Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/148

134 dear ones, dissensions may not take place between you and your cousins, we have settled that Khanda vaprasth a should be your abode. Therefore, go ye, casting off all jealousy. to Khandavaprastha which contain many towns served by many broad roads, for dwelling there!' And accordingly the Pandavas went, with all their friends and followers, to Khandavaprastha taking with them many jewels and precious stones. And the sons of Pritha dwelt there for many years. And they brought, by force of arms, many a prince under their subjection. And thus, setting their hearts on virtue and firmly adhering to truth, unruffled by affluence, calmn in de portment, and putting down numerous evils, the Pandavas gradually rose to power. And Bhima of great reputation subjugated the East; the heroic Arjuna, the North : Nakula, the West : Sahadeva that slayer of all hostile heroes, the South. And having done this their dominations was spread over the whole world. And with the five Pandavas, each like unto the Sun, the Earth looked as if she had six Suns."

"Then, for some reason, Yudhishthira the just, gifted with great energy and prowess, sent his brother Arjuna who was capable of drawing the bow with the left hand, dearer unto him than life itself, into the woods, And Arjuna, that tiger among men, of firm soul, and gifted with every virtue, lived in the woods for eleven years and months. And during this period, on certain occasion, Arjuna went to Krishna in Dwaravati. And Vibhatsu (Arjuna) there obtained for a wife the lotuseyed and sweet-speeched younger sister of Vasudeva, Subhadra by name. And she became united, in gladness, with Arjuna, the son of Pandu like Sachi with the great Indra, or Sri with Krishna himself. And then, O best of monarchs, Arjuna, che son of Kunti, with Vasudeva, gratified Agni, the carrier of tbe sacrificial butter, in the forest of Khandava (by burning the medicinal plants in that woods to cure Agni of his indigestion). And to Arjuna, assisted as he was by Kesava, the task did not at all appear heavy even as nothing is heavy to Vishnu with immense design and resources in the matter of destroying his enemies. And Agni gave unto the son of Pritha the excellent bow Gandiva and a quiver that was inexhaustible, and a war chariot bearing the figure of Garuda on its standard. And it was on this occasion that Arjuna relieved the great Asura (Maya) from fear (of being consumed in the fire). And Maya, in gratitude, built (for the Pandavas) a celestial palace decked with every sort of jewels and precious stones. And the wicked Durygodhana, beholding that building. was tempted with the desire of possessing it. And deceiving Yudhishthira by means of the dice played through the hands of the son of Suvala, Duryyodhana sent the Pandavas into the woods for twelve years and one additional year to be passed in concealment, thus making the period full thirteen.