Bhagavatha Vahini, Chapter 23 - Arjuna's fight with Gods

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Chapter 23Arjuna's fight with Gods[see also: Srîmad Bhâgavatam, C1:15-11]

 

Droupadi was surprised that Krishna was able to discover a fractional leaf in

the vessel she had scrubbed clean. "This must be your miracle; whatever work I

do, I do efficiently. I could not have scrubbed it so shabbily", she laughed.

When she approached Krishna to see the leaf Krishna showed it to her, saying.

"Look! I got this from your vessel. This thing is enough to appease, not only

My hunger, but the hunger of all beings in the Universe." Then He put it on His

tongue with the end of His finger and swallowing, exclaimed, "Ah! How nice! My

hunger is gone!"

At that very moment, Durvasa on the river bank and his ten thousand disciples

felt their stomachs over-full with food. Their hunger too was gone; they

experienced supreme happiness, free from the pangs of hunger they suffered a

minute previously. They communicated their wonder to each other in gestures and

then, in words. "Our stomachs are too full already, there is no space in them

for even an additional grain of rice! Dharmaraja will be waiting for us there

with a heavy banquet of extra-delicious dishes and he will insist on our doing

full justice to his hospitality. But, where have we the space for the feast he

has prepared? We are indeed in a terrible fix!", they said. Someone then

remembered the incident when their master, Durvasa cursed Ambarisha and

suffered discomfiture at the hands of the very victim of his curse, through the

intercession of Krishna.

They reported their condition and their surmise to Durvasa. The sage who became

aware of the Grace that was won by Dharmaraja blessed him profusely; he left

the place, with his disciples, by another route avoiding the residence of the

Pandava brothers.

But, Krishna had commissioned Bhima to proceed to the river and bring the sage

and his retinue quickly for lunch. When Bhima saw them getting away through

another route, he walked quicker and the disciples, afraid of his intentions,

ran into the jungle to save themselves! Bhima confronted Durvasa and told him,

"Master! My elder brother ordered me to meet you and bring you, for, lunch is

ready for all of you." Durvasa pleaded inability. "Bhima! We can not eat even

the fraction of a mouthful. We are full to the bursting point. We are not

displeased at all with you. I bless you, that you may attain every happiness. I

shall come to you when you are ruling the world as undisputed sovereigns and I

shall then receive your hospitality. Those who sent me to you with sinful

motives, they will meet with total destruction." Wishing them the best of luck,

Durvasa left, with all his followers.

Did you notice, Parikshith, the devotion and sense of surrender of your

grandfathers had nothing to equal them; so, too, the Grace that Krishna

showered upon them was unexcelled. When Vyasa was revealing these incidents to

show Parikshith the speedy faith of the Pandavas and the Grace of Krishna,

Parikshith listened intently, with awe and reverence, wonder and anxiety,

alternatingly affecting his mind. When the dilemma of the Pandavas was

described, Parikshith was agitated; when some impending calamity was described,

he shed tears of sympathy, when success was described, he shed tears of joy.

They fought with Gods

Vyasa continued: "0 King, your grandfathers were ready to renounce everything to

God, if the need arose; they were prepared also to fight with God, if the need

arose, for they were only observing Kshatriya Dharma when they fought so. You

must have heard the story of your grandfather fighting against Siva and winning

from Him the Divine weapon of Pasupatha-asthra." At this, the King suddenly

raised his head and asked, "Master! What did you say? Did my grandfather wage

battle against Siva? I have not heard about it so far. Tell me all about it;

Satisfy my thirst to know about it". Parikshith fell at Vyasa's Feet;

importuning him to narrate the story.

Vyasa cleared his throat. "Son! How many stories have I to narrate to you? The

relationship between the Pandavas and the Gods need for its full elaboration

not hours, not even months, but, years! Still, since you implore I shall tell

as many as possible, within the time available. "Listen, 0 King! The Pandavas

were living in the forest. One day, Dharmaraja was overcome with anxiety. He

felt that the wicked cousins, the Kauravas, may not allow him to rest in peace

even after the period of exile is over. It was very doubtful if they will give

them their share of the empire. Dharmaraja was afraid that war was inevitable

and that the great bowmen of the age, Bhishma, Drona, Karna and Aswathama will

then range themselves on the side of the Kaurava hordes. He apprehended that

the Pandavas may not be able to overcome such a galaxy of strength. He feared

that the war might end in defeat and that the Pandavas might have to spend

their years in the jungle itself. Seeing

him in the depth of woe, Arjuna approached him and craved for his blessings and

permission to go forth and win, by asceticism, weapons from the Gods to defeat

the foe. Dharmaraja directed him to proceed, and please the Gods, and win

through their Grace, weapons to win the war.

Arjuna went into the Gandhamadana area, which was inaccessible even to the most

enterprising ascetic and did Thapas (ascetic practices), to propitiate Indra,

the Sovereign of the Gods. Heaven was amazed at the rigors of that Thapas and

his steady persistence. So, Indra appeared before him, saying, "Son! I am

pleased by your Thapas. But, if your desire is to be fulfilled, first win the

Grace of Siva; thereafter I shall take you to heaven and arm you with all

weapons heaven can confer."

In accordance with Indra's advice, Arjuna sat meditating on Siva in order to win

His Grace. Meanwhile, Siva resolved upon a drama of his own. I shall tell you

what it was: "A huge wild boar, ferociously enraged, ran across the place where

Arjuna was observing penace; he saw it, and, though during the penance one had

to desist from injuring any living being, he hastily took up his bow and

arrows, when the boar was about to fall upon him. Just at this moment, a Bhil

[Hindi: BhÓl, hill people of west central India having a bow-and-arrow culture;

a member of the Bhil people] of the forest, also armed with bow and arrows

appeared before Arjuna with his wife! Arjuna was amazed that a woman was

accompanying the Bhil in that thick forest where no person could safely move

about. But, when he observed more closely, he found a huge retinue behind the

Bhil, consisting of men and women of fierce appearance yelling and shouting in

strange ways. Arjuna was perplexed and

astonished."

The person who first appeared, the huntsman with the fierce face and the red

glowing eyes, spoke to Arjuna: "You, there! Who are you? Why have you come to

this place? You shall not live, if you shoot an arrow against that boar, even

by mistake, be warned. I have pursued it and made it run thither; what right

have you to take up your bow and arrow against it?" These words that he spoke

entered Arjuna's heart like a sheaf [bundle] of arrows. He felt terribly hurt;

for, a common huntsman had insulted him.

"The fellow does not know my name or fame; or else he would not have challenged

me" he said to himself; he raised his bow and shot an arrow at the boar; that

very moment, the Bhil too shot an arrow at it.

It rolled on the ground, dead. The huntsman was in the throes af anger; he

showered abuses on Arjuna; "You, there. You do not know the rules of hunting.

When I have set my eyes on it, pursued it and selected it as the prey for my

arrows, how dare you aim your arrow at it? You are a greedy barbarian." His

eyes were casting sparks, so uncontrollable was his rage. Arjuna too was

enraged. He shouted back, "Shut up, you scoundrel. Or else, I will despatch you

to the Domain of Death. Save yourself by stopping your wagging tongue. Get back

the way you came."

The Bhil stood up to that threat; he did not quail. "Whoever you are, I am not

afraid; you may have three hundred and thirty crores of gods on your side, but,

I shall not yield. Take care; you are an interloper. Who gave you permission ta

enter here? Who are you to order me out? This forest is ours; you are a thief

who has sneaked in; and you have the audacity to ask us to get away!", he

replied.

At this, Arjuna guessed that he was no ordinary huntsman. He spoke in a calmer

tone. "The forest is the property of all; you have come to hunt; I have come to

do penance to please Siva. I shot that boar, only to save myself from its rage."

The huntsman, however, was not softened. "I don't care whom you adore, whom you

desire to please. Accept the wrong that you have done. Why did you shoot the

animal I was stalking? Accept and apologise, make amends", he insisted. Arjuna

lost all patience. This fellow's life, too, is to end like that of the boar, he

told himself. He is not to be cured by soft words, he felt.

So, he selected a sharp arrow and placing it on the bow, shot it at him. It hit

him; but, like a thorn on rock, it fell on the ground, bent by the impact! So,

the astonished Arjuna had to shoot a crescent-headed arrow, which will sever

his head. But, this was brushed aside by the huntsman, with his left hand like

a blade of grass.

 

Bhajan: Mahâmantra 5

Contents of this Vahini

Source: http://www.vahini.org/bhagavata/chapter23.htmlVahini.org: 'Vahini' Books

written by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

 

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