The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1 ADI PARVA SECTION CXXI (Sambhava Parva continued)

  The Mahabharata of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1

ADI PARVA

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.'"