EFFECT OF ARDHASTAMA SANI AND LIFE HISTORY OF NALA & DAMAYANTHI, CRUSHING OF DROUPADI'S PRIDE AND PAST URVASI'S CURSE ON ARJUN.
Indra also invited his son to his palace in the Heaven. Arjuna was amazed at the splendor of his father’s palace at Amaravathi. Dancers like Urvashi,Tilottama, Rambha and Menaka entertained him. There was a huge banquet serving different varieties of tasty and heavenly dishes. Arjuna learnt song and dance from the Gandharva, Chitrasena. Indra himself taught him to wield the divine astras, and also gifted him with his own Vajra.
Urvashi’s curse
Indra had noted the passionate glances exchanged between Arjuna and Urvashi during his stay. He commanded Urvashi to spend a night with Arjuna. However Arjuna told that he has heard that she had relationship with his ancestor Puruva,and so she is like her mother, equal in respect to Kunti.[20] Urvashi was annoyed and cursed him that he will become a eunuch who will live among women, singing and dancing. On Indra’s request, Urvashi reduced her curse to a period of one year, the thirteenth year of Pandavas’ exile
Ardhastama Sani and Story of Nala-Damayanthi
During Gochara when saturn traverses Fourth house from natal moon , inavariably man leaves his existent place of stay. Many a great kings had to face exile during this period. Rama went to forest in ardhastama,.Pandavas went to vanavas when saturn was in aquarius.
When in vanavas Yudhisthira meets Sage Bharadhwaj and relates to him his plight. Yudhisthira says ”oh sage look how unfortunate I am ,I have lost all my wealth, Kingdom and belongings and am wandering in his dense forest. Perhaps no other person would have been as unfortunate as I am.” For this sage Bharadhwaj says,” Oh great King, Consider yourself as fortunate as you have the company of your wife and brothers even at this moment of calamity , to share with you your misfortunes. Pitiable is the plight of him who has no company of his near and dear in times of trouble. King Nala lost his kingdom in a game of dice to his brother, and left to the forest along with his beautiful wife Damayanthi.
Damayanthi had a great shining goblet on the head near forehead inside her hair braids. King nala spent a night in the jungle ,along with his wife ,who also set out with him.Nala in the morning saw his clothes fly away by wind , as a result of saturn in the fourth. He thought His wife would go away to her father’s house, if he deserts her in the jungle,, So he tears a part of saree of his wife to cover himself and deserts her goes away deep into the forest. Damayanthi with a torn saree , is caught by a hunter who tries to touch her , but because of her pativratya is burnt to ashes. Damayanthi wanders into the forest and reaches into a city, where the queen of the city , takes her as a dasi. Damayanthi takes a promise from her that she would not be sent to entertain any males in her Kingdom. Nala tries to rescue a snake in a pit and is severely bitten by it .[ So much for ardhastama , a beningn act is also rewarded with a poison].Poison of the snake turns Nala into a dwarf , ugly man. Snake says he has done a favour on him by biting him and deforming him. There are difficult days ahead , it would be difficult for him to bear them as NALA. Nala became BAHUK in his crippled form. Snake guided him to go to Raja Rituparna of Ayodhya. Nala was expert in cooking, economics,horse racing,and reaching any places without obstacles. HE could cook without igniting fire, without fetching water and aroma of the substance he touched increased many times. Walls dont offer resistance he could pass through them.
Rituparna was amazed at his abilities and kept him as his personal charioteer. Damayanthi’s Father was a king of VIDHARBHA , he knowing the fate of his daughter sent many bramhins to look for her in various countries. One of the purohits saw damayanthi in the city and recognized her from her Goblet in the head. He took her back to Vidharbha. Then these bramhins also found out that there was a Bahuk ,the dwarf in Ayodhya who could cook. Damayanthi suspecting BAhuk to be her husband, declares her second swayamvar , and send invitation everywhere . Now invitation said the swayanvar was on the next day only. Ayodhya was the nearest country about 1000 km from Vidharbha . Only Nala could drive a chariot at 1000km within a day in those days. So Bahuk upset at his wife’s decision , inspires Rituparna to attend Vidharbha Swayamvar. Rituparna agrees but is afraid whether they can reach Vidarbha overnight,BAhuk assures. On the way Rituparna is amazed at Bahuk’s ability, he wants to learn the art, so he asks BAhuk,” can you tell me how many leaves are there on the tree below “( their chariot is actually flying in the air at that speed) . Now BAHUK says how can one count leaves on the tree . Rituparna says he has a amazing mathematical technique, He gives the number and it turns out to be exact . Rituparna agrees to teach this technique provided Bahuk teaches him his Art.
Both reach Vidharbha but find no festivities, Rituparna immidiately hides his intention ,and accepts hospitality. Now in a outhouse damayanthi spies on BAHUK as to how he cooks and how obstacles vanish in his presence and how aromas of trees an flowers increase manyfolds . She recognises NALA , Asks him why he had deserted her. HE says he knew how powerful, intelligent she was , and was confident that she would take care of hersellf. With this Damayanthi and NALA pray shani and Kali inside him unable to bear the poison comes out and asks forgiveness and leaves away. Hari gives boon that whoever listens to this story is freed of miseries of kaliyuga . Both Nala Damayanthi regain the kingdom and live happily, Rituparna is proud that he had for a friend such a great KING.” #
Oh Yudhisthira , you atleast have everyone by your side , look at NALA he even lost his own self ,and was left with none to share his woes. So pray Lord Krishna for being so kind toYou.”
Saturn in fourth brings everyone to his ground self be it a king or common man. We are all puppets in the hands of planets.
SIMILARLY FOR PANDAWAS
Mahabharata - Rematch of Dice game and Pandavas' exile begins
"The loser will have to live 13 years in exile out of which the last year should be in anonymity. If the loser is exposed during the last year, then he will have to go for another 12 years of exile". Thus spoke Duryodhana to Yuddhistira on the stake they were playing for.
AND LIFE IN EXILE ARJUNA'S MISSION.
Duryodhana was dissatisfied with the turn of events. Along with Uncle Shakuni, he convinced his father King Dhritharashtra to invite the Pandavas for another game before they leave. King Dhritharashtra, out of his fatherly love, succumbed to it and sent out the invitation again.Could Yuddhistira had refused the invitation based on the events that had happened? The general Kshatriya Dharma (Warrior code) would not let him reject a challenge. Did he do this in the hopes of avoiding a war, in case there was a slimmest chance available? He knew that the Kauravas would not let them live in peace even if they were to return to Indraprastha now. Or did he play this because he needed an excuse to perform penance for the mistakes he did today?
The game was played and Yuddhistira lost as expected. His brothers and wife Draupadi accompanied Yuddhistira in this exile. Kunti wanted to accompany them but Yuddhistira refused her due to old age. Kunti took a political stand and stayed at Vidura's place instead of the palace. In this way, the people would always remember all the events of this day for the next 13 years.
Pandavas were staying a small forest hut. As per some sscripture, in special circumstances, 13 days can be counted as 13 years. Vidura requested King Dhritharashtra to call back the Pandavas from the forest, return them Indrapratha and hope that they do not wage a war to avenge the humiliation. King Dhritharashtra refused this solution, partly out of his love for his son and also to push back the war to 13 years (at least). They had a heated argument over which King Dhritharashtra accuses Vidura of always siding with the Pandavas and then telling him to live with the Pandavas if they are so dear to him. Listening to this accusation, Vidura leaves and stays with the Pandavas.
King Dhritharashtra realizes his folly of letting his anger getting better of him (in some retellings, it is Bhishma who scolds him) and sends his loyal charioteer to call Vidura back.
In some retellings, all the Pandava brothers except Yuddhistira is ready to accept the 13 day-13 year scripture law and go back. Yuddhistira refuses to acknowledge this saying that this is not what the stake was. According to stake, 13 years was exact 13 years. Also, he needed to perform penance for his vices and mistakes so he will spend these years in the same and think of further action on completion. Wife Draupadi and his younger brothers are disappointed yet, they do not leave him.