सम्भव पर्व — पाण्डवहरूको जन्म

Vaishampayana said : O Janamejaya, when Gandhari was pregnant for a year, it was then that Kunti called the eternal Dharma for offspring.

That lady (Kunti) offered adorations to Dharma and repeated in the proper form the Mantra, formerly given to her by Durvasa.

The deity Dharma, being overpowered by the Mantra, came on his car resplendent as the sun to the place where Kunti was seated.

Smiling he said to her, “O Kunti, what am I to give you?" Kunti also smilingly said, “You must give me offspring.'

She was united with Dharma in his Yoga (spiritual) form and that beautiful lady obtained a son devoted to the good of all creatures.

She gave birth to an excellent son, who became afterwards greatly famous, at the eighth Muhurata called Abhijit of the hour of noon of that very auspicious day of the eight month, the fifth of the white fort-night, when the star Jyeshtha in conjunction with moon was in ascendant. As soon as the child was born, an invisible voice said-

“This (child) will be the west of men and the foremost of all the virtuous. He will be truthful and (also) greatly powerful; he will be the ruler of the earth.

This eldest son of Pandu will be known as Yudhisthira: he bill be a famous king, known all over the three worlds.

He will be endued with splendour, fame and vows. Having obtained this virtuous son, Pandu again told her.

"The wise say that Kshatriyas are the foremost in strength: therefore, ask for a son of great strength" having been thus addressed, she invoked Vayu.

Thereupon the greatly strong Vayu came to her riding on a deer, (and he asked), “O Kunti, what am I to give you? Tell me what is in your mind."

Smiling in bashfulness, she said, "O best of celestials, give me a son, who is strong, who is huge and how is capable of humbling the pride of everybody."

By him was born Bhima, endued with great strength: and on the birth of this greatly strong man, an invisible voice said, “This child will be foremost of all endued with strength." o descendant of the Bharata race, the following extraordinary incident happened as soon as Bhima was born. Falling from his mother's lap on the mountain, he broke into fragments the stone on which he fell. Kunti suddenly rose up from the fear of a tiger, forgetting that the child lay asleep on her lap. As she rose, the child, whose body was as hard as the thunder-bolt fell on the stone and broke it into a hundred pieces. Seeing the breaking of the stone, Pandu became very much astonished.

O best of the Bharatas, the day on which Bhima was born, on that very bay, the king of the world, Duryodhana, was also born.

On the birth of Bhima, Pandu again began to reflect, “How can I obtain a very superior son who will be the best of men?

This world depends on Daiva (Destiny) and Purushartha (exertion). But Destiny is gained in time by the grace of Providence,

We have heard that Indra is the foremost (among the celestial) and the king of the Devas. He is endued with immeasurable might, energy, Prowess and glory. Gratifying him by my asceticism, I shall obtain a greatly powerful son. The son that he will give me will be superior to all. He will be capable of defeating the inhabitants of earth and those who are not of this earth. I shall, therefore practice severest asceticism with heart, deed and speech."

Thereupon the descendant of Kuru, the great king Pandu, after consulting with the great Rishis, commanded Kunti to observe an auspicious vow for one full year.

That mighty-armed man (Pandu), himself stood upon his one leg and began to perform the severest asceticism and penances. He practiced severe austerities from morning to evening with his mind deep in meditation in order to gratify the lord of the celestials. It was after a long time that Indra appeared.

Indra said: I shall give you a son who will be famous all over the three worlds.

Who will promote the welfare of the Brahmanas, kine and all honest men. The son that I shall give you will be the chastiser of the wicked and the delight of his friends and relations. He will the foremost of all and the slayer of all foes.

Having been thus addressed by the illustrious Indra, the virtuous Kuru king (Pandu), remembering the words of the king of the celestials said to Kunti, O fortunate one, your vow has been successful. The king of the celestials is gratified. He is willing to give you a son such as you desire to have (who will be) of superior human achievements and great fame (how will be) a chastiser of enemies and a greatly wise man, (who will possess) a great son, (who will be) invincible battle, (who will be) as effulgent as the sun (who will be) very handsome and endued with all the Kshatriya splendour.

O lady of beautiful thighs, O lady of sweet smiles, raise up a son. Call the lord of the celestials, I have gratified him.

Vaishampayana said : Having been thus addressed, the illustrious Kunti invoked Indra. The lord of the celestials came begot Arjuna.

As soon as the prince was born, an invisible voice filled the whole sky with a laud and deep roar.

Addressing Kunti, it said a distinct voice in the hearing of every creature dwelling in that hermitage,

"O Kunti, (this child) will be equal to Kartavirya and Shiva in prowess he will be invincible like Indra himself. He will spread your fame everywhere. As Vishnu enhanced Aditi's joy, so Arjuna (this child) like Vishnu will enhance your joy.

He will maintain the Lakshmi(goddess of prosperity) of the Kuru dynasty by subjugating Madra, the Somakas with the Kurus, Chedi, Kashi and Karusha.

Agni will be greatly gratified with the fat of all creatures which will be burnt in the Khandava (forest) through the strength of arms of this (hero).

This greatly powerful hero with his brothers will conquer all the weak kings and perform three great horse-sacrifices.

O Kunti, he will be equal to the son of Jamadagni (Parashurama)and Vishnu in prowess. He will be the foremost of all men endued with great strength he will be greatly famous.

He will gratify in battle the great god Shankara (Shiva) and he will receive from him a weapon, named Pashupata, which will he given to him with Pleasure. By command of Indra, your this mighty-armed son will kill those Daityas, called Nivatkavachas, who are enemies of the celestials.

He will also acquire all kinds of celestial weapons and this best of men will retrieve the lost fortunes of his race."

Kunti heard these extraordinary words in her lying-in-room. Having heard these words, so loudly uttered, the ascetics, dwelling on that mountain with hundred peaks and the celestial with Indra sitting on their cars, became exceedingly happy.

The sounds of drums of drums rose in the sky and made a great noise; and the whole place was covered with the showers of flowers.

The various tribes of celestial assembled to adore Partha (Arjuna). The sons of Kadru, the son of Vinata, the Gandharvas. The seven great Rishis, namely, Bharadvaja, Kashyapa, Gautama, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Vasishtha and the illustrious Atri, who illuminated the world when the sun was lost came there.

Marichi, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha Kratu, the Prajapati Daksha, the Gandharvas and he Apsaras, all came there.

The Apsara ladies, decked with celestial garlands and every ornament and attired in fine robes, began to dance chanting the Praises of Vibhatsa (Arjuna).

The great Rishis began to utter the propitiatory Mantras every where and handsome Tumburu began to sing.

Bhimasena, Ugrasena, Urnayus, Anagha, Gopati, Dhritarashtra, Suryavarcha, Yugapa, Trinapa, Krashni, Nandi, Chitraratha, Shalishira, Parjanya, Kali, Narada, Ritva, Brihattva, Brihaka, Karala, Brahmachari, Vahuguna, Suvarna, Vishvavasu, Bhumanyu, Suchandra, Sharu. the celebrated tribes of Haha and Huhu, gifted with sweet melody of voice, O king all these celestial and Gandharvas came there.

Many famous Apsaras of large eyes, decked in every ornament, came there in joy to dance and sing.

Anuchana, Anavadhya, Gunamukha, Gunavara, Adrika, Soma, Mishrakeshi, Alambusha, Marichi, Suchika, Vidyutparna, Tilottama, Ambika, Lakshana, Kshema, Subahu, Supriya, Vapu, Pundarika, Sugandha, Surasa, Pramathini, Kamya and Sharadvati, all danced there together. Mainaka, Sahajanya, Karnika, Punjikasthala. Ritusthala, Ghritachi, Vishvachi, Purvachitti, Umlocha, Pramlocha and Urvashi, these large eyed dancing girls of heaven all came their and sang in chorus. Dhatri, Aryama, Mitra, Varuna, Angsha, Bhaga. Indra, Vivasvana, Pusha, Tvashta, Savita, Parjanya, alias Vishnu, these twelve Adityas glorified the son of Pandu remaining in the sky.

Mrigavyadha, Sarpa, illustrious Niriti. Ajaikapada, Ahiburdhnya, Pinaki, Dahana, Ishvara, Kapali, Sthanu and the illustrious Bhaga, these eleven Rudras also came there.

The Ashvinis, the eight Vasus, the mighty Maruts, the Vishvadevas and the Saddhyas also came there.

Karkotaka, Vasuki, Kashyapa, Kunda and the great Naga Takshaka, those mighty and wrathful Nagas possessed of ascetic merits and other Nagas also came there.

Tarkshya, Arishtanemi, Garuda, Asitadhvaja, Aruna and Aruni of the race of Vinata also came there.

Only the great Rishis, who were crowned with ascetic success, saw those celestial and others seated on their cars or standing on the mountain peaks. The others could not see them.

Those excellent Rishis were astonished to see that wonderful sight and their love and affection for Pandu's sons were enhanced.

The illustrious Pandu, desirous of getting more sons, wished to speak again to his lawful wife, but Kunti addressed him thus-

“The learned men do not sanction a fourth delivery (conception) even in an emergency. The woman who holds intercourse with four different men is called Svairini; with five she becomes a harlot.

O learned man, well-acquainted as you are with the scriptures, why being tempted by the desire of offspring, do you ask me again, forgetting the ordinance."