Mahabharata – 188
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
    Aadivamsavatarana Parva

Journey of Pandu for the search of the soul

Meanwhile, the prince Pandu accompanied by his two wives and eating fruits and roots went to the mountains of Nagasata. He next went to Chaitraratha, and then crossed the Kalakuta, and finally, crossing the Himalayas, he arrived at Gandhamadana. Protected by siddhas, and great rishis, Pandu lived,on level ground and sometimes on mountain slopes. He then journeyed on to the lake of Indradyumna, whence crossing the mountains of Hansakuta, he went to the mountain Sata-sringa and there the highly energitic Pandu continued to practise ascetic austerities.

 Within a short time he became the favourite of the siddhas or the realised souls and charanas or gleemen devoted to the devotional songs residing there. And, devoted to the service of his spiritual masters, free from vanity, with mind under complete control of the passions the prince, desirous to enter the heaven by his own energy, attained the great ascetic prowess. Some of the rishis would call him brother, some became friend, while others loved him as their son.Thus Pandu became like a Brahmarshi.Which he acquired after a long time through great penance.

On a certain day of the new moon, the great rishis of rigid vows assembled together, and desirous to meet Brahma were on the point of starting their expedition. Seeing them about to set out, Pandu asked them ---You the best of eloquent men, where shall you go? The rishis answered --- There will be a great gathering of rishis and celestials and pitris today, in the abode of Brahma. Desirous of seeing the Brahma we shall go there today. Hearing this, Pandu rose up suddenly, desirous of seeing the heaven along with the great rishis. Accompanied by his two wives, following the rishis Pandu went in the northern direction from the mountain Sata-sringa.

Pandu look forward to reaching heaven and going beyond. Then the ascetics told him ---In our northward march, while gradually ascending the kingdom of mountains, we have seen many regions inaccessible to ordinary mortals on their delightful peaks.Also the solitary abode  of the gods, and gandharvas and apsaras, with many palatial mansions echoing with the sweet notes of celestial music, the gardens of Kuvera laid out on even and uneven grounds, banks of mighty rivers, and deep caverns. There are many regions also on those heights that are covered with permanent snow and are utterly devoid of vegetables and animal existence. In some places the downpour of rain is so heavy that they are perfectly inaccessible to the ordinary mortals. Naturally those regions are difficult to approach by the mortals. Not to speak of other animals, even winged creatures cannot cross them. The only thing that can go there is air, and the only beings, who can go there siddhas and great rishis. How shall these princesses ascend those heights of the mountains?

Unfamiliar to pain, shall they not fall down in distress? Therefore, don’t follow us.

Pandu replied ---Sir it is said that for the sonless there is no room in the heaven. I am sonless!  In distress I speak to you! I am unfortunate because I have not been able to pay the debt I owe to my ancestors. It is certain that with my death my ancestors will be destroyed. Men are born on this earth with four debts.Firstly to ancestors, secondly to the gods, thirdly to the rishis, and fourthly  to the mortals. As per religion these debts must be cleared. The wise said that no regions of bliss exist for them who neglect to pay back these debts in due time. The gods are satisfied by sacrifices, the rishis, by study of the Vedas, meditation, and asceticism, the ancestors, by begetting children and offering the funeral offerings, and, lastly the mortals are satisfied by behavior and inoffensive life. I have already fulfilled my obligations to the rishis, the gods, and other mortals. But I am not yet freed from the debt I owe to my ancestors. And it is sure that they will perish with my death.Oh Sages!, The wise men are born in this world to beget children for repaying that debt. I would ask you, should children be begotten on my wives as I myself was begotten in the soil of my father by the eminent rishi Vedavyasa?

The odysseus of Pandu would be interesting to historians.Pandu crossed the Himalyas and went north - ward. Does it necessarily mean that he crossed Tibet and entered into Central Asia or China?.And surely Central Asia or China might be the road to the heaven.

Curiously enough the ancients of China looked upon West or India as in the neighbourhood of heaven.It is a pity that our politics has separated China from India.The description of the Himalayas and the journey across the Himalayas are poetical withal.Earlier Pandu went out for conquest. There he needed well equipped army and fighting skill.Now he needs the strength of mind and imagination to conquer sundry planes of consciousness.But to enter into the kingdom of heaven one must accomplish his duties in the wordly life.This seems to be the lesson of this section of the Mahabharata.