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Friday, July 29, 2022

astra

Brahmastra

It was the most common devine weapon used in the war.

Only in last battle of Karn-Arjun, this weapon was used 4 times.

Guru Drona also used this weapon multiple times, and so do Yudhhisthir (once).

Arjun and Karn also used it against other opponents.

Vayavyastra

Karn used this weapon against Ghatotkachha.

Arjun used it clear clouds against Karn.

Guru Drona used it against Arjun.

Aswatthama also used it against Ghatotkach.

Agneyastra

Arjun used it against Karn.

Aswathhama used it against Arjun.

Karn used against Arjun.

Varunastra

Karn used it against Arjun, to counter Agneyastra.

Guru Drona used it against Arjun.

Narayanastra

Aswathhama used it against Pandava warriors.

Brahmashirastra

Aswathhama used it on Uttara’s womb.

Arjun invoked and withdrew it twice.

Rudrastra

Aswathhama used it on Panchal soldiers.

Arjun invoked it to kill Karn, but his chariot stuck into the ground and Arjun withdrew it.

Aindrastra

Arjun used it to counter Karn’s brahmastra.

He also used it against many Kuru Warriors including Pitamah and defeated them on 3rd day.

Vajrastra

Arjun used it against Samsaptakas.

Vaishnavastra

Bhagadatta used it to kill Arjun, but Lord Krishna took his weapon back.

Bhargavastra

Karn used it against Panchala and Pandava army.

Only Karn possessed this weapon.

Pashupata (Some unknown weapon of Lord Shiva) and Tvashtra

Guru Drona used it on Arjun.

Arjun nullified it.

Note, it is not the Pashupatastra Arjun got, Pashupata also means weapon of Pashupati.

Vajra (another unknown weapon, possibly it is Vajra of Indradev, but controversial since there were many Vajras)

Lord Shiva’s Vajra was used by Ghatotkachha on Aswathhama and Karn.

Aswathhama used Vajra too.

Anjalika Astra

Used by Ghatotkachha on Karn perhaps.

Arjun used it against Karn to kill him.

Gandharvastra

Abhimanyu used it inside chakravyuh.

Bhaskara

Abhimanyu used it against demon Alambush to destroy his illusions.

Nagastra

Arjun used on Samsaptaka warriors.

Garunastra

Susharma used to counter Arjun’s Nagastra.

Vasawi Shakti

Karn used it to kill Ghatotkachha

Pramohanastra

Dristadyumna invoked it.

Prajnastra

Aswathhama used it to neutralise Pramohanastra.

Parjanyastra

Arjun used to quench Pitamah’s thirst.

Jyotikshastra

Arjun used it against Shakuni’s illusion.

Adityastra

Arjun used it against Shakuni to dry up water.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mahabharata+astra 

Advanced Vyuhas (military formations) used in war:

1. Chakra vyuha – formation of concentric circles in layers.

2. Shakata vyuha – formation of a cart wheel

3. Mandala vyuha – circular formation ( dont know how this is different from the above)

4. Urmi vuyha – formation resembling ocean’s waves

5. Sarvatobhadra vyuha – meaning “safe on all sides” – seems to have been a kind of square array in which the troops faced all the points of the compass (as per KMG interpretation)

6. Garuda vyuha (Garuda – The Mighty Bird).

7. Krauncha vyuha ( Krauncha is bird with a sharp pointed beak)

8. Vajra vyuha ( in the shape of the thunderbolt)

9. Suchimukha vyuha ( formation in the shape of a needle)

10.Padma vyuha (formation of a blooming lotus)

11. Sura & Asura vyuha hv been mentioned as well (cant interpret how they were)

12. ArdhaChandraakara vyuha (crescent shpe)

13. Makara vyuha ( crocodile-shaped)

Each formation was met by a counter formation by the other side.  For instance, the Sarpa Vyuha was met with Garuda Vyuha(Serpent formation against Eagle.  The Heron Formation was usually met with Garuda or eagle Formation’Eagle is a Natural Enemy of Heron.

There were also courses to get into and out of each formation.  These were fought while being taught the Dhanur Vidya.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Dhanur+Vidya

21 Battle Formations

 Here is a quick and dirty list of all battle formations used in the Mahabharata war: 

  1. Sarvatomukhi Danda Vyuha or the ‘Outward Facing’ Formation – used by the Kauravas on Day 1
  2. Krauncharuma Vyuha or the Crane Formation – used by the Pandavas on Day 2, and by the Kauravas on Day 6.
  3. Garuda Vyuha or the Eagle Formation – used by the Kauravas on Days 3 and 12.
  4. Ardhachandra Vyuha or the Semicircle / Crescent Formation – used by the Pandavas on Days 3, 12 and 16.
  5. Makara Vyuha or the Alligator Formation – used by the Kauravas on Days 5 and 16, and by the Pandavas on Day 6.
  6. Syena Vyuha or the Hawk Formation – used by the Pandavas on Day 5.
  7. Mandala Vyuha or the Circle Formation – used by the Kauravas on Day 7, and by the Pandavas on Day 9
  8. Vajra Vyuha or the Diamond Formation – used by the Pandavas on Days 1 and 7.
  9. Oormi Vyuha or the Ocean Wave Formation – used by the Kauravas on Day 8
  10. Sringataka Vyuha or the Horn Formation – used by the Pandavas on Day 8
  11. Sarvatobhadra Vyuha or the ‘Safe from all Sides’ Formation – used by the Kauravas on Day 9
  12. Asura Vyuha – used by the Kauravas on Day 10
  13. Daiva Vyuha – used by the Pandavas on Day 10
  14. Chakra Vyuha or the Chariot Wheel Formation – used by the Kauravas on Day 13
  15. Sakata Vyuha (Box Formation), Padma Vyuha (Lotus Formation) and the Soochimukha Vyuha (Needle Face Formation) – used by the Kauravas on Day 14

stupor

 Dhrishtadyumna had a secret weapon, which he had obtained from Dronacharya and, discharging it, threw the enemy forces into a stupor. But Duryodhana then joined the fray and discharged weapons to counter the stupor weapons of Dhrishtadyumna. 

https://blessingsonthenet.com/indianculture/section/articles/218/mahabharata-chapter-sixty-nine

Saturday, July 16, 2022

grief

Shantanu->Lost 9 children.

Satyavati -> Though she had got wat she wanted, she had to endure the death of her two sons….

Amba -> Abandoned in love. Had to jump in fire out of despair.

Ambika, Ambalika -> Lost husband at a tender age. Had to sleep with a stranger to get children.

Dhritarashtra -> Was denied kingship bcoz of his blindness. Son got denied too.

Gandhari -> Married to a blind man. Lost all her sons in the war.

Pandu -> Impotent/Cursed to not father a child. Not a very easy thing for a man, especially when he is a King.

Kunti -> Went through exile at a young age. Had to sleep with strangers to get children at the order of her husband. Lost her husband. Had the guilt of abandaning her firstborn. Lost her first son.

Madri -> Died with the guilt of having caused her husband’s death.

Vidur -> Berrated all his life as a Kshatta. Nobody gave him the due he deserved.

Pandavas -> Fatherless. Uncertain future. Exiled. Survived murder conspiracies. Lost all children in war.

Duryodhan n Kauravas -> Father denied throne. He too almost denied throne. Lived a life of insecurity. Lost sons n everyone. Died a brutal death.

Karna -> Abandoned at childhood. Had a huge moral dilemma of fighting against own brothers. Lost his sons before dying.

Draupadi -> Gambled Away by husband. Assaulted. Disrobed. Exiled. Almost kidnapped. Molested again. Lost father, brother, children in war.

Hidimba -> Lived alone in woods. Lost her son.

Abhimanyu -> Died a brutal death.

Subhadra n other Kuru wives -> Lost their sons.

Iravan -> Remained without father. Died for father, but never got his due.

Uttara -> Lost father, brother n husband at a tender age.

Shakuni -> Lived supporting his ill-fated sister. Lost family in the war. Probably the least unfortunate of the lot.

Lord Krishna -> Almost survived infanticide. Saw his entire family getting destroyed.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Mahabharata+grief

Vidura remembered

  1. by Dhritarashtra frequently
  2. by arjuna while seeing carnage on Mahabharata war
  3. by shakuni after his son was killed
  4. by duryodana after defeat in  Mahabharata war
  5. by krishna while leaving earth

https://www.google.com/search?q=remembered+vidura

Friday, July 15, 2022

mallet

https://www.google.com/search?q=mallet

Soon, however, the mighty car-warrior Savyasaci (Arjuna) made his adversary steedless and driverless and carless, and without putting forth much strength pierced him with three arrows. Staying on that steedless car, Drona's son, smiling the while, hurled at the son of Pandu a heavy mallet that looked like a dreadful mace with iron-spikes. Beholding that weapon, which was decked with cloth of gold, coursing towards him, the heroic Partha, that slayer of foes, cut it off into seven fragments. Seeing his mallet cut off, Drona's son of great wrath took up a terrible mace equipped with iron spikes and looking like a mountain summit. Accomplished in battle, the son of Drona hurled it then at Partha. Beholding that spiked mace coursing towards him like the Destroyer himself in rage, Pandu's son Arjuna quickly cut it off with five excellent shafts. Cut off with Partha's shafts in that great battle, that weapon fell down on the Earth, riving the hearts, as it were, O Bharata, of the (hostile) kings. 

https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09014.htm

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

Pradakshina

 Arjuna got down from his chariot and went around the fallen Bhagadatta through Pradakshina to pay his last respects to his father's friend, one of the greatest warriors since he was too a Indra's son.

https://longestepic.blogspot.com/search/label/FormostofAllElephantWarriors

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

chamber

(When morning dawned), king Yudhishthira rose from his bed. 

  1. Paniswanikas and Magadhas and Madhuparkikas and Sutas, gratified that bull among men (with songs and music). And 
  2. dancers began their dance, and 
  3. sweet-voiced singers sang their sweet songs fraught with the praises of the Kuru race. And 
  4. skilled musicians, well-trained (in their respective instruments), played on Mridangas and Jharjharas and Bheris, and Panavas, and Anakas, and Gomukhas, and Adamvaras, and conchs, and Dundubhis of loud sound, and diverse other instruments. 
That loud noise, deep as the roar of the clouds, touched the very heavens. And it awoke that foremost of kings, viz., Yudhishthira, from his slumber. Having slept happily on his excellent and costly bed, the king awoke.

And the monarch, rising from his bed, proceeded to the bath-room for performing those acts that were absolutely necessary. 

Then a hundred and eight servants, attired in white, themselves washed, and all young, approached the king with many golden jars filled to the brim. Seated at his ease on a royal seat, attired in a thin cloth, the king bathed in several kinds of water fragrant with sandal-wood and purified with Mantras. 

His body was rubbed by strong and well-trained servants with water in which diverse kinds of medicinal herbs had been soaked. He then washed with adhivasha water rendered fragrant by various odoriferous substances. 

Obtaining then a long piece of cloth (for the head) that was as white as the feathers of the swan, and that had been kept loose before him, the king tied it round his head for drying the water. Smearing his body then with excellent sandal-paste, and wearing floral garlands, and addressing himself in clean robes, the mighty-armed monarch sat with face towards the cast, and his hands joined together. Following the path of the righteous, the son of Kunti then mentally said his prayers. And then with great humility he entered the chamber in which the blazing fire (for worship) was kept. And having worshipped the fire with faggots of sacred wood and with libations of clarified butter sanctified with Mantras, he came out of the chamber. 

Then that tiger among men, entering a second chamber, beheld there many bulls among Brahmanas well-acquainted with the Vedas. And they were all self-restrained, purified by the study of the Vedas and by vows. And all of them had undergone the bath on the completion of sacrifices performed by them. Worshippers of the Sun, they numbered a thousand. And, besides them, there were also eight thousand others of the same class. And the mighty-armed son of Pandu, having caused them to utter, in distinct voices, agreeable benedictions, by making presents to them of honey and clarified butter and auspicious fruits of the best kind, gave unto each of them a nishka of gold, a hundred steeds decked with ornaments, and costly robes and such other presents as were agreeable to them. And making unto them presents also of kine yielding milk whenever touched, with calves and having their horns decked with gold and their hoofs with silver, the son of Pandu circumambulated them. And then seeing and touching Swastikas fraught with increase of good fortune, and Nandyavartas made of gold, and floral garlands, water-pots and blazing fire, and vessels full of sun-dried rice and other auspicious articles, and the yellow pigment prepared from the urine of the cow, and auspicious and well-decked maidens, and curds and clarified butter and honey, and auspicious birds and diverse other things held sacred, the son of Kunti came into the outer chamber. 

Then, O mighty-armed one, the attendants waiting in that chamber brought an excellent and costly seat of gold that was of a circular shape. Decked with pearls and lapis lazuli, and overlaid with a very costly carpet over which was spread another cloth of fine texture, that scat was the handiwork of the artificer himself. After the high-souled monarch had taken his seat, the servants brought to him all his costly and bright ornaments. The high-souled son of Kunti put on those begemmed ornaments, whereupon his beauty became such as to enhance the grief of his foes. And when the servants began to fan him with white yak-tails of the bright effulgence of the moon and all furnished with handles of gold, the king looked resplendent like a mass of clouds charged with lightning. And bards began to sing his praises, and panegyrists uttered his eulogies. And singers began to sing unto that delighter of Kuru's race, and in a moment the voices of the panegyrists swelled into a loud noise. And then was heard the clatter of car-wheels, and the tread of horse-hoofs. And in consequence of that noise mingling with the tinkle of elephants' bells and the blare of conchs and the tread of men, the very earth seemed to tremble. 

Then one of the orderlies in charge of the doors, cased in mail, youthful in years, decked with ear-rings, and his sword hanging by his side, entering the private apartment, knelt down on the ground, and saluting with (a bend of) his head the monarch who deserved every adoration, represented unto that high-souled and royal son of Dharma that Hrishikesa was waiting to be introduced. Then that tiger among men, having ordered his servants, 'Let an excellent seat and an Arghya be kept ready for him,' caused him of Vrishni's race to be introduced and seated on a costly seat. And addressing Madhava with the usual enquiries of welcome, king Yudhishthira the just duly worshipped Kesava.'

https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07079.htm 

backup

 In the middle of the night, Janardana, having awaked, remembered Partha's vow, and addressing (his charioteer) Daruka, said, 

'Arjuna, in grief for the death of his son, hath vowed. O Daruka, that before tomorrow's sun goes down he will slay Jayadratha. Hearing of this, Duryodhana will assuredly take counsel with his counsellors, about how Partha may fail to achieve his object. His several Akshauhinis of troops will protect Jayadratha. Fully conversant with the ways of applying all weapons, Drona also, with his son, will protect him. That matchless hero, the Thousand-eyed (Indra himself), that crusher of the pride of Daityas and Danavas cannot venture to slay him in battle who is protected by Drona. 

I, therefore, will do that tomorrow by which Arjuna, the son of Kunti, may slay Jayadratha before the sun sets. My wives, my kinsmen, my relatives, non amongst these is dearer to me than Arjuna. O Daruka, I shall not be able to cast my eyes, even for a single moment, on the earth bereft of Arjuna. I tell thee, the earth shall not be reft to Arjuna. 

Myself vanquishing them all with their steeds and elephants by putting forth my strength for the sake of Arjuna, I will slay them with Karna and Suyodhana. Let the three worlds tomorrow behold my prowess in great battle, when I put forth my valour, O Daruka, for Dhananjaya's sake. Tomorrow thousands of kings and hundreds of princes, with their steeds and cars and elephants, will, O Daruka, fly away from battle. Thou shalt tomorrow, O Daruka, behold that army of kings overthrown and crushed with my discus, by myself in wrath for the sake of the son of Pandu. Tomorrow the (three) worlds with the gods, the Gandharvas, the Pisachas, the Snakes, and the Rakshasas, will know me as a (true) friend of Savyasachin. He that hateth him, hateth me. He that followeth him, followeth me. Thou hast intelligence. Know that Arjuna is half of myself. 

When morning comes after the expiry of this night, thou, O Daruka, equipping my excellent car according to the rules of military science, must bring it and follow me with it carefully, placing on it my celestial mace called Kaumodaki, my dart and discus, bow and arrows, and every other thing necessary. O Suta, making room on the terrace of my car for my standard and for the heroic Garuda thereon, that adorns my umbrella, and yoking thereto my foremost of steeds named Valahaka and Meghapushpa and Saivya and Sugriva, having cased them in golden mail of the splendour of the sun and fire, and thyself putting on thy armour, stay on it carefully. 

Upon hearing the loud and terrible blast of my conch Panchajanya emitting the shrill Rishava note, 1 thou wilt come quickly to me. In course of a single day, O Daruka, I shall dispel the wrath and the diverse woes of my cousin, the son of my paternal aunt. By every means shall I strive so that Vibhatsu in battle may slay Jayadratha in the very sight of the Dhartarashtras. O charioteer, I tell thee that Vibhatsu will certainly succeed in slaying all these for whose slaughter he will strive.'

"Daruka said, 'He is certain to have victory whose charioteership, O tiger among men, hath been taken by thee. Whence, indeed, can defeat come to him? As regards myself, I will do that which thou hast commanded me to do. This night will bring (on its train) the auspicious morn for Arjuna's victory.'"

https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07076.htm 

arjuna krishna yudhisthira

 https://www.google.com/search?q=arjuna+krishna+yudhisthira

carnival

  1. Dogs and jackals, and 
  2. crown and cranes and 
  3. other carnivorous birds, and 
  4. wolves and hyenas, and ravens and 
  5. other food-drinking creatures, 
  6. all diverse tribes of Rakshasas, and 
  7. large number of Pisachas, on the field of battle, 
tearing the skins of the corpse and drinking their 
  1. fat, 
  2. blood and 
  3. marrow, 
began to eat their flesh. And they began to suck also the secretions of rotten corpses, while the Rakshasas laughed horribly and sang aloud, dragging dead bodies numbering thousands. 

An awful river, difficult to cross, like the Vaitarani itself, was caused there by foremost of warriors. 
  1. Its waters were constituted by the blood (of fallen creatures). 
  2. Cars constituted the rafts (or, which to cross it), 
  3. elephants formed its rocks, and the heads of human beings, its smaller stones. And 
  4. it was miry with the flesh (of slain steeds and elephants and men). And 
  5. diverse kinds of costly weapons constituted the garlands (floating on it or lying on its banks). And
  6. that terrible river flowed fiercely through the middle of the field of battle, wafting living creatures to the regions of the dead. And 
  7. large numbers of Pisachas, of horrible and repulsive forms, rejoiced, drinking and eating in that stream. And 
  8. dogs and jackals and carnivorous birds, all eating of the same food, and inspiring living creatures with terror, held their high carnival there.

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Draupadi Protection


Draupadi Protected by Krishna from Kauravas

https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/RadhaKrishna

Draupadi Protected by Pandavas from Jayadrata 

https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/PK

Draupadi Protected by Surya from Kichaka

https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/Sun

Vow

 https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/Pledge

https://harekrishnainfo.blogspot.com/search/label/DrupadaShikhandiDhrishtadyumnaDraupadi





Shakti


https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/Indra

https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/Karna

https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/Shak

https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/Snake

laugh

 


durmasana

 https://www.google.com/search?q=durmasana



Monday, June 13, 2022

Stri

 https://www.google.com/search?q=Stri+Parva

logicastra

 https://www.google.com/search?q=logicastra

Nature

 Vaishampayana said, "King Yudhishthira, thus praised by the gods, the Maruts and the Rishis, proceeded to that place where those foremost ones of Kuru’s race were. He beheld Govinda endued with his Brahma-form. It resembled that form of his which had been seen before and which, therefore, helped the recognition. Blazing forth in that form of his, he was adorned with celestial weapons, such as the terrible discus and others in their respective embodied forms. He was being adored by the heroic Phalguna, who also was endued with a blazing effulgence. The son of Kunti beheld the slayer of Madhu also in his own form. Those two foremost of Beings, adored by all the gods, beholding Yudhishthira, received him with proper honours.

"In another place, the delighter of the Kurus beheld Karna, that foremost one among all wielders of weapons, resembling a dozen Suryas in splendour. In another part he beheld Bhimasena of great puissance, sitting in the midst of the Maruts, and endued with a blazing form. He was sitting by the side of the God of Wind in his embodied form. Indeed, he was then in a celestial form endued with great beauty, and had attained to the highest success. In place belonging to the Ashvinis, the delighter of the Kurus beheld Nakula and Sahadeva, each blazing with his own effulgence.

"He also beheld the princess of Pancala, decked in garlands of lotuses. Having attained to Heaven, she was sitting there, endued with a form possessed of solar splendour. King Yudhishthira suddenly wished to question her. Then the illustrious Indra, the chief of the gods, spoke to him, ‘This one is Sree herself. It was for your sake that she took birth, as the daughter of Drupada, among human beings, issuing not from any mother’s womb, O Yudhishthira, endued with agreeable perfume and capable of delighting the whole world. For your pleasure, she was created by the wielder of the trident. She was born in the race of Drupada and was enjoyed by you all. These five highly blessed Gandharvas endued with the effulgence of fire, and possessed of great energy, were, O king, the sons of Draupadi and yourself.

"Behold Dhritarashtra, the king of the Gandharvas, possessed of great wisdom. Know that this one was the eldest brother of thy sire. This one is thy eldest brother, the son of Kunti, endued with effulgence of fire. The son of Surya, thy eldest brother, the foremost of men, even this one was known as the son of Radha. He moves in the company of Surya. Behold this foremost of Beings. Among the tribes of the Saddhyas, the gods, the Viswedevas, and the Maruts, behold, O king of kings, the mighty car-warriors of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, viz., those heroes having Satyaki for their first, and those mighty ones among the Bhojas. Behold the son of Subhadra, invincible in battle, now staying with Soma. Even he is the mighty bowman Abhimanyu, now endued with the gentle effulgence of the great luminary of the night. Here is the mighty bowman Pandu, now united with Kunti and Madri. Thy sire frequently comes to me on his excellent car. Behold the royal Bhishma, the son of Santanu, now in the midst of the Vasus. Know that this one by the side of Brihaspati is thy preceptor Drona. These and other kings, O son of Pandu, who had warred on thy side now walk with the Gandharvas or Yakshas or other sacred beings. Some have attained to the status of Guhyakas, O king. Having cast off their bodies, they have conquered Heaven by the merit they had acquired through word, thought and deed.’

https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m18/m18004.htm

Vaishampayana said, "Every one, O king of men, is not capable of returning to his own nature at the end of his deeds. Whether this is so or not, is, indeed a good question asked by thee. Hear, O king, this which is a mystery of the gods, O chief of Bharata’s race. It was explained (to us) by Vyasa of mighty energy, celestial vision and great prowess, that ancient ascetic, O Kauravya, who is the son of Parasara and who always observes high vows, who is of immeasurable understanding, who is omniscient, and who, therefore knows the end attached to all acts.

"Bhishma of mighty energy and great effulgence attained to the status of the Vasus. Eight Vasus, O chief of Bharata’s race, are now seen. Drona entered into Brihaspati, that foremost one of Angirasa’s descendants. Hridika’s son Kritavarma entered the Maruts. Pradyumna entered Sanatkumara whence he had issued. Dhritarashtra obtained the regions, so difficult of acquisition, that belong to the Lord of treasures. The famous Gandhari obtained the same regions with her husband Dhritarashtra. With his two wives, Pandu proceeded to the abode of the great Indra. Both Virata and Drupada, the king Dhrishtaketu, as also Nishatha, Akrura, Samva, Bhanukampa, and Viduratha, and Bhurishrava and Sala and king Bhuri, and Kansa, and Ugrasena, and Vasudeva, and Uttara, that foremost of men, with his brother Sankha—all these foremost of persons entered the deities. Soma’s son of great prowess, named Varchas of mighty energy, became Abhimanyu, the son of Phalguna, that lion among men. Having fought, agreeably to Kshatriya practices, with bravery such as none else had ever been able to show, that mighty-armed and righteous-souled being entered Soma. Slain on the field of battle, O foremost of men, Karna entered Surya. Shakuni obtained absorption into Dwapara, and Dhrishtadyumna into the deity of fire. The sons of Dhritarashtra were all Rakshasas of fierce might. Sanctified by death caused by weapons, those high-souled beings of prosperity all succeeded in attaining to Heaven. Both Kshattri and king Yudhishthira entered into the god of Righteousness. The holy and illustrious Ananta (who had taken birth as Balarama) proceeded to the region below the Earth. Through the command of the Grandsire, he, aided by his Yoga power, supported the Earth. Vasudeva was a portion of that eternal god of gods called Narayana. Accordingly, he entered into Narayana. 16,000 women had been married to Vasudeva as his wives. When the time came, O Janamejaya, they, plunged into the Sarasvati. Casting off their (human) bodies there, they re-ascended to Heaven. Transformed into Apsaras, they approached the presence of Vasudeva. Those heroic and mighty car-warriors, Ghatotkaca and others, who were slain in the great battle, attained to the status, some of gods and some of Yakshas. Those that had fought on the side of Duryodhana are said to have been Rakshasas. Gradually, O king, they have all attained to excellent regions of felicity. Those foremost of men have proceeded, some to the abode of Indra, some to that of Kuvera of great intelligence, and some to that of Varuna. I have now told thee, O thou of great splendour, everything about the acts, O Bharata, of both the Kurus and the Pandavas.

https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m18/m18005.htm

Thursday, June 2, 2022

Formost of all elephant warriors

Beholding the risen dust and hearing the wail of the troops when Bhagadatta ruler of the mountainous realms (modern Myanmar, on the border of Assam) was performing great feats on the field, the son of Kunti addressed Krishna and said

'O slayer of Madhu, it seems that the ruler of the Pragjyotishas hath, on his elephant, with great impetuosity, advanced to battle. This loud din that we hear must be due to him.

  1. Well-versed in the art of grinding and battling from the back of an elephant, and 
  2. not inferior to Indra himself in battle, 
  3. he, I think, is the formost of all elephant-warriors in the world. 
His elephant, again, 
  1. is the foremost of elephants, 
  2. without a rival to encounter it in battle. 
  3. Possessed of great dexterity and 
  4. above all fatigue, 
  5. it is, again, impervious to all weapons. 
  6. Capable of bearing every weapon and 
  7. even the touch of fire, it will, O sinless one, alone destroy the Pandava force today. 
Except us two, there is none else capable of checking that creature. 

Son

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