Vaishampayana said : When the illustrious Vyasa went away, those best of men, the Pandavas, proceeded with joyous heart, (towards Panchala) placing their mother at the head (of the procession.)

Those chastisers of foes proceeded in a northerly direction in order to reach their destination. They walked day and night and reached (the several) Somashrama.

Those best of men, the sons of Pandu, came to (the banks of) the Ganges. The great car-warriors Dhananjaya (Arjuna) walked before, carrying torch in his hand for showing them the way and for protecting them.

There is the delightful waters of the Ganges was sporting in solitude the proud king of the Gandharvas (Chitraratha) with his wives.

He heard the noise (of the footsteps of the Pandavas) approaching the river. The greatly strong (Gandharva) was inflamed with wrath by (hearing) the noise.

Seeing there those chastisers of foes, the Pandavas, with their mother and drawing his fearful bow, he spoke thus,

"It is known that excepting the first forty labas of the dark twilight that proceeds night, (the other portion of the night) is set apart for the Yakshas, the Gandharvas and the Rakshasas who are capable of going every where at will. The rest of the time is set apart for men.

Therefore, if any man out of greed wander during those moments and come near us, both we, (the Gandharvas) and the Rakshasas kill those fools.

The men learned in the Vedas disapprove (the actions of) those men, nay even of the kings at the head of their enemies who come to any lake or river at such a time.

Stay at a distance. Do not come near me. Know you not that I am (now) bathing in the waters of the Bhagirathi.

Know me to be the Gandharva, named Angarparna who depends only on his own strength of arms. I am proud and haughty; I am the friend of Kubera.

This my forest on the banks of the Ganges is known by the name of Angarparna in which I sport to gratify myself.

The Kapalikas, the Shringis or the Devas, dare not come here it appears you are human beings. How dare you (then) to approach me who is the brightest jewel in Kubera's crown?

Arjuna said : O wretch, to whom can the ocean, the sides of the Himalayas, or this river Ganges be barred, whether at night or day or at twilight?

O sky ranger, whether the stomach be empty or full, there is no special time to come to this foremost of all rivers, the Ganges, whether it is night or day.

We are endued with prowess, we care not when, we disturb you. O wicked being, those men that are incapable (of fighting) worship you.

This Ganges, issuing out of the golden peaks of the Himalayas, falls into the ocean by seven streams.

(They are) Ganga, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Rathastha, Saraya, Gomti and Gandaki.

Those that drink the waters of these seven rivers are cleansed of their sins. O Gandharva, this sacred Ganga, following through the celestials regions, is called there Alaknanda,

And in the region of Pitris, it is called Vaitarani, which is not crossable by the sinners, Krishna Dvaipayana has said that this auspicious and celestials river is accessible at all times by all. Why do you wish to bar us from it? It is not consonant with the eternal virtue.

Why should we not, disregarding your words, touch at pleasure the sacred waters of the Bhagirathi which is ever accessible to all.

Vaishampayana said : Hearing this, Angarparna became very angry and drawing his bow he shot at them his arrows which were like the poisonous snakes.

The Pandava Dhananjaya, who had an excellent shield, warded off all those arrows with it and with the torch in his hand.

Arjuna said : O Gandharva, seek not to terrify those who are skilled in weapons, for weapons hurled at them vanish like froth.

O Gandharva, I know Gandharvas are superior to men (in prowess). I shall therefore fight with you by using the celestials weapons. I shall not use delusions.

The fire weapon that I hurl against you was formerly given by the preceptor of Indra, Brihaspati, to Bharadvaja.

From Bharadvaja, it was obtained by Agnivaishya and from Agnivaishya by my preceptor, and that excellent Brahmana Drona gave it to mc.

Vaishampayana said : Having said this, the Pandava (Arjuna) angrily hurled at the Gandharva that blazing fire weapon which immediately brunt his chariot.

Having fainted away by the force of the weapon, the greatly powerful Gandharva was falling headlong downwards from his chariot,

But Dhananjaya sized him by the hair of his head which was adorned with garlands of flowers. He dragged towards his brother that (Gandharva), insonsible in consequence of (being wounded by) the weapon.

(Seeing this), his wife, named Kumbhinasi, being desirous of rescuing her husband, came to Yudhishthira and asked his protection.

The Gandharvi said : O exalted one, extend your protection to me. Set my husband free. () Lord, I am a Gandharvi, named Kumbhinasi, I ask your protection.

Yudhishthira said : O chastiser of foes, who would kill an enemy who has been vanquished in the battle, who has been deprived of his fame, who is protected by a woman and who is incapable of defending himself), O child, set him free.

Arjuna said : O Gandharva, take your life. Go hence and do not grieve. The king of the Kurus, Yudhishthira others me today to show you mercy.

The Gandharva said: I have been defeated by you, therefore, I shall give up my former name of Angarparna. In name only I shall not be boastful when really I am not strong in prowess like men.

It is a great fortune to me that I have obtained a man who wields celestials weapons. I am desirous to impart to Arjuna the power of illusions of the Gandharvas.

My excellent and beautiful chariot has been brunt by your fire weapon. I was (formerly) called Chitraratha having a beautiful chariot, I shall now be called Dagdharatha (having the chariot) burnt..

The science (of illusion) of which I spoke to you and which I formerly obtained by asceticism will be today given by me to that illustrious man who has given me my life.

What good fortune does he not deserve to obtain who after defeating an enemy gives him his life when he asks it from him?

This science is called Chakshushi. It was taught by Manu to Soma. Soma taught it to Vishvavasu, Vishvavasu, taught it to me.

Having been given by the preceptor to one who is a Kapurusha (without energy) it went to die out. I have spoken to you about its coming (origin and transmission); listen now to its prowess.

Whatever you will desire to see by your eyes in this world and whatever its nature it will be seen by you (by the help of this science).

One can acquire this (science) by standing on one leg for six months. I shall impart to you this science without your observing any vows.

O king, (only) on account of this science, we have a superiority over men. Because we are capable of seeing everything (by our spiritual eyes), we are equal to the celestials.

O excellent man, I desire to give you and your brothers, cach separately, one hundred horses born in the regions of the Gandharvas.

They are employed in carrying the Devas and the Gandharvas; they are of the celestials colour, and they possess speed as that of the mind. They may be lean and thin in body, but they never feel tired and their speed never suffers for this reason.

The thunder was created by Indra in the days of yore in order to kill Vitra, (but) it broke into a thousand pieces when hurled on Vitra's head.

Thereupon the celestials worshipped those fragments of the thunder thus broken into pieces. That which is known in the world as the wealth of fame is a portion of the thunder.

The hands of Brahmanas are (the portion of) the thunder; the chariots of the Kshatriyas are (also the portions of) the thunder. The charity of the Vaishyas are (also the portions of) the thunder and the services of the Shudras are (also the portion of) the thunder.

The horses of the Kshatriyas being the portions of the thunder, it is said they are never to be killed. The portions of the chariots (the horses) are the offspring of Vadaba. Those amongst them that are Shuras.

Are capable of assuming any colour at pleasure, of going any where at will and of running at its owner's will. These horses of mine born in the Gandharva region will always fullfil your desire.

Arjuna said : O Gandharva, if you give me out of your satisfaction for obtaining life in a crisis, these horses and the wealth of science shall not accept it.

The Gandharva said : A meeting with an illustrious person is always a matter of gratification. Besides you have given me life. Thus being pleased with you, I give the science.

O best of the Bharata race, O Bibhatsa, so that the obligation may be not only on one side, I shall take from you your excellent and eternal fire-weapon.

Arjuna said : O Gandharva, I shall take your horses in exchange of my weapon. Let our friendship be ever-lasting. O friend, tell me that from which the danger of ours (human beings) arises from the Gandharvas.

O Gandharva, we are all chastisers of foes; we are all learned in the Vedas and we are all) virtuous. Tell us why we were censured by you when travelling at night.

The Gandharva said : O sons of Pandu, you do not keep fire; you have no wives; you have no Brahmanas walking before you; therefore you were censured by me.

The Yakshas, the Rakshasas, the Gandharvas, the Pishachas, the Uragas and the Danavas are wise and intelligent. They speak much of the Kury race.

O hero, I have heard from Narada and other Rishis the accomplishments of your intelligent ancestors.

While roaming over the earth attired in her ocean-cloth, I myself have seen the great prowess of your race.

O Arjuna, I personally know your preceptor, the illustrious son of Bharadvaja (Drona), who is celebrated in the three worlds for his learning in the Vedas and the science of archery.

O best of the Kuru race, O Partha, I know also Dharma, Vayu, Indra, Ashvinis and Pandu, these six spreaders of the Kuru race. These (six) excellent celestials and man are your fathers.

Knowing too that you are high-souled, you are illustrious, you are the foremost of all wielders of arms, you, all brothers, are great heroes, you are virtuous and observant of vows, your understandings and hearts are excellent and your behaviour faultless, I still censured you.

O descendant of Kuru, no man, possessing strength of arms, ought to bear with patience any ill usage before his wife.

O son of Kunti, our strength specially increases at the time of night. As I was accompanied by my wife, I was filled with wrath.

O best of all vow-observing men, I was vanquished by you in battle; hear from me the reasons for with I was discomfited.

Brahmacharya is a great virtue, you are in it (leAding that mode of life). O Partha it is for this that I was defeated by you in battle.

O chastiser of foes, if any Kshatriya, engaged in the exercise of his desire, fight with us at night, he can never escape form us with his life.

O Partha, a Kshatriya, engaged in the exercise of his desire, may defeat all the wanderers of night (as we are), if he is sanctified by Brahma and if he assigns the cares of his state to his priest.

O descendant of Tapati, men should, therefore, always employ learned and selfcontrolled priests for the acquisition of every good fortune that he desires (to get). That man an is fit to be the priest of kings who is engaged in the study of the Vedas and their six branches, who is pure and truthful and who is virtuousminded and self-controlled.

That king becomes ever victorious (in this world) and obtains heaven in the next, who has a priest, who is learned in the precepts of morals, who is a master of words and who is pure and well-behaved.

The king should always select accomplished priest who can protect what he has and acquires what he has not.

He, who desires his own prosperity, should ever be guided by his priest; he may then acquire the whole earth attired in her oceancloth.

O descendant of Tapati, a king, who is without a Brahmana, can never acquire any land by his bravery or nobility of birth only.

O spreader of the Kuru race, therefore, know that the kingdoms with Brahmanas at their heads can be retained for long.