Mahābhārata

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Thereupon the celestials and the Gandharvas, knowing the opinion of Shakra (Indra) procured an excellent Arghya and they presented it to Partha (Arjuna) as soon as possible.

M. N. Dutt: Having given him water to wash his foe and feet, they made the prince enter the palace of Purandara (Indra).

M. N. Dutt: Having been thus worshipped, Jishnu (Arjuna) lived in the house of his father (Indra). The Pandava (Arjuna) then began to learn the great weapons together with the mode of withdrawing them.

M. N. Dutt: He received from the hands of Shakra (Indra) his favourite Vajra (thunder) weapon of irresistible force and also those lightning of tremendous roars, fashes of which bespoken (by the appearance) of clouds and (the dancing) of peacocks.

M. N. Dutt: The son of Kunti, the Pandava (Arjuna), after receiving the weapons, remembered his brothers. At the command of Purandara (Indra) he lived there for five years in (great) happiness.

M. N. Dutt: When the proper time came, Shakra (Indra) said to Partha (Arjuna), “O son of Kunti, iearn from Chitrasena singing and dancing.

M. N. Dutt: Learn (instrumental) music known only to the celestials which does not exist in the world of men. O son of Kunti, if you learn all this, it will be for your good.”

M. N. Dutt: Purandara then gave him to Chitrasena as his friend. Partha (Arjuna) then lived with him in happiness and peace.

M. N. Dutt: He (Chitrasena) taught him vocal and instrumental music and dancing. But remembering the game at dice the active (Arjuna) did not obtain any peace of mind.

M. N. Dutt: Thinking of Shakuni, the son of Subala and thinking also with anger of Dushasana's death (he got no peace). But as he derived unrivalled pleasure from the matchless singing and dancing of the Gandharvas he was able to learn their arts.

M. N. Dutt: Having learnt various kinds of dance and various sorts of vocal and instrumental music, that slayer of hostile heroes, (Arjuna) did not (still) obtain any peace of mind, remembering his brothers and (his mother) Kunti.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : One day Vasava (Indra), knowing that the glances of Partha were cast on Urvashi, called Chitrasena, spoke to him in private.

M. N. Dutt: Indra said: O chief of the Gandharvas, sent by me go today to that foremost of Apsaras, Urvashi, so that she might wait upon that best of men, Falguni.

M. N. Dutt: As you have, at my command, made him learned in all the weapons worshipped by all, so you should also make him learned in all the arts of mixing with the females.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having been thus addressed, he said, "So be it.” And receiving the command of Vasava (Indra), the chief of the Gandharvas went to that foremost of Apsaras, Urvashi.

M. N. Dutt: Seeing him she recognised and being delighted worshipped him by inquiring after his welfare. Having been comfortably seated, he smilingly thus spoke to her who was also comfortably seated.

M. N. Dutt: Chitrasena said : O lady of fair hips, know that I have come here being sent by the one sole king of heaven who asks from you a favour.

M. N. Dutt: He, who is known among good men for his grace, behaviour, beauty, vows and selfcontrol, who is famous for his might and prowess, who is respected by the pious, who is endued with presence of mind.

M. N. Dutt: Who is a genius and who possesses great energy, who is forgiving and who is without any sort of malice, who has studied the four Vedas and the Upanishadas with all their branches and also the Puranas.

M. N. Dutt: Who is endued with devotion to his preceptors, who possesses intellect that stands on the eight attributes, who by his Brahmacharya, ability origin and age.

M. N. Dutt: Who is alone capable of protecting heaven like Maghabat himself, who is never boastful, who shows (proper) respects to all, who clearly sees even the minutes thing as if they are large and gross, who is sweet-speeched.

M. N. Dutt: Who showers on his friends and dependents various kinds of foods and drinks, who is truthful, who is worshipped by all, who is eloquent, handsome and without pride.

M. N. Dutt: Who is kind to those devoted to him, who is pleasing and dear to all, who is firm in promise, who is like Mahendra and Varuna in every desirable attribute.

M. N. Dutt: Is the heroic Arjuna, thus known to you. O blessed lady, he is made to taste the fruits (pleasure) of heaven. At the command of Shakra (Indra) let him today obtain your feet. Do this, for Dhananjaya (Arjuna) is inclined to you.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having been thus addressed, Urvashi of faultless feature received the words of Chitrasena with high respect. She then smiled and replied to him thus with cheerfulness.

M. N. Dutt: Urvashi said: Having heard the virtues that should adorn men, as told by you I would bestow my favours upon any man, why should I not then choose Arjuna?

M. N. Dutt: At the command of Indra and for my friendship for you and also moved by the many virtues of Falguni (Arjuna), I am already full of the god of love. Go therefore wherever you like to go I shall go to him.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having sent away the Gandharva successful (in his mission), the smiling Urvashi, moved by the desire of possessing Partha (Arjuna), bathed.

M. N. Dutt: After the both she adorned herself with charming and greatly splendid ornaments and sweet scented garlands. Her heart was pierced by the arrows of the god of love on account of the beauty and grace of Dhananjaya (Arjuna).

M. N. Dutt: Being greatly pierced by (the arrows of the) god of love and being excited by him, she withdrew her mind from any other object; and with her imagination highly inflamed, she mentally sported with him (Arjuna) on a wide and excellent bed laid over with celestials sheets.

M. N. Dutt: Starting at the time when the moon rose and the twilight deepened, that lady of high hips went towards the abode of Partha (Arjuna).

M. N. Dutt: That lady went looking extremely beautiful, with her crisp, soft and long veni (braids of hair) adorned with bunches of flowers.

M. N. Dutt: With her beauty, grace and the charm of the motions of her eye-brows, with her soft accents and moon-like face, she walked on defying the moon.

M. N. Dutt: As she proceeded along, her two welldevoted and finely tapering breasts, adorned with a golden chain and celestials unguent and also with fragrant sandal paste, began to tremble.

M. N. Dutt: In consequence of the weight of her two breasts, she had to slightly stoop forward at every step; it displayed the beauty of her waist lined with the three-folds.

M. N. Dutt: He fair, high, round and matchless hip which was wide as two hillocks, which was the charming abode of the god of love, which was decked with the chains of gold and which was capable of shaking the saint-ship of the celestials Rishis, being covered with thin attire, looked highly beautiful.

M. N. Dutt: Her feet, with beautiful ankles, with flat soles and bright copper-colored toes high and carved like the back of a tortoise, looked extremely charming with the ornaments with rows of little bells.

M. N. Dutt: Exhilarated with the little liquor she had drunk and excited also by desire she moved in many attitudes and looked more beautiful than ever.

M. N. Dutt: Not withstanding there were many wonderful sights in heaven the Siddhas, the Charanas and the Gandharvas considered her to be the most beautiful object as that beautiful lady went on.

M. N. Dutt: The upper half of her body being clad in an attire of fine texture and of cloud colour, she looked like the digit of the moon moving on in the sky covered over by the (passing) fleecy clouds.

M. N. Dutt: That lady of the speed of mind or the wind, that beauty of charming siniles reached the abode of the son of Pandu Falguni (Arjuna) in a moment.

M. N. Dutt: O foremost of men, having arrived at the gate (of Arjuna's abode), Urvashi of charming eyes sent words (to Arjuna) through the gatekeeper.

M. N. Dutt: O king, she entered that brilliant and charming house. Seeing her at night, Arjuna with fear-stricken heart went forward to receive her.

M. N. Dutt: Seeing Urvashi, Partha closed his eyes form modesty. Then saluting her, he offered her the worship usually offered to a superior.

M. N. Dutt: Arjuna said : O foremost of all the foremost of Apsaras, I salute you by bowing my head. O celestials lady, what is your command? I wait upon you as a servant.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having heard the words of Falguni (Arjuna) Urvashi became deprived of her senses. She then told him all that was told to her by the Gandharva (Chitrasena).

M. N. Dutt: Urvashi said: O best of men, I shall tell you all that was told to me by Chitrasena and the reason why I have come here.

M. N. Dutt: On account of your coming here, Mahendra had convened a large and charming assembly in which great festivities of heaven were held. O best of men, there came all the Rudras, the Adityas. A large member of great Rishis, also royal sages, the Siddhas, the Charanas, the Yakshas and the great Nagas. When all those (celestials) as effulgent as the fire or the sun or the moon took their seats according to their rank, honour and prowess. The Gandharvas, O son of Shakra (Indra), O large-eyed hero, began to play on the Vinas and to sing the charming songs of celestials melody. O perpetuator of the Kuru race, the chief Apsaras also began to dance. O Partha, you had looked at me only once with a steadfast gaze.

M. N. Dutt: When that assembly of the celestials broke, the celestials at the command of your father (Indra) went away to their respective homes. O slayer of foes, the chief Apsaras also and other too at the command of your father went away to their own abodes.

M. N. Dutt: O lotus-eyed one, therefore at the command of Shakra. (Indra), Chitrasena came to me; and arriving at my house, he then thus spoke to me.

M. N. Dutt: O charming lady, I have been sent to you by the chief of the celestials. Do the favourite work of Mahendra and of myself and also of yourself.

M. N. Dutt: O lady of fair hips, desire (to possess) him who is as heroic in battle as Indra and who is always endued with the virtue of magnanimity.” He thus spoke to me.

M. N. Dutt: O sinless one, thus commanded by him and also by your father, O chastiser of foes, I have come to wait upon you.

M. N. Dutt: O hero, my heart has been fascinated with your virtues. I am under the influence of the god of love. This is my wish and I have cherished it for ever.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Hearing her speak there in that heaven in this way, Arjuna was filled with great shame. He shut his ears with his hands and said.

M. N. Dutt: Arjuna said : O blessed lady, O charming featured one, it is not proper for me to hear what you have said to me. You are considered by me as the wife of my superior.

M. N. Dutt: As the illustrious Kunti is to me, as the wife of Indra, Sachi, is to me. O blessed lady, so are you to me. There is no doubt about it.

M. N. Dutt: O blessed one, O lady of charming smiles, I did gaze specially at you is true. By there was a reason for it. I shall truly tell it to you, hear.

M. N. Dutt: I gazed at you with wide expanded eyes in delight, thinking, “This is the mother of the Puru dynasty." O blessed one, O Apsara, you should not entertain any other feeling towards me, for you are superior to my superior, you are perpetuator of my race.

M. N. Dutt: Urvashi said: O son of the celestials king, O hero, we (Apsaras) are free and unfettered in our choice. You should not therefore place me in the position of our superior.

M. N. Dutt: The sons and grandsons of the Puru dynasty, who have come her from their asceticism, all sport with us; and they do not incur any sin by doing it. Therefore be favourable towards me. You ought not send me away. O giver of proper respect, I am burning with desire. I am devoted to you, therefore accept me.

M. N. Dutt: Arjuna said: O beautiful lady, beauty of faultless features, hear what I truly tell you and also let the four directions and the four transverse directions and also the celestials hear.

M. N. Dutt: O sinless one, as Kunti, Madri and Sachi is to me, so are you to me, an object of respect, the mother of our race.

M. N. Dutt: O beautiful complexioned one, go away, I bow my head to you, I prostrate myself at your feet. You are worthy of my worship as my mother. Protect me as your son.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having been thus addressed by Partha, Urvashi lost her senses out of anger. Trembling in anger and contracting her brows, she thus cursed Dhananjaya (Arjuna).

M. N. Dutt: Urvashi said: As you insult a woman who come to you at the command of your father and at her own desire, (a woman) who is pierced with the arrows of the god of love. O Partha, you shall have to live among women, losing all respect becoming a dancer and being deprived of manhood.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having thus cursed Arjuna, with her lips quivered and her breaths heavily drawn, Urvashi speedily returned to her own abode.

M. N. Dutt: Thereupon that chastiser of foes Arjuna soon went to Chitrasena. Having got him, the son of Pandu (Arjuna) told him all that had happened in the night and also what had happened between himself and Urvashi, especially mentioning ihe curse again and again.

M. N. Dutt: Chitrasena also told everything to Shakra (Indra). Then Harivahana (Indra), calling his son in private. And consoling him in sweet words, thus smilingly spoke to him, "O excellent man, O child, having obtained you, Pritha (Kunti) has today became a true mother.

M. N. Dutt: O mighty-armed hero, O giver of proper respects, you have defeated even the Rishis by your patience. Urvashi's curse will be to your good. O child, it will come very much to your use. O sinless one, O hero, you shall have to pass on earth the thirteenth year (of your exile) disguised and undiscovered. It will then the curse will be much to your benefit.

M. N. Dutt: Having passed one year as a dancer without manhood, you shall again regain your power.

M. N. Dutt: Having been thus addressed by Shakra (Indra), that slayer of hostile heroes, Falguni, became exceedingly glad and ceased to think of the curse.

M. N. Dutt: The son of Pandu, Dhananjaya, sported in his celestials abode with the illustrious Gandharva Chitrasena.

M. N. Dutt: The desires of the man, who often hears this history of the son of Pandu (Arjuna), never runs after lustful ends.

M. N. Dutt: Those foremost of men, who listen to this history of greatly pure conduct of Falgunii (Arjuna), becoming freed from pride, arrogance, wrath an other faults, ascend to heaven and they (merrily) sport there.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : One day the great Rishi Lomasha, in the course of his wanderings, went to the abode of Shakra (Indra) with the intention of seeing Purandara (Indra). Having come to him, the great Rishi bowed to the king of the celestials. He saw that the son of Pandu (Arjuna) occupying the half of the seat of Vasava (Indra).

M. N. Dutt: Having been worshipped by the great Rishis, that best of the twice-born sat at the . desire of Shakra (Indra) on an excellent seat.

M. N. Dutt: Seeing Arjuna seated on the seat of Indra, he pondered as to how Partha had attained to the seat of Shakra, he being (but) a Kshatriya.

M. N. Dutt: What act of merit had been performed by him and what regions had been conquered by him that he had obtained a seat which was worshipped by the celestials themselves?

M. N. Dutt: Having known his thoughts, the slayer of Vritra, Shakra, the husband of Sachi, smilingly spoke these words to Lomasha.

M. N. Dutt: Indra said: O Brahmarshi, hear all about what is now passing in your mind. This one (Arjuna) is not a mortal, though he has taken his birth among men.

M. N. Dutt: O great Rishi, this mighty-armed hero is my son, born (in the womb) of Kunti. He has come here to obtain weapons. For what wonderful reason. Alas, you do not recognise him as the excellent Rishi of old! O Brahmana, listen to me, I shall tell you who he is and for what reason he has come here.

M. N. Dutt: Know, those two excellent and ancient Rishis, known by the name of Nara and Narayana, are none else than Hrishikesha (Krishna) and Dhananjaya (Arjuna).

M. N. Dutt: The Rishis Nara and Narayana are renowned all over the three worlds; they have descended (on earth) for the accomplishment of certain purpose on earth, which is the region for the acquisition of virtue.

M. N. Dutt: The sacred hermitage, which even the celestials and the high-souled Rishis adore, which is known by the name of Badarika, which is situate at the source of the Ganges and which is frequented by the Siddhas and the Charanas, O Brahmana, was the abode of Vishnu (Krishna) and Jishnu (Arjuna).

M. N. Dutt: O Brahmarshi, those two effulgent ones have at my request taken their birth on earth. Those two greatly powerful ones will remove the burden of the earth.

M. N. Dutt: Besides, there are certain Asuras, called Nivatkavachas who, being proud of the boon they have acquired, are (now) engaged in doing us injuries.

M. N. Dutt: Proud of their great prowess, they are planning the destruction of the celestials, for having received the boon, they do not at all regard the celestials.

M. N. Dutt: Those fearful and greatly powerful sons of Dano live in the nether regions. Even all the celestials put together are in capable of fighting with them. The blessed Vishnu, the slayer of Madhu, he who was known on earth as Kapila,

M. N. Dutt: O exalted one, who destroyed by his glance alone the high-souled sons of Sagara when they came roaring towards him, that illustrious and invincible.

M. N. Dutt: O foremost of Brahmanas, Hari (Krishna) is capable alone or with Partha both together, of doing us a great good in a great battle. There is no doubt about it.

M. N. Dutt: Like the snakes in a great lake he (Krishna) is capable of destroying at the very first sight all those Asuras, the Nivatkavachas, with all their followers.

M. N. Dutt: But the slayer of Madhu should not be requested to perform an insignificant task. He can consume the Universe by the great mass of his effulgence, if he minds to increase it.

M. N. Dutt: This one (Arjuna) also is quite competent to fight with them all. This hero, having destroyed them all in a battle, will again go back to the earth.

M. N. Dutt: At my request go back to the earth. You will find the heroic Yudhishthira living in the Kamyaka (forest).

M. N. Dutt: On my behalf tell that invincible and virtuous hero that he should not be anxious for Falguni. He will soon return acquiring all weapons.

M. N. Dutt: For without the sacred prowess of arms and without the skill in weapons and in war, he will not be able to meet Bhishma, Drona and others in battle. Tell him.

M. N. Dutt: That the high-minded and the mighty-armed Gudakesha Arjuna has acquired all weapons and has mastered the arts of celestials dancing and vocal and instrumental music.

M. N. Dutt: (You should also tell him) saying, “O foremost of men, O chastiser of foes, you too with all your brothers should see the various sacred shrines. O king of kings, having bathed in various sacred waters, you will be cleansed of your sins and the fever of your heart will abate. You will then be able to enjoy your kingdom in happiness."

M. N. Dutt: O best of Brahmanas, O foremost of the twice-born, endued with the prowess of asceticism, you should protect him (Yudhishthira) in his wandering over the earth.

M. N. Dutt: Fearful Rakshasas always live in mountain passes and in rugged steppes. Protect him from them.

M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having been thus addressed by Mahendra, Vibhatsu also spoke to Lomasha with all reverence, saying, “Protect the son of Pandu (Yudhishthira).

M. N. Dutt: O excellent man, O great Rishi, let the king, protected by you, visit the various sacred shrines and give away (much wealth) to the Brahmanas in charity."

M. N. Dutt: The greatly ascetic Lomasha, saying, “Be it So," went to the earth with the intention of going to the Kamyaka forest.

M. N. Dutt: He saw there the son of Kunti, that chastiser of foes, Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) surrounded by the ascetics and by his brothers.