Vyasa said: -
1. In days of yore, the celestials performed a great sacrifice in the Naimisha forest. O king, the son of Vivasvata (Yama) became the slayer of animals.
2. O king, thus employed in that sacrifice, Yama did not kill any human being. Thereupon the death being suspended among men, the number of human beings greatly increased.
3. Soma, Sakra, Varuna, Kubera, the Sadhyas, the Rudra, the Vasus, the twin Ashwinis, these and other celestials went to Prajapati, the creator of the world.
4. Alarmed at the increase on human beings, they all thus addressed the master of creation. “We are afflicted with the fear (of the increase of human beings) and therefore wishing to be relieved, we ask your protection.
The Grandsire said: -
5. You have no fear from fear human beings; you are all immoral. You should not be frightened by the mortals.
The Celestials said: -
6. The mortals have all become the immortals. There is now no difference between them and us. Being vexed at this, we have come to you so that we may have some distinction (from men).
The Deity said: -
7. The son of Vivasvata (Yama) is now engaged in the great sacrifice. It is this reason that human beings are not dying. When his sacrificial works will be finished, the death will be again among men.
8. When that time will come, the son of Vivasvata will be strengthened by your respective energies. He will then sweep away thousands of human beings who will have no energy left in them.
Vyasa said: -
9. Having heard these words of the first bom deity, the greatly strong (celestials) went (to the place of sacrifice) and when they all assembled there, they saw a (golden) lotus in the Bhagirathi.
10. Seeing that (golden) lotus, they were very much surprised. The foremost of heroes among them, Indra, went (to find out where it grew). Going to the place where from the Ganges always issues forth, he saw a lady as effulgent as the fire.
11. The lady who had come there to fetch water was bathing in the Ganges, but she was weeping all the while. The drops of tear that fell from her eyes were transformed into golden lotuses.
12. Seeing this wonderful sight, the wielder of the thunder (Indra) came to the lady and said, “O amiable lady, who are you? Why are you weeping? I desire to know the truth. Tell me everything.”
The Lady said: -
13. O Sakra, unfortunate as I am, you may know who I am and why I am I weeping. O king, if you come with me as I lead the way, you can then see why I weep.
Vyasa said: -
14. He (Indra) followed her and soon saw a handsome youth with a young lady. They were seated on a throne on the peaks of the king of mountains and they were playing with dice.
15. The king of the celestials thus spoke to him, “O intelligent youth, know this universe to be under my sway.” Seeing that the person take no notice of what he had said, he (Indra) again said, “I am the lord of the universe.”
16. Seeing Indra angry, the youth who was none else than Mahadeva cast a glance at him and smiled. At that glance the king of the celestials was at once paralysed and stood on that spot like a statue.
17. When the game of dice came to an end, he (Shiva) spoke thus to the weeping woman, “Bring him (Indra) here. I shall so deal with him that pride may not again enter his heart.”
18. As soon as Indra was touched by that woman, the chief of the celestials with limbs paralysed by that touch fell down on the ground. The illustrious deity of fierce energy (Shiva) then said to him, “O Indra, never act thus again.
19. Remove this huge stone, for your strength and energy are immeasurable. Enter the hole and wait with others who are all like you and the sun in splendour.”
20. He (Indra) removed that stone and saw a cave on the great mountain in which were four others resembling himself. Seeing them, he became very much grieved and exclaimed, “Shall I too meet with such fate?”
21. Then looking at the wielder of thunder (Indra) with expanded eyes, the deity Girisha (Shiva), said in anger, “O Shatakratu, (Indra) enter this cave without delay, for out of folly you have insulted me before my very eyes.”
22. Thus addressed by the lord (Shiva), the chief of the celestials was deeply grieved in consequence of that imprecation; and with limbs weakened by fear he trembled like the wind shaken leaf of the tree* on the breast of the king of mountains.
23. Thus unexpectedly cursed by the deity that rides the bull (Shiva), Indra trembled from head to foot; and with joined hands the thus head addressed the fearful god of many manifestations, “O Bhava, you are the on looker of the infinite universe.”
24. To him thus replied the deity of fiery energy with smiles, “Those that have your disposition never obtain my grace. These others (four in the cave) were like you at one lie there for some time.
25-26. The fate of you all should certainly by the same. All of you shall have to take births in the world of men, where having achieved many difficult feats and killing large number of men, you shall again regain the valued region of Indra by the merits of your respective deeds. You shall accomplish all I have said and much more.
The Old Indras said: -
27. We shall go from our celestial region to the region of men where salvation is difficult to gain. But let the celestials, Dharma, Vayu, Maghavata (present Indra) and the twin Ashwinis beget us on our would be mother. After fighting with men with both human and celestial weapons, we shall again come back to the region of Indra.
Vyasa said: -
28. Having heard this, the wielder of thunder (Indra) again addressed that foremost of gods (Shiva) saying, “Instead of going myself, I shall create from myself with a portion of my energy a person able to accomplish the task; and he will be the fifth among these (old Indras).”
29. Vishwabhuga, Bhutadhamana, greatly effulgent Shibi, Shanti and Tejasvin, these are the five Indras of old.
30. The illustrious deity of the formidable bow kindly granted to the five Indras the desire they cherished in their hearts and he appointed that exceedingly beautiful lady, who was none else than the celestial Lakshmi herself to be their common wife in the world of men.
31. Thereupon accompanied by all these Indras, he (Shiva) went to Narayana, who is immeasurably effulgent, infinite, immaterial, the self bom, the old the eternal and the spirit of the infinite universe.
32. He (Narayana) approved of everything and then they (Indras) all took births in the world of men. Hari (Narayana) took up two hairs from his body; one of them was white and the other black.
33. Those two hairs entered the wombs of the two ladies of the Yadu race, named Devaki and Rohini. The hair of the deity that was white became Baladeva and the hair that was black became Keshava’s self, Krishna.
34. Those Indra-like ones who were kept confined in the cave of the mountain are none less than the five sons of Pandu, possessing great prowess. And the Pandava Savyasachi (Aryuna) is a portion of (the present) Indra.
35. O king, thus were bom as the sons of Pandu those that were at one time Indras and the celestial Lakshmi herself who had appointed to be their wife is the exceedingly beautiful Draupadi.
36. How could she whose effulgence is like that of the son of the moon, whose fragrance spreads over two miles around, take birth in any other but an extraordinary way? She rose from within the earth by virtue of your sacrifice.
37. O king, I cheerfully grant to you this boon,- I give you spiritual sight. Behold the sons of Kunti now possessing their sacred and celestial forms of old.
Vaishampayana said: -
38. Thereupon, that holy Brahmana, Vyasa of greatly generous deeds, gave celestial sight to that king (Drupada) by his ascetic power. Then the king saw them (the Pandavas) all possessing their former forms.
39. He saw them with celestial garlands, each of them resembling like a Indra himself, with complexion as effulgent as the fire or the sun, each adorned with every ornament, each handsome and youthful, each with broad chest and stature with a height of five cubits.
40. Possessing every accomplishment, attired in celestial robes of great beauty and adorned with fragrant garlands of excellent make, the king saw them as so many, three-eyed gods (Shiva) or Vasus, Rudras or Adityas.
41. Seeing the (four others) Pandavas in the forms of the (present) Indra sprang from Indra himself, the king Drupada was exceedingly pleased. He was greatly surprised on seeing the celestial manifestation of Maya.
42. Looking at his daughter, that foremost of women possessing great beauty as that of a celestial maiden and splendour as that of the fire or the moon, the king considered, that for her beauty, splendour and fame, she is really worthy to be the wife of those celestial beings.
43. Seeing that wonderful sight, he touched the feet of the son of Satyavati, (Vyasa) and said, “O great Rishi, there is nothing wonderful in you.”
Vyasa said: -
44. There was in a certain wood a daughter of an illustrious Rishi, who though handsome and chaste, did not get a husband,
45. She gratified by her asceticism the deity Shankara (Shiva). The deity being pleased with her, himself thus spoke to her “Tell me what you want.”
46. Having been thus addressed, she repeatedly said to the boon-giving supreme lord, “I desire to have a husband endued with all accomplishments.”
47. That deity Shankara gave her the boon in joyful heart (saying), “O amiable girl, you shall have five husbands.”
48. She who had been able to please the deity said again, “O Shankara, I desire to have from you only one husband endued with all accomplishments.”
49. The god of gods, being well-pleased with her, spoke again to her thus, “You have addressed me five times saying, “Give me a husband”.
50. O amiable girl, therefore it shall be as you have asked. Be blessed. All this will happen in one of your future births.”
51. This your daughter of celestial beauty is that maiden. The faultless Krishna of the Prishata race had been pre-ordained to be the wife of five (men).
52. The celestial Lakshmi has risen in the great sacrifice to be the wife of the Pandavas. After serve penances she is bom as your daughter.
53. O king, that handsome goddess, who is waited upon by all the celestials, becomes the wife of five husbands. She has been created by the self-created (Brahma) for this purpose. Hearing all this, do what you desire.
Thus ends the hundred and ninety ninth chapter, the history of five Indras, in the Vaivahika of the Adi Parva.