PAANDAVAAS SET OUT FOR TERRITORIAL CONQUEST

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DIGVIJAYA PARVA > CHAPTER 25 - PAANDAVAAS SET OUT FOR TERRITORIAL CONQUEST

(ARJUNA)

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Arjuna, having obtained that best of bows, that couple of inexhaustible arrow baskets, that chariot and flag-staff, and also that sabha, addressing Yudhisthira said, ‘Bow, weapons (Astra in Sanskrit), great energy (Bala in Sanskrit), allies, territory (Bhoomi in Sanskrit), fame, army – those, O king (Yudhishthira), difficult of acquisition however desirable, have all been obtained by me. I think, therefore, that what should now be done is for the enlarging up of our treasury. O best of monarchs (Yudhishthira), I desire to make the kings (of the earth) pay tributes to us. I desire to set out, in an auspicious moment of a holy day of the moon under a favourable constellation for the conquest of the direction that is presided over by the Lord of treasures (Lord of treasures is Kubera, i.e., conquest of Northern direction).’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Dharmaraja Yudhisthira, hearing these words of Dhananjaya (Arjuna), replied to him in a serious and collected tone, saying ‘O bull of the Bharata race (Arjuna), you set out, having made holy Brahmanas utter blessings on you, to plunge your enemies in sorrow and to fill your friends with joy. O Paarthaa (Arjuna), victory will surely be yours, and you will surely obtain your desires fulfilled.’

“Thus addressed, Arjuna, surrounded by a large army, set out in that divine chariot of wonderful achievements he had obtained from Agni. In addition, Bhimasena and those bull among men, the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), sent away with affection by Dharmaraja Yudhishthira set out, each at the head of a large army. Arjuna, the son of the punisher of Pakaa (Lord Indra), then brought under subjugation that direction (the North) which was presided over by the Lord of treasures (Kubera). Bhimasena overcome by force the East, Sahadeva the South, and Nakula, O king (Janamejaya), acquainted with all the weapons, conquered the West. Thus, while his brothers were so employed, Dharmaraja Yudishthira stayed within Khaandavaprastha in the enjoyment of great affluence in the middle of friends and relatives.”