HISTORY OF

INDIA. PART II.

Eleventh adventure of the horse in the

ratha.

Story of Duhsalá.

After this, the horse passed along the mountain Sumaru, and proceeded in a northerly direction until he arrived at the city of Jayadratha, where he encountered his eleventh adventure. Now the Raja of this city was the son of that city of Jayad Jayadratha, who had carried away Draupadí in the jungle, and had afterwards been slain by Arjuna in the great war. And the mother of the Raja was named Duhsalá, and she was the sister of Duryodhana, and the daughter of Maharaja Dhritarashtra. And when the Raja heard that the horse had entered his city, and that it was accompanied by the man who had slain his father, he fell down from his throne with a deep sigh, and gave up the ghost. And when his mother Duhsalá saw that her son was dead, she uncovered her head, and ran out of the palace until she came to Arjuna; and she said to him :-" O Arjuna, you slew my husband, and now my son has expired at the mention of your name: I am your sister, and have no one to look to but you; I therefore pray you to take me under your protection." And Arjuna dismounted from his chariot, and acknowledged her to be his kinswoman; and he wept very much, and said to her:-"You are dearer to me than all my sisters: I had no quarrel with your husband Jayadratha, but he carried away our wife in the jungle; and after that we had forgiven him that offence, he caused the death of my beloved son Abhimanyu in the great war, so that I was compelled to combat him: And now that I have had only the kindest intentions toward your son, I cannot conceive what should have caused his death." Duhsalá replied:" I do not ask you for the blood of my husband, nor for the blood of my son: but now that you are in the course of performing the Aswamedha sacrifice for the security of your Raj, and for the religious merits attached to the sacrifice, I beg that you will not leave me here oppressed with misery." And Arjuna compassionated her, and said :-"0 my sister, whatsoever I can possibly do for you, I will." And The dead son of Krishna and Arjuna, and the daughter of Dhritarashtra then went to the dead body of the son of Jayadratha; and restored to life Krishna laid hold of the dead man's hand, and said:"Arise!" And by the will of the Almighty the dead man

Duhsala and

Jayadratha

miraculously

by Krishna.

INDIA. PART II.

immediately arose; and when he beheld those around him, HISTORY OF his mother said to him :-" O my son, this new life has been given to you by reason of Krishna; pay respectful obeisance to him." So her son threw himself at the feet of Krishna; and in one moment that city was turned from mourning into great joy, and the drums of rejoicing were beaten aloud, and all the inhabitants were glad and made merry from house to house at all the doors; and the Raja and his mother Duhsalá accompanied Arjuna in great happiness to the city of Hastinapur.14

to Hastinapur.

thira sitting by

deer's skin, and

holding a deer's

horu.

Seeing now that all danger as regards the horse was en- Krishna returns tirely over, Krishna returned with all speed to the city of Hastinapur to acquaint Raja Yudhishthira with all that had taken place; whilst Arjuna, and all the Rajas and Chieftains in his train, followed Krishna very slowly with all pomp and magnificence, carrying with them all the treasures which had been collected during the loosening of the horse. And Finds Yudhishwhen Krishna arrived at Hastinapur he found Raja Yudhish- the Ganges in a thira sitting on the bank of the Ganges, dressed in the skin of a deer and holding a deer's horn in his hand; and all his Chieftains, and Draupadi and Kuntí and all the ladies, were seated with him. Krishna then made obeisance to Raja Yudhishthira, and to all the others; and he said to Yudhishthira: "O Raja, by your favour Arjuna has conquered all the Rajas in his way, and is approaching with a mighty company, and with more treasure than can possibly be expended in this Aswamedha sacrifice." And Krishna related at Relates the length to the whole assembly the adventures of the horse, Arjuna. and the victories which had been achieved by Arjuna.

victories of

sister Subhadrá.

After this, Subhadrá, the sister of Krishna, came out to meet her brother, and he had been absent from her so long Consoles his that when she saw him she burst into tears; and Krishna embraced her and comforted her. Krishna then took leave of the assembly, and taking Bhíma by the hand he proceeded to his own dwelling. And Krishna's wives were greatly rejoiced at his arrival, and Satyabhama said to him :-" Have you taken his wives.

24 The twelfth adventure of the horse is nothing more than the triumphant return of Arjuna to Hastinapur.

Questioned by

INDIA. PART II.

HISTORY OF no new spouse during this expedition? Arjuna has sent hither the Rání Paramita, and perchance you have acquired a fresh wife likewise." And Krishna smiled and said to Bhíma :-" Do you hear what these ladies insinuate of me?" And Krishna and Bhíma then sat down for a short while, and partook of some food. And Yudhishthira sent a message beseeching Krishna to come to him and counsel him respecting the coming Aswamedha and the reception to be given to Arjuna. And Krishna went to the Raja, and after some discourse it was agreed that Yudhishthira should remain in the city and occupy himself with the affairs of the Aswamedha; and that Krishna, accompanied by Maháraja Dhritaráshtra, and Vidura, and Bhíma, and all the Chieftains, and all the ladies who had assembled at Hastinapur, should go forth to meet Arjuna and all his train.

Advises Yudhishthira respecting the Aswamedha.

Twelfth adventure of the horse.

Then Raja Yudhishthira ordered the city to be decorated for rejoicings, and suitable lodgings to be prepared for all the Rajas who accompanied Arjuna; whilst Krishna and all Arjuna to Has the others went out of the city upon thrones and litters, and

Triumphant

return of

tinápur.

accompanied by an innumerable crowd of men and women. And when the people of Hastinápur, who had gone out of the city to welcome Arjuna, beheld him approaching with his mighty train, they welcomed him in a transport of joy, and Arjuna saluted all his kinsmen and brethren with great respect and affection. And Arjuna introduced his own son Babhru-váhana; and all the Rajas and Chieftains who were with him, one by one, to Maháraja Dhritarashtra ; and they all saluted the Maháraja, and Vidura, and Bhíma, and all the other Chieftains who had come out from HastiMarshalling of nápur to meet them. And Krishna said to Arjuna :-" Now that you are about to enter the city, you should form your troops in the most splendid array, that the people may all see what a fine army and train you have under your command." So Arjuna arrayed all his forces in the best order, each rank by itself, so that every man might keep his proper place; and no one in that quarter had ever before seen so fine an army in such an imposing array. And all the men and women of Hastinapur had come out of the city in

the army.

Rejoicings of people.

INDIA. PART II.

their gayest attire; and all the artists and tradesmen carried HISTORY OF specimens of their best productions and commodities with them. And in this manner Arjuna entered the city in all pomp and grandeur; and all the Rajas who were with him also put their forces in the best order, and all the troops were covered with gold and jewels; but Babhru-váhana, son of Arjuna, outshone all the others. And as they entered Garlands the city, chains and wreaths of flowers were let down upon the verandahs. their heads from the verandas, and large presents of money were scattered in handfulls, so that the poor and needy in the city became all rich from the quantity they picked up.

thrown from

brother Yud

Babhru-váhana.

In this splendid procession Arjuna moved on until he Interview be tween Arjuna entered the presence of Raja Yudhishthira, and then he and his elder went and laid his head at the Raja's feet. And Yudhishthira hishthira. wept for fulness of joy, and lifting up Arjuna's head he placed his face to that of his brother, and took him for a long time in his arms, and kissed his head and face. Arjuna then Introduction of conducted his son Babhru-váhana by the hand, and introduced him to Yudhishthira, and said :-" O Raja, this is my son: Give him, I pray you, a reception so gracious as to encourage and comfort him." The Raja then embraced Babhru-váhana and kissed his face; and Babhru-váhana, knowing that he had fought against his own father, was abashed in the presence of the Raja and his other kinsmen ; but Yudhishthira received him so kindly, that all his shame passed away. After this Arjuna introduced all the other Joy of the Rajas who had come with him, one by one; and Raja Yud- reception by hishthira gave them all so distinguished a reception, that they repented not having come from the beginning to pay their respects to the Raja, and spend their entire lives in his service.

Rajas at their

Yudhishthira.

twelve adven

horse.

The foregoing narrative of the loosening of the Review of the horse, and its subsequent adventures in strange tures of the countries, does not appear to call for much remark. The story of the young Prince who had a thousand Oriental idea of girl wives, all exactly sixteen years of age, and all sporting together with their husband in a beautiful

happiness.

INDIA. PART II.

Moral lesson

involved in the

obedient wife.

tion of a bad wife.

HISTORY OF garden, is a curious exaggeration of the Oriental idea of happiness, in which women are regarded as objects of desire rather than as objects of affection. The story of the woman who was transformed into fable of the dis- a rock for disobedience to her husband is of course intended as a lesson and a warning; and certainly the enormities committed by the refractory lady were the acme of wickedness, according to the ideas Hindú concep- of the Brahmanical period. She had declared that she would never obey her husband; she had refused to perform the household duties; she had expressed a desire to be without children; she had broken a pitcher of water that her husband had called for; and above all, she had left him in the night time and gone out of the house. These crimes were bad enough, and indeed reduced her husband to a skeleton, but that there was yet one further sin which she committed which was unpardonable. A wise old Rishi had counselled her husband to command her not to do whatever he desired to have done; and for a brief interval her contumacious proceedings appeared like a brilliant fulfilment of duty. She feasted the Bráhmans; she prepared the necessary cakes and viands for the souls of her husband's ancestors; and she provided new and clean clothes for her husband to wear at the entertainment. But in one unhappy moment her husband forgot his cue. Crowning sin of In the joy of his heart he desired her to throw the mains of conse- remains of the consecrated victuals into the Ganges, according to the law; upon which she threw them, out of sheer contradiction, into a place where they were devoured by hogs. Her husband being a Bráhman, could not endure so grievous an offence; and accordingly cursed her into becoming a rock

giving the re

crated victuals to the hogs.