03.043
Pancharatra: Matali takes Arjuna towards Amaravati, the capital of Indra.
Vaiśampāyana said.
When the guardians of the worlds had left, Pārtha, the destroyer of enemies, pondered, O king, about the arrival of the chariot of the king of the gods (Indra). (3-43-1)
Then, as the wise Guḍākeśa was reflecting, the magnificent chariot, with Mātali as its charioteer, arrived. (3-43-2)
He made the sky free from darkness, as if tearing apart the clouds, and filled all directions with sounds like the roar of great clouds. (3-43-3)
There were swords, spears, terrible maces of fierce appearance, weapons of divine power, javelins, and lightnings, all of great radiance. (3-43-4)
Likewise, there were thunderbolts equipped with wheels, rumbling; blasts of wind with thunderclaps, sounding like mighty clouds. (3-43-5)
There, serpents of great size with blazing mouths, very fierce, clustered together like peaks of white clouds and like stones. (3-43-6)
Ten thousand horses of wind-speed steeds draw that eye-removing, divine, magical chariot. (3-43-7)
There he saw the great dark-blue Vaijayanta, a very radiant banner, with a pole dark as a blue lotus and adorned with gold. (3-43-8)
Seeing the charioteer standing in that chariot, adorned with refined gold, Pārtha, the mighty-armed, inferred that he was indeed a god. (3-43-9)
Thus, while Phalguna was reasoning, then Mātali, having become bowed and respectful, spoke words to Arjuna. (3-43-10)
O son of Śakra, Śakra, who is prosperous, wishes to see you. Please quickly ascend Indra's approved chariot. (3-43-11)
The best among immortals, your father Indra, said to me: "Let the residents of the gods' abode see Kunti's son who has arrived here." (3-43-12)
This Śakra (Indra), surrounded by the gods, sages, Gandharvas, and Apsarases, is waiting here, wishing to see you. (3-43-13)
From this world, ascend to the divine world from the rule of Indra; together with me, having obtained weapons, you will return again. (3-43-14)
Arjuna said.
O Mātali, go quickly and ascend the best chariot, which is very difficult to obtain even by performing hundreds of Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifices. (3-43-15)
The best chariot could not be ascended even by kings of great fortune, by sacrificers who give many gifts, by gods, or by demons. (3-43-16)
This divine great chariot cannot be seen, touched, or mounted by anyone whose austerity is not intense; how much less by others. (3-43-17)
O noble one, when you are firmly established on the steady-horsed chariot, then afterwards I, the virtuous one, will mount and proceed on the right path as is proper. (3-43-18)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Hearing those words, Mātali, the charioteer of Śakra, quickly ascended the chariot, yoked the horses, and fastened them with reins. (3-43-19)
Then Arjuna, his mind delighted, having bathed and purified himself in the Ganga, recited the mantra as prescribed, O son of Kunti, delight of the Kurus. (3-43-20)
Then, having duly satisfied the ancestors as prescribed, he began to take leave of Mandara, the king of mountains. (3-43-21)
O mountain, you are always the refuge for the virtuous, the righteous, the sages, and those who perform meritorious deeds, for all who desire the path to heaven. (3-43-22)
By your grace, O mountain, Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, and Vaiśyas have always attained heaven and move about there with the gods, free from suffering. (3-43-23)
O king of mountains, great rock, refuge of sages, and abode of holy places, I now depart, taking leave of you, having dwelt happily with you. (3-43-24)
I have seen your mountain-tops, thickets, rivers, springs, and very holy fords many times. (3-43-25)
Having thus spoken, Arjuna, the destroyer of enemy heroes, addressed the mountain and ascended his divine chariot, shining like the sun. (3-43-26)
He, assuming that sun-like, divine and wondrous form, joyfully and wisely stepped upwards, O delight of the Kurus. (3-43-27)
He traversed the invisible path of mortals who walk the earth and saw thousands of aerial vehicles of marvelous forms. (3-43-28)
There, neither the sun nor the moon nor fire shines; by its own radiance, attained through merit, it shines there. (3-43-29)
The star-like forms that are seen here, though luminous like lamps, appear minute due to their remoteness, even though they are actually very large. (3-43-30)
There, the son of Pāṇḍu saw those shining and beautiful seats, radiant with their own brilliance, in his own places. (3-43-31)
There, royal sages, perfected beings, heroes, and those slain in battle, as well as those who have conquered heaven through austerity, have gathered there in hundreds of groups. (3-43-32)
There were thousands of Gandharvas whose brilliance was like that of the sun and fire; similarly, there were groups of Guhyakas, sages, and Apsarases. (3-43-33)
Beholding the self-luminous worlds, Arjuna, filled with wonder, affectionately asked Mātali; and he too replied to him. (3-43-34)
O Pārtha, these virtuous ones are established in their own seats; the star-like forms you have seen on the earth, O mighty one, are them. (3-43-35)
Then he saw, standing at the gate, the white, victorious elephant Airavata, four-tusked and resembling Mount Kailāsa with its peak. (3-43-36)
Having ascended the perfected path, the best among the Kurus and Pāṇḍavas shone just as Māndhātā, the foremost of kings, did in former times. (3-43-37)
The lotus-eyed one crossed beyond the worlds of kings. Then he saw Śakra's city, Amarāvatī. (3-43-38)
