The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1 ADI PARVA SECTION CCXV (Arjuna-vanavasa Parva)

 The Mahabharata of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1

ADI PARVA

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.'"