Vaisampayana said,--"thus also Sahadeva, dismissed with affection by
king Yudhisthira the just, marched towards the southern direction
accompanied by a mighty host. Strong in strength, that mighty prince of
the Kuru race, vanquishing completely at the outset the Surasenas,
brought the king of Matsya under his sway. And the hero then, defeating
Dantavakra, the mighty king of the Adhirajas and making him pay
tribute, re-established him on his throne. The prince then brought
under his sway Sukumara and then king Sumitra, and he next vanquished
the other Matsyas and then the Patacharas. Endued with great
intelligence, the Kuru warrior then conquered soon enough the country
of the Nishadas and also the high hill called Gosringa, and that lord
of earth called Srenimat. And subjugating next the country called
Navarashtra, the hero marched against Kuntibhoja, who with great
willingness accepted the sway of the conquering hero. And marching
thence to the banks of the Charmanwati, the Kuru warrior met the son of
king Jamvaka, who had, on account of old hostilities, been defeated
before by Vasudeva. O Bharata, the son of Jamvaka gave battle to
Sahadeva. And Sahadeva defeating the prince marched towards the south.
The mighty warrior then vanquished the Sekas and others, and exacted
tributes from them and also various kinds of gems and wealth. Allying
himself with the vanquished tribes the prince then marched towards the
countries that lay on the banks of the Narmada. And defeating there in
battle the two heroic kings of Avanti, called Vinda and Anuvinda,
supported by a mighty host, the mighty son of the twin gods exacted
much wealth from them. After this the hero marched towards the town of
Bhojakata, and there, O king of unfading glory, a fierce encounter took
place between him and the king of that city for two whole days. But the
son of Madri, vanquishing the invincible Bhismaka, then defeated in
battle the king of Kosala and the ruler of the territories lying on the
banks of the Venwa, as also the Kantarakas and the kings of the eastern
Kosalas. The hero then defeating both the Natakeyas and the Heramvaks
in battle, and subjugating the country of Marudha, reduced Munjagrama
by sheer strength. And the son of Pandu then vanquished the mighty
monarchs of the Nachinas and the Arvukas and the various forest king of
that part of the country. Endued with great strength the hero then
reduced to subjection king Vatadhipa. And defeating in battle the
Pulindas, the hero then marched southward. And the younger brother of
Nakula then fought for one whole day with the king of Pandrya. The
long-armed hero having vanquished that monarch marched further to the
south. And then he beheld the celebrated caves of Kishkindhya and in
that region fought for seven days with the monkey-kings Mainda and
Dwivida. Those illustrious kings however, without being tired in the
encounter, were gratified with Sahadeva. And joyfully addressing the
Kuru prince, they said,--'O tiger among the sons of Pandu, go hence,
taking with the tribute from us all. Let the mission of the king
Yudhishthira the just possessed of great intelligence, be accomplished
without hindrance.' And taking jewels and gems from them all, the hero
marched towards the city of Mahishmati, and there that bull of men did
battle with king Nila. The battle that took place between king Nila and
the mighty Sahadeva the son of Pandu, that slayer of hostile heroes,
was fierce and terrible. And the encounter was an exceedingly bloody
one, and the life of the hero himself was exposed to great risk, for
the god Agni himself assisted king Nila in that fight. Then the cars,
heroes, elephants, and the soldiers in their coats of mail of
Sahadeva's army all appeared to be on fire. And beholding this the
prince of the Kuru race became exceedingly anxious. And, O Janamejaya,
at sight of this the hero could not resolve upon what he should do."
Janamejaya said,--"O regenerate one, why was it that the god Agni
become hostile in battle unto Sahadeva, who was fighting simply for the
accomplishment of a sacrifice (and therefore, for the gratification of
Agni himself)?"
Vaisampayana said,--"It is said, O Janamejaya, that the god Agni while
residing in Mahishmati, earned the reputation of a lover. King Nila had
a daughter who was exceedingly beautiful. She used always to stay near
the sacred fire of her father, causing it to blaze up with vigour. And
it so happened that king Nila's fire, even if fanned, would not blaze
up till agitated by the gentle breath of that girl's fair lips. And it
was said in King Nila's palace and in the house of all his subjects
that the god Agni desired that beautiful girl for his bride. And it so
happened that he was accepted by the girl herself. One day the deity
assuming the form of a Brahmana, was happily enjoying the society of
the fair one, when he was discovered by the king. And the virtuous king
thereupon ordered the Brahmana to be punished according to law. At this
the illustrious deity flamed up in wrath. And beholding this, the king
wondered much and bent his head low on the ground. And after some time
the king bowing low bestowed the daughter of his upon the god Agni,
disguised as a Brahmana. And the god Vibhabasu (Agni) accepting that
fair-browed daughter of king Nila, became gracious unto that monarch.
And Agni, the illustrious gratifier of all desires also asked the
monarch to beg a boon of him. And the king begged that his troops might
never be struck with panic while engaged in battle. And from that time,
O king, those monarchs who from ignorance of this, desire to subjugate
king Nila's city, are consumed by Hutasana (Agni). And from that time,
O perpetuator of the Kuru race, the girls of the city of Mahishmati
became rather unacceptable to others (as wives). And Agni by his boon
granted them sexual liberty, so that the women of that town always roam
about at will, each unbound to a particular husband. And, O bull of the
Bharata race, from that time the monarchs (of other countries) forsake
this city for fear of Agni. And the virtuous Sahadeva, beholding his
troops afflicted with fear and surrounded by flames of fire, himself
stood there immovable as a mountain. And purifying himself and touching
water, the hero (Sahadeva) then addressed Agni, the god that
sanctifieth everything, in these words,--
"'I bow unto thee, O thou whose track is always marked with smoke.
These my exertions are all for thee. O thou sanctifier of all, thou art
the mouth of the gods and thou art Sacrifice personified. Thou art
called Pavaka because thou sanctifiest everything, and thou art
Havyavahana, because thou carriest the clarified butter that is poured
on thee. The Veda have sprung for ministering unto thee, and,
therefore, thou art called Jataveda. Chief of the gods as thou art,
thou art called Chitrabhanu, Anala, Vibhavasu, Hutasana, Jvalana,
Sikhi, Vaiswanara, Pingesa, Plavanga, Bhuritejah. Thou art he from whom
Kumara (Kartikeya) had his origin; thou art holy; thou art called
Rudragarva and Hiranyakrit. Let thee, O Agni, grant me energy, let Vayu
grant me life, let Earth grant me nourishment and strength, and let
Water grant me prosperity. O Agni, thou who art the first cause of the
waters, thou who art of great purity, thou for ministering unto whom
the Vedas have sprung, thou who art the foremost of the deities, thou
who art their mouth, O purify me by thy truth. Rishis and Brahmanas,
Deities and Asuras pour clarified butter every day, according to the
ordinance into thee during sacrifices. Let the rays of truth emanating
from thee, while thou exhibitest thyself in those sacrifices, purify
me. Smoke-bannered as thou art and possessed of flames, thou great
purifier from all sins born of Vayu and ever present as thou art in all
creatures, O purify me by the rays of thy truth. Having cleansed myself
thus cheerfully, O exalted one, do I pray unto thee. O Agni, grant me
now contentment and prosperity, and knowledge and gladness.'"
Vaisampayana continued.--"He that will pour clarified butter into Agni
reciting these mantras, will ever be blessed with prosperity, and
having his soul under complete control will also be cleansed from all
his sins.
"Sahadeva, addressing Agni again, said,--'O carrier of the sacrificial
libations, it behoveth thee not to obstruct a sacrifice!' Having said
this, that tiger among men--the son of Madri--spreading some kusa grass
on earth sat down in expectation of the (approaching) fire and in front
of those terrified and anxious troops of his. And Agni, too, like the
ocean that never transgresseth its continents, did not pass over his
head. On the other hand approaching Sahadeva quietly and addressing
that prince of the Kuru race, Agni that god of men gave him every
assurance and said,--'O thou of the Kuru race, rise up from this
posture. O rise up, I was only trying thee. I know all thy purpose, as
also those of the son of Dharma (Yudhisthira). But, O best of the
Bharata race, as long as there is a descendant of king Nila's line, so
long should this town be protected by me. I will, however O son of
Pandu, gratify the desires of thy heart.' And at these words of Agni, O
bull of the Bharata race, the son of Madri rose up with a cheerful
heart, and joining his hands and bending his head worshipped that god
of fire, sanctifier of all beings. And at last, after Agni had
disappeared, king Nila came there, and at the command of that deity,
worshipped with due rites Sahadeva, that tiger among men--that master
of battle. And Sahadeva accepted that worship and made him pay tribute.
And having brought king Nila under his sway thus, the victorious son of
Madri then went further towards the south. The long-armed hero then
brought the king of Tripura of immeasurable energy under his sway. And
next turning his forces against the Paurava kingdom, he vanquished and
reduced to subjection the monarch thereof. And the prince, after this,
with great efforts brought Akriti, the king of Saurashtra and preceptor
of the Kausikas under his sway. The virtuous prince, while staying in
the kingdom of Saurashtra sent an ambassador unto king Rukmin of
Bhishmaka within the territories of Bhojakata, who, rich in possessions
and intelligence, was the friend of Indra himself. And the monarch
along with his son, remembering their relationship with Krishna,
cheerfully accepted, O king, the sway of the son of Pandu. And the
master of battle then, having exacted jewels and wealth from king
Rukmin, marched further to the south. And, endued with great energy and
great strength, the hero then reduced to subjection, Surparaka and
Talakata, and the Dandakas also. The Kuru warrior then vanquished and
brought under his subjection numberless kings of the Mlechchha tribe
living on the sea coast, and the Nishadas and the cannibals and even
the Karnapravarnas, and those tribes also called the Kalamukhas who
were a cross between human beings and Rakshasas, and the whole of the
Cole mountains, and also Surabhipatna, and the island called the Copper
island, and the mountain called Ramaka. The high-souled warrior, having
brought under subjection king Timingila, conquered a wild tribe known
by the name of the Kerakas who were men with one leg. The son of Pandu
also conquered the town of Sanjayanti and the country of the Pashandas
and the Karahatakas by means of his messengers alone, and made all of
them pay tributes to him. The hero brought under his subjection and
exacted tributes from the Paundrayas and the Dravidas along with the
Udrakeralas and the Andhras and the Talavanas, the Kalingas and the
Ushtrakarnikas, and also the delightful city of Atavi and that of the
Yavanas. And, O king of kings, that slayer of all foes, the virtuous
and intelligent son of Madri having arrived at the sea-shore, then
despatched with great assurance messengers unto the illustrious
Vibhishana, the grandson of Pulastya. And the monarch willingly
accepted the sway of the son of Pandu, for that intelligent and exalted
king regarded it all as the act of Time. And he sent unto the son of
Pandu diverse kinds of jewels and gems, and sandal and also wood, and
many celestial ornaments, and much costly apparel, and many valuable
pearls. And the intelligent Sahadeva, accepting them all, returned to
his own kingdom.
"Thus it was, O king, that slayer of all foes, having vanquished by
conciliation and war numerous kings and having also made them pay
tribute, came back to his own city. The bull of the Bharata race,
having presented the whole of that wealth unto king Yudhisthira the
just regarded himself, O Janamejaya, as crowned with success and
continued to live happily."