What great personalities have to say about the Gandharva war.

Since some people have tried to make a claim on the internet stating that the Ghosha-Yatra (gandharva war) is a later interpolation to the Mahabharata i have decided to come up with this post over here, which talks about all the mentions of the incident, barring the mention of when the actual incident took place in Bhishma Parva.

Another reason i would like to make this post is to highlight all the differeces in the quotes of various characters that have referenced this incident. Everyone has something different to say. I will be doing a separate analysis on the Gandharva war itself later (probably next month).

Now let's role the clip and see the opinions of other people about the incident.

1st reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01002.htm

Dhritarashtra's statement:

When I heard that my sons, guided by the counsels of Karna, while on their journey of Ghoshayatra, had been taken prisoners by the Gandharvas and were set free by Arjuna, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success.

2nd reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03240.htm

Soldiers of Duryodhana:

And those soldiers said, 'The mighty-armed son of Dhritarashtra, possessed of great strength and handsome mien, is being taken away captive by the Gandharvas! Ye sons of Pritha, follow them! Dussasana, Durvishasa, Durmukha, and Durjaya, are all being led away as captives in chains by the Gandharvas, as also all the ladies of the royal household!'

• According to this quote even ordinary foot soldiers knew that only Duryodhana and his brothers (Duhsashana, Durmukha, Durjaya etc) were captured.
• The wives were captured too.
• All captives were led away in chains.
• Karna was not a captive so we can logically assume that he left the scene.
• These soldiers said this in fear though, with the desire to get Yudhishthira's support & aid.
• So maybe for these reasons they did not talk about Karna.
• As hearing of Karna's failure would only make Yudhishthira happy and grateful that such a thing happened.

3rd reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03245.htm

Karna's statement:

As regards myself, assailed by all the Gandharvas, I fled before thy eyes, unable to rally our flying host. Assailed by the foe with all his might, my body mangled with their arrows, I sought safety in flight. This however, O Bharata, seemed to me to be a great marvel that I behold you all come safe and sound in body, with your wives, troops, and vehicles, out of that super-human encounter.

• This is the only time that Karna ever talked about this incident in his whole entire life.
• He saw Duryodhana’s troops, vehicles (chariots), brothers and wives. 
• Karna accepts that ran away.
• Karna says he was not able to rally the army.
• Karna tells them he was targeted by all the Gandharvas.
• Karna claims that his enemy was using all their strength.

4th reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03246.htm

Duryodhana's statement:

O thou of mighty arms, my brothers, indeed had for a long time, aided by me fought with the Gandharvas. The slaughtered, indeed, on both sides were great. But when those brave Gandharvas, resorting to their many powers of illusion, ascended the skies and began to fight with us thence, our encounter with them ceased to be an equal one. Defeat then was ours and even captivity. And afflicted with sorrow, we along with our attendants and counsellors and children and wives and troops and vehicles were being taken by them through the skies. It was then that some soldiers of ours and some brave officers repaired in grief unto the sons of Pandu--those heroes that never refuse succour to those that ask for it. And having gone to them they said, 'Here is king Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, who with his younger brothers and friends and wives is being led away a captive by the Gandharvas along the sky.

• This quote comes from Duryodhana’s mouth right after the incident. 
• So it may hold the most weight. 
• This quote says that their were not only brothers and wives but also friends of Duryodhana that were being taken captive. 
• So perhaps one of the friends that were captured was Karna....
• It says that Duryodhana helped his brothers (the Kauravas) fight against the Gandharvas.
• He (Duryodhana) claims that the encounter was an unfair unequal one once the Gandharvas started to take the high ground by flying in the sky's.
• This leads me to believe that they never used illusions on karna. So Karna was defeated fairly.

5th reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03251.htm

Bhisma's views:

And as a consequence, O hero, wert thou forcibly taken captive by the enemy, and wert delivered by the Pandavas versed in morality. Yet p. 501 art thou not ashamed. Even in the presence of thee, O son of Gandhari, together with thy army, did the Suta's son, struck with panic, fly from the battle of the Gandharvas, O king. And, O foremost of kings, O son of the monarch! while thou with thy army wert crying distressfully, thou didst witness the prowess of the high-souled Pandavas, and also, O mighty-armed one, of the wicked son of the Suta, Karna. O best of kings, whether in the science of arms, or heroism, or morality, Karna, O thou devoted to virtue, is not a fourth part of the Pandavas.

• As per Bhishma in front of everyone's eyes Karna fled from the battle and Duryodhana saw his prowess.
• So we can infer that Bhishma means karna fought but then ran away. 
• As per Bhisma the Gandharvas used force on Duryodhana to make him a captive. 
• As per Bhisma, Duryodhana and Karna were fully equipped with an army and the 99 brothers.
• Over here Bhisma had criticized Duryodhana the most but he bashed Karna's capability too.

6th reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04045.htm

Bursting out into loud laughter, Partha said unto him, 'Be not afraid, O hero, what friendly follower had I while fighting with the mighty Gandharvas on the occasion of the Ghoshayatra? 

Analysis: According to Arjuna he had no allies with him in the Gandharva war.

7th reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04049.htm

Kripa's statement:

Alone he saved the Kurus (from the Gandharvas), and alone he satiated Agni.

He only talked about Arjuna's victory not Karna's defeat/Gandharva victories. But according to kripa's opinion, Arjuna had fought alone, all alone in this battle, No Bhima, no Yudhishthira, no Sahadeva, no Nakula to interfere.

8th reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04049.htm

Statement of Kripa:

Alone vanquishing all foes he hath spread the fame of the Kurus. Alone that chastiser of foes vanquished in battle Chitrasena, the king of the Gandharvas and in a moment his invincible troops also.

As per Kripa the name of Gandharva king was Chitrasena not Chitraratha. According to kripa Arjuna also defeated Chitrasena, he never had a peace treaty with him. This proves the story of their friendship is an interpolation to downplay Arjuna's achievement. And Arjuna won the fight all alone.

9th reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05023.htm

Yudhishthira's statement:

Do they remember the disgrace that was theirs when under evil counsels they came to the woods of Dwaitavana on pretence of taking away their cattle? Those wicked ones having been over-powered by their enemies were afterwards liberated by Bhimasena and Arjuna, myself protecting the rear of Arjuna (in the fight that ensued) and Bhima protecting the rear of the sons of Madri, and the wielder of the Gandiva coming out unharmed from the press of battle having made a great slaughter of the hostile host,--do they remember that?

• Yudhishthira said this in anger and rage.
• As per this statement even Yudhishthira participated in the Gandharva war.
• Yudhishthira was advocating for peace with the Kurus at that time so he would not tell a lie.
• And besides Yudhishthira himself was known to not utter untruths & lies, so his opinion has to hold great value.
• He would not ask them a question about something that did not happen.
• According to Yudhishthira, the Kouravas were captured. 
• He never mentioned anything about Karna not being present. So karna's capture is questionable as Yudhishthira didn't address him.

10th reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05049.htm

In Udyoga Parva when karna tries to make a stand for himself in the meeting:

When thy son was being led away as a captive by the Gandharvas on the occasion of the tale of the cattle, where was this son of a Suta then who now belloweth like a bull?

• This quote makes it look like Bhishma did not even know where Karna was when Duryodhana was being taken away as a captive.
• Bhisma was clearly asking a rhetorical question.
• But Bhisma also has associated the Gandharva war with cattle remarkably.
• What did cattle/cows/kine have to do with this conflict?

11th reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05138.htm

During the Udyoga Parva, after Krishna's peace mission fails:

On the occasion also of the tale of cattle, when captured by the Gandharvas, this Karna and all these thy counsellors and thyself accoutred in mail and on thy car, were all liberated from the grasp of the Gandharvas by that Arjuna. That is a sufficient proof. Therefore, O foremost of the Bharatas, with all thy brothers make peace with the sons of Pandu.

• As per Bhishma, as a last ditch effort to convince Duryodhana, he said that even Karna was caught in the grasp of the Gandharvas, but freed by Arjuna. 
• Since this was the last chance for peace i am pretty sure that Bhishma would never lie. 
• So Karna had to be their as a captured defeated person.

12th reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05159.htm

O hero, when on the occasion of the tale 'of cattle, I fought with the mighty Gandharvas, who was there to assist me?

Analysis: Here too cattle is also associated with the incident, Arjuna once again told people that he fought the Gandharvas alone, no one was on his side to help him.
13th reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07154.htm

Kripa reminds Karna about his defeat:

While Dhritarashtra's son was being taken away (as a captive) by the Gandharvas, all the troops fought on that occasion except thy single self, who was the first to fly away.

• As per Kripa, this time, this is what happened.
• Karna ran away first.
• Duryodhana was only person who was captured by Gandharvas.
• Everysingle warrior fought, but Karna did not fight, he just fled, like Usain bolt.

14th reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07182.htm

Drona's statement:

That also is known to thee. On the occasion of the tale of cattle, the Gandharvas headed by Chitrasena and others were vanquished by him. That firm bowman rescued you, while you were being carried away by those Gandharvas.

• This was the only time in the entire epic of Mahabharata in which the character of Drona, ever talked about, referenced and formulated an opinion regarding this incident. 
• He never mentioned it anywhere else.
• Here Drona is near his deathbed, it is the last night of his life. 
• So his words hold more weight.
• Drona said that Duryodhana was being carried away by the Gandharvas.
• He never mentioned anyone else being captured.
• Drona also associated the incident with cattle.

15th reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08037.htm

Salya's opinion:

Dost thou remember, O Karna, the occasion when, slaughtering those foes in large numbers with his excellent shafts endued with the effulgence of the Sun, Phalguna liberated Dhritarashtra's son himself among the Kurus? Dost thou remember the occasion when, thyself having been the first to fly away, the quarrelsome sons of Dhritarashtra were liberated by the Pandavas after the latter had defeated those rangers of the skies (the gandharvas headed by Citraratha)?

• Shalya said that Karna was the first person to run away.
• But this is contrary to the claim of Karna (that he was trying to rally fleeing troops). 
• Thus Salya may have exposed Karna as lying to Duryodhana when he said he was rallying the troops.
• The Gandharvas were a species of people that came from the sky. If we go by this statement.
• Over here he says the Gandharvas were ruled by Chitraratha and not Chitrasena.

16th reference - http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08041.htm

Shalya's views:

By the skirts also of the dvaitya lake, O Karna, when thou wert assailed by the Gandharvas, it was thou that, deserting all the Kurus, didst first run away. Having vanquished in battle the Gandharvas headed by Citrasena, with great slaughter, it was Partha, O Karna, that liberated Duryodhana with his wife.

• Shalya again claimed that Karna the first warrior to flee the battlefield here.
• But he also says before fleeing Karna was wounded by the Gandharvas. 
• After being wounded once Karna flees. 
• Here too the presence of Duryodhana’s wife in this, is mentioned.
• Perhaps the rumors are true after all. That Arjuna had a affair with the wife of Duryodhan...

Anyways, regardless I have concluded these facts.

1. Karna ran away
1. Whether he was the first person to run is not stated.
2. At-least one person believes that Karna was captured.
1. However this is not likely as so many others including Bhisma say Karna ran away.
3. Bhima had little to no role in this battle. Yudhishthira claims he fought though.
4. Arjuna shined the most in this incident and gained the most victories/achievements.
5. Arjuna himself said that he had no allies numerous times whenever he fought the Gandharvas.
1. So this means Arjuna was alone against them.
2. So the argument that Arjuna had a strong supporting team is negated.
6. Duryodhana's wife was saved by Arjuna.
1. Some references say Duryodhana took more than one wife with him on this trip....