congrats on new AT guys! here is a post abt gandharva war.
Vana Parva 19: The Fight with the
Gandharvas
The Fight
Duryodhan's soldiers looked around and saw
the Gandharva surrounded by other celestials
and Apsaras. He was sporting in the lake and
he told the soldiers to go back to wherever
they had come from. The soldiers returned to
Duryodhan and gave their report. Duryodhan
then detailed a number of his most powerful
generals to drive the Gandharva and his
followers away. The generals went before
Chitrasen and said, "The powerful son of
Dhritarashtra, King Duryodhan, has come
here to sport. Therefore, you should leave
this place immediately."
But the Gandharvas simply laughed.
Chitrasen's reply was harsh: "Your wicked-
minded Duryodhan has little sense, or how
could he command we who dwell in heaven?
We are not his servants. You are fools to
bring us such a message and to thus meet
your own deaths. Go back to where you
came from or find yourselves in Yamaraja's
abode today." The soldiers again returned to
Duryodhan and told him that if he wished to
use the lake, he would have to fight with the
Gandharvas. Duryodhan's anger rose. How
dare anyone oppose him. He was the ruler of
the earth. He would teach these Gandharvas
a lesson. He barked out orders to his men.
"Go and chastise these wretches who have so
displeased me. Even if it were Indra sporting
with the celestials I would not tolerate it."
Knowing the Gandharvas to be formidable
fighters, Duryodhan's generals took
thousands of heavily armed soldiers and
returned to the lake. They filled the woods
with their loud roars and crushed everything
as they advanced. The Gandharvas again
forbade their approach, but the soldiers
disregarded them and came onto the shores,
their weapons uplifted. Enraged, Chitrasen
ordered his followers, "Punish these wicked
wretches."
Thousands of Gandharvas rushed at
Duryodhan's men. The soldiers panicked and
fled. Karna alone stood his ground. He
checked the Gandharvas with his arrows.
Displaying his lightness of hand, he struck
down the enemy by the hundreds, lopping
off their heads and limbs. Gradually, he
forced the Gandharva army back. But they
regrouped and came again in even larger
numbers. Karna fought furiously and the
earth was quickly covered with the bodies of
slain Gandharvas. Hearing the of battle,
Duryodhan, Dushasan and their other
brothers raced to assist Karna. A fearful fight
ensued, and gradually the Gandharva
warriors were overpowered. They retreated
to Chitrasen and the Kurus sent up a loud
victory shout.
Seeing his army so afflicted, the Gandharva
king mounted his chariot and rushed toward
the Kurus. He knew all the methods of
warfare and he fought with mystical
weapons. The Kuru heroes were rendered
senseless by Chitrasen's illusions. It appeared
that every one of them was surrounded and
attacked by Gandharvas. They cried in fear
and fled panic-stricken from the fight. Only
Duryodhan, Karna, Dushasan and Shakuni
remained fighting, although they were all
severely wounded. Chitrasen concentrated on
Karna, surrounding him and raining down
showers of weapons. With swords and axes
he cut down his chariot and slew his horses
and charioteer. Karna leapt down with a
sword and shield in his hands and mounted
Vikarna's chariot. Urged on by Karna, Vikarna
immediately fled from the battlefield in fear
for his life.
Then only Duryodhan and his brothers
remained. They hurled their weapons at the
Gandharvas, but the celestials closed in on
them. They smashed Duryodhan's chariot and
he fell stunned to the ground. Chitrasen
immediately jumped down and seized the
prince with such force that it seemed as if he
would kill him. The other Gandharvas took
Duryodhan's brothers prisoner, and others
ran into their camp and seized their wives.
Hundreds of Kurus were taken prisoner by
the Gandharvas, who bound them with
chains and herded them together.
-----
Appeal to Yudhishthir
Some of the Kuru soldiers had escaped. They
ran around to the other side of the lake and
approached Yudhishthir. Falling before him
they implored him to help. "The Gandharvas
have captured Dhritarashtra's mighty-armed
son. His brothers and women are also being
held prisoner. O son of Kunti, please save
them." Bheem looked at his cousin
Duryodhan's crying followers and laughed.
"What we would have had to achieve with
great effort on the battlefield the
Gandharvas have easily done for us? It is
fortunate for us that there are still those in
the world who would do us good. Plainly
Duryodhan came here with evil intentions,
but he has been overtaken by unforeseen
consequences. This is surely what he
deserves for his sinful motivations. No doubt
the evil-minded one wanted to gloat over us
in our misery. Well, he deserves to suffer."
Yudhishthir stopped Bheem's sarcastic
words. "This is not the time for cruelty. O
child, why do you speak so harshly to these
Kurus who are frightened and have come
seeking our protection? Can we let our family
disputes come in the way of honour? Among
ourselves we are five and they are a
hundred, but when an enemy of the Kurus
has come, we are a hundred and five
brothers." Yudhishthir looked around at his
other brothers. "O foremost of men, arm
yourselves for battle. Go at once and rescue
Duryodhan and his brothers and wives."
The Kuru soldiers had arrived in great war
chariots. Yudhishthir pointed to the chariots
and said, "Mount these golden chariots and
rush upon the Gandharvas. Even an ordinary
kshatriya would try his best to protect one
who seeks protection. What then shall I say
to you, O Vikrodara? Indeed, what could give
us more happiness? The bestowal of a boon,
the birth of a son and sovereignty are
sources of joy, but the happiness of saving
an enemy in distress is equal to all three.
Dear Bheem, your sworn enemy Duryodhan
now depends upon you for his life. Could
anything give you more pleasure than to
protect him?"
Yudhishthir said that he would have gone
himself, but he was bound by the vow of the
sacrifice he was performing. Therefore, he
was asking his brothers to go in his place and
then to liberate the prisoners. Hearing
Yudhishthir's command, Arjun vowed, "If the
Gandharvas do not release the Kauravas,
then the earth shall drink their blood."
-----
Arjun and Bheem rescue Duryodhan and men
When they heard Arjun's vow, the Kuru
soldiers were encouraged. They handed over
their chariots; and the four brothers, after
donning armour, mounted them. Headed by
Bheem they raced to the other side of the
lake, appearing like four blazing fires. When
the other Kurus saw them arrive ready for
battle, they shouted in joy. Hearing their
shouts, the Gandharvas, who were preparing
to depart with their prisoners, turned and
saw the Pandavas approaching. The
Gandharva warriors immediately took up
their battle formation. A skirmish ensued as
they released arrows at the Pandavas and the
Pandavas countered the attack. Arjun, hoping
that they may be able to convince the
Gandharvas without bloodshed, raised his
bow and called out, "O Gandharvas, let go of
my brother, the king Duryodhan."
The Gandharvas laughed. "We obey only one
person's order. Under his rule we pass our
days free from misery. O descendent of
Bharata, we are always obedient to his
command alone." Angered by their disregard,
Arjun answered, "Contact with others' wives
and fighting with ordinary men are not
proper behaviors for celestials. At
Dharmaraja's command you should release
the Kauravas and their women. Otherwise, I
will have to rescue them by force."
Arjun could see that the Gandharvas were
ignoring him. He immediately fired fierce
arrows at them. The Gandharvas turned and
swiftly responded with their own blazing
shafts. They quickly surrounded the
Pandavas, sending arrows, axes, maces and
swords at them by the thousands. The
brothers, facing the four directions,
countered the weapons while simultaneously
attacking the Gandharvas. An extraordinary
battle took place, with thousands of
Gandharvas fighting against the four humans.
The Gandharvas tried to destroy the
Pandavas' chariots as they had destroyed the
chariots of Karna and Duryodhan, but they
were checked by the Pandavas arrows and
could not get close enough to do any harm.
Arjun was enraged. He began to invoke
celestial weapons. He threw the Agneyastra
which slew thousands of Gandharvas.
Bheem's forceful arrows killed innumerable
other Gandharvas, while the sons of Madri,
fighting with prowess, attacked and killed
hundreds of others. The Gandharvas rose up
to the sky, taking with them their prisoners,
but Arjun released arrows by the tens of
thousands and created a net over the
Gandharvas. They then angrily attacked Arjun
by throwing down maces, darts and swords.
Checking their weapons, Arjun fired
crescent-headed shafts which tore off the
Gandharvas' heads and limbs. They tried
overcoming him with a fearful shower of
celestial weapons, but Arjun held off all
those missiles with his arrows. By invoking
various mystical weapons, Arjun created
havoc among his foes and they screamed in
terror.
Chitrasen could see that his followers were
being routed by the Pandavas. He rushed at
Arjun with his mace held aloft. With swift
arrows Arjun cut his iron mace into seven
pieces. The Gandharva king resorted to
illusion and appeared to attack the Pandavas
from all sides. Arjun invoked the Shabdavedi
weapon, which destroys illusion. Chitrasen
disappeared from sight, continuously raining
down weapons of every description, but
Arjun attacked him with arrows capable of
striking an unseen enemy. Chitrasen, who
had fought the Pandavas only to protect his
honour, then appeared in front of Arjun and
said, "Behold, it is only your friend fighting
with you."
Seeing Chitrasen approaching in peace, Arjun
withdrew his weapons and his brothers did
the same. The Gandharva king and Arjun
inquired after each other's welfare, and
Arjun said, "O hero, what purpose do you
serve by punishing the Kurus? Why do you
persecute Duryodhan and his followers?"
Chitrasen smiled. "O Dhananjaya, I knew
long ago the real purpose for Duryodhan's
coming here. He wanted to mock you in your
adversity and flaunt his own wealth.
Understanding this, Indra ordered me to
capture the wretch and his followers and to
bring them before him in chains. Allow us to
carry them away."
Arjun shook his head. "If you want to please
me, then let them go. Dharmaraja has
commanded it. They are our kinsfolk."
"The sinful Duryodhan is full of vanity. He
does not deserve to be freed. He has
deceived and wronged your brother and
grievously offended your wife. O Arjun, he
came here to add insult to injury. Yudhishthir
did not know his reason for coming.
Therefore, let us explain it to him and see
what he decides after that."
Arjun agreed and they all went to Yudhishthir
to inform him of what had transpired.
Yudhishthir said, "Dear sir, it is fortunate for
us that although you possess great prowess
you did not slay Dhritarashtra's wicked sons.
Our family honour has thus been saved and
it will be further saved if you release them. I
am pleased to see you. Please tell me if there
is anything I can do for you and then return
in peace to your own abode."
Chitrasen was delighted at Yudhishthir's
words. "I am satisfied simply to see you,
great one. We shall free the Kurus."
The Gandharva brought his captives into the
Pandavas' presence. Indra then appeared and
sprinkled celestial nectar on the Gandharvas
who had been slain. They all regained their
lives. Headed by Chitrasen, they rose up to
the skies and vanished.
In an affectionate voice, the ever-
compassionate Yudhishthir said to
Duryodhan, "O child, never again commit
such a rash act. A rash man never becomes
happy. O Kuru prince, be blessed with all
your brothers. Go home now and do not be
despondent." But Duryodhan was devastated.
His heart was splitting in two. He had
achieved the opposite of what he had
intended. Instead of humiliating his enemies,
he had himself been shamed. As he made his
way back to the city, he moved as if he were
unconscious and without will. He said
nothing to anyone. Leaving the Pandavas to
worship the sacred fire and the Brahmins, he
hung his head.
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