Mahabharata Virata Parva: Day 4

Part 1 of this series can be found here
Part 2 of this series can be found here
Part 3 of this series can be found here
Part 5 of this series can be found here

Out of all texts in the sacred Bharata Varsha, the Mahabharata is truly special. 

Mahatvaat Bhaaravatwaat Ca Mahabharatam Iti
As it is large, as well as heavy (in subject matter), It is therefore called Mahabharata

10 Names of Arjuna

As Brhannala and Uttara go to the smasana where the Pandavas had hidden their weapons, Brhannala asked Uttara to climb the vahni tree and retrieve the weapons. Uttara, who had lived a protected life, hadn’t seen a smasana before. He hadn’t climbed on trees either. Filled with trepidation, he climbed the tree. 

When he tried to retrieve the weapons, the arrows looked like snakes. Brhannala then realized he sent Uttara without giving the password to access the weapons.

Brhannala: “Tell the snake Arjuna asked me to take the arrows.”
Uttara duly did so, and accessed the weapons. He looked at the Gandeepam with great astonishment. “Whose is this?”, he asked Brhannala. “This belongs to Arjuna. The Devatas blessed this bow. The other bows belong to the other Pandavas.”

Brhannala then revealed his identity as well as the identities of the other Pandavas to Uttara. “I am Arjuna. Kanka in the court is Yudhishtira. Valala in the kitchen is Bhima. Granthika in the stables is Nakula, Tantipala who tends to cows is Sahadava and Sairandhri is none other than Draupadi”, he tells Uttara.

Uttara refuses to believe Brhannala is Arjuna. “Prove it – tell me the 10 names of Arjuna”, says Uttara.

Arjuna got happy and enumerated his 10 names.

1. Arjuna
2. Phalguna
3. Jishnu
4. Kireeti
5. Swethavahana
6. Beebhatsu
7. Vijaya
8. Partha
9. Savyasachi
10. Dhananjaya

10 Names of Arjuna Explained

Uttara is not satisfied. “The names could be common knowledge. Tell me why you are known by these 10 names”, he asked Brhannala.

Arjuna offers the explanation behind each name:

1. Arjuna – He is straightforward. And he is handsome. So he is called Arjuna. 
2. Phalguna – He was born in the month of Phalguna, and is also called Phalguna.
3. Jishnu – When attacked, he will dish it back doubly so – therefore he is called Jishnu
4. Kireeti – He wears the Ratna Kireeta (jewel laden) crown given to him by Indra – hence the moniker Kireeti. 
5. Swethavahana – His uniform is white and white – this is his attire to go to war – giving him the appellation Swethavahana
6. Beebhatsu – He will not wage an unjust war – giving him the title Beebhatsu
7. Vijaya – Arjuna has never returned from a battle without being victorious, so he is called Vijaya. 
8. Partha – Arjuna is the son of Kunti, whose name is Prtha, so he is called Partha
9. Savyasachi – Arjuna is ambidextrous – he can use both hands capably – so he is called Savyasachi
10. Dhananjaya – He has brought home all the spoils of the victories, all the dhana – giving him the name Dhananjaya. 

Uttara prostrates before Arjuna, and says “I, Bhoominjaya, son of Virata, prostrate to you. I am ashamed to stand before you. I spoke to you out of ignorance. Forgive me. I am your servant. But tell me – how are you a eunuch?” Arjuna tells him all about Oorvasi’s curse.

Arjuna then faces east, and prostrates in the direction of his Guru. His bow gets magically recharged. He gives his bow the Gandeeva a trial twang, and a great sound is produced. He blows his conch the Devadatta, and a terrible sound arises. Uttara gets terrified at this sound. The horses fall down at the sound and get back up.  

Arjuna Battles the Kauravas

Drona now is certain that this is Arjuna. He cautioned the Kaurava warriors on taking on Arjuna. This irked Karna who spoke scathing words to Drona: “You’re a Brahmana. It is no wonder that you are scared. While you’re here fighting, your tendencies are that of a Brahmana. Why don’t you go begging for alms?”

Kripa told Karna, “You’re being bloodthirsty, Karna. War should be avoided whenever possible. War really is not the answer.” Duryodhana apologised to Drona for Karna’s words, and then asked Bheeshma for his opinion.

Bheeshma said that for starters, the Kauravas shouldn’t be fighting among themselves.

We should get our family/team/house in order before we take on the world. – Bheeshma
Bheeshma further told Duryodhana: “By the lunar calculations, 13 years are over now. We should rightfully make peace with Arjuna. Moreover, Arjuna can take us all singlehandedly. If, however, you want to fight, we will get ready.”
Duryodhana: “Me? Give back the kingdom? Not a chance. Let us get ready for war.” 

Drona prepares the battle formations and instructs the Kauravas.

The 33,000 Devas come to watch this battle from the heavens. The battle was going to be a sight to behold. Arjuna singlehandedly taking on great Maharathas.

Duryodhana’s flag is a snake. Arjuna couldn’t see it. He instructs Uttara, “Go where the cows are being captured. Let us rescue the cows first.” He first first three arrows in the feet of Bhishma, Drona and Kripa. As if to say “Greetings”. The arrows are signed “Phalguna”. Three more arrows follow, whizzing past the ears of Bhishma, Drona and Kripa. As if to ask, “Are you doing well?”

Drona couldn’t help admire Arjuna: “What courage! What Guru-bhakti!”

Arjuna quickly won the army that was capturing the cows. Arjuna then asks Uttara to go clockwise around Drona, as a matter of respect. He then gives a brief introduction of all the Kaurava warriors to Uttara.

Ashwattama tells Karna. “You boasted about your prowess in the pas.t Now is the time to show it. Arjuna is going past us like a lion breezes past a pack of foxes. If you know how to fight, then go and fight!”

1000s of archers lost to Arjuna. The big 5 – Drona, Bhishma, Kripa, Karna and Ashwattama surrounded Arjuna. Now, the code of conduct of Kshatriyas dictates that more than one archer should not attack an opponent. The famous case where this code was breached is when multiple archers surrounded Abhimanyu and killed him in the Chakra Vyuha. Here, however, the big 5 were so eager to battle Arjuna that they went to battle Arjuna first. 

Arjuna Extols Drona

Arjuna defeated Karna, and killed Karna’s brother Sangrahajit. 

Arjuna then instructs Uttara to go towards Drona. Uttara gets scared. Arjuna reassures him, and the chariot goes near Drona.

Arjuna is delighted to see his Guru and gives a lengthy description about Drona to Uttara. 
– He knows the 4 Vedas in and out
– He is an expert in Dhanurveda (archery)
– He knows the science of weapons (Astras)
– He knows all the Puranas
– He knows the Itihasas
– He is an expert in Artha Vidya
– I am very dear to him
– He is very dear to me

Arjuna, anticipated Uttara’s follow-up question. If Drona and Arjuna are dear to each other, why fight against each other? “Kshatriya Dharma dictates that I must wage war against Drona now, though we are dear to each other”, Arjuna explained to Uttara.

Arjuna went and prostrated to Drona.
Arjuna: “With your grace, we completed 13 years. Don’t be angry with me – I have to do what I have to do, which is fight you now.”
Drona: “Then what are you waiting for? Go for it! Shoot!”
Arjuna: “No! I won’t strike you first. You are my Guru.”

Drona fired 20 arrows before Arjuna felt fit to start fighting. The Devatas were watching from the heavens with rapt attention. This was an evenly-matched fight between two of the very best, a treat for the eyes. Drona is very happy watching his student’s prowess – that too being out of touch for 13 years. Arjuna floods Drona with a barrage of arrows, and emerges the victor.

Duryodhana Retreats to Hasthinapura

Arjuna then defeats Aswatthama.

He then takes on Bheeshma. This is another great battle between two great warriors. Arjuna defeats Bhishma as well. 

Arjuna then asks Uttara to take him where Duryodhana is. Duryodhana, who was angry at his Sena being defeated, quickly loses to Arjuna. Duryodhana spat out blood.

Karna tells Duryodhana, “Let us retreat to Hasthinapura. We saw Arjuna, which is mission accomplished. If the Pandavas ask for their kingdom back, we will send them back for another 13 years”. Duryodhana agree, and they turned back.

Arjuna then called out to Duryodhana and addressed him:
“Your name should not be Duryodhana anymore. Duryodhana is a person who puts up a brave fight. Once you retreat from the fight, you are no longer worthy of the name. I can kill you and your brothers now. However, Bhima has made a pratigya (promise) that he will kill you to avenge Draupadi’s insult. If I kill you now, Bhima’s pratigya will fail. So I’m letting you go’

He further taunted Duryodhana, “Why do you need a crown?”, and fired an arrow to oust Duryodhana’s crown to the ground. 

Arjuna then fired an astra called sammohanastram on all the Kauravas. All of them, including Bhishma, Drona and Kripa all fell asleep, as if under the effect of chloroform. 

Arjuna then instructed Uttara: “Except Bheeshma, take the vastra (clothes) and aabharaana (jewels) of all the Kauravas.” Once Uttara finishes this task, they turn back to Virata Desa. The time was 3:00 PM. Sleeping in the afternoon is considered a dosha. Not wanting to subject the Kauravas to this dosha, Arjuna summoned back the Sammohanastra and they went back to Virata kingdom.

Duryodhana asked Bhishma: “What just happened? We lost!”
Bhishma: “Arjuna defeated us fair and square, Duryodhana.”

Virata Gets Annoyed with Yudhishtira

As they prepare to head back to the Virata kingdom, Arjuna asks Uttara to keep the identity of him and the other Pandavas a secret. Uttara tells Arjuna, “Nobody will believe if I tell them I waged this battle and won. But I will not reveal your identity.” 

They kept the weapons back in the smasana and Arjuna assumed the guise of the eunuch once again (at that instant, Hanuman left the flag). 

When Virata came back to his kingdom after the Pandavas defeated Susharma on the south side of the kingdom, he asked for Uttara. When he couldn’t find Uttara, the people informed him proudly how Uttara went to tackle Duryodhana’s army. Virata started crying. “My son, who doesn’t know anything, has gone to battle Virata? With Brhannala? Somebody, go and rescue him!” 

“Uttara has won! He defeated Duryodhana’s army”, the grapevine announced. 

Yudhishtira, in the guise of Kanka told Virata “With the grace of the Lord, we got the cows and Uttara won. All of this is because of Brhannala.” Virata didn’t like the mention of the eunuch at all. He let it go. Virata made arrangements to celebrate Uttara’s return. In a state of glee, he told Yudhishtira,

“Let us gamble.”
Yudhishtira: “When you’re in a state of excessive delight, that is not the moment to gamble.”
Virata: “We’re having some harmless fun, we’re not playing for stakes.”
Yudhishtira: “I disapprove. There are inherent doshas in gambling. Dharmaputra, for instance, went bankrupt and lost everything he had by gambling.”

Virata was obstinate and they started gambling.

In his advice to Yudhishtira, Dhoumya compared a king to a fire, and advised Yudhishtira to not speak about things that the king doesn’t like. Vyasa mentions that Yudhishtira forgot this. He keeps mentioning Brhannala repeatedly. So much so that Virata himself chides Yudhishtira saying “You’re speaking about Brhannala as Uttara’s equal. It feels like you’re insulting me. You should speak in a way that is pleasing to the king, not in a way that annoys the king.”

Yudhishtira, however, continues to talk about Brhannala. At one point, he said “We should celebrate Brhannala’s victory.” Virata had had enough and lost his temper. He took the dice and threw it at Yudhishtira. Blood oozed from Yudhishtira’s face. Yudhishtira took great care to ensure the blood doesn’t spill to the ground. Draupadi was nearby and she tended to Yudhishtira – she collected blood in her robe and filled a vessel with the blood.

Virata was bewildered – here was a woman who claimed to be under the protection of the Gandharvas – why was she now attending to Yudhishtira?

Virata: “Hey Sairandhri – Why are you collecting this blood in your robe?”
Draupadi: “For your welfare, oh king. If the blood of this yati (great person) touches the ground, there will not be rains in your kingdom for several years.”

In the meantime, Uttara is welcomed with great pomp, and he is not happy about it – he is rather ashamed at receiving the credit for the battle fought by Arjuna. The wise Yudhishtira asked the men to send only Uttara inside, and not Brhannala (who would be furious on seeing Yudhishtira’s bloody face). Uttara asks what happened, and upon being told, asks his father to apologize to Yudhishtira at once.

Virata: “Sorry Kanka, I lost my temper”.
Yudhishtira: “I forgot about it a long time ago, I bear no anger in my heart.” 

Virata Asks Prince Uttara How the Battle Was Won

Heart to heart, Virata knows that Uttara couldn’t have won the war by himself. He takes Uttara in private and asked him what really happened. Uttara said that he didn’t have anything to do with the victory. “A Deva Kumara came and gave me strength, and singlehandedly won the war for us”, Uttara said. 

“Who is this Deva Kumara?”, queried Virata.
“Why do you ask, father?”
“I’d like to ask him to marry your sister Uttaraa.”
“He disappeared. But he will come back. He may come back today, tomorrow or the day after, we don’t know.”

The Pandavas Reveal Their Identity to Virata

Brhannala gives the victors spoils – the clothes and jewellery of the vanquished Kauravas – to Princess Uttaraa. From one aspect, Uttaraa had asked for this when sending Uttara and Brhannala to the battle, and Brhannala was fulfilling this request. From another aspect, in an engagement ceremony, the groom’s parents shower the bride with jewellery and clothes, to make her happy. Arjuna had a secret desire to get Uttaraa married to Abhimanyu, so as the groom’s father, he was symbolically showering Uttaraa, his potential future daughter-in-law with gifts.

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Meanwhile, Arjuna and Bhima hear about Virata striking Yudhishtira, and become furious. Yudhishtira calms them down, and says “We’ve stayed for 1 year in Virata’s home. We should forgive anything and everything he does for this timely favour he granted us.”

When someone has helped them, great people forgive any number of subsequent harm by that person 

The next morning, the Pandavas go to the court in their original guises. They take the seat assigned for VVIPs, i.e. visitor kings and other guests. When Virata and Uttara come to the court, Uttara introduces all the Pandavas to his father. He mentions Arjuna specially. “The sound from Arjuna’s conch blocked my ear, it still remains blocked. Even this is okay – there was a monkey on his flag – the noise made by that monkey was even more terrible!”

Virata prostrates before Yudhishtira and hugs Arjuna. He tells the 5 Pandavas,
“It is my privilege you stayed here in my kingdom for a year. I didn’t know you were the Pandavas and gave you all work – I regret that. Please forgive my mistake.”
Yudhishtira: “For 12 years, we wandered in the forest. We got 1 full year of rest in your house, with the same comforts that we would have enjoyed in Indraprastha.”
Virata: “I have a desire. I would like Uttaraa to marry Arjuna.”

Arjuna told Virata that in the one year he trained Uttaraa, she saw him as an acharya. And Uttaraa confided things to Arjuna (in Brhannala’s guise) in great confidence. Arjuna, in turn, saw Uttara like a daughter, from the eyes of a father. Arjuna suggested the Uttara marry Abhimanyu.

This was agreeable to Virata and everyone was delighted. 

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Duryodhana sends an emissary to the Pandavas with the message “We saw Arjuna before 13 years ended. You must now spend another 13 years in the forest.” Yudhishtira laughed. He sent a message back with the emissary, “Ask Bheeshma if 13 years are over or not. We will abide by whatever Duryodhana says.” Duryodhana duly asked Bheeshma, who said “Of course 13 years had elapsed when Arjuna waged war against us. I told you this back then at the battlegrounds. Also, Arjuna is shrewd – he wouldn’t’ think of venturing out if 13 years didn’t end.”

Abhimanyu Marries Princess Uttaraa

Virata gave the kingdom of Upaplavya to the Pandavas. The marriage of Abhimanyu and Uttaraa was held in this city.

Krishna, Balarama, and other well-wishers came to attend the marriage. 

All 5 Pandavas address Krishna together, “Hey Krishna, thanks to Your blessings, we’re seeing you now. You’ve protected us these past 12 years, you’re the cause for everything good that happened to us.” Draupadi is filled with tears. Krishna wipes her tears, and tells her “I’ll get back Hasthinapura for you.”

The marriage festivities proceeded with lustre and pomp.

Krishna brought lots and lots of gifts for the marriage. Yudhishtira was delighted – a munificent king at heart, he missed making charitable contributions during his stay in the forest (apart from the Anna dana from the Akshaya patra). Whatever gifts Krishna brought, he gave them all away to people. 

With the marriage of Abhimanyu and Uttaraa, the Virata Parva comes to a close. 

The marriage between Abhimanyu and Uttaraa is very special. A son is born to them – Parikshit. After the Mahabharata war, he becomes the sole living heir of the Pandavas. And he is the reason why we have the Bhagavata Purana. He was a devotee who listened to Sukadeva for 7 days straight without any food. And more significantly, Suka maharishi, who was self-realized and didn’t attach himself to any place or person, made the exception to stay and expound the Bhagavatam to Parikshit. 

Next up is Udyoga Parva. It is said “Bharate Saarah Udyogah” – The Udyoga Parva is said to be the most important part Mahabharata. There are lots of jewels in this parva which will be unearthed in the next few days. 

The entire discourse (in Tamil) can be found here

Picture credit: Yogesa, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons