"Arjuna said, 'O Bharata, by the grace of that god of gods the Supreme
Soul, _Tryamvaka_, I passed the night at that place. And having passed
the night, when I had finished the morning rituals, I saw that foremost
of the _Brahmanas_ whom I had seen before. And unto him I told all as it
had happened, O Bharata, namely, that I had met the divine _Mahadeva_.
Thereupon, O king of kings, well-pleased, he said unto me, "Since thou
hast beheld the great god, incapable of being beheld by any one else,
soon wilt thou mix with _Vaivaswata_ and the other _Lokapalas_ and the
lord of the celestials; and Indra too will grant thee weapons." O king,
having said this unto me and having embraced me again and again, that
_Brahmana_ resembling the Sun, went away whither he listed. And, O
slayer of foes, it came to pass that on the evening of that day
refreshing the whole world, there began to blow a pure breeze. And in my
vicinity on the base of the _Himalaya_ mountain fresh, fragrant and fair
flowers began to bloom. And on all sides there were heard charming
symphony and captivating hymns relating to Indra. And before the lord of
the celestial hosts of _Apsaras_ and _Gandharvas_ chanted various songs.
And ascending celestial cars, there approached the _Marutas_ and the
followers of _Mahendra_ and the dwellers of heaven. And afterwards,
Marutvan together with _Sachi_ and all the celestials appeared on the
scene in cars yoked with horses elegantly adorned. And at this very
moment, O king, he that goeth about on the shoulders of men manifested
himself unto me in excellent grace. And I saw _Yama_ seated on the south
and _Varuna_ and the lord of the celestials at their respective regions.
And, O foremost of men, O mighty monarch, they after having cheered me
said, "O Savyasachin, behold us--the Lokapalas--seated. For the
performance of the task of the gods thou hast obtained the sight of
_Sankara_. Do thou now receive weapons from us seated around."
Thereupon, O lord, having bowed down unto those foremost of the
celestials with regard, I duly accepted those mighty weapons. And then
they recognised me as one of their own. Afterwards the gods repaired to
the quarter from whence they had come. And that lord of the celestials,
the divine Maghavan too having ascended his glorious chariot, said, "O
_Phalguna_, thou shalt have to repair unto the celestial region. O
Dhananjaya, even before this thy arrival I knew that thou wouldst come
hither. Then I have, O best of the Bharatas, manifested myself unto
thee. As formerly thou hadst performed thy ablution in the various
_tirthas_ and now hast performed severe austerities, so thou wilt be
able to repair unto the celestial regions, O Pandava. Thou wilt,
however, again have to practise extreme penance, for thou shouldst at
any rate journey to heaven. And at my command, Matali shall take thee to
the celestial regions. Thou hast already been recognised by the
celestials and the celestial sages of high soul." Thereupon I said unto
Sakra, "O divine one, be thou favourable unto me. With the view of
learning arms do I beseech thee that thou mayst be my preceptor." At
this Indra said, "O child, having learnt weapons thou wouldst perform
terrible deeds and with this object thou desirest to obtain the weapons.
However, obtain thou the arms, as thou desirest." Then I said, "O slayer
of foes, I never would discharge these celestial weapons at mortals
except when all my other arms should have been baffled. Do thou, O lord
of the celestials, grant me the celestial weapons (so that) I may
hereafter obtain the regions attainable by warriors." Indra said, "O
Dhananjaya it is to try thee that I have said such words unto thee.
Having been begotten of me this speech of thine well becometh thee. Do
thou, O Bharata, repairing unto my abode learn all the weapons of
_Vayu_, of _Agni_, of the _Vasus_, of _Varuna_, of the _Marutas_, of the
_Siddhas_, of Brahma, of the Gandharvas, of the Uragas, of the
Rakshasas, of Vishnu and of the _Nairitas_; and also all the weapons
that are with me, O perpetuator of the Kuru race." Having said this unto
me _Sakra_ vanished at the very spot. Then, O king, I saw the wonderful
and sacred celestial car yoked with steeds arrive conducted by Matali.
And when the Lokapalas went away Matali said unto me, "O thou of mighty
splendour, the lord of the celestials is desirous of seeing thee. And O
mighty-armed one, do thou acquire competence and then perform thy task.
Come and behold the regions, attainable by merit and come unto heaven
even in this frame. O Bharata, the thousand-eyed lord of the celestials
wisheth to see thee." Thus addressed by Matali, I, taking leave of the
mountain Himalaya and having gone round it ascended that excellent car.
And then the exceedingly generous Matali, versed in equine lore, drove
the steeds, gifted with the speed of thought or the wind. And when the
chariot began to move that charioteer looking at my face as I was seated
steadily, wondered and said these words, "Today this appeareth unto me
strange and unprecedented that being seated in this celestial car, thou
hast not been jerked ever so little. O foremost of Bharata race, I have
ever remarked that at the first pull by the steeds even the lord of the
celestials himself getteth jerked. But all the while that the car had
moved, thou hast been sitting unshaken. This appeareth unto me as
transcending even the power of _Sakra_."
"'Having said this, O Bharata, Matali soared in the sky and showed me
the abodes of the celestials and their palaces. Then the chariot yoked
with steeds coursed upwards. And the celestials and the sages began to
worship (that car), O prince of men. And I saw the regions, moving
anywhere at will, and the splendour also of the highly energetic
_Gandharvas, Apsaras_, and the celestial sages. And _Sakra's_
charioteer, Matali, at once showed me _Nandana_ and other gardens and
groves belonging to the celestials. Next I beheld Indra's abode,
_Amaravati_, adorned with jewels and trees yielding any sort of fruit
that is desired. There the Sun doth not shed heat; nor doth heat or cold
or fatigue there affect (one), O king. And, O great monarch, the
celestials feel neither sorrow nor poverty of spirit, nor weakness, nor
lassitude, O grinder of foes. And, O ruler of men, the celestials and
the others have neither anger nor covetousness. And, O king, in the
abodes of the celestials, the beings are ever contented. And there the
trees ever bear verdant foliage, and fruits, and flowers; and the
various lakes are embalmed with the fragrance of lotuses. And there the
breeze is cool, and delicious, and fragrant, and pure, and inspiring.
And the ground is variegated with all kinds of gems, and adorned with
blossoms. And there were seen innumerable beautiful beasts and in the
air innumerable rangers of the sky. Then I saw the _Vasus_, and the
_Rudras_, and the _Sadhyas_ with the _Marutas_, and the _Adityas_, and
the two _Aswins_ and worshipped them. And they conferred their benison
on me, granting me strength and prowess, and energy, and celebrity, and
(skill in) arms, and victory in battle. Then, entering that romantic
city adored by the _Gandharvas_ and the celestials, with joined hands, I
stood before the thousand-eyed lord of the celestials. Thereupon, that
best of bestowers gladly offered unto me half of his seat; and _Vasava_
also with regard touched my person. And, O Bharata, with the view of
acquiring arms and learning weapons, I began to dwell in heaven,
together with the gods and the _Gandharvas_ of generous souls. And
_Viswavana's_ son, _Chitrasena_ became my friend. And he, O king,
imparted unto me the entire _Gandharva_ (science). And, O monarch, I
happily lived in _Sakra's_ abode, well cared for having all my desires
gratified, learning weapons, listening to the notes of songs, and the
clear sounds of musical instruments, and beholding the foremost of
_Apsaras_ dance. And without neglecting to study the arts, which I
learnt properly, my attention was specially fixed on the acquisition of
arms. And that lord of a thousand eyes was pleased with that purpose of
mine. Living thus in heaven, O king, I passed this period.
"'And when I had acquired proficiency in weapons, and gained his
confidence that one having for his vehicle the horse (_Uchchaisrava_),
(Indra), patting me on the head with his hand, said these words, "Now
even the celestials themselves cannot conquer thee,--what shall I say of
imperfect mortals residing on earth? Thou hast become invulnerable in
strength, irrepressible, and incomparable in fight." Then with the hair
of his body standing on end, he again accosted me saying, "O hero, in
fighting with weapons none is equal unto thee. And, O perpetuator of the
Kuru race, thou art even watchful, and dexterous, and truthful, and of
subdued senses, and the protector of the _Brahmanas_ and adept in
weapons, and warlike. And, O Partha, together with (a knowledge of) the
five modes, using (them), thou hast obtained five and ten weapons and,
therefore, there existeth none, who is thy peer. And thou hast 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, O represser of foes, the time hath arrived for thy paying the
preceptor's fee. Do thou promise to pay the fee; then I shall unfold
unto thee what thou wilt have to perform." Thereat, O king, I said unto
the ruler of the celestials, "If it be in my power to do the work, do
thou consider it as already accomplished by me." O king, when I had said
these words, Indra with a smile said unto me "Nothing is there in the
three worlds that is not in thy power (to achieve). My enemies, those
_Danavas_, named _Nivata-Kavachas_, dwell in the womb of the ocean. And
they number thirty million and are notorious, and all of equal forms and
strength and splendour. Do thou slay them there, O Kunti's son; and that
will be thy preceptor's fee."
"'Saying this he gave unto me the highly resplendent celestial car,
conducted by Matali, furnished with hair resembling the down of
peacocks. And on my head he set this excellent diadem. And he gave me
ornaments for my body, like unto his own. And he granted unto me the
impenetrable mail--the best of its kind, and easy to the touch; and
fastened unto the _Gandiva_ this durable string. Then I set out,
ascending that splendid chariot riding on which in days of yore, the
lord of the celestials and vanquished _Vali_--that son of _Virochana_.
And, O ruler of men, startled by the rattling of the car, all the
celestials, approached (there), taking me to be the king of the
celestials. And seeing me, they asked, "O Phalguna, what art thou going
to do?" And I told them as it had fallen out,--and said, "I shall even
do this in battle. Ye that are highly fortunate, know that I have set
out desirous of slaying the _Nivata-Kavachas_. O sinless ones, do ye
bless me." Thereupon, they began to eulogise me even as they (eulogise)
the god, _Purandara_. And they said, "Riding on this car, _Maghavan_
conquered in battle _Samvara_, and _Namuchi_, and _Vala_, and _Vritra_,
and _Prahrada_, and _Naraka_. And mounted on this car also Maghavan, had
conquered in battle many thousands and millions and hundreds of millions
of _Daityas_. And, O _Kaunteya_, thou also, riding on this car, by thy
prowess shalt conquer the _Nivata-Kavachas_ in conflict, even as did the
self-possessed Maghavan in days of yore. And here is the best of shells;
by this also thou shalt defeat the _Danavas_. And by this it is that the
high souled _Sakra_ conquered the words." Saying this, the gods offered
(unto me) this shell, _Devadatta_, sprung in the deep; and I accepted it
for the sake of victory. And at this moment, the gods fell extolling me.
And in order to be engaged in action, I proceeded to the dreadful abode
of the _Danavas_, furnished with the shell, the mail, and arrows, and
taking my bow.'"