“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Then the son of the wielder of Vajra (Wielder
of Vajra is Lord Indra; the son of Lord Indra is Arjuna) narrated everything to those Brahmanas (residing with him there), set out for the chest of Himavat (modern-day
Himalayas). Arriving at the spot called
Agastyavata, he next went to Vasishtha’s peak (Vasishtha Parvata in
Sanskrit). From there, the son of Kunti (Arjuna) proceeded to the peak of Bhrigu (Bhrigutunga
in Sanskrit) (Likely to be located near to modern day Rohtang Pass, which is 51
km from Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India).
Purifying himself with bathing and other rites there, that foremost of the
Kurus (Arjuna) gave away to
Brahmanas many thousands of cows and many houses. From there that best of men
proceeded to the sacred Teertha called Hiranyabindu (A bath in this teertha
will wash off one's sins. Hiranyabindu is situated on the top of Mount
Kalanjara). Performing his bathing
there, that foremost of the sons of Pandu (Arjuna) saw many holy regions.
“Descending from those heights that chief of men (Arjuna), O Bharata (Janamejaya), accompanied by the Brahmanas, journeyed
towards the east, desiring to see the regions that lay in that direction. That
foremost one of Kuru’s race (Arjuna)
saw many regions of sacred waters one after another. Looking in the forest of
Naimisha (Naimishaaranya in Sanskrit),
the delightful river Utpalini (full of lotuses), the Nanda (possibly modern-day Mahananda river) and the Apara Nanda, the far-famed Kaushiki
(present-day Koshi river), the
mighty rivers Gaya and Ganga, and all the regions of sacred water, he purified
himself, O Bharata (Janamejaya), (with
the usual rites), and gave away many
cows to Brahmanas. Whatever regions of sacred waters and whatever other holy
palaces there were in Vanga (present-day Bengal region in India) and Kalinga (covering present-day
Odisha region in India), Arjuna visited
all of them. Seeing them all and performing proper ceremonies, he (Arjuna) gave away much wealth. Then, O Bharata (Janamejaya), all those Brahmanas following the Pandava
(Arjuna), gave him farewell at the
gate of the kingdom of Kalinga and held back from proceeding with him any
further.
“The brave Dhananjaya (Arjuna),
the son of Kunti, obtaining their leave, went towards the ocean, accompanied by
only a few attendants. Crossing the country of the Kalingas, the mighty one (Arjuna) proceeded, seeing on his way various
countries, sacred spots, diverse delightful mansions and houses. Looking the
Mahendra mountain (present-day Mahendragiri in the Gajapati district,
Odisha state, India) adorned with the Rishis
(residing there), he went to
Manipura (on the coastal Odisha),
proceeding slowly along the sea-shore. Looking all the sacred waters and other
holy places in that province, the strong-armed son of Pandu (Arjuna) at last went, O king (Janamejaya), to the Dharmic Chitravaahana, the ruler
of Manipura. The king of Manipura had a daughter of great beauty named Chitraangada.
“It so happened that Arjuna saw her (Chitraangada) in her father’s palace roaming at
pleasure. Looking the beautiful daughter of Chitravaahana, Arjuna desired to
possess her. Going to the king (her father), he represented to him what he sought. He said ‘Give away to me your
daughter, O king! I am an illustrious Kshatriya’s son.’ Hearing this, the king (Chitravaahana) asked him, ‘Whose son are you?’ Arjuna
replied, ‘I am Dhananjaya (Arjuna),
the son of Pandu and Kunti.’ The king (Chitravaahana), hearing this, spoke to him these words in sweet accents, ‘There was
in our race a king of the name of Prabhanjana, who was childless. To obtain a
child, he underwent severe Tapas. By his severe Tapas, O Paartha (Arjuna), he gratified that Devon ke Dev, Mahadeva (Lord
Shiva), the husband of Uma, that supreme
Lord holding (the mighty bow called)
Pinaaka. The illustrious Lord (Lord Shiva) granted him the boon that each successive descendant of his race
should have one child only. In consequence of that boon only one child is born
to every successive descendant of this race. All my ancestors (one after
another) had each a male child. I,
however, have only a daughter to continue my race. But, O bull among men (Arjuna), I ever look upon this daughter of mine as
my son. O bull of Bharata’s race (Arjuna), I have duly made her a Putrika. Therefore, one among the sons that
may be fathered upon her by you, O Bharata (Arjuna), shall be the preserver of my race. That son is the dowry for which I
may give away my daughter. O son of Pandu (Arjuna), if then choose, you can take her upon this understanding.’
“Hearing these words of the king, Arjuna accepted them all, saying, ‘So
be it.’ Taking Chitravaahana’s daughter (as his wife), the son of Kunti resided in that city for three years. When Chitraangada
at last gave birth to a son, Arjuna embraced that beautiful princess
affectionately. Taking leave of the king (her father), he set out on his wanderings again.’”
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