To establish supremacy

The birth of Parikshit and the return of the Pandavas with Marutta’s wealth for the horse sacrifice filled Hasinapura and its surroundings with various festivities. Musicians moved in groups and sang joyful melodies and dancers danced to their tune.

As was his habit on all important occasions, Sage Veda Vyasa arrived at that time in Hastinapura. Yudhishthira received the sage with all reverences due to him and said. “Sir, we managed to get all the wealth for the horse sacrifice with your blessing. Please give us your permission now for the ceremony to start.” Vyasa gave his formal consent to the Pandava.

Yudhishthira next went to Krishna and said. “You have won for us what all we have by way of land and riches. Please allow me to start the long days of penance (deeksha) ahead of the sacrifice”. Krishna also gave his formal approval for the start of the ceremony.

Yudhishthira, then, approached Vyasa for the auspicious time for the sacrificial ritual. Vyasa said. “I have come with my very capable disciples, Yajnavalkya and Paila. We have arrived at the auspicious full moon day of the (lunar calendar) month, Caitra for starting your fasting. Get all the equipment and provisions for the sacrifice organized. Let people who know the science of horses choose the best animal for the purpose. Let that horse roam freely all around the world and return to this place in time for the sacrifice.”

Everything was done exactly as Vyasa had desired. Yudhishthira consulted the sage on the choice of the warrior to protect the horse. Vyasa had no hesitation in suggesting the name of Arjuna. He said. “While Arjuna follows the horse let Bhima and his other brothers protect the vast kingdom of Kurus.”

Yudhishthira, accordingly, entrusted the task to Arjuna. The king, then, started his penance on the auspicious day. He wore silk and the skin of blackbuck (krishnajinam) as a mark of his vow. All the Brahmins (Ritwik) who were to participate in the ritual also got into similar attire. The poet describes that the group, so dressed for the sacrifice, shone like the flame of fire.

Sage Vyasa, himself, released the sacrificial horse. The keeper of the horse walked alongside. Arjuna followed it from behind, holding high gandiva in hand. Large crowds thronged the paths through which the horse moved out of the palatial grounds. They all wished the team a successful return.

The team first moved northwards. The path of the horse was blocked by several kings on the way. All of them were the children or heirs to the throne of those who fought with the Kauravas in the Mahabharata war. They all offered spirited battles, in spite of their total defeat in the war that just ended.

The war with Trigarta

The suicide army (samSaptaka) of the Trigartas had played a significant role in the Mahabharata war. An army consisting of the sons and grandsons of those killed in the war surrounded the horse and Arjuna. Arjuna defeated them all but, refrained from killing any.

King Suryavarma then ruled the land. He and his brothers challenged Arjuna next. After a fierce battle the Trigarta king was defeated. Arjuna extended the invitation to the king for the horse sacrifice on behalf of his brother and moved ahead with the horse.

In the city of Pragjyotisha

King Bhagadatta of Pragjyotisha (praagjyotisha), mounted on his ferocious elephant, had wrecked havoc in the Pandava army in the Mahabharata war. His son, Vajradatta, was the king when Arjuna reached the country. Vajradatta challenged the horse and offered stiff resistance to Arjuna. The two fought for three days. It was on the fourth day, after a fierce battle that Arjuna could win over his enemy. Again, Arjuna conveyed the words of Yudhishthira inviting the king for the impending horse sacrifice.

In the land of Jayadratha

Jayadratha, the Sindhu king was considered to be instrumental in trapping Abhimanyu in the tricky circular formation of Drona. Arjuna’s pledge to kill him before the sun set next day had resulted in one of the most dramatic events of the war. We may recall that Jayadratha had married Dussala (duSSaLa) the only sister of the hundred Kaurava princes

The Saindhava princes carried a grudge against Arjuna for the killing of their king. They were a valiant Kshatriya race ready to risk their lives to settle a score. Learning about the Pandava horse for the Aswamedha which was protected by Arjuna, they quickly put together an army of one thousand chariots and (a cavalry of) ten thousand horses and encircled Arjuna. A stiff battle ensued between Arjuna with his Gandiva on one hand and the revengeful Sindhu princes on the other. It is said that the Pandava got help by way of moral support from the heavenly sages and gods when he lost his senses in the middle of the battle. After the initial reverses Arjuna was on the victory path.

It was then that Dussala appeared on the scene with her grand child, the son of her son, Suratha. Dussala explained that Suratha was already deep in sorrow from his father’s death at the hands of Arjuna. When he heard that Arjuna had come in person to his country threatening to fight, he fell down unconscious. He breathed his last in that condition.

Dussala concluded. “I immediately ran to you carrying this only grand child of mine, who is also your grand nephew. He is to me, as Parikshit is to you. Look, I make him prostrate in front of you. He is to be the new ruler of the Sindhu kingdom. On my command the entire land accepts the supremacy of Yudhishthira. Please save the life of this child.”

Arjuna consoled Uttara and promised that he would act in her best interests. He sent her back to the palace and moved on with the horse to other lands.