Chapter 227

“Vaisampayana, said, ‘Thus addressed by Arjuna, the smoke-banneredHutasana, desirous of an interview with Varuna, recollected that son ofAditi,–that deity protecting one of the points of the heavens and havinghis home in the water and ruling that element.

Varuna, knowing that hewas thought of by Pavaka, immediately appeared before that deity. Thesmoke-bannered celestial welcoming with reverence the ruler of thewaters, that fourth of the Lokapalas, said unto that eternal god of gods,’Give me without loss of time that bow and quiver, and that ape-banneredcar also, which were obtained from king Soma. Partha will achieve a greattask with Gandiva, and Vasudeva also with the discus! Give both,therefore, unto me today.’ Hearing these words, Varuna replied untoPavaka, saying, ‘Well, I am giving them.’ He then gave that wonderfuljewel of a bow that was endued with great energy. That bow was theenhancer of fame and achievements, and was incapable of being injured byany weapon. It was the chief of all weapons, and the grinder of them all.And it was the smiter of hostile armies and was alone equal to a hundredthousand bows. It was the multiplier of kingdoms, and was variegated withexcellent colours. It was well-adorned, and beautiful to behold, andwithout a mark of weakness or injury anywhere. And it was alwaysworshipped both by the celestials and the Gandharvas. Varuna also gavetwo inexhaustible quivers, and he also gave a car furnished withcelestial weapons and whose banner bore a large ape. Yoked unto that carwere steeds white as silver of the fleecy clouds, and born in the regionof the Gandharvas, and decked with golden harness, and resembling infleetness the wind or the mind. And it was equipped with implement ofwar, and was incapable of being vanquished by the celestials or theAsuras. Its splendour was great and the sounds of its wheels wastremendous. It delighted the heart of every creature that looked at it.It had been made by Viswakarman, the architect of the universe and one ofthe lords of creation, after severe ascetic meditation. Its splendour,like that of the sun, was so great that no one could gaze at it. It wasthe very car from which the lord Soma had vanquished the Danavas.Resplendent with beauty, it looked like an evening cloud reflecting theeffulgence of the setting sun. It was furnished with an excellentflag-staff of golden colour and great beauty. And there sat upon thatflag-staff a celestial ape of form fierce like that of a lion or a tiger.Stationed on high, the ape seemed bent upon burning everything it beheld.And upon the (other) flags were various creatures of large size, whoseroars and yells caused the enemy’s soldiers to faint. Then Arjuna,accoutred in mail and armed with the sword, and his fingers cased inleathern gloves, walking round that excellent car adorned with numerousflags and bowing unto the gods, ascended it like a virtuous man riding inthe celestial car that bears him to heaven. And taking up that celestialand first of bows created by Brahman of old and called Gandiva, Arjunawas filled with joy. And bowing unto Hutasana, Partha endued with greatenergy, took up the bow and strung it forcibly. Those who heard the noisethat was made while the mighty Pandava strung that bow, quaked with fear.And having obtained that car and that bow, and the two inexhaustiblequivers, the son of Kunti became glad and thought himself competent toassist at the task. And Pavaka then gave unto Krishna a discus with aniron pole attached to a hole in the centre. And it was a fiery weapon andbecame his favourite. Having obtained that weapon, Krishna also becameequal to the task. Pavaka then, addressing Krishna, said, ‘With this, Oslayer of Madhu, thou shalt be able without doubt to vanquish in battleeven foes that are not human. With this weapon, without doubt, thou shaltbe superior in battle to men and gods, and Rakshasas and Pisachas, andDaityas and Nagas. And thou shalt certainly be able with this to smiteall. And, O Madhava, hurled by thee in battle at thy foes, this weaponwill irresistibly slay the enemy and again come back into thy hands.’ Andthe lord Varuna, after this, gave unto Krishna a mace, of name Kaumodaki,capable of slaying every Daitya and producing, when hurled, a roar likethat of the thunder. Then Arjuna and Achyuta, filled with joy said untoPavaka, ‘O exalted one, furnished with weapons and knowing their use,possessed of cars with flags and flagstaffs, we are now able to fightwith even all the celestials and the Asuras (together), let alone thewielder of the thunderbolt desirous of fighting for the sake of the Naga(his friend Takshaka).’ Arjuna also said, ‘O Pavaka, while Hrishikesa,endued with abundant energy, moves on the field of battle with thisdiscus in hand, there is nothing in the three worlds that he will not beable to consume by hurling this weapon. Having obtained the bow Gandivaand this couple of inexhaustible quivers I also am ready to conquer inbattle the three worlds. Therefore, O lord, blaze thou forth as thoulikest, surrounding this large forest on every side. We are quite able tohelp thee.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed both by Dasarha and Arjuna, theillustrious god then put forth his most energetic form, and prepared toconsume the forest. Surrounding it on all sides with his seven flames, hebegan to consume the forest of Khandava, exhibiting his all-consumingform like that at the end of the Yuga (cycle). And, O bull of Bharata’srace, surrounding that forest and catching it from all sides with a roarlike that of the clouds, Agni made every creature within it tremble. And,O Bharata, that burning forest then looked resplendent like the king ofmountains, Meru, blazing with the rays of the sun fallen thereupon.'”