Indra and Yama trick Yudhistira

Traveling north, Yudhistira reached the mountain of Gandhamadana. Here he saw a wonderful linga of Shiva. Yudhistira bowed down and offered his prayers.
While he was happy to see the Shiva Linga, he was also sad that he would have to go on, alone. He sat there, weeping for Draupadi and his brothers. When he was sitting there, some Gandharva women came there. They said to Yudhistira - This is the second heaven. There is no place for sorrow here.
Yudhistira said We were six when we started, but now only I am there. The others have perished in the cold. I cry as I will not see them again.
The women said - Do not grieve. They have gone to heaven before you. You will meet them when you go to heaven. It is because of your good deeds that you have come so far. No ordinary person can come this far. If you wish, you can stay and rule here on the mountain.
Yudhistira said Krishna calls me and I am going on my way, towards him.
Going forward, Yudhistira came across the kingdom of the kinnaras. The kingdom was ruled by women. They asked Yudhistira to stay and rule there, but Yudhistira refused.Carrying on, Yudhistira came to a place which had many Shiva Lingas. Many women came to worship Shiva there. They were wearing white dresses and had garlands made of lotus on their bodies.
Hearing that Yudhistira had come there, all came to see him. Yudhistira bowed down to the sages who came to him, and they blessed him. Nearby, Yudhistira saw a lake with golden lotuses. There was a river there. The sages said A person who had sinned would not be able to cross the river and go on the other side. They called a boatman and asked him to help Yudhistira cross the river. Bowing down to the sages and taking their blessings, Yudhistira crossed the river.
From there what Yudhistira saw left him amazed, He could see the gates of heaven. No one was allowed inside without Indra's orders.
The gatekeepers saw Yudhistira and came to him. They said - We know you. Your father had shot a mating deer and because of that he was cursed and could not have children. He had come here to ask for a boon but that was not given. They had then gone back to the land of mortals, where children were born off the gods. They asked Yudhistira to wait while they informed Indra.
When this was announced, Indra decided to test Yudhistira. He took the guise of a priest and went to see Yudhistira. Yudhistira bowed down to the priest The priest asked who he was. Yudhistira said I am Yudhistira, son of Pandu from the lunar dynasty. Having seen the death of the dear ones in war, I have forsaken all and have come to heaven. Krishna has left the earth is back as Vishnu. I started my journey with my brothers and wife. In the icy cold, I lost my brothers and wife. I had made a determination that I will either go to heaven or die on the way.
The priest said I will take you and show you your brothers and wife. You will also meet the ones who died in the war.
When Indra said this, Yama took the form of a dog and came there. He started barking at the priest and then tried to bite him. The priest struck the dog with his stick. The dog appealed to Yudhistira for help.
Yudhistira, with folded hands, asked the priest not to hit the dog. The priest said the dog had sinned and needed to be punished.
Yudhistira said he would give away half his good deeds in lieu of the dog's life.

Hearing this both Yama and Indra took their own forms. Yudhistira was stunned. He bowed down to them. They asked Yudhistira to come with them while they took inside the heaven gates.

Indra kills Trishira

The sage continuing, said to Janmajeya -
Let me tell you about the pilgrim place of Dadhichi.
Brahma had a son called Twastha. He was a learned person. He married an asura woman and through her he had a son called Trishira, who had three heads. From one head, the boy recited the Vedas and from one he constantly took the name of Rama. With the third head he consumed liquor.
He performed sacrifices and gave a major share of the sacrifice to the daityas.
The Gods hearing this went to their lord Indra and asked him to correct this. In anger, Indra cut off the head of Trishira.
Twastha, hearing this, was furious. He performed a sacrifice, and from that was born an asura called Vritta. Vritta fought and defeated Indra. He then took over the throne of Indra.
The Gods went to Brahma. Brahma asked them to go to Vishnu.
They prayed to Vishnu and asked him to help them. 

Nahusha

Indra was happy having killed Vritra but was still sad as he had killed a brahman, the three headed son of Twasta. Full of guilt, he went into hiding.

As soon as Indra vanished, the earth went into turmoil. Trees began falling, rivers became dry and animals and people were in distress. The Gods and sages were afraid. The universe had no ruler. The great sages suggested that Nahusha be invited from earth and he be made king.


Nahusha, in all humility said he was not the right person for this. The sages and the Gods said they felt he was the best choice. They said they would guide Nahusha.  They said fear would be there when doing something different, but that would have to be overcome.

Nahusha became the king, but the heavenly pleasures took over him. He began enjoying the company of the apsaras. He enjoyed the beautiful breeze that blew and the songs that the bards sang.

One day Nahusha saw, Sachi, queen of Indra and wanted her for himself. He asked her to come and visit him. Sachi went the priest, Brihaspati, for advise. The priest asked her to stay with him, promising her that she would would soon be united with Indra.

When Nahusha heard that Sachi was with Brihaspati, he was enraged. How could Sachi refuse the king of heaven? Seeing him angry, the Gods and sages asked Nahusha to control his anger and be happy with what he had. Taking another's wife was a sin.
Nahusha said - If this is a sin, then why was Indra not prevented when he tried to rape Ahalya?

The Gods said they would bring Sachi to him.

They went to Brihaspati and asked him to help. Brihaspati said he would help the one who had sought his protection. The Gods then sat with Brihaspati and decided on the course of action.

Indra kills Vritra

Once Twasta, a great celestial, was engaged in austerities. He always hated Indra and wanted a son who was greater than Indra. He created a person with three heads. The heads were like the sun, moon and fire. From one head he recited the Vedas, from the second he drank nectar and the third he used to gain knowledge. He began performing austerities.

Indra was scared seeing this. He sent apsaras to entice the being. The person was unmoved. The apsaras went back to Indra. Indra then hurled his thunderbolt and killed the person.

On the other end, Indra saw that the dead person's head was like it had life. The eyes seems to follow Indra wherever he went. Indra saw a carpenter passing by. He asked the carpenter to cut off the heads from the body. The carpenter said his axe would break. Indra gave power to the axe. The carpentyer felt suspicios. Who are you, he asked, and why do you want me to do this?
Indra said - I am Indra. I have killed my enemy and I want you to cut off his head. Help me, and I will help you in return.
The carpenter said - You have killed a brahmana. You should be ashamed.
Indra said - I will perform some rites to wash off my sins.

The carpenter cut off the heads of the three headed person. From the cut heads, birds emerged and began flying.

Twasta was furious. How could his son, who had not committed any crime, be killed? He decided to create Vritra. Let Indra face Vritra. Saying this, he created a terrible asura called Vritra. Vritra was commanded to put an end to Indra.

Vritra went, picked up Indra and swallowed him whole. The Gods saw this. They made Vritra yawn. The moment Vritra opened his mouth, Indra escaped.

Fight began between Indra and Vritra. When Vritra got an upper hand in the fight, Indra left the battle and fled. The Gods went to Vishnu for help.

Indra joined the Gods. The Gods said to Vishnu - You have helped us previously in the time of need. We need your help now. Vritra is troubling us and qwe need your help to defeat him.
Vishnu said he would enter Indra's thunderbolt and with Vritra would be killed. Before that, a truce needed to be formed between Indra and Vritra. Then seeing a right time, he could be killed.
started talking.
The help of the sages was sought. They mediated and Indra and Vritra. Indra asked Vritra how he could be killed. Vritra said he could be killed by something that was not dry or wet; that was not a weapon for fighting; nor in the day nor night.
Indra kepting thinking of a loophole- how could he kill Vritra. Once evening, Indra saw Vritra standing on the sea coast. He took the name of Vishnu and hurled that at Vritra. The foam was neither dry nor wet, nor was it a conventional weapon and neither was it day or night. Vishnu entered the froth. Vritra was killed.

Indra and his curse

Aditi was the wife of the sage Kashyapa. She prayed to Shiva for sons. When Shiva appeared, she said she wanted a son who was revered by all. Shiva said said so be it.
Kashyapa said Your son will the king of all Gods.
Soon Aditi was expecting and gave birth to a boy. The boy was named Indra. He was given charge of the Devas.
Soon again, Aditi conceived . The child to be born was Pawana.
One day Narada came to Indra and said The child to be born of your mother will take over the world.
The jealous Indra thought of killing the unborn child. He entered the womb and cut the foetus into seven parts. Each part was again cut seven times. Soon Aditi gave birth to fourty nine children who were the Winds. This is what happens when you try to use violence. Trying to kill one, he created many others.

One day Indra went to the ashrama of the sage Goutama to study the vedas. There he was enamored by the beautiful wife of the sage and wanted her for himself. He waited for a chance. One day the sage went to have a bath. Seeing the dage left, Indra changed his appearance to become like the sage and went inside the hut.
The wife asked her husband - You went for a bath. How did you manage to come back so fast?
Indra did not say anything but made love to her.
When the husband returned, he figured out what had happened. He cursed Indra to have a thousand vaginas on his body. Indra thus became known as SahasraYoni.

Indra begged forgiveness and said he would not be able to show his face to anyone like that. Indra decided to go and pray in the forests.
With Indra not there, the heavens were attacked by asuras. When Kashyapa got to know this he asked Brahma to do something.

Brahma asked Goutama to forgive Indra. Goutama said The curse would not go away but the vaginas would become eyes and Indra will have thousand eyes on his body.
Kashyapa went where Indra was meditating in the forest. He had a thousand eyes on his body.
Kashyapa said - Son, You need to control your senses. Do not be jealous and do not practice violence.

This is what had happened earlier and what Bhishma had said is true. Give up your greed. Divide the kingdom with the Pandavas. 

Indra kills Vritta

Yudhistira asked the sage What was done with the body of the sage?
The sage said - the bones were taken to the celestial architect who decided to form a weapon from the bones of the sage.
A Vajra was formed and given to Indra. Indra attacked the asura. A fight started between the Gods and the asuras. Climbing on his elephant, Indra attacked the asura with his Vajra. Seeing Indra, the asura increased his size, and started swallowing all the Gods. Indra asked Vishnu for help. Vishnu gave his blessing.
In that fight, Indra killed Vritta using the Vajra. The army of Vritta seeing him dead, fled and hid in the ocean.

Dadhichi donates his body

Yudhistira said - I have heard Agastya had drunk up the ocean. How did that happen?

Lomesh continued - In the earlier days, there was a asura called Vritta. He managed to create an army of ferocious Danavas and asuras and with he attacked all. Indra, leading the Gods went to Brahma and asked how would they be relieved from this menace.

Brahma said I had been thinking of this for a long time. This asura will not be destroyed by any ordinary weapon. Approach the sage Dadhichi. If he is pleased with you, he will donate his body to you. Use his bones then to make a weapon called the Vajra, and using that, Indra is to kill the asura.

The Gods went to Dadhichi, who asked them the reason for their visit. When the Gods expressed their wish, Dadhichi gladly left his body. 

Lomesh Rishi sees Arjuna

Arjuna started learning how to use multiple weapons. Chitrasen taught Arjuna the art of music and dance. One day the sage Lomesh came there and went to meet Arjuna. The sage was amazed to see Arjuna there, next to Indra. He asked How could a human sit in a seat which was a rare treat for the greatest of the sages.
Indra said to the sage You must be aware of the two great sages Nara and Narayana. Narayana is in Dwaraka as Krishna and this is Nara. Arjuna is here to learn how to use weapons. He has many tasks to perform.  Great Sage, I need your help. Go to the forest of Kamyaka forest where you will find Arjuna's brothers. Tell them that they should not worry for him. Take to the many pilgrim spots.  

Arjuna starts his journey

Arjuna traveled northwards. Crossing the Himalayas, he reached the mountain of Gandhamadana. He crossed that till he came to the mountain called Chandrakila. A voice said Do not venture further. Rest here. Humans are not allowed beyond this.
Arjuan spotted a sage there with long matted hair. The sage said to Arjuna - WHo are you, clad in armor, carrying bow, arrows and swords. Why have you come to this mountain? Discard the weapons. If you get the grace of Gods, why do you need the weapons?
When Arjuna was quiet, the sage said - Ask for a boon. I am Indra.

Arjuna asked for weapons. Indra said, First please Shiva and get his blessings. 

Garuda fetches Indra for Krishna

Krishna kept the Parijata tree on Garuda, and along with Satyabhama and others climbed on top of Garuda. As they were about to leave, Sachi laughed.
Satyabhama asked Krishna if he knew why Sachi had laughed, even though they had to partake of the Parijata tree.
Krishna said Sachi's laughter was not to be taken into account. All beings in this universe are a part of me. When Sachi laughs at you, it is Krishna laughing at Krishna.
Satyabhama said You had said you will break the pride of Indra. Why did you not keep your promise.
Krishna said I could not against the word of Shiva. For me the love of the devotee is the most fulfilling of all things. If a devotee calls out to me, I forget everything. I forgave Indra for that.
Satyabhama said that means I am not dear to you.
Krishna said If this is how you feel, I will bring Indra to you.

Krishna then called Shiva and said : I have taken many avatars, many forms. When Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu were ruling the heavens, I killed them and restored the heaven for Indra. When Bali captured the three worlds, I am Vamana, pushed Bali to the nether world using my feet and helped Indra.  When Ravana and Kumbhakarna attacked and captured Indra, as Rama I helped restore Indra's throne. I am no brother of Indra's. Tell Indra this and ask him to come and bow down before Satyabhama. If he does not listen, then I will give the heaven to someone else.

Shiva told Indra, and Indra could not control his anger. Knowing Indra was refusing to listen, Krishna asked Garuda to fetch Bali from the nether world. He would become the king of the heaven.

Garuda had a  soft corner for Indra. He said It made no sense to get a new king in the heaven in this cycle of the universe. Also, what would I tell Bali, if I went to fetch him. What I can do is, fetch Indra for you.

So saying Garuda left. He went to Indra and said Why are you oblivious of the fact that Krishna is Narayana and he is the one who is upholding this universe. Come with me to Krishna and bow down before Satyabhama.

Indra then became scared.

Garuda asked Indra to come with him quietly. Indra came and bowed down before Krishna and Satyabhama.

Shiva intervenes

Narada seeing the fight not stopping went to Kashyapa, father of the Gods. He said Are you aware that your son, Indra, is fighting Krishna. Indra is loosing the battle and Krishna is yet to use the Sudarshana. If Krishna releases the Sudarshana, Indra would be dead.

Kashyapa started thinking what to do next. He thought of Shiva. He requested Shiva to join the battle. Shiva agreed.

Going there Shiva said to Krishna, You have defeated Indra. You, Narayana, had made Indra the king of heaven. Why do you want to dethrone him?

Krishna said the fight was because of the Parijata tree. As a bounty from the Cosmic Ocean, everyone had rights to that, so why should Indra alone have it.

Shiva went to Indra and asked him to give the tree to Krishna. Indra said the Parijata tree was something that made the identity of the heaven. If the Parijata went away, heaven would be incomplete.

Shiva said Krishna is none other than Narayana, who is your brother. As a brother, you should respect his wish.

Shiva then asked Krishna to respect Indra. Krishna bowed down to Indra, who hugged him. Giving the Parijata tree to Krishna, Indra said this tree will remain with you, till you are on the earth. The moment you leave, the tree will return back.

Indra and Krishna fight

Seeing Satyabhama, Sachi said Why have you come to take something which is mine?
Satyabhama said I know about you. You are proud, but were you able to stop Naraka from getting the earrings of Aditi? Indra was not able to do anything. Krishna had to kill Naraka and then return the earrings. The tree does not belong to you alone. The tree came from the cosmic ocean and everyone has a right to the tree. Why should you alone deck yourself with the flowers of the tree? I have come to take away the tree, so everyone on earth can enjoy it.

Indra and Krishna started fighting, showering various weapons on each other. Satyaki took the tree and placed it on Garuda. Garuda and Airavata, Indra's elephant, also were fighting each other. Defeated by Garuda, Airavata fell on the ground, unconscious.

Indra said Airavata fell as he was badly hurt by Garuda. The fight would now continue on land. Getting off Garuda, Krishna and Indra resumed their war. Indra finally hurled the Vajra (thunder bolt) at Krishna. Krishna said to Garuda , he could use the Sudarshana and shatter the Vajra, but that would be showing disrespect to the Vajra.

Garuda then threw a feather at the Vajra. The weapon cut off the feather and went back to Indra. Indra also knew that once used, the Vajra would not be available for use for sometime. 

Sons of Pandu

The sage continuing to tell Janmajeya said :

Kunti circumambulated her husband and invoked Dharma. Around the time when Gandhari was pregnant, Kunti and Dharma had a beautiful son. A voice from the heavens said this boy would be righteous and honest. He would be known among all for his truthfulness.

After some time, Pandu said He had truth and was desirous of strength. Kunti thought of Pavana, the mighty God who had the strength to blow the world away.She invoked Pavana and a son was born. Such was the child's strength, that when she tried to lift her son, she was not able to, because of his weight. Such was the weight, that the mountains shook when the child moved. The cry of the child scared the inhabitants of the place. A voice from the heaven said This child would be the strongest on the earth. Impenetrable by weapons his would be like stone. He would enemies of all evil.

Pandu then said after sometime that he wished for a son who would be having the qualities of truth and strength combined. Kunti asked who was such a God who had such qualities. Pandu and Kunti then asked the rishis who lived nearby, who was such a God.

The rishis said Indra was such a God who had the qualities of all Gods. Pandu then started worshipping Indra. Pleased with his devotion, Indra appeared before him. Pandu expressed his wish and Indra said a son would be born from his favour.

Pundu went to Kunti and asked her to invoke Indra. A son was born off Indra to Kunti. A voice from the heaven said This child will be known in all three worlds for his strength. He will learn from the greatest of the teachers and will help place his eldest brother on the throne.He will burn the Khandava forest and build a big city.

All Gods came to see the three sons of Pandu.

Pandu said my desire for having sons was not fulfilled and he wanted to more. He also told Kunti that as per the law if she went and begot more sons through someone else, she would be considered a prostitute. 

Garuda and Vishnu

Vishnu had been observing the antics of Garuda, He challenged Garuda. He flung his discus but the bird was not hurt. Garuda attacked Vishnu and hurt him badly with his beak and sharp claws. Stopping the flight, Vishnu said I have never seen one like you. I am pleased with your strength. Ask for a boon.

Garuda said if you are pleased with me, give me a position above you, on your flag. Garuda then said, he also wanted to give Vishnu a boon. Vishnu then said, he would like Garuda to be his vehicle.

Garuda then left with the pot of nectar for his mother. On the way, Indra confronted him and was about to hurl his thunderbolt at him. Garuda said Please do not insult your weapon. A thousand bolts hurled together will not hurt me. To give respect to you, I will tear off a feather from a wing and throw that at you.

Indra was amazed and asked for Garuda's friendship. He further wanted to know how strong he was. 

Garuda said One should talk of ones' own strengths. Only because you are asking me, I will tell you. I can fly tirelessly with all the worlds balanced on my wings. 

Indra then asked why Garuda was carrying the nectar away. Garuda told him about his mother's slavery. Hearing this, Indra said the Nagas are evil. You will not be able to tackle them easily and you will need to play with them. Garuda said when I hand over the nectar to the Nagas, my mother will be free, and then you can take away the nectar. Indra then asked Garuda to ask for a boon. Garuda said the Nagas have been the cause for this trouble. From today let them become my natural food.

Garuda flew on and invisible Indra flew along with Garuda.

Indra cursed by Balakhilya

Once Indra and the other Gods were carrying wood for their father, Rishi Kashyapa. On the way they saw the Balakhilya rishis. The Balakhilya rishis were the size of a thumb . These rishis were struggling to pull a piece of wood.
Seeing this, Indra started laughing.
Offended the Balakhilyas went and started a sacrifice. They wanted a being was stronger than Indra in strength, who was invincible and who was just. The Gods went to the Rishis asking why they wanted to create a second Indra. The Rishis said they had been humiliated by Indra and they wanted to avenge that.
Kashyapa and the other Gods asked the rishis to stop this. The rishis said they were not able to stop the process but they would be able to deviate the same.
At that time, Kashyapa's wife , Vinata, was meditating to get a child. Kashyapa asked the rishis to have the second Indra to be born from Vinata, as the lord of all flying creatures. Thus was born Garuda, in the form of a great bird.

When Garuda approached the heavens, the army of the Gods started showering weapons at him, but no none of the weapons could pierce him. They would fall off, the moment they touched him.
Garuda started flapping his wings and a huge dust storm was created. The Gods were blinded. Indra then asked Pawana, to clear the dust. The Wind God blew off the dust. They started showering weapons at Garuda again. Garuda now attacked them with his beak. The Gods fled.

Garuda then went to the place where the nectar was stored. He saw that surrounded by fire. He doused the fire by getting water. Beyond the fire wall, he saw discus. It was huge in size and had very shard edges. it was revolving very fast, in all directions. So fast was its pace, that even if a fly tried to pass, it would get cut into pieces. Garuda noticed that there was a small hole in the discus, the size of the eye of a needle. He suddenly made his size smaller than that hole, and travelling faster than the discus he entered the hole. He saw the pot of nectar, increased his size, smashed the discus and flew away the pot.