ARJUNA'S PILGRIMAGE

Arjuna started his pilgrimage by visiting the source of river Ganga. It was here that he accidentally met the Naga princess, Uloopi. She was deeply infatuated by him and the couple were drawn into days of passionate love-making.

Pancha Pandavas jointly marrying Draupadi led to many speculations. The Kauravas fondly hoped that the five brothers would fall out one day on account of Draupadi. They even planned to welcome the dissident Pandava and set him up against his other brothers. However Karana discounted all such wishful thinking and maintained that the monolithic solidarity of the Pancha Pandavas would never be broken. Anyway in spite of their mutual affection, the Pandava brothers were in need of a well- regulated family. The great divine sage Narada, Brahma-manasa-putra, the intellectual offspring of Brahma, the creator of the universe, came to Indraprastha to congratulate the Pandavas. In ancient Indian literature the distinctive trait of Narada's personality was to always ignite quarrels with a vicarious pleasure. He was called Kalahabhojana, one who feasts on quarrels. He was described as a super musician but his daily occupation was sowing seeds of discord and wherever he choose to stand and store, he could create fire out of water. But in the case of the Pandavas the archangel of conflict, Narada proved to be a prophet of concord.

He framed the regulation that Draupadi should stay for an year with each Pandava in cyclic repetition. While Drupadi was in the company of one husband his other brothers were forbidden to enter their presence. The penalty for any transgression, proposed by Narada, was that the offender shall undertake a pilgrimage for twelve months as propitiation. Ever since, the stipulation was being observed by the Pandavas scrupulously.


One day Drupadi was in the company of Dharmaputra and they were in the Ayudhasala, where the weapons were kept. A Brahmin came to Arjuna and said that his sacrificial cow was stolen by a thief and the calf was deprived of his mother's milk and he of his daily oblations. Arjuna went into the Ayudhasala for equipping himself with his bow and quiver and gave a hot chase to the thief and killed him. The recovered cow was handed over to the Brahmin . Dharamaputra congratulated Arjuna for gong to the rescue of the Brahmin and discharging the royal duty. Arjuna, however, said that he would go on a pilgrimage for twelve months to atone for the transgression. Dharamaputra dissuaded him as it was the result of a curious conspiracy of circumstances. However Arjuna said, "As a prince of the ruling family I must set a good example at large. As is the Prince so are the people."

Arjuna started on his pilgrimage of atonement taking his learned Brahmins for guidance and holy company. He went to Haridwar , the Himalyan threshold from which the Ganges enters the terrestrial plane from the locks of the hair of Lord Shiva. He used to bathe in the holy waters of the Ganges everyday and listen to the sacred scriptures enunciated by the Brahmins of his party. One day as the Pandava hero was taking bath in the Ganges a beautiful serpent maiden named Uluchi fell in love with him and took him to serpent kingdom by her magical spell. Arjuna asked her in mystified amazement, "Charming maiden, who are you? What is your name? In which world am I?" She gracefully replied, " I am Uluchi the serpent maiden, daughter of Kauravya. This is the serpent world, known as Nagaloka and you are now in my bridal chamber. I have heard many songs sung in your praise by the Naga maidens and it is my good luck that I could meet you, the hero of my dreams." Arjuna replied, "But I am committed to the vow of celibacy for twelve months and I am a pilgrim. How can I bind myself to this place. Uluchi sweetly replied, "I know everything about you and your commitments.

The virtue which accrues from saving the life of a sensitive maiden is worth a hundred vows and a thousand commitments in any divine market. You get no sin if you break your vow for the sake of a sinless spinster." Arjuna spent the night with Uluchi. As a result of their union, Iravan was born and Uluchi brought up her son bestowing on him the motherly care and affection. Arjuna returned to Haridwar the very next morning to the delight of the Brahmins who were agitated all the while at his sudden disappearance. It was a pleasant surprise for the Brahmins to learn about his amorous escapade which Arjuna related to them. From there Arjuna visited several holy places, the forest of Naimisa, the abode of God Narayana, the lord of Universe, Mount Bhrigu and Hiranyabindu, confluence of the Ganges and the ocean, the valleys of Godavari and the Kaveri and the Kalinga country. The Brahmins who were following Arjuna returned home from Kalinga. Arjuna with a very small retinue went to Manipur where he met the ultra-dynamic princess Chitrangada who charmed him beyond measure and he wanted to marry her. The king of Manipur, Chitravahana had no male issues. When he came to know about the infatuation of the great hero for his daughter, he stipulated to Arjuna that the son born to them should be given in adoption to him to succeed him to the throne of Manipur. Arjuna readily accepted the stipulation and married Chitrangada. Prince Babhruvahana was born to Arjuna and Chitrangada.

From Manipur Arjuna proceeded to Prabhasa visiting many holy places on the way. Sri Krishna met Arjuna at Prabhasa and they both went to Dwaraka. Krishna asked Arjuna to stay at Mount Raivataka incognito for some days to avoid an embarrassing situation. He wanted his beautiful sister to be wedded to Arjuna, while Balarama, his elder brother, was planning her alliance with Dhartarastras. Arjuna donned the saffron robes and took the guise of a rishi. Sri Krishna went to Dwaraka to make the necessary preparations for the annual festival to be celebrated at mount Raivataka on a grand scale. The usual proclamation was issued . The citizens of Dwaraka and the rural populace in the neighbourhood gathered at Mount Raivataka in large numbers. Courtesans danced to the accompaniment of orchestras consisting of many musical instruments. There was spontaneous outburst of hilarious revelry. The Yadavas were all in a merry mood enjoying wine and women. Sarana and Satyaki, Akrura and Aniruddha, Samba and Sankarshana together with a host of Yadava chieftains participated in the revelry.

Rejoicing Sri Krishna along with Rukmini and his other consorts joined the procession. Subhadra clad in colourful festive attire, took part in the festival, offering her confidential prayers to get herself wedded to renowned hero of the times, Arjuna. Arjuna too as soon as he saw the princess Subhadra, the cynosure of the festival, fell in love with her. Sri Krishna who was silently watching the spectacle from a distance came to Arjuna and remarked with a mischievious twinkle in his eyes, "Is it proper for a holy rishi in saffron robes to cast longing looks at innocent virgins? " Balarama and other Yadava princess came to the pseudo rishi to pay ther respects and heard from a discourse on the holy places of pilgrimage in India. Arjuna spoke with authority on the subject on the strength of the first hand he gained recently.

The talk was very much appreciated. Balarama said, "The detailed description of the holy places and their importance is informative and instructive, impressive and inspiring. I have decided to go on a pilgrimage, of course, choosing a suitable opportunity." And he requested the sage to spend the ensuing rainy season to Dwaraka, observing the customary vows pertaining to those four months. The youthful rishi felt very happy and accepted in the virgins quarters of the royal palace and princess Subhadra was entrusted with sacred duty of attending on his Holiness. Arjuna encashed the excellent opportunity quite skillfully. The dubious sanyasi one day took hold of her right hand and with prophetic intuition which was accepted as the prerogative of pious personages, predicted that she would wed Partha, the middle Pandava prince. She confided to the rishi in disguise that she loved to marry him and put many questions about Arjuna disclosing her interest and admiration for the hero. Arjuna revealed his identity and convinced her that the only course open to them was to leave Dwaraka in secrecy as Balarama her elder brother was opposed to their marriage. She was encouraged indirectly by Rukmini her sister-in-law. At this she relented and his artificial holiness escaped from the palace, taking the princes Subhadra in his chariot. When Balarama returned he understood the whole story reading between the lines. "Sri Krishna secretly connived at it, princess Subhadra was quite willing. Vasudeva and Devaki knew about the whole affair even if they did not abet it," - so mused Balarama and reconciled himself to what had happened.

Arjuna reached Indraparastha with Subhadra who bowed to Kunti and Draupadi with all the humility at her command. Balarama chided Sri Krishna for the covert part he palyed in the episode but Sri Krishna replied, "Noble brother, I know your mind and Subhadra's mind as well. We must please our parents who would like to offer the customary presence to the couple." Balarama and Sri Krishna along with their parents went to Indraprasatha, taking the traditional presents for the couple with them and they were welcomed by the Pandavas. The bosom friends, Sri Krishna and Arjuna, brothers- in- law adored by millions of their countrymen as terrestrial manifestations of the transcendental Nara and Narayana- became affectionate brothers -in- law tied by spiritual as well as mundane bonds of blood relation.