Vaisampayana said, "The wielder of the Pinaka, having the bull for his
sign, thus disappeared in the very sight of the gazing son of Pandu,
like the sun setting in the sight of the world. Arjuna, that slayer of
hostile heroes, wondered much at this, saying, 'O, I have seen the great
god of gods. Fortunate, indeed I am, and much favoured, for I have both
beheld and touched with my hand the three-eyed Hara the wielder of the
Pinaka, in his boon-giving form. I shall win success. I am already
great. My enemies have already been vanquished by me. My purposes have
been already achieved.' And while the son of Pritha, endued with
immeasurable energy, was thinking thus, there came to that place Varuna
the god of waters, handsome and of the splendour of the _lapis lazuli_
accompanied by all kinds of aquatic creatures, and filling all the
points of the horizon with a blazing effulgence. And accompanied by
Rivers both male and female, and Nagas, and Daityas and Sadhyas and
inferior deities, Varuna, the controller and lord of all aquatic
creatures, arrived at that spot. There came also the lord Kuvera of body
resembling pure gold, seated on his car of great splendour, and
accompanied by numerous Yakshas. And the lord of treasures, possessed of
great beauty, came there to see Arjuna, illuminating the firmament with
his effulgence. And there came also Yama himself, of great beauty, the
powerful destroyer of all the worlds, accompanied by those lords of the
creation--the Pitris--both embodied and disembodied. And the god of
justice, of inconceivable soul, the son of Surya, the destroyer of all
creatures, with the mace in hand, came there on his car, illuminating
the three worlds with regions of the Guhyakas, the Gandharvas and the
Nagas, like a second Surya as he riseth at the end of the Yuga. Having
arrived there, they beheld, from the effulgent and variegated summits of
the great mountain, Arjuna engaged in ascetic austerities. And there
came in a moment the illustrious Sakra also, accompanied by his queen,
seated on the back of (the celestial elephant) Airavata, and surrounded
also by all the deities. And in consequence of the white umbrella being
held over his head, he looked like the moon amid fleecy clouds. And
eulogised by Gandharvas, and Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism,
the chief of the celestials alighted on a particular summit of the
mountain, like a second sun. Then Yama possessed of great intelligence,
and fully conversant with virtue, who had occupied a summit on the
south, in a voice deep as that of the clouds, said these auspicious
words, 'Arjuna, behold us, the protectors of the worlds, arrive here! We
will grant thee (spiritual) vision, for thou deservest to behold us.
Thou wert in thy former life a Rishi of immeasurable soul, known as Nara
of great might. At the command, O child, of Brahma, thou hast been born
among men! O sinless one, by thee shall be vanquished in battle the
highly virtuous grandsire of the Kurus--Bhishma of great energy--who is
born of the Vasus. Thou shalt also defeat all the Kshatriyas of fiery
energy commanded by the son of Bharadwaja in battle. Thou shalt also
defeat those Danavas of fierce prowess that have been born amongst men,
and those Danavas also that are called Nivatakavachas. And, O son of the
Kuru race, O Dhananjaya, thou shalt also slay Karna of fierce prowess,
who is even a portion of my father Surya, of energy celebrated
throughout the worlds. And, O son of Kunti, smiter of all foes, thou
shalt also slay all the portions of celestials and Danavas and the
Rakshasas that have been incarnate on earth. And slain by thee, these
shall attain to the regions earned by them according to their acts. And,
O Phalguna, the fame of thy achievements will last for ever in the
world: thou hast gratified Mahadeva himself in conflict. Thou shalt,
with Vishnu himself, lighten the burden of the earth. O accept this
weapon of mine--the mace I wield incapable of being baffled by any body.
With this weapon thou wilt achieve great deeds.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "O Janamejaya, the son of Pritha then received
from Yama that weapon duly, along with the _Mantras_ and rite, and the
mysteries of hurling and withdrawing it. Then Varuna, the lord of all
aquatic creatures, blue as the clouds, from a summit he had occupied on
the west, uttered these words, 'O son of Pritha, thou art the foremost
of Kshatriyas, and engaged in Kshatriya practices. O thou of large
coppery eyes, behold me! I am Varuna, the lord of waters. Hurled by me,
my nooses are incapable of being resisted. O son of Kunti, accept of me
these Varuna weapons along with the mysteries of hurling and withdrawing
them. With these, O hero, in the battle that ensued of your on account
of Taraka (the wife of Vrihaspati), thousands of mighty Daityas were
seized and tied. Accept them of me. Even if Yama himself be thy foe,
with these in thy hands, he will not be able to escape from thee. When
thou wilt armed with these, range over the field of battle, the land,
beyond doubt, will be destitute of Kshatriyas.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "After both Varuna and Yama had given away their
celestial weapons, the lord of treasures having his home on the heights
of Kailasa, then spake, 'O son of Pandu, O thou of great might and
wisdom, I too have been pleased with thee. And this meeting with thee
giveth me as much pleasure as a meeting with Krishna. O wielder of the
bow with the left hand, O thou of mighty arms, thou wert a god before,
eternal (as other gods). In ancient _Kalpas_, thou hadst every day gone
through ascetic austerities along with us. O best of men, I grant thee
celestial vision. O thou of mighty arms, thou wilt defeat even
invincible Daityas and Danavas. Accept of me also without loss of time,
an excellent weapon. With this thou wilt be able to consume the ranks of
Dhritarashtra. Take then this favourite weapon of mine called
_Antarddhana_. Endued with energy and prowess and splendour, it is
capable of sending the foe to sleep. When the illustrious Sankara slew
Tripura, even this was the weapon which he shot and by which many mighty
Asuras were consumed. O thou of invincible prowess I take it up for
giving it to thee. Endued with the dignity of the Meru, thou art
competent to hold this weapon.'
"After these words had been spoken, the Kuru prince Arjuna endued with
great strength, duly received from Kuvera that celestial weapon. Then
the chief of the celestials addressing Pritha's son of ceaseless deeds
in sweet words, said, in a voice deep as that the clouds or the
kettle-drum, 'O thou mighty-armed son of Kunti, thou art an ancient god.
Thou hast already achieved the highest success, and acquired the stature
of a god. But, O represser of foes, thou hast yet to accomplish the
purposes of the gods. Thou must ascend to heaven. Therefore prepare thou
O hero of great splendour! My own car with Matali as charioteer, will
soon descend on the earth. Taking thee, O Kaurava, to heaven, I will
grant thee there all my celestial weapons.'
"Beholding those protectors of the worlds assembled together on the
heights of Himavat, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, wondered much. Endued
with great energy, he then duly worshipped the assembled _Lokapalas_,
with words, water, and fruits. The celestials then returning that
worship, went away. And the gods capable of going everywhere at will,
and endued with the speed of the mind, returned to the places whence
they had come.
"That bull among men--Arjuna--having obtained weapons thus, was filled
with pleasure. And he regarded himself as one whose desires had been
fulfilled and who was crowned with success."