“Vaishampaayana said, ‘(Maharishi) Vyasa continued, ‘In ancient days, Devas had once commenced a grand sacrifice
(Satra in Sanskrit) in the forest of
Naimisha (Naimishaaranya in Sanskrit).
O king (Drupada), at that Satra,
Yama, the son of Vivaswat (Lord Surya),
became the slayer of the devoted animals. O king (Drupada), Yama, thus employed in that Satra, did
not (during that period) kill a
single human being. Death being suspended in the world, the number of human
beings increased very greatly. Then Soma (Moon), Shakra (Lord Indra),
Varuna, Kubera, Saadhyas, Rudras, Vasus, the twin Ashwins -- these and other Devas
went to Prajapati (Lord Brahma), the
Creator of the universe.
“Struck with fear for the increase of the human population of the world,
they addressed the Master of creation (Lord Brahma) and said, ‘O lord, alarmed at the increase of human beings on earth,
we come to You for relief. Indeed, we crave Your protection.’
“Hearing those words the Pitamaha (Lord Brahma) said, ‘You have little cause to be frightened at this increase of human
beings. You all are immortal (Amara in Sanskrit). It is your responsibility not to take fright at human beings.’
“The Devas replied, ‘The mortals have all become immortal. There is no
distinction now between us and them. Frustrated at the disappearance of all
distinction, we have come to You in order that You may distinguish us from
them.’
“The Creator (Lord Brahma)
then said, ‘The son of Vivaswat (Yama)
is now engaged in the grand Satra. It is for this that men are not dying. But
when Yama’s work in connection with the Satra terminates, men will again begin
to die as before. Strengthened by your respective energies, Yama will, when
that time comes, sweep away by thousands the inhabitants on earth who will
scarcely have then any energy left in them.’
“(Maharishi) Vyasa
continued, ‘Hearing these words of the first-born deity (Poorvajadeva in
Sanskrit; here it refers to Lord Brahma),
the Devas returned to the spot where the grand Satra was being performed. The
mighty one (Devas) sitting by the
side of the Bhagirathi (River Ganga)
saw a (golden) lotus being carried
along by the (river) current. Looking
that (golden) lotus, they wondered
much. Among them, that foremost of Devas, viz., (Lord) Indra, desirous of discovering from where it came, proceeded up along
the path of the Bhagirathi. Reaching that spot from where the goddess Ganga
issues perennially, (Lord) Indra saw
a woman possessing the splendour of fire. The woman who had come there to take
water was washing herself in the stream, weeping all the while. The tear-drops
she shed, falling on the stream, were being transformed into golden lotuses.
The wielder of the Vajra (Lord Indra),
beholding that wonderful sight, approached the woman and asked her, ‘Who are you,
friendly lady? Why do you weep? I desire to know the truth. O, tell me
everything.’
“(Maharishi) Vyasa
continued, ‘The woman immediately answered, ‘O Shakra (Lord Indra), You may know who I am and why,
unfortunate that I am, I weep, if only, O chief of Devas, You come with me as I
lead the way. You shall then see what it is I weep for.’
“Hearing these words of the lady, (Lord) Indra followed her as she led the way. Soon He (Lord Indra) saw, not far off from where He was, a
handsome youth with a young lady seated on a throne placed on one of the peaks
of Himavat and playing at dice. Looking that youth, the chief of Devas (Lord
Indra) said, ‘Know, intelligent youth,
that this universe is under my rule.’
“However, seeing that the person (handsome youth) addressed was so occupied in dice that He
took no notice of what He said, (Lord)
Indra was possessed by anger and repeated, ‘I am the Lord of the universe.’
“The youth who was none else than the Deva Mahadeva (Lord Shiva), seeing (Lord) Indra filled with anger, only smiled, having cast a glance at Him. At
that glance, however, the chief of Devas was at once paralysed and stood there
like a stick. When the game at dice was over, Ishaana (Lord Shiva) addressing the weeping woman said, ‘Bring
Shakra (Lord Indra) here, for I
shall soon so deal with Him that pride may not again enter his heart.’
“As soon as Shakra (Lord Indra)
was touched by that woman, the chief of Devas (Lord Indra) with body parts paralysed by that touch,
fell down on the earth. The respected Ishaana (Lord Shiva) of fierce energy then said to Him, ‘Act
not, O Shakra (Lord Indra), ever
again in this way. Remove this huge stone, for Your strength and energy are
immeasurable, and enter the hole (it will disclose) where await some others possessing the splendour of the Sun and who
are all like to You.’
“(Lord) Indra, then, on
removing that stone, saw a cave in the king of mountains (i.e. Himalayan
Mountains), within which were four
others resembling Himself. Seeing their situation, Shakra (Lord Indra) became seized with grief and exclaimed, ‘Shall
I be like these?’
“Then the Deva Girisha (Lord Shiva), looking full at (Lord) Indra
with expanded eyes, said in anger, ‘O You of a hundred yagnas, enter this cave
without loss of time, for You have from foolishness insulted me.’
“Thus addressed by the Lord Ishaana, the chief of Devas, in consequence
of that terrible curse, was deeply pained, and with body parts weakened by fear
shaken like the wind-shaken leaf of a Himalayan fig (tree). Cursed unexpectedly by the Deva owning a
bull for his vehicle (Lord Shiva), (Lord) Indra, with joined hands and shaking from
head to foot, addressed that fierce Deva (Lord Shiva) of multi-form manifestations, saying, ‘O Bhava, You are the
over-looker of the infinite Universe!’
“Hearing these words the Deva of fiery energy (Lord Indra) smiled and said, ‘Those that are of character
like Yours (exhibiting ego?) never
obtain my grace. These others (within the cave) had at one time been like You. You enter this cave, therefore, and lie
there for some time. The fate of you all shall certainly be the same. All of
you shall have to take your birth in the world of men, where, having achieved
many difficult feats and slaying a large number of men, you shall again by the
merits of your respective actions, regain the valued region of (Lord) Indra. You shall accomplish all I have
said and much more besides, of other kinds of work.’
“Then those Indras, of their cut off glory said, ‘We shall go from our divine
regions to the region of men, where Moksha is ordered to be difficult to
acquire. But let the Dharmadeva, Vaayu, Maghavat (Lord Indra), and the twin Ashwins father us upon our
would-be mother. Fighting with men by means of both divine and human weapons,
we shall again come back into the Indraloka.’
“(Maharishi) Vyasa continued,
‘Hearing these words of the former Indras, the wielder of the Vajra (the
present Lord Indra) once more addressed
that foremost of Devas (Lord Shiva),
saying, ‘Instead of going myself, I shall, with a portion of my energy, create
from myself a person for the accomplishment of the task (You assign) to form the fifth among these!’
“Vishwabhuk, Bhutadhaman, Shibi of great energy, Santi – the fourth,
and Tejaswin, these it is said were the five former Indras. The illustrious Deva
of the formidable bow (Lord Indra), from
His kindness, granted to the five Indras the desire they cherished. He also
appointed that woman of extraordinary beauty, who was none else than divine Sri
(goddess of grace) Herself, to be
their common wife in the world of men. Accompanied by all those Indras, the Deva
Ishaana (Lord Shiva) then went to (Lord) Narayana of immeasurable energy, the
Infinite, the Immaterial, the Uncreate, the Old, the Eternal, and the Spirit of
these universes without limits.
“(Lord) Narayana approved of
everything. Those Indras then were born in the world of men. Hari (Lord Narayana) took up two hairs from his body, one of
which hairs was black and the other white. Those two hairs entered the wombs of
two of the Yadu race, by name Devaki and Rohini. One of these hairs viz., that
which was white, became Baladeva (Balarama). The hair that was black was born as Keshava’s self, (Sri) Krishna. Those former Indras who had been
confined in the cave on the Himavat (present-day Himalayas) are none else than the Pandavas, filled
with great energy. Arjuna among the Pandavas, also called as Savyasaachi (meaning
using both hands with equal dexterity)
is a portion of Shakra.’
“(Maharishi) Vyasa
continued, ‘Thus, O king (Druapada),
they who have been born as the Pandavas are none else than those former Indras.
The divine Sri Herself who had been appointed as their wife is this Draupadi of
extraordinary beauty. How could she whose brilliant radiance is like that of
the Sun or the Moon, whose fragrance spreads for one Krosha (two miles) around, take her birth in any other than
an extraordinary way, viz., from within the earth, by virtue of the sacrificial
rites? To You, O king (Drupada), I
cheerfully grant this other boon in the form of spiritual sight (Divya
Chakshu in Sanskrit). Look now the sons
of Kunti filled with their sacred and divine bodies of old!’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Saying this, that sacred Brahmana Vyasa of
generous actions, by means of his Tapas power, granted divine sight to the king
(Drupada). Immediately, the king saw
all the Pandavas endued with their former bodies. The king (Drupada) saw them possessed of divine bodies, with
golden crowns and divine garlands, and each resembling (Lord) Indra Himself, with complexions radiant as
fire or the Sun, decorated with every ornament, handsome, youthful, with broad chests
and statures measuring about five cubits.
“Filled with every accomplishment, and decorated with divine garments
of great beauty and fragrant garlands of excellent making, the king (Drupada) saw them as so many three-eyed Deva (Lord
Shiva), or Vasus, or Rudras, or Adityas
themselves. Observing the Pandavas in the forms of those ancient Indras, and
Arjuna also in the form of (Lord) Indra
sprung from Shakra Himself, king Drupada was highly pleased. The monarch
wondered much on seeing that manifestation of divine power under deep disguise.
“The king (Drupada) looking
at his daughter, that foremost of women filled with great beauty, like to a divine
lady and possessed of the splendour of fire or the Moon, regarded her as the
worthy wife of those divine beings, for her beauty, splendour and fame. Seeing
that wonderful sight, the monarch touched the feet of Satyavati’s son (Maharishi
Vyasa), exclaiming, ‘O Maharishi,
nothing is miraculous in you!’
“The Rishi then cheerfully continued, ‘In a certain ashrama, there was
an illustrious Rishi’s daughter, who, though beautiful and chaste, did not
obtain a husband. The lady satisfied, by severe Tapas, the Deva Shankara (Lord
Shiva). The Lord Shankara, satisfied at
her penances, told her Himself, ‘You ask the boon you desire.’ Thus addressed,
the lady repeatedly said to the boon-giving Supreme Lord (Lord Shiva), ‘I desire to obtain a husband possessed
of every accomplishment.’ (Lord) Shankara,
the chief of Devas, pleased with her, gave her the boon she asked, saying, ‘You
shall have, friendly lady, five husbands.’ The lady, who had succeeded in pleasing
the Deva, said again, ‘O Shankara, I desire to have from You only one husband
possessed of every Dharma?’ The Devon ke Dev (Lord Shiva), well-pleased with her, spoke again,
saying, ‘You have, O lady, addressed me five full times, repeating, ‘Give me a
husband.’ Therefore, O friendly one, it shall be as you have asked. Blessed be you.
All this, however, will happen in a future life of yours!’
“(Maharishi) Vyasa
continued, ‘O Drupada, this your daughter of divine beauty is that lady.
Indeed, the faultless Krishna (Draupadi) sprung from Prishata’s race has been pre-ordained to become the common
wife of five husbands. The divine Sri, having undergone severe Tapas, has, for
the sake of the Pandavas, had her birth as your daughter, in the course of your
grand yagna. That beautiful goddess (Sri), waited upon by all Devas, as a consequence of her own acts becomes
the (common) wife of five husbands.
It is for this that the self-create (Lord Brahma) had created her. Having listened to all this, O king Drupada, do what you
desire.’”
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