On their way, as they walked along the Ganga, they entered a forest. There, in that forest, was the Gandharva king
Angarparna (Chitraratha) . He was furious at the disturbance by mere humans and he attacked them. Arjuna, who was walking ahead of the Pandavas with a fire torch in his hand to light the way, warded off all the Gandharva’s arrows with his shield. Knowing that this was a celestial being, a Gandharva, Arjuna invoked the Agneyastra and destroyed the Gandharva’s chariot.
Angarparna (Chitraratha) fell unconscious. His wife Kumbhinaasi saw his plight and begged for his life. Arjuna let him go. The grateful
Angarparna offered the chakshusi vidya to Arjuna in exchange for granting him life.
The chakshusi vidya was known only to gandharvas and it was originally taught by Manu. With this vidya, one could see whatever he wished to see anywhere in the world and in whatever way he wished to view it. Angarparna also wished to gift Gandharva horses to all the Pandavas.
Arjuna refused the gifts if they were given only because he had spared the Gandharva’s life. But Angarparna wished to learn the Angeyastra from Arjuna and in exchange for the knowledge, Arjuna accepted the horses.
The Gandharva had challenged Arjuna as an enemy but they parted as friends when the pandavas finally left the forest to continue their journey to Panchala.
