14.082
Arjuna said.
O delight of the Kaurava family, what is your purpose for coming? Similarly, what about the mother of the lord of Manipura, and in the same way, on the battlefield? (14-82-1)
O daughter of the serpent, are you wishing well for the king, or, O restless-eyed one, do you wish good for me? (14-82-2)
Surely, O broad-hipped and auspicious-faced one, I have not done anything unpleasant to you out of ignorance, or has Babhruvahana (done so)? (14-82-3)
May your co-wife the princess Caitravāhinī, Citrāṅgadā of beautiful form, not be committing any offense in any way. (14-82-4)
Then, smiling, the daughter of the lord of serpents said to him: "Neither you nor King Babhruvāhana have done me any wrong, nor is this woman, who stands here like a servant, my mother." (14-82-5)
Hear from me exactly all that I have done. You should not be angry with me; with my head bowed, I beg you for pardon. (14-82-6)
Indeed, O Kauravya, I have done this for your pleasure, O sinless one. Hear in full what it is, O mighty-armed Dhananjaya. (14-82-7)
O Pārtha, in the Mahābhārata war, the king, the son of Śāntanu, whom you killed unjustly—this is the atonement that has been performed for him. (14-82-8)
Bhishma was not slain by you, O hero, while he was fighting, but being engaged by Shikhandin and relying on him, he was killed by you. (14-82-9)
But if you, not having made peace with him, should abandon your life, by that sinful act you will certainly fall into hell. (14-82-10)
But this peace, established in respect to your son and others, you have obtained—with treasures, O protector of the earth, and through the Ganga, O great-minded one. (14-82-11)
Long ago, as I have indeed heard, this was related by the Vasus—told by me upon coming to the bank of Gaṅgā, after the king Śāntanu's son was slain. (14-82-12)
Having bathed, the gods and the Vasus, having gathered together in the great river, then spoke these terrible words in the presence of Bhāgīrathī. (14-82-13)
O spirited one, this Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, was slain in battle by Savyasācin (Arjuna) while he was not fighting and was engaged with another. (14-82-14)
O auspicious one, let us also bind Arjuna with a curse through this attachment; thus, "so be it," she said. (14-82-15)
So, I reported it to my father, being greatly disturbed in my senses. I was overcome, and he, on hearing that, fell into utmost despondency. (14-82-16)
But my father, having gone to the Vasus for your sake, requested them. Again and again propitiating them, they said this to him. (14-82-17)
Again, the most fortunate young lord of Maṇipura will cause him, standing in the middle of battle, to fall to the ground with arrows. (14-82-18)
Thus, when this was done, that serpent lord would be freed from the curse. He was told "Go" by the Vasus, and he also narrated this to me. (14-82-19)
Having heard that, you have been released by me from that curse. Indeed, not even the king of the gods could defeat you in battle. (14-82-20)
The self is regarded as the son; therefore, by him you are defeated here. In my opinion, there is no fault here. How do you think, O lord? (14-82-21)
Thus, when addressed in this way, Vijaya, with a cheerful mind, said: "O goddess, everything that you have done is most pleasing to me." (14-82-22)
Having thus spoken, then Jaya (Arjuna) addressed his son, the lord of Maṇipura, while Citrāṅgadā, the daughter of Kauravya, likewise listened. (14-82-23)
Yudhiṣṭhira's horse sacrifice, which is the highest, will take place during the month of Caitra. There, O king, you should come together with your ministers and both your mothers. (14-82-24)
Having been addressed thus by Pārtha, the wise king Babhruvāhana, with tear-filled eyes, spoke these words to his father. (14-82-25)
By your command, O knower of dharma, I will come to serve the twice-born as the food server during the great sacrifice, the Aśvamedha. (14-82-26)
Śatrughna, for my sake, enter your own city with your two wives; do not have any hesitation here. (14-82-27)
O master, after you have spent the night here, free of wounds, comfortably in your own home, you will once again pursue the horses, O best among the victorious. (14-82-28)
Thus addressed by his son, Arjuna, whose banner bore the monkey, smiled and then Kaunteya (Arjuna) spoke to Citrāṅgadā’s son. (14-82-29)
O mighty-armed, as you know, since I am observing the vow of initiation, I shall not enter your city for so long, O wide-eyed one. (14-82-30)
This sacrificial horse goes as he pleases; may all be well with you—now I shall depart, for there is no place for me. (14-82-31)
There, he, the foremost of the Bharatas, having been honored by the proper procedure as the lord of the kitchen (Agni), and having been permitted by his two wives, departed. (14-82-32)
