The birth of Nahusha - Part 3 of 3

Sage Vasishta looked at surprise as he saw a beautiful baby peacefully sleeping just outside his ashrama. He picked up the baby and looked around and saw that there was no one near the baby.

Puzzled Sage Vasishta looked at the child once more. The child had precious ornaments.

This is a royal child. Now why would anyone leave their prince here at my door step? Sage Vasishta wondered as he closed his eyes and meditated.

Using the powers of the his mind, Sage Vasishta "saw" what happened to the child.

The child had been kidnapped by Hunda. Hunda’s cook had saved the child.

Sage Vasishta opened his eyes and looked at the child who had now opened its eyes and looking at the sage.

Sage Vasishta picked up the baby in his arm. The baby snugly fit in his arms as Sage Vasishta looked at the child again.

His parents had named him Nahusha. Sage Vasishta smiled. The child was indeed Nahusha, which meant one who not be frightened.

That was when Sage Vasishta had another flash of insight.

The sage “saw” Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva visit Nandakannan. There Goddess Parvati had wished for a daughter from the Kalpataru tree. As a result of which she had a daughter – Ashokasundari. Goddess Parvati had blessed Ashokasundari that she would marry Nahusha. Sage Vasishta smiled as he saw this. Goddess Parvati had wanted Ashokasundari to marry this Nahusha. The Nahusha who was the prince of Praathishthana.

Sage Vasishta then brought up Nahusha as his own son in his ashrama. The boy was a quick learner with a good grasp. Nahusha also learnt how to use weapons. Learning from Vasishta and living in the forest, Nahusha soon became a brilliant and brave hunter. But that was not all. Nahusha never understood why but Sage Vasishta also taught him the art of diplomacy and the art of administration of a kingdom.

Soon Nahusha was a fine young man.

One day Nahusha saw a man come to the hermitage and talk to the Sage. Sage Vasishta invited Nahusha to come to the discussions. The man looked tired and thoroughly harassed. Nahusha wondered what was wrong.

Then the man spoke with almost tears in his eyes, "Sir! It is this Hunda, sir,” The man shuddered as he continued, "This Hunda is a menace. He terrorizes all the people in the area surrounding the forests. People are afraid to face him, because he is so powerful and strong."

Sage Vasishta looked at the man and glanced at Nahusha as he asked, "This Hunda? Has he always been like this?"

The man nodded his head, "For the past many years, he has been troubling everyone. Ever since he kidnapped the prince of Prathishthana."

Nahusha felt something deep within himself as he heard the name Prathishthana. It was as if something about the place was calling out to him. Besides the words of the man struck him as odd, "The prince of Prathishthana was kidnapped?" He asked puzzled.

"Yes sir!" The man said looking at him for the first time, "Sir, you see, King Ayus and Queen Indumathi had a son. Hunda kidnapped the child, when he was just a year old. Nobody knows what happened to the prince. Most of the people think the prince is dead. which is very possible."

The man shivered again, "However the king and the queen, they are stubborn. They are steadfast in their belief that their son will come back."

The man shook his head in admiration, "It is almost as if they are sure that their son was still alive. "

Nahusha listened as the man spoke of how Hunda was troubling the villagers. And as Nahusha heard the man, he got angry. Nahusha decided that Hunda was a menace and needed to be stopped.

Sage Vasishta spoke, "Don’t worry! Consider your problem solved."

Sage Vasishta looked at Nahusha and spoke with quiet conviction, "Hunda will never trouble anyone anymore."

The man looked at the sage and slowly nodded his head. He bowed to the sage and left.

Sage Vasishta then turned to Nahusha, "Nahusha! Before you set about fulfilling your destiny, there is a story I have to tell you."

Nahusha listened with surprise as he sat down beside the sage to listen to what the sage had to say.

Sage Vasishta told a dazzled Nahusha, all about his birth and how he came to be in the ashrama. Nahusha slowly nodded his head spellbound. Sage Vasishta gave a quick smile and said, "Well, Prince of Prathishthana," Nahusha felt stunned on hearing Sage Vasishta address him like that, "There is another story you need to know before you complete you destiny. The story of Ashokasundari."

Nahusha looked puzzled as the Sage continued, "She is the wish born daughter of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati," The sage smiled as he continued, "Goddess Parvati blessed her that she would marry a great king by name Nahusha."

Nahusha looked surprised as the Sage continued, "Subsequently, Ashokassundari met Hunda," Nahusha was alarmed as the Sage continued, "She managed to escape from him. But that day Ashokasundari cursed Hunda, that Hunda would be killed by the her future husband.” Sage Vishwamitra saw Nahusha and smiled, nodding his head. “Hunda is destined to be killed by you." The Sage continued and looked at Nahusha who looked like a million thoughts were going around his head at the same time.

Finally Nahusha with the blessings of his Guru Vasishta, left to kill Hunda.

There was a fierce battle between Hunda and Nahusha.

Nahusha was taught by Sage Vasishta and he was a brilliant fighter. Hunda was struggling to keep up with Nahusha.

Finally after being defeated by Nahusha, Hunda was killed by Nahusha.

Everybody rejoiced at the death of the demon.

Nahusha then went to the kingdom of Prathishthana. King Ayus and Queen Indumathi were thrilled on seeing their son come back to them.

Indumathi rejoiced on seeing her son now a fine man, who was all set and ready to take the mantle of being the king of the Kingdom.

There was celebrations all over the kingdom.

There was even more cause to celebrate when Nahusha, went and met Ashokasundari. When Ashokasundari saw Nahusha, it was love at first sight. Ashokasundari had already heard a lot about Nahusha’s bravery and had waited for him to come. And ever since Sage Vasishta had told him about Ashokasundari. Nahusha had learnt everything he could about her. He heard about her beauty and intelligence and was smitten by her.

The kingdom of Prathishthana celebrated the wedding of their heir apparent - Nahusha with Ashokasundari.

After becoming the king of Prathishthana, he ruled the kingdom of Prathishthana well and he even performed a hundred Ashwamedha Yagnas. He was such a good king that the Devas themselves appointed him to be their king, in the absence of their King Indra.

-From the Padma Purana

Pariskshit and Kali – The death of Parikshit

Yudhishtar was in his palace, when a guard came trembling with shock and fear. Yudhishtar composed himself and spoke sharply, 'What is it my man? You are shaking like a leaf, what is it?'

As the guard spoke his voice shook, 'Lord Krishna....Lord Krishna...'

'What happened to Lord Krishna?' Yudhistar almost shouted as the guard stopped.

'Your majesty...Lord Krishna is no more....He has been killed....' The guard finally said as he spoke haltingly.

Yudhishtar blinked and shook his head. It was no way, he had heard right....How could Lord Krishna....No he had heard wrong....

By then the other Pandavas – Bheema, Arjun, Nakul and Sahadeva also came closer.

Arjuna roughly clutched the guards shoulders and shook him as he spoke harshly, 'What are you saying? How could anything happen to Lord Krishna?'

The guard spoke faintly, 'Sir! After the death of the Yadavas, Lord Krishna was walking alone through the forest....He was sleeping under a tree, sir! A hunter Jara....thought that...that it was a deer and shot....' The guards looked down almost sobbing unable to continue any further.

Arjuna's eye's filled with tears as he thought of his Krishna....Krishna, the beautiful, black Krishna....the cheerful Krishna, the most brilliant strategist in the world....Arjuna looked at the guard blankly....Without Krishna he felt....empty, without any purpose....

Arjuna and Lord Krishna were born on the same day. [In Hindu mythology Lord Krishna is an avatar of Lord Narayana. It is also believed that Nara had been created out of Lord Narayana. Arjuna was supposed to be an incarnation of Nara]

Arjuna suddenly felt living a big burden and swayed as he fell unconscious....

When Arjuna woke up, the pain would still not go away...

Yudhishtar also found that he no longer had the wish to rule Hastinapur and looking at his brothers he realized that they also felt the same way....

The Pandavas then crowned their grandson Parikshit as the king of Hastinapur anaraaand along with their wife Draupadi, gave up their kingdom and went to the Himalayas to meditate.

Parikshit was a great ruler and looked very well after Hastinapur. But unknown to the Pandavas and Parikshit, a greater threat loomed with the death of Lord Krishna.

During the ninth day of the Mahabharatha war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, the third yuga had ended and last yuga - Kali yuga had started. However because of the power of Lord Krishna, Kali could not spread all through the earth....

Now with Lord Krishna gone, Kali started spreading evil in the minds of people. However try at it might, Kali could not enter Parikshit's kingdom. Parikshit was a good ruler and his people loved him. Kali could not corrupt the minds of the people there....

'Then one day, the Kali demon came to speak with Parikshit. It told Parikshit, 'Oh King! I am Kali! The Kali Yuga has started, but I cannot enter your kingdom...If things have to go properly, I have to take over all the places in earth...'

Parikshit shook his head, 'You are a demon...You make people wicked...I will not let you inside my kingdom...'

Kali smiled and said, 'You don't have a choice my king, the four ages – Satya yuga, Treta yuga, Dwapara yuga and Kali yuga are a cycle...each must follow the other...it is the law of the universe...'

Parikshit was troubled but realized that Kali would eventually take over the kingdom...I have to just make sure he does not hurt innocent people...Then I will be able to make sure that only people who do bad things would get hurt....Parikshit spoke, 'I will let you in Kali! But on the condition...You cannot be everywhere...you can only be where there is gambling, drinking of alcohol, prostitution, killing of animals and where ever there is gold... and no where else....'

Kali let out a sly smile, as he just figured out a brilliant idea to trap the king...He meekly nodded his head and vanished from before Parikshit. Parikshit could not help shake the feeling that he had done something which he was going to regret...

Parikshit was a king and like all kings, he always a crown...a crown of gold....

Now Kali smugly entered into Parikshit's crown and waited...

A few days later, Parikshit was traveling through the jungle. He was tired and separated from his army. He was thirsty and going as he came to the ashrama of Sage Samika. The sage was so deep in meditation that he did not even notice the king.

Parikshit bowed again and again at the Sage, but the sage never realized it...A new voice spoke inside the king's head...the voice of Kali, 'You are a king...and this worthless man dares defy you....'

Parikshit shook his head...That was a sage...he could not think like this about him...But the voice persisted, 'That man is defying you...He must be punished...He must be made to look silly for what he has done....'

Though Parikshit tried fighting with the voice in his head, he lost. He looked around and saw a dead snake lying near the sage. With an cruel grin, he picked up the snake and hung it around the neck of the sage and left. Serves the man right...Who does he think he is...

The sage Samika was so deep in his meditation that he did not even realize what had happened....In the evening, Samika's son Sringan had come to ashrama and was horrified to find a dead snake on his father's neck. He removed the snake and looked furiously around.

With a deep breath he closed his eyes and meditated. He realized that it was King Parikshit who had done this. A king is acting like this...Such a king need not exist...

Sringan opened his eyes and in anger cursed Parikshit, 'Parikshit, you will die seven days...from now by a snake bite...'

When King Parikshit had heard the curse, he immediately gave up the throne up to his son Janamejaya. He called for Sage Suka and listened to the Bhagawat Purana the whole of the next seven days....

As Parikshit listened to the stories, his fear of death went away. He realized the ultimate truth of life and death and gave up his body to attain moksha.

True to Sringan's curse, Takshak, the king of the snakes bit King Parikshit's body after the soul had left it, thereby making the sage's words true.

Janamejaya who became the king of Hastinapur after his father, was very angry with Takshak for killing his father. He conducted the great Snake Sacrifice to avenge the death of his father. It was during the Snake Sacrifice that the story of Mahabharatha was narrated for the first time by Sage Vaysampayana to Janamejaya.

The birth of Parikshit

The five Pandavas were looking at Ashwattama with repulsion. The once handsome Ashwattama looked hideous. His features were distorted and ugly beyond comparison. The Pandavas could not believe that Ashwattama would be capable of such a thing....

Yudhishtar realized with tears in his eyes, how wrong he had been in thinking that the war was over....It was far from over....Yudhishtar thought back to the events of the previous day....

Duryodhana was dying and all the Kauravas were dead. The eldest Kaurava – Duryodhana was lying in the battlefield with no one to care for him...Atleast that is what the Pandavas thought....They had gone with Lord Krishna, leaving their people to take rest after the battle.

Unknown to all of them Ashwattama along with Kripacharya and Kritivarma had gone to see Duryodhana. Duryodhana was lying in great pain in the battlefield from the thigh wound that Bheema had given him. All of Duryodhana's brothers, friends and relatives were dead. There was no one to come to help him....Duryodhana was all alone in his pain, just waiting to die, when Ashwatttama came to see him.

Ashwattama sat down beside Duryodhana and put Duryodhana's head on his lap and said sadly. 'My king...Is this what you have been reduced to...' He said with tears in his eyes. 'You were one of the greatest kings in the world...Now...Now look at you....' He said.

Duryodhana spoke feebly, 'What can I do Ashwattama? That wretched Krishna fought for the Pandavas...He single-handed took the war away from us....The Pandavas and Krishna together used every possible means....even wrong means to win....'

Ashwattama was very angry.

He conveniently forgot that the whole war was Duryodhana's doing. Duryodhana had taken away the kingdom of the Pandavas...and humiliated them by exiling them to the forest...Duryodhana had refused to give the kingdom back when the Pandavas came after the period of exile....Duryodhana had repeatedly refused to the peace offers of the Pandavas...

Ashwattama stroked Duryodhana's head. 'We are still here, my king...Your army is not yet completely finished...I will finish the Pandavas for you....' Through his pain Duryodhana gave a smile and said. 'I....I will make you the general of this army.... Go and destroy the Pandavas...' He said giving Ashwattama a ghost of a smile.

Ashwattama placed Duryodhana's head back on the ground and with Kripacharya and Kritivarman walked away.

As Ashwattama walked, his head burned with anger. Ashwattama had never liked the Pandavas. His father Dronacharya loved Arjuna, the third Pandava best....His favourite pupil...Ashwattama snorted. It was because of the wretched Pandavas that he had always been loved second...His father was always talking on and on about 'Arjuna this Arjuna that'....As far as his father Dronacharya was considered, the sun rose and set on Arjuna, the rest did not matter. And in the end did Dronacharya's love for the Pandavas matter...They just killed him too....

'Dronacharya was the Guru of Hastinapur. He had no choice but to fight for the Kauravas, who were the rulers of Hastinapur, during the war...Though Dronacharya loved the Pandavas, he had to fight for the Kauravas.

After Bheeshma had been wounded in battle, Dronacharya was made the general of the Kaurava army.

Duryodhana however never trusted Dronacharya. Duryodhana felt that Dronacharya was not fighting the war to the best of his capabilities...Dronacharya was purposely letting the Pandavas win because he loved them so much....

Duryodhana spoke with Dronacharya in their camp at night, 'Are you trying to tell me, that the great Dronacharya, could not defeat the simple Pandavas...Shame on you....' He said with a taunting voice. Dronacharya remarked in a tight-lipped fashion. 'I will do my best in tomorrow's battle...'

Duryodhana spoke angrily, 'At least tomorrow, I hope you will fight on my side, instead of the side of the wretched Pandavas...'

Duryodhana's remark hurt Dronacharya, but he did not say anything. He just nodded his head and retired for sleeping.

Then Dronacharya did the unthinkable....He went to the extent of trapping Abhimanyu [Arjuna's son] in a maze as every single Kaurava attacked the young Abhimanyu and together killed him...

However, Ashwattama did not think of any of this. For him his father had done what needed to be done as the general of the Kauravas army.

Dronacharya was crushing the Pandava soldiers, over the next days. The Pandavas soldiers were completely stunned and did not know what to do....Dronacharya was using powerful weapons against simple soldiers....

Meanwhile in another part of the battle, Bheema, the Pandava was ploughing through the Kauravas army. He was routing them with his mace as he twirled it. It did not matter to Bheema, whether he was facing people or animals, he just crushed everything in his path.

Bheema while fighting fell an elephant. By some strange coincidence the name of the elephant was Ashwattama.

Bheema roared and ran straight to Dronacharya, 'I have killed Ashwattama...I have killed Ashwattama...' He danced with delight as he yelled at Dronacharya.

Dronacharya almost fumbled from his chariot when he heard the words. Sick and frightened he turned and looked around the battlefield and saw no sign of his son....Then slowly Drona pulled himself together...There was no way anyone could defeat him son....But still the doubt remained in his mind. What if...

He left Bheema and talked to his charioteer. 'Take me to Yudhishtar...' The charioteer raced through the field towards Yudhishtar. Yudhishtar was supposed to be the personification of Righteousness and never to have spoken a lie in his life...If anyone could tell the truth it was Yudhishtar....

Drona came close and asked him, 'Yudhishtar, you are a follower of Dharma...You have never lied in your whole life...Tell me the truth now...' Drona asked in desperation, 'Did your brother just kill Ashwattama?'

Yudhishtar was in a dilemma. He was not supposed to lie...But he also knew that if he told a lie now...his teacher would be finished...He spoke slowly, 'My brother has killed Ashwattama...' Very slowly almost to himself he spoke quietly, 'an elephant.'

At the same time, Lord Krishna who knew what was happening blew his conch so loudly that Drona was unable to hear Yudhistar's last words....

That did it...Drona was heart broken...With his son gone...he had no desire to fight...He threw away all the weapons from his chariot and right in the middle of the battlefield started his meditation to give up his body to die....

It is said that Yudhishtar's chariot was always a few centimeters above from the earth because he had never told a lie. However when he spoke these words to Drona, the chariot crashed on the earth and he became like any other normal mortal.'

Ashwattama was furiously thinking how Drishtadhyumna [Draupadi's brother. Draupadi was the wife of the Pandavas] had killed his father when he was meditating on the field! The nerve of the Pandavas...And they were claiming to be righteous people....Ashwattama fumed.

As he was walking back from his visit to Duryodhana, he realized that he would use any methods necessary to finish the Pandavas, they were a menace...

As he was walking Ashwattama saw an owl sitting on the tree. The owl was being bothered by some crows. Ashwattama watched the crows and the owl idly.

Ashwattama slept under the tree as night came. He woke up to the sound of some birds screeching. Ashwattama woke up groggily as he saw something...The owl was attacking the crows at the night... This gave Ashwattama a very bad idea.

Ashwattama that night, while the Pandava army was sleeping, killed all the main Pandava warriors! To kill someone while they were unarmed was one of the most heinous crimes of war. Ashwattama killed every single warriors without any remorse.

The remaining warriors who tried to escape were killed by Kripacharya and Kritivarman who were standing at the gates to prevent anyone from escaping....

Ashwattama did not know that the Pandavas were away with Lord Krishna at that time. He found the five sons of the Pandavas and thinking that they were the Pandavas, killed all of the them.

Subsequently Ashwattama came to know that he had not killed the Pandavas but their sons – the Upapandavas. Ashwattama realizing that the Pandavas were still alive and would hunt him down, ran to the ashrama of Sage Veda Vyasa to hide there.

The five Pandavas along with Lord Krishna came the next morning and were dumbstruck to find their army dead....The Pandavas could not believe it....After they had thought everything was over.....disaster had struck...Draupadi was inconsolable as she watched her five sons lying dead on the field....

She fiercely sat on the battlefield and spoke with glaring eyes, 'Ashwattama is responsible for this....That man has to die...Only and only when you show me the stone in his forehead, I will believe that you have avenged...you have avenged...' Draupadi pointed around her as her voice cracked. '...till you avenge their death, I will not move from here and I will not eat or drink...'

Yudhishtar knew how stubborn Draupadi could be and did not try arguing with her. He along with his brothers and Lord Krishna went in search of Ashwattama. There they came to the ashrama of Sage Veda Vyasa and found Ashwattama hiding there.

However when the Pandavas confronted Ashwattama, they were shocked. The handsome Ashwattama was looking hideous, ugly and deformed. The work that he had done the previous night had destroyed his soul...

The Pandavas were looking at Ashwattama with repulsion.

On seeing the Pandavas, Ashwattama realized that they were going to kill him.

While he had been young, Ashwattama had pestered his father to teach him the Brahmastra. Though Drona had been reluctant, he had taught his son how to invoke the powerful weapon. But Dronacharya had told him never to invoke the weapon as the consequences would be disastrous.

Realising that he had no other way, Ashwattama plucked a blade of grass and muttered the mantras converting it into a Brahmastra!

Lord Krishna saw this and turned to Arjuna, 'Arjuna! Brahmastra quick!'

Arjuna immediately launched a Braahmastra of his own [which he had learnt from Lord Shiva himself] to counter the attack.

That was when time stood still. The weapons stopped in the air. The great sage Veda Vyasa came forward and spoke to Arjuna and Ashwattama. 'Using the Brahmastra will destroy the earth....Take back your weapons....the earth should not be destroyed now....take it back....' He turned to Arjuna. 'Arjuna! Take back your weapon....NOW'

Arjuna nodded and closed his eyes. He used all the powers of concentration. The Brahmastra was a powerful weapon....once launched it could not be taken back just like that...Arjuna shivered as he used all the powers of his mind and pulled back the weapon....When the weapon was safely back, it drained Arjuna of his strength as he swayed precariously looking at Ashwattama.

The sage then turned to Ashwattama, 'Take back your weapon Ashwattama....' But Ashwattama was flustered. He had pestered his father and learnt how to use the Brahmastra, he had never learnt how to revoke it!

The Sage Veda Vyasa spoke again, 'If you cannot take it back then please divert the weapon to some place where there are no people....Atleast the damage would be minimal...'

As Ashwattama was concentrating hard, some stray thoughts came into his mind...He could divert the weapon...Why should he divert it to some place where there are no people...Ashwattama narrowed his eyes and diverted the weapon. He diverted it straight towards Draupadi and Uttara....

Draupadi's womb was destroyed by the weapon...She could never have children again....Uttara – Arjuna's daughter-in-law was carrying Abhimanyu's son in her womb. The weapon destroyed the child too!

Ashwattama looked as the Pandavas and Lord Krishna looked at him horrified. 

Lord Krishna spoke for the first time, his voice trembling with anger, 'You think you have destroyed the Pandavas...I, Krishna am telling you now...You will be under the rule of Uttara's child, whom you just killed! That child will become a great king...And you Ashwattama...' 

Krishna looked at the ugly Ashwattama and spoke venomously, 'I curse you...You will always have painful sores all over your body with all diseases...there will always be a foul smell coming from you...you will not have a single friend to talk to....and you will keep roaming the earth, without death till the end of Kali Yuga!' Ashwattama howled as Krishna continued, 'Hand me your stone...' Ashwattama was born with a stone embedded in his forehead. The stone was supposed to keep him free of diseases and death...Ashwattamma having no choice handed over the stone to Krishna.

It is believed that Ashwattama still roams around the earth with no one to talk to...The wound that was caused because of the stone being removed from his head was never supposed to heal...It is believed that he would be given salvation by Kalki, the next Avatar of Lord Vishnu, which is yet to come....

Back at Kurukshetra, the Pandavas were dejected. They had won the great war but for no reason...they had no reason to keep the huge kingdom...no one to share it with...no one to continue it after them....

Lord Krishna however pointed out that they owed to their people to be good kings. The Pandavas reluctantly agreed and became the rulers of Hastinapur.

Uttara was about to give birth, when Lord Krishna came to Hastinapur. The whole kingdom was waiting as this was the heir who was going to rule them eventually.

However disaster struck!

The child was born dead....The people in the palace were brokenhearted as Krishna came forward. Draupadi and Uttara came forward as Uttara spoke between sobs, 'My child....my child...please....please...do something....'

Krishna nodded and took the child in his arms. He closed his eyes and spoke softly, 'I have lived a life following my purpose and fulfilling it...If that is so, I will give you life....' The woman watched as a mysterious force flew from Krishna into the child....

The silence of the whole palace was shattered by the wailing of the young child....Uttara, Draupadi and the Pandavas were thrilled on hearing the young child's wails. They all picked the child and cuddled him.

The child was called as Parikshit – meaning one who was tested by time. As he had already been tested by death, he was given that name...He was also called as Vishnuratha meaning the one who was always protected by Lord Vishnu

Parikshit was a very good king and always followed the path of righteousness. His people adored him. After the Pandavas gave up the kingdom 36 years later, he was made the ruler of Hastinapur and ruled his people very well...

However Parikshit died because of the snake bite as a result of a curse of a sage... That is another story....

Arjuna and Uloopi - Part 1 of 3

Do you know that one of the heroes of the Mahabharatha – Arjuna the third Pandava, was killed by his own son in a small battle after the great war of Mahabharatha...

The five Pandavas – Yudhishtar, Bheem, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva together had married the dusky and beautiful Draupadi. After their marriage Sage Narada came to bless them.

Looking at the five brothers together with their wife, Sage Narada was very happy. But he was worried. Yudhishtar asked Narada anxiously, 'Sir! You seem to be worried...Is something wrong?'

Narada smiled and shook his head, 'It is just that....I am very impressed with the unity between you and your brothers....But I am also afraid...' Yudhishtar was alarmed and asked, 'What are you afraid of sir?'

For an answer Narada said, 'Long ago, there were two asura brothers – Sunda and Upasunda. They loved each other and always did everything together. They both prayed to the Lords and obtained a boon that they could be killed only by each other. They felt that their love for each other was so great that such a thing would never happen...The two of them then became so powerful that they drove away Indra and other Gods from Heaven. Indra was unable to face up to them....They ruled over the earth and the skies with no one to stop them...'

Yudhishtar wondered where this story was going but listened with rapt attention. Sage Narada continued, 'As the Devas did not know what to do, they decided that the only chance they had was to create a rift between the two brothers. Lord Brahma thought that over and created the most beautiful woman ever. She was called Tilotamma. Even the Devas could not remove their eyes off the beautiful Tilotamma. Tilotamma then went to the two brothers...'

Yudhishtar and his brothers were listening to the story as Sage Narada continued, '...However that proved to be the downfall of the two brothers....Both the brothers wanted to marry her....Neither wanted to give up the woman for the other...They became enemies and fought....' Sage Narada shook his head unhappily, '...and they killed each other...'

Sage Narada looked at the brothers as he finished his story. Yudhishtar was alarmed. He knelt before the sage. 'Sir! I do not wish to be separated from my brothers...I do not believe that Draupadi would do anything to destroy the unity between us...but what shall we do sir...'

Sage Narada smiled, 'I have a solution, your Majesty, if you are willing to listen...'

Yudhishtar and the other brothers nodded encouragingly as the Sage spoke, 'You all should share Draupadi equally...She should be the wife of each one of you, for a year. During that year, the other brothers should not have any rights on her...That is not all, none of the brothers should enter the room of the other brother, when he is alone with Draupadi...Any brother who breaks this rule, will have to go on exile for twelve years as punishment...'

Yudhishtar looked at the other brothers who nodded. He then looked at Draupadi, who also smiled. 'Sage Narada, we – me and my brothers along with Draupadi accept the condition...'

Sage Narada spoke, 'As you are the eldest, Yudhishtar, Draupadi would be your wife for the first year and then to Bheem and so on...'

Yudhishtar nodded his head.

Some weeks later, Yudhishtar and Arjuna were talking about his bow - the Gandiva. As he was talking, Yudhishtar picked up the bow and took it with him to his palace. Yudhishtara kept the bow in his room and soon forgot all about it.

The next day, a man came running to Arjuna, 'Arjuna! Protect me....Help...My cattle...it is being kidnapped by thieves...please....come immediately...'

Arjuna went inside his palace and much to his surprise, he found that he could not find his bow. Arjuna was astonished and then remembered that Yudhishtar had taken the bow with him.

Arjuna went to Yudhishtara's palace and searched everywhere for his bow. He could not find it. With a troubled mind, he realized that Yudhishtara was having the bow in his room.

Arjuna was troubled. He knew that he could not go to Yudhishtar's room and take his bow. That would amount to breaking his condition and he would have to go on exile for twelve years. But outside the palace, the man was yelling at Arjuna to come and protect his cattle. Arjuna could not just ignore the pleas for help coming from the man.

Without worrying about the consequences, Arjuna entered Yudhishtar's room. Yudhishtar and Draupadi were both astonished on seeing him. He went straight for his Gandiva and walked out of the room, knowing full well that he had just exiled himself for 12 years.

He fought the thieves and brought back the cattle to the man.

The man praised Arjuna, but Arjuna was in no mood to listen. Arjuna was feeling unhappy and carried back the bow and entered his own room, where Yudhishtar was waiting for him.

'Arjuna! I am so proud of you...You just single-handed drove away thieves in the kingdom...The man whose cattle you saved has been singing your praises...' Yudhiishtar repeated, '...I am so proud of you...' Yudhishtara was silent for some time and then spoke quietly, 'When you first came....to my room...I was surprised....' Arjuna looked ashamed and was looking downcast as Yushishtar continued, '...but you were only coming to my room to get your bow...You were coming to fulfill your duty of protecting our people....I do not think you committed anything wrong... Besides I think you can come to see me at any time...after all I am your elder brother...' Yudhishtar said with a little smile, 'Please do not think of going on a twelve year exile...away from all of us...I cannot bear to be separated from my brother....for that long.' Yudhishtar said with tears in his eyes.

Arjuna shook his head. 'You talk out of your love for me, Yudhishtar....All of us were there were Sage Narada told us the story of Sunda and Upasunda...We all accepted the condition....I cannot go back on it...' Arjuna said firmly.

'Arjuna...please...' Yudhishtar continued but was silenced when Arjuna raised his hands. 'No Yudhishtar...I broke the agreement and I have to be exiled....I am not going to change my mind...'

Yudhishtar realized that he could not change Arjuna's mind. He unhappily nodded his head and blessed his younger brother. Arjuna with a heavy heart set out of Indraprasta on an exile for twelve years. He traveled all over the country to distant places and had many adventures.

As he was traveling, Arjuna was once going to the river for his morning bath. As he entered the water, he felt the current pull him. Arjuna gasped and struggled to break free. But he could not pull himself free. He felt himself being pulled deeper and deeper inside the water. He could not breath and soon everything went black....

As Arjuna opened his eyes, wondering whether he was dead, he saw a beautiful woman standing before him. She was looking at him with lovely eyes and sweet smile in her face. Arjuna was struck by her beauty. 'Who...who are you?' He asked the woman in a dazed manner.

The woman smiled, 'I am Uloopi. I am the daughter of King Kauravya, the king of serpents....great Arjuna!' She said in a soft melodious voice. 'I am a Naga princess.' She said with looking at Arjuna with a smile.

Arjuna looked around him, 'Where am I?'

Uloopi spoke, 'Arjuna! I have been watching you daily...You are the greatest archer I have ever seen....Ever since I saw you, I fell in love with you...' She said speaking in a rush looking at Arjuna shyly, 'Today when I saw you, I dragged you though the water to my kingdom and here you are....'

Uloopi looked at Arjuna shyly and spoke, 'Will you marry me Arjuna....'

Arjuna explained about his exile and told her. 'You are a Naga princess...I cannot stay here for long....I will need to go back to my own people....'

Uloopi pleaded with Arjuna. 'Please Arjuna...'

Arjuna looked at the woman and nodded his head. 'I will live with you for a year...but after that...' Uloopi happily nodded her head.

Arjuna and Uloopi were happily married. Living with Uloopi, Arjuna was about to forget everything about himself...she was so kind and considerate....Arjuna also found that Uloopi was very skilled in archery and warfare...Arjuna enjoyed her company even more. Soon Uloopi and Arjuna had a son Iravan.

Arjuna was very happy with Uloopi, but after some time, he remembered his life, his exile...

He talked with Uloopi, 'Uloopi,you have kept me very happy here....'

Uloopi sensed her husband was telling her some grave news did not speak. She waited for him to continue, 'I...I have to get back to my own place...to my people...they will be waiting for me....' Uloopi realized that Arjuna belonged to the land of the people and not among the Nagas. Though she loved Arjuna dearly, she made preparations for him to be sent back immediately.

Saying goodbyes to Uloopi and Iravan, Arjuna emerged from the river where he was first dragged by Uloopi.