The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 172

Section CLXXII. *( Chaitra-ratha Parva continued. )* Vaisampayana said, "After Vyasa had gone away, those bulls among men—the Pandavas—saluting the Brahmana and bidding him farewell, proceeded (towards Panchala) with joyous hearts and with their mother walking before them. Those slayers of all foes, inorder to reach their destination, proceeded in a due northerly direction, walking day and night, till they reached the sacred shrine of *Shoma-srayāyanam* (the shrine of Siva with the crescent mark on his brow). Then those tigers among men—the sons of Pandu—arrived at the banks of the Ganges, Dhananjaya, that mighty charioteer, walking before them, torch in hand for showing the way and protecting them (against wild animals). And it so happened that at that time the proud king of the Gandharvas with his wives was sporting in that solitary region in the delightful waters of the Ganges. And the kind of the Gandharvas heard the tread of the Pandavas as they approached the river. And hearing the sounds of their footsteps the mighty Gandharva was inflamed with wrath. And beholding those chastisers of all foes—the Pandavas—approaching towards him with their mother, the Gandharva, drawing his frightful bow to a circle, said, 'It is known that excepting the first forty seconds the grey twilight preceding nightfall hath been appointed for the wanderings of the Yakshas, the Gandharvas, and the Rakshasas, capable of going everywhere at will. The rest of the time hath been appointed for man to do his work. If therefore men, wandering during those moments from greed of gain, come near us, both we and the Rakshasas slay those fools. Therefore persons acquainted with the Vedas never applaud those men—not even kings at the head of their troops—that then approach any piece of water. Stay ye at a distance. Approach me not. Know ye not that I am bathing in the waters of the Bhāgirathee? Know that I am Angara-parna the Gandharva, ever depending on my own strength! I am proud and haughty and am the friend of Kuvera. This mine forest on the banks of the Ganges, where I sport to gratify all my senses, is called Angarparna after my own name. Here neither gods, nor Kāpālikas, nor Gandharvas, nor Yakshas can come. How dare ye approach me who am the brightest jewel on the diadem of Kuvera.' "Hearing these words of the Gandharva, Arjuna said, 'Block-head, whether it be day, night, or twilight, who can bar others from the ocean, the sides of the Himalayas, and this river? O thou ranger of the skies, whether the stomach be empty or full, whether it is night or day, there is no special time for any body to come to the Ganges—the foremost of all rivers! As regards ourselves, endued with might, we care not when we disturb thee! Wicked being, those men that are weak in war worship ye! This Gangā issuing out of the golden peaks of the Himavat, falleth into the waters of the ocean being distributed into seven streams. They who drink the waters of these seven streams, *viz*, Gangā, Yamunā, Saraswati, Vithasthā, Sarayu, Gomati, and Gandaki, are cleansed of all their sins. O Gandharva, this sacred Ganga again, flowing through the celestial regions, is called there the Alakanandā. It hath, again, in the region of the *Pitris* become the *Vaitarani*, difficult of being crossed by sinners. Krishna-Dwaipayana himself hath said so. This auspicious and celestial river, capable of leading unto heaven (those that touch its waters), is free from all dangers. Why dost thou then desire to bar us from it? This act of thine is not consonant with eternal virtue! Disregarding thy words, why shall we not touch the sacred waters of the Bhagirathee free from all dangers and from which none can bar us?'" Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Arjuna, Angāraparna became inflamed with wrath and drawing his bow to a circle began to shoot his arrows like venomous snakes at the Pandavas. Then Dhananjaya the son of Pandu, wielding a good shield and the torch he held in his hands soon warded off all those arrows. Addressing the Gandharva, Arjuna again said, 'O Gandharva, seek thou not to terrify those that are skilled in weapons, for weapons hurled at them vanish like froth. I think, O Gandharva, that ye are superior (in prowess) to men. Therefore shall I fight with thee with celestial weapons and not by any crooked ways. This fiery weapon (that I shall hurl at thee), Vrihaspati the reverend preceptor of Indra gave unto Bharadwaja. From Bharadwaja it was obtained by Agni-veshya, and from Agni-veshya by my preceptor. That foremost of Brahmanas—Drona—gave it unto me.'" Vaisampayana continued, "Saying these words, the Pandava in wrath hurled at the Gandharva, that blazing weapon made of fire. And it burnt the Gandharva's chariot in a trice. Deprived of consciousness by the force of the weapon, the mighty Gandharva was falling, head downwards, from his chariot. Just then Dhananjaya seized him by the hair of his head adorned with garlands of flowers. Thus seizing him the Pandava dragged the unconscious Gandharva towards his brothers. Beholding this, that Gandharva's wife, Kumbhinasi, desirous of saving her husband, ran towards Yudhish-thira and sought his protection. And the Gandharvi said, 'O thou exalted one, extend to me thy protection! O set my husband free! O lord, I am Kumbhinasi by name, the wife of this Gandharva, who seeketh thy protection!' Beholding her (so afflicted) the mighty Yudhish-thira addressed Arjuna and said, 'O thou slayer of all foes, O child, who would slay a foe who hath been vanquished in fight, who hath been deprived of fame, who is protected by a woman, and who hath no prowess?' Arjuna replied, saying, 'Take thou thy life, O Gandharva! Go hence, and grieve not! Yudhish-thira the king of the Kurus commandeth me to show thee mercy!' "The Gandharva replied, 'I have been vanquished by thee. I shall, therefore, abandon my former name *Angar-parna* (the blazing-vehicled). I have been vanquished by thee. I shall, therefore, abandon my former name. In name alone I should not be boastful when my pride of strength hath been overcome. I have been fortunate in that I have obtained thee—Arjuna—the wielder of celestial weapons! I like to impart to thee the power of (producing) illusions which Gandhar- vas alone have. My excellent and variegated chariot hath been burnt by means of thy fiery weapons. I who had formerly been called after my excellent chariot should now be called after my burnt chariot. The science (of producing illusions) that I have spoken of was formerly obtained by me by ascetic penances. That science I will today impart to the giver of my life—thy illustrious self! What good luck doth he not deserve who, after overcoming a foe by his might, giveth him life when that foe asketh for it? This science is called *Chakshusi.* It was communicated by Manu, unto Shoma and by Shoma, unto Viswavasu, and lastly by Viswavasu unto me! Communicated by my preceptor, that science, having come unto me who am without energy, is gradually becoming fruitless. I have spoken to thee about its origin and descent. Listen now to its power! One may see (by its aid) whatever one wisheth to see, and in whatever way he liketh (generally or particularly). One can acquire this science only after standing on one leg for six months. I shall, however, communicate to thee this science without thyself being obliged to observe any rigid vow. O king, it is for this knowledge that we are superior to men. And capable as we are of seeing everything by spiritual insight, it is for this that we are equal to the gods. O thou best of men, I intend to give thee and to each of thy brothers an hundred horses born in the country of the Gandharvas. Of celestial color and endued with the speed of the mind, these horses are employed in carrying the celestials and the Gandharvas. They may be lean-fleshed but they tire not, nor doth their speed suffer on that account. In days of yore the thunder-bolt was created for the chief of the celestials inorder that he might slay (the Asura) Vitra with it. But hurled at Vitra's head it broke into a thousand pieces. The celestials worship with reverence those fragments of the thunder-bolt. That which is known in the three worlds as glory is a portion of the thunder-bolt. The hand of the Brahmana with which he poureth libations into the sacrificial fire, the chariot upon which the Kshatriya fighteth, the charity of the Vaisya, and the service the Sudra rendereth unto the three other classes, are all fragments of the thunder-bolt. It hath been said that these horses which form a portion of the Kshatriya's chariot are on that account incapable of being slain. The horses which form a portion of the Kshatriya's chariot are the offspring of Vadavā. Those amongst them that are born in the region of the Gandharvas can go everywhere and assume any hue and speed at the will of their owners. These horses of mine that I give thee will always gratify thy wishes.' "Hearing these words of the Gandharva, Arjuna said, 'O Gandharva, if from satisfaction at having obtained thy life at my hands in a situation of danger, thou givest me thy science and these horses, I would not accept thy gift.' The Gandharva replied, saying, 'A meeting with an illustrious person is ever a source of gratification. Besides, thou hast given me my life. Gratified with thee, I will give thee my science. That the obligation, however, may not all be on one side, I will take from thee, Vivatsu—thou bull of the Bharata race—thy excellent and eternal weapon of fire!' "Arjuna said, 'I would accept thy horses in exchange for my weapon! And let our friendship last for ever! O friend, tell us for what we human beings have to stand in fear of the Gandharvas! Chastisers of all foes that we are, virtuous and conversant with the Vedas, tell us, O Gandharva, why in travelling through the night we have been censured by thee!' "The Gandharva said, 'Ye are without wives (though ye have completed the period of study)! Ye are without a particular *asrama* (mode of life)! And, lastly, ye are out without a Brahmana walking before ye! Therefore, ye sons of Pandu, have ye been censured by me! The Yakshas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, Pishachas, Uragas, and Danavas, are possessed of wisdom and intelligence, and are acquainted with the history of the Kuru race. O hero, I too have heard from Narada and other celestial Rishis the good deeds of your wise ancestors! I myself too, while roaming over the whole earth bounded by her belt of seas, witnessed the prowess of thy great race! Arjuna, I have personal knowledge of thy preceptor—the illustrious son of Bharadwaja—celebrated throughout the three worlds for his knowledge of the Vedas and the science of arms! O thou tiger of the Kuru race, son of Prithā, I also know Dharma, Vayu, Sakra, the twin Aswinas, and Pandu,—these six perpetuators of the Kuru race,—these excellent celestial and human progenitors of ye all! I also know that ye five brothers are learned and high-souled; that ye are foremost of all wielders of weapons, that ye are brave and virtuous and observant of vows. Knowing that your understandings and hearts are excellent and your behaviour faultless, I have yet censured ye. For, O thou of the Kuru race, it behoveth no man endued with might of arms to bear with patience any ill usage in the sight of his wife! Especially as, O son of Kunti, our might increaseth during the hours of darkness, accompanied as I was by my wife I was filled with wrath! O thou best of vow-observing men, I have, however, been vanquished by thee in battle. Listen to me as I tell thee the reasons that have led to my discomfiture! The *Brahmacharya* is a very superior mode of life. Thou art in that mode now. It is for this, O Partha, that I have been defeated by thee in battle! O thou chastiser of all foes, if any married Kshatriya fight with us in the night, he can never escape with life! But, O Partha, a married Kshatriya, who is sanctified with Brahma, and who hath assigned the cares of his state to a priest, might vanquish all wanderers of the night. O child of Tapati, men should, therefore, ever employ learned priests possessing self-command for the acquisition of every good luck they desire. That Brahmana is worthy of being the king's priest who is accomplished in the Vedas and the six branches thereof, who is pure and truthful, who is of virtuous soul and possest of self-command. That monarch becometh ever victorious and finally earneth heaven who hath for his priest a Brahmana conversant with the rules of morality, who is a master of words, and who is pure and good-behavioured. The king should always select an accomplished priest in order to acquire what he hath not and protect what he hath. He who desireth his own prosperity should ever be guided by his priest, for he may then obtain even the whole earth surrounded by her belt of seas. O son of Tapati, a king who is without a Brahmana, can never acquire any land by his bravery or prestige of birth alone! Know, therefore, O thou perpetuator of the Kuru race, that that kingdom lasteth for ever in which Brahmanas have power.'" Thus ends the hundred and seventy-second Section in the Chaitra-ratha of the Adi Parva.