Adi Parba*** The First Parba---- Birth of Kauravas & Pandavas. Santanu the King of Mastinapura, stood on the bank of the Ganges, holding Queen Ganga’s his wife’s hands requesting, “Please do not throw our beautiful baby son into the waters of the Ganges.” The king said, “What king of Mother are you? You have borne seven sons. The moment they were born, you brought them here & threw them into the Ganges. I am not going to allow you to drown our eighth baby.” Queen Ganga smiled gently & said, “well then, you take care of your son. I am leaving you.” The king asked, “Why are you leaning me?” The queen said, “Don’t you remember? I made an agreement with you that on the day that you would object to any of my works that I would leave you the same day. I name this son Devavrata & taking him with me. I will return him to you in time.” King Santanu was the son of King Pratip of Hastinapura & the Queen Gangadevi was the Gangas herself. Later, Devavrata was known as Bhisma. In fact, the eight children of the King were Asta Vasu, “the eight Vasus”, the gods. They had stolen Nandini, the Kamadhenu, the sacred cow of Yogi Vasistha. As a result, Yogi Vasistha had cursed the eight Vasus to be born as human beings. The Vasus had an agreement with Gangadevi that soon after they were born, Ganga would throw them into the waters. The eighth Vasu (Prabhasa was his name) had actually held the cow so he remained as a human being as the eighth son of King Santanu. Gradually, Devavrata became young man of sixteen years old. Ganga returned him to his father, king Santanu. Arjuna Meets Indra & Lord Siva & receives Divine Weapons. One day Yudhisthira said Arjuna, “I have received a science from Vyasa & I would impart it to you. This science (Yonimudra in Kriya science) will expose the whole universe before you. Attentively receive that science from me now. You will receive the grace of the celestials. Meditate on Indra.” Yudhisthira taught that science to Arjuna. Thus the Guru-Param-Para, the tradition of transmitting personally on a one to one basis, was maintained. Arjuna then found a place called Indrakila in the Himalayas to meditate on Indra. Being pleased, Indra revealed himself & tild Arjuna, “If you can receive the grace of three-eyed, trident-bearing Lord Siva, then I will give you all the knowledge, mantras, & science of delivery ofb the celestial weapone. Strive to obtain the sight of the highest of the gods, Lord Siva.” Saying this, Indra disthen Arjuna, clad in rags made of grass & furnished with a black deersk in & a stick, commenced to eat withered leaves fallen upon the ground. He passed his days eating, fruits, & finally subsisted on air alone. With arms upraised & leaning upon nothing & standing on the tips of his toes, he continued his austerities. Jayadratha Kidnaps Draupadi & Learns a Hard Lesson. One day, the Pandavas set out hunting. Draupadi was alone at home. There arrived the king of Sindhu, Jayadratha, who was married to Dusala, the only daughter of King Dhritarastra. Jayadratha addressed Draupadi, “Excellent lady! Are your husbands well?” Draupadi konwing that it was Jayadratha, the husdand of her sister-in-law Dusala, offered him water for washing his feet & a seat. The Pandavas’ Retiring to the Himalayas:- News of Lord Krisna’s departure & of the destruction of the Yodavas arrived at Hastinapura, & the Pandavas lost all attachment to life on the earth. They crowned Parikshita, the son Abhimanyu (the adolescent son of Arjuna whop was killed at Kurukshetra), king at Mastinapur, & they crowned the Yadav prince Vajra king at Sakraprastha. Yudhisthira had instructed Subhadra, the wife of Arjuna, to look after both kings. Kripa was installed as preceptor for King Parikshita in the science of arms.