The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 3.161

3.161.1

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
tasminnagendre vasatāṃ tu teṣāṃ mahātmanāṃ sadvratamāsthitānām |
ratiḥ pramodaśca babhūva teṣāmākāṅkṣatāṃ darśanamarjunasya || 1 ||

Vaisampayana continued, "Dwelling in that best of mountains those high-souled ones observing excellent vows, felt themselves attracted (to that place), and diverted themselves, eager to behold Arjuna. And multitudes of Gandharvas and Maharshis gladly visited those energetic ones, possessing prowess, of chaste desires and being the foremost of those endued with truth and fortitude. And having arrived at that excellent mountain furnished with trees bearing blossoms, those mighty charioteers were exceedingly delighted, even as the Marutas, on arriving at the celestial regions. And experiencing great exhilaration, they lived (there), seeing the slopes and summits of that mighty mountain, filled with flowers, and resonant with the cries of peacocks and cranes. And on that beautiful mountain they beheld lakes filled with lotuses, and having their shores covered with trees, and frequented by darkness, and karandavas and swans. And the flourishing sporting-regions, graceful on account of the various flowers, and abounding in gems, was capable of captivating that king, the dispenser of wealth (Kuvera). And always ranging (there), those foremost of ascetics (the Pandavas)

were incapable of conceiving (the significance of) that Summit, furnished with mighty trees, and masses of wide-spreading clouds. And, O great hero, owing to its native splendour, and also on account of the brilliance of the annual plants, there was no difference there between night and day. And staying in the mountain, remaining in which the Sun of unrivalled energy cherisheth the mobile and immobile things, those heroes and foremost of men beheld the rising and the setting of the Sun. And having seen the rising and the setting points of the Sun and the rising and the setting mountain, and all the cardinal points, as well as the intervening spaces ever blazing with the rays of the Dispeller of darkness, those heroes, in expectation of the arrival of that mighty charioteer firm in truth, became engaged in reciting the Vedas, practising the daily rituals, chiefly discharging the religious duties, exercising sacred vows, and abiding by the truth. And saying, 'Let us even here experience delight by joining without delay Arjuna accomplished in arms,' those highly blessed Parthas became engaged in the practice of Yoga. And beholding romantic woods on that mountain, as they always thought of Kiriti, every day and night appeared unto them even as a year. From that very moment joy had taken leave of them when, with Dhaumya's permission, the high-souled Jishnu, matting his hair, departed (for the woods). So, how could they, absorbed in his contemplation, experience happiness there? They had become overwhelmed with grief ever since the moment when at the command of his brother, Yudhishthira, Jishnu of the tread of a mad elephant had departed from the Kamyaka forest. O Bharata, in this way, on that mountain those descendants of Bharata passed a month with difficulty, thinking of him of the white steeds, who had gone to Vasava's abode for learning arms. And Arjuna, having dwelt for five years in the abode of him of a thousand eyes, and having from that lord of celestials obtained all the celestial weapons,--such as those of Agni, of Varuna, of Soma, of Vayu, of Vishnu, of Indra, of Pasupati, of Brahma, of Parameshthi, of Prajapati, of Yama, of Dhata, of Savita, of Tvashta, and of Vaisravana; and having bowed down to and gone round him of a hundred sacrifices, and taken his (Indra's) permission, cheerfully came to the Gandhamadana."

Vaisampayana continued, "Dwelling in that best of mountains those high-souled ones observing excellent vows, felt themselves attracted (to that place), and diverted themselves, eager to behold Arjuna. And multitudes of Gandharvas and Maharshis gladly visited those energetic ones, possessing prowess, of chaste desires and being the foremost of those endued with truth and fortitude. And having arrived at that excellent mountain furnished with trees bearing blossoms, those mighty charioteers were exceedingly delighted, even as the Marutas, on arriving at the celestial regions. And experiencing great exhilaration, they lived (there), seeing the slopes and summits of that mighty mountain, filled with flowers, and resonant with the cries of peacocks and cranes. And on that beautiful mountain they beheld lakes filled with lotuses, and having their shores covered with trees, and frequented by darkness, and karandavas and swans. And the flourishing sporting-regions, graceful on account of the various flowers, and abounding in gems, was capable of captivating that king, the dispenser of wealth (Kuvera). And always ranging (there), those foremost of ascetics (the Pandavas)

3.161.2

tānvīryayuktānsuviśuddhasattvāṃstejasvinaḥ satyadhṛtipradhānān |
saṃprīyamāṇā bahavo'bhijagmurgandharvasaṃghāśca maharṣayaśca || 2 ||

3.161.3

taṃ pādapaiḥ puṣpadharairupetaṃ nagottamaṃ prāpya mahārathānām |
manaḥprasādaḥ paramo babhūva yathā divaṃ prāpya marudgaṇānām || 3 ||

3.161.4

mayūrahaṃsasvananāditāni puṣpopakīrṇāni mahācalasya |
śṛṅgāṇi sānūni ca paśyamānā gireḥ paraṃ harṣamavāpya tasthuḥ || 4 ||

3.161.5

sākṣātkubereṇa kṛtāśca tasminnagottame saṃvṛtakūlarodhasaḥ |
kādambakāraṇḍavahaṃsajuṣṭāḥ padmākulāḥ puṣkariṇīrapaśyan || 5 ||

3.161.6

krīḍāpradeśāṃśca samṛddharūpānsucitramālyāvṛtajātaśobhān |
maṇipravekānsumanoharāṃśca yathā bhaveyurdhanadasya rājñaḥ || 6 ||

3.161.7

anekavarṇaiśca sugandhibhiśca mahādrumaiḥ saṃtatamabhramālibhiḥ |
tapaḥpradhānāḥ satataṃ carantaḥ śṛṅgaṃ gireścintayituṃ na śekuḥ || 7 ||

were incapable of conceiving (the significance of) that Summit, furnished with mighty trees, and masses of wide-spreading clouds. And, O great hero, owing to its native splendour, and also on account of the brilliance of the annual plants, there was no difference there between night and day. And staying in the mountain, remaining in which the Sun of unrivalled energy cherisheth the mobile and immobile things, those heroes and foremost of men beheld the rising and the setting of the Sun. And having seen the rising and the setting points of the Sun and the rising and the setting mountain, and all the cardinal points, as well as the intervening spaces ever blazing with the rays of the Dispeller of darkness, those heroes, in expectation of the arrival of that mighty charioteer firm in truth, became engaged in reciting the Vedas, practising the daily rituals, chiefly discharging the religious duties, exercising sacred vows, and abiding by the truth. And saying, 'Let us even here experience delight by joining without delay Arjuna accomplished in arms,' those highly blessed Parthas became engaged in the practice of Yoga. And beholding romantic woods on that mountain, as they always thought of Kiriti, every day and night appeared unto them even as a year. From that very moment joy had taken leave of them when, with Dhaumya's permission, the high-souled Jishnu, matting his hair, departed (for the woods). So, how could they, absorbed in his contemplation, experience happiness there? They had become overwhelmed with grief ever since the moment when at the command of his brother, Yudhishthira, Jishnu of the tread of a mad elephant had departed from the Kamyaka forest. O Bharata, in this way, on that mountain those descendants of Bharata passed a month with difficulty, thinking of him of the white steeds, who had gone to Vasava's abode for learning arms. And Arjuna, having dwelt for five years in the abode of him of a thousand eyes, and having from that lord of celestials obtained all the celestial weapons,--such as those of Agni, of Varuna, of Soma, of Vayu, of Vishnu, of Indra, of Pasupati, of Brahma, of Parameshthi, of Prajapati, of Yama, of Dhata, of Savita, of Tvashta, and of Vaisravana; and having bowed down to and gone round him of a hundred sacrifices, and taken his (Indra's) permission, cheerfully came to the Gandhamadana."

3.161.8

svatejasā tasya nagottamasya mahauṣadhīnāṃ ca tathā prabhāvāt |
vibhaktabhāvo na babhūva kaścidaharniśānāṃ puruṣapravīra || 8 ||

3.161.9

yamāsthitaḥ sthāvarajaṅgamāni vibhāvasurbhāvayate'mitaujāḥ |
tasyodayaṃ cāstamayaṃ ca vīrāstatra sthitāste dadṛśurnṛsiṃhāḥ || 9 ||

3.161.10

ravestamisrāgamanirgamāṃste tathodayaṃ cāstamayaṃ ca vīrāḥ |
samāvṛtāḥ prekṣya tamonudasya gabhastijālaiḥ pradiśo diśaśca || 10 ||

3.161.11

svādhyāyavantaḥ satatakriyāśca dharmapradhānāśca śucivratāśca |
satye sthitāstasya mahārathasya satyavratasyāgamanapratīkṣāḥ || 11 ||

3.161.12

ihaiva harṣo'stu samāgatānāṃ kṣipraṃ kṛtāstreṇa dhanaṃjayena |
iti bruvantaḥ paramāśiṣaste pārthāstapoyogaparā babhūvuḥ || 12 ||

3.161.13

dṛṣṭvā vicitrāṇi girau vanāni kirīṭinaṃ cintayatāmabhīkṣṇam |
babhūva rātrirdivasaśca teṣāṃ saṃvatsareṇaiva samānarūpaḥ || 13 ||

3.161.14

yadaiva dhaumyānumate mahātmā kṛtvā jaṭāḥ pravrajitaḥ sa jiṣṇuḥ |
tadaiva teṣāṃ na babhūva harṣaḥ kuto ratistadgatamānasānām || 14 ||

3.161.15

bhrāturniyogāttu yudhiṣṭhirasya vanādasau vāraṇamattagāmī |
yatkāmyakātpravrajitaḥ sa jiṣṇustadaiva te śokahatā babhūvuḥ || 15 ||

3.161.16

tathā tu taṃ cintayatāṃ sitāśvamastrārthinaṃ vāsavamabhyupetam |
māso'tha kṛcchreṇa tadā vyatītastasminnage bhārata bhāratānām || 16 ||

3.161.17

tataḥ kadāciddharisaṃprayuktaṃ mahendravāhaṃ sahasopayātam |
vidyutprabhaṃ prekṣya mahārathānāṃ harṣo'rjunaṃ cintayatāṃ babhūva || 17 ||

Vaisampayana continued, "And it came to pass that once a day as those mighty charioteers were thinking of Arjuna, seeing Mahendra's car, yoked with horses of the effulgence of lightning, arrive all on a sudden, they were delighted. And driven by Matali, that blazing car, suddenly illuminating the sky, looked like smokeless flaming tongues of fire, or a mighty meteor embosomed in clouds. And seated in that car appeared Kiriti wearing garlands and new-made ornaments. Then Dhananjaya possessing the prowess of the wielder of the thunder-bolt, alighted on that mountain, blazing in beauty. And that intelligent one decked in a diadem and garlands, having alighted on the mountain, first bowed down at the feet of Dhaumya, and then at those of Ajatasatru. And he also paid homage unto Vrikodara's feet; and the twins also bowed down unto him. Then going to Krishna, and having cheered her, he stood before his (elder) brother in humble guise. And on meeting with that matchless one, they were exceedingly delighted. And he also meeting with them rejoiced exceedingly, and began to eulogise the king. And seeing before them that car driving in which the slayer of Namuchi had annihilated seven phalanxes of Diti's offspring, the magnanimous Parthas went round it. And being highly pleased, they offered excellent worship unto Matali, as unto the lord of the celestials himself. And then the son of the Kuru king duly enquired of him after the health of all the gods. And Matali also greeted them. And having instructed the Parthas even as a father doth his sons, he ascended that incomparable car, and returned to the lord of the celestials.

Vaisampayana continued, "And it came to pass that once a day as those mighty charioteers were thinking of Arjuna, seeing Mahendra's car, yoked with horses of the effulgence of lightning, arrive all on a sudden, they were delighted. And driven by Matali, that blazing car, suddenly illuminating the sky, looked like smokeless flaming tongues of fire, or a mighty meteor embosomed in clouds. And seated in that car appeared Kiriti wearing garlands and new-made ornaments. Then Dhananjaya possessing the prowess of the wielder of the thunder-bolt, alighted on that mountain, blazing in beauty. And that intelligent one decked in a diadem and garlands, having alighted on the mountain, first bowed down at the feet of Dhaumya, and then at those of Ajatasatru. And he also paid homage unto Vrikodara's feet; and the twins also bowed down unto him. Then going to Krishna, and having cheered her, he stood before his (elder) brother in humble guise. And on meeting with that matchless one, they were exceedingly delighted. And he also meeting with them rejoiced exceedingly, and began to eulogise the king. And seeing before them that car driving in which the slayer of Namuchi had annihilated seven phalanxes of Diti's offspring, the magnanimous Parthas went round it. And being highly pleased, they offered excellent worship unto Matali, as unto the lord of the celestials himself. And then the son of the Kuru king duly enquired of him after the health of all the gods. And Matali also greeted them. And having instructed the Parthas even as a father doth his sons, he ascended that incomparable car, and returned to the lord of the celestials.

"And when Matali had gone away, that foremost of the royal race, Sakra's son, the high-souled destroyer of all foes made over unto his love, the mother of Sutasoma, beautiful precious gems and ornaments having the splendour of the sun, which had been presented to him by Sakra. Then, sitting in the midst of those foremost of the Kurus, and those best of the Brahmanas, effulgent like unto fire or the sun, he began to relate all as it had happened, saying, "In this way, I have learnt weapons from Sakra, Vayu, and the manifest Siva; and all the celestials with Indra also have been pleased with me, on account of my good behaviour, and concentration.'

"After having briefly narrated unto them his sojourn in heaven, Kiriti of spotless deeds agreeably slept that night with the two sons of Madri."

3.161.18

sa dīpyamānaḥ sahasāntarikṣaṃ prakāśayanmātalisaṃgṛhītaḥ |
babhau maholkeva ghanāntarasthā śikheva cāgnerjvalitā vidhūmā || 18 ||

3.161.19

tamāsthitaḥ saṃdadṛśe kirīṭī sragvī varāṇyābharaṇāni bibhrat |
dhanaṃjayo vajradharaprabhāvaḥ śriyā jvalanparvatamājagāma || 19 ||

3.161.20

sa śailamāsādya kirīṭamālī mahendravāhādavaruhya tasmāt |
dhaumyasya pādāvabhivādya pūrvamajātaśatrostadanantaraṃ ca || 20 ||

3.161.21

vṛkodarasyāpi vavanda pādau mādrīsutābhyāmabhivāditaśca |
sametya kṛṣṇāṃ parisāntvya caināṃ prahvo'bhavadbhrāturupahvare saḥ || 21 ||

3.161.22

babhūva teṣāṃ paramaḥ praharṣastenāprameyeṇa samāgatānām |
sa cāpi tānprekṣya kirīṭamālī nananda rājānamabhipraśaṃsan || 22 ||

3.161.23

yamāsthitaḥ sapta jaghāna pūgānditeḥ sutānāṃ namucernihantā |
tamindravāhaṃ samupetya pārthāḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ cakruradīnasattvāḥ || 23 ||

3.161.24

te mātaleścakruratīva hṛṣṭāḥ satkāramagryaṃ surarājatulyam |
sarvaṃ yathāvacca divaukasastānpapracchurenaṃ kururājaputrāḥ || 24 ||

3.161.25

tānapyasau mātalirabhyanandatpiteva putrānanuśiṣya cainān |
yayau rathenāpratimaprabheṇa punaḥ sakāśaṃ tridiveśvarasya || 25 ||

3.161.26

gate tu tasminvaradevavāhe śakrātmajaḥ sarvaripupramāthī |
śakreṇa dattāni dadau mahātmā mahādhanānyuttamarūpavanti |
divākarābhāṇi vibhūṣaṇāni prītaḥ priyāyai sutasomamātre || 26 ||

"And when Matali had gone away, that foremost of the royal race, Sakra's son, the high-souled destroyer of all foes made over unto his love, the mother of Sutasoma, beautiful precious gems and ornaments having the splendour of the sun, which had been presented to him by Sakra. Then, sitting in the midst of those foremost of the Kurus, and those best of the Brahmanas, effulgent like unto fire or the sun, he began to relate all as it had happened, saying, "In this way, I have learnt weapons from Sakra, Vayu, and the manifest Siva; and all the celestials with Indra also have been pleased with me, on account of my good behaviour, and concentration.'

3.161.27

tataḥ sa teṣāṃ kurupuṃgavānāṃ teṣāṃ ca sūryāgnisamaprabhāṇām |
viprarṣabhāṇāmupaviśya madhye sarvaṃ yathāvatkathayāṃ babhūva || 27 ||

3.161.28

evaṃ mayāstrāṇyupaśikṣitāni śakrācca vātācca śivācca sākṣāt |
tathaiva śīlena samādhinā ca prītāḥ surā me sahitāḥ sahendrāḥ || 28 ||

3.161.29

saṃkṣepato vai sa viśuddhakarmā tebhyaḥ samākhyāya divi praveśam |
mādrīsutābhyāṃ sahitaḥ kirīṭī suṣvāpa tāmāvasatiṃ pratītaḥ || 29 ||

"After having briefly narrated unto them his sojourn in heaven, Kiriti of spotless deeds agreeably slept that night with the two sons of Madri."