The Mahabharata, of ,Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa ,BOOK 2  (Digvijaya Parva)
SECTION XXV

Vaisampayana said,--Arjuna, having obtained that best of bows and that

couple of inexhaustible quivers and that car and flag-staff, as also that

assembly-house, addressing Yudhisthira said,--Bow, weapons, great energy,

allies, territory, fame, army-those, O king, difficult of acquisition

however desirable, have all been obtained by me. I think, therefore, that

what should now be done is for the swelling up of our treasury. I desire,

O best of monarchs, to make the kings (of the earth) pay tributes to us.

I desire to set out, in an auspicious moment of a holy day of the moon

under a favourable constellation for the conquest of the direction that

is presided over by the Lord of treasures (viz. the North)."

Vaisampayana continued,--"King Yudhisthira the just, hearing these words

of Dhananjaya, replied unto him in a grave and collected tone, saying,--O

bull of the Bharata race, set thou out, having made holy Brahmanas utter

benedictions on thee, to plunge thy enemies in sorrow and to fill thy

friend with joy. Victory, O son of Pritha, will surely be thine, and thou

wilt surely obtain thy desires fulfilled.

"Thus addressed, Arjuna, surrounded by a large host, set out in that

celestial car of wonderful achievements he had obtained from Agni. And

Bhimasena also, and those bull among men, the twins, dismissed with

affection by Yudhishthira the just set out, each at the head of a large

army. And Arjuna, the son of the chastiser of Paka then brought under

subjugation that direction (the North) which was presided over by the

Lord of treasures. And Bhimasena overcome by force the East and Sahadeva

the South, and Nakula, O king, acquainted with all the weapons, conquered

the West. Thus while his brothers were so employed, the exalted king

Yudishthira the just stayed within Khandavaprastha in the enjoyment of

great affluence in the midst of friends and relatives."

"Bhagadatta, hearing this, said,--'O thou who hast Kunto for thy mother,

as thou art to me, so is Yudhishthira also. I shall do all this. Tell me,

what else I may do for thee."

SECTION XXVI

Vaisampayana continued,--thus addressed, Dhananjaya replied unto

Bhagadatta, saying,--'If thou wilt give thy promise to do this, thou hast

done all I desire. And having thus subjugated the king of Pragjyotisha,

Dhananjaya of long arms, the son of Kunti, then marched towards the

north--the direction presided over by the lord of treasures. That bull

amongst men, that son of Kunti, then conquered the mountainous tracts and

their outskirts, as also the hilly regions. And having conquered all the

mountains and the kings that reigned there, and bringing them under his

sway, he exacted tributes from all. And winning the affections of those

kings and uniting himself with them, he next marched, O king, against

Vrihanta, the king of Uluka, making this earth tremble with the sound of

his drums, the clatter of his chariot-wheels, and the roar of the

elephants in his train. Vrihanta, however, quickly coming out of his city

followed by his army consisting of four kinds of troops, gave battle to

Falguna (Arjuna). And the fight that took place between Vrihanta and

Dhananjaya was terrible. It so happened that Vrihanta was unable to bear

the prowess of the son of Pandu. Then that invincible king of the

mountainous region regarding the son of Kunti irresistible, approached

him with all his wealth. Arjuna snatched out the kingdom from Vrihanta,

but having made peace with him marched, accompanied by that king, against

Senavindu whom he soon expelled from his kingdom. After this he

subjugated Modapura, Vamadeva, Sudaman, Susankula, the Northern Ulukas,

and the kings of those countries and peoples. Hereafter at the command of

Yudhishthira, O monarch, Arjuna, did not move from the city of Senavindu

but sent his troops only and brought under his sway those five countries

and peoples. For Arjuna, having arrived at Devaprastha, the city of

Senavindu, took up his quarters there with his army consisting of four

kinds of forces. Thence, surrounded by the kings and the peoples he had

subjugated, the hero marched against king Viswagaswa--that bull of Puru's

race. Having vanquished in battle the brave mountaineers, who were all

great warriors, the son of Pandu, O king, then occupied with the help of

his troops, the town protected by the Puru king. Having vanquished in

battle the Puru king, as also the robber tribes, of the mountains, the

son of Pandu brought under his sway the seven tribes called

Utsava-sanketa. That bull of the Kshatriya race then defeated the brave

Kshatriyas of Kashmira and also king Lohita along with ten minor chiefs.

Then the Trigartas, the Daravas, the Kokonadas, and various other

Kshatriyas, O king, advanced against the son of Pandu. That Prince of the

Kuru race then took the delightful town of Avisari, and then brought

under his sway Rochamana ruling in Uraga. Then the son of Indra (Arjuna),

putting forth his might, pressed the delightful town of Singhapura that

was well-protected with various weapons. Then Arjuna, that bull amongst

the son of Pandu, at the head of all his troops, fiercely attacked the

regions called Suhma and Sumala. Then the son of Indra, endued with great

prowess, after pressing them with great force, brought the Valhikas

always difficult of being vanquished, under his sway. Then Falguna, the

son of Pandu, taking with him a select force, defeated the Daradas along

with the Kambojas. Then the exalted son of Indra vanquished the robber

tribes that dwelt in the north-eastern frontier and those also that dwelt

in the woods. And, O great king, the son of Indra also subjugated the

allied tribes of the Lohas, the eastern Kambojas, and northern Rishikas.

And the battle with the Rishikas was fierce in the extreme. Indeed, the

fight that took place between them and the son of Pritha was equal to

that between the gods and the Asuras in which Taraka (the wife of

Vrihaspati) had become the cause of so much slaughter. And defeating, O

king, the Rishikas in the field of battle, Arjuna took from them as

tribute eight horses that were of the colour of the parrot's breast, as

also other horses of the hues of the peacock, born in northern and other

climes and endued with high speed. At last having conquered all the

Himalayas and the Nishkuta mountains, that bull among men, arriving at

the White mountains, encamped on its breast."

SECTION XXVII

Vaisampayana said,--"that heroic and foremost of the Pandavas endued with

great energy, crossing the White mountains, subjugated the country of the

Limpurushas ruled by Durmaputra, after a collision involving a great

slaughter of Kshatriyas, and brought the region under his complete sway.

Having reduced that country, the son of Indra (Arjuna) with a collected

mind marched at the head of his troops to the country called Harataka,

ruled by the Guhakas. Subjugating them by a policy of conciliation, the

Kuru prince beheld (in that region) that excellent of lakes called Manasa

and various other lakes and tanks sacred to the Rishis. And the exalted

prince having arrived at the lake Manasa conquered the regions ruled by

the Gandharvas that lay around the Harataka territories. Here the

conqueror took, as tribute from the country, numerous excellent horses

called Tittiri, Kalmasha, Manduka. At last the son of the slayer of Paka,

arriving in the country of North Harivarsha desired to conquer it.

Thereupon certain frontier-guards of huge bodies and endued with great

strength and energy, coming to him with gallant hearts, said, 'O son of

Pritha, this country can be never conquered by thee. If thou seekest thy

good, return hence. He that entereth this region, if human, is sure to

perish. We have been gratified with thee; O hero, thy conquests have been

enough. Nor is anything to be seen here, O Arjuna, that may be conquered

by thee. The Northern Kurus live here. There cannot be war here. Even if

thou enterest it, thou will not be able to behold anything, for with

human eyes nothing can be seen here. If, however thou seekest anything

else, O Bharata tell us, O tiger among men, so that we may do thy

bidding. Thus addressed by them, Arjuna smilingly addressing them,

said,--'I desire the acquisition of the imperial dignity by Yudhishthira

the just, of great intelligence. If your land is shut against human

beings, I shall not enter it. Let something be paid unto Yudhishthira by

ye as tribute. Hearing these words of Arjuna, they gave him as tribute

many cloths and ornaments of celestial make, silks of celestial texture

and skins of celestial origin.

"It was thus that tiger among men subjugated the countries that lay to

the North, having fought numberless battles with both Kshatriya and

robber tribes. And having vanquished the chiefs and brought them under

his sway he exacted from them much wealth, various gems and jewels, the

horses of the species called Tittiri and Kalmasha, as also those of the

colour of the parrot's wings and those that were like the peacocks in hue

and all endued with the speed of the wind. And surrounded, O king, by a

large army consisting of the four kinds of forces, the hero came back to

the excellent city of Sakraprastha. And Partha offered the whole of that

wealth, together with the animals he had brought, unto Yudhishthira the

just. And commanded by the monarch, the hero retired to a chamber of the

palace for rest."

SECTION XXVIII

Vaisampayana said,--in the meantime, Bhimasena also endued with great

energy, having obtained the assent of Yudhishthira the just marched

towards the eastern direction. And the tiger among the Bharatas,

possessed of great valour and ever increasing the sorrows of his foes,

was accompanied by a mighty host with the full complement of elephants

and horses and cars, well-armed and capable of crushing all hostile

kingdoms. That tiger among men, the son of Pandu, going first into the

great country of the Panchalas, began by various means to conciliate that

tribe. Then that hero, that bull of the Bharata race, within a short

time, vanquished the Gandakas and the Videhas. That exalted one then

subjugated the Dasarnas. There in the country of the Dasarnas, the king

called Sudharman with his bare arms fought a fierce battle with

Bhimasena. And Bhimasena, beholding that feat of the illustrious king,

appointed the mighty Sudharman as the first in command of his forces.

Then Bhima of terrible prowess marched towards the east, causing the

earth itself to tremble with the tread of the mighty host that followed

him. Then that hero who in strength was the foremost of all strong men

defeated in battle Rochamana, the king of Aswamedha, at the head of all

his troops. And the son of Kunti, having vanquished that monarch by

performing feats that excelled in fierceness, subjugated the eastern

region. Then that prince of the Kuru race, endued with great prowess

going into the country of Pulinda in the south, brought Sukumara and the

king Sumitra under his sway. Then, O Janamejaya, that bull in the Bharata

race, at the command of Yudhishthira the just marched against Sisupala of

great energy. The king of Chedi, hearing of the intentions of the son of

Pandu, came out of his city. And that chastiser of all foes then received

the son of Pritha with respect. Then, O king, those bulls of the Chedi

and the Kuru lines, thus met together, enquired after each other's

welfare. Then, O monarch, the king of Chedi offered his kingdom unto

Bhima and said smilingly,--'O sinless one, upon what art thou bent?' And

Bhima thereupon represented unto him the intentions of king Yudhishthira.

And Bhima dwelt there, O king, for thirty nights, duly entertained by

Sisupala. And after this he set out from Chedi with his troops and

vehicles."

SECTION XXIX

Vaisampayana said,--that chastiser of all foes then vanquished king

Srenimat of the country of Kumara, and then Vrihadvala, the king of

Kosala. Then the foremost of the sons of Pandu, by performing feats

excelling in fierceness, defeated the virtuous and mighty king

Dirghayaghna of Ayodhya. And the exalted one then subjugated the country

of Gopalakaksha and the northern Kosalas and also the king of Mallas. And

the mighty one, arriving then in the moist region at the foot of the

Himalayas soon brought the whole country under his sway. And that bull of

Bharata race brought under control in this way diverse countries. And

endued with great energy and in strength the foremost of all strong men,

the son of Pandu next conquered the country of Bhallata, as also the

mountain of Suktimanta that was by the side of Bhallata. Then Bhima of

terrible prowess and long arms, vanquishing in battle the unretreating

Suvahu the king of Kasi, brought him under complete sway. Then that bull

among the sons of Pandu overcame in battle, by sheer force, the great

king Kratha reigning in the region lying about Suparsa. Then the hero of

great energy vanquished the Matsya and the powerful Maladas and the

country called Pasubhumi that was without fear or oppression of any kind.

And the long-armed hero then, coming from that land, conquered Madahara,

Mahidara, and the Somadheyas, and turned his steps towards the north. And

the mighty son of Kunti then subjugated, by sheer force, the country

called Vatsabhumi, and the king of the Bhargas, as also the ruler of the

Nishadas and Manimat and numerous other kings. Then Bhima, with scarcely

any degree of exertion and very soon, vanquished the southern Mallas and

the Bhagauanta mountains. And the hero next vanquished, by policy alone,

the Sarmakas and the Varmakas. And that tiger among men then defeated

with comparative ease that lord of earth, Janaka the king of the Videhas.

And the hero then subjugated strategically the Sakas and the barbarians

living in that part of the country. And the son of Pandu, sending forth

expeditions from Videha, conquered the seven kings of the Kiratas living

about the Indra mountain. The mighty hero then, endued with abundant

energy, vanquished in battle the Submas and the Prasuhmas. And winning

them over to his side, the son of Kunti, possessed of great strength,

marched against Magadha. On his way he subjugated the monarchs known by

the names of Danda and Dandadhara, And accompanied by those monarchs, the

son of Pandu marched against Girivraja. After bringing the son of

Jarasandha under his sway by conciliation and making him pay tribute, the

hero then accompanied by the monarchs he had vanquished, marched against

Kansa. And making the earth tremble by means of his troops consisting of

the four kinds of forces, the foremost of the Pandavas then encountered

Karna that slayer of foes. And, O Bharata, having subjugated Karna and

brought him under his sway, the mighty hero then vanquished the powerful

king of the mountainous regions. And the son of Pandu then slew in a

fierce encounter, by the strength of his arms, the mighty king who dwelt

in Madagiri. And the Pandava then, O king, subjugated in battle those

strong and brave heroes of fierce prowess, viz., the heroic and mighty

Vasudeva, the king of Pundra and king Mahaujah who reigned in

Kausika-kachchha, and then attacked the king of Vanga. And having

vanquished Samudrasena and king Chandrasena and Tamralipta, and also the

king of the Karvatas and the ruler of the Suhmas, as also the kings that

dwelt on the sea-shore, that bull among the Bharatas then conquered all

Mlechchha tribes. The mighty son of the wind-god having thus conquered

various countries, and exacting tributes from them all advanced towards

Lohity. And the son of Pandu then made all the Mlechchha kings dwelling

in the marshy regions on the sea-coast, pay tributes and various kinds of

wealth, and sandal wood and aloes, and clothes and gems, and pearls and

blankets and gold and silver and valuable corals. The Mlechchha kings

showered upon the illustrious son of Kunti a thick downpour of wealth

consisting of coins and gems counted by hundreds of millions. Then

returning to Indraprastha, Bhima of terrible prowess offered the whole of

that wealth unto king Yudhisthira the just."