Arjuna’s Return to Hastināpura

The horse of the Aśvamedha has finished its full year of wandering. Arjuna turns back to Hastināpura, where Yudhishṭhira is preparing the yajña. On the way, Kṛshṇa and Yudhishṭhira speak in a warm, half-teasing way about the hardships Arjuna has borne. Arjuna enters the capital to a joyful crowd. Soon after, his son Babhruvāhana arrives with his two mothers to greet Kuntī.

News of Arjuna’s approach

Scouts told Yudhishṭhira that Arjuna was coming back safely with the horse. Yudhishṭhira was very glad. His joy doubled when he heard of all that Arjuna had done in Gāndhāra and the other kingdoms on the way. This is from Chapter 87 of the Aśvamedhika Parva.

Yudhishṭhira’s worry and Kṛshṇa’s answer

Bhagavān Kṛshṇa had come to Hastināpura with Balarāma and the Vṛshṇi heroes. Yudhishṭhira sat with Kṛshṇa and could not hide a private worry. He had heard that Arjuna had fought battle after battle all through the year. He asked aloud whether some flaw in Arjuna’s own body or fortune caused him such unending hardship, since he could see no fault in his brother to blame.

Kṛshṇa answered with gentle humour. He said that there was only one “flaw”. Arjuna’s thighs (piṇḍikā) were a little larger in proportion than the rest of his frame, and this alone kept him always moving along the roads of the earth. There was no other defect in him.

Draupadī overheard. She gave Kṛshṇa a sidelong glance touched with a trace of jealousy, as for something that was her own. Kṛshṇa understood at once that she thought of him, her husband’s dearest friend, as almost Dhanañjaya himself, and he accepted her familiarity warmly. This is from Chapter 87.

Kṛshṇa also gave Arjuna’s own message. Yudhishṭhira should receive every king who came to the Aśvamedha with the greatest honour. He should take special care that no one felt slighted in the order of the arghya (the honour-offering of water). Divisions among the kings who were gathered must never again bring ruin on the people. And Babhruvāhana, king of Maṇipura and Arjuna’s own devoted son, should be honoured for Arjuna’s sake above all others. Yudhishṭhira received this message gladly. This is from Chapters 86–87.

The triumphant return

The next day there was a great tumult. The dust raised by the hooves of the horse rose like the dust beneath Uccaiḥśravas. The people of the city acclaimed Arjuna as he came near. They said that no king before him had done such a thing, not even the great Sagara and the ancient rulers of old: to lead the horse through the whole earth and bring every king on it to submit.

Arjuna heard these words and entered the yajñavāṭa (the ground of the yajña). Dhṛtarāshṭra, Yudhishṭhira and Kṛshṇa came out to receive him. Arjuna bowed at his father’s feet and at his elder brother’s feet. He honoured Bhīma and the others, and he embraced Kṛshṇa. Then he rested at last, like a traveller who has reached the shore. This is from Chapter 87.

Babhruvāhana’s arrival

At about the same time, Babhruvāhana arrived at Hastināpura with both his mothers, Citrāṅgadā and Ulūpī. He paid his respects to the Kuru elders and the assembled kings. Then he entered Kuntī’s residence to greet his grandmother. This is from Chapter 87.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Aśvamedhika Parva, Chapter 87 (the return, Yudhishṭhira’s worry and Kṛshṇa’s answer, Babhruvāhana’s arrival)
• Mahābhārata, Aśvamedhika Parva, Chapter 86 (with Chapter 87, Arjuna’s message to Yudhishṭhira)