सेनोद्योग पर्व — शल्य का प्रस्थान

Shalya said Then Shakra being glorified by the Gandharvas and the celestial nymphs, ascended on the Airavata, the chief among elephants, which bore auspicious marks. The god of fire, of very great strength and the great Rishi Brihaspati, Yama, Varuna and Kubera, the god of wealth, surrounded by all these gods and by the Gandharvas and the celestial nymphs Shakra, the slayer of Vritra and the lord of the three worlds, went round.

Being united with his queen the great Indra, the king of the gods, the performer of a hundred sacrifices, highly pleased ruled over the gods.

Then the god there Angira propitiating the king of the gods by chanting hymns from the Atharvaveda.

saw Then the god Indra became highly pleased and he granted a boon to Angiras who was chanting the Atharvaveda.

To this Veda, there will be given the name of Atharvangirasa; this is an example; and you will also get a share of the offerings in a sacrifice.

The god having thus greeted Angirasa, the king of the gods, the performer of a hundred sacrifices dismissed him, O great king.

Doing due honours to all, to the thirteen Rishis and those whose wealth consisted in devotion alone and well pleased, Indra ruled over his subjects with virtue, O king.

Such was the trouble experienced by Indra in company with his queen; he had also to remain unknown in exile through his wishing for the downfall of his enemies.

You should not, for this reason, mind the troubles that you experienced in the great forest in company with Draupadi, O chief among kings and your noble minded brothers.

O chief among kings, O son of Bharata, you too will get your kingdom in the same way as Shakra got his by slaying Vritra, O you who cause rejoicing among the race of Kurus.

Nahusha, of evil habits, the enemy of Brahmanas, of vicious mind, was overthrown through the curse of Agastya and absolutely ruined for a long period.

So shall your evil minded foes, Karna, Duryodhana and others, O subduer of enemies, soon meet with ruin.

Then will you come into the possess of this world ending with the ocean, in company with your brothers, O hero and this lady Draupadi.

This story of the victory of Shakra is of the same rank, as the Veda, with regard to its sanctity and it ought to be listened to by a king who is desirous of a victory and who has his army ready for battle.

Therefore do I make it listened to by you so that you may gain a victory, O best of victors. The great minded increase (in strength) by being glorified, O Yudhishthira.

O Yudhishthira, the destruction of large minded Kshatriyas, through the crimes of Duryodhana and the strength of Bhima and Arjuna, is approaching.

He who constantly reads this story of the victory of Indra becomes free from (the effects of) his crimes and goes to heaven and passes his life pleasantly in this world and in another.

He need not have any fear from his enemy and he will never become sonless. He will never meet with any danger and he will live a long life. Everywhere he will get victories and seldom defeat.

Vaishampayana said The king being thus encouraged by Shalya, O you best of the race of Bharata, that chief among the supporters of virtue did due honours to Shalya.

And Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, having heard the speech of Shalya, said these words in reply to the king of Madra of long arms.

The post of charioteer of Karna will be field by you no doubt and from that position shall you destroy the spirit of Karna by chanting the glories of Arjuna.

Shalya said I shall do this, even as you dictate to me; and whatever else that I am able to do I shall do for you.

Vaishampayana said The ruler of Madra, Shalya, having bade farewell to the sons of Kunti, that beautiful man went with his army to Duryodhana, O subduer of foes.