Mahabharata: Volume 4

by Debroy, Bibek

  Most people have thought I was mad, even if they never quite said that. Among those who believed and thought it was worthwhile, beyond immediate family, are M. Veerappa Moily, Ashok Desai, Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Laveesh Bhandari. And my sons, Nihshanka and Vidroha. The various reviewers of the first volume have also been extremely kind. Incidentally, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Vaman Shivram Apte. When he compiled the student’s Sanskrit dictionary more than a hundred years ago in Pune, I am certain he had no idea that it would be used so comprehensively to translate the Mahabharata.

  Penguin also believed. My initial hesitation about being able to deliver was brushed aside by R. Sivapriya, who pushed me after the series had been commissioned by V. Karthika. And then Sumitra Srinivasan became the editor, followed by Paloma Dutta. The enthusiasm of these ladies was so infectious that everything just snowballed and Paloma ensured that the final product of the fourth volume was much more readable than what I had initially produced.

  When I first embarked on what was also a personal voyage of sorts, the end was never in sight and seemed to stretch to infinity. Now that 40 per cent is over (and 10 per cent more is in the pipeline), the horizon can be seen. And all the people mentioned above have had a role to play in this journey.

  1 Brahmana is a text and also the word used for the highest caste.

  2 A class of religious and philosophical texts that are composed in the forest, or are meant to be studied when one retires to the forest.

  3 The six Vedangas are shiksha (articulation and pronunciation), chhanda (prosody), vyakarana (grammar), nirukta (etymology), jyotisha (astronomy) and kalpa (rituals).

  4 Religion, duty.

  5 Wealth. But in general, any object of the senses.

  6 Desire.

  7 Release from the cycle of rebirth.

  9 Krishna or Krishnaa is another name for Droupadi.

  1 Virata was the name of both the kingdom and the capital, a kingdom ruled by the Matsya kings. Today, the capital, Virata or Virata-nagara, is known as Bairat and is in the Jaipur district of Rajasthan.

  2 The details have been recounted in Section 44 (Volume 3).

  3 That is, Yudhishthira.

  4 The brahmana whose kindling was robbed by a deer, the story having been told in Section 44 (Volume 3).

  5 The god Dharma.

  6 The word used is tata. While it means son, it is affectionately used for anyone who is younger or junior.

  7 Nagara means city. The city of Virata is an acceptable translation. But so is Virata-nagara, as the name of the city.

  8 Since the Pandavas will be in disguise, they will have to enter the service of King Virata.

  9 After Yudhishthira lost the two rounds of gambling, the Pandavas were banished to the forest. While they were there, Brihadashva taught Yudhishthira the skills of gambling with dice. This has been recounted in Section 32.

  10 Vibhitaka nuts were used as dice.

  11 Vrikodara is Bhima’s name.

  12 This has been described in Section 19. Dasharha is Krishna’s name.

  13 The god of rain, that is, Indra. Alternatively, parjanya can also be translated as a rain-cloud.

  14 This Dhritarashtra is a king of the nagas and is not to be confused with the Dhritarashtra who was Duryodhana’s father. Airavata is the name of Indra’s elephant.

  15 Gudakesha is Arjuna’s name.

  16 Bibhatsu means the one who terrifies and is one of Arjuna’s name. Because he has a bow (dhanu) named Gandiva, Arjuna is also known as Gandivadhanva.

  17 Indra is the one with a thousand eyes. Arjuna’s residence in heaven is described in several sections, such as Section 32 (Volume 2).

  18 The Rudras and Adityas are gods. There are eleven Rudras and twelve Adityas.

  19 Arjuna was ambidextrous and was therefore known as Savyasachi.

  20 Indra.

  21 Alternatively, Brihannala.

  22 In addition to obtaining celestial weapons, Arjuna had learnt these skills in heaven.

  23 King Nala’s story has been told in Section 32 (Volume 2).

  24 The word used is tata.

  25 Virata.

  26 The word used is tata.

  27 Sairandhri is a class of independent maidservants who work in the inner quarters of a palace, or as artisans in someone else’s house. This is also the proper name Droupadi adopts.

  28 In this context, the sacred fire preserved in any household. Agnihotra is also a kind of sacrifice.

  29 Yudhishthira’s charioteer.

  30 Panchala is Drupada’s kingdom.

  31 The priest of the Pandavas.

  32 Of kings.

  33 Towards the king.

  34 Presumably, someone else’s prosperity.

  35 The king.

  36 That is, one should not be bribed.

  37 The word used is tata.

  38 Droupadi.

  39 There are different rivers named Kalindi. This Kalindi is another name for the Yamuna, which flows down from the Kalinda mountain and is therefore described as Kalinda’s daughter, or Kalindi.

  40 Yudhishthira.

  41 The word used is tata.

  42 A kind of tree believed to contain fire inside.

  43 All of them loosened the strings of their respective bows.

  44 The king of Saindhava is Jayadratha. Jayadratha had abducted Droupadi, the incident having been described in Section 42 (Volume 3). Once Jayadratha had been defeated, Bhimasena had used his bow to drag Jayadratha by the neck.

  45 This is a reference to Nakula.

  46 The text uses the word dakshinachara. The straightforward translation is that his conduct (achara) was honest, skilful, amiable and courteous (dakshina). However, in worshipping Shakti, dakshinachara refers to purer rituals that use the right hand, as opposed to use of the left hand (vamachara).

  47 Yudhishthira and Virata respectively.

  48 These are references to Yudhishthira.

  49 As a king.

  50 Yudhishthira.

  51 The word used is tata.

  52 Since a brahmana cannot be killed.

  53 The Himalayas.

  54 Indra.

  55 The word used is tata.

  56 Droupadi and Virata’s queen respectively.

  57 Virata’s wife.

  58 Sairandhris.

  59 Speech, intelligence and navel.

  60 Nose, eyes, ears, nails, breasts and neck.

  61 Soles of the feet, palms of the hand, tongue, lips and nails.

  62 The word used is shyama, meaning dark. Shyama is also a term for a woman who hasn’t had children. While Droupadi has had children, the sense could also be that she is as beautiful as one who has not.

  63 The bimba tree has fruit that is red when ripe. Ripe bimba fruit is a standard comparison for the lips of beautiful women.

  64 Apsaras are celestial dancers who serve Indra, sometimes regarded as wives of gandharvas.

  65 Alambusha, Mishrakeshi, Pundarika and Malini are the names of apsaras. Indrani is Indra’s consort, while Varuni is Varuna’s. Tvashtra is Vishvakarma, the architect of the gods. Dhata is best translated as the creator of the worlds and Prajapati as the guardian.

  66 Droupadi, or Krishnaa, as opposed to Krishna.

  67 The goddess in question is Droupadi. Mala is a garland and Malini is one who collects flowers and weaves garlands.

  68 Reflecting the belief that a she-crab dies after giving birth.

  69 Gandharvas are semi-divine, celestial musicians.

  70 That is, he will be killed.

  71 The word used is tata.

  72 A yojana is a measure of distance and is between eight and nine miles.

  73 Virata’s daughter, who is also being described as the goddess.

  74 Because Arjuna is in the form of a eunuch.

  75 Nakula.

  76 There is a problem of transposition here and these words should have come earlier. Nakula has already told Virata about his expertise.

  77 Referring to Yudhish
thira.

  78 Virata.

  79 A maharatha is in general a mighty warrior. More specifically, a maharatha is skilled in the use of all weapons and can take on ten thousand warriors single-handedly.

  80 The text states there was a brahmana festival and it is difficult to pinpoint the brahmana part of it. So we have simply translated it as a festival of austerities. It could also mean a festival with Vedic rituals.

  81 The Kalakhanja asuras were probably the same as the Kaleyas or the Kalakeyas. They are believed to have been descended from Vishnu.

  82 Because Bhima did not want to be detected.

  83 Famous demon killed by Indra.

  84 The wrestler’s name.

  85 Vaishravana is Kubera, the lord of riches.

  1 Droupadi, Yajnasena’s (Drupada’s) daughter. Panchali is also Droupadi’s name.

  2 The name of Virata’s general. As will become clear later, Kichaka was also Sudeshna’s brother.

  3 Droupadi.

  4 A lioness is the queen of deer.

  5 A suta is a charioteer. Though he was Virata’s general, Kichaka was the son of a charioteer.

  6 Sudeshna was the daughter of the king of Kekaya.

  7 The sun god.

  8 Because they did not wish to be discovered.

  9 While dasyus can be translated as bandits or miscreants, they were also evil demons and a class of uncivilized tribes, the enemies of gods and men.

  10 A reference to Yudhishthira.

  11 Large tree.

  12 The king of animals is a lion and the wife is a lioness.

  13 A veena is a musical instrument. Gandhara is the third of the seven primary notes, often written as ga.

  14 Saindhava is Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu.

  15 The word used is dhurta, which has several meanings—one who is cunning, a rogue, a cheat or a swindler. But it also means gamester, which is more appropriate, since the reference is to Yudhishthira.

  16 Nishka is a general term for gold, as well as a specific golden coin. As a golden coin, a nishka had different values and was not standardized.

  17 The text uses both the words rukma and hiranya. Both mean gold. We have loosely translated the first as ornaments and the second as coins, but it is possible that some other kind of difference is intended.

  18 The sun.

  19 The daughter of Kekaya, Sudeshna, Virata’s wife.

  20 Implying that Arjuna wears bracelets made of conch shells.

  21 Lady, a reference to Kunti.

  22 Literally, one who has no enemies, one of Yudhishthira’s names.

  23 Lady, meaning Kunti.

  24 Nakula.

  25 Granthika is the name Nakula has assumed. Granthi means knot and Granthika is a reference to tying a horse’s reins and saddle. Dama means to tame or subjugate. Hence, Damagranthi is the same as Granthika and brings in the nuance of taming and subjugating horses.

  26 This is probably a reference to waterbodies drying up during the summer and being filled later.

  27 Both Arjuna and Bhima can be addressed as Partha, because they are both sons of Pritha (Kunti).

  28 Phalguna or Phalguni is Arjuna’s name.

  29 The story has been recounted in Section 33 (Volume 3).

  30 Nadayani is also written as Narayani. The husband is Mudgala. The story has not been told completely, though there is a reference in Section 33 (Volume 3).

  31 This is a reference to the Ramayana. Janaka was the king of Videha.

  32 The story has been recounted in Section 33 (Volume 3).

  33 Aryas.

  34 Yudhishthira.

  35 Virata, Kaikeyi being Sudeshna.

  36 Brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras.

  37 The Jatasura story has been recounted in Section 34 (Volume 3) and the Jayadratha story in Section 42 (Volume 3).

  38 The text says—with thighs like Rambha. A plantain tree is called rambha, but Rambha is also the name of a beautiful celestial apsara. So thighs like the apsara’s is also an acceptable translation.

  39 The Hidimba story has been told in Section 9 (Volume 1).

  40 Vritra was a demon killed by Indra, the king of the gods.

  41 Bilva is both a tree and its fruit, the wood-apple.

  42 The wielder of the Pinaka is Shiva, Pinaka being the name of Shiva’s bows. It is not obvious which of the Shiva stories this refers to.

  43 By extrapolation, Kichaka’s relatives (brothers) are also being referred to as Kichakas. Upa means minor. Upakichaka means a minor or inferior Kichaka.

  44 The secret names the Pandavas had adopted.

  45 In his hurry, he did not look for a door, but broke down a wall and came out.

  46 Vyama is a measure of distance, the distance between the tips of the fingers from one hand to another, when both hands are extended outwards.

  47 Because Bhima had stretched and extended his body, he could no longer be recognized.

  48 Indra is the wielder of the vajra.

  49 So that others might not understand.

  50 An oblique reference that the Pandavas will pay attention to Droupadi’s needs.

  51 The numbers don’t add up. Earlier, Bhima mentioned one and a half months. Droupadi now mentions thirteen days. There might have been a corruption in the Bhima part of the text, where half a month (rather than one-and-a-half months) was intended. With this correction, the numbers add up.

  1 Naga means elephant and Nagapura is another name for Hastinapura. They were anxious because they hadn’t been able to find the Pandavas.

  2 The Trigarta kingdom allied itself with the Kouravas and against the Pandavas. There were actually two Trigarta kingdoms, one towards the north and the other towards the west.

  3 Yudhishthira.

  4 Yudhishthira’s name.

  5 Meaning Yudhishthira.

  6 Those who have obtained success. Loosely, holy men.

  7 The word used is tata.

  8 The supreme soul, brahman or paramatman.

  9 Bhishma.

  10 The word used is tata.

  11 The four elements of policy—conciliation, dissension, bribery and chastisement, respectively.

  12 Vaikartana is one of Karna’s names.

  13 Dharmapaksha is another term for krishnapaksha, the dark lunar fortnight.

  14 Fragrant flowers.

  15 Sahadeva, as Tantipala.

  16 Yudhishthira.

  17 Vishalaksha hasn’t been mentioned before and is probably another one of Virata’s brothers.

  18 Madirashva must be another one of Virata’s brothers.

  19 Of the enemy.

  20 The tips were yellow because they were made of copper.

  21 Susharma.

  22 The word used is tata.

  23 Susharma’s.

  24 Susharma’s.

  25 Since Kuru was a common ancestor, the Pandavas are also sometimes referred to as the Kouravas.

  26 Yudhishthira is disguised as a brahmana. He has assumed the name of Kanka, but also has the name of Vaiyaghrapadya.

  27 Ashvatthama.

  28 Indra is the wielder of the vajra.

  29 Bhuminjaya. Bhuminjaya is more commonly known by the name of Uttara. Virata had a son named Uttara and a daughter named Uttaraa, the latter being the one whom Arjuna taught. Both Uttara and Uttaraa are being written as Uttara, but the context makes clear whether it is the son or the daughter.

  30 Bhishma.

  31 Ashvatthama.

  32 That is what the Kurus will say.

  33 The one who terrifies, one of Arjuna’s names.

  34 The story has been recounted in Section 19 (Volume 2).

  35 Arjuna.

  36 The daughter Uttaraa.

  37 Earlier, Uttara’s name has been given as Bhuminjaya. Here, the text refers to him as Prithivinjaya. Both bhumi and prithivi mean the earth and Bhuminjaya or Prithivinjaya mean the conqueror of the earth.

  38 Bhishma.

  39 Ashvatthama.

  40 The word used is atatayin. Th
is has several meanings, murderer or assassin being one. But it can also be used for thieves, ravishers and arsonists.

  41 Indra is the lord of the gods.

  42 Nishka is a general term for gold, as well as a specific golden coin. As a golden coin, a nishka had different values and was not standardized.

  43 Lapis lazuli.

  44 Drona.

  45 Maruts are gods of the wind and Indra’s companions.

  46 Indra.

  47 Shiva. The story of this encounter has been told in Section 31 (Volume 2).

  48 Kala means a small part or fraction. In addition, kala is a digit of the moon and sixteen kalas make up the entirety. Therefore, Arjuna is a small part of Karna and Duryodhana and specifically, one-sixteenth of either of them.

  49 Radha’s son, Karna’s name.

  50 Trinaraja, the king (raja) of grass (trina). Coconut, bamboo, sugarcane and palmyra are all variously referred to as the king of grass.

  51 The text translates as an animal with five nails. Specifically, it could be a tiger, a lion, an elephant, a turtle, or any other such animal.

  52 Prajapati means the lord of all beings. Since Brahma has been separately mentioned, it is not clear who is meant here. The known transition of the Gandiva is from Soma (the moon god) to Varuna, from Varuna to Agni and from Agni to Arjuna.