Indra, seated in his resplendent court, addressed Arjuna with words of assurance and divine grace. “O son of Kunti,” said the Lord of the celestials, “you are pure and free from sin. You stand as an apostle of self-control, a master over your senses. There is no possession in the three worlds to which you are not entitled. The curse laid upon you by Urvashi will in truth serve as a boon during your exile in the thirteenth year.” Thus sanctified by the words of the thousand-eyed God, Arjuna remained steadfast in his resolve, unswayed by persuasion or temptation, determined to uphold the oath sworn by Dharmaja.
Indra then imparted to him the divine astras, narrating their origin, power, and purpose. He instructed him on the sacred science of their invocation and withdrawal—the precise concentration demanded, the positioning, deployment, and the restraint required till the target is met. When the teaching was complete, the King of Gods blessed Arjuna with victory and glory in the great war of the future, and placed him under the tutelage of the Gandharva king Chitrasena, who instructed him in celestial dance and divine music. Time flowed differently in the heavenly realm; what appeared as five years there counted but as a moment of mortal reckoning.
One day, the venerable sage Romasa visited Indra’s court. Beholding Arjuna seated beside Indra upon the golden throne, he was struck with wonder and said, “O Lord of the celestials, none may reach your divine abode without ages of austerity. Even approaching your presence is rare fortune. Yet who is this mortal seated at your side, who, though amidst divinity, still breathes the fragrance of earth? Is he your reflection?”
Smiling, Indra replied, “O sage, this is no ordinary mortal. He is Nara himself, born on earth by my grace, the son of Kunti, radiant in intellect and valour, the companion of Vishnu. Parameswara has bestowed upon him the Pasupathastra, and I, with the guardians of the universe, have armed him with celestial weapons. For the protection of gods and men, he has come to my paradise, strong in divine might. When the sons of Sagara, proud in their strength, pierced the earth and stirred the underworld, the sage Kapila, embodiment of Narayana, reduced them to ashes. Likewise, Nara and Narayana were born to rid the world of its burdens, to restore order through penance and strength, and to subdue the demonic races that disturb the harmony of creation. In the ages to come, Arjuna shall subdue the undefeated clan of Nivata-Kavachas dwelling in the nether realms and safeguard the celestial world.”
After narrating these divine mysteries, Indra instructed Romasa, “Go to the earth and meet Dharmaja. Tell him that Arjuna is with me and has received celestial weapons, by which he shall vanquish Bheeshma, Drona, and Karna. Initiate him upon a sacred pilgrimage, that he may be cleansed of sin and rise to imperial sovereignty. Accompany and guide him in his holy wanderings.”
When Vyasa revealed these events to Dhritarashtra, the old king was deeply troubled and said to Sanjaya, “Arjuna, who once overpowered even Indra during the burning of Khandava, who helped Dharmaja conquer all the kings within the seas and perform the Rajasuya sacrifice—he now possesses the Pasupathastra of Lord Shiva and the celestial weapons of all the gods. How can any warrior stand before him? The Pandavas never deviate from righteousness; truth is their law, purity their nature, and the universe itself favours their cause. Duryodhana, blinded by envy, has destroyed his own house. A mountain may survive the thunderbolt, but none can withstand the astras of Arjuna.”
Then Sanjaya, with measured speech, said, “O King, when Duryodhana shamed the Pandavas before your eyes and you failed to restrain him, what purpose is there in sorrow now? Through your neglect they fell prey to deceit and now dwell in the forest of Kamyaka. Yet Sri Krishna, accompanied by noble kings, went to console them. He denounced the deceit of Duryodhana and vowed to enthrone Dharmaja once more, pledging wealth and splendour surpassing even Indraprastha. But the steadfast Pandavas refused to violate the time bound by oath and humbly entreated Krishna to be their charioteer, to which he consented with blessing. When the appointed time arrives, the Pandavas shall rise again, with Krishna leading them to victory.”
Thus Sanjaya warned that three forces endangered the Kauravas—the negligence of Dhritarashtra, the divine weapons of Arjuna, and the terrible might of Bhima’s mace. Dhritarashtra, grief-stricken, replied, “My son, drunk with strength, mocks me as blind and foolish. He delights in the poisonous counsel of Sakuni and Karna, silences the wise words of Bhishma, Vidura, and Drona, and rushes to ruin.”
Meanwhile, in Kamyakavana, the Pandavas longed for Arjuna’s return. “Our brother,” said Bhima to Yudhishthira, “has gone forth at your bidding, but his return is delayed. Life without him is hard to bear. His strength is our strength; through his divine arms shall we conquer our foes. Let us beseech Krishna to bring him back. With his astras and my mace, none shall withstand us.”
Yudhishthira, embracing Bhima, replied, “Your words burn with valour, O mighty one, yet this is not the hour of battle. The time of our exile must first be fulfilled. When the thirteenth year ends, you and Arjuna, as fire and wind united, shall consume the enemy and raise the banner of victory. Till then, let patience and righteousness be our weapons.”
Thus spoke the wise son of Dharma, calming the tempest of Bhima’s heart. Vyasa concluded that the course of destiny is subtle and profound. Even a curse may conceal a blessing, and misfortune may turn to strength. In the divine order, contradictions coexist—poverty amidst plenty, loss birthing gain, darkness serving light. Such is the eternal rhythm of the world, a lesson of balance and faith for all ages.
