The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (Translator)

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SECTION CCXIV

(Rajya-labha Parva continued)

"Narada continued, 'Meanwhile the Asura brothers having subjugated the
earth were without a rival. The fatigue of exertion gone, they, having
brought the three worlds under equal sway, regarded themselves as persons
that had nothing more to do. Having brought all the treasures of the gods,
the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Nagas, the Rakshasas, and the kings of
the earth, the brothers began to pass their days in great happiness. When
they saw they had no rivals (in the three worlds), they gave up all
exertion and devoted their time to pleasure and merriment, like the
celestials. They experienced great happiness by giving themselves up to
every kind of enjoyment, such as women, and perfumes and floral wreaths
and viands, and drinks and many other agreeable objects all in profusion.
In houses and woods and gardens, on hills and in forests, wherever they
liked they passed their time in pleasure and amusement, like the immortals.
And it so happened that one day they went for purposes of pleasure to a
tableland of the Vindhya range, perfectly level and stony, and overgrown
with blossoming trees. After every object of desire, all of the most
agreeable kind, had been brought, the brothers sat on an excellent seat,
with happy hearts and accompanied by handsome women. And those damsels,
desirous of pleasing the brothers, commenced a dance in accompaniment to
music, and sweetly chanted many a song in praise of the mighty pair.'

"Meanwhile Tilottama attired in a single piece of red silk that exposed
all her charms, came along, plucking wild flowers on her way. She advanced
slowly to where those mighty Asuras were. The Asura brothers, intoxicated
with the large portions they had imbibed, were smitten upon beholding that
maiden of transcendent beauty. Leaving their seats they went quickly to
where the damsel was. Both of them being under the influence of lust, each
sought the maiden for himself. And Sunda seized that maid of fair brows by
her right hand. Intoxicated with the boons they had obtained, with
physical might, with the wealth and gems they had gathered from every
quarter, and with the wine they had drunk, maddened with all these, and
influenced by wishful desire, they addressed each other, each contracting
his brow in anger. 'She is my wife, and therefore your superior,' said
Sunda. 'She is my wife, and therefore your sister-in-law', replied
Upasunda. And they said unto each other, 'She is mine not yours.' And soon
they were under the influence of rage. Maddened by the beauty of the
damsel, they soon forgot their love and affection for each other. Both of
them, deprived of reason by passion, then took up their fierce maces. Each
repeating, 'I was the first, I was the first,' (in taking her hand) struck
the other. And the fierce Asuras, struck by each other with the mace, fell
down upon the ground, their bodies bathed in blood, like two suns
dislodged from the firmament. And beholding this, the women that had come
there, and the other Asuras there present, all fled away trembling in
grief and fear, and took refuge in the nether regions. The Grandsire
himself of pure soul, then came there, accompanied by the celestials, and
the great Rishis. And the illustrious Grandsire applauded Tilottama and
expressed his wish of granting her a boon. The Supreme Deity, before
Tilottama spoke, desirous of granting her a boon, cheerfully said, 'O
beautiful damsel, thou shalt roam in the region of the Adityas. Thy
splendour shall be so great that nobody will ever be able to look at thee
for any length of time!' The Grandsire of all creatures, granting this
boon unto her, establishing the three worlds in Indra as before, returned
to his own region.

"Narada continued, 'It was thus that Asuras, ever united and inspired by
the same purpose slew each other in wrath for the sake of Tilottama.
Therefore, from affection I tell you, ye foremost ones of Bharata's line,
that if you desire to do anything agreeable to me, make some such
arrangements that you may not quarrel with one another for the sake of
Draupadi.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'The illustrious Pandavas, thus addressed by the
great Rishi Narada, consulting with one another, established a rule
amongst themselves in the presence of the celestial Rishi himself endued
with immeasurable energy. And the rule they made was that when one of them
would be sitting with Draupadi, any of the other four who would see that
one thus must retire into the forest for twelve years, passing his days as
a Brahmacharin. After the virtuous Pandavas had established that rule
amongst themselves, the great Muni Narada, gratified with them, went to
the place he wished. Thus, O Janamejaya, did the Pandavas urged by Narada,
established a rule amongst themselves in regard to their common wife. And
it was for this, O Bharata, that no dispute ever arose between them.'"

SECTION CCXV

(Arjuna-vanavasa Parva)

"Vaisampayana said, 'The Pandavas, having established such a rule,
continued to reside there. By the prowess of their arms they brought many
kings under their sway. And Krishna became obedient unto all the five sons
of Pritha, those lions among men, of immeasurable energy. Like the river
Saraswati decked with elephants, which again take pleasure in that stream,
Draupadi took great delight in her five heroic husbands and they too took
delight in her. And in consequence of the illustrious Pandavas being
exceedingly virtuous in their practice, the whole race of Kurus, free from
sin, and happy, grew in prosperity.

"After some time, O king, it so happened that certain robbers lifted the
cattle of a Brahmana, and while they were carrying away the booty, the
Brahmana, deprived of his senses by anger, repaired to Khandavaprastha,
and began to reprove the Pandavas in accents of woe. The Brahmana said,
'Ye Pandavas, from this your dominion, my kine are even now being taken
away by force by despicable and wicked wretches! Pursue ye the thieves.
Alas, the sacrificial butter of a peaceful Brahmana is being taken away by
crows! Alas, the wretched jackal invadeth the empty cave of a lion! A king
that taketh the sixth part of the produce of the land without protecting
the subject, hath been called by the wise to be the most sinful person in
the whole world. The wealth of a Brahmana is being taken away by robbers!
Virtue itself is sustaining a diminution! Take me up by the hand, ye
Pandavas for I am plunged in grief!"

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, heard those
accents of the Brahmana weeping in bitter grief. As soon as he heard those
accents, he loudly assured the Brahmana, saying, 'No fear!' But it so
happened that the chamber where the illustrious Pandavas had their weapons
was then occupied by Yudhishthira the just with Krishna. Arjuna, therefore,
was incapable of entering it or, going alone with the Brahmana, though
repeatedly urged (to do either) by the weeping accents of the Brahmana.
Summoned by the Brahmana, Arjuna reflected, with a sorrowful heart, 'Alas,
this innocent Brahmana's wealth is being robbed! I should certainly dry up
his tears. He hath come to our gate, and is weeping even now. If I do not
protect him, the king will be touched with sin in consequence of my
indifference; our own irreligiousness will be cited throughout the kingdom,
and we shall incur a great sin. If, disregarding the king, I enter the
chamber, without doubt I shall be behaving untruthfully towards the
monarch without a foe. By entering the chamber, again, I incur the penalty
of an exile in the woods. But I must overlook everything. I care not if I
have to incur sin by disregarding the king. I care not if I have to go to
the woods and die there. Virtue is superior to the body and lasteth after
the body hath perished!' Dhananjaya, arriving at this resolution, entered
the chamber and talked with Yudhishthira. Coming out with the bow, he
cheerfully told the Brahmana, 'Proceed, O Brahmana, with haste, so that
those wretched robbers may not go much ahead of us. I shall accompany thee
and restore unto thee thy wealth that hath fallen into the hands of the
thieves.' Then Dhananjaya, capable of using both his arms with equal skill,
armed with the bow and cased in mail and riding in his war-chariot decked
with a standard, pursued the thieves, and piercing them with his arrows,
compelled them to give up the booty. Benefiting the Brahmana thus by
making over to him his kine, and winning great renown, the hero returned
to the capital. Bowing unto all the elders, and congratulated by everybody,
Partha at last approached Yudhishthira, and addressing him, said, 'Give me
leave, O lord, to observe the vow I took. In beholding thee sitting with
Draupadi, I have violated the rule established by ourselves. I shall
therefore go into the woods, for this is even our understanding.' Then
Yudhishthira, suddenly hearing those painful words, became afflicted with
grief, and said in an agitated voice, 'Why!' A little while after, king
Yudhishthira in grief said unto his brother Dhananjaya of curly hair who
never departed from his vows, these words, 'O sinless one, if I am an
authority worthy of regard, listen to what I say. O hero, full well do I
know the reason why thou hadst entered my chamber and didst what thou
regardest to be an act disagreeable to me. But there is no displeasure in
my mind. The younger brother may, without fault, enter the chamber where
the elder brother sitteth with his wife. It is only the elder brother that
acts against the rules of propriety by entering the room where the younger
brother sitteth with his wife. Therefore, O thou of mighty arms, desist
from thy purpose. Do what I say. Thy virtue hath sustained no diminution.
Thou hast not disregarded me.'

"Arjuna, hearing this, replied, 'I have heard, even from thee, that
quibbling is not permitted in the discharge of duty. I cannot waver from
truth. Truth is my weapon.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Obtaining then the king's permission, Arjuna
prepared himself for a forest-life; and he went to the forest to live
there for twelve years.'"

SECTION CCXVI

(Arjuna-vanavasa Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'When that spreader of the renown of Kuru's race, the
strong-armed Arjuna, set out (for the forest), Brahmanas conversant with
the Vedas walked behind that illustrious hero to a certain distance.
Followed by Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas and their branches and
devoted to the contemplation of the Supreme Spirit, by persons skilled in
music, by ascetics devoted to the Deity, by reciters of Puranas, by
narrators of sacred stories by devotees leading celibate lives, by
Vanaprasthas, by Brahmanas sweetly reciting celestial histories, and by
various other classes of persons of sweet speeches, Arjuna journeyed like
Indra followed by the Maruts. And, O thou of Bharata's race, that bull
among the Bharatas saw, as he journeyed, many delightful and picturesque
forests, lakes, rivers, seas, provinces, and waters. At length, on
arriving at the source of the Ganges the mighty hero thought of settling
there.

"Listen now, O Janamejaya, to a wonderful feat which that foremost of the
sons of Pandu, of high soul, did, while living there. When that son of
Kunti, O Bharata, and the Brahmanas who had followed him, took up their
residence in that region, the latter performed innumerable Agnihotras
(sacrificial rites by igniting the sacred fire). And, O king, in
consequence of those learned vow-observing, and illustrious Brahmanas, who
never deviated from the right path, daily establishing and igniting with
mantras on the banks of that sacred stream, after the performance of their
ablutions, fires for their sacrifices, and pouring libations of clarified
butter into the same, and worshipping those fires with offerings of
flowers, that region itself where the Ganges entered the plains became
exceedingly beautiful. One day that bull amongst the Pandavas, while
residing in that region in the midst of those Brahmanas, descended (as
usual) into the Ganges to perform his ablutions. After his ablutions had
been over, and after he had offered oblations of water unto his deceased
ancestors, he was about to get up from the stream to perform his
sacrificial rites before the fire, when the mighty-armed hero, O king, was
dragged into the bottom of the water by Ulupi, the daughter of the king of
the Nagas, urged by the god of desire. And it so happened that the son of
Pandu was carried into the beautiful mansion of Kauravya, the king of the
Nagas. Arjuna saw there a sacrificial fire ignited for himself. Beholding
that fire, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti performed his sacrificial rites
with devotion. And Agni was much gratified with Arjuna for the
fearlessness with which that hero had poured libations into his manifest
form. After he had thus performed his rites before the fire, the son of
Kunti, beholding the daughter of the king of the Nagas, addressed her
smilingly and said, 'O handsome girl, what an act of rashness hast thou
done, O timid one! Whose is this beautiful region, who art thou and whose
daughter?'

"Hearing these words of Arjuna, Ulupi answered, 'There is a Naga of the
name of Kauravya, born in the line of Airavata. I am, O prince, the
daughter of that Kauravya, and my name is Ulupi. O tiger among men,
beholding thee descend into the stream to perform thy ablutions, I was
deprived of reason by the god of desire. O sinless one, I am still
unmarried. Afflicted as I am by the god of desire on account of thee, O
thou of Kuru's race, gratify me today by giving thyself up to me.'

"Arjuna replied, 'Commanded by king Yudhishthira, O amiable one, I am
undergoing the vow of Brahmacharin for twelve years. I am not free to act
in any way I like. But, O ranger of the waters, I am still willing to do
thy pleasure (if I can). I have never spoken an untruth in my life. Tell
me, therefore, O Naga maid, how I may act so that, while doing thy
pleasure, I may not be guilty of any untruth or breach of duty.'

"Ulupi answered, 'I know, O son of Pandu, why thou wanderest over the
earth, and why thou hast been commanded to lead the life of a Brahmacharin
by the superior. Even this was the understanding to which all of you had
been pledged, viz., that amongst you all owning Drupada's daughter as your
common wife, he who would from ignorance enter the room where one of you
would be sitting with her, should lead the life of a Brahmacharin in the
woods for twelve years. The exile of any one amongst you, therefore, is
only for the sake of Draupadi. Thou art but observing the duty arising
from that vow. Thy virtue cannot sustain any diminution (by acceding to my
solicitation). Then again, O thou of large eyes, it is a duty to relieve
the distressed. Thy virtue suffereth no diminution by relieving me. Oh, if
(by this act), O Arjuna, thy virtue doth suffer a small diminution, thou
wilt acquire great merit by saving my life. Know me for thy worshipper, O
Partha! Therefore, yield thyself up to me! Even this, O lord, is the
opinion of the wise (viz., that one should accept a woman that wooeth). If
thou do not act in this way, know that I will destroy myself. O thou of
mighty arms, earn great merit by saving my life. I seek thy shelter, O
best of men! Thou protectest always, O son of Kunti, the afflicted and the
masterless. I seek thy protection, weeping in sorrow. I woo thee, being
filled with desire. Therefore, do what is agreeable to me. It behoveth
thee to gratify my wish by yielding thy self up to me.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed by the daughter of the king of the
Nagas, the son of Kunti did everything she desired, making virtue his
motive. The mighty Arjuna, spending the night in the mansion of the Naga
rose with the sun in the morning. Accompanied by Ulupi he came back from
the palace of Kauravya to the region where the Ganges entereth the plains.
The chaste Ulupi, taking her leave there, returned to her own abode. And,
O Bharata, she granted unto Arjuna a boon making him invincible in water,
saying, 'Every amphibious creature shall, without doubt, be vanquishable
by thee.'"

SECTION CCXVII

(Arjuna-vanavasa Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then the son of the wielder of the thunderbolt
narrated everything unto those Brahmanas (residing with him there), set
out for the breast of Himavat. Arriving at the spot called Agastyavata, he
next went to Vasishtha's peak. Thence the son of Kunti proceeded to the
peak of Bhrigu. Purifying himself with ablutions and rites there, that
foremost of the Kurus gave away unto Brahmanas many thousands of cows and
many houses. Thence that best of men proceeded to the sacred asylum called
Hiranyavindu. Performing his ablutions there, that foremost of the sons of
Pandu saw many holy regions. Descending from those heights that chief of
men, O Bharata, accompanied by the Brahmanas, journeyed towards the east,
desiring to behold the regions that lay in that direction. That foremost
one of Kuru's race saw many regions of sacred waters one after another.
And beholding in the forest of Naimisha the delightful river Utpalini
(full of lotuses) and the Nanda and the Apara Nanda, the far-famed Kausiki,
and the mighty rivers Gaya and Ganga, and all the regions of sacred water,
he purified himself, O Bharata, (with the usual rites), and gave away many
cows unto Brahmanas. Whatever regions of sacred waters and whatever other
holy palaces there were in Vanga and Kalinga, Arjuna visited all of them.
Seeing them all and performing proper ceremonies, he gave away much wealth.
Then, O Bharata, all those Brahmanas following the son of Pandu, bade him
farewell at the gate of the kingdom of Kalinga and desisted from
proceeding with him any further. The brave Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti,
obtaining their leave, went towards the ocean, accompanied by only a few
attendants. Crossing the country of the Kalingas, the mighty one proceeded,
seeing on his way diverse countries and sacred spots and diverse
delightful mansions and houses. Beholding the Mahendra mountain adorned
with the ascetics (residing there), he went to Manipura, proceeding slowly
along the sea-shore. Beholding all the sacred waters and other holy places
in that province, the strong-armed son of Pandu at last went, O king, to
the virtuous Chitravahana, the ruler of Manipura. The king of Manipura had
a daughter of great beauty named Chitrangada. And it so happened that
Arjuna beheld her in her father's palace roving at pleasure. Beholding the
handsome daughter of Chitravahana, Arjuna desired to possess her. Going
unto the king (her father), he represented unto him what he sought. He
said, 'Give away unto me thy daughter, O king! I am an illustrious
Kshatriya's son.' Hearing this, the king asked him, 'Whose son art thou?'
Arjuna replied, 'I am Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu and Kunti.' The king,
hearing this, spoke unto him these words in sweet accents, 'There was in
our race a king of the name of Prabhanjana, who was childless. To obtain a
child, he underwent severe ascetic penances. By his severe asceticism, O
Partha, he gratified that god of gods, Mahadeva, the husband of Uma, that
supreme Lord holding (the mighty bow called) Pinaka. The illustrious Lord
granted him the boon that each successive descendant of his race should
have one child only. In consequence of that boon only one child is born
unto every successive descendant of this race. All my ancestors (one after
another) had each a male child. I, however, have only a daughter to
perpetuate my race. But, O bull amongst men, I ever look upon this
daughter of mine as my son. O bull of Bharata's race, I have duly made her
a Putrika. Therefore, one amongst the sons that may be begotten upon her
by thee, O Bharata, shall be the perpetuator of my race. That son is the
dower for which I may give away my daughter. O son of Pandu, if thou
choosest, thou canst take her upon this understanding.' Hearing these
words of the king, Arjuna accepted them all, saying, 'So be it.' Taking
Chitravahana's daughter (as his wife), the son of Kunti resided in that
city for three years. When Chitrangada at last gave birth to a son, Arjuna
embraced that handsome princess affectionately. And taking leave of the
king (her father), he set out on his wanderings again.'"

SECTION CCXVIII

(Arjuna-vanavasa Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then that bull of Bharata's race went to the sacred
waters on the banks of the southern ocean, all adorned with the ascetics
residing there. And there lay scattered five such regions where also dwelt
many ascetics. But those five waters themselves were shunned by all of
them. Those sacred waters were called Agastya, and Saubhadra and Pauloma
of great holiness, and Karandhama of great propitiousness yielding the
fruits of a horse-sacrifice unto those that bathed there, and Bharadwaja,
that great washer of sins. That foremost one among the Kurus, beholding
those five sacred waters, and finding them uninhabited, and ascertaining
also that they were shunned by the virtuous ascetics dwelling around,
asked those pious men with joined hands, saying, 'Why O ascetics, are
these five sacred waters shunned by utterers of Brahma?' Hearing him, the
ascetics replied, 'There dwell in these waters five large crocodiles which
take away the ascetics that may happen to bathe in them. It is for this, O
son of Kuru's race, that these waters are shunned.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words of the ascetics, that
foremost of men endued with mighty arms, though dissuaded by them went to
behold those waters. Arrived at the excellent sacred water called
Saubhadra after a great Rishi, the brave scorcher of all foes suddenly
plunged into it to have a bath. As soon as that tiger among men had
plunged into the water a great crocodile (that was in it) seized him by
the leg. But the strong-armed Dhananjaya the son of Kunti, that foremost
of all men endued with might, seized that struggling ranger of the water
and dragged it forcibly to the shore. But dragged by the renowned Arjuna
to the land, that crocodile became (transformed into) a beautiful damsel
bedecked with ornament. O king, that charming damsel of celestial form
seemed to shine for her beauty and complexion. Dhananjaya, the son of
Kunti, beholding that strange sight, asked that damsel with a pleased
heart, 'Who art thou, O beautiful one? Why hast thou been a ranger of the
waters? Why also didst thou commit such a dreadful sin?' The damsel
replied, saying, 'I am, O mighty-armed one, an Apsara that sported in the
celestial woods. I am, O mighty one, Varga by name, and ever dear unto the
celestial treasurer (Kuvera). I have four other companions, all handsome
and capable of going everywhere at will. Accompanied by them I was one day
going to the abode of Kuvera. On the way we beheld a Brahmana of rigid
vows, and exceedingly handsome, studying the Vedas in solitude. The whole
forest (in which he was sitting) seemed to be covered with his ascetic
splendour. He seemed to have illuminated the whole region like the Sun
himself. Beholding his ascetic devotion of that nature and his wonderful
beauty, we alighted in that region, in order to disturb his meditations.
Myself and Saurabheyi and Samichi and Vudvuda and Lata, that Brahmana, O
Bharata, at the same time. We began to sing and smile and otherwise tempt
that Brahmana. But, O hero, that Brahmana (youth) set not his heart even
once upon us. His mind fixed on pure meditation, that youth of great
energy suffered not his heart to waver, O bull among Kshatriyas, the
glance he cast upon us was one of wrath. And he said, staring at us,
'Becoming crocodiles, range ye the waters for a hundred years.'"

SECTION CCXIX

(Arjuna-vanavasa Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Varga continued, 'We were then, O foremost one of
Bharata's race, deeply distressed at this curse. We sought to propitiate
that Brahmana of ascetic wealth that departed not from his vow. Addressing
him, we said, 'Inflated with a sense of our beauty and youth, and urged by
the god of desire, we have acted very improperly. It behoveth thee, O
Brahmana, to pardon us! Truly, O Brahmana, it was death to us that we had
at all come hither to tempt thee of rigid vows and ascetic wealth. The
virtuous, however, have said that women should never be slain. Therefore
grow thou in virtue. It behoveth thee not to slay us so. O thou that art
conversant with virtue, it hath been said that a Brahmana is ever the
friend of every creature. O thou of great prosperity, let this speech of
the wise become true. The eminent always protect those that seek
protection at their hands. We seek thy protection. It behoveth thee to
grant us pardon.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed, that Brahmana of virtuous soul
and good deeds and equal in splendour, O hero, unto the sun or the moon,
became propitious unto them. And the Brahmana said, 'The words hundred and
hundred thousand are all indicative of eternity. The word hundred, however,
as employed by me is to be understood as a limited period and not
indicative of a period without end. Ye shall, therefore, becoming
crocodiles, seize and take away men (for only a hundred years as explained
by me). At the end of that period, an exalted individual will drag you all
from water to the land. Then ye will resume your real forms. Never have I
spoken an untruth even in jest. Therefore, all that I have said must come
to pass. And those sacred waters (within which I assign you your places),
will, after you will have been delivered by that individual, become known
all over the world by the name of Nari-tirthas (or sacred waters connected
with the sufferings and the deliverance of females), and all of them shall
become sacred and sin cleansing in the eyes of the virtuous and the wise.'