Then Pandu, gathering the treasury and many splendid vehicles, journeyed to Mithila. There, he waged battle and conquered the Videhas. In the same way, he marched upon Kashi, Suhma, and Pundra, and by the sheer power and might of his arms, he brought great glory to the Kuru lineage. The assembled kings, encountering Pandu blazing in battle like a torrent of arrows and weapons, a true adversary to his foes, withdrew before his onslaught. Their armies shattered, these kings were brought under Pandu’s command and set to serve the purposes of the Kurus. Thus, Pandu subdued all the rulers of the earth, and they regarded him as the sole hero among men, as Indra is among the gods. All the lords of the earth approached him with joined palms, their heads bowed low, offering a wealth of jewels. They brought gems, pearls, coral, vast stores of gold and silver, as well as treasures of cows, horses, chariots, and elephants. Camels, buffaloes, and all manner of livestock were brought forth, along with rare lotus-fiber treasures and blankets from Ranka, and all these gifts Pandu, the lord of Nagapura, accepted. Having gathered these riches, Pandu set out once more, his retinue of vehicles gleaming, eager to bring joy to his own kingdom and the city called Gajasahvaya. The fame of Shantanu, lion among kings, and the wise Bharata—once diminished—was restored by Pandu’s valor. Those who had seized Kuru lands and wealth in the past were now made tributaries by Pandu, the lion of Nagapura. The assembled kings and ministers, their minds brimming with confidence and joy, spoke of his deeds, joined by the citizens and countryfolk. Led by Bhishma, they went out to meet Pandu as he arrived; the people of Nagapura, having traveled far, welcomed him with reverence. They beheld the land filled with treasures—brought in countless vehicles—gems of every sort, riches both great and small. With elephants, horses, chariots, cows, camels, and sheep swelling their stores, the Kauravas and Bhishma found no end to the wealth. Pandu, increasing the joy of his mother Kausalya, bowed at his father’s feet and honored the citizens and countryfolk as was fitting. Having subdued enemy kingdoms and accomplished his purpose, Bhishma returned, and, embracing his son, shed tears of joy. Amid the mighty sound of hundreds of trumpets, conches, and drums, delighting all the citizens, Pandu entered Hastinapura. With Dhritarashtra’s permission, Pandu brought all the wealth he had won by his own prowess and offered it to Bhishma, Satyavati, and his mother. He also sent treasures to Vidura and generously satisfied his friends with riches. Satyavati, Bhishma, and the illustrious Kausalya were all gratified with the fine gifts Pandu had gained. His mother Kausalya, overjoyed, embraced her son of incomparable energy, as Shachi would embrace Indra, the bull among gods, after victory. With Pandu’s heroic conquests and abundant gifts, Dhritarashtra performed hundreds of grand horse sacrifices. Then, joined by Kunti and Madri, Pandu—ever tireless—became a dweller of the forest. Forsaking palace life and luxurious beds, he took up residence in the wilderness, ever devoted to the hunt. Roaming the southern slopes of the beautiful Himalayas, he dwelled on mountain ridges and in great sal forests. There, Pandu shone with Kunti and Madri at his side, like glorious Indra among two she-elephants. The forest-dwellers, seeing the king armed with sword, bow, and arrows, clad in shining armor and skilled in supreme weapons, living in the wild with his wives, thought, “This is a god.” At Dhritarashtra’s command, diligent men brought Pandu all he desired, even at the forest’s edge. One day, Pandu reached a great forest teeming with beasts and predators. There, he saw the leader of a herd of deer, engaged in union with his mate. Swiftly, Pandu loosed five sharp arrows tipped with golden feathers, striking both stag and doe. But, O King, the deer were in truth a mighty ascetic and his wife, sages transformed by austerity into deer form. As the ascetic, joined with his mate, fell to the ground, he uttered words in human speech, lamenting in agony. He reproached Pandu, saying that even those whose minds are wise, when overcome by desire and anger, should refrain from cruel deeds, even if they delight in sin. True wisdom is not overruled by law, nor does law overpower wisdom; the wise discern the misfortunes that arise from the reversal of righteousness. “O Bharata,” the sage cried, “how has your mind wavered? You, born to a noble, righteous family, now overcome by desire and greed? The way of killing enemies is said to be the same as the way of killing animals; O king, do not, out of delusion, reproach me as you would an animal. The killing of animals is accepted when done openly and without deceit; this same law applies to kings—so why do you reproach me? “Agastya, the sage, while conducting a sacrifice, hunted animals in the forest, sprinkling them with sacred water as prescribed for the deities. By the standard of established law, why do you reproach us? By Agastya’s ritual, your act of killing us is sanctioned.” Thus unfolded the tale of Pandu’s conquests, his return, and the fateful encounter in the forest, as told in the great Mahabharata.