SECTION 31

SECTION 31

Vaisampayana said,--"I shall now recite to you the deeds and triumphs of Nakula, and how he conquered the direction that had once been subjugated by Vasudeva. Nakula, surrounded by a large host, set out from Khandavaprastha for the west, making this earth tremble with the shouts and the leonine roars of the warriors and the deep rattle of chariot wheels. And he first assailed the mountainous country called Rohitaka that was dear unto the celestial generalissimo Kartikeya and which was delightful and prosperous and full of kine and every kind of wealth and produce. And the encounter Nakula had with the Mattamyurakas of that country was fierce. And Nakula after this, subjugated the whole of the desert country and the region known as Sairishaka full of plenty, as also that other one called Mahetta. And he had a fierce encounter with the royal sage Akrosa. And Nakula left that part of the country having subjugated the Dasarnas, the Sivis, the Trigartas, the Amvashtas, the

Malavas, the five tribes of the Karnatas and those twice born classes that were called the Madhyamakeyas and Vattadhanas. And making circuitous journey Nakula then conquered the Mlechcha tribes called the Utsava-sanketas. And he soon brought under subjection the mighty Gramaniya that dwelt on the shore of the sea, and the Sudras and the Abhiras that dwelt on the banks of the Saraswati, and all those tribes that lived upon fisheries, and those also that dwelt on the mountains, and the whole of the country called after the five rivers, and the mountains called Amara, and the country called Uttarayotisha and the city of Divyakutta and the tribe called Dwarapala. And Nakula, by sheer force, reduced to subjection the Ramathas, the Harahunas, and various kings of the west. And while staying there Nakula sent messengers unto Vasudeva. And Vasudeva with all the Yadavas accepted his sway. And Nakula, proceeding thence to Sakala, the city of the Madras, made his uncle Salya accept from affection the sway of the Pandavas. And, Nakula deserving the hospitality and entertainment at his uncle's hands was well entertained by his uncle. And skilled in war, the prince, taking from Salya a large quantity of jewels and gems, left his kingdom. And Nakula then reduced to subjection the fierce Mlechchas residing on the sea coast, as also the wild tribes of the Palhavas, the Kiratas, the Yavanas, and the Sakas. And having subjugated various monarchs, and making all of them pay tributes, Nakula that, full of resources, retraced his way towards his own city. And, so great was the treasure which Nakula brought that ten thousand camels could carry it with difficulty on their backs. And arriving at Indraprastha, Nakula presented the whole of that wealth unto Yudhishthira.

"Thus, did Nakula subjugate the countries that lay to the west--the direction that is presided over by the god Varuna, and that had once before been subjugated by Vasudeva himself!"