Khandava and its denizens were consumed almost completely when Krishna and Arjuna spotted an asura running for his life, closely pursued by Agni. Seeing the discus raised with deadly purpose by Krishna, the asura, known as Maya, threw himself at Arjuna’s feet and begged for sanctuary, which was mercifully granted. Thus, apart from Maya, Ashwasena, and the Saranga birds, which were the offspring of the sage Mandapala, Khandava and its fauna were completely destroyed to sate Agni’s hunger.
The Fire God was pleased with the two heroes and blessed them for the successful manner in which they had carried out the task assigned to them. As a tribute to the marvellous feat achieved by Krishna and Arjuna, the celestials rained down flowers upon their heads, accompanied by loud cries of approbation.
Indra, accompanied by his retinue, came down to earth in order to felicitate the warriors and he granted Arjuna a boon. Ever devoted to his quest for excellence as a warrior, Arjuna requested his divine father to give him various missiles and deadly weapons. To this, Indra replied: ‘You will have your heart’s desire when the time is right. In the near future, when you come to acquire the grace of the three-eyed Lord, the weapons you seek will be yours. May the Goddess of Fortune ever smile upon you.’ So saying, Indra departed, his heart filled with pride over the deeds accomplished by his mighty offspring.
Flushed with their success, Arjuna and Krishna, accompanied by Maya, walked towards the banks of the Yamuna. At that quiet spot, Maya voiced his gratitude. ‘Arjuna, I owe you my life. Caught between the terrible flames of Agni and Krishna’s discus, I would have travelled to Yama’s abode if you had not granted me refuge. It behoves me to return the favour in any way I can. So I beg you to command me.’
Arjuna smiled indulgently saying, ‘Your generous offer alone is payment enough and I only ask that you always remain as well disposed to us as you are now.’
Maya would not be thwarted however. ‘I am an accomplished architect, the Vishwakarma of the asuras. My talent, I am sure, will be of some use to you. Allow me to serve you in some manner’.
‘You feel indebted to me for saving your life and therefore I cannot bring myself to command you. However, I do not wish to disappoint you. Do Krishna’s bidding and I will consider that as service to me,’ replied Arjuna gently.
Maya then turned to Krishna, who ordered him to build a grand palace and royal court (sabha) for Yudhishthira. The asura was delighted and promised to do his utmost. ‘The palace I will build for Yudhishthira will be my crowning achievement and will be unequalled in the three worlds. It will serve as a monument to the tremendous feat achieved by Arjuna today and the compassion he showed towards another being. People will talk about it long after we have departed this world and sing Arjuna’s praise.’
In this manner, Yudhishthira came to acquire the magnificent sabha that was the pride of his kingdom. True to his word, Maya made it something very special and he successfully completed it in fourteen months. The construction occupied an area of five thousand square cubits. There were columns of pure gold that were encrusted with rare and precious stones that twinkled merrily and dazzled the eye of the beholder. Maya created artificial ponds with marble steps leading into them and placed lotuses made of rubies and emeralds. He also made bejewelled fish, birds and tortoises. Entire floors were paved with crystal that resembled the clear surface of water. The splendour of the sabha was unrivalled in the known world.
Unfortunately, it also stoked the flames of Duryodhana’s greed and envy to new heights and prompted him to deprive the Pandavas of their kingdom and send them into exile for fourteen long years.
11
Arjuna’s Quest for Celestial Weapons
Yudhishthira, in keeping with the wishes of his ancestors and in consultation with Krishna, performed the Rajasuya sacrifice at Indraprastha, after bringing all the kingdoms of the ancient domain under his suzerainty. This sacrifice would put him on equal footing with Indra, the King of the Devas and entitled him to share the former’s throne at Indralokha. In this quest, he was ably aided by his brothers. Arjuna, Bhima, Sahadeva and Nakula, rode out to the north, east, south and west respectively, using their individual talents to subjugate mighty rulers. The success of the sacrifice, the prosperity of Indraprastha, and the collective achievements of the Pandavas, which won them the respect and love of all who encountered them, infuriated the eldest Kaurava. Jealousy threatened to consume him entirely and he withdrew into a shell of bitterness and toxic rage.
In order to lift him from his depression, Duryodhona’s uncle, Shakuni, hatched a typically artful scheme to deprive the Pandavas of their kingdom and their possessions. Yudhishthira’s fondness for dice was well known, even though he was not a skilful payer. At the insistence of Duryodhana and against the wishes of the Kuru elders, Dhritarashtra sent Vidura to invite the Pandavas to a game of dice. Shakuni, playing on behalf of Duryodhana and using foul methods, cheated the guileless but gambling-addicted Yudhishthira into staking and losing his kingdom, his brothers, himself, and finally, his wife Draupadi.
As if the Pandavas had not been humiliated enough, Duhshasana, Duryodhana’s brother and co-conspirator, dragged Draupadi by the hair and brought her before the gathering of men, to be displayed as their slave. He cruelly ignored her pleas that she was not fit to be seen in assembly as she was menstruating and was wearing only a single cloth. The assembled gathering was horrified at the debased act being perpetrated before their eyes. But Karna laughed at the Princess and told her, ‘You are now a slave of the Kauravas and can no longer afford your haughty airs. Perhaps you should throw yourself at the feet of your masters and beg one of them to accept you as his wife. Pray that this time you will be considered worthy enough not to be gambled away.’ With these petty words, Karna paid the Princess back for her humiliating rejection of him at her swayamvara.
Seeing Draupadi stand trembling with shame and blanching from the intensity of Karna’s hatred for her, Bheema lost his temper. Throwing a look filled with menace at Karna and quaking with fury, he berated Yudhishthira in the harshest terms for reducing them to this state. ‘How could you do this to Draupadi? Even a hardened gambler has the decency not to stake the whore who shares his bed. Sahadeva! Bring me a flaming torch! I will burn the hands that were depraved enough to commit the foul act of gambling away a beloved wife. They would have done well to have strangled their owner rather than to have performed this wretched deed.’
Yudhishthira lowered his head in shame. Arjuna urgently addressed his raging brother, who was like a maddened elephant about to run amok. ‘Bheema! Get a hold of your temper! See how those hyenas are laughing at this display of dissent amongst us. Our unity is our biggest strength and you should not do anything to jeopardise that. Be patient, let them have their day. Our time will come and we will have our revenge.’
Bheema calmed down a little on hearing these judicious words, although he continued to glower at the Kauravas, his eyes dark with the promise of a day of reckoning in the future.
Goaded by Karna, Duhshasana proceeded to pull off Draupadi’s garment. It stands to the eternal shame of the Kurus that none went to her rescue, despite her heartrending cries for help. Duryodhana went a step further by slapping his thighs lewdly and inviting her to come and sit on his lap. Draupadi closed her eyes in shame and called to Krishna, the manifestation of the universal protector, to preserve her honour. Krishna responded at once and a miracle took place that would live in the hearts and minds of men and women forever.
Duhshasana’s efforts to rip off Draupadi’s garment proved futile. To his frustration, every time he tugged at the single garment, a new one took its place. The discarded garments formed a massive pile on the floor but he remained unsuccessful in disrobing the wife of the Pandavas. Finally he gave in to sheer fatigue and collapsed wearily.
Bhima’s temper flared again and he pronounced a terrible oath: ‘May I rot in hell for all eternity if I do not destroy the evil Duhshasana in battle and drink his blood. And Duryodhana, your days are num
bered, for I shall smash your thighs in battle with my mace!’
‘Mark my words, Karna, I swear you will meet your end at my hands for the countless wrongs you have done us!’ Arjuna vowed.
‘Vile Shakuni! Sahadeva will put an end to your cheating days when he claims your worthless life! And I will personally dispatch Uluka, your son, to the nether regions!’ Nakula promised, his handsome face rendered savage by the force of his passion.
Realizing that divine intervention had saved Draupadi and his sons were sliding recklessly towards a great precipice that would bring about their fall, Dhritarashtra finally acted. He returned their lost Kingdom to the Pandavas and requested them with almost inane insensitivity, to forgive and forget the terrible wrongs they had suffered at the hands of his sons. Sick at heart, the Pandavas trudged homewards.
Duryodhana was furious with his father for returning his ill-gotten gains. He alternately badgered and emotionally blackmailed his father into finally ordering the Pandavas to a rematch and another game of dice. The loser would have to go into exile for twelve years and spend the thirteenth year in hiding. If discovered, they would have to go into exile again for the same duration. Yudhishthira agreed to these terms, choosing to adhere to the laws of dharma and the Kshatriya tradition of not refusing a challenge, rather than following the laws of common sense. Shakuni cast his loaded dice again, and won again. The Pandavas lost their Kingdom once again and were exiled for thirteen years.
Dressed in nothing more than bark, the Pandavas, accompanied by Draupadi, left their Kingdom, having entrusted their elderly mother, Kunti, to the care of Vidura. The citizens followed them to the edge of the forest, beating their breasts, tearing their hair and sobbing wildly. They cursed Dhritarashtra and Duryodhana for their treatment of the righteous Pandavas.
Utterly dejected, the Pandavas headed to Dwaitavana, where it had been decided they would begin the term of exile. Their surroundings were beautiful and restful but did little to soothe the injured spirits of the Pandavas. They all felt tormented and grief-stricken. Draupadi was particularly unhappy, her lovely tresses hanging limply beside her wan face. She had vowed not to tie up her hair again till Duhshasana had received his comeuppance at the hands of Bheema.
The brothers discussed their situation and found there was little comfort to be had. Duryodhana would certainly not be idle during their exile. While they were languishing in the forest, he would use the time and money from the Pandavas’ treasury to consolidate his position and make powerful alliances. The three most formidable warriors of the age – Bhishma, Drona, and Karna, would fight on the Kaurava side. They were all disciples of the great Parashurama and had celestial weapons to call upon. Things looked dark indeed for the Pandavas.
While they were brooding thus in Dwaitavana, Veda Vyasa came to visit them. He spoke words of comfort to the brothers and helped lighten the burden of anxiety they had been carrying around. Drawing Yudhishthira aside, he spoke thus: ‘Do not fear the Kauravas. Their ill-gotten gains will prove to be their undoing in the long run. They will wallow in luxury and waste their time in self-indulgence. In the meantime, you will have to use the years of exile constructively to gain advantages over your enemies.’
‘Your words fill me with hope and purpose and my heart is filled with gratitude,’ answered Yudhishthira.
‘I shall shed some light on the path that you must follow. Listen carefully, for I am about to bequeath the secret knowledge of Pratismriti to you. Teach it to Arjuna, for he will achieve great things through its use. Tell him to perform penances to win the favour of Shiva and Indra in order to procure weapons that will enable him to wipe out his enemies and reinstate you on the throne. In the meantime, the rest of you should leave this place and go elsewhere to cleanse your hearts and please the Gods.’
‘Yours words have pierced the darkness that has held us in thrall for so many days. We will do exactly as you say. I humbly beg of you to bless us and remember us in your prayers,’ said Yudhishthira, standing before the sage with folded hands.
‘So be it. Take heart, for justice is on your side and everything you have lost will be returned to you,’ spoke Vyasa gently.
After the great sage had departed, Yudhishthira wasted little time in calling Arjuna and outlining the plan of action, as advised by Vyasa. He imparted his recently acquired knowledge to his younger brother, summoned the rest of his family, and then told Arjuna, ‘Take the secret knowledge I have given you and use it to please Shiva and Indra, so that you may acquire the weapons needed to annihilate our enemies. The hopes of your family are invested in you. Go with our blessings... Your destiny awaits you!’
Arjuna was embraced by each of his brothers, who were too overwrought to say anything to him. Draupadi’s magnificent eyes were wet with tears when she addressed Arjuna saying,: ‘The path before you is difficult and filled with obstacles but if anyone can overcome them, it is you. We all have the utmost confidence in you. Every moment we spend away from you will feel like an eon and you will be in our thoughts constantly. I pray to all the Gods to keep you safe and help you achieve our collective goal.’
With a heavy heart, Arjuna said his farewells and left on his mission to propitiate the Gods and acquire celestial weapons. The yogic science of Pratismriti gave Arjuna the ability to journey with the rapidity of thought and he soon reached the Himalayas. This remote and mountainous region was believed to be frequented by the Gods and was the haven of devotion and spirituality.
Equipped with his beloved Gandeeva, Arjuna negotiated his way across the rough terrain. At Indrakila, he was stopped by a venerable sage who had been meditating under a tree. The ancient being seemed to emanate an aura of goodness and vitality. He asked, ‘Who are you? And why have you brought weapons to a place that does not harbour violence of any kind?’
‘I am a man on a mission,’ replied Arjuna.
‘Be that as it may, there is no need for you to carry your weapons here. You will find there is little use for them. Why don’t you discard them and proceed freely from here?’
Arjuna declined politely but firmly and made ready to move on. The stranger was pleased with the strength of his purpose and unflinching resolve and so revealed his true identity. It was none other than the Lord Indra, who had come to bless his son as he embarked on this great endeavour, and to encourage his efforts. Indra said: ‘I am pleased with you Arjuna, my son. Ask me for a boon. Anything you desire shall be yours.’
Arjuna folded his hands reverentially and replied, ‘I seek divine weapons and missiles, as well as the knowledge pertaining to their use.’
‘Why don’t you ask for something more pleasant?’ his father asked to tease him. ‘It is unfortunate that fate has dictated that you will face inordinate toil and suffering in this world. But you have a choice – you can abandon this life and come with me to heaven, where a life of ease and luxury awaits. Just say the word, and I will take you to paradise, where you will be elevated to the ranks of divinity.’
‘Divine Father, your concern for my welfare warms my heart. However, heaven will be worse than hell without my brothers at my side. It is true that we have endured much and lost even more. Our enemies have the upper hand and I will never forgive myself if I abandon my brothers at this time of dire need. Yudhishthira has placed his trust in me and has sent me on a quest to find the means to crush our opponents. I will not let him or the others down. Our fates are linked for better or worse and I would not have it any other way.’
‘Your selflessness is a lesson for all mortals. I am proud to be your father. You will be granted your boon after you have seen Shiva with your own eyes. Strive to that end and success will be yours.’ So saying, Indra returned to heaven.
Arjuna began performing tapas in earnest. Dressed in nothing but bark and deerskins and subsisting on next to nothing, he focused his entire being on the three-eyed God. His penances increased in severity as the months rolled by. He stopped eating and not even water touched his lips. Air and utter devotion were
his only sustenance. Impervious to heat or cold, light or darkness, and every bodily need, he channelled every ounce of his being towards winning Shiva’s favour. The intensity of his austerities was such that even his surroundings became affected. Streams dried up and vegetation died away, unable to withstand the heat of his penance. The sages in the vicinity were disturbed and they rushed to Shiva for help. On hearing their worries, Shiva reassured them: ‘Do not worry! His intentions are pure and worthy. I shall give him what he desires.’
Shiva and his consort, Parvati, disguised themselves as hunters and set off to meet Arjuna. They were accompanied by their retinue, similarly garbed. As they drew near, Shiva spotted an asura in the form of a boar, charging towards Arjuna, with the clear intent of killing him. Both the Lord and his devotee dispatched their arrows at the same instant, killing the loathsome creature instantly.
Arjuna was not happy to see the hunter and said, ‘It was boorish of you to shoot, knowing that it was my quarry. I saw it first and shot it. Give up your foolish claim or I shall make you do so.’
‘It is you who are claiming credit though you don’t deserve it. Vainglorious people such as you deserve death at my hands,’ replied the hunter.
At the end of this exchange, a fierce duel broke out between the two. Arjuna was astonished by the prowess of his antagonist. His own infallible arrows missed their mark and inexplicably became absorbed by the hunter’s body. Worse, he himself sustained countless injuries and his body became bruised and bleeding, while his opponent remained unmarked. Suddenly, the inexhaustible quiver of arrows given to him by Agni became empty. Shocked, Arjuna wondered if he were fighting a God or a demon. Deciding that none but Shiva could stop him in combat, he increased the ferocity of his attack.
Arjuna Page 10