Mahabharata 1.158: aṣṭapañcāśadadhika śatatamo'dhyāyaḥ

1.158.1

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
te pratasthuḥ puraskṛtya mātaraṃ puruṣarṣabhāḥ |
samairudaṅmukhairmārgairyathoddiṣṭaṃ paraṃtapāḥ || 1 ||

"Vaisampayana said, 'After Vyasa had gone away, those bulls among men, the Pandavas, saluted the Brahmana and bade him farewell, and proceeded (towards Panchala) with joyous hearts and with their mother walking before them. Those slayers of all foes, in order to reach their destination, proceeded in a due northerly direction, walking day and night till they reached a sacred shrine of Siva with the crescent mark on his brow. Then those tigers among men, the sons of Pandu, arrived at the banks of the Ganga. Dhananjaya, that mighty car-warrior, walking before them, torch in hand, for showing the way and guarding them (against wild animals). And it so happened that at that time the proud king of the Gandharvas, with his wives, was sporting in that solitary region in the delightful waters of the Ganga. The king of the Gandharvas heard the tread of the Pandavas as they approached the river. On hearing the sounds of their foot-steps, the mighty Gandharvas were inflamed with wrath, and beholding those chastisers of foes, the Pandavas, approach towards him with their mother, he drew his frightful bow to a circle and said, 'It is known that excepting the first forty seconds the grey twilight preceding nightfall hath been appointed for the wandering of the Yakshas, the Gandharvas and the Rakshasas, all of whom are capable of going everywhere at will. The rest of the time hath been appointed for man to do his work. If therefore, men, wandering during those moments from greed of gain, come near us, both we and the Rakshasas slay those fools. Therefore, persons acquainted with the Vedas never applaud those men--not even kings at the head of their troops--who approach any pools of water at such a time. Stay ye at a distance, and approach me not. Know ye not that I am bathing in the waters of the Bhagirathi? Know that I am Angaraparna the Gandharva, ever relying on my own strength! I am proud and haughty and am the friend of Kuvera. This my forest on the banks of the Ganga, where I sport to gratify all my senses, is called Angaraparna after my own name. Here neither gods, nor Kapalikas, nor Gandharvas nor Yakshas, can come. How dare ye approach me who am the brightest jewel on the diadem of Kuvera?'

1.158.2

te gacchantastvahorātraṃ tīrthaṃ somaśravāyaṇam |
āseduḥ puruṣavyāghrā gaṅgāyāṃ pāṇḍunandanāḥ || 2 ||

1.158.3

ulmukaṃ tu samudyamya teṣāmagre dhanaṃjayaḥ |
prakāśārthaṃ yayau tatra rakṣārthaṃ ca mahāyaśāḥ || 3 ||

1.158.4

tatra gaṅgājale ramye vivikte krīḍayanstriyaḥ |
īrṣyurgandharvarājaḥ sma jalakrīḍāmupāgataḥ || 4 ||

1.158.5

śabdaṃ teṣāṃ sa śuśrāva nadīṃ samupasarpatām |
tena śabdena cāviṣṭaścukrodha balavadbalī || 5 ||

1.158.6

sa dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavāṃstatra saha mātrā paraṃtapān |
visphārayandhanurghoramidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 6 ||

1.158.7

saṃdhyā saṃrajyate ghorā pūrvarātrāgameṣu yā |
aśītibhistruṭairhīnaṃ taṃ muhūrtaṃ pracakṣate || 7 ||

1.158.8

vihitaṃ kāmacārāṇāṃ yakṣagandharvarakṣasām |
śeṣamanyanmanuṣyāṇāṃ kāmacāramiha smṛtam || 8 ||

1.158.9

lobhātpracāraṃ caratastāsu velāsu vai narān |
upakrāntā nigṛhṇīmo rākṣasaiḥ saha bāliśān || 9 ||

1.158.10

tato rātrau prāpnuvato jalaṃ brahmavido janāḥ |
garhayanti narānsarvānbalasthānnṛpatīnapi || 10 ||

1.158.11

ārāttiṣṭhata mā mahyaṃ samīpamupasarpata |
kasmānmāṃ nābhijānīta prāptaṃ bhāgīrathījalam || 11 ||

1.158.12

aṅgāraparṇaṃ gandharvaṃ vitta māṃ svabalāśrayam |
ahaṃ hi mānī cerṣyuśca kuberasya priyaḥ sakhā || 12 ||

1.158.13

aṅgāraparṇamiti ca khyātaṃ vanamidaṃ mama |
anu gaṅgāṃ ca vākāṃ ca citraṃ yatra vasāmyaham || 13 ||

1.158.14

na kuṇapāḥ śṛṅgiṇo vā na devā na ca mānuṣāḥ |
idaṃ samupasarpanti tatkiṃ samupasarpatha || 14 ||

1.158.15

arjuna uvāca |
samudre himavatpārśve nadyāmasyāṃ ca durmate |
rātrāvahani saṃdhau ca kasya kḷptaḥ parigrahaḥ || 15 ||

"Hearing these words of the Gandharva, Arjuna said, 'Blockhead, whether it be day, night, or twilight, who can bar others from the ocean, the sides of the Himalayas, and this river? O ranger of the skies, whether the stomach be empty or full, whether it is night or day, there is no special time for anybody to come to the Ganga--that foremost of all rivers. As regards ourselves endued with might, we care not when we disturb thee. Wicked being, those who are weak in fighting worship thee. This Ganga, issuing out of the golden peaks of Himavat, falleth into the waters of the ocean, being distributed into seven streams. They who drink the waters of these seven streams, viz., Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Vitashtha, Sarayu, Gomati, and Gandaki, are, cleansed of all their sins. O Gandharva, this sacred Ganga again, flowing through the celestial region is called there the Alakananda, It hath again in the region of the Pitris become the Vaitarani, difficult of being crossed by sinners, and, Krishna-Dwaipayana himself hath said so. The auspicious and celestial river, capable of leading to heaven (them that touch its waters), is free from all dangers. Why dost thou then desire to bar us from it? This act of thine is not in consonance with eternal virtue. Disregarding thy words, why shall we not touch the sacred waters of the Bhagirathi free from all dangers and from which none can bar us?'

1.158.16

vayaṃ ca śaktisaṃpannā akāle tvāmadhṛṣṇumaḥ |
aśaktā hi kṣaṇe krūre yuṣmānarcanti mānavāḥ || 16 ||

1.158.17

purā himavataścaiṣā hemaśṛṅgādviniḥsṛtā |
gaṅgā gatvā samudrāmbhaḥ saptadhā pratipadyate || 17 ||

1.158.18

iyaṃ bhūtvā caikavaprā śucirākāśagā punaḥ |
deveṣu gaṅgā gandharva prāpnotyalakanandatām || 18 ||

1.158.19

tathā pitṝnvaitaraṇī dustarā pāpakarmabhiḥ |
gaṅgā bhavati gandharva yathā dvaipāyano'bravīt || 19 ||

1.158.20

asaṃbādhā devanadī svargasaṃpādanī śubhā |
kathamicchasi tāṃ roddhuṃ naiṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ || 20 ||

1.158.21

anivāryamasaṃbādhaṃ tava vācā kathaṃ vayam |
na spṛśema yathākāmaṃ puṇyaṃ bhāgīrathījalam || 21 ||

1.158.22

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
aṅgāraparṇastacchrutvā kruddha ānamya kārmukam |
mumoca sāyakāndīptānahīnāśīviṣāniva || 22 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words of Arjuna, Angaraparna became inflamed with wrath and drawing his bow to a circle began to shoot his arrows like venomous snakes at the Pandavas. Then Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu, wielding a good shield and the torch he held in his hand, warded off all those arrows and addressing the Gandharva again said, 'O Gandharva, seek not to terrify those that are skilled in weapons, for weapons hurled at them vanish like froth. I think, O Gandharva, that ye are superior (in prowess) to men; therefore shall I fight with thee, using celestial weapons and not with any crooked means. This fiery weapon (that I shall hurl at thee), Vrihaspati the revered preceptor of Indra, gave unto Bharadwaja, from whom it was obtained by Agnivesya, and from Agnivesya by my preceptor, that foremost of Brahmanas, Drona, who gave it away to me.'

1.158.23

ulmukaṃ bhrāmayaṃstūrṇaṃ pāṇḍavaścarma cottamam |
vyapovāha śarāṃstasya sarvāneva dhanaṃjayaḥ || 23 ||

1.158.24

arjuna uvāca |
bibhīṣikaiṣā gandharva nāstrajñeṣu prayujyate |
astrajñeṣu prayuktaiṣā phenavatpravilīyate || 24 ||

1.158.25

mānuṣānati gandharvānsarvāngandharva lakṣaye |
tasmādastreṇa divyena yotsye'haṃ na tu māyayā || 25 ||

1.158.26

purāstramidamāgneyaṃ prādātkila bṛhaspatiḥ |
bharadvājasya gandharva guruputraḥ śatakratoḥ || 26 ||

1.158.27

bharadvājādagniveśyo agniveśyādgururmama |
sa tvidaṃ mahyamadadāddroṇo brāhmaṇasattamaḥ || 27 ||

1.158.28

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
ityuktvā pāṇḍavaḥ kruddho gandharvāya mumoca ha |
pradīptamastramāgneyaṃ dadāhāsya rathaṃ tu tat || 28 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Saying these words, the Pandava wrathfully hurled at the Gandharva that blazing weapon made of fire which burnt the Gandharva's chariot in a trice. Deprived of consciousness by the force of that weapon, the mighty Gandharva was falling, head downward, from his chariot. Dhananjaya seized him by the hair of his head adorned with garlands of flowers and thus dragged the unconscious Gandharva towards his brothers. Beholding this, that Gandharva's wife Kumbhinasi, desirous of saving her husband, ran towards Yudhishthira and sought his protection. The Gandharvi said, 'O exalted one, extend to me thy protection! O, set my husband free! O lord, I am Kumbhinasi by name, the wife of this Gandharva, who seeketh thy protection!' Beholding her (so afflicted), the mighty Yudhishthira addressed Arjuna and said, 'O slayer of foes, O child, who would slay a foe who hath been vanquished in fight, who hath been deprived of fame, who is protected by a woman, and who hath no prowess?' Arjuna replied, saying, 'Keep thou thy life, O Gandharva! Go hence, and grieve not I Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus, commandeth me to show thee mercy.'

1.158.29

virathaṃ viplutaṃ taṃ tu sa gandharvaṃ mahābalam |
astratejaḥpramūḍhaṃ ca prapatantamavāṅmukham || 29 ||

1.158.30

śiroruheṣu jagrāha mālyavatsu dhanaṃjayaḥ |
bhrātṝnprati cakarṣātha so'strapātādacetasam || 30 ||

1.158.31

yudhiṣṭhiraṃ tasya bhāryā prapede śaraṇārthinī |
nāmnā kumbhīnasī nāma patitrāṇamabhīpsatī || 31 ||

1.158.32

gandharvyuvāca |
trāhi tvaṃ māṃ mahārāja patiṃ cemaṃ vimuñca me |
gandharvīṃ śaraṇaṃ prāptāṃ nāmnā kumbīnasīṃ prabho || 32 ||

1.158.33

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
yuddhe jitaṃ yaśohīnaṃ strīnāthamaparākramam |
ko nu hanyādripuṃ tvādṛṅmuñcemaṃ ripusūdana || 33 ||

1.158.34

arjuna uvāca |
aṅgemaṃ pratipadyasva gaccha gandharva mā śucaḥ |
pradiśatyabhayaṃ te'dya kururājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ || 34 ||

1.158.35

gandharva uvāca |
jito'haṃ pūrvakaṃ nāma muñcāmyaṅgāraparṇatām |
na ca ślāghe balenādya na nāmnā janasaṃsadi || 35 ||

"The Gandharva replied, 'I have been vanquished by thee, I shall, therefore, abandon my former name Angaraparna (the blazing vehicle). In name alone, O friend, I should not be boastful when my pride in my strength hath been overcome: I have been fortunate in that I have obtained thee; O Arjuna, that wielder of celestial weapons! I like to impart to thee the power of (producing) illusions which Gandharvas alone have. My excellent and variegated chariot hath been burnt by means of thy fiery weapon. I who had formerly been called after my excellent chariot should now be called after my burnt chariot. The science of producing illusions that I have spoken of was formerly obtained by me by ascetic penances. That science I will today impart to the giver of my life-thy illustrious self! What good luck doth he not deserve who, after overcoming a foe by his might, giveth him life when that foe asketh for it? This science is called Chakshushi. It was communicated by Manu unto Soma and by Soma unto Viswavasu, and lastly by Viswavasu unto me. Communicated by my preceptor, that science, having come unto me who am without energy, is gradually becoming fruitless. I have spoken to thee about its origin and transmission. Listen now to its power! One may see (by its aid) whatever one wisheth to see, and in whatever way he liketh (generally or particularly). One can acquire this science only after standing on one leg for six months. I shall however, communicate to thee this science without thyself being obliged to observe any rigid vow. O king, it is for this knowledge that we are superior to men. And as we are capable of seeing everything by spiritual sight, we are equal to the gods. O best of men, I intend to give thee and each of thy brothers a hundred steeds born in the country of the Gandharvas. Of celestial colour and endued with the speed of the mind, those horses are employed in bearing the celestial, and the Gandharvas. They may be lean-fleshed but they tire not, nor doth their speed suffer on that account. In days of yore the thunderbolt was created for the chief of the celestials in order that he might slay (the Asura) Vritra with it. But hurled at Vritra's head it broke in a thousand pieces. The celestials worship with reverence those fragments of the thunderbolt. That which is known in the three worlds as glory is but a portion of the thunderbolt. The hand of the Brahmana with which he poureth libations on the sacrificial fire, the chariot upon which the Kshatriya fighteth, the charity of the Vaisya, and the service of the Sudra rendered unto the three other classes, are all fragments of the thunderbolt. It hath been said that horses, forming as they do a portion of the Kshatriya's chariot, are, on that account, unslayable. Again horses which form a portion of the Kshatriya's chariot, are the offspring of Vadava. Those amongst them that are born in the region of the Gandharvas can go everywhere and assume any hue and speed at the will of their owners. These horses of mine that I give thee will always gratify thy wishes."

1.158.36

sādhvimaṃ labdhavām̐llābhaṃ yo'haṃ divyāstradhāriṇam |
gāndharvyā māyayā yoddhumicchāmi vayasā varam || 36 ||

1.158.37

astrāgninā vicitro'yaṃ dagdho me ratha uttamaḥ |
so'haṃ citraratho bhūtvā nāmnā dagdharatho'bhavam || 37 ||

1.158.38

saṃbhṛtā caiva vidyeyaṃ tapaseha purā mayā |
nivedayiṣye tāmadya prāṇadāyā mahātmane || 38 ||

1.158.39

saṃstambhitaṃ hi tarasā jitaṃ śaraṇamāgatam |
yo'riṃ saṃyojayetprāṇaiḥ kalyāṇaṃ kiṃ na so'rhati || 39 ||

1.158.40

cakṣuṣī nāma vidyeyaṃ yāṃ somāya dadau manuḥ |
dadau sa viśvāvasave mahyaṃ viśvāvasurdadau || 40 ||

1.158.41

seyaṃ kāpuruṣaṃ prāptā gurudattā praṇaśyati |
āgamo'syā mayā prokto vīryaṃ pratinibodha me || 41 ||

1.158.42

yaccakṣuṣā draṣṭumicchettriṣu lokeṣu kiṃcana |
tatpaśyedyādṛśaṃ cecchettādṛṣaṃ draṣṭumarhati || 42 ||

1.158.43

samānapadye ṣaṇmāsānsthito vidyāṃ labhedimām |
anuneṣyāmyahaṃ vidyāṃ svayaṃ tubhyaṃ vrate kṛte || 43 ||

1.158.44

vidyayā hyanayā rājanvayaṃ nṛbhyo viśeṣitāḥ |
aviśiṣṭāśca devānāmanubhāvapravartitāḥ || 44 ||

1.158.45

gandharvajānāmaśvānāmahaṃ puruṣasattama |
bhrātṛbhyastava pañcabhyaḥ pṛthagdātā śataṃ śatam || 45 ||

1.158.46

devagandharvavāhāste divyagandhā manogamāḥ |
kṣīṇāḥ kṣīṇā bhavantyete na hīyante ca raṃhasaḥ || 46 ||

1.158.47

purā kṛtaṃ mahendrasya vajraṃ vṛtranibarhaṇe |
daśadhā śatadhā caiva tacchīrṇaṃ vṛtramūrdhani || 47 ||

1.158.48

tato bhāgīkṛto devairvajrabhāga upāsyate |
loke yatsādhanaṃ kiṃcitsā vai vajratanuḥ smṛtā || 48 ||

1.158.49

vajrapāṇirbrāhmaṇaḥ syātkṣatraṃ vajrarathaṃ smṛtam |
vaiśyā vai dānavajrāśca karmavajrā yavīyasaḥ || 49 ||

1.158.50

vajraṃ kṣatrasya vājino avadhyā vājinaḥ smṛtāḥ |
rathāṅgaṃ vaḍavā sūte sūtāścāśveṣu ye matāḥ || 50 ||

1.158.51

kāmavarṇāḥ kāmajavāḥ kāmataḥ samupasthitāḥ |
ime gandharvajāḥ kāmaṃ pūrayiṣyanti te hayāḥ || 51 ||

1.158.52

arjuna uvāca |
yadi prītena vā dattaṃ saṃśaye jīvitasya vā |
vidyā vittaṃ śrutaṃ vāpi na tadgandharva kāmaye || 52 ||

"On hearing these words of the Gandharva, Arjuna said, 'O Gandharva, if from satisfaction for having obtained thy life at my hands in a situation of danger, thou givest me thy science, and these horses, I would not accept thy gift.' The Gandharva replied, saying, 'A meeting with an illustrious person is ever a source of gratification; besides thou hast given me my life. Gratified with thee, I will give thee my science. That the obligation, however, may not all be on one side, I will take from thee, O Vibhatsu, O bull in Bharata's race, thy excellent and eternal weapon of fire!'

1.158.53

gandharva uvāca |
saṃyogo vai prītikaraḥ saṃsatsu pratidṛśyate |
jīvitasya pradānena prīto vidyāṃ dadāmi te || 53 ||

1.158.54

tvatto hyahaṃ grahīṣyāmi astramāgneyamuttamam |
tathaiva sakhyaṃ bībhatso cirāya bharatarṣabha || 54 ||

1.158.55

arjuna uvāca |
tvatto'streṇa vṛṇomyaśvānsaṃyogaḥ śāśvato'stu nau |
sakhe tadbrūhi gandharva yuṣmabhyo yadbhayaṃ tyajet || 55 ||

"Arjuna said, 'I would accept thy horses in exchange for my weapon. Let our friendship last for ever. O friend, tell us for what we human beings have to stand in fear of the Gandharvas. Chastisers of foes that we are and virtuous and conversant with the Vedas, tell us, O Gandharva, why in travelling in the night-time we have been censured by thee.'