Even a few hours before the war, Vyasa tried to convince Dhritarashtra to do the right thing (return Indraprastha to the Pandavas as per the terms of the agreement) and prevent the war from destroying many lives. However, Dhritarashtra said he couldn’t do it. Vyasa then offered to give him a temporary sight to witness the war. Dhritarashtra declined but wanted to hear everything about it. So, Vyasa gave special sight to Sanjaya, who narrated the events to the blind king. He also gave Sanjaya a boon that no weapon would harm or kill him during the war. After that, Vyasa didn’t give up. He mentioned the various omens he had been noticing and warned the old king that there would be massive destruction (as well as the end of the Kauravas).
The omens listed by Vyasa were as follows:
Crows, hawks, herons, and vultures gathered in large numbers at the edges of the forest and sounded agitated. These are carnivorous (and omnivorous) birds that feed on animal and human flesh when available.
There had been sounds of crashes (like meteors hitting the earth), indicating a calamity. The cranes and herons had been flying southward (south is the direction of death, ruled by Yama).
The rising sun had been covered by a headless torso (could be a cloud in that shape or Rahu). These clouds were white with red on the edges, black on the neck, and lined with lightning.
Irrespective of the time, the sun, moon, and stars were blazing bright (implying the natural cycle had been disrupted), indicating destruction.
Even on the full moon night of Kritika, the moon was devoid of its usual radiance. Instead, it glowed like Agni. The sky also had the same color (reddish orange). Brave heroes with arms like clubs would be killed, and their bodies would litter the earth.
At night, strange sounds echoed from the sky like a boar and a cat fighting.
The murtis (of gods) trembled and laughed. Sweat beaded their bodies. Some murtis vomited blood, and some fell to the ground.
Kettledrums sounded without anyone beating them.
The chariots moved of their own accord without being yoked to horses or driven by charioteers.
Birds like peacocks, bluejays, cuckoos, parrots, etc., cried in strange and terrifying voices.
Hundreds of locusts swarmed the sun as it rose in the sky every morning.
The directions looked as if they were set on fire at dawn and dusk (could be the sun turning the land red, or could be wildfires).
The showers were of blood and bones instead of rainwater.
Arundhati star moved Vashishta to the back (two stars in the Ursa Major were named after the rishi couple; while Arundhati was a fainter star, Vashishta was the brighter one; here their roles seemed to have reversed).
Saturn (Shani) was based in Rohini (a star) and was oppressing it.
The marks on the moon have disappeared (possibly the moon shone too bright and was without its usual blemishes).
The mountains wept and shed drops of tears (possibly glaciers breaking apart).
Continuous and terrible sounds reverberated from the sky even when it was clear and free of clouds.
Cows gave birth to donkeys.
Sons were sleeping with their mothers.
Trees produced flowers and fruit in the wrong season.
Princes were pregnant and giving birth to monsters (this happened before the destruction of Dwarka when Sambha gave birth to a club after being cursed by Narada and Rishi Kanva).
Predatory birds and jackals were feeding on other animals.
Deformed animals were born with crooked teeth, extra horns, three eyes, three feet, two heads, two tails, etc., and made inauspicious (terrifying) sounds.
Horses had three feet and four eyes with horns over the head.
The wives of learned Brahmins gave birth to peacocks and birds.
Mares gave birth to calves and dogs to jackals.
Women gave birth to four or five daughters at once, and these children were immediately standing up, dancing, and laughing.
All types of lotus flowers were growing on trees (these are water blooms).
Strong winds blew persistently as dust filled the air. There was no respite.
The sun looked like it was swallowed by Rahu (solar eclipse).
The white planet (Shukra/ Ketu) passed Chitra (a star).
A terrible comet was present in Pushya (a star) and was oppressing it.
Angaraka (Mars) was in retrograde in Magha (star), and Brihaspati (Jupiter) was in Sharavana (star) (Mars Retrograde affects action, planning, and emotion, which wouldn’t bode well for armies intending to go to war).
The son of the sun (Shani/ Saturn) was in Bhaga (Pubba, a star) and oppressing it.
Shukra (Venus) was rising toward Purva Bhadra (a star) and was looking at Uttara (a star) after crossing Purva Bhadra.
The dark planet (Saturn) was based in Indra’s star, Jyestha, and attacking it (since planets have multiple visions, Saturn was likely influencing other stars).
Dhruva (the pole star) was flaming with energy and veering left.
The harsh planet was stationed between Chitra and Swathi (Bibek Debory felt this could be Rahu).
The one with the radiance of fire was in retrograde and completed its regular course (possibly Jupiter, according to Bibek Debroy). It was blazing red and full of energy and located in Shravana (a star).
The stalks of barley had five ears, and the stalks of paddy had a hundred ears (barley has three ears and paddy has around twelve, says Google).
The cattle were giving blood instead of milk when milked after they had fed their calves.
A bird with one wing, one eye, and one leg was seen flying at night, screaming and vomiting blood.
The saptarishis (the Great Bear, Ursa Major) constellation with seven stars had dimmed.
Brihaspati (Jupiter) and Shani (Saturn) have been stationed for a year near Vishaka.
The terrible planet had robbed Krithika (a star) of its brilliance (possibly Ketu).
The stars were earlier classified into three groups (this could be based on different parameters), and Budha (Mercury) was looking down on them, signifying danger.
The moon cycle had changed. The new moon night occurred on the thirteenth day itself, with the sun and the moon having eclipses in the same month (a very rare occurrence).
There were showers of blood at night and a rain of flesh on the fourteenth night of the lunar cycle.
The rivers flowed in opposite directions, and the water in them turned to blood.
The rakshasas howled in the middle of the night, unsatisfied with the food they got.
Thunders crashed without rain.
The wells foamed with unknown substances.
Meteor showers had taken over the sky and were blocking the sun. The maharishis said the earth would drink the blood of many kings when this happened.
The summits everywhere (mountain ranges from the Himalaya, Mandara, Kailasa, etc.) were making sounds of rocks falling and crashing (as it happens during an earthquake or landslide).
The trees were falling down at random in villages, towns, and cities.
The fire turned yellow, red, or blue when the Brahmins poured oblations into it. The flames emitted a foul smell and turned left. There was more smoke, as the fires made hissing sounds.
The touch, smell, and taste became contrary (implying that what smelled and tasted good turned foul and vice versa).
War drums and kettledrums released showers of coal dust.
Vultures ventured into the cities and circled over the palaces or perched on the gates.
The horses and elephants were running here and there, releasing urine and poop anywhere and everywhere (these animals were trained for war and were usually composed).
Even after listening to these terrible omens, Dhritarashtra didn’t try to stop the war. He said that the destruction had been decided by destiny and would hence come true. He added that the heroes who were killed in the war would attain heaven for following their Kshatriya dharma.
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Before the war began, the Kauravas and Pandavas agreed upon a set of rules to follow on the battlefield. These were established according to the laws of dharma.
When the battle ends (for the day), the warriors will not carry the hostility off the battlefield and continue to maintain their previous friendly relations (of course, Duryodhana has always considered the Pandavas his enemies, so his behavior on and off the battlefield doesn’t change).
They would not resort to deceit again (implying that they wouldn’t repeat the trickery of the dice game).
Those who fight with words should be countered with words (and not weapons).
Those who withdraw from the battle should not be attacked until they are ready to fight again (this is to prevent injured warriors from being killed when they cannot defend themselves. Not surprisingly, Duryodhana and Karna go off the field many times using the same clause).
A ratha (chariot warrior) should fight a ratha, the one on an elephant should fight an opponent on an elephant, a horseback warrior should face his equal on a horseback, and a foot soldier should fight a foot soldier (this is for face-off and duels).
The strike should be by valour, age, energy, and appropriateness of the opponent after a challenge has been issued. It should not be against someone distressed (possibly because of an injury), unsuspecting (not aware that a challenge has been issued), fighting someone else (already engaged in a duel), distracted (not alert), or retreating (leaving the battlefield temporarily or turning his back on one warrior to fight another).
A warrior without armour or weapon should not be killed (both sides broke this rule; first the Kauravas by killing a weapon-less Abhimanyu, and then Satyaki by killing Bhurisravas, who sat meditating and gave up the fight).
One should never strike charioteers, those carrying burdens (men and animals), and those not directly involved in the fight (drum beaters, trumpeter blowers, purohits, Brahmins, vaidyas, etc.)
However, charioteers were often victims when the warriors were engaged in a duel. They were safe when there was no warrior in the chariot or when the warrior was injured and incapable of defending the charioteer.
The rules of war were more or less followed for the first ten days when Bhishma was the chief commander of the Kaurava army. After his demise, the warriors straddled the lines at times. Abhimanyu’s death was one such example where six experienced warriors attacked a single opponent and continued to fight him even when he was without his chariot. Similarly, the war proceeded into the night on day fourteen after Jayadratha’s death.
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The Pandavas and Kauravas set up camps on either side of the extensive Kurukshetra battlefield. On the night before the start of the war, Duryodhana asked Bhishma to rank the warriors on both sides. Bhishma did so and explained that he would not raise his weapons against Shikandin, Draupada’s eldest child.
Bhishma revealed that Shikandin was born a woman and became a man. She was Amba, a princess of Kashi in her previous birth. Since her life was destroyed by the actions/ decisions of men around him, especially Bhishma, she vowed to take revenge by killing him. The grandsire shared the details of the kidnapping of the three princesses of Kashi, the dilemma of Amba’s situation, and his battle with his guru, Parasurama.
The battle between Bhishma and Parasurama took place in the same Kurukshetra field and lasted longer than the war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
When Amba shared her plight with Parasurama, he promised to either convince Bhishma to do the right thing and marry her or fight him in a duel. Since Bhishma had made a vow not to marry and stay celibate, Parasurama had to challenge him to a fight. Bhishma accepted it, though he would be facing his guru on the other side. His vow meant the most to him.
A day had been decided for their battle. Bhishma was ready in his armour and chariot filled with weapons. Bhishma’s armour, bow, and umbrella on the chariot were white. His charioteer was his friend and an expert in handling the horses during battles. He blew his conch to indicate he was ready. The ascetics living in the forests, the rishis in heaven, and many others also arrived at the battlefield to witness the event. Divine musical instruments sounded from heaven.
River Ganga also manifested at the site in her physical form. She didn’t want her son, Bhishma, to fight his guru. Parasurama was a powerful warrior after all! Bhishma said he had no choice since he wasn’t going to break his vow. Then Ganga tried to convince Parasurama not to fight. He told her that the decision lay in Bhishma’s hands. Knowing the battle was inevitable, she blessed her son and left.
Parasurama stood on the ground on the other side. When Bhishma said he couldn’t fight someone standing on the ground, a celestial chariot appeared for Parasurama. The rishi said that the earth was his chariot and the Vedas his horses. As he spoke, the celestial chariot formed around him. Akritavrana, Parasurama’s favorite disciple, was his charioteer. He yelled ‘attack’ and charged at Bhishma.
Bhishma too raced ahead but stopped his chariot a few feet away. He got down and went to his guru. As was the tradition, Bhishma took the blessings of his guru before the war and asked Parasurama to bless him to be victorious. This pleased the rishi. He said that Bhishma followed his dharma correctly. The rishi admitted he would have cursed the grandsire if he hadn’t sought blessings from his guru. However, since they were fighting each other, he couldn’t wish Bhishma to be victorious and told him to fight the battle with dharma.
Bhishma went back to his chariot and blew his conch once again. Parasurama was the first to strike Bhishma. He released nine hundred and sixty-nine arrows. The battle became intense very quickly as both were highly skilled warriors. However, before firing his first arrow, Bhishma announced that he wasn’t aiming or striking the teacher/ Brahmin in Parasurama but was fighting with the Kshatriya in him. He then shot nine hundred arrows at the rishi. They fought until sunset and retreated to camp on the side for the night.
Bhishma and Parasurama repeated the same for many days. They would spend the night healing the injuries and resting. In the early morning, they would finish the ablutions and bathing, say the prayers, don the armour, and face each other again. Neither was willing to give up, so they had no choice but to keep fighting. Of course, Bhishma would often go through bouts of self-hate for fighting his guru, but he had to follow his Kshatriya dharma. His charioteer took care of the horses and his wounds when they stopped the battle at night.
They used many celestial weapons like vayavya, guhyaka, varuna, agneya, etc., on each other. If one of them released a divine astra, the other would destroy it with another powerful weapon. At one point, Prasurama’s arrow pierced Bhishma in the chest by tearing through his armour. He fell faint for a few seconds, and his charioteer rode him to safety. Bhishma heard the cheers from Parasurama’s supporters, including Amba, who was right on the battlefield, witnessing it.
In a bit, Bhishma went back to face his opponent and resumed the fight. He fought with renewed energy and managed to injure Parasurama. It was the rishi’s turn to fall unconscious. His charioteer and Amba took care of the rishi by sprinkling water on him and applying salve to the injury. Parasurama, too, got up quickly and resumed the fight. He killed Bhishma’s horses, and the grandsire retaliated. Their arrows were so swift and powerful that they filled the sky and blocked the sunlight.
As the battle extended, Parasurama’s determination grew. He was intent on humbling Bhishma. When Bhishma successfully sliced three arrows of the rishi, Parasurama was angry. He created an arrow net to trap Bhishma. In turn, the Kuru warrior shot twelve arrows to tear down the net. Parasurama shot a divine arrow that multiplied and completely covered Bhishma, his charioteer, his horses, and his chariot. He countered it as much as he could. By the end of that day, both men were severely injured and bleeding.
The next morning, they resumed the battle. However, quite soon, Parasurama’s arrows killed Bhishma’s charioteer. This made Bhishma sad. He even experienced fear for a brief moment. Just then, an arrow hit him. Bhishma toppled down, and Parasurama thought he was dead. His followers rejoiced while Bhishma’s side was distressed.
As Bhishma lay on the ground, trying to get his bearings, he saw eight Brahmins approach him. They were as radiant as the sun and surrounded him from all directions. In fact, they supported Bhishma’s body so that it wouldn’t touch the ground and hover a few inches above. They assured Bhishma that everything would be fine. Just then, his mother arrived and protected his horses, chariot, and weapons.
Once Bhishma recovered, they vanished. He resumed his fight and countered Parasurama until the day’s end. He managed to gravely injure the rishi, who fell unconscious. This shook the earth. Meteors fell from the sky. Strong winds blew. Vultures, crows, jackals, etc., cried loudly. Since this happened before dusk, they stopped the battle for the day and rested through the night.
Unlike the previous nights, Bhishma couldn’t sleep. He thought about the battle with Parasurama and how it seemed to be continuing for days. He prayed for help before drifting to sleep. He admitted that he wouldn’t be able to vanquish Parasurama and requested the gods to be favorable to him and show him a way.
That night, Bhishma had a vivid dream. The same Brahmins who surrounded him earlier in the day appeared again. They assured Bhishma not to lose hope and said Parasurama wouldn’t be able to defeat him either. They gifted him a weapon that previously belonged to him (in his true form as a Vasu). The weapon, named Prasvapan, was crafted by Vishwakarma. No one knew about the astra, not even Parasurama. They also ensured Bhishma that the rishi wouldn’t be killed by it and would be put into a deep sleep. Once Bhiahma defeated Parasurama, he could revive the rishi using the Sambodhana astra. They said Parasurama was not a mortal and couldn’t be killed, so it wouldn’t be a sin to use the weapon on him. The Brahmins disappeared and left Bhishma to sleep.
The next morning, Bhishma woke up and remembered the dream. Encouraged by their support, he fought the battle with great energy. Parasurama hurled a spear at Bhishma, which struck his shoulder and wounded him. Blood flowed from the injury. Bhishma shot back an arrow that struck Parasurama on the forehead. This angered him so much that he swiftly shot an arrow at Bhishma’s chest. Bhishma fainted at its impact. Regaining his senses, he hurled a spear at the rishi. This time, Parasurama lost his senses.
Then, both of them used the Brahmastra on each other. The collision shook the earth and sky. Bhishma decided it was time to use his new weapon, the Prasvapan. The moment he invoked it, the astra appeared in front of his eyes. However, a voice from heaven warned Bhishma not to release the weapon. The grandsire didn’t heed the message and aimed his bow at Parasurama. So, Narada appeared between him and Parasurama. He told Bhishma that he shouldn’t disrespect his guru by using such a weapon on him. The gods were also at the scene and ready to restrain Bhishma if he went ahead with it.
The eight Brahmins who gifted the astra to Bhishma also appeared and said he should listen to Narada. Heeding their words, Bhishma withdrew the Prasvapan astra and chose to use the Brahmastra.
Parasurama saw this and said that he was defeated by Bhishma. He was angry (since no Kshatriya could defeat him). Jamadagni, Parasurama’s father, was among the audience. He soothed his son and told him to withdraw from battle as it was the right thing to do.
Since both of them were told to stop the battle, they gave up the fight. While Bhishma felt it was a stalemate, Parasurama declared Bhishma the winner of the battle. The rishi then apologized to Amba for not being able to help her. A furious Amba decided she would get her revenge no matter what it took and left the place.
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Kunti narrated a conversation between Queen Vidula and her son to Krishna and asked him to share it with her sons, the Pandavas, to inspire them for the war.
Krishna’s peace talks didn’t convince Duryodhana. In fact, Duryodhana and his trusted advisors (Karna, Shakuni, and Duhshasana) planned to imprison Krishna so that he wouldn’t help the Pandavas. Krishna found out about this and left the palace after displaying his vishwaroop. He went to Vidhura’s quarters to meet Kunti before returning to Upaplavya.
Kunti welcomed Krishna and gave a firm message to her sons to inspire them to fight the war for what was their right. She knew Yudhistira was a peace-loving person and knew he needed a boost from her to avenge Draupadi’s insults and get back their kingdom. She spoke to Krishna about how hard her situation was when she had to live at the mercy of relatives, when her powerful sons were alive. She then narrated a story of Vidula, a widowed queen, and her son, Sanjaya, to encourage the Pandavas to fight the war with all their strength.
A long time ago, there lived a widowed queen and her son, who took up the reins to the throne. Her son was defeated by the king of Sindhu in an attack. This affected him so much that he gave up his responsibilities as a ruler and was willing to hide in the palace rather than risk his life.
Vidula, being a true Kshatriya woman, disliked her son’s attitude and censured him to stop being lazy and a coward. She looked at her son lying on the bed and was angered by his indifference. She asked where he came from since neither she nor his father (her dead husband) were cowards who ran away from enemies. She said he would remain hopeless for the rest of his life if he didn’t act when necessary and reminded him that his dharma as a Kshatriya king was to protect his subjects from danger. She asked why he was lying down like a corpse when he should have been circling the sky like a hawk to find the enemy’s weakness and swoop to attack. Vidula ordered her son to be strong and do his dharma without worrying about the results. She bemoaned that she gave birth to Kali instead of a valorous son and said no other woman should have such useless sons.
Sanjaya, the young king, didn’t like her taunts. He asked if the world and the treasures would mean anything to her if she didn’t have a son to love.
Vidula advised him not to follow the oath of those deserted by their servants and depend on others. She said that a man’s life is purposeful when other living beings depend on him and not the other way around. A brave person who ensures the happiness of his relatives and subjects would lead an auspicious and virtuous life. She continued her speech and said he would lead an inferior life if he gave up his responsibilities. A Kshatriya who didn’t display his powers when necessary was equal to a thief. She lamented that her words weren’t making an impact as they should. Vidula reminded her son that even though the king of Sindhu was strong, he wasn’t invincible, and a calamity would bring him down. She advised him to conduct meetings with allies and launch a planned attack.
Vidula also said she made a mistake by naming him Sanjaya since he didn’t display any signs of it (Sanjaya means a person who brings victory). She urged him to fight instead of turning his back. Vidula spoke about how she was born into a powerful lineage and was married into another and enjoyed the luxury of wealth. She demanded how he could not be affected seeing her and his wife in a state of weakness, and why he didn’t do anything to change the situation. She told him to stop clinging to life and do the needful by defeating his enemies. A brave warrior became famous by killing an enemy. She gave Indra as an example and how slaying Vritra made him the king of heaven.
Vidula added that the kingdom was the road to heaven for those who fulfilled their responsibilities and warned her son not to let any of his enemies see him in such a dejected state. She reminded Sanjaya that he was young and strong and had the ability to regroup and fight again. Instead of bending or surrendering to the enemy, she wanted him to bravely fight and do his best to protect the interests of his subjects. She concluded by saying he should live the same way with or without allies by his side.
Sanjaya wasn’t convinced. He still tried to justify his stance and said that his mother’s heart had turned to steel. He moaned that she had no compassion and didn’t care that her only son could die on the battlefield and leave her alone. He asked once again what she would do with the ornaments if he were dead.
Vidula was disappointed. She explained to her son that she had done everything to steer him on the path of dharma and artha, as it was the right time for him to act for his kingdom. She said that he would be committing a sin and an act of cruelty if he didn’t do his job. A Kshatriya was born to fight and be victorious, and hence he should accept his responsibility and protect his subjects even if it put his life at risk.
Sanjaya protested and yet again said she had no compassion for her child.
Vidula was firm. She wasn’t going to let her son abandon the subjects at the mercy of another king. She said she rather liked that he thought of her that way, as it allowed her to push him more. She added that she would honor him when he defeated the Saindhvas (Sindhus) who attacked their kingdom.
Sanjaya knew he couldn’t convince his mother with emotional blackmail, so he decided to ask for help. He said the treasury was empty, and he did not have allies to support him. He said he saw no means for him and asked her to guide him.
Vidula was happy to see the change in her son. She told him not to demean himself because of his previous failures and to be confident in his skills. The fruits of deeds weren’t meant to be permanent, but if one didn’t act, they would never attain success. She said a person should rise again even if he fell a few times. She advised her son to find ministers, subjects, allies, etc., who disliked and actively hated the king of Sindhu. They would be useful to create a conflict. Vidula instructed him to approach these men with gifts and do it quickly before others did. She said that the enemy was too powerful for an attack; he should strive for conciliation by being friendly. She said that if a person could convert an enemy into an ally and gain their trust, he could think of regaining the lost kingdom. She continued that challenges and calamities shouldn’t dislodge the person from his path. The process was meant to be difficult, and it would be worth the effort. When a king displayed his vulnerability, it would affect the subjects too and demoralize them. They may seek refuge with the enemy and desert their king.
She advised him to prevent such developments by acting quickly and told him not to be frightened or display his worries. She then revealed that they had a large treasury he didn’t know about, and that would help in collecting allies and attacking his enemy to regain the kingdom. She also told him about certain loyal well-wishers who wouldn’t desert him and would help him find victory.
Sanjaya said she had inspired him with her speech, and her advice and intelligence helped cast away the darkness in his mind. He called her his leader and promised to be the king his subjects deserved. He said he would do his best to defeat his enemies and come back victorious.
Vidula was relieved and happy. She blessed him to be successful. Sanjaya followed her advice to the dot and achieved the goal of defeating the king of Sindhu.
Kunti concluded the story by saying these words had immense power and were called Jaya (victory). She hoped her sons would listen to the same words from her (through Krishna) and achieve their victory. She said that those who heard the story were sure to be victorious. A woman would give birth to a warrior-like son if she heard this story during her pregnancy.
Kunti sent more messages to each of her sons, highlighting their talents and reminding them of their duty as Kshatriyas. She also sent a message to Draupadi that she had always behaved as she would with her husbands (implying that she supported her daughter-in-law in words and actions).
Krishna took her blessings and left, promising to convey her messages and do his best to help the Pandavas win the war.
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Find out how King Dambhodbhava was defeated by Nara and Narayana.
Yudhistira asked Krishna to visit Hastinapura with a peace message as one last attempt before the war. Krishna agreed, saying he would rather try everything he could so that no one would blame him (yet, Gandhari did).
When Krishna was at the sabha in Hastinapura, various rishis, namely Narada, Parasurama, etc., arrived to witness the peace talks. They did their best to make Duryodhana understand why the war with the Pandavas was not advisable.
Parasurama narrated the story of King Dambhodbhava to explain that Krishna and Arjuna were none other than Narayana and Nara and that the lust for war would eventually lead to defeat and destruction.
A long time ago, there lived a mighty king named Dambhodbhava. He was a powerful ruler who enjoyed conquering other kingdoms. Thanks to his massive and capable army, he became an emperor. However, King Dambhodbhava wasn’t satisfied and craved more. He would wake up every day and ask if there was anyone more valorous and mighty than him so that he could defeat that person.
Over time, the Brahmins, his ministers, and other noblemen cautioned him to rein in his arrogance. They advised that he shouldn’t be so proud of his strength. However, Dambhodbhava continued to be haughty. So, one day, the Brahmins told him about two ascetics, Nara and Narayana, living in Gandhamadana. They said the two ascetics had fought many wars and defeated everyone and were currently residing in the Himalayan region in their hermitage and doing tapasya.
Dambhodbhava immediately gathered his army with six divisions and marched to Gandhamadana. He wanted to fight with the ascetics and prove himself as an unequalled warrior on earth. When he reached the ashram, the king left his army outside and went to meet the ascetics.
Nara and Narayana welcomed him respectfully and gave him water and fruits. They honored him like an esteemed guest and inquired about his kingdom’s and citizens’ welfare. Dambhodbhava looked at their thin and frail bodies and thought it would be an easy fight. He told them about his intention to face them in a duel. The ascetics didn’t like it. They replied that the hermitage was a place devoid of anger, pride, hatred, and other such feelings.
No matter how much they tried to convince him, Dambhodbhava didn’t budge. He was determined to fight them. He loved a good fight more than anything else since he was never defeated.
The two ascetics agreed at last and said they would cure him of his war lust once and for all. Dambhodbhava was elated when they accepted his challenge. He ordered his army to be ready, but wondered how the two ascetics would fight him when they had no weapons. Nara and Narayana told him not to worry about it. They didn’t need weapons. Nor would any of the king’s weapons harm them.
The king ordered his army to launch an attack by raining arrows on them. He too joined them by quickly firing multiple arrows at the ascetics. Nara took a blade of grass, charged it with a powerful mantra, and flung it at the king. The single blade of grass became an endless shower of sharp arrows that killed his army and injured the king. No matter how much Dambhodbhava tried, he couldn’t face the onslaught or defeat the ascetics.
At last, he gave up and sought mercy by accepting defeat. He fell at Nara’s feet to seek his forgiveness. Nara blessed the king and warned him to cultivate humility. He told Dambhodbhava that a good king was someone who knew when to fight a war and when to keep peace and focus on his kingdom.
Taking their advice, King Dambhodbhava returned to his kingdom and corrected his ways. He discarded his arrogance and became a competent ruler loved by his subjects.
Parasurama told Duryodhana that he, too, should discard his arrogance and realize that he was eager to fight a losing war with Nara and Narayana.
https://draupadiparashakti.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/draupadi-blanc.png00Srivalli Rekha Mantralahttps://draupadiparashakti.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/draupadi-blanc.pngSrivalli Rekha Mantrala2025-05-05 07:54:262025-05-05 07:54:27The Story of King Dambhodbhava – Stories from Udyoga Parva
In the last part of the Aranyaka Parva, Rishi Vaisampayana narrated how Indra planned to take Karna’s golden armor. Surya Deva appeared in Karna’s dreams to warn him. When Karna didn’t listen, Surya Deva told him to ask Indra for the shakti missile in exchange for the armor. At this point, King Janamejaya asked Vaisampayana about the armor, the earrings, and the secret of Karna’s birth.
In the earlier times, a Brahmin visited the kingdom of Kuntibhoja. He was a powerful and radiant rishi with matted hair and a long staff in his hands. He approached the king and asked for hospitality, saying he would dwell in the house if no one disturbed or insulted him. Kuntibhoja immediately agreed as he knew saying no to the rishi would be risky. He then called his (adopted) daughter, Pritha, a young teen, and tasked her with the responsibility of taking care of their guest throughout his stay. He said he trusted no one except her to ensure the rishi’s well-being in the kingdom.
Young Pritha accepted the task and was diligent in her actions. She made the arrangements herself and supervised everything personally. From serving food whenever the rishi asked to providing supplies for his rituals and sitting silently when he was in tapasya, she gave him no reason to find fault. In fact, the rishi was so pleased with her dedication that he wanted to give her a boon. When it was time for him to leave the kingdom and resume his journey, the rishi named Durvasa, called Pritha (Kunti) to him and blessed her. He told her to ask for a boon.
Kunti replied that she was happy that her devotion pleased him and wanted nothing else. However, the rishi gave her a mantra that would summon any god. With the mantra, she could control the god after summoning him/ her to the earth. Though Kunti wasn’t sure she needed such a mantra, she accepted it, fearing the rishi would be offended by her refusal. After teaching her the secret mantra, Rishi Durvasa resumed his travels.
Kunti returned to her routine, but a tiny part of her wondered about the mantra. She thought to test it someday. One morning, Kunti was in her chamber as the sun rose in the sky. Mesmerized by its beauty, she wanted to see more of the sun. Impulsively, she recited the mantra and saw what would happen. In the next instant, Surya Deva appeared in her chamber, blazing with glory. He had a honey-colored complexion and was mighty-armed. He was powerfully built and filled the room with his aura. Using yogic powers, he divided himself into two parts – the sun in the sky and the god in front of her.
He told her he was under her control since she had invited him and asked what she wanted. By then, Kunti was borderline terrified. She said she used the mantra due to curiosity, and since she had seen him, he could go back.
However, Surya Deva said he couldn’t return without giving her something in return and said he would give her a powerful son who would be as radiant as himself. Kunti was truly afraid. After all, she was an unmarried teenager. He added that sending him away without accepting his gift would be an insult, and he would curse her kingdom for it. It was a matter of pride that a human who summoned him didn’t take anything from him. He even gave her the divine eyesight to see how the gods in heaven were amused and laughing at him.
Kunti said it wasn’t proper of him to say such words to an unmarried person and that only her parents had the right to give her away (in marriage). Surya Deva replied that he made the offer as she was young, otherwise, anyone else wouldn’t have gotten the same (he would have been furious instead). Kunti thought about it and saw no way out. She said she would agree to have a son if he thought it was according to dharma.
Surya Deva said that men and women had the right to be with anyone they wanted, and her parents didn’t need to give her away, and that they had no right to do so. He also accepted her request and assured her that she would remain a virgin even after having his son.
Then, Kunti asked if her son could have armor and earrings for protection and be as mighty and strong as the sun god. He promised her that her son would indeed have all that she asked for. He said the boy would be born with flesh armor and golden earrings gifted by Aditi.
When Kunti accepted, Surya Deva touched her navel with his yogic powers. His energy was so fierce that it overwhelmed her. Kunti fainted as he assured her that she would give birth to a mighty son and become a virgin afterward. He then departed to heaven. Kunti was distressed and didn’t know what to do. She took a nurse into confidence and managed to hide her pregnancy. Ten months later, she gave birth to a radiant boy in the suklapaksha. As promised, he was born with flesh armor and golden earrings. Though a newborn, he showed all signs of becoming a well-built warrior.
Kunti quickly wrapped in a blanket and paced the newborn in a basket lined with beeswax and insulated against water and cold. When it was twilight, she crept out of the palace and left the basket in the River Ashva. She prayed over the basket and said words of protection to ensure the child would be safe and protected by the gods themselves. She hoped a loving woman would adopt him. Kunti said the armor would help her recognize him later.
The basket floated from Ashva to Charmanvati to Yamuna and finally drifted into the Ganga. In Ganga, it reached the city of Champa, where charioteers lived.
Adhiratha, Dhritarashta’s friend and charioteer, also lived in the Champa with his wife Radha. The couple had everything they wanted except children, which made Radha sad. One day, they went for a picnic alongside the riverbank and saw a basket floating their way. Adhiratha went into the river to check the basket and was stunned to find a baby inside.
He brought the basket to his wife, who immediately picked up the radiant child and hugged him to her chest. She decided they would adopt him as their own. Adhiratha was more than happy to do so. They consulted the Brahmins and conducted the required rituals. The Brahmins named him Vasusena. He was also known as Vrisha. As he grew, the armor on his breast grew to cover him and glittered. Adhiratha and Radha had children of their own after adopting the baby. However, they loved him just the same.
After Rishi Markandeya finished narrating Ramayana, Yudhistira said he didn’t grieve for himself but for his brothers and Draupadi. He then asked if the rishi knew of any woman who was as devoted to her husbands as Draupadi was. Rishi Markandeya shared the story of Savitri and how she convinced Yama Dharmaraja to return her husband’s life.
King Ashvapti of Madra was a generous ruler who followed his dharma and gained a good name for his actions. But he didn’t have any children. So, the king performed penance and severe rites like fasting and continued to follow the same for eighteen years. He worshipped Savitri (Gayatri mantra or the feminine form of the sun god).
Pleased with his dedication, Savitri herself rose from the yagna fire and asked what boon he wanted. He asked for sons as he needed offspring. Savitri replied that she had already spoken to Brahma Deva about it, and Ashvapati would soon have a daughter.
The king thanked the goddess and returned to his kingdom, hoping the child would be born soon. His first wife, the princess of Malava, soon conceived and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl with eyes like a lotus. Because she was born after praying to Savitri, the king gave his daughter the same name.
Years passed, and the baby grew into a lovely maiden of marriageable age. She looked like a celestial maiden and thought they weren’t deserving of someone like her. The king was unhappy as he couldn’t find a worthy husband for his daughter. One day, he told her she should search for a husband since no one was coming forward to make an offer. Assigning ministers to accompany her, the king watched his young daughter get into a chariot to find a man who wanted to marry.
Savitri traveled to many hermitages and across the forest lands. She stopped whenever she found older families and took their blessings. She went to sacred sites and gave donations to the Brahmins. Finishing her travels, Savitri returned home. She saw that Narada was also in the court at that moment and took his blessings.
When Narada asked where she went, the king explained that he sent her to search for her husband. Turning to her, Ashvapati asked to share the details of her travels and if she had found a man worthy of being her spouse.
Savitri recounted everything and mentioned the king of Salva, named Dyumatsena. The king lost his eyesight when he was still young, and the neighboring king used this opportunity to attack the Slava and conquer it. Dyumatsena, his wife, and his son were forced to relocate to a forest and have been living there ever since. His son, Satyavan, now a grown-up man, captured her attention. Savitri said she wanted to marry him.
Narada spoke. He told the king that Savitri committed a grave mistake by choosing Satyavan. There was no denying that the young man followed dharma and spoke only the truth. His parents were also pious. When young, he loved horses and would make them out of clay and paint horse dolls. Hence, he was also called Chitrashva. The king asked if he was a handsome man and was generous. Narada assured him that Satyavan was handsome and had all the worthy qualities. He was knowledgeable, humble, respectful, generous, kind, and loving.
The king asked if he had any faults. Narada said Satyavan had only one fault, which was really big. The young man had a short life span. He would die in a year. Ashvapati told Savitri to go and find another husband, as this was too much of a flaw to ignore.
However, Savitri was adamant. She said she already considered Satyavan her husband and would never wed another man. She didn’t care how long he lived. She wanted to be his wife for the year left in his life. Narada told the king that there was no use convincing Savitri, and he should contact Satyavan’s parents to finalize the wedding.
The king had no choice, so he ordered the arrangements to be made. On an auspicious day, he went to Dyumatsena’s hermitage and found the blind king sitting on a mat made of kusa grass. He introduced himself. After the initial pleasantries, Ashvapati explained the matter and asked Dyumatsena to accept Savitri as his daughter-in-law. The blind king said they had no riches and were worried that the princess might not be able to live in a forest like a peasant. Ashvapati assured him that Savitri would happily do so.
Dyumatsena confessed that many years ago, he had hoped to have an alliance with the Madra kingdom, but he let go of the idea when he lost his throne. He said his dream had come true and would give his blessings for the wedding. Savitri and Satyavan were married quickly.
Savitri left her riches in her father’s home and dressed like an ascetic to join her husband and in-laws in her new home. Very soon, her pleasant nature and devotion won their hearts. She took care of the blind king and his wife as if they were her parents, and they loved her just as much. Savitri and Satyavan also had a loving and warm marriage.
The year passed too soon. The day of Satyavan’s death was approaching. A worried Savitri planned in advance. Four days before the marked date, she fasted for three whole days and stood still in the same spot throughout. Though her in-laws tried to convince her otherwise, she didn’t budge. Her father-in-law gave her his blessings.
On the day Satyavan was to die, Savitri woke up early and finished her prayers. Dyumatsena asked her to break her fast and eat something as she was weak. However, Savitri said she would eat in the evening. She took the blessings of her in-laws and the other rishis living nearby. Then, she accompanied Satyavan into the forest as he went to chop firewood.
Satyavan also tried to dissuade her, saying the path would be rough and she was already weak from fasting. Savitri was determined to join him that day. Unable to win, Satyavan led her into the forest, carrying an axe on his shoulder. She reminded him to take blessings from the elders before their journey.
Satyavan showed her many delightful sights on the way. They heard the birds and peacocks cry, saw the stream gushing nearby, and the trees in full blossom. However, her heart was heavy with fear. Satyavan continued to collect fruits and berries in his basket. When they reached a spot, Satyavan said he suddenly felt ill as if his head was swimming. Savitri sat down and urged him to rest with his head in her lap. He did so and closed his eyes in relief. Remembering Narada’s words, Savitri calculated the time of her husband’s demise and sat still.
Soon, she saw a celestial man in yellow garments walking their way. He had a smooth and dark complexion and held a noose in one hand. Seeing him, Savitri lowered her husband’s head onto the ground and stood up. She bowed to Yama Dharmaraja, who personally came to collect Satyavan’s soul. She said she could see he was a god and asked if he could share his name.
Yama introduced himself and said he had come to collect Satyavan’s soul, and since the young man was good and truthful at all times, he decided to do the task himself instead of sending his servants (Yama dutas) as he normally did. Then, he pulled the life force out of Satyavan’s body (it was the size of a thumb) and used the noose to bind it. Satyavan’s lifeless body lay on the forest ground. His job done, Yama proceeded to walk in the southern direction (since it is the direction of death).
A distressed Savitri followed Yama as he left the forest. Yama realized this and turned back to stop her. He told her to go back and perform the last rites for her husband and that hell wasn’t a place for the living.
Savitri replied that she would like to say something to him. She said it was her dharma to follow her husband even if he was being taken somewhere by others, and as his wife, she must abide by the rules of dharma no matter what.
Impressed by her words, Yama said he would give her a boon, anything except her husband’s life, and after that, she should go back. Savitri asked for her father-in-law’s eyesight to be returned and for him to become strong again. Yama granted her the boon. He said she was tired from following him and urged her to go back.
Savitri placed forth another argument. She asked how she could be exhausted when she was with her husband and repeated that she must go wherever he was being taken. Savitri then said that friendship with the virtuous was never fruitless, and one should always associate with such people. Yama was again impressed with her words and told her to ask for another boon, insisting that she should ask for anything except her husband’s life. This time, Savitri asked her father-in-law should recover his lost kingdom and continue to follow the path of dharma. Yama granted her the boon and told her to go back once again.
He walked ahead, with Savitri still following behind. She requested him to listen to her. This time, Savitri talked about Yama himself and said he was the one who controlled all the rules and that even those with compassion could show it only to a certain point. Yama told her to ask for another boon and repeated the same exception. Savitri said her father didn’t have any sons and requested that he have a hundred sons who would be her brothers and continue their lineage. Yama granted her the third boon as well. He asked her to return since she had already travelled too far.
Savitri said it didn’t feel like much distance since she undertook the journey with her husband (even if it was his soul) and said her mind traveled a much greater distance. She asked Yama to listen to her once more. She said he was the son of Vivasvat (sun god) and was equally virtuous. She said he was the king of dharma since no one trusts anyone more than a virtuous person, and making friends with such people is always a blessing, and people would always look up to virtuous people.
Yama yet again said he was pleased by her words and granted her a fourth boon with the same exception. This time, Savitri asked for a hundred sons for herself to be born through Satyavan, and that the sons be dutiful to their parents and extend their lineage. Yama didn’t think much about her request and granted the boon right away.
Savitri didn’t give up yet. She further spoke about dharma, virtue, and how the virtuous ones would never be fruitless nor do they destroy anything, so they are also the protectors. Yama said her knowledge delighted him much and that his respect for her had increased. He told her to ask for an unmatched boon. Now, Savitri took her chance and asked for Satyavan’s life. She said she was as good as dead if he wasn’t alive and with her. She reminded Yama that he had already granted her a hundred sons, and this would be possible only when Satyavan was alive. She asked him to make his words come true by releasing her husband’s soul back into his body.
Yama was impressed by her determination and wit. He happily freed Satyavan’s soul and showed it to her, saying he was returning it to her husband’s body. He blessed her to have a hundred sons like her mother would, and that all the boons he gave her would happen one after another.
He finally made her return to the forest and went back to his abode. She rushed to where Satyavan’s body lay and raised his head to place it back in her lap. Satyavan slowly stirred and opened his eyes. He was bewildered and asked what had happened. Savitri said he rested for many hours, and it was evening by then. He said his head hurt terribly, and he wanted to rest for a while, but didn’t remember anything after that. He looked around at the approaching darkness and urged his wife they leave quickly.
Savitri was more than happy to do so or stay back, depending on how his health was. He said he felt a lot better and had no pain in any part of his body. He also wanted to go and see his parents since they were often worried when he stayed for too long in the forest.
Savitri assured him that his parents were safe and everything was wonderful. They slowly made their way back home in the northern direction, leaving the basket under the tree to collect the next day.
Meanwhile, old Dyumatsena regained his eyesight. Though he marveled at the sudden development, he was too worried about Satyavan and Savitri to wonder about the details. He and his wife, Shaibya, rushed to all the nearby hermitages to ask if their children had come that way. They feared Satyavan had died as it was predicted, and Savitri was distraught or in some trouble. The rishis tried to assure them that their children were safe, but the old couple was restless and repeatedly called out the names of Satyavan and Savitri. The rishis like Suvarcha and Gautama said they saw the events using their tapasya powers and were confident that the young couple was safe and alive.
Soon, Satyavan and Savitri returned to their home and found the rishis around the old couple. Satyavan told them he had slept a long time due to severe pain in the head and which caused the delay. The rishis then revealed that his father, Dyumatsena, had suddenly regained his eyesight.
Rishi Gautama asked Savitri to explain everything, as he knew she was responsible for it. Savitri did so by narrating the events that took place throughout the day and her pleading with Yama, which got them four boons and Satyavan’s life. All the rishis blessed Savitri for bearing the sacred dharma so beautifully and raising the value of her lineage with her actions.
The next day, the news spread far and wide. People from the surrounding regions arrived at their doorstep to see and talk to Savitri, who had achieved the impossible. Meanwhile, a few men from the kingdom arrived to inform Dyumatsena that the current king had been killed by his own advisors and that he should once again be their ruler. After a meeting with the advisors, the old king and his family returned to the city in a royal procession. An auspicious day was chosen to crown Dyumatsena as the king of Shalva with Satyavan as the heir apparent.
Over the years, Savitri and her mother gave birth to a hundred sons each. With her determination, dedication, and love, Savitri not only saved her husband but also brought much happiness to her family.
https://draupadiparashakti.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/draupadi-blanc.png00Srivalli Rekha Mantralahttps://draupadiparashakti.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/draupadi-blanc.pngSrivalli Rekha Mantrala2025-04-23 11:26:182025-04-23 11:26:20The Story of Sati Savitri – Stories from Aranyaka Parva
Surprisingly, the Mahabharata provides us with the details of the birth and family relationships of Ravana. Rishi Markandeya shared this information with Yudhistira when consoling him that a great many women had to face hardships, and Sita was one of them. He continued to narrate the Ramayana.
Ravana’s great-grandfather was Prajapati, the self-creating ascetic. One of Prajapati’s mind-born sons was Pulastya, who had a son called Vaishravana (Kubera). However, Vaishravana preferred Prajapati over his father, which angered Pulastya.
Pulastya collected his anger to create another version (a darker version) of himself called Vishrava (think of him as Pulastya’s evil twin) to counter Vaishravana. However, Prajapati made Vaishravana immortal since he liked his devotion. He also made him the king of riches and the guardian of the worlds. Furthermore, Vaishravana gained friendship with Ishana (Shiva) and got a son, Nalakubera, as a boon. He was gifted Lanka as his kingdom. Vaishravana ruled the land of the rakshasas and lived happily with his son and others.
However, Vaishravana didn’t forget that his father’s other self, Vishrava, was angry at him. In an attempt to appease him, he sent three rakshashis to serve his father (Vishrava). The three rakshasis – Pushpotkata, Raka, and Malini were dutiful and talented. They spent all their time trying to please Vishrava and eventually succeeded.
Vishrava granted them each a boon. All three wanted children of their own. Pushpotkata gave birth to two sons – Kumbhakarna and Dashagriva (Ravana). Raka gave birth to Vibhishana. Raka had twin children – Khara and Surpanaka.
Khara hated Brahmins and carried a powerful bow to kill and eat raw flesh. Surpanaka loved to obstruct religious rites and sacrifices. While Kumbhakarna and Ravana had super strength, Vibhishana was the most handsome man and followed dhrama since his childhood.
They lived on Mount Gandhamadana with their father. Once, they saw Vaishravana and his wealth and decided to perform austerities to become like him.
The three siblings (Kumbhakarna, Ravana, and Vibhishana) spent several years in intense austerities for various reasons. Khara and Surpanaka took care of their older brothers and ensured no one disturbed them.
Finally, Brahma Deva appeared to grant each of them their boons. He told them to ask for anything except immortality.
Ravana asked for a boon where he would never be defeated by gandharvas, devas, asuras, yakshas, rakshasas, nagas, kinnaras, and demons (that’s why he was defeated by humans and vanaras). Kumbhakarna asked for a long period of sleep since his mind was clouded with fatigue after the tapasya. Brahma Deva granted it.
Vibhishana asked that his mind shouldn’t turn to adharma even during extremely difficult situations. He also asked for the Brahmastra to be manifested in him. Brahma Deva was pleased with the requests and granted him both as well as immortality.
Once he obtained the boon, Ravana attacked Lanka and won it from Vaishravana. He also stole the Pushpaka chariot from Vaishravana. Vaishravana was so angry that he cursed Ravana that the Pushpaka wouldn’t carry him. Instead, it would carry the one who would lead to Ravana’s demise. Then, Vaishravana, with the yakshas, gandharvas, guhyakas, and others, went to reside on Mount Gandhamanada and soon converted it into his kingdom.
Ravana and his siblings relocated to Lanka. Heady with power, Ravana attacked many kingdoms, including the gods. Over time, the gods began to fear him and asked for help to defeat Ravana. They went to Brahma Deva and said that his boon made Ravana near-invincible, and he was terrorizing everyone.
Eventually, when the time was right, Narayana was born as Rama to kill Ravana. The devas also arrived on the earth to incarnate as various people who would support Rama in his mission (just like how it happened in the Mahabharata). As Vaishravana cursed, the Pushpaka carried Rama to Ayodhya after Ravana’s death.
https://draupadiparashakti.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/draupadi-blanc.png00Srivalli Rekha Mantralahttps://draupadiparashakti.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/draupadi-blanc.pngSrivalli Rekha Mantrala2025-04-23 11:02:542025-04-23 11:02:56Ravana Birth and Background – Stories from Aranyaka Parva
After Draupadi had been rescued from Jayadratha and the king of Sindhu had been let off with a warning and a shaved head, Yudhistira went into depression once again. Rishi Markandeya arrived to console the Pandavas and help them adjust to the situation. Yudhistira said he felt sad for Draupadi for having to face such atrocities and being kidnapped more than once. He asked the rishi if any other women suffered as much as she did. Rishi Markandeya then took this chance to narrate a short summary of Ramayana (his version) to share that Sita also had to face many trials throughout her life.
Naturally, Yudhistira wanted more details. The rishi obliged.
Here, Rishi Markandeya listed the lineage of Rama as well as the story of how Ravana was born.
In the Ikshvaku lineage, there was a king named Aja. His son was Dasaratha, who had four sons – Rama, Lakshmana, Shatrughna, and Bharata. Rama was Kaushalya’s son, Lakshmana and Shatrughna were Sumitra’s twins, and Bharata was Kaikeyi’s son.
The king of Videha, Janaka, had a daughter named Sita. Tvashtra (Vishwakarma) created her to be Rama’s queen and consort.
Yudhistira asked why Rama had to go into exile and what happened afterward. Rishi Markandeya explained.
King Dasaratha was delighted when his sons were born. They grew up to be learned men with good manners and great warrior skills. Soon, the sons were married. Dasaratha was pleased with the developments.
Rama, the eldest son, had a pleasant nature and was a favorite of the subjects. He was also his father’s favorite. Dasaratha thought he was growing old and decided to crown Rama as the king of Ayodhya. His advisors and the council of ministers agreed with the decision. They even fixed the time for the coronation. Rama was dark-skinned, long-limbed, broad-chested, radiant, handsome, and brave. He had curly hair, was learned in dharma, and was as powerful as Indra. He protected those who needed it and punished the guilty. He was never defeated or vanquished by anyone.
Dasarartha made an announcement that Rama would be crowned the king on the day of Pushya nakshatra. The preparations began in earnest.
The news reached Manthara, who went to Kaikeyi and told her that she (Kaikeyi) was unfortunate while Kaushalya was fortunate since her son was becoming the king. Manthara asked what good fortune Kaikeyi had if her son wasn’t a king? Kaikeyi thought about it, dressed in stylish clothes, and went to meet the king. She sweetly reminded him that he had promised to grant her a boon, and she wanted it now. Dasaratha agreed and asked what she wanted. He said he would give her anything she asked for.
Kaikeyi asked Bharata to be crowned the king and for Rama to go into exile in the forest. Dasaratha was distraught and unable to say anything. Rama got the news of Kaikeyi’s wish and his father’s promise, so he chose to honor it by going to the forest. His wife, Sita, and his brother, Lakshmana, followed him.
After Rama left, Dasaratha gave up his body and departed to the other world. Kaikeyi said to Bharata that he should accept the throne since all the thorns in his path had been removed. However, Bharata was furious and said she had brought him a bad name with her actions and was responsible for her husband’s death. He then went to find Rama and was accompanied by his three mothers. Shatrughna, Rishi Vasishtha, and many other ministers etc. followed Bharata on his quest.
Bharata found Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana in the Chitrakuta forest. However, Rama told him to go back and rule the kingdom. Bharata dutifully did so by placing Rama’s sandals on the throne and taking up the role of an administrator.
Meanwhile, Rama decided they should move elsewhere so that the citizens wouldn’t come to meet him again. The trio traveled to a forest near the ashram of Sharabhanga. Taking blessings from him, they went to stay in the Dandakaranya forest along the banks of the River Godavari. Here, Rama fought Khara due to Surpanaka’s actions and protected the ascetics residing in the region. He also killed fourteen thousand rakshasas, as well as Khara and Dushana (Khara’s younger brother). Later, when Surpanaka’s nose and lips were sliced off by Lakshmana, she went to her older brother in Lanka and shared her distress.
An angry Ravana asked who did that to her. Surpanaka told him everything about Rama’s valor and the death of her (their) brothers. Ravana got into his Pushpaka and flew to Gokarna to meet Maricha, his former advisor.
Maricha had turned an ascetic as he was afraid of Rama. He welcomed Ravana and offered him fruits and water. After inquiring about his health and subjects, Maricha wanted to know the reason for Ravana’s visit. When he explained, Marciha advised Ravana to stay away and not provoke Rama. However, an angry and arrogant Ravana threatened to kill Maricha if he didn’t do as ordered. Ravana planned to use Maricha to distract Rama and kidnap Sita. He said separation from Sita would make Rama distraught and lose interest in his life.
Knowing death was inevitable, Maricha performed his own funeral rites and set off with Ravana to Dandakaranya. He transformed into a golden deer and walked in front of the ashram where Rama and Sita lived. Sita sent Rama to chase the deer, and Lakshmana stayed back to ensure her safety. When Rama realized the deer was a rakshasa, he shot an arrow at it. Maricha called out for Sita and Lakshmana in Rama’s voice. This made Sita anxious even as Lakshmana tried to assure her. Nevertheless, he set off, following Rama’s footsteps.
Ravana took the chance he had been waiting for and approached Sita in the guise of a traveling Brahmin and begged for alms. She offered him fruits. Ravana revealed his true self and tried to entice her to go away with him by talking about the beauty and riches of Lanka. When Sita got angry and asked him to leave, he used force to restrain her. Sita fell unconscious. Ravana quickly grabbed her by her hair and got into his Pushpaka.
Jatayu, a vulture, saw this and tried to free Sita, but lost the fight to Ravana, who cut off the wing. An injured Jatayu fell to the earth in agony and cried for Rama. Jatayu was the son of Aruni. His brother was Sampati, a friend of King Dasaratha.
Meanwhile, Rama was rushing back to the ashram and met Lakshmana on the way. He was concerned for Sita’s safety and rebuked Lakshmana for leaving her alone. They ran back to the ashram to find Sita missing. They saw Jatayu, who told them what happened. The vulture took his last breath in Rama’s arms. After doing the needful, Rama and Lakshmana began their search for Sita.
They faced Kadanbha, a rakshasa who grasped Lakshmana in his arms. Rama told Lakshmana to slice off the rakshasa’s right arm while he attacked, and chopped the left arm. Together, the brothers killed Kadanbha. A divine being emerged from the dead body. It was Gandharva Vishvavasu who was cursed by Brahma to be born to a rakshasi. Being killed by Rama and Lakshmana freed him from the curse. Vishvavasu advised them to go and meet Sugriva, living near Lake Pampa around Mount Rishyamukha. The gandharva assured Rama that he would soon reunite with his wife with the help of Sugriva and his advisors.
Following the gandharva’s advice, Rama and Lakshmana went to Lake Pampa. It was a beautiful place with pink and blue lotus flowers, a scented breeze, and lovely plants. This made Rama miss Sita even more, and he cried for her. Lakshmana tried to cheer him up and said they would find Sugriva and bring back Sita from Lanka. They bathed in the lake, offering oblations to their ancestors, and went to Mount Rishyamukha. There, they saw five vanaras in a discussion. One was Sugriva, one was Hanuman, well-built and tall as a mountain, Jambavan, Mainda, and Dvivida.
After the introductions, Sugriva showed the jewels they collected (the ones that fell from the sky) to Rama. Positive that these belonged to Sita, Rama and the Vanaras made a deal. Rama would kill Vali, Sugriva’s brother, and crown Sugriva the king of Kishkinda. In return, Sugriva would help Rama find Sita (and fight the war if necessary).
They proceeded to Kishkinda, where Sugriva challenged Vali to a hand-to-hand combat. Tara, Vali’s wife, cautioned him not to go and said that Sugriva had the support of Hanuman, Jambavan, and Rama. However, Vali was confident of his strength and skills. He went to fight Sugriva.
Sugriva lost the first round since Rama couldn’t distinguish between him and his twin brother. Hanuman placed a garland around Sugriva’s neck, which allowed Rama to aim at Vali from behind a tree. After Vali’s death, Sugriva was made the king of Kishkinda and got back his wife. Tara also stayed with him since her husband had died. Rama stayed with them in Malyavan for four months.
Meanwhile, Ravana was mesmerized by Sita’s beauty and wanted to possess her. He made her a prisoner in a garden with ashoka trees and ordered several rakshasis to guard her. Sita spent all her time thinking about Rama. The raksashis tried to terrify her, but she asked them to eat her if they wanted. Sita said she had no will to live with Rama, so she would become their meal. This annoyed the rakshasis since she refused to accept or acknowledge Ravana.
However, when the rakshasis weren’t around, Trijata spoke to Sita. She was a pious woman despite being a rakshasi. Trijata said that Avindhya had told her a secret she would share with Sita. Rama and Lakshmana were searching for her and knew where she was. They were well and would come to free her soon. Trijata also said that Ravana wouldn’t dare to violate a woman due to a curse. A long time ago, he raped Rambha, Nalakubera’s wife, and was cursed by him to face death if he forced himself on another woman. Trijata assured Sita that she had seen Ravana’s destruction in her dreams, along with Kumbhakarna’s death and Vibhishana being alive. There was nothing to worry about since Rama and Lakshmana would come and take her back home.
Ravana, dressed in rich clothes and jewels, went to meet Sita. He boasted of his riches and powers. He listed the various women who served him and asked Sita to marry him and become his wife, like Mandodari. Sita simply turned away and ignored him. She held a blade of grass between them and spoke to the grass (indicating that Ravana was equal to that little piece of grass). She said she was unfortunate to have to listen to him talk and asked if he was such a great man and why he wasn’t following his dharma.
Ravana said she was still yearning for a human, and he couldn’t touch her against her wishes (due to the curse which would shatter his head into a thousand pieces if he did). He left her crying.
After waiting for Sugriva, Rama finally sent Lakshmana to remind him of the promise. He said Sugriva was happily enjoying himself in Kishkinda and might have forgotten the promise. Lakshmana went to Kishkinda and was welcomed by Sugriva. He gave Rama’s message to the vanara king. Sugriva said that he didn’t forget, nor was he ungrateful. He had sent many of his best vanaras in different directions to find the trace of Sita. They were to return to him in a month and give an update. He asked Lakshmana to wait for five days as they would get the news.
Lakhsmana and Sugriva went to Malyavan to meet Rama and share the news with him. Most spies had arrived but couldn’t find Sita anywhere. They said the ones who went southward were yet to return, so there was hope.
Rama was sad but determined to be hopeful. They had to wait for another two months before news arrived that Angada and Hanuman, who went southward, had some good news to share. Rama rushed to meet Hanuman and asked if he knew where Sita was.
Hanuman said he had good news and described his journey. The search party didn’t find Sita anywhere and finally reached a cave that belonged to a daitya named Maya. There, they saw a lady ascetic named Prabhavati who gave them directions. They ascended Malaya and saw the vast expanse of the ocean in front of them. They were discussing Jatayu when another similar vulture approached them and demanded how they knew his brother. This was Sampati who was agonized about his brother’s death. However, he knew that Ravana lived in Lanka and that Sita was possibly held captive there.
After a brief meeting, Hanuman invoked his father, Vayu, and flew across the ocean to reach Lanka. There, he had to kill a rakshasi who lived in water, Surasa, who tried to block his path. Reaching Lanka, Hanuman said he saw Sita inside and that she was fasting and looked tired and weak. He said he approached Sita and assured her that he wasn’t a rakshasa and informed her about Rama. Sita replied that Avindhya had said he would come, so she knew he was Hanuman. Sita gave him a jewel to show Rama and sent him back. She also sent a message and reminded Rama about an incident that happened in Chitrakuta (Rama hurled a straw at a crow for troubling Sita). Hanuman concluded his tale, saying that he had burnt the city before returning.
Rama was relieved to finally find the trace of Sita and know she was safe enough. Upon Sugriva’s instructions, his vanara army assembled there.
Sushena, Vali’s father-in-law, arrived with one thousand crores of swift vanaras.
Gaja and Gavaya arrived separately with one crore vanaras.
Gavaksha, with the tail of a cow, came with sixty thousand crore vanaras.
Panasa brought ten, twelve, and thirty-five crore vanaras.
Dadhimukha, an aged, brave vanara, brought another large army.
Jambhavan brought a hundred thousand crores of bears.
Many others came with more armies, all of them ready to help Rama fight Ravana.
They practiced and trained for a while. On an auspicious day, Sugriva arranged them into different battle formations. Hanuman led from the front, while Lakshmana guarded the rear. They were ready to march ahead for Rama’s cause. Nala, Nila, Angada, Kratha, Mainda, and Dvivida were also made the protectors and heads of different divisions of the army. They passed through the forests, plain lands, mountains, etc., to reach the seashore.
Rama asked Sugriva for his opinion about the best way to cross the ocean to reach Lanka. After discussing the odds, Rama said he would ask the ocean for help, and if he didn’t get a response, he would dry it up for them to march ahead. Rama touched the water and invoked the god of the ocean, who appeared in his dreams to provide a solution. The god of the ocean said that Nala was the son of Vishwakarma, and the ocean would bear whatever Nala threw into it and convert it into a bridge. So, Rama asked Nala to build a bridge of stones from the shore to Lanka. As the construction continued, they moved ahead toward their destination. Vibhishana heard of Rama’s arrival and went to meet him and extended his support, saying he would always be on the side of dharma. With Vibhishana’s help, Rama and the vanara army crossed the bridge and camped outside Lanka.
Ravana’s two rakshasi guards, Shuka and Sarana, disguised as vanaras to spy on them, but Vibhishana caught them. Rama exposed them to his army so that they wouldn’t be tricked again and freed the rakshasis. Then, Rama sent Angada as a messenger to Ravana.
Entering or penetrating Lanka wasn’t going to be easy for the vanaras. Ravana had fortified the city as per the sacred texts. The walls were big and strong, there were moats with crocodiles. There were watchtowers and catapults used to detect and attack enemies. The soldiers had pots filled with resin and venomous snakes. They were also armed with many weapons like clubs, spears, lances, axes, fireworks, spiked clubs, etc. They had shataghanis (a weapon that could kill hundreds at a time) and other weapons dipped in poisonous beeswax. All gates of the city were guarded.
Angada reached one of the gates and announced his presence. He entered the city fearlessly and walked into the court. Angada delivered Rama’s message to Paulastya (Ravana, Pulastya’s son) that there would be a war if he didn’t respectfully return Sita.
The message made Ravana angry. His guards, the night prowling rakshasas, grabbed Angada. He nimbly jumped up to the terrace, and this movement dislodged the rakshasas. Before they could react, he leaped from there and went back to Rama.
Upon Rama’s orders, the vanara army got to work and breached the walls of Lanka. With Lakshmana leading them, Jambhavan, Vibhishana, and others successfully destroyed the south gate and entered the city. Rama invaded Lanka with over a hundred thousand crore of vanaras. They raised such dust that the sun was invisible. The rakshasas and their families came out to watch and were amazed. Some travelers ran away, seeing the mayhem caused by the vanara army.
With orders from the king (Ravana), the rakshasas rushed out to tackle the invasion. They got onto the walls to attack the enemies. However, the vanaras were quick. Both sets fought and killed each other. Rama rained a relentless shower of arrows with Lakshmana. Once they successfully invaded Lanka and breached the defenses, the army withdrew for the day.
Parvana, Putana, Jambha, Khara, Krodhavasha, Hari, Praruja, Aruja, Praghhasa, and others, Ravana’s piscaha and rakshasa followers launched an attack. Vibhishana used his powers to remove the invisibility capability of the rakshasas. This made them easier targets, and the vanaras killed them all. Hearing about their death made Ravana so angry that he personally marched out with his army.
He arranged his army in a Ushana battle formation. Rama also stepped out and used a battle formation recommended by Brihaspati. Lakshmana fought with Indrajit, Sugriva with Virupaksha, Nikharvata with Tara, Nala with Tunda, and Patusha with Panasa, as Rama faced Ravana. It was a terrible and terrifying battle.
Suddenly, Prahasta rushed at Vibhishana, who faced him with ease and killed him soon. Dhumraksha attacked the vanaras, but Hanuman stepped in and killed him. As the war continued, both sides killed each other. When the sky turned dark, they retreated to their camps. Taking stock of the situation, Ravana decided to send Kumbhakarna into the battle. Since Kumbhakarna was asleep, the guards took musical instruments, food, and other items to wake him up from his deep and long sleep. Eventually, they succeeded. Ravana sent Kumbhakarna to fight Rama and his army the next morning. He also sent Vajravega and Pramathi with extra instructions.
The massive Kumbhakarna wreaked havoc on the vanara army. The monkeys were terrified but continued to fight him. He was laughing and killing them in spades. Surgriva tried to fight Kumbhakarna but couldn’t. Lakshmana shot an arrow that penetrated the rakshasa’s body and made him let go of Sugriva. However, Kumbhakarna threw a rock at Lakshmana, which he destroyed, and used the brahmastra to kill him. Seeing the mighty rakshasa fall, the smaller ones fled. However, Dushana’s brothers, Vajravega and Pramathi, targeted Lakshmana. Hanuman killed Vajravega, while Nila tackled Pramathi and ended his life. The day’s battle ended with many deaths on both sides.
When Ravana heard of Kumbhakarna and Dhumraksha’s deaths, he asked his older son, Indrajit, to kill his enemies and bring him victory. Indrajit entered the war the next day and challenged Lakshmana, who accepted it right away. They had a gruesome battle, trying to outdo each other at every opportunity. Angada also joined the fight at times. Indrajit began using his maya to disappear, so Rama stepped in to help his brother. However, Indrajit managed to injure Rama and Lakshmana and make them unconscious. The vanara army stood around them. Vibhishana too reached the spot and used an herb named Vishalya with divine mantras to revive the brothers.
When they woke up, Vibhishana said to Rama that a guhyaka arrived from Mount Shveta with miracle water from Kubera so that he could see invisible beings as well. Rama accepted the water and touched his eyes with it. Lakshmana, Sugriva, Angada, and other key warriors also did the same.
Meanwhile, Indrajit went to Ravana and gave him an update. He returned to find Rama and Lakshmana healthy again. Lakshmana launched an attack on Indrajit. After another ferocious fight, Lakshmana killed Indrajit. This angered Ravana so much that he went to kill Sita.
Avindhya stopped him and reminded him that he shouldn’t kill a woman. He said that as a captive, she was already considered dead, and the best way to kill her was to kill her husband. Ravana agreed and decided to fight Rama himself. He ordered his chariot to be prepared.
Ravana marched out with his rakshasa army, scattering the varanas in his path. Mainda, Nila, Nala, Angada, Hanuman, and Jambavan blocked his path. With his army being killed, Ravana resorted to maya. However, Rama killed the rakshasas. Seeing this, Ravana created lookalikes of Rama and Lakshmana and sent them to fight the brothers. Rama quickly killed his lookalike upon Lakshmana’s request.
Just then, Matali arrived in Indra’s chariot. He said Indra sent the chariot (named Jaitra) for Rama so that he could face Ravana and kill him that day. Rama first thought it was another maya of Ravana, but Vibhishana assured him that it was real and he should use the chariot sent by Indra.
When Rama mounted the chariot and rode toward Ravana, the god cheered from heaven. An angry Ravana unleashed thousands of arrows at Rama. Rama calmly invoked the Brahmastra and killed Ravana. The flames burnt him, his chariot, and the horses. The vanara army cheered.
The gods and rishis from heaven praised and blessed Rama for achieving their objective. Rama then handed over Lanka to Vibhishana. Avindhya emerged from the city with Sita and asked Rama to accept his wife.
Rama descended the chariot to see his wife crying, wearing dirty clothes, and with matted hair. He said to her that she was free to go wherever she wanted. He said he was freed from the rakshasa since she was his wife, but he wouldn’t accept her now. Sita was so distraught that she collapsed. Lakshmana and others stood still in shock. They didn’t know how to react.
Brahma, Indra, Vayu, Agni, and others descended from heaven to meet Rama. Even King Dasaratha arrived in his heavenly form.
Sita said to Rama that she didn’t blame him for his words. She continued that if she had committed an evil act, the air (breath) would be free of her (as in she would die). Vayu, Agni, Varuna, and Brahma told him that Sita was taintless and that Rama should take her back. Brahma said Sita was protected through Nalakubera’s curse, and everything that happened was set in motion for Rama to kill Ravana (due to the boon).
Dasaratha said he was proud of Rama and approved him as the king. Rama replied that he would go back to Ayodhya and rule the kingdom. He took his father’s blessings. He reunited with Sita, gave a boon to Avindhya, and many riches to Trijata.
Indra asked Rama what boon he wanted. Rama asked for victory over his enemies and to revive all the dead vanaras. Indra agreed. The dead vanaras rose to life as if they woke up from slumber. Sita gave a boon to Hanuman that he would live for as long as Rama’s fame lasted.
The gods went back to heaven. Matali told Rama that his fame would be sung for eternity for removing the rakshasa who troubled every creature on the earth. After arranging protection for Lanka, everyone crossed the stone bridge to return to the shore. Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana returned to Kishkinda with Vibhishana and Sugriva. Rama made Angada the heir apparent to Sugriva and resumed his journey to Ayodhya. He sent Hanuman as a messenger to Bharata to inform him of their return. Hanuman went to Nandigrama and saw Bharata wearing tree bark as a dress and ruling the kingdom with Rama’s sandals on the throne.
Rama and Lakshmana met their brothers Bharata and Shatrughna happily. After he was crowned the king, he gave Sugriva, Vibhishana, Jambhavan, and others permission to get back to their kingdoms. He returned the Pushpaka to Vibhishana, who flew to Lanka in it. Eventually, the Pushpaka returned to its original owner, Kubera.
Later, Rama performed ten Ashwamedha yagnas on the banks of the River Gomati. The kingdom flourished.
Vyasa visited the Pandavas, and as always, Yudhistira saw this as his chance to ask a few questions and expand his knowledge. When asked about whether the dharma of giving was more difficult or the dharma of austerities, Vyasa shared the story of Mudgala as an example and said the dharma of giving was the most difficult one.
Mudgala was a common man who lived in Kurukshetra a long time ago. He followed his dharma and led a simple yet contented life without feeling jealous of others. He was observing a sacrifice called ishtikrita (where one sacrifices one’s wishes). He, his wife, and his son ate for a fortnight. For the next fortnight, he lived like a pigeon by collecting one drona of vrihi (one drone = 1/16th of a khári). He dutifully observed the full moon and new moon rituals and happily served whoever visited his home as guests. Since he was such a pious man, the rice stocked in his house never ran empty. No matter how much he donated, the quantity remained the same. This allowed him to serve hundreds of Brahmins.
One day, Rishi Durvasa went to Mudgala’s house wearing nothing but air (naked). He transformed into a lunatic with a temper and demanded food from Mudgala, who welcomed him with respect and treated him as he would treat everyone.
Mudgala continued to serve food, and the lunatic continued to eat. This went on until he had nothing left in his house. Then the lunatic smeared the leftover bits on his body and left. On the next auspicious lunar day, the lunatic arrived again to eat everything in Mudgala’s house. Mudgala had to go out to gather more food to feed the lunatic. However, he wasn’t irritated or worried. He took it in stride and did what he had to do.
Rishi Durvasa repeated the same six times. Not once did Mudgala resent the lunatic or feel any negative emotion. He was happy to collect more food to feed his guests, even if he himself had nothing to eat. Durvasa then said to him that controlling the fickle mind wasn’t an easy task, but he (Mudgala) had mastered it. He had conquered the world with his selfless deeds and had obtained a place in heaven.
Even as he spoke, the golden chariot from heaven descended to carry Mudgala to heaven. It was yoked to swans and cranes and had bells tied to it. Mudgala asked the messenger to tell him more about people who resided in heaven, what divine happiness meant, and if there were any shortcomings so that he could act accordingly.
The messenger said Mudgala had obtained a place in heaven, so he didn’t have to do anything for it. He described it as where the Vasus, Maruts, Sadhyas, Vishwas, and others resided. It was where rishis who performed severe austerities went after discarding their bodies. Heaven had no sorrow, no old age, no repentance, etc. However, the place was not permanent, and one could fall from heaven for various reasons.
After listening to the various descriptions of heaven, Mudgala thought about it and bowed to the messenger. He asked the messenger to leave since he didn’t want to go to heaven. He didn’t want to experience the unhappiness of a fall. Mudgala said he would find a region with no sorrow or dislodging once he entered. Then, he returned to his routine of collecting rice grains and feeding his guests. As years passed, he attained moksha.
Vyasa assured Yudhistira that happiness and unhappiness were cyclic and would come and go. He asked him to be confident of regaining his lost kingdom.
https://draupadiparashakti.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/draupadi-blanc.png00Srivalli Rekha Mantralahttps://draupadiparashakti.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/draupadi-blanc.pngSrivalli Rekha Mantrala2025-04-19 12:19:082025-04-19 12:19:09The Greatness of Mudgala – Stories from Aranyaka Parva
Rishi Markandeya narrated one story after another to the Pandavas, Draupadi, Krishna, Satyabhama, and Narada. This time, Yudhistira asked why Agni went into the forest and how new types of Agni (fires) were created.
The rishi explained.
A long time ago, Agni was angry and stalked into a forest to perform austerities. With no Agni to offer oblations, everyone requested Rishi Angiras to become the second Agni to eliminate darkness. His energy was so fierce that it illuminated the world and reached Agni, who was in the forest. Agni thought Brahma created another Agni, so his services were no longer required. He went to Angiras and told him to continue being Agni.
However, Angiras replied that Agni was the first one created by Brahma, and he should get back to his previous position. Agni declined. He didn’t want to do that. It had been so many years that people now knew Angiras as their Agni. The real Agni was more than content to be a second Agni named Prajapatyaka.
Angiras told Agni to perform good deeds and obtain a place in heaven. He also asked Agni to have his first son through Angiras. Agni agreed. Angiras’s son Brihaspati became Agni’s son.
Then came many types of Agnis, each of them used for different purposes.
Angiras’s wife was Subha (he had more wives). Their offspring were Brihajjyoti, Brihatkirti, Brihadbrahma, Brihanmana, Brihanmantra, Brihadbhasa, and Brihaspati. His first daughter was Bhanumati, his second daughter was Raga, the third was Sinivali, the fourth was Archismati, and the fifth was Havismati, with her oblations. Angiras’s sixth daughter was Mahishmati, and the seventh daughter was Mahamati. She was radiant and was honored at great sacrifice. The eighth daughter was Kuhu (new moon), the one that cannot be divided.
Brihaspati and his wife Chandramasi gave birth to six sacred fires and a daughter. Their first son was Shyamu, a fire with many-hued flames. He was offered clarified butter (ghee) as oblations and got the first offering at horse sacrifices (Ashwamedha) and chaturmasya.
Shamyu and his wife Satya (daughter of Dharma) had Agni as their son, along with three daughters. Their first Agni son was Bharadwaja, and their second son was Bharata. The first share of offerings went to the older son, while the offerings of sacrifices performed at full moon went to Bharata.
Bharata had three wives, a son named Bharata, and a daughter named Bhavati. The son Bharata had a son named Prajapati Bharata.
Bharadwaja’s wife was Viraa, and their daughter was named Vira. Brahmins said that like Soma, Bharadwaja was worshipped with ghee. He was also called Rathaprabhu, Rathadhvana, and Kumbhareta when he received the second offering of Soma. Bharadwaja and another wife, Sarayu, had a son called Siddhi, who was celebrated in the ritual chant as the presiding deity.
The Nishchyavana fire praised the earth and was a symbol of creativity. It never lost luster, fame, or prosperity. His son is Vipapa, pure, untainted, and without sin, also called Satya.
The fire Nishkriti freed beings from lamentations and brought good fortune. His son was Svana, the creator of suffering.
The fire called Vishvajit illuminates the minds of the universe. His son, Vishvabhuj, was an internal fire that digested the food. He was a brahmachari and self-controlled in vows. Cooked food is offered as oblations to this fire.
The fire Vadava (also called Urdhvabhaj) would drink up all the water and rise high (the flames are bigger). Established in prana, the fire was worshipped by those who lived in houses facing the northward direction.
Svishtakrit was another fire, and his daughter was Manyati, the fire of anger in calm people. She was the essence of anger. Svaha is a cruel and terrible fire. There was another fire named Kama, the one with unmatched beauty.
The fire named Amogha destroyed enemies in a battle by being a bow and sitting on a chariot (and wearing a garland).
Uktha was another fire and the creator of speech, thus called Sakamashva.
Kashyapa, Vasishtha, Prana’s son Prana, Agni Angiras, and Chyavana Trishuvarchaka performed severe austerities to obtain a son equal to Brahma. They created a fire with five colors. The son’s head was made of kindling fire, and his arms were like the sun. His feet were black, but his complexion was golden. This son is called the Panchajanya in the Vedas and was the origin of five lineages. After performing austerities for ten thousand years, he created various creatures and beings. He also created Brihat and Rathantara from his head and mouth, Shiva from his navel, Indra from his strength, Vayu and Agni from his life breath, the two accents from his arms, and the entire universe.
The five ancestors he created were – Pranidhi (Brihadurjas’ son), Brihattara (Kashyapa’s son), Bhanu (Angiras’s son), Saubhara (Varcha’s son), and Anudatta (Prana’s son). These five went on to create five lineages.
Additionally, he created the following –
The sacrifice, the dawn, Abhima, Atibhima, and Bhimabalabala (15 gods, the obstructers of sacrifices)
Sumitra, Mitravat, Mitrajna, Mitravardhana, and Mitradharma (5 gods of sacrifices)
Surapravira, Vira, Sukesha, Suvarcha, and Surahanta (5 gods)
These three categories of gods were placed on the earth to cause obstructions in sacrifices. However, if the yagna fire was built skillfully, they could not go near it or cause trouble. They don’t steal the offerings if pacified with mantras.
Brihaduktha is another son learned in adhvaryus, and his offerings were meant for Mitravinda.
The fire named Bharata had severe restrictions. Pushtimati fire offered prosperity when satisfied with the offerings. The fire Shiva was always engaged in worshipping Shakti. He was called Shiva since he removed suffering and purified people/ things.
Tapas performed many austerities to have a son named Purandara. Ushma was another son and could be seen in all beings. Manu was another fire son who officiated Prajapati. Shambhu was a fire spoken about by the Brahmins learned in the Vedas. They also talk of Avasathya.
Tapas created two more sons – Urjaskara and Havyavahana, who shone like gold in their radiance.
The sun gave birth to asuras and terrible creatures when he was exhausted (nighttime).
Manu and Bhanu (also called Brihadbhanu), Tapas’s son, were created by Angiras.
Bhanu’s wives were Supraja, Brihadbhasa, and Somaja. They had six sons – Balada (the fire that gave strength to all beings), Manyumat (the terrible wrath in calm beings), Vishnu aka Dhritiman Angiras (offered oblations) during a full moon or new moon. Agrayana (got the first oblations along with Indra), Niragraha (for chaturmasya oblations), and another.
Manu’s wife, Nisha, gave birth to two Agnishomas, one daughter, and five other fires – Vaishvanara (received first oblations with Indra for chaturmasya sacrifices), Vishvapati (the lord of all beings), Svishtakrit (the supreme fire).
Hiranyakashipu’s daughter Rohini was married to Prajapati. Their children were –
Samnihita (fire that resided in all bodies as the life breath)
The fire whose path is black and white (smoke) bore oblations (based on anger and led the tainted to the untainted)
(Rishi )Kapila (expounder of sankhya yoga)
Agrani (first share of oblations to the deceased)
These four correct the defects in yagna fires.
If the wind made the fires interact with each other, eight different rites had to be performed for the fire Suchi.
If the fire of the south mixed with the other two, eight different rites had to be performed for the fire Viti.
If the sacrificial fire mixed with the fire of conflagration, eight different rites had to be performed for the fire Dasyumat.
If one heard the news that a living being (human or animal) died, eight different rites had to be performed for the fire Abhimat.
A Brahmin who hadn’t rendered offerings to a fire for three nights should perform eight different rites to the northern fire.
The one who awaited the observance of the full moon and new moon rituals had to perform eight different rites to the Pathikrit fire.
If the fire of who was expecting touched the agnihotra fire, eight different rites had to be performed for the Agimta fire.
Saha Apa had a wife named Mudita. He was the lord of bhuh and bhuvah and had a fire son who was the lord of all beings. This fire (termed garhapatya) always circulated and was worshipped at sacrifices. He was also known as Apamgarbha and was the lord of bhuh, bhuva,h, and mahah. His son was Bharata, the fire who consumed dead bodies. Niyata/ Kratu was the best fire at agnishtoma sacrifices (and compared to Bharata).
Seeing Niyata, Agni went to hide in the ocean. The gods searched for him everywhere but couldn’t find him. Agni met Angiras and asked him to continue being the new Agni since he was too weak. He went into hiding again, but the fish revealed his location. An angry Agni cursed them to become food for others. The gods tried to convince Agni to return, but he refused. In fact, he gave up his body and entered the earth. Inside the earth, he interacted with various elements to create metals, minerals, etc. He created energy and fragrances from his mouth, the devadarus (Deodar Cedar Trees) from his bones, crystals from his phlegm, emeralds from his bile, black iron from his liver, mica from nails, and coral from arteries.
Agni continued to be immersed in austerities despite the lack ofa body. His fire flourished again and grew radiant. However, seeing the rishis, he was frightened again and got back to hide in the ocean. The universe and the gods were afraid of this pattern and sought help from Angiras (also called Atharva). He created the world and churned the ocean. He restored Agni to his earlier position and made him accept all oblations. Atharva then travelled to many countries and created sacrificial hearths in different locations. The following rivers became the sacrificial hearths established by him –
Adbutha and his wife Priya had a son named Viduratha. The soma rites equal the number of fires mentioned by Rishi Markandeya. All of them were born in Atri’s lineage and the offspring of Brahma (his mind-born children). Atri created his own body.
Despite the various number of fires mentioned, these were all the same. There was only one illustrious fire, the one generated from Angrias’s body in many forms.
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Rishi Markandeya continued his story of how Skanda was gifted the necessary weapons and items to become the general of Indra’s army and tackled the asuras who attacked the devas.
Airavata, Indra’s white celestial elephant, had two bells named Vaijayanti. Indra gave one bell to Skanda and another to Vishaka. The pennants of both were red in color. Skanda (Mahasena) played with these objects as he sat surrounded by his various companions.
After Skanda was made the general of Indra’s army, a happy Shiva went to Bhadravata (located to the east of Kailasa) with Parvati (Uma). Their chariot was pulled by a thousand lions. The navagrahas, Kubera, and the guhyakas walked in front of the chariot while Vrishadhvaja and Indra followed behind. A yaksha named Amogha was on the right side with other yakshas, rakshasas, and jambhakas (demons), as well as Maruts, Vasus, Rudras, and other devas. Yama and Mrithyu followed behind but surrounded the group from all sides. Behind them was Shiva’s bow, Vijaya (this was gifted to Parasurama, who later gave it to Karna).
Varuna too followed them. Shiva’s other weapons, like the spear, maces, clubs, etc., trailed behind Vijaya alongside his umbrella and kamandalu (water pot). Shiva’s staff, Sri, Brighu, Angiras, and other gods followed as well while worshipping the staff. The rivers, trees, rishis, gandharvas, nagas, and women too joined the traveling group. The women sprinkled flowers. Paranjaya also followed. The moon held an umbrella over Shiva as Agni and Vayu held the whisks on either side. Gouri, Vidya, Gandhari, Keshini, and Mitrasahrya followed Parvati with Savitri in the rear. The rakshasas were at the front, controlled by Pingala, Shiva’s yaksha friend.
Shiva traveled accompanied by such a large troop. Though they knew the destination, the path was erratic. Shiva would move from one end of the group to another at random. Mahasena (Skanda) was also a part of this troop. Shiva went to where Mahasena was and told him to always protect the seven corps of the Maruts. Skanda asked what else he should do.
Shiva said that Skanda should see him (Shiva) in every task he undertook so that it would ensure his (Skanda’s) welfare. Hugging him, Shiva told Skanda he could go (to where he was required). Skanda left.
The next instant, a blazing portal kind of thing opened up. Everyone was bewildered when an army came out of it like a huge mass of clouds. Weapons were hurled at the gods and Shiva by the approaching army. The devas began to scatter and were being killed by the army of asuras. Indra encouraged his army to fight and be courageous. He charged ahead at the asuras. The Maruts, Vasus, Sadhyas, and other devas banded together to fight the asura army. However, the asura army was powerful and soon gained the upper hand over the gods.
Mahisha rushed to the chariot and grabbed it. The maharishis fainted. Despite the chaos around him, Shiva didn’t kill Mahisha since he knew it was Skanda’s job. Mahisha was sure of his win when Shiva didn’t react.
Then, Skanda arrived, dressed in red clothes and golden armor, and fury raging in his eyes. Seeing his aura, the asura army wavered. They began to grow doubtful of their win. Mahasena hurled a spear at Mahisha. It killed the asura in an instant. He hurled the spear again and again. It would kill a bunch of asuras and return to him every time. Soon, he alone destroyed the entire asura army that attacked the gods.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and worshipped Skanda for saving their lives. Satisfied, Shiva and Parvati resumed their journey. Indra embraced Skanda and said that he killed Mahisha, a powerful asura who had been harassing them after receiving a boon from Brahma. He said that he would be Skanda’s famous first deed, and his glory would be eternal. Indra then went to Shiva and took his blessings. Shiva told Indra to treat Skanda as he would treat him (Shiva, as a powerful god, not just the general of his army). Thus, Agni’s son became the mighty general of Indra’s army and was worshipped by everyone.
Rishi Markandeya concluded by saying that those who heard this story would obtain prosperity and a place in Skanda’s world afterward.
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