“Vaishampaayana said, ‘O Janamejaya, when Gandhari's
conception had been a full year old, it was then that Kunti summoned the eternal
Dharmadeva to obtain offspring from him. She offered without loss of time,
sacrifices (Bali in Sanskrit) to the Deva and began to duly repeat the mantra that Durvasa had
imparted to her some time before. Then the Deva, overpowered by her mantras,
arrived at the spot where Kunti was seated in his chariot resplendent as the
Sun. Smiling, he (Dharmadeva) asked,
‘O Kunti, what am I to give you?’ Kunti too smiling in her turn, replied, ‘Thou
must give me offspring.’ Then the beautiful Kunti was united (in intercourse) with Dharmadeva in his spiritual form (Yoga
Moorthi in Sanskrit) and obtained from
him a son devoted to the good of all creatures.
“She brought his excellent
child (Yudhishthira), who lived to acquire a great fame, at the
eighth Muhurta (called Vidhi Muhurta – one day is divided into 30 Muhurtas), of the hour of noon of that very
auspicious day of the seventh month (Kartika) – the fifth of the lighted fortnight, when the star (Nakshatra) Abhijita in combination with the moon was
ascendant. As soon as the child was born, a non-physical voice (from the
skies) said, ‘This child shall be the
best of men, the foremost of those that are Dharmic. Endued with great prowess
and truthful in speech, he shall certainly be the ruler of the earth. This
first child of Pandu shall be known by the name of Yudhishthira. Possessed of
prowess and honesty of character, he shall be a famous king, known throughout
the three worlds.’
“Pandu, having obtained that Dharmic son, again addressed
his wife (Kunti) and said, ‘The wise have declared that a
Kshatriya must be endued with physical strength, otherwise he is no Kshatriya.
Therefore, you ask for an offspring of superior strength.’
“Thus commanded by her lord (Pandu), Kunti then invoked
Vayu. The mighty god of wind, thus invoked, came to her, riding upon a deer,
and said, ‘What, O Kunti, am I to give you? Tell me what is in your heart’
Smiling in modesty, she (Kunti) said
to him, ‘Give me, O best of Devas, a child endued with great strength, largeness
of body parts and capable of humbling the pride of every body.’ The Vayudeva immediately
fathered upon her the child afterwards known as Bhima of mighty arms and fierce
capability. O Bharata (Janamejaya), upon
the birth of that child (Bhima)
endued with extraordinary strength, a non-physical voice as before said, ‘This
child shall be the foremost of all endued with strength.’
“O Bharata (Janamejaya), I must tell you of another wonderful
event that occurred after the birth of Vrikodara (Bhima). While he fell from the lap of his mother
upon the mountain chest, the violence of the fall broke into fragments the
stone upon which he fell without his baby body being injured in the least. He
fell from his mother's lap because Kunti, frightened by a tiger, had risen up
suddenly, unconscious of the child that lay asleep on her lap. As she had
risen, the baby, of body hard as Vajra, falling down upon the mountain chest,
broke into a hundred fragments the rocky mass upon which he fell. Seeing this,
Pandu wondered much. O best of Bharatas (Janamejaya), it
so happened that that very day on which Vrikodara (Bhima) was born, was also, the birthday of
Duryodhana who afterwards became the ruler of the whole earth.’
“After the birth of Vrikodara (Bhima), Pandu again began to
think, ‘How am I to obtain a very superior son who shall achieve world-wide
fame? Everything in the world depends on destiny and action.
But destiny can never be successful except by timely action. We have
heard it said that (Lord) Indra is
the chief of Devas. Indeed, he is endued with immeasurable might, energy,
capability and glory. Pleasing him with my Tapas, I shall obtain from him a son
of great strength. Indeed, the son he gives me must be superior to all and capable
of vanquishing in battle all men and creatures other than men. I shall,
therefore, practise the severest Tapas, with heart, deed and speech.’
“O Bharata (Janamejaya), after this, the Kuru king Pandu, taking advise
with the Maharishis commanded Kunti to observe an auspicious vow (Vrata in
Sanskrit) for one full year, while he
himself commenced to stand upon one leg from morning to evening, and practise
other severe Tapas with mind completely absorbed in meditation, for pleasing
the lord of Devas (Lord Indra).
“It was after a long time that (Lord) Indra (gratified
with such devotion) approached Pandu
and, addressing him, said, ‘O king, I shall give you a son who will be
celebrated all over the three worlds and who will promote the welfare of
Brahmanas, cows and all honest men. The son I shall give you will be the attacker
of the wicked and the delight of friends and relatives. Foremost of all men (Pandu), he will be an irresistible slayer of all enemies.’
“Thus addressed by Vasava (Lord
Indra), the Dharamaraja of the Kuru race
(Pandu), well-recollecting those
words, said to Kunti, ‘O fortunate one, your vow (Vrata in Sanskrit) has become successful. The lord of Devas (Lord
Indra) has been pleased, and is willing
to give you a son as such you desire, of superhuman achievements and great
fame. He will be the oppressor of all enemies and possessed of great wisdom.
Endued with a great soul, in splendour equal to the Sun, invincible in battles,
and of great achievements, he will also be extremely handsome. O you of fair
hips and sweet smiles, the lord of Devas (Lord Indra) has become gracious to you. Invoking him, you bring forth a child who
will be the very home of all Kshatriya Dharma.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘The celebrated Kunti, thus
addressed by her lord, invoked Shakra (Lord Indra) who immediately came to her and fathered
him that was afterwards called Arjuna. As soon as
this child (Arjuna) was born, a non-physical voice, loud and deep as that of the clouds
and filling the whole sky, distinctly said, addressing Kunti in the hearing of
every creature dwelling in that ashrama, ‘This child of yours, O Kunti, will be
equal to Kaartaveerya (also known as Kaartaveeryaarjuna) in energy and (Lord) Shiva in prowess. Invincible like Shakra (Lord
Indra) Himself, he will spread your fame
far and wide. As (Lord) Vishnu (the
youngest of Aditi's sons) had enhanced
Aditi's joy, so shall this child enhance your joy. Subjugating the Madraa, the
Kurus along with the Kaikeya, and the people of Chedi, Kashi and Karushaa, he
will maintain the prosperity of the Kurus. (Suffering from indigestion with
offerings at the yagna of king Shwetaketu),
Agni will derive great satisfaction from the fat of all creatures staying in
the Khandava forest (to be burnt down)
by the might of this one's arms. This mighty hero, vanquishing all the unmanly
monarchs of the earth, will, with his brothers perform three Maha yagnas. In
prowess, O Kunti, he will be even as Jamadagnya or Vishnu. The foremost of all
men endued with prowess, he will achieve great fame. He will gratify in battle
Shankara (Lord Shiva), the Mahadeva,
and will receive from him the great weapon named Paashupata. This your son of
mighty arms will also slay, at the command of (Lord) Indra, those Daityas called the Nivatakavachas who are the enemies of Devas.
He will also acquire all kinds of divine weapons, and this bull among men will
also retrieve the fortunes of his race.’
“Kunti heard these extraordinary words, while lying in
the room. Hearing those words uttered so loudly, the Rishis dwelling on the
mountain of a hundred peaks (Shata-Sringa), and Devas with (Lord) Indra sitting in their chariots, became
exceedingly glad. The sounds of the (invisible) drum filled the entire sky. There were shouts of joy, and the whole
region was covered with flowers showered down by invisible agents. The various
tribes of Devas assembled together, began to offer their respectful adorations
to the son of Pritha (son of Kunti, i.e., Arjuna). The sons of Kadru (Nagas),
the son of Vinata, the Gandharvas, the Prajapatis, and the Saptarishis –
Bharadwaja, Kaashyapa, Gautama, Vishwamitra, Jamadagni, Vasishtha, and the
illustrious Atri who illumined the ancient world when the Sun was lost, all
came there. (Rishis) Marichi,
Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Daksha - the Prajapati, the Gandharvas, and
Apsaras, came there also. The various tribes of Apsaras, decked with divine
garlands and every ornament, and attired in fine garments, came there and
danced in joy, chanting the praises of Bibhatsu (Arjuna).
“All around, the Maharishis began to utter favourable mantras.
Tumvuru accompanied by the Gandharvas began to sing in charming notes. Bhimasena,
Ugrasena, Urnaayu, Anagha, Gopati, Dhritarashtra, Suryavarchaa - the seventh,
Yugapa, Trinapa, Kaarshni, Nandi, Chitraratha, Shaalishiraa – the thirteenth,
Parjanya – the fourteenth, Kali – the fifteenth, Narada – the sixteenth, Sadwa,
Brihadwa, Brihaka, Karaala of great fame, Brahmachari, Bahuguna, Suparna of
great fame, Vishwavasu, Bhumanyu, Suchandra, Sampanna and the celebrated tribes
of Hahaa and Huhu gifted with wonderful melody of voice -- these celestial
Gandharvas, O king (Janamejaya), all went there.
“Many illustrious Apsaras also of large eyes, decked
with every ornament came there to dance and sing. Anuna Chaanavadya, Priyamukhya,
Gunaavara, Aadrika, Saachi, Mishrakeshi, Alambusa, Marichi, Shichuka,
Vidyutparna, Tilottama, Agnika, Lakshana, Kshema Devi, Rambha, Manorama, Asita,
Subahu, Supriya, Suvapu, Pundarika, Sugandha, Suratha, Pramaathini, Kaamya, Shaaradwati,
all danced there together.
“Menaka, Sahajanya, Parnika, Punjikasthala, Kratusthala,
Ghritaachi, Vishwaachi, Purvachit, the celebrated Umlocha, Pramlocha – the
tenth, Urvashi – the eleventh, -- these large-eyed dancing girls of heaven, -- came
there and sang in chorus.
“Dhaata, Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna, Bhaga, Indra,
Vivaswaan, Poosha, Tvashtha, Savita, Parjanya, Vishnu – (these twelve) Adityas came
there to glorify Pandu's son (Arjuna).
“O king (Janamejaya), Mrigavyaadha, Sharva, the celebrated Nirukiti,
Ajaikapada, Ahirbudhnya, Pinaaki, Dahana, Ishwara, Kapaali, Sthaanu and the
illustrious Bhaga – (these eleven)
Rudras -- also came there.
“The twin Ashwins (Ashwini
Devas), the eight Vasus, the mighty Maruts,
the Vishwedevas, the Sadhyas, also came there.
“Karkotaka, Vasuki, Kachchhapa, Kunda and the great
Naga Takshaka – these mighty and short tempered snakes possessed of high Tapas
merit also came there. Taarkshya, Arishtanemi, Garuda, Asitadvaja -- these and
many other Nagas, came there, so also Aruna and Aruni of Vinata's race also
came there.
“Only Maharishis crowned with success of Tapas and not
others saw those Devas and other beings seated in their chariots or waiting on
the mountain peaks. Those best of Munis, seeing that wonderful sight, became
amazed, and their love and affection for the children of Pandu was in
consequence enhanced.
“The celebrated Pandu, tempted by the desire of having
more children wished to speak again to his wedded wife (for invoking some other Deva).
But Kunti addressed him, saying, ‘The wise do not sanction a fourth delivery
even in a season of distress. The woman having intercourse with four different
men is called a Chaarini, while she having intercourse with five becomes a Bandaki
(prostitute). Therefore, O learned
one (Pandu), as you are well-familiar
with the Shastras on this subject, why do you, attracted by desire of
offspring, tell me so in seeming forgetfulness of the Shastras?’”
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