Arjuna kills Nivatakavachas and destroys Hiranyapuri

When Arjuna had acquired proficiency in weapons, and gained Indra’s confidence, patting him on the head with his hand, Indra said these words, “Now even the celestials themselves cannot conquer you, what shall I say of imperfect mortals residing on earth? You have become invulnerable in strength, irrepressible, and incomparable in fight.” Then with the hair of his body standing on end, he again accosted Arjuna saying, “O Hero! In fighting with weapons none is equal unto you. You are watchful, dexterous, truthful, of subdued senses, the protector of the Brahmanas, adept in weapons, and warlike. Together with a knowledge of the five modes, using them, you have obtained five and ten weapons and, therefore, there exists none, who is your peer. You have perfectly learnt the discharge of those weapons and their withdrawal, and their re-discharge and re-withdrawal, and the Prayaschitta connected with them, and also their revival, in case of their being baffled. Now, the time has arrived for your paying the preceptor's fee. Do you promise to pay the fee; then I shall unfold unto you what you will have to perform.”

 

Thereat, Arjuna said unto the ruler of the celestials, “If it be in my power to do the work, consider it as already accomplished by me.” When he said these words, Indra with a smile said unto him “Nothing is there in the three worlds that is not in your power to achieve. My enemies, those Danavas, named, Nivata-Kavachas dwell in the womb of the ocean. They number thirty million and are notorious, and all of equal forms and strength and splendour. Slay them there, and that will be your preceptor's fee.” 

 

Saying this he gave Arjuna the highly resplendent celestial car, conducted by Matali, furnished with hair resembling the down of peacocks. On his head he set an excellent diadem. He gave him ornaments for his body, like unto his own. He granted him the impenetrable mail, the best of its kind, and easy to the touch; and fastened unto the Gandiva a durable string. Then Arjuna set out, ascending that splendid chariot riding on which in days of yore, the lord of the celestials had vanquished Bali. Startled by the rattling of the car, all the celestials, approached there, taking him to be the king of the celestials. Seeing him, they asked, “O Arjuna! What are you going to do?” He told them as it had fallen out, and said, “I shall even do this in battle. You that are highly fortunate, know that I have set out desirous of slaying the Nivata-Kavachas. Bless me!” Thereupon, they began to eulogise Arjuna as they eulogise the god, Purandara. They said, “Riding on this car, Indra conquered in battle Shambara, Namuchi, Bala, Vritra, Prahrada, and Naraka. Mounted on this car Indra had also conquered in battle many thousands and millions and hundreds of millions of Daityas. O Kaunteya! You also, riding on this car, by your prowess, shall conquer the Nivata-Kavachas in conflict, as did the self-possessed Indra in days of yore. There is the best of shells; by this also you shall defeat the Danavas.”

 

Saying this, the gods offered unto Arjuna the shell, Devadatta, sprung in the deep; and he accepted it for the sake of victory. At this moment, the gods fell extolling him. In order to be engaged in action, he proceeded to the dreadful abode of the Danavas, furnished with the shell, the mail, and arrows, and taking his bow.

 

Then at places eulogised by the Maharshis, he proceeded, and at length beheld the ocean, that inexhaustible lord of waters. Like unto flowing cliffs were seen on it heaving billows, now meeting together and now rolling away. There were seen all around barks by thousands filled with gems. There were seen timingilas and tortoises and makaras like unto rock submerged in water. On all sides round thousands of shells sunk in water appeared like star in the night covered by light clouds. Thousands upon thousands of gems were floating in heaps and a violent wind was blowing about in whirls, and this was wonderful to behold. Having beheld that excellent lord of all waters with powerful tides, Arjuna saw at a short distance the city of the demons filled with the Danavas. Even there, eftsoons entering underneath the earth, Matali skilled in guiding the car, sitting fast on the chariot drove it with force; and he dashed on, frightening that city with the rattling of his chariot. Hearing that rattling of the chariot like unto the rumbling of the clouds in the sky, the Danavas, thinking me to be the lord of the celestials, became agitated. Thereupon they all, frightened at heart, stood holding in their hands bows and arrows and swords and javelins and axes and maces and clubs. Then having made arrangements for the defence of the city, the Danavas, with minds alarmed, shut the gates, so that nothing could be discovered. Thereupon taking his shell, Devadatta, of tremendous roars, Arjuna again and again winded it with exceeding cheerfulness. Filling all the firmament, those sounds produced echoes. Thereat mighty beings were terrified and they hid themselves.

 

Then, all of them adorned with ornaments, those offsprings of Diti, the Nivata-Kavachas, made their appearance by thousands, donning diverse mail and taking in their hands various weapons and equipped with mighty iron javelins, maces, clubs, hatchets, sabres, discs, sataghnis, bhusundis, and variegated and ornamented swords. Then, after deliberating much as to the course of the car, Matali began to guide the steeds on a piece of level ground. Owing to the swiftness of those fleet coursers conducted by him, Arjuna could see nothing, and this was strange. Then the Danavas there began to sound thousands of musical instruments, dissonant and of odd shapes. At those sounds, fishes by hundreds and by thousands, like unto hills, having their senses bewildered by that noise, fled suddenly. Mighty force flew at Arjuna, the demons discharging sharpened shafts by hundreds and by thousands. Then, there ensued a dreadful conflict between him and the demons, calculated to extinguish the Nivata-Kavachas. There came to the mighty battle the Devarshis, the Danavarshis, the Brahmarshis and the Siddhas. Desirous of victory, the Munis eulogised Arjuna with the same sweet-speeches that they had eulogised Indra with, at the war, which took place for the sake of Tara.

 

Then, vehemently rushed at Arjuna in battle in a body the Nivata-Kavachas, equipped with arms. Obstructing the course of the car, and shouting loudly, those mighty charioteers, hemming Arjuna in on all sides, covered him with showers of shafts. Then other demons of mighty prowess, with darts and hatchets in their hands, began to throw at me spears and axes. That mighty discharge of darts, with numerous maces and clubs incessantly hurled fell upon his car. Other dreadful and grim-visaged smiters among the Nivata-Kavachas, furnished with bows and sharpened weapons, ran at him in fight. In the conflict, shooting from the Gandiva sundry swift arrows coursing straight, Arjuna pierced each of them with ten. They were driven back by those stone-whetted shafts of his. Then on his steeds being swiftly driven by Matali, they began to display various movements with the speed of the wind. Being skilfully guided by Matali, they began to trample upon the sons of Diti. Although the steeds yoked unto that mighty chariot numbered hundreds upon hundreds, yet being deftly conducted by Matali, they began to move, as if they were only a few. By their tread, and by the rattling of the chariot wheels and by the vollies of my shafts, the Danavas began to fall by hundreds. Others accoutred in bows, being deprived of life, and having their charioteers slain, were carried about by the horses. Then, covering all sides and directions, all the Danavas skilled in striking entered into the contest with various weapons, and thereat Arjuna’s mind became afflicted. He witnessed this instance of the marvellous prowess of Matali, viz., that he guided those fiery steeds with ease. Then, in the conflict, with diverse fleet weapons he pierced by hundreds and by thousands demons bearing arms. Seeing him thus range the field putting forth every exertion, the heroic charioteer of Indra was well-pleased. Oppressed by those steeds and that car, some of them met with annihilation; and others desisted from fight; while other Nivata-Kavachas, challenged by them in battle and being harassed with shafts offered opposition unto Arjuna, by discharging mighty showers of arrows. Thereupon, with hundreds and thousands of sundry fleet weapons inspired with the mantras relating to Brahma's weapons, Arjuna swiftly began to burn them. Being sore pressed by him, those mighty asuras waxing wroth afflicted him together, by pouring torrents of clubs and darts and swords. Then, Arjuna took up that favourite weapon of the lord of the celestials, Indra by name, prime and of fiery energy and by the energy of that weapon he cut into a thousand pieces the Tomaras, together with the swords and the tridents hurled by them. Having cut off their arms he, in ire, pierced them each with ten shafts. In the field arrows were shot from the Gandiva like unto rows of black-bees; and this Matali admired. Their shafts also showered upon Arjuna; but those powerful arrows he cut off with his shafts. Then on being struck the Nivata-Kavachas again covered him on all sides with a mighty shower of arrows. Having neutralised the force of the arrows by excellent swift and flaming weapons capable of baffling arms, Arjuna pierced them by thousands. Blood began to flow from their torn frames, as in the rainy season waters run down from the summits of mountains. On being wounded by Arjuna’s fleet and straight-coursing shafts of the touch of Indra's thunder-bolt, they became greatly agitated. Their bodies were pierced at hundreds of places; and the force of their arms diminished. Then the Nivata-Kavachas fought Arujuna by the help of illusion.

 

Then with rocks of the proportions of trees, there commenced a mighty shower of crags; and this exercised Arjuna exceedingly. In that high encounter, he crushed those crags by swift-speeding showers of arrows, issuing from Mahendra's weapon, like unto the thunder-bolt itself. When the rocks had been reduced to powder, there was generated fire; and the rocky dust fell like unto masses of flames. When the showers of crags had been repelled, there happened near him a mightier shower of water, having currents of the proportions of an axle. Falling from the welkin, those thousands of powerful torrents covered the entire firmament and the directions and the cardinal points. On account of the pouring of the shower, and of the blowing of the wind, and of roaring of the Daityas, nothing could be perceived. Touching heaven and the entire earth, and incessantly falling on the ground, the showers bewildered Arjuna. Thereupon, he discharged that celestial weapon which he had learnt from Indra – and that dreadful and flaming weapon dried up the water. When the rocky shower had been destroyed, and the watery shower had been dried up, the Danavas began to spread illusions of fire and wind. Then by aqueous appliances Arjuna extinguished the flames; and by a mighty rock-issuing arm, resisted the fury of the winds. When these had been repelled, the Danavas, irrepressible in battle, simultaneously created various illusions. There happened a tremendous horrifying shower of rocks and dreadful weapons of fire and wind. That illusory downpour afflicted Arjuna in fight. Then on all sides there appeared a dense and thick darkness. When the world had been enveloped in deep and dense darkness, the steeds turned away, Matali fell off, and from his hand the golden lash fell to the earth. Being frightened, he again and again cried, “Where are you?” When he had been stupefied, a terrible fear possessed Arjuna. Then in a hurry, Matali spoke unto him, saying, “O Partha, for the sake of nectar, there had taken place a mighty conflict between the gods and the demons. I had seen that encounter. On the occasion of the destruction of Shambara, there had occurred a dreadful and mighty contest. Nevertheless I had acted as charioteer to the lord of the celestials. In the same way, on the occasion of the slaying of Vritra, the steeds had been conducted by me. I had also beheld the high and terrific encounter with Virochana's son, and, with Bala, and with Prahrada and with others also. In these exceedingly dreadful battles, I was present; but, never before had I lost my senses. Surely the Great-father has ordained the destruction of all creatures; for this battle cannot be for any other purpose than destruction of the universe.”

 

Having heard these words of his, pacifying his own perturbation, Arjuna said: “I will destroy the mighty energy of the illusion spread by the Danavas. Behold the might of my arms, and the power of my weapons and of the bow, Gandiva. To-day by the help of illusion-creating arms, will I dispel this deep gloom and also this horrible illusion of theirs. Do not fear, O charioteer. Pacify yourself.” Having said this, Arjuna created for the good of the celestials, an illusion of arms capable of bewildering all beings. When their illusion had been dispelled, some of the foremost amongst the Asuras, of unrivalled prowess, again spread diverse kinds of illusion. Thereupon, now the world displayed itself, and now it was devoured by darkness; and now the world disappeared from view and now it was submerged under water. When it had brightened up, Matali, sitting in front of the car, with the wellconducted steeds, began to range that hair-erecting field. Then the fierce Nivata-Kavachas assailed Arjuna. Finding his opportunity, Arjuna began to send them to the mansion of Yama. Thereupon, in that conflict then raging, calculated to annihilate the Nivata-Kavachas on a sudden, Arjuna could not see the Danavas concealed by illusion.

 

Remaining invisible, the Daityas began to fight with the help of illusion. Arjuna too fought with them, resorting to the energy of visible weapons. The shafts duly discharged from the Gandiva, began to sever their heads at those different places where they were respectively stationed. Thus assailed by him in the conflict, the Nivata-Kavachas, all on a sudden withdrawing the illusion, entered into their own city. When the Daityas had fled, and when all had become visible, Arjuna there discovered hundreds and thousands of the slain. There he saw by hundreds their shivered weapons, ornaments, limbs, and mail. The horses could not find room for moving from one place to another; and on a sudden with a bound, they fell to coursing in the sky. Then remaining invisible, the Nivata-Kavachas covered the entire welkin with masses of crags. Other dreadful Danavas, entering into the entrails of the earth, took up horses' legs and chariot-wheels. As Arjuna was fighting, they, hard besetting his horses with rocks, attacked him together with his car. With the crags that had fallen and with others that were falling, the place where Arjuna was, seemed to be a mountain cavern. On himself being covered with crags and on the horses being hard pressed, Arjuna became sore distressed and this was marked by Matali. On seeing Arjuna afraid, he said unto him, “O Arjuna! Be you not afraid; send that weapon, the thunder-bolt.” Hearing those words of his, Arjuna then discharged the favourite weapon of the king of the celestials, the dreadful thunderbolt. Inspiring the Gandiva with mantras, Arjuna, aiming at the locality of the crags, shot sharpened iron shafts of the touch of the thunder-bolt. Sent by the thunder, those adamantine arrows entered into all those illusions and into the midst of those Nivata-Kavachas. Slaughtered by the vehemence of the thunder, those Danavas resembling cliffs, fell to the earth together in masses. Entering amongst those Danavas that had carried away the steeds of the car into the interior of the earth, the shafts sent them into the mansion of Yama. That quarter was completely covered with the Nivata-Kavachas that had been killed or baffled, comparable unto cliffs and lying scattered like crags. Then no injury appeared to have been sustained either by the horses, or by the car, or by Matali, or by Arjuna, and this seemed strange. Then, Matali addressed Arjuna smiling, “Not in the celestials themselves, O Arjuna, is seen the prowess that is seen in you. When the Danava hosts had been destroyed, all their females began to bewail in that city, like unto cranes in autumn.”

 

Then with Matali Arjuna entered that city, terrifying with the rattling of his car the wives of the Nivata-Kavachas. Thereupon, seeing those ten thousand horses like unto peacocks in hue, and also that chariot resembling the sun, the women fled in swarms. Like unto the sounds of rocks falling on a mountain, sounds arose of the falling ornaments of the terrified dames. At length, the panic-stricken wives of the Daityas entered into their respective golden places variegated with innumerable jewels.

 

Beholding that excellent city, superior to the city of the celestials themselves, Arjuna asked Matali, saying, “Why do not the celestials reside in such a place? Surely, this appears superior to the city of Purandara.” Thereat, Matali said, “In days of yore, O Partha, even this was the city of our lord of the celestials. Afterwards the celestials were driven from hence by the Nivata-Kavachas. Having performed the most rigid austerities, they had gratified the Grand-father and had asked and obtained the boons, namely, that they might reside here, and that they might be free from danger in wars with the gods.” Then Indra addressed the self-create lord saying, “Do you, O lord, desirous of our own welfare do what is proper.” Thereupon, in this matter the Lord commanded Indra, saying, “O slayer of foes, in another body, even you shall be the destroyer of the Danavas.” Then, in order to slaughter them, Indra rendered unto you those weapons. The gods had been unable to slay these, who have been slain by you. In the fullness of time, had you come here, in order to destroy them and you have done so. With the object that the demons might be killed, Mahendra had conferred on you the excellent prime energy of these weapons.” After having destroyed the Danavas, and also subdued that city, with Matali Arjuna again went to that abode of the celestials.

 

Arjuna destroys Hiranyapuri

Then while returning, Arjuna happened to descover a mighty unearthly city, moving at will, and having the effulgence of fire or the sun. That city contained various trees composed of gems, and sweet-voiced feathered ones. Furnished with four gates, and gate-ways, and towers, that impregnable city was inhabited by the Paulamas and Kalakanjas. It was made of all sorts of jewels and was unearthly, and of wonderful appearance. It was covered with trees of all kinds of gems, bearing fruits and flowers. It contained exceedingly beautiful unearthly birds. It always swarmed throughout with cheerful Asuras, wearing garlands, and bearing in their hands darts, two edged swords, maces, bows, and clubs. On seeing this wonderful city of the Daityas, Arjuna asked Matali saying, “What is this that looks so wonderful?” Thereat, Matali replied, “Once on a time a Daitya's daughter, named Pulama and a mighty female of the Asura order, Kalaka by name, practised severe austerities for a thousand celestial years. At the end of their austerities, the self-create conferred on them boons. They received these boons, that their offspring might never suffer misfortune; that they might be incapable of being destroyed even by the gods, the Rakshasas and the Pannagas; and that they might obtain a highly effulgent and surpassingly fair aerial city, furnished with all manner of gems and invincible even by the celestials, the Maharshis, the Yakshas, the Gandharvas, the Pannagas, the Asuras and the Rakshasas. This is that unearthly aerial city devoid of the celestials, which is moving about, having been created for the Kalakeyas, by Brahma himself. This city is furnished with all desirable objects, and is unknown of grief or disease. Celebrated under the name of Hiranyapura, this mighty city is inhabited by the Paulamas and the Kalakanjas; and it is also guarded by those mighty Asuras. Unslayed by any of the gods, there they dwell cheerfully, free from anxiety and having all their desires gratified. Formerly, Brahma had destined destruction at the hands of mortals. Do you, O Partha, in fight, compass with that weapon, the thunder-bolt, the destruction of the mighty and irrepressible Kalakanjas.”

 

Learning that they were incapable of being destroyed by the celestials and the Asuras, Arjuna cheerfully said unto Matali, “Do you speedily repair into yonder city. With weapons will I compass the annihilation of the haters of the lord of the celestials. Surely, there exist no wicked haters of the gods who ought not to be slain by me.” Thereupon Matali took him to the vicinity of Hiranyapura on the celestial chariot yoked with steeds. Seeing Arjuna, those sons of Diti, wearing various kinds of attire and ornament and accoutred in mail, flew at him with a mighty rush. Those foremost of the Danavas, of exceeding prowess, in wrath attacked him with arrows and bhallas and clubs and two-edged swords, and tomaras. Thereat, resorting to his strength of lore, Arjuna resisted that great volley of weapons by a mighty shower of shafts; and also confounded them in conflict by ranging around in his car. Being bewildered, the Danavas began to push each other down. Having been confounded, they rushed at one another. With flaming arrows, Arjuna severed their heads by hundreds. Hard pressed by him, the offspring of Diti, taking shelter within their city, soared with it to the firmament, resorting to the illusion proper to the Danavas. Thereupon, covering the way of the Daityas, with a mighty discharge of shafts Arjuna obstructed their course. Then by virtue of the bestowal of the boon, the Daityas supported themselves easily on that sky-ranging unearthly aerial city, going anywhere at will and like unto the sun. Now the city entered unto the earth and now it rose upwards; and at one time it went in a crooked way and at another time it submerged into water. At this, Arjuna assailed that mighty city, going anywhere at will, and resembling Amaravati. He attacked the city containing those sons of Diti, with multitudes of shafts, displaying celestial weapons. Battered and broken by the straight-coursing iron shafts, shot by him, the city of the Asuras, fell to the earth. They also, wounded by my iron arrows having the speed of the thunder, began to go about, being urged by destiny. Then ascending to the sky, Matali, as if falling in front, swiftly descended to the earth, on that chariot of solar resplendence. Then, sixty thousand cars belonging to those wrathful ones eager to battle with Arjuna surrounded him. With sharpened shafts graced with feathers of the vulture, Arjuna destroyed those cars. At this, thinking, 'These our hosts are incapable of being vanquished by mortals, they became engaged in the conflict, like unto the surges of the sea.” Thereupon Arjuna gradually began to fix (on the string) unearthly weapons. At this, thousands of weapons (shot) by those wonderfully warring charioteers, by degrees opposed my unearthly arms and in the field he saw hundreds and thousands of mighty (demons) ranging on their cars, in various manoeuvres. And being furnished with variegated mail and standards and diverse ornaments, they delighted his mind. In the conflict Arjuna could not afflict them by showers of shafts, but they did not afflict him. Being afflicted by those innumerable ones, equipped in weapons and skilled in fight, Arjuna was pained in that mighty encounter and a terrible fear seized him. Thereupon collecting (my energies) in fight, Arjuna (bowed down) unto that god of gods, Raudra, and saying, “May welfare attend on all beings!” Arjuna fixed that mighty weapon which, celebrated under the name of Raudra, is the destroyer of all foes. Then he beheld a male person having three heads, nine eyes, three faces, and six arms. His hair was flaming like fire or the sun. For his dress, he had mighty serpents, putting out their tongues. Saying the dreadful and eternal Raudra, Arjuna being free from fear, set it on the Gandiva; and, bowing unto the three-eyed Sarva of immeasurable energy, let go (the weapon), with the object of vanquishing those foremost of the Danavas.

 

As soon as it had been hurled, there appeared on the scene by thousands, forms of deer, lions, tigers, bears, buffaloes, serpents, kine, sarabhas, elephants, and of apes in multitudes, and of bulls, boars, cats, dogs, spectres, and of all the Bhurundas, and of vultures, Garudas, chamaras, and of all the leopards, and of mountains, seas, celestials, and of sages, and of all the Gandharvas, ghosts with the Yakshas, and of the haters of the gods, (Asuras), and of the Guhyakas in the field, and of the Nairitas and of elephant-mouthed sharks, owls, and of beings having the forms of fishes and horses, and of beings bearing swords and various other weapons, and of Rakshasas wielding maces and clubs. On that weapon being hurled all the universe became filled with these as well as many others wearing various shapes. Again and again wounded by beings of various sights with (pieces of) flesh, fat, bones, and marrow on their persons,--some having three heads, and some four tusks, and some four mouths, and some four arms,--the Danavas met with destruction. Then, in a moment Arjuna slew all those Danavas, with other swarms of arrows composed of the quintessence of stone, flaming like fire or the sun, and possessed of the force of the thunder-bolt. Seeing them hewn by the Gandiva, and deprived of life, and thrown from the sky, Arjuna again bowed unto that god--the Destroyer of Tripura. Seeing those adorned with unearthly ornaments, crushed by the weapon, the Raudra, the charioteer of the celestials, experienced the greatest delight. Having witnessed the accomplishment of that unbearable feat incapable of being achieved even by the celestials themselves, Matali, the charioteer of Indra, paid homage unto Arjuna; and well-pleased, with joint hands said these words, “The feat that has been achieved by you, is incapable of being borne even by the gods, nay,--in battle, the lord of the celestials himself cannot perform this deed. The sky-coursing mighty city incapable of being destroyed by the gods and the Asuras have you, O hero, crushed by your own prowess and by the energy of asceticism.”

 

When that aerial city had been destroyed, and when the Danavas also had been slain, their wives, uttering cries of distress, like unto Kurari birds, with hair dishevelled came out of the city. Bewailing for their sons and brothers and fathers, they fell on the ground and cried with distressful accents. On being deprived for their lords, they beat their breasts, their garlands and ornaments fallen off. That city of Danavas, in appearance like unto the city of the Gandharvas filled with lamentations and stricken with dole and distress, and bereft of grace even like unto a lake deprived of (its) elephants, or like unto a forest deprived of trees and (deprived of its) masters, looked no longer beautiful--but it vanished, like a cloud-constructed city. When Arjuna had accomplished the task, eftsoons from the field Matali took him of delighted spirits, unto the abode of the lord of the celestials. Having slain those mighty Asuras, and destroyed Hiranyapura, and having also killed the Nivata-Kavachas, Arjuna came unto Indra.

 

As it had fallen out, Matali related in detail unto Devendra that entire achievement of Arjuna. With the Marutas, hearing of the destruction of Hiranyapura, of the neutralisation of the illusion, and of the slaughter of the highly powerful Nivatakavachas in fight, the prosperous thousand-eyed divine Purandara was well pleased, and exclaimed, “Well done; Well done!” The king of the celestials together with the celestials, cheering Arjuna again and again, said these sweet words, “By you has been achieved a feat incapable of being achieved by the gods and the Asuras. O Partha, by slaying my mighty enemies, you have paid the preceptor's fee. O Arjuna, thus in battle shall you always remain calm, and discharge the weapons unerringly, and there shall not stand you in fight celestials, and Danavas, and Rakshasas, and Yakshas, and Asuras, and Gandharvas and birds and serpents. By conquering it even by the might of your arms, Kunti's son Yudhishthira, will rule the earth.”

 

Then firmly confident, the sovereign of the celestials considering as his own, pertinently said these words unto Arjuna wounded by cleaving shafts, “All the celestial weapons, O Bharata, are with you, so no man on earth will by any means be able to over-power you. When you are in the field, Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and Karna and Shakuni together with other Kshatriyas shall not amount unto one-sixteenth part of you.” The lord Indra granted Arjuna this golden garland and the shell, Devadatta, of mighty roars, and also his celestial mail impenetrable and capable of protecting the body. Indra himself set on Arjuna’s (head) this diadem. Indra presented him with these unearthly apparels and unearthly ornaments, elegant and rare. In this manner, duly honoured, Arjuna delightfully dwelt in Indra's sacred abode with the children of the Gandharvas. Then, well-pleased, Indra, together with the celestials, addressed Arjuna, saying, “O Arjuna, the time has come for your departure; your brothers have thought of you.” Thus, remembering the dissensions arising from that gambling, did Arjuna pass those five years in the abode of Indra.