Lord Krsna receives the Sudarsana discus, Arjuna the Gandiva bow.
The sage Vaisampayana is telling the history of the Pandavas to their great-grandson, King Janamejaya. As the narration continues, Arjuna and Lord Krsna, while on a pleasure outing to the Yamuna River, receive divine weapons from Varuna, the lord of the waters.
WHILE LIVING in Indraprastha, the Pandavas subdued other regional rulers by the order of King Dhrtarastra and Bhisma, son of Santanu, [and brought those regions within a peaceful and unified Pandava administration]. Taking shelter of Dharmaraja Yudhisthira, the king of virtue, the whole world lived happily, for people depended on the righteous deeds of the king, just as they depended on their own bodies.
Yudhisthira, the noble Bharata king, attended to his religious duties, economic policies, and personal desires in a balanced way, just as a man with acquaintances respects them as he does himself and yet sees them as different from himself. So ideal and balanced was the king in his worldly and religious affairs that religion, prosperity, and personal satisfaction seemed to incarnate on the earth in his person, although he was always apart from these three, as a fourth and transcendental being.
The Vedas found in the king the supreme student, the grand rituals gained in him the best performer and patron, and the social classes found in him a pure-hearted protector. In his realm, wisdom gained a shelter, the laws of God found a true friend, and the goddess of fortune found a proper place to live. The king appeared nobler and finer in the company of his four brothers, as a grand ritual becomes lovelier when united with the four Vedas.
Equal in splendor to Brhaspati, the leading priests headed by Dhaumya surrounded and assisted Yudhisthira. The eyes and hearts of the citizens rejoiced exceedingly in that king of virtue, as much as in the spotless full moon. The citizens delighted in their destined good fortune, and whatever they desired in their hearts the king endeavored to give them. The king was wise, his speech elegant, and never did he utter a word that was untrue, unkind, deceitful, or unbefitting. He wielded unusual power, but he found his pleasure in working for the good of all people and of his own soul. So did all the Pandavas rejoice in the goodness of their works, for the fever of personal ambition did not burn in their hearts. Yet by their personal prowess they instilled a fear of God in all the rulers of the earth.
The Excursion
After Lord Krsna had been staying for some days in Indraprastha, Arjuna said to Him, "Krsna, the hot days are here; let us go to the Yamuna River. We will enjoy there, Madhusudana, with our close friends, and we'll come back in the evening that is, Janardana, if you like the idea."
Sri Krsna said, "Yes, son of Kunti, I also like the idea. Let us go with our close friends and enjoy in the water as we like."
After informing King Yudhisthira and receiving his permission, Arjuna and Govinda departed, surrounded by intimate friends. The area on the bank of the Yamuna featured large stocks of wealth, variegated garlands and necklaces, a large variety of excellent trees, both simple cottages and palatial estates like that of Indra, and a wide range of tasty food, drink, and other comforts. Indeed, that spot had everything needed for the enjoyment of Arjuna and Krsna. Arriving there, the two friends and their companions entered the area, which was filled with all types of shining jewels, and they all began to play and enjoy as they wished.
Some of the women sported in the forest, some in the water, and some in the nice cottages. They enjoyed especially wherever Krsna and Arjuna went and always tried to please them. At the height of the excitement, Draupadi and Subhadra offered gifts of priceless clothes and jewelry to all the ladies present. Some of the ladies danced joyfully, while others cried out in the joy of celebration. Some ladies laughed, and others drank fine beverages. Some ladies wept joyfully, some wrestled one another, and others had serious discussions in secluded spots. All around, the opulent forest was filled with the exquisitely rich sounds of flute, vina, and mrdanga drum.
As the festival was thus progressing, Krsna and Arjuna, the darlings of the Kurus and Dasarhas, went nearby to see a particularly charming area. Those two mighty souls who conquer hostile cities then sat down on most valuable seats. They enjoyed reminiscing about their many adventures and romances.
The Fire-god's Request
As they sat together very happily, like the two Asvin gods seated in heaven, a brahmana arrived and approached them. Standing tall like a big sala tree, with tawny skin, a reddish mustache, an evenly proportioned body, and an effulgence like molten gold, he shone like the newly risen sun. He was dressed in black, with matted locks and a face as delicate as a lotus petal. Blazing with prowess, the tawny man came near Krsna and Arjuna, and the two quickly stood up to receive the radiant brahmana.
The brahmana said to Arjuna and Lord Krsna, leader of the Satvatas, "You are the two great heroes of the world, standing here by the Khandava Forest. I am a brahmana who consumes immeasurable amounts, and I now beg you two, Krsna and Arjuna, that for once you offer me my full satisfaction of food."
Thus addressed, Krsna and Arjuna said to him, "Tell us what food will satisfy you, and we will try to bring it."
The brahmana replied, "I do not eat ordinary grains, for you may know me to be the god of fire. Thus you should offer food appropriate for me.
"Lord Indra always carefully guards this Khandava Forest, and because such a mighty person guards it, I cannot burn it. His friend Taksaka the serpent always resides here with his associates, and for his sake thunderbolt-wielding Indra carefully guards this forest. Many other beasts are equally protected by this arrangement. I desire to burn the forest, but Indra's might does not allow me to do so. As soon as he sees me blazing, he rains down water from the clouds, and I am unable to burn this desirable forest. But now that I have met you two, who can help me by your unique skill with weapons, I can burn the Khandava Forest, [which I have selected as my food]. With your supreme knowledge of weapons, you shall ward off the torrents of water and all the beasts on all sides."
Addressed thus, fearsome Arjuna replied to the sacred Fire, "I have many ultimate weapons of divine power, so I can battle many thunderbolt-wielding Indras. But, my lord, I do not have a bow that fits the strength of my arms and withstands my speed and power in battle. And when I am firing rapidly, I need an inexhaustible supply of arrows. Moreover, my chariot will not hold all the arrows I need. I would also request divine horses, white and as swift as the wind, and a chariot that rumbles like the clouds and shines as bright as the sun.
"Similarly, Sri Krsna does not have a weapon equal to His strength, a weapon by which He will slay the serpents and ghosts in battle. My lord, you must declare the means by which to accomplish this task, so that I may ward off Indra when he sends showers into the great forest. Whatever is to be done by manly prowess, we two shall do, O Fire, but you, my lord, should provide the proper instruments."
The Mighty Weapons
Thus addressed, the smoke-crested lord of fire fixed his mind on Varuna, desiring to see that lord of worlds.
Varuna is the son of Aditi, and he is the god of the seas. Within his watery abode he understood that he was being thought of. He appeared to Fire, who welcomed him and spoke to the lord of the waters, who is the fourth among the leaders of the universe, being a protector and controller:
"King Soma once gave you a bow and quiver. Please give me both of them at once, and also the chariot marked with Hanuman, for Arjuna will perform a great task with that Gandiva bow. And also, for my sake, please give the great disc to Sri Krsna."
"Yes, I shall give," Varuna replied.
Varuna then presented to Arjuna the amazingly potent bow, a weapon that always increased the glory and fame of its owner, for it could not be conquered by any other weapon, being the harasser of all arms, the great one among weapons, devastating to enemy armies. That one weapon was equal to a hundred thousand weapons, and it made its owner's kingdom flourish. Multicolored with all the hues, smooth and shining, without a scratch or scar, it had been worshiped by the gods and Gandharvas since time immemorial.
Varuna gave Arjuna that jewel of bows, two great quivers of inexhaustible shafts, and a chariot yoked to divine horses, its banner marked with Hanuman, the foremost of monkeys. The silver Gandharva horses were garlanded in gold. They moved at the speed of the mind or the wind and flashed like swift white clouds. The chariot had all necessary equipment. It could not be conquered by gods or demons, and it radiated light and reverberated with a deep rumbling sound. Its beauty captivated the mind of all who beheld it. Visvakarma, the lord of design and construction, had created it by the power of his austerities, and its form, like that of the sun, could not be precisely discerned. By mounting this chariot, as big as an elephant or a cloud and blazing with splendor, the Moon had overcome the wicked Danavas.
Atop this finest chariot rested a flagstaff that shone like Indra's thunderbolt. It was made of gold and uniquely attractive. On the staff was the divine Hanuman, a transcendental monkey with the marks of the lion and tiger. Situated atop the chariot, he seemed to roar out and shine with power. On the flag were all kinds of powerful creatures, whose fierce roars destroyed the consciousness of enemy armies.
Arjuna walked reverently around the unique chariot, which shone with variegated flags, and he offered his obeisances to the Supreme Lord and to the secondary deities who had delivered the marvelous car.
Tightly fitted with armor, his sword and wrist- and finger-guards in place, Arjuna mounted the chariot as a pious man mounts the celestial craft that takes him to heaven. Firmly grasping the divine and glorious Gandiva bow, which had been constructed long ago by Brahma, Arjuna rejoiced. Bowing to the sacred fire, the hero then gripped the bow and, exerting his power, strung it with a proper cord. When mighty Arjuna strung his bow, the twanging sound was so piercing that the minds of those who heard it shuddered.
Having obtained a suitable chariot and bow, along with two inexhaustible quivers of arrows, the son of Kunti was now ready and enthusiastic to assist the god of fire, who then gave Lord Krsna a discus whose hub was a thunderbolt. Holding again His eternal fiery weapon, which is ever devoted to Him, the Lord was ready to perform His pastimes.
Fire then said to the Lord, "My dear Krsna, slayer of Madhu, with this weapon You will undoubtedly conquer in battle, even against superhuman opponents. With this weapon You will be superior in battle to the human beings and even to the gods, and certainly the Nagas, the Raksasas, the Pisacas, and the wicked Daityas no matter how excellent your enemy may be. Whenever You throw this weapon, my dear Madhava, it will strike down the enemy in battle, without ever being struck, and it will always return to Your hand."
Varuna then gave Lord Krsna a terrifying club named Kaumodaki, which roared like a thunderbolt and brought death to the wicked. Krsna and Arjuna were enlivened by the gifts.
Prepared with weapons, missiles, chariots, and banners, they said to Fire, "We are ready to fight, lord, even with all the gods and demons, what to speak of Indra, who desires to fight for the sake of a serpent."
Arjuna said, "When Sri Krsna, chief of the Vrsnis, hurls His disc weapon, no one in the universe will stand unconquered. Taking the Gandiva bow and these two inexhaustible quivers of arrows, I too, O Fire, shall boldly conquer all the worlds in battle. My lord, we are ready to help you, and as soon as you like, you may surround the forest with a great fire. This very moment, blaze away as you desire!"
Hridayananda Dasa Goswami, who holds a Ph.D. in Indology from Harvard University, is Professor of Vaisnava Theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. He frequently speaks at universities and is translating the Mahabharata and other Sanskrit works.