Ashtavakra’s marriage – 1 : aSTAvakrA’s northward journey to Kubera’s kingdom, kailAsa and beyond : from Mahabharata Anusasana Parva

Ashtavakra Gita : In Sanskrit : http://sanskritdocuments.org/all_pdf/ashtgita.pdf

Ashtavakra Gita : Sanskrit text and translation by Swami Nitya Swarupananda : http://www.scribd.com/doc/2673274/AshTavakra-Geeta

Ashtavakra Gita : Sri Ramana Maharshi Site : with Audio : http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/ashtavakragita.html

Story of marriage of Ashtavakra : http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13a019.htm

There are many dharma and karma duties that couples must do together and which single people are not eligible for.

Dharmaraja Yudhisthira wanted to know about marriage.

1. If marriage is for going to heaven, and spouses die at different times, does it make sense?
2. Is marriage only for having  children for dharmic reasons?
3. Is marriage only for the pleasure of a spouse?

In answering this question, Bhishma told Dharmaraja the story of Ashtavakra’s marriage.

Ashtavakra, of severe penances asked RSi vadanya for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Her name was suprabha.

“In beauty she was unrivalled on Earth. In virtues, dignity, conduct, and manners, she was superior to all the girls. By a glance alone that girl of beautiful eyes had robbed him of his heart even as a delightful grove in spring, adorned with flowers, robs the spectator of his heart.”

Vadanya laid down a condition. Go North, he said!

“‘Passing over the kingdom of kubEra, you will cross the Himavat mountains.

Then you will see the plateau on which Rudra resides.

• It is inhabited by Siddhas and Charanas.
• It abounds with the associates of Mahadeva, frolicsome and fond of dance and possessed of diverse forms.
• It is peopled with also many Pisachas, O master, of diverse forms and all daubed with fragrant powders of diverse hues, and dancing with joyous hearts in accompaniment with instruments of different kinds made of brass.
• Surrounded by these who move with electric rapidity in the mazes of the dance or refrain at times altogether from forward or backward or transverse motion of every kind, Mahadeva dwells there.
• That delightful spot on the mountains, we have heard, is the favourite abode of the great Deity.
• It is said that that great god as also his associates are always present there.
• It was there that the goddess Uma practised the severest austerities for the sake of (obtaining for her lord) the three-eyed Deity.
• Hence, it is said, that spot is much liked by both Mahadeva and Uma.
• In days of yore there, on the heights of the Mahaparswa, which are situate to the north of the mountains sacred to Mahadeva, the sessions (yugas?), and the last Night(kAlarAtri), and many deities, and many human beings also (of the foremost order), in their embodied forms, had adored Mahadeva. ”

Further north there is a beautiful, blue, cloud like forest. A lovely lady tapasvi dwells there. Go and revere her and come back and you shall have my daughter’s hand in marriage.

On going north, aSTAvakra, came upon the river bahudaa.

• He bathed in the tIrtha and offered water to the dEvAs.
• He spread some kus’a grass and rested during the night.
• In the morning he performed agnihOtra with vedc chants.
• He worshipped rudra and uma.
• He rested at a lake in the course of the river.

Further he saw the mandAkini and the naLini.

• The Rakshasas led by maNibhadra, who protected the naLini lake came and received him with honour and informed him that kubEra was coming out to greet him.
• vais’rAvaNa (the son of vis’ravas, the son of pulastya) kubEra (the half brother of Ravana रावण) together with the yakSAs, Kinnaras, gandharvAs and Apsarasas, entertained him with  music and dance. He spent a divya samvatsara there.

Further north, he crossed kailAsa, mandAra and the suvarNa parvatAs.

“Beyond those high and great mountains is situated that excellent region where Mahadeva, dressed as an humble ascetic, has taken up his residence. He circumambulated the spot, with concentrated mind, bending his head in reverence the while. Descending then on the Earth, he considered himself sanctified for having obtained a sight of that holy spot which is the abode of mahAdEva. Having circumambulated that mountain thrice, the Rishi, with face turned towards the north, proceeded with a joyous heart.”

Further north was a beautiful forest.

• It was adorned with the fruits and roots of every season,
• and it resounded with the music of winged warblers numbering by thousands.
• There were many delightful groves throughout the forest.
• The illustrious Rishi then beheld a charming hermitage.
• The Rishi saw also many golden hills decked with gems and possessed of diverse forms.
• In the begemmed soil he saw many lakes and tanks also.
• And he saw diverse other objects that were exceedingly delightful.
• Beholding these things, the mind of that Rishi of cleansed soul became filled with joy.
• He then saw a beautiful mansion made of gold and adorned with gems of many kinds. Of wonderful structure, that mansion surpassed the place of Kubera himself in every respect.
• Around it there were many hills and mounts of jewels and gems. Many beautiful cars and many heaps of diverse kinds of jewels also were visible in that place.
• The Rishi beheld there the river Mandakini whose waters were strewn with many Mandara flowers.
• Many gems also were seen there that were self-luminous, and the soil all around was decked with diamonds of diverse species.
• The palatial mansion which the Rishi saw contained many chambers whose arches were embellished with various kinds of stones. Those chambers were adorned also with nets of pearls interspersed with jewels and gems of different species. Diverse kinds of beautiful objects capable of stealing the heart and the eye, surrounded that palace. That delightful retreat was inhabited by numerous Rishis.

Retold by Satya Sarada Kandula, based on the translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli of the Mahabharata.

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Ayudha Puja – Mahanavami – Dasara Navaratri – Pandavas – Uttara

Mahabharatam Index page.

It is all Duryodhana’s fault. I had to clean the car after a headbath..

Why you ask?

The Pandavas were in their 13th year of exile, when they had to be incognito. Duryodhana wanted to expose them so that they would go back into exile for another 13 years.

Having learned that any kingdom which had Dharmaraja Yudhisthira would be abundantly dharmic and blessed in everyway, he zeroed in on Virata Rajyam (Matsya Desa) as a likely abode of the Pandavas. having learned that the king’s fierce and aggressive brother-in-law Kichaka (kIcaka) had been killed, Duryodhana and his ally Susarman the king of the trigartas decided to launch an attack on matsya desa. The intention was to loot Matsya of its gold and diamonds etc as well as it is cattle and subjugate it to Hastinapur.  If the Pandavas were in Virata’s kingdom, they would be forced to come to battle and reveal themselves.

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then, O Lord of earth, those warriors, the Trigartas, accompanied by their infantry of terrible prowess, marched towards the south-eastern direction, intending to wage hostilities with Virata from the desire of seizing his kine. And Susarman set out on the seventh day of the dark fortnight for seizing the kine. And then, O king, on the eighth day following of the dark fortnight, the Kauravas also accompanied by all their troops, began to seize the kine by thousands.” (Source)

“And it was on the expiry of the thirteenth year of their exile, O Bharata, that Susarman seized Virata’s cattle by thousands.”

Virata, the king of Matsya Desa, accompanied by his brothers and the brothers of Arjuna, went off to defend his land, his cattle and his sovereignity. After a fierce battle, Susarman and Viarata got into a fierce single combat. Unfortunately, Susarman captured Virata and started carrying him off in his chariot. Dharmaraja asked Bhima to liberate Virata without any display of his super-human powers and strength. Then the Panadava brothers put up such a fight, dispatching the enemy to the abode of Yama in thousands. Bhima rescued Virata and insisted that Susarman declare himself a slave. However Yudhisthira forgave him and set him free.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘When the king of the Matsyas, anxious of recovering the kine, had set out in pursuit of the Trigartas, Duryodhana with his counsellors invaded the dominions of Virata. And Bhishma and Drona, and Karna, and Kripa acquainted with the best of weapons, Aswatthaman, and Suvala’s son, and Dussasana, O lord of men, and Vivingsati and Vikarna and Chitrasena endued with great energy, and Durmukha and Dussaha,–these and many other great warriors, coming upon the Matsya dominion speedily drove off the cowherds of king Virata and forcibly took away the kine.”

The cowherds raised an alarm and complained to Bhuminjaya Uttara, the son of Virata who had been left behind to guard the women folk. He claimed that If Only he had a charioteer he would take on the entire Kaurava force.

Sairandhri (Draupadi द्रौपदी अग्निपुत्री Panchali Krishnaa), suggested that Brihannala (Arjuna in disguise) drive the chariot.

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Although that oppressor of foes, the son of Pandu, was acquainted with everything, yet in the presence of Uttara, he began to make many mistakes for the sake of fun.“

When the Uttara saw the Kurus arrayed in battle he was terrified and wanted to run away.

“Uttara said, ‘Let the Kurus rob the Matsyas off all their wealth. Let men and women, O Vrihannala, laugh at me. Let my kine perish, let the city be a desert. Let me stand exposed before my father. Still there is no need of battle.’”

When Uttara ran, behind him ran Brihannala, trying to persuade him to come ack.

“And beholding him thus running, the Kurus began to argue, ‘Who is this person, thus disguised like fire concealed in ashes? He is partly a man and partly a woman. Although bearing a neuter form, he yet resembleth Arjuna. His are the same head and neck, and his the same arms like unto a couple of maces. And this one’s gait also is like unto his. He can be none else than Dhananjaya. As Indra is among the celestials, so Dhananjaya is among men.”

Arjuna persuaded Uttara to drive his chariot towards a Sami tree on which the Panadavas had disguised all their divine weapons in the form of a corpse.

“Virata’s son, decked in ear-rings, alighted from the car, and climbed up that Sami tree reluctantly. And staying on the car, Dhananjaya, that slayer of enemies, said, unto him, ‘Speedily bring thou down those bows from the top of the tree. And cutting off their wrappings first and then the ropes with which they were tied, the prince beheld the Gandiva there along with four other bows. And as they were united, the splendour of those bows radiant as the sun, began to shine with great effulgence like unto that of the planets about the time of their rising. And beholding the forms of those bows, so like unto sighing snakes, he become afflicted with fear and in a moment the bristles of his body stood on their ends.”

…..And this is where the story of the Ayudha Puja comes. On this day in those times, did Arjuna retrieve and worship his weapons.. And in that context do we worship our own tools and implements and cars on this day…

.. yes, of course Arjuna singly defeated the Kurus and saved the Matsya kingdom.. but you already knew that, no?

..and thus did Uttara become the sarathi of the Arjuna whose sarathi was Sri Krishna himself in the Mahabharata war!

Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula.

Draupadi Harana : Jayadratha tries to kidnap Draupadi

Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula

This story is a prelude to Markandeya’s narration of Ramayanam within the Mahabharata. You can easily how the nasty Jayadratha emulates Ravana in attempting to carry away a married woman when her husbands are not around to protect her. You can see how the Saubala of the Ikshvakus and Kotikakhya of Sibi’s race don’t dissuade Jayadratha from this action. Finally you can see Dhaumya saying that “you must fight her husbands before you can take her away” and Arjuna asking “how an unmanly fellow” could even try an abduction. You also see Dharmaja forgiving a crook that deserved to be hung and you end up siding with Bhima and Draupadi. I should of thought that Dussala would be well rid of a guy like Jayadratha, but I speak 5000 years after the event and it is wrong to judge the dharma of another time and place by today’s standards.  Ravana comes off looking much better than Jayadratha, at  least based on this story. Read on!

Reference : Mahabharata : Vana Parva  : Book 3

While the Pandavas were in the Kamyaka forest, they often went hunting, leaving Draupadi in the care of Dhaumya, their priest. At this time Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu, (area around the river), the son of Vriddhakshatra,  the husband of Duryodhana’s sister Dussala, passed through Kamyaka forest on the way to Salwa Desa. There he saw the stunningly beautiful Draupadi. Desiring this damsel he sent Kotika to find out who she was.

Kotikakhya wonderingly asked her if she was of divine or exotic origin and asked her to tell him her father’s or husband’s name. He introduced himself as the son of King Suratha and also pointed out “the dark and handsome young man, the scourge of his enemies” the son of Subala of the race of Ikshwaku. He also pointed out Kshemankara, the king of Trigarta, and the son of the king of Pulinda. He finally indicated Jayadratha, the king of Sauviras. (Chanakya mentions Sauvira negatively in the Kautilya Arthasastra). Kotika pointed out Angaraka, Kunjara, Guptaka, Satrunjaya, Srinjaya, Suprabiddha, Prabhankara, Bhramara, Ravi, Sura, Pratapa and Kuhana, the princes of Sauvira as well as Valahaka, Anika, Vidarana and other brothers of Jayadratha.

Draupadi respectfully recognised that Kotika was a descendant of the noble Sibi Chakravarthi and explaining that her husbands had gone hunting, she requested them to wait and accept the hospitality of Dharmaraja on his return.

Kotika returned back to Jayadratha who was smitten by Draupadi’s beauty and encouraged him in his inclination to take her away.

Jayadratha went up to Draupadi and inquired about the welfare of her husbands and other people dear to her. She in turn respectfully inquired after him and his kingdoms of Sivi, Sindhu and Saivya, etc. And offered to serve the meat of various animals to him ans his retinue once her husbands were back.

Jayadratha then started beseeching her to go away with him and desert her husbands who had fallen upon bad times. Draupadi pointed out that it was wrong to desert one’s spouses when they were in difficulty and then gave him a rather long and deliberately delaying speech on exactly the sort of bad time her husbands would give him on their return.

Jayadratha then said “thou canst not frighten us now with these threats. We, too, O Krishna, belong by birth to the seventeen high clans, and are endowed with the six royal qualities.” and was sure that he could beat the Pandavas in battle.

Draupadi said “Even Indra himself cannot abduct her for whose protection Krishna and Arjuna would together follow, riding in the same chariot.” And she spoke of the way in which Jishnu (Arjuna) would rout Jayadratha and his armies. She also said, “The warring princes of the Andhaka and the Vrishni races, with Janardana at their head, and the mighty bowmen of the Kaikeya tribe, will all follow in my wake with great ardour.”

Failing with words Jayadratha tried violence and she called for Dhaumya’s help.  Though she pushed him to the ground, he overpowered her and forced her onto his chariot.

Dhaumya and Aruni : A different story

Dhaumya then addressed Jayadratha and  said, ‘Do thou, O Jayadratha, observe the ancient custom of the Kshatriyas. Thou canst not carry her off without having vanquished those great warriors. Without doubt, thou shalt reap the painful fruits of this thy despicable act, when thou encounterest the heroic sons of Pandu with Yudhishthira the just at their head!’” Then he followed behind the chariot.

Meanwhile the Pandavas had finished their hunt and Yudhisthira observed that all the animals were disturbed in one direction and was suddenly overcome by premonitions.  So he and his brother climbed their chariots pulled by horses of Saindhava breed and gave chase in the direction of the disturbance.

They stopped by the hermitage, and Indrasena, their charioteer alighted from the chariot and questioned Dhatreyika, the maid of Draupadi, who explained all that took place. She pointed the track along which Jayadratha had departed and asked them to hurry. They also saw Dhaumya calling to them to hurry up. They asked Dhaumya to stop running and they caught up with Jayadratha and the rest.

Jayadratha meanwhile was scared and he asked Draupadi to point out each of the Pandavas to him.

Yajnaseni (Draupadi) said, “ Having done this violent deed calculated to shorten thy life, what will it avail thee now, O fool, to know the names of those great warriors, for, now that my heroic husbands are come, not one of ye will be left alive in battle. However as thou art on the point of death and hast asked me, I will tell thee everything, this being consistent with the ordinance. Beholding king Yudhishthira the just with his younger brothers, I have not the slighest anxiety or fear from thee! That warrior at the top of whose flagstaff two handsome and sonorous tabours called Nanda and Upananda are constantly played upon,–he, O Sauvira chief, hath a correct knowledge of the morality of his own acts. Men that have attained success always walk in his train. With a complexion like that of pure gold, possessed of a prominent nose and large eyes, and endued with a slender make, that husband of mine is known among people by the name of Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma and the foremost of the Kuru race. That virtuous prince of men granteth life to even a foe that yields. Therefore, O fool, throwing down thy arms and joining thy hands, run to him for thy good, to seek his protection. And that other man whom thou seest with long arms and tall as the full-grown Sala tree, seated on his chariot, biting his lips, and contracting his forehead so as to bring the two eye-brows together, is he,–my husband Vrikodara! Steeds of the noblest breed, plump and strong, well-trained and endued with great might, draw the cars of that warrior! His achievements are superhuman. He is known, therefore, by the name of Bhima on earth. They that offend him are never suffered to live. He never forgetteth a foe. On some pretext or other he wrecketh his vengeance. Nor is he pacified even after he has wrecked a signal vengeance. And there, that foremost of bowmen, endued with intelligence and renown, with senses under complete control and reverence for the old–that brother and disciple of Yudhishthira–is my husband Dhananjaya! Virtue he never forsaketh, from lust or fear or anger! Nor doth he ever commit a deed that is cruel. Endued with the energy of fire and capable of withstanding every foe, that grinder of enemies is the son of Kunti. And that other youth, versed in every question of morality and profit, who ever dispelleth the fears of the affrighted, who is endued with high wisdom, who is considered as the handsomest person in the whole world and who is protected by all the sons of Pandu, being regarded by them as dearer to them than their own lives for his unflinching devotion to them, is my husband Nakula possessed of great prowess. Endued with high wisdom and having Sahadeva for his second, possessed of exceeding lightness of hand, he fighteth with the sword, making dexterous passes therewith. Thou, foolish man, shall witness today his performances on the field of battle, like unto those of Indra amid the ranks of Daityas! And that hero skilled in weapons and possessed of intelligence and wisdom, and intent on doing what is agreeable to the son of Dharma, that favourite and youngest born of the Pandavas, is my husband Sahadeva! Heroic, intelligent, wise and ever wrathful there is not another man equal unto him in intelligence or in eloquence amid assemblies of the wise. Dearer to Kunti than her own soul, he is always mindful of the duties of Kshatriyas, and would much sooner rush into fire or sacrifice his own life than say anything that is opposed to religion and morals. When the sons of Pandu will have killed thy warriors in battle, then wilt thou behold thy army in the miserable plight of a ship on the sea wrecked with its freight of jewels on the back of a whale.”

Then follows the exciting description of a battle in which the 5 pandavas routed the Sauviras, Ikshwakus, Sivis, and Saindhavas and their armies. Of which I will only point out that Bhima’s mace  was made “entirely of Saikya iron and embossed with gold.“

Bhima asked Dharmaja to return with Draupadi, the twins and Dhaumya to the hermitage while he caught Jayadratha who had run away from the battle field and killed him. But Dharmaja urged Bhima to spare Jayadratha’s life for the sake of Dussala and Gandhari, much to the indignation of Draupadi.

Bhima and Arjuna caught up with Jayadratha and Arjuna asked him how an unmanly fellow like himself had the guts to take a woman away by force. Thereafter there was more running away than actual fighting and Bhima caught Jayadratha and wanted to kill him. Arjuna reminded him of Dharmaja’s words, so the annoyed Bhima shaved Jayadratha’s head in 5 places and made him swear to declare himself the slave of the Pandavas in public.

They brought the chained Jayadratha back to the hermitage where Dharamaraja did his “forgiving and exhortation of virtue” routine (which possibly annoyed Bhima and Draupadi even more than Jayadratha’s behaviour.)

Once lectured upon and freed Jayadratha took of on a plan of vengeance which ultimately resulted in Abhimanyu’s death.. but that as I say.. is another story. And Arjuna did kill Jayadratha then.

Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula