ARJUNA REACHES NORTHERN KURU

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DIGVIJAYA PARVA > CHAPTER 27 - ARJUNA REACHES NORTHERN KURU

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘That heroic and foremost of the Paandavaas (Arjuna), filled with great energy, crossing the White mountains (Shweta Parvata in Sanskrit), subjugated the country of the Kimpurushaas ruled by Drumaputra, after a collision involving a great slaughter of Kshatriyas, and brought the region under his complete rule. Having reduced that country, the son of (Lord) Indra (Arjuna) with a collected mind marched at the head of his troops to the country called Haataka, ruled by the Guhyakas. Subjugating them by a policy of peacemaking, the Kuru prince saw (in that region) that excellent of lakes called Maanasa (present-day Maanasarovar, Tibet Autonomous region) and various other lakes and tanks sacred to the Rishis. The noble prince having arrived at the lake Maanasa conquered the regions ruled by the Gandharvas that lay around the Haataka territories. Here the conqueror (Arjuna) took, as tribute from the country, numerous excellent horses called Tittiri, Kalmaashaa, Mandooka.

“At last the son of the slayer of Paaka (slayer of Paaka is Lord Indra; son of Lord Indra is Arjuna), arriving in the country of North Harivarsha desired to conquer it. Immediately certain frontier-guards (Dwaarapaala in Sanskrit) of huge bodies and filled with great strength (Mahaveerya in Sanskrit) and energy (Mahabala in Sanskrit), coming to him with respectful hearts, said, ‘O Paarthaa (Arjuna), this country can be never conquered by you. If you seek your good, return hence. He that enters this region, if human, is sure to perish. We have been satisfied with you; O hero (Veera in Sanskrit), your conquests have been enough. Nor is anything to be seen here, O Arjuna, that may be conquered by thee. The Northern Kurus live here. There cannot be war here. Even if you enter it, you will not be able to see anything, for with human eyes nothing can be seen here. If, however you seek anything else, O Bharata (Arjuna), tell us, O tiger among men (Arjuna), so that we may do thy bidding.’

“Thus addressed by them, Arjuna smilingly addressing them, said, 'I desire the acquisition of the imperial dignity (Chikeersham in Sanskrit) by Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira), of great intelligence. If your land is shut against human beings, I shall not enter it. Let something be paid to Yudhishthira by you as tribute.’

“Hearing these words of Arjuna, they gave him as tribute many cloths, ornaments of divine make, silks of divine texture and skins of divine origin.

“It was thus that tiger among men (Arjuna) subjugated the countries that lay to the North, having fought numberless battles with both Kshatriya and robber tribes. Having vanquished the chiefs and brought them under his rule he exacted from them much wealth, various gems and jewels, the horses of the species called Tittiri and Kalmaashaa, as also those of the colour of the parrot’s wings and those that were like peacocks in colour and all filled with the speed of the wind. Surrounded, O king (Janamejaya), by a large army consisting of the four kinds of forces (Chariots, Elephants, Cavalry, Infantry), the hero (Arjuna) came back to the excellent city of Shakraprastha (Indraprastha). Paarthaa (Arjuna) offered the whole of that wealth, together with the animals he had brought, to Dharmaraja Yudhishthira. Commanded by the monarch (Yudhishthira), the hero (Arjuna) retired to a chamber of the palace for rest.’”