The sons of Pandu abode in peace at the hermitage of the sage Arishtaśenu, in obedience to the counsel of Kubera. One day, the venerable Dhoumya, raising his finger toward the northern sky, said to Yudhishthira, “Behold, O son of Dharma, that is Mount Mandara, and beyond it towers the celestial Meru, the axis of heaven and earth. Around it dwells the regents of the eight directions. The sun, the moon, the wandering stars, and the seven sages revolve eternally about that golden height. Upon its summit, in splendour of gold and light, Brahma, the Creator, is throned upon the lotus divine, while Vishnu, Shiva, and the other gods wait upon him in ceaseless devotion.” Thus, dwelling in that sacred retreat, the Pandavas passed a tranquil month.
Then, one day, a radiance as of dawn broke through the heavens, for Arjuna, the son of Indra, descended from the skies in a golden chariot driven by the celestial charioteer Matali. The firmament blazed with his coming, and the air trembled with divine music. Arjuna alighted, saluting the sages Romasa and Dhoumya, and bowing low to Yudhishthira and Bhima, who embraced him with brotherly joy. Nakula, Sahadeva, and Draupadi, beholding him, were filled with gladness; and the Pandavas honoured Matali, who then returned to the abode of the gods. As the sun sank crimson in the west and the moon rose with her silver train, the night spread soft and luminous like a swan gliding through the river of heaven.
In the stillness of that blessed night, Arjuna sat among his brothers, recounting the wonders he had seen and answering their eager questions. When dawn broke, and the air was fragrant with celestial melodies, Yudhishthira sat with Romasa and Dhoumya in meditation. Then the sky shone with golden splendour, and Indra himself descended, surrounded by the gods. The Pandavas received him with Vedic hymns and homage, bowing at his feet. The lord of heaven spoke gently, greeting each by name, and sitting beside his son he said, “O Yudhishthira, know that Arjuna, born of my essence, is invincible. He has obtained divine weapons, and by his valour has destroyed the Nivātakavachas, those demons whom even the celestials feared. None in battle can conquer him, for his brilliance equals my own.” Blessing them all, Indra departed for Amaravati, leaving the Pandavas radiant with joy and reverence.
Then Yudhishthira said to Arjuna, “My heart rejoices, O Partha, that the king of gods has praised thee for gaining divine weapons from Shiva and the immortals. Tell me, how didst thou obtain such power?” Arjuna, bowing with humility, thus spoke: “Obedient to thy command, I journeyed to the Himalayas and performed austere penance. Then Indra appeared before me disguised as an aged Brahmin, and instructed me to worship Mahadeva. I did so with a steadfast heart, and the great God came before me in the guise of a hunter, challenging me to combat. We strove long; at last, pleased with my devotion, he revealed his true form and bestowed upon me the Pashupata Astra, invincible and radiant.
Then the other deities, including Indra himself, granted me many celestial weapons—Agneya, Varuna, Vayavya, Yama, Rakshasa, Kaubera, Gandharva, Paisacha, and Brahma Astra. By Indra’s grace, I ascended to Amaravati in my mortal form, where he, as my preceptor, taught me the art of deploying, guiding, and recalling these astras. I learned to strike only the chosen target, sparing all else, and to counter the shafts of master archers by science and precision. When I had mastered all, Indra said, ‘O Arjuna, thou art now unconquerable. Use thy might for the welfare of gods and Brahmins. For thy preceptor’s due, destroy the foes of heaven.’ Then they spoke of the Nivātakavachas, a demon race three crores in number, proud of their boons, dwelling beneath the ocean, and tormenting gods and men. ‘They shall perish by thy hand,’ he said.”
Arjuna continued: “Then Indra adorned me with invisible armour that no eye could see, and placed in my hand the Gandiva, whose string lay coiled like a serpent. He gave me a chariot drawn by steeds of many hues, driven by Matali. As I set forth, the gods cried aloud, ‘Go, O subduer of foes, as Indra once smote Vritra, Sambara, Bala, and the proud demons of old, so shalt thou destroy these Nivātakavachas!’ Sounding my conch, Devadatta, I sped through the skies, and soon beheld the vast ocean, its waves rolling like mountains, its foam gleaming like the Milky Way. Beneath its depths rose shining towers and broad causeways—the dwellings of the demons. Standing before their gates, I blew my conch, and the sound shook earth, sky, and sea.
From every side, the demons swarmed, black as night, raining arrows and tridents upon me. I lost my shafts in countless flights, breaking their ranks. When they raised walls of arrows to bar my path, I shattered them with astras. Matali, stunned by their might, fainted for a moment, and I took the reins, driving the chariot amid battle’s roar. The ocean ran red with their blood; the waves glowed crimson like evening clouds. When they assailed me with illusion and darkness, I hurled the Soshana Astra of Indra, drying up their enchantments. When they cast fire upon me, I quenched it with Varuna’s power; when they wrapped the world in night, I invoked the Sun’s might, and light returned. Then the gods cried, ‘Victory to the son of Indra!’ My Gandiva sang like thunder, and the bodies of the demons fell as mountains rent by earthquake. The race of Nivātakavachas was utterly destroyed. Their women wailed, shaking the heavens with lamentation.
I beheld then their radiant city beneath the sea, glorious as Amaravati itself, and asked Matali why Indra dwelt elsewhere, forsaking such splendour. He replied, ‘O Arjuna, this city was built by Indra to shield the gods when the demon hosts grew strong. By Brahma’s decree, the Nivātakavachas were destined to live here until a hero of thy lineage should bring their end. Thou hast accomplished what even the immortals could not.’ Thus, we returned to the city of the gods. Such were my deeds, O Yudhishthira—deeds born of divine favour and indomitable will. Truly, by the grace of heaven, the Pandavas have become a power unmatched, woven by destiny into the fabric of time, linking the past with the future in one eternal thread of dharma and glory.”
