Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Gandiva included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana�).
Story of ṇḍī
The famous bow of Arjuna.
Make.
It was who made the bow. 'This terrible bow which can punish the unjust and the wicked has been made by '. (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 98, Verse 21).
Specialities of ṇḍī.
This bow is enough to fight one lakh of people at one and the same time. Both Devas and men could be defeated with it. Chiselled very smooth and shining with many colours it was a very long bow. It was worshipped by Devas, Բ and Gandharvas. (վṭa Parva, Chapter 43). It gained and also decreased in power as the situation called for. (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 98, Verse 20).
History of ṇḍī.
, who made this bow kept it with him during the first 1000 years. For the next 1000 years ʰ貹پ kept it with him. Next, Indra got it from ʰ貹پ and he used it for 3585 years. After that Candra kept it for 500 years with him, and then ղṇa came in possession of it. After using it for 100 years ղṇa gave it to Arjuna, who used it for 65 years.
ṇḍī and Arjuna.
Arjuna agreed to protect the ṇḍ forest from rain, if Indra sent rain when Agni began eating the forest. But, realising that Arjuna possessed no weapons to effectively oppose Indra, Agni requested ղṇa to give the following to Arjuna, viz., the ṇḍī bow and a quiver wherein the arrows will never be exhausted, and the chariot marked with the symbol of monkey and drawn by four white horses -all kept by Candra. ղṇa at once made a present of the above to Arjuna. And, it was with the aid of this ṇḍī, that Arjuna defeated Indra at the time of ṇḍdāha. (See ṇḍdāha). Arjuna had taken a secret vow to cut off the head of anyone who asked him to give the bow to some one else. (ṇa Parva, Chapter 69).
In after years Arjuna won many wars with the help of this bow. (See Arjuna).
Arjuna gives up ṇḍī.
The great ܰܰṣeٰ war, which shook ٲ, to its very foundation came to an end. Dharmaputra was crowned a King. It was at this juncture that the 岹 dynasty got itself annihilated and Śrī ṛṣṇa entered mahāsamādhi. Now the ṇḍ lost all interest in mundane life, and they set out for the forest on their great journey after crowning ʲīṣi, the grandson of Arjuna as King. Their great travel took them to the shores of the Red Sea. The ṇḍī was still in Arjuna’s hands. On the shores of the Red Sea Agni Deva appeared before the ṇḍ and spoke to them "Well, ṇḍ, I am Agni Deva. Arjuna requires the ṇḍī no more. I got it from ղṇa for Arjuna. Return it, therefore, to ղṇa."
No sooner did he hear Agni Deva speak thus than did Arjuna throw it into the depths of the sea and also the quiver which never got exhausted of arrows with it. Agni Deva disappeared, and the ṇḍ continued their journey. (Mahāprasthānika Parva, Chapter 1).