Khaandava vanadahanamu

At that time,Agni came in the guise of a brahmin Krishna andArjuna.He looked tired.THey welcomed him.He told them that he wanted limitless food.If they could provide that much food to him,they could give him the food he liked most.THEY ACCEDED his wish.Then he said he was Agni.The food he wants to relish is Indras Khandava vanam.Indra is protecting it as if it was amrutham.He very alert and sincere in protecting it.So many animals are living there in plenty.Both of you are masters in archery.You are warriors.You can with hold Indra.If you can protect me ,I will put it to flames and fulfill my hunger.Arjuna said that he had sufficient powerful arrows to control Indra.But to face Indra with equal fervor,he does not have efficient bow,Chariot and horses to keep him in a better position in war.Even Sree krishna does not have sufficient arms to fight Indra.Though they had interest and power to fight Indra,they could not give word to Agni to proceed.Then Agni gave him powerful Bow named Gandivam,Akshaya bana thuneeramu,celestial chariot and horses.How many he might use ,as many arrows will be there for him to fight.He gave Sudarsana chakram which can cut off all the power of the opponents.And gada named Koumodaki.He explained their features to them.Then he anxiously started to lit fire to the forest.Devathas were afraid and complained to Indra about this fact.Indra created Clouds to pour rain on the flames. Arjuna made un umbrella with his arrows so that not even a single drop of water fell on the flames.During that time,Thakshakas son,Aswasena.serpent king,was going along with his mother in the sky.At that time.Due to Arjunas arrow,his tail was cut and his mother in the flames.Arjuna wanted to kill Aswasena also.But Indra saved him by using his powers.Indras army rounded off Krishna and Arjuna ,but they fought and won.Hearing akaasavaanis suggestion,Indra asked his army to back out.Mayudu,Brother of demon Namuchi asked Arjuna for refuge.Arjuna protected him.Khandava dahanam was a miraculous act.Ordinary mortals could not do it.So Indra came to felicitate Arjuna and Krishna for their valor.Indra gave many Divyaasthras to Arjuna.He requested Krishna to be a friend of Arjuna forever.

Arjunas pilgrimage

One day,thieves took away homadhenuvu of one of the Brahmins.He came weeping to Arjuna and requested him to kill the thieves and get back his cow.He hastened hi to save its calf also.At that time Dharmaraju was with Droupadi in the hall where arms are kept.Arjuna could not think of anything except save the cow and calf of the Brahmin.He went to the place where arms are kept and collected his arms.He killed thieves and brought back the cow and calf and gave them to THE brahmin.He went and stood before Dharmaraju with folded hands.As per rules ,he should not have gone there where Dharmaraju and Droupadi were staying.So he started for pilgrimage for one year.While he was performing vratha ,daughter of Nagaraja,Uloochi ,saw him and fell in love.She took him along with agnihomam to her palace.After completing the vratha ,Arjuna asked her about her name,her parentage and why she fell in love with him so deeply. She replied that She was the daughter of Kouravyudu,snake king.She wooed him.If Arjuna does not accept her,she would die.She promised that she would not come in the way of his vratham and it would not be vratha bhangam if he accepts her that night.He accepted and made her his wife.He had a son,yiraavanthudu,by her.Next day ,he left Nagaloka and reached the banks of Ganga. Then he reached a kingdom,Manipooru.That king,Chithravaahanudu recieved and respected him.Arjuna wanted to marry his daughter,Chithrangada.Chithravaahanudu came to know about this fact and was happy to give his daughter to Arjuna in marriage.He put the condition that the born to Chithraangada would become vamsakartha of his dynasty.Arjuna obliged his wish and married Chithraangada.He stayed there for sometime and had a son,Babhruvaahana.Arjuna gave him to Chithravahana as vamsakartha and left for seaside.He the reached Prabhaasatheerdhamu near western side of the sea.He reached Dwaraka in the guise of a yathi..He was doing Dhyana in favor of Krishna from there.Sree krishna came to know about Arjunas arrival and went to meet him alone.Arjuna repspected him properly.Krishna enquired as to how his penance was going on.He also enquired about people at Indraprastham.He also observed Arjunas ideas about Subhadra,his sister. Subhadra was frequently coming to Raivathaka hill to pray.Arjuna was looking at her longingly.Krishna admonished him laughingly that yathis are not supposed to look at women in such fashion.He also said that he knew about Arjunas love and affection towards Subhadra.He gave word that he would see that his wish is fulfilled.Because ,he would talk to Devaki and Vasudavudu and tell them about Arjunas interest in Subhadra .So he can be confident that his wish would materialise.He sent word to Dharmaraju also that Arjuna was safe with him. At that time,Balarama came there.He could not identify Arjuna ,but thought he was yathi.He paid tributes to him.Herequested Arjuna to perform Chaathurmaasya vratham at Dwaraka along with them.He appointed his Sister,Subhadra to look after yathi.He was made to stay at Subhadras palace.Subhadra also could not recognise Arjuna.She too thought him to be yathi and used to serve him with all the respect. One day,she asked About Paanduraju puthrulu and their welfare.Was Kunthee davi Alright?Did Arjuna return from pilgrimage? If he knew about these things,she requested him to tell her.Then Arjuna said that he himself was Arjuna.He came in the guise of yathi for her sake only.He wanted that they get married soon as gandharva vivaham.She was happy to note that he Arjuna.She went to her palace blushing.Sree krishna was also of the same opinionHe wanted to get them married without notifying anyone.Arjuna and Subhadra were eager to get married soon.As soon as they thought of it,Sreekrishna,Akroorudu,,Indra,sachidevi,Vasishta and pther rishis came to Dwaraka.Balaraama and his people did not come.Marriage was done pompously.Sree krishna told Arjuna to take Subhadra to Indraprastha.He then went to Anthardweepam as if he knew nothing of these incidents. Arjuna did as Krishna told him.Subhadra was running the chariot while Arjuna fought with Yaadava soldiers.He won the war and went to Indraprastha along with Subhadra.As per Krishnas directions.Yadava soldiers settled back.As per Arjunas instructions,Subhadra went along with Milkmaids to Kuntheedevi and took her blessings.Kunthee blessed that her husband would become a grea warrior and she would be proud mother to a great warrior.Subhadra stayed with Kkunthee devi.Arjuna entered Indraprastha valiantly along with many warriors.In the mean while,Sreekrishna and Balaraama also reached with many gifts.They had a son Abhimanyu.He was a master in archery.Abhimanyu learnt Archery from Arjuna and vedavedaangamulu from Dhoumyuni. Droupadi also gave birth to Prathivindhya,Sruthasoma,Sruthakeerthi,Sathaaneeka,Sruthasenudu to her five husbands respectively.They are called as upapaandavulu.