Chapter 38

Janemejaya said, “O illustrious one, I desire to hear in detail thehistory of the acquisition of weapons by Arjuna of spotless deeds. O tellme how that tiger among men, Dhananjaya, of mighty arms and possessed ofgreat energy, entered that solitary forest without fear. And, O thouforemost of those acquainted with the Veda, what also did Arjuna do whiledwelling there? How also were the illustrious Sthanu and the chief of thecelestials gratified by him? O thou best of regenerate ones, I desire tohear all this under thy favour. Thou art omniscient; thou knowest allabout the gods and all about men. O Brahmana, the battle that took placeof old between Arjuna–that foremost of smiters never defeated inbattle–and Bhava was highly extraordinary and without parallel. Itmaketh one’s hair stand on end to hear of it. Even the hearts of thoselions among men–the brave sons of Pritha–trembled in consequence ofwonder and joy and a sense of their own inferiority. O tell me in fullwhat else Arjuna, did I do not see even the most trivial thing to Jishnuthat is censurable. Therefore, recite to me in full the history of thathero.”

Vaisampayana said, “O tiger among Kurus, I shall recite to thee thatnarration, excellent and extensive and unrivalled, in connection with theillustrious hero. O sinless one, hear in detail the particulars aboutArjuna’s meeting with the three-eyed god of gods, and his contact withthe illustrious god’s person!

“At Yudhishthira’s command, Dhananjaya of immeasurable prowess set out(from Kamyaka) to obtain a sight of Sakra, the chief of the celestialsand of Sankara, the god of gods. And the strong-armed Arjuna of greatmight set out armed with his celestial bow and a sword with golden hilt,for the success of the object he had in view, northwards, towards thesummit of the Himavat. And, O king, that first of all warriors in thethree worlds, the son of Indra, with a calm mind, and firmly adhering tohis purpose, then devoted himself, without the loss of any time, toascetic austerities. And he entered, all alone, that terrible forestabounding with thorny plants and trees and flowers and fruits of variouskinds, and inhabited by winged creatures of various species, and swarmingwith animals of diverse kinds, and resorted to by Siddhas and Charanas.And when the son of Kunti entered that forest destitute of human beings,sounds of conchs and drums began to be heard in the heavens. And a thickshower of flowers fell upon the earth, and the clouds spreading over thefirmament caused a thick shade. Passing over those difficult and woodyregions at the foot of the great mountains, Arjuna soon reached thebreast of the Himavat; and staying there for sometime began to shine inhis brilliancy. And he beheld there numerous trees with expandingverdure, resounding with the melodious notes of winged warblers. And hesaw there rivers with currents of the lapis lazuli, broken by the fierceeddies here and there, and echoing with the notes of swans and ducks andcranes. And the banks of those rivers resounded with the mellifluousstrains of the male Kokilas and the notes of peacocks and cranes. And themighty warrior, beholding those rivers of sacred and pure and deliciouswater and their charming banks, became highly delighted. And thedelighted Arjuna of fierce energy and high soul then devoted himself torigid austerities in that delightful and woody region. Clad in rags madeof grass and furnished with a black deerskin and a stick, he commenced toeat withered leaves fallen upon the ground. And he passed the firstmonth, by eating fruits at the interval of three nights; and the secondby eating at the interval of the six nights; and the third by eating atthe interval of a fortnight. When the fourth month came, that best of theBharatas–the strong-armed son of Pandu–began to subsist on air alone.With arms upraised and leaning upon nothing and standing on the tips ofhis toes, he continued his austerities. And the illustrious hero’s locks,in consequence of frequent bathing took the hue of lightning or thelotus. Then all the great Rishis went together unto the god of the Pinakafor representing unto him about the fierce asceticism of Pritha’s son.And bowing unto that god of gods, they informed him of Arjuna’sausterities saying, ‘This son of pritha possessed of great energy isengaged in the most difficult of ascetic austerities on the breast of theHimavat. Heated with his asceticism, the earth is smoking all round, Ogod of gods. We do not know what his object is for which he is engaged inthese austerities. He, however, is causing us pain. It behoveth thee toprevent him!’ Hearing these words of those munis with souls under perfectcontrol, the lord of all creatures–the husband of Uma said, ‘It behovethyou not to indulge in any grief on account of Phalguna! Return ye allcheerfully and with alacrity to the places whence ye have come. I knowthe desire that is in Arjuna’s heart. His wish is not for heaven, nor forprosperity, nor for long life. And I will accomplish, even, this day, allthat is desired by him.'”

Vaisampayana continued, “The truth-speaking Rishis, having heard thesewords of Mahadeva, became delighted, and returned to their respectiveabodes.”