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MBK: 2.33: Yudhisthira's Ashvamedha Sacrifice
Chapter 33 Yudhisthira's Ashvamedha Sacrifice
In Hastinapura the Pandavas settled into their lives as rulers. Yudhisthira was the embodiment
of justice and virtue. None could fault him. Due to the gods' cooperation, who were pleased
by the people's piety under Yudhisthira's care, there was never a shortage of rain.
The earth produced abundant crops and supported countless cows, who moistened the ground with
the milk that dripped from their full milk bags. The people felt they had everything
they desired and were free from anxiety. They were not afflicted by disease, mental agony,
or excessive heat and cold. Sons always outlived their fathers and no women became widows.
Some months after Krsna's departure, Uttara, who was staying with Kunti and Draupadi, gave
birth to her son. She named him Pariksit. After Dhaumya had performed his birth and
naming ceremonies, Yudhisthira asked them, "O Brahmins, please tell me if this child
will become a saintly king, as famous and glorified in his achievements as his noble
predecessors?"
Dhaumya replied that the boy, who had been saved from death by Krsna while still in the
womb, would certainly be famous as a great devotee of the Supreme Lord. "He will be known
as Visnurata, or one who is always protected by the Lord. Endowed with all good qualities,
he will be exactly like Iksvaku, Manu's famous son, in maintaining the people. For following
religious principles and for his truthfulness, he will be exactly like Rama, the son of king
Dasaratha. He will give charity and protect the helpless. As a warrior, he will be as
irresistible as the mighty ocean, possessing skills in archery equal to those of Arjuna.
Indeed, O King, he will expand the fame of his family like Bharata himself."
Yudhisthira was overjoyed. Here was a worthy heir to the Kuru line. The Pandavas still
sorrowed at the loss of their own sons, but seeing Pariksit solaced them. He was clearly
marked by auspicious lines on his body. Yudhisthira arranged for much charity to be distributed
on the boy's behalf. The sages who had attended the birth ceremony received the wealth but
gave most of it away. Then they left for the mountains, their minds set on their ascetic
practices.
Soon after Pariksit's birth, Yudhisthira began to think of the sacrifice he would like to
perform. He still desired to atone for the killing at Kuruksetra, and the rsis had recommended
that he perform the Ashvamedha. As with the Rajasuya, the sacrifice would give him the
opportunity to again establish his position as the earth's emperor. He would have to send
out the sacrificial horse to all parts of the land. Anyone not accepting his rule would
be obliged to fight.
Although he had no personal ambition to rule the earth, Yudhisthira wanted to ensure that
the world was on the path of peace and religion. There could not be another Kuruksetra. It
was also Krsna's desire that the virtuous Yudhisthira and his brothers be clearly established
as the earth's foremost rulers. Yudhisthira thus set about making his preparations.
Knowing that the performance of an Ashvamedha requires immense wealth, Yudhisthira was anxious.
The treasury had been seriously depleted by the war. The Pandava revealed his anxiety
to Vyasadeva, who told him of a great store of wealth lying in the North. The sage told
Yudhisthira about a former emperor of the earth, named Marutta, who had possessed almost
unlimited wealth. He had pleased Siva by performing a sacrifice and the god had given him a mountain
made of gold. From that mountain he had fashioned sacrificial altars of pure gold, as well as
vast numbers of gold plates and other utensils. These were now lying in a cave in the Himalayas.
Vyasadeva instructed Arjuna how to find the cave and Arjuna left at once, returning after
a month with the immense riches carried on a seemingly endless line of bullocks and elephants.
Yudhisthira then invited rulers from around the world to attend the sacrifice. He wanted
to establish peaceful relations with all kings, but he knew that there would be a lot of inimical
feelings left from the war. There were many kings who had not participated in the Kuruksetra
war who would likely be neutral, but there were also some kings whose fathers or brothers
had been killed by the Pandavas and who harbored enmity with them. Knowing this, Yudhisthira
asked Arjuna to follow the sacrificial horse. Anyone seeing the horse and not agreeing to
Yudhisthira's rule would have to face Arjuna. The Pandava put on his golden armor and prepared
himself for the expedition.
After being blessed by the Brahmins, Arjuna set off in pursuit of the horse. He was followed
by a large body of warriors, as well as a number of sages who would perform the sacred
rites to invoke auspiciousness and ensure his success. Yudhisthira had earnestly entreated
Arjuna not to kill anyone unless it was absolutely unavoidable. Remembering this, he first tried
to establish peaceful relations through diplomacy; but in some cases, he was forced to take up
arms. He fought a battle with the Trigartas, who bore him enmity for having slain their
king and his brothers during the war. After they had been overpowered, another fierce
fight took place between Arjuna and king Vajradatta, the son of Bhagadatta. That battle lasted
for three days, with Arjuna finally defeating Vajradatta but sparing his life. After the
king had agreed to bring tribute for Yudhisthira's sacrifice, Arjuna moved south.
A powerful battle took place with the Sindhus, who were grieving Jayadratha's death. Tens
of thousands of warriors came out to contend with Arjuna. He attacked them with arrows
from the Gandiva, cutting their weapons to pieces and forcing them to flee.
In the Sindhu capital, Duryodhana's sister Dushala lived. When she saw that Arjuna was
crushing her troops, she came hastily out of the city holding an infant in her arms.
Seeing her rushing onto the field with her child, the warriors lowered their weapons.
She fell before Arjuna, crying. "Stop, O hero! Do not destroy the last of our race. See here
this child, who is your own relative, the son of my son. Out of sheer grief for Jayadratha's
death, the father of this boy has given up his life. Now you, Jayadratha's killer, are
bent upon annihilating the rest of his family and followers. O Arjuna, pray forget the sins
of this child's grandfather and have mercy on him."
Seeing the weeping Dushala, whom he regarded as a sister, Arjuna cast aside his bow. He
censured the life of a ksatriya and cried out, "Fie on the wicked Duryodhana! That mean
person, so covetous of the kingdom, has brought about the death of all my kinsmen."
Arjuna got down from his chariot and consoled Dushala. She turned to the Sindhu warriors
and told them to put down their weapons and make peace with Arjuna. They complied. Arjuna
then dismissed her and she returned to the city, leaving him to continue his travels.
The horse reached Manipur, where Arjuna was greeted peacefully by his own son Babhruvahana,
whom he had conceived with the princess Citrangada. As Arjuna had agreed at the time of his birth,
Babhruvahana had remained at Manipur, ruling that kingdom and not taking any part in the
great war. He came to Arjuna with offerings of gold and gems, but Arjuna was nevertheless
clearly displeased. His mind was seized with anger and he shouted out to his son, "Why,
O child, have you come in peace when an antagonist has entered your land? This is never in keeping
with ksatriya duties. You have acted like a woman! I have come here bearing arms and
you should have challenged me with heroic words. O wretched boy, take up your weapons
and give me battle."
Babhruvahana was surprised by his father's reaction. He tried to appease him, but Arjuna
would not listen. He repeatedly goaded his son to fight.
As that exchange was taking place, Ulupi suddenly appeared from the earth. The daughter of the
Naga king, and Arjuna's wife, stood before Babhruvahana and said, "Listen, O prince.
I am Ulupi, your mother, and have come here desiring to do both you and your father good.
Fight with him, for this will please him and you will then acquire merit."
Hearing his stepmother's words as well as the repeated urgings of his father, the prince
agreed. After putting on his blazing armor and mounting a chariot, he stood before his
father ready for battle. Seeing the sacrificial horse nearby, Babhruvahana had some of his
men seize it and take it into his city. Arjuna was incensed and he rained down arrows on
his powerful son.
A terrible fight took place between father and son. Both showed no quarter, releasing
countless arrows at one another. Arjuna was suddenly struck on the shoulder by a steel
shaft that pierced him deeply and made him almost lose consciousness. He leaned on his
standard pole. When he regained his senses, he praised his son. "Excellent! Well done!
O son of Citrangada, I am pleased with you for your prowess and power. Now stand fearlessly,
for I will let loose my terrible shafts."
Arjuna fought relentlessly, shooting arrows which smashed his son's chariot and killed
his horses. Jumping to the ground, the prince stood fearlessly before his father. In a moment
he took out a long golden arrow bedecked with jewels and kanka feathers and fired it from
his fully drawn bow. That arrow sped toward Arjuna and struck him on the chest, piercing
his armor.
Gasping in pain, Arjuna fell from his car and lay on the earth. Babhruvahana, himself
pierced all over by Arjuna's shafts, was seized with grief upon seeing his father killed.
Overpowered, he too fell to the ground.
Citrangada heard that her husband and son had both fallen on the battlefield. She rushed
out of the city. Seeing them lying there, she too fainted. When she had recovered her
senses, she saw Ulupi standing before her. Knowing that Babhruvahana had fought his father
at her behest, she said, "O Ulupi, see our ever-victorious husband slain as a result
of your instructions to my son. Do you not know the practices of respectable women? Are
you not devoted to your husband? If Arjuna has offended you in some way, you should have
forgiven him. Why are you not grieving? O snake-lady, you are a goddess. I beseech you
to revive our husband."
Citrangada ran over to Arjuna and fell to the ground weeping. With the arrow protruding
from his chest and blood seeping from the wound, he seemed like a hill with a tree on
the summit and its rocks running with red oxide. The Manipur princess placed Arjuna's
feet in her lap and cried uncontrollably.
Regaining consciousness, Babhruvahana got to his feet and ran over to his father. Along
with his mother, he too began to cry. In a choked voice he lamented, "Alas, what have
I done? What is the atonement for one who has killed his father? I should doubtlessly
suffer every sort of misery for such a sin. Indeed, I cannot continue my life. I will
sit by my father's side, abstaining from food and drink, until death takes me. Let me follow
the path taken by Arjuna."
The prince cried for some time, then fell silent. He sat in a yogic posture next to
Arjuna and prepared to observe the Praya vow of fasting until death.
Seeing both her co-wife and stepson overcome by sorrow, Ulupi approached them. By her mystic
power she fetched from the Naga kingdom a celestial gem that had the power to revive
the dead. Taking the effulgent gem, which shone with a hundred different hues, she went
over to Babhruvahana and said, "Rise up, O son. You have not killed Arjuna. Indeed, neither
man nor god can slay him. He is an eternal rsi of indestructible soul. His apparent death
is simply illusion. O child, take this gem and place it on your father's chest and he
will rise."
The prince did as he was told and, almost at once, Arjuna opened his eyes. His wound
healed and he sat up and looked around. Babhruvahana sighed with relief. He bowed at his father's
feet and begged forgiveness. Kettledrums resounded in the sky and a shower of flowers fell. Voices
in the heavens called out, "Excellent! Excellent!"
Arjuna stood up and embraced his son with affection. "What is the cause of all these
signs?" he asked. "Why has your mother Citrangada come onto the field? Why do I also see the
Naga princess here?"
Babhruvahana told his father to ask Ulupi. Arjuna looked at her, the question in his
eyes. "What brings you here, O daughter of the Nagas? Have you come here desiring to
do us good? I hope neither I nor my son have done you any injury."
Ulupi smiled and reassured Arjuna that she had not been offended. She had urged the prince
to fight to serve both him and Arjuna. "Listen to my words, O mighty-armed Arjuna. During
the war you deceitfully killed Bhisma, placing Sikhandi before you when you approached him.
For that sin you would have fallen into hell, but your sin has been expiated by your son's
actions."
Ulupi explained that soon after Bhisma's fall, she had seen the Vasus come to the river Ganges
to bathe. While they were there, they called for the goddess Ganga and said, "Arjuna has
unfairly slain your son. For this we will curse him to die." Ganga had agreed. Seeing
all this, Ulupi had gone before her father in anxiety. She told him what she had seen
and her father, king of the Nagas, went at once to the Vasus. He begged them to be merciful
to Arjuna, his son-in-law, and they replied, "Dhananjaya has a youthful son who is now
king of Manipur. That king will cast his father down in battle and free him from our curse."
Ulupi continued, "It is for this reason that you were slain by your son. Indeed, not even
Indra could kill you, but it is said that the son is one's own self. After he killed
you, I revived you with this celestial gem."
Ulupi showed Arjuna the brilliant jewel and he cheerfully replied, "Everything you have
done is agreeable to me, O goddess. You have not committed any fault."
Babhruvahana beseeched Arjuna to spend a night in the city with his two wives, but Arjuna
declined, saying that he could not rest until the sacrificial horse returned to Hastinapura.
He took leave from his wives and his son, who said he would soon come to Yudhisthira's
sacrifice. After telling his wives to join him in Hastinapura, he continued on his way
in pursuit of the horse.
Arjuna next came to Rajagriha, the city where he had long ago gone with Bhima and Krsna
to kill Jarasandha. Jarasandha's grandson, Meghasandhi, still only a boy, but observing
the duty of a ksatriya, came out and offered to fight with Arjuna with bold and heroic
words. "It seems this horse is protected only by women," he challenged, and a great fight
ensued. During the battle, Meghasandhi's chariot was smashed and he was finally overpowered.
Arjuna said, "At the command of Yudhisthira I will not slay those kings whom I defeat
if they acquiesce to his rule."
Meghasandhi agreed to attend Yudhisthira's sacrifice and offer tribute, and Arjuna continued
on his way. He fought with several other monarchs, obliging them to accept Yudhisthira as emperor,
before the horse at last reached the road leading back to Hastinapura.