Arjun's Praayashchit Travel and Marriages

Arjun came to Gangaa River. As he entered the river to take bath, a beautiful maiden captured him and took him to her palace. On asking, she said - "I am the daughter of the king of Naaglok, my name is Uloopee. I fell in love with you as soon as I saw you. Please accept my love." Arjun told about himself as who he was and how he was in exile. And during this period he had to observe Brahmcharya. He further said - "Although I would like to please but you can see I am so helpless." Uloopee said - "I think you have not understood the conditions of your Brahmcharya during this exile. Your this Brahmcharya is limited to only Draupadee, it does not apply to any other woman, so you are free to marry me." Arjun was very pleased with her. He spent a happy night with her. The next day he returned to the Earth.

Arjun then proceeded towards Himaalaya mountains. After visiting all the sacred rivers there, he turned towards south. He took bath in Rivers Godaavaree and Kaaveree. Then he came to a place named Manaloor. Its king's name was Chitrasen and he had a beautiful daughter named Chitraangadaa. Arjun fell in love with her. He went to the king and asked her hand. The king said - "For many generations in our family we have only child. My daughter is also my only child. Her child will be the heir of my throne. If you are willing to leave the child to me, I will be very happy to give my daughter to the greatest hero in the world.. Arjun agreed and he spent three months with her.

He further proceeded towards south and saw the southernmost part of Bhaarat on the western side

Subhadraa Haran

When the children of Vrishni Vansh were learning archery from Drone, Gada was a good friend of Arjun. He was a cousin of Krishn. He used to tell about his cousin sister Subhadraa to Arjun several times. So Arjun had heard about her so much that he had already fallen in love with her even without seeing her. She was the sister of Saranaa. Now he wanted to see her without being recognized. He knew that she was in Dwaarakaa and he was now in Prabhaas Kshetra, a place very near to Dwaarakaa.

So he arrived in Dwaaraka in disguise as a Saadhu (holy ashes rubbed on his body, matted hair, trident in one hand). He wished that Krishn could come to his help. Krishn also heard about a Saadhu wandering in Prabhaas Kshetra.  He knew with the description of that Saadhu that he was Arjun. During the night he sat under a huge banyan tree. It was pouring down in torrents and still he was sitting there.

Krishn immediately went there and talked to him about his travel. Arjun told everything to Him. Then he asked Krishn to help him win Subhadraa's heart. Krishn was too pleased to marry Subhadraa to His dear friend Arjun. He took him on a mountain named Raivatak and asked him to spend some time there and He came back to Dwaarakaa. After a few days there was a feast on that hill so many people came there. Arjun was also watching all of them. The then he saw a most beautiful girl surrounded by her maids. Arjun understood, she was Subhadraa. His feelings came into his eyes. He heard a voice also from his back "Your feelings do not suit your attire." Arjun said shyly, "Don't tease me like that." Krishn asked - "If you are interested, I can talk to my father about it." "Please, Krishn, do that for me." Krishn further said - "You know among all kinds of marriages the most wonderful marriage is that which is based on love. If you can make my sister fall in love with you, then you can take her to Indraprasth and marry her. For now you sit here in the position of meditation.

The worship was over, Subhadraa had gone away. Balaraam, Kritvarmaa, Saambaa, Saranaa, Pradyumn and Gada went round the temple and found a Saadhu absorbed inmeditation. Balaraam was greatly impressed with the look of that Saadhu - his handsome face and the whole body covered with holy ashes etc. Very cautiously Arjun opened his eyes and found Balaraam standing before him folding his hands to him. So it was clear that he was not recognized. Balaraam prostrated before him and invited him to Dwaarakaa and asked - "May we know your plans? Where have you come from? And what can we do to make you more comfortable?" Arjun said with a sigh of relief - "I have seen the whole world, but I have never spent more than three nights at any one place. But now the rainy season has already set in, so I must spend this time somewhere. I think this mountain is comforting me." Balraam was greatly impressed with this young Saadhu who spoke so beautifully.

In the meantime Krishn also came there, Balraam asked Him also to worship that young Saadhu. Krishn had to obey His elder brother. Balaraam told everything about the Saadhu and asked Krishn to make some arrangements of the Saadhu. Krishn said - "Daaoo, Being you, my elder brother, present here it is not appropriate for me to do this." Balraam got pleased with Krishn also. He said - "I think the best place for him is the gardens of Subhadraa's palace. I will ask her to take care of his needs." (It was of those times custom to serve great Saadhu so that the young girls can lead happy life with their blessings. Raajaa Kuntibhoj did the same for Kuntee to ask her to serve Muni Durvaasaa.)

Krishn was happy that His plan worked, but outwardly He said - "I don't think that it is appropriate to let him stay near Subhadraa's palace, because we don't know anything about him. This Saadhu is young, handsome, and sweet tongued. All these qualities are enough to attract any young girl. I strongly disapprove it, but you are wise, if you have decided this, you must have considered all these points." Balaraam got angry with Krishn on talking like this about the Saadhu. So Krishn took him to Subhadraa's palace. He took Arjun to Satyabhaamaa and Rukminee (both were wives of Krishn). Then He took him to Subhadraa and left him there with all the instructions to Subhadraa about the Saadhu. Arjun spent many happy days with Subhadraa. She was taking care of him religiously. Arjun looked at her all the time with a sigh. Subhadraa did not understand it.

Arjun was a role model of everybody in Vrishni Vansh members in the field of archery. So living in such environment Subhadraa also started liking Arjun. Krishn and Gada also talked about him so much that she could imagine him clearly and had fallen in love with him without seeing him. (Rukminee also fell in love with Krishn without seeing Him and so was Damayantee.) Days were passing. Now Subhadraa felt odd the way that Saadhu used to look at her, because his eyes were so piercing that she could not meet hers to his.

But then a suspicion arose in her heart that maybe he was her Arjun. Once she saw his shoulders, she found both of his shoulders scarred, she knew that Arjun could use his both hands while shooting arrows. But then how could then this Saadhu be Arjun? So she decided to talk to him about it. One day she asked him - "They say that you have traveled the whole Bhaarat, which place did you like most." Arjun told her about many places. Subhadraa used to spend hours together hearing his charming voice. Once she said - "Have you been to Indraprasth? There live Paandav, they are our cousins." Arjun told her that he had met them and he knew them very well. Subhadraa further said - "I have heard that Arjun has been away from Indraprasth. He must also be wandering like you. Did you meet him somewhere by chance?"

Arjun said - "Yes, I have met him, rather I know his present whereabouts also." Subhadraa asked curiously "Where is he?" Arjun said "In fact He has fallen in love with the most beautiful woman in the world and for the same reason he has disguised himself as a Saadhu. He is always here before you. How is that you did not recognize me?" Subhadraa's face became red with shyness. She didn't speak a word. Arjun said - "I love you very much, Subhadraa, and I cannot live without you." Subhadraa went away to her palace. She became sick of Arjun's love.

Krishn was aware of all the developments, so He thought that they should not meet for some time. He sent Rukminee in the service of Arjun. Seeing Arjun sad Rukminee said - "I am so sorry that that you are not happy with my coming." Then she told about Subhadraa's illness. Devakee got worried about Subhadraa, so she talked to Krishn about it. Krishn suggested that they should all go to a nearby island to worship Rudra for a fortnight. In the meantime He would set the matter right. So Daaoo and other people went to that island leaving Subhadraa alone.

Then He went to Subhadraa and told her that we all are going for a fortnight. She would be alone there and the 12th day was an auspicious day for her marriage. And He went away. On the 12th day Arjun asked her to arrange a chariot which should be equipped with all kinds of weapons. Subhadraa did it. It was Krishn's own chariot with His favorite horses - Shaibya, Sugreev, Valaahak and Meghpushp. Arjun changed to his normal dress, Subhadraa took the reins and the chariot was on its way.

When Shakuni heard this news, he said - "I am not able to understand this Praayashchit travel, because there he has married several girls. Two of them he has left there only but one he has brought along to Indraprasth."