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celestials, grant me the celestial weapons (so that) I may hereafter obtain the regions attainable by warriors." Indra said, "O Dhananjaya it is to try thee that I have said such words unto thee. Having been begotten of me this speech of thine well becometh thee. Do thou, O Bharata, repairing unto my abode learn all the weapons of _Vayu_, of _Agni_, of the _Vasus_, of _Varuna_, of the _Marutas_, of the _Siddhas_, of Brahma, of the Gandharvas, of the Uragas, of the Rakshasas, of Vishnu and of the _Nairitas_; and also all the weapons that are with me, O perpetuator of the Kuru race." Having said this unto me _Sakra_ vanished at the very spot. Then, O king, I saw the wonderful and sacred celestial car yoked with steeds arrive conducted by Matali. And when the Lokapalas went away Matali said unto me, "O thou of mighty splendour, the lord of the celestials is desirous of seeing thee. And O mighty-armed one, do thou acquire competence and then perform thy task. Come and behold the regions, attainable by merit and come unto heaven even in this frame. O Bharata, the thousand-eyed lord of the celestials wisheth to see thee." Thus addressed by Matali, I, taking leave of the mountain Himalaya and having gone round it ascended that excellent car. And then the exceedingly generous Matali, versed in equine lore, drove the steeds, gifted with the speed of thought or the wind. And when the chariot began to move that charioteer looking at my face as I was seated steadily, wondered and said these words, "Today this appeareth unto me strange and unprecedented that being seated in this celestial car, thou hast not been jerked ever so little. O foremost of Bharata race, I have ever remarked that at the first pull by the steeds even the lord of the celestials himself getteth jerked. But all the while that the car had moved, thou hast been sitting unshaken. This appeareth unto me as transcending even the power of _Sakra_."

"'Having said this, O Bharata, Matali soared in the sky and showed me the abodes of the celestials and their palaces. Then the chariot yoked with steeds coursed upwards. And the celestials and the sages began to worship (that car), O prince of men. And I saw the regions, moving anywhere at will, and the splendour also of the highly energetic _Gandharvas, Apsaras_, and the celestial sages. And _Sakra's_ charioteer, Matali, at once showed me _Nandana_ and other gardens and groves belonging to the celestials. Next I beheld Indra's abode, _Amaravati_, adorned with jewels and trees yielding any sort of fruit that is desired. There the Sun doth not shed heat; nor doth heat or cold or fatigue there affect (one), O king. And, O great monarch, the celestials feel neither sorrow nor poverty of spirit, nor weakness, nor lassitude, O grinder of foes. And, O ruler of men, the celestials and the others have neither anger nor covetousness. And, O king, in the abodes of the celestials, the beings are ever contented. And there the trees ever bear verdant foliage, and fruits, and flowers; and the various lakes are embalmed with the fragrance of lotuses. And there the breeze is cool, and delicious, and fragrant, and pure, and inspiring. And the ground is variegated with all kinds of gems, and adorned with blossoms. And there were seen innumerable beautiful beasts and in the air innumerable rangers of the sky. Then I saw the _Vasus_, and the _Rudras_, and the _Sadhyas_ with the _Marutas_, and the _Adityas_, and the two _Aswins_ and worshipped them. And they conferred their benison on me, granting me strength and prowess, and energy, and celebrity, and (skill in) arms, and victory in battle. Then, entering that romantic city adored by the _Gandharvas_ and the celestials, with joined hands, I stood before the thousand-eyed lord of the celestials. Thereupon, that best of bestowers gladly offered unto me half of his seat; and _Vasava_ also with regard touched my person. And, O Bharata, with the view of acquiring arms and learning weapons, I began to dwell in heaven, together with the gods and the _Gandharvas_ of generous souls. And _Viswavana's_ son, _Chitrasena_ became my friend. And he, O king, imparted unto me the entire _Gandharva_ (science). And, O monarch, I happily lived in _Sakra's_ abode, well cared for having all my desires gratified, learning weapons, listening to the notes of songs, and the clear sounds of musical instruments, and beholding the foremost of _Apsaras_ dance. And without neglecting to study the arts, which I learnt properly, my attention was specially fixed on the acquisition of arms. And that lord of a thousand eyes was pleased with that purpose of mine. Living thus in heaven, O king, I passed this period.

"'And when I had acquired proficiency in weapons, and gained his confidence that one having for his vehicle the horse (_Uchchaisrava_), (Indra), patting me on the head with his hand, said these words, "Now even the celestials themselves cannot conquer thee,--what shall I say of imperfect mortals residing on earth? Thou hast become invulnerable in strength, irrepressible, and incomparable in fight." Then with the hair of his body standing on end, he again accosted me saying, "O hero, in fighting with weapons none is equal unto thee. And, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, thou art even watchful, and dexterous, and truthful, and of subdued senses, and the protector of the _Brahmanas_ and adept in weapons, and warlike. And, O Partha, together with (a knowledge of) the five modes, using (them), thou hast obtained five and ten weapons and, therefore, there existeth none, who is thy peer. And thou hast perfectly learnt the discharge (of those weapons) and (their) withdrawal, and (their) re-discharge and re-withdrawal, and the _Prayaschitta_ connected (with them), and also their revival, in case of their being baffled. Now, O represser of foes, the time hath arrived for thy paying the preceptor's fee. Do thou promise to pay the fee; then I shall unfold unto thee what thou wilt have to perform." Thereat, O king, I said unto the ruler of the celestials, "If it be in my power to do the work, do thou consider it as already accomplished by me." O king, when I had said these words, Indra with a smile said unto me "Nothing is there in the three worlds that is not in thy power (to achieve). My enemies, those _Danavas_, named _Nivata-Kavachas_, dwell in the womb of the ocean. And they number thirty million and are notorious, and all of equal forms and strength and splendour. Do thou slay them there, O Kunti's son; and that will be thy preceptor's fee."

"'Saying this he gave unto me the highly resplendent celestial car, conducted by Matali, furnished with hair resembling the down of peacocks. And on my head he set this excellent diadem. And he gave me ornaments for my body, like unto his own. And he granted unto me the impenetrable mail--the best of its kind, and easy to the touch; and fastened unto the _Gandiva_ this durable string. Then I set out, ascending that splendid chariot riding on which in days of yore, the lord of the celestials and vanquished _Vali_--that son of _Virochana_. And, O ruler of men, startled by the rattling of the car, all the celestials, approached (there), taking me to be the king of the celestials. And seeing me, they asked, "O Phalguna, what art thou going to do?" And I told them as it had fallen out,--and said, "I shall even do this in battle. Ye that are highly fortunate, know that I have set out desirous of slaying the _Nivata-Kavachas_. O sinless ones, do ye bless me." Thereupon, they began to eulogise me even as they (eulogise) the god, _Purandara_. And they said, "Riding on this car, _Maghavan_ conquered in battle _Samvara_, and _Namuchi_, and _Vala_, and _Vritra_, and _Prahrada_, and _Naraka_. And mounted on this car also Maghavan, had conquered in battle many thousands and millions and hundreds of millions of _Daityas_. And, O _Kaunteya_, thou also, riding on this car, by thy prowess shalt conquer the _Nivata-Kavachas_ in conflict, even as did the self-possessed Maghavan in days of yore. And here is the best of shells; by this also thou shalt defeat the _Danavas_. And by this it is that the high souled _Sakra_ conquered the words." Saying this, the gods offered (unto me) this shell, _Devadatta_, sprung in the deep; and I accepted it for the sake of victory. And at this moment, the gods fell extolling me. And in order to be engaged in action, I proceeded to the dreadful abode of the _Danavas_, furnished with the shell, the mail, and arrows, and taking my bow.'"

SECTION CLXVIII

"Arjuna continued, 'Then at places eulogised by the _Maharshis_, I (proceeded, and at length) beheld the ocean--that inexhaustible lord of waters. And like unto flowing cliffs were seen on it heaving billows, now meeting together and now rolling away. And there (were seen) all around barks by thousands filled with gems. And there were seen _timingilas_ and tortoises and _makaras_ like unto rock submerged in water. And on all sides round thousands of shells sunk in water appeared like stars in the night covered by light clouds. And thousands upon thousands of gems were floating in heaps and a violent wind was blowing about in whirls--and this was wonderful to behold. And having beheld that excellent lord of all waters with powerful tides, I saw at a short distance the city of the demons filled with the _Danavas_. And even there, entering underneath the earth, Matali skilled in guiding the car, sitting fast on the chariot drove it with force; and he dashed on, frightening that city with the rattling of his chariot. And hearing that rattling of the chariot like unto the rumbling of the clouds in the sky, the _Danavas_, thinking me to be the lord of the celestials, became agitated. And thereupon they all, frightened at heart, stood holding in their hands bows and arrows and swords and javelins and axes and maces and clubs. Then having made arrangements for the defence of the city, the _Danavas_, with minds alarmed, shut the gates, so that nothing could be discovered. Thereupon taking my shell, _Devadatta_, of tremendous roars, I again and again winded it with exceeding cheerfulness. And filling all the firmament, those sounds produced echoes. Thereat mighty beings were terrified and they hid (themselves). And then, O Bharata, all of them adorned with ornaments, those offsprings of _Diti_--the _Nivata-Kavachas_--made their appearance by thousands, donning diverse mail and taking in their hands various weapons and equipped with mighty iron javelins and maces and clubs and hatchets and sabres and discs and _sataghnis_ and _bhusundis_ and variegated and ornamented swords. Then, after deliberating much as to the course of the car, Matali began to guide the steeds on a (piece of) level ground, O foremost of the Bharatas. And owing to the swiftness of those fleet coursers conducted by him, I could see nothing--and this was strange. Then the _Danavas_ there began to sound thousands of musical instruments, dissonant and of odd shapes. And at those sounds, fishes by hundreds and by thousands, like unto hills, having their senses bewildered by that noise, fled suddenly. And mighty force flew at me, the demons discharging sharpened shafts by hundreds and by thousands. And then, O Bharata, there ensued a dreadful conflict between me and the demons, calculated to extinguish the _Nivata Kavachas_. And there came to the mighty battle the _Devarshis_ and the _Danavarshis_ and the _Brahmarshis_ and the _Siddhas_. And desirous of victory, the _Munis eulogised_ me with the same sweet-speeches that (they had eulogised) Indra with, at the war, (which took place) for the sake of _Tara_.'"

SECTION CLXIX

"Arjuna continued, 'Then, O Bharata, vehemently rushed at me in battle in a body the _Nivata-Kavachas_, equipped with arms. And obstructing the course of the car, and shouting loudly, those mighty charioteers, hemming me in on all sides, covered me with showers of shafts. Then other demons of mighty prowess, with darts and hatchets in their hands, began to throw at me spears and axes. And that mighty discharge of darts, with numerous maces and clubs incessantly hurled fell upon my car. And other dreadful and grim-visaged smiters among the _Nivata-Kavachas_, furnished with bows and sharpened weapons, ran at me in fight. And in the conflict, shooting from the _Gandiva_ sundry swift arrows coursing straight, I pierced each of them with ten. And they were driven back by those stone-whetted shafts of mine. Then on my steeds being swiftly driven by Matali, they began to display various movements with the speed of the wind. And being skilfully guided by Matali, they began to trample upon the sons of _Diti_. And although the steeds yoked unto that mighty chariot numbered hundreds upon hundreds, yet being deftly conducted by Matali, they began to move, as if they were only a few. And by their tread, and by the rattling of the chariot wheels and by the volleys of my shafts, the _Danavas_ began to fall by hundreds. And others accoutred in bows, being deprived of life, and having their charioteers slain, were carried about by the horses. Then, covering all sides and directions, all (the _Danavas_) skilled in striking entered into the contest with various weapons, and thereat my mind became afflicted. And I witnessed (this instance of) the marvellous prowess of Matali, viz., that he guided those fiery steeds with ease. Then, O king, in the conflict, with diverse fleet weapons I pierced by hundreds and by thousands (demons) bearing arms. And, O slayer of foes, seeing me thus range the field putting forth every exertion, the heroic charioteer of _Sakra_ was well-pleased. And oppressed by those steeds and that car, some (of them) met with annihilation; and others desisted from fight; while (other) _Nivata-Kavachas_, challenged by us in battle and being harassed with shafts offered opposition unto me, by (discharging) mighty showers of arrows. Thereupon, with hundreds and thousands of sundry fleet weapons inspired with the _mantras_ relating to _Brahma's_ weapons, I swiftly began to burn them. And being sore pressed by me, those mighty _asuras_ waxing wroth afflicted me together, by pouring torrents of clubs and darts and swords. Then, O Bharata, I took up that favourite weapon of the lord of the celestials, Maghavan by name, prime and of fiery energy and by the energy of that weapon I cut into a thousand pieces the _Tomaras_, together with the swords and the tridents hurled by them. And having cut off their arms I in ire pierced them each with ten shafts. And in the field arrows were shot from the _Gandiva_ like unto rows of black-bees; and this Matali admired. And their shafts also showered upon me; but those powerful (arrows) I cut off with my shafts. Then on being struck the _Nivata-Kavachas_ again covered me on all sides with a mighty shower of arrows. And having neutralised the force of the arrows by excellent swift and flaming weapons capable of baffling arms, I pierced them by thousands. And blood began to flow from their torn frames, even as in the rainy season waters run down from the summits of mountains. And on being wounded by my fleet

and straight-coursing shafts of the touch of Indra's thunder-bolt, they became greatly agitated. And their bodies were pierced at hundreds of places; and the force of their arms diminished. Then the _Nivata-Kavachas_ fought me by (the help of) illusion.'"

SECTION CLXX

"Arjuna said, 'Then with rocks of the proportions of trees, there commenced a mighty shower of crags; and this exercised me exceedingly. And in that high encounter, I crushed (those crags) by swift-speeding showers of arrows, issuing from Mahendra's weapon, like unto the thunder-bolt itself. And when the rocks had been reduced to powder, there was generated fire; and the rocky dust fell like unto masses of flames. And when the showers of crags had been repelled, there happened near me a mightier shower of water, having currents of the proportions of an axle. And falling from the welkin, those thousands of powerful torrents covered the entire firmament and the directions and the cardinal points. And on account of the pouring of the shower, and of the blowing of the wind, and of roaring of the _Daityas_, nothing could be perceived. And touching heaven and the entire earth, and incessantly falling on the ground, the showers bewildered me. Thereupon, I discharged that celestial weapon which I had learnt from Indra--even the dreadful and flaming _Visoshana_: and by that the water was dried up. And, O Bharata, when the rocky shower had been destroyed, and the watery shower had been dried up, the _Danavas_ began to spread illusions of fire and wind. Then by aqueous appliances I extinguished the flames; and by a mighty rock-issuing arm, resisted the fury of the winds. And when these had been repelled, the _Danavas_, irrepressible in battle, O Bharata, simultaneously created various illusions. And there happened a tremendous horrifying shower of rocks and dreadful weapons of fire and wind. And that illusory downpour afflicted me in fight. And then on all sides there appeared a dense and thick darkness. And when the world had been enveloped in deep and dense darkness, the steeds turned away, Matali fell off, and from his hand the golden lash fell to the earth. And, O foremost of the Bharatas, being frightened, he again and again cried, "Where art thou?" And when he had been stupefied, a terrible fear possessed me. And then in a hurry, he spake unto me, saying, "O Partha, for the sake of nectar, there had taken place a mighty conflict between the gods and the demons. I had seen that (encounter), O sinless one. And on the occasion of the destruction of Samvara, there had occurred a dreadful and mighty contest. Nevertheless I had acted as charioteer to the lord of the celestials. In the same way, on the occasion of the slaying of _Vritra_, the steeds had been conducted by me. And I had also beheld the high and terrific encounter with _Virochana's_ son, and, O Pandava, with _Vala_, and with _Prahrada_ and with others also. In these exceedingly dreadful battles, I was present; but, O Pandu's son, never (before) had I lost my senses. Surely the Greatfather hath ordained the destruction of all creatures; for this battle cannot be for any other purpose than destruction of the universe." Having heard these words of his, "pacifying my perturbation by my own effort, I will destroy the mighty energy of the illusion spread by the _Danavas_" quoth I unto the terrified Matali. "Behold the might of my arms, and the power of my weapons and of the bow, _Gandiva_. To-day even by (the help of) illusion-creating arms, will I dispel this deep gloom and also this horrible illusion of theirs. Do not fear, O charioteer. Pacify thyself." Having said this, O lord of men, I created for the good of the celestials, an illusion of arms capable of bewildering all beings.

And when (their) illusion had been dispelled, some of the foremost amongst the _Asuras_, of unrivalled prowess, again spread diverse kinds of illusion. Thereupon, now (the world) displayed itself, and now it was devoured by darkness; and now the world disappeared from view and now it was submerged under water. And when it had brightened up, Matali, sitting in front of the car, with the wellconducted steeds, began to range that hair-erecting field. Then the fierce _Nivata-Kavachas_ assailed me. And finding my opportunity, I began to send them to the mansion of Yama. Thereupon, in that conflict then raging, calculated to annihilate the _Nivata-Kavachas_ on a sudden, I could not see the _Danavas_ concealed by illusion.'"

SECTION CLXXI

"Arjuna continued, 'Remaining invisible the _Daityas_ began to fight with the help of illusion. And I too fought with them, resorting to the energy of visible weapons. And the shafts duly discharged from the _Gandiva_, began to sever their heads at those different places where they were respectively stationed. And thus assailed by me in the conflict, the _Nivata-Kavachas_, all on a sudden withdrawing the illusion, entered into their own city. And when the _Daityas_ had fled, and when all had become visible, I there discovered hundreds and thousands of the slain. And there I saw by hundreds their shivered weapons, ornaments, limbs, and mail. And the horses could not find room for moving from one place to another; and on a sudden with a bound, they fell to coursing in the sky. Then remaining invisible, the _Nivata-Kavachas_ covered the entire welkin with masses of crags. And, O Bharata, other dreadful _Danavas_, entering into the entrails of the earth, took up horses' legs and chariot-wheels. And as I was fighting, they, hard besetting my horses with rocks, attacked me together with (my) car. And with the crags that had fallen and with others that were falling, the place where I was, seemed to be a mountain cavern. And on myself being covered with crags and on the horses being hard pressed, I became sore distressed and this was marked by Matali. And on seeing me afraid, he said unto me, "O Arjuna, Arjuna! be thou not afraid; send that weapon, the thunder-bolt, O lord of men." Hearing those words of his, I then discharged the favourite weapon of the king of the celestials--the dreadful thunderbolt. And inspiring the Gandiva with _mantras_, I, aiming at the locality of the crags, shot sharpened iron shafts of the touch of the thunder-bolt. And sent by the thunder, those adamantine arrows entered into all those illusions and into the midst of those _Nivata-Kavachas_. And slaughtered by the vehemence of the thunder, those _Danavas_ resembling cliffs, fell to the earth together in masses. And entering amongst those _Danavas_ that had carried away the steeds of the car into the interior of the earth, the shafts sent them into the mansion of _Yama_. And that quarter was completely covered with the _Nivata-Kavachas_ that had been killed or baffled, comparable unto cliffs and lying scattered like crags. And then no injury appeared to have been sustained either by the horses, or by the car, or by Matali, or by me, and this seemed strange. Then, O king, Matali addressed me smiling, "Not in the celestials themselves, O Arjuna, is seen the prowess that is seen in thee." And when the _Danava_ hosts had been destroyed, all their females began to bewail in that city, like unto cranes in autumn. Then with Matali I entered that city, terrifying with the rattling of my car the wives of the _Nivata-Kavachas_. Thereupon, seeing those ten thousand horses like unto peacocks (in hue), and also that chariot resembling the sun, the women fled in swarms. And like unto (the sounds of) rocks falling on a mountain, sounds arose of the (falling) ornaments of the terrified dames. (At length), the panic-stricken wives of the _Daityas_ entered into their respective golden places variegated with innumerable jewels. Beholding that excellent city, superior to the city of the celestials themselves, I asked Matali, saying, "Why do not the celestials reside in such (a place)? Surely, this appeareth superior to the city of Purandara." Thereat, Matali said, "In days of yore, O

Partha, even this was the city of our lord of the celestials. Afterwards the celestials were driven from hence by the _Nivata-Kavachas_. Having performed the most rigid austerities, they had gratified the Grand-father and had asked (and obtained) the boons--namely, that they might reside here, and that they might be free from danger in wars with the gods." Then _Sakra_ addressed the self-create lord saying, "Do thou, O lord, desirous of our own welfare do what is proper." Thereupon, O Bharata, in this matter the Lord commanded (Indra), saying, "O slayer of foes, in another body, even thou shalt be (the destroyer of the _Danavas_)." Then, in order to slaughter them, _Sakra_ rendered unto thee those weapons. The gods had been unable to slay these, who have been slain by thee. O Bharata, in the fullness of time, hadst thou come hither, in order to destroy them and thou hast done so. O foremost of men, with the object that the demons might be killed, Mahendra had conferred on thee the excellent prime energy of these weapons.'