Mahabharatam

SRIMADANDHRA MAHABHARATAM
Chilukuru Venkateswarlu
Sri Ramakrishna Tapovanam

20, Race Course Road Guindy, Chennai - 600 032 Mobile : 09884708559 Email : chvenkateswarlu30@gmail.com website : www.sriramakrishnatapovanam.org
by:
SRIMADANDHRA MAHABHARATAM
Chilukuru Venkateswarlu
Year : 2012
Typesetting by : R. Anuradha Raghuram, Hyderabad. (9441186831)
Dedication
Sri Nori Sreenadha Venkata Somayazulu & Smt. Subbalakshmi
Dedicated to my brother Sree Nori Sreenadha Venkata Somayazulu and Smt. Subbalakshmi. Sree Somayazulu was born on 10-12-1922 at Thotlavalluru as the second son of late Sri Nori Suryanarayana and Seetamma. He learnt Vedas from his grandfather late Sri Nori Ramavadhani. Some how he did not showed much interest in academic education. In those days, education, economic background were not considered as an important parameter for a marriage. Arshayam and Paursheom are considered to be supreme. So he was married late Smt. Subbalakshmi at her eighth year. After marriage, he was inclined to equip himself with some professional qualifications. In those days the country was in the heat of independence movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. In his movement Gandhiji strongly felt that there must be a common bondage to make the country united. He choose the propagation of Hindi as a common language in the country.
Srimadandhra Mahabharatam iii
Sri Somayazulu was one of the millions of youth influenced by Gandhijis call and immediately jumped into the movement. He started adult education in his house for adults in his village. With the same spirit he started learning Hindi and Sanskrit from scholars like Sri Ramananda Sarma, Sri Jatavallabhula Purushottam and pursued with great devotion. In the process he acquired several degrees in Hindi such as Vidwan, SahityaRatna from Allahabad University; B.A and Telugu Vidwan B.Ed degrees from Andhra University, Waltair. To spread the message of Gandhiji further he started Netaji Hindi Vidyalaya in Machilipatnam. Subsequently, He joined ZillaParishad (Krishna District), served as a Hindi, Telugu Pandit and retired as a Head Master. He helped his younger brothers Sri Ramakrishaiah, Narayanamoorthy in building up their careers. During early sixties to help, his youngest brother Chilukuru Venkateswarlu, a career he wrote the biographies of ancient Telugu poets and fixed his career as a publisher. (Subsequently, Venkateswarlu became a successful industrialist, settled in Chennai) He wrote many books on Vedanta such as Upanishads, Bhagavatgeeta, Brahmasutras, Patanjali yoga sutras etc. He died on 02-02-1997 in his own house which was fondly named as Upanishad Kuteeram at Tadigadapa, Vijayawada. Srimathi Subbalakshmi his wife was born in Gollakoderu near Kaikaluru Krishna district. She had six daughters and a son. I feel I am privileged to dedicate Srimad Andra Mahabharatam to my brother and sister-in-law.
- Chilukuru Venkateswarlu
Srimadandhra Mahabharatam
iv
Between You and Me

Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavatams are the reflection of Indian heritage and culture. With the grace of my guru Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa I have already written Ramayanam and Bhagavatam. Now by writing Mahabharatam, I feel I am privileged and fortunate. Even late Sri C. Rajagopalachari expressed his happiness that he enjoyed more Anandam after writing Ramayana and Mahabharata than occupying the seat of Governor General. Mahabharatam provides us all the knowledge to pursue the principal objects of a human life viz dharma, ardha, kaama and moksha. It contains the essence of Vedas, Sastras, Upanishads and Puranas and it is said What is in Mahabharata is everywhere, what is not in Mahabharata is not available anywhere. Pandits applauded Mahabharatam as Panchama Vedam (Fifth Vedam). Vyasa Maharishi has written this great epic in three years for the benefit of the mankind. Kavitrayam (Nannaya, Tikkana and Errapreggada) was written in Telugu in about three centuries. It is very astonishing to note that though three different poets have written, spread over in three centuries, the reader will have a feeling that the entire epic was written by one single poet during his lifetime.
Srimadandhra Mahabharatam v
All this is because of the blessings of Vyasa Maharishi and the good fortune of Telugu Literature. Mahabharatam is not only the oldest scripture in the world (over 5000 years) but also bigger than Illiad and Oddessy (The ancient Greek epics). It is bigger not only in volume, but by its character delineation and its range of emotions. Mahabharatam tells us the righteous character of Pandavas and the wicked nature of Duryodhana and his associates. The conflict of these two characters lead to the great battle of Kurukshetra. Bhagavat Geeta is like the soul of Mahabharata. Pandavas are its body. The Purushardhas, Ithihasas, Upakhyanas and Dharmas are its energy. Vyasa Maharishi has churned the ocean of human life and took out nectar in the form of Mahabharatam for the benefit of the mankind. In short Mahabharatam is the spiritual torch for the human life. It not only teaches all dharmas from Vedas and Puranas, but also gives their subtle nature and leads the people to right path at times of need. Kavitrayam are like Trimoortis. Aadikavi Nannaya is Vishnu. Kavibrahma Tiikana was Brahma. Prabandha Parameswara Errapreggada was Parameswara. Though they lived in different ages, they aptly had the titles as Trimoortis and became popular as Kavitrayam. I take this opportunity and pay my respects to my parents Sri Nori Suryanarayana and Seetamma and to my adopted mother Sri Chilukuru Syamalamba. I prostrate at the lotus feet of my guru Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. I pray my gurudev to spread the message of Indian culture and heritage through these epics to one and all in the world. I profusely thank Sri K. Pattabhi Raman, retired professor in English in editing this great epic Ramayana. I also thank Srimathi R. Anuradha Raghuram for doing DTP work for this epic.
- Chilukuru Venkateswarlu
Srimadandhra Mahabharatam vi
Contents
11. Dedication 11. Between You and Me 11. Aadi Parvam 12. Sabha Parvamu 13. Aranya Parvamu 14. Virata Parvamu 15. Udyoga Parvamu 16. Bheeshma Parvamu 17. Drona Parvamu 18. Karna Parvamu 19. Salya Parvamu 10. Sauptika Parvamu 11. Stree Parvamu 12. Shanti Parvamu 13. Anusasanika Parvamu 14. Aswamedha Parvamu 15. Asramavasa Parvamu 16. Mousala Parvamu 17. Mahaprastanika Parvamu 18. Swargarohana Parvamu 18.Complete Glossary
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vii
SRI MADANDHRA MAHABHARATHAM

AADI PARVAM
Chapter 1
King Raja Raja Narendra was the son of Vimaladitya and Kundamamba. He was an expert in archery and as valorous as Lord Kumaraswamy. He was as pleasant as moon. He had the blessings of Lakshmi, Parvathi, Saraswati, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. He ruled his kingdom of Eastern Chalukya, popularly known as Vengi. His capital city was Rajamahendrapuram , presently known as Rajamandry in Andhra Pradesh. He was comparable with ancient kings such as Manuvu and Nala. He was as charitable as Karna and as compassionate as Dharmaraja. He was keen in upkeeping and practicing the dharma as dictated in Vedas. He treated his subjects as his own children. He kept all his enemies under control. All his subordinate kings paid tribute on the due dates and thus kept cordial relations with him. He gave several villages as gifts to the scholars. He built and maintained many temples and had lavishly donated lands for the maintenance and upkeep of those temples. The people of Vengi were prosperous and were leading happy and comfortable life. He appointed learned pundits to narrate the great epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata and many other puranas. He also built many auditoriums to promote dance, drama and music. Even common people used to write poetry in Telugu and Sanskrit. In those days royal orders and royal grants were inscribed on granite slabs and on brass sheets. Such orders were also written in the form of slokas and poetry. He patronized several poets, artists and sculptors in his durbar. One day while he was in his durbar, he addressed the esteemed scholars. King Raja Raja Narendra: Oh great scholars! I read and listened so many puranas . I am convinced that Mahabharata alone can teach the real state of god. Though I read or listened to the Bharatham many times, I am not satisfied because of the noble qualities of Pandavas and their ancestors
Aadiparvamu 1
from Chandra (moon) to Bharata. I would like to listen more and more deeply the great epic of Mahabharata. If one listens Mahabharata only once, it is equal to donating thousands of cows. Oh Nannaya! You render the great epic written by Vyasa maharishi in simple Telugu. Already many people translated the great epic into several languages. Now I would request you to write the same in Telugu. Those who have developed taste to listen Mahabaratha, would get the benefit equal to performing many yagnas. This is what our elders say. Poet Nannaya: Oh king! Can any body count the stars in the sky? Is there any person who read completely all the Vedas? Can Brahma cross the ocean? The writing of Mahabharata is also as difficult as that. However I obey your orders, make an effort with the help of my fellow poets, I am undertaking this work only with the hope that the pundits of this durbar will come to my help. While saluting Lord Vishnu, Siva, Brahma, Vinayaka and many other divine communities I prostrate at the feet of the aadi kavi Valmiki Maharishi before I undertake this epic. I salute Vyasa Maharishi. I hope that my dearest friend Narayana Bhattu will help me in rendering this great epic in Telugu, as lord Krishna helped Arjuna as his charioteer in the battle of Kurukshetra,. 1. An Introduction to Mahabarata Sownaka and many muni communities assembled at Naimisaranyam to perform a Satra Yaga for the well being of all the people. Satra yagas were generally conducted for a long durations such as from 13 days to 100 days and beyond. In these yagas Sowitis would come and praise the glories of various gods at the intervals of yagas. The Sowiti was also called as Sutudu. These Sowitis were born to a kshatriya and a vysya woman. They were professionally engaged in propagating glories of various gods whereever yagas were conducted. Ugrasravasudu was the son of Romaharshana. He was popularly known as Sowiti. The moment the maharishis saw Sowiti they came forward and requested him to stay with them till the end of the yaga. Ugrasravasudu: Oh Maharishis! I prostrate at the feet of all of you and seek your blessings. I am the son of Romaharshana. My father was one of the close disciples of Vyasa maharishi. I know many puranas and glories of Gods. Now you tell me what story you want to listen.
2 Srimadandhra Mahabharatam
Sownaka and other maharishis were immensely happy to hear the words of Sowiti and requested in one voice, You tell us such a story which will please our minds; which is new and novel; with which story we can enjoy the suspense and wonders and peculiarity and it should be full of knowledge. Ugrasravasudu: Oh Maharishis! Vedas were scattered all over the world. Vyasa Maharishi had brought them all together and divided them into four divisions. He was blessed with the following four disciples Piludu, Vaisampayanudu, Sumantudu and Jaimani and asked them to divide the Vedas into four divisions. Since the Vedas were classified into four under supervision of Vyasa Maharish, he was popularly known as Veda Vyasa. In the similar manner, he collected all the puranas of various gods and divided them into eighteen puranas. With his excellent knowledge over Vedas, Upanishad and Ithihasas, the great saints belonging to various ages, the greatness of lord Krishna, he wrote the stories of many glorious kings such as Pandavas. Those who were having the nature of dharma claimed it as dharma sastra. Those who had the knowledge of jeevatma-Paramatma appreciated it as Vedanta sastra. Those who were good at morals said that was a great kavyam. Those who were aware of the ancient stories viewed it as Ithihasa. Pouranikas like me called it as Puranam. In this manner several people were praising this epic in several angles. This epic was popularly known as Mahabharata. It was written by Veda Vyasa, son of Parasara and also an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Since he was born with a division of Maha Vishnu he was popularly known as Vyaso Narayano Harihe. In Baghavatam, it was said that Vyasa was one among the 21 incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The Mahabharata would secure wellbeing of all the religions. Hence it was known as Panchama Vedamu. The Mahabharata has 18 paravas. I will let you know the chronology of each parava. 1. 2. 3. 4. Aadi Parvam. It contains 9984 slokas, commencing from Udankas episode. Sabha Parvam. It contains of 4311 slokas, commencing from Droupathi vastra apaharanam. Aranya Parvam. It contains 13 664 slokas, commencing from the killing of Kimmeera. Virata Parvam. It contains 699 slokas. It entertains both the pandits and pamaras.
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Aadiparvamu
5. 6.
Udyoga Parvam. It contains 6998 slokas, which deals with the compromise and averting of the war. Bheeshma Parvam. It contains 5884 slokas in which deals with Bheeshma who was appointed as the commander-in-chief and fought for 10 days in Kurukshetra. Drona Parvam . It contains 10919 slokas , about Drona, as commander in chief for five days. Karna Parvam. It contains 4900 slokas about Karna becoming the commander in chief for 2 days. Selya Parvam. It contains 3220 slokasabout King Selya becoming as the commander in chief for half a day. Sowttika Parvam. It contains 2874 slokas a favorite episode for brahmins. Stree Parvam. It contains 1775 slokas which reveal the coronation of Dharmaraja. Santhi Parvam. It contains 14525 slokas which deal with the wellbeing of all people. Anusasanika Parvam it contains 12000 slokas wherein Bheeshma revealed all dharmas. Aswameda Parvam. It contains 4420 slokas, which deal with several aspects, and which is well appreciated by pundits. Ashramavasa Parvam. It contains 1106 slokas with superior stories . Mowsala Parvam it contains 300 slokas. Mahaprastanika Parvam. It contains 120 slokas . Swargarohana Parvam. There are about 200 slokas.
7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
2. The praise of Mahabharata: This great epic was written by Vyasa maharishi after a struggle for three years. Sage Narada had propagated this epic in the heaven. Saint Devaludu had propagated in the abode of ancestral parents. Suka maharishi spread it in the abodes of Garuda, Gandharva, Yaksha and rakshasas. Sumantu maharishi had spread it in Naga lokas. Vaisampayana had taught this epic to Janamejaya. While Vaisampayana was teaching Janamejaya, I was also there and heard this great epic. The great battle of Kurukshetra was in no
way inferior to that of the battle between Rama and Ravana or the battle between Devas and Asuras. The entire battle wwas fought and ended 18 days. Bheeshma led the battle as commander in chief during the first 10 days. The next five days were led by Drona, two days from there after Karna and by Salya for half a day led the battle as commander in chief. For the remaining half day, the battle was between Duryodhana and Bheema. Sownaka and other maharishis : Oh Ugrasravasu! Before you commence the story of Mahabharata, please enlighten us what is meant by Samantaka panchakamu, Akshowhini. Tell us how many chariots, horses, infantry consists of in each Akshowhini. Ugrasravasu: During intermediate periods between treta yuga and dwapara yuga, Parasurama made expedition on earth for 21 times. He killed all Kshatriyas on earth and made their blood into five lakes. He had performed tarpana to his ancestral parents with their blood and cleared their debt. The ancestral parents who were satisfied with Parasurama advised him to leave anger and become calm. On hearing their advice Parasurama became calm. Those five lakes formed with the blood of Kshatriyas were known as Samantaka panchakamu. Now I will explain you how the army was divided in to different divisions. A division containing a chariot, one elephant, three horses and five soldiers was called a patti. Three such pattis would form one Sena Mukham. Three sena Mukham was called as one Gulmam. Three Gulmams made one Ganam. Three Ganams made One Vahini. Three vahinis became Prutana. Three Prutanas would become one Chamuvu. Three Chamuvu formed one Aneeki. Ten times of such Aneekis became one Akshowhini. In other words, an Akshowhini would consist of 21870 chariots, 21870 elephants, 65610 horses and 109350 infantry. Kouravas and Pandavas selected the place of Samantaka panchakamu as the battle field. That was why that battlefield was named as Kurukshetra.
King Janamejaya who was the successor of Pandavas performed a long drawn Satra yaga for the wellbeing of mankind.
3. The beginning of the story of Mahabharata: The episode of Sarama: While Janamejaya was performing Satra yaga, a puppy casually entered the yaga sala without any wicked intentions. The pup was the kid of Sarama,
Aadiparvamu 5
a dog belonging to divine land. Marisena, Bhemasena and Ugrasena the brothers of Janamejaya saw the puppy entering the yaga sala. They hurled and chased the puppy out of yaga sala. The puppy went to his mother, crying bitterly. Sarama was furious of Janamejaya and said to him. Sarama: Oh Janamejaya! My son is so young and pretty. Without any kindness, your brothers hurled and chased him out of yaga sala, though he did not commit any mischief. Know it well if any one causes harm to the poor and week limbs, he will certainly land in trouble sooner or later. They cant escape from the sin of teasing the poor. By saying so, Sarama left the yaga sala. However Janamejaya searched for Sarama but he could not locate her. However the curse of Sarama was ringing in the ears of Janamejaya and his mind was confused. Somehow he completed the yagna and went back to his capital city of Hastinapura. Even after reaching his palace, the words of Sarama was constantly ringing in his ears. To avert the ill effects of the Saramas curse, he called priests and asked them to do the remedial acts. The king went to a nearby village and met the muni by name Srutasravana and requested him, Oh Maharishi! I request you to send your son Somasravasu to do remedial acts with me. The muni conceded to the kings request and sent his son to perform the remedial acts. With the help of Somasravasu, King Janamejaya performed several yagnas. He offered several valuable oblations to devatas, gifted many cows, lands to several scholars and made them happy. Thus Janamejaya was fully engaged in the rituals like yagnas, yagas etc and he tried in all possible ways and means to avert the curse of Sarama. The episode of Udanka: Paila maharishi was as splendorous as Brahma. Udanka, one of his disciples completed his studies, went to his guru and requested him, Oh teacher! I wish to offer you Gurudakshina. Please let me know what you want His guru said, Oh Udanka! During your stay in gurukulam, you served me and your guru patni well . That is enough. I dont want any thing more . However Udanka persuaded him to ask for some gift. Then his guru said, My child, I dont want anything. If you so desire, you may go to your guru patni and satisfy if she has anything to ask. When he persuaded her she wanted the earrings of the queen of king Powshya. Udanka was happy and started to secure the same for his guru patni. On his way he saw a divine person riding a white bull. Udanka went
to him to seek his blessings. The divine person blessed and asked him to eat the dung of his bull. Udanka ate the dung and reached the palace of king Powshya. Udanka said, Oh king! My guru patni wanted the earrings of your queen. I request you to give those earrings and relieve me from the debt to my guru. King Powshya said, Oh Udanka! You go to my wife and take the earrings from her. Udanka went inside the palace and did not find the queen anywhere. He went back to the king and said that he could not see the queen anywhere in the palace. The king said to him, Oh sinless Udanka! My queen is a chaste and virtuous wife, so she would not be visible to the impure persons. Become pure and go to her. Then only you could see her. On hearing the kings words, Udanka turned to east and performed aachamana to purify himself and went inside the palace. The queen came forward to welcome Udanka and said to him, Oh Maharishi! On your way you have eaten the bull dung, so you could not see me. Now you became pure. I am pleased to give my earrings to your guru patni. However, you please be cautious while taking them to your guru patni. Takshaka the king of serpents is having an eye on these earrings, since long time. If you keep them on an impure place, he may steal them. Udanka went to the king and thanked him. The king said, Oh maharishi! You be my honoured guest and bless me. Udanka agreed to lunch with the king. While taking his meal he found a hair in the food. Udanka was furious at the king and said Oh king! You have served me an impure meal, so you become blind. The king was furious at Udanka and cursed him back that he would not have children. Udanka requested the king, Oh king! I cant go without children. So you please withdraw your curse. The king said, Oh maharishi! The heart of a brahmin is as soft as pure butter. However their words are as harsh as Indras Vajra. Whereas in the case of kings, it is opposite. So I cant withdraw my curse. Better you withdraw your curse. 4. Takshaka steals the earrings from Udanka: While Udanka was going to his ashrama, he found a lake. He kept the earrings on the shore, went into the waters and performed aachamana, Takshaka came in his original form of a serpent and stole the earrings and ran away. Udanka chased him; however Takshaka entered an anthill and ran to the Naga loka. Udanka also entered the ant hill and reached Naga loka and praised all the serpents. He praised Ananta, the king of serpents in several ways. He praised Vasuki for his good qualities. After him, he prayed Takshaka
Aadiparvamu 7
to shower pity on him. He praised all the other leading serpents in several ways, but all his efforts became a cry in the wilderness. At that time, he saw two women weaving a cloth with black and white threads. He also saw six youngsters churning a giant wheel which had twelve spokes. Nearer to them, he saw a person sitting on the back of a horse and praising with Vedic mantras. That person was pleased and said, Oh Udanka! You blow hard into the ears of this horse. Udanka blew into the ears of the horse. Immediately several thousands of serpents came from the body of the horse. At that time the entire Naga loka became an Agni gundam. 5. Takshaka gives back the earrings: However much Udanka praised the serpent kings, they did not conceed his request. However when he blew into the ears of the horse, the entire Naga loka was engulfed with flames. They went and persuaded Takshaka to give back the earrings to Udanka. Takshaka came in human form, returned the earrings to Udanka. He thought that his gurupatni wanted the earrings on the fourth day. While he was thinking, the divine person who was sitting on the horse was pleased with Udanka and said to him, You sit on the back of this horse. It will take you to your ashrama in a twinkle of an eye. As instructed by the divine person, he sat on the back of the horse and reached his ashrama in no time. By the time guru patni took her sacred bath, wore new cloths and was waiting for him to wear the earrings and to commence vrata. Paila maharishi was pleased at the devotion of Udanka and said, Oh Udanka! The kingdom of Powshya is not far off from our ashrama, why you took so much time. Udanka said all that had happened in securing the earrings and expressed his surprise on various incidents he had experienced and requested him to explain the inner meanings of those incidents. Paila maharishi smiled at him and said Udanka! You are relieved from the debt of your guru by dedicating the earrings to your guru patni. The divine person who was sitting on a bull was Indra. The bull was Iravath. The bull dung you ate was nectar. The two women you saw in Naga loka were Dhata and Vidhata. The treads they were weaving were the night and the day. The six youngsters who were churning the wheel were Ruthus. The twelve spokes of the wheel were twelve months. The divine person who was sitting on the back of the horse was Varuna. Since you have consumed nectar in the beginning itself, you were able to withstand all the hurdles and finally was able to secure the earrings for your gurupatni. Since you had
cleared your debt to me, now I am giving you permission to go to your house. Udanka left gurukulam and penanced for a long time. However he wanted to take revenge on Takshaka who gave so many hardships for no fault of his. He went to king Janamejaya and said: Udanka: Oh King Janamejaya! Knowing fully well I was going for the cause of my gurupatni, Takshaka deliberately harmed me. Not only that he had bitten your father Parikshittu and became the cause for his death. Now you take revenge on that cruel Takshaka and relieve from the debt of you father. You invite learned brahmins and perform Sarpa yaga. In that homa all the serpents including Takshaka would fall and die. Oh king! It is not uncommon in the world that the sins of an individual would make all his family to suffer. So you call for scholars and arrange to perform Sarpa yaga. Sownaka: Oh Ugrasravasu! Takshaka and those serpents are more ferocious than Agni. Then how is that they will fall in the agni gundam? Ugrasravasu: Oh maharishi! Long ago there lived a brahmin by name Bhrugu. His wife Pulooma was pregnant at that time. While going to have a bath, Bhrugu asked his wife Pulooma to kindle agnihotra. At that time a rakshasa entered the agnihotra house, saw Pulooma and fell in love with her. Then the rakshasa asked Agni, Oh Agni! This woman is very pretty. Whose wife is she? Agni was confused. If he told her real status, Bhrugu might curse. If I dont tell her name, I would get the sin of telling a lie. Finally he chose to have a curse from the maharishi rather than getting the sin of a lie. So he told him that she was Pulooma, the chaste wife of Bhrugu maharishi. Then rakshasa remembered that this woman was offered to him in marriage but they went back on their word and gave this woman to Bhrugu maharishi. Then he took the form of a pig and frightened her. While she was running away, the child in her stomach fell on the ground. That boy was none other than Chavana maharishi. That boy, even at the time of his birth, was as splendour as sun. By the look of his brilliance the rakshasa was burnt to ashes. Then Pulooma picked up the child and went to ashrama. When she was running with fear of rakshasa, her tears formed a river. Brahma came and named the river as Vasudhara. In the meanwhile Bhrugu came and saw his son and his wife. He understood what all had happened in his absence. He was furious and asked her, How this rakshasa came to know that you were my wife.
Aadiparvamu
Pulooma said Oh Maharishi! He came to know about me from agni and started chasing me in the form of a pig. While I was running out of fear, the boy fell down and burnt rakshasa with his splendour. On hearing from his wife, Bhrugu was annoyed and said, Oh Agni! For the sin you have committed, you become Sarva bhakshaka. Agni trembled with fear and requested to Bhrugu, Oh maharishi! If I did not reveal the truth, I would have the sin of telling a lie, so I told him that she was your wife. I am worshipped by all the three worlds and stood witness for all. You have cursed me for no fault of mine. Still I am not cursing you, because It is not good to curse a scholar weather he was sober or not. I was doing good to all the lokas, by carrying oblations offered by brahmins in their yagas to the respective devatas. By your curse, you made me impure which would affect all the vedic karmas on earth. Brahmins could not perform yagas. Thereby Indra would fail to provide timely rains on earth. While talking to maharishi, the brilliance of agni had become dim . All the devatas and muni communities had learnt what had happened and went to Brahma for protection. Brahma called Agni and said Oh Agni! You are the tutelary deity for all the living beings. You are the spirit of all movables and immovables. You alone make the men and devatas pure. How can you make all the worlds lifeless? In spite of his curse, you will become the purest of the pure, the most eligible, the most worshipful in the three worlds. You continue to be helpful to all scholars in their vedic karmas. When Chavana, the son of Bhrugu became a young man, he married the daughter of King Saryaati . Through her, he had a son by name Pramati,who married Ghrutachi. They had a son by name Ruru. Ruru fell in love with Pramadvara. One day Pramadvara was playing with her friends and she was bitten by a serpent. Gauthama and other maharishis treated her for the snake bite. Ruru could not control his grief. At that time, a voice was heard from the skies, Oh Ruru Maharishi! Nobody can escape from the death. However if you can donate half of your longevity to the girl, she will become alive. Ruru dedicated half of his longevity and secured his lover Pramadvara. Afterwards, he married her and lived happily. However, he developed a vengeance on serpents, since they caused a lot of agony to him and his wife. So from then onwards, he used to have a long stick in his hands. And whereever he saw a serpent, he used to kill it.
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Srimadandhra
Mahabharatam
One day Ruru was about to kill a nonpoisonous snake by name Dumdubha. On seeing Ruru, Dumdubha prayed to lord Vishnu before he spoke to Ruru, Oh maharishi! You are a superior and intellectual. You have all the good qualities in you. Being such a great person, why you have developed so much vengeance on the snakes. By saying these words, Dumdubha left the form of a snake and stood in front of him in the form of a muni and said: let me tell you my history. 6. The episode of Sahasrapada: Dumdubha : Oh Ruru ! I was in the gurukulam of Sahasrapada maharishi. While my fellow disciple Khagamudu was worshipping Agni, I threw a blade of grass on him just for fun. He was annoyed and cursed me to become a nonpoisonous snake. I requested him to withdraw his curse. However he said, My words will never become untrue, so you become a nonpoisonous snake for some time. One day Ruru maharishi will come to you. On that day, you will get deliverance from my curse. Oh Ruru! You are born in a brahmin family, you acquired the knowledge of soul. Should you not have equality on all living beings? Normally brahmins should keep themselves away from violence. Long back Kadruva, the mother of all serpents had cursed her children to get burnt in to ashes. As a result, they fell in the Sarpa yaga performed by Janamejaya. Astheekudu, the disciple of your father, went to Janamejaya and averted the continuation of the Sarpa yaga. Sownaka: Oh Ugrasravasu! Normally mother would condone even the serious mistakes the children might commit. Then why Kadruva, the mother of all serpents, had cruelly cursed her own children?
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CHAPTER 2
7. The episode of Garutmantha: Ugrasravasu: Oh Sownaka! Long ago in Krutha yuga there lived a great maharishi by name Kasyapa. He had two wives. They were Kadruva and Vinatha. They were serving their husband with utmost devotion. Kasyapa was pleased with their services and said to them to seek a boon from him. Kadruva asked for thousand valorous sons. Vinatha asked for two sons who might be more valorous than thousand sons of her co-wife. Kasyapa performed Putra kamana yaga so as to add divine strength to the children of his two wives. After some time, Kadruva delivered thousand eggs. She was advised to keep them all in a water pot and to keep them carefully. After some time, all those thousand eggs were hatched and very venomous and powerful serpents such as Adiseshu, Vasuki, Iravatha, Takshaka and many others came out. Vinatha delivered two eggs. Those two eggs did not hatch for a long time. She became restless and broke one of them. From that, a bird came out without the limbs . He was called as Anurudu. Since she broke before his limbs were formed, he was annoyed with his mother and cursed her that she would become a slave to her co-wife for five hundred years. He advised his mother to be patient with the second egg so as to grow full. He also said that his brother would be the most valorous person in the world and would remove her bondage from the co-wife. Then he flew to the abode of sun and became the charioteer to Sun god. After some time, the second egg hatched and a son was born. He became the famous Garutmantha. 8. Churning of Ksheerasagara: Long ago devatas and rakshasas desired to secure nectar. They went under the leadership of Indra and prayed to Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. The gods assured them of their help in securing nectar. The strongest and the tallest mountain was Mt.Mandhara. So they decided to keep Mt.Mandhara as the churning stick. The moment Brahma and Vishnu gave their nod Adiseshu, pulled out the mountain and held it on his head. To keep the stick on a strong hold, they created a tortoise. To churn as a rope Mahabharatam for churning. Ksheerasagara, Vasuki, the king of serpents was used 12 Srimadandhra
Devatas on one side, and danavas on the other side held Vasuki and started churning. Soon Vasuki started vomiting poison which came in the form of fire and formed clouds of poison all over. All rakshasas held Vasuki on the side of his head and devatas held him on the side of his tail. In course of time, both of them got tired and became weak. At that time lord Vishnu infused to them the strength and velocity so that they could continue churning tirelessly. With the added strength and enthusiasm, the velocity of churning was increased and from the friction, poison spread all over. At that time lord Siva swallowed all the poison and held it in his throat. Afterwards from Ksheerasagara, emerged many persons and articles such as Jyashta devi, Moon, Lakshmi, white horse, Koustuba gem, Danvantiri , Iravatham, a white elephant and many more articles. Of those Vishnu took the Koustuba gem and Lakshmi. He held of them on his chest. The white elephant, Iravatha and the horse by name Uchaisravamu was taken by Indra. While danavas hoodwinked the devatas and denied them nectar and ran away with the pot. Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini and mesmerized all danavas and recovered the pot. Tactfully he passed on the nectar to devatas. At the time of devatas consuming nectar, a danava by name Rahu took the form of devatas and sat in the line of devatas and consumed nectar. Before he gulped it, the sun and moon found him as a danava and informed Vishnu. Vishnu cut his throat with his Chakrayuda. Since the touch of nectar the head became immortal. From that day, Rahu developed enemity with sun and moon. 9. The battle between devatas and danavas: Because of the sorcery of Vishnu, danavas could not get the nectar. With vengeance on devatas, they went to their king Bali Chakravarthi and reported to him the injustice meted to them and provoked him for a fight. King Bali took a large army of chariots, horses, elephants and infantry and invaded heaven. Devatas could not withstand the strength of danavas. Lord Vishnu came to their rescue, cut all the heads of danavas with his Chakrayuda. In this manner, a great battle was fought on the shores of the seas. Indra took possession of the nectar and kept under safe custody. 10. The challenge between Kadruva and Vinatha. While churning Ksheerasagara the great horse by name Uchaisravamu came out and was roaming freely on the banks of Ksheerasagara. At that time Kadruva and Vinatha came to the shores of Ksheerasagara for a brief
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walk. While they were wandering on the shore, they saw the divine horse. Kadruva said to Vinatha, Oh Sister! Look at that white horse! How beautiful it is! What a pity in spite of its beauty the black spot at the end of its tail, looks like a spot on the moon. On hearing Kadruvas words, Vinatha said with a smile, Are you awake or sleeping? The entire horse including its tail is looking like the foam of milk. How are you seeing a black spot on its tail? Kadruva was furious and felt insulted and said, The tail of the horse is certainly black. You look with hundred eyes. Let us make a challenge on this. If the tail of the horse is black, you have to become my slave. Suppose if the tail of the horse is spotless and white, I will be your slave. Do you stand by this? Vinatha and Kadruva agreed and were about to go nearer to it to confirm their doubt. At that time Kadruva said, Oh sister! Now it is the time for our husband to come out of his meditation and we have the duty to serve him. Let us come tomorrow morning to clarify. So they went home and served their husband. Kadruva became nervous because the tail of the horse was actually white and spotless. She grieved to become a slave to her co-wife. However she didnt want to lose the game. She called all her children(snakes) and said, My sons! Knowingly or unknowingly, I made a challenge with my co-wife. In fact, the tail of the horse was as pure as milky white. With arrogance, I said there was a black spot on its tail. If the tail is white I may have to become slave to my co-wife. I dont like to be her slave. On the contrary, I want her to be my slave. You should help me to bail me out of this problem. On hearing Kadruvas words, all the serpents shouted in one voice, It is immoral and unethical. Just because mother asked for help, should we resort for an adharma. You have once again proved that all the women are ignorant and flatly refused to help her. Kadruva was furious and her eyes became red with anger and said, Since you disobeyed my order, you will burn to ashes in the Sarpa yaga to be performed by Janamejaya. Karkotaka, one of the snake-sons, shivered with fear and said to his mother, I will go and hang in the tail of the horse invisibly. Next morning both Kadruva and Vinatha went to see the horse Uchaisrava. By the time they went there, Karkotaka was hanging invisibly in the tail of that horse. By looking from a distance, it appeared like a black spot. In that manner Vinatha lost her challenge and became the slave to Kadruva. From that day onwards, Vinatha was doing all the work entrusted by Kadruva. One day the second egg hatched and a full fledged bird came out. It was Garutmantha.
11. The birth of Garutmantha Garutmantha came out of his shell and shook of his wings. All the mountains shivered. Looking at such a powerful son, Vinathas heart was filled with joy, whereas her co-wife Kadruva was burnt with jealousy. Garutmantha flew into the sky. He went around all over the sky and came down to his mother Vinatha and prostrated at her feet. Looking at him, Kadruvas heart burnt and said Oh Garutmantha! Instead of wandering without any purpose, you better take all my children on your back and show them all the wonders in the world such as the mountains, lakes and gardens. Garutmantha took all his co-brothers, went round and showed them all the wonders of the world. One day, he took them to the abode of Sun god. There the serpents fainted due to the excess heat of the Sun and fell on the ground. Looking at her children, Kadruva abused Garutmantha, holding him responsible for the sickness of her children. She prayed Indra, Oh Indra! all Suras, asuras, siddhas, Kimpurushas, Nagas and many others who wander in the sky are living at your mercy and because of the fear of your Vajra all the three worlds are surviving. Oh Indra! protect my children. As requested by Kadruva, Indra showered pity on her and gave relief to all the fainted serpents. One day Garutmantha saw his step mother ill-treating his mother. He could not bear her agony and said, Oh mother! I can goad all the mountains in to powder, with the velocity of my wings I can reach far of places in no time. I am such a strong and valorous. Why I am to stoop to do all these menial jobs? Vinatha said, My son! Long back I made a challenge with my co-wife. But I lost. Added to that your elder brother, Anurvudu, had cursed me to become a slave to my co-wife. Since that day, I was silently suffering all these insults. Now you have come out, you are also made a victim being my son. My son! The children are born to relieve the hardships of their parents. In the same way, why dont you try to have deliverance for me from this slavery? On hearing the word from his mother Garutmantha went to the serpents and said, My dear brothers! You are all elder to me, you have a better wisdom. Please tell me a way out for my mother to be relieved from her slavery. By hearing Garutmanthas words, all the serpents had deliberations among themselves and finally said to Garutmantha that if he could secure nectar for them,his mother would be relieved from her bondage.
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12. Garutmantha secures nectar: Garutmantha said Oh brothers! I will secure nectar as desired by you. But you should free my mother from her bondage. He went to his mother and Vinatha took her blessings. He started to the heaven to secure nectar. Before he made a start, he requested his mother for some food so as to gain strength to reach heaven. Vinatha said, My son! You go to the sea, there are some cruel people belonging to Nishada community. They were all killing the people and harassing without any provocation. So you go there eat them all. Thereby you not only satisfy your hunger but also you can protect the weak limbs. But there are some brahmins among the Nishadas. But dont eat them. Even though you might gulp them, such person would get dropped to the ground. By that you will come know him as a brahmin. Why I am cautioning you is, if such a brahmin is furious on you, he will turn out to be as a poison on you. On the other hand, if you serve him, he would become your guru and deliver what all you want, even without asking. He might even bless you. Garutmantha heard this advice carefully and went to the sea and ate all the Nishadas. But he had left all those persons who dropped out from his mouth. Of all the Brahmins, one person neither he went inside nor he came out like other brahmins. Thereby his entire throat started burning. Then Garutmantha shouted, If there is any brahmin in my throat or stomach, let him come out. Then the brahmin who was in his throat, came out and said, Oh Garutmantha! I am a brahmin but my wife is impure and belongs to Nishada communality. So how could I come out without her? Garutmantha said, Oh Brahmin! An impure person also would become pure by the association with a pure person. So you come out with your Nishada wife. On hearing Garutmanthas words, the brahmin came out with his Nishada wife and blessed Garutmantha and went on his way. After satisfying his hunger Garutmantha flew in to the sky. On the way he went to his father Kasyapa maharishi and said, Oh father! I am going to heaven to secure nectar and with that I want to relieve my mother from her bondage. I seek your blessings. As advised by my mother, I have eaten all the Nishadas, but my hunger is not satisfied. Hence you suggest me some more food. Kasyapa maharishi was happy to hear the words of his son and was pleased to know his devotion towards his mother and his resolve to redeem her from the bondage.
13. The episode of an elephant and a tortoise: Long back there lived a brahmin by name Vibhaavasudu. He was very prosperous and comfortable. One day his brother Supreethaka approached him to ask his legitimate share of his ancestral properties. On hearing his brothers demand Vibhaavasudu became furious and was humiliated as if he was challenging his authority. He cursed his brother to become an elephant. Supreethaka was annoyed with his elder brothers attitude and in retaliation, cursed him to become a tortoise. As they cursed each other Vibhaavasudu became a huge tortoise . Supreethaka became a huge elephant. They remembered the enemity of their previous birth. As such whenever the elephant comes to drink water from the lake, Supreethaka who was in the form of a tortoise used to fight his brother. So you go to that lake and catch them while they are together. Garutmantha caught hold of both the elephant and the tortoise and kept them in between his legs and went in search of a tree so as to eat them peacefully. At last he found a mountain by name Alambam. On that mountain, he saw a huge tree and its huge branches. Garutmantha thought one of the branches of the tree was suitable for him to eat his preys. The moment Garutmantha landed on one of its branches, the branch broke from the tree due to heavy weight. Several Valikhiya tapasvis were hanging and doing penance there. All those munis consumed sunlight as their food. They hung on the branches upside down and did tapasya. On seeing them, Garutmantha was worried that he was disturbing their tapasya. Before the branch landed on the ground, he flew fast and caught hold of the branch with his beak and went to his father Kasyapa to seek his advice. Kasyapa advised all the tapasvis to leave that branch and go to some other place to continue their tapasya. Valikhiya munis were satisfied with the request of Kasyapa and went to Himalayas to continue their tapasya . After the munis left, Garutmantha dropped that branch on the hill top of Nishpurusha which was few amadas away from Mt.Gandhamadana. On that hill top, he ate the elephant and tortoise, picked up strength and went to heaven. 14. The episode of Valikhiya maharishis: While Garutmantha landed on heaven, all devatas noticed some bad omens. On seeing the bad omens, Indra asked his guru, Bruhaspathi the reason for these bad omens. Bruhaspathi: Oh Indra! Garutmantha has landed on the heaven. he was the son of the great Kasyapa. He had the blessings of great Valikhiya
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maharishis. By all this he became the king of birds. His splendour, strength and valour were incomparable. So you cant defeat Garutmantha. Now I will tell you the greatness of Garutmantha. Kasyapa performed a Putrakamana yaga. For that yaga, you also went with other devatas and helped him to make yaga a success. The size of all those Valikhiya maharishis were like that of a thumb. They used to bring dharba grass which itself was a heavy weight for them. Since they were all of thumb size and were struggling to bring the heavy weight of dharba grass, people laughed at them. The cool headed maharishis, in spite of their humiliation, blessed Kasyapa that one of his sons would be hundred times stronger than Indra and that he also would possess all the wealth including Anima and other siddhis. Such a person who comes out of this yaga would become a second Indra. On hearing the words of Valikhiyas, Indra became nervous and went to Kasyapa. Kasyapa took him to Valikhiyas and pleaded with them. Kasyapa: Oh Valikhiya munis! Brahma has appointed Indra to protect all the living beings. He is performing his duties most competently. If you create a second Indra, it will upset the arrangements made by Brahma. However your word cant become untrue, hence you divert your curse by saying that the boy who was going to take birth with this yaga would become the Indra for the birds race. Bruhaspathi: The Valikhiyas modified their curse and said he would become an Indra for the birds race. Hence Garutmantha was born with the blessings of Valikhiyas and he cant be beaten. That Garutmantha has now landed on heaven to take away nectar, so as to remove the bondage of his mother. On hearing Bruhaspathis words, Indra made strict security arrangements around the place where nectar was stored. With the velocity of the wings of Garutmantha, all the security people flew in to the air like a piece of cotton. Garutmantha reached the place where nectar was stored. 15. The fight between the security guards and Garutmantha: The moment the security guards saw Garutmantha they rained various astras on him, due to which Garutmantha was wounded. He shook his wings and created a big dust storm. It covered the sky and security people could not see where Garutmantha was. Indra went to the rescue of his people and
showered a heavy rain so that the dust could subside and provide visibility to his security. As soon as the visibility was improved devatas surrounded Garutmantha and wounded him again. Garutmantha threw them with the velocity of his wings and pierced with his nose and drove them all to far off places and entered the place where nectar was stored. There huge flames were guarding the pot of nectar. Garutmantha went to the rivers and swallowed all the river water , came back and poured on the flames and caught hold of the pot of nectar and started running towards the earth. On his way, Lord Vishnu said, Oh Garutmantha! I am pleased with your courage and dedication for the cause of your mother. I wish to offer you a boon, you may ask. 16: Lord Vishnu blesses Garutmantha: Garutmantha: Oh deva! You bless me with youth and immortality, even without consuming nectar. Lord Vishnu: Oh Garutmantha! You be my vehicle and appear on the flag as my symbol. After Lord Vishnu disappeared, Indra came and attacked with Vajra. Garutmantha saw Vajra coming against him and said: Garutmantha: Oh Vajramaa! However powerful you might be, you cant harass me. You are made of with the back bone of Dadheechi maharishi. However I shall drop one of my feathers as a matter of respect for the maharishi. Oh Vajramaa! Since I have respected Maharishi with my feather, you go back without touching me. On hearing the words of Garutmantha, the divine communities praised the bravery and courage of Garutmantha. At last, Indra also appreciated his devotion and said: Indra: Oh Garutmantha! I bless you with immortality and you would be free from old age and disease. Hence what is the purpose of taking nectar from heaven? Give it back to me and be contended with the boons I have given. Garutmantha: Oh Indra! My mother Vinatha became a slave to her co-wife. My brothers promised me that they would release my mother from her bondage, provided I secured them the nectar. Hence I will have to give this nectar to them, thereby my mother would be free from her bondage. After she is made free, I shall return the nectar.
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Indra: Oh Garutmantha! I have seen your strength and valour. However I want to hear something more about you. Please tell me. Garutmantha: Oh Indra! To praise ones self is as big sin as that of ignoring others valour. However since you have asked , I will let you now about myself. You please listen. I can hold all the movables and immovables on my back. With the velocity of my wings, I can throw out of all the gems and pearls from the bottom of the sea. I can go round all the three worlds in a fraction of a second. Indra: Oh Garutmantha! As you are taking something from me, the nectar, in return you be my friend for ever. Garutmantha: Oh Indra! My brothers who are the children of Kadruva, have done a great humiliation to my mother. So make all serpents to be my food. I can swallow them myself but all the serpents on earth are under your protection. So I seek your permission. Garutmantha carried with him the pot of nectar, went to his brothers and said: Garutmantha: My dear brothers! Indra is protecting this nectar with thousand eyes. In spite of that, I secured it for you. What I am telling is true. Now you release my mother from her bondage. It is your responsibility to protect nectar from now onwards. You have a sacred bath before you touch the pot of nectar. Garutmantha released his mother from her bondage and walked out. All the serpents went for a sacred bath to consume nectar. In the meanwhile, Indra captured the pot of nectar and returned to the heaven. Serpents came back and found that the pot of nectar was missing. Since they had kept the nectar on Dharba grass, they had a hope that there might be some spillage on dharbas. With a hope of getting even a touch of nectar, they licked the dharba grass. Since nectar was not spilled on dharba grass, and since they had licked with their tongue, with the sharpness of the dharba grass, the tongues of all the snakes were split in to two. In this manner serpents have not only lost the possession of nectar but also split tip of their tongue in two. The Aadishesu hated his mother and brothers for their unethical behaviour towards their step mother. In a fit of anger he left all of them and went to Badhirivanam, Ghokarnam, Pushkarni, Himachalam and many other places. After serving all presiding deities, he went to Mt.Gandhamadana and started tapasya on Brahma for several years. Brahma appeared before him and offered a boon.
17: Aadishesu holds earth on his head. Aadishesu: Oh Deva Deva! My mother and brothers left the path of dharma and did harm to my step mother and my cousin Garutmantha. I cant coexist with them. I want to end up my life by doing tapasya. Brahma: Oh Sheshu! You are the most virtuous among the serpents. Your liking for dharma is unparallelled. You have the power to hold any amount of weight on you, so you are the right person to hold the weight of the earth. The Garutmantha had the grace of Kasyapa and Valikhiya maharishis. Thereby he became the most valorous and even defeated Indra and being praised by all devatas. Hence you make friendship with him. That will help you in a big way. Aadishesu became a friend of Garutmantha. All the veterans serpents like Vasuki and others were greatly worried about the curse made by their mother Kadruva. He assembled all his brothers and said. Vasuki: My dear brothers! Our brother Seshu pleased Brahma and was assigned to hold the earth on his head. He had been freed from the curse of our mother. As far I am concerned I was chosen as a churning rope for securing nectar. Therefore I became immortal. So the curse of our mother will have no impact on me. However I am worried about the damage that may happen to our race sooner or later. Oh hearing the words of Vasuki, some arrogant serpents said: Other serpents: Oh brothers! King Janamejaya is a virtuous king. We take the help of brahmins and make a representation to the king not to perform sarpa yaga. If our pleas are not conceded, we all go and crawl on the eatables. On looking at our presence all guests and visitors will run away and thereby the Sarpa yaga will be shelved. Some other serpents: Oh Brothers! your dream will never come true. All the materials on the yagnavatika were purified with vedic mantras. As such impure creatures like us cant go anywhere near the yagnavatika. So you stop all this wicked thinking. Elaputrudu: (younger brother of Vasuki) Oh brothers! I will tell you a secret. When our mother cursed, I was very young and was lying on the lap of our mother. However I did not sleep. I only pretended as if I was sleeping. At that time I heard the conversation of devatas with Brahma. Those words I still remember and I will let you know and please listen.
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Devatas: Oh Brahma! Kadruva has cursed her own children who were the most venomous and vigorous in all the worlds. How hard hearted is that woman. Is there any remedy for the curse of this cruel mother? Brahma: Oh devatas! All the serpents are cruel in nature. They always do harm to the people. Since earth is being overburdened with serpents, I did not interfere and kept quiet. However the Vasukis sister will marry a maharishi by name Jaratkaruvu. They will have a son by name Asteekudu. He will become a great tapasvi. He will go to Janamejaya and plead to him to stop sarpa yaga. Thereby the remaining serpents will survive. On hearing the words of Elaputrudu, all became happy and praised the young serpent. They awaited Jagatkaruvus arrival for his marriage. Jagatkaruvu, who was born in the family of Mayavura, completed his Brahmacharya and was ready for marriage. While he was wandering in the forest, he saw certain tapasvis who were taking sunrays alone as their diet. Jagatkaruvu looked at them and said: Jagatkaruvu: maharishis! You are all hanging upside down and perform severe tapasya. What is it you are aspiring from this tapasya? Maharishis: We are all unfortunate people. As we have no sons, nobody is there on earth to give tarpanas to us. As such we are deprived of superior lokas. Hence we are hanging upside down. Actually it is not tapasya. One of our ancestral parents took pity on us and told that one day a tapasvi would be born in our family by name Jagatkaruvu and that after he gets married and has sons, we would go to superior lokas. Till such time, we have to pray for jagatkaruvu to marry and have children. Jagatkaruvu: Oh my Ancestral parents! You are all most worshipful for me because I am Jagatkaruvu . Till now I did not have the inclination to get married. Since I have seen your plight, I have decided to marry. On hearing the words of Jagatkaruvu, all his ancestral parents felt very happy and blessed him. Ancestral parents: Oh jagakaruvu! We all performed several yagnas and made tapasya. Since we did not have sons, we are denied the superior lokas. We are hoping on you. 18: The marriage of Jagatkaruvu. Jagatkaruvu: Oh ancestral parents! Now I will search for a suitable girl for me. As soon as I secure a girl with an identical name of mine, I will marry her.
Vasuki was also searching for a suitable bride groom for his sister, Jagatkari. In the meanwhile he came to know from his subordinates that a great tapasvi by name Jagatkaruvu had agreed to marry for the benefit of his ancestral parents. Then Vasuki went to Jagatkaruvu with his sister, Jagatkari and said: Vasuki: Oh Jagatkaruvu! You are the most virtuous person knowing all sastras and dharmas. To benefit your ancestral parents and our ancestral parents you marry my sister. Her name is Jagatkari. Jagatkaruvu: Oh Vasuki! I am very much pleased to note that your sisters name also resembles my name. I am seriously searching for such a girl. Hence I am pleased to marry your sister. However he said to Jagatkari, Oh Jagatgari I agree to marry you and live with you. I leave you the moment you insult me. If you agree to this, our marriage will get through. Jagatkari agreed with his principle and married him. She was living with him as a chaste wife. After some time, she became pregnant. While the child was in the stomach of Jagatkari, his brilliance was exposed in her body. One day Jagatkaruvu was keeping his head on her lap and sleeping. In the meanwhile it was about to get sunset. She was afraid to wake him up. If she didnt wake him up, the time for worshipping the fire god will become obsolete. She thought that her husband should not deviate from the path of dharma and decided to wake him up. The moment he woke up, he was furious at his wife. Jagatkari: Oh sinless tapasvi! The sun is setting in a short while. If you still sleep, damage may happen for your daily rituals. Hence I dared to wake you up. Jagatkaruvu: Oh Jagatkari! How the sun will get set while I am sleeping? You woke me up while I was sleeping, which I consider as an insult. So I am leaving from this house immediately. The child whom you are bearing is more splendorous than the sun and Agni. Because of him, both our families will become pure. You dont worry about me. You go to your brother and live happily. I am going to forests to continue my tapasya. After some time, Jagatkari delivered a boy. He was named as Asteekudu. The boy was admitted in to the gurukulam of Pramathi, a great tapasvi and son of Chavana maharishi. He learnt Vedas, Vedangas and all sastras from Pramathi and performed a great tapasya.
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King Janamejaya assembled all his ministers and said, Oh ministers! Udanka maharishi has come and informed me that my father died with the poison of Takshaka. Will you please tell me why that had happened. 19. The reasons for the death of King Pareekshittu Minister: Oh king! Your father King Pareekshittu was the son of Abhimanyu and Uttara, the daughter of King Virata. He ruled this country and took all precautions that people would follow dharma, ardha, kama and moksha. Abhaminyu was dead in the battle of Kurukshetra. At that time you were still in the stomach of your mother. Aswadama aimed Brahmastra on your mother to kill you. Lord Krishna averted that Brahmastra with his chakra, saved your father and Kuru dynasty and he was named as Pareekshittu. Oh Janamejaya! Your father Pareekshittu was also very fond of hunting as his grand father Panduraju. One day while hunting, he chased a deer for a long distance. As he was thirsty, he went to a nearby muni ashrama. At that time, Semeeka maharishi was in a state of Samadhi. Your father was not aware of the state of the maharishis samadhi and asked him for water. Maharishi did not reply your father as he was in Samadhi. Your father misunderstood his silence as arrogance and picked up a dead snake with his bow and kept around the neck of maharishi and went away. After some time Srungi, son of Semeeka maharishi came to ashrama, saw a dead snake around the neck of his father. He was furious for the insult meted to his father and took water in to his hands and cursed. We are living in the forest having control on our sense organs and performing tapasya. We take very little food to keep up our body. While my father was in the state of Samadhi, this King Pareekshittu put the dead snake around his neck and went away. On the seventh day he will die with a snake bite of Takshaka. In the meanwhile, Semeeka maharishi came out of his Samadhi and understood what had happened. He was unhappy with his son and said: Semeeka Maharishi: My son! Are you not aware anger is our first enemy? Anger will destroy all eight siddhis. It will destroy all our tapasya. A tapasvi without patience and a king without dharma, will not retain any thing as no water remains in a leaky pot. You must remember that all our muni communities are making great tapasya, because of the patronage given by the king. You have committed a sin by cursing a noble king like Pareekshittu. I am more hurt by your curse than the insult committed by our
king on me. Srungi: Oh father! Now I have realized that I cursed the king in haste. As my words cant go untrue, Takshaka must have started to complete his job. On hearing the repenting words of Srungi, Semeeka maharishi called one of his disciples and asked him to go to the king Pareekshittu and inform him about the damage he is going to face from Takshaka. The disciple went to king Parikshittu and said: Disciple: Oh king! I am the disciple of Semeeka maharishi. You put a dead snake around his neck and left our ashrama. Srungi, the son of my guru was annoyed at your action and cursed you that you will die on the seventh day with the poison of Takshaka. My guru was grieved very much for the hasty action of his son. However he asked me to convey this information to you, so that you could be on your guard. King Pareekshittu was grieved for his sinful act towards the maharishi and appreciated the great restraint of maharishi. Immediately he summoned all his ministers and built a building which would stand on a single pillar and he entered it. He also summoned the great snake charmers and the doctors who can protect him with anti-venom medicines and mantras. By the time Takshaka had already started and was devising a plan to bite the king. 20. Takshaka averts Kasyapa who knows antivenom mantras Brahma was worried with the untimely deaths on earth due to snake bites. To avert this, he called a brahmin by name Kasyapa and initiated a mantra to him and its application. He instructed him to go and save as many people as possible from the snake bites. Kasyapa came to understand that the righteous king Pareekshittu was about to die with the bite of Takshaka. He wanted to meet King Pareekshittu and avert his untimely death with the help of mantra. By this he might get not only enormous wealth but also glory. Hence Kasyapa made a journey towards Hastinapura. Takshaka smelt the mind of Kasyapa. Takshaka transformed as an old brahmin and met Kasyapa on his way and said: Takshaka: Oh superior brahmin! How far you are going? On what business are you going? Kasyapa: Today Takshaka the king of serpents is going to kill our king Pareekshittu. The king Pareekshittu is a righteous person. I want to save the
Aadiparvamu 25
king and avert his death with the help of a mantra. For that reason I am going to Hastinapura . Takshaka laughed at the brahmin and said, Oh sinless brahmin! I am Takshaka . One may avert his death with the blow of even Vajra but not from the bite of mine. No body can escape from death from my venom. All the mantras and mystics will not work with my venom. Why you take so much trouble? You go back to your place. If you want to really show the power of your mantra, I will bite this tree. This entire tree will dry up in front of you. If you want to test your mantra, you bring it back to life. If you succeed, you can also bring back Pareekshittu to life. Oh brahmin! Brahma has decided that this king is to die with my venom. Hence neither my poison is not killing him nor youre your mantra is going to save him. Know it well that it is the desire of the Brahma. Can you or I avert his will? So we are all instruments in the hands of the god. However if you want wealth, I myself will give you. You may go back to your place On hearing Takshakas words, Kasyapa thought that he could not stop the death of the king and took the precious stones offered by Takshaka and returned to his village. Oh Janamejaya! You may ask me how I know all these things. One day a brahmin from Hastinapura went to the forest to pick some fruits from a tree. At that time Takshaka bit the tree. The entire tree was burnt along with the brahmin. However Kasyapa was there at that time and he recited an antivenom mantra. With that mantra, the entire tree came back to life and also the Brahmin got life. That brahmin came to Hastinapura and said his experience to his people. 21. The death of King Parikshittu Takshaka made the brahmin to go back to his village and called his subordinate serpents and instructed them Takshaka: My children! you all took the forms of brahmins, you carry basket full of fruits and flowers to gift to the King. I will also come with you in an invisible form. All serpents in the form of Brahmins, procured fruits and flowers to donate to the king. They all knew that king Pareekshittu was fond of Rigveda and Yajurveda So they started reciting the Vedas and carried the fruits and flowers with them to the king. The king said to his ministers:
King Pareekshittu: Oh ministers! This is the seventh day after the curse given by Srungi maharishi. In a short time, the sun is going to set. After that the curse of Srungi also will come to an end. On this happy occasion, you all share these fruits and enjoy. By saying that, the king also took one fruit in his hand and opened it. He found a black insect in the fruit. While looking at that, it turned in to a huge serpent and bit the king and ran away from that place. The poison of Takshaka burnt Pareekshittu and building. In that manner, your father died. 22. Janamejaya performs Sarpayaga Ministers: Oh king Janamejaya! You have taken up the responsibility of ruling the country at a very early age. You performed several yagnas . All the people are praising you as a virtuous king. Because Srungi asked Takshaka to kill your father without looking into his background, he came and killed him. You perform Sarpa yaga and punish all the serpents. Ever since Udanka provoked King Janamejaya, he was mentally prepared that Takshaka had done an irreparable damage to his father. Hence he made all arrangements to perform this Sarpa yaga and entered the yagasala with his wife Vapustama. One of the brahmins who attended the yaga, was a pundit in Vastu and he said to the king, Oh king! As per the Vastu this yaga will not be completed and it will be stopped in the middle. However the king decided to proceed with the yaga. As the yaga was in progress, thousands of serpents came running and fell in the Agnigundam. At that time Takshaka the king of serpents was afraid of his own life, and he ran to Indra for protection. In the meanwhile, Vasuki had requested his sister Jagatkari to ask her son Astikudu to go to Janamejaya and persuade him to stop the Sarpa yaga. Astika agreed to go to Janamejaya and said: 23. Astika approaches King Janamejaya Astika: Oh king Janamejaya! You hail from Chandra vamsa. You are a Rajarishi. You are as virtuous as your ancestors. The oblations that you are offering to the fire god are all turning towards right, this is a good omen. You listen to my prayer. I hail form the serpents family through my mother. All
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the serpents are vanishing from this world because of your yaga. I request you to protect the serpents race in the world. All the people present at the yaga seconded the request of Astika. On hearing the public request, King Janamejaya stopped the sarpa yaga at once. At that time Takshaka was hanging in the sky and was about to fall in Yagna gundam. Looking at Takshaka, Astika said Oh Takshaka! The sarpa yaga had been stopped by the king. You go back. The mantras are no more binding on you.
CHAPTER 3
24. Vaisampayana tells the story of Mahabaratha. Janamejaya had suspended the sarpayaga in the middle and paid valuable gifts to brahmins and kept them happy. One day Veda Vyasa went to Janamejayas palace with his disciples. Janamejaya received Vyasa maharishi and worshipped him. Janamejaya: Oh Vyasa Baghavan! You yourself and Bhishma and other elders have partitioned the kingdom and distributed equally to Kouravas and Pandavas. Instead of enjoying their share of kingdoms, why such a battle of Kurukshetra took place. Have you tried to avert the battle? Visravasu: Oh Sownaka! At that time Vyasa maharishi did not reply but he looked at his disciple Vaisampayana to narrate the story to the king and went away. 25. The glory of Mahabaratha: Vaisampayana: Oh Janamejaya! Those who seek dharma, ardha, kama and moksha will gain by listening at the story of Mahabaratha. It will also wash away all the sins accumulated by mind, by speech and by action over several births. Now I will tell you briefly the reason for the rivalry between Pandavas and Kouravast. After the death of Panduraju, his sons, Pandavas were brought up by Dhrutarashtra. They learnt archery and other martial arts. Kouravas felt jealous of Pandavas for their superior qualities and their supremacy in archery. Duryodhana used to take the lead in all that evil acts done against Pandavas. Sakuni, Karna, and Dushsasana always provoked and encouraged Duryodhana in doing such cruel acts against Pandavas. However Pandavas
used to bear all the hardships with extreme patience. One day when Bheema was sleeping on the banks of Ganges after his swimming, Duryodhana and others fastened him with ropes and threw him in the Ganges. However Bheema was able to escape from the waters. On another occasion while Bheema was fast asleep, he was bitten by a black cobra, sent by Duryodhana. But the venom did not enter his body because his skin was so hard. On another day, they mixed poison in his food and offered to Bheema. But that poison also got digested by him. Duryodhana and others wanted to eliminate the Pandavas. So they made a house of wax and to cause fire accident. However Vidhura came to know the wicked plans of Duryodhana and made a tunnel which ended up in the forest. Kunthi and her sons escaped from the house of wax through the tunnel dug bu Vidhura. It landed them in a forest. There Bheema killed a demon by name Hidumbasura and married his sister Hidumbi. From there they reached Ekachakrapura and took shelter in the house of a brahmin. Bheema killed a demon, Bakhasura who was harassing the people. From there, they entered the kingdom of Drupada in the form of brahmins. They participated in a Swayamwara announced for Draupadi. There Arjuna hit Maschya yentra and won Draupadi in that Swayamwara. The kings who came to win Draupadi were furious at those brahmins and fought them. Pandavas defeated all the kings and went home with Draupadi. Kunthi and Vyasa maharishi advised all the Pandavas to marry Draupadi. After that they lived happily in the palace of Drupada for a year. Dhrutarashtra came to know and arranged an amicable settlement by partitioning the country and called them back to his kingdom, gave them half his kingdom and asked them to live in the city of Indraprasta. Pandavas ruled from Indraprasta for some time. During this period Arjuna went to Dwaraka and married Subadra, the sister of Balarama and Krishna. In due course Arjuna had a son through her by name Abhimanyu. While he was at Dwaraka, Arjuna was gifted by Agni, a divine chariot, horses, a bow by name Gandibam, a conch by name Devadatam and a perpetual quiver. With this, Arjuna defeated Indra and allowed Agni to destroy Khandava vana to ashes. After that, they summoned Mayu a danavas architect to build a durbar hall which was known as Mayasabha. Bheema killed Jarasandha and facilitated Dharmaraja to perform Rajasuya yaga. Duryodhana and his evil friends came to know all these valorous
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deeds of Pandavas and became jealous. They invited Pandavas for a gambling contest and defeated them with the help of Sakuni. As per the terms of contest, Pandavas were to live for twelve years in the forests and for one year in Agnatha vasam. During this period, Arjuna did penance, meditated on Siva and secured Pasupatastra. Pandavas completed all the thirteen years and asked for their kingdom back. But Duryodhana did not agree to give back their kingdom. Therefore the battle of Kurukshetra had became inevitable. The history that reveals about the Kouravas and Pandavas who hailed from the King Barathas family line is popularly known as Baratham. 26: The episode of King Vasuvu Vaisampayana: (continues) Before we learn the story of Vasuvu, let us know the birth of Veda Vyasa. You all listen. Long ago the king Vasuvu used to rule the kingdom of Chedi. He ruled his country in a righteous manner. He wanted to do penance for the rest of his life. But Indra came to him and said, Oh Vasuvu! You have ruled the country in the most righteous way. The country needs your rule for some more time. In gratitude to Indra, he arranged to celebrate a festival for Indra. Indra was pleased with his devotion and blessed him with five sons. Vasuvu (Uparicharudu) gave the kingdom to all his children and became a Rajarishi. One day, he went to the river Suktimati. There he saw Mt.Kolahala, fell in love with river Suktimati and abstructed her way. Looking at this Uparicharudu (Vasuvu) pushed the Mt.Kolahala with his little finger of his foot and released Suktimati. In gratitude, Suktimati gifted her son Pavanudu and Daughter Girika to Uparicharudu. He made pavanudu as his commander in chief. And married Girika and made her as his principal queen. After some time, Girika became matured. When Girika matured, her ancestral parents instructed him to offer deer meat to her(Girika) the King (Uparicharudu) went to the forest to fetch deer meet for his wife. While he was in the forest hunting for deer meat, he remembered the prettiness of his wife and his seminal fluid fell down. He preserved that in a cup made from a leaf and sent the same through a hawk to Girika. While the hawk was traveling in the sky, another hawk attacked and they fought each other. In the meanwhile that cup fell into a river. In that river an apsaras by name Adrika was living as a fish by the curse of Brahma. That Adrika in the form of fish consumed the sperm of the king and
became pregnant. When the fishermen spread their nets, Adrika also was one among who fell in their trap. When the fishermen cut the fish (Adrika) they found two kids, a male and a female. The fishermen took both the kids and gave them to the king. 27. The episode of Matsyagandhi : Brahma, while giving the deliverance to his curse, said to Adrika that she would get back to her original abode whenever she gives birth to humans. As such she returned to her abode. The boy was named as Matsyarajanna and became King of Matsya kingdom. The female baby who was brought up by Dasaraju was named as Matsyagandhi. She used to go with her father to ferry the raft on river Yamuna. One day she was waiting for the passengers to come, Parasara maharishi saw her and fell in love. With his divine knowledge, he understood her background fully. Maharishi was fascinated with her fishlike eyes. Though he won the senses, but on that moment he lost his control. He expressed his desires before her and waited anxiously for her reply. Matsyagandhi was afraid that the maharishi may curse her, if she refused and said, Oh pious maharishi! I am a fisher woman. All my body smells like fish. If I lose my virginity, my father will not allow me to step into the house. Hence, Oh maharishi! Keep up my purity. Maharishi was happy to hear the words of Matsyagandhi and blessed her that she would not lose her virginity. He explained her background of her birth and said she was the daughter of a Rajarishi and not a fisher woman. He blessed her to spread fragrance to a distance of one yojana from her body. From then onwards she was popularly known as Yojanagandhi. She also had another name as Sathyavati. At that time, maharishi blessed her with silk garments and gold jewels. Sathyavati was feeling shy to mate with him in public. Maharishi understood her mind and drove the boat to an island in river Yamuna. With his power of tapasya he made the entire island covered with fog. 28. The birth of Vyasa Vyasa maharishi was born to Parasara Maharishi and Sathyavati in an island of river Yamuna. He was as brilliant as sun, and he acquired full knowledge of Vedas; he was virtuous. Because he was born on an island on river Yamuna and as he was black complexioned, he was popularly known as Krishnadypayanadu. After the birth, Vyasa said to his mother, Oh mother! I am going to perform tapasya; you call me whenever you need my assistance and he went to the forest for tapasya. Since he was born as a part of Brahma,
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he divided Vedas into four and he was popularly known as Veda Vyasa. 29. The birth of Bheeshma Parasurama went round the earth on a war expedition and killed all the kshatriyas. Since all those kingdoms did not have any successor, all the widows of those kings requested the superior brahmins, for a successor for their kingdom at their menstrual times. With the blessings of those brahmins again those kshatriya families had successors. Thereby they are protected dharma and saved the people from fear of thieves and adultery. The kshatriyas born in this way became kings and ruled in the path of dharma They performed many yagnas and pleased Indra and obtained his blessings. Thereby they got timely rains and the crops also flourished abundantly. With this again the population increased, the death rate had decreased and the burden on earth was increased. Mother earth was unable to bear this extra load and went to Brahma and Vishnu for protection. Brahma consoled her and said that Vishnu and Indra will take birth in human form and reduce the burden on earth. In addition to that, portions of Daithya, danavas, and Yakshas would take the from of kings and would be born on earth. Of those kings, some of them would act as friends and some as enemies. Those kings who were with the portion of devatas will fight with Pandavas, those kings who were born as a portion of Rakshasas, would fight on Kouravas side. Great heroes like Bheeshma was born and fought in the battle of Kurukshetra only to get killed. 33: The story of King Yayati Janamejaya: Oh Vaisampayana maharishi! Yayati was an emperor who ruled all the lands. How is that he married the daughter of Sukracharya who was a brahmin. How he married Devayani? Vaisampayana : Oh king! Sukracharya was the priest of king Rishaparva, a rakshasa king. In the battle of deva and danavas, many danavas died. Sukracharya knew Mrutasanjivini vidya, with that he made all danavas alive. Thereby devatas could not victory over the danavas. Devatas wanted to gain the knowledge of mrutasanjivini from Sukracharya. They sent Kacha, the son of Bruhaspathi to learn Mruthasanjivini from Sukracharya. They provoked Kacha to make Devayani, the daughter of Sukracharya to fall in love with him. As suggested by devatas Kacha went to Sukracharya and said, Oh maharishi! I am the son of Bruhaspathi.My name is Kacha. I want to become
your disciple. Kindly accept me as your disciple and bless. Sukracharya was pleased with his sweet words and obedient behavior. From then onwards, he served his guru Sukracharya and his daughter Devayani obediently and won their affection. Rakshasas did not like their guru accepting Kacha as his disciple, because he came from the devata stock, who are the enemies of danavas. One day the danavas killed Kacha while he went to forest with the cows of his guru. Since Kacha did not return even after late night, Devayani suspected some foul play by rakshasas and requested her father to go and search for him in the forest. Kacha lives back with the help of Mrutasanjivini On hearing from Devayani, Sukracharya looked for Kacha with his divine knowledge and came to know that he was killed by rakshasas. He ordered the Mrutasanjivini to go to the forest and bring back Kacha with life. Mrutasanjivini did as ordered by Sukracharya. Devayani was happy to see Kacha alive. Kacha also expressed his gratitude to them. On another occasion, rakshasas burnt Kacha into ashes. The ash was mixed in the wine and offered it to their guru Sukracharya. He consumed the wine along with the ashes of Kacha. Since Kacha did not return, Devayani and the guru were worried. He came to know that Kacha was in his stomach. He said to Devayani: Sukracharya: My daughter these rakshasas underestimated me and my sanjivini vidya. With the vengeance on Kacha, they are killing him every now and then. However he will certainly reach the superior lokas. On hearing his fathers words, Devayani grieved for Kacha and said: Devayani: Oh father! Why are you not grieving for the death of Kacha and aspiring superior lokas for him? Unless you bring him back to life, I will not touch food. Sukracharya wanted to keep his daughter happy and decided to bring back Kacha alive. Since I am intoxicated and took wine, this mishap has happened. So I am dictating to all the worlds that from now onwards, no brahmin should consume wine. He had instructed Mruta Sanjivini to make Kacha alive. Sanjivini again acted as per the wishes of Sukracharya. Kacha came to life and remained in the stomach of Sukracharya. From his stomach, Kacha said: Kacha: Oh sinless guru! By your grace I came back to life. Keep mercy
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on me and take me out of your stomach. On hearing Kachas words Sukracharya understood the mistake he had committed. He said If Kacha comes out, my stomach would be torn and so I would die. So I should teach this mruta Sanjivini to Kacha, so that he could come out of my stomach and make me alive with the help of the same Sanjivini. Hence he taught the Sanjivini vidya to Kacha who was living in his stomach. Then he ordered Kacha to come out. By the time Kacha came out from his stomach, Sukracharya was lying dead. Then Kacha ordered Sanjivini to make his guru alive. Thereby Sukracharya also came to life. After some years, Kacha went to his guru and expressed his desire to go back to his parents and requested his permission. On hearing Kachas words, Devayani was grieved and said: Devayani: Oh Kacha! You are a beautiful young brahmin boy, I am also an unmarried girl. The moment I saw you, I fell in love with you. I have resolved that you are to be my husband. Kacha: Oh Devayani! You are my gurus daughter. That means you are like my sister. So you should not entertain such sinful thoughts. Not only that! All disciples of a guru are equal to his sons. This is the path of dharma. So you please erase such sinful thoughts from your mind. Devayani: Oh Kacha! Since you have refused my desire, I will curse you that the Sanjivini vidya will not be useful to you. Kacha: Oh Devayani! Your eyes are closed with lust and chosen the path of adharma. Since I have rejected your love, you have cursed me. So I am also cursing you that no brahmin will marry you. You become a wife of a Kshatriya. By cursing Devayani, Kacha went back to Deva loka. After Kacha left, Devayani went with the kings daughter Sermista and other servant maids for roaming in the nearby forests. There they entered a lake leaving their cloths on the shore. While they were taking bath, by a whirlwind all their cloths were thrown away and mixed up. They all came out of the waters and rushed to have their cloths. In that confusion, Sermista wore the cloths of Devayani. But Devayani refused to wear the cloths of Sermista and said: Devayani: I am the daughter of Sukracharya. I am a brahmin girl, I am superior to you by birth, I dont wear your impure cloths. Since you have already wore my cloths, they also became impure.
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Sermista: (with anger) Oh Devayani! I am the daughter of a king Rishaparva. Your father Sukracharya is a priest in the court of my father. In other words, he and you are the servants of my father. If you dont like to wear my cloths, you go and hide yourself in a pit nearby. By saying so she pushed her in to the pit. 34. King Yayati pulls out Devayani: Yayati , the king of Nahusha, came for hunting to the forests and was wandering for a source of water to quench his thirst. On his way to the lake, he saw a girl lying in a pit in a naked form. He asked her: Yayati: Oh girl! Who are you? Why are you wandering in this forest alone? How you fell in to this pit? Devayani: Oh Yayati! I saw you earlier also when you came for hunting. I am the daughter of Sukracharya. By oversight, I fell into the pit. I am not able to come out on my own. You pull me out and save me. On hearing Devayani words Yayati took the hand of Devayani and carefully pulled her out and went back to his town. Devayanis heart was burning with the insult made by Sermista. She refused to enter the town of Rishaparva. And sent word to her father accordingly. Sukracharya came running to his daughter and said: Sukracharya: my daughter! You leave your anger and pardon Sermista. She is also a young girl. Those who will leave anger alone will be a virtuous person. The person who leaves anger is a superior person than who performs many yagnas with huge gifts. So you leave anger on Sermista and come with me to home. Devayani: Father! I will not enter the city ruled by Rishaparva. I will go and live in some other kingdom. Sukracharya: My daughter! You are my life. I cant live here without you. I will also come with you. Let us live elsewhere. The servants of Rishaparva heard the conversation between Devayani and Sukracharya, went running to the king and said that Sukracharya was leaving their country. 35. Devayani demands Sermista to be her servant King Rishaparva: Gurudeva! My pranams! With the help of your Sanjivini, I am able to overwhelm devatas and expanded my kingdom. I am
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indebted to you. From now on it is not my kingdom, it is yours. You tell me what Devayani wants. It will be done. Devayani: Oh king! I want thousand servant maids, including Sermista. The king Rishaparva happily agreed to give thousand servant maids including Sermista and satisfied Sukracharya. Sermista accepted her fathers order and became a servant of Devayani and started serving her. One day Devayani took Sermista and others to the same vana and had a bath. They saw the king Yayati coming. They worshipped the king with flowers and perfumes. Yayati sat along with them and asked them to whom they belong? 36: The marriage of Devayani and Yayati: Devayani: Oh sinless Yayati! You know me. You have pulled me out of the pit and saved my life. This girl is Sermista, daughter of Rishaparva, the king of this land. She always accompanies me and serves me as a servant. You took my right hand with you right hand and pulled me out of that pit. Sun god is witness to it. How can I forget such a memorable moment? Oh raja! You marry me. Along with me, this Sermista and thousand more servants also will serve you. By marrying me, you will be as comfortable as Indra. Yayati: Oh Devayani! Your desire is against dharma. Brahmins will marry a kshatriya girl but a brahmin girl will not marry a kshatriya man. Being a king, I should protect the varnashrama dharma. Hence I cant agree for inter caste marriage. Devayani: Oh valorous king! My father is Sukracharya. He dictates dharmas to all the worlds. If such a person orders you, will you marry me? Yayati: If Acharya orders me, I will marry you. On hearing Yayatis words, Devayani sent word through one of her servants to bring Sukracharya there. On hearing Devayanis message, Sukracharya came running to that spot. King Yayati saluted with folded hands. Devayani: Oh father! This king has already touched my hand. If that is the case, will anybody marry me? Hence Yayati is my husband for this birth. He is hesitating to accept me as his wife, because I happen to be a brahmin girl. In this matter you should interfere and arrange my marriage with him. Sukracharya: Oh king! You marry Devayani. I will assure you that
you wont have any sin of adharma by marrying a brahmin girl. This is my order. Oh king! This is Sermista. She is the daughter of Rishaparva, the king of rakshasas. You also take her and satisfy her with food, shelter, garments and ointments for her body. You give her everything except mating with her. I am prohibiting you mating with her. Devayani married Yayati and took Sermista and other thousand maids with her. After some time Devayani delivered two sons Yaduvu and Durvasuvudu. After seeing those boys Sermista felt in herself: All my youth is getting wasted and I will die without providing any pleasure to any man. Though I attained full youth, I still remained unmarried. Even to get married with any one, I am imprisoned in this palace. This Devayani must have done many superior vratas. That is why she was able to marry and enjoy her life whereas I am rotting like this. However my mind is filled with king Yayati. He is also very kind and affectionate to me. The way in which Devayani desired the king, I am also desiring him. My mind is fully occupied with his thoughts and I belong to him by speech, action and mind. 37. Yayati blesses Sermista with a son. Sermista was thinking in herself in this a manner. One day, Yayati came alone to have a stroll in the Ashoka vana. There he saw Sermista sitting alone. On seeing the king she stood up with great tension and said to the king with folded hands: Sermista: Oh king! I am the servant of your queen. By that you have a right on her servants also. In that way, I am assuming you as my husband. The dharma is dictating you not to leave your wife, your servant and your son. In other words, you have to take care of all their comforts as a matter of duty. Oh king! The moment you married Devayani, all her servants also became your property. That way I am also your wife. Hence I would request you to oblige me at my menstrual time and bless me with a son. Yayati: Oh beautiful Sermista! Sukracharya has ordered me to provide you with all comforts except mating with you. I abide by his orders and married Devayani. If I disobey his orders I will have the sin of telling a lie. Sermista: Oh king! One can tell a lie when his wife is in danger or when his wealth is being stolen or to save a brahmin who is about to be hanged or in mating with a woman or on the occasion of conducting a marriage.
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On hearing Sermistas words he was satisfied that he would not get the sin of telling a lie and satisfied the desire of Sermista. Thereby Sermista gave birth to a son. By looking at Sermistas son, Devayani questioned Sermista. Devayani : Oh Sermista ! You are an unmarried girl. If you are conducting yourself in the path of dharma, how suddenly you gave birth to a son. Tell me the truth. When Devayani insisted Sermista said: Sermista: A muni who read all Vedas and Vedangas saw me when I was menstured and took pity on me and blessed a son. Devayani believed her words and left the matter at that. Sermista managed to get three sons from Yayati. They were Druhyudu, Anuvu and Poorudu. One day Yayati was spending some time with the children of Sermista. Devayani came to that spot and suspected that all the three sons resembled Yayati. She asked the children whose children they were and to show her their father and mother. Those children showed their fingers towards Yayati as their father and Sermista as their mother. Devayani could not digest the insult made by her husband. She couldnt control her anger. Immediately she went to her father. 38. Sukracharya curses Yayati: Devayani: Oh father! This king has insulted you, me and dharma. He became un-virtuous and married Sermista and gave birth to three children. He had violated the oath given to you at the time of my marriage. By that time Yayati came running to Sukracharyas house to console Devayani and to take her back to his city. However Sukracharya was furious and cursed. Sukracharya: Oh Yayati! You lost control on your sense organs. You became slave to lust. You broke the promise given to me and did injustice to my daughter. So you suffer with old age and related disease from now on. Yayati: Oh superior muni Sukracharya! If a girl at her menstrual times wants children and if a man doesnt concede her request, it amounts to the sin of killing an infant child. This is what elders say. So I didnt bear to commit that sin. That is why I have agreed to the request of chaste Sermista. As a result, she had given birth to three children. For such a reasonable and virtuous act, could a tapasvi like you curse me? Still I am not free from my
lust and desires of sense organs through your daughter Devayani, so I cant have this untimely old age. Please take back your curse and pardon me. Sukracharya: Oh Yayati! My words will never become untrue. Looking at the face of my daughter and her condition, I can be lenient on my word. Hence if any of your sons is prepared to take your old age in exchange of their youth , you can continue to enjoy your youth and rule the kingdom. After satisfying your sense organs, you can take back your old age from your son. So you can ask any of your sons who is prepared to take your old age. Only such a boy will be eligible to continue your dynasty and rule the kingdom. Yayati took leave from the maharishi and went back to his city with Devayani. The moment he entered the city, he became old and started shivering. All his sense organs became weak. The entire body became wrinkled, hair became white and throat was filled with phlegm. 39. Yayati curses his sons: Yayati: Oh my sons! I had this untimely old age; still lust on my sense organs had not subsided. If any one of you can exchange my old age with your youth, I shall return your youth after satisfying my sense organs. His sons: Oh father! The old age and diseases will happen due to the fruits of the previous karmas. So nobody can escape from them. Knowing the consequences fully, will any one take old age and diseases? However beautiful one may be if he becomes old, will any woman accept him? Yayati became furious and called his eldest son and cautioned him that if he didnt oblige him none of his successors would have the right to rule. He called the second son Durvasu and cursed him that all his successors would become kings to the tribals and interracial communities. He called his third son Druhyu and said all his successors would become kings to the small islands surrounded by water on all sides. He called his fourth son Anuvu and cursed that all his successors would suffer untimely death. Pooruvu, the last son of Sermista, had agreed to give his youth to his father and to take back his old age and disease with pleasure. Yayati complemented Pooruvu, gave his old age and diseases and took his youth. After thousand years Yayati satisfyied all his sense organs. He gave back his youth to Pooruvu and made him the king of his kingdom. All the citizens came and said to Yayati.
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Citizens: Oh king Yayati! You know all dharmas. We are not to tell you dharma. However we wish to tell a few words to you. Yudhuvu is your eldest son. He is a good administrator and capable person. All the more, he is the grand son of Sukracharya. While he is alive, how can you give the kingdom to your younger son? Not only that, Pooruvu is born to a woman of rakshasa family which is a prohibited community. Can you justify in making such a son as king. Yayati: My dear citizens! My first son Yadhuvu had insulted me by disobeying my request. In the case of Pooruvu the moment I made an appeal, he had accepted with pleasure and took my old age. In my opinion, he was younger only by age, but by his virtues he was elder to all. Hence he alone was eligible to rule this country. This is my final decision. Not only that Sukracharya also had asked me to give this kingdom only to such a son who accepts my old age and gives his youth. Hence I made Pooruvu as the king of my kingdom. By declaring thus, Yayati went to forest with scholars to perform tapasya. He did penance for thirty years without taking food. One year he consumed only air. He did tapasya sitting in between pancha agnis (sitting in the hot sun and keeping fire all around him.) for one year. For another year, he stood on one leg and did tapasya and reached heaven. In the heaven he was worshipped by all devarishis. From there he went to Brahma loka and he was worshipped by Brahmarishis. He resided there for many kalpas. From Brahma loka he came again to Indra loka. There Indra asked him. Indra: Oh Yayati! While returning the youth to your son Pooruvu, what instructions you gave to him? 40. The morals that were taught to Pooruvu by Yayati. Yayati: Oh Indra! I taught the following instructions to my son. 1. 2. Read the histories of righteous people and digest those dharmas and keep reciting every day lest you forget them. Donate to the needy people in such a manner that he should not go to another person for begging again. Not only that; you should donate to all those needy people that you come across and satisfy them. You should have impartial view on all the beings. When you are asked to address a meeting, it should not only be judicious but also palatable to the audience.
3.
40
4.
You should not make friendship with such people who dont know the art of talking in a pleasing manner and hence you shouldnt employ people who speak harsh words and wound others. Absorb in your service people who are pure, kind and honest, who have control over their sense organs, those who are truthful, those who are clean and who keep away the arishad vargas .
5.
These are the instructions I made to my son at the time of making him the king. By practicing these good qualities, now he is able to rule well. Oh Indra! I am proud of my great tapasya. Even devatas, daityas, Yakshas, rakshasas, humans, communities who wander in the sky and siddhas have not done as much tapasya as I did. That is why I am able to live in heaven for so many years. 41. Indra pushes out Yayati from heaven: Indra: Oh Yayati! You have insulted many elders with the pride of your tapasya. Since you have already enjoyed the pleasures of heaven and pride took place in you. Thereby your religious excellence has been exhausted. In short your pride has become your enemy. So there is no place in heaven for those who possess pride and ego. You go back to earth. Yayati: Oh Indra! I cant go back to earth. At least you consider my stay in the abode of stars. So that I can live in friendly relations with the stars. Then Indra conceded the request of Yayati and made him a star. Yayati entered the Nakshatra loka . There Astakudu , Vratardhanudu and Sumantanudu, worshipped him and asked Who are you? From where are you coming? How you took a place in Nakshatra loka? Yayati told them in detail, about his life. On hearing Yayatis episode, Astaka and other stars realized him as their grandfather. Since he had enjoyed all the lokas, they thought he must have had enormous knowledge. Hence they asked him to enlighten on the following subjects.1. Pindotpatti (the formation growth of a child), 2. Varnashrama dharmas, 3. The real nature of good, bad, Dharma and Adharma. Yayati: There is no superior dharma than impartiality on all beings. All karmas are to be performed as dictated by Vedas. All the acts which are
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considered to be bad and adharma must be avoided. If one performs a prohibited act, he would reach the inferior lokas. The prohibited things on earth are worshipping of agni with pride, the learning of Veda with arrogance and performing yagna without proper knowledge. Astaka: Oh King Yayati! You know all dharmas. You know the art of living in heaven. Can we have superior lokas? Yayati affirmed them that they were all destined to superior lokas. On hearing his words, all his grandsons were happy. Subsequently Yayati went to all superior lokas with his grand children.
CHAPTER 4
42. Dushyantha goes for hunting: Matinarudu hailed from the Kuru family, made tapasya for twelve years on the banks of river Saraswathi. He performed a satra yaga. River Saraswathi was fascinated with his virtuous nature, fell in love and married him. They gave birth to Trisu. Trisu married Kalindi, and gave birth to Elinu. Elinu gave birth to Dushyantha. Dushyantha was fond of hunting and had special skill in catching and taming lions, tigers and elephants. Dushyantha by his valour and strength, ruled justly. Under his rule, people were prosperous and living happily. One day he took a big army with him, went in to the forest for hunting. After some time they reached a river. Dushyantha chased animals without any rest and hence he was very much tired. He was far ahead of his ministers and purohits. He was also feeling very thirsty and was looking for a muni ashrama to quench his thirst. He entered the ashrama of Kanva maharishi. As he entered, he saw Sakuntala in the ashrama. He was taken aback by looking at her beauty. At the same time, Sakuntala was also looking at the handsome figure of the king. She felt that he must be Jayanthu, son of Indra. She welcomed the king with respect and did Atidhi pooja. After a while Dushyantha said: Dushyantha: Oh beautiful girl! My name is Dushyantha. I am the king of this land. I came for hunting. As I was very much thirsty, I came to your ashrama. I want to have the darshan of maharishi. Can you tell me when he is expected?
Sakuntala: Oh king I am the daughter of Kanva maharishi. He has gone to the forest to fetch fruits and roots. You please wait. He will come very soon. 43. Sakuntala Reveals about her birth Dushyantha: Oh Sakuntala! I am not able to believe that you are a muni knaya. Because every body knows that Kanva maharishi had won the control over his sense organs. Hence, Oh Sakuntala! How you became the daughter of Kanva maharishi, Please tell me. Sakuntala: Oh king! Long time back another maharishi had asked the same question to my father(Kanva maharishi). Now I will tell you what my father said to that maharishi. Some time back Rajarishi Viswamitra was performing a serious tapasya. Indra was afraid and sent Menaka to spoil his tapasya. Menaka was afraid of a curse from Viswamitra and said, Oh Indra! Viswamitra is a highly short-tempered maharishi. He has killed all the sons of Vasista . You yourself is afraid of Viswamitra. Is it fair on your part to push me to such an unkind maharishi? However you are the king of all the three worlds. I obey your orders and do my best in distracting Viswamitra from his tapasya So saying, Menaka went to the tapovana of Viswamitra. She danced and sang before him with her fellow apsaras. Viswamitra was provoked by cupid and opened his eyes. He was stunned to look at a beautiful girl, half naked and very tempting. He lost control and he spent a long time with her. One day Menaka gave birth to a girl. Menaka left that child on the banks of river Malini and went away to her deva loka. Viswamitra also went back to his tapo vana. With the power of maharishi, all the birds in the forest came in turns and protected and saved the baby with their wings from the cruel animals. At that time myself(Kanva maharishi) and my disciples saw this child who was protected by the birds. Since she was protected by the wings of the birds, I named her Sakuntala. From that day onwards, I brought her up as my daughter. Elders say that each woman will have three fathers. One- who has given birth, Second one-who has fed and brought up and the third one was one who protected her from the fear. Whereas for men there will be a fourth father who has perform Upanayanam. There will be a fifth father also who teach Vedas. For a man there are about five fathers and for a woman three fathers. From this standard, I have protected Sakuntala from fear and thus I became her guru. Since I am feeding her, I became her father. Thus
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Sakuntala told him about her. Oh king! This story was told by my father, Kanva maharishi to another maharishi. 44. Dushyantha proposes to marry Sakuntala. Dushyantha: Oh Sakuntala! I was afraid that you must be a munikanya. Whereas you are a Kshatriya girl. I fell in love at my first sight and hence I wish to marry you. Please be my queen and enjoy all the royal comforts instead of suffering inconveniences in this forest. There are several ways of marriage. Which are Brahmam, daivam, aarsham, Praajapatyam, Rakshasam, Asuram , gaandarvam , Paisacham . Among the above, for kshatriyasgaandarvam and rakshasa type of marriages are well accepted. Let us not waste time, we will marry in Gaandharva way, if you agree. Sakuntala: My father is an embodiment of dharma. He is the kindest person among the maharishis. In a short while, he will come. After he comes, we can marry. Dushyantha: Do you know the special features of a marriage in Gaandarva way? In this system, the bride herself will be the relative and her protector. Since she is offering herself, she becomes the karta. These three are the prominent features of Gaandarva marriage. Dushyantha thus convinced her in several ways and made her to agree for the marriage with him. He also said, You keep this marriage in a secret way till I take you to the capital with royal honours. Then Sakuntala said: Sakuntala: Oh glorious Dushyantha! If I have a son by your grace, you promise me that child should be the crown prince of your kingdom. If you agree to this, I shall marry you. On hearing Sakuntalas words, Dushyantha gladly agreed to her condition and married her in Gaandarva way. Dushyantha: Oh Sakuntala ! I shall send my ministers with big paraphernalia to take you to my palace. After Dushyantha left Sakuntala was afraid of her father and became preoccupied with the thoughts of Dushyantha. In the meanwhile Kanva maharishi came with fruits and roots and observed certain the changes in Sakuntala. As she was feeling shy, he came to know everything with his
divine knowledge. Maharishi consoled himself that for kshatriyas, gaandarva way of marriage was acceptable and felt happy. 45. The birth of Baratha: Kanva Maharishi: My daughter! You have chosen a suitable person as your husband. You both belong to kshatriyas. Added to that, you have become pregnant. The boy in your stomach will be the future emperor of the entire country. I appreciate your obedient behaviour. You may ask for any boon. Sakuntala: The child I give birth should have long life with good health, strength and enormous wealth. He should bring glory to his family line. Maharishi blessed her with all that she asked for and made arrangements for performing the formalities to be observed for a pregnant lady. One day when all the good planets congregated Sakuntala gave birth to a boy. The boy had a chakra in his palm which denotesd not only auspicious but also indicated that he would become an emperor. The child was named Bharatha. In course of time, Baratha became valorous . He used to pull the elephants and lions by catching their ears and tie them to the trees in his ashrama and used to play with them. Looking at the play of the child, Sakuntala and Kanva maharishi were amused. At the same time, very unfortunately, the king did not send his men or the ministers to take her to the capital. It was odd for any married woman to stay at the place of her parents for a long time. After marriage, her husband alone should be her protector. 46. Sakuntala goes to Dushyantha: One day Kanva maharishi sent Sakuntala to her husband. When Sakuntala entered the palace, King Dushyantha was in a durbar. His ministers, priests, subordinate kings and prominent citizens were present in the durbar hall. Dushyantha did not show any love or affection as he exhibited at the time of their marriage. With that her heart broke with grief. She had a doubt weather the king recognized her or was he pretending as if he did not know her. However she consoled herself by thinking that the king must have many occupations and hence there was a reason for him to forget her. Because his
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looks didnt display any affection , his looks were harsh towards her. What could be the reason? She was confused and said: In case they forget, someone can go and make them to remind. If they really forget there is also another way to make them to know. But if this king is pretending to deceit me, even Brahma cant convince him. Having come all the way, I didnt want to go without achieving any thing. So the best thing could be I shall make him to remember the past and pass on his son to be under his protection. Thinking like that, she said to the king: Sakuntala: Oh king! Some time back you came to forest on the pretext of hunting and met me in the ashrama of Kanva maharishi. At that time you married me in Gaandarva way and gave me a boon. Look at the brilliance of this boy who is none other than your son. You have promised me that you will make him the prince. Now you make him as prince. Dushyantha: Oh beautiful woman! Who are you? I never saw you earlier. Why are you talking inconsistent words? Enough is enough. You go back . Sakuntala : Oh king! You are aware of every thing but you are pretending as if you dont know any thing. Since there was no evidence of a third person witnessing our marriage you are evading. Will a virtuous person speak untruth? Oh glorious king! for our marriage Vedas, five elements, dharma, dawn and dusk, Yama, sun and moon, day and night and many other superior elements were witnesses. No body can cheat others or cheat himself as long as these superior elements stood witness. You stop trying to cheat me and shower your affection as before. Oh king! Those who had a chaste wife alone achieve the fruits of his karmas and is able to control his sense organs and to have glorious son. In other words he will gain all that a Gruhasta can achieve. Even to achieve dharma, ardha, kama and moksha a chaste wife should be by his side. She will act as a Guru of cultivating a good character. She will act as a supporting stick for the growth of family line. She is the main reason for all glorious qualities of a person. There is no substitute for a wife to provide all happiness for a man. She will follow her husband wherever he is, however difficult situation he my face, just with the presence of his wife all those will melt away like ice. Since wife is half of her husband and if she dies before him, she will wait in the other world till he comes. In case the husband dies before her, she will follow him. To insult such a chaste wife, is not only injustice
but also adharma. The husband will enter the body of his wife and take birth as son. Vedas also says ANGAT ANGAT SAMBHAVASI such a son with his good character will purify both the dynasties of his father and mother. It is like from one lamp making another lamp and spreading the light from your body to a superior son has already took birth and shining. Oh king! Why so many words, take your son. Embrace him. You will not get such fragrance anywhere. You will not get the coolness of a moon, what you get by embracing your son. Oh king! a voice was heard from the sky in the presence of several munis at the time of the birth of your glorious son as This boy will not only benefit your dynasty but also will perform hundreds of Vajayapeya yagas You have assured me at the time of our marriage that you will make the son who is born to me as the prince of this land. Such a son has now come and stand before you. Why are you rejecting your own son? Oh king! Instead of hundred wells yielding fresh water, it is better to have one lake. Instead of hundred such lakes, one yagna is better. Instead of hundred such yagnas, one son is better. Instead of such hundred sons,one word of truth is better. Oh king! The fruits of hundred Aswamedhas cant be equated with one truthful word. So all dharmas are based on truth. This is what our Rishis say. So you keep your mind pure and remember the promise you made to me in Kanva ashrama. You yourself will come to know the truth of it. Oh king! Had I been the daughter of Rajarishi Viswamitra and Menaka, you accept your son. Had I been brought up by Kanva maharishi with good character, you accept this boy as your son. If I am virtuous and chaste wife of yours, you accept this boy. I swear what all I said is true. Dushyantha: Oh Sakuntala! Woman can tell lies to suit the occasion in a tactful manner. This art they acquire at birth. I once again affirm that I have not seen you earlier. I have no contact with you in any manner. You are showing this boy and claiming him as my son. Can you tell such lies to your king in his durbar hall? Since he resembles me in certain features, do you want me to accept him as my son? You stop telling the stories and go back to your ashrama. On hearing Dushyanthas words Sakuntala grieved in herself, The
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moment I was born, I lost my father and mother. Now my husband also rejecting me. Perhaps I did many bad karmas in my previous birth and cried bitterly. 47: the voice from the sky reveals the truth: Voice from sky: Oh king Dushyantha! This Baratha is your son, born to Sakuntala. You accept him as your son. Your wife Sakuntala is virtuous and chaste. What all Sakuntala said is truth. On hearing the voice from the sky, all the people in the durbar were astonished. Dushyantha: My subordinate kings, my ministers, my audience! Yes! Now I remember! I married her in Gaandharva way. This fact is not known to any one except myself and Sakuntala. I am afraid of the public blame and said that I did not know her. However we all witnessed a wonder. The voice from the sky has spelt out all the truth in your presence. By announcing this in the hall, Dushyantha ran to Baratha, embraced him. He made Sakuntala as his principal queen. After some years Baratha was crowned as the prince. Dushyantha and Sakuntala enjoyed many comforts for several years. Finally they made Baratha as the king and went for tapovanas for doing tapasya. Baratha had performed several yagnas in the plains of river Ganga and Yamuna. He gifted huge gifts to the brahmins and made them happy. 48: Ganga Long ago there lived a king by name Mahabishudu of Ikshavaku dynasty. He made thousand Aswamedhas and hundred Rajayasuyas and pleased Indra and many other devatas. While Brahma was conducting a conference with Indra and other devatas, river Ganga came to that Sabha in the form of a woman. At that time with the velocity of wind the sari she wore was blown exposing her thighs and above. At that time all devatas turned their faces with shy, but Mahabishudu alone looked at her with curiosity. Brahma noticed the mischief of Mahabishudu and got annoyed and cursed him to take birth to a woman. Mahabishudu realized his mistake and prayed to Brahma , Oh virtuous Brahma! Among the Rajarishis king Pradeepa alone is the righteous person. So you bless me to be born as his son. Brahma agreed to his request. With the looks of Mahabishu, Ganga also fell in love with him. Slowly her love towards Mahabishu was increasing and came back to the earth.
Once Vasista maharishi had cursed Asta Vasuvus to take birth on earth. While returning from Brahma loka, Asta Vasuvus revealed to her about Vasistas curse on them. Ganga asked them why they want to be born to her. For which Vasuvus said: Vasuvus: We are all going to earth to be born there. We wish to be born to you and have the relief from our curse. We didnt find a better woman, purer than you. All the more, as per the curse of Brahma, Mahabishuvu is taking birth on earth as king Sentanudu. So we wish to be born as your sons. Ganga was very happy to hear the words of asta Vasuvus and said, I am also wishing Mahabishu to be my husband. You are also asking me the same. So I will give birth to all of you with pleasure. Vasuvus: Oh Ganga! You help us in another way also. Moment we are born to you, throw us into the water without any emotion. We will sink in the water and reach our loka. That will help us to achieve twin purpose- to be born on earth as per the curse of Vasista and also l not remaining on the earth for a long time. On hearing the words of Vasuvus Ganga said: Ganga: Oh Vasuvus! I will do as you want. But if you all leave me and go to heaven who will live with me? Vasuvus: Oh Ganga! You throw seven of us in the water immediately after we are born. But the last Vasuvu, Prabhasudu will remain with you on earth for a long time. 49. King Pradeepa requests Ganga to be the wife of his son. One day king Pradeepa was doing tapasya on the banks of Ganga. He saw Ganga in the form of a woman. She was so pretty and beautiful. She came and sat on his right lap. Pradeepa was astonished to see such a beautiful woman on his lap and asked her who was she? From where she was coming? Why did she sat on his lap? Ganga: Oh king Pradeepa! I am the daughter of Jahanu maharishi. I am known as river Ganga. I heard of your noble qualities and came here to become your wife. King Pradeepa: Oh beautiful Ganga! I will not accept any other woman except my wife. Even in my mind. That every body knows. So is it
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not fair on your part to talk such words. All the more, any woman seeking a man as her husband will sit on his left lap, not on the right lap. Since you sat on my right lap I will accept you as my daughter- in- law. So you marry my son. Ganga took his advice and disappeared. After some time King Pradeepa had a son by name Santana. After ruling his country for several years, he made his son Santana as king and went to tapovanas for tapasya. He also said to his son, My son I saw a beautiful woman on the banks of Ganges, while I was meditating. I told her that you are so beautiful and become a wife to my son. So if you happen to see a woman on the banks of Ganges, you marry her. By saying so he went to tapovanas. 50. The meeting of Ganga and King Santana. King Santana one day went to hunting in the forests on the banks of Ganges. As he was tired of hunting, he went to river Ganges and was taking rest on its banks. At that time he saw a beautiful woman. He thought she must be the same woman his father has told about. While he was staring at her, Ganga came to him and looked into his eyes. They became attracted to each other. King Santana asked her who she was? And from where she was coming? Ganga: Oh king! If you like me I will become your wife, but on one condition that is you should not object whatever I do. Some of my actions might not be acceptable to you or anybody.Then you must keep quiet but you should not ask me any explanation and thereby wound my feelings or object to any of my actions. If you agree to that, I will marry you. King Santana agreed to her condition and married her. After some time when the Vasuvus started taking birth through her, she used to throw them into the waters. King Santana was looking at this horrible sight, but he could not either stop her or ask why she was doing so. It went for seven times. When the eighth son was born, Santana objected her killing and saved that boy. 51: Ganga narrates the story of Vasuvus to king Santana. When the eighth child was born Santana said to Ganga: Santana: Oh Ganga! Till now, you have killed all the children born to us immediately after their birth. All these years I did not object to your
action. This eighth boy is shining like a brilliant sun. I dont want to lose this boy also. Ganga: Oh king! Before our marriage, you have agreed that you will not question any of my actions. Since you have questioned me now, our alliance is broken. Know it well I am pious Ganga who makes all the three worlds pure. Asta Vasuvus had a curse to be born on earth. They requested me that they would be born to me and also requested they would not live long on earth and wanted to go back to heaven immediately after their birth; thereby they could honour the curse of Vasista and also would not stay on the earth. That was the reason why I gave birth to all the Vasuvus and killed them immediately after birth. By doing so, you will have all the superior lokas after you death. This eighth Vasuvu will live long on earth. He was born only for the wellbeing of the mankind. He would teach all dharmas to the world. Santana: Oh Ganga! All Vasuvus are sinless. Even devatas worship them. How Vasista cursed such a virtuous Vasuvus. Why those seven Vasuvus went away immediately after birth. And why this eight Vasuvu remained on earth? Ganga: Oh king Santana! Vasista was born to Varuna who was equal to Brahma. Vasista was doing tapasya in a cave on Mt.Meru. Kamadhenu was fulfilling all the requirements for Vasista. Kamadhenu was born to Baghirathi and Kasyapa. One day the Asta Vasuvus went for a stroll on Mt.Meru and saw Vasista maharishi. They were astonished by looking at the power of the Kamadhenu. The wife of the eighth Vasuvu said to her husband, Oh dear! By drinking the milk of this Kamadhenu, one can be free from the disease and old age. One who possesses this Kamadhenu, is considered to be the richest person in the world. I have a friend by name Jitavathy on earth. If we gift this Kamadhenu to her, she will feel very happy. The eighth Vasuvu, Prabhasudu, to please his wife got the help of other Vasuvus and took Kamadhenu with them. Since Vasista could not find Kamadhenu, he searched all the forest for her. Finally he came to know that the Vasuvus had stolen his Kamadhenu. Furious Vasista cursed all the Vasuvus to live in earth. The Vasuvus came to know about the curse of Vasista and went to him for the deliverance from his curse. Vasista was then pleased and said, Among you Prabhasudu only became greedy and did harm to me; all the other seven Vasuvus will take birth and
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will go back to heaven immediately. However the eighth Vasuvu Prabhasudu will live long and observe Brahmacharya vrata. Ganga revealed all this divine secrets to King Santana and showed her own form and asked him, You name this eight Vasuvu as Devavratudu. He will be with me till he attains youth. By saying so she disappeared, taking Devavratudu with her. One day King Santana was wandering on the banks of River Ganges. On one part of the Ganges, it had formed a small island. He wondered how such an island was formed in spite of the fact that the Ganges was flowing with great velocity. When he went nearer the place, he saw a young boy was practicing his archery. To facilitate his practice, he built a dam across the Ganges with his arrows and formed that island. He went to the boy and wondered at his proficiency in archery and asked him, What is your name? In the meanwhile Ganga came in a human form and said, Oh Prabhu! This boy is your son Gangeya alias Devavrata, He has read all Vedas and Vedangas from Vasista and he learnt archery from Parasurama. He has realized Aathma Gananm from Sanatkumara. Now you take him with you and make him a statesman and disappeared. Santana returned to Hastinapura, and Gangeya crowned him as a prince. One day while he was hunting on the banks of river Yamuna, he had a sweet fragrance. He went that side to find out what it was. 52. Bheeshma pledges to be a bachelor for ever King Santana went in that direction and found that the sweet fragrance was coming from a beautiful woman. She was navigating a small ferry. He went to her and asked, Who are you? Whose daughter are you? How is that you are navigating this ferry. The girl replied, Oh Prabhu! My name is Satyavathy. I am the daughter of Dasaraju.Navigating this ferry and helping the people is my fathers profession. I have learnt navigating from my childhood. King Santana went to Dasaraju and said, Oh Dasaraju! I wish to marry your daughter Satyavathy. Dasaraju: Oh king! My daughter has attained the marriageable age. I am also looking for a suitable bride groom. She is fortunate that the king himself came forward to marry her. I am happy to give my daughter in marriage to you, but my request is that her son only must succeed you and rule your kingdom. If you agree to my request, you may marry her.
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The king could not concede to the demand of Dasaraju, as Devavratudu was the crown prince already and went back to his palace. Since then his mind was fully occupied with Sathyavathys thoughts. Thereby he could not attend neither to his daily rituals nor royal duties. He looked like a person who lost the entire world. His son Gangeya found there was a great physical change in his father and said: Gangeya: Oh superior King!. At the moment there is no fear of enemies to our kingdom. All the people are living happily with out any grief. All your subordinate kings are obedient to you. Then why are you emaciated alarmingly? Santana: My son! You have acquired good knowledge in astras and sastras. As you enter a battlefield you behave in a ruthless manner. In battlefields any thing may happen in any time. So danger will always follow you as your shadow. As such I am afraid of your longevity. Our elders say one son is no son and one eye is no eye. So I want to have some more sons along with you. Hence my mind is constantly telling me to have more sons in the interest of our family and kingdom. Hence I wish to marry. But I failed badly in my endeavours. Gangeya came to know from his ministers that his father intended to marry Satyavathy (Yojanagandhi) the daughter of a ferry man. Gangeya went to Dasaraju with his ministers and requested him to give his daughter, Satyavathy to his father in marriage. He promised that she would be the royal queen of the country. On hearing Gangeyas words Dasaraju said: Dasaraju: Oh Gangeya! The Rajarishi, who gave birth to this girl, is a frequent visitor to heaven, He had instructed me that I should give this girl only to Santana. Some time back King Devakudu also came and said that he would marry this girl. I did not agree to it. So I have no objection to give my daughter to your father, King Santana but the son who will be born to my daughter alone, should become the king and rule this kingdom. By giving Yojanagandhi (Satyavathy) to Santana, her children would have to undergo the troubles with her co-wives children. Because all worlds know that you are the most valorous person. If you are angry, even Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara cant stand before you in a battle. Under these circumstances you yourself think over and give me a solution, which can avert this trouble. He argued. Gangeya in the presence of his ministers, subordinate kings and elders,
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declared and pledged, To fulfill the desire of my father, I hereby make a pledge that the son who is born to my father to your daughter alone, will be crowned as the king. We all accept him as our king of our dynasty. He alone will continue the Kuru dynasty. On hearing Gangeyas declaration, Dasaraju said, Oh Gangeya! You know all dharmas. You alone can make such a pledge. However in future what guarantee is there that your children will maintain the pledge made by you?. On hearing Dasarajus words, Gangeya made another frightening pledge by saying that he would not marry and remain as a bachelor for ever. In this manner he conducted the marriage of his father with Satyavathy and accepted Brahmacharya.. For the frightening pledge he made, they named him as Bheeshma. 53. Bheeshma attends Swayamwara of king of Kasi King Santana married Satyavathy . He was pleased with the righteous character of Bheeshma(Gangeya), gave him a boon of Ichamaranam. King Santana had two sons by Satyavathy. They were Chitraangada and Vichitraveerya. King Santana died when these boys were infants. Bheeshma took every care in bringing up his step brothers. He made Chitraangada (the eldest step brother) as the king. Chitraangada was a hearty person, as such he used to get into trouble with devatas and gandharvas. One day Chitraangada invited a Gandharva for a fight. The fight took place in Kurukshetra. Since gandharvas were good at mystic wars, they killed Chitraangada. At the death of Chitraangada, Bheeshma made Vichitraveerya as the king. Vichitraveerya was obedient and was respecting Bheeshma. While Vichitraveerya was ruling the country, King of Kasi announced a Swayamwara for his daughters. Bheeshma alone went to Kasi and defeated all the kings who came for Swayamwara and brought three princesses of Kasi to his kingdom to marry them to his stepbrother Vichitraveerya. While Bheeshma was taking away the princesses of Kasi, King Salva fought with Bheeshma to gain those princesses. Bheeshma accepted the challenge of Salva, went back to fight with him. Bheeshma killed Salvas charioteer and horses. As Salva lost his chariot and charioteer, he could not fight with Bheeshma and went back to his city. Then Bheeshma took all the three princesses to his kingdom and made all
arrangements to marry all the three princess to his brother Vichitraveerya. Just before the marriage, Amba the eldest of the three princesses said to Bheeshma, Oh king! Already King of Salva wanted to marry me and my father also agreed to give me in marriage to him. I also desired so. You have abducted me in this manner. Do you think what you are doing is right. Please tell. On hearing the words of Amba, Bheeshma sent her back to Salva . Bheeshma married the other two princesses to his brother. Vichitraveerya was in full lust for those newly wedded wives and enjoyed day and night with them. Due to excessive sex, Vichitraveerya died at a very young age. The mother and wives of Vichitraveerya were in full grief, however Bheeshma himself ruled the country as an agent of the king. One day Satyavathy said to Bheeshma, Oh Bheeshma! You alone remained alive among the sons of King Santana. So you have a responsibility of continuing this family line and to satisfy our ancestral parents. You should keep our kingdom ruled by our Kuru dynasty. In short I am asking you to marry and give successors to this throne. Bheeshma said, Oh mother I have pledged on that day that I shall remain a bachelor for ever. I cant break my promise. Sun may lose its brilliance. Fire may lose its heat. Moon may forego its coolness. But I will remain a bachelor. All the five elements are witnesses to my promise. However I agree with your feelings that our dynasty should not get disrupted. I will suggest you an acceptable dharma for kshatriya at critical times like this. You also consult our priest and scholars before you decide. Long back Parasurama was furious on all kshatriyas since his father was killed by a Kshatriya and went on an expedition of war on earth for twenty three times and killed all kshatriyas including infants and old. In short not even a single kshatriya remained in that day. Their entire womenfolk became widows. At that time the superior scholars and the pundits in sastras had blessed children to those widows of the deceased kings and produced successors to those kingdoms. 54. The episode of Deerghata muni Bheeshma had quoted another episode of Deerghata muni. Long back there lived a muni by name Utarjudu. His wife was pregnant. Bruhaspathi, the guru of devatas had a mating with her in Devara Nyayam. At that time
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the child inside her stomach cried loudly, Oh Bruhaspathi! What you are doing is adharma. Bruhaspathi was angry with the child and cursed him to become blind for a long time. The child was born as blind, he was named as Deerghatamudu. Though he was blind, the boy learnt all the Vedas, sastras and became a scholar. After some time he married Pradveshini and gave birth to Gauthama and another ten children. However Pradveshini used to hate and insult Deerghatamudu. One day Deerghatamudu asked his wife, Why are you hating me?. His wife said, Since you are a blind man, I am working hard and I am feeding you. Instead of my becoming a dependent on you, you have become a dependent on me. So no woman on earth would love a person who is dependent on her. By saying so Pradveshini asked her sons to leave that blind man at a far away place. In spite of his father being blind and though he was a scholar in Vedas, they did not pity him. They tied him to a raft of few bamboos and left him in the river Ganges. He was floating and travelling several countries. One day while a king by name Bali was taking a bath in the river Ganges, he heard Deerghatamudu reciting Vedas in the middle of the river. He took pity on him and brought him to the shore and took him to his house. The king asked Deerghatamudu, Oh superior muni! Who are you? From where are you coming? Who had tied you to this raft? Incidentally the king had no children and requested Deerghata muni to bless children to his queen. But his queen Sudheshana did not like to go with that blind brahmin and deputed her servant maid Komali. Komali had eleven children. However the muni said to the king, Oh king! These children were not born in your family. They were born to your servant maid Komali. However they will become superior. Since king Bali desired to have successors to his family by his queen and made her to agree to it, Deerghatamudu touched the body of the queen and said, You will give birth to a son who is a valorous person. As muni said after some time, she gave birth to a Rajarishi by name Angaraju. In this manner a superior brahmin can have children with the wife of a superior kshatriya. There are several Kshatriya dynasties who got their successors with the blessings of virtuous brahmins. So oh mother! A superior brahmin who has control over his senses, will produce successors to the wives of Vichitraveerya. So said Bhishma. On hearing the words of Bheeshma, Satyavathy remembered, While I was a virgin, Parasara maharishi assured me that I would not lose my
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virginity. However I gave birth to a boy who was Vyasa maharishi. That boy has assured me that he would appear before me whenever I remembered him and then he left to do tapasya. My son Vyasa knows all dharmas. He is pure and pious. If I ask him to give successors to the Kuru family, he will oblige me . Bheeshma agreed with her and requested her to pray for Maharishi to give successors to Kuru dynasty. Satyavathy remembered her son Vyasa in her mind. Immediately Vyasa stood in front of her. After a while Satyavathy said to the muni, My son! He is Devavratudu, son of Ganga and king Santana. He is also known as Gangeya. Though he has the right to rule the country, he has sacrificed his right and embraced Brahmacharya. With that oath, he became famous as Bheeshma. Now a situation has evolved that the Kuru dynasty is coming to a halt. To continue the Kuru dynasty to flourish, I need your blessings through the wives of Vichitraveerya in Devara Nyayam. Hearing his mothers request, Viyasa muni said: Oh mother! This custom is time old and this dharma is accepted by Vedas. I assure you that the wives of Vichitraveerya will have sons with my blessings and the Kuru dynasty will have successors. Then Satyavathy said, You take the recourse immediately. Bheeshma and myself will take care of the children. Bheeshma will also take care of the country till they become kings. Then Satyavathy went to Ambika and said, Oh Ambika! It is your menstrual time. You go with Vyasa maharishi and give birth to a superior son to rule this Baratha dynasty. This night itself the maharishi will come to you. Incidentally he is the eldest brother of your husband. You wait for him. 55. The birth of Dhrutarashtra, Panduraju, Vidura. Ambika and Ambalika were informed by their mother- in- law, Satyavathy, that they should get children through Vyasa maharishi . Satyavathy also told many virtuous qualities about Vyasa maharishi. As a result both Ambika and Ambalika were assuming that Vyasa maharishi must be a divine person and as handsome as devatas. As Vyasa maharishi entered Ambikas room, she saw him and immediately disliked looking at his long beard and ugly appearance. All her enthusiasm had evaporated . She closed her eyes.. He informed Satyavathy that Ambika closed her eyes looking at his ugly stature. So she would give birth to a blind boy. Satyavathy was sadenned
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with his words and requested maharishi to bless a son to Ambalika. Here also as maharishi approached Ambalika, she was also shocked at his nonpresentable stature and her face became pale. Vyasa blessed a child and said to Satyavathy that Ambalika was also frightened to look at him and became pale. So she would give birth to a strong and valorous boy with all good qualities. But his skin would be white and pale. Maharishi said to Satyavathy, that the son to whom Ambika gives birth will have the strength of ten thousand elephants though he was born blind. He was named as Dhrutarashtra. He could understand and know things with his mind. He was born as a successor to the Kuru dynasty. He told Ambalika would also give birth to a valorous person who would be born in a Pandu varna.He was named as Panduraju. In view of the above Satyavathy requested Vyasa maharishi to give one more son who can rule the Kuru dynasty. Vyasa maharishi told his mother, Oh mother! If Ambika had control on her mind, I will give one more son to her. This time before Vyasa entered her room, Ambika didnt want to look at his ugly face and hence she sent her servant maid in her place. This time when maharishi went near the bed, the servant maid worshipped him. Maharishi was pleased and blessed her with a son. He was named as Vidhura. Lord Yama who had a curse of Mandavya maharishi was born in the form of Vidhura. As a result, Vidhura had become a virtuous and strong person. In this manner Dhrutarashtra was born to Ambika, Panduraju was born to Ambalika and the servant maid gave birth to Vidhura. Janamejaya: Oh Vaisampayana! Lord Yama is the lord of all dharmas. He gives the fruits for the actions for all living beings. How is that such a virtuous lord was born as Sudra. Vaisampayana tells the story of Mandavya Maharishi : Oh Janamejaya! Long time back Mandavya maharishi built a hermitage in a forest and was doing tapasya. One day some thieves had stolen the jewels of the king and ran away. The soldiers of the king chased them. For fear of the soldiers the thieves requested protection of Mandavya maharishi. Since maharishi was in a Samadhi, he did not respond to their request. To save their lives, the thieves entered the maharishis hermitage. After a while the soldiers caught hold of the thieves and took them to the king. They also took Mandavya maharishi along with the thieves. They made a case that the muni alone was giving protection to the thieves. The king ordered death sentence for all the thieves and for Mandavya maharishi he gave a ruling that a spear should be pierced in his stomach and asked his soldiers not to provide any
food or water. Few munis who were doing tapasya in the surrounding tapovanas took pity on Mandavya maharishi. They came in the form of birds and said, Oh maharishi! You are a great tapasvi. How you are punished like this? Mandavya maharishi replied, Oh maharishis! You know the answer for your question. Humans will get the pleasures and pains because of their good and sinful acts. So for his pleasure or pains that man alone will become Karta. There is no responsibility of a third party in this matter. After hearing the words of maharishi, the soldiers went and informed the matter to the king. The king realized that he must be a great tapasvi. Immediately he cancelled his order and released him. However the soldiers tried to remove the spear from his stomach but they could not remove it. When they pulled with all their strength, much of his body came out with the spear. That is why they called that maharishi as Mandavayudu. The maharishi was wandering all lokas. One day he went to Yamaloka and said to Yama. Oh Yama! Why you gave me such a cruel punishment? What was my crime? Yama said, In your childhood, you used to catch dragon flies and you pierced their bodies with a nail. For that cruel act of yours, I gave you this punishment. Mandavya was annoyed with Yama and said, Until fourteenth year of a man, he will be considered as a boy. In that age whatever sin he commits, it will not be taken to his account. If any one punishes such a boy they themselves will become sinners. I have already made this order to all the worlds to follow. You have ignored my order and committed a sin, hence you take birth on earth and be a son of a Sudra woman. That is how Yama was born to a Sudra woman. Vidhura became the chief advisor to Bheeshma and he was highly valued and respected in the durbar.
CHAPTER 5 The story of Dhrutarashtra, Panduraju, Gaandhari and Kunthi

The marriage of Dhrutarashtra: Dhrutarashtra and Panduraju while studying in Gurukulam were also learning archery, horse riding and other martial arts. Bheeshma wanted to conduct the marriage of Dhrutarashtra with Gaandhari, daughter of king Subalu. Bheeshma said to Vidura: Bheeshma: Oh Vidura! With the provocation of Satyavathy and by the grace of Vyasa maharishi this Kuru dynasty has revived with Dhrutarashtra Aadiparvamu 59
and Panduraju. My self and the entire people of this country wanted this Kuru dynasty to flourish. Gaandhari meditated on lord Siva and had a boon of having hundred sons and one daughter. If we succeed in getting her married to Dhrutarashtra, our Kuru dynasty will flourish in leaps and bounds. I am given to understand that the king Subalu is also willing to give his daughter to Dhrutarashtra. Subalu conducted the marriage. He had previously informed her that Dhrutarashtra was born blind. Gaandhari Being a virtuous and chaste wife of Dhrutarashtra, Gaandhari resolved that she would not see what her husband could not see. From that day onwards, she blindfolded herself. Her brother Sakuni took her to Hastinapura with valuable gifts. Dhrutarashtra had married also ten sisters of Gaandhari. In addition to them, he also married hundred more maids who were extraordinarily beautiful.
The story of Kunthi: Prudhu was the daughter of a yadava king by name Surudu. He gave her in adoption to his friend Kunthibojha and hence she was brought up by him from her childhood. As Prudha was more affectionate and attached to Kunthiboja, people used to call her Kunthi. King Kunthiboja was very pious and fond of worshiping scholars. One day Durvasa maharishi visited the house of Kunthiboja. He deputed his daughter Kunthi, to serve Durvasa maharishi as long as he stayed in his palace. At the end, Durvasa maharishi was pleased with her services and initiated with a mantra and said to her. Durvasa maharishi: Oh Kunthi! Whichever devata you desire in your mind, recite this mantra. He will come in front of you and bless you with a son. One day she went to river Ganges for a bath. Suddenly she entertained a silly thought of testing the power of mantra and desired as, Oh sun god! You bless me with a son, as splendorous as you. Immediately the sun god appeared before her in human form and said, Oh Kunthi! I came to give a son as desired by you. Kunthi felt shy even to look at him and said, Oh sun god! I am the daughter of Kunthiboja, people call me as Kunthi. One day Durvasa maharishi came to our house and was pleased with my services. While going he initiated me with a mantra and explained me the power of that mantra. Out of curiosity, I wanted to test the power of mantra and thought of you in my mind. Oh deva! I am an unmarried girl. I cant bear a
son before marriage. So you show pity on me and go away. Sun god: Oh Kunthi! The mantra is very powerful. If I go back without fulfilling your desire, the maharishi will curse me. So I cant go back without giving you a son. You dont have to worry about your virginity. You will get a son by way of Sadyo garbham. That will neither affect your virginity nor you will be blamed by the people. Sun mated with her and immediately Karna was born. The Birth of Karna: Karna was born with a natural shield and earrings. Kunthi looked at the child and did not know what to do with that boy. If I take this boy home, all my people might blame me. At the same time I cant leave this child. She lamented. While she was saddened, in the meanwhile she saw a beautiful box coming on the stream of Ganges. She caught hold of that box and opened it. Inside the box a bed was spread, on which a boy could comfortably sleep. She thought it was the miracle of the Sun god and kept the boy inside the box and allowed it to go in the stream. After some time the box was caught by Sutudu. He opened the box and found a beautiful boy . He took that box and the child to his house, gave it to his wife Radha. The moment she had taken the boy to her hands, her breasts started oozing milk and so she was able to feed the boy. Sutudu and his wife Radha named the boy as Vasushenudu. Since he was born with natural earrings, he was also called as Karna. As Radha had brought him up he was also called as Radhayudu. In this manner, the boy was growing in the house of Sutudu. The marriage of Panduraju and his expedition of wars Panduraju started expeditions of war and attained victory over many Kings. On his way, he successfully attended the Swayamwara of Kunthi and married her. With the permission of Bheeshma, he also married Madri. After his marriages, he continued his expeditions of war and defeated many kings,who accepted his superiority and made treaties with him by giving huge gifts. By this expedition, Panduraju was able to secure enormous wealth. The noble deeds of Panduraju: Panduraju submitted all the wealth to Dhrutarashtra, who with the permission of Bheeshma donated to the brahmins and poor people. Though Dhrutarashtra was born blind, Panduraju made him the king and ruled as per the wishes of his brother. Kinda Maharishi curses Panduraju: One day Panduraju went with
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his wives, Kunthi and Madri for hunting in the forests, south of Mt.Himalayas. He enjoyed with his two wives and whatever he found novel things he procured them and was sending to his brother Dhrutarashtra . In that forest Kinda maharishi was also enjoying with his wife. Suddenly they wanted to take the form of a deer and enjoy. While they were enjoying their life in the form of deer, Panduraju mistook them as real deer and shot his arrow on the male deer. The male deer while dying took the original form and cursed Panduraju as, Oh king! I am Kinda maharishi. You have killed me, while I was enjoying with my wife. On hearing maharishis words, Panduraju said, Kshatriyas can be kind even at the sight of an enemy but they will not leave, if a deer comes in front of them. At the sight of it, they kill them. However we should not kill by a fraudulent method. Long back Agastya maharishi used to perform Sradhas to his ancestral parents with the flesh of a deer. And dictated that the killing of a deer will not attach any sin to a kshatriya. So your blame on me is unreasonable. On hearing the words of Panduraju, the male deer cursed him, Since you killed us while mating, you also will die, if you are mating with your wife. And the deer died. Then Panduraju repented and said to himself, However a man born in a superior family, however knowledgeable he might be, he cant escape from fate. Till now, I was living in a righteous manner. Suddenly I became a victim to his curse. It is nothing but a divine act. Now I have to lead a munis life by treating all beings impartially and leaving cruelty. From today, I will take only one fruit from each tree. I will starve on the day if I dont get even one fruit. I keep control on my senses and relinquish all worldly duties. I keep away all duels such as liking and disliking, sin and virtue, grief and happiness . He resolved thus and called Kunthi and Madri and told them, You need not lead a muni life like me and hence you may go to Hastinapura. You inform Bheeshma, Dhrutarashtra, Vidura and others of my decision. On hearing the words of their husband, they were shattered and said either they live with him or commit suicide. At last Panduraju agreed to live with them. From then onwards they survived on roots and fruits, wearing Valkalas and worshipping Agni. He had given up all his wealth to brahmins and the rest gave to Dhrutarashtra. In this manner he led a munis life travelling towards northern direction. On his way, he passed Nagasailam, Chaitraradham, and Himalayas and settled on Mt.Gandhamadana which was the place of devatas and
siddhas. Pandurajus Tapasya : Panduraju reached the highest peak called Mt.Satasringa, which was the place of siddhas and Yakshas. Even siddhas and Yakshas were surprised with the severe tapasya of Panduraju. One day thousand Brahmarishis were passing through Mt.Satasringa, Panduraju asked them, Where are you going? They said that they were going to meet Brahma. On hearing their words, Panduraju also accompanied them with his wives. After some time maharishis said, Oh king! Your wives are pretty and delicate, the entire path is very rough with up and downs. Please stop at that point. Not only that, there is no entry to Brahma loka for those who dont have sons. Panduraju had understood that he could not reach Brahma loka for the simple reason that he had no children. The Brahmarishis with their divine knowledge, understood everything and said, Oh king! Dont worry, since you dont have sons, in a short while Yama, Vayu, Indra and Aswini devatas are going to bless you with sons. You will reach superior lokas. So you pray to them. On hearing their words, Panduraju thought in himself, One has to clear the debt of devatas, rishis and Pitrudevatas. Otherwise he will not be eligible for superior lokas. I have cleared all other debts except, Pitrurunam. Once the body is ruined, all runas will be cleared automatically except Pitrurunam. While thinking in that manner he said to Kunthi: Panduraju: Oh Kunthi! A man cant attain superior lokas with out a son. One can have son in the following six ways. 1. Kshetragnudu, 2. Aurasudu 3. Dattakudu 4. Krutrimudu 5. Doodhtpnnudu 6. Apavithudu. In addition to those six ways, there are six more ways of attaining a son who dont have the share in property. They are 1.Kaaneenudu 2.Sahoodhudu 3.Krethudu 4.Pownardhavudu 5.Swayamdattudu 6.Jathudu. Of all these twelve ways of attaining sons, Kshetragnudu is the most superior. Hence if you secure me a son in a dharmic way, I will be entitled for superior lokas. Long back King Kekaya could not have a son. At that time, through his Dharmapatni, who is your sister, Sruthasena, performed a Kumsana homa to have a son. So you accept Devara Nyayam and produce sons for me which custom is accepted by sastras. On hearing the words of Panduraju, Kunthi remembered about the
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mantra initiated by Durvasa maharishi and informed the same to her husband. On hearing Kunthis words, Panduraju was happy and said, Oh Kunthi! All lokas are based on dharma, so you keep your mind pure and pray for Dharmudu in you mind. Kunthi went round her husband with folded hands, recited the mantra and prayed for dharma devata(Yama dharma raja). Dharma devata came in human form and blessed her. With his grace, she became pregnant and gave birth to a boy. The birth of Dharmaraja: The moment Dharmaraja was born, a voice was heard from the sky stars at the time of birth of this boy are in an exaltation state. He will become a King. His mind will be steadily fixed on dharma. He will treat all beings equally. He will become the most courageous king on the earth and hence he will be known as Yudhistara. The destruction of Gaandharis pregnancy: Gaandhari became pregnant much before Dharmaraja was born. She wanted to give birth much earlier than Dharmarajas birth. Out of distress, she hit her stomach hard. With that the premature pindam fell on ground and was broken into several pieces. All those pieces were preserved in a pot filled with cold water. After they were fully matured, the pindams were born as hundred sons and one daughter. Here on Mt.Satasringa. Panduraju said to Kunthi, Oh Kunthi! You have given birth to a righteous person. Now you give birth to a boy who will protect our Kuru dynasty with his strength and valour. This time Kunthi recited the mantra and worshipped the wind god. With his blessings, she delivered a boy. Again the voice heard form the sky said to name this boy as Bheemasena. The voice also said the planets at the time of birth of that boy were in a state of exaltation. The birth of Duryodhana and others : On the same day Bheemasena was born on Mt.Satasringa , in Hastinapura, Duryodhana was born to Gaandhari . At the time of Duryodhanas birth, the people observed many bad omens. On the same day when Duryodhana was born Dhrutarashtra had another son by name Yuyutsudu for a Vyasa woman. After him Gaandhari gave birth to one son on each day. After she gave birth to hundred sons, the last child being a girl and she was named as Dussala. All astrologers and knowledgeable brahmins said to Dhrutarashtra, Oh king! We observed bad omens at the time of the birth of Duryodhana. We suspect a great damage to the people and country
through him. So you better forsake Duryodhana and choose any one among the remaining ninety nine as your successor. Dhrutarashtra did not agree with their views and refused to avoid Duryodhana. The strength of Bheema. On the tenth day after Bheema was born, Kunthi took him to a temple. The way was rough with sharp ups and downs. Suddenly a tiger jumped on Bheema. Panduraju killed the tiger with an arrow and saved Kunthi and Bheema. In the meanwhile out of fear Kunthi dropped the child and he fell on the stones. But the stones were broken into powder. Immediately Panduraju came running and picked up the boy in his hands. On his return from the temple, they came to know through a messenger at Hastinapura, Gaandhari gave birth to hundred sons and one daughter and expressed their happiness. The birth of Arjuna: This time Panduraju asked Kunthi to worship Indra, so that they could have a son who would conquer all the worlds. So Kunthi recited the mantra and worshipped Indra,who came and said, Oh Kunthi you will have a son. He will conquer all the three worlds and will give successors to Kuru dynasty, a virtuous person will be born to you. He will keep happy all his friends and relatives. and disappeared. After the birth of Arjuna, a voice heard from the sky as follows. He will be popularly known as Arjuna. He will become more valorous than Karthaveeryarjuna. He will defeat Indra and other devatas and allow the burning of Khandava vana. He will overcome all the kings on earth and make Dharmaraja to perform Rajasuya yaga. He will acquire several astras from all devatas and trounce his enemies. While Kunthi, Panduraju and Madri were spending time merrily with their children, one day Madri thought to herself, Kunthi has given birth to three children as she desired and was happy. There Gaandhari also gave birth to hundred sons and was happy with her sons. I alone remain without children. The birth of Nakula and Sahadeva: One day while she was with her husband, she expressed her anguish to him. If you and Kunthi are kind to me, I will also get initiated that mantra and get sons like Kunthi. On hearing her words, Panduraju said, Oh Madri! You leave your sorrow,.Kunthi also said to me the same thing. By saying so he called Kunthi and said the distress of Madri. Panduraju advised Madri, You give birth to sons from Aswini devatas As desired by her husband, Kunthi initiated the mantra to Madri. She worshipped Aswini devatas and got two sons as splendorous as sun and moon. Again the voice heard from the sky uttered, You name them as
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Nakula and Sahadeva. In this manner the king Panduraju with the grace of gods had Yudhistara, Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva as sons. Panduraju remained on Mt.Satasringa and was engaged in severe penance. Vasudeva the elder brother of Kunthi heard that her sister delivered sons and sent a Brahmarishi, Kasyapa with valuable gifts. Kasyapa stayed with them and performed Upanayanam for all the five boys. After Upanayanam he taught them Vedas. The Vedaadhayanam of all the five brothers was resounding in the valleys of Mt.Satasringa and all living beings expressed their happiness. The death of Panduraju: It was spring. All the beings were fascinated by the influence of spring and provoked by cupid. In his emotion, Panduraju forgot the curse of Kinda maharishi and had a mating with Madri. Immediately Panduraju died on the spot. When Madri was crying loudly, Kunthi and her children woke up and came running to her. They cried bitterly . Kunthi said to Madri, Oh Madri! I am his dharmapatni, I cant live without him. You take care of the children and I go with him on the pyre. Madri said, Oh Kunthi! With the power of your mantra, you gave birth to the successor to Kuru dynasty. As I could not fulfill his desire in this world, I will go to the other world with him and satisfy him. Though I know the curse of the muni, I behaved in a careless manner. As such I cant bring up the children so you dont obstruct me; you take care of the children. Madri went to the pyre of her husband and she was reduced to ashes. After the cremation all maharishis made the children to perform last rites to their father. All maharishis consoled Kunthi and her children and said, Panduraju gave up his kingdom and all the wealth. He was satisfied by doing tapasya and living here peacefully. Now he left the responsibility of the children to Kunthi and reached heaven. Now let us take these boys and Kunthi to Hastinapura and hand them over to their people. Pandavas reach Hastinapura: All maharishis reached Hastinapura with Kunthi and her children. The citizens of Hastinapura wondered at the birth secret of Pandavas. People started coming in groups to see Kunthi and her sons. Bheeshma and others saluted the maharishis and received Pandavas and Kunthi affectionately. One of the munis came from Mt.Satasringa and he said: Muni: Oh king! Panduraju had a great tapasya and with the blessings of Yama. Vayu, Indra and aswini devatas he had five sons. Panduraju had
passed away just fifteen days ago. His wife Madri also went with him to heaven. We have collected their Astis with us. Kunthi also wanted to follow her husband to the heaven. But she remained only to bring up her children. Now you complete the remaining last rites for the deceased. We wish that these sons will enhance the prestige of Kuru dynasty. Yudhistara, Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva are all born with the cover of the respective devatas . The voice from the sky had given them the above names. Brahmarishis who came for Vasudeva performed Upanayanam and taught Vedaadhayanam. From now onwards, you elders from Kuru dynasty should bring them up and look after their wellbeing. Suddenly Vyasa maharishi appeared before them and consoled Satyavathy and said to her confidentially. Vyasa maharishi: Oh Satyavathy! The gruhasta ashrama looks as fickle as endamavalu. All these wealth and kingdoms are also temporary. The past days are proving better than the future days. All the sons of Dhrutarashtra are wicked and invite troubles. Because of them, the Kuru dynasty is going to be destroyed. Since Dhrutarashtra cant avoid this grief, I advice you to go to tapovana and perform tapasya. On hearing Vyasa maharishis advice Satyavathy went to tapovanas with her daughter- inlaws Ambika and Ambalika and in due course they died one by one. The childhood of Kouravas and Pandavas. Dhrutarashtra showered his affection equally on Pandavas and Kouravas. All the elders in the royal family were watching curiously of all the children and enjoying the fun. However in all the games, Bheema used to establish his superiority over others. Thereby they formed in groups and tried to tease Bheema in several ways but Bheema never conceded to them. He used to hold ten boys of Dhrutarashtra on his shoulders and entered the water. He used to come out but those ten boys suffocated in the water. In the similar manner when the Kouravas climbed the trees for fruits, Bheema used to shake the trunk of the tree. By shaking, the fruits and Kouravas also used to fall on ground. In all the funny games, Dushsasna and others had suffered several defeats at the hands of Bheema. Duryodhana became jealous of Bheema and wanted to get rid of him. They tried several ways to kill Bheema. They also thought to imprison Yudhistara so that there would be no competitor for the kingdom. Right from his childhood Duryodhana wanted
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to rule the entire Kourava kingdom by himself. Duryodhana attempts to kill Bheema: Duryodhana was consulting Dushsasna the ways and methods of killing Bheema. One day Bheema and hundred Kouravas went for a swim in the river Ganges. After a long while when Bheema was tired and taking rest on the banks, all the Kouravas fastened Bheema with strong creepers and threw him in the Ganges. The moment he woke up, he understood it was the wicked plan of his cousins and stretched his body and thereby all the creepers were broken. Once he was free, he came to the shore. On another day, when Bheema was fast asleep, they made him bitten by a poisonous cobra. Since his body was harder than diamond, the poison did not enter his body. He took the cobra in his hand and dashed it on the ground. On another day, Duryodhana secured poison and mixed it in the food. This was smelt by Yuyutsudu, who had equal affection on both Kouravas and Pandavas. He hinted Bheema not to eat the food offered by Duryodhana. However Bheema ate the entire food and digested the poison also but he survived In the meanwhile, Bheeshma arranged Krupacharya and Dronacharya to teach archery to Kouravas and Pandavas. The episode of Krupacharya and Dronacharya Janamejaya : Oh Vaisampayana ! Who are Krupacharya and Dronacharya? From where they came? You let me know their episodes. Vaisampayana : Oh Janamejaya ! There lived a tapasvi by name Gauthama. He had a son, named Saradvanthudu. Though he was a brilliant child, he did not show interest in learning Vedas. But he wanted to become a big archer. To learn archery, he started doing penance. Indra was afraid of his penance and engaged an Apsara by name Jalavada. Indra had also sent the cupid with her. They went to the place where Saradvanthudu was doing penance. With the influence of cupid Saradvantha lost his concentration and opened his eyes. He saw a beautiful woman in front of her. With the influence of the cupid, his sperm came out and fell on a shrub of dharba grass. From that sperm a boy and a girl were born. At the same time, king Santana came for hunting and saw the boy and girl. The king also saw a bow, arrow and
a deer skin lying there. The king thought they must have been the children of a great archer. However he showed Kripa and took them to his house. Since the king had no children, he brought them up as his own children. Since he had shown Kripa on them, the boy was named as Krupudu and the girl was named as Krupi. Since Krupacharya was a brahmin boy, he made upanayanam and put under the pundits and made him to learn Danur Veda. The king himself taught archery to Krupacharya. Bheeshma came to know about Krupacharya and asked him to teach archery to his grand children. The episode of Dronacharya: Barathwaja maharishi was doing tapasya on the banks of Ganges. One day he went to Ganges to have a bath, he saw an Apsara by name Ghruthaci also taking bath. By the velocity of wind. the cloths were thrown away and she was caught in the eyes of Barathwaja maharishi. Immediately maharishi was hit by the cupid and his sperm fell down. Maharishi made his own hand as a Droni and preserved his own sperm in that. From that with an amsa of Sukra, Drona was born. In those days King Vrushamudu was ruling the kingdom of Panchala. He was also doing penance in the same tapovana where Barathwaja was also performing penance. One day an Apsara came to the tapovana of king Vrushamudu. On seeing her with the influence of cupid, his sperm came out and fell down. He kept it under his foot. From that with the Amsa of Maruthu a boy was born. The boy was named as Drupada. The boy was also living in Barathwaja ashrama and learning Vedas and archery. After the death of King Vrushamudu, Drupada became the king of Panchala. Drona also learnt archery from the maharishi. With the permission of his father Barathwaja, he married Krupi the sister of Krupacharya. Dronacharya gave birth to Aswadhama by Krupi. Drona came to know that Parasurama, the son of Jamadagni was very liberal in giving gifts and donations to brahmins. Dronacharya went to Parasurama for some financial help. On looking at Drona, Parasurama said, Oh Drona! I have given all my wealth to all brahmins. All the land that I owned I have gifted to Kasyapa maharishi. Now all that I had with me are astras and sastras and my body. You tell me what do you want out of them. I will give you whatever you ask. Then Drona said, Oh Gurudeva! I feel I am fortunate, if you give me your astras and sastras. After that Dronacharya secured all the divine astras of Parasurama and the secrets of releasing and withdrawing of astras.
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Dronacharya went to his childhood friend, King Drupada and said. Oh friend! I am your childhood friend, we learnt form the same guru. Do you remember me? King Drupada was hurt with the liberties taken by Dronacharya and said: Drupada Offends Drona : King Drupada: Oh Drona! You are an ordinary brahmin. I am the king of this land. How can we both become friends with this glaring disparity? Will there be any friendship between a rich man and a pauper? With a pundit and an illiterate? Between a tapasvi and a kirataka? Between a valorous person and a coward? Will the friendship develop so much of disparities? The friendship will develop only between the equals. Not only that, kings make friendship or enemity depending on the circumstances. You tell me being a king why should I have friendship with you. You are just a poor brahmin. Drona reaches Hastinapura: While Dronacharya was coming to Hastinapura, he saw Kouravas and Pandavas were playing with a ball. That ball accidentally fell into a well. All the boys were worried since the ball fell into the well and they could not retrieve by themselves. While they were all sad, Dronacharya went to them and said, Oh princes! you are all disciples of Krupacharya. You are not taking any pains to take the ball out. It is not befitting for princes like you. You all look how I take it out. By saying so, Dronacharya released his arrows connecting one to another till they reached the ball. Finally he pulled all the arrows like a rope and the ball also came with the arrows. He picked up the ball and gave it back to the princes. All the princes went to Bheeshma and told him the knack and capability of Drona. Bheeshma was happy since he had already heard the glory of Drona and he wanted him also to be an Acharya for his grand children for teaching archery. He went to Dronacharya and asked him, Oh Dronacharya! From where are you coming from? How far you are going? Where do you want to settle down? Drona said, My name is Drona, son of Barathwaja maharishi . I observed Brahmacharya and learnt Vedas from Agnivesya maharishi. I learnt archery also from him. The King Drupada also learnt Vedas and archery in the same Gurukulam. While we were in Gurukulam he used to tell me, Oh Drona! As soon as I become a king, you come to me, You can share and enjoy with me all the royal comforts. After the death of king Vrushamudu, Drupada
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became the king of Panchala kingdom. I married Krupi the sister of Krupacharya as fixed by my father. I had a son by name Aswadhama. Though I learnt Vedas and archery, I was living in poverty. Somehow I was pulling on my days without deviating from the path of dharma. One day my son was playing with other boys, and they were drinking milk whereas my son alone was deprived of milk. He used to come home and cry that he also wanted to drink milk. As I was suffering from poverty, I could not provide milk to my son. One day I remembered the words of my friend Drupada and went to him with a hope that he would certainly help. With that hope I went to him and reminded him about our old days of Gurukulam. By my words, he was hurt and said that he couldnt make friendship with a poor brahmin and asked me to get out. I didnt want to live in his kingdom any further. So I took my wife and son to settle somewhere other than his kingdom of Panchala. Thus Dronacharya narrated his story. On hearing Dronacharyas words Bheeshma worshipped him and gifted many valuables and made a request: Dronacharya becomes guru of Kouravas and Pandavas: Bheeshma called all his grandchildren and introduced them to Dronacharya and requested him to teach them archery and other martial arts. Dronacharya received all the children and said to them, I will make you experts in archery. Who will fulfill my desire in return? On hearing Dronacharya all Kouravas kept silent, among the Pandavas Arjuna alone came forward and said, I will fulfill your desire. On hearing Arjunas words, Dronacharya affectionately embraced him. From then onwards, Dronacharya was teaching archery to Kouravas and Pandavas. Apart from Kouravas and Pandavas, many princes of various kingdoms also came and learnt archery from Dronacharya. Karna also was one among the others who learnt archery from Dronacharya. Karna developed vengeance against Arjuna and became more friendly with Duryodhana. At the same time, Aswadhama also used to join Karna in hating Arjuna. They asked the cook not to serve food to Arjuna in darkness, because he might develop the art of releasing his arrows while in darkness also. The cook also used to oblige Duryodhana and his friends. On one night, Arjuna was taking his dinner, the lights went off due to the velocity of the wind. However Arjuna continued eating his dinner in the darkness. Arjuna with his dedication learnt all the tricks of archery, including the art of releasing the arrows in darkness. One day while Arjuna was twanging his bow, Drona came to know
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that and appreciated his dedication in learning archery and he promised, I will see to it that there will be no equal or superior to you in all the worlds. I will give you such training in archery, dwanda yudham, Sankula yudham fighting from chariot, fighting on the ground, fighting from the back of a horse, fighting from the back of an elephant with Drudham, Chatram, Soustavam. He did so earnestly. Drona thus taught Arjuna many ways of releasing arrows, tricks, secrets. Ekalavya accepts Dronacharya as his guru: Dronacharya apart from archery taught all other martial arts such as fighting with a club, spear, sword, tomaram, kuntham, and sakthi . On hearing the greatness and reputation of Dronacharya, Ekalavya son of Hiranyadhanyudu, a tribal king approached Dronacharya to learn archery from him. Since he was a tribal boy, Dronacharya refused to accept him as his disciple. However Ekalavya was not disappointed and went back to his place. He made an idol of Dronacharya and started practicing archery, keeping him as his guru in his mind. One day Kouravas and Pandavas went to the nearby forest. While they were wandering in the forest the dog that went with them, reached Ekalavyas hermitage and started barking. Ekalavya wanted to stop the dog barking, so he dispatched seven arrows in a peculiar manner without hurting the dog and made it to stop barking. Again the dog ran to the place where the princes were playing. They saw the seven arrows around the mouth of the dog and were astonished at his capabilities. They went in search of the place where Ekalavya was living. There they saw Ekalavya holding his bow and arrows. Appreciating his ability of archery, the princes asked him who was he? He replied that he was Ekalavya, the son of Hiranyadhanyudu, a tribal king and that he was the disciple of Dronacharya. All the princes went to Hastinapura and said to Dronacharya what all had happened in the forest. Arjuna said to Dronacharya: Arjuna: Oh guru! You have assured me that you make me the most superior archer in the world and you promised that there would be none equal or superior to me. But we saw a tribal boy who was more talented in archery than me. Therefore your promise made to me had become untrue. All the more, he said that he was your own disciple. On hearing Arjunas words, Dronacharya was taken aback and went to the forest, where Ekalavya was practicing archery. On seeing Dronacharya,
Ekalavya put before the gurus feet all his wealth, body and stood with folded hands. Looking at him, Dronacharya said, Well!You give a gift to your guru. Ekalavya said. Ekalavya: This is my body, these people are my servants. Of all these, you take what you like most. Dronacharya asked him to present him the thumb of his right hand, because without the thumb of right hand , he couldnt develop archery. Thereby he could satisfy his dear student Arjuna. Dronacharya put to test the skill of his disciples : One day Dronacharya wanted to test his disciples in archery. He took them to a tree and fixed an artificial bird and tied it to a branch of the tree. He asked Dharmaraju to keep ready with his bow and arrow to strike the bird before that he asked him what was he seeing. He said that he was seeing a large tree and a bird on its branch. Dronacharya said, You cant hit the bird because you dont have clear aim at the target. Then he called Duryodhana and all others and asked same question but every body gave the same answer in different ways. Finally he called Arjuna. He said he was seeing the neck of the bird and nothing else. Then the guru was satisfied and allowed Arjuna to release his arrow. When Arjuna released his arrow, the birds head alone was struck and it fell down on the ground. The guru was satisfied that he had taught all the secrets of archery only to Arjuna. Arjuna rescues Dronacharya from a crocodile: One day Drona went to Ganges to have a bath. While he was performing the rituals, suddenly a crocodile caught hold of his leg. He shouted at his disciples to kill the crocodile and to save him. But nobody came forward but Arjuna alone killed the crocodile with five arrows. Dronacharya was very happy at the performance of Arjuna and thought that he had become quiet capable of killing king Drupada. Hence he had given all his divine astras exclusively to Arjuna only.
CHAPTER 6 The exposition of archery between Kouravas and Pandavas

One day Dronacharya wanted to exhibit the talent of both Kouravas and Pandavas in the presence of the elders. Dhrutarashtra ordered Vidura to prepare a stadium to accommodate all the royal families, to keep the elders on one side and the public on the other side. Vyasa, Bheeshma, Vidura,
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Selya, Krupa and many other dignitaries were present. The fight between Bheema and Duryodhana with their clubs: At the signal given by Dronacharya, Duryodhana and Bheema entered the arena to fight with each other. The fight was as ferocious as that of a real battle. At one point, the duel of their words exceeded the power of their clubs. Vidura was sitting by the side of Dhrutarashtra and telling him what was actually happening in the arena. When the duel of words went beyond a point, Dronacharya deputed Aswadhama to separate them and pacify. After the event was over, he declared Arjuna would expose his skills in archery. As soon as the announcement was made, Arjuna came in the arena with his bow, arrows and awaited for the orders from Dronacharya. The public were praising and gossiping as, He is the son of Indra; he is the close friend of Krishna; he is the supreme warrior among the Kouravas and Pandavas,. In this manner each one was telling what all they knew about Arjuna. On seeing Arjuna and overhearing the public gossips, Kunthi felt very happy. People started shouting and expressed enthusiasm by raising Simha Nadham. Arjuna took his bow, arrow and started exhibiting his skills in archery. With Aagneyastra, he created violent flames, from Varunastra he created agonizing waters from the sky, from Vayuvyastra he created wind with great velocity, with Meghaastra he created huge clouds on the sky, with Bhowmyastra he entered in to the earth, with Sailastra he appeared himself as a huge mountain. With Adrushyastra he disappeared from the arena. Suddenly by reciting a mantra, he became a dwarf, by another mantra he became taller than a palm tree. After exhibiting his skill in archery, he exhibited his skills with club, sword and many such mortal weapons. While the entire public and the distinguished guests were astonished, Karna came to the arena and challenged that he could present a better performance than Arjunas. On hearing the challenge of Karna, all Pandavas went to Dronacharya, whereas Duryodhanas brothers ran to Karna and embraced him. Karna questioned the skills of Arjuna: On hearing the challenge of Karna, the audience and distinguished guests were surprised to look at this splendorous person. He was very tall. He was shining with brilliance with his natural shield and earrings. He came to the arena and saluted to Dronacharya and said: Karna: Oh king! The skills that are exhibited by Arjuna are ordinary.
Even common people can also exhibit such skills. I am capable of beating Arjuna. On hearing the words of Karna all were astonished. Arjuna was furious whereas Duryodhana was jubilant. At that juncture, Dronacharya gave an opportunity to Karna to exhibit his talents. Karna took the opportunity and exhibited his skills, for which all the audience applauded him. Duryodhana and his brothers ran and embraced him and said: Duryodhana: Oh Karna! I am happy with your performance. You make a friendship with me. Now you have a direct fight with Arjuna and overwhelm him. You will share in all my royal comforts and pleasures. On hearing Duryodhanas words, Arjuna said: Arjuna: Oh Karna! This is an exposure of talents between the princes of our family. Not knowing this background, you not only came as uninvited guest and but threw challenges. With all these, it is telling your sinister nature. On hearing Arjunas words, Karna was furious and said: Karna: Oh Arjuna! Archery is nothing but a dhanur veda. Vedas are everybodys property. So the skill of archery is also open to all. You exhibit your heroism in archery, rather than by these evasive words. Immediately Duryodhana stood up and supported Karna, due to which Arjuna became furious and prepared to fight with Karna. The fight between Karna and Arjuna: Karna released a Meghastra and created an endless cloud. Sun god wanted to favour Karna and dispersed the clouds around Karna with his brilliant rays. As a result, Karna alone was outside the clouds and Arjuna was struck within the clouds. This situation had created an alarm among the elders. In the meanwhile Arjuna released Vayuvyaastra and drove away all the clouds in a moment. At this juncture Krupacharya wanted to put an end to that confusion and said: Krupacharya: Oh Karna! Arjuna was born in a royal family. He is the son of Kunthi and Panduraju. If you want to make a fight with him, first you name your parents and your family line. If you are equal, then I will allow you to fight with Arjuna. Karna was ashamed and stood silent. On looking at Karna, Duryodhana came and said.
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Duryodhana: Oh Acharya! You are telling that Arjuna hails from a royal family. Any one who is strong and valorous with a big army can be a king. Whereas, Karna is strong and valorous. All that he is missing is a big army and a kingdom. If that is the case, right now I am crowning him as the king of Angadesa. From now onwards, he is my best friend.
Duryodhana crowns Karna as the king of Angadesa:

Duryodhana took permission from Bheeshma, Dhrutarashtra and anointed him as the king of Angadesam. Duryodhana summoned thousand brahmins and made Karna to gift them all with cows and many other valuable gifts. Thus he made Karna equal to Arjuna. Karna was grateful to Duryodhana and said: Karna: Oh emperor! Duryodhana! You have honoured me by making me a king in the presence of several distinguished elders. I assure you that I dedicate my life to you whenever you want and in any manner you want. Bheema: Oh Karna! Instead of continuing your family profession of riding the chariots for others, why you embraced a kshatriya dharma. By making you the king of Angadesam, it looks like a pious havisis is being eaten by a dog. Karna was hurt at these of words of Bheema. Duryodhana said: Duryodhana: Oh Bheema! Son of Vayu! Why you have insulted Karna? Will a tiger be born to a deer? Had you ever seen a splendorous person like Karna in the families of Sutas? Can ordinary people understand the secrets of birth of great heroes like Drona, who was born in a pot? Have you not heard that many kshatriyas were born to brahmins? I find many divine qualities in Karna such as his natural shield and earrings. Perhaps he also must have born with the grace of a divine power like you. So let us not go deep in to the family line of Karna. I am sure he is capable of ruling all the earth. By that time the sun had set and all the people returned to their homes. Duryodhana and his brothers went to their palace with Karna. Bheeshma. Drona and others went with Pandavas. Though Kunthi understood Karna as her son, she couldnt reveal the same for fear of public scandal. The expedition of war on King Drupada : Dronacharya after completing his morning rituals, called all his disciples and asked them to give
him a Gurudakshina. All the princes saluted him and asked him what he wanted. Then Dronacharya asked them, Defeat King Drupada, fasten him and bring him before me. All princes led the expedition on king Drupada. King Duryodhana, Yuyutsya, Dushsasna and others attacked the city of Panchala. Drupada defeated them with little effort. Kouravas army could not fight the attack of king Drupada and they ran to Pandavas. Bheema and Arjuna led the army and attacked king Drupada Bheema and Arjuna attack King Drupada: Bheema started breaking the foreheads of elephants with his club. Satyajittu, the brother of king Drupada led a big army and attacked Bheema,who killed many of his soldiers. Drupada led a huge army and attacked Arjuna. Arjuna fastens Drupada: At one time Drupada wanted to break the bow of Arjuna. Before he did it, Arjuna smelt his intentions harped on him with a sword and caught him. He chained Drupada and took him to Hastinapura. He presented the shackled Drupada at the feet of Dronacharya as Gurudakshina and made him happy. Dronacharya was very much happy with Arjuna. Dronacharya said to Drupada: Dronacharya: Oh King Drupada! I never expected that you will have such a humiliating situation like this. Now do you understand the flimsy value of your kingdom and resources, before the anger of a brahmin? By saying so, he ordered to remove all the shackles of Drupada and asked him to leave the place. Though Drupada was released, he was still furious on Drona and was waiting for another opportunity to teach him a lesson. So he took the shelter from superior brahmins and waited for an opportunity to insult Drona. Coronation of Dharmaraja as a prince: Bheeshma, Vidura and others advised Dhrutarashtra that Yudhistara was alone eligible to be crowned as the crown prince. On the advise of elders, Dhrutarashtra made him as a prince. After coronation the remaining four Pandavas went in four directions, defeated all the kings and brought huge wealth as gifts and tributes from the subordinate kings and put all the wealth at the feet of Yudhistara. Though Yudhistara was just a prince, he was shining like an emperor. Dronacharya was pleased with Arjuna with his exemplary skills in all martial arts and initiated the great astra by name Brahmasirasu and its application and withdrawing. Dronacharya : Oh Arjuna ! This astra was prepared by Agastya
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maharishi and given to fire god Agni. Lord Agni had given it to me. Since you are great among the heroes, I am giving it to you. Please note that this astra should not be used on week limbs such as human beings. In case, it is used on week limbs, it will destroy all lokas. However you can aim it on your enemies who harass you. This will kill them. Since you have taken this astra from me, you have to give me Gurudakshina which is a promise that you would not use it against me. Duryodhana became jealous of all the Pandus. Dharmarajas crowning as prince also added to his jealousy. He openly exposed his anguish to his close mates. The advice of Kanika The minister of Sakuni : On hearing Duryodhanas words, Kanika, the minister of Sakuni, advised the following points to Duryodhana . 1. The king should rule the country in the path of dharma by using danda neeti. By implementing danda neeti, he should not have any discrimination between him and others. If a person either by ignorance or otherwise does anything detrimental to the interest of his king, he is to be punished in the presence of the people, even though he happens to be his father or guru. One has to consult wise people before commencing any action. Only such actions will give good results. The king while discharging his royal duties, should not entangle in any danger and should achieve his things with ability. Under any circumstances he should protect himself. The king should discharge his royal duties with the help of his friends depending on the time and place. However he should be able to know the shortcomings of others while not exposing his own weakness. The king while discharging his royal duties should eliminate his enemy when he is weak. If he is given time, he may recover his own strength and get help form allies. If that is the case, it is difficult to kill him. The king should always be vigilant to get the information through his spies about his enemies and about his own administration.
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Whenever the king intends to move with the public such as pleasure gardens, mountaineering and hunting, he should send his army personnal to make the necessary security arrangements. If they come across any hostile activities they should detain such persons and capture their weapons. The king in his own interest should not have faith on any one. He should suspect every one, even though one may be sincere and honest. Even such persons also must be looked upon with a suspiciously. The king should protect all his secrets as he protects himself. If those secrets were leaked out in advance, all his plans will be destroyed,. Wicked and cunning people will always submit their views with folded hands. They always please others with sweet words. They exhibit false modesty. They try to win over others with soft words. They often resort to making pledges and vows. Wicked people will pretend friendship till their job is done. Once their job is done, they will spew venom. People come to know only when a thunderbolt falls from the sky. Till such time people may not know when or where it may fall. In the similar way the king also should not expose either his anger or friendship. The person should know when it actually falls on him. An enemy is to be allowed to move freely with us, when the opportune time comes, he should be thrown out as a pot is to be thrown on a stone. Though a thorn is small, when it pierces our foot, it gives a lot of pains. In the similar manner, if the damage is done by an insignificant person, he should not be left unpunished. Even though the enemy may be a boy but one should not be showered any kindness on him, because as a mere spark of a fire destroys the entire forest. Giving protection to a person who caused damage will be as foolish as a person sleeping on the fag end of a tree branch. Those who did damage are to be killed by adopting any of the following methods. i. by using sama, dana, bedha and danda
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17. 18.
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upayas. ii. Either by infusing faith or kindness in them, iii. Making a vow on truth. Keeping Kanikas advice in mind, Duryodhana resolved that by any means the king should eliminate his enemies even though they might be his own relatives. In self protection he had to kill even his own relatives or enemies without any delay. Strengthened by these advice, Duryodhana went to Dhrutarashtra and said. Duryodhana expresses his grief with Dhrutarashtra: Duryodhana: Oh father! You have made Dharmaraja as the prince of this kingdom. He had taken advantage of your good nature and turned the people both rural and urban to his side. Since he was becoming popular day by day he was not giving due respect to you and Bheeshma. He was propagating to the people that he was the most virtuous person. All his brothers were not only valorous but also obedient to him. With all these, he was propagating to the people that he alone had the right to rule this kingdom. Vidura was also supporting his version whenever an occasion arises. In addition to the above Vidura was making them to believe that he loves all the sons of Dhrutarashtra as affectionately as his own brothers. As Bheeshma made a vow that he would not rule the country and in his absence Dhrutarashtra also couldnt continue his rule as such I am the only eligible prince to rule this country as a king. Oh father! His propaganda was so methodical; all people are talking in the same way. I am also hearing the same whereever I go. Whenever I heard such words, my heart is paining. Since you are the eldest of our family, you should also look into the interest of me and my brothers. Hence you see to it that all Pandavas be sent out of Hastinapura as early as possible. Dhrutarashtra: My son! If a person is to be crowned, the king must have been killed in a battle or he should have become a Rajarishi leaving the responsibility of ruling the country to his son before going to tapovanas. There is no other way of one becoming a king. In my case, I am being a born blind, though I have learnt Vedas, sastras I could not rule the country. Hence I was not eligible to be a king. However my younger brother Panduraju was so affectionate to me. Though I am blind he himself made me the king and took the responsibility of ruling . All the sons of Panduraju are as righteous and judicious as his father. People were also are attracted by their good
qualities. Under the above circumstances, how can I remove them? Duryodhana: Oh father! This kingdom is ours since times immemorial. Till now Panduraju ruled the country. Today if Dharmaraja becomes the king, his son alone will be eligible for the throne. In this manner, if Pandurajus family line alone rules the country, we will be forced to lose our right to rule this country. In the same manner, my children and my family line also will be deprived of becoming the kings of this dynasty. Whatever you may say, I cant live by being servants under my cousins. You take such a step that we will not be thrown in such a pitiable state. Oh father! From the beginning this kingdom belongs to you. However this had been ruled by Panduraju. He gained popularity in the public by his virtues. Since they are hailing Panduraju, people want his son Dharmaraju to be as their king. Keeping this in mind every day I was giving donations to poor people. I am honouring righteous people to make the people to my side. As a first step, you send Kunthi, Pandavas and his ministers with all their paraphernalia to Varanavatam. You see to it that they live there for some time. In the meanwhile, I will see to it that people forget the virtuous qualities of Dharmaraja. After some time, even if they come back, people would have forgetten all their virtuous qualities. Then I would not face any problem with them. Pandavas were sent to Varanavatam: Dhrutarashtra: My son! I too have similar thoughts with in me. But I could not spell, out for fear of Bheeshma. Vidura, Dronacharya and others may think badly about it. Duryodhana: Oh father! If you propose this by yourself, out of respect for you, they will agree. Those elders have equal affection on both of us, but they have a little soft corner for us only. I will tell you how. Aswadhama is my close friend. Dronacharya will always stand by the side of his son. Krupacharya will agree whatever Dronacharya says. Thereby all those three people are in favour of us. Though Bheeshma has equal love for both of us, he will not leave Hastinapura. So he will stay with us. Though Vidura is in favour of Pandavas he alone cant change your decision. So you act in this manner and allow me to live in peace. Remove the pricks from my heart and help me in my prosperity. In this manner Duryodhana was able to convince his father. After that
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Duryodhana engaged some people to inspire Pandavas by narrating the beauties of the glorious place Varanavatam. Pandavas go to Varanavatam: Dhrutarashtra arranged a meeting with all the elders of Kuru dynasty. In their presence he remembered virtuous qualities of Panduraju and wept for a while. And said: Dhrutarashtra: Oh Dharmaraja! Your brothers and mother go to Varanavatam which is on the banks of Ganges. You go with all your ministers and paraphernalia. You take brahmins from here and perform rites to your father Panduraju and give huge gifts such as gold, house etc. so that his soul may rest in peace. After staying there for some time, you come back here. A house of wax was built for Pandavas at Varanavatam : Duryodhana was happy as his father agreed to his plan. He called Purochana, a confident servant and said: Duryodhana: Oh Purochana! You are the most confidential person to me. I am entrusting the work which is to be kept as a top secret. Nobody should know about it. You go to Varanavatam immediately. There you build a huge building for Kunthi and Pandavas to live. See to it that building should be very close to our ordinance depot. Only wax and mud mixed with gum are to be used in building that palace. All the interior are to be decorated with colourful paints. You see to it that they live in comfort, faith and carefree. After they start living there, on an auspicious day you set fire to that house. In other words, they all should be burnt and reduced to ashes. After completing the work, you send word to me. The moment they all die, I will become the king. Once I become the king, I will take care of all your interest. The message of Vidura: Purochana went to Varanavatam and built a huge house of wax in a short time. Dhrutarashtra fixed an auspicious day for Pandavas to go to Varanavatam. At that time Dharmaraja was sixteen years old. Bheema was fifteen, Arjuna was fourteen, Nakula and Sahadeva were thirteen . Many Brahmins and kshatriyas came to see off Pandavas and wept for them and said, Somehow this king Dhrutarashtra is sending away all Pandavas from Hastinapuram. Even Bheeshma and others did not object to it. But these people resolved to go with Dharmaraja to Varanavatam. Dharmaraja consoled them and asked them to go back to Hastinapura. Kunthi said to Dharmaraja, Oh Dharmaraja! While Vidura was teaching you, I was also there. I suspect there is some inner meaning in his teachings.
Did you observe that? Dharmaraja said, Oh mother! Vidura said that Dhrutarashtra will appear externally, as if he is your well wisher. But he always does harm to you. Hence you be careful and vigilant in our new place. I suspect you may have to face danger either from the poison or from the fire. So you be careful in these two aspects and be vigilant as long as you live there. On hearing the words of Dharmaraja, Kunthi understood the inner meaning of Viduras teachings and thanked him herself. Pandavas reach Varanavatam : As soon as Pandavas reached Varanavatam, the people came in a big way to receive them. The entire city was decorated. Purochana came forward and took them affectionately to the newly built house. Dharmaraja appreciated the beauty of that building and said to Bheema: Dharmaraja: Oh Bheema! By the look at his building I suspect that some danger is ahead of us. All the walls look like wax. I am getting the smell of the ghee and oils. From these symptoms, I suspect there may be a danger from fire. The house is built very close to the ordinance factory. So we must be vigilant and move carefully every moment. Our well wisher and a virtuous Vidura must have suspected this and hinted me to be vigilant while living in this house. He also said there is a danger from fire or poison. Now I suspect it must be from fire. Bheema: Oh brother! When we suspect a danger is ahead for us in this building, Why should we live in this building at all? Dharmaraja: Oh Bheema! We learnt the secret of this house. We also must pretend as if we are carefree. Thereby Purochana will not suspect us. Let us stay here. If we go out of this building, Duryodhana may plan some other way to kill us. Instead of giving suspicion to Purochana and Duryodhana, let us stay here. If we ourselves burn this house there will be an open rift with Bheeshma, Vidura and others. So let us live here, before it is scorched, we go to some other place of safety and live there. Burning the house of wax: Vidura had come to know the evil plans of Duryodhana. He sent a messenger to inform Dharmaraja as, This house was made with wax under the instructions of Duryodhana. On the fourteenth day of new moon, Purochana is going to burn this house. So you permit my messenger to make a tunnel for all of you to escape from the house of wax. On hearing the message from Vidura, Dharmaraja permitted the
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messenger to dig a tunnel. Accordingly, he dug a tunnel which ended up in a forest and informed Dharmaraja to vacate this house on new moon day with his mother and brothers. On fourteenth day of new moon, Kunthi had invited many brahmins and their wives and made a feast. She gave many gifts to all those people. Purochana had appointed a woman to assist Kunthi. He instructed all her five sons to go to their mother and inform the movements of Kunthi and Pandavas. On that fateful day, the servant maid and her sons were fully drunk and slept there itself. Bheema set fire to the house by himself and said to the messenger of Vidura to inform him that they were escaping through the tunnel. After igniting the house, Bheema took his mother and brothers and traveled through the tunnel and reached the forest. After few minutes the entire house of wax was burnt to ashes. In the same house Purochana was also burnt to ashes. Next day the people thought that the fire broke from the nearby ordinance factory and hence the house was burnt to ashes. They removed all the debris. And found a dead body of a woman and five men. They thought that woman was Kunthi and the men were Pandavas. The entire people of Varanavatam cried for Kunthi and her sons. They cursed Dhrutarashtra for his wicked plan to kill Pandurajus sons. The messenger of Vidura also mixed with the people and closed the tunnel with the ashes and the burnt material so that nobody could suspect about the tunnel. The messenger went to Hastinapura and informed Vidura that Kunthi and Pandavas were safe and escaped from the house of wax. All people of Varanavatam strongly believed that that act of cruelty was done by Duryodhana himself. Dhrutarashtra Grieves : Dhrutarashtra grieved for Kunthi and Pandavas in several ways. But Duryodhana, Sakuni and others were happy for the death of Pandavas. However they all felt sorry for Purochana. Bheeshma also cried for Pandavas. Though Vidura knew that Pandavas were safe, he pretended as if he was mourning for them. Dhrutarashtra performed the last rites for Kunthi and Pandavas in a big way. Pandavas Proceeds towards south : Pandavas came out of the tunnel, entered the forest and continued their travel towards south. After traveling some distance, they found a huge banyan tree and a lake nearby. They went to the lake, took a bath and drank stomachful of water. By that
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time it was sunset. Darkness spread all over. In that darkness herds of elephants were proceeding towards the lake for water. Kunthi and other brothers were fast asleep on the bare ground. Bheema thought in himself, Wicked Duryodhana thought of killing us. I feel it is better to keep away from such relatives who often try to kill us. Though his mother and brothers were sleeping, he alone kept awake to protect them during the night. In the same forest a rakshasa was living by name Hidumbasura. He smelt some humans were nearby and said to his sister, Hidumbi, Oh sister! Some humans are there in this forest. For a long time we have not eaten human flesh. You go and kill them and prepare food for me. Hidumbi falls in love with Bheema: As instructed by her brother, Hidumbi went to the banyan tree to kill the humans. Before reaching them, she hid behind the tree to know how many were there. But she could see only Bheema standing and others were sleeping. The moment she saw Bheema, she fell in love with him. She could not suppress her love for Bheema and stood before him. Bheema looked at her and said, Who are you? From where are you coming? Why have you come in the middle of the night? Hidumbi replied, Oh dear! I am the sister of Hidumbasura, My name is Hidumbi. I fell in love with you at first sight. You marry me, so that you will not get any harm from my brother. I have decided you as my husband. If you dont listen to my words, he will kill you and your people. If you agree to marry me, I will carry all of you to a place of safety before my brother comes. Bheema said, Oh Hidumbi! I am not afraid of your brother. And for your sake, I cant leave my mother and brothers. Hidumbi said, Oh superior man! If you wish to save your mother and brothers, immediately you runaway from this place before my brother comes and see you. Bheema said, Oh beautiful Hidumbi! You know only the strength of your brother but you dont know about my strength. I can kill even thousand Hidumbasuras. So you go and send your brother. You yourself will see what will happen to him. In the meanwhile Hidumbasura himself came there. Bheema kills Hidumbasura: Bheema: Oh rakshasa! You are killing all the innocent people. Hence you deserve punishment. Now I will kill you and thereby people will live in peace. So a duel began Between them. They fought ferociously. In the meanwhile Kunthi and Pandavas woke up withdue to the noise and saw a
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beautiful girl standing near them. Kunthi asked her, Who are you? Hidumbi: I am Hidumbi, sister of Hidumbasura. Now he is fighting with your son, I got love on him at first sight, I wanted to be your daughterin- law. I told the same to my brother; he was furious and tried to kill me. At that time your son stood in front of me and started fighting with my brother Hidumbasura. In this battle, your son is going to kill my brother in a short while. Arjuna: Oh brother! Now it is getting dawn. This is the time that the strength of rakshasas will increase, so you kill him immediately. Then Bheema caught hold of his right leg and spun in the air for more than hundred times and hit on the ground. Immediately Hidumbasura died and fell on ground. Hidumbi wept bitterly for some time . Then Bheema said: Bheema: Oh Hidumbi! You are a rakshasa woman, we cant believe rakshasas. So you dont come with us. You go on your own way. Dharmaraja: Bheema! You have already killed him, who deserved to be killed. So you have protected dharma, because when you kill adharma the remaining thing will be only dharma. If you ignore dharma again, it will land us in adharma. So you dont consider her as rakshasi. We have developed a feeling, as if she is our own relative. So you marry her. Hidumbi prostrated at the feet of Kunthi and Dharmaraja and said to Kunthi: Hidumbi: Oh mother! Lust is common and natural for all living beings. For a female it will be little more. For this birth, I have chosen Bheema as my husband. I am prepared to leave all my relatives. Since you are accepting me, I will also reciprocate and help you at the hour of your need. Though I am a rakshasi, I know the past, present and future. With my knowledge, I foresee that you will fall in difficulties after some time. At that time, if you remember me in your mind, myself or my son will come and help you. She continued:As you proceed, you will find a big lake and a banyan tree on its banks. Under that tree a great maharishi by name Salihotrudu, is doing tapasya. With his power, he made the waters of that lake powerful and whoever drinks water in that lake, they would be free from hunger or thirst. That Maharishi was a very kind sadhu; he would tell you the next course of action. In a shortwhile, the great Vyasa maharishi also would come and
guide you. Kunthi and Pandavas were very happy with her knowledge, simplicity and humbleness. Bheema marries Hidumbi: Kunthi and Dharmaraja persuaded Bheema to marry Hidumbi. Though she was a rakshasi, she would become a virtuous wife . After marrying you, she will leave all wicked actions like other rakshasas and live in the path of dharma. So you marry her, go around these vanas and keep her happy. They also advised Hidumbi to marry his brother and be a virtuous wife to him and keep him happy. Then Bheema said to Hidumbi, Oh Hidumbi! Neither I can live with you forever nor can I take you with us. Hence I will live with you till you give birth to a son. After that you may live on your own. On this condition, I am marrying you. Bheema and Hidumbi prostrated at the feet of Kunthi and Dharmaraja. They blessed their marriage. After that Kunthi and other Pandavas went and lived in the ashrama of Salihotra. They used to take bath in the lake, and to perform their daily rituals and were living under the banyan tree. One day Vyasa maharishi appeared where Kunthi and her sons were living. Vyasa maharishi: Oh Kunthi! You and your sons know all dharmas. In spite of the blessings of myself and Krishna, you are facing difficulties from cruel Duryodhana and others. From this you should understand that nobody can escape fate. Since you are living in the path of dharma, these difficulties will not stay long and you will get back your kingdom. From here you go to Ekachakrapuram. There you will have every thing good. There you live in the form of a brahmins. I will meet you all again in Ekachakrapuram. Oh Kunthi! Your son Dharmaraja has four brothers who are as powerful as Vishnus four hands. His brothers will win over all the kings on earth and make Dharmaraja an emperor. He will enhance the prestige of Kuru dynasty. Bheema will have a strong son by Hidumbi, who will help all of you at times of difficulties. The birth of Ghatothkaja: Hidumbi gave birth to a son in the form of a rakshasa, who looked ugly. He went to Kunthi and Pandavas, prostrated at their feet and said, Oh parents! I go and rule the rakshasa and Pichasa
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communities. Whenever you want any help from me, You just remember me in your mind. Immediately I will stand before you. I will do whatever you want. By saying so, he flew with his mother in the northern direction. Pandavas lives in Ekachakrapuram Pandavas took the form of brahmins and began to live among the brahmins in Ekachakrapuram. They took the profession of Bhikshatana from the brahmin houses. Whatever they got, Kunthi used to make the entire food in to two parts. One half share for Bheema and the second half for other four brothers were made. Though they have chosen to live by begging, the villagers used to be astonished at the shining brilliance in their faces. One day the brothers heard loud cries from the house of a brahmin. Kunthi: My sons! These brahmins helped us by giving food and shelter. Now they are facing some unbearable grief. I feel it is a god given opportunity to us to express our gratitude for them. First I will go and enquire what is the problem. The Brahmins told Kunthi about their miseries. The misery was caused by Bakhasura. The episode of Bakhasura : Oh Kunthi ! A rakshasa by name Bakhasura is living in the nearby forest. He is killing and eating people and animals indiscriminately. Our king tried his level best to give us protection but he could not succeed. Finally he made an agreement with that rakshasa that he would provide him every day with one cartful of food, two buffalos, and a man from each house. As long as the king honours his commitments, he would not enter the villages and kill people. Since a long time, we are following the kings orders by providing food to him. We have to send a man everyday to be eaten by Bakhasura. Today it has come to our turn to supply the cart load of food which we made ready. No problem! We also made ready two buffalos for him. No problem! In our house we are four people, myself, my wife, my daughter and a son. My son is too small a boy and he alone should perform the last rites to me and to provide pindas to my ancestral parents. So I cant send him to be eaten by the rakshasa. My daughter is very young and I have to give her in marriage to some one. So I cant send her. I married my wife and promised her at the time of marriage that I would protect her. Agni is witness for that. So I alone have to go and satisfy the rakshasa and also obey the kings order. For me all my people are grieving. Hence nobody can save us from this
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trouble. The members of the Brahmin family and his relatives wept inconsolably. On hearing this episode, Kunthi said, Oh pious brahmin! All these days you have given us food and shelter. So it is the time for us to repay your debt. I have five sons. Even if I lose one son, still I have four sons. So you permit me to repay my debt to your family. You stop weeping and be happy. Kunthi went to her house, narrated the entire episode to her sons and asked Bheema to go and kill that rakshasa. Bheema agreed to his mothers words and took the cart load of food, yoked with two buffalos. On his way to the rakshasa, he thought to himself, I am very hungry. The entire cart load of food is just sufficient for me. With that added strength it will be easy for me to kill that rakshasa. By thinking so, he devoured all the food and went to rakshasa empty handed. Looking at empty cart, the rakshasa became furious and asked Bheema, Oh man! I am very hungry; you not only came late but also came without any food in the cart. The king had broken his promise. From now onwards, I will enter the village and kill people as before. Before that I will eat you first and assuage my hunger. Saying so, the rakshasa attacked Bheema. Before rakshasa came nearer him Bheema pulled out a palm tree and hit at rakshasa till he was dead. By evening he returned to the village on his bullock cart and narrated to the brahmins how he killed the rakshasa. All the villagers surrounded Bheema, Kunthi and her sons to express their happiness.
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CHAPTER 7 The birth of Drushtajyumna and Draupadi

One day a brahmin came to that village and conveyed the news to his fellow brahmins about Draupadis Swayamwara in the following manner. Brahmin: Drupada was born in a family of Barathwaja. Drupada and Dronacharya learnt archery from a common guru by name Agniveshya. Many many years later, Drona went to see his friend and now the King Drupada for some help. The king insulted his childhood friend Drona. The humiliated Dronacharya did not want to live in his kingdom and migrated to Hastinapura. There he taught archery to Pandavas. One day he asked his disciples, Kouravas and Pandavas to defeat King Drupada as Guru dakshina. Arjuna defeated Drupada, fastened him and made him to stand before his guru. Drona retorted king Drupada for the humiliations he made to him and warned him not to insult brahmins and ordered Arjuna to let him free. King Drupada was very much humiliated and could not digest the insult from a brahmin. King Drupada invited many superior brahmins and asked them to perform a yaga for him by which he should have a son who could defeat Dronacharya and a girl to become a wife to Arjuna. He was given to understand that only two brahmins by name Yaji and Upayaji could perform such a yaga. They were performing tapasya on the banks of Ganges. The king went to those tapasvis and requested them to perform the yaga and promised that he would give one lakh cows with calves as a gift. Upayaji said, Oh king! On principle, I dont perform yaga in return for any gift. So you meet my brother Yaji who doesnt have such principle. The king went to Yaji, persuaded him to perform yaga. He agreed and asked the king to procure all the necessary materials for the yaga. King Drupada was happy and took the tapasvi to his kingdom and performed a yaga with his wife Kokila devi. At the end of the yaga, all the devatas came to receive their havisis in person. From the flames of agnigundam, a son was born riding a chariot with bow, arrows and sword. He looked ferocious. After him a girl was born with divine splendour. At that time a voice was heard from the sky, Oh king you name this boy as Drushtajyumna and the name the girl as Krishna.
The marriage of Draupadi: King Drupada came to know that Kunthi and all Pandavas were dead in a house of wax. With the death of Arjuna, the king was confused to whom his daughter Krishna was to be married. His priest came and told, Oh king! At the time of birth, the voice from the sky was heard as that all Pandavas would have longevity. So Arjuna must be alive somewhere. So you announce a Swayamwara for Krishna. He declared valour as the price for his daughter and arranged a Maschya yantra. That yantra would be revolving very fast at a height. By looking its shadow in a pool of oil kept below the yantra, the aspirant should hit that Maschya yantra with an arrow . On hearing the Swayamwara news from the brahmin, Kunthi and Pandavas started for Panchalam and reached soon. There Vyasa maharishi met them on their way and said: Vyasa maharishi: Oh Kunthi! Whereever Dharmaraja is there, that land will have all virtues. Long ago a Muni kanya did not get married for a long time. She penanced meditating on Siva, and sought a husband. After some time Siva appeared before her and asked her what do you want. She was very much confused and puzzled by looking at Siva and out of amazement, she asked for a good husband but repeated it for five times. Lord Siva smiled at her and said your desire will be fulfilled and then disappeared. The same Muni kanya is now living by the name Krishna, as the daughter of king Drupada. King Drupada had announced the Swayamwara. So you go to the city of Drupada. After saying this, Vyasa maharishi took leave of them. While Pandavas were travelling towards Panchalam, they reached the banks of River Ganga. As it was night, Arjuna lit the torch and guided other towards the river. At that time a Gandharva by name Angavarnudu was taking bath in the river. He heard the sounds of humans and was annoyed for the disturbance and said: Angavarna: On this earth, during the midnight, dawn and dusk humans should not enter waters. Those times are reserved for bhootas, rakshasas and Gandharvas only. I am the friend of Kubera owning the entire land and water of Ganges. So whoever is trying to enter water is hereby warned to go back. Arjuna: Oh Gandharva! All your warnings are good for weak limbs. We are all kshatriyas and superior heroes. We have the right to go anywhere we like. Nature can be enjoyed by one and all. By saying so all Pandavas
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entered the waters. The Gandharva sent several arrows on Arjuna, and in reply Arjuna released an Aagny astra. With that the chariot of gandarva was burnt and fell down. Arjuna caught hold of Angavarna and brought him to Dharmaraja. The wife of Gandharva requested Dharmaraja to release her husband. Dharmaraja pitied on him ordered Arjuna to release him. Angavarna: Oh Arjuna! I would like to make friendship with you. As a token of our friendship, we will exchange our astras. All gandarvas are familiar with Chakshush asastra. By virtue of this, people cant see us even when we stand before them. I will give you my astra. In return, you give me your aagnay astra. Since you have burnt my chariot, Chitraratha, from today onwards I am changing my name as Chitraratha. I will also gift you hundred horses of Gandharva pedigree to your brothers. Gandharva advises Pandavas to have their own priest : Oh Dharmaraja! Though you are a tapasvi and learnt Vedas and archery from Dronacharya, you are to achieve all purusharthas only with the help of a priest. Your comforts in this world and the other world can be achieved only with the help of a priest. Since you all have control on your senses and practicing Brahmacharya, you were able to defeat me. If you have a priest of your own even the king becomes a slave to his senses, he can win the battles. A good priest can always teach the realities of dharma. So you have a priest immediately and go with him wherever you go. Oh Dharmaraja! Long back King Samvartana fell in love with Tapati, the daughter of sun god. As he was expressing her love to her, she disappeared. He could not bear her disappearance and cried bitterly. Tapati was also fell in love with him and hence she spoke to him from the sky in an invisible form, Oh king! I am under the control of my father, sun god. If you convince him, I will be pleased to marry you. King Samvartana penanced by meditating on Vasista maharishi. After some time, he appeared and asked him, What do you want?. The king said, Oh maharishi! I fell in love with Tapati, the daughter of sun god. She also loves me. So I request you to go to sun god and convince him and arrange our marriage. Vasista went to sun god and explained him all the good qualities of Samvartana and advised him to marry his daughter to the king. The sun god was pleased with the words of Vasista maharishi and married his daughter,
Tapati with king Samvartana. Oh Dharmaraja! Sun god will run three hundred and sixty four amadas per minute. Only Vasista maharishi alone is able to meet surya and arrange the marriage of Samvartana with Tapati. Without the help of priest, he could not get married. So a king who has a priest will achieve all good and have prosperity. Since Samvartana had a wife of his choice, he was happy in wandering all over forgetting the rule of his country and he left dharma, thereby rains did not fell on his lands. At that time Vasista took Samvartana with him to Hastinapura. There he made him to perform yagas. All the people felt happy. Only at that time king Kuru was born to Tapati and Samvartana. That king Kuru is the earliest forefather of your Kuru dynasty. From then onwards you are all called as Kouravas. And people also started calling as the children of Tapati. On hearing from the Gandharva, Arjuna asked him to tell the story of Vasista. The episode of Vasista : Gandharva : One day, Viswamitra, a powerful king, went to forest for hunting with a big army. Viswamitra was tired and went to Vasistas ashrama. Vasista received the king and wanted to give him and his army a good feast. Vasista asked his cow, Homadhenu by name, Sabala to make arrangements for hosting Viswamitra and his army. In a short time Sabala fed them all. Viswamitra was astonished at the power of Sabala. Oh maharishi! I will give you one lakh cows, you give this Sabala to me. Vasista said, Oh King! With the help of Sabala, I was able to worship ancestral parents and Agni. Without Sabala, I cant do anything. She is not merely a cow; she is as good as my daughter. Viswamitra got annoyed and said, Oh Maharishi! I am a Kshatriya. If you dont give, I will take this cow by force. You can do whatever you can. Vasista kept quiet. The soldiers of Viswamitra tied Sabala. They tried to take her with them but she refused to go with them. Finally she came to Vasista and said, Oh father! Why are you sending me with these cruel people? What harm did I do to you? Vasista said to her, Oh Sabala! I have not given you to the king. They themselves are taking you by force. I am a poor brahmin. I have no power to fight them. If you want, you can show your power and get rid of them. Then Sabala produced countless soldiers from her body, defeated Viswamitra and his soldiers. Viswamitra was humiliated with the defeat at the hands of a cow. He made one of his sons as king and left for long tapasya to get more strength than Vasista. He did severe tapasya. Ultimately he
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became a Brahmarishi. Oh Chitraratha! You are our well wisher. You know everything. So you yourself suggest me whom can we take as priest and where he will be available. Chitraratha said Oh Arjuna! Nearby there is a pious place by name Utkacham. There you meet a brahmin by name Dhaumya. You request him to be your priest. Then Pandavas crossed river Ganges and travelled towards Utkacham Draupadi Swayamwara Dhaumya was a pious person . He was most respected by the righteous persons. On seeing him, all Pandavas felt happy and felt as if they got back their kingdom. Pandavas saluted him and requested him to be their priest. He too agreed to be their priest. After taking his blessings, Pandavas proceeded towards the city of Drupada with Dhaumya. On their way they saw a group of brahmins. Dharmaraja asked them, Where are you going? They said, We are going to the city of Drupada to attend the Swayamwara of his daughter Krishna. Since she was the daughter of Drupada, she was also called as Draupadi. The Swayamwara is going to be performed today. Many Kings are coming to attend the Swayamwara. If you also wish to come there you come with us. While they were all proceeding towards the city of Drupada, Vyasa maharishi came in front of them. Kunthi and Pandavas prostrated at his feet and took his blessings. He told them that Arjuna is going to win the Swayamwara and disappeared. After reaching Drupadas city, they found the city was full of kings from various countries. Drupada was also worried since he wanted to give his daughter to Arjuna but he did not know where they were and whether they were alive or not. Drupada announced that The person who strikes the Maschya yantra with five arrows will marry my daughter. Drupada respected all the participating kings and arranged suitable accommodation for their stay. Draupadi decorated herself with white garments and came to the arena where the Swayamwara was taking place . On seeing Draupadi each king wanted to marry her. The prince Drushtajyumna came to the arena and saluted to the homa and worshipped with flowers. He showed the Maschya yantra to all the participant kings and said, Oh kings! This Maschya yantra is to be broken with five arrows. Whoever succeeds will marry my sister. The yantra will be revolving fast; you show your skill and try to win my
sister. Among the king Duryodhana and his brothers, Karna, Aswadhama, Somadatta, Selya, sons of Virata, Akrura, Sarana and many other were present. Sri Krishna alone identified Pandavas in the form of brahmins. He noticed them as a spark of fire in the middle of ash. He felt happy and said to himself that, Arjuna alone can win Draupadi. All the kings tried to win the bride, but could not succeed. On the advice of Sri Krishna, none of the yadava heroes participated in the Swayamwara. Jarasandha, Sisupala, Selya, and Karna also failed to strike at the Maschya yantra. At last Arjuna got up . All the brahmins were surprised to look at him and blessed him stating that, This brahmin should win the Swayamwara. Then Arjuna remembered his guru, Dronacharya, worshipped him mentally and took the bow and fixed the arrow on the string and released five arrows at a time and broke the Maschya yantra. All the brahmins were happy and said he was not an ordinary brahmin. Dharmaraja, Nakula and Sahadeva went to inform their mother. Drushtajyumna went to receive Arjuna and offered a royal welcome. Draupadi slowly walked towards Arjuna with a garland in her hand and put it around the neck of Arjuna. The kings who were defeated could not digest the insult. Duryodhana and other kings declared a war against king Drupada saying You have insulted all Kshatriyas. All the brahmin community stood behind Arjuna and were ready to give a fight with kings. There was a struggle between brahmins and kings for a while. However the brahmins could not fight with the kings. Drupada was also afraid of the commotion among the royal communities. But Arjuna came out and chased all the kings with his bow and arrows. In that battle Bheema also joined Arjuna. The kings could not fight with Bheema and Arjuna. Sri Krishna was surprised and said to Balarama, Oh brother! The person who is holding that tall bow and chasing the enemies is none other than Arjuna. You also look at the person who is uprooting the trees and fighting with the kings is none other than Bheema. The moment Arjuna hit the Maschya yantra, the person who left this assembly was Dharmaraja. The two persons who accompanied him were Nakula and Sahadeva. On hearing Krishnas words, Balarama said, I am pleased to see them all here. Somehow they escaped from the house of wax and survived. I am happy to se them all here. To satisfy Duryodhana, Karna went and fought with Arjuna. Selya opposed Bheema. In that battle the brahmin community was astonished to watch the battle of Karna and Arjuna. The arrows they released from their
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bows covered the sky and earth. Looking at Arjunas fight, Karna said, Oh Brahmin! I have seen your skill in releasing your arrows. Certainly you are not a brahmin. You tell me the truth. Are you Parasurama, or Indra or lord Siva? Other than those heroes, nobody else can stand before me and fight. I am appreciating your skill. For which Arjuna said, Oh Karna! I am none among those people you mentioned. However I know all the tricks and skills in archery. I am ready to defeat you. You stop talking and continue to fight. On hearing Arjunas words, Karna thought in himself I dont wish to fight with a Brahmin, as a mark of respect to my guru, Parasurama and went back. Selya fought with Bheema. Selya also felt that he didnt want to fight a brahmin and so withdrew. All the brahmin communities appreciated Bheema and Arjuna for their extraordinary valour. At that time Duryodhana had felt that Karna could win over any one other than Parasurama, Siva and Arjuna. In the same way Selya also had a feeling that he could defeat all except Bheema for which Sir Krishna said, This superior brahmin had won the Swayamwara and secured the beautiful Draupadi which many other kings failed to do. Who could defeat this valorous Brahmin?. By saying so, Sir Krishna wanted to divert their attention from Pandavas and left the place. Arjuna took Draupadi with him to his house . [In Mahabaratha this is the first scene where Sir Krishna appeared in public. In this small scene itself, he had shown diplomacy, statesmanship and tact. Sir Krishna alone was able to recognize all Pandavas who were in the disguise of brahmins . He had personally witnessed the superiority of Arjunas archery. He was fully aware that Arjuna was going to participate in Swayamwara . Hence He had dissuaded the heroes of Yadava community, Vrushti, Bhoja, and Andhaka in participating Swayamwara. He had also pacified Duryodhana and others to discourage the discussion of Pandavas and see to it that they leave the Swayamwara arena.] At home, Kunthi was confused in her mind about her children. All my sons went to watch the Swayamwara and did not turn up. Duryodhana and others also might have come from Hastinapura to participate in Swayamwara. If they recognize them, they might even kill them. Let Vyasa maharishis and Devata communities save my children. At that time Dharmaraja, Nakula, Sahadeva reached their home. After them Arjuna, Draupadi and Bheema came. Arjuna went to Kunthi, prostrated
at her feet and said, Oh mother! We brought today a peculiar biksha. She without asking what the nature of biksha was, as usual she said that they share it equally. After knowing that biksha was nothing but Draupadi, she very much repented at her thoughtless blessings and said to Dharmaraja : Oh Dharmaraja! Unconsciously the word came from my mouth saying that you five share the biksha equally. Sofar no untruthful word came out of my mouth. But what I said was an unusual practice in the world. Let us presume it is the word of god. Even Dharmaraja also felt confused in his mind and consoled his mother and said to Arjuna, Oh Arjuna! You alone marry her keeping agni as witness. On hearing Dharmaraja, Arjuna said. Oh brother! You are the eldest of all our brothers. Leaving you how can I marry? Hence you accept her as your wife. We four are firm on this word. On seeing the beauty of Draupadi all the five brothers looked at her with lust. Dharmaraja said, Vyasa maharishi must have known this situation much in advance. As maharishi said we all accept her as our wife. So let us not have several opinions in this matter. We shall abide by words of Vyasa maharishi. Sir Krishna and Balarama arrive: Krishna and Balarama were the nephews of Kunti. They came to see their aunts sons. They introduced themselves as Krishna and Balarama and saluted Kunthi and Dharmaraja, embraced Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. After having preliminary enquires, Dharmaraja said to Krishna. Dharmaraja: Oh Krishna! Though Duryodhana and others tried to assassinate us, by the grace of god, we came out of that danger. To protect ourselves, we are moving in the world in the disguise of brahmins. By gods grace, nobody had recognized us. How come you are able to recognize us? Krishna said with a smile: Krishna: Oh Dharmaraja! clouds may cover the sun but they cant cover his splendour. In the same way, though you are hiding yourselves in the form of Brahmins, the brilliance is known to me. How can you hide your brilliance? In other words your valour alone made me to know who you are. When Duryodhana conspired to burn you in the house of wax, who else can escape other than you. From now onwards, every thing good will happen to you. After a stay of a few days, Krishna and Balarama left. In the palace of Drupada, all were confused. They knew that a brahmin had won their
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daughter. But nobody knew who he was. Nobody knew his antecedents. So he sent his son Drushtajyumna to follow them silently and know who were they. Drushtajyumna went silently behind Pandavas and came to know all about their background. He went back to his father and reported thus: Drushtajyumna: Oh father! Bheema and Arjuna had prostrated at the feet of an old woman. Draupadi also prostrated that woman. All the four brothers went to the brahmin houses and procured Biksha and handed over the entire food to that old woman. The old woman called Draupadi and said, Oh daughter! You take all the food and take out one portion of the food brought by them. You keep it for guests, birds and animals to be offered. Divide the remainder of the food, and further divide it into two parts. [ In olden days, even the food procured by begging a portion was kept for the guests; to teach this tradition to her daughter- in- law, Kunti had asked Draupadi to allot a portion of the food for guests. This is the accepted duty of a gruhasta. To make known this tradition, the writer Vyasa maharishi had taught us form the mouth of Kunthi.] My daughter! You make the food into two halves. One half you give it to Bheema. He requires more food than others because he has the strength of ten thousand elephants. The remaining half, you give equally to other sons. If there is any thing left by them, we both shall eat. Drushtajyumna: (Continueshis report)They were all talking about the secrets of various astras, their application, withdrawal and so many other topics related to the war strategies. From their words, I understood either that they were superior kshatriyas or brahmins who learnt danurveda.I tried our best to know their antecedents but couldnt succeed. On hearing the words of Drushtajyumna, Drupada was happy and sent his priest to the house, where Pandavas were living. Dharmaraja warmly received him . The priest said to Dharmaraja, Oh superior brahmin! My king is anxious to know your antecedents and the history of your forefathers. On hearing the words of the priest, Dharmaraja said, Oh superior brahmin! Your king had announced that he would give his daughter in marriage to whoever broke the maschyayantra. This hero had broken maschyayantra and won the princess in the presence of all kings. In addition to this background, what is it your king could gain by knowing more about our antecedents and the history of our forefathers. The person who broke maschyayantra had proved his superiority. What your king wanted had
been achieved by giving his daughter to a great hero. On hearing the words of Dharmaraja, the priest went and informed King what all Dharmaraja said. Then Drupada said to his son Drushtajyumna, Oh Drushtajyumna! You get ready the chariots and go to their house and bring them to our palace. Drushtajyumna went and said to Dharmaraja The king has arranged these chariots for you, you may board i the chariot of your liking and come to our palace. On hearing Drushtajyumnas words, Kunthi and her sons with Draupadi boarded the chariots which were decorated with diamond, gems and gold which were normally used by kings and went to Drupadas palace. Drupada gave them several valuable gifts. They however accepted the swords, shields, bows, arrows, quiver, chariots, horses and elephants only. Drupada rightly guessed that they belonged to a superior kshatriyas. Drupada asked Dharmaraja: Oh gentleman! Are you kshatriyas or brahmins or are siddhas wandering in the form of human beings? Did you come to marry Draupadi from the heaven? Dharmaraja said, Oh king Drupada! We are kshatriyas , sons of Panduraju. I am the eldest of my brothers. My name is Dharmaraja. They are my brothers Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. She is Kunthi, our mother. Drupada was immensely happy to hear the words from Dharmaraja and shed tears like a stream. No word came out of his mouth and he became dumb for a while. Finally he said, To my great fortune, you came out from that house of wax and survived. One day while Drupada was in a meeting in durbar , he said. I am fortunate that the son of Indra, the grandson of Vichitraveerya, and a superior warrior Arjuna will marry my daughter. Who else will be there in this world more fortunate than me? Arjuna broke the maschyayantra and won my daughter and he is going to marry my daughter. Dharmaraja said, Oh king! First I will marry your daughter, then Bheema will marry her. Drupada said, If that is the case, you alone marry her. Being the eldest, you are eligible to marry first. We dont have any objection. Then Dharmaraja said, Oh king! All my brothers will marry your daughter. This is my mothers desire. We never disobey her words.
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On hearing Dharmarajas words king Drupada was astonished. Oh Dharmaraja! Normally one man can marry many women. But one woman will not marry many men. This is an unusual practice in the world. Even in puranas it is unheard of. Oh Dharmaraja! You know all traditions and customs. You know all dharmas and you have read Vedas. However this subject we shall discuss at length tomorrow with your mother, your brothers, myself and my son Drushtajyumna. While they were all debating, Vyasa maharishi suddenly appeared there. All welcomed him and worshipped. Drupada said, Oh maharishi! Dharmaraja and all his brothers want to marry my daughter. You know all dharmas and traditions in the world. Oh pure and pious maharishi! You please guide us; what is the right course for us? We shall obey your orders. Dharmaraja said, Oh king! my mind will never entangle in adharma. What I said is the right course. You give your daughter Draupadi to me and my brothers. Not only that, earlier Jatila with the power of her tapasya married seven rishis. Another munikanya by name Dakshayani became wife of ten people. Not only that mother is the superior guru. So we obey our mothers order. Then Drupada said:
Drupada Oh Vyasa maharishi! We cant analyze and decide all the

intricacies of dharma . Hence we obey the orders of Vyasa maharishi . Whatever he says is to be obeyed by all of us. Then Vyasa maharishi said, Oh king! Dharmaraja knows all the realities of dharma. He will not deviate from the path of dharma even for the sake of fun. In the same way, Kunthi has all divine virtues. No untruth word will come form her mouth. In short, what they are telling is the opinion of all devatas. So you dont confuse your mind and give your daughter in marriage to all the five brothers. I will tell you the story behind this situation. You listen. Vyasa: Long ago there lived a great tapasvi by name Moudhgaludu. Indrasena was his wife and she was serving her husband with patience though he was old and suffering from leprosy. One day the maharishi took pity on her and asked, What do you want? She said to her husband that she wished to enjoy her sexual life in five ways. He satisfied her lust with the power of his tapasya. However as she was not satisfied she was born as the daughter of king of Kasi and left unmarried for a long time. She was vexed in life, went for tapasya, meditating on Siva. When the lord appeared and asked her, What do you want? In a perplexed mind, she said, she wanted a good husband and repeated it five times. Then she had realized her mistake
and requested the lord, Oh Lord Siva! Though I may live with five husbands, my virginity should be intact. I should be pure towards my husbands, and should be chaste and virtuous. My sensual desires should be fresh. I should not lose any of my husbands while I am alive. While she was talking to lord Siva; Yama, Vayu, Indra and aswini devatas appeared before her and said that they would take human form and would become her husbands. At the request of Brahma, Yama, Vayu, Indra and aswini devatas gave birth with their amsas to Dharma, Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva respectively. He also requested Vishnu to take the form of Balarama and Krishna. Of the two, Sir Krishna will always help these five brothers. Draupadi has penanced and took the amsa of Lakshmi and born from the yagnagundam in the name of Krishna. Oh Drupada! To make you understand better I will give you the divine sight, by which you yourself can see all that I said. Drupada had seen every thing with his own eyes and was surprised. Again Vyasa maharishi said, Oh Drupada! In olden days also such marriages had happened. Hence you perform the marriage of Draupadi to all five Pandavas. And Vyasa maharishi said to Dharmaraja, Oh Dharmaraja! Today is an auspicious day, all of you marry Draupadi today itself. On hearing the words of Vyasa maharishi, Drupada was happy and conducted the marriage of his daughter with all the five brothers.
CHAPTER 8 Pandavas live in the palace of Drupada

After the marriage, Pandavas and Draupadi were living happily in the palace of Drupada. One day Kunthi said to Draupadi, Oh Draupadi! You happily live with all my five sons. You worship gurus, elders, pious and just people. You treat all living beings equally. You must associate in performing Rajasuya and other yagas with your husbands. With the grace of all the people, you worship and with the blessings of you husbands you give birth to valorous sons and grand sons. Since Pandavas were living happily in the palace of Drupada, Krishna and Balarama sent several valuable gifts to them. After some time, while Duryodhana was talking with Sakuni, Dushsasana and Karna, spies came
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and said, Oh king! The person who broke the maschyayantra was none other than Arjuna. The valorous person who drove all the kings was none other than Bheema. All the five brothers married Draupadi and are living happily in the palace of Drupada. On hearing the news of Pandavas, Duryodhana was unhappy since the Pandavas escaped unhurt from the house of wax. He also grieved for the untimely death of Purochana. Duryodhana was seriously thinking to corner Pandavas by isolating and to deprive any help from anybody. Since Pandavas became relatives to Drupada, it was difficult to separate them from the alliance of Drupada. Among the yadavas also Krishna was more sympathetic towards Pandavas. So we cant isolate them from yadavas. However by attracting Sisupala to our side, we can make a rift among yadavas. Vidura lives in my house but always thinks about the wellbeing of Pandavas only, he pondered. Duryodhana went to his father Dhrutarashtra and said that all Pandavas have married Draupadi in a Swayamwara of king Drupada. Vidura said, Oh king! Draupadi was born from a homagundam. Pandavas not only won Draupadi in a Swayamwara but also defeated all the kings who were present at that time. On hearing the words of Vidura, Duryodhana was furious at him and waited till he left the house. He went with Karna to Dhrutarashtra and said, Oh father! You always spend all your time with Vidura. You nod your head for whatever he says. You are not at all bothered about the wellbeing of your own children. Because of Vidura, we rarely get an opportunity to talk to you with an open mind. Now since he has left, I would like to talk to you frankly. Dhrutarashtra: My son! I always pretend as if I had a great love for Pandavas. But what all Vidura says, I wont take them to my heart. However I wont expose to him my inner heart. In short, what all you are planning about Pandavas, I too have the same in my mind. Unfortunately the Pandavas have divine blessings. What can we do for that? Now you tell me what do you want me to do? Duryodhana: Oh king! Now Drupada is giving shelter to Pandavas. They should be separated from them. If they continue to live there,they may become stronger in a short time. With the help of Krishna and Balarama,
they may acquire the alliance of yadavas also. If that goes well, it is very difficult for us to defeat them. So it is our first and foremost duty to isolate them from king Drupada. If they are in front of you, you can monitor closely and check them. Once they come here, we shall try to cause a rift among the five brothers because all of them are living with one woman. If she wants, she can make a rift among themselves. If they are here, somehow or other we can monitor them on a day to day basis. Firstly, if we are able to kill Bheema, we can eliminate other four without any difficulty. If Bheema and Arjuna are together, even devatas cant defeat them. So first let us eliminate Bheema, Arjuna alone cant do much damage. Even if Arjuna raises his head, Karna alone will kill him. We have now discussed on various aspects. Now we have to choose the best way to get faster and better results. Karna: Oh Duryodhana! Your plan will not succeed, because Drupada is strong by himself and he has a strong son who is obedient to his father. Drupada has many subordinate kings and strong kshatriyas under him. Added to that, now Pandavas also proved their valour in Swayamwara. Under these circumstances, Drupada may not agree to send back Pandavas to Hastinapura. In the same way, one cant cause any rift between Draupadi and Pandavas, because she is chaste and virtuous . Not only that till now all attempts you made to kill Bheema were futile. So there is no guarantee that your plan may succeed in killing him in future also. So the only course open to this problem is nothing but declare a war on Drupada and eliminate all in one stroke. (Karna continues)Indra has won all the three worlds by his valour. Long ago Baratha ruled the entire earth only with his valour. If one wants to be glorious, he should go on an expedition of war and win all the earth. So we shall declare a war on Drupada, we defeat him and bring Pandavas as our captives. Dhrutarashtra appreciated what all Karna said. However he didnt want to take an independent decision without consulting Bheeshma, Drona and others. Hence he sent word to Bheeshma and others. Accordingly they were invited .They came and discussed everything in detail. Then Bheeshma said: Bheeshma: Oh King! For me the children of Dhrutarashtra and the children of Panduraju are same. Both are strong, brave, courageous and valorous. They acquired several great qualities as superior warriors. Hence I will not agree any war with Pandavas. Because the kingdom we are ruling
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now, had come through our ancestors, from times immemorial. Pandavas also have a share in ruling this country. So you give them half kingdom for their independent administration. This is reasonable and justified. This is an acceptable formula by law, acceptable to our relatives and will be appreciated by all the people. Otherwise if we dont give their share, we will become inglorious in the eyes of everybody. Living without glory is as bad as dead. So, Oh Duryodhana! the kingdom we are ruling from times immemorial has a share for Pandavas also. So you give the share to Pandavas and retain your glory in this world and other worlds. Hearing this sound advice of Bheeshma, Dronacharya counselled Duryodhana as follows: Dronacharya: Oh Duryodhana! What you grandfather, Bheeshma told is on the righteous path. All people in the world will accept his words. I also advice you to give their half share and you both live in friendly terms and be ruling the countries well. You dont lend your ears to Karna and Sakuni. Dont try to have any battle with Pandavas. You live with them in friendship. Righteous people, elders, people of wisdom and impartial people will leave anger and hate before they take any right decision. You understand Pandavas are shining only because of their righteous and truthful activities. So you give their half of the kingdom to them. Oh Duryodhana! All of us thought that Pandavas were dead, but they came back with life. Is it not a matter to be celebrated? But dont entertain waging war against Pandavas. Even Indra cant get a win against them. Oh Dhrutarashtra! You send new cloths and gifts to king Drupada . You bring Pandavas to Hastinapura . You send Dushsasana and Karna to bring them here. Karna: Oh Dronacharya! You became old. Because of your age, you think you can talk what all you want to talk and you say that itself is dharma. But they dont tell what gain the king gets from their advice. Pandavas are natural enemies of Kouravas. How is it possible to bring them in a friendly manner? How it can form a dharma. Is it not against the rule of justice? Ministers can talk any thing they like, but the king alone should take what is good to him. The king should leave bad and accept the good only. Long back the king Nitantnu couldnt rule the country since he became old. At that time the minister took the entire control in his hands and swindled all the kingdom for himself. In course of time the king was driven out. Hence the ministers may give advice in the mask of a well wisher but internally they do harm only. Dronacharya: (Furious at Karna) Oh Karna! If your advice is carried
out, this Kuru kingdom will land in trouble. By giving such an advice, how can you be a friend/ We are all advising the king that all the sons of Panduraju and Dhrutarashtra must live in peace and harmony with each other. You say we are all enemies to the king and the kingdom. Whereas you are asking them to fight each other and claim yourself as a friend. Vidura: Oh king Dhrutarashtra! Bheeshma and Drona are pious and virtuous people. Whatever they thought will send you in the right path. That alone will do good to you. Dushsasana, Karna and Sakuni are all politically immature and ignorant. They dont know the difference between dharma and adharma. They were all warmongers. Their thinking will not be pure. So you dont take their words in to cognizance and but invite Pandavas immediately. Give them half the kingdom. By nature, they are all strong and now they became relatives to king Drupada who is very powerful. Drushtajyumna is also as strong as Pandavas. Balarama, Krishna and Satyaki are friendlier with Pandavas. In this manner Pandavas have the divine strength as well as the human strength . Oh king! To be frank Pandavas have more respect, love and affection for you, than your children. Tell me, are they not your sons? Is it fair on your part to throw them away?
Vidhura continues: Oh king you please listen to my words. Arjuna

is more powerful than Indra. If Bheema enters battlefield, he fights with the strength of thousand elephants. When they are in the battle field, who can face them. Dharmaraja is also equally courageous apart from he has the righteous qualities of dharma . They have already exhibited their valour and vigour. If any body advises you to develop enemity and to fight them, they are only your enemies in the mask of a friend. By your kind affection and by the grace of god, they came out from the kernel of death. Oh king! You became inglorious by engaging Purochana to build a house of wax. Now you wash away that sin by calling them in to your fold and giving half kingdom to them. I told you several times that Duryodhana will be the public enemy. Now you act as per the advice of Bheeshma and Drona. Dhrutarashtra: Oh Vidura! Yourself, Bheeshma and Drona are virtuous people. What all you say will be judicious. Though I dont have eyes I am not ignorant. I respect your advice and let us partition our country and give half the kingdom to them. Oh Vidura! you go to king Drupada and bring Pandavas. On hearing Dhrutarashtras words Vidura went to Drupadas city to bring Pandavas with him. There he saw Sri Krishna also with them and said:
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Vidura: Oh Drupada! These are the gems, diamonds and other valuables presented to you by our king. Dhrutarashtra, Bheeshma and Drona and other elders were happy to have relationship with you. Oh king! Drupada! My king Dhrutarashtra and the people of our country were very much grieved for Pandavas as they were separated from us. My king wants Pandavas to come back to Hastinapura. If you permit, I shall take them with me. Drupada: Oh Vidura! Since virtuous Dhrutarashtra wanted them, Pandavas will certainly obey his orders. Not only that, yourself and Sri Krishna always wish the well being of Pandavas . Whatever you, Dhrutarashtra, Bheeshma, Dronacharya and other elders plan, that will be for Pandavass well being only. But I have some doubts Sri Krishna: Oh King Drupada! You need not be apprehensive. As long as this Vidura is there, nobody can do any harm to Pandavas. So you dont worry much about the wellbeing of Pandavas. From now onwards what all Pandavas wanted, they will get it. Dharmaraja: Oh Vidura! All these elders always wish the well being of our Kuru dynasty. In the same way, king Drupada also is one among them in wishing our welfare. Besides Sri Krishna is there to guide and help us.He is the greatest source of strength. As long as we have their blessings we will ever be safe and happy. Pandavas reach Hastinapura: Vidura brought Pandavas to Hastinapura. Sri Krishna and Drushtajyumna also accompanied them with huge army. Dhrutarashtra deputed Dronacharya and Krupacharya and others to arrange and give a warm welcome to Pandavas. As Pandavas were entering Hastinapura, all the people lined up on both the sides of the road and praised Panduraju and Pandavas. On seeing Pandavas, they felt as if Panduraju himself came back to life. As they entered the palace, they prostrated at the feet of Bheeshma, Dhrutarashtra and other elders. After that, Pandavas met many leading citizens and enquired about their welfare and made them happy. They also met Duryodhana and his brothers and moved as very affectionately as usual. After a few days, Dhrutarashtra convened an assembly of all the elders and subordinate kings and made a declaration of dividing the country and said to Pandavas: Dhrutarashtra: Oh sons of Panduraju! In the presence of Sri Krishna
and with the permission of elders from the Kuru dynasty and in the presence of all our subordinate kings I am giving you half of my kingdom with pleasure. You all accept it and live happily. Oh Dharmaraja! From now onwards, you make Khandavaprasta as your capital city and rule your kingdom. You continue to have good and healthy relations with us and our people. By saying so, Dhrutarashtra gave the royal seal to Dharmaraja as a mark of his authority. All the elders blessed the Pandavas. Dharmaraja went to Khandavaprasta with his mother, brothers and Sri Krishna. Pandavas in Khandavaprasta As soon as they reached Khandavaprasta , Sri Krishna ordered Viswakarma to build a capital city for Pandavas which should be as glorious as Amaravathi, the capital city of Indra. Dhaumya and others identified a suitable land for building a new capital city. Then Viswakarma, as per vastu, started building the city. After it was completed very quickly, it was comparable to beautiful capital cities of Kubera and Varuna. Since the city was built by Viswakarma, who was Indras architect, it was named as Indraprasta. With the blessings of Sri Krishna, Dhaumya and with the help of his four brothers Dharmaraja started ruling from Indraprasta. In the rule of Dharmaraja there were no thieves in the country. There was no fear of enemies, diseases or premature deaths. One day Sri Krishna took leave of them and went to his place, Dwaraka. Before going he said to all Pandavas, Shortly Narada will come and teach you, and you conduct yourself as per his advice. Narada visits and teaches Pandavas: One day the wandering sage, Narada arrived at Indraprasta. Dharmaraja and his brothers received him well and worshipped with traditional honours and offered a superior golden seat. Dharmaraja said to him, We are all blessed with your arrival. When they were sitting together, Draupadi was also with them. At one point of time, when Draupadi went out to bring tasty eatables, he called all the five brothers and told them confidentially. Narada: Oh Dharmaraja! You and your brothers are well read, virtuous and have the knowledge of all dharmas. You are all respected by all the kings. However for all of you, Draupadi alone is your common wife. I dont know whether it is against the sastras or not; but it is certainly against the practice in this world. It is known to one and all that she is the most beautiful woman in this world. So in future, you should not have any misunderstanding
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or any difference of opinion on account of Draupadi. Long ago two demons by name Sunda and Upasunda fought with each other and died on account of a woman. On hearing from Narada, Dharmaraja wanted to know the story of Sunda and Upasunda. Story of Sunda and Upasunda Narada: Long ago there were two brothers by name Sunda and Upasunda in the family of Hiranyakasiba. They made a severe tapasya by meditating on Brahma. Several devatas tried to distract their concentration but they could not succeed. Brahma appeared before them and asked them, What do you want? They prostrated at the feet of Brahma and requested him to grant some boons. Oh deva! We should be able to assume any form that we wish and we must be able to reach any place we wish. All mayas should be in our possession and we want immortality Brahma: Oh Sunda and Upasunda! That each being that is created must perish. So I will give you all other boons that you wanted, except immortality. The moment they got the boons from Brahma, they wanted to celebrate and keep all their people happy; so he arranged a festival by name Kaumadi festival. But that was not the right time to perform that kind of festival. However they thought they could praise the god any time they liked and hence they went ahead to perform the festival. With the boons obtained from Brahma, they started harassing devatas, Garudas and other divine communities, apart from humans. They used to go to forest and kill munis in their tapovanas. They used to go to villages and towns and harassed brahmins by disturbing their agnihotras and daily rituals. One day all brahmins and devatas went to Brahma and narrated the atrocities of Sunda and Upasunda. Brahma heard their miseries and assured them that he would do the needful. He called Viswakarma and asked him to create a beautiful woman. He named her as Tilottama and took that doll to Brahma. Brahma gave life to that doll and instructed her to develop a rift among Sunda and Upasunda and see that they kill each other. Tilottama went and started playing in front of Sunda and Upasunda. They saw her beauty and both fell in love with her. Prior to seeing Tilottama, they were so united they used to eat from the same plate and used to sleep on the same cot. There were
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no differences among themselves in any matter. Nobody had seen them separately. As they were fully influenced by cupid now, they started arguing with each other that she should be his own wife. After a short while, their tempers reached the peak and started fighting each other. They went and asked her to whom she belonged. She said, I love who is the most powerful among you. That provoked them to fight vehemently and ferociously and as a result they caused fatal injuries to each other and finally they killed each other. So, Oh Dharmaraja! However strong one may be, however valorous one may be, however righteous one may be, there is every possibility that they may get in to quarrel on account of a woman. Keeping in view of this, you better have a suitable arrangement among yourselves and follow the same so as to avoid any trouble at a future date. [In all epics and puranas, Narada was popular as a creator of troubles. Whereas in this context, he had behaved contrary to his nature. From this one can understand that Pandavas have the blessings of the gods.] A matter of salvation: After Narada, left all brothers sat together and gave a good thought to the advice of Narada and came to an understanding. That was each one would live with Draupadi for one full year in an orderly way. In case anybody violates that arrangement, he must to go on a pilgrimage for one year, as a matter of salvation. All of them agreed to that plan. One day a brahmin came and requested, Oh Arjuna! Thieves entered my house and took away my cow and without that cow, I can not perform my homa and other daily rituals. Please restore my cow to me. On hearing the appeal Arjuna thought it would be sin if he didnt go to the rescue of a brahmin. But his bow, arrow and other weapons were stored at a place where one had to pass the house of Dharmaraja. At that time, Draupadi was living in the house of Dharmaraja. If he went to take his bow and arrows, it would amount to the violation of their understanding; he was unable to deicide what was to be done. In the mean while the brahmin started crying again and again for protecting his cow. However Arjuna took his bow and arrows, while passing through Dharmarajas house and he killed the thief and gave back the cow to the brahmin. After that Arjuna went to Dharmaraja and said that he had broken the vow and so he wanted his permission to go on a pilgrimage. Then Dharmaraja tried to pacify him that since he had broken the vow only to help the brahmin, so no sin would befall on you for braking the vow.
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[ Whenever there is a clash between two dharmas, one has to follow subtle dharma and take refuge in it. It is our understanding that we should not violate the vow made by us. Since you have violated to give relief to a brahmin no sin will attach with you. This is the subtle dharma what Dharmaraja has suggested.] Dharmaraja: Oh Arjuna! Since you have killed those thieves and restored the cow to Brahmin, the fruits of it would be as much as that of performing an Aswameda. Had you left the thief and did not help the Brahmin, your sin would have been as much as that of killing a child, while it was in her mothers stomach. So why should you resort to perform a reparation. Arjuna: Oh Dharmaraja! Even at a later date, we may have to face a public blame. Why should we take shelter under one dharma or the other? Arjuna goes on a pilgrimage: Arjuna took leave from Dharmaraja and other elders and started for a pilgrimage. He reached river Ganges. There he spent some days taking bath in Ganges and performing tarpanas, pinda pradanam for his ancestral parents. One day, a nagakanya saw Arjuna and fell in love. She fastened him and took him to Nagaloka. By the time Arjuna opened his eyes, he saw a beautiful nagakanya smiling at him. Arjuna: Oh beautiful girl! Who are you? What is your name? Whose daughter you are? Why you have fastened and brought me here? Uluchi: Oh Arjuna! My name is Uluchi. I am a nagakanya. I fell in love with you at my first sight. I want to marry you and hence I brought you to my house. Oh Arjuna! I know all about your antecedents. You stand first in helping others. We in nagaloka sing praising your glories. The moment I saw you on the banks of Ganges, I fell in love with you. Arjuna: Oh Uluchi! As per the vow made with my brothers, I am observing Brahmacharya vrata for twelve months. Hence how can I fulfill your desire? Uluchi: Oh Arjuna! I know the vow you made in connection with your wife Draupadi. And also I am aware that you have undertaken a pilgrimage as a matter of repentance. You may perform any vratas and you may visit many tirthas but it will not be equal to saving a life. So you dont be discourteous and reject my desire. I am inflamed by kamagni. I am being burnt by the fever of cupid. If you dont oblige me I am sure I will die. You alone can save me from my death. Hence save my life which will not deviate
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you from your vrata. Arjuna conceded to her pleadings and made her pregnant. As a result a son was born for them by name Iravantudu. Before the sunrise she has left Arjuna back on the banks of Ganges. He told what has happened to all the brahmins. They were all astonished. From there, Arjuna visited several kshetras on Himalayas and finally reached Bindu kshetram. There he performed a yagna From there he travelled towards east and reached Naimisaranyam and from there he travelled towards the south and worshipped Bhemeshvaeam on the banks of Godavari. From there he went to Srisailam. He travelled further south and had sacred bath in Cuavery. On the thirteenth month of his pilgrimage, Arjuna reached the city of Manipuram. The king Chitravahana was riling the country. He was very much pleased to see Arjuna and made him his guest. At that time, he fell in love Chitrangada, the daughter of Chitravahana. They married with the consent of the king. Arjuna stayed for some time there. From Manipuram Arjuna reached Sowbadhra thirtham. By the time Arjuna was about to get in to the sea for taking a bath. The munis living there wanted Arjuna not to get in to the waters as those waters contained ferocious crocodiles. Arjuna said to them, Oh maharishis! I was travelling to several Kshetras and took bath in several rivers. Since there are some crocodiles here, how can I go away without taking a bath? By saying so, Arjuna entered the water. The moment he put his leg in the water, a crocodile caught hold of his leg. Arjuna caught hold of that crocodile and threw it on to the shores. Immediately a beautiful devakanya emerged from that crocodile. On seeing her, Arjuna asked: Arjuna: Who are you? Why are you living in the form of a crocodile? How is that you took the form of a young girl as soon as I threw you out on the shore? On hearing Arjunas words. The divine girl said: Divine girl: My name is Vanda. I am the daughter of a Yaksha who is a friend of Kubera. With me four more friends of mine were also living in the form of crocodiles in nearby four other thirtas. You also give deliverance from their curse and help us.
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Arjuna, as requested by her, gave deliverance to other four Yaksha girls also. Vanda said to Arjuna: Vanda: Oh Arjuna! While wandering we have seen the cities of all dikpalakas and reached earth. Here in a forest, we saw a muni doing tapasya. We thought of making a fun and we sang and danced before him. The muni was unaware of our presence. We thought he was ignoring us. We started doing mischief with him. He opened his eyes and cursed all of us to become crocodiles. Then we prayed him for the deliverance of his curse. The tapasvi took pity on us and said, If any person catches and throws you on the shore, that day you would get deliverance from this form of crocodile. From then onwards we are waiting for such a capable person. One day Narada was going this way. We went and requested him to tell who would throw us out and when we would regain our normal from. Narada told us that Arjuna, the son of Panduraju would pass through this way on his pilgrimage. The moment you catch his leg, he would give you the deliverance from the curse. From that day onwards we are waiting for your arrival. Thus Vanda told him about their curse. While he was enjoying with his wife Chitrangada he had a son through her by name Babruvahana. Later he succeeded his grandfather Chitravanaha. From there he went to Gokarna. From Gokarna he went to the western seas. There he came to know that Dwaraka was nearby and he went there to see his childhood friend Sri Krishna. He also heard the beauty of Subhadra, the sister of Sri Krishna. He developed a liking to her and wanted to marry her, with the blessings of Sri Krishna. So he decided to go to Dwaraka. Before he entered Dwaraka, he changed his from as a yateeswara, because all yadavas used to give highest regard for yateeswaras. So he took that form and entered Dwaraka. He remembered Sri Krishna in his mind and prayed for his blessings before he entered Dwaraka. The moment Arjuna remembered Sri Krishna in his mind, he appeared before him in Prabhasa tirtham.
Arjuna reaches Dwaraka: Arjuna was astonished to see Krishna

before him, because he had remembered him just then. His eyes swelled with tears and saluted with devotion and said. Arjuna: Oh Krishna! I have completed twelve months in making pilgrimages for breaking the vow. I have come across many places, mountains like Himalayas, great rivers like Ganges and many religious places. Now I had your darshan. By your darshan, I destroyed all my sins and became
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pure. Krishna embraced Arjuna and enquired about the wellbeing of people in Indraprasta. Krishna took him to Dwaraka and asked him to sit under a tree, went alone to his palace. He called his ministers and prominent citizens, ordered to conduct a festival for the mount Raivataka. On hearing the words from Krishna, all the people dressed up in new garments, took varieties of eatable to worship Raivataka. Many yadava heroes went with their wives to see Arjuna. Krishna took Arjuna with him and reached the mountain. There he showed him many places on the mountain. In the meanwhile Subhadra also came there to worship the mountain. There she prayed the mount Raivataka to fix Arjuna as her husband. On seeing Subhadra, Arjuna fell in love with her. Krishna looked at him with a smiling face and said, Oh Munindra! Is it not prohibited for sanyasi to look at women with lust? Oh Arjuna! I know you have a liking for Subhadra. I know that much earlier. I will convince Devaki and Vasudeva, my parents, and see to it that she will be given to you in marriage. At the same time he sent word to Dharmaraja informing that Arjuna was safe in Dwaraka. In the meanwhile all prominent yadavas came and saw Arjuna in muni form and they all felt he was a real sanyasi. Since it was a rainy season, they requested him to perform his chaturmaasya vrata in Dwaraka. They took Arjuna to their palace and deputed Subhadra to do all the services for the Yateeswara till he completed his chaturmaasya vrata . However Krishna said to Rukmini and Satyabama that the hero who was in the form of Yateeswara was Arjuna. One day, while serving the Yateeswara, Subhadra said, oh Munindra! You keep visiting many places. Did you ever visited Indraprasta? There did you meet the sons of Panduraju? Is my aunt Kunthi safe? Did the great hero and valorous person, Arjuna, returned from his pilgrimage?. If you know any thing about Arjuna, you please tell me. Arjuna was happy to hear the words of Subhadra and said: Arjuna: Oh Subhadra! I am Arjuna, Krishna who is none other than parabrahman had met me in Prabhasa tirtham and brought me here. I am fortunate with his blessing I am able to see you. Oh Subhadra! Gandharva and rakshasa types of marriages are highly regarded among all the other marriages. This is the right time for me to marry you in Gandharva way.
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Subhadra lowered her head and said in a low voice, Those who are willing to give me in marriage to you, are all here only. They themselves will invite you in the palace and perform marriage. By saying these words, she ran away to the palace. Krishna understood that Subhadra and Arjuna were liking each other. Then he called Prajyumna, Samba, Sankarshana, Sarana, Satyaki and said that the yateeswara living in their palace was none other than Arjuna. All of them went and informed the fact to Devaki and Vasudeva. However he kept Balarama alone in dark on this matter. On the pretext of celebrations for lord Siva, he ordered all yadava families to move to Antardwepa. Subhadra remembered Krishna in her mind and at the same time Arjuna remembered Indra in his mind. Indra came to Dwaraka with asta dikpalakas, Narada and other maharishis. They came to Dwaraka to perform their marriage. Kasyapa Prajapathi acted as the priest. Arundathi, Sasidevi , Rukmani and Satyabama were present in the marriage of Subhadra and Arjuna. Krishna was happy for completing the marriage without any interruption. He arranged a chariot and asked them to proceed to Indraprasta. On their way, the security people obstructed Arjuna and gave a fight. Arjuna defeated them and left Dwaraka. Balarama came to know about the marriage of Subhadra with Arjuna and became furious. He ordered Krishna to declare a war on Pandavas. Krishna pacified Balarama and said, Oh brother! Arjuna is none other than our aunts son. Subhadra also liked to marry him. Now there is no meaning to declare a war on Pandavas Before Arjuna reached Indraprasta he said, Oh Subhadra! If we go together Draupadi may get annoyed. She is a chaste wife of mine. So you alone go and take her blessings. After that, I will join you. Accordingly Subhadra alone went to the palace and prostrated at the feet of Kunthi and took her blessings. Then she went and prostrated at the feet of Draupadi. Draupadi said, Oh Subhadra! I bless you! Now,you are the wife of Arjuna and must become the mother of a hero. He should kill all our enemies. After some time Arjuna came. He prostrated at the feet of Kunthi and embraced all other brothers. Krishna, Balarama and others came to see the new couples to present gifts. Krishna, Balarama and others present valuable gifts to Arjuna: On hearing the arrival of Balarama, Krishna and others, Dharmaraja went forward and invited them with royal honors. Dharmaraja worshipped Vasudeva and other elders. Balarama and Krishna and other yadava elders
worshipped Kunthi and Dharmaraja and presented valuable diamonds as gift. After some time, Subhadra delivered a boy. The astrologer who studied his birth chart, predicted him as valorous as emperor Prudhu. He was named as Abhimanyu. Upanayana karmas were performed to Abhimanyu and put him under Gurukulam to learn Vedas. He learnt archery from his father Arjuna, who taught him all the strategies of a war. Draupadi also had five sons who were popularly known as Upapandavas. She gave birth to Prativindyudu for Dharmaraja, for Bheema, she gave birth to Srutasomudu, for Arjuna, she gave birth to Srutakeerthi, for Nakula, she gave birth to sataaneekudu, for Sahadeva, she gave birth to Srutasenudu. Khandavavana dahanam: After a long time Krishna and Arjuna went for hunting in the forest on the banks of river Yamuna. While wandering in the forest Khandavavana, they sat under a tree and were talking to each other. In the meanwhile, Agni took the form of an old brahmin and came to Krishnarjuna and said, Oh king! I am very hungry, provide me some food. Arjuna asked, What type of food you like? The brahmin said, Oh Krishnarjunas! I am Agni . I wanted to burn Khandava forest but Indra is not allowing me to burn that forest. The moment I try to burn it, he starts poring heavy rains. Hence Oh Krishna, Arjuna! people say that Indra had kept Takshaka, the serpent to protect nectar. In the same way, you both know all sastras and astras. With your skill, you can drive away all those clouds. I can quietly burn the entire forest. The story of Khandava vana : Long ago a Rajarishi by name Swetaki wanted to perform satra yaga. The priest said to him, Oh king! on and off you keep doing yagas continuously and offer ghee as its oblations. So the Satra yaga now you propose will have to continue for hundred years. So it is not possible for us to perform that yagna. Then the king did not give up his idea but started doing a severe penance on Siva. Lord Siva appeared before him and asked him what did he want. Then the king asked him, Oh lord! I want to do a Satra yaga for hundred years. I want priests to perform that yaga. For which Siva said, Oh king! yagas are to be performed only by brahmins. Others are not eligible. So you yourself practice Brahmacharya vrata for twelve years and offer a continuous flow of ghee as oblation to agni.. The king Swetaki satisfied the agni. After agni was satisfied, Lord Siva asked Durvasa maharishi to perform
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the yagna for Swetaki. As ordered by lord Siva, Durvasa maharishi called all other brahmins as priests and completed the yagna for hundred years. Since king Swetaki gave oblations to me with ghee continuously for hundred years, I am suffering with indigestion. Thereby I lost my brilliance and I became thirsty. Then I went to Brahma and explained my sufferings. He said oh Agni! What you are suffering is indigestion which is a dangerous disease. The Khandava forests is full of medicinal herbs. If you can eat all that divine forest you will be relieved from the indigestion. On hearing Brahma, I tried seven times to burn Khandava vana to get rid of my indigestion problem. But all the seven times, Indra drenched the forest with heavy rains and made me powerless. I again requested Brahma. He took pity on me and said, Oh agni! After some years Nara and Narayana will take birth in the form of Krishna and Arjuna. They will come to the forest of Khandava for hunting. At that time you go and request them to allow you to burn the forest. From that day onwards I was waiting for you. On hearing Agnis words Arjuna said: Arjuna: Oh Agni! Even if the rain was poured from the trunk of an elephant and however thick the clouds might form, I have astras with me to drive them away. Even if Indra came, I can defeat him and allow you to burn the forest. I have that much strength and valour with me. But unfortunately I did not come with my bow and arrows. I dont have a chariot also to go round the forest. Krishna also did not bring any weapons with him. That is why we are hesitating to give a word to you. On hearing Arjunas words, agni remembered Varuna and prayed for him. Oh Varuna! Some time back I have given you a bow, arrows and a chariot yoked with Gandharva horses. You please give them to Arjuna. You also give Krishna a chakra and a club. Immediately Varuna gave a tall bow by name Gandibam and a quiver of everlasting arrows. A chariot yoked with divine horses was kept before Arjuna. He also gave a chakra by name Sudarshana and a club by name Kowmodi to Krishna. On the flag a picture of Kapiraju (Hanuman) was embossed. By giving those Agni said, Oh Arjuna! this bow Gandibam is as powerful as Vajra. The horses yoked to this chariot have the velocity of wind god. Oh Krishna! this Sudarshana chakra will remove the head of your enemy and it will come back to you. Krishna and Arjuna boarded the chariot and said to Agni. Oh Agni! you start burning this Khandavavana. Even if Indra himself prevents, we
shall drive him away. On taking the assurance from Krishna and Arjuna, Agni flared up in to the forest and the flames touched the sky. The flames spread all over the forest. The animals, birds and other creatures ran to safety to save their lives. Krishna was guarding Khandava vana on one side with his chakra and Arjuna was guarding the other side with his bow and arrows. The servants of Indra who were protecting the forest came form all sides to extinguish the fire. But they could not stand before the sharp arrows of Arjuna and died on the spot. Agni took the help of Vayu and it had become a pralayagni. With the flames, Agni burnt all the medicinal plants to ashes. All devatas went and reported to Indra that the bad time had come for Khandava vana. Takshaka the king of serpents was also living in that forest. Indra was more worried for Takshaka. He wanted to protect Takshaka, and poured rain all over the forest. Though the rain was so heavy, due to the heat of agni, entire water was evaporated and could not extinguish the fire. Then Indra dispatched still more powerful clouds. They also could not stand before the arrows of Arjuna. As Arjunas arrows covered the sky not even a drop of rain leaked into the forest. Takshakas son Aswasena, a serpent tried to save his mother, put her on his tail and flew in to the sky. Arjuna saw him and cut his tail with an arrow. With that the mother of Aswasena fell in to the fire and burnt. While Arjuna tried to hit Aswasena also with another arrow, Indra came to his rescue and saved him with a mystic by name Mohini. Thereby Indra was able to save Aswasena but not his mother. Indra and others were afraid that Takshaka could have been killed in the fire. Indra came to know that Krishna and Arjuna were supporting Agni thereby all his efforts had become futile. So he instigated Suras, garudas, nagas, asuras, siddhas, and Gandharvas and drew a strategy to win over Krishna and Arjuna. But all his efforts could not succeed and Agni was able to burn the entire Khandava vana successfully. At that time a voice was heard from the sky, Oh Indra! This Krishna and Arjuna are none other than Nara and Narayana who have taken human forms. They were born to purify the yadava and Kuru dynasties. So you cant score a win over them. You dont worry about the safety of Takshaka. He was not in that forest. He went to Kurukshetra on some other work long time back. So he is safe. Brahma had already declared that Khandava vana would be burnt to ashes. This had happened only at the dictates of Brahma. So dont be furious on Agni. You leave your fury and go back. On hearing the words from the sky, Indra and others went to their Aadiparvamu abodes. They were happy to know that Takshaka was safe and happy. 117 The episode of Mandapala maharishi: Janamejaya: Oh Vaisampayana! From that huge davaagni Mayu and Aswasena survived, but how the sons of Mandapala survived, that I cant understand. You tell me. Vaisampayana: Oh Janamejaya ! Long ago Mandapala maharishi
Glossary
aachamana aadi kavi Aathma Gananm Acharya adharma agnigundam Agnihotras ahimsa Amada amsa Antardwepa arishad vargas asta dikpalakas Asta Vasuvus Astis Athiradha (sip water thrice as a religious rite) Valmiki; The first Poet knowledge of the soul Guru or teacher unrighteousness sacred fire sacred fire Nonviolence measuring distance equal to 10 miles part inter continent six internal enemies such as pride, anger, lust, greed, ignorance and jealousy gods who guard eight directions Aapudu, Druva, Somu, Adharvu, Anilu, Prathyushu, Analu and Prabhasu ashes from the pyre An athi-radha is capable of protecting his charioteer, chariot, horses, his bow, flag and the flag post Husband wife begging One who attained the knowledge of supreme spirit bachelor every year from the month Ashadam (august) to karthikam (November) rainy season. Sanyasis will not move from one place to another place as they wander in rest of eight months.
Bartha Bharya Bhikshatana Brahma gnanis Brahmacharya cahturmasya vrata
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chakra Chatram dakshina darmica darshan Devara Nayam
dharma dharmapatni Droni Drudham durbar dwanda yudham dwapara yuga endamavalu Gruhasta gurudakshina gurukulam gurupatni havisis homadhenu Ichamaranam Ithihasas Japa Jataka karmas
jeevatma kamagni karta kavyam kiratakas

Aadiparvamu
A wheel or a weapon of Lord Vishnu Umbrella a gift. virtuous, pious, a just man a vision the rule of getting children by the younger brother of her husband to continue the family line. prescribed course of conduct, wife married in Vedic way a water kettle a weapon a hall of audience direct fight, one to one the third of the four yugas mirage a house holder gift to a teacher stay in the house of a teacher; a disciple Wife of Guru Oblations worshiped celestial cow death at will history or traditional account repeating prayers in undertone. ceremony performed by Dwijas at the time of birth of a child (Dwijas means: Brahmin, kshatriyas, Vaysya) the individual soul enshrined in a human body Passion one who has the right to perform a religious rite. poem, epic barbarian; one of the names of Lord Siva.
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kshatriya Maharishi maschya yentra mrutasanjivini muni munikanya Naimisaranyam Panchama Vedamu Pandu varna Paramatma parava Pitru Runam Pouranikas pralayagni pundits puranas Purusharthas
a man of second cast A great sage a figure of a mystical nature in the form of a fish a medicinal plant supposed to have the power of reviving the dead. Inspired saint daughter of a muni a sacred place Mahabaratha (5th veda) (Pale body) the supreme spirit chapters the debt of parents one versed in puranas fire at the time of destruction of the whole world at the end of kalpa. Scholars Ancient history, legendry, tradition The principal object of human life and pursuit of which four are enumerated. Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha. an assembly A herb that is supposed to revive a confused fight in a war eater of every object / Agni a kind of yaga Accomplishment a weapon teller of epics funeral rite in honour of the departed spirits backward caste backward caste
Sabha Sanjivini Sankula yudham sarvabhakshaka Satra yaga siddhis Soustavam Sowiti Sradhas Sudra Sudras
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Swayamvara
Tali tarpana tirthas treta yuga Upanayanam Upanishad upapandavas Vajra Valkalas varnashrama dharma Veda Vedaadhayanam Vedadyanamu Vedangas Vedanta sastra Vedas Vidhi vrata yaga yaga sala yagagni yagna yateeswara
the selection of a husband by a princess or daughter of a kshatriya at a public assembly of suitors held for the purpose. a small piece of gold tied by the bride groom at the time of marriage a religious rite to the deceased a holy place or holy water The second of the yugas Initiation of a youth of any of the first three castes in to the sacred study. the logical part of the veda sons of Pandavas the weapon of Indra A hermits garb made of bark. Duties of principal four casts viz. Brahmin, kshatriya, Vaysya, Sudra. Divine knowledge learning of vedas; One of the six duties of a brahmin. learning of vedas; One of the six duties of a brahmin. sciences regarded as auxiliary to Vedas based up on the major Upanishads Divine knowledge sacred percept or a rule religious vow an act of worship The prescribed place for offering oblations in a sacrifice. sacred fire from a yaga an act of worship a sanyasi, a fourth ashrama in four ashramas
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SABHAPARVAM
CHAPTER 1 Mayasabha After Khandava dahanam, Mayu came to Dharmaraja. At that time Krishna was also with him. Mayu: Dharmaraja! My name is Mayu. I am the architect of devatas. By the grace of Arjuna, I was able to escape from the raging fire in Khandava vana. I am be grateful to you, as saved my life. What I can do for you, in return. Krishna: Mayu! Dharmaraja is going to be the most superior king among the Kuru dynasty. All the kings are going to accept his authority . So you build such a building which will be befitting the status of such an emperor, It should be a unique building Mayu: Krishna! Yes! I agree. I have some plans. The glorious Sabha I have in my mind will be befitting this Rajendra. With that, Sabha the glory of Dharmaraja will exceed Devindra and also Rakshasaindra. So I shall build for him a huge Sabha hall befitting his status, in which I will stud it with different kinds of diamonds, gems and corals, which will produce more brilliance than sun. Long ago Rushaparva, a king of rakshasas asked me to build a Sabha hall for him. For that I have secured several gems and many other materials required and preserved them in Bindhu Sarovar. Now I will use all those materials and build an extraordinary and variegated Sabha hall with varieties of colorful gems and many other stones and present it to Dharmaraja . In addition to this, I have a conch which belongs to Bhoumadithya, a Rajarishi. I shall present it to Arjuna. A club belonging to the same Rajarishi is also with me, and I will present it to Bheema. Krishna wanted to go to Dwaraka to see his father. He took permission from Dharmaraja and went to Dwaraka. Mayu travelled on the northeastern
direction and reached Mt.Mainaka. From the Mainaka peaks, he cut marble slabs suitable for carving structures such as beams, pillars, walls and platforms which were studded with glittering stones. All such materials required for the construction of Sabha were procured and carved there itself. He had studded all those pillars and beams with Sapphire stones. The rays of those sapphire stones gave an impression of water. He studded ruby stones to appear as lotus flowers. White lotus and swans were made with silver. Tortoises were made with pure gold. All water lilies were made of gems, cats eye and Lapis lazuli. All the fish were made of diamonds. The foam was made of pearls. Moss was made of emerald stones. All walls were made of Alum stone. In the newly built Sabha, there was a place in the middle, where some funny illusions were created and permutations were made one to face a number of illusions; One might think that there was a pool of water, where there was actually no water. In some other cases, it gave an illusion that even though there was a pool of water on the floor, it confused as if there was no water pool. Mayu had built the entire Sabha fitted with some such contrivances. The entire surroundings were fitted with figures of mystical nature, so as to appear like flowers, fruits, trees, lawns and gardens. All the lakes were blossoming with lotus and Lilly flowers. All these constructions and decorations were made on the banks of Bindhu Sarovar itself. It took fourteen months for him to build the same and engaged eight thousand rakshasa servants to bring that Sabha by air and erected in Indraprasta. He presented the same to Dharmaraja. He presented the club to Bheema and a conch to Arjuna . Dharmaraja was very much pleased for the classic presentation of Mayu and complemented him. On an auspicious day Dhaumya, the family priest, completed all the religious formalities to enter the Sabha. He presented several valuable stones, gold and new cloths to the scholars. On an auspicious moment, Dharmaraja entered the Mayasabha. Narada enquires about Rajaneeti: One fine morning, Narada came down from the sky and entered the palace of Dharmaraja, who prostrated at the feet of maharishi and worshipped him and offered him a golden throne as asana. Narada taught the royal duties to Dharmaraja in the following manner. Dharmaraja! Are you following the tradition of your earlier Rajarishis? Are you following dharma, ardha and kama without conflicting with each
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other? Is your mind fixed on dharma while conducting your royal duties? Are you taking decisions on your own? Are you taking decisions after midnight? While recruiting your employees on royal duties, are you verifying and satisfied with their antecedents? 1. Are you appointing all your ministers in the hereditary way? Are all those scholars are virtuous and well read in all sastras, are they obedient and loyal to you? Are you keeping a watch over them ? Dharmaraja! Know it well the success of a king will depend on how successfully he is keeping his secrets form the people. Dharmaraja! Your priest should be a well-read in all the sastras and Vedas. He should be a righteous person.. Whom ever you appoint as a Yajika, he should be above all duels. He should love all beings equally. He should be fully aware of his duties. Are you appointing a valorous and faithful commanders? Are they winning battles for you. Though your minister might be popular among the people and capable of doing things but if he is greedy and joins hands with your neighboring kings , he should not have a place in the cabinet. Have you appointed a knowledgeable astrologer Oh King! Do you have doctors in your country who have love for people and have a humane approach? Are you spending time in the company of sadhus? At the same time are you taking treatment for your physical ailments? Are you able to collect taxes in time? Are all your employees who collect taxes are righteous? Were they harassing people? To avoid all these things you should test their virtues before you appoint them. However care you may be taking, all your employees may not be equal in their capabilities. So you grade them in to three such as superior, medium and low. And allot duties accordingly. Are you paying their salaries in time? If you dont pay them in time, their grief will do harm to the king. Even Indra cant escape from that sin. Are you recognizing and rewarding those employees who are
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dedicated to you? If you reward them, they will work for your welfare, even at the cost of their lives. 12. 13. Are you dispersing pensions to all those families who gave up their life in battles for you? Dont give employment to those who are greedy, and have a thieving nature and those who are not fit for friendship, and those who have sympathies with your enemy, and others like cowards, cruel people and those who interfere in royal duties. Are you protecting your people from thieves? Are you keeping a close watch on your employees who are corrupt? Are you not removing from service such corrupt and dishonest employees? Is your water sources such as rivers, lakes, sarovars, wells and reservoirs are full of water? Is your kingdom free from floods or famine? Oh king! Are you showering your kindness on handicapped? Are you protecting those who seek protection in battlefield? Are you rewarding those who help others and do social service. Then only, the king will have the attitude of kindness. You should not spend all your revenue. You should spend one fourth or one third or at the most half of your revenue alone is to be spent. In your treasuries, in your ordinance factories, in your horse breeding centers and such other critical areas you should appoint such people who are loyal to the king. You should also see to it that guru, elders, sculptures, business people, relatives, dependents and sadhus are free from poverty. Are you giving public audience everyday in the presence of your ministers, commander in chief, princes, pundits and public? This is an accepted populist measure in all the worlds. Are you having a strong system of spies, who can inform you the weakness and the strength of your enemies? Are you making use of their services by taking precautionary measures? Are you keeping an open mind for the advices given by the righteous people and people who are free from love and hatred? The prosperity of any government depends in its publicity, so the king should take all precautions that his populist measures reach the nook and corners of his kingdom.
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The principal object of human life and pursuit of which four are enumerated. Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Dharma can be achieved by good character and constantly serving sadhus. The real enjoyment of wealth can be achieved by giving gifts. The pleasure of sense organs is to produce a son. The fruits of Moksha is by vedaadhyanam and worshipping agnihotra. To keep your Durgams, Durbedhyam , you should develop sufficient reserves of food grains, water, cattle, weaponry, and soldiers . If one can win over six internal enemies such as pride, anger, lust, greed, ignorance and jealousy, if one can keep Indriyas under control, he will become the strongest man in the world. If one accumulates an undue lust and becomes slave to indriyas, he will loose the power of thinking. Are you applying all four upayas viz. sama, dana, bheda and danda before you go on an expedition of war on your enemies. You should resort to danda only when it is inevitable. A king should keep away from the following viz. telling lies, laziness, confusion, friendship with fools, too much of anger, too much of grief, doing things in odd times, unable to recognize the virtuous people and becoming slave to Indriyas.
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Dharmaraja: Munindra! To the best of my ability, I am trying to rule on a righteous path. I always follow the histories of righteous people. You visit all places as freely as Vayu. So you please come with me, see the Mayasabha and tell me. Have you ever seen such a Sabha. Narada: Dharmaraja! I am pleased and privileged to go round in Mayasabha with you. I am surprised to see various beautiful and pleasant colours and forms in it. Even Indra, Yama, Varuna, Kubera, Brahma and any other devatas do not have such a Sabha. Dharmaraja: Maharishi! Tell me the grandeur of the Sabhas of Dikpalakas Narada: First I will tell you the splendour of Indra Sabha. Indra Sabha is studded with diamonds and other stones. The treasure of all the three worlds is concentrated there. The width of that Sabha is hundred amadas. The length is hundred and fifty amadas. The height is five amadas. That is always hanging in the air. It floats whereever it wants. It is immune
to climatic changes. The trees around the Sabha always bear fruits and flowers. Indra himself built that Sabha. All devatas wander in aeroplanes. Indra will always be surrounded by beautiful apsaras. Indra sits in such a durbar and rule the three worlds. He is also surrounded by the heroes who lost their lives in the battles. Gruhastas will be surrounding him. He is also surrounded by virtuous, who are helping nature and those who perform yagnas. In addition to those people Bruhaspathi, Agni, Chandra, Aswini devatas, Viswe devatas, Dhati , Manmadha , Harischandra and Suku are regularly attending Indra Sabha. Yamasabha: Here Lord Yamas Sabha was built by Viswakarma with gold and precious stones. The total area of Yamasabha is hundred square amadas. This Sabha also floats in the sky. The brilliance of this Sabha is also as bright as sunlight. One can have all glitters and comforts in this Sabha. The regular audience of this Sabha consist of Agastya, Mathanga, Siddha, Yamakinkaras, Kaladandam, Yagas, all devatas from southern direction, Janamejaya, your father Panduraju and many other Rajarishis. In their presence, Yama will evaluate the dharma and adharma acts of all living beings. Varuna Sabha: Varuna Sabha is more unusual than all other Sabhas with its bright luster. Varuna always attends his Sabha with his wife. Varuna Sabha also is as big as that of Yamasabha and capable of floating freely. Viswakarma built this Sabha in the middle of waters with the help of jalastambana vidya. Here the audience consists of Nagas, oceans, rivers like Ganges, Godavari, Krishna, Cuavery etc. serpent kings like Vasuki, Iravath and rakshasa kings like Prahalada, Virochaki and Bali. Kubera Sabha: This is also as big as Indra Sabha. This was built by Mayu with precious stones. Kubera is surrounded by Kinnaras, Kimpurushas, and Gandarvas . He is the friend of lord Siva. Brahma Sabha: Dharmaraja! Long ago when I was wandering on earth, Surya asked me that he wanted to see Brahma Sabha. I took him with me where Brahma was surrounded by Manu, Atri, Mareechi, Chandra , Nakshatras, devatas, Manavas, Siddhas and as many as eighty thousand maharishis, Aswini devatas and Vishwe devatas who were serving Brahma. In such a vast Sabha Brahma sits on a lotus flower. Narada provokes to perform Rajasuya: Dharmaraja: Narada! While Panduraju and others were serving in Yamasabha, how is that Harischandra had became incomparably so virtuous. Please tell me his story
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Narada: Dharmaraja! Harischandra was the son of king Trisanku. He was the most truthful king. He was the authority in matters of sastras. He defeated all the kings on earth and collected tributes from them. With that money he performed Rajasuya and gave liberal gifts to Yajikas. With all his pure qualities, he reached Indra loka. Oh Dharmaraja! When I saw your father Panduraju in Yamasabha, he told me like this. Panduraju to Naradha: Narada! All those kings who performed Rajasuya like Harischandra had reached Indraloka and are attending devasabha. So when you go to earth, you tell my sons that I was living in Yamasabha and if they perform Rajasuya, I could also reach Indra Sabha. All my five sons are most valorous and can win all the kings on earth. Thereby they are capable of performing Rajasuya. Naradha to Dharmaraja: I came to see you to convey you the message of your father. So defeat all the kings and perform Rajasuya with the tributes. Thereby your father will reach Indra Sabha. So you overcome all the impediments and perform Rajasuya. On hearing Naradas words, Dharmaraja was determined to perform Rajasuya. However he was perturbed to note the human loss in waging a war. While he was in such a state of confusion, Dhaumya came to him and said: Dhaumya: Dharmaraja! Dont be confused. Perform Rajasuya immediately. It will be completed without much of human loss. Moreover it washes away all the sins. All the kings will surrender and accept your sovereignty. They will give you enormous gifts and with that wealth, you can perform Rajasuya. You please avail this opportunity. By which you will be benefitted in three ways. 1. All people will destroy their sins and live in peace and harmony. 2. All the kings will become your subordinates. 3. The tributes will become a recurring revenue for you. Dharmaraja consulted all his brothers, got their consent and decided to perform yaga. He firmly believed that Krishna was the eternal spirit and Lord Vishnu himself was incarnated in human form. Though he was eternal for the benefit of the world, he took birth on earth as a son of Vasudeva. So he sent his messengers to Dwaraka and invited Krishna for his blessings. Krishna went to Indraprasta and saluted Kunthi and Dharmaraja and embraced Pandavas. They offered a superior throne to him and worshipped him as a guru.
Dharmaraja: Krishna! You are all pervading and eternal spirit. You know everything. A few days back Narada maharishi came and said that he had met my father and ancestral parents. He told me that my father had ordered me to perform Rajasuya, so that he could occupy a seat in Indra Sabha. My brothers also agreed to perform the yaga. Before I take any decision, I wish to have your blessings and hence am waiting for your approval. Krishna: Dharmaraja! You are the most eligible to conduct this Rajasuya. All your brothers are so valorous and can win all the land for you. Earlier Parasurama, the son of Jamadagni, killed all the kshatriyas. Only two dynasties remained on earth. They are Ila and ikshavaku. Other than these two, all other dynasties were artificial. In course of time, those two dynasties were split into hundred dynasties. From Yayati and Bhoja families had spread into fourteen families. Jarasandha had defeated all those kings. I neednt describe and tell you the valour of Jarasandha. Sisupala the king of Chedi was also a valorous person. Added to that, he is arrogant. Though he is a king, he takes pride to be called as just a commander of Jarasandha. King Kaushika, and Chitrasena love to be in the army of Jarasandha. People also call them Himsa and Dimbhaka. They are masters in archery. They are like the right and left hands of Jarasandha. King Bhagadatta, King of western kingdom is also a good friend of Jarasandha. In fact Bhagadattas father is a close friend of your father Panduraju. There is one more king Poundraka Vasudeva, who is a part of Jarasandhas team. In addition to these people, Anga, Manga, Kundra and Kiratha kings also are afraid of Jarasandha. In the northern part of the country, Uttara Palcahala, Surasena, Pushkara, Pulinda, Kaliga, Kunthi and Maschya also left their country and ran away for fear of Jarasandha. I killed Kamsa who was the son- in- law of Jarasandha. From then onwards, he developed an enemity towards me and is waiting for an opportunity to do harm to me. In short Himsa, Dimbaka and Jarasandha defeated all the kings on earth and became most valorous. Himsa and Dimbaka are immune from all the weapons. Nobody can kill them. They invaded Mathura with Jarasandha. At that time, we also opposed them with Yudu, vrushti, Andhaka, Bhoja and other yadava kings with eighteen thousand radhikas. However hard we fought, we could not succeed . At that time we made a trick. We sent a message to Dimbaka stating that Himsa was killed by us in a battle. On hearing the death of Himsa, Dimbaka got dejected and committed suicide. On hearing the
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Dimbakas death Himsa also committed suicide. In this manner, we were able to eliminate Himsa and Dimbaka. Jarasandha was also dejected at the death of his close friends. He stopped the war and went back to his capital Magadha. We also got fed up with the frequent threatening of Jarasandha and built a city on Mt.Rivathy in Pushastala and are living there. From then onwards, Jarasandha captured all the kings and put them under his captivity and was offering one king per day as sacrifice to Bhirava. With these sacrifices, his valour and strength were also increasing. So Dharmaraja! if you can eliminate this Jarasandha, you can establish your empire. And also you could successfully complete Rajasuya, after his death. Dharmaraja! Long back Bruhadradha was able to hold the entire land under his control. Yavanashya by making constant victories, Baratha with his ferocious valour, Karthaveeryarjuna with the strength of his tapasya, Maruthu with the strength of his wisdom were victorious kings. Since you have all the above qualities, you can overcome Jarasandha. Bheema: King! By keeping quiet, nobody can acquire fortunes. Though a person is weak, he should make an effort; then only he will be able to achieve victory. Even a strong man doesnt put up an effort, he cant succeed. By waging a war, his glory will be spread whether he may win or lose. However by defeating a weak limb, one cant become glorious. If we have the blessings of Krishna, and with Arjunas valour and my strength, we can certainly kill Jarasandha. Oh king! We three will go as three Agnis and burn Jarasandha as a sacrifice. Thereby you will not have any hindrance to you Rajasuya. Arjuna: King! You permit us to go on an expedition of war. We will overwhelm all the kings. We will bring enormous wealth. You perform Rajasuya with that wealth. If you dont perform Rajasuya, what for I have this valour ? What do I do with Gaandivam? All these weapons, divine chariot and this Mayasabha, what for all these things? Unless you win all the earth, the Roopam, Gunam and sampada will become ornaments only. If a weak limb is in possession of all these qualities, it will not be splendour and will look tame. In the guise of Rajasuya, we will kill Jarasandha. We shall release all the kings under his captivity. This is a kshatriya dharma. We three will go to Jarasandha and see his end. Dharmaraja : Krishna! Can Jarasandha fight with you? How Jarasandha had such a cruel nature? Is there any reason for his extraordinary strength and cruelty?
Jarasandhas Episode Krishna : Dharmaraja ! Long back there lived a king by name Bruhadradha, a righteous king, was ruling Magadha. He fought many kings and won. The king of Kasi had given both his daughters in marriage. But the king Bruhadradha did not have sons. He performed putrakamna yaga, still did not get a son. With that he got vexed and went to a forest with his two wives and made tapasya. In the same tapovana, there was another maharishi who was also doing tapasya by name Chandakesaka. Bruhadradha went to Chandakesaka and started serving him with his two wives. One day Chandakesaka maharishi was satisfied with the services of Bruhadradha and asked him, What do you want? Then the king said, Oh maharishi! I had a kingdom but there was no successor to my kingdom. Hence you bless me with a son. By the time the king was talking to the maharish,i a mango fruit fell in front of them. Then maharishi gave it to the king and said, Oh king! Let both your wives eat this fruit, they both will become pregnant. The king gave the fruit to his wives and went back to his kingdom. After some time, one wife delivered left half of a boy and the second wife delivered the right side of the boy. On seeing this ugly portions of the boy, both the queens were worried. They didnt want to wound the king. So they threw those pieces on the road side. A rakshasi was living in that city by name Jara. She saw the two different portions of a boy and thought that was given as a sacrifice and was thrown on the road side. She took them in her hands and pressed hard both the portions. With that pressure, the portions joined and boy started crying. While the boy was crying, the maids heard the cry and came running. The maids and the queens understood that since both the portions were pressed the boy came to life. In the meanwhile, King Bruhadradha also came took the boy in to his hands and felt happy. In the meanwhile Jara took the form of a beautiful woman, came to the king and said: Jara: King! My name is Jara. I am a rakshasi. I wanted to do something good to your queens. Today I had an opportunity. Today your queens delivered a boy in two parts. Your maids threw away those pieces in front of me. I have taken those two pieces and pressed it hard to become one. By that this, boy got life and started crying. The moment he was born, his body started growing like a mountain. So you take your boy and bring him up.
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Bruhadradha: Jara! You may be a rakshasi. But to me you are a devata. You became responsible to provide a successor to my family line. I can never forget your help. By saying so, he had taken the boy inside the palace with his queens and said to them, Since he was pressed by Jara and became as one, we will name the boy as Jarasandha. As the boy grew he started doing all cruel things and developed the strength of a rakshasa. One day, Chandakesaka maharishi came to the palace and met king Bruhadradha. The king was happy to see maharishi, brought the boy and put him at his feet. The king said, This boy was born with your blessings. Chandakesaka Maharishi: King! Jara a rakshasi had done a great help to you. I came to know all these things with my divine sight. Your son will become as powerful as Kumaraswamy. He will perform a severe tapasya and will have the blessings of lord Siva. However strong his enemy may be, once he comes before him, he will burn him to ashes like a locust. As other birds follow Garutmantha, all the kings will follow him. His brilliance will be as splendour as sun. He will secure many divine astras. Krishna continues Jarasandas story Dharmaraja! After the death of Himsa and Dimbaka, he became pale and dejected. He was surviving only with the boons that he received from lord Siva. Nobody could kill him with any weapon. Bheema alone can kill him. So I will go with them. We will kill Jarasandha. You keep faith in us. Dharmaraja: Krishna! Who else can wish good for me, other than you. We are surviving under your shadow. As long as you are by our side, nobody can defeat us. The moment you desired to kill Jarasandha, that moment itself he died. Fortunately all the kings remained alive under his captive. If Bheema and Arjuna are two eyes to me, you are my mind. Hence I am sure Bheema will succeed in killing Jarasandha under your guidance. Krishna, Bheema and Arjuna undertook a severe Snataka vrata. They reached the outskirts of Girivrajapuram the capital city of Jarasandha. Girivrajapuram was surrounded by five tall hills and was naturally protected by those mountains, that it why it was named as Girivrajapuram. No enemy could enter the city through the main gate and conquer the city. That was why Krishna suggested to Bheema and Arjuna that they should climb Cheaichyaka hill. There they saw three huge kettle drums . Krishna showed those three kettle drums to Bheema and Arjuna and said, Long back the kings of Magadha killed a huge bull named Manushada and with its skin,
they made three drums and kept there. With the power of Gauthama maharishi, any new person trying to enter the city from the back side, he start beating and make huge sound. Then Krishna suggested before they make sound, they must break all three drums. They broke those three drums and entered the city. They went to a flowers vendor and asked him to arrange and give a huge garland. They wore the flower garlands around their neck. From there, they went to the place where the fragrance and scented creams were sold. They asked those sellers and had all those fragrant creams on their bodies. And from there, they went to a shop where sandal paste was sold and met the shopkeeper and got the paste and applied sandal paste on their bodies. The flower garland, and the fragrant creams spread fragrance in the atmosphere. The citizens were surprised looking at the different way of dressing and behaviour. In that entire city, there was only one gate to enter the palace. That gate was kept open round the clock only for Brahmins, because Jarasandha wanted to worship brahmins at all times. So for the sake of Brahmins, that gate was always kept opened. So Krishna, Bheema and Arjuna also mixed up with the brahmins and entered the palace of Jarasandha. On seeing Krishna, Bheema, Arjuna and other Brahmins, Jarasandha welcomed them and offered new cloths dyed in turmeric (Madhuparka) . But Krishna, Bheema and Arjuna refused to accept them. From that Jarasandha understood that they were not the brahmins. And observed that they have applied perfumed creams on their body and were wearing flower garlands. Jarasandha: Beloved guests! Since you are strong enough, you have climbed over Mt.Chaichyaka and entered the city in a stealthy way, leaving the kings way. You also refused to accept the Madhuparka offered by me. From your dress, you look like Brahmins, but by your chest and shoulders, you look like Kshatriyas. You tell me who you are? Krishna: Jarasandha! We are kshatriyas. If one wants to go to a friends house, he is to go from the front door. Whereas, if one wants to enter an enemies house, they are to enter from the back door. This is an accepted practice. All the more, it is suitable for all the kshatriyas. Lakshmi resides in flowers and sandal. So we have grabbed them by force. Since we have an important work with you, we have not accepted your Madhuparkas. Jarasandha: kshatriyas! I never did any harm to you earlier nor you did to me. All the more, I am a very virtuous person. I have not committed any adharma. I always respect and worship munis and brahmins. I follow the kshatriya dharma. Then how I have become your enemy?
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Krishna: Jarasandha! You are complementing yourself by stating that you are leading kshatriya dharma. You have captured all kshatriya kings in the country and kept them under your captivity. You are sacrificing a king everyday. Does it befit a superior kshatriya and a devotee of Siva. Did ever a kshatriya cause this type of sin? Will there be any more cruel adharma than what you are doing? Without any provocation, you are harassing and killing the weak kings. In this manner, you are an enemy of all the people. What a better reason you expect to have an enemity with you? You are killing your kshatriyas for no fault of them. Is it not a big sin? If you are left unpunished, that sin will affect us also; we have a responsibility to protect dharma. We have come here only to punish you and keep you away from the sin of adharma. You are an arrogant, and proud of your valour. In the olden days, great fighters Saindhava, Dambodhava, Kartaveerya and many others also were valorous and strong, but they were defeated, because they had insulted virtuous people. Even now we are giving you an opportunity to retrieve. provided you release all the kings in you captivity. I am Krishna. They are Bheema and Arjuna. They are superior kshatriyas from Kuru dynasty who have come to put off your cruelty with their valour. If you dont listen to my words, this Bheema and Arjuna are ready to put off your arrogance and release all the kings who are suffering under your captivity. So declared Krishna. Jarasandha: Krishna! I am not a new person to you. With my valour I defeated all the kings. Is not it a Kshatriya dharma? As long as I am alive, I will practice this Kshatriya dharma. I have defeated them and put them under my captivity. I will sacrifice all those kings to keep lord Siva happy. This is my vow. Krishna! I accept your challenge. If you come with your army I will fight with my army. If you want to fight with all of you, I will fight one after the other. If you want me to fight with only one, I am ready to fight with him. The choice is yours. I am ready for a fight with you. Krishna: Jarasandha! It is not fair for many people to fight with one. You choose any one among us. Whomever you may choose, will fight with you. Krishna had intelligently suggested to Jarasandha to choose Bheema to fight with him. On hearing Krishnas words, Jarasandha agreed to fight with Bheema in wrestling. Jarasandha called his priest and made his son Sahadeva as the king and blessed his son and entered the wrestling arena to fight with Bheema.
The fight continued for thirteen days. At the end of thirteenth day, Krishna noticed that Jarasandha was loosing his strength. He encouraged Bheema, Oh Bheema! Jarasandha is becoming weak. Now you remember your father and gain strength from him. You kill this public enemy and release all the kings. On hearing Krishnas advice, he remembered Vayu, the wind god and lifted Jarasandha, spun him in the air and dashed him on the ground. He did him this way for three times. With that all the bones of Jarasandha were broken into pieces and cried loudly with pain. Bheema took the dead body of Jarasandha and put in front of the main gate. All the people made a hue and cry. Krishna assured all the people of Magadha of their security, safety and peaceful living. He called Sahadeva, the son of Jarasandha and consoled him. He declared him as the king of Magadha. All the kings who were in thecaptivity were released and made them to sit in their chariot. Krishna remembered Garutmantha. Immediately Garutmantha stood before him. Krishna ordered Garutmantha to take this chariot to Indraprasta by air. Due to the death of Jarasandha, Dharmaraja had become an unopposed emperor and was worshipped by the released kings. Krishna, saluted Dharmaraja and introduced all the kings to him. Dharmaraja respected all those kings and sent them back to their respective countries. Dharmaraja deputed all his four brothers on an expedition of war in all the four directions. All the kings accepted the superiority of Dharmaraja and gave them valuable gifts and agreed to pay tribute and to become as subordinate kings . The brothers brought enormous wealth from all the directions . Dharmaraja: Krishna! Padmanabha! With your grace, I am going to become the emperor. All the kings have surrendered before me. They gave enormous wealth. I cant count and tell you how much it is. For the welfare of the countries, I await for your orders to perform this Rajasuya yaga. Krishna: Dharmaraja! Your mind always is fixed on dharma. You are a pure person. In wealth, you can be compared only with Indra. Hence you alone are capable of performing this yaga. You yourself allocate the responsibilities to all of us. We will obey your orders. With the encouragement from Krishna , brothers and Dhaumya, Dharmaraja decided to perform the yaga. Indrasena was ordered to procure
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all the materials required for the yaga. Arjunas charioteer was asked to receive and respect all the guests and their wellbeing. Bheeshma, and Dhrutarashtra and other elders came to witness the yaga. Bheeshma and Drona were requested to honour brahmins and yajikas. The materials required for yaga were kept under the control of Vidura. Duryodhana was asked to receive and preserve the wealth and gifts brought by various kings. Dushsasana was asked to take care of the preparations and dispersing of all the eatables. Dharmaraja was fully engaged in yaga and was engaged in discharging the religious duties in yaga. Several millions of people were fed.
CHAPTER 2
Sisupala vadha: Agrahasvasudu: Sownaka! To witness Rajasuya yaga of Dharmaraja, Devarishi Narada came from the heaven. Because Maha Vishnu himself was the Yagapurusha, Vishnu himself came to participate in the yaga in human form as Krishna. Not only that, Krishna desired to utilize that yaga as a platform to reduce the Bhoobharam on the earth. At that time Bheeshma got up and said to Dharmaraja. Bheeshma: Oh Dharmaraja! You have successfully performed the yaga and we are all happy. Unless you respect the holiest persons by offering Arghyam, the yaga will not be completed. Now you choose a person of your choice who is the most worshipful person to receive that right honour and such a person should possess all these qualities in him viz. 1. Snatakudu, 2. Rutvijudu, 3.Satgurudu, 4.Eishtudu, 5.Bhoopaludu, 6.Ganasampanudu you choose a suitable person and worship him with devotion. Such worship alone gives the fruit of this yaga. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! You are the most senior, wise and judicious person. You yourself suggest the name of such a person and favour me. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! The person who is eligible to receive the Arghyam, the highest honour of this yaga, should be as splendorous as sun, and as pleasant as moon. Who is worshipped by all the virtuous persons? Who is the primeval Supreme Being? He who had the lotus on his navel, and lord Vishnu himself is the in this Sabha in the form of Krishna. Then why should you search here and there? So Krishna himself is the yagna purusha.
He has all the qualities to receive Arghyam. He is worshipped by all the lokas. So give Arghyam to Krishna. Dharmaraja: Sahadeva! Give the Arghyam to Krishna and let us worship him as suggested by our Pitamaha. Sisupala: Dharmaraja! There are so many kings, intellectual giants and superior brahmins in this Sabha. They are eligible to receive Arghyam. On hearing Bhishmas advice, you proved once again your ignorance. What are those great qualities that you have seen in Krishna. He doesnt have even a commendable behavior. He belongs to Dasarha. A low caste yadava family. Oh Dharmaraja! It is so easy to know the real state of dharma? How he is eligible to receive Aghrayam? Since you dont know the real state of dharma, you have blindly accepted what all Bheeshma said and giving arhgyam to a stupid person. Oh Dharmaraja! If Krishna is your friend, you take him to your home and feed him well or give enormous wealth. You have invited many kings and superior brahmins to witness the yaga. Is it only to insult them? Is it not unfair on your part? Dharmaraja! If you want to worship an elder pesonality, Vasudeva is the eldest of all. If you wanted to worship a Yajika, Vyasa maharishi is the most worshipful maharishi. If you want to worship a guru, Dronacharya is the right person. If you want to worship a king, there are so many kings in this Sabha. Yadavas are not eligible to rule. What superior quality is there in Krishna for you to worship with Arghyam? Is it because Bheeshma had suggested his name? Dharmaraja! Many kings accepted your invitation and came here thinking that you are a virtuous king. But you have insulted them . Assume that even though you might have offered Arghyam to him, how was that shameless Krishna had accepted it? To be frank, worshipping Krishna is equal to the offering of a girl to an impotent person. You have become a laughing stock among the kings. Dharmaraja: Sisupala! Can you talk such harsh words to your king? Are you not aware that harsh words are more harmful than poison and fire? Bheeshma Pitamaha had praised Krishna is the creator of all the worlds. In fact, Krishna was praised even by Vedas. Krishna is being worshipped by all worlds. How can you say such a virtuous person is unworthy of receiving Arghyam?
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Sisupala ! Pitamaha had correctly understood Krishna as the destroyer of ignorance and as the Supreme Being. Since you are ignorant, you are finding fault with Pitamaha and Krishna. Can a man of little wisdom like you ever understand the real state of Paramatma? Even virtuous kings and superior people have understood Krishna as the Supreme Being. Is it right on your part to abuse Krishna in this manner? Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! Sisupala is an arrogant and a spoilt child. Any amount of good words will not enter his ears. Can an ignorant who abuses virtuous persons ever understand the real state of dharma? Sisupala! By the grace of Krishna, all the kings were released from the captivity of Jarasandha, hence he is eligible for this highest honour. Even a boy is to be worshipped by all, if he is a knowledgeable. In the same way, if a person is valorous, he is to be worshipped by all kshatriyas. By virtue of wisdom and valour, Krishna has killed the demon Mure. Hence Krishna alone is eligible for Arghyam. Normally if we honour a person, he alone will feel happy. Whereas if Krishna is honoured, all lokas will feel elated.Krishna has created all worlds simply with his power of his will. Are you able to understand such a yogeshwaras true spiritual knowledge? Sahadeva: We have decided to worship Krishna with Arghyam. There is no change in our decision. If any one oppose, we crush him like bug. On hearing the words of Sahadeva, all kings appreciated his courage and bravery. Suneedha, the commander of Sisupala took his permission and declared a war with their support. All yadava kings alerted their army and confronted Sisupala. Dharmaraja went to Bheeshma. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! Emotions are on rise. I am afraid this violent situation might spoil the sanctity of the yaga. So you pacify both the sides and settle the matter amicably. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! No one can conquer Krishna. He himself is the yagnapurusha. As long as he is present in this Sabha, no harm will happen to your yaga. All those kings went behind Sisupala are like street dogs. Krishna is like a lion. So they cant wag their tail before him. Sisupala: Oh kings! This Bheeshma is an old and senile He lost his mental balance long back. Somehow he has managed the innocent
Dharmaraja and worshipped Krishna with arghyam. All the more, he is praising Krishna as a Paramatma. Thus he has insulted all the kings in this Sabha. Bheeshma! You are praising Krishna as a valorous and strong man what achievements he did? Is it a great valour to kill Putana, a woman? Is it his strength to push a lifeless cart? Do you consider killing a bull is also a heroic deed? Was it his feat to pull down an old tree? For all these blabbering your tongue is to be cut hundred pieces. Otherwise there will be no end of blabbering about Krishna. Bheeshma! I will tell you more about Krishna which you are not aware of. He has killed women and cows. Will there be any bigger sin than the killing those gave food to him. Krishna is a killer of women and children. You are proud of your knowledge on dharmas. Amba had fell in love with another person you abducted that girl and brought her to Hastinapura to marry her to your brother. Vichitraveerya refused to marry her and threw away from his house. Will it be appreciated by the virtuous people? Even a child knows one cant get a superior lokas, if he does not have a son. Whereas you remained without a son. Bheeshma! You claim that Krishna has killed all the enemies with his valour. But is it not a lie? Jarasandha attacked Matura ten times. But he could not win over Jarasandha. On the contrary he ran away from the battle field. He escaped from the battle field in the form of a brahmin in a deceitful manner On hearing Sisupalas words, Bheema became furious and got up to kill him. In the meanwhile, Bheeshma pacified him by informing the episode of Sisupala in the presence of all kings. Bheeshma: kings of the assembly! This Sisupala is the son of Damaghoshas and Satruti, the aunt of Krishna. As soon as he was born, he started braying like a donkey. He had four hands and an extra eye on his forehead. To see the freakish and bizaare boy, people came from nook and corner of the country. At that time, a voice heard from the sky, When a person takes this boy in his arms, his extra two hands and an eye will disappear.Later on, he will be killed by the same person. No one else will kill him. From that day onwards, the parents of the boy were anxious to know the person who will kill their child. So they used to ask all the visitors to take him in their arms.
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Krishna and Balarama also came to see their aunts son. Satruti invited her nephews and gave the child to Krishna. As soon as Krishna took the boy in his arms, his extra two hands and an eye disappeared. Satruti was astonished and thought that her son would die in the hands of Krishna, her nephew. She caught hold of the hands of Krishna and requested him, Oh Krishna! If my son does any harm to you, I request you to pardon him for hundred faults. Krishna has kindly assured her that he would tolerate and endure up to one hundred faults . Hence he is bound to die in the hands of Krishna. That is why I also did not react in spite of him abusing me. Except Krishna, no one else could kill him. So be patient. Sisupala: Krishna! Because of mad love towards you, Pandavas ignorantly worshipping you with Arghyam. This old mans words also gave strength to Pandavas. So I will kill you and Bheeshma. Thereby I will undo the sin committed by Dharmaraja. Krishna: Sisupala! When I was engaged in a war with Bhagadatta, you attacked Dwaraka and cruelly set fire to Dwaraka and killed children, women and old people. While kings of Bhoja were in entertainment with their families on Mt.Raivati, you killed them brutally. You halve stolen the Yagaswa of Vasudeva. Not only that I have tolerated one hundred faults you did against me as promised to my aunt. Now you have abused me in several ways in this Sabha for which all the kings are witness. Sisupala: Krishna! You are a dishonest man. You have forcibly abducted a girl who was fixed for me and married her. So you are worshipful for those wicked people only. Neither I care for your anger nor do I care for your friendship. Arent you ashamed to pretend as virtuous person? The Killing of Sisupala: While Sisupala was continuously abusing Krishna, Krishna remembered his chakrayudham. Immediately his chakra came to his hands and he sent it towards Sisubala. It went like a ball of fire and cut the throat of Sisupala in the presence of all courtiers. A flash like lightening came out of his body and absorbed in Krishna. The kings praised the glorious Krishna. Finally Krishna crowned Sisupalas son as the king. After that all the formalities of Rajasuya yaga were completed one by one successfully. [Sisupala was a dwarapalaka of Maha Vishnu in his previous birth]
After the yaga everyone had the sacred bath called Avabridha snanam. With this Dharmaraja had become glorious among the kings . Naturally all the Kouravas felt jealous of Dharmarajas glory and wealth. Arjuna and his brothers gave a hearty send off with hefty gifts to Bheeshma, Dhrutarashtra, Drona, Krupa and many other kings. At that time Krishna advised Dharmaraja. Krishna: Dharmaraja! All beings are depend on the rain, all the birds lives on fruits, all devatas are depends on Indra. In the same way you also protect all the people and relatives depended on you. On hearing Krishnas words Dharmaraja replied, Oh Krishna! With your kind grace I am able to complete the yaga. Since all the kings saluted me, I became glorious. My family has became pure. Though you live in Dwaraka, you keep enquiring our well being. Though you are away at Dwaraka, you are so near us by living in our hearts. All Pandavas followed him and then returned to their homes. Duryodhana was jealous of Pandavas wealth: Duryodhana and Sakuni stayed back in Indraprasta for some days to see the wonders of Mayasabha. At one place, they saw a door as if it was closed and went back. In another place they felt it was open and dashed against the door and were hurt. In another place, they saw a levelled place they mistook it as an elevated place and tried to climb but fell down. In another place they thought it was a water pool, hence they raised their garments so as they might not drench in the water. Whereas there was no water. In another place they saw it was a plain place and fell in the water pool. Thus they underwent many falls. By looking at the discompiture of Duryodhana, Draupadi and Pandavas laughed. This made Duryodhana more humiliated and it added more ghee in his fire of jealousy against Pandavas. After two days, Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura but he could not forget the humiliation he suffered before his cousins and their wife. Therefore he could not concentrate on his royal duties and started thinking in sinful ways. Sakuni was greatly upset by looking at the dejected Duryodhana and said. Sakuni: Duryodhana! Since so many days you are neither freely talking with us nor enjoying any comforts. You are always looking preoccupied and worrying yourself as if you lost the entire world. If you me the problem that is bothering you, I will try to solve it. Duryodhana : Uncle! You also witnessed the splendour of Dharmaraja and the applauds he received. We have also seen his Mayasabha
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whichi was unique. This is one of the great wonders. How this Dharmaraja was able to possess such a wonderful Sabha in a short time?. How all those kings became subordinates to him? Another wonder of that yaga was a great valorous king like Sisupalas head was severed by Krishna by his chakra. In spite of so many kings present at that time, none of them opened their mouth in favour of Sisupala. But they praised Krishna and Dharmaraja. The moment the Pandavas reached Indraprasta, their wealth and glory is increasing day by day. Oh uncle! Will any body l appreciate the growth of their cousins who are his rivals. Give me a suggestion to grab their wealth. Saguni said, Duryodhana! I will give you a brilliant idea to grab all the wealth of Pandavas. Before that you must take permission from the King Dhrutarashtra. If you are able to convince your father, all their wealth will become yours. Then Duryodhana went to see Dhrutarashtra with Sakuni and said to the king: Sakuni : King! After returning from Indraprasta , your son Duryodhana has become a worried man. He stopped taking food and could not sleep. He lost so much of weight in a few days. He lost his brilliance in his face. Did you enquire the reason for it? Dhrutarashtra was perturbed on hearing Sakunis words and touched the body of Duryodhana with his hand and said: Dhrutarashtra: My dear son! While making partition I have given you more wealth than Pandavas. All your brothers, friends and servants are so affectionate to you. They even give their life to you. You are much superior to Indra in wealth and comforts. All our subordinate kings are obedient to you. What is the reason for your detachment in life? Why you left all comforts and sense pleasures? Duryodhana: My dear father! The wealth and glory of Pandavas have exceeded Indras. The valour and virtues of Pandavas spread all over like the rays of sun. Arjuna occupied all the lands including the country of Uttara Kuru. Is it a small thing? How could I digest it? Excepting Krishna and Drupada all other kings are paying tribute to them. All the forests, mountains, rivers and lands are under the possession of Pandavas. I am only a poor and downcast prince in front of them. Oh father! Dharmaraja has given me a duty of collecting gifts given by various kings. All those wealth was as huge as four oceans. While Dharmaraja was dedicated to yaga, Gouda, Kambojha and other kings donated valuable carpets and superior horses. Sinhala, Kerala
and other kings donated him with pearls, pagadas and many spices. Krishna brought valuable diamonds and fourteen thousand elephants. I have seen the inseparable friendship of Krishna and Arjuna. On seeing the splendor of Pandavas I could not control my fury. Their priest Dhaumya took Dharmaraja and his brothers for their sacred bath after Rajasuya. While they were taking that sacred bath that was witnessed by Narada, Vyasa and other maharishis. Satyaki held the white umbrella for Dharmaraja. Bheema and Arjuna fanned Chowaris . Krishna , Nakula and Sahadeva and other kings saluted to Dharmaraja. We looked at it with pale faces. While seeing all these, I realized how fortunate Dharmaraja was and how ill-fated I am. Sakuni: Duryodhana! I will grab all the fortune of Dharmaraja and make them yours in a game of dice. Dharmaraja is fond of that game. But he doesnt know the tricks of the game. I am not only an expert but also capable of cheating others while playing dice. When I apply a trick, even Brahma cant see it. So I can easily cheat Dharmaraja, if you arrange a game of dice. I will see to it that all his wealth will become yours. So you stop worrying. Duryodhana: Father! I touch your feet and request you to invite Dharmaraja for playing the game of dice. Sakuni will take care of my interests. Dhrutarashtra: Duryodhana! Vidura is a wise person. I will consult him. He is not only a man well versed in politics but also a far sighted person. He is the well wisher of both Kouravas and Pandavas. [ Dhrutarashtra must have thought in this way and hence he wanted to take the permission of Vidura before he gave clearance to his son. Though he is the king, his rule was fully dependent on Bheeshma and Vidura. With their consent only, he could enforce his authority; otherwise he might land in trouble. So with a foresight, he wanted to involve both of them before he gives a nod to his son.] Duryodhana: Father! We all know the attitude of Vidura. He always talks in favour of Pandavas. He will certainly oppose your proposal. So you take a decision by yourself. If you dont listen to my words and insist that you have to consult Vidura, I have no other alternative except to commit suicide. After my death you and Vidura can live in comfort. With Duryodhanas threatening words, Dhrutarashtra became nervous and ordered to construct a Sabha. He ordered thousand people to decorate the Sabha in an artistic way. One day in course of the conversation with
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Vidura, he told him about the request of Duryodhana . On hearing Dhrutarashtras words, Vidura was astonished. He thought that gambling was going to be the root cause for a big calamity. However he thought for a while and said: Vidura: Our King! Why did you agree for a gambling between the brothers? Will it not spoil their unity? Is it not to light fire among your own sons? There is every chance of rising emotions in a gambling. So you please convince Duryodhana and Sakuni and stop the gambling arrangements with Pandavas. Dhrutarashtra: Vidura! I appreciate your foresight and caution. When myself, yourself and Bheeshma are alive how can you foresee an enemity among my sons. We are blessed by the grace of god with abundant wealth. As such there will not be any enemity or harm among our sons. So you listen to my words and give your consent. Dont have any baseless doubts. You yourself go to Indraprasta and bring Dharmaraja and brothers with you to participate in the gambling arranged by me. Vidura went to Bheeshma and said the mindset of Dhrutarashtra. One day Dhrutarashtra took his son Duryodhana to the construction site of the Sabha and said to him: Dhrutarashtra: My son! Why you did you propose this gambling? Will it not develop an enemity among your brothers? That will cause a great human loss in the entire world. In my opinion, it is better you both rule your own countries and live comfortably. Why you have developed a jealousy against Pandavas?. Is it not unrighteous to abduct others wealth in a deceitful manner. If one makes a sinful thought, dharma and wealth will be destroyed. Vidura has categorically opposed this proposal. You are ten times wealthier than Dharmaraja. If you also perform a yagna and give more gifts to brahmins. All our subordinate kings will also give you gifts and tax. Duryodhana: Respected King! It is my firm opinion to play a game of dice with Dharmaraja. This is the only way for me to acquire enormous wealth. After Rajasuya, you all came back to Hastinapura. I stayed back to see all the wonders of Mayasabha. The wonders of Mayasabha is unheard of. It is full of illusions. At one point I thought there was water and I entered the place cautiously with a fear that my cloths may drench in water, but there was no water. In another place I thought it is a plain place and entered in a carefree manner. But it was full of water and all my cloths were drenched.
At that time Bheema provided me new garments. By looking at me, Panchali laughed at me. Nakula and Sahadeva came running to guide me to the door way. I have become a laughing stock before Panchali, which is paining my heart even now. Father! Because of Mayasabha, we have become low before them. Though they are insignificant before us, suddenly they have become superiors because of this Mayasabha. You remember one thing that Pandavas can never be my friends. If such is the case, how can I tolerate their superiority and excess of wealth? This is the easiest way to grab the wealth of my enemies. Why should I feel shy? Father! If an enemy is progressing bit by bit we should destroy him, otherwise we ourselves will be destroyed. The ant hill at the bottom of the tree will destroy the tree in course of time. In the same manner if the progress of an enemy is insignificant in the beginning, if we neglect it will grow slowly and become uncontrollable. It will kill the person who has neglected it. So we should not have any lenient view towards Pandavas. Unless I grab the wealth of Pandavas, the wounds of my heart will not be healed. Sakuni: Duryodhana! If you want to grab the wealth of Pandavas without any war and human loss, the only way of winning Pandavas is only by a game of dice. No other go! Dhrutarashtra : Duryodhana! I am not convinced with your words. I fully agree with the advice given by Vidura, because he alone can distinguish the difference between dharma and adharma. He is good at doing righteous things. He advised me that, this gambling may lead to a war. So I dont want any enemity to develop with Pandavas. If I want to be lenient at this point, I may have to undergo inconsolable grief, hence I will not give nod to this gambling. Duryodhana: Father! You are the ruler. You are the king. You have to take decisions. How can you rule with others counseling? No two opinions will agree. Even puranas have accepted gambling. By playing gambling only devatas acquired divinity and enjoying all comforts. So you give permission to play gambling, invite Dharmaraja and allow Sakuni to play with him. Dhrutarashtra struggled mentally for a long time and could not come to a conclusion. So he called Vidura again and said: Dhrutarashtra : Vidura ! You go to Indraprasta and invite Dharmaraja and his brothers to Hastinapura. We shall show them the Sabha we have built. They will enjoy by looking at this.
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In spite of repeated advice by Vidura to keep away from the gambling, Dhrutarashtra did not agree to his views. Vidhura repeatedly warned Dhrutarashtra that it was not a good to gamble, but it was a wicked plan of Sakuni and warned him that this would do harm to the Kuru family. Dharmaraja and others come to play the game of dice: Vidura thought in himself, Though I advised the king in several ways about the evils that may arise after this game, he gave a deaf ear and forced me to go to Indraprasta to invite Dharmaraja and his brothers. He reached Indraprasta. Dharmaraja and others worshipped him and enquired the wellbeing of Dhrutarashtra and others. Dharmaraja said: Dharmaraja: My dear uncle! I am pleased to get the invitation from my father Dhrutarashtra to see the newly built Sabha . I consider it as a great honour and fortune. However is it wise to play a game of dice in that newly built Sabha? I am afraid that because of this game we may certainly face some problems with my cousins. You and Dhrutarashtra are the most revered persons to me. So how can I disobey your orders? Dharmaraja, his brothers, Draupadi, Dhaumya, Kunthi, and personal servants went to Hastinapura. Duryodhana, his brothers, Bheeshma and other elders, welcomed Dharmaraja and his brothers. Next day Dharmaraja and his brothers went to see the glorious Sabha built by Dhrutarashtra. There the Pandavas and the Kouravas were sitting and talking on several subjects. Duryodhana casually said: Duryodhana: Dharmaraja! You are not only having a great taste for gambling but you are an expert in playing dice. Come down, let us play a game just for fun. Dharmaraja: Duryodhana! Cheating and playing dice are not accepted dharmas for kshatriyas. So kshatriyas should forsake them at any cost. Not only that playing with deceitful people is all the more sin. By that, they lost both dharma and wealth. The word gambling itself sounds adharma. Winning in a deceitful game with dice is the greatest sin. However Aceetha, Devludu also said that playing dice in a righteous manner is as good as doing a righteous battle. [The sayings Aseetha and Devaludu are two maharishis whom Vyasa has deputed to pitru lokas to propagate the epic Mahabaratha.] Sakuni: Dharmaraja! You are a great intellect, and a statesman. You are an expert in playing dice. Is it fair on your part to say such words? We
are going to play for merriment and pleasure. Is it an offence? However if you are afraid of playing dice let us not pursue this subject any further. Dharmaraja: We are all forcibly called here only to play dice. Having come all the way why should we go without playing? Oh Uncle Sakuni! Who will come to play with me? Will Vikarna or Chitrasena, your brothers, come to play? Duryodhana: Dharmaraja! I will play with you, but Sakuni will play the dice on my behalf. Whatever stake he offers, I take responsibility for its payment. Dont say any objection to it. The gambling started and different varieties of bettings were offered by both the sides. For some time, the play went on in a friendly manner. The matches had many phases. In the first phase, Sakuni conspired to see that Dharmaraja wins continuously, so that Dharmaraja would have a lot of self-confidence and false sense to play for more and more stakes. In the second phase, Sakuni manipulated things in such a style that helped Dharmaraja to recover a very large stakes after he lost continuously. Sakuni adopted another plot to provide a fake sense of excessively over-confidence to Dharmaraja, who believed that he could get back whatever he might lose.Sakunis ruse climaxed during the third phase when Dharmaraja continuously lost but had no chance to recover. Vidura: My brother Dhrutarashtra! Duryodhana was born as a crooked person. We have seen many bad omens at the time of his birth. Till now this, Kuru dynasty is progressing well, with so many of our ancestral parents and Rajarishis. Now with this game of dice proposed by Duryodhana, our Kuru family is getting ruined. Sukracharya said, If the entire family is getting ruined because of an individual, it is better to lose that individual. In the same way to save their dynasty Vristhi and Andhaka, Yadava warriors provoked Krishna to kill Kamsa. Dhrutarashtra! You depute Arjuna and instruct him to stop this game. He alone could stop Duryodhana. If you dont avert this game, not only your Kuru family will suffer but also there is going to be a great human loss on earth. You alone can avert a big war. Again I am telling you. Duryodhana is arrogant and a fool. You leave him thereby the entire Kourava dynasty could be saved and thereby you can save dharma also. To be frank with you, how Pandavas are outsiders to you? Your son is a greedy person. With greediness and jealousy, he is trying to destroy all your family. Now the tree of Kourava
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family is full of flowers and fruits. If you neglect, it will reduce to ashes. Can ever a bull dash against a mountain? In the similar manner, your son is provoking for a war against Pandavas. You stop it at once. Oh Duryodhana! Sakuni is making you a pan in his game of hateredness against Pandavas and their prosperity. You became a slave to Sakuni and his wicked thinking. Pandavas with their valour fought and won all the kings on earth. You are cheating and winning over their fortune with a deceitful game of dice. Is it fair on your part? Duryodhana: Uncle Vidura! You eat in our house and praise our enemies. By allowing you to live in our house, it is as dangerous as keeping a cobra in our bed. Oh Vidura! We are trying to gain all the fortunes of our enemy without a drop of blood. Is it not the duty of a king? If you are really a well wisher of mine it would be better to keep quiet without getting into unwanted mattes. You made it a point in finding faults in me. If you keep within your limits, it would be good for you and for us. Vidura: Duryodhana! You are under the illusion that only those who are provoking jealous, haterdness and greediness are as your wellwishers. You are unable to see them as your enemy in the mask of a friend. My words may not be palatable to you, but at the end you will realize they alone aspire your wellbeing. Since I am a well wisher, I have a duty even though you dont like me. Only people like me wish the wellbeing of the king. Again and again I am telling you, I am the well wisher of Dhrutarashtra and his sons. Your enemity with Pandavas will not do any good to you. Sakuni: Dharmaraja! You have been continuously losing in all the games. So you have vigorously betting, with a view to recover all the money. Jewels, buildings, wealth and even the country You lost all your physical and virtual properties. Now there is nothing with you to offer as a bet. Without a stake, gambling will not give any pleasure. So I am stopping the play at this point. Dharmaraja: Sakuni! All my brothers are as splendour as sun. They never tasted any defeat in any war. Their behaviour and character are as good as our ancestral Rajarishis. So I will offer my brothers as a stake. In this manner, Dharmaraja lost all his brothers and finally he lost himself. Sakuni: Dharmaraja! Had you not offered yourself, you could have offered your wife, Draupadi as a last resort. But you lost that opportunity also.
Provoked by the words of Sakuni, Dharmaraja offered his wife Draupadi also as a bet and played with a hope of getting back all he has lost. With that they stopped the game at that point. [ Dharmaraja knows all dharmas. However his mind was occupied with fierce desire of winning back, This is the attitude of a gambler which provoked Dharmaraja even to lose his own wife. This is one of the touching scenes in Mahabaratha and it indicates the human weakness towards gambling.] Bheeshma, Drona, Krupa and all elders were grieved looking at Dharmaraja who lost everything. Vidura was ashamed even to look at Dharmaraja. Dushsasana, Karna, Saindhava and others embraced each other in joy of victory. Hearing all these noises, Dhrutarashtra asked Vidura. What is all the noise? Duryodhana: Vidura! Dharmaraja lost Draupadi also in the game. You go and bring her to the Sabha. Vidura: Duryodhana! I have not seen a worse fool than you in this world. Are you in your senses to ask me to do such a cruel act? Insult of Draupadi: Since Vidura did not obey his orders to bring Draupadi to Sabha, he sent Pratikaami to go to Draupadi and say as his orders, Draupadi! Dharmaraja played the game of dice with us and lost every thing. He lost all his assets, his brothers, himself and you also at last. So you come to the Sabha with Pratikaami. Pratikaami went to Draupadi and said what Duryodhana had asked him to say. On hearing the words of Pratikaami, Draupadi said: Draupadi: Pratikaami! Had any gambler in any yuga, placed his wife as a stake and played? Even to hear it looks odd. I dont believe Dharmaraja will resort to such a low act. You tell me whether he lost himself and put me as bet. Or he bet himself after losing me? If you know, you tell me, otherwise you go to the gambler and clarify from himself. Then I will come with you. Pratikaami went to Dharmaraja and asked him to clarify what Draupadi wanted to know. But Dharmaraja lowered his head and kept silent. At that time Duryodhana said: Duryodhana: Pratikaami! Draupadi has raised a trickiest question in the presence of many elders. So you go and bring her, so that she herself can raise the question. Go and bring her here immediately.
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Pratikaami went to Draupadi and said that Dharmaraja kept silent and Duryodhana had ordered her to go with him and raise her question before the elders in the Sabha. In spite of her menstrual problems, she went with him; she was weeping bitterly. She went to king Dhrutarashtra and stood by his side. Since she did not get any response, she ran to her motherin-law, Gaandhari. Looking at Draupadi all Pandavas lowered their heads with shame. Duryodhana was happy to see at the dejected state of Pandavas. He ordered Dushsasana and said: Duryodhana: Dushsasana! This Pratikaami is afraid of Bheema; so you catch her hair and drag her to the Sabha [The critics stated as follows: Once Dharmaraja and his brothers lost themselves in the gambling, they lost their authority on her and they have no right to keep her as a bet; hence she was literally under the protection of her father-in-law. When she did not get justice from him, she ran to her mother- in- law, Gaandhari.] While Draupadi was proceeding to Gaandhari, Dushsasana chased her and said: Dushsasana: Draupadi! How can you escape from me? Sakuni has gained you in gambling. So you have become the property of Duryodhana; your husbands lost themselves and you also. While he was about to catch her, she cried and said: Draupadi : Dushsasana ! I am wearing a single cloth as I am undergoing the menstrual period. I cant come before the elders in the Sabha. Dushsasana: Whether you wear single cloth or no cloth, I dont care. I will drag you to the Sabha as per the orders of the king. By saying so, he caught hold of her hair and dragged her to the Sabha in the presence of Karna, Duryodhana, Sakuni, Saindhava and many wicked people. Draupadi was furious at it and said: Draupadi: Elders of Kuru family! Dharmaraja is a righteous person. Come what may, he will never resort to adharma. This Dushsasana caught my hair and dragged me to the Sabha. Are you supporting his wicked action? Why are you all elders in this Sabha keeping silent? Not even a single person has raised his voice and said it is adharma. Out of arrogance, this Dushsasana has insulted me. The Kuru Sabha is known for its righteous nature. Today it has become unrighteous.
While weeping profusely, she prayed Krishna for protection. At that time Bheema said: Bheema: Dharmaraja! You have lost all of us and yourself and all you wealth. Because you are our king, the loss may be justified. But in this deceitful game of dice, can you bet Draupadi? Because of your action she was caught in the hands of cruel people; she is insulted and and so she is weeping. Knowing fully well that Sakuni is a deceitful gambler, you joined hands with him in playing dice. Is it befitting to burn our hands for the sin you have committed. On hearing Bheemas words, Arjuna pacified Bheema and said: Arjuna: Bheema! If Dharmaraja deviates from dharma the entire earth will become agitated. He did not play the game of dice out of ignorance. Since our cousins called affectionately and invited him for playing dice in a friendly manner. A king should not say no when he is asked to play a game of dice in a friendly manner, because it is equal to dharmayudha. To establish this Kshatriya dharma, he has agreed to play with them. When god is against us, what we can do? It is not fair on our part to find fault with him. The virtuous nature of Dharmaraja was exploited by the unrighteous persons and so he became a laughing stock. Looking at the dejected state of Pandavas and the weeping Draupadi. Vikarna, a younger son of Dhrutarashtra said: Vikarna: Elders in this Sabha! you should answer the question of Draupadi without any favour or fear in a judicious manner. In case if you keep quiet you all will certainly go to hell. Bheeshma, the eldest of Kuru family, Dhrutarashtra, Vidura and many others are maintaining silence, why? There are many other elders in this Sabha who are righteous people. At least those elders should come out with their verdict without love or hate. Since no one opened their mouth Vikarna said: Vikarna: I myself will deliver the justice, listen all. Gambling, hunting, consuming wine, and over eating these four are classified as evil vices. The person who is addicted to such an evil will deviate from dharma. The actions of such an unrighteous person should not be taken into account. Dharmaraja was invited and caught in an evil vice of gambling and lost his kingdom. Draupadi, the common wife of all Pandavas was also placed as bet. They won her by virtue of adharma. A pretty woman who is in ekavastra was dragged in to the Sabha in a cruel manner which is not justified.
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Karna: Vikarna! You are talking like a fool. When all the elders are keeping silent , why are you taking the responsibility on your shoulders and talking in the presence of elders? Dharmaraja made bets and lost her in the presence of all these elders. Draupadi is not an outsider to him. Hence we have won her as a stake in a righteous manner. Had there been an act of adharma would Pandavas accept it? Your other contention is bringing a pretty woman when she was in ekavastra. Brahma has dictated one husband for each woman. Whereas she had five husbands. People call such a woman as Bandhaki. Such a woman can be dragged with one cloth or even without a cloth. By hearing Karnas words, all Pandavas removed their cloths and kept aside. Draupadi Vastra apaharanam: Dushsasana who was hated by righteous people and who always indulged doing wrong things, went to Draupadi, caught hold of her cloth and pulled it out in the middle of Kuru Sabha. While he pulled a part of the dress, she somehow got similar cloth.He kept on dragging her cloth but mysteriously, a similar cloth came to her and covered her body continuously. Dushsasanas attempt to make her nude failed. By looking at it, all in the Sabha became astonished. The cloth that Dushsasana pulled out had became a heap of cloths, yet she was not made naked.Dushsasana was tired and lost enthusiasm and stood like a log. By looking at the insult caused to Draupadi, Bheema was furious and said: Bheema: In the presence of all elders of Kuru family, guru, and relatives are all looking as a silent spectators while this arrogant Dushsasana abused the modesty of Draupadi. In the battle field in the presence of Duryodhana I will tear his chest and drink his blood. If I do not fulfill my vow, I will become an outcaste from my family. You elders! why are you silent? You reply to the questions raised by Draupadi. Vidura: If a doubt is raised on dharma, if that doubt is not cleared by elders sitting in the Sabha they all become sinners. So I will answer to her question. Vikarna has clarified the dharma like Bruhaspathi. Dont overlook his words since he is a young boy. In all places to clarify a dharma and do the correct interpretation is not possible even for Brahma. If anybody come to Sabha and raise a doubt on dharma. If every body keeping silent even though they are aware of dharma such members of Sabha will get the sin of an untruth. This is said by ancient munis. In spite of knowing dharma if the same is not revealed out of selfishness or out of partiality or if it is interpreted in a wrong way he will become an untruthful person.
On hearing Viduras words, due to the fear of Duryodhana, nobody opened their mouth. Looking at the situation Draupadi said: Draupadi: On the day of my Swayamwara, all the kings praised me. Subsequently I became the wife of Pandavas and sister of Krishna. Today this Dushsasana has insulted me in this Sabha. In spite of so many kings are present in this Sabha no one has answered to my question. Now you tell me whether I am a servant of Kouravas or not. I obey your orders. Bheeshma : My daughter! Yudhistara alone is to answer your question. He alone knows the intricacies of dharma. Kouravas did this heinous act on you they will pay for it. Karna: Draupadi! Even though you have five husbands none of them are able to protect you. From now you marry only one husband. On hearing Karnas words Duryodhana looked at Draupadi and signaled at her showing his lap and asked her to sit on his lap. By looking at that Bheema became furious and said. Bheema: Duryodhana! Because of the pride of your power, you have asked Draupadi to sit on your lap. For that sin of yours, I make a vow that I will break your thighs in a battle. On hearing Bheemas vow all the elders in the Sabha were shocked and scared. Then Bheeshma, Drona, Vidura and others pacified him by saying, This is not the time to express your anger. At that time the Agnihotra of Dhrutarashtra subsided. Foxes hauled. All the women of Kouravas were frightened. They observed many more bad omens. Bheeshma, Drona and others said, The bad time has started for the sons of Dhrutarashtra. Gaandhari came to know all that had happened and took Vidura with her and went to Dhrutarashtra and said, that the Pandavas were defeated in a deceitful way and that Draupadi was insulted and as a result, many bad omens had emerged.She wanted the king to nullify the results of the gambling. Then Dhrutarashtra called Duryodhana and said, Oh Duryodhana! Draupadi is the chaste and virtuous wife of Pandavas. Dont look at her as an ordinary woman. Right from your childhood, you are grown with bad behavior. Pandavas suffered many difficulties because of you. Even now you stop hating them. Dhrutarashtra wanted to do justice for Pandavas and said to Draupadi: Dhrutarashtra gives boons to Draupadi: Dhrutarashtra: My daughter! You are the most virtuous among all my daughter-in-laws. You ask what ever you want. I will give.
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Draupadi: Respected King! If you wish to give me a boon, you release king Dharmaraja from his slavery so that his children will not call him as a servant of Duryodhana. Dhrutarashtra said, Yes! your request is granted, and you ask from me another boon. For which Draupadi said, You release the other four brothers of Dharmaraja from their slavery. Dhrutarashtra said, Your request is granted. You ask another boon. Then Draupadi said, king! A Vaysya woman can ask for one boon, a kshatriya woman can seek two boons. A Sudra woman can ask for three boons. Whereas a brahmin woman can ask hundred boons. Hence I dont want to ask the third one. On hearing Draupadis words, Dhrutarashtra appreciated her knowledge on dharma and good qualities. He called Dharmaraja and his brothers and said: Dhrutarashtra: Dharmaraja! You go to Indraprasta and rule your kingdom as before and live happily and all good will happen to you. You know all dharmas and you served the elders. Whereas my sons are ignorant and did harm to you. You forget their bad behaviour. A virtuous person will not keep enemity in his mind. He will always be patient and retain only good and leave bad thoughts. Out of ignorance, I invited you for the game of dice. I have became old, in spite of my old age, I gave room to certain low thoughts. You forgive my sons and develop cordial relationship with them. Vidura and you are the most righteous persons. You both are to protect the Kuru dynasty. By saying so Dhrutarashtra gave back the kingdom to Dharmaraja and thus redeemed the old atmosphere. patched up the differences aroused between Pandavas and Kouravas. But Bheema was not happy with every thing that had happened and roared that he would kill all the enemies as sacrificial animals in a yaga. Finally all Pandavas went to Indraprasta with Draupadi. After knowing the developments from Dushsasana, Duryodhana went to Dhrutarashtra and said: Duryodhana: Father! Bruhaspathi advised Indra that the enemies are to be killed at any cost. Though you are kind towards Pandavas they will not forget their enemity towards us. In future, they will never believe us. Your kindness to Pandavas is like provoking a cobra and keeping it on ones chest. You did a great mistake by returning their kingdom. All Pandavas from now onwards will win all the three worlds. So by not giving a chance to them, we call him again for a game of dice and we will drive them away from the country.
On hearing Duryodhanas words, Dhrutarashtra had agreed. This time Dhrutarashtra had sent Pratikaami to invite Dharmaraja for a game of dice. At that time Dharmaraja said, Can we disobey the orders of a father and the god. By saying so he went again with his brothers and Draupadi. [ Second time Dhrutarashtra invited Pandavas for a game of dice, Bheeshma objected. Gaandhari said even by losing Duryodhana, she wanted that Kuru dynasty should be protected.] The second time also, all assembled for watching the game of dice in the same Sabha. Sakuni said to Dharmaraja: Sakuni: Dharmaraja! Virtuous Dhrutarashtra had given back all the kingdom to you with honour. So keeping respect in him, it is not wise to put all those wealth and kingdom as stake. I will suggest you a novel way of betting. That is, those who lost in this game should leave the kingdom, wearing Valkalas and observe Brahmacharya vrata, eating fruits and roots and to live in the forest for twelve years. After that period, they should live in a town or city without their identity. If anybody recognizes them, they should go back to forest for another twelve years of Aranya vasam and one more year of Agnatha vasam. If you agree to this condition, we shall go on playing a game of dice. Dharmaraja plays gambling for the second time: Since a kshatriya should not say no when he is invited for gambling, he accepted the offer of Sakuni. For the second time also, Dharmaraja lost due to the cunning hands of Sakuni. As the condition of the game, Pandavas left all the comforts and went to forests to live for twelve years with his priest Dhaumya and friends. Before leaving, he went to Bheeshma, Dhrutarashtra, Vidura, Drona, Krupa and other elders and took leave of them. At that time Vidura said: Vidura: Dharmaraja! Kunthi cant live in forest. Till you complete your exile, she will live in my house. You and your brothers are valorous. Dhaumya is a righteous person and knows all sastras and Vedas. He is the most respectable person. Draupadi is the chaste and virtuous wife of Pandavas. She is conversant to conduct herself in associating with you in dharma and ardha. Because of your valour, none of your enemies can survive. You are all initiated by Vyasa maharishi. Since you have the guidance from Dhaumya and protection from Krishna, you have the blessings from both human and divine sides. Sun, Moon and Wind will protect you in your exile. You conduct yourself well by keeping faith in god.
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Kunthi: My sons! Your father had not seen this unfortunate state of loosing all your fortune in a game of dice. I am unfortunate alive only to witness this. Had I gone with your father, I would have been saved from this grief. That way Madri was fortunate. Oh Krishna! I am totally depending on you. You protect my sons. Oh Sahadeva! Will you stay back with me, so that I will have somebody with me to give solace? Draupadi! By your birth, the family of Drupada had become pure. By coming to our family as a daughter-in-law, the Pandavas family also became pure. You are fortunate that you are accompanying and living with your husbands. You look after them during their stay in the forest. Bheema: A great war is inevitable. In that war I will fulfill the vows I made. I will kill Duryodhana and all his brothers in the battle. All the more, I will kill Duryodhana and kick his head with my foot. In the same way, I will kill Dushsasana and drink his blood from his chest. Arjuna: Fourteen year hence, I will release arrows from my bow, Gandivam and kill all these enemies. Their blood will flow like a river. Their flesh will be eaten by vultures and foxes. I will kill Karna and other unvirtuous people. Sahadeva: I will kill Sakuni with my arrows, who is responsible for this deceitful play of dice. After taking such vows, Pandavas left Hastinapura. While they were leaving Hastinapura many bad omens were observed in the royal palace. At that time Narada entered the Kuru Sabha and said, On the fourteenth year from today, I foresee a great battle. In that big battle, Pandavas will win. Though he was happy initially, Dhrutarashtra had his own misgivings about the entire proceedings. He actually became pessimistic and worried and shivered with fear and asked Vidura how Pandavas behaved while leaving for the forest. Vidura explains to Dhrutarashtra: Vidura: Oh Dhrutarashtra! While Pandavas were going to the forest people wept bitterly. Dharmaraja covered his head with his upper cloth and moved slowly looking at his feet. Though Kunthi requested Sahadeva to stay back with her, he did not stay and followed Dharmaraja. Draupadi did not dress her hair and started moving in a morose mood. Dhaumya went ahead
of them, reciting slokas from sama veda and praising the glories of lord Siva and, Yama. Dhrutarashtra: Vidura! Was there any specialty in their movement and feelings? Vidura: King! Dharmaraja was furious for the deceitful play of your sons. With his furious looks, whomever he looked they would turn to ashes. Hence he covered his head with his upper cloth, looked at his feet and he moved slowly. Bheema was jubilant in anticipation of a big war and to expose his strength to kill your sons. As a symbol, he used to spin his club in the air. Arjuna took a handful of sand and started spilling in the air indicating the number of arrows he would release in the forthcoming big war against your sons. Nakula applied dust all over his body and was hiding his prettiness from the people, otherwise they might feel sorry for him for the ensuing forest life. Sahadeva was afraid that people might fall in misery, if they look at his dejected face, so he lowered his head and walked slowly. Draupadi tied her hair with a wet cloth and walked behind them in a miserable state. Dhaumya foreseeing the death of all Kouravas, was reciting mantras related to the last rites. On hearing Viduras words, Dhrutarashtra could not control his grief and cried loudly, All Pandavas are brave and courageous. They scored victories over all their enemies. They have a large heart and are superior among kshatriyas. With such Pandavas being against him, Duryodhana had purchased an enemity. This may lead to enormous bloodshed and human loss. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! Though knowing fully well that Pandavas are the most valorous people, you have driven them out of the country. You have grabbed all their kingdom. Now you are weeping for what all had happened. Is there any meaning in your grief? Bheeshma, Drona and others cautioned you not to permit this deceitful game of dice. But you and your son did not respect their advice. Duryodhana lent his ears to Sakuni and Karna, and you lent your ears to Duryodhana. As a result, you did an irreparable harm to Pandavas. You and your son are capable of doing any wicked acts. Why you pretend as if you are repenting? Vidura: King! If you are really repenting for Pandavas, even now it is not too late. You call them back and return to them what all they have lost in this deceitful game. If you dont correct your mistake, righteous people will not appreciate you.
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In spite of Vidura and Sanjaya telling in so many ways, Dhrutarashtra kept mum as if he had not heard any thing from them. Dronacharya was a well wisher of Pandavas. But his staunch enemy Drupada and his son Drushtajyumna had become relatives of Pandavas. Drushtajyumna was born only to defeat him. One day or the other he will fight with him. Hence he stayed back in Hastinapura, otherwise he also would have gone to forest with Pandavas. In this manner, Pandavas who ruled from Indraprasta for twenty three years and left to forest leaving all their fortune because of the play of dice. Many warriors, virtuous citizens and intellectuals , followed Pandavas to live with them in the forests.
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Glossary
agraharas Arghyam Aswameda Avabrudha snanas Chowaris kandhava vana Dahanam dhakkas Dharma, ardha, kama, moksha Grant of land to brahmins by a king. a respectable offering or oblation a venerable person or to god. the emblematic sacrifice of a horse A ceremonial purificatory bath at the end of a principle sacrifice. fan or Wisk burning of a forest by name kandhava A kettle drum The principal object of human life and persuit of which four are enumerated. Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha. dishonest man gods who guard all directions fort difficult to conquer esoteric knowledge, portion of vedas which relates to the true spiritual knowledge. character organ of sense art of living under waters the lord of angel of death Anger Play, pastime is a tree with botanical name. terminania glapra
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Dhoortuda dikpalakas Durgams Durbedhyam gnani
Gunam Indriyas jalastambana vidya kaladandam Krodha leelas Maddi trees
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Madhuparkas mantras Moksha moodha mooras Naabhi pagadas Pitamaha putrakamna yaga radhikas Rajaneeti Ritvicks Roopam Sabha sampada sarovar Snataka vrata upayas Vadha Vandhi Vayu putra vedaadhyanam yagaswa yagna purusha
a new cloth dyed in turmeric a formula sacred to any particular deity exception from further birth fool or ignorant a Length of two arms. Navel coral grandfather Sacrifice performed by the one who is desirous of male offspring those who fight from a chariot Statesmanship The priest who officiates at sacrifice Form assembly Hall wealth Lake a ceremony of ablution required on finishing first ashrama sama, dana, bheda, dhanda killing, to kill one who praises the king son of Vayu the wind god learning of vedas; One of the six duties of a brahmin. sacrificial horse Lord Vishnu; The divine being who is propitiated by a yagna and grants boons to the former. The priest officiating at a sacrifice servant of Yama, angel of death. the individual soul enshrined in a human body
Yajikas yamakinkaras jeevatma
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kamagni karta kavyam kiratakas kshatriya Maharishi maschya yentra mrutasanjivini muni munikanya Naimisaranyam Panchama Vedamu Pandu varna Paramatma parava Pitru Runam Pouranikas pralayagni pundits puranas Purusharthas
Passion one who has the right to perform a religious rite. poem, epic barbarian; one of the names of Lord Siva. a man of second cast A great sage a figure of a mystical nature in the form of a fish a medicinal plant supposed to have the power of reviving the dead. Inspired saint daughter of a muni a sacred place Mahabaratha (5th veda) (Pale body) the supreme spirit chapters the debt of parents one versed in puranas fire at the time of destruction of the whole world at the end of kalpa. Scholars Ancient history, legendry, tradition The principal object of human life and pursuit of which four are enumerated. Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha. an assembly A herb that is supposed to revive a confused fight in a war eater of every object / Agni a kind of yaga
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Sabha Sanjivini Sankula yudham sarvabhakshaka Satra yaga

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siddhis Soustavam Sowiti Sradhas Sudra Sudras Swayamvara
Accomplishment a weapon teller of epics funeral rite in honour of the departed spirits backward caste backward caste the selection of a husband by a princess or daughter of a kshatriya at a public assembly of suitors held for the purpose. a small piece of gold tied by the bride groom at the time of marriage a religious rite to the deceased a holy place or holy water The second of the yugas Initiation of a youth of any of the first three castes in to the sacred study. the logical part of the veda sons of Pandavas the weapon of Indra A hermits garb made of bark. Duties of principal four casts viz. Brahmin, kshatriya, Vaysya, Sudra. Divine knowledge learning of vedas; One of the six duties of a brahmin. learning of vedas; One of the six duties of a brahmin. sciences regarded as auxiliary to Vedas based up on the major Upanishads Divine knowledge sacred percept or a rule religious vow
Tali tarpana tirthas treta yuga Upanayanam Upanishad upapandavas Vajra Valkalas varnashrama dharma Veda Vedaadhayanam Vedadyanamu Vedangas Vedanta sastra Vedas Vidhi vrata
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yaga yaga sala yagagni yagna yateeswara
an act of worship The prescribed place for offering oblations in a sacrifice. sacred fire from a yaga an act of worship a sanyasi, a fourth ashrama in four ashramas
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ARANYAPARVAM
CHAPTER 1 The exile of Pandavas: Pandavas started for exile in about fourteen thousand chariots. They were accompanied by Draupadi , Subhadra , Abhimanyu, Upapandavas and thousands of brahmins and people. They felt unhappy as the enlightened elders like Bheeshma, Dhrutarashtra and others who could not avert that unfortunate situation. However Karna, Syndhava and others were appreciating Duryodhana for his tact in subtly expelling the enemy without a drop of blood.In the above situation, Dharmaraja addressed the persons accompanying them. Dharmaraja: Superior brahmins! You are all praising our virtuous qualities. But to be frank with you, we are all common people like any body else. We have to live in the forest and are destined to undergo many difficulties. You are not used to a forest life. You all go back to your houses, and lead a calm life and we shall see you back after thirteen years. For this night, we take rest under this banyan tree. Next morning all brahmins who were proficient in Vedaadhayanam and worshipping Agni, came with their disciples to Dharmaraja to bless him. Brahmins: Dharmaraja! We have no other closer relatives than you. We cant go back and live without you. Please permit us to come and live with you in the forest. You dont have to worry about our food or shelter. We shall eat the fruits and roots that are available in the forest and live under the shadow of trees. We do our worshipping Agni and Vedaadhayanam for your well being. Dharmaraja: Since you are insisting to live with us, you may do so. A gruhasta, whether he is in a town or in a forest, has to worship his guests. Here in this forest, how I can perform the duty of a gruhasta? By saying so, Dharmaraja wept bitterly and fainted and fell down. At that time a Maharishi by name Sownaka had taught him thatva bodha from the teachings of Janakageetha.
Sownaka Maharishi: King! Sorrows and fear are the reasons for grief. Mental pains will pull down a common man. Wise people will overcome and accept them with their knowledge. Disease, tiresomeness, likes and dislikes are born from the body. Somehow or the other, we can get out of them. The deficiencies of mind will form due to attachment. We can get relief from this mental ailments with the true knowledge. When a man entangles in mental strain, he loses his stability and gets in to grief. Excessive attachment makes him fainted. This attachment and its associates are responsible for the growth of love and affection. So, a wise man should always be detached with his relatives and in accumulating wealth. A wise man, though he lives in the world, will be detached from the worldly matters. Love makes a man to fell in love. Because of love, desire will crop up. Desire will bring anger. Hate will develop anger. So a wise man always should be away from greed. All the living beings are afraid for their life. A greedy person is afraid of a thief, king, relatives, water and fire. Because of this greed only, a man is entangled in the cycle of birth and death. The beauty, youth and wealth are all not permanent. Hence wise people will not entangle in that illusion. Dharmaraja: Maharishi! I do not want wealth or the pleasure or even happiness. I dont have lust on anything. My only worry is, being a gruhasta how I can offer food and shelter to the tapasvis and superior brahmins. A gruhasta has certain duties to perform. He is to provide an asana for those who are physically suffering. We have to give shelter to those who seek protection. We have to provide food for those who come with hunger. Those who got tired, we should offer a comfortable seat. All these are time old duties of a gruhasta to worship his guest. A gruhasta should not eat alone without a company of a guest. One should not prepare food only for himself. A gruhasta should worship Agnihotra, guest, relatives, learned people, teacher, friends and women in a suitable manner. If he deviates from his duties, he will be put into hell. Hence I have a duty to satisfy all of you. Elders say the remaining food in a yagna is considered as nectar. In the similar way, the left over food of a guest is known as Vighasam. A gruhasta should consume such Vighasam. He should also feed the birds, the dogs with the remnants of the food. This is known as Vysya deva yagnam. All these are duties of a gruhasta. Sownaka Maharishi: Dharmaraja, you serve your guru, listen to the elders and digest what all you have heard and keep them in your memory and practice what all you have digested.
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Dharmaraja: We are all in exile and living in forests. I have expressed my inability to feed the guests. In spite of that you are all adamant to live with me only. You are all great tapasvis. I cant tell you to getout from this place. I have become so inefficient that I am not able to offer even food to my guests. Now what am I to do? Dhaumya:. You pray to Sun god. You will get your desires and requirements fulfilled. Then Dhaumya initiated Suryopasana and made him to do tapasya. After some time, Surya appeared before Dharmaraja, gave him an Akshaya Patra (Vessel) and said: Sun god: Dharmaraja! I am pleased with your tapasya. During your stay of twelve years in this forest, this akshya patra will produce enormous food for any number of guests in no time. However, Draupadi is to pickup the fruits and roots and put in this patra and she is to cook in this patra. Then it will produce delicious foods. After saying this, the Sun god disappeared. From that day onwards, Draupadi was using the akshaya patra and serving delicious foods for all her guests. In this manner everyday Pandavas fed all the guests and but used to eat whatever was left by the guests. What was left by Pandavas, Draupadi used to eat. There at Hastinapura, one day Dhrutarashtra called Vidura and said Dhrutarashtra: Vidura!. Have you heard any news from Pandavas? What is Pandavas plan? Vidura: Dhrutarashtra! Pandavas are all born with an amsa of devatas. In bravery, courage and valour, you know yourself. Bheema and Arjuna defeated all the kings on earth with their valour. No enemy could fight them in a battle. I warned you several times not to permit this deceitful game of dice. I also warned you that this enemity will develop between Pandavas and Kouravas . You gave a deaf ear to my pleadings and respected Duryodhanas vicious words. Duryodhana is an embodiment of evil. We have seen many bad omens at the time of his birth. Even many elders advised you to leave Duryodhana and save Kuru family. You never heard any good advice from anybody. Your sons insulted Draupadi in the middle of Kuru Sabha, I have requested Dushsasana to seek pardon from Bheema so that he could save his life. I also advised you to give back the kingdom to Dharmaraja so that he can forgive all the sins of your sons.
On hearing Viduras words Dhrutarashtra was annoyed with Vidura and said: Dhrutarashtra: Duryodhana is my eldest son. How dare you can tell me to leave my eldest son? You are jealous of my children. I dont need your assistance. You get out of my kingdom. It is up to you whether you go to Pandavas or else where. But you have no place here. Vidura goes to Pandavas: On hearing the words from Dhrutarashtra, Vidura left Hastinapura and went to Pandavas. Pandavas came to know that Vidura was coming. They thought Vidura was coming again to invite for a game of dice for a third time. Arjuna cautioned Dharmaraja that he should not accept any invitation from Dhrutarashtra. In the meanwhile Vidura reached the forest. Pandavas welcomed Vidura and worshipped him. Dharmaraja asked him, Uncle Vidura! What brought you here? Vidura: Dharmaraja! Though the food may be palatable to all the people the person who is suffering from fever cant relish. In the same manner Dhrutarashtra did not like my advice, so he was annoyed with me and asked me to go away from his kingdom. So I came here. Oh Dharmaraja! What all you lost in that deceitful game you would win back sooner or later. On hearing Viduras words, Dharmaraja assured him that he would respect his advice. In the meanwhile, Dhrutarashtra came to know that Vidura had gone to Pandavas and called Sanjaya and said: Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Vidura is my brother. He is very intimate to me. For all practical purposes he is my eyes. He is my heart. I cant live without him. You go and bring him here. On hearing Dhrutarashtras words, Sanjaya went to Kamyaka vana, where Dharmaraja was in a Sabha with his brothers, Vidura, Dhaumya and several thousands of superior brahmins. Dharmaraja invited Sanjaya and respected him and offered him a seat. Sanjaya was very happy to see Dharmaraja, because though he was living in the middle of forest, he was as splendid as he was conducting a Sabha in Indraprasta. Sanjaya: Dharmaraja! Dhrutarashtra has enquired about you and Vidura again and again. He said he cant live without his brother Vidura and requested him to come back to Hastinapura.
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Dharmaraja: Sanjaya! We are all the subjects of king Dhrutarashtra. It is our duty to obey the orders. On hearing Dharmarajas words, Vidura returned to Hastinapura and saluted Dhrutarashtra, who embraced Vidura with affection and said: Dhrutarashtra: Vidura! You are a truthful person, your character is exemplary, you can pardon even your enemies. Out of ignorance, I asked you to leave my kingdom. I seek your pardon. Vidura: My brother! You and your sons deviated from Dharma. I felt it was my duty to give you the right advice. It is not good for you and your sons to develop enemity with Pandavas. Vidura advised him and continued to help his brother in all matters. Duryodhana and Sakuni heard their words and Sakuni said. Sakuni: Duryodhana! Even though our king gives away the kingdom to Pandavas they will not accept it, because they are bound by a vow of thirteen years and decided to keep away. Karna: It is a good opportunity. We go with a big army, surround Pandavas and kill them. Thereby we will not have an enemy on earth. Duryodhana was happy at Karnas words and ordered to keep his army ready to attack Pandavas. Vyasa Maharishi smelt the evil plans of Duryodhana and came to Hastinapura and said to Dhrutarashtra: Vyasa Maharishi: Dhrutarashtra! Pandavas lost their kingdom and are living in forest . Your son is going to attack them with a large army and kill them. Is it not adharma? After thirteen years, war is inevitable. At least even now you stop his wicked attempts. Even if he attacks them like a fool, he will certainly taste defeat. As long as yourself, Bheeshma and myself are alive this adharma should not happen. Dhrutarashtra: Maharishi, myself, Gaandhari, Vidura, Drona and all of us persuaded him not to play the game of dice. Due to love for my son Duryodhana, I had to accept his evil ways, what can I do? For parents love for a son is the strongest shackle! Vyasa Maharishi: You, Vidura and Panduraju are equal to me. In the same manner, all your hundred sons and the five sons of Panduraju should also be equal to you. If wicked people are associated with virtuous people,
they also will become virtuous. So If Duryodhana and others are able to live in a friendly manner with Dharmaraja, they will also become virtuous. If both Pandavas and Kouravas could live amicably, all the people on earth will be happy. Dhrutarashtra: Maharishi! If you wish the wellbeing of both Kuru and Pandavas, you yourself must correct Duryodhana. He will not listen to my words. At that time Maitraya Maharishi appeared and said to Vyasa Maharishi, You dont teach Duryodhana. I have 91come to teach him. On hearing Maitrayas words Dhrutarashtra worshipped him and asked: Dhrutarashtra: Maharishi! From where are you coming? Maitraya: Dhrutarashtra! I am my way to pilgrimages and passed through Kamyaka vana and happened to see Pandavas. They are all spending most of their time on tapasya. They are all wearing jatas and valkalas. Dhrutarashtra: Did Pandavas ever remember us? Did Pandavas express any intention to fight my sons. Will they live in exile all the thirteen years without a breach? Maitraya: Duryodhana ! Everyday many Maharishis are visiting Pandavas and are blessing them. All Pandavas are leading a virtuous life in the forest and are also safe. Even sun and moon may deviate their path but Pandavas will not break their vow. You dont purchase enemity with such a valorous people. All Pandavas are born with a divine amsa. Bheema alone killed Jarasandha, Bakhasura, Hidumbasura etc. If war is inevitable, who can fight with Bheema. Not only that Drushtajyumna the most valorous king has become a brother- in- law of Pandavas. Krishna and Arjuna are inseparable friends. Except you, all the people know that they are not ordinary human beings. So even now, you forget all your enemity with them and maintain normal relations. On hearing the words of Maitraya, Duryodhana heckled at him and clapped his thighs with his hands and expressed his might to the Maharishi. On seeing the disobedience and arrogance of Duryodhana, he cursed, Duryodhana! In the forthcoming big battle, Bheema will break your thighs with his club and kill you. On hearing the curse, Dhrutarashtra shivered with fear and requested him to withdraw his curse. Maitraya: If Duryodhana repents for all his mistake and lives in a virtuous manner, my curse will not work. In case he continues to behave arrogantly, he will certainly have my curse.
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Yadavas and Panchalas meet Pandavas: To meet, console and encourage the Pandavas who are leading a hard life in the forest, Yadavas and Panchalas went to the Kamyaka vana. Pandavas received them affectionately and spent time with them. Krishna: Arjuna! We both are born with the amsa of nara, Narayana Maharishis. I myself am Narayana among them and you are nara. We both are born on earth with unusual valour and strength. Draupadi: Krishna! Devala maharishi said, you are Brahma who created all worlds. Kasyapa maharishi said you are yagna purusha. Narada said that the entire creation is with in yourbody. All yogis said you are Akshara. All munis said that you are the treasure of knowledge. You know everything on earth. However I put forth my experience at your lotus feet. I am the daughter- in-law of emperor Panduraju. I am the chaste and virtuous wife of Pandavas. I am the sister of Drushtajyumna, the strongest man on the earth. Dushsasana had caught hold of my hair and dragged me to the Kuru Sabha. He had removed the garments on my body and tried to insult my modesty. At that time all Pandavas were simply keeping quiet. Bheeshma and other elders did not object those misdeeds. By nature, Pandavas protect even ordinary people who seek protection from them. But on that fateful day,they did not react to my cries. Then what is the use of valour and strength of Bheema and Arjuna. In that Sabha, there were so many relatives, brothers and sons . In spite of all, I became an orphan. At that time Karna looked at me and laughed. I am more hurt and my heart was burning with Karnas heckling than Dushsasanas insult on me. Krishna! Who can redress my insult? Krishna: Sister! Dont worry. All Kouravas are going to be killed with the sharp arrows of Arjuna. This is truth. Arjuna: (with Draupadi) Krishna is our well wisher. We will kill all our enemies since we have the support of Krishna, we can win all the three worlds. You stop weeping. Drushtajyumna: Bheema will kill Duryodhana and Dushsasana. Arjuna and myself will kill Drona and others. You stop grieving. Krishna: Dharmaraja! Satyaki told me what all had happened here. I was pained to hear all the sad happenings. At that time had I been with
you in Hastinapura, I would have averted this game of dice by hook or crook. Woman, wine, hunting and gambling are bad vices. Gambling is the worst of all the four. If one does not leave this vice, he will become a sinner. Had I been there, I could have convinced Bheeshma, Drona and others. In case if they were adamant and did not heed to my advice I could have killed all of them there itself. As long as I am there by your side no harm will touch you. At that time I was fully engaged in a battle with Salva for ten months. Hence I was forced to be away from you, at the time of your play of gambling. At the time of your Rajasuya yaga, I killed Sisupala. His brother, Salva surrounded my Dwaraka and attacked with big army. He spoiled all my gardens in my city. Only Sambhu, Charudashnu and Pratjumna were protecting my city of Dwaraka at that time. By the time I returned from Indraprasta and fought with Salva, I have released my Sudarshana chakra which had burnt his Sowbhaka chariot to ashes. Pandavas go to Dvaita vana: After telling the story of Salva, Krishna took his sister Subhadra and Abhimanyu with him to Dwaraka. Drushtajyumna had taken UpaPandavas with him to his city. In Dvaita vana, a discussion took place between Draupadi and Dharmaraja. Discussion between Draupadi and Dharmaraja : Draupadi: Is Dhrutarashtra foolish to keep his son happy he had driven all of us to the forest. The mind of Dhrutarashtra is as hard and pitiless as steel. When his sons are insulting virtuous person like you, he was prepared even for a war but did not dare to correct his son. They were all living in palaces and sleep on the silk mattresses. Whereas you are sleeping on the rough dharba grass His sons are sitting in a Sabha surrounded by many subordinate kings, whereas in your case, every night we are passing sleepless nights fearing the cruel animals. Though your brothers are as fearful as lions, with due respect to you they are keeping quiet. In the olden days all the kings used to lie at your feet. With the shining of precious stones in their crown, they looked red as if your feet were decorated with Parani. Today while you are walking in the forest with your bare foot, the blood oozing from the wounds look as red Parani. Whereas, Bheema who had the strength of thousand elephants, is now contended with roots and fruits. Arjuna is more valorous than Karthaveeryarjuna. He releases arrows with the speed of his thought. Each of his arrows will become five arrows and
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spread in to all five directions. Such a great archer is today guarding these brahmins from the cruel animals. Whereas Nakula and Sahadeva, who are so pretty and valorous are today are exposed to sun and rains. Once there was a discussion whether the forbearance is great or Tejassu is great. The elders said that they are to be applied depending on the situation. Long ago, King Bali had posed this question to his grand father Prahalada, this was said in a purana. One should not have forbearance at all times, at the same time valour also should not be used at all times. Because if one is too simple, his servants will not respect him. All servants will become corrupt also. As regards to the valour, if all and sundry mistakes were punished, people will get frightened at him. Hence one should apply forbearance and valour depending on the circumstances. Only such persons can achieve prosperity. So Dharmaraja, this is the right time for you to invoke anger and giving freedom to your brothers so that they will kill all those arrogant Kouravas. Dharmaraja: Draupadi! Anger, kindness, valour and velocity all these four are born from prosperity. The persons who have all these four qualities would have their strength enhanced. This is what Kasyapageeta is telling. The entire creation is based on forbearance. Tapasya, Vedaadhayanam, yagnas and all other superior virtues can be had only by virtue of forbearance. Vyasa, Vidura, Bheeshma and such great people are all being respected because of their forbearance. Since Duryodhana do not have forbearance, all his good virtues disappear from him. He became responsible for the destroying Kuru family. Draupadi: You kept your pure mind on forbearance and embraced Dharma. You have an unshakable belief that Dharma alone will save you. Because of that, could you afford to exhibit forbearance only with your enemy. Oh king! By behaving with Duryodhana and others in a righteous manner, what benefit you have gained? You should be wicked to win over the wicked people. If you dont adapt that you will have to get killed in the hands of those wicked people. This is what elders say. Draupadi remarked, Brahma ! You are giving prosperity to all bad people and keeping them happy. For all the virtuous people you have given grief and difficulties. In other words are you a friend of the wicked people. All the virtuous people are your enemies. Is it fair on your part?
Dharmaraja: You are talking like an atheist. Blaming Dharma is blaming god. Maitraya, Markandaya and others are respecting me because of our forbearance. We are also seeing many virtuous people in the world. Keep them all on one side. You tell me one thing. Why I should deviate from the path of Dharma. Atheist means those who do not accept Vedas as authority. Believer is who accepts Vedas as authority. If you think with pure mind, you will realize that Dharma alone is the stepping stone to realize god. He continued, Draupadi! Those who derive fruits from tapasya, veda parayana, bramacharya, ganam and yagnam do get by practicing patience. Why rishis follow patience? To that matter either your birth or the birth of Drushtajyumna is the fruits of great tapasya. As punya karmas had fruits the sinful acts also will have fruits. With the grace of Brahma, only those who do good acts will achieve divinity. Draupadi: Oh Dharmaraja! I am not ignorant of Dharma. Because of my bad luck and the difficulties one after the other coming on us, I could not bear them, I was talking like a non believer. I am not denying Vedas, their instructions or its authority. I heard all these things in my childhood when my father was discussing these matters with virtuous people. Living beings cant go without performing karmas. If one should succeed in ones efforts, human efforts and gods blessings are necessary. A man plans about his target in his mind and pursue the same with dedication. For such person god also will help and give him the fruits of his karma. There is oil in a grain of ginglee. There is fire in a wood. An enthusiastic person will put his efforts extracting oil from the ginglee grain. If one depends on god only, can he bring out the oil? A man should pursue his efforts without any break. Hence the fruits of a karma can be achieved only with the help of god and human effort. Hence you take the help of your enthusiastic brothers and kill the enemies. Then only we will come out from this misfortune. Discussion between Dharmaraja and Bheema: Bheema: King! This was the kingdom we were enjoying right from our forefathers. Is it fair to hand over it to others in the name of Dharma? Because of Dharma, we are living in the forest. It is as if the foxes have knocked away the meat from the lion, these Kouravas had grabbed all our kingdom. Can we overcome the deceitful people, by our dharmic nature? No, we cant! So we have to snub their immoral ways with our valour but not
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just by teaching morals to them. Of the four purusharthas, both Dharma and kama depend upon ardha. You have given up such an ardha and subjected all your dependents to difficulties. By your dharmic act, you are making all our enemies to laugh at us. By uttering Dharma for each and every thing, we expose our weakness only. Brother! With your permission, had I fought with all those enemies on that day itself, we would have not faced all these difficulties. We are kshatriyas; we are to win our kingdom and fortune with our valour but not depending on Dharma. People will consider us as weak limbs. Is it fair for a valorous king? We are patiently suffering all these ordeals, simply because of the vow made by us. But Kouravas are considering that nobility as our weakness. If we allow them to think in the same lines, we will become cheap in their view. Of all these Purusharthas, is it right to depend only on Dharma. As the pleasure and grief leaves a dead man, Ardha and Kama also will leave a person who holds on Dharma only. In other words the person who worshipped Dharma but abandons Ardha and Kama, is as good as a dead man. A person who leaves Dharma and Kama and only hangs on Ardha, is called as Kutitudu. A person who seeks Ardha and adopts it only will be as dullard as a herdsman in a forest. The person who leaves Ardha and Dharma and embraces only kama is like a fish in a dry lake. Hence Kama alone will certainly do harm. The relationship of ardha and Dharma is like the clouds and an ocean. In this manner whoever makes use of all purusharthas is considered as a superior person. Since you have to solely depend upon Dharma, it is not only keeping us away from ardha and kama, but also is landing all our dependents in difficulties. Even performing a yagna one needs abundant wealth. In other words, those who doesnt possess ardha cant perform yagna. Though Dharma is superior among all the four purushartha, the Dharma which is not useful for securing ardha is useless. All the more, it is not advisable for a kshatriya to worship only Dharma. Ardha alone can achieve the following: To fight an enemy, to protect our kingdom, to donate to the deserving people, to achieve a superior kshatriya Dharma, and to achieve superior lokas. Instead of that if we take cover of Dharma alone, we cant score victory over the enemy. So we have
to overcome the evil people by deceitful way only. We must pay them in their coins! Hence we are not bound with the vow we made with our enemies. Long ago even devatas defeated rakshasas, their cousins, only by deceitful way. So there is nothing wrong in my words. Bheema continued: For those who have the strength of their friends, support from their country and favourable time, the success is certain. Even a weak person can defeat a strong man provided all of them attack in a united manner. Even honey bees can kill a man. If we store milk in a bag made of a dogs skin, it will spoil. In the same manner, our kingdom has become impure since it has gone to the hands of Duryodhana. All the brahmins are wanting you to resume as their king. Hence you make preparations to procure weapons and attack the enemy. Right now you declare a war. My strength and Arjunas valour will destroy all Kouravas as an elephant destroys a banana garden. You dont have to worry about the strength of the chariots, elephants, horses and infantry of the enemies. My club and Arjunas Gandivam will destroy all of them. Hence, Dharmaraja! You fight the enemy and get back the kingdom. You rule the entire earth. You give a good rule and keep the people happy. What a better Dharma is there for a Kshatriya? For a Kshatriya valour alone is the biggest ornament. Thus Bheema made a strong plea for the war. Dharmaraja: . Bheema! What all you said is within the frame work of Dharma. In each of your word there is clarity and one should examine in depth. In a situation like this, one has to settle things in an amicable manner. This is what our elders say. I have made a vow to live in a forest for twelve years and one year in Agnatha vasam. If I deviate from that vow, I will become an untruthful person. I cant leave truth. Ardha comes and goes like a flash. If I am subdued to love and hate, I may have to leave truth and Dharma. In such a case, I cant sit by the side of virtuous people. Come what may I cant leave my truthful nature that is I cant forsake the vow I made. We shall wait patiently till the good time comes for all of us. However one may say many things but the kingdom, the wealth and the glory are not equal to holding on to truth. [ Vyasa Maharishi described Dharmaraja as a soft tiger. He agreed the valid points in Bheemas argument. But at the same time he was firm by saying that he will not leave his vow of truth. However he pacified Bheema in convincing manner.] Bheema: Yama always follows the beings as a shadow. Any time he may kill. Hence the life is momentary. Since death is inevitable, we have to
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eliminate our enemies before we leave this world. Otherwise there will be no meaning for this life. We were insulted in the presence of many kings. My heart is burning day and night to take revenge on such people. Kunthi, Draupadi, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva are distressed more than me. You are not taking any effort to remove their distress and on the contrary, you are keeping our enemies happier by your virtues like kindness and Dharma. These virtues may be suitable for brahmins but certainly not for kshatriyas, because it is clearly said in sastras that a kshatriya should destroy his enemy, otherwise he himself will be destroyed. Assume that we live in these forests for twelve years. After that we have to spend one year Agnatha vasam. Is it possible? Children, old people and women know about your glory. Can any one tie the fire in a piece of cloth? In the same way all your brothers are also like lions. So someone can identify us during our Agnatha vasam. That means it will be a breach of our vow. This will lead to another twelve years of exile and one year of Agnatha vasam. Oh king! In the olden days people used to calculate a year as one month. If we adapt that theory, our period of vow will complete in thirteen months. This is neither unethical or untruth. We can make use of this plea for destroying our enemies. Dharmaraja: Bheema! You are not only courageous but also a knowledgeable person. You also have the knack of projecting both to our convenience. I dont refute you. You patiently listen to me and do what you feel good to you.If it is a small and sundry matter, we can take decision in any manner we like. But this is a great task. We should not do things in haste. We should think well before we take action. Then only, god also will help us. All the sons of Dhrutarashtra are also valorous persons. They made several attempts on our lives. In addition to them, Karna, Bhurisrava, Salya and many other kings were defeated by you, before we performed Rajasuya. Now they are in the company of Duryodhana. They are also valorous people. Bheema! Dont underestimate Karna. He was born with a natural shield and earrings. Whenever I remember the greatness of his archery, I dont get sleep. In other words he is a staunch enemy of Arjuna. Bheeshma, Drona, Krupa and other elders have equal regard for both the Pandavas and Kouravas, but they are living with them from the beginning and in the event of a war, they have to fight on their behalf. After winning all these people only, we can reach Duryodhana. Vyasa Maharishi arrives: Vyasa Maharishi came to Dwaita vana where Pandavas were living and said to Dharmaraja:
Vyasa Maharishi: Dharmaraja! I know your worry. You are thinking how to defeat Bheeshma, Drona, Karna and others if a war is inevitable. I came to know your mental agony by Adhika sabdha yoga. I came here only to remove your mental agony. I will take you to a secret place and teach you pratismruti siddhi. You take that mantra from me and teach it to Arjuna. After that he can do penance on Indra, Yama, Varuna, Kubera and others to secure divine weapons. With the help of those divine weapons, he can secure success over Bheeshma, Drona and others. You have come to this vana and are living for a long time. Thereby the animals depending on this forest may fell short of food. So you must move to another vana and help those animals. Not only that you should not continue to stay for a long time in a particular place. On hearing the Maharishis advice, Pandavas moved to Kamyaka vana which was adjacent to the river Saraswathi. After reaching Kamyaka vana, Dharmaraja said to Arjuna: Dharmaraja: Arjuna! As Vedas have become exclusive properties of brahmins, danurveda also has become the property of Bheeshma, Drona and others. That is why, nobody was able to overwhelm them. Danurveda is full of mantras. Bheeshma, Drona and others are all living with Kouravas from the beginning. If a battle comes, they will fight on behalf of Kouravas only. Vyasa Maharishi has initiated me a mantra and now you take that mantra from me. Travel towards northern direction and do tapasya on Indra, Rudra and others. Long ago all devatas surrendered their astras to Indra at the time of killing Vrutasura. Now you please Indra and secure all those divine weapons. You also do tapasya in favour of Rudra. Because he is also the treasure of astras mantra . After receiving the Pratismruti, Arjuna became splendid. He was shining like Agni. On seeing Arjuna, Draupadi said: Draupadi: Arjuna! We suffered humiliation and insults at the hands of our enemies. Your valour is famous in all the three worlds. I am praying god not to give us birth in kshatriya family. The amount of patience we are exercising will suit only brahmins. Since you are going on a big mission, all the devatas may protect you. With the blessings of the scholars and the affectionate look of Draupadi, Arjunas enthusiasm doubled. From there, he went to Mt.Gandhamadana. From there he proceeded to Mt.Indrakeladri. There he heard a melodious
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voice from the sky. You stop there. Dont move further. Arjuna stood like a log; heavy rain of flowers rained on him. From there, he saw an old brahmin sitting under a tree and said to Arjuna: Old Brahmin: Who are you? Why did you come here? You are wearing a bow, arrows, sword and a shield and you look like a kshatriya and there is no place for kshatriyas on Mt.Indrakeladri. Only people who are detached from the world, who are pure and pious alone should stay here for performing tapasya. So you remove all your weapons and then enter this place. However Arjuna was not deterred by the warning of the brahmin and stood firmly. That Brahmin was actually Indra. Indra was pleased with his bold nature and appeared in his natural form. Indra: Arjuna! I am Indra. I am pleased with your firmness. You ask what do you want? Arjuna: Deva! I came here to penance on you to secure divine weapons. Please bless me. Indra: I will give you what all you want. Also, I am awarding you divinity to reach superior lokas. Defeat Arjuna: Indra! All my people are suffering in the forest. I dont want divinity and its comforts. We are being badly insulted by our enemies. We want to trounce them in a battle. So I need divine weapons. Without those weapons, I cant go back to my place. So you bless me with such weapons. Indra: Arjuna! You make a tapasya, meditate on Siva and please him. He is the treasure of all divine astras. You can get all the weapons from him. After Indra disappeared, Arjuna sat under a tree and started doing severe penance. For the severity of his tapasya all the Maharishis in that tapovana got frightened and went to Siva and prayed. Maharishis: Lord Siva! Arjuna is performing a severe tapasya. By which all lokas become suffocated. So you bless him. Lord Siva: Maharishis! I am aware of Arjunas tapasya. I will bless him. You may go back to your places.
The debate between Arjuna and Lord Siva: Lord Siva held a big bow in his hand and came with Parvathi in the form of a hunter. All the boothas also followed him. One of the followers of Siva took the form of a pig and came running to kill Arjuna. Arjuna looked at that animal from a distance and sent an arrow on it. At the same time the hunter also released an arrow . Both the arrows struck the pig at the same time and it fell on the ground. In the meanwhile Arjuna said to the hunter: Arjuna: Who are you wandering with your wife? Why did you aim at the same animal which I was hunting? Is it not against the principles of hunting? Why you did such an adharma? The Hunter: I killed the pig with my arrow. You are telling a lie. Are you not ashamed of telling lies? If you are valorous you, defeat me. Then only this pig will become yours. Arjuna accepted the challenge and released several arrows on him. None of them reached or hurt the hunter. He thought the hunter was not an ordinary hunter. He might be either Indra or Siva. In spite of his powerful arrows the hunter was not affected. However he took out the divine astras given by Agni. By the time he released an arrow, the bow disappeared from the hands of Arjuna. Then he took out his sword and tried to hit. The sword also disappeared. Arjuna became restless and started throwing stones at him. Then he resorted to a direct fight with him. Siva hurt the body of Arjuna in several ways. Arjuna could not bear the pain and fainted. Siva was pleased with the courage and valour of Arjuna and appeared in his original form. Arjuna fell at his feet and praised him with several vedic stotras. And finally he apologized for his ignorance. Siva: Arjuna! I appreciate your bravery. Know it well that you are Nara. Lord Krishna is Narayana. You both are deva rishis and were known as Nara and Narayanas. You both are not ordinary human beings. I myself took away your Gandivam. You take back your Gandivam and ask me what you want. Arjuna: Siva! At the time of pralayam you produce from this astra, millions of spears, clubs, arrows and many other astras. It will generate and kill all the beings. You give me that Pasupatastra. I need this astra to face Bheeshma, Drona, Karna and many other heroes in a battle with Kouravas.
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Siva was pleased with Arjuna and initiated the Pasupatamantra and explained him the way of its release and withdrawal. He warned him, Arjuna! No one knows the power of this Pasupatastra. This should not be released on low profile people because it will kill all the worlds. After initiating the mantra he disappeared. The moment Arjuna possessed Pasupatastra he began to shine as thousand suns. Looking at Arjuna all devatas, daityas, danavas, Yakshas and rakshasas were frightened. He felt happy as if Dharmaraja has occupied the golden throne of Hastinapura. Indra appears before Arjuna: As soon as Arjuna secured divine astras from Lord Siva, Indra appeared followed by Kubera, Yama, Varuna and Aswini devatas. Yama said to Arjuna Arjuna! Your mind is always fixed on Dharma. I came to complement you and to give boons. He gifted his Dharma dandam to Arjuna . Then Varuna gifted him a vaarunastra. Kubera gifted him Kouberastra. In this manner, he had the blessings of various gods . Since he got the power of divine sight he was able to see all the gods in their original forms and his ancestral parents. Indra said, Arjuna! You have pleased Lord Siva and secured pasupatastra. Thereby you became qualified to help devatas. I will send you a chariot, you board it and come to my city Amaravathi. I will give you some more astras. Arjuna boarded the chariot and went to Amaravathi with Indra and other devatas. On his way, he took sacred bath in river Ganges and gave tarpanas to devatas, devarishis and ancestral parents. As soon as Arjuna entered Amaravathi, the city of heaven, apsaras welcomed him. He was placed in a huge palace for his stay. There Indra sent Urvasi to entertain Arjuna. The well decorated Urvasi went to Arjuna with lust and expressed her desire for a mating with him. He stood up and saluted with folded hands and said, Mother! You shower on me your motherly affection. I am fortunate to have your darshan. Urvasi was disappointed with his indifferent attitude and which was unusual in heaven. She was annoyed at him and said. Arjuna! I heard your valour and courage in battles. Since a long time I have a desire on you. So I came to you with a great expectation. By addressing me as mother you have watered down my enthusiasm. However she continued to show her charms and persuaded him for a long time.
Urvasi cursed Arjuna to become an impotent: Arjuna: Mother! Devatas are capable of creating the worlds and protect them and also withdrawal of all their creations. So whatever way they behave, it will have no impact on them. I am a human being, coming from earth which is a karma bhoomi. Hence in a karma bhoomi, we are supposed to do only good acts. You are the wife of Pooruvu who was our ancestral parent. So you are like mother to me. I request you to shower only motherly affection on me. Urvasi( Looking furiously): Oh Arjuna! I came with a great desire on you. We dont have any such relationships like father, mother or son . I am burning with lust. As you reject me the heat in me is increasing in several folds. So dont waste time. Dont be ignorant. If you reject a woman who came to you with lust and if you dont satisfy her, there is a danger of suspecting your masculinity. In spite of her several appeals Arjuna did not budge an inch. Urvasi at last was vexed with him and cursed, You become an impotent. Indra came to know what all happened in that night. He went to Arjuna and said: Indra: Arjuna! You are a virtuous person. I did not come across a person who has such a strong will and control on senses. You have exceeded devarishis in that matter. However you cant escape from the curse of Urvasi. Her curse is going to be a boon to you. I will tell you how. After your Aaranya vasam, you have to complete Agnatha vasam for a year. During Agnatha vasam nobody can identify you in this form of impotent. At that time, this curse will prove to be a boon. During the thirteenth year, you will become an impotent and turn out to be as a BruhaNala and teach dance lessons to the princess in a palace. Thereby you can spend Agnatha vasam period without being noticed or doubted by anybody. In the meanwhile you learn the art of dancing, singing and other fine arts from your friend Chitrasena, the king of gandarvas. In this manner Indra was talking to Arjuna, Romasa Maharishi came to see Indra and said: Romasa Maharishi: Indra! One has to do a good amount of punyam to enter the heaven. Whereas Arjuna has not only entered heaven but also occupied half of your throne. Please tell me how this human succeeded? Indra: Maharishi! In his previous birth he was Narudu among Nara Narayanas a great tapasvis. In this birth he is born to Kunthi by name Arjuna.
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Even in this human birth also he is very closely associated whit Narayana Maharishi who was born as Krishna in the family of yadavas. He has penanced and meditated on Siva and secured Pasupatastra . Myself and all my Dikpalakas also gave him several divine weapons, so as to improve him strength and valour. Now he is going to do a favour to the divine community. Long ago the sixty thousand sons of King Sagara were turned to ashes by the fury of Kapila Maharishi. The same Kapila Maharishi has turned as Narayana Maharishi. That Narayana Maharishi and this Narudu are good friends. To reduce the burden on earth, they were born on earth as Krishna and Arjuna. You go to earth and meet Dharmaraja and tell him that Arjuna is safe in heaven under my protection. You also tell him that he has acquired several sastras and astras from Lord Siva and other devatas. Dhrutarashtra becomes jealous with the divine weapons of Pandavas: Now at Hastinapura Dhrutarashtra was worried that his sons might be killed by Pandavas. So he wanted to know the news about Pandavas and asked Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Duryodhana has unnecessarily purchased enemity with Pandavas. Thereby he is inviting his own death. As Indras Vajra powdered all mountains, Duryodhana and others cant escape from the arrows of Arjuna. Arjunas arrows will kill Duryodhana and others. Sanjaya: King! When Duryodhana and others drove away Pandavas from the country in a deceitful game of dice, you never tried to avert those wicked plans of your son. Today you are pretending as if Pandavas are suffering in the forest. All your worry is not about Pandavas suffering. Now they have all equipped themselves with powerful divine astras. While Pandavas were in Kamyaka vana, Krishna, Drupada and other kings went and consoled Dharmaraja and condemned your sons action. They also assured him that they would punish Duryodhana and make Dharmaraja as the emperor of Hastinapura. Though they promised in several ways, Dharmaraja was firm in telling them that he would abide by the vow made in the presence of all. I learn that after thirteen years, Pandavas with the blessings of Krishna may declare a war against your son. If one wants to succeed in such attempts
they should have the blessings of god. From that point of view, Arjuna performed a severe tapasya, pleased Lord Siva and obtained divine astras. Due to the blind love for your son, you have neglected your duty. Arjuna has penanced on lord Siva and acquired divine weapons to kill Bheeshma, Drona, Karna and others. Bheema is going to kill all your sons with his club. Because of Karna, Dushsasana and Sakuni, all your sons are going to be killed. Thus Sanjaya gave a full account of what he gathered from various sources. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Why do you blame me? I am an old man, a born blind and ignorant. With arrogance, my son is not respecting me. He likes the words of evil people only. Pandavas await the arrival of Arjuna: At Kamyaka vana, Dharmaraja and his brothers were anxiously waiting for the arrival of Arjuna and to hear the good news. They all believed that Arjuna would come with several divine astras. One day Bheema said to his brother. Bheema: You sent Arjuna to perform tapasya. We are not able to live without Arjuna. We are passing each day as a yuga. All our future depends on him. He alone is capable of winning our battle. His arrival is getting delayed. You may request Krishna to bring him to our camp. Dont wait till the completion of twelve years of Aranya vasam and one year of Agnatha vasam. You become the king of Hastinapura immediately. We shall kill Duryodhana and others in the battle. Before Duryodhana strengthens his military power, we should attack him. Dharmaraja: Bheema! I appreciate your love for Arjuna. With your valour you can win all the three worlds. But this is not the time to express our anger. The time is not ripened for a war, because we have not yet completed our Agnatha vasam. After completing successfully our Agnatha vasam, you can kill all the enemies and protect Dharma. So come what may, I cant brake my vow made in the Kuru Sabha.
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CHAPTER-2
The story of Nala and Damayanthi: While Dharmaraja and Bheema were talking, Bruhadaswa Maharishi came. Dharmaraja worshipped the Maharishi and said. Dharmaraja: Maharishi! We are cheated by our cousins in a deceitful game. Since then we lost everything and are living in this forest. Hence we are living like animals. I believe that no one has suffered like us in the past. Bruhadaswa Maharishi: Dharmaraja! I agree that you are suffering in the forests. I dont deny. But to support you, you have your wife and four brothers. You also have the support of many scholars and servants. However you abide by your vow which reveals how firm you are on dharma. Long ago there was a king by name Nala, who lost all his fortune in a gambling like you and lived in the forest. His story is much more pathetic than yours. I will tell his story and you listen. Nala was the king of Nishada. He was strong, courageous and defeated many kings. He ruled justly. Bheema was the king of Vidharba. He had no sons. He went to the forest with his wife and served a Maharishi by name Damanudu. With the blessings they had three sons and one daughter. They are Damudu, Dhatudu, Dhamanudu and a daughter by name Damayanthi. Damayanthi was pretty and beautiful. She had all virtuous qualities. She was served by hundred maids who were also as beautiful as her One day when Nala was wandering in his gardens, a flock of swans came and landed there. Swans carried a garland in their beak and were walking on the lawns. Nala wanted to catch them. However hard he tried, he was able to catch only one. The remaining flock did not want to leave their companion and were wandering in the sky for her. The captured swan was afraid that the king may do harm to her and said to the king in human language, Virtuous king! Dont put me in a cage. If you make me free, I will help you in another way. I will go to your lover Damayanthi and speak highly of your virtuous qualities, and your beauty. On hearing the words of the bird Nala freed the bird. After that, the swan joined its flock and landed in the garden of Damayanthi. At that time, Damayanthi was playing with her friends. On seeing the flock of swans, their hearts jumped with joy and tried to catch them.
Except the swan which spoke to Nala, all others flew in the sky. Damayanthi took that swan and wondered at its beauty. The swan said, Princess! I am coming from your lover King Nala. He is the most handsome person in all the worlds. He is valorous, pretty, wealthy and hails from a great family. If you marry him only, all those virtues will become your own. Otherwise it will remain only as a dream. On hearing the words of the swan, Damayanthi was astonished. Damayanthi said Damayanthi: My dear swan! You have narrated about king Nala. Now you meet him and speak about my virtues. Immediately the swan went to King Nala and explained him what all Damayanthi wanted her to convey. With the mediation of the swan, both Nala and Damayanthi understood the virtues of each other and mentally came closer. As they became dear day by day the influence of cupid was also rapidly increasing in them. At one stage, the maids of Damayanthi were afraid of her physical and mental condition and reported it to the king: Servants: Your Highness! Off late, the behaviour of our princess Damayanthi is frightening us. Day by day her condition is deteriorating. Hence we are forced to report the matter to you. Damayanthi always looks at the sky awaiting a swan. At last a swan would land at her feet and tell so many words. She was not contended with those words and requested the swan to repeat them again and again. However we are not able to understand what is transpiring between them. After some time the swan would leave and our princess will stop eating food and sleep. She has become slim and always utters the name of king Nala. Hence we humbly pray to you think over and take the remedial action. On hearing the words from the maids, King Bheema thought the ways and means to bring king Nala to his kingdom. Finally he decided to announce a Swayamwara for Damayanthi. At the same time Narada and Parvatha the Devarishis completing their wandering on the earth reached heaven. One day they met Indra, who enquired the news on earth. Narada said the virtues of Damayanthi and the announcement of her swayamwara. He also said all the kings on earth would make a bee line to participate in the swayamwara. On hearing about Damayanthis swayamwara, Indra also wanted to participate with his dikpalakas. While they were coming to earth, they saw
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a hectic activity of kings in the city of Bheema. Indra saw king Nala who was as splendid as the sun and majestic as Vishnu. He had exceeded Manmadha in beauty. Indra and other devatas landed on earth and met king Nala and said, King! Nala! We all want you to be our messenger. You please help us. King Nala: I agree to be your messenger. First you tell me who you are and to whom I have to carry this message. Indra: I am Indra, these are my dikpalakas. We came to participate in the Swayamwara of Damayanthi. You go to Damayanthi as our messenger. You inform her about greatness and our capabilities . On our behalf, you have to request her that she must accept any one of us as her husband. King Nala: Indra! I also came to participate in the swayamwara. You have seen me on my way. Our objective is same. Hence how can you ask me to mediate on your behalf? Indra: When we asked your help, you promised that you will help us with pleasure. Having given a word, how can you go back? We are confidant that you have all the capabilities of mediating. It is a divine cause. You will have to accept it. King Nala: Indra! Damayanthi lives in a palace. So many soldiers will be guarding round the clock. How can I enter the palace? Indra: Nala! Dont worry your capability. By our power, nobody will obstruct you. You can freely go and come back. Nala becomes a divine messenger: Nala knows about Damayanthi from the words of a swan. He had not seen her so far. By the time he entered her room, Damayanthi was being attended to by hundred maids. Since she had already heard the features of King Nala, she assumed him as Nala and stood up gently byt firmly. On looking at her beauty, Nala controlled himself with real difficulty and was frightened about the control of his senses. Looking at King Nala, Damayanthi said: Damayanthi: You look like a most virtuous person. Where are you coming from?What brought you here? How did you come to my room, in spite of so much security? King Nala: Damayanthi! I am a messenger of Indra, Agni, Yama and Varuna. My name is Nala. They sent me to you as their messenger with a request that you must choose any one among them as your husband. With
the power of those divine persons, I was able to come freely to you room. So you choose one among them in your sawayamwara and agree to their request. Damayanthi: I heard all about you from a swan. Since then you were the centre of my thoughts. I kept you in my mind and heart and decided to choose you as my husband. I am fortunate to see you in person. My father has arranged this swayamwara only to call you here. Hence, you accept me as your wife. If you refuse to accept me, I will end up this life by consuming poison or offering myself to flames. But I will not marry anyone else other than you. I respect and worship Indra, Agni, Yama and Varuna. But I cant marry anybody except you. You go and tell them that I am an exclusive property of king Nala. King Nala: Damayanthi! Divine people are the most powerful. They are the rulers of all the worlds. They bless wealth to one and all. Such virtuous devatas are coming and requesting you to be their wife, why are you refusing them. I am a small atom of their feet. What pleasure you derive by accepting just a human? If you marry one of them, you can also be relieved from the cycle of birth and death. If you are adamant, they may even be furious at you, Therefore you accept the request of those divine people and thereby I can also have their blessings. Damayanthi: I am very much disturbed on hearing your words. Nobody can change my mind. To avoid the fury of divine people, I will suggest you a way out. Let them also participate in the swayamwara. In their presence, I will keep the garland around your neck and make you as my husband. By this arrangement they will not find fault with you and harm you. Nala went to devatas and narrated them what she said. After that on an auspicious moment the swayamwara was announced. In that Swayamwara a strange thing took place, that is Nala, Indra, Varuna, Yama, Agni all the five sat in one row. All of them resembled as king Nala. In the meanwhile Damayanthi took a garland in her hand and came to the swayamwara hall and looked around. There she saw five king Nalas were sitting in a row. Among them she could not identify who was the real Nala. She prayed in her mind addressed all devata s, Oh devata s! you bless me with the knowledge of identifying the real King Nala and help me to choose him as my husband.
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Devatas were kind at her request and kept themselves without a twinkle of their eyelids but Nalas eyes twinkled. There was no sweat on their bodies but Nala was found sweating. Their feet was not placed on the floor, but Nalas feet were touching the floor. They sat in the space instead of chairs. With all these she could identify the real Nala and so she boldly put the garland in his neck. All devatas blessed king Nala and Damayanthi. The marriage of Nala and Damayanthi: In this manner the marriage of King Nala and Damayanthi was celebrated in a spectacular manner. At that time Indra said, Nala! I will come personally and receive my havisis in all the yagnas you perform. On their way Indra and others saw Kali purusha coming opposite to them. Indra asked him, Kali! Where are you going? Kali said, I am going to participate in Damayanthis swayamwara to try my luck. Indra said, Kali! The swayamwara is over. She rejected all of us and accepted a king on earth by name Nala. He is a virtuous person and hence we gave several boons to him and now we are returning back. Kali purusha was furious to know that Damayanthi had rejected even Indra and choose to live with an ordinary human being and said to himself, I am jealous of their marriage. In the beginning I shall try to dethrone him. Push him to the forest. I shall give him as many difficulties as possible. Since then he waited for a sin from Nala, so as to enter in him . But he could not find any sin in him. So he was waiting his movements so as to enter in to him. One day Nala was returning after answering the natures call, he entered the house without properly washing his feet, He took this fault as granted and to punish Nala and entered his body. Kali went to his cousin by name Pushkara and said to him, I will help you in securing all the wealth and kingdom of Nala, If you listen to my advise. Pushkara agreed to his words. Kali provided Pushkara to go to King Nala in the form of an old brahmin, with a dice in his hand. King Pushkara asked Nala to play a game of dice with him. Nala felt that it would be adharma to refuse to play when his co-king is inviting. The game started and went on for a few months and in that game, Nala waged many bets like jewels, palaces, lands, money, animals like elephants and even his kingdom and wealth and gradually lost everything. His ministers and relatives warned him to stop that bad vice at once. As Nala was losing in each and every game, he played without any hesitation or physical stress. He was putting all his wealth on stake. Nala did not concede
to any draft request. Damayanthi realized that the situation was going beyond their control. She decided that the king would not realize the consequences,unless he loses all his fortune. So she sent her son, Indrasenudu and her daughter Indrasena to her father house. Ultimately Nala lost everything and he was physically driven out of his place. He stayed for three days outside his place. No one came and offered him a bowl of food or a glass of water. As he and Damayanthi were on fasting for a few days, they saw a group of birds of gold. Nala thought that gold may be of some use at this critical hour and removed his garment and threw it on the birds so as to catch them. Nala and Damayanthi go to forest: Golden birds: Nala! We are not real birds. We are all the mystic dice . We have grabbed all your kingdom and your wealth in a deceitful manner. We didnt like even a garment on your body, so we are taking it away by deceit. On hearing the words of the birds, Nala became astonished. He realized those dice were responsible for his pathetic condition. On seeing the condition of king, Damayanthi offered a portion of a sari for him to cover his body. Thus they shared the same cloth. In this manner they were consoling each other and started walking towards the forest. Nala: Darling! If you travel towards south, you will reach your fathers city. If we go in this way we will reach the country of Kosala. If we go in this way, we will go to the city of Ujjni. Of all these ways which do you feel is more comfortable to you. Oh Damayanthi! You cant undergo the difficulties in the forest, so you go back to your fathers place and live comfortably. Damayanthi: You are also accustomed to the all royal comforts. You also cant lead this life in this forest. We have to face cruel animals on and off. Hence we both will go to my fathers place and live comfortably, until we get back our kingdom. Nala: Damayanthi! What you said is right. Vidharba is also our own kingdom. However all your people respected me while I was holding my kingdom and fortune. Now I lost everything. Under these circumstances. I cant live with them with honour. Damayanthi: King! Of all the diseases, grief is the biggest. The persons who are suffering with the disease of grief, wife alone is the right medicine.
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I will tell you how. If the wife is by his side, she will provide all comforts to him. When he is hungry, she will give him food; when he is thirsty, she will give water and do many other services to keep away from distress. A person can withstand any amount of strain or distress as long as his wife is by his side. I am fully depending on you. It is my duty to live with you whether you are in pain or pleasure. But give me word that you will not leave me. Nala: How can I leave you? Dont worry for what all has happened. By talking in this manner they slept in a dilapidated place for that night. Damayanthi slept immediately but Nala could not sleep. He could not decide whether to live with Damayanthi or to leave her alone. Finally he thought in himself, She is a princess; she is used to sleep on silk mattresses. Now she is lying on the bare ground. When she wakes up and dont see me, she may cry for some time for me and reach her fathers place and live comfortably. Thinking in this manner, he cut the sari that covered his body and freed himself from her. He went for a distance. His consciousness did not permit him to leave her alone so he came back. Again he thought, As long as she is by my side, she will not go to her fathers place and will continue to share my distress. In her own interest, I better leave her alone Thinking in this manner he left her. After some time she woke up and found that Nala was missing and half of her sari was cut off. In the beginning, she thought that he might have gone somewhere to threaten her. She searched here and there and in all bushes. She was worried and said to herself, You have protected a major portion of the earth. You are the great ruler of Nishada. Is it fair on your part to leave me alone in this middle of this forest? You have consoled me not to worry about our bad luck. You have assured me that you will not leave me alone. Can a king like you take back the word given? How you became so hard hearted? Where can I go now? Elders say that the fruits of reading all Vedas are not equal to truth. In this manner she searched all over the forest but could not find him anywhere. She was thought that who would quench his thirst? While she was searching, suddenly a huge python caught hold of her. She was not able to move. Then she started crying loudly, King Nala! All the time you have neglected me. Now I am going to be a food for this python. So you stop hide and seek game, come quickly and save me. While she was crying, a hunter came running and cutoff the python in to pieces and saved Damayanthi. He consoled her, took her to the nearby lake and asked her to have a bath. While she was taking bath he had seen naked
body and began to entertain some evil thoughts and asked her, Who are you? Who is your husband? Why are you wandering alone?. Damayanthi curses the hunter: She could guess his evil looks and thoughts and warned him in several ways. Since all her efforts went in vain, she cursed him to die. As soon as the curse came out of her mouth, the tribesman died on the spot. While she was wandering she reached a tapovana. There she lived with the Maharishis for some time. Among them a great tapasvi by name Vaamadeva took pity on her and enquired about her episode. Damayanthi: Tapasvi! I am the wife of King Nala. He performed many yagnas. My name is Damayanthi. To my misfortune my husband left me alone and went away. While searching for him, I am wandering in these forests and finally I came to your tapovana. If you know his whereabouts, you tell me. Otherwise I cant live without my husband. I prefer to die. Tapasvi: In a shortwhile, you will meet your husband; you will get back your kingdom and all your wealth. Again Nala will become a popular ruler. You believe me. I am telling you all this with the power of my foresight. While Maharishis were talking to Damayanthi, suddenly all the Agnihotras in that tapovanas were disappearing. Everybody was surprised and felt whether it was fact or a dream. In the meanwhile, a group of merchants were passing through that forest. She requested them to take her also with them. Merchants: Virtuous woman! Who are you? For whom you are searching in this forest? Damayanthi: Gentlemen! I am in distress and searching my husband. I am not able to find him in this forest. I dont know which direction I have to travel and also I have no specific destination. Have you seen king Nala anywhere in this forest? Merchants: Mother! We have not seen king Nala anywhere. No human beings will live in this forest as it is full of cruel animals. Even sunrays will not touch the earth. The forest is so thick. We are all going to the city of king Subahu. If you wish to come with us, you can join us. Since it was late night, all merchants had a bath, drank stomach full of water and slept on the banks of the lake. In the middle of that night, a huge herd of elephants entered the lake to drink water. On their way, they trampled the merchants under their foot and killed many of them. Some merchants
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climbed the trees and saved their lives. Damayanthi felt in herself, That god is also cruel to me. He killed many merchants who wanted to live long. Whereas I wanted to die and I was not killed. Is it also another misfortune of my previous birth? Are those devatas taking vengeance on me since I have rejected them? Damayanthi reaches Subahupuram: All the surviving merchants reached the city of Subahu. From the terrace of the palace, Rajamata saw Damayanthi on the road. She sent her maids to bring her to her. Damayanthi was taken to the palace and Rajamata asked her: Rajamata: Virtuous woman! You are wearing only one piece of cloth, that too with full of dust. Your body is also full of dust. However your face is beautiful like goddess Lakshmi. Thereby I presume that you must have led a good life earlier. Now you look like an embodiment of distress. How you happened to be in the company of these merchants? Damayanthi: Your Majesty! My name is Damayanthi. I am the wife of king Nala. He is a valorous person who defeated many kings and made them all his subordinates. To our misfortune, he played gambling and lost everything and we were pushed in to the forest. I followed my husband like a shadow. I never caused any inconvenience or embarrassment to my husband. However he left me alone in the middle of a night. As my husband lost his garments also he shared a portion of my sari. Hence I am wandering with one piece of cloth. I have taken up the profession of a Sarandhri and continue to search my husband. Rajamata: Damayanthi! From today onwards, you live with me. I will send messengers and scouts on four sides on earth to search for your husband. Damayanthi: Mother! Even though I took up the profession of Sarandhri, I will not eat the leftovers and I will not do any menial jobs. I will not talk to any men other than the persons who are going to search for my husband. Please understand my peculiar position and if you are pleased to agree for this, I shall live with you. [Sarandhri means a good charactered maid. She is proficient in all the sixty four arts. She will possess good form and character.] [Draupadi also lived as a Sarandhri in the palace of Virata. She was also good in making decorative garments. She presented many perfumed
ointments. Perhaps Bruhadaswa Maharishi who was telling the story of Nala Damayanthi was trying to suggest that Draupadi as a Sarandhri during the period of her Agnatha vasam.] The story from Nalas side : After leaving Damayanthi, Nala was travelling in the forest. Suddenly he was caught in the flames of a davAgni. All the beings in the forest were frightened. Suddenly Nala heard a voice from the sky, King! You come immediately and save my life. Nala went and saw an old serpent lying on the ground. The serpent named Karkotaka, saluted Nala and said: Karkotaka: King! My name is Karkotaka. Because of a curse from a Brahma rishi, I was lying without any movement. If I continue to live here, I may turn to ashes in the flames. I dont want to die and hence you save my life. The episode of Karkotaka: As requested by Karkotaka, Nala saved and carried the serpent. The moment he took to his arms, the snake was reduced to the size of a thumb. He carried him to a nearby lake. Karkotaka asked him to walk exactly thirteen feet from him. The moment Nala completed his thirteenth feet, Karkotaka bit him. With that bite, Nalawas transformed in to an ugly form. Karkotaka: King! Dont curse me since I bit you or for your ugly form. All this is for your good. In the present circumstance, you dont like others identify you in your original form, since they may harm you. As long as my venom is in your body, you will not get any harm from other serpents. You neednt have the fear of your enemies. You will win all your battles. Shortly you will meet your wife and get back your kingdom. Whenever you want your original form, you remember me. Immediately this cloth will appear in front of you. If you cover your body with that cloth, you will get back your original form. You go and serve in the court of King Rutuparna. You teach aswahrudya vidya to the king and you learn from him Akshahrudya vidya. From now onwards you live in the name of Bahuka. Serve him as a charioteer and be friendly with him. As Karkotaka directed, Nala went to the court of Rutuparna and said, King! I am Bahuka. I am a good trainer of horses. I also know the art of cooking. I have come here to serve you in these capacities. King Rutuparna: Bahuka! You may join my court and give training to my horses. Increase the strength of my horses to fight battles. You also
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work in my kitchen and prepare all the delicious foods you know for the inmates of this palace people. I will pay you decent salary. Nala thanked him and reported for the duty immediately. Bahuka started working in the stables and and also in the kitchen. In the nights he was bitterly weeping, as he remembered his wife Damayanthi and cursed himself for leaving her alone in the middle of a forest However he was hopeful that she must have reached her parents and was living comfortably. Geevala, a fellow worker in the kitchen, observed the distressed mood of Bahuka and grieving for some one in the nights. One day he asked him, Bahuka! Are you separated from your wife?. Tell me why you are separated from your wife? Bahuka: Geevala! Are you making fun of me? Looking at me and my ugly body will any woman love me? Hence where is the question of separation? Dont tell to any one, lest they will laugh at you. I will tell you a story of my fellow worker which is the answer to your question. Long ago I was cooking for a soldier by name Mandapragna. He was a separated from his wife. I do not know why they were separated, but that soldier, used to weep everyday as he was remembering his wife. Now what all you are hearing from my mouth, are the words of that Mandapragna. A brahmin by name Vasudeva identifies Damayanthi: King Bheema also came to know that king Nala had lost his kingdom and entered the forest with his wife. So he deputed several scouts in search of him. He also announced big reward for those who gave information of Nala and Damayanthi. One such a scout by name Vasudeva entered the kingdom of Subahu. There he saw Sanrandhri in the company of the queen. The scout guessed that she might be Damayanthi. Since she lived in forest for a long time, she lost her original form and hence, he found it difficult to say whether it was Damayanthi or not. However he met Damayanthi and said: Vasudeva: My daughter Damayanthi! My name is Vasudeva, a friend of your brother. Your father had deputed many scouts to search for you wherever you are. To my good fortune I came to this kingdom and met you.
Sunanda, the daughter of Rajamata heard the words of Vasudeva and Damayanthi, she went to her mother and informed her of their conversation. The words of Sunanada disturbed her mother and came running to see Damayanthi. Rajamata: Virtuous brahmin! Who are her parents? Who is her husband? Why she was living away from her husband and parents? For whose sake, she is meditating day and night? Vasudeva: Rajamata! She is the daughter of king of Vidharba. She is the wife of king Nala. She is Damayanthi. To their misfortune, Nala lost his kingdom and wealth in a gambling and she followed her husband to the forest. King of Vidarbha engaged several spies and scouts and we are searching in all kingdoms. To my good fortune, I saw Damayanthi here. She has a mole in between her eyebrows. With that, I was able to identify her. Rajamata embraced Damayanthi with joy and said, You are also my daughter. Myself and your mother are sisters and daughters of King Dasarana. Your mother married king Bheema, whereas I married King Veerabahu. Damayanthi shed tears with joy and prostrated at the feet of Rajamata. She went to Sunanda to salute her, but she objected to it and embraced her with love. Damayanthi stayed in the palace of Subahu for some days and went to her parents. Damayanthi reaches her parents: Though Damayanthi reached her parents house, she neglected her body and jatas formed on her hair. She was wearing the same old sari which was shared by king Nala. She was always meditating on her husband. She said to her father: Damayanthi: Father! King Nala is a self-respecting person. Since he lost his kingdom and wealth, he might have changed his form, name and might be serving some king or the other. So you depute as many scouts as possible and search for him. So King Bheema arranged scouts to search and find out Nala. He instructed them, to findout Nala.She told them: King Nala must be working in the court of some king or the other with a different name and form. Trace out the probable persons whom you doubt. Approach him. To test that person you may say to him as, Sir! You are a truthful person. You have promised your wife that you will not desert her. However you removed half of her sari and went away. Is it fair on your part? Is it not the duty of a husband to protect his wife? Why are you ignoring
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the Dharma? Will it not amount to telling a lie? You talk to him with such harsh words. On hearing such words some may say that they have nothing to do with the allegations. But somebody may refute you. That means he is none other than Nala.You manage to bring him here. In case he refuses to come, one of you keep watching him there and convey the same to me. On hearing the words of Damayanthi, all the spies and scouts went to different kingdoms but could not find him. But Varnathudu said to Damayanthi. Varnathudu: My daughter! I went of Ayodhya, there in the court of Rutuparna, I saw a person who was training horses. He seemed to be an expert in training horses. He was also found good in preparing delicious foods. His name is Bahuka. I spoke to him in the same manner as you told me. He told me, Superior brahmin! In spite of her husbands behaviour being faulty and still she maintains patience, one day or the other, she will get back all her happiness. By virtue of that even in the other world also she will remain to be a virtuous woman. Oh daughter! If he is not king Nala, why he should give such teachings? On hearing the words of the scout, Damayanthi asked her mother to call for Vasudeva so that she could give some more instructions to him. On the arrival of Vasudeva, Damayanthi said to him: Damayanthi: Vasudeva! You go to Ayodhya and meet the king Rutuparna and tell him, King Bheema has tried to find out Nala but failed. So he has announced a second swayamwara for his daughter Damayanthi. Tomorrow is the day of swayamwara. Invitations were sent to all the kings. If you also want to participate in that Swayamwara, you must reach Vidharba by tomorrow. Accordinly, Vasudeva went to Ayodhya, met King Rutuparna and extended the invitation of Damayanthis second swayamwara which was to take place the next day itself. Rutuparna wanted to participate and watch the fun of that swayamwara. He called Bahuka and said: Rutuparna: Bahuka! The king Bheema announced second Swayamwara for his daughter Damayanthi. I feel like attending that swayamwara. But it is quiet difficult to reach that far off place in one day. You know the mind of horses.Can you drive our chariot to Vidharba before the evening? Bahuka thought in himself, Since I left Damayanthi in the forest, she must have been angry and wanted to teach me a lesson by marrying a second
time. That is why she has announced her swayamwara for the second time. Otherwise will anyone resort to a second marriage? Those persons who think that their wives will be loyal to them in spite of the injustice meted to them are fools. Since Rutuparna is going, I will also go with him and see the fun. Bahuka: Your Highness! Long ago Varshneyu worked as charioteer to ride the chariot for king Nala. After Nala went to forest, he has brought those horses and chariot to our court. Let him bring that chariot yoked by those horses. Let Varshneyu also be with us. I will drive the chariot to Vidharba before the swayamwara takes place. Rutuparna: Bahuka! I know your capability in riding the horses. You drive them knowing their mind. So if you take me to Vidharba by evening, I will give you whatever you want. Rutuparna was happy to see the way in which Bahuka is riding the chariot. Even Varshneya was astonished at the velocity of the horses. On their way, they found a huge Vibhetaka tree which was full of branches, fruits, flowers and leaves spread in a vast area. Rutuparna boastingly said: Rutuparna: Bahuka! I know an extra ordinary vidya by name Akshahrudaya Vidya by which I can tell how many branches, leaves, fruits and flowers that a particular tree had. Bahuka wanted to test the Vidya. So he stopped the chariot, counted particular tree and found correct. Another important feature of that Viyda was that the person who knows it will become immune to poison and without suffering from the attacks of the wicked and sensitive people. Nala requested the king to teach him that vidya and the king obliged him. Rutuparna taught Akshahrudya vidya to Bahuka. As a token of his gratitude, Nala wanted to teach Aswahrudya vidya to Rutuparna. But Rutuparna said, You keep it with you, I will take it when I need. Kali purchase leaves King Nala: When Nala learnt Akshahrudya vidya from Rutuparna, the poison of Karkotaka lying in the body of Nala pushed out the impact of Kali from the body of Nala. Kali, after coming out from the body of Nala, went to him, saluated and re-introduced himself. On seeing Kali, Nala was furious and tried to curse him. Then Kali requested with folded hands, King Nala! Because I have put you into difficulties, I was punished by Karkotakas poison and all my body has become venomous. So
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why you punish me a second time for the same offence? I will give you a boon. Whoever listens your story will be relieved from the sin of (kali) me. In this manner they reached Vidharba. After Kali left the body of king Nala, all sins vanished and they became pure. However his ugly form remained Rutuparna reached king Bheemas garden. As the chariot of Nala entered the city, the sounds of its wheels were heard in the palace, Damayanthi hearing the methodical movement of the wheels and the sound, understood that that was the chariot of king Nala. In the meanwhile, King Rutuparna went to king Bheema and exchanged pleasantries. King Bheema accommodated Rutuparna in a big palace with all amenities. However Rutuparna did not find any arrangement for a swayamwara. Rutuparna thought in himself, All this kings on earth did not relish the second marriage of Damayanthi and so boycotted her swayamwara. If that is the case, am I the only person who came foolishly for this swayamwara? By thinking so he felt ashamed. Bahuka was taking rest in the horse stable and looking after his horses. Damayanthi saw Bahuka, Varshneya, Rutuparna only but was disappointed, since she did not find Nala. She sent one of her maids, Kesini to get the information about those charioteers. Kesini: Bahuka! My queen Damayanthi wanted to enquire about your wellbeing. She wants to know on what business you came to our city? Who is that third person? Bahuka: Your king Bheema has sent invitations to all the kings to attend the second swayamwara of his daughter. My king Rutuparna also got your invitation. He came all the way from Ayodhya to participate in the Swayamwara. But you have sent us the invitation in a very short notice. Since we are anxious to reach the swayamwara in time, we came to at a speed of mind and reached Vidharba by evening. The third person is Varshneyu, once he worked as a charioteer to king Nala and was loyal to his king. Kesini: Bahuka! If he is so close and loyal to king Nala, he must be knowing the whereabouts of king Nala. Bahuka: Varshneyu had carried the children of Nala in his chariot and left them with king Bheema. While he was returning, he came to know
that king Nala lost his kingdom and went to forests. Being jobless, and not knowing anything about Nala,he went to king Rutuparnas court and is serving him. Hence there is no chance for him of knowing any thing about Nala. Kesini: Bahuka! Whatever you may say, King Nala is a stone hearted person. He left his wife in the middle of a forest. He had not even considered that she was a woman and helpless. Since then she was wearing the same sari, the other half was taken away by her husband. She was not taking any care of her body and was lying on the floor. She was doing many vratas for the welfare of her husband. On hearing the words of Kesini, the eyes of Nala were flooded with tears. Kesini went back to Damayanthi and told the behaviour of Bahuka. By the words of Kesini, Damayanthi became more hopeful and her hopes blossomed. With a fond hope of getting more information, she sent Kesini once again to Bahuka. Kesini describes the behaviour of Bahuka: Kesini: Princess! I am unable to describe you the way in which Bahuka was reacting. Bahuka pulls out a handful of grass from the ground and makes fire by rubbing that grass. He cooks all his dishes with the same fire. There is no need for any firewood. To clean the vessels that he cooks meat and other dishes, he would not run for water. The moment he keeps the empty vessels there the water will be filled in. Even though he crushes the tender flowers they are not drying. On the contrary, they are producing more fragrance than earlier. Though he looks in an ugly form, there is brilliance in his face. Damayanthi heard what all Kesini said with keen interest. Damayanthi asked Kesini to bring the dishes cooked by Bahuka. She ate those dishes and said that she was finding the taste of Nalas preparations. She sent her son and daughter to Bahuka with Kesini. By looking at them, Bahuka lost his control, started weeping profusely and embraced them. After a while he had observed that Kesini was watching him. He said to Kesini, My children also look like these kids. So on seeing them, I remembered my children. Dont misunderstand me. Further he said, Kesini! Dont come here very often. People may mistake and gossip. All the more, we are your guests and came from a different country. So you stop coming from now. Kesini went and told every thing to Damayanthi, who was very happy and said to her mother:
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Damayanthi: Oh mother! There is no doubt, all the good qualities of Nala are appearing in Bhuka. Now I am very much relieved. You tell me whether I should go to him by myself or do you arrange a meeting with him. You discuss with father and tell me. On hearing the words of Damayanthi, the queen took permission from her husband and arranged a meeting of Bahuka with Damayanthi. King Nala saw Damayanthi. She looked so thin and found dejected. Her body was full of dust. She did not dress her hair. She was wearing the same old sari. Looking at her, he wondered, if she was the princess who called for a second Swayamwara?. Damayanthi: Bahuka! My husband was a stone-hearted person. Knowing fully well that I am his virtuous wife, he deserted me in the middle of a forest where cruel animals were wandering. I rejected even divine persons and I have chosen him as my husband. I have given birth to my children by him. I fail to understand why he left me without any kindness. What wrong I did to him? My husband was a truthful person. He had assured me and said that I will never desert you. That way he broke his premise. Nala: Kali Bhagvan entered into my body and made me his slave . I did everything without my control and he made me a victim. Now Kali has left my body. I have come here only to know about you. You keep all those things aside, if you are so affectionate and inseperable from me. Why you have announced this second swayamwara. Damayanthi: We sent so many scouts to all the countries in search of you. The spy who went to Ayodhya and talked to you had told me about you. We have extended the invitation of second swayamwara only to king Rutuparna and not to anybody else. Except king Nala, nobody else could drive a chariot for a distance of hundred amadas in a day. That is why we planned well and informed the date and time of Swayamwara to Rutuparna. So we announced a false swayamwara. Oh king! know it well that we have no evil intentions in our mind. Had I had any sinful thought in my mind, let the Sun, Moon, Agni and Dikpalakas burn me to ashes. At that time Vayu, the wind god intervened and said Oh king Nala! This Damayanthi is pure and pious. She is your chaste and virtuous wife. Hence you accept her. King Nala was happy for the invisible voice of Vayu and remembered Karkotaka in his mind. He found a cloth in front of him.
Nala took it and covered his body. He got his original shape and regal features and handsomeness. In this manner Nala and Damayanthi were reunited. After some time Nala picked up a small army, went to Pushkara and said, Pushkara! I have come to play a game of dice with you. I offer Damayanthi as my bet. If I lose I leave Damayanthi for you. If you lose, you must give away all your kingdom to me. If you are prepared, we shall play a game. Otherwise, I have come with an army to fight you. You tell me what your choice is. Pushkara thought he could win Damayanthi in a game of dice and played. In that game, Pushkara began initially scored some success but soon he began to lose the stakes and finally he lost the entire kingdom. Nala said, Pushkara! Last time I lost my kingdom, because of the influence of Kali. Now Kali cant overpower me, not knowing the fact and out of arrogance you came to play with me for the second time. And I got back everything from you. Since you are my cousin brother, I am leaving you alive. You leave this country at once. After that king, Bheema had come to the capital of Nishada with Damayanthi and her children. From then onwards, Nala and Damayanthi began to lead a happy and pleasant life. After narrating this thrilling and moving story of Nala and Damayanthi, Brudhaswa Maharishi advised Dharmaraja, Dharmaraja! Dont get distressed since you lost all your fortunes in a game of dice. Like Nala, you will recover whatever you had lost.You have plenty of divine power by your side. Now you add human effort to that. You will become the leader of the earth. After telling this story Brudhaswa Maharishi initiated Akshahrudaya vidya to Dharmaraja. Romasa Maharishi visits Dharmaraja: While Pandavas were awaiting for the arrival of Arjuna, Romasa Maharishi came and said: Romasa Maharishi: Dharmaraja! After wandering all the lokas, I went to Indra Sabha. There I saw your brother Arjuna. He was as splendid as Indra and occupied half of the throne. He pleased Lord Siva and secured Pasupatastra.He also secured and various astras from Indra and Dikpalakas. Indra asked me to convey this good news to you. Indra has ordered me to take you around to all the holy places. Since you have already visited twice, you can easily visit them now. Dharmaraja: Maharishi! How is that lifeless mountains, and rivers become pious places and are capable of removing sins of human beings. How this happenes?
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Romasa Maharishi: In pilgrim centers devatas and devarishis live with astral bodies. So those people who visit those mountains, rivers and tirthas will get their blessings. He took Dharmaraja and the party to various places and showed their importance and further explained various stories connected with those sacred places. The first place of the visit was Gaya. Gaya: Dharmaraja! This is Gaya. Long back a Rajarishi by name Gayu made several yagnas. In those yagnas heaps of food were left unconsumed. That has become into twenty five hills. In those yagnas, Gaya gave hefty donations to the brahmins. That is why this centre was named as Gaya. From Gaya, Dharmaraja and others went to the ashrama of Agastya. Romasa Maharishi said the story of Agastya. Agastya marries Lopamudra: Long ago there were two rakshasas by name King Vatapi and Llvala were harassing the brahmins in a deceitful manner. In that forest, Agastya was performing tapasya. One day he saw some tapasvis performing tapasya in an upside down position. Agastya enquired them the nature of tapasya they were doing. They replied, This is not a tapasya, we are your ancestral parents. We are not able to achieve our superior lokas till you marry and have children. So till we have our own children, we have to live in an upside down position. Agastya assured them that he would marry. He went to King Vidharbha and asked his daughter Lopamudra in marriage to him. The king did not agree to give his daughter to a tapasvi. His daughter Lopamudra came forward and expressed her willingness to marry him. He performed their marriage in a vedic way and gave valuable gifts to his daughter. However Lopamudra had not only refused all those gifts and removed her ornaments and valuable silk garments. She wore valkalas and went with Maharishi to his tapovana on the banks of Ganges. One day Lopamudra was taking her bath in the river, Agastya Maharishi happened to see her and developed lust on her. Maharishi expressed his desire to his wife Lopamudra. She gladly accepted and said: Oh Maharishi! I am blessed to have children through you. However, I want to decorate myself with ornaments, silk saris and ointments of perfume which will excite our emotions. On hearing her desire, Maharishi said, Chandravadana! I am only a tapasvi. I dont have such wealth except
taponidhi. So how can I procure all this things? I dont want to spend my tapasya for sensual pleasures. However to satisfy his wife and to secure the required money, he went to king Srutaparva and said, king! I want some money from you, if you have any surplus wealth after satisfying your public needs. For which the king said, Maharishi! I have no surplus money to spare. Then Maharishi and Srutaparva went to king Bradruswa. He also said that his income and expenditure were even and hence he couldnt spare any money. Then Maharishi, Srutaparva and Bradruswa went to King Trisidasyu. He also said the same. However he suggested that only Ilvala was the richest person in his kingdom. He alone could have surplus money. But he was a very dangerous rakshasa. He invites brahmins to his house and kills them in a deceitful manner. Then he and his brother will eat that brahmins. So it is dangerous to go to him. Maharishi said, I will go to him and request for money. He went to Ilvala and said, Ilvala! I want some money from you. Give me if any thing to spare other than your needs. Ilvala said, Maharishi! I have sufficient money, you take as much you want but you must have a lunch in my house. Maharishi agreed to it. His brother Vatapi became a goat. Ilvala killed that goat and prepared food with its meat and offered to Maharishi. Maharishi ate all the food offered by Ilvala and said, Vatapi you digests in me he said like that three times. In the meanwhile, Ilvala called Vatapi Vatapi! Come out. But he did not come out. Ilvala was very much worried. He couldnt tell the fact to Maharishi. Then he asked Maharishi, How much money you want? Maharishi said, You give ten thousand cows, ten thousand gold coins to each of these three kings. For me you give double the amount what you have given to them. Ilvala not only gave that money but also gave him a chariot yoked with superior horses. He went to his ashrama and satisfied her desire. He asked his wife, Dear! Do you want hundred children who are equal to ten people in strength or thousand sons equal to hundred persons or one son equal to thousand people. for which Lopamudra said, I want one son who is equal to thousand sons. As requested by her, Maharishi blessed her with a son by name Brudhasyudu. Brudhasyuva gave birth to a son by name Tejesvi. People call him as Idmanaabhudu. In this manner Agastya had developed his family line for three generations and satisfied his ancestral parents. They all attained superior lokas.
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CHAPTER-3
The story of Agastya: Long ago in Kruta yuga, a rakshasa by name Vrutasura was living and his followers were all Kalakeya rakshasas who were as big as a mountain. They were very cruel and started killing people indiscriminately. All devatas led by Indra prayed for protection. Brahma said, Oh Indra! Vrutasura is a very strong rakshasa. Nobody could kill them with any weapons, so you all go to Daheechi Maharishi who is more pure and powerful. You request him to give his bones for them to make weapons. Maharishi had agreed to their request and gave his bones. All devatas made weapons with his bones. A Prajapathi by name Trushna brought a most powerful Vajra and fixed in the back bone of Maharishi and made a vajrayudha and gave it to Indra. With that vajrayudha, Indra killed Vrutasura. All devata s also fought with Kalakeyas, who could not fight with devatas and took shelter under the sea waters in the day time and during night they were coming out of waters and killing people. Kalakeyas understood that all the lokas were protected with the strength of tapasvis and other righteous people. So they started killing all tapasvis and pious people. They killed one hundred and ninety tapasvis from Vasistas ashrama, hundred from Chyavanas ashrama and twenty tapasvis from Barathwajas ashrama and so on. Hence all devatas went to Vishnu for protection. Vishnu said, Devatas! All Kalakeyas are very strong. As long as they hide in water, nobody can kill them. Varuna is the presiding deity of water. So you go and pray Agastya Maharishi, son of Mitravaruna. He alone can drink away all the sea waters, so that the Kalakeyas have to come out of the waters. Then you can fight them easily. Devatas prayed Agastya Maharishi who agreed to drink the sea water. Maharishi went to the sea with all devatas. he drank all the water in one gulp and the sea became dry. Kalakeyas and many aquatic animals suffered without water. Then devatas fought with Kalakeyas,who could not fight with devatas and ran away to Patala. Then all devatas requested Agastya Mahrishi to put back all the water in the the sea. Maharishi smiled and said, Devatas! As all the water is absorbed in my body, I cant release any water. The aquatic animals started dying for want of water. Then all devatas went to Brahma and requested him to fill water back into the sea. Brahma said, Indra! After some time a devarishi by name Baghiratha will fill all the oceans with water. Except him, nobody can fill the water in the sea.
Baghiratha fills all oceans with water: Long ago a king by name Sagara of Ikshavaku family had two wives. They were Vaidarbhi and Saibja. They did not have children for a long time. Hence the king went to the forest with his wives and made a tapasya. Lord Siva appeared and blessed, King! You will have sixty thousand sons through Vaidarbhi. They will become arrogant and reduced to ashes from the fury of Kapila Maharishi. You will have one son from your wife Saibja. As per the blessings of Lord Siva, Vaidharbi delivered sixty thousand sons. They were all very strong, valorous but arrogant. They used to harass devata communities that are wandering in the sky and also people on the earth. Saibja delivered one son who was named as Asamanjasa. After some time, King Sagara performed an Aswameda yaga. All his sixty thousand sons followed the horse to protect and bring it back to yagasala. The yagaswa, while wandering on earth, went to the dry ocean and disappeared. The sixty thousand princes went back and informed the same to their father, Sagara. He ordered them to go to Patala and bring the horse. Again all the sons, while going to Patala, killed several aquatic animals which were struggling to survive in the mud ponds in the sea. There they saw the yagaswa grazing by the side of Kapila Maharishi. They were very happy to see the yagaswa and at the same time they became furious with Kapila Maharishi. They thought that he had stolen the yagaswa and was sitting in Patala, as if he knew nothing. Mistaking that Maharishi had stolen the yagaswa, they went to kill him. Maharishi opened his eyes and saw them. At the sight of his fury, they were reduced to ashes. Narada Maharishi went and informed king Sagara that all his sixty thousand sons were burnt to ashes by the fury of Kapila Maharishi. King Sagara was grieved for the premature death of his sons. King Sagaras second wife gave birth to a son by name Asamanjasa. He became cruel and pulled up all the children in the city by their leg, spun them in the air and threw them in the the river. All the people were furious at the cruelty of prince Asamanjasa. They went and requested king Sagara, King! Your son is killing all our children. Either you banish him from the country or allow us to live in some other kingdom. The king banished his son, Asamanjasa from the country. Asamanjasa had a son named Amsumantha. King ordered his grand son Amsumantha to go to Patala and bring the Yagaswa.
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Amsumantha went to Patala, prostrated at Kapila Maharishi and thereby pleased him and so took his blessings. He said to the Maharishi, that he had come to take back the yagaswa to complete the yaga. Maharishi said, Amsumantha! All the sons of Sagara were burnt and became a heap of ashes. Through you, all these sons of Sagara will get superior lokas. First, you take back the horse and complete the yaga, thereby Sagara will become pure. After some time, your grand son Baghiratha will fill the water in all the seas. Amsumantha expressed his gratitude to Maharishi, took the yagaswa with him and narrated what all has happened to his grandfather King Sagara. Since all the oceans were filled with water by the grandson of king Sagara, the oceans were named after him. viz. Sagaras. Sagara tried to bring holy waters but could not succeed. His son King Dilipa also tried, he too could not succeed. King Dilipas son Baghiratha defeated all the kings, became an emperor and ruled the kingdom for some time. Baghiratha decided to bring the waters of Ganges from the heaven to Patala and purify his grandfathers. He performed a severe tapasya and pleased Brahma. Brahma agreed to send river Ganges to Patala. But he said, Baghiratha! While Ganges is flowing on earth, the earth cant take its velocity. So you pray for Lord Siva who alone can withstand the velocity of river Ganga. Baghiratha did tapasya on Lord Siva and pleased him. Lord Siva agreed to hold Ganga on his head while it descends and reaches earth and from there to Patala. River Ganges agreed to flow its water to Patala and jumped on to Sivas head. From Sivas head, it flowed on Himalayas. From there, it flowed on the earth, filled all the oceans. From the oceans, the river reached Patala, flowed on to the heaps of ashes of Sagaras sixty thousand sons and purified them all. After drenching themselves the waters of Ganges, they all reached superior lokas. By bringing Ganges to earth and Patala, Baghiratha had become glorious in all the three worlds. The story of Rushabha Maharishi: Rushabha Maharishi was performing tapasya on Mt.Rushabhakuta. The Maharishi was so short-tempered that he wont pardon even the slightest mistake. The co-tapasvis called him as a flaming Agnihotra. With his fury, even the stones used to become hot and were broken at times. Usually devatas and tapasvis came for his blessings. By the side of that tapovana, a river was flowing which was called as Kousaki, the sister of Viswamitra.
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Long ago Vibhanga Maharishi was performing a severe tapasya and was observing Brahmacharya vrata. One day he saw Urvasi and became emotional and sperm came out and fell on the ground. A deer had swallowed that sperm, and it became pregnant and delivered a boy. He was named Rushyasrunga. He never went out of his ashrama. All the time he was serving his father and was living in the forest only. However he did a severe tapasya. In those days King Romapada ruled Angadesam. He became arrogant towards his priest and brahmins and often insulted them. As a result, there was no rain in the country for several years and drought prevailed all over the country. He was perturbed by the conditions in his kingdom and called all brahmins, respected them and requested them to suggest him a way out to bring rains to his country. The brahmins said, Since you have insulted many brahmins, they left the country. Thereby the yagnas and yagas were also stopped. As a result, it did not rain in our country for the past so many years. However if you bring a great tapasvi by name Rushyasrunga to our country, we will get rains. Because Indra had given a boon to him that wherever he lives, there will be abundant rains. Hence you send some beautiful prostitutes who are tactful. They should win over his love with their dance and music. He was also unaware of even womanly touch or pleasure. So they can easily win over him and bring him to our kingdom. Thereby we get abundant rains. As suggested by Brahmins, King engaged beautiful prostitutes and sent them to the asrama of Vibhanaa Maharishi . They carried with them delicious foods and play materials . They built a hermitage in the vicinity of the ashrama. One day when Vibhanaa Maharishi was away from his ashrama to pickup fruits, the prostitutes met Rushyasrunga and mesmerized him with their dances and singing. They spoke sweet words. They made him to eat delicious foods with their hands. With their sensuous and sexy touch, all his senses were awakened. Rushyasrunga had not seen neither a male nor a female except his father. So he was thrilled by seeing so many tapasvinis having attractive dress and ornaments. They ate all the roots and fruits he offered and invited him to their hermitage. Rushyasrunga promised that he would come to their ashrama. In the meanwhile, his father came with fruits and roots. He was surprised to look at Rushyasrunga for he had not fired agnihotra and also he looked morose, as if he lost the entire world. His father asked him, Why are you so dull?
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Father! Today some tapasvinis came to our ashrama. They are so pretty. I dont feel like leaving them from our ashrama. Even if I close my eyes, I am seeing only their beauty. When I touched their bodies, they were so soft and I felt so thrilled. I touched them several times but they never objected. You and I keep japamala in our hands, whereas they kept them around their necks. While they were walking, they were producing melodious sounds. Their faces and bodies give the fragrance of a jack fruit. Vibhanda Maharishi was surprised to hear the words of his son and his behaviour. He thought rakshasas would come in different forms to spoil the tapasya and hence he cautioned his son to be careful if he comes across any new person in future. As usual, when Vibhanda went to fetch fruits these prostitutes were hiding behind the bushes and came running to Rushyasrunga and awakened his senses again and again. He was so thrilled in their company and he decided not to reveal anything about these tapasvinis to his father. One day they took him to Angadesam. The moment he entered, thick dark clouds were formed in the sky. The moment they reached the palace, the rain started pouring. Then King Romapada gifted several thousands of cows and created cattle herds all over the country in the name of Rushyasrunga. He also gave his daughter and made him his son- in- law. There in the forest Vibhanga could not see his son and was worried and started searching all over for his son. On his way, as soon as he entered Angadesam, he found so many cattle herds. He went and enquired in the cow herd villages. Whose herds are these? They all said they belong to Rushyasrunga. He was happy to know that his son was holding so many cows and went to king Vibhanda and stayed with them. After some time he went back to his ashrama with his son and daughter- in- law and live happily. Kasyapa pleases mother earth: Dharmaraja: Maharishi! I am hearing the Veda parayana of Vykhana Maharishis. Are we so nearer to their ashramas? Romasa Maharishi: It is really surprising to me, if you say that you are able to hear the Veda Parayana of Vykhanas, because their place is thirty thousand amadas from here. That means you have some divine power . That is why you alone was able to hear them. Dharmaraja! Look at the fruit gardens around you. They bear fruits in all seasons. Viswakarma performed yagna here. He gave the entire land in the southern direction comprising of mountains and forests. He had
donated these to Kasyapa Maharishi. For this, mother earth was annoyed with Viswakarma and went to Patala. To please mother earth, Kasyapa Maharishi had penanced severely. At last she was pleased with his prayers and came out of waters and appeared in the form of Vedi. That Vedi is this. Those who climbed this Vedi, will become valorous. But they have to recite a pious mantra, while climbing this Vedi. Otherwise he will be thrown in the sea. Maharishi initiated the mantra to Dharmaraja and the he climbed the Vedi. By virtue of his climbing the Vedi, all Pandavas became strong and valorous. After coming back from Vedi, Dharmaraja said to tapasvis belonging to that tapovana, Superior Maharishis! I came to know that often Parasurama visits this place. We also want to have his darshan. Is it possible during our stay? Maharishi said, Dharmaraja! I am the disciple of Parasurama, On the coming chaturdasi. Parasurama gives darshan to all these Maharishis of this tapovanas. You also come with us and have your darshan. Dharmaraj asked Romasa Maharishi: Maharishi! I would like to hear the story of Parasurama. Please tell me. The glories of Parasurama : So the Maharishi began to tell him the story of Parasurama. Dharmaraja! Long ago Rucheeka Mahamuni wanted to marry Sathyavati, the daughter of king Gadhi. The king asked Maharishi, Give me thousand horses as the price for my daughter. The horses are to be pure white on their entire body. But one ear must be black in colour. Rucheeka Maharishi worshipped Varuna, who was pleased and gave him thousand horses. They came out from the river Ganges in the city of Kanyakubjam. Since then the thirtam is known as aswathirtam. As required by king Gadhi, Rucheeka Maharishi gave thousand horses and married his daughter Sathyavati. At the time of their marriage Bhrugu Maharishi, the father of Rucheeka Maharishi, asked Sathyavati, My daughter! I am pleased to accept you as my daughter-in-law. You ask me for a boon. Sathyavati asked him to bless a son for her and her mother. Bhrugu said, You embrace a Medi tree and your mother must embrace an aswadha treeYou will get a son each. They had a sacred bath and came back but embraced wrong trees. Sathyavati embraced Aswadha tree and her mother embraced Medi tree. Bhrugu Maharishi came to know and said to Sathyavati, You will have a son who will be worshipped by all brahmins. But he will
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take up kshatriya Dharma. He will become proud of himself and arrogant. Your mother will give birth to a son who will be a kshatriya and ultimately he will become a Brahma rishi. Sathyavati said to her father-in-law, Oh Maharishi! I dont want a son who accepts a kshatriya Dharma. Then Bhrugu said, If you dont want a son of kshatriya Dharma, then your grandson will embrace kshatriya Dharma. After some time Sathyavati gave birth to a son who was as splendid as Brahma. He was known as JamadAgni Maharishi. JamadAgni married Renuka the daughter of Prasenajittu. She gave birth to five sons. They were Rumanyamtu, Sushenu, Vasu, Viswamitra and Parasurama. One day while JamadAgni was performing tapasya, all his sons went to the forest. Renuka went to the river. At that time she saw a king by name Chitraratha. On seeing him her mind was shaken. JamadAgni who was in a tapasya, came to know the evil thoughts entered in the mind of his wife and became furious. He ordered all his sons to kill their mother but only Rama obeyed the order of his father and killed his mother. JamadAgni cursed all his four sons who disobeyed his orders to live ignorantly in the forests like an animals. He called Parasurama and said, You have obeyed my order, I am pleased with you. You ask for any boon. Then Parasurama said, Father! You give life to my mother and forgive my sin for killing my mother. You also reverse your curse on my brothers. JamadAgni was pleased and sanctioned all the boons. One day KarthaveeryArjuna who had one thousand hands came for hunting in the forest. He was tired hunting the animals and came to the ashrama of JamadAgni. Though Maharishi worshipped the king, he insulted the Maharishi and destroyed all the trees in the ashrama. He also took away the, cow named ,Homadhenu with him. After some time Parasurama returned to the ashrama. JamadAgni said, My son Parasurama! Karthaveerya is a very strong king. He had taken away our Homadhenu by force. I was watching helplessly as we were weak limbs. On hearing Jamad Agni s words, Parasurama became furious. He chased and killed all the army of Karthaveerya. Parasurama kills Karthaveery Arjuna : Parasurama chased Karthaveerya, killed his army, cut his thousand hands and finally killed him. The sons of KarthaveeryArjuna came to the ashrama while Parasurama was away and killed JamadAgni Maharishi. By the time Parasurama returned, Renuka was crying for her husband. Parasurama made a vow, Sinful sons of Karthaveerya deliberately killed my father. This was an act of deliberate
violence. Only Kshatriyas will do such cruel acts. So there should not be any kshatriya on the earth. I will kill all kshatriyas and see to it there is no race of kshatriyas on this earth. Parasurama took a vow on the above lines, went on an expedition of war on kshatriyas on earth for twenty three times killing all the kshatriyas and won all the earth. Finally he made a yagna and gave the entire earth to Kasyapa and detached from the world and settled down on Mt.MahIndra and was engaged in doing tapasya. Dharmaraja and others had a darshan of Parasurama and then proceeded towards southern direction. They went to Triyambakam and took bath in Godavari. The pious brahmins of that kshetram said that some years back, Arjuna gave several thousands of cows and gold as gift to brahmins. On hearing this, Dharmaraja felt happy. There Dharmaraja reached Parasurama Vedi and performed tapasya. From there, they went to pilgrim centre of Prabhasa thirtam. Krishna, Balarama and other yadavas came to know that Pandavas were staying in Prabhasa thirtam and went there and spent a few days with them. Dharmaraja explained their experiences of Aranya vasam and also informed them that Arjuna had secured several divine astras . Balarama consoled Dharmaraja and others and criticized the sinful and cruel Duryodhana and his friends. He was astonished that the king Dhrutarashtra, Bheeshma and other elders could not avert the sinful acts of Duryodhana and others. He also complimented Dharmaraja and his brothers on fixing their mind on Dharma irrespective of difficulties they faced. He also suggested to Krishna that they should punish the sinister Duryodhana and his brothers and that they should make Dharmaraja as an emperor on earth. Satyaki also spoke in support of Balarama. Krishna also expressed similar sentiments and blessed Dharmaraja to become the emperor on earth. Dharmaraja thanked Balarama, Krishna, Satyaki and all other yadavas for their support. He reassured to all of them that his mind would always be fixed on Dharma and he would never deviate. He declared, I shall not break my vow. After thirteen years, I shall certainly take your help to get back our kingdom. Sukanya upakhyanam: Romasa Maharishi: Dharmaraja! Long ago at the end of Treta Yuga and the beginning of Dwapara yuga, there lived a king by name Seryathi. He
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performed a yagna under supervision of Chyavana Maharishi. In that yagna, Seryathi offered somarasa to aswini devatas against the wishes of Indra. I will tell you how it happened. Near this lake, Chyavana Maharishi was doing a severe tapasya foregoing even food and water. As a result ant hills developed over him. One day king Seryathi came to the forest with a big army and his daughter. While his daughter Sukanya was wandering in the forest, she went to the ant hill under which Chyavana Maharishi was performing tapasya. When she looked in, she saw two bright insects inside the ant hill. She ordered her soldiers to remove the ant hill so as to catch those bright insects. With that Chyavana Maharishi lost his concentration and was angry on the soldiers and tied them. Sukanya got frightened and informed her father what all happened. He came running to the Maharishi and said: Oh tapasvi! Ignorantly my daughter had instructed our soldiers to remove this ant hill. She did it out of ignorance. You please pardon her and release my soldiers. On hearing the words of Seryathi, Chyavana Maharishi said King! You give your daughter to me in marriage. Then only I will release all your soldiers. The king agreed and gave his daughter in marriage to Chyavana Maharishi. Then he left his daughter with Chyavana Maharishi and went back to the city. Though Chyavana Maharishi was old, she was patiently serving him. One day aswini devatas who were divine doctors asked her, My daughter! Who are you? Whose wife are you? Sukanya said, Devatas! I am the daughter of king Seryathi. I am the wife of Chyavana Maharishi. Then Aswini devatas said to her, Sundari! Your husband is very old whereas you are in prime youth. So what pleasures you derive from him? If you agree, we shall arrange a marriage with a youth of your age. You think over and tell. On hearing their words Sukanya said, Devatas! I have love and affection for my husband. I dont need your help. I am happy to be with my husband. She went and told her husband what Aswini spoke to her. Maharishi was happy and advised her to do as they advised. Sukanya went to aswini devatas with her husband and asked them to make her husband a youthful person. Then Aswini devatas entered in to the waters and asked Chyavana Maharishi also to follow them. After a dip, they all looked alike. She was surprised to see all those three in the same form. They came to the shore and said to her, You choose any one among us. Then Sukanya meditated her husband in her mind and chose her husband correctly. After this experience, Chyavana Maharishi felt that he was very much indebted to Aswini devatas and said:
Chyavana Maharishi offers Somarasa to Aswini devatas: Chyavana Maharishi said Aswini devatas! By your grace, I became young. In the yagna to be performed by king Seryathi, I will offer Somarasa to you. Then Aswini devatas went to their abodes. On hearing Chyavana Maharishi becoming youth, King Seryathi was happy and came to see his daughter and son-in-law. Chyavana Maharishi worshipped the king and said: Oh king! I want you to perform a glorious yagna with which much good will happen to you. So you procure all the material required for the yaga. As instructed by Chyavana Maharishi, Seryathi performed yagna. At the end Seryathi offered somarasa to aswini devatas. Indra was angry at that and said, These Aswini devatas are working as doctors and they are servants of devatas. So how can you offer somarasa to the servants? For such people can you offer a share in the yagna? Still Chyavana Maharishi did not care for Indras comments and made Aswini devatas to drink somarasa. Indra was furious on Chyavana Maharishi and raised his Vajra to kill him. Chyavana Maharishi with his power of tapasya made his hand as well as Vajra to become motionless. Chyavana Maharishi produced a ferocious demon by name Madhudu from the Agnigundam. By looking at his ferocious form all the divine communities were frightened. Madhudu went ahead with great speed to kill Indra. Since his hand became motionless he could not do anything in self defense. Then Indra went to Chyavana and requested Oh Maharishi! From today onwards I will give somarasa to Aswini devatas also. So you withdraw your demon and protect me. Chyavana Maharishi was pleased at Indra and released his hand. After that Indra and other devatas left to heaven. Aswini devatas were happy to have a share in somarasa. At that time Madhudu the demon went to Chyavana and requested him to provide a place for him to stay. Then Chyavana Maharishi said, From now onwards you live in toddy, woman, hunting and gambling dice. Dharmaraja! Since Chyavana Maharishi did tapasya here, the mountain is named as Archeeka. The lake by the side of this mountain is pure and sweet. Sentana, Janaka, Nara Narayana and Brahma took bath in this lake. On hearing Romasa Maharishis words, Dharmaraja and others also took bath in that lake. The story of Mandhata : Romasa Maharishi: Long ago there lived a king by name Yavanasya. He made several yagnas and ruled in the path of Dharma. However he did not have a son to succeed his kingdom. So he went to Bhrugu Maharishi
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ashrama to serve him. After some time Maharishi was pleased with his services and promised him that he would perform a putrakamna yaga so that he would get a successor. In the same manner Maharishi made Yavanasya to perform the yaga. Mantrajala was kept in a vessel, gave it to the king and asked him to protect it carefully. That night Yavanasya got thirsty and in a sleepy mood he drank all the Mantrajala. Next morning Bhrugu Maharishi came to know what had happened. Bhrugu Maharishi said, Yavanasya! You have consumed the mantrajala preserved for your wife, by mistake. However you will have to become pregnant with the power of the mantrajala. After some time Yavanasya gave birth to a boy. Immediately after his birth, the child started crying as he was hungry. Indra put his finger in the mouth and said to him, You suckle nectar. Since the child was nursed by Indra, all devatas called him as Mandhata. He learnt Vedas and sastras just by hearing from the mouth of his guru. He mastered archery. Indra crowned him as the emperor. On that occasion, he gifted a bow by name Ajagavam and several astras. Mandhata performed several yagas. At one time there were no rains in his kingdom. He was annoyed at Indra and he formed cloud seeding with his arrows and got rains. This was the place where Mandhata performed several yagnas.Another king Somakudu also performed yagnas in this Kurukshetra on the banks of river Saraswathi. I will tell you the story of Somakudu. The episode of King Somakudu : Long ago there lived a king by name Somakudu. He had hundred wives. But he got only one son. His name was Jantudu. All the hundred wives brought him up as if he was their own child. One day and an ant bit him . When the child cried all the hundred wives cried. King came running and after knowing the cause he consulted his ministers and priest. Oh Priests! Though I have hundred wives, I have only one son. Elders say that one eye is as bad as no eye, similarly one son is also as bad as no son. So I want more children to continue my family line. The priest said, King! We will perform a yagna by which all your hundred wives will get children. However you should not say no to us. Whatever we say you should accept. In that yagna, you should sacrifice your son. After sacrificing him, you should take out Vapama from his stomach and again you have to put in the homa and it will produce smoke. All your wives should inhale that smoke.
If you do this yagna, all your hundred wives will get sons. After inhaling the smoke whoever queen delivers first,, that sons left side of the body will be in golden colour. However all other queens also will give birth to sons. You may perform this yagna, if you agree to this. The king Somakudu did as suggested by his priest and each of his queens delivered a son each. All the hundred queens loved all the children as they loved Jantdu. After some time the king made his sons as the kings and he went to tapovanas to perform tapasya. After sometime, King Somakudu by virtue of his punya phalam, on his way to heaven, he passed through the hell. There he saw his priest put in a flaming fire and suffering for his Papa phalam. The king went to him and asked, You never did any sinful act in your life, how is that you are put in hell and suffering. Then the priest said, I suggested you to perform a yagna and made you to possess sons for all your queens, excepting that I have not done any sin knowingly or unknowingly. The king Somaka was humiliated and went to Yama, gave half of his punya phalam to his priest and took his priest with him to the heaven. This is the place where that king Somaka did that Mahayagna. Long ago Brahma also performed a yagna here , which is called as Ishtkrutam. King Ambrisha also did countless yagnas here and attained superior lokas. Dharmaraja! you and your brothers take a bath in this river and enter dhyana yoga and wander in various lokas such as Devarishis, Khecharas and Indra Sabha. In that Indra Sabha they saw Arjuna sitting with Indra. The story of Sibi Chakravarthi: Romasa Maharishi: Dharmaraja! Mt.Bhrutunga is very holy place situated on the banks of Manasa Sarovara. Rishis performed several yagnas and had the darshan of Siva and Parvathi. In such a place, Sibi Chakravarthi also performed several yagnas. He was a kind, virtuous and truthful king. Indra wanted to test him. Indra took the form of a hawk and Agni took the form of a pigeon. The pigeon flew with fear and went to Sibi Chakravarth and sought his protection. After a short while, the hawk followed it. The hawk said to Sibi, You are a righteous and spotless king. Myself and my children are suffering with hunger. To my good fortune, I saw this pigeon. I thought that I could feed my children with this pigeon. In the meanwhile you have assured this pigeon protection . Thereby myself and my children are going to die with hunger. This is truth. The God had created
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these pigeons only as food to us. So this is my natural food. Is it not adharma, if you give protection to my prey and make me and my children die? If you follow Dharma that alone will protect your kingdom. Sibi Chakravarthi said, Hawk! This pigeon came with a fear for its life and sought protection from me. However cruel one may be, he will not refuse it protection. Though you look like a hawk, you are talking much about Dharma and adharma. So I will not leave this pigeon who sought protection from me. If you want to kill your hunger, there are so many animals in the forest. Why you insist on this particular pigeon? You leave your fury on it . If hunger only is your problem, I will solve it by providing an alternate food. The hawk said, King! If you are serious of protecting this pigeon, you give me flesh from your body equal to the weight of this pigeon. Then only I can understand how sincere you are in your seranagathi. The king was happy and said to the hawk, I am happy that you are kind to me. You are the most superior among the birds. Immediately he ordered for a balance and a knife. He started cutting flesh from his own body and putting on the balance. To his surprise any amount of flesh was not becoming equal to the weight of the pigeon. Finally the king himself sat on the balance. He even prepared to sacrifice his body but he did not want to surrender the pigeon. Then Indra and Agni came out in their real forms and said, Sibi! Your glory will remain in this world as long as the creation exists. Oh Dharmaraja! This is the place where Sibi chakravarthi was tested by Indra and Agni. The episode of Astavakrudu: Romasa Maharishi: Oh Dharmaraja! In this tapovana Swetakethuvu, son of Uddaraka Maharishi used to perform tapasya. River Saraswathi used to come in human form and used to serve the Maharishi. In the same tapovana Astavakrudu also performed tapasya. They were uncle and nephew. The story of Astavakrudu is peculiar. I will tell you the story, you listen. Ekapada was a great tapasvi. When his wife Sujata was pregnant, the boy said to his father from the stomach of his mother, Father! You are teaching Vedas to your disciples and making them Vedaadhayanam without any interval. Due to restlessness there are certain mistakes erupting in their pronunciation. What benefit your students will get by learning in a blemish way?. On hearing the words of his son, Ekapada became furious as he found
faults in his teaching Vedaadhayanam and cursed him. You also take birth with as Astavakrudu (faulty body). Before Sujata delivered a boy, she said to her husband, Maharishi! Shortly I am going to give birth to your son. There is nothing in our house to eat. So you secure the provisions required for those ten days. After that some how we can manage. On hearing the words of his wife, Ekapada went to king for seeking help. In the court of the king, there was a pundit by name Vandhi. Ekapada entered in an argument with Vandhi on Vedas. He was defeated and imprisoned. In the meanwhile Sujata gave birth to Astavakra. At the same time, Uddaraka Maharishi also had a son by name Swetakethuvu. Since then Swetakethuvu and Astavakrudu were brought up by Uddaraka Maharishi. One day Astavakra was sitting on the laps of Uddaraka Maharishi. Swetakethuvu could not digest it and asked him, You get down from the lap of my father. If you want to sit, you go and sit on the lap of your father. Then Astavakrudu went to his mother and understood everything about his father. At that time the king was performing a yagna . Astavakrudu accompanied by Swetakethuvu, went to see that yagna, so as to impress the king and release his father from the prison. There at the yagnavatika he defeated Vandhi and many other pundits, and got his father released and went home. Romasa Maharishi was wandering all thitras and pilgrim centres by narrating the episodes of virtuous people, reached a place where emperor Baratha was crowned. In this ashrama Evakritudu, son of Barathwaja did tapasya. This Evakritudu lost his life because of his pride on his proficiency. The story of Evakrita: Raidhyudu and Baradwaja were great tapasvis and good friends. They built their ashramas side by side. Raidhyudu had two sons, Ardhaarasudu, Paraavasudu were scholars in Vedas and sastras. Evakritu was the son of Baradwaja. He did not show much interest in learning Vedas and sastras. However he felt jealous of the sons of Raidhyudu. He too wanted to acquire all the knowledge by doing a tapasya. So he penanced on Indra. Indra, pleased with his severe tapasya, asked him, What do you want? Evakritu asked, I want the knowledge of Vedas and Sastras. Indra said, The knowledge of Vedas and Sastras cant be understood without a guru. However he insisted that he learn all the knowledge without a guru. Indra said, Even if you learn
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by pride that will not be useful and you will be destroyed. Hence one has to acquire knowledge only through guru. Evakrita was not convinced with the words of Indra and intensified his tapasya. After some time Indra came in the form of an old brahmin and he started picking up handful of sand and trying to build a dam across the Ganges. He did in the same way from morning to evening. Evakritu was watching the old man and said to him, You are very old. The speed of Ganges is so fast. Whereas you are taking a handful of sand and trying to stop the flow of Ganges. Is it possible? Better you stop this fruitless effort and take rest. Then the old brahmin said, I am also trying like you to make an impossible task possible. By saying so, Indra appeared in his real form and advised him to stop his fruitless effort. However Indra gave him the knowledge what Evakritu wanted. Evakritu went home with joy knowing his achievement. Barathwaja said to his son to leave pride of his knowledge then only he would have the fruits of the knowledge. Evakritu used to go to the conferences of Maharishis and exhibit his knowledge before them. One day he went to the house of Raidhyudu and saw his daughter-in-law. Suddenly he was fascinated at her beauty and asked her to provide comfort to him. She tactfully escaped from him, went to her father-in-law and said about his behaviour. Raidhyudu became furious and pulled out a jata and put it in the agni and from that Agnihotra a woman came out by name Krishna, who was hundred times more beautiful than his daughter-in-law. He had pulled out another jata and put in Agnihotra. This time a ferocious rakshasa came out and said, I am awaiting your orders. Then Raidhyudu said to both of them to kill Evakritu. In the beginning Krishna went and started doing romance with Evakritu. While doing so, she had abducted his Kamandalam. With that he became impure. Thereby all his power of tapasya was destroyed. Immediately the rakshasa jumped on Evakritu and killed him. He went to Maharishi and said that he had killed Evakritu. Then Raidhyudu married Krishna to that rakshasa and sent them away. After some time Baradwaja came and saw the dead body of his son. He could not bear the death of his son and hence he also offered himself to the fire in the same pyre. King Bruhadradha started a long term satrayaga. Both the sons of Raidhyudu were appointed as rutviks of that yaga. One day the second son, Paraavasudu was coming back to his home. In the darkness he saw a figure and thought that a cruel animal was coming and killed it but the figure was
his father. He realized his mistake and completed his last rites and came to yagasala and said to his elder brother Ardhavasu, Brother! Since I killed our father, the guilt of Brahmahatya is attached to me. So you cant complete yaga by yourself. Whereas I have that capability. So you go home and do all the necessary expiatory acts on my behalf. In the meanwhile I will continue the yaga for the king. After that you can come and join me. Paraavasu agreed to his brothers suggestion and did all the expiratory acts and went back to the yagasala. Then Paraavasudu said to the king, King! This Yajika is not eligible to enter the yaga sala, since he was attached the sin of Brahma hatya and came after completing his expiatory acts. Based on his words, the king obstructed the entry of Ardhavasudu in the yagasala. Then he cried before the officials, Gentlemen! In fact the Brahmahatya was done by my younger brother Paravasudu and not me. To make him pure, I did expiatory acts on his behalf and came back to participate in the yaga. On hearing his words, the wandering devatas in the sky said: Devata communities gave boons to Ardhaavasu : The devata communities said from the sky, Arhdaavasu Maharishi! To purify your brother, you did the expiatory acts; we appreciate your virtuous nature. You ask for a boon. On hearing these words, Ardhaavasu said, Devatas! If you want to show pity on me, you make my father alive. You make Evakritu also alive. You also make my brother Paaaravasu should not get the sin of killing his father. As desired by Ardhavasu all of them got their life back and became alive. Evakritu asked Devatas Devatas! I have read all Vedas and sastras and did several vratas and tapasya. Still how Raidhyudu was able to kill me, I dont know! Then Devatas said, Evakrita! You acquired all the knowledge only by pleasing Indra, whereas Raidhyudu acquired with the blessings of his guru. Whatever knowledge you acquire without the blessing of a guru, that will not work. So knowledge is acquired only by serving a guru. That knowledge you acquired is low. Romasa Maharishi: Dharmaraja! This is the place where Evakritu lived. So whoever lives here, their sins will vanish. This is Mt.Kala. Here the Ganges splits in seven directions. However a man cant see it with ordinary eyes. You all stay here for some days and you will become pure. This is Mt.Mandhra. Mt.Kailash is six hundred yojanas from here. With the grace of Romasa Maharishi, Dharmaraja and others went to the yoga Samadhi and visited all the pilgrim centres. Dharmaraja said to Bheema:
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Dharmaraja: Bheema! From here the path is very difficult to walk. So you better protect Draupadi, Daumya and others. Bheema: Brother! You never live without Draupadi. The entire area is full of rakshasas. If I am not with you, dangers may fall on you in any form. Finally Romasa Maharishi agreed with what Bheema said. They decided to go together. After travelling some distance Draupadi could not walk and fainted. Bheema comforted her and fanned with the leaves. At that time Bheema remembered his son Ghatothkaja; immediately Ghatothkaja came with his army and said, Father! Order me what I should do.You are all tired; you all sit on my back, I will carry you in the sky. My servants will carry all others. As suggested by Ghatothkaja, they travelled in that manner and landed in the Badhri vana where Nara and Narayana did tapasya. They took sacred bath in the river Ganges. Stealing of Sowgandhika flowers : One day while Draupadi and Bheema were wandering on Mt.Gnadhamadana, they saw a big lotus flower with thousand petals. By looking at that, Draupadi was amazed and said, I have not seen such a flower so far. You go and bring some flowers for me. On hearing Draupadis words, Bheema went in the direction the flower came. On his way he found a huge herds of elephants dashing towards him. He picked up one of the elephants, spun it in the air and threw it in the middle of the herd. With that all the elephants were frightned and ran away in all the directions. After sometime he saw a herd of lions. He scattered them in the same manner. After that he made a big Simhanadam. By the feriocious sound, all the birds flew away with fear. When he moved little ahead, he saw a lake. He entered the lake and had a bath, removed many lotus flowers, made a garland and wore it around his neck. He came out of the lake and made another Simhanadam. That sound had disturbed the sleep of Hanuma. He thought, That person must be my brother Bheema. I would like to make fun of him By thinking so he came out and slept across the footpath. However his tail was active by rising and hitting the ground. Bheema was perturbed and went to the direction and found a monkey sleeping across the footpath. He went nearer Hanuma and requested him to give way for him. Hanuma looked at Bheema in a careless manner and said, I am an old monkey suffering with so many ailments. Just now I had a sleep. Why are
you disturbing me? There are so many ways in this forest. Why you choose to disturb me? Earlier also you have disturbed with your Simhanadham. Now you are coming and making noise in my ears. We animals dont have any mannerism. But you are a human. By Looking at you, I developed a feeling that I am talking to a close relative. Why did you come to this forest? All the fruits in this forest are as sweet as honey, you eat as much as you want and go away. Bheema said, King of monkies! I am a kshatriya, son of Panduraju. I was born with the blessings of Vayu, the wind god. I am known as Bheema. I am going on a specific work. You leave me a way to go. If you dont give me the way, I send over you as Hanuma crossed the sea to reach Lanka on Ramas cause. On hearing his words, Hanuma expressed his amazement and said, Do you know the story of Hanuma? If you know you tell me. On hearing the words of Hanuma, Bheema said the entire episode of Rama in a nutshell. Hanuma was pleased and said to Bheema, Bheema! I have become old. I cant sit on my own, so you lift may tail aside and make way for you to go. Bheema was happy at the request of Hanuma and tried to lift his tail. In spite of his best effort, he could not lift it even an inch. With that Bheema was ashamed and requested him, Deva! You tell me really who you are. Are you a siddha, or gandarva, or a devata. You tell me. I am not able to know you. Hanuma said, Bheema! I am a son of Vayu, the wind god. My mother Anjana Devi gave me birth with the blessings of Vayu. Therefore you are my younger brother. Long back, Sri Rama was pleased to bless me to live for ever on the earth. From his words, Bheema realizing that he was none other than Hanuma, saluted him and said, Hanuma! You show me the form with which you crossed the sea and thereby make me pure. On hearing Bheemas words Hanuma said, Oh brother! I cant show you the same form, because many yugas have passed. Hanuma said, Oh Bheema! The sons of Dhrutarashtra have done a big damage to you. All your brothers are virtuous and heroic. You ask me anything you want. Bheema said, Hanuma! If you wish, you alone can kill all the Kouravas. But we dont want you to kill them. We ourselves kill them. There is no enemy on earth whom we cant defeat. On hearing Bheemas words, Hanuma said, Bheema! When the battle starts, I will appear on the flag of Arjuna and double the strength of your side. I will also watch the skill
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of Pandavass fighting. By saying so Hanuma embraced Bheema and showed the way to secure the Sowgandhika flowers. After some time, Bheema went to the lake of Sowgandhika flowers. That lake was protected by ten thousand rakshasas. They saw Bheema entering the lake. The rakshasas warned Bheema and said, Kshatriya! This lake belongs to Kubera. Ten thousand rakshasa are guarding this lake. Whoever enters the lake knowingly or unknowingly, will be killed. So you go away. It is the time for Kubera to come here with his woman and spend time in this lake. Hence Yakshas, rakshasas and Maharishis also wont dare to look at this side. Bheema said to them, Rakshasa warriors! I am a son of Panduraja, and the brother of Dharmaraja. To please Draupadi, I came here to pluck some sowgandhika flowers. Whether you permit me or not, I will not go without taking some flowers. Hence you better extend your cooperation to me and avoid a battle. On hearing his words, rakshasas said, Brave man! From your talk and behaviour, you look extraordinarily valiant. We dont want any enemity with you. If you are serious in taking these flowers, you make a request to our king Kubera and take as many as you want. Bheema said, Rakshasas! I am a Kshatriya, who is accustomed to give donation but not to accept or expect. All the more, these mountains, lakes, forests and the entire nature is gods gift and everybody can enjoy the benefits. It cannot be the personal property of Kubera. By saying so Bheema entered the lake. As Bheema entered the lake, the soldiers were annoyed and declared a fight against him. Bheema defeated all of them, plucked as many flowers as he could and proceeded towards his people. Before Bheema returned, Dharmaraja was in search of his brother. Then he asked everybody where Bheema had gone. Draupadi said, King! I saw a thousand petalled lotus. I asked Bheema to bring some for me. He went in the North East direction. On hearing Draupadis words, Dharmaraja and others went towards the Northeast direction. After a while, they saw Bheema carrying on his shoulders, huge bundles of sowgandhika flowers . Bheema gave all the flowers to Draupadi and kept her happy. Dharmaraja said, Bheema! Of all the people, you are the most knowledgeable person. Can you resort to this type of misadventure? If you have any respect to me, give me a word that you will not repeat this type of adventure in future. While Dharmaraja was teaching Bheema, a huge battalions of Kubera came and saluted Dharmaraja with folded hands and said, Dharmaraja! This
garden belongs to Kubera. It is not safe for you to stay here for long. On hearing their words, Dharmaraja and others moved to a nearby vana and camped there. Dharmaraja decided to stay in those vanas for some more time. Hence he permitted Ghatothkaja to return to his place. One day a rakshasa by name Jatasura came in the form of a Brahmin. He had learnt archery from Parasurama. One day when Bheema went for hunting, Jatasura abducted Draupadi, Dharmaraja and Nakula. Sahadeva ran to the forest in search of Bheema. Dharmaraja said to that rakshasa: Oh rakshasa! We believed your words and gave you shelter. It is not fair to cheat the people who fed you. Helping others alone is our vrata. Is it fair on your part to do harm to us? Since you are Ignorant of Dharma, you resorted to abduct us. By talking so Dharmaraja pressed him hard so as to stop his speed and to gain time. In the meanwhile, Sahadeva obstructed the rakshasa and said, Oh rakshasa! I am the son of Panduraju. You fight with me. I will kill you in no time. In the mean while Bheema also joined Sahadeva and killed Jatasura.
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CHAPTER-4
One day Dharmaraja said, Arjuna left us five years ago. We have heard that he has secured many divine astras. He may return any time and meet us. So let us travel towards north and reach Mt.Malyavantha. They were surprised to see some flowers coming by air and falling in front of them. By looking at those flowers, Draupadi said, These flowers are more fragrant than sowgandhika flowers. On hearing her words, Bheema climbed the highest peak of that mountain and saw the palace of Kubera. Looking at that palace, Bheema blew his conch and made a Simhanadam. Yakshas and rakshasas attacked Bheema, but he subdued all of them. Then Kubera sent his personal servant Manitantha. Bheema fought with Manimantha with his club. Manimantha could not fight and flew into the sky. Bheema shouted at him, Stay back, dont run away and threw his club at him. It hit Manimanthas head and broke it and fell on the ground. Dharmaraja Draupadi, and Dhaumya travelled and reached the city of Kubera. Draupadi and other brahmins remained in a muni ashrama. Kubera heard the heroism of Bheema and hence he went with a big army of devatas, Yakshas and rakshasa to attack Bheema. But they saw Pandavas. Dharmaraja went to Kubera with folded hands. Kubera said, Dharmaraja! Your brother has killed a good friend of mine. For which, you dont have to feel so much for him. He died because of Agastya Maharishis curse and not because of your brother. He requested Dharmaraja and others to be his guests for a month. He also appreciated Bheema for his strength and bravery. One day Arjuna came down from Indras chariot and started walking towards the earth. He came running to Dharmaraja and prostrated at his feet. He also and prostrated to Bheema, Dhaumya and other dignitariess. He embraced Nakula and Sahadeva. Looking at Arjuna, Draupadis heart filled with joy. All Pandavas worshipped Matali. Indra comes to Pandavas: Indra came to Pandavas. Dharmaraja and others worshipped Indra. Indra was pleased and said to Dharmaraja: Indra: Dharmaraja! Arjuna performed a severe tapasya, pleased Lord Siva and thus secured Pasupatastra. He has killed rakshasa community, Nivata-Kavachas and helped devatas. Arjuna with his valour can conquer all the earth and make you an emperor. Nobody can defeat Arjuna in a battle.
Dharmaraja: Arjuna!Glad to know your achievements. Tell us how you pleased Lord Siva and secured many divine astras from various devatas. Arjuna narrated in verbatim what all happened in the last five years. One day Indra came and told me, There are three crores of rakshasa belonging to nivata-kavacha community. They are all living in the sea waters. You alone can kill them all. To rout them, I give you several divine astras. I boarded the chariot of Indra. His charioteer Matali, took me to the sea shore. There the tortoises were as big as mountains. There was a big town under the water. All the roads were so wide and I saw big forts. I blew my conch and made a Simhanadam. On hearing my conch, millions of rakshasas came out and surrounded me. As they outnumbered me many times, I released many arrows in a different way. With that, all my arrows filled earth to sky. As a result, they found it difficult to move. When I increased the number and speed of my arrows, many rakshasa heads were cutoff and fell on the ground. At one time, rakshasa made a mystic war with me. Then I released Soshaka astra which was presented by Indra. This astra helped me a lot. As the strength of rakshasas was reduced and they released agnaya astra on me. I watered down their enthusiasm with my vaaruna astra. Rakshasas then created darkness. I removed darkness with suryastra. Matali was very happy to watch the skill of my archery. Thus all Nivata-Kavachas fell down and died. On seeing rakshasa township, I asked Matali, Who has built this big city under the waters? Matali said, Indra himself built this township for devatas. But rakshasa did great tapasya and acquired great strength and occupied the city. Since then Indra was trying with all his ability to kill the rakshasas and take back the city but he could not recover it. Today you have routed such Nivata-kavachas. After killing Nivata-Kavachas, I saw a tapovana. I asked Matali, Whose tapovana is it ? Matali said, Puloma and Kamaka are two rakshasas. They performed a great tapasya on Brahma and got several boons from him.They built this city with gold. Hence it is called Hiranyapuram. The sons of Puloma and Kamaka had become as Kalakeya rakshasas. Their strength rose up to sixty thousand. Because of the boons they got form Brahma, no Devatas can kill them. While we were talking, they mistook me for Indra and attacked us. I killed many rakshasas, but they fell on me like an ocean.Finally I released pasupatastra and killed all Kalakeyas in Hiranyapuram. I went to Indra and
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told him how I killed Nivata-kavachas and Kalakeyas. At that time Indra told me, All your brothers are waiting for you. I bless you. Bheeshma, Drona, and others will be killed at your hands. Then I took leave of Indra and returned now to see you all On hearing Arjunas words, Dharmaraja was elated and felt as if he had already become an emperor. Dharmaraja said, Arjuna! you show me the weapons you secured form devatas. Arjuna showed the weapons to Dharmaraja and others. In the meanwhile Narada came there and said, Dharmaraja! if Arjuna releases all the astras he has secured, all the worlds will be destroyed . So you ask him to withdraw all those astras. Dharmaraja agreed with Narada and requested Arjuna not to use all the deadly weapons. Ajagaropakhyanam : One day Bheema went for hunting on Himalayas. Unconsciously he was caught by a snake after some time Dharmaraja went and released him. Since the snake caught hold of both his shoulders, he could not exercise his strength. Bheema: Python! I am the son of Panduraja, having pure character. I can throw away elephants and lions. Since you have caught hold of my shoulders, I am not able to move around. Did you get the strength by birth or acquired it? Python: Bheema! I got this extraordinary strength by the boons of devatas. Only by this strength, I was able to catch lions and elephants. Today you became my prey. Long ago I occupied the throne of Indra. Overestimating my power, I insulted Rajarishis. Because of their curse I became a python. However I did not forget my old memories. Bheema: Python! A brave man will not curse himself, if he lands in difficulties. One should keep his mind in control whether he gets pleasure or pain. This is the character of learned men. When god proposes, man cant escape from it. Though I possess a great strength, I am not feeling sorry for having caught by you. but I am worried for my brothers who lost their kingdom and wandering in the forest. I am worried for them only. They must also be worried as they could not find me since a long time. In the ashrama Dharmaraja was worried as Bheema was not found for a long time and his mind started thinking in several ways. I have seen many bad omens. I suspect something wrong has happened to Bheema He took Daumya and started searching for Bheema. He kept Arjuna, Nakula,
Sahadeda for the protection of Draupadi. At last he saw Bheema being caught by a big python which was as big as a mountain. He went to the python and said: Dharmaraja: Pthon! I dont know whether you are a rakshasa or a devata. I am Yudhustara. I am praying to you to release my brother. If you caught him only for flesh, I promise you as much flesh as you want. Python: Dharmaraja! I am not particular to eat him. It is for a different reason.I will tell you my episode, you listen. I am also born in the same family line of yours. My name is Nahusha. I am equal to Indra. Because of my power, I lost my magnanimity. I insulted thousand munis by asking them to carry my chariot. Among those munis, Agastya Maharishi was also there. He cursed me to become a python. I requested him for the deliverance from the curse. He was kind and said Oh Nahusha! Whoever tells you the correct answers for your questions that day you will get the deliverance from my curse. Hence I will ask you some questions you answer them and get your brother released. Dharmaraja: Nahusha! For your knowledgable questions only great tapasvis alone can answer, however I will try to answer your questions. Nahusha asked many difficult questions and Dharmaraja was able to give suitable answers. The questions involved problems about Brahmins, Vaisiyas, Kshatriyas ans Sutras. But Dharmaraja gave brilliant answers and satisfied Nahusha. Nahusha was highly pleased with all the answers given by Dharmaraja. Therefore Nahusha released Bheema. Nahusha taught many spiritual secrets to Dharmaraja.
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CHAPTER 4
Krishna formally paid a visit to Dharmaraja, who gave a warm welcome to him. Krishna: Dharmaraja! Arjuna has pleased Lord Siva and secured Pasupataastra and many other divine astras. Andhaka, Vrushti, Bhoja, Kukura and many other yadava families have a great regard for you. Hence Duryodhana and others cant fight with you. It is certain that you will become the emperor and rule all the earth. Dharmaraja: Krishna! I am pleased with your words. Shortly our exile will come to an end. After completing our Agnatha vasam, we shall think of fighting with Duryodhana and others. By doing so, public will not mistake us. Krishna! We are all depending on you. You alone could guide us since we are your devotees. We are always under your protection ever since our childhood. Krishna: I will do whatever I can. Be assured! Draupadi! All your five sons are living comfortably and are busy in learning all the martial arts. Subhadra is treating them as her own sons. Meanwhile, a news was sent by the followers of Markandeya Maharishi. The Rishi was to meet the Pandavas soon. Accordingly, the Rishi came to meet them. The arrival of Markandeya Maharishi: Krishna, Pandavas and many other brahmins went to receive Markandeya Maharishi and worshipped him. Krishna said to Maharishi: Krishna: Maharishi! You are blessing the Pandavas by this visit. They are honoured! Dharmaraja: Maharishi! Whether a person enjoys the fruits of his karma in this world or in the other world? I am not able to understand the intricacies of Dharma. Please tell me. Markandeya Maharishi: When Brahma started his creation, people used to be pure and virtuous. They used to have strong bodies with longevity. Therefore they used to live with devatas. They did not know what was jealousy and other sinful thoughts. After some time, people became slaves to kama, krodha and many other evil virtues. Therefore their conduct also changed and they were kept away from devatas. Their physical strength and
longevity were also reduced considerably. As a result, they started suffering from poverty, diseases and many other ailments. They started hating Vedas and god. Because of these evil attitude, they had to take the birth of birds and animals after their death. They also suffered in hell for their sinful acts. In this manner the chain of birth and death has evolved. The person who was caught in the cycle of birth and death was also compelled to do virtuous and sinful act and used to enjoy the fruits of those karmas. To enjoy those karmas, he is to take a body. Though the body is destroyed the fruits of his karmas will not destroy. They follow him like a shadow. Some people will enjoy pleasures both in this world as well as in the other world. Some people cant enjoy both. I will tell you how. Though they have enough wealth they restrict for the sensual pleasures only. As a result they will not be entitled to the pleasures in the other worlds. Some people do Vedaadhayanam, perform vratas, visit pilgrim centers and constantly perform virtuous acts only. As a result, they will be kept away from the pleasures in this world. But they are entitled for the eternal pleasures in the other worlds. Dharmaraja! Those who follow the virtuous path will earn both wealth and glory. They marry and have glorious children. They perform yagnas. Such people will enjoy pleasures both in this world and in the other world also. You are going to destroy all your enemies with your valour and reduce the burden on earth. Markandeya Maharishi tells the episode of Vaivaswata Manuvu: Dharmaraja! I will tell you how Vaivaswata Manuvu became so majestic. Once Vaivaswata Manuvu was doing tapasya in Badhrika ashrama for ten thousand years. One day while he was taking bath in a lake, a small fish said to him, There are so many big fish in this lake. I am afraid they may eat me. So you put me in some other place. He took the fish and put it in a well. After some days, the fish said to him, Now I have grown and I am not able to move freely in this small well, so you put me in river Ganges. Vaivaswata Manuvu put the fish in Ganges. After some time the fish again said, I have grown sufficiently, so you put me in the sea. After some time the fish said to him: Fish: Oh Vaivaswata Manuvu you were so kind to me. I cant forget your help, so I want to repay my debt. Very soon the world is going to be filled with water. Thereby all the beings on earth and sea will die. So you build a strong boat and also secure a strong rope. You tie up one end of the
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rope to the boat. The other end of the rope you give it to me. At the same time, you fill up the boat with all the food you want and the seeds. You take some more men in your boat. As soon as the water reaches your boat, you remember me. Immediately I will come in the form of a big fish, having a horn on my head. You tie the second end of the rope to my horn. The fish was correct in anticipating the deluge. Vaivaswata did as the fish directed. One day the water come up to his boat. When he remembered the fish, it appeared and carried the boat to a safe place. After some years, the velocity of water was reduced and the boat was struck up on a peak of mount Himalayas. Then the fish came to Vaivaswata and said: Vaivaswata! Saptharishis! I am releasing the rope at my end. You tie it to one of the peaks of Himalayas. I have saved all of you from this Mahapralayam. I am not a fish. I am the supreme power who is ruling all the creations. Because of my love for you, I saved your lives. Only to save you I have taken the form of a fish and saved you. Now I will teach Vaivaswata how to create all movables, and create immovable. Markandeya Maharishi: Dharmaraja! The paramatma who was in the form of a fish gave the knowledge of creating the worlds to Vaivaswata and disappeared. Then Vaivaswata performed a great tapasya and created Deva, manava and rakshasas. Dharmaraja! When I prayed in several ways, Narayana had kindly narrated me his glories: Narayana: Markandeya! Even devatas and Maharishis could not know me. Since you prayed to me, I am revealing you my glories, listen. The another name of Jalamu is Naaramu. Since my place of living is Naaramu (water) I am known as Narayana. I live in all times, I rule all worlds. I always live with pure knowledge. I alone create, rule and withdraw all the worlds. Brahma , Indra and all other devatas are all born with my amsa. In short, they all represent me in various aspects for the welfare of my creation. This earth is my feet. Agni is my face. Sun and moon are my eyes. The vast space is my head. I performed several yagnas and gave limitless and valuable gifts, hence brahmins, kshatriyas, vaysyas are performing yagnas and always follow my foot steps. At the time of pralayam, I lifted this earth with a form of Varaham I have created mountains, rivers, oceans, etc. on this earth for the benefit of all living beings. I myself is Aadiseshu holding the earth firmly. I will drink away all the waters of oceans, taking the form of BadabAgni. Again I release
it at the time of pralayam. Badaba means Agni lying at the bottom of the sea in the form of a female horse. From my face the four Vedas have come out. Again all those Vedas will merge in me at the time of pralayam. The Maharishis who dont have ego, jealousy and attachment will worship me. Such truthful Maharishis will acquire true knowledge of soul and will be absorbed in me. Helping others, tapasya, intelligence, nonviolence and its opposite symptoms like desire, ignorance, love-hate also come out from me. For the growth of spiritual development, daanam, satyam, tapasya, gnanam and ahimsa will stand as donation, truth fullness, self mortification, true knowledge and nonviolence symptoms. Whe ever ad harma prevails, rakshasas strength will be on the increase and devatas strength declines, I will take birth in human form. I reestablish Dharma, and reinstall Dharma. In Kruta yuga I take the form in white colour; in treta yuga I take the form in red colour; In dwapara I take in blue colour; In Kali yuga I take the form in yellow colour and reestablish Dharma in those yugas. I myself will become Kala Chakra and run it properly. At the time of pralayam, I myself take the form of Yama and withdraw all the creation I made. Brahma who creates all the three worlds is also an amsa of me. I fell in Yoga Nidra after completing thousand Mahayugas, by sleeping on the leaf of a banyan tree. You are frightened by looking at the vast and endless waters. Hence I pitied you and put you in my stomach to show you how safe all my creations are. Subsequently, I have created Brahma and made him to start creation. I told you at that time that you will have no more fear or confusion about me. Thus the maharishi narrated the true picture of Narayana. Dharmaraja! Sriman Narayana had explained me everything. The boy who was sleeping on the leaf of the banyan tree, was none other than Sri Krishna, the para brahma . He had kept you, me and all under an illusion making you to believe that he was your relative and a minister. Now I had the great privilege of looking at Sri Krishna para brahma in person and was able to remember what all I have seen at the time of pralayam. Hence you seek protection from Sri Krishna to get your desire fulfilled.
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CHAPTER-5
The conversation between Satyabhma and Draupadi: Once Krishna and Sathya Bhama visited Pandavas. They brought a lot of presents like clothes, fruits, other eatables and jewels. Sathyabhama was a dear friend of Drupadi and they spent many hours in jokes, funny talks and humorous skits. Once Sathyabhama asked Draupadi a very personal question. Satyabhama: Draupadi! You have five husbands. Each one of them may be competing with each other in expressing their love to you. You are also expressing equal love and affection to all of them. All your husbands are not only brilliant and valorous but also have good character. They never express their displeasure or anger on you. Contrary to that, they always try to keep you happy. This is the biggest wonder of all the wonders. How does it happen? Did you perform any special vratas? Did you use any mantra or tantra on them? Or did you make them to eat any herbs or are you an expert in techniques of exposing your love? Or did you learn any tricks in demonstrating your coquetry. Draupadi: Satyabhama! I will be with one Pandava for a year. In such period, other Pandavas will keep away from me and treat me very respectfully as the wife of the particular Pandava only. So,they have no chance to compete with each other in expressing their love to me. I will not express equal love and affection to all of them simultaniously. I have to serve only one Pandava at one time. All my activities would be centered around the particular Pandava only. So there is no clash among them. If one thinks that her husband should run behind him like a shadow and she resorts to vasikarana, tantras, mantras, herbs it will work adversely and her husband either may even lose his masculinity. I will not talk unnecessarily and involve in wasteful talk. The other man may be a Yaksha or a Gandarva, I will treat them as a blade of grass. My mind will not think of them. First I will look for the comforts of my husband such as his bath, dining and sleeping. After providing comforts, I will think of myself. I myself attend the moment my husband comes home, I will offer water to clean his foot and arrange a comfortable seat. I never entrust these services to my servants, I do my self. I will not waste either money or food. I will use them after meticulously calculating its need. I consider saving itself is another way of earning. I will observe cleanliness in all respects. I believe that god will stay in pure hearts and clean places.
I will make all my relatives happy and comfortable. I will not go and peep through the main door every now and then. I will not make friendship with wicked and cruel people. I will not entertain humour beyond a point. When my husband is not in station I will not decorate myself with flowers, and will not apply ointments, fragrances and ornaments. I worship my motherin- law and do what all she wants me to do. My mother- in- law is as patient as the mother earth. I will arrange all that she requires for her bathing and dining. Since I follow all the duties of a virtuous and chaste wife I am able to get the love and affection of my husbands. The only Dharma I know is to keep Pandavas happy. As you said, I am not aware of the so called vasikarana, tantras, mantras, herbs and psychic methods. Satyabhama: Draupadi! I know, I have wounded you, due to my ignorance. You kindly take them as humour. Your glorious character alone has brought all virtues to you. Draupadi: Satyabama!Dont worry! I have taken your words lightly and in a humorous manner. Satyabhama: So I am very happy to understand your attitude towards the Pandavas. Draupadi! Now I understand why you are highly respected by all, including the wives of the Pandavas.All your sons are safe in Dwaraka. Rukmani and Subhadra are treating them as their own children. After some time Krishna and Satyabhama took leave from Pandavas and left to Dwaraka. Dhrutarashtra regrets for the difficulties of Pandavas: After some time Pandavas left Kamyaka vana and reached Dwita vana. While they were there a brahmin who was residing with Pandavas went to Hastinapura and met Dhrutarashtra and told him: Brahmin: King! now Pandavas are moved to Dwita vana. I lived with them for some time. Pandavas are leading a miserable in the forest. Each one is sleeping under a tree. Dhrutarashtra: What an unhappy news you have brought to me! It is neither your mistake nor Pandavas. My son is a cruel person. Because of his ignorance a grave blunder had been committed. I used to tell every one that Dharmaraja is my eldest son. Draupadi is also suffering many difficulties
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with them. Had I controlled my son, all these difficulties could have been avoided. Dhrutarashtra wanted to find a way to help the Pandavas. So he sent word to Duryodhana and before he came, Dhrutarashtra thought in himself, All the Pandavas are more strong, courageous, brave and valorous than my own sons. Dharmaraja went to forest and abides by the vow he made. Nobody can escape the fate. I am sure Duryodhana and others are to die sooner or later. Look at how funny are the acts of god?. Though Arjuna lost his kingdom and was suffering for his daily food, he had performed a severe tapasys and secured several divine astras. Another surprising thing was that he reached heaven with his body and returned. His bow Gandivam is famous in all the three worlds. He is the son of Indra. What more I can say about them? In a shortwhile they are going to win the entire earth. Nobody can stop them. Duryodhana heard the words his father and said to Sakuni, Why this old man became so nervous? By saying so, he took Sakuni to have consultation with Karna and Dushsasana. Karna: Duryodhana! Though Pandavas are valiant, you have grabbed all their kingdom with your wisdom without a drop of blood. Thereby all the kings have become your subordinate kings. They are all obedient to you. So you continue to rule the earth and live happily. Duryodhana! It is common in the world, one feels more happy if his enemy is suffering, than for his own fortune. Oh king! Now Pandavas are suffering all sorts of difficulties in Dwita vana. We are told that they are living under the trees. Whereas you are an emperor and enjoying all comforts and luxuries and they cant come to Hastinapura and watch your fortune. So let us go to them and expose your grandeur. While looking at the grandeur of your queens, Draupadi should die in shame. This will enhance your glory not only in cities but also will extend to villages and forests. So this is an opportunity for you to win the love and affection of the rural people. With your enhanced glory, even if Pandavas come back tomarrow, they will not accept them. Duryodhana: Karna! I am also thinking in the same lines. But there is a little problem in it. My father becomes nervous whenever be thinks of Pandavas valour. We cant go for a pleasure trip without his permission. Added to that, Vidura always sits with him and praise the virtues of Pandavas. Viduras
real colours were exposed when we played dice. He eats our food and but talks in favour of the Pandavas.He stays with us, but mentally he is with them. Karna: No problem! Duryodhana! All our cows are grazing in Dwita vana. We shall tell your father, that we are going to see our cows. If we say that, the king may agree. There is nothing to doubt also about it. Before they prepared the ground for seeking the permission, they arranged a cow herdsman to tell to Dhrutarashtra that many cruel animals were wandering in Dwita vana and eating our cows. He mustappeal for proper and immediate relief from the king. On hearing the yadavas words, Duryodhana said, Oh father! Cowherds is our wealth. We have to protect our cow herds at any cost. So I will go with a big army and chase the cruel animals and save our cows. Dhrutarashtra: Oh Duryodhana! To protect our cows is our first duty. But recently Pandavas moved into Dwita vana. I heard they are not comfortable in the forest life and are living in distress. If you go with a big army, they may think that you came there only to insult them. If you really insult them, they will kill you all there itself. We all know the strength of Bheema. Added to that, recently Arjuna also was equipped with several divine astras. With all that, it is not in our interest that Duryodhana to go with a big army. Sakuni: King! Pandavas are disciplined and valorous. We will not provoke them. Why they should come to fight with us. There will,be no ground for any fresh confrontation. Even if Arjuna and Bheema come for a fight, Dharmaraja will prevent them. All the brothers of Dharmaraja will not go beyond his words. Hence there will not be any harm if we go to Dwita vana. We only protect our cows and come back. Dhrutarashtra: Since you are bent upon protecting our cows. and I permit you to go to Dwita vana much against my will. You go and do the job of safeguarding our cows and come back safely. Dont give room for any fresh confrontation. The moment they got clearance from Dhrutarashtra they made preparations for going Dwaita vana. Duryodhana ordered Dushsasana to keep ready a huge army and many chariots, horses and elephants to go to the forest. With that kind of neat but aggressive arrangements, the party of Kauras started their journey to the forest.
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When Duryodhana entered Dwita vana, Dharmaraja was performing a yaga by name Sandyaskandham. Duryodhana erected his tents and built quarters for them to live on the banks of a lake. In the meanwhile some Gandarvas came and said to the soldiers of Duryodhana to remove all the tents immediately as the lake belongs to the Gandarva king, Chitrasena. But the Kourava army did not respond to their request. On the contrary, they went to fight with them. But the Kourava army could not fight with Gandarvas. The Kouravas soldiers ran to Duryodhana for protection. Duryodhana, Karna, Sakuni and his brothers went to attack Gandarvas. The battle went on ferociously. Chitrasena fights with Duryodhana : In that battle, Kourava soldiers were gaining upper hand. As such Gandarva king Chitrasena himself entered the battle field with more Gandarva warriors,who were very good in mystic wars. So before Gandarvas, Kourava army could not stand for a long time. Karna fought ferociously and killed many Gandarvas. At that time Gandarvas killed the horses of Karnas chariot and his charioteer. They also broke his chariot and the flag post of Karna. As Karna became helpless and was standing on the ground, Vikarna took him on his chariot. Chitrasena broke the chariot of Duryodhana, caught him by his hair and pulled him down to the ground. The Gandarva soldiers came and tied up Duryodhana with ropes and put him on the chariot of Chitrasena.As the last resort and to save their king, the ministers of Duryodhana and other citizens of Hastinapura ran to Dharmaraja for protection. Oh Dharmaraja! Gandharva king Chitrasena tied Duryodhana, his brothers and taking the queens as prisoners. So we request you to protect your cousins. Bheema: It is a good lesson for Duryodhana and his brothers. What we ought to have done, has been done by Gandarvas. They did us a great favour. Thereby our job is made easy. Arjuna agreed with him and told Dharmaraju, This Duryodhana is a lier by birth. He did all the sins that are kinown in this world and was admonished by all the worlds. This low profiled Duryodhana has been insulted by Gandarvas and thus Brahma has proved his judicious nature. Because of him, we are living in the forest and face many difficulties everyday. This mean fellow Duryodhana perhaps came with his queens, brothers, friends and with a big army to show us his supremacy and to laugh at us by looking at our distress. So there is no need to show any pity on this rogue.
Dharmaraja: Brothers! We are a strong and gallant persons. If anybody comes to you for protection, we should protect them but not wound them. He who shows pity on those people who seek protection is the real kshatriya . Not only that we are all born in the same family. There may be any amount of infighting among us. If we dont protect them, people will blame us. Though Duryodhana is a wicked person, he has come with his queens and fastened by gandarvas. If you dont help him now, the entire family will be put to shame. Bheema: Dharmaraja! Did you forget all the wrong things he did for us? He tried in several ways to kill me. He wanted to kill us all in a house of wax. He had insulted Draupadi in Kourava Sabha. If you want to be kind with him, know it well that it will harm our ultimate object. Nakula: You are correct! Sakadeva: What you say is too true. Dharmaraja: Brothers! When some one came to you for protection how could you tell all old stories and refuse protection? Dont you know it will not be appreciated by elders? Remember one thing. If we are to fight with Kouravas, we are five and they are hundred. Whereas when others come to fight us, we are hundred and five. Though they are our enemies, by protecting them our glory would be enhanced. I myself would have gone and released all Kouravas from the clutches of Gandaravas. But unfortunately I am involved in a yaga. So I cant leave the place until the yaga is complete. That is why I am requesting you in so many ways. First you go and talk to Gandarvas in an amicable manner for the release of Kouravas. You resort to fighting only, if it is inevitable. But you must release and bring back our cousins. If you do as I said, then only this yagna will become fruitful. On hearing Dharmarajas words Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva went to fight Gandarvas. They reached Gandarvas and made Simha Nadham. Pandavas fight with gandarvas: Gandarvas looked at Pandavs coming to fight with them. So they returned back to fight with them. At that time Arjuna said to them: Arjuna: Gandarvas! My brother, Dharmaraja gave a message to you. Please listen. There is no enemity between us. We have come to release
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Duryodhana and others. We are requesting you in a friendly manner. Please leave them. This is an earnest request of our brother,Dharmaraja. You cant afford to dishonour the sincere request of Dharmaraja. Gandarva: Arjuna! Dharmaraja is not our king. So we are not bound to honour his request or orders. We are all the soldiers of Indra. He alone can give us orders. We are not afraid of others. Arjuna: Gandarva! I did not want to use force in the beginning itself, that is why I gave you an appeal for a peaceful settlement. From your words, I understand that you are not for a friendly settlement. So we are going to get Duryodhana and others released only with our might. Since gandharvas did not agree for a peaceful settlement, a fierce battle took place. Arjuna, Bheema, Nakula and Sahadeva fought bitterly. A ferocious fight went on. In the meanwhile Gandarvas were travelling in the sky and tried to escape with Duryodhana and his company to take as prisoners. By looking at it, Arjuna built a wall with arrows on all four directions and made the king of the Gandarvas, to come down to earth with his prisoners. With him all other Gandarvas also came down to the ground. Arjuna released Aagnaya astra and burnt all Gandarva soldiers. Chitrasena, the king of Gandarvas was furious at Arjuna and threw a huge club on him. Arjuna made it into small pieces. After that, Chitrasena resorted to a mystic war. Arjuna released arrows of Sabdha vedi. Those arrows searched Chitrasena by his voice and wounded him badly. Chitrasena kept his chariot before Arjunas chariot and said: Chitrasena: Arjuna! I have no enemity with you. On the contrary, you are my old friend. I will tell you a secret. This Duryodhana is a wicked king. Since you are all suffering in the forests, he came to this vana to ridicule you on the pretext of protecting his cows. Indra came to know about his wicked plans and sent his soldiers and ordered them to fasten Duryodhana, his queens and others and bring them to him. Arjuna: Chitrasena! However wicked this Duryodhana might be, he is our brother. You must release them all. Then only Dharmaraja will be happy. Let us all go to Dharmaraja and obey his orders. Gandharva king agreed to this suggestion and went to meet Dharmaraja. Chitrasena went to Dharmaraja with Duryodhana and others : Dharmaraja: Chitrasena! This Duryodhana is our brother. To our good fortune he and all his entourage are safe. Since you are kind to us, he
and queens are safe without any damage. I am grateful to you. Be kind to us and release them all. As Chitrasena could not disobey the orders of Dharmaraja, he released Duryodhana and others and went to heaven to report to Indra. Dharmaraja said to Duryodhana: Dharmaraja: My dear brother Duryodhana! dont involve in such ventures in future, and thus purchase indignity. Bygones are bygones. Now you take your queens, brothers and your army to Hastinapura and be happy. Brother! Please forget all these unpleasant incidents and be happy. Dharmaraja gave a warm send off to Duryodhana and others. Dhaumya and others appreciated Pandavas valour and good conduct.
CHAPTER-6
Janamejaya: Oh Vaisampayana! Duryodhana is said to be the most arrogant and egoist on the earth. How he was able to swallow the magnanimity of Dharmaraja and Arjunas valour? I get disgusted at him when I think of his pitiable state. How was he able to digest such a big insult? Vaisampayana: After he was freed, he travelled for some distance and halted there. Tents were erected for his stay. He was sitting alone and weeping for his pathetic condition. In the meanwhile, Karna entered his room and said: Karna: King! You made an impossible task possible. Gandarvas possessed many divine astras. They are also good at mystic wars. You won such Gandarvas and established your superiority among heroes. You have noticed my heroic battle with them. I killed many Gandarvas. Some are wounded. In the meanwhile my chariot was broken. Vikarna took me in his chariot to a far away place. I am glad that very few people are there on earth who could fight as ferociously as you. I congratulate you for winning the battle without getting even a scratch. Duryodhana: Karna! Not knowing what really happened, you are praising me. I am condemning myself with insults I swallowed. I will tell you what has happened. Then he told Karna, in detail what happened and how he was released.
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Karna! Now you understand my pitiable position. I stood before my enemy with humiliation and insult. How can I rule my country? Will the people respect me? I would have been happier, had I died while fighting Gandarvas, so that I could have secured a seat in heaven. Duryodhana resolves to do Prayopavesah: Duryodhana: Karna ! All these years I kept my friends happy. I harassed my enemies. Now I have been badly humiliated. How can I live with pride? I cant even see my father. How can I sit by the side of Bheeshma and Drona and other courtiers with pride? Even my priest or people will not respect me. So I have no option except to observe Prayopavesa and end up my life. Then he addressed his younger brother. Dushsasana! I will make you the King of Hastinapura. You go with all our people and rule the country. Karna and others will assist you. You become the emperor.I have been defeated by an enemy.At the same time another enemy- lifelong enemy- has shown pity on me and saved me from bondage. I dont wish to live any further. Glory is more valuable than life. I have become a tool in the hands of fate. On hearing Duryodhanas words, Dushsasana cried bitterly and said: Dushsasana: Brother! You are born to rule this country. Let sun and moon withdraw from the sky! Let all the oceans merge and become one! yet I wont sit on your throne. You ought to rule this country for full hundred years. Hearing the words of Dushsasana, Duryodhana became dumb and sat looking at the sky. Karna suggested: Karna: Why are you crying like children? Grief doesnt bring any good. Be bold and courageous. Dont give room to enemies to laugh at us. You have taken this body to enjoy royal pleasures. Why should you give up your body? Only weak limbs think of suicide. We are all depending on you. For the sake of our wellbeing, you stop thinking in this sullen mood. In spite of Dushsasanas pleadings and Karnas persuasion, Duryodhana did not change his mind. Then Sakuni said: Sakuni: Duryodhana! Karna rightly advised you. You listen to his words and give up the thought of Prayopavesam. You are not an ordinary
citizen. You are an emperor. I secured this kingdom and wealth for you by defrauding and tricking Pandavas in a game of dice. Had it been secured with your valour, you can take your own decision. Since I acquired it with my wisdom, you must live and rule us. If you talk of Prayopavesa, my heart will break. Duryodhana! You are a born prince. Had you served elders you could have developed forbearance the power of resistance from anger. Unfortunately those elders themselves came to you and taught all sastras. But you missed the worldly knowledge. A learned man will never resort to weakness like fear, passion, soft nature and administrative inefficiency. These difficulties will destroy ones wealth and kingdom. If you feel that Dharmaraja has helped you, you also reciprocate with a bigger help. But suicide is not a solution. If you still feel that you are indebted to him, you may call them and give back their kingdom. Thereby your glory also will be enhanced. After all, you and Pandavas are brothers. If you both look eye to eye, the entire earth will be at your command. People also will live in peace. Duryodhana: Karna! I have lost desire for ruling this kingdom, wealth or luxuries. You are attributing lust to me, whereas I have totally renounced all those sensual pleasures. You may please go and live comfortably wherever you like. But I am firm in my decision. Then Karna, Dushsasana and Sakuni said, If you are firm on your decision, listen! we are also firm to go with you whereever you go. Duryodhana sat on dharba grass and started meditating. Rakshasas take away Duryodhana to Patala : Long ago, those rakshasas who were defeated by Indra, were hiding in Patala. They wanted to establish their superiority on earth. They had kept their hopes on Duryodhana and waiting for an opportunity. When they came to know that Duryodhana was going to undertake Prayopavesa, they decided to change his decision. With the help of Sukracharya, they started performing a homa. From that Abhichara homagundam, a ferocious figure came out, named Krutya. Rakshasas ordered Krutya to bring Duryodhana. Immediately that rakshasa brought Duryodhana and kept before rakshasa. Their leader said to Duryodhana: Rakshasa: Duryodhana! You are born in the family of Baratha. You are an emperor on earth. Why you have resolved to commit suicide? It will
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spoil not only ardha and kama but will also bring inglory. Erase that thought from your mind. I will tell you who you are. Listen. Duryodhana! We are all driven away to Patala. We performed a great tapasya on Siva. He himself made your body with the help of Parvathi Devi. Your body, from your head to Nabhi, is made of thunderbolt. No astra or sastra can kill you. You will have an extraordinary ability of satisfying women. Many of our rakshasas are born as kings to help you, such as Bhagadatta and others. They will become your friends soon. Bheeshma, Drona and many valorous people were born with a divine amsa. However they are all influenced by rakshasa nature; they will stay and fight by your side only. When you face your cousins Pandavas in a big battle, all these heroes will kill them even though they might be your relatives. We are aware that you are always worried about the valour of Arjuna. You all know that Krishna has killed Narakasura. The amsa of Naraka will enter into Karna, so as to kill both Krishna and Arjuna. Even Indra is afraid of Karna. That is why he stealthily takes away his natural shield and ear rings from Karna. With this, dont you understand that Arjuna is inferior to Karna? Not only that all the sainsaptakas are on earth. They will give life to you. In this manner you will become an unopposed emperor on earth. At that time you should shower your kindness on us. So dont resort to commit suicide and throw us in distress. In this manner rakshasa brainwashed him and ordered Krutya to take him back to earth. Duryodhana woke up and was surprised at it. He could not understand whether it was a dream or real incident. Next morning Karna went to Duryodhana and said: Karna: Duryodhana! Every one of us is to die one day or the other. However we should not resort to suicide. No one will appreciate a suicide. No death can bring you a victory. I am aware that you are afraid of Arjuna. I swear on my bow, that I will kill Arjuna. War is inevitable, even during the fourteenth year. Duryodhana heard what all Karna said and correlated his dream and decided not to resort to Prayopavesam and ordered his men to proceed to Hastinapura. One day Duryodhana was in durbar. Bheeshma: Duryodhana! You made an inglorious adventure in the name of ghosha yatra. But for the grace of virtuous Dharmaraja, you would have been suffering in the jails of Gandharvas. You will not believe us as
much as you believe Karna. Now you have witnessed with your own eyes how great hero Karna is? When you, your wives and your brothers became victims in the hands of Gandharvas, this Karna ran away and hid himself for self-protection. Duryodhana! Pandavas are not only valorous but also righteous people. Remember this Karna is always thriving at the cost of others and by creating rift between the brothers. Even now, it is better for you to develop normal relations with Pandavas and live peacefully. Though Bheeshma thus gave good counselling to Duryodhana, he gave a deaf ear to him and left the Sabha with Karna . After sometime he had a meeting with his ministers and said: Duryodhana: Karna! We are to do something and remain glorious in this world. Pandavas became glorious by doing Rajasuya. So let us make necessary arrangements. Karna: Duryodhana! Today all the kings on earth are your subordinate kings, hence what prevents you to perform that yoga? I shall immediately call for scholars. Scholars: King! Dharmaraja did Rajasuya after killing their enemy Jarasandha. At that time there was no enemity between both of you. Now Pandavas are your enemies. So you cant perform Rajasuya. But there is another yaga by name Vaishnava yaga. Long ago Vasudeva performed it. Duryodhana performs Vaishnava Yaga : Duryodhana was happy at the suggestions given by the brahmins and ordered them to do necessary arrangements. He went and informed the same to Dhrutarashtra , Bheeshma and others. Dushsasana invited all the kings for the yaga. He also sent a messenger to Dwita vana to invite Pandavas. Messenger: Dharmaraja! Duryodhana, the superior among the Kouravas decided to perform Vaishnava yaga. He has completed all arrangements for the yaga and sent invitations to all the kings . Our emperor has sent me to extend an invitation to you also. Dharmaraja: Superior brahmin! I am pleased to receive the invitation and happy to note that your emperor is performing a big yaga. However, you may inform him my inability to attend the yaga since we are in a vow of Aranya vasam and also we have to complete Agnatha vasam.
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Bheema: Messenger! You go and tell to your king these words. After completing thirteen years, Dharmaraja will come and perform a bigger yaga (Battle). In that yaga, Arjuna will come with many divine astras; he will make all the sons of Dhrutarashtra as sacrificial animals and put them in a battle of homa gundam. Tell him we all will come when that yaga will be performed. The yaga arranged by Kauravas, was completed successfully. All the kings and people offered gifts according to their status. The king also honoured all of them in a fitting manner. After the yaga, Duryodhana saluted his parents, Bheeshma and other elders. Karna assured Duryodhana that he would kill Arjuna and make him happy. Dharmaraja moves to another forest: Janamejaya: Maharishi! After releasing Duryodhana from Gandharvas, how was the life of Dharmaraja? Vaisampayana: One day while Dharmaraja was sleeping he had a dream. In that dream all the wild animals came and said to him, Dharmaraja! You are known for your kindness. You are living in this vana for a long time. Everyday you are killing many animals. As a result, the animal population is reduced considerably. If you live here for some more time, all our population will perish. So you show mercy on us and move to another vana. After he woke up, Dharmaraja narrated the dream to his brothers, his priest and others.They thought that the message in the dream was true and further staying in the forest would affect the animals. So they resolved to move to the neighbouring Kamyaka vana and settle there. While they were living in Kamyaka vana, Vyasa maharishi came one day. Vyasa maharishi: Dharmaraja! I understand your mental agony. One should accept pleasure and pain in the same manner. Be patient. By doing tapasya, all problems will be solved. You will get everything that you want. So do tapasya. Do you know the ingredients for a tapasya? Patience, nonviolence, truthfulness, equality on all beings, control on senses, samavu and charity without desire. Dharmaraja: Maharishi! Which will give us more fruits between tapasya and charity? Vyasa maharishi: What is charity? To renounce. So charity gives more fruits. Because people give even their life but not wealth. Men undergo
great difficulties in securing wealth. Is it not a great thing, if a man is prepared to part with such a wealth? However, a person who gives charity must have secured that money in a dharmic way. To avail full benefit of a charity, one has to observe the following. 1. Charity to be made at the right time. 2. at a right place. 3. And to give to deserving person. He narrated some stories involving charities. Those stories impressed Dharmaraja very much. He determined to do more charities. Last for Draupadi : Syndhava was the king of Salva. He was also called as Jayathradha. He married Dussala, the daughter of Dhrutarashtra. He was travelling to attend a Swayamwara with all his army. On is way, he saw Draupadi standing in the ashrama of Trunabinda. He called his close friend Kotikasya and said to him: Syndhava: Kotikasya! I am noticing a beautiful woman at the door steps of that ashrama. My heart and soul have become fastened with her beauty. You go to her on my behalf and make her to agree that she should become my queen. On hearing Syndhavas words, Kotikasya went to Draupadi and said: Kotikasya: Beautiful woman! Why are you living alone in the middle of this forest? Here cruel animals wander freely. I am the son of king Suradha. People call me as Kotikasya. The king who was standing on the banks of that lake is Jayadradha. He sent me to you to know all about you. Draupadi: Brother Kotikasya! Just because I am alone and living in an ashrama, it is not fair on your part to come and talk to me in this manner. I am a woman having children; I am a chaste wife. Dont consider me as a cheap woman and talk as you please. Kotikasya! You are born in the family of Sibi. I know all about you. I will tell about myself also listen. I am the daughter of Drupada, King of Panchala. People call me as Krishna. I am the chaste wife of all Pandavas. All my valorous husbands left me in this ashrama and went for hunting. In a short while, they will came back. If you wait for some time, they will come and welcome you all as our guest. Draupadi went inside the ashrama. In the meanwhile, Kotikasya went to Syndhava and said to him, That woman is the daughter of Drupada and the chaste wife of Pandavas. However Syndhava was badly fastened by
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cupid and could not understand what Kotikasya was talking about. He ran to the asrama and, met Draupadi and said: Syndhava: Draupadi! Are you safe, are your husbands safe? Draupadi: Pandavas are safe. Now you are the guest of Pandavas. You wash your hands and legs. Take this water for drinking. I have prepared the food with the meat of deer. As soon as Pandavas come, I will serve you food. They may come at any time. You and your army can take rest here. Syndhava: Draupadi! I am enamoured of you. You get into my chariot before Pandavas come. Pandavas have lost everything and are wandering in the forest as nomads. If you still depend on them, what pleasures they may provide you? A women never likes poverty. I will keep my entire nation at your feet. You yourself will rule the country. Draupadi: Jayadradha! Dussala, the daughter of Dhrutarashtra is the sister of Pandavas. You are the husband of Dussala. In this way you are my brother. Now you are violating the Dharma and talking as you please. You are born in a noble family. You ought to behave in a manner to enhance the prestige of your family? Syndhava: Draupadi! All those Dharmas are for common people and not for the kings. All Dharmas relax their limitations for women and kings. For the sake of entertainment, they can freely lead uninhibited lives . Another aspect of a woman is that she is the property of all. Any body can enjoy her. This is special Dharma. Draupadi became furious on hearing the words of Jayadradha and decided to become tough with him. Draupadi warns Syndhava: Draupadi: If you have any liking for your life, you leave this place before Pandavas come. Dharmaraja is the most virtuous and but at the same time valorous. If you wake up the fury of Bheema, he will break your chest and drink your blood. Nobody can escape from the powerful arrows of Arjuna. You can even escape from a cobra but not from Nakula and Sahadeva. Those who can think of doing harm to Pandavas, cant survive. They will search and kill even if you hide in Patala. Crab attains pregnancy which results in its death. In the same manner you are talking in a base manner to the virtuous wife of Pandavas. This also indicates your death.
Syndhava: Draupadi! The valour of Pandavas is not new to me. I know them ever since their childhood. Dont try to frighten me. Dont think I am an ordinary king. Draupadi: Syndhava:! I am the chaste wife of valorous heroes. I am the daughter of the great archer Drupada. Because of last, you are not able to see me before my husbands.My husbands, are most valorous. Krishna is my brother, if he comes with his yadava warriors, nobody can save you. You will realize what the great mistake you are doing now. Dont look at me as ordinary woman. Abducts Draupadi in his chariot: Syndhava tried to abduct her. While crying for help, she pushed him with her hand. By that he fell on the ground like an uprooted tree. However he lifted her and put her in his chariot and left the place. Dhaumya ran behind his chariot and persuaded him to leave her. Pandavas came with their hunted animals from different directions. Dhaumya and others said to Pandavas that Syndhava had abducted Draupadi and ran away. Pandavas fight with Syndhava: Syndhava: Draupadi! I find somebody is chasing me. You tell me who is who so that I can get prepared to fight with them. Draupadi: Syndhava! I have sighted the chariot of Dharmaraja. Now I have no fear. I will tell you who is who. Any one among my five husbands can kill you without any difficulty. In the meanwhile Pandavas surrounded Syndhavas chariot. Syndhava ordered his warriors to attack the Pandavas and kill them. The fight went on ferociously. At one time Syndhava came to know that all his soldiers were killed at the hands of Pandavas and left Draupadi in his chariot. He took another chariot and ran away. Dharmaraja took Draupadi in his chariot and chased Syndhava. Bheema and Arjuna also tried to catch hold of Syndhava. Dharmaraja said, Bheema! However cruel Syndhava may be, he is our sisters husband. So just for the sake of Dussala, we should not injure him but allow him to go safely But Draupadi said to Bheema and Arjuna, Dont show any mercy on this cruel person. I cant be happy, unless you kill him. Then Dharmaraja took Draupadi, Dhaumya, Nakula and Sakadeva and returnrd to
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their ashrama. Bheema and Arjuna chased the chariot of Syndhava. Bheema said, You coward! Where can you escape? In the meanwhile Syndhava managed to hide in a bush. Bheema searched for him everywhere and at last found him and caught hold of his hair, pulled him out and gave him blows with his fist. He was bleeding from his mouth and nose. Syndhava fainted and fell unconscious. At that time Arjuna said, Brother,! You gave him enough blows. He is about to die. If you give him one more blow, he will certainly die. So you respect Dharmarajas words and take him to the ashrama alive. Then Dharmaraja will decide what to do about him. Bheema was annoyed at Arjuna and said, You are also becoming as soft as Dharmaraja. We should not pardon him. He deserves to be killed. Bheema insults Syndhava: Bheema took a knife and held the head of Syndhava removed all the hair on his head and left many bloody patches.Bheema told his victim, Syndhava! If you want to save your life, you declare to one and all that you are the servant of Pandavas. Syndhava, out of fear for his life, repeatedly said that he became the servant of Pandavas. Then Dharmaraja said, Since he had agreed to be your servant, you leave him alive. Then Draupadi said, As this cruel person had become our servant, you let him go whereever he likes. Syndhava could not digest the big insult at the hands of Pandavars and performed a tapasya and medidated on Siva. Siva was pleased with him.Syndava asked a boon to defeat Pandavas. However Siva said that he could defeat Pandavas excepting Bhima and Arjuna. One day Markandeya Maharishi came to see Dharmaraja , who worshipped him and said, Maharishi! However we are living virtuously, we are facing one difficulty after the other. Whether we are good and valorous, we dont escape from the fate. I and Draupadi are experiencing countless humiliations. Have you ever seen or heard of such an unfortunate king? Markandeya Maharishi: Oh Dharmaraja! Dont think that you and Draupadi are experiencing difficulties in the world. Long back Ravana the king of Lanka abducted Sita, the wife of Rama. Rama took the help of vanaras and killed Ravana and got back his kingdom. I will tell you the story of Savitri. Acute and grave problems happen as a matter of nature to humans and it is left to them to handle such situations. Savithri managed to overcome critical situations and led a happy life.
CHAPTER-7
Markandeya Maharishi tells the story of Savitri: Long ago the lived a king by name Aswapati. He made a tapasya for eighteen years by meditating on Savitri Devi for children. One day Savitri Devi appeared and asked him, What do you want? The king wanted a son, but the goddess said, You will have a daughter. This has been decided by the creator Brahma , which order nobody can exceed. Then the king said, Goddess! You appeared and asked me what do you want? When I asked you for a son, you are giving me a daughter. But shouldnt you give me what I asked for?. The goddess said, King! Though you get a daughter in the first instance, you will also get a son because of her. After some time, the king had a daughter and named her as Savitri. She attained the youth and the king tried for a suitable groom for her. In the meanwhile Savitri heard the virtuous qualities of Satyavan, the son of king Dyumatsena. One day Narada went to king Aswapati. While the king was talking to the Maharishi, Savitri came, respected Maharishi and sat on the lap of her father. Maharishi said, King! Your daughter has become youth and attained a marriageable age. Still you are not performing her marriage? On hearing the words of Narada, the king said to his daughter, My daughter! Have you heard the words of Maharishi? You tell me whom you like. I will give you in marriage with the same person. In other words, your choice is my choice. On hearing the words of her father, she felt shy and said in a low voice, Father! I heard the virtuous qualities of Satyavan, son of king Dyumatsena. At that time the king Dyumatsena lost his eyesight and his relatives invaded his kingdom and had driven him to the forest. In spite of that, Savitri wanted to marry Satyavan. Aswapati said to Narada, Oh Narada! Though Satyavan lost his kingdom, my daughter is insisting on marrying him only. You know everything. Will you please tell me about Satyavan and his character. Narada: Satyavan speaks only truth. That is his vow. That is why he was also known as Satyavan. He also has another name Chivraswudu. By brilliance he exceeds the splendour of sun. In his wisdom, he exceeds Bruhaspathi. In valour, he exceeds Indra. In patience, he exceeds the mother earth. He is as pleasant as moon. With his charm and beauty, he exceeds Aswini devatas. He has exemplary qualities such as tapasya, control on senses,
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helping nature even at the cost his personal pleasure. You will find all these qualities only in Satyavantha. In spite of all these good qualities, I am forced to tell you the secret of his longevity. Since you are asking me, he will die after one year from the day of his marriage. I am forced to tell you that truth. King Aswapati: My daughter! Have you heard what Maharishi said? He knows all the secrets of the past, present and future. Then why do you choose a person who has no longevity, though he is very virtuous Savitri: Father! Please listen to what I say. I have accepted Satyavantha as my husband by mind, by speech, and by action. Of all the three, mind is the most prominent element . Hence I cant change my mind simply because he has no kingdom or longevity. After accepting him by mind, I cant accept any one as my husband other than Satyavantha. Narada: King! Your daughter is the treasure of all good qualities. Her mind cant be changed by any one. Therefore you dont hesitate. You give your daughter to Satyavan whole heartedly. In case Savitri is fortunate enough, she may make Satyavantha to live long. King Aswapati replied, Maharishi! I have accepted you as my guru and will conduct my daughters marriage, as ordered by you. By saying so, the king took his ministers, relatives and went to the hermitage in the forest, where king Dyumatsena was living . King Aswapati met him and happily exchanged pleasantries and said: Aswapati: King Dyumatsena! You know everything about us. The birth of my daughter Savitri made my family line pure. You please accept her as your daughter- in- law and bless her. Dyumatsena: King! We lost our kingdom. We are living in the forest amidst the cruel animals. I am passing my time in performing tapasya. Your daughter is young and pretty. She lived in royal comforts ever since she was born. Why she should invite difficulties and problems by living in forests? King Aswapati : Dyumatsena! Prosperity and poverty are not permanent. One should not be jubilant while he is affluent and he should not be dejected and sad if he is in distress. She is the treasure of all good qualities. Knowing fully well about your condition, she agreed to marry your son, Satyavan. So you please accept her as your daughter- in- law and bless her .
The marriage of Savitri and Satyavantha: King Dyumatsena agreed to accept Savitri as his daughter-in-law and conducted their marriage on an auspicious moment. As soon as her marriage, Savitri gave up all her silk saris and ornaments. She started wearing valkalas and started living in their hermitage. King Aswapati blessed his daughter and left for his kingdom. Savitri remembered what Narada Maharishi told about the longevity of her husband and registered the same in her mind. She sincerely served her father- in- law, mother- in- law, her husband and was living with them happily. She was counting every day from the day of her wedding. Four days before the anniversary, she started observing a severe vrata. Her father-inlaw and mother-in-law were astonished at the severe formalities she was following. One day her mother-in-law asked her, Why you have taken up such a severe vrata? She replied to them, Mother! I have taken up this vrata in anticipation of blessed fortune to all of us. You dont worry about the small inconvenience that may happen to my body. On completing of the vrata, I will tell you everything in detail. Till such time, kindly dont press me. On the fourth day, Savitri got up early in the morning and understood that her husband was certain to die that day. She attended her husbands needs. She went to all elders in that tapovana and got their blessings as Deergha Sumangali Bava which means that she would lead a happy and long married life. Her father- in- law called her and said, Savitri! You are performing a severe vrata for the past four days. Since you have not taken even water, your body has become weak. So you relax your vrata conditions and have a liquid diet. For which Savitri said, king! My vrata will come to an end by the sunset today. I am not feeling any weakness. All the more today I want to go with my husband to the forest to collect fruits and roots. Hence dont stop me. By saying so, she took permission from her in laws and went to the forest with her husband. Satyavan goes to forest with Savitri: Though Savitri was worried internally about her future and the longevity of her husband, She did not show it either by words or by face . She started cutting jokes with her husband, made him to laugh and went from tree after tree to collect fruits. Satyavan was also enjoying the beauties of nature and shared with his wife. Their basket was filled with fruits. Then
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he climbed a tree to cut the wood pieces to offer an oblation in to Agnihotra. He cut a branch and half way he found that he felt giddiness and climbed down and lied down on the ground. Savitri comforted him in many ways to bring him back to normalcy. In spite of that, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. In the meanwhile, Savitri saw a divine person with two big teeth on either side of his mouth. His eyes were as bright as balls of fire. All his clothes were in gold colour. He had a big rope in his hand. That divine person came and stood near Satyavan. Savitri asked him, Divine person! Who are you? What for you came near my husband? What are you doing now? Yama Dharma raja: Savitri! I am Yama Dharmaraja. Normally nobody can see me. Since you are a chaste wife and you have some fortune from your previous births, you had my darshan. Today is the last day of life for your husband. So I have myself come to take him to my loka. By saying so he pulled out the jeeva which was in the size of a thumb. With his rope, he started moving towards south. Savitri preserved the body of her husband inside a bush and ran behind Yama Dharmaraja. On seeing her Yama said Yama Dharmaraja: Savitri! Your body is so tender like a leaf. The way to my loka is very difficult. You cant travel in that path. So you go back to your house. Savitri: Oh Deva! The duty of a wife is to follow her husband wherever he goes. With the love and affection towards my husband, there is no path that I cant travel. Though I am not eligible to tell you about Dharma, however I will tell you what ever little I know. Please listen. Yama Dharmaraja! Of all the paths, the path of Dharma is the most superior. So those who practice such Dharma, are pious people. Therefore pious people are the base for the upkeep of Dharma. You are the most superior among such pious people. That is why, you are named as Yama Dharmaraja. Will the sight of such a pious person, will ever go without yielding fruit. So I cant go back without getting any benefit from the most pious person like you. On hearing the words of Savitri, Yama was astonished and asked her to seek a boon from him. Savitri seeks a boon from Yama Dharmaraja: Savitri: Yama Dharmaraja! My pranams to you. You bless the eye sight to my father-inlaw.
Yama: Savitri! I am blessing your father in law with full sight and from now onwards, he will see everything. Now you can go back. Savitri: I am grateful to you for you have given me a boon. You are also kind enough to allow me to travel by your side so far. I will tell you a Dharma which I know you kindly listen. Of all the Dharmas, Trikarna suddhi is an important one, as it ensures the purity by action, expression and by mind. It means what ever you thought by mind should only to be expressed and whatever that is expressed alone is to be acted upon. So violence is to be avoided in these forms. One should give daanam(gift). In such gifts there should not be any desire. In the same manner the person who receives the gift also should be satisfied. This has been taught by our elders to make all their dependents to keep happy. Yama Dharmaraja! You know all intricacies of Dharmas. Hence you are the principal deity of all Dharmas. You alone give the fruits for all the beings for their actions. Therefore elders praise you as unbiased. Yama Dharmaraja! You will suppress all the sins of beings by punishing them. That is why you are also known as Sahanudu, which means you will burn all sins. In other words by undergoing punishment from you, the sins of beings will be destroyed. [Yama Dharmaraja had another name as Samavarthi which means unbiased. The karma theory says no being can live without performing action (karma). For each one of such karmas(actions) there will be a fruit. Those fruits of the karma, the living being is to enjoy. Hence Yama Dharmaraja has no special privilege to award fruits beyond their karmas. Therefore he will become Tatasthudu, Samavarthi or Sakshi. The same theory, Lord Krishna has said in Bagavad gita as Gahanoo karmanoo gatihi. Therefore these karmas will be accumulated from each birth for each being and such accumulated karmas are called as Sanchita karmas. From those Sanchita karmas the beings take out some to enjoy or suffer in this birth which is known as prarabdha karma. The being while enjoying or suffering such prarabdha karmas he continues to do some more fresh karmas, they are known as aagami karmas. These aagamis go and join the Sanchita karmas. In this way the being will involves in a cycle of birth and death.] Yama Dharmaraja: Savitri! Your words pleased me as if a thirsty person secured water. Therefore you seek any thing other than the life of your husband.
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Savitri: Deva! You bless that king Dyumatsena would get back his kingdom. Yama Dharmaraja: Oh Savitri! I am blessing the king Dyumatsena his kingdom. Now you dont travel with me, you go back. I have blessed you what all you wanted. Savitri: Oh Yama Dharmaraja! You are the presiding deity of all Dharmas. Irrespective of their circumstances, virtuous people can not ignore their duties. Virtuous people will never have either distress or illusion. Therefore how can I go back leaving my husband? If I do so will I be considered as a virtuous person? I should not leave the path of Dharma either by illusion or by emotion. Yama Dharmaraja: I appreciate your virtuous nature. Excepting the life of Satyavantha you may ask any thing I will give you. Savitri: Oh deva! You bless a son to my father Aswapati. Yama Dharmaraja: Savitri! I have granted your desire and your father will get a son very soon. Since you have already travelled a long distance with me, you go back. Savitri: Yama Dharmaraja! Neither I am tired nor got weakened, because my mind always rests at the feet of my husband. Any number of boons you might give will not satisfy a chaste and virtuous wife. Deva! A person becomes a relative by speaking seven words with him. Therefore I have become your relative. Sakhyam Saapta Vadanam. Which means you must necessarily fulfill the desires of your relative that is your duty. Oh deva! You bless me. Yama Dharmaraja: I am pleased with your words. Now you ask any boon that you want. Savitri: Deva! You bless me the life of my husband. Yama: Savitri! I am blessing you the life of your husband. I am releasing him from my clutches. From now onwards, you live with your husband happily for four hundred years, you will have hundred virtuous sons. They will perform yagnas and please the gods. After awarding all the boons to Savitri, Yama Dharmaraja departed and Savitri came back to the place where her husband was lying. She kept his head on her lap. Satyavan gained his consciousness and said to Savitri:
Satyavan: Savitri! It seems that I slept for a long time; I had a dream also in my sleep. A strong, hefty and black person had tied me with his ropes and took away with him. I was very much frightened. Savitri: King! You stop thinking about your dream. Let us go home. I shall let you know everything at home. Satyavan reaches home with Savitri: Satyavan and Savitri reached their home. The king Dyumatsena who got his eye sight; he became very happy and was anxiously awaiting to see his son and embrace him. In the meanwhile Savitri and Satyavan entered the house. Savitri said: Now I will reveal the secret of my vrata. Respected parents! Before my marriage Narada Maharishi told me that your son will live only for one year after our marriage. Knowing the consequences fully well I married your son. For the last four days, I observed a severe vrata for the longevity of your son. That is why, I did not want him to go alone to the forest today, So I accompanied him like his shadow, of course without telling him the fact. At one moment, I saw a hefty person taking away life from the body of your son. I knew he was none other than Yama Dharmaraja. I went along with him, and prayed to the Lord Yama, by my pativrata nature. He asked me to ask for a boon. Then I asked him to bless my father-in-law with eye sight. Again I travelled with him and pleased him with some more convincing words, then he asked me to seek another boon. Then I asked him to give back your kingdom. Again I travelled with him and made him happy with meaningful debate on several Dharmas. He asked me to ask another boon. Then I asked a son to my father. He granted my request. I continued to travel with him and won over him with several words based on Dharmas. Finally he agreed to give back the life of my husband Satyavan. I came back where my husband was sleeping. From there we came back home. On hearing the story revealed by Savitri, king Dyumatsena was very much pleased and praised her in many ways. In the meanwhile the ministers and other officials of his kingdom came to the forest and said, king! All your enemies fought with each other and died in the battle. Now the kingdom remains without a king . Now you are our king. We have come here with the royal elephant to take you back to the kingdom. Dyumatsena was very happy, took leave from all the Maharishis of tapovanas and reached his kingdom with his son, wife and Savitri.
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The Sun God teaches Good words to Karna : Janamejaya: How Indra was able to secure the natural shield and ear rings of Karna?. Vaisampayana: While Pandavas were in exile, Indra wanted to do some good to Pandavas. So he went to Karna in the form of a brahmin. The sun god smelt the plan of Indra and went to Karna to caution him about Indras alleged wicked plan. He met andtold Karna: Sun God in the form of a brahmin: Oh Karna! I came to tell you a secret. Indra is going to approach you to ask your natural shield and the earrings so as to weaken you and thereby help Pandavas. He may come any time. So be careful. Your shield and the earrings are with you at the time of your birth itself. They will give enormous protection from your enemies. So I came here to caution you. Karna: You are not an ordinary brahmin. You must be a divine person. Tell me who are you ? Sun god: Karna! I am the Sun. Out of affection for you, I came to caution you in advance. Karna: Deva! You please accept my salutations. I am grateful to you for you have cautioned me. However if brahmins come and request, I will give them even my life; I will not refuse them. If Indra himself comes and requests me, I not only give away my shield and earrings but also my life. The glory is more permanent than this body. Indra has done several yagnas. He has killed many rakshasas. He is the king of all the three worlds. If such a king of devatas comes and stretches his hands before me and asks, how can I refuse. I will give away whatever he wants with pleasure. Those who dont have a glory are as good as dead. You listen to my vows. 1. if a brahmin comes and asks all my wealth I will donate to him. 2. I will kill my enemy however valorous he may be. 3. I will protect even if my enemy seeks my protection. 4. I will protect the children and the people in distress. Oh deva! If I fail to do any one of these vows I will become inglorious. Therefore even if Indra himself comes, I will not go back from my above declared vows. Sun god: Karna! I came all the way to advise you. Still you are not only adamant but ignorant also. Again I am cautioning you. Listen.
Karna! You are talking so much about glory. Those who cant protect his wife and children, those who cant work for the welfare of his near and dear, those who cant defend himself, -For such persons, how glory alone will protect them? Karna! You are my devotee. Is it not my duty to protect my devotee? That is why I came all the way to protect you. There is a secret in this. You listen. In the coming days, you are going to face a big battle with Arjuna. If you lose your natural shield and earrings, there is every danger of you getting killed by Arjuna Karna: God! You always wish the wellbeeing of all your devotees. You are an embodiment of kindness. In the same way you came all the way to advice me in advance.Deva! I told you all about my vows. Now I cant revert myself from my vows for fear of death. If I go back on my vows, it amounts to telling a lie. Therefore you dont try to draw me away from my vow and from the path of Dharma. Deva! Dont decide now itself that Arjuna is going to kill me. Since I am aware of the power of my divine astras, I can defeat Arjuna easily. It is enough for me if I have your blessings. Sun god advised Karna to ask for Sakthi weapon from Indra: Sun god: Karna! If you have decided to give away your shield and earrings to Indra at that time you ask the Sakthi weapon from him in return. That weapon is so powerful that it can kill any one in all the three worlds. After that, you can remove your shield and earrings. Because you can use that weapon any number of times. Long ago Indra killed many rakshasas with that weapon. Sun god disappeared after advising Karna,who was awaiting Indras arrival. After some time, Indra came in an old brahmin form and stood in line with the other brahmins to take gifts from Karna. On seeing this old Brahmin, he identified him as Indra and ridiculed him. Karna: Tell me what do you want? Do you want beautiful girls who can sing and dance, Or agricultural lands? Indra: Karna! I dont want all those things. I want your shield and earrings. Karna: You appear to be an ignorant person. You are refusing all the valuable things and asking worthless articles from me. Can you tell me why
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you are asking these useless articles. They came naturally with my body at the time of my birth. They are not my ornaments. Not only that, if I go to a battle without them I may be defeated. So I will give you many villages in my country. Or I will give my kingdom itself, you take it. But dont insist for these shield and earrings. However reluctant Karna might be, the brahmin was adamant in securing his shield and earrings. Then Karna said to the brahmin with a smile: Karna: Indra! You are the king of all the three worlds. You cant hide your splendour. Since all the worlds are yours, there is no point in asking for these small things. Not only that, is it fair on your part to come in a brahmins form to cheat me? Indra: Virtuous Karna! Your father Sun has already cautioned you . That is why you are able to know me so easily. However is it fair on your part to go back on you promise? Karna: Indra! You give me your Sakthi weapon and take my shield and earrings. Indra: Karna! Done, with a rider.I will give you the Sakthi weapon, but you can use it only once in a battle. The moment you use it, it will immediately return back to me. So you can kill with that Sakthi weapon only one enemy. Again I am telling you after killing that person, the weapon will come back to me. If you agree to this, you can take my Sakthi. Karna: Indra! I have only one enemy. My ambition in my entire life is to kill him only. Hence I agree to your condition. Indra: Karna! I understand that you are trying to defeat Arjuna with this weapon. Your desire will never be fulfilled, because Sri Maha Vishnu, in the form of Krishna, will always be protecting him. Krishna will always be by his side as his charioteer. Hence your ambition wont be fulfilled. Then Karna asked Indra, Indra! if I give my shield and earrings, will my body look ugly? Give me any suggestion for the same. Indra said, The moment you remove your shield and earrings, the sun will provide you with a splendid body. Then Karna, with great difficulty and shedding a lot of blood, removed his shield and earrings and gave it to Indra. Indra took them and disappeared.
Dharmaraja secures the aarani: A brahmin came to Dharmaraja and said, King! I have hanged my Aarani on a tree. In the meanwhile, a deer came running and took away my Aarani with her horns and ran away. With out Aarani, I cant comply my daily rituals. So you recover my Aarani. Dharmaraja and his brothers took their bows and arrows and chased the deer. In spite of all the five persons chasing it , not even a single arrow had struck the deer. After some time, it disappeared in the forest. All the brothers were very much tired and thirsty and sat under the shadow of a banyan tree. At that time Nakula asked Dharmaraja: As the brothers were thirsty, Nakula climbed a tall tree and looked around for a lake to quench their thirst. Nakula went to the top of a tree and said he saw a lake nearby. Then Dharmaraja said, Oh Nakula! You go and drink water, while coming back, bring water for us also. Nakula went in the direction of the lake and about to enter the lake to drink water. He heard the following words from the sky. Nakula and others drank water from the lake and fainted: Voice a bootham from the sky warned, Nakula! This lake belongs to me. Before you take water, you answer my question and satisfy me. If Iam satisfied,you may drink water from my lake. Nakula did not heed to the warning but drank water. Immediately he fell unconscious. Then Dharmaraja said, Sahadeva! Nakula did not return. We dont know what has happened to him. You go and drink water and also see what happened to Nakula. The moment Sahadeva went to the lake, the bootham said the same words it said to Nakula. Sahadeva also did not care, but drank the water and fell unconscious. Since Sahadeva also did not return, Dharmaraja became restless and said to Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva went to bring water. They did not return. I am nervous. You go and see what has happened to them. Arjun went to the lake and heard the same words. He looked around. He did not find any one. Arjuna said Whoever you may be. I can shoot Sabdha bedhi arrows on you, based on your voice. But the voice from the bootham was coming continuously. Unmindful of the warning, Arjuna entered the lake and drank water. He also fell unconscious. Then Dharmaraja sent Bheema to bring his brothers back. Bheema also entered and drank water and fell
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unconscious on the ground. Since Bheema also did not return, Dharmaraja was worried and he himself went to the lake. He saw all his brothers in an unconscious state and were lying on the rough ground. He was shocked.He went to them and examined their bodies. There was no injury on their bodies. He also found no foot steps of any other person. So he thought it must be the act of a bootham. He also suspected that Duryodhana or Sakuni should have hatched any cunning plan on his brothers. But the faces of all his brothers were pleasant . He also suspected whether the water in the lake was contaminated with poison. But he was not convinced that way also because, he could not understand the reason for the unconciousness of his brothers. He felt in himself that even then the enemies could have taken an upper hand. While Dharmaraja was thinking, he also heard a voice from the sky. Voice from the sky: Dharmaraja! I am a crane. This lake is my property. In spite of my warning, your brothers dared to drink this protected water and fainted on the ground. So I am cautioning you. You answer all my questions to my satisfaction and then you can drink water. Dharmaraja: Deva! I know that you are not just a crane. You must be Siva or Agni or Vayu. Otherwise my brothers who are so brave and valorous, cant lie down on the bare ground. You tell me who you are. What do you want me to do? The voice from the sky: Dharmaraja! Your guess is correct. Of course! I am not a crane, I am the leader of Yakshas. All your brothers have insulted me and hence they were punished. Since you are inquisitive of knowing who I am, I will appear in my form. Then that Yaksha rose from the middle of the lake. He was as tall as a palm tree. The voice was so ferocious; even other boothas would have get frightened. The Yaksha said to Dharmaraja: Yaksha: Hence you answer my questions and if you answer properly, you may drink water from my lake. Dharmaraja: Oh Yaksha! Your knowledge is unlimited, whereas my knowledge is limited. However to the best of my ability, I will answer your questions. You please ask. Yaksha: Question No. One. Who is driving the Sun? Who is serving Sun? How the Sun will set? What is the basis of Sun?
Dharmaraja: Brahman will run the Sun. The devatas will serve the Sun god. Sun will set by dharma. The basis for the Sun, is the truth. Yaksha: Your answers are brief but exact. Question No two. How a person will become divine? How a person will become majestic? What is that helps him? How one will becomes wise? Dharmaraja: Here is my answer. By learing Vedas, a man will become Srotreeyudu (divine). With severe tapasya he will become majestic. If he takes the help of bravery by serving elders, he will become wise. Yaksha: Excellent! More questions! How a brahmin will attain divinity? How a brahmin will become pure? How he will become impure? How a brahmin will become mortal? Dharmaraja: A brahmin will get divinity by learning Vedanta. By Observing austerity in religion one gets the nature of a sadhu. He will become impure by foregoing good character. One who becomes impure will become mortal. Yaksha: Who is a living corpse? Dharmaraja: One who eats alone without feeding Devatas, ancestral parents, guests and servants. Such a person is considered as a living corpse. Yaksha: What is heavier than the earth? What is wider than the sky? Which will run faster than the wind? Which will grow faster than the grass? Dharmaraja: Mother is heavier than the earth. Father is wider than the sky. Mind is faster than the wind. Distress will grow faster than the grass. Yaksha: Can you name me the being, which while sleeping, will not close its eyelid? What is that remains spiritless even after birth? Who will not have a heart though he had a form? What is that flows faster by velocity? Dharmaraja: The fish will not close its eyelids even while sleeping. The egg doesnt have a spirit even after its birth. Though a stone has a form, that doesnt have a heart. A river will flow faster with velocity. Yaksha: Your answers are brief but illustrative! Let us proceed. Who are the relatives for a wanderer, for a patient and a dead man? Dharmaraja: For a wanderer, groups of merchants are the relatives . The doctor is the friend for a patient. A chaste wife and his own good virtues are good friends for a dead man.
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Yaksha: What is the base of dharma? What is responsible for glory? What is the real path for heaven? Which is the source of comfort? Dharmaraja: Kindness is the base of dharma. Donation is responsible for glory. Truth is the path way of heaven. Character is responsible for all comforts. Yaksha: Who is soul for a human? Who is his relative given by god? How he conducts his life? How he will attain glory? Dharmaraja: The son is the soul for a man. The wife is the relative given by the god. The clouds decide his way of life. Charity will make him glorious. Yaksha: Which is the superior to all the dharmas? Which will give full benefit to all dharmas. What is the character, which one has to leave for attaining happiness? Whose friendship will last long? Dharmaraja: Non-violence is the superior to all dharmas. Yagna will become full fruits of an action. Whoever leaves ego will get happiness. Friendship with good people will last long. Yaksha: What a man should leave to become good to all, who doesnt have distress? Who will become wealthy? Who is the happiest person? Dharmaraja: If one leaves pride, he will become favourite to all. Those who leave anger can avoid distress. Those who leave greed, will become rich. One who leaves lust or greed, will become happiest person. Yaksha: Who is purusha? Who is the richest person? Dharmaraja; Whose glory reaches from earth to sky, such a man will be called as mahapurusha. One who looks equally grief and pleasure, love and hate, past and future, will be the richest person of all. Yaksha Dharmaraja! You have answered all my questions with tact and correct manner. I am satisfied. I am making alive one of your brothers; you choose whom do you want to become alive. Dharmaraja: Yaksha! You make Nakula alive. Yaksha: Dharmaraja! Your desire is meaningless. Bheema and Arjuna are most valorous people.With their help you can getback your crown. You like them also well. Those two heroes alone can get back your kingdom. But you have ignored them. Why?
Dharmaraja: Yaksha! My father had two wives. Among the sons of Kunthi, I am alive. In the same manner, I want one of the sons of Madri also to come back to life. Yaksha: Excellent demand ! Super! Dharmaraja! I am pleased with your judicious nature. In appreciation of your noble demand, I will make all your brothes live. Dharmaraja: Yaksha! The moment you said these words, all my brothers became alive! Look! They are posing there as if they woke up from a sleep. You are not an ordinary Yaksha. You must be Indra or Kubera or Agni or Vayu or Yama. Yaksha: (With a smile) Dharmaraja! You are correct! I am Yama Dharmaraja. You are my son; you are an embodiment of dharma. I came only with a desire to see you. Satyam, soucham danam, tapasya, samam, keerthi, vivekam are all my amsas. Those, who depend on me, will never have bad lokas. At the same time, my appearance also will not be futile. So, you may ask me any boon that you like. Dharmaraja: Deva! One of the brahmins living in my ashrama lost his Aarani. A deer had taken away along with it on the horns. We all came in search of that deer. So you kindly bless me with that aarani so that the brahmin can continue his rituals. Yama Dharmaraja: Dharmaraja: I wanted to test your virtues, so I assumed the form of a deer and took away the aarani with my horns. Now you have completed twelve years of Aranya vasam. You have to complete one more year in Agnatha vasam. During the period of your Agnatha vasam, I shall change your physical appearance and behaviour in such a manner that nobody could identify you. However you may ask me one more boon. Dharmaraja: Superior among the devatas! By having your darshan, I have became purer. What more boon I want? If you want to give me a boon, you fix my mind always on dharma. Also bless me that my mind should not give any room for pride, anger, lust, jealousy, greediness and ignorance. Yama Dharmaraja blessed Dharmaraja as he wished and disappeared. Then Pandavas took the aarani and gave it to the brahmin. That brahmin blessed Pandavas.
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( Conclusion: We find this paruvam as the most enlightening, interesting, illustrative and eventful. Beautiful characterization is the hallmark of this paruvam. We find how the Pandavas behaved manfully, cheerfully, dutifully and carefully. They didnt give room for temptation. The Pandavas actually led a miserable life in the rough and tough forest terrains, forgetting their royal luxuries. They met so many challenges and chances to recover the lost kingdom. But they were satisfied with their miserable life in the forest. Their sole aim was to complete twelve years in the forest and one year in agnanavasam. With this perspective they lived in various forests. We also see the vicious schemes of Kauravas. The characters of Drutharashtra, Virudha, Duryothana, Karna and other minor characters are well drawn. We also encounter so many stories and episodes about various persons such as Nala-Damayanthi, Savithri-Sathyavan.We also observe some brilliant explanations about Dharma and related matters. Thus we find this paruvam as the treasure house of pleasure, drama,heroism, chivalry and nobility. This Parvam shows that the Pandava brothers were the best example of brotherly affection, respect to the elder brothers and cooperation among them. Nowadays, we see brothers fighting with each other even for small matters. But Pandavas were extremely affectionate and sincere. Kourava brothers were also functioning as one unit, but bad things bound them; Bad people always work closely, when circumstances are favourable.Had the Kourava brothers faced such difficult life in the forest, they would have quarreled and killed each other. In short, this Parvam is an excellent part of this great epic.
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Glossary
Anumanam Aatmegnudu achittu Advithas Akshahrudaya Vidya Akshara amadas amsa of devatas Anupalabdhi apanam Apanaudu Ardhaapatti aswatantram Badabagni Bhootha Brahmam bramacharya Charvakas chittu dandam Davagni
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Suspecion one who knows god and the soul The world Non dualistic A branch of mathematical calculation The eternal Being; A letter Equal to ten miles Part of divine which is experienced Life wind in the body which goes downwards and out at the anus as Apanam One of the eight authorities to establish truth Bondage A submarine fire A element; one of the five The supreme being The first of the four asramas A water bird The soul Salutation; Legal punishment; stick A forest fire
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Dikpalakas dwaita easwara ganam gruhasta ashrama Havisis Indriyas Itihyam Janakageetha Kali purusha Kasyapageeta Kouberastra mantras Narudu niraakaram pancha boothas paraBrahmam Pashandus Pasupatamantra Pasupatastra pralayam pranudu Pratismruti pratismruti siddhi Pratyaksham Prayopavesah Pretha
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deity who is regent Dualism Name of Siva Music The third of the four asramas Obletion of ghee A sensory organ Legendary account Sacred sayings of Janaka Kali deity Sacred sayings of kasyapa Kubera astra mystical word Human Formless five principal elements Supreme Being Those who do not conforms to the tenets of Hindu faith A secret hymn of pasupata A weapon of Siva Destruction of worlds at the time of kalpa A living being A mystic word Amystic word Appearance Abstaining from food and awaiting for the approach of death Ghost
punya karms purushathad Putrakamna yaga Sabdha vedi Sabdham samanam Sambhavam Sankayas Sapta Matrukas Sarandhri Sarvagna seranagathi sistacharam Sudarshana chakra swatantram Swayamwar tanmatras tantras Tarpana Tatvamu Tejassu thatva bodha Upamanam UpaPandavas vaarunastra Varaham varna sankaram
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Acts of religious excellance Highest supreme Being A sacrifice done seeking son Locating it merely by a sound in the dark Sound one of the vital airs of the body Happen; occur ascribed to the sage kapila seven universal others A maid servant onmiscient Seeking refuse Traditional usage of the good and virtuous The weapon of Vishnu Independence The selection of a husband The subtal and primary principal of each primary elements contrivance Religious rite offering water to deceased Reality Splendor Teaching of real nature Example, Similey Sons born to draupadi A weapon of varuna Pig Mix up caste
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vasikarana veda parayana Vedi vedic stotras Vighasam visistadvitas vyanam Vysya deva yagnam Yagaswa yagnam
control over Reading of veda A learned man Verses recited from vedas The left over food of a guest Refuses the doctrine of illusion one of the five vital airs diffused throught the body Sacrifice to the viswadevas Horse selected for a sacrifice A sacrifice
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VIRATA PARVAM
CHAPTER 1 Dhaumya consoles Pandavas: Janamejaya: Vaisampayana! All my grandfathers were hefty and tall personalities and were as splendorous as sun. Draupadi was an exceptionally beautiful woman. Whereas their enemies, Kouravas, were searching for them to break their Agnatha vasam. You tell me how they could escape their attention and complete Agnatha vasam successfully. Vaisampayana: Janamejaya! Before completing twelve years of exile in the forest, Dharmaraja made an appeal to all the brahmins living around him. He met them and made a request. Dharmaraja: Superior brahmins! Because of the deceitful game and due to the conspiracy of Duryodhana, you are all living with me in the forest and sharing my difficulties. Somehow the period of exile of twelve years is about to complete. During the thirteenth year, we must live in an Agnatha vasam. During that period Duryodhana and his people will try to identify us so as to push us back to the forest. So you please bless us to go in to Agnatha vasam. After completing our thirteenth year, we all meet again. Dhaumya: Dharmaraja! You know all dharmas and the intricacies of dharmas more than any one. At times even devatas cant expose their strength and valour. So you have to wait till the good time comes. Till such time comes. you will have to lie low. Even Indra was hiding in Mt.Nishada. Lord Vishnu was hiding in the stomach of Aditi. When time was ripe, he came out in the form of Lord Vamana. They also waited for the opportune time to take revenge on their enemies. Even lord Yama has blessed you that nobody can know your identity during your Agnatha vasam, then where is the grief for you? Dharmaraja: Yama Dharmaraja has blessed that nobody will identify us during our Agnatha vasam. So let us reach the kingdom of king Virata. He is valorous and also a virtuous king. He has the nature of giving shelter for
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people who need employment. So let us reach his kingdom in different directions. Before we reach, l tell me how you accommodate yourself in his princely court. I will go in the form of a saint by name Kankubhatta and join the court of Virata. I will tell virtuous stories depending on the circumstances and please him as a companion. Since I have the knowledge of astrology, I will guide him in foretelling the events and gain his confidence. King Virata also takes pleasure in playing dice in a friendly manner. By all these ways, I shall try to win the confidence and friendship of king Virata. If he wants to know my background, I will tell him that I lived with Dharmaraja as his companion till he lost his kingdom. Bheema: Brother! For your nature and stature that assignment suits you well. As far as I am concerned, I will join his court as a cook by name Valaludu.(Let us change this name to suit Sanskrit) You all are aware that I am an expert in cooking. I will make varieties of eatables to the king. I will meet the in charge of the kitchen and join through him. I am also good at wrestling. I will coach the army the art of wrestling. If any outsiders come to please the king I will fight and defeat them. But I will not kill them. Thereby I create entertainment to the king and his women. Arjuna: Brother! God himself has arranged a suitable form for me to get through this Agnatha vasam. I will tell you how. Long back when I went to Indras court in Amaravathi, Urvasi wanted a mating with me. Since I refused her desire she cursed me to become an impotent. However Indra was kind enough to amend her curse by saying her curse will be in force for one year while you are passing Agnatha vasam. At that time Indra also made me to get trained in music and dance. So I will take the form of an impotent by name Bruhanala. I will wear sari and bangles. I will teach dance to the girls in the palace of Virata. If they ask about my antecedents, I will tell them that I was living in the palace of Draupadi, teaching her dance and music. Nakula: Elder Brother! I am a good trainer of horses. I will join the court of Virata as a veterinary doctor. I will tell him I bring around even the naughty horses under my control and hand them over to the army. I will also tell him that I will breed the horses and increase the strength of his horses. I will tell my name as Damagrandhi. (Let us change this name to suit Sanskrit) If they ask my previous assignment, I can tell them, I worked as a horse trainer in the court of Dharmaraja.
Sahadeva: Eldest Brother! I will join the same court of Virata as a cattle breeder. I will turn out even the barren cows as Kamadhenus. Even for skeletal cows, I will give such a feeding that they will become sturdy and become Kamadhenus. I shall make even a proud and hearty cow as mild and soft. If he asks my previous experience, I will tell them, I worked as a controller of cattle in the court of Dharmaraja. I will tell them my name as Tantreepaludu. (Let us change this name to suit Sanskrit) Draupadi: I will join as a Sairandhri to the queen Sudheshana. My name will be Malini. I will prepare ointments, perfumes and other fragrance materials for the queen. I also know the art of preparing flower garlands in different styles and different sizes.Also, I will please the queen with my ready wits. Vaisampayana: Janamejaya! Dharmaraja was very much pleased on hearing his brothers and Draupadi all went in different directions to the court of Virata. Dhaumya teaches the code of conduct in a royal court: Dhaumya: Dharmaraja! You and your brothers know everything. However your well wishers should tell a few good words at the appropriate time. You are all born in a royal family, brought up as princes and later became kings. All these years others served you. Now you have to serve others. Vrata the King is not equal to you. Hence you all have to take certain precautions before joining the court of a king. Even a small mishap will spoil all your struggle of twelve years exile. Dont go to see the king without his permission. You are to sit on a seat assigned to you and not as you want. Regarding the dress code and ornaments, yours should not be ostentatious or pomp . They must be very simple and appropriate to your new roles. If you become a confident of the king you should not talk without giving proper respect to him. You should not aspire to live in a bigger house than the house of your king. You should not decorate yourself in a better manner than your king. You also should not expose either strength or pride before him. You should not wear anything identical to the garments of the king. If the king likes a particular thing, you should not ask for that. If kings are furious, they will not look whether he is a friend or an enemy or a close relative but kill him without any mercy. They only know selfishness but they knew nothing about the fear of sin. So a courtier should not go in between his royal duties. They should not speak against them.
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Though you may in the good books of the king, you should not make the king to act against the wishes of the courtiers. One should not stand in front of the king or on his back. He should always stand by the side of him at a reasonable distance, in an obedient posture. One should not reveal the secrets of the palace to outsiders. If one happens to hear matters pertaining to the king, he should think well. He should inform such words if they are palatable to the king. Only after the king sits, his courtiers are to sit. One should not get in the vehicle of he king unless he orders him to sit. If a king pleased for his services on a day, he should not feel proud of them. On another day, if the king admonishes his actions he should not get dejected. He should forget both appreciation and admonition and behave with the king as before. In case the king wants to honour a person or wish to punish a person, he should not reveal them until the king enacts them. He should forget all the duels such as heat and cold, pleasure and pain etc while obeying the kings order. One should consider the kings wealth as a serpent. If one tries to steal, he may even lose his life. One should not develop any sort of relationship with the women in the palace. So you keep all these precautions in mind and pull on this year without any hardships. This is my blessings. Pandavas store their weapons on the top of a tree: After Dhaumya left, Pandavas and Draupadi walked a long distance in the forest. Before they reached the town of Virata, Dharmaraja said, Before we reach the Viratas court, Let us all keep all our weapons in a secure place. Arjuna looked around and found a huge tree spread all over with several branches. He said, We shall keep all our weapons on the top of the tree, because the tree is situated in a burial ground. So people will not come anywhere near the tree for fear of Boothas and Pichasas. Dharmaraja agreed with the suggestion and looked around for a cover to wrap their weapons to save from the sun and rain. Nearby they found a dead body of a donkey. They removed its skin and bundled the weapons with it. Nearby they found a dead body of a man. They put that dead body over the weapons and tied it to the branch to frighten people. Dharmaraja and Arjuna came down from the tree and made three rounds with folded hands and saluted to the weapons and said, Oh weapons all these years you have secured several victories for us. Now you stay where you are. Today we have no shelter for ourselves. So we are keeping you on this tree top till our agnatha vasam is completed. You should not be
visible to any one except me and Arjuna. Others whoever looks at you, you should appear like snakes. Meanwhile Dharmaraja made an appeal to Yama. Dharmaraja: Yama Dharmaraja! You have given me a boon that we will be safe in our Agnatha vasam. You also bless us that our minds will always be fixed on dharma. You guide us and all our actions in right manner. The moment Dharmaraja prayed to Yama Dharmaraja, all their forms were changed to suit the occupations they are seeking in the Viratas court. Pandavas enter the royal court of Virata: By the time Dharmaraja entered the royal court, the king was in a Sabha sitting on his throne. He saw from a distance that a sanyasi was walking towards his Sabha. Though he was in the form of sanyasi, the splendour of his face appeared to the king as that of a Kshatriya. Dharmaraja entered the Sabha. As he entered, all the members of the court stood up with respect. Virata also came down from his throne and made him to sit on a suitable asana. He bowed his head before the sanyasi and took his blessings. Virata: Mahatma! What is your birth place? What is your family name? Where did you live all these years? What is your name? What brought you here? What can I do for you? Please tell me. Kankubhattu: King! Who can tell about the reality of humans? They all tell thinking that what all they say is right. as such is it so necessary to know about a person. The body is made of pancha boothas. The mind is not steady. Depending on these fickle mind and elements of temporary nature, how can we affirm what we are telling is truth? King! I am a Dwija. Born in the country of Kuru. I am a friend of King Dharmaraja. Now I have embraced sanyasashrama. It is my nature to associate with the kings and provide entertainment to them. Oh king! I like the game of dice. But my enemies deceived me and grabbed all my wealth and insulted me. So I developed a detached spirit and resorted to embrace sanyasashrama. King! Since I am associated with the king, I know little about the royal duties. Depending on the situation, I display my ability. I am very fond of virtuous people. I make friendship only with such people. People call me as Kankubhatta. I am not used to make friendship with people of low caliber. I am told that you are the righteous among the kings. Hence I came to serve
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you. At the moment, I have taken up a vrata. Therefore, I have to keep at one place for a period of one year. So I came here to stay with you till I complete my vrata. Virata: Mahatma! Your brilliance is shining like Indra. In fact you deserve to rule this country. I am fortunate to have your association and you complete your vrata here without any hesitation. My self, my brothers, my sons and my ministers are all at your service. Kankubhatta: King! I am a simple man.The oblations used in a homa are my food. I sleep on the floor. So you dont have to make any extra arrangements for my stay. Virata: Mahatma! You can stay here as long as you wish. I am fond of dice. I shall be grateful if you play with me whenever we are free. Eversince I saw you, I developed a feeling that you are known to me since a long time. Bheema joins as a cook: Bheema entered Viratas court from a different direction. He went to the Sabha and stood before the king. As soon as the king saw him, he found a super human brilliance in him. He had a big knife, a ladle and a scoop in his hand which were used in cooking. He wore a deer skin as an upper cloth. He saluted the king and said: Bheema: King! I belong to the fourth caste. I came here to serve you. I am good in cooking. I want to please you by making several delicious dishes for you. There is no one in these three worlds to beat me in cooking. People call me as Valaludu. I dont want big salary. If you provide food, clothes and shelter, I shall be grateful to you. Virata: Valala! You dont look like a sudra but you look like a kshatriya. I will give you a good position and a white umbrella and appoint you as my commander in chief. You be the deputy commander for my herds of elephants. Valala: King! I will not take up a job which is not known to me. I only know the art of cooking. I will please you in that art. When I was serving Dharmaraja he used to praise me everyday for the delicious food I made to him. I can fight with wild pigs, bisons, elephants, tigers without the help of any weapons. I am also good at wrestling. To create entertainment I used to fight with the wrestlers. If you keep me as one of your subjects, I shall entertain you. If you are convinced, give me a job as a cook. Otherwise I will go to some other king.
Virata: Valala! Looking at your strength, I offered the post of a deputy commander. If you dont like to accept that, you be our cook and stay with us. You be in charge of our kitchen and offer us delicious dishes. All the cooks will work under you. Arjuna joins the court of King Virata: After some time a man entered the Sabha of King Virata in the form of Bruhanala. The behaviour and the style of walking appeared like an impotent. To hide the scars on her hands, she was wearing bangles. She looked like a moon covered with mist. Moreover,she looked like Lord Vishnu in the form of Mohini. Her stature, walk and talking were like a normal woman. The king and his courtiers looked at her with surprise and with a laugh. They also thought somebody has come with a fancy dress to create fun and entertain the Sabha. Bruhanala: King! I teach dance to young children. I know singing also. My name is Bruhanala. As you are looking at me, I am not ashamed to say that I am really an impotent. I came to serve your family by teach and coach the princes in dancing and singing. King Virata: Are you really an impotent? I could not believe it. Looking at your broad chest and tall stature, gave me an impression that you are good in archery. So looking at you, I thought of making you a king. But you are expressing yourself that you are an impotent which made me greatly disappointed. Bruhanala: King! I was not a born impotent. I got this stature due to a severe curse. Who can escape from the fate? It is a tale of woe. If I narrate it, it may induce the listeners to shed tears. So I dont want to tell it here. Because of my impotency, I am not able to do anything worthwhile. So I learnt the art of teaching dance, acting and playing, to girls. I can make expert dancer, even if a child is dull. I was working as a dance teacher teaching princess On hearing the words of Bruhanala, King Virata pitied at her and wanted her to teach dance to his daughter, Uttara. So he sent word to bring her to the court hall. Uttara came with her playmates and saluted her father with respect and stood by his side. He said, Oh Bruhanala! This girl is my daughter by name Uttara. You test her whether she is eligible to learn dance or not. Bruhanala: King! By looking at the face of this girl and the formation of her legs, I am sure I can make her an eminent dancer. She will soon become a jewel in the art of dancing.
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Virata: Bruhanala! Well said. Uttara is my external life. She is fond of games. She has no discipline, so she has more interest in games than dance. Now it is up to you to divert her attention towards dance and make her a great dancer. I am leaving her in your hands. From now onwards, you have to take care of her welfare. My dear darling Uttara! I am appointing her as your dance teacher. She will be your guru. You learn from her all the nuances and intricacies in dance and become a great dancer. Unless you respect guru as god, you will not get the knowledge. From now onwards, you look after her food and other needs. From now onwards this guru is your mother, father, god and everything. You be obedient with your guru. Now you take her to the palace and take care of her. Nakula joins as Damagrandhi in Viratas court: After completing thepolitical affairs in the Sabha, the king went and visited his horse stables. Standing outside the gate, Nakula saw the king and saluted the him and said obediently: Damagrandhi: King my name is Damagrandhi. I have mastered animal husbandry, especially on horses. I can choose the superior horses for the king. By looking at the horse, I can tell its longevity. By looking at it, I can tell its pedigree. I can read the mind of horses. I am specially trained in the preparation of fodder for horses. I studied medicine and animal husbandry. I breed superior horses to suit battles. Now I am in need of employment somewhere. So I came here in search of a vacancy. If the king pleases He pointed outat a horse and explained its age, breed and its strength and weakness. His words satisfied the king. Virata : Damagrandhi ! I am impressed with you. You be my commander and also in charge of the horse stables. I dont want to limit your talents only to the horse stables. Damagrandhi: King! I cant accept a job where I am not proficient. If I accept your offer as a commander, I will be neither good here not there. Therefore you restrict my services only to look after your horses. As long as I served king Dharmaraja, he was happy with my services as stable keeper and treated me as his own brother. But to my bad luck, he lost his kingdom. After leaving his country, I visited several places. Finally I came to know that King Virata is as pious as Dharmaraja. So I came here to serve you.
Fortunately I am able to see you so soon aand too directly. If you like me, you appoint me to look after you stables only, sir! Virata: Damagrandhi! If you wish to look after only horses, you may do so. You be controller of my horse stables. Sahadeva joins king Virata as head of cattle farm: Sahadeva saw the king while he was coming out of the horse stables and went to him and saluted obediently and said: Tantreepaludu: Oh king my name is Tantreepaludu. My salutations at your feet. I am good in keeping the cattle growing in multifold. As I know to treat all the ailments of cows and under my care, not even a single cow will suffer with any disease. The moment I touch a cow, it will start giving pots of milk. With a great hope that you will take me as a cattle man, I came here. Virata: Tantreepala! Looking at your face you are as seem to be smart and you will prove to be a successful warrior. For your brilliance. I will give you weapons. I will make you as a subordinate king. By that you can develop more cows in your area. You can go on chariots. Tantreepala: King! I dont know what you are talking. I never heard such words. My father, my grand father and my great grandfather were keeping the cattle of Dharmaraja. If I handle a cattle farm with ten cows, that will become ten thousand cows in a short time. I dont know anything about weapons or fight. So you give me a job which I know and like. Otherwise I will go some other king for a job. Virata: Tantreepala! If you are interested in taking care of cows only, I will fix you in that job only. From now on, you join and take care of my cattle farms. Draupadi joins Sudheshana as Sairandhri: Draupadi dressed herself to suite the job of Sairandhri and went to queen . Sudheshana saw her brilliance and astonished to believe her as a Sairandhri. The queen asked Draupad, Who are you? Why you have come here? Sairandhri: Queen! I was born in the sect of Sairandhris. My name is Malini. I married five husbands. At one time, my enemies caught hold of my hair in the presence of my husbands and insulted me. From then onwards, I was living with my husbands in the forests. I am observing the Brahmacharya vrata. I have a vow that I should continue this Brahmacharya
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for one more year. I came to know that you are a virtuous queen and so I came here to serve you. Sudheshana: Malini you tell me the truth. Are you a devata, a vidyadara, a kinnara, a Yaksha or a siddha woman? Why you have come to the city? Tell me the truth. Sairandhri: In the beginning I worked as Sairandhri with Satyabhama. The wife of Krishna. After that I served Draupadi. Hence I know all the duties of a Sairandhri. However you dont entrust low jobs to me. So far I have not done any low jobs and in future also I wont do. I can make so many ointments, perfumes, and garlands to your liking. Sudheshana: Sairandhri! You are very beautiful. Even women fall in love with you. If you happen to move in my palace, I will be inviting my own destruction. I am afraid, if any man coming to my palace and he happens to see you, I will get into deep trouble. That is why, I am afraid whether I will be able to protect you or not. Sairandhri: Your Majesty! Dont have such illusions. I am brought up in a disciplined and respectable family. Hence no evil thoughts will enter my mind about other men. My husbands are not ordinary people. They are all valorous and tactful. Any one looks at me with an evil intention, they kill them immediately. So be sympathetic to me and give a place in your palace as Sairandhri. I will satisfy with my services to the best of my ability. Whoever looks at me in a respectable manner, my husbands will worship them as god. Sudheshana: I spoke in that manner only to test your mind. You be with me in my palace as Sayrandhri. Thus the Pandavas started their 13th year well by planning of various strategies,artful talks and clever disguises. They rarely met, but through subtle moves communicated with each other. Nobody in Vrata country was able to know that they were Pandavas. None disbelieved their stories. Such was their action.
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Vaisampayana: Oh Janamejaya! Ever since Kankubhatta joined, he became a close friend of Virata. He was entertaining the king tactfully, depending upon the situation. Whenever the king felt free, he used to play dice with him. All his brothers and Draupadi were also doing their duties obediently, patiently and skillfully. Four months passed quitely in this manner. In sharad ruthu, the king proposed a festival, Brahmotshavas. Many wrestlers used to participate in that festival to exhibit their talents and to get gifts from the king. One day a wrestler came from the neighbouring country. His strength was so great that no wrestler came forward to fight him. Since there was none to oppose him from his kingdom, the king was dejected. Looking at him Kankubhatta said. Kankubhatta: King! I have seen one able wrestler while I was in the court of Dharmaraja. The same person, I saw a few days back. It seems that he is employed as your cook. Perhaps he may be able to fight with this wrestler Why not we try? On hearing Kankubhattas words, the king sent word for the cook, Valaludu. He came to the royal court and saluted the king and stood obediently. On looking at the cook, the king ordered him to fight with the wrestler. On hearing kings words Valaludu accepted the order and atonce prepared to fight with him Taking signal from the referee, they both fought ferociously. However Valaludu had exhibited eleven varieties of skills in wrestling and defeated him. The king was impressed very much with the skill of Valaludu and gave him many valuable gifts. Valaludu in turn distributed all those gifts to the poor people. When ever the king wanted to watch the fighting of Valaludu, he used to release tigers and elephants on him and ordered him to bring them under his control. All women from the palace were thrilled by looking at his strength and skill. In this manner all Pandavas, in various roles, pleased the king to the best of their ability. Keechaka fell in love with Sairandhri: In this manner about ten months passed nicely. Pandavas were to wait another two months to get out of their Agnatha vasam deeksha. One day hundred Keechakas, the brothers of Sudheshana, came to see their sister. The eldest Keechakas name was Simhabala. He saw a beautiful
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woman by the side of his sister. He was upset by looking at her beauty. His heart stopped beating. He became still and fastened by cupid. Immediately he remembered the virtuous parents who have given birth to her. His mind pressurized to know more about her. He was looking around to send some one to convey his love, but he could not find anyone. At one time, he himself wanted to approach her, when he looked at her, she was trembling like a tender leaf. By looking at her face, he did not dare to progress because he might become a laughing stock before the other servants. Finally, he resolved that his sister alone was the best person to bail him out. Sairandhri also observed his perverted intentions and hated him in her mind. Even the thought of him made her sweat . By his cruel looks, her body started burning. She was puzzled and looked around for protection. Sudheshana tells about Sairandhri to her brother: Simhabala who was fastened with lust, could not divert his attention from Sairandhri and went to his sister Sudheshana and saluted her and said: Keechaka: Sister! Who is this beautiful girl? To which caste she belongs? How is her behaviour ? Who is her husband? From where have they come here? Why have they come to this country? How much you are attached to her? She understood that her brother was caught in a bad lust. She wanted to divert the topic, so that she could hide the details of Sairandhri. However he was not satisfied with his sisters words. He himself approached Sairandhri and said: Keechaka: Beautiful woman! Your face is more pleasant than the moon light. I have not come across such a beautiful woman like you till now. Who are you? Who is your husband? Though he was making so many enquires, she did not want to respond to him and hence kept quiet. Again Keechaka said, Beautiful Sairandhri! Your eyes are so bright. Would you lose anything if you open your eyes and look at me? Oh woman! If you throw a smile on my face, your beauty will get enhanced. You open your mouth and speak one word to me. Will you allow me to be fortunate by touching your hand? Still Sairandhri did not open her mouth. All the words of Keechaka pierced the body of Sairandhri like spears. She was humiliated with his insulting words. However she had remembered
her status as an employee and remembered the left over period of her Agnatha vasam. Keeping them in mind she said, Oh brother! I am only a servant in this palace. Look at my dress! How nasty they are! You are not realizing my pitiable state. It is not fair on your part to have lust on me. I am like your sister. You please understand my difficulty and leave the place. Though Sairandhri had expressed her helpless and pitiable state, Keechaka gave a deaf ear and started describing the beauties of her body bit by bit. On hearing Keechakas words, she was furious and she resolved that unless she threatened him, he would not leave her. Sayrandhri: Keechaka! I have five husbands. They are all gandarvas. If they come to know that you are harassing me, they will kill you. You cant stand before their strength and valour. Keechaka: Sayrandhri! Not knowing my strength, you are trying to threaten me. Your husbands cant fight with me and they will be killed in no time. Sairandhri: Ignorant Keechaka! By your ignorance you are not knowing which is dharma and which is not. You are aspiring to pickup palm fruits by your hand. Long ago Ravana and others also were killed because of their lust. Not knowing all these things, you are blabbering inconsistent words. Keechaka became blind with lust. He went to his sister and prostrated at her feet and said, Sister! I am seriously in love with that Sayrandhri. You have to convince her and see to it that she accepts my love. Sudheshana was unhappy with the attitude of her brother and said, My dear younger brother! You have to forget this woman. If you want many beautiful girls will lay at your feet. Why are you crazy for this woman, who is neither beautiful or sexy. You forget her and get some other woman to quench your lust. Keechaka said, Why are you dodging me? You tell me who is this beauty. Even Indra might not have such a beauty in his court. Look at her eyes. They are like petals of a lotus. Look at her hands, how tender they are. If she opens her mouth it is much sweeter than the voice of thousand koils. By looking at all the beauty one can imagine that she must be a divine girl. Oh sister! I can not live without her. If you dont tell about her details, I will die at your feet. You save my life. Sudheshana : My dear brother! She is a married woman. By developing lust on somebody elses wife, will destroy your glory and longevity. You know all dharmas.
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Keechaka: Sister! Stop telling me the morals. You tell me a way to get her association. As you are delaying my longing for her increases. Cupid has totally taken me into his control. Death is the only solution for me. if you really wish my welfare, please convince Sayrandhri. Afterall, she is your employee and therefore a slave. Keechaka fell at her feet. Sudheshana lifted him and made him to sit by her side. She thought in herself The way in which his longing on her is bound to death in the hands of gandarvas. If I dont help him, he will die with mad lust on her. So in any case, death is hanging on his head. Thinking in this manner, she said, You take rest. I will send her to your house to bring wine for me. At that moment, you tackle her in your own way. Keechaka was very happy with his sisters assurance and went back to his house. He ordered several varieties of wines kept in his house. He ordered to make delicious foods. After completing all the arrangements, he sent all his servants away and he stayed alone in the house and waited for Sayrandhri, who would arrive at any moment. Sudheshana called Sayrandhri and said, Daughter! I am getting thirsty. Any amount of water is not quenching my thirst. I need a little quantity of wine. So you go to Keechakas house and bring a small quantity of wine for me. Take this bowl and come back soon. On hearing Susheshanas words, Sayrandhri became nervous. She could not stand on her legs. Her whole body was sweating. She thought in herself, This queen is deliberately entrusting this work to me. Because I cant say no to her. However I cant go alone to his place. She prayed god to get a solution for this critical situation. She said to the queen, Queen! You please depute someone for this job. All this time I was doing only honourable jobs in your service. This type of low jobs neither you have asked me to do nor I did. Hence you send some one for this job. Though I am keeping away from my husbands, I am living under your protection. Virtuous people like you will always protect people in distress. Hence dont pressurize me to bring wine for you from a third parties house. Sudheshana felt in herself, what she is doing is an righteous act. However for the sake of my brothers, I am forced to order her in this manner. However I shall ask her once again. She again said to Sayrandhri, Friend! Since a long time I did not consume wine. Hence I dont want to get it by a low caste woman. But you dont consider it as a low profile. Because I like you, I am entrusting this work to you. All the more, how Keechakas house will become a thirdmans house. Is he not
my own brother? in this manner she persuaded in several ways and made her agree to go. Sayrandhri goes to Keechakas house: Since the queen had forced her to go to Keechakas house, Sayrandhri had taken a golden bowl and went to the house of Keechaka. With fear and distress, she prayed sun god, Sun god! If I am a virtuous wife to Pandavas, I should not get any harm from this Keechaka. Sun heard her prayers and sent a strong rakshasa to save her. That rakshasa stayed in the sky in an invisible form and started protecting her. Sayrandri slowly entered the house of Keechaka and said, The queen has asked me to bring a bowl of wine from you, as she was very thirsty. If you give me the wine early, I will go away. Keechaka: Sayrandhri! You have come here to quench the thirst of your queen. After all I am her brother. Why dont you quench my thirst also? Please do not say no. I am burning myself to have your grace. Why dont you open your mouth and speak one or two sweet words. Are not you aware that I am dying with lust on you? If you deny, death is the only solution for me. Please accept my love and make me your slave. Sayrandhri said with fear. Please give the wine early. If you delay the queen may get angry. So I must go away, she must be waiting for me. Then he said, Sayrandhri! You sit for a while, I will send the wine with somebody else. You relieve me from the fever of cupid. I will keep all my kingdom and my wealth at your feet. I will make all my wives as your servants. So you please accept me. By saying so he held her hand. Keechaka chases Sayrandhri: At that moment the rakshasa who was deputed by sun god, emerged to help Sayrandhri and pushed Keechaka away and she ran out of the house. As she was running with fear, the rakshasa also invisibly lived in her form. While she was running, Keechaka chased her. While running she unconsciously entered the Sabha. At that time, King Virata was sitting with his ministers. As Keechaka was drunk and blind with lust, he did not notice that he had entered the royal court. When Keechaka tried to grab her hand, the rakshasa living in her, punched the face of Keechaka. With that, he fell down on the ground. Immediately he stood up like a ball and looked around for the person who had punched him. Because he was blindfolded with blood, he could not see anything around him. He stood up and hissed like a cobra. At that time Kankubhatta and Valaludu were also present in the Sabha. Valaludu looked furiously at Keechaka for the assault on Sayrandhri. He
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stood up like a Kalayama to kill him on the spot, forgetting that he was still under Agnatha vasam. King Virata also felt that though Keechaka was his own brother- in- law, that the offence he had committed deserved a punishment of killing him. However he realized his position that he was weaker than his brother- in- law and stared at Kankubhatta in a state of helplessness. Kankubhatta stood up and looked at Valaludu and said, This tree is flourishing with flowers and fruits. Whereas Valaludu is trying to cut the tree and use it as a firewood. It is not good because this tree is giving shelter to many people under its shadow. If Valaludu wants firewood so intently, he can cut a useless tree outside. Valaludu understood the inner meaning of his brothers caution and kept quiet. Sayrandhri noticed how the Kankubhattas words watered down the fury of Valaludu and wept bitterly. He stood up wiping the tears from her eyes and said: Sayrandhri reports her insult to the king: Sayrandhri was humiliated with insult on one side and the fear of her Agnatha vasam on the other, she stood up and was looking at her husbands in a furious way, appealed to the king in the presence of all ministers and elders. Sayrandhri: King! In the presence of you and your courtiers, I was insulted. There is no one in this Sabha to raise their voice and to say this is adharma. I am a virtuous wife. I never did any sin. In the presence of so many people Keechaka had insulted me. None had shown any sympathy on me. Why should I say so many words? All my husbands are righteous people. They are born only to protect good and punish the evil people for which they learnt archery and many other martial arts. With all that they could kill the enemy easily. In spite of my insult, my husbands who are gandarvas are keeping quiet, as if nothing has happened. If that is the case, where is the protection for other house wives? I should blame king Virata himself. If an adharma happens in his kingdom, he is to enquire and punish the culprit. Sayrandhris words moved the heart of Virata but he had no courage to admonish Keechaka. So he sent her with some consoling words. Looking at all the happening, Keechaka was annoyed and left the Sabha furiously. There was an uproar on Sayrandhris episode in the Sabha. Some people were astonished that a divine figure like Sayrandhri resorted to become a servant in the palace. They criticized that god was cruel and hard
hearted. Some people cursed Keechaka for his assault. At that time, Kankubhatta stood up, swallowing all his hard feelings and said to Sayrandhri: Kankubhattu : Sayrandhri! The king and the courtiers have understood the assault and humiliation you have suffered. So you go back to the queens palace and attend your normal duty. As you said, your gandarva husbands will not keep quiet on your assault. Perhaps they must have felt this was not the appropriate time for them to come out. Forgetting your principle, you are unnecessarily finding fault with the king and your husbands. Though Kankubhattu explained her position, Sayrandhri was not satisfied and tried to tell something more. At that time Kankubhattu again said. Sayrandhri! In spite of explaining your situation, you are still dancing in the Sabha. So it is not fair to stay in the Sabha. So please leave the Sabha at once. Sayrandhri: Oh Kankubhatta! What you said is right. My husband is a big actor. He is not only a big actor but also a big gambler. If that is the case, how a gamblers wife knows a decent behavior? She began to weep. While weeping bitterly, she left the hall and went to the palace. On seeing Sayrandhri, the queen asked her, as if she had not known any thing about her fury. Sudheshana: Sayrandhri! What happened? How is that your body is full of dust? You also look like weeping. Did any sinner insulted you? Tell me what has happened. I will punish him immediately. Sayrandhri: Queen! You know every thing but asking me innocently. Since you have asked I will tell you everything, listen. You sent me to Keechakas house to bring wine but he tried to misbehave with me. I ran to the court of Virata with fear. He chased me up to the court and beat me badly. What more I can tell you? Sudheshana: Dont grieve. I will see to it that he is punished. And I will make you happy. Sayrandhri: Queen! You need not punish him. My husbands are capable of punishing the culprit who has insulted their wife. On hearing Sayrandhris words, the queen and the servants were astonished at her fury. Any amount of persuasion by the queen did not
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satisfy her. She refused to take bath, and refused food in spite of repeated appeals by the queen. All the maids in the queens palace cursed Keechaka. While grieving, Sayrandhri thought in several ways to punish Keechaka. She felt Keechaka was a strong man. Bheema alone can punish him. So she went to Bheemas place. On that night, Sayrandhri took her bath and went to the kitchen where Valaludu was sleeping. She said to him. Sairandhri: Valala! Keechaka had insulted me. He went home and was sleeping. Here you were also sleeping. Is it because your brother advised you that this was not the appropriate time to punish him or do you want to become unkind towards me? On hearing Sairandhris words, Valaludu asked her what the matter was. Then Sairandhri said: Sairandhri: Valala! You know everything. But you are pretending as if you do not know any thing. Then what has happened in the morning had been forgotten by sunset. I have nothing to tell you and there is nothing for you to listen. You can sleep or if you want to hear from my mouth, I will tell you. She told Bheema everything. I came out of his house and came running in to the Sabha. After that you know every thing what has happened. You have cooled down on hearing the words of your brother. What happened to your valour and strength? When I was insulted by Dushsasana in the court of Dhrutarashtra, you all kept quiet. Today Keechaka has insulted me in the court of Virata in your presence. Are you getting used to this type of insults. Any one who heard the cries of a woman and the moos of a cow, even an outsider will come to rescue them. While Keechaka was insulting me, your brother Dharmaraja was teaching me the morals. Valaludu: Sairandhri! When I saw that you were insulted by Keechaka, my blood was boiling. I wanted to kill him on that spot. The patience and caution of my brother stood before my anger like Mt.Meru. Had my brother not cautioned me, we all would have been exposed as Pandavas in the Sabha itself. That would have driven us for another twelve years of exile and people would have scolded both of us. So we have to appreciate my brother and should not find fault with him. However we should kill him in such a manner that people should not recognize us. So I will kill Keechaka and make you happy.
Sairandhri: I was neither frightened of my mother-in-law, nor of my husbands, I was never afraid of even the god. However I am afraid of serving queen Sudheshana anymore. Valaludu takes a vow to kill Keechaka: Sayrandhri! Keechaka had insulted you before me, so he should not live on this earth. Whereever he is hidden, even if Dharmaraja objects, even if you yourself request me to pardon him; he will be killed. Since I made a vow, it is as good as he is dead. Sayrandhri came back to her residence and lay on the bed. But she could not sleep. In the meanwhile the day broke. Keechaka got up early in the morning and completed his morning rituals and decorated himself. Again his mind wasconcentrated on Sayrandhri. He could not stand at one place. He went to Susheshanas house and thought in himself, The moment I saw Sayrandhri, I should request her to forgive me for what all had happened in a state of intoxication. If she gives little hope there itself, I will embrace her. Thinking like this he went to the place where Sayrandhri was working. There Sayrandhri was attending her daily duties and there were no signs of grief on her face. On the contrary, she looked brighter. Though he went nearer to her, she was unmindful of his presence and was doing her job in a carefree manner. This behavior raised a ray of hope in him. He went nearer her and said in a low voice, Sayrandhri! When do you grace me to serve your feet? Why are you so unmindful on sensual matters? Have you taken any vow to detach yourself from the sexual pleasures? What do you lose by showing pity on me? I am the admirer of your beauties. Since you are an innocent woman, you are rejecting a great fortune. If you accept me, you need not serve others. All the women will serve you. I can kill many courageous and brave kings in a second. I am the most popular ruler. This Virata is almost a subordinate king to me. Even if I abduct ten thousand girls like you, he wont question me. You yourself said that you have five courageous husbands. Where are they? Why they are not coming to your rescue? You dont try to behave like a fool. Whereever you go I will not leave you. I follow you like a shadow. Sayrandhri said to herself, The time has ripened. Now I can easily mend him the way I want. She looked at him in a romantic way with a
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smile, she said, However I try to get rid of you, you are still running behind me. I also observed that you have no sense of reading others mind. You are talking all sorts of things in the name of love. Is it good to talk in this manner in the presence of others? Since you have developed a lust for me, you think that you can talk with me in any manner you like. If you keep chasing me, what others will think of me? Men dont think any thing about their surroundings. They are interested to get their lust alleviated and mitigated first. They want to achieve their desire at any cost but women are not like that. She will not like to become a laughing stock before others. They always like to maintain secrecy in matters like this. On hearing Sayrandhris words, Keechaka was overjoyed and said, Sayrandhri! Cupid had showered his mercy on me. Since you have opened your mind, I will not harass you any further. From now onwards, I will obey your orders. You yourself think and tell me how we go about. It is enough for me that you have agreed to my request. On hearing Keechakas words, Sayrandhri said to herself, This fool Keechaka has fallen in my trap, so I can reveal my plan. She said, Keechaka! After the evening and night were over and complete darkness pervades, you come to Nartanasala, After full darkness nobody will come that side. Even security people will not come that side. That is the proper place for us to meet. You should maintain utmost secrecy in this matter. So you alone come without informing any one. Whether you like it or not, you must come alone. Keechaka: Sayrandhri! I am your obedient servant, I will obey your orders. I come alone tonight itself but you should keep up your word. Sayrandhri: King! Remember! I am once again cautioning you that you should come alone. If I see any one with you, there would be scandal. In that case,I will go back to avoid scandal. For the present, you leave this place before somebody suspects us. Keechaka was very happy as Sayrandhri had come in his way. Sayrandhri went to Valaludus place and said: Sayrandhri: Valala! I did my job. Now you will have to prove your skill. You should be extra careful in completing the job. If you are furious, you forget yourself and make Simhanadhams. By that if people will come to know about us our Agnatha vasam will be exposed. Thereby people will blame you and me. Dharmaraja will get hurt, Duryodhana and others will laugh at us.
Valaludu: Sayrandhri! You need not tell me that in several words. I killed several rakshasas in a silent manner. I know that you did your job. Your face is an index of your success in your mission. Once he comes ther, I will show my talent and I prove beyond your expectation. What you said is right. While I am fighting with my enemy, I forget myself and make Simhanadhams. It is good you reminded me. I will certainly remember you caution. I will take every care to avoid lion-like roars. Valala meets Keechaka in Nartana sala: Valala had decorated himself as a woman, covered his body in a sari. Sayrandhri went to him and cautioned that Keechaka was on his way. By the time they reached Nartana sala, it was pitch dark. Keechaka also decorated himself and came with joy. In the darkness, he could not recognize the person before him, was a male or a female. He offered wine to Valala thinking that the figure was Sayrandhri and said: Keechaka: Sayrandhri! Out of love for you, I brought several valuable gifts to you. You dont believe that normally women alone bring me valuable gifts, because those who enjoyed in my company would not relish in the company of any other man. I am such a romantic person. Only in your case, I have brought several gifts. Not only that even at the cost of my life, I came alone without any security, because to have a mating with you. By saying so, he offered the wine glass to Valala who was in the form of Sayrandhri. Valala instead of accepting his wine glass, caught hold of his hand spun him in the air and dashed him on the ground. He gave a hard fist on Keechakas throat and mouth so that no sound would come out of him. In spite of that hard hit, Keechaka,who was also a great wrestler, gave a stiff fight to Valala. Finally Valala overpowered and killed him. Valala thought that his body should not be recognized by any one, hence his head, hands and legs were pushed inside his body. Thereby only trunk was appearing externally. He looked like a packed rice bag for the onlookers. He pulled him out to the moon light and had shown him to Sayrandhri and said, Oh Sayrandhri! I did my job without any sounds or without breaking our vow of Agnatha vasam. Looking at the bundle of flesh, Sayrandhri said: Sayrandhri: Keechaka! You made a big noise for the last two days. Is it all for you to die in this form? Even now are you in peace? Remember whoever show or express lust on others wife will get the same fate as you. Valala: Sayrandhri! I have removed the burden of your insult and killed him in your presence. Is your anger appeased? Are you free from your grief? Whoever looks at you with a wicked mind, all will die in my hands.
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Sayrandhri: Valala! Though you controlled your anger in the court of Virata, you have proved your fury in this Nartana sala without the knowledge of a third person. Once again you proved your valour. You did it without the help of any of your brothers. You have killed the most valorous wrestler in this world. Nobody has killed and left the dead body in this form till now. Your glory will remain forever. You have relieved me from all my grief and I am so happy now. Valala heard Sayrandhris words and asked her to go away without anybodys knowledge. Valala also left for his place.
CHAPTER- 3
Valala kills Upakeechakas: Janamejaya: Vaisampayana! Tell me what had happened after Keechaka was assassinated. Vaisampayana: Janamejaya! After killing Keechaka Valala went to his place, had a bath, applied perfumed sandal to his body, so as to avoid any foul smell. He lied down in his bed but he did not sleep. After Valala left, Sayrandhri went out of Nartana sala and called security people and said, Soldiers! My gandarva husbands have come and killed the sinister Keechaka. On hearing Sayrandhris words, soldiers took torch in their hands and ran to the place, where Keechaka was lying dead. They went and informed Upakeechakas. They came running, fell on his body and cried. They were all censured to look at the body shape and afraid to think of the valour of his opponent. One of his brothers said, The way in which our brother was killed is a disgusting manner. If people come and look at him, we would have to lower our heads in shame. So it is better, if we cremate his body before dawn. Then only, people wont come to know about his death. All other brothers agreed to cremate him before dawn. In the meanwhile, one of them saw Sayrandhri standing little away from them. Their fury doubled by looking at her and one among them said, Our brother wanted to have this beautiful woman while he was alive. But he could not fulfill his desire and dead. So let him have this woman even after his death. We will tie up this woman also with the body of our brother and cremate. At least by this, the soul of our brother will rest in peace. However let us go and inform King Virata of cremating her by the side of
our brother. One of them went to king Virata and said, We thought well and decided to cremate Sayrandhri also with our brother. We have come here to inform and get your consent for the same. Virata thought in himself, The woman from the palace should not be cremated alive which is adharma. Though I may explain what is dharma, these fools wont listen. Let fate decide the future course. While thinking in himself, he said You do what you think best. The Upakeechakas took his disgusting word itself as his consent and went to the burial ground to cremate his brother with Sayrandhri. The Upakeechakas took the consent of the king and tired Sayrandhri, the virtuous wife of Pandavas to the dead body of Keechaka and proceeded to the cremation. On her way, Sayrandhri started crying loudly. Sayrandhri: These Upakeechakas tied me to the dead body of Keechaka and are carrying me to the cremation ground. I am being insulted and humiliated. All my husbands are very powerful and valorous. Why none of them is coming forward and rescue me? Oh Jaya! my virtuous husband! you save me form this insult. Oh valorous Jayantha! Relieve me from this humiliation. Oh Vijay! You are known for killing all your enemies, why dont you kill these sinisters and save me. Oh Jayatsena! You kill these enemies and save me. Oh Jatatbala! If you all make up your mind, you can do however difficult it might be. You all have the valour even to kill Yama. Warriors! You are so kind even if your enemies come and seek protection, you protect them. You are so virtuous, even you give up your own life to protect others. Oh superior gandarvas! These Upakeechakas are trying to put me in the flames with the dead body of their brother. Valala came to the rescue of Sayrandhri: Valala heard the cries of Sayrandhri. He thought she was in danger and if he had to go to her rescue and save her. If he goes out from the main gate, somebody might see him, so he jumped over the compound wall and reached the cremation grounds. In the light of torches he identified all the Upakeechakas. He went ahead of the procession and stopped all of them. The security and Upakeechakas were afraid and ran away shouting, Again gandarvas have arrived. By saying so, they ran away, leaving the dead body and Sayrandhri. He went to the dead body and released Sayrandhri and asked her to go away to the queens palace. After she left, he chased all the Upakeechakas and killed them. Again he jumped the compound wall and entered the kitchen. King Virata was informed that all the Upakeechakas were killed. He went to the palace of Sudheshana and said:
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Virata: My darling queen! This Sayrandhri is too beautiful. If any man looks at her he is actually inviting his own death. I dont dare to face her and tell her to leave the palace. At the same time, it is dangerous to keep her in the palace. So you talk to her in a tactful manner and see to it that she leaves the palace immediately. You are the only person who can do this job successfully. Sudheshana heard the words of her husband and understood the gravity of the situation. She also thought that Sayrandhri was to be sent away by hook or crook. Next morning Sayrandhri went to the palace of Sudheshana to attend to her duties. On her way she went through the kitchen, saw Valala and said: Sayrandhri: I am grateful to my gandarva husband who has saved me from the trap of Keechakas. I respectfully thank for that virtuous gandarva and serve him for the rest of my life with devotion. Valala: If ones wife is caught in danger, is it not the duty of her husband to save her? If one does not respond, will there be any masculinity remains in him? Is it not unjust to keep quiet? Since your husbands are the most superior persons, they did what you wanted. You are also so virtuous and chaste lady. So for this, you need not praise so much. Sairandhri goes to Bruhanala: From there Sairandhri went to Nartana sala to see Bruhanala. In the meanwhile all the girls in Nartana sala surrounded Sairandhri and said, Sairandhri! You taught a good lesson to the person who harassed you. You killed Upakeechakas also. In fact, god alone punished them all in right manner. We are told that all your gandharva husbands will protect you in an invisible form. Bruhanala: Sayrandhri! We all heard the difficulties you have faced. We really pity your situation. Tell me what all had happened. How so many Keechakas were dead in a small time. I want to hear from you. Sayrandhri: Bruhanala: You are happy with your students. What do you care for Sayrandhri? Had you any sympathy for me? Do you ridicule me in this manner? Bruhanala: Sayrandhri! How can I be happy, if you are in difficulties? But unfortunately I am not good for any fight, being an impotent person. Though I have sympathy for you, in what way those will benefit you? I know you are a virtuous wife of gandarvas. However my heart drowned in sorrow after hearing your story from my students.
Sayrandhri: Dont feel offended. Who else know about you, better than me? I have to go to queen and console her. As she is in deep grief for the loss of all her hundred brothers overnight. After speaking to Bruhanala she went to the queens palace to console Sudheshana. On looking at Sayrandhri, the queen welcomed her cordially and made her to sit by her side and said: Sudheshana: Sairandhri! You are the most beautiful woman. Looking at you no man can control his lust. Hence the king has asked you to go and serve in another place. Since your gandarva husbands are valorous, you are killing all men whoever looked at you. People are afraid even to look at you. So it is the humble request of the king that you should leave our city as well as our country. Please do not treat this as the kings order but it is his request. Sairandhri: Queen! All these days I am under your care. If you can spare me for another thirteen days I will complete my vrata and my desire will be fulfilled. All my husbands will accept me after my vrata. Not only me you also will enjoy the greatest happiness of your life. My husbands are so good, whoever does good, they will reciprocate with gratitude. It is their principle to do good always to others. Whatever it may be they will not leave without doing great help to the king and his nation. So Queen! Dont get distressed. Believe me. On hearing the words of Sairandhri, Sudheshana said, If that is the case you stay for those thirteen days and complete your vrata. Till such time, you help my husband, my sons and my daughters. On hearing the queens words, Sairandhri was happy and continued to do her job. People were talking among themselves. Keechaka was the most valorous person and he used to be very helpful to the king. Since he is dead now, our king has become weak. This story was spread all over his country. Duryodhana engaged spies to identify Pandavas: Duryodhana engaged spies to search and find Pandavas whereever they were. They went and searched all places on earth and reached Hastinapura on the due date and reported to Duryodhana. By the time they reached Hastinapura, Duryodhana was in his durbar. The leader of the spies: King! As per your orders we went to search and identify Draupadi and Pandavas. There is no stone unturned in our
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endeavor. In a particular forest we have chased the marks of their chariots. Those marks led us to Dwaraka. There at Dwaraka we searched inch by inch for Pandavas. However on our way back, we l heard a strange story. Kindly listen. Kouravendra! Keechaka the brother-in-law of king Virata, tried to insult a virtuous lady in the city of Virata. That chaste woman had five husbands, who were all gandarvas. When Keechaka tried to abuse her modesty, all gandarvas became furious and killed him on the same night. They had not used any weapon in killing him. The most astonishing aspect was Keechakas legs and hands were pushed into his trunk and his head was pushed into his chest. In all that dead body had remained as a bag full of flesh. The method they chose to kill Keechaka, people were talking, except gandarvas nobody could have killed a person in that manner. Not only that those gandarvas had killed all his ninety nine brothers on the same night. People are telling this story in all countries. Oh king! Now give us further instructions to search for Pandavas. Duryodhana: Ministers! Pandavas may complete their Agnatha vasam. Any time they may come and ask for their kingdom back. Hence before they come and ask, we must identify them and make them to live in forest for another twelve years. So you tell me how we can catch Panadavas before their Agnatha vasam was completed. Karna: King! You ask our spies to make one more effort all over the earth. Dushsasana: There is no need to search for Pandavas. for the past twelve years there was no proper shelter or food, they must have dead by this time or some cruel animals must have eaten them. So there is no need to break your head for Pandavas. You continue to enjoy their kingdom also. There will not be any claim from them. You be rest assured that the Pandavas will not come and claim you for their kingdom. Dronacharya: Duryodhana! Pandavas have the superior qualities of kshatriyas. They respect elders. All the Pandava brothers are always united and affectionate to each other. Since they are all virtuous, they have plenty of divine grace. So it is ignorance, if any one thinks that they would have died of hunger or weakness. If anybody thinks like, that is wrong calculation. So you send all your spies in all the directions . Bhishma: Drona! You are right. Only you said the facts about Pandavas. They have the strength, courage, valour, knowledge and also divine grace.
Such virtuous people will never entangle in difficulties. In fact both Kouravas and Pandavas are equal to me. When Duryodhana asked me about his duty under these circumstances, I express my views with out any fear or favour. The religious excellence of Dharmaraja will never destroy. He is the most righteous person in the country. In whatever country he is now living, those people in that country will be righteous in nature. They not only worship virtuous people but also will be giving huge gifts. Those people are patriotic. They all have control on their senses and being blessed by righteous people. They earn wealth in a righteous manner and live in happiness and comforts. One more important aspect of identifying Pandavas is that whereever Dharmaraja lives, the cow herds will grow by leaps and bounds. All those cows will be yielding huge quantities of milk throughout the day. Hence you send your spies to all those countries and search for the above qualities. If they could locate before the due date, all your efforts became waste. [ In this context Bhishma was in a big dilemma because both Pandavas and Kouravas were equal to him. If he suggests the stratagem to Duryodhana it will do harm for Pandavas. In case if he doesnt reveal knowing fully well, he will get a sin of telling a lie. Dharmaraja is a great hero and virtuous person, thereby his self faculty will be revealed on the people of that country where he lives in the form of prosperity. His self faculty not only reveals by the prosperity of the people in that country where he lives but also his influence reflects on the nature. Here what Bhishma meant was by virtue of the symptoms of the body one can feel the reality of that body. He said whereever Dharmaraja lives, there the cow herds will grow in leaps and bounds. That means the cattle and agriculture will be flourishing in that country. For Indians, cow is a symbol of Vedas. Four springs of milk are said to be Chaturvidha purusharthas. The principal object of human life and pursuit of which four are enumerated, i.e. Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Therefore the cows milk is the way of life for Indians. The heating of milk means living in spiritual thoughts. The cream of the milk is the nature of spirituality. The curd that is made of milk represents the mundane and the spiritual knowledge . To churn the curd means acquiring sadhana Chatustayam. The butter that comes out of churning relates to the philosophy which is the fruit of the real spiritual knowledge. Eating such butter is an experience. Hence whereever dharma prevails, there we find all these symptoms.]
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Krupacharya: Duryodhana! You must catch Pandavas on war footing. Otherwise war may break. I will tell you how. Pandavas have completed their exile successfully. Now they are under Agnatha vasam. That term of period is also coming to an end very soon. All the Pandavas are angry with our king. So any time they may declare an expedition of war on Indraprasta. Though the enemy is weak , the king should not neglect him. In the case of Pandavas, you should not fall asleep. All these years, we were fully involved in improving our wealth and totally ignored the search for Pandavas. Now we must equip ourselves to face a big battle with our enemies. For which we have to make friendship with all the kings. We have to make arrangements for a compromise whereever it is needed. So we should not be lethargic in this matter. Assuming that all the Pandavas are dead by now, even then making friendship with the fellow kings in the country is no harm. [Krupacharya suggests that a compromise formula would be better even if Pandavas completes their Agnatha vasam. In other words, he is indicating that it is difficult for Duryodhana to locate and identify Pandavas. Because all Pandavas are angry with the king, they may declare a war also. In that case, we should not keep quiet, till the last minute without making war preparations.] Duryodhana: In the entire country, there were only four well noted wrestlers whom no one can defeat. They are Keechaka, Bheema, Salya and Balarama. Both Salya and Balarama are far away from the place where Keechaka was dead. So there is no chance of killing Keechaka by them. So that virtuous woman must be Draupadi. Her gandarva husband must be Bheema. Except Bheema, nobody else could have killed all Keechakas in one night. Not only that, the conditions narrated by our Bhishma pitamaha are prevailing in the kingdom of Virata only. That Virata alone is expressing enemity with us. So if we catch hold of all his cow herds, then Dharmaraja and his brothers will come out in defense of Virata. Then we can spoil their Agnatha vasam and we can force them for another period of twelve years of exile. Thereby we can continue to enjoy their kingdom also forever. If Pandavas are not there and they dont come in defense of Virata, we take possession of all the wealth of Vrata country. If you agree to this game plan, we shall proceed. Susarma was the king of Trigarta. Though he was a king, he did not develop much acquaintance with Duryodhana. So he took the support from Karna and Dushsasana and said to Duryodhana:
Susarma: King Duryodhana! I am the king of Trigarta, which is a neighbouring country of Virata. Long back, Keechaka had defeated me with the help of Kekaya and Salva kings. Since then, I was looking for an opportunity to take revenge on the kingdom of Virata. If you permit me, I will attack Viratas kingdom from all sides and loot all his wealth. Give me an opportunity to take revenge. In case Pandavas come out in support of Virata, I will catch them and hand them over to you. On hearing the words of Susarma, Duryodhana looked at his courtiers for their opinion. Karna: What ever the king dictates that will become a rule and all our elders will obey it. So you decide. Duryodhana: Dushsasana! All elders in this Sabha have given their consent. You consolidate all your army. First, the army of Susarma will attack from the southern side of Virata. The next day, our army will attack from the northern side of Virata. This eighth day of new moon Susarma will attack, on the ninth day of this new moon, we will attack . Susarma attacks on southern direction: Taking the orders from Duryodhana, Susarma moved his army to the south of Virata and started cornering all the cow herds of Virata. The cow keeping yadavas were astonished at the sudden attack from Susarma. In a short time they reconciled themselves. Though they were yadavas, they picked up sharp weapons and chased the army of Susarma. Susarma had employed horse battalions on yadavas and killed many of them. Some of them ran to the Virata King and reported the attack of Susarma. Virata King was surprised to hear how Susarma again chose to attack his kingdom. Virata: Commanders! Keep ready all our armed forces to counter attack Susarma. You also keep ready my chariot so that I can personally involve myself in the battle. His brothers Sateenaka and Madiraswa also accompanied the king. While Virata was about to board his chariot Kankubhatta came and said: Kankubhatta: King! Long back a maharishi had initiated me with a mantra. By the power of that sastra, I am able to master the art of archery. Since you yourself is moving to the battlefield, I dont feel like sitting at home. Hence you may kindly arrange a chariot for me. I can run the chariot by myself and also fight.
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Beloved King! While I was serving king Dharmaraja, Our Valala was also there in the court of Dharmaraja. He knows all martial arts. In the same way our Tantreepala and Damagrandhi also have proved well in fighting the enemies. If you can provide chariots for them, they will also come with us and fight the enemy. All these days we lived comfortably under your protection. Now since you are facing a war with the enemies, we feel it is our duty to give our helping hand. On hearing Kankubhatta, Virata was very happy and called his brother to provide four chariots for them. While Viratas battalions were moving fast, the earth was quaking. Both Virata and Susarmas armies fought with each other. Both the armies fought very ferociously. King Virata and his brothers attacked Susarma. By that time, the sun was set and the battle was stopped. Next day morning again, the battle resumed. At one point, Susarma caught hold of Virata ,and kept him as captive. The army and the soldiers of Susarma were happy with their capturing king Virata. At that time Dharmaraja said to Bheema: Dharmaraja: Bheema! Now you go and defeat Susarma and his army and bring back Virata. Know it well saving our king is saving ourselves. So run fast and bring back our king. Bheema: Dharmaraja! I am waiting for your orders. You just watch from your own place. I will pull out a few trees and kill the army of Susarma. Dharmaraja: If you fight with the trees, they will come to know that you are Bheema. Nakula and Sahadeva will guard you from both sides. You do the conventional way of battle with arrows, swords and club . Pandavas defeat Susarma: Bheema gave word to Dharmaraja that he would wage war in a conventional way and ran towards enemies side. Bheema broke two thousand chariots into pieces. Nakula broke seven hundred chariots and Sahadeva three hundred chariots. Dharmaraja had killed thousand heroes who were fighting from their chariots. Dharmaraja ran towards Susarma and gave a tough fight. On seeing Dharmarajas attack on Susarma, Virata was very happy and felt as if he had won the battle. With that strength, he beat Susarma with his club. In the meanwhile Bheema entered the chariot of Susarma and caught hold of him and fastened with ropes and made a big lion roar. On hearing the big lion roar of Bheema, Susarmas army trembled and ran for safety. On seeing, Dharmaraja and his
brothers Virata was very happy and said to Dharmaraja, Kankubhatta! You have saved my life and prestige also. For the help you did, in what manner I can repay? So I am leaving the entire wealth to you. You enjoy yourself. You take my kingdom and rule the country. It is enough if you make me your confident. Dharmaraja: King! Out of love and affection, you are praising me. In fact what we did for you was our duty. Virata: Kankubhatta! I am not only astonished but also my respect towards you is doubled. You have exhibited an unusual expertise in war. Is it your generous nature? Or you wanted to exhibit your valour or did you take so much of risk because of your friendship towards me? I am not able to judge you. Valala alone killed the enemys army which fell on him like an ocean. The valour of cook, a menial, surprised the king. He thought in himself that he had not come across such a strong cook anywhere. In the same manner, he also appreciated the valour of Damagrandhi and Tantreepala in archery. Valala fastened Susarma and put before the king. Dharmaraja orders to release Susarma and his army: Kankubhatta: We are all your subjects. All these days you have honoured us and gave shelter. We did our little bit at the hour of your need. For this, is it fair on your part to treat us an outsiders? However if you want to honour us, you do what you want. However I am making a request to you to make Susarma and his men free, by this your glory will enhance. Oh king! Send a messenger to the palace and let him inform the victory of the king. As suggested by Kankubhatta, Virata announced freedom to Susarma and his men and warned him. He sent messengers to the city to inform the palace about their victory.
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CHAPTER 4
Uttara Gograhanam: Janamejaya: Oh Vaisampayana! This is very interesting to hear. Tell me what has happened on the next day. Vaisampayana: On the next morning a big army of Kouravas attacked Viratas kingdom from the northern direction. Bhishma, Drona, Karna and many other notable big warriors were the army. The army captured several cow herds and had beaten the shepherds. All the shepherds ran to the city to inform the king about the attack of Kouravas. The Cow herders: Prince! Kourava army attacked our country and was capturing all cow herds. They were beating the yadavas and the villagers indiscriminately. Their army consists of chariots, elephants, horses and huge infantry. They were using several weapons like bow and arrow, swords, tomarams and chakras. Prince Uttara Kumara: Oh Cow herds! Dont be frightened. I can drive all those Kouravas in a minute. I will exhibit my valour. None of them will remain in our land. But unfortunately all chariots were taken away by my father. Without a chariot, I cant fight with such a big army. Oh ministers! You all go and bring a charioteer so that I will go and kill all Kouravas. I heard the valour of Bhishma, Duryodhana, Karna and many other archers. It is my good fortune that all of them came at the same time so that I can show my valour and drive them out. By looking at my bravery, they may even think of me as another Arjuna. I will drive them out and come back with all our cows. When Uttara Kumara was seriously comparing himself with Arjuna, Sairandhri could not stand with this crude joke. So immediately she went to Bruhanala and informed him about the blabbering of Uttara kumara. Bruhanala said: Bruhanala: Sairandhri! I calculated, our Agnatha vasam term and is completed. You go and tell Uttara kumara that Bruhanala has agreed to be his charioteer. You tell him that Bruhanala worked as a charioteer for Arjuna at the time of Agni burning the Khandava vana. Even if he expresses some doubts, you may substantiate with your ability and see to it that he will take me as his charioteer. Accepting the offer, Sairandhri went to Uttara Kumara and told him about the offer of Bruhanala to be his charioteer. But Uttra Kumara just laughed and refused to take the offer.
Sairandhri: Uttara Kumara! Due to the reasons beyond his control, there were some changes took place on his body. Simply because of that, will you ignore his valour, strength and capability? If Bruhanala is your charioteer, you can win all the three worlds. Uttara kumara reluctantly agreed to accept Bruhanala as his charioteer, Uttara and Sairandhri went to Bruhanala and said: Guru! Kouravas are attacking from the northern direction of Vrata country. They have captured all the cow herds. Since he did not have a charioteer, Uttara Kumara was not able to go to the battle field to protect the country. Sairandhri told that you are an expert charioteer, hence I request you to be a charioteer to my brother and save our country. Since you are my dance master, I am making a personal request. So be affectionate towards me and accept to be as the charioteer to my brother. On hearing Uttara, Bruhanala said, Oh princess! I dont know whether I had so much of skill in running a chariot or not, I am accepting it for your sake. Uttara kumara accepts Bruhanala as his charioteer : Bruhanala: Prince! While going to a war, you are taking an impotent with you, if you want me to entertain, I can show my talent either in dance or song. Why are you forcing me to go for a war? Uttara kumara: Bruhanala! Dont tell me a cock and bull story. I heard your talent in controlling the horses. You get the chariot ready. In the meanwhile I will dress myself, by wearing the shield and come back. Bruhanala: Prince! If you want to defeat your enemies you exploit all my vigour, valour and skill. You listen what all I say. Dont ask any questions. If you listen to me, victory will be in your pocket. Princess Uttara: Brother! You are going to the battle only to win , while returning you get me cloth from the turbans of the defeated warriors. I will use them to decorate my dolls and make a Kolu. Bruhanala: Princess! Your brother will kill many Kourava warriors and come back with victory. He will bring heaps of turbans and coloured stones as you desired. Uttara Kumara boarded the chariot and while Bruhanala was about to start, virtuous women came in front of them and brahmins recited Vedas,
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mantras and said Oh Bruhanala! Long ago the way in which you ran the chariot of Arjuna, now also you control the horses in the same manner for Uttara kumara and bring him victory. Bruhanala drove the chariot in the direction as per the information brought by the spies. ON his way to the battle field, he drove the chariot towards the burial ground. Uttara kumara was frightened by looking at Kourava army: By looking at the ocean of Kourava army, Uttara kumara lost his hopes on life. He started shivering. His throat became dry, with great difficulty he said to Bruhanala: Uttara Kumara: Bruhanala! The Kourava army is looking like an ocean. Bhishma, Drona, Krupa and other warriors look like divine persons. Can I alone fight with those divine heroes? In addition to them, there are many more fighters such as Saindava, Karna, Duryodhana and others. I cant fight with them. I want to save my life, take back the chariot to our palace. Bruhanala: Uttara kumara! I am not a mad man to ask you to fight with such a big army. We will fight with a few of them, get back our cows. If we go without fighting all the women in our palace will ridicule, disgrace and lampoon us . Uttara kumara: Bruhanala! My throat is getting dry. I am not able to talk. I dont want those cows. I am not bound to satisfy women in the palace. It is enough for me if we both save our lives. You drive back our chariot. Bruhanala: Prince! Unless we fight, how can we assess the strength of our enemy? At least we go round and look at the great warriors in close quarters, for which they will not kill us. So dont get frightened. Uttara kumara: Bruhanala! Susarma, the king of Trigarta , had attacked our country from the southern direction. The king had taken all the army with him. Even if we run away, there is one to help us in the city. So you return the chariot. Bruhanala: If you runaway like this, even enemies will laugh at us. Sairandhri has already told you about me. Now also you keep faith in her words, come with me and attack the Kourava army. Let us both fight to get back our cows. Uttara kumara: Why are you not taking my orders and taking back the chariot to our city? What do I care for the people if they laugh at me? If you feel like fighting, you go and fight alone. You may lose your life, I warn you!
By saying so, Uttara kumara threw his bow and arrows and jumped on to the ground and started running. Bruhanala also jumped from the chariot, ran behind and caught him. The Kourava army looking at Uttara kumara laughed at him. But some of the army who knew Arjuna found a strange difference in the style of walking of that impotent person and doubted in themselves, By any chance is he Arjuna? Because he has certain attributes of feminine and masculine forms mixed in him. In one side he is looking valorous and on the other side, he has delicate and soft nature with an awkward look. They suspected symptoms of a great hero in him. Perhaps Pandavas might be undergoing their Agnatha vasam in the court of King Virata. Otherwise can any one dare to face this ocean of Kourava army alone? Since all the army must have been engaged in the southern direction, and hence this hero must have come with this impotent person. In the meanwhile Bruhanala ran behind Uttara kumara and caught hold of him. He looked at the face of Bruhanala and requested in a distressed manner Oh Bruhanala! You keep the chariot with you, let me runaway . If you leave me alone I shall give you hundred gold coins and several valuable stones, horses and elephants and a few villages as gift. Please show kindness on me. I want to go and see my mother. Bruhanala made Uttara kumara as his charioteer: Bruhanala pacified Uttara kumara in several ways and told him not to be afraid by looking at the army of Kouravas. Bruhanala: Prince! You be my charioteer and I will fight with the Kourava army. You just watch how I win this battle! From a long distance Bhishma, Drona and others looked at Bruhanala. Drona said to Bhishma: Drona :Bhishma! He is looking like an impotent person. But in his brilliance he is shining like sun. He is as sturdy and tall as Arjuna. Added to this, we are seeing so many bad omens. This impotent person is not thinking the pros and cons and venturing alone against the Kouravas. We are not able to guess what he has got in his mind. On hearing Dronas words Bhishma said to Drona and Duryodhana with double meaning: Meant for Duryodhana : We have crossed a point which is advantageous to enemies. In other words, it is disadvantage to us. However
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we need not worry about the enemy. Hence the time has ripened to show our valour. Meant for Dronacharya to understand: The advantageous time for our enemies is over. That means the period of Agnatha vasam is completed. Arjuna has come out with his courage and valour. He has no more fear of Agnatha vasam. On hearing Bhishmas words Dronacharya understood that the Agnatha vasam term was completed for Pandavas and breathed with relief. However he said, Oh Bhishma! This lion was in a cage for a long time. It appears to be very hungry. Arjuna after completing his Agnatha vasam is jumping at the army of Kouravas. Karna: Dronacharya! Simply because there is no one here to find fault with you, you are appreciating Pandavas. Are you alone is a hero on Kouravas side? As you became old, your pride, your strength and skill of archery also ran down. Arjuna is not such a great hero, if he comes in front of me, I will kill him and keep Kourava army happy. Duryodhana: Karna! Why are you so furious? We do not know the person who is coming alone against us. If he is Arjuna, it is what we wanted. We need not defeat him. We can put him back in to exile for another thirteen years. If that person is not Arjuna, our army will kill him in no time. Bruhanala picks up his bow and arrows: He drove the chariot near the tree in the burial ground, where they stored their weapons. He said to Uttara kumara: Bruhanala: The bow and arrows you have brought were so tender and delicate. To kill an animal or to break the shield of a soldier the arrow should be strong enough. So, except the Gandivam no other bow can drive away all these Kourava army. You climb up to the tree there and you will find the weapons used by Pandavas. You open the skin and bring Gandivam and quiver. Again you put those weapons there as before and climb down. Uttara kumara: What are you thinking of me? I am a prince. You want me to climb the tree and remove the skin of a dead body. Is it not a sin to tell me such things to do? Bruhanala: It is not a real dead body, Pandavas kept all their weapons packed in the skin and made a cover. So with out any feeling of disgrace,you climb the tree, pickup my Gandivam and give it to me.
Though Uttara kumara was not happy, he climbed the tree and removed the cover. From that bundle, he found all those weapons as snakes and got frightened. Then Arjuna said, Prince! They are not real snakes. They are all weapons. You pickup Gandivam from that and climb down. He believed the words of Bruhanala and removed the cover and said, Bruhanala! This bow is looking different from other weapons. This bow is not only splendorous but also looks like a python. Among the Pandavas who used this bow? Tell me. Bruhanala: The bow was used by Arjuna. It is known as Gandivam. With the help of this bow Arjuna defeated all the communities of Deva, danavas and rakshasas. This Gandivam initially was used by Brahma. So it is a flawless and superior among all the bows. It can easily rout all our enemies. Long ago Brahma used this Gandivam for a lakh of years. Then he gave it to Prajapathi, who used it for sixty four thousand years. Then he gave it to Indra who used it for eighty five thousand years. Then he gave it to Moon, who used it for five hundred years. After him, Varuna used it for hundred years. Out of love for Arjuna, Agni took that Gandivam from Varuna and gave it to him while burning Khandava vana. Arjuna used this Gandivam for sixty five years. So this Gandivam has such a great and glorious background. I will tell you about the other weapons which were used them. The bow which was decorated with bulls and lotus flowers was used by Dharmaraja. The big Club as tall as a palm tree and engraved with the figures of vanaras belongs to Bheema. The bow engraved with golden fish was used by Nakula. The bow engraved with golden peacock was used by Sahadeva. Arjuna revealed his identity : On hearing all those details, Uttara Kumara got vexed and said. Uttara kumara: Bruhanala! Leaving all these divine weapons on this tree where did the Pandavas go? Tell me if you know about them. We heard that Pandavas were being cheated by his cousins in a deceitful game of dice and went to exile. I dont know what happened to them after that. I know that they suffered all the difficulties because of Kouravas. Bruhanala: You need not have to worry about them. They have completed their exile and joined the court of Virata to complete their Agnatha vasam. Kankubhatta, who is serving the king is Dharmaraja. The cook Valala is Bheema. The horse trainer is Nakula and the cattle breeder is Sahadeva.
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I myself is Arjuna. Draupadi is living as Sayrandhri in your palace. Bheema alone killed all Keechakas. Uttara kumara (Surprisingly): Arjuna! I heard that you have ten meaningful names. Tell me I want to hear them. Arjuna: Uttara Kumara! Since I won all the land and brought Dhanam to our treasury, I am called as Dhananjaya. Since I win all my battles, I am called a Vijaya. Since Indra put his Keeretam on my head, I am known as Keereti. Since I create Bheebhatsam in battles, I am called as Beebhatsudu. I can release arrows from both my hands, so I am known as Savyasachi. Since I am born on the star of Uttara panguni, I am called as Phalgunudu. Since I made a vow to kill the person who wounded the body of Dharmaraja I am called as Gishnudu. Since I am the son of Prudha devi (Kunthi) I am known as Parthudha.(Give these names in Sanskrit only) Hence you keep confidence in me, my strength, Be my charioteer without any fear. I will overwhelm Bhishma, Drona, Karna and many more heroes of Kouravas and bring back all your cows. On hearing Arjunas words, Uttara Kumara jumped down from the tree and fell at the feet of Arjuna and made salutation to him and said: Uttara Kumara: Arjuna! Due to the good fortune of my earlier births, I was able to see you in your real form. By seeing you and hearing your courageous words, all my illusions have disappeared. Out of ignorance, I have insulted in several ways. Please bear with my timidity. How did you get this impotents form? Arjuna: As per the instructions from Dharmaraja, I was practicing the Brahmacharya. At that time, Urvasi has cursed me to become an impotent. Because of her curse, I was able to live in the court of Virata and complete my Agnatha vasam. After completing this year, that impotency will disappear and I will get back my original form. Arjuna blows his conch Devadattam: Arjuna got on his chariot and twanged the string of his bow and blew the conch Devadattam. Immediately his impotency disappeared and he stood as Arjuna and he prayed to fire god Agni. Agni had sent the divine chariot yoked with the divine horses. On hearing the twanging from the bow strings of Gandivam, Dronacharya said to Duryodhana: Drona: Duryodhana! Have you heard the twanging of Gandivam and the blowing of Devadattam? There is no doubt the lonely person who came
to fight with us is Arjuna. So you make preparations for war. Krupacharya! I am seeing so many bad omens, we my not score the victory. So I will give you a plan of re-arranging the formation of our army. Duryodhana will be travelling towards Hastinapura. Behind him, all the cows we have captured will follow. Our army will be guarding the cows on all sides . We stand like a wall and obstruct, so Arjuna would not go beyond us. In other words, he should not have nay access to reach our king. Even if Arjuna attacks, all of us will engage Arjuna in fighting till our king reaches Hastinapura. Duryodhana: Dronacharya, Bhishma pitamaha and all elders! Please lend me your ears! Pandavas completed their exile of twelve years. As per our agreement during the thirteenth year, they have to hide somewhere, without getting identified by any one. This is our arrangement. So this is the thirteenth year. If that person happens to be Arjuna, he must have jumped Agnatha vasam out of ignorance, or by arrogance or by greed and thus exposed himself. For its calculation and tell us Bheeshma is the right person. As per our plan, Susarma had attacked from the southern direction and whereas today we are attacking from the northern direction. If Pandavas are living in this state, they are all to go to exile once again. If the Pandavas are not here, we will go back to our kingdom with the wealth of cows. So let us not make any more wasteful discussions. Acharya! You are one of our top warriors. You are supposed to be in the front row of our army. I have given you that much of respect and status. As a reward for that, you are praising Arjuna in my presence like a Vandhi. How can you praise an enemy in my presence? You can tell morals in a class room or while you are teaching archery to children. This is not the time to teach ethics. Simply because you are observing certain bad omens, should the sun and moon stop from their movements? I am also seeing some good omens. Will they bring me a victory? Whoever listens your words, will laugh at you. On what basis, you are telling that Arjuna alone can defeat all the Kourava army? Aswadhama: Duryodhana! So far we have threatened the cow herds and yadavas and grabbed their cows. Is it a big achievement on our part? All that you have faced are only shepherds and not real enemy. Since enemy may come and attack any time and from any side. Hastinapura is far off from here, before something wrong happens, Dronacharya has given a plan for you to reach Hastinapura safely.
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We have grabbed the kingdom of Pandavas in a deceitful game of dice for which Sakuni has helped us. In this war, can Sakuni help us? Only your masculinity should bring the victory to you. You have dragged Draupadi io the Kuru Sabha and insulted her. Myself and Dronacharya will stay back. You consult Sakuni and know from him, if he could drive away the forthcoming enemy in a battle? Arjuna is coming to attack you like a ball of fire. Your eyes are closed with your pride of power and you have insulted your guru Dronacharya. Arjuna is a good statesman and a valorous hero. Hence any body has to praise him. Not only that Arjuna is the dearest student of Dronacharya. He is equal to his own son. What is wrong in praising him? Simply because he appreciates his own disciple, should you insult him so brutally? Listen, whether Dronacharya takes part in the war or not, I can not swallow this insult and hence I am keeping away from fighting in this war. Even Yama, Badabagni and Mruthyu become one and destroy, there may be some remnants. But when Arjuna releases his divine astras, there will be no reminiscent. We are now in the battle field. All your wicked plans will not work here. Those who can fight with their vigour and valour alone will be of some help to you. The hero, Arjuna, who is coming with his Gandivam, will kill all his enemies with his arrows but not by a game of deceitful dice. Oh king! You listen our words without any inhibition. If the king Virata comes to take back his cows, we shall fight him. In case Arjuna comes, we will not fight him. Karna: Aswadhama! You also listen to my words. We have come here only to identify Pandavas. We have grabbed their cows, which is also a part of our game plan. Now since Arjuna is coming out , you are afraid to fight him and but abuse our king. If you are afraid of Arjuna, you can stay back. We will not make any appeal to you. To defeat Arjuna, how many heroes you need? Am I alone not sufficient? I will smash Arjuna and his Kapitdwaja myself. I will also drive away all the bhootas surrounded by that Kapitdwaja. My arrows will pierce the body of Arjuna and blood will flow like a stream. Since the past thirteen years he was hiding here and there. But today he had chosen to fight us. As Arjuna was the strong man among Pandavas, I too had a name as strong man among Kouravas. Since he had already decided to have a confrontation with us, I alone will fight him and we will settle our score. I dont want to lose this opportunity.
Day by day I am becoming more and more indebted to our king Duryodhana. I gave a word to him that I will finally defeat Arjuna in a battle. The day has come now. I shall prove my worth and skill in executing the art of astras learnt from Parasurama. Krupacharya: Karna! You always provoke others and talk tall. You dont know any thing beyond that. I am not sure whether you have any sense or not. If at all you have sense, I dont know whether it will work or not. To achieve a thing, war is the last resort. This is what our statesmen say. Before you wage a war you must assess the time, place and strength of the enemy, then only one may involve in a war. Not estimating his strength and enemies strength, if one enters the war, he is bound to get into difficulties. Karna! Dont underestimate the valour of Arjuna, since he is coming alone. Because he alone fought Indra and other devatas at the time of Khandava dahanam. He alone fought with all yadava army, defeated them and married Subadhara. He alone won all the kings on earth and made Dharmaraja as an emperor. Why so many examples, Arjuna alone defeated Chitrasena, the gandarva king and his army and released Duryodhana and his women. Did he not defeat Nivata and Kavachas, whom even Indra could not defeat. Karna! Tell me one thing. All the kings in the country fought with Arjuna at the time of Draupadi Swayamwara. You know the outcome of it. So you stop all your thinking which lacks wisdom. You cant do any good to our king. Bhishma, Drona, I, you and Aswadhama are all here to fight together with Arjuna. Then only we can win over him, otherwise even Rudra cant get victory over him. Karna condemns Krupacharya: Karna: Acharya! You are always a well wisher of our enemies, Pandavas. Not knowing the fact that our king has brought you also with him to the battle field. Our King is feeding you throughout your life, thinking that you will be of some help at the hour of need. Whereas you are trying to flee, you better go home, perform yagnas, eat stomachful and sleep. If I stand with my bow and arrows in a battlefield all the three worlds will shiver. Who is Arjuna before my wealth of astras? Bhishma : Duryodhana! Dronacharya spoke like a statesman. Aswadhamas words are also appreciable. Krupacharya also spoke in your interest. Karna also spoke like a hero about war and its strategies. However he should not insult elders and virtuous people?
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An efficient warrior should know well the sense of time and place, but harsh words will not bring us any good. When a valorous enemy is attacking, he should be stopped far ahead of us. Though virtuous people appreciate the good qualities of an enemy, but they fight the enemy with valour. The nature and speech of Karna are provoking. He will never respect even the most virtuous people. All our elders are most respectable. Acahryas! We need your services at this critical hour. Arjuna is fast approaching us. It is not the time for us to fight with each other. Unless we fight with a united spirit, we cant win. Both of you are masters in danurveda and archery. So you should lead our army from front. If any one insults by ignorance or arrogance, you should pardon me with a large heart. You have to work only for the king and not for others. On behalf of all, I tender my apologies to all of you. Krupacharya: Pitamaha! You dont have to seek any apology from us. If Drona alone is pacified, it is as good as pacifying all of us. We dont expect any apology from Virtuous person like you. On hearing the words from all the elders, Duryodhana took Karna and Bhishma with him to pacify Drona. In the similar manner they pacified Aswadhama and Krupacharya also. Drona: King all my anger has been subsided with the words of Bhishma. From now onwards, we all fight for the wellbeing of the king. Arjuna is attacking us with vengeance. Unless we all focus our strength and valour in a united manner we cant win. Duryodhana was aware that the term of Agnatha vasam was over. The thirteenth year was over.However he wanted to know it from Bhishma. And hence he asked Bhishma to calculate and tell whether the term of Agnatha vasam was completed or not. Bhishma calculates and decides the term of Agnatha vasam : Bhishma: For every two years, an extra month will come which is called Adhika masam. All such Adhika masams in a period of thirteen years, the term of Agnatha vasam is completed already. Knowing fully well this fact, Arjuna has come out of his Agnatha vasam. Not only Arjuna, Dharmaraja also knows about this calculation. If the Agnatha vasam period is not completed, he himself would have not ventured to fight Dakshina gograhanam.
If Pandavas wanted to violate dharma, they could have done on the day they lost the kingdom in a game of dice. War would have been broken on that day itself. They were bound by dharma and had undergone the term of thirteen years patiently. Now this is the time for them to show their valour. From now onwards, they will not keep quiet. So we also should get prepared for any eventuality. The enemy who is attacking us is Arjuna. No one can assure that we will win. The victory can be go either side. So we are to get prepared for both. Alternatively making a compromise is also an honourable way. Duryodhana: Pitamaha! I am not willing to give back their share of kingdom. So how can we compromise? Let us be prepared for a war. The question of compromise does not arise. Dronacharya: You know all the war strategies better than all of us. However I would like to suggest what I know, listen. King is to proceed towards Hastinapura. One fourth of our army will follow and guard him. The cows that we have captured also will be taken to Hastinapura. We shall attack Arjuna with the remaining army from all sides. Bhishma: The strategy is quiet sound. Once the king leaves for Hastinapura let us plan our strategy to fight Arjuna. Drona will fight from the centre. On his right Krupacharya and on his left Aswadhama and front of him Karna and others will stand to attack Arjuna. As per the plan, Bhishma was leading behind the army. The moment ripened as soon as Arjuna attacked Kourava army. The sounds he raised from Devadattam, and the twanging from his Gandivam appeared like thousand rudras roaring at the time of pralayam. Arjuna said to Uttara kumara: Arjuna: Oh Uttara kumara! The army of Kouravas is very strong. Our cattle is driven towards Hastinapura. A huge army was deployed to safeguard our cows.. We have to first locate where that cruel Duryodhana . [ This war strategy was prepared by Bhishma and Drona. Those who are prepared this strategy alone could be able to approch the king. This is the secret of a war strategy. Arjuna came to know the Kouravas strategy from a distance of two miles. Since he was able to understand the strategy of enemies war, he was trying to locate the individual heroes and the pockets from which they were to protect the king. This will indicate the sharpness of Arjunas intelligence.
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Uttara kumara! You run the chariot to your left. But dont stop any where. [Since Arjuna understood the strategy of Bhishma and Drona, he wanted to counter their strategy. This was also a statesman quality. In this strategy the strength of army was not the criteria. Because if one catches hold of the king and puts him under their captivity, it is as good as wining the battle. That is why Arjuna instructed Uttara Kumara to proceed in that direction to catch Duryodhana.] In case if you could secure Duryodhana the entire army will come under our control and we could drive back his cow herds towards Virata. If we succeed in locating the king, our job will become simple. If we concentrate on the king, we may able to see him somewhere. Uttara Kumara drove the chariot as instructed by Arjuna. Standing on the chariot, Arjuna looked south, west, and north and looked for Duryodhana. At that time, he said to Uttara Kumara, Oh Uttara! I am not able to see the king in the middle of the army. So there is no need for us to fight the army where the king is not there. I presume he must be moving towards Hastinapura. We must catch him before he crosses our border. By saying, he asked Uttara Kumara to drive his chariot towards that side. On his way, in search of Duryodhana he saw Bheeshma, Drona and Krupa. He released two arrows each at their feet as a matter of respect to his gurus and his Pitamaha. They were very much pleased for his sense of respect and devotion towards them. Dronacharya praises Arjuna : Drona: Krupa! Arjuna has released two arrows at my feet as a matter of salutation. I consider he is enquiring about my wellbeing since he has not seen me for the past thirteen years. He has also released two more arrows by the side of my ears without touching my body. Look at his culture! Thereby it is very well understood how much furious he is against Duryodhana. Though they suffered in the forest, I could understand from the brilliance of his face, they have advanced in equipping themselves in acquiring several astras. Bheeshma: It is a long time I have seen him. This boy is good for good people and extend friendship and develop relations. At the same time, he is a ferocious for the bad people. Can we see anywhere in this world such a person like Arjuna? By virtue of his splendour, beauty and noble qualities, he is fit for ruling all the worlds.
Look at him! He doesnt want to fight with our soldiers. So he is avoiding them. He is also not looking at us. It seems all his concentration is on the king. Because, he was very much furious on Duryodhana. Arjuna: Uttara kumara! We have come to our cattle herds. Our job is here only. We need not go any further. Before we get back our cattle, we will have to fight with all these soldiers. Now I will enter the army and kill them all. Finally I will not leave, until I catch hold of Duryodhana. The beginning of war: As instructed by Arjuna, Uttara Kumara drove the chariot in the middle of the army. From there, he released fifteen arrows towards cow herds. From each arrow hundreds of arrows were generated and covered the sky and darkness spread. All cattle herd were confused and did not know how to go. However he had killed some soldiers and made the cattle to run towards eastern direction.
CHAPTER 5
Arjuna reveals the history of Kourava heroes to Uttara Kumara: Arjuna said to the yadavas Oh yadavas! The strength of enemy has weakened. You take your cows towards our country. And also said to Uttara Kumara, Uttara kumara! The moment they come to know that we are trying to catch Duryodhana; Bhishma, Drona and all other heroes are coming to obstruct my way. When we approach Drona we should not go in front of him, you should drive the chariot form the right side of him that is how we should respect elders in a war. Aswadhama is the son of Dronacharya. He is as potential archer as his father. He was born with the blessings of lord Siva. Krupacharya also is our guru, who taught us archery while we were very young. He is not only good in the battle field but he loves fighting. He is a good friend of Duryodhana. Duryodhana is our cousin who robbed our entire kingdom in a deceitful game of dice. First we shall try to kill Duryodhana. To protect him, Drona and other great heroes will come to fight with me. Then only I will fight with them. Thereby my respect to my guru and elders will not be reduced.
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Karna is a confident friend of Duryodhana. He loves him more than any one because he strongly feels that he alone can defeat me. Bhishma is my grandfather. He is a great warrior and fought several battles. He knows all the secrets of all weapons. He is the most impartial person. He loves us and Kouravas equally. Since he is living with them he wants to help them. So when ever you see Bhishmas chariot, you should not go any where near that. Arjuna thus explained to Uttara Kumara the background of all Kourava heroes. At that time Aswadhama said to Karna in a ridiculing manner: Aswadhama: Karna! All these years you are boasting about your valour. Now Arjuna has taken the form of a tiger and is ready to jump on you. If you have any power left in you, you try to face him. Our king has pinned his hopes on you only. Karna: Aswadhama! You always bet on the weak limbs. The way in which you are talking is indecent. It is better if you talk less. I never depended on you and came to this battle. I have full faith on my strength. You yourself will see how ferociously I fight. Karna, Bhishma, Drona, Aswadhama, Krupa and many others started to surround Arjuna. In that emotion, Duryodhana also prepared himself to fight against Arjuna. Behind him, all his brothers also entered the battle. They were supported by a huge army, herds of elephants, horses and chariots. Arjunas fight against Karna : As Arjuna entered the battle field, all the Kourava army beat the war drums. Whenever Karna was winning the drums beating reached the skies. Whenever Arjuna established his superiority, they drowned in distress. Arjuna: Oh Karna! All these days you are boasting of your superiority. Now you have an opportunity to fight with me and prove yourself. It is not like insulting and laughing at Draupadi in Kourava Sabha. At that time we were bound by dharma you have survived. Karna: Arjuna! You are talking as if you are the most virtuous person. Even now, will you show your masculinity or escape putting the blame on Dharmaraja. Now you are free to fight with me. Simply because you have completed Aranya vasam and Agnatha vasam, do not expect your share of kingdom. If you are really valorous Kshatriya, you fight and win your
kingdom. I too heard about your heroic deeds now and then. By looking at you and your words I have a doubt all that I have Both Karna and Arjuna released arrows which covered the sky and darkness prevailed all over. Arjuna broke Karnas Bow. Karna took another bow and released six arrows on the charioteer, four on the horses, eight arrows on the chariot, ten arrows on the flag post and sixty arrows on the body of Arjuna. Arjuna, in return, hit several sharp arrows on all sensitive parts of Karna. The shield of Karna was broken. The arrows pierced all over his body and blood started flowing. Karna was afraid for his life and ran away from the battlefield. The battle between Arjuna and Dronacharya : Arjuna: See what happens! Uttara kumara! Karna is one of the top heroes of Kourava army. Now since he has ran away with fear of life, now we have to fight with Dronacharya. You dont worry for your life as long as I am on the chariot. If you watch the way I am fighting you will become a big hero. You look at the chariot. The person who is sitting in that chariot is Dronacharya. He is our guru. I am now forced to fight with him. This is the fate of all kings. You drive our chariot close to his chariot and stop. Gurudeva! My pranams to you. During our exile we suffered many difficulties. We withstood all of them with utmost patience. Now our term of exile is over. We thought this battle is god given opportunity to exhibit our valour. It is the habit of virtuous people to shower their kindness on the people who are in distress. Hence I request you not to show anger on me. I will not release an arrow on you as a matter of respect for you. So first you release an arrow on me. On hearing Arjunas request, Dronacharya released twenty powerful arrows on Arjuna. Arjuna grounded them all before they reached him. Then they forgot their guru-sishya relationship and fought ferociously for a long time. All the Kourava army was astonished at the great exposition of archery. They stopped fighting and looked at them. Though they were in the opposite camp they appreciated Arjunas talent and said, Except Drona and lord Siva, nobody else can defeat Arjuna. In that battle many Kourava soldiers, horses, elephants were killed. The ornaments and the crowns of several
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Kourava heroes were spread all over the battlefield. Blood was flowing like stream. The flesh, blood and soil became like slurry obstructing the movements of chariots. Dronacharyas body was filled with arrows and blood was oozing profusely from those wounds. As a result Dronacharya lost his vigour and was unable to fight with Arjuna. Aswadhama noticed that his father had lost his strength and hence he himself came to fight Arjuna. Arjuna fights Aswadhama: Ferocious battle went on between Arjuna and Aswadhama. They covered the sky with their arrows. Many soldiers, horses and elephants became their victims in a big way. Aswadhama wounded the horses of Arjuna. At one point Aswadhama broke the string of the bow of Arjuna. Arjuna repaired his bow and had cast powerful divine astras on Aswadhama. By that time Aswadhama exhausted the arrows in his quiver and was forced to leave the battlefield. Arjuna fights with Krupacharya: Krupacharya looked at the battle between Arjuna and Aswadhama. He appreciated in himself the skill exhibited by Arjuna. However he was sad to notice that his nephew Aswadhama became weak. So immediately he rushed at Arjuna and relieved Aswadhama. Krupacharya broke the flag post of Arjuna with twelve arrows. Arjuna was about to release a powerful arrow on Krupacharyas body, his body guard Chendrakethu and nine others attacked Arjuna with sharp arrows. Arjuna on one side fighting with Krupacharya and on the other side he had cut off all the heads of those ten body guards one by one. The blood started flowing from their throat like a fountain. Looking at the horrible scene all soldiers in Kourava army, ran away with fear. In this manner Arjuna cut ten heads of Krupacharyas body guards, he had broken the wheels of Krupacharyas chariot with four arrows. With another three arrows, he killed the charioteer. With one arrow, he broke the bow of Krupacharya. Krupacharya lost his bow and chariot and hence desperately threw the powerful Sakthi weapon on Arjuna. Arjuna released ten arrows on the Sakthi and made it into several pieces. Krupacharya took out his sword and shield, ran against Arjuna. Before he reached his chariot, he made the sword and the shield into several pieces by his arrows. Krupacharya was astonished at the extraordinary skill exhibited by his disciple Arjuna. Aswadhama found the helpless state of Krupacharya and lifted him in his chariot and ran away. By looking at this ferocious scene, all Kourava soldiers trembled with fear and ran behind Bhishma for protection.
While Bhishma was about to fight with Arjuna, Vrushasena came and attacked Arjuna. Arjuna cut his spear and hit a sharp arrow on his chest. He could not bear the pain and ran away. In the meanwhile Dushsasana, Sakuni, Durmukha and many other Kourava heroes surrounded Arjuna . Arjuna cut the legs of all horses and made their rides fell on the ground. They were frightened and ran away. Arjuna looked around him for the next foe that he was going to face. But to his surprise there were none except Bhishma sitting steadily on this chariot. The fight between Arjuna and Bhishma: Arjuna wanted to expose to his grandfather the divine astras secured by him during exile. Thereby he wanted to receive his appreciation. He asked Uttara Kumara to keep his chariot in front of him. Bhishma blew his conch. To counter this, Arjuna blew Devadattam. It looked like a fight between two big bulls. Bhishma broke the flag post of Arjuna with eight arrows. He had released another ten arrows on all the bhootas surrounding his flag. Arjuna bent his bow in a circular manner and released arrows on all directions so as to cover the entire sky. Then Bhishma countered his arrows and cleared the sky. Then Arjuna started killing huge numbers of Kourava army. Drona, Karna, Krupa and Aswadhama looked at Arjuna At that time Aswadhama said to Karna with surprise. Aswadhama: Karna! Look at Arjuna who is coming to us. We dont know on whom he may harp. You are the only person who can secure a win over him. Since a long time you are waiting to fight with Arjuna. Karna understood that Aswadhama was ridiculing him and said, I myself will fight Arjuna. You open your eyes wide open and look. Since Arjunas enthusiasm was increasing the enthusiasm in Kouravas army was declining. In the meanwhile Uttara Kumara told Arjuna, You are fighting since a long time, whereas I am feeling thirsty. You are not tired in killing the enemies whereas I am tired in looking at your heroism. Arjuna replied: Arjuna: Uttara kumara! As long as I am by your side, why are you afraid? Be patient for a while, till I complete the job. If I could catch hold of Duryodhana my job will be complete. When all his heroes are defeated, he will not sit as a coward. Any time he may jump to fight with me. You take our chariot in front of Duryodhana.
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As Arjuna was advancing towards Duryodhana, all Kourava army came and stopped him to proceed further. Arjuna fights with Duryodhana: Arjuna released two powerful arrows on the chest of Duryodhana. Ferocious Duryodhana released ten sharp arrows which hit on Arjunas face. In this manner, they fought for a long time. While they were fighting Vikarna came on an elephant in support of Duryodhana. In addition to Vikarna, several of his brothers attacked Arjuna on horses. All of them were making lion roars and were enthusiastic in surrounding Arjuna,who was furious, hit with five arrows and made Vikarnas elephant fall dead. After that he killed all the horses. Once the elephant was killed Vikarna jumped in the chariot of Vipamsathi. Leaving Vikarna, Arjuna hit four more sharp arrows on the chest of Duryodhana. With that Duryodhana fell on his chariot. Arjuna released powerful arrows on all of them and they ran for safety. The charioteer of Duryodhana took him away from the battlefield. The Kouravas instigated the herds of elephants on Arjuna. Arjuna killed them all like a lion. Karna and Dushsasana were running away on the onslaught of Arjuna. Arjuna released one arrow on the back side of the head of Karna and the back of Dushsasana. At that time Karna went to Bhishma and Dronacharya and said: Karna: Pitamaha! Look at Arjuna and his foul fighting by hitting us on our back side. We all to save our king Duryodhana. Is it not our duty? Bhishma and Drona heard his words and but kept silent as if they have not heard him. At that time Duryodhana said in a painful manner. Duryodhana: Pitamaha! Dronacharya! While Karna was talking why are you keeping quiet, as if he is talking to an outsider? Is it fair on your part to keep quiet if your king is in danger? Is it not your duty to save your king? On hearing Duryodhanas words Drona, Bhishma and Krupacharya came and pacified Duryodhana. In the meanwhile Arjuna shouted in a big way saying: Arjuna blames Duryodhana: Arjuna: Duryodhana! Did any Kshatriya of our Kuru dynasty ran away from the battle field like you? You have so many heroes in your side. You have come to steal away others cow wealth. Whereas I am defending king
Virata. Not only that I am the youngest of all Kunthis children. Whereas you are the eldest of the Kouravas. While I am calling you for a fight, instead of accepting the challenge, you are running away. What happened to all your ego and arrogance? What happened to your pride and strength? Where are your heroes? If you run away like this, can you sit in company of your subordinate kings with respect? King of Kouravas! If you are defeated in a battle how can you have a ride on an elephant with pride? Even though you decorate yourself with valuable diamonds, will it enhance your prestige in a Sabha? Will the perfumes and ointments give you the sense pleasures with your women? Will the beautiful women would crave for you? So you listen to my words, and come back and fight with me. No matter if you die. You will reach superior lokas. Since you are eating others food perhaps you may not relish to die. You cant enjoy others fortune any more. It is the battlefield, not a deceitful game of dice. If the Kourava emperor like you is running away from the battlefield to save his life, will there be any bigger insult than this? On hearing the teasing words of Arjuna, Duryodhana hissed like a cobra, anmd returned back to fight with Arjuna. With that Bheeshma, Drona and others also returned to surround Arjunas chariot. The entire army ran towards Arjuna like an ocean. Arjuna was happy to face so many stalwarts. Arjuna was seriously thinking of protecting his chariot, charioteer and horses. His next target was how to catch Duryodhana. If he was able to kill Duryodhana the battle would come to an end. Suddenly he remembered the vow made by Bheema. So he didnt want to kill Duryodhana, at least I will insult him and leave. Thinking in himself this, he released the Sammohana Astra. The presiding deity of that astra was Indra, hence it would never fail. With the power of that astra, each one of them fainted and fell down. Immediately they reached the state of deep sleep. Arjuna remembered the words of Uttara, who wanted pieces of cloths and stones from the turbans of heroes. So he asked Uttara Kumara. Arjuna: All these people are in deep sleep. It will take long time for them to wake up. In the meanwhile you go and cut the turbans of Duryodhana, Aswadhama, Karna, Drona, Krupacharya and bring those pieces of cloths and the valuable stones decorated on their turbans. Remember dont go and touch Bheeshma, because no astra can influence him.
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Immediately he went and came back with their turbans and boarded his chariot. As the place was sultry and cramped, Arjuna thought of moving his chariot little away from that place. The moment Arjunas chariot moved, Bheeshma released astras on Arjuna. At that time, Arjuna also released sharp arrows and wounded Bheeshmas charioteer and horses. Since Bheeshmas horses and charioteer were hurt, Bheeshma could not move his chariot and fight with Arjuna. At that time, Arjuna drove his chariot with grace. After some time all the warriors and soldiers woke up from their sleep. They looked around for Arjuna and then Bheeshma said: Bheeshma: Duryodhana! You are not aware what has happened. You and our soldiers were sleeping soundly. Had Arjuna wanted to kill all of us, he could have done so. But he did not behave cruelly. Since we are all living at the grace of Arjuna, we better stop fighting with him and go back to Hastinapura. Duryodhana returns accepting his defeat: Duryodhana was furious and at the same time he was unable to digest such a big insult. At that time neither he could accept Bhishmas good advice or reject it. However other heroes also agreed with Bheeshma and said to the king that, that was not the opportune time to react. They wanted to protect their king at any cost. At that time, Bheeshmas advise became handy for them to persuade Duryodhana to call off the battle. As advised by Bhishma, the Kourava army started their journey towards Hastinapura. However Arjuna chased them all for a distance. He had broken their umbrellas and flag posts. Finally he released arrows of respect at the feet of Bheeshma, Drona and Krupacharya and returned. He cast two powerful arrows which hit Duryodhanas crown and a few diamonds were fell down. Arjuna: Uttara Kumara! We have killed many of the enemies . We have cut the turbans of many heroes. We have broken their flag posts. Now we are returning back to the kingdom of Virata with our cows. Your mother and other relatives are waiting for us anxiously. Let us go home and make them happy.You go and tell your father and mother that you yourself had chased the Kourava army and brought back our cows. Uttara Kumara: Arjuna! All my people know about my valour. No body will believe if I say I have driven out Kouravas army. My father knows about my strength more than any body else. Having seen your valour and skill, how I can hide the truth. If not today tomorrow the truth will come out. If you insist me to hide your bravery and courage, I will do so till you
order me to reveal the same. The moment you order me I will tell the truth to every one. While they were talking in this manner, they reached the burial ground. Arjuna asked Uttara Kumara to put back his weapons on the tree branch as before. After that Arjuna mentally prayed to Agni, the fire god . Immediately the chariot disappeared. On their return, Arjuna occupied the usual seat of the charioteer. There king Virata, who also fought with the army of Susarma, and won the battle, returned to the city. As they were entering the city, the brahmins recited Veda mantras and blessed the king, his brothers, relatives and Pandavas. King Virata convened his Sabha, sat on his throne and replied politely to all those who came to complement him for the victory. At that time he did not find Uttara Kumara among them. So he asked where Uttara Kumara was. Then the courtier said that he had gone to fight Kouravas army to protect the cow sheds in the northern direction. King Virata anguish for his son Uttara Kumara: King Virata came to know that Uttara kumara alone went to fight with the Kourava army and was worried for him since he was a young boy. Kankubhatta consoled the king stating: Kankubhattu: King! As you have won Susarmas army in the southern direction, in the same manner our Uttara Kumara also will defeat the Kourava army and will come back with victory. Uttara Kumara has not gone alone. He has taken Bruhanala also as his charioteer. Then where is the fear for you. Bruhanala has tremendous valour and exhibits skill at times of war. Though Kankubhatta tried to console him, the king was not convinced. So he asked his commander to go with a big army in support of Uttara Kumara. In the meanwhile the spies came and informed the king that Uttara Kumara had defeated all the Kouravas and was coming back with their cow herds. On hearing the victorious return of his son, the king was very happy and gave heavy gifts to the spies and made them happy. Brahmins and the virtuous women were sent to accord a grand reception to his son. King Virata wanted to relax at this happy hour with a game of dice with Kankubhatta. Kankubhattu said: Kankubhatta: Oh king! Today you are in a jubilant mood. I am sure I may not defeat you in this game also.
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While Sayrandhri was going that side, he ordered her to bring the dice and the board for the game. Then the king said at this victorious hour that game of dice would make him happier. Kankubhatta: King! In this very same game, Dharmaraja lost his kingdom, brothers and wife. From then onwards he suffered many difficulties. Therefore this game always brings difficulties only. While they were playing in a moment of jubilation Virata said: Virata: Kankubhatta! Uttara Kumara has driven away all Kourava army and is bringing back all our cow herds. What a great valorous person is Uttara Kumara! Is there any one in this world who went alone, fought with such a huge army and protected the Kshatriya dharma? Kankubhattu: King! If Uttara Kumara alone had the valour of winning over Bhishma, Drona, Krupacharya, Karna, Duryodhana and others, he would have had the glory of a valorous person in this world. On hearing Kankubhattas words the king became furious and his eyes became blood red and said: Virata: Kankubhattu! It is not good for you to ridicule Uttara Kumara in this manner. So far I am able to bear with your comment. From now onwards, I wont tolerate even if you talk one word against Uttara Kumara. Kankubhatta: King! Dont forget Uttara Kumara had gone with Bruhanala. His valour and art of winning enemies will not only defeat the Kourava army but also win all the divine communities. Since such a valorous person was driving the chariot of our Uttara Kumara, how can he come without a victory? Again this Kankubhatta was provoking by saying that Bruhanala was responsible for the victory of Uttara Kumara. The king could not control himself. Virata: Kankubhatta! It is the first time that I am hearing that the winning of a battle by his charioteer. Kankubhatta! Why are you not accepting the greatness of my son and his victory? Why are you refusing to say a few palatable words about my son? Oh brahmin! I can tolerate your ignorant talks any more! Kankubhatta: King! On seeing the ocean of Kourava army the enthusiasm in Bruhanala might have overwhelmed. He must have made our
Uttara Kumara as his charioteer and driven away all the Kourava army. He has brought back all the cow herds. This is truth. You yourself will hear form Uttara Kumara. Virata hits at Kankubhattu with a dice: In spite of several warnings by the king, Kankubhatta continued to praise Bruhanala and kept Uttara Kumara in a low profile. King Virata lost his control at that time and he had a dice in his hand and threw it on Kankubhatta. Though the king hit at him, he was not annoyed at the king but looked at Sayrandhri. Immediately Sayrandhri cleaned the wound of Kankubhatta with her upper cloth and cleaned it with water. King Virata saw the blood on the cloth of Sayrandhri and questioned her. Why you have cleaned his wound with your cloth. Sayrandhri said: Sayrandhri: King! He was born in a virtuous family. All his life he lived in the path of dharma only. The number of blood drops that may fall from his wound on this earth, this country will suffer the same number of years without rains and with famine conditions. The blood of a virtuous Dwiju will bring harm to this country. Since this country should not suffer any such harm I have cleaned his wound. In the meanwhile the people who went to accord reception to Uttara Kumara reached the palace. The brahmins and the virtuous women spilled pearls, flowers, navaratnas and gold coins on Bruhanala and Uttara Kumara. However grand the reception might be, Uttara Kumara stood passively as if all that honour didnt belong to him. His conscious was pricking for not able to tell the truth that Bruhanala alone had won the battle. In course of time, he went inside the palace. King Virata jumped at his son and embraced. Then Uttara Kumara prostrated at his fathers feet and saw Kankubhatta by his side and noticed the wound on his face. He asked Kankubhatta how it happened. Then Virata said: Virata: My son! While I was praising your valour and strength and your victory, this Kankubhatta had said that the battle was won by the valour of Bruhanala only. I could not control my anger and threw a dice on him. Uttara Kumara: Father! These are people with virtuous character. Whatever they say, will become true. You have to accept with all humility. We have no authority to say against them. Hence you tender your unconditional apologies to him. With the anger of such people, we will lose longevity and the kingdom.
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On hearing Uttara Kumaras words, King Virata tendered his apologies before Kankubhatta with humility and obedience. Then Kankubhattu said: Kankubhattu : Your words and actions never hurt me. It is unfortunate that today you lost your temper. In the meanwhile Bruhanala entered the room. The king received him with great honour. Uttara Kumara narrates his experiences at war: Virata: My son! The Kourava army was as huge as an ocean. it contains great warriors like Bheeshma, Drona, Krupa, Karna, Aswadhama and may others. Bheeshma has defeated even Parasurama. Dronacharya is the master of dhanurveda and archery. Aswadhama was born with the blessings of lord Siva. They cant be compared with any other human warriors. All the sons of Dhrutarashtra are controlling the entire earth. How does it happen you alone was able to win all of them? Knowing fully well that you are alone did they not harp on you. How did you were able to bring back all our cow herds without missing even a single cow. Duryodhana is known for his passion and pride. How did he accept this inglory and how he retreated. Uttara Kumara: Father! I have not actually routed the Kourava army. I have not brought back the cow herds. Suddenly a divine person had come and stood in front of me and fought with Kouravas. After driving them, he had brought all the cow herds to our country. By looking at the ocean of Kourava army, I lost hopes on my life and while I was running back to the palace, that divine person stood in front of me and gave me assurance that he would win the battle for me. In this manner Uttara narrated what all had happened in the battle field. On hearing from his son, King Virata was very happy. At that time Dharmaraja covered his wound with his upper cloth. However King Virata did not understand that the divine person was none other than Bruhanala. On hearing the narration of Uttara Kumara, Arjuna appreciated him and said: Arjuna: You have spoken with your father with a great skill. Though you have told them the fact, still you kept them all in dark. Even if Kankubhatta asks, you should not reveal beyond that.
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Arjuna gives the turbans of Kourava warriors to Uttara: The princess Uttara went with her companions to Bruhanala. Bruhanala took out the turban cloths of various warriors and presented them to Uttara. On that night, all the brothers and Draupadi met at an appointed place and narrated their experiences with each other about Uttara gograhanam and Dakshina gograhanam. Arjuna asked Bheema: Arjuna: Bheema! While our brother was in the presence of king Virata, he did not even look at my face. Do you know what would be the reason? For which Dharmaraja himself said: Dharmaraja: King Virata was jubilant at the victory of his son over Kouravas in Uttara Gograhana. Whereas I did not agree with him and said the real reason for victory was Bruhanala.The King was annoyed at me for praising an impotent person and threw the dice on my face. Because of that, there was some bleeding. For which I made a little dressing. On hearing this, Bheema became furious, got up and said, I will kill him and his family. Then Arjuna also said, This Virata do not know our worth. I will kill him and this kingdom also will become ours. Dharmaraja: Be calm! It is not fair on your part to make such vows. In fact, he does not know who we are. We should remember we have completed our Agnatha vasam in his court. If we do any harm to him, we will become ungrateful. We shall make him to know who we are. In spite of that, if he exhibits his pride then we will think of what to do. Hearing Dharmarajas words, Bheema and Arjuna were pacified. They sat and thought how to make that king know the truth about them. Finally they resolved that it would be better to go to his court hall and reveal their real identity. Next morning after completing their daily rituals, they dressed well, applied perfumes and ointments. They wore garlands around their necks. All the six people went together to the court hall of Virata. Dharmaraja went and sat on the throne, remaining four also took their respective seats. In the meanwhile king Virata also entered the court hall. By the time he entered the hall he was stunned. After a while he addressed them: Virata: Kankubhatta! You are a sadhu by nature and action. Why are you occupying my throne? Even though I entered the hall, you did not stand up. What is the reason for your haughty behaviour?
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Arjuna stood up and said with a smile: Arjuna : Virata! The person who is sitting on your throne is Dharmaraja. There are only six emperors in this world. He who performed a Rajasuya yaga is comparable with them. He has conquered all the kings on the earth and he is popularly known as Ajathasathru. He wishes wellbeing of his enemies also. He is the superior among the virtuous people. He is empowered even to occupy the throne of Indra. Isnt such a Dharmaraja empowered to sit on your small throne? Arjuna reveals about his brothers : Arjuna: The cook in your palace, Valaludu is none other than Bheema. Nobody can overcome him in a battle. He killed Bakhasura. He killed Kimmeera, a rakshasa and made all tapasvis happy in the forest. He killed Hidumbasura and married his sister Hidumbi. He is Nakula, who worked as a horse breeder in your stables. He is Sahadeva, who worked as a cow breeder in the name of Tantreepala. She is Draupadi, who served Sudheshana Devi in the name of Sayrandhri. Only to protect her Bheema had killed all the Keechakas in one night. We came in various disguises and served in various menial positions, just to hide our identity for a year.We had sweet experiences as well as some bad moments Bheema introduces Arjuna : Bheema: He is Arjuna. He taught dance to your princess in the name Bruhanala, an impotent form. He had defeated Indra and allowed Agni to destroy the Khandava vana. He killed the cruel Kalakeyas and pleased Indra. He also killed Nivata kavachas. He defeated gandarvas and released Duryodhana from his bondage. On hearing Bheemas words, Uttara Kumara said to his father, Father! This Arjuna had taken a word from me that I should not reveal his name as the winner of the battle of Uttara Gograhanam. He alone drove away all Kouravas. He is the same divine person about whom I told you while narrating my experiences of Uttara Gograhanam. On hearing the words from Uttara Kumara, King Virata ran to Arjuna and embraced him affectionatey. Next, he went to the throne and prostrated at the feet of Dharmaraja. Dharmaraja lifted and embraced him. Virata also went to Bheema, Nakula, Sahadeva and embraced them. King Virata called his ministers and officials and introduced Pandavas to them. He sent word
to his queen all about the real state of Pandavas and Draupadi. He respected Draupadi in a fitting manner. Arjuna: King! as per our agreement we were to spend one year Agnatha vasam. We were worried how to spend and where to spend. We have completed our Agnatha vasam as comfortable as a child in her mothers womb. Virata: Arjuna! We are no more outsiders to you. It is our good fortune that you have chosen our kingdom to complete your Agnatha vasam. By that, gods grace was showered on us. This kingdom belongs to Dharmaraja and myself, my brothers, my sons and ministers and all people of this country will serve him. Uttara Kumara: Where is the kingdom for us? Who are you to give it to Dharmaraja. In yesterdays battle they alone won with Trigarta and Kouravas. They alone won this kingdom. How can we give them back which is already owned by them. Since the kingdom is theirs, we have only one thing to offer them, if they agree. You call Uttara to this court. Uttara comes to the court hall: Viratas ministers went to the palace and brought Uttara with the permission of Sudheshana and brought her to the court hall. Virata took his daughter, went to Dharmaraja and they prostrated at his feet and said: Virata: Oh Dharmaraja! Out of my ignorance, I did not know who you were. You have to pardon me for my ignorance. I give this girl to Arjuna with the consent of all my relatives. My country men also will love it. Dharmaraja looked at Arjuna. Arjuna said to Dharmaraja: Arjuna: King! I do accept this Uttara as my daughter- in- law, not as my wife because she learnt dance from me. Thereby she became my disciple. Disciples are as good as own daughters. If I accept your offer people will call me a fickle minded person. So I will accept her for my son Abhimanyu. He is none other than nephew of Krishna. On hearing Arjunas words, Virata was happy and said, I will accept the words of Arjuna as his orders and I obey them. On hearing Viratas words, Dharmaraja said, Arjuna knows all dharmas. Let us agree to his proposal. You send this good news to all our relatives.
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Virata fixed the date and time for the marriage. Invitations were sent to Yadavas, Panchalas and many other relatives. Dharmaraja embraced Virata and said, Oh Virata! For us Krishna and you are same. To have relationship with you, I consider it as my good fortune. At Hastinapura, Duryodhana consulted Karna, Sakuni and Dushsasana and sent a messenger to Dharmaraja. However Bhishma and other elders warned him not to send a messenger. He did not agree to their advice. The messenger went and said: Messenger: Oh Dharmaraja! Before the completion of one year of Agnatha vasam, we have identified Arjuna. You also calculate and let us inform what would be the next course of action. In short the Duryodhanas mind was that Dharmaraja and his brothers were to make another twelve years of Vana vasam and one year of Agnatha vasam. However Dharmaraja smiled at the messenger and said: Dharmaraja: As per our understanding, thirteen years are completed. There is nothing to say about it. You go and inform Duryodhana in the presence of Bheeshma, Drona and other elders that we have completed our vow without any flaw. The messenger informed Duryodhana about what Dharmaraja had said. Duryodhana called Bheeshma, Drona and others and asked: Duryodhana: Did Arjuna come out of his Agnatha vasam after completing the term of thirteen years or not? Without ascertaining this fact, we made a battle with Arjuna. You please calculate and tell me. Bheeshma: Duryodhana! What are you talking? Dont keep such illusions. I told you on the first day, when Arjuna appeared on the battlefield itself that the term of Agnatha vasam was completed. All elders agreed with the Bhishmas words and said, Is Arjuna an ignorant to come out within the period of Agnatha vasam? Krishna, Balarama and others went to Pandavas : Pandavas completed their term of thirteen years, went to the burial ground and took their weapons back and worshipped them. They made Upaplavyapuram as their place of residence. King Virata gifted them diamonds and other valuables. People from the towns and villages came, met Dharmaraja and others and expressed their devotion to them.
Krishna and Balarama and others also brought valuable gifts and presented to Dharmaraja. Subadra also came with Abhimanyu and lived with them in Upaplavyapuram. With them many yadava kings came with valuable gifts and presented to Dharmaraja. Dharmaraja received them all with affection and honoured them. King Drupada also came with his sons. Pandavas welcomed Drupada and his sons with affection. King Virata also honoured them with respect. For the marriage of Abhimanyu and Uttara, kings and relatives from many kingdoms came and participated in it. In this grand manner Viratas and Pandavas arranged the marriage of Uttara and Abhimanyu. The celebration of marriage: They procured all the materials required for marriage. Astrologers invited Dharmaraja for the marriage. Dharmaraja and his brothers decorated well and attended the marriage. Krishna, Virata and all other kings took active part in the marriage and worshipped Pandavas. Virata selected valuable stones and many ornaments, silk garments and perfumes and offered to Krishna and Pandavas. Draupadi also honoured Subadra with ornaments and silk garments. King Virata gifted to Abhimanyu seven hundred elephants, ten thousand horses, five lakh cows, two thousand chariots, one lakh servants and many other gifts.
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UDYOGA PARVAM
CHAPTER 1 Pandavas discuss with Krishna their future course of action : After the marriage of Abhimanyu, Dharmaraja went with his brothers and all his relatives to the sabha of Virata. Various kings who were invited for the marriage were also present. In addition to them Virata, Drupada, Krishna, Balarama and other dignitaries were also present. Krishna said: Krishna: Pandavas were invited for a game of dice, cheated by Sakuni and lost their kingdom. Knowing fully well that they were deceived by Sakuni and others. Had they wanted to regain their kingdom by their valour, they could have done so. However Pandavas were committed to maintain the vow they made at the time of the deceitful game and completed their Aranya vasam and Agnatha vasam. Thereby they proved their decorum, nobility and dignity. You are aware how Dharmarajas mind was always fixed on dharma.So not deviating from dharma and considering the above facts, you think well and advise which is good for Pandavas. If it is an unrighteous way, Dharmaraja will reject even the throne of Indra. We know that while Pandavas were enjoying their kingdom, Duryodhana became jealous and planned a deceitful game of dice in consultation with his evil friends. Also we know that in spite of Dharmaraja being a virtuous person, Duryodhana and others meanly and viciously insulted him. In spite of great humiliation, Dharmaraja did not utter even a single word. Therefore we ought to consider all the aspects. I will tell you what I have in my mind. Pandavas fulfilled their vow and patiently underwent all the ordeals.We know that what kind of ordeals were they. It is natural that hearts of such people will always be fervent fiery to take revenge. But Kauravas are under the impression that Pandavas are not only weak but also isolated and lonesome. Perhaps it is the wicked thinking of Duryodhana, if he could isolate Pandavas and mobilize a huge army on his side, they could be defeated easily.
Hence Pandavas also should think in the lines of Duryodhana. In other words, in addition their own valour, Pandavas also should mobilize the support of as many kings as possible to their side. Then only the fight between Pandavas and Kauravas will be as tough as the fight between devatas and danavas. All the supporters of Pandavas have now assembled here. We dont know what the Kauravas are planning. We should not take any decision without knowing the mind of our enemies. We should send an efficient messenger to Kourava sabha to present Pandavass views. If Duryodhana agrees to a compromise and gives the half share of Pandavas, there will be nothing more for us to act. If he refuses to give the share, then we will think what should be our next course of action. Balarama: What Krishna said is beneficial to both the parties. It is also our responsibility to convince both the parties. This will be appreciated by all statesmen. Now they are asking back their properties, which is just and reasonable. In this way Duryodhana also loses nothing. Dharmaraja has the soft and forgetful nature; thereby he can forget the past and continue his relationship with Kouravas. Therefore it is better to send a messenger who is widely respected for integrity and impartial concern for the public good. He should be able to convince Duryodhana in soft and pleasing words. D harmaraja lost all his fortune in a game of gambling. To be frank, Duryodhana himself is not an expert in gambling. He had taken the help of Sakuni and deceived Dharmaraja. But Dharmaraja could not understand the cheating of Sakuni. Satyaki opposes for sending a mediator to Duryodhana: Satyaki: I disagree with Balaraman Balaraman: Why? You always favor Duryodhana; hence you alone can talk this type of soft words of sending a mediator to Kurusabha. According to me there is no need for any mediation. Pandavas should get their kingdom by right. What are you talking? Did Dharmaraja played the game of dice for gaining anything? Duryodhana, Dushsasana, Sakuni and Karna had conspired to loot the wealth of Pandavas and thus invited Dharmaraja for a gambling and deceived him. It is a well known secret! Then how you can find fault with Dharmaraja? Can any one in this sabha pinpoint that Dharmaraja has played the game willfully? Only Balarama alone can blame Dharmaraja. Therefore as per the conditions of the game, Pandavas are entitled to the share of their father. They will never beg for it. If they are refused, they
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willl secure their kingdom by their valour. Even if the Pandavas send a mediator, will our enemies appreciate Dharmarajas judicious nature? I dont like supporting the move to sending a mediator to Kurusabha. If they dont give our share, we will fight and get it. I will kill Duryodhana in that battle. Even if you search with torches, you cant find an equal warrior like Bheema and Arjuna in the enemys camp. Drupada: I agree with the words of Satyaki. Balaramas approach is not acceptable for me also. We should demand our legitimate right and get it not by begging. Duryodhana is depending on the strength of other kings who are supporting him, whereas we can fight with our own valour. Our friendss help is additional strength. I am sure that Duryodhana would never agree to give the share of Pandavas. Unless war breaks he will not understand what his strength is. One more thing is wicked and crooked Duryodhana will never yield for soft and diplomatic words. Bheeshma, Drona and other elders would not pinpoint Duryodhanas crookedness because they are eating his food. According to me, war is inevitable and it is better to increase our strength to fight the enemy. Let us send word to all our well wishers and enrol their support. I wish that Selya, Kaykaya, Drustakethu, Sahadeva (the son of Jarasandha), should be invited to our side. If the sabha decides finally to send a mediator, I would suggest that we shall send my priest to Dhrutarashtra as our mediator. He is a not only a great statesman, but also tactfully changes his mood and tone according to the situation. Krishna: What Drupada said is correct. We shall do accordingly. For me both Pandavas and Kouravas are equal. I will be happy if they both rule their kingdoms happily and peacefully. Drupada! You are elder to all of us. You are our well wisher of both the parties as well as Dhrutarashtra, Bheeshma and others. You have a pure mind in all matters. You yourself decide a mediator on behalf of Pandavas and send him to Kurusabha. We all abide by your decision. As you said, if Duryodhana refuses to give the share of Pandavas, all Kouravas will be turned to ashes by the fury of Arjuna. All the kings who assembled there started making preparations for war. Pandavas sent their messengers to various kings requesting their support in the event of a battle between Pandavas and Kauravas. Drupada invited a talented Brahmin and briefed him.
Drupada sends his priest as a mediator: Drupada: You are the most intimate friend of mine. You have the knack of understanding the thoughts of others mind. I will tell you precisely what you are supposed to talk with Dhrutarashtra. I wish that you would succeed in your mission. You listen what all I say carefully. Duryodhana is a greedy person. He will not agree to give the share of Pandavas. You know the nature of Dharmaraja, it is opposite in the case of Duryodhana. You talk to Dhrutarashtra in such a manner that all the kings that are present in Kurusabha should develop sympathy for Pandavas. If Bheeshma, Drona and others are not in favour of a battle, you can talk tactfully and convince Duryodhana. With this briefing, the messenger left for his mission. Meanwhile both the parties began sending their couriers to all the directions to meet kings andenlist their support. Duryodhana also involved in this aspect. Duryodhana and Arjuna visit Krishna for help: Duryodhana has sent his mediators to all the kings on earth for their support in the event of a battle, but for procuring the help of Krishna, he himself went to him personally. On the same day, Arjuna reached Dwaraka to see Krishna. It was a great stroke of luck that both of them visited Krishna simultaneously. By the time they visited his place Krishna was sleeping. Duryodhana sat on a chair by the side of Krishnas head. In the meanwhile Arjuna also came. He sat in another seat by the side of his feet. The moment Krishna woke up,he saw Arjuna, who stood up and saluted him. After receiving Arjuna he turned his head and saw Duryodhana was also standing. After respecting both, he asked them what for they have come? Duryodhana said, Krishna! It appears that a war is inevitable. So I came to seek your help. I came first and waiting since you are sleeping. Virtuous people always serve the people that have come first. So you should help me first. Then Krishna said. Krishna: Oh Duryodhana! No doubt you have come first. But I have seen Arjuna first. So I will see to it that I help both of you equally. Therefore I will divide all my strength in to two. You can choose whichever you please. I will tell you how. I have ten thousand warriors who are very valorous, strong and brave. They are all in one side. I alone will be on the other side. Whereas all those ten thousand warriors will fight the battle to helpyoy, whereas I wont take part in actual fight. I wont even touch a weapon. I only
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give an advice wherever it is necessary. Now you choose what you want. Since I have seen Arjuna first, he will choose first. On hearing Krishnas words, Arjuna didnt opt for the army of Krishna, but asked for Krishna himself. On hearing Arjunas request, Duryodhana was very happy. Duryodhana had taken all the army of Krishna and went to Balaramas palace. Balarama said to Duryodhana: Balarama: Duryodhana! This topic has come when I went to the marriage of Abhimanyu. At that time, I spoke on your behalf. But many of our own people opposed me. At that time Krishna alone has supported me. Since I dont want to expose further I kept quiet and came back. However anybody may say any thing. I cant leave Krishna. In case you have decided to fight a battle, I will not fight on any side. I will become neutral. On hearing Balaramas decision, Duryodhana was happy and went to the palace of Krutavarma, who had assured his support with an army of one Askhauhini. Duryodhana happily and complacently returned to Hastinapura. After Duryodhana left Krishna asked Arjuna: Krishna: Arjuna! Duryodhana was a wise man. He had chosen ten thousand yadava warriors but you have asked me alone. I have a feeling that you made a wrong choice. Arjuna: You are wrong, Krishna! I dont want to borrow any army from you to fight the battle. When I won a battle people say that Krishna has won the battle. Not only that if you are on the opposite side, it is impossible to defeat you. That is why I chose you to be on my side. Krishna! You show your kindness on us. You be my charioteer, this is my long desire. Krishna said. Oh sinless Arjuna! It is my duty to satisfy your desire. I will be your charioteer in the coming big battle. By saying so Krishna went with Arjuna to meet Dharmaraja to workout further arrangements for the war. Duryodhana seeks the help of king Selya: The mediators from Pandavas went to Selya and asked his help in the forthcoming war with Kauravas. Selya accepted the invitation of Pandavas and started with his sons, minister and with big army to see Dharmaraja. Duryodhana came to know that Selya was going to Dharmaraja to extend his help in the battle. So he wanted to stop Selya from helping Pandavas and he wanted to turn Selya to his side. Duryodhana built a big
township with tents for the comfortable stay of king Selya and his troops. He extended all hospitalities under his personal supervision. But none in Selyas troop knew who had arranged all those hospitality. At the end, Selya was very much pleased for the gesture of Dharmaraja. He ordered his people to bring the ministers of Dharmaraja before him so as to honour them for their hospitality. Duryodhana went and prostrated at the feet of Selya and said Out of love and regard alone, we provided all these comforts. Then Selya congratulated Duryodhana for his gesture and out of gratitude to Dutyoadhana, promised him that he would extend his help to Duryodhana in the impending . Duryodhana was very much happy and took the assurance from Selya several times so that he might not jump from his promise. Duryodhana requested Selya to go with him to Hastinapura so that they all could stay comfortably till the war was declared. Selya said, Duryodhana! I have equal affection on both of you. So I will certainly help you as requested. Dont doubt me. You ask me if you want any thing more from me, I will grant you. Then Duryodhana requested him to be his minister and bless him. Selya: Duryodhana! You go to Hastinapura. I am going to see Pandavas and from there I will come to Hastinapura. Duryodhana again and again requested him not to forget the promise made to him. Selya smiled at him, embraced and said that he would come to Hastinapura and would become his minister. Selya went to Dharmaraja and met all his brothers. They made him to sit on a golden throne and worshipped him. Selya said to Dharmaraja: Selya: Dharmaraja! We are all safe. You lived in the forest for a long time. There you all suffered with the cruel animals and rakshasas. To complete one your Agnatha vasam must have been very difficult. Since you are all virtuous and truthful people, you completed the Agnatha vasam successfully. However the whole world is distressed for your difficulties. If you are happy, the whole world will be happy. On my way I met Duryodhana unexpectedly who gave me a most impressive welcome and reception, food arrangements for my army. Sop we are indebted to him. You must understand my peculiar position. He wanted me to be his minister. As there was no other way to express my gratitude, I gave my consent. Dharmaraja: Uncle! What you did is right. Whoever does good one, has to appreciate their superior quality. I am happy that you have joined
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Duryodhana. However I have a prayer before you. You must bless me. That is Krishna will become a charioteer of Arjuna. On hearing the name of Arjuna, Karna hisses like a cobra. If they both meet in a battle, one cant imagine his fury on Arjuna. In this battle one day or the other, you might become the charioteer of Karna. At that time, you wound the feelings of Karna and disturb him mentally with your words. You see to it that those wounds are not to be healed. Dont think it is unethical and but concede to my prayer. On hearing Dharmarajas request, Selya said, Dharmaraja! What you said is right. In the battlefield if Duryodhana orders me to become a charioteer to Karna, I cant say no to him, though it would be below my dignity to be a charioteer. If I happen to be his charioteer, I will assure you that I would wound Karna with most cruel words with which he would never have peace of mind. I will see to it that he will become nervous and forget his astras. I will see to it that he develops cold feet. He may not remember the mantras also. Thereby Arjuna might take advantage of the situation. [Selya has promised Duryodhana that he would fight on his side whenever the battle took place. In spite of that, Selya assured Dharmaraja that he would help him. For which he has two reasons. 1. Selya is the brother of Madri, the mother of Nakula and Sahadeva. Therefore he is the uncle of Pandavas. He is a natural well wisher of Pandavas. 2. He thinks that Karna was a low caste person. So to become a charioteer for a low caste person was against his conscious. He also could not digest the insult that Karna made against Draupadi in Kurusabha.] Dharmaraja! Dont worry for the past and difficulties you have suffered, you will achieve for which you are fighting. Some times even devatas fell in difficulties. So one cant escape from the fate. Satyaki and others reaches Pandavas with their army: Satyaki came with one Akshouhini of army and reached Pandavas camp. Drushtajyumna, son of Drupada came with one akshouhini of army, Sahadeva, the son of Jarasandha came with one akshouhini of army. Virata and his brothers came with one akshouhini of army. Drustakethuvu came with one akshouhini of army. King of Pandya came with one akshouhini of army. Many small and sundry kings came with one akshouhini of army. On Duryodhanas side Bagadattha, Bhurisrava and Selya came with one akshouhini each. The king of Kambojha and the king of Sindhusowhera also came with one akshouhini of army each. Krutavarma, Vindha, Anuvindha
likewise came with one akshouhini of army each. In addition to the above all enthusiastic kings, formed in to three akshouhinis of army. In this manner, the Kauravas side assembled eleven akshouhinis of army. The priest of Drupada reaches Hastinapura as a mediator: Drupadas priest reached Hastinapura and met Dhrutarashtra in person and explained the Pandavas case. In the same way, he met Bheeshma, Drona, Krupa and others. They all appreciated the skill of talking of the priest and respected him. He also met Duryodhana and praised his good qualities and tried to please him. He stayed in Hastinapura for a few days and one day met all of them in Kurusabha. The priest: We are all aware that Dhrutarashtra and Panduraju were brothers. Their sons are entitled to enjoy the shares of their fathers. We are all aware that many attempts were made on the lives of Pandavas. However by the grace of god, they survived. While they were enjoying their respective kingdoms, unfortunately Pandavas kingdom was annexed in a deceitful manner. All these things happened with the knowledge of king Dhrutarashtra only. Draupadi was insulted in Kurusabha in the presence of elders. In addition to all these humiliations they also faced many difficulties in their Aranya vasam and Agnatha vasam. However Pandavas are still approaching you for a compromise and it is to be appreciated by one and all. You all should take into account the haughtiness of Kauravas and the patience of Pandavas in an unbiased way. You are to advise Dhrutarashtra the righteous way. Pandavas are not desirous of having a battle with Kauravas. Because if such a big battle takes place there will be enormous human loss. However one should not view this as Pandavas weakness. Since they have completed their vow, they are approaching this sabha as matter of their right. Oh elders! Pandavas were able to secure seven akshouhini of army. On Kauravas side,it seems that they have secured eleven akshouhinis of army. By this arithmetic, one cant judge that Pandavas are weak. Because Satyaki, Bheema, Arjuna and others had a proven strength and results. Of all said and done, Krishna who is none other than Maha Vishnu himself is on Pandavas side. Hence, Oh king Dhrutarashtra! before it is too late, please be tactful and gracious to send comforting words to Pandavas and give back their kingdom and make friendship. Bheeshma: All your words are worth most practical. If Pandavas and Kauravas live amicably as brothers what more we want. Krishna and elders
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like me are also welcoming the same. Oh superior Brahmin! Though your way of expression is not palatable to Kauravas, the audience in the sabha will understand the agony, behind your argument. We all wish that king Dhrutarashtra should invite Pandavas and give back the share of their father and treat them as his own sons. Not only that, Dharmaraja was invited to play a game of dice for the sake of a fun. Once they came and sat before the dice of Dharmaraja could not go back. In the same way his brothers also could not say no to their brother. Therefore they all fastened with a vow and patiently under went all the ordeals. Had they turned violent on the spot at that time, none of his enemies would have been alive. Karna: What all the Brahmin and Bheeshma said are known to one and all. How many times they will repeat the same tune? Anybody may say anything but Dharmaraja sat willfully and consciously before the game of dice. Only thing was Sakuni had won all the bets for Duryodhana. Ultimately Dharmaraja was defeated. Where is adharma in it? In fact all the adharma lies with Dharmaraja only because we have identified him before the completion of agnatha vasam. Therefore they are to undergo another thirteen years of exile as per the vow of the game. In the meanwhile, if they come and shout for their fathers share, there will be none to hear their false claim. If they had a strong father- in- law let them be and we are not afraid! So you stop this meaningless and endless discussion at this point. Bheeshma: Karna! Dont think that you spoke like a statesman. People will laugh at you. Just a day before in Uttara gograhamam, Arjuna alone beat you all. Did you forget? I told you, Duryodhana, Drona and others on the day of Uttara gograhamam itself that the term of agnatha vasam was sucessfylly completed. You were also there at that time. Dhrutarashtra: Uncle! It is not good for us to wrangle before a mediator. Oh superior Brahmin! I also want all my children to live in peace and harmony. So I will send one emissary from my side. The mediation of Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra assembled Bheeshma, Drona and others on one side, Duryodhana and others on one side and said to Sanjaya, Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Now Pandavas are living in Upaplavayam. Krishna also appears to be there. You go there immediately and tell them as my words. Dharmaraja! I am pleased to note that you have come out of many difficulties from the forest life and agnatha vasam. Duryodhana does
not know the difference between good and evil. He is responsible for all the unpleasant happenings. But all of you are virtuous. There is not even an iota of blame in your behavior. You are all courageous, strong and good at fighting battles. Sanjaya! You tell all my words when Dharmaraja was in the middle of sabha. You speak in such a manner, all his brothers and relatives should feel happy. You should water down their anger with your words and make them happy. You see to it that the concept of battle does not enter in their mind. You alone could do this mediation with tact. Sanjaya goes to Upaplavyam: Sanjaya went to Upaplavyam and met Arjuna and sent word to Dharmaraja. Next day Sanjaya went to sabha where Krishna and others were present. Sanjaya said: Sanjaya: Dharmaraja! I am glad that I have met you today. King Dhrutarashtra came to know that you are here and asked me to go and enquire about your wellbeing. Dharmaraja: By the way in which our king has showered his kindness, we are all like this, I am grateful to him for enquiring our welfare. Does Karna still manage the affairs of Duryodhana? Sanjaya: You are also aware, that in the court of Duryodhana there may be vitreous persons and also wicked people So there is no meaning to go into details. Dharmaraja! Yours is a soft nature like moon light. You are always a peace loving person. If war is inevitable, it is certain that all Kauravas will die. Yours is a kind nature and you protect even your enemies. That is why you are hailed as Ajata Satru. When people suffered at the hands of wicked people, they cry Had Bheema or Arjuna been here, they could have protected us In that manner even to day people remember you. As you are sitting with your brothers and Krishna, I came to submit a few words, please permit me to say. Dharmaraja: Sanjaya! Please go ahead! You tell what all you want to tell without any fear. Sanjaya: Dharmaraja, you are an ocean of kindness! War means killing each other. They are all our own relatives. After killing our near and dear, what pleasures that the winner may derive?
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Krishna is big force on your side, apart from Bheema and Arjunas valour. Nakula, Sahadeva and kings like Virata and many other great warriors are there on your side. It is a well known fact in spite of your strength, you dislike war. But you must know that Bheeshma, Drona, Krupacharya and many others cannot be defeated. Somadatta, Bahlika and many other kings are ready even to give their lives for Duryodhana. I am prostrating at the feat of Krishna. My salutations to Bheema, Arjuna and others! I request you all to leave anger; I seek protection from kind hearted Dharmaraja again and again. Bheeshma also will feel happy if peace prevails. Dharmaraja: Sanjaya! Did I utter even single word about war? It seems you are afraid of war. If we get what we deserve without a war, there will be no need to think of a war? We are all peace loving brothers.Only greedy people will think of war and ultimately land in grief. That does not mean we are averse for comforts. While Duryodhana and his brothers are enjoying comforts, will Dhrutarashtra deny the same to us?Please think with an open mind and evaluate what I said is reasonable or not? On that day when we played to game of dice the King had chosen to be unjust and supported his sons. Today he is advising us to go in a righteous path. Which means, that he wants us to watch his sons from a distance when they are enjoying comforts. Is it reasonable? Sanjaya! We have lost everything. We have become weak. Is Dhrutarashtra a mad man to treat us kindly? Is it not an eyewash to send a peace massage through you? Already we are suffering. Your words are causing more pain as if spilling chilly powder on a wound. Are we new to this kind of his actions? He had a blind love for Duryodhana. He believes that his son is more valorous than us. Therefore he will never take a right decision. Sanjaya! You know that Vidura advised him that he should not have a lust on a fortune through gambling. But he refused to take his advice and supported Sakuni. Even today Dhrutarashtra is a tool in the hands of Duryodhana, Dushsasana, Sakuni and Karna. Duryodhana will not care even Krishna. He is hoping that Karna will defeat Arjuna and therefore refuses to give our share. You know all these things but you took pains of coming all the way and behave like a statesman. I fail to understand whether you are wise or unwise. I dont agree with your views that nobody can fight with Bheeshma and others. Arjunas twanging of his Gandivam will deafen the
entire battle field. The glittering of Bheemas club will blind those Kaurava heroes. So dont take in a partisan way. You advised me to leave anger. In spite of many insults and humiliations, we are maintaining forbearance. Now also as advised by you, if we will not show anger people will laugh at us. If my father has real love and affection, let him show it in action. It is up to him to convince his son and give us our share. Sanjaya: Dharmaraja! You have such a great patience to bear any amount to mistakes of others. If you are not happy with my words, I will submit two more words. Please listen. Kauravas are wicked people. Even if they refuse to give your share, I would request you to keep quiet. You dont relish kingdom by killing all your relatives. Is it not better to live by begging than eating the food mixed with blood? You have performed Rajasuya, the greatest of all yagas. You worshipped several devatas. All the worlds are praising you as the most peace loving, a king who has control of senses. Why should you spoil such a great image for the sake of land? You withstood so many insults and humiliation at the time of deceitful game of dice. Having maintained patience all these years, should you fight a war for the sake of impermanent comforts? You alone are capable of swallowing anger of Siva who swallowed Halahalam. If you become impatient where is the protection for the world? Dharmaraja: Sanjaya! You listen to my words with patience and then blame if you feel like. You have advised me to leave anger. I do agree that nonviolence is the best of all dharmas. But some one is bringing inglory to the family, should they not be destroyed to the roots. All the more, you yourself tell me whether war is a Kshatriya dharma or not? We are always guided by the advice of Krishna. He alone is guiding vrushti, Srunjaya, Kekaya and other Yadava kings in the right path. We are totally depend on Krishna to achieve Dharma, ardha kame and moksha. Anyone may say that war is adharma on the face it. But if we fight for our share of kingdom, no one will find fault with us. Krishna: Sanjaya! Since my name has come in your conversations, I may tell you a few words. I always wish the wellbeing of Pandavas. I also wish that Kauravas also are to live in peace with their children and grand children. Superficially every thing looks well. But by the way Dharmaraja said, compromise appears to be not possible. Unless both of you come down a step, the compromise may not be possible. Tell your king the sweet words will not give food for Pandavas.
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Sanjaya! There is no point in digging the past. Is it not our tradition that children are to enjoy their fathers share? If that is denied what is left to them except war? Dharmaraja asked you go. Whether he should opt for a war or not? To up keep Varnasrema dharmas is one of the important dharmas for a king. If such is the case how can he ignore his own Kshatriya dharma? Sanjaya! Is it the first time that a gambling is played in this world? Did any where in the world a chaste woman was humiliated in the lowest manner in the presence of her husbands? Sanjaya: Deva! If you remember all those events, can we achieve any thing? Krishna: Sanjaya! When Draupadi was insulted Bheeshma and others kept quiet because they could not read the mind of Dhrutarashtra. Though a chaste women was insulted, Dhrutarashtra did not warn his sons. Had he taken remedial measures then and there, not only me but all the world would have felt happy. When Dushsasana was dragging a chaste woman in that sabha, Did he not hear her cries? But today he has sent you as his messenger to enquire about their wellbeing. When that helpless woman was struggling to project her honour, could this princess bear that army? Sanjaya! Did you not hear what Karna said? He said all Pandavas are weak limbs and said who was man among them? Unless they restore Pandavas share, it is not possible to have a settlement. So you go and tell your king to give Pandavas share and thereby protect Kauravas. Justice is on our side. I have the knack and tact to convince elders of your sabha. I shall seek justice for Pandavas. Sanjaya! Duryodhana is an embodiment of poisonous tree. Karna is the trunk. Its branches are Sakuni. Dushsasana is its flowers and fruits. Dhrutarashtra is its roots. Whereas Dharmaraja is an embodiment of Dharma. Arjuna is its trunk. Bheema is its branches. Nakula and Sahadeva are the flowers and fruits. From this, one should decide which is the noblest side. Dhrutarashtra and his sons are like a forest. Pandavas are like lions. A forest cant sustain without lions. People cut the forest indiscriminately. In the same way, lions also cant wander outside a forest. Anybody can do harm to them. So both are complimentary and supplementary to each other. Should he not treat them as his sons? If Dhrutarashtra treats them also as his sons, they will serve him in times of peace and in times of war they may protect
him. I myself will come to Kurusabha and try for a compromise. Let us see whether Dhrutarashtra agrees or not. Depending on his attitude we should decide. You convey to the king all the opinions expressed by us. Sanjaya: Dharmaraja! If Krishna himself comes everything, will turn out to be good. Dharmaraja: Sanjaya! You told what all you are asked to tell us without fear or favour and all that you spoke is just and reasonable. From that side you and Vidura alone are righteous persons for negotiations. You pass on may warm enquiries and salutations to Bheeshma and other elders. Pass on my enquires to Duryodhana and his brothers. In the presence of all elders, you tell my words to king Dhrutarashtra the following words. King! Ever since my father died, you allowed us to enjoy the half share of my father and treated us kindly. Now we are suffering from dire poverty and still you are behaving indifferently towards us. Is it fair? Should there not be a limit for selfishness. If we live together, all the earth will be under your control. Sanjaya! You tell these words to my grandfather Bheeshma. Pitamaha! You cause to stand the family of king Santana. In the same way now also you save our Kuru family. If you save all your grand sons from premature death, people also will appreciate you. Even now I am not inviting war. Sanjaya! In the presence of all elders in the sabha, you tell Duryodhana as my words. Duryodhana! Though we are all valorous, you made us weak limbs and had driven us to forests. Thus you became responsible for all our sufferings. We tolerated even when Draupadi was dragged to the sabha by her hair. There is a limit for our patience. Dont become greedy for others wealth. Dont become the cause for destruction of Kuru family. You give back our share of kingdom; thereby we all can live peacefully. Duryodhana! I am proposing this compromise on your welfare only. Dont depend on the strength of the kings who are supporting you. Justice is on our side. Krishna always leans towards Dharma. Dont think Krishna is an ordinary human being. He is none other than Lord Vishnu. With these two factors nobody can defeat us. I am older than all our brothers. So dont put me in a state of affliction. Let us enjoy our share and live peacefully. This is the only just and proper solution.
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Duryodhana! If you dont like to give us half share, you may give us five villages. All our five brothers will live happily in those villages. All the kings who came with enthusiasm will go back to their places. Arjuna: Sanjaya! You are our childhood friend. You know all our good and bad qualities. Dharmaraja is controlling Bheema like a mahoot controls an elephant. So tell them, our proposal is more in the interest of kauravas. Arjuna gave valuable gifts to Sanjaya and gave good feast in his honour.
CHAPTER-2
Sanjaya returned from Upaplavyam, reached Hastinapura and reported to Dhrutarashtra . Sanjaya : King! I went to Dharmaraja . He respected me most affectionately and offered his salutation to you. Dhrutarashtra: How is Ajatasatru? How are other Pandavas and Draupadi? Sanjaya: Dharmaraja is more interested in following dharma then enjoying comforts. He wants to be nonviolent, as he believes more on fate, and less on human effort. He believes that you are the king and hence he left everything at your discretion. You always depend on Duryodhana whereas your son has become a tool in the hands of Sakuni and Karna. In fact you are only a figure head without any power. Even a common man is questioning about your blind love for your son. If war is inevitable, none of your sons will survive. You and your sons are under the illusion that Pandavas are weak limbs. In fact you also took advantage of Dharmarajas tolerance. But for Dharmaraja, Pandavas would have killed all your sons long ago, for which you must thank Dharmaraja in your heart of hearts. Let us be frank. King! On the day your son resorted to a deceitful game, the adharma took place. That day itself seeds were sown for the death of all your sons. Since that day happened to be advantageous to you, you pretended as if you know nothing about the deceit. In spite of the atrocities done by your son, Dharmaraja was fastened by dharma. Your sons took it as his weakness and committed heinous crimes. Know it well! Though Dharmaraja may look soft, he is a tiger.He wants his share given back.
I travelled without any halt. Hence I am very much tired. I shall take rest and tell everything tomorrow in the sabha. Dhrutarashtra was very much disturbed. He sent word for Vidura, and said to him. Dhrutarashtra: Vidura! Just now Sanjaya came from Pandavas. He briefed me his mediation in nut shell and went home. He said he would explain everything tomorrow in the sabha. I did not get sleep, so I sent for you. Vidura: Dhrutarashtra! A man will be away from sleep on three occasions. 1. When strong men attacks on a weak limb 2.When one loses his wealth 3.One who wants to steal others fortune. Now you tell me the reason for your sleeplessness. Dhrutarashtra: Vidura! Sanjaya did not tell me what Dharmaraja told. He said that he would tell everything in sabha. So I am worried what would be the reply of Dharmaraja. You are the only person who can relieve from my worry. Vidura: Dhrutarashtra! You know Dharmarajas soft nature. His mind is always fixed on dharma. He is modest and virtuous. If we give their share, he will feel happy and you can sleep well. You kept their kingdom in the hands of your son. He in turn put it in the hands of Sakuni, Karna and Dushsasana. None of them had the attitude of give and take. Like a cat that does not want to leave a piece of meat, you and your son are refusing to give the share of Pandavas. Dharmaraja is respecting you as his father. In spite of knowing your double standards he is keeping high regard for you. Sanjaya is our relative, friend, philosopher and guide. Hence knowing fully well of your nature, he said that he would reveal everything in the sabha. Dhrutarashtra: Vidura! You know everything about me. So tell me some good words so that my mind may settle in peace. Vidura teaches to Dhrutarashtra: Vidura: The king always should move with people. He should not involve himself in an antipeople activities. He should not be jealous on the people richer than him. The qualities of an evil natured person are anger,
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pride, discontented attitude, arrogance and overenjoyment . The qualities of a wise and sagacious person are to worship the king, the god and wife in a proper manner. Without these qualities he will not be considered as a wise man. The qualities of an ignorant person.are hatered towards a person who loves him; running behind a person who doesnt love him and deliberately inviting a quarrel. In the case of a veracious person- wealth, knowledge, rich heritage will enhance his glory. Whereas in the case of an ignorant personhe would crush all such good qualities. The arrow of an archerer may or may not kill a person. But the contrivance of a statesman will kill the enemy and his kingdom. Dhrutarashtra: Vidura! You are a learned person. So you tell me which is safe to me and also a judicious way out. Vidura: Dhrutarashtra! Since you are asking for a judicious solution, why I should not tell you the real facts? The kingdom that you are enjoying today belongs to your brother. Let us not try to keep others property with us. That amounts to unrighteous: Even though we try to retain it for ourselves, we cant digest it. Our position is like a fish that swallowed bait. Your son is trying to swallow the property of Pandavas. That should not happen. Dhrutarashtra: On hearing your words, I am unable either to swallow them or to vomit. My mind, is not working. However your words gave me some relief. Vidura: All your sons are speaking vile talks. Still you are not warning them. Why? When a man is running bad times, even vile words will appear pleasant. Your mind is still working to do harm for Pandavas. That is why, they are suffering. Still he is respecting you as father. Is it fair on your part to leave than in lurch? Dhrutarashtra: Vidura! I am inclined to hear words more and more. Please tell me some more good words. Vidura: Character alone makes a man superior. A man without a character is low and vile. All your sons are anxious to fight with Pandavas. His friends are adding ghee to their fury. We dont follow any ethics. Pandavas wont expose their valour unless they are provoked for a war. In other words they want to achieve things in an ethical way. If they are dragged to a war they wont go back. Once they made up their mind, no body can stop them. They are worshipping you more than their father. So, remove unwanted
worries from your mind. Worries make a man weak. A weak man loses his health. Ultimately the enemy will become stronger. So leave all worries and call Dharmaraja and give back his fathers share. Dhrutarashtra: Vidura! I deliberately drove Dharmaraja into difficulties. If war breaks, it is definite that all my sons will be killed. If that happens, will there be any end to my grief? You tell me how I can get peace of mind. Vidura: Dhrutarashtra! If you want peace, leave away greediness, do tapasya. Keep your senses under control. Then only, you will get real peace. If a tree is standing alone either a horse or an elephant may pull it down. But if it is in the midst of many trees, they cannot do any harm. In the same way, if all the brothers live together, even Lord Brahma cannot shake them. So if Pandavas and Kauravas live together no enemy can beat you. Therefore give back the kingdom to Pandavas, thereby you can save all your sons. You may find many who can praise you, to gain benefits from you. But none of them is your well wisher. You kept cats around you and had driven away tigers. Now you are crying with sleepless nights. Dhrutarashtra: Vidura! I agree with what you say. You spoke like a statesman. However you may say I cannot loose my son. I am aware that dharma alone will win. Vidura: You say you cannot leave Duryodhana, knowing all about his cruel nature. Then, is it fair to leave Pandavas? You convince Duryodhana and give a few villages to Pandavas and purchase peace. Dharmaraja will agree for anything that you offer. In case, a war becomes inevitable, know it well that you will have to lose Duryodhana. So you try to understand why I am telling you so much. If one wants to die, we need not die for sharing the kingdom. This body has abundant diseases, old age and grief. Every one of us is to die one day or the other. So death is common to all. Many kings fought battles, established kingdoms and enjoyed comforts. Had they stayed forever? So if you follow my advice you will become glorious in this world and in the other world also. Dhrutarashtra: Vidura! I am convinced that your advice alone will bring good to all of us. Vidura: Dhrutarashtra! Today you have taken the wisest decision. Dont change your mind, after seeing Duryodhana. God alone should give you strength to take good decisions.
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Dhrutarashtra: Vidura! You told me the essence of ethics. You teach me the knowledge of real spirit. Vidura: Oh king! I told you a few good words from my limited knowledge. If you want to know about the true spirit saint Santsujata alone is competent to offer you such advice. However I shall pray for him to quest your thirst. At the request of Vidura prayed for Sanatsujata. Sanatsujata: Dhrutarashtra! You wanted to know about death. In fact some say, Those who are busy in their own business will never have the fear of death. Some others say there is nothing like death. Both are ancient school of thoughts only. Death is nothing but a feeling of self love out of ignorance. Nobody has seen death as clearly as a lion kills a deer. By virtue of self, love may develop relations out of ignorance. However they cant see the cycle of birth and death. Unless one gets out of self love (ego) one cant escape from this cycle. For one who escapes cycle of birth and death, it will be known as moksham(salvation). So a man is to perform karma without expecting fruits. Such people alone are eligible for heaven and they will reach the state of bliss which is above Aadibhowtikam, Aadideivikam, Adi Aadhyatmikam, satva rajas, tamo gunas. In that state of bliss, illusion and death do not touch him. Such a state of bliss is Brahman. He who attributes worldly things to behave will be under the influence of illusion. Such a person cannot become Brahman and he cheats himself. Death will always swallow such a person who poses the following evil virtues. 1. He who wants to loot others money, 2. Who find faults in good, 3. Who is not contended with what he had, 4. Who is jealous of others fortune, 5. Who fights with his wife, 6. Who tell lies, 7. Who flatters, 8. Who complains on others, 9. Who does not have modesty, 10. Who blames others, 11. Spirit will have no rebirth. By that time it was dawn. So Devarishi disappeared. In this manner Dhrutarashtra spent a sleepless night. He completed his morning rituals and went to Kurusabha. By that time, Bheeshma, Vidura, Bahlika, Somadutta, Bhoorisrava and others took their seats. At that time, the guard came and announced the arrival of Sanjaya.
Sanjaya narrates the opinion of Pandavas: Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra maharaja! As instructed by you I went to Pandavas. They respected me well and enquired the welfare of each and everyone of you. I conveyed your message in a humble way by maintaining good relations. They heard your proposal with keen interest and magnanimity. After hearing me Dharmaraja asked to convey the following messages to Dhrutarashtra, Duryodhana, and Bheeshma individually. Dhrutarashtra: How Krishna received my words? What did he said? Sanjaya: King! By the time I went, Krishna, Satyabhama, Arjuna and Draupadi were discussing. When the guard came out and took me into their chamber, I tied a turban on my head and saluated Krishna and others. At that time Krishnas feet were on the laps of Arjuna who was stroking with his fist. Krishna pushed a seat where he was keeping his feet, for me to sit. I touched the seat with my head and sat on the floor. By looking Krishna and Arjuna at one place, I had a feeling I am awakening lord Yama. They complimented me with new clothes and other valuable gifts. Sanjaya conveys the message of Dhrutarashtra: Krishna: Sanjaya! Tell as my words to Dhrutarashtra, Bheeshma, Drona, and Duryodhana, when they are sitting in the sabha. Dhrutarashtra! Dharmaraja never knew anger. He loves even an enemy. That is why he is known as Ajatasatru. If he gets annoyed, all waters of oceans becomes one. Badabagni will generate from under waters and burns away all lokas. Oh king! I am advising you, before Dharmaraja becomes furious and before your sons are burnt to ashes, let them complete pilgrimages, let them enjoy all worldly pleasures. Let them invite near and dear to spend pleasant time before they die. Draupadi was insulted in your Kurusabha in an inhuman way. At that time she requested for my protection. I am going to become the charioteer of Arjuna in the battle and repay her debt. Today or tomorrow all your sons are going to die in the hands of Arjuna. Dhrutarashtra: What did Arjuna said? Sanjaya tells the views of Arjuna: Sanjaya: King! Arjuna was annoyed on hearing my words. Dharmaraja asked for his share of kingdom. Even if you refuse to give our share, I consider
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that is also good. Because I and Bheema can fulfill our vows and after killing your sons, Dharmaraja gets what he wanted. While Duryodhana is rolling on the ground with pain of my arrows and Bheemas fists, he will come to know how we all suffered lying on the ground in the forests. We all suffered and withstood all our pain, because our minds were fixed on truth and dharma. Know it well that we are all nothing but smoldering fire. The same will turnout to be as a wildfire and destroy all the enemies. At that time, there will be no Duryodhana to give our share. Your king insulted Krishna, who is none other than paramatma. On that moment itself he was dead. You convey my salutations to Bheeshma, Drona, Krupa and the other elders and tell that we shall fight for our share. Though they may fight on behalf of Duryodhana, I have no other go except to kill them with a pain at heart. We abide by our vow. So we demand our share. Nobody can stop us. I shall destroy all my enemies with one pasupatastra. So let Bheeshma, Bahlika, Dhrutarashtra decide what they want. I wish a long life for Duryodhana. Bheeshma: Duryodhana! Dont think Krishna and Arjuna are ordinary humans. Brahma himself told Narada that they are Nara-Narayana, a great rishis. And that they both are going to take birth as Krishna and Arjuna to reduce the burden on earth. We are all aware that Krishna has killed Kamsa and many other rakshasas. Duryodhana! Your mind is always inclined to do evil acts. Added to that you are surrounded by wicked company of Sakuni and Karna. You will not listen to our words. You take it from me that those Karna, Sakuni and Dushsasana are wicked people. So you get out of their company. Karna: Pitamaha! I am living with the patronage of Duryodhana. Is it not my duty to support him when he asked for my help? You also know well that I give my life for the king. Tell me, if I am not loyal to him, why he brings me to this level? Bheeshma tells the story of Karna: Bheeshma: Dhrutarashtra! This Karna is a talkative. In no way he is equal to Arjuna. On the other hand, he blabbers that he alone will kill all the Pandavas. Your sons lend ears to his boastings.
Duryodhana firmly believes that this Karna would kill Arjuna. His boastings alone developed enemity with Arjuna. Each one in Pandavas won so many battles, whereas Karna did not have even a single victory to his credit. Arjuna killed Karnas brother at gograhmam. What revenge he took on Arjuna? Is he not responsible for the defeat of Duryodhana at the time of uttaragograhmam? Where was he when gandharvas fastened your son and his queens? This wicked person does not know how to get things done. You nod your head for whatever your son says. Drona: Dhrutarashtra! Bheeshma is a well-wisher of both Kauravas and Pandavas. You listen to his words and make a compromise with Pandavas. I know Arjunas valour. He is capable of doing what he said to Sanjaya. Did we not witness, when he defeated Indra , at the time of Khandava vanadahanam. So we cant defeat them. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Did Dharmaraja know that we have secured a big army? What is he thinking about our strength? Whose support he is expecting to fight with Kauravas? Sanjaya: King! I told you my assessment about the mind of Pandavas. Dharmaraja is very much interested to go for a compromise and worships you as his father. Bheeshma and Drona told you which is good for you. In spite of that you are again and again enquiring whose support he is taking?. You listen. King! Dharmaraja comes with Bheema who has killed Bakasura, Jatasura, Hidimbasura and Keecheka, who has the strength of ten thousand elephants. He alone can spoil all war strategies of enemy. Dharmaraja comes with Arjuna who has pleased Paramasiva and secured pasupatestra. Dharmaraja will attack our army with Nakula and Sahadeva, which means fighting with lions only. Who can fight with Abhimanyu and Upa-Pandavas? Apart from them, Krishna, Satyaki, Kekaya and many other kings are enthusiastic to support Dharmaraja. Dont under estimate Krishna. I am afraid that he alone can wipe out all our eleven akshauhinis of army. Let us seek compromise. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! What you said is correct. Each one of them is capable of killing all our army. But Bheemas strength is different. I had several sleepless nights by remembering him. He has no regard for me. Though he has beaten my sons several times, they still want to fight with
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him. He does not need any weapon. He can kill people with hands and legs. Arjuna is also as valorous as Bheeshma. If those who join together, nobody will remain in our side. Drona and Bheeshma know about Pandavas strength more than anybody. Out of love and gratitude, they may fight on our behalf, but we are sure to lose their lives in this battle. I am not able to convince my sons. What all Vidura said will happen. In this battle all Kauravas are going to die. So I must make Duryodhana to agree for a peaceful settlement. Only a co-existence will save us Sanjaya: Well said! King! You took the right decision though it is too late. If you can do it both your sons and Pandavas will be under your control. So you call them and give their share. Duryodhana pleads with Dhrutarashtra: Duryodhana : Father! Pandavas have forgotten about ruling a kingdom and accustomed to living in forests. Krishna alone went and provoked them to demand their share from you. To make his case strong, Krishna also brought some more kings to Dharmaraja to fight on his side. Krishna alone is creating mischief and raising hopes in Dharmaraja. You are under estimating our strength. However strong Krishna and Dharmaraja may try, they cant overwhelm us. You put away your fear. Be confident. Ultimate victory is ours. What are you thinking of Bheeshma. He defeated Parasurama. If he is enraged, he alone will kill all Pandavas. Should I say about others? If Drona and Krupa enter the battlefield no enemy can withstand their fury. Aswathena was born with a part of Lord Siva. His splendour exceeds even the Sun. When our side is so strong, why should we afraid? Karna is on our side. Besides his valour and archery, he was blessed with natural shield and ear rings. He acquired several unique astras from Parasurama. There is none equal to Karna in his generosity. When Indra begged for his shield and ear rings, he secured Sakthi weapon from him. That Sakthi weapon will not return without killing the enemy. Karna has preserved that Sakthi weapon to kill Arjuna. So Arjuna is bound to be killed by Karna. In addition to them, Bahlika, Somadetta, Bhoorisrava, Syndhave, Selya, Sakuni and many more are prepared to give up their lives for my sake. So you leave your fear. Dont think Pandavas alone are valorous.
Father! When they are attacking us, should I ask them for a compromise? Is it a Kshatriya dharma? If you are afraid of your sons death, will it enhance your prestige before Rajarishis? Why are you unduly worried about Bheema? I myself can kill Bheema. You believe me. When Karna kills Arjuna and I kill Bheema, then who else remain in their side? Dharmaraja knows his weakness and our strength. You may say that Arjuna is more powerful than Bheema. Karna is having Sakthi weapon. He is bound to die in the hands of Karna. Knowing fully well about his weakness and our strength, Dharmaraja is requesting you for five villages. All your hundred sons are capable of winning each world. Not only that ours is eleven akshauhinis army, whereas Pandavas are fighting only with seven akshauhinis. So by all standards, we are superior to Pandavas. We are making many impossible things possible but we could not control your grief. On Sanjaya! You tell me what that wicked Dharmaraja said? Sanjaya tells Duryodhana the message of Dharmaraja: Sanjaya: Duryodhana! Dharmaraja and his brothers welcomed the war. They are all anxious as if they are invited for a wedding. I cant explain the enthusiasm of other kings who wanted to help them. They are all anxious to watch the fate of our side when he uses the Pasupatastram, the strength of Bheema and others. Duryodhana: Sanjaya! You always support the case of Pandavas. How dare they can attack the Kaurava army? Tell me what are the strategies they have to declare war on us? Sanjaya: Duryodhana! Can any one estimate the majesty of Arjunas divine chariot, horses, kapidhwajam, and devadatta conch? The astras possessed by Dharmaraja, Bheema, Nakula, Sahadeva, cant be defined. Virata, Drupada and various other kings have several victories to their credit. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Are there any valorous kings in Pandavas side to match the heros in our side? Sanjaya: Sikhandi will attack Bheeshma. Drushtajyumna will fight Drona. Viratas army will support them. Bheema will give a tough fight to Duryodhana and his brothers. Abhimanyu will fight with many other heroes of Kauravas side. Nakula and Sahadeva will attack Sakuni and his sons.
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Dharmaraja will fight with Selya. This is the war strategy of Dharmaraja. Oh King! Now you decide what is good to you and your son. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Now I am convinced that bad time has started for my sons. Whenever I open my mouth to convince him, he will talk high of himself and his friends, but not knowing the enemies strength. When Krishna himself declares that he will make Dharmaraja as the king, who can stop him? However strong one may be, quarrel will lead to only disaster but never brings good. However tell me, how many are there in their camp who provoke war. Sanjaya: King! Drushtajyumna always adds ghee to the fury of Pandavas. He treats Bheeshma, Drona and others as cruel sea animals. He says that the Kaurava sena is like an ocean, whereas he acts as a sea coast to arrest them. Dharmaraja pacifies him by saying, Yes! You alone can take us to the shore Drushtajyumna said to me, Sanjaya! Arjuna defeated even Lord Siva and pleased him. So Arjuna alone can kill all Kaurava armies. We all stand by his side only for name sake. Your king, his brothers and friends are all bound to die at the hands of Arjuna. So you go and tell your king to seek protection from Dharmaraja, before it is too late. Dharmaraja is Ajatasatru . He will ignore all his atrocities and protect him. Hence, Dhrutarashtra! You give away Pandavas half share and live in peace. Dhrutarashtra pleads Duryodhana for peace: Dhrutarashtra: Duryodhana! I do not like to develop enemity with Pandavas. Not only me, all our elders like Bheeshma and others are also of the same opinion. Dont be a slave to Karna, Sakuni and Dushsasana. They all let you down at a critical hour. So, let us agree for a compromise. Duryodhana: Father! I am declaring war not depending on Bheeshma, Drona and other elders. Karna alone will bring me victory. Dushsasana will add to his strength. They both are like Vayu and Agni, which burn away the ego of Pandavas. Dont try to change my decision. Dhrutarashtra: Duryodhana! I am not worried for you alone. Because of your decision many kings are going to die in the battle. If you leave obstinacy you can avert a great human loss. If not now, even in the battlefield you will remember my words and repent. So you be wise before it is too late. Since Duryodhana was so stubborn, Dhrutarashtra developed a little hope, that his son himself might win the battle. Again he turned to Sanjaya
and started calculating the strength and weakness of both sides and said to Duryodhana: My son! I calculated the strength and weakness of both sides. As you said, manpower is more on our side, whereas Pandavas are having more divine power. Arjuna had the blessings of Agni, the fire god and possessed divine chariot, horses, bow, kapidhwajam etc. Though Panduraju is the father of all Pandavas, each one of them had the amsa (part of power) from Yama, Indra, Vayu and aswani devatas. So they all jealously protect them. Therefore Bheeshma, Drona and others cant overcome them. Apart from that, Arjuna is blessed with divinity after killing rakshasas like Nivata kavachas. You also know all these things. However confident you might be of your strength, I am of the opinion that all my sons and their family are in danger. Peaceful settlement with Pandavas is the only way for their problem. Man should not have long time enemity. So be cool headed. Duryodhana: Father! I dont agree with your views. Devatas cant be biased. They are above all duals like love-hate and like-dislike . If I am annoyed at them, even devatas cant save them. I can even prevent devatas. As such, should I say about Pandavas separately? You know I hate self boasting. However what all I said is true. When the kings who are my friends and their army attacks, Pandavas and their supporters will lose their identity as river waters lose its identity after joining the sea. Karna: King! My enemies have spread a word that my guru cursed me, thereby I wont remember the astras learnt from him at a very crucial hour. But those people are not aware that I persuaded my guru, Parasurama and got deliverance from his curse. Please be confident that I am in full control on all my astras. But for my presence, Pandavas did not dare to attack us. Oh king! I am again assuring you that I will kill Arjuna in the battle and make you happy. I will protect each and every soldier in our camp. Bheeshma: Karna! You are arrogant since you are in possession of Sakthi weapon and few more astras. Krishna makes them all those astras powerless. You are blabbering that you will kill all the Pandavas. It seems war is inevitable. Prove your heroism. My son! Dhrutarashtra! All jnatees are to be modest and respect each other. They all sit together and dine. Then only love and affection will develop. They alone enjoy all comforts in this world and in the other world.
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Your son has become greedy and is trying to grab others wealth. In his greediness he is unable to see the death in front of him. If both the parties are of equal strength, it is difficult to say who will win. But in your case, Duryodhana is dashing against a rock. Even before the war commences, I am telling you that Pandavas alone will win and hence you call Dharmaraja and settle the issues in a peaceful manner. Bahlika: Duryodhana! While experienced elders are cautioning us, why dont you go in that path. Why are you giving a deaf ear and invite death. With you, all Kuru family also will be destroyed. Dhrutarashtra: My son! Myself, Bheeshma and Bahlika are pleading you in several ways to have good relations with Dharmaraja. Dont you think that we are your well wishers? Duryodhana! At the time of gograhmam, Arjuna alone fought with you, your army and took away all cow herds. At that time what you and Karna were doing? On several occasions, you were defeated and again and again. So dont be carried away by the provoking and selfish persons. Bheeshma: Karna! Dont dream that Arjuna will come alone as he did at the time of uttaragograhmam. Now Krishna will drive his chariot. Bheema will guard him like an eyelid. Dharmaraja, Nakula, Sahadeva, Abhimanyu and others will destroy all our armies. Again and again you claim that you will fight for Duryodhana till you breathe last. That is true, you not only die in the battle but you also will drag Duryodhana also with you. This comment wounded Karna very much. He became emotional and took a very drastic step.His declaration sent shock waves in the sabha. Karna lays down all weapons: Karna: Oh Bheeshma! You have decided to fight without my help. Let it go like that. I shall not touch weapons as long as you are there in the battle field. I am laying down all my weapons now. This is my vow. After your death, I shall prove who am I and bring a big victory to the king. Bheeshma: Duryodhana! It seems war is inevitable! You are entering battle field depending on Karna. On the pretext of a vow, he is doing favour to Dharmaraja. Have you not realized? Dhrutarashtra: Vidura! This Karna is dragging my son also into the clutches of death. Tell me what I can do?
Vidura: Dhrutarashtra! Already we are weak. Added to that, we are infighting among ourselves, whereas Pandavas are united. They go by the word of Dharmaraja. It is certain that all our people are going to die in the name of a war. So you call for Dharmaraja. There is no other option than an honourable settlement for both sides. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! I am in a state of helplessness. If I make a step forward, I may fall into a well. If I go back one step, I fell into a pit. Tell me the final words of Arjuna? Sanjaya: King! Arjuna said, Dhrutarashtra maharaja! It is my birth right to demand my fathers share. Neither I am begging nor seeking anybodys mercy. At the moment, you are enjoying our land. Hence my brother is assuring you in a polite manner. If you agree, we all live in peace. If you refuse to give our share, take it from me that I kill your sons and take our share. After taking leave I came back to Hastinapura. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! You know the strength and weakness of both sides. You tell me which side is superior. Sanjaya: King! I am incapable to answer your question. Better you ask your father Vyasa maharishi. He alone can answer your question. Vyasa maharishi arrives to advice Dhrutarashtra: As advised by Sanjaya, Dhrutarashtra remembered Vyasa maharishi. Maharishi understood what Dhrutarashtra and Sanjaya wants from him. So came in person to advise them. Vyasa maharishi: Dhrutarashtra! You wanted to know whose side is superior to win the battle. On Pandavas side, there is Krishna. Show me a person equivalent to him on your side? Though Ravana had the blessings of Lord Siva, all his pride was destroyed by Vishnu (Krishna) in a moment. Though Indra fought well, Krishna took away parijata tree. Krishna has the knack of doing things at ease. Krishna was a good friend of Arjuna in their previous birth. The Sudarshana chakra of Krishna will enter in a subtle form in all the weapons of Pandavas and secure victory for them. Krishna alone is Pandavas life and pride. If all the worlds are put together, they are not equal to Krishna. Krishna alone is responsible for the creation, protection and withdrawal of all worlds. Krishna resides where truth and dharma prevails. So victory prevails where Krishna is.
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Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! How you know Krishna is Lord Vishnu? Why I am not able to know him? Sanjaya: King! There are Vidya and Avidya. Since you are under the influence of Tamoguna you are not able to know the Lord. With Vidya alone, one could know HIM. Since I live beyond properties of trigunas and follow the path of dharma, I am able to know Vishnu as Krishna. Whoever follows this path will know HIM. Other than what I said is Avidya. Dhrutarashtra: My son! Duryodhana! You listen what Sanjaya said. You also seek protection from Krishna. Thereby you, your brothers and children will live long and enjoy comforts. Duryodhana: Father! Whether Krishna may be the protector of all the worlds or he may withdraw them. I am not interested in all those stories. Should I go and seek protection who is a close friend of Arjuna? Come what may. It will never happen. Dhrutarashtra: Gaandhari! Your son is an arrogant, unvirtious and egoist. He refuses to listen to my advice. He is destined to die in the hands of Bheema. What can I do? Gaandhari: My son! Duryodhana! Why are you trying to leave all of us? Why dont you live long and enjoy pleasures? Why are you adamant to drown all of us in an ocean of grief? Yama himself is coming in the form of Bheema to kill you. Vyaya maharishi: Dhrutarashtra! You love Krishna. Sanjaya went for meditation and conveyed their views. So do as Sanjaya suggests. Krishna will protect whoever seeks protection from him. He distances himself from whom are slaves for arishad vargas. On hearing the advice of Vyasa maharishi, Dhrutarashtra agreed to obey his instructions. Dhrutarashtra said, Sanjaya! I never regretted for not having my eye sight. But I feel like seeing the beautiful form of Sri Krishna.
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CHAPTER-3
Sri Krishna Rayabaram : After Sanjaya left, Dharmaraja consulted with his brothers and decided to send Krishna to Hastinapuram as their mediator. He went to Krishnas palace with his brothers and said: Dharmaraja: Krishna! My father Panduraju put all of us in your charge and since then you are protecting us. You alone can convince Duryodhana and come back with a settlement of peace. Sanjaya clearly expressed their views. Even at this juncture if I dont prepare for a war it will become a black spot on my vigour. So you go to Hastinapura, impress the elders in Kurusabha arrive at a settlement with your statesmanship in a manner that will satisfy my mother, brothers and relatives. Then only the Pandavas and Kauravas can live in peace. In case my father did not agree to give our share, you plead for five villages, Indraprastam, Kusaprastam, Vrukastalam, Vaasanti and Vaaranavatam. If he is reluctant to give us those five places, I am prepared to take any other villages of his choice. Krishna! I dont know whether Duryodhana will agree even for those five villages. For the sake of those villages, I dont want to think of a war. In fact I dont have any comforts or pleasures. But I should be in a position to provide food, clothing and shelter for those who are depend upon me. There are so many Brahmins and others also with me. Those kings have joined me or Duryodhana.Whether they are my kith and kin or not, why should I kill them? Cant we find an alternate to war? Even in Kauravas side also, my friends and relatives are there. Should I kill them all, just for the sake of a kingdom? If I do that, will the people pardon me for the massacre? It is not only unjust and inglorious but also sinful. Krishna! Keeping weapons is Kshatriya dharma. At the same time, we cant kill our own people for kingdom. On reaching the battlefield, no side can confidently say that they alone will win. So you can convince the elders in Kurusabha for a settlement without a war, we all can sleep peacefully. Krishna! I am aspiring kingdom without a war. You suggest any way which will avoid loss of Kuru family and human loss. I request you to be patient even if Duryodhana provokes you with harsh words. Dont walk out from the sabha. Let Duryodhana have the blame of disobeying elders. If we respect Bheeshma, Drona and other elders, people wont blame us. Though
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Dhrutarashtra may take an unethical stand, you need not abandon your patience. Dont lose heart even if the compromise talks fail. If you are forced to talk a few harsh words, you speak in a charming way and the all elders will appreciate your stand. Krishna! I have become mentally sick on this issue. You alone is the right physician for me. Whatever way you suggest, I shall follow the same path. However my mind is also apprehension that wicked Duryodhana might plan to do some harm to you. So I hesitate to send you as my mediator. Let us search for somebody Krishna: Not necessary! Of course what all you said is correct. Not only Duryodhana, but his father is also equally wicked. I can understand your anxiety. If it comes to that, there is none who can oppose me. You send me to Kaurava sabha, and keep faith in me. By that you will achieve what you want. Even if my attempts fail, people will not find fault with you. Dharmaraja: Krishna! If you tell that we can achieve good result, you may go. Come back with a peaceful settlement. You know everything. My mind is for a settlement only. You know how to talk, when to talk, you know how to achieve things. In diplomacy and statesmanship, there is no one equal or superior to you. Krishna reveals the crooked nature of kauravas: Krishna: Dharmaraja! I heard the inputs about the minds of Kauravas, when Sanjaya discussed with us. Your mind is fixed on dharma. They will not leave jealousy. They are so haughty, because Bheeshma, Drona and others are on their side. Begging and to live in submissive manner does not suit the kings. Kauravas grabbed your land in an easy manner and used to enjoy. Now they are finding it difficult to give away your land.They are not afraid of public censure. They do not hesitate to do unlawful and sinful acts. Dharmaraja: Those ruthless Kauravas might harm you. Though they wont repent their sinful act, you should show kindness on them. As long as Duryodhana is alive, he will not agree for giving our share. So you impress on our elders like Bheeshma and others for a peaceful settlement. Bheema: Krishna! Why are you talking about war before you go for mediation? The question of war comes only if your mediation becomes unsuccessful. Because of Duryodhanas greed and jealousy, he became haughty. He is pushing everyone to grief. He hates me most. He tried to kill
me whenever he managed to find an opportunity. Dharmaraja and Arjuna are trying their best to arrive at a peaceful settlement. So I am also of the opinion that I am forced to live with Duryodhana. Tell Duryodhana that we wish to live amicably like milk and water. You impress by the same with Duryodhana while talking in Kurusabha. Let us put up our case with an open mind. Among Kauravas, Duryodhana alone is the wicked person. He alone is the central point for enemity. However there is nothing impossible for you. You can do and undo things. You get a best bargain in that blind kingdom. You tell Duryodhana as my words in the presence of Bheeshma and Dhrutarashtra. Duryodhana ! We both are brothers. If we fight with each other, others will enjoy the fun. This will not enhance our prestige. So we both will abide by the words of our elders. Let us share our ancestral property and live peacefully. On hearing Bheemas words, Krishna laughed. He never heard Bheema making such a passive approach. He thought that the fire was extinguished in him. He thought a mountain has turned into a heap of cotton. While thinking so, he said. Krishna provokes Bheema for a battle: Krishna: Bheema! You always stand first for fight. You have destroyed even the most valorous enemies. Oh killer of Keechaka! Even fear will be afraid of you. You are always anxious to kill Duryodhana and make Dharmaraja our emperor on earth. How is it I am hearing such meek words from you? Can you utter such cowardly words? Bheema: Krishna! Dont try to whet manliness in me. My brother is pleading for our fathers share only. Did we ever say against his word? However we plead for peace. W is inevitable. When war breaks, I shall kill Duryodhana. You yourself will see how he will suffer in my hands. Dont you know my heroism? Krishna: Bheema! I know your heroism. Bheema: Krishna! You go and come back from Hastinapura. When war commences, you cant count how many elephants and horses will be killed at my hands. You will see in that bottle heaps of broken chariots and dead heroes of Kauravas Krishna: Bheema! I know your valour. I am sure that you will prove more than you have promised. On several occasions, we all crossed the
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ocean of grief, by making you as a catamaran. I am going to Kurusabha to try for a peaceful settlement. If I fail in my attempts, we all depend on you. Arjuna conveys his message: Arjuna : Krishna! We all abide by the decision of Dharmaraja . Dhrutarashtra is greedy and his son is a crooked person. So I am of the opinion that they may not agree for any peaceful settlement. Since a long time there is no work for my Gandevam and divine weapons. You create some work for them. Your determination will never go waste. Though it may appear to be unsuccessful in the beginning, in the long run they yield fruits. Even god can not help with out a human effort. In fact you are both a god and also a human. You yourself resolved many occasions that those who insulted Dharmaraja are to be punished. You are so affectionate towards virtuous. In fact you dont have hatredness on any one. Krishna! We were all fastened by dharma and maintained patience though Draupadi was pulled by hair and removed her clothes in Kurusabha. We underwent many difficulties while living in forests. You know everything. You try for a peaceful settlement only. We all agree by your decision. You do which is best for us. Krishna: Arjuna! In spite of best efforts of a farmer, if rain does not help, all his efforts will go waste. I shall put all efforts that a man can, if the time is ripe, we can get fruits. But I am not hopeful that they may agree for a peaceful settlement. Because if they have any such intention, that would have not put you to so many troubles ever since your birth. At the time of gograhmem, Bheeshma told Duryodhana, The lone warrior attacking us is none other than Arjuna. He has proved to be the most valorous. Ultimate result lies on god. So in the present circumstances it is better to go for a compromise. In reply to Bheeshmas advice Duryodhana said I will not give them an inch of land. As such where is the question of compromise? I am prepared to fight a battle. Later, people may talk about all these things in open. However I am not interested to find fault with Duryodhana. Since Dharmaraja has asked me to go to Hastinapura and try for a compromise, I consider it as my duty to do it. Having gone to that far, I will also enquire more about their war plans. Nakula: I agree with the views of my elder brothers. Sahadeva: I too accept
Nakula: I had some hard feelings and wished to take vengeance when we underwent aranyavasam and agnatevasam. Now, I too agree for a peaceful settlement. I am sure they might have realized what our valour and strength are after gograhanam. Bheeshma, Drona and other elders also advised them. They also must have understood that we are also equipped with seven akshauhinis of army. So war is not a childs play for them. You are the best statesman of all times. So you come back with a good result. Sahadeva! What do you feel? Sahadeva: Krishna! How can you go to Kurusabha and beg on our behalf? You alone killed many demons. Could a great emperor like Dharmaraja stoop to such a low thoughts. Many friends, well-wishers and relatives came with enthusiasm for joining us in a big battle? How can he disappoint them? How can we stoop down to begging and how can we eat and digest such a food? Krishna! Though all my people might have stopped to such a low level, I am not for a settlement. I do not like round about methods. For me war is the only solution. We have completed our vows. You tell my views in Kurusabha as Had you been suffered for thirteen years in forests, will you beg for such a settlement? In the similar way, you demand our fathers share, since we have completed our aranyavasam and agnatevasam, either they should give our share or they all should die in the war. Satyaki: Sahadeva! I agree with your views. Wicked Duryodhana will never agree for good words. We have seven akshauhinis of army. Each soldier is enthusiastic for the war. On hearing the words of Sahadeva and Satyaki all the kings present in the sabha agreed with their views. None of them agreed for an approach of begging. Draupadi reveals her feelings to Krishna: Draupadi was pained with the words of Dharmaraja. She said to Krishna, mixed with fury and agony. Draupadi: Krishna! On that day Kauravas insulted us in the sabha and today Sanjaya came to console us. Dharmaraja was delighted to his words forgetting all the difficulties we have suffered in the forests. He is asking you to make a settlement for five villages. Even those five villages he is asking for the sake of his brothers on compassionate grounds. Otherwise he
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would not have asked even those five villages. However if Pandavas do not demand their legitimate share, people will laugh at us. Why Pandavas are seeking a compromise? Are they afraid of Kauravas strength? How can we make adjustments with them? In this process Dharmaraja is lowering himself. It is more advantageous for Kauravas because, in spite of their earlier atrocities on us they will save their lives. Since Pandavas are more valorous When the war brakes out, we will be the winners. Hence why should we crave for a compromise? The real problem is Dharmaraja and his crawling nature for peace. Will Kauravas respect his words? Do they have a lenient view? In fact Dharmaraja is behaving like a brahmin than a Kshatriya. Krishna! Duryodhana is not afraid of a war. He will not respect your words. On the contrary, he thinks cheaply about us. Suppose if that sabha decides for a war, will Pandavas make preparations or they prefer to live again in the forests? Krishna! You are all kings and statesman. Who am I find fault with you? You are always conscious of to be appreciated by people even at the cost of your inconvenience. But did any one of you give thought to the insults and humiliations suffered by me? At least are you negotiating in a way that will enhance your prestige? Did kauravas are respecting or thinking in your line? However I am not of the opinion that Pandavas are doing a right thing. Who cares my opinion? Being born as a house wife, all these years I am restricted to the kitchen only. Out of heart burning I am talking all that I feel like. Since my mind has become dim, how one can expect wisdom from me. All these years I suffered silently. Since I am hearing what all you are talking, I could not resist myself and came out! Krishna! You know about my birth. I was born by the grace of god. I became the daughter-in-law of Panduraju. I gave birth to brave and valorous sons. That way I am also belongs to a glorious family. Padmanabha! You have treated more dearly me than Subhadra. I became pure, after completing avabridhasnana (after performing rajasagayaga). A crooked fellow has pulled by my purified hair and dragged me to Kurusabha in the presence of my husbands. Will any body insult a chaste woman in this manner? Mukunda! When I was under menstrual period, Dushsasana had dragged me to the Kurusabha my husbands stood like statues. At that time
I lost hopes on them. I meditated on you with full faith and devotion. You yourself know how you saved me. You remember all these, before you commence compromise talks. Brother! That blind king Dhrutarashtra had treated me a servant maid. If my husbands again join his court, you ask him, whether I should serve him as a daughter- in- law or as a servant maid? You yourself tell me what I should do. Krishna! Look at my long hair, which was held by Dushsasana and dragged me into the court. While you were negotiating, you remember my hair. I must see the hands of Dussasana are cut into pieces. I must see Duryodhanas dead body on the ground. Then only my mind will rest in peace. If that does not happen, what for Bheema is carrying a big club on his shoulders? What is the purpose of Gandivam of Arjuna? I am burning with the fire of shame and insults in spite of having a brother like you who is born only to punish the evil and valorous husbands. I am afraid whether I ever see such a day or not. She began to cry aloud. Nobody was able to comfort her. Krishna consoles Draupadi: While Draupadi was profusely weeping, Krishna ordered servant maids to comfort her and said: Krishna: Sister! Be brave. Why do you worry when I am with you? As ordered by Dharmaraja I will go to Hastinapura to satisfy the world as if we made all possible efforts to avert war and human loss. I know pretty well Duryodhana will never agree for peaceful settlement. So the war will become inevitable. Sister! Stop grieving. The way, in which you are put to humiliation, tomorrow the wives of Duryodhana also must face. That day is not far off. I am giving you a word of honour, it is certain that all Kauravas will be killed in the battle. You are going to be the empress on the earth. Leave your grief. Arjuna: Krishna! We both are equal to you, by relationship. You try maximum and prevail for peace. My brother also wants the same. If Duryodhana dont respond to you, god alone will decide the future course. Krishna: Arjuna! Dharmaraja has asked me to negotiate and do well for both. I am also going to fulfill his desire. I am confident that I shall come out with good result.
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Dharmaraja: Krishna! I am very much pleased with your words. Pursue in the same manner. Dont forget. Krishna! Tomorrow morning you start to Hastinapura which is auspicious. That day the Pandavas sabha had came to an end. Everyone had completed their evening rituals. Krishna called Satyaki and asked him to make necessary arrangements for the journey. He said, Brother! Duryodhana is a ruthless person. He might have hatched some wicked plans. You keep all my weapon in the chariot. Before they started Dharmaraja went to Krishna and said: Dharmaraja: Krishna! The moment my mother sees you, she will forget all her worries and will feel happy. You convey my pranamns to her. You console her that all our difficulties have come to an end. You alone can console her grief. I need not tell you what to do. Krishna! You convey my salutations to Bheema, Drona and other elders. Convey my warm respects to Vidura. He is the most impartial and well known well-wisher of both Pandavas and Kauravas. Krishna talks to Narada and maharishis: On his way to Hastinapura, Krishna saw Narada, Kanva, Jamadagni and other maharishis. On seeing them, Krishna stopped his chariot, went to them, prostrated at their feet and said, Maharishis! I am fortunate to see all of you at one place. Order me what service I can do for you. Narada said, Krishna! We are all going to Kurusabha to watch your negotiating skills with Kauravas. We want to hear what Bheeshma and other elders say in the matter. Then Krishna invited them to board the chariot. But maharishis said, Krishna! You go ahead. We shall come and join you later. Dhrutarashtra came to know the arrival of Krishna. He deputed Bheeshma, Drona, Vidura, Duryodhana, Karna, Syndhava and others to receive him. He said to Duryodhana: Dhrutarashtra: Duryodhana! Krishna is coming on Pandavas work. Whoever satisfies him, will get all auspicious matters. Those who do not satisfy him, will get inauspicious matters. So you take personal interest in providing all comforts during his stay. Accordingly, Duryodhana ordered his servants to decorate the city. Various art pieces collected from Dussasanas house and decorated at the place where Krishna was proposed to stay.
Precious diamonds were kept ready. Perfumes, ointments and a variety of delicious eatables were provided in the palace. Dhrutarashtra speaks to Vidura: Dhrutarashtra: Vidura! I want to offer Krishna valuable chariots, horses, diamonds and many more gifts. Tell me what more we can offer! Vidura: Dhrutarashtra! Krishna is none other than Paramatma. It is good to satisfy Krishna with devotion. But we dont have even five villages to offer to Pandavas. We are so poor. What valuables you can offer to Krishna? King! I understand what you have in mind. By offering valuable gifts, you want to corrupt him and attract him to your side to do harm Pandavas. Your thoughts reveal how ignorant you are? Whatever you may do, he will not leave Arjuna who is more than his life. King! You do the work of Krishna with whole heartedly. More than that, he will not expect. Duryodhana: Father! What Vidura said is correct. He will never leave Pandavas. If you offer him valuable gifts, he may mistake that we are weak and afraid of Pandavas. Even people also will laugh at us. I am also aware that Krishna is a worshipful person. We shall provide comforts and pretend as we also love him. Bheeshma: Dhrutarashtra! Whether you give gifts or not, Krishna will do only what he wants to do. It is a fact that he is coming to talk, on behalf of Pandavas. So you fulfill the mission for which he is coming. That solves all problems. Duryodhana : Pitamaha ! Krishna pleads for their half share to Pandavas. I will not agree to it. Then what is it he is going to mediate? So I will suggest you a simple solution. Krishna is father, mother, guru and everything for Pandavas. He is coming to our place on his own. We fasten and keep him as our captive. Without him, Pandavas will becomes birds without wings. From then onwards, Yadavas, Panchalas and all other kings will become my friends. Therefore Pandavas will become isolated and helpless. They again have to go to forest. This plot has already been planned and will be executed once Krishna enters Kurusabha. Now tell me your opinion. Dhrutarashtra: Duryodhana! Your words are disturbing me. What are you thinking of Krishna? Know it, that doing harm to Krishna is doing
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harm to all lokas. Stop thinking in wicked ways. Who is coming as an ambassador, who is virtuous, who is working to establish justice and dharma, should not be fastened. He is none other than Maha Vishnu. May I know what sin he has committed against you to fasten him? Bheeshma: Dhrutarashtra! Your son is planning to do cruel acts. By doing harm to Krishna, he and his entire family will be ruined. I cant hear such sinful words. I cant be a party to his crooked acts. I am leaving the sabha. After Bheeshma left the sabha, Dhrutarashtra called Duryodhana and said, Duryodhana! You gave room for such sinful thought in your mind. No one can stop you. Know it well, it will destroy you. So you stop thinking of those cruel plans in your own interest. By saying so, he asked all the members to leave the assembly and was sitting alone. Next morning Krishna started from Kusastali to Hastinapura. Many people came to see him off. By the time Krishna was leaving, Duryodhanas servants went to Krishna and offered various sweets and garlands etc. Krishna received them all with pleasure and acted as if he had eaten them. Krishna reaches Dhrutarashtras place: Dhrutarashtra deputed all elders to greet Krishna , except Duryodhana. Krishna affectionately spoke to them all. People of Hastinapura gave a rousing welcome to Krishna. Finally he reached the palace of Dhrutarashtra and embraced him. He enquired the welfare of Vidura and others. After some time he took leave from Dhrutarashtra and went Vidura. Vidura worshipped Krishna with traditional honours and enquired about the wellbeing of Pandavas. In the meanwhile Kunti came and embraced him with affection and said: Kunti: Krishna! You have brought up my children right from their childhood and made them virtuous. Though I am living here, my mind is always with them. Though they were born in royal family, they are being deceived and made to live in forests. How are my children? How is Draupadi? Though she is my daughter-in-law she is more than my daughter. When she was insulted in Kurusabha, except Vidura none of the elders opened their mouth. I dont blame Bheeshma, Dhrutarashtra or Bahlika. I only blame my parents for giving me to the Kuru family as a daughter-in-law. When I delivered Arjuna, the voice from sky declared that he would win all worlds. I have to find fault that voice from the sky for its false announcement. Still
if dharma and justice rains in their world, the voice of the sky will becomes true. You tell Dharmaraja as my words: My son! You are a born Kshatriya. Why do you beg for your share? Your distress and approach make me to think as if the fire has lost its heat. Will your enemies respect you, unless you show your virility? You tell to Bheema and Arjuna as my words: My sons! A Kshatriya woman gives birth to her sons only to fight a battle. That time has come now. If you dont jump into the battle field, the people will doubt your masculinity You tell to Nakula and Sahadeva: My sons! A Kshatriya should prove his vigour and valour. Living under somebodys mercy and living submissively do not suit us. You better know what you are from Draupadi and move forward. So tell my sons to pull me out of my distress. Krishna! They will listen to you. You are a great statesman. So you also help me to come out of my grief. Krishna consoles Kunti: Krishna: My dear Aunt! With your noble character, you have enhanced the prestige of your parents and parents-in-law. You have undergone many difficulties boldly. I can understand your distress. I shall do all that I could do and relieve you from your distress. All your sons are safe. Each one of them worshipped you in thousand ways. None of your sons aspire any pleasures by begging. They want to acquire them by their vigour and valour. They never entertain low profile thoughts. There are going to subjucate the entire Kaurava family with its roots and are ready to establish the rule of dharma and justice. The day is not far off. Kunti: Krishna! After hearing your words, all my distress have evaporated. You are the father, mother, guru and god for my children. You do whatever is good to my sons. Krishna took leave from Kunti and went to the palace of Duryodhana. Duryodhana , Karna , D ussasana , Sakuni , Bheeshma , Drona and others welcomed Krishna. He was offered a seat made of golden throne and worshipped him. Duryodhana talks to Krishna: Duryodhana received Krishna and Satyaki, offered golden throne and spoke for a long time on various subjects and said that he had arranged
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delicious food for him and offered a lunch with him. Krishna said that he is not inclined to take food in his house. On hearing Krishnas words, Duryodhana said: Duryodhana: Krishna! You are the most virtuous person. My father had highest regard for you. As such he has ordered special menu for you. He will really be upset if you refuse to dine with us. Even by relationship also you are equal to us and Pandavas. Do you have any specific reason for not dining with us? Krishna: Duryodhana! You are a great statesman. You know everything. Still you want to hear from me. I tell you the reason. I came as an ambassador. Unless I complete my work, I should not eat or drink anything from the other party. I should not accept gifts of any kind. After completing my work I will accept what all you offer. Duryodhana: Krishna! Dont mix your work with meals. Some times our work may be successful or may not be successful. When we sit on that subject, we discuss. Dont mix those matters with food. If you have something else in your mind you can tell. Krishna looked around the people sitting there, took the hands of Duryodhana into his hands shook them well and said with a smile: Krishna: Duryodhana! If a gruhasta offers food to a guest out to love and affection, he can take. Sometimes they offer without love and as a matter of courtesy even in such a case also food can be taken. Naturally people doubt to take food in an enemies house. Elders say that a gruhasta should not offer even nectar to an enemy. So I refuse to take food in your house. Life is impermanent. Anything may happen any time. Danger may come in any form. You may ask Am I your enemy? I will tell you, Listen. You hate Pandavas. Pandavas are my life. Your attempts of doing harm to Pandavas are as good as doing harm to me. So those who are trying to do harm on life are considered to be as enemies. Is it not? Duryodhana! Can you show me one good reason why are you so angry with Pandavas? You cant. Still you are doing harm ever since your childhood. They love to conduct life in a virtuous way. All the more they are your cousins. Is it right to develop enemity with them? The food offered by those who harm to virtuous people, is equal to poison, I have decided to dine in the house of Vidura.
After talking with Duryodhana, Krishna was about to start to Viduras house. In the meanwhile Bheeshma and Drona came and invited him to their houses for a lunch. Krishna pacified them and went with Vidura. Krishna went to Viduras house. Vidura worshipped him with devotion and offered a delicious dinner. Krishna, Satyaki and Vidura dined. After dinner, he arranged a bed to take rest and Vidura said, Krishna! I am being blessed and honoured by accepting food in my house. I dont want any more wealth beyond this. Oh virtuous Krishna! Why you took so much pain to meet this wicked Duryodhana? He has already gathered the cooperation of many kings and their strength is eleven akshauhinis of army. All those kings are hopeful that Karna will rout Pandavas. They are all more banking on Karnas strength than Bheeshma, Drona and others. Krishna ! Before your arrival, all these K auravas have already concluded not to give the share of Pandavas. They want to enjoy the share of Pandavas also. All the kings who came in support have resolved that they either live with Karna or die with him. They dont know your greatness. Whereas I know your majesty. I would request you not to go to Kurusabha. They may even try to do harm to you. Krishna replies to Vidura: Krishna: Vidura! I know your devotion to me. You are as affectionate as my parents. I know Duryodhana is a ruthless person. If war broke there is going to be a great human loss. If I do not try to avert it, all the people will blame me. If he doesnt listen, that is also good. The earth is overburdened with sinful people and the human loss will reduce the over burden on earth. I am a relative and well wisher for both. If I do not try for peace and reduce tension, people will blame for my indifference. Even if one blames me as biased towards Pandavas, he will pay a heavy price for it. Will they try to do harm me? If so, will any one of them survive? So you leave all your fears and sleep. Vidura appreciated the statesmanship of Krishna. Next morning Duryodhana and others came to Krishna and said, Krishna! Dhrutarashtra and others are waiting for you. Krishna, Satyaki and others reached Kurusabha in their chariots. The moment Krishna entered the sabha, all the members stood on their feet as a matter of respect. At the same time, Narada and other maharishis reached Kurusabha. Krishna received them and introduced them to Bheeshma and other elders. Krishna appealed to all the
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audience to take their seats only after the maharishis took their seats. Elders and other audience were surprised at the sudden presence of maharishis. Krishna speaks to Dhrutarashtra: Krishna: King Dhrutarashtra! You know everything. Even then I want the entire Baratha dynasty is to live in peace and harmony. I came here only to do justice which is beneficial for both of you.Kauravas and Pandavas must live like milk and water. You alone should take the lead, since you do not differentiate between kauravas and Pandavas. All the family line of Baratha are known for adhering dharma, justice, truthfulness, unity, kindness and honor. You and your brother Panduraju also lived in the same way. Your sons also possess many noble qualities. Why such a good tradition is to be deviated? Dhrutarashtra! You are the most superior among the Kuru family. The good and bad conducts and behaviour of your family members are to be attributed to you. Hence you alone ought to take such a decision which makes good for both sides and in an appreciable manner. King! The friends of Duryodhana are not giving good and sound advice. They are not able to discriminate good and bad. Will such a behavior achieve prosperity for you? They are behaving against family tradition and their action is harassing relatives. This will not bring any good. So you interfere and make a peaceful settlement with Pandavas. Then only both sides can live in peace. Now things are in your hands. You alone can do it. Please consider, whether you have any one in your side as valorous as Bheema and Arjuna? Were they having anybody who is equivalent to Bheeshma and Drona? Do you want such heroes under your command? Or do you wish them all to die in the name of a battle? If they are with you, you will become the emperor of the entire earth. All the kings will be your subordinates. If you are complacent, not only Kauravas but all the people will die. Then what will remain to you? Great King! Both Kauravas and Pandavas are two eyes to you. You alone are the sufferer whomever you may lose. Both Kauravas and Pandavas are well read, and valorous. They both are heading for a war on a petty matter. You alone brought them up with in a pleasant manner. If arrows pierce into their bodies and they lie dead on the ground, can you bear such a pain?
You have the experience and wisdom to avert their death in a war. Take such a good decision for which people also will applaud you. Krishna conveys the messages of Pandavas: Krishna: Dhrutarashtra! You alone brought up all the sons of Panduraju in an affectionate manner ever since their childhood. Dont leave them half way. You take up their well being till the end. I will tell you the message of Pandavas one by one. Father! As ordered by you we have completed twelve years of aranyavasam and one year agnatevasam. We have fulfilled our vow. Now we are determined to have our half share of kingdom. We believe you as our father, mother and relative. Consciously or unconsciously had we committed any mistakes, you have a right to correct us. You are our protector even if you live for ten thousand years. Whatever manner the people may think of us and Kauravas, we dont mind but we always look for your good wishes. However low we may be placed, we assure you that we will not behave to lower the prestige of our family. Krishna says: Dhrutarashtra! I told you the message of Pandavas as such. Keeping in view of the morality, justice, relationship and dharma, the kings that are present in the sabha may spell out your views leaving anger, hate, jealousy and pride. You yourself will realize that the way I have suggested will do well being to all. You give away the reasonable share of Pandavas and avoid human loss. Dhrutarashtra! You give away the allotted share of Panduraju to them and you may give your share to your sons. By doing so, all your sons and grand sons will live in peace and enjoy comforts and virtuous people will praise you. While Dharmaraja was ruling Indraprasta, he defeated all kings and made them all your subordinate kings. He filled your treasury with enormous wealth. King! You have endorsed all the deceitful acts of Duryodhana. However Dharmaraja committed to the vow, undergone enormous difficulties in the forests, suppressed the valour and vigour of Bheema and others. In spite of all, he still wants to be subordinate to you. Dhrutarashtra maharaja! Have you ever seen the exemplary qualities of Pandavas such as tranquility, veracious and modesty in any other king? In fact there is none equal to Dharmaraja in all worlds. So you take them
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into your fold. You know it well that Pandavas are the most peace loving persons, but at the same time they are so valorous at times of war. Such Pandavas are ready to serve you with love and devotion. If you do not want their services, you tell me. They are ready to jump at war. You decide whether you want peaceful settlement or war? You decide which you like most. On hearing the words of Krishna, the audience was thrilled and overjoyed beyond words in the sabha. Every one of them was very happy when Krishna had shown a natural ability to talk fluently, eloquently and persuasively. He excelled in the art of oration. But his words became still like a serpent before snake charmer. In this manner Krishna warned Dhrutarashtra to leave pride. After Krishna conveyed the message of Pandavas, Jamadagni, Kanva and Narada maharishis advised Duryodhana to agree for the peace proposal brought by Krishna. Duryodhana refuses the advice of maharishis: Duryodhana did not relish the advice of maharishis and replied with arrogance. Duryodhana: Maharishis! Brahma has already decided my destiny. Your advice cant change his decisions. So you stop giving unwanted advices and you may go on your way. Duryodhanas words wounded Dhrutarashtra and he said to Krishna: Dhrutarashtra: Krishna! Your advice is good for me to this world and as well as to the other world also. But my son is a fool. I tried to convince him in several ways. He refused to hear my words. I shall be grateful to you if can try to convince my son. Krishna: Duryodhana! You are the eldest son of your family. You are to correct your brothers, if they choose a wrong path. You are next to your father. So, virtuous persons like you will never go in a wrong path. Your father and elders of your family are finding it suitable to have a nice settlement and they are showing interest to have a peaceful settlement with Pandavas. People of low profile may provoke you for enemity with Pandavas. Dont listen to their advice. Elders like Bheeshma and others want you both to live in peace and harmony. Duryodhana! However one may try to be prosperous by untruthful and greedy way, finally they cant achieve it. The advice of Dushsasana, Sakuni and Karna will not only spoil your property but also brings you inglory.
Bheema and others are not outsiders to you. But you are considering them as outsiders, whereas you are taking all worthless persons as your own. They are all living under your mercy and at the same time misleading you to unrighteous path. You cant even say one convincing reason why you hate Pandavas. If you and Pandavas lives together, all the kings will become your vassals. But the people around you dont like it. That is why they are provoking you to spoil the compromise formula with Pandavas. You assume for a moment, if you are to forced to fight with Pandavas, will any one of them can face Pandavas? God forbid, if a war is inevitable, not only Karna and others but even Indra also can not score a win over them. This is the truth. So you make up your mind and make a settlement with Pandavas. That is the only safe path for you. Duryodhana! Even if all those kings who came to help you cant defeat Bheema, leave alone Arjuna and others. So dont have enemity with Pandavas. You tell me can any one from your side, fight and overcome Arjuna ? In case, if you choose to fight you not only will lose but also there will be enormous human loss. So you dont be the reason for such a colossal human tragedy. Duryodhana! You went on expedition to grab Viratas cow herds with atiradhas and maharadhas. Arjuna alone came and fought against you. At that time he did not have even a bow and arrows with him as he was under agnatevasam. Did any one from your side obstruct him? You listen to me peacefully. Dont get annoyed on me. When I and Arjuna give a fight, you will be destroyed in no time. So you change your mind and agree for a compromise. Dont kill your own sons and grandchildren with your own hands. Live together in peace. You imagine for a while, if you agree for what I am advising you. Dhrutarashtra will become the king of Kuru empire. You will be crowned as Yuvaraja. Pandavas will protect you from all sides. You imagine Bheeshma pitamaha with all his grand children and above all, great grand children crawling around him. While Pandavas themselves are craving for peace, your refusal looks like closing your doors while Lakshmi herself wants to enter your house. Bheeshma and Drona advises to Duryodhana: Bheeshma: Duryodhana! Know it well that Lord Vishnu himself came and advised you. Why are you giving him a deaf ear? Do you want to destroy
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all your family ? Developing enmity with Krishna and Arjuna will not only destroy your family but all your wealth, influence, fame and name. If you dont agree,you not only lose all pleasures in this world but also in other world also. So listen to Krishna and agree for a compromise. Drona: Duryodhana! Your grandfather, father and I are your wellwishers. Dont listen to the advice of bad people. The good advice of Krishna will not only gain longevity, but also prosperity. If both Kauravas and Pandavas live happily it will be pleasant for all of us. What else I can tell you? Dhrutarashtra: Duryodhana! What Bheeshma and Drona advised is good to you. You go with Krishna and, embrace Dharmaraja, talk to him affectionately and that will solve all problems. If you listen to Krishnas words, everything good will happen to all of us. Bheeshma and Drona: Duryodhana! Go and embrace Dharmaraja, as advised by your father. He will lift you affectionately and agree what ever you say. That will solve all problems. All our subordinate kings, relatives and people will feel happy. The kings who came to fight, will go back to their cities. Both of your families rule your respective land and live happily for ever. Duryodhana: Krishna! Till now my father, Bheeshma, Drona and others are blaming me. Now you also joined their gang. They blame me for insulting Draupadi. They claim that Pandavas went to forests because of me and developed enemity on me. They claim that they alone are valorous and can destroy me and my brothers. Krishna! You please tell me frankly. Is there any truth in their allegations? Dharmaraja is a gambler. He forgets himself while playing with Sakuni and lost everything. When he was losing, should he not stop at a particular point? As he was losing he started increasing the speed of his bettings. Since Sakuni was lucky at the game of dice and he won the games again and again, thus Dharmaraja lost everything and went to forests. They have no right to the kingdom. Bheema, Arjuna and all Pandavas made a vow to kill us. What wrong I did in them? As he could not resist his temptation to fight with me, he invited the armies of Mastya, Panchala and other kings. Did I ever entertain such a crooked thinking? You are omni-present. You know everything. When they are making preparation for a war, why should I keep quiet? I am also a born
Kshatriya. When enemy is attacking us, should we go back like a coward? I too accepted the Kshatriya dharma. If I die in a battle I shall reach heaven and I get glory in this world. When I was too young and ignorant, my father and grand father colluded and gave a share to Pandavas from my kingdom. Even now, if they force me to do the same mistake, I will not allow it to repeat. They enjoyed my kingdom for some time. Having tasted the pleasures of my kingdom they are again trying to enjoy a fortune at my expense. So I shall not yield to their unjust demand. Bheeshma, Drona and many great heroes are on my side. Krishna! Why so many words? I shall not allow them to rule this country. I will not give even a tip of a needle of land. Either one of us will rule this country only after winning the battle. He said in a thunderous voice. The whole sabha was rudely shocked. Krishna became furious with Duryodhanas words. His eyes and face became red. Still he maintained his natural smile on his face. Krishna blasted at the atrocities of Duryodhana: Krishna: Duryodhana! You are going to die as desired by you. That day is not far off. You and the kings who came to help you are also facing the same fate. You said there is no fault on your side. There was no day passed without committing harm to Pandavas. Ever since you were born, you were trying to kill Pandavas. You served them poisoned food, you arranged poisonous serpents to bite them, and you burnt the house they were living. How many should I enumerate? Since they are virtuous, the dharma itself saves them. Somehow they could withstand all your atrocities but they want to enjoy their share of property. You became jealous and with a sinful thought. You grabbed all their property in a deceitful dice. Did ever any one pulled a chaste woman by hair, before the king and his audience? Did any one in an uncivilized way, removed the clothes of a chaste women in a sabha? Duryodhana! When Draupadi was insulted in Kurusabha the words you and Karna uttered cant be repeated. She was born in a respectable family. She is a chaste and virtuous wife of Pandavas. You were the eye witness for all these sinful acts. In spite of all, you are asking, What harm I did to Pandavas? You alone could speak such lies.
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You claim that Pandavas are ready with big army to attack you. By blaming Pandavas, you cannot save your life. Your father, Bheeshma, Drona and others are advising what is good to you. But you are giving a deaf ear. Knowing fully well that you hate Pandavas tooth and nail, still I came to make a last attempt for peace. While Krishna was talking in this manner Duryodhana was impatient with his words. At that time Dushsasana went to Duryodhana and said in a low tone, Brother! Our father, Bheeshma, Drona and others are conspiring to go in favour of Pandavas. They are trying to pressurize you to go in favour of Pandavas. If you still sit here, Krishna may try to corrupt your mind. So it is not safe for you to sit in sabha. Immediately Duryodhana left the sabha with an angry look at Krishna. With him Dushsasana, Sakuni and Karna also left sabha. When all the four left abruptly, the audience started whispering with each other. Bheeshma said: Bheeshma : Duryodhana became arrogant and proud. He is an ignorant, jealous and is suffering with passion. How can he leave sabha while Krishna was talking? He is always associated with wicked persons. Some are leading wicked life. I am afraid what terrific acts they are planning? Krishna: Revered audience! How arrogant is this Duryodhana? Here so many elders are sitting in the sabha. Dont they feel it as an insult to them? Wont he leave his dividing nature for ever? Cant we find a remedy for this? Cant we leave one vile person to save the pure and pious Baratha dynasty? Will this Kaurava dynasty should bear this blemish person? Kamsa also behaved in the same way. He tarnished dharma and put his father in prison. All our relatives came and requested me. I killed Kamsa and made his father Ugrasena as the king. Cant you do in the same way? Once we get rid of this crooked Duryodhana, all problems will be solved. The prestige of Kuru family will become upright. Both Pandavas and Kauravas can live in harmony. The harsh words of Krishna disturbed Dhrutarashtra and sent Vidura to bring Gandhari so that she might try to convince Duryodhana. When she came to the sabha, he said to her: Dhrutarashtra: Your son has insulted Krishna and others by leaving sabha abruptly. Can we ever see such a low profile person? You alone can convince him. If you can do it, with the grace of Krishna, our Kuru family will flourish.
Gandhari: King! I know our son is disobedient. Knowing fully well about his nature, why you play to his tunes? You give to Pandavas whatever way you want, Who is going to stop you? On hearing Gandharis words Dhrutarashtra sent Vidura to call Duryodhana. Vidura went and told Duryodhana that the king and Gandhari want to talk to him. As soon as Duryodhana arrived, his parents advised him: Gandhari: My dearest son! You dont follow dharma. You are not a statesman; therefore you dont know how to talk with elders. You are not aware of your strength and the strength of the kings who came to fight on your behalf. Why dont you love your relatives? Duryodhana tries to fasten Krishna: Duryodhana: ( he addresses his friend and uncle) My dearest friend and Uncle! Krishna had certain ulterior motives. In that process, he turned Bheeshma and Drona to his side. He frightened my father and mother by mentioning his killing of Kamsa. He may even fasten us all and keep under captivity.. So we ourselves will contrive schemes ahead of his plan and keep Krishna as our captive. If we do that, Pandavas will lose heart and come to our terms. Even if they do not agree to our terms and try to attack us, still they cant do any damage, since Krishna will be under our custody. Duryodhanas plan was been welcomed by his friends. They made all arrangements to take Krishna under their captivity. Satyaki was closely watching Duryodhanas movements. He deployed the army in front of sabha and was ready to handle any eventuality. He went inside the sabha and informed Krishna about the sinful plans of Duryodhana. He took permission from Krishna and said to Bheeshma and Bahlika: Satyaki: Elders of Kuru family. Duryodhana has hatched a sinful plan against Krishna. If you want to fasten Krishna, it is like carrying fire in your pocket. Is this the way of solving problems? They were shocked to know the evil designs of Duryodhana and his henchmen. Vidura heard the words of Satyaki and said to Dhrutarashtra: Vidura: King! Your son is thinking that Krishna is ordinary human being. If they try to fasten him, it would be like a locust attacking fire. Warn him before your son and his friends turned to ashes.
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Krishna: Dhrutarashtra! Your son Duryodhana and his friends plotting to harm me. If you permit me, I shall set right all the matters pertaining to Kaurava and Pandavas before I leave. On hearing Krishnas words Dhrutarashtra shivered like a tender leaf and sent Vidura to call Duryodhana and said: Dhrutarashtra: Duryodhana! Havent you heard the miracles of Krishna ever since his childhood? Why are you inviting your death? Avoid any harm to him. He is a messenger. He is not our enemy, but a well wisher. Krishna looked at Duryodhana carefully and minutely and said with a smile, Duryodhana! Are you are trying to bind me, since I am alone here? You dont know me. Now you are going to see. You will be shocked. Viswaroopam: At that time Brahma was seen as Krishnas forehead, Rudra was seen on his chest, Agni on his face, on both armpits were found Indra , Yama , Varuna , Kubera , Adityas , Marultus , Viswedevatas and Aswinidevatas. Balarama on his right hand, Arjuna on his left hand, from his back Dharmaraja, Bheema, Nakula, Sahadevas appeared. From his thighs, armed heroes of Vinshti, Bhajaka, Andhaka appeared. Sankham, chakram, club, sword, Sakthi and saranyam appeared from his various hands. From his eyes, ears and nose fumes were developed. From his pore of the skin powerful sun rays developed. The audience in sabha could not see them with open eyes and so closed their eyes. At that time, the supreme power was kind enough to allow seeing his viswaroopam to Narada , other maharishis, Bheeshma, Vidura, Drona, Sanjaya and few others. He has blessed them with divine right to see his Viswaroopam. They all enjoyed the bliss of his Roopam. Dhrutarashtra heard the uproar in the sabha and correctly presumed that Lord Krishna must have presented his Viswaroopam and so he began a pious prayer. Dhrutarashtra: Krishna! I am seeking your protection. You pardon my ignorance. Bless me to see your Viswaroopam. On hearing the request of Dhrutarashtra, Krishna blessed him divine sight. That born blind was able to see the Viswaroopam of Lord Krishna. His eyes were filled with tears of joy and he touched his feet and said: Dhrutarashtra: Purushothama! I saw your divine form. I became pure. I do not wish to see the world with those divine eyes. You take back the sight that you have blessed me.
On hearing the words of Dhrutarashtra, the whole audience was surprised. Krishna took back the sight given to the king as requested by him. Krishna permitted all the maharishis to go to their respective places.His mission having failed miserably but as expected, Krishna also left the sabha. Satyaki and others followed him.
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Krishna had expressed his dissent over Duryodhanas behavior, and walked out from the sabha. Dhrutarashtra hurriedly ran to the chariot of Krishna and said: Dhrutarashtra: Krishna! I told my son not to develop enemity with Pandavas on several occasions. But he refused to listen my words. It is enough if you believe that I am pure and sincere in my efforts. Krishna: Bheeshma, Drona and other elders! You all witnessed what had happened in the sabha. Now this king is saying that he is pure. What else is left for me to mediate? So I have no other option but to leave empty handed. By saying so, Krishna went to Kunti and told her what had happened in the sabha. He said that all Kauravas by royal are in madness with royal pleasures. Arjunas arrow only is the right medicine for their person. He took permission from her (Kunti) to leave for Hastinapura. Kunti: Krishna! Tell Dharmaraja as my words. Kings are to achieve things by valour. A masculine Kshatriya will never crave for a compromise. Will a Kshatriya relish food by begging? You and Pandavas did a tapasya for compromise. The enemy has rejected you. It is for good that the compromise talks failed. Krishna! I fail to understand why Arjuna crawled for a compromise? How such cowardly words were spelt out from Bheema? You are an AllPervading Supreme Spirit. How you also made peace Japa? Have all of you forgotten the insults suffered by Draupadi? Should they not fight, and got their legitimate share? Bheeshma and Drona were astonished by hearing such harsh words of Kunti. They witnessed both Kunti and Krishna, being very haughty. Again they went to Duryodhana and pleaded, Oh King! We became pretty old. We
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are not afraid of death. We can die for you in a battle. But we are advising you once again to meet Dharmaraja and have peaceful solution. Before leaving Hastinapura, Krishna met Karna secretly and said. Krishna: Karna! You listen my words carefully. You served elders. You are the first son of Kunti. With the power of a mantra and with the grace of sun god. Kunti gave birth to you before her marriage. Therefore you are the eldest brother of of Pandavas. All Pandavas will accept you as their eldest brother and serve you. You will be crowned as the king. Dharmaraja will fan the chowris. Arjuna will become your charioteer. Bheema will hold the white umbrella. Nakula and Sahadeva, Abhimanyu and others will serve you with regard. Draupadi also will accept you as her sixth husband. You come with me. Kunti also will feel happy. Karna: Krishna! I too heard this story. Though Kunti gave birth to me, she left me in waters without any mercy. Radha and Atiraradha alone brought me up and made me a man. Though them I too had many brothers and relatives. How can I leave them all and come with you as a son of Kunti? Not only that the whole world is projecting me against Arjuna. If I came that side the whole world will laugh at me. Will it bring any glory to Arjuna? Krishna! Since you are a guileless person, you gave me this advice. However I could not accept it. I request you to keep my birth secret within yourself. If Dharmaraja comes to know about it, he will not rule this country.He will offer the crown to me. Krishna! I wish that all the brothers of Dharmaraja to become Hota, Udgata, Advarvhu and Brahmas and, you should be Upredashta in that yaga. Let all Kauravas became sacrificial animals. You yourself may lead that yaga. Dharmaraja should be the karta in Kurukshetra to protect dharma. Let people like me may get superior lokas. Krishna: Karna! I am congratulating you for you have patiently heard what all I said. You must understand that bad ego will land you in distress. You have cultivated jealousy on Arjuna. That will certainly land either in a defeat or even death. Not only to you, but all your side are going to face the same fate. Then only your jealousy will be buried and take you to eternal place. Arjuna has acquired numerous divine astras. All the more, as long as I am his charioteer, you cant defeat Arjuna. You go to Hastinapura and announce that the war will start on the day of new moon.
Karna: Krishna! Many omens are indicating a big war between Kauravas and Pandavas. You confirmed it. I am aware, that Dharmaraja alone will win. That is the reason I refused to join Pandavas. In fact I, Sakuni and Dushsasana are responsible for all this. In the forthcoming big war between, if I win I will come and meet you. If I am killed, I will meet you in the other world, since you are Parameswara. Krishna was happy to note that Karna was very firm about his loyalty towards Duryodhana and that though there was a wide opportunity to become independent ruler, he refused the offer and wished to remain a vassal under Duryodhana.What irritated Krishna was Karnas bad advices to his friend. Krishna and Satyaki again went Kuntis house took leave from her and returned to Dharmaraja. After Krishna left, Kunti thought, I will go and meet Karna and tell about his birth secret, so that, he may not venture to kill his own brothers. Thinking in this manner she went to Karna. Kunti revealed his birth secret to Karna: Kunti: My son! When I was the daughter and unmarried I gave birth to you by the grace sun god. You are elder than Dharmaraja and Duryodhana. You are entitled to be the ruler of entire Kuru empire. So leave your thinking that you are the son of Radha and Atiradha. While Kunti was revealing his birth secret, a voice from sky was heard, What Kunti said is true. You act as per her wishes and prosper. Karna: Mother! At the time of my birth, you have not sanctified me with the rites to become a kshatriya. At this stage, how can I come with you and accept kshatriya dharma? Even though my birth by sun god is not condemnable, but it was kept as a secret all these years. Now some people may believe your version, and some may not believe. One more thing is Arjunas valour is famous in all worlds. If I join Pandavas, people might think that I joined them out of fear. Another point is that Duryodhana is looking at me as a catamaran to reach the shore from the ocean of enemies. At this critical hour, how can I leave him and come with you. He alone gave me recognition in this world. He crowned me as the king od Angadesam and provided large wealth, so that I could donate to the persons seeking my help.All these years I lived with the food provided by Duryodhana. Now he needs my support. At this juncture how can I leave him? Is it not ungrateful if I come with you? People will castigate me. How can I lead such a mean life?
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Mother! Certainly I shall fight against your sons. There is no doubt. Since you have come all the way, you might expect some benefit from me. I am giving you a word, I will not kill any of your sons except Arjuna. If time permits, I will kill Arjuna. Or I get killed in the hands of Arjuna. In both the ways I will consider it as a privilege. Either way, you will have only five sons and not six. Kunti: My son! What god proposes alone will happen. You dont forget your promise made to me. You leave away all my sons, except Arjuna, unhurt. Kunti embraced Karna and wept. Karna prostrated at her feet. The scene was highly emotional and heart breaking. Karna proved to be a man of peerless and immaculate character. He could have defected Kaurava party and joined Pandava clan and become their king. But he boldly refused the offer. Krishna reveals the result of his mediation to Dharmaraja: Krishna: Dharmaraja! As soon I reached Hastina, I moved with everybody in a friendly manner. I conveyed your message in Kurusabha when all elders were present. Duryodhana tried to gave evasive and arrogant replies. Dharmaraja: What did Dhrutarashtra say? Krishna: He tried to convince Duryodhana in several ways. Duryodhana wounded the feelings of Dhrutarashtra also. Bheeshma and Drona said, Duryodhana! Though your father was a born blind, his brother Panduraju made him king. He went on an expedition of war, secured enormous wealth and put all the wealth in the hands of your father. Pandavas also, like their father, had defeated several kings and filled the treasury. They lost all the wealth in a deceitful dice game with you and lived in forests for thirteen years. Now they fulfilled their vow and the share of their father. If you behave unreasonably and refuse to give their share, the entire Kuru family will be ruined. It is nothing truth. The elders in the sabha also tried to convince him in several ways. Duryodhana could not digest those good words, but became impatient and left sabha abruptly with his followers. Dhrutarashtra smelt the crooked plans of Duryodhana and sent word for Gandhari through Vidura. Gandhari also tried to convince him for a
peaceful settlement. He refused to heed her and but ordered, all the allied kings, to go to Kurukshetra for a war . He anointed Bheeshma as his commander- in- chief and made all preparations to wage a big war. I also tried with good words. After some time I threatened him. Again I pacified with good words. He said, that he was prepared even to die, but refused to give land to Pandavas. There was no road open except war. Now you decide the next course of action. Dharmaraja: Krishna! You know our mind. You also heard the views of Bheeshma and Drona. Still my mind is not accepting for the impending colossal human loss. Krishna! Why dont you suggest any other way to avoid the human loss? Krishna: There is no way other than a war. He not only refused to listen but also attempted to fasten me in Kurusabha. With such a ruthless person, what else we can do? At that time I have shown them a supernaturel power and created wonders. Still he did not agree for a compromise. Kunti also expressed her deep distress in the presence of Bheeshma, Drona and Bahlika and criticized your soft nature. However you are not inviting war. But they are forcing on you. What else you can do? Under those circumstances, I personally feel it is no sin if you fight them. Dharmaraja: Brothers! We suffered so many difficulties because of them. Even Kunti also gave her consent to fight a war. Still my mind is refusing to kill our own kith and kin. You also think well and tell me what our next course of action must be. Arjuna: Brother! Krishna knows everything. He himself is telling that there is no alternative except war; hence we are forced to fight with our own relatives. Vidura knows all dharmas. Kunti also gave her consent. So, there is no point in delaying our decision. Dharmaraja: Then we also prepare for war. Then whom shall we appoint as our commander-in-chief? He should be capable of planning and executing the war strategies with great vigour and valour. Nakula: We shall choose king Draupada as our chief. He fought many battles. All the more, he was furious of killing Bheeshma. Arjuna : I feel Drushtajyumna is better. He was born from a Homagundam only to kill Drona. I think he also is equal to Bheeshma to lead our army.
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Dharmaraja: Krishna! You are All Pervading Supreme Spirit. You know everything better than anybody. All the more whatever comes from your mouth, will come true. So we accept whomsoever you nominate as our commander-in-chief and other commanders. Krishna : Dharmaraja ! You nominate Drushtajyumna as the commander-in-chief. We are in possession of seven akshauhinis of army. You appoint the following as our commanders of each segment. 1. King Drupada 2. King Virata 3. Satyaki 4. Vasudeva (son of Jarasandha) 5. Drushnaketu (son of Sisupala) 6. Sikhandi 7. Bekitanudu. Dharmaraja! Though Kauravas are having eleven akshauhinis of army, you have nothing to worry, because god will be protecting your army. Even devatas cant overwhelm your brothers. Next morning Pandavas, Krishna, the kings and their army moved towards Kurukshetra. Dharmaraja said Arjuna! Krishna is our protector. Every moment we shall move under his guidance. He will protect you every moment, by sitting in your chariot. Duryodhana came to know from his spies that Pandavas had prepared for a war and were proceeding towards Kurukshetra. He called for an emergency meeting of his ministers and said, Since I did not agree to his advice, Krishna went to Pandavas and provoked them for war. Now we are left with no alternate except to give a fitting reply to them. Next morning Duryodhana conveyed a sabha and appointed 1.Drona 2.Karna 3. Aswathama 4. Bahlika 5. Sakuni 6. Krupa 7. Selya 8. Jayadradha (Syndhava) 9. Bhoorisrava 10. Sudhekshina and 11. Krutavarma as commanders for each segment. He took them his commanders to Bheeshma and said: Duryodhana: Pitamaha ! I have appointed these eleven as our commanders for each segment. They all come from different nations. You are not only a veteran warrior but you have the leadership qualities. You should lead them towards victory. Bheeshma: Duryodhana! No one can stand before me in a battle field. But I cant defeat Arjuna, because he has acquired several divine weapons. Not only that, I cant kill the sons of Panduraju. They also have not come to fight with me. So that will not be a problem. If you agree for this, I have no objection to get anointed as your commander-in-chief. One more thing either myself or Karna will enter battle field, first.
On hearing Bheeshmas words Karna became furious and said, Why are you raking up this issue now? I have already taken a vow, that I will not enter battle field unless Bheeshma fell down. Bheeshma was happy and assured Duryodhana that he would agree to be installed as the commander-in-chief and declared that he would enter the battlefield first. In a function, Duryodhana made Bheeshma as the commander-in-chief in the presence of all his commanders. At the time of function, they witnessed many bad omens. Dhrutarashtra and others were worried. Duryodhana engaged munis to perform remedial measures. Balarama was not happy with Krishnas mediation at Hastinapura. He did not like a war between Pandavas and Kauravas. He went to Dharmarajas camp and said that he had decided not to fight for either side and planned a pilgrimage. He said: Balarama: Both Kauravas and Pandavas resorted to a cruel act. I will not support killing of brothers in a war. This will not only destroy Kauravas and Pandavas, but there will be a incalculable human loss. Krishna went for mediation and threatened Duryodhana. Had he wanted, he could have made a settlement. Instead of that, he actually provoked Duryodhana and forced him for a war. I cant be an eye witness for this havoc. I myself taught both Duryodhana and Bheema the fight with the club. How can I see the fight between my own disciples? Krishna knows all dharmas. He himself will take the responsibility. I am going to prabhasa teerdham for a pilgrimage. Message through Ulooka: Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra maharaja ! You always escape the evil consequences by making your son Duryodhana as the scapegoat. Do you want me to believe, that Duryodhana did all evil acts without your knowledge or support? Just two days ago, your son Duryodhana sent Ulooka, the son of Sakuni to Dharmaraja to say some unpalatable words. You listen. Ulooka: Dharmaraja! I am only a messenger of Duryodhana. I shall tell you what he asked me to convey. You please do not get annoyed at me, if they are harsh. Dharmaraja: Dont be afraid. You tell me what all the mischious words he wanted to say before the audience of my sabha. They also may hear. Ulooka: Dharma nandana! This is what he has said. All these years you are afraid of me. Finally you picked up courage to fight with me. I
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congratulate for your bravery. When Sanjaya came, you and your brothers babbled all non sense as if you are the only valorous people in the world. In fact none of you has masculinity, because even though your wife was insulted in front of your eyes, you stood like statues. Now you dared to come before me for a fight. Even now, dont run away in the middle. Behave bravely. Because all these kings that came to fight for you, have no track record. Why I am cautioning you is that none of you can fight with Bheeshma, Drona and others. In fact, you have no strength of your own. Every now and then, you run to Krishna for advice. All these years, you enjoyed my kingdom. When I took it back you have become fish out of water and came desperately to fight with me. Bheema! You said that you will drink the blood of Dushsasana. Now the time is ripe. You show your vigour. You are like a frog in a well. You will have to boast brave words before your brothers and wife. The moment I see you in the battle field, I will kill you on that spot. Stop talking brave but empty words and have a direct fight with me. Arjuna! Since your gandeevam is tall like a palm tree, you think that you can win the battle? Am I a child to get frightened by your vows ? Why dont you continue as Brihannala forever, since you are an impotent? Why you need a kingdom? Krishna! Are you still doing gimmick? You came to Hastina assuming you as a statesman and exhibited a magic to impress the old people. Let thousand Krishnas and Arjunas come, we are ready to fight them. I stick to my word that I will not spare even a tip of a needle of land. Thus Ulooka expressed the message of Kauravas. Many from Pandava side wished to give a strong reply, but Krishna pacified them and he himself replied diplomatically. Krishna: Ulooka! You go and tell the same words to Duryodhana, in the presence of all. Duryodhana! You are caught in our hands. The war begins tomorrow. You cant escape from us. Wherever you hide, I myself will ride the chariot and Arjuna will catch you. Bheema is not a babbler like you. He has the strength of thousand elephants. He not only will kill you but also kick on your head. He will drink warm blood of Dushsasana in front of your eyes. Arjuna: Duryodhana! You are talking highly of those kings who came to help you. Dont you know that I defeated them all? With that vengeance,
they joined you, not out of love for you. Whereas the kings who are fighting for us came out of regard for us. You have no strength of your own. We are not afraid of you or the strength of your supporters. Bheeshma is the eldest of our family. He conducted his life in a principled way. Out of jealousy on us, you wanted to kill him. Are you dreaming that Bheeshma would be able to redeem you and secure a victory? You have a notion that Bheeshma alone is the valorous warrior in this world. You want to escape from your sins by making him a scope goat. Know it well that we are going to defeat Bheeshma first. After him, we will kill our guru Dronacharya and Karna with my hands. Then only your eyes will be opened. Though Ulookas words were not palatable, he acted as a messenger only and the words were not his own words. So. As a matter od courtesy, Dharmaraja gifted Ulooka with new clothes and ornaments. He ordered Drushtajyumna to make all evolve strategies for the war. Ulooka went to Duryodhana and said what all Krishna, Bheema and Arjuna said. Duryodhana called Karna and ordered him to make the army ready for the battle. In this manner both sides were enthusiastic to meet each other in the battle field. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Can Bheeshma win over Arjuna? Sanjaya: On hearing the words from Ulooka, Bheeshma assured Duryodhana by saying, Duryodhana! We tried to avert a war. Now the war had broken and both sides took positions. You leave all fears. I will protect all Kaurava army. If the army runs hither and thither with confusion, I will bring them at one place. I will act as a protective shield to our army. Duryodhana: Pitamaha! When you and Drona are on my side, where is the fear for me? Bheeshma: Duryodhana! Your sisters husband Syndhava is an atiradha. When he insulted Draupadi, Pandavas beat and humiliated him. With that insult, he pleased Lord Siva and had some boons to attack Pandavas. There are so many atiradhas and maharadhas in your side, you know them all. But Karna is only an ardha radha. Karna: Pitamaha! You have insulted me in the presence of many kings as an ardharadha. Considering your age and valour, You are also an ardharadha . Because of my friendship with Duryodhana I ignore the comments of this old man.
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Bheeshma: Karna! You are trying to console yourself by saying that I am misfit for fighting because of my old age. You go and enquire your guru Parasurama about my valour; three times I made him to run away from the battle field. Now watch from a distance, how I fight this battle. It is unfortunate that I am forced to reveal my greatness myself before a person who does not know who his parents are? Karna! You are escaping from the war by putting the blame on me. After I lay down, you will be destroyed with the fury of Arjuna. Duryodhana has put a big responsibility on my shoulders. He is having high hopes on me. So I dont want to get into controversy at this stage. Duryodhana: Pitamaha! Is it fair to fight among ourselves at this hour? You please bear with for my sake. Karna! You both must fight together against the enemy. Then only I can get the victory. Stop in fight at once. Bheeshma: Duryodhana! I told you the strength and weakness of the kings who are fighting for us. Now I will tell you briefly about the valour of the kings who are fighting for Dharmaraja. Bheema has the super natural strength. I cant compare anyone equal to him. Arjuna pleased Siva and secured. the Pasupata Astra and also acquired several divine weapons. Added to that, he has the blessings of Krishna. UpaPandavas and Abhimanyu are as ferocious as their fathers. Satyaki is a flaring fire. He is ready to give even his life for Pandavas. He was also furious on you. Drupada and Virata are great warriors. Added to that, they both are relatives for Pandavas. Sikhandi, son Drupada, is born only to kill me. Drushtajyumna is another son of king Drupada. He is born to kill Drona. Sisupalas son Dhrushtaketu is also as valorous as his father. Ghatotkacha, is a demon born to Bheema and Hidimbi. When Pandavas were in a house of wax, you put that set fire. Somehow they escaped and landed up in a forest. There Bheema killed Hidumbasura and married his sister Hidimbi. Their son Ghatotkacha fights mystic war. It is difficult to defeat him. The king of Kasi announced the marriage of his three daughters viz Amba, Ambika and Ambalika. In that swayamwara, I defeated all kings, took
those three girls to marry to Vichitraveerya, your grandfather. Since Amba was already fixed her mind with another king, Salva. I sent her back. But Salva refused to accept her. Amba became furious against me, performed a great tapasya and was born as Sikhandi, to kill me. That Sikhandi is the commander for one segment of an army of Pandavas. On hearing the strength and weakness on both sides from Bheeshma, Duryodhana became nervous and recovered after some time. Duryodhana: Pitamaha! In how many days we can defeat Pandavas army? How early we can win this battle? Bheeshma: Duryodhana! In normal course, I kill thousand warriors per day. I can keep on killing people indiscriminately. Keeping in view of the above, I am now thinking of killing ten thousand people per day. If it goes in this manner, I can finish the war in about thirty days. Drona: Duryodhana! I have become pretty old. However I can fight till the end. I too expect that we would be able to win in about a month. Krupacharya said that it would take two months for him; whereas Aswadhama claimed that he could close the war in ten days; Karna claimed that they could defeat all the Pandava army in just five days. Bheeshma: Karna! It is not enough to claim by your mouth. If you hear the twangs of Arjunas gandeevam, you might even faint. We are going to witness it. The spies of Pandavas carried all these talks to Dharmaraja. On hearing from these matters, Dharmaraja asked Arjuna, How much time we need to rout the enemys army? Arjuna: Dharmaraja ! I do not under estimate the strength of Bheeshmas army. But it is impossible for them to achieve what they claimed. But you need not entertain any fear or doubt in your mind about my capability. With the help of Krishna, I can smash all the worlds in one minute with pasupatastra. I will tell you how to derive the pleasures of victory. Lord Siva, pleased with my tapasya, came in the form of a hunter, and blessed me with Pasupata astra, which could turn all the worlds into ashes. He uses the same at times of pralaya. That astra is with me. But it is not fair to kill all the worlds indiscriminately. Bheeshma, Drona and others know the power of this astra. If we can eliminate all our enemies with other
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divine weapons gradually, people will come to know the vigour and valour of Pandavas and also bring us permanent glory. This is my opinion. Dharmaraja! Apart from me we have so many valorous heroes like Bheema, Nakula, Sahadeva, Abhimanyu, Virata, Drupada, Ghatotkacha etc. you never invoke anger. If you get angry, nobody can guess what will happen. So, be rest assured that we will enjoy the pleasure of victory very soon. (Udyoga Parvam contains a number of very thrilling events. Pandavas could have got back their land easily, at the end of their agnanavasam, but a number of impediments intervened in their venture. Dhrutarashtra could have easily solved the problem, but he had no will power to strictly advise his son Duryodhana, who was very adamant and arrogant. We see how he was misguided by Karna and Sakuni. Though Bheeshma, Vidhura and Drona were advocating a very amicable settlement, Duryodhana was under wrong illusions of his superiority and ego. Pandavas sought the help of Krishna, who tried hislevel best to effect an agreeable compromise. Yet we see how he was not successful, because the Kauravas adopted a sort of cunning, conspiracy and cheating. We also see why the Pandavas had to wage a war. They had no choice but to involve in a war. We see how Dharmaraja controls his brothers, who had their own agenda of taking revenge upon particular Kauravas. We see how the battle between good and bad, calmness and ego, asking the right and greed culminates in a bloody war, Both the sides are evenly matched and therefore a great battle was in the offing.In this parvam we are able to witness the beginning of the very bloody climax.So this Parvam contains plots and counter plots. We also see in this Parvam, the finest characterization of Bheeshma,Drona, Vidura,Karna, Kunti and Kanthari. The character of Karna is well-chiselled. We hate him initially, but at the end of this parvam his innate qualities are brought out and we begin to admire him. Krishna dominates this Parvam and his machinations results in the war Balarama should have mediated. Had he done so, Duryodhana would have shed his ego and conceded the rights of Pandavas. But he miserably failed by adopting neutrality and went on theertha yatra.While Krishna was actively involved in solving the problem, Balarama took no pains to settle the issue or refused to be involved in the dispute and so his character is not appreciated by us. He is just a flat character.)
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Glossary
Aadibhowtikam Aadideivikam Adi Aadhyatmikam Advarvhu Ajata Satru Andhaka ardha radha arishad vargas Askhauhini atiradhas Avabridhasnana Badabagni Bhajaka chakram Halahalam Hota Kapidhwajam Karta
Udyogaparvamu
caused by the five primary elements caused by fate or pertaining to a tutelary deity caused by the spiritual Priest at a sacrifice recites the prayers of Rig-Veda He who has no enemy Name of a kingdom A warrior who can fight with limited number of warriors Six internal enemies, pride, anger, lust, jealousy, greediness, ignorance Army consisting of 21870 chariots, 21870 elephants, 65610 horses, 109350 soldiers A warrior who can fight a number of charioteers A supplementary sacrifice to atone for defects in a principal sacrifice Submarine fire The deviser The weapon of Vishnu Terribly destructive poison Priest of a sacrifice recites the prayers of Rig-Veda Flag with a form of Hanuma doer or author
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Kurusabha maharadhas Nivata kavachas Pitamaha prabhasa teerdham Pranamns Sankham Sargyam Satva rajas tamo gunas, Trigunas, Tamoguna, Udgata, Upradashta Uttara gograhamam Varnasrama dharmas Vinshti Viswaroopam
Assembly of Kauravas A great warrior among the Kshatriya kings who fought from chariots Demons Grandfather A pilgrimage plac Salutation Conch The bow of Vishnu Three primary gunas one of the three gunas one of the chief priests officiating at a yagna reciting Samaveda capturing of herds of cattle from the north The caste based duties Name of a kingdom He who exists in all forms; Lord Vishnu
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BHEESHMA PARVAM
CHAPTER 1 Veda Vyasa arrives: Both the armies of Kaurava and Pandavas built tents around Kurukshetra. At that time, king Dhrutarashtra was distressed about saving the pride of his sons. Sanjaya was also by his side. Unexpectedly, Vyasa maharishi arrived and said to Dhrutarashtra: Vyasa maharishi: My son! If you want to witness the war between Kauravas and Pandavas, I shall bless you with a divine sight, so that you can watch them from your bed room. Dhrutarashtra: Maharishi! When two brothers are fighting to kill each other, I cant happily witness those scenes. I dont mind to hear what is happening there. So please give such a power to Sanjaya. I will hear from him. Vyasa maharishi: My son! I am giving super natural power to Sanjaya. He can go anywhere in the battle field. No weapon will touch him. He can read others minds and know what they are thinking. He can also see the forms of gods. You dont have to worry about this war. It is pre-destined by the god. By this war, the burden on the earth will be reduced. Then he left for his abode. Sanjaya and his master began to discuss many things. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Right from the times immemorial, people give even their life for the sake of land. Can you tell me the reason for it? Kauravas and Pandavas are fighting only for land. Why they are fastened by this greediness? Sanjaya: King! Pandavas are not greedy. Their mind will be always fixed on dharma. Your son Duryodhana is greedy. He dances to the tunes of Sakuni and others. They are all pretending friendship with your son. In older days also, king Bhageeratha, king Yayati, king Raghu, Nahusha and many others also fought battles for land. This is not a new trend for your sons alone. Whichever side god favours, that side will win the battle.
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Dhrutarashtra: Tell me what is happening in Kurukshetra now? Sanjaya went to Kurukshetra and returned. He fell at the feet of Dhrutarashtra and wept bitterly. Sanjaya: King! Bheeshma had collapsed and died in the battlefield. It is nothing but the act of vidhi. He once fought and defeated great Parasurama. Such a great Pitamaha fell at the hands of Sikhandi. Duryodhana deceived Pandavas in a game of dice and slept peacefully only on the strength of Bheeshma only. Now Bheeshma fell down in the battlefield and Duryodhana became sleepless. Bheeshma was capable of killing even ten thousand kings; such a Bheeshma fell on the ground with the arrows of Sikhandi. Dhrutarashtra grieves for the death of Bheeshma: Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Nobody can surpass and outclass Bheeshma, who is nothing but an ocean of valour. How Sikhandi crossed such a fearful ocean? Oh Amba! You took a vow that I shall take another birth to kill you. Now you did it. What a surprise? He was the protector of the Kaurava family. He led a most principled life. Even after killing such a virtuous grand old man, Pandavas want still to rule this country?If even the god also is conniving with Pandavas, what else can be said? Adharma is overruling dharma. In spite of losing Bheeshma how is that Kauravas are continuing to fight for kingdom? Is it not a sin? Of all said and done, a Kshatriya is the most cruel person among all the castes. To take birth in such a Kshatriya caste is also sin. The Kaurava army has become a widow after losing Bheeshma. How Can I grieve for Kauravas? I am afraid they may even end up their lives. Sanjaya! Where are Drona, Krupa and others, who left Bheeshma a prey for Sikhandi? What such a big army was doing when Bheeshma was attacked? Why none of them stood in support of him? Leaving him alone, were they looking fun and frolic at his fall? Perhaps they must be over confident that none could fell Bheeshma. Pandavas must have consolidated all their strength and instigated Sikhandi against Bheeshma? At that moment did my sons run away into forests, out of fear for life? After the fall of Bheeshma, what else remains? We lost everything. Once Bheeshma was dead, all others are also as good as dead. Sanjaya! After the fall of Bheeshma, what all the kings are saying in our side? What those friends, who encouraged the game of dice, are saying now?
Are they running hither and thither? Who is leading them, after Bheeshma? Now what will happen to them? Sanjaya! Now you tell me how Bheeshma fought these ten days? What strategies that Pandavas planned to fell him? How he finally fell down? Since I am able to survive even after the fall of Bheeshma, my ears can take any amount of bad news. You tell me the details without any fear. Sanjaya: King Dhrutarashtra! You yourself are confessing that this evil had happened because of you only. Know it well that your sins are paying you with the same coin. It is certain that those who do harm to other will perish. This we are witnessing in this world. The same has happened now. I will tell you what all that had happened in those ten days on both sides. You listen. Vyasa maharishi had given me this awareness only to narrate you verbatim. First I will prostrate at the feet of maharishi and tell. Sanjaya tells the details of battle at Kurukshetra: Dhrutarashtra! After you slept in the night I went to Kauravas camp in Kurukshetra. Duryodhana received me affectionately and offered me a seat. He invited his brothers and told some advices. Duryodhana: Dussasana! Know it well and let all our people also remember. Bheeshma is our protector. If we protect him, he will protect all of us. He knows only one thing that is to kill everyone in the enemys camp. On the day he was appointed as the chief of army, he told every one of us that he would not fight against Sikhandi. He promised that he would kill all others. So we must be cautious about Sikhandi. Sometimes even a fox can kill a lion. The enemy may provoke Sikhandi on him and others may kill. So all the valorous radhikas should protect him. In this manner they planned the next days war strategy and tightened security ring around Bheeshma. Next morning all the kings took their positions. Looking at them, Bheeshma said: Bheeshma: Warriors! I welcome you all. Battlefield is the gate way to heaven. This is the high time for the old and accepted dharma for kshatriyas. No Kshatriya would like to die with sickness. Once you step into a battlefield it amounts having achieved your goal. Duryodhana! You ensure that as long as I am in the battlefield either Karna or his men should not enter the battle. [Duryodhana and other kings expressed their solidarity].
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Duryodhana and his brothers surrounded Bheeshma and asked him to form a vyuham. Bheeshma arranged a Manava vyuham of a human. In that disposition Bheeshma and Drona stood at its entrance. On its right Krupacharya, on its left Krutavarma, Selya, on its back Bahlika, Somadatta, Bhurisrava stood. In the centre Duryodhana and brothers stood. War preparations on Pandavas side: Krishna, Arjuna, Bheema, Nakula, Sahadeva, Abhimanyu, Upa-Pandavas and others followed Dharmaraja. Arjuna blew his conch Devadattam. Virata, Drupada and other commanders followed Drushtajyumna . At that huge gathering Dharmaraja said Dharmaraja: Let us join this big battle. If we win, we enjoy all comforts, Other wise we all reach heaven. This dharma we all reach heaven. This dharma we are following since time immemorial. So let us fight for the big victory. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Did Dharmaraja react by looking Pandavas army. How Dharmaraja did have so much of courage? Sanjaya: What you said is correct. Dharmaraja was bewildered by looking at our army and expressed his dismay. Then Arjuna said to him, Brother! Long ago Narada maharishi said, in the presence of Bheeshma, Drona, Vyasa and others that those who do harm to dharma will never win a battle however large army one may have. So you dont have to worry about the size of enemys army. Bheema had huge club with him. No body knows how many thousands of elephants he may kill. I too have a tall Gandeevam coupled with divine astras. We have Drushtajyumna, Sikhandi, Drupada, Virata and many great warriors. Why so many, if you get angry, even devatas cant fight against you. So leave fear. Thus Dharmaraja was satisfied and asked, Arjuna! Bheeshma arrayed his army in a Manav vyuha which was appreciated even by devatas. So you plan a superior vyuha than that. Then Arjuna called Drushtajyumna and ordered to form Achala vyuham. In that Vyuham, Abhimanyu and Upa-Pandavas stood in the fore front. Bheema stood by the side of Drushtajyumna. Virata stood on north, Drupada stood on south. Large armies stood supporting them. Dha rmaraja was stationed in the middle. Arjuna was in front of Sikhandi and was facing Bheeshma in the Kaurava side. A section of yadava army joined Pandavas side and rest on Kauravas side, due to their internal quarrels.
Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! You have seen both the sides. Which side of army is over enthusiastic? Sanjaya: It looked Pandava army is more powerful, because NaraNarayanas are present in that side. Krishna and Arjuna took this battle lightly, whereas your son maintained his bravery, determination and boldness. In the meanwhile blood rained on Kauravas side. Looking at that Bheeshma, Drona and others said, Ultimately Pandavas alone win this battle. Kauravas disregarded the bad omens and ordered the army to go ahead for the fight. Oh king! Both sides came to an understanding on the code of conduct as follows. 1. In course of a fight, if the warriors are engaged in a conversation, no weapons is to be used on them. 2. 3. 4. Whoever fell down while fighting, are not be attacked. Those whose weapons are dropped on ground, are not to be attacked. Whoever flees from the battlefield, should not be chased killed.
Dharmaraja went to Bheeshma by walking: Dharmaraja removed his shield and left his bow and arrows in the chariot. He started walking silently towards the chariot of Bheeshma. Arjuna and his brothers didnt know what he had in mind. However, they also removed shield, bow and arrows, followed him silently. The soldiers in Kauravas camp looked at them with surprise. Some whispered why Dharmaraja became so nervous in spite valorous brothers and other kings being present on his side? Some said that he must be going with some plan in mind. Krishna said to Arjuna, He is going to seek permission from Bheeshma, Drona and others before he starts the battle. This is an accepted trend of old tradition. Dharmaraja went to Bheeshma and prostrated at his feet and said: Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! You are pure, pious and senior most of our family. It is unfortunate that we are forced to fight with you. I came to seek your permission and blessings. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! It is good that you have come. Otherwise I would have mistaken you as an arrogant. Now I am blessing you that you are going to win the battle. You ask me any boon expect asking me to fight on your side.
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Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! You fight for Duryodhana only, but you bless my wellbeing. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! You come out openly what are you seeking from me. Dharmaraja: Grandfather! You tell me the way, how we could score win over you? Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! As long as I hold a weapon in my hand, even devatas also cant win against me. Anybody could melt my heart either by devotion or by other means? I cannot fight with those on whom I develop an aversion and I throw away my weapons. At that time any one can defeat me. Now you dont talk anything more on this. It is also not the opportune time to tell you the way to defeat me. You meet me on some other occasion. Now you go away with this. Dharmaraja went to Drona and prostrated at his feet and requested for his blessings. Drona said, Dharmaraja, when Bhagwan SriKrishna happens to be your minister, where is the need for others blessings? Whereever dharma prevails Krishna will be there. Dharmaraja requested him the way to overcome him. Drona said As long as a weapon is in my hands, nobody can defeat me. The moment I lay down my weapons, any one can kill me. When I hear a shocking and unbearable news of grief, through a person on whom I have implicit faith, I lay down my weapons immediately. At that time anybody can kill me. From there, he went to Krupacharya and requested for his blessings. Krupacharya also told him that nobody can kill him. However he sincerely wished Dharmaraja to win. From there he met king Selya and requested to remember the promise made to him, if he happens to be the charioteer for Karna. The Selya said I remember my promise made to you. I shall keep up my word. You go peacefully. At that Krishna happened to see Karna and said: Krishna: Karna! I came to know that you are keeping away from the battle because of your differences with Bheeshma. So you will not touch a weapon until Bheeshmas death. In the meanwhile why dont you fight on behalf of Pandavas? This will be a fitting reply for Bheeshma also. Karna: Krishna! It is true that I have some differences with Bheeshma. But Duryodhanas interest is more than my life. So how can I leave Duryodhana and join enemys side?
Krishna appreciated his loyalty for his master and reached Pandavas camp. Dharmaraja stood on the border and shouted loudly, looking Kauravas side If any one changes his mind in the last minute, he may join us. We treat him as my own brother. This is my promise. On hearing the offer of Dharmaraja, Yuyutsa joined the Pandavas camp. [Yuyutsa was the son of Dhrutarashtra by a Vyasa woman] Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Our army and Pandavas army reached Kurukshetra. Tell me what they are doing. Sanjaya: King! The time was fixed for the starting of war. Both the armies were positioned opposite to each other. Arjuna asked Krishna to keep his chariot before Kaurava army. There Arjuna saw his brothers, cousins, nephews and close relatives. His heart broke. He jumped from his chariot and fell at the feet of Krishna and said, Krishna! I am seeing there, my grand fathers, fathers, brothers, sons and close relatives. Am I to kill all my people just to gain kingdom? Am I to eat the food mixed with blood? I prefer to beg and eat than eating this food mixed with blood. I cannot fight this battle. Note: Dear reader! Krishna pacifies Arjuna and teaches him why he has to fight this battle. The teachings of Krishna are popularly known by different names such as 1. A discussion between Krishna and Arjuna 2. Supreme knowledge 3. Yoga sastra and also as Bhagavad-Gita. We are bringing out Bhagavad-Gita as a separate title. -Author Bheeshmas first day battle: Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Both Kauravas and Pandavas assembled at Kurukshetra for a big fight, you tell me how the battle went on. Sanjaya: King! Bheema led Pandavas army and made a simhanadam inviting the enemy for a fight. Matching Bheemas simhanadham, Dussasana, Durmukha, Vikarna and others attacked Bheema and it immensely pleased Duryodhana. With that sound, the herds of elephants and horses in Kaurava side ran hither and thither. Pandava princes fought with Kaurava princes with enthusiasm. Both Duryodhana and Dharmaraja provoked their army and made them to fight bitterly with each other. Bheeshma and Arjuna fought with each other. Satyaki fought with Krutavarma and wounded each other. Abhimanyu attacked Bhagadatta. Each of them killed others charioteer.
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Bheema who had dexterity in club, took bow and arrows and surprised both sides. Nakula fought with Dussasana. Sahadeva fought with Durmukhi. Dharmaraja fought with Selya and broke his bow. Drushtajyumna attacked Drona. Sahadeva fought with Bhurisrava and wounded him. Drushtaketu fought with Bahlika, (To be given as a footnote)(***Bahlika is the brother of king Santena, the father of Bheeshma) Sikhandi fought with Aswadhama, Bhagadatta with Virata. Vikarna fought with Yudhama. Duryodhana provoked Bheeshma: Sanjaya: Your son has sent Durmukha, Krupa, Krutavarma, Selya, Vivimsati to protect Bheeshma from all sides like Panchagnis. Bheeshma was releasing arrows to all the directions and killed a large number of Pandava soldiers. Whereever Bheeshma fought, that area was filled with the organs of human bodies. Many warriors could not face Bheeshma. At that time Abhimanyu ferociously attacked Bheeshma and reduced his killing rate. He broke Bheeshmas bow and flag post. In the meanwhile Selya, Krutavarma, Durmukha and others came in support of Bheeshma. To control Abhimanyu, they instigated elephants and horses on him. Bheema came in support of Abhimanyu and wounded Krutavarma and Krupacharya. Satyaki and Drushtajyumna also came in support of Bheema and killed elephants and horses apart from soldiers. Sanjaya: After the sunset, both sides stopped fighting and went back to their tents. Duryodhana and his brothers praised Bheeshma in several ways.
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Dharmaraja and others went to Krishna: Dhrutarashtra: It seems that the Pandavas lost heavily on the first day itself. What they did on that night? Sanjaya: Kauravas have established their superiority on the first day. Dharmaraja was greatly upset and went to Krishna with his brothers. He consulted Krishna. Dharmaraja: Krishna! I know that Bheeshma is good a warrior but I never saw him in close quarters. Even devatas cant defeat him. Only Bheema and Abhimanyu gave some resistance. All others were wounded severely. I do not want the kings who came to support us, get killed. Sooner or later Bheeshma kill every one of us. So I want to call off the battle. All these years we were acting as per your advice. Everything good happened to us. All these happened because of you. So I came to you to act as per your advice. Krishna: Dharmaraja! Why are you so timid and pessimistic? I too agree that Bheeshma is a great valorous person. But you are not able to know how strong you are. Apart from your brothers Satyaki is a great hero. He alone can destroy all Kaurava army. Virata, Drupada and others are determined to make you an emperor on earth. Why do you pure water in their enthusiasm? At this stage if you call off and go to forest, people will laugh at you. Sikhandi is born to kill Bheeshma. Drushtajyumna was born to kill Drona; Why Drona alone? He can kill all Kaurava heroes. On hearing the words of Krishna, Dharmaraja became optimistic over the victory and encouraged Drushtajyumna. Dharmaraja: Drushtajyumna! I am aware of your valour and birth. That is why you are designated as the commander-in-chief. You join hands with my brothers and eliminate all the enemies and do justice for my confidence on you. Drushtajyumna: Dharmaraja! I dont like self- boasting. I am born only to kill Drona. Whenever I face Bheeshma, Drona and others in the battle field you yourself can judge from my performance. Dharmaraja: Drushtajyumna! Your words are so agreeable to my ears, Krishna and other kings also invested great faith in your leadership. Devaguru
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Bruhaspathi has advised Indra to design a Krauncha Vyuha to win enemies. So you also form a Krauncha Vyuha in such a manner all our enemies are to astonish. In that vyuha, Arjuna stood at its nose, Kuntibhoja and Saibja stood as its two eyes. Drupada stood as its cap on the head, king Dasera, king Soorasena, Kirata king stood on the neck, Bheema and Drushtajyumna as its two wings. Abhimanyu, Satyaki, Upa-Pandavas and others became feathers in its wings. Dharmaraja and others stood on its neck. Bheeshmas battle on the second day : Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra maharaja! Duryodhana saw the Krauncha Vyuha of Pandavas and encouraged his kings to attack enemys vyuha. Dussasana, Vikerna, Vindu, Aruvindu, Susarma, Trigarta kings and their army on one side, Drona, king of kuntala, Daasarha, king Viderna and their army on the other side attacked the wings of Krauncha Vyuha of Pandavas. Both armies fought with enthusiasm. Bheeshma, fought at all nook and corners of Pandavas side. Arjuna was annoyed at Bheeshmas onslaught and said to Krishna. Arjuna: Krishna! Look at Bheeshmas enraged fight with our army. He thought there is no one to resist him. You see how I restrict his speed. Krishna: Arjuna! I am happy to hear your courageous words and determination to fight with Bheeshma. There you should not go back from your word. Having gone there, you should not develop a cold feet by saying lame excuses like How can I fight with my grandfather? Drona, Selya, Duryodhana and others should be astonished and become spell-bound by looking the fire in your arrows. This is the opportune time to show your strength of astras to your Pitamaha. While encouraging Arjuna in this manner, Krishna was driving the chariot. While the army of Sooradesa obstructed, Arjuna beat them all and proceeded towards Bheeshma. At that time Drona released twenty arrows, Krupacharya five hundred, Vikarna three, Selya nine, Duryodhana sixty four arrows. Arjuna fell all of them on ground before they reached him. In spite of distraction from many, Arjuna concentrated on Bheeshma and released twenty five arrows on him. He aimed with sixty on Drona, three arrows each on Krupacharya and Vikarna. Since so many are fighting with Arjuna, Satyaki, Drushtajyumna, Abhimanyu and Draupadi sons came to help Arjuna.
Sanjaya: King! Duryodhana met Bheeshma and said angrily, Pitamaha! While Arjuna was killing so many heroes and army in front of you, why are you looking indifferently? I totally depend on you and so keep Karna away from the battle. Is it fair on your part? Bheeshma was very much pained with the words of your son and put more fire in his arrows. Many Pandava army and heroes fell on the ground. Looking at this Arjuna retorted ferociously on Bheeshma and killed many Kaurava heroes. At that time, Vikarna from the left and Aswadhama on his right, guarded Bheeshma. From Pandavas side, all brothers of Arjuna attacked in support of him. In that confusion many elephants and horses, destroyed. Chariots, flag posts and bows were broken. At that stage Bheeshma released sharp arrows on Krishna and wounded him. Arjuna became furious and he was able to wound the charioteer of Bheeshma. Many stopped fighting and looked at the battle of Bheeshma and Arjuna. They all felt that even Indra cant decide who was superior between them. The battle between Drushtajyumna and Drona: Drona had cast several arrows on the charioteer of Drushtajyumna and pained him. Drushtajyumna attacked with the sharp arrows on Drona. Drona made them all into pieces. Kaurava army was happy and raised simhanadhams. After that, they both exchanged Sakthi weapons on each other. Drona made the Sakthi into pieces thrown on him. He broke several bows of Drushtajyumna. Then both fought with sword. Drushtajyumna became weak and could not fight before Drona. Then Bheema came and continued fight and took him into his chariot. Bheema started fight with Drona. Looking at that, Duryodhana provoked Kalinga army on Bheema. In the battle both sides lost heavily. King Ketumanata attacked Bheema, who killed him with a strong blow with his club. Later he killed many elephants and horses. King of Kalinga and Srutayu began to attack Bheema. Bheema kills Bhanumanta: While Bheema was fighting Srutayu, his brother Bhanumanta attacked Bheema with a herd of elephants. He was sitting on an elephant, whereas Bheema was standing on the ground. In the meanwhile he provoked elephants on Bheema , who climbed the elephant by catching its trunks and killed Bhanumanta with his club. With the same club he broke the head of his elephant. If fell dead on the ground. He lifted that dead elephant, spun in the the air and threw it on the herd of elephants. They all ran hither and thither killing Kalinga
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army. Bheema raged on Srutavarma and sent out sharp arrows. Srutavarma fainted and fell down. Bheema killed his guards Satya and Sahadeva and made a big simhanadham. Bheeshma heard his simhanadham, and attacked Bheehma. At the time Satyaki and Sikhandi went in support of Bheema and put a check to his onslaught. Bheeshma wounded Bheema with a Sakthi weapon. Bheema was enraged and killed the charioteer of Bheeshma. The horses ran without any direction and thus Bheeshma was driven away. Drushtajyumna appreciated Bheema for his most valorous achievement. In the mean while Selya, Krupa and Aswadhama attacked Drushtajyumna. He killed the horses of Aswadhama. Aswadhama boarded the chariot of Selya and fought. At the same time Abhimanyu went in support of Drushtajyumna. Lakshmana attacked with fifty arrows and wounded Abhimanyu, who took a strong bow and hit hard on Lakshmana. Duryodhana could not digest his sons defeat at the hands of Abhimanyu and provoked Bheeshma and Drona on Abhimanyu. Then Arjuna came in support of Abhimanyu and killed Kaurava army in a big way. Looking at his fury, Drona said to Bheeshma, It is good luck of Arjuna to have a great charioteer, Krishna. Arjunas fury looked like Rudras. Bheeshmas third days battle: Next morning Bheeshma formed a Garuda vyuham. In that vyuham, Bheeshma stood at the nose, Drona and Krutavarma stood at both the eyes. Krupa, Aswadhama stood at the head point. Trigartas, Bhurisrava, Bhagadatta, Bhoopathy and others stood at the neck point. Duryodhana and his brothers stood at its back. Others stood at other points. Arjuna saw the Kauravas formation as Garuda and asked Drushtajyumna to form a crescent Vyuha, with Bheema, Pandya and Magha army on its left side, Virata, Drupada, Drushtaketu, King of Kasi and Karoora armies on the right side, Dharmaraja, Sikhandi, Drushtajyumna stood at the centre with the force of elephants. On the other side, Satyaki, Upa-Pandavas, Abhimanyu, Ghatotkacha and the king of Kekaya stood. Krishna and Arjuna stood on the left side. Both sides gave signal to start the battle. Arjuna systematically began to attack Kaurava army. He killed the heroes, their charioteers, chariots, army and confused them. With the heavy loss of Kauravas, Pandava army were enraged and attacked. In this process thick dust covered the skies and had hidden the sun rays. In that darkness, nobody knew who was enemy and who was their own. All this confusion prevailed for some time. After that the ground was full of dead bodies, broken limbs and flow of flash and blood.
Bheema fought with Duryodhana: Duryodhana attacked with all vitality. Bheema smiled at him and rained arrows. Duryodhanas body bled profusely and fainted. His charioteer took him far away from Bheema. Then Bheema attacked Kaurava army. They could not flight with him and ran away. After some time Duryodhana recovered and abused his charioteer for taking him away from the battlefield. He came back and saw that Kaurava army was fleeing with fear. However, Bheeshma and Drona were harassing Pandava army. Duryodhana went to Bheeshma and said, Pitamaha! Out of love for Pandavas, you are not fighting with vigour. All the more, you are keeping silent when our army is running away with fear. Should you not bring all our enemies together? You ordered Karna not to enter the battlefield till you are there. I held high hopes on you. Had you told me, I would not have depended on you. All became a dream for me. On another front, Sakuni and Satyaki had driven away the army of Sakuni. However Sakunis army broke the chariot of Satyaki. He boarded Abhimanyus chariot and escaped. When Satyaki and Abhimanyu chased Sakunis army, they all ran away. Bheeshma: (with a smile) Duryodhana! I told you in the beginning itself that even devatas cannot win Arjuna. How can this old man defeat Arjuna? However I shall do my best. You watch how I kill Pandavas army? Sanjaya narrates the incidents in the battlefield. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! How did Bheeshma react to Duryodhanas fury? Was there any impact of his fury? Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! At that time it was midday. Bheeshma also released his arrows as hot as that of sun rays. He attacked Arjuna ferociously. Looking at Bheeshmas fury, Kaurava army also got enraged. Bheeshma appeared in all the areas and was killing countless soldiers. The battlefield was filled with dead bodies, blood and flesh. Dharmaraja became nervous. Arjuna was tired. Looking at him, Krishna said Arjuna! You told me on several occasions that you can defeat Bheeshma, Drona, Krupa and many others. Now that time has ripened. You should not lower yourself before them. Consolidate all your energy and make your dreams true. Arjuna enrages on Bheeshma: By provoking Arjuna, Krishna kept the chariot before Bheema. Bheeshma wounded Krishna, horses and Arjuna with sharp arrows. Arjuna retaliated by
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breaking the bow of Bheeshma. Before he took another bow, Arjuna wounded Bheeshmas charioteer and horses. Arjuna broke the bow of Bheeshma one after the other. Bheeshma was enraged and but managed to wound Arjuna and Krishna. Krishna felt in himself, Though this Bheeshma became old, his vigour remains intact. Arjuna has now fainted with wounds. I am also severely wounded. If it goes in this way, Duryodhanas dreams might come true. Now I take over the battle into my hands, by killing Bheeshma and crown Dharmaraja as the emperor on earth. Arjuna was seriously wounded by Bheeshmas attack. In the meanwhile Krutavarma , Krupacharya , Aswadhama , Bhurisrava and Jayadradha surrounded him with their chariots. Satyaki saw that Arjuna was surrounded by many Kaurava warriors and he came rushing the herds of elephants on them and tried to consolidate Pandava army. He kept his chariot between Bheeshma and Arjuna. Krishna said, Satyaki! I dont want to prolong the war. Now itself I will kill Bheeshma, Drona and others and conclude the war. Krishna attacks Bheeshma with Chakrayudha: Krishna became furious. His face became red. He remembered chakrayudha. Immediately it came and got it fixed in his hand. Krishna jumped from the chariot and ran towards Bheeshma. Bheeshma also got down from his chariot and said, Krishna! Parandhama! I am surrendering to you. You do whatever way you want. I consider that I am privileged. In the mean while Arjuna jumped from the chariot, ran to Krishna, caught hold of him and prayed and said: Arjuna: Krishna! Leav your anger. You are the protector of all Pandavas. You took a vow that you will not fight. If you dont honour your vow, what will happen to Dharmarajas vitality and heroism? Dont break your promise. You have sent Satyaki on Kauravas. You order me also to fight Kauravas. I have the strength of many astras; I have the strength to face the army. You dont overshadow my bravery and courage. Krishna was pleased with his devotion and the vow. He withdrew his anger. Krishna blew his conch Panchajanya. Immediately Arjuna blew his conch Devadattam. On hearing the sound of the conches, Krishna and Arjuna, both the armies made simhanadhams. Bheeshma, Bhurisrava, Selya, Duryodhana attacked Arjuna from all directions and used club, Sakthi and many other weapons. All the confusion created by Kaurava army by attacking from all sides,
Arjuna released Indrastra. With the power of that astra, many soldiers, the elephants, horses were killed. Chariots were broken. Arjuna released powerful arrows on Bheeshma. While they both were fighting, your sons surrounded Arjuna with enhanced enthusiasm. By that time, it was evening. So they stopped fighting and went to their barracks. Bheeshma, Drona and other elders realized that Arjunas divine astra was responsible for the great disaster in Kauravas army. Krishna and others praised Arjunas valour in many ways. Bheeshmas fourth days fight: Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! Next morning Bheeshma discussed the strategy with Duryodhana and other commanders. On the Pandava camp also, Arjuna got briefing from Dharmaraja, his brothers, Krishna and his commanders. Army, horses, elephants took position to attack each other. Dhrutarashtra! Bheeshma wanted to concentrate on Arjuna. Hence he arranged Duryodhana, Drona, Vivimsati, Krupa, Somadatta, and Selya like a wall around him. So that none can reach Arjuna in support of him, so that he could fight with Arjuna directly. A ferocious fight went on between Bheeshma and Arjuna. Both sent several divine astras on each other. No one was giving way to other. Army on both sides stopped fighting and watched the battle of Bheeshma-Arjuna. At that time, Abhimanyu broke the corridor and wounded all the seven warriors in a bid to reach Arjuna. King! Abhimanyu proved that nobody could match him in releasing arrows with the speed of mind, by attacking and fighting many great warriors at a time, with undaunted self confidence, in his fight. Arjuna saw that seven seasoned warriors had surrounded him and were fighting him. Immediately he made a simhanadham and jumped by the side of Abhimanyu. Arjuna gave an impression with the power of an astra that he was fighting with all the seven warriors individually at the same time. Looking at that Duryodhana ordered Krutavarma, Kekayas and thirty five thousand radhikas to surround Arjuna and Abhimanyu. He gave clear instructions to kill both of them. Drushtajyumna ordered his charioteer to take him to Arjuna, who managed to wound Krupa with three arrows, Selya with ten arrows, Krutavarma with one arrow. He also killed Selyas son Seshu, his charioteer and horses. Seshus death left Kaurava army in distress. Selya also was disturbed at the loss of his son. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Man power must bow its head before divine power. Though our army is bigger in the beginning, now it has been reduced
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considerably. Whereas Pandavas army is maintaining its strength. It is clear that Dharmaraja is the winner and my sons are losers. Sanjaya: King! What you said is correct. Many of our soldiers and kings are dead. I will tell you how the battle went on. While Selya was fighting with Drushtajyumna, Abhimanyu went in support of him. Duryodhana ordered Durmukha, Dusseha, Vikarna and others to attack Drushtajyumna. On another front, Nakula and Sahadeva fought with their own uncle Selya. He appreciated the skill and power of his nephews in their fight. Bheema went and stood in front of Duryodhana and offered direct fight. Abhimanyu, Drushtajyumna also joined Bheema. On another front, Satyaki fought with Bheeshma and wounded each other. In the meanwhile another Yadava king Bhurisrava attacked Satyaki . Duryodhana and his brothers surrounded Satyaki in support of Bhurisrava. Dhrutarashtra! Though all his brothers ran away, Duryodhana stood like a rock and wounded Bheema with sharp arrows. Bheema was severely wounded and fainted. Drushtajyumna and Abhimanyu ran in support of Bheema and wounded Duryodhana. Bheema recovered and retorted on Selya with sharp arrows. In the meanwhile, fourteen of your sons attacked Bheema. Bheema killed all those sons. Bhagadatta attacked Bheema with herds of elephants. Bheema killed some and others ran away. Duryodhana rained sharp arrows and broke the flag post of Bheema. Ghatotkachas mystic fight: Enraged Kaurava army made simhanadhams in a big way. Ghatotkacha discussed the situation with Bheema, took his permission and started a mystic war. He created huge elephant with four trunks and sat on it. Kaurava army had an illusion that Indra himself came on Iravata. He made his rakshasa soldiers also sit on huge elephants. While Ghatotkacha was about to attack, Bhagadatta and Duryodhana obstructed him. They fought from the elephants back. In that battle, Bhagadatta lost control on his elephant and it took him to far away place. While Ghatotkacha was about to attack Duryodhana, Bheeshma smelt it and said: Bheeshma: Drona! This rakshasa is Bheemas son Ghatotkacha. He is an expert in doing mystic war. He made Bhagadattas elephant run away. All our enemies are afraid of his mystics. Now he is attacking Duryodhana. Unless we defuse his mystic war, he may do harm to our king. Let us save our king
Bheeshma , Drona and other warriors went and stood in between Duryodhana and Ghatotkacha. They fought ferociously. Ghatotkachas strength was increasing. He made a big simhanadham. Bheeshma said, Drona! It is evening. So this rakshasas strength will be on increase. So you declare to stop battle for the day Accordingly Drona made signals for stopping the war on that day. Both the armies stopped fighting and went back to barracks. Dhrutarashtra! Pandavas praised the valour of Ghatotkacha. Your sons went back with a low profile. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Though Bheeshma, Drona and others are undaunted warriors, how is that Pandavas are fighting them in a casual manner? Tell me why and how? Sanjaya: King! Perhaps justice is on Pandavas side. This is truth. Whether you agree or not, your sons are unrighteous. Vidura predicted the victory of Pandavas long ago. You gave a deaf ear to him. You are to suffer for your sinful acts. What you wanted to know was already asked by your son at the end of the fourth days battle and Bheeshma said to him, Duryodhana! I told you this on several times. But you did not care to hear me. Krishna is on their side. Krishna means All Pervading Paramatma. Whoever knows this fact will never land in troubles. Duryodhana, as usual, did not relish his words and went away. Bheeshmas fifth days fight: Next morning Bheeshma planned a Makara vyuham. Whereas Pandavas chose a Garuda vyuham. Bheema entered the Makara vyuham and straight away attacked Bheeshma with sharp arrows. Bheeshma became furious and rained powerful arrows on Bheema. At that time, Arjuna joined Bheema and attacked Bheeshma. Bheeshma and Kaurava army withdrew from the scene. Your son went to Drona and said, Dronacharya! If you both stood up and show your vigour, even devatas cannot fight with you. Just to favour Pandavas, you both are not fighting whole heartedly. On hearing Duryodhanas words Drona said, oh king! I have not come across anyone who can defeat Arjuna. Since we have eaten your food all these years and since you are in troubles, we came to fight on your behalf. We are prepared even to give up our lives. But I never told you that I can defeat Arjuna. His power is unlimited, whereas our power is limited.
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Dronas enraged war with Pandavas: Satyaki attacked Drona, who released powerful arrows and wounded him. Still he withstood and gave a tough fight. In the meanwhile Bheeshma came in support of Drona. Abhimanyu and Upa-Pandavas joined in support of Satyaki. At that time Sikhandi twanged his bow and had driven away Kaurava army and attacked Bheeshma. Looking at uncivil Sikhandi, Bheeshma was impatient and went to another area. Bheema and Bheeshma had a direct fight. Arjuna came in support of Bheema and fought with Bheeshma. At that time, Duryodhana came to fight with Bheema and set Kalinga elephants on him. Bheema killed several elephants with his cudgel. While elephants were enraged on Bheema, all your sons attacked Bheema. While Syndhava, and Dussasana attacked Bheema with a big army, Dharmaraja sent Chedi, Kasa, and Karoosa armies in support of Bheema. The fight went on for a long time. Satyaki made serious wounds on Bheeshma. Enraged Bheeshma killed Satyakis charioteer. Satyaki fell on ground. Dharmaraja shouted at Virata to go and save Satyaki. Virata rushed to Bheeshma and supported Satyaki. Pandavas praised the bravery of Virata. While Arjuna was rushing to support Virata, Aswadhama obstructed him and wounded Arjuna and Krishna. Abhimanyu fought with Lakshmana: Lakshmana attacked Abhimanyu. Both fought for a long time. Lakshmana throw a Sakthi weapon on Abhimanyu, he cut it half way and injured Lakshmana. At that time Drona came and saved and took him on his chariot. Bhurisrava was fighting with Satyaki. Satyaki could not endure his fierce attack and went back. Satyakis son came and challenged Bhurisrava for a direct fight. In reply, Bhurisrava accepted his challenge and killed him. At the death of his sons, Satyaki was enraged and killed Bhurisravas charioteer and horses. In return, Bhurisrava also killed Satyakis charioteer and horses. In this way, they both had to stand on ground and fight. Bheema rescued Satyaki, while Krupa picked up Bhurisrava. In the meanwhile the battle was stopped for the day and all of them went back to their barracks. Bheeshmas sixth day battle: Next morning Pandavas planned Maraka vyuham. In return Bheeshma chose to fight with Krauncha vyuham. To make a beginning of the days fight,
Bheema attacked Drona. Drona wounded Bheema severely. Bheema withstood the pain and killed the charioteer of Drona. Thereby Drona had to drive his chariot himself and fought. At that time Bheeshma went to support Drona and had driven away Kekaya army. However Bheema created a great damage to Kaurava army. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! All the kings on our side are valorous and still they are either defeated or killed. It is very surprising to me. In short, my son has purchased harm to himself. When he is fated to suffer, who can prevent it? Of all said and done, my son is a sinful person. Sanjaya : King! Now you are blaming Duryodhana . Are you not responsible for this big war? The seeds of your fall were sworn on the day of playing gambling itself. Now you stop repenting. You listen further story. Dhrutarashtra! While Bheema went on an expedition, he found many of your sons. Your sons also felt happy since they found Bheema alone. They all took a big army, surrounded Bheema and resolved to kill him. At that time, Bheema asked his charioteer to wait and jumped from the chariot with his club. He spun it in the air; started breaking the heads of elephants, horses and killed our army indiscriminately. The ground was filled with dead bodies, blood and flesh. Drushtajyumna came to know that Bheema was fighting alone; he stopped fighting with Drona and ran in support of Bheema and told, Bheema! I came to support you. You kill whoever comes in your way. I will also kill as many. Dussasana looked at them and said to his brothers and army, This Drushtajyumna came to support Bheema. You kill both of them, before they receive more support. In that melee the Kaurava army overpowered them. Drushtajyumna released Pramohana astra. With the power of that astra all Kaurava army fainted and fell on the ground. Drona went and saw the princes and Kaurava army fainted. Immediately he released a Pragna astra and made them recover from fainting. Dharmaraja sent Upa-Pandavas, Abhimanyu and five princes of Kekaya to support Bheema and Drushtajyumna. Drona attacked Drushtajyumna, killed his charioteer and broke the chariot. Drushtajyumna also killed the charioteer of Drona and broke his bow. In this manner, those thirteen warriors drove away Kaurava army and made a simhanadham. The fight between Drona and Drushtajyumna: Drushtajyumna took another chariot and continued fight with Drona. Bheema also took another chariot and fought with Duryodhana. Upa-Pandavas,
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and Abhimanyu continued their fight with the brothers of Duryodhana. Bheema felt happy to have an opportunity to fight Duryodhana alone. He resolved to kill him then and there for insulting Draupadi. While Bheema was making mincemeat of Kaurava armies, Duryodhana came and sent out sharp arrows on Bheema, who killed the horses and charioteer of Duryodhana. He filled the body of Duryodhana with sharp arrows. While he was profusely bleeding, Krupacharya came and took him away in his chariot. However Bheema chased him for a long distance shouting, Duryodhana! Dont run away. I shall kill you. Did you not try to fasten Krishna when he came to your sabha? Stop and fight, if you are courageous. In the meanwhile it became evening and fighting stopped on both the sides. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Bheema beat my son till he fainted; he was insulted by reminding him all the wrongs he did for them. In spite of all these, why Duryodhana again came to the battlefield? I am not able to control my grief for all the insults he swallowed. What Duryodhana did after that?
CHAPTER-3
Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! That night Duryodhana went to Bheeshma and said, Pitamaha! In spite of your vyuhas, and hard work, Pandavas are gaining ground. You have seen how Bheema has insulted me. All my hopes are on you to win this battle. My hopes are becoming day dreams. Even devatas cant rout you. Then where are we going wrong? What is the reason for Pandavas success? Bheeshma: (with a smile) Had I ever shown leniency on any one? Are you not a witness to it? Then why are you questioning me? However great hero one may be, he could not stand before me and fight. I also said many times that nobody can vanquish Pandavas. However I am fighting tooth and nail for securing victory for you since I ate your food. In future also, I shall work in the same way.Get rid of distress. Bheeshmas seventh days fight: Duryodhana was cooled down by Bheeshmas words. Bheeshma planned crescent vyuha on the seventh day. Whereas Pandavas countered it with Vajra vyuha, Arjuna said to Krishna, Look how I am going to disorder Bheeshmas vyuha. By saying so, Arjuna dashed into Kauravas army and made them all
pell-mell. He rained arrows all around. All Kaurava army went behind Bheeshma for protection. Duryodhana admonished all those, by saying While Bheeshma alone is struggling to face Arjuna, why are you not helping him? Drona and Virata fought with each other and wounded their charioteers and killed horses. Drona himself was wounded with two sharp arrows from Virata. When Drona released powerful astras, Virata took the chariot of his son and ran away. Aswadhama fought ferociously with Sikhandi. He killed Sikhandis charioteer and horses. Sikhandi jumped from the chariot and fought with sword for some time and then went to some other field. The battle between Drushtajyumna and Duryodhana: Drushtajyumna rained arrows on Duryodhana and broke his bow. Before he took another bow, he killed Duryodhanas charioteer and broke the chariot also. Sakuni came and took Duryodhana in his chariot. Krutavarma attacked Bheema,who rained several arrows on his body and wounded him. Bheema broke his chariot and made him to leave on somebodys chariot. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! All the kings are heroes in our side, but they are being killed or get killed. Why it is happening? How that is there was no human loss on Pandavas side? Tell me what is the mystery behind it? Sanjaya: King! There is nothing to blame. Each one of them is fighting ferociously. Yudhamanyu fought with Anuvindas. Bhagadatta attacked with elephants on Yudhamanyu. At that time, Ghatotkacha obstructed the elephant herds. Then a fierce fight took place between Ghatotkacha and Bhagadatta. Krutavarma attacked Bheema in a pompous manner. Bheema wounded him severely and broke his chariot into pieces. Nakula and Sahadeva fought their uncle Selya. He not only enjoyed the way in which they are fighting but also appreciated their skill. In that severe attack Selya fell in the chariot and fainted. His charioteer took him away. Dharmaraja fought with Sruteyu. Chekitanu fought with Krupacharya. Krupa broke the chariot of Chekitanu. He stood on ground, fought with Krupa and severely wounded him. Drushtajyumna delivered ninety arrows on Bhurisrava,who killed the charioteer and horses of Chekitanu. Abhimanyu fought with Dussasana, Chitrasena and Vikarna . Abhimanyu destroyed all the three chariots and wounded Dussasana severely and made them to faint. Bheeshma and some other kings came and took him away. Arjuna said, Krishna! Bheeshma and many kings are going towards Abhimanyu. So
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you put the chariot before Bheeshma. Arjuna fought with Bheeshma and supported Abhimanyu. Arjuna fought a fierce battle with Bheeshma in front of Duryodhana and Syndhava. Bheema, Nakula and Sahadeva came in support of Arjuna. At that time Bheeshma fought with Pandavas army. Suddenly Sikhandi came and attacked Bheeshma. Bheeshma turned his face and went to another field. Selya released an Agneyastra on Sikhandi and the same was deactivated with a Varunastra. When Dharmaraja attacked Bheeshma, he broke the chariot and bow of Dharmaraja. At that time Bheema attacked also on Bheeshma. Jayadreradha and Duryodhana went in support of Bheeshma. Bheema killed the horses and the chariot of Jayadredha. In this manner, the battle went on till the evening and the fighting stopped for the day. Bheeshmas eight day fight: Next morning both the sides reached battlefield with enhanced enthusiasm. Bheeshma planned Koorma vyuha whereas Drushtajyumna planned Srunekataka vyuha. Dhrutarashtra maharaja! Your son Sunabha attacked Bheema. Bheema killed him with one arrow. Looking at the horror, seven of his brothers went and dashed against Bheema. He killed all the seven at ease and had a hearty laugh. Oh king! It seems Bheema is fulfilling his vows made in Kurusabha. What Vidura said is coming true. Duryodhana went to Bheeshma and said, Pitamaha! Bheema killed my seven brothers in front of you. In spite of that, you are behaving uncaringly. You did not even try to protect them. Are you wishing that all my brothers to die in this manner? Bheeshma was hurt with of Duryodhanas words and said, Duryodhana! If your brothers go and directly fight Bheema, they are bound to die. No one can save them. Now we cant feel sorry for them. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya!Even devatas cant defeat Bheeshma and Drona. Though they are fighting on our side, so many of my sons are dying. I warned Gaandhari long back these calamities would happen. Nobody cared to listen to me. Now all those things are becoming true. Now you tell me how Bheeshma and Drona had reacted for the death of my sons. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! Bheeshma was hurt with Duryodhanas words and jumped on Bheema with fury. Dharmaraja was afraid and sent Drushtajyumna to support Bheema. Duryodhana also dispatched several
radhikas to protect Bheeshma from Sikhandi. However Arjuna kept Sikhandi on his chariot and fought with these radhikas. In that severe battle, innumerable warriors and animals were killed. Iravanta killed all the six brothers of Sakuni. Looking at that, Duryodhana engaged Alambasa against Iravanta. They both fought many mystic wars. Alambasa created many herds of horses, provoked an Iravanta and jumped into the sky. From there, he rained stones and swords. However bravely Iravanta fought, ultimately he was killed at the hands of Alambasa and made Duryodhana happy. With the death of his brother Iravanta, Ghatotkacha was enraged and killed a large number of Kaurava combatants and animals. At that time, Duryodhana provoked two more demons, Vijudjihma, Bahveasi, on Ghatotkacha. They filled Ghatotkachas body with arrows and wounded him. There was a fierce battle went on between Duryodhana and Ghatotkacha. Ghatotkacha threw a Sakthi weapon on Duryodhana and made a simhanadham . On hearing Ghatotkachas simhanadham, Bheeshma alerted a few kings to go and protect Duryodhana. At the command of Bheeshma , Drona and others bounced on Ghatotkacha and wounded him. He suffered unbearable pain and jumped into the sky. Bheema went and fought with Drona. Then Duryodhana released sharp arrows on Bheema. Bheema could not withstand the pain and fell down. UpaPandavas and Abhimanyu went in support of Bheema and fought with Duryodhana. After some time Bheema recovered and released powerful arrows on Drona,who fainted for a while, recovered and continued to fight with Bheema. However, Drona felt tired and giddiness. So Aswadhama went in support of his father, Drona. The mystics of Ghatotkacha: Ghatotkacha with his mystics, created the dead bodies, shaped them to look as Drona, Duryodhana and Aswadhama and put before Kaurava armies. When Pandava army saw the bodies and believed that Duryodhana was dead and the war was over and Pandavas won the battle. They all started to their barracks to leave the battlefield. Bheeshma realized that it was nothing but a mystic of Ghatotkacha. He tried to convince the army and bring them back to the war. But he could not succeed. He called Bhagadatta, praised his valour and told him, These are all the mystics of Ghatotkacha. You alone can control him. So you kill him and impose confidence and to bring back from their illusion. Bhagadatta came back and fought with Pandava army with an enhanced enthusiasm.
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Maharaja! Ghatotkacha, riding a huge elephant, opposed Bhagadatta. Abhimanyu, Upa-Pandavas were behind Ghatotkacha. A fierce battle took place. While Arjuna was fighting Kaurava army, Bheema went and murmured in his ears that Iravanta was dead and took him to Iravanta. On seeing his dead body, Arjuna wept bitterly. When Krishna smiled at him; Arjuna felt shy and said, Krishna! You told me the secret about life and death. I am leaving my distress. Let us go and fight. By saying so, they both sat in the chariot and fought with Bhagadatta. Satyaki fought with Krutavarma. Bheema fought with Drona. The fight went on in a big way. When the evening time came, they stopped fighting and went to their tents. Duryodhana entered his tent and sent a messenger to bring Dussasana, Karna and Sakuni. Duryodhana: I doubt if Bheeshma, Drona, Aswadhama and Krupacharya are fighting with a partisan attitude towards Pandavas. They are not even killing the army of Pandavas. Our army is reduced day by day. We will have to do something to avert this situation. Karna: Your doubt has some basis. I have no faith in Bheeshma. Duryodhana! You ask Bheeshma to withdraw and stop fighting. I shall get into the battlefield and kill all Pandavas. My way of war should put a control on Pandavass aggression. Duryodhana: Dussasana! Have you listened Karnas words? Let us go and tell Bheeshma to retire and withdraw from the fighting. Accordingly,Duryodhana went to Bheeshmas residence, prostrated at his feet and said: Duryodhana : Pitamaha ! I depended more on your valour, while developing enemity with Pandavas. After the commencement of war, we have an apprehension that you are showing a partisan attitude towards Pandavas. You are deliberately sparing them by not killing them . This I myself observed on many occasions. You are not inclined even to hurt them. So you better retire and stop fighting. Even devatas cant win you. But you have not even made a wound on Arjuna, for the past eight days. Past is past. I am requesting you to allow Karna to join the fighting. Bheeshma became spell-bound with the words of Duryodhana. His words pierced into his heart like spears.
Bheeshma: Duryodhana! At the time of burning of Khandava vana, Indra came with all his army and attacked Arjuna. He fought Indra and his divine army and won. He performed a severe tapasya and pleased Siva and got Pasupatastra. He also secured many divine astras. You, your brothers and Karna had a death blow at the hands of Gandharvas and became their captives. Arjuna alone released from your captivity. In your recent expedition on Gograhnem, Arjuna alone fought with us and took back the cows. At that time, all your so called heroes were with you. What did they do for you? I am fighting with such heroism for the past eight days. Today I am pained to hear these harsh words from you. You have committed several atrocities on Pandavas and developed enemity with them. From today, you yourself lead the war and win. I will appreciate your virility. Duryodhana! Listen carefully. I cant kill Arjuna. I will not fight Sikhandi. I assured you I shall show my strength in killing others. I shall decimate Drupada, Virata, Yadava and other armies. You and your friends take the responsibility to kill Pandavas. You came at this late night and wounded me. Will it secure a victory for you? Tomorrow you come and watch my valour. Duryodhana was happy with Bheeshmas words and went back to his residence. Bheeshmas ninth days fight: Duryodhana: Dussasana! Our Pitamaha has assured me last night that he would kill all the army of Drupada, Virata and Yadava. Eight days were squandered . Now we have to go all out. Pitamaha told me even before we started the war that he would not fight with Sikhandi. So you all became watchful that sinner would not come anywhere near Pitamaha. Whereever you find, you chase him like a mad dog. Not only that, you keep twenty two thousand radhikas around Pitamaha. Next morning Bheeshma planned a Sarvatobhandra vyuha. Pandavas also planned to thrash the security belt around Bheeshma . Arjuna ordered Drushtajyumna to put Sikhandi in front of Bheeshma. They stood around him. Satyaki and Virata stood on his right side. Abhimanyu, Drupada, Kekaya, Nakula and Sahadeva were on his left side. Behind him, Dharmaraja staood. Behind Dharmaraja were Chekitanu and Kunti bhoja. By the side of Sikhandi, Bheema on one side and Arjuna on the other side were arrayed Alambasa fights with Abhimanyu: Duryodhana said, Alambasa! This Abhimanyu has become another Arjuna. You alone could kill him as early as possible. Accepting that order,
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Alambasa and his rakshasa soldiers chased Pandavas army. Fear driven Pandava army ran here and there. Upa-Pandavas attacked Alambasa. After some time Abhimanyu joined Upa-Pandavas. Abhimanyu was a great archerer, whereas Alambasa was good in mystic wars. Alambasa created darkness all over the sky. Abhimanyu released Suryastra and cleared the darkness. The arrows of Abhimanyu pierced his sensitive organs. So Alambasa could not bear the pain and had to run away. Abhimanyu began to create havoc among Kaurava armies. To control him Bheeshma himself came to fight with him. Arjuna stood by the side of Abhimanyu and supported him. Krupa and Drona came running to shield Bheeshma. While Aswadhama was also rushing towards Bheeshma, Satyaki obstructed him. They fought for a long time. Aswadhama fainted and fell down. After some time he recovered and severely wounded Satyaki. Fight between Arjuna and Drona: In another front, Drona and Arjuna met and fought ferociously. Duryodhana provoked king of Agarta, and his sons to protect Drona. Arjuna released vayuvastra and created a wind with great velocity by which those armies were thrown away with the wind. Duryodhana, Krupa, Selya and Bahlika went to attack Arjuna who released another new divine astra and wounded them severely. Sakuni and Dussasana stood in support of Bheeshma: Duryodhana deputed Dussasana to support Bheeshma with a big army. Nakula and Sahadeva obstructed Dussasana. Duryodhana ordered ten thousand horsemen to attack Nakula and Sahadeva and to disturb Pandava army. Then Dharmaraja also sent ten thousand horseman to support Nakula. In this manner a big melee had been created. Bheeshma, Selya, Drona were harassing Pandava armies. Bheema and Arjuna went in support of their army. In that big fight, Bheeshma hit Dharmaraja, Bheema, Nakula and Sahadeva with sharp arrows. At that time, huge number of Pandava army encircled Bheeshma and Drona but Drona restricted Bheema, Satyaki and their army. Then Bheeshma became enraged and killed many warriors of Pandava army. Krishna: Arjuna! Look at Bheeshma! What a valour! What an energy! He alone is driving away all Pandava armies. Should you not restrict his speed? If you keep silent, all kings will laugh at you. Didnt you say to Sanjaya at
upaplavyam that you would defeat Bheeshma? Why are you sitting in a state of lifelessness? Battlefield is the right place for fulfilling your vows. Arjuna: Krishna! All my relatives in that camp, are being killed one by one. Shortly Kuru family itself is going to be perish. After everyone is killed, what do I with such a kingdom? What comforts I enjoy after killing all my people? That is why, my mind is not enthusiastic to take part in this war. Even today I swear that I can defeat Bheeshma. Keep the chariot before Bheeshma. I will prove what I said. AccordinglyKrishna drove the chariot before Bheeshma. Arjuna was acting with enhanced enthusiasm. Bheeshma was enraged and released powerful arrows on Arjuna and Krishna and also on horses. Arjuna and Krishna were bleeding profusely. They could not bear the pain. Yet,Arjuna broke the bow of Bheeshma,who took another bow and wounded Arjuna and Krishna again and again. Bheeshma gradually increased the power of arrows. Krishna observed the sufferings of Arjuna and at the same time the passion of Bheeshma. Krishna became furious. He jumped on to the ground. Krishna went to kill Bheeshma: Looking at the fury of Krishna the earth quaked. The Diggajas that were holding the earth, also shivered. Devatas were alarmed. Krishna with a ferocious stature jumped upon Bheeshma. Dhrutarashtra maharaja! By looking at Krishnas fury and outburst, all our soldiers lost their strength and courage. All their faces became pale and said, Bheeshma is dead. Bheeshma looked at Krishna and welcomed him happily and said, virtuous Krishna! Come soon. Take me into you. I am privileged to die at your hands. Thereby I get eternal glory in this world and superior lokas in the other world. Bless me with salvation and bliss. While Bheeshma was praising in this manner, Arjuna jumped from the chariot, ran to Krishna, caught hold of him and requested, Krishna! Please dont forget that you made vow that you will not fight. You keep up your word and come back. People will certainly blame you. After a long battle, I took some rest. Is it a crime? You watch what I do to that Bheeshma, who harassed you. Kindly come back and sit on chariot. Virtuous person like you will not tarnish the self respect of those who are under your protection! On hearing Arjunas appeal, Krishna became calm and went back and sat on his chariot. Bheeshma made a simhanadham and resumed the raining of
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arrows on Arjuna and Krishna . Though Krishna and Arjuna were tired, Bheeshma did not slow down his onslaught. In the meanwhile sunset took place. Hence both sides stopped fighting and went back to their barracks. Dhrutarashtra maharaja ! All your sons were happy with the performance of Bheeshma and praised him. After the ninth day battle, Dharmaraja became disturbed. On that night, he went to Krishnas place with his brothers. Dharmaraja said: Dharmaraja: Krishna! Todays performance of Bheeshma has watered down my hopes. Before the war, I was confident that we could beat Bheeshma. I confess, I under estimated him. When all my relatives die in the battle, why I need this kingdom? What I do with a kingdom without my people? I dont want this kingdom. Because I played gambling, myself and brothers underwent many difficulties. Now I cant sacrifice my brothers to Bheeshmas fury. If we are alive, we can see each other. We will go again to forests and do tapasya. If you are kind, tell me some way to get out of this problem. Krishna: Dharmaraja! You made a vow that you will win the battle. That will never go untrue. You are underestimating the valour of your brothers. Nobody can defeat them. So distress will not affect you. All the more, I am acting as your minister. I shall secure your kingdom and restore the past glory. You leave confusion. Hadnt Arjuna stopped me, I would have killed Bheeshma. Even now, advise him not to stop me. I will kill all Kauravas army, why Bheeshma alone? I am a friend and relative of Arjuna. He is also my disciple. I will do everything for his wellbeing. Our friendship is inseparable. The vow he made when Sanjaya came to upaplavyam and my reply to Ulooka, I would have killed all Kauravas today. We both are committed to our vows. Dharmaraja: Krishna! You said that you will help me without touching a weapon. For mysake how can I make you an untruthful person? Had you used weapon, you would have remained an untruthful person. Krishna! Between me and Bheeshma, there is an understanding. He said he would fight on behalf of Kauravas, but he always wished my wellbeing. He said, You alone will win the battle and become the king. If I ask, he will also tell me the way to become a king. Today we are prepared even to kill such an affectionate grandfather. Look, how cruel is the Kshatriya dharma ? Krishna understood from Dharmarajas words that he was inclined to see Bheeshma. He said to Dharmaraja:
Krishna: You want to meet Bheeshma? That is a good thinking. He told you that , though he fights on behalf of Kauravas, he wishes your welfare only. Since he wants to make you a king, he was lenient towards our armies. Otherwise he would have killed all our armies long ago. So you meet him. That will bring you good. You meet him secretly. You ask him the way to defeat him. His death comes at his will. So he will certainly tell you the way of his death. You go and prostrate at his feet. Stand by his side with modesty and devotion. Dharmaraja went to Bheeshma with his brothers and Krishna . Dharmaraja did as advised by Krishna. Bheeshma was pleased and enquired each and every one by name and their wellbeing. At the end he asked them all, You tell me what you want from me? Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! By what way we can get back our kingdom without losing much of our army? Tell me the way. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! As long as I fight, you are bound to lose your army. Unless you eliminate me, you wont get back your kingdom. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! Nobody can get rid of you in a battle. We came here to seek your kindness. You yourself tell us the way how we can remove you. Bheeshma: What you said is true. As long as I hold a bow, even devatas cant dispose of me. So I will tell you the way how to kill me. Since all of you came and requested my help, how could I disappoint you? Dharmaraja, any one can kill me when I dont hold a weapon. I will tell you when I throw away the weapons. I made a vow. i.e., I do not fight 1. With a person who doesnt wear a shield 2. Those, who dont hold a weapon 3. Those, who lower their flag 4. Those, who dont have brothers 5. Those, who dont have children 6. I dont fight those who are a female at the time of birth and develop manhood subsequently. So I will tell a clue. Sikhandi, the son of Drupada, belongs to the sixth category. So Arjuna is to keep him in front of me and at the time when I keep down the bow, anybody can kill me. After me, it is not difficult for you to rout Duryodhana and others. In this way, you could win the battle. Now you all can go. Dharmaraja and others took leave from Bheeshma and went to their barracks. Arjuna was unhappy to kill Bheeshma in a deceitful manner and said to Krishna.
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Arjuna: Krishna! My conscious is not permitting me to kill Bheeshma in a deceitful manner. In my childhood, he used to play with me. He used to tell the virtuous qualities of my father Panduraju with grief. He is an elderly statesman, apart from being a virtuous person. I prefer to lose the battle, rather than killing him. Krishna: Arjuna! You alone is to kill Bheeshma directly or indirectly. In short Brahma has created you only to kill Bheeshma. Long ago Bruhaspati advised Indra that a king is to rule his country even under adverse conditions to win the enemy. He was also to collect moderate taxes from the people to spend on welfare measures. You made a vow in an open sabha, and in the presence of many kings, that you can defeat Bheeshma. You know it well that killing Bheeshma is the duty of a king and not a cruel act. If you try to go back on your vow on this pretext, people will laugh at you. Arjuna: Krishna! Brahma has created Sikhandi to kill Bheeshma. How it will become untrue? So I plan this way. I shall keep Sikhandi in front of me. On seeing Sikhandi, Bheeshma will stop fighting. Then Sikhandi will kill Bheeshma and I shall protect Sikhandi from others. Thus Bheeshma will be killed by Sikhandi. Krishna: (with hearty laugh) Arjuna! Except you no one else can kill Bheeshma. It is a divine dictate. You can not alter it. You get ready for the battle. There you will understand everything. Bheeshmas tenth day fight: Next morning Sikhandi was put in front of Pandava army. On both sides of Sikhandi, Bheema and Arjuna stood. On their back Abhimanyu and UpaPandavas stood as protectors. Dharmaraja, Drushtajyumna was guarding in front row. Nakula, Sahadeva were on both the sides. Virata, Drupada, Kekaya stood at appropriate positions. On Kauravas side, Bheeshma stood in front. Drona and Aswadhama were stationed on both the sides. Duryodhana, Krupa and Krutavarma stood in front. Both the armies stoutheartily clashed with each other. Bheeshma became almost a Yama. He killed thoudands of combatants. Kaurava armies were raising simhanadhams. Sikhandi saw Bheeshma and released three arrows on him. On seeing Sikhandi, Bheeshma turned his face and said:
Bheeshma: Sikhandi! You were born as a daughter to king Drupada. Afterwards you turned out to be as a son. I dont release arrows on a woman like you. Even though, you release arrows on me I give my back to you but will not fight. This is my vow. I only sympathize for your condition but fury on you will not generate in me. With out fury, how can I fight? Sikhandi: Bheeshma! You are equal to your guru Parasurama. Your glory is spread all over the world as a valorous person. Why are you going back from me? What does it matter for you whether I am a man or a woman? Dont look at my form. Look at my valour. Look at my bow. See my sword. Answer them. Today I will break your vow. I will fill you with my arrows. I shall see how you run away from me. By saying so, Sikhandi issued fourteen sharp arrows. Arjuna wondered how Sikhandi could speak so many words that day and thought that Bheeshmas life had come to an end. Arjuna provokes Sikhandi on Bheeshma: Arjuna: Sikhandi! Dont waste time with wasteful words. You continue to fight with that great hero. We stand by your side. By that time Arjuna was goading , Bheeshma went to fight the Panchala army. At that time, Arjuna led Pandava army and fought. Kaurava army could not fight with Arjuna and ran away. Looking at the poor performance of Kaurava army, Duryodhana went to Bheeshma and said: Duryodhana: Pitamaha! In front of your eyes, our army is running away with fear. You are looking at them indifferently. May I know how this distress happened to our army? Bheeshma: Duryodhana! I gave a word to you that I myself will kill ten thousand people. Before the war started, I killed more than ten thousand and thus fulfilled my vow. Having eaten your food all these years, and now I repaid my debt. I have a feeling that I am losing my strength day by day. Looking at todays fighting, I have a feeling I may kill Pandavas or even Pandavas may kill me. Pandavas have the power and blessings of devatas, whereas I am only an ordinary human. If I have an opportunity to kill them, I will not hesitate to do that. Following this, there was a ferocious war went on between Kaurava and Pandava armies. At that time Arjuna said to Sikhandi:
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Arjuna: Sikhandi! Are you afraid of Bheeshma? Today we are to kill him at any cost. Be brave and send out sharp arrows on him, until he falls down. I stand by your side. I also put arrows whenever he picks up the bow. So you give a tough fight. Drushtajyumna understood Arjunas mind, and engaged all Pandava warriors and ordered them to encircle Bheeshma and made a simhanadhams. On hearing simhanadhams from Drushtajyumna , Dharmaraja , Nakula , Sahadeva, Abhimanyu and Upa-Pandavas rushed to Bheeshma in a hurry. Arjuna and Sikhandi were proceeding towards Bheeshma. But Dussasana, Aswadhama, Bhurisrava, Krutavarma and Krupacharya obstructed them. Dussasana shot hundred arrows on Arjuna and Krishna. Arjuna broke them and hit a powerful arrow on Dussasana. He fell down and fainted. Then raged an individual fight between Satyaki and Alambasa ; Abhimanyu and Bhagadatta; Virata and Aswadhama; Nakula and Vikarna; Ghatotkacha and Durmuka; Bheema and Bhurisrava; Chekitesa and Chitrasena; Dharmaraja and Drona; the battle went on for a long time. Drona and Aswadhama protect Bheeshma: Drona obstructed Arjuna and made a fierce battle for a long time. Dharmaraja came and fought with Drona and released Arjuna. Drona fought with Dharmaraja for some time and called his son Aswadhama and said, My son! I am not able to hold the bow firmly. I am not remembering mantras. The arrows are not reaching the targets. Looking at Arjunas form, I am afraid he might kill Bheeshma today. I am also observing bad omens on our side. All these bad omens are indicating to me that an elderly statesman might leave his body. I am also seeing fury in the face of Dharmaraja, Nakula, Sahadeva and others are attacking me. I am not in a position to face them. Sikhandi is rushing towards Bheeshma. So you go and stand on the left side of Bheeshma and protect him. By the time Aswadhama went to protect Bheeshma, Arjuna and Sikhandi were fighting with Bheeshma. Arjuna was seriously trying to kill Bheeshma. To make Arjunas hands free, Bheema drove away all Kaurava armies to far away places. Bheema was fighting with Bhagadatta , Krupa , Selya , Syndhava , Chitrasena, Vinda, Anuvinda and others. Looking at it, Duryodhana sent ten more kings on Bheema and Arjuna. They killed those ten kings that are joined newly. At that time Duryodhana sent big army, chariots, elephants and horse riders.
Abhimanyu and several other Pandava warriors joined in support of Arjuna. Bheeshma became furious by looking at Pandavas valour and rained sharp arrows and killed hundreds of Pandava soldiers. At that time, Bheeshma was vexed with killings and said to himself, I am fighting for the last ten days. I killed thousands of people. I feel it is high time for me to leave the body. He drove his chariot towards Dharmaraja and whispered to him, Dharmaraja! Ever since my childhood, I killed several kings and countless army. I am fed up with this cruel life. If you want to do me a favour, come with Sikhandi and kill me. Dont delay. Do this favour to me. By saying so to Dharmaraja, he went towards Panchala army for fighting. At that time, Dharmaraja said to Drushtajyumna Have you not heard the words of Bheeshma? You come with all our warriors and attack Bheeshma. Tell Arjuna to concentrate on Bheeshma with Sikhandi till he falls down. Drushtajyumna took the hint from Dharmaraja and engaged king of Mastya and king of Kekeya. When they were hesitant to fight against Bheeshma, he told them that Bheema, Arjuna also will blind you and set them on Bheeshma. Duryodhana saw the mass attack on Bheeshma and hence he sent all his brothers to defend. Satyaki and Aswadhama fought ferociously. Duryodhana instigated herds of elephants on Pandava army. Bheema killed them all. At that state of confusion, Arjuna attacked Bheeshma. It appeared like fighting of two lions. Then Bhagadatta came on a big elephant to fight with Arjuna. Arjuna killed the elephant with sharp arrows. Bhagadatta jumped from the elephant and attacked Dharmaraja. At that time a big confusion was created in a small area by Pandavas. Nobody knew who was fighting whom. At that state, Arjuna took Sikhandi on his chariot and asked him to hit Bheeshma with sharp arrows. While Sikhandi was attacking Bheeshma, Arjuna dispersed all Kaurava army far away from Bheeshma. War was going in a state of confusion. Dhrutarashtra maharaja! All Kaurava armies were driven away from the front where Bheeshma was stationed . Sikhandi intensified attack on Bheeshma. Bheeshma was about to turn his back, Arjuna instigated Sikhandi and planted sharp arrows on the chest of Bheeshma. Blood started flowing from Bheeshmas chest like a stream. However Bheeshma did not express any pain; on the contrary, he smiled and continued his fight with Arjuna. However none from Kauravas was able to come anywhere near Sikhandi. At that time, Dussasana was able to fight with Arjuna and not with Sikhandi. Looking at the
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situation, Duryodhana ordered Kalinga, Malava, Bahlika and Videsha kings to go in support of Bheeshma. They all attacked Arjuna,who released powerful divine astras and destroyed their armies. This gave Sikhandi enough time to again strike Bheeshma with powerful arrows. At that time Dussasana, Krupa, Selya, Vivimsati and Vikerna stood in front of Bheeshma. Arjuna released powerful divine astras on them and broke their chariots. Duryodhana became furious on Arjuna and attacked him with his brothers. At that time Bheeshma wanted to release Brahmastra on enemies. As he was about to release Brahmastra, Sikhandi went in front of him. Immediately he threw away the bow and arrow. Bheeshma kills Sataneeka: Sataneeka, brother of Virata, attacked Bheeshma and wounded him. Bheeshma became furious and killed Sataneekas head with a spear. At the death of Sataneeka, all the army of Virata ran away from the field. Krishna said to Arjuna, Arjuna! Bheeshma killed Sataneeka, with that all Viratas armies ran away. Now the field is clear to attack Bheeshma. Rush with Sikhandi and kill Bheeshma. Dont waste time. Taking Krishnas advice, Arjuna rushed with Sikhandi and attacked Bheeshma. Sikhandi covered Bheeshma with powerful arrows. Looking at the Selya and others rushed to support Bheeshma. Bheema, Satyaki, Abhimanyu obstructed Selya and others, leaving arena free for Sikhandi. Sikhandi broke the bow of Bheeshma and hit sharp arrows on his chest. By the time Bheeshma took another bow, he broke that also. While getting wounds from Sikhandi, Bheeshma threw Sakthi weapon on Arjuna who while destroying that Sakthi weapon, broke his chariot and killed the horses. Bheeshma thought in himself, Krishna is protecting Pandavas. If Krishna was not there, I could have destroyed all their army. I told them the stratagem of winning me. I am fed up of killing several kings. Sataneeka is the last of them. Arjuna came with Krishna with hope of killing me. Let him do his job. I have no more interest in living. While he was thinking in that style, a voice was heard from the sky, You have taken the right decision. Come soon and join us. This voice was heard by Bheeshma and Vyasa maharishi only. With the blessings of maharishi, I (Sanjaya) too heard. Bheeshma decided not to do any more fighting. However to avoid any suspension from outsiders he kept the bow in hand fixed with an arrow. At that time Arjuna hit with hard arrows in all parts of his body. But the arrows released by Bheeshma did not reach its targets. Bheeshma: Dussasana! The arrows of Arjuna are hitting my body like thunderbolts. Sikhandi cant have this much powerful astras. These astras hit
all my sensitive organs. They are pulling out my life as if Yamadootas are pulling my life out. With the speed and sharpness of the arrows, all my body is burning. I am sure; Arjuna alone can release such powerful arrows. He kept Sikhandi in front of him only as a doll. While talking with Dussasana, Bheeshma throw a Sakthi weapon on Arjuna. Arjuna made it into pieces. Arjuna pulled out the sword and shield from Bheeshmas hand and made a simhanadham. He encouraged all his warriors Capture Bheeshma. Dont be afraid of him. I am with you. With the words of Arjuna, Pandavas army attacked Bheeshma with arrows, which pierced him and so he collapsed. Arjuna had driven away Kaurava army far away from Bheeshmas chariot. Bheeshma was laid down on a bed of arrows: Bheeshma an unopposed great warrior was felled. Countless number of arrows were on his body. The entire body experienced divinity. A bed of arrows was arranged so as the body do not touch the ground. At that time a voice was heard, Virtuous! Why are you leaving the body while the sun is moving from north to south (Dakshinayanam)? Bheeshma heard their voice and said, Devatas! I am aware it is still Dakshinayanem. That is why I am holding this body till the sun starts moving from south to north (Uttarayanam). You dont worry. My father has given me two boons. 1. Nobody can kill me. 2. I will die only when I wanted it. So my death is at my command. At that time his mother Ganga Devi also sent some maharishis in the form of swans to inform him, that it was Dakshinayanam. Drona heard the sad news of Bheeshmas fall and fainted. After recovery, he went to Bheeshma. By that time darkness spread all over. Sanjaya: Maharaja! In Pandavas camp, they celebrated the occasion, whereas in the camp of Kauravas, they were all drowned in an ocean of grief. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! I have a feeling that I have a big stone in the place of a heart. That is why I am still alive, even after hearing this tragedy. He was such a great man! He was so affectionate towards me.Is there any more shocking news , to hear? Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! All Kauravas and Pandavas, relatives and other kings went to see Bheeshma and stood around him. At that time, both sides stood without enemity. Each one did service in their own way. Bheeshma asked for a pillow under his head for a comfortable breathing. Duryodhana ordered to bring a pillow. Bheeshma smiled, called Arjuna and asked
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him to adjust the arrows under his head to form a pillow. Arjuna adjusted the bed of arrows with his bow and a pillow with arrows. Bheeshma was happy and complimented Arjuna. Bheeshma said I will keep the body alive till sun travels into Uttarayanem. Till such time, arrange some security. In the meanwhile he felt thirsty and asked for water to drink. He said, My children! Now I am lying on a bed of arrows. I cant sit and drink as before. So bring out a water spring from the ground water, which will directly fall in my mouth. Kauravas felt embraced as they could not do it. Then he called Arjuna and said, You alone is capable of that. Get me water spring from the underground. Then Arjuna went round Bheeshma with folded hands, prayed mother Ganges and released arrows into the ground. After a while, sweet water spring went up to Bheeshmas mouth. Bheeshma drank the water, and was satisfied and said: Bheeshma: Arjuna! Narada told me that you and Krishna are NaraNarayana Rishis. There will be nothing impossible to both of you. I told this to Duryodhana and not to have enemity with you. Krishna is none other than the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. So, Duryodhana! Even now, you must leave your passion and live with friendship with Dharmaraja. You give back Pandavas their share. Duryodhana and others did not reply to Bheeshma and went away. Krishna: Dharmaraja! Even devatas cant defeat Bheeshma. You alone could overcome him with the strength of divine astras. Dharmaraja: Krishna! We are all ordinary humans. Only your devotees can reach you. We are able to defeat Bheeshma, only because you are with us and because we are your devotees. Without you, we cannot achieve anything. Karna expresses his modesty with Bheeshma: After Pandavas went to their residence, Karna came and prostrated at the feet of Bheeshma and said: Karna: Virtuous Pitamaha! You please leave anger on me. Kindly excuse me for all my faults. Shower your kindness and affection on me. Please bless me Bheeshma: Karna! I was never angry with you. At times I spoke some harsh words against you, because you were creating rift between Kuru-Pandava families. I know they must have wounded you. You are born with a divine grace. So you cant be considered as an ordinary human. You are a worldly wise person.
Now I will tell you a secret. You are the son of Kunti, not Radha. Vyasa maharishi told me about your birth secret. Since you are also a son of Panduraju, I have the same affection on you like other Pandavas. I tried my level best to bring Kauravas and Pandavas together. No one can vanquish Pandavas. Krishna, a manifest of Vishnu, is protecting them. So you give up enemity with them. If you do so, you will get the acclaim of all and you will lead a prosperous life and will prove to be the topmost philanthropist Karna: Pitamaha! I have already heard about my birth secret through elders. How is it possible for me to develop friendship with Pandavas at this stage? I am aware Pandavas are valorous than me. All the more, Krishna is in their side. I am also aware that I cant defeat them. Duryodhana honoured me and gave a respectable place in the society. Considering all these aspects, how can I leave Duryodhana and join Pandavas side? It is not an appreciable quality for valorous person. Not only that I spoke filthy words and insulted them, out of jealousy I developed enemity with Pandavas. Now it has developed into a big war. So war alone enhances the glory of Pandavas. Now I request you to permit me to participate in war. I am indebted to Duryodhana in a big way. This is the only way for me to repay his debt. I shall show my vigour and play a prominent role in this war. I am capable of routing Krishna and Arjuna. Bheeshma: Karna! You are a man of highest dignity and character. Your loyalty is unparalleled and beyond comparison. What you said is true. Duryodhana is depending on you. So you do your best and keep him happy. I am permitting you to fight the battle. Conclusion: This Parvam is allotted entirely to Bheeshma. All the activities of both the Kauravas and Pandavas are designed as per the movements of Bheeshma. Of the eighteen days of war, Bheeshma dominates first ten days. He is shown to be an excellent fighter, apart from being a affectionate grandfather caught between two extremes. He shows equal affection to Pandavas and Kauravas. Yet he becomes atragic figure, as he is unable to control Duryodhana and Dirudharashtra. While Vidura is very critical with the activities of Kauravas, Bheeshma soft pedals. He is not firm with Kauravas. He was like a great lion without teeth. He lived for Kuru family, sacrificed his youthful life to help his nephews and spent his old age in distress caused by the exile of Pandavas for twelve years. He invites his own death by announcing his end and by not defending himself from the onslaught of Sikhandi. It is one of his principles in the war activities that he wont fight with male turned females ( Like Sikandi) caused his death. Each one of his
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actions is perfect. Only one notable shortcoming in him is his inability to control Duryodhana.Otherwise his character was perfecty drawn by Vyasa Maharishi. We also see how Krishna lost his mental balance and tried to kill Bheeshma. But Arjuna prevents him, as he had made a vow that he wouldnt fight. Karnas character gets a boost, when he refused again to join Pandavas. Karna knew that Arjuna couldnt be beaten, but wont lose his ambition to kill Arjuna. Dharmaraja is shown as regretting for the heavy loss of human power and wanted to go to the forest again, rather than massacring his kith and kin. Krishna persuades him to continue the war. While Bheeshma dominates Kaurava activities, Krishna directs Pandavas activities. Arjuna and Duryodhana were actively involved in the war Others play minor roles. In this Parvam also, characterisation is immaculate. Not only the major characters are well drawn, but the minor characters also get individual identity. No character is alike any other character. Excellent characterisation is the secret of the success of this epic.
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Glossary
Achala vyuham. Agneyastra Ardha chandrakara vyuha Diggajas Koorma vyuha Krauncha Vyuha Makara vyuham Manava vyuham Pragna astra Pramohana astra Radhika Sarvatobhandra vyuha Srunekataka vyuha Vajra vyuha Vayuvastra yamadhoota Formation of army in a fixed manner An astra of which Agni is the regent Crescent shaped formation of army Any one of the eight elephants said to guard the eight regions Formation of army in the form of a tortoise Formation of army in a form of heron Formation of army in a form of crocodile Formation of army in human form An astra that develops discernment Infatuated astra One who fights from a chariot A kind of military array A kind of military array A kind of military array An astra of which Vayu is the regent A servant of Lord Yama
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DRONA PARVAM
CHAPTER 1 Sanjaya returns from the battle field: Sanjaya returned from the battle field and met Dhrutarashtra. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! After the fall of Bheeshma, whom did the Kauravas appoint as their commander-in-chief? Sanjaya: King! Karna came from Hastinapura and said, Duryodhana! Bheeshma was truthful, a man of opulence, a tapasvi and a man of generosity. Such a person had been knocked down in the battle field. Now we must act together and fight Pandavas. Dharmaraja, his brothers, Satyaki and many others are undaunted warriors. I will kill all of them and make you the emperor of the entire earth. I will protect our own army on one hand and kill the Pandavas army on the other hand. I alone will dominare the entire battle field and do justice for you. He went to Bheeshma who was lying on the bed of arrows. He prostrated at his feet and said: Superior warrior of Baratha dynasty! I am Karna. I came to have your darshan. Open your eyes and bless me. You led a principled life; you are a treasure of courage, and a virtuous person. Oh son of king Santana!Bless me and make me pure. You let me fight against Pandavas before their armies attack us. We see Arjuna and Krishna were chasing our armies. Krishnas Panchajana and Arjunas Devadattam conchs were rousing simhanadhams. Arjuna pleased Paramasiva and acquired Pasupata astras; he killed Nivata and Kavachas, pleased Indra and obtained divinity. You bless me to defeat such a great warrior and crown Duryodhana as the emperor on earth. I seek your permission to enter the battle field. Bheeshma: Karna! You are also my relative as Duryodhana. We are moving for the interest of our king for several years. The relationship of a friendship is greater than a relationship by birth.
Karna! With your high spirit, you had defeated Ambishta , Videha , Paundra and kings of many other countries and made them as the subordinates of Duryodhana. As living beings depend on rain and as all rivers depend on sea, Duryodhana is depending on you. Help him in securing such victory and make Duryodhanas dreams come true. Since youre also like Duryodhana to me, I wish your well-being also. Now I am giving you permission to join Kaurava army and to fight Pandavas in the battle. Secure victory for Duryodhana. After taking blessings from Bheeshma, Karna went to Duryodhana and discussed the war strategies. Drona and allied kings welcomed Karnas entry in the battle field and declared, Duryodhana! You decide our next commanderin-chief to lead our armies. You are our leader!We obey your orders. Dronacharya is appointed as the commander-in-chief: Karna: King! A ship without a captain will sink in the sea. In the same manner without a commander-in-chief, the strength of our army will become weak. So you appoint one among us as our commander-in-chief. We are all warriors. We dont have either pride or jealousy. Hence I would suggest you to choose Dronacharya as our next commander-in-chief. He is our guru and is the master in all martial arts. Added to that, he is a senior-most among us. He is the most deserving person. On hearing Karnas words, Duryodhana went to Dronacharya with all his commanders and said: Duryodhana: Beloved Guru! You are not only elder by virtue of age but also in bravery, courage, virile and high spirit. You are as great as Bheeshma. You alone should take the responsibility as our commander-in-chief and coduct the battle for us. After Bheeshma, we have become orphans. Now you alone is our protector. Dronacharya: Duryodhana! Yes! I accept your offer and create more enthusiasm in our army. I will kill all our enemy forces with my divine astras. After Dronas acceptance Duryodhana anionted him as the Commanderin-Chief. Sanjaya : Dhrutarashtra ! Dronacharya had thus become the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava armies. Out of love and affection towards Duryodhana, Dronacharya had killed many combatants of Pandava side . While he was wandering with an excessive fury, he was killed brutally by Drushtajyumna.
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Dhrutarashtra grieves for the death of Dronacharya: Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! How Drushtajyumna was able to kill such a great warrior Dronacharya? Did he break the bow of Drona? Or did he kill his charioteer? Or did he kill when Drona was in a confused state or was Drona very much tired at that time or did Drona took his sworn enemy with a lenient view or did he forget the mantras of his astras. How that sinner Drushtajyumna was able to kill Drona. In spite of Bheeshmas and Dronas death, my heart had not broken. So it is made of stone. Dronacharya was as splendid as the Sun. He was as wise as Bruhaspathi. He was as valorous as Indra.Such a great person lost his life for the sake of my wicked sons. However he gave up his life to help others, I presume that Arjuna must have provoked Drushtajyumna to kill Drona. By the way, where was Aswadhama ? Had he been there, he could have obstructed Arjuna and Drushtajyumna. Sanjaya: Narayana alone is Krishna. Nara alone is Arjuna. Those NaraNarayanas were sitting in the same chariot and were fighting. Apart from them Nakula, Sahadeva, Satyaki and many others were also very active. Abhimanyu is as powerful as Rudra. The rest of the kings are having a past track record of winning several battles. What else I can say,except that it is the bad time for my sons. None of them will survive. While Bheeshma and Drona were killed who else could face Arjuna? Now my heart has become stone now. You can tell me any amount of bad news, there will be no impact. So you tell me the other details of Dronas way of fight. So Sanjaya gives a detailed account of the war. Drona promises that he will bring Dharmaraja as captive: The moment Drona assumed the post as the commander-in-chief, he wanted to keep Duryodhana happy and so asked him to seek for a boon. At that time Duryodhana consulted his brothers and relatives and said: Acharya! If you want to give me a boon you bring Dharmaraja alive and handover to me. Dronacharya: Duryodhana! It surprises me very much. Why are you asking Ajatasatru as your captive? I can understand, had you asked me to kill Dharmaraja. Why are you asking him to be as your captive? Do you want to give them half kingdom as a gift? What do you do with Dharmaraja, if he is your captivity?
Duryodhana: Gurudeva! If you kill Dharmaraja only, Arjuna will destroy us and our army. If you kill all Pandavas, Krishna will kill us with his chakra ayudha and put this kingdom in the hands of kunti. Hence I want to bring Dharmaraja alive, so that I can play another game of dice with him. Again I will win the game and drive him and his brothers to forests. If this plan succeeds, there will be no need of further fighting and we need not wait for a victory. I can become emperor without any stains of blood. Dronacharya was astonished at the crooked thinking of Duryodhana and he wanted to make a twist to his boon and said, Duryodhana! I can give you Dharmaraja as captive but you see to it that Arjuna should not be anywhere close by him at the time. If Arjuna opposes me, I cant bring Dharmaraja as captive. So if you can take care of Arjuna, I shall put Dharmaraja in your hands. Sanjaya: Acharya! All your ignorant sons were hopeful that Drona would capture Dharmaraja. Out of their joy and happiness, they announced that news to one and all. That matter had been leaked out to Dharmaraja through their spies. Dharmaraja called all his brothers and said to them about the vow made by Drona and his words. Arjuna consoles Dharmaraja Arjuna: Dharmaraja! As long as I am alive, Drona cant touch you. All Kauravas are day-dreaming about it. That will never happen. If you are trapped and caught, the earth will be broken into two and all the oceans will become one. So nobody can even touch you. All the warriors of Pandavas guarded Dharmaraja as an eyelid and went to the battle field. On Kauravas front, they formed a Sakata vyuha to catch Dharmaraja. In that vyuha Jayadradha, Bhagadatta, Vikarana, Sakuni, Krutavarma, Visamsati, Chitranasena and Dussasana were standing at strategic points and formed as Sakata vyuha. The armies of Kambhoja, Yavana, Saka, Trigarta, Madra, Sibi and Soorasena armies were completing the vyuha. At the end Drona, Duryodhana and Karna were standing. At that time, there occurred many bad omens, which were observed by the Kauravas . Drona releases divine astras on Pandavas army Drona started releasing divine astras on Pandavas army. Many were killed; blood flowed like a stream and attack continued till afternoon. Dharmaraja
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called Drushtajyumna and asked him to control Dronas aggressive attack. Drushtajyumna attacked Drona with a big army and gave a check. With that, Drona became more furious and released powerful arrows on Drushtajyumna. The fight went on for a long time. Many soldiers, elephants and horses suffered death. In another front Sakuni fought with Sahadeva; Bheema fought with Vivimsati; Bhoorisrava fought with Drushtajyumna; Alambasa, a demon, fought with Ghatotkacha, another demon; Drupada fought with Bruhadatta ; Abhimanyu fought with Krutavarma; in this manner a ferocious fight went on. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! There were so many battles being fought on the earth. But have you ever seen such a big battle like this between Pandavas and Kauravas? Now you tell me the details of Abhimanyus fight with Selya. The fight between Bheema and Selya Sanjaya: Abhimanyu killed the charioteer of Selya. So Selya became furious and attacked Abhimanyu with his club. While they were fighting with each other Bheema saw from a distance and came to support Abhimanyu. A fierce battle went on between Selya and Bheema. Krutavarma came running in support of Selya. Then Upa-Pandavas joined Bheema and chased Vinda and Anuvinda and made a simhanadham. Looking at Abhimanyus fierce battle, Aswadhama came with a big army. To support Abhimanyu, Dharmaraja also came with a big contingent and opposed Aswadhama. Dronacharya fights with Dharmaraja Drona said to his charioteer, I am the guru of Arjuna. Can he beat me? I will fight and see to it that he will run away. By saying so he asked his charioteer to keep his chariot before Dharmaraja. A fierce fight went on between Dharmaraja and Drona. Dharmaraja broke the bow of Drona. In return, Dronawith with a spear, broke the shield of Dharmaraja . Sukumara, the protector for Dharmaraja came and fought with Drona. Drona broke the flag post and made simhanadham. Nakula came and planted five arrows on the chest of Drona. Drona sent seven arrows on Sahadeva and nine arrows on Virata. Drona was enraged and killed Vyaghradatta and made Kauravas happy. After killing Vyaghradatta, Drona approached Dharmaraja for taking him as captive. At that time, Pandavas made hue and cry by saying Drona is taking Dharmaraja to Hastina By hearing the cries of Pandavas, Arjuna came running like Yama and rained arrows on Drona and Kaurava army. In the melee, Dharmaraja escaped and boarded Arjunas chariot and returned safely to their barrack.
Dronas second days battle Next morning the Kauravas army reached the battle field. At that time Drona said: Drona : Duryodhana ! I told you that it is difficult for me to take Dharmaraja as captive as long as Arjuna was there. You yourself have seen what had happened yesterday evening. So you plan well to keep Arjuna away from Dharmaraja, so that I can trap Dharmaraja and put him in your hands. On hearing the conversation between Drona and Duryodhana, Susarma the king of Trigarta said: Susarma: King Duryodhana! Arjuna has humiliated you on several occasions. Myself and my brothers resolved that either we are to live or Arjuna is to live in this world, but both of us cannot live. You give me permission to take Arjuna away from the battle field and to engage him with our army. Then you and Drona can plan to capture Dharmaraja. If you like this plan, I will go and invite Arjuna for a battle with me. Susarmas brothers also supported the proposal. On hearing Susarma, Duryodhana permitted him to fight with Arjuna. Susarma assured Duryodhana that if he did not defeat Arjuna and but run away from the battle he would get the sin of killing a cow, killing a woman and killing a brahmin. So what they promise him was truth. If they die in the battle, they would get in the superior lokas. Drona planned a Garuda vyuha for that day. In that vyuha Duryodhana, Krupa, Krutavarma, Abheera, Surasena and other heroes of Kaurava army took positions at various points. Susarma and his brothers went to Arjuna and offered him to fight with them. Arjuna said to Dharmaraja: Arjuna: Dharmaraja! These Trigarta kings are inviting me for a fight. If you let me, I will go and kill all of them and come back. Sachyajittu will protect you in my place. He is not only virile but also brave and courageous. He can oppose Drona effectively. So in my absence, Sachyajittu will protect you. In case of any untoward thing happens, you ought to withdraw from the battle field. That is safe for us. Arjuna goes to fight with Susarma and his army: Arjuna took permission from Dharmaraja and went to fight with Susarma and his army. By seeing Arjuna going away from his brother, all Kauravas army made simhanadhams.
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In opposition to the Kauravas vyuha, Pandavas planned a crescent vyuha. Both the armies took their position to fight each other. At the time Dharmaraja said to Drushtajyumna, I should be careful while facing Drona in todays fighting Drushtajyumna said, Dharmaraja! Why are you worried as long as I am by your side? Drushtajyumna attacked Drona. On seeing Drushtajyumna, Drona felt it as a bad omen and turned his face aside and rained powerful arrows on Panchalas army. Arjuna went to fight with Trigarta army. There they formed a crescent vyuha to trap Arjuna. The moment they saw Arjuna, they made simhanadhams. Arjuna rained arrows on them from a distance. In that battle, Arjuna killed many of the warriors of Trigarta. Because of the fury of Arjuna, Trigarta army ran away. Susarma recalled his army to fight with Arjuna. When they came back, Arjuna broke two thousand chariots. Again the army was frightened and ran away. Arjuna said to Krishna, As long as this Trigarta army is alive, they will keep giving me disturbance. So I shall kill all these soldiers. By saying so he released a mahashtra. With the power of that astra, each soldier had an illusion that Arjuna was fighting with each one of them directly. In that illusion, the Trigarta soldiers mutually killed themselves. Dhrutarashtra! At the loss of Trigarta armies, Arjuna had a hearty laugh. Susarma and his brothers could not digest this defeat and but rallied the army of Tundi, Magadha and Kerela warriors and attacked Arjuna. Arjuna rained arrows on all of them and killed many of the enemies. At that time the Trigartas attacked Arjuna like honey bees and encircled his chariot. Krishna and Arjuna were sitting on the same chariot but they could not see each other. At that time Krishna said, Arjuna these armies covered us fully. Therefore I am not able to see you. At least can you hear me? If you hear me, you respond to my call. On hearing Krishnas words, Arjuna had a hearty laugh and released Vayuvya astra. With the power of that, all the Susarmas armies were carried away by a current of air like dry leaves. Arjuna breathed deeply and started raining arrows on them. Most of the elephants, horses and warriors were killed and the chariots were broken. While Arjuna was fighting with Trigartas army, Drona drove his chariot towards Dharmaraja. Drona and Dharmaraja fought bitterly. Duryodhanas brother Durmukha went in support of Drona. In that battle several thousands of soldiers and animals were dead. Blood was flowing like a stream.
Drona kills Satyajittu: While Dharmaraja and Drona were fighting, Satyajittu went in support of Dharmaraja and released a sharp arrow on Dronas chest. Drona became furious and broke the bow of Satyajittu. Thus, Drona and Satyajittu broke each others bow several times. Finally, Drona did not want to continue the battle with him and cut his head with a sharp arrow and made him fell dead. Looking at the death of Satyajittu, Dharmaraja withdrew from the battle field. Drona kills Suryajittu: After the death of Satyajittu, Viratas brother Suryajittu came to fight with Drona. They both fought ferociously for a long time. Looking at Dronas strength and bravery, Pandavas army ran away in fear. By looking at Dronas fury, Bheema came and attacked Drona with sharp arrows. Duryodhana was happy with Dronas heroism and said, Karna! You look at Bheema! Since he could not find any of his people around him, he became restless to face Drona. On hearing Duryodhanas words, Karna said, oh king! Dont under estimate Bheemas power. He will not allow Drona to fight in this style. So let us go and stand in support of Drona. While they were talking in this way, Dharmaraja , Bheema , Nakula, Sahadeva, Satyaki, Drupada and Virata came in support of Bheema and attacked Drona. Since Drona was covered with arrows and became invisible, the soldiers thought that Drona was dead. In this confusion Duryodhana attacked Bheema; Satyaki fought Krutavarma; Syndhava fought with Yuyutsu; Dharmaraja faced Selya. In this conflict, several soldiers and animals were dead and chariots were broken. But Susarma and his brothers had continued their fight with Arjuna. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! While Kauravas and Pandavas were fighting ferociously, your son Duryodhana dispatched herds of elephants on Bheema, who became furious and killed many elephants with his club and rained arrows on your son Duryodhana. Bruhadatta sat on an elephant by name Suprateeka and fought with Pandava army. He chased Bheema, who was sitting on the top of an elephant. People made hue and cry by saying Bheema was dead. On hearing this shout, Dharmaraja sent huge armies in support of Bheema. Satyaki rained arrows on the elephant Suprateeka but he did not deter and threw away the chariot of Satyaki. Arjuna killed many Trigarta soldiers rest of them ran away. Since there was none to fight with him, he asked Krishna to take the chariot where the
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other Pandavas were fighting. By the time Krishna turned the chariot, king Susarma came running and shouted, oh Arjuna! While we are calling for a fight, why are you running away? How a brave fighter like you, can run away ? On hearing the challenge of Susarma, Arjuna was confused as to whether to fight with Susarma or to go and help Pandava armies? He asked Krishna about that matter. Krishna!You tell me what is good for me. I shall abide by your advice. On hearing Arjunas words Krishna directed the chariot towards Susarma. There Arjuna broke the bow of Susarma and killed his brothers. Susarma fainted. Seeing that, Arjuna said, Krishna! All our army appears to be panicky. Perhaps Bruhadattas elephant Suprateeka is causing havoc. So you take our chariot to Pandava army. Krishna drove his chariot towards the Pandavas army. They blew their conches. Sanjaya: oh king! Krishna took the chariot in front of the elephant Suprateeka and Arjuna rained arrows and wounded Bruhadatta, who began to shout Krishna and Arjuna are dead. He directed his elephant on the chariot of Arjuna. That elephant Suprateeka was about to smash the chariot. Krishna cleverly drove the chariot by its side. Bruhadatta released powerful arrows on Krishnas body. Arjuna broke the bow of Bruhadatta. Since he lost his bow, Bruhadatta threw a spear on Arjuna and but Arjuna cleverly broke it. Again he threw a Sakthi weapon on Krishna but Arjuna broke it in the middle. Bruhadatta threw a divine spear on Arjuna. Krishna stood in front of Arjuna and averted the weapon touching Arjuna. It hit on the chest of Krishna and but it became as a garland. Looking at that mystical action, Arjuna said Krishna ! Is it fair on your part to do like this? You may be my charioteer, you may have love and affection for me. But the killing of an enemy is my job. I myself could have broken the spear. If you do like this, will it not hamper your vow? Will it bring glory to you? In short, you made me an incompetent soldier. Krishna smiled at him and said, Arjuna! Long ago when yuga was at an end, on an evening time mother earth went to Vishnu and asked him to bless her with a son. He said that it was an inauspicious time so she had to wait for some more time. But she insisted and did not wait. At the time she delivered a son by name Narakasura. Vishnu gave Narakasusra the Vishnva astra. Narakasura gave that astra to his son Bruhadatta. Now that astra had been used on you. Nobody could survive from that astra, except myself. To save you from that astra, I stood in front you. Since that astra was nothing but myself, it had turned into a garland and became an ornament on my body. Because of this, you will neither get any disgrace nor I brake my vow.
Brahmadatta was surprised since the great vaishnava astra became useless. Arjuna kills Bruhadattas elephant Suprateeka: Arjuna released a divine astra on Suprateeka and it fell dead. Bruhadatta jumped from the elephant and started running away. Arjuna chased and cut his head. Seeing that,Sakunis brothers attacked Arjuna. Arjuna killed their horses, charioteer and broke the chariot. At the time Vrushaka took his brother on his chariot and ran away. While Sakunis brothers were running away, Arjuna chased them and killed. On knowing the death of Sakunis brothers, Duryodhana was unhappy. At that time Sakuni came forward to fight with Arjuna. He started a mystic war with Arjuna. He created heavy floods of water; fearful tigers, lions and serpents; At times he rained stones. He created darkness with dark clouds. Arjuna countered all those mystics with proper divine weapons, cleared all the mystics and laughed at Sakuni and said, Uncle! All your mystics will work at the game of dice but not at the war field. Sanjaya continues his direct reporting. Dhrutarashtra! While saying so, Arjuna filed powerful arrows on the body of Sakuni. Your brother-in-law could not bear the torture and ran away. Looking at Sakuns flight, l the soldiers laughed at him. After Sakuni left the area, Bheema and Satyaki fought with the army of Sakuni. Karna went from one side and Dronacharya from the other side to save Sakunis army. At once Pandava army surrounded Dronacharya. Among Pandavas army Neelu attacked Aswadhana. Duryodhana hit Neelu with a powerful arrow and killed him. Narayana Gopala segments of Samsapartakas, were added to Kaurava army. They all shouted at Arjuna, You have not defeated us. You ran away from the battle field in the middle, in spite of our invitation. How can you claim it as your victory? Karna fights with Arjuna: Kaurava army could not withstand the attack of Bheema and Arjuna but ran behind Karna for protection which he assured them. When Arjuna released Ageneya astra, Karna cooled it down with Varunastra and fought ferociously, Arjuna released seven powerful arrows and killed all the brothers of Karna. Duryodhana became furious and said to Drona: Duryodhana : Acharya ! You promised me that you will bring Dharmaraja to me. Though Dharmaraja came near to you on several occasions,
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you left him deliberately. If that is the case, why you have given me a promise? Due to the way you behave, I became a laughing- stock before the army. Can a virtuous person like you change his mind? Drona: Duryodhana! You know the strength of Arjuna and virtue of Krishna. Before I put my hand on Dharmaraja, Pandavas army surround him. Are you not seeing that? Can any one of your warriors take Arjuna away from the battle field? Then you watch what I do with Dharmaraja. I never say untruth. Samsaptakas said, Duryodhana! We alone had the knack of fighting and capability of taking Arjuna away from the battle field. You give me permission. By saying so, they all challenged Arjuna and took him away from the battle field.
CHAPTER-2
Sanjaya continues his narration Dronas third days fight: On the third day, Drona planned Padma vyuha. Nobody knew how to enter that vyuha. Even though some might enter they did not know how to come out of it. Only Krishna, his son Pradyumnaand Arjuna alone knew of the method of entry and exit. Since Arjuna was engaged by Samsptaksas for a direct fight, none from Pandavas army knew how to enter the Padma vyuha of Drona. At the time Dharmaraja said to Abhimanyu; Dharmaraja: Abhimanyu! You alone can enter this Padma vyuha and fight with Kaurava army. You enter now and we will follow you. Abhimanyu: Yes! I know how to enter a Padma vyuha but I do not know how to come out of it. My father did not teach me how to come out of a Padma vyuha. However I take this challenge. I will enter the vyuha and kill all Kaurava army and come back. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! How so many warriors surrounded to kill a boy? You tell me how it has happened? Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! That day Drona planned a Padma vyuha. Drona stood at the entrance of that vyuha. All the army stood like a wall and not allowed anybody to enter the vyuha. He kept Syndhava, Aswadhama, Krupa,
Krutavarma, Sakuni, Bhoorisrava and brothers of Duryodhana at strategic points. In that battle, Bheema took a prominent role. Satyaki, Drushtajyumna, Kuntibhoja, Dhrushtaketu, Nakula, Sahadeva, Sikhandi besides Upa-Pandavas attacked Drona in a ferocious manner. Drona attacked them all with arrows filled with fire and made Pandava warriors speechless and they all took aback. At the time Dharmaraja provoked Abhimanyu to enter the vyuha. Abhimanyu took the challenge and entered the vyuha, though he lacked the knack of coming out of it. Dharmaraja: My son! Drona is restricting our entry. Since you know how to enter the vyuha, you make an entry and we follow you. Abhimanyu said Yes! I will enter the vyuha and surprise Dronacharya. I will show my heroism and which might please Dharmaraja. I will see to it that my parents will feel proud of me. I will keep my uncle Krishna; my father Arjuna should feel proud of me. My mother also should feel proud of having a valorous son like me. By chasing this vyuha, I will confuse the wicked Duryodhana. On hearing Abhimanyu words, Dharmaraja affectionately hugged him and blessed for a successful return. Abhimanyus charioteer Sumitra cautioned him, Abhimanyu! You are just a boy. Drona and others are all cruel warriors and have won several battles by deception . How you alone can enter and face them all? Abhimanyu smiled at him and said, Sumitra!Even if Indra comes with all his devatas or, even if Rudra comes with all his Paramadha ganas, and oppose me I alone will defeat them . So why are you afraid of Drona? By saying so, Arjuna entered the Padma vyuha to win the battle. Abhimanyu enters Padma vyuha: In the padma vyuha, Kauravas denied entry to Pandava army inside vyuha. Whoever entered, could not go out and they would be killed inside the vyuha. However Abhimanyu entered the vyuha and killed many elephants, horses, horse and riders, and broke many chariots. Blood flowed like water. Heaps of dead bodies were scattered on the ground. At that time, Duryodhana tried to attack Abhimanyu. Drona felt that Duryodhanas attack on Abhimanyu was like an elephant jumping on a lion. So he ordered all his army and other kings to rush and protect Duryodhana. Drona, Krupa, Aswadhama, Krutavarma, Karna, Bhoorisrava and others rushed to support Duryodhana. Abhimanyu attacked
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all those kings and tried to concentrate on Duryodhana. Drona felt that those kings couldnt stop him and hence he himself went to obstruct Abhimanyu. Duryodhana and others attack Abhimanyu: Selya fainted and his brothers ran away from the battle field. Drona and many other heroes surrounded him with sharp weapons and divine astras. However nobody could stop his heroic activities in the field. Nobody could withstand the fast attack of his arrows. Krupa, Aswadhama, Bruhadbala, Karna and others attacked Abhimanyu, who made a simhanadham and released arrows all around him. With that attack, none of them could withstand and fight with him. Drona became speechless by looking at Abhimanyus energy and power. Drona encouraged his army with brave words and brought back and made them to fight with Abhimanyu. As a guru, Drona enjoyed the style of fighting by Abhimanyu. He wanted to irritate Duryodhana and let him be jealous, he said, Krupa! This boy has exceeded his father and even his uncle. Are you not observing how many ways we are disturbing him? Today many warriors were dead at his hands. We must congratulate his confidence, energy and enthusiasm. I am astonished at the heroic actions of this boy. All our senior kings are getting dismayed to go anywhere near him. Dronas words pricked Duryodhana and said, Karna! Are you listening Dronas words? Whoever takes bow in his hand, Drona claims that they were his disciples. Look at his partiality. How he is praising a coward, a boy of unsteady mind, as a great warrior. Because Dronacharya is lenient to this boy, he is able to play with us. He commanded all the kings to surround and kill him. On hearing Duryodhanas words, Dussasana said, You all stop there. I alone will kill this boy. With his death, Krishna and Arjuna should have their heart shattered. This is the only way to take my vengeance on Arjuna. Dussasana fights with Abhimanyu: Dussasana attacked Abhimanyu with sharp arrows. Abhimanyu filled Dussasana body with sixty six arrows and wounded him. He broke his bow with a spear and said, Uncle Dussasana! You have insulted sinless Dharmaraja in Kurusabha. If you stay some more time, I will kill you and clear my fathers debt. By this declaration he again hit him hard with a spear on his shoulders. Dussasana fell down like a dead body. To save him, his charioteer took him far away from Abhimanyu. Pandavas tried to enter the vyuha in the way Abhimanyu made. But they were seriously obstructed by Drona and Syndhava. However Bheema and others
raised their heads and found that Abhimanyu alone was fighting. They made simhanadhams with joy. Duryodhana looked at Karna and said, This Abhimanyu wounded Dussasana severely. He fell down like a log. So do something to control this adolescent On hearing Duryodhanas words Karna went with the big army and attacked Abhimanyu with divine astras. Abhimanyu retorted with similar divine astras and wounded Karna. When Karna was tired, his brother came in support him. Abhimanyu cut his head and killed. Watching the death of his brother, Karna ran away with fear. In this manner, the Kaurava warriors, kings and their army could not fight with Abhimanyu and therefore began to run away. Humiliated Dronacharya infused courage in his army. Oh Krupacharya! Why are you not obstructing this boy? Oh Bahlika! Why are you afraid of him? Oh Sakuni! What happened to your brave and courageous words? You encourage army and make them to fight with Abhimanyu. But none of them acted as wished. Syndhava obstructs Pandava army: Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! While Abhimanyu alone is fighting with such a big Kaurava army why none of the Pandavas came for his help? Sanjaya: All Pandavas and their army tried to enter Padma vyuha. But Syndhava did not allow them to enter the vyuha. Therefore all of them stood like spectators overlooking the high spirits of Abhimanyu from outside. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! It is surprising how Syndhava alone obstructed such a huge Pandava army and warriors? Sanjaya: King! While the Pandavas were living in a forest Syndhava, your son-in-law, insulted Draupadi in a vile manner. Enraged Pandavas beat him severely and left him alive. Humiliated Syndhava made a severe tapasya on Siva and pleased him. He wanted a boon from Siva to defeat all Pandavas. But Siva said that he could overcome the Pandavas except Arjuna, that too for one day only. In this manner with the blessings of Lord Siva, he was able to resist all Pandavas on that day. Vrushasena fights with Abhimanyu and faints: Dussasana broke the flag post of Abhimanyu and wounded him with sharp arrows. Abhimanyu became furious and killed Dussasanas charioteer and horses and broke his flag post. Dussasana was afraid of Abhimanyu and ran away. While he was chasing Dussasana, the king of Vasati obstructed Abhimanyu.
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He released sharp arrows and killed him. Looking at the death of Vasati, Kaurava army surrounded Abhimanyu like locust. Abhimanyu released sharp arrows and killed a large number od combatants. Looking at that massacre, all other kings ran away. At the time Rukmaradha, son of Selya, attacked Abhimanyu. He killed Rukmaradha with one arrow. At the death of Rukamaradha, all his brothers and other kings surrounded Abhimanyu. Duryodhana appreciated their attack on Abhimanyu and thought they could kill Abhimanyu. He also provoked a huge elephant herds on Abhimanyu. Looking at that huge number of elephants, Abhimanyu released a mystic weapon by name Gandharvi. With the power of mystic each one of the enemy and elephants fell into an illusion that they are surrounded by many kings. With this illusion, the elephants fought with each other and other enemy warriors fought among themselves and killed each other. Looking at this, Duryodhana was bewildered. Duryodhana could not digest the superiority of Abhimanyu and went away with a state of helplessness. Looking at Duryodhanas retreat, all his brothers became pale . However Duryodhana recovered and provoked Aswadhama, Krupa, Karna, Krutavarma, and Sakuni to attack Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu kills Lakshmana the son of Duryodhana: Lakshmana, the son of Duryodhana, jumped upon Abhimanyu. It looked like a cat jumping on a lion. Abhimanyu invited his cousin for a fight and cut his head with one arrow. Looking at Duryodhana, he grieved for his son. He became furious at Abhimanyu and provoked Krutavarma, Krupa , Drona, Aswadhama, Karna and others to kill him. The king of Kalinga and hunters attacked with herds of elephants on Abhimanyu, who was not deterred. He shot fifty arrows on Drona, eighty arrows on Krutavarma and ten arrows on Aswadhama. He threw one arrow on Karna and made him to faint. He killed Brindaraka and many other kings. When he broke the chariot of Krupa, he took another chariot and threw several arrows on Abhimanyu. He broke them all in the middle. Abhimanyu broke the flag post of Bruhadbala and broke his bow, killed the charioteer and horses and made a simhanadham. He threw a strong spear on Bruhadbala and killed him. With the death of Bruhadbala, all his relatives attacked him. He killed all of them. Asyamtaka came and irritated Abhimanyu. He broke his chariot and killed him. In the meanwhile Dussasanas son attacked Abhimanyu, who threw a powerful arrow on him which was obstructed by Aswadhama. By the time it
was noon and Abhimanyu proved hotter than the sun. Then Sakunis sons and his associates began to attack Abhimanyu. He filed arrows on their body. They were badly wounded and so, they fled from the battle field. Looking at the ferocious stance of Abhimanyu, Drona was afraid that he might kill even Duryodhana. Drona, Krupa, Aswadhama, Krutavarma, Karna, Bhoorisrava and others rushed to support Duryodhana. Abhimanyu attacked all those kings and tried to concentrate on Duryodhana. Drona felt that those kings couldnt stop him and hence he himself went to obstruct Abhimanyu. At the time Rukmaradha, son of Selya, attacked Abhimanyu. He killed Rukmaradha with one arrow. At the death of Rukamaradha, all his brothers and other kings surrounded Abhimanyu. Duryodhana appreciated their attack on Abhimanyu and thought they would kill Abhimanyu. He also provoked a huge elephant herds on Abhimanyu. Looking at that huge number of elephants, Abhimanyu released a mystic weapon by name Gandharvi. With the power of mystic each one of the soldiers of theenemy army and elephants fell into an illusion that they are surrounded by many kings. With this illusion, the elephants fought with each other and other enemy warriors fought among themselves and killed each other. Looking at this, Duryodhana was bewildered. Duryodhana could not digest the superiority of Abhimanyu and went away with a state of helplessness. Looking at Duryodhanas retreat, all his brothers put pale face. However Duryodhana recovered and provoked Aswadhama, Krupa, Karna, Krutavarma, and Sakuni to attack Abhimanyu. Karna told Drona,Acharya! This boy is killing whoever goes in his way. He may even jump on Duryodhana. When he was so aggressive and killing all, how can you behave indifferently? You yourself should bring an end to him. By saying so, Karna went in between Duryodhana and Abhimanyu. At the time Drona said This Abhimanyu looks like a boy but none of us can control him. With his heroism there is no difference between him and Arjuna. In a way he is unpredictable. So we all should isolate him and we must surround him , and send arrows from all sides and kill him. While they were plannimg in this manner, Abhimanyu filled the body of Karna with sharp arrows and wounded him. While suffering with wounds Karna said: Karna: ,Guru! Look at my body. I went to save Duryodhana and I got all these wounds. We are all planning to kill Arjuna. But this lad appears to be more powerful than his father.
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Drona: (with a smile) ,Long back, I taught Arjuna an astra by name Kavachadharanam . It appears that he gave that astra to his son. By virtue of his astra, none of us can wound him. We can kill him only in a deceitful manner.Let one of us to break the rope of his bow. Another person is to break his bow. Others are to kill the horses and the charioteer, thereby he will be left without a weapon and a chariot. When he stands on the ground with no weapon, we all should put arrows on him and kill. This act is to be done simultaneously by each one of us. In this deceitful way only, we can eliminate him. Otherwise he will kill all of us. Karna and others broke the chariot of Abhimanyu: As advised Drona, Karna went behind the chariot of Abhimanyu and was waiting for an opportunity. In the meanwhile, Drona goaded the army to fight with Abhimanyu. While Abhimanyu was fighting with the army, Karna broke the bow of Abhimanyu from behind his chariot. Immediately Drona killed the horses and Krupa killed the charioteer. In this manner, Abhimanyu stood without a weapon and a chariot. He stood on the ground helplessly. At that time Sakuni, Krutavarma, Selya, Bahlika, Aswadhama and others attacked with several weapons on the weaponless Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu grabbed a sword and a shield from a soldier and started fighting with all of them. He dived occasionally and wounded many warriors. While Abhimanyu was diving into the sky like Garutmantha, all the kings and warriors were afraid of their life. Taking this opportunity, Drona cut the boys sword into pieces with a spear. Still undaunted Abhimanyu picked a wheel from his chariot, made it a Chakrayudha, spun into the air and threw it on them. Sakuni, Karna and others broke the wheel into pieces. Abhimanyu took a club in his hands, chased Aswadhama, killed his charioteer and horses. All the warriors threw sharp arrows on Abhimanyu. With those arrows in his body, he jumped and killed twenty seven protectors of Sakuni. He also killed seven kings of Vasati and their elephants. He jumped on the chariots of seven Kekaya kings and smashed their chariots. At that time, Dussasanas son came again with the club and jumped on Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu fought with the son of Dussasana: Sanjaya continues his commentary: Dhrutarashtra! Both your grandsons started to fight with clubs. Both fought ferociously and wounded each other. Both of them fell on the ground.
As they were tired, all your warriors surrounded Abhimanyu and killed him mercilessly. In this manner, Abhimanyu proved his valour, vigour and strength. He enhanced the glory of his family and fell on the ground and dead. Dharmaraja was shocked beyond words and said: Dharmaraja: To secure victory for me, Abhimanyu fought with Drona and other warriors and is now dead. He killed several heroes. He disgraced the passion of Dussasana. He made him to run. He killed all his four wings of army. If Arjuna comes and asks me where is Abhimanyu, what I could tell him? If Subhadra comes and enquires about Abhimanyu, what can I say to her? I myself encouraged him to enter the vyuha. He died because of my greediness to win the battle. Is there any sinner like me who kills his own son? Had I also been killed with him, I would not have this inconsolable grief? Arjuna killed Nivata Kavachas and made Indra happy. But he could not save his own son. How can I console him? Who can change the fate? Will Arjuna keep quiet without killing all Kauravas, since they killed his dearest son? While Dharmaraja was crying, Vedavyasa appeared there. Dharmaraja worshipped him and said: Dharmaraja: ,Maharishi! I myself encouraged Abhimanyu to go and fight with the enemies. He too obeyed my commands and entered. We all thought of going behind him. But Syndhava did not allow us to enter the vyuha. Therefore Abhimanyu was caught alone in the middle of so many enemies. However he killed several enemies. I am the sinner who provoked my son to fight the enemies alone? Vedavyasa: ,Dharmaraja! You know everything. Can you speak like this like an ignorant man? Is he just a boy, who is such a valorous person that killed so many warriors? Will the enemies garland him when he is attacking them ? Death always comes in strange ways. Can anybody change the fate? So people like you should not grieve for the death in the war. Make your mind steady. Dharmaraja: ,Maharishi! As you said, death is inevitable. In battles they may try to save their life but cannot escape. Vyasa maharishi: ,Dharmaraja! Abhimanyu will get a place heaven and get all the heavenly pleasures. His glory remains immortal. Hence why do you grieve for his death? Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Did Arjuna defeat Samsaptakas? Who told him about the news of Abhimanyus death? How he reacted?
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Sanjaya: King! Arjuna killed all Samsaptakas and while returning from that theatre of war he said Krishna: Arjuna: ,Krishna! I am seeing many bad omens. My mind is disturbed. Drona is not an ordinary person. Did he take Dharmaraja as his captive? Krishna: ,Arjuna! Dharmaraja and his brothers are safe. I too had a feeling that something in auspicious has happened. Arjuna: ,Krishna! It seems that our soldiers have lowered their heads and are grieving for someone. But I am not able to guess who is the victim. Everyday my son Abhimanyu greets me with a smiling face. Why I am missing him? My mind is telling me something inauspicious has happened. Dharmaraja, relatives, kings and everyone is grieving and I am not able to see Abhimanyu. He saw Dharmaraja and asked him: Today Drona has planned a Padma vyuha. None of you can enter it. By any chance did you provoke Abhimanyu, to enter the vyuha? He only knows how to enter into that vyuha. But he did not know how to come out. Not knowing this fact, did any of you make a sin of provoking him to enter the vyuha? In an over enthusiasm of exhibiting his heroism, did he jump into the vyuha? Did enemies surround and killed him? Dharmaraja! How this is happened? Where was Bheema, Drupada, and Satyaki? You tell me how Abhimanyu was killed? Arjuna enquires the way how Abhimanyu was killed: Arjuna: Dharmaraja! I am not grieved for the death of my son Abhimanyu but you tell me whether he fought the battle in a valorous manner. Did he not kill many enemies? Did he expect any help from others? Did he jump on his enemies like a lion or not? While all those enemies surrounded and attacked him did he look for my help? Since I did not respond, was he disappointed? My son! I was not anywhere near you, so I could not hear your call. Had I heard your call, I could have saved you. While I was fighting with Samsaptakas I heard continuous simhanadhams from Kauravas side? I was lenient because nothing inauspicious could have happened since Krishna is by my side. Dharmaraja! Had you sent word to me at the right time, I could have saved my son?
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Krishna: ,Arjuna! Can a person like you who knows the Highest Truth, grieve in this manner? You know the Kshatriya dharma. They swear on their weapons even before they enter the battle field and face their death in this manner. He killed several enemies in a heroic way and went to heaven alone. It is a matter to be feel proud of Please leave distress and console all your relatives. Arjuna: ,Dharmaraja! I want to hear how manly my son has fought in that battle. If anybody killed him by treachery, I will kill him. I lost my son since I depended on you and Drupada . Had I known that you are incapable of protecting my son, I could have taken care of him. You are all woman in the form of a men. All your shields and weapons are only ornaments for you. While Arjuna was weeping and lamenting in an inconsolable way, nobody dared to go near him to comfort. At the time, Krishna went forward and tried to comfort him. But he hardly succeeded. Dharmaraja tells the way how Abhimanyu was killed: Dharmaraja: Arjuna! When you went to fight with Samsaptakasin a different place, Drona planned Padma vyuha. Drona himself stood at the entrance and did not allow us to go nearer. He spilled arrows of fire on us and kept us away. We stood like statues as we could not enter vyuha. I called Abhimanyu and said, ,If you can make an entry we will follow you. He was very enthusiastic and entered vyuha . As he entered, Drona and all other leading enemies surrounded Abhimanyu . We all went behind him. But Syndhava obstructed us and did not allow us to move a step further. So, none of us could enter the vyuha except Abhimanyu. However Abhimanyu killed Lakshmana and many other kings in spite of confusion created by Drona, Karna, Krutavarma, Krupa, Aswadhama and many others. He also killed Dussasanas son. He became immortal after bringing glory to his father and uncle, Sri Krishna. On hearing this matter, Arjuna fainted and fell down. Dharmaraja and Krishna comforted him to recover from his fainting. Arjuna: I will kill Syndhava tomorrow before sunset provided you and Krishna do not give protection to him or if he runs away from the battle field. This is my vow. If I dont kill him, I will get such a sin, as if I disgraced my guru or as if I killed a brahmin and his cow, or I blamed a righteous person. Dharmaraja! Even if devatas and rakshasas obstruct me; I will kill Syndhava before sunset. If I do not fulfill my vow, I will enter into flames with my Gandeevam in the presence of all these kings.
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After Arjunas vow Krishna blew his conch Panchajanyam. All the soldiers made simhanadhams . Arjuna blowed his conch Devadattam and made simhanadhams. Bheema said, Arjuna! Krishna has given his consent to your vow by blowing Panchajanyam. On hearing the blowing of Krishnas conch Syndhavas death is confirmed Duryodhana must have lost his heart. Syndhava frightened of Arjunas vow: Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! Duryodhana came to know the Arjunas vow through his spies. On hearing Arjunas vow, Syndhava shivered like a tender leaf. He ran to Duryodhana and said: Syndhava: Duryodhana! Have you heard the vow of Arjuna? You are all happy about the death of Abhimanyu. Whereas I am afraid of my life. When so many of you joined together and killed Abhimanyu, why Arjuna was furious on me? I will leave this battle field and save my life. If I stay here, even devatas cant stop Arjuna. Duryodhana: Syndhava! You are responsible for the death of Abhimanyu and thus you did a great service to us. Could we allow such a loyal person like to go into the clutches of Arjuna? So you dont get worry about your life. We are all here to protect you. Dont you know the strength of our warriors Aswadhama, Krutavarma and many others? We take responsibility to protect you. Why you want to run away from us? On the other hand, if we save you, Arjuna is bound to offer himself to flames. In both ways, it is good for us. So you dont be afraid of Arjuna. So assuring him of full prptection, Duryodhana took Syndhava to Drona to fortify the assurance. Drona: Syndhava! I taught archery to Arjuna and Duryodhana equally, but Arjuna made a great tapasya and acquired many divine astras. I too have many divine astras with me. As long as I am with you to save your life, why are you worried about Arjuna? I shall plan a vyuha wherein Arjuna cant make an entry. With the consoling words of Drona, Syndhava and Duryodhana were greatly relieved and their enthusiasm was doubled. In the Pandavas front, many discussions were made about Syndhava. Krishna said: Krishna: Arjuna! In a fit of anger, you made a vow, without considering the feasibility. As per your vow, you have to kill your enemy before sunset. If you dont fulfill your vow, I will be in a big trouble. I will tell you the news which was brought by spies. Our enemies come to know about your vow.
Syndhava ran with fear to Duryodhana and said that he would be away from the battle field. Duryodhana and his brothers consoled him and assured protection. They also took an assurance from Drona to protect Syndhava. To honour his word, Drona has planned an impossible vyuha, which might be too complicated for us to enter . It is easy for us to fight each one of those allies individually, but when they are united and stand together around Syndhava, is it possible for us to kill him? Therefore we must design a plan to counter their viyuha. Arjuna: You are correct,Krishna! I know the enemies,and they also know me. As long as you are by my side, I can fulfill my vow. While I am searching for Syndhava whoever comes on my way, I will kill them ruthlessly. Before my divine astras, the astras of Kaurava warriors are worthless. In the presence of Drona, I shall catch and kill Syndhava. By seeing that, both the sides will get astonished. Krishna! Not only Kaurava army but even if devatas and danavas come together, they cant save Syndhava. I will kill him as I promised. This is true. I take oath on my Gandeevam and you, tomorrow by evening I will kill Syndhava. You know it well my Gandeevam is going to fight the battle. I am going to lead that Gandeevam. When Krishna is driving the chariot, even Siva cant obstruct. You yourself took the responsibility of winning the battle for us. Why are you talking like this? Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! What did Krishna and Arjuna did that night? Sanjaya: Arjuna requested Krishna to go to Subhadra, Draupadi, and Uttara and console them. Krishna went to Subhadra and said: Krishna consoles Subhadra: Subhadra! You are a Kshatriya woman. Your son fought well and brought glory to entire Kuru family and became immortal. He killed several kings and soldiers and finally reached heaven. Can you grieve for such a glorious son? You console yourself and console Uttara also. Tomorrow we kill Syndhava and give his head as a gift. He was responsible for the killing of Abhimanyu in a deceitful manner. With the consoling words of Krishna, the grief of Subhadra became double. She remembered her son again and again grieved for him. Subhadra, Draupadi and Uttara embraced each other and wept loudly. Even Krishnas eyes became wet. After consoling them, Krishna went to Dharmaraja. After consulting
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Dharmaraja, he took Arjuna to a remote place and asked him to worship his weapons. Arjuna worshipped his weapons and gave shodasacharas to Krishna. While going to his residence, Krishna asked Arjuna to sleep by the side of his weapons. Krishna tells his charioteer about the vow of Arjuna: Krishna: Daruka! You are aware Arjuna is as good as my life. He has taken a vow in the presence of all kings that he would kill Syndhava before sunset of tomorrow. It is very difficult to kill all the Kaurava army within a short period.First, we have to eliminate the Kaurava army. Then only we can reach Syndhava. Somehow we must see to it that he should fulfill his vow. Otherwise, we cannot imagine the consequences . Because I will live, only if Arjuna is alive. So we must save Arjuna at any cost. If it warrants I myself will kill all of them, by creating illusion. When I enter the battle field as a warrior,no enemy can survive. To enhance the prestige of Pandavas, I will kill not only Syndhava but also Duryodhana, all his brothers and all those allies. Keep my chariot ready, decorate horses well and put my flag (Garudadhwaja). Keep all my weapons Shankha, Chakra, Gada, Sarghyam and other weapons in my chariot. You also have a strong shield on your body. Daruka: Krishna! Everything will happen as you propose. I will obey what you have instructed me. When you drive the chariot of Arjuna, who can oppose him. The question of your fight does not arise. On hearing Darukas words, Krishna had a smile and felt happy. Arjuna, while sleeping by the side of weapons, had a dream. Arjunas a dream: In that dream, Krishna advised Arjuna to turn to east and worship Pasupatastra and meditate on Siva. On hearing Krishnas advice Arjuna sat on the floor and meditated on Siva. In the meanwhile Krishna took Arjuna to Kailasam. There they both praised Sivas virtues and prostrated before him. Siva looked at them with a smile, and asked, Nara-Narayana! How are you? What do you want from me? I will give whatever you want. Krishna and Arjuna praised Siva in a Vedic way and requested him to give Pasupatastra to Arjuna. Siva was pleased with their request and told them to go to Padma Lake and bring his bow and arrows, so that he could teach them how to use and withdraw that astra.
Krishna and Arjuna went to Padma Lake to fetch Sivas bow and arrows. There, to their surprise, they saw two serpents standing in the lake. Krishna said, Arjuna! these serpents must be Sivas bow and arrows. You go and bring them. Arjuna went and brought Sivas bow and arrows and went to Siva. Siva taught the mantra in the ears of Arjuna. At the time, a brahmachari came out from Sivas body and taught how to use and withdraw Pasupatastra. Krishna and Arjuna made Pardakshina to Siva with folded hands, took his permission and went back to the battle field. Thus Arjuna dreamt a positive dream. It gave him confidence.
CHAPTER-3
Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! What happened this morning? Will Drona protect Syndhava? Sanjaya: Yes! I will tell you. Before the war commenced, Dharmaraja approached and said to Krishna: Dharmaraja : Krishna ! We lost our kingdom and suffered many difficulties. You assured us to get back our kingdom and so you became the charioteerof Arjuna. You are aware the vow made by Arjuna. You alone could help him in fulfilling the vow. Krishna assured him his help. In the meanwhile Arjuna entered Sabha. Dharmaraja went and embraced him and said, Yes! I know! We know! You will certainly succeed in fulfilling your vow. Krishnas blessings are also with you. I am pleased to know about your dream of yesterdays night. Lord Sivas blessings are also on your side. All the kings also entered the battle field and occupied the respective fronts.. Arjuna said to Satyaki, We are going to kill Syndhava . Protecting Dharmaraja is also as important as killing Syndhava. Because Drona can catch Dharmaraja if we commit a slightest lapse . So you muist protect Dharmaraja as an eye lid. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! The moment Arjuna took a vow that he would kill Syndhava, I am hearing the cries from Syndhavas house. Drona, Bheeshma and many elders advised my son, Duryodhana, to make a compromise with Pandavas. But he gave a deaf ear. As a result, many of my relatives died. Those
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who remained alive are now weeping for the dead. Arjuna is not an ordinary human. He fought and pleased Lord Siva. His charioteer is none other than Padmanabha.If such Krishna and Arjuna chase these people, what my son and his armies did? Whether it is an act of dharma or adharma, you tell me. Sanjaya: King! Till now I told you several things as such without hiding anything from you. Now also I tell you as it happened. You never heard the good words of Vidura and acted as per the tunes of your son. Now you are putting all the blame on your son. After the event what is the use of your repentance. You became greedy. You wanted to enjoy your brother Pandurajus share also. You did everything with full knowledge and now you put all the blame on your son. You always maintain double standards. Now this is the time for you to reap the fruits for your wicked labour. King! This morning Drona went to the battle field, met Syndhava and said, Bhurisrava, Karna, Selya, Aswadhama, Dussasana and Krupacharya will move in unison. They bring fourteen thousand elephants, sixty thousand chariots, one lakh horses; ten lakhs of soldiers and form a protective ring around you. I am again planning two vyuhas, 1. Padma vyuha 2. Sakata vyuha. In these vyuhas even devatas cant enter and approach you. Syndhava felt happy for the special care taken by Drona. Dronas fourth days battle: Durmarshana, Duryodhanas brother, did not join Dronas vyuha, but took some army with him and attacked Arjuna. Durmarshana released several arrows on Arjuna even before reached the vyuha. Arjuna saw him from a distance and killed him with one arrow. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya ! Did any body remain there to obstruct Arjuna? Sanjaya: King! On seeing Arjuna, Dussasana released several arrows. Arjuna was furious and replied with arrows which covered the land and sky. Several elephants, horses and soldiers were killed. Dussasana was also wounded. He could not fight with Arjuna and ran away from the battle field. While he was running away, Arjuna shouted at him, Dussasana! Where are you running away? How can you escape from the death? Dont you remember what all you babbled in Kurusabha? While saying so, he threw several arrows on his back. Dussasana ran behind Dronacharya for protection. Arjuna took permission from Krishna and saluted Drona with folded hands as a mark of respect to his guru.
Arjuna enteres the vyuha: Arjuna: Most revered Acharya! I respect you like my father Panduraju and Krishna. You loved me as affectionately as Aswadhama was . Hence I would request you to bless my welfare at least in your mind. While saying so he made a round to his chariot as a mark of salutation and was about to go away. Drona shouted at him by saying Arjuna! Where are you running away without facing your enemy? Arjuna said, Guru! You are not my enemy. You are my guru. How can I fight with my guru? I am going away from you.If you want to kill me, you may do so. Drona released several sharp arrows on his chariot and on Krishna. However his arrows did not reach them as they went away and so were in a long distance in search of Syndhava. Krutavarma attacked Arjuna and released sharp arrows on Krishna and Arjuna. Krishna said, Arjuna! If you waste time with these people, you cant fulfill your vow. Finish him quickly. Arjuna released a powerful astra on Krutavarma and he fell down and fainted. While proceeding towards Saindhava, Arjuna was attacked by Srutayudha. Arjuna killed his charioteer and horses. Srutayudha came down with a club to fight with Arjuna. He recited a mantra and threw his club on Arjuna. The club came and hit on Krishna, instead of Arjuna. Since it did not hit the target, it went back and killed Srutayudha. While Arjuna was going towards Syndhava, Sibi and the king of Vasati tried to prevent attacked him. Arjuna killed both of them. Then Srutayuvu and Aayutayuvu intercepted Arjuna, who released Indrastra and killed them. Duryodhana blames Drona: Duryodhana: Acharya! You did not obstruct Arjuna though he came near you. You looked at him benignly. Is it not a partisan attitude towards Pandavas? If you want to be soft towards Pandavas, why you gave an assurance to Syndhava? Had you not given him assurance, he could have left battle field and saved his life. Why are you maintaining double standards? My harsh words might have hurt you. Even now, you can make a sincere effort to save Syndhavas life. Drona: Duryodhana! I dont show any difference between you and Aswadhama. Dont get annoyed at me. Krishna is driving his chariot at the speed of mind. As a result, my arrows fail to reach their chariot. That is why my arrows are not wounding them. The arrows I aimed at Arjuna are killing the soldiers behind him. However I will tell you a way out to control Arjuna.
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If our army chases Arjuna by dismantling my vyuha, Pandavas army also will chase our army. If that is the case, the strength of our army will be reduced. As a result, it will be difficult for us to save Syndhava. If I am here I can attack Dharmaraja and handover to you. Hence I will stay back here and you go with the strong warriors and fight with Arjuna. Duryodhana! I will give you a shield with a mantra. This mantra was initiated by Brahma to Indra to protect devatas. Indra gave this mantra to Angirasa, who in turn gave it to Bruhaspati, who gave it to Agnivysa. I got it from Agnivysa. If you wear this shield and with the power of mantra, no weapon can touch you. So you can easily obstruct Arjuna and stop him from proceeding towards Syndhava. However the astras released by Arjuna will not touch you . By the power of the shield it will astonish not only our armies but also Krishna. Duryodhana took that mantra from Drona and wore the shield and made arrangements to attack Arjuna and prevent him from approaching Syndhva. Sanjaya tells Drutharashtra: Drona and Drushtajyumna fought ferociously. Several soldiers and animals were killed. Blood flowed like a stream. At one point of time, Drushtajyumna took a sword in his hand and jumped onto the chariot of Drona. They fought from the same chariot. Satyaki came like a flash and picked up Drushtajyumna on his chariot and went away. Then Dronacharya jumped like a flying snake on Satyaki. There Drona and Satyaki fought like flashes. Each other broke their flag posts, chariots and killed the horses of the other. Drona could not resist appreciating the valour of Satyaki. Satyaki also said to himself that Drona exceeded his strength of Parasurama and Bheeshma. Drona released an Agnaya astra. In reply to it, Satyaki released a Varuna astra. They fought in the sky for a long time and fell down. Vinda and Anuvinda attacked Arjuna. Arjuna killed them with one arrow. Arjuna creates a water lake with divine astras: After long fight, Arjuna and Krishna were tired. Krishna removed the arrows on the horses and comforted them by rubbing them with his hands. Then Krishna said, Arjuna I comforted the horses. However it is better if I provide them water. Arjuna smiled at him and released a divine astra into the ground and in a few minutes, it had dug a big lake with sweet water. Krishna took the horses to the lake . They also quenched thirst and swam for sometime and relaxed. By looking at it all the soldiers were astonished. After this rejuvenation, Arjuna returned to the battle field and chased all the four wings of Kaurava army. At the time Arjuna saw Syndhava guarded and
shielded by Krupa, Selya, Aswadhama, Bahlika and Karna and with their army. Then Krishna said to Arjuna, Let us see how these kings can save Syndhava? Let us also see how he can escape from us and survive? Duryodhana attacks Arjuna with a divine shield: Duryodhana wore the shield given by Drona and went to the front where Syndhava was hiding. Looking at him Krishna said Arjuna! We are playing a game of gambling and its stake is Syndhava . In this gambling you and Duryodhana are betting. By winning this game you can take revenge on with Duryodhana. It is your good fortune that Duryodhana came in front of you. Immediately you kill him. Once you kill him, the killing of Syndhava will become a childs play to you. In either case, your vow will become true. On hearing Krishnas words, Arjuna asked him to put the chariot before Duryodhana. In the meanwhile Duryodhana himself invited Arjuna for a fight. Krishna and Arjuna were very happy to have that golden opportunity to kill the bitter enemy. Duryodhana: Arjuna! You are proud of your divine astras. By saying so, you have defeated many soldiers but you cannot deceive me. I will not allow you to move even an inch from that place. By looking at my spirit and bravery, Krishna should be astonished. You have come to this battle with a large hope of getting your fathers share. Now your life is in my hands. If you are really the son of Panduraju, stay and fight with me. Dont run away. By saying so, Duryodhana released three arrows on Arjuna, four on Krishna and wounded them. Arjuna put fourteen arrows on the chest of Duryodhana. All of them fell on ground. Again and again he repeated in the same way but all the arrows became wasted as they failed even to touch Duryodhana. Krishna: Arjuna! You are known as a killer of enemies. But I never expected that this type of situation will arise. My body is burning. Arjuna: Krishna! It seems that Duryodhana has come with a shield backed by a mantra. That is why he is facing me boldly. Whoever wears this, shield they will be protected from the enemys weapons? The mantra of this Kavacha, Drona alone knows. He also taught me this mantra. It appears now he has taught the same mantra to Duryodhana. Now I will release an Indrastra and with that his shield will be blown out.
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When Arjuna released the Indrastra and before it reached Duryodhana, Aswadhama has broken it in the middle. As such that astra was not only wasted but also could not be used again. Hence Arjuna said, Krishna now I cannot use this astra again, hence I will continue the battle with other divine astras. By saying so, Arjuna killed Duryodhanas charioteer and horses. He also put arrows on the palms of Duryodhana with powerful astra. Thereby he could neither use bow and arrow nor any other weapon, because his palms were paining. As Duryodhana was disgusted, he threw away his shield thinking it as waste. Besides, Arjuna fought with many warriors of Kauravas and wounded them. Krishna blew his conch Panchajanya loudly. Kauravas, protecting Syndhava, also made simhanadhams. Eight more radhika warriors attacked Arjuna. They were Dussasana, Selya, Bhurisrava, Syndhava, Krupa, Karna and Aswadhama. When Arjuna blew his conch Devadattam, the distress of Duryodhana was doubled. While Arjuna was nearing Syndhava, Krupa, Karna and others intercepted and attacked Arjuna. A ferocious fight went on between Arjuna and Kauravas associates. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! The way Arjuna fights is very impressive. Then how is Drona fighting with Dharmaraja and his army? Dharmaraja was defeated by Drona: Sanjaya: King! In this front of Drona also the battle went on ferociously. Drona fought with Dharmaraja and Alambasa, a demon fought with Bheema, Satyaki with Vyaghradatta, Drushtaketu with Veeradhanva, Nakula with Karna, Sahadeva with Durmuka. Dharmaraja released ninety arrows on Drona. who cut them in the middle and in return sent out twenty five arrows on Dharmaraja, on his charioteer and horses. After that he broke the bow of Dharmaraja. By looking at Dronas fury, all Pandavas army was frightened. Dharmaraja threw a Sakthi weapon on Drona , who broke it into pieces with a Brahmastra . Dharmaraja also released another Brahmastra. Drona destroyed the same with another astra. Dharmaraja stood on ground without a chariot, a bow and any other weapons. He saluted to Drona, who did not want to wound him further and left him alone. At the time Sahadeva came and picked up his brother in his chariot. Bheema fought with Alambasa and fainted. After sometime, he recovered and filed sharp arrows on the demon. Alambasa said, Bheema you killed my elder brother Bakasura. Since then, I was waiting for you. Now I will kill and clear the debt to my brother . While they were fighting, Ghatotkacha came in support of Bheema. Drona fought with Satyaki.
Alambasa threw a Chakrayudha on Ghatotkacha, who broke it into pieces with a club. Alambasa engaged several weapons on Ghatotkacha. They fought like two wild elephants. Ghatotkacha killed the charioteer and horses of Alambasa, who jumped into the sky and did a mystic battle. Ghatotkacha responded with a mystic battle with him. At the time Alambasa fell on ground, took a sword and attacked Ghatotkacha. They battled for a long time. Finally Ghatotkacha killed Alambas and made a big simhanadham and went to Dharmaraja. Dharmaraja embraced him with joy. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! Drona released hundred arrows on Satyaki. Kaurava enemies made simhanadham with joy. In retaliation,Dharmaraja sent Bheema and Drushtajyumna in support of Satyaki. A big fight went on among the four. Many soldiers were dead, and a chariot was broken. While the fight was ferociously going on, they heard the blowing of conch Panchajanya and twangings of Gandeevam. Dharmaraja asked Satyaki and others to go in support of Arjuna. Dharmaraja: Satyaki! Arjuna alone is fighting with Syndhava. There is a lot of dust rising from that side. We also heard that conch sounds of Panchajanya and not the sounds of conch Devadattam. I am afraid that Arjuna might have been caught in the hands of those sinners. You are not only a good friend of Arjuna but also his disciple. So it is your duty to go at this hour of need. Krishna is protecting us. In the same manner you also help Arjuna. Aswadhama, Selya, Karna, Krupa and Bhurisrava are jointly attacking Arjuna to protect Syndhava. I suspect they all must have surrounded Arjuna and he is expecting help from me. While we were living in Dwaitavana, he used to tell me, If I have the support of Satyaki, I can defeat the Kaurava army. He had so much faith in you. For him, you and Krishna are the most lovable persons . If you both are by his side, he can make impossible tasks possible. Hurry up! Start immediately . Satyaki: Dharmaraja! You are right! Should you tell me in so many words to help Arjuna? Is it not my duty? I will also tell you what Arjuna said to me, Satyaki! When I am see good omens, we will win the battle without any doubt. I will kill Syndhava and fulfill my vow. For me to kill Syndhava and protecting Dharmaraja are equally important. Since I am going to kill Syndhava, you take up the responsibility of protecting Dharmaraja. If you are with him, I consider as if I am by the side of Dharmaraja. Krishna is by my side to protect me. In the same way you stand by the side of Dharmaraja. You know the vow of our guru Drona. He does not sleep without fulfilling his vow. So I am afraid of the safety
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of Dharmaraja. If you cant protect Dharmaraja, killing of Syndhava becomes meaningless. Dharmaraja: Satyaki! While Arjuna was critically fighting with the enemies and seeking your help, you assume that something may happen to me. It will make no sense. Bheema will stand by my side to protect me. If Arjuna is safe, it is good for all of us. Apart from Bheema, Drupada, Virata, Kekaya, Upa - Pandavas , Gatotakacha and many others are with me to protect . Drushtajyumna alone is sufficient to fight Drona because he is born only to kill Drona. On hearing Dharmarajas words, Satyaki saluted Dharmaraja and boarded his chariot. Before going, he said to Bheema, Bheema! I am going in support of Arjuna. You protect Dharmaraja. Myself and Arjuna will come back after killing Syndhava.
CHAPTER-4
Satyaki fights with Krutavarma: Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Though Satyaki went in support of Arjuna, did our warriors allow him to enter our vyuha? Sanjaya: King! On his way, our army and several kings obstructed him and Satyaki. He killed seven kings on our side and while he was proceeding, Drona released several arrows on him and obstructed. Drona released six arrows on Satyaki, six arrows on his charioteer and horses. Satyaki retorted and cast eighteen arrows on Drona. He threw four more arrows on horses. He killed his charioteer with one arrow and made a simhanadham. Drona was furious and built a wall with arrows in front of Satyaki and obstructed him. Drona: Satyaki! Even your guru, Arjuna, was afraid of my valour and ran away. Do you think I will allow you to go, unless you defeat me? Satyaki: Acharya! I am going as per the instructions of Dharmaraja to support Arjuna. Already I am late. Why are you harassing me with your words? Be kind to me. When I am going on a virtuous cause, should elders like you, create obstacles? While talking to Drona, he said to his charioteer, This Drona is not allowing us to go. If he fights with me, we may be delayed. So you divert our chariot into the army of Kauravas so as to reach Arjuna faster. While Satyaki was going towards Arjuna , Krutavarma obstructed him. As Krutavarma
obstructed Sathyaki, Drona stopped chasing Satyaki. There was a fierce battle between Satyaki and Krutavarma. Satyaki broke the bow of Krutavarma, planted arrows on his chest and wounded his shoulder with a Sakthi weapon and made him faint and proceeded towards Arjuna. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Drona, Krutavarma and many other Kaurava warriors are very powerful and virile. How Arjuna beat them and proceeded? Do we think that Arjuna is the most valorous warrior among both the armies? Looking at all these happenings, I am sure that Duryodhana is deeply distressed. Added to that now Satyaki is also going to join him. Sanjaya: Remember all this human loss is because of our policy! Why are you feeling sorry now? After burning our hands we are searching for leaves. Now you stop all your worries, I will tell you what is happening in thee battle field. Drona , Krutavarma and others fought with Pandava warriors. Krutavarma was surrounded by Bheema with three arrows, Drushtajyumna with three arrows, Dharmaraja and Drupada with five arrows, Ghatotkacha with seven arrows. In return Krutavarma retorted with five arrows on each one of the warriors of Pandavas. He hit with ten sharp arrow on Bheema and made him fainted. At the time all the Pandavas army surrounded Krutavarma. In the mean while Bheema recovered from fainting and fought with Krutavarma. With severe wounds on his body he is ran away. While Satyaki was advancing towards Arjuna, the army of Trigarta attacked him. Satyaki kills Jalasandha: Jalasandha, king of Magadha, sitting on a huge elephant, sent eighty arrows on Satyaki and obstructed him. Satyaki broke his bow. Before he took up another bow, Sathyaki cast eighty arrows on his chest and killed Jalasandha and made a simhandham. Durmarshana, Dushaha, Vikarna, Durmuka, Dussasana and Chitrasena, the sons of Dhrutarashtra, attacked Satyaki. Duryodhana also joined them. Satyaki broke the bow of Duryodhana. He dispatched several arrows on all the brothers. Krutavarma and Drona tried to support them. Sathyaki killed the horses of Krutavarma and wounded his charioteer. He threw several sharp arrows on the chest of Krutavarma and made him fell down. Satyaki thought that Krutavarma was dead and proceeded. But after somr time, Krutavarma recovered from fainting and attacked Bheema and others. In the meanwhile Dronacharya came and obstructed Satyaki. Satyaki hit Dronacharya with sharp arrows and made a simhanadham. Furious Drona threw the Sakthi
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weapon on him. By the grace of god, that weapon did not touch Satyaki,who killed the charioteer of Drona. The horses took Drona away from the battle field. From there, Satyaki proceeded to the place where Arjuna was fighting. Satyaki kills king Sudarshana: While Satyaki was proceeding towards Arjuna,king Sarati obstructed him. Satyaki fought with him for a long time; he killed his charioteer and horses. Then he cut the head of the king Sudarshana . As he was proceeding towards Arjuna, Duryodhana attacked Satyaki with a big army. Satyaki cut the head of his charioteer with the sharp arrow. The sons of Dirutharashtra and Sakuni could not fight with Satyaki and ran away. It was so, because of the wicked acts of their father and eldest son. Dussasana could not digest the insult from Satyaki and went with a big army. Satyaki broke several chariots, killed several elephants and horses. Dussasana fought with Satyaki and ran away: Dussasana provoked the army of tribal people over Satyaki . They wounded Satyaki with stones and crude weapons. Satyaki rained arrows and made them run away. Dussasana got frightened ran behind Drona for protection. Looking at Dussasana, Drona said: Drona: Why are you alarmed? Is Duryodhana safe? Did Arjuna kill Syndhava? With whom did you fight ? I know you would create many difficulties to Pandavas and made them suffer. Now you are insulted at the hands of Satyaki. Had you been caught in the hands of either Bheema or Arjuna, they might have killed you by now. You have insulted Draupadi, the chaste wife of Pandavas. Will that sin, go unpunished? Will the fury of Pandavas, go waste? All your sins alone had brought you this humiliation. In spite of all your sins, you still retain your life? If we return Pandavass share, you and your brothers can remain alive. You tell your brothers that they had not listened to the good advice of Bheeshma and thus came into this state. Where you can run away and how you can save your life? Drona abused Dussasana in this manner and went to fight with Satyaki. Drona fought with king Veeraketu and his brothers and killed them. Drushtajyumna became furious and killed several Kaurava army and cast sharp arrows on the chest of Drona . B Drona fainted and fell on the chariot. Drushtajyumna jumped on to the chariot of Drona and tried to cut the head of Drona with a sword. By that time Drona recovered from his fainting and killed
the charioteer of Drushtajyumna. The horses of Drushtajyumnas chariot took him to a far away place. After Drushtajyumna was severely wounded, the Pandava army did not dare to go anywhere near Drona. Dussasana defeated in the hands of Satyaki: Drona provoked Dussasana to fight on Satyaki. Duryodhana sent the armies of Trigartas in support of Dussasana. Satyaki killed five hundred radhikas of Trigarta army. Rest of the four wings of that army was killed and drowned in a pool of blood. With that the remaining Trigarta army went behind Drona for protection. Dharmaraja sent Bheema in support of Arjuna: Dharmaraja: oh Bheema! I am not hearing the conch sounds of Arjuna. But I am hearing only the conch sounds of Krishna. Therefore I suspect that Arjuna must be in trouble. Since Arjuna was fighting alone I sent Satyaki. But I do not know whether he reached Arjuna or not. Therefore it would be better if you go in support of both Arjuna and Satyaki and make simhanadhams as a mark of your safety and made me happy. Bheema: oh Dharmaraja! You know about the power of Arjuna. His chariot and his bow are gifted by Agni. You also know the vigour and valour of our brother. Knowing everything, is it fair on your part to grieve like this? I will go to Arjuna at once and make you happy. He called Drushtajyumna and said: Drushtajyumna! You know the vow of Drona. So you protect Dharmaraja like an eyelid till we come back. Sanjaya comments: Dhrutarashtra! While Bheema was going towards Arjuna, your sons Dushara, Chitrasena, Kundabhedi, Vivimsati and Durmuki opposed Bheema, and Bheema mercilessly killed all the cousins. While Bheema was proceeding to Arjuna, Drona obstructed him and said, Bheema ! You cant proceed without killing me.Arjuna prayed for my permission and I gave it. You must get my permissin Bheema: Acharya! Arjuna never seeks permission from anybody. He can go wherever he wants, may it be a human army or a divine army. You cannot score a win over me with your sweet words. I am Bheema. I kill my enemies with my strength and power. I worship you as my father, guru and relative
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with respect, but if you want to be loyal to my enemies, I will show my strength and defeat you. While talking with Drona, he spun his club in the air and threw it on the chariot and made his chariot into pieces. The horses and a charioteer fell dead. Drona took another chariot and shot sharp arrows on Bheema. Bheema defeats Drona and went to Arjuna: By the time Drona took another chariot, Bheema made a big simhanadham and proceeded. Looking at Dronas plight, Bhoja, Kambhoja, Yavana and other kings ran away. Since there was nobody to obstruct Bheema, he went straight away to the place where Arjuna was fighting. On seeing Arjuna, Bheema made a simhanadham out of joy. On hearing it, Krishna and Arjuna also made simhanadhams . Those sounds filled the earth and sky. On hearing the continuous simhanadhams, Dharmaraja felt happy. He again and again prayed that Arjuna should fulfill his vow and come back to him as earlier as possible. He also astonished how Duryodhana managed to survive, although he was losing so many friends and relatives . Karna opposed Bheema and cast twenty arrows. Bheema retorted with twenty three arrows. He broke the flag post of Karna with one arrow. With another arrow, he broke the bow of Karna, who took another bow and shot powerful arrows on Bheema and wounded him. Bheema killed the charioteer and horses of Karna. Karna stood without a chariot. Dussasana came and took Karna into his chariot and went away. Duryodhana was distressed and went to Drona and grumbled as usual: Duryodhana blames Drona: Duryodhana: Acharya! People think that the defeat of Drona is as impossible as of evaporating water in an ocean. Though you are guarding at the entrance of our vyuha, all our enemies have reached the place, where Syndhava is protected. Bheema, Satyaki came and joined Krishna and Arjuna to support them. At this critical juncture, how can you allow Bheema and Satyaki? You tell me ultimately where you are driving us. I feel it is our misfortune to have such a great warrior really not fighting on our behalf. Drona: Duryodhana! I shall fight to the best of my capacity to remove the wounds of humiliation you and your brothers suffered. We all joined together to save Syndhava at any cost. Now the battle between you and Arjuna is like a game of dice. Earlier you won that game of dice with the help of Sakuni.
Now you cant count on such a victory. In todays game of dice, you put all your energy to win this game. To achieve this victory, you should take the help of Karna and other warriors to protect Syndhava. You all attack Bheema, Arjuna and Satyaki. Kill them mercilessly. I continue to stand at the entrance and restrict entry of Pandavas army. Then only my vyuha will yield fruits. If I come with you, the gates will be opened and Pandavas army will enter like an ocean. Yudhamanyu , Uttamoujzu tried to enter and reach Arjuna . But Krutavarma obstructed them. The blowing of Devadattam a nd twangings of Gandeevam were loud. On hearing Pandava army tried to reach Arjuna. But Duryodhana obstructed them all. He killed Uttamoujzus horses and charioteer. At the time Uttamoujzu entered the chariot of Yudhamayu and fought Duryodhana. They killed the charioteer of Duryodhana and broke the chariot. Selya came and took Duryodhana on his chariot. Yudhamayu and Uttamoujzu beat Duryodhana, Selya and went to the place of Arjuna on their chariot. All Kauravas had high hopes on Karna and dreamt that he would bring them the victory. But Karna lost his chariot and ran away. . He managed to recover soon and called back Bheema for a fight. Bheema went back to fight with Karna. They both fought ferociously for a long time. Bheema killed the charioteer and the horses of Karna. The humiliated Karna boarded somebodys chariot and went away. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Karna used to claim that he was the right hand of Duryodhana. Was it fair on his part to desert him at this critical hour? What is my foolish son saying? Sanjaya: Karna became furious and attacked Bheema. There was a ferocious fight went on between them. All the four wings of army supported Karna. Bheema alone fought them all and killed many by his hand. Looking at the fury of Bheema, your army fled from the field. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Karna knows only blabbering. He doesnt have the strength or energy to fight Pandavas. My son had a mad belief on Karna and fought that he would bring him the victory. He tried to do harm to Krishna. He refused to hear the advice of elders like Bheeshma. He refused to have a compromise with Pandavas. God always favours the virtuous people. Since he depends on Karna, he and his brothers are bound to die. What else I can say? Sanjaya: Karna saw that all his army was destroyed by Bheemas valour. He became furious and attacked Bheema with thirty arrows. Again Bheema
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killed the charioteer of Karna. At that time Karna drove his own chariot and threw a Sakthi weapon on Bheema who managed to cut it to pieces and shot nine powerful arrows on Karna. Karna took another tall and sturdy bow and attacked with several sharp arrows. Both Karna and Bheema made simhanadhams. Both were wounded severely. Blood started flowing from the bodies of both Karna and Bheema. On hearing the simhanadhams of Karna, Duryodhana sent Durjaya in support of Karna. Durjaya and Bheema fought ferociously and after some time Bheema cut the head of Durjaya and killed his horses and charioteer. Karna recovered and attacked Bheema. Karna released a powerful arrow in the chest of Bheema. Bheema withstood the pain and spun his club in the air and threw it on Karna. That club killed the horses, charioteer and also broke the flag post. At the time Duryodhana again sent his brother Durmuka in support of Karna. Bheema killed Durmuka with nine sharp arrows. Looking at the brutal death of Durmuka, Karna ran away on his chariot with fear. Though Karna is running away Bheema chased him and shot fourteen arrows on him. Karna also retorted with another fourteen arrows on Bheema. Bheema withstood the pain and shot a cruel arrow in the chest of Karna. With that pain Karna was fainted. His charioteer took him away. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! It is evident from this battle of Karna and Bheema that the divine power is superior to the human power. The Pandavas fought and won Deva, Gandharva, Rakshasa and Nagas . Can Karna stand before such a valorous Bheema? Bheema killed a great warrior like Jarasandha. My son Duryodhana, like a fool, sent Durmuka and Durjaya to support Karna. Sanjaya: oh king! You stop talking all meaningless talks. You yourself deliberately invited enemity with Pandavas. Since youre having adverse results, you are blaming others. Having consumed poison and when it is troubling your system, you are blaming others. When Karna was beaten by Bheema , all your five sons Durmarsana, Durmada, Dushaha, Vijaya, Vichitra fought with Bheema who killed all of their charioteers, horses and also your sons. Looking at the death of your sons, Karna thought in himself, If I do not fight with Bheema there will be no purpose for my life. Whether I may live or die. I must face Bheema. Thinking in this manner, he took a big bow and hit Bheema with fifteen powerful arrows. Duryodhana sent his seven of his brothers (Chitra, Vichitra, Chitraskha, Chitradhvaja, Chitravyudha, Chitrakarma and Charuchitra) to fight with Bheema. Bheema attacked them with the severe blows his club and killed them all. Karna continued his fight with Bheema
Bheema kills Dhrutarashtras sons: On hearing the death of his seven brothers, Duryodhana sent Satrunjaya and others to support Karna . Bheema became furious on Duryodhanas brothers and hit them with seven sharp arrows, killed them and made a simhanadham. Since all his brothers were getting killed by Bheema, Duryodhana remembered the vow of Bheema made in Kurusabha. He also remembered the advice given by Vidura. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Duryodhana is not only a wicked person but also a fool. Otherwise will he repent for what all has happened long back? You tell me whatever is happening in the battle field. My mind is in a fit condition to accept any sorrowful news. Sanjaya: King! Bheemas simhanadhams irritated Karna and attacked with another big bow and released sharp arrows . Bheema also retorted with sharp arrows and hit on his ear rings and broke the shield. Karna took another ten arrows and hit Bheemas forehead.. While fighting with Karna and his army Bheema was tired. Karna wanted to kill Bheema. But he remembered a promise made to Kunti and left him on her. He kept his bow on the stomach of Bheema and spoke in a sarcastic manner. Karna humiliates Bheema: Karna: Bheema! You are good for nothing except for eating. Go home, eat stomach full and take rest. Why doyou fight?If you go and to live in forest, you will have plenty of roots and fruits. Go and eat those roots and fruits and live like a muni in a forest. Why you need a kingdom? You do not know your strength and your enemys strength. You never choose to fight with your equals. You go to Arjuna and Krishna and live under their protection. Bheema was very much humiliated with the wounding words of Karna. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! It is not good to fight with valorous people I not only lost battle but also I was put to disgrace. It is certain that we would lose this battle and live at the mercy of the enemy. I have to depend on the food thrown on my face with mercy. It will not enhance my glory either in this world or in the other worlds. Since Arjuna overcame Drona and reached the place, where Syndhava was hiding. It amounts that Syndhava is as good as dead. Added to that, Bheema and Satyaki also joined in support of him. Therefore it is certain that Syndhava is dead. Now you tell me other details of the war.
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Sanjaya : oh king! While Satyaki was proceeding to meet Arjuna , Alambasa obstructed him. He killed Alambasa and Dussasana and other sons attacked Satyaki. In that battle, Satyaki killed the horses and charioteer of Dussasana. While Dussasana was running away, the Kalinga army attacked Satyaki. Looking at Satyaki, Krishna said Arjuna look at your disciple! With his valour, he defeated Drona and was coming to you, out of affection. Arjuna said, Krishna! I am really not feeling happy while looking at Satyaki, because I told him not to leave Dharmaraja. Now I am really afraid of Dharmarajas safety. The sun is setting fast. Yet I could not kill Syndhava. At the same time Satyaki also came here leaving Dharmaraja at the mercy of Drona. This situation is causing me anxiety. While Arjuna was talking to Krishna, Bhurisrava, attacked Satyaki. Satyaki kills Bhurisrava: Bhurisrava: Satyaki! Dharmaraja has no faith in Arjunas valour, so he sent you in support of him. On your way to Arjuna by gods grace, I was able to see you. Now I will kill you and disappoint Dharmaraja. I will also fill the heart of Krishna with distress. Satyaki: Bhurisrava! You are afraid of facing me and hiding here. Over and above, you are babbling uselessly. For uttering such a filthy language I will cut you tongue and make you speechless. They were fighting like wild elephants. At one point Satyaki was tired and Bhurisrava gained an upper hand. Seeing this, Krishna said, Arjuna! Satyaki has come to help you from a long distance. On his way, he fought with many and killed them and so he is tired. You go immediately in support of Satyaki and help him. Arjuna: Krishna! They are fighting face to face. It is not fair to go in between them. However I cant see the death of my friend- cum- disciple in front of my eyes. Bhurisrava threw Satyaki on the ground, stood on his chest, raised his hand with a sword to cut the throat of Satyaki. In a twinkle of an eye, the hand of Bhurisrava fell on ground. When he looked back his hand was cut with an arrow of Arjuna. He looked at Arjuna and said: Bhurisrava: Arjuna! I was not fighting with you . I was fighting another person. Violating the dharma of a Kshatriya, you severed my hand. Will this act of yours enhance the prestige of your guru Drona? Will Indra will be happy on
your act of adharma? Will Siva, who gave you Pasupatastra, appreciate this adharma? Did Krishna provoke you to do this unrighteous act? Why you resorted to this adharma? Arjuna: Bhurisrava! To save a friend or relative is not an adharma. When I am saving my friend, who prevented your king to come and protect you? Where is he? You are to blame your king for not coming forward to save you. You curse yourself for serving such a king. Satyaki came from a long distance, fought with many, and tired. Can you kill such a person who cant defend himself ? I only cut your hand, and not your head. All of you surrounded Abhimanyu and mercilessly killed him in a blemish way. Oh virtuous Bhurisrava! I was forced to trouble you in this manner. You look at my vow and be considerate to me. You will appreciate that Duryodhana is responsible for all this human loss and he will go to hell, but you are certain to reach heaven. On hearing Arjunas words, Bhurisrava became speechless and kept quiet and resorted to Prayopavesam and entered Samadhi. Satyaki sprang up and cut the throat of Bhurisrava, in spite of warning by Krishna and Arjuna. Sanjaya narrates the reason for the humiliation of Satyaki: Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Satyaki is so valorous of defeating even Drona, Krutavarma and others. How it happened that he was insulted by this old king Bhurisrava? Sanjaya: Long ago, king Devaka announced swayamvaram for his daughter Devakidevi. In that swayamvara Sibi, the great warrior of yadhava, won Devadevi and took her with him. All the other kings went back, but Somadatta did not accept the valour of Sibi. He had a furious fight with Sibi. In that battle , Sibi left Somadatta with out killing him. Somadatta could not digest the insult and made a tapasya by medidating on Siva. Siva pleased with this tapasya and asked him, What do you want? Somadatta asked to bless a son to insult the yadhava warrior. At that time, Sibi was dead and his grand son Satyaki was in his place. So he wanted to bless him a son to defeat Satyaki. Thus Somadattas son Bhurisrava was able to humiliate Sibis grand son Satyaki. After the death of Bhurisrava, Arjuna asked Krishna to put his chariot before Syndhava. While Krishna was driving the chariot towards Syndhava, Aswadhama and others obstructed him. At that time, Karna began a fight with Satyaki. I will tell you those details, you listen. King! All Pervading Krishna knows the insult that Satyaki had to face on account of Bhurisrava. On the previous night Krishna ordered his charioteer,
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Daruka, to bring his chariot and keep all his weapons, to the battle field as soon as he blows his conch Panchajanyam with a peculiar signal. On hearing the conch blowing, Daruka brought the chariot and kept before Krishna. At this unexpected development, Arjuna was surprised. Before he opened his mouth Krishna asked Satyaki to have his chariot and go for the fight. At that time Karna attacked Satyaki with arrogance. Arjuna said Krishna! Karna could not digest the death of Bhurisrava. He wanted to take a revenge on Satyaki. He wanted to harm Satyaki. Krishna said Arjuna! You dont have to worry about Satyaki. He alone can fight Karna. We shall go to the place where Syndhava is hiding. Satyaki defeats Karna: Sanjaya: In that battle Karna was severely wounded and his body was bleeding. Satyaki killed the horses of Karna and broke his flag post. Looking at the plight of Karna the Kaurava army surrounded Satyaki. Duryodhana also provoked many kings to fight with Satyaki. Satyaki broke the chariots and flag post of all those kings. Unable to withstand the fury of Satyaki, all those kings ran away. The chariot occupied by Satyaki belongs to Krishna. The horses are also divine. Hence the strength of Satyaki had become divine at that time. All the Kaurava army and the kings thought that Daruka the charioteer of Krishna is going to the battle field to discuss with him. That is why nobody suspected Daruka or the chariot of Krishna. But nobody knew what Krishna had planned on the previous day itself. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! What did Bheema said after going to Arjuna? Sanjaya: Bheema was defeated by Karna and was humiliated with the harsh words and said to Arjuna that he would kill Karna. Arjuna said, Brother! I too heard the words of Karna. I presume all those harsh words were meant for me. Hence dont get distressed. I myself will give him a fitting reply. Arjuna drove his chariot to Karna and said, Karna! You babbled harsh words in a sarcastic manner . Bheema too chased you on several occasions and you ran away from his hands. Did he ever speak such words? In a battle, who ever faces certain adverse conditions, they either withdraw or take some rest. Is it befitting to your level to speak such humiliating words to Bheema? Mischievous Karna ! You have neither a family background nor a character! In my absence, you, Drona and many others surrounded Abhimanyu
and killed brutally. To take revenge, I am going to kill Syndhava in front of you. Besides Syndhava, I will kill all those who surrounded and killed Abhimanyu. While Arjuna was talking all our armies surrounded Arjuna. So the battle field became ferocious. The sun was slowly setting down. Duryodhana said to Karna: Duryodhana: Karna! Satyaki, Bheema and Arjuna are chasing Syndhava. In a short while, sun is going to set. If yourself, Krupa, Selya, Aswadhama and myself are to stand like a protective wall before Syndhava, we can easily make Arjunas vow unfulfilled. Once we broke his vow he will immolate. Once Arjuna dies, we can easily kill all his brothers. Hence we all should, tactfully execute this strategy. Karna: King Duryodhana! With the arrows of Bheema my body is wounded severely. However since I have grown this body with the salt of yours. Cant I do this much for you at this critical hour? I do whatever is good to you. It is my duty and responsibility. Let god be with us. Duryodhana was very happy with the words of Karna. At the same time, Bheema and Satyaki came within reach to Arjuna, like Vayu associates with Agni. They started killing all the opposing forces. They broke the chariots. Looking at their fury, Duryodhana, Dussasana, Karna, Selya, Krupa and other kings kept Syndhava behind them and stood valiantly in front of Arjuna. They rained arrows on Krishna, Arjuna, Bheema and Satyaki. Karna and Arjuna fought with each other: Sanjaya : Dhrutarashtra ! While Arjuna was proceeding towards Syndhava, like a wild elephant enters a lake, Karna obstructed him and released sixty arrows on sensitive organs of Arjuna, Bheema and Satyaki. Arjuna retorted with hundred powerful arrows and broke Karnas bow, and released nine more arrows on his chest. Karna could not bare the pain and fainted. Arjuna released nine powerful arrows on Aswadhama. Karna recovered quickly , took another bow and threw powerful arrows on Arjuna. Arjuna killed the horses and charioteer of Karna. Aswadhama and Selya came in support of Karna and fought with Arjuna. Duryodhana also motivated his army and sent huge herds of elephants and horses to attack Arjuna. Dhrutarashtra! All your allies fought even at the cost of their lives to save Syndhava . As the time was running short, Arjuna bit his lips with frustration and looked at the Sun god.
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Krishna: Arjuna! The time is running out. I will create an illusion with my Chakrayudha, which will cover the Sun god and darkness will spread all over. Syndhava and Kaurava kings will believe that the sun is set, because of darkness. With that Syndhava and others will definitely come out with joy to see and celebrate your immolation. That is the time to kill Syndhava. After you kill Syndhava, I shall withdraw my Chakrayuha and Sun will shine as usual, and all darkness will be cleared. As planned by Krishna, the sky became darker and created an illusion that Sun was set and that Arjuna would immolate himself. Arrangements were made to create raging fire in which Arjuna was to jump and die. Kauravas believed that the sun was set and Arjuna had no choice except to burn to death and they wanted to see the tragic scene. All the allies assembled before the place of fire. Syndhava also came there. He was happy that he was well-guarded by his colleagues.He wanted to witness the immolation. As soon as they assembled, Krishna removed the chakra from covering the sun and everybody realized that the sun was not really set that day. In stead of jumping in the fire, Arjuna saw Syndhava and his cronies. Now he was able to see Syndhava, who was just waiting and looking for the crucial moment of immolation. Arjuna decided to avenge the murder and so took his bow. Arjuna removes the head of Syndhava: Arjuna picked up an auspicious arrow and released it on Syndhava. The arrow removed the head of Syndhava. Krishna shouted, Arjuna! His head should not fall on the ground. You should float it in the air till I say. I will tell you the reason for it. Send your arrows in swift relays, so that the head would be supported from falling to the earth and drop into Vriddhakshatra lap . As instructed by Krishna, Arjuna made the head to float in the air with the skill of his arrows. Arjuna asked, Krishna! How long I am to hold this head in the air like this? You tell me where I have to put his head? Krishna said, Arjuna! Syndhavas father made a great tapasya and begot Syndhava. When he was born, a voice from the sky said His head will be removed when he was in a state of confusion in the battle field. On hearing the voice, his father Vrudhaakshatra cursed, Whoever made his head to fa,ll on ground his head will be broken into hundred pieces. So you send this head on the laps of Vrudhaakshatra with the help of Pasupatastra. Only Pasupatastra can take this head and place it on the laps of Vrudharakshtra. On hearing Krishnas advice, Arjuna recited the mantra and released Pasupatastra and put the head of Syndhava on the lap of Vrudhaakshatra. Vriddhakshatra was in his
ashrama sitting in the open. He was absorbed in his evening meditation with eyes closed, when his sons head with beautiful black hair and golden earrings gently dropped into his lap. The old king finished his meditation and got up, without realizing the head of his son was on his lap. So the head rolled down and fell on the ground. And, as ordained, Vriddhakshatras head burst into a hundred fragments. Till Arjuna removed the head of Syndhava and despatched it to Vrudhaakshatras lap, the body of Syndhava was standing erect on his chariot. In this manner, Arjuna fulfilled his vow. All Pandavas felt happy and Kauravas simply drowned in grief. Bheema , Arjuna , Krishna , Satyaki made big simhanadhams as a mark of victory. On hearing the simhanadhams, Dharmaraja felt happy.
CHAPTER-5
Krishna and Arjuna go to Dharmaraja: Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! After killing Syndhava, what my sons did? Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! After killing Syndhava, Krishna and Arjuna started going back to see Dharmaraja. Looking at Arjuna, Krishna said Arjuna! Even if all the devatas come together, they couldnt have scored victory over this Kaurava army. You alone did it. The killing of Syndhava and his father Vrudhaakshatra also made your glory doubled. Except with the help of Pasupatastra you couldnt dispose Syndhavas head so successfully. Arjuna replied, Krishna! You are responsible for my fulfilling the vow of killing Syndhava. We are all your faithful devotees. Krishna said, Arjuna! Now the sun is setting. There is nobody to oppose you. Hence we all go to Dharmaraja and take his blessings. Then all of them went to see Dharmaraja. Dharmaraja went ahead to receive the victors and embraced them, and exclaimed, with tears of joy, Krishna! You are responsible for the success. Kauravas bad behavior only made this Purushotama to become furious. His fury only killed all the enemies. It is not our victory; it is the victory of Krishna. Krishna politely said, Dharmaraja! You are an embodiment of dharma. If anybody does harm to you, he is bound to be destroyed. Hence all your enemies are being destroyednow. In Kauravas camp, Duryodhana was bitterly grieved for his defeat at the hands of Arjuna. He said to himself, I relied more on Bheeshma and Drona. But it seems that Arjuna can defeat even the devatas. Drona and other warriors
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could not give a fight with Arjuna. While he was thinking like that, he was losing faith in himself and went to Drona. Duryodhana: Acharya! Our enemies were gaining upperhand day by day, whereas we are losing gradually. Many allied kings were dead.. Sikhandi had become the reason for Bheeshmas fall. I have no option left. Either I should die and go to heaven or I should kill Dharmaraja and his brothers. Acharya! We know that Arjuna is your favourite disciple. So you are reluctant to kill Arjuna. I am left with only you and Karna. Karna doesnt know Kapattam. He is prepared to take any amount of risk to kill the enemy but he does not know the knack to kill them. You have both the tact and valour. Karna worked very hard in protecting Syndhava. But he could not succeed. As a result we lost Syndhava. Drona: Duryodhana! You are wounding me with your harsh words. I told you on several occasions that I cant defeat Arjuna. That is the bare truth. Even if all devatas join Kauravas side, you cant control Arjuna. Even Bheeshma could not fight with Arjuna and fell down. It is evident that the Kauravas can never win the battle. I am fighting against Pandavas, because just to keep my self-respect. Duryodhana! The other day Sakuni had played dice. Today Arjuna is playing (with you) with his arrows.Pandavas resisted all your atrocities played on them. As per the vow, they completed aranya vasam and agnata vasam, approached your father for their share. They tried for a compromise in several ways. But you did not agree. As a last resort, they have decided to have a fight with you. You, Karna and others tried your level best to save Syndhava. But you could not succeed. Then why are you blaming me? Having eaten your salt all these years, I am fighting on your behalf and my body has become weak with the wounds from arrows. Added to that, your harsh words are wounding my mind. Duryodhana! Today I will kill Sikhandi and all his family members. You convey Aswadhama my parting words My son! Aswadhama! You remain devoted towards brahmins and not to ever leave the path of dharma. You serve tapasvis, elders and Jnanis. I took a vow to kill all the family members of king Panchala. If I could not kill some of them, you should complete the job. Then only my soul will remain in peace. While saying so, he led a big army and went to the battle field. Duryodhana was hurt with words of Drona and went to Karna and said:
Duryodhana: Karna! This Dronacharya had planned a vyuha in such a way that no Pandavas could enter the vyuha and he had strong intension to protect Syndhava. However when enemies were entering the vyuha, he became indifferent and remained a silent spectator. I have a feeling that Drona himself had done a great harm to us. Otherwise how could Arjuna break such a vyuha and enter Syndhavas place. Arjuna not only killed Syndhava but also many kings who were guarding him. Had Drona wanted to stop Arjuna, he could have done so easily. Had he been stopped Arjuna, Syndhava could have survived. He assured me that he would protect Syndhava. Believing him, we brought him to the battle field. Otherwise he would have remained at home. We have become persona non grata! His love for Arjuna is increasing day by day. Under these circumstances, I feel it is not right to continue fight by keeping Drona as our commander-in-chief. Karna: Duryodhana! Let us not blame Acharya. He is fighting to the best of his ability. Arjunas strength and haughtiness are increasing. What Drona can do? How many times we tried to eliminate Pandavas? All our attempts became futile and we remain only with disgrace. It seems that they have more divine power than us. They were deceptive and hid the sun. Hence there is no point in blaming Acharya. For the death of Syndhava, super natural elements alone are responsible. Hence dont spoil your confidence. We shall continue to fight under Drona and do our best. We leave the result to god. Sanjaya(continueshis commentary) Dhrutarashtra maharaja! After the death of Syndhava,Duryodhana became desperate and went to fight even at the cost of his life. Though Drona and Karna warned him, he did not listen their words. He entered the Pandavas army alone and shot ten arrows on Bheema, three arrows on Nakula, Sahadeva, hundred arrows on Sikhandi and seventy arrows on Drushtajyumna. With the attack of Duryodhana, Dharmaraja became furious and broke the bow of Duryodhana and beat him with several arrows. Duryodhana could not withstand the pain and fainted. All Pandavas army thought that Duryodhana was dead and made simhanadhams. However Duryodhana recovered quickly and fought with Dharmaraja. Yadava, Panchala, Virata, Mastya and other warriors attacked Drona. Karna and other Kaurava warriors surrounded the Pandava warriors and created confusion. In our side we observed many bad omens. But Duryodhana and others did not care and continued their battle. Drona killed the sons of Drushtajyumna and many other warriors of Panchalas . Sibi attacked Drona and exhibited an extra-ordinary courage. He killed Dronas charioteer with
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thirty arrows. He wounded Drona. who retorted with several arrows and killed Sibis charioteer, horses and Sibi. Durmada and Dushkarna, brothers of Duryodhana, attacked Bheema, who killed both of them just with his fist. Looking at it, furious Karna threw a Sakthi weapon on Bheema, who tactfully caught hold of that Sakthi weapon and threw it back on Karna. Before it reached Karna, Sakuni broke it into pieces. Drona came and attacked Bheema.But Dharmaraja, Nakula, Sahadeva, Drupada, Virata and Satyaki joined in support of Bheema. Somadatta became furious at Satyaki and said: Somadatta : Satyaki ! When my son lost his hand and he sat for Prayopavesa, you killed him brutally. Is it the way how a king should kill another king? Now you come in front of me only to die. You cant escape from me. Satyaki: Somadatta! If you think that I killed your son in an unrighteous way, now I will kill you in a righteous way. In this manner each one blamed the other and fought ferociously. Drushtajyumna came in support of Satyaki. Somadatta fell fainted. Aswadhama came in support of Somadatta and fought with Satyaki. In another front, Karna and Duryodhana attacked Ghatotkacha. Since it became evening, the strength of Ghatotkacha was on increase, as he was a demon. Only Aswadhama was able to fight with Ghatotkacha effectively and fixed a sharp arrow in his chest. Ghatotkachas son Anjanaparva fought with Aswadhama. Anjana threw a sword and Aswadhama broke into pieces. After that he threw a club. He made that also into pieces. Anjanaparva flew into the sky and rained arrows on Aswadhama . At the same time, Ghatotkacha also attacked Aswadhama . Duryodhana wanted to fight with Ghatotkacha. In the mean while, Drupadas sons Suradhu , Sastruyu , Balaneeka, Vrushadradha , Jayaneeka , Jayu and Chandrasena came and attacked Aswadhama. Aswadhama killed all of them with one arrow each. Kuntibhojas sons attacked Aswadhama. He killed them also. After killing them, Aswadhama threw a powerful astra on Ghatotkacha, who fainted. Prajyumna came and took Ghatotkacha in his chariot. Bheema kills Bahlika: While Satyaki and Somadatta were fighting, Ghatotkacha came and threw a Mudgara weapon on Somadatta. Somadattas father Bahlika, the oldest king of Kuru family, came and fought with Satyaki. He threw a Sakthi weapon on Bheema who fainted and recovered after a while and threw a Mudgara weapon on Bahlika. His head wase broken.
The death of Bahlika, prompted ten of Kaurava brothers to attack Beema, who managed to kill all of fter that Sakunis twelve brothers attacked Bheema. They also died at the hands of Bheema. Soorasena, Sasati, Malava, Trigarta and Bahlika armies opposed Bheema. In support of Bheema, Dharmaraja came with a big army. While all his heroes were dying, Duryodhana could not digest it and went to Drona and again provoked him. Drona became furious and attacked Dharmaraja. Dharmaraja also released several divine astras and resisted Drona. When Drona released a Brahmastra , Dharmaraja also released another Brahmastra. Then Drushtajyumna came and attacked Drona. Duryodhana went to Karna and said, Karna! Panchala armies are fighting ferociously. Our armies are not able to resist them. You go and stand by their side. Karna said, Duryodhana! I can kill Arjuna myself. Why do I care for Dharmaraja? You be here I will kill them all and come back to you. Krupacharya heckles Karna: On hearing the conversation between Duryodhana and Karna , Krupacharya heckled Karna and said: Krupacharya: Karna! It is enough. Dont babbler any more. Can you kill Pandavas with your tall talks? You are promising that you will make Duryodhana an emperor on earth. Is it possible even if you do tapasya upside down? We have seen your spirit of fighting while Gandharvas fastened our king. Where were you when Arjuna defeated us at gograhanam? We have witnessed your bravery on several occasions. You tell me one thing frankly Will your babblings win the battle for our king? At gograhanam Arjuna alone fought. Now Dharmaraja, Bheema, Ghatotkacha and many valorous warriors are fighting on Pandavas side. You tell me how you defeat Arjuna? Karna: Acharya! A word of a valorous person itself will prove what he promises. Oh brahmin! I am exonerating you because you are a brahmin. If you talk one word more, I will cut your tongue . You eat the food of our king and but praise Arjuna. Is it not partiality? Will anyone praise the enemy, while the war is going on? Because of your words Drona, Aswadhama and Selya also will lose their courage and bravery. Hearing that Karna was abusing his uncle, Aswadhama became furious and jumped on Karna. But Duryodhana pacified Aswadhama and made him cool.
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Krupacharya: Karna! Looking at the king and the situation, I am sparing you alive. Bygones are by bygones. You will stop at it and go to fight with the enemy. The humiliated Karna ferociously met the Pandavas army. Looking at Karna all the army shouted at him by saying, He alone is responsible for this human loss. Dont leave him. Kill him on the spot. However Karna fought vehemently and reduced the four wings of army. Arjuna and Karna fought ferociously. When Karna was humiliated Duryodhana went to fight with Arjuna. Looking at this, Aswadhama said. Aswadhama: Why are you yourself are attacking Arjuna, when we are still alive. It is too early for you to have a direct fight and know it well attacking Arjuna is like a locust rushing towards the flames. Duryodhana: Though your father and your uncle and you are fighting for my side, actually you are the well-wishers of Pandavas. So myself and Karna have to fight even at the cost of our lives. Aswadhama: Duryodhana! What you said is true. Myself, Drona and Krupa have some love and affection towards Pandavas. It is not prejudicial to our loyalty to you. Those relationships cant and wont prevent us at this time of crucial war. Oh Duryodhana! I once again categorically affirm that we all fight for you till the last breadth of ours. But the result lies in the hands of god. What do I care? I sincerely fight with our enemy and killed as many as possible. Right now I am entering the Pandavas army. You yourself wait and see how many have been killed? Satyaki kills Somadatta: Arjuna and Bheema attacked Drona from both sides. Somadatta attacked Satyaki with a huge Kaurava army. Satyaki and Somadatta fought ferociously and broke the bow of each other. Ghatotkacha joined to support Satyaki. Somadatta threw a Parigha on Satyaki, which was broken by Ghatotkacha. Satyaki killed Somadatta, his charioteer and horses. On the death of Somadatta, Kaurava armies got enraged and fought Satyaki and Ghatotkacha. At that time Drona fought with Satyaki. Dharmaraja came in support of Satyaki, dispatched ten powerful arrows on Drona which pierced into the bones of Drona and fainted. After sometime Drona recovered and cast Vayuvyaastra on Pandava army and made them to run away. Dharmaraja also released another Vayuvyaastra. At that time Krishna warned:
Krishna: Dharmaraja! Avoid direct conflict with Drona.He took a vow to trap and give you to Duryodhana as a gift. There you may counter Kaurava army instead of directly fighting with Drona. Drushtajyumna was born only to kill Drona. He will take care of Drona at an appropriate time. On hearing the Krishnas advice, Dharmaraja avoided direct clash with Drona and went to Bheema and joined him. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! You said that the entire battle field was filled with darkness. Then how they continued their fighting? Sanjaya: . On the fourteenth day, when the sunset, they did not cease fighting but went on with it in torch light. Your son has arranged torches. Each charioteer was with five torches, each elephant with three torches, and each horse has one torch. For each flag post, two torches were provided. The Kurukshetra field presented a strange sight. The generals and soldiers on both sides were engaged in battle, with thousands of torches burning and using signals specially devised for nighttime. Duryodhana said to his brothers, All of you go with Selya and Krutavarma and protect Drona. Drushtajyumna may attack Drona in this darkness, because Drona can defeat all others. Karna will kill Arjuna. I will kill Bheema. By saying so he went to fight with Bheema. Dharmaraja motivated his army to attack Drona. Krutavarma obstructed all those armies. In the same way Bhoori opposed Satyaki; Karna attacked Sahadeva; Bheema and Duryodhana razed at each other; Nakula and Sakuni fought; Sikhandi fought with Krupacharya; Dussasana fought with Prativindyu; Ghatotkacha with Aswadhama; Drupada with Dussasana; Virata with Selya; Arjuna with Alambasa ; in the same manner they protected Drona from Drushtajyumna. Karna insults Sahadeva: Sahadeva and Karna fought ferociously. Sahadeva threw Sakthi and Chakrayudha on Karna. Karna destroyed both of them. He wounded Sahadeva with sharp arrows. After sometime Sahadeva could not fight with Karna and ran away. Karna chased him to kill. At that time he remembered the promise made to Kunti and did not kill him. However he insulted him with the harsh words like thorns. Oh Sahadeva why ,did you come to fight with a superior warrior like me? You should fight with your equals. I am sparing your life; In future dont come to fight with me. There Arjuna is fighting. You go to him and
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live under his protection. Setaneeka, son of Nakula, fought with Chitrasena, brother of Duryodhana. They both fought for a long time. However Setaneeka could not fight with Chitrasena and ran away. Dhruvasena fought with Karna. Karna killed him with one arrow. Drushtajyumna attacked Karna. Karnas son came in support of his father. Drushtajyumna killed that son with a sharp arrow. At the death of his son, Karna withdrew from the battle in distress. Conspiracy of Karna and Duryodhana: Karna: Duryodhana! We all should isolate and attack Satyaki and kill him as we killed Abhimanyu. Do you agree ? Then only you may be to win the battle. In case Arjuna comes to know that we have all joined together to kill Satyaki, he may come in support of Satyaki. So we should pick up extremely strong warriors for this job. Duryodhana gave his approval and instructed Sakuni as follows: Duryodhana: Sakuni! You arrange ten thousand elephants, ten thousand chariots and attack Arjuna. My brothers Dussasana, Subahuvu and Durvishana also will come in support of you. There you will have to cover fighting with Bheema and other warriors also. You all engage them for a long battle and come back with victory. As suggested by Duryodhana, Sakuni and others went to fight with Arjuna, Bheema and others. Karna took valorous warriors with him and attacked Satyaki. Satyaki became furious and fought with Karna and all other warriors. None of the warriors including Karna could give a fitting fight to Satyaki and ran away. At that time Duryodhana came with fury and humiliation: he issued sharp arrows on the sensitive parts of Satyaki and pained him. Satyaki broke the bow and chariot of Duryodhana. Thereby Duryodhana stood without a weapon and chariot. At that time Krutavarma came and rescued and took him in his chariot. Duryodhana made a wrong assessment on Satyaki and failed. With that humiliation he became dejected. Due to his distress, Kaurava army also became orphaned and ran hither and thither. Sakuni consolidated all his energy and even at the risk of his life, attacked Arjuna. His son, Ulooka also joined him.. Arjuna rained arrows on Sakuni. They all ran away. In the other front, Drushtajyumna was fighting with Drona. Dharmaraja: Arjuna! This Karna is killing our armies indiscriminately. He was shining like a sun. He may kill all our army. So you go and control him.
Arjuna: Krishna! Dharmaraja is scared at the splendour of Karna. At the same time, Drona is also creating havoc there. So let us go and control Karnas aggression and then we will come back to Drona. Krishna: Arjuna! Now it is evening. Rakshasas strength will increase during the night. So you send Ghatotkacha to fight Karna. He is equivalent to Karna in many aspects. Therefore we can continue to fight with Drona and others in this front. On hearing the advice of Krishna, Arjuna called Ghatotkacha. Arjuna: Ghatotkacha! Karna is fighting at the top of his valour. Pandava armyis not able to stand before him and fight. You alone should stop his speed. Now this is the beginning of night. From now onwards, your strength will be on increase. So you alone is to fight with Karna and keep your father happy At that time Alambasa, a rakshasa was fighting on Kaurava side. Alambasa went to Duryodhana and said, King! Ghatotkacha is fighting on behalf of Pandavas . I will go and fight with Ghatotkacha; Thereby I will have an opportunity to take revenge on Pandavas. I will kill Ghatotkacha and Pandavas army and make you happy. Duryodhana thanked him and oasked him to go in support of Karna. In that war Ghatotkacha and Alambasa directly fought with each other. They both did mystic war in a big way. In the mean while Alambasa, attacked Bheema. He broke the bow of Bheema and before he took another bow, he killed his charioteer and horses. In this battle Bheema was very much tired. Krishna noticed that Bheema was unable to fight Alambasa and remembered Ghatotkacha. When Ghatotkacha appeared, Krishna said oh Ghatotkacha! Bheema is tired by fighting with Alambasa. So you go in support of Bheema and kill Alambasa and his rakshasa soldiers. So Ghatotkacha met Alambasa to fight. Alambasa hit Ghatotkacha with a Parigha. Ghatotkacha fainted and recovered after some time. Ghatotkacha took another sword and cut the head of Alambasa and made a simhanadham with joy. He took the head of Alambasa into his hand and throw it in front of Duryodhana. With this all Pandava armies made simhanadhams with joy. Sanjaya continues his commentary: Dhrutarashtra! Your son had too much hopes from Alambasas strength and thought that he would certainly kill Bheema. But he disappointed him badly. Instead of killing Bheema, Alambasa
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himself got killed by Ghatotkacha. After killing Alambasa, his strength became double and went to fight with Karna. Karna killed the horses of Ghatotkacha and broke his chariot. At that time Ghatotkacha disappeared and turned into a huge cloud. From that cloud he rained arrows, swords, stones and clubs . He killed the horses and the charioteer of Karna, who stood on ground without a vehicle and weapon. Ghatotkacha threw a club on Karna but he escaped. In the mean while Ghatotkacha threw another club on him. Karna thought he was destined to be killed in the hands of Ghatotkacha. To save his own life, he recited a mantra and threw Sakthi weapon gifted by Indra. Karna kills Ghatotkacha with Sakthi weapon: Karna was angry and confused , having just been wounded. He had with him no doubt Sakthi weapon, the spear of unerring effect which Indra had given to him. But it could be used only once, and he had carefully preserved it for exclusively using it on Arjuna. But in the confusion and wrath of that eerie midnight melee, Karna, impelled by a sudden urge, hurled the missile at the young giant. Thus was Arjuna saved, but at great cost. Bhimas beloved son, Ghatotkacha, who from mid-air was showering his deadly arrows on the Kaurava army, dropped dead. It made the Pandavas to plunge in grief. Dhrutarashtra! On the death of Ghatotkacha , the Kaurava armies made simhanadhams . Duryodhana and others came and praised Karna for his heroism. On knowing the death of Ghatotkacha, Krishna blowed his Panchajanya, embraced Arjuna and danced. Arjuna could not understand why Krishna was so jubilant on hearing the death of Ghatotkacha. He asked Krishna, Why are you feeling so happy at the death of Ghatotkacha? Our army is mourning for him? But you dance. Why? I think that there must be something hidden which ordinary people cannot understand. Please reveal me the purpose of this dance Krishna tells the reason for his happiness: Krishna: Arjuna! Indra took a form of a brahmin and begged for the natural shield and ear rings of Karna. Earlier the sun god, went and advised Karna to seek the Sakthi weapon, in lieu of his shield and ear rings, as and when Indra approaches him and demand for them. Karna took the advice of sun god and took Sakthi weapon from Indra in lieu of his natural shield and ear rings . At that time Indra said that Sakthi weapon was very powerful and
would destroy its target however mighty it might be, but it would work only once. Once used it, it would come back to Indra. Karna agreed to that and took Sakthi from him and reserved it to kill you only. As long as Karna was holding that Sakthi, I was restless. Now he had used on Ghatotkacha. So your life is saved. Now nobody can kill you in a battle. On the other hand, now you can kill Karna. Arjuna! For your sake I removed Ekalavya, Sisupala, Jarasandha from your way in different ways. Had they been alive, they all would have joined Duryodhana . Then victory could have been a difficult task for us. This Ghatotkacha died and thus he saved you! Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! If the Sakthi weapon was so powerful, why Karna did not use on Arjuna all these years. Had he wanted to kill Arjuna, he would have created some fight and killed him. Had he killed Arjuna, Pandavas would not have dared for a battle. Duryodhana would have won long back. But Karna did not use Sakthi all these years. You could have told Duryodhana about the Sakthi weapon . Why did you not remind him? It appears to me that as if a fruit in a fools hand had been plucked and eaten by a wise man. However Krishna had achieved, what he wanted by making Sakthi weapon useless. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! Whenever we met in the night myself and Dussasana used to discuss with Karna about the use of Sakthi on Arjuna. He used to say, Tomorrow I will use it; or today I will use it. Every time he used to dodge in this manner. Had he thought of this seriously, he could have killed Arjuna long back? We used to say, Karna! In case you kill Arjuna, Krishna would have donated the entire land to somebody else. Krishna is the main reason for all our difficulties. Hence you must use the Sakthi weapon on Krishna himself. If you do that the entire land will stay with us. So you kill Krishna first. He used to appreciate the suggestion and used to say I will certainly kill today either Krishna or Arjuna with the Sakthi weapon. I thought of reminding Karna before he started for the battle about the use of Sakthi weapon. When Ghatotkacha was dead by the Sakthi weapon, Krishna danced with joy. When Arjuna asked him what is the reason for this jubilation? Krishna said. Krishna: As long as Karna held that Sakthi weapon I did not have sleep at nights. Today night, I will sleep in comfort. Oh Dhrutarashtra! Krishna said all these words to Satyaki. I heard all his words. So we have nothing to feel sorry. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! All my sons are unfortunate fellows. Though that powerful weapon was with them, they could not use, but they used it on
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Ghatotkacha who is a small fry. Karna had cast a Brahmastra on a sparrow. I am sure all my sons are going to die. What can we do? Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! With the death of Ghatotkacha, Dharmaraja was very much distressed. Krishna went and told him: Krishna: oh Dharmaraja! You know everything. If you become a slave to distress, what about a common soldier? Be enthusiastic. You have a large army with you. Warriors are fighting for you with high spirit. Be energetic and lead them. Then only you can get the victory. Dharmaraja wiped away his tears and remembered all the good qualities of Ghatotkacha and help rendered by him on several occasions. All his grief turned to anger on Karna who was responsible for the death of Ghatotkacha. He said, Even on the other day he was responsible for the death of Abhimanyu. I myself kill this Karna ; Bheema will kill Drona who gave the plan for killing Abhimanyu. By saying so he took a chariot, made a simhanadham and went to fight with Karna. Looking at Dharmaraja, Krishna said: While Dharmaraja was about start Vyasa maharishi came. Dharmaraja came down from his chariot and worshipped. Maharishi said: Maharishi: oh Dharmaraja! Karna has taken that Sakthi weapon from Indra only to kill Arjuna. Had he used that Sakthi weapon on Arjuna and killed him, could you face that grief? All the more, Ghatotkacha completed his life time. As such that Sakthi weapon had taken his life and went away. In a way his death had become good for us. Therefore god has saved you from a bigger grief. Hence be happy for all that has happened. I came only to analyse the situation . You leave anger, go and fight with Kaurava army. On the fifth day from now, all the earth will become yours. Dharmaraja: Drushtajyumna! You heard what maharishi said. You are born from a Homagundam only to kill Drona. You take Bheema with you and kill Drona. Duryodhana went to Drona and said: Duryodhana: Acharya! You are as great as Bheeshma, even devatas cannot fight you. Pandavas are no match to you. Since Pandavas are your disciples, you are prthaps lenient towards them. Otherwise you could have killed them long back. Why should I blame you for my misfortune? I have to console myself as if it is an act of god.
Drona: Duryodhana! Every now and then you are wounding me with harsh words. You tell me. The other day when Agni was burning the Khandava vana Indra fought with all his devatas. But he could not defeat Arjuna. Is it because he is the disciple of Drona? When you went to Dwaita vana to humiliate Pandavas, you were fastened by Gandharvas and who released you all? Is it because Arjuna was my disciple? Even Indra could not defeat Kalakeya Rakshasas, Arjuna won them all. How Arjuna defeated them? It is because he was the disciple of Drona? You know these things by yourself. Then why are you wounding me with harsh words? Duryodhana : (Furiously) Acharya ! You are always praising the achievements of Pandavas. People like you cant fight and bring me a victory. So you dont go and fight with Arjuna. You go and fight with whomever you wish to fight. Myself, Dussasana, Karna and Sakuni will go and fight with Arjuna. Dronacharya: (with a smile) Duryodhana! You ruled the entire earth. You and your friends and relatives enjoyed all the royal comforts, There is nothing left for you to enjoy on the earth. Now you can go and fight with Arjuna. By saying so Drona took some army with him and went towards north to fight with Panchala army. Looking at Duryodhana and his friends, Arjuna became furious, attacked and killed much of their army. On the other front Drupada attacked Drona. Drona killed the grandsons of king Drupada. Drona kills Virata and Drupada: Furious Drona killed Virata and Drupada. On hearing the news of Virata death, Drushtajyumna ran towards Drona to kill him. While Drushtajyumna was about to oppose Drona, Karna and Duryodhana obstructed him. Therefore he could not reach Drona. Drona and Arjuna fought with each other: While Bheema was proceeding towards Drona, Karna attacked on his chariot and killed the horses. Bheema boarded the chariot of Sahadeva. Drona released powerful astras on Arjuna and they were cut into pieces in the middle. In the same way both were cutting the astras of each other. In spite of Dronas furious attack, Arjuna did not respond in the same spirit because he didnt want either to kill or to wound his guru. Krishna understood the mind of Arjuna and said:
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Krishna: Arjuna! As long as Drona holds the bow, even devatas cant fight with him. However there is a way how to win over him. I will tell you. He is very fond of his son, Aswadhama. If anybody tells him that Aswadhama was killed in the battle he may not do any more fighting. Thereafter it is easy to win over him. There is no way out except that. Someone has to tell him that Aswadhama was dead. All are happy to pull down Drona in the way Krishna suggested. But Arjuna did not agree to kill his guru in a deceitful manner. Dharmaraja also thought for a long time. Incidentally at the same time Bheema killed an elephant by name Aswadhama. Immediately on hearing the suggestion of Krishna, Bheema ran and told Drona, They had killed Aswadhama . He shouted again and again in the ears of Drona . On hearing Bheemas words Drona was very much depressed. He was afraid that his son might have been killed in the battle. However he remembered the treasure of divine astras he had and his valour. He did not believe Bheemas words and continued fighting with Drushtajyumna. Many rishis came in front of Drona and said: Maharishi: Drona! You are a brahmin born in Barathwaja family. You made tapasya. You read Vedas. In spite of that you have accepted Kshatriya dharma. Is it good for you to kill so many people? Past is past. You stop killing, at least at the fag- end of your life and leave weapons. Do tapasya in repentance. After the departure of Maharishis, Drona felt he gave a deep thought to their advice. At the same time he remembered the words of Bheema also. He was very much dejected at the death of his son and wanted to confirm the Bheemas words and thought of getting it confirmed from Dharmaraja. Krishna understood the mind of Drona and said to Dharmaraja: Krishna : Dharmaraja ! You listen what I say coolly. Unless Drona withdraws from the battle, we cany can win . If you make delay he will kill everyone in our army. So before he takes the bow, go and tell him that Aswadhama was killed. You dont hesitate. This is the time to save more number of human lives by telling a simple lie. Battle field is not the place to keep up truthfulness. Bheema said the advice given by Krishna was justified and it would save many lives. Incidentally he killed an elephant by name Aswadhama. In the same sense, told Dronacharya that Aswadhama was killed. But he did not believe his words. He urged Dharmaraja to take the advice of Krishna. Aswadhama is killed false claim Dharmaraja became softened and thought that in any case they have to kill the Acharya, if they want to win the battle. He consoled himself, went to
Drona and said loudly, Aswadhama an elephant was killed by Bheema. He uttered the word elephant in a low voice so that Drona could not hear the same. When the words of untruth came out of Dharmarajas mouth, the wheels of his chariot, which until then always stood and moved four inches above the ground and never touched it, at once came down and touched the earth. Dharmaraja till then had stood apart from the world so full of untruth, He suddenly became earthy. He too desired victory and slipped into the way of untruth and so his chariot came down to the common road of humanity. When Drona heard that his beloved son had been killed, all his attachment to life snapped. And desire vanished as if it had never been there But he started thinking in this manner Let the maharishis give any advice. I am not obliged to accept their advice. I have accepted the Kshatriya dharma; I promised Duryodhana that I would fight on his behalf. So I am justified to continue the fight. By changing his mind, he started hitting Drushtajyumna with powerful arrows, but there was neither fire nor force. His energy had faded away with the death of his son. He lost interest and pride. Due to depression, he fell unconscious. In a fit of grief he lost his memory power. Dhrishtadyumna with a drawn sword, came and climbed into the chariot and heedless of cries of horror and deprecation from all around, he fulfilled his destiny as the slayer of Drona by sweeping off the old warriors head. And his soul issued out in a visible blaze of fight and mounted heavenwards. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! Pandava armies are celebrating the death of Drona. Duryodhana, Sakuni, Krupa, Dussasana and all Kaurava allies were grieving for his death. Actually Aswadhama was fighting in another front. While Kaurava soldiers were running away in a panic, he came to Duryodhana and asked the reason for the armys confusion. Though Duryodhana was looking in front of Aswadhama his throat was filled with grief. He could not utter even a word. At that time Krupacharya said: Krupa: Aswadhama! Drona had beaten all the opposition. Pandavas lost their courage and developed a cold feet. Bheema went and told Drona that Aswadhama was killed. Drona did not believe his words. He called Dharmaraja and asked whether Bheema was telling the truth or not. Since Bheema had killed an elephant by name Aswadhama, Dharmaraja confirmed it is a fact. Drona could not bear the grief of the death of his son and threw away bow and
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arrows, entered into Samadhi and left the body. At that time Drushtajyumna climbed the chariot and cut the throat of Drona. On hearing from Krupacharya, Aswadhama wept bitterly. After a while he said to Duryodhana: Aswadhama: Duryodhana! Nobody can escape from death. There is no surprise of my fathers death in a battle field. But what is paining me more is an insignificant person had caught hold the hair of a righteous person and cut his throat brutally. I am not able to digest this insult to my father. What is the use of my possessing so many divine astras and valour? My father had died as an orphan. Dharmaraja is responsible for this sinful act. He told an untruth as a truth and became responsible for killing a virtuous person. I will defeat Pandavas and wash my grief. Let me not tell so many words. You listen to my vow. I will kill all Pandavas and their armies. I will make Krishna to grieve for his wicked advice. His declaration gave new strength to Kauravas So, Aswadhama, Duryodhana and other warriors made simhanadhams and entered battle field to continue the fight. Dharmaraja was wondering by looking at the enthusiasm in Kauravas army even after Dronas death. Arjuna: Dharmaraja! Aswadhama is not an ordinary person. He is in possession of several divine astras. It is a fact that there is nothing to equal his strength, vigour and valour. Now he made a vow also. In the eyes of public our ireputation is tarnished. Drushtajyumna also in spite of our severe warnings cut his throat after he was dead. He was only anxious of fulfilling his vow. But he never considered whether his act was righteous or not. In that manner would Aswadhama allow Drushtajyumna to live ? Can we withstand his onslaught? Bheema: Arjuna! You are talking like a muni who is doing tapasya in a forest. We only killed Drona and not our guru. Because there is no relationship of a guru and a disciple in a battle field. What we did is in a spirit of a statesmanship and not a deceitful killing. Are all the actions of Kauravas righteous? Did he not come to the battle field to kill all of us. The enemies are attacking us with enthusiasm to kill us. Dont sit with a cold feet. Get up and get ready to fight the enemy. Duryodhana knows who am I, and what my strenght is? I also know their capacity and ability. I will not take rest until I kill all of them. Drushtajyumna: Arjuna! Drona had killed many ordinary soldiers with divine astras. Could those ordinary soldiers retort with such divine astras on Drona? Had he got an iota of kindness in his heart, he would have not killed
ordinary soldiers with Brahmastras. He was not a Brahmin but a cruel hunter. I was born only to kill him. Knowing fully well, is it fair on your part to blame my action? Arjuna! You killed Bhagadatta who was a friend of your father. You killed Bheeshma the eldest member of the Kuru family. Could you claim that yours is a righteous act? When Drona was attacking me to kill, how could I keep quiet without defending myself. This made us the victory easier. You get up and start fighting with the enemy. On hearing Drushtajyumnas words, Arjuna was uncomfortable and looked at him angrily. Krishna and Dharmaraja also were ashamed of Drushtajyumna. However Satyaki was furious and said: Satyaki: Drushtajyumna! You are talking filthy words, Why your head has not broken into thousand pieces? Why your tongue has not been cut into several pieces. You are praising that Sikhandi was born only to kill Bheeshma. In fact Arjuna alone killed Bheeshma. Actually Arjuna also did not dare to kill him. At last Dharmaraja sent Arjuna with the permission of Bheeshma. Though Sikhandi was born to kill him, Bheeshma wanted to get killed by Arjuna only. Therefore how can you blame Arjuna for killing Bheeshma? You and Sikhandi brought disgrace to the family of Panchala. Drushtajyumna: Satyaki! You are a fool. I know who you are and what your character is! Since you are the brother of Krishna I have tolerated all your babblings. If you talk one word more I will wash all your sins in public. Listen. You are boasting as if you have killed Bhurisrava. In fact Bhurisrava threw you on the ground and was about to kill. Somebody came and cut the hand of Bhurisrava. When Bhurisrava resorted a Prayupavesa, you went and cut his head. Is it an act of a hero? Is it a Kshatriya dharma? What moral right have you got to find fault with me? Drona was killing our armies indiscriminately. Did you ever faced him? I did a lot of justice to our side by killing Drona. Instead of appreciating my gesture you are blaming me. It is good for you to stop at it. You remember well that we both are fighting for Pandavas. We both are struggling to achieve victory for Dharmaraja. Let us go and fight the enemy. On hearing Drushtajyumnas words, Satyaki became furious. His eyes became red. He picked up his club, jumped from his chariot and ran towards Drushtajyumna. Looking at the fury of Satyaki, Krishna said to Bheema to go and pacify Satyaki. Bheema ran to Satyaki and held him firmly. At the same time Sahadeva said
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Sahadeva: Satyaki! Why are you fighting among yourself? You both are our well-wishers only. There is an inseparable bondage between Yadavas, Panchala and Pandava families. Drushtajyumna: Dont stop Satyaki. You allow him to fight with me. I am not Bhurisrava with single hand. On hearing Drushtajyumnas words Satyaki over powered Bheema and ran to attack Drushtajyumna. Dharmaraja ran to them and pacified each of them. While this was going on, Aswadhama beceme very active and he told Duryodhana: Aswadhama: oh Duryodhana! Dharmaraja is dreaming to win the battle in an untruthful way. I will make the victory just a day dreams for him. Look at my strength of astras, and see how I will burn all Pandava armies into ashes. By saying so Aswadhama recited Narayana mantra and cast an arrow on Pandavas army. From this several arrows generated, spread in all directions and the soldiers were burnt to ashes. Dharmaraja was frightened at the fury of that astra. He said to Krishna. Dharmaraja: Drona was a highly principled and virtuous person. That day while Draupadi was insulted in Kurusabha, he never opened his mouth and remained a silent spectator. Who am I before his principled life? He himself designed the plan to kill the boy Abhimanyu. Who am I to pinpoint his faults? The entire world knows that Arjuna was the most favoured disciple of Drona. When Arjuna took a vow of killing Syndhava I was greatly upset that Arjuna might offer himself to flames if he could not fulfill his vow. At that critical hour,Drona closed all ways to him not to reach Syndhava. Can I equate myself with such a Drona? Oh Satyaki! Oh Drushtajyumna! You all run away with your armies to far off places and save your lives. Otherwise all our armies may be burnt to ashes. I myself will offer to the flames of Dronas fury. When I offer to the fury of Drona, Arjuna also will satisfy clearing his debt to his guru. Let Krishna decide himself what he wants to do for himself. On hearing Dharmarajas words Krishna shouted loudly Soldiers! Get down from your chariots. Stand on the ground. Throw away your weapons. In this manner you show respect to that divine astra. This astra will not do any harm for those who surrendered to it. On hearing Krishnas words, Bheema retorted, Soldiers! dont get down from your vehicles. You continue to fight. I will suppress this divine astra. I
will show who am I and even enemies will appreciate my courage. By saying so he blewe his conch and made a simhanadham and walked towards the Narayana astra. At that time, Aswadhama changed direction of that astra towards Bheema. The flames of that astra had encircled Bheemas chariot. While looking at that, all the soldiers threw away their weapons and lied down on the ground. At that time, that astra was proceeding towards Bheema. To save Bheema, Arjuna released Vaarunastra against Narayana astra. Vaarunastra reduced the severity of flames of Narayana astra to a little extent. Looking at that, Aswadhama put more power into the astra. Krishna and Arjuna pulled down Bheema: Before Aswadhama increased the power of astra and attacked Bheema. Krishna and Arjuna ran to Bheema pushed him to the ground. However he held his weapon. Krishna requested My dear Bheema! Nobody can withdraw this Narayana astra. Throw away your weapon. By saying so Krishna snatched away the weapon from his hands and threw it on the ground. Since everyone had thrown their weapons and stood on the ground and surrendered to the weapon, it had cooled down on its own. Once the astra had cooled down, the armies started fighting. Duryodhana said, Aswadhama ! You release that astra once again. Aswadhama said Duryodhana! This astra is to be used only once. If I release it a second time it will kill me and our army. This astra was gifted by Lord Narayana to my father. My father has given it to me. In a battle, surrendering is equal to death. Since nobody has opposed the astra it took it for granted that it has killed all. Hence it withdrew. Krishna is responsible for the failure of my attempt. Krishna alone knows how to protect his men from this astra. That is why this astra became waste without killing anybody. This is our misfortune. Aswadhama wanted to take revenge on Drushtajyumna and sent twenty five arrows and made his body wounded severely. Drushtajyumna could not bear the pain and fainted. Satyaki came in support of Drushtajyumna . Aswadhama released severe astras on Satyaki also and made him fainted. Bheema and Arjuna went to attack him. With them Vrudhakshatru and Sudarshana also came to fight with Aswadhama. Aswadhama killed both of them and made a simhanadham. At that time Arjuna said, Aswadhama! We have witnessed your loyalty towards your king, your treasure of astras and bravery. We are sick of your negative approach. Now we will not allow you to show any of your tricks. You cannot enter our Pandava army.
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Arjuna cast a Brahmastra to nullify all the divine astras. Aswadhama was furious and released Agneya astra. With the Brahmastra of Arjuna all astras of Aswadhama were suppressed. After exhausting all his astras, Aswadhama was depressed and thought there was no point of fighting with Pandavas. He threw his bow and arrows and started returning to his base. At that time Vyasa maharishi appeared. Vyasa maharishi tells the greatness of Krishna and Arjuna: Aswadhama saluted to him with devotion and said, Maharishi! I have released several powerful divine astras.How the humans like Krishna and Arjuna escaped from those astras? Maharishi: Aswadhama! Lord Vishnu himself took the form of Narayana Rishi to protect all the worlds. He went to Mt.Mainaka and made tapasya meditating on Siva. Siva pleased and appeared before him. He requested Lord Siva to bless him with a great power which nobody else could possess. Then Siva said, From now onwards you will defeat human, Gandharva, Deva, Kinnera and all other communities. Nobody can excell you. I am giving you such a great splendid power. You will neither die nor have any physical ailments. No weapon can wound you. That Narayana had performed a great tapasya and produced Nara from himself. Both Nara and Narayana will move together. Whereever there is harm to dharma they will incoronate, kill the culprits and reestablish dharma. Those Nara and Narayana took the form of Arjuna and Krishna. I will also tell you another secret. You are also born with a divine amsa. You have the splendour, tapasya and knowledge. However you both have little difference. In your previous birth, you worshipped Siva in the form of a Pratama, whereas Nara and Narayana worshipped Siva in the form of Linga. In view of that, they got benefits ten times more than the benefits of your tapasya. On hearing the realities he prostrated at the feet of maharishi and praised Krishna in his mind and went back to Duryodhana. By that time it had become sunset and the fighting was stopped for the day. Vyasa maharishi went to Pandavas camp. On seeing maharishi, Arjuna prostrated and said: Arjuna: Maharishi! While I am fighting I saw a divine person as bright as Agni in front of me. His feet did not touch the ground. He travelled before me by floating in the air. He himself released several powerful astras on my enemies. I also saw a brilliant spear in his hands. From the spear several thousands of arrows l came out and killed the enemies. But it gave an
impression to the enemies as if I have cast all those astras. Though he was fighting with my enemies, the glory and the victory had come to me. Who was that divine person? Maharishi: Arjuna! He is Lord Siva who created all the worlds. He only created Vedas and Upanishads. He alone is responsible for all the languages and sounds. By remembering his name, all sins will be destroyed and good will happen to them. Such Nirguna Parabrahma is Lord Siva. He alone consumed the halahalam at the time of churning the ocean of milk; he is also called as Neelakantha. Arjuna! Such a Parameswara had appeared before to bless good for you since you had the blessings of such a great divine power. On hearing the words of maharishi he began to meditate on Paramasiva in his mind and worship him. (Conclusion: This parvam narrates the tragedy of Drona.The life and career of Drona were chequered and finally ended in tragedy. He was the most revered and suceesful Acharya. Yet he died for an ignoble cause. He invited this tragedy himself. Drona was partial towards Arjuna. Any great teacher would feel enthralled if his pupil so excels as Arjuna did, thus, so was Drona. Drona was somewhat parallel to Bhishma both in martial prowess, and in his unwavering commitment to fighting for the Kauravas and irrespective of who the ruler was and whether or not the cause was just. That was his biggest mistake We are critical of Drona for remaining a mute spectator and not having protested the humiliation of Draupadi by Dushasana and Duryodhana following the fateful game of dice. We criticize for his pride and conceit, siding with evil, despite knowing of and acknowledging the righteousness of the Pandava cause. He was compelled to side with the Kauravas because he was indebted to the Kauravas, who had provided him and his family with shelter, wealth and an occupation. He was responsible for the devious murder of Abhimanyu, as it was he who had suggested simultaneously attacking and disabling the tired, outnumbered and trapped warrior. He also acted unfairly, when he demands as Guru Dakshina, payment to the master, the right thumb of Ekalavya who taught himself with Drona as his Manasika Guru mind. He remains a revered figure in Hindu history, and a pillar of the Indian tradition of respecting ones teacher as an equal not only of parents, but even of God.)
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KARNA PARVAM
CHAPTER 1 (Dhrutarashtra and Sanjaya discuss about the war) Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Bheeshma and Drona were masters in not only in archery but also in knowledge and tapasya. However to our misfortune, god had taken away both of them. Now what arrangements my son has done to continue the battle. Was he able to choose anyone as the next commander-inchief ? Sanjaya: King! After the fall of Drona, Aswadhama did his best to eliminate Pandavas army. However god did not favour your son. Duryodhana convened the Sabha on that night and asked all of us to name the next commander-in-chief. Aswadhama proposed, King! You nominate Karna as our commander-in-chief. He is one of the most exemplary archers in our side. He also has the leadership qualities and is full of enthusiasm. If gods blessings are with us, he can bring you the victory. Karna served Parasurama and got all his astras. He was seconded by Salya. On hearing this proposal your son felt very happy and his hopes were blossomed. Duryodhana: Karna! Your loyalty and friendship towards me are well known to all. After Bheeshma and Drona, you alone can protect the Kaurava army. Of all said and done, Bheeshma and Drona fought on our side with a partiality. Their mind was always fixed on Pandavas and their victory. On several occasions, they praised the glories of Pandavas in my presence too. We could have won the battle long ago. However past is past. Be my commander-in-chief. You can easily decimate Pandavas and secure me the victory. Karna! You are a learned person, an intellect and valorous. In fact you alone are my protector and good friend. We use to irritate Bheeshma and Drona often. Since they are no more now, we can do without any reservations. As darkness disappears, as soon as the sun begins to shine, as soon as you enter the battle field, all the enemy armies will be destroyed. As Kumaraswamy helped
devatas to win rakshasas, you lead our army to wipe out Pandava armies. Now you take charge of as the commander-in-chief. Karna: Duryodhana! I obey your orders and accept the responsibility as your commander-in-chief. I give a word of honour that I will smash all Pandava armies. Before my power and treasure of astras, Pandavas vigour will be nothing. You sit and watch my spirit of fight. He was duly appointed and he took charge immediately and thanked his patron, Duryudhana. Karna: King! Earlier you have honoured me by making the king of Anga Desha. Once again you are honoring me as your commander-in-chief. On this auspicious occasion, I am giving you a word of honour that I will kill not only Arjuna but also all those who are born in that family. You and your family line should enjoy this earth forever. Duryodhana you may ask me how? Nothing is impossible for a truthful and righteous person. Arjuna is equal to me in vigour and valour but not in physical strength. So be confident I will make my words true. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! That night Duryodhana went home and had a sound sleep. I could see the brilliance in his face as if he has already became the emperor. Karnas first days fight: Sanjaya: Next morning Karna entered the battle field and planned a Makara vyuha. In that vyuha he stood at the nose. His sons, Aswadhama, Krutavarma, Krupacharya, Selya, Sushena, and Chitrasena stood at appropriate places. All the four wings of army were stationed around them. In the Pandavas front, Dharmaraja entered the battle field with all the four wings of his army. Arjuna planned a Crescent vyuha in reply to Karnas Makara vyuha. Dhrutarashtra! Your son was very much jubilant and imagined that Krishna and Arjuna would be killed at the hands of Karna. On the other front, Dharmaraja was also as much as jubilant as he thought that Karna would be killed that day by Arjuna. In this manner, both the sides entered the battle field. Bheema kills king Kshamadhoorthi: King Kshamadhoorthi entered the battle field supported by a big army. On seeing Bheema, he provoked the herds of elephants on Bheema. In counter
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attack,Bheema threw twelve spears in the chest of Kshamadhoorthi and made him to faint. After some time he recovered and resumed his attack on Bheema. But Bheema broke his chariot. They both sat on elephants and fought. The fight went on for a long time. Bheema spun his club in the air and gave a deadly hit on Kshamadhoorthi. On the death of Kshamadhoorthi all our armies were frightened and ran away. While Pandava armies chased our army, Karna attacked Pandava, and killed many of the warriors. Nakula fought with Karna, Bheema with Aswadhama, Satyaki with Kekaya, Chitrasena with Srutavarama, Prathivindhya with Chitra, Dharmaraja with Duryodhana, Samsaptakas with Drushtajyumna, Sikhandi with Krupacharya, Krutavarma with Sruthakeerti and Sahadeva with Dussasana. Sahadeva fought with Dussasana Nakula fought with Karna. At one point Karna threw Nakula on the ground. He pressed his bow on Nakulas throat and said Nakula! A short while you uttered all haughty words on me. Should you not think twice before you use such words at an elderly person like me? Now your life is in my hands. You are not equal to me. Why you choose to fight with more valorous warrior than you? If you wish to fight in the battle field you choose an equivalent and fight. In future, dont come and fight with me. By saying so, he left Nakula without killing because he had given a promise to Kunti that he would not kill any of her sons except Arjuna. Nakula was humiliated. Karna killed many of Pandava oldiers in a big way. While Karna was killing Pandava troops, your son Yuyusthu fought with Ulooka. Yuyustha broke the bow of Ulooka, before he took another bow he filled his body with several arrows and broke his flag post. Ulooka recovered and killed the charioteer of Yuyusthu. As Yuyusthu became weak,he ran away on his chariot. Srutasoma, son of Bheema, fought with Sakuni. They fought for a long time and wounded each other. Sakuni killed the charioteer and horses of Srutasoma. Drushtajyumna fought with Krupacharya: Krupacharya released sharp divine astras on Drushtajyumna and killed his horses. The charioteer was frightened at the fury of Krupacharya and thought he might even kill Drushtajyumna and took away his chariot far away. However Krupacharya chased him for some distance and twanged his bow.
Sikhandi and Krutavarma had a tough fight. Sikhandi broke the bow of Krutavarma and filled arrows on Krutavarmas body. His body started oozing blood. However Krutavarma consolidated all his energy and selected three arrows and made him fainted. The charioteer took him away. Duryodhana fought with Dharmaraja: Duryodhana consolidated his army and attacked Dharmaraja. He cast nine arrows on Dharmaraja and one arrow on his charioteer. Dharmaraja sent out thirteen sharp arrows and broke the chariot of Duryodhana. With another arrow, he broke the shield of Duryodhana and wounded him on his chest. With another arrow, he broke his flag post. Duryodhana tried to attack with a sword. In the meanwhile, Dharmaraja broke the sword into pieces. Duryodhana boarded another chariot and went away. Aswadhama, Karna fought with Bheema , Arjuna , Nakula and Sahadeva. Till midday the fighting went on ferociously. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! You told me several stories about the war but you never told me how Duryodhana fought the battle. How he is beaten by Dharmaraja? You tell me more about him. Sanjaya: Duryodhana lost his chariot but not his courage. He took another chariot and came back with vengeance to hit on Dharmaraja and the fight went on severely. Duryodhana broke the bow of Dharmaraja. Before he took another bow, he started sending sharp arrows on Dharmaraja. However Dharmaraja took another bow and broke the bow of Duryodhana. In this manner both rained arrows on each other. Both of them were wounded. Dharmaraja broke the forehead of Duryodhana with one arrow and made him fainted. Krutavarma came and attacked Dharmaraja. To support Dharmaraja, Bheema came and fought with Krutavarma. After a while Duryodhana recovered from his fainting, and saw Arjuna in front of him. He consolidated all his courage and remembered all the astras he knows to cast on Arjuna. Arjuna not only broke all his astras but also broke his flag post, wounded his charioteer and horses. While he was about to release an arrow, which would certainly take away the life of Duryodhana, Aswadhama came in between and broke the bow string. Arjuna got furious on Aswadhama and broke his bow and killed his horses. In the mean while Krupacharya also attacked on him. Arjuna made his
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bow also into pieces. While Krutavarma came in support of Krupacharya, Arjuna broke the bow of Krupa and made a huge simhanadham. In the mean while it had become evening and war was stopped for the day. Both the armies went back to their barracks. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! I understood that Pandavas did not want to kill all our enemies today itself. That is why Arjuna controlled his rage till the evening. Had Arjuna wanted to kill all our armies even Yama or Agni, could not have stopped him. That night all Kaurava warriors and kings were discussing about Arjuna and his power, Duryodhana looked at the faces of all the kings who were defeated by Arjuna. They looked like cobras which teeth were pulled off. None of them had any courage . Karna: Duryodhana! By looking at todays battle, it is seen that Arjuna had established his superiority over us. Added to this, Krishna was also with him to give timely advice. With his wicked thinking, Krishna provoked me to use my Sakthi weapon on Ghatotkacha. Oh king! Past is past. Tomorrow I will kill Krishna and Arjuna and see to it that you will have no enemy on this earth. You go and sleep peacefully. Karnas second days battle: Sanjaya: On hearing the words of Karna, Duryodhana was as happy as if he had killed all the Pandavas. He slept comfortably. Next day morning Dharmaraja formed a Durjaya vyuha. Dhrutarashtra : While Duryodhana was beaten at the hands of Dharmaraja, Karna was looking as a spectator only. You tell me , what wonders he did on his second days battle? Oh Sanjaya! This Karna and Duryodhana do not know what their strength is Sanjaya! Do you believe that Karna would vanquish Pandava army? I dont have any faith in him. I dont understand, why Duryodhana became so blind about the valour of Karna. Will it not lead to his disaster? In fact his disaster has taken place, on the very day he played the game of dice and humiliated Pandavas. Those seeds of frustration alone are responsible for todays disaster. I also did not expect that the disaster would be so great. My son has taken a wrong decision. As a result, we are facing so much of human loss. So many of my sons were killed in this battle, but all the sons of Panduraju are safe. What a pity!
Sanjaya: King! What is the use of your repenting now? Will you get back olden days? You yourself did the damage deliberately and now you are repenting. Oh king! You asked me why Karna had come late to the battle field! Listen. Before he reached the battle field, he went to Duryodhana and said: Karna: Duryodhana! All these days myself and Arjuna fought in various groups. We did not fight one to one. Today I want to fight with him directly and to decide whether I have to kill him or get killed by him. Though the Sakthi weapon had been spent away, I still have as many divine astras as Arjuna had. Fortunately Arjuna is not, physically, as strong as me. Even in brilliance, also he is no match with me. In chasing targets of long distance, I am superior to him. Either in courage or bravery, he is not equivalent to me. Long back Vishvakarma made a bow by name Vijayam and gave it to Indra. Indra used that bow and fought with dhanavas and won the battles. Indra gave that bow to Parasurama. Out of love and affection, Parasurama gave that bow to me. I am preserving that divine bow to kill Arjuna. Duryodhana! Arjuna had a divine bow Gandeevam which won him many battles. I am also having a superior bow Vijayam which gave lot of victories to Devendra and Parasurama. Agni, the fire god, had gifted him a divine chariot, yoked by immortal horses. You have provided a fleet of chariots for my use. Arjuna had a quiver with perennial supply of arrows. You also provided me cart loads of arrows and weapons. Arjuna had unlimited divine astras. I too have a treasure of divine astras. I am as much equipped as Arjuna to give you a victory. But Arjuna had a superior charioteer, Krishna, who is the ruler of all worlds. The secret behind all the success of Arjuna, was the Krishnas able riding only and timely advice at times of need. That way, I too need an experienced charioteer. Hence you provide me Selya as my charioteer. Thereby he can run the chariot according to the thoughts of my mind. Another aspect in Krishna is that he will run the chariot by understanding the mind of the horses. Selya also is as great as Krishna in all those aspects. So if you can convince Selya and make him to be my charioteer, I will kill Arjuna and put his head at your feet. Duryodhana requests Selya to be the charioteer of Karna: Duryodhana: Great Selya! You are a truthful person. You harass the enemies in battle field. All your noble qualities alone made me your disciple. In the presence of so many kings and army, I prostrate at your feet and request you to oblige me. That is you must be the charioteer of Karna. Then only he would able to search all our enemies and kill. Though Bheeshma and Drona were dead, I am able to continue the battle so confidently, because of you and
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Karna are in my side. I strongly believe that you two alone can bring me victory. I am living on this hope. On hearing Duryodhanas words, Selya became furious. His eyes became red. His eyebrows and checks shivered. He said to Duryodhana Selya: Duryodhana! I am a Kshatriya, and crowned as king. How can you expect me to such a menial service? Dont you know the Varnastrama dharmas? How can a Kshatriya, who belongs to a second caste,serve as a charioteer for a fourth caste person. I cant serve a fourth caste person under any circumstances. In what respect Karna is superior to me? If you want me to fight with any one,I am prepared to do so. I will kill them and prove my worth to you. In matters of self respect, I dont even care Arjuna or Krishna. Since you have more respect and love for Karna, you dare to insult me? If you dont want my help, you tell me I will go back to my country. Duryodhana: Virtuous Selya! I never meant that you are inferior to Karna. To be frank, you are superior not only to Karna but also to Arjuna and Krishna in several respects. So, I am requesting you so much. You alone can run the chariot as efficiently as Krishna. Nobody else can do that job as you do. Selya was impressed and convinced by Duryodhanas words, because he praised him as superior to Krishna. He said to Duryodhana: Selya: Duryodhana! You have praised me in the presence of so many kings that I am superior to Krishna. I am happy with your compliment. Irrespective of his birth, I am much impressed by his charitable quality. Since you have requested me so much, I am accepting to be the charioteer of Karna. However you have to respect my principles. That is, while I was riding the chariot what ever I feel good or bad, I will speak out openly for which he should not find fault with me. Then only I can agree to be his charioteer. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! On hearing Selyas words, your son looked at Karna for his approval. After knowing the mind of Karna, Duryodhana said to Selya, I am accepting your condition. Oh Selya! You are aware that the yuddha neeti is telling that the Saradhi is superior to the radhika. Hence be kind to Karna. Selya accepts to be the charioteer of Karna: Selya: Duryodhana! My words may appear to be harsh but they always do good for radhika. He is to listen patiently. Both of you should not find fault with me.
Karna: Selya! You are a wise and valorous. As Brahma is to Siva and Krishna is to Arjuna, you are for me. Selya: Karna! I can be charioteer for even Indra. When the warrior is committing mistakes, how can I keep quiet without correcting them? Arjuna became great warrior because of Krishnas advice at proper times. If you want to conquer Arjuna , you have to listen to your charioteer. At the time of consuming medicine, it might be bitter, but it will kill the disease. In the same manner, my words may appear, to be harsh. But it will do good to you. The radhika should always listen to his charioteer as his friend and well-wisher. Then only he can win the battle. Duryodhana: Karna! Selya is more tactful than Krishna in chariot driving. In fact even Matali, the charioteer of Indra, is not equal to Selya. Now you destroy the haughtiness of Arjuna.
CHAPTER-2
Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Karna has chosen Selya as his charioteer. Having chosen him how, he faced the enemy armies? Sanjaya: King! As requested by Duryodhana, Selya was driving the chariot. While going Karna said: Karna: Selya! Even devatas cant cope with the power of my astras. You will observe that all devata communities will appreciate my virility. Bheeshma and Drona lost their life, because they didnt know the techniques of fighting. The moment Arjuna comes in front of me, I will kill him. If Pandavas come in support of him, I will kill them also. All those kings have to feel sorry having chosen the side of Pandavas. After death of Bheeshma and Drona, all our armies were dejected. I possessed several astras, bow, arrows and chariot from Parasurama. The treasure of astras I am in possession is enough to kill Arjuna. Then only I can be relived from the debt to Duryodhana. Selya praises Arjuna and blames Karna: Selya: Karna! Why are you babbling like a chatters box? Every one knows the valour of you and Arjuna. On any count you are not an equal for Arjuna. Are you greater than Angaraparna whom Arjuna defeated in a night battle? When you all went to Dwaitavana to humiliate Pandavas, Gandharvas fastened Duryodhana. Arjuna fought with Gandharvas and released him. How can you be greater than Arjuna? When Agni was burning Khandavavana, Indra
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could not fight with Arjuna. Then how are you greater than Arjuna? Arjuna fought with Siva and pleased him. Have you ever pleased Rudra like Arjuna? You are claiming that you can kill Arjuna, do you want me to believe your babblings? Stop jokes and start fighting. Karna: Selya! Your unpalatable words are paining me. You stop praising Arjuna. In a few moments, you will witness who is stronger, valorous, brave and courageous. At least till such time, you stop praising Arjuna. On hearing Karnas words, Selya kept quiet. In the meanwhile Karna shouted at the soldiers and asked Soldiers! Have you seen Arjuna anywhere? Tell me where he is fighting, so that I can go and kill him in a straight fight. I will compliment those who give me this information with suitable gifts. After killing Krishna and Arjuna I will gift all their belongings to you. Selya intervened and said: Selya: Karna! Nobody needs to show Arjuna. Wherever armies are running in panic with fear, you know it well, Arjuna is there to chase them. Why do you unnecessarily create hopes in those soldiers. However if we have so much of money you can use it for a better purpose. If you want to fight with Arjuna, go with a big army. But if you go alone, you are inviting your own death. In your own interest and the interest of Kauravas, I am giving you this piece of advice. I cant help it, if you mistake my frankness. People cant relish the truth as they relish babblings. As and when you face Arjunas sharp arrows from his Gandeevam, yourself will realize who is Arjuna? One need not take you to Arjuna. It looks to me as if a deer is jumping against a lion. A rabbit is dashing against an elephant. Why I am taking so much pain is that you dont have valour and strength to fight Arjuna alone. Karna: Selya! The good qualities of a person are known by a virtuous person. All and sundry cant see those good qualities. Since I know the valour of Krishna and Arjuna, I told so much about them. As you are afraid of the astras of Arjuna, you are threatening me. Nobody knows the treasure of astras I am having. Everyday I worship those astras with flowers and sandalwood. Arjuna and Krishna cant escape from them. In addition to those astras, I have Bhargavastram. That astra can kill two persons at a time. With that astra, I can kill Krishna and Arjuna at a time. What bigger gift can I offer to Duryodhana than the heads of Krishna and Arjuna? Dont think me as an ordinary soldier. I can kill thousand Krishnas and ten thousand Arjunas. Though you are elder to me by age, but your experience is not sufficient to teach me. Since you are a relative of Pandavas, you shouldnt praise them in my presence. I will kill you at once. Beware.
Karna blames Selya: Karna: Selya! You are the most inferior among kshatriyas. You are ruling a poor country and all your people are sinners. All the people in your country are cruel and think in wicked ways. Your nature is so mean that you can do harm even to your own friends. Therefore nobody allows you to go anywhere near them. Because of your babblings, you are exposed badly. In your country, you encourage free sex. In your country, people dont know their father. You dont have any moral values. It is not your mistake. All your people drink wine first and then mothers milk. You are the ruler of such immoral people. What better deal could I expect from you? I follow Kshatriya dharma. Kshatriyas even prefer to die in a battle and reach heaven. However wicked you might be, you cant confuse me. Stop talking and mind your job. Selya: Karna! I am a well-wisher of Duryodhana. Since he requested me to be your charioteer, I accepted to work for you. Whenever I am supposed to tell you the good, I shall continue to tell in the interest of our king. Having known the truth, if I conceal, it will amount to telling a lie. A charioteer should know the following aspects viz the caste of the Radhika, his virile, the power of his astras, the way of fighting and the mind of the horses. In view of the above, I am telling you certain facts. Since you are not aware of all those things, you are finding fault with me. You tell me what harm I did to you? Karna! Long ago a crow was nursed, with the left over food, by a vyasya. One day the crow challenged that it can go faster and a long distance without any stop and o outmaneuver the swan. One day the vyasya provoked the crow to fly with a swan and win over it. The crow took the challenge and started flying over the sea. After some time the crow got tired, could not fly and was about to drown in the waters. The swan took pity on the crow and carried it and put it on the shore. It also warned the crow not to take any such challenges in future without knowing the others strength and your weakness. Karna: For telling me this crow and swans story at this hour I could have killed you. Being my charioteer how dare you are to praise my enemy and his glories? But for my friendship with a king, I am leaving you alive. Karna! Like that crow you are also nursed by Duryodhana and put up weight. By virtue of your weight, you are dreaming that you are stronger and can defeat Arjuna. If you dont get angry with me for comparing with you a crow, you please tell me: 1. All of you went for a Ghoshayatra. There a Gandharva has fastened Duryodhana. At that time where were you? 2. When all of you
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went for Gograhnem, Arjuna alone defeated all of you. What you did for Duryodhana at that time? You tell me the truth. Had you not left Duryodhana at the mercy of Arjuna in all those occasions? Even Parasurama, Bheeshma, Drona could not fight Arjuna. It has been proved beyond any doubt. Even Rudra cant fight with Arjuna. If such is the case, how can you annihilate Arjuna in a one to one fight? If Krishna and Arjuna are like the sun and the moon, whereas you are like a fire fly. Karna: Selya! I know my strength as well as Arjunas strength. I am not going to fight without knowing my strength. While Parasurama was doing tapasya on Mt. Mahendra I became his disciple to learn archery. With an ambition of securing Brahmastra, I lied to him that I am a brahmin. Afterwards he came to know about my real caste and cursed me that I wouldnt remember the mantra of Brahmastra and Bargava astra at the hour of my critical need. However you remember it when you are at the last moments of your life. To my misfortune I underwent the fury of another brahmin. While I was practising archery, one of my arrows struck the calf of a brahmin and he was furious at the loss of his calf and cursed me that at the time of a fight while you are struggling for life, the wheels of your chariot will sink in the ground. However I requested the brahmin for the deliverance of this curse, his heart did not melt and went away. I strongly suspect that Indra alone was instrumental for both these curses to help Arjuna. Selya! Those two curses are burning my heart. Otherwise, I can kill Arjuna and Krishna also. I am remembering Brahmastra now. You take the chariot in front of Arjuna . I can kill Arjuna immediately and prove my superiority of archery. With the available divine astras with me, if I could kill Arjuna I might live long in this world. If the wheels of my chariot dont sink in the ground, Arjuna cant escape from the death at my hands. On hearing the words of Karna, Selya thought in himself: Karna knows pretty well that he is going to die at the hands of Arjuna. To cover his weakness, he was exposing the curse of both the brahmins in the presence of several kings around him. Since I praised the glories of Arjuna, he was demoralized and confused. That is why, all his memories are coming out. I am able to fulfill the vow I have made to Dharmaraja. I am seeing some bad omens in our side. Pandavas are virtuous people and their mind will always fix on dharma. Only virtuous people alone will win the war. Samsaptakas attacked Arjuna with a big army. Kuru and Pandava armies raged against each other like Ganga and Yamuna. At that time, Duryodhana looked at Karna, Selya, Dussasana and other kings and said:
Duryodhana: For those valorous warriors, today is the most auspicious day. So you consolidate all your strength and valour to eliminate the enemy. If you kill all those enemies, your glory remain immortal . If we die, we will reach the heaven. Aswadhama: King! Drushtajyumna killed my father in a sinful manner. Unless I kill him, I will not remove my shield. In case Krishna and Arjuna try to protect him, I will kill them also. On hearing Aswadhamas vow all the kings and soldiers made simhanadhams with joy. Looking at the human loss, all kings thought the Pralaya had taken place. At that time, Arjuna came and attacked Karna. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Tell me the vyuhas of both the sides? Where is Arjuna fighting? Did Karna attack Arjuna? Sanjaya: Looking at Karnas vyuha, Dharmaraja was frightened and asked Arjuna, Arjuna! Can our heroes attack the vyuha of Karna? Arjuna said, Brother! You dont worry about Karnas vyuha. Today I am going to kill Karna. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! You tell me how Trigarta armies fought with Arjuna. How Karna defeated Dharmaraja? Sanjaya: The war did not go on as Dharmaraja planned. While both the armies were fighting with each other, Arjuna attacked Karna. Looking at Arjunas flag post, Trigarta army surrounded Arjuna like an ocean. Arjuna killed most of the combatants and made a boundary to the ocean of Trigarta with his arrows. While looking at this battle with Trigartas, Selya said to Karna, Karna! You look at Arjuna in the middle of Trigartas army and watch how he is killing all the armies. Duryodhana took all the four wings of army in support of Karna. In the mean while Karna went to fight with Dharmaraja. Karna killed all the seven warriors who came in support of Dharmaraja. Panchala army attacked Karna. Karna killed five of their warriors. In the mean while Karnas three sons joined him to support his battle with Dharmaraja.But, Bheema , Drushtajyumna , Sikhandi and Satyaki came with big army and attacked Karna. There was a big exchange of divine astras between them. Karnas sons Satyasena and Susena also came in support of his father. Bheema broke the bow of Susena. He wounded Karna with seventy three arrows. He killed the horses and charioteer of Satyasena. With one arrow, he removed
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the head of Satyasena in front of Karna, who became furious and fought with Bheema one to one. In this battle Vrusasena lost his chariot, charioteer and horses. Dussasana came and picked him in his chariot. Vrusasena and Susena fought with Satyaki. Drushtajyumna, Sikhandi, Bheema, Nakula, Sahadeva and Dharmaraja jointly attacked Karna, but he fought with all of them and made them run away. Karna had a tough fight with Dharmaraja. To support him, Satyaki and Sikhandi joined and made him happy. However none of them could stand at his vigour. Karna had made a severe attack on Dharmaraja, broke his bow, shield and made him fainted. In spite of that ,Dharmaraja consolidated all his strength and confidence and fought vigorously with Karna. At the same time Dharmaraja couldnt fight with Karna and withdrew from the battle field. Karna: Dharmaraja! Though you are a born Kshatriya, you are not following Kshatriya dharma. Had you known, you would not have left battle field in the middle and run away like a coward? You spent most of your time with brahmins and engaged in Vedadhyanam and performing yagnas . You are neither fit for battle nor for ruling. It is an insult for me to fight with a person like you. I am sparing your life. Go and take protection from Krishna and Arjuna. Karna insulted Dharmaraja in this manner but didnt kill him because he had given a promise to Kunti that he wouldnt kill any of her sons except Arjuna. All Pandava armies ran away from Karna. At that time Bheema stopped them and brought them back to attack Karna. Both the armies fought whereas Karna and Bheema fought with each other. In support Bheema, Satyaki and Drushtajyumna came and attacked Kaurava army till they run away. Karna stopped all those corps, brought them under his command and fought with Pandavabattalions. Bheema said to Satyaki, Satyaki! This sinner Karna insulted Dharmaraja in a low manner. I wont be happy unless I kill him. Either I should kill Karna or I should get killed by him. I am going to fight with Karna. You and Drushtajyumna take care of Dharmaraja. By saying so, Bheema made a simhanadham and attacked Karna. On hearing the simhanadham of Bheema, Selya said: Selya: Karna! Bheema is coming to take revenge on you. If Bheema gets furious, he wont care any one. He didnt expressed his fury even when Ghatotkacha and Abhimanyu were killed. So you will have to consolidate all your energy and strength to fight Bheema. Karna: Selya! I know he is a valorous person. We cant under-estimate his strength. However I dont want spend all my energy on him. I am preserving
all my strength and astras to kill Arjuna only. Even though I get furious on Bheema I wont kill him. Sooner or later, I am to kill only Arjuna. Bheema became popular by killing hundred Keechakas and a few rakshasas. For me to kill Bheema, is a childs play. You look how I fight with him. Bheema and Karna fought bitterly. Karna hit Bheemas chest with twenty five sharp arrows. With that Bheema became furious and threw a spear which was equal to Vajrayudha. Karna could not bear the pain of that hit and fell down and fainted. Bheema took a sword into his hands went to cut the tongue of Karna since he spoke foul words on Dharmaraja. At that time Selya said, Bheema!He is now fainted but not yet dead. If you cut his tongue, he may really die. But Arjuna made a vow that he would kill Karna. If you kill him now, Arjunas vow will become futile. On hearing Selyas advice, Bheema remembered Arjunas vow and went back. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Duryodhana was dreaming all the time that Karna would kill Pandavas. But he didnt prove so and thus he poured water into my sons dreams. Sanjaya : Dhrutarashtra ! At the behest of Duryodhana , Vikarna , Krutavarama and many of your sons encircled Bheema. Bheema killed your sons Upananda, Grahdu, Vikatu, and Prabhu with a spear. While Bheema was cruelly killing your sons, all Kaurava warriors became motionless. After sometime, Karna recovered from fainting and attacked Bheema. They fought with each other and wounded severely. In the meanwhile your army provoked elephants on Bheema but he killed fifteen elephants by breaking their heads. While Karna and Bheema were fighting Satyaki joined Bheema. Aswadhama and Krupa came in support of Karna. In the near by front, Trigarta contingents surrounded Arjuna, who released severe astras on Susarma.. Krishna said, Arjuna! We never experienced such an uncomfortable situation till now. On hearing Krishnas words, Arjuna released Nagastra. From that astra, several thousands of serpents came out and fastened at the legs of soldiers. Thereby the soldiers stood where they were. Krishna and Arjuna had some breathing time. Looking at Nagastra, Susarma released a Garudastra. From that astra, thousands of Garuda birds were created and took those serpents by their nose and left. With that all Samsaptakas armies were relieved from their bondage. Susarma threw an astra on Arjuna. With that Arjuna became fainted. Susarma and his army felt that Arjuna was dead. With over enthusiasm, they made simhandhams. Arjuna recovered from the astra soon and released an Indrastra. With that, all the divisions of Trigarta fainted and fell down. With this unexpected event, the enthusiasm of Susarma had watered down.
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Krupacharya attacked Sikhandi and killed the charioteer and horses. Sikhandi got down from the chariot and while proceeding towards Krupas chariot, he rained thousands of arrows on Sikhandi. Drushtajyumna fought with Krutavarma, Dharmaraja and Upa-Pandavas fought with Aswadhama, Nakula fought with Duryodhana and Bheema with Karna. While Drushtajyumna was attacking Karna ferociously even at the risk of his life eight Panchala princess came in support of Drushtajyumna. While fighting Drushtajyumna, Karna killed all the eight princess of Panchala. After eliminating all Trigarta armies Arjuna returned to the battle field where Pandavas were fighting. At that time a voice was heard from the sky , which said, Krishna and Arjuna are shining like sun and moon from the same chariot. Even Brahma or Rudra cant defeat them. They are none other than Nara-Narayana rishis. Aswadhama heard those words, but could not digest and said to Arjuna: Aswadhama: Arjuna! If you want me to be your guest, you invite me for a battle. I will come and show what my power is. Arjuna: Krishna! Here Aswadhama is inviting me for a fight. There fourteen thousand Samsaptakas are waiting to die in my hands. You tell me what I am to do. I shall act as per your advice. Krishna: Aswadhama! Arjuna is ready to favour you. You get ready for a fight with him. Arjuna and Aswadhama fought ferociously and rained astras on each other. In this battle, each one broke the others bow, chariot, and wounded the horses and the charioteer. Aswadhama released several arrows on Krishna and Arjuna. Since Arjuna was not retorting , Aswadhama thought that Arjuna had become weak and could not fight with him. Looking at it, Kaurava army made simhanadham. Krishna: (furiously) Arjuna! What happened to your Gandeevam? Did you lost it anywhere? Are you showing mercy, because he is the son of your guru or really you lost your vigour ? Arjuna: Krishna! I am counting the arrows of Aswadhama. He has put four arrows on us. With that, he is so jubilant as if he had won all the worlds. As he said, I have a little soft corner for him. Now since you reminded me, I will show the heat of my astras. By saying so, he broke Aswadhamas bow, flag post and the flag with spears. While Aswadhama was about to throw a spear and a club, Arjuna broke
them while they were still in his hands. At the severe attack of Arjuna , Aswadhama became dim like a sun hidden by a thick cloud. In the meanwhile Samsaptaka armies surrounded Arjunas chariot. Arjuna while fighting with Aswadhama with one hand and started killing Samsaptakas with another hand. Aswadhama released more severe astras on Arjuna. Krishna said, Arjuna! You have become more lenient towards Aswadhama and hence he became over enthusiastic. On hearing Krishnas words, Arjuna released a severe astra and hit Aswadhama on all his sensitive organs. Aswadhama could not bear the pain and fainted. In the mean while Arjuna killed his charioteer. With that his horses took him away. Dandadhara, a king attacked Arjuna with four wings of army. Arjuna asked Krishna to put the chariot before Dandadhara. There Arjuna killed him with one arrow. While Arjuna was fighting with Samsaptakas, the king Malayadhvaja was fighting with Kaurava armies. To protect his army, Aswadhama came to fight with Malayadhvaja. He killed Aswadhamas protectors on either side and made his chariot into pieces. In the mean while Bheema and Drushtajyumna joined Malayadhvaja. In that battle many Panchala soldiers were killed. Karna killed Malayadhvaja with one sharp arrow. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! The way in which you are describing the details of war, I understood that our armies have lost their credibility. You tell me how it happened? Sanjaya: Yes! Now I will tell you the fresh news about the war. Duryodhana fought with Bheema: Arjuna won the Samsaptaka armies and joined the Pandavas army. While Bheema was dashing into the Kauravas army, Duryodhana opposed him. Karna killed the charioteer and the horses of Sikhandi and made him to run away. Nakula killed the charioteer of Vrushasena with a spear. Vrushasena ran away by another chariot. Sahadeva broke the chariot of Ulooka. Satyaki fought with Sakuni. Bheema killed the charioteer of Duryodhana and made Duryodhana to run away from the battle field. Karna attacked Dharmaraja. At that time Selya said to Karna You are fighting with much inferior warriors. Now our king is fighting with Bheema. It is your responsibility to save the life of our king from the hands of Bheema. That is more precious than anything else. On hearing Selyas advice, he left Dharmaraja and went to protect Duryodhana from the hands of Bheema.
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CHAPTER-3
Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! When Karna had an opportunity of killing Dharmaraja why he left him without killing? Did he thought that Duryodhana is weak limb and could not fight with Bheema ? Why he went to save Duryodhana? How the responsible person like Karna could leave Dharmaraja? By killing Dharmaraja, the war could have come to an end. It appears to me that Karna had a wicked plan in his mind. I am sure Karna committed an adharma. He had deliberately left a golden opportunity that had come to his hand. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! Dharmarajas body was filled with full of iron arrows. He went home with pain and removed all the iron particles from the body. His servants comforted him with necessary nursing. More than his body, his mind was more injured with the harsh words and insults . He was laid on bed and repented for what all had happened. He said to Nakula and Sahadeva to go and support Bheema where he was fighting alone. By the time they reached Bheemas place, the fighting was going in a ferocious way. Arjuna was fighting with Aswadhama. However he was worried about Dharmarajas condition. Aswadhama threw many arrows and Arjuna made them all into pieces. Arjuna threw a club on Aswadhama. He killed the charioteer of Aswadhama with one sharp arrow. With three more arrows, he killed the horses. Looking at that Duryodhana said to Karna: Duryodhana: Karna! You have several astras at your command. In front of your eyes, all my armies are being destroyed. Why are you indifferent? Will it enhance your glory? In fact, Pandavas cant stand and face with you. Even at this critical hour, should you not fight for a victory? Karna: Duryodhana!Done! Dont worry! From now onwards, I shall exhibit my valour and vigour in full. I will kill Krishna, Arjuna and Bheema. Your glory will remain immortal on earth. Now I am taking out the bow Vijayam gifted to me by Parasurama. Arjunas Gandeevam will become dim before this Vijayam. Karna released Bhargavastra. That made all the worlds confused. With the power of that astra, many chariots were broken; elephants and horses fell dead. On looking at the disaster in Pandavas army, Arjuna said: Arjuna: Krishna! You look at the disaster that this Bhargavastra created. We are all feeling happy for the loss of Sakthi weapon, which was held by Karna.
It is evident that he is consolidating all his energy and power to kill us. I feel it is not right to attack him at this moment. Let us wait and attack him at an opportune time. Unless we protect our body, how can we fight with him? Now he is glittering like mid days sun. Krishna: Arjuna ! While we are fighting with Aswadhama , Karna wounded Dharmarajas hand severely. Now let us go and see the condition of Dharmaraja. On returning from Dharmaraja, we shall fight with Karna. While they were both talking, they saw Bheema was fighting with the army of Kauravas. Arjuna shouted at him by saying: Arjuna: Bheema! While I was fighting with Kaurava army Dharmaraja fought with Aswadhama and Karna. At that time Karna wounded Dharmaraja with iron arrows and with the severe pain he withdrew from the battle field and went home. Now he is not seen in the battle field. Do you know how is he ? Bheema said, I also saw him fighting with Karna. As I am engaged in a severe battle with Kaurava army I did not enquire about him. However since Krishna is on our side, no damage would happen to him. Arjuna thought in himself that Dharmaraja must have been severely wounded with the arrows of Karna. So you must have gone home to take rest. He said to Bheema You go to Dharmaraja and enquire how his condition is and come back. Bheema said to Arjuna, If I go see Dharmaraja our enemies will think that Bheema was afraid of them. So I continue to fight from here. You and Krishna go and enquire the state of Dharmarajas health and tell me. Krishna and Arjuna visit Dharmaraja: Arjuna: Krishna! My mind is anxious to see Dharmaraja. He must have severely wounded with the arrows of Karna. He would able to resist the arrows of Bheeshma and Drona, but he was seriously affected with Karnas attack. So you take me to Dharmaraja. They went to Dharmaraja. By the time Dharmaraja was lying on a bed and moaning due to the wounds. Krishna and Arjuna prostrated at the feet of Dharmaraja, who by looking at them, thought that Arjuna must have killed Karna and came to inform. Dharmaraja: Krishna and Arjuna! Just now I fought with Karna. You all know what had happened. In the presence Satyaki, Drupada, Sikhandi and UpaPandavas, he killed my charioteer and horses. He filled all my body with iron
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arrows. Added to the injuries, he used all filthy language and insulted me. He was shining with the power of astras got from Parasurama. He exceeded wind god in velocity. Fighting became a childs play to him. At that time, Duryodhana was caught by Bheema and was struggling for life. So he left me and went to protect Duryodhana. Since the wounds are severely paining, I came home for a brief rest. Arjuna! Karna is not an ordinary human. He took all astras from Parasurama. Whenever I think of him, I used to spend sleepless nights. How you are able to kill him? Now and then, he used to challenge that he would kill Arjuna. Now you have shown him who was Arjuna and what his valour was? I know that the enemies do babble but for his talks, sky is the limit. The way in which he insulted Draupadi in the Kuru Sabha is still visible before my eyes. He always stands first to please Duryodhana with his war provoking talks, today you have killed such a bitter enemy of mine and made me happy. You made me an enemy less on earth. You poured water on Duryodhanas hopes. In short, Karna is an embodiment of jealousy. Arjuna : Dharmaraja ! While I was fighting with Samsaptakas , Aswadhama came with several radhikas and surrounded me. I destroyed five hundred chariots of Aswadhama. The dead bodies of army and animals turned out to be a big mountain. Aswadhama became furious and released a peculiar astra on me. With that, we lost our sight and couldnt see anything in front of us. We were able to see only his chariots everywhere. I released a remedial astra and removed the illusion and killed his charioteer. At that time the horses took his chariot away. I searched for you in the entire battle field. Bheema told me that you were fighting with Karna and seriously wounded. I came to enquire your welfare. If you permit me, I will go back and kill Karna. I would water down all the hopes of Duryodhana kept on him. He is thinking that he was more valorous than Bheeshma and Drona. I will go and kill him. If I dont kill him, I will get the sin of killing a brahmin. I will get such a sin of telling a lie to a brahmin. Bheema alone cant kill Karna. Hence I seek your permission to go and kill Karna. From the words of Arjuna, Dharmaraja understood that Karna was still alive. He was disappointed and got frustrated and said: Dharmaraja: It is a fact that I was wounded severely. These things are common in a battle. One should have the strength to withstand and continue to fight. Since I came home with wounds, I have become lenient. To that matter Karna has not left any one free. As Agni gets the hammer beatings, since it is associated with iron, Krishna also get wounded because of our association.
Now I have no interest in winning the war or ruling the country. We are all used to live in forests and continue to lead a muni life eating fruits and roots. As an alternate, from now, let us not talk anything about vigour and valour. We conveniently forget Kshatriya dharma and accept a Sudra dharma and serve same king or the other. We shall accept whatever they give us and live at their mercy. Arjuna! You have boasted about your vigour and valour. You have promised me that you would kill Karna with the strength of astras. You have praised me and lifted to the skies in the presence of our relatives. All those adorations have become false since you have dashed me to the ground from the sky. When did you learn all these things? Even the promises made in the presence of Krishna are reduced to the writings on water. You had a Gandeevam which is as tall as a palm tree. You have a divine chariot, yoked by immortal horses presented by Agni and have Krishna as your charioteer with a Kapidhwajam. In spite of your divine power, you failed to fight Karna and came running here on the pretext of seeing me. Arjuna! Expecting me every one knows about your valour. Karna now and then declares that, he would will kill you Arjuna easily. Duryodhana said long ago that you couldnt decimate Karna. I only believed your words. I have to curse my foolishness and ignorance. How can I blame you? It is very important that I have become the reason for this colossal human loss. I was also carried away by the voice heard from the sky at the time of your birth. He will not go back from the battle field. He will kill all his enemies. Had Kunti given birth to a girl or to an impotent, I would have avoided this humiliation. Brahma has written on my forehead to undergo all these insults. What you can do for my bad luck? Arjuna! Had you told me in Dwaitavana that I was afraid of Karna and couldnt defeat him? I wouldnt have come to Kurukshetra to fight a war. I too didnt think that you were so coward. Had Abhimanyu or Ghatotkacha were alive, they wouldnt have allowed me to get drowned in this ocean of distress. In the presence of all my relatives and kings, Karna had treated me like a blade of grass. Thus,I was put to so much of humiliation and made me an orphan. While Karna was calling you for a war, you came running to see me. What is the point of blaming you in so many words? I am neither valorous nor competent Kshatriya. Then how I am eligible to rule this country?
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Had you given Gandeevam to Krishna, and had you driven the chariot, Krishna would have killed Karna by this time. Had Kunti given birth to a girl instead of you, I would have avoided this humiliation. Arjuna went to remove the head of Dharmaraja: On hearing the humiliating words of Dharmaraja, Arjuna became furious, took out the sword and rushed to Dharmaraja to cut his head. But Krishna stopped him and said: Krishna: Arjuna! We dont have any enemies from Duryodhanas camp. On whom you are raising your sword? Dont you remember that we came here to know the welfare of Dharmaraja? He is safe. Shouldnt you be happy for that? If that is the case why you have pulled out the sword? Arjuna: (Looking at Dharmaraja with fury) Krishna! I have a vow that I will kill the head of a person who ever tells me to part with my Gandeevam. Now Dharmaraja said to give away my Gandeevam to you. In that case, should I not cut his head and keep up my vow? If I fail to remove his head, should I not get the sin of telling a lie? You know all dharmas. You tell me what I am to do now. I will do as per your advice. Krishna: Arjuna! While observing dharma, we have to bear in mind several aspects. Then only we should go into action. Both Truthfulness and nonviolence are dharmas . One must protect dharma with non-violence. Sometimes we should protect non-violence with untruth. This is what our elders said, With haste you have complicated those dharmas. Without considering all these facts, if you have resorted to kill your brother, who is our king and a well-wisher. Will there be any bigger crime than killing such a virtuous person? Arjuna! In fact you must have taken this vow unconsciously, while you were playing as a child. Such vows are not considered to be as vows by elders. You listen! One can tell a lie to save a life. In such cases, elders accept such a lie as a truth and truth as a lie. Arjuna: Krishna! Thanks a lot! Right from my childhood, you teaching me all dharmas. You are more than my parents. You have averted me from committing a heinous crime. You yourself tell me a way out, thereby my brother should live long and I also should not break my vow. Krishna: Arjuna! Abusing elders is equal to killing a person. So you abuse Dharmaraja in whatever manner you want. Thereby it amounts to killing of Dharmaraja. After completing your abuses, you go and prostrate at his feet.
On hearing Krishnas advice, Arjuna abused Dharmaraja in the following manner. Arjuna: Dharmaraja! Bheema was wounded and with all of his body pain, he was fighting the enemies with his hands and legs. Such a Bheema can talk in a sarcastic manner but not you. You are neither valorous nor strong enough to stand and fight. Hence what moral right you have to abuse and wound me? In spite of all these things, how dare you insult me? Having spoken such crude words on me, how your tongue was not split into two? Have you ever exhibited your valour at any time? Even Nakula or Sahadeva also kills the enemy armies but they never ill-treated me like you. As you have played gambling, we lost our kingdom; we underwent several difficulties in the forest. We had this enemity with Kauravas, Are you not responsible for all these evils? In spite of these, you are trying to boss over us. Are you not ashamed? Those who cannot fight should have forbearance which will enhance their prestige. But talking in a haughty way, doesnt suit them. If at all they speak, they become cheap before others. Past is past. From now on keep away from all bad habits and live like a virtuous person. All these years we have suffered on account of you. We are not prepared to suffer in future. Arjuna abused Dharmaraja in the above manner and took out the sword again. Looking at Arjuna, Krishna said, Arjuna! How is that you are again raising your sword? Arjuna said, Krishna! I have abused Dharmaraja in a vulgar way. As a mark of repentance, I have to cut my head. Then only I will be relieved from my sin of abusing my king. Krishna said, Arjuna! This time you praise all your glories by yourself. That amounts to committing suicide. So you put back your sword. Arjuna took the suggestion of Krishna and took his bow and said to Dharmaraja: Arjuna : Except Siva, nobody else can overcome me in archery. I overwhelmed several kings and brought enormous wealth and kept at your feet. With that wealth, you have performed Rajasuya yaga. I have killed many of Samsaptakas soldiers and now a small number remain. You yourself go and see how I killed Kaurava battalions. You leave anger and try to be modest. While saying so, Arjuna stood before Dharmaraja and prostrated at his feet and said humbly, oh king! Now I babbled many irrelevant talks you dont take any of them seriously. I am telling you the truth that as long as I am alive, I am your property. My life is at your disposal. Why dont you permit me to go
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and support Bheema, who is fighting all alone? I swear I will kill Karna and come back to you. I will see to it that Duryodhana dies in shame at your victory. If I dont kill Karna, then Kunti will have only four of her children alive. You make a note either me or Karna alone live in this world. Dharmaraja: Of course I committed mistakes. I played gambling and brought disgrace to our family. I made all of you to suffer. I deserve to be get killed by you. Even though you show kindness on me, I am not prepared to stay and rule the country. Now I am going to forest and do tapasya. As you said it, a coward like me is not eligible to be the ruler. Let Bheema get coroneted and rule this country. By saying so he started walking out to go to forest. While looking at Dharmaraja, Krishna said: Krishna: Dharmaraja! I am not aware of the vow of Arjuna. However he said that he had a vow that he would kill a person who insults his Gandeevam. In a fit of anger, he must have acted in haste. You, also in a fit of distress, uttered the words which are not palatable. To keep his vow, I suggested a way out by suggesting him to speak a few abusive words. Abusing ones elders will amount to killing him. This is what our elders said. I touch your feet and surrender to you. You are a kind hearted person. You shower your kindness on both of us. You pardon our mistakes and exonerate us. Dharmaraja! I am also giving you a word of honour that today itself, we will cut the head of Karna and show it to you. You dont worry about Karna who is going to die in a short while. Dharmaraja pacified with the words of Krishna: The words of Krishna bewildered him and he said with folded hands: Dharmaraja: Krishna! Due to the circumstances, I was bit confused. I lost my balance. You have woken me with your kind words. You have taught me good words with kindness. You have saved me from the ocean of troubles. Krishna! You are All Pervading Paramatma; you have to pardon me for my ignorance. Krishna: Arjuna! Why are you looking so pale? Dharmaraja has not only cooled down but also showered his blessings on us. You compliment him. You take permission from him and start to fight Karna and make him happy. Arjuna ! Have you ever imagined that one day, you would stab Dharmaraja? By the grace of god, we are relieved from such an unfortunate situation and a great sin.
On hearing Krishnas words, Arjuna wept bitterly and fell on the feet of Dharmaraja and asked for his pardon. Dharmaraja lifted him with both hands and embraced Arjuna ! Karna has broken my flag, bow, horses and the charioteer. He did all these things only with his valour. Unless you kill such a valorous Karna, my mind will not rest in peace. Arjuna: Dharmaraja! I swear on your feet. Today I will kill Karna and all his associates. In case I fail to kill him, I will not show my face to you again. As long as Arjuna and Krishna are in the same chariot, Arjuna will never become weak. Krishna! You make a sankalpam in your mind that Karna is to be killed today itself. Your determination will never become untrue. I will kill Karna only with the power of your will. Krishna: So be it. Oh Dharmaraja! You also bless your brother. Your blessings only will give him the strength of killing Karna. Dharmaraja embraced and blessed Arjuna. Krishna: Arjuna! You have killed Bheeshma and Drona with your valour. Of all your victories your killing of Syndhava is exemplary. Kauravas are banking in Karna for their victory. Unless you kill Karna the passion of Duryodhana will not be drowned. With that, your glory will become immortal. Oh Arjuna! Karna, Selya, Krutavarma, Aswadhama, Krupacharya and many other Kaurava warriors are going to be killed at your hands. If you want to show any kindness, you may spare Aswadhama and Krupacharya . The relationships should not come into your way in a battle way, so you dont hesitate to kill Krutavarma and Selya also. Karna alone is responsible for all the distress of Pandavas. Unless you kill Karna the passion of Duryodhana will not be suppressed. Once Karna is killed, Kauravas will surrender. Arjuna: Krishna! Yes, I will make them to surrender While Krishna and Arjuna were talking and proceeding towards the battle field Arjuna saw that Kaurava and Pandava armies were fighting. In that battle one of Karnas sons was killed at the hands of Uttamouja. Karna killed the horses of Uttamouja. He got down from his chariot with a sword in his hand and killed horses of Krupacharyas chariot. Sikhandi came and took Uttamouja in his chariot. Aswadhama came and took Krupacharya in his chariot.
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Bheema enquired his charioteer Visoka, about Arjuna and the welfare of Dharmaraja. On hearing Bheemas words, Visoka stretched his head all around and found that Arjunas Kapidhwaja was entering the battle field. In the mean while Sakuni attacked Bheema and wounded the soldier of Bheema. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! What Krutavarma, Aswadhama, Krupa, Karna and Duryodhana were doing? Sanjaya: King! They were also engaged in fighting the Pandavas. At that time Bheema, Sikhandi, Drushtajyumna, Upa-Pandavas are fighting with Kaurava armies. Karna alone went and chased all of them with his divine astras. All Pandava warriors were astonished at Karnas high spirit of battle. In the mean while, Arjuna entered the Kauravas vuaha and killed many of the warriors and he said, Krishna! I am seeing the flag of Karna. You take our chariot in front of him. Krishna took his chariot and kept before Karna. Selya: Karna! Arjuna is coming alone; nobody is around him to support; He looks furious. It is an opportune time for you to attack and show your vigour. Karna : Selya ! All these days Arjuna was boasting about his own heroism. He was also carried away with the false image he had built up all these years. He claims that he has pleased Siva and obtained Pasupatastra. He boasts that he killed many demons and pleased Indra. He often tells about the winning of Viratas cows as one of his great achievements. He was proud of having the company of Krishna. Now his life has come to an end. You put the chariot before him. On his way to Karnas chariot, Arjuna was some difficulties as, Duryodhana sent Krupa, Krutavarma, Aswadhama, Sakuni and many of his brothers to attack Arjuna. Arjuna effectively opposed all the warriors and killed ten of Duryodhanas brothers. Looking at the death of his brothers, Duryodhana provoked herds of elephants on Arjuna; but he killed those elephants. Seeing that Karna could not digest Arjunas upper hand and he himself came to attack Arjuna. Bheema met Dussasana and declared direct clash with him and said: Bheema: Dussasana! The other day you insulted me in Kurusabha. Today you have given me an opportunity to repay your debt by taking out your life. I will driunk blood from your chest and fulfill my vow. To my good fortune I am able to meet you today.
Dussasana: Nonsense! Why are you remembering all those things again and again? They are all old stories. Now you fight with me, if you have any manhood is left in you. As Bhima remembered what Dussasana had done to Draupadi, his anger within him blazed up uncontrollably. He threw down all his weapons and jumped from his chariot and leapt upon Dussasana like a tiger on its prey, hurled him down and broke his limbs. You wicked beast! Is this the wretched hand that held Draupadi by the hair? Here, I tear out the root from your body. If there is anybody here wishing to help you, let him come forward and try! So saying,Bheema tore Duhsasanas arm out and threw the bleeding limb on the battlefield. Thus he fulfilled the terrible oath he had taken thirteen years before. Mad with passion, he sucked and drank the blood from his enemys body like a beast of prey and danced on the bloody field, Yes! Yes! I have done it! he roared. The oath I swore against this great sinner has been redeemed. It only remains to redeem my oath as regards Duryodhana. This horrible scene made everyone shudder. Even great Karna was shaken as he saw Bheema in this ecstasy of wrath. Do not flinch, said Salya to Karna. It does not befit you to show any sign that may be mistaken for fear. When Duryodhana stands quivering in despair; it is not right that you also should lose heart. After the great Dussasanas death, the armys hope rests solely on you. You must now bear the full burden. Like the gallant warrior you are, seek single combat with Arjuna, and win eternal glory on earth or the soldiers heaven! At these words, Karna recovered his courageous spirit. With eyes red with wrath and unshed tears, he asked Salya drive the chariot towards Arjuna. Seeing this terrible and unbearable sight, Aswatthama said to Duryodhana,Enough of fighting. Let us terminate this disastrous enmity. Beloved friend! Please make peace with the Pandavas. Stop the battle. What? Did you not hear the words that the stubborn Bheema uttered, when like a predatory beast, he drank human blood and danced over my brothers mangled body? What talk can there be now of peace? Why do you speak vain words! said Duryodhana. Saying thus, he ordered a fresh disposition of the forces, and gave the command for attack. In this manner Bheema has fulfilled his vow by killing Dussasana. Dussasana! I have fulfilled one of my two vows by killing you. The second one I should fulfill by killing your brother Duryodhana.
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Sanjaya reports: Dhrutarashtra! Looking at the dead body of Dussasana lying down on the ground, Your sons Kavachi, Nishangi, Kasi, Dhandadhara, Danurbahu, Aloku, Nousha, Shanda, Vatavyehu and Suvarchana ran toward Bheema to take revenge. After killing Dussasana, Bheema was going in search of Duryodhana to fulfill his next vow. In the mean while those sons attacked Bheema. Bheema killed all of them in a cruel manner. While your sons were being brutally killed, none of your battalions dared to go anywhere near Bheema. Selya also saw the victory dance of Bheema and told Karna: Selya: Karna! You look at Bheema. He has killed Dussasana and drank blood from his chest. You are not a coward like other Kaurava warriors. However Krupa and few others are standing behind you to support. Dont leave courage. You attack and kill as many enemies as possible. Since you are lenient, Duryodhana himself is going to fight with Pandavas. Remember you are born to kill Arjuna. With that faith only, you are anointed as commander-in-chief. Hence you realize your responsibility and proceed to kill Arjuna. In the mean while Vrushasena, Karnas grandson attacked Arjuna. Arjuna broke his bow and chariot. He took a sword and cut the head in the presence of Karna. Karna and Duryodhana were traumatized at the death of Vrushasena. At that time Brahma, Siva, Indra, Devarishis and entire divine community stood on the sky to watch the battle of Arjuna and Karna. They spoke to themselves, The war was made inevitable. Nara-Narayanas took the forms of Krishna and Arjuna to reduce the burden on earth. So the human loss cannot be avoided. While Nara-Narayanas are fighting for one side the victory cannot go to the other side. Now we can only watch the exhibition of divine astras. So let us watch. Karna: Selya! If I lam killed in this battle, tell me what will happen? Selya: Karna! I shall take over your place and continue my fight with Krishna ad Arjuna Arjuna also asked Krishna same question Arjuna: Krishna! If Karna defeats me, what will happen? Krishna: Arjuna! Let the sun fall on the earth! Let the earth break into two! Let the Mt. Meru tilt! But Arjuna will never be defeated. I will not allow you to have such a distress. I shall kill Karna and Selya with one fist. Afterwards I will kill all the Kaurava armies and crown Dharmaraja as the emperor on earth.
Arjuna: Krishna! I put that question to you just for a fun. I alone is enough to kill all the armies including Karna and Selya. But I will not give such an opportunity to you because I am born only to win this battle. My heart is still burning with the insults suffered by Draupadi. Even if Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswaras stood on behalf of Karna I will kill all of them. I will cut the head of Karna and make you happy. You should go to Draupadi, and Dharmaraja to inform the death of Karna. Aswadhama teaches to Duryodhana: Aswadhama: Duryodhana! Let us terminate this disastrous enmity. Beloved friend, make peace with the Pandavas. Stop the battle. Even Bheeshma and Drona fell from the arrows of Arjuna. I dont think that Karna is able to give you a victory. So I will go and convince Arjuna to stop fighting. He will listen to my advice. You also go and meet Dharmaraja. Talk to him in such a manner to suit the situation. Dharmaraja also is a reasonable person. He may agree to your proposal and instruct Arjuna to stop fighting. Before that you instruct Karna to withdraw from fighting with Arjuna. Krishna also will feel happy with this outcome. If you listen to my words, the Kuru family will survive. Even the remaining kings and their armies will go back to their kingdoms. Even common people also will feel happy. Dont think that myself and Krupacharya can give you a victory. Can we bring a victory what Bheeshma and Drona could not? Even now you leave jealousy on Krishna and Arjuna. Make up your mind and extend your hand for a compromise. Dearest friend, make peace with the Pandavas. Stop the battle. But Duryodhana refused to understand the position and continued to be adamant and said: Duryodhana: Aswadhama! Arjuna is very much tired. Karna is still fresh. Since Karna with all his fury he will consolidate all his energies and astras to kill Arjuna. The fire may lose its heat, The Mountains may shake, but can ever Arjuna defeat Karna? You keep all your fears aside and get ready for fighting. So the fight gained momentum. The fight between Karna and Arjuna: Karna threw ten arrows on Arjuna. Arjuna cast eighteen arrows on Karna. In response,Karna released one arrow on Krishna. Arjuna became furious and filled Karnas body with arrows. In this manner, both started wounding each other. When Arjuna delivered Agneya astra, Karna cooled it down with a Varunastra. They attacked with each other with powerful divine astras. Arjuna released an Indrastra with which all the armies frightened but Karna broke into pieces before it reached him.
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Bheema: Arjuna! You remember all your past glories and consolidate your energy. Remember the way in which how you fought devatas at the time of burning Khandava. You must conclude the battle today itself by killing Karna. I would have broken his head into pieces with my club long back. Because you took a vow of killing him, I did not venture to kill him. Krishna: Arjuna! All your astras have become useless, whereas Karna is filing arrows on your body. You consolidate your strength and kill him. Arjuna became active with the encouragement given by Bheema and pinpointing his inefficiency by Krishna. He took an arrow fixed into his bow and recited mantra and released Brahmastra. That astra travelled dangerously towards Karna. But he reduced the severity of Brahmastra by a counter astra. After pulling down the power of Brahmastra, Karna sent three arrows on Krishna and Arjuna and wounded them. In return, Arjuna transmitted nine sharp arrows on Selya and Karna. Karna took out Nagastra and was about to throw it on Arjuna. Selya interrupted him and said, Karna! Your aim is not correct. You please keep the aim at the neck point of Arjuna. Karna was furious at Selya for distracting his concentration and said, You keep quiet since you know nothing about archery. Will ever Karna release an arrow without fixing the target? By saying so, he released the astra on Arjuna and said Arjuna! You are dead with this arrow. Krishna looked at Nagastra(Shaft in serpent shape) which was about attacking Arjuna with fire. He knew it would certainly kill Arjuna. Tactfully Krishna pulled back the horses suddenly, by which he made the chariot have a sharp jerk. Krishna at the nick of time, pressed the vehicle down five fingers deep in the mud, so that Nagastra just missed Arjuns head but struck off his helmet! Arjuna was red with shame and anger and he fixed a dart on his bow to make an end of Karna. Krishna said, Arjuna! This Nagastra is not leaving you. Again it is attacking. Arjuna said, Krishna! Who is this serpent? Why it is taking vengeance on me? Krishna said, Arjuna! When Agni was burning Khandava vana, a women serpent by name Aswasena tried to protect her mother. But you did not allow her to escape and killed. That Aswasena took vengeance on you, by becoming as an astra and had gone to Karna. All these years he was worshipping that astra with flowers and sandalwood with great devotion. That Aswasena is now chasing you with vengeance. Karna was disappointed since Arjuna was not killed, he released twelve more arrows.
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Karnas chariot sunk into the ground: And Karnas fated hour was come, and as had been foretold, the left wheel of his chariot suddenly sank in the bloody mire. He jumped down on the ground to lift the wheel up from the mud. Wait a minute! Karna cried. My chariot has sunk in the ground. Great warrior as you are, and knowing dharma as you do, you would certainly not take unfair advantage of this accident. I shall presently set my chariot right and give you all the battle you want. Arjuna hesitated. Karna was now somewhat perturbed on account of the mishap. He remembered the curse that had been pronounced on him, and again appealed to Arjunas sense of honor. But Krishna thought otherwise. Krishna: It is well that you too remember that there are things like fair play and chivalry! Now that you are in difficulty, you remember them indeed. But when you and Duryodhana and Dussasana and Sakuni dragged Draupadi to the Hall of Assembly and insulted her, how was it you forgot them utterly? You helped to deceive e Dharmaraja, who was fond of dice game but was unskilled at it, to gamble, and you cheated him. Where had your fair play hidden itself then? Was it fair play to refuse to give to Dharmaraja his kingdom when according to the pledge the twelve years of forest life and the thirteenth year incognito were duly completed? What had happened to the dharma you appeal for now? You conspired with the wicked men who sought to poison and kill Bheema. You acquiesced in the plot to burn the Pandavas alive when sleeping in the palace of wax into which they had been lured. What had happened to dharma all that time? What did dharma tell you when violent hands were laid on Draupadi and you were enjoying the sight? Did you not then ridiculed her saying: Your husbands have left you unprotected, go and marry another husband? The very tongue that was not ashamed to utter those words now talks of chivalry. When a mob of you surrounded the young Abhimanyu and shamelessly slew him, was that chivalry? Wicked Karna!, dont talk now of chivalry and fair play, because you have never honoured them! With the words of Krishna, the fury in Arjuna had raged and he started releasing astras after astras, broke the flag post of Karna. At the fall of flag post and the chariot was drowned onto the ground. Karna tried his best to lift his chariot. But he could not move an inch. At the behest of Krishna, Arjuna fixed the arrow in his bow and said, Had I did any tapasya, had I given charities, had I served my guru with devotion, had I always did righteous acts, this arrows should remove the head of Karna.
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Arjuna removes the head of Karna: With the help of the divine astra Karnas head was cut and drowned in a pool of blood. Immediately the trunk of his body fell on the ground like an uprooted tree. To the astonishment of all the warriors in the battle field, a light came out of his body and merged into the sun god. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! The moment Karnas head fell on the ground, the chariot became alright . It was assumed that the brahmins curse became true. At the death of Karna, all the Pandava armies celebrated with the simhanadhams. By the time the sun has set. King! While Pandava armies were making simhanadhams, Selya and Kaurava armies lowered their heads in utter shame and defeat. Selya drove his chariot without Karna to the barracks and said to Duryodhana: Selya: Duryodhana! I have seen many battles so far. But I havent ever seen the cruelty the way which Krishna and Arjuna adopted. At one point of time even Nara-Narayanas were shivering with fear at the brutal attack of Karna. Whatever it may be god did not favour Karna. Brahma himself did not give longevity. That is why, valorous Karna fell dead. Duryodhana! Even at his last moments, his only ambition was to make you the emperor on earth. Oh king! Dont grieve for the mishap, since god did not favour you. But many kings gave their lives for you. Celeberating the victory, Krishna and Arjuna blew their conches. The simhanadhams are equivalent to those of Rama-Ravana fighting. When Indrajeet died Lakshmana also made similar simhanadhams. Since it was time for evening rituals, both the armies retired to their barracks. On hearing the news of Karnas death, Duryodhana cried bitterly like a child. While Duryodhana was retiring to the residence with distress, it resembled the day on which Pandavas went to the forest leaving their fortune to Duryodhana. All the kings went to Dharmaraja and complimented him for the days achievement. Krishna jokes at Dharmaraja: Krishna: Dharmaraja! Even if all the armies from three worlds combined together, they could not have killed Karna. However he was killed only with your fury. Your anger turned him into ashes. With the death of Karna you have no enemy on earth. Be happy.
Dharmaraja: Krishna ! We can never forget the kindness you are extending to us. Because of your mercy only, we are able to achieve what all we wanted with a little effort. As long as we have your blessings, there is no surprise for us in annihilating enemies? You are the protector of all the worlds. Krishna: Thank you! Good words will keep everyone happy. So you are keeping all of us with your good words. However I tell you a truth. I am only an instrumental for this victory whereas your brothers and brothers-in-law fought with extraordinary virile and dedication. For the sweet words of Krishna, Dharmaraja was happy and went to the battle field with Krishna and his brothers to see the Karnas body. There he said, Krishna! With the death of this valorous commander, my chances are becoming as emperor seem to be bright. Dharmaraja complimented Krishna, Arjuna and other brothers and embraced them. He said that the death of Karna was a second birth to all of them. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! Today happened to be a day of tragedy to you. In a Yagna of battle entire thing is Vishnumayam. Surya, Agni, Chandra are the rithwicks. Arjuna and Karna are the Yagna in the form of a battle. Karna is an outstanding warrior. But he fought for wrong cause and it is a tragedy. It was the Lord Krishna that incited Arjuna to kill Karna when he was vainly trying to raise his chariot out of the mud in which it had stuck. According to the code of honor and laws of war , it was wholly wrong. Who could bear the responsibility for breaches of dharma except the Lord Himself? The lesson is that it is vanity to hope, through physical violence and war, to put down wrong. The battle for right, conducted through physical force leads to numerous wrongs and, in the net result, adharma increases and it resulted in the death of Karna Hearing this, Dhirudharashtra wept bitterly and said, Moved by ambition and greed, we placed too great a burden on friends. They have uncomplainingly borne it and laid down their lives on the battlefield and attained the happy regions above. Conclusion: In this parvam, we see the finest character study of a person who had a chequered career. Karna is as an excellent example of a gifted, generous, righteous and brave person. But he was still destined to die tragically, because of his loyalty towards Duryodhana. Karnas affection for Duryodhana led him, albeit unwillingly, to help his dear friend in all his actions against the Pandavas. Karna was aware of Duryodhanas wicked and spiteful plots against the Pandavas. Karna was also perceptive of his own pending downfall on
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assisting the evil against the good. He is criticised for insulting Draupadi in the Hastinapur court and for supporting Duryodhan in his act of dishonouring her. His role in the killing of an unarmed and outnumbered Abhimanyu is interpreted as an act that more directly damaged his reputation as an honourable warrior and damned him to a similar fate. It was this deed that paved Karnas status as a warrior on the wrong side of the war and sealed his fate, that of being killed by Arjuna in the same way, being unarmed, without his chariot and with his back turned to his killer, Arjuna. In Ramayana we see how Kumbakarna fights for a losing cause and sacrifices his life. In Mahabharatha, we see how Karna sacrifices his life for Duryodhana, simply because he had never forgotten his sense of gratitude. He shines as an embodiment of this sterling quality.
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CHAPTER 1 Sanjaya continued his commentary on the events after Karma was killed. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! After mourning the death of Karna, Duryodhana convened the Sabha and many warriors gave their point of view . Among the views expressed, Krupacharyas view was seriously welcomed by many. He said: Krupacharya: Duryodhana! Fighting a war is a Kshatriya dharma. Even Vedas are accepting the same. Many kings fought battles and became glorious and reached superior lokas. Though you may not relish, I will offer you a few good words. Dont be furious at me. If you like it, you may take it; otherwise you ignore, but listen carefully. Pandavas defeated- Bheeshma, Drona and Karna, besides many other warriors . We were also as powerful as Pandavas. In spite of that, we lost our armies and we became weak. Since Krishna is on their side, they did not lose much of their armies as we lost. Before the grace of Krishna, they did not suffer even a scratch. Duryodhana! Pandavas are like wild fire and Krishna is the wind with velocity. They both joined together and killed our armies. In spite of the presence of Bheeshma, Drona, Karna, myself and others could not save Syndhava from Arjuna. After fifteen days of war, we have become weak, whereas their strength is intact. After Bheeshma, Drona and Karna we did not have a strong commanderin-chief to continue the fight. In our side Selya, Krutavarma, Aswadhama and myself remain. On Pandavas side Bheema and Satyaki are protecting Arjuna . Though we four are capable of fighting fiercely, we are not equal to Arjuna. I need not say the strength of Bheema again. Dharmaraja is a virtuous and good natured king. If you make use of his virtuous nature and make an effort for a compromise, this is the best opportune time. Dont get annoyed at my suggestion. Anger should not stay for a long time. Long term anger will destroy
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the king. Seeking a compromise is time old tradition and is accepted by scriptures. They also say that over confidence is a great sin. Duryodhana! You think for a while. Why this war has come? You wanted to enjoy all the kingdom for yourself. But you could not achieve it, now you losing everything. Under these circumstances it is not wise to continue the war. Unless you save your own life, what enjoyment you can have? Hence you try for a compromise with Dharmaraja . He never had the arrogance of becoming a king. Is it not wise to approach such a virtuous person? If you go to him, he will certainly forget all the past and extend his brotherly hand to you. Even though, Dharmaraja had the entire earth in his hand he gave everything to Dhrutarashtra, you and to your brothers. He has great respect and devotion for Dhrutarashtra and Gaandhari. When you seek a compromise, even Krishna will agree to it. Whatever decision Krishna and Dharmaraja take, all his brothers would agree. Please abandon your anger. Duryodhana! I am telling you all these things not because to avoid fighting. I am not interested to save my life. I am more interested in your wellbeing. If you dont listen to my advice, you will feel sorry by that time it becomes too late. Duryodhana didnt lent his ears to this well-meant and long-winded advice. He closed his eyes, thought for a few moments, had a deep breath and said: Duryodhana: Acharya! Since I am in distress you could not bear my pain, you are giving me this good advice in my interest. I understand your good nature. I am thank you for your selfless and fatherly advice. You are a learned person. Having entered a battle field we do what all we are supposed to do. How can we go in the half-way with a compromise proposal? Though you are suggesting this to me out of love and affection, you know that such actions are not to my taste. Acharya! I ruled the entire earth with pride. I have patronized who are all affectionate to me. I harassed all my enemies and kept under my control. I have cultivated a different style of my own. Today how can I live under the mercy of some body else? Why should I need such a life? Under these circumstances I have no alternative except to continue fighting. You have to pardon me for disobeying your advice.
Acharya! All my pride, valour and glory are not permanent. Unless I fight with Dharmaraja, it doesnt suit my status. I cannot become a downcast before an enemy. Hence you leave your fear. Let us fight and go to heaven, if we are dead. There we meet Bheeshma, Drona and other relatives. That is the only way for a courageous Kshatriya. If the remaining warrior help me, I can kill Pandavas and establish my superiority. The heroic words of Duryodhana were appreciated by all the allies and they showed their enthusiasm for a fight. They also prompted their armies to be enthusiastic and courageous. Then there arose a question about the appointment of a new commander-chief. Satyasena, son of Karna said, King! After the death of Karna we must have a good commander-in-chief for our army. You select one such an efficient person who can draw effective vyuhas and win the enemy. Aswadhama said, King! Selya is the most efficient person for the job. He is the senior most to all of us. He is a good archer, he is a veteran and fought many battles. He knows the strength of enemy better than anybody. By all means, Selya is the best person for the post. Everybody seconded this suggestion. Duryodhana arranged the coronation of Selya as the new Commanderin-Chief. All the allied forces hailed his appointment. Duryodhana said, Selya Uncle! It is apt time for you to help a nephew who is in difficulties. You fight with high spirit, lead our army and secure a victory for me. Selya: King! Should you request me in so many words? The moment I joined your side, I have put all my resources, army and my life for your success. I shall do whatever you want. Next morning the army was enthusiastic to reach the battle field. In the meanwhile the spies brought information from the Pandavas side which revealed as many matters such as the conversation held in Pandava camp: Dharmaraja: Krishna! Kauravas made Selya as their Commander-inChief. Tell me how we go about and the strategy we must adopt. Krishna: Dharmaraja! I know Selya and his capabilities. He is a brave and courageous and experienced warrior, on par with Bheeshma, Drona and Karna. We shouldnt underestimate him. Selya has a strange ability which make him invincible in battle. The more aggression his enemies showed while fighting against him, Selya would become even more powerful thus making him
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victorious. Only you could kill the powerful warrior because you are not a man of aggression. But you would easily slay him Dharmaraja: Krishna! I will do as instructed by you. When Sanjaya came to us for a compromise formula I myself declared in our Sabha that I will beat Selya. Sanjaya reports: Dhrutarashtra ! On that night Selya , Sakuni , Krutavarma, Aswadhama and others sat with Duryodhana and said, King! Tomorrow let us not fight Kauravas individually. We all join together and fight with them by being protective to each other. If we take a fight individually, they will not get fatigue so soon. If we all attack them, they will be weakened in a short time. Thereby we can establish our superiority.. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Can Dharmaraja defeat Selya Sanjaya: He is optimistic. Dhrutarashtra! Your son was very much hopeful that Selya is capable of securing victory for him. He had several dreams of winning the battle with the help of Selya. Selya has formed Sarvatobhadra vyuha whereas Pandavas have planned three different vyuhas to attack Selya and his men. The battle of eighteenth day: Selya asked his charioteer to put his chariot before Dharmaraja . Chitrasena, son of Karna attacked Nakula. He broke the bow of Nakula and wounded his forehead. While Nakula was about to jump on Chitrasena with a sword, Chitrasena broke the sword also. Nakula took another sword, got into the chariot of Chitrasena and cut his head with the sword. Satyasena and Susarma, other sons of Karna, attacked Nakula, who became furious and threw a Sakthi weapon on them and killed all of them. In the second front, Arjuna fought Kaurava battalions and confused them with several astras. Bheema, Satyaki, Drushtajyumna and Upa-Pandavas supported Dharmaraja. Selya rained several arrows on all the protectors and moved closer to Dharmaraja. When Selya was attacking Dharmaraja, all Panchala groups surrounded Selya, who killed many of those soldiers. The army was not able to withstand the onslaught of Selya and ran behind Dharmaraja. This time Selya made Dharmaraja as his target. He wounded him with several sharp arrows. He also drove away those Pandava warriors and their leaders. In the meanwhile Selyas son attacked Bheema ,who cut his head . Selya was distressed at the death of his son; with that rising fury, he killed many combatants of Pandavas.
Selya and Bheema fought with clubs: Selya, chasing Pandava armies, attacked Dharmaraja. Bheema stood before Selya and threw a Tomaram at him. Furious Selya threw another Tomaram and broke the shield of Bheema. They fought with clubs for a long time and blood flowed from their bodies and drenched the ground. Selya fainted. Krupacharya came and took him into his chariot and left. Kaurava armies attacked Sekitanu who was protecting Dharmaraja. Duryodhana came and killed Sekitanu. A ferocious fight went on between Dharmaraja and Selya. Dharmaraja consolidated all his energy and filled Selyas body with sharp arrows. Selya challenged at Dharmaraja by saying that he would kill him with powerful arrow and put an end to the war. In that attack Dharmaraja fainted. After a while Dharmaraja recovered from fainting and threw a Tomaram on Selya. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! At that time Selya and Dharmaraja fought with furiously. Dharmaraja sent several arrows on Selya. He killed the charioteer and the horses. Selya fell and fainted, but Aswadhama came and took Selya in his chariot. Selya recovered from his fainting and attacked on Dharmaraja and rained powerful arrows. At that time Dharmaraja worshipped Krishna and Rudra in his mind. He remembered Sakthi weapon and threw it on Selya. That weapon broke the shield, entered his chest and came out from the back side and fell on the ground. Strong rumours went around the battle field that Dharmaraja was going to become the king and that he would kill Duryodhana also that day itself and that Dhrutarashtra would become an orphan. Drushtajyumna and Satyaki kill Salva: All the Kaurava army ran away hither and thither. Your son Duryodhana alone attacked Pandavas. He cast hundred arrows on Dharmaraja, seventy arrows on Bheema, five arrows on Nakula and sixty arrows on Drushtajyumna. He broke the bow of Sahadeva. Though Duryodhana was profusely bleeding, he alone fought with all Pandava armies in a heroic way. Arjuna: Krishna! Today is the eighteenth day of our war. In the beginning both the armies looked like an ocean. Today it has reduced to the size of a pond. That blind king and his sons alone wanted this battle. God has watered
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down in all the dreams of Duryodhana. Bheeshma advised Duryodhana to seek a compromise and stop the human loss. But he never respected his advice. Even after the death of Bheeshma, the continuing this war is nothing but his foolishness. Even after Dronas death, there is no change in his attitude. From this, we can understand the level of his mind. We killed his brother Dussasana and his friend Karna. Now we killed Selya. Even at this last hour, he refuses to acknowledge the superiority of Dharmaraja. He is prepared even to die, but he doesnt want to part with our share of kingdom. Therefore we shall kill the remaining one or two warriors and call off this war. Krishna: Arjuna! When I went to Hastina for a compromise talk, Vidura said to me, Krishna! Why you came this far? Duryodhana is a fool, ignorant and egotist. Hence war alone is the solution. There is no use of our talks for a compromise. Duryodhana wants to enjoy the entire land by himself. As soon as he was born all the maharishis said, He will become responsible for the death of all the kings on earth. Arjuna : Krishna! Unless Duryodhana is killed, Dharmaraja cannot become the king. With my valour, I will kill all the remaining armies of Kauravas. You take the chariot before the Kauravas army. Drushtajyumna attacked Duryodhana and killed his charioteer and horses. Duryodhana sat on the back of a horse and provoked herds of elephants on Pandavas. Bheema and Arjuna chased all those animals far away. Fourteen of Duryodhanas brothers attacked Bheema,who killed them all with one arrow on each. Krishna: Arjuna! We can count the enemys army on fingers. You killed all those herds of horses. All the sons of Dhrutarashtra were killed by Bheema. One more brother and Duryodhana alone are remaining. Arjuna: Krishna! The only remaining enemies are Duryodhana and his brother. It is not a big matter for us to kill both of them. Among the warriors only Krupa, Aswadhama and Krutavarma are alive. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Since our soldiers were killed, how many of Pandavas warriors remain alive? Where had my son Duryodhana gone? Sanjaya: Under leadership of Drushtajyumna, two thousand chariots, five hundred horses, ten thousand soldiers remain. Your son got down from the horse back, picked up his club and went away from the battle field.
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CHAPTER-2
Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Where did Duryodhana go with his club? Had a king this much of disgrace? Sanjaya: At the beginning of the battle we had eleven akshauhinis of army. Today there remains none. So he went alone with his club. There was a water pond nearby by name Dvypayanam. He went there to hide in the lake. At that time Krishna and Arjuna went round the battle field. They did not find even a single warrior on Kauravas side. All the combatants were either dead or ran away. Armies of Krutavarma, Krupacharya and Aswadhama remain alive. At that time Satyaki caught hold of me and took me before Drushtajyumna. Looking at me. Drushtajyumna said, Why do you bring this fellow? He is as harmless as an earthworm. Satyaki said, He is a traitor. You kill him. By saying so he raised his hand to kill me. At that time Vyasa maharishi appeared and said it is not good to kill me and asked me to go away anywhere I like. With the grace of maharishi, I saved my life and walked towards Duryodhana where he was hiding. He could not see my face. He lowered his head with repentance. Looking at Duryodhanas pitiable condition, I also became dumb. I controlled myself and told him, Duryodhana! Satyaki caught hold of me and tried to kill. At that time Vyasa maharishi appeared and released me from his clutches. Duryodhana said, Sanjaya! Who are all alive in our side? I said, Krutavarma, Krupacharya and Aswadhama are alive. He patted on my back and said, You go and tell my father. Father! In my presence, all people from my side are dead. The people who are near and dear to Pandavas are alive. I am also chased by death. At the moment I am hiding in a lake, because I did not want to be die at the hands of Pandavas. Pandavas are celebrating their victory. How can I bear that? Even though they will allow me to live with them, should I accept such food from their hands like a beggar? Why should I lead such a disgraceful life? Father! I am hiding in this lake not just to save my life. I want to live only to secure a bigger army to take revenge on Pandavas. Giving the message to his father he asked me to go to you. He recited the mantra of Jalastanbhana and entered the lake. Power of that mantra, prevents the water from touching his body. On my way, I saw Krutavarma, Krupacharya and Aswadhama. They were searching for Duryodhana. They asked me whether Duryodhana is still alive or not. I told them that he is living in that lake. They bitterly wept for his pathetic
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condition. They said, If he leads us, we shall fight Pandavas even at the cost of our lives. Dhrutarashtra! While we are talking in this manner, Pandavas were searching for Duryodhana and to catch alive. By looking at them, Krupacharya took me in his chariot and reached Kauravas barracks. At that time, all the women of Kauravas were in a state of confusion and were grieving bitterly. Looking at those women, Yuyuthsu said, Dharmaraja! It would be better if we leave all these women in Hastinapura. Dharmaraja said, That is a good idea. Krishna said I appreciate your good gesture. Yuyuthsu went to the Kaurava women to console them and made arrangements for their return to Hastinapura. Vidura said to Yuyuthsu, You have given a good advice at an appropriate time. I compliment you. First you take all these women to your palace. You dont tell the details of war to Dhrutarashtra. Sanjaya himself will tell. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! With regards to the royal women, Vidura and your son Yuyuthsu made the necessary arrangements. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! After the loss of all Kaurava army, what did Duryodhana do? Sanjaya : Dhrutarashtra ! All the Pandavas and their army were searching for Duryodhana. Since they could not find him, they all went back to their barracks. After Pandavas left, Krupa and others went to the lake and called Duryodhana. Duryodhana talks to Krupa and others: Krupa: Duryodhana! You dont ditch your courage. We all stand by your side. We shall fight till the last breath of ours. You lead us. We are confident that we can kill all Pandavas and you continue to be our king. Otherwise, let all of us get killed by the enemy in the battle. But hiding in the waters like this, doesnt suit your status. Duryodhana: Warriors! My body is of wounds. It is not in my control. I came to drink water from this lake. You are also very much tired. You drink some water and take rest. After getting recharged, let us resume our fighting. I am confident that we can decimate our enemies even now. Aswadhama : Duryodhana ! Why are you confused? I will kill all Pandavas this night itself. You will live without an enemy and keep your father happy.
Since Pandavas could not find Duryodhana, Bheema casually asked a few hunters roaming around, Hunters! I will give you valuable gifts, if you can tell me the whereabouts of Duryodhana He told the identification of Duryodhana. Those hunters, while going with baskets of flesh on their head, saw a few people discussing on the banks of the lake. They went to the barracks and informed them about Duryodhana. Dharmaraja complimented the hunters and gave them valuable gifts. They went to the lake. Aswadhama said to Duryodhana, King! Pandavas are coming in search of you. Shall we give them a fight? Or do you advise us to hide somewhere. Duryodhana: Warriors! Dont be eager for a fight now. You hide somewhere during the day time. Again we will meet in the night. All the Pandavas will certainly go back to Hastinapura. Therefore it is impossible for them to know about my hiding. Dharmaraja censures Duryodhana: Dharmaraja: Krishna! How long one can hide in waters? While we are all waiting, how can he escape? Even Indra cannot save him. Krishna: Dharmaraja! We have to kill sinners and cruel people only by wicked ways. Even Indra and Vishnu also killed the demons by wicked methods only. Have you not heard that Hiranyakasaka and Vrutasura were killed with a stratagem? Though Ravana did many mystics, ultimately he was killed at the hands of Rama. Why so many words? How I killed Narakasura? Dharmaraja: Duryodhana! For your sake, all the kings on earth with their armies were killed before your eyes. Because you hide in waters, do you think that you can escape? Did any king on earth face this pathetic condition? Why are you becoming the laughing-stock before your enemies? The entire world knows your virility. Did you forget all the babblings you made in Kuru Sabha? You are unnecessarily struggling to save your life. But all your efforts will become waste. All your brothers and sons were dead in your presence. But you alone are struggling to save your life. Is it not a cowardly act? Dont you know that glory is more precious than life? Really it is a pity that you have stooped to this low-level. People are laughing at you by saying that Duryodhana was hiding in a lake for fear of Pandavas? You have a great faith that Karna, Sakuni, Dussasana will save you and so harmed us. Since you dont have your own strength or strength from your supporters, you have become a weak limb. Now you are caught in our hands. Where you can escape? If you hide in waters, you will die in distress.
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Duryodhana! Make up your mind. Leave your fear, if you have faith on your valour. If you behave in that manner at least glory will remain. Duryodhana! Why so many words? I am giving you an offer. If you fight and defeat us you will rule the entire earth. In case you die, You will reach heaven. Both are accepted Kshatriya dharmas. If you dont accept my offer and die in the waters only, disgrace will remain with you. However you are sure to lose your life in any case. Duryodhana replies to Dharmaraja: Dharmaraja! Each being is to protect its life. What is the great wonder in it? I do not have chariot, charioteer, bow and arrows. I dont have any friends or servants now to help me. I have become lonely. Added to that, my body is full of wounds; hence I wanted to take some rest and entered this lake. You also take rest and come back. In the meanwhile I will get ready for a fight. Dharmaraja: We all took rest and relaxed. You also took enough rest. We are searching for you and finally found you here. Come out and fight. Duryodhana: All those persons for whose sake I wanted to retain the kingdom were dead in the battle. All my four wings of army perished. For whose sake I have to fight? Dharmaraja! The sons of Drupada fought with high spirits and brought you the victory. Even if I retain my kingdom, it will not keep me happy, because what am I to do with such a kingdom? Without Bheeshma, Drona and Karna, how can I consider it as a kingdom? Only when I share my pleasures with my people, I can enjoy the pleasure of a kingdom. When they are not there, what does kingdom means for me? Dharmaraja! You have everybody. All your brothers, sons, relatives, and friends are alive. Hence I am leaving all the earth to you. You rule and enjoy. I have no interest in making any more fighting. I will go to forest and lead a muni life. I came here after losing the battle. You enjoy the entire earth for yourself. Dharmaraja: (with a smile) Duryodhana! Even now you havent left your wicked nature. After losing all your brothers and sons, you made Selya as your commander-in-chief and tried to have the entire earth for yourself. Who will believe your words? So you stop talking in a wicked manner and come out. Be ready for a fight.
Duryodhana! Now you dont have a place of your own. Still you want to donate the entire earth to me? Should I receive such a gift from you? Being a king, I dont accept your donation. I will kill you in a fight and rule the entire earth. Who are you to give me a gift? Had you agreed to give our legitimate share of kingdom? Krishna came and appealed to you in many ways to agree for a compromise but you gave a deaf ear to his advice. On the top of it, you said that you would not give me land as little as the tip of a needle. Today what is there in your possession to donate? Even if you have, do you think I will accept such donation? Not only that, is there any mad fellow on earth who will give donation to an enemy? Even though you want to give me this land, I will not spare you . Hence you come and show your heroism and prove your superiority. Now your life is in my hands. Now I do not want to repeat all the harms you did for us ever since you are born. Stop talking in a wicked way and come out to fight with us. While Sanjaya was narrating these events, Dhrutharashtra was upset. In a sullen mood,he asked further details. Sanjaya gave the news in detail Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! All those Pandavas joined together and threaten my son. What my son did? All the time my son knows only to frighten others, but never got frightened; what a pity? How we could swallow such an insult? Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! Your son was very much humiliated with the words of his enemies and got out from waters and said: Duryodhana: Dharmaraja! You are five brothers and lot of friends are behind you, but I am alone now . One among you come and fights with me. If you agree to this, I will come out and fight with you. Dharmaraja: Duryodhana! What ever weapons and vehicles you want, we will give. One among us only will fight with you. If you can defeat him, you are at liberty to take all the earth for yourself. The person whom you choose alone will fight with you. Duryodhana: We fought with astras from a chariot all these days. Now let us fight with a club. Duryodhana comes out from the lake: On hearing Dharmarajas torturing words Duryodhana came out, with a club on his shoulders. At that moment he looked like a Yama having
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Kaladhandam on his shoulders. All Pandavas welcomed such a Duryodhana with pleasure. They all heckled and jeered at him. With their jeers and heckling, he became furious and said, Why are you so jubilant about it? It is only a beginning. I have not started killing one after the other. You all wait till I complete my job. Dharmaraja: Duryodhana! Here are the shields and clubs. Use any of them freely. You choose anyone among my brothers. He alone will fight with you. If you kill him, you take the entire earth and enjoy. In case you die in his hands, you enjoy all pleasures in the heaven. I will give you what all you want for the fight. Krishna: Dharmaraja! You are coming back to the square one. Earlier in a deceitful game with the help of Sakuni he enjoyed all your kingdom for thirteen years. Again you are showing more kindness on your enemy. Duryodhana is an expert in a battle with club. If he chooses Nakula or Sahadeva, he can easily kill him. If he kills him, people would say that Dharmaraja himself gave this offer and he accepted it. Dharmaraja! Your offer is as mad as your betting in the game of dice. Again it will land you into troubles. We struggled to fight with Kauravas and killed them all during the past eighteen days. Now you are foolishly offering him the entire earth, if he kills any one of your brothers. I do not advice even Bheema to fight with him, because Duryodhana is cleverer than Bheema in a fight with club. On hearing Krishnas words Bheema said: Bheema: Krishna! Of course Duryodhana is known for his wickedness. For the arrogance of Duryodhana why do you find fault with Dharmaraja? I will kill Duryodhana and keep you happy. Krishna : Bheema ! You killed Bakhasura . You tore the limbs of Jarasandha and you killed many more such virile demons. I am aware that the vow you made against Duryodhana . He is just a doll before yoy. You have thrown the live elephants on Kaurava armies. When you were drinking blood from the Dussasanas chest, Duryodhana was afraid even to go anywhere near you. I found fault with Dharmaraja for giving an open offer to such an impudent fellow. He should have been killed and thrown out. While this wicked fellow was insulting Draupadi, you made two vows in Kuru Sabha? One is the killing of Dussasana and drinking blood from his chest and the second is to kill Duryodhana. You have fulfilled your first vow. Now it is the time for you to fulfill the second vow. You eliminate this cunning king. You crown Dharmaraja
as the emperor. Now you have raised your club. Dont put it down till you kill that impudent fellow. I am sure that you are going to kill Duryodhana. Bheema: Dharmaraja! Give me permission to kill this pest of our family. Then he said to Duryodhana: Duryodhana! I dont want to remind you all the sins you did on us. Many people on many occasions repeated those sins. With your greed you have brought this big battle and killed Bheeshma, Drona and other veterans. All our relatives and friends died in this battle. The cause of all these ills were Sakuni, Karna and Dussasana. Now all those people were killed by us. Now you also go and join them. Duryodhana: Bheema! You stop babbling. You take up the club and get ready for a fight. In this manner they both made vows and entered to fight. By the time Balarama completed his pilgrimage and came back to Kurukshetra to watch the fight between his own disciples. Once he trained both Bheema and Duryodhana in the art of fighting with clubs. On seeing Balarama, Dharmaraja, his brothers, Krishna and Satyaki prostrated at his feet and respected him. Balarama embraced them all and enquired about their wellbeing. Both Bheema and Duryodhana went to Balarama and saluted him. Dharmaraja informed Balarama about the last fight of Kurukshetra among the brothers and requested him to watch. Krishna tells the difference between Bheema and Duryodhana: The fight between Duryodhana and Bheema went on ferociously. At one point of time, Duryodhana beat Bheema. He fell down like a banyan tree falling on the ground. Everybody thought Bheema was dead. Duryodhana made a simhanadham. After a while Bheema recovered and started the fight again. They both had guru Krupa in the same manner. Among the two Bheema, had more of physical strength. Whereas Duryodhana had more dedication, constant practice and tact. That is why Bheema had a rough approach in his fight with Duryodhana. Whereas Duryodhana averted the attack tactfully and bounced back on Bheema and wounded. So under these circumstances the dharmayudha was missing. Krishna told Arjuna: We have to resort to a violation. There is nothing wrong in killing a deceitful person with a little deviation. Indra killed Vrutasura
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in a deceitful way. All the more, Bheema made a vow, in Kuru Sabha, that he would kill Duryodhana by breaking his thighs with his club. While making that vow, Bheema forgot the rules of fight with a club. That is one should not beat the opponent below his naval. However he has to fulfill his vow. So on that pretext if we break his thighs, the sin will not affect Bheema. Now I am more afraid of Dharmaraja. He may not give his nod for the same. Somehow we killed Bheeshma, Drona and others. With that we got victory and glory. Now Dharmaraja gave an open offer to Duryodhana to take away all the kingdom by killing any one of his brothers. With that, all our struggle might go waste. Do we ever found a better fool than Dharmaraja to give such an offer? Duryodhana lost all his relatives and was in a great distress. He was hiding in a lake. Dharmaraja went in search of him pulled him out and gave this offer to him. Now that Duryodhana is claiming superiority over Bheema. Duryodhana may go all out to kill Bheema, since it was his dream for the past thirteen years. Luckily Dharmarajas offer came handy hence we have to resort to an adharma in a tactful manner. Are you prepared to provoke Bheema to do a fight of adharma? Sanjaya (continues his commentary:) Dhrutarashtra ! At that time Bheema looked at Arjuna. Arjuna showed his thighs with his hands, thereby advising Bheema to break the thighs of Duryodhana and kill him. Bheema took the clue from Arjuna and resolved to kill Duryodhana. Taking the clue from Arjuna, Bheema tried to hit on the thighs of Duryodhana, who tactfully escaped from the hit. But Bheema attacked him again and again and succeeded in breaking both the thighs of Duryodhana,who fell down in a pool of blood. Bheema: Oh sinner! I fulfilled my vow. Yes! I fulfilled my vow! He put his leg on Duryodhanas throat and hit on his head with his left leg. Dharmaraja: Bheema! All these years you have led a virtuous life. Duryodhana lost his brothers, sons and all. Still he has not left his courage. He fought with you and was killed as a hero. How can you kick the head of such a person? Is it not a blemish act? Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Balarama was witnessing the fight between Bheema and Duryodhana. How he tolerated the adharma of Bheema? Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! Looking at the adharma committed by Bheema, Balarama became furious and said, Bheema has violated rules. He has hit Duryodhana under his naval. This is neither dharma nor a principle of war.
Bheema violated all the rules and killed Duryodhana. While saying so he ran towards Bheema. Krishna pacifies Balarama: At that time Krishna went to Balarama and held him with both his hands and said: Krishna: Brother, Virtuous Pandavas are good friends to us. They are the sons of our aunt Kunti. They suffered many difficulties at the hands of these wicked persons. Killing them or to stopping their progress is not adharma. Bheema had to pay Duryodhana in his own coins.Killing people who lead a life of adharma, deserve to be killed in the same adharma kind of war. Bheema made a vow in Kuru Sabha that he would kill Duryodhana by breaking his thighs with his club. Now Bheema had fulfilled his vow. Even as per the curse of Mytraya Maharishi, Duryodhana was to die by this manner of thighs being broken. Now he suffered from the curse of that maharishi. There is not much to blame. Hence you leave your anger. Let us all wish for the wellbeing of Kuntis children. Balarama: Krishna! Dharma and ardha are to be followed without destroying other. If dharma is destroyed by ardha, they will be blamed by the people. You said the curse of a maharishi and the vow of Bheema. They both may be justified but it is against dharma. How can we accept Bheemas action? In other words Bheema had committed an adharma to secure ardha. Krishna: oh virtuous! You are known as the most virtuous person in the world. Hence you leave anger. Bheema fulfilled his vow but not to commit an adharma. It would be an adharma if Bheema and Duryodhana were fighting on the ground. At that time Duryodhana jumped into the sky to kill Bheema, whereas Bheema was standing on the ground. In an effort of self protection, he hit at the thighs of his opponent. So this couldnt be construed as adharma. He has taken this vow about thirteen years back. When the time was ripe to fulfill his vow, how could he leave that opportunity. At any rate, he had to fulfill his vow. Not only that he is the destroyer of entire Kuru family. He is responsible for the great human loss. There is nothing wrong of killing such a sinner in any manner. Over and above, the Kali yuga is going to emerge shortly. This will fall in a Sandhi yuga. Even from that angle also, killing this sinner will go into the Kali yuga, where dharmas change. He is also a sinner who killed Abhimanyu, our dearest nephew.
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Balarama: (Furiously) : Dharmaraja! You are five brothers and lot of friends are behind you, but I am alone now . One among you come and fight with me.Krishna! Whatever you may say, Duryodhana fought in a principled way. He did not exceed dharma. Hence he will certainly attain the superior lokas. The victory of Bheema cannot be construed as a victory because he got it through an adharma. Can you call it a victory? People will not pardon him for his adharma. However I will not stay even a second where adharma took place. Now I am proceeding Dwaraka. Everybody was unhappy at the fury of Balarama. Since Dharmaraja was perturbed at the words of Balarama, Krishna went to him and consoled thus: Krishna: Dharmaraja! Duryodhana was responsible for the killing of all your relatives. He showed more interest in doing sinful acts right from his birth. Bheema had kicked the head of such a sinner. was it an adharma? For such a simple act why are you worried so much? There are two aspects in the vow of Bheema. He not only said that he would break his thighs but also said that he would kick his head. Now he fulfilled his vow. There is no adharma in the matter. Dharmaraja: Krishna! Though Duryodhana did many evils to us, should I condone Bheemas act of adharma? Krishna tried to console Dharmaraja, but Arjuna kept quiet. Bheema went with folded hands to Dharmaraja and said: Bheema: Dharmaraja! This sinner and destroyer of our family is now dead. All his friends were already killed. Therefore you are the emperor of this earth. From now on you rule this earth with magnanimity. Dharmaraja: Bheema! With the help of Krishna, you were able to fulfill your vow. That means, in your struggle, god also helped you in the form of Krishna. Pandavas, Krishna and Satyaki return to their barracks: All the warriors returned to their barracks. They were about to go to their residences to take rest. Krishna blew his conch Panchajanya. At the same time Dharmaraja , Bheema , Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva also blew their conches. They gave heavy gifts to the workers, toiled for them all those eighteen days. Before they all got down from their chariots, Krishna said, Arjuna! You have your Gandeevam and quiver and get down from the chariot immediately.
After you, I will get down. That is safe for you. On hearing Krishnas advice, he kept bow and quiver in his hand and got down. After him Krishna also got down. From the flag Hanuma also disappeared. Immediately fire razed and burnt the chariot into ashes. The chariot, yoked with divine horses, was gifted by Agni. It was burnt to ashes. Arjuna was surprised and asked,Krishna! How this chariot was burnt to ashes so suddenly? Krishna said, Arjuna! This chariot was burnt long back with the fury of Bheeshma and Drona. I protected all these days to complete the battle and to secure victory for you. Now you had the victory, I allowed it to burn. He said to Dharmaraja, When I came to Upaplavyam, you gave me new clothes and requested me with folded hands you protect Arjuna. I agreed to your request. In this manner, I protected my friend. He has secured you victory with the help of Bheema, Nakula and Sahadeva. From now onwards, you fulfill your duties. Dharmaraja: Vasudeva! You have protected all of us from the divine astras of Bheeshma, Drona and others. We are all protected by your blessings. Vyasa Maharishi said to me, Whichever side Krishna fights for , that side will get the victory. Krishna was happy with the words of Dharmaraja and said: Krishna: Both the sides fought with eighteen akshauhinis of army. You tell me, is there anyone who is equal to Arjuna? Not only that! Siva has gave him Pasupatastra and blessed him by saying, You should be equal to me. Dharmaraja! Arjuna is a very sensitive person. At the beginning of the war he said that he wouldnt fight and kill his own relatives. At that time I taught him Bhagavadgita and prepared him for the fight. After that only, he killed Bheeshma, Drona and others. Dharmaraja! Out of respect and regard for me, he had patiently listened to all my teachings of Bhagavatgita. But even without those teachings, he is capable of winning all the three worlds. Was the Kauravas army a matter for him? Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! Krishna has spoken sweet words and made all Pandavas happy. Looking at the remaining wealth in Kauravas side, he distributed all those to servants and said, Dharmaraja! It is not safe for us to stay here. Let us leave Kauravas barracks and go out. All of the victors went to the banks of the river Oghavathi and spent that night.
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Krishna goes to Hastina to console Gaandhari: Krishna consulted Dharmaraja what are all he has to do at Hastina and went. First he went to Dhrutarashtra and Gaandhari, since they lost all their sons and the battle. At the same time to console Gaandhari and Dhrutarashtra, Vyasa Maharishi also came. Krishna prostrated at the feet of Vyasa Maharishi, Dhrutarashtra and Gaandhari . He sat closer to them, took the hands of Dhrutarashtra into his hands and said: Krishna: King! What had happened now was executed not by the humans but by the gods. It was fated so. It was preordained. Nobody could have prevented this calamity. Let us not remember all those things again and again. Oh king! Did anybody desire to acquire wealth by means of gambling? Did we ever heard of removing the garments of a chaste woman in the middle of Sabha. Will the civilized societies accept them? In spite of all insults and humiliations Pandavas kept quiet all these years. They went to forest. They had undergone several difficulties. They did slavery in the court of Virata. In spite of all, Pandavas wanted only five villages for them. However much they hanged on you the hearts of your sons did not melt. Bheeshma, Drona, Vidura and many elders said good words in thousand ways. You also lent a deaf ear to the advices. Since destiny is something else, how you or your sons could have listened to their advice? Past is past. What is the use of grieving now? Uncle! Pandavas mind is always fixed on dharma. They dont know the wicked ways. Buy your sons did only sinful acts. Why I am telling all the past is to request you not to have anger on Pandavas. Dharmaraja is grieving for all these transgressions. In the present circumstances, Dharmaraja and his brothers alone are to perform last rites to you and Gaandhari, when there occurs a necessity. Aunt! Gaandhari Devi! You are the superior among the women. When your sons were committing sinful acts in the Sabha, you put much pressure on your sons and I saw it . You also told king Dhrutarashtra oh king! Whatever you want to do, you do. You order it. Who is going to oppose you? With those words of yours, my respect for you has increased hundred folds. But Duryodhana could not distinguish what was good or what is bad to him. Because of that ignorance, he not only lost his life but also killed entire Kuru family. Had Duryodhana heard your advice and parted some land to Pandavas,all these calamities would not have happened. Pandavas did not harm your sons. You
also know about it. I am requesting you on their behalf not to have angry on them. Gaandhari: Krishna! Everything has happened as you said. With your sweet words, I am consoled. Krishna! Today this blind king is old and living in distress. In the present circumstances, Pandavas alone must to take care of us. While consoling Dhrutarashtra and Gaandhari, suddenly Krishna stood up and said, Uncle! Aswadhama was flaring on Pandavas with anger. He might commit any atrocity. Nobody can predict him. Hence I must go immediately to Pandavas. You stop grieving. On hearing Krishnas words, Gaandhari said, Krishna! You go quickly! Is it not your responsibility to protect Pandavas? They are under your protection. It is your vow to protect all those who seek protection from you? Krishna goes to Pandavas: Krishna took leave of Dhrutarashtra and Gaandhari and reached the place of Pandavas where they were camping on the banks of river Oghavathi. He told Dharmaraja what all had happened in Hastinapura. Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! You said about the Pandavas. Now tell me about Duryodhana, who with the broken thighs, was lying on the ground. Tell me what had happened to him. Sanjaya: King! I was hiding in the bushes nearby and watching all that was happening. Duryodhana was lying on the ground. Whole of his body was covered with dust. He was profusely weeping and cursing Dharmaraja and said: Duryodhana: Sanjaya! I ruled the entire earth. Bheeshma, Drona and others were helping me to rule the country. I enjoyed ruling all these years. But now, I am lying on the ground as an orphan. Who can prevent Vidhi? Sanjaya! All the people will certainly blame Bheema, the way in which he wounded me in a deceitful manner. They killed Bheeshma, Drona, Karna and others also in the same manner. People will not savor the way in which they fatally injured me. Sanjaya! My father knows all dharmas of a war. You go and tell him how Bheema overwhelmed me in a deceitful manner. As long as I was ruling, I kept all my relatives in comfort. I performed many yagnas and gave heavy
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gifts. Till my last moments, I fought courageously and never gave up my confidence. Sanjaya! You search for Aswadhama, Krupacharya and Krutavarma wherever they are. You tell them that the sinful sons of Panduraju have killed me in a deceitful manner. Tell them that Pandavas are doing adharma in the mask of dharma and cheating the people. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! While I was talking with Duryodhana, some tribal people and hunters came and said to Duryodhana, Beloved king! We have seen three warriors are wandering very close from here. From your words, we presume that they must be Aswadhama, Krupacharya and Krutavarma and they went away. In the meanwhile those three came and met Duryodhana. Krupacharya, Aswadhama, Krutavarma grieve for Duryodhana: Krupacharya, Aswadhama and Krutavarma were sitting by the side of Duryodhana. Aswadhama said: Aswadhama : King! You were always sitting in the Kuru Sabha majestically. Now you are lying on the ground and your body is filled with dust. We are unable to bear your condition. Duryodhana: Aswadhama! My fate has been sealed by Brahma long ago. In spite of many difficulties, even after losing brothers, sons and relatives, I fought courageously with Bheema. They could not fight with me and broke my thighs in an unjust manner. Nobody can escape death. Now since I fought courageously and I will certainly reach heaven. I would have left this body long back, but I retained my life only to see you. On hearing Duryodhanas words, Aswadhama became furious and said to Duryodhana: Aswadhama : Duryodhana ! Pandavas killed my father also in an unrighteous manner. Now they injured you also in the same manner. My heart is burning with fury on Pandavas. I can alone kill all Pandavas without leaving a single person in their family. They all will get burn in front of Krishna. I will see how he can protect them. Now you permit me to kill all Pandavas. I will fulfill your order. On hearing Aswadhamas words Duryodhana was very happy. He asked Krupacharya to bring some water from the lake and anointed Aswadhama as
his commander-in-chief. He embraced Aswadhama and ordered him to kill all Pandavas and their armies. Aswadhama took the order from Duryodhana and went towards Pandavas barracks. He designed a plan to take revenge on the Pandavas. Drutharashra asked Sanjaya what the plan was. Sanjaya told him that it would be known shortly. (Conclusion: This parvam deals with the events that happened on the eighteenth day of the war. King Selya was appointed as the Commanver-inChief of Kaurava forces. He was the brother of Madri (mother of Nakula and Sahadeva), as well as the ruler of the kingdom of Madra (Madra-desa). Selya, being a skilled archer,a powerful mace fighter and formidable warrior, was tricked by Duryodana to fight the war on the side of the Kauravas. Selya had a strange ability which made him invincible in battle. The more aggression his enemies showed while fighting against him, Selya would become even more powerful thus making him victorious. Only Dhatmaraja could kill the powerful warrior because the eldest Pandava was not a man of aggression. Thus instead of becoming powerful in the battle field, Selya was severely weakened and Dharmaraja easily slayed him.He was unable to help his own nephews, but to had fight for a wrong camp. That was his tragedy. Further we see the death of Duryodhana under tragic circumstances. He was cunningly killed, though he deserved death at the hands of Bheema. Duryodhana fought in a principled way. He did not exceed dharma. The victory of Bheema couldnt be construed as a victory because he got it through adharma. But Duryodhanas entire life was marked by unjustified enmity with Pandavas. Had Duryodhana heard the advice of the elders and parted some land to Pandavas, all those calamities would not have happened. The death of Duryodhana gave such an anger that forced Aswathama to kill all the sons of Pandavas.There is a climax as well as anti-climaxes in this parvam. These incidents actually shock the lay readers. Perhaps they suggest what we shouldnt do and what to avoid to make our life pleasant by give and take policy. The life of Duryodhana is a bitter lesson to us).
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SOWPTIKA PARVAM
CHAPTER 1 [SOWPTIKAM means an attack sleeping men.] Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! How the newly appointed commander-inchief Aswadhama and his two radhikas, attacked Pandavas. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! Aswadhama moved towards Pandavas camp with Krupa and Krutavarma. When they reached, Pandavas camp was celebrating the victory. So they took rest under a tree for that night. Krupacharya and Krutavarma went to sleep but Aswadhama did not get sleep and was thinking for the ways and means of killing Pandavas completely. At that time an owl reached the tree silently, went to one nest after the other, killed some birds by biting at their neck, some by biting their wings and some by breaking their legs. It killed all the birds in a short time. Aswadhama imagined owl as his guru, which taught him the way to kill Pandavas. He resolved to kill Pandavas in the same manner, as the owl did, while they were sleeping. He thought, Otherwise we three cannot overpower Pandavas. I should kill all Pandavas this night itself and keep Duryodhana happy before he is dead. The cruel killing of an enemy in this way is one of the accepted five dharmas that are said in the scriptures. All the more, Pandavas killed Bheeshma, Drona and others in an unrighteous manner. Even with Karna and Duryodhana also they followed as a jungle law (might is the right). He woke up Krupacharya and Krutavarma and said: Aswadhama: Acharya! While we are all away from the king, when Duryodhana was alone, all the Pandavas surrounded and killed him in an unrighteous way. Bheema not only killed our king by breaking his thighs, but also smashed his head which was purified and crowned. Let us give the victory to our king, which victory the eleven akshauhinis of army could not do. Krupacharya: Aswadhama! Whatever we propose to do should be right. So we have to consult our well-wishers who know about all dharmas. If we resort to do unrighteous things we not only be left with fear but also we
would be blamed. Strong will alone is not sufficient to get good results. If we do things with anger, greediness and with fear shall certainly land into difficulties. He looses all his wealth but also suffer with discomposure. Our king is an ignorant, passionate and greedy. He is an embodiment of arrogance. He never accepted good advice from his elders. He insulted Pandavas. Now he is suffering with the fruits of all those evil qualities. If we also go in the same path of our king, we will also suffer the same misfortune and disgrace. Hence I will give you a suggestion. If it suits you, all we shall go accordingly. Let us all go to Dhrutarashtra, Gaandhari and Vidura. We shall apprise the situation to them. They know all dharmas. They may suggest us a judicious way. That will land us in glory. Let us not go in the way of blemish acts. Aswadhama explains the plan of his mind: Aswadhama: Acharya! Each man will act coupled with his experience and knowledge. That doesnt mean it will be an acceptable formula. It may suit some and may not suit others. Though I was born as a brahmin I have accepted Kshatriya dharma. Drushtajyumna had killed my worshipful father. I want to kill him today itself. In the present circumstances, we three cannot fight with all those warriors. Now all of them are in sound sleep. This is the most opportune time to kill them en mass. Krupacharya: Aswadhama! I understand your grief. It is justified for you to take revenge on the enemy who killed your father. We appreciate your way of thinking. We also stand by you. We are very much tired. Let us take rest now.From tomorrow morning onwards we shall do our work. Krutavarma is fully equipped with several divine astras. Added to that, he is strong and courageous, I need not tell much about myself. So let us remove our shields and have a nap. Then only you may be able to fight with our enemy, effectively. Aswadhama: Uncle! Sleep will not come at all times when we need. That too when we are raging with fury, how can we get sleep? Duryodhana is a good friend of mine. He was insulted by the enemy. Hence I wont get sleep until I kill all the enemies. Unless I start my onslaught now, I cant complete the job, before dawn. Krupacharya: Aswadhama! I understand your fury and take revenge on the enemy. So your mind will not accept my good words. Hence you fix your mind always on dharma. You should accept the good advice of your
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friends with forbearance. A warrior should not kill the people who are sleeping, who dont have weapon, who dont have a vehicle, who seek protection and whose hair was not dressed. Killing a sleeping person will amount to killing a dead body. So you should not to do such disgraceful acts. You begin your work after the sunrise. Aswadhama: Uncle! You are elder and qualified to correct me. However the Pandavas killed right from Bheeshma to Duryodhana in an unrighteous manner. I need not repeat them all in detail. For such an unrighteous persons why I should go in a righteous way? If you consider what I said is a sinful act, I am prepared to be born as a germ and even to go hell. By saying so, Aswadhama got into his chariot. At that time, Krupacharya said, Aswadhama! We three started with the same work. Why you alone should go? Wait! We are also coming with you. By saying so, all the three went towards the Pandavas barracks. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! The moment they reached the main entrance of Pandavas barracks, they got down from the chariot. Aswadhama asked both of them to wait at the gate and he alone went inside. Aswadhama saw Siva with his bhoota ganas. At that time Aswadhama noticed a big bhootham coming opposite him. However Aswadhama was not perturbed and faced the bhootham with courage. That bhootham swallowed all his weapons. Aswadhama did not know what to do at a time. He worshiped Parvathi, Parameswara and sun god in his mind. While meditating he surrendered himself to Lord Siva and prepared to offer self sacrifice. Siva appears before Aswadhama: Lord Siva: I am pleased with your worship of self sacrifice. Krishna is a good devotee to me. I came with all my bhoothas to reduce the burden on earth. I wanted you to make a tool for Krishnas cause. I wanted to test your dedication in the job. The time has ripe for all Panchalas to die. Today is the last day for them. Since you have my blessings, I am giving you my sword. With that, you can kill all of them before dawn. My bhoothas also will co-operate in your attempt. By saying so Siva disappeared, Aswadhama entered the Pandavas camp to kill all those people who are sleeping. All bhootha ganas also followed him. Aswadhama went to the residence of Drushtajyumna. He remembered Siva in his mind, took out the sword. At that time Drushtajyumna opened his eyes
and saw Aswadhama standing in front of him. Aswadhama pulled Drushtajyumna by catching his hair and pushed him on the ground and gave several fists on his chest and killed him. In this manner Aswadhama woke up each one of them before he killed. So that he wouldnt get the sin of killing the sleeping person. In this manner he killed all Panchala soldiers and their elephants and horses. In a similar manner he entered the palace and went to the residences of Sikhandi and cut him into pieces. Bheemas son Srutasoma threw a tomaram on Aswadhama. Aswadhama averted that and cut the head of Srutasoma. Looking at that, all the Upa - Pandavas woke up and feebly attacked Aswadhama but he killed them one by one. Aswadhama thus killed them ruthlessly and indiscriminately. Some other warriors woke up and started running. He chased and killed them. He searched for the entire palace for Krishna, Arjuna and other Pandavas, but he could not find them. After completing his massacre, he went out to meet Krutavarma and Krupacharya. Aswadhama: Acharya! I have completed my promise to the king. I killed all Panchalas and the sons of Draupadi. The soldiers of Chedi, Mastya and Prabhadhrakas were killed. The entire barracks was filled with dead bodies. However I could not see five Pandavas, Krishna and Satyaki anywhere. I didnt know where they have gone. To take revenge of my king Duryodhana what all I can do, I did. However I dont deserve any appreciation either from you or from our king, because I failed to kill Pandavas and Krishna. On hearing Aswadhamas words, Krupa said, oh Aswadhama! In a short time you killed all Draupadi sons and stopped succession of Pandava family line. You killed all Panchalas and cleared from the debt of your father. Do you think it as small feat? Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! If Aswadhama is so loyal and affectionate to Duryodhana he could have done all these much earlier. What is the fun of doing all these gimmicks after the death of my son? Sanjaya: All these days Aswadhama fought to secure a victory for your son. Now since they killed Bheeshma, his father and Duryodhana, he became desperate and resorted to this with vengeance. He was seriously disappointed since he couldnt find Pandavas. How the Pandavas escaped from Aswadhama, is a miracle of god, nothing else. That god is none else except Krishna.
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Aswadhama, Krutavarma and Krupacharya went to Duryodhana to inform him what they have done. There they saw Duryodhana on the last moments of his life. Aswadhama went to him and said, King! I could not bear my distress by looking you at this state. Oh king! Were you able to recognize me? On hearing the words, Duryodhana with great difficulty raised his eyelids and looked at Aswadhama, who said, As long as you were in power you not only gave me food, clothing and shelter and but also made me to do several yagnas with heavy gifts. When such a king is dying in front of my eyes, I am not able to do anything for you. You have fought ferociously and got fatal injuries in an unrighteous manner. You will certainly reach heaven. Duryodhana! When you go to heaven you tell my father that your son Aswadhama had killed Drushtajyumna, who murdered his father in an unrighteous manner. On my behalf, you embrace my father. Oh king! You also tell my warm enquiries to Bhurisrava, Syndhava, Somadatta, Bahlika and others who are waiting for you in the heaven. Before you leave this world, you listen that I killed all Draupadis sons, her brothers, her army and left none alive in their side. However Krishna had smelt in advance my plan and hence he took Pandavas and Satyaki with him and went somewhere and so they survive. So excepting those seven, I killed all others. Duryodhana: Sinless Aswadhama! In fact the way in which you, Krupa and Krutavarma killed enemies even Bheeshma, Drona and Karna also couldnt do. I really appreciate and congratulate for your heroic deed. You three pleased me more than Bheeshma, Drona and Karna. I am happy with you. You go and live long. Sanjaya: Dhrutarashtra! By saying so Duryodhana left the body and those three warriors made Pradakshana to the body of their departed king with folded hands and left the place. In the meanwhile I came to tell this news to you.
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CHAPTER-2
Sanjaya continues : After the sunrise Drushtajyumnas charioteer went to the place where Krishna, Satyaki and Pandavas were staying and reported: Charioteer: Dharmaraja! Last night when we were asleep Aswadhama entered our barracks and killed Drushtajyumna, his brothers, Panchalas and sons of Draupadi. Aswadhama killed all of them with a sword. With the same sword, he killed all elephants and horses. While the people, who are afraid of Aswadhama, started to flee, Krutavarma and Krupacharya who were standing at the gate, caught and killed them. They killed mercilessly those who sought protection also. I was caught in the hands of Krutavarma. Somehow I escaped. I came running to inform you. Dharmaraja: Krishna! Nobody knows what time brings us! After killing all enemies we came here to relax and celebrate our victory. In the mean while we lost all our sons and the army who fought for us. Hence I am considering this victory is nothing but a defeat. I bravely crossed the endless oceans but I was killed in a small farmers canal. Already Draupadi is grieving for the loss of her father; now she lost all her sons and brothers. How can I console her? I cant even imagine her grief. Dharmaraja recovered from his dizziness and returned to the barracks with his brothers, Krishna and Satyaki tried to console Draupadi. There Draupadi fainted several times for the loss of his sons and said: Draupadi: I wanted to see while all my sons are serving you. But god took them all. While all my sons were fast asleep, sinner Aswadhama entered our barracks and killed them mercilessly. Unless Aswadhama is also killed, I cant be relieved from my grief. You send Bheema and kill him. If he is not killed, I will resort to Prayopavesam and leave this body. Dharmaraja: Draupadi! Your father, brothers and your sons are all dead in a battle for which you are to feel proud. Since they were killed in a battle they will reach superior lokas. It is not correct on your part to take a vow of entering Prayopavesa, if Aswadhama was not killed. By this time he must have entered a dense forest and hiding somewhere. Even if he was killed in the forest, how are you going to console yourself? Draupadi compelled Bheema to kill Aswadhama. As requested by Draupadi, Dharmaraja asked Bheema to search for Aswadhama. Nakula became the charioteer and went in search of Aswadhama. They went Kurukshetra and enquired for Aswadhama. They said that Aswadhama, Krupa and Krupacharya
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went towards Hastinapura. Then he asked Nakula to drive the chariot towards Hastinapura. Krishna: Dharmaraja! You sent Bheema in search of Aswadhama. It is not safe if he goes alone . Aswadhama knows several divine astras including Brahmasironamaka astra. In our side Arjuna alone knows that astra. One day Drona realized that Aswadhama was developing jealousy towards Arjuna. Hence he called Aswadhama and told him, My son! This Brahmasironamaka astra is a very a powerful astra. It will burn all the worlds. Hence never use that astra. You may use other divine astras. Dont use this astra on humans. If you use it on humans, it will bounce back and kill you. Still Drona did not believe his son, because he got a boon of immortality from Lord Siva and gave it to Arjuna also. One day while you are all in Vanavasa, Aswadhama came to Dwaraka and said to me: Krishna! Agastya Maharishi was pleased with the devotion of my father and gave him Brahmasironamaka astra. My father had given that astra to me out of love. Now I will give you that astra. In return, please give me your Chakrayudha. Dharmaraja! I understood his wicked thinking and said to him: Aswadhama! I am keeping all my four weapons in front of you. You take whatever you want. You are my friend. When you asked something from me, how can I say no to you? However I dont want your Brahmasironamaka astra in return to my weapons. Aswadhama was happy and he said he wanted Chakrayudha only. He tried to take it. But he could not lift it, in spite of using both his hands. While looking at his condition, I said: Aswadhama! I made a severe tapasya with Rukmani in Himalayas for twelve years. As a result I got this great Chakrayudha. Afterwards devatas, danavas, gandharvas could not dominate me. Such is the power of this ayudha. So far Balarama, or my son Prajyumna did not ask this Chakrayudha. Arjuna secured after a severe tapasya the chariot, immortal horses and Kaphidwaja. He pleased Siva and got Pasupatastra from him. You all know that Arjuna is so dear to me. I shall give whatever he wants. However Arjuna never asked Chakrayudha; you alone asked my Chakrayudha out of ignorance. On hearing my words Aswadhama felt ashamed and said: Krishna! Had you given me this Chakrayudha to me, I would have wanted to subdue you with that ayudha and become glorious in the world, for having defeated you. If this ayudha is made for you, you have it yourself.
I cajoled him and satisfied with heavy gifts of precious stones, gold, horses, clothes, etc and sent him away. Dharmaraja! This cruel Aswadhama is having Brahmasironamaka astra. He might harm Bheema, if he goes alone. We shall keep Satyaki and Sahadeva to protect our camp. We all go in search of Aswadhama. Krishna, Arjuna and Dharmaraja went in search of Aswadhama: Krishna, Dharmaraja and Arjuna were sitting in Krishnas chariot. Garuda flag was hoisted. Arjuna took Gandeevam and his quiver. After they travelled for some distance, they saw Bheema and Nakula on their way. They did not board Krishnas chariot and went separately in search of Aswadhama. They reached the banks of river Ganga. There so many tapasvis were meditating. On the banks of Ganga , Bheema saw Aswadhama meditating. Immediately he twanged his bow and fixed the arrow and said: Bheema: Inferior brahmin! Oh cruel Aswadhama! Yesterday night you committed henious crime. How you became a tapasvi overnight? You killed the people who were asleeping. On hearing the words of Bheema, he opened his eyes and saw Bheema. He also saw Arjuna, Dharmaraja and Krishna behind him. He was perturbed in his mind. He knew the power of divine astras Arjuna had. He also remembered the sinful act he did the previous night. However in an anxiety to save his life, he remembered the mantra of Brahmasironamaka astra. He said: Aswadhama: Arjuna! I am releasing Brahmasironamaka astra and no other astra can intercept and turnback it. However you also have the same astra. If we want to save yourself and your brothers, you also release the same astra. Arjuna got down from his chariot, remembered his guru Dronacharya and the mantra and released Brahmasironamaka astra against Aswadhama. While releasing it, he gave a command to the astra not to kill him, his brothers and Aswadhama. Then both the astras covered the entire space with splendor and fought with each other. With the power of those astras all the oceans were agitated. All the mountains were shaken. The sun became dim. A rain of stones were falling from the sky. All the lokas were frightened. At that time, Narada went to Vyasa maharishi and requested him to pacify Aswadhama and Arjuna to withdraw their astras. Vyasa maharishi went to them and said:
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Vyasa maharishi: There are several people in the world who are in possession of such devastating astras. Did any of them use it? Arjuna: Maharishi! I thought if I release the same astra it would pacify the other astra. Hence I used Brahmasironamaka astra. Since you advised me, I shall withdraw it. You order that cruel fellow also to withdraw his astra. All the maharishi community were pleased with those words. Maharishis: Arjuna! He, who did tapasya, followed Brahmacharya, gave donation, and led a truthful life, alone could withdraw his astra. Is it possible for others to do so? Aswadhama also tried to withdraw his astra but he could not succeed. He said to Vyasa maharishi: Aswadhama: Virtuous Vyasa! Since Bheema killed Duryodhana in an unrighteous manner, I became furious and released this astra to kill all Pandavas. Knowing fully well it is a sinful act, I did it in a fit of anger. If I withdraw this astra, it will take away my life. You please tell me the way out. Vyasa maharishi: Aswadhama! Your father gave his astra to you. With the same affection, he gave that astra to Arjuna also. On our request Arjuna withdrew his astra. Could you do that? This Mahastra should not be released on humans. Whoever releases would have to face its bad effects. Hence to save you and Pandavas, we advised you both to withdraw your astras. You leave your anger. Righteous Arjuna also should go with happiness. Hence you give your Siromani (Siromani is a gem worn by Aswadhama on his head. Vyasa maharishi suggested to cut his Siromani from his head and give it to Arjuna. It is as good as killing him). Arjuna and Pandavas would take your Siromani and keep happy, as if they have killed you. It is only safe war for both of you. Aswadhama: Maharishi! Because of this Siromani my life is protected from the fear of serpents, thieves, rakshasas and devatas . I am also keeping away the hunger, thirst, sleep, disease and many other ailments. However I abide by your orders and give it to him. However my astra will do harm for the pregnancies of Pandavas women and then only it could be withdrawn. For which Vyasa said, You do only that much. Dont expect to do anything more than that. On hearing maharishis words, Aswadhama understood the slip of his tongue. Originally what Aswadhama had in mind was that the astra should disturb all the pregnancies of Pandava line of families.
But by a slip of a tongue, he restricted it only to Pandavas brothers. But he wanted to spoil the pregnancy of all Pandavas women. Aswadhama wanted to correct the error of his tongue. He felt in his mind Though I gave word to maharishi I will spoil all the pregnancies of all the women in Pandavas families. Accordingly he gave instructions to the astra and withdrew. Krishna understood the minds of both maharishi and Aswadhama and said: Krishna saves the pregnancy of Uttara: Krishna : Aswadhama ! You have killed all the grand children of Panduraju and became a sinner. Now you are trying to kill those kids who are still in their mothers stomach at least you save one child from your astra. Had I led my life in a righteous way, had I been performing yagnas, had I been pleasing people, I shall keep any one of them to continue the succession of Pandurajus family. You save that one child and you may destroy all others. Aswadhama: Krishna! You are talking with a partisan mind. Why should I yield to your wishes? I can guess that you are trying to save the pregnancy of Uttara, wife of abhimanyu. If you really want to save her pregnancy, I shall destroy the very same pregnancy with my arrow. Krishna: Uttara is holding the righteous Abhimanyus child. Even if you kill that child with your astra, I will save and give him longevity. fowl Aswadhama: (with a smile) Can you give longevity who had died with my astra? Do if you can. Oh great friend of Arjuna! Krishna! You make him alive. You may think of his longevity later. I will also see what your power is? Right now I am directing another astra which will destroy all the pregnancies of Pandavas. You try to save, if you can! Krishna: Aswadhama! Just now a brahmin has come from Upaplavyam and blessed Uttara oh Uttara! To your great fortune you will deliver a child, w ho would have a long life. By virtue of that he will be called as Pareekshittu. So the blessings of that superior brahmin will not go waste. Hence whether you release another astra or not, it is immaterial. That boy will become the successor to Pandurajus family. Oh cruel brahmin! For the cruel act you did, you will die without food and without any help, your body will be full of raw wounds and develop stinking smell. You further listen. The child who is protected by me, would learn archery from Krupacharya. He would become an expert in archery and rule this country for several thousands of years. He would have a son by name Janamejaya and become glorious on this earth in front of your eyes. Now you yourself come to know whose power is great.
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Vyasa maharishi: Aswadhama! Though you are born as a Brahmin, you became a slave to anger and did many cruel acts. You will suffer with all those diseases as Krishna cursed. Oh unscrupulous Aswadhama! You get away from here. Sanjaya: oh Dhrutarashtra! Aswadhama gave his Siromani to Vyasa maharishi saluted to him and left the place. Pandavas returned to console Draupadi. Bheema took the Siromani and gave it to Draupadi and said: Bheema: Draupadi! You remember what all those words you said to Krishna before he left for a compromise to Kuru Sabha. As demanded by you, we killed all the enemies and came back with victory. Hence you leave your grief. Unless you are happy, how Dharmaraja could be comfortable? You leave your grief for your sons, father and brothers. Draupadi! With the blessings of Krishna , I killed all Kauravas . While all the kings were witnessing I broke the chest of Dussasana and drank his blood as I promised. I broke the thighs of Duryodhana and kicked his head. On this occasion will it be proper for you grieve for your children? Since Aswadhama happened to be the son of our guru, we left him alive. To insult him we brought Siromani from his head. You accept this as a token of his head. Dharmaraja has become spotless emperor on earth. So you stop grieving and make Dharmaraja happy. On hearing the words of Bheema, Draupadi left all her grief slowly. She took Siromani into her hand and went to Dharmaraja and said, oh king! You accept this Siromani and wear it on your head and make me happy. You alone is eligible for wearing this Siromani. Dharmaraja received that Siromani with respect and kept it on his head gear. Dharmaraja: Krishna! All the sons of Draupadi were valorous. How is that Aswadhama was able to kill all of them? From where Aswadhama had derived that power? Krishna: Aswadhama meditated on Siva,who blessed him with all his power. He further said that if Siva became furious all the lokas will land in difficulties. If he was pleased, he will bless with all fortunes and comforts. Such an Easwara appeared with his bhootaganas before Aswadhama and blessed him. That was how Aswadhama, with the help of bhoota ganas was able to kill all the army and warriors in our barracks. In fact the hero is Lord Siva and not Aswadhama. Hence leave your anger on Aswadhama.
(Conclusion: This parvam provides very terrible incidents involving the extremely horrible massacre committed by Aswathama. All the sons of Draupati were killed by Aswathama. He was enraged to seek that kind of carnage and butchery, as he felt that Duryodhana was killed in an undharma way. The carnage happened during the midnight. Aswathama was really angry over the Pandavas but he had no right to kill while they were asleep. For him the ends justify the means. He was condemned by all the noble people. Except Duryodhana, nobody approved his dastardly action. As Dharmarajan observed, At the very moment of victory,Pandavas have been totally defeated. The vanquished(Kauravas) have indeed triumphed. Draupadis children, who survived the onslaught of the formidable Karna, have, by their unwariness, been destroyed like vermin. They have allowed themselves to be destroyed like a merchant ship which, having successfully crossed the big seas, returns home but capsizes in a small canal and is lost. Pandavas were never happy to celeberate their hard-earned victory. Sowthigam caused all those irrecoverable miseries to Pandavas. Readers of this Parvam also will express their sorrow, by shedding a few drops of tear.)
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STREE PARVAM
CHAPTER 1 [So far in Mahabaratha we see the characters fighting with each other in a big battle for the gain of ardha and kaama. From now onwards, they are attempting to attain Mukti.] On hearing the death of all his hundred sons, Dhrutarashtra fainted and fell down. After sometime, he recovered and started weeping for the loss of glory that he had acquired all those years. Nobody had come and consoled him. His mind was impaired and heart became hollow. Sanjaya: oh king! You are a knowledgeable person. Should you grieve in this manner? You lost all your sons. For whose sake you are grieving? Will there be an end for such a distress? So you leave grief. Keep your mind steady. You lost eighteen akshauhinis of army. Many fathers, sons, brothers, grandsons and many relatives were dead. Of these people for whose sake you are grieving? Stop grieving and get prepared to attend the last lights for the dead. Let us take all your women and reach cremation ground. Dhrutarashtra: All my sons were dead. I lost all my glory. Only a wretched life is left. What is the use of living without any eminence? It is as good as death. From now onwards people may show sympathy on me. Is it possible to bear just sympathy instead of royal deference? Sanjaya! When Krishna came for a compromise he advised me in several ways. He cautioned that if a war brakes , everything would be destroyed. Maharishis also told me in several ways. Because of my greed and blind affection towards my sons, I never cared to listen their words. I did not give the Pandurajus share of kingdom to his sons. I wanted that also to be enjoyed by my sons. Because of my greed all my sons, friends and relatives were dead. Hence my mind was not inclined towards fulfilling the last rights for them. In fact I was not interested to live. I never expected that I would be landed in such a bad condition and kept them away from their share. Because of my unjust actions all my sons died.
Sanjaya: king! It is not right on your part to grieve in this manner. You have read Vedas, Vedangas from your guru. Is it not the right time for you to apply all that knowledge So stop grieving. Your son always did sinful acts. Knowing fully well you kept him on your shoulders. You were not only greedy but also over confident about the valour of your son. Did you ever make an effort to control your greed? Virtuous people will always do right things at right time. Sinful people will always oppose those good things. When all their efforts failed they will fall into distress. You are also doing the same thing. However loudly you might cry, will the dead people come back? Vidura consoles Dhrutarashtra: Vidura: Dhrutarashtra! All creatures are born only to die. How many people are dying everyday? Yama will pull the creatures with his pasham and take with him. Whether they are strong or weak, he has no consideration of any nature. Why you grieve for your sons? All those people who were dead, reached heaven and are enjoying comforts. You are a learned person. Ordinary people dont realize which is permanent and which is temporary. In fact the death takes place only to born again. Leaving this body and taking another body is known as death. It is like living in a house for sometime and leaving after sometime. It is like changing a cloth. Such learned people will take both the pleasure and pain equally. So, you should not grieve so much for the death of your relatives. You get up and do all those rites. Vyasa Naharishi consoles Dhrutarashtra: Vyasa Maharishi: Dhrutarashtra! You have heard all sastras. I came to remove your distress and make your mind appeased. You also know that all beings are to perish one day or other; if you understand this secret, all your grief will be washed away. My son! Did the rivalry develop between your sons and Pandavas without your knowledge? You are also aware that your son alone is responsible for it. Death of your sons is a divine act. Hence all Kuru family is destroyed. All the kings on earth took the battle as a play. Vidura cautioned you on the day you gave permission for playing dice. You gave a deaf ear. A learned man will
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never try to oppose the act of god. Having known all these things, why are you grieving so much? You stop grieving and keep up the prestige of Kuru family. Long ago I attended a meeting of devatas. There the Bhoodevi came and complained about the increase of overweight on her due to uncontrolled number of unrighteous people. Vishnu consoled her by saying, Bhoodevi! After sometime, a king by name Dhrutarashtra would be born on earth. He would have hundred sons. All of them would be unrighteous. Bhoodevi! Kalapurusha would be born as the eldest son of king Dhrutarashtra by name Duryodhana. Because of kalapurushas influence, Duryodhana would become arrogant and would not listen to elders. He would do all cruel acts. All the wicked and cruel kings would join him in the battle at Kurukshetra. So Dhrutarashtra! with the knowledge of this background, know it as a divine act and stop grieving. Dhrutarashtra had an apprehension in his mind, if Dharmaraja and his brothers would respect him or not. Maharishi understood his feelings with his divine power and said: Vyasa Maharishi: Dhrutarashtra! I understood your mental agony. You will not get any harm from Pandavas. They will continue to respect you as before. So you leave all your doubts, go to the banks of Ganga complete the last rites for all your sons and relatives. You treat Dharmaraja and his brothers as your own sons and live with them comfortably and peacefully. Dhrutarashtra was relieved with the consoling words of Maharishi and asked Sanjaya to make arrangements to go to Kurukshetra to do last rites to his sons and relatives. Dhrutarashtra reaches Kurukshetra with his women: Sanjaya had arranged several chariots for Dhrutarashtra and others. They reached Kurukshetra . On their way Aswadhama , Krupacharya and Krutavarma met Dhrutarashtra; they prostrated at his feet and said, oh king! Your son Duryodhana fought with courage and got killed by Bheema. Now he reached heaven. All the kings and army on both sides were also dead. Krupacharya went to Gaandhari and said, Gaandhari Devi! All your sons fought with the enemies in a ferocious manner and were killed in the battle. They never withdrew with fear. They all reached heaven. Having won so much, are Pandavas left with any happiness? All their sons were killed. All the armies
were killed in the battle. Myself, Aswadhama and Krutavarma took revenge on Pandavas by killing Draupadis brothers, sons and their army. As a result Pandavas also did not have any of their near and dear alive. He took permission from her and went to Dhrutarashtra and said King! Pandavas are searching for us to kill. So we want to escape before they come here. We came to take leave from you. By saying so, Krupacharya went to Hastinapura. Krutavarma went to Dwaraka. Aswadhama went to Vyasas asrama. Dharmaraja went to Dhrutarashtra with his brothers: On hearing that Dhrutarashtra and his women were coming he went with his brothers to see him. Dharmaraja warmly welcomed Dhrutarashtra and prostrated at his feet. Dhrutarashtra lifted Dharmaraja and embraced him. Dhrutarashtra also embraced Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva individually. When Bheema was about to go near Dhrutarashtra, Krishna smelt the mind of Dhrutarashtra and stopped Bheema as the embrace would be very tight and prove to be fatal. Instead of Bheema, a big iron statue made like Bheema, was pushed before Dhrutarashtra. He embraced Bheema in such a manner that iron statue was smashed into small pieces. He thought that he killed Bheema. The iron pieces of the statue wounded Dhrutarashtras body. With those wounds, Dhrutarashtra bled heavily and so he fainted. While fainting he said, After a long time, I was able to kill Bheema. I took revenge on the fellow who killed my son. Though my son could not kill him I was able to kill him and kept my son happy. In the same manner he repeated many times. After recovery from the fainting, he started crying for Bheema loudly. Looking at Dhrutarashtras behavior Krishna said with a smile: Krishna: Uncle There is none equal to you in strength. Your hands are as fearful as the teeth of Rudra, at the time of Pralayam. Could anybody survive those who caught in between the teeth of Rudra. I know how much furious you were against Bheema and had a grudge to revenge. I have anticipated the outcome, if Bheema goes anywhere near him. So I arranged an iron statue to expose you. In a grief of losing your sons you wanted to kill your brothers son in a deceitful manner. Is not killing a divine act? Can you insult the creator himself? Even if you kill all Pandavas, will you get back your sons? Can you wipe out this disgrace? King! You have learnt Vedas and Sastras. You have served elders. You know all dharmas. In spite of these, you are not able to know what sin you are
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doing? That is why you are grieving and becoming furious. In spite of a big calamity, there was no change in your heart. You yourself invited war out of greediness. Knowing all these things by yourself why are you weeping aloud? Dont you remember your unethical behavior and cruel nature of your sons? If you realize, your grief and fury will disappear. Dhrutarashtra: Krishna! What you say is true. All your qualities are divine. That is why you are the Purushothama. In a grief of losing all my sons I behaved in a wicked manner. I lost my balance and good sense. Thus I committed an adharma. I confess my mistakes. You have opened my eyes. I stop grieving for my sons. I regard my brothers sons as my own sons. After Dhrutarashtra reconciled himself, Krishna brought all Pandavas close to Dhrutarashtra, who blessed them all. At the end he brought Yuyuthsu who was born to him through a vysya woman. The king was happy at least one son was alive. He embraced Yuyuthsu. Dhrutarashtra said all of them to go and see Gaandhari. Krishna and Pandavas went to Gaandhari. Because of her grief, she was about to curse Dharmaraja. At that time Vyasa Maharishi appeared before her and said: Vyasa Maharishi: Gaandhari! Dont get angry on Dharmaraja. He is a virtuous person. When Duryodhana came to you for your blessings, do you remember what you said to him, My son! Where dharma is, the victory will be there. Now in this big battle Pandavas were victorious. So you think with a rational mind and bless Pandavas who came with victory. If you cooled down and think, you may understand everything. Gaandhari: Maharishi! I dont have any jealousy. I dont wish that Pandavas are to be destroyed. Out of grief, anger transformed my nature. The love and affection to Pandavas are as much Kunti have on them. Because of Duryodhanas wicked nature, he was provoked by Sakuni, Karna and Dussasana. All our Kuru family are destroyed. Since Pandavas are righteous they won the battle. I am not feeling bad about it. In the presence of Krishna, Bheema had killed Duryodhana in an unrighteous manner. As a mother I am feeling bad for that improper action only. Bheema consoles Gaandhari: Bheema: Mother! I dont plead that what I did was dharma or adharma. At that moment to protect my life, I did it. Please forgive all our shortcomings
and bless us. Your son is not only a strong man but also a skilful person. Unless I did so at that time, I couldnt have saved my life. Mother! In the presence of all, Dharmaraja was insulted in the Kuru Sabha. At that time Draupadi was under menstruation. Your sons did not show any kindness towards her. Dussasana pulled by hair and dragged her into the Kuru Sabha. Did you not hear what Duryodhana said at that time? In that Sabha Duryodhana showed his thighs to Draupadi and asked her to sit on his thighs. Could he behave in that way to a chaste woman? Looking at that, I became furious and took a vow that I would kill him breaking his thighs. Is it not the duty of a Kshatriya to fulfill his vow? One more word! Had I broken his thighs ten and there in the same sabha, we could have avoided this war. Because Dharmaraja respected the vow made at the time of dice game, we obeyed his orders and went to forest and suffered for thirteen years. In spite of that, Dharmaraja sent Krishna for a compromise. Even at that time also I sent words through Krishna, Duryodhana! Whatever must happen, had happened. Let us forget the past. We are all brothers. Let us share the land as per the wishes of our elders. Let us enjoy our respective land and live in peace with our children. As we wanted to go in a gentle manner, he thought that we were weak and incompetent. He developed enmity with us and was killed in the battle. Had he wanted to give back Dharmaraja his kingdom, this calamity could have been avoided. As he didnt accede to our request, the war happened. To fulfill my vow, there was no other alternative for us except to kill your son in the above manner. When my life was in danger, I remembered my vow and killed him by breaking his thighs. You know everything. Gaandhari: My son! Duryodhana is a low minded fellow. That is the proper way of death for him. It is good that he was dead. It is true he did all wicked acts. Of all said and done, I couldnt appreciate your killing my son in an unrighteous manner. Not only that people do kill in a battle. Had anybody drunk human blood ? Is it a human act or an act of rakshasas? Only wolf will drink blood in that manner. Bheema: Mother! Dussasana dragged Draupadi in such a heinous and despicable manner and removed her garments in the middle of Kuru Sabha and insulted her. In a fit of anger, I made a vow that I would break his chest and drink blood. Having made a vow I took his blood with my finger and touched my lip and pretended, as if I have drunk his blood. Actually I havent drunk his blood.
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Mother! I will tell you further what had happened at that time. I pushed Dussasana on the ground and sat on him. Kaurava warriors attacked me and tried to push me from there. I wanted to complete the job fast. To frighten the enemies, I took some blood and touched it to my lip and made a simhanadham. I pretended as if I was drinking his blood. Mother! I too know that drinking human blood is a sin. Knowing fully well should I drink my own brothers blood? Gaandhari: Bheema! Do you think all my sons are cruel? At least you could have spared one son for us at this old age.Where is Dharmaraja who killed all my sons? Dharmaraja came and stood by her side and said, Mother! I am Dharmaraja. I am standing by your side. I am the sinful person who killed all your sons. I deserve punishment. Whatever curse you may give, I am ready to take it. I am also responsible for the killing of several kings in this battle. So I am fit to have your curse. Curse me and relieve from my grief. All my relatives , sons and brothers are dead.What I am to do with this kingdom? Why should I live? On hearing Dharmarajas words, Gaandhari kept silent and had a deep breath. Dharmaraja touched her feet and took her blessings. She looked at ground from the cloth she covered to her eyes she was able to see the foot of Dharmaraja. By her sight, all the nails of Dharmaraja became red. Seeing this, Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva ran behind Krishna. But Gaandhari became calm soon and affectionately blessed them and asked them to go and see Kunti. After taking blessings from Gaandhari all Pandavas, Draupadi and Krishna went to Kunti and consoled her.
CHAPTER-2
After consoling Draupadi, Gaandhari saw the battle field of Kurukshetra with the divine sight blessed by Vyasa Maharishi. While she was looking at the battle field, Vyasa Maharishi ordered Dharmaraja to perform the last rites to all those kings and relatives as per their custom. Gaandhari called Krishna and said: Gaandhari: Krishna! Selya, Drupada, Karna, Drona, Bheeshma and many others were killed long back. See how splendid their faces are. Some of the
bodies were cut into pieces. As such, their women are not able to identify their men. Having done so much havoc, what you have gained? While looking at the body of Duryodhana, she could not bear her grief and fainted. After recovery, she cried remembering all her past memories of her son. She said, Krishna Before he entered the battle field, he came for my blessings, I told him, My son! On whichever side dharma prevails, that side will win. While Draupadi had her dress removed in the Kuru Sabha, Bheema took a vow. On hearing his vow elders said those vows did not come in a casual way. That would destroy the entire Kuru family. They also said that dharma couldnt be destroyed so easily. Keeping their words in my mind, I said in that manner to my son. Since my son was asking for my blessings I did not want to give him a false hope. That is why I said to him, My son! Dont disgrace Kuru line, by running away from the battle field. Because disgrace is worse than the death, you remain as a true warrior. You will become immortal and reach the heaven. Krishna! He fought courageously and retained the glory of Kuru line. What I am grieving is for the loss of my son.He was killed at the hands of enemy and he reached heaven. Krishna! King Dhrutarashtra has become old. At this old age he would have been happy, if at least one son survived. That is only my grief. Krishna! Vidura has taught many dharmas to Dhrutarashtra and also said if war comes, the entire Kuru family would be destroyed. But due to bad passion, nobody listened to his good advice. I have seen the Kuru kingdom with lot of children, grand children and great grand children. I have also seen that my son has ruled the entire earth. Krishna! Look at my daughter-in-law Bhanumathi who lost her husband and son. Krishna! Look at Dussasana. He only dragged Draupadi to the Kuru Sabha to keep Duryodhana happy. At that time, Draupadi wept bitterly until Bheema came out with a vow. The cry of Draupadi only brought the death to my son Dussasana. At that time, I told my son Duryodhana, My son! This Draupadi is under the protection of Krishna. How could you insult her in that manner? You are not able to perceive what is there in store for you for this sin. If you do such low things, you will have to pay very heavily for it. You leave Draupadi immediately and dont do anything which will bring disgrace to Kuru family. Sakuni is cruel and hard- hearted. I told my son several times not to be friendly with his uncle. I also told him that Pandavas are righteous people and advised him to be friendly with them. Duryodhana gave a deaf ear to all my good words. He became furious, haughty and involved in sinful acts. Who can change the destiny?
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The vengeance of Bheema was as deadly as that of a cobra. He had kept his vengeance for the past thirteen years and killed all the Kaurava brothers now. Gaandhari came to the dead body of Abhimanyu. She also wept for the boy and for his mother Subhadra. Drona, Krupa, Karna, and Aswadhama lost their nobility by killing a boy in an unrighteous manner? she regretted You look at the body of Karna. He is a close friend of Duryodhana. He was always arrogant. He promise to Duryodhana that he would kill Arjuna and all other Pandavas. Duryodhana believed his words and entered the battle field. Now he lost his life and became responsible for the great human loss in the battle. Here is Bahlika. Even though he is dead he looks as if he is sleeping. He is Syndhava. He would have been killed on the day when he insulted Draupadi in the forest. Since he happened to be the husband of their sister, Dussala, Pandavas left him alive. He became responsible for the death of Abhimanyu. Look at my daughter who is running here and there to identify her husband. However she could not see her husbands body . Gaandhari curses Krishna: Krishna! You are instrumental for creating rift between the brothers and see to it that they all fought with each other and killed. In the same manner your dayalis also would kill each other and destroy the entire yadava family. After thirty six years from today, nobody would remain in your family line. Looking at them all their wives will cry like my daughters-in-law. On hearing the curse of Gaandhari, Krishna smiled at her and said, Gaandhari Devi! Already the maharishis cursed all yadavas to fight with each other and die. Now you are giving the same curse. What did you gain from this? In any case, all yadavas are going to be killed and destroyed by themselves. Mother! We have seen enough dead bodies and remembered their memories. Let us go back and attend to the funeral rites of all these dead heroes. Dharmaraja! Do you know how many soldiers were dead? Dharmaraja said that seventy six crore and twenty thousand people were dead. Dharmaraja arranged all the materials that are required for the funeral rites from Hastinapura and entrusted the job to his priest Dhaumya. At that time Kunti came with uncontrollable grief and said, Dharmaraja! Karna who fought for Kauravas and was popularly known as Radheya is not
really the son of Radha. In fact he is my son. He is elder to you. He is your elder brother. I gave birth to him with blessings of sun god. Hence you do last rites for Karna also. On hearing Kuntis words, Dharmaraja was astonished and became dumb but managed to address his mother. Mother! Duryodhana was confident that Karna would kill Arjuna and Bheema. With strong support of Karna only, he declared war against us. No one knows the wealth of astras Karna had. He only made sleepless nights for me all the thirteen years. How are you able to conceal this fact, all these years? None of us was able to stand before his valour. Mother! How you gave birth to Karna? You did not disclose this secret and kept us in darkness. He scolded his mother in several ways for keeping this secret all those years. At the end he and his brothers conducted all the last rites to Karna. Dhrutarashtra, Gaandhari, Kunti and all others also gave Dharmodhakas to the departed souls. Dharmaraja gave heavy gifts in the name of Karna. (Conclusion: This parvam is almost centered on Kaurava family. All the sons of Dhrutarashtra were dead and it gave the parents untold miseries. They had no future. But that calamity was their own product. When the battle was over, Hastinapura was a city of mourning. All the women and children were weeping and lamenting for their slain relatives. Thousands of women were bereaving. Kurukshetra was the scene of terrible destruction. Yet the Pandavas and the elders like Vyasa Maharishi and Vidhura tried to console them. Gandhari was the most inconsolable mother. She cursed Krishna for his cunning deeds. Then we see Kunti publicly announcing that Karna was her son. While the war gave Kauravas unfathomable loss, it destroyed the Pandavas joy of victory. Nobody was really happy at the end of this great war. That is the essence of human life, dominated by struggles and war! Mukthi alone remained as their goal. How they try to achieve mukthi is told in the next parvams)
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SANTI PARVAM
CHAPTER 1 Dharmaraja stricken with remorse Pandavas completed the last rites to all the departed souls of their near and dear. For completing the purification ceremonies, they erected tents on the banks of Ganga and stayed there. All Kaurava women also lived in those tents. To complement Pandavas, many maharishis such as Vyasa, Naradha, Devala and others arrived with their disciples. Dharmaraja and others welcomed and worshiped them.The maharishis began to eulogize Pandavas. Naradha: Dharmaraja! You are the most fortunate among all the kings , because Krishna himself is associated with you like a shadow and he protected you. One cant describe and praise the archery of Arjuna. Both of them joined together and brought the victory for you. One of the commendable qualities is that all your brothers are obeying your words even now. In spite of your great fight with your powerful enemy, your mind was fixed on dharma. Did you ever suffer distress while your mind was fixed on dharma? Are you happy now? Dharmaraja: Maharishi! With the grace of Krishn and, the vigour and valour of Bheema and Arjuna. I was able to secure this victory. In this battle, all my cousins and sons have died. We lost Abhimanyu and Upa-Pandavas also. However I humbly submit before you that what I have achieved is not victory at all, as after I have lost all my cousins and my sons. I could not regard this as a victory. This is an illusion! Maharishi! From the beginning Karna stood as the right hand of Duryodhana. When I came to know that he was the first child of Kunti, I gave Jalatharpanas (Offering water to the dead) and performed last rites also for him. Eversince I came to know this fact, my mind is rolling on fire. My mother Kunti went to him before the war was started and said to him that he was her first child and requested him defect to Pandavas side and enjoy the privilege of becoming the king. But he politely but firmly rejected
the offer and said to her, Mother! King Duryodhana has made me king of Anga desam and depends on me to defeat Pandavas, particularly Arjuna. If I come to Pandavas side at this crucial time, everybody will condemn me as an ungrateful person. Hence either myself or Arjuna will survive this war. In any case you will have only five sons alive , but not six. On hearing Karnas words, Kunti asked him an assurance that he would not kill her sons except Arjuna. He kept his promise and did not kill us, though he was in a position to kill all of us. Maharishi! My mother did not reveal the secret of Karnas birth. Hence none of us knew that we were fighting with our eldest brother.Of course, he uttered some unrighteous words in Kuru sabha to please Duryodhana. Even then, I did not feel any bitterness in my mind. Now I am presuming the reason I did not get annoyed at him! Now we lost him. What can we done. Maharishi! I scolded Arjuna for having come without killing Karna and told him that he was not my brother since he had not killed Karna. In fact I am a sinner who killed my own elder brother. How can I get out of my distress? Oh Maharishi! While he was fighting with Arjuna, the wheel of his chariot sunk in the ground due to a curse. I have heard that Parasurama also cursed him. You please enlighten me the background and the real reasons of those curses on Karna. Narada tells the history of Karna: Narada: Dharmaraja!. Right from his childhood, Karna was jealous of Dharmarajas righteous nature, Bheemas power and Arjunas expertise in archery. He was also jealous of Arjunas friendship with Krishna. To take revenge on Pandavas, he joined hands with Duryodhana. He learnt archery from Dronacharya. One day he went to Dronacharya and asked, Acharya! I came to learn archery to exceed Arjuna. Please teach me Brahmastra. For which Drona said, Karna! To learn Brahmastra, one should be a brahmin or a king. You are neither. Hence I cant give you a Brahmastra. At that time Karna went to Mt. Mahendra, to serve Parasurama as his disciple. He told a lie to Parasurama that he was a brahmin and learnt Brahmastra. One day while Parasurama kept his head on Karnas thigh and slept. At that time an insect bit and made a hole on Karna and blood was flowing like a stream. After some time, Parasurama woke up and asked Karna from where that blood was coming. Karna replied, Maharishi! While you were sleeping, an insect bit my thigh. Since I did not want to disturb your sleep,
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I kept quiet. Parasurama said to Karna, Are you a brahmin? If you are a Brahmin, how could you bear the pain?A Brahmin couldnt bear such pains. You are not a Brahmin. Tell me your real caste. Then Karna revealed his caste. In the meanwhile, the insect jumped into the sky and said: Maharishi! On account of you I got the deliverance from my curse. My name is Grasta, a rakshasa. I tried to abduct the wife of Bhrugu Maharishi. He cursed me to become an insect. By your kindness, I got deliverance from my curse. By saying so he disappeared. Parasurama came to know that Karna was not a Brahmin. He was annoyed and cursed Karna saying,You will forget the mantra of Brahmastra when you struggle for your life. Karna went to Duryodhana and told a lie that he learnt Brahmastra and several divine astras from Parasurama and nobody could defeat him . During that period while he was practicing archery, one of his arrows hit a calf and it died. The owner of the calf, a Brahmin, was furious at him and cursed that the wheel of his chariot would sink in the ground while he was struggling for life. Because of these two curses, Karna could not remember the mantra of Brahmastra while he was fighting with Arjuna. At the same time the curse of brahmin also became effective and the wheel of his chariot was sunk in the ground. Oh Dharmaraja! Karnas behavior became blemish after he became a close friend of Duryodhana. At that time the king of Kalinga, Chitrangadha, announced a swayam vara (An arrangement by which a bride chooses her husband at a public assembly of suitors) of his daughter Subhangi. Sisupala , Neelu , Jarasandha, Rukmi and Duryodhana attended it . In the swayam vara hall, as Subhangi did not look at Duryodhana, he became furious and ordered Karna to bring her to his chariot. As a result, there was a big fight among the kings. In that battle, Karna exhibited his courage and bravery, by defeating all the kings and made Duryodhana happy. Jarasandha became furious on Karna and offered him to have a direct fight with him. The fight between Karna and Jarasandha went on for a long time. At the end, Jarasandha had a fracture on his leg and withdrew from the battle. However Jarasandha was pleased with the high spirit of Karna and gave him the city of Malini as a gift. In this manner Karna had become popular all over the world. To suppress the passion of Karna, Indra came in the form of a brahmin and took his natural shield and ear rings from him. Indras act helped Arjuna in this battle. Dharmaraja! There are many reasons for the defeat of Karna 1. While Karna was fighting at the time of life and death the wheels of his chariot sank
in the ground due to the curse of a brahmin. 2. He did not remember the mantra of Brahmastra, due to the curse of Parasurama. 3. Kunti took a promise from him that he would not kill any of her sons except Arjuna. 4. Bheeshma disgraced him as an ardharadha. 5. Selya humiliated him by praising the enemy and downgrading the valour of Karna. 6. Indra himself came down in the form of a brahmin to snatch away the natural shield and the ear rings. 7. He refused to take the advice of sun god. Because of the above reasons, Karna failed to defeat Arjuna. Arjuna pleased Rudra, Indra and other devatas and secured many divine astras. With the help of those astras, he suppressed the splendour of Karna. On hearing the words of Naradha, Dharmaraja wept bitterly and had a deep breath. Kunti noticed the distress of Dharmaraja and said: Kunti: My son! I revealed the secret of his birth and asked him to join you. The sun god also confirmed by saying, Karna! What Kunti said is true. You do as advised by her. However he did not agree for the defection, because Duryodhana was totally depending on him to subdue Pandavas. Past is past. Why do you worry so much for such a Karna? Dharmaraja was annoyed at Kuntis words and cursed that women should not hold secrets. He was agitated at the great human loss and said to Arjuna: Dharmaraja: Arjuna! This victory is suicidal for me since, I killed all our relatives. Non violence, truthfulness, forbearance, not having malignity and all such other good qualities are meant for only those who live in forest and lead a muni life. This is what Vedas say. This kingdom is like a piece of meat. For which, we have fought like dogs. We killed all our families. My mind is filled with distress and life has become so painful. Even if I am offered all the three worlds, I will not accept under these circumstances. So you assume this kingdom for yourself and rule the country. Arjuna! Dhrutarashtra didnt look at dharma and adharma with an equal spirit. He behaved in a partisan manner, not imagining the evils that might bring to Duryodhana. He acted in whatever manner Duryodhana wanted him to act. He never tried to stop his sons evil ways. Duryodhana killed all the Kuru family. By blaming him, my anger has subsided but not the grief. If Duryodhana acted in a greedy manner, I also acted in the same way. With a strong desire of getting back my kingdom, I too bowed my head for
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this sinful act. Whatever the sins I committed for this kingdom, I get deliverance by relinquishing the kingdom. The person who has developed a detached spirit will not be entangled in the cycle of birth and death. This is what Vedas say. Vedas also tell us many more dharmas. All dharmas cant be practiced by an individual, because the span of his life is not sufficient. Brother! Now I relinquish the kingdom and become pure. You take up the kingdom and protect the dharmas. I will go to forest and live as a muni . Arjuna consoles Dharmaraja: Arjuna: Revered brother! I am astonished to hear your words. We have won the battle with our valour in a righteous manner. Now you are telling that you will go to forest and live a muni life. Can you talk in such a manner? Had you such thoughts, you could have told us before the war started. Why you killed so many people and kings? For whom you are afraid of and running away to the forest? People will laugh at you on hearing your words. Nobody will appreciate you as a righteous man. If you have any guilty feeling, perform an Aswameda yaga and wash away your sins. Why you have resorted to such a distressed decision and thereby disgracing our family tradition? Ardha will secure all dharmas. Those who dont have Ardha are as good as dead. This is what king Nahusha said. Only a person who had ardha would be able to achieve other three purushardhas. A person is considered as weak if cant support his friends and relatives with ardha, but not who is physically weak. As the ants surround jaggery, all relatives would surround a person who had ardha. Even the valour also will shine for a person who has ardha. Hence to acquire ardha and making friends and relatives happy is the duty of a king. Unless you defeat the enemies, how can you increase your wealth? Those who dont show valour and live a humble and submissive life,wont secure wealth. Vedas are telling that kshatriyas should acquire kingdom with valour and augment wealth. With such wealth, they must perform yagnas. Dileepa, Nrugu, Sagara, Nahusha, Ambarisha, Mandhata and many others performed yagnas and reached heaven. You also follow such superior path. You perform Aswameda yaga. You have Avabrudhasnanas (A supplementary sacrifice to atone for defects.)and wash those sins of killing friends and relatives in the battle. Dharmaraja: Arjuna! I have chosen a path which all the maharishis appreciate. I leave all sensual pleasures and live in a forest in the company of
maharishis. I swallow the nector of their teachings. I treat all duals, like lovehate, equally. If I choose the Karma path, I will get only limited fruits. If I choose the path of jnana, I shall attain salvation. Hence I dont want forgo the pure and pious jnana path for the sake of sensual pleasures. Once mind sets in the path of jnana, do you think it is so easy to change that path? Bheema: Brother! You are born as a Kshatriya to lead a life on the path of karma as prescribed in Vedas. Having been born a Kshatriya, how can you practice a munis life? Had you really developed a detached spirit, many of the kings would have survived. We also need not have fought this battle at the cost of our life. We could have accepted the life of begging. Having fought such a terrific battle and after winning the kingdom, how can you say that you would go to forest and lead a muni life? You are refusing to drink water, after digging a well. When this great Rajyalakshmi came to you; you are refusing to accept her. People will laugh at us if we fail to stop you going to forests and will certainly feel distressed if they are deprived of your protection. According to you, if an actionless path alone will bring salvation, all the mountains, trees, and flowers could have attained salvation long back. Simply by living in forest, you cant attain a salvation. We get salvation only when we perform our dharma with a sense of duty. Arjuna: Esteemed brother! I will tell you an ancient story. Some brahmin Brahmacahris went to a forest, leaving their duties . At that time Indra came in the form of a bird and said, My dear boys! The path that you have chosen is not the right path. The children were surprised and asked the bird, You show us the right path. The bird said, Among the animals, cow is superior! Of all the sounds, mantra is superior!Of all the metals, gold is precious! Of all the humans, brahmin is superior. On hearing the words from the bird, all the brahmin boys understood what their duties were. They learnt Vedas and mantras, did superior karmas and attained salvation. Those people who dont leave anger and distress, who do not perform their duties (karma), who are ignorant people and those who do not know when to take sanyasa, will suffer not only in this world but in other world also. Nakula consoles Dharmaraja: Nakula: Dearest Brother! Kings must acquire wealth at all costs to perform yagnas and other sacrifices as stated in Vedas and to satisfy devatas.
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Otherwise the king will become a sinner. Easwara alone gives light to all the worlds and establishes these Varnasrama dharmas. You are born as Kshatriya to rule the country. How can you disobey the orders of Easwara? Did the kings who ruled earlier, fought battles without violence? Did they not occupy superior lokas later? How you alone will get the sin? Hence you ought to follow their path. King alone is to give protection to a common man. Then how can you deny protection to them and take up an asceticsi life? Sahadeva: Most affectionate brother! Ancient kings like Manu, ruled the country without delusion, attachment and bondage, but attained salvation. Though we may go to forests, we may be attached to something or the other. That attachment itself will bind us into the cycle of birth and death. Draupadi: Dharmaraja! All your brothers are distressed. Dont you remember; that you yourself used to console them by saying that we should kill Duryodhana after agnatevasam and redeem our kingdom. As promised you killed the enemy, you took the kingdom and now you want to relinquish. Brahma has created the king with an amsa of dik palakas to protect the people. Can such a king talk like a child? Will he not land in troubles? If a person touches the fire, all his family will be destroyed. Brahma has given the power to punish the erring persons. Even if a brahmin commits a sin, he would be banished from the country. Even devatas appreciate. On the other day I was forcefully taken to the Kuru Sabha . They uttered all humiliating words. Now your brothers have killed the offenders. How can you call it as a sin? Dharmaraja! A king will become virtuous only when he kills those criminals who spied the secrets of the king and who stole otherss wealth. In other words, even Indra will not be exonerated, if he leaves a criminal unpunished. The punishment awarded by a king, keeps the people in peace and comfort. Kauravas died for their sinful acts and not because of you. So you leave your doubts and get ready for coronation. Rule the country. Provide more comforts to the people than ever. Arjuna: Criminal procedure code cannot be construed as violence. If the king does not apply this code, anarchy will prevail in the country. The sin of people suffering will come to the king. If you perceive from another angle, that Brahma creates somebodys flesh as another mans meat. Brahma himself created the jungle law i.e. might is right. If a tiger kills a deer, will it be construed as violence? Leave all your doubts, get crowned and rule the country. Perform more yagnas and satisfy devatas.
Dharmaraja: Bheema, Arjuna! You are advising me to take up the kingdom and rule. Accepting the kingdom means will it not be like fish gulping bait? Do you mean that I am to rule with full of pride, fear and attachment in mind. In spite of all, elders say, ultimately the king is to land up in grief. Are the kings prohibited from seeking peace? Do you mean that all the maharishis who are doing penance are mad? Only those who dont realize the sweetness of bliss will run around sensual pleasures. Dont you know that King Janaka lived with a detached spirit. Though the city of Midhila was burnt, he could see no damage for his city. Would the people call him a mad man? He remembers the conversation between Janaka and his wife. Conversation between king Janaka and his wife: Janakas wife: King! You want to leave kingdom and live on begging. If you go on begging, who will feed the guests? Who will worship devatas and Pitru devatas? Though a gruhasta may take up sanyasa, he has to be fed by a gruhasta only. So gruhasta ashrama is the most superior of all ashramas. Everyone wants to succeed in gruhasta ashrama, whereas you are trying to leave gruhasta ashrama . Have you realized how many are going to be disappointed with your decision? So stop thinking of asceticism and remain as a gruhasta. I fail to understand what pleasure you derive in ascetic ashrama, while drowning your mother and wife in an ocean of grief. Dharmaraja: Arjuna! Vedas are suggesting the path of karma. They also teach us to be inactive in all worldly duties. By discussing all these paths, one cant attain real knowledge. One reaches heaven only by performing good acts. In fact a man who has the real knowledge will not find fault with me. Out of your affection towards me, you are finding fault with the path of inaction. You and Bheema exhibited extraordinary valour. You have mastered marital arts, but not the path of Vedanta and spiritual knowledge. Those who read a few ancient scriptures, and possessing limited knowledge, did not taste the bliss. So they advocate the path of karma. After sometime, they change their mind and revert back to the path of knowledge. Listening all these conversation, Devastana Maharishi said to Dharmaraja: Devastana Maharishi advises Dharmaraja: Devastana: Dharmaraja! What Arjuna said is true. Secure wealth in a righteous way and spend it for performing yagnas and to please devatas. As
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long as you dont spend for your personal comforts and luxuries that would help like a ladder to attain salvation. If you can use the remaining wealth or the materials, it will remove all your distress. By consuming the yagna seham for yourself it will provide you self control and control on senses. That will lead you to attain knowledge of Brahmam. Siva got splendour by performing Sarvamedha yagna. Brahma and others became glorious by performing ritual rites . Many emperors like Maruthu ruled the country in a righteous way. I will tell you some of the teachings of Bruhaspathi. Dharmaraja! If one asks me whether to follow the karma path or the Wisdom ,I cannot say both are equal. It is difficult to do karma dedicating the fruits to Brahma. All duals are to be accepted with an equal spirit. One should not cheat others. Follow Kshatriya dharma and rule the country. All ancient kings entrusted the responsibility of rule to their successors and they went to vanas to acquire true knowledge. Arjuna: Dharmaraja! Have you heard the words of maharishi? You fought the battle as a matter of duty. Those who were killed reached heaven. While performing the royal duties one may have to invoke certain amount of fury, however there will be no change in his statesmanship. Even subordinate kings dont depend on others, for food. As such how Dharmaraja, a superior among Kauravas, can accept a muni way of life? So you leave distress. The heart of king is to be harder than common people. Brahma decided to give superior lokas to all your enemies. He has chosen you for that sacred job. Since you are only an instrument at the hands of Brahma, what is there for you to distress? While Arjuna was talking, Vyasa Maharishi came and said: Vyasa Maharishi: Dharmaraja! What Arjuna said is right. Gruhasta ashrama is the best among all other ashramas. All the more it is necessary for a king. Penance, controls senses, but Brahmacharya is not suitable for a king. A king should never be contended with the wealth he has. He always must try to improve his treasury. He should not give a second thought to do a battle. It is the primary duty of a king to protect the people in his country. He will get enormous sin, if he fails to do his duty. Why are you deviating from the path, shown by Vedas? You rule this country as an efficient ruler. That must be your immediate concern. Have you not heard, while you were in gurukulam, that a king can attain salvation by following Dandaneeti affectively? I will tell you the story of king Sudyumna .
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The story of Sudyumna: Long ago there were two brahmin brothers by name Sankhu and Likhitu. They built their individual hermitages side by side on the banks of river Bhuda. One day Likhitu went to the cottage of Sankhu,who was not there. Likhitu saw a tree full of fruits. He was tempted and took a fruit and ate. In the meanwhile his brother Sankhu came and said, Brother! You came to my cottage and ate a fruit in my absence and without asking me. This amounts to stealing and is a sin. Death is better than living a sinful life. So you go to our king, confess your sin and accept whatever punishment he gives. That will relieve you from your sin and you will be purified. Likhita went to the king and confessed his guilt and requested him to punish him. As the king was hesitating, he insisted for punishment. The king, with a heavy heart and after consulting his ministers, ordered to remove his two hands. Likhita went home and told his brother that the king had punished and removed both his hands. Sankhu while looking at his brother, was happy and said, Brother! Likhita! None should deviate from the path of dharma. Whoever deviates, should get punishment for the sin. Drinking wine, going with the wife of guru, killing a Brahmin and stealing brahmins wealth are considered to be great sins. Those who committed the sin of stealing, should suffer a physical punishment. Those who suffered punishment from the king will be purified and will be eligible for superior lokas. Since you are punished by our king, you have become pure. Now you go to the river, give the last rites for the departed to maharishis, pitru devatas and come back. Likhita went to the river and had a dip. Immediately he got back his hands. He went to his brother with joy and showed his hands. Looking at his brothers hands, Sankhu said, Brother! There is nothing to surprise us. This is my tapovana. This is the leela of the god. God comes to know that you are pure. After effecting C.P.C. (Criminal Procedure code) (Dandaneeti) on you, our king, Sudyumna also became pure. Dharmaraja! You also rule the country and became glorious. Your brothers deserve royal pleasures. Dont deprive their dreams with your spiritual influence. Let them also perform yagnas. After that, you have control on senses and live above all duals and attain salvation. Dont mistake me. I am telling you all out of love for you. I am telling you with my divine sight. You are yet to clear the debt of parents, gods and guests. Without clearing those debts, you are not eligible for salvation.
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Dharmaraja! While implementing C.P.C. (Dandaneeti) they should have the sound knowledge of psychology of people, face reading and behavioural gestures, besides law. King has to collect not more than 1/6th of peoples income as tax and treat them as his own children. Then only he will be eligible for salvation. In addition to the above, king is to conduct himself beyond passion, desire and anger. In other words if he deviates from his dharma, he will have share of peoples sins. A king should not compromise with a wicked king. Sooner or later the enemy is to be destroyed in full. In short, competency is the best of all dharma. Having born in royal family, he cant avoid a battle. It is a foolish thought, if you think you could have averted the battle, had Duryodhana agreed for a compromise. In battles killing enemies and get killed by the enemies are all common. While ruling, the king has to punish the offenders, which will be construed as a superior dharma but not considered as violence. Dharmaraja: Maharishi ! The cries of the women who lost their husbands are constantly reverberating in my ears. Can I rule the country without any distress? Vyasa Maharishi: Dharmaraja! Birth, death, growth and such changes take place by the influence of time. Long ago, a king by name Satyajittu fell in deep distress on account of the loss of his son, and he was awakened by spiritual knowledge. He explained his self- experience as follows: In this world only ignorant or learned persons are living happily. Those who cant make use of their genius alone are suffering with grief. One should understand that troubling others or get troubled by others, is the due time only. A person, who had this knowledge, will not grieve when others troubled him or he troubles others. It is foolishness if one grieves on such occasions. Though he grieves, can he make good the loss? There may be many reasons for fear and grief. So a person of knowledge will not allow fear or grief to come anywhere near him. Only a fool keeps remembering and grieves for them. In other words those pains and pleasures are temporary . Hence those who want peace of mind will not feel happy when he gets pleasure or do not suffer for the grief. When Satyajittu explained his wise words , all scholars were astonished. Dharmaraja! See that four varnas and four ashramas follow their dharmas and make good the difficulties they came across. You follow C.P.C.(Dandaneeti) judiciously. The glory of such a king will be immortal.
Thus the Maharishi gave full details of royal duties. Dharmaraja: Maharishi! Can I forget Abhimanyu and Upa-Pandavas? Bheeshma had brought us since our childhood. I killed such an affectionate Pitamaha. Dronacharya was our guru. I told him a lie by saying his son was dead and became responsible for his death. I provoked Arjuna to kill my elder brother, Karna. I myself provoked Abhimanyu to get into a death trap. With all those cruel acts, how can I rule the country peacefully? You show pity on me and permit me to go to forests. Vyasa Maharishi: Dharmaraja! The way in which you are talking does not suit your stature. Simply hearing dharmas or good words are not enough. You must digest them. Then only you will become knowledgeable. First you understand what for Brahma has created you and you should fulfill his orders. You cant go against his wishes. All those who are born, must die one day or other. Waves raise high only to fall. All pleasures will land us in grief.When king Janaka lost his relatives, before he had the knowledge of Brahmagnanam, a scholar by name Asmaka taught him a few good words. The teachings of Asmaka: Janaka: Man will feel happy while the wealth and relatives are by his side. He feels miserable in their absence. Why, sir? Asmaka: King! Pleasure and pain are parts of anybodys life. However, no one gets pleasures or pains forever. They come and go. Even an emperor cant get away from old age and death. Knowledgeable people will think that everything is decided by god. That is knowledge. Those people will not fall in distress.For instance, you take doctors. They treat patients with utmost care and cure them. At times, they even invent new medicine for the patient. Those doctors are also the victims of same diseases. That means that their knowledge, experience and efficiency cant fight against god. In a stream of river two blades of grass may travel together for some distance and separate later. Therefore all relatives and wealth are not permanent. In a cycle of birth and death, we have so many wives, children and relatives. For which wife and children one will grieve? In fact his body itself is borrowed from god. When his own body itself is not permanent, how can he grieve for others?
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Hence, Janaka! You are born to rule this country. If you have any doubt, you get them cleared from the learned people. In spite of hearing these words, Dharmaraja sat motionless. Looking at Dharmaraja, Arjuna said to Krishna. Arjuna: Krishna! Dharmaraja got dejected by the great human loss in the battle. You alone could convince him. Couldnt you? Krishna: Dharmaraja! All your relatives took war as a play and fought with divine power and went to heaven. Is it not a fact that no being can stay forever in this world? Long ago king Srunjaya had got dejected at the loss of his son. At that time, Narada went and told the stories of ancient kings, and the power of Lord Yama. Narada explained him the great deeds of those kings. Narada told about the great yagna. King Maruthu made all the utensils in gold and donated them to brahmins. Had Maruthu lived forever? No, he hadnt King Anga also performed a great rituals and gave heavy gifts. Did that king live forever? No! King Sibi drove his chariot in all the seven islands and pleased Lord Siva. Did king Sibi is not living now. Sri Rama built a bridge across the ocean and killed Ravana. Even Rama was also dead! King Bhageertha brought divine river Ganga to the earth and Patala. Such a Bhageertha also died in course of time. King Dileepa also did several ritual rites and died ultimately. King Mandhata did several ritual rites. He did not live forever. King Yayati fought on devatas side and killed many rakshasas. Did he live on earth forever? King Ambarisha defeated all his enemies. He gave protection to all his enemies. Did he live on earth forever? Sibi Bindu married one lakh wives. Each wife gave birth to thousand sons. Did he live on earth forever? King Gayu, Rantideva, Baratha, Prudhu, Parasurama and many great people did not live on earth forever. The attempts made by Krishna and Narada did not comfort Dharmaraja. Again Vyasa Maharishi said: Vyasa Maharishi: Dharmaraja! You understand the teachings of Krishna and Narada. If you fail to perform the karmas as prescribed in Vedas,
the sin will increase. There is no superior dharma than ruling the country. So you rule the country and protect people. Dharmaraja: Maharishi! I killed many whom I should have spared. Hence my conscience is not permitting me to rule the country. Vyasa Maharishi: Everything will be done as per the dictates of god. If an axe cuts the tree, is the sin attached with the axe? Those who realized knowledge of Brahmam will perform duties (karmas) with Brahm arpanam Budhi (Surrender to Brahman) only. Whether you like it or not you have to take up the responsibility of ruling the country. Then only you will be eligible for salvation. If you are guilty of killing your enemies, you do the remedial measures, but dont leave gruhasta ashrama. Dharmaraja: Maharishi! In this big battle I killed many of my relatives, their women also passing away with grief. In that way, I am also getting the sin of killing women. To get out of this sin, I have no option except doing tapasya and leaving this body. Vyasa Maharishi: You are highly pessimistic. Dharmaraja! You are refusing to understand what we are teaching you. All those people who died in the war, took decision to fight on their own. Some wanted to enjoy others kingdom. Some fought with jealousy. Some fought to show their valour. They reaped the fruits for all their decisions. Their fruits of action (karma phalam) only killed them. You are not responsible for their death. Dharmaraja! You give the sons and daughters the countries ruled by the kings who were killed. Their mothers will be happy for your gesture. By this, you not only get their blessings but also glory. Dharmaraja: Maharishi! You tell me how I am to rule the country? Vyasa Maharishi: Dharmaraja! Bheeshma is the eldest in Kuru family. He learnt all dharmas from Parasurama. He also learnt various dharmas and sastras from great maharishis like Chyavana , Markandeya, and Vasista . Bheeshma is still alive. He also loves you as much he loves himself. You go and get all your doubts cleared. Before he leaves this world you may learn everything from him. Dharmaraja: Maharishi ! We have killed that virtuous person in a deceitful manner. How can I show my face to him? Vyasa Maharishi: Dharmaraja! You understand the teachings of Krishna and Narada. If you fail to perform the karmas as prescribed in Vedas,
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the sin will increase. There is no superior dharma than ruling the country. So you rule the country and protect people. Dharmaraja: Maharishi! I killed many whom I should have spared. Hence my conscience is not permitting me to rule the country. Vyasa Maharishi: Everything will be done as per the dictates of god. If an axe cuts the tree, will the sin is attached with the axe? Those who realized knowledge of Brahmam will perform duties (karmas) with Brahm arpanam Budhi (Surrender to Brahman) only. Whether you like it or not you have to take up the responsibility of ruling the country. Then only you will be eligible for salvation. If you are guilty of killing your enemies, you do the remedial measures, but dont leave gruhasta ashrama. Dharmaraja: Maharishi! In this big battle I killed many of my relatives, their women also passing away with grief. In that way, I am also getting the sin of killing women. To get out of this sin, I have no option except doing tapasya and leaving this body. Vyasa Maharishi: You have become highly pessimistic. Dharmaraja! You are refusing to understand what we are teaching you. All those people who died in the war, took decision to fight on their own. Some wanted to enjoy others kingdom. Some fought with jealousy. Some fought to show their valour. They reaped the fruits for all their decisions. Their karma phalam (Fruits of action) only killed them. You are not responsible for their death. Dharmaraja! You give the sons and daughters the countries ruled by the kings who were killed. Their mothers will be happy for your gesture. By this, you not only get their blessings but also glory. Dharmaraja: Maharishi! You tell me how I am to rule the country? Vyasa Maharishi: Dharmaraja! Bheeshma is the eldest in Kuru family. He learnt all dharmas from Parasurama. He also learnt various dharmas and sastras from great maharishis like Chyavana , Markandeya , and Vasista . Bheeshma is still alive. He also loves you as much Krishna: Dharmaraja! Why are you so diffident? As Vyasa maharishi said, he is the only person who can clear your doubts and impose selfconfidence in you.You go to Hastina. The citizens are waiting for your arrival. Dharmaraja goes to Hastinapura: Next morning he went Hastina on a well decorated chariot. That chariot was driven by Bheema. Arjuna held the white umbrella. Nakula and Sahadeva blew the conches.
Dhrutarashtra, Gaandhari, Kunti, Draupadi and other royal women went in litters. Krishna and Satyaki went on their own chariot. The city of Hastina was well decorated and had a festive look. Charvaka challenges Dharmaraja: From the big crowd Charvaka, a rakshasa, emerged in the form of a sanyasi and said to Dharmaraja: Sanyasi: Dharmaraja! All the brahmin community is not accepting you as king because you have killed all your fathers, brothers, sons indiscriminately. You did not even spare either your grand father Bheeshma or your guru Drona. So, you have become a sinner and a sinner cant be our king. Dharmaraja: Oh superior brahmins! At the command of all maharishis, I have agreed to rule and came here. I request you all to honour their words. All brahmins: Dharmaraja! He is not a brahmin. We never saw him before. You need not take his words into consideration because we never asked him to represent us. With our divine sight, we came to know who he is. He is a rakshasa, by name Charvaka, a friend of Duryodhana. When all the brahmins cursed him, he took his real form and died. Dharmaraja complimented all the brahmins. After the brahmins left, Krishna asked Arjuna to arrange for the coronation of Dharmaraja. Coronation of Dharmaraja: Dhaumya arranged a platform(Vedika) in a North-East corner. Dharmaraja sat on a golden throne. In the midst of Vedic mantras, Dhaumya brought the sacred waters and gave them to Dhrutarashtra. He sprinkled the sacred waters on the head of Dharmaraja and fixed a diamond-studded crown on his head. Then Dharmaraja said, oh Elders! I dont know whether I am eligible for this honour or not. Since you are praising me, I feel that Pandavas are fortunate. Dhrutarashtra is our father, guru and god . I consider it as my sacred duty to rule the country as per his liking and thus I will keep him happy. We will abide by his orders. As such I request you also to obey his orders and keep me happy. In spite of killing all my cousins in the battle, I took the responsibility of ruling the country only to satisfy my father. You all remember on this auspicious occasion that he is the real emperor. We are all here to assist him.
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Dharmaraja anointed Bheema as Yuvaraja and Vidura as his minister. Sanjaya was given the responsibility of general administration. Arjuna was made as the defense minister. Dhaumya was requested to look after the cultural matters. Sahadeva was appointed as the minister for internal security. Nakula was appointed to control spies and external security. Dharmaraja allotted Duryodhanas residence to Bheema, Dussasanas residence to Arjuna, Durshanas residence to Nakula, Durmukhas residence to Sahadeva. Vidura, Sanjaya, Dhaumya continued in their old residences. CHAPTER-2 Dharmaraja started ruling the country in an earnest manner.Everyday he worshipped Dhrutarashtra, Gaandhari, Vidura and the intellectuals . He used to respect Krupacharya , Yuyuthsu , Sanjaya and other ministers of Duryodhana. Draupadi used to do service to Kunti and made her happy. Dhaumya was performing the worship of devatas and pitru devatas. One day before dawn, Dharmaraja went to the residence of Krishna and said: The conversation between Dharmaraja and Krishna: Dharmaraja: Krishna ! Had you a comfortable sleep? With your guidance and blessings I am able to get back my kingdom in a righteous way. With your grace I became glorious in all the worlds. I have come here to thank you. Krishna did not reply, since he was in deep meditation. Dharmaraja continued to praise Krishna, oh Krishna! You are shining like a steady Jyothi. You are immortal. You alone will remain before and after the creation. You are an embodiment of love and affection. You are praised by Vedas as Purushotama. You are nameless and formless Para Brahman. Please clear the doubts in my mind. On hearing Dharmarajas words Krishna stopped meditating and got normalcy and said to Dharmaraja with a smile: Krishna: Dharmaraja! Bheeshma was meditating on me. Hence my mind was engaged with him. Dharmaraja! Bheeshma had controlled all his physical and sensual organs within himself in meditation (Dhyana nishta) He remembered me in his mind. Since he surrendered to me, I also immersed in him, since I am a slave to my devotees .
He is a disciple of Vasista. He is Trikala Vedi, who is the treasure of all dharmas. When he leaves his body, the earth will become without a moon. Veda , Vedantas and Saptajnanas will disappear. Hence we must go to Bheeshma. Whatever doubts you may have and whatever dharmas you may like to know, you may know from him. Dharmaraja: Krishna! I heard the splendour of Bheeshma from the scholars. I too want to get all my doubts cleared . Bheeshma also will be happy to see you, because he is waiting to leave his body in Uttarayanam which is fast approaching? He very much desires your presence at that time. You show kindness on him. Please come with us. Let us go to Hastina. On hearing Dharmarajas words, Krishna asked Satyaki to get his chariot ready. They reached the place where Bheeshma was lying on a bed of arrows. On seeing Krishna, Bheeshma was elated and paid rich encomium. Bheeshma praises Krishna: I salute Krishna! He is Suchi, Hamsa, Suchisattu, Paramatma and Parabrahma. I pray Krishna who is Paramapurusha. No one can know his real nature. Devatas, yogis and maharishis meditate on him. I also meditate on Krishna. He is the virtuous person (Punya purusha). He is responsible for the creation, ruling and withdrawing of all lokas. I remember Pundarikasha who is responsible for holding all the galaxies in a manner the birds built their nest, pearls made together with a thread and the garland is tied with a jute. I visualize Krishna with thousand heads, thousand eyes, and thousand legs. He is smaller than the smallest and bigger than the biggest. I meditate on Purushotama who is praised by Vedas and Upanishads. I worship such a truthful person (Satyasvaroopa) and easy to reach with devotion. Bheeshma bowed his head in salutation, praised Maha Vishnu in the above manner and prayed with devotion. Dharmaraja, his brothers, Krishna and others reached the bed of Bheeshma. Krishna: Virtuous Bheeshma! In normal course, the wound of a single arrow itself will be painful, whereas your body is filled with arrows. In spite of so many arrows, you are not perturbed. This is perhaps due to the boons given by your father. You are capable of telling the subtlety of all dharmas. The life style of all beings and their activities are at your finger tips. Though you are a born Kshatriya, you are above all duals such as pleasure and pain. You have accepted Brahmacharya and humiliated Manmadha. There is none equal or superior to you.
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Bheeshma! You are a tapasvi. However you will be minutely watching all the worldly events. Dharmaraja was disturbed because the friends and relatives were killed in the battle. Please say a few consoling words and relieve him from his distress. You are equipped with all dharmas . You know Sankhya, Yoga, Purana, and Ithihasas. Dharmaraja has many doubts. You are capable of clearing those doubts. You alone are capable of relieving the distress of people who are suffering with duals like love-hate, etc. Bheeshma:Krishna! My salutations to you, you are a superior yogi! You remove all the distress of people who seek your protection. You are the creator, ruler and the killer. You yourself know which is good.Dont you? Krishna: Bheeshma! You are a great devotee of mine. You always absorb my real nature in your mind. I am fastened with your devotion and good character. Bheeshma! In about fifty days, the sun moves from south to north (Uttarayanam.) The auspicious time will come. In that auspicious time you may leave your body and attain salvation. If you leave this body, all your worldly knowledge will perish with you. So all these people dont want that treasure of your knowledge, to go waste. That is why they came to you. You remove all his doubts and teach him the true knowledge. You also teach him the principal object of human life and pursuit (Purushardhas.) Bheeshma: Krishna! Even Brahma cannot spell out dharmas and their minute meanings in your presence. Then how can I clear his doubts? My body is filled with arrows and give pain at everywhere. Each arrow was sharp and are coated with poison. They are burning more than fire. My body has become weak. My tongue is getting dried. Under these conditions, my voice is not coming out. You tell me what I am to do? Krishna: Bheeshma! All your words are modest. The entire burden of Kuru family is on your shoulder. In view of your special qualities I am giving you three boons. 1. You will not get pain of any sort. 2. You will have neither hunger nor thirst and you will have enormous energy. 3. Whenever you are examining the characters of various beings they will not touch your mind. You will always have Divine teachings (Divya prabodham) and attain knowledge. On hearing these boons, Vyasa and other maharishis were thrilled . Since the sun was about to set, Dharmaraja took leave from Bheeshma by saying that we all come next morning. Next morning Krishna took with him
Dhrutarashtra and some more kings to hear Bheeshmas teachings. By the time Naradha Maharishi also reached that place. Dharmaraja and others meet Bheeshma: Dharmaraja said, Krishna! You are the most righteous person. You alone can speak to Bheeshma. On hearing Dharmarajas plea, Krishna went near Bheeshma and enquired about his physical and mental condition. Bheeshma: Krishna! All my body pains and tiresomeness are reduced. My sense organs and the mind are normal now. I feel I am enjoying Aathmanandham. Your divine presence makes my mind young. Why dont you instruct all those dharmas by yourself? Krishna: Bheeshma ! You are superior among the men. It is my intention that you should get an immortal glory. As such I have invoked all my knowledge into your mind. By this act, your glory will become as permanent as sun and moon. Whatever the doubts they have, you clear them.They l will be applicable to all righteous people of all the worlds. It will serve the purpose in two ways. It is my intention that you should get this immortal glory and should remain as long as earth remains. The teaching of yours should benefit Dharmaraja, his children and the kings that are present here. Bheeshma! Dharmaraja is respecting you not only as a Pitamaha but also as his guru. He is feeling guilty that he has injured you with cruel arrows. He also has a guilty conscince that he is responsible for the great human loss in this battle. Therefore he is afraid that you may condemn him.So, he is afraid of coming in front of you. Bheeshma: Krishna! Learning Vedhas and performing yagnas are prescribed karmas for brahmins. In the similar manner fighting battles are prescribed duties of the kings. It is sanctified even if one kills his own father, brothers and relatives in a battle if they are sinners and with blemish character. Let Dharmaraja come before me. He neednt be afraid of me. He did his duty. Thats all! Dharmaraja came in front of Bheeshma with folded hands and touched his feet with head. Bheeshma made Dharmaraja to sit close by his side and affectionately said, Dharmaraja! I congratulate you. You deserve this victory! You ask me what ever you want to ask me. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! I am given to understand that king is a root of the prosperity of all the people. The king is responsible for securing
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Duties(dharma), Wealth (ardha) and desire (kaama). He acts like a rider of a horse or a mahoot of an elephant. As the darkness disappears with sunlight all the sins of the world must be destroyed by the Rajadharmam(Duties of the king). Elders say that the king is the true form of justice. However it is very difficult to practice such a duty of the king (Rajadharma). Hence you tell me about statesmanship (Rajaneerthi) and duties of the kongs. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! I will try.The king who wants welfare of his country, should pray all devatas and Bhoomata because, without the grace of god human effort will not give good results. Of the two human efforts is superior. But worshipping devatas should be a continuous process. If a man continues to put up hard work, god also will come to his help. Sometimes human efforts may not bring desired results but the king should not get disappointed and think that the god has not favored him. This type of thinking is the real Rajadharmam. A king who has control on sense organs, who has self confidence and who has will power alone will get prosperity and become glorious and enjoy all worldly comforts. The Science of wealth (Ardha sastra) reveals that C.P.C. (Danda neeti) will bring glory to the king. A king has to take into account the following seven aspects viz Master ( swami) , minister ( amatya) , suhruttu , dependents (poushyam), rashtram, fort (durgam),Strength ( balam). Dharmaraja! Be kind towards brahmins. You can enforce punishment of a king (Rajadandana) on others but not on a brahmin because all the Vedas on their tongue. Iron comes out from a stone. If that iron tries to destroy the stone, the iron itself will get destroyed. Fire comes from the water; if the fire wants to destroy the water the fire itself will get destroyed. In the similar manner a king is born from a brahmin. But if that king wants to punish a Brahmin, the king himself will be perished. So the king should always be kind towards the brahmins. Bheeshma tells punishable among brahmins: In a battle if a brahmin attacks to kill with a weapon such a brahmin can be killed. The following brahmins are to banished from the country but should not be killed, such as who kills children, who hates the king, who kills another brahmin and who elopes with the wife of his guru. Of all forts, Nara durgam is superior. [danava durgam, mahee durgam, vrusha durgam, nara durgam, jala durgam, giri durgam] Therefore the king should always be kind to all the people belonging. At the same time the king
also should not be too soft to them. If the king is soft, people with low profile, will keep the king under their fold. Hence the king should not be too soft. At the same time if the king is of furious, people will be afraid of him and they will not come out openly with their views. Therefore the king should conduct himself considering whether a person is good or evil. Depending on their character the king should grieve with them. The king should be mild like the sun in the spring season The king should take interest in the welfare of his people as a pregnant woman takes care of her child. The king always must keep his servants as arms length. If he moves very close, servant will take advantage of the king and put him in trouble. A servant who acts against sapta rajyangas are to be punished. (Master (swami), minister ( amatya) , suhruttu , dependents ( poushyam) , rashtram , fort (durgam),Strength ( balam). are the seven rajyangas] Those who behave arrogantly by violating dharma can be punished even if he is a guru or gurus son. This is what Bruhaspathi said to king Maruthu. King Sagara banished his son Asamanjasa who harassed the people. Udhalaka Maharishi abandoned his son Swetaketu. The knowledge of these references of ancient days, kings should rule the country for the welfare of the people. While practicing dharma one has to keep duties , wealth, desire and salvation into consideration; then only king can perform his duties. A king can follow the duties as prescribed and while protecting them he has to follow placing, statue, meditation, seat, seat of feelings. These modalities are to be observed. The king should take the advice of others but the decisions are to be taken by himself. The first duty of a king is to protect his people. Dandaneeti based on caste: Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! Superficially there is no difference between a common man and a king. How a king is enjoying a superior status over a common man? How he is able to control all people? How he is able to protect them? How he can destroy them? How he is treated as the god on earth? Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! Unless I tell you a brief history of Dandaneeti you cant understand the above questions. In Krutayuga all the people were virtuous. There was no need for the king to think of C.P.C (Dandaneeti). In those days people themselves used to protect the other. In course of time, the practice of dharma diluted a little.
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Therefore people started doing things to suit their desires. While fulfilling their desires, they used to be jealous at each other. As a result, the wicked acts became more. So they started interpreting dharma according to their whims and fancies. As a result, some deviation took place in performing the karmas as prescribed in Vedas. At that time Indra, who was worried, went to Brahma and said, Deva! People stopped or deviate from performing ritual rites and duties . Therefore dharma has become weak. Since they stopped doing rites, we devatas also became weak. Brahma: Indra! Dont worry. As a remedial measure, I shall introduce C.P.C (Dandaneeti). I have already written twelve zones and five plans . People can easily understand them. From the forehead of Brahma, a person by name Vishalaksha was born.He studied the entire Ethics . He felt that the people on earth cant follow that elaborate manual and he condensed it to ten thousand chapters and named it as Vishalaksha. Further Indra studied Vishalaksha and Neeti sastra. He reduced it to five thousand chapters. Bruhaspathi brought it down to three thousand chapters. Sukracharya condensed the same to thousand chapters. Again they have condensed it to suit their convenience from time to time. In this manner the Ethics (Neeti sastra) came into existence and spread all over. Indra went to Vishnu and explained how they were able to bring out the Ethics and requested him to spread it among the humans. Vishnu created a man by name Viraja. But Viraja did not like to become a king. His son Pardhama also did not like to become a king and he went to perform penance . His son Anangu studied C .P.C and ruled the people. His son Neeti married a beautiful girl Suneedha, daughter of Mruchyu. They had a son by name Venu, who was influenced by his grandfather Mruchyu and but became a cruel person. He started harassing all those who were penancing ,who could not bear his torture and killed him. They purified his body with mantras and rubbed his right thigh. From his thigh, a man was born, named Asuchi. Vyasa tells the story of Venu: People called Asuchi as Nishada. His family line became Nishadas,who were living on Mt. Vindhya and committed cruel acts. Maharishis again rubbed the right hand of Venu. At that time a virtuous person was born who was an expert in all Vedas, Dhanurveda in particular. The moment he was born, C.P.C took shelter in him. That person stood before the maharishis modestly and said, Maharishis! My mind is filled with duties
and wealth. You order me what I should do with my brilliance. Maharishis named him as Vynya and said, Oh Vynyu! Without love, hate, arrogance and greediness, you follow the Raja dharma and rule the people. He ruled accordingly and the sons of Vynyu ruled the country, by following principles of C.P.C. In that manner, a king was born to rule the country. Varnasrama Dharmas: Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! A brahmin is to recite Veda everyday and perform rituals and similar duties constantly. He should be a kind hearted and have control on senses. Such a brahmin should never be insulted. A Kshatriya is to recite Veda and perform rituals ; give donations to needy people and to punish thieves and criminals. He should not be afraid of battle. A vysya is to earn money in reasonable ways and improve his wealth. Lending money is an accepted practice. He is to donate liberally to needy. A Sudra is to serve Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vyasas. He will get an equal religious excellence as much a brahmin gets by performing rituals . Ashramas: A brahmachari is to serve his guru and learn Veda from him. He should not entangle in babblings. He secures food by begging. He should not have the extremes of love-hate and should not have any enemies. Grihasta - He should have love and affection for his wife, must have kindness, truthfulness and friendship with good people. These are the basic qualities of a grihasta. He should worship Agni, devatas, pitrudevatas and guests. He should support the other ashramas viz Brahmacharya, Vanaprasta and Sanyasi to the best of his ability. Vanaprasta should develop detached spirit on children. He should stay alone in a forest or with his wife to perform penance . He is to leave all duals such as love-hate; respect-disrespect, etc and he must have control on senses. An ascetic will live a detached life. He will not stay at a particular place; he eats whatever is available and sleeps wherever he is at nights. He has no daily rituals to perform. He will have control on senses. He does not receive salutations. First three castes can accept asceticism . . If C.P.C is not effectively implemented, learning of Vedas and performing ritual rites will become difficult. If the rule of the king is good,
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people will have peace and comfort. Of all the dharmas Raja dharma is the most superior. Dharmaraja! You rule the country by keeping the ashrama dharmas and apply Dandaneeti with an impartial view. That is the best suitabnle dharma for you. If you take up a muni life, you may not attain moksha. The duties of the people: Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! You tell me the duties of a common man. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! Long ago people managed their safety and security by themselves. In course of time, jungle law prevailed. It became the rule. Bigger fish started eating the smaller fish. Cruelty and wickedness prevailed. As a result, people started stealing others wives and wealth. They went and prayed to Brahma, who nominated Manu to rule the people. But Manu did not incline to rule. People requested him saying King! We give 50% of our gold, cattle and crop. You procure weapons and appoint sturdy people as soldiers . You protect us from the cruel and wicked people. Manu agreed to their offer and ruled them as Indra ruled devatas. So, people must be obedient and devoted to the king. They should treat him as a god on earth. Whenever people violated his rulings, and whenever he punished them, under C.P.C. it helped them. Wherever the people respect the king, enemies did not dare to look at him. Dharmaraja! People abide by the rule of the king in their own interest. People should not get envy about the costly utensils, furniture, thrones, and perfumes that the kings use. They are all necessary for a king. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! Why a king is respected as a god on earth? Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! I will tell you what Bruhaspati said to king Manunda. People are like body of a king, whereas the king is the soul of the people. If a king is there, it is as good as they have everything. People must be able to perform yagnas and other prescribed duties as per Vedas and thereby live in peace and harmony. If king is not there, they cannot live safely and so he is considered as a god. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! How to rule people? How to destroy enemy and his general administration?
Bheeshma: The king should win his six internal enemies. Then it will be easy for him to defeat his eternal enemies. King should appoint spies and get information about neighboring kings. He must secure information from people, brothers, sons, relatives and ministers. Based on the information he should tactfully solve the issues . If the enemy king is stronger, he should have a compromise with him, to save his country. If the enemy is weak, he must attack him and destroy. If he is an equal, must try to weaken him. The king is to resort to a war only as a last resort. He should exhaust the fist three plans such as sama, dana and bheda. King must treat the people as his own children. He should not collect more than 1/6th of their income as tax. He should try to improve his treasury by other methods such as cattle, forestry and mining, etc. However the king is to give some special attention to matters such as the cattle feed, stocking and distribution of food grains, water for irrigation and drinking purposes, weapons, strengthening forts and training soldiers, etc. King also ought to take care of the following seven areas of administration: swamy, amatya, people, treasury, military, ministers, fort. The king is to follow the following the six strategies such as seat, image, vehicle, strategy and depending on others. In his administration he is to bear in mind the three purushardhas viz duty, wealth and desire and three gunas viz Satva, Rajas, Tamos. Dharmaraja: Please tell me how the king and Dandaneeti are superior? Bheeshma: In Krutayuga people were engaged in learning vedas and performed ritual rites. People had longevity. They used to get crops even without tilling the soil. In Tretayuga dharma functioned in three parts. So people got benefits to that extent. In Dwaparayuga dharma prevailed on two parts and people got the proportionate benefit whereas in Kaliyuga dharma retains only one part. So people would not respect dharma. Varna dharmas will not function. People would show more interest in adharma. In this manner depending on dharma the C.P.C. must be applied. Dharmaraja: How a king is to conduct himself to become glorious? Bheeshma: He should be watchful on peoples conduct and misconduct. The king, who defeated his internal enemies, who will not boast about himself, who does yagnas with heavy gifts, who do not have weakness for women and who does not harass his subordinate kings, will become glorious.
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While awarding punishment, he should appoint ministers who are kind, judicious and have legal knowledge. He should not receive gifts from public. Doingpenance, performing rituals and kindness towards people will give the king glory.King is to apply C.P.C without arrogance. Dharmaraja: If people leave their own dharma, what will happen? Bheeshma: If a brahmin leaves his own dharma and accept martial arts, he will become a Kshatriya. If he accepts the dharma of a vysya, he will become a vysya. If he leaves the daily rituals and agnihotra and accepts the dharma of a Sudra, he will become Sudra; it is same for other varnas also. In other words, his caste will be degraded. Though they may perform superior karmas, his caste cannot be upgraded. Hence the king is to be watchful and see to it that the castes do not mix up. If the king fails to control, he will got 1/4th sin of those people. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! I am not interested in enjoying royal comforts. I am afraid that I may not protect dharma. I am incapable of enforcing C.P,C. My mind is leaning towards a peaceful ascetics life. Bheeshma: You are a sensitive. However you cannot escape from your dharma. Nothing is equivalent with Kshatriya dharma. You listen patiently and do accordingly. All the ancient kings followed the c.p.c. meticulously and ruled the country. You also leave arishadvargas and perform yagnas with heavy gifts. So by learning vedas, get the peace of mind. Brahma has given you the precious Kshatriya dharma. If you try to run away from it, you will go to hell. Dharmaraja: How the rituals will become truthful? Bheeshma: While doing reituals, devotion is the most important. Performing rituals without devotion will amount to insulting Vedas. If a ritual is performed in the prescribed manner, it will make the doer pure. Vedas said it clearly. Penance is superior to the rituals . Penance means non-violence and truthfulness, control on senses and kindness. Dharmaraja: Without trusted friends it is difficult to rule. Then tell me on whom I can trust? Bheeshma: If a king disbelieves, it amounts to death. If he disbelieves death may attack any time. So the king is to tackle this aspect carefully. Generally a friend always wishes the welfare, so one can fix responsibility on
a friend. Such a friend should be a level headed i.e. he should not be overjoyed when getting an honour and should not fall in distress for an insult. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! Please tell me the qualities of a good minister Bheeshma: A good minister maintains good relations with rural as well as tribal citizens. He must be valorous; one who won his internal enemies. He should be able to take honour and dishonour equally. He will not damage his relationship with the king. He will have the skill of speaking sweet words and gets appreciation from one and all. Such a minister will enhance the majesty of the king. Dharmaraja: While pronouncing judgements over disputes, what precautions a king is to take? Bheeshma: Your pronouncement be unbiased. If the king shows a partisan attitude in his judgements, people will run away from him. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! How to improve the treasury? Bheeshma: King will get his income from four sources. 1. Trade 2. Agriculture 3. Cattle 4. Mining. Instead of increasing the taxes, you may get more taxes by developing the welfare measures, which will enable to do more trade, by bringing more land into cultivation; in the same way by developing forests you can produce more dairy and forest products and minerals. In this manner, people will not feel the pinch while paying taxes, and at the same time the king will get extra revenue. Dharmaraja: What are the guidelines to follow while fighting enemy? Bheeshma: If the enemy attacks with army, you also to attack with army. If he fights one to one, you also to accept his challenge. If he chooses to fight in a deceitful or mystic ways you also fight in the same manner. If the enemy is running away, if he lost his weapons or vehicle, if seeks protection, if he is fighting with someone, he should not be killed. Death in a war is worth welcoming. One should not kill the enemy with sharp edged poisonous weapons; such a person will reach hell. If a king is falls down and if he is left without giving first aid he will get severe sin. While attacking an enemys town, civilians are not to be given hardships. Places of worshiping are not to be attacked.
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CHAPTER-3 Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! If a king is defeated by his own people and loses kingdom, how he should conduct himself? Bheeshma: I will tell you an old story which will give an answer to your question. Long ago there lived a king by name Skhemadarsi. He lost his kingdom at the hands of king of Videha. Long ago Kalavrusksheya worked as a minister with Skhemadarsi and doing penance in a forest. After losing the kingdom, Skhemadarsi went to his ashrama and told his story. Kalavrusksheya consoled the king and gave shelter in his ashrama for a few years. Skhemadarsi asked him to tell him the ways to get back his old glory. Maharishi said, King! One should have forbearance when he is in difficulties. He should move even with his subordinate kings in a friendly manner. In course of time, he should strengthen himself and attack the enemy. On hearing this advice, Skhemadarsi said,I dont want to get back the kingdom in an unrighteous way. At that time the maharishi understood his frame of mind and invited king of Videha and said, King! You have usurped the kingdom of Skhemadarsi. He doesnt want to attack you in an unprincipled way. He is a righteous person. Hence I would suggest you to have a friendly understanding and live peacefully with your own kingdom. I suggest you to give your daughter to his son and have a relationship. Thereby your friendship and relationship will become stronger. King of Videha obeyed the advice of maharishi and lived happily. Dharmaraja! Winning and losing battles is common for kings. So when they are winning, they should not feel proud or when they are defeated, they should not be drowned in distress. Dharmaraja: There are so many dharmas. It is difficult to practice all of them. Hence you tell me which dharma will give comforts both in this world and the other world. Bheeshma: Mother, father and guru are to be worshipped everyday. That is the superior dharma. All the three are equal to three Vedas, three lokas and trimoorthis. Of them, mother is the most worshipful. Those who respect mother and father will have comforts in this world and in the other world also. Those who worship guru will enjoy the bliss. Dharmaraja: In this world there is truth and untruth. How an average person, can discriminate.
Bheeshma: Of all dharmas- truthfulness is the superior. Of all the sinsuntruth is the biggest sin. Telling truth to a sinner who steals others money is the biggest sin. With such people even telling a lie will not form a sin. Lies which help people is dharma. You will have to discriminate the good and bad with your intellect. Dharmaraja: How to get deliverance from sins? Bheeshma: Those, who follow Varnasrama dharmas, who recite Vedas, who fight battles valorously, who worships all gods and who respects all people equally, will come out of their sins. Dharmaraja: There are people of gentle and violent nature also. Sometimes violent people may appear as gentle and gentle people may appear as violent. How to differentiate between them? Bheeshma: I will tell you a conversation between a fox and a tiger. That will give you answer. Long ago there lived a king by name Powrika. He was always doing cruel acts. After his death, he was born as a fox. He had the knowledge of his previous birth. As a matter of repentance, he kept away from violence and he was contended with the fruits and roots. All his fellow foxes wondered at his behaviour. In the course of time, they spread the behaviour of the fox in the forest. A tiger, the king of the forest also heard about the fox and told him, Oh friend! I am pleased to know your virtuous character and behaviour. You come and live with me. You can enjoy all the comforts in my residence. The fox replied, Oh king! I thank you for the offer. I am not interested in enjoying any comforts or pleasures. However since you asked me, I will come and stay with you on one condition. Your friends and relatives may feel envy about our friendship and might tell you bad about me. But you should not lend your ears to them. If you agree, I will come and stay with you. The tiger agreed and took with him. The fox became the minister of the tiger and was giving him proper advises. The friends and relatives of the tiger did not relish a fox to become their minister and were waiting for an opportunity. One day the relatives conspired with the cook and kept the meat in the cave of the fox. When the tiger came for a lunch, its food was missing. He sent his servants to search for the thief who had stolen his food. The servants went and told the tiger that the fox had stolen the meat . Though the fox had pleaded his innocence, the tiger did not believe him and decided to punish him. At that time, the mother tiger came and told him, The fox is gentle and honest. Your relatives are envious of him. They only created this confusion to
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poison your mind. The tiger repented for its mistake and requested the fox to continue to stay with him. Then the fox said, Oh king! I told you that one day or the other, your people might get envy over me and tell you false tales. You have believed them now and prepared to give me punishment. Now you repented for your decision and ask me to stay with you. Since your mind was prejudiced and it cant be as pure as before. So you permit me to go back to my place. Dharmaraja ! In this manner the fox went back, did fasting by abandoning food and awaiting for death( Prayopavesam) and reached superior lokas. Hence the king should have the intellect to discriminate between the good and bad. Dharmaraja: Can a king live comfortably without anybodys help? Bheeshma: Long ago, a camel made penance on Brahma, who Was pleased and asked him to seek a boon. The camel thought, I dont want to depend on anyone for my food. To enable himself to become self-sufficient, he asked Brahma to make his neck long. From that day onwards, he was getting its food from the place where it was standing. One day when it was raining, it tried to enter a cave. Because of his long neck, the entire body did not go inside. He put his neck only inside the cave. At that time two foxes were taking shelter inside and feeling hungry. Slowly they put a hole to camels neck and started drinking his blood. After sometime they cut the neck and started eating the flesh also. At that time the camel could not bear the pain and fell dead. Dharmaraja! However strong one may be cannot survive without the help of others. Dharmaraja: If the enemy is strong, how a weak king can get out from his troubles? Bheeshma: One day the ocean was talking with the rivers and said, oh rivers!By your velocity most of the trees are falling down. But how the Pebbari trees alone are not falling down. Are they stronger than the banyan trees? The river Ganges said, Oh ocean! All the trees are on our banks will stand upright with pride. When the velocity of our stream was severe they fell down. Whereas the Pebbari trees were bowing to the ground when the force of water reaches them. So that, my waters will pass over them. After I pass on they again stand upright. Dharmaraja! In the same manner the weak king will understand the strength of his enemies and accordingly he will not dare to oppose.
Dharmaraja: If a servant hails from lower caste and if he doesnt do justice to his job what the king is to do with him? Bheeshma: In a forest an ascetic was doing penance . There was a dog living in his ashrama. When the ascetici was going out the dog also went with him. On their way a tiger came in front of them. The dog was afraid of the tiger and went behind the master, who took pity on the dog and spilled some spiritual water on it. With that the tiger had an illusion that the dog was stronger than it and ran away. On another occasion, an elephant came in front of the dog and had the same illusion and ran away. In the same manner all the animals in the forest were afraid of the dog. One day the dog thought in himself, This ascetici may make another animal stronger than me. At that time I may have to lose my superiority. So I better kill this ascetici so that he will not make anyone stronger than me. The ascetic i smelt these evil thoughts of the dog and made it just a dog as before. After fully judging the capacity of a servant, one is to be fixed in a proper place. That is how a king should employ his servants. Dharmaraja: Normally kings punish the people who are offenders. You tell me the nature and its good and bad effects of the punishments Bheeshma: Good people will appreciate c.p.c. It will suppress the pride of the wicked people. For the purpose of enforcing punishment eighteen varieties of weapons are suggested. Dharmaraja! All the duals such as dharma-adharma; moral-immoral; pleasure-pain; profit-loss; all came into existence since c.p.c was not enforced in a proper spirit. People can be comfortable only when it is properly enforced. If it is enforced in a righteous manner, Indra will be pleased. If Indra is pleased, he will give rains in right time. Vishnu himself is Dandaneeti.He is also known as Purushudu, Easwara, Bhootaswaroopa, Jeeva, Prana, Akshaya, Saptva, and Prajapathi. Dharmaraja: How should we deal with dharma, ardha and kaama? Bheeshma: Long ago king Agarista asked Kaamandha Maharishi the same question. The maharishi said, oh king! The king who is desirous of enjoying pleasures, will keep himself away from dharma and ardhas. Elders and scholars will not go to such a king. Only people with bad habits will surround him. Such a king will get harm and have a premature death. Those who want to protect dharma,need ardha. One who keeps ardha in a prescribed manner and not leaves dharma,will enjoy pleasures in a limited way and such a king will become glorious.
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Dharmaraja: People respect the character. Tell me the nature of the character. Bheeshma: While you and your brothers were living in Indraprasta comfortably, Duryodhana became jealous. He could not bear the glory you got by performing Rajasuya and your possession of Mayasabha. In your house a large number of brahmins used to take lunch in golden plates everyday. This aspect also Duryodhana has viewed in a wicked way instead of looking with a spiritual eye. He had expressed his distress before his father. Dhrutarashtra said to him, Though Dharmaraja is enjoying all the wealth , you are no less prosperous than him. Why are you not able to digest his prosperity? I will tell you one more thing. Those who have good character will always be prosperous. Whereas Dharmarajas character is superior to you. That is why you are feeling jealous. Therefore you also develop a good character like him. Mandhata and Seebhanu and many other kings prospered and were respected by the elders by virtue of their good character. I will tell you a story. At one point of time, Prahalada was having a superior character than Indra and hence he caught hold of the heaven and kept it under his control. Indra went to Bruhaspathi and requested him the way to get back his kingdom. Bruhaspathi said, Indra! You go to Sukracharya. He will do all that are suitable to you. Indra took the form of a brahmin and went to Prahalada and joined as his disciple. One day Prahalada wanted to be kind to that brahmin and asked him What do you want? Indra said, Prahalada! How are you able to control all the worlds? For which Prahalada said, I dont wound the feelings of scholars . I dont have the pride of becoming the king of three lokas. With that all the intellectuals appreciated my character and they only gave me the control over the three lokas. Indra said, oh virtuous! You bless me with your good character and I should get all the prosperity that you are enjoying. On hearing Indras words, Prahalada donated his character to him. After Indra left with the character of Prahalada, a divine person came out and said Prahalada! I am your character. Since you have donated me to the brahmin I am going with him. By saying so, he left Prahalada. Along with him some more divine persons came out from Prahaladas body. Prahalada asked them, Who are you? Those bodies said, We are superior qualities such as dharma, sathyam, good character and strength. Prahalada felt sorry, while all the good qualities were leaving him. In the meanwhile a beautiful woman came out of his body. Prahalada asked her, To whom do you belong?. The woman said, I am the wealth. Wherever strength lives, I also live with it.
Wherever the strength goes I also go with that. So I am going to the strength. Then Prahalada asked her, Who is the brahmin who served me so obediently? the woman said, He is Indra. He came to take away your kingdom and prosperity. By giving your character, you lost everything. Prahalada! Dharma will shine only if the character is good and will bring the brilliance to truthfulness. So for all these things, your character alone is responsible. By saying so she went to Indra. On hearing Dhrutarashtras words, Duryodhana asked him, How this character looks like? Dhrutarashtra said, Not doing any harm to anyone by word, by mind and body. This is called character. This will do a lot of good to any person. The organs of the character are helping to others, advising others not to commit any sinful acts and acting for the benefit of the people. These three are the limbs of the character. Dharmaraja! You acquired this character by birth. However since you asked me I told you about a good character. Dharmaraja: There is no limit for desires. If those desires are not fulfilled, man gets into grief. I tried my level best to bring Duryodhana in a righteous path and tried to live in a joint family. I also wanted that our Kuru family to grow. He refused to hear and provoked me to this war. Today I stood as a culprit before the world. Hence it is difficult to come out from desires. Bheeshma: A king by name Sumitra went for hunting. There he hunted a deer which was hurt but ran away into the forest. He wanted to catch it at any cost. So he also ran behind it. As he was hungry he entered the ashrama of Rushabha Maharishi. The maharishi offered food to the king and asked him, Why you came so deep into the forest? the king said, Maharishi! I hunted a deer but it escaped into the forest. I came in search of it. How can I go back without catching the deer? Maharishi said Long ago while I was on a pilgrimage I reached Bhadarika ashrama. There I met a tapasvi by name Tamasu. At the same time, a king came with his wife and army. Maharishi respected him with hospitalities. Then the king said, Maharishi! I had only one son. One day he went to this forest for hunting. He did not return till now. As I was very much attached, I am not able to forget him. Why my mind is so restless for my son? The maharishi said oh king! Could anyone control his mind? If he could control, he could have achieved everything. One day a beggar approached a
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king for some money. The king tried to be too smart with him. At that time the beggar relinquished his desire. I myself was that beggar . I got dejected and I took up this muni life. Hence you control your mind and be happy. By saying so the maharishi with the power of his tapasya, he brought the son of the king. Dharmaraja! Rushaba Maharishi with his good words made king Sumitra him to stop hunting further. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! With regard to the people, how we can decide whether to believe or not to believe. Out of the two which is better? Bheeshma: Let me explain it by a story. Long ago there lived a king by name Brahmadatta. In his palace there lived a bird myna, by name Poojani. One day it delivered infants. It looked after her infants with sweet fruits. While procuring fruits, she used to give best out of them to the kings son. The infant mynas and the kings son used to play. One day the kings son killed those infants. The myna cried for her infants and said, These men are not good for friendship. They are all cruel people. They forget whatever good we did for them. By grieving in this manner, she pulled out the eye balls of the kings son, ran into the sky and said to the king, oh king! Your son has killed my infants for no fault of them. I have pulled out both the eye balls of your son and took revenge. I no longer like to stay in your palace. Hence no sin will touch me. The king heard the words of Poojani and said, Poojani! What you said is true. I cannot blame you. Having lived together for a long time, I dont want to leave your friendship. My son has done harm to you. In return you have pulled out his eye balls. You did tit for tat. There ends the matter. Why should we continue revenge in our heart? You wash off all your ill feelings. I also wash away all my ill feelings. You continue your friendship with us and live in our palace as before. Poojani said, king! Your words are so sweet to hear. In fact we hurt each other. So the wounds in our hearts will never heal. Hence I dont want to continue my friendship with you. When the king strongly persuaded, Poojani said, king! even though we pretend as if we have forgotten the harm done to each other but it will be lying in our heart of hearts like Badabhagni. If I believe your words and continue my friendship, one day or the other I will get into trouble. The Neeti sastra is telling not to believe even their own parents, brothers and sisters, their own children and even friends. If that is the case, how can I continue
friendship with a person who has vengeance in his heart? You stop telling your sweet words. By saying so, Poojani fled away. Therefore the king should not believe anyone beyond a point. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! Whenever dharma is not followed in a country the people will have famine and similar calamities. Under those conditions, how the citizens continue their life? Bheeshma: Dharmaraja ! Long ago in an interim period between Tretayuga and Dwaparayuga severe famine condition prevailed. That famine continued for over twelve years. All the rivers, lakes and wells dried. There were no crops in the fields. Fish died as there was no water. Even animals were dead as there was no grass and water. Even kings used to kill people and looted their wealth. People started dying for want of food. Under those conditions Viswamitra, a great saint was about to die due to hunger. He did not find even grass to eat. He found many animals dead on his way. But their bones and skins were dried up. While he was searching for food, he saw the meat of a dog removed from its skin and was dried up by a Chandala. Viswamitra did not find anything else except the flesh of that dog. In the meanwhile it became night. Viswamitra without hesitating, took that meat in his hands. The chandala caught hold of the maharishi by hand. He identified him as Viswamitra, fell at his feet and said Maharishi! Can you steal my meat? Is it good for you to eat dogs meat? Viswamitra: I have not eaten for so many days. So I have resorted and eat dogs meat. As Agni consumes everything. I also can eat anything. Chandala: Mahatma! Dogs meat is the most inferior. Can you do harm to dharma, by eating such meat? You find some other way to kill your hunger. Viswamitra: I am offering this meat to Brahman who is living in me. If I keep up my body, I can make tapasya and get rid of this sin. Chandala: Maharishi! You are not only doing an adharma but also supporting your sinful act. Viswamitra: Long ago Agastya Maharishi ate the flesh of a rakshasa. Did his splendour or his glory became dim? Chandala: Maharishi! Agastya Maharishi ate rakshasas flesh only to help others. So you cant compare yourself with Agastya.
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Viswamitra: Chandala! Dont come in my way. My body is committed for Brahmana dharma and for Meditation on Brahma . As such the food I eat belongs to paramatma who is living in me. Hence no sin will touch me. Chandala: Maharishi! I dont mind to give this meat to a hungry person. Why I am worried is that the splendour of a great maharishi will become dim. That is why I am hesitating. Viswamitra: If you really have love for me, you dont stop me eating this meat. You give me the meat with pleasure, so that I will not get the sin of either stealing or telling a lie. Chandala: Maharishi! A virtuous person like you should not resort of receiving a gift from me. What else I can tell you? After giving that meat to Viswamitra, Chandala said, You do what ever you want. Viswamitra ate that meat and went away. Indra immediately ordered the clouds to rain on earth. Oh Dharmaraja! The conditions of an acute famine will be like this. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! Tell me about the worshipping a guest. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja ! What are the good effects if one gives Saranagathi? Long ago king Muchikunda has asked the same question to Sukracharya, who told the following story. In a forest there lived a cruel hunter. He spread his net and was sitting under a tree. On that tree a pair of dove was living. The she-dove went for securing the food. He-dove was sitting in his nest waiting for his mate. In the meanwhile there was a big rain. The she-dove came and told her husband, The hunter was drenched in the rain. After all, he is our guest and took shelter under us. We are supposed to do service to him. On hearing her words hedove went round the forest, picked up small sticks and made a fire to comfort the hunter from the cold. After sometime, the hunter got relief from the cold. However he was suffering from hunger. Knowing his feelings he-dove said to his mate, I shall offer myself to satisfy his hunger and jumped into the fire and killed himself and offered its meat to the hunter. The hunter ate its meat but his hunger was not satisfied. Immediately the she-dove also jumped into the fire and offered her meat to the hunter. After seeing the sacrificial nature of the birds to worship their guest, the hunter accepted them as his gurus. He resolved from then onwards neither to kill birds and animals nor eat their meat. He released all the birds that were caught in his net. All the devata
communities who were watching the sacrifice, appreciated. While the hunter was thinking about the sacrifice of the doves, he saw the forest catching a wild fire. Taking the lesson from the doves he also entered the wild fire and sacrificed himself to Agni and attained divinity. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! How can we get out of the sin committed unconsciously? Bheeshma: Dharmaraja ! Long ago Janamejaya unconsciously committed a sin of killing a brahmin (Brahmahatya). Because of his sin the brahmin community abandoned him. The dejected king left the country and went to a forest, where he did tapasya to get rid of his sin. In course of time, he met a maharishi by name Saunaka. Janamejaya told his story and asked him to suggest the deliverance from his sin. The maharishi said: You relinquish all your comforts and pleasures. Leave your anger and arrogance. Do penance , learn and recite vedas. Always do all the prescribed karmas. If you do all these, your people will be devoted to you. Whenever a sin is committed, you must take a vow that you will not repeat it again. Janamejaya conducted himself as per the instructions given by Saunaka Maharishi, performed Aswameda yaga and got relief from his Brahmachya sin. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! Where the sins live and where are their roots? Bheeshma: For all sins, desire is the cause. The desire will develop anger. Anger develops into vengeance and vengeance develops into violence. Because of desire, one gets liking for others property and woman. That desire makes him free from shame, truth and hate. Those who have avarice will not care for the blemish life. He will keep away from the right path. Greed will catch even the righteous people. So you should not allow greediness enter your mind. Dharmaraja: I am given to understand that ignorance is the reason for the bad behavior. You tell me the real nature of ignorance. Bheeshma: Ignorance develops from greediness, anger, distress, love, hate, haughtiness, pride, mild nature, avarice and wickedness. Therefore all the above ill qualities will be generated from ignorance. Therefore you have to keep away from ignorance.
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Dharmaraja: We normally come across the words like nyayam and dharmam. Which is the superior dharma? Bheeshma: Of all dharmas, subduing passions is the superior one. If knowledge also adds to dispassion the person can reach any height. Hence dispassion leads to salvation. Those who have control over their sense organs, can overcome lust and fury, foolishness, and envy. This dispassion will be associated with munis and maharishis. Dharmaraja: Please tell me the nature of penance . Bheeshma: Penance is one of the important dharmas. Those who want to perform religious vows with devotion should eat vegetarian diet, have a contended life and do tapasya continuously. The diet restriction is a penance and that itself is the dharma. Because of such a mind will wash off all sins. Truth and cleanliness will become a habit. Such a ascetic achieve all he wants. Dharmaraja: Kindly tell me the real nature of Truth. Bheeshma: Control on senses, equal love on all beings, free from vengeance, free from shyness, firmness, doing good for all beings, not having jealousy, practicing non violence, performing yagas, donations, patience and judicious nature- all these things constitute truth. A yogi who attains contemplation will have nature of truth. All those qualities will give comforts. Hence one should cultivate such qualities. In short truth is the root of all dharmas. Because of truth, yoga and salvation will be attained. Telling lies is the biggest sin. One performs satya varta which is equivalent to hundred Aswameda yagas. Dharmaraja: How fury and other arishad vargas(pride, anger, lust, jealousy, greediness and ignorance) are born? How can we get out of them? Bheeshma: Mind is the mother of all desires. If one is able to know the nature of mind all those desires will vanish. By the actions of others anger will come. We can win anger with patience. If one gets the knowledge that this world is not permanent the greediness will vanish. Delusion will come from the lack of discrimination. Hence keeping away from adharma makes a man free from delusion. Pride will develop with caste, wealth and education. Vengeance will vanish with the company of ascetics. Dharmaraja: How a king is to choose his servants? Bheeshma: The following people will always help the king in improving his prosperity. They are: who read Vedas, Vedangas and other sastras, truthful
people, those have patience, those who have firm mind, those who dont have avarice, those who dont have anger, those who are having good conduct and good conversations, those who have devotion to work, those who have conduct themselves in the interest of the king. So the king should take such people into his employment. The king should not take the services of: The cruel who is avaricious and foolish, and who carries tales of others, mild people, ungrateful people, dullards, liars, blemish people, cowards, immoral and those who dont have strong mind. The king should keep away from these people.
CHAPTER-4
(Dharmaraja continues to seek clarification from Bheeshma and the elderly statesman renders very impressive replies) Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! You tell me dharma which is useful for all the people. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! Dharma is in many ways. All dharmas will give good for the humans. Out of all dharmas, whichever gives salvation is the most superior. Once upon a time a king by name Senajittu fell in distress due to the death of his son. A scholar came and taught him, King! Why are you grieving for the death of your son? Everyone knows that the birth and death are common for everyone. Why are you grieving for him day and night? Senajittu: How people are able to come out from such distress? Grief also is as natural as that of a birth and death. Scholar : In a stream two sticks travel together. After sometime they are separated by the current in the stream and so travel in various levels. From that one should understand that the parting from each other is as natural as coming together. All relationship on earth are also to be taken in the same spirit. If you realize that all the creatures that are created will perish. If you know this truth, grief will not come near you. You will not develop attachment. If you take in this spirit, no duals like pain-pleasure will touch you. They keep coming and going. You must develop an attitude of looking at them equally. Normally a man develops a feeling in his mind that This belongs to me whether it is movable or immovable. These feelings will develop with vasanas(Knowledge derived from memory) and form as samskaras(making perfect and pure) in the mind. When it is lost one has to grieve bitterly.
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King! If the fruits of the karma of the previous birth was not fully enjoyed, the left over karmas must be enjoyed or suffered in his next birth. It is common for a scholar or a common man. If you ask me if there is remedy for it, I say there is. The only way to get out of the grief is to enjoy the fruit of that karma with this knowledge. That is the only way out. In fact the real happiness lies only in a mind without desires. Dharmaraja: Now I understand! All the people know that the span of their life is short. Before they die, how the people are to face it? Bheeshma: There lived a boy named Medhavi. He had read all Vedas, Vedangas and sastras. One day he said to his father: Medhavi : Father! In this world the life of the people will end up fast. Having realized the same how the man makes use of his life? In other words, how to get a permanent benefit before leaving his impermanent body? Father: My son! One should get married, have children through his wife, satisfy devatas by performing ritual rites; after completing Vanaprasta and sanyasa, penance to attain salvation. In that manner one can win over the death. Medhavi: Father! The way in which you are telling looks as if the time is in your hands. The moment the child enters his mothers womb, the death will be chasing him. He will get used to an attached life with wife and children. In this manner the time will not be under his control like a fish in a dry lake. He doesnt know when the death may attack him. Every man will perform actions in three ways. They are past, present and future. Death will suddenly attack him. So he is fastened by the time. In any case he cant escape from the time factor. For death, all people are same whether strong man or a weak man . If we think well we may realize that the life is entangled in a cycle of birth and death. Knowing this fact, it is better for a person to live without any desires. That itself keep him in bliss. In short an attached life will entangle in a cycle of birth and death, and a detached mind will keep him in heaven. So truthfulness is like nectar which doesnt have death. Delusion is the death. I won over death with truthfulness. As such both pain and pleasure are equal to me. Father! A person having children cant obtain salvation, because he takes birth in another form. When he has already taken birth in the form of a son, how can he aspire for salvation? Hence he cannot attain salvation.
Father! Even by performing yagna by sacrificing animals, we are not eligible for salvation because it involves violence. Added to that while performing yagna, arrogance takes place. If we also want to attain salvation we leave fury and envy and attain and bliss. In this manner the father took the good words from his son and attained salvation. Dharmaraja: In this world there are poor and rich. Of the two, who is more comfortable? Bheeshma: Long back Samyuka came to me for a help. I will tell you the conversation took place between us. That will give the answer your question. In our conversation, we resolved that only the poor man is leading a happy life. I will tell you how. A man earns money to lead a happy life. In course of time he makes money and enjoys comforts. Slowly he will involve himself to earn more and more. As he tries more and more, his wealth will increase. He wont care for his health. He will spend sleepless nights to protect his wealth from the king, thieves, fire, etc. In this manner, the wealthy person wont enjoy any comforts. A poor man doesnt face the trouble of protecting wealth. He leads a modest and simple life. His good qualities are appreciated by even devatas. If a man develops a detached spirit, he will get all the pleasures of life. Dharmaraja: How to get rid of distress? Bheeshma: Long back Prahalada went to a scholar by name Ajagara and requested him to know the way to live with peace of mind. Ajagara said, Prahalada! One need not get distressed for the death of people, because the birth and death are nothing but two ends of a piece. If one end is birth, the other end is death. If you know this, you wont have distress. I also follow the principle of Ajagara, which is a python type of serpent. It will not go anywhere in search of her food. Whatever comes near her, it will eat and be contended with that. I also developed the same attitude. A delicious food or root of a tree gives equal taste to me. My taste of garments also is in the same way. Good or bad may happen to me,but I will look at them as a mere spectator. I dont have any attachment or detachment on them. I can sleep on the floor or on a mattress. This is better than performing a ritual rite. This is a great devotion which means way of life. Chit means comfort or chidanandham. Sat means living always in happiness.
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Dharmaraja: By which means a man gets maximum pleasure- by relatives, karma, donations, intellect, and strength. Which is more glorious? Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! There is nothing equal to intellect which means true knowledge and it makes a man glorious. In fact true knowledge is more ideal than the heaven and it can give even salvation. Bali, Prahalada, Manki and many others attained salvation because of their true knowledge. Long ago Kashyapa maharishi fell under a chariot of an arrogant king. Maharishi felt it as an insult and prepared to give up his life. At that time Indra explained to him about the greatness of true knowledge. Dharmaraja: A man performs- penance , service and gifts to elders. What fruits will he obtain? Bheeshma: The good and bad acts of a man will follow him like a shadow. Those karmas also will join him in the next birth and live with him. They will have an impact on all the acts he does during his lifetime. In short, whether a man is dead or live the fruits of his karmas will follow him. Like the trees blossom in a particular season , the karma phalam also ripes and gives pleasure or pain to the man. Dharmaraja: Who is the creator of the entire creation? Bheeshma: Let us understand the conversation between Barathwaja Maharishi and Bhrugu Maharishi. It will clear your doubt. Barathwaja Maharishi: Bhrugu Maharishi! What is the process of creation? Bhrugu Maharishi: Vishnu is everlasting and has no beginning or end. He had a desire to make a creation. From his desire, a power came out of his body, by name Avyakta(Invisible). Avyakta also doesnt have the birth and death cycle. From that Avyakta, the nature was created. From that a lotus came out. From that lotus, Brahma came. Brahma has created atmosphere. From atmosphere water was created. From water- fire, from fire- wind was generated. With the combination of wind and fire the earth was formed. In this manner five principal elements were created. Those five principal elements always remain part and parcel of Brahmas body. In other words, the bones of Brahma are formed as mountains. His fat and flesh formed earth. His blood is oceans. His stomach is the atmosphere. His brilliance is the fire. The blood veins are rivers. Sun and Moon are his eyes. Upper lokas are his head. His legs are Patala. His hands are the directions. In this manner, the
creation was made from the will of Vishnu. All these elements are created by Vishnu are also limitless. Nobody can explain their dimension or numbers. Though Brahma was born from a lotus, one cannot think that the lotus was born first because Brahma was the will power of Vishnu and the lotus is only a base for Brahma. The entire creation can be divided into two- movables and immovables. Brahma desired to create a form, spirit, sound, liquids, heat, and hardness. He created spirit- in the form of wind, sound -in the form of atmosphere, all liquids- in the form of water, heat- in the form of Agni , hardness- in the form of earth. All these are known as five principal elements. Barathwaja Maharishi: All the five principal elements are having the qualities such as odor, etc. Who will enjoy all these subtle qualities? Tell me their order. Bhrugu Maharishi: Worldly objects, sense organs and mind enjoy the subtle qualities of five principal elements. The spirit in each being is known as jeeva. He himself is Paramatma. He will enjoy the five principal elements through the above three. In course of enjoyment, he will have the pleasure or pain. So, one who enjoys (Anubhoktha) is Soul (Antaratma.) Under him the mind and under the mind sense organs will work.Sense organs will enjoy the objects that are created in the world. The spirit lives in the entire body in the form of oxygen (Prana Vayu.) He is also known as Jeeva. He will enjoy all the objects that are created by Brahma. He only enjoys the pain and pleasures of those objects. Soul will not be touched by the body. Soul keeps away from the changes made by the body due to satva, raja and tamo gunas and keep away from the cycle of birth and death. The yogi, who keeps his mind pure with spiritual thinking, finds out the supreme being keeps his mind unmoved from HIM and enjoys the eternal bliss. Those who have spiritual inclination should search and catch for the Aatma with a pure mind. He should fix in his mind withdrawing from all the sense organs. Such a person will enjoy the bliss. Oh Barathwaja! Brahma desired to create truthfulness, statues, customs, behaviour, and penance as a base for Vedas and created brahmin, kshatriya, vysya and sudra. For these four varnas, he gave colour of the body to their varna as White, red, yellow and black, out of these four varnas, anybody who left their profession and adopted other profession they would belong to that
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varna. However by such changes from varna to varna, there may be a mix of varnas. White, red and yellow will indicate the inferiority in the same order. In other words red is inferior to white. In this manner the varna was fixed. Truth is Veda. Truth is tapasya. If anybody accepts the vow of speaking truth (Satyavratha) it amounts to performing penance . In fact the creation is based on Truth. Truth is responsible for the existence and survival of all lokas. Untruth is covered by Truth. Because untruth covered the Truth, all the duals were created in the world such as sin-virtue, light-darkness, knowledge-ignorance, heaven-hell and pain-pleasure. All good acts were created by virtue. All the bad acts were created by sin. The pains are two kinds. One is physical; the other is mental. If a man leads his life in a proper way, these pains wont touch him. By removing the diseases, man can give comfort to his body. In the same way pure and perfect mind will relieve him from the nine mental distresses. Barathwaja: Maharishi! Tell me the dharmas of Brahmachari, gruhasta, Vanaprasta and sanyasi. Bhrugu Maharishi: Brahmachari is to serve his guru with devotion and learn learning and reciting vedas. He should observe cleanliness and worship Agni for three times. Gruhasta should follow the prescribed duties in Vedas. He should secure wealth in a righteous way. He should worship and offer food to the guest and to other ashramas. He should eat only after the guests eat. Vanaprasta should live on fruits and roots available in the forest. He should sleep on the floor. A ascetici should procure his food by begging. He should not have any attachment with any man or material. Barathwaja: Maharishi! Are there other worlds (lokas)? How many are they? Bhrugu Maharishi: Earth planet is a karma bhoomi. Man performs karmas. Depending on the fruits of the karmas, he will attain the other worlds. Those lokas are meant for enjoying the fruits of those karmas. In other worlds
that is a land of comforts. Only righteous people are eligible to attain such lokas. In the other world, the beings wont have any distress. They always enjoy comforts. Dharmaraja: Bhrugu Maharishi has explained every thing in detail! Now I understand what is creation and the creator. Tell me about the spiritual knowledge? Bheeshma: The supreme spirit associates with soul. He will be known as jeevaatma. Those who realize that body is not soul, will know him as Purusha and Parameswara who lives as a spectator, who has no birth or death. Such people will attain salvation. He also realizes that soul is above intellect and mind. Dharmaraja: Kindly tell me about the science of yoga. Bheeshma: Unless one has steady mind, he cannot concentrate on yoga. Mind wanders like wind. Therefore the yogi should control the Vayu in his body. This is a practice in a slow manner. One should not be furious or impatient. Such people cant achieve spiritual knowledge. One must have a strong will. First he has to control sense, desires and restraint of mind. After that with eight types of practices, one should try to control the wind. By doing so, the thoughts will disappear, and doubts will arise. After that, knowledge will regulate the wind. In this manner the regulated air will travel all over the body by the veins and it will reach the place of Brahma. After that the mind will become fixed and peace will prevail and it enjoys the bliss. Then he will be joyfully absorbed in Brahmam. The Conversation between Dharma D evata, Yama, Kalapurusha, Mmrutchyu Devata, and Kowshika: The process of entering the meditation (japa veedhi): One who meditates (Sadhaka) should maintain perfect cleanliness. He should choose a level ground and spread darbha grass.He must take a handful of darbha grass in his hands and sit on darbha asana. He should withdraw all organs of senses and organs of action. He must concentrate the mind on one object. He should keep away envy, pride, arrogance and religious hypocrisy. In this manner the meditation performed will not seek any supremacy which will secure the moksha beyond love-hate, pleasure-pain and such other duals. If this meditation is practiced in the prescribed manner he is certain to attain salvation. Any deviation will not yield the fruits.
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Long ago there lived a brahmin by name Kowshika . He did Japa nishta(firmness in prayer) in a prescribed way for thousand years on goddess Savitri. She was pleased with his penance and appeared before him and said, What do you want? He said, I want Japa nishta to continue forever. Savitri said, So it be. I am pleased with your devotion towards Japa nishta and give you one more boon.That is Yama and Mrutchyu devata will discuss with you. After hundred divine years, Dharma Devata came to Kowshika and said, Kowshika ! You have achieved the fruits of your Japakarma . (fruits of meditation) You leave this body and come with me; I will take you to the superior lokas. Kowshika: I am thankful to you for offering me the superior lokas. If I get those superior lokas only if I leave my body, I reject the superior lokas than leaving my body. Because of this body only, I am able to achieve Japa nishta. This body was associated with me, while I was undergoing pleasures and pains for so many years. Hence I cant leave such a body for the sake of superior lokas. Dharma Devata: Kowshika! When I asked you to leave the body, you refused to do so. Look at Yama, Mrutchyu and the god of death are coming at a time. How can you escape from them? Yama said to Kowshika Your Japa nishta achieved fruits. The god of death said, You come with me to heaven. Immediately Mrutchyu said, I am provoked by the god of death and come to take you with me. On hearing their words, Kowshika worshipped them with folded hands and said, Devatas! Order me, in what way I can serve you all. In the meanwhile the king Ikshvaku came. Kowshika worshipped him and said: The conversation between Kowshika and Ikshvaku: Kowshika: King! You are my guest. I shall keep you happy within my means. Ikshvaku: Kings always give donations but dont receive. Kowshika: King! Those who are in gruhasta ashrama and those who are in a cycle of birth and death, can receive donations; But I am keeping away from all the worldly senses. I did not have any desire in my mind. Hence I can only give but I cant take anything from anybody. Hence you ask me I will give what you want.
Ikshvaku: Dont give me any donation but give me a gift I will accept it. Thereby I will not get any harm. You give me all the fruits (benefits) of your Japa nishta. Kowshika: I will give you half of my Japa nishta. If you insist I will give you even the full benefit. Ikshvaku: You tell me what is the benefit of your Japa nishta? Kowshika: I am a man free from desires. I did Japa nishta without any desire. Hence I dont know what the fruit of such a Japa nishta. Till now I did not ask anyone about the fruit of my Japa nishta. Irrespective of its fruits you take my Japa nishta and then you make enquiries about its real nature. Ikshvaku: Sir! I will not accept without knowing fruits of your Japa nishta. Kowshika: You asked me my Japa nishta. I gave you the same. All this has already happened, why you raise a dispute over now? I will have an adverse effect on your truthfulness. In other words if you reject my Japa nishta, it will amount to a lie. Ikshvaku: I am a Kshatriya. So I have dragged you for a fight in the form of a debate. I think it is an accepted dharma. Kowshika: You are trying to escape by saying that you did a fight with me. If one promises and doesnt fulfill his promise, it amounts to a lie. In the same manner, one promises to accept but refuses to take also amounts to a lie. You are a Kshatriya. I am a brahmin. Is it fair on our part to commit a sin by telling a lie? Truth is the superior to all dharmas. The vow of speaking truth is equivalent to a penance or a ritual rite. One can achieve forbearance and win lust, fury, mada and envy by speaking truth only. If you leave truth all your muttering prayers , penance, ablations and all other good acts will become lies. Yama, Dharma devata, the god of death and Mrutchyu were keenly observing their conversation. Dharma devata said, You both stop fighting with each other because brahmin had the fruit of a donation. The king had the fruit of truthfulness. At that time two divine people came in human form from the heaven. They both asked, Why are you fighting with each other? You both are getting the fruits equally. Ikshvaku: Agreed! But this brahmin must agree to receive the donation I give.
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Kowshika: I am interested only in penance and firm prayers. Other than that I cant take any other donations. While the dispute was going on, two persons came there. They were well decorated with valuable ornaments. They were happy by looking at king Ikshvaku. They went to him and said, He is our king and both stood by his side and said about their dispute as follows. This person has donated a cow. Another person asked him to donate the fruits of the donation of cows (go danam). The first person was happy and donated that benefit of donating cows by putting water into the hands of the recipient. The person who received the donation was not satisfied. He bought two more cows. He gave those two cows to the first person and asked him to give away those two cows to somebody and give him that benefits also. The first person agreed for the same. He took the two cows, identified a good person and donated him those two cows. The person asked the second person to accept the fruits of donation derived out of those two cows. However, the second person was dodging by not taking those fruits of the donation . The first person was able to meet the second person only then. So he caught hold of him and brought him before the king Ikshvaku and asked him to deliver the judgement. The first person said to the king, This person asked for the godana phalam with an intention of taking back. In such a case could he force me to accept that donation? The second person said, The first person has agreed to take godana phalam and later on he refused to accept it. In such a case will it not become a sin? Those who know about the course of action know this well. Watching the case, Kowshika said to the king, King! Have you heard the new case? You asked all my Japa nishta phalam. When I was prepared to give, you refuse to take it. I am giving you the last opportunity to accept my Japa phalam,failing which I will curse you. When Kowshika threatened to curse Ikshvaku was frightened and said, I am not used to take donations from others. Today I am forced to stretch my hands to receive a donation from others. Controlling himself, the king stretched his hands. Kowshika said, I am giving away all my benefits of my prayers which I earned all these years. By saying so, he put water in the hands of the king.
Then the king said looking at Kowshika The water fell into my hands. I have accepted the donations. To make our effects of virtuous deeds (punyam) equal, I am giving half of the benefits of my penances. You accept. Those litigants said to the king, We both are lust and fury. We always reside in the hearts of the humans. We both came as deputed by dharma devata, Yama, Kalapurusha and Mrutchyu to test Kowshika and Ikshvaku. There is neither a giver nor a taker. They both are the exclusive properties of the god. It is not a karma to be enacted by the humans. Kowshika: King! I have received a gift from Savitri Devi. I have no need of performing tapasya any more. I refused to take donation. However we both agreed to maintain our virtues equally in the presence of so many elders, I took it from him. Now you can go anywhere you like. Brahma and other devatas appreciated the spirit of the brahmin and a kshatriya in upholding the dharmas. At that time the heaven itself came to them and said: Heaven: Oh sinless! You both achieved salvation. You proceed towards Mahaprastanam.(final departure, death) The conversation between Manuvu and Bruhaspati: Dharmaraja: I want to know about wisdom which is beyond all yogas. Bheeshma: Long ago Manu and Bruhaspati had a discussion. That discussion will give an answer to your question. You listen. Manuvu: Deva guru! Please enlighten me about the jnana yoga, through jnana. Bruhaspati: A good query! The path of karma is the mother of jnana yoga. Man does actions only to enjoy comforts. Ultimately he lands up in grief only. The person who knows this truth will do fruitlful karmas. Such a person will be away from duals like pleasure-grief. He also will keep away from the evils generated by the internal enemies viz, pride, anger, lust, jealousy, greediness, ignorance (arishad vargas). Once the man wins all the above with knowledge, he will be eligible for salvation. My son! There is nothing equal to the abode of Brahman which alone is home for the soul. It is a great state of yoga, which will be above five principal elements, its subtle qualities, organs, etc. it is above nature. That state of
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existence is neither male nor female or neutral. It is splendid with the brightness of knowledge. Such a light of knowledge is permanent. It will remove the mildness in the mind. Like a minister for a king, organs will help the mind. They will be helping the man. As the fire remains in a wood, invisibly, in the same manner, the supreme spirit also resides in the body. If the wood is rubbed with another wood, fire will come out but not when we cut with an axe. In the same manner the reality of the supreme spirit is to be known in a prescribed manner. Since we could not see this supreme spirit , with our organs we cannot say that this is not existing. We can see an object with our eye only the front portion of it. That doesnt mean it has no backside. To know the reality of this, one should have a strong will, coupled with a prescribed effort. If a bird or an animal is to be caught one should spread a net. In the case of this, one should have the treasure of knowledge to know him. Though the serpent has no legs, it is moves rapidly. Hence we presume that it has legs. In the same manner a man will acquire knowledge. With that knowledge he will see the supreme spirit who is residing inside, invisibly. The soul and body move due to the actions of the mind. Hence the mind is to be kept pure and calm. Then only man can see soul. In other words, he will know his real nature. When the mind is disturbed and in distress, he cant have the knowledge of soul. If the surface of the water in a pond is clear and still, one can clearly see the reflected image of the moon. If the water is murky and disturbed one cannot see clearly. If one cant control organs , he will land up in difficulties and grief. If organs are under control, he will experience the pleasure and peace. Once his sins are destroyed and one acquires knowledge, he will merge into soul, If coupled with knowledge, will shine like a Jyothi. Mind had a fickle nature. Jnana yoga, will control the mind. When it becomes still, it leaves its inherent qualities viz satva, rajas and tamos. Bruhaspati explains about illusion: The illusion was not known to others. Hence nobody knows how it looks like. Though we cant describe but we can identify its shape. Saptva, rajas,and tamo gunas only make our body. Such an illusion will be covered around soul. These three gunas are like a rope knit with threads. That rope is
covered around soul. To cut such a strong thread one needs a sharp knife in the form of Vairagyam(Absence of worldly pleasures). One cannot remove their illusion in any other way. The entire creation consists of five principal elements. Though these five elements are bigger than any other element, there are differences between one and the other. Mind is bigger than those five elements. Intellect is bigger than the mind. Time is bigger than the intellect. But the god who controls that time element is the supreme power. That supreme spirit Paramatma has no beginning, middle or the end. In other words who cant be destroyed. He is supreme even for the Vedas. He is the only person who can give the power for exceeding the cycle of birth and death. That supreme power will absorb all the knowledge in the world and rest in peace. In fact the nature of such a peace cant be described or discussed because it is above thought and words. One cant reach that extreme peace by any actions. Unless one exceeds the state of mind, intellect, and pure knowledge one cannot reach state of Paramatma. I will tell you how. The mind only conquer mind . The intellect is to be conquered with intellect and then it is to be left. After that the knowledge about the reality of Paramatma, the logic and similar things are to be conquered with knowledge and is to be left. In this manner one should reach supreme spirit in a pure form. Dharmaraja! Bruhaspati has explained these to king Manu. You also digest all those teachings and reach the state of supreme spirit . Dharmaraja: You tell me the greatness of Krishna Paramatma. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! I will tell you what I heard from Narada and other maharishis. Krishna is none other than Maha Vishnu. He desired to make a creation. First he created five principal elements. After creating five principal elements, he has slept on Maha Jala. Dharmaraja: To attain supreme spirit , on whom should I meditate? Bheeshma: I will tell you what Vishnu has taught Narada. You listen. What Vishnu has taught Narada: Vishnu: Narada ! Those who want to reach me should have pure devotion . One should develop control on senses. These three will help those trainees who practice it. Even for that, one should have my grace.
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Narada: Prabhu! How people will remember you? By what mantra they will fasten you? Vishnu: Those who want to remember me should have pure devotion, faith and have control on senses. These three qualities are essential for those who want to worship me. For sinless devotees those qualities will develop with my grace. The devotee should add my names based on nature, celebrity, composure, glories. Those names will form a mantra viz Namo Vasudevaya, etc. They are to be repeated and by fixing the mind on me. Those mantras will develop the power of securing four principal object of human life and pursuit. Following this, Vishnu taught Narada Anusmruti (thinking of one thing to the exclusion of other things) which praises the miracles(leelas) forms and actions of the Lord in the following form. He who is not visible, who is eternal, who has no birth or death, who is all pervading, and who cannot be destroyed, I pray such a Paramapurusha with folded hands. In this manner his glories and forms are to be praised and recited everyday. Dharmaraja: Please tell me the way to attain salvation. Bheeshma: Long ago Varsheya Maharishi taught his disciples the way for salvation. Now I will tell you the teachings of that maharishi. The teachings of Varsheya Maharishi: Maharishi: My children! Time is like a wheel. It keeps running and moving round and round. Paramatma withdraws everything into himself. Latter he creates. At the time of annihilation, he alone remains sleeping on vast sheet of waters. Again he commences the creation. With the creation, maharishis got Vedas and sastras. After learning from him, maharishis taught the principles, systems and duties to the people. Those people who follow the teachings of maharishis will get knowledge of Brahman. Vishnu alone has that knowledge. Maharishis who had the blessings of Vishnu are able to get that knowledge of Brahman. My children! With the mingling of Primary substance i and Para Brahmam, the entire creation gets spirit. From that spirit,intellect senses and pride are created. Pride which is self love belongs to soul. From self love, atmosphere, wind, fire, water and earth were formed. From those primary
elements intellect, mind, organs of action and organs of senses were formed. These primary and subtle elements were formed as a body which was the dwelling place for supreme spirit. This body is also called as Puram( town). This town will have nine doors. The invisible supreme spirit lives with constitution, passions and emotions and gunas. My children! This Para Brahman has neither birth nor death and old age. No impurities will touch him. As fire is invisible in wood, supreme spirit also lives invisibly in the body of creatures. As fire generates by rubbing one wood to another, if he is rubbed with yoga, the spirit will be visible. In short, if one wants to have the knowledge of soul, there should be an internal rubbing (Aatma madhaneam). Such supreme spirit will live in the form of energy (Tejassu). That energy will be shining in all beings. With that energy only, we are able to hear sounds and see objects. The entire creatures are born from energy, brought up from that energy and finally absorbed in that energy. This is the process of creation, growth and withdrawl. Bheeshma tells about the power of Kalachakra: Dharmaraja! Time is a wheel. Intellect and other seven subtle elements are its edges. Soul will sit on the wheels and will work in association with time. As particles mix up in the air, satvam, rajas and tamo gunas will reach the soul. A king will keep the distance from them with knowledge of discrimination. A man can earn fruits of good deeds only when he is leading life in the way of worldly life . Those who live in a detached spirit cant earn benefits of virtuous deeds because he was always associated with inner being. Entire creation is made of five elements. Pride is its dwelling place. Satva guna keeps a man remembering constantly about god and lives in peace. Rajo guna makes a man active and keeps him in greed. Tamo guna keeps a man in distress and pride. These three gunas stand in the way in securing knowledge. One should develop more of satva guna; Gunas keeps changing. Even satva guna cant secure a salvation. It only paves way for salvation. At the time of moving closer to salvation, this satva guna also will disappear. Pride is the mother of all lokas. All activities of beings are based on pride only. Based on the fruits karmas in his earlier birth, Jeeva takes a body. Jeeva , while enjoying the previous karma phalam, commits fresh karmas. To enjoy those fruits, he takes another birth. In this manner, Jeeva entangles in a cycle of birth and death. Intellect is different from Jeeva . Intellect is responsible for securing wisdom . If one acquires the treasure of wisdom, he will attain salvation.
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Otherwise he entangles in the cycle of birth and death. Mind always tempts to enjoy comforts. Intellect alone controls the mind and slowly it paves way to liberate us from comforts. Control on senses will help initially for securing wisdom and after attaining salvation. One should control his senses to attain moksha. So preservation of sperm is a way to salvation. Mind is to be controlled from the senses and in retaining sperm in eight methods such as Yama, Niyama, etc. Man should cultivate cleanliness, leaving pride and become tranquilized. Thus the desires will come down. At that time he tends to love all beings equally. Sadhaka is to procure food by begging. He should be contended with whatever he gets. Such a person is certain to attain salvation. He should take care while speaking and observe the world around him. He gets back those memories in a dream. Dharmaraja! Long ago when Namuchi lost all his wealth and was lying low in a remote place, Indra went to him and said: Indra: Rakshasa king! You lost all your wealth and relatives. You are sitting alone in a remote place. I feel sorry for your distress. Namuchi: Devendra! What is the use of grieving? Can we get what we lost? There is god above all of us. He knows whom to give, what to give and when to give. When we have his grace, everything will come as smoothly as water flows to low region. Since god wanted me to place in this poverty, I am accepting the same with pleasure.
CHAPTER-5
1. Conversation between Sree and Indra: Dharmaraja: Please tell me, how a man will prosper? How his wealth will be destroyed? Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! I will tell you the conversation between Sree and Indra. That will clear your doubt. Long ago Narada went to Indra. While they were talking an attractive woman came to them with folded hands. Indra said to her, Who are you? From where, you are coming? The women said, I am born from a lotus. I am
called as Sree, Lakshmi and Bhoothi. While rakshasas, were having good qualities such as swadha, swaha, shardha, mathi, dhruti and sruti. Now they dont have all those good qualities. So I came here to live with you. Indra said Why you are leaving rakshasas? What should I do, if I want to please you? Lakshmi said Indra ! Earlier rakshasas were having danam(donation) and adhyanam(Learning), and respected the guests. Hence I used to live with them. Now they abandoned all those good qualities. They became proud. Since your mind is fixed on satyam and dharmam I came to you. I live with those people who are modest and sincere. I live with such people and those who worship devatas and give gifts to scholars and who is truthful. I dont stay with those people who are greedy and plunder others money and woman. I like those who protect elders, women and weaker people. I like those who keep up cleanliness both internal and external. I like those who eat the remaining food after the guest finished eating. I will not stay with those people who sleep in the day time. I will not live with those people who are having lust , fury, and pride. Devendra! The following six devatas will improve the prosperity and the wealth. They are budhi, dhruti, sradha, sannati, skhama, shanthi. I am the seventh devata. These seven devatas are sanctified by even Vedas. I rejected rakshasas because of their cruel nature. Dharmaraja: My doubts are cleared. Thanks. Next query is who is the most lovable person ? Bheeshma: Long ago there was a discussion between Ugrasena and Krishna. I will tell you the same which will clear your doubt. 2. Conversation between Ugrasena and Krishna: Ugrasena asked Krishna! Why people praise Narada in so many ways? How he became so glorious? Krishna said, King! Narada follows sadhacharams(superior customs) and sastra jnanam. (knowledge of sastras) He is free from ego and having good character. He wears a simple dress. Envy, passion, pride and such evil qualities will not go anywhere near him. For those reasons people love him so much. Above all, he is the treasure of penance, Brightness, intellect, modesty, and Ethics. He doesnt know what jealousy and hate are. Hence all the people appreciated him. Dharmaraja: Tell me the duration of various yugas like Kruta yuga, etc.
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Bheeshma: Long ago Vyasa Maharishi explained the nature of five elements and the nature of time(kala swaroopam) . I will tell you their conversation which will vindicate your doubt 3. Conversation between Vyasa and Suka: Vedavyasa: My son! There is a super power that exists but remains as a silent spectator and gives an impression as he does all the performance of five elements and time. Eighteen minutes is one kaashtam. Thirty kaashtams make one kala. Sixty kalas make one muhurtham. Thirty muhurthas make one ahorathram. Thity ahorathrams make one month. Two months makeone rutu. Six rutus makes one year. Three vrutus make one aayanam. One aayanam is called uttarayanam. Another aayanam is called dakshanayanam. These two aayanams are also called as day and night. Uttarayanam is called as Agni. The half-year during which the sun moves from north to south (Dakshanayanam) is called as dhoomam (smoke). The first aayanam will give good effects and the second one will give bad effects. For humans, six months time is one day and night for pitru devatas. For humans one year is equal to one day for devatas. 4. The calculation of yugas in terms of years: By the time devatas pass just twelve thousand years, it will come about four yugas for humans. The following are the four yugas. Krutayuga, runs for 4800 years. Tretayuga, 3600 years, Dwaparayuga 2400 years, kaliyuga 1200 years. The sandhi kaalam will be calculated as 400 years for krutayuga,300 years for Tretayuga, 200 years for Dwaparayuga and 100 years for Kaliyuga. All these years are divine years. If we calculate those divine years into human years it will be for krutayuga 17, 28,000 ; for tretayuga 12, 96,000; for dwaparayuga 8, 64,000; for kaliyuga 4, 32,000 years. The sandhi kaalam for krutayuga 1, 44,000; for tretayuga 1,08,000; for dwaparayuga 72,000; for kaliyuga 36,000 years. In krutayuga , the inherent property of humans was tapasya . In tretayuga, it was to acquire knowledge. In dwaparayuga, was performing karmas as prescribed in Vedas such as yagnas etc. In kaliyuga, the humans would be attracted to blemish activities. Nyayam , dharmam , longevity, and body strength will gradually deteriorate from Yuga to Yuga. The above four Yugas constitute one Maha
Yuga. Such thousand Maha Yugas will form just one day for Brahma. While Brahma sleeps in the night, all lokas will be merged into water and become Pralayam. Again by morning, Brahma wakes up and starts his creation. From that reality of Brahman- Glory (mahattu), mind (manassu),sky (aakasam), wind (vayuvu), fire (agni), water (Jalam)) and land ( bhoomi) these seven elements will form. In other words, the order of the formation is- from Brahmatatvam, Mahatatvam will form. From that- manassu, from manassuaakasam, from aakasam- vayuvu, from vayuvu- Agni, from Agni- jalam, from jalam- bhoomi are formed from one to another. For all these elements, Brahman is the origin. From five elements,, sound is generated from aakasam . Sparsa (heavenly nymph) from Vayu; roopam(beauty)- from tejas; rasam(subtle quality of liquids)- from jalam (water); gandham(smell)- from bhoomi (land). From each element, these qualities were born. The power which created all these elements is called in the following names as Brahman , Para Brahmam(Prajapatyam) and Tejoroopam(supreme spirits). In the above creation, the karma phalams ( the fruit that are derived) some attributes it to the human effort, some other attributes to the god and some other attributes are derived from the five elements. This is the theory of those who follow the path of karma. Those who follow the path of wisdom will treat all duals equally. Brahman is said in two ways. One is Sapda Brahman and the other is Para Brahman. By devoting to Sabda (sound) Brahman one can attain supreme spirit . Though it doesnt do any action, it is associated with the nature, creates and withdraws. So far I told you how the creation was made. Now I will tell you how it is being withdrawn. All movables and immovables will merge in the earth. All waters occupy the earth. Agni consumes all waters. Vayu absorbs Agni. Aakasham absorbs Vayu. In the same manner, the subtle gunas also will merge with the respective elements. Moon is the ruling deity for the manasu. Hence manasu will be absorbed in moon. Mental resolve (Sankalpam) will absorb in the moon. Pune Jnanam will destroy the sankalpam, Kala Vigjnanam (Science of time) ,balam (strength) and the body of supreme spirit . Suka! In this process the time (kalam) is withdrawn. The enlightened wisdom will not absorb in any of the elements and maintains as pure form which Vedas are calling as Brahman. In this manner Brahman will create in the day time and withdraw in the night time which is mere a play for him.
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When a brahmin is born, Jata karma(ceremony at the time of birth) , Upanayanam (thread marriage) and other samskaras (purifying ceremonies) are perfomed. After that, he will approach a guru to acquire knowledge. With his permission, he will marry and accept gruhasta ashrama. After some time he will enter Vanaprasta ashrama and sanyasam. For all the ashramas gruhasta ashrama is the base. While in gruhasta ashrama, one should clear the debt to devatas, the debt to rishis, and the debt to pitru devatas. After completing all these duties, he will be eligible for Vanaprasta and sanyasa ashramas. 6. Giving donation is common for all varnas: Donating attitude is good for all varnas. There is nothing to prohibit donation. Long ago Kaasyapa gave his own life to protect another brahmin. Sibi gave flesh from his own body. Many sins will be destroyed by performing donating attitude , learning, and yagna. He will take limited food and keep his senses under control and achieve the fruits. He should keep away from lust and fury. In this manner he will get the knowledge of Brahman. Sometimes, dharma may appear as adharma and adharma may seem as dharma. Hence one should follow sastras, and analyze before getting a conclusion. The moment a soul lands on land, he will gradually progress to attain yoga sidhi and shine like a smokeless Agni. Such a person could able to win over ego. Controlling the senses and fix the mind on soul is the path of Sankhyas(science of philosophy) . In fact the path of Science of philosophy and yoga are same. In fact attachment is the reason for hapless worldly illusion. I will explain you the difference among the creatures. Among the movables and immovables, movables are superior. Some are born from sweat and egg, with two foot and many feet. Among those beings, man is the superior. Among men, those who follow dharmas are superior. Among those who follow dharma brahmins are superior. Among the brahmins who recite Vedas are superior. Among those who learn Vedas, those who know the meaning of Vedas are superior. Among those superiors who realize the knowledge of Aatma are superior. Those saints will become righteous and realize the god. There is none equal to them. To attain Brahman is possible only by tapasya. Hence for a brahmin there is no superior dharma than becoming friendly with all the beings. The
association with such a brahmin will teach the discrimination of permanent and impermanent. 7. Vyasa teaches the knowledge of attaining Para Brahman: Suka: Maharishi! To attain salvation should we perform yagnas or by intellect or by yoga or by rituals? Vyasa Maharishi: All the above paths will lead to Brahmapadam. Organs will obstruct a man to reach the foot of Brahmam. Once we control the organs we can reach it. One can control the mind, if he tries seriously. Once we control the organs all the senses will be kept away. The ear, nose and eye cannot see budhi (intellect). A brahmin who is knowledgeable and modest can treat an elephant, a dog, a chandala equally. Such a knowledgeable person can certainly reach salvation. The Paramatma is in all beings. In the same manner all beings are within Brahman. If one treats all beings equally in this way, he can attain the foot of Brahmam. Soul is called as a perishable and non perishable. All beings are destroyed in course of time. That is why they are all said to be as perishable , whereas soul is non-perishable. Once ignorance is removed, soul will become supreme spirit . Hence one should have the knowledge of that it doesnt belong to the body which is perishable. He will not be caught by time. One who realizes that he is supreme spirit and doesnt have death will certainly realize supreme spirit . With great effort one should leave lust and fury, fear,sleep, and greed. A knowledgeable person with a strong will, may get over from the desires. He will improve the satva guna. He will forego the sleep and illusion. A person who could control the intellect mind and organs he will become an intellect. After that he will become sinless and shine like a glittering fire. Such a scholar will view all duals equally. To fix the mind on a particular object, one should live in a forest or in a cave or in a temple or in a place where there is no human inhabitation. Such a yogi will look at the gold and a stone equally. If we can live for about six months in deep meditation, he could exceed Brahman. Suka: Vedas are teaching to perform karmas and teaching to relinquish karmas Which will give a better fruit ?. Vyasa Maharishi: My son! Those who perform karmas is known as the path of wordly life (Pravrutti). Those who leaves performing karmas such a path is known as cessation (nivrutti). The path of Pravrutti will lead to
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attachment but the path of nivrutti will lead to the path of jnana. Those who accept jnana marga will not perform karmas. Some people say the path of karma is superior but they are not able to win over the death. However those people will enjoy more anandha, in other words karma leads to chitha sudhi. The path of karma is like a well. The path of jnana (divine wisdom) is like a river. So jnana marga (the path of divine wisdom) alone will give more fruits than the karma path. 8. Brahmacharya is essential to attain Brahmapadha: Suka: Father! Tell me who are eligible for Brahmavidya (The knowledge of Brahma? Vyasa Maharishi: Brahmacharya is to practice in a forest nearby the ashramas of Vanaprastas. They should do penance, beg food from Vanaprastas. He should keep himself above all duals. He should not go to places where there is more human inhabitation. Such a brahmachari will improve his spiritual knowledge. Suka: Learned Vedic scholars are telling not to live the path of karma. Should we not give respect to their words? Vyasa Maharishi: My son! One can leave karma and can perform karmas. However I will tell you a list of karmas which are to be avoided. They are: Brahmacharya, gruhasta, vanaprasta, sanyasa- these four ashramas are like a ladder to take us to the foot of Brahmam. A Brahmachari: a fourth of his life time he should serve a guru and learn knowledge. He should eat food after guru eats. He should sleep after the guru sleeps. Brahmachari should keep away from the senses. A Brahmachari should pay guru dakshana(fee to the guru) and satisfy his guru before he accepts gruhasta ashrama with his permission. In this ashrama he should perform all the rituals prescribed in Vedas. He should satisfy devatas and pitrudevatas. He should satisfy his guest. He affectionate towards his wife, and have children by her. He should spend in this ashrama another one fourth part of his life. He should spend another one fourth part of his life in vanaprasta ashrama by doing tapasya. The last part of his life, he should spend in sanyasa ashrama. In this ashrama he should follow all the dharmas prescribed for a ascetics. Now I will tell you how an ascetic should conduct his life.
My son! He should perform the worship of Agni in his mind itself. He should neither develop friendship nor enmity with anyone. He should not procure and keep with him money or any other articles. He should be fully shaven in his head. Ascetic should not live in any house. He should not be at one place permanently. He must keep moving from place to place. He should totally keep away from lust, fury, distress. He should be above all duals. He should not be rigid in his dress code or food habits. Devatas call such an ascetic as brahmana. Such a brahmana will look at people as serpents. He looks women as dead bodies. Even if a woman tries to go near him, he will feel as if he is suffering in hell. Vyasa tells about the control of sense organs: Suka: Maharishi! Tell me the superior dharma among all the dharmas. Vyasa Maharishi: You keep your mind away from all mental resolves. Mind should not be attracted by the ears, nose or eyes. In this manner you bring down organs,intellect and mind and but you must concentrate on Paramatma. A tree cannot smell its flowers and cannot taste its fruits. In this manner the soul also cannot realize its own self. Hence you with great effort and skill must realize the soul. If you can practice in that way you can leave all your sinful attachments as a snake leaves its cast body. Once you attain soul you will have peace. Nobody knows how greediness enters so you should keep away that greediness and anger. Those who do not have the skill they cannot cross the ocean of illusion. My son! Those who are conscious of their bodies will have the old age and death. Those who are conscious of the animate being, they will never have old age or death. They will develop a feeling that they are above body and could able to see the invisible soul. For those people no further performances are needed. They could see that invisible soul as clearly as they see the image of moon in clear waters. Those who are in satva guna can see soul clearly. Those who realize soul will not find any difference between discrimination and foolishness. He will have pure knowledge. The yogi who has restrained of sense organs will not mind whether he has organs or not. This is what Sandalaya Maharishi had said. Moham (delusion) is the seed of tree of desires. It will grow in the waters named as confusion. Ignorance is the mother root of the tree. Its branches
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and leaves are the flesh and veins. Greedy people will climb up to the top of the tree for its fruits and fall from there. The yogi who realized soul will cut the tree with a sword of detachment. My son! Their body itself is a city. Intellect is the king. Mind is its minister. All senses are its priest. Intellect will differ with mind and get trained by rajas and tamo gunas and destroys. On the contrary if the mind and intellect become one and realizes its duty it suppresses rajas tamo gunas and enjoys perennial comforts. Bheeshma tells about Mrutchyu devata: Dharmaraja: Now I understand!Pitamaha! The most valorous and strong kings were killed in this battle. None of them were alive. What is meant by Mrutchyu? From where she was born? How she kills people? Bheeshma: Long ago there lived a king by name Akampana. He lost his son and fell in deep grief. At that time Narada went to him and said all about a devata Mrutchyu . Narada: Akampana! Long ago Brahma started creation. In the course of time, the beings lived without deaths and there was a big shortage of food and water for them. Looking at this crisis, Brahma became mad. A wild fire came out of his distress and started burning all the worlds. At that time Siva explained him how to control the creation . After that a woman came out from Brahmas body. That woman started towards the direction of south. Brahma called her and said: Mrutchyu devata! You kill all the beings irrespective of whether it is strong or weak. Mrutchu devata said, Brahma! Dont engage me in such a sinful act. Give me a pious job. Brahma said, You are born only to kill people. You have to do that job. It is your only dharma. Mrutchyu replied, I cannot see the grief of relatives whom I kill. Permit me to make penance.. Brahma firmly said, Mrutchyu! If you refuse to do, it amounts to disobeying my orders. You dont have that power to say no to me. The moment Brahma said, Mrutchyu disappeared, went to Himalayas, took a bath in pious rivers and started meditating on Brahma. He was pleased and appeared before her and said, My daughter! You stop doing penance and fulfill the duty what I assigned to you. The other day while you are weeping, I have collected your tears in my palms. Those tears will go in the form of diseases and kill the people. I have also created lust and fury and many such
bad passions out of your tears. With all those sinful qualities, people will die. In this task you are only an instrument. Since you are grieving so much, I am giving you a boon. My daughter! Whomever you kill, that sin will not touch you. When you are obeying my orders from where the sin comes? Mrutchyu accepted Brahmas orders with a fear that he might curse if she refuses his orders. From then onwards Mrutchyu devata is taking away the lives of all beings. After leaving their bodies, based on their fruits of action in the previous births, they beings take further births. Bheeshma tells the conversation between Jagili and Tuladhara: Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! You tell me the nature of customs. Bheeshma: Long back there lived a maharishi by name Jagili. He had a conversation with the superior vysya by name Tuladhara. I will tell you the discussion between them that will clear your doubt. There lived a maharishi by name Jagili. He sat motionless for so many years and did penance. In the course of time, two birds built a nest on his head and lived comfortably. Knowing well this, the maharishi did not disturb them, thinking that he is doing a great service to those birds. In course of time, he developed a pride for his great service. A voice was heard from the sky, Tapasvi! Tuladhara is a virtuous person. But he never had a passion like you. If you want to know anything, you go and learn from him. On hearing those words, Jagili went to Kasi to meet Tuladhara. There he saw Tuladhara was doing business in his shop. He worshipped the maharishi and said, Maharishi! How do you penance , though the birds are living on your head? Maharishi was astonished and said Tuladhara! How did you know all these things? Tuladhara said, I do my business in a righteous way. I take a reasonable profit. Customers interest is primary for me. I look equally profit or loss. That is my penance. I show equal kindness on all beings. Truthfulness is my act of worship . People buy articles from me without fear. That is what I give them as offering to elders like gurus. I lead a simple life,promising the glories of the LORD. That is how I express my gratitude to HIM. I take all duals equally. That is how I won their love. With all, I could see the entire world in front of me. Maharishi said, Tuladhara! You spoke so many things but you did not say penance and rituals are also dharma why? Tuladhara said Oh maharishi!
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Penance coupled with pride and act of worship with desire, cant be appreciated. In both of them, we can see greediness. As a result devatas will not appreciate such a penance and worship. Even though they may attain superior lokas, they will come back after the balance of the effects of good deeds done in the previous births (punyam) is over. This type of coming and going from earth to heaven and heaven to earth will not do any good to the soul. Hence truthfulness is way of worship. Devata appreciate only those actions without desire . Such actions only give salvation. Jagili said, Tuladhara! Why are you not leaving karma? Tuladhara replied, Maharishi! Desireless actions are not actions. Doing a dharma as a matter of duty alone is dharma. Such a person will become pure and enjoys bliss . One who attains wisdom will look the entire world as pure. Maharishi! You are treating those birds as your children. They are also thinking you as their father. You ask them to come and stand on your hand. Those birds did not come and said, Maharishi! We are the servants of dharma devata and we are sent to test your penance. Since you have a doubt we will clear your doubt. Whose heart is filled with the guilt of jealousy, he will cultivate the nature of quarrelsome and will have disturbed mind. Hence who chooses a hermits life keep away from envy? Satva guna breeds devotion. That devotion will teach us the knowledge we ought to know. That brings auspicious disposition of mind in another name for diligence. Devotion keeps the mind in a righteous path. Devotion is the grace of jealousy. The conversation between Kapila Maharishi and cows: Dharmaraja: Can you tell me important dharma in gruhasta ashrama and sanyasa ashrama. Bheeshma: Long ago there was a discussion between Kapila Muni and a cow. I will tell you their conversation to give the answer for your question. One day K apila Muni saw a cow and asked her, Are you not an embodiment of Vedas. Nyumarasmi, another maharishi,overheard the words of Kapila Muni. He wanted to know whether the Kapila Muni had any faith in Vedas or not? He entered into the cow and said, Do sanyasa believe in Vedas? Kapila Muni said, Oh cow! I have neither respect nor disrespect for Vedas. If you ask me indirectly how do I know what you have in your mind? However I will tell you what I know. You listen. Brahmacharya, gruhasta ashrama, Vanaprasta and sanyasa, these four ashramas are eligible to know
the knowledge of soul. Vedas dictated how a gruhasta is to conduct . It is good to follow Vedas. However in some rituals, violence do take place. You tell me whether it is auspicious or inauspicious. Then the cow replied, Oh maharishi! Brahma himself did rituals. He created animals and grains to perform such rituals. Everyone wants pleasures in heaven irrespective of the fact that whether they are poor or rich. Unless one performs rituals, how they might get heavenly pleasures? Can you suggest any alternate to rituals? Is it not the superior dharma for a gruhasta to destroy his sins? Even devatas are encouraging rituals . How can you call it a violence? Kapila Muni said Oh cow! Those who want permanent bliss will never relish the pleasures in the heaven. Only to attain the permanent bliss he is leaving gruhasta ashrama and take asceticism . The cow countered M aharishi! As children reach the mother all ashramas are reaching gruhasta ashrama, because he alone feeds all other ashrams. Have you ever read anywhere that one gets salvation only by leaving gruhasta ashrama? Kapila Muni answered, Oh cow! There are four organs even devatas cannot close them. They are hand, stomach, speech and hidden organ. The person who realizes Supreme spirit in himself he closes all those four doors. In short, even gold cannot tempt him. His hand will not beat even if we want thus he closes the door of hand. Even a woman cant go near him. In this manner he will close the door to the external organ of generation in either sex (upasta.) Those who realized soul takes very little food. A wisdom of soul will neither tell a lie nor blame any action. In this manner he will close the door of speech. Thus, he will close all the four doors, viz hand, sex organs (upasta), stomach and speech. For such a wisdom of soul- donation , religious vows and rituals are not required. Hence he will not become a blind follower of Vedas. Nyumarasmi came out from the cow and said, Oh maharishi! Today I learnt from you how to fix the mind on dharma. I entered into the cow and spoke to you. Now you teach me how to accept or reject dharmas, ashramas and varnas. Kapila Muni clarified The person who acquired knowledge can do anything. No harm will happen to him. Those ignorant people will become slaves to their desires and do karmas to gain fruits. Once he does karmas with a desire, he will be trapped in the cycle of birth and death. Nyumarasmi said, Are we not in a wrong path, if we deviate from Vedas? Are such people eligible for salvation? Do they get any harm?
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Kapila tells Nyumarasmi that Vedas are the final authority: Kapila Muni: Vedas are authority for all actions. Why should we deviate from Vedas? There are two Brahmans. One is Sabda Brahm;a another is Para Brahma. One can take shelter in Sabda Brahma to reach Para Brahma which is the salvation. The goal of all the four ashramas and the fruits that they derived is only from dharma. Hence what ever ashrama one may accept as long as one is happy and comfortable it is no matter whether he is in a house or in a forest. Virtuous people will accept the fourth ashrama which is asceticism. This is accepted by Upanishads. Vedas said the dharma of an ascetic is practicing religious rites which is the best wisdom . For that wisdom, happiness is the trunk, and detachment is its nature.Bliss is its branches. In whatever ashrama one may reside, he can reach salvation with pure mind. Those who want to attain salvation is to control his mind and live happily. The story of Kundadhara: Dharmaraja: Vedas say that dharma, ardha and kaama are the superior dharmas. Of these three, which is superior? Bheeshma: I will tell you the story of Kundadhara and you can draw your conclusion. Long ago a brahmin wanted to perform ritual rites. He made a penance by meditating on Kundadhara, a devata. After sometime that devata appeared and asked the Brahmin, What do you want? The brahmin said, I want money to perform ritual rites. Kundadhara said, I will give you all the required money He remembered Manibadra, the servant of Kubera. Manibadra appeared. Kundadhara asked him to provide necessary money for his devotee to perform rites. Manibadra assured him that he would provide all the required wealth for him. In the meanwhile Kundadhara thought in himself, Humans will have a short life. So this ritual rite will not give him a permanent life. So he thought of putting him in the path of reaching superior lokas. Kundadhara requested Manibadra to put him in the path of wisdom instead of giving wealth. Manibadra agreed. On the same day, the brahmin said to Kundadhara, Oh devata! I asked you money for performing the rituals. Now I changed my mind. I want to do penance. So I am going to forest. I dont need your money. You permit me to do penance. Kundadhara was happy and blessed him to do so . After sometime the brahmin made a severe penance and attained divinity. The brahmin was very happy and thought , I can give any amount of
money for those people who want to perform rituals. I shall make them to destroy all their sins. By thinking so, he remembered Kundadhara who appeared before him.The brahmin worshipped him and said, Oh devata! Can Vedas equate kaama and ardha to dharma? As long as ardha and kaama cant overtake dharma, nobody can destroy the progress made. On hearing brahmins words Kundadhara said Oh brahmin! From now onwards, you follow the path of wisdom which is the principal object of human life and pursuit. Xvi Bheeshma teaches the path of salvation: Dharmaraja: Why a man does sinful acts? Why his mind will not incline towards good acts? How he can be away from the sin and virtue? Bheeshma: sound, touch,figure and form ,taste, and smell these senses will make greediness, delution which will create desires. If the mind becomes a slave for delusion and greediness it will do harm to dharma. When dharma is dropped, the man will have the inclination of doing sinful acts. At that time he should use intellect and escape from sinful acts by living in association with sadhus. With the association of ascetics he will be inclined towards dharma. At the end he will attain salvation. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! You tell me the means of attaining salvation. Bheeshma: For doing anything one should have instruments. Can a potter make pots with bare hands? Anger and desires are to be win with the help of forbearance and truthfulness. With firmness, he has to win sleep, lovehate, etc. by carefulness we have to win over the fear. In that manner, one should develop wisdom and dispassion. One should leave delusion and illusion. With balanced diet, you can overcome the diseases. By realizing the soul he will come to know that all worldly actions are hapless. In this manner keeping the karma aside one must search for the path of salvation. All these only will help to pave way for the salvation. They are only means for achieving salvation. Dharmaraja: I lost all my brothers and relatives only because of my desire. How I can get out of this desire? Bheeshma: Long ago Mandavya Maharishi and Janaka had a conversation. I will tell you their conversation. Conversation between Mandaya Maharishi and Janaka Mandya Maharishi: How to escape from desires?
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Janaka: Maharishi! By earning money through easy ways, the desires also grow. The desires will develop a feeling of selfish nature like my, and mine. Once the feeling of attachment is removed, the sea of desires will dry up. Therefore I realized that the wealth is the mother of all grieves. Those who can satisfy with what they had and dont long for what they dont have the desire will not enter him. Wicked people cant get out of desires. Even in their old age, desires will not go. Those who dont give importance to the desires will have more comforts. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! When I may be able to control over my organs and get peace? When I can get the bliss? Bheeshma: Everything will happen in course of time. Slowly the mind will become perfect after performing Varnasrama dharmas. A king cannot reach a sanyasa ashrama without destroying all the defects in the mind. Vrutasura, even while he was defeated in a battle and was suffering in a miserable situation, he never had any distress. His guru Sukracharya said, Vrutasura! All your wealth was taken away by your enemies. In spite of that, how are you in a state of peace without having any distress. He said to Sukracharya Vrutasuras reply Vrutasura: Gurudeva! Wealth and poverty are under the control of time. If one is an ignorant either he will become proud or fell in distress. The saint who realizes that wealth is not permanent, will not have any grief and he will live in peace. Based on the fruits of their karma all beings will take birth as deva, human, animal and insects. Under the influence of fruits of action in the previous births, all beings will take different forms. I am conscious about it. That is why I could able to keep away from both the grief and pride. Sukracharya: Are these words fitting your stature? Can you talk like so gently? Vrutasura: Acharya! Long ago did I not made tapasya, won the battle and became the emperor of all the three worlds? Now I lost all that glory. Will it happen without any sinful background of mine? Do you want me to grieve for it? In future I will not commit any sinful acts. I wont do even righteous acts too. I will seek the protection of Lord Vishnu. While I was fighting with
Indra, I had a glimpse of Vishnu. Since then, I wanted to hear more about him. When Sukracharya was about to tell the greatness of Vishnu , Sanatkumara came there. Vrutasura worshipped the Maharishi. Sukracharya said, Sanatkumara! Vrutasura wants to hear the greatness of Vishnu. You please tell him. Sanatkumara: Vrutasura! All movables and immovables in the creation are created by Vishnu. He alone rules and withdraws all the worlds into himself. With devotion only, one can reach Vishnu. Earth is the feet of Vishnu. Sky is his head.His hands are the directions. He is embodiment of all devatas. It is the play for him to create beings ruling and withdrawing. Because of the karmas, creatures will take birth in different ways . In course of time, the soul will transform into three forms. They are superior, middle and low. Depending on his eligibility, he will be moving to divinity and humanity. In this way, he will be going up and down. One who does good to others, will get the superior Varna? Those who does harm to others will get inferior varnas. As the gold is purified by chemicals, the Jeeva also will be purified with virtuous actions. As such he will be free from distress and becomes pure. In the above colours white is the superior. With that colour, the soul will be inclined to worship Vishnu. Because of his meditation, he will reach a superior state like a seedless fruit. On hearing Sanatkumaras words Vrutasura became pure and reached the abode of Vishnu. Indra-Vrutasuras fight: Dharmaraja: You tell me how Indra and Vrutasura fought? Bheeshma: In the Indra went with devatas and Vrutasura came with rakshasas. Both sides fought ferociously. Indra was frightened by looking at the form of Vrutasura,who Vrutasura had cast Maya Sakthi on Indra and made him faint. Vasista and otherswith mantras, made him to recover. Rudra, Vishnu and Brahma came to watch the fight. Rudra said, Indra! This rakshasa has meditated on Brahma for sixty thousand years and got several boons from him. He can be killed only with my splendour. Now I am releasing my splendour in you. You go and attack him. With the support given by Rudra, Vishnu entered into the vajrayudha of Indra. So with the power of
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Rudra and Vishnu, Vrutasura was killed. At that time Vrutasura saw Vishnu in vajrayudha. By the touch of Vishnu, all the impurities in Vrutasura vanished. As soon as he became pure, he had the sight of Vishnu. The moment he had seen Vishnu, his mind rested in peace. After the death of Vrutasura, Indra saluted Rudra and said, With your grace only, I was able to kill him. At that time Indra was attacked by brahmahatya dosham. Indra was afraid of the sin and entered the lotus pond. While the sin was fastened him mastsaram surrounded him. To get rid of brahmahatya sin he went to Brahma,who relieved him from that sin by giving away one fourth of the sin to Agni, trees, women and earth equally. Thus Indra was relieved from the sin of brahmahatya. After getting purified from this sin, Indra performed Aswameda yaga. Dharmaraja: How can I escape from the kala pasham? Bheeshma: Long ago king Sakara asked the same question to Arishtanami, a maharishi. I will tell you what that maharishi said. Arishtanami: Due to the attachment on worldly pleasures, a man is fastened in family affairs and loses salvation. In the old age the man kept away his wife and children and lived in a lonely place with absence of wordly pleasures (vyragyam). Such a person attained salvation. Everyday many beings were taking birth and death. Those who have the knowledge that the world is impermanent, will try for salvation. Who looks at the delicious foods and roots equally, who looks the soft bed and bare ground equally, will be eligible for salvation. Hence King Sakara! You dont entangle in family entanglement . Parasara maharishi teaches to Janaka: Dharmaraja: You tell me some more dharmas. Bheeshma: I will tell you Parasara geeta. You listen. Janaka: Maharishi! Teach me about virtuous dharmas. Parasara Maharishi: King! In this world or in other worlds, dharma is the root cause. As you sow a seed to reap the harvest, in the same manner you do dharma only to enjoy comforts. In other words, the good acts will give you pleasures. Sinful acts will give you distress. If one does good acts by word, mind and action, he will be inclined towards the good acts. Good acts mean
control of senses and following non-violence and such other qualities lead to good acts. The money and righteous manner donated to even in a small way, will give bigger fruits. By reciting Vedas one should clear the debt of rishis. By performing yagnas one can clear the debt of devatas. By worshiping guest and pitrudevatas the debt of ancestral parents is cleared. A king should clear all these debts while ruling the country in a righteous manner. Praising of Vishnu, performing tapasya and righteous acts will give knowledge. However cruel a person may be, he will become pure in the company of good people. Even though you get a better return you should not involve in sinful acts. Even though the return may be small, you do only righteous acts. A brahmin who doesnt perform yagnas, a king who will not protect his people, a vysya who cannot improve his wealth, a Sudra who refuses to serve- these people will be considered as sinful. Any number of good acts they may do, they will not get the deliverance. Long ago rakshasas rejected righteous acts and entered in the humans with fury. As a result humans became slaves to bad qualities such as lovehate, etc. at that time Vedas and sastras were disturbed. Devatas were distressed, Siva came to know all these developments and used his spear and killed the rakshasatatvam from humans. At that time all maharishis requested Siva to become their protector. After that Vedas were protected. Humans resumed performing yagnas. With that rishis and devatas felt happy. Hence oh Janaka! You also rule your country in the same manner. Janaka: Maharishi! Tell me the ordinary dharmas and special dharmas of various varnas. Parasara Maharishi: King! For Brahmins- receiving donations, performing yagnas, reciting and teaching Vedas. For kshatriyas- protecting people; For vysyas- agriculture, cattle fielding and trade. For Sudras- servicing the above three caste; These are the ordinary dharmas applicable for all varnas.Special dharmas are- Satyam, sowcham, ahimsa, pitru karma, atidhi pooja, not having jealousy, living with their own wife.] Dharmaraja: It is said that damamu, satyamu, patience are said to be superior qualities. Can you tell me the nature of those qualities. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! While Brahma had transformed into a golden swan and was going round, Sadhyas saw him and said: Sadhyas: Deva! We are sadhyas. We belong to devata community. You know many spiritual realities. You tell us the superior quality in the world. Where do you fix your mind? How a man will get out of bondage?
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Swan: Damamu, patience and satayam are the superior qualities. They will destroy the vasanas formed out of avidya which are preserved in heart. No righteous person will severe vital organs of others and. will not involve in immoral activities and unrighteous acts. He will not speak harsh words. The person of soft nature will not yield to duals and will not retort others. Such a person will grab the effects of good deeds secured by those people who insulted him. Honesty (Satyam) is the essence of Vedas. The other form of satyam is subduing. Salvation is the goal for subduing. In this manner those who practice these, will certainly have salvation. In this manner if their organs are controlled such a persons soul will shine like a moon coming out of the clouds. Those who can control the organs of senses and the organs of actions will be conversant with all dharmas. The person who blames others will acquire those persons sins also. Hence it is good to stop blaming others. Lord Yama will cruelly punish a person who is filled with fury. Sadhyas: Who is the strongest person? Who keeps away from a quarrel? Who enjoys bliss? Swan: Only a person who acquires the bliss will enjoy in himself. Many people will like him. In that manner he will become a strong man. Such a sage will not quarrel with anyone. Bheeshma explains the yoga: Dharmaraja: Please tell me the nature of skhansya and yoga. Bheeshma: Yogis will accept only direct evidence. Skhansyas will accept the authority as prescribed in sastras. However for both of them, the goal is same. Love, infatuation, lust , fury and wrong friendship- these bad qualities will oppress the knowledge of soul. By the power of yoga if they can come out of those bad qualities, they will attain the soul. A Yogi will attack the sins with the strength of his yoga and attain bliss. It is like a big fish chasing the water and swimming as it pleases. A weak yogi will entangle in the net of sins and become bonded in family life. If we put small quantity of fire on big bundle of wood, the fire will extinguish. In the same manner if the conditions are not favorable, yogi cannot shine. If the condition of yogi is strong enough, he can come out from the bondage and attain bliss
A brave yogi keeps his mind still on soul and reaches the salvation in a steady manner. It is like a woman having a water pot on her head and walking steadily and climbing the building of salvation. In a body the head, the heart, the naval and the ears are the most prominent organs in leading the soul towards salvation . A yogi will see it in all those organs of his body. Dharmaraja: What type of food a yogi is to eat? What type of food he should not eat? How will he improve his energy? Bheeshma: A yogi will avoid oils which develop fats. He also avoids delicious fruits. He should take water to kill his hunger. Even water also he should not take stomach full. He must control anger, sleep, hearing, taste and tastelessness. He should also control his breath. In this process of yoga practice, he should develop concentration on himself and constantly see soul and live with him. The yogi should concentrate his mind like an archer on his goal. Such a yogi can achieve anything. The yogi who attained bliss will not associate with anybody other than soul. He will neither enjoy nor distress with the pleasure. For Yogi- rivers, oceans and mountains will become the playgrounds. He dwells anywhere in the world such as temples, caves, etc. Bheeshma tells the nature of Sages (Sankhsya): Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! Now you tell me about Sages. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! You should understand all these things with strong determination. In Vedas it is said in a specific manner for all deva, human, pitara, garuda, sidha, gandharva, kinnera, animals, birds and creatures. You should learn all those natures. You should not neglect thinking there is nothing to learn about them. Because when we face them, we should know that they also form a reason in committing a sin. Then only you will keep away from committing such a sin. Oh king! A man should take the following in a lighter vein because all these are pertaining to the way of worldly life. By ignoring them the mind will get prepared to accept the path of cessation. Dharmaraja! Salvation is independent and not involving in any other criminal matters such as in sense organs, organs of action, agni which fires in the stomach, Vayu in sky, water in agni, earth in the waters, hands in Indra, legs in Vishnu, greediness in the wealth, intellect in tamo guna, tamo guna in raja guna, raja guna in satva guna are entangled. The satva guna is associated with soul. Jeeva is Narayana, jeeva is entangled in Paramatma. That Paramatma
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is in the land of salvation. However that salvation is not attached with any of the above things. Trigunas are the basis of the nature which contains sixteen vikaras. For soul that nature is dwelling place. Soul dwells in the form of brightness. That brightness shines independently. Though Vayu is one, it has been acting in five forms viz pranam, apanam, dhyanam, udhanam, samanam. If one can control these Vayus, the jeeva could able to see the inner soul. Jeeva will do good acts and gain pleasures and pains and attains divinity. The Jeeva which does not perform good or bad acts will be born as an ordinary man. If the sins on the higher side, he will be born as an animal or the bird or an insect. There are so many differences in the actions of a man. The person who understood the differences in actions, will keep away from the cycle of birth and death and work for salvation. Even the ocean and the moon are also undergoing the state of contraction and expansion. Those who dont discriminate, cant understand this contraction and expansions are natural phenomenons. For that reason, he is grieving at the time of death of his people. Once he realizes the secret of it his mind will become peaceful. One in thousand alone can understand this nature of the body and try for salvation. Because of ego, many people will not try for salvation. Dharmaraja: What are the defects in a body? Bheeshma: Desire, anger, fear, sleep, breath- these are the common defects of a body. I will tell you how to get out of these defects. Anger is to be won over with forbearance. Desire is to be controlled on senses. To overcome the fear one should keep away one confusion. By improving satva guna, one can keep the sleep away. One can control the breath by consuming limited diet. Dharmaraja: Will Paramatma remember his previous existence or not? Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! Long ago Kapila Maharishi said about sages (Sankhsya). All the maharishis follow the same teachings of maharishi. I will tell them. You listen. None of the sense organs knows Jeeva. All senses lie in the mind. Since Jeeva has contact with mind, he will know organs through the mind. Whether,
the Jeeva attains salvation or not, he could able to know them. Jeeva when he attains salvation, will give up all organs. At that time they all remain like a piece of log. The state of organs is the play of Paramatma. The same will apply to soul also. Though the Jeeva could observe mild movements of organs they will not affect him. In this manner Jeeva will relinquish five elements, trigunas, mind, intellect and reach the aboard of Narayana. From then he will not be entangled in the cycle of birth and death. Dharmaraja ! What I said above is the path of Sages who were worshipped even by Brahma. There is no better way than this for a Jeeva to attain salvation.
CHAPTER-6
Bheeshma tells about perishable and imperishable : Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! You tell me about perishable (skhara) and imperishable (akskhara.) Bheeshma: Long ago Vasista and Janaka had discussion on the subject. I will tell you the substance of their discussion. Discussion between Vasista and Janaka: Janaka: Vasista! You tell me about the real nature of imperishable. Vasista: Janaka! Imperishable has no end, name or growth. From this reality, twenty four reality were born. They are all perishables. From imperishables, a supreme reality assumed a shape which is also named as prakrutti or pradhanam. From this reality, pride was assumed. From pride- five elements and their subtle elements such as touch (sparsa), form(roopa), taste ( rasa), fragrance (gandhas) were established. These five sense organs and five organs of action have assumed shape. In addition these ten minds also established. All these twenty four elements are perishable . But imperishables will not be destroyed. However all the realities of perishables are determined out of imperishables only. These twenty four realities are visible for spiritual wisdom. The twenty fifth reality is not visible and it has no death. If imperishable is not awakened with the spiritual knowledge, it will be influenced by trigunas and will be entangled in the cycle of birth and death. This is a play for the principles of imperishables . Because of trigunas the
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imperishables also will get involvement in the cycle of birth and death, not knowing its own self, it keeps living in those beings. If this perishable philosophy is associated with satva guna the mind inclines to righteous activities and attains divinity. The beings attracted by rajo guna will be entangled in sin and virtues equally and take a human birth. If the being is entangled in tamo guna, it does only sinful acts and takes the birth of an animal, bird or creature. Because the perishable principles is associated with pride, it is taking place with so many changes. Once it leaves pride all those changes also will leave and shine as before. This principle has no death, no birth, and no old age. However by virtue of its attachment for the body it assumes a feeling that it has birth and death. In terms of gunas also it assumes that it is also enjoying trigunas. As a strong wind removes all the clouds and makes the moon bright, perishable will get back its old splendour. Janaka: Maharishi! When a man and woman are able to give birth to another being, but either of them do not have that skill. This is evident in the world. Skin, flesh and blood are taken from the woman. Majja, bones, and sensitive organs are collected from the man to form a baby. The process of birth is same in the case of animals, birds and other creatures. The attraction between the prakrutti and purusha are attributed to woman and man. For that reason all the living beings are taking birth. All these things I am able to reconcile but I am not able to understand the secrets of attaining salvation. You explain me. Vasista explains skhara, akskhara tatwas to Janaka: Vasista: Science of philosophy and yoga sastras are almost same. Vedas are the mother for both. In Prakruti there are genders like feminine, masculine and neutral. But for soul there are no genders. A seed is taking birth from another seed; a body is taking birth from another body. Organs are taking from other organs. Mind is taking birth from the mind, whereas for a soul there is no seed, no body, no indriyas and no mind. Soul is formless. As such it has no bondage, attachments or detachments. For a spring season there is no form but because of the fruits and flowers that comes out in that season, it is known by this name. In a similar
manner, Prakruti also doesnt have any gender. From this, one can understand all the gunas belong to Prakruti and not to Paramatma. This is the difference between perishables and imperishables . Following duals are attributed for perishables and imperishables viz single-plural; visible-invisible; real-unreal; colour-colourless; ignorance cannot know the reality of akskhara . Knowledgeable people like Sages and Yogis alone know the reality of imperishables Janaka: It is said that soul has singleness and abundance; Vidya and Avidya. Tell me clearly. Vasista: Yogam is nothing but meditation. In meditation, there are two ways viz restraining the breath and concentration of mind. The former is meditation with attributes and the other is meditation without attributes. How a yogi practices: He should not restrain breath while taking food and while engaged in his nature calls. A yogi is to take limited diet, keeping all his organs under control. He should keep away from sexual intercourse. He should exercise bravery in keeping senses and fix the mind on soul. He should keep away all resolutions and stand like a stone. It should be still like a light in an air tight place. Yogi will see continuously. Sages call primary substance as non-visible . Since it has a nature of expansion the substance develops into intellect , pride and five elements. This expansion will happen in and association of supreme being. The sphere of action of the soul (Skhetram) is non-visible . Primary substance is the main thing. But reality remains the same. Since life is in the primary substance he is known as soul . It is evident that Prakruti and purusha are two entities. When Prakruti is knowledge whereas, the knowledge of purusha is to be known. Prakrutti has gunas. Purusha is nirguna. In this manner one analyses all the twenty four elements. He will reach the twenty fifth element which is the salvation . Now I will tell you the difference between knowledge and foolishness. The difference between knowledge and foolishness: The twenty fifth element is eternal being (akskhara) and knowledge . Foolishness is known as Prakruti or non-visible . For the organs of action sense organs are vidya. For sense organs- mind, for the mind- five elements , for them- pride, for pride- intellect , for intellectiPrakruti, for Prakruti-twenty fifth reality will become vidya.
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Prakruti is known as perishable . Jeeva is known an imperishable . Some say both are perishable . Some others say both are imperishable , because the following are common for both for Jeeva and Prakruti. Neither they have beginning or end, nor do both have Easwara tatvam. When Jeeva possesses the qualities of Prakruti such as maha dehahankaram, the Purusha assumes himself as Prakruti. Hence it can be said as perishable . When Prakruti associates with Purusha, he will not assume any guna or image. So he can be assumed as nirguna or perishable . When Jeeva attains wisdom, it will reside if one gets rid of arrogance and attachment, this Prakruti cannot do anything affecting me. These two main reasons are only for many births and deaths. I am Purusha. I am pure by nature. With this determination I can reach the abode of Brahman. Purusha will leave the unreal Prakruti and become perishable (the twenty fifth element). Only Sages know the above twenty fifth element. The twenty sixth element is purusha tatwam. Both visible and invisibleare called jeeva tatwam and supreme spirit which is also known as Brahman. Now I will tell you about the reality of akskhara tatwam. Jeeva after realizing his real nature, leaves Prakruti and absorbs in Para tatwam. At that time he loses the saguna tatwam. The Jeeva who realizes Para tatwam and absorbs in it, is known as niramayam, anantham and paramapadham. Jeeva will assume himself as Prakruti and he will get trapped into it. Hence he needs deliverance from the clutches of Prakruti. The salvation is only for the twenty fifth element. Pride and attachment are the nature of Prakruti. He leaves those gunas and merges into twenty sixth element. Bheeshma tells the conversation between Janaka-Sulabha: Dharmaraja: Without leaving gruhasta ashrama can we attain salvation? Bheeshma: Long ago there lived a woman by name Sulabha. She wanted to test the king Janaka about his yoga dharmas and went to him. She transformed into a beautiful woman and but dressed herself as a womwn ascetici. King received her, and offered food. After taking food, she went close to the king and tried to tempt him. She touched the body of the king and kept her face very close the kings face. Looking at her behaviour, the king smiled and said:
Janaka: Sanyasini! Who are you? Where you are coming from? For what purpose you came? Before you answer my questions, listen what I say. Panchamuka Maharishi is my guru. He has taught me attaining salvatiuon in the science of philosophy, Yoga and duties of a king. I practiced all the three ways from him. As a result, I live with a detached spirit, coupled with knowledge of soul. As a result, I am above love-hate and similar duals. In spite of living as a gruhasta, I was keeping myself unattached. If anybody decorates my right hand and but cuts my left hand with a sword, I take both the actions in the same spirit. I dont have any love or hate on them. In my view, there is no difference between a stone and gold. If a person takes asceticism due to family dissension, he cant keep away his attachments towards his family. Such a person saying that, I dont want gruhasta ashrama and an association. By simply changing his dress code and keeping a shaven head, will not bless him with salvation. True knowledge alone will realize soul but not the exterior dress code. Sulabha!May I assume that you have not come to test me, but you have real love for me. Even then you have assumed beautiful form only with the help of your yoga. You are not a really beautiful woman. By all means you have proved yourself a wicked and a bad character. Those who seek salvation will never behave in this manner. Sulabha: King! I understood that you are a logical speaker, because you spoke to me in a convincing manner. Since you wanted to know about me, I will tell you. Listen. King! Though dust particles and particles of water may look one but they all have a separate entity. In the same manner five elements also accidentally come together but they will not become one because each one has its own entity. In the body- the five elements, organs , mind, wisdomi and primary substance (prakrutti) are living together. However they dont know the existence of the other. Prakrutti is like our mind, wanders in all lokas. Knowing all these things,still you are asking me from where you have come. Do you think it a sensible question? If you are able to see you power in yourself, you should see others also in you. If a person could see the soul in all beings, how can he say. It is mine and that is others? Should he not treat all equally? Then how can you ask me, Whom do you belong?
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A real sagei can never differentiates between a friend and an enemy. This is the way to attain salvation. Since you are ruling your country in different measures you are satisfying yourself having attained salvation. But you have not attained salvation. I doubt if you are suffering from a mental ailment. Hence you seek some medical assistance. King! You may question me, How I have not attained salvation ? Always the mind of a king pesters in dharma, ardha, kaamas and seven constituents.. Since you are preoccupied you are constantly reminded for even taking your bath and other personal matters. You look after your treasury on one side and worship the guests, etc on the other side. Your mind is always occupied. If anyone tries to steal your wealth,you will not hesitate even to kill them. Can a king ever attain salvation? You said that your guru has taught you a simple way of attaining salvation. Inspite of that, you are hating me since I came near you. Is this the way your guru taught to attain salvation? Do you have a detached will power for all these things? Should you not take an indifferent attitude? Yogis live in a remote forest. Even the mind of a yogi will be vacant. I thought your mind will be vacant and I tried to enter in it. You proved that you are not a man who got salvation. I did not touch your body. Why are you agitated so much? Why are you blaming me? She said looking at his ministers: Oh ministers! You are all listening. Is it a fitting way for a king? Can he keep me in distress? He discussed in an open Sabha about men and women. Will it enhance his magnanimity? King! You have left gruhasta ashrama and you did not succeed in getting the salvation. You are neither here nor there. You are deceiving yourself with false knowledge. Is sky not meeting another sky? Are they not both void? Can you say that they both are joined together? A man who got salvation meeting another man who got same salvation is no harm. Even though we both are not such persons, our joining will not do any harm. You listen. I was born as a daughter of a king. Thus we both belong to royal family. My name is Sulabha. My ancestors performed maha yagas in Satasrungam, Dronam and Sukradwaram. Devendra and other devatas came to take all the offerings . Since I did not get offer from equally great king I remained unmarried. I did not hide anything from you. I came only to test whether king Janaka has attained
salvation or not. Considering all the above factors I thought all my efforts are waste. King! What all you spoke to me is truth. What Panchamuka Maharishi taught you is the real knowledge. You attained salvation. I spoke so much only to test you, whereas your mind is steady or confused. King! I wanted to test you. But in the course of my talk what all I spoke is untruth. You please ignore my hastiness. My name is Sulabha that is a fact. It is also a fact I am strolling just because I did not want entangle in family life. I stay here for this night and go away tomorrow morning. She left next morning, after taking permission from Janaka. Bheeshma tells the birth story of Suka: Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! I know Suka, the son of Vyasa Maharishi. I dont know anything beyond that. Bheeshma: Long ago Vyasa meditated on Siva on the Himalayas. Siva appeared and asked him, What do you want? Vyasa said, I want a son. Siva blessed him with a son . One day Vyasa was churning the fire wood for the evening rites. He saw Grutachi, an apsarasa. While looking at her, Vyasa became emotional and sperm came out and fell on the fire wood . However Vyasa continued churning it. In the meanwhile Agni generated from the fire wood . From that Agni a boy came out. That boy was Suka. He looked like Vyasa in all respects. When Vyasa was born, all the Vedas came to him. Now also when Suka was born, all Vedas reached Suka. At that time, river Ganga came in the form of a woman, breast fed the boy and disappeared. Parvathi and Parameswara came and performed all the ceremonies at the trime of birth of the boy. All other devatas gave valuable gifts to the boy. He did not show any interest to play after the thread marriage. He always sat with his father and learnt rituals and yoga. He kept away pride and attachment . As a result he developed a detached spirit at a very early age. One day he asked Vyasa to teach him the path of salvation. Vyasa said, My son! You go to king Janaka. He will teach you. As instructed by Vyasa, he went to Janaka by walk and reached the palace of Janaka and waited at the door. He sent word to the king. The king came with his priest; ministers took him inside his palace and worshipped him. Next morning he arranged a Sabha and
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asked Suka, What for you have come? Suka said, My father has sent me to learn from you, the path of salvation . Janaka teaches the path of moksha: Janaka: Suka ! A brahmin has to perform thread marriage, and learnveddas. After that he should enter gruhasta ashrama. He has to give birth to children. By that he should relieve the debt of deva, muni and ancestors . After that he should accept Vanaprasta ashrama. From there, he should accept sanyasa ashrama to attain moksha. One has to live a principled life without desires and attain supreme being. After that he will become eligible for salvation . Suka: King! A person who is born with knowledge of Brahmam, is it necessary for him to pass through the three ashramas. Dont you think it is a waste of time? Should he not be eligible directly to accept sanyasa ashrama? Janaka: Suka! The person who attains the true knowledge from his guru, can skip the two ashramas and directly can go for a sanyasa ashrama. For the welfare of world and to keep the society in good order, elders have prescribed those four ashramas. Those who pass through the four ashramas will be eligible for salvation. However one in a million, with his superior purifying ceremonies of his previous birth can attain sanyasa ashrama directly and attain salvation . However the person who seeks salvation directly should not yield to tamo guna and raja gunas. He should always fix his mind on satva guna. Such a person could able to see himself inside and learn the knowledge of soul. Such a person could see all lokas within himself. In each person, supreme being resides in a form of light. The ascetic who has concentrated and fixed his mind will able to see the lighti in himself. He will live in a fearless state from others and others will not have any fear from him. Suka! By the grace of your father, you have acquired the knowledge of soul. Your present state of mind is higher than what I said. In fact you are as great a sage, as your father. Since you are very young, you have entertained a few doubts and fears. You are eligible for salvation . You leave all your doubts. You can go to your father. Suka goes to Vyasa maharishi on Himalayas: Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! Suka took leave from king Janaka and went to see his father, who was penancing on Himalayas. There the Maharishi was
reciting Veda with his disciple Sumanta, Vysampayana, Gemini and Pyla. Suka prostrated at the feet of Vyasa Maharishi and said that he has learnt the wisdom of the soul from king Janaka. His four disciples said to Vyasa, Gurudeva! We learnt Vedas from you. We all request you that you should not teach Vedas to anyone better than us. Vyasa said, My children! Everyone wants to get out from worldly difficulties. Everyone wants to enjoy comforts. Should we deny them? Can you ask such a selfish desire? Should you not think that everyone should learn Vedas and attain salvation? The disciples said, We will go to the main land and teach Vedas and encourage them to perform sacrificial rites . You permit us to spread Vedas and perform these rites. Vyasa said with a smile,My children! I could understand your mind. You wanted to spread Vedas and to encourage ritual rotes. You wanted the same from my mouth. That is why you put me the above question. However I am happy, you go to the earth and spread the knowledge of Vedas. As per the orders of Maharishi, the four disciples went on to spread Vedas. After sometime, Narada came and asked Vyasa,Maharishi! Why is your ashrama so silent without Vedadhjyanam? Maharishi said, All my disciples went to spread the knowledge of Vedas. So there is nobody to learn Vedas . Narada said, Why cant you continue teaching Vedas in association with Suka? Vyasa was happy and started reciting Vedas. While they were doing teaching Vedas, winds hurled with great velocity. The nature took a furious turn. At that time, Suka asked, Why the wind is blowing with such a great velocity? Vyasa understood from his divine sight and said: Vyasa: Vishnu and Surya were travelling in the sky up and down. Because of their uneven travel, these winds were formed. A Vayu by name Samana was born as devata. Udana was born to Samana, Vyana was born to Udana, Apana was born to Vyana, and Prana was born to Apana. All lokas will be filled with these Vayus. Pravaha, Aavalu, Udvahu, Sampahu, Vivahu, Pavahu, Parahu- these seven Vayu devatas are the sons of Aditi. These Vayus will be occupied in all the worlds. They are responsible for the entire atmosphere, raining and not raining etc. Vayu will be travelling in their vimanas. On some days, Vishnu may take a deep breath. His deep breath will disturb all the lokas and they are so powerful of throwing away Himalayas
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also. In those times, Learning or teaching of Vedas should not be undertaken. That is why I stopped learning Vedas. Vyasa went nearby river to take a bath. At that time Narada came while Suka was reciting Veda. Narada was pleased and said, You ask for a boon. Suka said, You tell me, what will help the humans. Narada said, Long ago Sanatkumara has taught reality to one of the maharishis. Narada teaches reality (tatwam) of Sanatkumara: Narada: Suka ! Satyam is penance, wisdom is the eye, charity is happiness, and yogam is sadness. If a man doesnt try for a salvation, and entangle in family affairs, he cant attain it. Lust and fury are the enemies of salvation . If a man can drive them out, he will be eligible for salvation. A man who possesses these qualities like nonviolence, control on senses, detachment and steady mind will lead to salvation. Oh Suka! If you cultivate non-violance , you can get away from violance. If you leave desires, you can control adharma. With your intellect, you can distinguish the truth and untruth. By the knowledge of soul, the splendour of the intellect will shine. A sage will keep away from the grief and fear with discrimination. All the five elements, and ten organs will be hidden under the skin. Will anyone grieve for such a body? Suka: Narada! By your kindness all my doubts are cleared. Mind has become pure. I will meditate on sun god and get salvation . Suka prostrated at the feet of Vyasa Maharishi to take leave of him. Vyasa was happy and said, My son! I am happy for your wisdom and enlightenment. Why dont you stay with me for this night and go tomorrow morning? Suka had neither doubts nor fear. He stood up and left Vyasas ashrama, reached Kailasa. There he chose a suitable place, sat towards east and invoked soul into all his organs. In the meanwhile sun god appeared before him. He prostrated at the feet of sun, and he acquired way to practice yoga from him. At that time, Narada came. Suka said to Narada, Maharishi! By your grace I am able to secure the real path. I will be free from attachment and follow the path of yoga. While talking to Narada, he dashed into the sky with the help of yoga. Looking at Suka all divine communities said among themselves, How this righteous person attained such a state of yoga in such a young age.
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Vyasa went in search of Suka: Looking at Vyasa, Suka did not want to go with his father. While Suka was travelling with his velocity the peaks of Himalayas obstructed him and but they were broken into pieces. While passing through the river Ganges, he flew very low. At that time divine ladies were taking bath in Ganges with bare bodies. However they did not feel shy while looking at Suka. After a while chasing Suka, Vyasa was also flying over the Ganges. The ladies said, Maharishi! Just now your son has dashed against the peaks of Himalayas and broke them and absorbed into the five elements. Vyasa ran behind him. At that time Lord Siva appeared and said Maharishi! You wanted me to give a son who is equal to the five elements and I gave. With my blessings and with your achievements in penance, he has attained a superior state which even devatas cant attain. For which you should feel proud but should not grieve. Oh maharishi! As long as sun and moon are there, the glory of your son will remain. Dharmaraja! Narada has told this story to me. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! Which is the deity that people of four ashramas worship? Bheeshma: One day, Narada went to Badarika ashrama and met Narayana rishi and asked him, Maharishi! You take this form only to protect all the worlds. You tell me your real nature. Narayana rishi said, Narada! You fix your mind on me. I will also give an opportunity. Narada Maharishi went to Swetha Dweepam and started doing penance. There he saw people with white complexion with fragrance coming out from their bodies. Narada did penance for thousand in an island called, Swetha Dweepa. He had the manifestation of Vishnu and went back to Badarika ashram. He said, I not only had his manifestation but also had the fortune of speaking to them. He resembles you in all respects. He told me about his future births on earth as Krishna and Arjuna. (Conclusion: We find a lot of informations and directions to lead an ideal life. Dharmaraja raises a number of apt questions about all the aspects of life Bheeshma tells Dharmaraja all that a king must know to be a good king and all that matters that the ordinary persons ought to know. Thus Santhi Parvam is outstanding in the contents )
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Glossary
aakasam Aasanam Aathmanandham Aatma Aatma jnanam Aatma nigraham Aatmagna Aatmarati Aavalu adharma adhyanam agnatevasam Agni, agnihotra Ahambhavam; Ahamkaram ahimsa ahorathram Ajagara Akshaya akskhara akskhara tatwam amaasya amatya amsa Anaatma Ananda
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Sky Seat Bliss The soul Knowledge of the soul Restrain on soul Knowledge of the soul Self love Mustered seeds An unjust act Learning Living incognite Fire god Pride Non violence Day and night A huge serpent; The python Imperishable The eternal being The Eternal Being The day of new moon Minister Part Body Bliss
Anangu anantham Antharathma Antharyaga Anubhoktha anushtanam Anusmruti Apana; apanam apsaras arani Aranya ardha Ardharadha arishadvargas asanam asayem astras asuchi Aswameda yaga athidhis atidhi pooja, Avabrudhasnanas avidya avivekam Avyakta, avyaktam avyaktam. Badabhagni baktha paradhenudu balam bhayam
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One who has no body Infinite Soul A yaga performed by yogi in his heart Who enjoys Practice of a religious rite Thought of one thing to the exclusion of another thoughts Vayu Divine women A wood to make fire for Agnihotra Forest Wealth A warrior who fights from a car with another pride, anger, lust, jealousy, greediness, ignorance Seat The seat of feelings Arrow Impure The horse sacrifice Guest Prayer A supplementary sacrifice to atone for defects. Ignorance Foolishness Invisible Not visible Submarine fire Vishnu, the servant of bakthas Strength External
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bheda Bhoomata; bhoomi Bhootaswaroopa bodha Brahmachari Brahmachya Brahmadhyanam Brahmagnanam Brahmahatya brahmahatya sin Brahmajnana Brahmananadha Brahmanism Brahmapadam Brahmarpanam Brahmastra Brahmatatvam Brahmavidya budhi chaitanyam chidanandham chittamu dakshana dakshanayanam Dama; damam dana Danagunam danava Dandaneeti darbha
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Difference Earth Brahman Knowledge First of the four ashramas Sacred study Meditation on Brahma The knowledge of Brahman Killing a brahmin Sin from killing a brahmin Knowledge of Brahman Joy in Brahman Connected with a brahmin Foot of Brahman Surrender to Brahman A weapon The reality of Brahman The knowledge of Brahma Intellect Spirit Bliss Mind Gift given to a brahmin after a religious function The half-year during which the sun moves from north to south Subduing Donation Character of donation Titan giant Criminal procedure code Religious grass
darshan desam Dhanurveda dharmas dhoomam dhruti Dhyana dhyanam dhydam dikpalakas Divya prabodham dosham Dronam dukham durgam dwaparayuga Dwydheebhavam Easwara, ganas gandham garuda geeta giri durgam godana gruhasta ashrama Grutachi guhyaka gunas gurukulam Hamsa
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Visit or appearance Country One of the four Vedas Duties Smoke Supporting or firmness Meditation Meditation One of the six dharmas to be protected by a king A deity who is the agent on any of the eight quarters Divine teachings Guilt; criminality A measure of capacity Grief Fort One of the four yugas One of the six strategies god Group or multitude Smell A bird; Garutmantha A sacred song Fort on a mountain Donation of a cow One of the four ashramas A divine woman Concealed or hidden Three gunas Satva, Rajas, Tamo Stay in the house of a teacher Swan
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havisis himsa homa hrudayam indriyas Ithihasas jala durgam jalam Jalatharpanas Japa Japa nishta; Japa phalam Japakarma Jata jatakarma jeeva tatvam Jeeva; jeevaatma jnana jnana marga Jyothi kaalam kaama kaamam Kaamandha kaashtam kailasa kala Kala pasham, Kalapasham Kala swaroopam Kala vigjnanam Kalaka
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Offering to gods at a yagna Violence An oblation to the gods Heart Organs Epics Fort in the middle of water Water Offering water to dead or pitrudevatas Muttering prayers Firmness in prayers Matted hair Ceremony performance by dwijas at the time of birth The reality of Jeeva Soul Knowledge The path of knowledge Light Time Desire Fury Blind with passion A piece of log measuring of time equal to 1/ 450th of muhurta Abode of Lord Siva Dream The noose of the god of death The nature of time Knowledge of time A spot in the skin
Kalapurusha Kaliyuga karma karma phalam karmakandam karta Kratus krodha krodham Krutayuga kshara Kshatriya Kshatriya dharma leelas lobham madhaneam Maha Jala maha yagas Mahaprastanam Mahatatvam Mahattu mahee Majja mamakaram manassu manava Manmadha mantra marga matcharyas mastsaram mathi
Santhiparvamu
God of death One of the four yugas Action Fruits of action Course of action Doer Sacrifice Fury Desire One of the four yugas Perishable One of the four varnas The duty of a kshatriya Miracles Greediness Churning Waters of pralayam Big sacrifices The final departure; death Glory Glorious Earth/cow The marrow of bones Attachment Mind Human Cupid; God of love Magical formula Path Envy Envy; hatred Mind
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Maya Sakthi Mayasabha Medhavi Midhila mitra moham Moksha, muhurtham Muktha, mukthi Neetisastra nidra nigraham niramayam nirguna Nishadas nishta nissanga nivrutti marga Niyama nyayam pancha bhoothas Para Brahma Para tatwam parahu Parama Shanthi paramapadham pasham Patala pavahu pisacha pitara
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Mystic power Hall built by Mayu for Dharmaraja Intelligent man Capital city of Janaka Friend; The sun god Delusion Salvation Moment; 13th part of a day Salvation The science of ethics Sleep Keeping in check Free from illness The Supreme Being; devoid of all attributes Hunters Devotion Freedom from attachment The path of cessation Principal Justice Five principal elements Supreme Spirit The real state of supreme A vayu Supreme Being Abode of Brahman Rope; The nose as the weapon of Yama The last of the seven regions under earth A vayu An evil spirit; a devil Father
Paramapurusha; paramatma The Supreme Spirit
pitara, Pitru karma posham, prabodham pradanam Prajapathi Prajapatyam Prakruthi Prakruti pradanam Pralayam Prana Vayu Prana, pranam pranam, apanam, Pravaha, Pravaha, Aavalu, pravrtutti marga pravruthi Prayopavesam Prudhu Pundarikasha punyam Punyapurusha Puram purusha purusha tatwam purushardhas Purushudu Ragam Raja dharma Rajadandana Rajadharma
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Father Ceremony for parents Dependents Awakening; intellect Chief; principal Brahma Para Brahman Primary substance Natures gift Annihilation; Dissolution Oxygen A Vayu Life; vitality A Vayu Flow Vayus The way of worldly life The way of worldly life Abandoning from food and awaiting Wide, broad Vishnu Virtue; Religious excellence Virtues mean Town Para Brahman The reality of Para Brahman The principal object of human life and pursuit The supreme being Love; affection; tune Duty of a king Punishment of a king The duty of a king
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Rajamandalas Rajaneerthi Rajaneethi Rajasuya Rajo gunas rakshasatatvam rasam rashtram roopam rutus Sabda Brahma sadhacharams Sadhaka sadhanas sadhus sadhyas saguna tatwam Sama Samadhi Samana; samanam samanam. Samasrayam sampahu Samsara Samskaras Samyuka Sandhi Sandhi Sankalpam Sankhsya, sankyas Sankshas
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One of the twelve chapters of dandaneeti written by Brahma Statesmanship Statesmanship A sacrifice One of the three gunas Belonging to the characteristic of Rakshasas Subtle quality of liquids Any public calamity Form or figure Season; 2 months part of a year Brahman Superior customs One who accomplishes Accomplishing; means Gentle; pure Semi gods Brahman with form One of four Upayas Deep meditation One of the five yagas A Vayu Complete dependence on others A vayu Cycle of birth and death Making perfect; purity United; possessed of Placing; junction Holding together Will; mental resolve A science of philosophy One of the spiritual practice to attain Brahman
Sannati sannati santi bhoda sanyasa ashrama saptangas Saranagathi Sastrajnanam Sastras Satasrugam Sathyavrata satva satva guna Satyam Satyasvaroopa shanthi shardha sidha skhama skhara and akskhara. skhara tatwas Skhetram Skshetragna Soonyam Soota Sowcham Sparsa Sradha sruti Sukradwaram swadha Swaha Swami; Swamy
Santhiparvamu
Tranquility; peace Nearness Knowledge of peace 4th of the four ashramas Seven constituents Refuge; protection Knowledge of Sastras Science; law Hundred peaks Vow of speaking truth One of the three gunas One of the three gunas Truth A truthful Peace Devotion A yogi pardon Perishable and non perishable The reality of perishable Field; the sphere of action of the soul The soul Non existence; void A caste who drive chariots Purity Heavenly nymph; wives of gandharvas Devotion Road; teachings from Veda Way of semen zeal Offer given to any god; wife of fire god Master
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Swaroopam Swayamvara Swetha Dweepa Tamasu; tamo gunas Tapas; tapassu; tapasya tapasakthi tapasvi taponishta tapovana tarpanas tatvagnanis Tatwam teerdhas Tejassu Tejoroopam Tretayuga trigunas Trikala trikarna udana udhanam udvahu upanaina samskaras Upanaina; Upanayanam Upanishads upasta Upaya Upayas
The real form Maiden who chooses her husband at a public assembly of suitors Is an Island One of the three primary gunas Meditation Power of tapasya A sadhu who performs tapasya Devotion on tapasya Part of a forest where tapasya is performed Last rites for the departed One who knows the eternal truth Reality Holy water Brightness Supreme Spirit conceived of pure light One of the four yugas One of the three gunas One of the three kalams viz Bhoota, Bhavishyat, Vartmana Principal three karmas by manassu, speech and action A Vayu A Vayu A vayu Initiation of a youth of any of the first three castes into sacred study Thread marriage for a dwija A supplementary text for vedas The external organ of generation in either sex Plan Principal four Upayas sama, dana, bhada, dandopayas
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Uttarayanam Vairagyam vajrayudha Vanaprasta ashrama vargas Varna Varnasrama dharmas vasam vasanas Vasantavruttu Vayu Veda; Vedas Vedadhjyanam Vedangas Vedanta Vedaparayanam Vedhika Vedic mantras Vigjnanam vigraham Vigraham vikaras vimanas vinayam Visalaksha vivahu vivekam vratas vyana
Santhiparvamu
The sun moves from south to north Absence of worldly pleasures The weapon of Indra One of the four ashramas Internal Colour Duties of varnas viz Brahmana, kshatriya Vyasa, Sudra House Smell; knowledge derived from memory Two months period in a Telugu calendar Wind Divine knowledge; collection of hymns and prayers Learning of Vedas Sciences regarded on auxiliary to the Veda The last of the six dharmas of Hindu Philosophy Learning of Veda Platform Collection of hymns and prayers as said in Veda Wisdom An image Statue Change; alteration Self moving; chariot of semi-gods Modesty Siva A vayu Discrimination Religious vow; A course of conduct One of the five vital airs
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vyragyam yachaka Yagas; yagna Yakshas Yanam yoga dharmas; yoga marga yoga sastras Yoga siddhi yogabhyasam yogam yogavidya Yugas
Absence of worldly passions Beggar An act of worship; sacrifice Demigod Vehicle; marching A path of meditation A yoga philosophy established by Patanjali State of perfection of a yogi Practice of meditation (yoga) The system of philosophy established by Patanjali Science of yoga An age of the world
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ANUSASANIKA PARVAM
CHAPTER 1 Dharmaraja continued his quest for the eternal truths and Bheeshma gave enlightening replies Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! I asked my fathers half share of kingdom. Duryodhana refused to give. I would not have persisted with my plea. In a way I am also as responsible as Duryodhana for this human loss. I am unable to get out of this remorse. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! Man is not responsible for any action. But he thinks that he is the doer of all actions. That is why he lands in grief. I will tell you an old story of Gauthami, a serpent and a hunter. The story of Gauthami-Lubdhaka-Mrutchyu: Long ago there lived a woman by name Gauthami. One day her son died with a snake bite. While she was grieving for her son, a hunter came and said: Oh mother! I caught hold of the serpent which killed your son. You tell me should I kill with a stick or should I cut it by a knife. Gauthami said, Oh hunter! My son died due to a sinful act of his previous birth. This snake is not responsible for his death. Then hunter said, Unless I kill I cant get of my revenge. There is nothing wrong in killing cruel people. Long back, Indra killed Vrutasura. Lord Siva has spoiled the ritual rites of Daksha. So this serpent should not be left to go scot-free . Serpent said oh hunter! Dont be infuriated on me. I have not done anything wrong. Under the instructions of Mrutchyu devata, I killed this boy. I neither have any vengeance nor I had any enemity on this boy. The hunter said, Though you are instigated by Mrutchyu devata, you alone killed the boy. So you should not be left alive. The serpent said, Oh hunter! The potter is making the pots with a wheel, a stick and mud but not with his bare hands. The pots are made with the skill of the potter but not with a wheel and mud. Therefore I do not have the power to kill anyone. The hunter said, If an archer releases an arrow, dont we break the arrow? Are
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we blaming the archer? So we break the arrow before it hits us. In the same way, you deserve death punishment. In the mean while, Mrutchyu devata came and said, Oh hunter! I have asked this serpent to kill against the orders of Yama . So I am also not responsible for the death of this boy. In the mean while, Yama came and said, Myself, this serpent or Mrutchyu devata are not responsible for the death of this boy. He died only as per his karma phalam. Nobody can escape from karma phalam. In this manner pains and pleasures do come and go, in the same way this boy also died. The karma phalam alone is responsible for the death of this boy. So, none of us could atone for the death of this boy. So let us all go. Dharmaraja! On hearing Yamas words, the hunter left the serpent. For the human loss in this war neither you nor Duryodhana are responsible. Their karma phalams were responsible for the death of these warriors. Agni marries Sudarshana: Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! Can we escape from the fear of death, while leading a gruhasta ashrama? Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! If mind is fixed once on dharma, he can attain the salvation. I will tell you an old story. Agni marries Sudarshana: Long ago there lived a king called Duryodhana. The river Narmada was pleased with his virtuous qualities and came in a human form to marry him. They had a daughter by name Sudarshana. The girl was so beautiful and was helping his father in worshipping Agni. One day while she was serving the Agnihotra, Agni fell in love with her. He was fastened by the cupid. One day he told her that he fell in love with her and requested her to marry him. The girl said, You ask my father. Agni was happy, as the girl had accepted his love. One day while the king was donating to the scholars, Agni also went in the form of a brahmin and asked the king to give his daughter in marriage. The king was not happy to give his daughter to a poor brahmin. Agni was disappointed and withdrew his brightness from Agnihotra. The king and the priest tried to improve the brightness but they could not succeed. The brahmins recited mantras of corrective measures. Then Agni came out and said King! I fell in love with your daughter. You give her to me as my wife. The king agreed to give his daughter to Agni in marriage. Agni had a son
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Sudarshana and he named that boy also as Sudarshana. Sudarshana grew up and became a king. He had a son by name Oghavanta. He had a son by name Ogharadha, who had a daughter by name Oghavati. In course of time, Oghavati attained youth and she married her grand father Sudarshana. At the time of marriage, he has promised Oghavati, I will do penance and have longevity. By saying so, he took her to Kurukshetra and built a hermitage and started doing penance. Sudarshana said to Oghavati, I have made a vow of worshipping our guests. Whoever comes to our house, you also worship them, whether I am in hermitage or not. You shouldont refuse whatever they want. If a guest blesses us, we will get all auspicious benefits. One day while Sudarshana was away from ashrama, an old brahmin came there . Oghavati worshipped him. He asked her, Oghavati! I want a son from you. She was not inclined to oblige him and requested him, Oh superior brahmin! You ask for something else. I shall serve you. But the brahmin insisted a son from her. She was confused and could not decide. Once her husband has clearly instructed her to oblige the guest with whatever he wanted and but that guest was asking which cant be obliged. Finally she decided to obey the instructions of her husband and agreed to oblige the old brahmin. When she was engaged with the guest, Sudarshana came home and tapped the door. The guest shouted from inside, Oh Sudarshana! Your wife is worshipping me. Why are you disturbing me? Sudarshana said, Respected guest! I will not disturb you; sun and moon are witness for my word. In the mean while the brahmin came out took the form of a dharma devata and said, Sudarshana! You are good at your dharma. So I am blessing both of you with longevity and superior lokas, after lifetime. Oh Dharmaraja! This story will clear your doubt. Dharmaraja : Pitamaha ! Can the other three castes become a Brahmana? Bheeshma: It is difficult to have the varna of a brahmin. After a hard work of several births, one may obtain Brahmana varna. I will tell you the conversation between Indra and Matanga. That will clear your doubt. Conversation between Indra-Matanga: A brahmin had a son by name Matanga. While he was going to do a ritual, on his way he hit a baby donkey. The donkey went crying to her mother. The mother said, He is a chandala. Only they will do such acts . You keep
quiet. Matanga heard the words of donkey, went to her and said, You tell me, how I am a chandala? The mother donkey said, Matanga! Your mother, with the influence of cupid, gave birth to you for a barber. Matanga thought himself that he is not eligible to do the rituals and returned home and said to his father, I am going to do penance to become a brahmin and so saying he went to do a severe penance. Indra was pleased and appeared before him and said, What do you want? He said, I want to become a brahmin. Indra said, It is not so easy to become a brahmin. So you ask something else. But he was not satisfied and intensified his penance . After sometime, Indra appeared again and said, Matanga! However I try to convince you, you are adamant. I will give you a boon. I will make you a deity in the name of chandala. Woman will worship you in a Vrata. Be happy and live as a bird. Woman will worship you and you will become glorious. So Dharmaraja! It is difficult to become a brahmin. The episode of Viswamitra of becoming a brahmin: Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! If other communities couldnt become a Brahmin, how Viswamitra became a brahmin? Bheeshma: Long ago there was a king by name Gadhi. He had a daughter by name Satyavati. Ruchika wanted to marry her. Gadhi did not like to give his daughter and hence he put a condition that he might marry her, if he could give thousand horses of pure white colour, with their ears being in black colour. Ruchika worshiped Varuna, got thousand horses from him, gave them to Gadhi and married his daughter Satyavati. Ruchika performed a ritual to have a son. His wife Satyavati requested him to bless a son for her mother also. He agreed and completed the ritual . At the end, he gave two vessels of sacred water to his wife and said to his wife, You drink sacred water from this pot, thereby you will get a magnificent brahmin. The second pot of sacred water shall be given to your mother. She will have a valorous Kshatriya. After saying so, he went to the river to have a bath. By the time they drank the sacred water in a wrong order. Maharishi came back and understood with his divine sight what had happened and said to his wife, You are going to deliver a cruel Kshatriya instead of a pious brahmin, but your mother will deliver a pious brahmin. His wife became upset and told that she couldnt bear a cruel son. Maharishi was kind and said, I can bless a pious son for you, but he will beget a cruel son. That cant be changed. In that manner, Satyavati delivered a pious and virtuous maharishi by name Jamadagni. Jamadagni had a son with a splendour of Kshatriya and
named him as Parasurama. Her mother delivered a son and he became glorious with the name of Viswamitra. Oh Dharmaraja! With the above act of misunderstanding , Viswamitra had become a brahmin with a great effort. King Veetahavya becomes a brahmin: Dharmaraja: You tell me how king Veetahavya became a brahmin? Bheeshma: Long ago there was a king by name Hyhayu. He was also popular as Veetahavya. He had ten wives and hundred sons . All of them were valorous. One day they surrounded the king of Kasi Harasvu and killed him. After some time they killed his son Vasudeva also in the same manner. After Vasudeva, his son Jivodasa became king. They tried to kill him also in the same manner. Somehow he escaped from them reached the ashrama of Barathwaja and took shelter. Jivodasa fell at the feet of Barathwaja Maharishi and explained his story and asked for his protection. Barathwaja assured him protection and he was taken as one of his disciples. One day Jivodasa reported to the maharishi that his enemies were trying to cut their family line. Hence he wanted that his family line to survive. Maharishi assured him that he would create a son for him. He made a ritual rite and got a son by name Pravardana. That boy started learning Vedas, archery and many other martial arts right from his childhood. Pravardana attacked Veetahavya and killed all his sons. While Pravardana was about to kill him,Veetahavya escaped, went to Bhrugu Maharishis ashrama and took shelter. Maharishi kept Veetahavya in the middle of his disciples. In the meanwhile Pravardana also entered the ashrama to kill Veetahavya . Maharishi asked Pravardana, What brings you here? Pravardana said, Maharishi! I killed all the sons of Veetahavya. While I was about to kill him he escaped. I saw him entering your ashrama. So I came here to kill him. On hearing his words maharishi said, There is no kshatriya in my ashrama. All are brahmins. On hearing the maharishis words , Pravardana said with a laugh, Maharishi! If you say there is no Kshatriya and all are Brahmins, I will withdraw. I dont kill any brahmin. By your word he also became a brahmin. Let him continue to be a brahmin, whom I will never kill. With the power of penance of Bhrugu Maharishi, Veetahavya became a brahmin and he had a son by name Vrutsana. All the sons of Veetahavya became brahmins.
Bheeshma tells about the masculinity and divine: Dharmaraja: Which is superior?Divine power or man power? Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! Long ago Vasista asked the same question to Brahma. I will tell you now what Brahma told Vasista. Without the help of divine, man cant succeed. If a human effort is earth, the gods help is the seed. If both join together, the man can get a good result. The result will depend upon the mans effort. If the mans efforts are wicked, the results will be bad. If the mans efforts are good, the result also will be good. You choose the way you want. Dharmaraja: If we do good acts, how we get a good result? Bheeshma: The following acts will give good results. By learning Vedas and by learning the meaning of Vedas- we will get superior lokas and salvation; by observing silence- memory power; by penance- comforts; by non violencestrength; knowledge- fortunes. For a Brahmacharya longevity is the result. Man will get the results for his good acts and bad acts at a proper time . That is like man planting a mango tree and getting fruits when the season ripes. Dharmaraja: You tell me the relationship between the employer and the employee. Bheeshma: Long ago a hunter released a poisonous arrow against a deer. The deer escaped but the arrow hit a tree. With the poison, the tree became dead and all its leaves and fruits dropped off . A pair of parrots was living on the tree and continued to live even when the tree lost its greenery. One day Indra visited that forest and saw the parrots having a nest on a dead tree. He asked the parrots, The tree is dead and lost its greenery. Why are you living on such a tree? You could have built your nest on some other tree. Why do you continue here? The parrot said, When the tree was alive, it gave us shelter. Though it lost its greenery, we have no hard heart to forsake it. We will continue to be loyal Indra was pleased and said to the parrots, You ask for a boon. The parrots said, If you want to be kind with us, give back life to the tree and make it green as before. Indra blessed the tree with old splendour. Dharmaraja: How to protect a person who seeks protection? Bheeshma: A king is to protect a brahmin like his son, respect like a guru, worship like a agni. You listen what Vedas said about this.
Rig veda is telling that if a brahmin is insulted, the king will lose all his past glories and punyam. Yajur veda is saying that the donation given to a brahmin will bring the punyam equval to meditation and homa. Sama veda is telling that if a brahmin is fed for a month, all his sins will be destroyed. Adharvana veda is telling that if a brahmin is ignored he will get all types of difficulties. Bheeshma tells various dharmas: Long back Selya asked Vyasa Maharishi how to get superior wisdom. Maharishi said that worshipping Vishnu would enable us to get the superior wisdom. Some brahmins questioned in my presence, How a person who was born to Devaki and Vasudeva, and who was born in Yadava community became the deity of the rituals and Vishnu. Krishna said to me with a smile, Bheeshma! You tell a suitable reply to them on my behalf. On hearing his words I saluted with a folded hands and said to the Brahmins, Oh brahmins! It is the true knowledge is to know that Krishna alone is Veda purusha, Veda veyatta and who knows the meaning of Vedas. Bheeshma tells the story of Garutmantha: Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! I have heard of Garutmantha. Can you tell me his story? Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! Kasyapa Prajapati had two wives. They were Kadruva and Vinata. One day Kasyapa asked them, What do you want? Kadruva said, I want thousand sons. Vinata said, I want two sons. After sometime Kadruva delivered thousand eggs and Vinata delivered two eggs. After thousand five hundred years, serpents were born from thousand eggs. The two eggs of Vinata did not break and chicks did not come out. The impatient Vinata broke one egg. From that, a bird came out which did not have its limbs well formed. That chick was unhappy and said to his mother: Mother! Out of jealousy, you have broken the egg. Had you not broken and waited for some more time , I would have born normally and become the most valorous in the world. Since you gave me a premature delivery, I am cursing you that you become a slave to your co-wife. After sometime he took pity on his mother and said, You allow the second egg to grow completely. My younger brother will take birth after five
hundred years. He will become the most valorous person and he will bring deliverance from my curse. In course of time, the second egg matured. After the birth out of the second egg, the first son Aruna flew into the sky to serve the sun god. The second son is known as Garutmantha. He was to go around the world for food and to serve his mother and devatas. One day Vinata and Kadruva were wandering on the sea shore. There they saw the white horse of Indra. Vinata said, Oh sister! Look at that horse as white as milk. Kadruva said What is the good of its whiteness? The tail had a black spot which spoils the entire beauty of that horse. Vinata said, It is spotless and even the tail is also white. You look again. Kadruva maintained her stand. Kadruva said oh Vinata! Let us go nearer and see the horse. If its tail is black you become my slave. If its tail is white, I will become your slave. They made sun, moon, and five principal elements as witnesses. They agreed to go next morning and check the horse. Kadruva didnt want to lose the bet; hence she provoked her children to go and fasten to the tail of the horse, so that Vinata will lose the game and she would become her slave. One of her sons agreed and fastened to the tail before they went to see the horse. Vinata accepted her defeat and became a slave to her. Kadruva curses her children to get killed in sarpa yaga perform by Janamejaya: All the serpents came to know the defeat of their step mother and abused her. Kadruva became furious and cursed that all of them get killed in a sarpa yaga performed by king Janamejaya. Garutmantha wanted to get deliverance for his mother from Kadruva. He asked Kadruva to release his mother from slavery. At that time, Kadruva said My son! You give me nectar; then I will release her. Garutmantha promised to bring nectar and went to his father Kasyapa Maharishi and said, Oh father! I am going to heaven to bring nectar and get deliverance to my mother from the bondage to Kadruva. Maharishi blessed his son. Garutmantha said to his father, Father! I am very hungry. I want to eat well so that will enable me to fight with devatas. Kasyapa tells Garutmantha to eat a tortoise and the elephant: Kasyapa said, My son! Near the east sea, there is a big mountain. By the side of that mountain, there is a big lake. In that lake, a big tortoise is living. In
the nearby forests an elephant is also living. The elephant goes to the lake for drinking water and playing in the water. The tortoise and the elephant used to fight now and then. The name of the tortoise is Madhuvu and the elephants name is Kaitabha. In their previous birth, they were rakshasa brothers. Since they didnt have the knowledge of their previous birth, they used to fight each other. Now you eat both of them and thus you will get enough strength to reach heaven and fight with devatas. As advised by his father he went to the lake and waited for the elephant. When he saw them, Garutmantha caught and kept the tortoise between his two legs and the elephant by his nose and flew with them in the sky. While he was searching for a place to eat, he found a huge tree. He landed on one of its branches and when he was about to eat, the branch broke and was about to fall on the ground. There thousands of Valakhsya Maharishis were doing penance on that branch. He was worried that he might be disturbing their penance, if the branch falls on the ground. So he took that branch also by his nose and travelled to keep them at a safe place. In the meanwhile the ascetics woke up and understood that Garutmantha was carrying them. They didnt want to go in the way of Garutmantha and flew away to a place of their choice to continue their penance. While going, they blessed Garutmantha. There he ate the tortoise and the elephant and picked up strength. Garutmantha defeats Indra and brings nectar: Garutmantha landed on the heaven and reached the place where nectar was stored. There strong rakshasa warriors were protecting the area. He fought and won them all. In the mean while devatas came for a fight. He overcame them also. Devendra threw his vajrayudha on Garutmantha. As a matter of respect for Dadheechi Maharishi, he dropped one feather from his body. In this manner, Garutmantha secured nectar, gave it to Kadruva and released his mother from slavery. In the meanwhile Indra came and took back the pot of nectar to the heaven. From that day onwards, Indra and Garutmantha became friends. Garutmantha took a vow in the presence of devatas that he would kill all the serpents wherever he sees them. Then devarishis asked Devendra to give a boon to Garutmantha. Indra said, I have no power to give a boon to this virtuous person, because he is none other than Maha Vishnu. In future he will be born as Krishna in the family of Yadavas. He displays many miracles on earth. Dharmaraja: If anyone promises something but fails to fulfill, what type of sin he will get?
Bheeshma: Long back in a forest, a fox and a monkey were living in a forest . They were friends. Even in their previous birth, they were friends. One day the monkey said, Oh fox! What sin you have committed in your previous birth due to which you are eating the flesh of dead bodies now. The fox said, Oh Friend! I remember all that happened in my previous birth. In my previous birth, I promised a brahmin that I would give him a cow and but I died without fulfilling. So I am born as a fox. Dharmaraja: Can the mantras be taught to a low caste person if he is virtuous? Bheeshma : Long back on Himalayas some brahmins were doing penance. One day a Sudra came to them and requested them to initiate a mantra to do penance. The brahmin said My son! A mantra should not be initiated to a Sudra. So you stay with us and do service to us. You will attain salvation. The Sudra agreed and built an ashrama and started serving all the brahmin ascetics , devatas and pitru devatas. One day a brahmin went to his ashrama and saw the way in which the Sudra was meditating. He found some minor deviations and corrected them. After death the Sudra was born as a king. His guru also took birth as a brahmin. After sometime, the brahmin became his priest. Whenever the king saw his priest, he felt sorry for his guru. One day the priest asked the king, King! Whenever you saw, me you show compassion on me. May I know the reason? Did I commit any mistake? The king replied You never did any wrong. Since I remember my previous birth, I feel sorry for you. I will tell you what had happened in our previous birth. In that birth, I was a Sudra. While I was practicing meditation, you have corrected my defects. Had you not shown pity on me, you could have attained salvation. But for showing compassion on me, you were again born . As an expiation, I would request you do rituals and give heavy gifts. Thus the king purified himself by performing rituals with heavy gifts he attained salvation. Dharmaraja: Where does Lakshmi reside? Bheeshma: When Lakshmi was sitting on the laps of Sriman Narayana, Rukmani said to Lakshmi,oh Lakshmi! Where do you like to live? Lakshmi said, I live with men who have cleanliness, purity, rectitude, beauty, truth, respect for guru and handsome. I live with those students who have wisdom, penance, one of the Purushardhas, pious austerity and control on the senses.
You listen! Where I hate to live? Persons who are cruel, who do not believe Vedas , are ungrateful and wicked. I need, not wealth alone but satisfaction, bliss, consciousness and gratification) King Bhangasvara becomes a woman and gave birth to children: Dharmaraja: Among the men and women who will get maximum pleasure. Bheeshma: Long ago there lived a king by name Bhangasvara. He performed ritual rites to have sons and gave birth to hundred sons. Indra did not like his performing such a ritual . He wanted to teach a lesson to the king. One day when the king went to the forest for hunting, he became very thirsty. Hence he entered a nearby lake with his horse. The moment he had a dip in the lake he turned to be a woman. He did not know what to do. In the form of a woman he was hesitant to ride his horse. He also felt shy to face his wife and children. Finally he went to his kingdom and explained to his wife and ministers what had happened. He made his son as the king and went back to the forest to perform penance. In the same forest there was another ascetic who was performing penance and married the king Bhangasvara and gave birth to hundred sons. She (he) took all his sons to his kingdom and said to her son, My sons! These children were born to me while I married another ascetic. So they are also your brothers. All of you live together and enjoy the kingdom. They all agreed and lived amicably. Indra was watching the king Bhangasvara and thought in himself I wanted to punish him, whereas he made another hundred sons in the form of a woman and is living comfortably.Let me do something to punish him He wanted to punish him in some other way. He took the form of a brahmin and went to those sons who were born when the king was a man and said, King! You did not know who is the father of these sons? How can you accept them as your brothers? In this manner he wanted to create a rift among them. In the same style, he went to the hundred sons to whom he gave birth as a woman and said in the same way. With Indras cunning plan all those brothers started fighting with each other. That went to the level of fighting a battle. In that battle, all the sons were dead. Indra went to the king in the form of a brahmin and said that all his sons fought with each other and all of them were dead. She expressed all her grief to Indra. He came out in his true form and said, King! You did a ritual against my wishes. So I gave you all these troubles. Then the king (woman) said Indra! What harm I did to you? I only performed the ritual to
have sons. If that was my mistake why you have killed my sons whom I gave birth in a feminine form. Now you show kindness on me and pardon my mistake. On hearing the kings words, Indra was pleased and said: Indra offers a boon to king Bhangasvara: Indra: Bhangasvara! I am pleased with your repentance. You tell me whom you want me to give life either to your sons whom you had as a man or to those whom you got as a woman. Bhangasvara said, You give life to my sons whom I gave birth in the womans form. Indra said, What is the reason for such a request? The king said, Indra! Woman will have more love to their children that is why I asked like that. Indra said, King! I am pleased with you and make all your sons to become alive . I also bless you to get back your masculinity. For which the king said, Indra! I would like to remain as a woman. Leave me like this. Indra was surprised and said, Why you are choosing to remain as a woman? The king replied Indra! While enjoying sex, I enjoy more comfort than what a man gets; so I am preferring to remain as a woman. Indra blessed him and disappeared. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! I dont want to entangle myself in a cycle of birth and death. You teach me the devotion to Vishnu so that I can get salvation Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! It is very difficult to escape from the cycle of birth and death. Salvation alone is the deliverance from the cycle. But because of the desires, a man is not able to get salvation. Hence you keep away from lust and fury and fix your mind on sudha tatva. That itself is Vyshanava dharmam. Dharmaraja: Relating to the supreme spirit and the Presiding god, (Aadhyatmikam, Adhidaivam, Adhibhootam) you tell me about the supreme spirit who is doer(karta),husband ( bharta) and one who takes (harta) and who is responsible for the above three living beings. Bheeshma : Brahma has six sons. They are Sanaka, Sanandhana, Sanatkumara , Sanatsujata , Vasista and Sankara. After them were born Mareechi, Bruhuvu, Angirasa, Atri, Pulastiya, Pulaha, Satruvu and another seven sons. Sanatsujata was as tall as your thumb. However he looks like a burning flame. He is to wander all lokas. One day he met Narada on Mt. Mehru. At a time Sanatsujata taught Narada a few ancient dharma. You know them: Sanatsujata: Narada! The night time for Vishnu is ten thousand yugas. His day time also is as long as night . The moment night falls, he withdraws all the creation into himself and sleeps. Next morning he starts to create all lokas.
Vishnu created Brahma and made him as baktha. He assumed I which is pride. With that pride the mind, the intellect, ten organs and five principal elements were created. After that he created deva, dhanava and many beings. I will tell you about five elements, pride, mind,intellect, invisibles and such twenty four elements. Now I will tell you about the soul. Aajyatma means the Jeeva who enjoys. He is also called as Brashta. Adhibhootham means the materials and gunas the drashta enjoys. Adhidevata means tejassu the eye that enjoys is known as adhyatmam. Now I will tell you about organs . Walking is for the foot nisarpjanam is for Vayu, anandha is for upastu, kartavyam is for hand and the speech is for the vakthu. These are the adhibhoothas. They are the devatas for all the senses of action. The above organs are all like waves in an ocean. They are born and but suppressed in Vishnu. Avyaktam means prakrutti. If purusha enters into it, it develops spirit and creation will start. The karta of all lokas is Vishnu. Rudra is responsible for the creation. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! Sanatsujata has taught all these to Narada. The twenty fifth element is Vishnu, who is responsible for all the twenty four elements. He is also known as Purusha, Avyakta, Ananga, etc.
CHAPTER-2
The episode of Ashta vakra: Dharmaraja: How the bridegroom should be? Bheeshma: Ashtavakra wanted to marry the daughter of Vadanyu, a superior brahmin. He agreed to give his daughter in marriage to the young man. Vadanyu asked him to go to the north direction and he would the wedding marriage on his return. Ashtavakra asked him, Why should I go in north direction? Vadanyu: North is the most pious place. Parvathi and Parameswara are wandering in the mountains in the north. Before your marriage, I wanted you to visit all those pious places. There you will find a place Kadambavanam. There you will find a middle aged woman. You go and meet her. She will make all arrangements for your stay. Ashtavakra went to the north where he was a guest of Kubera and lived with him for a year. There Rambha and other apsaras worshipped him. From there he went to Kailasam where Parvathi and Parameswara stay. He saw big
buildings in Kadambavanam. He went to one of the biggest buildings and said to the gate keepers, My name is Ashtavakra. On hearing his words, they conducted him to a middle aged woman. She worshipped the visitor and requested him to stay as a guest. Looking at so many unmarried girls moving around, he said to that woman, If you send them away, I will stay here. She agreed. Ashtavakras character was put to test: That night the middle aged woman went to Ashtavakra and said, Oh superior brahmin! This night is too cold, I am not able to bear. So I came here to sleep with you. He agreed and but turned away to the other side. In spite of that, there were no vibrations in him. After sometime she moved closer and embraced him. Inspite of that she could not find any throbbing in him. She pretended as if she was annoyed and said: The north direction: Your behavior is astonishing. Will anybody in this world behave like this? A woman came voluntarily and embraces you. But you are not taking any advantage. Why are you so indifferent? Normally men like comforts and pleasures. Even though I myself came and requested, you are behaving indifferently. I will surrender all my wealth to you. You keep me happy. You dont harass me any further and marry me fast. Ashtavakra: I am a brahmachari. I am getting married shortly. I dont like to have any relationship with other woman. I dont want commit this severe sin. The north direction: I am fascinated by your beauty. When a woman approaches with desire, you should not refuse. Not only that they should not search for dharma and adharmas. Ashtavakra: I have not seen a woman like you anywhere. Simply because you have a desire, should I spoil my family prestige? Now you leave me and go away. If you dont go, I myself will leave this place. The north direction: (with a smile) Why are you confused? You stay at least till you complete your work. Ashtavakra: If you dont touch my body, I will stay here In the meanwhile it has become dawn. The woman arranged hot water for Ashtavakra and did all the small services him. She fed him with delicious dishes. In spite of all, he did not speak even a word. Again she herself said:
The north direction: I have lost all my youth and grown up middle aged; even now I want to marry. You marry me and make me happy Ashtavakra: Mother! A woman should be under the protection of her father in her childhood, under her husband after her marriage and under her children in her old age. However woman has no right to live independently on her own. Hence I cant accept you The north direction: Why are you talking indifferently? First you look at my beauty! I am not middle aged. I am quiet young. I offer me voluntarily to you Ashtavakra: Dont play your tricks on me. Avoid troubling me any further. If you dont leave me, I will go on my way The north direction: I am north direction. I came in the form of a woman to test you. Vadanyu has sent me here. If he comes to know about your control on your senses, he will be much pleased to give his daughter in marriage to you. Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! So, a bridegroom must have so much of control on his senses like Ashtavakra Dharmaraja: You tell me the timings to practice dharma, ardha and kaama. Bheeshma: One should pursue ardha in the early hours. Dharma is to be practiced in the day time. Kaama is to enjoy in the night time. Dharmaraja: Who is eligible for receiving donation? Bheeshma: Those who receive donation should not have anger. They should be truthful and should have control on their sense organs. He should have kindness on all living beings . One should not be greedy. For the brahmins who learnt Vedas and who practice shatkarmas the fruits will be thousand fold higher. If the donation is given to a brahmin who has intellect and good character, the donors entire family line will become pure. Dharmaraja: Tell me the timings of worshiping devatas, pitru devatas and humans Bheeshma: From morning till midday, devatas must be worshipped. After the midday, Pitru devatas are to be worshipped.
Dharmaraja : Who is eligible for giving donation at the time of performing rituals to the devatas and ancestral parents? Bheeshma: The following are eligible for receiving donations on such occasions. 1. Those who lost all their properties 2. Those who want to conclude the religious vows or the rituals 3. Those who cant protect their guru, parents, wife and children 4. One who is suffering from a disease 5. Those who live by begging. Atri and other maharishis came to see Bheeshma: While Bheeshma and Dharmaraja were discussing about various matters, many maharishis, along with their disciples came to see Bheeshma who was lying on the bed of arrows. Pandavas went and worshipped all the sages. The ascetics enquired Bheeshma about his health and wished him quick recovery and bade farewell. Bheeshma told Dharmaraja the history of all those maharishis. Bheeshma tells the glory of Ganga: Dharmaraja : Pitamaha ! Tell me about the glorious countries, mountains and rivers Bheeshma: I will tell you a story from a Purana. That will answer your question. A yogi came to the house of a brahmin. The brahmin worshipped him and asked him the same question. I will tell you what yogi had said to him. By taking a bath in river Ganga, one gets the fruits performing a ritual and penance, etc. Just touching Ganges, one destroys all his sins and attains heaven. The worship of god will not be complete without sprinkling Ganga water. Ganga water is as pure as nectar Conversation of Vasudeva-Narada: Dharmaraja: There are so many duties for a king. What are the superior duties among them? Bheeshma: Immediately after coronation, the king has to worship scholars . Once the scholars and intellects are satisfied, all the lokas will get satisfaction. If he feels distressed all lokas will fall in distress. Whomever they bless those kings will flourish. If they are angry, they can cause troubles. They are capable of giving boons and curses. One day there was a conversation between Vasudeva and Bhoodevi. The conversation went on like this
Vasudeva: Bhoodevi! Tell me how people can get rid of their sins? Bhoodevi: By worshipping brahmins all the sins will be destroyed and gets purified and enjoy comforts. So the kings are to be more conscious in worshipping a brahmin Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! Long ago what Brahma said to the brahmins, I will convey now. You are to worship the soul and you should protect superior spirit living in your body. There is no superior dharma to that. Long back Indra went to Sambarasura and said, How are you in such a superior state? For which Sambarasura said, Long back with the grace of brahmins only rakshasas won over devatas. My father said that all the brahmins are glorious and have to be worshipped. Dharmaraja: If a Sudra woman gets children by a brahmin, are they eligible for a share in his property? Bheeshma: The property of a brahmin is to be divided into ten parts. Out of which, four parts are to be given to the children born to a brahmin wife; three parts to the children born to a Kshatriya wife. Two parts are to be given to the children born to a vysya woman. One part to the children born to a Sudra woman. Even if nothing is given, they should not make a quarrel Bheeshma tells the merits of donations: Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! Tell me the merits of donations Bheeshma: Of all the donations, donating a maid, house, land, water, clothes and cows are the superior. While donating cow, its horns should be covered with gold and a white cloth . Whatever a brahmin asks should be given, by which the people in the country will live without any fear. The person who seeks protection is to be protected however bitter an enemy might be. Begging is equivalent to death. So people who care more for honour will not accept donation. So it gives more merit if a donation is made without asking. Of all donations, donating land is superior because the grains are produced from the earth. The garments we wear are produced from the cotton which also comes from the earth. All minerals like gold and a silver precious stone also come out of earth. So the donor of a land will stay in the heaven as long as the earth remains.
Food, gold, water and such things are ideal as donation. Food is said to be as nectar on earth. The story of king Nruga: Long ago there lived a king by name Nruga. He donated several lakhs of cows. In Dwaraka, there was a chameleon residing in a well in Dwaraka. The Yadavas tried to bring it out by several means. But they could not succeed. They went to Krishna and requested him Krishna took it out without any effort. After that Krishna asked, Who are you? The chameleon answered I am the king Nruga He narrated his story. King Nruga donated several lakhs of cows to brahmins. One day he donated one cow to a Brahmin.While he was taking it with him, another brahmin objected by saying that cow belonged to him. The brahmin said, Just now the king has donated it to me. So it is my property. They fought for a long time and went to the king. The king learnt that the cow was donated to the first brahmin sometime back. That cow was mixed in the cattle of the king. Out of ignorance, that cow was again donated to the second brahmin. The king explained how that mistake happened and requested the first brahmin to take hundred cows in the place of the cow in dispute. The first brahmin rejected the kings offer. The king made an appeal to the second brahmin. He also rejected his request. The first brahmin cursed the king, Since you have stolen my cow, you become chameleon. After my life time I went to the hell. Yama informed me You have both sin and virtues. Which do you want to undergo first. Then I requested Yama to punish me for the sin so that later I would have heaven. When I requested the brahmin for deliverance from the curse, he said when you take the form of chameleon, you would fell into a well in Dwaraka. When Krishna takes you out, you will be relieved from my curse. Then Krishna told Yadavas the bad consequences of stealing a brahmins wealth. Bheeshma : Dharmaraja! I will tell you another story about the greatness of donating a cow. This story is said in Kathopanishattu. Long ago Uddalaka Maharishi said to his son, My son! I forgot my glass. It is at the river bed; you go and get it. His son went to the river. By the time, the river was overflowing with the floods. The glass was also washed away in the flood. The maharishis son went back to his father and reported. The maharishi was very hungry and got annoyed at his son. In a fit of anger he said, You go and see Yama. His son was afraid of the curse and requested his father. Before he revert his curse he fell dead. The maharishi was weeping inconsolably for his son.
Maharishis son went to Yamas palace. On seeing him, Yama came forward and worshipped him and made him to sit by his side. After sometime, he said, Your father asked you to go to my place for the glass and you have come. Now you can go back with your glass. On hearing Yama, he said oh Yama! Unexpectedly I had your darshan. I had seen your hell. If I am eligible for your kindness, you show me the superior lokas also. Yama was pleased and took him round the superior lokas. There he saw many people enjoying many comforts. He asked Yama What virtues they had to enjoy so many comforts? Yama said They all donated cows in the world. So they all came to heaven. Oh Dharmaraja! That is the greatness of donating a cow. Dharmaraja: Please tell me what lokas the people, who donated cows, get? Bheeshma: Long back Indra asked the same question to Brahma. What Brahma said to Indra I will tell you now, listen. In that loka there would be no wheel of time and no seasons; there will be no hunger, no thirst, no diseases, no old age, and no death. All the people living there are enjoying bliss. Its name is Abode of cows.People who donated cows, those who did service to their guru, those who are truthful, those who have control on senses and those who ate pure food alone are eligible to live in that loka. Hence oh Dharmaraja! You also procure cows in a righteous manner and donate them.
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Dharmaraja: Kindly enlighten me the procedure to donate a cow? Bheeshma: Long ago king Maangdhata asked the same question to Bruhaspati,who said, King! Those who performs worshipping cows must secure a cow. He should feed it properly and he has to treat it as his daughter and call by its name. He is to praise the cow as dictated by Brahma. I will tell you a few words of praise for your information. This cow is my mother, This bull is my father, Their stomach is the heaven, The place where it stands my residence. By telling in this manner the cow is to be donated to a knowledgeable person. Maangdhata! You donate cows to a virtuous person who has control on senses and who has no anger.Donate in the month of Aswayuja Krishnaashtami. Before you donate them you sleep in the cow shed for three nights. If you do in this manner all your desires will be fulfilled.
Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! Why Brahma has created the abode of cows above Brahma lokam? Bheeshma: Long ago the architect of deva loka has created a girl and named it as Surabi who can transform into any form she likes. He devoted her for performing rituals and worships those who seek salvation . He also created a man by name Marthanda. He saw Surabi and fell in love with her. He was hesitant to approach her. Brahma understood his mind and conducted the marriage of Surabi with Marthanda and said, You both live above my Brahma loka and wander freely. Your children will provide milk for performing the rituals . You will be respected by both devatas and danavas. Whoever worships you, will get their desires fulfilled; whoever consumes your milk, their sins will be destroyed. Dharmaraja ! With the power of penance, Surabi and Marthanda produced eleven sons. Even Vedas praised them. They all became loka palakas. They are also called as Ekadasa Rudras. After those eleven sons, many cows were born. They were all most worshipful and their body formation was as follows. Indra resides in their face, tongue and horns. Vayu resides at the doors of organs. Siva lives in their shoulders. All divine communities reside in the foot. Agni resides in the stomach. Saraswathi lives in the udder. Lakshmi recites in its tongue. Glory lives in its urine. Moon lives in its blood. Maha is in its heart. Brahma is in its milk. All customs are in their hair. Yama lives in the tail. Sun lives in its eyes. Splendour is its skin. Penance is siddhi. Ashta siddhis are in its joints. Such is the glory of cow. Dharmaraja! The cows are protected by Sumitra Maharishi. On Mt. Trisikharam, there lived a rishi by name Sumitra. A brahmin by name Angirasa gave a medicine by name gosarkara. Sumitra gave it to his cow which became strong and healthy. After sometime it delivered many calves and held a big herd. He used to take his herd to various places in a forest, where green grass was available in plenty. He allowed all the milk to their calves and he was fully contended only with the foam of the milk. One day Gauthama Maharishi saw him consuming the foam and called him as fenava. While they were wandering from forest to forest, their cows went to a lake for water. There they found some women taking bath. Those women said to these cows, We are also cows, because of our good fortune we were living in the abode of cows. Since you are also cows, we will tell you how we became so strong and beautiful.
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The woman from the abode of cows said, We are all living in the abode for cows. We give milk to brahmins. They use our milk for performing oblation to gods, oblation to the ancestors, entertaining the guests and drink our milk with taste. Our calves will go for farming the lands. By virtue of our good deeds, we are enjoying all comforts in the abode for cows. Since you also belong to cows we told you all about us On hearing their words, the cow herds said, Oh women! Since we are all cows, tell us the way to come out of our difficult life. Then the woman said, Oh cows! For the past thousand years, king Rantideva has been performing rituals. You all go and become sacrificial animals in that rituals. After that you will all come to the abode for cows The cows thought If we want to go to the abode for cows, our owner Sumitra may not allow us to go; so we kill him and then we all become sacrificial animals So they went to kill him. Having gone near him, they could not kill him because he alone fed them all those years. However one cow came forward and said, I dont have any sentiments like you. I will go and kill him. What benefit will I get. All the cows discussed among themselves and said, Your will get reddish brown colour (kapila). Reddish brown cows will become the most superior among the cows. If one such cow is donated its fruits of action will be as good as giving hundred ordinary cows. All kapila cows took different form and went to Sumitra and said Sir! We are your cows; we are pleased with your worshipping us all these years. You ask for a boon. On hearing their words, Sumitra said, I am very much devoted to you. I cannot leave you. If you want to give me a boon, give me that I will ever live with my cows . On hearing they all said, If you want to be with us what business you have in this loka? Come with us to the abode of cows . By saying so they all kicked him from all directions and killed him. They went and said to the cow herds that they had killed their owner Sumitra. All the cow herds were happy for getting liberation and they went to Rantideva. Sumitra, after his death, went to the abode of cows. The cows there knew about his story; so they all went and worshipped him. They consoled him by saying that his cows helped him in reaching the abode. All the cows went to Rantideva and requested him to accept them as sacrificial animals. He refused to kill them, because they are sacred, though they were animals. However all the cows in one voice said, King! If you sacrifice us,you will not get sin. Devatas alone sent us to you. On hearing their request, Rantideva said, One among you is enough to make sacrifice. I will
not take other cows for the sacrifice. They assured the king that none of them would go back. Rantideva had been compelled to agree to sacrifice them. One day a calf was taking milk from his mother.Its mother said to that calf, My child! Now you take stomachful of milk. After short time, I will be sacrificed in a ritual . From tomorrow onwards, you have nowhere get milk? by saying so, it began to weep. Rantideva came to know that his rituals have been disturbed and so he stopped them midway. Earlier some cows were sacrificed. But due to the stoppage of the rituals, some of the cows survived and so they had to remain on the earth. All those cows that were sacrificed went to the sacred abode of cows. However Rantideva managed to finish the remaining rituals and became a friend of Indra. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! May I know about the glory of cow Bheeshma: splendour I will tell you what Veda Vyasa said to his son Suka Maharishi Vedavyasa said Suka! Cow was the first child that was born to Brahma. All divine communities were born from the cow. Those who learn about cows can walk into abode of Brahma and the abode of cows as if he is going to his own house. Whoever wants to progress he should not hit a cow in any way. This is dictated by Brahma. Even Upanishads also worship cows. On hearing Vyasas words, Suka queried, What is the importance of the superior cow? Vyasa answered, Long back due to certain reasons Agni went out of heaven. All devatas went in search of him. At the request of devatas the cow showed Agni in their stomach. After that Agni came out from its stomach and said because I stayed in the stomach of a cow, it color has been changed to reddish brown (kapila). Since it has given shelter to me all the reddish brown cows will become most worshipful in the world. This is the story how those cows have become glorious Suka wanted to know about the Kamadhenu. Vyasa said, Long back Kamadhenu did penance on Brahma, who appeared and asked her to seek a boon. Kamadhenu said, I dont seek any boon! Your manifestation itself is a great boon for me. Brahma was pleased and said, I am arranging a separate abode for you above my lokam. Thus this abode of cows was formed. Dharmaraja: Pitamaha! In all the rituals- cows, land and gold are considered most worshipful. Why?
Bheeshma: Dharmaraja! When my father died, I went to the banks of Ganga to perform the last rites for him. While I was making ceremonial ball of rice (pindas) I saw my father stretching his hands for the ball of rice specially prepared for the ceremony. By seeing his ring I could recognize that hands belonged to my father. I thought of putting the ball of rice in his hands. If I put it in his hand, that ceremony would get spoiled. So I put it on a dharba grass and saluted him. Immediately his hands disappeared. At the same time, all my ancestral parents stood in front of me and said, Bheeshma! He had kept up dharma in spite of knowing that the hands belonged to your father. We appreciate your dharma. While giving us donation of land and cows, you also donate gold. That will help you. Bheeshma teaches the worshiping of ancestral parents: Dharmaraja: Let me know how to worship our ancestors ? Bheeshma: One must conduct end ceremony(sraddha) with rice balls on the new moon day. It will amount to a daily worship. All mid-days (twelve noon) will be auspicious for offering this offering. First day, tenth day and fourteenth day from a full moon are good for performing this end ceremony. Dharmaraja: What type of food will give the maximum fruits of action? Bheeshma: Gingilee seeds, paayasam and ghee are the superior offerings as food for worshipping. Any product that derives from a cow is superior. Fish and meat may also be offered as prescribed in Vedas. Dharmas taught by Parasara Maharishi: Parasara: Unless sin is destroyed true knowledge cannot be acquired. By practicing the teachings of guru will destroy the sins. After the sins are destroyed, mind will become pure. When the mind is pure, passions will not trouble us. Service to guru with pride will destroy all the punyam. Modesty is the best policy. The more and more one attains knowledge, he will be more and more peaceful. As a result service to guru will provide everything for a man. Guru is the Satchidananda in human form. Knowledge of soul: A man should protect his stomach, lingam, hands and legs from evil forces. By controlling the organs, mind and intellect would be protected. If one can practice these, he can see the superior spirit like a flaming Agni. Those
who cant obtain yoga, cant know Siva. Devotion develops in a person who could attain salvation. Those who are qualified in the above manner, should absorb all the twenty three elements, the nature in his mind and become immune to prakrutti and vikrutti. Such a person attains superior spirit. This is the path of knowledge. Bheeshma tells the benefits of lakes: Bheeshma: The cows which drink water from a lake will not only get satisfaction but also bless the person who dug that lake. If the lake maintains water in all seasons, he will get the benefit of performing a ritual. If trees are grown on its banks, that will provide shelter for the birds. They drink water from the lake and bless the humanity. If the lakes are dug, ancestral parents would be satisfied and The man who dug would be qualified for superior lokas. The guests who take shelter under those trees will bless him. So digging lake and planting the trees will give enormous punyam Dharmaraja: How to become a good gruhasta? Bheeshma: A gruhasta should worship Agni everyday. He should satisfy all the living beings with proper sacrifice. Pitru devatas are to be fed with milk, fruits, roots and pure water.
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Dharmaraja: What is the importance of offering fruits, perfumes and Deepardhana to devatas? Bheeshma: Devatas consider fruits and flowers as nectar. So to please them we offer flowers . Yakshas and gandharvas prefer fragrances like sambrani and guggilam (the resin of shosea robasta). So we please the devata communities with these fragrances. Lighting deepam and camphor will destroy the tamo guna of the people Dharmaraja: Which is the superior dharma? Bheeshma: Long ago king Bhageertha went to Brahma Sabha. Brahma asked him what punyam he did to attend that divine Sabha. Then the king said, At one time brahmins were doing a ritual. They could not complete it due to various impediments. I fought many battles. I did not take even food and water while attending on the brahminss job. At the end they all pleased and blessed me to go and attend Brahma Sabha. I am hearing his words Brahma respected the king and offered a place to live.
So Dharmaraja! You also serve scholars and have their blessings Dharmaraja: The longevity of man is fixed as 100 years. Then why some are incurring premature death? Bheeshma: Those who follow hereditary customs will live long. One who doesnt follow, the five elements will reject him. So he gets a premature death. Customs are prescribed by Vedas. One has to respect varna and ashrama dharmas. Respecting and serving guru will increase longevity and glory. Violence, anger, telling lies, seeing sunrise and sunset, biting the nails, breaking the sticks will reduce the longevity. Going with others wives, passing urine near temple and in cow sheds will also reduce the longevity Dharmaraja: How united the brothers should be? Bheeshma: The elder brother is to be respected by all other brothers. In the same way the eldest brother also should treat and love his brothers like a father. If the elder brother is ignorant, all his brothers will suffer. Dharmaraja: Fasting is permitted to Brahmins and Kshatriyas. Why? Bheeshma: Brahmins and Kshatriyas can go on fasting for three days. They can fast for more days. Vyasas and Sudras can skip four needs. If they do more they get sin Dharmaraja: Tell me about the Highest Truth Bheeshma: Lord Siva asked Sanatkumara Tell me the object of the meditation. How many elements are there? How wisdom and yoga behave? Sanatkumara said Siva! Some say the elements are 23. They are ignorant because they club the mind and intellect as one. Adhyatmam means the soul. But we take it as a body. That means the elements reside in the body. Some others say that the elements are 24. They say intellect is the purest form of mind. Now I will tell you how they exist. The 25th element lives in the name of Abode (Adhistanam) That alone creates an existence for all 24 elements and absorb into it. Therefore one can say it is existing and not existing. Those 24 elements are five principal elements, its five subtle elements, ten organs, the mind, the intellect, pride and the nature. Sages consider these 24 elements as the body. The purusha lives in it. He lives invisibly, just as fire resides in wood.
Since a gruhasta is fickle minded, he would be easily influenced by jealousy and pride. They make even ascetics to lose discrimination. Vedas are telling Purusha as Brahman. This is the supreme of all. Omkaram and Pranvam are the same. Those who have pride are able to see only himself and the world. He cant see the supreme spirit. In all the created objects there may be some defect or the other. Even Brahma, Vishnu and Siva also feel they are not independent. But the supreme spirit does not have any defects. He is above all duals. That is why Upanishads praised him as Ananda Swaroopa. Brahman is beyond imagination and cant be known by any measure. It cant be known with our organs . It is both existing and non existing. Narayana alone knows that the real state of supreme spirit. Devatas, maharishis, sidhas and few other eligible persons are able to come to know him. In any case one cant see the reality. They cant see him with him unless he is released from the bondage. Siva! He, who has no pride, will absorb his ten organs , mind and intellect into supreme spirit. At that stage who is there to see or to tell us? In this manner when Jeeva loses his entity, he absorbs into the Para tatvam and shines. Siva! To understand you better, I shall let you know that all devatas are residing in our body. Chandra- resides on the tongue, Agni- on speech, Vayu- in prana, Lightening- in vyana, Sky- on the chest, Indra in strength, Esana-in intellect, Twelve Adityas- in Avyakta, Apsarasas- in Samana Vayu, Sun- in the eyes, Bhoomi- in the entire body, Vishnu- in the foot, Directions- are in the ears, Prajapati- in jananendrya, Brahma- in intellect. The chief deity is Paramatma. Yogi looks all devatas in his body with love and moves into the head with undeterred devotion. He fixes the prana in the head and looks at Brahman as the manifest. Such state is known as invisible. The sage realises both visible and invisible. In fact intellect and sage are only different state of mind but soul is one. When he realizes Brahman, there will be no one to teach or get taught or get knowledge in separate forms. There will no separate identity. Aatma tatwam will be in different names as Kshara, akshara, Para. The 25th tatwam is known as Prabudha. He looks at Abudha and Prabudha in the same manner. He absorbs in Prakruti. 26th tatvam is known as Budha which is beyond speech or mind. The 25 tatvam will be known as Prabudha. When Prabudha and Bhuda identify each other they becomes one.
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If Prabudha looks Abudha in a different manner all his great knowledge becomes waste and it amounts to be bestowing as a gift to Prakruti. Instead of that he should have the knowledge and assert that there is nothing other than himself. Yogis sit in forests or in caves, absorb organs in the mind and control the senses. Here senses mean- sound, touch, form, taste and smell. Then only yoga will succeed. He follows in the path taught by his guru. He controls hunger, thirst and excretion of the body by regulating the diet. Yoga should not be practiced immediately after consuming food. Mind must be kept under control with the help of intellect. If a yogi wants to see the Paramatma , he should choose an isolated place. A yogi will see pure intelligence which has no darkness. The yogi who was devoted would be relieved from old age, disease, death and grief and reaches the abode of Brahman. They wander freely with superhuman powers. Easwara! Mind is superior to organs . Pride is superior to the mind. Prakrutti is superior to ahankaram. Purusha is superior to all of them. The atmosphere and other elements and their subtle natures are ten
CHAPTER-5
Parvathi: Deva! You tell me about the Varnasrama dharmas Siva: Devi! For the benefit of humanity Brahma created four varnas. He created from his face- brahmins, kshatriyas from his arms, Vyasas- from his thighs, Sudras- from his feet, because of the place of birth the varnas were specified. The duties for a brahmin was fixed as learning and reciting Vedas, performing rituals by himself and provoke others to do it, giving donations and accepting donations at the time of yagnas. He should not abandon the worship of agnihotra. Hence his services are required for the society.A brahmin is to be protected even though he is poor or weak. Unless, in extreme cases he should not accept the dharmas of other varnas. He should not go with other woman. He is to take food twice a day. He should maintain cleanliness internally and externally. He is to worship and feed his guests. The Kshatriya is to protect brahmins as a primary duty. A Kshatriya is to learn Vedas, archery, moral and other sciences. He should perform rituals , to give donations, protect ascetics and enforce C.P.C.
A Vysya lives by doing business. Agriculture and cattle feeding are the other duties for him. He is also to give donations. Like the other two varnas, he will also have thread ceremony and worships Agnihotra. He is also eligible for doing rituals . He is to worship his guru. A Sudra is to serve the above three varnas. He will get the same fruits of action as the other three varnas . Gruhasta ashrama is the superior to all ashramas. He is to live with his wife and have sons. A Vanaprasta is to live alone or with his wife in forests and do penance . He is to take fruits and roots. He should have control on his senses. An ascetic should leave anger. He should not have attachment in anything expect matters pertaining to the superior spirit. He should maintain internal and external cleanliness. He is to live on begging. Siva tells the nature of penance: Parvathi: Maharishis perform penance with devotion. Tell me its importance Siva: All actions that are performed in Vanaprasta are all penance only. After life time they reach heaven to enjoy comforts. Once the fruits of good deeds of the previous birth is exhausted they come back to earth and take another birth. Parvathi: Deva! You tell me about the penance of Vaisakhilyas. Siva: Vaisakhilya observe severe principles in performing penance. Some penance only by drinking water. Some restrict their diet to air only. They are all worshiped by even Indra. Those Vaisakhilyas limit their body to a thumb size. They are above all duals. They adjust their bodies in the same direction as sunrays and do penance . Because of their power of penance all lokas are living peacefully. Parvathi: Deva! Kings also possess the same body as other humans. He is not above all duals, he takes food like others. Then why he is given the power protecting and punishing of people? Siva: Devi! King is born as per the fruits of action of his previous birth. Government alone empowers him to protect and punish people in the interests of the society. If he observes his duties properly, he could able to control his senses and protect people. He appoints learned and impartial people as his
ministers for implementing C.P.C. He takes the help of sastras in enforcing it. He applies the same yardstick for others and for his own people also. He engages spies to know the movements of his enemies from outside and within his own country. He will not invite war on his own. Before resorting to a war, he will explore the other three plans. King performs rituals and gives donations extensively. He will not involve in unrighteous acts. Parvathi: Tell me the best dharma which everyone can follow easily Siva: Non violence and treating all beings with kindness are the superior dharmas. However, small and sundry creatures are being killed unconsciously. But they are not considered as violence. When lamp is lighted, some creatures are killed. While we are tilling the land, some creatures might die. But sin will not touch because of such violence. In a ritual of Rantideva, all cows went and requested him, Oh king! Death is inevitable to us. Let us sacrifice our life for the cause of god. They all reached superior lokas. So intellect is responsible for a sinful act or for a virtuous act Parvathi: Deva! Tell me how people are to conduct themselves to have a happy life Siva: Devi! Bhoolokam is a place of action . They perform karmas like rituals to attain divinity to enjoy comforts. Those who do sinful acts will be born as animals or birds or insects. For doing action one should have the knowledge and means. For doing virtuous acts one needs money. A knowledgeable person will earn money only in a virtuous way and spend on good acts. An agriculturist should have the knowledge of sap of soil, choice of crop, knowledge of seasonal changes. A business man should have the knowledge where to purchase, where to sell, when to sell and how to sell, etc. Cattle are to be protected like his own children. Such persons will not only improve their wealth, but also become glorious. In the same manner cheating, laziness and working against the interests of the owner will not only becomes sinful but also gets disgrace. Parvathi: Deva! Some people are enjoying comforts and some are suffering even for basic needs. Why? Siva: Devi! The pains and pleasures of a man will be based on the fruits of action. Whoever helps his near and dear and needy people in his previous birth, such person will get extensive wealth and comforts in this birth. Those who have committed cruel, unkind acts and who were greedy will suffer pain and grief in their next birth.
Brahma will not have anger, hatred, love and kindness on anyone. He will fix their birth based on their actions when time ripes to enjoy those fruits of action. Those who do good acts by force of circumstances either to the known or to the unknown, such people will be born as rich people, but they could not enjoy their fortunes due to various reasons, such as bad health, quarrels etc. Though some people are not wealthy, they are living comfortably with the help of others. Such people had good thought of helping others in their previous birth. So, even good thoughts are considered as virtuous acts. Devi! Some people enjoy wealth disproportionate to their efforts. Such people would have voluntarily went forward to help others, in their previous births. Some will not get the reasonable benefit, in spite of their hard efforts. Such people must have harassed or teased people while doing help to others in their previous birth Parvathi: There are two sex in humans, viz men and women. How Jeeva behaves in both of them? Siva: Soul resides in both men and women and the 24 elements will be same. Because of arrogance, Jeeva will entangle in karma and take the forms of men and women. The soul will not take any responsibility of karmas. As vata, pitta and sleshma are attached to the body, Jeeva also will be attached to satva, rajas and tamo gunas. Only these gunas are responsible for performing karmas but not Jeeva. Truthfulness, cleanliness, kindness are related to satva guna. Greediness, attachment towards wife and children are related to rajo guna. Violence, telling lies, fear, and laziness are related to tamo guna. Satva guna will give divinity, rajo guna gives birth as human, and tamo guna gives birth as animal. Those who are above these three gunas, will attain salvation . Based on the actions of the doer, he will receive good and bad wisdom. He who knows the real nature of dharma and adharma is a superior man. Those who cant differentiate, are equivalent to animals. Darkness is of two ways. One forms with night. That will disappear with light. The second is born from the body. This will disappear with the knowledge from elders. Brahma to get out of the darkness from his body, made severe penance and got rid of it by Vedas and sastras. Vedas teach us the dos and donts. With knowledge of Vedas all the darkness will disappear.
Parvathi: Who is provoking the men to do actions? Is it the god? Or human effort? Siva: God will not do anything on his own. He gives only the fruits of his actions of his previous birth. The actions done in the previous birth is called as pre-destination (Prarabhdam) The actions he does in this birth are called as ability(Paurusham). Human efforts are like doing cultivation. God helps by providing water, vayu and agni for it. Ability added with the gods grace results in success. Parvathi: Deva! While all the beings are taking birth after their death, for whose sake the ancestral parents are worshipped? Siva: Devi! Ancestral parents are also like other devatas. While devatas reside in the north direction, the ancestors reside in south direction. When devatas are worshipped they are fit to get oblations . Whereas the ancestors are worshipped they are called as Kavyam. When the humanity performs ceremonies for the died , the ancestor community will be pleased and bless for the welfare of his family. They provide all worldly pleasures. Even Deva, Danava, Garuda, Yakshas worship their ancestors Parvathi: Deva! It is said dharmas are many. Tell me their real nature Siva: Devi! Dharmas can be classified into five. 1. As stipulated in Vedas and Sastras. This is applicable for all people. 2. Established doctrine from ancestors. 3. Customs followed by many people. 4. Customs followed depending on time, desam and bodily conditions. 5. Pertaining to a section of the country Parvathi: Which is the superior dharma? Siva: Devi! Dharma, wealth and lust might give some pleasures. But they are land us in grief only because they are all impermanent. So the salvation alone gives the eternal peace. Unless one is vexed with the worldly pleasures, he wont think of salvation. Disposition takes place only when he had the knowledge that the body is not permanent. Mind is to get release from distress. He should be free from desires. Devi! I will teach you a way to come out of old age, death, donations, penance and rituals will not give any relief. Life is short for human. Death may attack anytime. So tomorrows work is to be completed today itself. Advance the work of the evening to the morning. By the awareness of this, men will get dispassion on life. That dispassion also leads a man to salvation
Glossary
Aadhyatmikam, Aajyatma Aatma Aatma tatwam adharma Adharvana veda Adhidaivam Adhidevata Adhistanam Adityas Agni, Agnihotra ahankaram akshara amavasya Ananda Swaroopa anandha apana apsaras ardha ashtami Aswayuja Avyaktam Badarika ashrama bharta bhoodanam Bhoolokam
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Relating to the supreme spirit The soul The true nature of soul and of god An unjust act One of four vedas Presiding god Presiding god Abode Sun god Fire god Pride Eternal spirit The day of new moon The supreme spirit Delight A Vayu Divine women Wealth The eight lunar day in a half month A month in Telugu calendar Invisible A hermitage Husband Gift of land Earth
Bhoomi Bhoothas, Bhuta Brahmahacha Brahmaloka Brashta budhi dandaneeti darshan deepam Deepardhana desam drashta Ekadasa godanam golokam govrata guggilam gunas harta havya homa indriyas japa jnana jnana marga Jyothi kaama kaama pakshi kadambavanam kailasam kalachakra karma phalam
Anusasanikaparvamu
Earth Living beings Religious self restraint Abode of Brahma Unchaste women; fallen Intellect Criminal procedure code Appearance Light Lightning a Jyothi Country Seer Eleven Gifting a cow The abode of cows Worshipping a cow A perfume offered to god Three gunas Satva, Rajas, Tamo Who takes Fit to the offered in oblation to the gods Oblations to the gods Organs Muttering prayers Knowledge The path of knowledge Light Desire A bird A forest of kedemla tress Abode of Lord Siva Wheel of time Fruits of action
705
karta kartavyam kathopanishattu Kavya, Kavyam krodha Kshara Kshatriya lingam lokapalakas manassu mantra Omkaram pallavu pancha bhoothas Para tatvam Paurusham pindam pitta Prabudha Prana Vayu Pranvam Prarabhdam punya phalam puranas rajo guna Rigveda rutu dharmam, rutus sadhakas Samaveda sambrani samskara
Doer Fit to be done One of the Upanishads Oblations of food to the ancestors Anger Perishable One of the four varnas Gender The guardians of devatas of the four quarters Mind Magical formula Another name of Para Brahman Superior cow Five principal elements The real state of supreme Characteristic of a men Round mess Bird One who is awakened or a sage Oxygen Omkaram Pre destination Fruits of virtues Ancient history of Legendary and traditional One of the three gunas One of the four Vedas A season (two months period in a year) Student One of the four Vedas A perfume offend to god Accomplishment; forming in mind
706
Sankhya sarpa yaga sastras Satva guna shatkarmas sleshma sraadha tamo gunas tapasakthi tapasvi tapasya tejassu upacharams upanayana Upanishads upastu Upayas Vaisakhilyas vajrayudha varna Vedadhjyanam Vedapurusha Vedas Vedaveyatta vratas vyakta vyana vyshanava dharmam yagna yoga siddhi yugas
Anusasanikaparvamu
A science A yagna sacrificing snakes Science; law One of the three gunas One has purified by ablation phlegm An end ceremony for the deceased One of the three primary gunas Power of tapasya A sadhu who performs tapasya Meditation Brightness Service act of politeness Investing with the sacred thread A subsidiary of Vedas External organ of generation in either sex Four Upayas Sama, Dama, Bhada, Danda A type of tapasvis The weapon of Indra Colour Learning of Vedas Vishnu Divine knowledge; collection of hymns and prayers Vishnu Religious vow Manifested One of the five vital Vayus The doctrine of Vishnu An act of worship; sacrifice Moksha An age of the world
707
ASWAMEDHA PARVAM
CHAPTER 1 Krishna consoles Dharmaraja: After completing the last rites for Bheeshma, Dharmaraja, Dhrutarashtra and others started for Hastinapura. Dharmaraja could not control his grief and was about to fall . Krishna noticed it and cautioned Bheema to catch hold of him. Krishna comforted Dharmaraja in many ways. Hearing this, Dhrutarashtra said: Dhrutarashtra: My son! They deserved this end. You did what was proper and possible. So, you need not worry. You fought the battle and acquired this kingdom. Now it is the time for you and your brothers set to rule this kingdom. This is not the time for distress. I did not listen to the advice of Vidura. I also went in the path of my son Duryodhana. With that we destroyed the dharma and all this calamity had happened. As a result myself and Gaandhari were also put to inconsolable grief. But fortunately we have you to look after us! Krishna: Dharmaraja! Have you heard the words of Dhrutarashtra? I will also tell you one more word. If anyone grieves for the people who died, their soul will not rest in peace. Not only that, all the relatives collaterally related by descent had died in the battle and but reached heaven. Why should you grieve for them? If you grieve for them, will they come back? You learnt so many dharmas from Bheeshma. Now it is the time for you to remember all of them and behave like a hero. Vyasa, Narada and many others taught you many dharmas. So you remember all of them. To forget all your grief, you ought to perform a Maha yagna which will not only satisfy all devatas, ancestors and destroy all sins. You give heavy gifts in that ritual. You treat all your people as your children and rule this country. You worship the guest and the scholars. Dharmaraja: Maharishi! So far you are so kind and affectionate to us. I committed a sin by killing my grandfather Bheeshma and elder brother Karna.
You show me the deliverance from these sins. Otherwise you permit me to go to the forest and lead an ascetics life Vyasa: Dharmaraja! A king by name Maruthu did a great ritual , when he had donated gold to the brahmins in a big way. Those brahmins could not carry the entire gold with them. They kept all that gold on Himalayas in a secret place and said in one word, Whoever discovers this treasure, that belongs to them. Hence you locate that treasure and spend in any manner you like Dharmaraja: Maharishi! How Maruthu could secure so much gold? [Here, there are two doubts involved. One is could we take out the brahmins wealth? That had been cleared by Vyasa that those brahmins have themselves declared that treasure could be enjoyed by anyone who discovered it. Thereby it is no longer a brahmins wealth. The second is whether Maruthu had earned the gold in a righteous manner or not. This doubt is covertly raised in Dharmarajas enquiry] Vyasa: Dharmaraja! Maruthu was most righteous. I will tell you his story Maruthus story In Krutayuga, King Manu enforced C.P.C. He had a son by name Praja. He had a son Shutu; Shutu had Ikshavu; Ikshavu had hundred sons. The eldest was Vimsu who had fifteen sons. His eldest son was Khaninetra. He did not share his kingdom with his brothers and lived in an unrighteous manner. He harassed the people. People were vexed with his ruling and they killed him and installed his son as the king. Unlike his father, he treated his citizens like his own children. He respected his ministers and priest. He led his life as a truthful and righteous person. He donated all his wealth. So he become financially weak and could not maintain his army. His neighbours came to know his weakness, attacked him and occupied his kingdom. The king went to the forest with his relatives and led an ascetics life. He made a severe penance. While he was doing it, a wonder had happened i.e. many horses, elephants and warriors with various weapons landed there from nowhere. Huge treasure of gold was also found. In this manner he secured both the army and wealth. He attacked his enemies, killed them and won the battle. While doing penance, he used his own hand as dandam . From then onwards he was popularly known as Karandhama. He ruled the country with great splendour, bravery, wealth,
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kindness and firmness. He made several Aswameda yagas, fixing Angirasa Maharishi as the observer and master of ceremonies. He had purity, self control, control over organs and truthfulness. All the three worlds appreciated his rituals. Dharmaraja! Maruthu was the grandson of the famous Karandhama. Maruthu was pure and glorious. He had the strength of ten thousand elephants. He knew the subtle nature of all dharmas. He was as grand as Vishnu. He proposed to perform an Aswameda ritual for which he secured all the materials made of gold. Even for storing water, he made golden pots. All the utensils, used in that ritual, were made of gold. He desired to perform that ritual on the slopes of Himalayas. He had taken priests by giving heavy gifts of gold. King Karandhama , by the power of his penance made Angirasa Maharishi as observer for his ritual and made several Aswamedhas. With that fruits of action, he reached heaven with his physical body. His son was Avikshit, who ruled like his father. Maruthu was his son, who wanted to go on the footprints of his grandfather. He was also a popular king. Even Indra was jealous of him by his impartial implementing C.P.C. By virtue of his doing frequent rituals and the righteous acts, he thought that he might even exceed him (Indra). Hence he went to Bruhaspati and requested him not to be an observer of the rituals to be performed by Maruthu. Bruhaspati assured Indra that he would not become the observer of Maruthu, who went to deva guru Bruhaspati and said: Maruthu: Deva guru! I have procured all the materials to perform the rituals. You please accept to be an observer of these rituals. Your father Angirasa Maharishi officiated as the observer of all the rituals performed by my grandfather Karandhamu. Likewise, I request you to accept my request Bruhaspati: King! Just now Indra came and asked me to become the observer for the rituals he was going to perform. Since I am the guru of devatas,I cant accept this invitation of an ordinary human being Maruthu was disappointed, and returned to his kingdom with distress. At that time Narada Maharishi met him and said: Narada: King! Why are you in a depressed mood? From where are you returning?If you tell me reason for your distress, I can give you a solution Maruthu: Maharishi! I requested Bruhaspati to become as an observer of my proposed rituals. He insulted me by saying that he wouldnt do so for an ordinary man. As such I wish to leave this body
Narada: Why are you so dejected for such a small thing? If Bruhaspati rejects your offer, you can perform your ritual by keeping his younger brother Samvartana. Maruthu: Maharishi! Your suggestion is good. Where he lives? Where can I see him? How to get his services? Narada: Samvartana lives in Kasi. He may look like a mad man. I will tell you how to identify him. You take a dead body with you and sit in front of it at the first gate of Kasi. By looking at the dead body, whoever runs away like a mad man, you know him as Samvartana . You chase him and seek his protection. He may ask you, How do you know me. You tell him that Narada Maharishi told about you Then Narada took leave of him. Maruthu went to Kasi, sat at the first gate with a dead body. In the meanwhile a person saw the dead body and ran away like a mad man. Maruthu went behind him and waited till he was sitting alone. Samvartana: How did you know me? If you tell me the truth, your desire will be fulfilled. If you tell a lie, your head will be broken into several pieces Maruthu: Narada told me about you Samvartana: What do you want? Maruthu: I want you to be observer of for rituals I arrange. My name is Maruthu. Your father Angirasu had performed as an observer for all the rituals performed by my grandfather, Karandhama. Samvartana: King! My brother Bruhaspati had insulted me. Hence I left my house and properties and came out. As I am a penniless, what help I can do for you? So you go and make a request to my brother. I wont act as an observer Maruthu: I already approached your brother, but he insulted me by saying that he couldnt be an officiate for an ordinary human. Indra only made him to talk like that. Hence dont force me to go back to Bruhaspati. You can even dictate Indra with the power of your penance. You please show me kindness and agree to officiate Samvartana: King! I am agreeing to your request. Once you dedicate yourself to the ritual you should not change your mind. If you change your mind, you have to face my curse
King Maruthu commences the ritual: Maruthu: Once I get your grace, there is no question or changing of my mind. Even Indra and Bruhaspati come together, I will not change my mind. This is my vow Samvartana: king! I will make you richer than Indra and conduct your rituals. You may ask me how I can make you richer than Indra. There is a mountain by name Munchavanta on the northern side of Himalayas. There Siva and Parvathi would be strolling. Many siddhas and gandharvas would be serving them. As such there is no fear of diseases, old age and death. You will get flowers and fruits in all the seasons. On that mountain, you might find golden stones and sand. You come with your soldiers who are strong enough to carry the heavy load of gold. I will also come with you Maruthu engaged several thousands of strong men and went to the mountain with Samvartana. On reaching the mountain, they praised Lord Siva and worshipped him. Then all his men carried as much gold as they could carry on their shoulders and chariots. In this manner King Maruthu brought enormous gold and made various utensils and started the rituals. Bruhaspati came to know about the ritual. He felt jealous. Indra said: Indra : G uru deva ! Why are you so confused? Do you see any inauspicious trend in the heaven? If you tell me the reason for your distress, I shall try to keep you happy Bruhaspati: Indra! Maruthu had started the ritual in a grand scale. My brother cum enemy, Samvartana is performing this ritual. That is why I am unhappy. Manage somehow to see that King Maruthu dismisses Samvartana Indra called Agnihotra and said You go to Maruthu and instruct him to remove Samvartana as his official. You tell him that Bruhaspati would complete his ritual. Agni goes to Maruthu: Agni: King Maruthu! I am Agnihotra. Indra has sent me to you. You remove Samvartana as your observer. In his place Bruhaspati will complete your ritual. If you agree he will bless you with divinity Maruthu: Revered Agni! My salutations to you and Bruhaspati. First I requested him to become the official of rituals I do. He refused because I am
only an ordinary human being. After he rejected my request, I went to Samvartana. With great difficulty I made him to agree to become our observer . Now we have commenced our ritual. Samvartana alone is competent to complete my ritual Agni: Samvartana! If you agree to have Bruhaspati as your observer, he will bless you with superior lokas Samvartana: Agni! If you stay here some more time, I will burn you with the fury of my eyes. You leave this place immediately Agni went, said to Indra what had happened. Indra persuaded Agni to go again to compel and put pressure on King Maruthu. However Agni refused to go back. Indra wanted to try with Dhrutarashtra, a Gandharva king. On the orders of Indra, Dhrutarashtra went to Maruthu and said: King! Dont act like a fool. If Indra becomes angry, he will use Vajra on you and destroy everything. So you accept Bruhaspati as your observer and master of ceremonies and please Indra. The King did not concede to his words. Dhrutarashtra went back to Indra and reported everything. Indra became furious and cast Vajrayudha on Maruthu. The king went to Samvartana for protection. Samvaratana said: Samvartana: Maruthu! Dont worry about Vajrayudha. I will stop it with Stambhana mantra Maruthu: Virtuous! If you want to give me a boon, you protect my ritual and see that all devatas l come to take their havisis. Samvartana: King! Dont worry about devatas. If I call, even Indra have to come and take his havisis, drink somarasa and bless you Indra and devatas come to receive havisis: Because of the power of mantra Vajrayudha did not enter the yagna sala. Samvartana prayed for Indra and other devatas to come and take their share of the offerings. All the devatas including Indra arrived to receive the offering at the end of the rituals. Maruthu worshipped them all. Maruthu : De va ! I am blessed with your presence. My ritual is completed. Leave anger on me and bless me. Since Samvartana is the brother of Bruhaspati, I engaged him as the master of the ceremonies
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Indra: I am pleased with your modest prayers. I am giving you all the fruits of this ritual Samvartana: Indra! You are the ruler of all the three worlds. By your arrival, all my penance had got its fruits. You bless me with superior lokas Indra was pleased with the praise of Samvartana. He asked all devatas to decorate the entire ritual place. Maruthu had donated all his gold to the scholars. They took as much gold as they could carry. The remaining gold was kept in a secret place. Maruthu said, This treasure belongs to those who discover it Vyasa: Dharmaraja! You can take from that treasure as much gold as you want Krishna: Dharmaraja! Those who think in wicked ways only will have a premature death. All virtuous people will enjoy bliss. Then why do you think in a disorderly manner? Since you are not thinking in a clear manner your mind is entangled in grief. Do you know why you are not able to leave distress? That is because of your internal enemies such as lust and fury and others. I will tell you a story. You listen. Long ago Vrutasura swallowed the subtle quality of earth (odor). Indra released Vajrayudha on him. At that time, Vrutasura possessed Indra as a spirit. With that, Indra fainted. Vasista comforted Indra with mantras and made him alright. Indra recovered and found Vrutasura in himself and cast Vajra into himself and had driven away the demon from inside. Indra said this to rishis and those rishis told me. Dharmaraja! You can understand the power of an internal enemy. Diseases are two types. One is physical and the other is mental. If vata, pitta, sleshmas are maintaining in right proportions in a body, the health will be normal. If any of them takes change, disease takes place. In the same manner, if Satva, Rajoand Tamo gunas are in right proportion, the mental health will be normal. If any one of the three changes its intensity, mind gets sickness. This change we cannot notice. Because those three will always take birth from one to the other. If these three moves into the other, it is evident that disease takes place in a body or mind. In this great battle the soul is the companion. Mind is the enemy. Therefore you should drive away your internal enemy and obtain peace for yourself. In fact by losing all your friends and relatives, you lost nothing. Oh
king! If you keep on grieving for the past, nobody knows where do you land. You wake up your intellect and divert your mind . Oh king! Soul is permanent which has no relationship with body. However all Jeevas are bearing the bodies it has a perishable nature. Violence is the nature of body that is why, they fight each other. It is not permanent like soul. Hence the body will not have any spiritual qualities. The king who has no attachment for his kingdom, sin will not touch such a king. If a person wants to live in a forest and live by eating roots and fruits and but has not abandoned attachment on worldly objects is as good as dead. It is not great by winning an external enemy. One should have the skill to win over his internal enemy. That alone will pave the path for salvation. Among the internal enemies the desire is the greatest enemy. There is nothing in this world without a desire. Though one recites Vedas, performs rituals, gives hefty donations, there will be some desire behind it. There are some desires due to lust. I will tell you. You listen. Kaama geetas: (The sons of kama (Desire) Desire: 1. Unless one keeps me away nobody can defeat me. Even Vedas are pleasing me. Hence nobody can do harm to me. Whoever tries to throw me out, I stay in him in the form of thoughts. But he doesnt know I am living in himself as a thought. As a result he cant defeat me. 2. If anyone tries to overwhelm me by penance, I will take birth in the form of the fruits of penance. Nobody can spoil me. 3.Some may try to destroy me and seek salvation. I reside in even in him as a thought of salvation. So nobody can kill me. I am permanent. The sons of kama (Desire), those who will not commence a work deliberately, or who commences a work and drops in the middle, those who do penance and doesnt aspire either fruits of it or salvation can win over the desire. I will tell you how to win over a desire: You dont allow the desire to enter your mind. You perform Aswameda yaga with a righteous manner. You perform all your acts keeping desire by your side as a spectator. It is not possible for anybody to bring back those who were dead in the battle. You stop grieving for them. You keep giving donations; perform rituals to the extent possible. By doing these two things you will become glorious in this world and enjoy comforts in the other world Dharmaraja was thus convinced and prompted to do Aswameda yaga. To purify himself he stayed on the banks of river Ganga for a few days . After few days they all returned to Hastinapura and Dharmaraja began to rule well.
Krishna and Arjuna went and stayed for some days in Indraprasta. Krishna said: Krishna: Arjuna! I happily spent good time with you. Balarama is waiting for me at Dwaraka. I want to see my father and mother and I am also anxious to see all my people. If you and Dharmaraja permit me, I will go to Dwaraka as early as possible. So I have to take permission from Dharmaraja. Krishna teaches Arjuna the knowledge of Brahman: Arjuna: Krishna! You must return to Dwaraka. I agree. Yet some more matters are pending. When we entered the battle field my mind was confused. You taught me so many secrets about the soul. I could not grasp all of them at that time. Tell me again I would like to hear from you. Krishna: My dear brother-in-law! Those things I taught on that day were the path for the abode of Brahman. It seems you lacked intellect and devotion at that time. As a result you could not grasp them . Is it possible to repeat such Maha Vakyas now and then? They come spontaneously. However I will tell you a story which may lead to the abode of Brahman. You listen. Long ago a brahmin by name Kasyapa came to me. I asked him oh superior brahmin! You teach me the knowledge of eternal truth. He said: Krishna! I saw a sage. He told me that he won the control on his senses. He said that he had the knowledge and wisdom . He told me that he left his wife and even the great intellectuals will worship him. He told me what he learnt from a sage. Now I will tell you what I heard from him. You listen. Siddha said to brahmin. Sage: I did several virtuous karmas and enjoyed all sensual pleasures. I also obtained heaven after a great effort. After exhausting all my fruits of action I was thrown out. I was entangled with the internal enemies like lust and fury, etc. As a result I was caught up in a cycle of birth and death. In this process I had several fathers, mothers, brothers and sons I dont know how many times I was born and how many times I was dead. I suffered many misfortunes. I suffered on earth as well as in a hell. I was harassed on several occasions. At the same time I also enjoyed several pleasures. I am vexed with all this routine. Then only I had an inclination to have the knowledge of soul. After a great Sadhana I attained the state of Siddha Samadhi. I learnt to live as
a spectator without having any relationship with the worldly people. I am confident that I will reach the abode of Brahman in a short time. You are modest. You have a desire for the knowledge of soul. That is why you have chosen me as your guru. I am pleased with you. I am accepting you as my disciple. Now you tell me what do you expect from me. I will give you whatever you want Brahmin: Oh virtuous! You are an ocean of kindness. You teach me the knowledge of Brahman and make me fortunate. Bless me to keep away from the cycle of birth and death Sage: I will teach you the knowledge of Brahman. With that you will obtain everything to reach the abode of Brahman. To do all virtuous acts body is a tool . If you follow the path of dharma you will acquire knowledge of Brahman. Therefore one should maintain the body at any cost. I will teach you where people are entangled in a state of confusion. Ignorant people eat food as much as they can at all times. They will eat all sorts of food whether it helps their body or not. Either they eat more or starve. Immediately after eating they gets into sleep or involves in sex. Such a person will suffer with vata, pitta and sleshma. The effects of vata, pitta, sleshma: One should do right things to protect his body. Otherwise lust and fury will flare up and destroy the body. Sometimes contortions may take away the life. If such contortions flares up at all sensitive organs might be spoiled and lead to death. Sleshmam is one such contortion. It will appear in the form of phlegm and cover the body from inside and outside. Slowly it will enter the throat and obstruct breathing. With that Jeeva cant inhale the air properly. The Jeeva cant adjust himself inside the body without the proper supply of oxygen and go out. Hence sleshmam is a disease which can take away life from the body. In normal course the mind will enjoy the pleasures of senses like the mouth, nose, ears, etc. when the phlegm is blocked all its nine holes in the body all the organs will lose their strength. Therefore all organs will stop working. Now I will tell the ill effects of Vatam which will melt the fats in the body and weaken the joints. This is the mother of pain in the joints and
paralysis. When the vatam is in the proper order, the man can use his tongue, legs, hands etc as they desire. If all the defects of a rheumatic accumulate at one place the fever (sannipatam) will develop. This disorder will attack the pregnant women and take their life. It also exposes in the form of epilepsy and mental disorders. At the end it will take the life out. In this manner the Jeeva will pass through the fruits of previous actions and enjoys when time ripes. In this manner as decided by the fate those who did sins will suffer in the hell, those who did virtuous acts will enjoy pleasures in the heaven. However they are not eligible for salvation. In addition to the hell and heaven, there are some more upper lokas also such as the world of stars (Nakshatra lokam) the zone of moon (Chandra Mandalam), the zone of sun (Surya Mandalam). Those lokas are also not permanent. As long as the balance of their fruits of action remains that much period the Jeeva will enjoy the pleasures of heaven. After the balance of it is exhausted he will be thrown out of the heaven. Such lokas cannot be said as permanent. Salvation alone is the permanent loka. I will tell you how a pregnancy will form. Jeeva will enjoy or suffer the good and bad the fruits of action in a mixed way. Such a phalanubavam is known as birth. When a man and woman enter sexual acts, both sukla and sonitta in suitable proportions will enter into the stomach of a woman and forms as a beejam. The mixing in such a way is the creative skill of Brahma. In this way the beejam formed out of sukla and sonittas will become a pindam and develops. This pindam in course of time secures organs. The Jeeva who gets out of the mothers stomach will conduct his life based on the fruits of acts in his previous births. He will die after enjoying them. Again based on them, he will take birth again. Until the Jeeva finally attains salvation, this cycle of birth and death will continue in an endless manner. So I will tell you how to attain salvation. Donations, tranquility, subduing passion, religious studentship, kindness, not expecting the others wealth or woman, control of sense organs, worshipping the parents, worshipping the guru, worshipping devatas, worshipping ancestral parents, worshipping guests, truthfulness, cleanliness, having devotion while performing righteous acts and not involving in cruel acts . All these qualities are symptoms of a righteous person. If the righteous person practices all the above gunas he will be eligible for the salvation.
There is one more important practice. That is following dharma. It means the knowledge acquired from guru should be understood and digested. This type of virtuous life should practice as a matter of a religious vow. Agni, act of worship, feed for a sacrificial fire, water, spell, observer are all Brahman for those persons who attained devotion in meditating on Brahma. He will not be entangled in the duals like pain-pleasure. He will not be afraid of darkness in the name of delusion. Long ago Brahma, made a chief element and gave life to it. That was impermanent. The opposite tatwam of it is permanent. Because of these two tatwams the beejam is formed to create all the creatures. The same has been substantiated by Vedas also. Because Brahma has fixed life and death for all these human beings, the beejam will always entangle in the birth and death cycle. The Jeeva who is enjoying fruits of action gets the pleasure and grief. He learns that all are impermanent. Body is impure; all the objects that are created are impermanent. He learns all these things with the knowledge of salvation . The person who realized this knowledge he will not be entangled in bondage and aspires salvation. Since he realizes birth, death, disease and old age are all impermanent, he might try for the salvation. Those who know the nature of others and maintain forbearance are called hermit. Those who maintain friendly relations with everyone and who can win the emotions and desires are known as impartial. Those who can see the soul in all duals will have the knowledge of soul. All these three are eligible for salvation . Elders say the following four are eligible for salvation. 1. Those who can see all duals equally. 2. Those one who handle dharma or who had the character of dharma. 3. Those who leave dharma, ardha, kaama. 4. Those who dont have the feeling that they are not the doers. The above four are eligible for salvation. Among several yogis only one yogi will reach that abode of brilliancy which holds without any support; it cannot be explained by sounds, which has no freedom from subtle five principal elements. The yogi who leaves all desires retains eternal peace in his mind, such a yogi will shine like a flame without oil or wood. Such a yogi will enjoy the complete bliss . As you see a thorn of a munja grass, we see soul also in the same manner. He who realizes that the body is impermanent and concentrates to realize the soul, such a yogi is devoted to the soul. In other words all actions
he performs are did in favour of the soul. Therefore love-hate will not touch him. The dress, fire or water will not bother him. Such a yogi will not aspire for even the throne of Indra. The brahmin told me what all he has heard from a sage . While saying so he said to me Krishna! What is there in this world beyond your knowledge? That sage is myself! He also told me how he cleared the doubts of Kasyapa. You listen. The brahmin: Oh Mahatma! You teach me the superior path to obtain salvation Sage: Though the crocodile enters the water, its mind will always on its eggs laid on the shore. In the same manner, though Jeeva is entangled in pleasure and distresses he should keep his mind always on salvation. In this manner a yogi keeps his mind in control with the splendour of his intellect and attains knowledge of Brahman. The organs cannot see soul . The light of pure mind alone will show the abode of Brahman. My son! A non dualist yogi alone can separate the body consciousness and see the soul. Then all the darkness will disappear and he will enjoy the permanent peace. Then the sage said to the Brahmin, I told you all the secrets about the knowledge of Brahman. Now you can go, practice and attain the abode of Brahman. Oh Krishna! I have sent that brahmin I came here to have your darshan. By saying so the sage disappeared. The brahmin said to me, Oh Krishna! That sage is myself. You know everything. I satisfied Kasyapa in this manner and sent him to his place and came here to see you By saying so he disappeared. Krishna: Arjuna! I told you the words that gives you all good for the world. On the other day we were in the battle field your mind was in full of distress. While we were in the battle field I taught you how to attain the abode of Brahman. At that time your mind was fully filled with distress. Whoever follows the above teaching without any attachment can certainly reach the abode of Brahman. I have told you all that I can. Nobody else can explain better than me. Those who keep faith and do practice he will attain the abode of Brahman within six months.
CHAPTER-2
Brahmana geeta: Krishna: Arjuna! I will tell you a conversation between a wife and her husband. This is popularly known as assurance of safety. There lived a brahmin who had the knowledge of the soul. He desired to live alone and made penance. At that time the wife of that brahmin said to him: Wife: Oh virtuous! Bless me with knowledge of the soul and make me pure Brahmin: I am happy to know that a woman has given thought to attain the abode of Brahman. I shall teach you to the extent I know. All actions we do are known as karmas. Those who choose the path of karma, believe that they can attain salvation through that path. That is ignorance. Because nobody can survive without action, in case one can live without action, that itself is the supreme state of salvation. I always live in soul and meditate on Brahman. Such a concept of Brahman is pure and actionless. All other states are involved with action. Siva in association of Agni is creating all creatures and running the world. Brahma and other devatas also controlled their organs , became pure and meditates on Akshara Brahman. Since yogi won organs, all the actions he performs in the name of the soul, he considered them all as actionless karmas. That is also known as the state of peace. There he will not experience any disturbances or doubts. Such a karma is known as Brahma karma. Brahma means Para Brahman. Agni shto matmakam beejam ramaname pratishtitam. In these ra indicates Agni; ma indicates Rudra beejam. That means Parameswara with Parvathi. The union of Siva and Parvathi was separated by Agni, has seized the semen of Siva he gave birth to a son. That son became Viswakumara (the son of universe). I will tell you the state of imperishable Para Brahma. Since this tatwam is beyond touch, taste, form, sound and odor. Hence it cannot be known from any sense organs. So this permanent Brahman can be known only with pure intellect. All the five vayus are generating in the akshara tatwam and again they are absorbed in the same tatwam. The five vayus are prana vayu in the
heart, apana vayu in the Anusmaranam, samana vayu in naval, sudana vayu in throat, vyana vayu spread all over the body. This is what Vedas say. These five vayus are also known as naga, koorma, krukara, devadarta and dhanunjaya. Nagam lives in the mouth, koormam in the eyelids, krukaram in the sneeze, devadartam in the yawn. Even after the man is dead, these will remain. When Jeeva lives in prana and apana, samana and vyanas will become one. But sleeping udana, prana and upana will not leave from Jeeva. This is how yogis observed the state of Jeeva. Antaryaga: (Doing actions with a sense of Brahma karma) Brahman: Each action is considered as ritual. The soul lives as a spectator is known as observer. Therefore no action will touch him but all actions are done by him. All the actions that organs perform is assumed as Brahma is doing it (Brahma Karma). That is called Antaryagam. That will be responsible for the bondage and salvation . However, if one does as a mere action that will become bondage. Now I will tell you about Agni who is called as Vyswanara. For performing Antaryaga, soul will live in the form of a sensational act as Agni and works continuously. The speech takes birth from the mantras such as omkaram and others. The mind runs behind them to achieve Dharma, Ardha, Kaama and Moksha Wife: Oh virtuous! The speech takes place only at the commands of the mind. Then how the mind runs behind the speech? Brahmin: The speech comes out at the provocation of the soul and with the help of mind and udana vayu. This is what normally everybody thinks but while performing certain special actions mind alone runs behind the speech. To monitor the ways how the mind and the speech behave will lead to salvation. When, mind lies in peace that leads to salvation. Organs of senses are superior to the organs of actions. Mind is superior to the organs of senses. Budhi is superior than the mind. Soul is superior than budhi. If you know this knowledge you can know the Brahma tatwam easily. The conversation between the organs-Mind: Brahmin: Long ago there was a dispute between the mind and the organs . Organs said to the mind, Oh mind! We are also like you. Why are you enforcing your authority on us? The mind said,You should not revolt in this
manner. Without my command nose cannot smell, the tongue cannot taste. It is the same with other organs also. Without me all of you will become dead like fire without brilliance. The organs said,Oh mind! Only after we enjoy, you are enjoying. As such all your enjoyments are defiled by us. Now you tell us where is your superiority? He who makes others also humble with him and he who make others also make to perform their duties with him, such an organ is superior and sent them away. But they refused to go back to their places. Knowing their mind Brahma said, Whichever Vayu is critical at a particular time, that Vayu will be the superior Vayu for that situation. In this manner each Vayu will become a necessary for protecting the Prana. In this manner Brahma sent them back to their places. On other occasion a brahmin by name Devala asked Narada Maharishi Oh Maharishi! Of all the five Vayus which will enter the body and start working first. The Vayu which provokes him to live in her stomach; it associates with next Vayu and starts working. Samana Vayu will produce sperm in a man and vyana vayu will generate rajassu in a womans stomach. In that way the sukra and sonittas will join together and forms pregnancy. Such a combination is surely an act of god. The rajassu that was made a fresh will become thick and forms as sperm. At that time the prana will enter into the sperm. Prana will protect the sperm. Because of these two, apana vayu spreads. At that time the vayus behave, prana vayu travels downwards and apana vayu upwards. The Agni in those two vayus will produce udana, vyana and samana vayus. The yogi who knows the nature of pregnancy associates with all devatas. Such a virtuous Agni will live between prana and apana and notices him as udya roopa. The prana and apana will spread all over the body day and night and form duals like pleasure and pain. The Agni that generates between prana and apana is known as udyana vayu. In this manner who had the knowledge of Antaryaga alone knows the state of advaita. Brahma himself told us this udana tatwam. The state of Jeevaatma: The entire world is filled with karaka trayam. Kaamam (cause), karma (action), karta (doer) these three are known as karaka trayam. All sense organs, organs of actions, mind, and intellect are the outcome of karanam. All
those things that are to be thought and known are known as karmas. With the help of this karma and karanam, Jeeva will perform seven actions viz eating, smelling, seeing, touching, hearing, thinking and decision taking. Through them only all actions are performed. If Jeeva wants he can drive away all those actions. While driving them away, if he can develop sraadha and nishta he will attain salvation. If the Jeeva doesnt assume that he is not the doer of all the actions of karaka trayam, the souls splendours is like a brilliant Agni. In that flame avidya shines like a flame without smoke. This is the way how to attain salvation. Now I am seriously trying to get out of bondage. To attain that, I am accepting asceticism. If I do that Sriman Narayana will be pleased and absorb me in him. That is called salvation. Oh woman! Paramatma alone can dictate. I obey his orders. I follow the teachings of my guru. I shall lie low and patiently cross all the hurdles. I learnt the way how to reach the abode of Brahman from the elders. Long ago all devatas went to Brahma and asked him to teach the safe path to reach Brahman. He told worship of para brahmam is the right path. I am also following the same path to cross the thick forest Wife: Oh virtuous! You tell me how that forest looks like? Brahmin: That forest is full of anger, greed, desires. They took hold of organs . I can come out such a thick forest of family way. There I dont differentiate small or big and such duals. In other words I dont have the feeling of that I am the doer. Then he will become fearless, which is known as dhruti (spirit). For such a hero can easily achieve Nivrutti i.e. akshara tatwam. In that forest even the trees are dedicated by satisfying the guests. They are all personification of Para Brahman. The ascetics in that forest will be always enjoying bliss. There the sky is the limit. Since sun is the ruler of the forest, it will be shining always. In that forest all are students with devotion. Desires are the reason for the bondage. Because of the bondage likes and dislikes takes place. There the brahmin will do all acts without the desire. That is he will not think he is the doer. I will tell you a conversation between an ascetic and a ritual official (yagnika). The latter kept everything ready to sacrifice an animal in the ritual. Suddenly another ascetic came there and asked, Oh yagnika! Is it not a sin to kill an animal?
Yagnika: If you have faith in Vedas you will not talk like that. This goat is not killed. We are actually sending it to the superior lokas Sanyasi: Yagnika! If this goat is going to heaven what benefit it gets? Yagnika: Good question! When we perform ritual,and give sacrifice we get superior lokas. Have you not read all these things in Vedas? Sanyasi: I am also citing the same Vedas and telling you that the violence is a sin Yagnika: When you are meditating you are controlling the air. Dont you know that is also an act of violence? Sanyasi: Yagnika! This worship of brahmam was derived out of penance and knowledge. By controlling the Vayu I am driving away the kshara tatwam (sensual pleasures) from the body which is made of five elements. How can you call it as violence? Yagnika: Those who follow elders only could able to distinguish between the good and bad. I have purified this animal and kept ready for sacrifice. At this moment you have come and talk about kshara and akshara tatvas. As I am following Vedas no sin will touch me, even if you say it is a violence. I will complete the ritual and reach superior lokas. Sanyasi: Instead of sacrificing an animal, it is better to do a ritual involving penance only On hearing the Sanyasis words, the yagnika abandoned the sacrifice. Wife: I understand all your teachings . Unless one has a constant practice, it is difficult to follow all your teachings. Not only that, I heard everything in a short time. Therefore there is every possibility of forgetting a few of your teachings. Hence I would request you to teach me in a simple way to attain salvation Brahmin: One has to rub the arani to produce fire. In the same way the penance of a Brahmin and Veda from a guru will be practiced to develop wisdom. That is the path of salvation Arjuna: Krishna! With your grace my intellect has become pure. I understand the subtle nature of Brahma tatwam. Now you tell me who is the guru and sishya Krishna: Arjuna! I am that guru. My mind is sishya
CHAPTER-3
Krishna wants to go to Dwaraka: Krishna said to Arjuna It is a long time since I left Dwaraka. My mind is anxious to see my father and others. Arjuna said We shall go to Hastina, meet Dharmaraja. He may not object your going to Dwaraka. I will also tell him. They both went to Hastina. They met Dhrutarashtra, Gaandhari and Kunti and made them happy. From there he visited the palaces of Vidura, Dhaumya, Yuyuthsu, Sanjaya and other relatives. When he went to Dharmaraja, he came forward embraced Krishna and worshipped. When Dharmaraja was in the Sabha, Arjuna said, Brother! Krishna wants to return to Dwaraka to see his father, brother and other relatives. He seeks your permission Dharmaraja agreed for Krishna going to Dwaraka and requested him to come with all his relatives at the time of performing Aswameda yaga. Krishna promised him and went back to Dwaraka. Satyaki accompanied him. Krishna visits the ashrama of Udanka: Krishna, on his way to Dwaraka , went to the ashrama of Udanka Maharishi,who worshipped Krishna and prostrated at his feet and said, Krishna! You are a sinless person. You pacified both Pandavas and Kauravas. Thus you pleased all the people. With your statesmanship you made them to enjoy their respective kingdoms On hearing Udankas words Krishna understood the satire of the maharishi and said, Maharishi! I tried my level best to make a compromise. I spoke in a polite manner. Since they did not concede, I even frightened them. Again to bring down the atmosphere I pacified Duryodhana. In this manner I tried by all means to bring out a compromise, but Duryodhana did not agree. Though Bheeshma, Drona and other elders advised him in several ways, he gave a deaf ear to all their advises. As a result war became inevitable. In that war all Kauravas died and reached heaven. In Pandavas side also, only those five brothers survived. All others were dead. Who can escape the fate? On hearing Krishnas words, Udanka became furious and said, Krishna! You have negotiated the compromise talks with a deceitful mind. Because of you, there was a great human loss. I will curse for your sinful act. Krishna said with a smile:
Please be calm! Maharishi! You listen to me patiently. After listening me you do what you want. However anger doesnt suit such an accomplished sage! You suppress your anger in your own interest. Cool down. You listen my humble submission. I am not afraid of curse from a small time ascetic like you. If you curse me, you are exhausting all your penance, brahmacharya and everything but it will not do any harm to me. So dont hurry to give a curse. Udanka said,Krishna! You tell what all you want to tell. I will listen patiently. If I am convinced I will not curse you. On hearing the maharishis words, Krishna said with a smile. Udanka! All the three gunas lies within me. All Maruthus, Manus and devatas are all born from me. I am All Pervading and living in all creatures. I alone is the chittu and sap . Omkaram, four vedas, four varnas, and four ashramas, all connected duties and customs are all myself. Salvation is my nature. Those who perform rituals they worship me and become sinless. Sinners are seeking my protection and getting deliverance from their sins. Yama was born from my mind. Know him as my eldest son. To protect dharma and righteous people I incarnate in different forms and names in different times. I took the form of Brahma and do creation. I take the form of Vishnu and rule the creation. I take the form of Siva and withdraw all lokas into myself. I tried in several ways to protect the cruel Kauravas and make them to live happily with Pandavas. All my efforts were appreciated by Vyasa and other maharishis . Unrighteous Kauravas were killed in the hands of righteous Pandavas. Now you do whatever manner you want to do. On hearing Krishnas words, Udanga said, Oh Parameswara! I know all these things earlier. However out of anger and passion my eyes were closed. Your teachings opened my eyes and made me pure. Ignore my innocence and arrogance. I seek your protection. You bless me with your Viswaroopa. Krishna shows Viswaroopa to Udanka: At the request of Udanka, Krishna showed the same Viswaroopa as shown to Arjuna. Udanka trembled, was astonished and with folded hands he prayed by uttering several stotras. Krishna withdrew his Viswaroopa and asked Udanka to seek a boon. Udanka said Protector of all worlds! After seeing your Viswaroopa, what desire I have? If you wish to give a boon, you bless the entire land with sufficient water.
Krishna was happy and said, oh Udanka! I am blessing you with water. Whenever you need water you remember me, you will get. You permit me to go to Dwaraka One day Udanka was wandering in the forest. He felt thirsty. Immediately he remembered Krishna. As soon as did this, a chandala appeared before him. He was clothed in filthy rags. He had five hunting hounds in leash and a waterskin strapped to his shoulder. The chandala grinned at Utanga and said, You seem to be thirsty. Here is water for you, offered the bamboo spout of his water-skin to the ascetic to drink from. Utanga, looking at the man and his dogs and his water skin, said in disgust: Friend, I do not need it, thank you. Saying this, he thought of Krishna and reproached him in his mind: Indeed, was this all the boon you gave me? Udanka become furious and shouted at chandala in harsh words and remembered Krishna. Krishna appeared and Udanka said: Krishna! When I asked water, you sent it through a chandala. I preferred to give up my life instead of taking water from a chandala. Now I came to know the boon you gave me is a low one Krishna said,You are mistaken! What was offered was not water! I went all the way to Indra, convinced him and sent nectar to you with a view of favoring you, whereas you are finding fault with me. You have missed an opportunity of having nectar. However the boon I have given you will not go waste. You get water throughout the year. Whenever you wish the clouds, it will give you plenty of rain. Sri Krishna reaches Dwaraka: All people of Dwaraka welcomed Krishna. He went to his father Vasudeva. He asked Krishna, I heard about the battle of Kurukshetra. But you tell me the details of that great battle. He told the entire events in a nut shell. Vyasa advised Dharmaraja to perform Aswamedha: As per the advice of Vyasa Maharishi Dharmaraja decided to do Aswamedha yaga . All the brothers of Dharmaraja encouraged him to follow the advice of Vyasa Maharishi. Bheema said: Brother! Today if we go on an expedition of war there is no wealth left in the country. All the wealth was spent in the battle of Kurukshetra. So if we
want to perform Aswamedha you have to go to Himalayas and search for the gold which the Brahmins have hidden. Let us go to Himalayas and pray Lord Siva.After getting his blessing, we may start searching for the treasure. Dharmaraja was happy and decided to perform Aswamedha. He went to Dhrutarashtra and took his permission. He met Kunti and took her permission. She was happy and blessed him. He asked Yuyuthsu to protect the kingdom till they return from Himalayas. He also requested Vidura to assist Yuyuthsu. Then Dharmaraja and his brothers went Himalayas with a big army. Vyasa Maharishi arrived on Himalayas: The moment Pandavas reached Himalayas, Vyasa Maharishi arrived there. Dharmaraja worshipped him and requested, Oh maharishi! You order us how to proceed to search for the treasure. Vyasa asked Dharmaraja and his brothers to sleep on dharba grass for that night. Next morning they worshipped Lord Siva. They engaged strong and hefty soldiers for digging the land to find out the treasure hidden by the brahmins. After a few days they found the treasure. Dharmaraja prostrated at the feet of Vyasa Maharishi and worshipped the treasure with sandal paste, flowers and fruits. The entire treasure was loaded on the chariots, elephants and horses, besides head loads on soldiers. They all started towards Hastina. Krishna arrives Hastinapura with his relatives: Krishna, Balarama, Satyaki and other relatives went to Hastina to witness the Aswamedha yaga. They went to Dhrutarashtra, Gaandhari and Kunti and exchanged pleasantries. While they were celebrating they got the news that Uttara delivered a boy. That news made everyone happy. After a while, somebody else came and said the boy was born dead. With that news all of them were drowned in an ocean of grief. Krishna also felt unhappy. He took Satyaki with him and went to Kunti, Draupadi and other women who were grieving. Kunti request Krishna to give life to Parikshittu: Kunti came to Krishna and requested him, Krishna! You have protected my sons. Now also you protect your nephews sons. When Aswadhama released Brahma sironamaka astra you assured us that you would give long life for the boy. So you give life to this boy.
Krishna promised Aunt! I assure you that I will give life to this boy. By saying so Krishna said, I will never say untruth. While you are all looking, I will bring back life into this boy and took a vow by saying: Had I have great regard for brahmins, and had I have given hefty dhakshanas to them let prana enter into this child. Had I protected dharma, let prana enter into the body. Had I killed Kamsa and other cruel people to establish dharma, let prana enter into this boy. Had I loved Arjuna as my life, let Prana enter into this child. While Krishna was taking a vow, the Prana entered into the body of the boy limbs started moving. He opened his eyes and looked around. At that time a voice from the sky praised Krishna by several stotras. On that occasion Krishna suggested the name of the boy as Parikshittu. Vyasa comes to Pandavas: Dharmaraja: Maharishi! With your grace we were able to procure the treasure. I want to utilize the entire treasure for performing Aswamedha yaga. Vyasa:Dharmaraja! Aswamedha will destroy all the sins. You give heavy gifts and become pure. Dharmarajan: Krishna! You instruct me to do the yaga. For us you are the mother, father, guru and daivam. Krishna: You perform as instructed by Vyasa Maharishi. Destroy all your sins. You will become purest of the pure after conducting this yaga. I myself suggested you to perform this yaga. As such why I should instruct you again? You order me what I should do while you are dedicated to the ritual. Myself and your brothers will obey your orders. On hearing the words of Krishna, Dharmaraja was happy and requested Vyasa Maharishi Maharishi! You fix the auspicious time to begin the ritual and commence it. Vyasa consulted Yagna valkya, Paila and others. He fixed the auspicious time for releasing the sacrificial horse. That horse would go round all countries and enhance your glory. Vyasa selected a horse as a sacrificial horse. All the elders asked Arjuna to follow the horse as the protector. Nakula and Bheema would take care of the internal security. Sahadeva would take care of the internal administration.
The king of Trigarta fights with Arjuna: As soon as the sacrificial horse entered the country of Trigarta their army attacked the horse. Arjuna said to them, Dharmaraja had instructed me Many kings died in the battle of Kurukshetra. Now on the pretext of protecting the sacrificial horse, dont kill their sons also. You convince them and proceed with the horse. So princes! I dont want to fight with you. The enmity was over at Kurukshetra itself. Dont loose your life. While Arjuna was talking to them, Suryavarma released a number of arrows on Arjuna. Arjuna broke them. In the meanwhile his brother Ketavarma joined his brother and fought with Arjuna. Arjuna thought in himself that those princes are to be taught a lesson with his valour only. Thinking in this manner and not wounding the princes he killed several soldiers. Looking at the loss of their combatants, the brothers came to a compromise and requested Oh Arjuna! Show kindness on us. We will obey your orders. Arjuna gave them all assurance and said, I am assuring your life and kingdom. Dharmaraja is performing Aswamedha ritual. Let us forget all the past and become friends. Please come to the great ritual and be our guests . From there, Arjuna went to the country of Prajyotishaturam. There Vajradatta, the son of Bhagadatta, kept the sacrificial horse under captivity. Arjuna fought with him, broke his bow and made him weaponless. Vajradatta took an elephant and fought with Arjuna ferociously for four days. At the end, Arjuna killed the elephant. With that Vajradatta fell on the ground. Arjuna said,Vajradatta! Dharmaraja has instructed me not to kill kings or their sons. He asked everyone to forget the past enmity. We are now performing an Aswamedha yaga. You all come to witness the ritual and be our guests. Vajradatta accepted the superiority of Arjuna and said with folded hands, Thanks for the invitation, Arjuna! . From there the sacrificial horse entered the country of Sindhu . Jayathra,the king of Sindhu, had died in the battle Kurukshetra. With that vengeance, all his sons obstructed the sacrificial horse and came with a big army to fight Arjuna, who said the pleasing words of Dharmaraja. However they did not concede and but attacked Arjuna, who fought and defeated them. In the meanwhile Dussala, the daughter of Dhrutarashtra and the wife of the slain king Jayathra, came weeping with folded hands and said Brother Arjuna! You leave your nephews with life. Then Arjuna consoled his sister and said, Dussala! Dont worry! Go back with your sons. I will not do any harm to them. You and your sons come to witness the mighty ritual.
Babruvahana fights with Arjuna: Then he proceeded to Manipura. King Babruvahana, his son, came forward with folded hands and prostrated at the feet of Arjuna and said, Oh father! I welcome you to my house. Arjuna did not appreciate the approach of his son and said, If you are a hero, obstruct the sacrificial horse, fight with me and show your valour. Babruvahana said, Father! How can I fight with you? In the meanwhile Uloochi came from Patala and said to Babruvahana,My son! I am Uloochi. I came here to do something auspicious to you. You listen to my words and fight with your father as desired by him. That alone keeps him happy. Babruvahana said, Mother! My salutations to you. How can I fight with my father? You are advising me to fight with him. He also wants me to give a fight. Hence I have no option and I will fight with him. Babruvahana sent Uloochi to his palace and fought with Arjuna. However tough fight he gave, Babruvahana did not give way to him. So Arjuna released several arrows on Babruvahana, who became ferocious, took an arrow as powerful as Vajrayudha and cast on his heart, which felled Arjuna . His son was also injured. Chitrangada, the mother of Babruvahana came to avert the fight. By that time Arjuna and Babruvahana both fell on ground. Chitrangada said, Uloochi! Because of your wicked advice only, both the father and son fought and our husband fell down. Are you not a chaste wife? Can you encourage our son to fight his father? I am more worried about my husband than my son. Babruvahana came out from his fainting and said to his mother, Mother! I am a sinner who injured my father. So I enter into a Prayopavesam and leave this body. Fortunately Uloochi remembered SanJeevani, the life restoring herbal plant. Immediately it came to her hand. She took it to Arjuna and made him to inhale. After a few moments Arjuna got up, as if he was waking. Uloochi said, Oh Babruvahana! I created an illusion and made Arjuna fell dead. Now I brought SanJeevani from our loka and made him alive. There is a story behind my encouraging you to fight with your father. I will tell you that story; you listen. Oh Arjuna! Because you killed Bheeshma with the help of Sikhandi, a sort of sin affected you. If you dont do expiatory act, you will reach hell after your lifetime. To get deliverance from the sin, I manipulated your death at the
hands of your son. Now you are relieved of that sin. I will tell you how I came to know about that sin. One day I went to the river Ganga for a bath. Vasuvus also came for a bath at that time. Ganga also came in a human form. They said to her, Mother! Arjuna killed Bheeshma, by keeping Sikhandi in front of him. However Bheeshma did not retaliate to Arjunas arrows. Taking advantage of that, Arjuna made Bheeshma fell down. This has resulted in the attachment of sin for Arjuna. After his lifetime, we will not allow him go to superior lokas. I heard their words, went home and told my father. He prayed to those Vasuvus and pleased them. They abandoned their anger and blessed with the relief from the sin by saying,If he is defeated by his own son, that sin will not touch him. In view of this background, I encouraged Babruvahana to fight with Arjuna and saw to it that he was defeated. Arjuna became happy and embraced Babruvahana . He invited Babruvahana, Uloochi and Chitrangada to come to Hastinapura to witness the Aswamedha ritual. Meghasandha fought with Arjuna: Arjuna entered the city of Rajagruha. Meghasandhi, the king, obstructed the sacrificial horse and invited Arjuna for a fight. He fought ferociously but he could not win over him. At the end, Meghasandhi was frightened and surrendered to Arjuna, who said, You dont get frightened . I will not kill you. Dharmaraja has ordered me not to kill any king. Now I am inviting you to come to witness the Aswamedharitual . The sacrificial horse entered the country of Chedi. King Sarahu, son of Sisupala, who was killed by Krishna earlier, obstructed the horse. But he could not win over Arjuna and surrendered to him. In the same manner, Arjuna defeated Tenkanadhipati, king of Kiratas, Chitrangu, king of Dasharuva and King Ekalavya, king of Nishadas. From there the horse entered Andhra, Dravida, Malayala, Kannada and various other kingdoms in the South. From there, he went to Sowrashtram and Gokarnam. From there he reached Dwaraka. In Dwaraka, all the Yadavas welcomed the horse and worshipped Arjuna. From there it entered the kingdom of Gaandhara from where Sakuni emerged. There the sons of Sakuni fought with Arjuna and fell down. Arjuna said, Oh sons of Sakuni! Let us forget all our previous enmity and please come to Aswamedha ritual as our esteemed guests. From there horse reached Hastinapura.
Dharmaraja came to know that Arjuna was returning with the horse and asked Bheema to give a fitting welcome for Arjuna and the sacrificial horse. Bheema took the scholars , maharishis, and kings went ahead to receive Arjuna. On knowing the arrival of Arjuna, people of Hastina went ahead to receive him in a big way. While waiting for him, they started discussing the glorious deeds of Arjuna . Dharmaraja, Bheema, Krishna, Balarama and many other kings went ahead to receive Arjuna. At that time Babruvahana came and prostrated at the feet of Dharmaraja . The hosts allotted a big palace to Babruvahana, Chitrangada and Uloochi for their stay. Dharmaraja performs Aswamedha yaga: Dharmaraja dedicated to Aswamedha rituals to Sri Krishna Parabrahma for his grace. The priest and the rithvicks were reciting the mantras . Bheema was looking after the guests. The holy place of ritual was built with golden bricks. All the utensils were made of gold. Veda Vyasa and his disciples had taken care of the overall supervision. At the time of killing the sacrificial horse, Draupadi was standing by its side and offerings were given to various devatas through her hands. Pandavas inhaled the smoke of the offerings derived from the horse. Dharmaraja had given away all his kingdom, to the brahmins as dakshana. Vyasa Maharishi refused it, Dharmaraja! Myself and rithivicks are not interested in taking this kingdom. You give us gold and take back the land from us. On hearing Vyasa, Dharmaraja said: Oh Maharishi! I have given all the land as dakshana with pleasure. Now I dont want to take it back. Let them enjoy. I will go to forest and do penance Draupadi and other Pandavas also agreed for Dharmarajas pleadings in one word. All the brahmins and the visitors were astonished at the decision taken by all Pandavas. At that time a voice from the sky also appreciated the stand taken by Dharmaraja. Vyasa said: Oh Dharmaraja! I am putting the land given to me and rithivicks as dakshana for sale. There is no harm or injustice in buying the land from us. So you satisfy us our desire and send us happily. Krishna said,Dharmaraja! You follow the instructions of Vyasa maharishi. Dharmaraja agreed and purchased the land by giving away the entire gold to the brahmins. Veda Vyasa received the gold and distributed it to the
rithivicks, priests and brahmins. Vyasa gave a part of his share to Kshatriyas, Vyasas, Sudras and others. Remaining portion of his share of gold was given to Kunti who requested maharishi to give away that gold to all the needy people. Dharmaraja and his relatives performed supplementary sacrifice to atone for any defects and became pure. Dharmaraja and his brothers prostrated at the feet of Vyasa Maharishi and had his blessings. Vyasa Maharishi and his disciples took leave of them. Dharmaraja gave valuable gifts to Krishna, Balarama and Babruvahana. The story of Saktuprasta: When Dharmaraja was feeding brahmins at the time of Aswamedha rites, a mongoose came from a hole and said, Oh brahmins! This Aswamedham is nowhere near the donation given by Saktuprasta. All the brahmins were astonished and said, You tell us in what manner this ritual is inferior to that ritual done by Saktuprasta. The mongoose said, Oh brahmins! Long ago there lived a brahmin by name Saktuprasta in Kasi. He had no desires. He used to collect grains fallen in the field and was living on that petty collection of grains and fed his wife, his son and daughter-in-law. After sometime there was a great famine in that land. They were all struggling even for bare food. All the four people used to go on four directions, gather grains and prepare food out of it and shared equally. Yama came as a guest of Saktuprasta: One day a brahmin came to their house as a guest. They all worshipped the guest and offered the share of brahmin to the guest. He ate and said, I want some more. Then brahmins wife gave her share also to the guest. The guest was still hungry. His son also offered his share to the guest. In spite of that, the guest said I am still hungry. Then his daughter-in-law also gave her share without any hesitation. After that the guest gained good strength in his body and expressed his happiness and said to the Brahmin, Oh superior brahmin! I am Yama Dharmaraja. I came to test your established custom of respecting the guest. All devatas, Yakshas and siddhas were surprised at the excellent hospitality of the family of the noble Saktuprasta. Yama said, All deva rishis are anxious to see you. Brahma heard about your superior quality and is anxious to see you. He is sending a Vimana. You, your wife, your son and daughter-in-law go in that Vimana to Brahma loka In
the meanwhile the Vimana arrived. All the four boarded the Vimana and left for Brahma loka. After they left I came out from a hole. As their food was giving good fragrance I was tempted and rolled on the floor where they have taken food. On one side of my body and half of my head were filled with the particles of that food. Immediately half of my body became gold. From then onwards wherever big danas were made I used to go and test on the second side of my body. I came to know that Dharmaraja was making a big feast and giving donations. I thought if I roll on this ground, my second side might become gold. But unfortunately it remained as before. Therefore I came to a conclusion that the donations given by Dharmaraja are not as virtuous as that of Saktuprasta. The climax news about Mahabharatham is how the relatives and friends of Dharmaraja are recognized, welcomed and honoured and given places in the heaven. Indra : All kings must pass through the hell because this is what Vedas said. Both the virtues and sins live together. By virtues- one gets heaven, by sins- one gets hell. Those who enjoy heavenly pleasures in the beginning will suffer in the later part. In the same way who suffered hell in the beginning, the rest of the period they would enjoy heavenly pleasures. Those who had little virtues enjoy pleasures first. Those who had little sins suffer hell first. You forget your grief. All your brothers Karna and Draupadi and her sons are all placed in superior lokas. Because of your virtuous acts and with punya phalam of Aswamedha, Rajasuya and other yagas, you are placed in the line of Mandhata, Nala, Harischandra, Dileepa, Dushyantha and such other virtuous kings. To compliment you, Gandharvas, Garudas, Urudas and Sachyas are waiting in line. Indra narrates the divinity of Pandavas: Indra gave a new information about Drupadi. He said Dharmaraja! This woman is Sri Maha Lakshmi, who got the name of Draupadi as the daughter of Drupada. These five superior Gandharvas were born as the sons of Draupadi
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Glossary
Aatma Aatmananada Agni, Agnihotra Akshara Para Brahma akshara tatwam aksharopasana akshauhinis The soul Bliss Fire god Non perishable Para Brahman The Eternal Being Worship of Para Brahman Army consisting of 21870 chariots, 21870 elephants, 65610 horses, 109350 soldiers A yaga performed by yogi in his heart Recollection Vayu Wealth Arrow The horse sacrifice A supplementary sacrifice to atone for defects. Ignorance Seed Service to Brahman Abode of Brahman A weapon The real state of Brahman Intellect The abode of moon
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Antaryaga Anusmaranam Apana ardha Astra Aswameda yaga Avabruda snanas Avidya beejam Brahma karma Brahma loka Brahma sironamaka astra Brahma tatwam Budhi Chandra Mandalam
Aswamedhaparvamu
Chedi Dakshana dakshina arani Danas dandam Dandaneeti Darshan devadartam dharba dharma Gokarnam gunas havisis indriyas Jeevas jnana jnatees kaama kaama geetas karaka trayam karanam karma karma phalams karta Koorma, koormam krodha Krutayuga kshara kshara tatwam Kshatriya
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A country Gift given to a brahmin after a religious function One of the two wooden pieces for making fire for making Agnihotra Donation Gift Criminal procedure code Visit or appearance The conch of Arjuna Religious grass Duty A place Three gunas Satva, Rajas, Tamo Offering to gods at a yagna Organs Soul Knowledge One collaterally related by descent Desire The sons of kama (Desire) Three actions (word thought and deed) An organ of sense Action Fruits of action Doer A tortoise Fury One of the four yugas Perishable The reality of perishables One of the four varnas
Maha jnanis Maha Vakyas Maha yagna mantras moham moksha Munja naga Nakshatra lokam nishta omkaram Paila pancha bhoothas Para Brahman pindam pitta Prajyotishaturam prana vayu Prayopavesam punya phalam rajassu samana vayu sambarams samsaram sannipatam sattu Siddha Samadhi sleshma somarasa Sowrashtram sraadha Stambhana mantra
Aswamedhaparvamu
A learned person The exalted knowledge A great sacrifice Magical formula Delusion Salvation Assort fine grass Snake Abode of stars Devotion Pranavam; Para Brahman A saint Five principal elements Supreme Spirit Round mess Bile A city Oxygen Abandoning from food and awaiting Fruits of virtuous acts One of the three gunas A Vayu Materials Bondage A fever Sap Accomplishment Phlegm Juice from some leaf A state Devotion Mantra of stopping
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stotras sudana vayu Surya Mandalam tapasya tapo yagna Tatva jnanam udana tatwam udana vayu upadrashta upana uttara arani Uttarayanam Vajrayudha vigjnana vikaram Vimana Viswaroopa vyana vayu Yaga; yagna hrudayam indriyas Ithihasas jala durgam jalam Jalatharpanas Japa Japa nishta; Japa phalam; Japakarma Jata jatakarma jeeva tatvam
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Praise of god A Vayu Abode of sun god Meditation A sacrifice with tapasya Knowledge of eternal truth A vayu A Vayu Observer A Vayu One of the wooden piece to generate fire The sun moves from south to north A weapon of Indra Wisdom An image Self moving; chariot of semi-gods He who exists in all forms; Lord Vishnu One of the five vital airs An act of worship; sacrifice Heart Organs Epics Fort in the middle of water Water Offering water to dead or pitrudevatas Muttering prayers Firmness in prayers Matted hair Ceremony performance by dwijas at the time of birth The reality of Jeeva
Jeeva; jeevaatma jnana jnana marga Jyothi kaalam kaama kaamam Kaamandha kaashtam kailasa kala Kala pasham, Kalapasham Kala swaroopam Kala vigjnanam Kalaka Kalapurusha Kaliyuga karma karma phalam karmakandam karta Kratus krodha krodham Krutayuga kshara Kshatriya Kshatriya dharma leelas lobham madhaneam
Aswamedhaparvamu
Soul Knowledge The path of knowledge Light Time Desire Fury Blind with passion A piece of log measuring of time equal to 1/450th of muhurta Abode of Lord Siva Dream The noose of the god of death The nature of time Knowledge of time A spot in the skin God of death One of the four yugas Action Fruits of action Course of action Doer Sacrifice Fury Desire One of the four yugas Perishable One of the four varnas The duty of a kshatriya Miracles Greediness Churning
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Maha Jala maha yagas Mahaprastanam Mahatatvam Mahattu mahee Majja mamakaram manassu manava Manmadha mantra marga matcharyas mastsaram mathi Maya Sakthi Mayasabha Medhavi Midhila mitra moham Moksha, muhurtham Muktha, mukthi Neetisastra nidra nigraham niramayam nirguna Nishadas nishta
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Waters of pralayam Big sacrifices The final departure; death Glory Glorious Earth/cow The marrow of bones Attachment Mind Human Cupid; God of love Magical formula Path Envy Envy; hatred Mind Mystic power Hall built by Mayu for Dharmaraja Intelligent man Capital city of Janaka Friend; The sun god Delusion Salvation Moment; 13th part of a day Salvation The science of ethics Sleep Keeping in check Free from illness The Supreme Being; devoid of all attributes Hunters Devotion
nissanga nivrutti marga Niyama nyayam pancha bhoothas Para Brahma Para tatwam parahu Parama Shanthi paramapadham Paramapurusha; paramatma pasham Patala pavahu pisacha pitara pitara, Pitru karma posham, prabodham pradanam Prajapathi Prajapatyam Prakruthi Prakruti pradanam Pralayam Prana Vayu Prana, pranam pranam, apanam, Pravaha, Pravaha, Aavalu,
Aswamedhaparvamu
Freedom from attachment The path of cessation Principal Justice Five principal elements Supreme Spirit The real state of supreme A vayu Supreme Being Abode of Brahman The Supreme Spirit Rope; The nose as the weapon of Yama The last of the seven regions under earth A vayu An evil spirit; a devil Father Father Ceremony for parents Dependents Awakening; intellect Chief; principal Brahma Para Brahman Primary substance Natures gift Annihilation; Dissolution Oxygen A Vayu Life; vitality A Vayu Flow Vayus
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pravrtutti marga pravruthi Prayopavesam Prudhu Pundarikasha punyam Punyapurusha Puram purusha purusha tatwam purushardhas Purushudu Ragam Raja dharma Rajadandana Rajadharma Rajamandalas Rajaneerthi Rajaneethi Rajasuya Rajo gunas rakshasatatvam rasam rashtram roopam rutus Sabda Brahma sadhacharams Sadhaka
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The way of worldly life The way of worldly life Abandoning from food and awaiting Wide, broad Vishnu Virtue; Religious excellence Virtues mean Town Para Brahman The reality of Para Brahman The principal object of human life and pursuit The supreme being Love; affection; tune Duty of a king Punishment of a king The duty of a king One of the twelve chapters of dandaneeti written by Brahma Statesmanship Statesmanship A sacrifice One of the three gunas Belonging to the characteristic of Rakshasas Subtle quality of liquids Any public calamity Form or figure Season; 2 months part of a year Brahman Superior customs One who accomplishes
sadhanas sadhus sadhyas saguna tatwam Sama Samadhi Samana; samanam samanam. Samasrayam sampahu Samsara Samskaras Samyuka Sandhi Sandhi Sankalpam Sankhsya, sankyas Sankshas Sannati sannati santi bhoda sanyasa ashrama saptangas Saranagathi Sastrajnanam Sastras Satasrugam Sathyavrata satva satva guna Satyam
Aswamedhaparvamu
Accomplishing; means Gentle; pure Semi gods Brahman with form One of four Upayas Deep meditation One of the five yagas A Vayu Complete dependence on others A vayu Cycle of birth and death Making perfect; purity United; possessed of Placing; junction Holding together Will; mental resolve A science of philosophy One of the spiritual practice to attain Brahman Tranquility; peace Nearness Knowledge of peace 4th of the four ashramas Seven constituents Refuge; protection Knowledge of Sastras Science; law Hundred peaks Vow of speaking truth One of the three gunas One of the three gunas Truth
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Satyasvaroopa shanthi shardha sidha skhama skhara and akskhara. skhara tatwas Skhetram Skshetragna Soonyam Soota Sowcham Sparsa Sradha sruti Sukradwaram swadha Swaha Swami; Swamy Swaroopam Swayamvara Swetha Dweepa Tamasu; tamo gunas Tapas; tapassu; tapasya tapasakthi tapasvi taponishta tapovana tarpanas tatvagnanis Tatwam
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A truthful Peace Devotion A yogi pardon Perishable and non perishable The reality of perishable Field; the sphere of action of the soul The soul Non existence; void A caste who drive chariots Purity Heavenly nymph; wives of gandharvas Devotion Road; teachings from Veda Way of semen zeal Offer given to any god; wife of fire god Master The real form Maiden who chooses her husband at a public assembly of suitors Is an Island One of the three primary gunas Meditation Power of tapasya A sadhu who performs tapasya Devotion on tapasya Part of a forest where tapasya is performed Last rites for the departed One who knows the eternal truth Reality
teerdhas Tejassu Tejoroopam Tretayuga trigunas Trikala trikarna udana udhanam udvahu upanaina samskaras Upanaina; Upanayanam Upanishads upasta Upaya Upayas Uttarayanam Vairagyam vajrayudha Vanaprasta ashrama vargas Varna Varnasrama dharmas vasam vasanas Vasantavruttu Vayu Veda; Vedas
Holy water Brightness Supreme Spirit conceived of pure light One of the four yugas One of the three gunas One of the three kalams viz Bhoota, Bhavishyat, Vartmana Principal three karmas by manassu, speech and action A Vayu A Vayu A vayu Initiation of a youth of any of the first three castes into sacred study Thread marriage for a dwija A supplementary text for vedas The external organ of generation in either sex Plan Principal four Upayas sama, dana, bhada, dandopayas The sun moves from south to north Absence of worldly pleasures The weapon of Indra One of the four ashramas Internal Colour Duties of varnas viz Brahmana, kshatriya Vyasa, Sudra House Smell; knowledge derived from memory Two months period in a Telugu calendar Wind Divine knowledge; collection of hymns and prayers
Aswamedhaparvamu
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Vedadhjyanam Vedangas Vedanta Vedaparayanam Vedhika Vedic mantras Vigjnanam vigraham Vigraham vikaras vimanas vinayam Visalaksha vivahu vivekam vratas vyana vyragyam yachaka Yagas; yagna Yakshas Yanam yoga dharmas; yoga marga yoga sastras Yoga siddhi yogabhyasam yogam yogavidya Yugas
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Learning of Vedas Sciences regarded on auxiliary to the Veda The last of the six dharmas of Hindu Philosophy Learning of Veda Platform Collection of hymns and prayers as said in Veda Wisdom An image Statue Change; alteration Self moving; chariot of semi-gods Modesty Siva A vayu Discrimination Religious vow; A course of conduct One of the five vital airs Absence of worldly passions Beggar An act of worship; sacrifice Demigod Vehicle; marching A path of meditation A yoga philosophy established by Patanjali State of perfection of a yogi Practice of meditation (yoga) The system of philosophy established by Patanjali Science of yoga An age of the world
ASHRAMAVASA PARVAM
CHAPTER 1 Dharmaraja did many more rituals and ruled the country in a righteous manner. He worshipped Dhrutarashtra , Gaandhari and Kunti daily. He respected Dhrutarashtra as an emperor and he conducted himself under his instructions. Yuyuthsu, Sanjaya, Vidura and others were acting as his ministers. All subordinate kings respected and revered Dhrutarashtra as before. Dharmaraja used to discuss the day to day administrative matters with Dhrutarashtra, Gaandhari and others. He made them to forget the distress of their sons. One day Dhrutarashtra said, Dharmaraja! You are treating me with all comforts. Even though I lost my sons, you are treating me as your father. You are so magnanimous towards me. I have become very old. My mind is inclined towards penance . Before I do anything I have to take the permission of the king. Before I leave this body, I want to purify myself. For a Kshatriya one should die either in a battle or by doing penance. So you send me to the forest. We will live with ascetics. Wherever we are, we bless for your wellbeing. On hearing Dhrutarashtras words, Dharmaraja retorted, If you desire to go to forest and do penance, how can I live without you? Since my childhood, you as a father, mother, and guru brought me up . I thought you have forgotten all your grief and living in peace. Now only I come to know that you are still grieving for the children. As such what pleasure I can get from this kingdom? I also come with you to the forest and serve you. Still you have a son Yuyuthsu. I will make him the king. You live with him. Even now you are the king. I am your servant. You are not only a king but also my guru and superior among the Kauravas. So you are entitled to order me. Though your sons did harm to me I never kept it in my mind. Because
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of our karma phalam we developed enmity and this harm had happened. For me Gaandhari and Kunti are the same. If you and Gaandhari decided to go to forest I will also come with you. This is truth. Dhrutarashtra: Dharmaraja! You are serving me in a modest way all these years. Should I not do penance even at this age? My throat has become dry. I am not able to speak. Oh Vidura, Krupa, Sanjaya, you all continue to serve Dharmaraja on my behalf . Gaandhari: Dharmaraja! Your father is desirous of performing penance . He was telling me his desire since a long time. As a result he is not taking food and water. Vyasa permits Dhrutarashtra to penance: Vyasa: Dharmaraja! He had become old and lost all his children. Penance alone is the right path for him. Gaandhari also is desirous of performing it. All these years you are serving both of them with respect and devotion. They have forgotten all their distress by your services and were living comfortably. A king either should die in a battle or do penance. Panduraju made Dhrutarashtra as the king and served him as a disciple. With his valour he spread the kingdom and filled the treasury with enormous wealth. After the battle you also served Dhrutarashtra as your father and kept him happy. However his mind is fixed on doing penance . You allow him to go to the forest Dharmaraja said Maharishi! You are our guru. You are leading us in the path of dharma. You are our god. Since he had the permission from you he can go to forest. I am not opposing him. Oh father! Now you take food. Afterwards you do whatever you feel . Dhrutarashtra went inside with Gaandhari and took food. Afterwards Dhrutarashtra taught Rajaneerthi to Dharmaraja . He also taught the way how to win the enemies. He said Dharmaraja you already learnt all these things from Krishna, Bheeshma and Vyasa. However I gave you these few words only out of love for you. Dhrutarashtra said to the people I have taken permission from Vyasa Maharishi and Dharmaraja to perform penance. I am going to forest with Gaandhari. All these years you have respected me for which I am grateful to you. You respect Dharmaraja and his brothers as you respected me all these years.
Vidura: Dharmaraja! Your father wants to do some more special sradhas for his departed sons, Bheeshma and other relatives. So he wants to stay few more days to complete those last rites for them. On hearing Viduras words, Dharmaraja felt happy. But Bheema was unhappy to spend anything on those departed people. Arjuna consoled Bheema and said Brother! Dhrutarashtra is our king. He is the eldest of our family. It is proper to give last rites for Bheeshma and others. He is only asking small money and food grains to fulfill those funeral acts. Dharmaraja agreed for the same. Is it not fair for you also agree with Dharmaraja? Long back we used to seek permission from Dhrutarashtra for our expenses. Now he is asking us. We also should not say no to him. Dharmaraja and Arjuna have prepared to give all that money to Dhrutarashtra to perform special funeral acts. But Bheema was adamant. Dharmaraja and Arjuna asked Vidura to go and convince Bheema. Vidura convinced Bheema and made him to agree to pay all the money that was required by Dhrutarashtra. Dhrutarashtra was happy. He performed the last rites for Bheeshma and others. He gave donations of diamonds, gold, cows and many valuable lands. Dhrutarashtra, Gaandhari go to forest: Dhrutarashtra completed all the sradha karmas for all his departed sons, Bheeshma and others . Apart from that Dharmaraja gave several villages as gift . Dhrutarashtra completed all religious formalities, piously wore Valkalas and left for the forest with Gaandhari. At that time Kunti said, Dharmaraja! They are like my father-in-law and mother-in-law . I will go to serve them. I consider it my duty. You dont say no to me. You all look after Draupadi with love and affection. Dont forget Karna in performing rites to him. Dharmaraja persuaded Kunti in several ways not to go to forest. Bheema said, Mother! We all fought with Kauravas and got this kingdom only to make you happy. Now we got the kingdom. Why are you forsaking us ? You stay with us Kunti said, I donated many gifts with your permission. I have seen the Aswamedha yaga. What else is left to me? One day or the other this life is to end up with penance . I dont have any desire on pleasures. I have only desire
to do penance to reach superior lokas. If I go with them I have good company and at the same time, I will have the satisfaction of serving the elders . Unable to change her strong determination, all the brothers and Draupadi prostrated at her feet and allowed her to go with Dhrutarashtra and Gaandhari. After taking leave from Pandavas, Dhrutarashtra and others reached the banks of Ganga and slept there for that night. Next morning they reached the ashrama of Satayupa who requested them to stay in his ashrama. Vidura consulted Dhrutarashtra and built ashramas near Satayupas ashrama and asked him to live there. While Dhrutarashtra was performing severe penance, his flesh had melted slowly and only bones were left. Vidura the prime minister with complete control of the government. However, following the carnage of the war and his own age, Vidura did not have the heart to govern. Soon after, he retired to the forests as an ascetic He took severe penances, and was the first of the royal ascetics to die.
CHAPTER-2
Narada and other maharishis came to see Dhrutarashtra. Narada, Parvata, Devala, and Mounjaya went to Dhrutarashtra. Kunti and others worshipped maharishis. Narada said, Dhrutarashtra! Sahasvachitya built this ashrama. He gave this ashrama to his son Sahachitya and went to heaven. Indra, pleased with his penance, gave a special place in Indra Sabha. After him Vrushasrudha and Saililama also performed penance and reached Indra loka. I know them all while they were living on earth. Unless one has great fruits of actions in the previous birth, one cant get a place in this ashrama. Because you have the blessings of Vyasa Maharishi, you find place in the ashrama of Satayupa. So you are also destined to reach superior lokas. Gaandhari will follow you. Kunti also will reach Panduraju, who always talks about you with Indra. Vidura is the embodiment of dharma as such he will absorb (his soul) in Dharmaraja and he will leave his body. Sanjaya also will reached heaven. On hearing these words of Narada, Dhrutarashtra and others were happy. Pandavas go to forest with relatives: Dharmaraja called Yuyuthsu, Krupacharya, and Dhaumya and asked them to take care of protecting the kingdom. Draupadi and other women left by chariots. With them many people went up to the river Ganges and entered Kurukshetra. They enquired about the ashrama of Dhrutarashtra and went to
him. They were informed that Dhrutarashtra had shifted his ashrama to the banks of river Yamuna. Pandavas went to Yamuna and met Dhrutarashtra and others. They prostrated at their feet and took their blessings. All the relatives of Dhrutarashtra sat around Dhrutarashtra. Vyasa Maharishi comes to the ashrama of Dhrutarashtra: While Dharmaraja and others sat around Dhrutarashtra, VyasaMaharishi came. They went and worshipped the maharishi. Vyasa said Dhrutarashtra! Are you accustomed to the life of ascetics? Is your mind fixed on penance? Have you forgotten about the grief of your sons? Iwill tell you about the death of Vidhura. Do you know how Vidura left his body? Yama was cursed by Mandavya Maharishi. As a result,Yama was born as a human being and he was named Vidura . That is why he had inherited the virtuous qualities of Yama Dharmaraja. The body of Dharmaraja is also another form of Yama. Since Vidura knows all these things with the power of yoga, he absorbed (his soul) into Dharmaraja and left the body. Dharmaraja is none other than the embodiment of Yama Dhrutarashtra : Maharishi! I am quiet comfortable in this ashrama life. My body and mind are cooperating well with my penance. Because of Dharmarajas love and devotion, myself and Gaandhari have forgotten the loss of our sons. As a result my mind is filled with love towards Dharmaraja and his brothers. I am really surprised and astonished to see that Dharmaraja has left the kingdom and came here to serve me. All my blessings to him. Vyasa: Dhrutarashtra! I wanted to remove all and sundry doubts from your mind. That is why I came to see you. You ask a boon . Dhrutarashtra: Maharishi! Duryodhana was a cruel person. For the sake of kingdom he has tortured Pandavas in many ways. As a result Bheeshma, Drona, Karna and many other kings lost their life in the battle. What type of lokas those dead warriors got? You tell me where they are and what lokas they got. My mind is now and then grieves for them. Gaandhari : (said with folded hands) M aharishi ! Dhrutarashtra Maharaja is grieving for his sons. He wants to see them once. With the power of your penance you show all of them to Dhrutarashtra. Kunti, Draupadi,
Subhadra also want to see Karna, Upa-Pandavas and Abhimanyu. You show us all those people who died in the battle On hearing Gaandharis words, Kunti remembered Karna. Maharishi understood the mind of Kunti and asked, Kunti! What is your desire? Kunti said I want to see Karna. Vyasa Maharishi heard them and accepted their plea and took them all to the river Ganga. There Satayupa and other maharishis saluted Vyasa Maharishi. He took a bath in the river Ganges and called melodiously all the people who were dead in the battle of Kurukshetra. From the waters Duryodhana, his brothers and their sons appeared one by one . Along with them Abhimanyu, Upa-Pandavas also came. After them Karna , Bahlika , Drupada , Virata , Drushtajyumna, Uttama, Sakuni, Sakunis brother Bheeshma, Drona and all came in divine bodies. To see them all, Vyasa Maharishi had blessed a divine sight to Dhrutarashtra and Gaandhari. He saw Duryodhana and his brothers were all laughing, and joking with each other in a frolic mood. Duryodhana, his brothers and sons came to Dhrutarashtra. Duryodhana and others enquired about the welfare of their parents. Bheeshma, Drona and others also spent happy time with their disciples and their parents. Dhrutarashtra returns to his ashrama: Vyasa Maharishi: Dhrutarashtra! Have you seen all your sons? Are they not comfortable? Now you fix your mind on penance . Dharmaraja is serving you for the past thirty days. You permit him to go back to Hastinapura to resume his governing the country Dhrutarashtra :Maharishi! I became pure with your blessings. I am saluting you. (to) Dharmaraja! You came leaving the people and kingdom to serve me. I am happy with your devotion. Now you go back and rule the country. Now I am fully relieved from the distress. Now I can fix my mind on penance . Now you can go. But Dharmaraja said, I will anoint Bheema to rule the kingdom. I wish to stay back with you. You permit me. Gaandhari:,My son! You are the protector of Kuru family. You do as your father bids. You go back to Hastinapura and take care of the people.
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Dharmaraja: However much I wanted to stay with you and lead an ascetics life you are not permitting me. I have no interest in ruling the country. After the war my mind is detached from all sense pleasures Kunti :My sons! You are all supposed to be in Hastinapura and take care of the peoples interest. If you stay back with us how can we concentrate on penance? In fact you are obstacle to our endeavours. Your father has ordered you to go back. How can you stay here against his wishes? Accepting this , Dharmaraja and others went back to Hastina. Some years were spent purposefully. While Pandavas were sitting in the Sabha, Narada came. Dharmaraja worshipped him and asked, From where you are coming? Narada tells the death of Dhrutarashtra and others: Narada said I come from Ganges! I have a bad news for you. Dharmaraja! You stayed with Dhrutarashtra for some days and came back. After that Dhrutarashtra, Gaandhari, Kunti and all stopped taking any food and lived only taking water. One day while they were taking bath in Ganges, a big whirl wind enraged, developed a wild fire turning out into ashes. Dhrutarashtra and others had not the strength to escape from the flames and so they were burnt to ashes. Before he died, Dhrutarashtra said, Sanjaya! None of us could run away from these flames. At least you have the strength to escape. So you run away from the flames and save your body.Dont die with us. You must live some more years. Escape! As per the orders of Dhrutarashtra, Sanjaya went to Himalayas. The other three were burnt in the flames. I saw their burnt bodies. However they reached superior lokas. You dont have to grieve for them. Dharmaraja grieves for Dhrutarashtra and others: Dharmaraja said Maharishi! We cannot foresee in what form the death attacks. King Dhrutarashtra died as an orphan. Maharishi! Since they are had an unnatural death are we to perform any special funeral rites? Narada said, Dhrutarashtra had worshipped his Agni with special poojas. All that required rites he performed. In that manner he took leave from his Agni. At that time the rithivicks took those Agnis with them into the forest to perform Udvasana and left. In that fire all the three were caught and died. So Dhrutarashtra had not died in the wild fire but he died by his own Agni.
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Oh Dharmaraja! You go with your brothers and Draupadi to the river Ganga and give oblations and other karmas to Dhrutarashtra, Gaandhari and Kunti. So Dharmaraja and others went to river Ganga, completed the last rites for their mother, Gaandhaari and Dritharashtra . They built tents on the banks of river Ganga, lived there till the purification acts were completed. They donated valuable stones, gold, money and lands . Narada Maharishi was there with Dharmaraja for all those twelve days and properly and methodically directed them.
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Glossary Aatma Aatmananada Agni, Agnihotra Akshara Para Brahma akshara tatwam aksharopasana akshauhinis The soul Bliss Fire god Non perishable Para Brahman The Eternal Being Worship of Para Brahman Army consisting of 21870 chariots, 21870 elephants, 65610 horses, 109350 soldiers A yaga performed by yogi in his heart Recollection Vayu Wealth Arrow The horse sacrifice A supplementary sacrifice to atone for defects. Ignorance Seed Service to Brahman Abode of Brahman A weapon The real state of Brahman Intellect The abode of moon A country
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Antaryaga Anusmaranam Apana ardha Astra Aswameda yaga Avabruda snanas Avidya beejam Brahma karma Brahma loka Brahma sironamaka astra Brahma tatwam Budhi Chandra Mandalam Chedi
Ashramavasaparvamu
Dakshana dakshina arani Danas dandam Dandaneeti Darshan devadartam dharba dharma Gokarnam gunas havisis indriyas Jeevas jnana jnatees kaama kaama geetas karaka trayam karanam karma karma phalams karta Koorma, koormam krodha Krutayuga kshara kshara tatwam Kshatriya Maha jnanis
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Gift given to a brahmin after a religious function One of the two wooden pieces for making fire for making Agnihotra Donation Gift Criminal procedure code Visit or appearance The conch of Arjuna Religious grass Duty A place Three gunas Satva, Rajas, Tamo Offering to gods at a yagna Organs Soul Knowledge One collaterally related by descent Desire The sons of kama (Desire) Three actions (word thought and deed) An organ of sense Action Fruits of action Doer A tortoise Fury One of the four yugas Perishable The reality of perishables One of the four varnas A learned person
Maha Vakyas Maha yagna mantras moham moksha Munja naga Nakshatra lokam nishta omkaram Paila pancha bhoothas Para Brahman pindam pitta Prajyotishaturam prana vayu Prayopavesam punya phalam rajassu samana vayu sambarams samsaram sannipatam sattu Siddha Samadhi sleshma somarasa Sowrashtram sraadha Stambhana mantra stotras
Ashramavasaparvamu
The exalted knowledge A great sacrifice Magical formula Delusion Salvation Assort fine grass Snake Abode of stars Devotion Pranavam; Para Brahman A saint Five principal elements Supreme Spirit Round mess Bile A city Oxygen Abandoning from food and awaiting Fruits of virtuous acts One of the three gunas A Vayu Materials Bondage A fever Sap Accomplishment Phlegm Juice from some leaf A state Devotion Mantra of stopping Praise of god
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sudana vayu Surya Mandalam tapasya tapo yagna Tatva jnanam udana tatwam udana vayu upadrashta upana uttara arani Uttarayanam Vajrayudha vigjnana vikaram Vimana Viswaroopa vyana vayu Yaga; yagna
A Vayu Abode of sun god Meditation A sacrifice with tapasya Knowledge of eternal truth A vayu A Vayu Observer A Vayu One of the wooden piece to generate fire The sun moves from south to north A weapon of Indra Wisdom An image Self moving; chariot of semi-gods He who exists in all forms; Lord Vishnu One of the five vital airs An act of worship; sacrifice
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MOUSALA PARVAM
CHAPTER 1 Dharmaraja ruled for thirty- five years. During the thirty- fifth year, there occurred unprecedented calamities . Every day people experienced one calamity or the other. One day all the Yadavas, except Balarama and Krishna, fought with each other and killed themselves. On hearing this news, not only Dharmaraja but all the people of Hastinapura were perturbed. One day Kanva, Narada and Viswamitra with their disciples went to Dwaraka to see Krishna. While those maharishis were going to the palace, Yadavas were provoked by fate, dressed one man called Sambu in woman garments. They met the maharishis and kept Sambu in front of them and requested, Maharishis! This woman is the wife of Baghru. She is pregnant. Please tell us whether will this woman will deliver a baby? Maharishis understood they were playing a practical joke on them. They got annoyed and enraged and said, This Sambu, son of Krishna will deliver a large wooden pestle with which all the Yadava community will be killed except Krishna and Balarama. Balarama will leave his body by yoga nishta and absorb in the sea. Krishna would be killed when he was lying on the ground, by a rakshasi by name Jara . This is the truth. By cursing in the above manner all maharishis went back without seeing Krishna and Balarama. [Gaandhari also cursed Krishna, as On the thirty sixth year from today, all Yadava community would be killed by fighting among themselves like Pandavas and Kauravas] Krishna came to know about the curse of the maharishis and treated it as an ordinary matter and so kept indifferent. He called the leaders of Yadavas and said We cant find fault with Yadava youths . Nobody can escape from fate. There is no point in grieving for what had happened. Next day a pestle came out of the stomach of Sambu. All were afraid, went to Vasudeva and said about the curse of maharishis. Vasudeva was
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perturbed with the news of Sambu delivering a wooden pestle . He ordered to grind that pestle into soft powder and immerse it in the sea. He thought they could escape the curse of the maharishis in that way. Yhe Yadava youths grinded the pestle into a minute powder and dissolved it in the sea.They felt immense relief and became complacent. However,several bad omens were observed in Dwaraka. Parrots started howling like owls. Goats were running like foxes. Yadavas resorted to sinful acts by insulting brahmins and gurus. Krishna remembered the curse of Gaandhari. Krishna goes to seaside with Yadavas: Yadavas and their women, in a festive mood, planned to spend some time on the seaside. As Krishnas chariot was not found, Daruka brought another chariot for Krishna. Uddava said, Krishna! You all go to seaside. I will go and do penance. Krishna permitted him to go. At that time Balarama came and said to Krishna, I will take Uddava in my chariot to the forest . He sat under a tree and reached the state of Samadhi. A big herd of monkeys came, the women gave some of the eatables to them. They all sang and danced with joy. Fruits, flowers and eatables were offered to god. All Yadavas drank wine beyond a limit. As they were fully drunk, they could not see each other. Satyaki insulted Krutavarma and he also retorted in the same manner. That roused emotions among Satyaki and Krutavarma. Krishna tried to pacify but Satyaki pulled out his sword and cut the throat of Krutavarma. All this happened in a fraction of second. In the same speed Krutavarmas relatives killed Satyaki . All Y adavas , bhojas and other communities fought among themselves and killed each other. The powder of pestle which was immersed it in the sea, actually ran to the shore and developed as Tunga grass. Because of the curse of maharishis, each dharba grass became as strong as pestle . Yadavas pulled all those dharba grass and with that beat each other and died. Krishna was deeply distressed at the death of all his people. In that emotion, Krishna pulled out some more dharba grass and killed the remaining Yadavas. While Krishna was remembering the curse of Gaandhari, his charioteer Daruka came and said, Krishna! All Yadavas are dead. Let us go and search for Balarama. While searching they found Balarama under deep meditation in the forest.
Krishna sent Daruka to bring Arjuna: When Krishna went to meet Balarama, he said to Daruka, Daruka! You go to Pandavas. You tell them that all Yadavas were dead in fighting among themselves. You bring Arjuna here. After sending Daruka, Krishna said to Baghru, You go and take all the women, chariots, horses and elephants to Dwaraka and come back. While Baghru was about to go, he also fell dead in front of Krishna. Krishna wondered in himself How powerful is the curse of these maharishis! He went to Balarama and said,You stay here. I like to safely send all women, horses, chariots to Dwaraka and come back. You be here till I come back. He went to Vasudeva and said,Oh father! The other day I saw the death of all Kauravas. Today I saw the death of all Yadavas. We have lost all our relatives. Balarama went to forest to do penance . I am also going to do it! Today or tomorrow Arjuna will come. He will take orders from you and help you in all the matters. From now onwards you take care of everything. By saying so he prostrated at the feet of Vasudeva, who was shocked to hear that all the Yadavas were dead. Added to that, Krishna came and told that he was also going for penance . That made him as though he was lifeless and fainted. Looking at him all the women cried bitterly. Krishna consoled the women, sat at the feet of Vasudeva and comforted him with good words. After saying so, he left to the place where Balarama was meditating. Balarama leaves his body: Krishna went to Balarama and said, Revered brother! I took permission from father. Let us go to do penance . In the meanwhile he saw a huge serpent coming out from Balaramas face. It had bright eyes and thousand mouths. It ran fast and entered the sea. Varuna invited the serpent. All the Nagas welcomed him. In this manner Maha Vishnu had absorbed his amsa of Aadhiseshu into himself. Thus ended the avatar of Narayana in Balarama. Krishna saw all his people thus destroy themselves as predestined. When he saw the passing of Balarama, he roamed about in deep meditation in the wilderness, pondered if his avatar is going to complete and realized, The time has come for me to go, he said to himself. While Balarama left his body in this manner, Krishna started wandering in the forest to find a suitable place for leaving the body. He remembered the words of Durvasa Maharishi that his life would leave the body from his feet. So he lied down on the ground as Maha Vishnu sleeps in Vykuntam. In the meanwhile a rakshasi and a hunter by name Jara entered the forest and she
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was wandering aimlessly. Due to an illusion, the foot of Krishna appeared like the head of a deer.So Jara thought that she was seeing a deer and released an arrow. That arrow hit the foot of Krishna and he left the body. The hunter saw a fine man lying dead instead of deer. He went to Krishna, fell at his feet and started weeping for the sin she has committed. Krishna consoled him and reached his natural abode, Vaikuntam. Krishna reaches the abode of Vykuntam: While the splendour of Krishna was travelling from earth to heaven, Indra and other devatas went with folded hands and worshipped him. Krishna was pleased with their devotion. They all prostrated at the feet of Maha Vishnu and prayed with mantras from Veda. While all devatas were worshipping he blessed them all and disappeared. Daruka said to Arjuna that all the Yadavas were dead at the curse of the maharishis. Balarama and Krishna had left Dwaraka and went for doing penance . Krishna had ordered me to bring you. Arjuna started immediately and reached Dwaraka. On seeing Arjuna all the women of the household of Krishna and Balarama cried bitterly. Arjuna went to Vasudeva and consoled him in several ways and said,Oh king! Dharmaraja, myself, Pandavas and Draupadi had resolved that it was not safe for you and the woman to live alone in Dwaraka. They asked me to bring all of you to Hastinapura so that we all could live at one place. You all make arrangements to live in Hastinapura. In the meanwhile I will go and search for Balarama and Krishna. Arjuna convened a Sabha called, all the people of Dwaraka and said, Oh superior yadavas! Seventh day from now, the sea waters would enter Dwaraka. So we have to vacate Dwaraka immediately. I will crown Vajru as the king of Indraprasta, so that you all could live in your own kingdom. Dharmaraja would be taking care of your welfare. Vasudeva leaves the body: Arjuna went to the palace of Vasudeva and decorated the body of Vasudeva with flowers and perfumes. Brahmins recited Vedic mantras. His body was placed in a chariot to the cremation ground. His queens also followed Vasudevas body. Pyre was prepared, took the body of Vasudeva over it and lit the fire. Arjuna himself did all the last rites for him. All the wives of Vasudeva entered the fire and went to heaven with their husband.
Arjunas search for Balarama and Krishna: After completing the last rites for Vasudeva and other Yadavas, he made arrangements to shift all the people and the families of Krishna to Hastinapura. In the meanwhile he and Daruka went to the forest in search of Krishna and Balarama. While they were wandering, a hunter took them to the place where Krishna did penance. There they saw the dead body of Krishna. Arjuna fell down and fainted. Arjuna inconsolably wept for Krishna and Balarama. All the brahmins who accompanied Arjuna consoled him and reminded him to complete the funeral rites for Krishnas body. As the sea water was entering Dwaraka, Arjuna completed funeral rites to the bodies of Krishna and Balarama. From there, they rushed to Dwaraka to vacate before the sea water entered the city. From there Arjuna took all the women and remaining Yadavas to Hastinapura. Dwaraka submerged in sea waters: Arjuna and others came out of Dwaraka and looked back. They saw the sea water entering and fully submerging the city. They proceeded towards Hastinapura and halted under a tree by name Panchavati for that night. That night a group of thieves attacked them and took away all the wealth. The thieves thought if they could defeat Arjuna they could easily loot all the wealth of the women. They attacked women and took away all their ornaments. Arjuna defeated by the thieves: Arjuna attacked the thieves. They threatened Arjuna and attacked him severely. In that melee Arjuna could not stand before their fury. The thieves defeated Arjuna and took the wealth and ran away. However Arjuna was able to save the ornaments of Krishnas wives. From there they proceeded towards Hastinapura. Dharmaraja installed the son of Krutavarma as the king of Mruthikavatapuram and asked him to rule that country. In the same manner, he installed the son of Satyaki in Saraswathi and asked him to rule the country and live comfortably. He made Vajru as the king of Indraprasta. All his relatives and people remained with him in Indraprasta. The soldiers, elephants, horses and chariots were shared by all the three kings equally. He also made Akruras wife and children to stay with Vajru. In this manner, Dharmaraja looked after all those three kingdoms also under his care.
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Rukmani and other woman of Krishna enter Agni: Rukmani and other woman of Krishna declared that they would enter Agni and reach Krishna. Arjuna arranged sandal woods and other materials to prepare the pyre. He arranged superior priests to perform that act of Agni with vedic mantras after their cremation. Arjuna meets Vyasa Maharishi: Arjuna went to Aakasha Ganga where Vyasa Maharishi was performing penance. He prostrated at the feet of the maharishi, who asked Arjuna to come near him and said, Why are you looking depressed? Have you killed anyone whom you should not kill? Or anyone defeated you in a battle? You tell me. Arjuna said, Maharishi! My friend, relative and philosopher Lord Krishna has left his body. Balarama also left his body. I have brought all their women to Hastinapura. On our way a group of thieves attacked and looted all the ornaments of the women. My Gandeevam did not work. They defeated me. But I was able to protect the women of Krishna. How this defeat happened to me? Vyasa teaches Arjuna: Arjuna! Because of the curse of the maharishis, all yadavas died enmass. All these tragedies Krishna knew in advance. Since Krishna was associated with you in all your battles, You won all of them. Now since Krishna is not with you, all your strength and power went away with him. Arjuna! Krishna had taken this birth to reduce the burden on earth. He did his job well and so went back to his abode. In fact he has no birth or death. You are a jnani. Should you grieve like this? When the god favours all success will come. When god doesnt favor us, everything will be destroyed. That is why jnanis will never take pride for their success or grieve for their defeat. You know all these things. Now the time is ripe for you and your brothers to leave your bodies and reach superior lokas.
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Glossary
Aadhiseshu Aakasha Agni Akruras bhojas dharba grass Gandeevam jnanis lokas Nagas Panchavati rokali Samadhi Tunga Veda Vedic mantras Vykuntam yoga nishta Name of the king of serpents Sky Fire god A yadava relative of Sri Krishna A yadava sub-community Grass used for rituals and other ceremonies The bow of Arjuna Knowledgeable persons, intellectuals Worlds A tribe of serpents The name of a place Large wooden pestle Deep meditation A kind of grass Divine knowledge Collection of hymns and prayers as said in Veda The abode of Vishnu Devotion in yoga
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MAHAPRASTANIKA PARVAM
CHAPTER-1
Arjuna went to Dharmaraja and said what had happened at Dwaraka. He also conveyed him what Vyasa Maharishi had advised. Dharmaraja said, Arjuna! My mind is pressing for the travel to the other world. Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva also agreed. Next day he called Yuyuthsu and advised him to become the head of the Kuru family and rule the people. In the presence of the leading citizens, anointed Parikshittu as the king. Oh Subhadra! Today I have transferred the burden of Kuru kingdom on the shoulders of your grand son. You stand by his side and see to it that Kuru family flourishes by leaps and bounds. I made Vajru as the king of Indraprasta. So you have to look after both of them to go in a righteous path and rule the country. They need your protection. Dharmaraja gave heavy donations in the name of people who died in the battle of Kurukshetra and Yadavas. He requested Krupacharya to look after the progress of Parikshittu. He asked him to teach archery and other martial arts. All the people of Hastinapura came and requested to Dharmaraja to continue his rule, but he managed to pacify them in a suitable manner. Sahadeva said I noticed that the Kaliyuga has started. From now onwards, people will involve in many unnecessary and unwarranted disputes. All Pandavas and Draupadi removed all their ornaments, wore valkalas, completed all the rituals to enter Vanaprasta ashrama. While they were going, all the citizens of Hastinapura went behind them. Dharmaraja did not warn them but he proceeded by saluting with folded hands. Among the wives of Arjuna, Uloochi had gone to Nagalokam and Chitrangada went to her son Babruvahana. Dharmaraja, his brothers and Draupadi took the vow of fasting (upavasa deksha) and started walking towards the north.
Agni appears before them: While they were l proceeding, Agni appeared and said, Arjuna! The Sudarshana Chakra of Krishna has reached Vykuntham before Krishna. Then why are you carrying Gandeevam? I gave it you to fulfill the divine work. Since the same is completed, you surrender it to me. As said by Agni, Arjuna dropped his Gandeevam into the sea. Immediately Agni disappeared. From there, Pandavas travelled towards the south. On their way, they reached the sea where Dwaraka was submerged. They crossed Mt. Himalayas and reached Mt. Meru. On their journey towards the Himalayas and Indras heaven, she accompanied them, and was the first to fall on the journey. When Bheema asked Dharmaraja , She never did any sinful act. Then why is she fallen on Earth? replied, Though we were all equal unto her, she had great partiality for Dhananjay(Arjun). Therefore her all virtuous acts had not materialized and fell dead. She obtains the fruit of that conduct today. By saying so, Dharmaraja by fixing his mind on dharma he proceeded leaving the dead body of Draupadi there itself. After sometime, Sahadeva fell dead. Again Bheema asked Dharmaraja. Dharmaraja said,Bheema! Sahadeva was proud of his intelligence. Hence his virtues also did not materialize. So he fell dead. They left the dead body of Nakula and proceeded further. After sometime, Sahadeva fell dead. Again Bheema asked the reason for the early death of Sahadeva. He was proud of his handsomeness. So his virtues did not fructify. So he fell dead. After sometime, Arjuna fell dead. Bheema asked Dharmaraja, What sin did Arjuna commit? Why he fell dead? He told a lie that by saying that he would kill all Kauravas in one day. So his virtues did not materialize. So he fell dead. After sometime Bheema was tired and fell down. Oh Bheema! You were a strong man but you ate more than what you need and you blabbered more than your valour. Hence you fell down By saying so, he left the body of Bheema also and carried on his journey. Right from the beginning of the journey, a dog was following them. While the dog alone was following him, he continued his trek ahead. Indra came to take Dharmaraja to heaven: While Dharmaraja was going ahead, a divine chariot came in front of
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him and Indra climbed down from it. He went to Dharmaraja and said: Dharmaraja! You get into the chariot. I have come here to take you to the heaven. Dharmaraja: Indra! All my brothers and wife were dead. Leaving all of them here , I cant come with you. You allow them to come with me. Indra: You are unnecessarily worried about them. Your wife and brothers left the body and reached heaven much before you. So get into the chariot. Dharmaraja: Indra! Eversince, I started from Hastinapura, this dog also accompanied me. You must permit this dog also to take with me to the heaven. Otherwise I cant be comfortable in the heaven. Indra : Your request is reasonable but dogs are not permitted to enter heaven. So you leave dog here and come with me. Dharmaraja: Indra! Can the righteous people like you say like that? You must always protect whoever that seeks your protection. I dont want those pleasures leaving the devotees and the servants. Indra :Dharmaraja! Anger will destroy dharma. You leave anger and get into the chariot. Dogs cant enter the heaven. By leaving the dog, no sin will be attached to you Dharmaraja: Indra! I cant leave a servant who served me with devotion. It amounts to killing a brahmin. Hence I wont come to heaven without this dog. Indra said: Dharmaraja! Those who are dedicated to rituals even the curse of a dog will make impure. I know fully well why are you insisting on to take the dog with you. You never bothered to leave your wife and brothers where they were dead. But you are insisting on to take this dog with you. Should I tell you good and bad aspects of this issue? Dharmaraja said: Indra! You are the protector of all the lokas. In that manner you know virtuous acts better than me. Since it is a righteous path, I am requesting you in several ways. Since Draupadi and brothers were dead, they wont come back however much I might grieve,whereas this dog kept faith in me and followed me this far. Therefore I cant leave it to its unknown fate, to seek my pleasures. Yama came out from the dogs body: Then Yama came out of the body of the dog and appreciated the righteous
spirit of Dharmaraja. When Yama came out in his real form, Dharmaraja saluted him. Yama said, Oh virtuous! Since this dog was devoted to you, you have refused even the heaven. You asked Indra to take back his chariot. I dont find a person like you even in heaven. Indra knows your magnanimity. You go to heaven with this body itself. You enjoy all those pleasures in heaven. Gandharvas, deva rishis, Indra, Yama and others requested him to sit in the chariot. Dharmaraja entered the heaven in this manner. Narada came forward and said, Dharmaraja! I have seen many ascetics and sages and many people who had hefty donations also could not enter the heaven with their physical body. Dharmaraja said: Maharishi! Until I see my brothers here, I dont want any of the pleasures in this heaven. Just I want to see them. You take me where they are living. Their presence itself is heaven for me. On hearing Dharmarajas words Indra said in a harsh tone,Oh virtuous! Because of your many virtuous acts, you were able to come to heaven with your physical body. We are also behaving like a human. Here you could not have any bondage. You are still hanging on the old memories. You see deva rishis, siddhas and all others with an auspicious look. It is not appreciable to grieve for your old relations. Dharmaraja said, Indra! You may tell anything, I cant enjoy any pleasure without my brothers, wife, sons and friends.
remaining seven are also part of Lakshmi only. Henceforth you need not worry about anybody. They are heartily welcomed here and suitably honoured. Dharmaraja thanked Indra, because everything is well-settled and every one of the personalities got proper recognition, besides salvation and infinite bliss. ..Dharmaraja was immensely pleased with all these propitious developments and he saw that the Mahabharatha also comes to a happy ending.
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Glossary Agni dharma Gandeevam Kaliyuga Kurukshetra lokas Nagalokam tapasvis upavasa deksha valkalas Vanaprasta ashrama Vykuntham yagas Fire god Duty The bow of Arjuna One of the four yugas A place Worlds The world of serpents A sadhu who performs tapasya A vow of fasting Garments made of tree bark One of the four ashramas Abode of Vishnu An act of worship
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CHAPTER-1
Indra agreed to show the brothers and his wives to Dharmaraja. He called one of the celestial messengers and asked him to show Dharmaraja all his relatives. First they saw Duryodhana sitting on a big throne. He was shining like sun. Apsarasas and other divine women were entertaining him by with dancing and singing Looking at Duryodhana, Dharmaraja said: Oh Narada! Duryodhana is a wicked person, greedy and had a blemish character. Because of his greed all the kings,soldiers, many animals and soldiers were killed in the battle. He had insulted my chaste wife Draupadi. If he is enjoying h heavenly comforts, I dont want this heaven. You take me where my brothers and wife are living. Narada : Dharmaraja! Duryodhana had left his body in the battle field. Hence all devatas are respecting him. All kings who died with Kshatriya dharma will enjoy the heavenly pleasures. Why are you remembering the insults of Draupadi and other sins in heaven? In the heaven your mind should be away from jealousy, hatred, anger and such vikaras of the mind. Hence you leave all those changes. Have a balanced mind. Dharmaraja : Maharishi! The person who constantly did sinful acts and did harm to the virtuous people and who destroyed the entire family, such a low Duryodhana is enjoying all pleasures with devatas. Let him enjoy. I dont mind. You take me to the place where my brothers, sons, friends and Draupadi are living. Dharmaraja wants to see Karna and other relatives : Maharishis! I have given tarpanas to all my relatives. My mother Kunti came to me and said, ;Karna is my son. Since then whenever I remember his name my heart is grieving for him. I want to worship his feet. If he lives with us, even Indra cannot defeat us.
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One more word. Not knowing that he was my elder brother, I provoked Arjuna to kill him. That sin constantly pains my heart. My desire to see him is increasing day by day. You take me where he is living. Narada: Dharmaraja! We shall take you to the place which you wanted to see. That is what Indra ordered us. The celestial messengers took Dharmaraja to show Bheema and others. The way they were travelling was full of air mixed with blood, flesh and bones. There was stinking smell with full of insects. The path also was very narrow. On one side, huge vessels were boiling with oil and water. The entire way also was flowing with hot oily water . On both sides of the stream, thick bushes sprouted. The leaves of those bushes were sharper than the knives. They were all rusted. While passing all these, they reached a river by name Vytarani. There many people were put to severe punishments. While looking all these Dharmaraja asked the celestial messengers How far we have to travel to reach my brothers? They answered, Dharmaraja! This place is also under the control of devatas, in other words, it is a part of heaven. Dharmaraja : Here it is spreading stinking smell and full of insects. I am unable to breath properly. I am not able to witness their sufferings. So let us go back. At that time he heard some loud voice . They were the voices of his brothers. Dharmaraja! The fragrance coming out of your body is comforting us. As long as you are, here we will be very comfortable. By seeing you, we are forgetting all the difficulties and hardships we are undergoing. You stay here for some more time. Dharmaraja sees his brothers in hell: When all they were praying, Dharmaraja grieved for them. To comfort them, he agreed to stay there itself. On hearing their cries Dharmaraja asked those jeevas Who are you? Those jeevas said I am Karna, Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva, Draupadi, Drushtajyumna, Upa-Pandavas, etc. On hearing those voices Dharmarajas heart was filled with grief. He asked the celestial messenger, What are the sins they committed to reach hell and suffer like this? He was distressed the way in which justice was enforced in the heaven. Again he thought himself, All my people are really suffering these difficulties or perhaps these devatas are putting me in illusion deliberately
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After a while he recovered from his grief and said, celestial messengers! You go back to the god whom you are serving; I am going to stay here with my brothers and relatives. Immediately the attendants went to Indra and reported about the feelings of Dharmaraja. Immediately Indra, Yama and other devatas came there. The moment they came all the scenes he had seen have become negative. In a fraction of second, the hell became heaven. Indra, Vasuvus, Rudras , Gandharvas and Garudas all came and praised Dharmaraja. They l said, Dharmaraja you leave your anger. You have attained the permanent and nonreturnable resident of the abode of Brahman EPILOGUE All is well that ends well! The climax news about Mahabharatham is how the relatives and friends of Dharmaraja are recognized, welcomed and honoured and given places in the heaven. Indra : All kings must pass through the hell because this is what Vedas said. Both the virtues and sins live together. By virtues- one gets heaven, by sins- one gets hell. Those who enjoy heavenly pleasures in the beginning will suffer in the later part. In the same way who suffered hell in the beginning, the rest of the period they would enjoy heavenly pleasures. Those who had little virtues enjoy pleasures first. Those who had little sins suffer hell first. You forget your grief. All your brothers Karna and Draupadi and her sons are all placed in superior lokas. Because of your virtuous acts and with punya phalam of Aswamedha, Rajasuya and other yagas, you are placed in the line of Mandhata, Nala, Harischandra, Dileepa, Dushyantha and such other virtuous kings. To compliment you, Gandharvas, Garudas, Urudas and Sachyas are waiting in line. Indra narrates the divinity of Pandavas: Indra gave a new information about Drupadi. He said Dharmaraja! This woman is Sri Maha Lakshmi, who got the name of Draupadi as the daughter of Drupada. These five superior Gandharvas were born as the sons of Draupadi in the name of Upa-Pandavas . He was the king of Gandharvas, by name Dhrutarashtra, your fathers elder brother.
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Oh Dharmaraja! In this celestial world, notice your brother Karna, sitting majestically on a seat made of gold. These three viswa devas are Satyaki, Krutavarma and Yaduveera. There is Abhimanyu who was born as a part of moon. You see your father Pandu along with his wives. There you can see Bheeshma . sitting by the side of the God of Wind in his embodied form. Perceive Arjuna, being endowed with a blazing effulgence. In place belonging to the Ashvinis, beheld Nakula and Sahadeva, each blazing with his own effulgence. Here you will see Drona who is sitting by the side of Bruhaspati. See the kings who helped you in the battle; they are walking with the Gandharvas and Yakshas or other sacred beings. Some have attained the status of Guhyukas. All these personalities have cast off their bodies but gained prominent places in the heaven! You must be proud of their present position! Rukmani who was the wife of Krishna is absorbed in Lakshmi. The remaining seven are also part of Lakshmi only. Henceforth you need not worry about anybody. They are heartily welcomed here and suitably honoured. Dharmaraja thanked Indra, because everything is well-settled and every one of the personalities got proper recognition, besides salvation and infinite bliss. ..Dharmaraja was immensely pleased with all these propitious developments and he saw that the Mahabharatha also comes to a happy ending.
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Glossary
Anantha Apsarasas Kshatriya dharma punya phalam Rajasuya Rasakreeda swarga tarpanas Vasuvus Vedas vikaras viswe devas yagas Plenty Divine women The duty of a kshatriya Fruits of virtuous acts A sacrifice A sportive dance of gopi and gopikas Heaven Leaving water to departed elders A celestial god Divine knowledge; collection of hymns and prayers Changes A celestial devatas An act of worship
777
Glossary
Aachamana Aadhiseshu Aadhyatmikam, Aajyatma Aadi kavi Aadi Bhowtikam Aadi deivikam Aakasha Aasanam Aathma Gananm Aathmanandham Aatma Aatma jnanam Aatma nigraham Aatma tatwam Aatmagna Aatmananada Aatmarati Aatmegnudu(G) Aavalu
778
Sipping water thrice as a religious rite Name of the king of serpents Relating to the supreme spirit Valmiki; The first Poet Caused by the five primary elements Achittu, (G) The world Caused by fate or pertaining to a tutelary deity Sky Seat Knowledge of the soul Bliss The soul Knowledge of the soul Restrain on the soul The true nature of the soul and of the god Knowledge of the soul Bliss Self love One who knows the god and the soul Mustered seeds
Achala vyuham. Acharya Achittu Adharma Adharvana veda Adhibhootam Adhidaivam Adhidevata Adhistanam Adhyanam Adi Aadhyatmikam Adityas Advarvhu Advithas agnatevasam Agneyastra Agni, agnihotra agnigundam agraharas Ahambhavam; Ahamkaram Ahima Ahimsa Ahorathram Ajagara Ajata Satru
Glossary
Formation of army in a fixed manner Guru or teacher The world unrighteousness, Unjust act One of the four vedas Presiding god Presiding god Presiding god Abode Learning Caused by the spiritual Sun god Priest at a sacrifice recites the prayers of Rig-Veda Non dualistic Living incognite An astra of which Agni is the regent Fire god sacred fire Grant of land to brahmins by a king. Pride One of the eight siddhis Nonviolence Day and night A huge serpent; The python He who has no enemy
779
Akruras Akshara Akshara Para Brahma Akshara tatwam Aksharopasana Akshauhini
A yadava relative of Sri Krishna Eternal spirit Non perishable, Para Brahman The Eternal Being Worship of the Para Brahman Army consisting of 21870 chariots, 21870 elephants, 65610 horses, 109350 soldiers Imperishable The Eternal Being A branch of mathematical calculation The day of the new moon Distance about 10 miles Minister The day of the new moon Aspect, characteristic, part Charactaristic or Part of divine personalities Body Bliss The supreme spirit Delight One who has no body Plenty Infinite Name of a kingdom Inter continent A yaga performed by yogi in his heart The Soul
Akshaya Akskhara Tatwam Akshahrudaya Vidya Amaasya Amada Amatya Amavasya Amsa Amsa of devatas Anaatma Ananda Ananda Swaroopa anandha Anangu Anantha Anantham Andhaka Antardwepa Antaryaga Antharathma
780
Antharyaga Anubhoktha Anumanam Anupalabdhi Anushtanam Anusmaranam Anusmruti Apana Apanam Apanaudu Apsaras Arani Aranya Ardha Ardha chandrakara vyuha Ardha Radha Ardhaapatti Arghyam Arishad vargas
A yaga performed by yogi in his heart One who enjoys the benefits Guess, inference, suspicion Which is experienced Practice of a religious rite Recollection Thought of one thing to the exclusion of another thoughts One of the five vital airs (see :apanam) Life wind in the body which goes downwards and out at the anus See: Apanam Divine women A wood to make fire for Agnihotra Forest Wealth Crescent shaped formation of army A warrior who can fight with limited number of warriors One of the eight authorities to establish truth a respectable offering or oblation to a venerable person or to god. Six internal enemies such as pride, anger, lust, greed, ignorance and jealousy Seat The seat of feelings
781
Asanam Asayem
Glossary
Ashtami Asta dikpalakas Asta Vasuvus
The eighth lunar day in a half month Gods who guard the eight directions Aapudu, Druva, Somu, Adharvu, Anilu, Prathyushu, Analu and Prabhasu Ashes from the pyre Weapon Impure The emblematic sacrifice of a horse The ritual sacrifice of horses Bondage A month in Telugu calendar Guests An athi-radha is capable of protecting his charioteer, chariot, horses, his bow, flag and the flag post Prayer A warrior who can fight a number of charioteers A supplementary sacrifice to atone for defects in a principal sacrifice Ignorance Foolishness Invisible Submarine fire in the shape of a mares head, believed to consume the world at the end of an aeon
Astis Astra Asuchi Aswameda Aswameda yaga Aswatantram Aswayuja Athidhis Athiradha
Atidhi pooja, Atiradhas Avabridhasnana
Avidya Avivekam Avyakta, avyaktam Badabagni
782
Badarika ashrama Baktha Paradhenudu Balam Bhartha, Bartha Beejam Bhajaka Bharya Bheda Bhikshatana Bhojas Bhoodanam Bhoolokam Bhoomata; bhoomi Bhootaswaroopa Bhootha Bhoothas, Bhuta Bodha Brahma Gnanis Brahma Karma Brahma Loka Brahma Sironamaka Astra Brahma Tatwam Brahmachari Brahmacharya
A hermitage Vishnu, the servant of bakthas Strength Husband Seed The deviser Wife Difference Begging A yadava community Gift of land Earth Earth Brahman A element; one of the five elements Living beings Knowledge One who attained the knowledge of the supreme spirit Service to Brahman Abode of Brahman A kind of highly sophisticated weapon The real state of Brahman First of the four stages of life (ashramas) The first stage of life when one is a bachelor
783
Glossary
Brahmachya Brahmadhyanam Brahmagnanam Brahmahacha Brahmahatya brahmahatya sin Brahmajnana Brahmaloka Brahmam. (G) Brahmananadha Brahmanism Brahmapadam Brahmarpanam Brahmastra Brahma Tatvam Brahma Vidya Brashta Budhi Cahturmasya Vrata
Sacred study Meditation on Brahma The knowledge of Brahman Religious self restraint Killing a brahmin Sin from killing a brahmin Knowledge of Brahman The abode of Brahma The supreme being Joy in Brahman Connected with a brahmin Foot of Brahman Surrender to Brahman A highly destructive weapon The reality of Brahman The knowledge of Brahma Unchaste women; fallen Intellect Every year from the month Ashadam (August) to Karthikam (November) rainy season. Sanyasis will not move from one place to another place unlike they wander in rest of the eight months. Spirit A wheel-like weapon in the hands of Lord Vishnu The abode of moon
Chaitanyam Chakram Chandra Mandalam
784
Charvakas Chatram Chedi Chidanandham Chittamu Chittu Chowaris C.P.C
A water bird Umbrella One of the 56 countries Bliss Mind The soul Fan or Wisk Dhanda Neethi, Criminal Procedure Code, Law about punishment Gift given to a brahmin after a religious function The half-year during which the sun moves from north to south a gift. One of the two wooden pieces for making fire for making Agnihotra Subduing Inherent quality or virtue of giving donation Donation Titan, giant Gift Salutation; Legal punishment; stick Criminal procedure code, C.P.C A kind of grass used in religious rites Virtuous, pious and a just man Visit or appearance
785
Dakshana Dakshanayanam Dakshina Dakshina arani Dama; damam Dana gunam Danas Danava Dandam Dandam Dandaneeti Darbha Darmica Darshan
Glossary
Davagni Deepam Deepardhana Desam Devadartam Devara Nayam
A forest fire Light Lightning a Jyothi Country The conch of Arjuna The rule of getting children by the younger brother of her husband to continue the family line. A kettle drum One of the four Vedas A kind of grass used for religious rituals Prescribed course of conduct, Duty Wife married in Vedic way, The chaste wife Smoke A dishonest man Supporting or firmness Meditation Meditation One of the six dharmas to be protected by a king Any one of the eight elephants said to guard the eight regions The gods who guard all the directions A deity who is the agent on any of the eight quarters Divine teachings
Dhakkas Dhanurveda Dharba, Dharba Grass Dharma Dharmapatni Dhoomam Dhoortuda Dhruti Dhyana Dhyanam Dhydam Diggajas Dikpalakas Dikpalaka Divya prabodham
786
Dosham Drashta Dronam Droni Drudham Dukham Durbar Durbedhyam Durgam Dwitham Dwanda Yudham Dwapara Yuga Dwaparayuga Dwydheebhavam Easwara, Ekadasa Endamavalu Gana Ganam Gandeevam Gandham Garuda Geeta Giri Durgam Gnani
Guilt; criminality Seer A measure of capacity a water kettle a weapon Grief The hall of audience, where the king meets the public Difficult to conquer Fort Dualism direct fight, one to one fight The third of the four eras or epoches One of the four yugas One of the six strategies Name of the god Siva Eleven mirage Group or multitude Music The bow of Arjuna Smell A bird;(in Mahabharatha) Garutmantha A sacred song Fort on a mountain One who has esoteric knowledge, which relates to the true spiritual knowledge. Donation of a cow
787
Godana
Glossary
Gokarnam Golokam Govrata Gruhasta Gruhasta ashrama(G) Grutachi Guggilam Guhyaka Gunam Gunas Gurudakshina Gurukulam Gurupatni Halahalam
A place The abode of cows Worshipping a cow A house holder The third of the four asramas(Married life) A divine woman A perfume offered to god Concealed or hidden Character Three gunas Satva, Rajas, Tamo Fees in the form of gift to a teacher The house of a teacher, which served as a school also The wife of Guru Terribly destructive poison, produced during the churning of the ocean of milk Swan One who takes Offering to gods at a ritual Fit to the offered in oblation to the gods Violence, Physical discomfort An oblation to the gods Celestial cow Priest of a sacrifice recites the prayers of Rig-Veda
Hamsa Harta Havisis Havya Himsa Homa Homadhenu Hota
788
Hrudayam Ichamaranam Indra loka Indriyas Ithihasas Itihyam. Jala durgam Jalam Jalastambana vidya Jala Tharpana Janakageetha Japa Japa nishta; Japa phalam; Japakarma Jata Jataka karmas
Heart Death at will Heaven Organs History or traditional account,ancient or primitive epic Legendary account Fort in the middle of river or sea Water The art of living under water Offering water to dead or pitru devatas Sayings of Janaka Muttering prayers Firmness in prayers Matted hair Janakageetha. (G) Ceremony performed by Dwijas at the time of birth of a child (Dwijas means: Brahmin, kshatriyas, Vaysya) Sacred sayings of Janaka The reality of the soul (Jeeva) The soul The individual soul enshrined in a human body Knowledge The path of knowledge Knowledgeable person; sage One collaterally related by descent
789
Jeeva Tatvam Jeeva; Jeevaatma Jeevatma Jnana Jnana marga Jnani Jnatees
Glossary
Jyothi Kaalam Kaama Kaama geetas kaama pakshi Kaamandha kaashtam kadamba Vanam kailasam kala Kala pasham, Kalapasham Kala swaroopam Kala vigjnanam kalachakra kaladandam Kalaka Kalapurusha Kali purusha(G) Kaliyuga Kamagni Kandhava vana Dahanam Kapidhwajam Karaka trayam Karanam
790
Light Time Lust, Desire,sexual desire The sons of kama (Desire) A kind of bird One with blind passion A piece of log measuring of time equal to 1/450th of muhurta A forest of kedemla tress The abode of Lord Siva Dream The noose of the god of death The nature of time The Knowledge of time The wheel of time The lord of death A spot in the skin The god of death Goddess named Kali The fourth of the four eras/ current pleasure loving age Passion Burning of the forest by name Kandhava Flag with the figure of Hanuma embedded on it Three actions (word, thought and deed) An organ of sense
karma Karma phalam Karta Karta Kartavyam Kasyapageeta kathopanishattu Kavya, Kavyam Kiratakas Koorma Vyuha Koorma, Koormam Kouberastra. Kratus Krauncha Vyuha Krodham Kruta Yuga Kshara kshara Tatwam kshatriya Kshatriya Kshatriya Dharma Kurukshetra Kurusabha
Glossary
Action/Activity Fruits/Result of action(during the previous birth) One who has the right to perform a religious rite. Doer or author or maker or agent Fit to be done Sacred sayings of Kasyapa One of the Upanishads Oblations of food to the ancestors barbarian; one of the names of Lord Siva. Formation of army in the form of a tortoise A tortoise Dangerous weapon connected with Kubera Sacrifice Formation of army in a form of heron Fury, Anger, rage, wrath One of the four ages/eras Perishable The reality of perishables A man of martial caste One of the four varnas The duty of a Kshatriya A place Assembly of Kauravas
791
Leelas Lingam Lobham Lokapalakas Loka Maddi trees Madhaneam Madhuparkas Maha Jala Maha jnani Maha Vakyas Maha Yagas Maha Yagna Mahaprastanam Maharadha
Play, pastime. Miracles Gender Greediness The guardians of devatas of the four quarters The world A tree with botanical name. terminania glapra Churning New cloth dyed in turmeric Water (flood) everywhere during B189pralayam A learned person, a great intellectual The exalted knowledge Big sacrifices A great sacrificial ceremony The final departure; death A great warrior among the Kshatriya kings who fight from chariots A great sage Glory Glorious Earth/cow The marrow of bones Formation of army in a form of crocodile Attachment Mind
Maharishi Mahatatvam Mahattu Mahee Majja Makara Vyuham Mamakaram Manassu

792
Manava Manava Vyuham Manmadha Mantra Marga Maschya Yentra Mastsaram Mathi Maya Sakthi Maya Sabha Medhavi Midhila Mitra Moham Moksha
Human Formation of army in human form Cupid; the god of love Vedic hymn,sacred/ magical formula, incantation Path A figure of a mystical nature in the form of a fish Envy; hatred Mind Mystic power Hall built by Mayu for Dharmaraja Intelligent man The capital city of Janaka Friend; The sun god Delusion Salvation, self merging in god,exception from further birth,deliverance Fool or ignorant A length of two arms. a medicinal plant supposed to have the power of reviving the dead. Moment; 13th part of a day Salvation Ascetic ,Inspired saint Daughter of a muni A sort of fine grass used during rituals
793
Moodha Mooras Mrutasanjivini
Muhurtham Muktha, mukthi Muni Munikanya Munja
Glossary
Naabhi Naga Nagalokam Nagas Naimisaranyam Nakshatra Lokam Naradu Neetisastra Nidra Nigraham Niraakaram Niramayam Nirguna Nishada Nishta Nissanga Nivata Kavachas Nivrutti Marga Niyama Nyayam Omkaram Pagadas Paila Pallavu Pancha Bhoothas Panchama Vedamu
794
Navel Snake The world of serpents A tribe of serpents A sacred place Abode of stars Human The science of Ethics Sleep Keeping in check Formless Free from illness The Supreme Being; devoid of all attributes Hunter Meditation,Religious austerities Freedom from attachment Demons The path of cessation Principal Justice Another name of Para Brahman, Pranavam Coral A saint Superior cow Five principal elements Mahabaratha (5th veda)
Panchavati Pandu Varna Para Brahma Para Tatvam Para Brahmam Parahu Parama Shanthi Paramapadham Paramapurusha; Paramatma Parava Pasham Pashandus Pasupatamantra Pasupatastra Patala Paurusham Payasam Phalanubavam Pindam Pisacha Pitamaha Pita, Pitara Pitru Karma Pitru Runam Pitta Posham,
Glossary
A place Pale colour Supreme Spirit The real state of supreme Supreme Being A vayu Supreme Being Abode of Brahman The Supreme Spirit chapters Rope; The weapon of Yama Those who do not conform to the tenets of Hindu faith A secret hymn of pasupata A deadly weapon given by Siva The last of the seven regions, just below the earth Characteristic of a men rice boiled with milk and sugar experiencing the fruits of karma Round mess An evil spirit; a devil Prandfather Father Ceremony for parents The debt of parents Bile Dependents
795
Pouranikas Prabhasa teerdham Prabodham Prabudha Pradanam Pragna astra Prajapathi Prajapatyam Prajyotishaturam Prakruthi Prakruti pradanam pralayagni
One who is well-versed in puranas A pilgrimage place Awakening; intellect One who is awakened or a sage Chief; principal An astra that develops discernment Brahma Para Brahman A city Primary substance Natures gift Fire at the time of destruction of the whole world at the end of Kalpa. Deluge, a great flood causing annihilation and dissolution Infatuated astra Oxygen, One of the five vital airs Life; Sentience, being ,vitality A Vayu Salutation A living being Omkaram Pre destination A mystic word Appearance Flow
Pralayam Pramohana astra Prana vayu Pranam pranam, apanam, Pranamn Pranudu Pranvam Prarabhdam Pratismruti siddhi Pratyaksham Pravaha,
796
Pravaha, Aavalu Pravrtutti Marga Prayopavesah:
Vayus The way of worldly life Abstaining from food and awaiting for the approach of death Ghost Wide, broad Vishnu Scholar Acts of religious excellance Fruits of virtuous acts/ of the previous birth Virtue; Religious excellence Virtues mean Town Ancient history of Legendary and traditional Para Brahman The reality of Para Brahman The principal object of human life and pursuit of which four are enumerated. Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha. Highest supreme Being The supreme being Sacrifice performed by the one who is desirous of male offspring One who fights from a chariot Love; affection; tune
Pretha Prudhu Pundarikasha Pundit Punya Karmas Punya phalam Punyam Punyapurusha Puram Puranas Purusha Purusha Tatwam Purusharthas
purushathad Purushudu Rutrakamna yaga Radhika Ragam
Glossary
797
Raja Dharma Rajadandana Rajamandalas Rajaneerthi Rajassu Rajasuya Rajo guna Rakshasatatvam Rasa Kreeda Rasam Rashtram Rigveda Ritvicks Rokali Roopam Rutu Sabda Brahma Sabdha Vedi. Sabdham Sabha Sadhacharams Sadhaka
Duty of a king Punishment of a king One of the twelve chapters of dandaneeti written by Brahma Statesmanship One of the three gunas A sacrificial ritual done by a successful king One of the three gunas Belonging to the characteristic of Rakshasas A merrry and sportive dance of gopi and gopikas Subtle quality of liquids Any public calamity One of the four Vedas The priest who officiates at sacrifice Large wooden pestle Form or figure A season (two months period in a year) Brahman Locating it merely by a sound in the dark Sound an assembly Superior customs Student
798
Sadhanas Sadhus Sadhyas Saguna Tatwam Sama Samadhi Samana Vayu Samana; Samanam Samanamu Samasrayam Samaveda Sambaram Sambhavam Sambrani Sampada Sampahu Samsara; Samsaram Samskara; Samskaras
Accomplishing; means Non-aggressive,harmless person. An ascetic Semi gods Brahman with form One of the four Upayas Deep meditation One of the five vital airs Samana Vayu one of the five Pranas Equal; similar; parallel; alike Complete dependence on others One of the four Vedas Materials Happen; occur A perfume offend to god wealth A vayu Circuit of mundane existence; worldly illusion; secular life Accomplishment; purificatory light for the first three caste; burning on the funeral pile United; possessed of Placing; junction A herb that is supposed to revive Will; mental resolve Ascribed to the sage kapila Conch
799
Samyuka Sandhi Sanjivini Sankalpam Sankayas Sankham

Glossary
Sankhsya, Sankyas Sankshas Sankula Yudham Sannati Sannipatam santi bhoda Sanyasa Ashrama Sapta Matrukas Saptangas Saranagathi Sairandhri Sargyam Sarovar Sarpa yaga sarvabhakshaka Sarvagna Sarvatobhandra Vyuha Sastrajnanam Sastras Satasrugam Sathyavrata Satra Yaga Sattu Satva Guna Satyam Satyasvaroopa Saucha karmas
800
A science of philosophy One of the spiritual practices to attain Brahman a confused fight in a war Tranquility; peace A fever Knowledge of peace 4th of the four ashramas Other seven universal Seven constituents Refuge; protection A maid servant The bow of Vishnu Lake A ritual sacrificing snakes eater of every object / Agni Onmiscient A kind of military array Knowledge of Sastras Science; law Hundred peaks Vow of speaking truth A kind of ritual Sap,juice, essence One of the three gunas Truth A truthful person Purification acts
Sreyaskara Seranagathi Shanthi Shardha Shatkarmas Siddha Samadhi Siddhis Sidha Sistacharam Skhama Skhara and Akskhara. Skhara tatwas Skhetram Skshetragna Sleshma Snataka Vrata Somarasa Sonittamu Soonyam Soota Soustavam Sowcham Sowiti Sowrashtram Sparsas
Pwroducing good Seeking refuge Peace Devotion Man purified by ablation Accomplishment Accomplishment A yogi Traditional usage of the good and virtuous Pardon Perishable and non perishable The reality of perishable Field; the sphere of action of the soul The soul Phlegm A ceremony of ablution required on finishing the first ashrama Juice from some leaf Crimson; covered with blood Non existence; void A caste who drive chariots a weapon Purity Teller of epics One of the Indian states Heavenly nymphs; wives of gandharvas
801
Glossary
Sraadha Sradha Sradhas Srunekataka Vyuha Sruti Stambhana Mantra Stotras Sudana vayu Sudarshana chakra Sudha Tatva
An end ceremony for the deceased Devotion Funeral rites in honour of the departed spirits A kind of military array Road; teachings from Veda Mantra of stopping Praise of god One of the five vital airs The wheel-like weapon of Vishnu The real nature of the human soul in its relation with the Supreme Spirit pervading the universe Backward caste Whiteness Way of semen Abode of sun god Zeal Offer given to any god; wife of fire god Master Heaven The real form Independence The selection of a husband by a princess or daughter of a Kshatriya at a public assembly of suitors, held for the purpose.
Sudra Suklam Sukra Dwaram Surya Mandalam Swadha Swaha Swami; Swamy Swarga Swaroopam Swatantram Swayamvara
802
Swayamvara Swetha Dweepa Tali
Maiden who chooses her husband at a public assembly of suitors Is an Island A small piece of gold tied by the bride groom at the time of marriage One of the three primary gunas One of the three gunas The subtle and principal of each primary elements Contrivance Meditation,Penance Power of tapasya A sadhu who performs penance Meditation A sacrifice with tapasya Devotion on penance Part of a forest where penance is performed Religious rite of offering water to the deceased Knowledge of the eternal truth One who knows the eternal truth Reality Holy water Brightness, Splendour Supreme Spirit conceived of pure light Teaching of real nature
Tamasu; tamo guna Tamo gunas, Trigunas, Tamoguna Tanmatras. Tantras Tapas; tapassu; tapasya Tapasakthi Tapasvi Tapasya Tapo Yagna Taponishta Tapovana Tarpana Tatva Jnanam Tatva Gnanis Tatvam Teerdhas Tejassu Tejoroopam Thatva Bodha
Glossary
803
Tilodakas Tirthas Treta yuga Trigunas Trikala Trikarna Tunga Udana Tatwam Udana Vayu Udgata, Upradashta Udhanam; Udvahu Udya Roopa Upacharams Upadrashta Upamanam Upana Upanaina Samskaras
An oblation of sesame seeds and water to the ancestors a holy place or holy water The second of the eras Three gunas viz Satva, Rajas, Tamo gunas One of the three kalams viz Bhoota, Bhavishyat, Vartmana Principal three karmas by manassu, speech and action A kind of grass One of the five vital airs One of the five vital airs One of the chief priests, who recites Samaveda a ritual Udhana Vayu (one of the five vayus) Becoming visible Act of serving the guests or visitors, politely and warmly Observer. Master of ceremonies Example, Simily One of the five vital airs Initiation of a youth of any of the first three castes into sacred study Thread marriage for a dwija Initiation of a youth of any of the first three castes in to the sacred study.
Upanaina; Upanayanam Upanayanam
804
Upanishad Upa Pandavas Upasta Upavasa Deksha Upayas Uttara Arani Uttara Gograhamam Uttarayanam Vaarunastra. Vadha Vairagyam Vaisakhilyas Vajra vyuha Vajrayudha Valkalas Vanaprasta Ashrama Vandhi Varaham Vargas Varna Varna Sankaram Varnashrama dharma
the logical part of the veda Sons of Pandavas, born to Draupadi The external organ of generation in either sex A vow of fasting Principal four Upayas- sama, dana, bheda and danda One of the wooden pieces to generate fire capturing of herds of cattle from the north The period when sun moves from the south to the north A weapon of varuna killing, to kill Absence of worldly pleasures A type of ascetics A kind of military array A deadly weapon of Indra Garments made of tree bark Third of the four ashramas. After family life,penancing in a forest one who praises the king Pig Internal Colour Mix up caste Duties of principal four castes viz. Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaysya and Sudra. House
805
Vasam
Glossary
Vasanas Vasantavruttu Vasikarana Vasu Vata Vayu Vayu putra Vayuvastra Veda Vedaadhayanam Vedadhjyanam Vedangas Vedanta Vedanta sastra Vedaparayanam Vedapurusha Vedas Vedaveyatta Vedhika Vedi Vedic Mantras Vedic Stotras
806
Smell; knowledge derived from memory Two months period, Spring season Over powering A celestial god inflammation of the toe joints Wind Son of Vayu, the wind god An astra of which Vayu is the regent Divine knowledge learning of vedas; One of the six duties of a brahmin. Learning of Vedas Sciences regarded on auxiliary to the Veda The last of the six dharmas of Hindu Philosophy Based on the major Upanishads Reciting of Veda Vishnu Divine knowledge; collection of hymns and prayers Vishnu Platform A learned man Collection of hymns and prayers as said in Veda Verses recited from vedas
Vidhi Vighasam Vigjnana Vigraham Vigraham Vikaram Vikaras Vimana Vinayam Vinshti Visalaksha visistadvitas (G) Viswaroopa Viswaroopam Viswe devas Vivahu Vivekam Vratas Vyakta Vyana Vayu Vykuntam Vyragyam Vyshanava dharmam Vysya Deva Yagnam Yachaka yaga sala
Glossary
Sacred percept or a rule The left over food of a guest Wisdom An image Statue An image Change; alteration Self moving; Chariot of semi-gods Modesty Name of a kingdom in India Siva Refuses the doctrine of illusion Tallest figure measuring the earth and the sky He who exists in all forms; Lord Vishnu A celestial devatas A vayu Discrimination Religious vow; A course of conduct Manifested One of the five vital airs Abode of Vishnu Absence of worldly passions The doctrine of Vishnu Sacrifice to the Viswa Devas Beggar The prescribed place for offering oblations in a sacrifice.
807
Yagagni Yagaswa Yagna Yagna Purusha
Sacred fire from a yaga Horse selected for a sacrifice Worship offered with sacrificial fire Lord Vishnu; The divine being who is propitiated by a yagna and grants boons to the former. Place consecrated for conducting the ritual rites Place consecrated for conducting a ritual One who performs the ritual The priest officiating at a sacrifice Demi gods The servants of Yama, the god of death. Vehicle; marching Meritorious sanyasi A path of meditation Devotion in yoga A yoga philosophy established by Patanjali State of perfection of a yogi, salvation Practice of meditation (yoga) The system of philosophy established by Patanjali Science of Yoga An era, epoch, aeon oOo
Yagna Sala Yagna Vedika Yagnika Yajikas Yakshas Yama Kinkaras Yanam Yateeswara Yoga Dharmas; Yoga Marga Yoga Nishta Yoga Sastras Yoga Siddhi Yoga Bhyasam Yogam Yoga Vidya Yuga, Yugas
808

Mahabharatam

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SRIMADANDHRA MAHABHARATAM

Sri Ramakrishna Tapovanam

Typesetting by : R. Anuradha Raghuram, Hyderabad. (9441186831)

Sri Nori Sreenadha Venkata Somayazulu & Smt. Subbalakshmi

Between You and Me

SRI MADANDHRA MAHABHARATHAM

7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.

CHAPTER 5 The story of Dhrutarashtra, Panduraju, Gaandhari and Kunthi

CHAPTER 6 The exposition of archery between Kouravas and Pandavas

Duryodhana crowns Karna as the king of Angadesa:

CHAPTER 7 The birth of Drushtajyumna and Draupadi

Drupada Oh Vyasa maharishi! We cant analyze and decide all the

CHAPTER 8 Pandavas live in the palace of Drupada

Vidhura continues: Oh king you please listen to my words. Arjuna

Arjuna reaches Dwaraka: Arjuna was astonished to see Krishna

Bartha Bharya Bhikshatana Brahma gnanis Brahmacharya cahturmasya vrata

chakra Chatram dakshina darmica darshan Devara Nayam

jeevatma kamagni karta kavyam kiratakas

16. 17. 18.

Dhoortuda dikpalakas Durgams Durbedhyam gnani

Gunam Indriyas jalastambana vidya kaladandam Krodha leelas Maddi trees

Yajikas yamakinkaras jeevatma

Sabha Sanjivini Sankula yudham sarvabhakshaka Satra yaga

siddhis Soustavam Sowiti Sradhas Sudra Sudras Swayamvara

yaga yaga sala yagagni yagna yateeswara

Paramapurusha; paramatma The Supreme Spirit

Akruras Akshara Akshara Para Brahma Akshara tatwam Aksharopasana Akshauhini

Ashtami Asta dikpalakas Asta Vasuvus

Atidhi pooja, Atiradhas Avabridhasnana

Avidya Avivekam Avyakta, avyaktam Badabagni

Chaitanyam Chakram Chandra Mandalam

Charvakas Chatram Chedi Chidanandham Chittamu Chittu Chowaris C.P.C

Davagni Deepam Deepardhana Desam Devadartam Devara Nayam

Hamsa Harta Havisis Havya Himsa Homa Homadhenu Hota

Maharishi Mahatatvam Mahattu Mahee Majja Makara Vyuham Mamakaram Manassu

Moodha Mooras Mrutasanjivini

Muhurtham Muktha, mukthi Muni Munikanya Munja

Pravaha, Aavalu Pravrtutti Marga Prayopavesah:

purushathad Purushudu Rutrakamna yaga Radhika Ragam

Samyuka Sandhi Sanjivini Sankalpam Sankayas Sankham

Swayamvara Swetha Dweepa Tali

Upanaina; Upanayanam Upanayanam

Yagagni Yagaswa Yagna Yagna Purusha

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