy +interests, that, O king of the Kurus, forsaking the forest, we do not go +to slay Suyodhana together with all his followers. Although deserving of +happiness, yet have we been deprived of happiness. And this is the +eleventh year that (in this state) we have been living (in the forest). +And hereafter, deluding that one of evil mind and character, shall we +easily live out the period of non-discovery. And at thy mandate, O +monarch, free from apprehension, we have been ranging the woods, having +relinquished our honour. Having been tempted by our residence in the +vicinity, they (our enemies) will not believe that we have removed to a +distant realm. And after having lived there undiscovered for a year, and +having wreaked our revenge on that wicked wight, Suyodhana, with his +followers, we shall easily root out that meanest of men, slaying him and +regaining our kingdom. Therefore, O Dharmaraja, do thou descend unto the +earth. For, O king, if we dwell in this region like unto heaven itself, +we shall forget our sorrows. In that case, O Bharata, thy fame like, unto +a fragrant flower shall vanish from the mobile and the immobile worlds. +By gaining that kingdom of the Kuru chiefs, thou wilt be able to attain +(great glory), and to perform various sacrifices. This that thou art +receiving from Kuvera, thou wilt, O foremost of men, be able to attain +any time. Now, O Bharata, turn thy mind towards the punishment and +destruction of foes that committed wrongs. O king, the wielder of the +thunderbolt himself is incapable of standing thy prowess. And intent upon +thy welfare, he, having Suparna for his mark (Krishna), and also the +grandson of Sini (Satyaki) never experience pain, even when engaged in +encounter with the gods, O Dharmaraja. And Arjuna is peerless in +strength, and so am I too, O best of kings. And as Krishna together with +the Yadavas is intent upon thy welfare, so am I also, O foremost of +monarchs, and the heroic twins accomplished in war. And encountering the +enemy, we, having for our main object the attainment by thee of wealth +and prosperity, will destroy them.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Then having learnt that intention of theirs, the +magnanimous and excellent son of Dharma, versed in religion and profit, +and of immeasurable prowess, went round Vaisravana’s abode. And +Yudhishthira the just, after bidding adieu unto the palaces, the rivers, +the lakes, and all the Rakshasas, looked towards the way by which (he) +had come (there). And then looking at the mountain also, the high-souled +and pure-minded one besought that best of mountains, saying, ‘O foremost +of mountains, may I together with my friends, after having finished my +task, and slain my foes, and regained my kingdom, see thee again, +carrying on austerities with subdued soul.’ And this also he determined +on. And in company with his younger brothers and the Brahmanas, the lord +of the Kurus proceeded even along that very road. And Ghatotkacha with +his followers began to carry them over the mountain cascades. And as they +started, the great sage Lomasa, advising them even as a father doth his +son, with a cheerful heart, went unto the sacred abode of the dwellers of +heaven. Then advised also by Arshtishena, those first of men, the +Parthas, went alone beholding romantic tirthas and hermitages, and other +mighty lakes.” + + + +SECTION CLXXVI + +Vaisampayana said, “When they had left their happy home in the beautiful +mountain abounding in cascades, and having birds, and the elephants of +the eight quarters, and the supernatural attendants of Kuvera (as +dwellers thereof), all happiness forsook those foremost of men of +Bharata’s race. But afterwards on beholding Kuvera’s favourite mountain, +Kailasa, appearing like clouds, the delight of those pre-eminent heroes +of the race of Bharata, became very great. And those foremost of heroic +men, equipped with scimitars and bows, proceeded contentedly, beholding +elevations and defiles, and dens of lions and craggy causeways and +innumerable water-falls and lowlands, in different places, as also other +great forests inhabited by countless deer and birds and elephants. And +they came upon beautiful woodlands and rivers and lakes and caves and +mountain caverns; and these frequently by day and night became the +dwelling place of those great men. And having dwelt in all sorts of +inaccessible places and crossing Kailasa of inconceivable grandeur, they +reached the excellent and surpassingly beautiful hermitage of +Vrishaparba. And meeting king Vrishaparba and received by him being they +became free from depression and then they accurately narrated in detail +to Vrishaparba the story of their sojourn in the mountains. And having +pleasantly passed one night in his sacred abode frequented by gods and +Maharshis, those great warriors proceeded smoothly towards the jujube +tree called Visala and took up their quarters there. Then all those +magnanimous men having reached the place of Narayana, continued to live +there, bereft of all sorrow, at beholding Kuvera’s favourite lake, +frequented by gods and Siddhas. And viewing that lake, those foremost of +men, the sons of Pandu traversed that place, renouncing all grief even as +immaculate Brahmana rishis (do) on attaining a habitation in the Nandana +gardens. Then all those warriors having in due course happily lived at +Badari for one month, proceeded towards the realm of Suvahu, king of the +Kiratas, by following the same track by which they had come. And crossing +the difficult Himalayan regions, and the countries of China, Tukhara, +Darada and all the climes of Kulinda, rich in heaps of jewels, those +warlike men reached the capital of Suvahu. And hearing that those sons +and grandsons of kings had all reached his kingdom, Suvahu, elated with +joy, advanced (to meet them). Then the best of the Kurus welcomed him +also. And meeting king Suvahu, and being joined by all their charioteers +with Visoka at their head and by their attendants, Indrasena and others, +and also by the superintendents and servants of the kitchen, they stayed +there comfortably for one night. Then taking all the chariots and +chariot-men and dismissing Ghatotkacha together with his followers, they +next repaired to the monarch of mountains in the vicinity of the Yamuna. +In the midst of the mountain abounding in waterfalls and having grey and +orange-coloured slopes and summits covered with a sheet of snow, those +warlike men having then found the great forest of Visakhayupa like unto +the forest of Chitraratha and inhabited by wild boars and various kinds +of deer and birds, made it their home. Addicted to hunting as their chief +occupation, the sons of Pritha peacefully dwelt in that forest for one +year. There in a cavern of the mountain, Vrikodara, with a heart +afflicted with distraction and grief, came across a snake of huge +strength distressed with hunger and looking fierce like death itself. At +this crisis Yudhishthira, the best of pious men, became the protector of +Vrikodara and he, of infinite puissance, extricated Bhima whose whole +body had been fast gripped by the snake with its folds. And the twelfth +year of their sojourn in forests having arrived, those scions of the race +of Kuru, blazing in effulgence, and engaged in asceticism, always devoted +principally to the practice of archery, repaired cheerfully from that +Chitraratha-like forest to the borders of the desert, and desirous of +dwelling by the Saraswati they went there, and from the banks of that +river they reached the lake of Dwaitabana. Then seeing them enter +Dwaitabana, the dwellers of that place engaged in asceticism, religious +ordinances, and self-restraining exercises and in deep and devout +meditation and subsisting on things ground with stone (for want of teeth) +having procured grass-mats and water-vessels, advanced to meet them. The +holy fig, the rudaraksha, the rohitaka, the cane and the jujube, the +catechu, the sirisha, the bel and the inguda and the karira and pilu and +sami trees grew on the banks of the Saraswati. Wandering about with +contentment in (the vicinity of) the Saraswati which was, as it were, the +home of the celestials, and the favourite (resort) of Yakshas and +Gandharvas and Maharshis, those sons of kings lived there in happiness.” + + + +SECTION CLXXVII + +Janamejaya said, “How was it, O sage! that Bhima, of mighty prowess and +possessing the strength of ten thousand elephants, was stricken with +panic at (the sight of) that snake? Thou hast described him, that slayer +of his enemies, as dismayed and appalled with fear, even him, who by +fighting at the lotus lake (of Kuvera) became the destroyer of Yakshas +and Rakshasas and who, in proud defiance, invited to a single combat, +Pulastya’s son, the dispenser of all riches. I desire to hear this (from +you); great indeed is my curiosity.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “O king, having reached king Vrishaparva’s +hermitage, while those fearful warriors were living in various wonderful +woods, Vrikodara roaming at pleasure, with bow in hand and armed with a +scimitar, found that beautiful forest, frequented by gods and Gandharvas. +And then he beheld (some) lovely spots in the Himalayan mountains, +frequented by Devarshis and Siddhas and inhabited by hosts of Apsaras, +resounded here and there with (the warbling of) birds--the chakora, the +chakrabaka, the jibajibaka and the cuckoo and the Bhringaraja, and +abounding with shady trees, soft with the touch of snow and pleasing to +the eye and mind, and bearing perennial fruits and flowers. And he beheld +mountain streams with waters glistening like the lapis lazuli and with +ten thousand snow-white ducks and swans and with forests of deodar trees +forming (as it were) a trap for the clouds; and with tugna and kalikaya +forests, interspersed with yellow sandal trees. And he of mighty +strength, in the pursuit of the chase, roamed in the level and desert +tracts of the mountain, piercing his game with unpoisoned arrows. In that +forest the famous and mighty Bhimasena, possessing the strength of a +hundred elephants, killed (many) large wild boars, with the force (of his +arms). And endowed with terrible prowess and mighty strength, and +powerful as the lion or the tiger, and capable of resisting a hundred +men, and having long arms, and possessing the strength of a hundred +elephants, he killed many antelopes and wild boars and buffaloes. And +here and there, in that forest he pulled out trees by the roots, with +great violence and broke them too, causing the earth and the woods and +the (surrounding) places to resound. And then shouting and trampling on +the tops of mountains, and causing the earth to resound with his roars, +and striking his arms, and uttering his war-cry, and slapping and +clapping his hands, Bhimasena, exempt from decay, and ever-proud and +without fear, again and again leaped about in those woods. And on hearing +the shouts of Bhimasena, powerful lions and elephants of huge strength, +left their lairs in fright. And in that same forest, he fearlessly +strolled about in search of game; and like the denizens of the woods, +that most valiant of men, the mighty Bhimasena, wandered on foot in that +forest. And he penetrated the vast forest, shouting strange whoopos, and +terrifying all creatures, endowed with strength and prowess. And then +being terrified, the snakes hid (themselves) in caves, but he, overtaking +them with promptitude, pursued them slowly. Then the mighty Bhimasena, +like unto the Lord of the Celestials, saw a serpent of colossal +proportions, living in one of the mountain fastnesses and covering the +(entire) cave with its body and causing one’s hair to stand on end (from +fright). It had its huge body stretched like a hillock, and it possessed +gigantic strength, and its body was speckled with spots and it had a +turmeric-like (yellow) colour and a deep copper-coloured mouth of the +form of a cave supplied with four teeth; and with glaring eyes, it was +constantly licking the corners of its mouth. And it was the terror of all +animated beings and it looked like the very image of the Destroyer Yama; +and with the hissing noise of its breath it lay as if rebuking (an +in-comer). And seeing Bhima draw so near to him, the serpent, all on a +sudden, became greatly enraged, and that goat-devouring snake violently +seized Bhimasena in his grip. Then by virtue of the boon that had been +received by the serpent, Bhimasena with his body in the serpent’s grip, +instantly lost all consciousness. Unrivalled by that of others, the might +of Bhimasena’s arms equalled the might of ten thousand elephants +combined. But Bhima, of great prowess, being thus vanquished by the +snake, trembled slowly, and was unable to exert himself. And that one of +mighty arms and of leonine shoulders, though possessed of strength often +thousand elephants, yet seized by the snake, and overpowered by virtue of +the boon, lost all strength. He struggled furiously to extricate himself, +but did not succeed in any wise baffling this (snake).” + + + +SECTION CLXXVIII + +Vaisampayana continued, “And the powerful Bhimasena, having thus come +under the power of the snake, thought of its mighty and wonderful +prowess; and said unto it, ‘Be thou pleased to tell me, O snake, who thou +art. And, O foremost of reptiles, what wilt thou do with me? I am +Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, and next by birth to Yudhishthira the just. +And endued as I am with the strength of ten thousand elephants, how hast +thou been able to overpower me? In fight have been encountered and slain +by me innumerable lions, and tigers, and buffaloes, and elephants. And, O +best of serpents, mighty Rakshasas and Pisachas, and Nagas, are unable to +stand the force of my arms. Art thou possessed of any magic, or hast thou +received any boon, that although exerting myself, I have been overcome by +thee? Now I have been convinced that the strength of men is false, for, O +serpent, by thee hath such mighty strength of men been baffled.’ + +Vaisampayana continued, “When the heroic Bhima of noble deed had said +this, the snake caught him, and coiled him all round with his body, +having thus subdued that mighty-aimed one, and freed his plump arms +alone, the serpent spake these words, ‘By good fortune it is that, myself +being hungry, after long time the gods have to-day destined thee for my +food; for life is dear unto every embodied being, I should relate unto +thee the way in which I have come by this snake form. Hear, O best of the +pious, I have fallen into this plight on account of the wrath of the +Maharhis. Now desirous of getting rid of the curse, I will narrate unto +thee all about it. Thou hast, no doubt, heard of the royal sage, Nahusha. +He was the son of Ayu, and the perpetuator of the line of thy ancestors. +Even I am that one. For having affronted the Brahmanas I, by (virtue of) +Agastya’s malediction, have come by this condition. Thou art my agnate, +and lovely to behold,--so thou shouldst not be slain by me,--yet I shall +to-day devour thee! Do thou behold the dispensation of Destiny! And be it +a buffalo, or an elephant, none coming within my reach at the sixth +division of the day, can, O best of men, escape. And, O best of the +Kurus, thou hast not been taken by an animal of the lower order, having +strength alone,--but this (hath been so) by reason only of the boon I +have received. As I was falling rapidly from Sakra’s throne placed on the +front of his palace, I spake unto that worshipful sage (Agastya), ‘Do +thou free me from this curse.’ Thereat filled with compassion, that +energetic one said unto me, ‘O king, thou shall be freed after the lapse +of some time.’ Then I fell to the earth (as a snake); but my recollection +(of former life) did not renounce me. And although it be so ancient, I +still recollect all that was said. And the sage said unto me, That person +who conversant with the relation subsisting between the soul and the +Supreme Being, shall be able to answer the questions put by thee, shall +deliver thee. And, O king, taken by thee, strong beings superior to thee, +shall immediately lose their strength, I heard these words of those +compassionate ones, who felt attached unto me. And then the Brahmanas +vanished. Thus, O highly effulgent one, having become a serpent, I, doing +exceedingly sinful acts, live in unclean hell, in expectation of the +(appointed) time.’ The mighty-armed Bhimasena addressed the serpent, +saying, ‘I am not angry, O mighty snake,--nor do I blame myself. Since in +regard to happiness and misery, men sometimes possess the power of +bringing and dismissing them, and sometimes do not. Therefore one should +not fret one’s mind. Who can baffle destiny by self-exertion? I deem +destiny to be supreme, and self-exertion to be of no avail. Smitten with +the stroke of destiny, the prowess of my arms lost, behold me to-day +fallen unto this condition without palpable cause. But to-day I do not so +much grieve for my own self being slain, as I do for my brothers deprived +of their kingdom, and exiled into the forest. This Himalaya is +inaccessible, and abounds with Yakshas and the Rakshasas, And searching +about for me, they will be distracted. And hearing that I have been +killed, (my brothers) will forego all exertion, for, firm in promise, +they have hitherto been controlled by my harsh speech, I being desirous +of gaining the kingdom. Or the intelligent Arjuna (alone), being versed +in every lore, and incapable of being overcome by gods and Rakshasas and +Gandharvas, will not be afflicted with grief. That mighty-armed and +exceedingly powerful one is able single-handed to speedily pull down from +his place even the celestials. What shall I say of the deceitfully +gambling son of Dhritarashtra, detested of all men, and filled with +haughtiness and ignorance! And I also grieve for my poor mother, +affectionate to her sons, who is ever solicitous for our greatness in a +large measure than is attained by our enemies. O serpent, the desire that +forlorn one had in me will all be fruitless in consequence of my +destruction. And gifted with manliness, the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva, +following their elder brother (me), and always protected by the strength +of my arms, will, owing to my destruction, be depressed and deprived of +their prowess, and stricken with grief. This is what I think.’ In this +way Vrikodara lamented profusely. And being bound by the body of the +snake, he could not exert himself. + +“On the other hand, Kunti’s son, Yudhishthira, (seeing) and reflecting on +dreadful ill omens, became alarmed. Terrified by the blaze of the points +of the horizon, jackals stationing themselves on the right of that +hermitage, set up frightful and inauspicious yells. And ugly Vartikas as +of dreadful sight, having one wing, one eye, and one leg, were seen to +vomit blood, facing the sun. And the wind began to blow dryly, and +violently, attracting grits. And to the right all the beasts and birds +began to cry. And in the rear the black crows cried, ‘Go!’ ‘Go!’ And +momentarily his (Yudhishthira’s) right arm began to twitch, and his chest +and left leg shook (of themselves). And indicating evil his left eye +contracted spasmodically. Thereupon, O Bharata, the intelligent +Yudhishthira the just, inferring some great calamity (to be imminent), +asked Draupadi, saying, ‘Where is Bhima?’ Thereat Panchali said that +Vrikodara had long gone out. Hearing this, that mighty-armed king set out +with Dhaumya, after having said unto Dhananjaya, “Thou shouldst protect +Draupadi.’ And he also directed Nakula and Sahadeva to protect the +Brahmanas. And issuing from the hermitage that lord, Kunti’s son, +following the footprints of Bhimasena, began to search for him in that +mighty forest. And on coming to the east, he found mighty leaders of +elephant-herds (slain) and saw the earth marked with Bhima’s +(foot-prints). Then seeing thousands of deer and hundreds of lions lying +in the forest, the king ascertained his course. And on the way were +scattered trees pulled down by the wind caused by the thighs of that hero +endued with the speed of the wind as he rushed after the deer. And +proceeding, guided by those marks, to a spot filled with dry winds and +abounding in leafless vegetables, brackish and devoid of water, covered +with thorny plants and scattered over with gravel, stumps and shrubs and +difficult of access and uneven and dangerous, he saw in a mountain cavern +his younger brother motionless, caught in the folds of that foremost of +snakes.” + + + +SECTION CLXXIX + +Vaisampayana continued, “Yudhishthira, finding his beloved brother coiled +by the body of the serpent, said these words: ‘O son of Kunti, how hast +thou come by this misfortune! And who is this best of serpents having a +body like unto a mountain mass?’ Bhimasena said, ‘O worshipful one, this +mighty being hath caught me for food. He is the royal sage Nahusha living +in the form of a serpent.’ Yudhishthira said, ‘O longlived one, do thou +free my brother of immeasurable prowess; we will give thee some other +food which will appease thy hunger.’ The serpent said, ‘I have got for +diet even this son of a king, come to my mouth of himself. Do thou go +away. Thou shouldst not stay here. (If thou remainest here) thou too +shall be my fare to-morrow. O mighty-armed one, this is ordained in +respect of me, that he that cometh unto my place, becometh my food and +thou too art in my quarter. After a long time have I got thy younger +brother as my food; I will not let him off; neither do I like to have any +other food.’ Thereat Yudhishthira said, ‘O serpent, whether thou art a +god, or a demon, or an Uraga, do thou tell me truly, it is Yudhishthira +that asketh thee, wherefore, O snake, hast thou taken Bhimasena? By +obtaining which, or by knowing what wilt thou receive satisfaction, O +snake, and what food shall I give thee? And how mayst thou free him.’ The +serpent said, ‘O sinless one, I was thy ancestor, the son of Ayu and +fifth in descent from the Moon. And I was a king celebrated under the +name of Nahusha. And by sacrifices and asceticism and study of the Vedas +and self-restraint and prowess I had acquired a permanent dominion over +the three worlds. And when I had obtained such dominion, haughtiness +possessed me. And thousands of Brahmanas were engaged in carrying my +chair. And intoxicated by supremacy, I insulted those Brahmanas. And, O +lord of the earth, by Agastya have I been reduced to this pass! Yet, O +Pandava, to this day the memory (of my former birth) hath not forsaken +me! And, O king, even by the favour of that high-souled Agastya, during +the sixth division of the day have I got for meal thy younger brother. +Neither will I set him free, nor do I wish for any other food. But if +to-day thou answerest the questions put by me, then, I shall deliver +Vrikodara!” At this Yudhishthira said, ‘O serpent, ask whatever thou +listest! I shall, if I can, answer thy questions with the view of +gratifying thee, O snake! Thou knowest fully what should be known by +Brahmanas. Therefore, O king of snakes, hearing (thee) I shall answer thy +queries!’ + +The serpent said, ‘O Yudhishthira, say--Who is a Brahmana and what should +be known? By thy speech I infer thee to be highly intelligent.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O foremost of serpents, he, it is asserted by the +wise, in whom are seen truth, charity, forgiveness, good conduct, +benevolence, observance of the rites of his order and mercy is a +Brahmana. And, O serpent, that which should be known is even the supreme +Brahma, in which is neither happiness nor misery--and attaining which +beings are not affected with misery; what is thy opinion?’ + +“The serpent said, ‘O Yudhishthira, truth, charity, forgiveness, +benevolence, benignity, kindness and the Veda[42] which worketh the +benefit of the four orders, which is the authority in matters of religion +and which is true, are seen even in the Sudra. As regards the object to +be known and which thou allegest is without both happiness and misery, I +do not see any such that is devoid of these.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, Those characteristics that are present in a Sudra, do +not exist in a Brahmana; nor do those that are in a Brahmana exist in a +Sudra. And a Sudra is not a Sudra by birth alone--nor a Brahmana is +Brahmana by birth alone. He, it is said by the wise, in whom are seen +those virtues is a Brahmana. And people term him a Sudra in whom those +qualities do not exist, even though he be a Brahmana by birth. And again, +as for thy assertion that the object to be known (as asserted by me) doth +not exist, because nothing exists that is devoid of both (happiness and +misery), such indeed is the opinion, O serpent, that nothing exists that +is without (them) both. But as in cold, heat doth not exist, nor in heat, +cold, so there cannot exist an object in which both (happiness and +misery) cannot exist?” + +“The serpent said, ‘O king, if thou recognise him as a Brahmana by +characteristics, then, O long-lived one, the distinction of caste +becometh futile as long as conduct doth not come into play.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘In human society, O mighty and highly intelligent +serpent, it is difficult to ascertain one’s caste, because of promiscuous +intercourse among the four orders. This is my opinion. Men belonging to +all orders (promiscuously) beget offspring upon women of all the orders. +And of men, speech, sexual intercourse, birth and death are common. And +to this the Rishis have borne testimony by using as the beginning of a +sacrifice such expressions as--of what caste so ever we may be, we +celebrate the sacrifice. Therefore, those that are wise have asserted +that character is the chief essential requisite. The natal ceremony of a +person is performed before division of the umbilical cord. His mother +then acts as its Savitri and his father officiates as priest. He is +considered as a Sudra as long as he is not initiated in the Vedas. Doubts +having arisen on this point, O prince; of serpents, Swayambhuba Manu has +declared, that the mixed castes are to be regarded as better than the +(other) classes, if having gone through the ceremonies of purification, +the latter do not conform to the rules of good conduct, O excellent +snake! Whosoever now conforms to the rules of pure and virtuous conduct, +him have I, ere now, designated as a Brahmana.’ The serpent replied, ‘O +Yudhishthira, thou art acquainted with all that is fit to be known and +having listened to thy words, how can I (now) eat up thy brother +Vrikodara!” + + + +SECTION CLXXX + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘In this world, you are so learned in the Vedas and +Vedangas; tell me (then), what one should do to attain salvation?’ + +“The serpent replied, ‘O scion of the Bharata’s race, my belief is that +the man who bestows alms on proper objects, speaks kind words and tells +the truth and abstains from doing injury to any creature goes to heaven.’ + +“Yudhishthira enquired, ‘Which, O snake, is the higher of the two, truth +or alms-giving? Tell me also the greater or less importance of kind +behaviour and of doing injury to no creature.’ + +“The snake replied, ‘The relative merits of these virtues, truth and +alms-giving, kind speech and abstention from injury to any creature, are +known (measured) by their objective gravity (utility). Truth is +(sometimes) more praiseworthy than some acts of charity; some of the +latter again are more commendable than true speech. Similarly, O mighty +king, and lord of the earth, abstention from doing injury to any creature +is seen to be important than good speech and vice-versa. Even so it is, O +king, depending on effects. And now, if thou hast anything else to ask, +say it all, I shall enlighten thee!’ Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O +snake, how the incorporal being’s translation to heaven, its perception +by the senses and its enjoyment of the immutable fruits of its actions +(here below), can be comprehended.’ The snake replied, ‘By his own acts, +man is seen to attain to one of the three conditions of human existence, +of heavenly life, or of birth in the lower animal kingdom. Among these, +the man who is not slothful, who injures no one and who is endowed with +charity and other virtues, goes to heaven, after leaving this world of +men. By doing the very contrary, O king, people are again born as men or +as lower animals. O my son, it is particularly said in this connection, +that the man who is swayed by anger and lust and who is given to avarice +and malice falls away from his human state and is born again as a lower +animal, and the lower animals too are ordained to be transformed into the +human state; and the cow, the horse and other animals are observed to +attain to even the divine state.’[43] O my son, the sentient being, +reaping the fruits of his actions, thus transmigrates through these +conditions; but the regenerate and wise man reposes his soul in the +everlasting Supreme Spirit. The embodied spirit, enchained by destiny and +reaping the fruits of its own actions, thus undergoes birth after birth +but he that has lost touch of his actions, is conscious of the immutable +destiny of all born beings.[44] + +“Yudhishthira asked, ‘O snake, tell me truly and without confusion how +that dissociated spirit becomes cognisant of sound, touch, form, flavour, +and taste. O great-minded one, dost thou not perceive them, +simultaneously by the senses? Do thou, O best of snakes, answer all these +queries!’ The snake replied, ‘O long-lived one, the thing called Atman +(spirit), betaking itself to corporeal tenement and manifesting itself +through the organs of sense, becomes duly cognisant of perceptible +objects. O prince of Bharata’s race, know that the senses, the mind, and +the intellect, assisting the soul in its perception of objects, are +called Karanas. O my son, the eternal spirit, going out of its sphere, +and aided by the mind, acting through the senses, the receptacles of all +perceptions, successively perceives these things (sound, form, flavour, +&c). O most valiant of men, the mind of living creatures is the cause of +all perception, and, therefore, it cannot be cognisant of more than one +thing at a time. That spirit, O foremost of men, betaking itself to the +space between the eyebrows, sends the high and low intellect to different +objects. What the Yogins perceive after the action of the intelligent +principle by that is manifested the action of the soul.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me the distinguishing characteristics of the +mind and the intellect. The knowledge of it is ordained as the chief duty +of persons meditating on the Supreme Spirit.’ + +“The snake replied, ‘Through illusion, the soul becomes subservient to +the intellect. The intellect, though known to be subservient to the soul, +becomes (then) the director of the latter. The intellect is brought into +play by acts of perception; the mind is self-existent. The Intellect does +not cause the sensation (as of pain, pleasure, &c), but the mind does. +This, my son, is the difference between the mind and the intellect. You +too are learned in this matter, what is your opinion?’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O most intelligent one, you have fine intelligence +and you know all that is fit to be known. Why do you ask me that +question? You knew all and you performed such wonderful deeds and you +lived in heaven. How could then illusion overpower you? Great is my doubt +on this point.’ The snake replied, ‘Prosperity intoxicates even the wise +and valiant men. Those who live in luxury, (soon) lose their reason. So, +I too, O Yudhishthira, overpowered by the infatuation of prosperity, have +fallen from my high state and having recovered my self-consciousness, am +enlightening thee thus! O victorious king, thou hast done me a good turn. +By conversing with thy pious self, my painful curse has been expiated. In +days of yore, while I used to sojourn in heaven in a celestial chariot, +revelling in my pride, I did not think of anything else, I used to exact +tribute from Brahmarshis, Devas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Rakshasas, Pannagas +and all other dwellers of the three worlds. O lord of earth, such was the +spell of my eyes, that on whatever creature, I fixed them, I instantly +destroyed his power. Thousands of Brahmarshis used to draw my chariot. +The delinquency, O king, was the cause of my fall from my high +prosperity. Among them, Agastya was one day drawing my conveyance, and my +feet came in contact with his body; Agastya then pronounced (this curse) +on me, in anger, ‘Ruin seize thee, do thou become a snake.’ So, losing my +glory, I fell down from that excellent car and while falling, I beheld +myself turned into a snake, with head downwards. I thus implored that +Brahmana, ‘May this curse be extinguished, O adorable one! You ought to +forgive one who has been so foolish from infatuation.’ Then he kindly +told me this, as I was being hurled down (from heaven), “The virtuous +king Yudhishthira will save thee from this curse, and when, O king, +horrible sin of pride will be extinguished in thee; thou shalt attain +salvation.’ And I was struck with wonder on seeing (this) power of his +austere virtues; and therefore, have I questioned thee about the +attributes of the Supreme Spirit and of Brahmanas. Truth, charity, +self-restraint, penance, abstention from doing injury to any creature, +and constancy in virtue, these, O king, and not his race of family +connections, are the means, by which a man must always secure salvation. +May this brother of thine, the mighty Bhimasena, meet with good luck and +may happiness abide with thee! I must go to Heaven again.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “So saying, that king, Nahusha, quitted his +serpentine form, and assuming his celestial shape he went back to Heaven. +The glorious and pious Yudhishthira, too, returned to his hermitage with +Dhaumya and his brother Bhima. Then the virtuous Yudhishthira narrated +all that, in detail, to the Brahmanas who had assembled (there). On +hearing that, his three brothers and all the Brahmanas and the renowned +Draupadi too were covered with shame. And all those excellent Brahmanas +desiring the welfare of the Pandavas, admonished Bhima for his +foolhardiness, telling him not to attempt such things again, and the +Pandavas too were greatly pleased at seeing the mighty Bhima out of +danger, and continued to live there pleasantly.” + + + +SECTION CLXXXI + +(Markandeya-Samasya Parva) + +Vaisampayana said, “While they were dwelling at that place, there set in +the season of the rains, the season that puts an end to the hot weather +and is delightful to all animated beings. Then the black clouds, rumbling +loudly, and covering the heavens and the cardinal points, ceaselessly +rained during day and night. These clouds, counted by hundreds and by +thousands, looked like domes in the rainy season. From the earth +disappeared the effulgence of the sun; its place was taken by the +stainless lustre of the lightning; the earth became delightful to all, +being overgrown with grass, with gnats and reptiles in their joy; it was +bathed with rain and possessed with calm. When the waters had covered +all, it could not be known whether the ground was at all even or +uneven;--whether there were rivers or trees or hills. At the end of the +hot season, the rivers added beauty to the woods being themselves full of +agitated waters, flowing with great force and resembling serpents in the +hissing sound they made. The boars, the stags and the birds, while the +rain was falling upon them began to utter sounds of various kinds which +could be heard within the forest tracts. The chatakas, the peacocks and +the host of male Kohilas and the excited frogs, all ran about in joy. +Thus while the Pandavas were roaming about in the deserts and sandy +tracts, the happy season of rain, so various in aspect and resounding +with clouds passed away. Then set in the season of autumn, thronged with +ganders and cranes and full of joy; then the forest tracts were overrun +with grass; the river turned limpid; the firmament and stars shone +brightly., And the autumn, thronged with beasts and birds, was joyous and +pleasant for the magnanimous sons of Pandu. Then were seen nights, that +were free from dust and cool with clouds and beautified by myriads of +planets and stars and the moon. And they beheld rivers and ponds, adorned +with lilies and white lotuses, full of cool and pleasant water. And while +roving by the river Saraswati whose banks resembled the firmament itself +and were overgrown with canes, and as such abounded in sacred baths, +their joy was great. And those heroes who wielded powerful bows, were +specially glad to see the pleasant river Saraswati, with its limpid +waters full to the brim. And, O Janamejaya, the holiest night, that of +the full moon in the month of Kartika in the season of autumn, was spent +by them while dwelling there! And the sons of Pandu, the best of the +descendants of Bharata, spent that auspicious juncture with righteous and +magnanimous saints devoted to penance. And as soon as the dark fortnight +set in immediately after, the sons of Pandu entered the forest named the +Kamyaka, accompanied by Dhananjaya and their charioteers and cooks.” + + + +SECTION CLXXXII + +Vaisampayana said, “O son of Kuru, they, Yudhishthira and others, having +reached the forest of Kamyaka, were, hospitably received by hosts of +saints and they lived together with Krishna. And while the sons of Pandu +were dwelling in security in that place, many Brahmanas came to wait upon +them. And a certain Brahmana said, ‘He the beloved friend of Arjuna, of +powerful arms and possessed of self control, descendant of Sura, of a +lofty intellect, will come, for, O ye foremost of the descendants of +Kuru, Hari knows that ye have arrived here. For, Hari has always a +longing for your sight and always seeks your welfare. And Markandeya, who +lived very many years devoted to great austerities, given to study and +penance, will erelong come and meet you.’ And the very moment that he was +uttering these words, there was beheld Krishna, coming thitherward upon a +car unto which were yoked the horses Saivya and Sugriva,--he the best of +those that ride on cars, accompanied by Satyabhama, is like Indra by +Sachi, the daughter of Pulaman. And the son of Devaki came, desirous to +see those most righteous of the descendants of Kuru. And the sagacious +Krishna, having alighted from the car, prostrated himself, with pleasure +in his heart, before the virtuous king, in the prescribed way, and also +before Bhima, that foremost of powerful men. And he paid his respects to +Dhaumya, while the twin brothers prostrated themselves to him. And he +embraced Arjuna of the curly hair; and spoke words of solace to the +daughter of Drupada. And the descendant of the chief of the Dasaraha +tribe, that chastiser of foes, when he saw the beloved Arjuna come near +him, having seen him after a length of time, clasped him again and again. +And so too Satyabhama also, the beloved consort of Krishna, embraced the +daughter of Drupada, the beloved wife of the sons of Pandu. Then these +sons of Pandu, accompanied by their wife and priests, paid their respects +to Krishna, whose eyes resembled the white lotus and surrounded him on +all sides. And Krishna, when united with Arjuna, the son of Pritha, the +winner of riches and the terror of the demons assumed a beauty comparable +to that of Siva, the magnanimous lord of all created beings, when he, the +mighty lord, is united with Kartikeya (his son). And Arjuna, who bore a +circlet of crowns on his head, gave an account of what had happened to +him in the forest to Krishna, the elder brother of Gada. And Arjuna +asked, saying, ‘How is Subhadra, and her son Abhimanyu?’ And Krishna, the +slayer of Madhu, having paid his respects in the prescribed form to the +son of Pritha, and to the priest, and seating himself with them there, +spoke to king Yudhishthira, in words of praise. And he said, ‘O king, +Virtue is preferable to the winning of kingdoms; it is, in fact, practice +of austerities! By you who have obeyed with truth and candour what your +duty prescribed, have been won both this world and that to come! First +you have studied, while performing religious duties; having acquired in a +suitable way the whole science of arms, having won wealth by pursuing the +methods prescribed for the military caste, you have celebrated all the +time-honoured sacrificial rites. You take no delight in sensual +pleasures; you do not act, O lord of men, from motives of enjoyment, nor +do you swerve from virtue from greed of riches; it is for this, you have +been named the Virtuous King, O son of Pritha! Having won kingdoms and +riches and means of enjoyment, your best delight has been charity and +truth and practice of austerities, O King, and faith and meditation and +forbearance and patience! When the population of Kuru-jangala beheld +Krishna outraged in the assembly hall, who but yourself could brook that +conduct, O Pandu’s son, which was so repugnant both to virtue and usage? +No doubt, you will, before long, rule over men in a praiseworthy way, all +your desires being fulfilled. Here are we prepared to chastise the Kurus, +as soon as the stipulation made by you is fully performed! And Krishna, +the foremost of the Dasarha tribe, then said to Dhaumya and Bhima and +Yudhishthira, and the twins and Krishna, ‘How fortunate that by your +blessing Arjuna the bearer of the coronet, has arrived after having +acquired the science of arms!” And Krishna, the leader of the Dasarha +tribe, accompanied by friends, likewise spoke to Krishna, the daughter of +Yajnasena, saying, ‘How fortunate that you are united, safe and secure, +with Arjuna, the winner of riches!’ And Krishna also said, ‘O Krishna, O +daughter of Yajnasena, those sons of yours, are devoted to the study of +the science of arms, are well-behaved and conduct themselves on the +pattern, O Krishna, of their righteous friends. Your father and your +uterine brothers proffer them a kingdom and territories; but the boys +find no joy in the house of Drupada, or in that of their maternal uncles. +Safely proceeding to the land of the Anartas, they take the greatest +delight in the study of the science of arms. Your sons enter the town of +the Vrishnis and take an immediate liking to the people there. And as you +would direct them to conduct themselves, or as the respected Kunti would +do, so does Subhadra direct them in a watchful way. Perhaps, she is still +more careful of them. And, O Krishna, as Rukmini’s son is the preceptor +of Aniruddha, of Abhimanyu, of Sunitha, and of Bhanu; so he is the +preceptor and the refuge of your sons also! And a good preceptor, would +unceasingly give them lessons in the wielding of maces and swords and +bucklers, in missiles and in the arts of driving cars and of riding +horses, being valiant. And he, the son of Rukmini, having bestowed a very +good training upon them, and having taught them the art of using various +weapons in a proper way, takes satisfaction at the valorous deeds of your +sons, and of Abhimanyu. O daughter of Drupada! And when your son goes +out, in pursuit of (out-door) sports, each one of them is followed +thither by cars and horses and vehicles and elephants.’ And Krishna said +to the virtuous king, Yudhishthira, The fighting men of the Dasarha +tribe, and the Kukuras, and the Andhakas--let these, O king, place +themselves at thy command--let them perform what thou desirest them. O +lord of men, let the army of the tribe of Madhus, (resistless) like the +wind, with their bows and led by Balarama whose weapon is the plough--let +that army, equipped (for war), consisting of horsemen and foot soldiers +and horses and cars and elephants, prepare to do your bidding. O son of +Pandu! Drive Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, the vilest of sinful +men, together with his followers and his hosts of friends to the path +betaken by the lord of Saubha, the son of the Earth! You, O ruler of men, +are welcome to stick to that stipulation which was made in the +assembly-hall--but let the city of Hastina be made ready for you, when +the hostile force has been slain by the soldiers of the Dasarha tribe! +Having roamed at your pleasure in all those places where you may desire +to go, having got rid of your grief and freed from all your sins--you +will reach the city of Hastina--the well-known city situated in the midst +of a fine territory!--Then the magnanimous king having been acquainted +with the view, thus clearly set forth by Krishna that best of men, and, +having applauded the same, and having deliberated, thus spoke with joined +palms unto Kesava, ‘O Kesava, no doubt, thou art the refuge of the sons +of Pandu; for the sons of Pandu have their protector in thee! When the +time will come, there is no doubt that thou wilt do all the work just +mentioned by thee; and even more than the same! As promised by us, we +have spent all the twelve years in lonely forests. O Kesava, having in +the prescribed way completed the period for living unrecognised, the sons +of Pandu will take refuge in thee. This should be the intention of those +that associate with thee, O Krishna! The sons of Pandu swerve not from +the path of truth, for the sons of Pritha with their charity and their +piety with their people and their wives and with their relations have +their protector in thee!” + +Vaisampayana said, ‘O descendant of Bharata, while Krishna, the +descendant of the Vrishnis and the virtuous king, were thus talking, +there appeared then the saint Markandeya, grown grey in the practise of +penances. And he had seen many thousand years of life, was of a pious +soul, and devoted to great austerities. Signs of old age he had none; and +deathless he was, and endued with beauty and generous and many good +qualities. And he looked like one only twenty-five years old. And when +the aged saint, who had seen many thousand years of life, came, all the +Brahamanas paid their respects to him and so did Krishna together with +Pandu’s son. And when that wisest saint, thus honoured, took his seat in +a friendly way, Krishna addressed him, in accordance with the views of +the Brahmanas and of Pandu’s sons, thus,-- + +“The sons of Pandu, and the Brahmanas assembled here, and the daughter of +Drupada, and Satyabhama, likewise myself, are all anxious to hear your +most excellent words, O Markandeya! Propound to us the holy stories of +events of bygone times, and the eternal rules of righteous conduct by +which are guided kings and women and saints!” + +Vaisampayana continued, “When they had all taken their seats, Narada +also, the divine saint, of purified soul, came on a visit to Pandu’s +sons. Him also, then, of great soul, all those foremost men of superior +intellect, honoured in the prescribed form, by offering water to wash his +feet, and the well-known oblation called the Arghya. Then the godlike +saint, Narada, learning that they were about to hear the speech of +Markandeya, expressed his assent to the arrangement. And he, the +deathless, knowing what would be opportune, said smilingly, ‘O saint of +the Brahmana caste, speak what you were about to say unto the sons of +Pandu!’ Thus addressed, Markandeya, devoted to great austerities, +replied, ‘Wait a moment. A great deal will be narrated.’ Thus addressed, +the sons of Pandu, together with those twice-born ones, waited a moment, +looking at that great saint, (bright) as the mid-day sun.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Pandu’s son, the king of the Kuru tribe, having +observed that the great saint as willing to speak, questioned him with a +view to suggesting topics to speak upon, saying, ‘You who are ancient (in +years), know the deeds of gods and demons, and illustrious saints, and of +all the royal ones. We consider you as worthy of being worshipped and +honoured; and we have long yearned after your company. And here is this +son of Devaki, Krishna, who has come to us on a visit. Verily, when I +look at myself, fallen away from happiness, and when I contemplate the +sons of Dhritarashtra, of evil life, flourishing in every way, the idea +arises in me that it is man who does all acts, good or bad, and that it +is he that enjoys the fruit the acts bring forth. How then is god the +agent? And, O best of those that are proficient in the knowledge of God, +how is it that men’s actions follow them? Is it in this world? Or is it +in some subsequent existence? And, O best of righteous men among the +twice-born, in what way is an embodied animated being joined by his good +and evil deeds that seek him out? Is it after death? Or is it in this +world? And, O descendant of Bhrigu, is what we experience in this world +the result of the acts of this very life? Or will the acts of this life +bear fruit in the world to come? And where do the actions of an animated +being who is dead find their resting place?” + +“Markandeya said, ‘O best of those that can speak, this question befits +thee, and is just what it should be? Thou knowest all that there is to +know. But thou art asking this question, simply for the sake of form. +Here I shall answer thee: listen to me with an attentive mind, as to how +in this world and in that to come, a man experienceth happiness and +misery. The lord of born beings, himself sprung first of all, created, +for all embodied beings, bodies which were stainless, pure, and obedient +to virtuous impulses, O wisest of the descendants of Kuru! The ancient +men had all their desires fulfilled, were given to praiseworthy courses +of life, were speakers of truth, godly and pure. All were equal to the +gods, could ascend to the sky at their pleasure, and could come back +again; and all went about at their pleasure. And they had their death and +their life also under their own control; and they had few sufferings; had +no fear; and had their wishes fulfilled; and they were free from trouble; +could visit the gods and the magnanimous saints; knew by heart all +righteous rules; were self-controlled and free from envy. And they lived +many thousand years; and had many thousand sons. Then in course of time +they came to be restricted to walking solely on the surface of the earth, +overpowered by lust and wrath, dependent for subsistence upon falsehood +and trick, overwhelmed by greed and senselessness. Then those wicked men, +when disembodied, on account of their unrighteous and unblessed deeds, +went to hell in a crooked way. Again and again, they were grilled, and, +again and again they began to drag their miserable existence in this +wonderful world. And their desires were unfulfilled, the objects +unaccomplished, and their knowledge became unavailing. And their senses +were paralysed and they became apprehensive of everything and the cause +of other people’s sufferings. And they were generally marked by wicked +deeds, and born in low families; they became wicked and afflicted with +diseases, and the terror of others. And they became short-lived and +sinful and they reaped the fruit of their terrible deeds. And coveting +everything, they became godless and indifferent in mind, O son of Kunti! +The destiny of every creature after death is determined by his acts in +this world. Thou hast asked me where this treasure of acts of the sage +and the ignorant remain, and where they enjoy the fruit of their good and +evil deeds! Do thou listen to the regulations on this subject! Man with +his subtle original body created by God lays up a great store of virtue +and vice. After death he quits his frail (outer) body and is immediately +born again in another order of beings. He never remains non-existent for +a single moment. In his new life his actions follow him invariably as +shadow and, fructifying, makes his destiny happy or miserable. The wise +man, by his spiritual insight, knows all creatures to be bound to an +immutable destiny by the destroyer and incapable of resisting the +fruition of his actions in good or evil fortune. This, O Yudhishthira, is +the doom of all creatures steeped in spiritual ignorance. Do thou now +hear of the perfect way attained by men of high spiritual perception! +Such men are of high ascetic virtue and are versed in all profane and +holy writ, diligent in performing their religious obligations and devoted +to truth. And they pay due homage to their preceptors and superiors and +practise Yoga, are forgiving, continent and energetic and pious and are +generally endowed with every virtue. By the conquest of the passions, +they are subdued in mind; by practising yoga they become free from +disease, fear and sorrow; they are not troubled (in mind). In course of +birth, mature or immature, or while ensconced in the womb, in every +condition, they with spiritual eyes recognize the relation of their soul +to the supreme Spirit. Those great-minded Rishis of positive and +intuitive knowledge passing through this arena of actions, return again +to the abode of the celestials. Men, O king, attain what they have in +consequence of the grace of the gods of Destiny or of their own actions. +Do thou not think otherwise. O Yudhishthira, I regard that as the highest +good which is regarded so in this world. Some attain happiness in this +world, but not in the next; others do so in the next, but not in this. +Some, again, attain happiness in this as well as in the next world; and +others neither here nor in the next world. Those that have immense +wealth, shine every day with well-decorated persons. O slayer of mighty +foes, being addicted to carnal pleasures, they enjoy happiness only in +this world, but not in the next. But those who are engaged in spiritual +meditations and the study of the Vedas, who are diligent in asceticism, +and who impair the vigour of their bodies by performing their duties, who +have subdued their passions, and who refrain from killing any animated +being, those men, O slayer of thy enemies, attain happiness in the next +world, but not in this! Those who first live a pious life, and virtuously +acquire wealth in due time and then marry and perform sacrifices, attain +bliss both in this and the next world. Those foolish men again who do not +acquire knowledge, nor are engaged in asceticism or charity or increasing +their species; or in encompassing the pleasures and enjoyments of this +world, attain bliss neither in this nor in the next world. But all of you +are proficient in knowledge and possessed of great power and strength and +celestial vigour. For the extermination (of the wicked) and for serving +the purposes of the gods, ye have come from the other world and have +taken your birth in this! Ye, who are so valiant, and engaged in +asceticism, self-restraining exercises, and religious ordinances, and +fond of exertion, after having performed great deeds and gratified the +gods and Rishis and the Pitris, ye will at last in due course attain by +your own acts the supreme region--the abode of all virtuous men! O +ornament of Kuru’s race, may no doubts cross thy mind on account of these +thy sufferings, for this affliction is for thy good!” + + + +SECTION CLXXXIII + +Vaisampayana continued,--“The sons of Pandu said to the high-souled +Markandeya, ‘We long to hear of the greatness of the Brahmanas Do thou +tell us of it!’ Thus asked, the revered Markandeya, of austere virtue and +high spiritual energy, and proficient in all departments of knowledge, +replied, ‘A strong-limbed, handsome young prince of the race of the +Haihayas, a conqueror of hostile cities, (once) went out hunting. And +(while) roaming in the wilderness of big trees and thickets of grass, he +saw, at no great distance from him, a Muni with the skin of a black +antelope for his upper garment, and killed him for a deer. Pained at what +he had done, and his senses paralysed with grief, he repaired to the +presence of the more distinguished of the Haihaya chiefs. The louts-eyed +prince related to them the particulars. On hearing the account, O my son, +and beholding the body of the Muni who had subsisted on fruits and roots, +they were sorely afflicted in mind. And they all set out enquiring here +and there as they proceeded, as to whose son the Muni might be. And they +soon after reached the hermitage of Arishtanemi, son of Kasyapa. And +saluting that great Muni, so constant in austerity, they all remained +standing, while the Muni, on his part, busied himself about their +reception. And they said unto the illustrious Muni, ‘By a freak of +destiny, we have ceased to merit thy welcome: indeed, we have killed a +Brahmana!’ And the regenerate Rishi said to them, ‘How hath a Brahmana +come to be killed by you, and say where may be he? Do ye all witness the +power of my ascetic practices!’ And they, having related everything to +him as it had happened went back, but found not the body of the dead +Rishi on the spot (where they had left it). And having searched for him, +they returned, ashamed and bereft of all perception, as in a dream. And +then, O thou conqueror of hostile cities, the Muni Tarkshya, addressed +them, saying, ‘Ye princes, can this be the Brahmana of your killing? This +Brahmana, endowed with occult gifts from spiritual exercises, is, indeed, +my son!’ Seeing that Rishi, O lord of the earth, they were struck with +bewilderment. And they said, ‘What a marvel! How hath the dead come to +life again? Is it the power of his austere virtue by which he hath +revived again? We long to hear this, O Brahmana, if, indeed, it can be +divulged?’ To them, he replied, ‘Death, O lords of men, hath no power +over us! I shall tell ye the reason briefly and intelligibly. We perform +our own sacred duties; therefore, have we no fear of death; we speak well +of Brahmanas but never think any ill of them; therefore hath death no +terror for us. Entertaining our guests with food and drink, and our +dependants with plenty of food, we ourselves (then) partake of what is +left; therefore we are not afraid of death. We are peaceful and austere +and charitable and forbearing and fond of visiting sacred shrines, and we +live in sacred places; therefore we have no fear of death. And we live in +places inhabited by men who have great spiritual power; therefore hath +death no terror for us. I have briefly told ye all! Return ye now all +together, cured of all worldly vanity. Ye have no fear of sin!’ Saying +amen, O foremost scion of Bharata’s race, and saluting the great Muni, +all those princes joyously returned to their country.” + + + +SECTION CLXXXIV + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Do ye again hear from me the glory of the +Brahmanas! It is said that a royal sage of the name of Vainya was once +engaged in performing the horse-sacrifice and that Atri desired to go to +him for alms. But Atri subsequently gave up his desire of wealth, from +religious scruples. After much thought he, of great power, became +desirous of living in the woods, and, calling his wife and sons together, +addressed them thus, ‘Let us attain the highly tranquil and complete +fruition of our desires. May it, therefore, be agreeable to you to repair +quickly to the forest for a life of great merit.’ His wife, arguing from +motives of virtue also then said to him, ‘Hie thee to the illustrious +prince Vainya, and beg of him vast riches! Asked by thee, that royal +sage, engaged in sacrifice will give thee wealth. Having gone there, O +regenerate Rishi, and received from him vast wealth, thou canst +distribute it among thy sons and servants and then thou canst go +whithersoever thou pleasest. This, indeed, is the higher virtue as +instanced by men conversant with religion.’ Atri replied, ‘I am informed, +O virtuous one, by the high-souled Gautama, that Vainya is a pious +prince, devoted to the cause of truth; but there are Brahmanas (about his +persons) who are jealous of me; and as Gautama hath told me this, I do +not venture to go there, for (while) there, if I were to advise what is +good and calculated to secure piety and the fulfilment of one’s desires, +they would contradict me with words unproductive of any good. But I +approve of any counsel and will go there; Vainya will give me kine and +hoards of riches.’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘So saying, he, of great ascetic merit, hastened +to Vainya’s sacrifice and reaching the sacrificial altar and making his +obeisance to the king and praising him with well-meaning speeches, he +spoke these words, ‘Blessed art thou, O king! Ruling over the earth, thou +art the foremost of sovereigns! The Munis praise thee, and besides thee +there is none so versed in religious lore’! To him the Rishi Gautama, of +great ascetic merit, then indignantly replied saying, ‘Atri, do not +repeat this nonsense. (It seems) thou art not in thy proper senses. In +this world of ours, Mahendra the lord of all created beings (alone) is +the foremost of all sovereigns!’ Then, O, great prince, Atri said to +Gautama, ‘As Indra, the lord of all creatures, ruleth over our destinies, +so doth this king! Thou art mistaken. It is thou who hast lost thine +senses from want of spiritual perception!’ Gautama replied, ‘I know I am +not mistaken; it is thou who art labouring under a misconception in this +matter. To secure the king’s countenance, thou art flattering him in +(this) assembly of the people. Thou dost not know what the highest +virtue, is nor dost thou feel the need for it. Thou art like a child +steeped in ignorance, for what then hast thou become (so) old in years?’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘While those two men were thus disputing in the +presence of the Munis, who were engaged in Vainya’s sacrifice the latter +enquired, ‘What is the matter with them, that maketh them talk so +vociferously?’ Then the very pious Kasyapa learned in all religious lore, +approaching the disputants asked them what was the matter. And then +Gautama, addressing that assembly of great Munis said, ‘Listen, O great +Brahmanas, to the point in dispute between us. Atri hath said that Vainya +is the ruler of our destinies; great is our doubt on this point.’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘On hearing this, the great-mind Munis went +instantly to Sanatkumara who was well versed in religion to clear their +doubt. And then he of great ascetic merit, having heard the particulars +from them addressed them these words full of religious meaning. And +Sanatkumara said, ‘As fire assisted by the wind burneth down forests, so +a Brahmana’s energy in union with a Kshatriya’s or a Kshatriya’s joined +with a Brahmana’s destroyeth all enemies. The sovereign is the +distinguished giver of laws and the protector of his subjects. He is (a +protector of created beings) like Indra, (a propounder of morals) like +Sukra, (a counsellor) like Vrihaspati and (hence he is also called) the +ruler of men’s destinies. Who does not think it proper to worship the +individual of whom such terms as ‘preserver of created beings,’ ‘royal,’ +‘emperor,’ ‘Kshatriya’ (or saviour of the earth), ‘lord of earth’, ‘ruler +of men’, are applied in praise? The king is (also) styled the prime cause +(of social order, as being the promulgator of laws), ‘the virtuous in +wars,’ (and therefore, preserver after peace), ‘the watchman,’ ‘the +contented,’ ‘the lord,’ ‘the guide to salvation,’ ‘the easily +victorious,’ ‘the Vishnu like,’ ‘of effective wrath,’ ‘the winner of +battles’ and ‘the cherisher of the true religion.’ The Rishis, fearful of +sin, entrusted (the temporal) power to the Kshatriyas. As among the gods +in heaven the Sun dispelleth darkness by his effulgence, so doth the king +completely root out sin from this earth. Therefore is the king’s +greatness reduced from the evidences of the sacred books, and we are +bound to pronounce for that side which hath spoken in favour of the king.’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Then that illustrious prince, highly pleased with +the victorious party, joyfully said to Atri, who had praised him +erewhile. ‘O regenerate Rishi, thou hast made and styled me the greatest +and most excellent of men here, and compared me to the gods; therefore, +shall I give thee vast and various sorts of wealth. My impression is that +thou art omniscient. I give thee, O well-dressed and well-adorned one, a +hundred millions of gold coins and also ten bharas of gold. Then Atri, of +high austere virtues and great spiritual powers, thus welcomed (by the +king), accepted all the gifts without any breach of propriety, and +returned home. And then giving his wealth to his sons and subduing his +self, he cheerfully repaired to the forest with the object of performing +penances.” + + + +SECTION CLXXXV + +“Markandeya continued, ‘O thou conqueror of hostile cities, in this +connection Saraswati too, when interrogated by that intelligent Muni +Tarkshya, had said (this). Do thou listen to her words! Tarkshya had +asked, saying, ‘Excellent lady, what is the best thing for a man to do +here below, and how must he act so that he may not deviate from (the path +of) virtue. Tell me all this, O beautiful lady, so that instructed by +thee, I may not fall away from the path of virtue! When and how must one +offer oblations to the (sacred) fire and when must he worship so that +virtue may not be compromised? Tell me all this, O excellent lady, so +that I may live without any passions, craving, or desire, in this world.’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Thus questioned by that cheerful Muni and seeing +him eager to learn and endued with high intelligence, Saraswati addressed +these pious and beneficial words to the Brahmana, Tarkshya.’ + +“Saraswati said, ‘He who is engaged in the study of the Vedas, and with +sanctity and equanimity perceives the supreme Godhead in his proper +sphere, ascends the celestial regions and attains supreme beatitude with +the Immortals. Many large, beautiful, pellucid and sacred lakes are +there, abounding with fish, flowers, and golden lilies. They are like +shrines and their very sight is calculated to assuage grief. Pious men, +distinctively worshipped by virtuous well-adorned golden-complexioned +Apsaras, dwell in contentment on the shores of those lakes. He who giveth +cows (to Brahmanas) attaineth the highest regions; by giving bullocks he +reacheth the solar regions, by giving clothes he getteth to the lunar +world, and by giving gold he attaineth to the state of the Immortals. He +who giveth a beautiful cow with a fine calf, and which is easily milked +and which doth not run away, is (destined) to live for as many years in +the celestial regions as there are hairs on the body of that animal. He +who giveth a fine, strong, powerful, young bullock, capable of drawing +the plough and bearing burdens, reacheth the regions attained by men who +give ten cows. When a man bestoweth a well-caparisoned kapila cow with a +brazen milk-pail and with money given afterwards, that cow becoming, by +its own distinguished qualities, a giver of everything reacheth the side +of the man who gave her away. He who giveth away cows, reapeth +innumerable fruits of his action, measured by the hairs on the body of +that animal. He also saveth (from perdition) in the next world his sons +and grandsons and ancestors to the seventh generation. He who presenteth +to a Brahmana, sesamum made up in the form of a cow, having horns made of +gold, with money besides, and a brazen milk-pail, subsequently attaineth +easily to the regions of the Vasus. By his own acts man descends into the +darksome lower regions, infested by evil spirits (of his own passions) +like a ship tossed by the storm in the high seas; but the gift of kine to +Brahmanas saves him in the next world. He who giveth his daughter in +marriage, in the Brahma form, who bestoweth gifts of land on Brahmanas +and who duly maketh other presents, attaineth to the regions of +Purandara. O Tarkshya, the virtuous man who is constant in presenting +oblations to the sacred fire for seven years, sanctifieth by his own +action seven generations up and down.’ + +“Tarkshya said, ‘O beautiful lady, explain to me who ask thee, the rules +for the maintenance of the sacred fire as inculcated in the Vedas. I +shall now learn from thee the time-honoured rules for perpetually keeping +up the sacred fire.’” + + + +SECTION CLXXXVI + +Then Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, said to the Brahmana, Markandeya, +‘Do thou now narrate the history of Vaivaswata Manu? + +“Markandeya replied, ‘O king, O foremost of men, there was a powerful and +great Rishi of the name of Manu. He was the son of Vivaswan and was equal +unto Brahma in glory. And he far excelled his father and grandfather in +strength, in power, in fortune, as also in religious austerities. And +standing on one leg and with uplifted hand, that lord of men did severe +penance in the jujube forest called Visala. And there with head downwards +and with steadfast eyes he practised the rigid and severe penance for ten +thousand years. And one day, whilst he was practising austerities there +with wet clothes on and matted hair on head, a fish approaching the banks +of the Chirini, addressed him thus, ‘Worshipful sir, I am a helpless +little fish, I am afraid of the large ones; therefore, do thou, O great +devotee, think it worth thy while to protect me from them; especially as +this fixed custom is well established amongst us that the strong fish +always preys upon the weak ones. Therefore do thou think it fit to save +me from being drowned in this sea of terrors! I shall requite thee for +thy good offices.’ On hearing these words from the fish, Vaivaswata Manu +was overpowered with pity and he took out the fish from the water with +his own hands. And the fish which had a body glistening like the rays of +the moon when taken out of the water was put back in an earthen +water-vessel. And thus reared that fish O king, grew up in size and Manu +tended it carefully like a child. And after a long while, it became so +large in size, that there was no room for it in that vessel. And then +seeing Manu (one day), it again addressed these words to him, ‘Worshipful +sir, do thou appoint some better habitation for me.’ And then the +adorable Manu, the conqueror of hostile cities, took it out of that +vessel and carried it to a large tank and placed it there. And there +again the fish grew for many a long year. And although the tank was two +yojanas in length and one yojana in width, even there, O lotus-eyed son +of Kunti and ruler of men, was no room for the fish to play about! And +beholding Manu it said again, ‘O pious and adorable father, take me to +the Ganga, the favourite spouse of the Ocean so that I may live there; or +do as thou listest. O sinless one, as I have grown to this great bulk by +thy favour I shall do thy bidding cheerfully.’ Thus asked the upright and +continent and worshipful Manu took the fish to the river Ganga and he put +it into the river with his own hands. And there, O conqueror of thy +enemies, the fish again grew for some little time and then beholding +Manu, it said again, ‘O lord, I am unable to move about in the Ganga on +account of my great body; therefore, worshipful sir, do thou please take +me quickly to the sea!’ O son of Pritha, Manu then taking it out of the +Ganga, carried it to the sea and consigned it there. And despite its +great bulk, Manu transported it easily and its touch and smell were also +pleasant to him. And when it was thrown into the sea by Manu, it said +these words to him with a smile, ‘O adorable being, thou hast protected +me with special care; do thou now listen to me as to what thou shouldst +do in the fulness of time! O fortunate and worshipful sir, the +dissolution of all this mobile and immobile world is nigh at hand. The +time for the purging of this world is now ripe. Therefore do I now +explain what is good for thee! The mobile and immobile divisions of the +creation, those that have the power of locomotion, and those that have it +not, of all these the terrible doom hath now approached. Thou shall build +a strong massive ark and have it furnished with a long rope. On that must +thou ascend, O great Muni, with the seven Rishis and take with thee all +the different seeds which were enumerated by regenerate Brahmanas in days +of yore, and separately and carefully must thou preserve them therein. +And whilst there, O beloved of the Munis, thou shall wait for me, and I +shall appear to thee like a horned animal, and thus, O ascetic, shall +thou recognise me! And I shall now depart, and thou shall act according +to my instructions, for, without my assistance, thou canst not save +thyself from that fearful flood.’ Then Manu said unto the fish, ‘I do not +doubt all that thou hast said, O great one! Even so shall I act!’ And +giving instructions to each other, they both went away. And Manu then, O +great and powerful king and conqueror of thy enemies, procured all the +different seeds as directed by the fish, and set sail in an excellent +vessel on the surging sea. And then, O lord of the earth, he bethought +himself of that fish. And the fish too, O conqueror of thy enemies and +foremost scion of Bharata’s race, knowing his mind, appeared there with +horns on his head. And then, O tiger among men, beholding in the ocean +that horned fish emerging like a rock in the form of which he had been +before appraised, he lowered the ropy noose on its head. And fastened by +the noose, the fish, O king and conqueror of hostile cities, towed the +ark with great force through the salt waters. And it conveyed them in +that vessel on the roaring and billow beaten sea. And, O conqueror of thy +enemies and hostile cities, tossed by the tempest on the great ocean, the +vessel reeled about like a drunken harlot. And neither land nor the four +cardinal points of the compass, could be distinguished. + +And there was water everywhere and the waters covered the heaven and the +firmament also. And, O bull of Bharata’s race, when the world was thus +flooded, none but Manu, the seven Rishis and the fish could be seen. And, +O king, the fish diligently dragged the boat through the flood for many a +long year and then, O descendant of Kuru and ornament of Bharata’s race, +it towed the vessel towards the highest peak of the Himavat. And, O +Bharata, the fish then told those on the vessel to tie it to the peak of +the Himavat. And hearing the words of the fish they immediately tied the +boat on that peak of the mountain and, O son of Kunti and ornament of +Bharata’s race, know that that high peak of the Himavat is still called +by the name of Naubandhana (the harbour). Then the fish addressing the +associated Rishis told them these words, ‘I am Brahma, the Lord of all +creatures; there is none greater than myself. Assuming the shape of a +fish, I have saved you from this cataclysm. Manu will create (again) all +beings--gods, Asuras and men, all those divisions of creation which have +the power of locomotion and which have it not. By practicing severe +austerities he will acquire this power, and with my blessing, illusion +will have no power over him.’ + +“So saying the fish vanished instantly. And Vaivaswata Manu himself +became desirous of creating the world. In this work of creation illusion +overtook him and he, therefore, practised great asceticism. And endowed +with ascetic merit, Manu, O ornament of Bharata’s race, again set about +his work of creating all beings in proper and exact order. This story +which I have narrated to thee and the hearing of which destroyeth all +sin, is celebrated as the Legend of the Fish. And the man who listeneth +every day to this primeval history of Manu, attaineth happiness and all +other objects of desire and goeth to heaven.” + + + +SECTION CLXXXVII + +“Then the virtuous king Yudhishthira in all humility again enquired of +the illustrious Markandeya, saying, ‘O great Muni, thou hast seen many +thousands of ages pass away. In this world there is none so longlived as +thou! O best of those that have attained the knowledge of Supreme Spirit, +there is none equal to thee in years except the great-minded Brahma +living in the most exalted place. Thou, O Brahmana, worshippest Brahma at +the time of the great dissolution of the universe, when this world is +without sky and without the gods and Danavas. And when that cataclysm +ceaseth and the Grandsire awaketh, thou alone, O regenerate Rishi, +beholdest Brahma duly re-create the four orders of beings after having +filled the cardinal points with air and consigned the waters to their +proper place. Thou, O great Brahmana, hast worshipped in his presence the +great Lord and Grandsire of all creatures with soul rapt in meditation +and entirely swallowed up in Him! And, O Brahmana, thou hast many a time +witnessed with thy eyes, the primeval acts of creation, and, plunged in +severe ascetic austerities, thou hast also surpassed the Prajapatis +themselves! Thou art esteemed as one who is nearest to Narayana, in the +next world. Many a time in days of yore hast thou beheld the Supreme +Creator of the universe with eyes of spiritual abstraction and +renunciation, having first opened thy pure and lotus-like heart--the only +place where the multiform Vishnu of universal knowledge may be seen! It +is for this, O learned Rishi, by the grace of God neither all-destroying +Death, nor dotage that causeth the decay of the body, hath any power over +thee! When neither the sun, nor the moon, nor fire, nor earth, nor air, +nor sky remains, when all the world being destroyed looketh like one vast +ocean, when the Gods and Asuras and the great Uragas are annihilated, and +when the great-minded Brahma, the Lord of all creatures, taking his seat +on a lotus flower, sleepeth there, then thou alone remainest to worship +him! And, O best of Brahman as thou hast seen all this that occurred +before, with thy own eyes. And thou alone hast witnessed many things by +the senses, and never in all the worlds hath there been any thing unknown +to thee! Therefore do I long to hear any discourse explaining the causes +of things!” + +“Markandeya replied, ‘Indeed, I shall explain all, after having bowed +down to that Self-existent, Primordial Being, who is eternal and +undeteriorating and inconceivable, and who is at once vested with and +divested of attributes. O tiger among men, this Janardana attired in +yellow robes is the grand Mover and Creator of all, the Soul and Framer +of all things, and the lord of all! He is also called the Great, the +Incomprehensible, the Wonderful and the Immaculate. He is without +beginning and without end, pervades all the world, is Unchangeable and +Undeteriorating. He is the Creator of all, but is himself uncreate and is +the Cause of all power. His knowledge is greater than that of all the +gods together. O best of kings and pre-eminent of men, after the +dissolution of the universe, all this wonderful creation again comes into +life. Four thousand years have been said to constitute the Krita Yuga. +Its dawn also, as well as its eve, hath been said to comprise four +hundred years. The Treta-Yuga is said to comprise three thousand years, +and its dawn, as well as its eve, is said to comprise three hundred +years. The Yuga that comes next is called Dwapara, and it hath been +computed to consist of two thousand years. Its dawn, as well as its eve, +is said to comprise two hundred years. The next Yuga, called Kali, is +said to comprise one thousand years and its dawn, as well as eve, is said +to comprise one hundred years. Know, O king, that the duration of the +dawn is the same as that of the eve of a Yuga. And after the Kali Yuga is +over, the Krita Yuga comes again. A cycle of the Yugas thus comprised a +period of twelve thousand years. A full thousand of such cycles would +constitute a day of Brahma. O tiger among men, when all this universe is +withdrawn and ensconced within its home--the Creator himself--that +disappearance of all things is called by the learned to be Universal +Destruction. O bull of the Bharata race, towards the end of the last +mentioned period of one thousand years, i.e., when the period wanted to +complete a cycle is short, men generally become addicted to falsehood in +speech. O son of Pritha, then sacrifices and gifts and vows, instead of +being performed by principals are suffered to be performed by +representatives! Brahmanas then perform acts that are reserved for the +Sudras, and the Sudras betake themselves to the acquisition of wealth. +Then Kshatriyas also betake themselves to the practice of religious acts. +In the Kali age, the Brahmanas also abstain from sacrifices and the study +of the Vedas, are divested of their staff and deer-skin, and in respect +of food become omnivorous. And, O son, the Brahmanas in that age also +abstain from prayers and meditation while the Sudras betake themselves to +these! The course of the world looketh contrary, and indeed, these are +the signs that foreshadow the Universal Destruction. And, O lord of men, +numerous Mleccha kings then rule over the earth! And those sinful +monarchs, addicted to false speech, govern their subjects on principles +that are false. The Andhhas, the Sakas, the Pulindas, the Yavanas, the +Kamvojas, the Valhikas and the Abhiras, then become, O best of men, +possessed of bravery and the sovereignty of the earth. This, O tiger +among men, becometh the state of the world during the eve, O Bharata, of +the Kali age! Not a single Brahmana then adhereth to the duties of his +order. And the Kshatriyas and the Vaisyas also, O monarch, follow +practices contrary to those that are proper for their own orders. And men +become short-lived, weak in strength, energy, and prowess; and endued +with small might and diminutive bodies, they become scarcely truthful in +speech. And the human population dwindles away over large tracts of +country, and the regions of the earth, North and South, and East and +West, become crowded with animals and beasts of prey. And during this +period, they also that utter Brahma, do so in vain. The Sudras address +Brahmanas, saying, Bho, while the Brahmanas address Sudras, saying +Respected Sir. And, O tiger among men, at the end of the Yuga, animals +increase enormously. And, O king, odours and perfumes do not then become +so agreeable to our sense of scent, and, O tiger among men, the very +tastes of things do not then so well accord with our organs of taste as +at other periods! And, O king, women then become mothers of numerous +progeny, endued with low statures, and destitute of good behaviour and +good manners. And they also make their very mouths serve the purposes of +the organ of procreation. And famine ravages the habitations of men, and +the highways are infested by women of ill fame, while females in general, +O king, become at such periods hostile to their lords and destitute of +modesty! And, O king, the very kine at such periods yield little milk, +while the trees, sat over with swarms of crows, do not produce many +flowers and fruits. And, O lord of the earth, regenerate classes, tainted +with the sin of slaying Brahmanas, accept gifts from monarchs that are +addicted to falsehood in speech. And filled with covetousness and +ignorance, and bearing on their persons the outward symbols of religion, +they set out on eleemosynary rounds, afflicting the people of the Earth. +And people leading domestic lives, afraid of the burden of taxes, become +deceivers, while Brahmanas, falsely assuming the garb of ascetics, earn +wealth by trade, with nails and hair unpared and uncut. And, O tiger +among men, many of the twice-born classes become, from avarice of wealth, +religious mendicants of the Brahmacharin order. And, O monarch, men at +such periods behave contrary to the modes of life to which they betake +themselves, and addicted to intoxicating drinks and capable of violating +the beds of their preceptors, their desires are all of this world, +pursuing matters ministering to the flesh and the blood. And O tiger +among men, at such period the asylums of ascetics become full of sinful +and audacious wretches ever applauding lives of dependence. And the +illustrious chastiser of Paka never showers rain according to the seasons +and the seeds also that are scattered on earth, do not, O Bharata, all +sprout forth. And men, unholy in deed and thought, take pleasure in envy +and malice. And, O sinless one, the earth then becometh full of sin and +immorality. And, O lord of the earth, he that becometh virtuous at such +periods doth not live long. Indeed, the earth becometh reft of virtue in +every shape. And, O tiger among men, the merchants and traders then full +of guile, sell large quantities of articles with false weights and +measures. And they that are virtuous do not prosper; while they that are +sinful proper exceedingly. And virtue loseth her strength while sin +becometh all powerful. And men that are devoted to virtue become poor and +short-lived; while they that are sinful become long-lived and win +prosperity. And in such times, people behave sinfully even in places of +public amusements in cities and towns. And men always seek the +accomplishment of their ends by means that are sinful. And having earned +fortunes that are really small they become intoxicated with the pride of +wealth. And O monarch, many men at such periods strive to rob the wealth +that hath from trust been deposited with them in secrecy. And wedded to +sinful practices, they shamelessly declare--there is nothing in deposit. +And beasts of prey and other animals and fowl may be seen to lie down in +places of public amusement in cities and towns, as well as in sacred +edifices. And, O king girls of seven or eight years of age do then +conceive, while boys of ten or twelve years beget offspring. An in their +sixteenth year, men are overtaken with decrepitude and decay and the +period of life itself is soon outrun. And O king, when men become so +short-lived, more youths act like the aged; while all that is observable +in youth may be noticed in the old. And women given to impropriety of +conduct and marked by evil manners, deceive even the best of husbands and +forget themselves with menials and slaves and even with animals. And O +king, even women that are wives of heroes seek the companionship of other +men and forget themselves with these during the life-time of their +husbands. + +“O king, towards the end of those thousands of years constituting the +four Yugas and when the lives of men become so short, a drought occurs +extending for many years. And then, O lord of the earth, men and +creatures endued with small strength and vitality, becoming hungry die by +thousands. And then, O lord of men, seven blazing Suns, appearing in the +firmament, drink up all the waters of the Earth that are in rivers or +seas. And, O bull of the Bharata race, then also everything of the nature +of wood and grass that is wet to dry, is consumed and reduced to ashes. +And then, O Bharata, the fire called Samvartaka impelled by the winds +appeareth on the earth that hath already been dried to cinders by the +seven Suns. And then that fire, penetrating through the Earth and making +its appearance, in the nether regions also, begetteth great terror in the +hearts of the gods, the Danavas and the Yakshas. And, O lord of the +earth, consuming the nether regions as also everything upon this Earth +that fire destroyeth all things in a moment. And that fire called +Samvartaka aided by that inauspicious wind, consumeth this world +extending for hundreds and thousands of yojanas. And that lord of all +things, that fire, blazing forth in effulgence consumeth this universe +with gods and Asuras and Gandharvas and Yakshas and Snakes and Rakshasas. +And there rise in the sky deep masses of clouds, looking like herds of +elephants and decked with wreaths of lightning that are wonderful to +behold. And some of those clouds are of the hue of the blue lotus; and +some are of the hue of the water-lily; and some resemble in tint the +filaments of the lotus and some are purple and some are yellow as +turmeric and some of the hue of the crows’ egg. And some are bright as +the petals of the lotus and some red as vermillion. And some resemble +palatial cities in shape and some herds of elephants. And some are of the +form of lizards and some of crocodiles and sharks. And, O king, the +clouds that gather in the sky on the occasion are terrible to behold and +wreathed with lightnings, roar frightfully. And those vapoury masses, +charged with rain, soon cover the entire welkin. And, O king, those +masses of vapour then flood with water the whole earth with her mountains +and forests and mines. And, O bull among men, urged by the Supreme Lord +those clouds roaring frightfully, soon flood over the entire surface of +the earth. And pouring in a great quantity of water and filling the whole +earth, they quench that terrible inauspicious fire (of which I have +already spoken to thee). And urged by the illustrious Lord those clouds +filling the earth with their downpour shower incessantly for twelve +years. And then, O Bharata, the Ocean oversteps his continents, the +mountains sunder in fragments, and the Earth sinks under the increasing +flood. And then moved on a sudden by the impetus of the wind, those +clouds wander along the entire expanse of the firmament and disappear +from the view. And then, O ruler of men, the Self-create Lord--the first +Cause of everything--having his abode in the lotus, drinketh those +terrible winds and goeth to sleep, O Bharata! + +“And then when the universe become one dead expanse of water, when all +mobile and immobile creatures have been destroyed, when the gods and the +Asuras cease to be, when the Yakshas and the Rakshasas are no more, when +man is not, when trees and beasts of prey have disappeared, when the +firmament itself has ceased to exist, I alone, O lord of the earth, +wander in affliction. And, O best of kings, wandering over that dreadful +expanse of water, my heart becometh afflicted in consequence of my not +beholding any creature! And, O king, wandering without cessation, through +that flood, I become fatigued, but I obtain no resting place! And some +time after I behold in that expanse of accumulated waters a vast and +wide-extending banian tree, O lord of earth! And I then behold, O +Bharata, seated on a conch, O king, overlaid with a celestial bed and +attached to a far-extended bough of that banian, a boy, O great king, of +face fair as the lotus or the moon, and of eyes, O ruler of men, large as +petals of a full blown lotus! And at this sight, O lord of earth, wonder +filled my heart. And I asked myself, ‘How doth this boy alone sit here +when the world itself hath been destroyed?’ And, O king, although I have +full knowledge of the Past, the Present, and the Future, still I failed +to learn anything of this by means of even ascetic meditation. Endued +with the lustre of the Atasi flower, and decked with the mark of +Sreevatsa, he seemed to me to be like the abode of Lakshmi, herself. And +that boy, of eyes like the petals of the lotus, having the mark of +Sreevatsa, and possessed of blazing effulgence, then addressed me in +words highly pleasant to the ear, saying, ‘O sire, I know thee to be +fatigued and desirous of rest. O Markandeya of Bhrigu’s race, rest thou +here as long as thou wishest. O best of Munis, entering within my body, +rest thou there. That hath been the abode assigned to thee by me. I have +been pleased with thee.’ Thus addressed by that boy, a sense of total +disregard possessed me in respect both of my long life and state of +manhood. Then that boy suddenly opened his mouth, and as fate would have +it, I entered his mouth deprived of the power of motion. But O king, +having suddenly entered into the stomach of that boy, I behold there the +whole earth teeming with cities and kingdoms. And, O best of men, while +wandering through the stomach of that illustrious one, I behold the +Ganga, the Satudru, the Sita, the Yamuna, and the Kausiki; the +Charmanwati, the Vetravati; the Chandrabhaga, the Saraswati, the Sindhu, +the Vipasa, and the Godavari; the Vaswokasara, the Nalini and the +Narmada; the Tamra, and the Venna also of delightful current and sacred +waters; the Suvenna, the Krishna-venna, the Irama, and the Mahanadi; the +Vitasti, O great king, and that large river, the Cavery; the one also, O +tiger among men, the Visalya, and the Kimpuna also. I beheld all these +and many other rivers that are on the earth! And, O slayer of foes, I +also beheld there the ocean inhabited by alligators and sharks, that mine +of gems, that excellent abode of waters. And I beheld there the firmament +also, decked with the Sun and the Moon, blazing with effulgence, and +possessed of lustre of fire of the Sun. And I beheld there, O king, the +earth also, graced with woods and forests. And, O monarch, I beheld there +many Brahmanas also, engaged in various sacrifices; and the Kshatriyas +engaged in doing good to all the orders; and the Vaisyas employed in +pursuits in agriculture; and the Sudras devoted to the service of the +regenerate classes. And, O king, while wandering through the stomach of +that high-souled one, I also beheld the Himavat and the mountains of +Hemakuta. And I also saw Nishada, and the mountains of Sweta abounding in +silver. And, O king, I saw there the mountain Gandhamadana, and, O tiger +among men, also Mandara and the huge mountains of Nila. And, O great +king, I saw there the golden mountains of Meru and also Mahendra and +those excellent mountains called the Vindhyas. And I beheld there the +mountains of Malaya and of Paripatra also. These and many other mountains +that are on earth were all seen by me in his stomach. And all these were +decked with jewels and gems. And, O monarch, while wandering through his +stomach, I also beheld lions and tigers and boars and, indeed, all other +animals that are on earth, O great king! O tiger among men, having +entered his stomach, as I wandered around, I also beheld the whole tribe +of the gods with their chief Sakra, the Sadhyas, the Rudras, the Adityas, +the Guhyakas, the Pitris, the Snakes and the Nagas, the feathery tribes, +the Vasus, the Aswins, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, the Yakshas, the +Rishis, the hordes of the Daityas and the Danavas, and the Nagas also. O +king, and the sons of Singhika and all the other enemies of the gods; +indeed what else of mobile and immobile creatures may be seen on earth, +were all seen by me, O monarch, within the stomach of that high-souled +one. And, O lord, living upon fruits I dwelt within his body for many +centuries wandering over the entire universe that is there. Never did I +yet, O king, behold the limits of his body. And when, O lord of earth, I +failed to measure the limits of that high-souled one’s body, even though +I wandered within him continuously in great anxiety of mind. I then, in +thought and deed sought the protection of that boon-giving and +pre-eminent Deity, duly acknowledging his superiority. And when I had +done this, O king, I was suddenly projected (from within his body) +through that high-souled one’s open mouth by means, O chief of men, of a +gust of wind. And, O king, I then beheld seated on the branch of that +very banian that same Being of immeasurable energy, in the form of a boy +with the mark of Sreevatsa (on his breast) having, O tiger among men, +swallowed up the whole universe. And that boy of blazing effulgence and +bearing the mark of Sreevatsa and attired in yellow robes, gratified with +me, smilingly addressed me, saying, ‘O Markandeya, O best of Munis, +having dwelt for some time within my body, thou hast been fatigued! I +shall however speak unto thee.’ And as he said this to me, at that very +moment I acquired a new sight, so to speak, in consequence of which I +beheld myself to be possessed of true knowledge and emancipated from the +illusions of the world. And, O child, having witnessed the inexhaustible +power of that Being of immeasurable energy, I then worshipped his revered +and well-shaped feet with soles bright as burnished copper and +well-decked with toes of mild red hue, having placed them carefully on my +head and joining my palms in humility and approaching him with reverence. +I beheld that Divine Being who is the soul of all things and whose eyes +are like the petals of the lotus. And having bowed unto him with joined +hands I addressed him saying, ‘I wish to know thee, O Divine Being, as +also this high and wonderful illusion of thine! O illustrious one, having +entered into thy body through thy mouth, I have beheld the entire +universe in thy stomach! O Divine Being, the gods, the Danavas and the +Rakshasas, the Yakshas, the Gandharvas, and the Nagas, indeed, the whole +universe mobile and immobile, are all within thy body! And though I have +ceaselessly wandered through thy body at a quick pace, through thy grace, +O God, my memory faileth me not. And, O great lord, I have come out of +thy body at thy desire but not of mine! O thou of eyes like lotus leaves, +I desire to know thee who art free from all faults! Why dost thou stay +here in the form of a boy having swallowed up the entire universe? It +behoveth thee to explain all this to me. Why, O sinless one, is the +entire universe within thy body? How long also, O chastiser of foes, wilt +thou stay here? Urged by a curiosity that is not improper for Brahmanas, +I desire, O Lord of all the gods, to hear all this from thee, O thou of +eyes like lotus leaves, with every detail and exactly as it all happens, +for all I have seen, O Lord, is wonderful and inconceivable!’ And thus +addressed by me, that deity of deities, of blazing effulgence and great +beauty, that foremost of all speakers consoling me properly, spoke unto +me these words.” + + + +SECTION CLXXXVIII + +“Markandeya continued, ‘The Deity then said, ‘O Brahmana, the gods even +do not know me truly! As however, I have been gratified with thee, I will +tell thee how I created the universe! O regenerate Rishi, thou art +devoted to thy ancestors and hast also sought my protection! Thou hast +also beheld me with thy eyes, and thy ascetic merit also is great! In +ancient times I called the waters by the name of Nara; and because the +waters have ever been my ayana or home, therefore have I been called +Narayana (the water-homed). O best of regenerate ones, I am Narayana, the +Source of all things, the Eternal, the Unchangeable. I am the Creator of +all things, and the Destroyer also of all. I am Vishnu, I am Brahma and I +am Sakra, the chief of the gods. I am king Vaisravana, and I am Yama, the +lord of the deceased spirits. I am Siva, I am Soma, and I am Kasyapa the +lord of the created things. And, O best of regenerate ones, I am he +called Dhatri, and he also that is called Vidhatri, and I am Sacrifice +embodied. Fire is my mouth, the earth my feet, and the Sun and the Moon +are my eyes; the Heaven is the crown of my head, the firmament and the +cardinal points are my ears; the waters are born of my sweat. Space with +the cardinal points are my body, and the Air is my mind. I have performed +many hundreds of sacrifices with gifts in profusion. I am always present +in the sacrifices of the gods; and they that are cognisant of the Vedas +and officiate therein, make their offerings to me. On earth the Kshatriya +chiefs that rule over men, in performing their sacrifices from desire of +obtaining heaven, and the Vaisyas also in performing theirs from desire +of winning those happy regions, all worship me at such times and by those +ceremonials. It is I who, assuming the form of Sesha support (on my head) +this earth bounded by the four seas and decked by Meru and Mandara. And O +regenerate one, it is I who, assuming the form of a boar, had raised in +days of yore this earth sunk in water. And, O best of Brahmanas, it is I +who, becoming the fire that issues out of the Equine mouth, drink up the +waters (of the ocean) and create them again. In consequence of my energy +from my mouth, my arms, my thighs, and my feet gradually sprang Brahmanas +and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas and Sudras. It is from me that the Rik, the +Sama, the Yajus, and the Atharvan Vedas spring, and it is in me that they +all enter when the time cometh. Brahmanas devoted to asceticism, they +that value Peace as the highest attribute, they that have their souls +under complete control, they that are desirous of knowledge, they that +are freed from lust and wrath and envy, they that are unwedded to things +of the earth, they that have their sins completely washed away, they that +are possessed of gentleness and virtue, and are divested of pride, they +that have a full knowledge of the Soul, all worship me with profound +meditation. I am the flame known as Samvartaka, I am the Wind called by +that name, I am the Sun wearing that appellation, and I am the fire that +hath that designation. And, O best of Brahmanas, those things that are +seen in the firmament as stars, know them to be the pores of my skin. The +ocean--those mines of gems and the four cardinal points, know, O +Brahmana, are my robes, my bed, and my home. By me have they been +distributed for serving the purposes of the gods. And, O best of men, +know also that lust, wrath, joy, fear, and the over-clouding of the +intellect, are all different forms of myself. And, O Brahmana, whatever +is obtained by men by the practice of truth, charity, ascetic +austerities, and peace and harmlessness towards all creatures, and such +other handsome deeds, is obtained because of my arrangements. Governed by +my ordinance, men wander within my body, their senses overwhelmed by me. +They move not according to their will but as they are moved by me. +Regenerate Brahmanas that have thoroughly studied the Vedas, that have +tranquillity in their souls, they that have subdued their wrath, obtain a +high reward by means of their numerous sacrifices. That reward, however, +is unattainable by men that are wicked in their deeds, overwhelmed by +covetousness, mean and disreputable with souls unblessed and impure. +Therefore, must thou know, O Brahmana that this reward which is obtained +by persons having their souls under control and which is unobtainable by +the ignorant and the foolish,--this which is attainable by asceticism +alone,--is productive of high merit. And, O best of men, at those times +when virtue and morality decrease and sin and immorality increase, I +create myself in new forms. And, O Muni, when fierce and malicious +Daityas and Rakshasas that are incapable of being slain by even the +foremost of the gods, are born on earth, I then take my birth in the +families of virtuous men, and assuming human body restore tranquillity by +exterminating all evils. Moved by my own maya, I create gods and men, and +Gandharvas and Rakshasas, and all immobile things and then destroy them +all myself (when the time cometh). For the preservation of rectitude and +morality I assume a human form, and when the season for action cometh, I +again assume forms that are inconceivable. In the Krita age I become +white, in the Treta age I become yellow, in the Dwapara I have become red +and in the Kali age I become dark in hue, I the Kali age, the proportion +of immorality becometh three-fourths, (a fourth only being that of +morality). And when the end of the Yuga cometh, assuming the fierce form +of Death, alone I destroy all the three worlds with their mobile and +immobile existences. With three steps, I cover the whole Universe; I am +the Soul of the universe; I am the source of all happiness; I am the +humbler of all pride; I am omnipresent; I am infinite; I am the Lord of +the senses; and my prowess is great. O Brahmana, alone do I set a-going +the wheel of Time; I am formless; I am the Destroyer of all creatures; +and I am the cause of all efforts of all my creatures. O best of Munis, +my soul completely pervadeth all my creatures, but, O foremost of all +regenerate ones, no one knoweth me. It is me that the pious and the +devoted worship in all the worlds. O regenerate one, whatever of pain +thou hast felt within my stomach, know, O sinless one, that all that is +for thy happiness and good fortune. And whatever of mobile and immobile +objects thou hast seen in the world, everything hath been ordained by my +Soul which is the Spring of all existence. The grandsire of all creatures +is half my body; I am called Narayana, and I am bearer of the +conch-shell, the discus and the mace. O regenerate Rishi, for a period +measured by a thousand times the length of the Yugas, I who am the +Universal Soul sleep overwhelming all creatures in insensibility. And, O +best of regenerate Rishis, I stay here thus for all time, in the form of +a boy though I am old, until Brahma waketh up. O foremost of Brahmanas, +gratified with thee, I who am Brahma have repeatedly granted thee boons, +O thou who art worshipped by regenerate Rishis! Beholding one vast +expanse of water and seeing that all mobile and immobile creatures have +been destroyed, thou wert afflicted with melancholy. I know this, and it +is for this that I showed thee the universe (within my stomach). And +while thou wert within my body, beholding the entire universe, thou wert +filled with wonder and deprived of thy senses. O regenerate Rishi, it is +for this that thou wert speedily brought out by me through my mouth. I +have (now) told thee of that Soul which is incapable of being +comprehended by the gods and the Asuras. And as long as that great +ascetic, the holy Brahma, doth not awake, thou, O regenerate Rishi, canst +happily and trustfully dwell here. And when that Grandsire of all +creatures awaketh up, I will then, O best of Brahmanas, alone create all +creatures endued with bodies, the firmament, the earth, light, the +atmosphere, water, and indeed all else of mobile and immobile creatures +(that thou mayst have seen) on the earth!’ + +‘Markandeya continued, ‘Having said so unto me that wonderful Deity +vanished, O son, from my sight! I then beheld this varied and wondrous +creation start into life. O king, O thou foremost of the Bharata race, I +witnessed all this, so wonderful, O thou foremost of all virtuous men, at +the end of the Yuga! And the Deity, of eyes large as lotus leaves, seen +by me, in days of yore is this tiger among men, this Janardana who hath +become thy relative! It is in consequence of the boon granted to me by +this one that memory doth not fail me, that the period of my life, O son +of Kunti, is so long and death itself is under my control. This is that +ancient and supreme Lord Hari of inconceivable soul who hath taken his +birth as Krishna of the Vrishni race, and who endued with mighty arms, +seemeth to sport in this world! This one is Dhatri and Vidhatri, the +Destroyer of all the Eternal, the bearer of the Sreevatsa mark on his +breast, the Lord of the lord of all creatures, the highest of the high, +called also Govinda! Beholding this foremost of all gods, this +ever-victorious Being, attired in yellow robes, this chief of the Vrishni +race, my recollection cometh back to me! This Madhava is the father and +mother of all creatures! Ye bulls of the Kuru race, seek ye the refuge of +this Protector!’ + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed, the sons of Pritha and those +bulls among men--the twins, along with Draupadi, all bowed down unto +Janardana. And that tiger among men deserving of every respect thus +revered by the sons of Pandu, then consoled them all with words of great +sweetness.” + + + +SECTION CLXXXIX + +“Vaisampayana said Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, once more asked the +great Muni Markandeya about the future course of the government of the +Earth. + +“And Yudhishthira said, ‘O thou foremost of all speakers, O Muni of +Bhrigu’s race, that which we have heard from thee about the destruction +and re-birth of all things at the end of the Yuga, is, indeed, full of +wonder! I am filled with curiosity, however, in respect of what may +happen in the Kali age. When morality and virtue will be at an end, what +will remain there! What will be the prowess of men in that age, what +their food, and what their amusements? What will be the period of life at +the end of the Yuga? What also is the limit, having attained which the +Krita age will begin anew? Tell me all in detail, O Muni, for all that +thou narratest is varied and delightful.’ + +“Thus addressed, that foremost of Munis began his discourse again, +delighting that tiger of the Vrishni race and the sons of Pandu as well. +And Markandeya said, ‘Listen, O monarch, to all that hath been seen and +heard by me, and to all, O king of kings, that hath been known to me by +intuition from the grace of the God of gods! O bull of the Bharata race, +listen to me as I narrate the future history of the world during the +sinful age. O bull of the Bharata race, in the Krita age, everything was +free from deceit and guile and avarice and covetousness; and morality +like a bull was among men, with all the four legs complete. In the Treta +age sin took away one of these legs and morality had three legs. In the +Dwapara, sin and morality are mixed half and half; and accordingly +morality is said to have two legs only. In the dark age (of Kali), O thou +best of the Bharata race, morality mixed with three parts of sin liveth +by the side of men. Accordingly morality then is said to wait on men, +with only a fourth part of itself remaining. Know, O Yudhishthira, that +the period of life, the energy, intellect and the physical strength of +men decrease in every Yuga! O Pandava, the Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and +Vaisyas and Sudras, (in the Kali age) will practise morality and virtue +deceitfully and men in general will deceive their fellows by spreading +the net of virtue. And men with false reputation of learning will, by +their acts, cause Truth to be contracted and concealed. And in +consequence of the shortness of their lives they will not be able to +acquire much knowledge. And in consequence of the littleness of their +knowledge, they will have no wisdom. And for this, covetousness and +avarice will overwhelm them all. And wedded to avarice and wrath and +ignorance and lust men will entertain animosities towards one another, +desiring to take one another’s lives. And Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and +Vaisyas with their virtue contracted and divested of asceticism and truth +will all be reduced to an equality with the Sudras. And the lowest orders +of men will rise to the position of the intermediate ones, and those in +intermediate stations will, without doubt, descend to the level of the +lowest ones. Even such, O Yudhishthira, will become the state of the +world at the end of the Yuga. Of robes those will be regarded the best +that are made of flax and of grain the Paspalum frumentacea[45] will be +regarded the best. Towards this period men will regard their wives as +their (only) friends. And men will live on fish and milk, goats and +sheep, for cows will be extinct. And towards that period, even they that +are always observant of vows, will become covetous. And opposed to one +another, men will, at such a time, seek one another’s lives; and divested +of Yuga, people will become atheists and thieves. And they will even dig +the banks of streams with their spades and sow grains thereon. And even +those places will prove barren for them at such a time. And those men who +are devoted to ceremonial rites in honour of the deceased and of the +gods, will be avaricious and will also appropriate and enjoy what belongs +to others. The father will enjoy what belongs to the son; and the son, +what belongs to the father. And those things will also be enjoyed by men +in such times, the enjoyment of which hath been forbidden in the +scriptures. And the Brahmanas, speaking disrespectfully of the Vedas, +will not practise vows, and their understanding clouded by the science of +disputation, they will no longer perform sacrifices and the Homa. And +deceived by the false science of reasons, they will direct their hearts +towards everything mean and low. And men will till low lands for +cultivation and employ cows and calves that are one year old, in drawing +the plough and carrying burthens. And sons having slain their sires, and +sires having slain their sons will incur no opprobrium. And they will +frequently save themselves from anxiety by such deeds, and even glory in +them. And the whole world will be filled with mleccha behaviour and +notions and ceremonies, and sacrifices will cease and joy will be nowhere +and general rejoicing will disappear. And men will rob the possession of +helpless persons of those that are friendless and of wisdoms also. And, +possessed of small energy and strength, without knowledge and given to +avarice and folly and sinful practices men will accept with joy the gifts +made by wicked people with words of contempt. And, O son of Kunti, the +kings of the earth, with hearts wedded to sin without knowledge and +always boastful of their wisdom, will challenge one another from desire +of taking one another’s life. And the Kshatriyas also towards the end of +such a period will become the thorns of the earth. And filled with +avarice and swelling with pride and vanity and, unable and unwilling to +protect (their subjects), they will take pleasure in inflicting +punishments only. And attacking and repeating their attacks upon the good +and the honest, and feeling no pity for the latter, even when they will +cry in grief, the Kshatriyas will, O Bharata, rob these of their wives +and wealth. And no one will ask for a girl (for purposes of marriage) and +no one will give away a girl (for such purposes), but the girls will +themselves choose their lords, when the end of the Yuga comes. And the +kings of the earth with souls steeped in ignorance, and discontented with +what they have, will at such a time, rob their subjects by every means in +their power. And without doubt the whole world will be mlecchified.[46] +And when the end of the Yuga comes, the right hand will deceive the left; +and the left, the right. And men with false reputation of learning will +contract Truth and the old will betray the senselessness of the young, +and the young will betray the dotage of the old. And cowards will have +the reputation of bravery and the brave will be cheerless like cowards. +And towards the end of the Yuga men will cease to trust one another. And +full of avarice and folly the whole world will have but one kind of food. +And sin will increase and prosper, while virtue will fade and cease to +flourish. And Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas will disappear, +leaving, O king, no remnants of their orders. And all men towards the end +of the Yuga will become members of one common order, without distinction +of any kind. And sires will not forgive sons, and sons will not forgive +sires. And when the end approaches, wives will not wait upon and serve +their husbands. And at such a time men will seek those countries where +wheat and barley form the staple food. And, O monarch, both men and women +will become perfectly free in their behaviour and will not tolerate one +another’s acts. And, O Yudhishthira, the whole world will be mlecchified. +And men will cease to gratify the gods by offerings of Sraddhas. And no +one will listen to the words of others and no one will be regarded as a +preceptor by another. And, O ruler of men, intellectual darkness will +envelop the whole earth, and the life of man will then be measured by +sixteen years, on attaining to which age death will ensue. And girls of +five or six years of age will bring forth children and boys of seven or +eight years of age will become fathers. And, O tiger among kings, when +the end of the Yuga will come, the wife will never be content with her +husband, nor the husband with his wife. And the possessions of men will +never be much, and people will falsely bear the marks of religion, and +jealousy and malice will fill the world. And no one will, at that time, +be a giver (of wealth or anything else) in respect to any one else. And +the inhabited regions of the earth will be afflicted with dearth and +famine, and the highways will be filled with lustful men and women of +evil repute. And, at such a time, the women will also entertain an +aversion towards their husbands. And without doubt all men will adopt the +behaviour of the mlecchas, become omnivorous without distinction, and +cruel in all their acts, when the end of the Yuga will come. And, O thou +foremost of the Bharatas, urged by avarice, men will, at that time, +deceive one another when they sell and purchase. And without a knowledge +of the ordinance, men will perform ceremonies and rites, and, indeed, +behave as listeth them, when the end of the Yuga comes. And when the end +of the Yuga comes, urged by their very dispositions, men will act +cruelly, and speak ill of one another. And people will, without +compunction, destroy trees and gardens. And men will be filled with +anxiety as regards the means of living. And, O king, overwhelmed with +covetousness, men will kill Brahmanas and appropriate and enjoy the +possessions of their victims. And the regenerate ones, oppressed by +Sudras, and afflicted with fear, and crying Oh and Alas, will wander over +the earth without anybody to protect them. And when men will begin to +slay one another, and become wicked and fierce and without any respect +for animal life, then will the Yuga come to an end. And, O king, even the +foremost of the regenerate ones, afflicted by robbers, will, like crows, +fly in terror and with speed, and seek refuge, O perpetuator of the Kuru +race, in rivers and mountains and inaccessible regions. And always +oppressed by bad rulers with burthens of taxes, the foremost of the +regenerate classes, O lord of the earth, will, in those terrible times, +take leave of all patience and do improper acts by becoming even the +servants of the Sudras. And Sudras will expound the scriptures, and +Brahmanas will wait upon and listen to them, and settle their course of +duty accepting such interpretations as their guides. And the low will +become the high, and the course of things will look contrary. And +renouncing the gods, men will worship bones and other relics deposited +within walls. And, at the end of the Yuga, the Sudras will cease to wait +upon and serve the Brahmanas. And in the asylums of great Rishis, and the +teaching institutions of Brahmanas, and in places sacred to the gods and +sacrificial compounds, and in sacred tanks, the earth will be disfigured +with tombs and pillars containing bony relics and not graced with temples +dedicated to the gods. All this will take place at the end of the Yuga, +and know that these are the signs of the end of the Yuga. And when men +become fierce and destitute of virtue and carnivorous and addicted to +intoxicating drinks, then doth the Yuga come to an end. And, O monarch, +when flowers will be begot within flowers, and fruits within fruits, then +will the Yuga come to an end. And the clouds will pour rain unseasonably +when the end of the Yuga approaches. And, at that time, ceremonial rites +of men will not follow one another in due order, and the Sudras will +quarrel with the Brahmanas. And the earth will soon be full of mlecchas, +and the Brahmanas will fly in all directions for fear of the burthen of +taxes. And all distinctions between men will cease as regards conduct and +behaviour, and afflicted with honorary tasks and offices, people will fly +to woody retreats, subsisting on fruits and roots. And the world will be +so afflicted, that rectitude of conduct will cease to be exhibited +anywhere. And disciples will set at naught the instructions of +preceptors, and seek even to injure them. And preceptors impoverished +will be disregarded by men. And friends and relatives and kinsmen will +perform friendly offices for the sake of the wealth only that is +possessed by a person. And when the end of the Yuga comes, everybody will +be in want. And all the points of the horizon will be ablaze, and the +stars and stellar groups will be destitute of brilliancy, and the planets +and planetary conjunctions will be inauspicious. And the course of the +winds will be confused and agitated, and innumerable meteors will flash +through the sky, foreboding evil. And the Sun will appear with six others +of the same kind. And all around there will be din and uproar, and +everywhere there will be conflagrations. And the Sun, from the hour of +his rising to that of setting, will be enveloped by Rahu. And the deity +of a thousand eyes will shower rain unseasonably. And when the end of the +Yuga comes, crops will not grow in abundance. And the women will always +be sharp in speech and pitiless and fond of weeping. And they will never +abide by the commands of their husbands. And when the end of the Yuga +comes, sons will slay fathers and mothers. And women, living +uncontrolled, will slay their husbands and sons. And, O king, when the +end of the Yuga comes, Rahu will swallow the Sun unseasonably. And fires +will blaze up on all sides. And travellers unable to obtain food and +drink and shelter even when they ask for these, will lie down on the +wayside refraining from urging their solicitations. And when the end of +the Yuga comes, crows and snakes and vultures and kites and other animals +and birds will utter frightful and dissonant cries. And when the end of +the Yuga comes, men will cast away and neglect their friends and +relatives and attendants. And, O monarch, when the end of the Yuga comes, +men abandoning the countries and directions and towns and cities of their +occupation, will seek for new ones, one after another. And people will +wander over the earth, uttering, ‘O father, O son’, and such other +frightful and rending cries. + +“And when those terrible times will be over, the creation will begin +anew. And men will again be created and distributed into the four orders +beginning with Brahmanas. And about that time, in order that men may +increase, Providence, according to its pleasure, will once more become +propitious. And then when the Sun, the Moon, and Vrihaspati will, with +the constellation Pushya[47], enter the same sign, the Krita age will +begin again. And the clouds will commence to shower seasonably, and the +stars and stellar conjunctions will become auspicious. And the planets, +duly revolving in their orbits, will become exceedingly propitious. And +all around, there will be prosperity and abundance and health and peace. +And commissioned by Time, a Brahmana of the name of Kalki will take his +birth. And he will glorify Vishnu and possess great energy, great +intelligence, and great prowess. And he will take his birth in a town of +the name of Sambhala in an auspicious Brahmana family. And vehicles and +weapons, and warriors and arms, and coats of mail will be at his disposal +as soon as he will think of them. And he will be the king of kings, and +ever victorious with the strength of virtue. And he will restore order +and peace in this world crowded with creatures and contradictory in its +course. And that blazing Brahmana of mighty intellect, having appeared, +will destroy all things. And he will be the Destroyer of all, and will +inaugurate a new Yuga. And surrounded by the Brahmanas, that Brahmana +will exterminate all the mlecchas wherever those low and despicable +persons may take refuge.” + + + +SECTION CLXL + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Having exterminated the thieves and robbers, +Kalki will, at a great Horse-sacrifice, duly give away this earth to the +Brahmanas, and having established anew the blessed rectitude ordained by +the Self-create, Kalki, of sacred deeds and illustrious reputation, will +enter a delightful forest, and the people of this earth will imitate his +conduct, and when the Brahmanas will have exterminated the thieves and +robbers, there will be prosperity everywhere (on earth). And as the +countries of the earth will one after another be subjugated, that tiger +among Brahmanas, Kalki, having placed deer skins and lances and tridents +there, will roam over the earth, adored by foremost Brahmanas and showing +his regard for them and engaged all the while in slaughtering thieves and +robbers. And he will exterminate the thieves and robbers amid +heart-rending cries of ‘Oh, father--’ ‘Oh, mother!--‘O son!’ and the +like, and O Bharata, when sin will thus have been rooted out and virtue +will flourish on arrival of the Krita age, men will once more betake +themselves to the practice of religious rites. And in the age that will +set in, viz., the Krita, well-planted gardens and sacrificial compounds +and large tanks and educational centres for the cultivation of Brahmanic +lore and ponds and temples will re-appear everywhere. And the ceremonies +and rites of sacrifices will also begin to be performed. And the +Brahmanas will become good and honest, and the regenerate ones, devoted +to ascetic austerities, will become Munis and the asylums of ascetics, +which had before been filled with wretches will once more be homes of men +devoted to truth, and men in general will begin to honour and practise +truth. And all seeds, sown on earth, will grow, and, O monarch, every +kind of crop will grow in every season. And men will devotedly practise +charity and vows and observances, and the Brahmanas devoted to meditation +and sacrifices will be of virtuous soul and always cheerful, and the +rulers of the earth will govern their kingdoms virtuously, and in the +Krita age, the Vaisyas will be devoted to the practices of their order. +And the Brahmanas will be devoted to their six-fold duties (of study, +teaching, performance of sacrifices on their own account, officiating at +sacrifices performed by others, charity and acceptance of gifts), and the +Kshatriyas will be devoted to feats of prowess. And Sudras will be +devoted to service of the three (high) orders, + +“These, O Yudhishthira, are the courses of the Krita, the Treta, the +Dwapara and the succeeding age. I have now narrated to thee everything. I +have also told thee, O son of Pandu, the periods embraced by the several +Yugas as generally known. I have now told thee everything appertaining to +both the past and the future as narrated by Vayu in the Purana (which +goes by his name and) which is adored by the Rishis. Being immortal I +have many a time beheld and otherwise ascertained the courses of the +world. Indeed, all I have seen and felt I have now told thee. And, O thou +of unfading glory, listen now with thy brothers to something else I will +presently tell thee for clearing thy doubts about religion! O thou +foremost of virtuous men, thou shouldst always fix thy soul on virtue, +for, O monarch, a person of virtuous soul obtaineth bliss both here and +hereafter. And, O sinless one, listen to the auspicious words that I will +now speak to thee. Never do thou humiliate a Brahmana, for a Brahmana, if +angry, may by his vow destroy the three worlds.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these words of Markandeya, the royal +head of the Kurus, endued with intelligence and possessed of great +lustre, spoke these words of great wisdom, ‘O muni, if I am to protect my +subjects, to what course of conduct should I adhere? And how should I +behave so that I may not fall away from the duties of my order?’ + +“Markandeya, hearing this, answered, ‘Be merciful to all creatures, and +devoted to their good. Love all creatures, scorning none. Be truthful in +speech, humble, with passions under complete control, and always devoted +to the protection of thy people. Practise virtue and renounce sin, and +worship thou the manes and the god and whatever thou mayst have done from +ignorance or carelessness, wash them off and expiate them by charity. +Renouncing pride and vanity, be thou possessed to humility and good +behaviour. And subjugating the whole earth, rejoice thou and let +happiness be thine. This is the course of conduct that accords with +virtue. I have recited to thee all that was and all that will be regarded +as virtuous. There is nothing appertaining to the past or the future that +is unknown to thee. Therefore, O son, take not to heart this present +calamity of thine. They that are wise are never overwhelmed when they are +persecuted by Time. O thou of mighty arms, the very dwellers of heaven +cannot rise superior to Time. Time afflicts all creatures. O sinless one, +let not doubt cross thy mind regarding the truth of what I have told +thee, for, if thou sufferest doubt to enter thy heart, thy virtue will +suffer diminution! O bull of the Bharata race, thou art born in the +celebrated family of the Kurus. Thou shouldst practise that which I have +told thee, in thought, word and deed.’ + +Yudhishthira answered, “O thou foremost of the regenerate ones, at thy +command I will certainly act according to all the instructions thou hast +given me, and which, O lord, are all so sweet to the ear. O foremost of +Brahmanas, avarice and lust I have none, and neither fear nor pride nor +vanity. I shall, therefore, O lord, follow all that thou hast told me.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having listened to the words of the intelligent +Markandeya, the sons of Pandu, O king, along with the wielder of the bow +called Saranga, and all those bulls among Brahmanas, and all others that +were there, became filled with joy. And having heard those blessed words +appertaining to olden time, from Markandeya gifted with wisdom, their +hearts were filled with wonder.” + + + +SECTION CLXLI + +Janamejaya said, “It behoveth thee to narrate to me in full the greatness +of the Brahmanas even as the mighty ascetic Markandeya had expounded it +to the sons of Pandu.” + +“Vaisampayana said, ‘The eldest son of Pandu had asked Markandeya saying, +‘It behoveth thee to expound to me the greatness of Brahmanas.’ +Markandeya answered him saying, ‘Hear, O king, about the behaviour of +Brahmanas in days of old.’ + +“And Markandeya continued, ‘There was a king, by name Parikshit in +Ayodhya and belonging to the race of Ikshvaku. And once upon a time +Parikshit went a-hunting. And as he was riding alone on a horse chasing +deer, the animal led him to a great distance (from the habitations of +men). And fatigued by the distance he had ridden and afflicted with +hunger and thirst he beheld in that part of the country whither he had +been led, a dark and dense forest, and the king, beholding that forest, +entered it and seeing a delightful tank within the forest, both the rider +and the horse bathed in it, and refreshed by the bath and placing before +his horse some stalks and fibres of the lotus, the king sat by the side +of the tank. And while he was lying by the side of the tank, he heard +certain sweet strains of music, and hearing those strains, he reflected, +‘I do not see here the foot-prints of men. Whose and whence then these +strains?’ And the king soon beheld a maiden of great beauty gathering +flowers singing all the while, and the maiden soon came before the king, +and the king thereupon asked her, ‘Blessed one, who art thou and whose?’ +And she replied, ‘I am a maiden.’ And the king said, ‘I ask thee to be +mine.’ And the maiden answered, ‘Give me a pledge, for then only I can be +thine, else not.’ And the king then asked about the pledge and the girl +answered. ‘Thou wilt never make me cast my eyes on water’, and the king +saying, ‘So be it,’ married her, and king Parikshit having married her +sported (with her) in great joy, and sat with her in silence, and while +the king was staying there, his troops reached the spot, and those troops +beholding the monarch stood surrounding him, and cheered by the presence +of troops, the king entered a handsome vehicle accompanied by his (newly) +wedded wife. And having arrived at his capital he began to live with her +in privacy. And persons that were even near enough to the king could not +obtain any interview with him and the minister-in-chief enquired of those +females that waited upon the king, asking, ‘What do ye do here?’ And +those women replied, ‘We behold here a female of unrivalled beauty. And +the king sporteth with her, having married her with a pledge that he +would never show her water.’ And hearing those words, the +minister-in-chief caused an artificial forest to be created, consisting +of many trees with abundant flowers and fruits, and he caused to be +excavated within that forest and towards one of its sides a large tank, +placed in a secluded spot and full of water that was sweet as Amrita. The +tank was well covered with a net of pearls. Approaching the king one day +in private, he addressed the king saying, ‘This is a fine forest without +water. Sport thou here joyfully!’ And the king at those words of his +minister entered that forest with that adorable wife of his, and the king +sported with her in that delightful forest, and afflicted with hunger and +thirst and fatigued and spent, the king beheld a bower of Madhavi +creepers[48] and entering that bower with his dear one, the king beheld a +tank full of water that was transparent and bright as nectar, and +beholding that tank, the king sat on its bank with her and the king told +his adorable wife, ‘Cheerfully do thou plunge into this water!’ And she, +hearing those words plunged into the tank. But having plunged into the +water she appeared not above the surface, and as the king searched, he +failed to discover any trace of her. And the king ordered the waters of +the tank to be baled out, and thereupon he beheld a frog sitting at the +mouth of a hole, and the king was enraged at this and promulgated an +order saying, ‘Let frogs be slaughtered everywhere in my dominions! +Whoever wishes to have an interview with me must come before me with a +tribute of dead frogs.’ And accordingly when frogs began to be terribly +slaughtered, the affrighted frogs represented all that had happened unto +their king, and the king of the frogs assuming the garb of an ascetic +came before the king Parikshit, and having approached the monarch, he +said, ‘O king, give not thyself up to wrath! Be inclined to grace. It +behoveth thee not to slay the innocent frogs.’ Here occurs a couple of +Slokas. (They are these):--‘O thou of unfading glory, slay not the frogs! +Pacify thy wrath! The prosperity and ascetic merits of those that have +their souls steeped in ignorance suffer diminution! Pledge thyself not to +be angry with the frogs! What need hast thou to commit such sin! What +purpose will be served by slaying the frogs!’ Then king Parikshit whose +soul was filled with woe on account of the death of her that was dear to +him, answered the chief of the frogs who had spoken to him thus, ‘I will +not forgive the frogs. On the other hand, I will slay them. By these +wicked wretches hath my dear one been swallowed up. The frogs, therefore, +always deserve to be killed by me. It behoveth thee not, O learned one, +to intercede on their behalf.’ And hearing these words of Parikshit, the +king of the frogs with his senses and mind much pained said, ‘Be inclined +to grace, O king! I am the king of the frogs by name Ayu. She who was thy +wife is my daughter of the name of Susobhana. This, indeed, is an +instance of her bad conduct. Before this, many kings were deceived by +her.’ The king thereupon said to him, ‘I desire to have her. Let her be +granted to me by thee!’ The king of the frogs thereupon bestowed his +daughter upon Parikshit, and addressing her said, ‘Wait upon and serve +the king.’ And having spoken these words to his daughter, he also +addressed her in wrath saying, ‘Since thou hast deceived many Kings for +this untruthful behaviour of thine, thy offspring will prove +disrespectful to Brahmanas!’ But having obtained her, the king became +deeply enamoured of her in consequence of her companionable virtues, and +feeling that he had, as it were, obtained the sovereignty of the three +worlds, he bowed down to the king of the frogs and reverenced him in due +form and then with utterance choked in joy and tears said, ‘I have been +favoured indeed!’ And the king of the frogs obtaining the leave of his +daughter, returned to the place from which he had come and some time +after the king begot three sons upon her and those sons were named Sala +and Dala and Vala, and some time after, their father, installing the +eldest of them of all on the throne and setting his heart on asceticism, +retired into the forest. One day Sala while out a-hunting, beheld a deer +and pursued it, on his car, and the prince said to his charioteer, ‘Drive +thou fast.’ And the charioteer, thus addressed, replied unto the king, +saying, ‘Do not entertain such a purpose. This deer is incapable of being +caught by thee. If indeed Vami horses had been yoked to thy car, then +couldst thou have taken it.’ Thereupon the king addressed his charioteer, +saying, ‘Tell me all about Vami horses, otherwise I will slay thee,’ Thus +addressed the charioteer became dreadfully alarmed and he was afraid of +the king and also of Vamadeva’s curse and told not the king anything and +the king then lifting up his scimitar said to him, ‘Tell me soon, else I +will slay thee.’ At last afraid of the king, the charioteer said, ‘The +Vami horses are those belonging to Vamadeva; they are fleet as the mind.’ +And unto his charioteer who had said so, the king said, ‘Repair thou to +the asylum of Vamadeva.’ And reaching the asylum of Vamadeva the king +said unto that Rishi, ‘O holy one, a deer struck by me is flying away. It +behoveth thee to make it capable of being seized by me by granting me thy +pair of Vami horses.’ The Rishi then answered him saying, ‘I give thee my +pair of Vami horses. But after accomplishing thy object, my Vami pair you +should soon return.’ The king then taking those steeds and obtaining the +leave of the Rishi pursued the deer, having yoked the Vami pair unto his +car, and after he had left the asylum he spoke unto his charioteer +saying, ‘These jewels of steeds the Brahmanas do not deserve to possess. +These should not be returned to Vamadeva.’ Having said this and seized +the deer he returned to his capital and placed those steeds within the +inner apartments of the palace. + +“Meanwhile the Rishi reflected, ‘The prince is young. Having obtained an +excellent pair of animals, he is sporting with it in joy without +returning it to me. Alas, what a pity it is!’ And reflecting in this +strain, the Rishi said unto a disciple of his, after the expiration of a +month, ‘Go, O Atreya, and say to the king that if he has done with the +Vami steeds, he should return them unto thy preceptor.’ And the disciple +Atreya, thereupon, repairing to the king, spoke unto him as instructed, +and the king replied saying, ‘This pair of steeds deserves to be owned by +kings. The Brahmanas do not deserve to possess jewels of such value. What +business have Brahmanas with horses? Return thou contentedly!’ And +Atreya, thus addressed by the king, returned and told his preceptor all +that had happened, and hearing this sad intelligence, Vamadeva’s heart +was filled with wrath, and repairing in person to the king he asked him +for his steeds, and the king refused to give the Rishi what the latter +asked, and Vamadeva said, ‘O lord of earth, give me thou my Vami horses. +By them hast thou accomplished a task which was almost incapable of being +accomplished by thee. By transgressing the practices of Brahmanas and +Kshatriyas, subject not thyself, O king, to death by means of the +terrible noose of Varuna.’ And hearing this, the king answered, ‘O +Vamadeva, this couple of excellent well-trained, and docile bulls are fit +animals for Brahmanas. O great Rishi, (take them and) go with them +wherever thou likest. Indeed, the very Vedas carry persons like thee.’ +Then Vamadeva said, ‘O king, the Vedas do, indeed, carry persons like us. +But that is in the world hereafter. In this world, however, O king, +animals like these carry me and persons like me as also all others.’ At +this the king answered, ‘Let four assess carry thee, or four mules of the +best kind, or even four steeds endued with the speed of the wind. Go thou +with these. This pair of Vami horses, however, deserves to be owned by +Kshatriyas. Know thou, therefore, that these are not thine.’ At this, +Vamadeva said, ‘O king, terrible vows have been ordained for the +Brahmanas. If I have lived in their observance, let four fierce and +mighty Rakshasas of terrible mien and iron bodies, commanded by me, +pursue thee with desire of slaying, and carry thee on their sharp lances, +having cut up thy body into four parts.’ Hearing this, the king said, +‘Let those, O Vamadeva, that know thee as a Brahmana that in thought, +word, and deed, is desirous of taking life, at my command, armed with +bright lances and swords prostrate thee with thy disciples before me.’ +Then Vamadeva answered, ‘O king, having obtained these my Vami steeds, +thou hadst said, ‘I will return them.’ Therefore, give me back my Vami +steeds, so thou mayst be able to protect thy life.’ Hearing this, the +king said, ‘Pursuit of deer hath not been ordained for the Brahmanas. I +do punish thee, however, for thy untruthfulness. From this day, too, +obeying all thy commands I will, O Brahmana, attain to regions of bliss.’ +Vamadeva then said, ‘A Brahmana cannot be punished in thought, word or +deed. That learned person who by ascetic austerities succeedeth in +knowing a Brahmana to be so, faileth not to attain to prominence in this +world.’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘After Vamadeva had said this, there arose, O +king, (four) Rakshasas of terrible mien, and as they, with lances in +their hands, approached the king for slaying him, the latter cried aloud, +saying, ‘If, O Brahmana, all the descendants of Ikshvaku’s race, if (my +brother) Dala, if all these Vaisyas acknowledge my sway, then I will not +yield up the Vami steeds to Vamadeva, for these men can never be +virtuous.’ And while he was uttering those words, those Rakshasas slew +him, and the lord of earth was soon prostrated on the ground. And the +Ikshvakus, learning that their king had been slain, installed Dala on the +throne, and the Brahmana Vamadeva thereupon going to the kingdom (of the +Ikshvakus), addressed the new monarch, saying, ‘O king, it hath been +declared in all the sacred books that persons should give away unto +Brahmanas. If thou fearest sin, O king, give me now the Vami steeds +without delay.’ And hearing these words of Vamadeva, the king in anger +spoke unto his charioteer, saying, ‘Bring me an arrow from those I have +kept, which is handsome to behold and tempered with poison, so that +pierced by it Vamadeva may lie prostrate in pain, torn by the dogs.’ +Hearing this, Vamadeva answered, ‘I know, O king, that thou hast a son of +ten years of age, called Senajita, begotten upon thy queen. Urged by my +word, slay thou that dear boy of thine without delay by means of thy +frightful arrows!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘At these words of Vamadeva, O king, that arrow of +fierce energy, shot by the monarch, slew the prince in the inner +apartments, and hearing this, Dala said there and then, ‘Ye people of +Ikshvaku’s race, I will do ye good. I shall slay this Brahmana today, +grinding him with force. Bring me another arrow of fierce energy. Ye +lords of earth, behold my prowess now.’ And at these words of Dala, +Vamadeva said, ‘This arrow of terrible mien and tempered with poison, +that thou aimest at me, thou shall not, O ruler of men, be able to aim +nor even to shoot.’ And thereupon the king said, ‘Ye men of Ikshvaku’s +race, behold me incapable of shooting the arrow that hath been taken up +by me. I fail to compass the death of this Brahmana. Let Vamadeva who is +blessed with a long life live.’ Then Vamadeva said, ‘Touching thy queen +with this arrow, thou mayst purge thyself of the sin (of attempting to +take the life of a Brahmana).’ And king Dala did as he was directed and +the queen then addressed the Muni, and said, ‘O Vamadeva, let me be able +to duly instruct this wretched husband of mine from day to day, imparting +unto him words of happy import; and let me always wait upon and serve the +Brahmanas, and by this acquire, O Brahmana, the sacred regions +hereafter.’ And hearing these words of the queen, Vamadeva said, ‘O thou +of beautiful eyes, thou hast saved this royal race. Beg thou an +incomparable boon. I will grant thee whatever thou mayst ask. And, O thou +faultless one, rule thou, O princess, these thy kinsmen and this great +kingdom of the Ikshvakus!’ And hearing these words of Vamadeva the +princess said, ‘This, O holy one, is the boon I seek, viz., that my +husband may now be freed from his sin, and that thou mayst be employed in +thinking of the weal of his son and kinsmen. This is the boon that I ask, +O thou foremost of Brahmanas!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Hearing these words of the queen, that Muni, O +thou foremost of the Kuru race, said, ‘So be it.’ And thereupon king Dala +became highly glad and gave unto the Muni his Vami steeds, having bowed +down unto him with reverence!’” + + + +SECTION CLXLII + +Vaisampayana said, “The Rishis, the Brahmanas, and Yudhishthira then +asked Markandeya, saying, ‘How did the Rishi Vaka become so long lived?’ + +“Thus asked by them, Markandeya answered, ‘The royal sage Vaka is a great +ascetic and endowed with long life. Ye need not enquire into the reason +of this.’ + +“Hearing this, O Bharata, the son of Kunti, king Yudhishthira the just, +along with his brothers, then asked Markandeya saying, ‘It hath been +heard by us that both Vaka and Dalvya are of great souls and endowed with +immortality and that those Rishis, held in universal reverence, are the +friends of the chief of the gods. O Holy One, I desire to listen lo the +(history of the) meeting of Vaka and Indra that is full of both joy and +woe. Narrate thou that history unto us succinctly.’ + +“Markandeya said, ‘When that horrible conflict between the gods and the +Asuras was over, Indra became the ruler of the three worlds. The clouds +showered rain copiously. And the dwellers of the world had abundance of +harvests, and were excellent in disposition. And devoted to virtue, they +always practised morality and enjoyed peace. And all persons, devoted to +the duties of their respective orders, were perfectly happy and cheerful, +and the slayer of Vala, beholding all the creatures of the world happy +and cheerful, became himself filled with joy. And he of a hundred +sacrifices, the chief of the gods seated on the back of his elephant +Airavata, surveyed his happy subjects, and he cast his eyes on delightful +asylums of Rishis, on various auspicious rivers, towns full of +prosperity, and villages and rural regions in the enjoyment of plenty. +And he also cast his eyes upon kings devoted to the practice of virtue +and well-skilled in ruling their subjects. And he also looked upon tanks +and reservoirs and wells and lakes and smaller lakes all full of water +and adored by best of Brahmanas in the observance, besides, of various +excellent vows, and then descending on the delightful earth, O king, the +god of a hundred sacrifices, proceeded towards a blessed asylum teeming +with animals and birds, situated by the side of the sea, in the +delightful and auspicious regions of the East on a spot overgrown with +abundance of vegetation. And the chief of the gods beheld Vaka in that +asylum, and Vaka also, beholding the ruler of the Immortals, became +highly glad, and he worshipped Indra by presenting him with water to wash +his feet, a carpet to sit upon, the usual offering of the Arghya, and +fruit and roots. And the boon-giving slayer of Vala, the divine ruler of +those that know not old age, being seated at his ease, asked Vaka the +following question, ‘O sinless Muni, thou hast lived for a hundred years! +Tell me, O Brahmana, what the sorrows are of those that are immortal!’ + +Markandeya continued, “Hearing this, Vaka answered, saying, ‘Life with +persons that are disagreeable, separation from those that are agreeable +and beloved, companionship with the wicked, these are the evils which +they that are immortal have to bear. The death of sons and wives, of +kinsmen and friends, and the pain of dependence on others, are some of +the greatest of evils. (These may all be noticed in a deathless life). +There is no more pitiable sight in the world, as I conceive, than that of +men destitute of wealth being insulted by others. The acquisition of +family dignity by those that have it not, the loss of family dignity by +those that have it, unions and disunions,--these all are noticeable by +those that lead deathless lives. How they that have no family dignity but +have prosperity, win what they have not--all this, O god of a hundred +sacrifices, is before thy very eyes! What can be more pitiable than the +calamities and reverses sustained by the gods, the Asuras, the +Gandharvas, men, the snakes, and the Rakshasas! They that have been of +good families suffer afflictions in consequence of their subjection to +persons that are ill-born and the poor are insulted by the rich. What can +be more pitiable than these? Innumerable examples of such contradictory +dispensations are seen in the world. The foolish and the ignorant are +cheerful and happy while the learned and the wise suffer misery! +Plentiful instances of misery and woe are seen among men in this world! +(They that lead deathless lives are destined to behold all these and +suffer on that account.)’ + +“Indra then said, ‘O thou of great good fortune, tell me again, what the +joys are of those persons that lead deathless lives,--joys that are +adored by gods and Rishis!’ + +“Vaka answered, ‘If without having to associate with a wicked friend, a +man cooks scanty vegetables in his own house at the eight or the twelfth +part of the day, there can be nothing happier than that.[49] He in whose +case the day is not counted is not called voracious. And, O Maghavan, +happiness is even his own whose scanty vegetables are cooked. Earned by +his own efforts, without having to depend upon any one, he that eateth +even fruits and vegetables in his own house is entitled to respect. He +that eateth in another’s house the food given to him in contempt, even if +that food be rich and sweet, doth what is despicable. This, therefore, is +the opinion of the wise that fie on the food of that mean wretch who like +a dog or a Rakshasa eateth at another’s house. If after treating guests +and servants and offering food to the manes a good Brahmana eateth what +remains, there can be nothing happier than that. There is nothing sweeter +or more sacred, O thou of a hundred sacrifices, than that food which such +a person takes after serving the guest with the first portion thereof. +Each mouthful (of rice) that the Brahmana eats after having served the +guest, produces merit equal to what attaches to the gift of a thousand +kine. And whatever sins such a one may have committed in his youth are +all washed away of a certainty. The water in the hands of the Brahmana +that hath been fed and honoured with a pecuniary gift (after the feeding +is over) when touched with water (sprinkled by him that feeds), instantly +purges off all the sins of the latter!’” + +“Speaking of these and various other things with Vaka, the chief of the +gods went away to heaven.’”[50] + + + +SECTION CLXLIII + +Vaisampayana said, “Then the sons of Pandu again addressed Markandeya +saying, ‘Thou hast told us of greatness of Brahmanas. We desire now to +hear of the greatness of the royal Kshatriyas!” Thus addressed by them, +the great Rishi Markandeya spoke, ‘Listen now to the greatness of the +royal Kshatriyas. A certain king of the name of Suhotra belonging to the +Kuru race went on a visit to the great Rishis. And as he was returning +from that visit, he beheld king Sivi the son of Usinara, seated on his +car, and as each came before the other, each saluted the other as best +befitted his age and each regarding himself as the equal of the other in +respect of qualities, refused to give the way to the other. And at this +juncture Narada appeared there, and beholding what had happened, the +celestial Rishi asked, ‘Why is it that ye both stand here blocking each +other’s way?’ And thus questioned both of them spoke to Narada saying, ‘O +holy one, do not speak so. The sages of old have declared that the way +should be given to one who is superior or to him that is abler. We, +however, that stand blocking each other’s way are equal to each other in +every respect. Judged properly there is no superiority amongst us.’ Thus +addressed by them, Narada recited three slokas. (They are these), ‘O thou +of the Kuru race, he that is wicked behaveth wickedly even unto him that +is humble; he also that is humble behaveth with humility and honestly +unto him that is wicked! He that is honest behaveth honestly even towards +the dishonest. Why should he not behave honestly towards him that is +honest? He that is honest regardeth the service that is done to him, as +if it were a hundred times greater than it is. Is this not current +amongst the gods themselves? Certainly it is the royal son of Usinara who +is possessed of goodness that is greater than thine. One should conquer +the mean by charity; the untruthful by truth, the man of wicked deeds by +forgiveness; and the dishonest by honesty. Both of you are large-hearted. +Let one amongst you stand aside, according to the indication of the above +slokas.’ And having said so Narada became silent, and hearing what Narada +had said the king of the Kuru race walking round Sivi, and praising his +numerous achievements, gave him the way and went on in his course. It was +even thus that Narada had described the high blessedness of the royal +Kshatriyas.’” + + + +SECTION CLXLIV + +Markandeya continued, “Listen now to another story. One day as king +Yayati, the son of Nahusha, was sitting on his throne, surrounded by the +citizens, there came unto him a Brahmana desirous of soliciting wealth +for his preceptor, and approaching the king, the Brahmana said, ‘O king, +I beg of thee wealth for my preceptor according to my covenant.’ And the +king said, ‘O Holy One, tell me what thy covenant is.’ And thereupon the +Brahmana said, ‘O king, in this world when men are asked for alms, they +entertain contempt for him that asketh it. I therefore, ask thee, O king, +with what feelings thou wilt give me what I ask and upon which I have set +my heart.’ And the king replied saying, ‘Having given away a thing, I +never boast of it. I never also listen to solicitations for things that +cannot be given. I listen, however, to prayers for things that can be +given and giving them away I always become happy. I will give thee a +thousand kine. The Brahmana that asks me for a gift is always dear to me. +I am never angry with the person that begs of me and I am never sorry for +having given away a thing!’ And the Brahmana then obtained from the king +a thousand kine and went away.” + + + +SECTION CLXLV + +Vaisampayana said, “The son of Pandu again addressed the Rishi and said, +‘Speak thou unto us of the high fortune of royal Kshatriyas!’ And +Markandeya said, ‘There were two kings of the name of Vrishadarbha and +Seduka and both of them were conversant with morals and with weapons of +attack and defence. And Seduka knew that Vrishadarbha had from his +boyhood an unuttered vow that he would give no other metal unto Brahmanas +save gold and silver. And once on a time a Brahmana having completed his +study of the Vedas came unto Seduka and uttering a benediction upon him +begged of him wealth for his preceptor, saying, ‘Give me a thousand +steeds.’ And thus addressed, Seduka said unto him, ‘It is not possible +for me to give thee this for thy preceptor. Therefore, go thou unto king +Vrishadarbha, for, O Brahmana, he is a highly virtuous king. Go and beg +of him. He will grant thy request. Even this is his unuttered vow.’ +Hearing these words that Brahmana went to Vrishadarbha and begged of him +a thousand steeds, and the king thus solicited, struck the Brahmana with +a whip and thereupon the Brahmana said, ‘Innocent as I am, why dost thou +attack me thus?’ And the Brahmana was on the point of cursing the king, +when the latter said, ‘O Brahmana, dost thou curse him that doth not give +thee what thou askest? Or, is this behaviour proper for a Brahmana?’ And +the Brahmana said, ‘O king of kings, sent unto thee by Seduka, I come +before thee for this.’ The king said, ‘I will give thee now whatever +tribute may come to me before the morning expire. How indeed, can I send +away the man empty-handed who hath been whipped by me.’ And having said +this the king gave unto that Brahmana the entire proceeds of that day and +that was more than the value of a thousand horses.’” + + + +SECTION CLXLVI + +“Markandeya said, ‘One day it was resolved by the gods that they should +descend on the earth and try the goodness and virtue of king Sivi, the +son of Usinara. And addressing each other,--‘Well’--Agni and Indra came +to the earth. And Agni took the form of a pigeon flying away from Indra +who pursued him in the form of a hawk, and that pigeon fell upon the lap +of king Sivi who was seated on an excellent seat. And the priest +thereupon addressing the king said, ‘Afraid of the hawk and desirous of +saving its life, this pigeon hath come to thee for safety. The learned +have said that the falling of a pigeon upon one’s body forebodeth a great +danger. Let the king that understands omens give away wealth for saving +himself from the danger indicated.’ And the pigeon also addressed the +king and said, ‘Afraid of the hawk and desirous of saving my life I have +come to thee for protection. I am a Muni. Having assumed the form of a +pigeon, I come to thee as a seeker of thy protection. Indeed, I seek thee +as my life. Know me as one possessed of Vedic lore, as one leading the +Brahmacharya mode of life, as one possessed also of self-control and +ascetic virtues. And know me further as one that has never spoken +disagreeably unto his preceptor, as one possessed of every virtue indeed, +as one that is sinless. I repeat the Vedas, I know their prosody; indeed, +I have studied all the Vedas letter by letter. I am not a pigeon. Oh, do +not yield me up to the hawk. The giving up of a learned and pure Brahmana +can never be a good gift.’ And after the pigeon said so, the hawk +addressed the king, and said, ‘Creatures do not come into the world in +the same particular order. In the order of creation, thou mayst, in a +former birth, have been begotten by this pigeon. It is not proper for +thee, O king, to interfere with my food by protecting this pigeon (even +though he might have been thy father).’ And thus addressed, the king +said, ‘Hath any one, before this, seen birds thus speak the pure speech +of man? Knowing what this pigeon sayeth, and this hawk also, how can we +act to-day according to virtue? He that giveth up an affrighted creature +seeking protection, unto its foe, doth not obtain protection when he is +in need of it himself. Indeed, the very clouds do not shower rain +seasonably for him, and the seeds though scattered do not grow for him. +He that giveth up an afflicted creature seeking protection unto its foe, +hath to see his offspring die in childhood. The ancestor of such a person +can never dwell in heaven; indeed, the very gods decline to accept the +libations of clarified butter poured by him into the fire. He that giveth +up an affrighted creature seeking protection, unto its foe, is struck +with the thunder-bolt by the gods with Indra at their head. The food that +he eateth is unsanctified, and he, of a narrow soul, falleth from heaven +very soon. O hawk, let the people of the Sivi tribe place before thee a +bull cooked with rice instead of this pigeon. And let them also carry to +the place where thou livest in joy, meat in abundance.’ And hearing this, +the hawk said, ‘O king, I do not ask for a bull, nor, indeed, any other +meat, nor meat more in quantity than that of this pigeon. It hath been +given to me by the gods. The creature, therefore, is my food today in +consequence of its death that hath been ordained. Therefore, O monarch, +give it up to me.’ Thus addressed by the hawk, the king said, ‘Let my men +see and carefully carry the bull to thee with every limb entire. Let that +bull be the ransom of this creature afflicted with fright and let it be +carried to thee before my eyes. Oh, slay not this pigeon! I will yield up +my very life, yet I would not give up this pigeon. Dost thou not know, O +hawk, that this creature looketh like a sacrifice with the Soma juice? O +blessed one, cease to take so much trouble for it. I cannot, by any +means, yield up the pigeon to thee. Or, O hawk, if it pleases thee, +command me to do some such thing which I may do for thee, which may be +agreeable to thee, and upon doing which the men of the Sivi tribe may yet +in joy bless me in terms of applause. I promise thee that I will do what +thou mayst did me do.’ And at this appeal of the king, the hawk said, ‘O +king, if thou givest me as much flesh as would be equal to the weight of +the pigeon, cutting it off thy right thigh; then can the pigeon be +properly saved by thee; then wouldst thou do what would be agreeable to +me and what the men of the Sivi tribe would speak of in terms of praise.’ +And the king agreed to this and he cut off a piece of flesh from his +right thigh and weighed it against the pigeon. But the pigeon weighed +heavier. And thereupon the king cut off another piece of his flesh, but +the pigeon still weighed heavier, and then the king cut off pieces of +flesh from all parts of his body and placed them on the scale. But the +pigeon still weighed heavier, and then the king himself ascended the +scale and he felt no grief at this and beholding this, the hawk +disappeared there saying--(The pigeon hath been) Saved,--And the king +asked the pigeon saying, ‘O pigeon, let the Sivis know who the hawk is. +None but the lord of the universe could do as he did. O Holy One, answer +thou this question of mine!’ And the pigeon then said, ‘I am the +smoke-bannered Agni called also Vaiswanara. The hawk is none other than +Sachi’s lord armed with the thunder-bolt. O son of Suratha, thou art a +bull among men. We came to try thee. These pieces of flesh, O king, that +thou hast cut off with thy sword from thy body for saving me have caused +gashes in thy body. I will make these marks auspicious and handsome and +they will be of the colour of gold and emit a sweet perfume, and earning +great fame and respected by the gods and the Rishis thou shall long rule +these subjects of thine, and a son will spring from thy flank who shall +be called Kapataroman. O king, thou shalt obtain this son of the name of +Kapataroman from out of thy own body and thou wilt behold him become the +foremost of the Saurathas, blazing with renown, possessed of bravery and +great personal beauty!” + + + +SECTION CLXLVII + +Vaisampayana said, “And the son of Pandu once more addressed Markandeya, +saying, ‘Tell us again of the great good fortune of kings.’ And +Markandeya said, ‘There came unto the horse-sacrifice of king Ashtaka of +Viswamitra’s race, many kings. And there came unto that sacrifice the +three brothers also of that king, viz., Pratardana, Vasumanas, and Sivi, +the son of Usinara. And after the sacrifice was completed, Ashtaka was +proceeding on his car along with his brothers when they all beheld Narada +coming that way and they saluted the celestial Rishi and said unto him, +‘Ride thou on this car with us. And Narada, saying, So be it, mounted on +the car, and one among those kings having gratified the holy and +celestial Rishi Narada, said, O Holy One, I desire, to ask thee +something.’ And the Rishi said, ‘Ask.’ And the person, thus permitted, +said, ‘All four of us are blessed with long lives and have indeed every +virtue. We shall, therefore, be permitted to go to a certain heaven and +dwell there for a long period. Who amongst us, however, O king, shall +fall down first?’ Thus questioned the Rishi said, ‘This Ashtaka shall +first come down.’ And thereupon the enquirer asked, ‘For what cause?’ And +the Rishi answered, ‘I lived for a few days in the abode of Ashtaka. He +carried me (one day) on his car out of the town and there I beheld +thousands of kine distinguished from one another by difference of hue. +And beholding those kine I asked Ashtaka whose they were and Ashtaka +answered me, saying, ‘I have given away these kine. By this answer he +gave expression to his own praise. It is for this answer of his that +Ashtaka shall have to come down.’ And after Narada had said so, one of +them again enquired, saying, ‘Three of us then will stay in heaven. +Amongst us three, who shall fall down first?’ And the Rishi answered, +Pratardana.’ And the enquirer asked, ‘For what cause?’ And the Rishi +answered, ‘I lived for some days in the abode of Pratardana also. And he +carried me on his car one day. And while doing so, a Brahmana asked him +saying, ‘Give me a horse!’ And Pratardana replied, ‘After returning, I +will give thee one!’ And thereupon the Brahmana said, ‘Let it be given to +me soon.’ And as the Brahmana spoke those words, the king gave unto him +the steed that had been yoked on the right-hand wheel of the car. And +there came unto him another Brahmana desirous of obtaining a steed. And +the king having spoken to him in the same way, gave him the steed that +had been yoked on the left wheel of his car. And having given away the +horse unto him, the king proceeded on his journey. And then there came +unto the king another Brahmana desirous of obtaining a horse. And the +king soon gave him the horse on the left front of his car, unyoking the +animal. And having done so, the king proceeded on his journey. And then +there came unto the king another Brahmana desirous of obtaining a horse. +And the king said unto him, ‘Returning, I will give thee a horse.’ But +the Brahmana said, ‘Let the steed be given to me soon.’ And the king gave +him the only horse he had. And seizing the yoke of the car himself, the +king began to draw it. And as he did so, he said, ‘There is now nothing +for the Brahmanas.’ The king had given away, it is true, but he had done +so with detraction. And for that speech of his, he shall have to fall +down from heaven. And after the Rishi had said so, of the two that +remained, one asked, ‘Who amongst us two shall fall down?’ And the Rishi +answered, ‘Vasumanas.’ And the enquirer asked, ‘For what reason?’ And +Narada said, ‘In course of my wanderings I arrived at the abode of +Vasumanas. And at that time the Brahmanas were performing the ceremony of +Swastivachana for the sake of a flowery car.[51] And I approached the +king’s presence. And after the Brahmanas had completed the ceremony, the +flowery car became visible to them. And I praised that car, and thereupon +the king told me, ‘Holy one, by thee hath this car been praised. Let this +car, therefore, be thine.’ And after this I went to Vasumanas another +time when I was in need of a (flowery) car. And I admired the car, and +the king said, ‘It is thine.’ And I went to the king a third time and +admired the car again. And even then the king exhibiting the flowery car +to the Brahmanas, cast his eyes on me, and said, ‘O holy one, thou hast +praised the flowery car sufficiently.” And the king only said these +words, without making me a gift of that car. And for this he will fall +down from heaven.’ + +“And one among them said, ‘Of the one who is to go with thee, who will go +and who will fall down?’ And Narada answered, saying, ‘Sivi will go, but +I will fall down.’ ‘For what reason?’ asked the enquirer. And Narada +said, ‘I am not the equal of Sivi. For one day a Brahmana came unto Sivi +and addressing him, said, ‘O Sivi, I came to thee for food.’ And Sivi +replied unto him, saying. ‘What shall I do? Let me have thy orders.’ And +the Brahmana answered, ‘This thy son known by the name of Vrihadgarbha +should be killed. And, O king, cook him for my food.’ And hearing this, I +waited to see what would follow. And Sivi then killed his son and cooking +him duly and placing that food in a vessel and taking it upon his head, +he went out in search of the Brahmana and while Sivi was thus seeking, +for the Brahmana, some one told him, The Brahmana thou seekest, having +entered thy city, is setting fire to thy abode and he is also setting +fire, in wrath, to thy treasury, thy arsenal, the apartments of the +females and thy stables for horses and elephants.’ And Sivi heard all +this, without change of colour, and entering his city spoke unto the +Brahmana, ‘O holy one, the food has been cooked.’ And the Brahmana +hearing this spoke not a word and from surprise he stood with downcast +looks. And Sivi with a view to gratifying the Brahmana said, ‘O holy one, +eat thou this.’ And the Brahmana looking at Sivi for a moment said, ‘Eat +it thyself.’ And thereupon Sivi said, ‘Let it be so.’ And Sivi cheerfully +taking the vessel from his head desired to eat it and thereupon the +Brahmana caught hold of Sivi’s hand and addressing him said, ‘Thou hast +conquered wrath. There is nothing that thou canst not give unto the +Brahmanas.’ And saying this, that Brahmana adored Sivi, and then as Sivi +cast his eyes before him, he beheld his son standing like a child of the +gods, decked in ornaments and yielding a fragrance from his body and the +Brahmana, having accomplished all this, made himself visible and it was +Vidhatri himself who had thus come in that guise to try that royal sage, +and after Vidhatri had disappeared, the counsellors addressed the king, +saying, ‘Thou knowest everything. For what didst thou do all this?’ And +Sivi answered, ‘It was not for fame, nor for wealth, nor from desire of +acquiring objects of enjoyment that I did all this. This course is not +sinful. It is for this that I do all this. The path which is trodden by +the virtuous is laudable. My heart always inclineth towards such a +course. This high instance of Sivi’s blessedness I know, and I have, +therefore, narrated it duly!’” + + + +SECTION CLXLVIII + +Vaisampayana said, “The sons of Pandu and those Rishis then asked +Markandeya, ‘Is there anybody that is blessed with longer life than +thou?’ And Markandeya answered them, saying, ‘There is without doubt, a +royal sage of the name of Indradyumna and his virtue having diminished, +he fell from heaven, crying, ‘My achievements are lost!’ And he came unto +me and asked, ‘Dost thou know me?’ And I answered him, saying, ‘From our +anxiety to acquire religious merit we do not confine ourselves to any +home. We live but for a night in the same village or town. A person like +us, therefore, cannot possibly know thy pursuits. The fasts and vows we +observe render us weak in body and unable to follow any worldly pursuits +on our own behalf. Hence, one like us cannot possibly know thee.’ He then +asked me, ‘Is there any one who is longerlived than thou’? I answered +him, saying, ‘There liveth on the Himavat an owl of the name of +Pravarakarna. He is older than I. He may know thee. The part of the +Himavat where he dwelleth is far off from here.’ And at this Indradyumna +became a horse and carried me to where that owl lived and the king asked +the owl, saying, ‘Dost thou know me?’ And the owl seemed to reflect for a +moment and then said unto the king, ‘I do not know thee.’ And the royal +sage Indradyumna thereupon asked the owl, ‘Is there any one who is older +than thou?’ And thus asked the owl answered, saying, There is a lake of +the name of Indradyumna. In that lake dwelleth a crane of the name of +Nadijangha. He is older than we. Ask thou him.’ And at this king +Indradyumna taking both myself and the owl went to that lake where the +crane Nadijangha dwelt. And that crane was asked by us, ‘Dost thou know +the king Indradyumna?’ And the crane thereupon seemed to reflect a little +and then said, ‘I do not know king Indradyumna.’ And the crane was asked +by us, ‘Is there any one who is older than thou?’ And he answered us, +saying, ‘There dwelleth in this very lake a tortoise of the name of +Akupara. He is older than I. He may know something of this king. +Therefore, enquire ye of Akupara. And then that crane gave information to +the tortoise, saying, ‘It is intended by us to ask thee something. Please +come to us.’ And hearing this the tortoise came out of the lake to that +part of the bank where we all were and as he came there we asked him, +saying, ‘Dost thou know this king Indradyumna?’ And the tortoise +reflected for a moment. And his eyes were filled with tears and his heart +was much moved and he trembled all over and was nearly deprived of his +senses. And he said with joined hands, ‘Alas, do I not know this one? He +had planted the sacrificial stake a thousand times at the time of +kindling the sacrificial fire. This lake was excavated by the feet of the +cows given away by this king unto the Brahmanas on the completion of the +sacrifice. I have lived here ever since.’ And after the tortoise had said +all this, there came from the celestial regions a car. And an aerial +voice was heard which said, addressing Indradyumna, ‘Come thou and obtain +the place thou deservest in heaven! Thy achievements are great! Come thou +cheerfully to thy place! Here also are certain slokas: The report of +virtuous deeds spreadeth over the earth and ascendeth to heaven. As long +as that report lasts, so long is the doer said to be in heaven. The man +whose evil deeds are bruited about, is said to fall down and live, as +long as that evil report lasts in the lower regions. Therefore should man +be virtuous in his acts if he is to gain Heaven. And he should seek +refuge in virtue, abandoning a sinful heart.’ + +“And hearing these words, the king said, ‘Let the car stay here as long +as I do not take these old persons to the places whence I brought them. +And having brought me and the owl Pravarakarna to our respective places, +he went away, riding on that car, to the place that was fit for him. +Being longlived, I witness all this.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “It was thus that Markandeya narrated all this +unto the son of Pandu. And after Markandeya finished, the sons of Pandu +said, ‘Blessed be thou! Thou hadst acted properly in causing king +Indradyumna who had fallen from Heaven to regain his sphere!’ And +Markandeya answered them, saying, ‘Devaki’s son, Krishna, also had thus +raised the royal sage Nriga who had sunk in hell and caused him to regain +Heaven!’” + + + +SECTION CLXLIX + +Vaisampayana said, “King Yudhishthira, hearing from the illustrious +Markandeya the story of the royal sage Indradyumna’s regaining of Heaven, +again asked the Muni, saying, ‘O great Muni, tell me in what condition +should a man practise charity in order to gain admission into the regions +of Indra? Is it by practising charity while leading a domestic mode of +life, or in boyhood, or in youth, or in old age? O, tell me about the +respective merits reaped from the practice of charity in these different +stages of life?’ + +Markandeya said, ‘Life that is futile is of four kinds. Charity also that +is futile is of sixteen kinds. His life is vain who hath no son; and his +also who is out of pale of virtue: and his too who liveth on the food of +other; and, lastly, his who cooketh for himself without giving therefrom +unto the Pitris, the gods, and the guests, and who eateth of it before +these all. The gift to one that has fallen away from the practice of +virtuous vows, as also the gift of wealth that has been earned wrongly, +are both in vain. The gift to a fallen Brahmana, that to a thief, that +also to a preceptor that is false, is in vain. The gift to an untruthful +man, to a person that is sinful, to one that is ungrateful, to one that +officiates at sacrifices performed by all classes of people residing in a +village, to one that sells the Vedas,[52] to a Brahmana that cooks for +Sudra, to one that too by birth is a Brahmana but who is destitute of the +occupations of his order, is in vain. The gift to one that has married a +girl after the accession of puberty, to females, to one that sports with +snakes, and to one that is employed in menial offices, is also in vain. +These sixteen kinds of gifts are productive of no merits. That man who +with mind clouded with darkness giveth away from fear or anger, enjoyeth +the merit of such gift while he is in the womb of his mother. The man who +(under other circumstances) maketh gifts unto the Brahmanas, enjoyeth the +fruit thereof while he is in old age. Therefore, O king, the man who +wishes to win the way of heaven, should under all conditions, make gifts +unto Brahmanas of everything that he wishes to give away.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘By what means do Brahmanas, who accept gifts from +all the four orders, save others as well as themselves?” + +“Markandeya said, ‘By Japa,[53] and Mantras,[54] and Homa[55] and the +study of the Vedas, the Brahmanas construct a Vedic boat[56] wherewith +they save both others and themselves. The gods themselves are pleased +with that man who gratifieth the Brahmanas. Indeed, a man may attain +heaven at the command of a Brahmana. Thou wilt, O king, without doubt +ascend to regions of everlasting bliss, in consequence of thy worship of +the Pitris and the gods, and thy reverence for the Brahmanas, even though +thy body is filled with phlegmatic humours and withal so dull and inert! +He that desires virtue and heaven should adore the Brahmanas. One should +feed Brahmanas with care on occasions of Sraddhas, although those among +them that are cursed or fallen should be excluded. They also should be +carefully excluded that are either excessively fair or excessively black, +that have diseased nails, that are lepers, that are deceitful, that are +born in bastardy of widows or of women having husbands alive; and they +also that support themselves by the profession of arms. That Sraddha +which is censurable, consumeth the performer thereof like fire consuming +fuel. If they that are to be employed in Sraddhas happen to be dumb, +blind, or deaf, care should be taken to employ them along with Brahmanas +conversant with the Vedas. O Yudhishthira, listen now unto whom thou +shouldst give. He that knoweth all the Vedas should give only to that +able Brahmana who is competent to rescue both the giver and himself, for +he, indeed, is to be regarded as able who can rescue both the giver and +himself. O son of Pritha, the sacred fires do not receive such +gratification from libations of clarified butter, from offerings of +flowers and sandal and other perfumed pastes as from the entertainment of +guests. Therefore, do thou strive to entertain guests, O son of Pandu! O +king, they that give unto guests water to wash their feet, butter to rub +over their (tired) legs, light during the hours of darkness, food, and +shelter, have not to go before Yama. The removal (after worship) of the +flowery offerings unto the gods, the removal of the remnants of a +Brahmana’s feast, waiting (upon a Brahmana) with perfumed pastes, and the +massaging of a Brahmana’s limbs, are, each of them, O foremost of kings, +productive of greater merit than the gift of kine. A person, without +doubt, rescueth himself by the gift of a Kapila cow. Therefore, should +one give away a Kapila cow decked with ornaments unto Brahmanas. O thou +of the Bharata race, one should give unto a person of good lineage and +conversant with the Vedas; unto a person that is poor; unto one leading a +domestic mode of life but burdened with wife and children; unto one that +daily adoreth the sacred fire; and unto one that hath done thee no +service. Thou shouldst always give unto such persons but not to them that +are in affluence. What merit is there, O thou foremost of the Bharata +race, by giving unto one that is affluent? One cow must be given unto one +Brahmana. A single cow must not be given unto many. For if the cow so +given away (unto many) be sold, the giver’s family is lost for three +generations. Such a gift would not assuredly rescue the giver nor the +Brahmana that takes it. He who giveth eighty Ratis of pure gold, earneth +the merit of giving away a hundred pieces of gold for ever. He that +giveth away a strong bull capable also of drawing the plough, is +certainly rescued from all difficulties and finally goeth to heaven. He +that giveth away land unto a learned Brahmana, hath all his desires +fulfilled. The tired traveller, with weakened limbs and feet besmeared +with dust, asks for the name of him that may give him food. There are men +who answer him by telling him the name. That wise man who informs these +toil-worn ones of the name of the person who may give them food, is, +without doubt, regarded as equal in merit unto the giver himself of food. +Therefore, abstaining from other kinds of gift, give thou food. There is +no merit (arising out of gifts) that is so great as that of giving food. +The man that according to the measure of his might gives well-cooked and +pure food unto the Brahmanas, acquires, by that act of his, the +companionship of Prajapati (Brahma). There is nothing superior to food. +Therefore, food is regarded as the first and foremost of all things (to +be given away). It hath been said that food itself is Prajapati. And +Prajapati is regarded as the Year. And the Year is sacrifice. And +everything is established in sacrifice, for it is from sacrifice that all +creatures, mobile and immobile, take their origin. For this reason, it +hath been heard by us, food is the foremost of all things. They that give +away lakes and large pieces of water, and tanks and wells, and shelter +and food and they that have sweet words for all, have not to hear the +admonitions of Yama. With him who gives rice, and wealth earned by his +labour, unto Brahmana of good behaviour, the earth is satisfied. And she +poureth upon him showers of wealth. The giver of food walketh first, +after him the speaker of truth and he that giveth unto persons that do +not solicit. But the three go to the same place.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing all this, Yudhishthira, along with his +younger brothers, impelled by curiosity, again addressed the high-souled +Markandeya, saying, ‘O great Muni, what is the distance of Yama’s region +from that of men? What is its measurement? How also do men pass it over? +And by what means? O, tell me all this!’ + +“Markandeya said, ‘O king, O them foremost of virtuous men, this question +of thine appertains to a great mystery. It is sacred and much applauded +by the Rishis. Appertaining as it also does to virtue, I will speak of it +to thee. The distance of Yama’s region from the abode of men is, O king, +eighty-six thousand Yojanas! The way is over space, without water, and +very terrible to behold; Nowhere on that road is the shade of a tree, +nowhere any water, and nowhere any resting place in which the traveller, +when fatigued, may rest for some moments. And men and women and all on +earth that have life, are forcibly led along this way by the messengers +of Yama. Those creatures that obey the mandates of the grim king, and +they, O king, that have given horses and other good conveyances unto +Brahmanas, proceed along this way on those animals and vehicles. And they +that have given umbrellas proceed along this way with umbrellas warding +off the sun’s rays. And they that have given food, proceed without +hunger, while they that have not given food proceed afflicted with +hunger. And they that have given robes, proceed along this way attired in +robes while they that have given none, proceed naked. And they that have +given gold, proceed in happiness, themselves decked in ornaments. And +they that have given land, proceed with every desire completely +gratified. And they that have given grain, proceed without being +afflicted with any want. And they that have given houses, proceed happily +on cars. And those men that have given something to drink, proceed with +cheerful hearts unafflicted with thirst. And they that have given lights, +proceed happily lighting the way before them. And they that have given +kine, proceed along the way happily, freed from all their sins. And they +that have fasted for a month, proceed on cars drawn by swans. And they +who have fasted for six nights, proceed on cars drawn by peacocks. And, O +son of Pandu, he that fasteth three nights upon only one meal without a +second during this period goeth into a region free from disease and +anxiety. And water hath this excellent property that it produceth +happiness in the region of Yama. And they that give water find for +themselves a river there of the name of Pushpodaka. And the givers of +water on the earth drink cool and ambrosial draughts from that stream. +And they that are of evil deeds have pus ordained for them. Thus, O great +king, that river serveth all purposes. Therefore, O king, adore thou duly +these Brahmanas (that are with thee). Weak in limbs owing to the way he +has walked, and besmeared with the dust of the high-road, the traveller +enquireth for the name of him who giveth food, and cometh in hope to his +house. Adore thou him with reverent attention, for he indeed is a guest, +and he is a Brahmana. The gods with Indra at their head follow him as he +proceedeth. And if he is adored, the gods with Indra become gratified, +and if he is not adored, the celestials with their chief become +cheerless. Therefore, O thou foremost of kings, worship thou these +Brahmanas duly. I have thus spoken to thee upon a hundred subjects. What +dost thou desire to hear from me again?’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O master, conversant thou art with virtue and +morality, and so I desire to repeatedly listen to thee as thou speakest +on sacred subjects appertaining to virtue and morals.’ + +“Markandeya said, ‘O king, I will now speak on another sacred subject +appertaining to eternal interests and capable of washing off all sins. +Listen thou with rapt attention. O thou foremost of the Bharatas, the +merit equal to that of giving away a Kapila cow in (the tirtha called) +Jyeshtha-Pushkara arises from washing the feet of Brahmanas. As long as +the earth remains wet with water which a Brahmana hath touched with his +feet, so long do Pitris drink water of cups made of lotus-leaves. If the +guest is welcomed (with enquiries about his welfare), the deities of fire +become glad; and if he is offered a seat, it is the god of a hundred +sacrifices, who is gratified. If his feet are washed, it is the Pitris +who are delighted; and if he is fed it is Prajapati that is pleased. One +should with collected soul, give a cow when (during her throes) the feet +and head of her calf are visible, before her delivery is complete. A cow +with her calf in the air in course of falling from the uterus to the +earth, is to be regarded as equal to the earth herself. He, therefore, +that giveth away such a cow, reapeth the merit of giving away the earth. +And he that giveth away such a cow, is adored in heaven for as many +thousands of Yugas as there are bristles on the bodies of the animal and +her young one together. And, O Bharata, he that having accepted a thing +in gift giveth it away immediately unto a person that is virtuous and +honest, reapeth very great merit. Without doubt, he reapeth the fruit of +giving away the whole earth to her utmost limits and with her oceans and +seas and caves, her mountains and forests and woods. That Brahmana who +eateth in silence from a plate, keeping his hands between his knees, +succeedeth in rescuing others. And those Brahmanas that abstain from +drink and who are never spoken of by others as having any faults and who +daily read the Samhitas, are capable of rescuing others. Libations of +butter and edible offerings should all be presented to a Brahmana who is +learned in the Vedas. And as libations of clarified butter poured into +fire never go in vain, so gift to virtuous Brahmanas learned in the Vedas +can never go in vain. The Brahmanas have anger for their weapon; they +never fight with arms of iron and steel. Indeed the Brahmanas slay with +anger like Indra slaying the Asuras with his thunder-bolt. + +Thus prelection appertaining to virtue and morality is now over. Hearing +this, the Munis of the forest of Naimisha were filled with delight. And +those ascetics were also freed from grief and anger by listening to it. +And they were also purged of all their sins in consequence of this. And, +O king, those human beings that listen to it become freed from the +obligation of rebirth.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O thou of great wisdom, what purification is there +by which a Brahmana may always keep himself pure? I desire to hear of it +from thee, O thou foremost of all virtuous men!” + +“Markandeya answered, ‘There are three kinds of purity, viz., purity in +speech, purity in deed, and purity achieved by use of water. He that has +recourse to these three different kinds of purity, attains, without +doubt, to heaven. That Brahmana who adoreth the goddess Sandhya in the +morning and the evening, and who recites meditatively the sacred goddess +Gayatri who is the mother of the Vedas, sanctified by the latter, is +freed from all his sins. Even if he accepts in gift the entire earth with +her oceans, he doth not, on that account, suffer the least unhappiness. +And those heavenly bodies in the sky including the sun that may be +inauspicious and hostile towards him soon become auspicious and +favourable towards him in consequence of these acts of his, while those +stars that are auspicious and favourable become more auspicious and more +favourable in consequence of such conduct of his. And terrible Rakshasas +subsisting on animal food, or gigantic and fierce mien, all become unable +to prevail over a Brahmana who practiseth these purifications. The +Brahmanas are even like blazing fires. They incur no fault in consequence +of teaching, of officiating at sacrifices, and of accepting gifts from +others. Whether the Brahmana be cognisant of the Vedas or ignorant of +them, whether they be pure or impure, they should never be insulted, for +Brahmanas are like fires. As the fire that blazeth up in the place set +apart for the cremation of the dead is never regarded impure on that +account, so the Brahmana, be he learned or ignorant, is always pure. He +is great and a very god! Cities that are adorned with walls and gates and +palaces one after another, lose their beauty if they are bereft of +Brahmanas. That, indeed, O king, is a city where Brahmanas accomplished +in the Vedas, duly observing the duties of their order and possessed of +learning and ascetic merit, reside. O son of Pritha, that spot, be it a +wood or pasture land, where learned Brahmanas reside, hath been called a +city. And that place, O king, becometh a tirtha also. By approaching a +king that offereth protection, as also a Brahmana possessed of ascetic +merit, and by offering worship unto both, a man may purge off his sins +immediately. The learned have said that ablutions in the sacred tirthas, +recitation of the names of holy ones, and converse with the good and +virtuous, are all acts worthy of applause. They that are virtuous and +honest always regard themselves as sanctified by the holy companionship +of persons like themselves and by the water of pure and sacred converse. +The carrying of three staffs, the vow of silence, matted hair on head, +the shaving of the crown, covering one’s person with barks and deerskins, +the practice of vows, ablutions, the worship of fire, abode in the woods, +emaciating the body, all these are useless if the heart be not pure. The +indulgence of the six senses is easy, if purity be not sought in the +object of enjoyment. Abstinence, however, which of itself is difficult, +is scarcely easy without purity of the objects of enjoyment. O king of +kings, among the six senses, the mind alone that is easily moved is the +most dangerous! Those high-souled persons that do not commit sins in +word, deed, heart and soul, are said to undergo ascetic austerities, and +not they that suffer their bodies to be wasted by fasts and penances. He +that hath no feeling of kindness for relatives cannot be free from sin +even if his body be pure. That hard-heartedness of his is the enemy of +his asceticism. Asceticism, again, is not mere abstinence from the +pleasures of the world. He that is always pure and decked with virtue, he +that practises kindness all his life, is a Muni even though he may lead a +domestic life. Such a man is purged of all his sins. Fasts and other +penances cannot destroy sins, however much they may weaken and dry up the +body that is made of flesh and blood. The man whose heart is without +holiness, suffers torture only by undergoing penances in ignorance of +their meaning. He is never freed from sins of such acts. The fire he +worshippeth doth not consume his sins. It is in consequence of holiness +and virtue alone that men attain to regions of blessedness, and fasts and +vows become efficacious. Subsistence on fruits and roots, the vow of +silence, living upon air, the shaving of the crown, abandonment of a +fixed home, the wearing of matted locks on the head, lying under the +canopy of heaven, daily fasts, the worship of fire, immersion in water, +and lying on the bare ground,--these alone cannot produce such a result. +They only that are possessed of holiness succeed, by knowledge and deeds, +to conquer disease, decrepitude and death, and acquire a high status. As +seeds that have been scorched by fire do not sprout forth, so the pains +that have been burnt by knowledge cannot effect the soul. This inert body +that is only like a block of wood when destitute of souls, is, without +doubt, short lived like froth in the ocean. He that obtaineth a view of +his soul, the soul that resideth in every body, by help of one or half of +a rhythmic line (of the Vedas), hath no more need for anything. Some +obtaining a knowledge of identity with the Supreme Soul from but two +letters (of the Vedas) and some from hundreds and thousands of rhythmic +lines, acquire salvation, for the knowledge of one’s identity with the +Supreme Soul is the sure indication of salvation. The men of old, +distinguished for their knowledge, have said, neither this world nor that +hereafter nor bliss can be his who is disturbed by doubts. And belief of +one’s identity with the Supreme Soul is the indication of salvation. He +that knoweth the true meaning of the Vedas, understandeth their true use. +Such a man is affrighted at the Vedic ritual like a man at sight of a +forest conflagration. Giving up dry disputation, have recourse to Sruti +and Smriti, and seek thou, with the aid of thy reason, the knowledge of +the Undecaying One that is without a second. One’s search (after this +knowledge) becometh futile from defect of means. Therefore, should one +carefully strive to obtain that knowledge by aid of the Vedas. The Vedas +are the Supreme Soul; they are His body; they are the Truth. The soul +that is bounded by the animal organism is incompetent to know Him in whom +all the Vedas merge. That Supreme Soul, however, is capable of being +known by the pure intellect. The existence of the gods as stated in the +Vedas, the efficacy of acts, and the capacity for action of being +furnished with bodies, are noticeable in every Yuga. Independence of +these and annihilation are to be sought from purity of the senses. +Therefore, the suspension of the function of the senses is the true +fasting. One may attain to heaven by asceticism, one may obtain objects +of enjoyment by the practice of charity and may have his sins purged off +by ablutions in tirthas. But complete emancipation cannot be had except +by knowledge.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed, O great king, by the Rishi, +Yudhishthira of great fame then said, ‘O holy one, I desire to listen to +the rules about that charity which is meritorious.” + +“Markandeya said, ‘O great king, O Yudhishthira, the rules about charity +which thou wishest to hear from me are always highly regarded by me. +Listen now to the mysteries of charity as expounded in the sruti and the +smritis! A man that performs a sraddha in the conjunction called +Gajacchaya at a place that is fanned by the leaves of the Aswattha tree +enjoys the fruits thereof, O Yudhishthira, for a hundred thousand kalpas. +O king, he that foundeth a dharmasala and established there a person to +look after all comers, is crowned with the merits of all the sacrifices. +He that giveth away a horse at a tirtha where the current of the river +runneth in a direction opposite to its general course, reapeth merit that +is inexhaustible. The guest that comes to one’s house for food is none +other than Indra himself. If he is entertained with food, Indra himself +conferreth on the best merit that is inexhaustible. As men cross seas by +vessels, so are the givers mentioned above are saved from all their sins. +So what is given unto Brahmanas produceth, like gift of curds, +inexhaustible merits. A gift on particular lunations produceth merit that +is twice as much as a gift on other days. That in a particular season +produceth merit ten times greater that in other seasons. That in a +particular year produceth merit a hundred times greater than in other +years. And lastly, a gift on the last day of the last month of the year +produceth merit that is inexhaustible. A gift also that is made while the +Sun is on the solstitial points, one again that is made on the last day +of the Sun’s path through Libra, Aries, Gemini, Virgo, and Pisces, a gift +again during eclipses of the Moon and the Sun, produce merit that is +inexhaustible. The learned have also said that gifts made during the +seasons produce merit that is ten times, those made during the change of +seasons, a hundred times--and those made during the days when Rahu is +visible, a thousand times--greater than what is produced by gifts at +other time; while a gift made on the last day of the Sun’s course through +Libra and Aries produces merit that knows no diminution. O king, no one +can enjoy landed possessions unless he giveth away land, and no one can +go on cars and vehicles unless he giveth away these. Indeed a person on +rebirth obtaineth the fruition of whatever objects he hath in view at the +time of making a gift to a Brahmana. Gold hath sprung from Fire; the +Earth from Vishnu; and the cows from the Sun. He, therefore, that giveth +away gold, land, and kine attaineth all the regions of Agni, Vishnu, and +the Sun. There is nothing so eternal as a gift. Where, therefore, in the +three worlds is anything that is more auspicious? It is for this, O king, +that they who have great intelligence say that there is nothing higher +and greater in the three worlds than gift!’” + + + +SECTION CC + +Vaisampayana said, “Having, O great king, heard from the illustrious +Markandeya the history of the attainment of heaven by the royal sage +Indradyumna, Yudhishthira, that bull of the Bharata race, once more asked +that sinless Muni endued with great ascetic merit and long life, saying, +‘Thou knowest, O virtuous one, the entire host of the gods, the Danavas, +and the Rakshasas. Thou art acquainted also with various royal +genealogies and many eternal lines of Rishis! O best of Brahmanas, there +is nothing in this world that thou dost not know! Thou knowest also, O +Muni, many delightful stories about men, Snakes and Rakshasas; about +gods, Gandharvas, and Yakshas, and about Kinnaras and Apsaras! I desire +now to hear from thee, O best of Brahmanas, as to why Kuvalaswa--that +unvanquished king of Ikshavaku’s race changed his name, assuming another, +viz., Dhundhumara. O thou best of Bhrigu’s line, I desire to know in +detail why the name of Kuvalaswa of great intelligence underwent such a +change!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed by Yudhishthira, the great Muni +Markandeya, O Bharata, then began the history of Dhundhumara!” + +Markandeya said, ‘O royal Yudhishthira, listen to me, I will tell thee +all! The story of Dhundhumara is a moral one. Listen to it then! Listen +now, O king, to the story of how the royal Kuvalaswa of Ikshvaku’s race +came to be known as Dhundhumara. O son, O Bharata, there was a celebrated +Rishi of the name of Utanka and, O thou of the Kuru race, Utanka had his +hermitage in a delightful wilderness. And, O great king, the Rishi Utanka +underwent ascetic austerities of the severest kind and the lord Utanka +underwent those penances for numberless years with the object of +obtaining the favours of Vishnu, and gratified with his penances that +illustrious Lord presented himself before Utanka. And beholding the +Deity, the Rishi in all humility began to gratify him with many hymns, +and Utanka said, ‘O thou of great effulgence all creatures with the gods, +Asuras and human beings, all things that are mobile or immobile, even +Brahma himself, the Vedas, and all things that are capable of being +known, have, O lord, been created by thee! The firmament is thy head, O +god, and the sun and the moon are thy eyes! And, O Unfading One, the +winds are thy breath and fire thy energy! The directions of the horizon +constitute thy arms and the great ocean thy stomach! And, O god, the +hills and mountains constitute thy thigh and the sky thy hips, O slayer +of Madhu! The earth constitutes thy feet, and the plants the bristles on +thy body. And, O lord, Indra and Soma and Agni and Varuna, indeed all the +gods, the Asuras and the great Snakes all wait upon thee with humility, +adoring thee with various hymns! O Lord of the Universe, created things +are pervaded by thee. The great Rishis of high energy and ever plunged in +ascetic meditation, always adore thee. When thou art gratified, the +universe is in peace. And when thou art angry, terror pervadeth every +soul. Thou art, O Lord, the great dispeller of all terrors and thou art +the One Supreme Male Being! Thou art the cause of happiness of both gods +and human beings! And, O Lord, by three steps of thine thou didst cover +the three worlds! And it was by thee that the Asuras in the height of +their power were destroyed! It is owing to thy prowess, O God, that the +celestials obtained peace and happiness and, O thou of great effulgence, +it was the anger that destroyed hundred great Daitya chiefs. Thou art the +Creator and destroyer of all creatures in the world. It is by adoring +thee that the gods have obtained happiness. It was thus, O Yudhishthira, +that the high-souled Utanka praised the Lord of the senses. And Vishnu, +therefore, said unto Utanka, ‘I am gratified with thee. Ask thou the boon +that thou desirest.’ And Utanka said, ‘This indeed hath, been a great +boon to me, in that I have been able to behold Hari, that eternal Being, +that divine Creator, that Lord of the universe!” Thus addressed Vishnu +said, ‘I am gratified with this absence of all desires on thy pail and +with thy devotion, O thou best of men! But, O Brahmanas, O regenerate +one, thou shouldst of a certainty accept some boon from me! Thus +requested by Hari to accept a boon Utanka then, O thou best of Bharatas, +with joined hands begged a boon saying, ‘O illustrious one, O thou of +eyes like lotus leaves, if thou hast been gratified with me, then let my +heart always rest on virtue, truth, and self-content. And, O Lord, let my +heart always turn to thee in devotion.’ And hearing these words of +Utanka, the holy one said, ‘O regenerate one, all this shall happen to +thee through my grace. And there will also appear in thee a yoga power +endued with which thou shalt achieve a great thing for the dwellers of +Heaven, as also for the triple world. Even now a great Asura of the name +of Dhundhu is undergoing ascetic penances of fierce austerity with the +object of destroying the triple world. Hear now as to who will slay that +Asura. O son, there will appear a king of invincible energy and great +prowess and he will be born in the race of Ikshvaku and will be known by +the name of Vrihadaswa who will have a son of the name of Kuvalaswa +endued with great holiness and self-control and celebrity. And that best +of kings will be furnished with yoga power springing from me and urged +and commended by thee, O regenerate Rishi, that king will be the slayer +of the Asura Dhundhu.’ And having said these words unto that Brahmana, +Vishnu disappeared there and then.” + + + +SECTION CCI + +Markandeya said, “O king, after the death of Ikshvaku, a highly virtuous +king of the name of Sasada, ascending the throne of Ayodhya ruled this +earth. And from Sasada was descended Kakutstha of great energy. And +Kakutshta had a son of name Anenas. And Anenas had a son named Prithu and +Prithu had a son named Viswagaswa and from Viswagaswa sprang Adri and +from Adri sprang Yuvanaswa and from Yuvanaswa sprang Sravastha and it was +by this Sravastha that the city called Sravasthi was built and from +Sravastha was descended Vrihadaswa and from Vrihadaswa sprang Kuvalaswa +and Kuvalaswa had twentyone thousand sons and all these sons were fierce +and powerful and skilled in learning. And Kuvalaswa excelled his father +in every quality. And when the time came, his father Vrihadaswa installed +him--the brave and highly virtuous Kuvalaswa--on the throne. And having +thus made over the royal dignity to his son, that slayer of foes--king +Vrihadaswa of great intelligence--retired into the woods for asceticism.” + +“Markandeya continued, ‘O king, when the royal sage Vrihadaswa was about +to retire into the woods, that best of Brahmanas, Utanka heard of it. And +Utanka who was possessed of great energy and immeasurable soul, +approached that foremost of all wielders of weapons and best of men. And +approaching him, the Rishis began to persuade him to give up asceticism. +And Utanka said, ‘O king, to protect (the people) is thy duty. It +behoveth thee to do that duty of thine. Let us be free from all anxiety +through thy grace. Possessed as thou art of a great soul, protected by +thee, the earth will be freed from all dangers. Therefore, it behoveth +thee, not to retire into the woods. Great merit attaches to the act of +protecting people in this world. Such merit can never be acquired in the +woods. Let not thy heart, therefore, turn to this course. The merit, +great king, that was acquired in days of old by great royal sages by +protecting their subjects was so great that nothing equal to it could be +seen. The king should always protect his subjects. It behoveth thee, +therefore, to protect thy people. O lord of the earth, I cannot (at +present) perform my ascetic devotions peacefully. Close to my asylum +there is a sea of sands known by the name of Ujjalaka. And it occupies a +level country and is without any water. And it extends many yojanas in +length and breadth and in that desert dwells a chief of the Danavas +called Dhundhu by name. And Dhundhu is the son of Madhu and Kaitabha, and +is fierce and terrible and possessed of great prowess. And endued with +immeasurable energy, that Danava, O king, dwelleth under the ground, and, +O king, it behoveth thee to retire into the woods, having first slain +that Asura. That Asura is now lying still in the observance of an ascetic +penance of great austerity and, O king, the object he hath in view is +sovereignty over the celestials as also of the three worlds. And, O king, +having, obtained a boon from the Grandsire of all creatures, that Asura +hath become incapable of being slain by the gods and Daityas and +Rakshasas and Gandharvas. Slay though him, O king, and blessed be thou +and let not thy heart turn to any other course. By slaying him thou wilt +without doubt, achieve a great thing and thou wilt also obtain eternal +and undying fame. And O king, when at the end of every year that wicked +Asura lying covered with sands, wakes up and begins to breathe, then the +whole earth with her mountains, forests and woods begins to tremble. And +his breath raiseth up clouds of sands, and shroudeth the very sun, and +for seven days continually the earth tremble all over, and sparks and +flames of fire mixed with smoke spread far around and for all this, O +king, I cannot rest in peace in my asylum. Slay thou him, O king, for the +good of the world. Indeed, when that Asura is slain the triple world will +be in peace and happiness. That thou art competent, O king, to slay that +Asura, I fully believe. Thy energy will be enhanced by Vishnu with the +addition of his own. In days of old, O king, Vishnu gave this boon that +the king who should slay this fierce and great Asura would be pervaded by +the invincible energy of Vishnu himself. Bearing that invincible +Vaishnava energy in thyself, slay thou, O great king, that Daitya of +fierce prowess. Possessed as Dhundhu is of mighty energy, no one, O king, +that is endued with small energy himself will be capable of consuming +him, even if he were to strive for a hundred years.’” + + + +SECTION CCII + +“Markandeya said, ‘Thus addressed by Utanka, that unvanquished royal +sage, with joined hands, O thou foremost of the Kuru race, replied unto +Utanka, saying, ‘This visit of thine, O Brahmana, will not be in vain. +This my son, O holy one, known by the name of Kuvalaswa is endued with +steadiness and activity. In prowess also he is unequalled on earth. +Without doubt he will accomplish all this that is agreeable to thee, +aided by all his brave sons endued with arms like unto iron maces. Give +me leave to retire, O Brahmana, for I have now given up my weapons.’ Thus +addressed by the king, that Muni of immeasurable energy replied unto him, +saying, ‘So be it.” And the royal sage Vrihadaswa then, having commended +his son to obey the behest of the high-souled Utanka saying, ‘Let it be +done by thee,’ himself retired into an excellent forest.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O holy one, O thou possessed of the wealth of +asceticism, who was this Daitya of great energy? Whose son and whose +grandson was he? I desire to know all this; O thou possessed of the +wealth of asceticism I never heard of this mighty Daitya before. I desire +to know all this truly, O holy one, and with all particulars in detail, O +thou of great wisdom and ascetic wealth!’ + +“Markandeya said, ‘O monarch, know everything as it happened, O ruler of +men, as I narrate the particulars truly, O thou of great wisdom! When the +world became one broad expanse of water and creatures mobile and immobile +were destroyed, when, O bull of the Bharata race, the entire creation +came to its end. He who is the Source and Creator of the Universe, viz., +the Eternal and unfading Vishnu, He who is called by Munis crowned with +ascetic success as the Supreme Lord of the Universe, that Being of great +holiness, then lay in Yoga sleep on the wide hood of the Snake Sesha of +immeasurable energy, and the Creator of the Universe, that highly-blessed +and holy Hari, knowing no deterioration, lay on the hood of that Snake +encircling the whole Earth and as the Deity lay asleep on that bed, a +lotus, endued with great beauty and effulgence equal unto that of the +Sun, sprang from his navel. And from that lotus possessed of effulgence +like unto the Sun’s, sprang the Grandsire Brahma, that lord of the worlds +who is the four Vedas, who hath four forms and four faces, who is +invincible in consequence of his own energy and who is endued with mighty +strength and great prowess and as the Lord Hari of wondrous frame, +possessed of great lustre and decked with a crown and the Kaustubha gem +and attired in purple silk, lay stretched for many a yojana on that +excellent bed furnished by the hood of the snake itself extending far and +wide, blazing, O king, in his beauty and the lustre of his own body like +a thousand Suns concentrated in one mass. He was beheld some time after +by two Danavas of great prowess named Madhu and Kaitabha and beholding +Hari (in that posture) and the Grandsire with eyes like lotus-leaves +seated on that lotus, both Madhu and Kaitabha wandered much and they +began to terrify and alarm Brahma of immeasurable prowess, and the +illustrious Brahma alarmed by their continued exertions trembled on his +seat, and at his trembling the stalk of the lotus on which he was seated +began to tremble and when the lotus-stalk trembled, Kesava awoke. And +awakened from his slumber, Govinda beheld those Danavas of mighty energy, +and beholding them the Deity said unto them, ‘Welcome, ye mighty ones! I +am gratified with you! Therefore, I will grant you excellent boons!’ And +thereupon both those proud and mighty Danavas, O king, laughingly replied +unto Hrishikesa, saying, ‘Ask boons of us, O Divine one! O thou that art +the Supreme Deity, we are disposed to grant thee a boon. Indeed, we will +grant thee a boon! Therefore, ask thou of us anything that cometh to thy +mind.’ Thus addressed by them the holy one spoke, ‘Ye brave ones, I will +accept a boon from you. There is a boon that I desire. Both of you are +possessed of mighty energy. There is no male person like unto any of you. +O ye of unbaffled prowess, submit ye to be slain by me. Even that is what +I desire to accomplish for the good of the world.’ Hearing these words of +the Deity, both Madhu and Kaitabha said, ‘We have never before spoken an +untruth; no, not even in jest; what shall we say of other occasions! O +thou foremost of male Beings, know that we have ever been firm in truth +and morality. In strength, in forms, in beauty, in virtue, in asceticism, +in charity, in behaviour, in goodness, in self control, there is no one +equal unto either of us. A great danger, O Kesava, hath approached us. +Accomplish thou, therefore, what thou hast said. No one can prevail over +Time. But, O Lord, there is one thing that we desire to be done by thee. +O thou best and foremost of all Deities, thou must slay us at a spot that +is absolutely uncovered. And, O thou of excellent eyes, we also desire to +become thy sons. This is the boon that we desire, know then, O chief of +the gods! Let not that O Deity, be false which thou hadst at first +promised to us.’ The Holy One then replied unto them saying, ‘Yes, I will +do as ye desire. Everything will be as ye wish!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Then Govinda began to reflect but uncovered space +found he none and when he could not discover any spot that was uncovered +on earth or in the sky, that foremost Deity then beheld his thighs to be +absolutely uncovered. And there, O king, the illustrious Deity cut off +the heads of Madhu and Kaitabha with his keenedged discus!’” + + + +SECTION CCIII + +“Markandeya said, ‘The illustrious Dhundhu, O king, was the son of Madhu +and Kaitabha, and possessed of great energy and prowess, he underwent +ascetic penances of great austerity and he stood erect on one leg and +reduced his body to a mass of only veins and arteries, and Brahma, +gratified with him, gave him a boon. And the boon he had asked of the +lord Prajapati was in these words, ‘Let no one among the gods, the +Danavas, the Rakshas, the Snakes, the Gandharvas and the Rakshasas be +capable of slaying me. Even this is the boon that I ask of thee.’ And the +Grandsire replied unto him saying, ‘Let it be as thou wishest. Go thy +way.’ And thus addressed by the Grandsire, the Danava placed the feet of +the Deity on his head and having thus touched with reverence the Deity’s +feet he went away and possessed of mighty energy and prowess. Dhundhu, +having obtained the boon hastily approached Vishnu remembering the death +of his father at the hands of that Deity, and the wrathful Dhundhu having +vanquished the gods with the Gandharvas began to distress all the +celestials with Vishnu at their head. And at last O bull of the Bharata +race, that wicked souled Asura arriving at a sea of sands known by the +name of Ujjalaka, began to distress to the utmost of his might the asylum +of Utanka. And endued with fierce energy, Dhundhu, the son of Madhu and +Kaitabha, lay in his subterranean cave underneath the sands in the +observance of fierce ascetic and severe austerities with the object of +destroying the triple world, and while the Asura lay breathing near the +asylum of Utanka that Rishi possessed of the splendour of fire, king +Kualaswa with his troops, accompanied by the Brahmana Utanka, as also by +all his sons set out for that region, O bull of the Bharata race! And +after that grinder of foes, the royal Kuvalaswa, had set out, accompanied +by his twenty-one thousand sons all of whom were exceedingly powerful, +the illustrious Lord Vishnu filled him with his own energy at the command +of Utanka and impelled by the desire of benefiting the triple world and +while that invincible hero was proceeding on his way and loud voice was +heard in the sky repeating the words, ‘This fortunate and unslayable one +will become the destroyer of Dhundhu to-day.’ And the gods began to +shower upon him celestial flowers. And the celestial kettle drums began +to sound their music although none played upon them. And during the march +of that wise one, cool breezes began to blow and the chief of the +celestials poured gentle showers wetting the dust on the roads and, O +Yudhishthira, the cars of the celestials could be seen high over the spot +where the mighty Asura Dhundhu was. The gods and Gandharvas and great +Rishis urged by curiosity, came there to behold the encounter between +Dhundhu and Kuvalaswa and, O thou of the Kuru race, filled by Narayana +with his own energy, king Kuvalaswa, aided by his sons, soon surrounded +that sea of sands and the king ordered that wilderness to be excavated +and after the king’s sons had excavated that sea of sands for seven days, +they could see the mighty Asura Dhundhu. And, O bull of the Bharata race, +the huge body of that Asura lay within those sands, effulgent in its own +energy like the Sun himself. And Dhundhu, O king, was lying covering the +western region of the desert and surrounded on all sides by the sons of +Kuvalaswa, the Danava was assaulted with sharp-pointed shafts and maces +and heavy and short clubs and axes and clubs, with iron spikes and darts +and bright and keen-edged swords, and thus assaulted, the mighty Danava +rose from his recumbent posture in wrath. And enraged, the Asura began to +swallow those various weapons that were hurled at him and he vomited from +his mouth fiery flames like unto those of the fire called Samvarta that +appeareth at the end of the Yuga and by those flames of his, the Asura +consumed all the sons of the king and, O tiger among men, like the Lord +Kapila of old consuming the sons of king Sagara, the infuriated Asura +overwhelming the triple world with the flames vomited from his mouth, +achieved that wonderful feat in a moment. And, O thou best of the +Bharatas, when all those sons of king Kuvalaswa were consumed by the fire +emitted by the Asura in wrath, the monarch, possessed as he was of mighty +energy, then approached the Danava who, like unto a second Kumbhakarna of +mighty energy, had come to the encounter after waking from his slumbers. +From the body of the king, O monarch, then began to flow a mighty and +copious stream of water and that stream soon extinguished, O king, the +fiery flames emitted by the Asura. And, O great king, the royal +Kuvalaswa, filled with Yoga force, having extinguished those flames by +the water that issued from his body, consumed that Daitya of wicked +prowess with the celebrated weapon called Brahma for relieving the triple +world of its fears, and the royal sage Kuvalaswa, having consumed that +great Asura, that foe of the celestials and slayer of all enemies, by +means of that weapon became like unto a second chief of the triple world +and the high-souled king Kuvalaswa having slain the the Asura Dhundhu, +became from that time known by the name of Dhundhumara and from that time +he came to be regarded as invincible in battle, and the gods and the +great Rishis who had come to witness that encounter were so far gratified +with him that they addressed him saying, ‘Ask thou a boon of us!’ And +thus solicited by the gods, the king bowed to them and filled with joy, +the king said unto them, with joined hands these words, ‘Let me be always +able to give wealth unto superior Brahmanas! Let me be invincible as +regards all foes! Let there be friendship between myself and Vishnu! Let +me have no ill-feeling towards any creature! Let my heart always turn to +virtue! And let me (finally) dwell in heaven for ever!’ And the gods and +the Rishis and Utanka, hearing this were exceedingly gratified and all of +them said, ‘Let it be as thou wishest!’ And, O king, having also blessed +him with many other speeches, the gods and the great Rishis then went +away to their respective abodes. And, O Yudhishthira, after the slaughter +of all his sons, king Kuvalaswa had still three sons left, and, O thou of +the Bharata race, they were called Dridaswa and Kapilaswa and Chandraswa. +It is from them, O king, that the illustrious line of kings belonging to +Ikshvaku’s race, all possessed of immeasurable prowess, hath sprung. + +“It was thus, O best of king, that that great Daitya of the name Dhundhu, +the son of Madhu and Kaitabha was slain by Kuvalaswa and it was for this +also that king came to be called by the name of Dhundhumara. And indeed, +the name he assumed was no empty one but was literally true. + +“I have now told thee all that thou hadst asked me, viz., all about that +person in consequence of whose act the story of Dhundhu’s death hath +become famous. He that listeneth to this holy history connected with the +glory of Vishnu, becometh virtuous and obtaineth children. By listening +to this story on particular lunations, one becometh blessed with long +life and great good fortune. And freed from every anxiety one ceaseth to +have any fear of diseases.” + + + +SECTION CCIV + +Vaisampayana said, “O thou foremost of the Bharata race, king Yudhisthira +then asked the illustrious Markandeya a difficult question about +morality, saying, ‘I desire to hear, O holy one, about the high and +excellent virtue of women. I desire to hear from thee, O Brahmana, +discourse about the subtle truths of morality. O regenerate Rishi, O best +of men, the Sun, the Moon, the Wind, the Earth, the Fire, the father, the +mother, the preceptor--these and other objects ordained by the gods, +appear to us as Deities embodied! All these that are reverend ones are +worthy of our best regard. So also is the woman who adoreth one lord. The +worship that chaste wives offer unto their husbands appeareth to me to be +fraught with great difficulty. O adorable one, it behoveth thee to +discourse to us of the high and excellent virtue of chaste wives--of +wives who restraining all their senses and keeping their hearts under +complete control regard their husbands as veritable gods. O holy and +adorable one, all this appears to me to be exceedingly difficult of +accomplishment. O regenerate one, the worship that sons offer to their +mothers and fathers and that wives offer to their husbands, both seem to +me to be highly difficult. I do not behold anything that is more +difficult than the severe virtue of chaste women. O Brahmana, the duties +that women of good behaviour discharge with care and the conduct that is +pursued by good sons towards their fathers and mothers appear to me to be +most difficult of performance. Those women that are each devoted to but +one lord, they that always speak the truth, they that undergo a period of +gestation for full ten months--there is nothing, O Brahmana, that is more +difficult than that is done by these. O worshipful one, women bring forth +their offspring with great hazard to themselves and great pain and rear +their children, O bull among Brahmanas, with great affection! Those +persons also who being always engaged in acts of cruelty and there by +incurring general hatred, succeed yet in doing their duties accomplish +what, in my opinion, is exceedingly difficult. O regenerate one, tell me +the truths of the duties of the Kshatriya order. It is difficult, O +twice-born one, for those high-souled ones to acquire virtue who by the +duties of their order are obliged to do what is cruel. O holy one, thou +art capable of answering all questions; I desire to hear thee discourse +on all this. O thou foremost of Bhrigu’s race, I desire to listen to all +this, waiting respectfully on thee, O thou of excellent vows!’ + +“Markandeya said, ‘O thou foremost of the Bharata race, I will discourse +to thee on all this truly, however difficult of answer thy question may +be. Listen to me, therefore, as I speak unto thee. Some regard the mother +as superior and some the father. The mother, however, that bringeth forth +and some the father. The mother, however, that bringeth forth and reareth +up offspring what is more difficult. Fathers also, by ascetic penances by +worship of the gods, by adorations addressed to them, by bearing cold and +heat, by incantations and other means desire to have children. And having +by these painful expedients obtained children that are so difficult of +acquisition, they then, O hero, are always anxious about the future of +their sons and, O Bharata, both the father and the mother desire to see +in their sons fame and achievements and prosperity and offspring and +virtue. That son is virtuous who realises these hopes of his parents. +And, O great king, that son with whom the father and the mother are +gratified, achieveth eternal fame and eternal virtue both here and +thereafter. As regards women again, neither sacrifice nor sraddhas, nor +fasts are of any efficacy. By serving their husbands only they can win +heaven. O king, O Yudhishthira, remembering this alone, listen thou with +attention to the duties of chaste women.” + + + +SECTION CCV + +“Markandeya said, ‘There was, O Bharata, a virtuous ascetic of the name +of Kausika and endued with wealth of asceticism and devoted to the study +of the Vedas, he was a very superior Brahmana and that best of Brahmanas +studied all the Vedas with the Angas and the Upanishadas and one day he +was reciting the Vedas at the foot of a tree and at that time there sat +on the top of that tree a female crane and that she-crane happened at +that time to befoul the Brahmana’s body and beholding that crane the +Brahmana became very angry and thought of doing her an injury and as the +Brahmana cast his angry glances upon the crane and thought also of doing +her an injury, she fell down on the ground and beholding the crane thus +fallen from the tree and insensible in death, the Brahmana was much moved +by pity and the regenerate one began to lament for the dead crane saying, +‘Alas, I have done a bad deed, urged by anger and malice!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Having repeated these words many times, that +learned Brahmana entered a village for procuring alms. And, O bull of the +Bharata race, in course of his eleemosynary round among the houses of +persons of good lineage, the Brahmana entered one such house that he knew +from before. And as he entered the house, he said, ‘Give’. And he was +answered by a female with the word, ‘Stay’. And while the housewife was +engaged, O king, in cleaning the vessel from which alms are given, her +husband, O thou best of the Bharatas, suddenly entered the house, very +much afflicted with hunger. The chaste housewife beheld her husband and +disregarding the Brahmana, gave her lord water to wash his feet and face +and also a seat and after that the black-eyed lady, placing before her +lord savoury food and drink, humbly stood beside him desirous of +attending to all his wants. And, O Yudhishthira, that obedient wife used +every day to eat the orts of her husband’s plate and, always conducting +herself in obedience to the wishes of the lord, that lady ever regarded +her husband, and all her heart’s affections inclined towards her lord. Of +various and holy behaviour and skilful in all domestic duties and +attentive to all her relatives, she always did what was agreeable and +beneficial to her husband and she also, with rapt senses attended to the +worship of the gods and the wants of guests and servants and her +mother-in-law and father-in-law. + +“And while the lady of handsome eyes was still engaged in waiting upon +her lord, she beheld that Brahmana waiting for alms and beholding him, +she remembered that she had asked him to wait. And remembering all this, +she felt abashed. And then that chaste woman possessed of great fame, +took something for alms and went out, O thou foremost of the Bharatas, +for giving it unto that Brahmana. And when she came before him, the +Brahmana said, ‘O best of women, O blessed one, I am surprised at thy +conduct! Having requested me to wait saying, ‘Stay’ thou didst not +dismiss me!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘O lord of men beholding that Brahmana filled with +wrath and blazing with his energy, that chaste woman began to conciliate +him and said, ‘O learned one, it behoveth thee to forgive me. My husband +is my supreme god. He came hungry and tired and was being served and +waited upon by me.’ Hearing this, the Brahmana said, ‘With thee Brahmanas +are not worthy of superior regard. Exaltest thou thy husband above them? +Leading a domestic life, dost thou disregard Brahmanas? Indra himself +boweth down unto them, what shall I say of men on earth. Proud woman, +dost thou not know it, hast thou never heard it, that the Brahmanas are +like fire and may consume the entire earth?’ At these words of that +Brahmana the woman answered, ‘I am no she-crane, O regenerate Rishi! O +thou that art endued with the wealth of asceticism, cast off this anger +of thine. Engaged as thou are, what canst thou do to me with these angry +glances of thine? I do not disregard Brahmanas. Endued with great energy +of soul, they are like unto the gods themselves. But, O sinless one, this +fault of mine it behoveth thee to forgive. I know the energy and high +dignity of Brahmanas that are possessed of wisdom. The waters of the +ocean have been made brackish and undrinkable by the wrath of the +Brahmanas. I know also the energy of Munis of souls under complete +control and endued with blazing ascetic merit. The fire of their wrath to +this day hath not been extinguished in the forest of Dandaka. It was for +his having disregarded the Brahmanas that the great Asura--the wicked and +evil-minded Vatapi was digested when he came in contact with Agastya. It +hath been heard by us that the powers and merits of high-souled Brahmanas +are great. But, O Brahmana, as regenerate ones of high souls are great in +wrath, so are they equally great in forgiveness. Therefore, O sinless +one, it behoveth thee to forgive me in the matter of this my offence. O +Brahmana, my heart inclineth to that merit which springeth from the +service of my husband, for I regard my husband as the highest among all +the gods. O best of Brahmanas, I practise that virtue which consists in +serving my husband whom I regard as the highest Deity. Behold, O +regenerate one, the merit that attaches to the service of one’s husband! +I know that thou hast burnt a she-crane with thy wrath! But, O best of +regenerate ones, the anger that a person cherishes is the greatest of +foes which that person hath. The gods know him for a Brahmana who hath +cast off anger and passion. The gods know him for a Brahmana who always +speaketh the truth here, who always gratifieth his preceptor, and who, +though injured himself, never returneth the injury. The gods know him for +a Brahmana who hath his senses under control, who is virtuous and pure +and devoted to the study of the Vedas, and who hath mastery over anger +and lust. The gods know him for a Brahmana who, cognisant of morals and +endued with mental energy, is catholic in religion and looketh upon all +equal unto himself. The gods know him for a Brahmana who studieth himself +and teacheth others, who performeth sacrifices himself and officiateth at +the sacrifices of others, and who giveth away to the best of his means. +The gods know that bull among the regenerate ones for a Brahmana who, +endued with liberality of soul, practiseth the Brahmacharya vow and is +devoted to study,--in fact who is vigilantly devoted to the study of the +Vedas. Whatever conduceth to the happiness of the Brahmanas is always +recited before these. Ever taking pleasure in truth, the hearts of such +men never find joy in untruth. O thou best of regenerate ones, it hath +been said that the study of the Vedas, tranquillity of soul, simplicity +of behaviour, and repression of the senses, constitute the eternal duties +of the Brahmana. Those cognisant with virtue and morals have said that +truth and honesty are the highest virtue. Virtue that is eternal is +difficult of being understood. But whatever it is, it is based on truth. +The ancients have declared that virtue dependeth on sruti. But, O +foremost of regenerate ones, virtue as exposed in sruti appears to be of +various kinds. It is, therefore, too subtle of comprehension. Thou, O +holy one, art cognisant of virtue, pure, and devoted to the study of the +Vedas. I think, however, O holy one, that thou dost not know what virtue +in reality is. Repairing to the city of Mithila, enquire thou of a +virtuous fowler there, if indeed, O regenerate one, thou art not really +acquainted with what constitutes the highest virtue. There liveth in +Mithila a fowler who is truthful and devoted to the service of his +parents and who hath senses under complete control. Even he will +discourse to thee on virtue. Blessed be thou, O best of regenerate ones, +if thou likest, repair thither. O faultless one, it behoveth thee to +forgive me, if what I have said be unpalatable, for they that are +desirous of acquiring virtue are incapable of injuring women!’ + +“At these words of the chaste woman, the Brahmana replied, saying, ‘I am +gratified with thee. Blessed be thou; my anger hath subsided, O beautiful +one! The reproofs uttered by thee will be of the highest advantage to me. +Blessed be thou, I shall now go and accomplish what is so conducive, O +handsome one, to my benefit!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Dismissed by her, Kausika, that best of +regenerate ones, left her house, and, reproaching himself, returned to +his own abode.’” + + + +SECTION CCVI + +“Markandeya said, ‘Continually reflecting upon that wonderful discourse +of the woman, Kausika began to reproach himself and looked very much like +a guilty person and meditating on the subtle ways of morality and virtue, +he said to himself, ‘I should accept with reverence what the lady hath +said and should, therefore, repair to Mithila. Without doubt there +dwelleth in that city a fowler of soul under complete control and fully +acquainted with the mysteries of virtue and morality. This very day will +I repair unto that one endued with wealth of asceticism for enquiring of +him about virtue.’ His faith in her was assured by her knowledge of the +death of the she-crane and the excellent words of virtuous import she had +uttered. Kausika thus reflecting with reverence upon all she had said, +set out for Mithila, filled with curiosity. And he traversed many forests +and villages and towns and at last reached Mithila that was ruled over by +Janaka and he beheld the city to be adorned with the flags of various +creeds. And he beheld that beautiful town to be resounding with the noise +of sacrifices and festivities and furnished with splendid gateways. It +abounded with palatial residences and protected by walls on all sides; it +had many splendid buildings to boast of. And that delightful town was +also filled with innumerable cars. And its streets and roads were many +and well-laid and many of them were lined with shops. And it was full of +horses and cars and elephants and warriors. And the citizens were all in +health and joy and they were always engaged in festivities. And having +entered that city, that Brahmana beheld there many other things. + +And there the Brahmana enquired about the virtuous fowler and was +answered by some twice-born persons. And repairing to the place indicated +by those regenerate ones, the Brahmana beheld the fowler seated in a +butcher’s yard and the ascetic fowler was then selling venison and +buffalo meat and in consequence of the large concourse of buyers gathered +round that fowler, Kausika stood at a distance. But the fowler, +apprehending that the Brahmana had come to him, suddenly rose from his +seat and went to that secluded spot where the Brahmana was staying and +having approached him there, the fowler said, ‘I salute thee, O holy one! +Welcome art thou, O thou best of Brahmanas! I am the fowler. Blessed be +thou! Command me as to what I may do for thee. The word that the chaste +woman said unto thee, viz., Repair thou to Mithila, are known to me. I +also know for what purpose thou hast come hither.’ Hearing these words of +the fowler that Brahmana was filled with surprise. And he began to +reflect inwardly, saying, ‘This indeed, is the second marvel that I see!’ +The fowler then said unto the Brahmana, saying, ‘Thou art now standing in +place that is scarcely proper for thee, O sinless one. If it pleasest +thee, let us go to my abode, O holy one!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘So be it,’ said the Brahmana unto him, gladly. +And thereupon, the fowler proceeded towards his home with the Brahmana +walking before him. And entering his abode that looked delightful, the +fowler reverenced his guest by offering him a seat. And he also gave him +water to wash his feet and face. And accepting these, that best of +Brahmanas sat at his ease And he then addressed the fowler, saying, ‘It +seems to me that this profession doth not befit thee. O fowler, I deeply +regret that thou shouldst follow such a cruel trade.’ At these words of +the Brahmana the fowler said, ‘This profession is that of my family, +myself having inherited it from my sires and grandsires. O regenerate +one, grieve not for me owing to my adhering to the duties that belong to +me by birth. Discharging the duties ordained for me beforehand by the +Creator, I carefully serve my superiors and the old. O thou best of +Brahmanas! I always speak the truth, never envy others; and give to the +best of my power. I live upon what remaineth after serving the gods, +guests, and those that depend on me. I never speak ill of anything, small +or great. O thou best of Brahmanas, the actions of a former life always +follow the doer. In this world there are three principal professions, +viz., agriculture, rearing of cattle, and trade. As regards the other +world, the three Vedas, knowledge, and the science of morals are +efficacious. Service (of the other three orders) hath been ordained to be +the duty of the Sudra. Agriculture hath been ordained for the Vaisyas, +and fighting for the Kshatriyas, while the practice of the Brahmacharya +vow, asceticism, recitation of mantras, and truthfulness have been +ordained for the Brahmanas. Over subjects adhering to their proper +duties, the king should rule virtuously; while he should set those +thereto that have fallen away from the duties of their order. Kings +should ever be feared, because they are the lords of their subjects. They +restrain those subjects of theirs that fall away from their duties as +they restrain the motions of the deer by means of their shafts. O +regenerate Rishi, there existeth not in the kingdom of Janaka a single +subject that followeth not the duties of his birth. O thou best of the +Brahmanas, all the four orders here rigidly adhere to their respective +duties. King Janaka punisheth him that is wicked, even if he be his own +son; but never doth he inflict pain on him that is virtuous. With good +and able spies employed under him, he looketh upon all with impartial +eyes. Prosperity, and kingdom, and capacity to punish, belong, O thou +best of Brahmanas, to the Kshatriyas. Kings desire high prosperity +through practice of the duties that belong to them. The king is the +protector of all the four orders. As regards myself, O Brahmana, I always +sell pork and buffalo meat without slaying those animals myself. I sell +meat of animals, O regenerate Rishi, that have been slain by others. I +never eat meat myself; never go to my wife except in her season; I always +fast during the day, and eat, O regenerate one, in the night. Even though +the behaviour of his order is bad, a person may yet be himself of good +behaviour. So also a person may become virtuous, although he may be +slayer of animals by profession. It is in consequence of the sinful acts +of kings that virtue decreaseth greatly, and sin beginneth to prosper. +And when all this taketh place the subjects of the kingdom begin to +decay. And it is then, O Brahmana, that ill-looking monsters, and dwarfs, +and hunch-backed and large-headed wights, and men that are blind or deaf +or those that have paralysed eyes or are destitute of the power of +procreation, begin to take their birth. It is from the sinfulness of +kings that their subjects suffer numerous mischiefs. But this our king +Janaka casteth his eyes upon all his subjects virtuously, and he is +always kind unto them who, on their part, ever adhere to their respective +duties. Regarding myself, I always with good deeds please those that +speak well, as also those that speak ill of me. Those kings that live in +the observance of their own proper duties, who are always engaged in the +practice of acts that are good and honest, who are of souls under +complete control and who are endued with readiness and alacrity, may not +depend upon anything else for supporting their power. Gift of food to the +best of one’s power, endurance of heat and cold, firmness in virtue, and +a regard and tenderness for all creatures,--these attributes can never +find place in a person, without an innate desire being present in him of +separating himself from the world. One should avoid falsehood in speech, +and should do good without solicitation. One should never cast off virtue +from lust, from wrath, or from malice. One should never joy immoderately +at a good turn or grieve immoderately at a bad one. One should never feel +depressed when overtaken by poverty, nor when so overtaken abandon the +path of virtue. If at any time one doth what is wrong, he should never do +its like again. One should always urge his soul to the doing of that +which he regardeth as beneficial. One should never return wrong for +wrong, but should act honestly by those that have wronged him. That +wretched man who desireth to do what is sinful, slayeth himself. By doing +what is sinful, one only imitates them that are wicked and sinful, +Disbelieving in virtue they that mock the good and the pure saying, +‘There is no virtue’ undoubtedly meet with destruction. A sinful man +swelleth up like a leather bag puffed up with wind. The thoughts of these +wretches filled with pride and folly are feeble and unprofitable. It is +the heart, the inner soul, that discovereth the fool like the sun that +discovereth forms during the day. The food cannot always shine in the +world by means of self-praise. The learned man, however, even if he be +destitute of beauty, displayeth his lustre by refraining from speaking +ill of others and well of himself. No example, however, can be met with, +in this world, of a person shining brilliantly on account of attributes +to be found in him in their reputed measure. If one repenteth of a wrong +done by him, that repentance washeth off his sin. The resolution of never +doing it again saveth him from future sin, even as, O thou best of +Brahmanas, he may save himself from sin by any of those expiations +obtained in the scriptures. Even this, O regenerate one, is the sruti +that may be seen in respect of virtue. He that having before been +virtuous, committeth a sin, or committeth it unknowingly may destroy that +sin. For virtue, O Brahmana, driveth off the sin that men commit from +ignorance. A man, after having committed a sin, should cease to regard +himself any longer as a man. No man can conceal his sins. The gods behold +what one does, also the Being that is within every one. He that with +piety and without detraction hideth the faults of the honest and the wise +like holes in his own attire, surely seeketh his salvation. If a man +seeketh redemption after having committed a sin, without doubt he is +purged of all his sins and looketh pure and resplendent like the moon +emerged from the clouds. A man that seeketh redemption is washed of all +his sins, even as the sun, upon rising, dispelleth all darkness. O best +of Brahmanas, it is temptation that constitutes the basis of sin. Men +that are ignorant commit sin, yielding to temptation alone. Sinful men +generally cover themselves with a virtuous exterior, like wells whose +mouths are covered by long grass. Outwardly they seem to possess +self-control and holiness and indulge in preaching virtuous texts which, +in their mouth are of little meaning. Indeed, everything may be noticed +in them except conduct that is truly virtuous!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘At these words, O best of men, of the fowler, +that Brahmana endued with great wisdom, then asked the fowler, saying, +‘How shall I know what is virtuous conduct? Blessed be thou, I desire to +hear this, O thou foremost of virtuous men, from thee. Therefore, O thou +of exalted soul, tell me all about it truly.’ Hearing these words, the +fowler replied, saying, ‘O best of Brahmanas, Sacrifices, Gift, +Asceticism, the Vedas, and Truth--these five holy things are ever present +in conduct that is called virtuous. Having subjugated lust and wrath +pride avarice, and crookedness, they that take pleasure in virtue because +it is virtue, are regarded as really virtuous and worthy of the +approbation of persons that are virtuous. These persons who are devoted +to sacrifices; and study of the Vedas have no independent behaviour. They +follow only the practices of the honest and the good. This indeed, is the +second attribute of the virtuous. Waiting upon superiors, Truth, Freedom +from anger, and Gift, these four, O Brahmana, are inseparably connected +with behaviour that is virtuous. For the reputation that a person +acquires by setting his heart on virtuous behaviour and adhering to it +rigidly is incapable of acquisition except by practising the four virtues +named above. The essence of the Vedas is Truth: the essence of Truth is +self-control, and the essence of self-control is abstention from the +pleasures of the world. These all are to be noticed in behaviour that is +virtuous. They that follow those deluded fools that mock the forms of +faith prevailing among men, are dragged into destruction for walking in +such a sinful path. They, however, that are virtuous and engaged in the +observance of vows, who are devoted to the srutis and the virtue of +abstention from the pleasure of the world, they in fact who tread in +virtue’s path and follow the true religion, they that are obedient to the +mandates of their preceptors, and who reflect upon the sense of the +scriptures with patience and carefulness,--is these that are said to be +possessed of behaviour that is virtuous; it is these, O Brahmana, that +are said to properly guide their higher intelligence. Forsaking those +that are atheists, those that transgress virtue’s limits, those that are +of wicked souls, those that live in sinfulness, betake thyself to +knowledge reverencing those that are virtuous. Lust and temptation are +even like sharks in the river of life; the waters are the five senses. Do +thou cross over to the other side of this river in the boat of patience +and resignation, avoiding the shoals of corporeal existence (repeated +births in this world). The supreme virtue consisting in the exercise of +the intelligent principle and abstraction, when gradually super-added to +virtuous conduct, becomes beautiful like dye on white fabrics. +Truthfulness and abstention from doing injury to any one, are virtues +highly beneficial to all creatures. Of these, that latter is a cardinal +virtue, and is based on truth. Our mental faculties have their proper +play when their foundation is laid in truth, and in the exercise of +virtue truth is of the highest value. Purity of conduct is the +characteristic of all good men. Those that are distinguished for holy +living are good and virtuous. All creatures follow the principles of +conduct which are innate in their nature. The sinful being who has no +control over self acquire lust, anger and other vices. It is the +immemorial rule that virtuous actions are those that are founded on +justice, and it is also ordained by holy men that all iniquitous conduct +is sin. Those who are not swayed by anger, pride, haughtiness and envy, +and those who are quiet and straight-forward, are men of virtuous +conduct. Those who are diligent in performing the rites enjoined in the +three Vedas, who are wise, and of pure and virtuous conduct, who exercise +self-restraint and are full of attention to their superior, are men of +virtuous conduct. The actions and conduct of such men of great power, are +very difficult of attainment. They are sanctified by the purification of +their own actions, and consequently sin in them dies out of itself. This +virtue of good conduct is wonderful, ancient, immutable and eternal; and +wise men observing this virtue with holiness, attain to heaven. These men +who believe in the existence of the Deity, who are free from false pride, +and versed in holy writ, and who respect regenerate (twice-born) men, go +to heaven. Among holy men, virtue is differentiated in three ways--that +great virtue which is inculcated in the Vedas, the other which is +inculcated in the dharmashastras (the minor scriptures), and virtuous +conduct. And virtuous conduct is indicated by acquisition of knowledge, +pilgrimage to sacred places, truthfulness, forbearance, purity and +straight-forwardness. Virtuous men are always kind to all creatures, and +well-disposed towards regenerate men. They abstain from doing injury to +any creature, and are never rude in speech. Those good men who know well +the consequences of the fruition of their good and evil deeds, are +commended by virtuous men. Those who are just and good-natured, and +endowed with virtue, who wish well of all creatures, who are steadfast in +the path of virtue, and have conquered heaven, who are charitable, +unselfish and of unblemished character, who succour the afflicted, and +are learned and respected by all, who practise austerities, and are kind +to all creatures, are commended as such by the virtuous. Those who are +charitably disposed attain prosperity in this world, as also the regions +of bliss (hereafter). The virtuous man when solicited for assistance by +good men bestow alms on them by straining to the utmost, even to the +deprivation of the comforts of his wife and servants. Good men having an +eye to their own welfare, as also virtue and the ways of the world, act +in this way and thereby grow in virtue through endless ages. Good persons +possessing the virtues of truthfulness, abstention from doing injury to +any one, rectitude, abstention from evil towards any one, want of +haughtiness, modesty, resignation, self-restraint, absence of passion, +wisdom, patience, and kindness towards all creatures, and freedom from +malice and lust, are the witnesses of the world. These three are said to +constitute the perfect way of the virtuous, viz., a man must not do wrong +to any body, he must bestow alms, and must always be truthful. Those +high-souled good men of virtuous conduct, and settled convictions, who +are kind to all and are full of compassion, depart with contentment from +this world to the perfect way of virtue. Freedom from malice, +forbearance, peace of mind, contentment, pleasant speech, renunciation of +desire and anger, virtuous conduct and actions regulated according to the +ordinances of holy writ, constitute the perfect way of the virtuous. And +those who are constant in virtue follow these rules of virtuous conduct, +and having reached the pinnacle of knowledge, and discriminating between +the various phases of human conduct, which are either very virtuous or +the reverse, they escape from the great danger. Thus, O great Brahmana, +having introduced the subject of virtuous conduct, have I described to +thee all this, according to my own knowledge and to what I have heard on +the subject.” + + + +SECTION CCVII + +“Markandeya continued, ‘The pious fowler, O Yudhishthira, then said to +that Brahmana, ‘Undoubtedly my deeds are very cruel, but, O Brahmana, +Destiny is all-powerful and it is difficult to evade the consequence of +our past actions. And this is the karmic evil arising out of sin +committed in a former life. But, O Brahmana, I am always assiduous in +eradicating the evil. The Deity takes away life, the executioner acts +only as a secondary agent. And we, O good Brahmana, are only such agents +in regard to our karma. Those animals that are slain by me and whose meat +I sell, also acquire karma, because (with their meat), gods and guests +and servants are regaled with dainty food and the manes are propitiated. +It is said authoritatively that herbs and vegetables, deer, birds and +wild animals constitute the food of all creatures. And, O Brahmana, king +Sivi, the son of Usinara, of great forbearance attained to heaven, which +is hard to reach, giving away his own flesh. And in days of yore, O +Brahmana, two thousand animals used to be killed every day in the kitchen +of king Rantideva; and in the same manner two thousand cows were killed +every day; and, O best of regenerate beings, king Rantideva acquired +unrivalled reputation by distributing food with meat every day. For the +performance of the fourmonthly rites animals ought to be sacrificed +daily. ‘The sacred fire is fond of animal food,’ this saying has come +down to us. And at sacrifices animals are invariably killed by regenerate +Brahmanas, and these animals being purged of sin, by incantation of +hymns, go to heaven. If, O Brahmana, the sacred fire had not been so fond +of animal food in ancient times, it could never have become the food of +any one. And in this matter of animal food, this rule has been laid down +by Munis:--Whoever partakes of animal food after having first offered it +duly and respectfully to the gods and the manes, is not polluted by the +act. And such a man is not at all considered to have partaken of animal +food, even, as a Brahmacharin having intercoursed with his wife during +the menstrual period, is nevertheless considered to be a good Brahmana. +After consideration of the propriety and impropriety of the matter, this +rule has been laid down. King Saudasa, O Brahmana, when under a curse, +often used to prey upon men; what is thy opinion of this matter? And, O +good Brahmana, knowing this to be the consequence of my own actions, I +obtain my livelihood from this profession. The forsaking of one’s own +occupation is considered, O Brahmana, to be a sin, and the act of +sticking to one’s own profession is without doubt a meritorious act. The +Karma of a former existence never forsakes any creature. And in +determining the various consequences of one’s Karma, this rule was not +lost sight of by the Creator. A person having his being under the +influence of evil Karma, must always consider how he can atone for his +Karma, and extricate himself from an evil doom, and the evil Karma may be +expiated in various ways. Accordingly, O good Brahmana, I am charitable, +truthful, assiduous in attending on my superior, full of respect towards +regenerate Brahmanas, devoted to and free from pride and (idle) excessive +talk. Agriculture is considered to be a praiseworthy occupation, but it +is well-known that even there, great harm is done to animal life; and in +the operation of digging the earth with the plough, numberless creatures +lurking in the ground as also various other forms of animal life are +destroyed. Dost thou not think so? O good Brahmana, Vrihi and other seeds +of rice are all living organisms. What is thy opinion on this matter? +Men, O Brahmana, hunt wild animals and kill them and partake of their +meat; they also cut up trees and herbs; but, O Brahmana, there are +numberless living organisms in trees, in fruits, as also in water; dost +thou not think so? This whole creation, O Brahmana, is full of animal +life, sustaining itself with food derived from living organisms. Dost +thou not mark that fish preys upon fish, and that various species of +animals prey upon other species, and there are species the members of +which prey upon each other? Men, O Brahmana, while walking about hither +and thither, kill numberless creatures lurking in the ground by trampling +on them, and even men of wisdom and enlightenment destroy animal life in +various ways, even while sleeping or reposing themselves. What hast thou +to say to this?--The earth and the air all swarm with living organisms, +which are unconsciously destroyed by men from mere ignorance. Is not this +so? The commandment that people should not do harm to any creature, was +ordained of old by men, who were ignorant of the true facts of the case. +For, O Brahmana, there is not a man on the face of this earth, who is +free from the sin of doing injury to creatures. After full consideration, +the conclusion is irresistible that there is not a single man who is free +from the sin of doing injury to animal life. Even the sage, O good +Brahmana, whose vow is to do harm to no creature, doth inflict injury to +animal life. Only, on account of greater needfulness, the harm is less. +Men of noble birth and great qualities perpetrate wicked acts in defiance +of all, of which they are not at all ashamed. Good men acting in an +exemplary way are not commended by other good men; nor are bad men acting +in a contrary way praised by their wicked compeers; and friends are not +agreeable to friends, albeit endowed with high qualities; and foolish +pedantic men cry down the virtues of their preceptors. This reversal of +the natural order of things, O good Brahmana, is seen everywhere in this +world. What is thy opinion as to the virtuousness or otherwise of this +state of things? There is much that can be said of the goodness or +badness of our actions. But whoever is addicted to his own proper +occupation surely acquires great reputation. + + + +SECTION CCVIII + +Markandeya continued, “O Yudhishthira, the virtuous fowler, eminent in +pity, then skilfully addressed himself again to that foremost of +Brahmanas, saying, ‘It is the dictum of the aged that the ways of +righteousness are subtle, diverse and infinite. When life is at stake and +in the matter of marriage, it is proper to tell an untruth. Untruth +sometimes leads to the triumph of truth, and the latter dwindles into +untruth. Whichever conduces most to the good of all creatures is +considered to be truth. Virtue is thus perverted; mark thou its subtle +ways. O best of virtuous men, man’s actions are either good or bad, and +he undoubtedly reaps their fruits. The ignorant man having attained to an +abject state, grossly abuses the gods, not knowing that it is the +consequence of his own evil karma. The foolish, the designing and the +fickle, O good Brahmana, always attain the very reverse of happiness or +misery. Neither learning nor good morals, nor personal exertion can save +them. And if the fruits of our exertion were not dependent on anything +else, people would attain the object of their desire, by simply striving +to attain it. + +It is seen that able, intelligent and diligent persons are baffled in +their efforts, and do not attain the fruits of their actions. On the +other hand, persons who are always active in injuring others and in +practising deception on the world, lead a happy life. There are some who +attain prosperity without any exertion. And there are others, who with +the utmost exertion, are unable to achieve their dues. Miserly persons +with the object of having sons born to them worship the gods, and +practise severe austerities, and those sons having remained in the womb +for ten months at length turn out to be very infamous issue of their +race; and others begotten under the same auspices, decently pass their +lives in luxury with heaps of riches and grain accumulated by their +ancestors. The diseases from which man suffer, are undoubtedly the result +of their own karma. They then behave like small deer at the hands of +hunters, and they are racked with mental troubles. And, O Brahmana, as +hunters intercept the flight of their game, the progress of those +diseases is checked by able and skilful physicians with their collections +of drugs. And, the best of the cherishers of religion, thou hast observed +that those who have it in their power to enjoy (the good things of this +earth), are prevented from doing so from the fact of their suffering from +chronic bowel-complaints, and that many others that are strong and +powerful, suffer from misery, and are enabled with great difficulty to +obtain a livelihood; and that every man is thus helpless, overcome by +misery and illusion, and again and again tossed and overpowered by the +powerful current of his own actions (karma). If there were absolute +freedom of action, no creature would die, none would be subject to decay, +or await his evil doom, and everybody would attain the object of his +desire. All persons desire to out distance their neighbours (in the race +of life), and they strive to do so to the utmost of their power; but the +result turns out otherwise. Many are the persons born under the influence +of the same star and the same auspices of good luck; but a great +diversity is observable in the maturity of their actions. No person, O +good Brahmana, can be the dispenser of his own lot. The actions done in a +previous existence are seen to fructify in our present life. It is the +immemorial tradition that the soul is eternal and everlasting, but the +corporeal frame of all creatures is subject to destruction here (below). +When therefore life is extinguished, the body only is destroyed, but the +spirit, wedded to its actions, travels elsewhere.’ + +“The Brahmana replied, ‘O best of those versed in the doctrine of karma, +and in the delivery of discourses, I long to know accurately how the soul +becomes eternal.’ The fowler replied, ‘The spirit dies not, there being +simply a change of tenement. They are mistaken, who foolishly say that +all creatures die. The soul betakes itself to another frame, and its +change of habitation is called its death. In the world of men, no man +reaps the consequences of another man’s karma. Whatever one does, he is +sure to reap the consequences thereof; for the consequences of the karma +that is once done, can never be obviated. The virtuous become endowed +with great virtues, and sinful men become the perpetrators of wicked +deeds. Men’s actions follow them; and influenced by these, they are born +again.’ The Brahmana enquired, ‘Why does the spirit take its birth, and +why does its nativity become sinful or virtuous, and how, O good man, +does it come to belong to a sinful or virtuous race?’ The fowler replied, +This mystery seems to belong to the subject of procreation, but I shall +briefly describe to you, O good Brahmana, how the spirit is born again +with its accumulated load of karma, the righteous in a virtuous, and the +wicked in a sinful nativity. By the performance of virtuous actions it +attains to the state of the gods, and by a combination of good and evil, +it acquires the human state; by indulgence in sensuality and similar +demoralising practices it is born in the lower species of animals, and by +sinful acts, it goes to the infernal regions. Afflicted with the miseries +of birth and dotage, man is fated to rot here below from the evil +consequences of his own actions. Passing through thousands of births as +also the infernal regions, our spirits wander about, secured by the +fetters of their own karma. Animate beings become miserable in the next +world on account of these actions done by themselves and from the +reaction of those miseries, they assume lower births and then they +accumulate a new series of actions, and they consequently suffer misery +over again, like sickly men partaking of unwholesome food; and although +they are thus afflicted, they consider themselves to be happy and at ease +and consequently their fetters are not loosened and new karma arises; and +suffering from diverse miseries they turn about in this world like a +wheel. If casting off their fetters they purify themselves by their +actions and practise austerities and religious meditations, then, O best +of Brahmanas, they attain the Elysian regions by these numerous acts and +by casting off their fetters and by the purification of karma, men attain +those blissful regions where misery is unknown to those who go there. The +sinful man who is addicted to vices, never comes to the end of his course +of iniquities. Therefore must we strive to do what is virtuous and +forbear from doing what is unrighteous. Whoever with a heart full of +gratefulness and free from malice strives to do what is good, attains +wealth, virtue, happiness and heaven (hereafter). Those who are purified +of sins, wise, forbearing, constant in righteousness, and self-restrained +enjoy continuous felicity in this as well as in the next world. Man must +follow the standard of virtue of the good and in his acts imitate the +example of the righteous. There are virtuous men, versed in holy writ and +learned in all departments of knowledge. Man’s proper duty consists in +following his own proper avocation, and this being the case these latter +do not become confused and mixed up. The wise man delights in virtue and +lives by righteousness. And, O good Brahmana, such a man with the wealth +of righteousness which he hereby acquires, waters the root of the plant +in which he finds most virtue. The virtuous man acts thus and his mind is +calmed. He is pleased with his friends in this world and he also attains +happiness hereafter. Virtuous people, O good man, acquire dominion over +all and the pleasure of beauty, flavour, sound and touch according to +their desire. These are known to be the rewards of virtue. But the man of +enlightened vision, O great Brahmana, is not satisfied with reaping the +fruits of righteousness. Not content with that, he with the light of +spiritual wisdom that is in him, becomes indifferent to pain and pleasure +and the vice of the world influenceth him not. Of his own free will he +becometh indifferent to worldly pursuits but he forsaketh not virtue. +Observing that everything worldly is evanescent, he trieth to renounce +everything and counting on more chance he deviseth means for the +attainment of salvation. Thus doth he renounce the pursuits of the world, +shuneth the ways of sin, becometh virtuous and at last attaineth +salvation. Spiritual wisdom is the prime requisite of men for salvation, +resignation and forbearance are its roots. By this means he attaineth all +the objects of this desire. But subduing the senses and by means of +truthfulness and forbearance, he attaineth, O good Brahmana, the supreme +asylum of Brahma.’ The Brahmana again enquired, ‘O thou most eminent in +virtue and constant in the performance of the religious obligations, you +talk of senses; what are they; how may they be subdued; and what is the +good of subduing them; and how doth a creature reap the fruits thereof? O +pious man, I beg to acquaint myself with the truth of this matter.” + + + +SECTION CCIX + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Hear, O king Yudhishthira what the virtuous +fowler, thus interrogated by that Brahmana, said to him in reply. The +fowler said, ‘Men’s minds are at first bent on the acquisition of +knowledge. That acquired, O good Brahmana, they indulge in their passions +and desires, and for that end, they labour and set about tasks of great +magnitude and indulge in much-desired pleasures of beauty, flavour, &c. +Then follows fondness, then envy, then avarice and then extinction of all +spiritual light. And when men are thus influenced by avarice, and +overcome by envy and fondness, their intellect ceases to be guided by +righteousness and they practise the very mockery of virtue. Practising +virtue with hypocrisy, they are content to acquire wealth by +dishonourable means with the wealth thus acquired the intelligent +principle in them becomes enamoured of those evil ways, and they are +filled with a desire to commit sins. And when, O good Brahmana, their +friends and men of wisdom remonstrate with them, they are ready with +specious answers, which are neither sound nor convincing. From their +being addicted to evil ways, they are guilty of a threefold sin. They +commit sin in thought, in word, as also in action. They being addicted to +wicked ways, all their good qualities die out, and these men of wicked +deeds cultivate the friendship of men of similar character, and +consequently they suffer misery in this world as well as in the next. The +sinful man is of this nature, and now hear of the man of virtue. He +discerns these evils by means of his spiritual insight, and is able to +discriminate between happiness and misery, and is full of respectful +attention to men of virtue, and from practising virtues, his mind becomes +inclined to righteousness.’ The Brahmana replied, ‘Thou hast given a true +exposition of religion which none else is able to expound. Thy spiritual +power is great, and thou dost appear to me to be like a great Rishi.’ The +fowler replied, ‘The great Brahmanas are worshipped with the same honours +as our ancestors and they are always propitiated with offerings of food +before others. Wise men in this world do what is pleasing to them, with +all their heart. And I shall, O good Brahmana, describe to thee what is +pleasing to them, after having bowed down to Brahmanas as a class. Do +thou learn from me the Brahmanic philosophy. This whole universe +unconquerable everywhere and abounding in great elements, is Brahma, and +there is nothing higher than this. The earth, air, water, fire and sky +are the great elements. And form, odour, sound, touch and taste are their +characteristic properties. These latter too have their properties which +are also correlated to each other. And of the three qualities, which are +gradually characterised by each, in order of priority is consciousness +which is called the mind. The seventh is intelligence and after that +comes egoism; and then the five senses, then the soul, then the moral +qualities called sattwa, rajas and tamas. These seventeen are said to be +the unknown or incomprehensible qualities. I have described all this to +thee, what else dost thou wish to know?’” + + + +SECTION CCX + +“Markandeya continued, ‘O Bharata, the Brahmana, thus interrogated by the +virtuous fowler, resumed again this discourse so pleasing to the mind. +The Brahmana said, ‘O best of the cherishers of religion, it is said that +there are five great elements; do thou describe to me in full the +properties of any one of the five.’ The fowler replied, ‘The earth, +water, fire, air and sky all have properties interlapping each other. I +shall describe them to thee. The earth, O Brahmana, has five qualities, +water four, fire three and the air and sky together three also. Sound, +touch, form, odour and taste--these five qualities belong to earth, and +sound, touch, form and taste, O austere Brahmana, have been described to +thee as the properties of water, and sound, touch and form are the three +properties of fire and air has two properties sound and touch, and sound +is the property of sky. And, O Brahmana, these fifteen properties +inherent in five elements, exist in all substances of which this universe +is composed. And they are not opposed to one another; they exist, O +Brahmana, in proper combination. When this whole universe is thrown into +a state of confusion, then every corporeal being in the fulness of time, +assumes another corpus. It arises and perishes in due order. And there +are present the five elementary substances of which all the mobile and +immobile world is composed. Whatever is perceptible by the senses, is +called vyakta (knowable or comprehensible) and whatever is beyond the +reach of the senses and can only be perceived by guesses, is known to be +avyakta (not vyakta). When a per on engages in the discipline of +self-examination, after having subdued the senses which have of their own +proper objective play in the external conditions of sound, form, &c, then +he beholds his own spirit pervading the universe, and the universe +reflected in itself. He who is wedded to his previous karma, although +skilled in the highest spiritual wisdom, is cognisant only of his soul’s +objective existence, but the person whose soul is never affected by the +objective conditions around, is never subject to ills, owing to its +absorption in the elementary spirit of Brahma. When a person has overcome +the domination of illusion, his manly virtues consisting of the essence +of spiritual wisdom, turn to the spiritual enlightenment which illumines +the intelligence of sentient beings. Such a person is styled by the +omnipotent, intelligent Spirit as one who is without beginning and +without end, self-existent, immutable, incorporeal and incomparable. +This, O Brahmana, that thou hast enquired of me is only the result of +self discipline. And this self-discipline can only be acquired by +subduing the senses. It cannot be otherwise, heaven and hell are both +dependent on our senses. When subdued, they lead to heaven; when indulged +in, they lead to perdition. This subjugation of the senses is the highest +means of attaining spiritual light. Our senses are at the (cause) root of +our spiritual advancement as also at the root of our spiritual +degradation. By indulging in them, a person undoubtedly contracts vices, +and by subduing these, he attains salvation. The self-restrained person +who acquires mastery over the six senses inherent in our nature, is never +tainted with sin, and consequently evil has no power over him. Man’s +corporeal self has been compared to a chariot, his soul to a charioteer +and his senses to horses. A dexterous man drives about without confusion, +like a quiet charioteer with well-broken horses. That man is an excellent +driver who knows how to patiently wield the reins of those wild +horses,--the six senses inherent in our nature. When our senses become +ungovernable like horses on the high road, we must patiently rein them +in; for with patience, we are sure to get the better of them. When a +man’s mind is overpowered by any one of these senses running wild, he +loses his reason, and becomes like a ship tossed by storms upon the high +ocean. Men are deceived by illusion in hoping to reap the fruits of those +six things, whose effects are studied by persons of spiritual insight, +who thereby reap the fruits of their clear perception.” + + + +SECTION CCXI + +Markandeya continued, “O Bharata, the fowler having expounded these +abstruse points, the Brahmana with great attention again enquired of him +about these subtle topics. The Brahmana said, ‘Do thou truly describe to +me, who now duly ask thee, the respective virtues of the qualities of +sattwa, rajas, and tamas.’ The fowler replied, ‘Very well, I shall tell +thee what thou hast asked. I shall describe separately their respective +virtues, do thou listen. Of them tamas is characterised by illusion +(spiritual), rajas incites (men to action), sattwa is of great grandeur, +and on that account, it is said to be the greatest of them. He who is +greatly under the influence of spiritual ignorance, who is foolish, +senseless and given to dreaming, who is idle, unenergetic and swayed by +anger and haughtiness, is said to be under the influence of tamas. And, O +Brahmana rishi, that excellent man who is agreeable in speech, +thoughtful, free from envy, industrious in action from an eager desire to +reap its fruits, and of warm temperament, is said to be under the +influence of rajas. And he who is resolute, patient, not subject to +anger, free from malice, and is not skilful in action from want of a +selfish desire to reap its fruits, wise and forbearing, is said to be +under the influence of sattwa. When a man endowed with the sattwa +quality, is influenced by worldliness, he suffers misery; but he hates +worldliness, when he realises its full significance. And then a feeling +of indifference to worldly affairs begins to influence him. And then his +pride decreases, and uprightness becomes more prominent, and his +conflicting moral sentiments are reconciled. And then self-restraint in +any matter becomes unnecessary. A man, O Brahmana, may be born in the +Sudra caste, but if he is possessed of good qualities, he may attain the +state of Vaisya and similarly that of a Kshatriya, and if he is steadfast +in rectitude, he may even become a Brahmana. I have described to thee +these virtues, what else dost thou wish to learn?’” + + + +SECTION CCXII + +“The Brahmana enquired, ‘How is it that fire (vital force) in combination +with the earthly element (matter), becomes the corporeal tenement (of +living creatures), and how doth the vital air (the breath of life) +according to the nature of its seat (the muscles and nerves) excite to +action (the corporeal frame)?’ Markandeya said, ‘This question, O +Yudhishthira, having been put to the Brahmana by the fowler, the latter, +in reply, said to that high-minded Brahmana. (The fowler said):--The +vital spirit manifesting itself in the seat of consciousness, causes the +action of the corporeal frame. And the soul being present in both of them +acts (through them). The past, the present and the future are inseparably +associated with the soul. And it is the highest of a creature’s +possessions; it is of the essence of the Supreme Spirit and we adore it. +It is the animating principle of all creatures, and it is the eternal +purusha (spirit). It is great and it is the intelligence and the ego, and +it is the subjective seat of the various properties of elements. Thus +while seated here (in a corporeal frame) it is sustained in all its +relations external or internal (to matter or mind) by the subtle ethereal +air called prana, and thereafter, each creature goes its own way by the +action of another subtle air called Samana. And this latter transforming +itself into Apana air, and supported by the head of the stomach carries +the refuse matter of the body, urine &c, to the kidneys and intestines. +That same air is present in the three elements of effort, exertion and +power, and in that condition it is called Udana air by persons learned in +physical science, and when manifesting itself by its presence at all the +junctional points of the human system, it is known by the name Vyana. And +the internal heat is diffused over all the tissues of our system, and +supported by these kinds of air, it transforms our food and the tissues +and the humours of our system. And by the coalition of Prana and other +airs, a reaction (combination) ensues, and the heat generated thereby is +known as the internal heat of the human system which causes the digestion +of our food. The Prana and the Apana air are interposed within the Samana +and the Udana air. And the heat generated by their coalition causes the +growth of the body (consisting of the seven substances, bones, muscles, +&c). And that portion of its seat extending to as far as the rectum is +called Apana; and from that arteries arise in the five airs Prana, &c. +The Prana air, acted on by the heat strikes against the extremity of the +Apana region and then recoiling, it reacts on the heat. Above the navel +is the region of undigested food and below it the region of digestion. +And the Prana and all other airs of the system are seated in the navel. +The arteries issuing from the heart run upwards and downwards, as also in +oblique directions; they carry the best essence of our food, and are +acted upon by the ten Prana airs. This is the way by which patient Yogins +who have overcome all difficulties, and who view things with an impartial +and equal eye, with their souls seated in the brain, find the Supreme +Spirit, the Prana and the Apana airs are thus present in the body of all +creatures. Know that the spirit is embodied in corporeal disguise, in the +eleven allotropous conditions (of the animal system), and that though +eternal, its normal state is apparently modified by its +accompaniments,--even like the fire purified in its pan,--eternal, yet +with its course altered by its surroundings; and that the divine thing +which is kindred with the body is related to the latter in the same way +as a drop of water to the sleek surface of a lotus-leaf on which it +rolls. Know that sattwa, rajas and tamas, are the attributes of all life +and that life is the attribute of spirit, and that the latter again is an +attribute of the Supreme Spirit. Inert, insensible matter is the seat of +the living principle, which is active in itself and induces activity in +others. That thing by which the seven worlds are incited to action is +called the most high by men of high spiritual insight. Thus in all these +elements, the eternal spirit does not show itself, but is perceived by +the learned in spiritual science by reason of their high and keen +perception. A pure-minded person, by purification of his heart, is able +to destroy the good and evil effect of his actions and attains eternal +beatitude by the enlightenment of his inward spirit. That state of peace +and purification of heart is likened to the state of a person who in a +cheerful state of mind sleeps soundly, or the brilliance of a lamp +trimmed by a skillful hand. Such a pure-minded person living on spare +diet perceives the Supreme Spirit reflected in his own, and by practising +concentration of mind in the evening and small hours of the night, he +beholds the Supreme Spirit which has no attributes, in the light of his +heart, shining like a dazzling lamp, and thus he attains salvation. +Avarice and anger must be subdued by all means, for this act constitutes +the most sacred virtue that people can practise and is considered to be +the means by which men can cross over to the other side of this sea of +affliction and trouble. A man must preserve his righteousness from being +overcome by the evil consequences of anger, his virtues from the effects +of pride, his learning from the effects of vanity, and his own spirit +from illusion. Leniency is the best of virtues, and forbearance is the +best of powers, the knowledge of our spiritual nature is the best of all +knowledge, and truthfulness is the best of all religious obligations. The +telling of truth is good, and the knowledge of truth may also be good, +but what conduces to the greatest good of all creatures, is known as the +highest truth. He whose actions are performed not with the object of +securing any reward or blessing, who has sacrificed all to the +requirements of his renunciation, is a real Sannyasin and is really wise. +And as communion with Brahma cannot be taught to us, even by our +spiritual preceptor,--he only giving us a clue to the +mystery--renunciation of the material world is called Yoga. We must not +do harm to any creature and must live in terms of amity with all, and in +this our present existence, we must not avenge ourselves on any creature. +Self-abnegation, peace of mind, renunciation of hope, and +equanimity,--these are the ways by which spiritual enlightenment can +always be secured; and the knowledge of self (one’s own spiritual nature) +is the best of all knowledge. In this world as well as hereafter, +renouncing all worldly desires and assuming a stoic indifference, wherein +all suffering is at rest, people should fulfil their religious duties +with the aid of their intelligence. The muni who desires to obtain moksha +(salvation), which is very difficult to attain, must be constant in +austerities, forbearing, self-restrained, and must give up that longing +fondness which binds him to the things of this earth. They call these the +attributes of the Supreme Spirit. The gunas (qualities or attributes) +that we are conscious of, reduce themselves to agunas (non-gunas) in Him; +He is not bound by anything, and is perceptible only by the expansion and +development of our spiritual vision; as soon as the illusion of ignorance +is dispelled, this supreme unalloyed beatitude is attained. By foregoing +the objects of both pleasure and pain and by renouncing the feelings +which bind him to the things of this earth, a man may attain Brahma +(Supreme Spirit or salvation). O good Brahmana, I have now briefly +explained to thee all this, as I have heard. What else dost thou wish to +know?” + + + +SECTION CCXIII + +“Markandeya said, ‘When, O Yudhishthira, all this mystery of salvation +was explained to that Brahmana, he was highly pleased and he said +addressing the fowler, ‘All this that thou hast explained, is rational, +and it seems to me that there is nothing in connection with the mysteries +of religion which thou dost not know.’ The fowler replied, ‘O good and +great Brahmana, thou shalt perceive with thine own eyes, all the virtue +that I lay claim to, and by reason of which I have attained this blissful +state. Rise, worshipful sir, and quickly enter this inner apartment. O +virtuous man, it is proper that thou shouldst see my father and my +mother.’ Markandeya continued, ‘Thus addressed the Brahmana went in, and +beheld a fine beautiful mansion. It was a magnificent house divided in +four suites of rooms, admired by gods and looking like one of their +palaces; it was also furnished with seats and beds, and redolent of +excellent perfumes. His revered parents clad in white robes, having +finished their meals, were seated at ease. The fowler, beholding them, +prostrated himself before them with his head at their feet. His aged +parents then addressed him thus, ‘Rise, O man of piety, rise, may +righteousness shield thee; we are much pleased with thee for thy piety; +mayst thou be blessed with a long life, and with knowledge, high +intelligence, and fulfilment of thy desires. Thou art a good and dutiful +son, for, we are constantly and reasonably looked after by thee, and even +amongst the celestials thou hast not another divinity to worship. By +constantly subduing thyself, thou hast become endowed with the +self-restraining power of Brahmanas and all thy grandsires and ancestors +are constantly pleased with thee for thy self-restraining virtues and for +thy piety towards us. In thought, word or deed thy attention to us never +flags, and it seems that at present thou hast no other thought in thy +mind (save as to how to please us). As Rama, the son of Jamadagni, +laboured to please his aged parents, so hast thou, O Son, done to please +us, and even more. Then the fowler introduced the Brahmana to his parents +and they received him with the usual salutation of welcome, and the +Brahmana accepting their welcome, enquired if they, with their children +and servants, were all right at home, and if they were always enjoying +good health at that time (of life). The aged couple replied, ‘At home, O +Brahmana, we are all right, with all our servants. Hast thou, adorable +sir, reached this place without any difficulty?’ Markandeya continued, +“The Brahmana replied, ‘Yes, I have.’ Then the fowler addressing himself +to the Brahmana said to him, ‘These my parents, worshipful sir, are the +idols that I worship; whatever is due to the gods, I do unto them. As the +thirty-three gods with Indra at their head are worshipped by men, so are +these aged parents of mine worshipped by me. As Brahmanas exert +themselves for the purpose of procuring offering for their gods, so do I +act with diligence for these two (idols of mine). These my father and +mother, O Brahmana, are my supreme gods, and I seek to please them always +with offering of flowers, fruits and gems. To me they are like the three +sacred fires mentioned by the learned; and, O Brahmana, they seem to me +to be as good as sacrifices or the four Vedas. My five life-giving airs, +my wife and children and friends are all for them (dedicated to their +service). And with my wife and children I always attend on them. O good +Brahmana, with my own hands I assist them in bathing and also wash their +feet and give them food and I say to them only what is agreeable, leaving +out what is unpleasant. I consider it to be my highest duty to do what is +agreeable to them even though it be not strictly justifiable. And, O +Brahmana, I am always diligent in attending on them. The two parents, the +sacred fire, the soul and the spiritual preceptor, these five, O good +Brahmana, are worthy of the highest reverence from a person who seeks +prosperity. By serving them properly, one acquires the merit of +perpetually keeping up the sacred fire. And it is the eternal and +invariable duty of all householders.” + + + +SECTION CCXIV + +“Markandeya continued, ‘The virtuous fowler, having introduced his (both) +parents to that Brahmana as his highest gurus, again spoke to him as +follows, ‘Mark thou the power of this virtue of mine, by which my inner +spiritual vision is extended. For this, thou wast told by that +self-restrained, truthful lady, devoted to her husband, ‘Hie thee to +Mithila; for there lives a fowler who will explain to thee, the mysteries +of religion.’ The Brahmana said, ‘O pious man, so constant in fulfilling +thy religious obligations, bethinking myself of what that truthful +good-natured lady so true to her husband, hath said, I am convinced that +thou art really endowed with every high quality.’ The fowler replied, ‘I +have no doubt, my lord, that what that lady, so faithful to her husband, +said to thee about me, was said with full knowledge of the facts. I have, +O Brahmana, explained to thee all this as a matter of favour. And now, +good sir, listen to me. I shall explain what is good for thee. O good +Brahmana, of irreproachable character, thou hast wronged thy father and +thy mother, for thou hast left home without their permission, for the +purpose of learning the Vedas. Thou hast not acted properly in this +matter, for thy ascetic and aged parents have become entirely blind from +grief at thy loss. Do thou return home to console them. May this virtue +never forsake thee Thou art high-minded, of ascetic merit, and always +devoted to thy religion but all these have become useless to thee. Do +thou without delay return to console thy parents. Do have some regard for +my words and not act otherwise; I tell thee what is good for thee, O +Brahmana Rishi, Do thou return home this very day.’ The Brahmana replied, +‘This that thou hast said, is undoubtedly true; mayst thou, O pious man, +attain prosperity; I am much pleased with thee.’ The fowler said, ‘O +Brahmana, as thou practisest with assiduousness those divine, ancient, +and eternal virtues which are so difficult of attainment even by +pure-minded persons, thou appearest (to me) like a divine being. Return +to the side of thy father and mother and be quick and diligent in +honouring thy parents; for, I do not know if there is any virtue higher +than this.’ The Brahmana replied, ‘By a piece of singular good luck have +I arrived here, and by a piece of similar good luck have I thus been +associated with thee. It is very difficult to find out, in our midst, a +person who can so well expound the mysteries of religion; there is +scarcely one man among thousands, who is well versed in the science of +religion. I am very glad, O great man, to have secured thy friendship; +mayst thou be prosperous. I was on the point of falling into hell, but +was extricated by thee. It was destined to be so, for thou didst +(unexpectedly) come in my way. And, O great man, as the fallen King +Yayati was saved by his virtuous grandsons (daughter’s sons), so, have I +know been saved by thee. According to thy advice, I shall honour my +father and my mother; for a man with an impure heart can never expound +the mysteries of sin and righteousness. As it is very difficult for a +person born in the Sudra class to learn the mysteries of the eternal +religion, I do not consider thee to be a Sudra. There must surely be some +mystery in connection with this matter. Thou must have attained the +Sudra’s estate by reason of the fruition of thine own past karma. O +magnanimous man, I long to know the truth about this matter. Do thou tell +it to me with attention and according to thy own inclination.’ + +“The fowler replied, ‘O good Brahmana, Brahmanas are worthy of all +respect from me. Listen, O sinless one, to this story of a previous +existence of mine. O son of an excellent Brahmana, I was formerly a +Brahmana, well-read in the Vedas, and an accomplished student of the +Vedangas. Through my own fault I have been degraded to my present state. +A certain king, accomplished in the science of dhanurveda (science of +archery), was my friend; and from his companionship, O Brahmana, I, too +became skilled in archery; and one day the king, in company with his +ministers and followed by his best warriors, went out on a hunting +expedition. He killed a large number of deer near a hermitage. I, too, O +good Brahmana, discharged a terrible arrow. And a rishi was wounded by +that arrow with its head bent out. He fell down upon the ground, and +screaming loudly said, ‘I have harmed no one, what sinful man has done +this?’ And, my lord, taking him for a deer, I went up to him and found +that he was pierced through the body by my arrow. On account of my wicked +deed I was sorely grieved (in mind). And then I said to that rishi of +severe ascetic merit, who was loudly crying, lying upon the ground, ‘I +have done this unwittingly, O rishi.’ And also this I said to the muni: +‘Do thou think it proper to pardon all this transgression.’ But, O +Brahmana, the rishi, lashing himself into a fury, said to me, ‘Thou shalt +be born as a cruel fowler in the Sudra class.” + + + +SECTION CCXV + +“The fowler continued, ‘Thus cursed by that rishi, I sought to propitiate +him with these words: ‘Pardon me, O muni, I have done this wicked deed +unwittingly. It behooves thee to pardon all that. Do thou, worshipful +sir, soothe yourself.’ The rishi replied, ‘The curse that I have +pronounced can never be falsified, this is certain. But from kindness +towards thee, I shall do thee a favour. Though born in the Sudra class +thou shalt remain a pious man and thou shalt undoubtedly honour thy +parents; and by honouring them thou shalt attain great spiritual +perfection; thou shalt also remember the events of thy past life and +shalt go to heaven; and on the expiation of this curse, thou shalt again +become a Brahmana. O best of men, thus, of old was I cursed by that rishi +of severe power, and thus was he propitiated by me. Then, O good +Brahmana, I extricated the arrow from his body, and took him into the +hermitage, but he was not deprived of his life (recovered). O good +Brahmana, I have thus described to thee what happened to me of old, and +also how I can go to heaven hereafter.’ The Brahmana said, ‘O thou of +great intelligence, all men are thus subject to happiness or misery, thou +shouldst not therefore grieve for that. In obedience to the customs of +thy (present) race, thou hast pursued these wicked ways, but thou art +always devoted to virtue and versed in the ways and mysteries of the +world. And, O learned man, these being the duties of thy profession, the +stain of evil karma will not attach to thee. And after dwelling here for +some little time, thou shalt again become a Brahmana; and even now, I +consider thee to be a Brahmana, there is no doubt about this. For the +Brahmana who is vain and haughty, who is addicted to vices and wedded to +evil and degrading practices, is like a Sudra. On the other hand, I +consider a Sudra who is always adorned with these +virtues,--righteousness, self-restraint, and truthfulness,--as a +Brahmana. A man becomes a Brahmana by his character; by his own evil +karma a man attains an evil and terrible doom. O good man. I believe that +sin in thee has now died out. Thou must not grieve for this, for men, +like thee who art so virtuous and learned in the ways and mysteries of +the world, can have no cause for grief.’ + +“The fowler replied, ‘The bodily afflictions should be cured with +medicines, and the mental ones with spiritual wisdom. This is the power +of knowledge. Knowing this, the wise should not behave like boys. Man of +low intelligence are overpowered with grief at the occurrence of +something which is not agreeable to them, or non-occurrence of something +which is good or much desired. Indeed, all creatures are subject to this +characteristic (of grief or happiness). It is not merely a single +creature or class that is subject to misery. Cognisant of this evil, +people quickly mend their ways, and if they perceive it at the very +outset they succeed in curing it altogether. Whoever grieves for it, only +makes himself uneasy. Those wise men whose knowledge has made them happy +and contented, and who are indifferent to happiness and misery alike, are +really happy. The wise are always contented and the foolish always +discontented. There is no end to discontentment, and contentment is the +highest happiness. People who have reached the perfect way, do not +grieve, they are always conscious of the final destiny of all creatures. +One must not give way to discontent[57] for it is like a virulent poison. +It kills persons of undeveloped intelligence, just as child is killed by +an enraged snake. That man has no manliness whose energies have left him +and who is overpowered with perplexity when an occasion for the exercise +of vigour presents itself. Our actions are surely followed by their +consequences. Whoever merely gives himself up to passive indifference (to +worldly affairs) accomplishes no good. Instead of murmuring one must try +to find out the way by which he can secure exemption from (spiritual) +misery; and the means of salvation found, he must then free himself from +sensuality. The man who has attained a high state of spiritual knowledge +is always conscious of the great deficiency (instability) of all matter. +Such a person keeping in view the final doom (of all), never grieves, I +too, O learned man, do not grieve; I stay here (in this life) biding my +time. For this reason, O best of men, I am not perplexed (with doubts)’. +The Brahmana said, ‘Thou art wise and high in spiritual knowledge and +vast is thy intelligence. Thou who art versed in holy writ, art content +with thy spiritual wisdom. I have no cause to find fault with thee. +Adieu, O best of pious men, mayst thou be prosperous, and may +righteousness shield thee, and mayst thou be assiduous in the practice of +virtue.’ + +“Markandeya continued, The fowler said to him, ‘Be it so’. And the good +Brahmana walked round him[58] and then departed. And the Brahmana +returning home was duly assiduous in his attention to his old parents. I +have thus, O pious Yudhishthira, narrated in detail to thee this history +full of moral instruction, which thou, my good son, didst ask me to +recite,--the virtue of women’s devotion to their husbands and that of +filial piety.’ Yudhishthira replied, ‘O most pious Brahmana and best of +munis, thou hast related to me this good and wonderful moral story; and +listening to thee, O learned man, my time has glided away like a moment; +but, O adorable sir, I am not as yet satiated with hearing this moral[59] +discourse.’” + + + +SECTION CCXVI + +Vaisampayana continued, “The virtuous king Yudhishthira, having listened +to this excellent religious discourse, again addressed himself to the +rishi Markandeya saying, ‘Why did the fire-god hide himself in water in +olden times, and why is it that Angiras of great splendour officiating as +fire-god, used to convey[60] oblations during his dissolution. There is +but one fire, but according to the nature of its action, it is seen to +divide itself into many. O worshipful sir, I long to be enlightened on +all these points,--How the Kumara[61] was born, how he came to be known +as the son of Agni (the fire-god) and how he was begotten by Rudra or +Ganga and Krittika. O noble scion of Bhrigu’s race, I desire to learn all +this accurately as it happened. O great muni, I am filled with great +curiosity.’ Markandeya replied, ‘In this connection this old story is +cited by the learned, as to how the carrier of oblations (the fire-god) +in a fit of rage, sought the waters of the sea in order to perform a +penance, and how the adorable Angiras transforming himself into the +fire-god,[62] destroyed darkness and distressed the world with his +scorching rays. In olden times, O long-armed hero, the great Angiras +performed a wonderful penance in his hermitage; he even excelled the +fire-god, the carrier of oblations, in splendour and in that state he +illumined the whole universe. At that time the fire-god was also +performing a penance and was greatly distressed by his (Angirasa’s) +effulgence. He was greatly depressed, but did not know what to do. Then +that adorable god thought within himself, ‘Brahma has created another +fire-god for this universe. As I have been practising austerities, my +services as the presiding deity of fire have been dispensed with; and +then he considered how he could re-establish himself as the god of fire. +He beheld the great muni giving heat to the whole universe like fire, and +approached him slowly with fear. But Angiras said to him, ‘Do thou +quickly re-establish yourself as the fire animating the universe, thou +art well-known in the three stable worlds and thou wast first created by +Brahma to dispel darkness. Do thou, O destroyer of darkness, quickly +occupy thine own proper place.’ Agni replied, ‘My reputation has been +injured now in this world. And thou art become the fire-god, and people +will know thee, and not me, as fire. I have relinquished my god-hood of +fire, do thou become the primeval fire and I shall officiate as the +second or Prajapatyaka fire.’ Angiras replied, ‘Do thou become the +fire-god and the destroyer of darkness and do thou attend to thy sacred +duty of clearing people’s way to heaven, and do thou, O lord, make me +speedily thy first child.’ Markandeya continued, ‘Hearing these words of +Angiras, the fire-god did as desired, and, O king, Angiras had a son +named Vrihaspati. Knowing him to be the first son of Angiras by Agni, the +gods, O Bharata, came and enquired about the mystery. And thus asked by +the gods he then enlightened them, and the gods then accepted the +explanation of Angiras. In this connection, I shall describe to thee +religious sorts of fire of great effulgence which are here variously +known in the Brahmanas[63] by their respective uses.” + + + +SECTION CCXVII + +Markandeya continued, ‘O ornament of Kuru’s race, he (Angiras) who was +the third son of Brahma had a wife of the name of Subha. Do thou hear of +the children he had by her. His son Vrihaspati, O king, was very famous, +large-hearted and of great bodily vigour. His genius and learning were +profound, and he had a great reputation as a counsellor. Bhanumati was +his first-born daughter. She was the most beautiful of all his children. +Angiras’s second daughter was called Raga.[64] She was so named because +she was the object of all creature’s love. Siniwali was the third +daughter of Angiras. Her body was of such slender make that she was +visible at one time and invisible at another; and for this reason she was +likened to Rudra’s daughter. Archismati was his fourth daughter, she was +so named from her great refulgence. And his fifth daughter was called +Havishmati, so named from her accepting havis or oblations. The sixth +daughter of Angiras was called Mahismati the pious. O keen-witted being, +the seventh daughter of Angiras is known by the name of Mahamati, who is +always present at sacrifices of great splendour, and that worshipful +daughter of Angiras, whom they call unrivalled and without portion, and +about whom people utter the words kuhu kuhu wonder, is known by the name +of Kuhu.’ + + + +SECTION CCXVIII + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Vrishaspati had a wife (called Tara) belonging to +the lunar world. By her, he had six sons partaking of the energy of fire, +and one daughter. The fire in whose honour oblations of clarified butter +are offered at the Paurnamasya and other sacrifices, was a son of +Vrishaspati called Sanju; he was of great ascetic merit. At the +Chaturmasya (four-monthly) and Aswamedha (horse) sacrifices, animals are +offered first in his honour, and this powerful fire is indicated by +numerous flames. Sanju’s wife was called Satya, she was of matchless +beauty and she sprang from Dharma (righteousness) for the sake of truth. +The blazing fire was his son, and he had three daughters of great +religious merit. The fire which is honoured with the first oblations at +sacrifices is his first son called Bharadwaja. The second son of Sanju is +called Bharata in whose honour oblations of clarified butter are offered +with the sacrificial ladle (called Sruk) at all the full moon +(Paurnamasaya) sacrifices. Beside these, three sons of whom Bharata is +the senior, he had a son named Bharata and a daughter called Bharati. The +Bharata fire is the son of Prajapati Bharata Agni (fire). And, O ornament +of Bharata’s race, because he is greatly honoured, he is also called the +great. Vira is Bharadwaja’s wife; she gave birth to Vira. It is said by +the Brahmanas that he is worshipped like Soma (with the same hymns) with +offerings of clarified butter. He is joined with Soma in the secondary +oblation of clarified butter and is also called Rathaprabhu, Rathadhwana +and Kumbhareta. He begot a son named Siddhi by his wife Sarayu, and +enveloped the sun with his splendour and from being the presiding genius +of the fire sacrifice he is ever mentioned in the hymns in praise of +fire. And the fire Nischyavana praises the earth only; he never suffers +in reputation, splendour and prosperity. The sinless fire Satya blazing +with pure flame is his son. He is free from all taint and is not defiled +by sin, and is the regulator of time. That fire has another name +Nishkriti, because he accomplished the Nishkriti (relief) of all blatant +creatures here. When properly worshipped he vouchsafes good fortune. His +son is called Swana, who is the generator of all diseases; he inflicts +severe sufferings on people for which they cry aloud, and moves in the +intelligence of the whole universe. And the other fire (Vrihaspati’s +third son) is called Viswajit by men of spiritual wisdom. The fire, which +is known as the internal heat by which the food of all creatures is +digested, is the fourth son of Vrihaspati known through all the worlds, O +Bharata, by the name of Viswabhuk. He is self-restrained, of great +religious merit, and is a Brahmacharin and he is worshipped by Brahmanas +at the Paka-sacrifices. The sacred river Gomati was his wife and by her +all religious-minded men perform their rites. And that terrible +water-drinking sea fire called Vadava is the fifth son of Vrihaspati. +This Brahmic fire has a tendency to move upwards and hence it is called +Urdhvabhag, and is seated in the vital air called Prana. The sixth son is +called the great Swishtakrit; for by him oblations became swishta (su, +excellently, and ishta, offered) and the udagdhara oblation is always +made in his honour. And when all creatures are claimed, the fire called +Manyauti becomes filled with fury. This inexorably terrible and highly +irascible fire is the daughter of Vrihaspati, and is known as Swaha and +is present in all matter. (By the respective influence of the three +qualities of sattwa, rajas and tamas, Swaha had three sons). By reason of +the first she had a son who was equalled by none in heaven in personal +beauty, and from this fact he was surnamed by the gods as the +Kama-fire.[65] (By reason of the second) she had a son called the Amogha +or invincible fire, the destroyer of his enemies in battle. Assured of +success he curbs his anger and is armed with a bow and seated on a +chariot and adorned with wreaths of flowers. (From the action of the +third quality) she had a son, the great Uktha (the means of salvation) +praised by (akin to) three Ukthas.[66] He is the originator of the great +word[67] and is therefore known as the Samaswasa or the means of rest +(salvation).’” + + + +SECTION CCXIX + +“Markandeya continued, ‘He (Uktha) performed a severe penance lasting for +many years, with the view of having a pious son equal unto Brahma in +reputation. And when the invocation was made with the vyahriti hymns and +with the aid of the five sacred fires, Kasyapa, Vasistha, Prana, the son +of Prana, Chyavana, the son of Angiras, and Suvarchaka--there arose a +very bright energy (force) full of the animating (creative) principle, +and of five different colours. Its head was of the colour of the blazing +fire, its arms were bright like the sun and its skin and eyes were +golden-coloured and its feet, O Bharata, were black. Its five colours +were given to it by those five men by reason of their great penance. This +celestial being is therefore described as appertaining to five men, and +he is the progenitor of five tribes. After having performed a penance for +ten thousand years, that being of great ascetic merit produced the +terrible fire appertaining to the Pitris (manes) in order to begin the +work of creation, and from his head and mouth respectively he created +Vrihat and Rathantara (day and night) who quickly steal away (life, &c.). +He also created Siva from his navel, Indra from his might and wind and +fire from his soul, and from his two arms sprang the hymns Udatta and +Anudatta. He also produced the mind, and the five senses, and other +creatures. Having created these, he produced the five sons of the Pitris. +Of these Pranidhi was the son of Vrihadratha. Vrihadratha was the son of +Kasyapa. Bhanu was the godson of Chyavana, Saurabha, the son of +Suvarchaka, and Anudatta, the son of Prana. These twenty-five beings are +reputed (to have been created by him). Tapa also created fifteen other +gods who obstruct sacrifices[68]. They are Subhima, Bhima, Atibhima, +Bhimavala, Avala, Sumitra, Mitravana, Mitasina, Mitravardhana and +Mitradharaman,[69] and Surapravira, Vira, Suveka, Suravarchas and +Surahantri. These gods are divided into three classes of five each. +Located here in this world, they destroy the sacrifices of the gods in +heaven; they frustrate their objects and spoil their oblations of +clarified butter. They do this only to spite the sacred fires carrying +oblations to the gods. If the officiating priests are careful, they place +the oblations in their honour outside of the sacrificial altar. To that +particular place where the sacred fire may be placed, they cannot go. +They carry the oblation of their votaries by means of wings. When +appeased by hymns, they do not frustrate the sacrificial rites. +Vrihaduktha, another son of Tapa, belongs to the Earth. He is worshipped +here in this world by pious men performing Agnihotra sacrifices. Of the +son of Tapa who is known as Rathantara, it is said by officiating priests +that the sacrificial oblation offered in his honour is offered to +Mitravinda. The celebrated Tapa was thus very happy with his sons.” + + + +SECTION CCXX + +“Markandeya continued, ‘The fire called Bharata was bound by severe rules +of asceticism. Pushtimati is another name of his fire; for when he is +satisfied he vouchsafes pushti (development) to all creatures, and for +this reason he is called Bharata (or the Cherisher). And that other fire, +by name Siva, is devoted to the worship of Sakti (the forces of the +presiding deity of the forces of Nature), and because he always relieves +the sufferings of all creatures afflicted with misery, he is called Siva +(the giver of good). And on the acquisition of great ascetic wealth by +Tapa, an intelligent son named Puranda was born to inherit the same. +Another son named Ushma was also born. This fire is observed in the +vapour of all matter. A third son Manu was born. He officiated as +Prajapati. The Brahmanas who are learned in the Vedas, then speak of the +exploits of the fire Sambhu. And after that the bright Avasathya fire of +great refulgence is spoken of by the Brahmanas. Tapa thus created the +five Urjaskara fires, all bright as gold. These all share the Soma drink +in sacrifices. The great sun-god when fatigued (after his day’s labours) +is known as the Prasanta fire. He created the terrible Asuras and various +other creatures of the earth. Angiras, too created the Prajapati Bhanu, +the son of Tapa. He is also called Vrihadbhanu (the great Bhanu) by +Brahmanas learned in the Vedas. Bhanu married Supraja, and Brihadbhanu +the daughter of Surya (the sun-god). They gave birth to six sons; do thou +hear of their progeny. The fire who gives strength to the weak is called +Valada (or the giver of strength). He is the first son of Bhanu, and that +other fire who looks terrible when all the elements are in a tranquil +state is called the Manjuman fire; he is the second son of Bhanu. And the +fire in whose honour oblations of clarified butter are enjoined to be +made here at the Darsa and Paurnamasya sacrifices and who is known as +Vishnu in this world, is (the third son of Bhanu) called Angiras, or +Dhritiman. And the fire to whom with Indra, the Agrayana oblation is +enjoined to be made is called the Agrayana fire. He is the (fourth) son +of Bhanu. The fifth son of Bhanu is Agraha who is the source of the +oblations which are daily made for the performance of the Chaturmasya +(four-monthly) rites. And Stuva is the sixth son of Bhanu. Nisa was the +name of another wife of that Manu who is known by the name of Bhanu. She +gave birth to one daughter, the two Agnishomas, and also five other +fire-gods. The resplendent fire-god who is honoured with the first +oblations in company with the presiding deity of the clouds is called +Vaiswanara. And that other fire who is called the lord of all the worlds +is Viswapati, the second son of Manu. And the daughter of Manu is called +Swistakrit, because by oblations unto her one acquires great merit. +Though she was the daughter of Hiranyakasipu, she yet became his wife for +her evil deeds. She is, however, one of the Prajapatis. And that other +fire which has its seats in the vital airs of all creatures and animates +their bodies, is called Sannihita. It is the cause of our perceptions of +sound and form. That divine spirit whose course is marked with black and +white stains, who is the supporter of fire, and who, though free from +sin, is the accomplisher of desired karma, whom the wise regard as a +great Rishi, is the fire Kapila, the propounder of the Yoga system called +Sankhya. The fire through whom the elementary spirits always receive the +offerings called Agra made by other creatures at the performance of all +the peculiar rites in this world is called Agrani. And these other bright +fires famous in the world, were created for the rectification of the +Agnihotra rites when marred by any defects. If the fires interlap each +other by the action of the wind, then the rectification must be made with +the Ashtakapala rites in honour of the fire Suchi. And if the southern +fire comes in contact with the two other fires, then rectification must +be made by the performance of the Ashtakapala rites in honour of the fire +Viti. If the fires in their place called Nivesa come in contact with the +fire called Devagni, then the Ashtakapala rites must be performed in +honour of the fire Suchi for rectification. And if the perpetual fire is +touched by a woman in her monthly course, then for rectification the +Ashtakapala rites must be performed in honour of the fire called +Dasyuman. If at the time of the performance of this Agnihotra rites the +death of any creature is spoken of, or if animals die, then rectification +must be made with the performance of the Ashtakapala rites in honour of +the Suraman fire. The Brahmana, who while suffering from a disease is +unable to offer oblations to the sacred fire for three nights, must make +amends for the same by performing the Ashtakapala rites in honour of the +northern fire. He who has performed the Darsa and the Paurnamasya rites +must make the rectification with the performance of the Ashtakapala rites +in honour of the Patikrit fire. If the fire of a lying-in room comes in +contact with the perpetual sacred fire, then rectification must be made +with the performance of Ashtakapala rites in honour of the Agniman fire.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXI + +Markandeya continued, “Mudita, the favourite wife of the fire Swaha, used +to live in water. And Swaha who was the regent of the earth and sky beget +in that wife of his a highly sacred fire called Advanta. There is a +tradition amongst learned Brahmanas that this fire is the ruler and inner +soul of all creatures. He is worshipful, resplendent and the lord of all +the great Bhutas here. And that fire, under the name of Grihapati, is +ever worshipped at all sacrifices and conveys all the oblations that are +made in this world. That great son of Swaha--the great Adbhuta fire is +the soul of the waters and the prince and regent of the sky and the lord +of everything great. His (son), the Bharata fire, consumes the dead +bodies of all creatures. His first Kratu is known as Niyata at the +performance of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. That powerful prime fire (Swaha) +is always missed by the gods, because when he sees Niyata approaching him +he hides himself in the sea from fear of contamination. Searching for him +in every direction, the gods could not (once) find him out and on +beholding Atharvan the fire said to him, ‘O valiant being, do thou carry +the oblations for the gods! I am disabled from want of strength. +Attaining the state of the red-eyed fire, do thou condescend to do me +this favour!’ Having thus advised Atharvan, the fire went away to some +other place. But his place of concealment was divulged by the finny +tribe. Upon them the fire pronounced this curse in anger, ‘You shall be +the food of all creatures in various ways.’ And then that carrier of +oblations spoke unto Atharvan (as before). Though entreated by the gods, +he did not agree to continue carrying their oblations. He then became +insensible and instantly gave up the ghost. And leaving his material +body, he entered into the bowels of the earth. Coming into contact with +the earth, he created the different metals. Force and scent arose from +his pus; the Deodar pine from his bones; glass from his phlegm; the +Marakata jewel from his bile; and the black iron from his liver. And all +the world has been embellished with these three substances (wood, stone +and iron). The clouds were made from his nails, and corals from his +veins. And, O king, various other metals were produced from his body. +Thus leaving his material body, he remained absorbed in (spiritual) +meditation. He was roused by the penance of Bhrigu and Angiras. The +powerful fire thus gratified with penance, blazed forth intensely. But on +beholding the Rishi (Atharvan), he again sought his watery refuse. At +this extinction of the fire, the whole world was frightened, and sought +the protection of Atharvan, and the gods and others began to worship him. +Atharvan rummaged the whole sea in the presence of all those beings eager +with expectation, and finding out the fire, himself began the work of +creation. Thus in olden times the fire was destroyed and called back to +life by the adorable Atharvan. But now he invariably carries the +oblations of all creatures. Living in the sea and travelling about +various countries, he produced the various fires mentioned in the Vedas. + +The river Indus, the five rivers (of the Punjab), the Sone, the Devika, +the Saraswati, the Ganga, the Satakumbha, the Sarayu, the Gandaki, the +Charmanwati, the Mahi, the Medha, the Medhatithi, the three rivers +Tamravati, the Vetravati, and the Kausiki; the Tamasa, the Narmada, the +Godavari, the Vena, the Upavena, the Bhima, the Vadawa, the Bharati, the +Suprayoga, the Kaveri, the Murmura, the Tungavenna, the Krishnavenna and +the Kapila, these rivers, O Bharata, are said to be the mothers of the +fires! The fire called Adbhuta had a wife of the name of Priya, and Vibhu +was the eldest of his sons by her. There are as many different kinds of +Soma sacrifices as the number of fires mentioned before. All this race of +fires, first-born of the spirit of Brahma, sprang also from the race of +Atri. Atri in his own mind conceived these sons, desirous of extending +the creation. By this act, the fires came out of his own Brahmic frame. I +have thus narrated to thee the history of the origin of these fires. They +are great, resplendent, and unrivalled in power, and they are the +destroyers of darkness. Know that the powers of those fires are the same +as those of the Adbhuta fire as related in the Vedas. For all these fires +are one and same. This adorable being, the first born fire, must be +considered as one. For like the Jyotishtoma sacrifice he came out of +Angiras body in various forms. I have thus described to thee the history +of the great race of Agni (fires) who when duly worshipped with the +various hymns, carry the oblations of all creatures to the gods. + + + +SECTION CCXXII + +“Markandeya continued, ‘O sinless scion of Kuru’s race, I have described +to thee the various branches of the race of Agni. Listen now to the story +of the birth of the intelligent Kartikeya. I shall tell thee of that +wonderful and famous and highly energetic son of the Adbhuta fire +begotten of the wives of the Brahmarshis. In ancient times the gods and +Asuras were very active in destroying one another. And the terrible +Asuras always succeeded in defeating the gods. And Purandara (Indra) +beholding the great slaughter of his armies by them and anxious to find +out a leader for the celestial host, thought within himself, ‘I must find +out a mighty person who observing the ranks of the celestial army +shattered by the Danavas will be able to reorganize it with vigour.’ He +then repaired to the Manasa mountains and was there deeply absorbed in +thought of nature, when he heard the heart-rending cries of a woman to +the effect, ‘May some one come quick and rescue me, and either indicate a +husband for me, or be my husband himself.’ Purandara said to her, ‘Do not +be afraid, lady!’ And having said these words, he saw Kesin (an Asura) +adorned with a crown and mace in hand standing even like a hill of metals +at a distance and holding that lady by the hand. Vasava addressed then +that Asura saying, ‘Why art thou bent on behaving insolently to this +lady? Know that I am the god who wields the thunderbolt. Refrain thou +from doing any violence to this lady.’ To him Kesin replied, ‘Do thou, O +Sakra, leave her alone. I desire to possess her. Thinkest thou, O slayer +of Paka, that thou shalt be able to return home with thy life?’ With +these words Kesin hurled his mace for slaying Indra. Vasava cut it up in +its course with his thunderbolt. Then Kesin, furious with rage, hurled a +huge mass of rock at him. Beholding that, he of a hundred sacrifices rent +it asunder with his thunderbolt, and it fell down upon the ground. And +Kesin himself was wounded by that falling mass of rock. Thus sorely +afflicted, he fled leaving the lady behind. And when the Asura was gone, +Indra said to that lady, ‘Who and whose wife art thou, O lady with a +beautiful face, and what has brought thee here?’” + + + +SECTION CCXXIII + +“The lady replied, ‘I am a daughter of Prajapati (the lord of all +creatures, Brahma) and my name is Devasena. My sister Daityasena has ere +this been ravished by Kesin. We two sisters with our maids habitually +used to come to these Manasa mountains for pleasures with the permission +of Prajapati. And the great Asura Kesin used daily to pay his court to +us. Daityasena, O conqueror of Paka, listened to him, but I did not. +Daityasena was, therefore, taken away by him, but, O illustrious one, +thou hast rescued me with thy might. And now, O lord of the celestials, I +desire that thou shouldst select an invincible husband for me.’ To this +Indra replied, ‘Thou art a cousin of mine, thy mother being a sister of +my mother Dakshayani, and now I desire to hear thee relate thine own +prowess.’ The lady replied, ‘O hero with long arms, I am Avala[70] (weak) +but my husband must be powerful. And by the potency of my father’s boon, +he will be respected by gods and Asuras alike.’ Indra said, ‘O blameless +creature, I wish to hear from thee, what sort of power thou wishest thy +husband to possess.’ The lady replied, ‘That manly and famous and +powerful being devoted to Brahma, who is able to conquer all the +celestials, Asuras, Yakshas, Kinnaras, Uragas, Rakshasas, and the +evil-minded Daityas and to subdue all the worlds with thee, shall be my +husband.’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘On hearing her speech, Indra was grieved and +deeply thought within himself, ‘There is no husband for this lady, +answering to her own description.’ And that god adorned with sun-like +effulgence, then perceived the Sun rising on the Udaya hill,[71] and the +great Soma (Moon) gliding into the Sun. It being the time of the new +Moon, he of a hundred sacrifices, at the Raudra[72] moment, observed the +gods and Asuras fighting on the Sunrise hill. And he saw that the morning +twilight was tinged with red clouds. And he also saw that the abode of +Varuna had become blood-red. And he also observed Agni conveying +oblations offered with various hymns by Bhrigu, Angiras, and others and +entering the disc of the Sun. And he further saw the twenty four Parvas +adorning the Sun, and the terrible Soma also present in the Sun under +such surroundings. And observing this union of the Sun and the Moon and +that fearful conjunction of theirs, Sakra thought within himself, This +terrific conjunction of the Sun and the Moon forebodeth a fearful battle +on the morrow. And the river Sindhu (Indus) too is flowing with a current +of fresh blood and the jackals with fiery laces are crying to the Sun. +This great conjunction is fearful and full of energy. This union of the +Moon (Soma) with the Sun and Agni is very wonderful. And if Soma giveth +birth to a son now, that son may become the husband of this lady. And +Agni also hath similar surroundings now, and he too is a god. If the two +begetteth a son, that son, may become the husband of this lady.’ With +these thoughts that illustrious celestial repaired to the regions of +Brahma, taking Devasena[73] with him. And saluting the Grandsire he said +unto him, ‘Do thou fix a renowned warrior as husband of this lady.’ +Brahma replied, ‘O slayer of Asuras, it shall be; as thou hast intended. +The issue of that union will be mighty and powerful accordingly. That +powerful being will be the husband of this lady and the joint leader of +thy forces with thee.’ Thus addressed, the lord of the celestials and the +lady bowed unto him and then repaired to the place where those great +Brahmanas, the powerful celestial Rishis, Vasistha and others, lived. And +with Indra at their head, the other gods also, desirous of drinking the +Soma beverage, repaired to the sacrifices of those Rishis to receive +their respective shares of the offerings. Having duly performed the +ceremonies with the bright blazing fire, those great-minded persons +offered oblations to the celestials. And the Adbhuta fire, that carrier +of oblations, was invited with mantras. And coming out of the solar disc, +that lordly fire duly repaired thither, restraining speech. And, O chief +of Bharata’s race, that fire entering the sacrificial fire that had been +ignited and into which various offerings were made by the Rishis with +recitations of hymns, took them with him and made them over to the +dwellers of heaven. And while returning from that place, he observed the +wives of those high-souled Rishis sleeping at their ease on their beds. +And those ladies had a complexion beautiful like that of an altar of +gold, spotless like moon-beams, resembling fiery flames and looking like +blazing stars. And seeing those wives of the illustrious Brahmanas with +eager eyes, his mind became agitated and he was smitten with their +charms. Restraining his heart he considered it improper for him to be +thus agitated. And he said unto himself, The wives of these great +Brahmanas are chaste and faithful and beyond the reach of other people’s +desires. I am filled with desire to possess them. I cannot lawfully cast +my eyes upon them, nor ever touch them when they are not filled with +desire. I shall, therefore, gratify myself daily with only looking at +them by becoming their Garhapatya (house-hold) fire.’ + +“Markandeya continued, The Adbhuta fire, thus transforming himself into a +house-hold one, was highly gratified with seeing those gold-complexioned +ladies and touching them with his flames. And influenced by their charms +he dwelt there for a long time, giving them his heart and filled with an +intense love for them. And baffled in all his efforts to win the hearts +of those Brahmana ladies, and his own heart tortured by love, he repaired +to a forest with the certain object of destroying himself. A little while +before, Swaha, the daughter of Daksha, had bestowed her love on him. The +excellent lady had been endeavouring for a long time to detect his weak +moments; but that blameless lady did not succeed in finding out any +weakness in the calm and collected fire-god. But now that the god had +betaken himself to a forest, actually tortured by the pangs of love, she +thought, ‘As I too am distressed with love, I shall assume the guise of +the wives of the seven Rishis, and in that disguise I shall seek the +fire-god so smitten with their charms. This done, he will be gratified +and my desire too will be satisfied.’” + + + +SECTION CCXXIV + +“Markandeya continued, ‘O lord of men, the beautiful Siva endowed with +great virtues and an unspotted character was the wife of Angiras (one of +the seven Rishis). That excellent lady (Swaha) at first assuming the +disguise of Siva, sought the presence of Agni unto whom she said, ‘O +Agni, I am tortured with love for thee. Do thou think it fit to woo me. +And if thou dost not accede to my request, know that I shall commit +self-destruction. I am Siva the wife of Angiras. I have come here +according to the advice of the wives of the other Rishis, who have sent +me here after due deliberation.’ + +Agni replied, ‘How didst thou know that I was tortured with love and how +could the others, the beloved wives of the seven Rishis, of whom thou +hast spoken, know this?’ + +Swaha replied, ‘Thou art always a favourite with us, but we are afraid of +thee. Now having read thy mind by well-known signs, they have sent to thy +presence. I have come here to gratify my desire. Be thou quick, O Agni, +to encompass the object of thy desire, my sisters-in-law are awaiting me. +I must return soon.’ + +Markandeya continued, ‘Then Agni, filled with great joy and delight, +married Swaha in the guise of Siva, and that lady joyfully cohabiting +with him, held the semen virile in her hands. And then she thought within +herself that those who would observe her in that disguise in the forest, +would cast an unmerited slur upon the conduct of those Brahmana ladies in +connection with Agni. Therefore, to prevent this, she should assume the +disguise of a bird, and in that state she should more easily get out of +the forest. + +Markandeya continued, ‘Then assuming the disguise of a winged creature, +she went out of the forest and reached the White Mountain begirt with +clumps of heath and other plants and trees, and guarded by strange +seven-headed serpents with poison in their very looks, and abounding with +Rakshasas, male and female Pisachas, terrible spirits, and various kinds +of birds and animals. That excellent lady quickly ascending a peak of +those mountains, threw that semen into a golden lake. And then assuming +successively the forms of the wives of the high-souled seven Rishis, she +continued to dally with Agni. But on account of the great ascetic merit +of Arundhati and her devotion to her husband (Vasishtha), she was unable +to assume her form. And, O chief of Kuru’s race, the lady Swaha on the +first lunar day threw six times into that lake the semen of Agni. And +thrown there, it produced a male child endowed with great power. And from +the fact of its being regarded by the Rishis as cast off, the child born +therefrom came to be called by the name of Skanda. And the child had six +faces, twelve ears, as many eyes, hands, and feet, one neck, and one +stomach. And it first assumed a form on the second lunar day, and it grew +to the size of a little child on the third. And the limbs of Guha were +developed on the fourth day. And being surrounded by masses of red clouds +flashing forth lightning, it shone like the Sun rising in the midst of a +mass of red clouds. And seizing the terrific and immense bow which was +used by the destroyer of the Asura Tripura for the destruction of the +enemies of the gods, that mighty being uttered such a terrible roar that +the three worlds with their mobile and immobile divisions became struck +with awe. And hearing that sound which seemed like the rumbling of a mass +of big clouds, the great Nagas, Chitra and Airavata, were shaken with +fear. And seeing them unsteady that lad shining with sun-like refulgence +held them with both his hands. And with a dart in (another) hand, and +with a stout, red-crested, big cock fast secured in another, that +long-armed son of Agni began to sport about making a terrible noise. And +holding an excellent conch-shell with two of his hands, that mighty being +began to blow it to the great terror of even the most powerful creatures. +And striking the air with two of his hands, and playing about on the +hill-top, the mighty Mahasena of unrivalled prowess, looked as if he were +on the point of devouring the three worlds, and shone like the bright +Sun-god at the moment of his ascension in the heavens. And that being of +wonderful prowess and matchless strength, seated on the top of that hill, +looked on with his numerous faces directed towards the different cardinal +points, and observing various things, he repeated his loud roars. And on +hearing those roars various creatures were prostrate with fear. And +frightened and troubled in mind they sought protection. And all those +persons of various orders who then sought the protection of that god are +known as his powerful Brahmana followers. And rising from his seat, that +mighty god allayed the fears of all those people, and then drawing his +bow, he discharged his arrows in the direction of the White Mountain. And +with those arrows the hill Krauncha, the son of Himavat, was rent +asunder. And that is the reason why swans and vultures now migrate to the +Sumeru mountains. The Krauncha hill, sorely wounded, fell down uttering +fearful groans. And seeing him fallen, the other hills too began to +scream. And that mighty being of unrivalled prowess, hearing the groans +of the afflicted, was not at all moved, but himself uplifting his mace, +yelled forth his war-whoop. And that high-souled being then hurled his +mace of great lustre and quickly rent in twain one of the peaks of the +White Mountain. And the White Mountain being thus pierced by him was +greatly afraid of him and dissociating himself from the earth fled with +the other mountains. And the earth was greatly afflicted and bereft of +her ornaments on all sides. And in this distress, she went over to Skanda +and once more shone with all her might. And the mountains too bowed down +to Skanda and came back and stuck into the earth. And all creatures then +celebrated the worship of Skanda on the fifth day of the lunar month. + + + +SECTION CCXXV + +“Markandeya continued, ‘When that powerful, high-souled, and mighty being +was born, various kinds of fearful phenomena occurred. And the nature of +males and females, of heat and cold, and of such other pairs of +contraries, was reversed. And the planets, the cardinal points and the +firmaments became radiant with light and the earth began to rumble very +much. And the Rishis even, seeking the welfare of the world, while they +observed all these terrific prodigies on all sides, began with anxious +hearts to restore tranquillity in the universe. And those who used to +live in that Chitraratha forest said, This very miserable condition of +ours hath been brought about by Agni cohabiting with the six wives of the +seven Rishis.’ Others again who had seen the goddess assume the disguise +of a bird said, ‘This evil hath been brought about by a bird.’ No one +ever imagined that Swaha was the authoress of that mischief. But having +heard that the (new born) male child was hers, she went to Skanda and +gradually revealed to him the fact that she was his mother. And those +seven Rishis, when they heard that a son of great power had been born (to +them), divorced their six wives with the exception of the adorable +Arundhati, because all the dwellers of that forest protested that those +six persons had been instrumental in bringing forth the child. Swaha too, +O king, said again and again to the seven Rishis, saying, ‘Ye ascetics, +this child is mine, your wives are not his mother.’ + +The great Muni Viswamitra had, after the conclusion of the sacrifices of +the seven Rishis, followed unseen the god of fire, while the latter was +tortured with lust. He, therefore, knew everything as it happened and he +was the first to seek the protection of Mahasena. And he offered divine +prayers to Mahasena and all the thirteen auspicious rites appertaining to +childhood, such as the natal and other ceremonies, were all performed by +the great Muni in respect of that child. And for the good of the world he +promulgated the virtues of the six-faced Skanda, and performed ceremonies +in honour of the cock, the goddess Sakti, and the first followers of +Skanda. And for this reason he became a great favourite of the celestial +youth. That great Muni then informed the seven Rishis, of the +transformations of Swaha and told them that their wives were perfectly +innocent. But though thus informed the seven Rishis abandoned their +spouses unconditionally. + +Markandeya continued, The celestials having heard of the prowess of +Skanda, all said to Vasava, ‘O Sakra, do thou kill Skanda without delay +for his prowess is unbearable. And if thou dost not exterminate him, he +will conquer the three worlds with ourselves, and overpowering thee, will +himself become the mighty lord of the celestials.’ Perplexed in mind, +Sakra replied unto them, ‘This child is endowed with great prowess. He +can himself destroy the Creator of the Universe, in battle putting forth +his might. I venture not, therefore, to do away with him.’ To this the +gods replied, ‘Thou hast no manliness in thee, in that thou talkest in +this manner. Let the great Mothers of the Universe repair to-day to +Skanda. They can master at will any degree of energy. Let then kill this +child.’ ‘It shall be so.’--the mothers replied. And then they went away. +But on beholding that he was possessed of great might, they became +dispirited, and considering that he was invincible, they sought his +protection and said unto him, ‘Do thou, O mighty being, become our +(adopted) son. We are full of affection for thee and desirous of giving +thee suck. Lo, the milk oozes from our breasts!’ On hearing these words, +the mighty Mahasena became desirous of sucking their breasts and he +received them with due respect and acceded to their request. And that +mightiest of mighty creatures then beheld his father Agni come towards +him. And that god, who is the doer of all that is good, was duly honoured +by his son, and in company with the Mothers, he stayed there by the side +of Mahasena to tend him. And that lady amongst the Mothers who was born +of Anger[74] with a spike in hand kept watch over Skanda even like a +mother guarding her own offspring, and that irascible red-coloured +daughter of the Sea, who lived herself on blood, hugged Mahasena in her +breast and nursed him like a mother. And Agni transforming himself into a +trader with a goat’s mouth and followed by numerous children began to +gratify that child of his with toys in that mountain abode of his.” + + + +SECTION CCXXVI + +“Markandeya continued, The planets with their satellites, the Rishis and +the Mothers, Agni and numerous other blazing courtiers and many other +dwellers of heaven of terrible mien, waited on Mahasena along with the +Mothers. And the illustrious sovereign of the gods, desirous of victory +but believing success to be doubtful mounted his elephant Airavata and +attended by the other gods advanced towards Skanda. That mighty being +followed by all the celestials was armed with his thunderbolt. And with +the object of slaying Mahasena, he marched with terrible celestial army +of great-splendour, sounding their shrill war-cry and furnished with +various sorts of standards, with warriors encased in various armour and +armed with numerous bows and riding on various animals. When Mahasena +beheld the gloriously decked Sakra, attired in his best clothes, +advancing with the determination of slaying him, he (too on his part) +advanced to meet that chief of the celestials. O Partha, the mighty +Vasava, the lord of the celestials, then uttered a loud shout, to +encourage his warriors and marching rapidly with the view of killing +‘Agnis’ son and praised by Tridasas[75] and great Rishis, he at length +reached the abode of Kartikeya. And then he shouted out with other gods; +and Guha too in response to this, uttered a fearful war-cry resembling +the roaring of the sea. On hearing that noise, the celestial army behaved +like an agitated sea, and was stunned and fixed to the spot. And that son +of Pavaka (the Fire-god) beholding the gods come near to him with the +object of killing him, was filled with wrath, and gave out rising flame +of fire from within his mouth. And these flames destroyed the celestial +forces struggling on the ground. Their heads, their bodies, their arms +and riding animals were all burnt in that conflagration and they appeared +all on a sudden like stars displaced from their proper spheres. Thus +afflicted, the god renounced all allegiance to the thunder bolt, and +sought the protection of Pavaka’s son; and thus peace was again secured. +When he was thus forsaken by the gods, Sakra hurled his thunder-bolt at +Skanda. It pierced him on the right side; and, O great king, it passed +through the body of that high-souled being. And from being struck with +the thunder-bolt, there arose from Skanda’s body another being--a youth +with a club in hand, and adorned with a celestial amulet. And because he +was born on account of the piercing of the thunder-bolt, he was named +Visakha. And Indra, when he beheld that another person looking like the +fierce destroying Fire-god had come into being was frightened out of his +wits and besought the protection of Skanda, with the palms of his hands +joined together (as a mark of respect). And that excellent being Skanda, +bade him renounce all fear, with his arm. The gods were then transported +with joy, and their hands too struck up.” + + + +SECTION CCXXVII + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Now hear of those terrible and curious-looking +followers of Skanda. A number of male children came into being when +Skanda was struck with the thunder-bolt,--those terrific creatures that +steal (spirit away) little children, whether born, or in the womb and a +number of female children too of great strength were born to him. Those +children adopted Visakha as their father. That adorable and dexterous +Bhadrasakha, having a face like that of a goat was at the time (of the +battle), surrounded by all his sons and daughters whom he guarded +carefully in the presence of the great mothers. And for this reason the +inhabitants of this earth call Skanda the father of Kumaras (little +children). Those persons who desire to have sons born to them, worship in +their places the powerful Rudra in the form of the Fire-god, and Uma in +the form of Swaha. And by that means they are blessed with sons. The +daughters begotten by the Fire-god, Tapa, went over to Skanda, who said +to them, ‘What can I do for you?’ Those girls replied, ‘Do us this +favour; by thy blessing, may we become the good and respected mothers of +all the world!’ He replied, ‘Be it so.’ And that liberal-minded being +repeated again and again, ‘Ye shall be divided into Siva and Asiva.’[76] +And the mothers then departed, having first established Skanda’s sonship, +Kaki, Halima, Malini, Vrinhila, Arya, Palala and Vaimitra, these were the +seven mothers of Sisu. They had a powerful, red-eyed, terrific, and very +turbulent son named Sisu born by the blessing of Skanda. He was reputed +as the eighth hero, born of the mothers of Skanda. But he is also known +as the ninth, when that being with the face of a goat, is included. Know +that the sixth face of Skanda was like that of a goat. That face, O king, +is situated in the middle of the six, and is regarded constantly by the +mother. That head by which Bhadrasakha created the divine energy, is +reputed to be the best of all his heads O ruler of men, these virtuous +wonderful events happened on the fifth day of the bright half of the +lunar month, and on the sixth, a very fierce and terrific battle was +fought at that place.” + + + +SECTION CCXXVIII + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Skanda was adorned with a golden amulet and +wreath, and wore a crest and a crown of gold; his eyes were +golden-coloured, and he had a set of sharp teeth; he was dressed in a red +garment and looked very handsome; he had a comely appearance, and was +endowed with all good characteristics and was the favourite of the three +worlds. He granted boons (to people who sought them) and was brave, +youthful, and adorned with bright ear-rings. Whilst he was reposing +himself, the goddess of fortune, looking like a lotus and assuming a +personal embodiment, rendered her allegiance to him. When he became thus +possessed of good fortune, that famous and delicate-looking creature +appeared to all like the moon at its full. And high-minded Brahmanas +worshipped that mighty being, and the Maharshis (great rishis) then said +as follows to Skanda, ‘O thou born of the golden egg, mayst thou be +prosperous and mayst thou become an instrument of good to the universe! O +best of the gods, although thou wast born only six nights (days) ago, the +whole world has owned allegiance to thee (within this short time), and +thou hast also allayed their fears. Therefore do thou become the Indra +(lord) of the three worlds and remove their cause of apprehension.’ +Skanda replied, ‘You gentlemen of great ascetic wealth (tell me) what +Indra does with all three worlds and how that sovereign of the celestials +protects the hosts of gods unremittingly.’ The Rishis replied, ‘Indra is +the giver of strength, power, children and happiness to all creatures and +when propitiated, that Lord of the celestials bestows on all the objects +of their desire. He destroys the wicked and fulfils the desires of the +righteous; and that Destroyer of Vala assigns to all creatures their +various duties. He officiates for the sun and the moon in places where +there is no sun or moon; he even when occasion requires it, acts for +(serves the purposes of) fire, air, earth, and water. These are the +duties of Indra; his capacities are immense. Thou too art mighty; +therefore great hero, do thou become our Indra.’ + +Sakra said, ‘O mighty being, do thou make us happy, by becoming our lord. +Excellent being, thou art worthy of the honour; therefore shall we anoint +thee this very day.’ + +Skanda replied, ‘Do thou continue to rule the three worlds with +self-possession, and with thy heart bent on conquest. I shall remain thy +humble servant. I covet not thy sovereignty.’ + +Sakra replied, ‘Thy prowess is unrivalled, O hero, do thou therefore +vanquish the enemies of the gods. People have been struck with wonder at +thy prowess. More specially as I have been bereft of my prowess, and +defeated by thee, now if I were to act as Indra, I should not command the +respect of all creatures, and they would be busy in bringing about +dissensions between us; and then, my lord, they would become the +partisans of one or other of us. And when they formed themselves into two +distinct factions, war as before would be the result of that defection. +And in that war, thou wouldst undoubtedly defeat me without difficulty +and thyself become the lord of all worlds.’ + +Skanda replied, ‘Thou, O Sakra, art my sovereign, as also of the three +worlds; mayst thou be prosperous! Tell me if I can obey any commands of +thine.’ + +Indra replied, ‘At thy bidding, O powerful being, I shall continue to act +as Indra. And if thou hast said this deliberately and in earnest, then +hear me how thou canst gratify thy desire of serving me. Do thou, O +mighty being, take the leadership of the celestial forces accordingly.’ + +Skanda replied, ‘Do thou anoint me as leader, for the destruction of the +Danavas, for the good of the celestials, and for the well-being of cows +and Brahmanas.’ + +Markandeya continued, “Thus anointed by Indra and all other gods, and +honoured by the Maharshis, he looked grand at the moment. The golden +umbrella[77] held (over his head) looked like a halo of blazing fire. +That famous god, the Conqueror of Tripura, himself fastened the celestial +wreath of gold, of Viswakarma’s manufacture, round his neck. And, O great +man and conqueror of thine enemies, that worshipful god with the emblem +of the bull, had gone there previously with Parvati. He honoured him with +a joyous heart. The Fire-god is called Rudra by Brahmanas, and from this +fact Skanda is called the son of Rudra. The White Mountain was formed +from discharges of Rudra’s semen virile and the sensual indulgences of +the Fire-god with the Krittikas took place on that same White Mountain. +And as Rudra was seen by all the dwellers of heaven to heap honours on +the excellent Guha (Skanda), he was for that reason reputed as the son of +Rudra. This child had his being by the action of Rudra entering into the +constitution of the Fire-god, and for this reason, Skanda came to be +known as the son of Rudra. And, O Bharata, as Rudra, the Fire-god, Swaha, +and the six wives (of the seven Rishis) were instrumental to the birth of +the great god Skanda, he was for that reason reputed as the son of Rudra. + +“That son of Fire-god was clad in a pair of clean red cloths, and thus he +looked grand and resplendent like the Sun peeping forth from behind a +mass of red clouds. And the red cock given to him by the Fire-god, formed +his ensign; and when perched on the top of his chariot, it looked like +the image of the all-destroying fire. And the presiding deity of the +power which conduces to the victory of the god, and which is the director +of the exertions of all creatures, and constitutes their glory, prop and +refuge, advanced before him. And a mysterious charm entered into his +constitution the charm which manifests its powers on the battlefield. +Beauty, strength, piety, power, might, truthfulness, rectitude, devotion +to Brahmanas, freedom from illusion or perplexity, protection of +followers, destruction of foes, and care of all creatures,--these, O lord +of men, are the inborn virtues of Skanda. Thus anointed by all the gods, +he looked pleased and complacent; and dressed in his best style, he +looked beautiful like the moon at its full. The much-esteemed incantation +of Vedic hymns, the music of the celestial band, and the songs of gods +and Gandharvas then rang on all sides. And surrounded by all the +well-dressed Apsaras, and many other gay and happy-looking Pisachas and +hosts of gods, that anointed (by gods) son of Pavaka disported himself in +all his grandeur. To the dwellers of heaven, the anointed Mahasena, +appeared like the Sun rising after extinction of darkness. And then the +celestial forces looking upon him as their leader, surrounded him on all +sides in thousands. That adorable being followed by all creatures then +assumed their commands, and praised and honoured by them, he encouraged +them in return. + +“The Performer of a thousand sacrifices then thought of Devasena, whom he +has rescued before. And considering that this being (Skanda) was +undoubtedly destined to be the husband of this lady by Brahma himself, he +had her brought there, dressed her with the best apparel. And the +vanquisher of Vala then said to Skanda, ‘O foremost of gods, this lady +was, even before thy birth, destined to be thy bride by that +Self-existent Being.[78] Therefore do thou duly accept her lotus-like +beautiful right hand with invocation of the (marital) hymns.’ Thus told, +he duly married her. And Vrihaspati learned in hymns performed the +necessary prayers and oblations. She who is called Shashthi, Lakshmi, +Asa, Sukhaprada, Sinivali, Kuhu, Saivritti, and Aparajita, is known among +men as Devasena, the wife of Skanda. When Skanda became united to +Devasena in indissoluble bonds of matrimony, then the gods of prosperity +in her own personal embodiment began to serve him with diligence. As +Skanda attained celebrity on the fifth lunar day, that day is called +Sripanchami (or the auspicious fifth day) and as he attained his object +on the sixth, that lunar day is considered to be of great moment.” + + + +SECTION CCXXIX + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Those six ladies, the wives of the seven Rishis +when they learned that good fortune had smiled on Mahasena and that he +had been made leader of the celestial forces,[79] repaired to his camp. +Those virtuous ladies of high religious merit had been disowned by the +Rishis. They lost no time in visiting that leader of the celestial forces +and then addressed him thus, ‘We, O son, have been cast out by our +god-like husbands, without any cause. Some people spread the rumour that +we gave birth to thee. Believing in the truth of this story, they became +greatly indignant, and banished us from our sacred places. It behooves +thee now to save us from this infamy. We desire to adopt thee as our son, +so that, O mighty being, eternal bliss may be secured to us by that +favour. Do thou thus repay the obligation thou owest to us.’ + +“Skanda replied, ‘O ladies of faultless character, do you accordingly +become my mothers. I am your son and ye shall attain all the objects of +your desire.’ + +Markandeya continued, ‘Then Sakra having expressed a wish to say +something to Skanda, the latter enquired, ‘What is it?’ Being told by +Skanda to speak it out, Vasava said, The lady Abhijit, the younger sister +of Rohini, being jealous of her seniority, has repaired to the woods to +perform austerities. And I am at a loss to find out a substitute for the +fallen star. May good luck attend on thee, do thou consult with Brahma +(for the purpose of filling up the room) of this great asterism. +Dhanishtha and other asterisms were created by Brahma, and Rohini used to +serve the purpose of one such; and consequently their number was full. +And in accordance with Sakra’s advice, Krittika was assigned a place in +the heavens, and that star presided over by Agni shines as if with seven +heads. Vinata also said to Skanda, ‘Thou art as a son to me, and entitled +to offer me the funeral cakes (at my funeral obsequies). I desire, my +son, to live with thee always.’ + +“Skanda replied, ‘Be it so, all honour to thee! Do thou guide me with a +mother’s affection, and honoured by thy daughter-in-law, thou shalt +always live with me.’” + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Then the great mothers spoke as follows to +Skanda, ‘We have been described by the learned as the mothers of all +creatures. But we desire to be thy mothers, do thou honour us.’” + +“Skanda replied, ‘Ye are all as mothers to me, and I am your son. Tell me +what I can do to please you.”’ + +“The mothers replied, ‘The ladies (Brahmi, Maheswari, &c.) were appointed +as mothers of the world in bygone ages. We desire, O great god, that they +be dispossessed of that dignity, and ourselves installed in their place, +and that we, instead of them, be worshipped by the world. Do thou now +restore to us those of our progeny, of whom we have been deprived, by +them on thy account.’” + +“Skanda replied, ‘Ye shall not recover those that have been once given +away, but I can give you other offspring if ye like.’” The mothers +replied, ‘We desire that living with thee and assuming different shapes +we be able to eat up the progeny of those mothers and their guardians. Do +thou grant us this favour.’” + +“Skanda said, ‘I can grant you progeny, but this topic on which ye have +just now dilated is a very painful one. May ye be prosperous! All honour +to you, ladies, do ye vouchsafe to them your protecting care.’” + +“The mothers replied, ‘We shall protect them, O Skanda, as thou desirest. +Mayst thou be prosperous! But, O mighty being, we desire to live with +thee always.’” + +“Skanda replied, ‘So long as children of the human kind do not attain the +youthful state in the sixteenth year of their age, ye shall afflict them +with your various forms, and I too shall confer on you a fierce +inexhaustible spirit. And with that ye shall live happily, worshipped by +all.’” + +“Markandeya continued, ‘And then a fiery powerful being came out of the +body of Skanda for the purpose of devouring the progeny of mortal beings. +He fell down upon the ground, senseless and hungry. And bidden by Skanda, +that genius of evil assumed a terrific form. Skandapasmara is the name by +which it is known among good Brahmanas. Vinata is called the terrific +Sakuni graha (spirit of evil). She who is known as Putana Rakshasi by the +learned is the graha called Putana; that fierce and terrible looking +Rakshasa of a hideous appearance is also called the pisacha, Sita Putana. +That fierce-looking spirit is the cause of abortion in women. Aditi is +also known by the name of Revati; her evil spirit is called Raivata, and +that terrible graha also afflicts children. Diti, the mother of the +Daityas (Asuras), is also called Muhkamandika, and that terrible creature +is very fond of the flesh of little children. Those male and female +children, O Kaurava, who are said to have been begotten by Skanda, are +spirit of evil and they destroy the foetus in the womb. They (the +Kumaras) are known as the husbands of those very ladies, and children are +seized unawares by these cruel spirits. And, O king, Surabhi who is +called the mother of bovine kind by the wise is best ridden by the evil +spirit Sakuni, who in company with her, devours children on this earth. +And Sarama, the mother of dogs, also habitually kills human beings while +still in the womb. She who is the mother of all trees has her abode in a +karanja tree. She grants boons and has a placid countenance and is always +favourably disposed towards all creatures. Those persons who desire to +have children, bow down to her, who is seated in a karanja tree. These +eighteen evil spirits fond of meat and wine, and others of the same kind, +invariably take up their abode in the lying-in-room for ten days. Kadru +introduces herself in a subtle form into the body of a pregnant woman and +there she causes the destruction of the foetus, and the mother is made to +give birth to a Naga (serpent). And that mother of the Gandharvas takes +away the foetus, and for this reason, conception in woman turns out to be +abortive. The mother of the Apsaras removes the foetus from the womb, and +for this reason such conceptions are said to be stationary by the +learned. The daughter of the Divinity of the Red Sea is said to have +nursed Skanda,--she is worshipped under the name of Lohitayani on Kadamva +trees. Arya acts the same part among female beings, as Rudra does among +male ones. She is the mother of all children and is distinctly worshipped +for their welfare. These that I have described are the evil spirits +presiding over the destinies of young children, and until children attain +their sixteenth year, these spirits exercise their influence for evil, +and after that, for good. The whole body of male and female spirits that +I have now described are always denominated by men as the spirits of +Skanda. They are propitiated with burnt offerings, ablutions, unguents, +sacrifices and other offerings, and particularly by the worship of +Skanda. And, O king, when they are honoured and worshipped with due +reverence, they bestow on men whatever is good for them, as also valour +and long life. And now having bowed down to Maheswara, I shall describe +the nature of those spirits who influence the destinies of men after they +have attained their sixteenth year. + +“The man who beholds gods while sleeping, or in a wakeful state soon +turns mad, and the spirit under whose influence these hallucinations take +place is called the celestial spirit. When a person beholds his dead +ancestors while he is seated at ease, or lying in his bed, he soon loses +his reason, and the spirit which causes this illusion of sensible +perception, is called the ancestral spirit. The man who shows disrespect +to the Siddhas and who is cursed by them in return, soon runs mad and the +evil influence by which this is brought about, is called the Siddha +spirit. And the spirit by whose influence a man smells sweet odour, and +becomes cognisant of various tastes (when there are no odoriferous or +tasteful substances about him) and soon becomes tormented, is called the +Rakshasa spirit. And the spirit by whose action celestial musicians +(Gandharvas) blend their existence into the constitution of a human +being, and make him run mad in no time, is called the Gandharva spirit. +And that evil spirit by whose influence men are always tormented by +Pisachas, is called the Paisacha spirit. When the spirit of Yakshas +enters into the system of a human being by some accident, he loses his +reason immediately, and such a spirit is called the Yaksha spirit. The +man who loses his reason on account of his mind being demoralised with +vices, runs mad in no time, and his illness must be remedied according to +methods prescribed in the Sastras. Men also run mad from perplexity, from +fear, as also on beholding hideous sights. The remedy lies in quieting +their minds. There are three classes of spirits, some are frolicsome, +some are gluttonous, and some sensual. Until men attain the age of three +score and ten, these evil influences continue to torment them, and then +fever becomes the only evil spirit that afflicts sentient beings. These +evil spirits always avoid those who have subdued their senses, who are +self-restrained, of cleanly habits, god-fearing and free from laziness +and contamination. I have thus described to thee, O king, the evil +spirits that mould the destinies of men. Thou who art devoted to +Maheswara art never troubled by them.” + + + +SECTION CCXXX + +Markandeya continued, “When Skanda had bestowed these powers, Swaha +appeared to him and said, ‘Thou art my natural son,--I desire that thou +shalt grant exquisite happiness to me.” + +“Skanda replied, ‘What sort of happiness dost thou wish to enjoy?’” + +“Swaha replied, ‘O mighty being, I am the favourite daughter of Daksha, +by name Swaha; and from my youthful days I have been in love with +Hutasana (the Fire-god); but that god, my son, does not understand my +feelings. I desire to live for ever with him (as his wife).’” + +“Skanda replied, ‘From this day, lady, all the oblations that men of +virtuous character, who swerve not from the path of virtue, will offer to +their gods or ancestors with incantation of purifying hymns by Brahmanas, +shall always be offered (through Agni) coupled with the name of Swaha, +and thus, excellent lady, wilt thou always live associated with Agni, the +god of fire.’” + +“Markandeya continued, Thus addressed and honoured by Skanda, Swaha was +greatly pleased; and associated with her husband Pavaka (the Fire-god), +she honoured him in return.’” + +“Then Brahma, the lord of all creatures, said to Mahasena, ‘Do thou go +and visit thy father Mahadeva, the conqueror of Tripura. Rudra coalescing +with Agni (the Fire-god) and Uma with Swaha have combined to make thee +invincible for the well-being of all creatures. And the semen of the +high-souled Rudra cast into the reproductive organ of Uma was thrown back +upon this hill, and hence the twin Mujika and Minjika came into being. A +portion of it fell into the Blood Sea, another portion, into the rays of +the sun, another upon the earth and thus was it distributed in five +portions. Learned men ought to remember that these thy various and +fierce-looking followers living on the flesh of animals were produced +from the semen’. ‘Be it so,’ so saying, the high-souled Mahasena with +fatherly love, honoured his father Maheswara.” + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Men who are desirous of acquiring wealth, should +worship those five classes of spirits with the sun flower, and for +alleviation of diseases also worship must be rendered to them. The twin +Mujika and Minjika begotten by Rudra must always be respected by persons +desiring the welfare of little children; and persons who desire to have +children born to them must always worship those female spirits who live +on human flesh and are produced in trees. Thus all Pisachas are said to +be divided into innumerable classes. And now, O king, listen to the +origin of the bells and standards of Skanda. Airavata (Indra’s elephant) +is known to have had two bells of the name of Vaijayanti, and the +keen-witted Sakra had them brought to him, and personally gave them to +Guha. Visakha took one of those bells and Skanda the other. The standards +of both Kartikeya and Visakha were of a red colour. That mighty god +Mahasena was pleased with the toys that had been given to him by the +gods. Surrounded by hosts of gods and Pisachas and seated on the Golden +Mountain, he looked splendid in all the grandeur of prosperity. And that +mountain covered with fine forests, also looked grand in his +companionship, just as the Mandara hill abounding with excellent caves +shines with the rays of the sun. The White Mountain was adorned with +whole tracts of wood-land covered with blossoming Santanaka flowers and +with forests of Karavira, Parijata, Jana and Asoke trees,--as also with +wild tracts overgrown with Kadamva trees; and it abounded with herds of +celestial deer and flocks of celestial birds. And the rumbling of clouds +serving the purpose of musical instruments sounded like the murmur of an +agitated sea, and celestial Gandharvas and Apsaras began to dance. And +there arose a great sound of joy from the merriment of all creatures. +Thus the whole world with Indra himself seemed to have been transferred +to the White Mountain. And all the people began to observe Skanda with +satisfaction in their looks, and they did not at all feel tired of doing +so.” + +Markandeya continued, “When that adorable son of the Fire-god was +anointed as leader of the celestial army, that grand and happy lord, Hara +(Mahadeva) riding with Parvati in a chariot shining with sunlike +refulgence repaired to a place called Bhadravata. His excellent chariot +was drawn by a thousand lions and managed by Kala. They passed through +blank space, and seemed as if they were about to devour the sky; and +striking terror into the heart of all creatures in the mobile divisions +of the worlds, those maned beasts flitted through the air, uttering +fearful growls. And that lord of all animals (Mahadeva) seated in that +chariot with Uma, looked like the sun with flames of lightning +illuminating masses of clouds begirt with Indra’s bow (rainbow). He was +preceded by that adorable Lord of riches riding on the backs of human +beings with his attendant Guhyakas riding in his beautiful car Pushpaka. +And Sakra too riding on his elephant Airavata and accompanied by other +gods brought up the rear of Mahadeva, the granter of boons, marching in +this way at the head of the celestial army. And the great Yaksha Amogha +with his attendants--the Jambhaka Yakshas and other Rakshasas decorated +with garlands of flowers--obtained a place in the right wing of his army; +and many gods of wonderful fighting powers in company with the Vasus and +the Rudras, also marched with the right division of his army. And the +terrible-looking Yama too in company with Death marched with him. +(followed by hundreds of terrible diseases); and behind him was carried +the terrible, sharp-pointed, well-decorated trident of Siva, called +Vijaya. And Varuna, the adorable lord of waters with his terrible +Pasa,[80] and surrounded by numerous aquatic animals, marched slowly with +the trident. And the trident Vijaya was followed by the Pattisa[81] of +Rudra guarded by maces, balls, clubs and other excellent weapons. And the +Pattisa, O king, was followed by the bright umbrella of Rudra and the +Kamandalu served by the Maharshis; and on it progressed in the company of +Bhrigu, Angiras and others. And behind all these rode Rudra in his white +chariot, re-assuring the gods with the exhibition of his powers. And +rivers and lakes and seas, Apsaras, Rishis, Celestials, Gandharvas and +serpents, stars, planets, and the children of gods, as also many women, +followed him in his train. These handsome-looking ladies proceeded +scattering flowers all around; and the clouds marched, having made their +obeisance to that god (Mahadeva) armed with the Pinaka bow. And some of +them held a white umbrella over his head, and Agni (the Fire god) and +Vayu (the god of winds) busied themselves with two hairy fans (emblems of +royalty). And, O king, he was followed by the glorious Indra accompanied +by the Rajarshis, and singing the praise of that god with the emblem of +the bull. And Gauri, Vidya, Gandhari, Kesini, and the lady called Mitra +in company with Savitri, all proceeded in the train of Parvati, as also +all the Vidyas (presiding deities of all branches of knowledge) that were +created by the learned. The Rakshasa spirit who delivers to different +battalions the commands which are implicitly obeyed by Indra and other +gods, advanced in front of the army as standard-bearer. And that foremost +of Rakshasas, by name Pingala, the friend of Rudra, who is always busy in +places where corpses are burnt, and who is agreeable to all people, +marched with them merrily, at one time going ahead of the army, and +falling behind again at another, his movements being uncertain. Virtuous +actions are the offerings with which the god Rudra is worshipped by +mortals. He who is also called Siva, the omnipotent god, armed with the +Pinaka bow, is Maheswara. He is worshipped in various forms. + +“The son of Krittika, the leader of the celestial army, respectful to +Brahmanas, surrounded by the celestial forces, also followed that lord of +the gods. And then Mahadeva said these weighty words to Mahasena, ‘Do +thou carefully command the seventh army corps of the celestial forces.’ + +“Skanda replied, ‘Very well, my lord! I shall command the seventh army +corps. Now tell me quickly if there is anything else to be done.’ + +“Rudra said, ‘Thou shall always find me in the field of action. By +looking up to me and by devotion to me shalt thou attain great welfare.’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘With these words Maheswara received him in his +embrace, and then dismissed him. And, O great king, after the dismissal +of Skanda, prodigies of various kinds occurred to disturb the equanimity +of the gods.’ + +“The firmament with the stars was in a blaze, and the whole universe in a +state of utter confusion. The earth quaked and gave forth a rumbling +sound, and darkness overspread the whole world. Then observing this +terrible catastrophe, Sankara with the estimable Uma, and the celestials +with the great Maharshis, were much exercised in mind. And when they had +fallen into this state of confusion, there appeared before them a fierce +and mighty host armed with various weapons, and looking like a mass of +clouds and rocks. Those terrible and countless beings, speaking different +languages directed their movements towards the point where Sankara and +the celestials stood. They hurled into the ranks of the celestial army +flights of arrows in all directions, masses of rock, maces, sataghnis, +prasas and parighas. The celestial army was thrown into a state of +confusion by a shower of these terrible weapons and their ranks were seen +to waver. The Danavas made a great havoc by cutting up their soldiers, +horses, elephants, chariots and arms. And the celestial troops then +seemed as if they were about to turn their backs upon the enemy. And +numbers of them fell, slain by the Asuras, like large trees in a forest +burnt in a conflagration. Those dwellers of heaven fell with their heads, +separated from their bodies, and having none to lead them in that fearful +battle, they were slaughtered by the enemy. And then the god Purandara +(Indra), the slayer of Vala, observing that they were unsteady and +hard-pressed by the Asuras, tried to rally them with this speech, ‘Do not +be afraid, ye heroes, may success attend your efforts! Do ye all take up +your arms, and resolve upon manly conduct, and ye will meet with no more +misfortune, and defeat those wicked and terrible-looking Danavas. May ye +be successful! Do ye fall upon the Danavas with me.’ + +“The dwellers of heaven were re-assured on hearing this speech from +Sakra; and under his leadership, they again rushed against the Danavas. +And then the thirty-three crores of gods and all the powerful Marutas and +the Sadhyas with the Vasus returned to the charge. And the arrows which +they angrily discharged against the enemy drew a large quantity of blood +from the bodies of the Daityas and of their horses and elephants. And +those sharp arrows passing through their bodies fell upon the ground, +looking like so many snakes falling from the sides of a hill. And, O +king, the Daityas pierced by those arrows fell fast on all sides, looking +like so many detached masses of clouds. Then the Danava host, struck with +panic at that charge of the celestials on the field of battle, wavered at +that shower of various weapons. Then all the gods loudly gave vent to +their joy, with arms ready to strike; and the celestial bands too struck +up various airs. Thus took place that encounter, so fearful to both +sides: for all the battle-field was covered with blood and strewn with +the bodies of both gods and Asuras. But the gods were soon worsted all on +a sudden, and the terrible Danavas again made a great havoc of the +celestial army. Then the Asuras, drums struck up and their shrill bugles +were sounded; and the Danava chiefs yelled their terrific war-cry. + +“Then a powerful Danava, taking a huge mass of rock in his hands, came +out of that terrible Daitya army. He looked like the sun peering forth +from against a mass of dark clouds. And, O king, the celestials, +beholding that he was about to hurl that mass of rock at them, fled in +confusion. But they were pursued by Mahisha, who hurled that hillock at +them. And, O lord of the world, by the falling of that mass of rock, ten +thousand warriors of the celestial army were crushed to the ground and +breathed their last. And this act of Mahisha struck terror into the +hearts of the gods, and with his attendant Danavas he fell upon them like +a lion attacking a herd of deer. And when Indra and the other celestials +observed that Mahisha was advancing to the charge, they fled, leaving +behind their arms and colours. And Mahisha was greatly enraged at this, +and he quickly advanced towards the chariot of Rudra; and reaching near, +he seized its pole with his hands. And when Mahisha in a fit of rage had +thus seized the chariot of Rudra, all the Earth began to groan and the +great Rishis lost their senses. And Daityas of huge proportions, looking +like dark clouds, were boisterous with joy, thinking that victory was +assured to them. And although that adorable god (Rudra) was in that +plight, yet he did not think it worth while to kill Mahisha in battle; he +remembered that Skanda would deal the deathblow to that evil-minded +Asura. And the fiery Mahisha, contemplating with satisfaction the prize +(the chariot of Rudra) which he had secured, sounded his war-cry, to the +great alarm of the gods and the joy of the Daityas. And when the gods +were in that fearful predicament, the mighty Mahasena, burning with +anger, and looking grand like the Sun advanced to their rescue. And that +lordly being was clad in blazing red and decked with a wreath of red +flowers. And cased in armour of gold he rode in a gold-coloured chariot +bright as the Sun and drawn by chestnut horses. And at his sight the army +of the daityas was suddenly dispirited on the field of battle. And, O +great king, the mighty Mahasena discharged a bright Sakti for the +destruction of Mahisha. That missile cut off the head of Mahisha, and he +fell upon the ground and died. And his head massive as a hillock, falling +on the ground, barred the entrance to the country of the Northern Kurus, +extending in length for sixteen Yojanas though at present the people of +that country pass easily by that gate. + +“It was observed both by the gods and the Danavas that Skanda hurled his +sakti again and again on the field of battle, and that it returned to his +hands, after killing thousands of the enemy’s forces. And the terrible +Danavas fell in large numbers by the arrows of the wise Mahasena. And +then a panic seized them, and the followers of Skanda began to slay and +eat them up by thousands and drink their blood. And they joyously +exterminated the Danavas in no time, just as the sun destroys darkness, +or as fire destroys a forest, or as the winds drive away the clouds. And +in this manner the famous Skanda defeated all his enemies. And the gods +came to congratulate him, and he, in turn, paid his respects to +Maheswara. And that son of Krittika looked grand like the sun in all the +glory of his effulgence. And when the enemy was completely defeated by +Skanda and when Maheswara left the battle-field, Purandara embraced +Mahasena and said to him, ‘This Mahisha, who was made invincible by the +favour of Brahma hath been killed by thee. O best of warriors, the gods +were like grass to him. O strong-limbed hero, thou hast removed a thorn +of the celestials. Thou hast killed in battle hundreds of Danavas equal +in valour to Mahisha who were all hostile to us, and who used to harass +us before. And thy followers too have devoured them by hundreds. Thou +art, O mighty being, invincible in battle like Uma’s lord; and this +victory shall be celebrated as thy first achievement, and thy fame shall +be undying in the three worlds. And, O strong-armed god, all the gods +will yield their allegiance to thee.’ Having spoken thus to Mahasena, the +husband of Sachi left the place accompanied by the gods and with the +permission of the adorable three-eyed god (Siva). And Rudra returned to +Bhadravata, and the celestials too returned to their respective abodes. +And Rudra spoke, addressing the gods, ‘Ye must render allegiance to +Skanda just as ye do unto me.’ And that son of the Fire-god, having +killed the Danavas hath conquered the three worlds, in one day, and he +hath been worshipped by the great Rishis. The Brahmana who with due +attention readeth this story of the birth of Skanda, attaineth to great +prosperity in this world and the companionship of Skanda hereafter.” + +Yudhishthira said, “O good and adorable Brahmana, I wish to know the +different names of that high-souled being, by which he is celebrated +throughout the three worlds.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed by the Pandava in that assembly +of Rishis, the worshipful Markandeya of high ascetic merit replied, +‘Agneya (Son of Agni), Skanda (Cast-off), Diptakirti (Of blazing fame), +Anamaya (Always hale), Mayuraketu (Peacock-bannered), Dharmatman (The +virtuous-souled), Bhutesa (The lord of all creatures), Mahishardana (The +slayer of Mahisha), Kamajit (The subjugator of desires), Kamada (The +fulfiller of desires), Kanta (The handsome), Satyavak (The truthful in +speech), Bhuvaneswara (The lord of the universe), Sisu (The child), +Sighra (The quick), Suchi (The pure), Chanda (The fiery), Diptavarna (The +bright-complexioned), Subhanana (Of beautiful face), Amogha (Incapable of +being baffled), Anagha (The sinless), Rudra (The terrible), Priya (The +favourite), Chandranana (Of face like the moon), Dipta-sasti (The wielder +of the blazing lance), Prasantatman (Of tranquil soul), Bhadrakrit (The +doer of good), Kutamahana (The chamber of even the wicked), Shashthipriya +(True favourite of Shashthi), Pavitra (The holy), Matrivatsala (The +reverencer of his mother), Kanya-bhartri (The protector of virgins), +Vibhakta (Diffused over the universe), Swaheya (The son of Swaha), +Revatisuta (The child of Revati), Prabhu (The Lord), Neta (The leader), +Visakha (Reared up by Visakha), Naigameya (Sprang from the Veda), +Suduschara (Difficult of propitiation), Suvrata (Of excellent vows), +Lalita (The beautiful), Valakridanaka-priya (Fond of toys), Khacharin +(The ranger of skies), Brahmacharin (The chaste), Sura (The brave), +Saravanodbhava (Born in a forest of heath), Viswamitra priya (The +favourite of Viswamitra), Devasena-priya (The lover of Devasena), +Vasudeva-priya (The beloved of Vasudeva), and Priya-krit (The doer of +agreeable things)--these are the divine names of Kartikeya. Whoever +repeateth them, undoubtedly secureth fame, wealth, and salvation.” + +‘Markandeya continued, “O valiant scion of Kuru’s race, I shall now with +due devotion pray to that unrivalled, mighty, six-faced, and valiant Guha +who is worshipped by gods and Rishis, enumerating his other titles of +distinction: do thou listen to them: Thou art devoted to Brahma, begotten +of Brahma, and versed in the mysteries of Brahma. Thou art called +Brahmasaya, and thou art the foremost of those who are possessed of +Brahma. Thou art fond of Brahma, thou art austere like the Brahmanas and +art versed in the great mystery of Brahma and the leader of the +Brahmanas. Thou art Swaha, thou art Swadha, and thou art the holiest of +the holy, and art invoked in hymns and celebrated as the six-flamed fire. +Thou art the year, thou art the six seasons, thou art the months, the +(lunar) half months, the (solar) declinations, and the cardinal points of +space. Thou art lotus-eyed. Thou art possessed of a lily-like face. Thou +hast a thousand faces and a thousand arms. Thou art the ruler of the +universe, thou art the great Oblation, and thou art the animating spirit +of all the gods and the Asuras. Thou art the great leader of armies. Thou +art Prachanda (furious), thou art the Lord, and thou art the great master +and the conqueror of thine enemies. Thou art, Sahasrabhu (multiform), +Sahasratusti (a thousand times content), Sahasrabhuk (devourer of +everything), and Sahasrapad (of a thousand legs), and thou art the earth +itself. Thou art possessed of infinite forms and thousand heads and great +strength. According to thine own inclinations thou hast appeared as the +son of Ganga, Swaha, Mahi, or Krittika. O six-faced god, thou dost play +with the cock and assume different forms according to thy will. Thou art +Daksha. Soma, the Maruta, Dharma, Vayu, the prince of mountains, and +Indra, for all time. Thou art mighty, the most eternal of all eternal +things, and the lord of all lords. Thou art the progenitor of Truth, the +destroyer of Diti’s progeny (Asuras), and the great conqueror of the +enemies of the celestials. Thou art the personation of virtue and being +thyself vast and minute, thou art acquainted with the highest and lowest +points of virtuous acts, and the mysteries of Brahma. O foremost of all +gods and high-souled lord of the Universe, this whole creation is +over-spread with thy energy! I have thus prayed to thee according to the +best of my power. I salute thee who art possessed of twelve eyes and many +hands. Thy remaining attributes transcend my powers of comprehension!’ + +The Brahmana who with due attention readeth this story of the birth of +Skanda, or relateth it unto Brahmanas, or hears it narrated by regenerate +men, attaineth to wealth, long life, fame, children, as also victory, +prosperity and contentment, and the companionship of Skanda.” + + + +SECTION CCXXXI + +(Draupadi-Satyabhama Samvada) + +Vaisampayana said, “After those Brahmanas and the illustrious sons of +Pandu had taken their seats, Draupadi and Satyabhama entered the +hermitage. And with hearts full of joy the two ladies laughed merrily and +seated themselves at their ease. And, O king, those ladies, who always +spake sweetly to each other, having met after a long time, began to talk +upon various delightful topics arising out of the stories of the Kurus +and the Yadus. And the slender-waisted Satyabhama, the favourite wife of +Krishna and the daughter of Satrajit, then asked Draupadi in private, +saying, ‘By what behaviour is it, O daughter of Drupada, that thou art +able to rule the sons of Pandu--those heroes endued with strength and +beauty and like unto the Lokapalas themselves? Beautiful lady, how is it +that they are so obedient to thee and are never angry with thee? Without +doubt the sons of Pandu, O thou of lovely features, are ever submissive +to thee and watchful to do thy bidding! Tell me, O lady, the reason of +this. Is it practice of vows, or asceticism, or incantation or drug at +the time of the bath (in season) or the efficacy of science, or the +influence of youthful appearance, or the recitation of particular +formulae, or Homa, or collyrium and other medicaments? Tell me now, O +princess of Panchala, of that blessed and auspicious thing by which, O +Krishna, Krishna may ever be obedient to me.” + +“When the celebrated Satyabhama, having said this, ceased, the chaste and +blessed daughter of Drupada answered her, saying, ‘Thou askedest me, O +Satyabhama, of the practices of women that are wicked. How can I answer +thee, O lady, about the cause that is pursued by wicked females? It doth +not become thee, lady, to pursue the questions, or doubt me, after this, +for thou art endued with intelligence and art the favourite wife of +Krishna. When the husband learns that his wife is addicted to +incantations and drugs, from that hour he beginneth to dread her like a +serpent ensconced in his sleeping chamber. And can a man that is troubled +with fear have peace, and how can one that hath no peace have happiness? +A husband can never be made obedient by his wife’s incantations. We hear +of painful diseases being transmitted by enemies. Indeed, they that +desire to slay others, send poison in the shape of customary gifts, so +that the man that taketh the powders so sent, by tongue or skin, is, +without doubt, speedily deprived of life. Women have sometimes caused +dropsy and leprosy, decrepitude and impotence and idiocy and blindness +and deafness in men. These wicked women, ever treading in the path of +sin, do sometimes (by these means) injure their husbands. But the wife +should never do the least injury to her lord. Hear now, O illustrious +lady, of the behaviour I adopt towards the high-souled sons of Pandu. +Keeping aside vanity, and controlling desire and wrath, I always serve +with devotion the sons of Pandu with their wives. Restraining jealousy, +with deep devotion of heart, without a sense of degradation at the +services I perform, I wait upon my husbands. Ever fearing to utter what +is evil or false, or to look or sit or walk with impropriety, or cast +glances indicative of the feelings of the heart, do I serve the sons of +Pritha--those mighty warriors blazing like the sun or fire, and handsome +as the moon, those endued with fierce energy and prowess, and capable of +slaying their foes by a glance of the eye. Celestial, or man, or +Gandharva, young or decked with ornaments, wealthy or comely of person, +none else my heart liketh. I never bathe or eat or sleep till he that is +my husband hath bathed or eaten or slept,--till, in fact, our attendants +have bathed, eaten, or slept. Whether returning from the field, the +forest, or the town, hastily rising up I always salute my husband with +water and a seat. I always keep the house and all household articles and +the food that is to be taken well-ordered and clean. Carefully do I keep +the rice, and serve the food at the proper time. I never indulge in angry +and fretful speech, and never imitate women that are wicked. Keeping +idleness at distance I always do what is agreeable. I never laugh except +at a jest, and never stay for any length of time at the house-gate. I +never stay long in places for answering calls of nature, nor in +pleasure-gardens attached to the house. I always refrain from laughing +loudly and indulging in high passion, and from everything that may give +offence. Indeed, O Satyabhama, I always am engaged in waiting upon my +lords. A separation from my lords is never agreeable to me. When my +husband leaveth home for the sake of any relative, then renouncing +flowers and fragrant paste of every kind, I begin to undergo penances. +Whatever my husband drinketh not, whatever my husband eateth not, +whatever my husband enjoyeth not, I ever renounce. O beautiful lady, +decked in ornaments and ever controlled by the instruction imparted to +me, I always devotedly seek the good of my lord. Those duties that my +mother-in-law had told me of in respect of relatives, as also the duties +of alms-giving, of offering worship to the gods, of oblations to the +diseased, of boiling food in pots on auspicious days for offer to +ancestors and guests of reverence and service to those that deserve our +regards, and all else that is known to me, I always discharge day and +night, without idleness of any kind. Having with my whole heart recourse +to humility and approved rules I serve my meek and truthful lords ever +observant of virtue, regarding them as poisonous snakes capable of being +excited at a trifle. I think that to be eternal virtue for women which is +based upon a regard for the husband. The husband is the wife’s god, and +he is her refuge. Indeed, there is no other refuge for her. How can, +then, the wife do the least injury to her lord? I never, in sleeping or +eating or adorning any person, act against the wishes of my lord, and +always guided by my husbands, I never speak ill of my mother-in-law. O +blessed lady, my husbands have become obedient to me in consequence of my +diligence, my alacrity, and the humility with which I serve superiors. +Personally do I wait every day with food and drink and clothes upon the +revered and truthful Kunti--that mother of heroes. Never do I show any +preference for myself over her in matters of food and attire, and never +do I reprove in words that princess equal unto the Earth herself in +forgiveness. Formerly, eight thousand Brahmanas were daily fed in the +palace of Yudhishthira from off plates of gold. And eighty thousand +Brahmanas also of the Snataka sect leading domestic lives were +entertained by Yudhishthira with thirty serving-maids assigned to each. +Besides these, ten thousand yatis with the vital seed drawn up, had their +pure food carried unto them in plates of gold. All these Brahamanas that +were the utterers of the Veda, I used to worship duly with food, drink, +and raiment taken from stores only after a portion thereof had been +dedicated to the Viswadeva.[82] The illustrious son of Kunti had a +hundred thousand well-dressed serving-maids with bracelets on arms and +golden ornaments on necks, and decked with costly garlands and wreaths +and gold in profusion, and sprinkled with sandal paste. And adorned with +jewels and gold they were all skilled in singing and dancing. O lady, I +knew the names and features of all those girls, as also what they are and +what they were, and what they did not. Kunti’s son of great intelligence +had also a hundred thousand maid-servants who daily used to feed guests, +with plates of gold in their hands. And while Yudhishthira lived in +Indraprastha a hundred thousand horses and a hundred thousand elephants +used to follow in his train. These were the possessions of Yudhisthira +while he ruled the earth. It was I however, O lady, who regulated their +number and framed the rules to be observed in respect of them; and it was +I who had to listen to all complaints about them. Indeed, I knew +everything about what the maid-servants of the palace and other classes +of attendants, even the cow-herds and the shepherds of the royal +establishment, did or did not. O blessed and illustrious lady, it was I +alone amongst the Pandavas who knew the income and expenditure of the +king and what their whole wealth was. And those bulls among the Bharatas, +throwing upon me the burden of looking after all those that were to be +fed by them, would, O thou of handsome face, pay their court to me. And +this load, so heavy and incapable of being borne by persons of evil +heart, I used to bear day and night, sacrificing my ease, and all the +while affectionately devoted to them. And while my husbands were engaged +in the pursuit of virtue, I only supervised their treasury inexhaustible +like the ever-filled receptacle of Varuna. Day and night bearing hunger +and thirst, I used to serve the Kuru princes, so that my nights and days +were equal to me. I used to wake up first and go to bed last. This, O +Satyabhama, hath ever been my charm for making my husbands obedient to +me! This great art hath ever been known to me for making my husbands +obedient to me. Never have I practised the charms of wicked women, nor do +I ever wish to practise them.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing those words of virtuous import uttered +by Krishna, Satyabhama, having first reverenced the virtuous princess of +Panchala, answered saying, ‘O princess of Panchala, I have been guilty, O +daughter of Yajnasena, forgive me! Among friends, conversations in jest +arise naturally, and without premeditation.” + + + +SECTION CCXXXII + +“Draupadi said, ‘I shall now indicate to thee, for attracting the heart +of thy husbands a way that is free from deceit. By adopting it duly, dear +friend, thou will be able to draw away thy lord from other females. In +all the worlds, including that of the celestials, there is no god equal, +O Satyabhama, unto the husband. When he is gratified with thee, thou +mayst have (from thy husband) every object of desire; when he is angry, +all these may be lost. It is from her husband that the wife obtaineth +offspring and various articles of enjoyment. It is from thy husband that +thou mayst have handsome beds and seats, and robes and garlands, and +perfumes, and great fame and heaven itself hereafter. One cannot obtain +happiness here by means that are easy. Indeed, the woman that is chaste, +obtains weal with woe. Always adore Krishna, therefore, with friendship +and love physical sufferings. And do thou also act in a way, by offering +handsome seats and excellent garlands and various perfumes and prompt +service, that he may be devoted to thee, thinking, ‘I am truly loved by +her!’ Hearing the voice of thy lord at the gate, rise thou up from thy +seat and stay in readiness within the room. And as soon as thou seest him +enter thy chamber, worship him by promptly offering him a seat and water +to wash his feet. And even when he commands a maidservant to do anything, +get thou up and do it thyself. Let Krishna understand this temper of thy +mind and know that thou adorest him with all thy heart. And, O +Satyabhama, whatever thy lord speaketh before thee, do not blab of it +even if it may not deserve concealment,--for if any of thy co-wives were +to speak of it unto Vasudeva, he might be irritated with thee. Feed thou +by every means in thy power those that are dear and devoted to thy lord +and always seek his good. Thou shouldst, however, always keep thyself +aloof from those that are hostile to and against thy lord and seek to do +him injury, as also from those that are addicted to deceit. Foregoing all +excitement and carelessness in the presence of men, conceal thy +inclinations by observing silence, and thou shouldst not stay or converse +in private even with thy sons, Pradyumna and Samva. Thou shouldst form +attachments with only such females as are high-born and sinless and +devoted to their lords, and thou shouldst always shun women that are +wrathful, addicted to drinks, gluttonous, thievish, wicked and fickle. +Behaviour such as this is reputable and productive of prosperity; and +while it is capable of neutralising hostility, it also leadeth to heaven. +Therefore, worship thou thy husband, decking thyself in costly garlands +and ornaments and smearing thyself with unguents and excellent perfumes.” + + + +SECTION CCXXXIII + +Vaisampayana said, “Then Kesava, the slayer of Madhu, also called +Janardana, having conversed on various agreeable themes with the +illustrious sons of Pandu and with those Brahmanas that were headed by +Markandeya and having bid them farewell, mounted his car and called for +Satyabhama. And Satyabhama then, having embraced the daughter of Drupada, +addressed her in these cordial words expressive of her feelings towards +her: ‘O Krishna, let there be no anxiety, no grief, for thee! Thou hast +no cause to pass thy nights in sleeplessness, for thou wilt surely obtain +back the earth subjugated by thy husbands, who are all equal unto the +gods. O thou of black eyes, women endued with such disposition and +possessed of such auspicious marks, can never suffer misfortune long. It +hath been heard by me that thou shall, with thy husbands, certainly enjoy +this earth peacefully and freed from all thorns! And, O daughter of +Drupada, thou shalt certainly behold the earth ruled by Yudhishthira +after the sons of Dhritarashtra have been slain and the deeds of their +hostility avenged! Thou wilt soon behold those wives of the Kurus, who, +deprived of sense by pride, laughed at thee while on thy way to exile, +themselves reduced to a state of helplessness and despair! Know them all, +O Krishna, that did thee any injury while thou wert afflicted, to have +already gone to the abode of Yama. Thy brave sons, Prativindhya by +Yudhishthira and Sutasoma by Bhima, and Srutakarman by Arjuna, and +Satanika by Nakula, and Srutasena begot by Sahadeva, are well and have +become skilled in weapons. Like Abhimanyu they are all staying at +Dwaravati, delighted with the place. And Subhadra also, cheerfully and +with her whole soul, looketh after them like thee, and like thee joyeth +in them and deriveth much happiness from them. Indeed, she grieveth in +their griefs and joyeth in their joys. And the mother of Pradyumna also +loveth them with her whole soul. And Kesava with his sons Bhanu and +others watcheth over them with especial affection. And my mother-in-law +is ever attentive in feeding and clothing them. And the Andhakas and +Vrishnis, including Rama and others, regard them with affection. And, O +beautiful lady, their affection for thy sons is equal unto what they feel +for Pradyumna. + +“Having said these agreeable and truthful and cordial words, Satyabhama +desired to go to Vasudeva’s car. And the wife of Krishna then walked +round the queen of the Pandavas. And having done so the beautiful +Satyabhama mounted the car of Krishna. And the chief of the Yadavas, +comforting Draupadi with a smile and causing the Pandavas to return, set +out for his own city, with swift horses (yoked unto his car).” + + + +SECTION CCXXXIV + +(Ghosha-yatra Parva) + +Janamejaya said, “While those foremost of men--the sons of Pritha--were +passing their days in the forest exposed to the inclemencies of the +winter, the summer, the wind and the sun, what did they do, O Brahmana, +after they had reached the lake and woods going by the name of Dwaita?” + +Vaisampayana said, “After the sons of Pandu had arrived at that lake, +they chose a residence that was removed from the habitations of men. And +they began to roam through delightful woods and ever charming mountains +and picturesque river-valleys. And after they had taken up their +residence there, many venerable ascetics endued with Vedic lore often +came to see them. And those foremost of men always received those +Veda-knowing Rishis with great respect. And one day there came unto the +Kaurava princes a certain Brahmana who was well known on earth for his +powers of speech. And having conversed with the Pandavas for a while, he +went away as pleased him to the court of the royal son of Vichitravirya. +Received with respect by that chief of the Kurus, the old king, the +Brahmana took his seat; and asked by the monarch he began to talk of the +sons of Dharma, Pavana, Indra and of the twins, all of whom having fallen +into severe misery, had become emaciated and reduced owing to exposure to +wind and sun. And that Brahmana also talked of Krishna who was +overwhelmed with suffering and who then had become perfectly helpless, +although she had heroes for her lords. And hearing the words of that +Brahmana, the royal son of Vichitravirya became afflicted with grief, at +the thought of those princes of royal lineage then swimming in a river of +sorrow. His inmost soul afflicted with sorrow and trembling all over with +sighs, he quieted himself with a great effort, remembering that +everything had arisen from his own fault. And the monarch said, ‘Alas, +how is it that Yudhishthira who is the eldest of my sons, who is truthful +and pious and virtuous in his behaviour, who hath not a foe, who had +formerly slept on beds made of soft Ranku skins, sleepeth now on the bare +ground! Alas, wakened formerly by Sutas and Magadhas and other singers +with his praises, melodiously recited every morning, that prince of the +Kuru race, equal unto Indra himself, is now waked from the bare ground +towards the small hours of the night by a multitude of birds! How doth +Vrikodara, reduced by exposure to wind and sun and filled with wrath, +sleep, in the presence of the princess of Panchala, on the bare ground, +unfit as he is to suffer such lot! Perhaps also, the intelligent Arjuna, +who is incapable of bearing pain, and who, though obedient to the will of +Yudhishthira, yet feeleth himself to be pierced over all by the +remembrance of his wrongs, sleepeth not in the night! Beholding the twins +and Krishna and Yudhisthira and Bhima plunged in misery, Arjuna without +doubt, sigheth like a serpent of fierce energy and sleepeth not from +wrath in the night! The twins also, who are even like a couple of blessed +celestials in heaven sunk in woe though deserving of bliss, without doubt +pass their nights in restless wakefulness restrained (from avenging their +wrongs) by virtue and truth! The mighty son of the Wind-god, who is equal +to the Wind-god himself in strength, without doubt, sigheth and +restraineth his wrath, being tied through his elder brother in the bonds +of truth! Superior in battle to all warriors, he now lieth quiet on the +ground, restrained by virtue and truth, and burning to slay my children, +he bideth his time. The cruel words that Dussasana spoke after +Yudhishthira had been deceitfully defeated at dice, have sunk deep into +Vrikodara’s heart, and are consuming him, like a burning bundle of straw +consuming a fagot of dry wood! The son of Dharma never acteth sinfully; +Dhananjaya also always obeyeth him; but Bhima’s wrath, in consequence of +a life of exile, is increasing like a conflagration assisted by the wind! +That hero, burning with rage such as that, squeezeth his hands and +breatheth hot and fierce sighs, as if consuming therewith my sons and +grandsons! The wielder of the Gandiva and Vrikodara, when angry, are like +Yama and Kala themselves; scattering their shafts, which are like unto +thunder-bolts, they exterminate in battle the ranks of the enemy. Alas +Duryodhana, and Sakuni, and the Suta’s son, and Dussasana also of wicked +soul, in robbing the Pandavas of their kingdom by means of dice, seem to +behold the honey alone without marking the terrible ruin. A man having +acted rightly or wrongly, expecteth the fruit of those acts. The fruit, +however, confounding him, paralyses him fully. How can man, thereof, have +salvation? If the soil is properly tilled, and the seed sown therein, and +if the god (of rain) showereth in season, still the crop may not grow. +This is what we often hear. Indeed, how could this saying be true unless, +as I think, it be that everything here is dependent on Destiny? The +gambler Sakuni hath behaved deceitfully towards the son of Pandu, who +ever acteth honestly. From affection for my wicked sons I also have acted +similarly. Alas, it is owing to this that the hour of destruction hath +come for the Kurus! Oh, perhaps, what is inevitable must happen! The +wind, impelled or not, will move. The woman that conceives will bring +forth. Darkness will be dispelled at dawn, and day disappear at evening! +Whatever may be earned by us or others, whether people spend it or not, +when the time cometh, those possessions of ours do bring on misery. Why +then do people become so anxious about earning wealth? If, indeed, what +is acquired is the result of fate, then should it be protected so that it +may not be divided, nor lost little by little, nor permitted to flow out +at once, for if unprotected, it may break into a hundred fragments. But +whatever the character of our possessions, our acts in the world are +never lost. Behold what the energy of Arjuna is, who went into the abode +of Indra from the woods! Having mastered the four kinds of celestial +weapons he hath come back into this world! What man is there who, having +gone to heaven in his human form, wisheth to come back? This would never +have been but because he seeth innumerable Kurus to be at the point of +death, afflicted by Time! The bowman is Arjuna, capable of wielding the +bow with his left hand as well! The bow he wieldeth is the Gandiva of +fierce impetus. He hath, besides, those celestial weapons of his! Who is +there that would bear the energy of these three!” + +“Hearing these words of the monarch, the son of Suvala, going unto +Duryodhana, who was then sitting with Kama, told them everything in +private. And Duryodhana, though possessed of little sense, was filled +with grief at what he heard.” + + + +SECTION CCXXXV + +Vaisampayana said, “Hearing those words of Dhritarashtra, Sakuni, when +the opportunity presented itself, aided by Kama, spoke unto Duryodhana +these words, ‘Having exiled the heroic Pandavas by thy own prowess, O +Bharata, rule thou this earth without a rival like the slayer of Samvara +ruling the heaven! O monarch, the kings of the east, the south, the west, +and the north, have all been made tributory to thee! O lord of earth, +that blazing Prosperity which had before paid her court to the sons of +Pandu, hath now been acquired by thee along with thy brothers! That +blazing Prosperity, O king, which we not many days ago saw with heavy +hearts in Yudhishthira at Indraprastha, is today seen by us to be owned +by thee, she having, O mighty-armed monarch, been snatched by thee from +the royal Yudhishthira by force of intellect alone. O slayer of hostile +heroes, all the kings of the earth now living in subjection to thee, +await thy commands, as they did before under Yudhishthira, awaiting his. +O monarch, the goddess Earth with her boundless extent with girth of +seas, with her mountains and forests, and towns and cities and mines, and +decked with woodlands and hills is now thine! Adored by the Brahmanas and +worshipped by the kings, thou blazest forth, O king, in consequence of +thy prowess, like the Sun among the gods in heaven! Surrounded by the +Kurus, O king, like Yama by the Rudra, or Vasava by the Maruts, thou +shinest, O monarch, like the Moon among the stars! Let us, therefore, O +king, go and look at the sons of Pandu--them who are now divested of +prosperity, them who never obeyed commands, them who never owed +subjection! It hath been heard by us, O monarch, that the Pandavas are +now living on the banks of the lake called Dwaitavana, with a multitude +of Brahmanas, having the wilderness for their home. Go thither, O king, +in all thy prosperity, scorching the son of Pandu with a sight of thy +glory, like the Sun scorching everything with his hot rays! Thyself a +sovereign and they divested of sovereignty, thyself in prosperity and +they divested of it, thyself possessing affluence and they in poverty, +behold now, O king, the sons of Pandu. Let the sons of Pandu behold thee +like Yayati, the son of Nahusha, accompanied by a large train of +followers and enjoying bliss that is great. O king, that blazing +Prosperity which is seen by both one’s friends and foes, is regarded as +well-bestowed! What happiness can be more complete than that which he +enjoyeth who while himself in prosperity, looketh upon his foes in +adversity, like a person on the hill top looking down upon another +crawling on the earth? O tiger among kings, the happiness that one +derives from beholding his foes in grief, is greater than what one may +derive from the acquisition of offering or wealth or kingdom! What +happiness will not be his who, himself in affluence, will cast his eyes +on Dhananjaya attired in barks and deer-skins? Let thy wife dressed in +costly robes look at the woeful Krishna clad in barks and deer-skins, and +enhance the latter’s grief! Let the daughter of Drupada reproach herself +and her life, divested as she is of wealth, for the sorrow that she will +feel upon beholding thy wife decked in ornaments will be far greater than +what she had felt in the midst of the assembly (when Dussasana had +dragged her there)!” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having thus spoken unto the king, Karna and +Sakuni both remained silent, O Janamejaya, after their discourse was +over.” + + + +SECTION CCXXXVI + +Vaisampayana said, “Having heard these words of Karna, king Duryodhana +became highly pleased. Soon after, however, the prince became melancholy +and addressing the speaker said, ‘What thou tellest me, O Karna, is +always before my mind. I shall not, however, obtain permission to repair +to the place where the Pandavas are residing. King Dhritarashtra is +always grieving for those heroes. Indeed, the king regarded the sons of +Pandu to have become more powerful than before in consequence of their +ascetic austerities. Or, if the king understands our motives, he will +never, having regard to the future, grant us permission, for, O thou of +great effulgence, we can have no other business in the woods of +Dwaitavana than the destruction of the Pandavas in exile! Thou knowest +the words that Kshatri spoke to me to thyself, and to the son of Suvala, +at the time of the match at dice! Reflecting upon all those words as also +upon all those lamentations (that he and others indulged in), I cannot +make up my mind as to whether I should or should not go! I shall +certainly be highly pleased if I cast my eyes on Bhima and Phalguna +passing their days in pain with Krishna in the woods. The joy that I may +feel in obtaining the sovereignty of the entire earth is nothing to that +which will be mine upon beholding the sons of Pandu attired in barks of +trees and deer-skins. What joy can be greater, O Karna, that will be mine +upon beholding the daughter of Drupada dressed in red rags in the woods? +If king Yudhishthira and Bhima, the sons of Pandu, behold me graced with +great affluence, then only shall I have attained the great end of my +life! I do not, however, see the means by which I may repair to those +woods, by which, in fact, I may obtain the king’s permission to go +thither! Contrive thou, therefore, some skilful plan, with Suvala’s son +and Dussasana, by which we may go to those woods! I also, making up my +mind today as to whether I should go or not, approach the presence of the +king tomorrow. And when I shall be sitting with Bhishma--that best of the +Kurus--thou wilt, with Sakuni propose the pretext which thou mayst have +contrived. Hearing then the words of Bhishma and of the king on the +subject of our journey, I will settle everything beseeching our +grandfather. + +“Saying; ‘So be it,’ they then all went away to their respective +quarters. And as soon as the night had passed away, Karna came to the +king. And coming to him, Karna smilingly spoke unto Duryodhana, saying, +‘A plan hath been contrived by me. Listen to it, O lord of men! Our herds +are now waiting in the woods of Dwaitavana in expectation of thee! +Without doubt, we may all go there under the pretext of supervising our +cattle stations, for, O monarch, it is proper that kings should +frequently repair to their cattle stations. If this be the motive put +forth, thy father, O prince, will certainly grant thee permission!’ And +while Duryodhana and Karna were thus conversing laughingly, Sakuni +addressed them and said, ‘This plan, free from difficulties, was what I +also saw for going thither! The king will certainly grant us permission, +or even send us thither of his own accord. Our herds are now all waiting +in the woods of Dwaitavana expecting thee. Without doubt, we may all go +there under the pretext of supervising our cattle stations!’ + +“They then all three laughed together, and gave their hands unto one +another. And having arrived at that conclusion, they went to see the +chief of Kurus.” + + + +SECTION CCXXXVII + +Vaisampayana said, “They then all saw king Dhritarashtra, O Janamejaya, +and having seen him, enquired after his welfare, and were, in return, +asked about their welfare. Then a cow-herd named Samanga, who had been +instructed beforehand by them, approaching the king, spoke unto him of +the cattle. Then the son of Radha and Sakuni, O king, addressing +Dhritarashtra, that foremost of monarchs, said, ‘O Kaurava, our +cattle-stations are now in a delightful place. The time for their tale as +also for marking the calves hath come. And, O monarch, this also is an +excellent season for thy son to go ahunting! It behoveth thee, therefore, +to grant permission to Duryodhana to go thither.’ + +“Dhritarashtra replied, ‘The chase of the deer, as also the examination +of cattle is very proper, O child! I think, indeed, that the herdsmen are +not to be trusted. But we have heard that those tigers among men, the +Pandavas, are now staying in the vicinity of those cattle stations. I +think, therefore, ye should not go thither yourselves! Defeated by +deceitful means they are now living in the deep forest in great +suffering. O Radheya, they are mighty warriors and naturally able, they +are now devoted to ascetic austerities. King Yudhishthira will not suffer +his wrath to be awakened, but Bhimasena is naturally passionate. The +daughter of Yajnasena is energy’s self. Full of pride and folly, ye are +certain to give offence. Endued with ascetic merit she will certainly +consume you, or perhaps, those heroes, armed with swords and weapons! +Nor, if from force of numbers, ye seek to injure them in any respect, +that will be a highly improper act, although, as I think, ye will never +be able to succeed. The mighty-armed Dhananjaya hath returned thence to +the forest. While unaccomplished in arms, Vivatsu had subjugated the +whole earth before. A mighty warrior as he is and accomplished in arms +now, will he not be able to slay you all? Or, if in obedience to my +words, ye behave carefully having repaired thither, ye will not be able +to live happily there in consequence of the anxiety ye will feel owing to +a state of continued trustlessness. Or, some soldier of yours may do some +injury to Yudhishthira, and that unpremeditated act will be ascribed to +your fault. Therefore, let some faithful men proceed there for the work +of tale. I do not think it is proper for thee, Bharata, to go thither +thyself.” + +“Sakuni said, ‘The eldest of the sons of Pandu is cognisant of morality. +He pledged in the midst of the assembly, O Bharata, that he would live +for twelve years in the forest. The other sons of Pandu are all virtuous +and obedient to Yudhishthira. And Yudhishthira himself, the son of Kunti, +will never be angry with us. Indeed, we desire very much to go on a +hunting expedition, and will avail of that opportunity for supervising +the tale of our cattle. We have no mind to see the sons of Pandu. We will +not go to that spot where the Pandavas have taken up their residence, and +consequently no exhibition of misconduct can possibly arise on our part.’ + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed by Sakuni, that lord of men, +Dhritarashtra, granted permission, but not very willingly, to Duryodhana +and his counsellors to go to the place. And permitted by the monarch the +Bharata prince born of Gandhari started, accompanied by Karna and +surrounded by a large host. And he was also accompanied by Dussasana and +Suvala’s son of great intelligence and by many other brothers of his and +by ladies in thousands. And as the mighty-armed prince started for +beholding the lake that was known by the name of Dwaitavana, the citizens +(of Hastina), also accompanied by their wives began to follow him to that +forest. Eight thousand cars, thirty thousand elephants, nine thousand +horses, and many thousands of foot-soldiers, and shops and pavilions and +traders, bards and men trained in the chase by hundreds and thousands +followed the prince. And as the king started, followed by this large +concourse of people, the uproar that was caused there resembled, O king, +the deep tumult of the ranging winds in the rainy season. And reaching +the lake Dwaitavana with all his followers and vehicles, king Duryodhana +took up his quarters at the distance of four miles from it.” + + + +SECTION CCXXXVIII + +Vaisampayana said, “King Duryodhana then moving from forest to forest, at +last approached the cattle-stations, and encamped his troops. And his +attendants, selecting a well-known and delightful spot that abounded in +water and trees and that possessed every convenience constructed an abode +for him. And near enough to the royal residence they also erected +separate abodes for Kama and Sakuni and the brothers of the king. And the +king beheld his cattle by hundreds and thousands and examining their +limbs and marks supervised their tale. And he caused the calves to be +marked and took note of those that required to be tamed. And he also +counted those kine whose calves had not yet been weaned. And completing +the task of tale by marking and counting every calf that was three years +old, the Kuru prince, surrounded by the cowherds, began to sport and +wander cheerfully. And the citizens also and the soldiers by thousands +began to sport, as best pleased them, in those woods, like the +celestials. And the herdsmen, well skilled in singing and dancing and +instrumental music, and virgins decked in ornaments, began to minister to +the pleasures of Dhritarashtra’s son. And the king surrounded by the +ladies of the royal household began cheerfully to distribute wealth and +food and drinks of various kinds amongst those that sought to please him, +according to their desires. + +“And the king, attended by all his followers, began also to slay hyenas +and buffaloes and deer and gayals and bears and boars all around. And the +king, piercing by his shafts those animals by thousands in deep forest, +caused the deer to be caught in the more delightful parts of the woods. +Drinking milk and enjoying, O Bharata, various other delicious articles +and beholding, as he proceeded, many delightful forests and woods +swarming with bees inebriate with floral honey and resounding with the +notes of the peacock, the king at last reached the sacred lake of +Dwaitavana. And the spot which the king reached swarmed with bees +inebriate with floral honey, and echoed with the mellifluous notes of the +blue-throated jay and was shaded by Saptacchadas and punnagas and +Vakulas. And the king graced with high prosperity proceeded thither like +the thunder-wielding chief of the celestials himself. And, O thou best of +the Kuru race, King Yudhishthira the just, endued with high intelligence, +was then, O monarch, residing in the vicinity of that lake at will and +celebrating with his wedded wife, the daughter of Drupada, the diurnal +sacrifice called Rajarshi, according to the ordinance sanctioned for the +celestials and persons living in the wilderness. And, O monarch, having +reached that spot, Duryodhana commanded his men by thousands, saying, +‘Let pleasure-houses be constructed soon.’ Thus commanded, those doers of +the king’s behests replying to the Kruru chief with the words, ‘So be +it,’ went towards the banks of the lake for constructing pleasure-houses. +And as the picked soldiers of Dhritarashtra’s son, having reached the +region of the lake, were about to enter the gates of the wood, a number +of Gandharvas appeared and forbade them to enter. For, O monarch, the +king of the Gandharvas accompanied by his followers, had come thither +beforehand, from the abode of Kuvera. And the king of the Gandharvas had +also been accompanied by the several tribes of Apsaras, as also by the +sons of the celestials And intent upon sport, he had come to that place +for merriment, and occupying it, had closed it against all comers. And +the attendants of the (Kuru) king, finding the lake closed by the king of +the Gandharvas, went back, O monarch, to where the royal Duryodhana was. +And Duryodhana having heard these words, despatched a number of his +warriors difficult of being subjugated in battle, commanding them to +drive away the Gandharvas. And those warriors who formed the vanguard of +the Kuru army, hearing these words of the king, went back to the lake of +Dwaitavana and addressing the Gandharvas, said, ‘The mighty king +Duryodhana--the son of Dhritarashtra--is coming, hither for sport. Stand +ye aside, therefore!’ Thus addressed by them, O king, the Gandharvas +laughed and replied unto those men in these harsh words: ‘Your wicked +king Duryodhana must be destitute of sense. How else could he have thus +commanded us that are dwellers of heaven, as if indeed, we were his +servants? Without forethought, ye also are doubtless on the point of +death; for senseless idiots as ye are, ye have dared to bring us his +message! Return ye soon to where that king of the Kurus is, or else go +this very day to the abode of Yama.’ Thus addressed by the Gandharvas, +the advanced guard of the king’s army ran back to the place where the +royal son of Dhritarashtra was.” + + + +SECTION CCXXXIX + +Vaisampayana said, “Those soldiers then, O king, all went back to +Duryodhana and repeated to him every word that the Gandharvas had said. +And, O Bharata, finding that his soldiers had been opposed by the +Gandharvas, Dhritarashtra’s son, endued with energy, was filled with +rage. And the king addressed his soldiers, saying, ‘Punish these wretches +who desire to oppose my will, even if they have come hither to sport, +accompanied by all the celestials with him of a hundred sacrifices. And +hearing these words of Duryodhana, the sons and officers of Dhritarashtra +all endued with great strength, as also warriors by thousands, began to +arm themselves for battle. And filling the ten sides with loud leonine +roars and rushing at those Gandharvas that had been guarding the gates, +they entered the forest. And as the Kuru soldiers entered the forest, +other Gandharvas came up and forbade them to advance. And though gently +forbidden by the Gandharvas to advance, the Kuru soldiers, without +regarding them in the least, began to enter that mighty forest. And when +those rangers of the sky found that the warriors of Dhritarashtra along +with their king could not be stopped by words they all went to their king +Chitrasena and represented everything unto him. And when Chitrasena, the +king of the Gandharvas, came to know all this he became filled with rage, +alluding to the Kuru, and commanded his followers saying, ‘Punish these +wretches of wicked behaviour.’ And, O Bharata, when the Gandharvas were +so commanded by Chitrasena, they rushed weapons in hand, towards the +Dhritarashtra ranks. And beholding the Gandharvas impetuously rushing +towards them with upraised weapons, the Kuru warriors precipitously fled +in all directions at the very sight of Duryodhana. And beholding the Kuru +soldiers all flying from the field with their backs to the foe, the +heroic Radheya alone fled not. And seeing the mighty host of the +Gandharvas rushing towards him, Radheya checked them by a perfect shower +of arrows. And the Suta’s son, owing to his extreme lightness of hand, +struck hundreds of Gandharvas with Kshurapras and arrows and Bhallas and +various weapons made of bones and steel. And that mighty warrior, causing +the heads of numerous Gandharvas to roll down within a short time, made +the ranks of Chitrasena to yell in anguish. And although they were +slaughtered in great numbers by Karna endued with great intelligence, yet +the Gandharvas returned to the charge by hundreds and thousands. And in +consequence of the swarms of Chitrasena’s warriors rushing impetuously to +the field the earth itself became soon covered by the Gandharva host. +Then king Duryodhana, and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, and Dussasana, and +Vikarna, and other sons of Dhritarashtra, seated on cars the clatter of +whose wheels resembled the roars of Garuda, returned to the charge, +following the lead of Karna, and began to slaughter that host. And +desirous of supporting Karna, these princes invested the Gandharva army, +with a large number of cars and a strong body of horses. Then the whole +of the Gandharva host began to fight with the Kauravas. And the encounter +that took place between the contending hosts was fierce in the extreme +and might make one’s hair stand on end. The Gandharvas, at last, +afflicted with the shafts of the Kuru army, seemed to be exhausted. And +the Kauravas beholding the Gandharvas so afflicted sent up a loud sound. + +“And seeing the Gandharva host yielding to fear, the angry Chitrasena +sprang from his seat, resolved to exterminate the Kuru army. And +conversant with various modes of warfare, he waged on the fight, aided by +his weapons of illusion. And the Kaurava warriors were then all deprived +of their senses by the illusion of Chitrasena. And then, O Bharata, it +seemed that every warrior of the Kuru army was fallen upon and surrounded +by ten Gandharvas. And attacked with great vigour, the Kuru host was +greatly afflicted and struck with panic. O king, all of them that liked +to live, fled from the field. But while the entire Dhritarashtra host +broke and fled, Karna, that offspring of the Sun, stood there, O king, +immovable as a hill. Indeed, Duryodhana and Karna and Sakuni, the son of +Suvala, all fought with the Gandharvas, although every one of them was +much wounded and mangled in the encounter. All the Gandharvas then, +desirous of slaying Karna, rushed together by hundreds and thousands +towards Karna. And those mighty warriors, desirous of slaying the Suta’s +son, surrounded him on all sides, with swords and battle-axes and spears. +And some cut down the yoke of his car, and some his flagstaff, and some +the shaft of his car, and some his horses, and some his charioteer. And +some cut down his umbrella and some the wooden fender round his car and +some the joints of his car. It was thus that many thousands of +Gandharvas, together attacking his car, broke it into minute fragments. +And while his car was thus attacked, Karna leaped therefrom with sword +and shield in hand, and mounting on Vikarna’s car, urged the steeds for +saving himself.” + + + +SECTION CCXL + +Vaisampayana said, “After that great warrior Karna had been routed by the +Gandharvas, the whole of the Kuru army, O monarch, fled from the field in +the very sight of Dhritarashtra’s son. And beholding all his troops +flying from the field of battle with their back to the foe, king +Duryodhana refused to fly. Seeing the mighty host of the Gandharvas +rushing towards him, that represser of foes poured down upon them a thick +shower of arrows. The Gandharvas, however, without regarding that arrowy +shower, and desirous also of slaying him, surrounded that car of his. And +by means of their arrows, they cut off into fragments the yoke, the +shaft, the fenders, the flagstaff, the three-fold bamboo poles, and the +principal turret of his car. And they also slew his charioteer and +horses, hacking them to pieces. And when Duryodhana, deprived of his car, +fell on the ground, the strong-armed Chitrasena rushed towards him and +seized him in such a way that it seemed his life itself was taken. And +after the Kuru king had been seized, the Gandharvas, surrounding +Dussasana, who was seated on his car, also took him prisoner. And some +Gandharvas seized Vivinsati and Chitrasena, and some Vinda and Anuvinda, +while others seized all the ladies of royal household. And the warriors +of Duryodhana, who were routed by the Gandharvas, joining those who had +fled first, approached the Pandavas (who were living in the vicinity). +And after Duryodhana had been made captive, the vehicles, the shops, the +pavilions, the carriages, and the draught animals, all were made over to +the Pandavas for protection. And those soldiers said, ‘The mighty-armed +son of Dhritarashtra, possessed of great strength and handsome mien, is +being taken away captive by the Gandharvas! Ye sons of Pritha, follow +them! Dussasana, Durvishasa, Durmukha, and Durjaya, are all being led +away as captives in chains by the Gandharvas, as also all the ladies of +the royal household!’ + +“Crying thus, the followers of Duryodhana, afflicted with grief and +melancholy, approached Yudhishthira, desirous of effecting the release of +the king. Bhima then answered those old attendants of Duryodhana, who, +afflicted with grief and melancholy, were thus soliciting (the aid of +Yudhishthira), saying, ‘What we should have done with great efforts, +arraying ourselves in line of battle, supported by horses and elephants +hath, indeed, been done by the Gandharvas! They that come hither for +other purposes, have been overtaken by consequences they had not +foreseen! Indeed, this is the result of the evil counsels of a king who +is fond of deceitful play! It hath been heard by us that the foe of a +person who is powerless, is overthrown by others. The Gandharvas have, in +an extraordinary way illustrated before our eyes the truth of this +saying! It seems that there is still fortunately some person in the world +who is desirous of doing us good who hath, indeed, taken upon his own +shoulders our pleasant load, although we are sitting idly! The wretch had +come hither to cast his eyes on us,--himself in prosperity while +ourselves are sunk in adversity and emaciated by ascetic austerities and +are exposed to wind, cold and heat. They that imitate the behaviour of +that sinful and wretched Kaurava, are now beholding his disgrace! He that +had instructed Duryodhana to do this, had certainly acted sinfully. That +the sons of Kunti are not wicked and sinful, I tell it before you all!” + +“And while Bhima, the son of Kunti, was speaking thus in a voice of +sarcasm, king Yudhishthira told him, ‘This is not time for cruel words!’” + + + +SECTION CCXLI + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O child, why dost thou use language such as this, +towards the frightened Kurus, who are now in adversity and who have come +to us, solicitous of protection! O Vrikodara, disunions and disputes do +take place amongst those that are connected in blood. Hostilities such as +these do go on. But the honour of the family is never suffered to be +interfered with. If any stranger seeketh to insult the honour of a +family, they that are good never tolerate such insult coming from the +stranger. The wicked-souled king of the Gandharvas knoweth that we are +living here from some time. Yet disregarding us, he hath done this deed +which is so disagreeable to us! O exalted one, from this forcible seizure +of Duryodhana and from this insult to the ladies of our house by a +stranger, our family honour is being destroyed. Therefore, ye tigers +among men, arise and arm yourselves without delay for rescuing those that +have sought our protection and for guarding the honour of our family. Ye +tigers among men, let Arjuna and the twins and thyself also that art +brave and unvanquished, liberate Duryodhana, who is even now being taken +away a captive! Ye foremost of warriors, these blazing cars, furnished +with golden flagstaff’s and every kind of weapons belonging to +Dhritarashtra’s sons, are ready here. With Indrasena and other +charioteers skilled in arms, for guiding them, ride ye on these +everfurnished cars of deep rattle! And riding on these, exert ye with +activity for fighting with the Gandharvas to liberate Duryodhana. Even an +ordinary Kashatriya (amongst those that are here), would to the height of +his power, protect one that hath come hither for refuge! What then, O +Vrikodara, shall I say of thee! Entreated for assistance in such words as +‘O hasten to my aid!’ Who is there (amongst those standing around me) +that is high-souled enough to assist even his foe, beholding him seeking +shelter with joined hands? The bestowal of a boon, sovereignty, and the +birth of a son are sources of great joy. But, ye sons of Pandu, the +liberation of a foe from distress is equal to all the three put together! +What can be a source of greater joy to you than that Duryodhana sunk in +distress seeketh his very life as depending on the might of your arms? O +Vrikodara, if the vow in which I am engaged had been over, there is +little doubt that I would myself have run to his aid. Strive thou by all +means, O Bharata, to liberate Duryodhana by the arts of conciliation. If, +however, the king of the Gandharvas cannot be managed by the arts of +conciliation, then must thou try to rescue Suyodhana by lightly +skirmishing with the foe. But if the chief of the Gandharvas do not let +the Kurus off even then, they must be rescued by crushing the foe by all +means. O Vrikodara, this is all I can tell thee now, for my vow hath been +begun and is not ended yet!” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these words of Ajatasatru, Dhananjaya +pledged himself, from respect for these commands of his superior, to +liberate the Kauravas. And Arjuna said, ‘If the Gandharvas do not set the +Dhartarashtras free peacefully, the Earth shall this day drink the blood +of the king of the Gandharvas!’ And hearing that pledge of the +truth-speaking Arjuna, the Kauravas then, O king, regained (the lost) +tenor of their minds.” + + + +SECTION CCXLII + +Vaisampayana said, “Hearing the words of Yudhishthira, those bulls among +men, headed by Bhimasena, rose up with faces beaming in joy. And those +mighty warriors, O Bharata, then began to case themselves in impenetrable +mail that were besides variegated with pure gold, and armed themselves +with celestial weapons of various kinds. And the Pandavas thus cased in +mail, and mounted on those chariots furnished with flagstaffs and armed +with bows and arrows, looked like blazing fires. And those tigers among +warriors, riding upon those well furnished cars drawn by fleet horses, +proceeded to that spot without losing a moment. And beholding those +mighty warriors--the sons of Pandu--thus proceeding together (for the +liberation of Duryodhana), the Kuru army sent forth a loud shout. And +soon did those rangers of the sky flushed with victory, and those +impetuous warriors, the sons of Pandu, fearlessly encounter each other in +that forest. The Gandharvas were flushed with success, and beholding the +four brave sons of Pandu coming to battle seated on their cars, they all +turned back towards the advancing combatants. And, the dwellers of the +Gandhamadana, beholding the Pandavas looking like blazing guardians of +the world provoked to ire, stood arrayed in order of battle. And, O +Bharata, in accordance with words of king Yudhishthira of great wisdom, +the encounter that took place was a skirmish. But when Arjuna--that +persecutor of foes--saw that the foolish soldiers of the king of +Gandharvas could not be made to understand what was good for them by +means of a light skirmish, he addressed those invincible rangers of the +skies in a conciliatory tone and said, ‘Leave ye my brother king +Suyodhana.’ Thus addressed by the illustrious son of Pandu, the +Gandharvas, laughing aloud, replied unto him saying, ‘O child, there is +but one in the world whose behests we obey and living under whose rule we +pass our days in happiness: O Bharata, we always act as that one only +person commandeth us! Besides that celestial chief there is none that can +command us!’ Thus addressed by the Gandharvas, Dhananjaya, the son of +Kunti, replied unto them, saying, ‘This contact with other people’s wives +and this hostile encounter with human beings are acts that are both +censurable in the king of the Gandharvas and not proper for him. +Therefore, leave ye these sons of Dhritarashtra all endued with mighty +energy. And liberate ye also these ladies, at the command of king +Yudhishthira the just. If, ye Gandharvas, ye do not set the sons of +Dhritarashtra free peacefully, I shall certainly rescue Suyodhana (and +his party) by exerting my prowess.’ And speaking unto them thus, Pritha’s +son, Dhananjaya, capable of wielding the bow with his left hand also, +then rained a shower of sharp pointed sky-ranging shafts upon those +rangers of the firmament. Thus attacked, the mighty Gandharvas then +encountered the sons of Pandu with a shower of arrows equally thick, and +the Pandavas also replied by attacking those dwellers of heaven. And the +battle then, O Bharata, that ranged between the active and agile +Gandharvas and the impetuous son of Pandu was fierce in the extreme.” + + + +SECTION CCXLIII + +Vaisampayana said, “Then those Gandharvas decked in golden garlands and +accomplished in celestial weapons, showing their blazing shafts, +encountered the Pandavas from every side. And as the sons of Pandu were +only four in number and the Gandharvas counted by thousands, the battle +that ensued appeared to be extraordinary. And as the cars of Karna and +Duryodhana had formerly been broken into a hundred fragments by the +Gandharvas, so were the cars of the four heroes attempted to be broken. +But those tigers among men began to encounter with their showers of +arrows thousands upon thousands of Gandharvas rushing towards them. Those +rangers of skies endued with great energy, thus checked on all sides by +that arrowy down-pour, succeeded not in even coming near to the sons of +Pandu. Then Arjuna whose ire had been provoked, aiming at the angry +Gandharvas, prepared to hurl against them his celestial weapons. And in +that encounter, the mighty Arjuna, by means of his Agneya weapon, sent +ten hundreds of thousands of Gandharvas to the abode of Yama. And that +mighty bowman, Bhima, also, that foremost of all warriors in battle, +slew, by means of his sharp arrows, Gandharvas by hundreds. And the +mighty sons of Madri also, battling with vigour, encountered hundreds of +Gandharvas, O king, and slaughtered them all. And as Gandharvas were +being thus slaughtered by the mighty warriors with their celestial +weapons, they rose up to the skies, taking with them the sons of +Dhritarashtra. But Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, beholding them rise up +to the skies, surrounded them on every side by a wide net of arrows. And +confined within that arrowy net like birds within a cage, they showered +in wrath upon Arjuna maces and darts and broad-swords. But Arjuna who was +conversant with the most efficacious weapons, soon checked that shower of +maces and darts and broad-swords, and in return began to mangle the limbs +of the Gandharvas with his crescent-shaped arrows. And heads and legs and +arms began to drop down from above resembling a shower of stones. And at +that sight, the foe was struck with panic. And as the Gandharvas were +being slaughtered by the illustrious son of Pandu, they began to shower +from the skies a heavy downpour of shafts upon Arjuna, who was on the +surface of the earth. But that chastiser of foes, Arjuna, endued with +mighty energy checked that shower of arrows by means of his own weapons +and began, in return, to wound them. Then Arjuna of the Kuru race shot +his well-known weapons called Sthunakarna, Indrajala, Saura, Agneya and +Saumya. And the Gandharvas consumed by the fiery weapons of Kunti’s son, +began to suffer heavily, like the sons of Diti, while being scorched by +Sakra’s thunder-bolt. And when they attacked Arjuna from above, they were +checked by his net of arrows. And while they attacked him from all sides +on the surface of the earth, they were checked by his crescent-shaped +arrows. And beholding the Gandharvas put in fear by Kunti’s son, +Chitrasena rushed, O Bharata, at Dhananjaya, armed with a mace. And as +the king of the Gandharvas was rushing at Arjuna from above with that +mace in hand, the latter cut with his arrows that mace wholly made of +iron into seven pieces. And beholding that mace of his cut into many +pieces by Arjuna of great activity, with his arrows, Chitrasena, by means +of his science, concealed himself from the view of the Pandava and began +to fight with him. The heroic Arjuna, however, by means of his own +celestial weapons checked all the celestial weapons that were aimed at +him by the Gandharvas. And when the chief of the Gandharvas saw that he +was checked by the illustrious Arjuna with those weapons of his he +entirely disappeared from sight by help of his powers of illusion. And +Arjuna, observing that the chief of the Gandharvas was striking at him +concealed from sight, attacked his assailant with celestial weapon +inspired with proper Mantras. And the multiform Dhananjaya filled with +wrath, prevented the disappearance of his foe by means of his weapon +known by the name of Sabda-veda. And assailed with those weapons by the +illustrious Arjuna, his dear friend, the king of the Gandharvas, showed +himself unto him. And Chitrasena said, ‘Behold in me thy friend battling +with thee!’ And beholding his friend Chitrasena exhausted in the battle, +that bull among the sons of Pandu withdrew the weapons he had shot. And +the other sons of Pandu beholding Arjuna withdraw his weapons, checked +their flying steeds and the impetus of their weapons and withdrew their +bows. And Chitrasena and Bhima and Arjuna and the twins enquiring about +one another’s welfare, sat awhile on their respective cars.” + + + +SECTION CCXLIV + +Vaisampayana said, “Then that mighty bowman of blazing splendour, Arjuna, +smilingly said unto Chitrasena in the midst of the Gandharva host, ‘What +purpose dost thou serve, O hero, in punishing the Kauravas? O, why also +hath Suyodhana with his wives been thus punished?’ + +“Chitrasena replied, ‘O Dhananjaya, without stirring from my own abode I +became acquainted with the purpose of the wicked Duryodhana and the +wretched Karna in coming hither. The purpose was even this,--knowing that +ye are exiles in the forest and suffering great afflictions as if ye had +none to take care of you, himself in prosperity, this wretch entertained +the desire of beholding you plunged in adversity and misfortune. They +came hither for mocking you and the illustrious daughter of Drupada. The +lord of the celestials also, having ascertained this purpose of theirs, +told me, ‘Go thou and bring Duryodhana hither in chains along with his +counsellors. Dhananjaya also with his brother should always be protected +by thee in battle, for he is thy dear friend and disciple.’ At these +words of the lord of the celestials I came hither speedily. This wicked +prince hath also been put in chains. I will now proceed to the region of +the celestials, whither I will lead this wicked wight at the command of +the slayer of Paka!’ + +“Arjuna answered, saying, ‘O Chitrasena, if thou wishest to do what is +agreeable to me, set Suyodhana free, at the command of king Yudhishthira +the just, for he is our brother!’ + +Chitrasena said, “This sinful wretch is always full of vanity. He +deserveth not to be set free. O Dhananjaya, he hath deceived and wronged +both king Yudhishthira the just and Krishna. Yudhishthira the son of +Kunti as yet knoweth not the purpose on which the wretch came hither. Let +the king, therefore, do what he desires after knowing everything!” + +Vaisampayana continued, “After this, all of them went to king +Yudhishthira the just. And going unto the king, they represented unto him +everything about Duryodhana’s conduct. And Ajatasatru, hearing everything +that the Gandharvas had said, liberated all the Kauravas and applauded +the Gandharvas. And the king said, ‘Fortunate it is for us that though +gifted with great strength, ye did not yet slay the wicked son of +Dhritarashtra along with all counsellors and relatives. This, O sir, hath +been an act of great kindness done to me by the Gandharvas. The honour +also of my family is saved by liberating this wicked wight. I am glad at +seeing you all. Command me what I am to do for you. And having obtained +all you wish, return ye soon whence ye came!’ + +“Thus addressed by the intelligent son of Pandu, the Gandharvas became +well-pleased and went away with the Apsaras. And the lord of the +celestials then, coming to that spot, revived those Gandharvas that had +been slain in the encounter with the Kurus, by sprinkling the celestial +Amrita over them. And the Pandavas also, having liberated their relatives +along with the ladies of the royal household, and having achieved that +difficult feat (the defeat of the Gandharvas host) became well-pleased. +And those illustrious and mighty warriors worshipped by the Kurus along +with their sons and wives, blazed forth in splendour like flaming fires +in the sacrificial compound. And Yudhishthira then addressing the +liberated Duryodhana in the midst of his brothers, from affection, told +him these words: ‘O child, never again do such a rash act. O Bharata, a +rash wight never cometh by happiness. O son of the Kuru race, pleased be +thou with all thy brothers. Go back to thy capital as pleaseth thee, +without yielding thyself to despondency or cheerlessness!” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus dismissed by the son of Pandu, king +Duryodhana then saluted king Yudhishthira the just and overwhelmed with +shame, and his heart rent in twain, mechanically set out for his capital, +like one destitute of life. And after the Kaurava prince had departed, +the brave Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, along with his brothers, was +worshipped by the Brahmanas, and surrounded by those Brahmanas endued +with the wealth of asceticism, like Sakra himself by the celestials, he +began to pass his days happily in the woods of Dwaita.” + + + +SECTION CCXLV + +Janamejaya said, “After his defeat and capture by the foe and his +subsequent liberation by the illustrious sons of Pandu by force of arms, +it seemeth to me that the entry into Hastinapura of the proud, wicked, +boastful, vicious, insolent, and wretched Duryodhana, engaged in +insulting the sons of Pandu and bragging of his own superiority, must +have been exceedingly difficult. Describe to me in detail, O +Vaisampayana, the entry into the capital, of that prince overwhelmed with +shame and unmanned by grief!” + +Vaisampayana said, “Dismissed by the king Yudhishthira the just, +Dhritarashtra’s son Suyodhana, bending his head down in shame and +afflicted with grief and melancholy, set out slowly. And the king, +accompanied by his four kinds of forces, proceeded towards his city, his +heart rent in grief and filled with thoughts of his defeat along the way +in a region that abounded in grass and water. The king encamped on a +delightful piece of ground as pleased him best, with his elephants and +cars and cavalry and infantry stationed all around. And as the king +Duryodhana was seated on an elevated bedstead endued with the effulgence +of fire, himself looking like the moon under an eclipse, towards the +small hours of the morning Karna, approaching him, said, ‘Fortunate it +is, O son of Gandhari, that thou art alive! Fortunate it is, that we have +once more met! By good luck it is that thou hast vanquished the +Gandharvas capable of assuming any form at will. And, O son of the Kuru +race, it is by good luck alone, that I am enabled to see thy brothers-- +mighty warriors all--come off victorious from that encounter, having +subjugated their foes! As regards myself, assailed by all the Gandharvas, +I fled before thy eyes, unable to rally our flying host. Assailed by the +foe with all his might, my body mangled with their arrows, I sought +safety in flight. This however, O Bharata, seemed to me to be a great +marvel that I behold you all come safe and sound in body, with your +wives, troops, and vehicles, out of that super-human encounter. O +Bharata, there is another man in this world who can achieve what thou, O +king, hast achieved in battle to-day with thy brothers.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed by Karna, king Duryodhana replied +unto the ruler of the Angas in a voice choked with tears.” + + + +SECTION CCXLVI + +“Duryodhana said, ‘O Radheya, thou knowest not what hath happened. +Therefore, I do not resent thy words. Thou thinkest the hostile +Gandharvas to have been vanquished by me with my own energy. O thou of +mighty arms, my brothers, indeed had for a long time, aided by me fought +with the Gandharvas. The slaughtered, indeed, on both sides were great. +But when those brave Gandharvas, resorting to their many powers of +illusion, ascended the skies and began to fight with us thence, our +encounter with them ceased to be an equal one. Defeat then was ours and +even captivity. And afflicted with sorrow, we along with our attendants +and counsellors and children and wives and troops and vehicles were being +taken by them through the skies. It was then that some soldiers of ours +and some brave officers repaired in grief unto the sons of Pandu--those +heroes that never refuse succour to those that ask for it. And having +gone to them they said, ‘Here is king Duryodhana, the son of +Dhritarashtra, who with his younger brothers and friends and wives is +being led away a captive by the Gandharvas along the sky. Blest be ye. +Liberate the king along with the women of the royal household! Suffer no +insult to be offered unto all the ladies of the Kuru race. And when they +had spoken thus, the eldest of Pandu’s sons, who is endued with a +virtuous soul then conciliated his brothers and commanded them to +liberate us. Then those bulls among men, the Pandavas, overtaking the +Gandharvas, solicited our release in soft words, although fully able to +effect it by force of arms. And when the Gandharvas, addressed in such +conciliatory words, refused to set us at liberty, then Arjuna and Bhima +and the twins endued with mighty energy, shot showers of arrows at the +Gandharvas. Then the Gandharvas, abandoning the fight, fled through the +sky, dragging our melancholy selves after them, filled with joy. Then we +beheld a network of arrows spread all around by Dhananjaya, who was also +shooting celestial weapons upon the foe. And seeing the points of the +horizon covered by Arjuna with a thick network of sharp arrows, his +friend, the chief of the Gandharvas, showed himself. And Chitrasena and +Arjuna, embracing each other, enquired after each other’s welfare. And +the other sons of Pandu also embraced the chief of the Gandharvas and +were embraced by him. And enquiries of courtesy passed between them also. +And the brave Gandharvas then abandoning their weapons and mail mingled +in a friendly spirit with the Pandavas. And Chitrasena and Dhananjaya +worshipped each other with regard.” + + + +SECTION CCXLVII + +Duryodhana said, “That slayer of hostile heroes, Arjuna, then approaching +Chitrasena, smilingly addressed him in these manly words: ‘O hero, O +foremost of the Gandharvas, it behoveth thee to set my brothers at +liberty. They are incapable of being insulted as long as the sons of +Pandu are alive.’ ‘Thus addressed by the illustrious son of Pandu, the +chief of the Gandharvas, O Karna, disclosed unto the Pandavas the object +we had in view in proceeding to that place, viz., that we came there for +casting our eyes on the sons of Pandu with their wife, all plunged in +misery. And while the Gandharva was disclosing those counsels of ours, +overwhelmed with shame I desired the earth to yield me a crevice, so that +I might disappear there and then. The Gandharvas then, accompanied by the +Pandavas, went to Yudhishthira, and, disclosing unto him also counsels, +made us over, bound as we were, to him. Alas, what greater sorrow could +be mine than that I should thus be offered as a tribute unto +Yudhishthira, in the very sight of the women of our household, myself in +chains and plunged in misery, and under the absolute control of my +enemies. Alas, they, who have ever been persecuted by me, they unto whom +I have ever been a foe released me from captivity, and wretch that I am, +I am indebted to them for my life. If, O hero, I had met with my death in +that great battle, that would have been far better than that I should +have obtained my life in this way. If I had been slain by the Gandharvas, +my fame would have spread over the whole earth, and I should have +obtained auspicious regions of eternal bliss in the heaven of Indra. +Listen to me therefore, ye bulls among men, as to what I intend to do +now. I will stay here forgoing all food, while ye all return home. Let +all my brothers also go to Hastinapura. Let all our friends, including +Karna, and all our relatives headed by Dussasana, return now to the +capital. Insulted by the foe, I myself will not repair thither. I who had +before wrested from the foe his respect, I who had always enchanced the +respect of my friends, have now become a source of sorrow unto friends +and of joy unto enemies. What shall I now say unto the king, going to the +city named after the elephant? What will Bhishma and Drona, Kripa, and +Drona’s son, Vidura and Sanjaya, Vahuka and Somadatta and other revered +seniors,--what will the principal men of the other orders and men of +independent professions, say to me and what shall I say unto them in +reply? Having hitherto stayed over the heads of my enemies, having +hitherto trod upon their breasts, I have fallen away from my position. +How shall I ever speak with them? Insolent men having obtained prosperity +and knowledge and affluence, are seldom blest for any length of time like +myself puffed up with vanity. Alas, led by folly I have done a highly +improper and wicked act, for which, fool that I am, I have fallen into +such distress. Therefore, will I perish by starving, life having become +insupportable to me. Relieved from distress by the foe, what man of +spirit is there who can drag on his existence? Proud as I am, shorn of +manliness, the foe hath laughed at me, for the Pandavas possessed of +prowess have looked at me plunged in misery!” + +Vaisampayana continued, ‘While giving way to such reflections Duryodhana +spoke unto Dussasana thus: ‘O Dussasana, listen to these words of mine, O +thou of the Bharata race! Accepting this installation that I offer thee, +be thou king in my place. Rule thou the wide earth protected by Karna and +Suvala’s sons. Like Indra himself looking after the Maruts, cherish thou +thy brothers in such a way that they may all confide in thee. Let the +friends and relatives depend on thee like the gods depending on him of a +hundred sacrifices. Always shouldst thou bestow pensions on Brahmanas, +without idleness, and be thou ever the refuge of thy friends and +relatives. Like Vishnu looking after the celestials, thou shouldst always +look after all consanguineous relatives. Thou shouldst also ever cherish +thy superiors. Go, rule thou the earth gladdening thy friends and +reproving thy foes.’ And clasping his neck, Duryodhana said, ‘Go!’ +Hearing these words of his, Dussasana in perfect cheerlessness and +overwhelmed with great sorrow, his voice choked in tears, said, with +joined hands and bending his head unto his eldest brother, ‘Relent!’ And +saying this he fell down on earth with heavy heart. And afflicted with +grief that tiger among men, shedding his tears on the feet of his brother +again said, ‘This will never be! The earth may split, the vault of heaven +may break in pieces, the sun may cast off his splendour, the moon may +abandon his coolness, the wind may forsake its speed, the Himavat may be +moved from its site, the waters of the ocean may dry up, and fire may +abandon its heat, yet I, O king, may never rule the earth without thee.’ +And Dussasana repeatedly said, ‘Relent, O king! Thou alone shall be king +in our race for a hundred years.’ And having spoken thus unto the king, +Dussasana began to weep melodiously catching, O Bharata, the feet of his +eldest brother deserving of worship from him. + +“And beholding Dussasana and Duryodhana thus weeping, Karna in great +grief approached them both and said, ‘Ye, Kuru princes, why do you thus +yield to sorrow like ordinary men, from senselessness? Mere weeping can +never ease a sorrowing man’s grief. When weeping can never remove one’s +griefs, what do you gain by thus giving way to sorrow? Summon patience to +your aid to not gladden the foe by such conduct. O king, the Pandavas +only did their duty in liberating thee. They that reside in the dominions +of the king, should always do what is agreeable to the king. Protected by +thee, the Pandavas are residing happily in thy dominion. It behoveth thee +not to indulge in such sorrow like an ordinary person. Behold, thy +uterine brothers are all sad and cheerless at seeing thee resolved to put +an end to thy life by forgoing food. Blest be thou! Rise up and come to +thy city and console these thy uterine brothers.” + + + +SECTION CCXLVIII + +“Kama continued, ‘O king, this conduct of thine to-day appeareth to be +childish. O hero, O slayer of foes, what is to be wondered at in this +that the Pandavas liberated thee when thou wert vanquished by the foe? O +son of the Kuru race, those that reside in the territories of the king, +especially those (amongst them) that lead the profession of arms, should +always do what is agreeable to the king whether they happen to be known +to their monarch or unknown to him. It happened often that foremost men +who crush the ranks of the hostile host, are vanquished by them, and are +rescued by their own troops. They that leading the profession of arms, +reside in the king’s realm should always combine and exert themselves to +the best of their power, for the king. If, therefore, O king, the +Pandavas, who live in the territories, have liberated thee, what is there +to be regretted at in this? That the Pandavas, O best of kings, did not +follow thee when thou didst march forth to battle at the head of thy +troops, has been an improper act on their part. They had before this come +under thy power, becoming thy slaves. They are, therefore, bound to aid +thee now, being endued with courage and might and incapable of turning +away from the field of battle. Thou art enjoying all the rich possessions +of the Pandavas. Behold them yet alive, O king! They have not resolved to +die, forgoing all food. Blest be thou! Rise up, O king! It behoveth thee +not to indulge in great sorrow long. O king, it is the certain duty of +those that reside in the king’s realm to do what is agreeable to the +king. Where should the regret be in all this? If thou, O king, dost not +act according to my words I shall stay here employed in reverentially +serving thy feet. O bull among men, I do not desire to live deprived of +thy company. O king, if thou resolvest to slay thyself by forgoing food, +thou wilt simply be an object of laughter with other kings.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed by Karna, king Duryodhana, firmly +resolved to leave the world, desired not to rise from where he sat.” + + + +SECTION CCXLIX + +Vaisampayana said, “Beholding king Duryodhana, incapable of putting up +with an insult, seated with the resolution of giving up life by forgoing +food, Sakuni, the son of Suvala, said these words to comfort him. Sakuni +said, O son of the Kuru race, you have just heard what Kama hath said. +His words are, indeed fraught with wisdom. Why wouldst thou abandoning +from foolishness the high prosperity that I won for thee, cast off thy +life today, O king, yielding to silliness? It seemeth to me to-day that +thou hast never waited upon the old. He that cannot control sudden +accession of joy or grief, is lost even though he may have obtained +prosperity, like an unburnt earthen vessel in water. That king who is +entirely destitute of courage, who hath no spark of manliness, who is the +slave of procrastination, who always acts with indiscretion, who is +addicted to sensual pleasures, is seldom respected by his subjects. +Benefited as thou has been, whence is this unreasonable grief of thine? +Do not undo this graceful act done by the sons of Pritha, by indulging in +such grief. When thou shouldst joy and reward the Pandavas, thou art +grieving, O king? Indeed, this behaviour of thine is inconsistent. Be +cheerful, do not cast away thy life; but remember with a pleased heart +the good they have done thee. Give back unto the sons of Pritha their +kingdom, and win thou both virtue and renown by such conduct. By acting +in this way, thou mayst be grateful. Establish brotherly relations with +the Pandavas by being friends, and give them their paternal kingdom, for +then thou wilt be happy!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these words of Sakuni, and seeing the +brave Dussasana lying prostrate before him unmanned by fraternal love, +the king raised Dussasana and, clasping him in his well round arms, smelt +his head from affection. And hearing these words of Karna and Sauvala, +king Duryodhana lost heart more than ever, and he was overwhelmed with +shame and utter despair overtook his soul. And hearing all that his +friends said, he answered with sorrow, ‘I have nothing more to do with +virtue, wealth, friendship, affluence, sovereignty, and enjoyments. Do +not obstruct my purpose, but leave me all of you. I am firmly resolved to +cast away my life by forgoing food. Return to the city, and treat my +superiors there respectfully.’ + +“Thus addressed by him, they replied unto that royal grinder of foes, +saying, ‘O monarch, the course that is thine, is also ours, O Bharata. +How can we enter the city without thee?’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Though addressed in all manner of ways by his +friends and counsellors and brothers and relatives, the king wavered not +from his purpose. And the son of Dhritarashtra in accordance with his +purpose spread Kusa grass on the earth, and purifying himself by touching +water, sat down upon that spot. And clad in rags and Kusa grass he set +himself to observe the highest vow. And stopping all speech, that tiger +among kings, moved by the desire of going to heaven, began to pray and +worship internally suspending all external intercourse. + +“Meanwhile the fierce Daityas and the Danavas who had been defeated of +old by the celestials and had been dwelling in the nether regions having +ascertained Duryodhana’s purpose and knowing that if the king died their +party would be weakened, commenced a sacrifice with fire for summoning +Duryodhana to their presence. And mantra knowing persons then commenced +with the help of formulae declared by Brihaspati and Usanas, those rites +that are indicated in the Atharva Veda and the Upanishads and which are +capable of being achieved by mantras and prayers. And Brahmins of rigid +vows, well-versed in the Vedas and the branches, began, with rapt soul, +to pour libations of clarified butter and milk into the fire, uttering +mantras. And after those rites were ended, a strange goddess, O king, +with mouth wide open, arose (from the sacrificial fire), saying, ‘What am +I to do?’ And the Daityas with well-pleased hearts, commanded her, +saying, ‘Bring thou hither the royal son of Dhritarashtra, who is even +now observing the vow of starvation for getting rid of his life.’ Thus +commanded, she went away saying, ‘So be it.’ And she went in the +twinkling of an eye to that spot where Suyodhana was. And taking up the +king back to the nether regions, and having brought him thus in a moment, +she apprised the Danavas of it. And the Danavas beholding the king +brought into their midst in the night, united together, and all of them +with well-pleased hearts and eyes expanded in delight addressed these +flattering words to Duryodhana.” + + + +SECTION CCL + +“The Danavas said, ‘O Suyodhana, O great king? O perpetuator of the race +of Bharata, thou art ever surrounded by heroes and illustrious men. Why +hast thou, then, undertaken to do such a rash act as the vow of +starvation? The suicide ever sinketh into hell and becometh the subject +of calumnious speech. Nor do intelligent persons like thee ever set their +hands to acts that are sinful and opposed to their best interests and +striking at the very root of their purposes. Restrain this resolve of +thine, therefore, O king, which is destructive of morality, profit, and +happiness, of fame, prowess, and energy, and which enhanceth the joy of +foes O exalted king, know the truth, the celestial origin of thy soul, +and the maker of thy body, and then summon thou patience to thy aid. In +days of old. O king, we have obtained thee, by ascetic austerities from +Maheswara. The upper part of thy body is wholly made of an assemblage of +Vajras, and is, therefore, invulnerable to weapons of every description, +O sinless one. The lower part of thy body, capable of captivating the +female heart by its comeliness was made of flowers by the goddess +herself--the wife of Mahadeva. Thy body is thus, O best of kings, the +creation of Maheswara himself and his goddess. Therefore, O tiger among +kings, thou art of celestial origin, not human. Other brave Kshatriyas of +mighty energy headed by Bhagadatta, and all acquainted with celestial +weapons, will slay thy foes. Therefore, let this grief of thine cease. +Thou hast no cause for fear. For aiding thee, many heroic Danavas have +been born on the earth. Other Asuras will also possess Bhishma and Drona +and Kama and others. Possessed by those Asuras, these heroes will cast +away their kindness and fight with thy foes. Indeed, when the Danavas +will enter their heart and possess them completely, flinging all +affections to a distance, becoming hard-hearted, these warriors will +strike every body opposed to them in battle without sparing sons, +brothers, fathers, friends, disciples, relatives, even children and old +men. Blinded by ignorance and wrath, and impelled by that destiny which +hath been ordained by the Creator, these tigers among men, with hearts +steeped in sin, will, O thou foremost of the Kurus, depopulate the earth +by hurling and shooting all kinds of weapons, with great manliness and +strength and always addressing one another boastfully with words such as +these, ‘Thou shall not escape from me today with life.’ And these +illustrious sons of Pandu also, five in number, will fight with these. +And, endued with mighty strength and favoured by Fate, they will compass +the destruction of these. And, O king, many Daityas and Rakshasas also +that have been born in the Kshatriya order, will fight with great prowess +in the battle with thy foes, using maces and clubs and lances and various +weapons of a superior kind. And, O hero, with respect to the fear that is +in thy heart rising from Arjuna, we have already settled the means for +slaying Arjuna. The soul of the slain Naraka hath assumed the form of +Karna. Recollecting his former hostility he will encounter both Kesava +and Arjuna. And that mighty warrior and foremost of smiters, proud of his +prowess will vanquish Arjuna in battle as also all thy enemies. The +wielder of the thunder-bolt, knowing all this, and desirous of saving +Arjuna, will in disguise take away from Karna his ear-rings and coat of +mail. We also have for that reason appointed hundreds upon hundreds and +thousands upon thousands of Daityas and Rakshasas, viz., those that are +known by the name of Samsaptakas.[83] These celebrated warriors will slay +the heroic Arjuna. Therefore, grieve not, O king. Thou wilt rule the +whole earth, O monarch, without a rival. Do not yield to despondency. +Conduct such as this does not suit thee. O thou of the Kuru race, if thou +diest, our party becometh weak. Go thou, O hero, and let not thy mind be +directed to any other course of action. Thou art ever our refuge as, +indeed, the Pandavas are the refuge of the gods.’ + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having addressed him thus, those Daityas +embraced that elephant among kings, and those bulls among the Danavas +cheered that irrepressible one like a son. And, O Bharata, pacifying his +mind by soft speech, they permitted him to depart, saying, ‘Go and attain +victory!’ And when they had given leave to the mighty-armed one, that +very goddess carried him back to the spot where he had sat down, intent +upon putting an end to his life. And having set that hero down and paid +him homage, the goddess vanished, taking the king’s permission. O +Bharata, when she had gone, king Duryodhana considered all (that had +happened) as a dream. He then thought within himself, ‘I shall defeat the +Pandavas in battle.’ And Suyodhana thought that Karna and the Samsaptaka +army were both able (to destroy) and intent upon destroying that slayer +of foes, Partha. Thus, O bull of the Bharata race, the hope was +strengthened of the wicked minded son of Dhritarashtra, of conquering the +Pandavas. And Karna also, his soul and faculties possessed by the inmost +soul of Naraka, had at that time cruelly determined to slay Arjuna. And +those heroes--the Samsaptakas also--having their sense possessed by the +Rakshasas, and influenced by the qualities of emotion and darkness, were +desirous of slaying Phalguna. And, O king, others with Bhishma, Drona, +and Kripa at their head, having their faculties influenced by the +Danavas, were not so affectionate towards the sons of Pandu as they had +been. But king Suyodhana did not tell any one of this. + +“When the night passed away, Karna, that offspring of the Sun, with +joined hands, smilingly addressed these wise words to king Duryodhana, +‘No dead man conquereth his foes: it is when he is alive that he can see +his good. Where is the good of the dead person; and, O Kauraveya, where +is his victory? Therefore, this is no time for grief, or fear or death.’ +And having, with his arms embraced that mighty-armed one, he further +said, ‘Rise up, O king! Why dost thou lie down? Why dost thou grieve, O +slayer of foes? Having afflicted thy enemies by thy prowess, why dost +thou wish for death? Or (perhaps) fear hath possessed thee at the sight +of Arjuna’s prowess. I truly promise unto thee that I will slay Arjuna in +battle. O lord of men, I swear by my weapon that when the three and ten +years shall have passed away, I will bring the sons of Pritha under thy +subjection.’ Thus addressed by Karna, and remembering the words of the +Daityas and supplications made by them (his brothers), Suyodhana rose up. +And having heard those words of the Daityas that tiger among men, with a +firm resolve in his heart arrayed his army, abounding in horses and +elephants and cars and infantry. And, O monarch, immensely swarming with +white umbrellas, and pennons, and white Chamaras, and cars, and +elephants, and foot-soldiers, that mighty army, as it moved like the +waters of the Ganga, looked graceful like the firmament, at a season when +the clouds have dispersed and the signs of autumn have been but partially +developed. And, O foremost of kings, eulogised like a monarch by the best +of the Brahmanas blessing with victory, that lord of men Suyodhana, +Dhritarashtra’s son, receiving honours paid with innumerable joined +palms, and flaming in exceeding splendour, went in the front, accompanied +by Karna, and that gambler, the son of Suvala. And all his brothers with +Dussasana at their head, and Bhurisrava, and Somadatta, and the mighty +king Vahlika, followed that lion among kings on his way, with cars of +various forms, and horses, and the best of elephants. And, O prime among +monarchs, in a short time, those perpetuators of the Kuru race entered +their own city.” + + + +SECTION CCLI + +Janamejaya said, “When the high-souled sons of Pritha were living in the +forest, what did those foremost of men and mighty archers--the sons of +Dhritarashtra--do? And what did the offspring of the Sun, Karna, and the +mighty Sakuni, and Bhishma, and Drona, and Kripa do? It behoveth thee to +relate this unto me.” + +Vaisampayana said, “When, O mighty king, in this manner the Pandavas had +gone, leaving Suyodhana, and when, having been liberated by Pandu’s sons, +he had come to Hastinapura, Bhishma said these words to the son of +Dhritarashtra, ‘O child, I had told thee before, when thou wert intent +upon going to the hermitage that thy journey did not please me. But thou +didst do so. And as a consequence, O hero, wert thou forcibly taken +captive by the enemy, and wert delivered by the Pandavas versed in +morality. Yet art thou not ashamed. Even in the presence of thee, O son +of Gandhari, together with thy army, did the Suta’s son, struck with +panic, fly from the battle of the Gandharvas, O king. And, O foremost of +kings, O son of the monarch! while thou with thy army wert crying +distressfully, thou didst witness the prowess of the high-souled +Pandavas, and also, O mighty-armed one, of the wicked son of the Suta, +Karna. O best of kings, whether in the science of arms, or heroism, or +morality, Karna, O thou devoted to virtue, is not a fourth part of the +Pandavas. Therefore, for the welfare of this race, the conclusion of +peace is, I think, desirable with the high-souled Pandavas.” + +‘Having been thus addressed by Bhishma, Dhritarashtra’s son the king, +laughed a good deal, and then suddenly sailed out with the son of Suvala. +thereupon, knowing that he was gone, those mighty bowmen with Karna, and +Dussasana at their head, followed the highly powerful son of +Dhritarashtra. And seeing them gone, Bhishma, the grandfather of the +Kurus, hung down his head from shame, and then, O king, went to his own +quarters. And, O mighty monarch, when Bhishma had left, that lord of men, +Dhritarashtra’s son came there again, and began to consult with his +counsellors, ‘What is it that is good for me? What remaineth to be done? +And how we can most effectively bring about the good we shall discuss +to-day.’ Karna said, ‘O Kuru’s son, Duryodhana, do thou lay to heart tie +words that I say. Bhishma always blameth us, and praiseth the Pandavas. +And from the ill-will he beareth towards thee, he hateth me also. And, O +lord of men, in thy presence he ever crieth me down. I shall never, O +Bharata, bear these words that Bhishma had said in thy presence in +relation to this matter, extolling the Pandavas, and censuring thee, O +represser of foes! Do thou, O king, enjoin on me, together with servants, +forces, and cars. I shall, O monarch, conquer the earth furnished with +mountains and woods and forests. The earth had been conquered by the four +powerful Pandavas. I shall, without doubt, conquer it for thee +single-handed. Let that wretch of the Kuru race, the exceedingly +wicked-minded Bhishma, see it,--he who vilifies those that do not deserve +censure, and praises those that should not be praised. Let him this day +witness my might, and blame himself. Do thou, O king, command me. Victory +shall surely be thine. By my weapon, O monarch, I swear this before thee.’ + +“O king, O bull of the Bharata race, hearing those words of Karna, that +lord of men, experiencing the highest delight, spoke unto Karna, saying, +‘I am blessed. I have been favoured by thee,--since thou, endued with +great strength, art ever intent on my welfare. My life hath borne fruit, +to-day. As thou, O hero, intendest to subdue all our enemies, repair +thou. May good betide thee! Do thou command me (what I am to do),’ O +subduer of foes, having been thus addressed by Dhritarashtra’s +intelligent son, Karna ordered all the necessaries for the excursion. And +on an auspicious lunar day, at an auspicious moment, and under the +influence of a star presided over by an auspicious deity, that mighty +bowman, having been honoured by twice-born ones, and been bathed with +auspicious and holy substances and also worshipped by speech set out, +filling with the rattle of his car the three worlds, with their mobile +and immobile objects.” + + + +SECTION CCLII + +Vaisampayana continued, “Then, O bull among the Bharatas, that mighty +bowman, Karna, surrounded by a large army, besieged the beautiful city of +Drupada. And he, after a hard conflict, brought the hero under +subjection, and, O best of monarchs, made Drupada contribute silver and +gold and gems, and also pay tribute. And, O foremost of kings, having +subdued him, (Karna) brought under subjection those princes that were +under him (Drupada) and made them pay tribute. Then going to the north, +he subdued the sovereigns (of that quarter) and having effected the +defeat of Bhagadatta, Radha’s son ascended that mighty mountain Himavat, +all along fighting his foes. And ranging all sides, he conquered and +brought under subjection all the kings inhabiting the Himavat, and made +them pay dues. Then descending from the mountain and rushing to the east, +he reduced the Angas, and the Bangas, and the Kalingas, and the Mandikas, +and the Magadhas. the Karkakhandas; and also included with them the +Avasiras, Yodhyas, and the Ahikshatras. Having (thus) conquered the +eastern quarter Karna then presented himself before Batsa-bhumi. And +having taken Batsa-bhumi, he reduced Kevali, and Mrittikavati, and Mohana +and Patrana, and Tripura, and Kosala,--and compelled all these to pay +tribute. Then going to the south, Karna vanquished the mighty charioteers +(of that quarter) and in Dakshinatya, the Suta’s son entered into +conflict with Rukmi. After having fought dreadfully, Rukmi spake to the +Suta’s son saying, ‘O foremost of monarchs, I have been pleased with thy +might and prowess. I shall not do thee wrong: I have only fulfilled the +vow of a Kshatriya. Gladly will I give thee as many gold coins as thou +desirest.’ Having met with Rukmi, Karna, repaired to Pandya and the +mountain, Sri. And by fighting, he made Karala, king Nila, Venudari’s +son, and other best of kings living in the southern direction pay +tribute. Then going to Sisupala’s son, the son of the Suta defeated him +and that highly powerful one also brought under his sway all the +neighbouring rulers. And, O bull of the Bharata race, having subjugated +the Avantis and concluded peace with them, and having met with the +Vrishnis, he conquered the west. And, having come to the quarter of +Varuna, he made all the Yavana and Varvara kings pay tribute. And, having +conquered the entire earth--east, west, north and south--that hero +without any aid brought under subjection all the nations of the +Mlechchhas, the mountaineers, the Bhadras, the Rohitakas, the Agneyas and +the Malavas. And, having conquered the mighty charioteers, headed by the +Nagnajitas, the Suta’s son brought the Sasakas and the Yavanas under his +sway. Having thus conquered and brought under his subjection the world, +the mighty charioteer and tiger among men came (back) to Hastinapura. +That lord of men, Dhritarashtra’s son, accompanied by his father and +brothers and friends, came to that mighty bowman, who had arrived, and +duly paid homage unto Karna crowned with martial merit. And the king +proclaimed his feats, saying, ‘What I have not received from either +Bhishma, or Drona, or Kripa, or Vahlika, I have received from thee. May +good betide thee! What need of speaking at length! Hear my words, O +Karna! In thee, O chief of men, I have my refuge. O mighty-armed one. O +tiger among men, without doubt all the Pandavas and the other kings +crowned with prosperity, come not to a sixteenth part of thee. Do thou, O +mighty bowman, O Karna, see Dhritarashtra, and the illustrious Gandhari, +as the bearer of the thunderbolt did Aditi.’ + +“Then, O king, there arose in the city of Hastinapura a clamour, and +sounds of Oh! and Alas! and, O lord of men, some of the kings praised him +(Karna), while others censured him, while others, again, remained silent. +Having thus, O foremost of monarchs, in a short time conquered this earth +furnished with mountains and forests and skies, and with oceans, and +fields, and filled with high and low tracts, and cities, and replete also +with islands. O lord of earth, and brought the monarchs under +subjection,--and having gained imperishable wealth, the Suta’s son +appeared before the king. Then, O represser of foes, entering into the +interior of the palace that hero saw Dhritarashtra with Gandhari, O tiger +among men, that one conversant with morality took hold of his feet even +like a son. And Dhritarashtra embraced him affectionately, and then +dismissed him. Ever since that time, O monarch, O Bharata, king +Duryodhana and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, thought that Pritha’s sons had +already been defeated in battle by Karna.” + + + +SECTION CCLIII + +Vaisampayana continued, “O king, O lord of men, that slayer of hostile +heroes, the Suta’s son, said these words to Duryodhana, ‘O Kaurava +Duryodhana, do thou lay unto thy heart the words that I shall tell thee; +and, O represser of foes, after having heard my words, it behoveth thee +to act accordingly every way. Now, O best of monarchs, O hero, hath the +earth been rid of foes. Do thou rule her even like the mighty-minded +Sakra himself, having his foes destroyed.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having been thus addressed by Karna, the king +again spake unto him, saying, ‘O bull among men, nothing whatever is +unattainable to him who hath thee for refuge, and to whom thou art +attached and on whose welfare thou art entirely intent. Now, I have a +purpose, which do thou truly listen to. Having beheld that foremost of +sacrifices, the mighty Rajasuya, performed by the Pandavas, a desire hath +sprung up in me (to celebrate the same). Do thou, O Suta’s son, fulfil +this desire of mine.’ Thus addressed, Karna spake thus unto the king, +‘Now that all the rulers of the earth have been brought under thy +subjection, do thou summon the principal Brahmanas, and, O best of Kurus, +duly procure the articles required for the sacrifice. And, O represser of +foes, let Ritwijas as prescribed, and versed in the Vedas, celebrate thy +rites according to the ordinance, O king. And, O bull of the Bharata +race, let thy great sacrifice also, abounding in meats and drinks, and +grand with parts, commence.’ + +“O king, having been thus addressed by Karna, Dhritarashtra’s son +summoned the priest, and spake unto him these words, ‘Do thou duly and in +proper order celebrate for me that best of sacrifices, the Rajasuya +furnished with excellent Dakshinas.’ Thus accosted, that best of +Brahmanas spake unto the king, saying, ‘O foremost of the Kauravas, while +Yudhishthira is living, that best of sacrifices cannot be performed in +thy family, O Prince of kings! Further, O monarch, thy father +Dhritarashtra, endued with long life, liveth. For this reason also, O +best of kings, this sacrifice cannot be undertaken by thee. There is, O +lord, another great sacrifice, resembling the Rajasuya. Do thou, O +foremost of kings, celebrate that sacrifice. Listen to these words of +mine. All these rulers of the earth, who have, O king, become tributary +to thee, will pay thee tribute in gold, both pure and impure. Of that +gold, do thou, O best of monarchs, now make the (sacrificial) plough, and +do thou, O Bharata, plough the sacrificial compound with it. At that +spot, let there commence, O foremost of kings, with due rites, and +without any disturbance the sacrifice, sanctified with mantras abounding +in edibles. The name of that sacrifice worthy of virtuous persons, is +Vaishnava. No person save the ancient Vishnu hath performed it before. +This mighty sacrifice vies with that best of sacrifices--the Rajasuya +itself. And, further, it liketh us--and it is also for thy welfare (to +celebrate it). And, moreover, it is capable of being celebrated without +any disturbance. (By undertaking this), thy desire will be fufilled.’ + +“Having been thus addressed by those Brahmanas, Dhritarashtra’s son, the +king, spake these words to Karna, his brothers and the son of Suvala, +‘Beyond doubt, the words of the Brahmanas are entirely liked by me. If +they are relished by you also, express it without delay.’ Thus appealed, +they all said unto the king, ‘So be it.’ Then the king one by one +appointed persons to their respective tasks; and desired all the artisans +to construct the (sacrificial) plough. And, O best of kings, all that had +been commanded to be done, was gradually executed.” + + + +SECTION CCLIV + +Vaisampayana continued, “Then all the artisans, the principal +counsellors, and the highly wise Vidura said unto Dhritarashtra’s son, +“All the preparations for the excellent sacrifice have been made, O king; +and the time also hath come, O Bharata. And the exceedingly precious +golden plough hath been constructed.’ Hearing this, O monarch, that best +of kings, Dhritarashtra’s son commanded that prime among sacrifices to be +commenced. Then commenced that sacrifice sanctified by mantras, and +abounding in edibles, and the son of Gandhari was duly initiated +according to the ordinance. And Dhritarashtra, and the illustrious +Vidura, and Bhishma, and Drona, and Kripa, and Karna, and the celebrated +Gandhari experienced great delight. And, O foremost of kings, Duryodhana +despatched swift messengers to invite the princes and the Brahmanas. And +mounting fleet vehicles they went to the (respective) directions assigned +to them. Then to a certain messenger on the point of setting out, +Dussasana said, ‘Go thou speedily to the woods of Dwaita; and in that +forest duly invite the Brahmanas and those wicked persons, the Pandavas.’ +Thereupon, he repaired thither, and bowing down to all the Pandavas, +said, ‘Having acquired immense wealth by his native prowess, that best of +kings and foremost of Kurus, Duryodhana, O monarch, is celebrating a +sacrifice. Thither are going from various directions the kings and the +Brahmanas. O king, I have been sent by the high-souled Kaurava. That king +and lord of men, Dhritarashtra’s son, invites you. It behoveth you, +therefore, to witness the delightful sacrifice of that monarch.’ + +“Hearing these words of the messenger, that tiger among kings, the royal +Yudhishthira, said, ‘By good luck it is that that enhancer of the glory +of his ancestors, king Suyodhana is celebrating this best of sacrifices. +We should certainly repair thither; but we cannot do now; for till (the +completion of) the thirteenth year, we shall have to observe our vow.’ +Hearing this speech of Yudhishthira the just, Bhima said these words, +‘Then will king Yudhishthira the just go thither, when he will cast him +(Duryodhana) into the fire kindled by weapons. Do thou say unto +Suyodhana. ‘When after the expiration of the thirteenth year, that lord +of men, the Pandava, will, in the sacrifice of battle, pour upon the +Dhritarashtras, the clarified butter of his ire, then will I come!’ But +the other Pandavas, O king, did not say anything unpleasant. The +messenger (on his return) related unto Dhritarashtra’s son all as it had +fallen out. Then there came to the city of Dhritarashtra many foremost of +men, lords of various countries, and highly virtuous Brahmanas. And duly +received in order according to the ordinance, those lords of men +experienced great delight and were all well-pleased. And that foremost +among monarchs--Dhritarashtra--surrounded by all the Kauravas, +experienced the height of joy, and spake unto Vidura, saying, ‘Do thou, O +Kshatta, speedily so act that all persons in the sacrificial compound may +be served with food, be refreshed and satisfied.’ Thereupon, O represser +of foes, assenting to that order, the learned Vidura versed in morality, +cheerfully entertained all the orders in proper measure with meat and +beverages to eat and drink, and fragrant garland and various kinds of +attire. And having constructed pavilions (for their accommodation), that +hero and foremost of kings, duly entertained the princes and the +Brahmanas by thousands, and also bestowing upon them wealth of various +kinds, bade them farewell. And having dismissed all the kings, he entered +Hastinapura, surrounded by his brothers, and in company with Karna and +Suvala’s son.” + + + +SECTION CCLV + +Vaisampayana said, “While, O great king, Duryodhana was entering (the +city), the panegyrists eulogized the prince of unfailing prowess. And +others also eulogized that mighty bowman and foremost of kings. And +sprinkling over him fried paddy and sandal paste the citizens said, ‘By +good luck it is, O king, that thy sacrifice hath been completed without +obstruction.’ And some, more reckless of speech, that were present there, +said unto that lord of the earth, ‘Surely this thy sacrifice cannot be +compared with Yudhishthira’s: nor doth this come up to a sixteenth part +of that (sacrifice).’ Thus spake unto that king some that were reckless +of consequences. His friends, however, said, This sacrifice of thine hath +surpassed all others. Yayati and Nahusha, and Mandhata and Bharata, +having been sanctified by celebrating such a sacrifice, have all gone to +heaven.’ Hearing such agreeable words from his friends, that monarch, O +bull of the Bharata’s race, well-pleased, entered the city and finally +his own abode. Then, O king, worshipping the feet of his father and +mother and of others headed by Bhishma, Drona and Kripa, and of the wise +Vidura, and worshipped in turn by his younger brothers, that delighter of +brothers sat down upon an excellent seat, surrounded by the latter. And +the Suta’s son, rising up, said, ‘By good luck it is, O foremost of the +Bharata race, that this mighty sacrifice of thine hath been brought to a +close. When, however, the sons of Pritha shall have been slain in battle +and thou wilt have completed the Rajasuya sacrifice, once again, O lord +of men, shall I honour thee thus.’ Then that mighty king, the illustrious +son of Dhritarashtra, replied unto him, ‘Truly hath this been spoken by +thee. When, O foremost of men, the wicked-minded Pandavas have been +slain, and when also the grand Rajasuya hath been celebrated by me, then +thou shalt again, O hero, honour me thus.’ And having said this, O +Bharata, the Kaurava embraced Karna, and began, O mighty king, to think +of the Rajasuya, that foremost of sacrifices. And that best of kings also +addressed the Kurus around him, saying, ‘When shall I, ye Kauravas, +having slain all the Pandavas, celebrate that costly and foremost of +sacrifices, the Rajasuya.’ Then spake Karna unto him, saying, ‘Hear me, O +elephant among kings! So long as I do not slay Arjuna, I shall not allow +any one to wash my feet, nor shall I taste meat. And I shall observe the +Asura vow[84] and whoever may solicit me (for any thing), I never shall +say, ‘I have it not.’ When Karna had thus vowed to slay Phalguna in +battle, those mighty charioteers and bowmen, the sons of Dhritarashtra, +sent up a loud cheer; and Dhritarashtra’s sons thought that the Pandavas +had already been conquered. Then that chief of kings, the graceful +Duryodhana, leaving those bulls among men, entered his apartment, like +the lord Kuvera entering the garden of Chitraratha. And all those mighty +bowmen also, O Bharata, went to their respective quarters. + +“Meanwhile those mighty bowmen, the Pandavas, excited by the words the +messenger had spoken, became anxious, and they did not (from that time) +experience the least happiness. Intelligence, further, O foremost of +kings, had been brought by spies regarding the vow of the Suta’s son to +slay Vijaya. Hearing this, O lord of men, Dharma’s son became exceedingly +anxious. And considering Karna of the impenetrable mail to be of +wonderful prowess, and remembering all their woes, he knew no peace. And +that high-souled one filled with anxiety, made up his mind to abandon the +woods about Dwaitavana abounding with ferocious animals. + +“Meanwhile the royal son of Dhritarashtra began to rule the earth, along +with his heroic brothers as also with Bhishma and Drona and Kripa. And +with the assistance of the Suta’s son crowned with martial glory, +Duryodhana remained ever intent on the welfare of the rulers of the +earth, and he worshipped the foremost of Brahmanas by celebrating +sacrifices with profuse gifts. And that hero and subduer of foes, O king, +was engaged in doing good to his brothers, concluding for certain in his +mind that giving and enjoying are the only use of riches.” + + + +SECTION CCLVI + +Janamejaya said, ‘After having delivered Duryodhana, what did the mighty +sons of Pandu do in that forest? It behoveth thee to tell me this.’ + +Vaisampayana said, “Once on a time, as Yudhishthira lay down at night in +the Dwaita woods, some deer, with accents choked in tears, presented +themselves before him in his dreams. To them standing with joined hands, +their bodies trembling all over that foremost of monarchs said, ‘Tell me +what ye wish to say. Who are ye? And what do ye desire?’ Thus accosted by +Kunti’s son--the illustrious Pandava, those deer, the remnant of those +that had been slaughtered, replied unto him, saying, ‘We are, O Bharata, +those deer that are still alive after them that had been slaughtered. We +shall be exterminated totally. Therefore, do thou change thy residence. O +mighty king, all thy brothers are heroes, conversant with weapons; they +have thinned the ranks of the rangers of the forest. We few--the +remnants,--O mighty-minded one, remain like seed. By thy favour, O king +of kings, let us increase.’ Seeing these deer, which remained like seed +after the rest had been destroyed trembling and afflicted with fear, +Yudhishthira the just was greatly affected with grief. And the king, +intent on the welfare of all creatures, said unto them, ‘So be it. I +shall act as ye have said.’ Awaking after such a vision, that excellent +king, moved by pity towards the deer, thus spake unto his brothers +assembled there, ‘Those deer that are alive after them that have been +slaughtered, accosted me at night, after I had awakened, saying, ‘We +remain like the cues of our lines. Blest be thou! Do thou have compassion +on us.’ And they have spoken truly. We ought to feel pity for the +dwellers of the forest. We have been feeding on them for a year together +and eight months. Let us, therefore, again (repair) to the romantic +Kamyakas, that best of forests abounding in wild animals, situated at the +head of the desert, near lake Trinavindu. And there let us pleasantly +pass the rest of our time.’ Then, O king, the Pandavas versed in +morality, swiftly departed (thence), accompanied by the Brahmanas and all +those that lived with them, and followed by Indrasena and other +retainers. And proceeding along the roads walked (by travellers), +furnished with excellent corn and clear water, they at length beheld the +sacred asylum of Kamyaka endued with ascetic merit. And as pious men +enter the celestial regions, those foremost of the Bharata race, the +Kauravas, surrounded by those bulls among Brahmanas entered that forest.” + + + +SECTION CCLVII + +Vaisampayana continued, “Dwelling in the woods, O bull of the Bharata +race, the high-souled Pandavas spent one and ten years in a miserable +plight. And although deserving of happiness, those foremost of men, +brooding over their circumstances, passed their days miserably, living on +fruits and roots. And that royal sage, the mighty-armed Yudhishthira, +reflecting that the extremity of misery that had befallen his brothers, +was owing to his own fault, and remembering those sufferings that had +arisen from his act of gambling, could not sleep peacefully. And he felt +as if his heart had been pierced with a lance. And remembering the harsh +words of the Suta’s son, the Pandava, repressing the venom of his wrath, +passed his time in humble guise, sighing heavily. And Arjuna and both the +twins and the illustrious Draupadi, and the mighty Bhima--he that was +strongest of all men--experienced the most poignant pain in casting their +eyes on Yudhishthira. And thinking that a short time only remained (of +their exile), those bulls among men, influenced by rage and hope and by +resorting to various exertions and endeavours, made their bodies assume +almost different shapes. + +“After a little while, that mighty ascetic, Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, +came there to see the Pandavas. And seeing him approach, Kunti’s son, +Yudhishthira, stepped forward, and duly received that high-souled one. +And having gratified Vyasa by bowing down unto him, Pandu’s son of +subdued senses, after the Rishi had been seated, sat down before him, +desirous of listening to him. And beholding his grandsons lean and living +in the forest on the produce of the wilderness, that mighty sage, moved +by compassion, said these words, in accents choked in tears, ‘O +mighty-armed Yudhishthira, O thou best of virtuous persons, those men +that do not perform ascetic austerities never attain great happiness in +this world. People experience happiness and misery by turns; for surely, +O bull among men, no man ever enjoyeth unbroken happiness. A wise man +endued with high wisdom, knowing that life hath its ups and downs, is +neither filled with joy nor with grief. When happiness cometh, one should +enjoy it; when misery cometh, one should bear it, as a sower of crops +must bide his season. Nothing is superior to asceticism: by asceticism +one acquireth mighty fruit. Do thou know, O Bharata, that there is +nothing that asceticism cannot achieve. Truth, sincerity, freedom from +anger, justice, self-control, restraint of the faculties, immunity from +malice, guilelessness, sanctity, and mortification of the senses, these, +O mighty monarch, purify a person of meritorious acts. Foolish persons +addicted to vice and bestial ways, attain to brutish births in after life +and never enjoy happiness. The fruit of acts done in this world is reaped +in the next. Therefore should one restrain his body by asceticism and the +observance of vows. And, O king, free from guile and with a cheerful +spirit, one should, according to his power, bestow gifts, after going +down to the recipient and paying him homage. A truth-telling person +attaineth a life devoid of trouble. A person void of anger attaineth +sincerity, and one free from malice acquireth supreme contentment. A +person who hath subdued his senses and his inner faculties, never knoweth +tribulation; nor is a person of subdued senses affected by sorrow at the +height of other’s prosperity. A man who giveth everyone his due, and the +bestower of boons, attain happiness, and come by every object of +enjoyment; while a man free from envy reapeth perfect ease. He that +honoureth those to whom honour is due, attaineth birth in an illustrious +line; and he that hath subdued his senses, never cometh by misfortune. A +man whose mind followeth good, after having paid his debt to nature, is +on this account, born again endued with a righteous mind.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O eminently virtuous one, O mighty sage, of the +bestowal of gifts and the observance of asceticism, which is of greater +efficacy in the next world, and which, harder of practice?’ + +“Vyasa said, ‘There is nothing, O child, in this world harder to practise +than charity. Men greatly thirst after wealth, and wealth also is gotten +with difficulty. Nay, renouncing even dear life itself, heroic men, O +magnanimous one, enter into the depths of the sea and the forest for the +sake of wealth. For wealth, some betake themselves to agriculture and the +tending of kine, and some enter into servitude. Therefore, it is +extremely difficult to part with wealth that is obtained with such +trouble. Since nothing is harder to practise than charity, therefore, in +my opinion, even the bestowal of boons is superior to everything. +Specially is this to be borne in mind that well-earned gains should, in +proper time and place, be given away to pious men. But the bestowal of +ill-gotten gains can never rescue the giver from the evil of rebirth. It +hath been declared, O Yudhishthira, that by bestowing, in a pure spirit, +even a slight gift in due time and to a fit recipient, a man attaineth +inexhaustible fruit in the next world. In this connection is instanced +the old story regarding the fruit obtained by Mudgala, for having given +away only a drona[85] of corn.’” + + + +SECTION CCLVIII + +Yudhishthira said, “Why did that high-souled one give away a drona of +corn? And, O eminently pious one, to whom and in what prescribed way did +he give it? Do thou tell me this. Surely, I consider the life of that +virtuous person as having borne fruit with whose practices the possessor +himself of the six attributes, witnessing everything, was well pleased.” + +“Vyasa said, ‘There lived, O king, in Kurukshetra a virtuous man (sage), +Mudgala by name. And he was truthful, and free from malice, and of +subdued senses. And he used to lead the Sila and Unchha modes of +life.[86] And although living like a pigeon, yet that one of mighty +austerities entertained his guests, celebrated the sacrifice called +Istikrita, and performed other rites. And that sage together with his son +and wife, ate for a fortnight, and during the other fortnight led the +life of a pigeon, collecting a drona of corn. And celebrating the Darsa +and Paurnamasya sacrifices, that one devoid of guile, used to pass his +days by taking the food that remained after the deities and the guests +had eaten. And on auspicious lunar days, that lord of the three worlds, +Indra himself, accompanied by the celestials used, O mighty monarch, to +partake of the food offered at his sacrifice. And that one, having +adopted the life of a Muni, with a cheerful heart entertained his guests +also with food on such days. And as that high-souled one distributed his +food with alacrity, the remainder of the drona of corn increased as soon +as a guest appeared. And by virtue of the pure spirit in which the sage +gave a way, that food of his increased so much that hundreds upon +hundreds of learned Brahmanas were fed with it. + +“And, O king, it came to pass that having heard of the virtuous Mudgala +observant of vows, the Muni Durvasa, having space alone for his +covering,[87] his accoutrements worn like that of maniac, and his head +bare of hair, came there, uttering, O Pandava various insulting words. +And having arrived there that best of Munis said unto the Brahmana. ‘Know +thou, O foremost of Brahmanas, that I have come hither seeking for food. +Thereupon Mudgala said unto the sage, ‘Thou art welcome!’ And then +offering to that maniac of an ascetic affected by hunger, water to wash +his feet and mouth, that one observant of the vow of feeding guests, +respectfully placed before him excellent fare. Affected by hunger, the +frantic Rishi completely exhausted the food that had been offered unto +him. Thereupon, Mudgala furnished him again with food. Then having eaten +up all that food, he besmeared his body with the unclean orts and went +away as he had come. In this manner, during the next season, he came +again and ate up all the food supplied by that wise one leading the +Unchha mode of life. Thereupon, without partaking any food himself, the +sage Mudgala again became engaged in collecting corn, following the +Unchha mode. Hunger could not disturb his equanimity. Nor could anger, +nor guile, nor a sense of degradation, nor agitation, enter into the +heart of that best of Brahmanas leading the Unchha mode of life along +with his son and his wife. In this way, Durvasa having made up his mind, +during successive seasons presented himself for six several times before +that best of sages living according to the Unchha mode; yet that Muni +could not perceive any agitation in Mudgala’s heart; and he found the +pure heart of the pure-souled ascetic always pure. Thereupon, +well-pleased, the sage addressed Mudgala, saying, There is not another +guileless and charitable being like thee on earth. The pangs of hunger +drive away to a distance the sense of righteousness and deprive people of +all patience. The tongue, loving delicacies, attracteth men towards them. +Life is sustained by food. The mind, moreover, is fickle, and it is hard +to keep it in subjection. The concentration of the mind and of the senses +surely constitutes ascetic austerities. It must be hard to renounce in a +pure spirit a thing earned by pains. Yet, O pious one, all this hath been +duly achieved by thee. In thy company we feel obliged and gratified. +Self-restraint, fortitude, justice, control of the senses and of +faculties, mercy, and virtue, all these are established in thee. Thou +hast by the deeds conquered the different worlds and have thereby +obtained admission into paths of beautitude. Ah! even the dwellers of +heaven are proclaiming thy mighty deeds of charity. O thou observant of +vows, thou shalt go to heaven even in thine own body. + +“Whilst the Muni Durvasa was speaking thus, a celestial messenger +appeared before Mudgala, upon a car yoked with swans and cranes, hung +with a neat work of bells, scented with divine fragrance, painted +picturesquely, and possessed of the power of going everywhere at will. +And he addressed the Brahmana sage, saying, ‘O sage, do thou ascend into +this chariot earned by thy acts. Thou hast attained the fruit of thy +asceticism!’ + +“As the messenger of the gods was speaking thus, the sage told him, ‘O +divine messenger, I desire that thou mayst describe unto me the +attributes of those that reside there. What are their austerities, and +what their purposes? And, O messenger of the gods, what constitutes +happiness in heaven, and what are the disadvantages thereof? It is +declared by virtuous men of good lineage that friendship with pious +people is contracted by only walking with them seven paces. O lord, in +the name of that friendship I ask thee, ‘Do thou without hesitation tell +me the truth, and that which is good for me now. Having heard thee, I +shall, according to thy words, ascertain the course I ought to follow.’” + + + +SECTION CCLIX + +“The messenger of the gods said, ‘O great sage, thou art of simple +understanding; since, having secured that celestial bliss which bringeth +great honour, thou art still deliberating like an unwise person. O Muni, +that region which is known as heaven, existeth there above us. Those +regions tower high, and are furnished with excellent paths, and are, O +sage, always ranged by celestial cars. Atheists, and untruthful persons, +those that have not practised ascetic austerities and those that have not +performed great sacrifices, cannot repair thither. Only men of virtuous +souls, and those of subdued spirits, and those that have their faculties +in subjection, and those that have controlled their senses, and those +that are free from malice, and persons intent on the practice of charity; +and heroes, and men bearing marks of battle, after having, with subdued +senses and faculties, performed the most meritorious rites, attain those +regions, O Brahmana, capable of being obtained only by virtuous acts, and +inhabited by pious men. There, O Mudgala, are established separately +myriads of beautiful, shining, and resplendent worlds bestowing every +object of desire, owned by those celestial beings, the gods, the Sadhyas, +and the Vaiswas, the great sages, Yamas, and the Dharmas, and the +Gandharvas and the Apsaras. And there is that monarch of mountains the +golden Meru extending over a space of thirty-three thousand Yojanas. And +there, O Mudgala, are the sacred gardens of the celestials, with Nandana +at their head, where sport the persons of meritorious acts. And neither +hunger, nor thirst, nor lassitude, nor fear, nor anything that is +disgusting or inauspicious is there. And all the odours of that place are +delightful, and all the breezes delicious to the touch. And all the +sounds there are captivating, O sage, to the ear and the heart. And +neither grief, nor decrepitude, nor labour, nor repentance also is there. +That world, O Muni, obtained as the fruit of one’s own acts, is of this +nature. Persons repair thither by virtue of their meritorious deeds. And +the persons of those that dwell there look resplendent, and this, O +Mudgala, solely by virtue of their own acts, and not owing to the merits +of father or mothers. And there is neither sweat, nor stench, nor urine +there. And, there, O Muni, dust doth not soils one’s garments. And their +excellent garlands, redolent of divine fragrance, never fade. And, O +Brahmana, they yoke such cars as this (that I have brought). And, O +mighty sage, devoid of envy and grief and fatigue and ignorance and +malice, men who have attained heaven, dwell in those regions happily. +And, O bull among Munis, higher and higher over such regions there are +others endued with higher celestial virtues. Of these, the beautiful and +resplendent regions of Brahma are the foremost. Thither, O Brahmana, +repair Rishis that have been sanctified by meritorious acts. And there +dwell certain beings named Ribhus. They are the gods of the gods +themselves. Their regions are supremely blessed, and are adored even by +the deities. These shine by their own light, and bestow every object of +desire. They suffer no pangs that women might cause, do not possess +worldly wealth, and are free from guile. The Ribhus do not subsist on +oblations, nor yet on ambrosia. And they are endued with such celestial +forms that they cannot be perceived by the senses. And these eternal gods +of the celestials do not desire happiness for happiness’ sake, nor do +they change at the revolution of a Kalpa. Where, indeed, is their +decrepitude or dissolution? For them there is neither ecstasy, nor joy, +nor happiness. They have neither happiness nor misery. Wherefore should +they have anger or aversion then, O Muni? O Mudgala, their supreme state +is coveted even by the gods. And that crowning emancipation, hard to +attain, can never be acquired by people subject to desire. The number of +those deities is thirty-three. To their regions repair wise men, after +having observed excellent vows, or bestowed gifts according to the +ordinance. Thou also hast easily acquired that success by thy charities. +Do thou, by effulgence displayed by virtue of thy ascetic austerities, +enjoy that condition obtained by thy meritorious acts. Such, O Brahmana, +is the bliss of heaven containing various worlds. + +“Thus have I described unto thee the blessing of the celestial regions. +Do thou now hear from me some of the disadvantages thereof. That in the +celestial regions a person, while reaping the fruit of the acts he hath +already performed, cannot be engaged in any others, and that he must +enjoy the consequences of the former until they are completely exhausted, +and, further, that he is subject to fall after he hath entirely exhausted +his merit, form, in my opinion, the disadvantages of heaven. The fall of +a person whose mind hath been steeped in happiness, must, O Mudgala, be +pronounced as a fault. And the discontent and regret that must follow +one’s stay at an inferior seat after one hath enjoyed more auspicious and +brighter regions, must be hard to bear. And the consciousness of those +about to fall is stupefied, and also agitated by emotions. And as the +garlands of those about to fall fade away, fear invadeth their hearts. +These mighty drawbacks, O Mudgala, extend even to the regions of Brahma. +In the celestial regions, the virtues of men who have performed righteous +acts, are countless. And, O Muni, this is another of the attributes of +the fallen that, by reason of their merits, they take birth among men. +And then they attain to high fortune and happiness. If one, however, +cannot acquire knowledge here, one cometh by an inferior birth. The +fruits of acts done in this world are reaped in the next. This world, O +Brahmana, hath been declared to be one of acts; the others, as one of +fruit. Thus have I, O Mudgala, asked by thee, described all unto thee. +Now, O pious one, with thy favour, we shall easily set out with speed.’ + +“Vyasa continued, ‘Having heard this speech, Mudgala began to reflect in +his mind. And having deliberated well, that best of Munis spake thus unto +the celestial messenger, ‘O messenger of the gods, I bow unto thee. Do +thou, O sire, depart in peace. I have nothing to do with either +happiness, or heaven having such prominent defects. Persons who enjoy +heaven suffer, after all, huge misery and extreme regret in this world. +Therefore, I do not desire heaven. I shall seek for that unfailing region +repairing whither people have not to lament, or to be pained, or +agitated. Thou hast described unto me these great defects belonging to +the celestial regions. Do thou now describe unto me a region free from +faults.’ Thereupon the celestial messenger said, ‘Above the abode of +Brahma, there is the supreme seat of Vishnu, pure, and eternal, and +luminous known by the name of Para Brahma. Thither, O Brahmana, cannot +repair persons who are attached to the objects of the senses: nor can +those subject to arrogance, covetousness, ignorance, anger, and envy, go +to that place. It is only those that are free from affection, and those +free from pride, and those free from conflicting emotions, and those that +have restrained their senses, and those given to contemplation and Yoga, +that can repair thither.’ Having heard these words, the Muni bade +farewell to the celestial messenger, and that virtuous one leading the +Unchha mode of life, assumed perfect contentment. And then praise and +dispraise became equal unto him; and a brickbat, stone, and gold assumed +the same aspect in his eyes. And availing himself of the means of +attaining Brahma, he became always engaged in meditation. And having +obtained power by means of knowledge, and acquired excellent +understanding, he attained that supreme state of emancipation which is +regarded as Eternal. Therefore, thou also, O Kunti’s son, ought not to +grieve. Deprived thou hast truly been of a flourishing kingdom, but thou +wilt regain it by thy ascetic austerities. Misery after happiness, and +happiness after misery, revolve by turns round a man even like the point +of a wheel’s circumference round the axle. After the thirteenth year hath +passed away, thou wilt, O thou of immeasurable might, get back the +kingdom possessed before thee by thy father and grand-father. Therefore, +let the fever of thy heart depart!’” + +Vaisampayana continued “Having said this to Pandu’s son, the worshipful +Vyasa went back to his hermitage for the purpose of performing +austerities.” + + + +SECTION CCLX + +Janamejaya said, “While the high-souled Pandavas were living in those +woods, delighted with the pleasant conversation they held with the Munis, +and engaged in distributing the food they obtained from the sun, with +various kinds of venison to Brahmanas and others that came to them for +edibles till the hour of Krishna’s meal, how, O great Muni, did +Duryodhana and the other wicked and sinful sons of Dhritarashtra, guided +by the counsels of Dussasana, Karna and Sakuni, deal with them? I ask +thee this. Do thou, worshipful Sir, enlighten me.” + +Vaisampayana said, “When, O great king, Duryodhana heard that the +Pandavas were living as happily in the woods as in a city, he longed, +with the artful Karna, Dussasana and others, to do them harm. And while +those evil-minded persons were employed in concerting various wicked +designs, the virtuous and celebrated ascetic Durvasa, following the bent +of his own will, arrived at the city of the Kurus with ten thousand +disciples. And seeing the irascible ascetic arrived, Duryodhana and his +brothers welcomed him with great humility, self-abasement and gentleness. +And himself attending on the Rishi as a menial, the prince gave him a +right worshipful reception. And the illustrious Muni stayed there for a +few days, while king Duryodhana, watchful of his imprecations, attended +on him diligently by day and night. And sometimes the Muni would say, ‘I +am hungry, O king, give me some food quickly.’ And sometimes he would go +out for a bath and, returning at a late hour, would say, ‘I shall not eat +anything today as I have no appetite,’ and so saying would disappear from +his sight. And sometimes, coming all on a sudden, he would say, ‘Feed us +quickly.’ And at other times, bent on some mischief, he would awake at +midnight and having caused his meals to be prepared as before, would carp +at them and not partake of them at all. And trying the prince in this way +for a while, when the Muni found that the king Duryodhana was neither +angered, nor annoyed, he became graciously inclined towards him. And +then, O Bharata, the intractable Durvasa said unto him, ‘I have power to +grant thee boons. Thou mayst ask of me whatever lies nearest to thy +heart. May good fortune be thine. Pleased as I am with thee, thou mayst +obtain from me anything that is not opposed to religion and morals.’ + +Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these words of the great ascetic, +Suyodhana felt himself to be inspired with new life. Indeed, it had been +agreed upon between himself and Karna and Dussasana as to what the boon +should be that he would ask of the Muni if the latter were pleased with +his reception. And the evil-minded king, bethinking himself of what had +previously been decided, joyfully solicited the following favour, saying, +‘The great king Yudhishthira is the eldest and the best of our race. That +pious man is now living in the forest with his brothers. Do thou, +therefore, once become the guest of that illustrious one even as, O +Brahmana, thou hast with thy disciples been mine for some time. If thou +art minded to do me a favour, do thou go unto him at a time when that +delicate and excellent lady, the celebrated princess of Panchala, after +having regaled with food the Brahmanas, her husbands and herself, may lie +down to rest.’ The Rishi replied, ‘Even so shall I act for thy +satisfaction.’ And having said this to Suyodhana, that great Brahmana, +Durvasa, went away in the very same state in which he had come. And +Suyodhana regarded himself to have attained all the objects of his +desire. And holding Karna by the hand he expressed great satisfaction. +And Karna, too, joyfully addressed the king in the company of his +brothers, saying, ‘By a piece of singular good luck, thou hast fared well +and attained the objects of thy desire. And by good luck it is that thy +enemies have been immersed in a sea of dangers that is difficult to +cross. The sons of Pandu are now exposed to the fire of Durvasa’s wrath. +Through their own fault they have fallen into an abyss of darkness.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “O king, expressing their satisfaction in this +strain, Duryodhana and others, bent on evil machinations, returned +merrily to their respective homes.” + + + +SECTION CCLXI + +(Draupadi-harana Parva) + +Vaisampayana said, “One day, having previously ascertained that the +Pandavas were all seated at their ease and that Krishna was reposing +herself after her meal, the sage Durvasa, surrounded by ten thousand +disciples repaired to that forest. The illustrious and upright king +Yudhishthira, seeing that guest arrived, advanced with his mothers to +receive him. And joining the palms of his hands and pointing to a proper +and excellent seat, he accorded the Rishis a fit and respectful welcome. +And the king said unto him, ‘Return quick, O adorable sir, after +performing thy diurnal ablutions and observances.’ And that sinless Muni, +not knowing how the king would be able to provide a feast for him and his +disciples, proceeded with the latter to perform his ablutions. And that +host of the Muni, of subdued passions, went into the stream for +performing their ablutions. Meanwhile, O king, the excellent princess +Draupadi, devoted to her husbands, was in great anxiety about the food +(to be provided for the Munis). And when after much anxious thought she +came to the conclusion that means there were none for providing a feast, +she inwardly prayed to Krishna, the slayer of Kansa. And the princess +said, ‘Krishna, O Krishna, of mighty arms, O son of Devaki, whose power +is inexhaustible, O Vasudeva, O lord of the Universe, who dispellest the +difficulties of those that bow down to thee, thou art the soul, the +creator and the destroyer of the Universe. Thou, O lord, art +inexhaustible and the saviour of the afflicted. Thou art the preserver of +the Universe and of all created beings. Thou art the highest of the high, +and the spring of the mental perceptions Akuli and Chiti![88] O Supreme +and Infinite Being, O giver of all good, be thou the refuge of the +helpless. O Primordial Being, incapable of being conceived by the soul or +the mental faculties or otherwise, thou art the ruler of all and the lord +of Brahma. I seek thy protection. O god, thou art ever kindly disposed +towards those that take refuge in thee. Do thou cherish me with thy +kindness. O thou with a complexion dark as the leaves of the blue lotus, +and with eyes red as the corolla of the lily, and attired in yellow robes +with, besides, the bright Kaustubha gem in thy bosom, thou art the +beginning and the end of creation, and the great refuge of all. Thou art +the supreme light and essence of the Universe! Thy face is directed +towards every point. They call thee Supreme Germ and the depository of +all treasures. Under thy protections, O lord of the gods, all evils lose +their terror. As thou didst protect me before from Dussasana, do thou +extricate me now from this difficulty.” + +Vaisampayana continued, “The great and sovereign God, and Lord of the +earth, of mysterious movements, the lord Kesava who is ever kind to the +dependents, thou adored by Krishna, and perceiving her difficulty, +instantly repaired to that place leaving the bed of Rukmini who was +sleeping by his side. Beholding Vasudeva, Draupadi bowed down to him in +great joy and informed him of the arrival of the Munis and every other +thing. And having heard everything Krishna said unto her, ‘I am very much +afflicted with hunger, do thou give me some food without delay, and then +thou mayst go about thy work.’ At these words of Kesava, Krishna became +confused, and replied unto him, saying, ‘The sun-given vessel remains +full till I finish my meal. But as I have already taken my meal today, +there is no food in it now. Then that lotus-eyed and adorable being said +unto Krishna, ‘This is no time for jest, O Krishna.--I am much distressed +with hunger, go thou quickly to fetch the vessel and show it to me.’ When +Kesava, that ornament of the Yadu’s race, had the vessel brought unto +him,--with such persistence, he looked into it and saw a particle of rice +and vegetable sticking at its rim. And swallowing it he said unto her, +‘May it please the god Hari, the soul of the Universe, and may that god +who partaketh at sacrifices, be satiated with this.’ Then the long-armed +Krishna, that soother of miseries, said unto Bhimasena, ‘Do thou speedily +invite the Munis to dinner. Then, O good king, the celebrated Bhimasena +quickly went to invite all those Munis, Durvasa and others, who had gone +to the nearest stream of transparent and cool water to perform their +ablutions. Meanwhile, these ascetics, having plunged into the river, were +rubbing their bodies and observing that they all felt their stomachs to +be full. And coming out of the stream, they began to stare at one +another. And turning towards Durvasa, all those ascetics observed, +‘Having bade the king make our meals ready, we have come hither for a +bath. But how, O regenerate Rishi, can we eat anything now, for our +stomachs seem to be full to the throat. The repast hath been uselessly +prepared for us. What is the best thing to be done now?’ Durvasa replied, +‘By spoiling the repast, we have done a great wrong to that royal sage, +king Yudhishthira. Would not the Pandavas destroy us by looking down upon +us with angry eyes? I know the royal sage Yudhishthira to be possessed of +great ascetic power. Ye Brahmanas, I am afraid of men that are devoted to +Hari. The high-souled Pandavas are all religious men, learned, war-like, +diligent in ascetic austerities and religious observances, devoted to +Vasudeva, and always observant of rules of good conduct. If provoked, +they can consume us with their wrath as fire doth a bale of cotton. +Therefore, ye disciples, do ye all run away quickly without seeing them +(again)!” + +Vaisampayana continued, “All those Brahmanas, thus advised by their +ascetic preceptor, became greatly afraid of the Pandavas and fled away in +all directions. Then Bhimasena not beholding those excellent Munis in the +celestial river, made a search after them here and there at all the +landing places. And learning from the ascetics of those places that they +had run away, he came back and informed Yudhishthira of what had +happened. Then all the Pandavas of subdued senses, expecting them to +come, remained awaiting their arrival for some time. And Yudhishthira +said, ‘Coming dead of night the Rishis will deceive us. Oh how, can we +escape from this difficulty created by the facts?’ Seeing them absorbed +in such reflections and breathing long deep sighs at frequent intervals, +the illustrious Krishna suddenly appeared to them and addressed them +these words: ‘Knowing, ye sons of Pritha, your danger from that wrathful +Rishi, I was implored by Draupadi to come, and (therefore) have I come +here speedily. But now ye have not the least fear from the Rishi Durvasa. +Afraid of your ascetic powers, he hath made himself scarce ere this. +Virtuous men never suffer. I now ask your permission to let me return +home. May you always be prosperous!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing Kesava’s words, the sons of Pritha, with +Draupadi, became easy in mind. And cured of their fever (of anxiety), +they said unto him, ‘As persons drowning in the wide ocean safely reach +the shore by means of a boat, so have we, by thy aid, O lord Govinda, +escaped from this inextricable difficulty. Do thou now depart in peace, +and may prosperity be thine.’ Thus dismissed, he repaired to his capital +and the Pandavas too, O blessed lord, wandering from forest to forest +passed their days merrily with Draupadi. Thus, O king, have I related to +thee the story which thou askedest me to repeat. And it was thus that the +machinations of the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra about the Pandavas in +the forest, were frustrated.” + + + +SECTION CCLXII + +Vaisampayana said, “These great warriors of the race of Bharata sojourned +like immortals in the great forest of Kamyaka, employed in hunting and +pleased with the sight of numerous wild tracts of country and wide +reaches of woodland, gorgeous with flowers blossoming in season. And the +sons of Pandu, each like unto Indra and the terror of his enemies, dwelt +there for some time. And one day those valiant men, the conquerors of +their foes, went about in all directions in search of game for feeding +the Brahmanas in their company, leaving Draupadi alone at the hermitage, +with the permission of the great ascetic Trinavindu, resplendent with +ascetic grandeur, and of their spiritual guide Dhaumya. Meanwhile, the +famous king of Sindhu, the son of Vriddhakshatra was, with a view to +matrimony, proceeding to the kingdom of Salwa, dressed in his best royal +apparel and accompanied by numerous princes. And the prince halted in the +woods of Kamyaka. And in that secluded place, he found the beautiful +Draupadi, the beloved and celebrated wife of the Pandavas, standing at +the threshold of the hermitage. And she looked grand in the superb beauty +of her form, and seemed to shed a lustre on the woodland around, like +lightning illuminating masses of dark clouds. And they who saw her asked +themselves, ‘Is this an Apsara, or a daughter of the gods, or a celestial +phantom?’ And with this thought, their hands also joined together. They +stood gazing on the perfect and faultless beauty of her form. And +Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu, and the son of Vriddhakshatra, struck +with amazement at the sight of that lady of faultless beauty, was seized +with an evil intention. And inflamed with desire, he said to the prince +named Kotika, ‘Whose is this lady of faultless form? Is she of the human +kind? I have no need to marry if I can secure this exquisitely beautiful +creature. Taking her with me, I shall go back to my abode, Oh sir, and +enquire who she is and whence she has come and why also that delicate +being hath come into this forest beset with thorns. Will this ornament of +womankind, this slender-waisted lady of so much beauty, endued with +handsome teeth and large eyes, accept me as her lord? I shall certainly +regard myself successful, if I obtain the hand of this excellent lady. +Go, Kotika, and enquire who her husband may be.’ Thus asked, Kotika, +wearing a kundala, jumped out of his chariot and came near her, as a +jackal approacheth a tigress, and spake unto her these words.’” + + + +SECTION CCLXIII + +Kotika said, “Excellent lady, who art thou that standest alone, leaning +on a branch of the Kadamva tree at this hermitage and looking grand like +a flame of fire blazing at night time, and fanned by the wind? +Exquisitely beautiful as thou art, how is it that thou feelest not any +fear in these forests? Methinks thou art a goddess, or a Yakshi, or a +Danavi, or an excellent Apsara, or the wife of a Daitya, or a daughter of +the Naga king, or a Rakshasi or the wife of Varuna, or of Yama, or of +Soma, or of Kuvera, who, having assumed a human form, wanderest in these +forests. Or, hast thou come from the mansions of Dhatri, or of Vidhatri, +or of Savitri, or of Vibhu, or of Sakra? Thou dost not ask us who we are, +nor do we know who protects thee here! Respectfully do we ask thee, good +lady, who is thy powerful father, and, O, do tell us truly the names of +thy husband, thy relatives, and thy race, and tell us also what thou dost +here. As for us, I am king Suratha’s son whom people know by the name of +Kotika, and that man with eyes large as the petals of the lotus, sitting +on a chariot of gold, like the sacrificial fire on the altar, is the +warrior known by the name of Kshemankara, king of Trigarta. And behind +him is the famous son of the king of Pulinda, who is even now gazing on +thee. Armed with a mighty bow and endued with large eyes, and decorated +with floral wreaths, he always liveth on the breasts of mountains. The +dark and handsome young man, the scourge of his enemies, standing at the +edge of that tank, is the son of Suvala of the race of Ikshwaku. And if, +O excellent lady, thou hast ever heard the name of Jayadratha, the king +of Sauviras, even he is there at the head of six thousand chariots, with +horses and elephants and infantry, and followed by twelve Sauvira princes +as his standard-bearers, named Angaraka, Kunjara, Guptaka, Satrunjaya, +Srinjaya, Suprabiddha, Prabhankara, Bhramara, Ravi, Sura, Pratapa and +Kuhana, all mounted on chariots drawn by chestnut horses and every one of +them looking like the fire on the sacrificial altar. The brothers also of +the king, viz., the powerful Valahaka, Anika, Vidarana and others, are +among his followers. These strong-limbed and noble youths are the flowers +of the Sauvira chivalry. The king is journeying in the company of these +his friends, like Indra surrounded by the Maruts. O fine-haired lady, do +tell us that are unacquainted (with these matters), whose wife and whose +daughter thou art.” + + + +SECTION CCLXIV + +Vaisampayana continued, “The princess Draupadi, thus questioned by that +ornament of Sivi’s race, moved her eyes gently, and letting go her hold +of the Kadamva blanch and arranging her silken apparel she said, I am +aware, O prince, that it is not proper for a person like me to address +you thus, but as there is not another man or woman here to speak with +thee and as I am alone here just now, let me, therefore, speak. Know, +worthy sir, that being alone in this forest here, I should not speak unto +thee, remembering the usages of my sex. I have learned, O Saivya, that +thou art Suratha’s son, whom people know by the name of Kotika. +Therefore, on my part, I shall now tell thee of my relations and renowned +race. I am the daughter of king Drupada, and people know me by the name +of Krishna, and I have accepted as my husbands, five persons of whom you +may have heard while they were living at Kahandavaprastha. Those noble +persons, viz., Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, Arjuna, and the two sons of +Madri, leaving me here and having assigned unto themselves the four +points of the horizon, have gone out on a hunting excursion. The king +hath gone to the east, Bhimasena towards the south, Arjuna to the west, +and the twin brothers towards the north! Therefore, do ye now alight and +dismiss your carriages so that ye may depart after receiving a due +welcome from them. The high-souled son of Dharma is fond of guests and +will surely be delighted to see you!’ Having addressed Saivya’s son in +this way, the daughter of Drupada, with face beautiful as the moon, +remembering well her husband’s character for hospitality, entered her +spacious cottage.” + + + +SECTION CCLXV + +Vaisampayana said, “O Bharata, Kotikakhya related to those princes who +had been waiting, all that had passed between him and Krishna. And +hearing Kotikakhya’s words, Jayadratha said to that scion of the race of +Sivi, ‘Having listened only to her speech, my heart has been lovingly +inclined towards that ornament of womankind. Why therefore, hast thou +returned (thus unsuccessful)? I tell thee truly, O thou of mighty arms, +that having once seen this lady, other women now seem to me like so many +monkeys. I having looked at her, she has captivated my heart. Do tell me, +O Saivya, if that excellent lady is of the human kind.’ Kotika replied, +‘This lady is the famous princess Krishna, the daughter of Drupada, and +the celebrated wife of the five sons of Pandu. She is the much esteemed +and beloved and chaste wife of the sons of Pritha. Taking her with thee, +do thou proceed towards Sauvira!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed, the evil-minded Jayadratha, the +king of Sindhu, Sauvira and other countries, said, ‘I must see Draupadi.’ +And with six other men he entered that solitary hermitage, like a wolf +entering the den of a lion. And he said unto Krishna, ‘Hail to thee, +excellent lady! Are thy husbands well and those, besides, whose +prosperity thou always wishest.’ Draupadi replied, ‘Kunti’s son king +Yudhishthira of the race of Kuru, his brothers, myself, and all those of +whom thou hast enquired of, are well. Is everything right with thy +kingdom, thy government, exchequer, and thy army? Art thou, as sole +ruler, governing with justice the rich countries of Saivya, Sivi, Sindhu +and others that thou hast brought under thy sway? Do thou, O prince, +accept this water for washing thy feet. Do thou also take this seat. I +offer thee fifty animals for thy train’s breakfast. Besides these, +Yudhishthira himself, the son of Kunti, will give thee porcine deer and +Nanku deer, and does, and antelopes, and Sarabhas, and rabbits, and Ruru +deer, and bears, and Samvara deer and gayals and many other animals, +besides wild boars and buffaloes and other animals of the quadruped +tribe.’ Hearing this Jayadratha replied, saying, ‘All is well with me. By +offering to provide our breakfast, thou hast in a manner actually done +it. Come now and ride my chariot and be completely happy. For it becomes +not thee to have any regard for the miserable sons of Pritha who are +living in the woods, whose energies have been paralysed, whose kingdom +hath been snatched and whose fortunes are at the lowest ebb. A woman of +sense like thee doth not attach herself to a husband that is poor. She +should follow her lord when he is in prosperity but abandon him when in +adversity. The sons of Pandu have for ever fallen away from their high +state, and have lost their kingdom for all time to come. Thou hast no +need, therefore, to partake of their misery from any regard for them. +Therefore, O thou of beautiful hips, forsaking the sons of Pandu, be +happy by becoming my wife, and share thou with me the kingdoms of Sindhu +and Sauvira.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these frightful words of the king of +Sindhu, Krishna retired from that place, her face furrowed into a frown +owing to the contraction of her eye-brows. But disregarding his words +from supreme contempt, the slender-waisted Krishna reproving said unto +the king of Sindhu, ‘Speak not thus again! Art thou not ashamed? Be on +thy guard!’ And that lady of irreproachable character anxiously expecting +the return of her husband, began, with long speeches, to beguile him +completely.” + + + +SECTION CCLXVI + +Vaisampayana said, “The daughter of Drupada, though naturally handsome, +was suffused with crimson arising from a fit of anger. And with eyes +inflamed and eye-brows bent in wrath, she reproved the ruler of the +Suviras, saying, ‘Art thou not ashamed, O fool, to use such insulting +words in respect of those celebrated and terrible warriors, each like +unto Indra himself, and who are all devoted to their duties and who never +waver in fight with even hosts of Yakshas and Rakshasas? O Sauvira, good +men never speak ill of learned persons devoted to austerities and endued +with learning, no matter whether they live in the wilderness or in +houses. It is only wretches that are mean as thou who do so. Methinks +there is none in this assemblage of Kshatriya, who is capable of holding +thee by the hand to save thee from falling into the pit thou openest +under thy feet. In hoping to vanquish king Yudhishthira the just, thou +really hopest to separate, stick in hand, from a herd roaming in +Himalayan valleys, its leader, huge as a mountain peak and with the +temporal juice trickling down its rent temples. Out of childish folly +thou art kicking up into wakefulness the powerful lion lying asleep, in +order to pluck the hair from off his face! Thou shalt, however, have to +run away when thou seest Bhimasena in wrath! Thy courting a combat with +the furious Jishnu may be likened to thy kicking up a mighty, terrible, +full-grown and furious lion asleep in a mountain cave. The encounter thou +speakest of with those two excellent youths--the younger Pandavas--is +like unto the act of a fool that wantonly trampleth on the tails of two +venomous black cobras with bifurcated tongues. The bamboo, the reed, and +the plantain bear fruit only to perish and not to grow in size any +further. Like also the crab that conceiveth for her own destruction, thou +wilt lay hands upon me who am protected by these mighty heroes!’ + +Jayadratha replied, ‘I know all this, O Krishna, and I am well aware of +the prowess of those princes. But thou canst not frighten us now with +these threats. We, too, O Krishna, belong by birth to the seventeen high +clans, and are endowed with the six royal qualities.[89] We, therefore, +look down upon the Pandavas as inferior men! Therefore, do thou, O +daughter of Drupada, ride this elephant or this chariot quickly, for thou +canst not baffle us with thy words alone; or, speaking less boastfully, +seek thou the mercy of the king of the Sauviras!’ + +Draupadi replied, “Though I am so powerful, why doth the king of Sauvira +yet consider me so powerless. Well-known as I am, I cannot, from fear of +violence, demean myself before that prince. Even Indra himself cannot +abduct her for whose protection Krishna and Arjuna would together follow, +riding in the same chariot. What shall I say, therefore, of a weak human +being. When Kiriti, that slayer of foes, riding on his car, will, on my +account, enter thy ranks, striking terror into every heart, he will +consume everything around like fire consuming a stack of dry grass in +summer. The warring princes of the Andhaka and the Vrishni races, with +Janardana at their head, and the mighty bowmen of the Kaikeya tribe, will +all follow in my wake with great ardour. The terrible arrows of +Dhananjaya, shot from the string of the Gandiva and propelled by his arms +fly with great force through the air, roaring like the very clouds. And +when thou wilt behold Arjuna shooting from the Gandiva a thick mass of +mighty arrows like unto a flight of locusts, then wilt thou repent of +thine own folly! Bethink thyself of what thou wilt feel when that warrior +armed with the Gandiva, blowing his conch-shell and with gloves +reverberating with the strokes of his bowstring will again and again +pierce thy breast with his shafts. And when Bhima will advance towards +thee, mace in hand and the two sons of Madri range in all directions, +vomiting forth the venom of their wrath, thou wilt then experience pangs +of keen regret that will last for ever. As I have never been false to my +worthy lords even in thought, so by that merit shall I now have the +pleasure of beholding thee vanquished and dragged by the sons of Pritha. +Thou canst not, cruel as thou art, frighten me by seizing me with +violence, for as soon as those Kuru warriors will espy me they will bring +me back to the woods of Kamyaka.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Then that lady of large eyes, beholding them +ready to lay violent hands on her, rebuked them and said, ‘Defile me not +by your touch!’ And in a great alarm she then called upon her spiritual +adviser, Dhaumya. Jayadratha, however, seized her by her upper garment, +but she pushed him with great vigour. And pushed by the lady, that sinful +wretch fell upon the ground like a tree severed from its roots. Seized, +however, once more by him with great violence, she began to pant for +breath. And dragged by the wretch, Krishna at last ascended his chariot +having worshipped Dhaumya’s feet. And Dhaumya then addressed Jayadratha +and said, ‘Do thou, O Jayadratha, observe the ancient custom of the +Kshatriyas. Thou canst not carry her off without having vanquished those +great warriors. Without doubt, thou shalt reap the painful fruits of this +thy despicable act, when thou encounterest the heroic sons of Pandu with +Yudhishthira the just at their head!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having said these words Dhaumya, entering into +the midst of Jayadratha’s infantry, began to follow that renowned +princess who was thus being carried away by the ravisher.” + + + +SECTION CCLXVII + +Vaisampayana said, “Meanwhile those foremost of bowmen on the face of the +earth, having wandered separately and ranged in all directions, and +having slain plenty of deer and buffaloes, at length met together. And +observing that great forest, which was crowded with hosts of deer and +wild beasts, resounding with the shrill cries of birds, and hearing the +shrieks and yells of the denizens of the wilderness. Yudhishthira said +unto his brothers. ‘These birds and wild beasts, flying towards that +direction which is illuminated by the sun, are uttering dissonant cries +and displaying an intense excitement. All this only shows that this +mighty forest hath been invaded by hostile intruders. Without a moment’s +delay let us give up the chase. We have no more need of game. My heart +aches and seems to burn! The soul in my body, over-powering the +intellect, seems ready to fly out. As a lake rid by Garuda of the mighty +snake that dwells in it, as a pot drained of its contents by thirsty men, +as a kingdom reft of king and prosperity, even so doth the forest of +Kamyaka seem to me.’ Thus addressed, those heroic warriors drove towards +their abode, on great cars of handsome make and drawn by steeds of the +Saindharva breed exceedingly fleet and possessed of the speed of the +hurricane. And on their way back, they beheld a jackal yelling hideously +on the wayside towards their left. And king Yudhishthira, regarding it +attentively, said unto Bhima and Dhananjaya, ‘This jackal that belongs to +a very inferior species of animals, speaking to our left, speaketh a +language which plainly indicates that the sinful Kurus, disregarding us, +have commenced to oppress us by resorting to violence.’ After the sons of +Pandu had given up the chase and said these words, they entered the grove +which contained their hermitage. And there they found their beloved one’s +maid, the girl Dhatreyika, sobbing and weeping. And Indrasena then +quickly alighting from the chariot and advancing with hasty steps towards +her, questioned her, O king, in great distress of mind, saying, ‘What +makes thee weep thus, lying on the ground, and why is thy face so +woe-begone and colourless? I hope no cruel wretches have done any harm to +the princess Draupadi possessed of incomparable beauty and large eyes and +who is the second self of every one of those bulls of the Kuru race? So +anxious hath been Dharma’s son that if the princess hath entered the +bowels of the earth or hath soared to heaven or dived into the bottom of +the ocean, he and his brothers will go thither in pursuit of her. Who +could that fool be that would carry away that priceless jewel belonging +to the mighty and ever-victorious sons of Pandu, those grinders of foes, +and which is dear unto them as their own lives? I don’t know who the +person could be that would think of carrying away that princess who hath +such powerful protectors and who is even like a walking embodiment of the +hearts of the sons of Pandu? Piercing whose breasts will terrible shafts +stick to the ground to-day? Do not weep for her, O timid girl, for know +thou that Krishna will come back this very day, and the sons of Pritha, +having slain their foes, will again be united with Yagnaseni!’ Thus +addressed by him, Dhatreyika, wiping her beautiful face, replied unto +Indrasena the charioteer, saying, ‘Disregarding the five Indra-like sons +of Pandu, Jayadratha hath carried away Krishna by force. The track +pursued by him hath not yet disappeared, for the broken branches of trees +have not yet faded. Therefore, turn your cars and follow her quickly, for +the princess cannot have gone far by this time! Ye warriors possessed of +the prowess of Indra, putting on your costly bows of handsome make, and +taking up your costly bows and quivers, speed ye in pursuit of her, lest +overpowered by threats or violence and losing her sense and the colour of +her cheeks, she yields herself up to an undeserving wight, even as one +poureth forth, from the sacrificial ladle, the sanctified oblation on a +heap of ashes. O, see that the clarified butter is not poured into an +unigniting fire of paddy chaff; that a garland of flowers is not thrown +away in a cemetery. O, take care that the Soma juice of a sacrifice is +not licked up by a dog through the carelessness of the officiating +priests! O, let not the lily be rudely torn by a jackal roaming for its +prey in the impenetrable forest. O, let no inferior wight touch with his +lips the bright and beautiful face of your wife, fair as the beams of the +moon and adorned with the finest nose and the handsomest eyes, like a dog +licking clarified butter kept in the sacrificial pot! Do ye speed in this +track and let not time steal a march on you.’ + +Yudhishthira said, ‘Retire, good woman, and control thy tongue. Speak not +this way before us. Kings or princes, whoever are infatuated with the +possession of power, are sure to come to grief!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “With these words, they departed, following the +track pointed out to them, and frequently breathing deep sighs like the +hissing of snakes, and twanging the strings of their large bows. And then +they observed a cloud of dust raised by the hoofs of the steeds belonging +to Jayadratha’s army. And they also saw Dhaumya in the midst of the +ravisher’s infantry, exhorting Bhima to quicken his steps. Then those +princes (the sons of Pandu) with hearts undepressed, bade him be of good +cheer and said unto him, ‘Do thou return cheerfully!’--And then they +rushed towards that host with great fury, like hawks swooping down on +their prey. And possessed of the prowess of Indra, they had been filled +with fury at the insult offered to Draupadi. But at sight of Jayadratha +and of their beloved wife seated on his car, their fury knew no bounds. +And those mighty bowmen, Bhima and Dhananjaya and the twin brothers and +the king, called out Jayadratha to stop, upon which the enemy was so +bewildered as to lose their knowledge of directions.” + + + +SECTION CCLXVIII + +Vaisampayana said, “The hostile Kshatriyas, incensed at sight of +Bhimasena and Arjuna, sent up a loud shout in the forest. And the wicked +king Jayadratha, when he saw the standards of those bulls of the Kuru +race, lost his heart, and addressing the resplendent Yagnaseni seated on +his car, said, ‘Those five great warriors, O Krishna, that are coming, +are I believe, thy husbands. As thou knowest the sons of Pandu well, do +thou, O lady of beautiful tresses, describe them one by one to us, +pointing out which of them rideth which car!’ Thus addressed, Draupadi +replied, ‘Having done this violent deed calculated to shorten thy life, +what will it avail thee now, O fool, to know the names of those great +warriors, for, now that my heroic husbands are come, not one of ye will +be left alive in battle. However as thou art on the point of death and +hast asked me, I will tell thee everything, this being consistent with +the ordinance. Beholding king Yudhishthira the just with his younger +brothers, I have not the slighest anxiety or fear from thee! That warrior +at the top of whose flagstaff two handsome and sonorous tabours called +Nanda and Upananda are constantly played upon,--he, O Sauvira chief, hath +a correct knowledge of the morality of his own acts. Men that have +attained success always walk in his train. With a complexion like that of +pure gold, possessed of a prominent nose and large eyes, and endued with +a slender make, that husband of mine is known among people by the name of +Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma and the foremost of the Kuru race. That +virtuous prince of men granteth life to even a foe that yields. +Therefore, O fool, throwing down thy arms and joining thy hands, run to +him for thy good, to seek his protection. And that other man whom thou +seest with long arms and tall as the full-grown Sala tree, seated on his +chariot, biting his lips, and contracting his forehead so as to bring the +two eye-brows together, is he,--my husband Vrikodara! Steeds of the +noblest breed, plump and strong, well-trained and endued with great +might, draw the cars of that warrior! His achievements are superhuman. He +is known, therefore, by the name of Bhima on earth. They that offend him +are never suffered to live. He never forgetteth a foe. On some pretext or +other he wrecketh his vengeance. Nor is he pacified even after he has +wrecked a signal vengeance. And there, that foremost of bowmen, endued +with intelligence and renown, with senses under complete control and +reverence for the old--that brother and disciple of Yudhishthira--is my +husband Dhananjaya! Virtue he never forsaketh, from lust or fear or +anger! Nor doth he ever commit a deed that is cruel. Endued with the +energy of fire and capable of withstanding every foe, that grinder of +enemies is the son of Kunti. And that other youth, versed in every +question of morality and profit, who ever dispelleth the fears of the +affrighted, who is endued with high wisdom, who is considered as the +handsomest person in the whole world and who is protected by all the sons +of Pandu, being regarded by them as dearer to them than their own lives +for his unflinching devotion to them, is my husband Nakula possessed of +great prowess. Endued with high wisdom and having Sahadeva for his +second, possessed of exceeding lightness of hand, he fighteth with the +sword, making dexterous passes therewith. Thou, foolish man, shall +witness today his performances on the field of battle, like unto those of +Indra amid the ranks of Daityas! And that hero skilled in weapons and +possessed of intelligence and wisdom, and intent on doing what is +agreeable to the son of Dharma, that favourite and youngest born of the +Pandavas, is my husband Sahadeva! Heroic, intelligent, wise and ever +wrathful there is not another man equal unto him in intelligence or in +eloquence amid assemblies of the wise. Dearer to Kunti than her own soul, +he is always mindful of the duties of Kshatriyas, and would much sooner +rush into fire or sacrifice his own life than say anything that is +opposed to religion and morals. When the sons of Pandu will have killed +thy warriors in battle, then wilt thou behold thy army in the miserable +plight of a ship on the sea wrecked with its freight of jewels on the +back of a whale. Thus have I described unto thee the prowess of the sons +of Pandu, disregarding whom in thy foolishness, thou hast acted so. If +thou escapest unscathed from them, then, indeed thou wilt have obtained a +new lease of life.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Then those five sons of Pritha, each like unto +Indra, filled with wrath, leaving the panic-stricken infantry alone who +were imploring them for mercy, rushed furiously upon the charioteers, +attacking them on all sides and darkening the very air with the thick +shower of arrows they shot.” + + + +SECTION CCLXIX + +Vaisampayana said, “Meanwhile, the king of Sindhu was giving orders to +those princes, saying, ‘Halt, strike, march, quick’, and like. And on +seeing Bhima, Arjuna and the twin brothers with Yudhishthira, the +soldiers sent up a loud shout on the field of battle. And the warriors of +the Sivi, Sauvira and Sindhu tribes, at the sight of those powerful +heroes looking like fierce tigers, lost heart. And Bhimasena, armed with +a mace entirely of Saikya iron and embossed with gold, rushed towards the +Saindhava monarch doomed to death. But Kotikakhya, speedily surrounding +Vrikodara with an array of mighty charioteers, interposed between and +separated the combatants. And Bhima, though assailed with numberless +spears and clubs and iron arrows hurled at him by the strong arms of +hostile heroes, did not waver for one moment. On the other hand, he +killed, with his mace, an elephant with its driver and fourteen +foot-soldiers fighting in the front of Jayadratha’s car. And Arjuna also, +desirous of capturing the Sauvira king, slew five hundred brave +mountaineers fighting in the van of the Sindhu army. And in that +encounter, the king himself slew in the twinkling of an eye, a hundred of +the best warriors of the Sauviras. And Nakula too, sword in hand, jumping +out of his chariot, scattered in a moment, like a tiller sowing seeds, +the heads of the combatants fighting in the rear. And Sahadeva from his +chariot began to fell with his iron shafts, many warriors fighting on +elephants, like birds dropped from the boughs of a tree. Then the king of +Trigartas, bow in hand descending from his great chariot, killed the four +steeds of the king with his mace. But Kunti’s son, king Yudhishthira the +just, seeing the foe approach so near, and fighting on foot, pierced his +breast with a crescent-shaped arrow. And that hero, thus wounded in the +breast began to vomit blood, and fell down upon the ground besides +Pritha’s son, like an uprooted tree. And king Yudhishthira the just, +whose steeds had been slain taking this opportunity, descended with +Indrasena from his chariot and mounted that of Sahadeva. And the two +warriors, Kshemankara and Mahamuksha, singling out Nakula, began to pour +on him from both sides a perfect shower of keen-edged arrows. The son of +Madri, however, succeeded in slaying, with a couple of long shafts, both +those warriors who had been pouring on him an arrowy shower--like clouds +in the rainy season. Suratha, the king of Trigartas, well-versed in +elephant-charges, approaching the front of Nakula’s chariot, caused it to +be dragged by the elephant he rode. But Nakula, little daunted at this, +leaped out of his chariot, and securing a point of vantage, stood shield +and sword in hand, immovable as a hill. Thereupon Suratha, wishing to +slay Nakula at once, urged towards him his huge and infuriate elephant +with trunk upraised. But when the beast came near, Nakula with his sword +severed from his head both trunk and tusks. And that mail-clad elephant, +uttering a frightful roar, fell headlong upon the ground, crushing its +riders by the fall. And having achieved this daring feat, heroic son of +Madri, getting up on Bhimasena’s car, obtained a little rest. And Bhima +too, seeing prince Kotikakhya rush to the encounter, cut off the head of +his charioteer with a horse-shoe arrow. That prince did not even perceive +that his driver was killed by his strong-armed adversary, and his horses, +no longer restrained by a driver, ran about on the battle-field in all +directions. And seeing that prince without a driver turn his back, that +foremost of smiters, Bhima the son of Pandu, went up to him and slew him +with a bearded dart. And Dhananjaya also cut off with his sharp +crescent-shaped arrows, the heads, as well as the bows of all the twelve +Sauvira heroes. And the great warrior killed in battle, with the arrow, +the leaders of the Ikshwakus and the hosts of Sivis and Trigartas and +Saindhavas. And a great many elephants with their colours, and chariots +with standards, were seen to fall by the hand of Arjuna. And heads +without trunks, and trunks without heads, lay covering the entire field +of battle. And dogs, and herons and ravens, and crows, and falcons, and +jackals, and vultures, feasted on the flesh and blood of warriors slain +on that field. And when Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu, saw that his +warriors were slain, he became terrified and anxious to run away leaving +Krishna behind. And in that general confusion, the wretch, setting down +Draupadi there, fled for his life, pursuing the same forest path by which +he had come. And king Yudhishthira the just, seeing Draupadi with Dhaumya +walking before, caused her to be taken up on a chariot by the heroic +Sahadeva, the son of Madri. And when Jayadratha had fled away Bhima began +to mow down with his iron-arrows such of his followers as were running +away striking each trooper down after naming him. But Arjuna perceiving +that Jayadratha had run away exhorted his brother to refrain from +slaughtering the remnant of the Saindhava host. And Arjuna said, ‘I do +not find on the field of battle Jayadratha through whose fault alone we +have experienced this bitter misfortune! Seek him out first and may +success crown thy effort! What is the good of thy slaughtering these +troopers? Why art thou bent upon this unprofitable business?’ + +Vaisampayana continued, “Bhimasena, thus exhorted by Arjuna of great +wisdom, turning to Yudhishthira, replied, saying, ‘As a great many of the +enemy’s warriors have been slain and as they are flying in all +directions, do thou, O king, now return home, taking with thee Draupadi +and the twin brothers and high-souled Dhaumya, and console the princess +after getting back to our asylum! That foolish king of Sindhu I shall not +let alone as long as he lives, even if he find a shelter in the internal +regions or is backed by Indra himself! And Yudhishthira replied, saying, +‘O thou of mighty arms remembering (our sister) Dussala and the +celebrated Gandhari, thou shouldst not slay the king of Sindhu even +though he is so wicked!’ + +Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these words, Draupadi was greatly +excited. And that highly intelligent lady in her excitement said to her +two husbands, Bhima and Arjuna with indignation mixed with modesty, ‘If +you care to do what is agreeable to me, you must slay that mean and +despicable wretch, that sinful, foolish, infamous and contemptible chief +of the Saindhava clan! That foe who forcibly carries away a wife, and he +that wrests a kingdom, should never be forgiven on the battle-field, even +though he should supplicate for mercy!’ Thus admonished, those two +valiant warriors went in search of the Saindhava chief. And the king +taking Krishna with him returned home, accompanied by his spiritual +adviser. And on entering the hermitage, he found it was laid over with +seats for the ascetics and crowded with their disciples and graced with +the presence of Markandeya and other Brahmanas. And while those Brahmanas +were gravely bewailing the lot of Draupadi, Yudhishthira endued with +great wisdom joined their company, with his brothers. And beholding the +king thus come back after having defeated the Saindhava and the Sauvira +host and recovered Draupadi, they were all elated with joy! And the king +took his seat in their midst. And the excellent princess Krishna entered +the hermitage with the two brothers. + +“Meanwhile Bhima and Arjuna, learning the enemy was full two miles ahead +of them urged their horses to greater speed in pursuit of him. And the +mighty Arjuna performed a wonderful deed, killing the horse of Jayadratha +although they were full two miles ahead of them. Armed with celestial +weapons undaunted by difficulties he achieved this difficult feat with +arrows inspired with Mantras. And then the two warriors, Bhima and +Arjuna, rushed towards the terrified king of Sindhu whose horses had been +slain and who was alone and perplexed in mind. And the latter was greatly +grieved on seeing his steeds slain. And beholding Dhananjaya do such a +daring deed, and intent on running away, he followed the same forest +track by which he had come. And Falguna, seeing the Saindhava chief so +active in his fright, overtook him and addressed him saying, ‘Possessed +of so little manliness, how couldst thou dare to take away a lady by +force? Turn round, O prince; it is not meet that thou shouldst run away! +How canst thou act so, leaving thy followers in the midst of thy foes?’ +Although addressed by the sons of Pritha thus, the monarch of Sindhu did +not even once turn round. And then bidding him to what he chose the +mighty Bhima overtook him in an instant, but the kind Arjuna entreated +him not to kill that wretch.” + + + +SECTION CCLXX + +Vaisampayana said, “Jayadratha flying for his life upon beholding those +two brothers with upraised arms, was sorely grieved and bolted off with +speed and coolness. But the mighty and indignant Bhimasena, descending +from his chariot, ran after him thus fleeing, and seized him by the hair +of his head. And holding him high up in the air, Bhima thrust him on the +ground with violence. And seizing the prince by the head, he knocked him +about. And when the wretch recovered consciousness, he groaned aloud and +wanted to get up on his legs. But that hero endued with mighty arms +kicked him on the head. And Bhima pressed him on the breast with his +knees as well as with his fists. And the prince thus belaboured, soon +became insensible. Then Falguna dissuaded the wrathful Bhimasena from +inflicting further chastisement on the prince, by reminding him of what +Yudhishthira had said regarding (their sister) Dussala. But Bhima +replied, saying, ‘This sinful wretch hath done a cruel injury to Krishna, +who never can bear such treatment. He, therefore, deserveth to die at +hands! But what can I do? The king is always overflowing with mercy, and +thou, too, art constantly putting obstacles in my way from a childish +sense of virtue!’ Having said these words, Vrikodara, with his +crescent-shaped arrow, shaved the hair of the prince’s head, heaving five +tufts in as many places. Jayadratha uttered not a word at this. Then +Vrikodara, addressing the foe said, ‘If thou wishest to live, listen to +me. O fool! I shall tell thee the means to attain that wish! In public +assemblies and in open courts thou must say,--I am the slave of the +Pandavas.--on this condition alone, I will pardon thee thy life! This is +the customary rule of conquest on the field of battle.’ Thus addressed +and treated, king Jayadratha said to the mighty and fierce warrior who +always looked awful, ‘Be it so!’ And he was trembling and senseless and +begrimed with dust. Then Arjuna and Vrikodara, securing him with chains, +thrust him into a chariot. And Bhima, himself mounting that chariot, and +accompanied by Arjuna, drove towards the hermitage. And approaching +Yudhishthira seated there, he placed Jayadratha in that condition before +the king. And the king, smiling, told him to set the Sindhu prince at +liberty. Then Bhima said unto the king, ‘Do thou tell Draupadi that this +wretch hath become the slave of the Pandavas.’ Then his eldest brother +said unto him affectionately, ‘If thou hast any regard for us, do thou +set this wretch at liberty!’ And Draupadi too, reading the king’s mind, +said, ‘Let him off! He hath become a slave of the king’s and thou, too, +hast disfigured him by leaving five tufts of hair on his head.’ Then that +crest-fallen prince, having obtained his liberty, approached king +Yudhishthira and bowed down unto him. And seeing those Munis there, he +saluted them also. Then the kind-hearted king Yudhishthira, the son of +Dharma, beholding Jayadratha in that condition, almost supported by +Arjuna, said unto him, ‘Thou art a free man now; I emancipate thee! Now +go away and be careful not to do such thing again; shame to thee! Thou +hadst intended to take away a lady by violence, even though thou art so +mean and powerless! What other wretch save thee would think of acting +thus?” Then that foremost king of Bharata’s race eyed with pity that +perpetrator of wicked deeds, and believing that he had lost his senses, +said, ‘Mayst thy heart grow in virtue! Never set thy heart again on +immoral deeds! Thou mayst depart in peace now with thy charioteers, +cavalry and infantry.’ Thus addressed by Yudhishthira, the prince, O +Bharata, was overpowered with shame, and bending down his head, he +silently and sorrowfully wended his way to the place where the Ganga +debouches on the plains. And imploring the protection of the god of three +eyes, the consort of Uma, he did severe penance at that place. And the +three-eyed god, pleased with his austerities deigned to accept his +offerings in person. And he also granted him a boon! Do thou listen, O +monarch, how the prince received that boon! Jayadratha, addressing that +god, asked the boon, ‘May I be able to defeat in battle all the five sons +of Pandu on their chariots!’ The god, however, told him ‘This cannot be.’ +And Maheswara said, ‘None can slay or conquer them in battle. Save +Arjuna, however, thou shall be able to only check them (once) on the +field of battle! The heroic Arjuna, with mighty arms, is the god +incarnate styled Nara. He practised austerities of old in the Vadari +forest. The God Narayana is his friend. Therefore, he is unconquerable of +the very gods. I myself have given him the celestial weapon called +Pasupata. From the regents also of all the ten cardinal points, he has +acquired the thunder-bolt and other mighty weapons. And the great god +Vishnu who is the Infinite Spirit, the Lord Preceptor of all the gods, is +the Supreme Being without attributes, and the Soul of the Universe, and +existeth pervading the whole creation. At the termination of a cycle of +ages, assuming the shape of the all-consuming fire, he consumed the whole +Universe with mountains and seas and islands and hills and woods and +forests. And after the destruction of the Naga world also in the +subterranean regions in the same way, vast masses of many-coloured and +loud-pealing clouds, with streaks of lightning, spreading along the +entire welkin, had appeared on high. Then pouring down water in torrents +thick as axles of cars, and filling the space everywhere, these +extinguishing that all-consuming fire! When at the close of four thousand +Yugas the Earth thus became flooded with water, like one vast sea, and +all mobile creatures were hushed in death, and the sun and the moon and +the winds were all destroyed, and the Universe was devoid of planets and +stars, the Supreme Being called Narayana, unknowable by the senses, +adorned with a thousand heads and as many eyes and legs, became desirous +of rest. And the serpent Sesha, looking terrible with his thousand hoods, +and shining with the splendour of ten thousand suns, and white as the +Kunda flower or the moon or a string of pearls, or the white lotus, or +milk, or the fibres of a lotus stalk, served for his conch. And that +adorable and omnipotent God thus slept on the bosom of the deep, +enveloping all space with nocturnal gloom. And when his creative faculty +was excited, he awoke and found the Universe denuded of everything. In +this connection, the following sloka is recited respecting the meaning of +Narayana. “Water was created by (the Rishi) Nara, and it formed his +corpus; therefore do we hear it styled as Nara. And because it formed his +Ayana (resting-place) therefore is he known as Narayana.” As soon as that +everlasting Being was engaged in meditation for the re-creation of the +Universe, a lotus flower instantaneously came into existence from his +navel, and the four-faced Brahma came out of that navel-lotus. And then +the Grandsire of all creatures, seating himself on that flower and +finding that the whole Universe was a blank, created in his own likeness, +and from his will, the (nine) great Rishis, Marichi and others. And these +in their turn observing the same thing, completed the creation, by +creating Yakshas, Rakshas, Pisachas, reptiles, men, and all mobile and +immobile creatures. The Supreme Spirit hath three conditions. In the form +of Brahma, he is the Creator, and in the form of Vishnu he is the +Preserver, and in his form as Rudra, he is the Destroyer of the Universe! +O king of Sindhu, hast thou not heard of the wonderful achievements of +Vishnu, described to thee by the Munis and the Brahmanas learned in the +Vedas? When the world was thus reduced to one vast sea of water, with +only the heavens above, the Lord, like a fire-fly at night-time during +the rainy season, moved about hither and thither in search of stable +ground, with the view of rehabilitating his creation, and became desirous +of raising the Earth submerged in water. What shape shall I take to +rescue the Earth from this flood?--So thinking and contemplating with +divine insight, he bethought himself of the shape of a wild boar fond of +sporting in water. And assuming the shape of a sacrificial boar shining +with effulgence and instinct with the Vedas and ten Yojanas in length, +with pointed tusks and a complexion like dark clouds, and with a body +huge as a mountain, and roaring like a conglomeration of clouds, the Lord +plunged into the waters, and lifted up the Earth with one of his tusks, +and replaced it in its proper sphere. At another time, the mighty Lord, +assuming a wonderful form with a body half lion, half man, and squeezing +his hands, repaired to the court of the ruler of the Daityas. That +progenitor of the Daityas, the son of Diti, who was the enemy of the +(gods), beholding the Lord’s peculiar form, burst out into passion and +his eyes became inflamed with rage. And Hiranya-Kasipu, the war-like son +of Diti and the enemy of the gods, adorned with garlands and looking like +a mass of dark clouds, taking up his trident in hand and roaring like the +clouds, rushed on that being half lion, half man. Then that powerful king +of wild beasts, half man, half lion, taking a leap in the air, instantly +rent the Daitya in twain by means of his sharp claws. And the adorable +lotus-eyed Lord of great effulgence, having thus slain the Daitya king +for the well-being of all creatures, again took his birth in the womb of +Aditi as son of Kasyapa. And at the expiration of a thousand years she +was delivered of that superhuman conception. And then was born that +Being, of the hue of rain-charged clouds with bright eyes and of dwarfish +stature. He had the ascetic’s staff and water-pot in hand, and was marked +with the emblem of a curl of hair on the breast. And that adorable Being +wore matted locks and the sacrificial thread, and he was stout and +handsome and resplendent with lustre. And that Being, arriving at the +sacrificial enclosure of Vali, king of the Danavas, entered the +sacrificial assembly with the aid of Vrihaspati. And beholding that +dwarf-bodied Being, Vali was well-pleased and said unto him, ‘I am glad +to see thee, O Brahmana! Say what is it that thou wantest from me!’ Thus +addressed by Vali, the dwarf-god replied with a smile, saying, ‘So be it! +Do thou, lord of the Danavas, give me three paces of ground!’ And Vali +contented to give what that Brahmana of infinite power had asked. And +while measuring with his paces the space he sought. Hari assumed a +wonderful and extraordinary form. And with only three paces he instantly +covered this illimitable world. And then that everlasting God, Vishnu, +gave it away unto Indra. This history which has just been related to +thee, is celebrated as the ‘Incarnation of the Dwarf’, And from him, all +the gods had their being, and after him the world is said to be +Vaishnava, or pervaded by Vishnu. And for the destruction of the wicked +and the preservation of religion, even He hath taken his birth among men +in the race of the Yadus. And the adorable Vishnu is styled Krishna. +These, O king of Sindhu, are the achievements of the Lord whom all the +worlds worship and whom the learned describe as without beginning and +without end, unborn and Divine! They call Him, the unconquerable Krishna +with conchshell, discus and mace, and adorned with the emblem of a curl +of hair, Divine, clad in silken robes of yellow hue, and the best of +those versed in the art of war. Arjuna is protected by Krishna the +possessor of these attributes. That glorious and lotus-eyed Being of +infinite power, that slayer of hostile heroes, riding in the same chariot +with Pritha’s son, protecteth him! He is, therefore, invincible; the very +gods cannot resist his power, still less can one with human attributes +vanquish the son of Pritha in battle! Therefore, O king, thou must let +him alone! Thou shalt, however, be able to vanquish for a single day +only, the rest of Yudhishthira’s forces along with thine enemies--the +four sons of Pandu!” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having said these words unto that prince, the +adorable Hara of three eyes, the destroyer of all sins, the consort of +Uma, and lord of wild beasts, the destroyer of (Daksha’s) sacrifice, the +slayer of Tripura and He that had plucked out the eyes of Bhaga, +surrounded by his dwarfish and hunch-backed and terrible followers having +frightful eyes and ears and uplifted arms, vanished, O tiger among kings, +from that place with his consort Uma! And the wicked Jayadratha also +returned home, and the sons of Pandu continued to dwell in the forest of +Kamyaka.” + + + +SECTION CCLXXI + +Janamejaya said, “What did those tigers among men, the Pandavas, do, +after they had suffered such misery in consequence of the ravishment of +Draupadi?” + +Vaisampayana said, “Having defeated Jayadratha and rescued Krishna, the +virtuous king Yudhishthira took his seat by the side of that best of +Munis. And among those foremost of ascetics who were expressing their +grief upon bearing Draupadi’s misfortune, Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, +addressed Markandeya, saying, ‘O adorable Sire, amongst the gods and the +ascetics, thou art known to have the fullest knowledge of both the past +as well as; the future. A doubt existeth in my mind, which I would ask +thee to solve! This lady is the daughter of Drupada; she hath issued from +the sacrificial altar and hath not been begotten of the flesh; and she is +highly blessed and is also the daughter-in-law of the illustrious Pandu. +I incline to think that Time, and human Destiny that dependeth on our +acts, and the Inevitable, are irresistible in respect of creatures. (If +it were not so), how could such a misfortune afflict this wife of ours so +faithful and virtuous, like a false accusation of theft against an honest +man? The daughter of Drupada hath never committed any sinful act, nor, +hath she done anything that is not commendable: on the contrary, she hath +assiduously practised the highest virtues towards Brahmanas. And yet the +foolish king Jayadratha had carried her away by force. In consequence of +this act of violence on her, that sinful wretch hath his hair shaved off +his head and sustained also, with all his allies, defeat in battle. It is +true we have rescued her after slaughtering the troops of Sindhu. But the +disgrace of this ravishment of our wife during our hours of carelessness, +hath stained us, to be sure. This life in the wilderness is full of +miseries. We subsist by chase; and though dwelling in the woods, we are +obliged to slay the denizens thereof that live with us! This exile also +that we suffer is due to the act of deceitful kinsmen! Is there any one +who is more unfortunate than I am? Hath thou ever seen or heard of such a +one before?” + + + +SECTION CCLXXII + +“Markandeya said, ‘O bull of the Bharata race, even Rama suffered +unparalleled misery, for the evil-minded Ravana, king of the Rakshasas, +having recourse to deceit and overpowering the vulture Jatayu, forcibly +carried away his wife Sita from his asylum in the woods. Indeed, Rama, +with the help of Sugriva, brought her back, constructing a bridge across +the sea, and consuming Lanka with his keen-edged arrows.’ + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘In what race was Rama born and what was the measure +of his might and prowess? Whose son also was Ravana and for what was it +that he had any misunderstanding with Rama? It behoveth thee, O +illustrious one, to tell me all this in detail; for I long to hear the +story of Rama of great achievements!’ + +“Markandeya said, ‘Listen, O prince of Bharata’s race, to this old +history exactly as it happened! I will tell thee all about the distress +suffered by Rama together with his wife. There was a great king named Aja +sprung from me race of Ikshwaku. He had a son named Dasaratha who was +devoted to the study of the Vedas and was ever pure. And Dasaratha had +four sons conversant with morality and profit known by the names, +respectively, of Rama, Lakshmana, Satrughna, and the mighty Bharata. And +Rama had for his mother Kausalya, and Bharata had for his mother Kaikeyi, +while those scourge of their enemies Lakshmana and Satrughna were the +sons of Sumitra. And Janaka was the king of Videha, and Sita was his +daughter. And Tashtri himself created her, desiring to make her the +beloved wife of Rama. I have now told thee the history of both Rama’s and +Sita’s birth. And now, O king, I will relate unto thee birth of Ravana. +That Lord of all creatures and the Creator of the Universe viz., the +Self-create Prajapati himself--that god possessed of great ascetic +merit--is the grandfather of Ravana. And Pulastya hath a mighty son +called Vaisravana begotten of a cow. But his son, leaving his father, +went to his grandfather. And, O king, angered at this, his father then +created a second self of himself. And with half of his own self that +regenerate one became born of Visrava for wrecking a vengeance on +Vaisravana. But the Grandsire, pleased with Vaisravana, gave him +immortality, and sovereignty of all the wealth of the Universe, the +guardianship of one of the cardinal points, the friendship of Isana, and +a son named Nalakuvera. And he also gave him for his capital Lanka, which +was guarded by hosts of Rakshasas, and also a chariot called Pushpaka +capable of going everywhere according to the will of the rider. And the +kingship of the Yakshas and the sovereignty over sovereigns were also +his.’” + + + +SECTION CCLXXIII + +Markandeya said, “The Muni named Visrava, who was begotten of half the +soul of Pulastya, in a fit of passion, began to look upon Vaisravana with +great anger. But, O monarch, Kuvera, the king of the Rakshasas, knowing +that his father was angry with him, always sought to please him. And, O +best of Bharata’s race, that king of kings living in Lanka, and borne +upon the shoulders of men, sent three Rakshasa women to wait upon his +father. Their names, O king, were Pushpotkata, Raka and Malini. And they +were skilled in singing and dancing and were always assiduous in their +attentions on that high-souled Rishi. And those slender-waisted ladies +vied with one another, O king, in gratifying the Rishi. And that +high-souled and adorable being was pleased with them and granted them +boons. And to every one of them he gave princely sons according to their +desire. Two sons--those foremost of Rakshasas named Kumvakarna and the +Ten-headed Ravana,--both unequalled on earth in prowess, were born to +Pushpotkata. And Malini had a son named Vibhishana, and Raka had twin +children named Khara and Surpanakha. And Vibhishana surpassed them all in +beauty. And that excellent person was very pious and assiduously +performed all religious rites. But that foremost of Rakshasas, with ten +heads, was the eldest to them all. And he was religious, and energetic +and possessed of great strength and prowess. And the Rakshasa Kumvakarna +was the most powerful in battle, for he was fierce and terrible and a +thorough master of the arts of illusion. And Khara was proficient in +archery, and hostile to the Brahmanas, subsisting as he did on flesh. And +the fierce Surpanakha was constant source of trouble to the ascetics. And +the warriors, learned in the Vedas and diligent in ceremonial rites, all +lived with their father in the Gandhamadana. And there they beheld +Vaisravana seated with their father, possessed of riches and borne on the +shoulders of men. And seized with jealousy, they resolved upon performing +penances. And with ascetic penances of the most severe kind, they +gratified Brahma. And the Ten-headed Ravana, supporting life by means of +air alone and surrounded by the five sacred fires and absorbed in +meditation, remained standing on one leg for a thousand years. And +Kumvakarna with head downwards, and with restricted diet, was constant in +austerities. And the wise and magnanimous Vibhishana, observing fasts and +subsisting only on dry leaves and engaged in meditation, practised severe +austerities for a long period. And Khara and Surpanakha, with cheerful +hearts, protected and attended on them while they were performing those +austerities. And at the close of a thousand years, the invincible +Ten-headed One, cutting off his own heads, offered them as offering to +the sacred fire. And at this act of his, the Lord of the Universe was +pleased with him. And then Brahma, personally appearing to them, bade +them desist from those austerities and promised to grant boons unto every +one of them. And the adorable Brahma said, I am pleased with you, my +sons! Cease now from these austerities and ask boons of me! Whatever your +desires may be, they, with the single exception of that of immortality, +will be fulfilled! As thou hast offered thy heads to the fire from great +ambition, they will again adorn thy body as before, according to thy +desire. And thy body will not be disfigured and thou shall be able to +assume any form according to thy desire and become the conqueror of thy +foes in battle. There is no doubt of this!’ thereupon Ravana said, ‘May I +never experience defeat at the hands of Gandharvas, Celestials, Kinnaras, +Asuras, Yakshas, Rakshasas, Serpents and all other creatures!’ Brahma +said, ‘From those that hast named, thou shalt never have cause of fear; +except from men (thou shalt have no occasion for fear). Good betide thee! +So hath it been ordained by me!’ + +“Markandeya said, ‘Thus addressed, the Ten-headed (Ravana) was highly +gratified, for on account of his perverted understanding, the man-eating +one slightened human beings. Then the great Grandsire addressed +Kumbhakarna as before. His reason being clouded by darkness, he asked for +long-lasting sleep. Saying, ‘It shall be so’ ‘Brahma then addressed +Vibhishana, ‘O my son, I am much pleased with thee! Ask any boon thou +pleasest!’ Thereupon, Vibhishana replied, ‘Even in great danger, may I +never swerve from the path of righteousness, and though ignorant, may I, +O adorable Sire, be illumined with the light of divine knowledge!’ And +Brahma replied, ‘O scourge of thy enemies, as thy soul inclines not to +unrighteousness although born in the Rakshasa race, I grant thee +immortality!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Having obtained this boon, the Ten-headed +Rakshasa defeated Kuvera in battle and obtained from him the sovereignty +of Lanka. That adorable Being, leaving Lanka and followed by Gandharvas, +Yakshas, Rakshas, and Kinnaras, went to live on mount Gandhamadana. And +Ravana forcibly took from him the celestial chariot Pushpaka. And upon +this Vaisravana cursed him, saying, ‘This chariot shall never carry thee; +it shall bear him who will slay thee in battle! And as thou hast insulted +me, thy elder brother, thou shalt soon die!’ + +“The pious Vibhishana, O King, treading in the path followed by the +virtuous and possessed of great glory, followed Kuvera. That adorable +Lord of wealth, highly pleased with his younger brothers, invested him +with the command of the Yaksha and Raksha hosts. On the other hand, the +powerful and man-eating Rakshasas and Pisachas, having assembled +together, invested the Ten-headed Ravana with their sovereignty. And +Ravana, capable of assuming any form at will and terrible in prowess, and +capable also of passing through the air, attacked the gods and the +Daityas and wrested from them all their valuable possessions. And as he +had terrified all creatures, he was called Ravana. And Ravana, capable of +mustering any measure of might inspired the very gods with terror.” + + + +SECTION CCLXXIV + +“Markandeya said, ‘Then the Brahmarshis, the Siddhas and the Devarshis, +with Havyavaha as their spokesman, sought the protection of Brahma. And +Agni said, ‘That powerful son of Visrava, the Ten-headed cannot be slain +on account of thy boon! Endued with great might he oppresseth in every +possible way the creatures of the earth. Protect us, therefore, O +adorable one! There is none else save thee to protect us!’ + +“Brahma said, ‘O Agni, he cannot be conquered in battle by either the +gods or the Asuras! I have already ordained that which is needful for +that purpose. Indeed his death is near! Urged by me, the four-headed God +hath already been incarnate for that object. Even Vishnu, that foremost +of smiters will achieve that object!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Then the Grandsire also asked Sakra, in their +presence, ‘Be thou, with all the celestials, born on earth! And beget ye +on monkeys and bears, heroic sons possessed of great strength and capable +of assuming any form at will as allies of Vishnu!’ And at this, the gods, +the Gandharvas and the Danavas quickly assembled to take counsel as to +how they should be born on earth according to their respective parts. And +in their presence the boon-giving god commanded a Gandharvi, by name +Dundubhi saying, ‘Go there for accomplishing this object!’ And Dundubhi +hearing these words of the Grandsire was born in the world of men as the +hunchbacked Manthara. And all the principal celestials, with Sakra and +others begot offspring upon the wives of the foremost of monkeys and +bears. And those sons equalled their sires in strength and fame. And they +were capable of splitting mountain peaks and their weapons were stones +and trees of the Sala and the Tala species. And their bodies were hard as +adamant, and they were possessed of very great strength. And they were +all skilled in war and capable of mustering any measure of energy at +will. And they were equal to a thousand elephants in might, and they +resembled the wind in speed. And some of them lived wherever they liked, +while others lived in forests. And the adorable Creator of the Universe, +having ordained all this, instructed Manthara as to what she would have +to do. And Manthara quick as thought, understood all his words, and went +hither and thither ever engaged in fomenting quarrels.” + + + +SECTION CCLXXV + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O adorable one, thou hast described to me in detail +the history of the birth of Rama and others. I wish to learn the cause of +their exile. Do thou, O Brahmana, relate why the sons of Dasaratha--the +brothers Rama and Lakshmana--went to the forest with famous princess of +Mithila.’ + +“Markandeya said, ‘The pious king Dasaratha, ever mindful of the old and +assiduous in religious ceremonies, was greatly pleased when these sons +were born. And his sons gradually grew up in might and they became +conversant with the Vedas together with all their mysteries, and with the +science of arms. And when after having gone through the Brahmacharyya +vows the princes were married, king Dasaratha became happy and highly +pleased. And the intelligent Rama, the eldest of them all, became the +favourite of his father, and greatly pleased the people with his charming +ways. And then, O Bharata, the wise king, considering himself old in +years took counsel with his virtuous ministers and spiritual adviser for +installing Rama as regent of the kingdom. And all those great ministers +were agreed that it was time to do so. And, O scion of Kuru’s race, king +Dasaratha was greatly pleased to behold his son,--that enhancer of +Kausalya’s delight--possessed of eyes that were red, and arms that were +sinewy. And his steps were like those of a wild elephant. And he had long +arms and high shoulders and black and curly hair. And he was valiant, and +glowing with splendour, and not inferior to Indra himself in battle. And +he was well-versed in holy writ and was equal to Vrihaspati in wisdom. An +object of love with all the people, he was skilled in every science. And +with senses under complete control, his very enemies were pleased to +behold him. And he was terror of the wicked and the protector of the +virtuous. And possessed of intelligence and incapable of being baffled, +he was victorious over all and never vanquished by any. And, O descendant +of Kurus, beholding his son--that enhancer of Kausalya’s joy--king +Dasaratha became highly pleased. And reflecting on Rama’s virtues, the +powerful and mighty king cheerfully addressed the family priest, saying, +‘Blessed be thou, O Brahmana! This night of the Pushya constellation will +bring in a very auspicious conjunction. Let, therefore, materials be +collected and let Rama also be invited. This Pushya constellation will +last till tomorrow. And Rama, therefore, should be invested by me and my +ministers as prince-regent of all my subjects!’ + +“Meanwhile Manthara (the maid of Kaikeyi), hearing these words of the +king, went to her mistress, and spoke unto her as was suited to the +occasion. And she said, ‘Thy great ill-luck, O Kaikeyi, hath this day +been proclaimed by the king! O unlucky one, mayst thou be bitten by a +fierce and enraged snake of virulent poison! Kausalya, indeed, is +fortunate, as it is her son that is going to be installed on the throne. +Where, indeed, is thy prosperity, when thy son obtaineth not the kingdom?’ + +“Hearing these words of her maid, the slender-waisted and beautiful +Kaikeyi put on all her ornaments, and sought her husband in a secluded +place. And with a joyous heart, and smiling pleasantly, she addressed +these words to him with all the blandishments of love, ‘O king, thou art +always true to thy promises. Thou didst promise before to grant me an +object of my desire. Do thou fulfil that promise now and save thyself +from the sin of unredeemed pledge!’ The king replied, saying, ‘I will +grant thee a boon. Ask thou whatever thou wishest! What man undeserving +of death shall be slain today and who that deserves death is to be set at +liberty? Upon whom shall I bestow wealth to-day, or whose wealth shall be +confiscated? Whatever wealth there is in this world, save what belongeth +to Brahmanas, is mine! I am the king of kings in this world, and the +protector of all the four classes! Tell me quickly, O blessed lady, what +that object is upon which thou hast set thy heart!’ Hearing these words +of the king, and tying him fast to his pledge, and conscious also of her +power over him, she addressed him in these words, ‘I desire that Bharata +be the recipient of that investiture which thou hast designed for Rama, +and let Rama go into exile living in the forest of Dandaka for fourteen +years as an ascetic with matted locks on head and robed in rags and +deer-skins!’ Hearing these disagreeable words of cruel import, the king, +O chief of the Bharata race, was sorely afflicted and became utterly +speechless! But the mighty and virtuous Rama, learning that his father +had been thus solicited, went into the forest so that the king’s truth +might remain inviolate. And, blessed be thou, he was followed by the +auspicious Lakshmana--that foremost of bowmen and his wife Sita, the +princess of Videha and daughter of Janaka. And after Rama had gone into +the forest, king Dasaratha took leave of his body, agreeably to the +eternal law of time. And knowing that Rama not near and that the king was +dead, queen Kaikeyi, causing Bharata to be brought before her, addressed +him in these words, ‘Dasaratha hath gone to heaven and both Rama and +Lakshmana are in the forest! Take thou this kingdom which is so extensive +and whose peace there is no rival to disturb’. Thereupon the virtuous +Bharata replied unto her saying, ‘Thou hast done a wicked deed, having +slain thy husband and exterminated this family from lust of wealth alone! +Heaping infamy on my head, O accursed woman of our race, thou hast, O +mother, attained this, thy object!’ And having said these words, the +prince wept aloud. And having proved his innocence before all the +subjects of that realm he set out in the wake of Rama, desiring to bring +him back. And placing Kausalya and Sumitra and Kaikeyi in the vehicles at +the van of his train, he proceeded with a heavy heart, in company with +Satrughna. And he was accompanied by Vasishtha and Vamadeva, and other +Brahmanas by thousands and by the people of the cities and the provinces, +desiring to bring back Rama. And he saw Rama with Lakshmana, living on +the mountains of Chitrakuta with bow in hand and decked with the +ornaments of ascetics. Bharata, however, was dismissed by Rama, who was +determined to act according to the words, of his father. And returning, +Bharata ruled at Nandigrama, keeping before him, his brother’s wooden +sandals. And Rama fearing a repetition of intrusion by the people of +Ayodhya, entered into the great forest towards the asylum of Sarabhanga. +And having paid his respects to Sarabhanga, he entered the forest of +Dandaka and took up his abode on the banks of beautiful river Godavari. +And while living there, Rama was inveigled into hostilities with Khara, +then dwelling in Janasthana, on account of Surpanakha. And for the +protection of the ascetics the virtuous scion of Raghu’s race slew +fourteen thousand Rakshasas on earth, and having slain those mighty +Rakshasas, Khara and Dushana, the wise descendant of Raghu once more made +that sacred forest free from danger.’ + +“And after these Rakshasas had been slain, Surpanakha with mutilated nose +and lips, repaired to Lanka--the abode of her brother (Ravana). And when +that Rakshasa woman, senseless with grief and with dry blood-stains on +her face, appeared before Ravana, she fell down at his feet. And +beholding her so horribly mutilated, Ravana became senseless with wrath +and grinding his teeth sprung up from his seat. And dismissing his +ministers, he enquired of her in private, saying, ‘Blessed sister, who +hath made thee so, forgetting and disregarding me? Who is he that having +got a sharp-pointed spear hath rubbed his body with it? Who is he that +sleepeth in happiness and security, after placing a fire close to his +head? Who is he that hath trodden upon a revengeful snake of virulent +poison? Who indeed, is that person who standeth with his hand thrust into +the mouth of the maned lion!’ Then flames of wrath burst forth from his +body, like those that are emitted at night from the hollows of a tree on +fire. His sister then related unto him the prowess of Rama and the defeat +of the Rakshasas with Khara and Dushana at their head. Informed of the +slaughter of his relatives, Ravana, impelled by Fate, remembered Maricha +for slaying Rama. And resolving upon the course he was to follow and +having made arrangements for the government of his capital, he consoled +his sister, and set out on an aerial voyage. And crossing the Trikuta and +the Kala mountains, he beheld the vast receptacle of deep waters--the +abode of the Makaras. Then crossing the Ocean, the Ten headed Ravana +reached Gokarna--the favourite resort of the illustrious god armed with +the trident. And there Ravana met with his old friend Maricha who, from +fear of Rama himself, had adopted an ascetic mode of life.’” + + + +SECTION CCLXXVI + +“Markandeya said, ‘Beholding Ravana come, Maricha received him with a +respectful welcome, and offered him fruits and roots. And after Ravana +had taken his seat, and rested himself a while, Maricha skilled in +speech, sat beside Ravana and addressed him who was himself as eloquent +in speech, saying, ‘Thy complexion hath assumed an unnatural hue; is it +all right with thy kingdom, O king of the Rakshasas? What hath brought +thee here? Do thy subjects continue to pay thee the same allegiance that +they used to pay thee before? What business hath brought thee here? Know +that it is already fulfilled, even if it be very difficult of fulfilment! +Ravana, whose heart was agitated with wrath and humiliation informed him +briefly of the acts of Rama and the measures that were to be taken.’ And +on hearing his story, Maricha briefly replied to him, saying, ‘Thou must +not provoke Rama, for I know his strength! Is there a person who is +capable of withstanding the impetus of his arrows? That great man hath +been the cause of my assuming my present ascetic life. What evil-minded +creature hath put thee up to this course calculated to bring ruin and +destruction on thee?’ To this Ravana indignantly replied, reproaching him +thus, ‘If thou dost not obey my orders, thou shall surely die at my +hands.’ Maricha then thought within himself, ‘When death is inevitable, I +shall do his biddings; for it is better to die at the hands of one that +is superior.’ Then he replied to the lord of the Rakshasas saying, ‘I +shall surely render thee whatever help I can!’ Then the Ten-headed Ravana +said unto him, ‘Go and tempt Sita, assuming the shape of a deer with +golden horns and a golden skin! When Sita will observe thee thus, she +will surely send away Rama to hunt thee. And then Sita will surely come +within my power, and I shall forcibly carry her away. And then that +wicked Rama will surely die of grief at the loss of his wife. Do thou +help me in this way!’ + +“Thus addressed, Maricha performed his obsequies (in anticipation) and +with a sorrowful heart, followed Ravana who was in advance of him. And +having reached the hermitage of Rama of difficult achievements, they both +did as arranged beforehand. And Ravana appeared in the guise of an +ascetic with head shaven, and adorned with a Kamandala, and a treble +staff. And Maricha appeared in the shape of a deer. And Maricha appeared +before the princess of Videha in that guise. And impelled by Fate, she +sent away Rama after that deer. And Rama, with the object of pleasing +her, quickly took up his bow, and leaving Lakshmana behind to protect +her, went in pursuit of that deer. And armed with his bow and quiver and +scimitar, and his fingers encased in gloves of Guana skin, Rama went in +pursuit of that deer, after the manner of Rudra following the stellar +deer[90] in days of yore. And that Rakshasa enticed away Rama to a great +distance by appearing before him at one time and disappearing from his +view at another. And when Rama at last knew who and what that deer was, +viz., that he was a Rakshasa, that illustrious descendant of Raghu’s race +took out an infallible arrow and slew that Rakshasa, in the disguise of a +deer. And struck with Rama’s arrow, the Rakshasa, imitating Rama’s voice, +cried out in great distress, calling upon Sita and Lakshmana. And when +the princess of Videha heard that cry of distress, she urged Lakshmana to +run towards the quarter from whence the cry came. Then Lakshmana said to +her, “Timid lady, thou hast no cause of fear! Who is so powerful as to be +able to smite Rama? O thou of sweet smiles, in a moment thou wilt behold +thy husband Rama!’ Thus addressed, the chaste Sita, from that timidity +which is natural to women, became suspicious of even the pure Lakshmana, +and began to weep aloud. And that chaste lady, devoted to her husband, +harshly reproved Lakshmana, saying, ‘The object which thou, O fool, +cherishest in thy heart, shall never be fulfilled! I would rather kill +myself with a weapon or throw myself from the top of a hill or enter into +a blazing fire than live with a sorry wretch like thee, forsaking my +husband Rama, like a tigress under the protection of a jackal!-- + +When the good natured Lakshmana, who was very fond of his brother, heard +these words, he shut his ears (with his hands) and set out on the track +that Rama had taken. And Lakshmana set out without casting a single +glance on that lady with lips soft and red like the Bimba fruit. +Meanwhile, the Rakshasa Ravana, wearing a genteel guise though wicked at +heart, and like unto fire enveloped in a heap of ashes, showed himself +there. And he appeared there in the disguise of a hermit, for forcibly +carrying away that lady of blameless character. The virtuous daughter of +Janaka, seeing him come, welcomed him with fruits and root and a seat. +Disregarding these and assuming his own proper shape, that bull among +Rakshasas began to re-assure the princess of Videha in these words, ‘I +am, O Sita, the king of the Rakshasas, known by the name of Ravana! My +delightful city, known by the name of Lanka is on the other side of the +great ocean! There among beautiful women, thou wilt shine with me! O lady +of beautiful lips, forsaking the ascetic Rama do thou become my wife!’ +Janaka’s daughter of beautiful lips, hearing these and other words in the +same strain, shut her ears and replied unto him, saying, ‘Do not say so! +The vault of heaven with all its stars may fall down, the Earth itself +may be broken into fragments, fire itself may change its nature by +becoming cool, yet I cannot forsake the descendant of Raghu! How can a +she-elephant, who hath lived with the mighty leader of a herd with rent +temples forsake him and live with a hog? Having once tasted the sweet +wine prepared from honey or flowers, how can a woman, I fancy, relish the +wretched arrak from rice?’ Having uttered those words, she entered the +cottage, her lips trembling in wrath and her arms moving to and fro in +emotion. Ravana, however, followed her thither and intercepted her +further progress. And rudely scolded by the Rakshasa, she swooned away. +But Ravana seized her by the hair of her head, and rose up into the air. +Then a huge vulture of the name of Jatayu living on a mountain peak, +beheld that helpless lady thus weeping and calling upon Rama in great +distress while being carried away by Ravana.” + + + +SECTION CCLXXVII + +“Markandeya said, ‘That heroic king of the vultures, Jatayu, having +Sampati for his uterine brother and Arjuna himself for his father, was a +friend of Dasaratha. And beholding his daughter-in-law Sita on the lap of +Ravana, that ranger of the skies rushed in wrath against the king of the +Rakshasas. And the vulture addressed Ravana, saying, ‘Leave the princess +of Mithila, leave her I say! How canst thou, O Rakshasa, ravish her when +I am alive? If thou dost not release my daughter-in-law, thou shalt not +escape from me with life!’ And having said these words Jatayu began to +tear the king of the Rakshasas with his talons. And he mangled him in a +hundred different parts of his body by striking him with his wings and +beaks. And blood began to flow as copiously from Ravana’s body as water +from a mountain spring. And attacked thus by that vulture desirous of +Rama’s good, Ravana, taking up a sword, cut off the two wings of that +bird. And having slain that king of the vultures, huge as a mountain-peak +shooting forth above the clouds, the Rakshasa rose high in the air with +Sita on his lap. And the princess of Videha, wherever she saw an asylum +of ascetics, a lake, a river, or a tank, threw down an ornament of hers. +And beholding on the top of a mountain five foremost of monkeys, that +intelligent lady threw down amongst them a broad piece of her costly +attire. And that beautiful and yellow piece of cloth fell, fluttering +through the air, amongst those five foremost of monkeys like lightning +from the clouds. And that Rakshasa soon passed a great way through the +firmament like a bird through the air. And soon the Rakshasa beheld his +delightful and charming city of many gates, surrounded on all sides by +high walls and built by Viswakrit himself. And the king of the Rakshasa +then entered his own city known by the name of Lanka, accompanied by +Sita.’ + +“And while Sita was being carried away, the intelligent Rama, having +slain the great deer, retraced his steps and saw his brother Lakshmana +(on the way). And beholding his brother, Rama reproved him, saying, ‘How +couldst thou come hither, leaving the princess of Videha in a forest that +is haunted by the Rakshasa?’ And reflecting on his own enticement to a +great distance by that Rakshasa in the guise of a deer and on the arrival +of his brother (leaving Sita alone in the asylum), Rama was filled with +agony. And quickly advancing towards Lakshmana while reproving him still, +Rama asked him, ‘O Lakshmana, is the princess of Videha still alive? I +fear she is no more!’ Then Lakshmana told him everything about what Sita +had said, especially that unbecoming language of hers subsequently. With +a burning heart Rama then ran towards the asylum. And on the way he +beheld a vulture huge as a mountain, lying in agonies of death. And +suspecting him to be a Rakshasa, the descendant of the Kakutstha race, +along with Lakshmana rushed towards him, drawing with great force his bow +to a circle. The mighty vulture, however, addressing them both, said, +‘Blessed be ye, I am the king of the vultures, and friend of Dasaratha!’ +Hearing these words of his, both Rama and his brother put aside their +excellent bow and said, ‘Who is this one that speaketh the name of our +father in these woods?’ And then they saw that creature to be a bird +destitute of two wings, and that bird then told them of his own overthrow +at the hands of Ravana for the sake of Sita. Then Rama enquired of the +vulture as to the way Ravana had taken. The vulture answered him by a nod +of his head and then breathed his last. And having understood from the +sign the vulture had made that Ravana had gone towards the south, Rama +reverencing his father’s friend, caused his funeral obsequies to be duly +performed. Then those chastisers of foes, Rama and Lakshmana, filled with +grief at the abduction of the princess of Videha, took a southern path +through the Dandaka woods beholding along their way many uninhabited +asylums of ascetics, scattered over with seats of Kusa grass and +umbrellas of leaves and broken water-pots, and abounding with hundreds of +jackals. And in that great forest, Rama along with Sumatra’s son beheld +many herds of deer running in all directions. And they heard a loud +uproar of various creatures like what is heard during a fast spreading +forest conflagration. And soon they beheld a headless Rakshasa of +terrible mien. And that Rakshasa was dark as the clouds and huge as a +mountain, with shoulders broad as those of a Sola tree, and with arms +that were gigantic. And he had a pair of large eyes on his breast, and +the opening of his mouth was placed on his capacious belly. And that +Rakshasa seized Lakshmana by the hand, without any difficulty. And seized +by the Rakshasa the son of Sumitra, O Bharata, became utterly confounded +and helpless. And casting his glances on Rama, that headless Rakshasa +began to draw Lakshmana towards that part of his body where his mouth +was. And Lakshmana in grief addressed Rama, saying, ‘Behold my plight! +The loss of thy kingdom, and then the death of our father, and then the +abduction of Sita, and finally this disaster that hath overwhelmed me! +Alas, I shall not behold thee return with the princess of Videha to +Kosala and seated on thy ancestral throne as the ruler of the entire +Earth! They only that are fortunate will behold thy face, like unto the +moon emerged from the clouds, after thy coronation bath in water +sanctified with Kusa grass and fried paddy and black peas!’ And the +intelligent Lakshmana uttered those and other lamentations in the same +strain. The illustrious descendant, however, of Kakutstha’s race +undaunted amid danger, replied unto Lakshmana, saying, ‘Do not, O tiger +among men, give way to grief! What is this thing when I am here? Cut thou +off his right arm and I shall cut off his left.’ And while Rama was still +speaking so, the left arm of the monster was severed by him, cut off with +a sharp scimitar, as if indeed, that arm were a stalk of the Tila corn. +The mighty son of Sumitra then beholding his brother standing before him +struck off with his sword the right arm also of that Rakshasa. And +Lakshmana also began to repeatedly strike Rakshasa under the ribs, and +then that huge headless monster fell upon the ground and expired quickly. +And then there came out from the Rakshasa’s body a person of celestial +make. And he showed himself to the brothers, staying for a moment in the +skies, like the Sun in his effulgence in the firmament. And Rama skilled +in speech, asked him, saying, ‘Who art thou? Answer me who enquire of +thee? Whence could such a thing happen? All this seems to me to be +exceedingly wonderful!’ Thus addressed by Rama, that being replied unto +him, saying, ‘I am, O prince, a Gandharva of the name of Viswavasu! It +was through the curse of a Brahmana that I had to assume the form and +nature of a Rakshasa. As to thyself, O Rama, Sita hath been carried away +with violence by king Ravana who dwelleth in Lanka. Repair thou unto +Sugriva who will give thee his friendship. There, near enough to the peak +of Rishyamuka is the lake known by the name of Pampa of sacred water and +cranes. There dwelleth, with four of his counsellors, Sugriva, the +brother of the monkey-king Vali decked with a garland of gold. Repairing +unto him, inform of thy cause of sorrow. In plight very much like thy +own, he will render thee assistance. This is all that we can say. Thou +wilt, without doubt, see the daughter of Janaka! Without doubt Ravana and +others are known to the king of the monkeys!’ Having said these words, +that celestial being of great effulgence made himself invisible, and +those heroes, both Rama and Lakshmana, wondered much.” + + + +SECTION CCLXXVIII + +“Markandeya said, ‘Afflicted with grief at the abduction of Sita, Rama +had not to go much further before he came upon Pampa--that lake which +abounded with lotuses of various kinds. And fanned by the cool, delicious +and fragrant breezes in those woods, Rama suddenly remembered his dear +spouse. And, O mighty monarch, thinking of that dear wife of his, and +afflicted at the thought of his separation from her, Rama gave way to +lamentations. The son of Sumitra then addressed him saying, ‘O thou that +givest proper respect to those that deserve it, despondency such as this +should not be suffered to approach thee, like illness that can never +touch an old man leading a regular life! Thou hast obtained information +of Ravana and of the princess of Videha! Liberate her now with exertion +and intelligence! Let us now approach Sugriva, that foremost of monkeys, +who is even now on the mountain top! Console thyself, when I, thy +disciple and slave and ally, am near!’ And addressed by Lakshmana in +these and other words of the same import, Rama regained his own nature +and attended to the business before him. And bathing in the waters of +Pampa and offering oblations therewith unto their ancestors, both those +heroic brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, set out (for Rishyamuka). And +arriving at Rishyamuka which abounded with fruits and roots and trees, +those heroes beheld five monkeys on the top of the mountain-peak. And +seeing them approach, Sugriva sent his counsellor the intelligent +Hanuman, huge as the Himavat-mountains, to receive them. And the +brothers, having first exchanged words with Hanuman, approached Sugriva. +And then, O king, Rama made friends with Sugriva. And when Rama informed +Sugriva of the object he had in view, Sugriva showed him the piece of +cloth that Sita had dropped among the monkeys, while being carried away +by Ravana. And having obtained from him those credentials, Rama himself +installed Sugriva--that foremost of monkeys--in sovereignty of all the +monkeys of Earth. And Rama also pledged himself to slay Vali in battle. +And having come to that understanding and placing the fullest confidence +in each other, they all repaired to Kiskindhya, desirous of battle (with +Vali). And arriving at Kiskindhya, Sugriva sent forth a loud roar deep as +that of a cataract. Unable to bear that challenge, Vali was for coming +out (but his wife) Tara stood in way, saying, ‘Himself endued with great +strength, the way in which Sugriva is roaring, showeth, I ween, that he +hath found assistance! It behoveth thee not, therefore, to go out! Thus +addressed by her, that king of the monkeys, the eloquent Vali, decked in +a golden garland replied unto Tara of face beautiful as the moon, saying, +‘Thou understandest the voice of every creature. Tell me after reflection +whose help it is that this brother in name only of mine hath obtained!’ +Thus addressed by him Tara endued with wisdom and possessed of the +effulgence of the moon, answered her lord after a moment’s reflection, +saying, ‘Listen, O monarch of the monkeys! That foremost of bowmen, +endued with great might, Rama the son of Dasaratha, whose spouse hath +been ravished, hath made an alliance offensive and defensive with +Sugriva! And his brother the intelligent Lakshmana also of mighty arms, +the unvanquished son of Sumitra, standeth beside him for the success of +Sugriva’s object. And Mainda and Dwivida, and Hanuman the son of Pavana, +and Jamvuman, the king of the bears, are beside Sugriva as his +counsellors. All these illustrious ones are endued with great strength +and intelligence. And these all, depending upon the might and energy of +Rama, are prepared for thy destruction!’ Hearing these words of hers that +were for his benefit, the king of the monkeys disregarded them +altogether. And filled with jealousy, he also suspected her to have set +her heart on Sugriva! And addressing Tara in harsh words, he went out of +his cave and coming before Sugriva who was staying by the side of the +mountains of Malyavat, he spoke unto him thus, ‘Frequently vanquished +before by me, fond as thou art of life, thou art allowed by me to escape +with life owing to thy relationship with me! What hath made thee wish for +death so soon?’ Thus addressed by Vali, Sugriva, that slayer of foes, as +if addressing Rama himself for informing him of what had happened, +replied unto his brother in these words of grave import, ‘O king, robbed +by thee of my wife and my kingdom also, what need have I of life? Know +that it is for this that I have come!’ Then addressing each other in +these and other words of the same import, Vali and Sugriva rushed to the +encounter, fighting with Sala and Tala trees and stones. And they struck +each other down on the earth. And leaping high into the air, they struck +each other with their fists. And mangled by each other’s nail and teeth, +both of them were covered with blood. And the two heroes shone on that +account like a pair of blossoming Kinshukas. And as they fought with each +other, no difference (in aspect) could be observed so as to distinguish +them. Then Hanuman placed on Sugriva’s neck a garland of flowers. And +that hero thereupon shone with that garland on his neck, like the +beautiful and huge peak of Malya with its cloudy belt. And Rama, +recognising Sugriva by that sign, then drew his foremost of huge bows, +aiming at Vali as his mark. And the twang of Rama’s bow resembled the +roar of an engine. And Vali, pierced in the heart by that arrow, trembled +in fear. And Vali, his heart having been pierced through, began to vomit +forth blood. And he then beheld standing before him Rama with Sumatra’s +son by his side. And reproving that descendant of Kakutstha’s race, Vali +fell down on the ground and became senseless. And Tara then beheld that +lord of hers possessed of the effulgence of the Moon, lying prostrate on +the bare earth. And after Vali had been thus slain, Sugriva regained +possession of Kishkindhya, and along with it, of the widowed Tara also of +face beautiful as the moon. And the intelligent Rama also dwelt on the +beautiful breast of the Malyavat hill for four months, duly worshipped by +Sugriva all the while. + +“Meanwhile Ravana excited by lust, having reached his city of Lanka, +placed Sita in an abode, resembling Nandana itself, within a forest of +Asokas, that looked like an asylum of ascetics. And the large-eyed Sita +passed her days there in distress, living on fruits and roots, practising +ascetic austerities with fasts, attired in ascetic garb, and waning thin +day by day, thinking of her absent lord. And the king of the Rakshasas +appointed many Rakshasa women armed with bearded darts and swords and +lances and battle-axes and maces and flaming brands, for guarding her. +And some of these had two eyes, and some three. And some had eyes on +their foreheads. And some had long tongues and some had none. And some +had three breasts and some had only one leg. And some had three matted +braids on their heads, and some had only one eye. And these, and others +of blazing eyes and hair stiff as the camel’s, stood beside Sita +surrounding her day and night most watchfully. And those Pisacha women of +frightful voice and terrible aspect always addressed that large-eyed lady +in the harshest tones. And they said, ‘Let us eat her up, let us mangle +her, let us tear her into pieces, her, that is, that dwelleth here +disregarding our lord!’ And filled with grief at the separation from her +lord, Sita drew a deep sigh and answered those Rakshasa women, saying, +‘Reverend ladies, eat me up without delay! I have no desire to live +without that husband of mine, of eyes like lotus-leaves and locks wavy, +and blue in hue! Truly I will, without food and without the least love of +life, emaciate my limbs, like a she-snake (hibernating) within a Tala +tree. Know this for certain that I will never seek the protection of any +other person than the descendant of Raghu. And knowing this, do what ye +think fit!’ And hearing these words of hers, those Rakshasas with +dissonant voice went to the king of the Rakshasas, for representing unto +him all she had said. And when those Rakshasas had gone away, one of +their number known by the name of Trijata, who was virtuous and agreeable +in speech, began to console the princess of Videha. And she said, +‘Listen, O Sita! I will tell thee something! O friend, believe in what I +say! O thou of fair hips, cast off thy fears, and listen to what I say. +There is an intelligent and old chief of the Rakshasas known by the name +of Avindhya. He always seeketh Rama’s good and hath told me these words +for thy sake! ‘Reassuring and cheering her, tell Sita in my name, saying: +‘Thy husband the mighty Rama is well and is waited upon by Lakshmana. And +the blessed descendant of Raghu hath already made friends with Sugriva, +the king of the monkeys, and is ready to act for thee! And, O timid lady, +entertain thou no fear on account of Ravana, who is censured by the whole +world, for, O daughter, thou art safe from him on account of Nalakuvera’s +curse. Indeed, this wretch had been cursed before for his having violated +his daughter-in-law, Rambha. This lustful wretch is not able to violate +any woman by force. Thy husband will soon come, protected by Sugriva and +with the intelligent son of Sumitra in his train, and will soon take thee +away hence! O lady, I have had a most terrible dream of evil omen, +indicating the destruction of this wicked-minded wretch of Pulastya’s +race! This night wanderer of mean deeds is, indeed, most wicked and +cruel. He inspireth terror in all by the defects of his nature and the +wickedness of his conduct. And deprived of his senses by Fate, he +challengeth the very gods. In my vision I have seen every indication of +his downfall. I have seen the Ten-headed, with his crown shaven and body +besmeared with oil, sunk in mire, and the next moment dancing on a +chariot drawn by mules. I have seen Kumbhakarna and others, perfectly +naked and with crowns shaven, decked with red wreaths and unguents, and +running towards the southern direction. Vibhishana alone, with umbrella +over his head, and graced with a turban, and with body decked with white +wreaths and unguents, I beheld ascending the summit of the White hill. +And I saw four of his counsellors also, decked with white wreaths and +unguents, ascending the summit of that hill along with him. All this +bodeth that these alone will be saved from the impending terror. The +whole earth with its oceans and seas will be enveloped with Rama’s +arrows. O lady, thy husband will fill the whole earth with his fame. I +also saw Lakshmana, consuming all directions (with his arrows) and +ascending on a heap of bones and drinking thereon honey and rice boiled +in milk. And thou, O lady, hast been beheld by me running towards a +northernly direction, weeping and covered with blood and protected by a +tiger! And, O princess of Videha, soon wilt thou find happiness, being +united, O Sita, with thy lord, that descendant of Raghu accompanied by +his brother!’ Hearing these words of Trijata, that girl with eyes like +those of a young gazelle, once more began to entertain hopes of a union +with her lord. And when at last those fierce and cruel Pisacha guards +came back, they saw her sitting with Trijata as before.” + + + +SECTION CCLXXIX + +“Markandeya said, ‘And while the chaste Sita was dwelling there afflicted +with melancholy and grief on account of her lord, attired in mean garb, +with but a single jewel (on the marital thread on her wrist), and +incessantly weeping, seated on a stone, and waited upon by Rakshasa +women, Ravana, afflicted by the shafts of the god of desire, came to her +and approached her presence. And inflamed by desire, that conquerer in +battle of the gods, the Danavas, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, and the +Kimpurushas, attired in celestial robes and possessing handsome features, +decked with jewelled earrings and wearing a beautiful garland and crown, +entered the Asoka woods, like an embodiment of the vernal season. And +dressed with care, Ravana looked like the Kalpa tree in Indra’s garden. +But though adorned with every embellishment, that inspired her only with +awe, like a beautified banian in the midst of a cemetery. And that night +wanderer, having approached the presence of that slender-waisted lady, +looked like the planet Saturn in the presence of Rohini. And smitten with +the shafts of the god of the flowery emblem he accosted that fair-hipped +lady then affrighted like a helpless doe, and told her these words, ‘Thou +hast, O Sita, shown thy regard for thy lord too much! O thou of delicate +limbs, be merciful unto me. Let thy person be embellished now (by these +maids in waiting). O excellent lady, accept me as thy lord! And, O thou +of the most beautiful complexion, attired in costly robes and ornaments, +take thou the first place among all the women of my household. Many are +the daughters of the celestials and also the Gandharvas that I possess! I +am lord also of many Danava and Daitya ladies! One hundred and forty +millions of Pisachas, twice as many man-eating Rakshasa of terrible deed, +and thrice as many Yaksha do my bidding! Some of these are under the sway +of my brother who is the lord of all treasures. In my drinking hall, O +excellent lady of beautiful thighs, Gandharvas and Apsaras wait on me as +they do on my brother! I am, again, the son of that regenerate Rishi +Visravas himself of high ascetic merit. I am renowned, again, as the +fifth Regent of the Universe! And, O beautiful lady, of food and edibles +and drinks of the very best kind, I have as much as the Lord himself of +the celestials! Let all thy troubles consequent on a life in the woods +cease! O thou of fair hips, be my Queen, as Mandodari herself!’ Thus +addressed by him, the beautiful princess of Videha, turning away and +regarding him as something less than a straw, replied unto that wanderer +of the night. And at that time the princess of Videha, that girl of +beautiful hips, had her deep and compact bosom copiously drenched by her +inauspicious tears shed ceaselessly. And she who regarded her husband as +her god, answered that mean wretch, saying, ‘By sheer ill-luck it is, O +king of the Rakshasas, that I am obliged to hear such words of grievous +import spoken by thee! Blessed be thou, O Rakshasa fond of sensual +pleasures, let thy heart be withdrawn from me! I am the wife of another, +ever devoted to my husband, and, therefore, incapable of being possessed +by thee! A helpless human being that I am, I cannot be a fit wife for +thee! What joy can be thine by using violence towards an unwilling woman? +Thy father is a wise Brahmana, born of Brahma and equal unto that Lord +himself of the creation! Why dost thou not, therefore, thyself being +equal to a Regent of the Universe, observe virtue? Disgracing thy +brother, that king of the Yakshas, that adorable one who is the friend of +Maheswara himself, that lord of treasures, how is it that thou feelest no +shame?’ Having said these words, Sita began to weep, her bosom shivering +in agitation, and covering her neck and face with her garments. And the +long and well-knit braid, black and glossy, falling from the head of the +weeping lady, looked like a black snake. And hearing these cruel words +uttered by Sita, the foolish Ravana, although thus rejected, addressed +Sita once more, saying, ‘O lady, let the god having the Makara for his +emblem burn me sorely. I will, however, on no account, O thou of sweet +smiles and beautiful hips, approach thee, as thou art unwilling! What can +I do to thee that still feelest a regard for Rama who is only a human +being and, therefore, our food?’ Having said those words unto that lady +of faultless features, the king of the Rakshasa made himself invisible +then and there and went away to the place he liked. And Sita, surrounded +by those Rakshasa women, and treated with tenderness by Trijata, +continued to dwell there in grief.” + + + +SECTION CCLXXX + +“Markandeya said, ‘Meanwhile the illustrious descendant of Raghu, along +with his brother, hospitably treated by Sugriva, continued to dwell on +the breast of the Malyavat hill, beholding every day the clear blue sky. +And one night, while gazing from the mountain-top on the bright moon in +the cloudless sky surrounded by planets and stars and stellar bodies, +that slayer of foes was suddenly awakened (to a remembrance of Sita) by +the cold breezes fragrant with the perfumes of the lily, lotus and other +flowers of the same species. And virtuous Rama, dejected in spirits at +the thought of Sita’s captivity in the abode of the Rakshasa, addressed +the heroic Lakshmana in the morning saying, ‘Go, Lakshmana and seek in +Kishkindhya that ungrateful king off the monkeys, who understand well his +own interest and is even now indulging in dissipations, that foolish +wretch of his race whom I have installed on a throne and to whom all apes +and monkeys and bears owe allegiance, that fellow for whose sake, O +mighty-armed perpetuator of Raghu’s race, Vali was slain by me with thy +help in the wood of Kishkindhya! I regard that worst of monkeys on earth +to be highly ungrateful, for, O Lakshmana, that wretch hath now forgotten +me who am sunk in such distress! I think he is unwilling to fulfil his +pledge, disregarding, from dullness of understanding, one who hath done +him such services! If thou findest him lukewarm and rolling in sensual +joys, thou must then send him, by the path Vali hath been made to follow, +to the common goal of all creatures! If, on the other hand, thou seest +that foremost of monkeys delight in our cause, then, O descendant of +Kakutstha, shouldst thou bring him hither with thee! Be quick, and delay +not!’ Thus addressed by his brother, Lakshmana ever attentive to the +behests and welfare of his superiors, set out taking with him his +handsome bow with string and arrows. And reaching the gates of +Kishkindhya he entered the city unchallenged. And knowing him to be +angry, the monkey-king advanced to receive him. And with his wife, +Sugriva the king of the monkeys, with a humble heart, joyfully received +him with due honours. And the dauntless son of Sumitra then told him what +Rama had said. And having heard everything in detail, O mighty monarch, +Sugriva, the king of the monkeys with his wife and servants, joined his +hands, and cheerfully said unto Lakshmana, that elephant among men, these +words: ‘I am, O Lakshmana, neither wicked, nor ungrateful, nor destitute +of virtue! Hear what efforts I have made for finding out Sita’s place of +captivity! I have despatched diligent monkeys in all directions. All of +them have stipulated to return within a month. They will, O hero, search +the whole earth with her forests and hills and seas, her villages and +towns and cities and mines. Only five nights are wanting to complete that +month, and then thou wilt, with Rama, hear tidings of great joy!’ + +“Thus addressed by that intelligent king of the monkeys, the high-souled +Lakshmana became appeased, and he in his turn worshipped Sugriva. And +accompanied by Sugriva, he returned to Rama on the breast of the Malyavat +hill. And approaching him, Lakshmana informed him of the beginning +already made in respect of his undertaking. And soon thousands of +monkey-chiefs began to return, after having carefully searched the three +quarters of the earth, viz., the North, the East and the West. But they +that had gone towards the South did not make their appearance And they +that came back represented to Rama, saying that although they had +searched the whole earth with her belt of seas, yet they could not find +either the princess of Videha or Ravana. But that descendant of +Kakutstha’s race, afflicted at heart, managed to live yet, resting his +hopes (of hearing Sita’s tidings) on the great monkeys that had gone +towards the South. + +“After the lapse of two months, several monkeys seeking with haste the +presence of Sugriva, addressed him, saying, ‘O king, that foremost of +monkeys, the son of Pavana, as also Angada, the son of Vali, and the +other great monkeys whom thou hadst despatched to search the southern +region, have come back and are pillaging that great and excellent orchard +called Madhuvana, which was always guarded by Vali and which hath been +well-guarded by thee also after him!’ Hearing of this act of liberty on +their part, Sugriva inferred the success of their mission, for it is only +servants that have been crowned with success that can act in this way. +And that intelligent and foremost of monkeys communicated his suspicions +to Rama. And Rama also, from this, guessed that the princess of Mithila +had been seen. Then Hanuman and the other monkeys, having refreshed +themselves thus, came towards their king, who was then staying with Rama +and Lakshmana. And, O Bharata, observing the gait of Hanuman and the +colour of his face, Rama was confirmed in the belief that Hanuman had +really seen Sita. Then those successful monkeys with Hanuman at their +head, duly bowed unto Rama and Lakshmana and Sugriva. And Rama then +taking up his bow and quiver, addressed those monkeys, saying, ‘Have you +been successful? Will ye impart life unto me? Will ye once more enable me +to reign in Ayodhya after having slain my enemy in battle and rescued the +daughter of Janaka? With the princess of Videha unrescued, and the foe +unslain in battle, I dare not live, robbed of wife and honour!’ Thus +addressed by Rama, the son of Pavana, replied unto him, saying, ‘I bring +thee good news, O Rama; for Janaka’s daughter hath been seen by me. +Having searched the southern region with all its hills, forests, and +mines for some time, we became very weary. At length we beheld a great +cavern. And having beheld it, we entered that cavern which extended over +many Yojanas. It was dark and deep and overgrown with trees and infested +by worms. And having gone a great way through it, we came upon sun-shine +and beheld a beautiful palace. It was, O Raghava, the abode of the Daitya +Maya. And there we beheld a female ascetic named Prabhavati engaged in +ascetic austerities. And she gave us food and drink of various kinds. And +having refreshed ourselves therewith and regained our strength, we +proceeded along the way shown by her. At last we came out of the cavern +and beheld the briny sea, and on its shores, the Sahya, the Malaya and +the great Dardura mountains. And ascending the mountains of Malaya, we +beheld before us the vast ocean.[91] And beholding it we felt sorely +grieved in mind. And dejected in spirits and afflicted with pain and +famishing with hunger, we despaired of returning with our lives. Casting +our eyes on the great ocean extending over many hundreds of Yojanas and +abounding in whales and alligators and other aquatic animals, we became +anxious and filled with grief. We then sat together, resolved to die +there of starvation. And in course of conversation we happened to talk of +the vulture Jatayu. Just then we saw a bird huge as a mountain, of +frightful form, and inspiring terror into every heart, like a second son +of Vinata.[92] And coming upon us unawares for devouring us, he said, +‘Who are ye that are speaking thus of my brother Jatayu? I am his elder +brother, by name Sampati, and am the king of birds. Once upon a time, we +two, with the desire of outstripping each other, flew towards the sun. My +wings got burnt, but those of Jatayu were not. That was the last time I +saw my beloved brother Jatayu, the king of vultures! My wings burnt, I +fell down upon the top of this great mountain where I still am!’ When he +finished speaking, we informed him of the death of his brother in a few +words and also of this calamity that hath befallen thee! And, O king, the +powerful Sampati heating this unpleasant news from us, was greatly +afflicted and again enquired of us, saying, ‘Who is this Rama and why was +Sita carried off and how was Jatayu slain? Ye foremost of monkeys I wish +to hear everything in detail!’ We then informed him of everything about +this calamity of thine and of the reason also of our vow of starvation. +That king of birds then urged us (to give up our vow) by these words of +his: ‘Ravana is, indeed, known to me. Lanka is his capital. I beheld it +on the other side of the sea in a valley of the Trikuta hills! Sita must +be there. I have little doubt of this!’ Hearing these words of his, we +rose up quickly and began, O chastiser of foes, to take counsel of one +another for crossing the ocean! And when none dared to cross it, I, +having recourse to my father, crossed the great ocean which is a hundred +Yojanas in width. And having slain the Rakshasis on the waters, I saw the +chaste Sita within Ravana’s harem, observing ascetic austerities, eager +to behold her lord, with matted locks on head, and body besmeared with +filth, and lean, and melancholy and helpless. Recognising her as Sita by +those unusual signs, and approaching that worshipful lady while alone, I +said, ‘I am, O Sita, an emissary of Rama and monkey begotten by +Pavana![93] Desirous of having a sight of thee, hither have I come +travelling through the skies! Protected by Sugriva, that monarch of all +the monkeys, the royal brothers Rama and Lakshmana are in peace! And +Rama, O lady, with Sumitra’s son, hath enquired of thy welfare! And +Sugriva also, on account of his friendship (with Rama and Lakshmana) +enquireth of thy welfare. Followed by all the monkeys, thy husband will +soon be here. Confide in me, O adorable lady, I am a monkey and not a +Rakshasa!’ Thus addressed by me, Sita seemed to meditate for a moment and +then replied to me, saying, ‘From the words of Avindhya I know that thou +art Hanuman! O mighty-armed one, Avindhya is an old and respected +Rakshasa! He told me that Sugriva is surrounded by counsellors like thee. +Thou mayst depart now!’ And with these words she gave me this jewel as a +credential. And, indeed, it was by means of this jewel that the faultless +Sita had been able to support her existence. And the daughter of Janaka +further told me as a token from her, that by thee, O tiger among men, a +blade of grass (inspired with Mantras and thus converted into a fatal +weapon) had once been shot at a crow while ye were on the breast of the +mighty hill known by the name of Chitrakuta! And this she said as +evidence of my having met her and hers being really the princess of +Videha. I then caused myself to be seized by Ravana’s soldiers, and then +set fire to the city of Lanka!’” + + + +SECTION CCLXXXI + +“Markandeya said, ‘It was on the breast of that very hill where Rama was +seated with those foremost of monkeys that great monkey chiefs at the +command of Sugriva, began to flock together. The father-in-law of Vali, +the illustrious Sushena, accompanied by a thousand crores of active apes, +came to Rama. And those two foremost of monkeys endued with mighty +energy, viz., Gaya and Gavakshya, each accompanied by a hundred crores of +monkeys, showed themselves there. And, O king, Gavakshya also of terrible +mien and endued with a bovine tail, showed himself there, having +collected sixty thousand crores of monkeys. And the renowned +Gandhamadana, dwelling on the mountains of the same name, collected a +hundred thousand crores of monkeys. And the intelligent and mighty monkey +known by the name of Panasa mustered together fifty-two crores of +monkeys.[94] And that foremost and illustrious of monkeys named +Dadhimukha of mighty energy mustered a large army of monkeys possessed of +terrible prowess. And Jamvuvan showed himself there with a hundred +thousand crores of black bears of terrible deeds and faces having the +Tilaka mark.[95] And these and many other chiefs of monkey-chiefs, +countless in number, O king, came there for aiding Rama’s cause. And +endued with bodies huge as mountain-peaks and roaring like lions, loud +was the uproar that was heard there made by those monkeys running +restlessly from place to place. And some of them looked like +mountain-peaks, and some looked like buffaloes. And some were of the hue +of autumnal clouds and the faces of some were red as vermillion. And some +rose high, and some fell down, and some cut capers, and some scattered +the dust, as they mustered together from various directions. And that +monkey army, vast as the sea at full tide, encamped there at Sugriva’s +bidding. And after those foremost of monkeys had mustered from every +direction, the illustrious descendant of Raghu, with Sugriva by his side, +set out in an auspicious moment of a very fair day under a lucky +constellation, accompanied by that host arrayed in order of battle, as if +for the purpose of destroying all the worlds. And Hanuman, the son of the +Wind-god, was in the van of that host, while the rear was protected by +the fearless son of Sumitra. And surrounded by the monkey-chiefs, those +princes of Raghu’s house with fingers cased in guana skin, shone, as they +went, like the Sun and the Moon in the midst of the planets. And that +monkey host armed with stones and Sala and Tala trees, looked very much +like a far-extending field of corn under the morning sun. And that mighty +army, protected by Nala and Nila and Angada and Kratha and Mainda and +Dwivida, marched forth for achieving the purpose of Raghava. And +encamping successively, without interruption of any kind, on wide and +healthy tracts and valleys abounding with fruits and roots and water and +honey and meat, the monkey host at last reached the shores of the briny +sea. And like unto a second ocean, that mighty army with its countless +colours, having reached the shores of sea, took up its abode there. Then +the illustrious son of Dasaratha, addressing Sugriva amongst all those +foremost monkeys, spoke unto him these words that were suited to the +occasion, ‘This army is large. The ocean also is difficult to cross. What +contrivance, therefore, commends itself to thee for crossing the ocean?’ +At these words, many vain-glorious monkeys answered, ‘We are fully able +to cross the sea.’ This answer, however, was not of much use, as all +could not avail of that means. Some of the monkeys proposed to cross the +sea in boats, and some in rafts of various kinds. Rama, however, +conciliating them all, said, ‘This cannot be. ‘The sea here is a full +hundred Yojanas in width. All the monkeys, ye heroes, will not be able to +cross it. This proposal, therefore, that ye have made, is not consonant +to reason. Besides we have not the number of boats necessary for carrying +all our troops. How, again, can one like us raise such obstacles in the +way of the merchants? Our army is very large. The foe wilt make a great +havoc if a hole is detected. Therefore, to cross the sea in boats and +rafts doth not recommend itself to me. I will, however, pray to the Ocean +for the necessary means. Foregoing food, I will lie down on the shore. He +will certainly show himself to me. If, however, he doth not show himself, +I will chastise him then by means of my great weapons that are more +blazing than fire itself and are incapable of being baffled!’ Having said +these words, both Rama and Lakshmana touched water[96] and duly laid +themselves down on a bed of kusa grass on the seashore. The divine and +illustrious Ocean then that lord of male and female rivers, surrounded by +aquatic animals, appeared unto Rama in a vision. And addressing Rama in +sweet accents, the genius of the Ocean, surrounded by countless mines of +gems, said, ‘O son of Kausalya, tell me what aid, O bull among men, I am +to render thee! I also have sprung from the race of Ikshwaku[97] and am, +therefore, a relative of thine!’ Rama replied unto him, saying, ‘O lord +of rivers, male and female, I desire thee to grant me a way for my +troops, passing along which I may slay the Ten-headed (Ravana), that +wretch of Pulastya’s race! If thou dost not grant the way I beg of thee, +I will then dry thee up by means of my celestial arrows inspired with +mantras!’ And hearing these words of Rama, the genius of Varuna’s abode, +joining his hands, answered in great affliction, ‘I do not desire to put +any obstacle in thy way. I am no foe of thine! Listen, O Rama, to these +words, and having listened, do what is proper! If, at thy command, I get +a way for the passage of thy army, others then, from strength of their +bows, will command me to do the same! In thy army there is a monkey of +the name of Nala, who is a skilful mechanic. And endued with great +strength, Nala is the son of Tashtri, the divine artificer of the +Universe. And whether it is wood, or grass or stone, that he will throw +into my waters, I will support the same on my surface, and thus wilt thou +have a bridge (over which to pass)!’ And having said these words, the +genius of the Ocean disappeared. And Rama awaking, called Nala unto him +and said, ‘Build thou a bridge over the sea! Thou alone, I am sure, art +able to do it!’ And it was by this means that the descendant of +Kakutstha’s race caused a bridge to be built that was ten Yojanas in +width and a hundred Yojanas in length. And to this day that bridge is +celebrated over all the world by the name of Nala’s bridge. And having +completed that bridge, Nala, of body huge as a hill, came away at the +command of Rama. + +“And while Rama was on this side of the ocean, the virtuous Vibhishana, +the brother of the king of the Rakshasas accompanied by four of his +counsellors, came unto Rama. And the high-souled Rama received him with +due welcome. Sugriva, however, feared, thinking he might be a spy. The +son of Raghu, meanwhile perfectly satisfied (with Vibhishana) in +consequence of the sincerity of his exertions and the many indications of +his good conduct, worshipped him with respect. And he also installed +Vibhishana in the sovereignty of all the Rakshasas and made him his own +junior counsellor, and a friend of Lakshmana’s. And it was under +Vibhishana’s guidance, O king, that Rama with all his troops crossed the +great ocean by means of that bridge in course of a month. And having +crossed the ocean and arrived at Lanka, Rama caused its extensive and +numerous gardens to be devastated by his monkeys. And while Rama’s troops +were there, two of Ravana’s counsellors and officers, named Suka and +Sarana, who had come as spies, having assumed the shape of monkeys, were +seized by Vibhishana. And when those wanderers of the night assumed their +real Rakshasa forms, Rama showed them his troop and dismissed them +quietly. And having quartered his troops in those woods that skirted the +city, Rama then sent the monkey Angada with great wisdom as his envoy to +Ravana.” + + + +SECTION CCLXXXII + +“Markandeya said, ‘Having quartered his army in those groves abounding +with food and water and with fruits and roots, the descendant of +Kakutstha began to watch over them with care. Ravana, on the other hand, +planted in his city many appliances constructed according to the rules of +military science. And his city, naturally impregnable on account of its +strong ramparts and gate-ways, had seven trenches, that were deep and +full of water to the brim and that abounded with fishes and sharks and +alligators, made more impregnable still by means of pointed stakes of +Khadira wood. And the ramparts, heaped with stones, were made impregnable +by means of catapults. And the warriors (who guarded the walls) were +armed with earthen pots filled with venomous snakes, and with resinous +powders of many kinds. And they were also armed with clubs, and +fire-brands and arrows and lances and swords and battle-axes. And they +had also Sataghnis[98] and stout maces steeped in wax.[99] And at all the +gates of the city were planted movable and immovable encampments manned +by large numbers of infantry supported by countless elephants and horses. +And Angada, having reached one of the gates of the city, was made known +to the Rakshasas. And he entered the town without suspicion or fear. And +surrounded by countless Rakshasas, that hero in his beauty looked like +the Sun himself in the midst of masses of clouds. And having approached +the hero of Pulastya’s race in the midst of his counsellors, the eloquent +Angada saluted the king and began to deliver Rama’s message in these +words, ‘That descendant of Raghu, O king, who ruleth at Kosala and whose +renown hath spread over the whole world, sayeth unto thee these words +suited to the occasion. Accept thou that message and act according to it! +Provinces and towns, in consequence of their connection with sinful kings +incapable of controlling their souls, are themselves polluted and +destroyed. By the violent abduction of Sita, thou alone hast injured me! +Thou, however, wilt become the cause of death to many unoffending +persons. Possessed of power and filled with pride, thou hast, before +this, slain many Rishis living in the woods, and insulted the very gods. +Thou hast slain also many great kings and many weeping women. For those +transgressions of thine, retribution is about to overtake thee! I will +slay thee with thy counsellors. Fight and show thy courage![100] O +wanderer of the night, behold the power of my bow, although I am but a +man! Release Sita, the daughter of Janaka! If thou dost not release her, +I shall make the Earth divested of all Rakshasas with my keen-edged +arrows!’ Hearing these defiant words of the enemy, king Ravana bore them +ill, becoming senseless with wrath. And thereupon four Rakshasas skilled +in reading every sign of their master, seized Angada like four hawks +seizing a tiger. With those Rakshasas, however, holding him fast by his +limbs, Angada leaped upwards and alighted on the palace terrace. And as +he leaped up with a great force, those wanderers of the night fell down +the earth, and bruised by the violence of the fall, had their ribs +broken. And from the golden terrace on which he had alighted, he took a +downward leap. And overleaping the walls of Lanka, he alighted to where +his comrades were. And approaching the presence of the lord of Kosala and +informing him of everything, the monkey Angada endued with great energy +retired to refresh himself, dismissed with due respect by Rama. + +The descendant of Raghu then caused the ramparts of Lanka to be broken +down by a united attack of all those monkeys endued with the speed of the +wind. Then Lakshmana, with Vibhishana and the king of the bears marching +in the van, blew up the southern gate of the city that was almost +impregnable. Rama then attacked Lanka with a hundred thousand crores of +monkeys, all possessed of great skill in battle, and endued with reddish +complexions like those of young camels. And those crores of greyish bears +with long arms, and legs and huge paws, and generally supporting +themselves on their broad haunches, were also urged on to support the +attack. And in consequence of those monkeys leaping up and leaping down +and leaping in transverse directions, the Sun himself, his bright disc +completely shaded, became invisible for the dust they raised. And the +citizens of Lanka beheld the wall of their town assume all over a tawny +hue, covered by monkeys of complexions yellow as the ears of paddy, and +grey as Shirisha flowers, and red as the rising Sun, and white as flax or +hemp. And the Rakshasas, O king, with their wives and elders, were struck +with wonders at that sight. And the monkey warriors began to pull down +pillars made of precious stones and the terraces and tops of palatial +mansions. And breaking into fragments the propellers of catapults and +other engines, they began to cast them about in all directions. And +taking up the Sataghnis along with the discs, the clubs, and stones, they +threw them down into the city with great force and loud noise. And +attacked thus by the monkeys, those Rakshasas that had been placed on the +walls to guard them, fled precipitately by hundreds and thousands. + +“Then hundreds of thousands of Rakshasas, of terrible mien, and capable +of assuming any form at will, came out at the command of the king. And +pouring a perfect shower of arrows and driving the denizens of the +forest, those warriors, displaying great prowess, adorned the ramparts. +And soon those wanderers of the night, looking like masses of flesh, and +of terrible mien, forced the monkeys to leave the walls. And mangled by +the enemies’ lances, numerous monkey-chiefs fell down from the ramparts, +and crushed by the falling columns and gate-ways, numerous Rakshasas also +fell down to rise no more. And the monkeys and the brave Rakshasas that +commenced to eat up the foe, struggled, seizing one another by the hair, +and mangling and tearing one another with their nails and teeth. And the +monkeys and the Rakshasas roared and yelled frightfully, and while many +of both parties were slain and fell down to rise no more, neither side +gave up the contest. And Rama continued all the while to shower a thick +downpour of arrows like the very clouds. And the arrows he shot, +enveloping Lanka, killed large numbers of Rakshasas. And the son of +Sumitra, too, that mighty bowman incapable of being fatigued in battle, +naming particular Rakshasas stationed on the ramparts, slew them with his +clothyard shafts. And then the monkey host, having achieved success was +withdrawn at the command of Rama, after it had thus pulled down the +fortifications of Lanka and made all objects within the city capable of +being aimed at by the besieging force.” + + + +SECTION CCLXXXIII + +“Markandeya said, ‘And while those troops (thus withdrawn) were reposing +themselves in their quarters, many little Rakshasas and Pisachas owning +Ravana as their leader, penetrated amongst them. And among these were +Parvana, Patana, Jambha, Khara, Krodha-vasa, Hari, Praruja, Aruja and +Praghasa, and others. And as these wicked ones were penetrating (the +monkey host) in their invisible forms, Vibhishana, who had the knowledge +thereof, broke the spell of their invisibility. And once seen, O king, by +the powerful and long-leaping monkeys, they were all slain and prostrated +on the earth, deprived of life. And unable to endure this, Ravana marched +out at the head of his troops. And surrounded by his terrible army of +Rakshasas and Pisachas, Ravana who was conversant with the rules of +warfare like a second Usanas invested the monkey host, having disposed +his troops in that array which is named after Usanas himself. And +beholding Ravana advancing with his army disposed in that array, Rama, +following the mode recommended by Vrihaspati, disposed his troops in +counter array for opposing that wanderer of the night. And coming up +quickly, Ravana began to fight with Rama. And Lakshmana singled out +Indrajit, and Sugriva singled out Virupakshya, and Nikharvata fought with +Tara, and Nala with Tunda, and Patusa with Panasa. And each warrior, +advancing up to him whom he regarded as his match, began to fight with +him on that field of battle, relying on the strength of his own arms, and +that encounter, so frightful to timid persons, soon became terrible and +fierce like that between the gods and the Asuras in the days of old. And +Ravana covered Rama with a shower of darts and lances and swords, and +Rama also afflicted Ravana with his whetted arrows of iron furnished with +the sharpest points, and in the same way Lakshmana smote the contending +Indrajit with arrows capable of penetrating into the most vital parts and +Indrajit also smote Sumitra’s son with an arrowy shower. And Vibhishana +showered upon Prahasta and Prahasta showered upon Vibhishana, without any +regard for each other a thick downpour of winged arrows furnished with +the sharpest points. And thus between those mighty warriors there came +about an encounter of celestial weapons of great force, at which the +three worlds with their mobile and immobile creatures were sorely +distressed.” + + + +SECTION CCLXXXIV + +“Markandeya said, “Then Prahasta, suddenly advancing up to Vibhishana and +uttering a loud yell, struck him with his mace. But though struck with +that mace of terrible force, the mighty-armed Vibhishana of great wisdom, +without wavering in the least, stood still as the mountains of Himavat. +Then Vibhishana, taking up a huge and mighty javelin furnished with a +hundred bells, inspired it with mantras and hurled it at the head of his +adversary. And by the impetuosity of that weapon rushing with the force +of the thunderbolt, Prahasta’s head was severed off, and he thereupon +looked like a mighty tree broken by the wind. And beholding that wanderer +of the night, Prahasta, thus slain in battle, Dhumraksha rushed with +great impetuosity against the monkey-host. And beholding the soldiers of +Dhumraksha, looking like the clouds and endued with terrible mien, +advancing up towards them, the monkey-chief suddenly broke and fled. And +seeing those foremost of monkeys suddenly give way, that tiger among +monkeys, Hanuman, the son of Pavana, began to advance. And beholding the +son of Pavana staying still on the field of battle, the retreating +monkeys, O king, one and all quickly rallied. Then mighty and great and +fearful was the uproar that arose there in consequence of the warriors of +Rama and Ravana rushing against each other. And in that battle which +raged terribly the field soon became miry with blood. And Dhumraksha +afflicted the monkey-host with volleys of winged shafts. Then that +vanquisher of foes, Hanuman, the son of Pavana, quickly seized that +advancing leader of the Rakshasa. And the encounter that took place +between that monkey and the Rakshasa hero, is desirous of defeating the +other, was fierce and terrible, like that of Indra and Prahlada (in days +of yore). And the Rakshasa struck the monkey with his maces and spiked +clubs while the monkey struck the Rakshasa with trunks of trees unshorn +of their branches. Then Hanuman, the son of Pavana, slew in great wrath +that Rakshasa along with his charioteer and horses and broke his chariot +also into pieces. And beholding Dhumraksha, that foremost of Rakshasa, +thus slain, the monkeys, abandoning all fear, rushed against the Rakshasa +army with great valour. And slaughtered in large numbers by the +victorious and powerful monkeys, the Rakshasas became dispirited and fled +in fear to Lanka. And the surviving wreck of the Rakshasa army, having +reached the city, informed king Ravana of everything that had happened. +And hearing from them that Prahasta and that mighty archer Dhumraksha, +had both, with their armies, been slain by the powerful monkeys, Ravana +drew a deep sigh and springing up from his excellent seat, said,--the +time is come for Kumbhakarna to act.--And having said this, he awake, by +means of various loud-sounding instruments, his brother Kumbhakarna from +his deep and prolonged slumbers. And having awaked him with great +efforts, the Rakshasa king, still afflicted with anxiety, addressed the +mighty Kumbhakarna and said unto him when seated at his ease on his bed, +having perfectly recovered consciousness and self-possession, these +words, ‘Thou, indeed, art happy, O Kumbhakarna, that canst enjoy profound +and undisturbed repose, unconscious of the terrible calamity that hath +overtaken us! Rama with his monkey host hath crossed the Ocean by a +bridge and disregarding us all is waging a terrible war (against us). I +have stealthily brought away his wife Sita, the daughter of Janaka. and +it is to recover her that he hath come hither, after having made a bridge +over the great Ocean. Our great kinsmen also, Prahasta and others, have +already been slain by him. And, O scourge of thy enemies, there is not +another person, save thee, that can slay Rama! Therefore, O warrior, +putting on thy armour, do thou set out this day for the purpose of +vanquishing Rama and his followers! The two younger brothers of Dushana, +viz., Vajravega and Promathin, will join thee with their forces!’ And +having said this unto the mighty Kumbhakarna. the Rakshasa king gave +instructions to Vajravega and Promathin as to what they should do. And +accepting his advice, those two warlike brothers of Dushana quickly +marched out of the city, preceded by Kumbhakarna.” + + + +SECTION CCLXXXV + +“Markandeya said, “Then Kumbhakarna set out from the city, accompanied by +his followers. And soon he beheld the victorious monkey troops encamped +before him. And passing them by with the object of seeking out Rama, he +beheld the son of Sumitra standing at his post, bow in hand. Then the +monkey warriors, speedily advancing towards him, surrounded him on all +sides. And then they commenced to strike him with numberless large trees. +And many amongst them fearlessly began to tear his body with their nails. +And those monkeys began to fight with him in various ways approved by the +laws of warfare. And they soon overwhelmed that chief of the Rakshasas +with a shower of terrible weapons of various kinds. And attacked by them +thus, Kumbhakarna only laughed at them and began to eat them up. And he +devoured those foremost of monkeys known by the name of Chala, and +Chandachala, and Vajravahu. And beholding that fearful act of the +Rakshasa, other monkeys were frightened and set forth a loud wail of +fear. And hearing the screams of those monkey-leaders, Sugriva boldly +advanced towards Kumbhakarna. And that high-souled king of the monkeys +swiftly approaching the Rakshasa, violently struck him on the head with +the trunk of a Sala tree. And though the high-souled Sugriva always +prompt in action broke that Sala tree on the head of Kumbhakarna, he +failed to make any impression on that Rakshasa. And then, as if roused +from his torpor by that blow, Kumbhakarna stretching forth his arms +seized Sugriva by main force. And beholding Sugriva dragged away by the +Rakshasa, the heroic son of Sumitra, that delighter of his friends, +rushed towards Kumbhakarna. And that slayer of hostile heroes, Lakshmana, +advancing towards Kumbhakarna, discharged at him an impetuous and mighty +arrow furnished with golden wings. And that arrow, cutting through his +coat of mail and penetrating into his body, passed through it outright +and struck into the earth, stained with the Rakshasa’s blood. Kumbhakarna +then, having his breast thus bored through, released the king of monkeys. +And taking up a huge mass of stone as his weapon, the mighty warrior +Kumbhakarna then rushed towards the son of Sumitra, aiming it at him. And +as the Rakshasa rushed towards him, Lakshmana cut off his upraised arms +by means of a couple of keen-edged shafts furnished with heads resembling +razors. But as soon as the two arms of the Rakshasa were thus cut off, +double that number of arms soon appeared on his person. Sumitra’s son, +however, displaying his skill in weapon, soon by means of similar arrows +cut off those arms also, each of which had seized a mass of stone. At +this, that Rakshasa assumed a form enormously huge and furnished with +numerous heads and legs and arms. Then the son of Sumitra rived, with a +Brahma weapon, that warrior looking like an assemblage of hill. And rent +by means of that celestial weapon, that Rakshasa fell on the field of +battle like a huge tree with spreading branches suddenly consumed by +heaven’s thunderbolt. And beholding Kumbhakarna endued with great +activity and resembling the Asura Vritra himself, deprived of life and +prostrated on the field of battle, the Rakshasa warriors fled in fear. +And beholding the Rakshasa warriors running away from the field of +battle, the younger brother of Dushana, rallying them, rushed in great +wrath upon the son of Sumitra. Sumitra’s son, however, with a loud roar, +received with his winged shafts both those wrathful warriors, Vajravega +and Promathin, rushing towards him. The battle then, O son of Pritha, +that took place between those two younger brothers of Dushana on the one +hand and the intelligent Lakshmana on the other, was exceedingly furious +and made the bristles of the spectators stand on end. And Lakshmana +overwhelmed the two Rakshasas with a perfect shower of arrows. And those +two Rakshasa heroes, on the other hand, both of them excited with fury, +covered Lakshmana with an arrowy hail. And that terrible encounter +between Vajravega and Promathin and the mighty-armed Lakshmana lasted for +a short while. And Hanumana, the son of Pavana, taking up a mountain +peak, rushed towards one of the brothers, and with that weapon took the +life of the Rakshasa Vajravega. And that mighty monkey, Nala, also, with +a large mass of rock, crushed Promathin, that other younger brother of +Dushana. The deadly struggle, however, between the soldiers of Rama and +Ravana, rushing against one another, instead of coming to an end even +after this, raged on as before. And hundreds of Rakshasas were slain by +the denizens of the forest, while many of the latter were slain by the +former. The loss, however, in killed, of the Rakshasas was far greater +than that of the monkeys. + + + +SECTION CCLXXXVI + +“Markandeya said, ‘Learning that Kumbhakarna had with his followers, +fallen in battle as also that great warrior Prahasta, and Dhumraksha too +of mighty energy, Ravana then addressed his heroic son Indrajit saying, +‘O slayer of foes, slay thou in battle Rama and Sugriva and Lakshmana. My +good son, it was by thee that this blazing fame of mine had been acquired +by vanquishing in battle that wielder of the thunderbolt, the +thousand-eyed Lord of Sachi! Having the power of appearing and vanishing +at thy will, slay thou, O smiter of foes, my enemies by means, O thou +foremost of all wielders of weapons, of thy celestial arrows received as +boons (from the gods)! Rama and Lakshmana and Sugriva are incapable of +enduring the bare touch of thy weapons. What shall I say, therefore, of +their followers? That cessation of hostilities which could not be brought +about by either Prahasta or Kumbhakarna in battle, be it thine, O +mighty-armed one, to bring about! Slaying my enemies with all their army +by means of thy keen-edged shafts, enhance my joy to-day, O son, as thou +didst once before by vanquishing Vasava!’ Thus addressed by him. Indrajit +said--So be it,--and encased in mail he quickly ascended his chariot, and +proceeded, O king, towards the field of battle. And then that bull +amongst Rakshasas loudly announcing his own name, challenged Lakshmana +endued with auspicious marks, to a single combat. And Lakshmana, thus +challenged, rushed towards that Rakshasa, with his bow and arrows, and +striking terror into his adversary’s heart by means of the flapping of +his bow-string on the leathern case of his left hand. And the encounter +that took place between those warriors that defied each other’s prowess +and each of whom was desirous of vanquishing the other, and both of whom +were conversant with celestial weapons, was terrible in the extreme. But +when the son of Ravana found that he could not by his arrows gain any +advantage over his adversary, that foremost of mighty warriors mustered +all his energy. And Indrajit then began to hurl at Lakshmana with great +force numberless javelins. The son of Sumitra, however, cut them into +fragments by means of his own keen-edged arrows. And those javelins, thus +cut into pieces by the keen-edged arrows of Lakshmana, dropped down upon +the ground. Then the handsome Angada, the son of Vali, taking up a large +tree, rushed impetuously at Indrajit and struck him with it on the head. +Undaunted at this, Indrajit of mighty energy sought to smite Angada with +a lance. Just at that juncture, however, Lakshmana cut into pieces the +lance taken up by Ravana’s son. The son of Ravana then took up a mace and +struck on the left flank that foremost of monkeys, the heroic Angada who +was then staying close beside him. Angada, the powerful son of Vali, +little recking that stroke, hurled at Indrajit a mighty Sal stem. And +hurled in wrath by Angada for the destruction of Indrajit, that tree, O +son of Pritha, destroyed Indrajit’s chariot along with his horses and +charioteer. And thereupon jumping from his horseless and driverless car, +the son of Ravana disappeared from sight, O king, by aid of his powers of +illusion. And beholding that Rakshasa, abundantly endued with powers of +illusion, disappear so suddenly, Rama proceeded towards that spot and +began to protect his troops with care. Indrajit, however, with arrows, +obtained as boons from the gods, began to pierce both Rama and mighty +Lakshmana in every part of their bodies. Then the heroic Rama and +Lakshmana both continued to contend with their arrows against Ravana’s +son who had made himself invisible by his powers of illusion. But +Indrajit continued to shower in wrath all over those lions among men his +keen-edged shafts by hundreds and thousands. And seeking that invisible +warrior who was ceaselessly showering his arrows, the monkeys penetrated +into every part of the firmament, armed with huge masses of stone. Them +as well as the two brothers, however, the invisible Rakshasa began to +afflict with his shafts. Indeed, the son of Ravana, concealing himself by +his powers of illusion, furiously attacked the monkey host. And the +heroic brothers Rama and Lakshmana, pierced all over with arrows, dropped +down on the ground like the Sun and the Moon fallen down from the +firmament.’” + + + +SECTION CCLXXXVII + +“Markandeya said, ‘Beholding both the brothers Rama and Lakshmana +prostrate on the ground, the son of Ravana tied them in a net-work of +those arrows of his which he had obtained as boons. And tied by Indrajit +on the field of battle by means of that arrowy net, those heroic tigers +among men resembled a couple of hawks immured in a cage. And beholding +those heroes prostrate on the ground pierced with hundreds of arrows, +Sugriva with all the monkeys stood surrounding them on all sides. And the +king of the monkeys stood there, accompanied by Sushena and Mainda and +Dwivida, and Kumuda and Angada and Hanuman and Nila and Tara and Nala. +And Vibhishana, having achieved success in another part of the field, +soon arrived at that spot, and roused those heroes from insensibility, +awakening them by means of the weapon called, Prajna.[101] Then Sugriva +soon extracted the arrows from their bodies. And by means of that most +efficacious medicine called the Visalya[102], applied with celestial +mantras, those human heroes regained their consciousness. And the arrow +having been extracted from their bodies, those mighty warriors in a +moment rose from their recumbent posture, their pains and fatigue +thoroughly alleviated. And beholding Rama the descendant of Ikshwaku’s +race, quite at his ease, Vibhishana, O son of Pritha, joining his hands; +told him these words, ‘O chastiser of foes, at the command of the king of +the Guhyakas, a Guhyaka hath come from the White mountains, bringing with +him his water![103] O great king, this water is a present to thee from +Kuvera, so that all creatures that are invisible may, O chastiser of +foes, become visible to thee! This water laved over the eyes will make +every invisible creature visible to thee, as also to any other person to +whom thou mayst give it!’--Saying--So be it,--Rama took that sacred +water, and sanctified his own eyes therewith. And the high-minded +Lakshmana also did the same. And Sugriva and Jambuvan, and Hanuman and +Angada, and Mainda and Dwivida, and Nila and many other foremost of the +monkeys, laved their eyes with that water. And thereupon it exactly +happened as Vibhishana had said, for, O Yudhishthira, soon did the eyes +of all these became capable of beholding things that could not be seen by +the unassisted eye! + +“Meanwhile, Indrajit, after the success he had won, went to his father. +And having informed him of the feats he had achieved, he speedily +returned to the field of battle and placed himself at the van of his +army. The son of Sumitra then, under Vibhishana’s guidance, rushed +towards that wrathful son of Ravana coming back, from desire of battle, +to lead the attack. And Lakshmana, excited to fury and receiving a hint +from Vibhishana, and desiring to slay Indrajit who had not completed his +daily sacrifice, smote with his arrows that warrior burning to achieve +success. And desirous of vanquishing each other, the encounter that took +place between them was exceedingly wonderful like that (in days of yore) +between the Lord of celestials and Prahrada. And Indrajit pierced the son +of Sumitra with arrows penetrating into his very vitals. And the son of +Sumitra also pierced Ravana’s son with arrows of fiery energy. And +pierced with Lakshmana’s arrows, the son of Ravana became senseless with +wrath. And he shot at Lakshmana eight shafts fierce as venomous snakes. +Listen now, O Yudhishthira, as I tell thee how the heroic son of Sumitra +then took his adversary’s life by means of three winged arrows possessed +of the energy and effulgence of fire! With one of these, he severed from +Indrajit’s body that arm of his enemy which had grasped the bow. With the +second he caused that other arm which had held the arrows, to drop down +on the ground. With the third that was bright and possessed of the +keenest edge, he cut off his head decked with a beautiful nose and bright +with ear-rings. And shorn of arms and head, the trunk became fearful to +behold. And having slain the foe thus, that foremost of mighty men then +slew with his arrows the charioteer of his adversary. And the horses then +dragged away the empty chariot into the city. And Ravana then beheld that +car without his son on it. And hearing that his son had been slain, +Ravana suffered his heart to be overpowered with grief. And under the +influence of extreme grief and affliction, the king of the Rakshasas +suddenly cherished the desire of killing the princess of Mithila. And +seizing a sword, the wicked Rakshasa hastily ran towards that lady +staying within the Asoka wood longing to behold her lord. Then Avindhya +beholding that sinful purpose of the wicked wretch, appeased his fury. +Listen, O Yudhishthira, to the reasons urged by Avindhya! That wise +Rakshasa said, ‘Placed as thou art on the blazing throne of an empire, it +behoveth thee not to slay a woman! Besides, this woman is already slain, +considering that she is a captive in thy power! I think, she would not be +slain if only her body were destroyed. Slay thou her husband! He being +slain, she will be slain too! Indeed, not even he of an hundred +sacrifices (Indra) is thy equal in prowess! The gods with Indra at their +head, had repeatedly been affrighted by thee in battle!’ With these and +many other words of the same import, Avindhya succeeded in appeasing +Ravana. And the latter did, indeed, listen to his counsellor’s speech. +And that wanderer of the night, then, resolved to give battle himself +sheathed his sword, and issued orders for preparing his chariot.’” + + + +SECTION CCLXXXVIII + +“Markandeya said, The Ten-necked (Ravana), excited to fury at the death +of his beloved son, ascended his car decked with gold and gems. And +surrounded by terrible Rakshasas with various kinds of weapons in their +hands, Ravana rushed towards Rama, fighting with numerous monkey-chief. +And beholding him rushing in wrath towards the monkey army, Mainda and +Nila and Nala and Angada, and Hanuman and Jamvuman, surrounded him with +all their troops. And those foremost of monkeys and bears began to +exterminate with trunks of trees, the soldiers of the Ten-necked +(Ravana), in his every sight. And beholding the enemy slaughtering his +troops, the Rakshasa king, Ravana, possessed of great powers of illusion, +began to put them forth. And forth from his body began to spring hundreds +and thousands of Rakshasas armed with arrows and lances and double-edged +swords in hand. Rama, however, with a celestial weapon slew all those +Rakshasas. The king of the Rakshasas then once more put forth his prowess +of illusion. The Ten-faced, producing from his body numerous warriors +resembling, O Bharata, both Rama and Lakshmana, rushed towards the two +brothers. And then those Rakshasas, hostile to Rama and Lakshmana and +armed with bows and arrows, rushed towards Rama, and beholding that power +of illusion put forth by the king of Rakshasas, that descendant of +Ikshwaku’s race, the son of Sumitra, addressed Rama in these heroic +words, ‘Slay those Rakshasas, those wretches with forms like thy own!’ +And Rama, thereupon slew those and other Rakshasas of forms resembling +his own. And that time Matali, the charioteer of Indra, approached Rama +on the field of battle, with a car effulgent as the Sun and unto which +were yoked horses of a tawny hue. And Matali said, ‘O son of Kakutstha’s +race, this excellent and victorious car, unto which have been yoked this +pair of tawny horses, belonging to the Lord of celestials! It is on this +excellent car, O tiger among men, that Indra hath slain in battle +hundreds of Daityas and Danavas! Therefore, O tiger among men, do thou, +riding on the car driven by me, quickly slay Ravana in battle! Do not +delay in achieving this!’ Thus addressed by him, the descendant of +Raghu’s race, however, doubted the truthful words of Matali, thinking +this is another illusion produced by the Rakshasas--Vibhishana then +addressed him saying, ‘This, O tiger among men, is no illusion of the +wicked Ravana! Ascend thou this chariot quickly, for this, O thou of +great effulgence, belongeth to Indra!’ The descendant of Kakutstha then +cheerfully said unto Vibhishana, ‘So be it’, and riding on that car, +rushed wrathfully upon Ravana. And when Ravana, too, rushed against his +antagonist, a loud wail of woe was set up by the creatures of the Earth, +while the celestials in heaven sent forth a leonine roar accompanied by +beating of large drums. The encounter then that took place between the +Ten-necked Rakshasa and that prince of Raghu’s race, was fierce in the +extreme. Indeed, that combat between them hath no parallel elsewhere. And +Rakshasa hurled at Rama a terrible javelin looking like Indra’s +thunderbolt and resembling a Brahmana’s curse on the point of +utterance.[104] Rama, however, quickly cut into fragments that javelin by +means of his sharp arrows. And beholding that most difficult feat, Ravana +was struck with fear. But soon his wrath was excited and the Ten-necked +hero began to shower on Rama whetted arrows by thousands and tens of +thousands and countless weapons of various kinds, such as rockets and +javelins and maces and battle-axes and darts of various kinds and +Shataghnis and whetted shafts. And beholding that terrible form of +illusion displayed by the Ten-necked Rakshasa, the monkeys fled in fear +in all directions. Then the descendant of Kakutstha, taking out of his +quiver an excellent arrow furnished with handsome wings and golden +feathers and a bright and beautiful head, fixed it on the bow with +Brahmastra mantra. And beholding that excellent arrow transformed by +Rama, with proper mantras into a Brahma weapon, the celestials and the +Gandharvas with Indra at their head, began to rejoice. And the gods and +the Danavas and the Kinnaras were led by the display of that Brahma +weapon to regard the life of their Rakshasa foe almost closed. Then Rama +shot that terrible weapon of unrivalled energy, destined to compass +Ravana’s death, and resembling the curse of a Brahmana on the point of +utterance. And as soon, O Bharata, as that arrow was shot by Rama from +his bow drawn to a circle, the Rakshasa king with his chariot and +charioteer and horses blazed up, surrounded on all sides by a terrific +fire. And beholding Ravana slain by Rama of famous achievements, the +celestials, with the Gandharvas and the Charanas, rejoiced exceedingly. +And deprived of universal dominion by the energy of the Brahma weapon, +the five elements forsook the illustrious Ravana. And were consumed by +the Brahma weapon, the physical ingredients of Ravana’s body. His flesh +and blood were all reduced to nothingness,--so that the ashes even could +not be seen.’” + + + +SECTION CCLXXXIX + +“Markandeya said, ‘Having slain Ravana, that wretched king of the +Rakshasas and foe of the celestials, Rama with his friends and Sumitra’s +son rejoiced exceedingly. And after the Ten-necked (Rakshasa) hath been +slain, the celestials with the Rishis at their head, worshipped Rama of +mighty arms, blessing and uttering the word Jaya repeatedly. And all the +celestials and the Gandharvas and the denizens of the celestial regions +gratified Rama of eyes like lotus leaves, with hymns and flowery showers. +And having duly worshipped Rama, they all went away to those regions +whence they had come. And, O thou of unfading glory, the firmament at +that time looked as if a great festival was being celebrated. + +“And having slain the Ten-necked Rakshasa, the lord Rama of worldwide +fame, that conqueror of hostile cities, bestowed Lanka on Vibhishana. +Then that old and wise counsellor (of Ravana) known by the name of +Avindhya, with Sita walking before him but behind Vibhishana who was at +the front, came out of the city. And with great humility Avindhya said +unto the illustrious descendant of Kakutstha, ‘O illustrious one, accept +thou this goddess, Janaka’s daughter of excellent conduct!’ Hearing these +words, the descendant of Ikshwaku’s race alighted from his excellent +chariot and beheld Sita bathed in tears. And beholding that beautiful +lady seated within her vehicle, afflicted with grief, besmeared with +filth, with matted locks on head, and attired in dirty robes, Rama, +afraid of the loss of his honour, said unto her, ‘Daughter of Videha, go +withersover thou likest! Thou art now free! What should have been done by +me, hath been done! O blessed lady, owning me for thy husband, it is not +meet that thou shouldst grow old in the abode of the Rakshasa! It is for +this I have slain that wanderer of the night! But how can one like us, +acquainted with every truth of morality embrace even for a moment a woman +that had fallen into other’s hands? O princess of Mithila whether thou +art chaste or unchaste, I dare not enjoy thee, now that thou art like +sacrificial butter lapped by a dog!’ Hearing these cruel words, that +adorable girl suddenly fell down in great affliction of heart, like a +plantain tree severed from its roots. And the colour that was suffusing +her face in consequence of the joy she had felt, quickly disappeared, +like watery particles on a mirror blown thereon by the breath of the +mouth. And hearing these words of Rama, all the monkeys also with +Lakshmana became still as dead. Then the divine and pure-souled Brahma of +four faces, that Creator of the Universe himself sprung from a lotus, +showed himself on his car to Raghu’s son. And Sakra and Agni and Vayu, +and Yama and Varuna and the illustrious Lord of the Yakshas, and the holy +Rishis, and king Dasaratha also in a celestial and effulgent form and on +car drawn by swans, showed themselves. And then the firmament crowded +with celestials and Gandharvas became as beautiful as the autumnal welkin +spangled with stars. And rising up from the ground, the blessed and +famous princess of Videha, in the midst of those present spoke unto Rama +of wide chest, these words, ‘O prince, I impute no fault to thee, for +thou art well acquainted with the behaviour that one should adopt towards +both men and women. But hear thou these words of mine! The ever-moving +Air is always present within every creature. If I have sinned, let him +forsake my vital forces! If I have sinned, Oh, then let Fire, and Water, +and Space, and Earth, like Air (whom I have already invoked), also +forsake my vital forces! And as, O hero, I have never, even in my dreams, +cherished the image of any other person, so be thou my lord as appointed +by the gods.’ After Sita had spoken, a sacred voice, resounding through +the whole of that region, was heard in the skies, gladdening the hearts +of the high-souled monkeys. And the Wind-god was heard to say, O son of +Raghu, what Sita hath said is true! I am the god of Wind. The princess of +Mithila is sinless! Therefore, O king, be united with thy wife!’ And the +god of Fire said, ‘O son of Raghu, I dwell within the bodies of all +creatures! O descendant of Kakutstha, the princess of Mithila is not +guilty of even the minutest fault!’ And Varuna then said, ‘O son of +Raghu, the humours in every creature’s body derive their existence from +me! I tell thee, let the princess of Mithila be accepted by thee!’ And +Brahma himself then said, ‘O descendant of Kakutstha, O son, in thee that +art honest and pure and conversant with the duties of royal sages, this +conduct is not strange. Listen, however, to these words of mine! Thou +hast, O hero, slain this enemy of the gods, the Gandharvas, the Nagas, +the Yakshas, the Danavas, and the great Rishis! It was through my grace +that he had hitherto been unslayable of all creatures. And indeed, it was +for some reason that I had tolerated him for some time! The wretch, +however, abducted Sita for his own destruction. And as regards Sita, I +protected her through Nalakuvera’s curse. For that person had cursed +Ravana of old, saying, that if he ever approached an unwilling woman, his +head should certainly be split into a hundred fragments. Let no +suspicion, therefore, be thine! O thou of great glory, accept thy wife! +Thou hast indeed, achieved a mighty feat for the benefit of the gods, O +thou that art of divine effulgence!’ And last of all Dasaratha said, ‘I +have been gratified with thee, O child! Blessed be thou, I am thy father +Dasaratha! I command thee to take back thy wife, and rule thy kingdom, O +thou foremost of men!’ Rama then replied, ‘If thou art my father, I +salute thee with reverence, O king of kings! I shall indeed, return, at +thy command, to the delightful city of Ayodhya!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Thus addressed, his father, O bull of the Bharata +race, gladly answered Rama, the corners of whose eyes were of a reddish +hue, saying, ‘Return to Ayodhya and rule thou that kingdom! O thou of +great glory, thy fourteen years (of exile) have been completed.’ Thus +addressed by Dasaratha, Rama bowed to the gods, and saluted by his +friends he was united with his wife, like the Lord of the celestials with +the daughter of Puloman. And that chastiser of foes then gave a boon to +Avindhya. And he also bestowed both riches and honours on the Rakshasa +woman named Trijata. And when Brahma with all the celestials having India +at their head, said unto Rama, ‘O thou that ownest Kausalya for thy +mother, what boons after thy heart shall we grant thee?’ Rama, thereupon, +prayed them to grant him firm adherence to virtues and invincibility in +respect of all foes. And he also asked for the restoration to life of all +those monkeys that had been slain by the Rakshasas, and after Brahma had +said--So be it, those monkeys, O king, restored to life, rose up from the +field of battle, and Sita too, of great good fortune, granted unto +Hanuman a boon, saying, ‘Let thy life, O son, last as long as (the fame +of) Rama’s achievements! And, O Hanuman of yellow eyes, let celestial +viands and drinks be ever available to thee through my grace!’ + +“Then the celestials with Indra at their head all disappeared in the very +sight of those warriors of spotless achievements. And beholding Rama +united with the daughter of Janaka, the charioteer of Sakra, highly +pleased, addressed him in the midst of friends, and said these words, ‘O +thou of prowess that can never be baffled thou hast dispelled the sorrow +of the celestials, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Asuras, the Nagas, +and human beings! As long, therefore, as the Earth will hold together, so +long will all creatures with the celestials, the Asuras, the Gandharvas, +the Yakshas, the Rakshasas, and the Pannagas, speak of thee.’ And having +said these words unto Rama, Matali worshipped that son of Raghu, and +having obtained the leave of that foremost of wielders of weapons, he +went away, on that same chariot of solar effulgence. And Rama also, with +Sumatra’s son and Vibhishana, and accompanied by all the monkeys with +Sugriva at their head, placing Sita in the van and having made +arrangements for the protection of Lanka, recrossed the ocean by the same +bridge. And he rode on that beautiful and sky-ranging chariot called the +Pushpaka that was capable of going everywhere at the will of the rider. +And that subduer of passions was surrounded by his principal counsellors +in order of precedence. And arriving at that part of the sea-shore where +he had formerly laid himself down, the virtuous king, with all the +monkeys, pitched his temporary abode. And the son of Raghu then, bringing +the monkeys before him in due time, worshipped them all, and gratifying +them with presents of jewels and gems, dismissed them one after another. +And after all the monkey-chiefs, and the apes with bovine tails, and the +bears, had gone away, Rama re-entered Kishkindhya with Sugriva. And +accompanied by both Vibhishana and Sugriva, Rama re-entered Kishkindhya +riding on the Pushpaka car and showing the princess of Videha the woods +along the way. And having arrived at Kishkindhya, Rama, that foremost of +all smiters, installed the successful Angada as prince-regent of the +kingdom. And accompanied by the same friends as also by Sumitra’s son, +Rama proceeded towards his city along the same path by which he had come. +And having reached the city of Ayodhya, the king despatched Hanuman +thence as envoy to Bharata. And Hanuman, having ascertained Bharata’s +intentions from external indications, gave him the good news (of Rama’s +arrival). And after the son of Pavana had come back, Rama entered +Nandigrama. And having entered that town, Rama beheld Bharata besmeared +with filth and attired in rags and seated with his elder brother’s +sandals placed before him. And being united, O bull of Bharata race, with +both Bharata and Shatrughna, the mighty son of Raghu, along with +Sumitra’s son, began to rejoice exceedingly. And Bharata and Shatrughna +also, united with their eldest brother, and beholding Sita, both derived +great pleasure. And Bharata then, after having worshipped his returned +brother, made over to him with great pleasure, the kingdom that had been +in his hands as a sacred trust. And Vasishtha and Vamadeva then together +installed that hero in the sovereignty (of Ayodhya) at the eighth +Muhurta[105] of the day under the asterism called Sravana. And after his +installation was over, Rama gave leave to well-pleased Sugriva the king +of the monkeys, along with all his followers, as also to rejoicing +Vibhishana of Pulastya’s race, to return to their respective abodes. And +having worshipped them with various articles of enjoyment, and done +everything that was suitable to the occasion, Rama dismissed those +friends of his with a sorrowful heart. And the son of Raghu then, having +worshiped that Pushpaka chariot, joyfully gave it back unto Vaisravana. +And then assisted by the celestial Rishi (Vasishtha), Rama performed on +the banks of the Gomati ten horse-sacrifices without obstruction of any +kind and with treble presents unto Brahmanas.’” + + + +SECTION CCLXL + +“Markandeya said, ‘It was thus, O mighty-armed one, that Rama of +immeasurable energy had suffered of old such excessive calamity in +consequence of his exile in the woods! O tiger among men, do not grieve, +for, O chastiser of foes, thou art Kshatriya! Thou too treadest in the +path in which strength of arms is to be put forth,--the path that leadeth +to tangible rewards. Thou hast not even a particle of sin. Even the +celestials with Indra at their head, and the Asuras have to tread in the +path that is trod by thee! It was after such afflictions that the wielder +of the thunderbolt, aided by the Maruts, slew Vritra, and the invincible +Namuchi and the Rakshasi of long tongue! He that hath assistance, always +secureth the accomplishment of all his purposes! What is that which +cannot be vanquished in battle by him that hath Dhananjaya for his +brother? This Bhima, also, of terrible prowess, is the foremost of mighty +persons. The heroic and youthful sons of Madravati again are mighty +bowmen. With allies such as these, why dost thou despair, O chastiser of +foes? These are capable of vanquishing the army of the wielder himself of +the thunderbolt with the Maruts in the midst. Having these mighty bowmen +of celestial forms for thy allies, thou, O bull of Bharata race, art sure +to conquer in battle all thy foes! Behold, this Krishna, the daughter of +Drupada, forcibly abducted by the wicked-minded Saindhava from pride of +strength and energy, hath been brought back by these mighty warriors +after achieving terrible feats! Behold, king Jayadratha was vanquished +and lay powerless before thee! The princess of Videha was rescued with +almost no allies by Rama after the slaughter in battle of the Ten-necked +Rakshasa of terrible prowess! Indeed, the allies of Rama (in that +contest) were monkeys and black-faced bears, creatures that were not even +human! Think of all this, O king in thy mind! Therefore, O foremost of +Kurus, grieve not for all (that hath occurred), O bull of the Bharata +race! Illustrious persons like thee never indulge in sorrow, O smiter of +foes!’ + +Vaisampayana continued, “It was thus that the king was comforted by +Markandeya. And then that high-souled one, casting off his sorrows, once +more spoke unto Markandeya.” + + + +SECTION CCLXLI + +(Pativrata-mahatmya Parva) + +“Yudhishthira said, ‘O mighty sage, I do not so much grieve for myself or +these my brothers or the loss of my kingdom as I do for this daughter of +Drupada. When we were afflicted at the game of the dice by those +wicked-souled ones, it was Krishna that delivered us. And she was +forcibly carried off from the forest by Jayadratha. Hast thou even seen +or heard of any chaste and exalted lady that resembleth this daughter of +Drupada?’” + +“Markandeya said, ‘Listen, O king, how the exalted merit of chaste +ladies, O Yudhishthira, was completely obtained by a princess named +Savitri. There was a king among the Madras, who was virtuous and highly +pious. And he always ministered unto the Brahmanas, and was high-souled +and firm in promise. And he was of subdued senses and given to +sacrifices. And he was the foremost of givers, and was able, and beloved +by both the citizens and the rural population. And the name of that lord +of Earth was Aswapati. And he was intent on the welfare of all beings. +And that forgiving (monarch) of truthful speech and subdued senses was +without issue. And when he got old, he was stricken with grief at this. +And with the object of raising offspring, he observed rigid vows and +began to live upon frugal fare, having recourse to the Brahmacharya mode +of life, and restraining his senses. And that best of kings, (daily) +offering ten thousand oblations to the fire, recited Mantras in honour of +Savitri[106] and ate temperately at the sixth hour. And he passed +eighteen years, practising such vows. Then when the eighteen years were +full, Savitri was pleased (with him). And O king, issuing with great +delight, in embodied form, from the Agnihotra fire, the goddess showed +herself to that king. And intent on conferring boons, she spoke these +words unto the monarch, ‘I have been gratified, O king, with thy +Brahmacharya practices, thy purity and self-restraint and observance of +vows, and all thy endeavours and veneration! Do thou, O mighty king. O +Aswapati, ask for the boon that thou desirest! Thou ought, however, by no +means show any disregard for virtue.’ Thereat Aswapati said, ‘It is with +the desire of attaining virtue that I have been engaged in this task. O +goddess, may many sons be born unto me worthy of my race! If thou art +pleased with me, O goddess, I ask for this boon. The twice-born ones have +assured me that great merit lieth in having offspring!’ Savitri replied, +‘O king, having already learnt this thy intention, I had spoken unto that +lord, the Grandsire, about thy sons. Through the favour granted by the +Self-create, there shall speedily be born unto thee on earth a daughter +of great energy. It behoveth thee not to make any reply. Well-pleased, I +tell thee this at the command of the Grandsire.’ + +“Markandeya said, ‘Having accepted Savitri’s words and saying, ‘So be +it!’ the king again gratified her and said, ‘May this happen soon!’ On +Savitri vanishing away, the monarch entered his own city. And that hero +began to live in his kingdom, ruling his subjects righteously. And when +some time had elapsed, that king, observant of vows, begat offspring on +his eldest queen engaged in the practice of virtue. And then, O bull of +the Bharata race, the embryo in the womb of the princess of Malava +increased like the lord of stars in the heavens during the lighted +fortnight. And when the time came, she brought forth a daughter furnished +with lotus-like eyes. And that best of monarchs, joyfully performed the +usual ceremonies on her behalf. And as she had been bestowed with delight +by the goddess Savitri by virtue of the oblations offered in honour of +that goddess, both her father, and the Brahmanas named her Savitri. And +the king’s daughter grew like unto Sree herself in an embodied form. And +in due time, that damsel attained her puberty. And beholding that +graceful maiden of slender waist and ample hips, and resembling a golden +image, people thought, ‘We have received a goddess.’ And overpowered by +her energy, none could wed that girl of eyes like lotus-leaves, and +possessed of a burning splendour.’ + +‘And it came to pass that once on the occasion of a parva, having fasted +and bathed her head, she presented herself before the (family) deity and +caused the Brahmanas to offer oblations with due rites to the sacrificial +fire. And taking the flowers that had been offered to the god, that lady, +beautiful as Sree herself, went to her high-souled sire. And having +reverenced the feet of her father and offering him the flowers she had +brought, that maiden of exceeding grace, with joined hands, stood at the +side of the king. And seeing his own daughter resembling a celestial +damsel arrived at puberty, and unsought by people, the king became sad. +And the king said, ‘Daughter, the time for bestowing thee is come! Yet +none asketh thee. Do thou (therefore) thyself seek for a husband equal to +thee in qualities! That person who may be desired by thee should be +notified to me. Do thou choose for thy husband as thou listest. I shall +bestow thee with deliberation. Do thou, O auspicious one, listen to me as +I tell thee the words which I heard recited by the twice-born ones. The +father that doth not bestow his daughter cometh by disgrace. And the +husband that knoweth not his wife in her season meeteth with disgrace. +And the son that doth not protect his mother when her husband is dead, +also suffereth disgrace. Hearing these words of mine, do thou engage +thyself in search of a husband. Do thou act in such a way that we may not +be censured by the gods!’ + +“Markandeya said, ‘Having said these words to his daughter and his old +counsellors, he instructed the attendants to follow her, saying,--Go! +Thereat, bashfully bowing down unto her father’s feet, the meek maid went +out without hesitation, in compliance with the words of her sire. And +ascending a golden car, she went to the delightful asylum of the royal +sages, accompanied by her father’s aged counsellors. There, O son, +worshipping the feet of the aged ones, she gradually began to roam over +all the woods. Thus the king’s daughter distributing wealth in all sacred +regions, ranged the various places belonging to the foremost of the +twice-born ones.’” + + + +SECTION CCLXLII + +“Markandeya continued, ‘On one occasion, O Bharata, when that king, the +lord of the Madras, was seated with Narada in the midst of his court, +engaged in conversation, Savitri, accompanied by the king’s counsellors, +came to her father’s abode after having visited various sacred regions +and asylums. And beholding her father seated with Narada, she worshipped +the feet of both by bending down her head. And Narada then said, ‘Whither +had this thy daughter gone? And, O king, whence also doth she come? Why +also dost thou not bestow her on a husband, now that she hath arrived at +the age of puberty?’ Aswapati answered, saying, ‘Surely it was on this +very business that she had been sent, and she returneth now (from her +search). Do thou, O celestial sage, listen, even from her as to the +husband she hath chosen herself!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Then the blessed maid, commanded by her father +with the words,--Relate everything in detail,--regarded those words of +her sire as if they were those of a god, and spoke unto him thus, ‘There +was, amongst the Salwas, a virtuous Kshatriya king known by the name of +Dyumatsena. And it came to pass that in course of time he became blind. +And that blind king possessed of wisdom had an only son. And it so +happened that an old enemy dwelling in the vicinity, taking advantage of +the king’s mishap, deprived him of his kingdom. And thereupon the +monarch, accompanied by his wife bearing a child on her breast, went into +the woods. And having retired into the forests, he adopted great vows and +began to practise ascetic austerities. And his son, born in the city, +began to grow in the hermitage. That youth, fit to be my husband, I have +accepted in my heart for my lord!’ At these words of hers, Narada said, +‘Alas, O king, Savitri hath committed a great wrong, since, not knowing, +she hath accepted for her lord this Satyavan of excellent qualities! His +father speaketh the truth and his mother also is truthful in her speech. +And it is for this that the Brahmanas have named the son Satyavan. In his +childhood he took great delight in horses, and used to make horses of +clay. And he used also to draw pictures of horses. And for this that +youth is sometimes called by the name of Chitraswa.’ The king then asked, +‘And is prince Satyavan, who is devoted to his father, endued with energy +and intelligence and forgiveness and courage?’ Narada replied, saying, +‘In energy Satyavan is like unto the sun, and in wisdom like unto +Vrihaspati! And he is brave like unto the lord of the celestials and +forgiving like unto the Earth herself!’ Aswapati then said, ‘And is the +prince Satyavan liberal in gifts and devoted to the Brahmanas? Is he +handsome and magnanimous and lovely to behold?’ Narada said, ‘In bestowal +of gifts according to his power, the mighty son of Dyumatsena is like +unto Sankriti’s son Rantideva. In truthfulness of speech and devotion +unto Brahmanas, he is like Sivi, the son of Usinara. And he is +magnanimous like Yayati, and beautiful like the Moon. And in beauty of +person he is like either of the twin Aswins. And with senses under +control, he is meek, and brave, and truthful! And with passion in +subjection he is devoted to his friends, and free from malice and modest +and patient. Indeed, briefly speaking, they that are possessed of great +ascetic merit and are of exalted character say that he is always correct +in his conduct and that honour is firmly seated on his brow.’ Hearing +this, Aswapati said, ‘O reverend sage, thou tellest me that he is +possessed of every virtue! Do thou now tell me his defects if, indeed, he +hath any!’ Narada then said, ‘He hath one only defect that hath +overwhelmed all his virtues. That defect is incapable of being conquered +by even the greatest efforts. He hath only one defect, and no other. +Within a year from this day, Satyavan, endued with a short life will cast +off his body!’ Hearing these words of the sage, the king said, ‘Come, O +Savitri, go thou and choose another for thy lord, O beautiful damsel! +That one great defect (in this youth) existeth, covering all his merits. +The illustrious Narada honoured by even the gods, sayeth, that Satyavan +will have to cast off his body within a year, his days being numbered!’ +At these words of her father, Savitri said, ‘The death can fall but once; +a daughter can be given away but one; and once only can a person say, I +give away! These three things can take place only once. Indeed, with a +life short or long, possessed of virtues or bereft of them, I have, for +once, selected my husband. Twice I shall not select. Having first settled +a thing mentally, it is expressed in words, and then it is carried out +into practice. Of this my mind is an example!’ Narada then said, ‘O best +of men, the heart of thy daughter Savitri wavereth not! It is not +possible by any means to make her swerve from this path of virtue! In no +other person are those virtues that dwell in Satyavan. The bestowal of +thy daughter, therefore, is approved by me!’ The king said, ‘What thou +hast said, O illustrious one, should never be disobeyed, for thy words +are true! And I shall act as thou hast said, since thou art my +preceptor!’ Narada said, ‘May the bestowal of thy daughter Savitri be +attended with peace! I shall now depart. Blessed be all of ye!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Having said this, Narada rose up into the sky and +went to heaven. On the other hand, the king began to make preparations +for his daughter’s wedding!’” + + + +SECTION CCLXLIII + +“Markandeya said, ‘Having pondered over these words (of Narada) about his +daughter’s marriage, the king began to make arrangements about the +nuptials. And summoning all the old Brahmanas, and Ritwijas together with +the priests, he set out with his daughter on an auspicious day. And +arriving at the asylum of Dyumatsena in the sacred forest, the king +approached the royal sage on foot, accompanied by the twice-born ones. +And there he beheld the blind monarch of great wisdom seated on a cushion +of Kusa grass spread under Sala tree. And after duly reverencing the +royal sage, the king in an humble speech introduced himself. Thereupon, +offering him the Arghya, a seat, and a cow, the monarch asked his royal +guest,--Wherefore is this visit?--Thus addressed the king disclosed +everything about his intentions and purpose with reference to Satyavan. +And Aswapati said, ‘O royal sage, this beautiful girl is my daughter +named Savitri. O thou versed in morality, do thou, agreeably to the +customs of our order, take her from me as thy daughter-in-law!’ Hearing +these words, Dyumatsena said, ‘Deprived of kingdom, and taking up our +abode in the woods, we are engaged in the practice of virtue as ascetics +with regulated lives. Unworthy of a forest life, how will thy daughter, +living in the sylvan asylum, bear this hardship?’ Aswapati said, ‘When my +daughter knoweth, as well as myself, that happiness and misery come and +go (without either being stationary), such words as these are not fit to +be used towards one like me! O king, I have come hither, having made up +my mind! I have bowed to thee from friendship; it behoveth thee not, +therefore, to destroy my hope! It behoveth thee not, also, to disregard +me who, moved by love, have come to thee! Thou art my equal and fit for +an alliance with me, as indeed, I am thy equal and fit for alliance with +thee! Do thou, therefore, accept my daughter for thy daughter-in-law and +the wife of the good Satyavan!’ Hearing these words Dyumatsena said, +‘Formerly I had desired an alliance with thee. But I hesitated, being +subsequently deprived of my kingdom. Let this wish, therefore, that I had +formerly entertained, be accomplished this very day. Thou art, indeed, a +welcome guest to me!’ + +“Then summoning all the twice-born ones residing in the hermitages of +that forest, the two kings caused the union to take place with due rites. +And having bestowed his daughter with suitable robes and ornaments, +Aswapati went back to his abode in great joy. And Satyavan, having +obtained a wife possessed of every accomplishment, became highly glad, +while she also rejoiced exceedingly upon having gained the husband after +her own heart. And when her father had departed, she put off all her +ornaments, and clad herself in barks and cloths dyed in red. And by her +services and virtues, her tenderness and self-denial, and by her +agreeable offices unto all, she pleased everybody. And she gratified her +mother-in-law by attending to her person and by covering her with robes +and ornaments. And she gratified her father-in-law by worshipping him as +a god and controlling her speech. And she pleased her husband by her +honeyed speeches, her skill in every kind of work, the evenness of her +temper, and by the indications of her love in private. And thus, O +Bharata, living in the asylum of those pious dwellers of the forest, they +continued for some time to practise ascetic austerities. But the words +spoken by Narada were present night and day in the mind of the sorrowful +Savitri.’” + + + +SECTION CCLXLIV + +“Markandeya said, ‘At length, O king, after a long time had passed away, +the hour that had been appointed for the death of Satyavan arrived. And +as the words that had been spoken by Narada were ever present in the mind +of Savitri, she had counted the days as they passed. And having +ascertained that her husband would die on the fourth day following, the +damsel fasted day and night, observing the Triratra vow. And hearing of +her vow, the king became exceedingly sorrow and rising up soothed Savitri +and said these words, ‘This vow that thou hast begun to observe, O +daughter of a king, is exceedingly hard; for it is extremely difficult to +fast for three nights together!’ And hearing these words, Savitri said, +‘Thou needst not be sorry, O father! This vow I shall be able to observe! +I have for certain undertaken this task with perseverance; and +perseverance is the cause of the successful observance of vows.’ And +having listened to her, Dyumatsena said, ‘I can by no means say unto +thee, Do thou break thy vow. One like me should, on the contrary, +say,--Do thou complete thy vow!’ And having said this to her, the +high-minded Dyumatsena stopped. And Savitri continuing to fast began to +look (lean) like a wooden doll. And, O bull of the Bharata race, thinking +that her husband would die on the morrow, the woe-stricken Savitri, +observing a fast, spent that night in extreme anguish. And when the Sun +had risen about a couple of hand Savitri thinking within herself--To-day +is that day, finished her morning rites, and offered oblations to the +flaming fire. And bowing down unto the aged Brahmanas, and her +father-in-law, and mother-in-law, she stood before them with joined +hands, concentrating her senses. And for the welfare of Savitri, all the +ascetics dwelling in that hermitage, uttered the auspicious benediction +that she should never suffer widowhood. And Savitri immersed in +contemplation accepted those words of the ascetics, mentally saying,--So +be it!--And the king’s daughter, reflecting on those words of Narada, +remained, expecting the hour and the moment. + +Then, O best of the Bharatas, well-pleased, her father-in-law and +mother-in-law said these words unto the princess seated in a corner, +‘Thou hast completed the vow as prescribed. The time for thy meal hath +now arrived; therefore, do thou what is proper!’ Thereat Savitri said, +‘Now that I have completed the purposed vow, I will eat when the Sun goes +down. Even this is my heart’s resolve and this my vow!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘And when Savitri had spoken thus about her meal, +Satyavan, taking his axe upon his shoulders, set out for the woods. And +at this, Savitri said unto her husband, ‘It behoveth thee not to go +alone! I will accompany thee. I cannot bear to be separated from thee!’ +Hearing these words of hers, Satyavan said, ‘Thou hast never before +repaired to the forest. And, O lady, the forest-paths are hard to pass! +Besides thou hast been reduced by fast on account of thy vow. How wouldst +thou, therefore, be able to walk on foot?’ Thus addressed, Savitri said, +‘I do not feel langour because of the fast, nor do I feel exhaustion. And +I have made up my mind to go. It behoveth thee not, therefore, to prevent +me!’ At this, Satyavan said, ‘If thou desirest to go, I will gratify that +desire of thine. Do thou, however, take the permission of my parents, so +that I may be guilty of no fault!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Thus addressed by her lord, Savitri of high vows +saluted her father-in-law and mother-in-law and addressed them, saying, +‘This my husband goeth to the forest for procuring fruits. Permitted by +my revered lady-mother and father-in-law, I will accompany him. For +to-day I cannot bear to be separated from him. Thy son goeth out for the +sake of the sacrificial fire and for his reverend superiors. He ought +not, therefore, to be dissuaded. Indeed, he could be dissuaded if he went +into the forest on any other errand. Do ye not prevent me! I will go into +the forest with him. It is a little less than a year that I have not gone +out of the asylum. Indeed, I am extremely desirous of beholding the +blossoming woods!’ Hearing these words Dyumatsena said, ‘Since Savitri +hath been bestowed by her father as my daughter-in-law, I do not remember +that she hath ever spoken any words couching a request. Let my +daughter-in-law, therefore, have her will in this matter. Do thou, +however, O daughter, act in such a way that Satyavan’s work may not be +neglected!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Having received the permission of both, the +illustrious Savitri, departed with her lord, in seeming smiles although +her heart was racked with grief. And that lady of large eyes went on, +beholding picturesque and delightful woods inhabited by swarms of +peacocks. And Satyavan sweetly said unto Savitri, ‘Behold these rivers of +sacred currents and these excellent trees decked with flowers!’ But the +faultless Savitri continued to watch her lord in all his moods, and +recollecting the words of the celestial sage, she considered her husband +as already dead. And with heart cleft in twain, that damsel, replying to +her lord, softly followed him expecting that hour.’” + + + +SECTION CCLXLV + +“Markandeya said, The powerful Satyavan then, accompanied by his wife, +plucked fruits and filled his wallet with them. And he then began to fell +branches of trees. And as he was hewing them, he began to perspire. And +in consequence of that exercise his head began to ache. And afflicted +with toil, he approached his beloved wife, and addressed her, saying, ‘O +Savitri, owing to this hard exercise my head acheth, and all my limbs and +my heart also are afflicted sorely! O thou of restrained speech, I think +myself unwell, I feel as if my head is being pierced with numerous darts. +Therefore, O auspicious lady, I wish to sleep, for I have not the power +to stand.’ Hearing these words, Savitri quickly advancing, approached her +husband, and sat down upon the ground, placing his head upon her lap. And +that helpless lady, thinking of Narada’s words, began to calculate the +(appointed) division of the day, the hour, and the moment. The next +moment she saw a person clad in red attire with his head decked with a +diadem. And his body was of large proportions and effulgent as the Sun. +And he was of a darkish hue, had red eyes, carried a noose in his hand, +and was dreadful to behold. And he was standing beside Satyavan and was +steadfastly gazing at him. And seeing him, Savitri gently placed her +husband’s head on the ground, and rising suddenly, with a trembling +heart, spake these words in distressful accents, ‘Seeing this thy +superhuman form, I take thee to be a deity. If thou will, tell me, O +chief of the gods, who thou art and what also thou intendst to do!’ +Thereat, Yama replied, ‘O Savitri, thou art ever devoted to thy husband, +and thou art also endued with ascetic merit. It is for this reason that I +hold converse with thee. Do thou, O auspicious one, know me for Yama. +This thy lord Satyavan, the son of a king, hath his days run out. I +shall, therefore, take him away binding him in this noose. Know this to +be my errand!’ At these words Savitri said, ‘I had heard that thy +emissaries come to take away mortals, O worshipful one! Why then, O lord, +hast thou come in person?’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Thus addressed by her, the illustrious lord of +Pitris, with a view to oblige her, began to unfold to her truly all about +his intentions. And Yama said, ‘This prince is endued with virtues and +beauty of person, and is a sea of accomplishments. He deserveth not to be +borne away by my emissaries. Therefore is it that I have come +personally.’ Saying this, Yama by main force pulled out of the body of +Satyavan, a person of the measure of the thumb, bound in noose and +completely under subjection. And when Satyavan’s life had thus been taken +out, the body, deprived of breath, and shorn of lustre, and destitute of +motion, became unsightly to behold. And binding Satyavan’s vital essence, +Yama proceeded in a southerly direction. Thereupon, with heart +overwhelmed in grief, the exalted Savitri, ever devoted to her lord and +crowned with success in respect of her vows, began to follow Yama. And at +this, Yama said, ‘Desist, O Savitri! Go back, and perform the funeral +obsequies of thy lord! Thou art freed from all thy obligations to thy +lord. Thou hast come as far as it is possible to come’. Savitri replied, +‘Whither my husband is being carried, or whither he goeth of his own +accord, I will follow him thither. This is the eternal custom. By virtue +of my asceticism, of my regard for my superiors, of my affection for my +lord, of my observance of vows, as well as of thy favour, my course is +unimpeded. It hath been declared by wise men endued with true knowledge +that by walking only seven paces with another, one contracteth a +friendship with one’s companion. Keeping that friendship (which I have +contracted with thee) in view, I shall speak to thee something. Do thou +listen to it. They that have not their souls under control, acquire not +merit by leading the four successive modes of life, viz.,--celibacy with +study, domesticity, retirement into the woods, and renunciation of the +world. That which is called religious merit is said to consist of true +knowledge. The wise, therefore, have declared religious merit to be the +foremost of all things and not the passage through the four successive +modes. By practising the duties of even one of these four modes agreeable +to the directions of the wise, we have attained to true merit, and, +therefore, we do not desire the second or the third mode, viz., celibacy +with study or renunciation. It is for this again that the wise have +declared religious merit to be the foremost of all things!’ Hearing these +words of hers, Yama said, ‘Do thou desist! I have been pleased with these +words of thine couched in proper letters and accents, and based on +reason. Do thou ask for a boon! Except the life of thy husband, O thou of +faultless features, I will bestow on thee any boon that thou mayst +solicit!’ Hearing these words, Savitri said, ‘Deprived of his kingdom and +bereft also of sight, my father-in-law leadeth a life of retirement in +our sylvan asylum. Let that king through thy favour attain his eye-sight, +and become strong ‘like either fire or the Sun!’ Yama said, ‘O thou of +faultless features, I grant thee this boon! It will even be as thou hast +said! It seems that thou art fatigued with thy journey. Do thou desist, +therefore, and return! Suffer not thyself to be weary any longer!’ +Savitri said, ‘What weariness can I feel in the presence of my husband? +The lot that is my husband’s is certainly mine also. Whither thou +carriest my husband, thither will I also repair! O chief of the +celestials, do thou again listen to me! Even a single interview with the +pious is highly desirable; friendship with them is still more so. And +intercourse with the virtuous can never be fruitless. Therefore, one +should live in the company of the righteous!’ Yama said, ‘These words +that thou hast spoken, so fraught with useful instruction, delight the +heart and enhance the wisdom of even the learned. Therefore, O lady, +solicit thou a second boon, except the life of Satyavan!’ Savitri said, +‘Sometime before, my wise and intelligent father-in-law was deprived of +his kingdom. May that monarch regain his kingdom. And may that superior +of mine never renounce his duties! Even this is the second boon that I +solicit!’ Then Yama said,--‘The king shall soon regain his kingdom. Nor +shall he ever fall off from his duties. Thus, O daughter of a king have I +fulfilled thy desire. Do thou now desist! Return! Do not take any future +trouble!’ Savitri said, ‘Thou hast restrained all creatures by thy +decrees, and it is by thy decrees that thou takest them away, not +according to thy will. Therefore it is, O god, O divine one, that people +call thee Yama! Do thou listen to the words that I say! The eternal duty +of the good towards all creatures is never to injure them in thought, +word, and deed, but to bear them love and give them their due. As regards +this world, everything here is like this (husband of mine). Men are +destitute of both devotion and skill. The good, however, show mercy to +even their foes when these seek their protection. Yama said, ‘As water to +the thirsty soul, so are these words uttered by thee to me! Therefore, do +thou, O fair lady, if thou will, once again ask for any boon except +Salyavana’s life!’ At these words Savitri replied, That lord of earth, my +father, is without sons. That he may have a hundred sons begotten of his +loins, so that his line may be perpetuated, is the third boon I would ask +of thee!’ Yama said, Thy sire, O auspicious lady, shall obtain a hundred +illustrious sons, who will perpetuate and increase their father’s race! +Now, O daughter of a king, thou hast obtained thy wish. Do thou desist! +Thou hast come far enough.’ Savitri said, ‘Staying by the side of my +husband, I am not conscious of the length of the way I have walked. +Indeed, my mind rusheth to yet a longer way of. Do thou again, as thou +goest on, listen to the words that I will presently utter! Thou art the +powerful son of Vivaswat. It is for this that thou art called Vaivaswata +by the wise. And, O lord, since thou dealest out equal law unto all +created things, thou hast been designated the lord of justice! One +reposeth not, even in one’s own self, the confidence that one doth in the +righteous. Therefore, every one wisheth particularly for intimacy with +the righteous. It is goodness of heart alone that inspireth the +confidence of all creatures. And it is for this that people rely +particularly on the righteous.’ And hearing these words, Yama said, ‘The +words that thou utterest, O fair lady, I have not heard from any one save +thee; I am highly pleased with this speech of thine. Except the life of +Satyavan, solicit thou, therefore, a fourth boon, and then go thy way!’ +Savitri then said, ‘Both of me and Satyavan’s loins, begotten by both of +us, let there be a century of sons possessed of strength and prowess and +capable of perpetuating our race! Even this is the fourth boon that I +would beg of thee!’ Hearing these words of hers, Yama replied, ‘Thou +shalt, O lady, obtain a century of sons, possessed of strength and +prowess, and causing thee great delight, O daughter of a king, let no +more weariness be thine! Do thou desist! Thou hast already come too far!’ +Thus addressed, Savitri said, ‘They that are righteous always practise +eternal morality! And the communion of the pious with the pious is never +fruitless! Nor is there any danger to the pious from those that are +pious. And verily it is the righteous who by their truth make the Sun +move in the heaven. And it is the righteous that support the earth by +their austerities! And, O king, it is the righteous upon whom both the +past and the future depend! Therefore, they that are righteous, are never +cheerless in the company of the righteous. Knowing this to be the eternal +practice of the good and righteous, they that are righteous continue to +do good to others without expecting any benefit in return. A good office +is never thrown away on the good and virtuous. Neither interest nor +dignity suffereth any injury by such an act. And since such conduct ever +adheres to the righteous, the righteous often become the protectors of +all.’ Hearing these words of hers, Yama replied, ‘The more thou utterest +such speeches that are pregnant with great import, full of honeyed +phrases, instinct with morality, and agreeable to mind, the more is the +respect that I feel for thee! O thou that art so devoted to thy lord, ask +for some incomparable boon!’ Thus addressed, Savitri said, ‘O bestower of +honours, the boon thou hast already given me is incapable of +accomplishment without union with my husband. Therefore, among other +boons, I ask for this, may this Satyavan be restored to life! Deprived of +my husband, I am as one dead! Without my husband, I do not wish for +happiness. Without my husband, I do not wish for heaven itself. Without +my husband, I do not wish for prosperity. Without my husband, I cannot +make up my mind to live! Thou thyself hast bestowed on me the boon, +namely, of a century of sons; yet thou takest away my husband! I ask for +this boon, ‘May Satyavan be restored to life, for by that thy words will +be made true.’” + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Thereupon saying,--So be it,--Vivaswat’s son, +Yama, the dispenser of justice, untied his noose, and with cheerful heart +said these words to Savitri, ‘Thus, O auspicious and chaste lady, is thy +husband freed by me! Thou wilt be able to take him back free from +disease. And he will attain to success! And along with thee, he will +attain a life of four hundred years. And celebrating sacrifices with due +rites, he will achieve great fame in this world. And upon thee Satyavan +will also beget a century of sons. And these Kshatriyas with their sons +and grandsons will all be kings, and will always be famous in connection +with thy name. And thy father also will beget a hundred sons on thy +mother Malavi. And under the name of the Malavas, thy Kshatriya brothers, +resembling the celestials, will be widely known along with their sons and +daughters!’ And having bestowed these boons on Savitri and having thus +made her desist, Yama departed for his abode. Savitri, after Yama had +gone away, went back to the spot where her husband’s ash-coloured corpse +lay, and seeing her lord on the ground, she approached him, and taking +hold of him, she placed his head on her lap and herself sat down on the +ground. Then Satyavan regained his consciousness, and affectionately +eyeing Savitri again and again, like one come home after a sojourn in a +strange land, he addressed her thus, ‘Alas, I have slept long! Wherefore +didst thou not awake me? And where is that same sable person that was +dragging me away?’ At these words of his, Savitri said, ‘Thou hast, O +bull among men, slept long on my lap! That restrainer of creatures, the +worshipful Yama, had gone away. Thou art refreshed, O blessed one, and +sleep hath forsaken thee, O son of a king! If thou art able, rise thou +up! Behold, the night is deep!’” + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Having regained consciousness, Satyavan rose up +like one who had enjoyed a sweet sleep, and seeing every side covered +with woods, said, ‘O girl of slender waist, I came with thee for +procuring fruits. Then while I was cutting wood I felt a pain in my head. +And on account of that intense pain about my head I was unable to stand +for any length of time, and, therefore, I lay on thy lap and slept. All +this, O auspicious lady, I remember. Then, as thou didst embrace me, +sleep stole away my senses. I then saw that it was dark all around. In +the midst of it I saw a person of exceeding effulgence. If thou knowest +everything, do thou then, O girl of slender waist, tell me whether what I +saw was only a dream or a reality!’ Thereupon, Savitri addressed him, +saying, The night deepens. I shall, O prince, relate everything unto thee +on the morrow. Arise, arise, may good betide thee! And, O thou of +excellent vows, come and behold thy parents! The sun hath set a long +while ago and the night deepens. Those rangers of the night, having +frightful voices, are walking about in glee. And sounds are heard, +proceeding from the denizens of the forest treading through the woods. +These terrible shrieks of jackals that are issuing from the south and the +east make my heart tremble (in fear)!’ Satyavan then said, ‘Covered with +deep darkness, the wilderness hath worn a dreadful aspect. Thou wilt, +therefore, not be able to discern the tract, and consequently wilt not be +able to go!’ Then Savitri replied, ‘In consequence of a conflagration +having taken place in the forest today a withered tree standeth aflame, +and the flames being stirred by the wind are discerned now and then. I +shall fetch some fire and light these faggots around. Do thou dispel all +anxiety. I will do all (this) if thou darest not go, for I find thee +unwell. Nor wilt thou be able to discover the way through this forest +enveloped in darkness. Tomorrow when the woods become visible, we will go +hence, if thou please! If, O sinless one, it is thy wish, we shall pass +this night even here!’ At these words of hers, Satyavan replied, ‘The +pain in my head is off; and I feel well in my limbs. With thy favour I +wish to behold my father and mother. Never before did I return to the +hermitage after the proper time had passed away. Even before it is +twilight my mother confineth me within the asylum. Even when I come out +during the day, my parents become anxious on my account, and my father +searcheth for me, together with all the inhabitants of the sylvan +asylums. Before this, moved by deep grief, my father and mother had +rebuked me many times and often, saying,--Thou comest having tarried +long! I am thinking of the pass they have today come to on my account, +for, surely, great grief will be theirs when they miss me. One night +before this, the old couple, who love me dearly, wept from deep sorrow +and said into me, ‘Deprived of thee, O son, we cannot live for even a +moment. As long as thou livest, so long, surely, we also will live. Thou +art the crutch of these blind ones; on thee doth perpetuity of our race +depend. On thee also depend our funeral cake, our fame and our +descendants! My mother is old, and my father also is so. I am surely +their crutch. If they see me not in the night, what, oh, will be their +plight! I hate that slumber of mine for the sake of which my unoffending +mother and my father have both been in trouble, and I myself also, am +placed in such rending distress! Without my father and mother, I cannot +bear to live. It is certain that by this time my blind father, his mind +disconsolate with grief, is asking everyone of the inhabitants of the +hermitage about me! I do not, O fair girl, grieve so much for myself as I +do for my sire, and for my weak mother ever obedient to her lord! Surely, +they will be afflicted with extreme anguish on account of me. I hold my +life so long as they live. And I know that they should be maintained by +me and that I should do only what is agreeable to them!’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Having said this, that virtuous youth who loved +and revered his parents, afflicted with grief held up his arms and began +to lament in accents of woe. And seeing her lord overwhelmed with sorrow +the virtuous Savitri wiped away the tears from his eyes and said, ‘If I +have observed austerities, and have given away in charity, and have +performed sacrifice, may this night be for the good of my father-in-law, +mother-in-law and husband! I do not remember having told a single +falsehood, even in jest. Let my father-in-law and mother-in-law hold +their lives by virtue of the truth!’ Satyavan said, ‘I long for the sight +of my father and mother! Therefore, O Savitri, proceed without delay. O +beautiful damsel, I swear by my own self that if I find any evil to have +befallen my father and mother, I will not live. If thou hast any regard +for virtue, if thou wishest me to live, if it is thy duty to do what is +agreeable to me, proceed thou to the hermitage!’ The beautiful Savitri +then rose and tying up her hair, raised her husband in her arms. And +Satyavan having risen, rubbed his limbs with his hands. And as he +surveyed all around, his eyes fell upon his wallet. Then Savitri said +unto him, ‘Tomorrow thou mayst gather fruits. And I shall carry thy axe +for thy ease.’ Then hanging up the wallet upon the bough of a tree, and +taking up the axe, she re-approached her husband. And that lady of +beautiful thighs, placing her husband’s left arm upon her left shoulder, +and embracing him with her right arms, proceeded with elephantic gait. +Then Satyavan said, ‘O timid one, by virtue of habit, the (forest) paths +are known to me. And further, by the light of the moon between the trees, +I can see them. We have now reached the same path that we took in the +morning for gathering fruits. Do thou, O auspicious one, proceed by the +way that we had come: thou needst not any longer feel dubious about our +path. Near that tract overgrown with Palasa tree, the way diverges into +two. Do thou proceed along the path that lies to the north of it. I am +now well and have got back my strength. I long to see my father and +mother!’ Saying this Satyavan hastily proceeded towards the hermitage.’” + + + +SECTION CCLXLVI + +“Markandeya said, ‘Meanwhile the mighty Dyumatsena, having regained his +sight, could see everything. And when his vision grew clear he saw +everything around him. And, O bull of the Bharata race, proceeding with +his wife Saivya to all the (neighbouring) asylums in search of his son, +he became extremely distressed on his account. And that night the old +couple went about searching in asylums, and rivers, and woods, and +floods. And whenever they heard any sound, they stood rising their heads, +anxiously thinking that their son was coming, and said, ‘O yonder cometh +Satyavan with Savitri!’ And they rushed hither and thither like maniacs, +their feet torn, cracked, wounded, and bleeding, pierced with thorns and +Kusa blades. Then all the Brahmanas dwelling in that hermitage came unto +them, and surrounding them on all sides, comforted them, and brought them +back to their own asylum. And there Dyumatsena with his wife surrounded +by aged ascetics, was entertained with stories of monarchs of former +times. And although that old couple desirous of seeing their son, was +comforted, yet recollecting the youthful days of their son, they became +exceedingly sorry. And afflicted with grief, they began to lament in +piteous accents, saying, ‘Alas, O son, alas, O chaste daughter-in-law, +where are you?’ Then a truthful Brahmana of the name of Suvarchas spake +unto them, saying, ‘Considering the austerities, self-restraint, and +behaviour of his wife Savitri, there can be no doubt that Satyavan +liveth!’ And Gautama said, ‘I have studied all the Vedas with their +branches, and I have acquired great ascetic merit. And I have led a +celibate existence, practising also the Brahmacharya mode of life. I have +gratified Agni and my superiors. With rapt soul I have also observed all +the vows: and I have according to the ordinance, frequently lived upon +air alone. By virtue of this ascetic merit, I am cognisant of all the +doings of others. Therefore, do thou take it for certain that Satyavan +liveth.’ Thereupon his disciple said, ‘The words that have fallen from +the lips of my preceptor can never be false. Therefore, Satyavan surely +liveth.’ And the Rishi said, ‘Considering the auspicious marks that his +wife Savitri beareth and all of which indicate immunity from widowhood, +there can be no doubt that Satyavan liveth!’ And Varadwaja said, ‘Having +regard to the ascetic merit, self-restraint, and conduct of his wife +Savitri, there can be no doubt that Satyavan liveth.’ And Dalbhya said, +‘Since thou hast regained thy sight, and since Savitri hath gone away +after completion of the vow, without taking any food, there can be no +doubt that Satyavan liveth.’ And Apastamba said, ‘From the manner in +which the voices of birds and wild animals are being heard through the +stillness of the atmosphere on all sides, and from the fact also of thy +having regained the use of thy eyes, indicating thy usefulness for +earthly purposes once more, there can be no doubt that Satyavan liveth.’ +And Dhauma said, ‘As thy son is graced with every virtue, and as he is +the beloved of all, and as he is possessed of marks betokening a long +life, there can be no doubt that Satyavan liveth.’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Thus cheered by those ascetics of truthful +speech, Dyumatsena pondering over those points, attained a little ease. A +little while after, Savitri with her husband Satyavan reached the +hermitage during the night and entered it with a glad heart. The +Brahmanas then said, ‘Beholding this meeting with thy son, and thy +restoration to eye-sight, we all wish thee well, O lord of earth. Thy +meeting with thy son, the sight of thy daughter-in-law, and thy +restoration to sight--constitute a threefold prosperity which thou hast +gained. What we all have said must come to pass: there can be no doubt of +this. Henceforth thou shalt rapidly grow in prosperity.’ Then, O Pritha’s +son, the twice-born ones lighted a fire and sat themselves down before +king Dyumatsena. And Saivya, and Satyavan, and Savitri who stood apart, +their hearts free from grief, sat down with the permission of them all. +Then, O Partha, seated with the monarch those dwellers of the woods, +actuated by curiosity, asked the king’s son, saying, ‘Why didst thou not, +O illustrious one, come back earlier with thy wife? Why hast thou come so +late in the night? What obstacle prevented thee! We do not know, O son of +a king, why thou hast caused such alarm to us, and to thy father and +mother. It behoveth thee to tell us all about this,’ Thereupon, Satyavan +said, ‘With the permission of my father, I went to the woods with +Savitri. There, as I was hewing wood in the forest, I felt a pain in my +head. And in consequence of the pain, I fell into a deep sleep.--This is +all that I remember. I had never slept so long before I have come so late +at night, in order that ye might not grieve (on my account). There is no +other reason for this.’ Gautama then said, ‘Thou knowest not then the +cause of thy father’s sudden restoration to sight. It, therefore, +behoveth Savitri to relate it. I wish to hear it (from thee), for surely +thou art conversant with the mysteries of good and evil. And, O Savitri, +I know thee to be like the goddess Savitri herself in splendour. Thou +must know the cause of this. Therefore, do thou relate it truly! If it +should not be kept a secret, do thou unfold it unto us!’ At these words +of Gautama Savitri said, ‘It is as ye surmise. Your desire shall surely +not be unfulfilled. I have no secret to keep. Listen to the truth then! +The high-souled Narada had predicted the death of my husband. To-day was +the appointed time. I could not, therefore, bear to be separated from my +husband’s company. And after he had fallen asleep, Yama, accompanied by +his messengers, presented himself before him, and tying him, began to +take him away towards the region inhabited by the Pitris. Thereupon I +began to praise that august god, with truthful words. And he granted me +five boons, of which do ye hear from me! For my father-in-law I have +obtained these two boons, viz., his restoration to sight as also to his +kingdom. My father also hath obtained a hundred sons. And I myself have +obtained a hundred sons. And my husband Satyavan hath obtained a life of +four hundred years. It was for the sake of my husband’s life that I had +observed that vow. Thus have I narrated unto you in detail the cause by +which this mighty misfortune of mine was afterwards turned into +happiness. The Rishis said, ‘O chaste lady of excellent disposition, +observant of vows and endued with virtue, and sprung from an illustrious +line, by thee hath the race of this foremost of kings, which was +overwhelmed with calamities, and was sinking in an ocean of darkness, +been rescued.’ + +“Markandeya continued, ‘Then having applauded and reverenced that best of +women, those Rishis there assembled bade farewell to that foremost of +kings as well as to his son. And having saluted them thus, they speedily +went, in peace with cheerful hearts, to their respective abodes.’” + + + +SECTION CCLXLVII + +“Markandeya continued, ‘When the night had passed away, and the solar orb +had risen, those ascetics, having performed their morning rites, +assembled together. And although those mighty sages again and again spake +unto Dyumatsena of the high fortune of Savitri, yet they were never +satisfied. And it so happened, O king, that there came to that hermitage +a large body of people from Salwa. And they brought tidings of the enemy +of Dyumatsena having been slain by his own minister. And they related +unto him all that had happened, viz., how having heard that the usurper +had been slain with all his friends and allies by his minister, his +troops had all fled, and how all the subjects had become unanimous (on +behalf of their legitimate king), saying, ‘Whether possessed of sight or +not, even he shall be our king!’ And they said, ‘We have been sent to +thee in consequence of that resolve. This car of thine, and this army +also consisting of four kinds of forces, have arrived for thee! Good +betide thee, O King! Do thou come! Thou hast been proclaimed in the city. +Do thou for ever occupy the station belonging to thy lather and +grand-father!’ And beholding the king possessed of sight and able-bodied, +they bowed down their heads, their eyes expanded with wonder. Then having +worshipped those old and Brahmanas dwelling in the hermitage and honoured +by them in return, the king set out for his city. And surrounded by the +soldiers, Saivya also accompanied by Savitri, went in a vehicle furnished +with shining sheets and borne on the shoulders of men. Then the priests +with joyful hearts installed Dyumatsena on the throne with his +high-souled son as prince-regent. And after the lapse of a long time, +Savitri gave birth to a century of sons, all warlike and unretreating +from battle, and enhancing the fame of Salwa’s race. And she also had a +century of highly powerful uterine brothers born unto Aswapati, the lord +of the Madras, by Malavi. Thus, O son of Pritha, did Savitri raise from +pitiable plight to high fortune, herself, and her father and mother, her +father-in-law and mother-in-law, as also the race of her husband. And +like that gentle lady Savitri, the auspicious daughter of Drupada, endued +with excellent character, will rescue you all.” + +Vaisampayana said, “Thus exhorted by that high-souled sage, the son of +Pandu, O king, with his mind free from anxiety, continued to live in the +forest of Kamyaka. The man that listeneth with reverence to the excellent +story of Savitri, attaineth to happiness, and success in everything, and +never meeteth with misery!” + + + +SECTION CCLXLVIII + +Janamejaya said,--“What, O Brahmana, was that great fear entertained by +Yudhishthira in respect of Karna, for which Lomasa had conveyed to the +son of Pandu a message of deep import from Indra in these words, That +intense fear of thine which thou dost never express to any one, I will +remove after Dhananjaya goeth from hence? And, O best of ascetics, why +was it that the virtuous Yudhishthira never expressed it to any one?” + +Vaisampayana said, “As thou askest me, O tiger among kings, I will relate +that history unto thee! Do thou listen to my words, O best of the +Bharatas! After twelve years (of their exile) had passed away and the +thirteenth year had set in, Sakra, ever friendly to the sons of Pandu, +resolved to beg of Karna (his ear-rings). And, O mighty monarch, +ascertaining this intention of the great chief of the celestials about +(Karna’s) ear-rings, Surya, having effulgence for his wealth, went unto +Karna. And, O foremost of kings, while that hero devoted to the Brahmanas +and truthful in speech was lying down at night at his ease on a rich bed +overlaid with a costly sheet, the effulgent deity, filled with kindness +and affection for his son, showed himself, O Bharata, unto him in his +dreams. And assuming from ascetic power the form of a handsome Brahmana +versed in the Vedas, Surya sweetly said unto Karna these words for his +benefit, ‘O son, do thou O Karna, listen to these words of mine, O thou +foremost of truthful persons! O mighty-armed one, I tell thee to-day from +affection, what is for thy great good! With the object, O Karna, of +obtaining thy ear-rings, Sakra, moved by the desire of benefiting the +sons of Pandu, will come unto thee, disguised as a Brahmana! He, as Well +as all the world, knoweth thy character, viz., that when solicited by +pious people, thou givest away but never takest in gift! Thou, O son, +givest unto Brahmanas wealth or any other thing that is asked of thee and +never refusest anything to anybody. Knowing thee to be such, the subduer +himself of Paka will come to beg of thee thy ear-rings and coat of mail. +When he beggeth the ear-rings of thee, it behoveth thee not to give them +away, but to gratify him with sweet speeches to the best of thy power. +Even this, is for thy supreme good! While asking thee for the ear-rings, +thou shalt, with various reasons, repeatedly refuse Purandara who is +desirous of obtaining them, offering him, instead, various other kinds of +wealth, such as gems and women and kine, and citing various precedents. +If thou, O Kama, givest away thy beautiful ear-rings born with thee, thy +life being shortened, thou wilt meet with death! Arrayed in thy mail and +ear-rings, thou wilt, O bestower of honours, be incapable of being slain +by foes in battle! Do thou lay to heart these words of mine! Both these +jewelled ornaments have sprung from Amrita. Therefore, they should be +preserved by thee, if thy life is at all dear to thee.” + +“Hearing these words, Kama said, ‘Who art thou that tellest me so, +showing me such kindness? If it pleaseth thee, tell me, O illustrious +one, who thou art in the guise of a Brahmana!’--The Brahmana thereupon +said, ‘O son, I am he of a thousand rays! Out of affection, I point out +to thee the path! Act thou according to my words, as it is for thy great +good to do so!’ Kama replied, ‘Surely, this itself is highly fortunate +for me that the god himself of splendour addresses me today, seeking my +welfare. Listen, however, to these words of mine! May it please thee, O +bestower of boons, it is only from affection that I tell thee this! If I +am dear to thee, I should not be dissuaded from the observance of my vow! +O thou that are possessed of the wealth of effulgence, the whole world +knoweth this to be my vow that, of a verity, I am prepared to give away +life itself unto superior Brahmanas! If, O best of all rangers of the +sky, Sakra cometh to me, disguised as a Brahmana, to beg for the benefit +of the sons of Pandu, I will, O chief of the celestials, give him the +ear-rings and the excellent mail, so that my fame which hath spread over +the three worlds may not suffer any diminution! For persons like us, it +is not fit to save life by a blame-worthy act. On the contrary, it is +even proper for us to meet death with the approbation of the world and +under circumstances bringing fame. Therefore, will I bestow upon Indra +the ear-rings with my coat of mail! If the slayer himself of Vala and +Vritra cometh to ask for the ear-rings for the benefit of the sons of +Pandu, that will conduce to my fame, leading at the same time to his +infamy! O thou possessed of splendour, I wish for fame in this world, +even if it is to be purchased with life itself, for they that have fame +enjoy the celestial regions, while they that are destitute of it are +lost. Fame keepeth people alive in this world even like a mother, while +infamy killeth men even though they may move about with bodies +undestroyed. O lord of the worlds, O thou possessed of the wealth of +effulgence, that fame is the life of men is evidenced by an ancient sloka +sung by the Creator himself,--In the next world it is fame that is the +chief support of a person, while in this world pure fame lengthens life. +Therefore, by giving away my ear-rings and mail with both of which I was +born I will win eternal fame! And by duly giving away the same to +Brahmanas according to the ordinance, by offering up my body (as a gift +to the gods) in the sacrifice of war, by achieving feats difficult of +performance, and by conquering my foes in fight, I will acquire nothing +but renown. And by dispelling on the field of battle the fears of the +affrighted that may beg for their lives, and relieving old men and boys +and Brahmanas from terror and anxiety, I will win excellent fame and the +highest heaven. My fame is to be protected with the sacrifice of even my +life. Even this, know thou, is my vow! By giving away such a valuable +gift to Maghavan disguised as a Brahmana, I will, O god, acquire in this +world the most exalted state.’” + + + +SECTION CCLXLIX + +“Surya said, ‘Never do, O Karna, anything that is harmful to thy self and +thy friends; thy sons, thy wives, thy father, and thy mother; O thou best +of those that bear life, people desire renown (in this world) and lasting +fame in heaven, without wishing to sacrifice their bodies. But as thou +desirest undying fame at the expense of thy life, she will, without +doubt, snatch away thy life! O bull among men, in this world, the father, +the mother, the son, and other relatives are of use only to him that is +alive. O tiger among men, as regard kings, it is only when they are alive +that prowess can be of any use to them. Do thou understand this? O thou +of exceeding splendour, fame is for the good of these only that are +alive! Of what use is fame to the dead whose bodies have been reduced to +ashes? One that is dead cannot enjoy renown. It is only when one is alive +that one can enjoy it. The fame of one that is dead is like a garland of +flowers around the neck of a corpse. As thou reverest me, I tell thee +this for thy benefit, because thou art a worshipper of mine! They that +worship me are always protected by me. That also is another reason for my +addressing thee thus! Thinking again, O mighty-armed one, that this one +revereth me with great reverence, I have been inspired with love for +thee! Do thou, therefore, act according to my words! There is, besides +some profound mystery in all this, ordained by fate. It is for this, that +I tell thee so. Do thou act without mistrust of any kind! O bull among +men, it is not fit for thee to know this which is a secret to the very +gods. Therefore, I do not reveal that secret unto thee. Thou wilt, +however, understand it in time. I repeat what I have already said. Do +thou, O Radha’s son, lay my words to heart! When the wielder of the +thunder-bolt asketh thee for them, do thou never give him thy ear-rings! +O thou of exceeding splendour, with thy handsome ear-rings, thou lookest +beautiful, even like the Moon himself in the clear firmament, between the +Visakha constellation! Dost thou know that fame availeth only the person +that is living. Therefore, when the lord of the celestials will ask the +ear-rings, thou shouldst, O son, refuse him! Repeating again and again +answers fraught with various reasons, thou wilt, O sinless one, be able +to remove the eagerness of the lord of the celestial for the possession +of the ear-rings. Do thou, O Karna, after Purandara’s purpose by urging +answers fraught with reason and grave import and adorned with sweetness +and suavity. Thou dost always, O tiger among men, challenge him that can +draw the bow with his left hand, and heroic Arjuna also will surely +encounter thee in fight. But when furnished with thy ear-rings, Arjuna +will never be able to vanquish thee in fight even if Indra himself comes +to his assistance. Therefore, O Karna, if thou wishest to vanquish Arjuna +in battle, these handsome ear-rings of thine should never be parted with +to Sakra.’” + + + +SECTION CCC + +“Karna said, ‘As thou, O lord of splendour, knowest me for thy +worshipper, so also thou knowest that there is nothing which I cannot +give away in charity, O thou of fiery rays! Neither my wives, nor my +sons, nor my own self, nor my friends, are so dear to me as thou, on +account of the veneration I feel for thee, O lord of splendour! Thou +knowest, O maker of light, that high-souled persons bear a loving regard +for their dear worshippers. Karna revereth me and is dear to me. He +knoweth no other deity in heaven,--thinking this thou hast, O lord, said +unto me what is for my benefit. Yet, O thou of bright rays, again do I +beseech thee with bended head, again do I place myself in thy hands. I +will repeat the answer I have already given. It behoveth thee to forgive +me! Death itself is not fraught with such terrors for me as untruth! As +regards especially the Brahmanas, again, I do not hesitate to yield up my +life even for them! And, O divine one, respecting what thou hast said +unto me of Phalguna, the son of Pandu, let thy grief born of thy anxiety +of heart, O lord of splendour, be dispelled touching him and myself; for +I shall surely conquer Arjuna in battle! Thou knowest, O deity, that I +have great strength of weapons obtained from Jamadagnya and the +high-souled Drona. Permit me now, O foremost of celestials, to observe my +vow, so that unto him of the thunderbolt coming to beg of me, I may give +away even my life!’ + +“Surya said, ‘If O son, thou givest away thy ear-rings to the wielder of +the thunder-bolt, O thou of mighty strength, thou shouldst also, for the +purpose of securing victory, speak unto him, saying,--O thou of a hundred +sacrifices, I shall give thee ear-rings under a condition.--Furnished +with the ear-rings, thou art certainly incapable of being slain by any +being. Therefore, it is, O son, that desirous of beholding thee slain in +battle by Arjuna, the destroyer of the Danavas desireth to deprive thee +of thy ear-rings. Repeatedly adoring with truthful words that lord of the +celestials, viz., Purandara armed with weapons incapable of being +frustrated, do thou also beseech him, saying, ‘Give me an infallible dart +capable of slaying all foes, and I will, O thousand-eyed deity, give the +ear-rings with the excellent coat of mail!’ On this condition shouldst +thou give the ear-rings unto Sakra. With that dart, O Karna, thou wilt +slay foes in battle: for, O mighty-armed one, that dart of the chief of +the celestials doth not return to the hand that hurleth it, without +slaying enemies by hundreds and by thousands!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Having said this, the thousand-rayed deity +suddenly vanished away. The next day, after having told his prayers, +Karna related his dream unto the Sun. And Vrisha related unto him the +vision he had seen, and all that had passed between them in the night. +Thereupon, having heard everything, that enemy of Swarbhanu, that lord, +the resplendent and divine Surya, said unto him with a smile, ‘It is even +so!’ Then Radha’s son, that slayer of hostile heroes, knowing all about +the matter, and desirous of obtaining the dart, remained in expectation +of Vasava.” + + + +SECTION CCCI + +Janamejaya said, “What was that secret which was not revealed to Karna by +the deity of warm rays? Of what kind also were those ear-rings and of +what sort was that coat of mail? Whence, too, was that mail and those +ear-rings? All this, O best of men. I wish to hear! O thou possessed of +the wealth of asceticism, do tell me all this!” + +Vaisampayana said, “I will, O monarch, tell thee that secret which was +not revealed by the deity possessed of the wealth of effulgence. I will +also describe unto thee those ear-rings and that coat of mail. Once on a +time, O king, there appeared before Kuntibhoja a Brahmana of fierce +energy and tall stature, bearing a beard and matted locks, and carrying a +staff in his hand. And, he was agreeable to the eye and of faultless +limbs, and seemed to blaze forth in splendour. And he was possessed of a +yellow-blue complexion like that of honey. And his speech was +mellifluous, and he was adorned with ascetic merit and a knowledge of the +Vedas. And that person of great ascetic merit, addressing king +Kuntibhoja, said, ‘O thou that are free from pride, I wish to live as a +guest in thy house feeding on the food obtained as alms from thee! +Neither thy followers, nor thou thyself, shall ever act in such a way as +to produce my displeasure! If, O sinless one, it liketh thee, I would +then live in thy house thus! I shall leave thy abode when I wish, and +come back when I please. And, O king, no one shall offend me in respect +of my food or bed.’--Then Kuntibhoja spake unto him these words +cheerfully, ‘Be it so, and more.’ And he again said unto him, ‘O thou of +great wisdom, I have an illustrious daughter named Pritha. And she +beareth an excellent character, is observant of vow, chaste, and of +subdued senses. And she shall attend on thee and minister unto thee with +reverence. And thou wilt be pleased with her disposition!’ And having +said this to that Brahmana and duly paid him homage, the king went to his +daughter Pritha of large eyes, and spake thus unto her, ‘O child, this +eminently pious Brahmana is desirous of dwelling in my house! I have +accepted his proposal, saying,--So be it, relying, O child, on thy +aptitude and skill in ministering unto Brahmanas. It, therefore, behoveth +thee to act in such a manner that my words may not be untrue. Do thou +give him with alacrity whatever this reverend Brahmana possessed of +ascetic merit and engaged in the study of the Vedas, may want. Let +everything that this Brahmana asketh for be giver to him cheerfully. A +Brahmana is the embodiment of pre-eminent energy: he is also the +embodiment of the highest ascetic merit. It is in consequence of the +virtuous practices of Brahmanas that the sun shineth in the heavens. It +was for their disregard of Brahmanas that were deserving of honour that +the mighty Asura Vatapi, as also Talajangha, was destroyed by the curse +of the Brahmanas. For the present, O child, it is a highly virtuous one +of that order that is entrusted to thy keep. Thou shouldst always tend +this Brahmana with concentrated mind. O daughter, I know that, from +childhood upwards, thou hast ever been attentive to Brahmanas, and +superiors, and relatives, and servants, and friends, to thy mothers and +myself. I know thou bearest thyself well, bestowing proper regard upon +everyone. And, O thou of faultless limbs, in the city of the interior of +my palace, on account of thy gentle behaviour, there is not one, even +among the servants, that is dissatisfied with thee. I have, therefore, +thought thee fit to wait upon all Brahmanas of wrathful temper. Thou art, +O Pritha, a girl and has been adopted as my daughter. Thou art born in +the race of the Vrishnis, and art the favourite daughter of Sura. Thou +wert, O girl, given to me gladly by thy father himself. The sister of +Vasudeva by birth, thou art (by adoption) the foremost of my children. +Having promised me in these words,--I will give my first born,--thy +father gladly gave thee to me while thou wert yet in thy infancy. It is +for this reason that thou art my daughter. Born in such a race and reared +in such a race, thou hast come from one happy state to another like a +lotus transferred from one lake to another. O auspicious girl, women, +specially they that are of mean extraction, although they may with +difficulty be kept under restraint, become in consequence of their unripe +age, generally deformed in character. But thou, O Pritha, art born in a +royal race, and thy beauty also is extraordinary. And then, O girl, thou +art endued with every accomplishment. Do thou, therefore, O damsel, +renouncing pride and haughtiness and a sense of self-importance, wait +upon and worship the boon-giving Brahmana, and thereby attain, O Pritha, +to an auspicious state! By acting thus, O auspicious and sinless girl, +thou wilt surely attain to auspiciousness! But if on the contrary, thou +stirest up the anger of this best of the twice-born ones, my entire race +will be consumed by him!’” + + + +SECTION CCCII + +“Kunti said, ‘According to thy promise, I will, O king, with concentrated +mind, serve that Brahmana. O foremost of kings, I do not say this +falsely. It is my nature to worship Brahmanas. And, as in the present +case, my doing so would be agreeable to thee, even this would be highly +conducive to my welfare. Whether that worshipful one cometh in the +evening, or in morning, or at night or even at midnight, he will have no +reason to be angry with me! O foremost of kings, to do good by serving +the twice-born ones, observing all thy commands, is what I consider to be +highly profitable to me, O best of men! Do thou, therefore, O foremost of +monarchs rely on me! That best of Brahmanas, while residing in thy house, +shall never have cause for dissatisfaction. I tell thee truly. I shall, O +king, be always attentive to that which is agreeable to this Brahmana, +and what is fraught also with good to thee. O sinless one! I know full +well that Brahmanas that are eminently virtuous, when propitiated bestow +salvation, and when displeased, are capable of bringing about destruction +upon the offender. Therefore, I shall please this foremost of Brahmanas. +Thou wilt not, O monarch, come to any grief from that best of regenerate +persons, owing to any act of mine. In consequence of the transgressions +of monarchs, Brahmanas, O foremost of kings, became the cause of evil to +them, as Chyavana had become, in consequence of the act of Sukanya. I +will, therefore, O king, with great regularity, wait upon that best of +Brahmanas according to thy instructions in that respect!’ And when she +had thus spoken at length, the king embraced and cheered her, and +instructed her in detail as to what should be done by her. And the king +said, ‘Thou shall, O gentle maid, act even thus, without fear, for my +good as also thy own, and for the good of thy race also, O thou of +faultless limbs!’ And having said this the illustrious Kuntibhoja, who +was devoted to the Brahmanas, made over the girl Pritha to that Brahmana, +saying, ‘This my daughter, O Brahmana, is of tender age and brought up in +luxury. If, therefore, she transgresses at any time, do thou not take +that to heart! Illustrious Brahmanas are never angry with old men, +children, and ascetics, even if these transgress frequently. In respect +of even a great wrong forgiveness is due from the regenerate. The +worship, therefore, O best of Brahmanas, that is offered to the best of +one’s power and exertion, should be acceptable!’ Hearing these words of +the monarch, the Brahmana said, ‘So be it!’ Thereupon, the king became +highly pleased and assigned unto him apartments that were white as swans +or the beams of the moon. And in the room intended for the sacrificial +fire, the king placed a brilliant seat especially constructed for him. +And the food and other things that were offered unto the Brahmana were of +the same excellent kind. And casting aside idleness and all sense of +self-importance, the princess addressed herself with right good will to +wait upon the Brahmana. And the chaste Kunti, endued with purity of +conduct, went thither for serving the Brahmana. And duly waiting upon +that Brahmana as if he were a very god, she gratified him highly.” + + + +SECTION CCCIII + +Vaisampayana said, “And that maiden of rigid vows. O mighty monarch, by +serving with a pure heart, that Brahmana of rigid vows, succeeded in +gratifying him. And, O foremost of kings, saying, ‘I will come back in +the morning,’ that best of Brahmanas sometimes came in the evening or in +night. Him, however, the maiden worshipped at all hours with sumptuous +food and drink and bed. And as day after day passed away, her attentions +to him, in respect of food and seat and bed, increased instead of +undergoing any diminution. And, O king, even when the Brahmana reproved +her, finding fault with any of her arrangements, or addressed her in +harsh words, Pritha did not do anything that was disagreeable to him. And +on many occasions the Brahmana came back after the appointed hour had +long passed away. And on many occasions (such as the depth of night) when +food was hard to procure, he said, ‘Give me food!’ But on all those +occasions saying, ‘All is ready,’--Pritha held before him the fare. And +even like a disciple, daughter, or a sister, that blameless gem of a girl +with a devoted heart, O king, gratified that foremost of Brahmanas. And +that best of Brahmanas became well-pleased with her conduct and +ministrations. And he received those attentions of hers, valuing them +rightly. And, O Bharata, her father asked her every morning and evening +saying, “O daughter, is the Brahmana satisfied with thy ministrations? +And that illustrious maiden used to reply, ‘Exceedingly well!’ And +thereupon, the high-souled Kuntibhoja experienced the greatest delight. +And when after a full year that best of ascetics was unable to find any +fault whatever in Pritha, who was engaged in ministering unto him, +well-pleased he said unto her, ‘O gentle maid, I have been well-pleased +with thy attentions, O beautiful girl! Do thou, O blessed girl, ask even +for such boons as are difficult of being obtained by men in this world, +and obtaining which, thou mayst surpass in fame all the women in this +world’. At these words of his, Kunti said, ‘Everything hath already been +done in my behalf since thou, O chief of those that are versed in the +Vedas, and my father also, have been pleased with me! As regards the +boons, I consider them as already obtained by me, O Brahmana!’ The +Brahmana thereupon said, ‘If, O gentle maid, thou dost not, O thou of +sweet smiles, wish to obtain boons from me, do thou then take this mantra +from me for invoking the celestials! Any one amongst the celestials whom +thou mayst invoke by uttering this mantra, will appear before thee and be +under thy power. Willing or not, by virtue of this mantra, that deity in +gentle guise, and assuming the obedient attitude of slave, will become +subject to thy power!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed, that faultless maiden could-not, +O king, from fear of a curse, refuse tor the second time compliance with +the wishes of that best of the twice-born ones. Then, O king, that +Brahmana imparted unto that girl of faultless limbs those mantras which +are recited in the beginning of the Atharvan Veda. And, O king, having +imparted unto her those mantras, he said unto Kuntibhoja. ‘I have, O +monarch, dwelt happily in thy house, always worshipped with due regard +and gratified by thy daughter. I shall now depart.’ And saying this, he +vanished there and then. And beholding that Brahmana vanish there and +then, the king was struck with amazement. And the monarch then treated +his daughter Pritha with proper regard.” + + + +SECTION CCCIV + +Vaisampayana said, “When that foremost of Brahmanas had gone away on some +other errand, the maiden began to ponder over the virtue of those +mantras. And she said to herself, ‘Of what nature are those mantras that +have been bestowed on me by that high-souled one? I shall without delay +test their power’. And as she was thinking in this way, she suddenly +perceived indications of the approach of her season. And her season +having arrived, while she was yet unmarried, she blushed in shame. And it +came to pass that as she was seated in her chamber on a rich bed, she +beheld the solar orb rising in the east. And both the mind and the eyes +of that maiden of excellent waist became rivetted fast upon the solar +orb. And she gazed and gazed on that orb without being satiated with the +beauty of the morning Sun. And she suddenly became gifted with celestial +sight. And then she beheld that god of divine form accoutred in mail and +adorned with ear-rings. And at sight of the god, O lord of men, she +became curious as to the (potency of the) mantras. And thereupon that +maiden resolved to invoke him. And having recourse to Pranayama, she +invoked the Maker of day. And thus invoked by her, O king, the Maker of +day speedily presented himself. And he was of a yellowish hue like honey, +and was possessed of mighty arms, and his neck was marked with lines like +those of a conchshell. And furnished with armlets, and decked with a +diadem, he came smiling, and illumining all the directions. And it was by +Yoga power that he divided himself in twain, one of which continued to +give heat, and the other appeared before Kunti. And he addressed Kunti in +words that were exceedingly sweet, saying, ‘O gentle maiden, over-powered +by the mantras, I come hither obedient to thee. Subject as I am to thy +power, what shall I do, O queen? Tell me, for I shall do whatever thou +mayst command? Hearing these words of the deity, Kunti said, ‘O +worshipful one, go thou back to the place thou hast come from! I invoked +thee from curiosity alone. Pardon me, O worshipful one!’ Surya then said, +‘O damsel of slender waist, I will, even as thou hast said, return to the +place I have come from! Having called a celestial, it is not, however, +proper to send him away in vain. Thy intention, O blessed one, it is to +have from Surya a son furnished with a coat of mail and ear-rings, and +who in point of prowess would be beyond compare in this world! Do thou, +therefore, O damsel of elephantine gait, surrender thy person to me! Thou +shall then have, O lady, a son after thy wish! O gentle girl, O thou of +sweet smiles, I will go back after having known thee! If thou do not +gratify me to-day by obeying my word, I shall in anger curse thee, thy +father and that Brahmana also. For thy fault, I will surely consume them +all, and I shall inflict condign punishment on that foolish father of +thine that knoweth not this transgression of thine and on that Brahmana +who hath bestowed the mantras on thee without knowing thy disposition and +character! Yonder are all the celestials in heaven, with Purandara at +their head, who are looking at me with derisive smiles at my being +deceived by thee, O lady! Look at those celestials, for thou art now +possessed of celestial sight! Before this I have endued thee with +celestial vision, in consequence of which thou couldst see me!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thereupon the princess beheld the celestials +standing in the firmament, each in his proper sphere[107], even as she +saw before her that highly resplendent deity furnished with rays, viz., +Surya himself. And beholding them all, the girl became frightened and her +face was suffused with blushes of shame. And then she addressed Surya, +saying, ‘O lord of rays, go thou back to thy own region. On account of my +maidenhood, this outrage of thine is fraught with woe to me! It is only +one’s father, mother, and other superiors, that are capable of giving +away their daughter’s body. Virtue I shall never sacrifice, seeing that +in this world the keeping of their persons inviolate is deemed as the +highest duty of women, and is held in high regard! O thou possessed of +wealth of splendour, it is only to test the power of my mantras that I +have, from mere childishness, summoned thee. Considering that this hath +been done by a girl of tender years, it behoveth thee, O lord, to forgive +her!’ Then Surya said, ‘It is because I consider thee a girl that, O +Kunti, I am speaking to thee so mildly. To one that is not so I would not +concede this. Do thou, O Kunti, surrender thyself! Thou shalt surely +attain happiness thereby. Since, O timid maiden, thou hast invoked me +with mantras, it is not proper for me to go away without any purpose +being attained, for, if I do so I shall then. O thou of faultless limbs, +be the object of laughter in the world, and, O beauteous damsel, a +bye-word with all the celestials. Do thou, therefore, yield to me! By +that thou shalt obtain a son even like myself, and thou shalt also be +much praised in all the world.’” + + + +SECTION CCCV + +Vaisampayana said, “Although that noble girl addressed him in various +sweet words, yet she was unable to dissuade that deity of a thousand +rays. And when she failed to dissuade the dispeller of darkness, at last +from fear of a curse, she reflected, O king, for a long time!--‘How may +my innocent father, and that Brahmana also, escape the angry Surya’s +curse for my sake? Although energy and asceticism are capable of +destroying sins, yet even honest persons, if they be of unripe age, +should not foolishly court them. By foolishly acting in that way I have +today been placed in a frightful situation. Indeed, I have been placed +entirely within the grasp of this deity. Ye how can I do what is sinful +by taking it on myself to surrender my person to him?’ + +Vaisampayana continued, afflicted with fear of a curse, and thinking much +within herself, an utter stupefaction of the senses came upon her. And +she was so confounded that she could not settle what to do. Afraid, on +the one hand, O king, of the reproach of friends if she obeyed the deity, +and, on the other, of his curse if she disobeyed him, the damsel at last, +O foremost of kings, said these words unto that god, in accents tremulous +with bashfulness, ‘O god, as my father and mother and friends are still +living, this violation of duty on my part should not take place. If; O +god, I commit this unlawful act with thee, the reputation of this race +shall be sacrificed in this world on my account. If thou, however, O thou +foremost of those that impart heat, deem this to be a meritorious act, I +shall then fulfil thy desire even though my relatives may not have +bestowed me on thee! May I remain chaste after having surrendered my +person to thee! Surely, the virtue, the reputation, the fame, and the +life of every creature are established in thee!’ Hearing these words of +hers, Surya replied, ‘O thou of sweet smiles, neither thy father, nor thy +mother, nor any other superior of thine, is competent to give thee away! +May good betide thee, O beauteous damsel! Do thou listen to my words! It +is because a virgin desireth the company of every one, that she hath +received the appellation of Kanya, from the root kama meaning to desire. +Therefore, O thou of excellent hips and the fairest complexion, a virgin +is, by nature, free in this world. Thou shalt not, O lady, by any means, +be guilty of any sin by complying with my request. And how can I, who am +desirous of the welfare of all creatures, commit an unrighteous act? That +all men and women should be bound by no restraints, is the law of nature. +The opposite condition is the perversion of the natural state. Thou shalt +remain a virgin after having gratified me. And thy son shall also be +mighty-armed and illustrious.’ Thereupon Kunti said, ‘If, O dispeller of +darkness, I obtain a son from thee, may he be furnished with a coat of +mail and ear-rings, and may he be mighty-armed and endued with great +strength!’ Hearing these words of hers, Surya answered, ‘O gentle maiden, +thy son shall be mighty-armed and decked with ear-rings and a celestial +coat of mail. And both his ear-rings and coat of mail will be made of +Amrita, and his coat will also be invulnerable.’ Kunti then said, ‘If the +excellent mail and ear-rings of the son thou wilt beget on me, be, +indeed, made of Amrita, then, O god, O worshipful deity, let thy purpose +be fulfilled! May he be powerful, strong, energetic, and handsome, even +like thee, and may he also be endued with virtue!’ Surya then said, ‘O +princess, O excellent damsel, these ear-rings had been given to me by +Aditi. O timid lady, I will bestow them, as also this excellent mail, on +thy son!’ Kunti then said, ‘Very well, O worshipful one! If my son, O +lord of light, become so, I will, as thou sayest, gratify thee!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these words of hers Surya said, ‘So be +it!’ And that ranger of the skies, that enemy of Swarbhanu, with soul +absorbed in Yoga, entered into Kunti, and touched her on the navel. At +this, that damsel, on account of Surya’s energy, became stupefied. And +that reverend lady then fell down on her bed, deprived of her senses. +Surya then addressed her, saying, ‘I will now depart, O thou of graceful +hips! Thou shalt bring forth a son who will become the foremost of all +wielders of weapons. At the same time thou shalt remain a virgin.’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Then, O foremost of kings, as the highly +effulgent Surya was about to depart, that girl bashfully said unto him, +‘So be it!’ And it was thus that the daughter of king Kuntibhoja, +importuned by Surya, had after soliciting a son from him, fallen down +stupefied on that excellent bed, like a broken creeper. And it was thus +that deity of fierce rays, stupefying her, entered into her by virtue of +Yoga power, and placed his own self within her womb. The deity, however, +did not sully her by deflowering her in the flesh. And after Surya had +gone away, that girl regained her consciousness.” + + + +SECTION CCCVI + +Vaisampayana said, “It was, O lord of earth, on the first day of the +lighted fortnight during the tenth month of the year that Pritha +conceived a son like the lord himself of the stars in the firmament. And +that damsel of excellent hips from fear of her friends, concealed her +conception, so that no one knew her condition. And as the damsel lived +entirely in the apartments assigned to the maidens and carefully +concealed her condition, no one except her nurse knew the truth. And in +due time that beauteous maiden, by the grace of deity, brought forth a +son resembling a very god. And even like his father, the child was +equipped in a coat of mail, and decked with brilliant ear-rings. And he +was possessed of leonine eyes and shoulders like those of a bull. And no +sooner was the beauteous girl delivered of a child, then she consulted +with her nurse and placed the infant in a commodious and smooth box made +of wicker work and spread over with soft sheets and furnished with a +costly pillow. And its surface was laid over with wax, and it was encased +in a rich cover. And with tears in her eyes, she carried the infant to +the river Aswa, and consigned the basket to its waters. And although she +knew it to be improper for an unmarried girl to bear offspring, yet from +parental affection, O foremost of kings, she wept piteously. Do thou +listen to the words Kunti weepingly uttered, while consigning the box to +the waters of the river Aswa, ‘O child, may good betide thee at the hands +of all that inhabit the land, the water, the sky, and the celestial +regions. May all thy paths be auspicious! May no one obstruct thy way! +And, O son, may all that come across thee have their hearts divested of +hostility towards thee: And may that lord of waters, Varuna. protect thee +in water! And may the deity that rangeth the skies completely protect +thee in the sky. And may, O son, that best of those that impart heat, +viz., Surya, thy father, and from whom I have obtained thee as ordained +by Destiny, protect thee everywhere! And may the Adityas and the Vasus, +the Rudras and the Sadhyas, the Viswadevas and the Maruts, and the +cardinal points with the great Indra and the regents presiding over them, +and, indeed, all the celestials, protect thee in every place! Even in +foreign lands I shall be able to recognise thee by this mail of thine! +Surely, thy sire, O son, the divine Surya possessed of the wealth of +splendour, is blessed, for he will with his celestial sight behold thee +going down the current! Blessed also is that lady who will, O thou that +are begotten by a god, take thee for her son, and who will give thee suck +when thou art thirsty! And what a lucky dream hath been dreamt by her +that will adopt thee for her son, thee that is endued with solar +splendour, and furnished with celestial mail, and adorned with celestial +ear-rings, thee that hast expansive eyes resembling lotuses, a complexion +bright as burnished copper or lotus leaves, a fair forehead, and hair +ending in beautiful curls! O son, she that will behold thee crawl on the +ground, begrimed with dust, and sweetly uttering inarticulate words, is +surely blessed! And she also, O son, that will behold thee arrive at thy +youthful prime like maned lion born in Himalayan forests, is surely +blessed!’” + +“O king, having thus bewailed long and piteously, Pritha laid the basket +on the waters of the river Aswa. And the lotus-eyed damsel, afflicted +with grief on account of her son and weeping bitterly, with her nurse +cast the basket at dead of night, and though desirous of beholding her +son often and again, returned, O monarch, to the palate, fearing lest her +father should come to know of what had happened. Meanwhile, the basket +floated from the river Aswa to the river Charmanwati, and from the +Charmanwati it passed to the Yamuna, and so on to the Ganga. And carried +by the waves of the Ganga, the child contained in the basket came to the +city of Champa ruled by a person of the Suta tribe. Indeed, the excellent +coat of mail and those ear-rings made of Amrita that were born with his +body, as also the ordinance of Destiny, kept the child alive.” + + + +SECTION CCCVII + +Vaisampayana said, “And it came to pass that at this time a Suta named +Adhiratha, who was a friend of Dhritarashtra, came to the river Ganga, +accompanied by his wife. And, O king, his wife named Radha was +unparalleled on earth for beauty. And although that highly blessed dame +had made great endeavours to obtain a son, yet she had failed, O +represser of foes, to obtain one. And on coming to the river Ganga, she +beheld a box drifting along the current. And containing articles capable +of protecting from dangers and decked with unguents, that box was brought +before her by the waves of the Janhavi. And attracted by curiosity, the +lady caused it to be seized. And she then related all unto Adhiratha of +the charioteer caste. And hearing this Adhiratha took away the box from +the water-side, and opened it by means of instruments. And then he beheld +a boy resembling the morning Sun. And the infant was furnished with +golden mail, and looked exceedingly beautiful with a face decked in +ear-rings. And thereupon the charioteer, together with his wife, was +struck with such astonishment that their eyes expanded in wonder. And +taking the infant on his lap, Adhiratha said unto his wife, ‘Ever since I +was born, O timid lady, I had never seen such a wonder. This child that +hath come to us must be of celestial birth. Surely, sonless as I am, it +is the gods that have sent him unto me!’ Saying this, O lord of earth, he +gave the infant to Radha. And thereat, Radha adopted, according to the +ordinance, that child of celestial form and divine origin, and possessed +of the splendour of the filaments of the lotus and furnished with +excellent grace. And duly reared by her, that child endued with great +prowess began to grow up. And after Karna’s adoption, Adhiratha had other +sons begotten by himself. And seeing the child furnished with bright mail +and golden ear-rings, the twice-born ones named him Vasusena. And thus +did that child endued with great splendour and immeasurable prowess +became the son of the charioteer, and came to be known as Vasusena and +Vrisha. And Pritha learnt through spies that her own son clad in +celestial mail was growing up amongst the Angas as the eldest son of a +charioteer (Adhiratha). And seeing that in process of time his son had +grown up, Adhiratha sent him to the city named after the elephant. And +there Karna put up with Drona, for the purpose of learning arms. And that +powerful youth contracted a friendship with Duryodhana. And having +acquired all the four kinds of weapons from Drona, Kripa, and Rama, he +became famous in the world as a mighty bowman. And after having +contracted a friendship with Dhritarashtra’s son, he became intent on +injuring the sons of Pritha. And he was always desirous of fighting with +the high-souled Falguna. And, O king, ever since they first saw each +other, Karna always used to challenge Arjuna, and Arjuna, on his part, +used to challenge him. This, O foremost of kings, was without doubt, the +secret known to the Sun, viz., begot by himself on Kunti, Karna was being +reared in the race of the Sutas. And beholding him decked with his +ear-rings and mail, Yudhishthira thought him to be unslayable in fight, +and was exceedingly pained at it. And when, O foremost of monarchs, Karna +after rising from the water, used at mid-day to worship the effulgent +Surya with joined hands, the Brahmanas used to solicit him for wealth. +And at that time there was nothing that he would not give away to the +twice-born ones. And Indra, assuming the guise of a Brahmana, appeared +before him (at such a time) and said, ‘Give me!’ And thereupon Radha’s +son replied unto him, ‘Thou art welcome!’” + + + +SECTION CCCVIII + +Vaisampayana said, “And when the king of the celestials presented himself +in the guise of a Brahmana, beholding him, Kama said, ‘Welcome!’ And not +knowing his intention, Adhiratha’s son addressed the Brahmana, saying, +‘Of a necklace of gold, and beauteous damsels, and villages with plenty +of kine, which shall I give thee?’ Thereupon the Brahmana replied, ‘I ask +thee not to give me either a necklace of gold, or fair damsels, or any +other agreeable object. To those do thou give them that ask for them. If, +O sinless one, thou art sincere in thy vow, then wilt thou, cutting off +(from thy person) this coat of mail born with thy body, and these +ear-rings also, bestow them on me! I desire, O chastiser of foes, that +thou mayst speedily give me these; for, this one gain of mine will be +considered as superior to every other gain!’ Hearing these words, Kama, +said, ‘O Brahmana, I will give thee homestead land, and fair damsels, and +kine, and fields; but my mail and ear-rings I am unable to give thee!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Although thus urged with various words by Karna, +still, O chief of the Bharata race, that Brahmana did not ask for any +other boon. And although Karna sought to pacify him to the best of his +power, and worshipped him duly, yet that best of Brahmanas did not ask +for any other boon. And when that foremost of Brahmanas did not ask for +any other boon, Radha’s son again spake unto him with a smile, ‘My mail, +O regenerate one, hath been born with my body, and this pair of ear-rings +hath arisen from Amrita. It is for these that I am unslayable in the +worlds. Therefore, I cannot part with them. Do thou, O bull among +Brahmanas, accept from me the entire kingdom of the earth, rid of enemies +and full of prosperity! O foremost of regenerate ones, if I am deprived +of my ear-rings, and the mail born with my body, I shall be liable to be +vanquished by the foes!’ + +Vaisampayana continued, “When the illustrious slayer of Paka refused to +ask for any other boon, Kama with a smile again addressed him, saying, ‘O +god of gods, even before this, I had recognised thee, O Lord! O Sakra, it +is not proper for me to confer on thee any unprofitable boon, for thou +art the very lord of the celestials! On the contrary, being as thou art +the Creator and lord of all beings, it is thou that shouldst confer boons +on me! If, O god, I give thee this coat of mail and ear-rings, then I am +sure to meet with destruction, and thou shalt also undergo ridicule! +Therefore, O Sakra, take my earrings and excellent mail in exchange for +something conferred by thee on me! Otherwise, I will not bestow them on +thee!’ Thereupon Sakra replied, ‘Even before I had come to thee, Surya +had known of my purpose and without doubt, it is he that hath unfolded +everything unto thee! O Karna, be it as thou wishest! O son, except the +thunder-bolt alone, tell me what it is that thou desirest to have!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these words of Indra, Karna was filled +with delight and seeing that his purpose was about to be accomplished he +approached Vasava, and intent upon obtaining a dart incapable of being +baffled, he addressed Indra, saying, ‘Do thou, O Vasava, in exchange for +my coat of mail and ear-rings, give me a dart incapable of being baffled, +and competent to destroy hosts of enemies when arrayed in order of +battle!’ Thereupon, O ruler of earth, fixing his mind for a moment on the +dart (for bringing it there), Vasava thus spake unto Karna, ‘Do thou give +me thy ear-rings, and the coat of mail born with thy body, and in return +take this dart on these terms! When I encounter the Daitya in battle, +this dart that is incapable of being baffled, hurled by my hand, +destroyeth enemies by hundreds, and cometh back to my hand after +achieving its purpose. In thy hand, however, this dart, O son of Suta, +will slay only one powerful enemy of thine. And having achieved that +feat, it will, roaring and blazing, return to me!’ Thereat Karna said, ‘I +desire to slay in fierce fight even one enemy of mine, who roareth +fiercely and is hot as fire, and of whom I am in fear!’ At this, Indra +said, ‘Thou shall slay such a roaring and powerful foe in battle. But +that one whom thou seekest to slay, is protected by an illustrious +personage. Even He whom persons versed in the Vedas call ‘the invincible +Boar,’ and ‘the incomprehensible Narayana,’ even that Krishna himself, is +protecting him!’ Thereupon Karna replied, ‘Even if this be so, do thou, O +illustrious one give me the weapon that will destroy only one powerful +foe! I shall, on my part, bestow on thee my mail and ear-rings, cutting +them off my person. Do thou, however, grant that my body, thus wounded, +may not be unsightly!’ Hearing this, Indra said, ‘As thou, O Karna, art +bent upon observing the truth, thy person shall not be unsightly, or +shall any scar remain on it. And, O thou best of those that are graced +with speech, O Karna, thou shall be possessed of complexion and energy of +thy father him self. And if, maddened by wrath, thou hurlest this dart, +while there are still other weapons with thee, and when thy life also is +not in imminent peril, it will fall even on thyself.’ Karna answered, ‘As +thou directest me, O Sakra, I shall hurl this Vasavi dart only when I am +in imminent peril! Truly I tell thee this!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thereupon, O king, taking the blazing dart, +Karna began to peel off his natural mail. And beholding Karna cutting his +own body, the entire host of celestials and men and Danavas set up a +leonine roar. And Karna betrayed no contortions of face while peeling his +mail. And beholding that hero among men thus cutting his body with an +weapon, smiling ever and anon, celestial kettle-drums began to be played +upon and celestial flowers began to be showered on him. And Karna cutting +off the excellent mail from his person, gave it to Vasava, still +dripping. And cutting off his ear-rings also from off his ears, he made +them over to Indra. And it is for this fact that he came to be called +Karna. And Sakra, having thus beguiled Karna that made him famous in the +world, thought with a smile that the business of the sons of Pandu had +already been completed. And having done all this, he ascended to heaven. +And hearing that Karna had been beguiled, all the sons of Dhritarashtra +became distressed and shorn of pride. And the sons of Pritha, on the +other hand, learning that such plight had befallen the son of the +charioteer, were filled with joy.” + +Janamejaya said, “When were those heroes, the sons of Pandu, at that +time? And from whom did they hear this welcome news? And what also did +they do, when the twelfth year of their exile passed away? Do thou, O +illustrious one, tell me all this!” + +Vaisampayana said, “Having defeated the chief of the Saindhavas, and +rescued Krishna, and having outlived the entire term of their painful +exile in the woods, and having listened to the ancient stories about gods +and Rishis recited by Markandeya, those heroes among men returned from +their asylum in Kamyaka to the sacred Dwaitavana, with all their cars, +and followers, and accompanied by their charioteers, their kine, and the +citizens who had followed them.” + + + +SECTION CCCIX + +(Aranya Parva) + +Janamejaya said, “Having felt great affliction on account of the +abduction of their wife and having rescued Krishna thereafter, what did +the Pandavas next do?” + +Vaisampayana said, “Having felt great affliction on account of the +abduction of Krishna, king Yudhishthira of unfading glory, with his +brothers, left the woods of Kamyaka and returned to the delightful and +picturesque Dwaitavana abounding in trees and containing delicious fruits +and roots. And the sons of Pandu with their wife Krishna began to reside +there, living frugally on fruits and practising rigid vows. And while +those repressers of foes, the virtuous king Yudhishthira, the son of +Kunti, and Bhimasena, and Arjuna, and those other sons of Pandu born of +Madri, were dwelling in Dwaitavana, practising rigid vows, they +underwent, for the sake of a Brahmana, great trouble, which, however, was +destined to bring about their future happiness. I will tell thee all +about the trouble which those foremost of Kurus underwent while living in +those woods, and which in the end brought about their happiness. Do thou +listen to it! Once on a time, as a deer was butting about, it chanced +that the two sticks for making fire and a churning staff belonging to a +Brahmana devoted to ascetic austerities, struck fast into its antlers. +And, thereupon, O king, that powerful deer of exceeding fleetness with +long bounds, speedily went out of the hermitage, taking those articles +away. And, O foremost of Kurus, seeing those articles of his thus carried +away, the Brahmana, anxious on account of his Agnihotra, quickly came +before the Pandavas. And approaching without loss of time Ajatasatru +seated in that forest with his brothers, the Brahmana, in great distress, +spake these words, ‘As a deer was butting about, it happened, O king, +that my fire-sticks and churning staff which had been placed against a +large tree stuck fast to its antlers. O king, that powerful deer of +exceeding fleetness hath speedily gone out of the hermitage with long +bounds, taking those articles away. Tracking that powerful deer, O king, +by its foot-prints, do ye, ye sons of Pandu, bring back those articles of +mine, so that my Agnihotra may not be stopped!’ Hearing these words of +the Brahmana, Yudhishthira became exceedingly concerned. And the son of +Kunti taking up his bow sallied out with his brothers. And putting on +their corselets and equipped with their bows, those bulls among men, +intent upon serving the Brahmana, swiftly sallied out in the wake of the +deer. And descrying the deer at no great distance, those mighty warriors +discharged at it barbed arrows and javelins and darts, but the sons of +Pandu could not pierce it by any means. And as they struggled to pursue +and slay it, that powerful deer became suddenly invisible. And losing +sight of the deer, the noble-minded sons of Pandu, fatigued and +disappointed and afflicted with hunger and thirst, approached a banian +tree in that deep forest, and sat down in its cool shade. And when they +had sat down, Nakula stricken with sorrow and urged by impatience, +addressed his eldest brother of the Kuru race, saying, ‘In our race, O +king, virtue hath never been sacrificed, nor hath there been loss of +wealth from insolence. And being asked, we have never said to any +creature, Nay! Why then in the present case have we met with this +disaster?” + + + +SECTION CCCX + +Yudhishthira said, “There is no limit to calamities. Nor is it possible +to ascertain either their final or efficient cause. It is the Lord of +justice alone who distributeth the fruits of both virtue and vice.’ +Thereupon Bhima said, ‘Surely, this calamity hath befallen us, because I +did not slay the Pratikamin on the very spot, when he dragged Krishna as +a slave into the assembly. And Arjuna said, ‘Surely, this calamity hath +befallen us because I resented not those biting words piercing the very +bones, uttered by the Suta’s son!’ And Sahadeva said, ‘Surely, O Bharata, +this calamity hath befallen us because I did not slay Sakuni when he +defeated thee at dice!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Then king Yudhishthira addressed Nakula saying, +‘Do thou, O son of Madri, climb this tree and look around the ten points +of the horizon. Do thou see whether there is water near us or such trees +as grow on watery grounds! O child, these thy brothers are all fatigued +and thirsty.’ Thereupon saying, ‘So be it,’ Nakula speedily climbed up a +tree, and having looked around, said unto his eldest brother, ‘O king, I +see many a tree that groweth by the water-side, and I hear also the cries +of cranes. Therefore, without doubt, water must be somewhere here.’ +Hearing these words, Kunti’s son Yudhishthira, firm in truth, said, ‘O +amiable one, go thou and fetch water in these quivers!’ Saying, ‘So be +it,’ at the command of his eldest brother Nakula quickly proceeded +towards the place where there was water and soon came upon it. And +beholding a crystal lake inhabited by cranes he desired to drink of it, +when he heard these words from the sky, ‘O child, do not commit this rash +act! This lake hath already been in my possession. Do thou, O son of +Madri, first answer my questions and then drink of this water and take +away (as much as thou requirest). Nakula, however, who was exceedingly +thirsty, disregarding these words, drank of the cool water, and having +drunk of it, dropped down dead. And, O represser of foes, seeing Nakula’s +delay, Yudhishthira the son of Kunti said unto Sahadeva, the heroic +brother of Nakula, ‘O Sahadeva, it is long since our brother, he who was +born immediately before thee, hath gone from hence! Do thou, therefore, +go and bring back thy uterine brother, together with water.’ At this, +Sahadeva, saying, ‘So be it,’ set out in that direction; and coming to +the spot, beheld his brother lying dead on the ground. And afflicted at +the death of his brother, and suffering severely from thirst, he advanced +towards the water, when these words were heard by him, ‘O child, do not +commit this rash act! This lake hath already been in my possession. First +answer my question, and then drink of the water and take away as much as +thou mayst require.’ Sahadeva, however, who was extremely thirsty, +disregarding these words, drank of the water, and having drunk of it, +dropped down dead. Then Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, said unto Vijaya, +‘It is long since, O Vibhatsu, that thy two brothers have gone, O +represser of foes! Blessed be thou! Do thou bring them back, together +with water. Thou art, O child, the refuge of us all when plunged in +distress!’ Thus addressed, the intelligent Gudakesa, taking his bow and +arrows and also his naked sword, set out tor that lake of waters. And +reaching that spot, he whose car was drawn by white steeds beheld those +tigers among men, his two younger brothers who had come to fetch water, +lying dead there. And seeing them as if asleep, that lion among men, +exceedingly aggrieved, raised his bow and began to look around that wood. +But he found none in that mighty forest. And, being fatigued, he who was +capable of drawing the bow by his left hand as well, rushed in the +direction of the water. And as he was rushing (towards the water), he +heard these words from the sky, ‘Why dost thou approach this water? Thou +shalt not be able to drink of it by force. If thou, O Kaunteya, can +answer the question I will put to thee, then only shalt thou drink of the +water and take away as much as thou requirest, O Bharata!’ Thus +forbidden, the son of Pritha said, ‘Do thou forbid me by appearing before +me! And when thou shalt be sorely pierced with my arrows, thou wilt not +then again speak in this way!’ Having said this, Partha covered all sides +with arrows inspired by mantras. And he also displayed his skill in +shooting at an invisible mark by sound alone. And, O bull of the Bharata +race, sorely afflicted with thirst, he discharged barbed darts and +javelins and iron arrows, and showered on the sky innumerable shafts +incapable of being baffled. Thereupon, the invisible Yaksha said, ‘What +need of all this trouble, O son of Pritha? Do thou drink only after +answering my questions! If thou drink, however, without answering my +questions, thou shalt die immediately after.’ Thus addressed, Pritha’s +son Dhananjaya capable of drawing the bow with his left hand as well, +disregarding those words, drank of the water, and immediately after +dropped down dead. And (seeing Dhananjaya’s delay) Kunti’s son +Yudhishthira addressed Bhimasena, saying, ‘O represser of foes, it is a +long while that Nakula and Sahadeva and Vibhatsu have gone to fetch +water, and they have not come yet, O Bharata! Good betide thee! Do thou +bring them back, together with water!’ Thereupon saying, ‘So be it,’ +Bhimasena set out for that place where those tigers among men, his +brothers, lay dead. And beholding them, Bhima afflicted though he was +with thirst, was exceedingly distressed. And that mighty armed hero +thought all that to have been the act of some Yaksha or Rakshasa. And +Pritha’s son Vrikodara thought, ‘I shall surely have to fight today. Let +me, therefore, first appease my thirst.’ Then that bull of the Bharata +race rushed forward with the intention of drinking. Thereupon the Yaksha +said, ‘O child, do not commit this rash act! This lake hath already been +in my possession. Do thou first answer my questions, and then drink and +take away as much water as thou requirest!’” + +Vaisampayana continued, “Thus addressed by that Yaksha of immeasurable +energy, Bhima, without answering his questions, drank of the water. And +as soon as he drank, he fell down dead on the spot. Then thinking that +his brothers had left him long since, Yudhishthira waited for some time. +And the king said unto himself again and again, ‘Why is it that the two +sons of Madri are delaying? And why doth the wielder also of the Gandiva +delay? And why doth Bhima too, endued with great strength, delay? I shall +go to search for them!’ And resolved to do this, the mighty-armed +Yudhishthira then rose up, his heart burning in grief. And that bull +among men, the royal son of Kunti thought within himself. ‘Is this forest +under some malign influence? Or, is it infested by some wicked beasts? +Or, have they all fallen, in consequence of having disregarded some +mighty being? Or, not finding water in the spot whither those heroes had +first repaired, they have spent all this time in search through the +forest? What is that reason for which those bulls among men do not come +back?’ And speaking in this strain, that foremost of monarchs, the +illustrious Yudhishthira, entered into that mighty forest where no human +sound was heard and which was inhabited by deer and bears and birds, and +which was adorned with trees that were bright and green, and which echoed +with the hum of the black-bee and the notes of winged warblers. As he was +proceeding along, he beheld that beautiful lake which looked as if it had +been made by the celestial artificer himself. And it was adorned with +flowers of a golden hue and with lotuses and Sindhuvars. And it abounded +with canes and Ketakas and Karaviras and Pippalas, and fatigued with +toil, Yudhishthira saw that tank and was struck with wonder.” + + + +SECTION CCCXI + +Vaisampayana said, “Yudhishthira saw his brothers, each possessed of the +glory of Indra himself, lying dead like the Regents of the world dropped +from their spheres at the end of the Yuga. And beholding Arjuna lying +dead, with his bow and arrows dropped on the ground, and also Bhimasena +and the twins motionless and deprived of life, the king breathed a hot +and long sigh, and was bathed in tears of grief. And beholding his +brothers lying dead, the mighty armed son of Dharma with heart racked in +anxiety, began to lament profusely, saying, ‘Thou hadst, O mighty-armed +Vrikodara, vowed, saying,--I shall with mace smash the thighs of +Duryodhana in battle! O enhancer of the glory of the Kurus, in thy death, +O mighty-armed and high-souled one, all that hath become fruitless now! +The promises of men may be ineffectual; but why have the words of the +gods uttered in respect of thee been thus fruitless? O Dhananjaya, while +thou wert in thy mother’s lying-in-room, the gods had said,--O Kunti, +this thy son shall not be inferior to him of a thousand eyes! And in the +northern Paripatra mountains, all beings had sung, saying,--The +prosperity (of this race), robbed by foes will be recovered by this one +without delay. No one will be able to vanquish him in battle, while there +will be none whom he will not be able to vanquish. Why then hath that +Jishnu endued with great strength been subject to death? Oh, why doth +that Dhananjaya, relying on whom we had hitherto endured all this misery, +lie on the ground blighting[108] all my hopes! Why have those heroes, +those mighty sons of Kunti, Bhimasena and Dhananjaya, came under the +power of the enemy,--those who themselves always slew their foes, and +whom no weapons could resist! Surely, this vile heart of mine must be +made of adamant, since, beholding these twins lying today on the ground +it doth not split! Ye bulls among men, versed in holy writ and acquainted +with the properties of time and place, and endued with ascetic merit, ye +who duly performed all sacred rites, why lie ye down, without performing +acts deserving of you? Alas, why lie ye insensible on the earth, with +your bodies unwounded, ye unvanquished ones, and with your vows +untouched?’ And beholding his brothers sweetly sleeping there as (they +usually did) on mountain slopes, the high souled king, overwhelmed with +grief and bathed in sweat, came to a distressful condition. And +saying,--It is even so--that virtuous lord of men, immersed in an ocean +of grief anxiously proceeded to ascertain the cause (of that +catastrophe). And that mighty-armed and high-souled one, acquainted with +the divisions of time and place, could not settle his course of action. +Having thus bewailed much in this strain, the virtuous Yudhishthira, the +son of Dharma or Tapu, restrained his soul and began to reflect in his +mind as to who had slain those heroes. ‘There are no strokes of weapons +upon these, nor is any one’s foot-print here. The being must be mighty I +ween, by whom my brothers have been slain. Earnestly shall I ponder over +this, or, let me first drink of the water, and then know all. It may be +that the habitually crooked-minded Duryodhana hath caused this water to +be secretly placed here by the king of the Gandharvas. What man of sense +can trust wicked wight of evil passions with whom good and evil are +alike? Or, perhaps, this may be an act of that wicked-souled one through +secret messengers of his.’ And it was thus that that highly intelligent +one gave way to diverse reflections. He did not believe that water to +have been tainted with poison, for though dead no corpse-like pallor was +on them. ‘The colour on the faces of these my brothers hath not faded!’ +And it was thus that Yudhishthira thought. And the king continued, ‘Each +of these foremost of men was like unto a mighty cataract. Who, therefore, +save Yama himself who in due time bringeth about the end of all things, +could have baffled them thus.’ And having concluded this for certain, he +began to perform his ablutions in that lake. And while he descended into +it, he heard these words from the sky, uttered by the Yaksha,--‘I am a +crane, living on tiny fish. It is by me that thy younger brothers have +been brought under the sway of the lord of departed spirits. If, thou, O +prince, answer not the questions put by me, even thou shalt number the +fifth corpse. Do not, O child, act rashly! This lake hath already been in +my possession. Having answered my questions first, do thou, O Kunti’s +son, drink and carry away (as much as thou requirest)!’ Hearing these +words, Yudhishthira said, ‘Art thou the foremost of the Rudras, or of the +Vasus, or of the Marutas? I ask, what god art thou? This could not have +been done by a bird! Who is it that hath overthrown the four mighty +mountains, viz., the Himavat, the Paripatra, the Vindhya, and the Malaya? +Great is the feat done by thee, thou foremost of strong persons! Those +whom neither gods, nor Gandharvas nor Asuras, nor Rakshasas could endure +in mighty conflict, have been slain by thee! Therefore, exceedingly +wonderful is the deed done by thee! I do not know what thy business may +be, nor do I know thy purpose. Therefore, great is the curiosity and fear +also that have taken possession of me? My mind is greatly agitated, and +as my head also is aching, I ask thee, therefore, O worshipful one, who +art thou that stayest here?’ Hearing these words the Yaksha said, ‘I am, +good betide thee, a Yaksha, and not an amphibious bird. It is by me that +all these brothers of thine, endued with mighty prowess, have been slain!’ + +Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing these accursed words couched in harsh +syllabus,[109] Yudhishthira, O king, approaching the Yaksha who had +spoken then, stood there. And that bull among the Bharatas then beheld +that Yaksha of unusual eyes and huge body tall like a palmyra-palm and +looking like fire or the Sun, and irresistible and gigantic like a +mountain, staying on a tree, and uttering a loud roar deep as that of the +clouds. And the Yaksha said, ‘These thy brothers, O king, repeatedly +forbidden by me, would forcibly take away water. It is for this that they +have been slain by me! He that wisheth to live, should not, O king, drink +this water! O son of Pritha, act not rashly! This lake hath already been +in my possession. Do thou, O son of Kunti, first answer my questions, and +then take away as much as thou likest!’ Yudhishthira said, ‘I do not, O +Yaksha, covet, what is already in thy possession! O bull among male +beings, virtuous persons never approve that one should applaud his own +self (without boasting, I shall, therefore, answer thy questions, +according to my intelligence). Do thou ask me!’ The Yaksha then said, +‘What is it that maketh the Sun rise? Who keeps him company? Who causeth +him to set? And in whom is he established?’ Yudhishthira answered, +‘Brahma maketh the Sun rise: the gods keep him company: Dharma causeth +him to set: and he is established in truth.’[110] The Yaksha asked, ‘By +what doth one become learned? By what doth he attain what is very great? +How can one have a second? And, O king, how can one acquire +intelligence?’ Yudhishthira answered, ‘It is by the (study of the) Srutis +that a person becometh learned; it is by ascetic austerities that one +acquireth what is very great: it is by intelligence that a person +acquireth a second and it is by serving the old that one becometh +wise.’[111] The Yaksha asked, ‘What constituteth the divinity of the +Brahmanas? What even is their practice that is like that of the pious? +What also is the human attribute of the Brahmanas? And what practice of +theirs is like that of the impious?’ Yudhishthira answered, ‘The study of +the Vedas constitutes their divinity: their asceticism constitutes +behaviour that is like that of the pious; their liability to death is +their human attribute and slander is their impiety.’ The Yaksha asked, +‘What institutes the divinity of the Kshatriyas? What even is their +practice that is like that of the pious? What is their human attribute? +And what practice of theirs is like that of the impious?’ Yudhishthira +answered, ‘Arrows and weapons are their divinity: celebration of +sacrifices is that act which is like that of the pious: liability to fear +is their human attribute; and refusal of protection is that act of theirs +which is like that of the impious.’ The Yaksha asked, ‘What is that which +constitutes the Sama of the sacrifice? What the Yajus of the sacrifice? +What is that which is the refuge of a sacrifice? And what is that which +sacrifice cannot do without?’ Yudhishthira answered, ‘Life is the Sama of +the sacrifice; the mind is the Yajus of the sacrifice: the Rik is that +which is the refuge of the sacrifice; and it is Rik alone which sacrifice +cannot do without.’[112] The Yaksha asked, ‘What is of the foremost value +to those that cultivate? What is of the foremost value to those that sow? +What is of the foremost value to those that wish for prosperity in this +world? And what is of the foremost value to those that bring forth?’ +Yudhishthira answered, ‘That which is of the foremost value to those that +cultivate is rain: that of the foremost value to those that sow is seed: +that of the foremost value to those that bring forth is offspring.[113]’ +The Yaksha asked, ‘What person, enjoying all the objects of the senses, +endued with intelligence, regarded by the world and liked by all beings, +though breathing, doth not offer anything to these five, viz., gods, +guests, servants, Pitris, and himself, though endued with breath, is not +yet alive.’ The Yaksha asked, ‘What is weightier than the earth itself? +What is higher than the heavens?’ What is fleeter than the wind? And what +is more numerous than grass?’ Yudhishthira answered, ‘The mother is +weightier than the earth; the father is higher than the heaven; the mind +is fleeter than the wind; and our thoughts are more numerous than grass.’ +The Yaksha asked, ‘What is that which doth not close its eyes while +asleep; What is that which doth not move after birth? What is that which +is without heart? And what is that which swells with its own impetus?’ +Yudhishthira answered, ‘A fish doth not close its eyes while asleep: an +egg doth not move after birth: a stone is without heart: and a river +swelleth with its own impetus.’ The Yaksha asked, ‘Who is the friend of +the exile? Who is the friend of the householder? Who is the friend of him +that ails? And who is the friend of one about to die?’ Yudhishthira +answered, ‘The friend of the exile in a distant land is his companion, +the friend of the householder is the wife; the friend of him that ails is +the physician: and the friend of him about to die is charity. The Yaksha +asked,--‘Who is the guest of all creatures? What is the eternal duty? +What, O foremost of kings, is Amrita? And what is this entire Universe?’ +Yudhishthira answered,--Agni is the guest of all creatures: the milk of +kine is amrita: Homa (therewith) is the eternal duty: and this Universe +consists of air alone.’[114] The Yaksha asked,--‘What is that which +sojourneth alone? What is that which is re-born after its birth? What is +the remedy against cold? And what is the largest field?’ Yudhishthira +answered,--‘The sun sojourneth alone; the moon takes birth anew: fire is +the remedy against cold: and the Earth is the largest field.’ The Yaksha +asked,--‘What is the highest refuge of virtue? What of fame? What of +heaven? And what, of happiness?’ Yudhishthira answered,--‘Liberality is +the highest refuge of virtue: gift, of fame: truth, of heaven: and good +behaviour, of happiness.’ The Yaksha asked,--‘What is the soul of man? +Who is that friend bestowed on man by the gods? What is man’s chief +support? And what also is his chief refuge?’ Yudhishthira answered,--‘The +son is a man’s soul: the wife is the friend bestowed on man by the gods; +the clouds are his chief support; and gift is his chief refuge.’ The +Yaksha asked,--‘What is the best of all laudable things? What is the most +valuable of all his possessions? What is the best of all gains? And what +is the best of all kinds of happiness?’ Yudhishthira answered,--“The best +of all laudable things is skill; the best of all possessions is +knowledge: the best of all gains is health: and contentment is the best +of all kinds of happiness.’ The Yaksha asked,--‘What is the highest duty +in the world? What is that virtue which always beareth fruit? What is +that which if controlled, leadeth not to regret? And who are they with +whom an alliance cannot break?’ Yudhishthira answered,--‘The highest of +duties is to refrain from injury: the rites ordained in the Three (Vedas) +always bear fruit: the mind, if controlled, leadeth to no regret: and an +alliance with the good never breaketh.’ The Yaksha asked,--‘What is that +which, if renounced, maketh one agreeable? What is that which, if +renounced, leadeth to no regret? What is that which, if renounced, maketh +one wealthy? And what is that which if renounced, maketh one happy?’ +Yudhishthira answered,--‘Pride, if renounced, maketh one agreeable; +wrath, if renounced leadeth to no regret: desire, if renounced, maketh +one wealthy: and avarice, if renounced, maketh one happy.’ The Yaksha +asked,--‘For what doth one give away to Brahmanas? For what to mimes and +dancers? For what to servants? And for what to king?’ Yudhishthira +answered,--‘It is for religious merit that one giveth away to Brahmanas: +it is for fame that one giveth away to mimes and dancers: it is for +supporting them that one giveth away to servants: and it is for obtaining +relief from fear that one giveth to kings.’ The Yaksha asked,--‘With what +is the world enveloped? What is that owing to which a thing cannot +discover itself? For what are friends forsaken? And for what doth one +fail to go to heaven?’ Yudhishthira answered,--‘The world is enveloped +with darkness. Darkness doth not permit a thing to show itself. It is +from avarice that friends are forsaken. And it is connection with the +world for which one faileth to go to heaven.’ The Yaksha asked,--‘For +what may one be considered as dead? For what may a kingdom be considered +as dead? For what may a Sraddha be considered as dead? And for what, a +sacrifice?’ Yudhishthira answered,--‘For want of wealth may a man be +regarded as dead. A kingdom for want of a king may be regarded as dead. A +Sraddha that is performed with the aid of a priest that hath no learning +may be regarded as dead. And a sacrifice in which there are no gifts to +Brahmanas is dead.’ The Yaksha asked,--‘What constitutes the way? What, +hath been spoken of as water? What, as food? And what, as poison? Tell us +also what is the proper time of a Sraddha, and then drink and take away +as much as thou likest!’ Yudhishthira answered,--‘They that are good +constitute the way.[115] Space hath been spoken of as water.[116] The cow +is food.[117] A request is poison. And a Brahmana is regarded as the +proper time of a Sraddha.[118] I do not know what thou mayst think of all +this, O Yaksha?’ The Yaksha asked,--‘What hath been said to be the sign +of asceticism? And what is true restraint? What constitutes forgiveness. +And what is shame?’ Yudhishthira answered,--‘Staying in one’s own +religion is asceticism: the restraint of the mind is of all restraints +the true one: forgiveness consists in enduring enmity; and shame, in +withdrawing from all unworthy acts.’ The Yaksha asked,--‘What, O king is +said to be knowledge? What, tranquillity? What constitutes mercy? And +what hath been called simplicity?’ Yudhishthira answered,--‘True +knowledge is that of Divinity. True tranquillity is that of the heart. +Mercy consists in wishing happiness to all. And simplicity is equanimity +of heart.’ The Yaksha asked,--‘What enemy is invincible? What constitutes +an incurable disease for man? What sort of a man is called honest and +what dishonest?’ Yudhishthira answered,--‘Anger is an invincible enemy. +Covetousness constitutes an incurable disease. He is honest that desires +the weal of all creatures, and he is dishonest who is unmerciful.’ The +Yaksha asked,--‘What, O king, is ignorance? And what is pride? What also +is to be understood by idleness? And what hath been spoken of as grief?’ +Yudhishthira answered,--‘True ignorance consists in not knowing one’s +duties. Pride is a consciousness of one’s being himself an actor or +sufferer in life. Idleness consists in not discharging one’s duties, and +ignorance in grief.’ The Yaksha asked,--‘What hath steadiness been said +by the Rishis to be? And what, patience? What also is a real ablution? +And what is charity?’ Yudhishthira answered,--‘Steadiness consists in +one’s staying in one’s own religion, and true patience consists in the +subjugation of the senses. A true bath consists in washing the mind clean +of all impurities, and charity consists in protecting all creatures.’ The +Yaksha asked,--‘What man should be regarded as learned, and who should be +called an atheist? Who also is to be called ignorant? What is called +desire and what are the sources of desire? And what is envy?’ +Yudhishthira answered,--‘He is to be called learned who knoweth his +duties. An atheist is he who is ignorant and so also he is ignorant who +is an atheist. Desire is due to objects of possession, and envy is +nothing else than grief of heart.’ The Yaksha asked,--‘What is pride, and +what is hypocrisy? What is the grace of the gods, and what is +wickedness?’ Yudhishthira answered,--‘Stolid ignorance is pride. The +setting up of a religious standard is hypocrisy. The grace of the gods is +the fruit of our gifts, and wickedness consists in speaking ill of +others.’ The Yaksha asked,--‘Virtue, profit, and desire are opposed to +one another. How could things thus antagonistic to one another exist +together?’ Yudhishthira answered,--‘When a wife and virtue agree with +each other, then all the three thou hast mentioned may exist together.’ +The Yaksha asked,--‘O bull of the Bharata race, who is he that is +condemned to everlasting hell? It behoveth thee to soon answer the +question that I ask!’ Yudhishthira answered,--‘He that summoneth a poor +Brahmana promising to make him a gift and then tells him that he hath +nothing to give, goeth to everlasting hell. He also must go to +everlasting hell, who imputes falsehood to the Vedas, the scriptures, the +Brahmanas, the gods, and the ceremonies in honour of the Pitris, He also +goeth to everlasting hell who though in possession of wealth, never +giveth away nor enjoyeth himself from avarice, saying, he hath none.’ The +Yaksha asked,--‘By what, O king, birth, behaviour, study, or learning +doth a person become a Brahmana? Tell us with certitude!’ Yudhishthira +answered,-’Listen, O Yaksha! It is neither birth, nor study, nor +learning, that is the cause of Brahmanahood, without doubt, it is +behaviour that constitutes it. One’s behaviour should always be +well-guarded, especially by a Brahmana. He who maintaineth his conduct +unimpaired, is never impaired himself. Professors and pupils, in fact, +all who study the scriptures, if addicted to wicked habits, are to be +regarded as illiterate wretches. He only is learned who performeth his +religious duties. He even that hath studied the four Vedas is to be +regarded as a wicked wretch scarcely distinguishable from a Sudra (if his +conduct be not correct). He only who performeth the Agnihotra and hath +his senses under control, is called a Brahmana!’ The Yaksha asked,--‘What +doth one gain that speaketh agreeable words? What doth he gain that +always acteth with judgment? What doth he gain that hath many friends? +And what he, that is devoted to virtue?’--Yudhishthira answered,--‘He +that speaketh agreeable words becometh agreeable to all. He that acteth +with judgment obtaineth whatever he seeketh. He that hath many friends +liveth happily. And he that is devoted to virtue obtaineth a happy state +(in the next world).’ The Yaksha asked,--‘Who is truly happy? What is +most wonderful? What is the path? And what is the news? Answer these four +questions of mine and let thy dead brothers revive.’ Yudhishthira +answered,--‘O amphibious creature, a man who cooketh in his own house, on +the fifth or the sixth part of the day, with scanty vegetables, but who +is not in debt and who stirreth not from home, is truly happy. Day after +day countless creatures are going to the abode of Yama, yet those that +remain behind believe themselves to be immortal. What can be more +wonderful than this? Argument leads to no certain conclusion, the Srutis +are different from one another; there is not even one Rishi whose opinion +can be accepted by all; the truth about religion and duty is hid in +caves: therefore, that alone is the path along which the great have trod. +This world full of ignorance is like a pan. The sun is fire, the days and +nights are fuel. The months and the seasons constitute the wooden ladle. +Time is the cook that is cooking all creatures in that pan (with such +aids); this is the news.’ The Yaksha asked,--‘Thou hast, O represser of +foes, truly answered all my questions! Tell us now who is truly a man, +and what man truly possesseth every kind of wealth.’ Yudhishthira +answered,--‘The report of one’s good action reacheth heaven and spreadeth +over the earth. As long as that report lasteth, so long is a person to +whom the agreeable and the disagreeable, weal and woe, the past and the +future, are the same, is said to possess every kind of wealth.’ The +Yaksha said,--‘Thou hast, O king truly answered who is a man, and what +man possesseth every kind of wealth. Therefore, let one only amongst thy +brothers, whom thou mayst wish, get up with life!’ Yudhishthira +answered,--‘Let this one that is of darkish hue, whose eyes are red, who +is tall like a large Sala tree, whose chest is broad and arms long, let +this Nakula, O Yaksha, get up with life! The Yaksha rejoined,-’This +Bhimasena is dear unto thee, and this Arjuna also is one upon whom all of +you depend! Why, then, O king dost thou, wish a step-brother to get up +with his life! How canst thou, forsaking Bhima whose strength is equal to +that of ten thousand elephants, wish Nakula to live? People said that +this Bhima was dear to thee. From what motive then dost thou wish a +step-brother to revive? Forsaking Arjuna the might of whose arm is +worshipped by all the sons of Pandu, why dost thou wish Nakula to +revive?’ Yudhishthira said,--‘If virtue is sacrificed, he that +sacrificeth it, is himself lost. So virtue also cherisheth the cherisher. +Therefore taking care that virtue by being sacrificed may not sacrifice +us, I never forsake virtue. Abstention from injury is the highest virtue, +and is, I ween, even higher than the highest object of attainment. I +endeavour to practise that virtue. Therefore, let Nakula, O Yaksha, +revive! Let men know that the king is always virtuous! I will never +depart from my duty. Let Nakula, therefore, revive! My father had two +wives, Kunti and Madri. Let both of them have children. This is what I +wish. As Kunti is to me, so also is Madri. There is no difference between +them in my eye. I desire to act equally towards my mothers. Therefore, +let Nakula live?’ The Yaksha said,--‘Since abstention from injury is +regarded by thee as higher than both profit and pleasure, therefore, let +all thy brothers live, O bull of Bharata race!” + + + +SECTION CCCXII + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Then agreeable to the words of the Yaksha the +Pandavas rose up; and in a moment their hunger and thirst left them. +Thereupon Yudhishthira said, ‘I ask thee that art incapable of being +vanquished and that standest on one leg in the tank, what god art thou, +for I cannot take thee for a Yaksha! Art thou the foremost of the Vasus, +or of the Rudras, or of the chief of the Maruts? Or art thou the lord +himself of the celestials, wielder of the thunder-bolt! Each of these my +brothers is capable of fighting as hundred thousand warriors, and I see +not the warrior that can slay them all! I see also that their senses have +refreshed, as if they have sweetly awaked from slumber. Art thou a friend +of ours, or even our father himself? At this the Yaksha replied,-’O +child, I am even thy father, the Lord of justice, possessed of great +prowess! Know, bull of the Bharata race, that I came hither desirous of +beholding thee! Fame, truth, self-restraint, purity, candour, modesty, +steadiness, charity, austerities and Brahmacharya, these are my body! And +abstention from injury, impartiality, peace, penances, sanctity, and +freedom from malice are the doors (through which I am accessible). Thou +art always dear to me! By good luck thou art devoted to the five;[119] +and by good luck also thou hast conquered the six.[120] Of the six, two +appear in the first part of life; two in the middle part thereof; and the +remaining two at the end, in order to make men repair to the next world. +I am, good betide thee, the lord of justice! I came hither to test thy +merit. I am well-pleased to witness thy harmlessness; and, O sinless one, +I will confer boons on thee. Do thou, O foremost of kings, ask of me +boons. I shall surely confer them, O sinless one! Those that revere me, +never come by distress!’ Yudhishthira said,--‘A deer was carrying away +the Brahmana’s fire-sticks. Therefore, the first boon that I shall ask, +is, may that Brahmana’s adorations to Agni be not interrupted!’ The +Yaksha said,--‘O Kunti’s son endued with splendour, it was I who for +examining thee, was carrying away, in the guise of a deer, that +Brahmana’s fire-sticks!” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Thereupon that worshipful one said,--‘I give +thee this boon! Good betide thee! O thou that are like unto an immortal, +ask thou a fresh boon! Yudhishthira said,--‘We have spent these twelve +years in the forest; and the thirteenth year is come. May no one +recognise us, as we spend this year somewhere.’ + +Vaisampayana continued,-’Thereat that worshipful one replied,--‘I give +this boon unto thee!’ And then reassuring Kunti’s son having truth for +prowess, he also said, ‘Even if, O Bharata, ye range this (entire) earth +in your proper forms none in the three worlds shall recognise you. Ye +perpetuators of the Kuru race, through my grace, ye will spend this +thirteenth year, secretly and unrecognised, in Virata’s kingdom! And +every one of you will be able at will to assume any form he likes! Do ye +now present the Brahmana with his fire-sticks. It was only to test you +that I carried them away in the form of a deer! O amiable Yudhishthira, +do thou ask for another boon that thou mayst like! I will confer it on +thee. O foremost of men, I have not yet been satisfied by granting boons +to thee! Do thou my son, accept a third boon that is great and +incomparable! Thou, O king, art born of me, and Vidura of portion or +mine!” Thereat Yudhishthira said,--‘It is enough that I have beheld thee +with my senses, eternal God of gods as thou art! O father, whatever boon +thou wilt confer on me I shall surely accept gladly! May I, O lord, +always conquer covetousness and folly and anger, and may my mind be ever +devoted to charity, truth, and ascetic austerities! The Lord of justice +said,--‘Even by nature, O Pandava, hast thou been endued with these +qualities, for thou art the Lord of justice himself! Do thou again attain +what thou asked for!” + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Having said these words, the worshipful Lord of +justice, who is the object of contemplation of all the worlds, vanished +therefrom; and the high-souled Pandavas after they had slept sweetly were +united with one another. And their fatigue dispelled, those heroes +returned to the hermitage, and gave back that Brahmana his firesticks. +That man who pursueth this illustrious and fame-enhancing story of the +revival (of the Pandavas) and the meeting of father and son (Dharma and +Yudhishthira), obtaineth perfect tranquillity of mind, and sons and +grandsons, and also a life extending over a hundred years! And the mind +of that man that layeth this story to heart, never delighteth in +unrighteousness, or in disunion among friends, or misappropriation of +other person’s property, or staining other people’s wives, or in foul +thoughts! + + + +SECTION CCCXIII + +Vaisampayana continued,--“Commanded by the Lord of justice to thus spend +in disguise the thirteenth year of non-discovery, the high-souled +Pandavas, observant of vows and having truth for prowess, sat before +those learned and vow-observing ascetics that from regard were dwelling +with them in their exile in the forest. And with joined hands they said +these words, with the intention of obtaining permission to spend the +thirteenth year in the manner indicated. And they said, ‘Ye know well +that the sons of Dhritarashtra have by deceit deprived us of our kingdom, +and have also done us many other wrongs! We have passed twelve years in +the forest in great affliction. The thirteenth year only, which we are to +spend unrecognised, yet remaineth. It behoveth you to permit us now to +spend this year in concealment! Those rancorous enemies of ours +Suyodhana, the wicked-minded Kama, and Suvala’s son should they discover +us, would do mighty wrong to the citizens and our friends! Shall we all +with the Brahmanas, be again established in our own kingdom? Having said +this, that pure-spirited son of Dharma king Yudhishthira, overwhelmed +with grief and with accents choked in tears, swooned away. Thereupon the +Brahmanas, together with his brothers began to cheer him up. Then Dhaumya +spake unto the king these words fraught with mighty meaning,--‘O king, +thou art learned and capable of bearing privations, art firm in promise, +and of subdued sense! Men of such stamp are not overwhelmed by any +calamity whatever. Even the high-souled gods themselves have wandered +over various places in disguise, for the purpose of overcoming foes. +Indra for the purpose of overcoming his toes, dwelt in disguise in the +asylum of Giriprastha, in Nishadha and thus attained his end. Before +taking his birth in the womb of Aditi, Vishnu for the purpose of +destroying the Daityas passed a long time unrecognised, assuming the form +of the Haya-griba (Horse-necked). Then how disguising himself in the form +of a dwarf, he by his prowess deprived Vali of his kingdom, hath been +heard by thee! And thou hast also heard how Hutasana entering into water +and remaining in concealment, achieved the purpose of the gods. And O +thou versed in duty, thou hast heard how Hari with the view of overcoming +his foes, entered into Sakra’s thunder-bolt, and lay concealed there. +And, O sinless one, thou hast heard of the office the regenerate Rishi +Aurva at one time performed for the gods, remaining concealed in his +mother’s womb. And O child, living in concealment in every part of the +earth, Vivaswat, endued with excellent energy, at last entirely burnt up +all his foes. And living disguised in the abode of Dasaratha, Vishnu of +dreadful deeds slew the Ten-necked one in battle.’ Thus remaining in +disguise in various places, high-souled persons have before this +conquered their enemies in battle. Thus cheered by these words of +Dhaumya, the virtuous Yudhishthira, relying on his own wisdom and also +that acquired from the scriptures regained his composure. Then that +foremost of strong persons, the mighty-armed Bhimasena endued with great +strength encouraging the king greatly, spake these words, ‘Looking up to +thy face (for permission), the wielder of the Gandiva, acting according +to his sense of duty hath not yet, O king, shown any rashness! And +although fully able to destroy the foe, Nakula and Sahadeva of dreadful +prowess have been ever prevented by me! Never shall we swerve from that +in which thou wilt engage us! Do thou tell us what is to be done! We +shall speedily conquer our enemies! When Bhimasena had said this, the +Brahmanas uttered benedictions on the Bharatas, and then obtaining their +permission, went to their respective quarters. And all those foremost of +Yatis and Munis versed in the Vedas, exceedingly desirous of again +beholding the Pandavas, went back to their homes. And accompanied by +Dhaumya, these heroes, the five learned Pandavas equipped in vows set out +with Krishna. And each versed in a separate science, and all proficient +in mantras and cognisant of when peace was to be concluded and when war +was to be waged those tigers among men, about to enter upon a life of +non-recognition, the next day proceeded for a Krose and then sat +themselves down with the view of taking counsel of each other. + +The End of Vana Parva + +FOOTNOTES + +1. This seems to be the obvious. There is a different reading however. +For Drie--cyate-seen, some texts have Sasyate--applauded. Nilakantha +imagines that the meaning is “As distribution (of food) amongst the +various classes of beings like the gods, the Pitris, &c., is applauded +&c., &c.” + +2. A form of sacrifice which consists in pouring oblations of clarified +butter with prayers into a blazing fire. It is obligatory on Brahmanas +and Kshatriyas, except those that accept certain vows of great austerity. + +3. The Viswedeva sacrifice is the offer of food to all creatures of the +earth (by scattering a portion). + +4. A gift. It may be of various kinds. The fees paid to Brahmanas +assisting at sacrifices and religious rites, such as offering oblations +to the dead, are Dakshinas, as also gifts to Brahmanas on other occasions +particularly when they are fed, it bring to this day the custom never to +feed a Brahmana without paying him a pecuniary fee. There can be no +sacrifice, no religious rite, without Dakshina. + +5. Reference to self, i.e. without the motive of bettering one’s own +self, or without any motive at all. (This contains the germ of the +doctrine preached more elaborately in the Bhagavad gita). + +6. This Yoga consists, in their case, of a combination of attributes by +negation of the contrary ones, i.e. by renunciation of motives in all +they do. + +7. A form of Yoga that is said to consist in the mingling of some of the +air supposed to exist in every animal body. These airs are five: Prana, +Apana, Samana, Udana, and Vyana. + +8. The 8 Vasus, the 11 Rudras, the 12 Adityas, Prajapati, and Vashatkara. + +9. An order of celestials. + +10. Celestial flowers of much fragrance. + +11. The ascetic properties are Anima, Laghima, etc. + +12. The bow of Vishnu, as that of Siva is called Pinaka. + +13. The words of the text are Adhana, Pashubandha, Ishti Mantra, Yajana +and Tapa-kriya. + +14. Dhritarashtra being blind is described as Pragnachakshu, i.e. having +knowledge for his eye. It may also mean. “Of the prophetic eye.” + +15. The great preceptor of the Asuras, viz., Sukra, possessing the +highest intelligence as evidenced by his various works on all manner of +subjects particularly, the Sukra-niti. + +16. Also called Vadarika, a hermitage on the Himalaya near the sources of +the Ganges. + +17. Nilakantha explains kshetra as including Mahabhuta, consciousness, +intellect, the unmanifest (primordial elements), the ten senses, the five +objects of the senses, viz., earth, water, &c., desire, aversion, +pleasure, pain, the combinations of elements, and chaitanya. + +18. Hari here means the developed seed that is to expand into the vast +whole of the universe. + +19. This wheel is the wheel of Time--i.e., measured according to the +solar, lunar and astral revolutions. The importance of Ashtavakra’s reply +is this: May the meritorious deeds performed at proper times, during the +revolution of this wheel of Time protect thee. + +20. Thunder and lightning or misery and death. + +21. Cloud or the mind. + +22. The male being that is ever conscious. + +23. The mundane egg. + +24. The soul that has renounced connection with the body. + +25. The heart of a Yogi. + +26. Ashtavakra comes to Janaka’s sacrifice with the object of proving the +unity of the Supreme Being. Vandin avails himself of various system of +Philosophy to combat his opponent. He begins with the Buddhistic system. +The form of the dialogue is unique in literature being that of enigmas +and the latent meaning is in a queer way hid under the appearance of +puerile and heterogeneous combinations of things. + +Vandin opens the controversy by saying that as the number of each of +these is one, so one only intellect is the lord, leader and guide of the +senses. + +27. There is a Vedic revelation that two birds live together on a tree as +friends--one of these eats the fruits and the other looks at the former. +From this it is manifest that two are the lords, leaders, and guides of +the senses. That there is a second faculty besides the intellect is also +proved by the fact that in sleep when the intellect is inactive that +faculty continues in action, for if it were not so we could not remember +having slept, nor connect the state after awaking with that preceding +sleep. Accordingly by citing the number two Ashtavakra assets that +besides intellect there is another faculty--consciousness that these two +are jointly the lords, leaders and guides of the senses and that they act +together as Indra and Agni, etc. + +28. By citing the number three Vandin means to say that as it is Acts +that produce the three kinds of born beings, etc., so Acts are supreme +and that everything else be it intellect alone, or intellect and +consciousness together is subservient to Acts. + +29. Ashtavakra here advances the thesis that even if Acts be supreme +still when the (fourth) or Supreme Being becomes manifest to the soul, it +stands in no further needs to Acts. + +30. By bringing in the quinquennial series, Vandin wishes to assert that +the five senses are competent to cognise their respective objects and +that besides these senses and their objects there is neither any other +sense to perceive nor any other object of perception. He also cites the +authority of the Veda according to which the Apsaras (or consciousness) +have five “locks” on their hands--i.e., five objects of perception. + +31. Besides the five senses Ashtavakra contends for an additional sense +namely the Mind and accordingly cites the number six. + +32. Vandin admits the existence of the six senses but says that the soul +experiences happiness and misery through those as well as through the +intellect. + +33. Ashtavakra advances an eighth element, namely, the knowledge of the +ego. + +34. Each of the three qualities (existence, foulness and ignorance) of +prakriti (the passive or material cause of the world) mixing with each of +the three corresponding qualities of pradhana (the active or spiritual +cause of the world) in various proportions produces the mundane order of +things. Thus is proved the eternity of prakriti or nature and is also +established the doctrine of duality. + +35. Prakriti does not really create. It is the Supreme Being who through +the medium of illusion in contract with the ten organs (viz., the five +locomotive organs and the five organs of sense) makes manifest the system +of things. Prakriti therefore has no real existence--her existence is +only apparent in the real existence of the soul. + +36. Yupas (stakes) mean here, feelings, etc, which keep men bound to the +world. Rudras are those who makes others cry. + +Vandin means to say that the soul is not essential free from the fetters +of happiness and misery arising from the eleven objects of perception. In +this world all men are subject to happiness and misery. We also hear that +there are Rudras in heaven. + +37. The supreme soul unaffected by happiness and misery really +exists--but His existence is not susceptible of being proved--nor can the +ignorant ever perceive Him. Men attain that condition through these +twelve, viz., virtue, true, self-restraint, penances, good-will, modesty, +forgiveness, exemption from envy, sacrifice, charity, concentration and +control over the senses. + +38. According to some, endeavours to attain emancipation can be +successful not in this world but in the world of Brahma. Others say that +to that end a special yoga is necessary. By bringing forward the objects +numbering thirteen. Vandin advances the opinion that, virtue, etc., are +not sufficient for purposes of emancipation but that suitable time and +place are also essential. + +39. Ashtavakra concludes by citing the same number thirteen. The soul +which is essentially unaffected, becomes subject to happiness and misery +through, the thirteen, viz., the ten organs of locomotion and sense, and +intellect mind and egoism. But Atichhanadas, i.e., those that have +surmounted ignorance, namely, the twelve, virtue, etc. destroy those +thirteen and that is emancipation. + +40. Su means excellent, and uta, sacrifice. The compound accordingly +means,--performer of excellent sacrifice. + +41. Iti means these six things, unfavourable to crops--excessive rain, +drought, rats, locusts, birds, and a neighbouring hostile king. + +42. In as much as the rites performed by the Sudras have their origin in +the Vedas. + +43. More literally, the state of the gods. It may appropriately be +remarked here that the ordinary Hindu gods, of the post-Vedic period, +like the gods of Ancient Greece and Italy, were simply a class of +superhuman beings, distinctly contra-distinguished from the Supreme +Spirit, the Paramatman or Parabrahma. After death, a virtuous man was +supposed to be transformed into one of these so-called gods. + +44. This is the well-known and popular doctrine of transmigration of +souls. + +45. The word in the text is Kora-dushakas, supposed by Wilson to be the +Paspalum frumentacea (vide Dict.). + +46. The word in the text is mlecchibhutam. The Sanskrit grammar affords a +great facility for the formation of verbs from substantives. Mlecchify +may be hybrid, but it correctly and shortly signifies the Sanskrit word. + +47. Pushya is the eighth lunar asterism consisting of three stars, of +which one is, the Cancer. (Vide Wilson’s Diet.). + +48. An Indian creeper of the order of Goertnera racemosa. It bears large +white flowers of much fragrance. + +49. They, therefore, that lead deathless lives can enjoy this bliss from +day to day for ever. + +50. It is difficult to understand how all that Vaka says can be an answer +to Indra’s question. The chief of the gods enquires: What are the joys of +those that lead deathless lives? Vaka breaks away unto a confused +rigmarole about the merits of independence and the religious merit of +entertaining guests and servants. All the printed editions have the +passage as rendered here. + +51. The ceremony of Swastivachana is described to be “a religious rite, +preparatory to any important observance, in which the Brahmanas strew +boiled rice on the ground, and invoke the blessings of the gods on the +ceremony about to commence” (Vide Wilson’s Dict). + +A flowery car was, probably, one of celestial make that the kings, +procured from heaven by performing costly rites and ceremonies. These +were sometimes exhibited to the people, and prior to these exhibitions, +the ceremony of Swastivachana was performed. + +52. A man is said to sell the Vedas who lectures on the Vedas taking fees +from the hearers. + +53. Japa is the silent recitation of particular Mantras. + +54. Mantras are particular formulae of worship. They are for the most +part rhythmic compositions, believed to be of great efficacy. + +55. The Homa is that sacrificial rite which consists of pouring libations +of clarified butter into fire. + +56. Vedamayi nou. Lit, a boat made of the Vedas. + +57. Vishada is the original. It means discontent, but here it means more +a mixture of discontent, perplexity and confusion than mere discontent. + +58. A form of Hindu etiquette at parting. + +59. It is so very difficult to translate the word Karma,--religion and +morals were invariably associated with each other in ancient Hindu mind. + +60. Agni or fire was supposed to convey the oblations offered by men to +the gods. + +61. Kumara means a boy, hence a prince. Here Kartika the war-god is meant. + +62. By carrying their oblations to the gods. + +63. Portions of the Vedas. + +64. Raga means love. + +65. Kama is the name of the god of love, Indian Cupid. + +66. The body, the exciting Cause of our actions is an uktha, the soul of +the vivifier of the body is the second uktha, and the Supreme Spirit, the +inciter of the soul is the third. + +67. The word of God. + +68. In Hindu Mythology there are no gods who destroy sacrifices. It is +only the Asuras who do so. The Burdwan translator renders this +passage,--“fifteen other gods belonging to western nations or Asuras.” It +is noticeable that the beings that were denounced as Asuras by the Hindus +were worshipped as Gods (Asuras) by the followers of Zarathustra. + +69. In connection with the names of these Mitra-gods, it is to be +remembered that Mitra was the name of the principal god of the ancient +Persians. + +70. Avala is a common name of women. It means one who has no vala or +strength or power. The word is also used as an adjective. + +71. According to the Hindus, the sun rises from and sets behind two hills +respectively. He rises from the Udaya or Sun-rise hill and sets behind +the Asta or sun-set hill. + +72. Raudra--belonging to Rudra, the god of fury, violence, war, &c. + +73. Devasena literally means the celestial army. This fable seems to be +an allegorical representation of the attempts made by Indra to procure a +leader for the celestial host. + +74. Anger personified is a deity. + +75. Another name of gods, so named from their having only three stages of +life--viz., infancy, childhood, and youth--and being exempt from the +fourth--old age. + +76. i.e., good and evil spirits. + +77. One of the ensigns of royalty in Hindustan. + +78. Brahma. + +79. Devasenapati is the original. It may mean either the pati (leader) of +the sena (forces) of devas or the pati (husband) of Devasena. + +80. A kind of missile. + +81. Another kind of weapon. + +82. The word in the text is “Agrahara,” which, as Nilakantha explains, +means here, “That which is first taken from a heap after the dedication +of a portion to the “Viswadevas.” What Draupadi means to say is, that she +always took care to feed those Brahmanas with food “first” taken from the +stores, without, in fact, having taken anything there from the use of +anybody else. + +83. Lit, Soldiers that have sworn to conquer or die. A full Akshauhini of +these soldiers was owned by Krishna, who gave them to Duryodhana to fight +for him. The story of Krishna’s offering to Duryodhana the choice between +these soldiers on the one side, and himself sworn not to fight but only +to aid with his counsels on the other, is given in full in the Udyoga +Parva. Duryodhana, from folly, accepted the former, who were all slain by +Arjuna. + +84. The vow of the Asuras was (according to the Burdwan Pundits) never to +drink wine. It is more rational to suppose that Karna swears to give up +the refined manners and practices of the Aryas and adopt those of the +Asuras till the consummation of the cherished desire. + +85. A very small measure. + +86. Picking up for support (1) ears of corn and (2) individual grains, +left on the field by husbandmen after they have gathered and carried away +the sheaves, are called the Sila and the Unchha modes of life. + +87. Naked. + +88. Both these words are of doubtful meaning. It seems they are employed +in the Vedas to denote the faculties of knowledge and the moral sense +respectively. + +89. The six acts of a king are peace, war, marching, halting, sowing +dissention, and seeking protection. + +90. Tard-mrigam. Formerly Prajapati, assuming the Form of a deer, +followed his daughter from lust, and Rudra, armed with a trident, pursued +Prajapati and struck off his head. That deer-head of Prajapati severed +from the trunk, became the star, or rather constellation, called +Mrigasiras. + +91. Abode of Varuna in the original. + +92. Garuda. + +93. Pavana, the God of the wind. + +94. There is a difference of reading here. Some texts read fifty seven, + +95. A difference of reading is observable here. + +96. As a purificatory ceremony, called the Achamana. To this day, no +Hindu can perform any ceremony without going through the Achamana in the +first instance. + +97. Traditions represents the sons of king Sagara of the Ikshwaku race as +the excavator of the ocean. Hence the ocean is called Sagara. + +98. Lit. an engine killing a hundred. Perhaps, some kind of rude cannon. + +99. Perhaps, brands or torches steeped in wax, intended to be thrown in a +burning state, amongst the foe. Readers of Indian history know how Lord +Lake was repulsed from Bharatpore by means of huge bales of cotton, +steeped in oil, rolled from the ramparts of that town, in a burning +state, towards the advancing English. + +100. Lit. be a Purusha (male)! Manhood would not be appropriate in +connection with a Rakshasa. + +101. This weapon could restore an insensible warrior to consciousness, as +the Sam-mohana weapon could deprive one of consciousness. + +102. Visalya a medicinal plant of great efficacy in healing cuts and +wounds. It is still cultivated in several parts of Bengal. A medical +friend of the writer tested the efficacy of the plant known by that name +and found it to be much superior to either gallic acid or tannic acid in +stopping blood. + +103. The Guhyakas occupy, in Hindu mythology, a position next only to +that of the gods, and superior to that of the Gandharvas who are the +celestial choristers. The White mountain is another name of Kailasa, the +peak where Siva hath his abode. + +104. According to both Vyasa and Valmiki, there is nothing so fierce as a +Brahmana’s curse. The very thunderbolt of Indra is weak compared to a +Brahmana’s curse. The reason is obvious. The thunder smites the +individual at whom it may be aimed. The curse of Brahmana smites the +whole race, whole generation, whole country. + +105. Abhijit is lit, the eighth muhurta of the day, a muhurta being equal +to an hour of 48 minutes, i.e. the thirtieth part of a whole day and +night. The Vaishnava asterism is as explained by Nilakantha, the Sravava. + +106. Also called Gayatri, the wife of Brahma. + +107. In the original., Vimanam, i. e., a car. + +108. Samhritya--killing. + +109. Lit. Letters. + +110. Behind the plain and obvious meanings of the words employed both in +the question and the answer, there is a deeper signification of a +spiritual kind. I think Nilakantha has rightly understood the passage. By +Aditya, which of course commonly means the Sun, is indicated the +unpurified soul (from adatte sabdadin indriadivis &c.). The first +question then, becomes, ‘Who is it that exalteth the unpurified soul?’ +The act of exaltation implies a raising of the soul from its earthly +connections. The answer to this is, ‘Brahma, i.e., Veda or +self-knowledge.’ The second question--‘What are those that keep company +with the soul during its progress of purification?’ The answer is, +Self-restraint and other qualities, which are all of a god-like or divine +nature.’ The third question is.--Who lead the soul to its place (state) +of rest? The answer is, Dharma, i.e., restitude, morality, and religious +observances.’ It is often asserted that one must pass through the +observances (Karma) before attaining to a state of Rest or Truth or Pure +Knowledge. The last question is,--‘On what is the soul established!’ The +answer, according to all that has been previously said, is ‘Truth or Pure +Knowledge.’ For the soul that is emancipated from and raised above all +carnal connections, is no longer in need of observances and acts (Karma) +but stays unmoved in True Knowledge (Janana). + +111. Nilakantha explains both Dhriti and Dwitiya in a spiritual sense. +There is no need, however, of a spiritual explanation here. By Dhriti is +meant steadiness of intelligence; by Dwitiya lit, a second. What +Yudhishthira says is that a steady intelligence serves the purposes of a +helpful companion. + +112. Nilakantha explains this correctly, as I imagine, by supposing that +by ‘sacrifice’ is meant the spiritual sacrifice for the acquisition of +pure knowledge. In the objective sacrifice which one celebrates, the +Sama, the Yajus, and the Rik mantras are all necessary. In the subjective +sacrifice the acquisition of true knowledge, life and mind are as +necessary as the mantras from the Sama and the Yajur Vedas in an +objective one. And as no objective sacrifice can do without the Riks, +being principally dependent on them, so the subjective sacrifices for +acquiring true knowledge can never do without prayerfulness, which, I +imagine, is represented as the Riks. To understand this passage +thoroughly would require an intimate acquaintance with the ritual of a +sacrifice like the Agnishtoma or any other of that kind. + +113. Some texts read apatatam for uvapatam. If the former be the correct +reading, the meaning would be--‘What is the best of things that fall?’ +Nilakantha explains both avapatam nivapatam in a spiritual sense. By the +first he understands--‘They that offer oblation to the gods,’ and by the +second, ‘They that offer oblations to the Pitris.’ The necessity of a +spiritual interpretation, however, is not very apparent. + +114. Yudhishthira has the authority of the Srutis for saying that the one +pervading element of the universe is air. + +115. The word used in the question is dik, literally, direction. +Obviously, of course, it means in this connection way. Yudhishthira +answers that the way which one is to tread along is that of the good. + +116. Footnote 2: The Srutis actually speak of space as water. These are +questions to test Yudhishthira’s knowledge of the Vedic cosmogony. + +117. The Srutis speak of the cow as the only food, in the following +sense. The cow gives milk. The milk gives butter. The butter is used in +Homa. The Homa is the cause of the clouds. The clouds give rain. The rain +makes the seed to sprout forth and produce food. Nilakantha endeavours to +explain this in a spiritual sense. There is however, no need of such +explanation here. + +118. What Yudhishthira means to say is that there is no special time for +a Sraddha. It is to be performed whenever a good and able priest may be +secured. + +119. That is, tranquillity of mind, self-restraint, abstention from +sensual pleasures, resignation, and Yoga meditation. + +120. That is, hunger, thirst, sorrow, bluntness of mortal feeling, +decrepitude, and death + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana +Vyasa, Volume 1 + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAHABHARATA VOL 1 *** + +***** This file should be named 15474-0.txt or 15474-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/4/7/15474/ + +Produced by John B. Hare. Please notify any corrections +to John B. 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