The Mongoose tale is missing

The tale of the golden mongoose is missing here in the version of Kasidas. I looked through many versions of the Bengali books, assuming that the printer may have omitted the part by mistake, but I did not find that.

The tale occurs towards the end of the version of Vyasa.

Below is the tale.

When the great sacrifice was over, gifts were given to all assembled. Flowers rained from the sky. Suddenly a mongoose came there. One side of its body had turned to gold. It started rolling on the ground. Then, in a loud voice it said to Yudhistira, Your sacrifice is not equal to the sacrifice of the poor brahmin who offered me powdered flour.
Yudhistira started worndering. He asked - Who are you? What do you know about sacrifices and their significance? Ones who were to be worshiped were given their due respect. No one was disregarded. Proper offerings were made in the fire . You seem to be wise. Your body is half gold. Please xplain what you mean.
The mongoose said -  I have not said anything which is false.  Let me tell you what happened to me and how my body became part gold. This happened in the house of a poor brahman who lives in Kurukshetra.  The brahmin lives in Kurukshetra with his wife, son and daughter-in-law. He used to have a meal at the end of the day. If there was nothing to eat, the family would fast. Once there was a famine. The brahman had nothing to eat at home. All crops had dried up. When the time for eating came, there was nothing to eat. It was the month of June and the sun was beating down on all. Somehow the brahman managed to get a few handfuls of flour. As soon as they were about to sit, a guest came. Seeing this person, the brahman gladly gave a portion of the flour to the guest. The guest was not satisfied. The brahman's wife gave her portion. Still not satisfied, the son then gave his portion to the guest. Similarly, the daughter in law also gave her portion.
The guest then took the form of Dharma and said he was pleased with the brahman's sacrifice and wanted to take him and his family to heaven with him.
I had been listening to the conversation. As soon as the family had left, I sniffed the flour lying on the flour, which was mixed with water and had flowers on it, which had rained from heaven. Half my body turned to gold.
Hearing of your sacrifice, I have come to convert the rest of my body to gold. That is why I said your sacrifice does not compare with the sacrifice of the brahman.
Saying this, the mongoose left.

Ending this tale, Vaishampayana said to Janmajeya - Do not ever pride in yourself. Do not harm anyone. Be content with what you have. Conduct yourself well. Be sincere.

Janmajeya asked - Please tell me who was this mongoose with a human voice?

The sage said - Once the sage Jamadagni started a sacrifice. His cow came to him, the sage milked the cow himself. He kept the milk in a vessel. The God Dharma, entered the vessel of milk. He spoiled the milk and wanted to see what would the reaction of the sage. Jamadagni knew he was being provoked. He did not budge. The Anger then took form of a woman and came before him. She said - O sage, I have been defeated by you.

The anger then took the form of a mongoose and approached Yudhistira. By having displeased Yudhistira, who was none other than Dharma, the mongoose lost its power and went back where it came from.

The horse returns home

After having traveled around, the horse returned back to Hastinapura.
Yudhistira was given the news that Arjuna had returned back with the horse. Yudhistira asked the messenger to bring Arjuna near him.
Arjuna and Krishna went and bowed down to Yudhistira. Arjuna then bowed down to the sages who had arrived there. He then sat near Yudhistira and told him about his travels.
That day was spent in conversations.
The next day, Yudhistira took his seat in the sacrificial chamber. Dhritarashtra and Vidura sat next to him along with Arjuna. The kings who had come with Arjuna came and bowed down to Yudhistira.

The women along with Pramila all took there places near Gandhari.

Vyasa then asked Yudhistira to get the horse. He asked him to tell Bhima to take a bath and come there. Yudhistira did that, and Bhima came there, after having had his bath. Then horse was then bathed with the waters collected from many holy rivers.
Vyasa then asked Yudhistira to garland the horse. After that Vyasa asked Bhima to pick up a sword and cut off the head of the horse.
The moment Bhima did that, the head of the horse rose towards the sky. Instead of blood, milk began flowing from the body of the horse.
Mayurdhwaja, who had also come with his horse, completed his horse sacrifice there.

After the sacrifice, Krishna took permission from Yudhistira to leave for his kingdom. Along with Rukmini and Devaki, Krishna's mother, Krishna then left for Dwaraka. 

In the kingdom of Sindhu

The horse after this, traveled northwards. It went and entered the northern sea and went inside the water.
Seeing this, Arjuna asked Krishna, how will I get the horse back?
Krishna said I will enter the water and get the horse.
While all stayed on the bank, Krishna with Arjuna and Babruvahan entered the water. There was a small island on the water where a sage was sitting. Krishna and the others went to that island. The sage was sitting on the island with banyan leaves on his head. Krishna asked the sage why he was sitting there with the leaves on his head. Why had he not constructed a hut there?
The sage said He was not immortal so what was the use of constructing something which he would have to leave one day.
He then asked where the three were going? Arjuna said he was trying to find the sacrificial horse.
The sage said What was the use of the sacrifice when Krishna was with them.
Saying this, the sage started singing praises of Krishna. The horse also arrived there.
Taking the horse, they thanked the sage and left.

The horse then entered the kingdom of Sindhu that was ruled by Manibhadra, son of Jayadratha and Dushala.
Manibhadra greeted Arjuna and Arjuna

Arjuna asked Dushala and Manibhadra to go to Hastinapura and attend the horse sacrifice. 

Chandrahamsa

Vaishampayana continued -
The horse then the kingdom of Kaundnya which was ruled by the king Chandrahamsa. Hearing that the horse had entered his kingdom, the king had the horse captured. He felt that Krishna and Arjuna would come to free the horse and thereby he would get to see Krishna.
Arjuna heard about this and also heard that no one could enter the kingdom without the king's permission. Arjuna was worried when Narada appeared there. Arjuna bowed to the sage and asked him where the horse was.
Narada said - This kingdom is ruled by a devotee of Vishnu called Chandrahamsa. He has two valiant sons Makaraksha and Padmaksha. Chandrahamsa is a great king. Earlier the kingdom was ruled by a king called Dadhimukha. The king was childless and decided to hold a sacrifice to have a child. After many years, a son was born to him. The king, happy gave away a lot of wealth and gifts to all. The next day, the kingdom was attacked and the king was killed. At the funeral pyre of the king, the queen also jumped and burned herself to death. The child  was only three days old. He was brought up by a wet nurse. After some time, the nurse too died of dysentery. The child was then taken away by his maternal grandparents and brought up.
The child began growing up there and was named Chandrahamsa. He was a very handsome and good looking boy.
Dhristabuddhi was an evil minister in the kingdom. He gave poison to the king and killed him, and then over the kingdom. He was not aware of Chandrahamsa. He used to recite the Puranas.  Chandrahamsa with other people started going and listening to the Puranas and developed the love for God. People wondered who he was. A priest looked at him and said he looks and noble and will be the future king of Kaundnya. Dhristabuddhi said I have no idea who this is, how can you say such things about him. The priest said that is what he felt.
Dhristabuddhi, hearing this was afraid. He decided to kill the boy. He sent for an executioner and asked him to take the boy away and kill him.
The executioner took the boy away into a forest. The boy was scared. Seeing the boy, the executioner felt sorry for him. He cut off the small toe from the boy's left foot. He then killed a dog. He then covered the toe with blood and took it to the evil minister.
There was a minister there called Kalinga. One day he went hunting in the forest. He heard a child crying and wondered who that was. He went and saw Chandrahamsa. Kalinga was childless and took CHandrahamsa along with him.
In Kalinga's house, Chandrahamsa began growing up. He became an expert in all weapons.
One day, it was the day of Ekadashi. Chandrahamsa and Kalinga and people of the house were fasting. That was also the day when gifts and tax was to be given to Dhristabuddhi. Gifts were taken and when Dhristabuddhi asked the people who had brought gifts, to take their food, they said they were fasting for Ekadhashi. The king wanted to know the reason. They said Kalinga had a son at an auspicious hour and he had started this practice.
Dhristabuddhi decided to meet Kalinga.
Seeing their king, the minister served the king and introduced him to his young son, Chandrahamsa. Seeing the young man, Dhrishtabuddhi said he does not seem to be your son. I do not think your wife gave birth to this boy. Tell me the truth.
Kalinga said he had found the boy when he went hunting and had adopted him.
Dhristrabuddhi was convinced that this was the same boy he had tried to kill and felt that the executioner had deceived him. He decided to give poison to the boy and kill him.
He wrote a letter to a friend and said to Kalinga that he needed the letter to be delivered to his son quickly and wanted Chandrahmasa to take it. Chandrahamsa agreed.
The letter said that the bearer of the letter was to be poisoned and killed.
Chandrahamsa went with the letter. He reached the palace. He was tired and decided to rest under a tree. As destiny would have it, Dhristrabuddi's daughter happened to pass by.A devout devotee of Shiva, she had come to pluck flowers for her worship when she saw Chandrahamsa resting. Seeing him, she was in love with the sleeping Chandrahamsa. She saw the letter and picked it and read the content. She recognized her father's handwriting. She did not want this handsome person to die.
She tore the letter. Using her finger nail and the kohl lining her eyes she wrote that the bearer of the letter was to be given the princess.
Keeping the letter in its place she left.
Chandrahamsa got up and went to the palace and gave the note.
Reading the note, it was followed. Gifts were given away to all.
When Dhristabuddhi heard this, he was enraged, He went and cursed his son. The son said he had followed the instructions of the letter. Dhristabuddhi wanted to see the letter. He saw the letter and kept quiet.
He called some guards and asked for their help. They were to kill the man who would be in the temple of Kali in the night.  The guards agreed and waited.
When Chandrahamsa went to Dhristabuddhi and bowed down to him, he refused to accept him. Dhristabuddhi wanted Chandrahamsa to first bow down before Kali in the night and then come and greet others.
On the way to the temple, Chandrahamsa came across the son of Dhristabuddhi. The young man asked Chandrahamsa where he was going. Chandrahamsa said he was going to worship the consort of Shiva. Madan said a newly wed needed to rest. Saying this he asked Chandrahamsa to rest while he would go and seek blessings for the newly wed. Saying this he sent Chandrahamsa away and he himself went into the temple. The guards were waiting there and seeing the prince, they killed him.
Dhristrabuddhi saw Chandrahamsa and asked him he had not gone to the temple. Chandrahamsa said he had asked to stay back by the prince, who had gone in his place.
Hearing this Dhristabuddhi rushed to the temple. He saw his son lying dead there. In shock and grief, he picked up the sacrificial sword in the temple, and killed himself with it.
The news spread. Chnadrahamsa saw his and was pained. He prayed to Durga to help him. The goddess was quiet. Chandrahamsa then decided to cut off his own head. The Goddess then appeared before him. Chandrahamsa asked for the father and the son to be revived. The Goddess agreed.
When Dristrabuddhi sat up, he realized what had happened. He hugged Chandrahamsa and declared him the king of the land.
Soon Chandrahamsa had two twin sons Makaraksha and Padmaksha.


Arjuna entered this kingdom. Chandrahamsa greeted the Pandava and Krishna with honors. The horse was returned. After staying there for two days, Arjuna resumed his journey.

Fight with Yama

Janmajeya asked the sage - Where did the horse go now? The sage said -

The horse travelled towards the kingdom of Saraswatipur. This land was ruled by a king called Veerbrahma. This is the land where the horse went, followed by Krishna and Arjuna. The king had five sons. These sons spotted the horse and captured it.
Vrishaketu went to fight first. He was followed by Babruvahan. The two fought and defeated the five princes.
The princes went and reported this to their father. Their father sent for his son-in-law, Yama, son of Surya, and asked him to go and fight.
Yama came to fight with his club, riding on his buffalo.
Seeing him, the Pandava army was scared.
Yama defeated all who came to fight him.
Finally Arjuna came and he too could stand against Yama. Arjuna went back to Krishna and asked Why had the God of Death come to fight?
Krishna said - This is an old story. The king Veerbrahma had a daughter called Malini. The king decided to arrange for a swayamvara for her but she said she wanted to marry Yama.
The king not sure what to do, sent for Narada. When Narada came, the king welcomed him by washing his feet. He then told the celestial sage about his daughter's wish.
Narada went to Yama as a mediator. Yama welcomed the sage and asked for the reason for his visit.  Narada expressed the wish of Malini and Yama agreed.
At an appropriate time, Malini was given away to Yama.
The king then asked Yama to stay with him, in his kingdom.
Yama said he would stay till Nara and Narayana came to the kingdom. After seeing them, he would leave.
The king was also very happy, hearing that the great Lord would be visiting his kingdom.

Veerbrahma, hearing off the defeat of his sons, entered the battlefield. Both Yama and Veerbrahma began fighting. Seeing this, Arjuna invoked the Vaishnava astra, Veerbrahma, seeing the weapon fled. Yama managed to control the weapon.  Hanumana, who was seated on the chariot of Arjuna, got angry seeing this. He grabbed Yama in his tail and decided to drown him in the ocean. Yama appealed to Krishna for help but Krishna asked Yama to appeal to Hanumana himself.
Yama said I know there is no one stronger than you, O son of Pawan. You burnt the city of Lanka. Please do not do the same here.
Hanumana smiled and left Yama. Yama went and bowed down to Krishna. He then asked Krishna to meet Veerbrahma. Krishna agreed.
Veerbrahma, came forward and bowed down to Krishna.

Yama then left for his abode. Giving control of the kingdom to his sons, Veerbrahma, then joined Arjuna in his journey forward.

Krishna and Arjuna as guise of brahmans

Happy at the words of his son, the king hugged him. He said Krishna has come to my land. I am blessed. Keep the horse tied till I get to serve Krishna. I am amazed at your skill. You single handed, fought and defeat the great warriors.
Saying this the king sat on his throne.
Krishna, took the guise of an old brahmin. With Arjuna as his disciple, they went to see the king.
Seeing brahmanas, the king got up and welcomed them and asked them the reason for their visit.

Krishna said - What should I tell of my grief. My name is Krishna Sharma. I had arranged for the marriage of my son to a girl here. On the day of the wedding, when I was coming here, I came across a lion. The lion wanted to eat my son. I asked the lion to eat me instead of my son. The lion said I was old and my flesh did not interest him. I then asked the lion what would he accept in lieu of my son. What the lion said I cannot tell you.
The king said - Do not hesitate and tell me.
Krishna said - The lion said If you get me a piece of the flesh of the king Mayurdhwaja, then I will leave your son.
Hearing this, the king agreed.
His family and courtiers were aghast.
Tamradhwaja said he was willing to go to the lion instead of his father.
The king said if the brahmin would accept him, he could go.
The brahmin said What the lion needs is half the flesh of the king. Will you give me that?
The king agreed.
When his queen heard this, she approached the brahmin. She said People say I am one side of the king. Please accept me.
The brahmin said The wife is the left side of her husband. I want the right side.

The king asked the brahmin to wait. He went and had a bath. He then asked Tamradhwaja to cut him into two. Tamradhwaja took a saw and touched the king;'s head and started sawing slowly The king had a tear in his eye. Seeing this, Krishna said - I will not accept something given with grief.

Saying this, Krishna and Arjuna walked out.

The king went and held the brahmin. He said the tear came from my left eye. Do not think it is because of the pain. My left side cried as it was not as fortunate as the right side.  Accept me.

Hearing this, Krishna said - I am Krishna and I came to test you. I saw the skill of your son and wanted to see you.

Saying this Krishna came into his own self. The king saw Vishnu with four hands. Krishna then touched the king and all his wounds vanished.

All bowed down to Krishna. Arjuna's horse was brought and given to him.

Krishna asked the king to come and attend the horse ceremony in Hastinapura.

Mayurdhawaja wanted to accompany Arjuna. He asked Tamradhwaja to take care of the kingdom.

All the soldiers who had fallen in the battle came back alive.

Arjuna resumed his journey.

Tamradhwaja reports to his father

Having won, Tamradhwaja went to his father. He bowed down to him and then with folded hands said I was on the banks of Narmada, guarding our horse, when another horse happened to come there. This was the horse of Yudhistira, guarded by Arjuna. We captured the horse and a fight started with the Pandava army.
Vrishaketu came to fight me but he could stand my might. Anusalva, the daitya came then. He used his skill and magic and had to concede defeat.
Yuvanashwa and his son came and were defeated. Hamsadhwaja and Neeladhwaja then came and faced defeat.
Babruvahan and Bhima also came and faced defeat. Satyaki and Pradyumna also came faced defeat.
Arjuna then came on a chariot, driven by Krishna. He too was defeated.

Mayurdhwaja, hearing this was happy and hugged his son.

Arjuna revived and battle with Tamradhwaja

Seeing Krishna, Babruvahan told him all that had happened. Krishna said if that be so, then let the ones who stole the heads, loose their own heads. Also, let the stolen heads return.
As soon as Krishna said this, the heads of the sons of Dhritarashtra fell off their necks. Ananta then brought the heads of Arjuna and Vrishaketu to Krishna. The heads were placed on the respective shoulders and the gem was put on their bodies.
Arjuna and Vrihaketu got up, at the touch of the gem. With the two revived, Krishna thanked and returned the gem to Ananta.
Krishna then said to Babruvahan that he had done nothing wrong. He had performed the duty of Kshatriya. He then told Arjuna to accept his son.
Arjuna hugged Babruvahan and praised his skill.
With the horse returned, Krishna asked Babruvahan to go along with Arjuna and guard the horse.

From the land of Manipur, the horse went to the kingdom of Ratnavati. The land was ruled a great and pious king called Mayurdhwaja. The king was also a great warrior. He had a valiant son called Tamradhwaja. The king was also performing a horse sacrifice and Tamradhwaja was guarding the horse.

Arjuna's horse happened to stray into the kingdom. Tamradhwaja saw the new horse and caught it. He asked his warriors to capture the horse and then he would face the son of Pandu.

Arjuna hearing this got ready for a fight. Vrishaketu entered the battlefield. He said This horse belongs to Yudhistira and has the blessing of Krishna. Who dared to capture this?

Tamradhwaja said Krishna blesses all who seek his protection. My father is performing the horse sacrifice and I have come to protect his horse. I see your horse which has been sent to me as a divine blessing. I will not let you take the horse away.

The battle of words became a battle of weapons. Tamradhwaja shot fifty arrows which Vrishaketu could not avoid. His chariot was broken and the charioteer was killed. Vrishaketu fought on the ground but soon fainted. Seeing this Yuvanashwa and Subeg came but they too could not stand for long.
Hamsadhwaja and Babruvahan came next but they too could not conquer Tamradhwaja. Sons of Krishna, Satyaki and Bhima came next.
Tamradhwaja cut off their weapons. All were defeated.
Seeing this, Arjuna came. Arjuna shot arrows which Tamradhwaja avoided and in turn wounded Arjuna.
Arjuna then prayed to Krishna. He said I am easily defeated great heroes but why am I not able to defeat this warrior. I need your help Krishna.
Krishna came to Arjuna and said this is because of the power of the prayer of Mayurdhwaja. Let us go and meet him. We will go as brahmanas. I will be the teacher and you will be my disciple. Leave the battle and come with me. The horse will be yours.

Tamradhwaja, having won the battle, went to inform his father.

Fetching the gem

Uloopi sent for the naga Punadrika. Babruvahan stood queitly. Chitrangada said You have created history by killing your own father. Now listen to what Uloopi says. She is trying to get a gem that will revive Arjuna. The gem is in the nether world. Go and fetch that.
Babruvahan said I am not sure if the naga Ananta knows about me. He will not hand over the gem to me. It is better that Pundarika goes. If Pundarika is not given the gem, then I will go and fight and get the gem.
Uloopi said that was the correct way of dealing with the situation. She asked Pundarika to go and get the gem.
Pundarika went and asked Ananta to give the gem to him. While Ananta was willing, he needed an approval from the naga council. He asked them for their opinion.
Dhritarashtra, an elderly naga said - The gem protects the nagas from Garuda. And it is good that Arjuna is dead. I was friends with the king Dhritarashtra and Arjuna had killed many of his people. Let Babruvahan do what he can. I am happy that Arjuna is dead.
Ananta tried to argue with Dhritarashtra but he did not agree.
Pundarika came and reported this Uloopi.
Uloopi asked Babruvahan to go and fetch the gem.
When Ananta heard that Babruvahan was coming, he went to Dhritarashtra and said - You did not give the gem. Now Babruvahan has come to forcibly take away the gem.
Dhritarashtra said he did not fear the humans and would quickly kill him.
When Babruvahan began fighting, the nagas could stand his might. Dhritarashtra fled and went to Ananta asking for help. Ananta said - You did not give the gem. Now this is the consequence of that.
Dhritarashtra realizing that there was no other way, asked Ananta to give the gem to Babruvahan.

Ananta took the gem to Babruvahan and said Please stop the fight. Please take the gem and leave.

Babruvahan withdrew his weapons and took the gem. When he was leaving, Dhritarashtra called his sons and said - I had to face defeat because of this human. Quickly go to earth and get the heads of Arjuna and Vrishaketu. Without their heads, the dead will not get revived.

Babruvahan went to Uloopi with the gem. He said he had brought the gem but what had happened to the heads of Arjuna and Vrishaketu?

Chitrangada and Uloopi broke down.
Babruvahan said all this was happening because of him, and he would kill himself.

Uloopi said only Krishna knew a way out of this.

In Hastinapura, Kunti had a dream. She saw Babruvahan kill Arjuna and Vrishaketu. She called Krishna and told him about that.

Krishna told her not to worry. He called for Garuda and asked him to appear. Climbing up on Garuda, Krishna asked to be taken to Manipur.

Arjuna and Vrishaketu die

Janmajeya asked the sage - How was the war between Arjuna and Babruvahan?
Vaisahmpayana said -
Reluctantly Chitrangada gave permission to Babruvahan to fight. This was destiny playing a game. Ganga had cursed Arjuna and it was time for the curse to bear fruit. Arjuna was destined to die in the hands of Babruvahan.
Armies got ready.
Vrishaketu came and his arrows were all cut off by Babruvahan. Babruvahan then started shooting arrows and soon the sky was covered with arrows, and it became dark. Vrishaketu's chariot was cut off. Vrishaketu attacked and struck by an arrow of Babruvahan, he fainted. Sambha seeing this attacked. He too had to leave, wounded. Satyaki and Bhima came to fight and such was the skill of Babruvahan, that Bhima had to flee. All who came to fight fled and  went to Arjuna.
Arjuna picked up his Gandiva and started for battle. Vrishaketu, having recovered, decided to accompany Arjuna.
Vrishaketu managed to cut off Babruvahan's bow. Babruvahan took another bow and Vrishaketu had to flee. Babruvahan then attacked Arjuna. Soon he managed to control Arjuna. He said - Listen Son of Indra. People call you son of Pandu. You did not think of your own birth and you insulted me. Krishna has been saving you so far. Call him here. Let me defeat the two of you and then I will go back.
Arjuna was attacked by Babruvahan. Arjuna began hearing howls of jackals. This was a bad omen. A crow came and sat on the flag staff of Arjuna's chariot. He was not sure what would be the outcome. He asked Vrishaketu to go back to Hastinapura so that someone would be there to continue the lineage of the Kurus.
Vrishaketu said he would defeat Babruvahan and then all of them would return back together.
Hearing this, Babruvahan said Son of Karna, you are coming time and again and every time you are having to flee. You think you will be able to withstand my might?
Picking up a crescent arrow, Babruvahan aimed that at Vrishaketu. Vrishaketu fell dead.

Arjuna fell on the ground, grieving for Vrishaketu.
Seeing this, Babruvahan started laughing. He said What kind of a warrior are you, who leaves a fight to cry? If you are brave, get up and face me. Call out to Krishna, whom you call to, when you are in trouble.

Arjuna silently started praying to Krishna. Krishna did not answer the prayer. Arjuna was now scared.

Babruvahan started shooting arrows at Arjuna, who was unable to avoid those. Suddenly Ganga came and whispered into Babruvahan's ears about killing Arjuna. She left a weapon with him.

Babruvahan picked up the weapon and aimed it at Arjuna. The arrow flew and struck Arjuna in his neck. His head got cut off. Arjuna fell dead.

Babruvahan, happy, went to his mother. He told her he had won the war. Chitrangada fainted. Uloopi came rushing. She sprinkled water on Chitraganda's face to revive her. Uloopi said to the revived Chitrangada - Arjuna can not die. I have a pomegranate tree in my house. I just saw it blooming. If Arjuna is dead, the tree would have been dead too.

Chitrangada wanted to see the tree with her eyes. Uloopi took her and they saw a dead pomegranate tree.  Both were shocked. They began crying.

Babruvahan realizing what he had done, was not sure how to react.

Uloopi said I suddenly remembered something. When my father, Ananta, gave me away to Arjuna, he gave me a gem called Amrita and the naga Pundarik to serve me. Let me send for Pundarik. He will go and look for the gem. The gem should be able to bring Arjuna back to life.

Chitrangada said Please hurry up. Uloopi said - Do not worry. Our husband will be with us soon.

The horse enters Manipur

Roaming further, the horse reached the kingdom of Manipur. Babruvahan, son of Arjuna and Chitrangada was the ruler there. Arjuna had married Chitrangada when he was out in exile. He had also married Uloopi, the daughter of the Nagas. Uloopi's son Ilavanta had fought valiantly in the great war and had died a hero's death. Uloopi was now staying with Chitrangada.
Babruvahan caught the horse. When he realized that the horse belonged to Arjuna, he was not sure what to do. He went to Chitrangada and asked for advice. Chitrangada asked him to take the horse to Arjuna and return it.
Babruvahan did not like this. He said This is not a duty of a Kshatriya. A Kshatriya is born to fight. I will keep the horse and challenge father to a fight and then I will give the horse back to him. I will also not tell him who I am till I fight him.
Chitrangada said Who has ever heard of a fight between a father and a son? I am asking you to take the horse back to him.
Reluctantly Babruvahan agreed. He went to greet Arjuna carrying gifts and the horse. Arjuna was seated along with the sons of Ghatotkacha and Karna, Bhima, Pradyumna, Anusalva, Hamsadhwaja, Yuvanashwa and Subeg.
Babruvahan bowed down and introduced himself. He said he had unintentionally caught the horse and wanted to return it back.
Arjuna refused to acknowledge him. He said Abhimanyu was my son. He fought and died. I will not accept this coward as my son, who fearing his life has come to return the horse.
Babruvahan got and said - Please forgive but listen to my words. I am not an illegitimate son of yours. If you refuse to acknowledge me, then what about Karna who was born before Kunti's marriage? Also, how are you are a son of Pandu when you five brothers have five different fathers? Do not think I have come to you, fearing you. I came only because my mother told me to. I will show you who I am.
Saying this Babruvahan asked his men to tie the horse and take it inside.

A war was declared between Arjuna and Babruvahan.

Chitrangada heard of this and sent for her son. She asked why he was doing this. Babruvahan said he had been insulted by Arjuna and would take revenge. 

In the land of Pramila

The horse moving around, landed in a kingdom that was ruled by women. The land was ruled by a queen called Pramila. The women warriors seeing the horse, captured it.
Arjuna was in a fix. This was a land where he was not seeing a single man. Everywhere he looked, he saw only women. If it came to a war, how would he fight women?
Pradyumna asked Arjuna to go and talk to the queen. Arjuna agreed and they decided to meet Pramila.
Seeing the warriors, women came rushing with their bows. Arjuna said he wanted to meet the queen.
Pramila was informed about the arrival of Arjuna. Decking herself, she came to see Arjuna. She carried a golden plate with flowers and holy water in it. She greeted Arjuna with the flowers and the water and welcomed him.
Both sat down to talk. Arjuna asked why there were no men in the kingdom.
Pramila said - Once there was a great king called Dilip. I am his daughter. One day my father went hunting. I went along with him. A small army had also accompanied us. Parvati was roaming in the same forest with Shiva. My father happened to see Parvati with Shiva. Parvati was shocked and cursed all to become women. Since that day no man comes here. I have your horse with me. Marry me and take me away from here, along with the horse.
Arjuna said Yudhistira is currently in the sacrifice and it my duty to protect him. I promise to marry you once the sacrifice is over. Till then, please go to Hastinapura and wait for me there.

Pramila agreed. The horse was freed and Pramila left for Hastinapura.

From there, Arjuna followed the horse. The horse landed in the land of Vriksha. This was ruled by a rakshasa called Bhishan. He had many followers living there. He had pleased Shiva and Durga with his worship. In the morning, the plants bloomed with flowers. In the evening the flowers changed into humans which became meals for the rakshasas. Because of this, the land was called Vriksha,

The horse came here. Seeing the army following the horse, Bhishan was informed about the entry of humans in his land.  Bhishan gave orders for a sacrifice to be conducted where he would kill and sacrifice all the humans who had come, and then feast on their meat.
He then asked a female attendant, Lambodari, to take the shape of humans, mix with the army and find out who they were.
Lambodari went inside the army and then came back. She told Bhishan that Arjuna had come. Along with him was the son of Ghatotkacha, son of Karna and Hanumana was there, sitting on Arjuna's chariot.
Bhishan, who happened to be the son of Bakasura, was happy. He would be able to avenge his father's death by killing Arjuna.

A fight broke out among the armies. In the fight that followed, Arjuna killed Bhishan, and then freeing the horse, resumed his journey.

Horse becomes a tiger

After this, the horse roamed and entered a forest. There was a beautiful lake there and many flowers were blooming. The horse, thirsty, bent down to drink water from the lake. The moment it touched the water, its gender changed and it became a mare. The mare then went forth. It saw another lake. When it touched the water of that lake, it changed into a tiger.
Arjuna was stunned. First a mare and then a tiger. He looked at Krishna. Krishna said Do not worry. There is a sage nearby. Talk to him. He will tell you about this and will be able to give a solution.
Arjuna and Krishna went to the sage and bowed down to m. Krishna told the sage the reason for their visit. The sage said -
Parvati had prayed on the banks of this lake to get Shiva. She was lost in her meditation, when a daitya came there. Seeing Parvati's beauty, the daitya wanted to capture her. He went and grabbed her. With her meditation broken, Pravti cursed the daitya saying if a male came there he would get transformed into a woman.
Krishna said Why the mare then become a tiger?
The said said - There was a sage called Mitrasen. One day the sage came home after meditating for days in the forest. A daitya saw the sage and grabbed him, when the sage was having a bath. The sage put a curse. He said who ever touched the water will become a tiger.
Saying this, the sage said the curse will be lifted if you touch the tiger.
Krishna said he would do that. He touched the tiger, who got transformed into its original form.

Krishna then said he would proceed for Hastinapura else Yudhistira would be worried. Saying this, Krishna left and Arjuna continued his journey.

Hamsadhwaja sees Krishna

Suratha started fighting. Pradyumna and Vrishaketu came to fight and had to flee. Yuvanashwa and his son Subeg also could not stand the fight and had to flee.
Arjuna asked Krishna - Who is this who has come to fight?
Krishna said This is Suratha, son of Hamsadhwaja. He is great warrior and no one is equal to him in battle.
Arjuna asked Krishna to take the chariot near him.
Suratha said he would make Arjuna flee. Arjuna hearing this showered arrows which were cut off. Suratha tried to pick the chariot and throw it away but Krishna pressed the chariot hard, and Suratha could not move it.
Arjuna with a sharp arrow cut off the head of Suratha. Attendants of Shiva came and took the head away.
When Hamsadhwaja heard of the death of his sons, he broke down. His counselors tried to console him. The king said he wanted to see Krishna. His counselors asked to go to battle. There they would see Krishna and Arjuna. The king taking the horse, went to meet Krishna.
A messenger came and gave the news. Krishna asked Arjuna to drop his weapons. The king came and saw Krishna. He got off his chariot and bowed down before Krishna. Krishna hugged the king. The king then greeted Arjuna and gave the horse back to Arjuna. The king said he had caught the horse to have a glimpse of Krishna. His wish was now fulfilled. He asked Arjuna to stay the night in his kingdom.
The next day Arjuna left with the horse and Hamsadhawaja joined him.

Head of Sudhanwa

Arjuna hurled a rock which Sudhanwa cut off.
Arjuna then picked up three arrows and adjusted them on his bow. He said I will kill you with these.
Sudhanwa said I do not fear death. I wished to die after seeing Krishna and now that I have seen Krishna, death can take me away. I will perform my duty as a Kshatriya and fight you. I will cut off all your arrows.
Seeing Sudhanwa's pride, Arjuna hurled the thee arrows. Seeing the arrows, Sudhanwa started taking the name of Krishna. The arrows touched Sudhanwa , who cut them into two and they fell on the ground. Arjuna felt insulted. Suddenly the cut arrows rose from the ground and aimed themselves towards Sudhanwa. The broken arrows pierced Sudhanwa who fell dead. One of the arrows cut off Sudhawa's head. The cut head began taking the name of Krishna. The soul of Sudhanwa merged with Krishna. It fell on Krishna's feet. Krishna lifted the head in his hands. Krishna the called out to Garuda. Garuda appeared there. Krishna asked Garuda to place the head in Prayaga.
Shiva saw this. He asked his bull to go behind Garuda and stop him from throwing the head in the waters of Prayaga. Durga seeing this said Do not send your bull. He will fail, Garuda is doing what Krishna has asked him to do.
Shiva got angry and asked the bull to proceed.
The bull approached Garuda and said Shiva wanted Sudhanwa's head.
Garuda said he had come on Krishna's orders and will not be able to give the head.
The two started quarreling and soon began fighting. Garuda lifted the bull and hurled him. The bull went and fell near Shiva. Seeing Durga said I told you this would happen.
Shiva sent for Nandi. He asked him to get the head from Garuda and bring that. He also gave his trident to Nandi.
Garuda saw Nandi coming with Shiva's trident. He hurled the head in the waters. Nandi caught the head and brought it to Shiva.

Back home, Hamsadhwaja was wondering what had happened to his son. Suratha, the other son, said I will get Krishna for you.

Saying this, he started getting ready to fight. 

Sudhanwa begins his fight

The king asked the people who had put his son in the oil, if they had anointed any special lotion on him, to save him from burning. The people denied and said it was Narayana who had saved him. Sudhanwa had been praying to Narayana before he entered the cauldron and Narayana had thus saved His devotee.
Sudhanwa climbed out of the cauldron. The priest said Sudhanwa a great devotee and he could win the war with Arjuna.

The war started. Sudhanwa was a fierce warrior and no one was able to face him. Vrishaketu came to fight. All his arrows were cut off and Vrishaketu fainted. Sudhanwa then started fighting with Pradyumna. Regaining consciousness, Vrishaketu started fighting again. Sudhanwa cut off the flag staff of Vrishaketu and his charioteer. He then started showering arrows which Vrishaketu could not stand and then had to flee. Pradyumna came to fight and was badly wounded. Kritavarma came to fight and had to flee. Seeing this Anusalva came and started throwing rocks at Sudhanwa. Sudhanwa cut those off. Anusalva, not able to bear the weapons, fainted. Yuvanashwa and his son came next and had to flee. Satyaki came and he too had to flee. Seeing this, Arjuna came to fight.

Sudhanwa seeing Arjuna said - Where is Krishna, who was your charioteer? Why is he not with you? All your battles and wars have been won with Krishna's help. Without Him you will not be able to win the battle with me. If you want to fight me, then make Krishna your charioteer.

In anger, Arjuna started shooting arrows at Sudhanwa. The sky became dark with arrows from both warriors. Sudhanwa then cut the head of Arjuna's charioteer, thinking that Krishna would come to help Arjuna. Arjuna then tried to control the reins of the chariot and fight but he was not able to continue this for long. He then thought of Krishna.

Sudhanwa suddenly saw Krishna come and take control of the chariot. He bowed down to Krishna. He said Glory to Arjuna on whose one word Krishna comes, and to see whom yogis have to pray for ages.

Both restarted their fight. Arjuna cut off Sudhanwa's arrows. Sudhanwa shot a divine arrow at Arjuna. It wounded Arjuna. Arjuna fell on Krishna who caressed Arjuna's body with his lotus hands. Arjuna then shot an arrow, and Sudhanwa's chariot went miles away. Sudhanwa returned and began fighting. 

Sudhanwa thrown in hot oil

Sudhanwa came near the cauldron. He took the name of Krishna and was put in the vessel.
Cries broke out. Sudhanwa's mother began crying. Hamsadhwaja, who had managed to bring the priest back, fell on the ground, in grief.
Narayana saved him and people saw him sitting in the hot oil, unharmed.
The king and the queen were amazed to see this and so were all the people who had gathered there. 

In the kingdom of Hamsadhawaja

The kingdom where the horse was grabbed by the rock belonged to the king Hamsadhwaja. He was a righteous king. He had two sons Surath and Sudhanwa.
The king got the message that the Yudhistira's horse had come to his kingdom and Arjuna had come with the horse.The king was pleased that a son of Pandu had come to his kingdom. He thought Krishna would be Arjuna and he would get to see Krishna. He gave orders for the horse to be caught.
He also gave orders for Arjuna to be caught. If Arjuna was caught, Krishna would follow, and the king's wish of seeing Krishna would be fulfilled.
A huge copper cauldron was got and was filled with oil. It was heated up. The king then said his soldiers needs to go and fight Arjuna. If they refused they were to be thrown in the hot oil.
The king's son Sudhanwa started preparing himself for war. Hearing this, his wife wanted to know where he was going. When she heard this, she asked him to stay the night with her. She said she wanted a son and wanted her husband for that. She was fine with him leaving in the morning. Sudhanwa said he was going to fight so that he could get to see Krishna. If Krishna came, all prosperity would follow.
His queen persisted and then Sudhanwa said if he stayed back with her, his father would throw him the hot oil.  His wife managed to convince him. Sudhanwa took off his armor and climbed up on the cot with his wife. Pleasing his wife, he got ready and started for battle.His sister and mother came and blessed him and asked him to go fast and get Arjuna, so that they would get to see Krishna.
The army had already gathered and Sudhanwa was not there. Angry, the king gave orders for Sudhanwa to be thrown in the hot oil. Sudhanwa then came and the king angry said, what was the point in coming now.All had come except his son. Sudhanwa said he would start immediately.
Prabhavati, Sudhanwa's wife, came there and said it was because of her that he had got delayed.
The king was furious. He said you gave priority to passion over your duty as Kshatriya. Turning to his priest, he asked what was to be done.
The priest said you said you will stick to your word and now are bending. I will not stay in your kingdom anymore. Saying this, the priest left.
Hamsadhwaja said he would go behind the priest and get him back. He gave orders for his son to be thrown in the oil.
Hearing this, Sudhanwa said he would end his life in the hot oil. He said he had one regret that he would be seeing Krishna.

Chandi becomes a rock

Janmajeya asked the sage - Why did the brahmin woman get cursed? The sage said -
There was a sage called Uddalaka. He had a wife called Chandi. Chandi was a stubborn woman who refused to listen to anything her husband said.
One day Uddalaka asked his wife to fetch his water pot for worship. Chandi refused to listen.

One day a sage came to visit Uddalaka along with his disciples. Uddalaka asked Chandi not to welcome the sage and not give them any food. Hearing this, and acting opposite of what her husband said, Chandi welcomed the sage and his disciples and offered them food.

It was the date when Uddalaka was to perform worship for his departed ancestors. The sage who had come visiting, asked Chandi to make arrangements. Chandi refused. Angry the sage cursed her to become a rock. When Chandi wanted to know when she would be relieved, the sage said when Arjuna came chasing his horse and touched the rock, the curse would be gone.

She remained as a rock till Arjuna touched her.

Rock grabs the Horse

Janmajeya asked the sage - Why did Lakshmi curse the Earth? The sage said -
The earth was jealous of the fact that Lakshmi was very much in love with Vishnu. She said she knew that Lakshmi was devoted to Vishnu and she would try and separate the two.
Hearing this Lakshmi cursed the earth to be born as Swaha, the daughter of Jana.
Earth then said Narayana will be born on earth and you will then be separated from him, while I will enjoy his company.

Hearing this, Janmajeya said, Where did the horse go after that?
The sage said -

The horse moved south and came into a forest. There was a huge rock of the way. The horse stood and rubbed its body on the rock. The moment he did so, the rock grabbed the horse. The horse was unable to free itself.

All were wondering how to free the horse. Pradyumna said to Arjuna - In this forest, I see a sage. Let us approach him and see if he can help us.

The sage was teaching Vedas to his disciples when the warriors approached him. Pradyumna and Arjuna apporached the sage and bowed down to him. They explained their situation to him.

The sage said to Arjuna - You are a great devotee of Krishna, and in this time why do you not take His name? The rock is a brahmin woman, Chandi,  who has been cursed. Take Krishna's name and touch the rock. The horse will be released.

The moment Arjuna touched the rock with his two hands, the rock changed into a woman. The woman, released from her curse, went off to her house and the horse was free.