An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s1.203

c5.s1.203

Ajagaraparvan ("the section relating to the Boa"; the 40th of the minor parvans of Mhbhr.). § 448: The Pāṇḍavas spent four years with Arjuna in the gardens of Kubera, which added to the preceding six make ten years of exile. In the eleventh year Yudhishṭhira, advised by Bhīma, took leave of those regions, determining again to practise austerities on the mountain, when he had regained his kingdom; and after Lomaça had returned to the abode of the gods, they with the brahmans proceeded along that airy road, carried by Ghaṭotkaca and his followers, and passed also by Ārshṭishena (III, 176).—§ 449: Having crossed Kailāsa, they passed one night in the hermitage of Vṛshaparvan (b), then one month at Badarī, and then (c) favourite lake (nalinīm), then crossing the Tushāra, Darada, and all the regions of the difficult Himālaya regions, they met Kirāta king Subāhu, where they met Viçoka, etc., and their servants and servants of the kitchen. One night, they, dismissing the charioteers and servants" near Yamunā Nil.; "name of near, occupied with hunting, in the forest Viçakhayūpa. There in a cavern Bhīma was seized by a snake and rescued by Yudhishṭhira. In the twelfth year of their exile they repaired thence to the borders of the desert, and desirous of dwelling by the Sarasvatī (d), they went there, and thence reached the lake of Dvaitavana (III, 177).—§ 450: At the request of Janamejaya, Vaiçampāyana detailed how Bhīma, when they had come from the rājarshi Vṛshaparvan's hermitage, was hunting with unpoisoned (çuddhair) arrows on some spots of Himavat (b), was seized by a huge snake, and on account of a boon that had been granted to the serpent was quite unable to extricate himself (III, 178). The serpent said that he was the rājarshi Nahusha, the son of Āyu, whom Agastya had cursed to become a serpent, out of compassion, however, adding to his curse that the person who would be able to answer his questions would deliver him, and that even stronger beings would, when seized by him, lose their strength. He had retained his recollection of his former existence, and nobody who came within his reach at the sixth division of the day (? shashṭhe kāle: ashṭadhā vibhaktasyāhuḥ bhāge, Nil.) could escape him. Bhīma lamented. Now appeared dreadful omens to Yudhishṭhira there, and having learnt from Draupadī that Bhīma had long been out, he set out with Dhaumya, having directed Arjuna to protect Draupadī, and Nakula and Sahadeva to protect the brahmans; and in the east, following the tracks of Bhīma, he came to the spot (III, 179). The serpent told Yudhishṭhira who he was, refused other food instead of Bhīma, but promised to deliver him if Yudhishṭhira could answer his questions. The first question was about the characteristics of the brahman, etc. (III, 180). Yudhishṭhira asked the serpent some questions about the means of salvation, and some other moral and philosophical questions, about the difference between the mind (manas) and the intellect (buddhi), and what had caused Nahusha's fall. Nahusha told that in heaven he used to exact tribute from brahmarshis, gods, Rākshasas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Pannagas, etc.; and that such was the spell of his eyes, that on whatever creature he fixed them he instantly destroyed its power; Agastya had foretold that Yudhishṭhira would save him from his curse. He delivered Bhīma unhurt, and, assuming his celestial shape, went back to heaven. Yudhishṭhira returned with Dhaumya and Bhīma, and narrated all that to the brahmans, who censured Bhīma, and warned him against attempting such things again (III, 181).