Ghoshayatra: Duryodhana goes to tease the Pandavas

Dhritarashtra laments

After the sons of Pandu had arrived at Dwaitavana lake, they chose a residence that was removed from the human habitations. They began to roam through delightful woods, ever charming mountains and picturesque river-valleys. After they had taken up their residence there, many venerable ascetics endued with Vedic lore often came to see them. The Pandavas always received those Veda-knowing Rishis with great respect. One day there came unto the Pandavas a certain Brahmana who was well known on earth for his powers of speech. Having conversed with the Pandavas for a while, he went to the court of Dhritarashtra. Received with respect by the old king, the Brahmana took his seat; and asked by the monarch he began to talk of the Pandavas, who had fallen into severe misery, had become emaciated and reduced owing to exposure to wind and sun. That Brahmana also talked of Draupadi who was overwhelmed with suffering and had become perfectly helpless, although she had heroes as her husbands. Hearing the words of that Brahmana, Dhritarashtra became afflicted with grief, at the thought of those princes of royal lineage then swimming in a river of sorrow. His inmost soul afflicted with sorrow and trembling all over with sighs, he quieted himself with a great effort, remembering that everything had arisen from his own fault.

Dhritarashtra said:

“Alas! How is it that Yudhishthira, the eldest of my sons, who is truthful, pious, and virtuous in his behaviour, who has not a foe, who had formerly slept on beds made of soft Ranku skins, sleeps now on the bare ground! Alas! Wakened formerly by Sutas, Magadhas and other singers with his praises, melodiously recited every morning, that prince of the Kuru race, equal unto Indra himself, is now waked from the bare ground towards the small hours of the night by a multitude of birds! How does Bhimasena, reduced by exposure to wind and sun, filled with wrath, sleep, in the presence of Draupadi, the princess of Panchala, on the bare ground, unfit as he is to suffer such lot! Perhaps also, the intelligent Arjuna, who is incapable of bearing pain, and who, though obedient to the will of Yudhishthira, yet feels himself to be pierced over all by the remembrance of his wrongs, sleeps not in the night! Beholding the twins, Krishna, Yudhisthira and Bhima plunged in misery, Arjuna without doubt, sighs like a serpent of fierce energy and sleeps not from wrath in the night! The twins also, who are like a couple of blessed celestials in heaven sunk in woe though deserving of bliss, without doubt pass their nights in restless wakefulness restrained from avenging their wrongs by virtue and truth! The mighty son of the Wind-god, who is equal to the Wind-god himself in strength, without doubt, sighs and restrains his wrath, being tied through his elder brother in the bonds of truth! Superior in battle to all warriors, he now lies quiet on the ground, restrained by virtue and truth, and burning to slay my children, he bids his time. The cruel words that Duhshasana spoke after Yudhishthira had been deceitfully defeated at dice, have sunk deep into Bhimasena's heart, and are consuming him, like a burning bundle of straw consuming a fagot of dry wood! The son of Dharma never acts sinfully; Arjuna also always obeys him; but Bhima's wrath, in consequence of a life of exile, is increasing like a conflagration assisted by the wind! That hero, burning with rage such as that, squeezes his hands and breathes hot and fierce sighs, as if consuming therewith my sons and grandsons! The wielder of the Gandiva and Bhimasena, when angry, are like Yama and Kala themselves; scattering their shafts, which are like unto thunder-bolts, they exterminate in battle the ranks of the enemy. Alas! Duryodhana, Shakuni, the Suta's son, and Duhshasana also of wicked soul, in robbing the Pandavas of their kingdom by means of dice, seem to behold the honey alone without marking the terrible ruin. A man having acted rightly or wrongly, expects the fruit of those acts. The fruit, however, confounding him, paralyses him fully. How can man, thereof, have salvation? If the soil is properly tilled, and the seed sown therein, and if the god of rain showers in season, still the crop may not grow. This is what we often hear. Indeed, how could this saying be true unless, as I think, it be that everything here is dependent on Destiny? The gambler Shakuni has behaved deceitfully towards the son of Pandu, who ever acts honestly. From affection for my wicked sons I also have acted similarly. Alas! It is owing to this that the hour of destruction has come for the Kurus! Oh! Perhaps, what is inevitable must happen! The wind, impelled or not, will move. The woman that conceives will bring forth. Darkness will be dispelled at dawn, and day disappear at evening! Whatever may be earned by us or others, whether people spend it or not, when the time comes, those possessions of ours do bring on misery. Why then do people become so anxious about earning wealth? If, indeed, what is acquired is the result of fate, then should it be protected so that it may not be divided, nor lost little by little, nor permitted to flow out at once, for if unprotected, it may break into a hundred fragments. But whatever the character of our possessions, our acts in the world are never lost. Behold what the energy of Arjuna is, who went into the abode of Indra from the woods! Having mastered the four kinds of celestial weapons he has come back into this world! What man is there who, having gone to heaven in his human form, wishes to come back? This would never have been but because he sees innumerable Kurus to be at the point of death, afflicted by Time! The bowman is Arjuna, capable of wielding the bow with his left hand as well! The bow he wields is the Gandiva of fierce impetus. He has, besides, those celestial weapons of his! Who is there that would bear the energy of these three!"

Duryodhana, Shakuni and Karna plot to tease the Pandavas

Hearing these words of the monarch, Shakuni, going unto Duryodhana, who was then sitting with Karna, told them everything in private. Duryodhana, though possessed of little sense, was filled with grief at what he heard. Hearing those words of Dhritarashtra, Shakuni, when the opportunity presented itself, aided by Karna, spoke unto Duryodhana these words:

“Having exiled the heroic Pandavas by your own prowess, rule you this earth without a rival like Indra ruling the heaven! The kings of the east, the south, the west, and the north, have all been made tributary to you! That blazing Prosperity which had before paid her court to the sons of Pandu, has now been acquired by you along with your brothers! That blazing Prosperity, which we not many days ago saw with heavy hearts in Yudhishthira at Indraprastha, is today seen by us to be owned by you, she having been snatched by you from the royal Yudhishthira by force of intellect alone. All the kings of the earth now living in subjection to you, await your commands, as they did before under Yudhishthira, awaiting his. The goddess Earth with her boundless extent with girth of seas, with her mountains, forests, towns, cities and mines, and decked with woodlands and hills is now yours! Adored by the Brahmanas and worshipped by the kings, you blaze forth, in consequence of your prowess, like the Sun among the gods in heaven! Surrounded by the Kurus like Yama by the Rudra, or Indra by the Maruts, you shine, like the Moon among the stars! Let us, therefore, go and look at the Pandavas –who are now divested of prosperity, who never obeyed commands, who never owed subjection! It has been heard by us, that the Pandavas are now living on the banks of the lake called Dwaitavana, with a multitude of Brahmanas, having the wilderness for their home. Go there, in all your prosperity, scorching Yudhishthira with a sight of your glory, like the Sun scorching everything with his hot rays! Yourself a sovereign and they divested of sovereignty, yourself in prosperity and they divested of it, yourself possessing affluence and they in poverty, behold now the Pandavas. Let them behold you like Yayati, the son of Nahusha, accompanied by a large train of followers and enjoying bliss that is great. That blazing Prosperity which is seen by both one's friends and foes, is regarded as well-bestowed! What happiness can be more complete than the enjoyment of being oneself in prosperity and looking upon his foes in adversity, like a person on the hill top looking down upon another crawling on the earth? The happiness that one derives from beholding his foes in grief, is greater than what one may derive from the acquisition of offering or wealth or kingdom! What happiness will not be his who, himself in affluence, will cast his eyes on Arjuna attired in barks and deer-skins? Let your wife dressed in costly robes look at the woeful Draupadi clad in barks and deer-skins, and enhance the latter's grief! Let Draupadi reproach herself and her life, divested as she is of wealth, for the sorrow that she will feel upon beholding your wife decked in ornaments will be far greater than what she had felt in the midst of the assembly when Duhshasana had dragged her there!"

Having thus spoken unto the king, Karna and Shakuni both remained silent, after their discourse was over. Having heard these words of Karna, king Duryodhana became highly pleased. Soon after, however, the prince became melancholy and addressing the speaker said.

“What you tell me, O Karna! is always in my mind. I shall not, however, obtain permission to repair to the place where the Pandavas are residing. King Dhritarashtra is always grieving for those heroes. Indeed, the king regarded the Pandavas to have become more powerful than before in consequence of their ascetic austerities. Or, if the king understands our motives, he will never, having regard to the future, grant us permission, for, we can have no other business in the woods of Dvaitavana than the destruction of the Pandavas in exile! You know the words that Vidura spoke to me, to yourself, and to Shakuni, at the time of the dice match! Reflecting upon all those words as also upon all those lamentations that he and others indulged in, I cannot make up my mind as to whether I should or should not go! I shall certainly be highly pleased if I cast my eyes on Bhima and Arjuna passing their days in pain with Draupadi in the woods. The joy that I may feel in obtaining the sovereignty of the entire earth is nothing to that which will be mine upon beholding the Pandavas attired in barks of trees and deer-skins. What joy can be greater, O Karna! that will be mine upon beholding Draupadi dressed in red rags in the woods? If king Yudhishthira and Bhima behold me graced with great affluence, then only shall I have attained the great end of my life! I do not, however, see the means by which I may repair to those woods, by which, in fact, I may obtain the king's permission to go there! Contrive you, therefore, some skilful plan, with Shakuni and Duhshasana, by which we may go to those woods! I also, making up my mind today as to whether I should go or not, approach the presence of the king tomorrow. When I shall be sitting with Bhishma, you will, with Shakuni propose the pretext which you may have contrived. Hearing then the words of Bhishma and of the king on the subject of our journey, I will settle everything beseeching our grandfather.”

Saying, “So be it,” they then all went away to their respective quarters. As soon as the night had passed away, Karna came to the king. Coming to him, Karna smilingly spoke unto Duryodhana, saying:

“A plan has been contrived by me. Listen to it! Our herds are now waiting in the woods of Dwaitavana in expectation of you! Without doubt, we may all go there under the pretext of supervising our cattle stations, for, it is proper that kings should frequently repair to their cattle stations. If this be the motive put forth, your father will certainly grant you permission!”

While Duryodhana and Karna were thus conversing laughingly, Shakuni addressed them and said,

“This plan, free from difficulties, was what I also saw for going there! The king will certainly grant us permission, or even send us there of his own accord. Our herds are now all waiting in the woods of Dvaitavana expecting you. Without doubt, we may all go there under the pretext of supervising our cattle stations!”

They then all three laughed together, and gave their hands unto one another. Having arrived at that conclusion, they went to see Dhritarashtra, the chief of Kurus and having seen him, enquired after his welfare, and were, in return, asked about their welfare. Then a cow-herd named Samanga, who had been instructed beforehand by them, approaching the king, spoke unto him of the cattle. Then Karna and Shakuni addressing Dhritarashtra said:

“O Kaurava! Our cattle-stations are now in a delightful place. The time for their tale as also for marking the calves has come. This also is an excellent season for your son to go ahunting! It beholds you, therefore, to grant permission to Duryodhana to go there.”

Dhritarashtra replied,

“The chase of the deer, as also the examination of cattle is very proper. I think, indeed, that the herdsmen are not to be trusted. But we have heard that the Pandavas are now staying in the vicinity of those cattle stations. I think, therefore, you should not go there yourselves! Defeated by deceitful means they are now living in the deep forest in great suffering. O Karna! They are mighty warriors and naturally able, they are now devoted to ascetic austerities. King Yudhishthira will not suffer his wrath to be awakened, but Bhimasena is naturally passionate. Draupadi is energy's self. Full of pride and folly, you are certain to give offence. Endued with ascetic merit she will certainly consume you, or perhaps, those heroes, armed with swords and weapons! Nor, if from force of numbers, you seek to injure them in any respect, that will be a highly improper act, although, as I think, you will never be able to succeed. The mighty-armed Arjuna has returned to the forest. While unaccomplished in arms, Arjuna had subjugated the whole earth before. A mighty warrior as he is and accomplished in arms now, will he not be able to slay you all? Or, if in obedience to my words, you behave carefully having repaired there, you will not be able to live happily there in consequence of the anxiety you will feel owing to a state of continued trustlessness. Or, some soldier of yours may do some injury to Yudhishthira, and that unpremeditated act will be ascribed to your fault. Therefore, let some faithful men proceed there for the work of tale. I do not think it is proper for you to go there yourself."

Shakuni said,

“Yudhishthira knows morality. He pledged in the midst of the assembly that he would live for twelve years in the forest. His brothers are all virtuous and obedient to Yudhishthira. Yudhishthira himself will never be angry with us. Indeed, we desire very much to go on a hunting expedition, and will avail of that opportunity for supervising our cattle stations. We have no mind to see the Pandavas. We will not go to that spot where they have taken up their residence, and consequently no exhibition of misconduct can possibly arise on our part.”

Thus addressed by Shakuni, Dhritarashtra granted permission, but not very willingly, to Duryodhana and his counsellors to go to the place.

Goshayatra

Permitted by the monarch, Duryodhana started, accompanied by Karna and surrounded by a large host. He was also accompanied by Duhshasana, Shakuni and many other brothers of his and by ladies in thousands. As the mighty-armed prince started for beholding Dwaitavana lake, the citizens of Hastina, also accompanied by their wives began to follow him to that forest. Eight thousand cars, thirty thousand elephants, nine thousand horses, and many thousands of foot-soldiers, and shops, pavilions and traders, bards, men trained in the chase by hundreds and thousands followed the prince. As the king started, followed by this large concourse of people, the uproar that was caused there resembled the deep tumult of the ranging winds in the rainy season. Reaching the lake Dwaitavana with all his followers and vehicles, king Duryodhana took up his quarters at the distance of four miles from it.

King Duryodhana then moving from forest to forest, at last approached the cattle-stations, and encamped his troops. His attendants, selecting a well-known and delightful spot that abounded in water and trees and that possessed every convenience constructed an abode for him. Near enough to the royal residence they also erected separate abodes for Karna, Shakuni and the brothers of the king. The king beheld his cattle by hundreds and thousands and examining their limbs and marks supervised their tale. He made the calves to be marked and took note of those that required to be tamed. He also counted those kine whose calves had not yet been weaned. Completing the task by marking and counting every calf that was three years old, the Kuru prince, surrounded by the cowherds, began to sport and wander cheerfully. The citizens also and the soldiers by thousands began to sport, as it pleased them, in those woods, like the celestials. The herdsmen, well skilled in singing and dancing and instrumental music, and virgins decked in ornaments, began to minister to the pleasures of Duryodhana. The king surrounded by the ladies of the royal household began cheerfully to distribute wealth and food and drinks of various kinds amongst those that sought to please him, according to their desires.

The king, attended by all his followers, began also to slay hyenas, buffaloes, deer, gayals, bears and boars all around. The king, piercing by his shafts those animals by thousands in deep forest, caused the deer to be caught in the more delightful parts of the woods. Drinking milk and enjoying various other delicious articles and beholding, as he proceeded, many delightful forests and woods swarming with bees inebriate with floral honey and resounding with the notes of the peacock, the king at last reached the sacred lake of Dwaitavana. The spot which the king reached swarmed with bees inebriate with floral honey, and echoed with the mellifluous notes of the blue-throated jay and was shaded by Saptacchadas and punnagas and Bakulas. The king graced with high prosperity proceeded there like the thunder-wielding chief of the celestials himself.

King Yudhishthira was then residing in the vicinity of that lake at will and celebrating with his wedded wife Draupadi, the diurnal sacrifice called Rajarshi, according to the ordinance sanctioned for the celestials and persons living in the wilderness.

The Gandharvas capture Duryodhana

Having reached that spot, Duryodhana commanded his men by thousands, saying, “Let pleasure-houses be constructed soon.” Thus commanded, those doers of the king's behests replying to the Kruru chief with the words, “So be it,” went towards the banks of the lake for constructing pleasure-houses. As the picked soldiers of Dhritarashtra's son, having reached the region of the lake, were about to enter the gates of the wood, a number of Gandharvas appeared and forbade them to enter.

The king of the Gandharvas accompanied by his followers, had come there beforehand, from the abode of Kubera. The king of the Gandharvas had also been accompanied by the several tribes of Apsaras, as also by the sons of the celestials and intent upon sport, he had come to that place for merriment, and occupying it, had closed it against all comers. The attendants of the Kuru king, finding the lake closed by the king of the Gandharvas, went back to where the royal Duryodhana was. Duryodhana having heard these words, despatched a number of his warriors difficult of being subjugated in battle, commanding them to drive away the Gandharvas. Those warriors who formed the vanguard of the Kuru army, hearing these words of the king, went back to the lake of Dvaitavana and addressing the Gandharvas, said:

“The mighty king Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, is coming, here for sport. Stand you aside, therefore!”

Thus addressed by them, the Gandharvas laughed and replied unto those men in these harsh words:

“Your wicked king Duryodhana must be destitute of sense. How else could he have thus commanded us that are dwellers of heaven, as if indeed, we were his servants? Without forethought, you also are doubtless on the point of death; for senseless idiots as you are, you have dared to bring us his message! Return you soon to where that king of the Kurus is, or else go this very day to the abode of Yama.”

Thus addressed by the Gandharvas, the advanced guard of the king's army ran back to the place where the royal son of Dhritarashtra was and repeated to him every word that the Gandharvas had said. Finding that his soldiers had been opposed by the Gandharvas, Dhritarashtra's son, endued with energy, was filled with rage. The king addressed his soldiers, saying:

“Punish these wretches who desire to oppose my will, even if they have come here to sport, accompanied by all the celestials with him of a hundred sacrifices.”

Hearing these words of Duryodhana, the sons and officers of Dhritarashtra all endued with great strength, as also warriors by thousands, began to arm themselves for battle. Filling the ten sides with loud leonine roars and rushing at those Gandharvas that had been guarding the gates, they entered the forest. As the Kuru soldiers entered the forest, other Gandharvas came up and forbade them to advance. Though gently forbidden by the Gandharvas to advance, the Kuru soldiers, without regarding them in the least, began to enter that great forest. When those rangers of the sky found that the warriors of Dhritarashtra along with their king could not be stopped by words they all went to their king Chitrasena and represented everything unto him. When Chitrasena, the king of the Gandharvas, came to know all this he became filled with rage, alluding to the Kuru, and commanded his followers saying: “Punish these wretches of wicked behaviour!”

When the Gandharvas were so commanded by Chitrasena, they rushed weapons in hand, towards the Dhritarashtra ranks. Beholding the Gandharvas impetuously rushing towards them with upraised weapons, the Kuru warriors precipitously fled in all directions at the very sight of Duryodhana. Beholding the Kuru soldiers all flying from the field with their backs to the foe, the heroic Radheya Karna alone fled not. Seeing the mighty host of the Gandharvas rushing towards him, Karna checked them by a perfect shower of arrows. The Suta's son Karna, owing to his extreme lightness of hand, struck hundreds of Gandharvas with Kshurapras arrows, Bhallas and various weapons made of bones and steel. That mighty warrior, causing the heads of numerous Gandharvas to roll down within a short time, made the ranks of Chitrasena to yell in anguish. Although they were slaughtered in great numbers by greatly intelligent Karna, yet the Gandharvas returned to the charge by hundreds and thousands. In consequence of the swarms of Chitrasena's warriors rushing impetuously to the field, the earth itself became soon covered by the Gandharva host. Then king Duryodhana, Shakuni, Duhshasana, Vikarna, and other sons of Dhritarashtra, seated on cars the clatter of whose wheels resembled the roars of Garuda, returned to the charge, following the lead of Karna, and began to slaughter that host. Desirous of supporting Karna, these princes invested the Gandharva army, with a large number of cars and a strong body of horses. Then the whole of the Gandharva host began to fight with the Kauravas. The encounter that took place between the contending hosts was fierce in the extreme and might make one's hair stand on end. The Gandharvas, at last, afflicted with the shafts of the Kuru army, seemed to be exhausted. The Kauravas beholding the Gandharvas so afflicted, sent up a loud sound.

Seeing the Gandharva host yielding to fear, the angry Chitrasena sprang from his seat, resolved to exterminate the Kuru army. Conversant with various modes of warfare, he waged on the fight, aided by his weapons of illusion. The Kaurava warriors were then all deprived of their senses by the illusion Chitrasena created. Then, it seemed that every warrior of the Kuru army was attacked and surrounded by ten Gandharvas. Attacked with great vigour, the Kuru host was greatly afflicted and struck with panic. All of them who liked to live, fled from the field. But while the entire Dhritarashtra host broke and fled, Karna, that offspring of the Sun, stood there, immovable as a hill. Indeed, Duryodhana, Karna and Shakuni, all fought with the Gandharvas, although every one of them was much wounded and mangled in the encounter. All the Gandharvas then, desirous of slaying Karna, rushed together by hundreds and thousands towards Karna. Those mighty warriors, desirous of slaying the Suta's son, surrounded him on all sides, with swords and battle-axes and spears. Some cut down the yoke of his car, and some his flagstaff, and some the shaft of his car, and some his horses, and some his charioteer. And some cut down his umbrella and some the wooden fender round his car and some the joints of his car. It was thus that many thousands of Gandharvas, together attacking his car, broke it into minute fragments. While his car was thus attacked, Karna leaped therefrom with sword and shield in hand, and mounting on Vikarna's car, urged the steeds for saving himself.

After that great warrior Karna had been routed by the Gandharvas, the whole of the Kuru army, fled from the field in the very sight of Dhritarashtra's son. Beholding all his troops flying from the field of battle with their back to the foe, king Duryodhana refused to fly. Seeing the mighty host of the Gandharvas rushing towards him, that repressor of foes poured down upon them a thick shower of arrows. The Gandharvas, however, without regarding that arrowy shower, and desirous also of slaying him, surrounded that car of his. By means of their arrows, they cut off into fragments the yoke, the shaft, the fenders, the flagstaff, the three-fold bamboo poles, and the principal turret of his car. They also slew his charioteer and horses, hacking them to pieces. When Duryodhana, deprived of his car, fell on the ground, the strong-armed Chitrasena rushed towards him and seized him in such a way that it seemed his life itself was taken. After the Kuru king had been seized, the Gandharvas, surrounding Duhshasana, who was seated on his car, also took him prisoner. Some Gandharvas seized Vivimshati and Chitrasena, and some Vinda and Anuvinda, while others seized all the ladies of royal household. The warriors of Duryodhana, who were routed by the Gandharvas, joining those who had fled first, approached the Pandavas who were living in the vicinity. After Duryodhana had been made captive, the vehicles, the shops, the pavilions, the carriages, and the draught animals, all were made over to the Pandavas for protection. Those soldiers said:

“The mighty-armed son of Dhritarashtra, possessed of great strength and handsome mien, is being taken away captive by the Gandharvas! You sons of Pritha, follow them! Duhshasana, Durvishasa, Durmukha, and Durjaya, are all being led away as captives in chains by the Gandharvas, as also all the ladies of the royal household!”

Crying thus, the followers of Duryodhana, afflicted with grief and melancholy, approached Yudhishthira, desirous of effecting the release of the king. Bhima then answered those old attendants of Duryodhana, who, afflicted with grief and melancholy, were thus soliciting the aid of Yudhishthira, saying:

“What we should have done with great efforts, arraying ourselves in line of battle, supported by horses and elephants has, indeed, been done by the Gandharvas! They that come here for other purposes, have been overtaken by consequences they had not foreseen! Indeed, this is the result of the evil counsels of a king who is fond of deceitful play! It has been heard by us that the foe of a person who is powerless, is overthrown by others. The Gandharvas have, in an extraordinary way illustrated before our eyes the truth of this saying! It seems that there is still fortunately some person in the world who is desirous of doing us good who has, indeed, taken upon his own shoulders our pleasant load, although we are sitting idly! The wretch had come here to cast his eyes on us, - himself in prosperity while ourselves are sunk in adversity and emaciated by ascetic austerities and are exposed to wind, cold and heat. They that imitate the behaviour of that sinful and wretched Kaurava, are now seeing his disgrace! He that had instructed Duryodhana to do this, had certainly acted sinfully. That the sons of Kunti are not wicked and sinful, I tell it before you all!"

While Bhima, the son of Kunti, was speaking thus in a voice of sarcasm, king Yudhishthira told him, “This is not time for cruel words!”

Yudhishthira said:

“O child! Why do you use language such as this, towards the frightened Kurus, who are now in adversity and who have come to us, solicitous of protection! Disunions and disputes do take place amongst those that are connected in blood. Hostilities such as these do go on. But the honour of the family should never suffer. If any stranger seeks to insult the honour of a family, they that are good never tolerate such insult coming from the stranger. The wicked-souled king of the Gandharvas knows that we are living here for quite some time now. Yet disregarding us, he has done this deed which is so disagreeable to us! From this forcible seizure of Duryodhana and from this insult to the ladies of our house by a stranger, our family honour is being destroyed. Therefore, you tigers among men, arise and arm yourselves without delay for rescuing those that have sought our protection and for guarding the honour of our family. Let Arjuna and the twins and yourself also that are brave and unvanquished, liberate Duryodhana, who is even now being taken away a captive! These blazing cars, furnished with golden flagstaff's and every kind of weapons belonging to Dhritarashtra's sons, are ready here. With Indrasena and other charioteers skilled in arms, for guiding them, ride you on these everfurnished cars of deep rattle! Riding on these, exert you with activity for fighting with the Gandharvas to liberate Duryodhana. Even an ordinary Kashatriya amongst those that are here, would to the height of his power, protect one that has come here for refuge! What then shall I say of you! Entreated for assistance in such words as “O hasten to my aid!” Who is there amongst those standing around me that is high-souled enough to assist even his foe, beholding him seeking shelter with joined hands? The bestowal of a boon, sovereignty, and the birth of a son are sources of great joy. But, you sons of Pandu, the liberation of a foe from distress is equal to all the three put together! What can be a source of greater joy to you than that Duryodhana sunk in distress seeks his very life as depending on the might of your arms? If the vow in which I am engaged had been over, there is little doubt that I would myself have run to his aid. Strive you by all means to liberate Duryodhana by the arts of conciliation. If, however, the king of the Gandharvas cannot be managed by the arts of conciliation, then must you try to rescue Suyodhana by lightly skirmishing with the foe. But if the chief of the Gandharvas do not let the Kurus off even then, they must be rescued by crushing the foe by all means. This is all I can tell you now, for my vow has been begun and is not ended yet!"

Hearing these words of Ajatasatru, Arjuna pledged himself, from respect for these commands of his superior, to liberate the Kauravas. Arjuna said,

“If the Gandharvas do not set the Dhartarashtras free peacefully, the Earth shall this day drink the blood of the king of the Gandharvas!”

Hearing that pledge of the truth-speaking Arjuna, the Kauravas then regained the lost tenor of their minds.

Arjuna fights the Gandharvas and releases Duryodhana 

Hearing the words of Yudhishthira, those bulls among men, headed by Bhimasena, rose up with faces beaming in joy. Those mighty warriors then began to case themselves in impenetrable mail that were covered with pure gold, and armed themselves with celestial weapons of various kinds. The Pandavas thus cased in mail, and mounted on those chariots furnished with flagstaffs and armed with bows and arrows, looked like blazing fires. Those tigers among warriors, riding upon those well furnished cars drawn by fleet horses, proceeded to that spot without losing a moment. Beholding those mighty warriors thus proceeding together for the liberation of Duryodhana, the Kuru army sent forth a loud shout. Soon did those rangers of the sky flushed with victory, and those impetuous warriors, the sons of Pandu, fearlessly encounter each other in that forest. The Gandharvas were flushed with success, and beholding the four brave sons of Pandu coming to battle seated on their cars, they all turned back towards the advancing combatants. The dwellers of the Gandhamadana, beholding the Pandavas looking like blazing guardians of the world provoked to ire, stood arrayed in order of battle. In accordance with words of king Yudhishthira of great wisdom, the encounter that took place was a skirmish. But when Arjuna saw that the foolish soldiers of the king of Gandharvas could not be made to understand what was good for them by means of a light skirmish, he addressed those invincible rangers of the skies in a conciliatory tone and said,

“Leave my brother king Suyodhana.”

Thus addressed by the illustrious son of Pandu, the Gandharvas, laughing aloud, replied unto him saying,

“O child, there is but one in the world whose behests we obey and living under whose rule we pass our days in happiness: we always act as that one only person commands us! Apart from our chief, there is none that can command us!”

Thus addressed by the Gandharvas, Arjuna replied unto them, saying,

“This contact with other people's wives and this hostile encounter with human beings are acts that are both censurable in the king of the Gandharvas and not proper for him. Therefore, leave these sons of Dhritarashtra all endued with mighty energy. Liberate also these ladies, at the command of king Yudhishthira the just. If, you Gandharvas, do not set the sons of Dhritarashtra free peacefully, I shall certainly rescue Suyodhana and his party by exerting my prowess.”

Speaking unto them thus, Arjuna, capable of wielding the bow with his left hand also, then rained a shower of sharp pointed sky-ranging shafts upon those rangers of the firmament. Thus attacked, the mighty Gandharvas then encountered the sons of Pandu with a shower of arrows equally thick, and the Pandavas also replied by attacking those dwellers of heaven. The battle then, that ranged between the active and agile Gandharvas and the impetuous son of Pandu was fierce in the extreme.

Then those Gandharvas decked in golden garlands and accomplished in celestial weapons, showing their blazing shafts, encountered the Pandavas from every side. As the sons of Pandu were only four in number and the Gandharvas counted by thousands, the battle that ensued appeared to be extraordinary. As the cars of Karna and Duryodhana had formerly been broken into a hundred fragments by the Gandharvas, so were the cars of the four heroes attempted to be broken. But those tigers among men began to stop with their showers of arrows thousands upon thousands of Gandharvas rushing towards them. Those rangers of skies endued with great energy, thus checked on all sides by that arrowy down-pour, succeeded not in even coming near to the sons of Pandu. Then Arjuna whose ire had been provoked, aiming at the angry Gandharvas, prepared to hurl against them his celestial weapons. In that encounter, the mighty Arjuna, by means of his Agneya weapon, sent ten hundreds of thousands of Gandharvas to the abode of Yama. That mighty bowman, Bhima, also, that foremost of all warriors in battle, slew, by means of his sharp arrows, Gandharvas by hundreds. The mighty sons of Madri also, battling with vigour, encountered hundreds of Gandharvas and slaughtered them all. As Gandharvas were being thus slaughtered by the mighty warriors with their celestial weapons, they rose up to the skies, taking with them the sons of Dhritarashtra. But Arjuna, beholding them rise up to the skies, surrounded them on every side by a wide net of arrows. Confined within that arrowy net like birds within a cage, they showered in wrath upon Arjuna maces and darts and broad-swords. But Arjuna who was conversant with the most efficacious weapons, soon checked that shower of maces and darts and broad-swords, and in return began to mangle the limbs of the Gandharvas with his crescent-shaped arrows. Heads and legs and arms began to drop down from above resembling a shower of stones. At that sight, the foe was struck with panic. As the Gandharvas were being slaughtered by the illustrious son of Pandu, they began to shower from the skies a heavy downpour of shafts upon Arjuna, who was on the surface of the earth. But that chastiser of foes, Arjuna, endued with mighty energy checked that shower of arrows by means of his own weapons and began, in return, to wound them. Then Arjuna shot his well-known weapons called Sthunakarna, Indrajala, Saura, Agneya and Saumya. The Gandharvas consumed by the fiery weapons of Kunti's son, began to suffer heavily, like the sons of Diti, while being scorched by Indra's thunder-bolt. When they attacked Arjuna from above, they were checked by his net of arrows. While they attacked him from all sides on the surface of the earth, they were checked by his crescent-shaped arrows.

Beholding the Gandharvas put in fear by Kunti's son, Chitrasena rushed at Arjuna, armed with a mace. As the king of the Gandharvas was rushing at Arjuna from above with that mace in hand, the latter cut with his arrows that mace wholly made of iron into seven pieces. Beholding that mace of his cut into many pieces by Arjuna of great activity, with his arrows, Chitrasena, by means of his science, concealed himself from the view of the Pandava and began to fight with him. The heroic Arjuna, however, by means of his own celestial weapons checked all the celestial weapons that were aimed at him by the Gandharvas. When the chief of the Gandharvas saw that he was checked by the illustrious Arjuna with his those weapons, he entirely disappeared from sight by help of his powers of illusion. Arjuna, observing that the chief of the Gandharvas was striking at him concealed from sight, attacked his assailant with celestial weapon inspired with proper Mantras. The multiform Arjuna filled with wrath, prevented the disappearance of his foe by means of his weapon known by the name of Sabda-veda. Assailed with those weapons by the illustrious Arjuna, his dear friend, the king of the Gandharvas, showed himself unto him.

Chitrasena said,

“Look at me your friend battling with you!”

Beholding his friend Chitrasena exhausted in the battle, that bull among the sons of Pandu withdrew the weapons he had shot. The other sons of Pandu beholding Arjuna withdraw his weapons, checked their flying steeds and the impetus of their weapons and withdrew their bows. Chitrasena and Bhima and Arjuna and the twins enquiring about one another's welfare, sat awhile on their respective cars.

Then that mighty bowman of blazing splendour, Arjuna, smilingly said unto Chitrasena in the midst of the Gandharva host,

“What purpose do you serve, O hero, in punishing the Kauravas? Also why has Suyodhana with his wives been thus punished?”

Chitrasena replied,

“O Arjuna! Without stirring from my own abode I became acquainted with the purpose of the wicked Duryodhana and the wretched Karna in coming here. The purpose was even this: knowing that you are in exile in the forest and suffering great afflictions as if you had none to take care of you, himself in prosperity, this wretch entertained the desire of beholding you plunged in adversity and misfortune. They came here for mocking you and the illustrious daughter of Drupada. The lord of the celestials also, having ascertained this purpose of theirs, told me, “Go and bring Duryodhana here in chains along with his counsellors. Arjuna with his brothers should always be protected by you in battle, for he is your dear friend and disciple.”  At these words of the lord of the celestials I came here speedily. This wicked prince has also been put in chains. I will now proceed to the region of the celestials, Where I will make this wicked wait at the command of the slayer of Paka!”

Arjuna answered, saying,

“O Chitrasena, if you wish to do what is agreeable to me, set Suyodhana free, at the command of king Yudhishthira the just, for he is our brother!”

Chitrasena said,

“This sinful wretch is always full of vanity. He does not deserve to be set free. O Arjuna! He has deceived and wronged both king Yudhishthira the just and Krishna. Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, does not yet know the purpose on which the wretch came here. Let the king, therefore, do what he desires after knowing everything!"

After this, all of them went to king Yudhishthira the just. Going unto the king, they represented unto him everything about Duryodhana's conduct. Ajatasatru, hearing everything that the Gandharvas had said, liberated all the Kauravas and applauded the Gandharvas. The king said,

“Fortunate it is for us that though gifted with great strength, you did not yet slay the wicked son of Dhritarashtra along with all counsellors and relatives. This, O sir! has been an act of great kindness done to me by the Gandharvas. The honour also of my family is saved by liberating this wicked wight. I am glad at seeing you all. Command me what I am to do for you. Having obtained all you wish, return you soon whence you came!”

Thus addressed by the intelligent son of Pandu, the Gandharvas became well-pleased and went away with the Apsaras.

The lord of the celestials then, coming to that spot, revived those Gandharvas that had been slain in the encounter with the Kurus, by sprinkling the celestial Amrita over them.

The Pandavas also, having liberated their relatives along with the ladies of the royal household, and having achieved that difficult feat (the defeat of the Gandharvas host) became well-pleased. Those illustrious and mighty warriors worshipped by the Kurus along with their sons and wives, blazed forth in splendour like flaming fires in the sacrificial compound. Yudhishthira then addressing the liberated Duryodhana in the midst of his brothers, from affection, told him these words:

“O child! Never again do such a rash act. O Bharata! A rash fight never brings happiness. O son of the Kuru race! Be pleased with all your brothers. Go back to your capital as pleases you, without yielding yourself to despondency or cheerlessness!"

Thus dismissed by the son of Pandu, king Duryodhana saluted king Yudhishthira the just and overwhelmed with shame, and his heart rent in twain, mechanically set out for his capital, like one destitute of life.

After the Kaurava prince had departed, the brave Yudhishthira, along with his brothers, was worshipped by the Brahmanas, and surrounded by those Brahmanas endued with the wealth of asceticism, like Indra himself by the celestials, he began to pass his days happily in the woods of Dwaita.