| VAN PARV The
following chapters make mention of The Mahabharat Tribes in Van
Parv.
Then the acquirement by Yudhishthir of the mysteries of dice from the same great sage; then the arrival of the Rishi Lomas from the heavens to where the Pandavs were, and the receipt by these high-souled dwellers in the woods of the intelligence brought by the Rishi of their brother Arjun staving in the heavens; then the pilgrimage of the Pandavs to various sacred spots in accordance with the message of Arjun, and their attainment of great merit and virtue consequent on such pilgrimage; then the pilgrimage of the great sage Narad to the shrine Putast; also the pilgrimage of the high-souled Pandavs. Here is the deprivation of Karna of his ear-rings by Indra. Here also is recited the sacrificial magnificence of Gaya; then the story of Agastya in which the Rishi ate up the Asur Vatapi, and his connubial connection with Lopamudra from the desire of offspring. Then the story of Rishyasring who adopted Brahmacharya mode of life from his very boyhood; then the history of Ram of great prowess, the son of Jamadagni, in which has been narrated the death of Kartavirya and the Haihayas; then the meeting between the Pandavs and the Vrishnis in the sacred spot called Prabhas; then the story of Su-kanya in which Chyavan, the son of Bhrigu, made the twins, Aswinis, drink, at the sacrifice of king Saryati, the Soma juice (from which they had been excluded by the other gods), and in which besides is shown how Chyavan himself acquired perpetual youth (as a boon from the grateful Aswinis). Then hath been described the history of king Mandhat; then the history of prince Jantu; and how king Somaka by offering up his only son (Jantu) in sacrifice obtained a hundred others; then the excellent history of the hawk and the pigeon; then the examination of king Sivi by Indra, Agni, and Dharma; then the story of Ashtvakra, in which occurs the disputation, at the sacrifice of Janak, between that Rishi and the first of logicians, Vandi, the son of Varun; the defeat of Vandi by the great Ashtavakra, and the release by the Rishi of his father from the depths of the ocean.
Then the story of Yavakrit, and then that of the great Raivya: then the departure (of the Pandavs) for Gandhamadan and their abode in the asylum called Narayan; then Bhimasena's journey to Gandhamadan at the request of Draupadi (in search of the sweet-scented flower). Bhima's meeting on his way, in a grove of bananas, with Hanuman, the son of Pavan of great prowess; Bhim's bath in the tank and the destruction of the flowers therein for obtaining the sweet-scented flower (he was in search of); his consequent battle with the mighty Rakshashs and the Yakshs of great prowess including Hanuman; the destruction of the Asur Jati by Bhim; the meeting (of the Pandavs) with the royal sage Vrish Parv; their departure for the asylum of Arshtishen and abode therein: the incitement of Bhim (to acts of vengeance) by Draupadi. Then is narrated the ascent on the hills of Kailash by Bhimsen, his terrific battle with the mighty Yakshs headed by Hanuman; then the meeting of the Pandavs with Vaisra Van (Kuber), and the meeting with Arjun after he had obtained for the purpose of Yudhishthir many celestial weapons; then Arjun's terrible encounter with the Nivatakavachs dwelling in Hiranya Parv, and also with the Paulomas, and the Kalakeyas; their destruction at the hands of Arjun; the commencement of the display of the celestial weapons by Arjun before Yudhishthir, the prevention of the same by Narada; the descent of the Pandavs from Gandhamadan; the seizure of Bhim in the forest by a mighty serpent huge as the mountain; his release from the coils of the snake, upon Yudhishthir's answering certain questions; the return of the Pandavs to the Kamyaka woods. Here is described the reappearance of Vasudev to see the mighty sons of Pandu; the arrival of Markandeya, and various recitals, the history of Prithu the son of Vena recited by the great Rishi; the stories of Saraswati and the Rishi Tarkhya. After these, is the story of Matsya; other old stories recited by Markandeya; the stories of Indradyumn and Dhundhumar; then the history of the chaste wife; the history of Angira, the meeting and conversation of Draupadi and Satyabhama; the return of the Pandavs to the forest of Dwaita; then the procession to see the calves and the captivity of Duryodhan; and when the wretch was being carried off, his rescue by Arjun; here is Yudhishthir's dream of the deer; then the re-entry of the Pandavas into the Kamyaka forest, here also is the long story of Vrihidraunik. Here also is recited the story of Durvasa; then the abduction by Jayadrath of Draupadi from the asylum; the pursuit of the ravisher by Bhim swift as the air and the ill-shaving of Jayadrath's crown at Bhim's hand.
Here is the long history of Ram in which is shown how Ram by his prowess slew Ravan in battle. Here also is narrated the story of Savitri; then Karna's deprivation by Indra of his ear-rings; then the presentation to Karna by the gratified Indra of a Sakti (missile weapon) which had the virtue of killing only one person against whom it might be hurled; then the story called Aranya in which Dharma (the god of justice) gave advice to his son (Yudhishthir); in which, besides is recited how the Pandavs after having obtained a boon went towards the west. These are all included in the third Parv called Aranyaka, consisting of two hundred and sixty-nine sections. The number of shloks is eleven thousand, six hundred and sixty-four.
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