SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN CONTINUES

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DIGVIJAYA PARVA > CHAPTER 30(B) - SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN CONTINUES

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘O Janamejaya, it is said that the God Havyavaahana (Agni) while residing in Maahishmati, earned the reputation of a lover. King Neela had a daughter who was exceedingly beautiful. She used always to stay near the sacred fire of her father, causing it to blaze up with strength. It so happened that king Neela’s fire, even if fanned, would not blaze up till agitated by the gentle breath of that girl’s fair lips. It was said in King Neela’s palace and in the house of all his subjects that the God Agni desired that beautiful girl for his bride. It so happened that he was accepted by the girl herself.

“One day the deity (Agni) assuming the form of a Brahmana, was happily enjoying the company of the fair one (King Neela’s daughter), when he was discovered by the king (Neela). The Dharmaraja (Neela) immediately ordered the Brahmana to be punished according to Shaastraas. At this the illustrious deity (Agni) flamed up in anger. Looking this, the king (Neela) wondered much and bent his head low on the ground. After some time, the king (Neela) bowing low gave the daughter of his upon the God Agni, disguised as a Brahmana. Vibhaavasu (Agni) accepting that fair-browed daughter of king Neela, became gracious to that monarch. Agni, the illustrious gratifier of all desires, also asked the monarch to ask a boon of him. The king begged that his troops might never be struck with panic while engaged in battle. From that time, O king (Janamejaya), those monarchs who from ignorance of this, desire to subjugate king Nila's city, are consumed by Agni. From that time, O perpetuator of the Kuru race (Janamejaya), the girls of the city of Maahishmati became rather unacceptable to others (as wives). Agni by his boon granted them sexual liberty, so that the women of that town always roam about at will, each unbound to a particular husband. O bull of the Bharata race (Janamejaya), from that time the monarchs (of other countries) forsake this city for fear of Agni.

“The Dharmaatma Sahadeva, seeing his troops pained with fear and surrounded by flames of fire, himself stood there immovable as a mountain. Purifying himself and touching water, the hero (Sahadeva) then addressed Agni, the God that purifies everything, in these words –

‘I bow to you, O you whose track is always marked with smoke. These my efforts are all for you. O you purifier of all, you are the mouth of Devas and you are yagna personified. You are called Paavaka because you sanctify everything; and you are Havyavaahana, because you carry the clarified butter that is poured on you. The Veda have sprung for ministering to you, and, therefore, you are called Jaataveda. As you are the Chief of Devas, you are called Chitrabhanu, Anala, Vibhaavasu, Hutaashana, Jvalana, Shikhi, Vaishwaanara, Pingesha, Plavanga, Bhuritejah. You are he from whom Kumara (Lord Murugan) had his origin; You are holy; You are called Rudragarva and Hiranyakrit. Let you, O Agni, grant me energy, let Vaayu grant me life, let Earth grant me nourishment and strength, and let Water grant me prosperity. O Agni, you who are the first cause of the waters, you who are of great purity, you for ministering to whom the Vedas have sprung, you who are the foremost of the deities, you who are their mouth, O purify me by your truth. Rishis, Brahmanas, Devas and Asuras pour clarified butter every day, according to the ordinance into you during yagnas. Let the rays of truth emanating from you, while you exhibit yourself in those yagnas, purify me. As you are smoke-bannered and possessed of flames, you great purifier from all sins born of Vaayu and ever present as you are in all creatures, O purify me by the rays of your truth. Having cleansed myself thus cheerfully, O noble one, do I pray to you. O Agni, grant me now contentment, prosperity, knowledge and gladness.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘He that will pour clarified butter into Agni reciting these mantras, will ever be blessed with prosperity, and having his soul under complete control will also be cleansed from all his sins.’

“Sahadeva, addressing Agni again, said ‘O carrier of the sacrificial libations, it is your duty not to obstruct a yagna!’

“Having said this, that tiger among men, the son of Maadri (Sahadeva), spreading some kusha grass (Darbha Grass or Kusha Grass is scientifically known as Desmostachya bipinnata) on earth sat down in expectation of the (approaching) fire and in front of those terrified and anxious troops of his. Agni, too, like the ocean that never crosses its continents, did not pass over his head. On the other hand, approaching Sahadeva quietly and addressing that prince of the Kuru race, Agni that Deva of men gave him every assurance and said, ‘O you of the Kuru race (Sahadeva), rise up from this posture. O rise up, I was only testing you. I know all your purpose, as also those of the son of Dharma (Yudhishthira). But, O best of the Bharata race, as long as there is a descendant of king Neela's line, so long should this town be protected by me. I will, however O Paandava, gratify the desires of your heart.’

“At these words of Agni, O bull of the Bharata race (Janamejaya), the son of Maadri (Sahadeva) rose up with a cheerful heart, joining his hands and bending his head worshipped Paavaka (Agni). At last, after Agni had disappeared, king Neela came there, and at the command of that deity (Agni), worshipped with due rites Sahadeva, that tiger among men – that master of battle. Sahadeva accepted that worship and made him pay tribute. Having brought king Neela under his rule thus, the victorious son of Maadri (Sahadeva) then went further towards the south.

“The long-armed hero (Sahadeva) then brought the king of Tripura of immeasurable energy under his rule. Next turning his forces against the Paurava kingdom, he vanquished and reduced to subjection the monarch thereof. The prince (Sahadeva), after this, with great efforts brought Aahruti, the king of Suraashtra and Aachaarya of the Kaushikaas under his rule. The virtuous prince (Sahadeva), while staying in the kingdom of Suraashtra sent an ambassador to king Rukmin of Bhishmaka within the territories of Bhojakata, who, rich in possessions and intelligence, was the friend of (Lord) Indra Himself. The monarch along with his son, remembering their relationship with (Sri) Krishna, cheerfully accepted, O king (Janamejaya), the rule of the Paandavaa. The master of battle then, having exacted jewels and wealth from king Rukmin, marched further to the south. Filled with great energy and great strength, the hero (Sahadeva) then, reduced to subjection, Shoorpaaraka, Talakata, and the Dandakaas also. The Kuru warrior (Sahadeva) then vanquished and brought under his subjection numerous kings of the Mlechchha tribe living on the sea coast, the Nishaadaas, the Purushaadaas, the Karnapraavaranaas, and those tribes also called the Kaalamukhaas who were a cross between human beings and Raakshasaas, the whole of the Kolla mountains, and also Muracheepattana, and the island called the Copper island (Dweepam Taamraahvyam in Sanskrit), and the mountain called Raamaka.

“The high-souled warrior (Sahadeva), having brought under subjection king Timingilam, conquered a wild tribe known by the name of the Kevalaan who were men with one leg. The Paandava also conquered the town of Sanjayanti, the country of the Pichanda, the Karahaatakas by means of his messengers alone, and made all of them pay tributes to him.

“The hero (Sahadeva) brought under his subjection and exacted tributes from Paandyaas, Dravidaas along with the Udrakeralaas, the Andhraas, the Talavanaas, the Kalingaas, the Ushtrakarnikaan, and also the delightful city of Antaakhi, Romaas, and that of the Yavanaas. O king of kings (Janamejaya), that slayer of all enemies, the virtuous and intelligent son of Maadri (Sahadeva) having arrived at the sea-shore, then despatched with great assurance messengers to the Dharmaatma Vibhishana (Sri Lankan King), the grandson of Pulastya. The monarch willingly accepted the rule (Shaasana in Sanskrit) of the Paandavaa, for that intelligent and noble king regarded it all as the act of Time. He sent to the Paandavaa (Sahadeva) diverse kinds of jewels and gems, sandal and also wood, many divine ornaments, and much costly clothes, and many valuable pearls. The intelligent (Dheemaan in Sanskrit) Sahadeva, accepting them all, returned to his own kingdom.

“O king (Janamejaya), thus it was that slayer of all enemies, having vanquished by peacemaking and war numerous kings and having also made them pay tribute, came back to his own city (Indraprasthaa). The bull of the Bharata race (Sahadeva), having presented the whole of that wealth to Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) regarded himself, O Janamejaya, as crowned with success and continued to live happily.’”