Chapter 174

Vaisampayana continued, “And when the night had passed, Yudhishthira thejust, arose and together with his brothers, performed the necessaryduties. He then spake unto Arjuna, that delight of his mother, saying, ‘OKaunteya, do thou show (me) those weapons with which thou vanquished theDanavas.’ Thereat, O king, the exceedingly powerful Dhananjaya, the sonof Pandu, duly practising extreme purity, showed those weapons, OBharata, which had been given unto him by the celestials. Dhananjayaseated on the earth, as his chariot, which had the mountain for its pole,the base of the axle and the cluster of beautiful-looking bamboo treesfor its socket-pole, looked resplendent with that celestial armour ofgreat lustre, took his bow Gandiva and the conch-shell given to him bythe gods, commenced to exhibit those celestial weapons in order. And asthose celestial weapons had been set, the Earth being oppressed with thefeet (of Arjuna), began to tremble with (its) trees; and the rivers andthe mighty main became vexed; and the rocks were riven; and the air washushed. And the sun did not shine; and fire did not flame; and by nomeans did the Vedas of the twice-born once shine. And, O Janamejaya, thecreatures peopling the interior of the earth, on being afflicted, roseand surrounded the Pandava, trembling with joined hands and contortedcountenances. And being burnt by those weapons, they besought Dhananjaya(for their lives). Then the Brahmarshis, and the Siddhas, and theMaharshis and the mobile beings–all these appeared (on the scene). Andthe foremost Devarshis, and the celestials and the Yakshas and theRakshasas and the Gandharvas and the feathered tribes and the (other)sky-ranging beings–all these appeared (on the scene). And the Great-sireand all the Lokapalas and the divine Mahadeva, came thither, togetherwith their followers. Then, O great king, bearing unearthly variegatedblossoms Vayu (the Wind-god) fell to strewing them around the Pandava.And sent by the celestials, the Gandharvas chanted various ballads; and,O monarch, hosts of the Apsaras danced (there). At such a moment, O king,sent by the celestials, Narada arrived (there) and addressed Partha inthese sweet words, ‘O Arjuna, Arjuna, do thou not discharge the celestialweapons. These should never be discharged when there is no object (fit).And when there is an object (present), they should also by no means behurled, unless one is sore pressed; for, O son of the Kurus, to dischargethe weapons (without occasion), is fraught with great evil. And, ODhananjaya, being duly kept as thou hast been instructed to thesepowerful weapons will doubtless conduce to thy strength and happiness.But if they are not properly kept, they, O Pandava, will become theinstrument for the destruction of the three worlds. So thou shouldst notact in this way again. O Ajatasatru, thou too wilt behold even theseweapons, when Partha will use them for grinding (thy) enemies in battle.'”

Vaisampayana continued, “Having prevented Partha the immortals withothers that had come there, went to each his place, O foremost of men.And, O Kaurava, after they had all gone, the Pandavas began to dwellpleasantly in the same forest, together with Krishna.”