The Mahabharata, of, Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, BOOK 3, (Kirmirabadha Parva) SECTION XLVI

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

 SECTION XLVI

Vaisampayana said, 'Having thus sent away the Gandharva successful in his

mission, Urvasi of luminous smiles, moved by the desire of possessing

Phalguna, took a bath. And having performed her ablutions, she decked

herself in charming ornaments and splendid garlands of celestial odour.

And inflamed by the god of love, and her heart pierced through and

through by the shafts shot by Manmatha keeping in view the beauty of

Arjuna, and her imagination wholly taken up by the thoughts of Arjuna,

she mentally sported with him on a wide and excellent bed laid over with

celestial sheets. And when the twilight had deepened and the moon was up,

that Apsara of high hips sent out for the mansions of Arjuna. And in that

mood and with her crisp, soft and long braids decked with bunches of

flowers, she looked extremely beautiful. With her beauty and grace, and

the charm of the motions of her eye-brows and of her soft accents, and

her own moon like face, she seemed to tread, challenging the moon

himself. And as she proceeded, her deep, finely tapering bosoms, decked

with a chain of gold and adorned with celestial unguents and smeared with

fragrant sandal paste, began to tremble. And in consequence of the weight

of her bosoms, she was forced to slightly stoop forward at every step,

bending her waist exceedingly beautiful with three folds. And her loins

of faultless shape, the elegant abode of the god of love, furnished with

fair and high and round hips and wide at their lower part as a hill, and

decked with chains of gold, and capable of shaking the saintship of

anchorites, being decked with thin attire, appeared highly graceful. And

her feet with fair suppressed ankles, and possessing flat soles and

straight toes of the colour of burnished copper and dorsum high and

curved like tortoise back and marked by the wearing of ornaments

furnished with rows of little bells, looked exceedingly handsome. And

exhilarated with a little liquor which she had taken, and excited by

desire, and moving in diverse attitudes and expressing a sensation of

delight, she looked more handsome than usual. And though heaven abounded

with many wonderful objects, yet when Urvasi proceeded in this manner,

the Siddhas and Charanas and Gandharvas regarded her to be the handsomest

object they had cast their eyes upon. And the upper half of her body clad

in an attire of fine texture and cloudy hues, she looked resplendent like

a digit of the moon in the firmament shrouded by fleecy clouds. And

endued with the speed of the winds or the mind, she of luminous smiles

soon reached the mansion of Phalguna, the son of Pandu. And, O best of

men, Urvasi of beautiful eyes, having arrived at the gate of Arjuna's

abode, sent word through the keeper in attendance. And (on receiving

permission), she soon entered that brilliant and charming palace. But, O

monarch, upon beholding her at night in his mansion, Arjuna, with a

fearstricken heart, stepped up to receive her with respect and as soon as

he saw her, the son of Pritha, from modesty, closed his eyes. And

saluting her, he offered the Apsara such worship as is offered unto a

superior. And Arjuna said, 'O thou foremost of the Apsaras, I reverence

thee by bending my head down. O lady, let me know thy commands. I wait

upon thee as thy servant.'"

Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words of Phalguna, Urvasi became

deprived of her senses. And she soon represented unto Arjuna all that had

passed between her and the Gandharva, Chitrasena. And she said, 'O best

of men, I shall tell thee all that hath passed between me and Chitrasena,

and why I have come hither. On account of thy coming here, O Arjuna,

Mahendra had convened a large and charming assembly, in which celestial

festivities were held. Unto that assembly came, O best of men, the Rudras

and the Adityas and the Aswins and the Vasus. And there came also numbers

of great Rishis and royal sages and Siddhas and Charanas and Yakshas and

great Nagas. And, O thou of expansive eyes, the members of the assembly

resplendent as fire or the sun or the moon, having taken their seats

according to rank, honour, and prowess, O son of Sakra, the Gandharvas

began to strike the Vinas and sing charming songs of celestial melody.

And, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, the principal Apsaras also commenced

to dance. Then, O son of Pritha, thou hadst looked on me only with a

steadfast gaze. When that assembly of the celestials broke, commanded by

thy father, the gods went away to their respective places. And the

principal Apsaras also went away to their abodes, and others also, O

slayer of foes, commanded by thy father and obtaining his leave. It was

then that Chitrasena sent to me by Sakra, and arriving at my abode. O

thou of eyes like lotus leaves, he addressed me, saying, 'O thou of the

fairest complexion, I have been sent unto thee by the chief of the

celestials. Do thou something that would be agreeable to Mahendra and

myself and to thyself also. O thou of fair hips, seek thou to please

Arjuna, who is brave in battle even like Sakra himself, and who is always

possessed of magnanimity.' Even these, O son of Pritha, were his words.

Thus, O sinless one, commanded by him and thy father also, I come to thee

in order to wait upon thee, O slayer of foes. My heart hath been

attracted by thy virtues, and am already under the influence of the god

of love. And, O hero, even this is my wish, and I have cherished it for

ever!"

Vaisampayana continued, "While in heaven, hearing her speak in this

strain, Arjuna was overcome with bashfulness. And shutting his ears with

his hands, he said, 'O blessed lady, fie on my sense of hearing, when

thou speakest thus to me. For, O thou of beautiful face, thou art

certainly equal in my estimation unto the wife of a superior. Even as

Kunti here even this is my wish, and I have cherished it for ever!"

[Some text is obviously missing here--JBH] of high fortune or Sachi the

queen of Indra, art thou to me, O auspicious one, of this there is no

doubt! That I had gazed particularly at thee, O blessed one, is true.

There was a reason for it. I shall truly tell it to thee, O thou of

luminous smiles! In the assembly I gazed at thee with eyes expanded in

delight, thinking, 'Even this blooming lady is the mother of the Kaurava

race.' O blessed Apsara, it behoveth thee not to entertain other feelings

towards me, for thou art superior to my superiors, being the parent of my

race.'"

"Hearing these words of Arjuna, Urvasi answered, saying, 'O son of The

chief of the celestials, we Apsaras are free and unconfined in our

choice. It behoveth thee not, therefore, to esteem me as thy superior.

The sons and grandsons of Puru's race, that have come hither in

consequence of ascetic merit do all sport with us, without incurring any

sin. Relent, therefore, O hero, it behoveth thee not to send me away. I

am burning with desire. I am devoted to thee. Accept me, O thou giver of

proper respect.'"

"Arjuna replied, 'O beautiful lady of features perfectly faultless,

listen. I truly tell thee. Let the four directions and the transverse

directions, let also the gods listen. O sinless one, as Kunti, or Madri,

or Sachi, is to me, so art thou, the parent of my race, an object of

reverence to me. Return, O thou of the fairest complexion: I bend my head

unto thee, and prostrate myself at thy feet. Thou deservest my worship as

my own mother; and it behoveth thee to protect me as a son.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Partha, Urvasi was deprived of

her senses by wrath. Trembling with rage, and contracting her brows, she

cursed Arjuna, saying, 'Since thou disregardest a woman come to thy

mansion at the command of thy father and of her own motion--a woman,

besides, who is pierced by the shafts of Kama, therefore, O Partha, thou

shalt have to pass thy time among females unregarded, and as a dancer,

and destitute of manhood and scorned as a eunuch.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Having cursed Arjuna thus, Urvasi's lips still

quivered in anger, herself breathing heavily all the while. And she soon

returned to her own abode. And that slayer of foes, Arjuna also sought

Chitrasena without loss of time. And having found him, he told him all

that had passed between him and Urvasi in the night. And he told

Chitrasena everything as it had happened, repeatedly referring to the

curse pronounced upon him. And Chitrasena also represented everything

unto Sakra. And Harivahana, calling his son unto himself in private, and

consoling him in sweet words, smilingly said, 'O thou best of beings,

having obtained thee, O child, Pritha hath to-day become a truly blessed

mother. O mighty-armed one, thou hast now vanquished even Rishis by the

patience and self-control. But, O giver of proper respect, the curse that

Urvasi hath denounced on thee will be to thy benefit,

O child, and stand thee in good stead. O sinless one, ye will have on

earth to pass the thirteenth year (of your exile), unknown to all. It is

then that thou shalt suffer the curse of Urvasi. And having passed one

year as a dancer without manhood, thou shalt regain thy power on the

expiration of the term.'"

"Thus addressed by Sakra, that slayer of hostile heroes, Phalguna,

experienced great delight and ceased to think of the curse. And

Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu, sported in regions of heaven with the

Gandharva Chitrasena of great celebrity."

"The desires of the man that listeneth to this history of the son of

Pandu never run after lustful ends. The foremost of men, by listening to

this account of the awfully pure conduct of Phalguna, the son of the lord

of the celestials, become void of pride and arrogance and wrath and other

faults, and ascending to heaven, sport there in bliss."

SECTION XLVII

Vaisampayana said, "One day, the great Rishi Lomasa in course of his

wanderings, went to the abode of Indra, desirous of beholding the lord of

the celestials. And the great Muni, having approached the chief of the

gods, bowed to him respectfully. And he beheld the son of Pandu occupying

half of the seat of Vasava. And worshipped by the great Rishis, that

foremost of Brahmanas sat on an excellent seat at the desire of Sakra.

And beholding Arjuna seated on Indra's seat, the Rishi began to think as

to how Arjuna who was a Kshatriya had attained to the seat of Sakra

himself. What acts of merit had been performed by him and what regions,

had been conquered by him (by ascetic merit), that he had obtained a seat

that was worshipped by the gods themselves? And as the Rishi was employed

with these thoughts, Sakra, the slayer of Vritra, came to know of them.

And having known them, the lord of Sachi addressed Lomasa with a smile

and said, 'Listen, O Brahmarshi, about what is now passing in thy mind.

This one is no mortal though he hath taken his birth among men. O great

Rishi, the mighty-armed hero is even my son born of Kunti. He hath come

hither, in order to acquire weapons for some purpose. Alas! dost thou not

recognise him as an ancient Rishi of the highest merit? Listen to me, O

Brahamana, as I tell thee who is and why he hath come to me. Those

ancient and excellent Rishis who were known by the names of Nara and

Narayana are, know, O Brahmana, none else than Hrishikesa and Dhananjaya.

And those Rishis, celebrated throughout the three worlds, and known by

the names of Nara and Narayana have, for the accomplishment of a certain

purpose, been born on earth--for the acquisition of virtue. That sacred

asylum which even gods and illustrious Rishis are not competent to

behold, and which is known throughout the world by the name of Vadari,

and situate by the source of the Ganga, which is worshipped by the

Siddhas and the Charanas, was the abode, O Brahmana, of Vishnu and

Jishnu. Those Rishis of blazing splendour have, O Brahmarshi, at my

desire, been born on earth, and endued with mighty energy, will lighten

the burden thereof. Besides this, there are certain Asuras known as

Nivatakavachas, who, proud of the boon they have acquired, are employed

in doing us injuries. Boastful of their strength, they are even now

planning the destruction of the gods, for, having received a boon, they

no longer regard the gods. Those fierce and mighty Danavas live in the

nether regions. Even all the celestials together are incapable of

fighting with them. The blessed Vishnu--the slayer of Madhu--he, indeed

who is known on earth as Kapila, and whose glance alone, O exalted one,

destroyed the illustrious sons of Sagara, when they approached him with

loud sounds in the bowels of the earth,--that illustrious and invincible

Hari is capable, O Brahmana of doing us a great service. Either he or

Partha or both may do us that great service, without doubt. Verily as the

illustrious Hari had slain the Nagas in the great lake, he, by sight

alone, is capable of slaying those Asuras called the Nivatakavachas,

along with their followers. But the slayer of Madhu should not be urged

when the task is insignificant. A mighty mass of energy that he is. It

swelleth to increasing proportions, it may consume the whole universe.

This Arjuna also is competent to encounter them all, and the hero having

slain them in battle, will go back to the world of men. Go thou at my

request to earth. Thou wilt behold the brave Yudhishthira living in the

woods of Kamyaka. And for me tell thou the virtuous Yudhishthira of

unbaffled prowess in battle, that he should not be anxious on account of

Phalguna, for that hero will return to earth a thorough master of

weapons, for without sanctified prowess of arms, and without skill in

weapons, he would not be able to encounter Bhishma and Drona and others

in battle. Thou wilt also represent unto Yudhishthira that the

illustrious and mighty-armed Gudakesa, having obtained weapons, hath also

mastered the science of celestial dancing and music both instrumental and

vocal. And thou wilt also tell him, O king of men, O slayer of foes,

thyself also, accompanied by all thy brothers, should see the various

sacred shrines. For having bathed in different sacred waters, thou wilt

be cleansed from thy sins, and the fever of thy heart will abate. And

then thou wilt be able to enjoy thy kingdom, happy in the thought that

thy sins have been washed off. And, O foremost of Brahmanas, endued with

ascetic power, it behoveth thee also to protect Yudhishthira during his

wandering over the earth. Fierce Rakshasas ever live in mountain

fastnesses and rugged steppes. Protect thou the king from those

cannibals.'

"After Mahendra had spoken thus unto Lomasa, Vibhatsu also reverently

addressed that Rishi, saying, 'Protect thou ever the son of Pandu. O best

of men, let the king, O great Rishi, protected by thee, visit the various

places of pilgrimage and give away unto Brahmanas in charity.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "The mighty ascetic Lomasa, having answered both

saying, 'So be it,' set out for the earth, desirous of arriving at

Kamvaka. And having arrived at those woods, he beheld the slayer of foes

and son of Kunti, king Yudhishthira the just, surrounded by ascetics and

his younger brothers."

SECTION XLVIII

Janamejaya said, "These feats of Pritha's son endued with immeasurable

energy, were certainly marvellous. O Brahmana, what did Dhritarashtra of

great wisdom say, when he heard of them?"

Vaisampayana said, "Amvika's son, king Dhritarashtra, having heard of

Arjuna's arrival and stay at Indra's abode, from Dwaipayana, that

foremost of Rishis, spake unto Sanjaya, saying, 'O charioteer, dost thou

know in detail the acts of the intelligent Arjuna, of which I have heard

from beginning to end? O charioteer, my wretched and sinful son is even

now engaged in a policy of the most vulgar kind. Of wicked soul, he will

certainly depopulate the earth. The illustrious person whose words even

in jest are true, and who hath Dhananjaya to fight for him, is sure to

win the three worlds. Who that is even beyond the influence of Death and

Decay will be able to stay before Arjuna, when he will scatter his barbed

and sharp-pointed arrows whetted on stone? My wretched sons, who have to

fight with the invincible Pandavas are indeed, all doomed. Reflecting day

and night, I see not the warrior amongst us that is able to stay in

battle before the wielder of the Gandiva. If Drona, or Karna, or even

Bhishma advance against him in battle, a great calamity is likely to

befall the earth. But even in that case, I see not the way to our success

Karna is kind and forgetful. The preceptor Drona is old, and the teacher

(of Arjuna) Arjuna, however, is wrathful, and strong, and proud, and of

firm and steady prowess. As all these warriors are invincible, a terrible

fight will take place between them. All of them are heroes skilled in

weapons and of great reputation. They would not wish for the sovereignty

of the world, if it was to be purchased by defeat. Indeed, peace will be

restored only on the death of these or of Phalguna. The slayer of Arjuna,

however, existeth not, nor doth one that can vanquish him. Oh, how shall

that wrath of his which hath myself for its object be pacified. Equal

unto the chief of the celestials, that hero gratified Agni at Khandava

and vanquished all the monarchs of the earth on the occasion of the great

Rajasuya. O Sanjaya, the thunder-bolt falling on the mountain top,

leaveth a portion unconsumed; but the shafts, O child, that are shot by

Kiriti leave not a rack behind. As the rays of the sun heat this mobile

and immobile universe, so will the shafts shot by Arjuna's hands scorch

my sons. It seemeth to me that the Chamus of the Bharatas, terrified at

the clatter of Arjuna's chariot-wheels, are already broken through in all

directions. Vidhatri hath created Arjuna as an all-consuming Destroyer.

He stayeth in battle as a foe, vomitting and scattering swarms of arrows.

Who is there that will defeat him?"

SECTION XLIX

"Sanjaya said, 'That which hath been uttered by thee, O king, with

respect to Duryodhana is all true. Nothing that thou hast said, O lord of

the earth, is untrue. The Pandavas of immeasurable energy have been

filled with rage at the sight of Krishna their wedded wife of pure

fame--brought in the midst of the assembly. Hearing also those cruel

words of Dussasana and Karna, they have been so incensed, O king, that

they will not, I ween, forgive (the Kurus) on my account. I have heard, O

king, how Arjuna hath gratified in battle by means of his bow the god of

gods--Sthanu of eleven forms. The illustrious lord of all the

gods--Kapardin himself--desirous of testing Phalguna, fought with him,

having assumed the guise of a Kirata. And there it was that the Lokapala,

in order to give away their weapons unto that bull of the Kuru race,

showed themselves unto him of undeteriorating prowess. What other man on

earth, except Phalguna, would strive to have a sight of these gods in

their own forms? And, O king, who is there that will weaken in battle

Arjuna, who could not be weakened by Maheswara himself possessed of eight

forms? Thy sons, having dragged Draupadi, and thereby incensed the sons

of Pandu, have brought this frightful and horrifying calamity upon

themselves. Beholding Duryodhana showing both his thighs unto Draupadi,

Bhima said with quivering lips, 'wretch! those thighs of thine will I

smash with my fierce descending mace, on the expiration of thirteen

years.' All the sons of Pandu are the foremost of smiters; all of them

are of immeasurable energy; all of them are well-versed in every kind of

weapons. For these, they are incapable of being vanquished even by the

gods. Incensed at the insult offered to their wedded wife, Pritha's sons,

urged by wrath, will, I ween, slay all thy sons in battle.'

"Dhritarashtra said, 'O charioteer, what mischief hath been done by Karna

uttering those cruel words, to the sons of Pandu! Was not the enmity

sufficient that was provoked by bringing Krishna into the assembly? How

can my wicked sons live, whose eldest brother and preceptor walketh not

in the path of righteousness? Seeing me void of eye-sight, and incapable

of exerting myself actively, my wretched son, O charioteer, believeth me

to be a fool, and listeneth not to my words. Those wretches also that are

his counsellors, viz., Karna and Suvala, and others, always pander to his

vices, as he is incapable of understanding things rightly. The shafts

that Arjuna of immeasurable prowess may lightly shoot, are capable of

consuming all my sons, leave alone those shafts that he will shoot,

impelled by anger. The arrows urged by the might of Arjuna's arms and

shot from his large bow, and inspired with mantras capable of converting

them into celestial weapons can chastise the celestials themselves. He

who hath for his counsellor and protector and friend that smiter of

sinful men--the lord of the three worlds--Hari himself--encountereth

nothing that he cannot conquer. This, O Sanjaya, is most marvellous in

Arjuna that, as we have heard, he hath been clasped by Mahadeva in his

arms. That also which Phalguna, assisted by Damodara did of old towards

helping Agni in the conflagration of Khandava, hath been witnessed by all

the world. When, therefore, Bhima and Partha and Vasudeva of the Satwata

race become enraged, surely my sons along with their friends and the

Suvalas are all unequal to fight with them.'"

SECTION L

Janamejaya said, "Having sent the heroic sons of Pandu into exile, these

lamentations, O Muni, of Dhritarashtra were perfectly futile. Why did the

king permit his foolish son Duryodhana to thus incense those mighty

warriors, the sons of Pandu? Tell us now, O Brahmana, what was the food

of the sons of Pandu, while they lived in the woods? Was it of the

wilderness, or was it the produce of cultivation?"

Vaisampayana said, "Those bulls among men, collecting the produce of the

wilderness and killing the deer with pure arrows, first dedicated a

portion of the food to the Brahmanas, and themselves are the rest. For, O

king, while those heroes wielding large bows lived in the woods, they

were followed by Brahmanas of both classes, viz., those worshipping with

fire and those worshipping without it. And there were ten thousand

illustrious Snataka Brahmanas, all conversant with the means of

salvation, whom Yudhishthira supported in the woods. And killing with

arrows Rurus and the black deer and other kinds of clean animals of the

wilderness, he gave them unto those Brahmanas. And no one that lived with

Yudhishthira looked pale or ill, or was lean or weak, or was melancholy

or terrified. And the chief of the Kurus--the virtuous king

Yudhishthira--maintained his brothers as if they were his sons, and his

relatives as if they were his uterine brothers. And Draupadi of pure fame

fed her husbands and the Brahmanas, as if she was their mother; and last

of all took her food herself. And the king himself wending towards the

east, and Bhima, towards the south, and the twins, towards the west and

the north, daily killed with bow in hand the deer of the forest, for the

sake of meat. And it was that the Pandavas lived for five years in the

woods of Kamyaka, in anxiety at the absence of Arjuna, and engaged all

the while in study and prayers and sacrifices."