The Mahabharata, of, Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, BOOK 3, (Tirtha-yatra Parva), SECTION CLXXIII

 

The Mahabharata, of, Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, BOOK 3, (Tirtha-yatra Parva), 

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."