Chapter 31

Vaisampayana said,–“I shall now recite to you the deeds and triumphs ofNakula, and how that exalted one conquered the direction that had oncebeen subjugated by Vasudeva.

The intelligent Nakula, surrounded by alarge host, set out from Khandavaprastha for the west, making this earthtremble with the shouts and the leonine roars of the warriors and thedeep rattle of chariot wheels. And the hero first assailed themountainous country called Rohitaka that was dear unto (the celestialgeneralissimo) Kartikeya and which was delightful and prosperous and fullof kine and every kind of wealth and produce. And the encounter the sonof Pandu had with the Mattamyurakas of that country was fierce. And theillustrious Nakula after this, subjugated the whole of the desert countryand the region known as Sairishaka full of plenty, as also that other onecalled Mahetta. And the hero had a fierce encounter with the royal sageAkrosa. And the son of Pandu left that part of the country havingsubjugated the Dasarnas, the Sivis, the Trigartas, the Amvashtas, theMalavas, the five tribes of the Karnatas, and those twice born classesthat were called the Madhyamakeyas and Vattadhanas. And making circuitousjourney that bull among men then conquered the (Mlechcha) tribes calledthe Utsava-sanketas. And the illustrious hero soon brought undersubjection the mighty Gramaniya that dwelt on the shore of the sea, andthe Sudras and the Abhiras that dwelt on the banks of the Saraswati, andall those tribes that lived upon fisheries, and those also that dwelt onthe mountains, and the whole of the country called after the five rivers,and the mountains called Amara, and the country called Uttarayotisha andthe city of Divyakutta and the tribe called Dwarapala. And the son ofPandu, by sheer force, reduced to subjection the Ramathas, the Harahunas,and various kings of the west. And while staying there Nakula sent. OBharata, messengers unto Vasudeva. And Vasudeva with all the Yadavasaccepted his sway. And the mighty hero, proceeding thence to Sakala, thecity of the Madras, made his uncle Salya accept from affection the swayof the Pandavas. And, O monarch, the illustrious prince deserving thehospitality and entertainment at his uncle’s hands, was well entertainedby his uncle. And skilled in war, the prince, taking from Salya a largequantity of jewels and gems, left his kingdom. And the son of Pandu thenreduced to subjection the fierce Mlechchas residing on the sea coast, asalso the wild tribes of the Palhavas, the Kiratas, the Yavanas, and theSakas. And having subjugated various monarchs, and making all of them paytributes, Nakula that foremost of the Kurus, full of resources, retracedhis way towards his own city. And, O king, so great was the treasurewhich Nakula brought that ten thousand camels could carry it withdifficulty on their backs. And arriving at Indraprastha, the heroic andfortunate son of Madri presented the whole of that wealth untoYudhishthira.

“Thus, O king, did Nakula subjugate the countries that lay to thewest–the direction that is presided over by the god Varuna, and that hadonce before been subjugated by Vasudeva himself!”