The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 217

Section CCXVII. ( *Arjuna vanavasa Parva continued.* ) Vaisampayana said, "Then the son of the wielder of the thunder-bolt, having narrated everything unto those Brahmanas (residing with him there), set out for the side of the Himavat. And arriving at the spot called *Agastya-vata*, he next went to Vashishta's peak. And thence the son of Kunti proceeded to the peak of Bhrigu. And purifying himself with ablutions and other rites there, that foremost of the Kurus gave away unto Brahmanas many thousands of kine and many houses. And thence that best of men proceeded to the sacred asylum called Hirnyavindu. And performing his ablutions there, that foremost of the sons of Pandu saw many holy regions. And descending from those heights, that chief of men, O Bhārata, accompanied by the Brahmanas, journeyed towards the east, desiring to behold the regions that lay in that direction. And the foremost of the Kuru race saw many regions of sacred waters one after another. And beholding in the forest of Naimisha the delightful river *Utpalini* (full of lotuses) and the Nandā and the Apara Nandā, the far-famed Kausiki, and the mighty rivers Gayā and Gangā, and all the regions of sacred waters, he purified himself, O Bharata, (with the usual rites), and gave away many kine unto Brahmanas. And whatever regions of sacred waters and other holy places there were in Anga, Vanga, and Kalinga, Arjuna went to all of them. And seeing them all with due ceremonies, he gave away much wealth. And, O Bhārata, all those Brahmanas who had gone thither following the son of Pandu, bade him farewell at the gate of the kingdom of Kalinga and desisted from following him further. And the brave Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, obtaining their leave, went towards the ocean accompanied by only a few attendants. And crossing the country of the Kalingas, the mighty one proceeded, seeing on his way many countries and sacred spots and delightful mansions and houses. And beholding the Mahendra mountains adorned with the ascetics (residing there), he went to Manipur, proceeding slowly along the sea shore. And beholding all the regions of sacred waters and other holy places in that province, the strong-armed son of Pandu at last went, O king, to the virtuous Chitra-vānha, the ruler of Manipur. And the king of Manipur had a daughter of great beauty named Chitrāngadā. And it so happened that Arjuna beheld her in her father's palace wandering at pleasure. And beholding the handsome daughter of Chitra-vāhana, Arjuna desired to possess her. And going unto the king (her father), he represented unto him what he sought. And he said, 'Give unto me thy daughter, O king! I am an illustrious Kshatriya's son.' And hearing this, the king asked him, 'Whose son art thou?' And Arjuna replied, 'I am Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu and Kunti.' And the king, hearing this, spoke unto him these words in sweet accents:—'There was in our race a king of the name of Prabhanjana. He was childless. To obtain a child, he underwent severe ascetic penances. And by his severe ascetism, O Pārtha, he gratified that god of gods, Mahadeva, the husband of Umā, that supreme lord holding the (mighty bow called) Pināka. And the illustrious lord granted him the boon that each successive descendant of his race should have one child only. And in consequence of that boon, one child only is born unto every successive descendant of this race. All my ancestors (one after another) had each male children. I, however, have only a daughter to perpetuate my race. But, O thou bull amongst men, this daughter of mine I ever look upon as my son. And, O thou bull of the Bharata race, I have duly made her a *Putrika.* Therefore, one amongst the sons that may be begotten upon by thee, O Bhārata, shall be the perpetuator of my race. And that son is the dower for which I may give away my daughter. O son of Pandu, if thou choosest, thou canst take her upon this understanding.' Hearing these words of the king, Arjuna accepted them all, saying, 'So be it.' And taking Chitra-vāhana's daughter (as his wife), the son of Kunti resided in that city for three years. And when Chitrāngadā gave birth to a son, Arjuna embraced that handsome princess affectionately. And taking leave of the king (her father), he set out on his wanderings again." Thus ends the two hundred and seventeenth Section in the Arjuna-vanavāsa of the Adi Parva.