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.s4.263
An Index to the Names in the Mahābhārata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s4.263
- Language
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left heaven, where he received the celestial weapons, if it were not for this purpose. This Ṣakuni told to Duryodhana, who was sitting with Karna, and Duryodhana was filled with grief (III, 236). Ṣakuni and Karna proposed to Duryodhana that they should go to Dvaitavana to exult over the Pāndavas (III, 237). Duryodhana gladly approved the proposal, but feared that he might not obtain the permission of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who thought that the Pāndavas had become more powerful than before in consequence of their ascetic austerities. He asked them, with Duḥśāsana, to find out some skilful pretext. The next morning Karna and Ṣakuni agreed with Duryodhana that they should go there under the pretext of supervising their cattle stations (III, 238). They then all saw Dhṛtarāṣṭra. A cowherd, named Samāṅga, who had been instructed beforehand, came to the king and spoke to him of the cattle. Karna and Ṣakuni asked him to give permission to Duryodhana to go thither. Dhṛtarāṣṭra suggested to send some faithful men, fearing some collision with the Pāndavas if they were to go thither themselves; for though Yudhiṣṭhira would not suffer his wrath to be awakened, Bhīma and Draupadī were naturally passionate. Ṣakuni promised that they would not go to the spot where the Pāndavas resided, and obtained the permission.
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Duryodhana then started with Karna, Duḥśāsana, Ṣakuni, etc., and ladies by the thousand, followed by the citizens and their wives, with 8,000 chariots, etc., and took up his quarters at the distance of a gavyūti from the lake of Dvaitavana (III, 239). Having caused the calves to be marked, etc., Duryodhana, etc., began to sport and go a-hunting, and came to the lake. Yudhiṣṭhira was then, together with Draupadī, celebrating the diurnal rājarshi sacrifice according to the ceremonial used in the forest. When the attendants of Duryodhana came to the banks of the lake to construct pleasure-houses, they were forbidden to enter by a number of Gandharvas, who told them that the king of the Gandharvas had come from the abode of Kubera, with his followers and several hosts of Apsarases, etc., and when Duryodhana sent a number of his warriors, they also were prevailed upon by the Gandharvas to retura (III, 240). A battle ensued between the soldiers of Duryodhana and the Gandharvas, headed by their king Citrasena; the soldiers of Duryodhana fled, except Karna, who killed hundreds of Gandharvas. Duryodhana, Ṣakuni, Duḥśāsana, and Vikarṇa returned to assist Karna, and the battle was renewed. Citrasena made use of illusion; it seemed as if every warrior of the Kuru army were surrounded by ten Gandharvas. The entire army of Duryodhana again fled, except Karna. The Gandharvas then destroyed the chariot of Karna, who, mounting the chariot of Vikarṇa, was forced to drive away (III, 241).
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Duryodhana refused to fly, but the Gandharvas destroyed his chariot and slew his charioteer and horses; thereupon Citrasena took him prisoner, and Duḥśāsana, who was seated on his chariot, and Citrasena, Vivimçati, Vinda, and Anuvinda, and the royal ladies, were taken by other Gandharvas, [and Durvishaha, Durmukha, and Durjaya, v. 14924]. The flying soldiers and ministers of Duryodhana took refuge with Yudhiṣṭhira (III, 242). Yudhiṣṭhira, saying that the honour of the family was being destroyed by the Gandharvas' seizing Duryodhana, etc., in their presence, prevailed upon his brother to rescue Duryodhana, etc. (v. 14947: "the liberation of a foe from distress is equal to the bestowal of a boon, sovereignty, and the birth of a son, all the three put together"), if possible, by conciliation or lightly skirmishing, otherwise by all means, Yudhiṣṭhira being prohibited from partaking in the combat by his sacrifice. *Arjuna* promised to rescue *Duryodhana* or kill the king of the *Gandharvas* (III, 243). The four *Pāṇḍavas*, cased in mail and riding in chariots drawn by fleet horses, encountered the *Gandharvas*; as these would not set *Duryodhana*, etc., free, as requested by *Arjuna*, a fierce battle ensued (III, 244). The *Gandharvas*, in vain, attempted to break the chariots of the *Pāṇḍavas*; especially *Arjuna*, by means of his *Āgneya* weapon, sent millions of them to the abode of *Yama*.
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The *Gandharvas* then rose up to the skies, taking the *Dhārtarāṣṭras* with them, and showering maces, darts, etc., upon *Arjuna*, who killed them with his weapons *Sthūlakarṇa* (B. *Sthūṇākarṇa*), *Indrajāla*, *Suura*, *Āgneya*, and *Saumya*. At last *Citrasena* rushed at *Arjuna*, armed with a mace of iron; as *Arjuna* cut that mace in seven pieces with his arrows, *Citrasena*, by means of his science, concealed himself from the view of *Arjuna*, and thus continued to fight with him; but *Arjuna* destroyed his power of concealing himself by shooting at him with his celestial arms guided by the sound (*śabdavedham samācr̥tyu*). Then *Citrasena* showed himself to *Arjuna*, reminding him of his being his friend, and there was put an end to the battle (III, 245). *Citrasena* related to *Arjuna* that, staying in his abode, he had become acquainted with the purpose of *Duryodhana*, etc., and had been requested by *Indra* to bring *Duryodhana* thither in chains together with his counsellors. *Arjuna* entreated him to set *Duryodhana* free, but, at the request of *Citrasena*, they left it to be decided by *Yudhiṣṭhira*; *Yudhiṣṭhira* then liberated all the *Kauravas*. The *Gandharvas* went away with the *Apsarases*, and *Indra* revived the slain *Gandharvas* by sprinkling *amr̥ta* upon them. Friendly admonished by *Yudhiṣṭhira*, *Duryodhana*, overwhelmed with shame, returned to his capital (III, 246).
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When *Duryodhana*, afflicted with grief, was approaching *Hāstinapura* with his army, *Karṇa* congratulated him on the honourable victory over the *Gandharvas* (III, 247). *Duryodhana* told *Karṇa* that, as the *Gandharvas* had resorted to illusion and ascended the skies, he had been captured with his army, and that it was the *Pāṇḍavas* who had vanquished the *Gandharvas* (III, 248). *Duryodhana* continued his narrative and declared that he would stay there abstaining from food, and that the others, headed by *Duḥśāsana*, should go to *Hāstinapura*. He then offered the royal power to *Duḥśāsana*. *Duḥśāsana*, his voice choked in tears, refused to accept it. *Karṇa* reproached them for weeping thus, and declared that the *Pāṇḍavas*, who resided in the dominions of *Duryodhana* and enjoyed happiness under his protection, only did their duty in liberating him (III, 249). *Karṇa* continued explaining his opinion, that those who resided in the king's realm should always exert themselves to the best of their ability for the king; if the *Pāṇḍavas* had not followed the to the battle it would have been an improper act on their part. *Duryodhana*, firmly resolved to leave the world, desired not to rise from where he sat (III, 250). *Cakuni* reproached *Duryodhana* for his foolish despair, saying that he ought rather to reward the *Pāṇḍavas* by granting them their paternal kingdom. *Duryodhana* embraced *Duḥśāsana*, but did not waver from his purpose;
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he spread *kuça* grass on the earth, etc., and began to pray and mentally.—§ 513: The *Daiteyas* and *Dānavas* who had formerly been vanquished by the gods and were dwelling in *Pātāla*, having ascertained *Duryodhana*'s purpose, commenced a sacrifice with formulas, revealed by *Br̥haspati* and *Uçanas*, according to the rites indicated in the *Atharvaveda* and the *Upaniṣad*, assisted by brahmans of rigid vows, well versed in the *Vedas* and the *Vedāṅgas*. After these rites were ended a sorceress (*kr̥tyā*) arose, whom the *Daityas* caused to bring *Duryodhana* to them in the night (III, 251). The *Dānavas* said to him: “Do not do such a rash act as the vow of starvation. The suicide ever sinks into hell (*adho yāti*), and is blamed . . . In days of old we had obtained thee by ascetic austerities from *Maheçvara*; the upper part of thy body is wholly made of *vajras*, and is, therefore, invulnerable to weapons of every description; the lower part of thy body was made of flowers by *Devī* herself . . . Brave *kṣatriyas*, headed by *Bhagadatta*, will slay thy foes . . . In order to aid thee many *Dānavas* (v. 15172: *Daityas* and *Rakṣhases*) have been *born on earth*. Other *Asuras* will also possess *Bhīṣma*, *Droṇa*, *Kr̥pa*, and others; possessed by those *Asuras* these heroes will abandon their kindness and fight with thy foes . . . We have already settled the means of slaying *Arjuna*; the slain *Naraka* has assumed the form of *Karṇa*;
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recollecting his former hostility he will encounter both *Keçava* (i.e. *Kr̥ṣṇa*) and *Arjuna*, and vanquish *Arjuna* in battle. *Indra* in disguise will deprive *Karṇa* of his earrings and coat of mail. We also have appointed innumerable *Daityas* and *Rākṣhasas*, the so-called *Saṃcaptakas*, who will slay *Arjuna* . . . Thou art ever our refuge, as the *Pāṇḍavas* are the refuge of the gods.” Then the *Dānavas* embraced and cheered him, and that very goddess (*kr̥tyā*) carried him back to the spot where he had sat down intent upon putting an end to his life, and there she vanished. Now *Duryodhana* considered all as a dream, and thought he should defeat the *Pāṇḍavas* in battle. And also *Karṇa*, being possessed by the soul of *Naraka*, and the *Saṃcaptakas*, possessed by the *Rākṣhasas*, were desirous of slaying *Arjuna*; and *Bhīṣma*, *Droṇa*, *Kr̥pa*, etc., influenced by the *Dānavas*, were not so affectionate towards the *Pāṇḍavas* as they had been. *Duryodhana* did not tell anyone of thie.—§ 514: When the night had passed away *Karṇa* again exhorted *Duryodhana*, and promised to slay *Arjuna* in battle.
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*Duryodhana* arose and arranged his army, and went to *Hāstinapura*, accompanied by *Karṇa*, *Cakuni*, his brothers headed by *Duḥśāsana* and *Bhūriçravas*, and *Somadatta*, and *Bāhlīka* (III, 252).—§ 515: *Karṇadigvijaya* (q.v.).—§ 516: *Duryodhanayajña* (q.v.).—§ 517: Hearing the vow of *Karṇa*, *Yudhiṣṭhira*, filled with anxiety, made up his mind to abandon *Dvaitavana*. *Duryodhana* with his brothers, and *Bhīṣma*, *Droṇa*, *Kr̥pa*, and *Karṇa* ruled the earth justly and worshipped the brahmans by sacrifices and profuse gifts (III, 257).