Friday, November 7, 2014

Pratismriti

Name of a secret Vidyaa or knowledge taught by
Vyas Muni to 
Yudhisthir, who was to teach it to 
Arjun. 
By this secret knowledge Arjuna could travel anywhere from earth to heaven.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Rajgir

Lord Krishna Blesses the Liberated Kings

Krishna, after
  1. causing Jarasandha's death 
  2. took his car furnished with an excellent flagstaff to be made ready and 
  3. making the brothers (Bhima and Arjuna) ride in it, went in and released imprisoned kings And 


those kings rescued from terrible fate, rich in the possession of jewels, approaching Krishna made presents unto him of jewels and gems.

http://www.srimadbhagavatam.org/canto10/chapter73.html
http://www.srimadbhagavatamclass.com/category/srimad-bhagavatam-canto-10-the-summum-bonum/chapter-73-lord-krishna-blesses-the-liberated-kings/

Note
After his death, the Pandavas released all the 95 kings imprisoned by Jarasandha and crowned his son, Sahdeva as the king of Magadha. Thus, these 95 kings along with Sahdeva, the new ruler of Magadha became an ally of Pandavas who took part in the great Mahabharat war later.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02022.htm

14 Days and Nights Fight

Jarasandha stood up like an ocean bursting its continents. Then the monarch possessed of terrible prowess, addressing Bhima. said,

'I will fight with thee. It is better to be vanquished by a superior person.' And saying this, Jarasandha, that represser of all foes endued, rushed with great energy at Bhimasena like the Asura Vala or old who rushed at the chief of the celestials.

And the mighty Bhimasena, on whose behalf the gods had been invoked by Krishna, that cousin of his, having consulted with advanced towards Jarasandha, impelled by the desire of fight. Then
  1. those tigers among men, 
  2. those heroes of great prowess, 
  3. cheerfully engaged themselves in the encounter, 
  4. each desirous of vanquishing the other. And 
  5. seizing each other's arms and twining each other's legs, (at times) they slapped their arm-pits, causing the enclosure to tremble at the sound. And 
  6. frequently seizing each other's necks with their hands and 
  7. dragging and pushing it with violence, and 
  8. each pressing every limb of his body against every limb of the other, 
  9. slap their arm-pits (at time). And 
  10. sometimes stretching their arms and 
  11. sometimes drawing them close, and 
  12. now raising them up and now dropping them down, they began to seize each other. And 
  13. striking neck against neck and forehead against forehead, they caused fiery sparks to come out like flashes of lightning. And 
  14. grasping each other in various ways by means of their arms, and kicking each other with such violence as to affect the innermost nerves, they struck at each other's breasts with clenched fists. 
  15. With bare arms as their only weapons roaring like clouds they grasped and struck each other like two mad elephants encountering each other with their trunks. 
  16. Incensed at each other's blow, they fought on dragging and pushing each other and 
  17. fiercely looking at each other like two wrathful lions. And 
  18. each striking every limb of the other with his own and using his arms also against the other, and 
  19. catching hold of each other's waist, they hurled each other to a distance. 
  20. Accomplished in wrestling, the two heroes clasping each other with their arms and 
  21. each dragging the other unto himself, began to press each other with great violence. 
  22. The heroes then performed those grandest of all feats in wrestling called Prishtabhanga, which consisted in throwing each other down with face towards the earth and maintaining the one knocked down in that position as long as possible. And 
  23. employing his arms, each also performed the feats called Sampurna-murchcha and Purna-kumbha. At times they twisted each other's arms and other limbs as if these were vegetable fibres that were to be twisted into chords. And with clenched fists they struck each other at times, pretending to aim at particular limbs while the blows descended upon other parts of the body. 
  24. It was thus that those heroes fought with each other. 
  25. The sound the wrestlers made by the slapping of their arms, the seizing of each other's necks for bringing each other down, and the grasping of each other's legs for dashing each other to the ground, became so loud that it resembled the roar of thunder or of falling cliffs. 
  26. Both of them were foremost of mighty men, and both took great delight in such encounter. Desirous of vanquishing the other, each was on the alert for taking advantage of the slightest lapse of the other. And, 
  27.  the mighty Bhima and Jarasandha fought terribly on in those lists, driving the crowd at times by the motions of their hands like Vritra and Vasava of old. Thus two heroes, dragging each other forward and pressing each other backward and with sudden jerks throwing each other face downward and sideways, mangled each other dreadfully. And 
  28. at times they struck each other with their knee-joints. And 
  29. addressing each other loudly in stinging speeches, they struck each other with clenched fists, the blows descending like a mass of stone upon each other. With broad shoulders and long arms and both well-skilled in wrestling encounters, they struck each other with those long arms of theirs that were like maces of iron. 
Duration

That encounter of the heroes commenced on the first (lunar) day of the month of Kartic (October) and the illustrious heroes fought on without intermission and food, day and night, till the thirteenth lunar day. It was on the night of the fourteenth of the lunar fortnight that the monarch of Magadha desisted from fatigue. And O king, Janardana beholding the monarch tired, addressed Bhima of terrible deeds, and as if to stimulate him said,--'O son of Kunti, a foe that is fatigued cannot be pressed for if pressed at such a time he may even die. Therefore, O son of Kunti, this king should not be oppressed by thee. On the other hand, O bull of the Bharata race, fight with him With thy arms, putting forth as much strength only as thy antagonist hath now left!' Then that slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Pandu, thus addressed by Krishna, understood the plight of Jarasandha and forthwith resolved upon taking his life. And that foremost of all men endued with strength, that prince of the Kuru race, desirous of vanquishing the hitherto unvanquished Jarasandha, mustered all his strength and courage."

Bhima firmly resolved upon slaying Jarasandha, replied unto Krishna of the Yadu race, saying,

--O tiger of the Yadu race,

O Krishna, this wretch that yet stayeth before me with sufficient strength and bent upon fight, should not be forgiven by me. Hearing these words of Vrikodara (Bhima), that tiger among men,

Krishna, desiring to encourage that hero to accomplish the death of Jarasandha without any delay, answered,--

'O Bhima, exhibit today upon Jarasandha the strength thou hast luckily derived, the might thou hast obtained from (thy father), the god Maruta.' Thus addressed by Krishna, Bhima, that slayer of foes, holding up in the air the powerful Jarasandha, began to whirl him on high. And, O bull of the Bharata race, having so whirled him in the air full hundred times,


Bhima pressed his knee against Jarasandha's backbone and broke his body in twain. And having killed him thus, the mighty Vrikodara uttered a terrible roar. And the roar of the Pandava mingling with that death knell of Jarasandha, while he was being broken on Bhima's knee, caused a loud uproar that struck fear into the heart of every creature.


Audience

The citizens consisting of thousands, of
  1. Brahmanas, 
  2. Kshatriyas and 
  3. Vaisyas and 
  4. Sudras, and 
  5. even women and the aged, O tiger among men, came out and gathered there to behold the fight. And the crowd became so great that it was one solid mass of humanity with no space between body and body.  

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02023.htm

Draupadi and Krishna

Names of Draupadi

  1. “Agnijyotsna”—“The brightness within a fire.”
  2. “Agniputri"—"The daughter of Agnidev, The God of Fire."
  3. “Ayonija”—“The one born through unique means.”
  4. “Draupadi”—“Daughter of King Drupad.”
  5. “Kalyani”—“Bringer of fortune.” Many question it due to her revenge.
  6. “Krishnaa”—“Dark-skinned one.” She shared this name with Krishna.
  7. “Mahabharti”—“Causer of Great War.”
  8. “Nityayuvani”—“Possessor of eternal youth.”
  9. “Panchali”—“Princess of the Kingdom of Panchal.”
  10. “Panchami”—“Fifth one.” In reference to her five husbands.
  11. “Parsati”—“Granddaughter of King Prishata.”
  12. “Prashasti”—“Praised and famed one.”
  13. “Sairindhri”—“Expert maid.” She went by this name while serving the Queen of Matsya during the time she and her husbands hid in disguise in their last year of exile.
  14. “Yagnaseni”—“The one born from the fire of a yagna.”
  15. “Yojanagandha”—“Giver of fragrance to the distance of a yojana.” A yojana is about 9 miles.

Times

House of wax

Directions

  1. looking to the east (which is the perspective of arjuna), we observe the western face of the shiva liNga (aghora) ~ and the face of hanuman, 
  2. to the south (the perspective of sahadeva) we see the northern face (tatpuruSa) ~ and the face of nRsiMha, 
  3. to the south-west (the perspective of nakula) we see the north-eastern or upper face (IshAna) ~ and the face of hayagrIva, 
  4. to the west (the perspective of yudhiSThira) we see the eastern face (sadyojAta) ~ and the face of garuDa, 
  5. to the north (the perspective of bhIma) we see the southern face (vAmadeva) ~ and the face of varAha.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Gandharva weapon

Practising ascetic penances, Arjuna had obtained that weapon from the Gandharva Tumvuru and others. With that weapon, Abhimanyu now confounded his foes. Quickly displaying his weapons, he careered in that battle like a circle of fire, and was, O king, seen 
  1. sometimes as a single individual, 
  2. sometimes as a hundred, and 
  3. sometimes as a thousand ones. 
Confounding his foes by the skill with which his car was guided and by the illusion caused by his weapons, he cut in a hundred pieces, O monarch, the bodies of the kings (opposed to him). By means of his sharp shafts the lives of living creatures were despatched. These, O king attained to the other world while their bodies fell down on the earth. Their bows, and steeds and charioteers, and standards, and armies decked with Angadar, and heads, the son of Phalguni cut off with his sharp shafts.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07042.htm

Abhimanyu Vs Ghatotkacha

Shashirekha was the daughter of Balarama, Subhadra's elder brother. She was a very sweet and lovely girl. Even when she was still a young girl, Subhadra wished her to become Abhimanyu's wife and her daughter-in-law. Subhadra had once gone to Dwarka before the Pandavas left for the f o rest. She had even then expressed her wish before her brother. Balarama had agreed, thinking that the Pandavas, being the kings of Indraprastha, would live in great grandeur, and that Abhimanyu was the son of the world famous hero Arjuna.

But after the Pandavas went to the forest Balarama's mind began to change little by little. The Pandavas had no place to live in. They lived in the forest, here today and somewhere else tomorrow. They had to spend twelve years in the forest and another year incognito. If recognized, they had to repeat the cycle. Should his daughter enter such a home?

On the other hand, Duryodhana was Balarama's disciple; Balarama liked him very much. Duryodhana's son was Lakshanakumara. Duryodhana who was already a king, had also taken away the kingdom of the Pandavas.

Duryodhana asked Balarama to give Shashirekha in marriage to Lakshanakumara. Balarama agreed.

Subhadra was miserable. Just because her husband was in trouble, her own brother looked down on him; so she wept in sorrow. She confided her sorrow to Krishna. Krishna advised Balarama that a sister should not be painted liked this; he told him that the Pandavas, though in difficulty, then, would again be emperors. Balarama did not pay heed to these words. Subhadra was in great distress.

Abhimanyu came to know of his mother’s grief. He was very angry at the insult to his mother, father and to himself. Mother and son decided not to stay in a place where they were not honored; they thought that it was only proper for them to go to the place where the Pandavas lived.

In the course of their journey, they reached a place called Hidimbavana. Ghatotkacha, the king of Hidimbavana was very strong. His mother was Hidimbe. She was Bheema's wife and Ghatotkacha was Bheema's son. Subhadra and Abhimanyu did not know this. They set foot in Hidimbavana. Ghatotkacha was angry because they had come there without his permission. He stopped them.

But Abhimanyu was Arjuna's son. There could be only one outcome. H e became furious and shot a hundred arrows at Ghatotkacha, At first Ghatotkacha did not take Abhimanyu seriously; he thought that he was after all a young boy. He himself was huge as a mountain, and he had tremendous strength. It was not easy to fight with him. Subhadra shivered with fear on seeing him.

Abhimanyu, of course, did not care and was not afraid. Ghatotkacha fell on him like a mountain. But Abhimanyu calmly shot his arrows. Ghatotkacha stopped the arrows, threw them away, and again pounced on Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu again rained arrows on his opponent, all of which entered Ghatotkacha body. Unable to bear the pain, Ghatotkacha cried aloud and fell down.

Hearing his cry of pain Hidimbe came there. She was much grieved at the sad condition of her brave son. She took his head on her lap. "Oh that this should happen to Bheemasena's son!" she wept.'

What brave men fought in the Mahabharata war! Bheema, Arjuna, Duryodhana, Dusshassana, Bheeshma, Drona, Karna, Kripa, Ashwatthama, Shalya . . . . . It is a long, long list. It seems the gods themselves crowded in the sky to witness the valour of these heroes. These gods had already witnessed the amazing valour of the mighty heroes. But when they saw a great warrior attacked by several foes and saw him killed, they praised him and wept for his death, says Kumaravyasa.

Subhadra and Abhimanyu were shocked. Was he Bheemasena's son? Alas! What had happened? They were puzzled and distressed. Subhadra said to Hidimbe, "Sister, I do not know who you are. How is it you say he is Bheemasena's son?"

With tears in her eyes, Hidimbe narrated her story. Several years before when Bheemasena was in Hidimbavana, she had fallen in love with him; her brother was angry and had fought with Bheemasena, and had been killed; she had married Bheemasena.

So Abhimanyu had fought with Bheema's son and wounded him. Subhadra and Abhimanyu were full of grief. Abhimanyu brought water and tried to revive Ghatotkacha. Subhadra said to Hidimbe, "You are then my elder sister. I am Arjunadeva's wife and Krishna's sister. This boy is my son Abhimanyu."

By this time Ghatotkacha regained consciousness. His mother told him everything. At first Ghatotkacha was furious that he had been defeated; but now he was delighted - after all, the great hero has his own younger brother! He took home Subhadra and Abhimanyu and looked after them with great affection. He learnt the reason for they’re leaving Dwarka.

Ghatotkacha was wild with anger when he learnt that Balarama had not kept his word. He said, "Duryodhana sent the Pandavas to the forest and Balarama wants his daughter to marry Duryodhana's son!" He decided that come what might, Abhimanyu should wed her. He took Subhadra and Abhimanyu to Dwarka. He brought Shashirekha and left her with them. Shashirekha also wished to marry Abhimanyu. Both of them were very happy. Duryodhana and Lakshana had to go away because of Ghatotkacha's tricks. Balarama also finally agreed to Shashirekha’s marriage with Abhimanyu. It was a grand wedding.

Thus, even as a young boy, Abhimanyu fought with Ghatotkacha, and showed his prowess.

Note: In Different Version -  Ghatotkacha Wins

https://www.youtube.com/results?q=Abhimanyu+Vs+Ghatothkach

Bows of Upa Pandavas

The five jewels of bows born by the five sons of Draupadi were
  1. the Raudra, 
  2. the Agneya, 
  3. the Kauverya, 
  4. the Yamya, and
  5. the Girisas.
Source
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07023.htm

Bows

  1. In Yudhishthira's hands was the celestial bow called Mahendra; and 
  2. in the hands of Bhimasena, O king, was the celestial bow called Vayavya. 
  3. For the protection of the three worlds Brahman created a bow. That celestial and indestructible bow was held by Phalguni. 
  4. The Vaishnava bow was held by Nakula, and 
  5. the bow called Aswina was held by Sahadeva. 
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07023.htm

Standards of Upa Pandavas

The standards of the five sons of Draupadi bore on them the excellent images of 
  1. Dharma, 
  2. Marut, 
  3. Sakra, and 
  4. the twin Aswins.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07023.htm

Nanda and Upananda

The standard of Yudhishthira of great energy, bearing the device of a 
  1. golden moon with 
  2. planets around it, looked very beautiful.
Two large and beautiful kettle-drums, called
  1. Nanda and 
  2. Upananda, were tied to it. Played upon by machinery, these produced excellent music that enhanced the delight of all who heard it.
 http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07023.htm

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Celestial Car

The car upon which Krishna rode had been obtained by 
  1. king Vasu from Vasava, and 
  2. from Vasu by Vrihadratha, and 
  3. from Vrihadratha by king Jarasandha. 
  4. from Jarasandha by Krishna making the brothers (Bhima and Arjuna) ride in it,went in and released his (imprisoned) relatives. And those kings rescued from terrible fate, rich in the possession of jewels, approaching Krishna made presents unto him of jewels and gems.
Indeed, it was upon that car that Indra had slain ninety-nine Asuras of old. and Vishnu had fought of old in the battle (with the Asuras) in which Taraka (the wife of Vrihaspati) had become the immediate cause of much slaughter. And riding upon that car Krishna now came out of the hill-fort. 

Possessed of the 
  1. splendour of heated gold, and 
  2. decked with rows of jingling bells and 
  3. furnished with wheels whose clatter was
  1. like the roar of clouds, and 
  2. ever victorious in battle, and 
  3. always slaughtering the foe against whom it was driven,
O Bharata, that car, where unto were 
  1. yoked celestial horses and which 
  2. possessed the speed of the wind, 
  3. looked exceedingly beautiful. And 
Upon that best of cars was a flag-staff without being visibly attached thereto, and which was the product of celestial skill. And the handsome flag-staff, possessed of the splendour of the rainbow, could be seen from the distance of a yojana
And Krishna while, coming out, thought of Garuda. And Garuda, thought of by his master, came thither in no time, like a tree of vast proportions standing in a village worshipped by all. Garuda of immense weight of body and living upon snakes sat upon that excellent car along with the numberless open-mouthed and frightfully-roaring creatures on its flag-staff. And thereupon that best of cars became still more dazzling with its splendour and was as incapable of being looked at by created being as the midday sun surrounded by a thousand rays. 

And, O king, such was that best of flag-staffs of celestial make that it never struck against any tree nor could any weapon injure it at all even though visible to men's eyes. 

And Achyuta, that tiger among men, riding with the two sons of Pandu upon that celestial car, the clatter of whose wheels was like the roar of the clouds, came out of Girivraja.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Varied Guise

Vidura to Dhritarashtra
  1. 'Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, hath gone away covering his face with his cloth. And 
  2. Bhima, O king, hath gone away looking at his own mighty arms. And 
  3. Jishnu (Arjuna) hath gone away, following the king spreading sand-grains around. And 
  4. Sahadeva, the son of Madri, hath gone away besmearing his face, and 
  5. Nakula, the handsomest of men, O king, hath gone away, staining himself with dust and his heart in great affliction. And 
  6. the large-eyed and beautiful Krishna hath gone away, covering her face with her dishevelled hair following in the wake of the king, weeping and in tears. And O monarch, 
  7. Dhaumya goeth along the road, with kusa grass in hand, and uttering the aweful mantras of Sama Veda that relate to Yama.'

Dhritarashtra asked,--"Tell me, O Vidura, why is it that the Pandavas are leaving Hastinapore in such varied guise."

"Vidura replied,--
  1. 'Though persecuted by thy sons and robbed of his kingdom and wealth the mind of the wise king Yudhishthira the just hath not yet deviated from the path of virtue. King Yudhishthira is always kind, O Bharata, to thy children. Though deprived (of his kingdom and possessions) by foul means, filled with wrath as he is, he doth not open eyes. 'I should not burn the people by looking at them with angry eyes,'--thinking so, the royal son of Pandu goeth covering his face. 
  2. Listen to me as I tell thee, O bull of the Bharata race, why Bhima goeth so. 'There is none equal to me in strength of arms,' thinking so Bhima goeth repeatedly stretching forth his mighty arms. And, O king, proud of the strength of his arms, Vrikodara goeth, exhibiting them and desiring to do unto his enemies deeds worthy of those arms. And 
  3. Arjuna the son of Kunti, capable of using both his arms (in wielding the Gandiva) followeth the footsteps of Yudhishthira, scattering sand-grains emblematical of the arrows he would shower in battle. O Bharata, he indicateth that as the sand-grains are scattered by him with ease, so will he rain arrows with perfect ease on the foe (in time of battle). And 
  4. Sahadeva goeth besmearing his lace, thinking 'None may recognise me in this day of trouble.' 
  5. And, O exalted one, Nakula goeth staining himself with dust thinking, 'Lest otherwise I steal the hearts of the ladies that may look at me.' And 
  6. Draupadi goeth, attired in one piece of stained cloth, her hair dishevelled, and weeping, signifying--'The wives of those for whom I have been reduced to such a plight, shall on the fourteenth year hence be deprived of husbands, sons and relatives and dear ones and smeared all over with blood, with hair dishevelled and all in their feminine seasons enter Hastinapore having offered oblations of water (unto the manes of those they will have lost). And 
  7. O Bharata, the learned Dhaumya with passions under full control, holding the kusa grass in his hand and pointing the same towards the south-west, walketh before, singing the mantras of the Sama Veda that relate to Yama. And, O monarch, that learned Brahamana goeth, also signifying, 'When the Bharatas shall be slain in battle, the priests of the Kurus will thus sing the Soma mantras (for the benefit of the deceased).'

Masters

Vidura to Yudhistira

Formerly thou were instructed 
  1. on the mountains of Himavat by Meru Savarni; in the town of Varanavata by Krishna Dwaipayana; 
  2. on the cliff of Bhrigu by Rama; and 
  3. on the banks of the Dhrishadwati by Sambhu himself. 
  4. Thou hast also listened to the instruction of the great Rishi Asita on the hills of Anjana; and
  5. thou becamest a disciple of Bhrigu on the banks of the Kalmashi. 
  6. Narada and this thy priest Dhaumya will now become thy instructors.
In the matter of the next world, abandon not these excellent lessons thou hast obtained from the Rishis. O son of Pandu. 
  1. thou surpassest in intelligence even Pururavas, 
  2. the son of Ila; in strength, 
  3. all other monarchs, and in virtue, even the Rishis.
Therefore, resolve thou earnestly 
  1. to win victory, which belongeth to Indra; 
  2. to control thy wrath, which belongeth to Yama; 
  3. to give in charity, which belongeth to Kuvera; and 
  4. to control all passions, which belongeth to Varuna.
 And, O Bharata, obtain thou 
  1. the power of gladdening from the moon, 
  2. the power of sustaining all from water; 
  3. forbearance from the earth; 
  4. energy from the entire solar disc; 
  5. strength from the winds, and 
  6. affluence from the other elements.
Welfare and immunity from ailment be thine; I hope to see thee return. And, O Yudhishthira, act properly and duly in all seasons,--in those of distress--in those of difficulty,--indeed, in respect of everything, O son of Kunti, with our leave go hence. O Bharata, blessing be thine. No one can say that ye have done anything sinful before. We hope to see thee, therefore, return in safety and crowned with success."
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02077.htm

Treasure Temple

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