Keśinī met Bāhuka and asked him when they had started for Vidarbha, how long they had travelled and what the purpose of their visit was. He told her that they had started their journey the previous evening and come to attend the second svayamvara of Damayantī.
Keśinī – Who is the other person who has accompanied you on the trip? How do you know him and what is he here for? What is your occupation?
Bāhuka – His name is Vāṛṣṇeya; he was the...
The brāhmaṇas left in search of Naḻa, as per the words of Damayantī. Several days later, a brāhmaṇa named Parṇāda came back and said to Damayantī, “Mother! As per your directions, I set out in the search for the king of Niṣadha, Naḻa, and after traveling for many days, I ended up in the royal court of Ayodhya. I narrated your account there. Neither the king Ṛtuparṇa nor his associates had anything to say about this. However, his charioteer,...
Thereafter Damayantī continued walking in the dense forest. After crossing several hills, mountains, and rivers she finally came across a walking trail. She began walking on the path when she found a river that had a fleet of merchant ships parked on its bank. Emaciated, with dishevelled hair, and covered in but half a sari, Damayantī appeared like a mad woman; looking at her, some shrunk away in fear, some ran away, and some others mocked her...
Kali had to wait for a whole twelve years until he could find a flaw in Naḻa. He went to Naḻa’s friend Puṣkara, instigated him to invite Naḻa to play a game of dice, and he (i.e. Kali) entered the dice that would be used for the gamble. When invited, Naḻa could not refuse to play. Falling prey to Kali’s rage, Naḻa lost all his gold, wealth, chariots, and so forth even as Damayantī watched the game. The madness of the game befuddled his mind and...
There lived a king named Naḻa in the province of Niṣadha. He was strong, virtuous, handsome, and was considered foremost among the kings. The province of Vidarbha was ruled by a king named Bhīma who had a daughter named Damayantī and three sons – Dama, Dānta, and Damana. Damayantī’s beauty and noble character was known far and wide. It appeared that men and devatas had never seen a lady like her. Anyone who came to see her spoke highly of Naḻa...
Arjuna stood there and undertook a terrible penance, subsisting entirely on fruits and leaves. Aggrieved by this, all the great seers in that region went to meet Śiva. Giving them solace, Śiva said, “All you return to your homes with joy and contentment; I know about Arjuna’s saṅkalpa (intention, conviction); he desires not the heavens, or wealth, or long life; what he wishes for, I shall send it to him at once!” He then donned the garb of a...
Draupadī said, “I am not denigrating dharma nor am I criticizing the Supreme; I'm just lamenting about my difficulties. The fruit of the action manifests itself only through karma, not through dharma; a man who falls asleep, entirely dependent on fate gets destroyed like a green pot kept in water. A capable man should not sit idle and silent for a long time, like one who is helpless. If one lacks competence, the fruits of his actions might be...
Kirmīra was an asura endowed with magical powers who inhabited the Kāmyaka forest. He was a brother of Bakāsura and a friend of Hiḍimba; Bhīma killed him. When Vidura visited the Pāṇḍavas in the forest, Kirmīra’s fallen body was still lying there. Having seen this and heard all the details about the episode, Vidura told Dhṛtarāṣṭra later on, after he returned to Hastinagara. When they learnt about the exile of the Pāṇḍavas to the forest, kings...
ARAṆYA-PARVA
After the Pāṇḍavas lost the game of dice, they took their weapons and set out along with Draupadī in a northern direction, leaving Hastinagara behind. Seeing them, the citizens of the town were distressed. Without fear, the townsfolk hurled curses on Bhīṣma, Vidura, and Droṇa – “If they govern the kingdom according to the whims of the sinner Duryodhana, Śakuni, Karṇa, and Duśśāsana, what will happen to our homes and āśramas – will...
Śakuni said, “King Yudhiṣṭhira! Dhṛtarāṣṭra has arranged for the return of all your wealth; what he’s done is right. I’ve now suggested a condition that’s greater than acquiring wealth. If you defeat us in the game of dice, we shall don garments made from deerskin and retire to the forest for twelve years; then we will spend the thirteenth year incognito. If you find our whereabouts in the thirteenth year, we’ll stay in the forest for twelve...