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The Account of Vaivasvata Manu and the Fish – Stories from Aranyaka Parva

Yudhistira asked Rishi Markandeya to share the story of Manu and the fish. Krishna, Satyabhama, and Narada were also present in the audience (along with the Pandavas, Draupadi, and Purohit Dhaumya). 

Markandeya obliged.

Manu-and-the-Fish

Vivasvat (sun god) had a son named Manu, who was radiant and powerful like his father and Prajapati. He surpassed his father and grandfather in performing austerities. He did tapasya by standing on a single foot in Vishala Badari for many, many years. One day, a tiny fish swam to the banks and spoke to the rishi. The little fish said it was afraid of the larger fish in the ocean and asked the rishi to save its life, and that it would return the favor when the time came. 

Manu gently scooped the fish in his hands and placed it inside a water pot. He took care of the fish as if it were his child. In a while, the fish grew bigger and could no longer move in the pot. It asked Manu to find a bigger home. Manu transferred the fish to a nearby pond and continued to care for it. After some time, the fish got even bigger and wanted more space. Manu took it to the River Ganga and released it into her waters. 

Yet again, after a few days, the fish greeted Manu with a request for a bigger home. He took the fish to the ocean. Satisfied, it told Manu that the destruction of the earth was near and he should be prepared when it came. The fish asked Manu to build a sturdy boat and find a strong rope to tether it. Manu was to get into the boat with the saptarishis and make sure to carry all the seeds from the plants he collected. The fish said it would come for him. 

Manu followed the fish’s instructions and collected seeds from the trees and plants. He built a boat capable of withstanding turbulent waves and tied it to a rope at one end. Once done, he thought about the fish. It visited him immediately. The fish was as big as a whale and even larger with a horn on its head. It looped the rope around the horn and dragged the boat across the ocean. Meanwhile, the destruction of the Earth had begun. 

The fish pulled the boat with Manu and the saptarishis to the Himalayas, which were also sinking. It asked Manu to tie the boat to the top of the mountain. The highest peak has since then been called Nau-bandhana. 

The fish then told the rishis that it was actually Brahma who saved them to ensure recreation. Manu was to play a vital role in creation (hence the seeds). The fish disappeared. Manu resumed his tapasya, and when the time was right, he began to create all the beings on the earth. 

Rishi Markandeya said that anyone who listened to the account of Manu and the fish every day would be happy and successful in their endeavors and go to heaven.

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Krishna Met the Pandavas – Stories from Aranyaka Parva

After the Pandavas united with Arjuna, everyone returned to the Kamyaka forest to complete the remaining years of their exile. Krishna met the Pandavas to express his support once again.

krishna-met-the-pandavas

Knowing of their return, Krishna came to meet them with Satyabhama. They took the blessings of Purohit Dhaumya and greeted the Pandava brothers and Draupadi. Once they sat, Arjuna inquired about their welfare and asked if Subhadra and Abhimanyu were well.

Krishna first assured Yudhistira that he would regain the lost kingdom and that the Pandavas had his full support. Then, he turned to Draupadi and spoke to her about her children. He said her sons (the Upapandavas) were dutiful, obedient, smart, and disciplined. Krishna talked about how her sons preferred to spend their time in Anarta (Dwarka) instead of Panchala with their maternal grandparents and uncles. 

The Upapandavas loved Abhimanyu and spent time learning from Subhadra, who took care of them just like how she cared for Abhimanyu. She taught them to follow good conduct and other things Draupadi would have taught her sons. All the young and budding warriors were being cared for by Rukmini as well. Moreover, they were training under Pradhyumna (Rukmini’s son), who was also tutoring Aniruddha, Sunitha, Bhanu, etc. 

Krishna concluded that Abhimanyu and the Upapandavas were becoming top-class warriors while being loved and molded into good personalities. Everyone in Dwarka loved the young men and considered them one of their own. 

His words gave a lot of strength and relief to the Pandavas and Draupadi, who missed their children.

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Arjuna Kills the Nivatakavachas – Stories from Aranyaka Parva

When his Pandava brothers and Draupadi were on a pilgrimage, Arjuna was at Indra’s sabha, mastering the art of using celestial weapons, as well as learning music and dance from a gandharva. When his training was complete, Indra gifted the celestial missiles to Arjuna and asked for guru dakshina. He wanted Arjuna to kill the Nivatakavachas, a large group of danavas who converted a portion of an ocean into their domain. None of the gods could defeat them. Indra told Arjuna to finish the job.

Arjuna-kills-nivatakavachas

The Nivatakavachas were thirty million in number, powerful, skilled in magic, and looked alike. They had to be destroyed together and in the same location. Indra ordered his charioteer Matali to drive Arjuna to the place. Matali not only drove the chariot but also helped Arjuna with his expertise. 

The chariot rode from the sky to underwater. Matali effortlessly steered the horses as Arjuna took in the sights. He saw colorful fish, tortoises, dolphins, whales, and other aquatic animals. They rode into the city of the danavas. The sound of the chariot alerted the danavas who rushed out and got ready to attack the intruder. 

Arjuna blew his conch Devadatta, and the sound echoed in the city. The danavas were ready in their armor, holding their weapons like lances, clubs, spears, swords, etc., and threw them at him. Matali drove at such high speed that Arjuna couldn’t see things clearly. Everything appeared distorted. However, he regained his clarity and began the counter-attack of the danavas. A frightening war took place between them. As Arjuna took them out with his arrows, Matali trampled some of the Nivatakavachas under the chariot. 

When Arjuna was gaining the upper hand, the danavas resorted to magic to confuse him. Large rocks began to fall on him from all sides. He continued to shatter the rocks but more fell. Then water hit him from different directions. Arjuna used celestial weapons like vishosana, salila, etc., to counter their magic. Then, suddenly, the entire region was plunged into darkness. Even Matali couldn’t see anything. He asked if Arjuna was safe and said he hadn’t seen such a horrific battle ever before and maybe this was meant to be. 

Arjuna used another celestial missile to dispel the darkness around them. Still, the Nivatakavachas continued to deploy various magic tricks to stop Arjuna. However, he and the charioteer put up a tough fight and moved ahead. Arjuna killed more danavas. Then, they disappeared. Arjuna didn’t stop. He used divine arrows which hit the invisible danavas and killed them. Not knowing what else to do, the Nivatakavachas slunk back into their city. When Arjuna thought it was over, they rose high to tower over and attack him again. 

Matali noticed Arjuna was hesitant and unsure. He encouraged the Pandava to use the vajra weapon. Arjuna invoked the vajra, which released countless vajras, one each at the remaining danavas, and killed all of them. The arrows hunted down the Nivatakavachas who tried to escape. At last, all of them fell dead. 

Arjuna and Matali drove deeper into the city and ensured none of the danavas were left alive. They saw that the rakshasa women rushed into their houses. The city was so grand and majestic that Arjuna asked why the gods couldn’t live there. It was grander than heaven!

Matali replied that this was indeed the city of gods in the earlier days. The Nivatakavachas performed various austerities to gain boons and become powerful. They invaded the city, drove out the gods, and captured it as their own. The gods went elsewhere since they couldn’t defeat the Nivatakavachas. Arjuna had done it to give guru dakshina to Indra. 

They returned to Indra’s sabha to update him about the good news. Indra was happy that his son and disciple proved himself worthy of the celestial weapons.

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Bhima’s Fight with the Yakshas – Stories from Aranyaka Parva

During the twelve-year exile, Bhima faced and fought rakshasas. He also fought with the yakshas of Kubera’s kingdom.

bhima-fights-yakshas

The Pandavas climbed up Mount Gandhamadhana and settled in the region with Kubera’s permission (it was his land). After a few days, Draupadi said to Bhima that the shouts of the rakshasas from the top of the mountain were terrifying and he could make them flee the place so that it would be more peaceful. She wanted to see the mountaintop. 

Delighted by Draupadi’s praise, Bhima rushed up the mountain with his weapons and without a second thought about his actions. The rakshasas were also a part of Kubera’s region. Yakshas, guhyakas, kinnaras, some gandharvas, and rakshasas lived there. 

On the way, he saw many rishis, kinnaras, yakshas, and gandharavas. He also saw Kubera’s golden palace. It was beautiful with lavish gardens around and a scented breeze. Reaching the top, Bhima blew his conch, twanged the bow, and slapped his thighs. These were his signals for a fight. 

The gandharva, yaksha, kinnara, guhyaka, and rakshasa guards readied and launched an attack on him. Bhima fought them ferociously with a single-minded goal to eliminate all of them. No matter how many he faced, he injured or killed them and continued to fight. Then, Maniman, a large and broad-chested rakshasa arrived to face Bhima. Maniman was Kubera’s friend and the commander of his army. A short yet terrifying battle took place between the two. Bhima successfully killed Maniman. Seeing him dead, the remaining rakshasas fled to inform Kubera. 

Meanwhile, the sounds of anguish and Bhima’s war cries reached the Pandavas below. Draupadi relayed her conversation with Bhima to Yudhistira. Quickly, Yudhistira, the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), and Rishi Lomasa killed up the mountain to salvage the situation. After all, Bhima was attacking their host’s army! Yudhistira was afraid that Kubera would be furious and curse his brother. 

Seeing the dead bodies at the top, Yudhistira admonished Bhima for his actions and said it was very unworthy of him to do this. He sternly asked Bhima to refrain from such actions again. 

Kubera who got the news from his guards also reached the spot and took in the damage. His golden flying chariot (Pushpaka) dazzled in the light. The Pandavas (except Bhima) bowed to Kubera to show their respect. Kubera smiled and told Yudhistira to not be angry at Bhima. He turned to Bhima and added that his actions were reckless and dangerous. However, since this time it worked to fulfill and break a curse, he would not be punished. 

The king of yakshas (Kubera) explained that a long time ago, he and his rakshasa friend, Maniman, along with many attendants, were flying to the council of gods in Kushvati. It was evening when they were on the way. From above, Maniman saw Rishi Agastya in a river, offering ablutions to the gods. Maniman gave into his rakshasa urges and spat on the rishi’s head. 

Agastya looked up and was infuriated. He cursed the rakshasas, yakshas, and Maniman to die in the hands of a human. He said that Kubera would be able to do nothing to save his friends since he didn’t stop the rakshasa from spitting on him. Agastya said Kubera would grieve and be freed when he saw the human responsible for their deaths. However, he was careful enough to add a clause that the sons and grandsons wouldn’t be affected by the curse.

Thus, in his recklessness, the Pandava brother broke the curse on Kubera. The yaksha king revived his dead army using his powers. He told the Pandavas they could continue to be his guests in the region but that Bhima shouldn’t repeat such actions. 

Thanking him, Yudhistira took his brothers down the mountain, back to Arshtisena’s ashram, where they were staying. 

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The Death of Yavakrita – Stories from Aranyaka Parva

After the story of Ashtavakra, Rishi Lomasa talked about a place named Kardamila where the Madhuvila Samanga occurred. Here, Indra bathed to cleanse himself of his sins after killing Vritra, the asura. River Ganga flowed in that region and traveled alongside the ashrams of Sthulasirasa and Raibhya. It was also the same place where Rishi Bharadwaja’s son, Yavakrita, had died. 

Yudhistira wanted to know who Yavakrita was and how he passed away. 

Rishi Lomasa narrated the story.

yavakrita

Rishi Bharadwaja and Rishi Raibhya were friends. They lived nearby deep inside a forest. Raibhya had two sons Arvavasu and Paravasu, while Bharadwaja’s son was Yavakrita. Like Raibhya, his sons were also learned. All three of them received a lot of acclaim and honor from others. However, Yavakrita realized that his father didn’t have the same popularity. Angered by this, Yavakrita performed severe austerities to gain knowledge. He put himself through such torture that Indra arrived to ask why he was doing it. Yavakrita said he was doing it to gain the knowledge of the Vedas. 

Indra explained that Vedas had to be learned from a guru and the process took many years. He said this penance wasn’t the right path for a rishi’s son to gain knowledge. Instead, he should find a guru to teach him everything. Yavakrita didn’t heed the advice. He continued to be engaged in the tapasya. Indra tried to explain again but Yavakrita was adamant. He said he would even slice off his arms and offer them in the fire to gain the knowledge of Vedas. 

Finally, Indra came up with another plan. He disguised himself as an old Brahmin. He began to construct a bridge of sand on the banks of the Bhagirathi River to attract Yavakrita’s attention. When Yavakrita saw this, he laughed and asked the old Brahmin why he was wasting time and energy on a useless task as the sand wouldn’t hold for people to cross the river. He advised the old man to do something that would give results. 

Indra appeared in his true form and replied that he was doing the same thing as Yavakrita. Then, Bharadwaja’s son asked Indra to grant him a boon to be superior to others. Indra said it would happen as he wished and the Vedas would manifest on him and his father and make them great ascetics. 

Happy to get what he wanted, Yavakrita went to his father and said they were blessed with all the knowledge. Bharadwaja warned his son that this would eventually lead to downfall and that he should let his pride get to his head. He also told Yavakrita to not cross Raibhya or his sons.

Yavakrita assured him that he would respect Raibhya as much as he respected his father. However, using his newly gained knowledge, Yavakrita went on to insult other Brahmins and rishis whenever possible. One day, he went to Raibhya’s ashram and saw the rishi’s beautiful daughter-in-law, Paravasu’s wife. He pulled her behind a tree to assault her. When Raibhya returned, he saw his daughter-in-law crying. She informed him what happened. Raibhya was furious. He pulled a lock of hair and threw it into the yagna fire. A beautiful woman rose from it. When he repeated the action, a fearsome rakshasa rose from the fire. They asked what the rishi wanted. He ordered them to kill Yavakrita. 

The rakshasa went to do so. Yavakrita tried to fight and run, but he couldn’t escape. The rakshasa killed him and went to report to Raibhya. The rishi gave him permission to roam in the forests. 

A while later, Bharadwaja returned to his ashram and noticed that none of the fires rose upon seeing him. He felt a sense of unease and asked a guard if his son had done anything (specifically if he went to Raibhya). The guard replied that the dim-witted Yavakrita indeed made a mistake and was hence lying dead killed by a rakshasa. 

Bharawaja lamented the death of his son and cried about his foolish actions. Still, he wanted Raibhya to suffer and cursed that his elder son would kill himself even though he was innocent and had nothing to do with any of this. Bharadwaja cremated his son and entered the same fire. 

At this time, King Brihaddyumna was performing a sacrifice. Raibhya was his sacrificial priest, and the king also appointed the rishi’s two sons as assistants. The sons went to help with the yagna while Raibhya stayed back at the ashram. One night, Paravasu was returning to the ashram, tired and sleepy. He saw his father dressed in black antelope skin and mistook him for an animal. Thinking it would attack him, he killed the ‘animal’ who was actually his father. 

Paravasu went to the yagna site and told his brother that he killed their father by mistake and they could not perform the sacrifice without atoning for killing a Brahmin. Arvavasu replied that he would complete the rites and did so. 

However, Paravasu told the king that his brother killed their father and shouldn’t be permitted at the yagna site. Arvavasu was thrown out even as he repeatedly said that he wasn’t the killer and he observed the rites for his brother’s sake. Luckily, the gods knew the truth. The king listened to Arvavasu and hired him as the priest. He dismissed Paravasu. Arvavasu thanked the gods for their help and with Agni at the front asked for a boon – that his father would be alive and his brother would be freed of the sin. He also asked for Bharadwaja and his son Yavakrita to come back alive. 

Yavakrita asked the gods why Raibhya and Arvavasu were more powerful than him though he was given the boon of having all the knowledge. The gods explained that Yavakrita’s knowledge was gained without following the required path of learning from a guru and being disciplined in his life. That was why his knowledge was inferior to theirs and would continue to be unless he made an effort to learn correctly. 

The gods then went back to heaven. 

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The Story of Rishi Ashtavakra – Stories from Aranyaka Parva

After sharing the story of King Usinara, Rishi Lomasa talked about the greatness of River Sarasvati in the region and how Rishi Ashtavakra and Shvetaketu vanquished the great Bandi in a debate. 

Yudhsitira asked the rishi to enlighten him about Ashtavakra. 

Lomasa narrated the following story. 

rishi-Ashtavakra

Rishi Uddalaka had a disciple named Kahoda who lived with him for many years. Pleased with his attitude and learning, Uddalaka taught his disciple everything and got his daughter Sujata married to him. When she was pregnant, the unborn spoke to Kahoda from within the womb. The rishi taught a lesson to his students which the unborn child deemed incorrect even though the rishi studied all night. This angered Kahoda who cursed his own child to be born with deformities in eight ways. After the birth, the baby had crooked arms and legs and was named Ashtavakra. 

However, during her pregnancy, Sujata was worried that they didn’t have enough money to care for their child. Kahoda went to King Janaka to ask for money. There, he had to defeat a Brahmin named Bandi in a game of wordplay. However, Bandi was known for his mastery of words, and Kahoda lost. Unable to bear the humiliation, he went and drowned himself in the river. 

Sujata gave birth after this event took place. Her son, Ashtavakra, didn’t know his father. She didn’t want to tell him the truth as it was painful. Uddalaka took care of his daughter and her son. He also had a son who was of the same age as Ashtavakra. This child was Shvetaketu. 

Shvetaketu and Ashtavakra grew up together. The latter thought Uddalaka was his father. When they were twelve years old, Ashtavakra sat on Uddalaka’s lap which Shvetaketu didn’t like. He dragged him up by his arm and revealed that Uddalaka wasn’t his father. A heartbroken Ashtavakra wanted to know where his father was and what happened to him. Finally, the truth of Kahoda’s death was revealed to the boy. 

Ashtavakra was determined to avenge his father’s death. He asked Shvetaketu to accompany him to King Janaka’s court to meet Bandi. The duo set off to the palace but was stopped by the gatekeepers. Bandi was indeed inside at a yagna ceremony debating other rishis and Brahmins. He set rules that only adults should be allowed inside. The gatekeeper refused to let Ashtavakra and Shvetaketu enter. However, Ashtavakra argued with the gatekeeper that age didn’t measure talent and convinced him to let them go inside.

Then, Ashtavakra spoke to the king and praised him. He announced that he had come to debate with Bandi. King Janaka first tested Ashtavakra with a few riddles and was satisfied with the results. He recognized that despite being young, the deformed rishi had powerful divine energy and was as wise as an old man. He gave Ashtavakra the permission to debate with Bandi. 

Ashtavakra went to the dais where Bandi was being hosted. He challenged the Brahmin and provoked him. Bandi warned him not to anger him and said the consequences would be dire. Ashtavakra said he would any question Bandi asked. 

The contest began. Ashtavakra had to complete the sentence started by Bandi who would again add to it. Each of them would have to continue from the previous sentence alternately while ensuring they sustained the rhyme, rhythm, meter, theme, etc. At one point, Bandi stuttered and stopped. He couldn’t complete the sentence. Rishi Ashtavakra completed it when Bandi was silent for too long. He defeated Bandi and won. 

The crowd cheered. Ashtavakra said to the audience that Bandi made the defeated Brahmins immerse in water. Since he had lost this time, he should be the one to get into the river. Bandi replied that he was the son of Varuna and they were conducting a twelve-year sacrifice for him. By losing to a twelve-year-old, he would join his father in the water. 

Rishi Ashtavakra said to King Janaka that by defeating Bandi he had rescued the words of all those who lost and freed them. The king told Ashtavakra that he could do as he wished with Bandi. Ashtavakra repeated that Bandi had to immerse in water. 

Bandi also repeated that he wasn’t afraid to do so and walked into the river. He also said Ashtavakra would see his father, Kahoda. As soon as he said it, Kahoda appeared at the yagna site and was greeted by everyone. Kahoda was pleased that his son achieved what he couldn’t.

Once the ceremony was complete and the gods drank the soma offered, Bandi took leave and walked into the water. Rishi Ashtavakra and Rishi Shvetaketu went back to their ashram happy that they got what they wanted. 

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The Test of King Usinara – Stories from Aranyaka Parva

The Pandavas were on a pilgrimage and reached the region of Kashmira. There, Rishi Lomasa pointed out various sacred sites like Rukmini’s ashram, the place where Nahusha, Agni, and Kasyapa conversed, the area where Rishi Vasishtha lived with Arundhati, and the Bhrigutunga Mountain with Rivers Jala and Upajala. It was here that King Usinara performed a sacrifice that made him surpass Vasava (Indra). 

Yudhistira wanted to know about the yagna. Rishi Lomasa shared the story.

king-usinara

Once upon a time, King Usinara was performing a majestic yagna sacrifice to please the gods. He was known for being a righteous ruler who always followed dharma. Indra and Agni decided to test the king to determine if he was indeed as good as everyone claimed.

Indra became a hawk, and Agni turned into a dove. Agni flew into the site and rushed straight at Usinara to hide in his lap. The dove sought help from the king and requested for the protection of its life. Just then the hawk flew towards them. Usinara shielded the dove in his arms to prevent the hawk from harming it.

The hawk said to the king that he had dharma in his soul, so he shouldn’t stop the hawk from consuming its food (dove). It said by protecting the dove, the king was not following dharma. 

Usinara replied that protecting whoever sought help was his dharma and he was doing exactly that. The dove went to help for safety, and he would provide the bird the same no matter what. When the hawk asked about its own hunger, the king said he would offer whatever food (except the dove), the hawk wanted. He listed various meats like ox, boar, deer, buffalo, etc. 

The hawk said it didn’t want any other meat since the dove was marked as its meal. Becoming the hawk’s food was the dove’s destiny and the king shouldn’t interfere with it. However, Usinara didn’t agree and said he wouldn’t give up the dove but the hawk could ask for anything it wanted. 

The hawk said that if the king had so much affection for the dove, he should cut a portion of his body as substitute food. Usinara agreed immediately and ordered a scale to be placed. He cut a hefty piece of his flesh and weighed it only to realize it wasn’t enough. He continued to add more such pieces but the dove was heavier. Finally, Usinara stepped onto the scale and asked the hawk to devour him completely.

The hawk and the dove transformed into Indra and Agni. They praised the king for his selflessness and determination to protect those who sought refuge from him. Healing his wounds, Indra sat through the yagna and accepted the offerings at the end. Indra and Agni blessed King Usinara that as long as men talked in this world, the story of his deed would be eternal. 

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The Story of King Somaka – Stories from Aranyaka Parva

After listening to the story of King Mandhata, Yudhistira asked Rishi Lomasa to explain why King Somaka went to naraka with his guru. 

The rishi obliged. 

king-somaka

Once upon a time, there was a king named Somaka. He had a hundred wives and treated them equally. Unfortunately, he couldn’t have even a single son. After many years when the king and his wives were old, one of his wives gave birth to a son named Jantu. Being an only child among many women, they pampered the baby and wouldn’t let him go. They were distraught at his slightest discomfort and cried if he cried. 

Over the next few weeks, the king was annoyed by this. He could hear their cries in the sabha and had to go and console the child as well as the women. Somaka was so annoyed that he said it was better to not have any children than to have a single son who was pampered to this extent. He said a single son was a cause of misery (nor did he have any hope that such a baby would grow up to be a formidable ruler).

The king told his priests that they were now old and didn’t have much hope of having more children. He asked if there was any ceremony or yagna that would give him a hundred sons. Somaka said he would perform it even if it was difficult. 

One of the priests said that there was indeed a way. The king said he didn’t mind if it was the right method or not. As long as he would get a hundred sons, he was okay with the process. The priest explained that they would have to sacrifice Jantu for this. Jantu would be reborn to the same woman (with a golden identification mark) along with another ninety-nine sons.

King Somaka agreed and asked the priest to make the arrangements. The king took the baby boy to the yagna and handed him over to the priest. However, his wives tugged the boy back and wailed. The priest managed to grab Jantu and completed the yagna. The women were distressed at the sight and fell unconscious. However, they involuntarily inhaled the smoke from the yagna.

Soon, all of them gave birth to a son each. Jantu was reborn to his mother and had a golden birthmark on his left side. Seeing this, the women loved Jantu more than their sons and pampered him again. Nevertheless, this time, Jantu grew up to be a man of good qualities and a capable ruler. 

Many years passed. The priest died of old age. Later, King Somaka also passed away. The king was taken to hell where he saw his priest being cooked in a pot. He was outraged and asked them to free his guru. He asked Yama Dharmaraja why a noble Brahmin was in hell. The god of dharma replied that his priest performed an adharmic yagna (killing a child to beget more children) and was being cleansed of his sins. Somaka asked Yama to let his guru go to heaven and that he would face the punishment instead since the yagna was for him. 

Yama Dharmaraja replied that every person had to face the consequences of their actions. Somaka said he would also stay in hell with his priest. He went through the same punishments as his guru and when they were cleansed, they were sent to heaven.

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The Birth of Mandhata – Stories from Aranyaka Parva

When Rishi Lomasda and the Pandavas reached the Yamuna River, the rishi told them about the importance of the sacred site and how King Mandhata performed many sacrifices there. Yudhistira asked for more information, so the rishi narrated the story about the birth of Mandhata.

birth-of-Mandhata

King Yuvanashva belonged to the Ikshvaku lineage and was the king of the world. He performed a thousand Ashwamedha yangas and many other sacrifices. He gave away immense wealth in the form of donations, gifts, stipends, etc. However, the king had no son to take over the throne when the time came. He set the guidelines for ruling and handed over the kingdom to his ministers to go into the forest. 

One day, the king was thirsty and went in search of water. He walked into Rishi Bhrigu’s ashram. 

The previous night, the rishi’s son performed a yagna for the king so that he could have a son. A large pot was filled with water and charged with mantras. The king’s wife was supposed to drink this water to conceive a child. They planned to give it to the king and his wife the next day and went to sleep. 

However, the thirsty king came across the pot of water and drank it to quench his thirst. Exhausted from walking around, he slept in the ashram to a side. 

A while later, the rishis saw the empty pot and the sleeping king. They woke him up and asked about the water. He replied he drank it. The rishi (Bhrigu’s son) said that the king made a grave mistake and explained the water was filled with his tapasya powers. Since it was the king who drank it, he would have to deliver the baby instead of his wife. They asked the king to stay back and said he would give birth to a powerful and majestic son. 

As predicted, Yuvanashva gave birth to a radiant son and lived to tell the tale. The birth of Mandhata was an interesting affair so, the gods, including Indra, arrived at the ashram to see the child and bless him. Though the king gave birth, he couldn’t feed the child. Indra said the child would suckle from him and placed his forefinger in the baby’s mouth. The newborn happily suckled milk from Indra’s finger. Thus, he was named Mandhata (translating to I will nurse him, the words said by Indra).

Drinking this milk, the child grew in size very quickly. He became a powerful king and learned in Vedas and Shastras. When he was old enough, Yuvanashva crowned his son the king. Mandhata went on to conquer all the kingdoms and became an emperor. At one time when a drought lasted for twelve years, he performed yagnas to end the drought and gave massive donations. 

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Rishi Chyavana Gets Angry on Indra – Stories from Aranyaka Parva

The Pandavas and Rishi Lomasa visited Mount Vaidurya and went down to Narmada. Rishi Lomasa told them it was where Sharyati’s sacrifice took place, where the Ashwins drank soma with Indra. An angry Rishi Chyavana paralyzed Indra in his anger. 

Yudhistira wanted to know the story. 

Rishi Lomasa gave the details. 

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Rishi Chyavana was the son of Bhrigu and immensely popular for his austerities. He was in an intense tapasya that lasted several years. Seasons changed, nature changed, and ants built an anthill around him since he didn’t move from his position. Still, unbothered by it, the rishi continued his tapasya. Only his eyes were visible. 

One day, King Sharyati arrived at the place to enjoy near the river. Four thousand women were with him (including his wives, etc.). His daughter, Sukanya, was also with them. She was a beautiful woman. Sukanya roamed in the forest with her friends. After a while, she separated from them and reached the anthill. Randomly she broke a branch with flowers and carried it with her. The rishi saw her through the anthill and called out. However, she didn’t hear him. 

Stepping closer to the anthill, she saw two eyes stare at her. Curious, she poked in one of them with the branch. The rishi was angered and cursed the king’s soldiers to have loose bowel and bladder movements.

Noticing the sudden change in them, Sharyati knew something was wrong. He immediately asked if anyone knowingly or unknowingly disturbed Chyavana who was in his tapasya. The soldiers replied it wasn’t them. The king tried hard to find the person responsible. Finally, Sukanya said she poked at something in an anthill thinking it was an insect. The king went to the anthill and recognized it was the rishi. Sharyati bowed to him and pleaded forgiveness as her act was from ignorance and malice. 

Chyavana said he would forgive the king if he gave his daughter’s hand in marriage. The king agreed. After the wedding, Sukanya lived with Rishi Chyavana in the forest and followed his lifestyle. 

One day, Sukanya was bathing in the river when the Ashwins saw her. Mesmerized by her beauty, they asked who she was. When she replied, they asked why she was married to an older rishi. The Ashwins said she should leave him and go with them to lead a happy life by marrying one of them. She responded that she was devoted to her husband and didn’t want to leave him. 

The Ashwins gave her an option. Since they were the physicians of the gods, they would make Chyavana youthful again. Then, She should choose a husband from among the three (the Ashwin twins and Chyavana). They even asked her to tell the rishi about this offer and bring him to them. 

Sukanya did as told. Chyavana said they should do what the Ashwins asked and went with her to the river. The Ashwins asked Chyavana to take a dip in the water. They also did the same. When they rose, all three of them looked equally handsome and radiant. In a unified voice, the trio asked Sukanya to choose one of them as her husband. Sukanya used her intelligence to identify her husband and choose him. 

Happy with the result, Chyavana said that the Ashwins had given him youth and beautiful looks as well as his wife again. In return, he gave them the right to drink soma in the presence of Indra. The Ashwins were also happy with the result and went back to heaven. 

When King Sharyati heard of the events, he rushed to the ashram with his wife. They were all delighted with the developments. Rishi Chyavana said he would perform a yagna for the king. On the auspicious day, Chyavana got everything ready, built the altar, and performed the sacrifice. The gods arrived when it was time. Chyavana offered the cup of soma to Indra as per the custom. Then, he also offered two cups to the Ashwins. Indra objected saying they didn’t deserve it. Chyavana countered that they did deserve the soma and were worthy of accepting it along with Indra and other gods. 

Indra protested but Chyavana was firm. Indra then threatened to hurl his vajra at the rishi if he offered the soma to the Ashwins. Chyavana simply smiled and handed over the cups to the Ashwins. When Indra grabbed the vajra to hurl it, the rishi caused his arm to freeze in paralysis. Once the offering was complete, the rishi created an asura named Mada (meaning arrogance and intoxication) using his powers. It was a horrible asura, large, terrifying, and ferocious. The asura rushed at Indra in rage. With his arm still paralyzed, Indra was sweating and worried. He didn’t know what to do. Deciding peace was his best choice, Indra agreed with Chyavana that the Ashwins were deserving of soma and would henceforth be allowed to drink it at yagnas. He asked the rishi to show mercy on him. 

Rishi Chyavana was happy to do so. He divided Mada into parts and added it to drinks, women, gambling, and hunting, making them addictive to everyone. The god left after the yagna ended. King Sharyati went back to his kingdom. Chyavana and Sukanya stayed happily in the forest.

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Parasurama and the Battle with Kshatriyas – Stories from Aranyaka Parva

Rishi Lomasa and the Pandavas reached the sacred site of Parasurama’s ashram. The Bhrigus, the Angirases, the Vasishthas, and the Kashyapas lived here. They met Akritavarna, an ardent disciple of Parasurama, and inquired when they would meet the great man. 

Akritavarna said Parasurama visited on the fourteenth and the eighth lunar days. Luckily, they had to wait only for a day. As they settled at the ashram, Yudhistira wanted to know how Parasurama vanquished the Kshatriyas and why he killed so many of them. 

Akritavarna narrated the story in detail. 

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Once upon a time, there lived a great king named Gadhi, the ruler of Kanyakubja. He went to live in a forest where a beautiful daughter was born to him. Years later, when she was old enough, Bhargava Richika approached the king and asked to marry his daughter. The king said there was a custom in his lineage – the groom had to pay a bride price of a thousand white and swift horses. However, the horses would have a single black ear. The king said that the rishi could not be asked to give these but his daughter should marry a man like him. The rishi replied he would pay the bride price. 

Richika went to Varuna and asked for a thousand white horses with one black ear each. Varuna did so and the place from where he got them became famous as a tirtha for the horses. As promised, King Gadhi got his daughter, Satyavati, married to Richika. After the wedding, Brighu and his wife went to visit his son and daughter-in-law. They were welcomed with respect and treated with care. Happy, Bhrigu offered a boon to his daughter-in-law. The beautiful woman requested a son for her mother and herself. The rishi agreed. He told her that she and her mother should bathe in a river and observe the ritual to conceive a son. Then, they must embrace different trees – asvattha tree for her mother and udumbara for his daughter-in-law. 

However, when Satyavati and her mother embraced the trees, they got confused and mixed up the instructions. Bhrigu realized what happened and informed his daughter-in-law that she would have a Brahmin son who would live like a Kshatriya and her mother would have a Kshatriya son who would lead the life of a Brahmin. 

Satyavati requested help from her father-in-law and said she didn’t want a son like that but wanted to make her grandson that way. Bhrigu agreed and said that would be so. 

Soon, Jamadagni was born to Satyavati. He surpassed many great rishis with his immense knowledge. He married Renuka, the daughter of King Prasenjit. They had five sons, with Parasurama as the youngest. Parasurama despite being the youngest was superior to others and was the one who ended up as the grandson with a Kshatriya life. 

One day, Renuka went to bathe in the river and saw the handsome King Chitraratha of Marttikavata and felt a sudden desire for him. However, she quickly returned to the ashram and was afraid that her husband might know of it. As guessed, Jamadagni knew of her slip from constancy and was angry at her. When his sons returned to the ashram, he ordered them to kill their mother. Rumanvat, Sushena, Vasu, and Vishvavasu – all the four older sons refused to do so. The rishi cursed them, which made his sons mad. 

Parasurama arrived a while later. When his father gave him the same order, he grabbed an axe and beheaded her. Jamadagni told his son that he performed a tough task and was pleased with him. He offered a boon. Parasurama asked for his mother to be revived for the memory of this slaying to be wiped out from his mind. He also asked that he shouldn’t be affected by the sin of killing his mother and that his brothers should return to their natural state of mind. He even asked that he should be untouched in a battle, and have no rivals, as well as live a long life. Jamadagni, now that his anger was appeased, gave his son all the boons he asked for. 

Years later, one day, the five sons had gone out as always. Jamadagni was at the ashram, immersed in tapasya. King Kartivirya arrived and was respectfully greeted by Renuka. However, he was high from success in a battle and instead of accepting the homage, he destroyed their ashram. He carried the sacrificial calf that kept crying. The cow was also crying for its baby. 

When Parasurama returned, Jamadagni told him what happened. Furious, Parasurama rushed at Kartavirya and chopped off his thousand arms. He killed the king and reunited the calf with its mother. 

The news reached Kartavirya’s sons who attacked the ashram when Parasurama wasn’t around. They killed Jamadagni who called out for his son to save him. By the time Parasurama returned with firewood, it was too late. His father was dead, and those responsible had left. He cried at the sight and blamed himself for his father’s death. Parasurama completed the funeral rites of his father and vowed to kill all the Kshatriyas. Fuelled by anger and grief, Parasurama killed all of Kartavirya’s sons. However, he didn’t stop this time. He continued to hunt and kill the Kshatriyas. Anyone who wielded arms was killed. He did this twenty-one times. This created five lakes of blood in Samantapanchaka. Here, Parasurama offered his ablutions to his ancestors. 

Then, his grandfather, Richika appeared before Parasurama and asked him to stop. Parasurama agreed. He conducted a grand sacrifice, constructed a golden altar, and gifted it to Rishi Kashyapa. With his permission, the other Brahmins divided it into equal parts. That’s how it came to be known as Khandavayanas. Parasurama relocated to live on Mount Mahendra (where the Pandavas were, at his ashram, listening to this story).

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The Story of Kashyapa’s Son, Rishyashringa – Stories from Aranyaka Parva

When the Pandavas and Rishi Lomasa reached the sacred region of River Kaushiki, the rishi said that Kashyapa’s ashram was located on the same banks. Rishi Kashyapa lived with his son Rishyashringa, a great ascetic who ended the drought in King Lomapada’s kingdom. 

Rishi Lomasa narrated the story when Yudhistira asked for details. 

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Kashyapa was in a great lake when he saw Urvashi, the apsara bathing there. Seeing her, his semen slipped into the water. Unknown to anyone, a deer drank the water from the lake along with the semen and gave birth to a boy child. The rishi named the child Rishyashringa, as he had a single horn on his head. Kashyapa took care of his son alone and brought him up, teaching everything he knew. Rishyashringa never saw another human except his father. His heart and mind were innocent as he followed his father’s directions to become a great ascetic. 

Meanwhile, King Lomapada of Anga faced a dire situation. Due to his greed for wealth, he insulted the rishis and lied to them. All Brahmins left the kingdom. After this, drought hit his kingdom. There was no rain for many years. His citizens were suffering. Lomapada went to his friend, King Dasharatha, for advice. Dasharatha told him to make amendments with the Brahmins. Otherwise, Indra wouldn’t shower rain on his kingdom. He advised Lomapada to invite Rishyashringa to his kingdom. If someone like Rishi Rishyashringa stepped on his land, it would end the drought. 

After discussing the matter with his advisors, Lomapada called the courtesans in the kingdoms and gave them an offer to tempt and bring Rishyashringa to his kingdom. Everyone was afraid as they didn’t want to be cursed for their actions. One woman, however, agreed to do so. He gave her a lot of gold and wealth as a gift. The woman took a few others with her and went into the forest where Rishyashringa lived with his father.

She got an ashram built on a boat and decorated it to resemble a small island with plants, flowers, etc. She sent men to find out the routine of the rishis and made her plans. When Kashyapa left his son and went somewhere, the courtesan summoned her daughter and sent her to Rishyashringa.

The girl went to Rishyashringa and inquired about his welfare and studies. The rishi was stunned to see a third person, that too, someone who looked very different from his father and was extremely beautiful. He didn’t even know that she was not a man. Rishyashringa asked who ‘he’ was and where ‘his’ ashram was. She replied it was three yoganas away. 

When he offered to wash her feet (and treat her how ascetics were treated), she refused. Instead, she shared the food she brought with her. She hugged him a few times and played with flowers and garlands. After a while, she said it was time for her to go back. 

Rishyashringa didn’t know why but he felt sad at her departure and missed her. When his father returned, he told him everything about how a man who looked very different from them and described his physical appearance, Kashyapa understood. Rishyashringa said he wanted to visit the new rishi and know more about him. However, Kashyapa told his son that the visitor was not a rishi but a rakshasa in disguise and distracted ascetics from their true paths. He forbade his son to think about the visitor. 

Kashyapa then searched for the woman for three days. However, he couldn’t find anyone in the vicinity. The next time Kashyapa went to gather fruit, the courtesan returned. Rishyashringa was delighted to meet her again and told her that they should go to her ashram before his father returned. They went to the ashram on the boat and it set sail to Anga. 

In the meantime, the king had a beautiful hermitage on the riverbank. When Rishyashringa stepped on the land and walked into the ashram, it rained in the kingdom. Then, the king got his beautiful and pious daughter, Shanta, married to Rishyashringa who was happy to stay in the new location and meet more people. 

The king knew Kashyapa would be furious when he found out. He didn’t want the rishi to curse him. So, Lomapada got new villages developed along the path he knew Kashyapa would take. He brought new cattle and built houses for caretakers. He instructed everyone to say that the wealth belonged to Rishyashringa. 

As predicted, an angry Kashyapa stalked to Champa, the capital of Anga, intent on cursing the king and burning the place down. However, he encountered beautiful villages and people on his way. Whenever he asked, they told him they worked for his son and all the wealth belonged to him. This happened until Kashyapa reached Champa. By then, his anger had subsided. He saw his son and daughter-in-law shining bright the lightning. 

Kashyapa told his son that he should return to the forest after doing what his father-in-law wanted and having a son with his wife. Rishyashringa agreed. Shanta followed him to the forest and lived in the sacred ashram beside the River Kaushiki. 

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