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

 The Mahabharata of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1

ADI PARVA

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.'"