The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1 ADI PARVA SECTION CCXXI (Subhadra-harana Parva)

  The Mahabharata of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1

ADI PARVA

SECTION CCXXI

(Subhadra-harana Parva)

"Vaisampayana said, 'O best of monarchs, within a few days after this,

there commenced on the Raivataka mountain, a grand festival of the

Vrishnis and the Andhakas. At the mountain-festival of the Bhojas, the

Vrishnis and the Andhakas, the heroes of those tribes began to give away

much wealth unto Brahmanas by thousands. The region around that hill, O

king was adorned with many a mansion decked with gems and many an

artificial tree of gaudy hue. The musicians struck up in concert and the

dancers began to dance and the vocalists to sing. And the youth of the

Vrishni race, endued with great energy, adorned with every ornament, and

riding in their gold-decked cars, looked extremely handsome. The

citizens, some on foot and some in excellent cars, with their wives and

followers were there by hundreds and thousands. And there was the lord

Haladhara (Valarama), roving at will, hilarious with drink, accompanied

by (his wife) Revati, and followed by many musicians and vocalists. There

came Ugrasena also, the powerful king of he Vrishni race, accompanied by

his thousand wives and followed by sweet singers. And Raukmineya and

Shamva also, ever furious in battle, roved there, excited with drink and

adorned with floral wreaths of great beauty and with costly attires, and

disported themselves like a pair of celestials. And Akrura and Sarana and

Gada, and Vabhru, and Nisatha, and Charudeshna, and Prithu, Viprithu, and

Satyaka, and Satyaki, and Bhangakara, and Maharava, and Hardikya, and

Uddhava, and many others whose names are not given, accompanied by their

wives that followed by bands of singers, adorned that mountain-festival.

When that delightful festival of immense grandeur commenced, Vasudeva and

Partha went about, together, beholding everything around. While wandering

there, they saw the handsome daughter of Vasudeva, Bhadra by name, decked

with every ornament, in the midst of her maids. As soon as Arjuna beheld

her he was possessed by the god of desire. Then, O Bharata, that tiger

among men, Krishna, observing Partha contemplate her with absorbed

attention, said with a smile, 'How is this? Can the heart of one that

rangeth the woods be agitated by the god of desire? This is my sister, O

Partha, and the uterine sister of Sarana. Blest be thou, her name is

Bhadra and she is the favourite daughter of my father. Tell me if thy

heart is fixed upon her, for I shall then speak to my father myself.'

"Arjuna answered, 'She is Vasudeva's daughter and Vasudeva's (Krishna)

sister; endued with so much beauty, whom can she not fascinate? If this

thy sister, this maid of the Vrishni race, becometh my wife, truly may I

win prosperity in everything. Tell me, O Janardana, by what means I may

obtain her. To get her I will achieve anything that is achievable by man.'

"Vasudeva answered, 'O bull amongst men, self-choice hath been ordained

for the marriage of Kshatriyas. But that is doubtful (in its

consequences), O Partha, as we do not know this girl's temper and

disposition. In the case of Kshatriyas that are brave, a forcible

abduction for purposes of marriage is applauded, as the learned have

said. Therefore O Arjuna, carry away this my beautiful sister by force,

for who knows what she may do at a self-choice.' Then Krishna and Arjuna,

having thus settled as to what should be done sent some speedy messengers

unto Yudhishthira at Indraprastha, informing him of everything. The

strong-armed Yudhishthira, as soon as he heard it, gave his assent to

it.'"

SECTION CCXXII

(Subhadra-harana Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then Dhananjaya, informed of the assent of

Yudhishthira, and ascertaining, O Janamejaya, that the maiden had gone to

the Raivataka hill, obtained the assent of Vasudeva also, after having

settled in consultation with him all that required to be done. Then that

bull of Bharata's race, that foremost of men, with Krishna's assent,

riding in his well-built car of gold equipped with rows of small bells

and with every kind of weapon and the clatter of whose wheels resembled

the roar of the clouds and whose splendour was like unto that of a

blazing fire and which struck terror into the hearts of all foes and unto

which were yoked the steeds Saivya and Sugriva, himself accoutred in mail

and armed with sword and his fingers encased in leathern gloves, set out,

as it were, on a hunting expedition. Meanwhile Subhadra, having paid her

homage unto that prince of hills, Raivataka and having worshipped the

deities and made the Brahmanas utter benedictions upon her, and having

also walked round the hill, was coming towards Dwaravati. The son of

Kunti, afflicted with the shafts of the god of desire, suddenly rushed

towards that Yadava girl of faultless features and forcibly took her into

his car. Having seized that girl of sweet smiles, that tiger among men

proceeded in his car of gold towards his own city (Indraprastha).

Meanwhile, the armed attendants of Subhadra, beholding her thus seized

and taken away, all ran, crying towards the city of Dwaraka. Reaching all

together the Yadava court called by the name of Sudharma, they

represented everything about the prowess of Partha unto the chief officer

of the court. The chief officer of the court, having heard everything

from those messengers, blew his gold-decked trumpet of loud blare,

calling all to arms. Stirred up by that sound, the Bhojas, the Vrishnis,

and the Andhakas began to pour in from all sides. Those that were eating

left their food, and those that were drinking left their drink. Those

tigers among men, those great warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka

tribes, took their seats upon their thousand thrones of gold covered with

excellent carpets and variegated with gems and corals and possessed of

the lustre of blazing fire. Indeed they took their seats upon those

thrones, like blazing fires receiving faggots to increase their

splendour. And after they were seated in that court which was like unto a

conclave of the celestials themselves, the chief officer of the court,

assisted by those that stood at his back, spoke of the conduct of Jishnu.

The proud Vrishni heroes, of eyes red with wine, as soon as they heard of

it, rose up from their seats, unable to brook what Arjuna had done. Some

amongst them said, 'Yoke our cars', and some, 'Bring our weapons' and

some said, 'Bring our costly bows and strong coats of mail; and some

loudly called upon their charioteers to harness their cars, and some,

from impatience, themselves yoked their horses decked with gold unto

their cars. And while their cars and armours and standards were being

brought, loud became the uproar of those heroes. Then Valadeva, white and

tall as the peak of Kailasa, decked with garlands of wild flowers and

attired in blue robes, and proud and intoxicated with drink, said these

words:

'Ye senseless men, what are ye doing, when Janardana sitteth silent?

Without knowing what is in his mind, vainly do we roar in wrath! Let the

high-souled Krishna give out what he proposeth. Accomplish promptly what

he desireth to do.' Then all of them, hearing those words of Halayudha

that deserved to be accepted, exclaimed, 'Excellent! Excellent!' They

then all became silent. Silence having been restored by the words of the

intelligent Valadeva, they took their seats once more in that assembly.

Then Rama, that oppressor of foes, spoke unto Vasudeva, saying, 'Why, O

Janardana, sittest thou, gazing silently? O Achyuta, it was for thy sake

that the son of Pritha had been welcomed and honoured by us. It seemeth,

however, that that vile wretch deserved not our homage. What man is there

born of a respectable family that would break the plate after having

dined from it! Even if one desireth to make such an alliance, yet

remembering all the services he hath received, who is there, desirous of

happiness, that acts so rashly? That Pandava disregarding us and thee too

hath today outraged Subhadra, desiring (to compass) his own death. He

hath placed his foot on the crown of my head. How shall I, O Govinda,

tamely bear it? Shall I not resent it, even like a snake that is trodden

upon? Alone shall I today make the earth destitute of Kauravas! Never

shall I put up with this transgression by Arjuna.' Then all the Bhojas,

Vrishnis, and Andhakas, present there, approved of everything that

Valadeva had said, deeply roaring like unto a kettle-drum or the clouds.'"