SECTION CCXXVII
(Khandava-daha Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana, said, 'Thus addressed by
Arjuna, the smoke-bannered Hutasana, desirous of an interview with Varuna,
recollected that son of Aditi,--that deity protecting one of the points of the
heavens and having his home in the water and ruling that element. Varuna,
knowing that he was thought of by Pavaka, immediately appeared before that
deity. The smoke-bannered celestial welcoming with reverence the ruler of the
waters, that fourth of the Lokapalas, said unto that eternal god of gods, 'Give
me without loss of time that bow and quiver, and that ape-bannered car also,
which were obtained from king Soma. Partha will achieve a great task with
Gandiva, and Vasudeva also with the discus! Give both, therefore, unto me
today.' Hearing these words, Varuna replied unto Pavaka, saying, 'Well, I am
giving them.' He then gave that wonderful jewel of a bow that was endued with
great energy. That bow was the enhancer of fame and achievements, and was
incapable of being injured by any weapon. It was the chief of all weapons, and
the grinder of them all. And it was the smiter of hostile armies and was alone
equal to a hundred thousand bows. It was the multiplier of kingdoms, and was
variegated with excellent colours. It was well-adorned, and beautiful to
behold, and without a mark of weakness or injury anywhere. And it was always
worshipped both by the celestials and the Gandharvas. Varuna also gave two
inexhaustible quivers, and he also gave a car furnished with celestial weapons
and whose banner bore a large ape. Yoked unto that car were steeds white as
silver of the fleecy clouds, and born in the region of the Gandharvas, and
decked with golden harness, and resembling in fleetness the wind or the mind.
And it was equipped with implement of war, and was incapable of being
vanquished by the celestials or the Asuras. Its splendour was great and the
sounds of its wheels was tremendous. It delighted the heart of every creature
that looked at it. It had been made by Viswakarman, the architect of the
universe and one of the lords of creation, after severe ascetic meditation. Its
splendour, like that of the sun, was so great that no one could gaze at it. It
was the very car from which the lord Soma had vanquished the Danavas. Resplendent
with beauty, it looked like an evening cloud reflecting the effulgence of the
setting sun. It was furnished with an excellent flag-staff of golden colour and
great beauty. And there sat upon that flag-staff a celestial ape of form fierce
like that of a lion or a tiger. Stationed on high, the ape seemed bent upon
burning everything it beheld. And upon the (other) flags were various creatures
of large size, whose roars and yells caused the enemy's soldiers to faint. Then
Arjuna, accoutred in mail and armed with the sword, and his fingers cased in
leathern gloves, walking round that excellent car adorned with numerous flags
and bowing unto the gods, ascended it like a virtuous man riding in the
celestial car that bears him to heaven. And taking up that celestial and first
of bows created by Brahman of old and called Gandiva, Arjuna was filled with
joy. And bowing unto Hutasana, Partha endued with great energy, took up the bow
and strung it forcibly. Those who heard the noise that was made while the mighty
Pandava strung that bow, quaked with fear. And having obtained that car and
that bow, and the two inexhaustible quivers, the son of Kunti became glad and
thought himself competent to assist at the task. And Pavaka then gave unto
Krishna a discus with an iron pole attached to a hole in the centre. And it was
a fiery weapon and became his favourite. Having obtained that weapon, Krishna
also became equal to the task. Pavaka then, addressing Krishna, said, 'With
this, O slayer of Madhu, thou shalt be able without doubt to vanquish in battle
even foes that are not human. With this weapon, without doubt, thou shalt be
superior in battle to men and gods, and Rakshasas and Pisachas, and Daityas and
Nagas. And thou shalt certainly be able with this to smite all. And, O Madhava,
hurled by thee in battle at thy foes, this weapon will irresistibly slay the
enemy and again come back into thy hands.' And the lord Varuna, after this,
gave unto Krishna a mace, of name Kaumodaki, capable of slaying every Daitya
and producing, when hurled, a roar like that of the thunder. Then Arjuna and
Achyuta, filled with joy said unto Pavaka, 'O exalted one, furnished with
weapons and knowing their use, possessed of cars with flags and flagstaffs, we
are now able to fight with even all the celestials and the Asuras (together),
let alone the wielder of the thunderbolt desirous of fighting for the sake of
the Naga (his friend Takshaka).' Arjuna also said, 'O Pavaka, while Hrishikesa,
endued with abundant energy, moves on the field of battle with this discus in
hand, there is nothing in the three worlds that he will not be able to consume
by hurling this weapon. Having obtained the bow Gandiva and this couple of
inexhaustible quivers I also am ready to conquer in battle the three worlds. Therefore,
O lord, blaze thou forth as thou likest, surrounding this large forest on every
side. We are quite able to help thee.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed
both by Dasarha and Arjuna, the illustrious god then put forth his most energetic
form, and prepared to consume the forest. Surrounding it on all sides with his
seven flames, he began to consume the forest of Khandava, exhibiting his
all-consuming form like that at the end of the Yuga (cycle). And, O bull of
Bharata's race, surrounding that forest and catching it from all sides with a
roar like that of the clouds, Agni made every creature within it tremble. And,
O Bharata, that burning forest then looked resplendent like the king of
mountains, Meru, blazing with the rays of the sun fallen thereupon.'"
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