218.1 Yudishtra instructs Arjuna; Arjuna takes leave
After some time, Yudhishthira the just, remembering the command of the Muni Vyasa and calling unto himself that bull among men--Arjuna--possessed of great wisdom, addressed him in private. Taking hold of Arjuna's hands, with a smiling face and in gentle accents,the virtuous Yudhishthira,apparently after reflecting for a moment, spoke these words in private unto Dhananjaya "O Bharata, the whole science of arms dwelleth in Bhishma, and Drona, and Kripa, and Karna, and Drona's son. They fully know all sorts of Brahma and celestial and human and Vayavya weapons, together with the modes of using and warding them off. All of them are conciliated and honoured and gratified by Dhritarashtra's son who behaveth unto them as one should behave unto his preceptor. Towards all his warriors Dhritarashtra's son behaveth with great affection; and all the chiefs honoured and gratified by him, seek his good in return. Thus honoured by him, they will not fail to put forth their might. The whole earth, besides, is now under Duryodhana's sway, with all the villages and towns and all the seas and woods and mines! You alone are our sole refuge. On you resteth a great burden. I shall, therefore tell you what you are to do now. I have obtained a science from Krishna Dwaipayana. Used by you, that science will expose the whole universe to you. O child, attentively receive you that science from me, and in due time by its aid attain you the grace of the celestials. And devote yourself to fierce asceticism. Armed with the bow and sword, and cased in mail, betake yourself to austerities and good vows, and go you northwards without giving way to anybody.
O Dhananjaya, all celestial weapons are with Indra. The celestials, from fear of Vritra, imparted at the time all their might to Sakra. Gathered together in one place, you wilt obtain all weapons. Go you unto Sakra, he will give you all his weapons. Taking the bow set you out this very day in order to behold Purandara." Having said this, the exalted Yudhishthira the just, imparted that science unto Arjuna. And the elder brother having communicated with due rites the knowledge unto his heroic brother, with speech and body and mind under perfect control, commanded him to depart.
And at the command of Yudhishthira, the strong armed Arjuna, taking up the Gandiva as also his inexhaustible quivers, and accoutred in mail and gauntlets and finger-protectors made of the skin of the guana, and having poured oblations into the fire and made the Brahmanas to utter benedictions after gifts, set out from Kamyaka with the objects of beholding Indra. And armed with the bow, the hero, at the time of setting out heaved a sigh and cast a look upwards for achieving the death of Dhritarashtra's sons. And beholding Kunti's son thus armed and about to set out, the Brahmanas and Siddhas and invisible spirits addressed him, saying "O son of Kunti, obtain you soon what you wishest." And the Brahmanas, also uttering benedictions said, 'Achieve you the object you hast in view. Let victory be truly yours.' And beholding the heroic Arjuna, of thighs stout as the trunks of the Sala, about to set out taking away with him the heares of all, Krishna addressed him saying "O you strong-armed one, let all that Kunti had desired at thy birth, and let all that you desire, be accomplished, O Dhananjaya! Let no one amongst us be ever again born in the order of Kshatriyas. I always bow down unto the Brahmanas whose mode of living is mendicancy. This is my great grief that the wretch Duryodhana beholding me in the assembly of princes mockingly called me a cow! Besides this he told me in the midst of that assembly many other hard things. But the grief I experience at parting with you is far greater than any I felt at those insults. Certainly, in your absence, your brothers will while away their waking hours in repeatedly talking of your heroic deeds! If, however, O son of Pritha, you stayest away for any length of time, we shall derive no pleasure from our enjoyments or from wealth. Nay, life itself will be distasteful to us. Our weal, and woe, life and death, our kingdom and prosperity, are all dependent on you. I bless you, let success be yours. your present task you will be able to achieve even against powerful enemies. Go you to win success with speed. Let dangers be not yours. I bow to Dhatri and Vidhatri! I bless you. Let prosperity be yours. And, O Dhananjaya, let Hri, Sree, Kirti, Dhriti, Pushti, Uma, Lakshmi, Saraswati, all protect you on your way, for you ever worship your elder brother and ever obeyest his commands. And I bow to the Vasus, the Rudras and Adityas, the Manilas, the Viswadevas, and the Sadhyas, for procuring your welfare. And be you safe from all spirits of mischief belonging to the sky, the earth, and the heaven, and from such other spirits generallY." Krishna, the daughter of Yajnasena, having uttered these benedictions, ceased.
O Dhananjaya, all celestial weapons are with Indra. The celestials, from fear of Vritra, imparted at the time all their might to Sakra. Gathered together in one place, you wilt obtain all weapons. Go you unto Sakra, he will give you all his weapons. Taking the bow set you out this very day in order to behold Purandara." Having said this, the exalted Yudhishthira the just, imparted that science unto Arjuna. And the elder brother having communicated with due rites the knowledge unto his heroic brother, with speech and body and mind under perfect control, commanded him to depart.
And at the command of Yudhishthira, the strong armed Arjuna, taking up the Gandiva as also his inexhaustible quivers, and accoutred in mail and gauntlets and finger-protectors made of the skin of the guana, and having poured oblations into the fire and made the Brahmanas to utter benedictions after gifts, set out from Kamyaka with the objects of beholding Indra. And armed with the bow, the hero, at the time of setting out heaved a sigh and cast a look upwards for achieving the death of Dhritarashtra's sons. And beholding Kunti's son thus armed and about to set out, the Brahmanas and Siddhas and invisible spirits addressed him, saying "O son of Kunti, obtain you soon what you wishest." And the Brahmanas, also uttering benedictions said, 'Achieve you the object you hast in view. Let victory be truly yours.' And beholding the heroic Arjuna, of thighs stout as the trunks of the Sala, about to set out taking away with him the heares of all, Krishna addressed him saying "O you strong-armed one, let all that Kunti had desired at thy birth, and let all that you desire, be accomplished, O Dhananjaya! Let no one amongst us be ever again born in the order of Kshatriyas. I always bow down unto the Brahmanas whose mode of living is mendicancy. This is my great grief that the wretch Duryodhana beholding me in the assembly of princes mockingly called me a cow! Besides this he told me in the midst of that assembly many other hard things. But the grief I experience at parting with you is far greater than any I felt at those insults. Certainly, in your absence, your brothers will while away their waking hours in repeatedly talking of your heroic deeds! If, however, O son of Pritha, you stayest away for any length of time, we shall derive no pleasure from our enjoyments or from wealth. Nay, life itself will be distasteful to us. Our weal, and woe, life and death, our kingdom and prosperity, are all dependent on you. I bless you, let success be yours. your present task you will be able to achieve even against powerful enemies. Go you to win success with speed. Let dangers be not yours. I bow to Dhatri and Vidhatri! I bless you. Let prosperity be yours. And, O Dhananjaya, let Hri, Sree, Kirti, Dhriti, Pushti, Uma, Lakshmi, Saraswati, all protect you on your way, for you ever worship your elder brother and ever obeyest his commands. And I bow to the Vasus, the Rudras and Adityas, the Manilas, the Viswadevas, and the Sadhyas, for procuring your welfare. And be you safe from all spirits of mischief belonging to the sky, the earth, and the heaven, and from such other spirits generallY." Krishna, the daughter of Yajnasena, having uttered these benedictions, ceased.