03.172
Vaiśampāyana said;
When that night had passed and dawn had come, Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira arose and, together with his brothers, completed the necessary tasks. (03-172-1)
Then he urged Arjuna, the delight of his brothers: "Show the weapons, O son of Kunti, by which you conquered the Danavas." (03-172-2)
Then Dhananjaya, son of Pandu, O king, showed those divine weapons given by the gods, O Bharata. (03-172-3)
Dhananjaya (Arjuna), possessing great energy and supreme purity as is proper, having mounted the royal chariot with decorations of mountain caves, tree branches, auspicious bamboo, and three-jointed reeds, shone brightly. (03-172-4)
Then, well-protected by that splendid armor, he took up the Gandiva bow, the Devadatta conch, and the lotus. (03-172-5)
Kunti’s son, the mighty-armed one, shining forth, began to display those divine weapons one by one for all to see. (03-172-6)
Then, as he wielded the divine weapons, the earth, along with her trees, trembled as it was traversed by his feet. (03-172-7)
The rivers were agitated, and likewise the great ocean; the mountains were also shattered, and the wind did not blow. (03-172-8)
The Sun did not shine, fire did not blaze, and the Vedas did not appear at all to the twice-born (brahmins, etc.). (03-172-9)
O Janamejaya, the living beings who had gone beneath the earth, being afflicted, rose up and surrounded the son of Pāṇḍu. (03-172-10)
Trembling, with folded hands and faces covered, all of them, being scorched by those weapons, begged Dhanañjaya (Arjuna). (03-172-11)
Then the Brahmarshis, Siddhas, divine sages, and all moving beings and creatures stood there. (03-172-12)
Royal sages and the foremost lords, likewise the gods; Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Gandharvas, and likewise the winged beings (birds). (03-172-13)
Then Brahmā, the guardians of the worlds in all directions, and the illustrious Mahādeva with his attendants approached at that time. (03-172-14)
Then the Wind, O great king, covered the Pāṇḍavas all around on every side with divinely fragrant and varied garlands. (03-172-15)
The Gandharvas, inspired by the gods, sang various songs, and, O King, the groups of Apsarases danced together. (03-172-16)
But at that tumultuous time, Nārada, urged by the gods, approached and spoke these words for Arjuna to hear, O king. (03-172-17)
Arjuna, Arjuna, do not employ the divine weapons, O Bhārata. These are never to be used without proper cause. (03-172-18)
O delight of the Kurus, one in distress should never use weapons except for their proper application; for in improper use, there is indeed a very great fault. (03-172-19)
O Dhananjaya, if these are protected according to established custom, they will surely become strong and worthy of happiness; there is no doubt about it. (03-172-20)
O son of Pāṇḍu, these things, if left unprotected, bring about the destruction even of the three worlds; therefore, never act thus again at any time. (03-172-21)
O Ajātaśatru, you will see those (weapons/actions) being employed by Arjuna in battle for the destruction of the enemies. (03-172-22)
Then, having restrained Pārtha, all the gods departed as they had come; and the others who had gathered there also went, O best of men. (03-172-23)
O Kauravya, after all those (visitors) had departed, the Pāṇḍavas remained joyfully in that very forest with Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī). (03-172-24)
