Did Arjuna spend 5 years in Indraloka ?

 

 

The episodes of Arjuna’s penance to Shiva and thereafter his entering Indraloka, etc, appear in the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata. There were lot of interpolations in Vana Parva and Arjuna’s penance to Shiva and thereafter his entering Indraloka were also interpolations, ie., added subsequently.

—-

If we carefully study the Adi Parva of Mahabharata, we will come across the episode of imparting of warfare skills to Kauravas and Pandavas by Drona. Drona teaches all types of divine weapons that he had learnt from Parashurama to Arjuna, including Brahmashira.

At the end of the training Drona declares that there would no warrior better than Arjuna in the world.

गृहाणेदं महाबाहो विशिष्टमतिदुर्धरम् ॥ अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो नाम सप्रयोगनिवर्तनम् ॥ ॥

न च ते मानुषेष्वेतत्प्रयोक्तव्यं कथञ्चन । जगद्विनिर्दहेदेतदल्पतेजसि पातितम् ॥ ॥

असामान्यमिदं तात लोकेष्वस्त्रं निगद्यते । तद्धारयेथाः प्रयतः शृणु चेदं वचो मम ॥ ॥

बाधेतामानुषः शत्रुर्यदा त्वां वीर कश्चन । तद्वधाय प्रयुञ्जीथास्तदास्त्रमिदमाहवे ॥ ॥

तथेति तत्प्रतिश्रुत्य बीभत्सुः स कृताञ्जलिः । जग्राह परमास्त्रं तदाह चैनं पुनर्गुरुः ॥ ॥

भविता त्वत्समो नान्यः पुमाँल्लोके धनुर्धरः ॥

Bharadwaja's son then spoke to the renowned and powerful warrior Arjuna, saying, 'Take this remarkable and unmatched weapon called Brahmashira, along with the ways to launch and summon it back. However, you must never use it against any human opponent, for if thrown at someone with lesser strength, it could potentially destroy the entire universe. It is said, young one, that this weapon has no equal in all three realms. So, keep it safe and heed my words. If ever you face a non-human enemy, you may then use it to ensure their defeat in battle.'

Committed to following his instructions, Vibhatsu (Arjuna) accepted the mighty weapon with reverence. The teacher then continued, 'No one else in this world will surpass you as a bowman. You shall never be conquered by any foe, and your feats will be legendary.'

——

Hence, there is no need for Arjuna to perform austerities upon either Shiva or Indra, to get any other divine weapons.

Even the Pashupatastra that was stated to have been obtained upon worshiping Shiva, in Vana Parva, was not used by Arjuna. Hence, this portion can be omitted as interpolation.

Similarly, going to Indraloka does not warrant, as he had every divine weapon of that period.

—-

Now, a question may arise as to what did Arjuna do during 5 year period - that was described in Vana Parva as to have spent in Indraloka?

According to my understanding, Arjuna spent that 5 years period with Chitrasena, to learn different lessons in dance, as that episode was mentioned in brief.

Arjuna reaches Indrakila mountain, in Himalayas, where he met an ascetic. (37th chapter of Vanaparva - Gita press)

इन्द्रकीलं समासाद्य ततोऽतिष्ठद्धनञ्जयः । अन्तरिक्षे हि शुश्राव तिष्ठेति स वचस्तदा ॥

ततोऽपश्यत्सव्यसाची वृक्षमूले तपस्विनम् । ब्राह्म्या श्रिया दीप्यमानं पिङ्गलं जटिलं कृशम् ॥

सोऽब्रवीदर्जुनं तत्र स्थितं दृष्ट्वा महातपाः । कस्त्वं तातेह सम्प्राप्तो धनुष्मान्कवची शरी ॥

निबद्धासितलत्राणः क्षत्रधर्ममनुव्रतः ॥

नेह शस्त्रेण कर्तव्यं शान्तानामयमालयः । विनीतक्रोधहर्षाणां ब्राह्मणानां तपस्विनाम् ॥

नेहास्ति धनुषा कार्यं न सङ्ग्रामेण कर्हिचित् । निक्षिपैतद्धनुस्तात प्राप्तोऽसि परमां गतिम् ॥

इत्यनन्तौजसं वीरं यथा चान्यं पृथग्जनम् । तथा वाचमथाभीक्ष्णं ब्राह्मणोऽर्जुनमब्रवीत् ॥

न चैनं चालयामास धैर्यात्सुदृढनिश्चयम् ॥

तमुवाच ततः प्रीतः स द्विजः प्रहसन्निव । वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते शक्रोऽहमरिसूदन ॥

Upon reaching Indrakila, Dhananjaya paused for a moment. Then he heard a voice from the heavens saying, 'Stop!' Surprised by the voice, the son of Pandu looked around. Arjuna, skilled with both hands, spotted an ascetic sitting under a tree, radiating a divine light, with tawny skin, matted hair, and a slender frame. The powerful ascetic, noticing Arjuna's arrival, spoke to him, saying, 'Who are you, dear one, arriving here with your bow and arrows, dressed in armor and carrying a scabbard and gauntlets, clearly committed to Kshatriya ways? Weapons are unnecessary here.

This is a place for peaceful Brahmanas engaged in ascetic practices, free from anger or happiness. Your bow has no purpose here, as there are no conflicts in this serene land. So, cast aside your bow, dear child. You have found purity by being here. O hero, there is no one else with your strength and valor.' The Brahmana repeated this kindly, smiling, but he could not sway Arjuna, who was resolute in his mission. The ascetic, pleased and smiling, addressed Arjuna once more, saying, 'O enemy-slayer, may you be blessed! I am Sakra: ask for the boon you wish.'

Then, Indra might have directed Arjuna to learn Dance from Chitrasena - a Gandharva, which episode was mentioned subsequently. (44th Chapter of Vanaparva - Gita Press)

वादित्रं देवविहितं नृलोके यन्न विद्यते। तदर्जयस्व कौन्तेय श्रेयो वै ते भविष्यति ॥

सखायं प्रददौ चास्य चित्रसेनं पुरंदरः। स तेन सह संगम्य रेमे पार्थो निरामयः ॥

गीतवादित्रनृत्यानि भूय एवादिदेश ह। तथाऽपि नालभच्छर्म तरस्वी द्यूतकारितम् ॥

दुःशासनवधामर्षी शकुनेः सौबलस्य च। ततस्तेनातुलां प्रीतिमुपागम्य क्वचित्क्वचित्। गान्धऱ्वमतुलं नृत्यं वादित्रं चोपलब्धवान् ॥

स शिक्षितो नृत्यगुणाननेका- न्वादित्रगीतार्थगुणांश्च सर्वान्। न शर्ण लेभे परवीरहन्ता भ्रातॄन्स्मरन्मातरं चैव कुन्तीम् ॥

Indra spoke to him , saying, 'O son of Kunti, learn music and dance from Chitrasena. Study the celestial music, unique to the heavens and unknown to humans, for it will benefit you greatly. Purandara gifted Chitrasena as a companion for Arjuna, and the son of Pritha found joy in his friendship with Chitrasena.

Chitrasena taught Arjuna constantly about both singing and playing instruments, as well as dancing. However, the restless Arjuna could not find peace, haunted by the unfair dice games of Sakuni, son of Suvala, and consumed by thoughts of Dussasana and his vengeance. Yet, as his friendship with Chitrasena deepened, he gradually mastered the exceptional dances and music of the Gandharvas.

Finally, despite learning a variety of dances and an array of music, both sung and played, the slayer of enemies still struggled to find peace, burdened by memories of his brothers and his mother Kunti.

---

It must be the same Chitrasena, who defeated Duryodhana, Karna and others in Ghosha Yatra episode that was mentioned in 236 -245 Chapters of Vana Parva (Gita Press).

There, Chitrasena says, after getting defeated at the hands of Arjuna, that he was Arjuna’s friend Chitrasena.

स वध्यमानस्तैरस्त्रैरर्जुनेन महात्मना । अथास्य दर्शयामास तदात्मानं प्रियः सखा ॥

चित्रसेनमथालक्ष्य सखायं युधि दुर्बलम् । सञ्जहारास्त्रमथ तत्प्रसृष्टं पाण्डवर्षभः ॥

दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवाः सर्वे संहृतास्त्रं धनञ्जयम् ।

Chitrasena exclaimed, 'Look, I am your friend standing beside you in this fight!' Seeing his friend Chitrasena weary from battle, the mightiest of the Pandu sons withdrew his weapons.