Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/174

160 came, the Kaurava monarch bestowed his daughter Dussala on Jayadracba, the king of the Sindhus, agreeably to the counsels of Sakuni."

"And, O monarch,known that king Yudhishthira was a portion of Dharma : that Bhimsenaswas of the deity of wind; that Arjuna was of Indra, the chief of the celestials: and that Nakula and Sabadeva, the handsomest beings among all creatures, and unrivalled for beauty on Earth, were similarly portions of the twin Aswins. And he who was known as the mighty Varchas, the son of Soma, became Abhimanyu of wonderful deeds, the son of Arjuna. And before his incarnation, Oking, the god Soma had said these words to the celestials-'I cannot give (part with) my son. He is dearer to me than life itself. Let this be the compact and let it be not transgressed. The destruction of the Asuras on Earth is the work of the celestials, and, therefore, it is our work as well. Let this Varchas, therefore, go thither, but let him not stay there long. Nara, whose companion is Narayana, will be born as Indra's son and indeed, will be known as Arjuna, the mighty son of Pandu. This boy of mine shall be his son and become a mighty car-warrior in his boy bood. And let bim, ye best of immortals, stay on Earth for sixteen years. And when be attaineth to his sixteenth year, the battle shall take place in which all who are born of your portions shall achieve the destruction of mighty warriors. But a certain encounter shall take place without both Nara and Narayana (taking any part in it). And, indeed, your portions, ye celestials, shall fight, having made that disposition of the forces which is known by the name of the Chakra-vyuha. And my son shall compel all foes to retreat before him. The boy of mighty arms having penetrated the bardly impenetrable array, shall range within it fearlessly and send a fourth part of the hostile force, in course of half a day, unto the regions of the king of the dead. Then when numberless heroes and mighty car-warriors will return to the charge towards the close of the day, my boy of mighty arms, shall re-appear before me. And he shall beget one heroic son in his line, who shall continue the almost extinct Bharata race. Hearing these words of Soma, the dwellers in heaven replied, "So be it." And then all together applauded and worshipped (Soma) the king of stars. Thus, o king, have I recited to thee the (particulars of the) birth of thy father's father !"

"Know also. O monarch, that the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna was a portion of Agni. And know also that Sikhandin, who was at first a female, was (the incarnation of) a Rakshasa. And, O bull in Bharata's race, they who became the five sons of Draupadi, those bulls amongst the Bharata princes, were the celestials known as the Viswas. Their names were Pritivindhya, Sutasoma, Srutakirti. Satanika, the son Nakula, and Srutasena, endued with mighty energy."